The Gods of Pegana | Page 9

of the plain
would say: "Here once was Eimës"; and Zänës scarce had strength to
lead his river to the sea; and as Segástrion lay and panted a man

stepped over his stream, and Segástrion said: "It is the foot of a man
that has passed across my neck, and I have sought to be greater than the
gods of Pegana."
Then said the gods of Pegana: "It is enough. We are the gods of Pegana,
and none are equal."
Then Mung sent Umbool back to his waste in Afrik to breathe again
upon the rocks, and parch the desert, and to sear the memory of Afrik
into the brains of all who ever bring their bones away.
And Eimës, Zänës, and Segástrion sang again, and walked once more
in their accustomed haunts, and played the game of Life and Death with
fishes and frogs, but never essayed to play it any more with men, as do
the gods of Pegana.

OF DOROZHAND
(Whose Eyes Regard The End)
Sitting above the lives of the people, and looking, doth Dorozhand see
that which is to be.
The god of Destiny is Dorozhand. Upon whom have looked the eyes of
Dorozhand he goeth forward to an end that naught may stay; he
becometh the arrow from the bow of Dorozhand hurled forward at a
mark he may not see--to the goal of Dorozhand. Beyond the thinking of
men, beyond the sight of all the other gods, regard the eyes of
Dorozhand.
He hath chosen his slaves. And them doth the destiny god drive onward
where he will, who, knowing not whither nor even knowing why, feel
only his scourge behind them or hear his cry before.
There is something that Dorozhand would fain achieve, and, therefore,
hath he set the people striving, with none to cease or rest in all the
worlds. But the gods of Pegana, speaking to the gods, say: "What is it
that Dorozhand would fain achieve?"
It hath been written and said that not only the destinies of men are the
care of Dorozhand but that even the gods of Pegana be not unconcerned
by his will.
All the gods of Pegana have felt a fear, for they have seen a look in the
eyes of Dorozhand that regardeth beyond the gods.
The reason and purpose of the Worlds is that there should be Life upon
the Worlds, and Life is the instrument of Dorozhand wherewith he

would achieve his end.
Therefore the Worlds go on, and the rivers run to the sea, and Life
ariseth and flieth even in all the Worlds, and the gods of Pegana do the
work of the gods--and all for Dorozhand. But when the end of
Dorozhand hath been achieved there will be need no longer of Life
upon the Worlds, nor any more a game for the small gods to play. Then
will Kib tiptoe gently across Pegana to the resting-place in Highest
Pegana of MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI, and touching reverently his hand,
the hand that wrought the gods, say: "MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI, thou
hast rested long."
And MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI shall say: "Not so; for I have rested for
but fifty aeons of the gods, each of them scarce more than ten million
mortal years of the Worlds that ye have made."
And then shall the gods be afraid when they find that MANA knoweth
that they have made Worlds while he rested. And they shall answer:
"Nay; but the Worlds came all of themselves."
Then MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI, as one who would have done with an
irksome matter, will lightly wave his hand--the hand that wrought the
gods--and there shall be gods no more.
When there shall be three moons towards the north above the Star of
the Abiding, three moons that neither wax nor wane but regard towards
the North.
Or when the comet ceaseth from his seeking and stands still, not any
longer moving among the Worlds but tarrying as one who rests after
the end of search, then shall arise from resting, because it is THE END,
the Greater One, who rested of old time, even
MANA-YOOD-SUSHAI.
Then shall the Times that were be Times no more; and it may be that
the old, dead days shall return from beyond the Rim, and we who have
wept for them shall see those days again, as one who, returning from
long travel to his home, comes suddenly on dear, remembered things.
For none shall know of MANA who hath rested for so long, whether he
be a harsh or merciful god. It may be that he shall have mercy, and that
these things shall be.

THE EYE IN THE WASTE
There lie seven deserts beyond Bodrahan, which is the city of the

caravans' end. None goeth beyond. In the first desert lie the tracks of
mighty