Watson turned to the Geos, who stood somewhat to one side, and a
little to the rear.
"The Aradna?"
"Yes. The queen of D'Hartia. The man on the other side is the Bar
Senestro."
Whatever feeling Chick entertained for the one was offset by what
he felt for the other. He was between two forces; his instinct
warned him of the Bar, sceptical, powerful, ruthless, a man to be
reckoned with; but his better nature went out to the young queen.
At a motion from Geos, the whole assembly of Rhamdas stood up. The
action was both dignified and reverent. Though Chick was, in their
eyes, a miracle, there was no unseemly staring nor jarring of
curiosity; all was quietness, ease, poise; the only sound was that
of the constant subtle music of those invisible bells.
Rhamda Geos began speaking. At the same time he placed a friendly
hand on Watson's shoulder, a signal for every other Rhamda to
resume his seat.
"The Fact and the Substance, my brothers."
Geos paused as he made use of the ultra-significant phrase. And
then, in a few rapid sentences, he ran over the synopsis of that
affair, beginning with some philosophy and other details that
Watson could only half understand, making frequent allusions to
the Jarados and other writers of prophecy; then he made some
mention of his own particular brand of spiritism and its stand on
materialisation. This he followed with an account of the finding
of Watson in the temple, his long sleep and ultimate reviving.
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