This isn't a safe, Jim, this is Heaven. There'll be the old saints with their halos shining and flickering, like windows o' wintry nights. (_Creak, creak, creak_) And angels thick as swallows along a cottage roof the day before they go. (_Creak, creak, creak_) And orchards full of apples as far as you can see, and the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, so the Bible says; and a city of gold, for those that care for cities, all full of precious stones; but I'm a bit tired of cities and precious stones. (_Creak, creak, creak_) I'll go out into the fields where the orchards are, by the Tigris and the Euphrates. I shouldn't be surprised if my old mother was there. She never cared much for the way I earned my livelihood (_creak, creak_), but she was a good mother to me. I don't know if they want a good mother in there who would be kind to the angels and sit and smile at them when they sang and soothe them if they were cross. If they let all the good ones in she'll be there all right. (_Suddenly_) Jim! They won't have brought me up against her, will they? That's not fair evidence, Jim. JIM It would be just like them to. Very like them. BILL If there's a glass of beer to be got in Heaven, or a dish of tripe and onions, or a pipe of 'bacca she'll have them for me when I come to her. She used to know my ways wonderful; and what I liked. And she used to know when to expect me almost anywhere. I used to climb in through the window at any hour and she always knew it was me. (_Creak, creak_) She'll know it's me at the door now, Jim. (_Creak, creak_) It will be all a blaze of light, and I'll hardly know it's her till I get used to it.... But I'll know her among a million angels. There weren't none like her on Earth and there won't be none like her in Heaven.... Jim! I'm through, Jim! One more turn, and old Nut-cracker's done it! It's giving! It's giving! I know the feel of it. _Jim!_ [_At last there is a noise of falling bolts; the gates swing out an inch and are stopped by the rock._ BILL Jim! Jim! I've opened it, Jim. I've opened the Gate of Heaven! Come and help me. JIM (_looks up for a moment with open mouth. Then he mournfully shakes his head and goes on drawing a cork_) Another one empty. BILL (_looks down once into the abyss that lies below the Lonely Place_) Stars. Blooming great stars. [_Then he moves away the rock on which he stood. The gates move slowly. Jim leaps up and runs to help; they each take a gate and move backward with their faces against it._ BILL Hullo, mother! You there? Hullo! You there? It's Bill, mother. [_The gates swing heavily open, revealing empty night and stars._ BILL (_staggering and gazing into the revealed Nothing, in which far stars go wandering_) Stars. Blooming great stars. There _ain't_ no Heaven, Jim. [_Ever since the revelation a cruel and violent laugh has arisen off. It increases in volume and grows louder and louder._ JIM That's like them. That's very like them. Yes, they'd do that!