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Updated: May 14, 2025
One by one these men advanced, examined the scars, and turning to the people, confirmed the words of their fellow. Then, amid a tremulous hush, the last of the six the Arch-Councillor himself was led up the aisle.
"My People," he said again, in his deep voice. "What will you do with me?" The response was instant. "The Throne! The Throne!" The crowd surged forward in a wave, then receded as the tide recedes; and the old Arch-Councillor stepped feebly into the Sanctuary and extended his hands to the Prophet. It was a moment of breathless awe.
My uncle, Andrew Henderson, was an Arch-Mystic of your sect; and on the night he died, your sacred Scitsym was in his house!" The congregation thrilled, and the blind Arch-Councillor turned and clutched Bale-Corphew's arm. "My first impulse was to destroy that book. Look at it, look at it!" He pointed to the lectern.
I saw the long, bleak night in which I completed the colossal task of copying the Scitsym line for line; I saw the gray morning steal in across the room as I closed the book, returned it to its safe and replaced the key on my uncle's neck in preparation for the arrival of the Arch-Councillor. It all passed before my mind, and then in a flash was gone. I ceased to be John Henderson."
With a quivering gesture the Arch-Councillor lifted his hand and nervously passed his fingers over the scars; then, drawing the Prophet down, he touched his face. For a long moment of suspense his fingers lingered over the features; then they fell again upon the scars. And an instant later he sank upon his knees. "It is indeed made manifest!" he cried, in a loud, unsteady voice.
By the Scitsym from which none but the Chosen may read will ye know Him; and, knowing Him, ye will bow down Mystics, Arch-Mystics, and Arch-Councillor alike. And the World will be His. For He will be Power made absolute!" "For he will be Power made absolute!" Something in the six simple words arrested Henderson, suspended his thoughts and checked his hand.
Again his lips twitched and a feverish brightness flickered in his eyes as they searched his nephew's face. I know the Arch-Councillor will answer my summons immediately; but it is possible he may be delayed. It may be the ordination of the Unknown that I should Pass before he arrives. Let no one touch it until he comes.
He wheeled round in his seat and looked into his companion's face. The Prophet looked away. "Oh, I had my qualms, too!" he said, slowly. "Just for a moment the world seemed to tremble, when the old Arch-Councillor groped forward and put his hands over my face. It swept me off my feet swept me back ten years. It was like a vision in a crystal if such a thing could exist. I saw the whole past scene.
Animated by the speed of actual fear, her gaze passed from the abnormally agitated face of old Arian, the blind Arch-Councillor, to the dark, turbulent face of Bale-Corphew, who brought up the rear.
He had been stirred to a passing awe by the discovery that his uncle was, in his own person, actually one of the profound Six who formed the Council of the sect and to whom alone the secrets of its creed were known; and for three successive years his interest and curiosity had been kindled when Andrew Henderson travelled to England and returned with the Arch-Councillor an old blind man of seventy who invariably spent one day and night mysteriously closeted with his host and then left, having deposited the sacred Scitsym with his own hands in the tall iron safe that stood in Henderson's study.
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