"By the Lord, it's so!" Then Lakla bent toward me, and for the second time--kissed me.
"Come!" she said to Larry.

Hand in hand they moved away, into the corridor that led to the door outside of which waited the Shining One and its priestess.
And unseen by them, wrapped as they were within their love and sacrifice, I crept softly behind.

For I had determined that if enter the Dweller's embrace they must, they should not go alone.
They paused before the Golden Portals; the handmaiden pressed its opening lever; the massive leaves rolled back.
Heads high, proudly, serenely, they passed through and out upon the hither span.

I followed.
On each side of us stood the Dweller's slaves, faces turned rigidly toward their master.

A hundred feet away the Shining One pulsed and spiralled in its evilly glorious lambency of sparkling plumes.
Unhesitating, always with that same high serenity, Lakla and the O'Keefe, hands clasped like little children, drew closer to that wondrous shape.