Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 16, 1921 — page 28: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JASON, people will be so much happier for the ‘knowledge Jason brings to Palos. And even I—think where I and my child would be now save for the knowledge possessed by a man of earth. It is to you and Jason that we owe our lives. Think you not that I carry your name to Ga and Azil in my prayers—that I have wished to meet you in order to express my thanks myself?” Her words gave me a feeling of some- thing like exaltation, even while in a way they embarrassed. ‘“‘I, too,” I faltered, “am very glad of the meeting, to be able to assure you that it was my happiness to serve you, and to wish you and Jason the happiness of each other, and your son a long and useful life.” She glanced toward the tiny couch and back again smiling. “ Life,” she said softly. “It is so wonderful to hold him—to realize that his life is but the blending of Jason’s and mine. Sometimes I even think that I understand in a measure what Ga must feel as she guards the eternal fire.” And what is. one going to say to a wife and mother when she talks like that? I know I mumbled something to the effect that what Ga probably felt was an all com- -pelling compassion and love. -And then I asked Croft to translate the words of the baptismal ceremony as voiced by Magur and Zud the high priest. He complied and I questioned him of Jadgor and Gaya and Robur, confirming ‘my recognition of Naia’s relatives and his friends. Conversation became general for something like an hour, and then Jason prompted. ‘“‘ Beloved, shall we accompany Murray somewhat—show him Himyra in passing when he returns?” “ Aye, as you like,” she assented. “ And he must come to us again. Now that our need has rendered possible such communion it will not be necessary for you to seek ‘earth in the flesh when you need additional knowledge, or leave me overly long again.” Croft nodded. “ Yes, Murray is going to have his hand in Tamarizian affairs from . now.on, and the boy there will know more than any man ever born on Palos in the end. Well, Murray, want to see Himyra?” “ T’ve always wanted to see it since you told me about it first,” I assented. SON OF JASON. 19 “Then come along.” “ But,” I added as he led the way with Naia through one of the open windows of the chamber, ‘““T never expected to see it exactly ‘like this.” Naia turned her eyes and smiled as we floated free of the house and upward under Croft’s guiding will. ‘ Dear friend,” she said, “ you know so much of us that to me it does not seem strange to find you one of us at last.” “‘ Behold Himyra,” said Croft, and flung out a shadowy arm. The city’ lay beneath us. I saw the double row of lights that fringed the flood of the Na, the mighty pyramid of Zitu, upreared against the skyline, black now in- stead of red, save where the lights threw ruddy splashes upon it, banded with white at the apex with the pure white temple of Zitu upon its truncated top—the long line of the houses of the nobles of the old régime, fronting a wide street at the top of the river embankment in an amazing vista, set down each in its private grounds among night-darkened shrubs and trees, the wide- flung palace of the governor of Aphur, once the palace of Jadgor, Aphur’s king. The thing swam a shimmering vision before me under the light of the Palosian moons. I strained my eyes and saw the mighty sweep of Himyra’s shadowy walls. It-moved me oddly. Already I knew so much of the city’s history as involved in Croft’s romance. I turned my eyes. Himyra, ” I said, “I shall not forget it —nor Naia of Aphur, nor Jason, mouth- piece of Zitu, nor Jason, Jason’s son. Zitu guard you, my friends. I must be going.” “ Zitu guard thee,” Naia answered. And suddenly I was back in my own room, remembering her parting smile. These things have I narrated in order to show how there was built up between Croft and Naia of Aphur, his mate, and myself, a subtly intimate relation that must, as I hope, make what followed plain. - Life went on pretty much with me after that for some further eight months, how- ever, before the events I intend to relate occurred. Now and then during the inter- val Jason Croft came to me in the astral | presence, and on several occasions I suc- CORnICLOOO S C@