I cannot imagine children in such a place, and if born here they would die," said Bickley.
Oro nodded.
"They did die, and if they went above to Pani they were murdered.

So soon the habit of birth was lost and the Sons of Wisdom perished one by one.

Yes, they who ruled the world and by tens of thousands of years of toil had gathered into their bosoms all the secrets of the world, perished, till only a few, and among them I and this daughter of mine, were left." "And then ?" "Then, Humphrey, having power so to do, I did what long I had threatened, and unchained the forces that work at the world's heart, and destroyed them who were my enemies and evil, so that they perished by millions, and with them all their works.

Afterwards we slept, leaving the others, our subjects who had not the secret of this Sleep, to die, as doubtless they did in the course of Nature or by the hand of the foe.
The rest you know." "Can such a thing happen again ?" asked Bickley in a voice that did not hide his disbelief.
"Why do you question me, Bickley, you who believe nothing of what I tell you, and therefore make wrath?
Still I will say this, that what I caused to happen I can cause once more--only once, I think--as perchance you shall learn before all is done.

Now, since you do not believe, I will tell you no more of our mysteries, no, not whence this light comes nor what are the properties of the Water of Life, both of which you long to know, nor how to preserve the vital spark of Being in the grave of dreamless sleep, like a live jewel in a casket of dead stone, nor aught else.