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Chapter 25 — The Grand Lunar
Stilllowerstoodushersandmessengers,andthenalldownthecountlessstepsofthethronewereguards,andatthebase,enormous,various,indistinct,vanishingatlastintoanabsoluteblack,avastswayingmultitudeoftheminordignitariesofthemoon.Theirfeetmadeaperpetualscrapingwhisperontherockyfloor,astheirlimbsmovedwitharustlingmurmur.
“AsIenteredthepenultimatehallthemusicroseandexpandedintoanimperialmagnificenceofsound,andtheshrieksofthenews-bearersdiedaway....
“Ienteredthelastandgreatesthall....
“Myprocessionopenedoutlikeafan.Myushersandguardswentrightandleft,andthethreelittersbearingmyselfandPhi-ooandTsi-puffmarchedacrossashinydarknessoffloortothefootofthegiantstairs.Thenbeganavastthrobbinghum,thatmingledwiththemusic.ThetwoSelenitesdismounted,butIwasbiddenremainseated—Iimagineasaspecialhonour.Themusicceased,butnotthathumming,andbyasimultaneousmovementoftenthousandrespectfulheadsmyattentionwasdirectedtotheenhaloedsupremeintelligencethathoveredaboveme.
“AtfirstasIpeeredintotheradiatingglowthisquintessentialbrainlookedverymuchlikeanopaque,featurelessbladderwithdim,undulatingghostsofconvolutionswrithingvisiblywithin.Thenbeneathitsenormityandjustabovetheedgeofthethroneonesawwithastartminuteelfineyespeeringoutoftheglow.Noface,buteyes,asiftheypeeredthroughholes.
