“Two years after, I think,” I said. “I came to Cairo for the digging out in El Abul.” “How could you have missed those exciting years?” Jessup’s voice became zealous. I remained on guard. “I was not even born then ... and I’ve always cursed my bad luck. I used to go about talking to complete strangers who had been alive in those great years. Of course most were laymen and knew little about the things I had studied but they could tell me how the sky looked the day he took his way. And, every now and then, it was possible to meet someone who had seen him.” “Not many laymen ever saw him,” I said. “I remember with what secrecy all his movements were enveloped. I was in New York much of the time when he was there.” “In New York!” Jessup sighed voluptuously. “You saw him too, didn’t you, Mr Hudson?” Butler was obviously eager that I make a good impression. “Oh yes, I saw him the day he was in Washington. One of his few public appearances! I was very devout in those days. I am now too, of course,” I added hastily. “But in those days when it was all new one was, well, exalted by Cavesword. I made a special trip to Washington just to get a glimpse of him.” I played as resolutely as possible upon their passionate faith. “Did you really see him?” I shook my head sadly. “Only a quick blur as he drove away. The crowd was too big and the police were all around him.” “I have of course relived that moment in the library, watching the films, but actually to have been there that day....” Jessup’s voice trailed off as he contemplated the extent of my good fortune. “Then afterwards, after his death, I left for Egypt and I’ve never been back.” “You missed great days.” “I’m sure of that. Yet I feel the best days were before, when I was in New York and each week there would be a new revelation of his wisdom.” “You are quite right,” said Jessup, pouring himself more gin. “Yours was the finer time even though those of us who feel drawn to the mother must declare that later days possessed some virtue too, on her account.” “Mother?” I knew of course before he answered what had happened. “As Cave was the father of our knowledge, so Iris is its mother,” said Jessup. He looked at Butler with a half-smile. “Of course there are some, the majority in fact, of the Communicators who deprecate our allegiance to the mother, not realizing that it enhances rather than detracts from Cave. After all, the Word and the Way are entirely his.”