Ask me no more; perhaps one day you will learn the path I trod to freedom." Then before I could speak, she went off: "Rest now, for within a few hours I must come to lead you and your companions to a terrible place.

Yet whatever you may see or hear, be not afraid, Humphrey, for I think that Oro's god has no power over you, strong though he was, and that Oro's plans will fail, while I, who too have knowledge, shall find strength to save the world." Then of a sudden, once again she grew splendid, almost divine; no more a woman but as it were an angel.

Some fire of pure purpose seemed to burn up in her and to shine out of her eyes.

Yet she said little.

Only this indeed: "To everyone, I think, there comes the moment of opportunity when choice must be made between what is great and what is small, between self and its desires and the good of other wanderers in the way.