a journey in other worlds-第64章
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God。 What is the suffering of the present momentary time； eased
as it is by God's mercy and presence； compared with the glories
that await us？ What would it be if our lives here were filled
with nothing else； as ye know that your labour is not vain in the
Lord？ Time and eternitythe finite and the infinite。 Death
was； indeed； a deliverer； and the sunset of the body is the
sunrise of the soul。〃
The priest held himself erect as a soldier while delivering this
sermon； making the great cathedral ring with his earnest and
solemn voice； while Ayrault； as a spirit； saw how absolutely he
meant and believed every word that he said。
Nearly all the members of the congregation were movedsome more；
some less than they appeared。 After the benediction they rapidly
dispersed； carrying in their hearts the germs he had sown； but
whether these would bear fruit or wither； time alone could show。
Ayrault had noticed Sylvia's father and mother in church； but
Sylvia herself was not there； and he was distressed to think she
might be ill。
〃Why；〃 pondered Ayrault； 〃am I so unhappy？ I was baptized；
confirmed； and have taken the sacrament。 I have always had an
unshaken faith； and； though often unsuccessful； have striven to
obey my conscience。 The spirits also on Saturn kept saying I
should be happy。 Now； did this mean it was incumbent upon me to
rejoice； because of some blessing I already had； and did not
appreciate； or did their prescience show them some prospective
happiness I was to enjoy？ The visions also of Violet； the angel；
and the lily； which I believed； and still believe； were no mere
empty fancies； should have given me the most unspeakable joy。 It
may be a mistake to apply earthly logic to heavenly things； but
the fundamental laws of science cannot change。
〃Why am I so unhappy？〃 he continued； returning to his original
question。 〃The visions gave promise of special grace； perhaps
some special favour。 True； my prayer to see Sylvia was heard；
but； considering the sacrifice； this has been no blessing。 The
request cannot have been wrong in itself； and as for the manner；
there was no arrogance in my heart。 I asked as a mortal； as a
man of but finite understanding； for what concerned me most。
Why； oh why； so wretched？〃
CHAPTER XIV。
HIC ILLE JACET。
At daybreak the thunder…shower passed off； but was followed by a
cold； drenching rain。 Supposing Ayrault had remained in the
Callisto； Bearwarden and Cortlandt did not feel anxious； and； not
wishing to be wet through； remained in the cave； keeping up a
good fire with the wood they had collected。 Towards evening a
cold wind came up； and； thinking this might clear the air； they
ventured out； but； finding the ground saturated； and that the
rain was again beginning to fall； they returned to shelter；
prepared a dinner of canned meat； and made themselves as
comfortable as possible for the night。
〃I am surprised；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃that Dick did not try to
return to us； since he had the mackintoshes。〃
〃I dare say he did try；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃but finding the
course inundated； and knowing we should not need the mackintoshes
if we remained under cover； decided to put back。 The Callisto
is； of course； as safe as a church。〃
〃I hope；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃no harm has come to him on the way。
It will be a weight off my mind to see him safely with us。〃
〃Should he not turn up in the morning；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃we
must begin a search for him bright and early。〃
Making up the fire as near the entrance of the cave as they could
find a dry place； so that Ayrault should see it if he attempted
to return during the night； they piled on wood； and talked of
their recent experiences。
〃However unwilling I was；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃to believe my senses；
which I felt were misleading me； I can no longer doubt the
reality of that spirit bishop； or the truth of what be says。
When you look at the question dispassionately； it is what you
might logically expect。 In my desire to disprove what is to us
supernatural； I tried to create mentally a system that would be a
substitute for the one he described； but could evolve nothing
that so perfectly filled the requirements； or that was so simple。
Nothing seems more natural than that man； having been evolved
from stone； should continue his ascent till he discards material
altogether。 The metamorphism is more striking in the first
change than in the second。 Granted that the soul is immaterial；
and that it leaves the body after death； what is there to keep it
on earth？ Gravitation cannot affect it。 What is more likely
than that it is left behind by the earth in its orbit； or that it
continues its forward motion； but in a straight line； till；
reaching the paths of the greater planets； it is drawn to them by
some affinity or attraction that the earth does not possess； and
that the souls held in that manner remain here on probation；
developing like young animals or children； till； by gradually
acquired power； resulting from their wills； they are able to rise
again into space； to revisit the earth； and in time to explore
the universe？ It might easily come about that； by some
explainable sympathy； the infant good souls are drawn to this
planet； while the condemned pass on to Cassandra； which holds
them by some property peculiar to itself； until perhaps they；
too； by virtue of their wills； acquire new power； unless
involution sets in and they lose what they have。 The simplicity
of the thing is what surprises me now； and that for ages
philosophers have been racking their brains with every
conceivable fancy； when； by simply extending and following
natural laws； they could discern the whole。〃
〃It is the old story；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃of Columbus and the egg。
Schopenhouer and his predecessors appear to have tried every idea
but the right one； and even Darwin and Huxley fell short in their
reasoning； because they tried to obtain more or less than four by
putting two with two。〃
Thus they sat and talked while the night wore on。 Neither
thought of sleeping； hoping all the while that Ayrault might walk
in as he had the night before。
At last the dawn began to tint the east； and the growing light
showed them that the storm had passed。 The upper strata of
Saturn's atmosphere being filled with infinitesimal particles of
dust； as a result of its numerous volcanoes； the conditions were
highly favourable to beautiful sunrises and sunsets。 Soon
coloured streaks extended far into the sky； and though they knew
that when the sun's disc appeared it would seem small； it filled
the almost boundless eastern horizon with the most variegated and
gorgeous hues。
Turning away from the welcome sightfor their minds were ill at
easethey found the light strong enough for their search to
begin。 Writing on a sheet of paper； in a large hand； 〃Have gone
to the Callisto to look for you； shall afterwards return here；〃
they pinned this in a conspicuous place and set out due west；
keeping about a hundred yards apart。 The ground was wet and
slippery； but overhead all was clear； and the sun soon shone
brightly。 Looking to right and left； and occasionally shouting
and discharging their revolvers； they went on for half an hour。
〃I have his tracks；〃 called Bearwarden； and Cortlandt hastened to
join him。
In the soft ground； sure enough； they saw Ayrault's footprints；
and； from the distance between them； concluded that he must have
been running or walking very fast； but the rain had washed down
the edges of the incision。 The trail ascended a gentle slope；
where they lost it； but on reaching the summit they saw it again
with the feet together； as though Ayrault had paused； and about
it were many other impressions with the feet turned in； as if the
walkers or standers had surrounded Ayrault； who was in the
centre。
〃I hope；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃these are nothing more than the
footprints we have seen formed about ourselves。〃
〃See；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃Dick's trail goes on； and the others
vanish。 They cannot have been made by savages or Indians； for
th
