God lives! God lives!" But there would be only sand, sand.

And now it would be a city of shining domes in the distance.

And they would nudge one another and croak, "There are men there, brother, secure streets, and merchants in their booths; people to talk with, and water for our poor throats." But there would be only sand, sand, sand...

And they would cry like children.

"God is dead! Haven't you heard?
Don't you know?
God is dead in His heaven, and the warlocks are loosed on the land!" And on the last day of the moon they were all but in sight of the desert's edge, though they didn't know.