The shadows carried him to the islet, bore him up as on a wave, and left him upon the sands. The green light faded to its former dimness. Choking, coughing, Elak clambered to his feet. He stared around. The shadows had vanished. Only the motionless lake stretched into the distance. He stood amid the ruins of the islet. Hastily he staggered away from the water's marge, clambering across broken plinths and fallen pillars, making his way to the central temple. It stood in a tiny plaza, unmarred by time, but stained and discolored in every stone. The brazen door gaped open. Unsteadily Elak climbed the steps and paused at the threshold. He looked upon a bare room, lit with the familiar emerald glow, featureless save for a curtain, on the further wall, made of some metallic cloth and figured with the trident of the sea-god. There was no sound but Elak's hastened breathing. Then, abruptly, a low splashing came from beyond the curtain. It parted. Beyond it was green light, so brilliant it was impossible to look upon. Silhouetted against the brightness for a moment loomed a figure--a figure of unearthly slimness and height. Only for a second did Elak see it; then the curtain swung back into place and the visitant was gone. Whispering through the temple came a voice, like the soft murmur of tiny, rippling waves. And it said: "I am Mayana. Why do you seek me?" _7. Karkora_ And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy ... and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority. --Revelations 13:1. Elak's wet hand crept to his rapier. There had been no menace in the whisper, but it was strangely--inhuman. And the silhouette he had seen was not that of any earthly woman. Yet he answered quietly enough, no tremor in his voice: "I seek the dragon throne of Cyrena. And I come to you for aid against Karkora." There was silence. When the whisper came again, it had in it all the sadness of waves and wind. "Must I aid you? Against Karkora?" "You know what manner of being he is?" Elak questioned. "Aye--I know that well." The metallic curtain shook. "Seat yourself. You are tired--how are you named?" "Elak." "Elak, then--listen. I will tell you of the coming of Karkora, and of Erykion the sorcerer. And of Sepher, whom I loved." There was a pause; then the low whisper resumed. "Who I am, what I am, you need not know, but you should understand that I am not entirely human. My ancestors dwelt in this sunken city. And I--well, for ten years I took human shape and dwelt with Sepher as his wife. I loved him. And always I hoped to give him a son who would some day mount the throne. I hoped in vain, or so I thought.