How and on what we descended neither I nor the others ever learned.

It was and must remain one of the unexplained mysteries of our great experience.
"Whither now, Yva ?" I asked, staring about me at the radiant vastness.
"The Lord Oro would speak with you, Humphrey.Follow.And I pray you all do not make him wrath, for his mood is not gentle." So once more we proceeded down the empty streets of that underground abode which, except that it was better illuminated, reminded me of the Greek conception of Hades.

We came to the sacred fountain over which stood the guardian statue of Life, pouring from the cups she held the waters of Good and Ill that mingled into one health-giving wine.
"Drink, all of you," she said; "for I think before the sun sets again upon the earth we shall need strength, every one of us." So we drank, and she drank herself, and once more felt the blood go dancing through our veins as though the draught had been some nectar of the gods.

Then, having extinguished the lanterns which we still carried, for here they were needless, and we wished to save our oil, we followed her through the great doors into the vast hall of audience and advanced up it between the endless, empty seats.

At its head, on the dais beneath the arching shell, sat Oro on his throne.