The island was smaller than they had expected. They had thought it merely looked small from a distance, but it really was small. It was not far from the shore where they had boarded, though closer to the cape jutting out to the north. Perhaps because the terrain was steep and scarcely anyone climbed it, no one had noticed. But had someone gone up and looked down, they might well have spotted a flag fluttering on a fine day. That is, if it had been flown so openly even before last year’s storm carried it away.
Now only the flagpole remained. Keeping the black rock on which it stood to their left, the boat carrying the four entered beneath a natural arch of stone. Its height seemed almost tailored to the mast. Several times, they heard alarming sounds as though the mast scraped against rock. After they had gone some distance, the surroundings grew dark, then lights appeared. The boat stopped at a broad stretch of sand just beyond the cave’s mouth.
“Welcome, honored guests.”
Antonia stood on the sand with a torch and greeted them. Gene looked at her face. Unlike at their first meeting at the general’s manor, her expression was rigid. She seemed in no mood for jokes or mockery. Nor would she meet their eyes. Gene deliberately spoke to her.
“This is the second time you’ve shown us the way.”
“I hope there will be no lies this time.”
“Did rolling those dice that day bring you any luck?”
Antonia looked at Gene. When their eyes met, her gaze wavered a little. As he smiled, she quickly looked away.
“You will be the one who needs luck. Come in.”
The four followed Antonia, with about ten men coming behind as though surrounding them. As they walked, the ground gradually rose, until they saw a place that glowed with bright light. Drawing closer, they saw that it was a broad clearing below them, brightly lit. Their path overlooked it like the high seats of a theater. But there were no stairs. Instead, chairs had been set out. Exactly four. And there really was a table laid with food for a feast.
“Please enjoy yourselves.”
Antonia turned back the way she had come. All the watchers behind them left with her. There remained only the four people, the four chairs, and a table with flowers, candles, and dishes of food. Luke went to the edge, looked down, and spoke.
“That must be the coronation hall. Damn it, it’s far away. These aren’t box seats. Thank you for the food, but all it’s doing is smelling delicious and making me hungry.”
“What are they planning?”
Rosa looked around. It was open behind them. In an emergency, they should be able to run back to the sand. The ground ahead was steep enough that they would have to climb down. Rock walls stood on either side. Since all the light came from below, their own position was rather dark. The so-called hall beneath them was fairly broad, with a huge torch burning in its center. Only small torches stood here and there around it, leaving the walls’ outlines difficult to make out.
Gene sat first. Raising a leg and resting an elbow on his knee, he spoke.
“They’ve asked us to enjoy ourselves. We should oblige.”
As he watched Gene, Tahyang spoke.
“Your new sword is shining.”
Gene looked down. A reddish radiance seeped from between the top of the scabbard and the hilt. Drawing the sword a little, he saw that the whole blade shone. He had not noticed it when he first received it. Luke approached and studied it.
“Is it because it’s dark here? Still, the light suits the name Ganax.”
“I don’t think we saw it shining like this when we set out at dawn.”
Then Rosa, who had been looking down all along, called to the men.
“Someone’s appeared.”
A man in a hooded robe emerged from a passage around the hall. About thirty similarly dressed men followed him. They went to the great torch and formed a semicircle around it. The man at the front alone approached the place the four overlooked and bowed slowly.
“You are today’s guests of honor. You have been invited to become the first subjects of a new world. Soon, you too shall witness the resurrection of great Sing, understand its meaning, and bow your heads in tears. I am the officiant who will lead the people of Sing until this ritual is complete.”
Luke answered immediately.
“If you show us something splendid, we’re quite ready to do that.”
A low laugh escaped the officiant. He returned to his place and called toward one wall.
“You who have awaited Sing’s resurrection! Rejoice! The world you have known will soon meet its end, and the great ancient realm shall rise again! On the promised day, those who arise shall receive the king’s gift! There is no grandeur or dignity in the poor landscape of this world. When the ancient fire rises with us, do not crumble into dust and disappear!”
The officiant continued calling out without pause. The men standing in their semicircle began to wail. Then they fell prostrate on the ground. It looked like a strange funeral, all the more so because they wore black.
“In ancient times, Sing judged mankind. Sacred values of transcendent authority clearly distinguished right from wrong in your lives, the acts you must not perform and those permitted to you. Within that order, all subjects could enjoy perfect happiness. Families and neighbors loved one another, the gods protected you, and the king always wept. But what of now? There is no greatness left in this world. Who is right, and who is wrong? Do you know what you should do and what you must not? What should you believe in, honor, and follow? Treacherous families and neighbors, silent gods, a contemptible king and governor: these are all you have been given. No, they are mere husks. Soon the great ancient realm shall return and sweep away your confusion!”
Unable to bear watching any longer, Gene looked around at his friends.
“When does the lead actor come on?”
Luke grinned as he answered.
“The captain seems bored because the leading actor hasn’t appeared. A natural response for an audience. Shall I give you someone to answer?”
He sprang up and approached the edge, so close it was alarming. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he shouted,
“Hey! As a specially invited guest and prospective subject of Sing, number four, I have a question!”
Accustomed to stopping actors in rehearsal to complain, Luke had no hesitation about interrupting someone else’s solemn ritual. When the officiant fell silent, he continued.
“You seem to be saying that when Sing returns, everything about our future will be decided and we’ll have perfect peace. But I can’t quite imagine what a world like that would look like. Could you paint a more specific picture of this paradise? Surely the great ancient realm you’re talking about isn’t the sight of a few dozen men in black robes gathered on a tiny island, wailing and rolling about. I can’t feel the slightest greatness in that.”
“Sing is…”
The officiant’s voice rose again. He did not appear especially shaken by Luke’s rude question.
“A place where anyone can find peace of mind simply by following sacred values with all their heart. Rules set its subjects free. What holiness is there in the kings and gods of today? What do they establish for us? Look at Delphinad’s army. Having grown idle by avoiding war, do they possess courage, strategy, or any of an army’s most important values? In the same way, how many in Delphinad now truly know and follow the gods’ will? The gods have been reduced to beings who grant wishes in exchange for enough candles. Where should those who wish to experience true holiness go now? How many are truly moved to follow the king’s commands? When the ancient realm returns, it will show them values they long to follow with ardent hearts.”
“Who decides those?”
“The king of Sing. The god of Sing.”
“I think the people of Delphinad would find it terribly bothersome if someone started deciding things like that for them. Ah, even if that’s because they’re corrupt, that’s how things stand now, isn’t it? What happens to those people?”
“They shall be driven out with the lash. They shall be destroyed and buried.”
“Well, I’m not sure how many that would leave. If there’s no one left, you won’t have any subjects to rule, will you?”
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