And it has grown stronger, drawing to itself power to go far on the moon stream where it will.

Thus was it able to seize your friend, Goodwin, and Olaf's wife and babe--and many more.

Yolara and Lugur plan to open way to earth face; to depart with their court and under the Shining One grasp the world! "And this is the tale the Silent Ones bade me tell you--and it is done." Breathlessly I had listened to the stupendous epic of a long-lost world.

Now I found speech to voice the question ever with me, the thing that lay as close to my heart as did the welfare of Larry, indeed the whole object of my quest--the fate of Throckmartin and those who had passed with him into the Dweller's lair; yes, and of Olaf's wife, too.
"Lakla," I said, "the friend who drew me here and those he loved who went before him--can we not save them ?" "The Three say no, Goodwin." There was again in her eyes the pity with which she had looked upon Olaf.

"The Shining One--_feeds_--upon the flame of life itself, setting in its place its own fires and its own will.