wn place. I fear not, but
if perchance thou fearest, Rei, depart hence and leave me to the task
alone.'

"'Nay,' I said. 'I also am instructed, and I go not. But I say to thee
that this is unholy.'

"Then Meriamun spoke no more--but lifting up her hands she held them
heavenwards, and so for a while she stood, her face fixed, as was the
face of dead Hataska. Then, as must be done, I drew the circle round us
and round the altar and the statue of Osiris, and that which sat upon
his knee. With my staff I drew it, and standing therein I said the holy
words which should ward away the evil things that come near in such an
hour.

"Now Meriamun threw a certain powder into the flame upon the altar.
Thrice she threw the powder, and as she threw it a ball of flame rose
from the altar and floated away, each time that she threw did the ball
of fire rise; and this it was needful to do, for by fire only may the
dead be manifest, and therefore was a globe of fire given to each of the
three shapes that together make the threefold spirit of the dead. And
when the three globes of fire had melted into air, passing over the head
of the statue of Osiris, thrice did Meriamun cry aloud:

"'_Hataska! Hataska! Hataska!_

"'By the dreadful Name I summon thee.

"'I summon thee from the threshold of the Double Hall.

"'I summon thee from the Gates of Judgment.

"'I summon thee from the door of Doom.

"'By the link of life and death that is between thee and me, I bid thee
come from where thou art and make answer to that which I shall ask of
thee.'

"She ceased, but no answer came. Still the cold Osiris smiled, and still
the body on his knee sat with open eyes gazing into nothingness.

"'Not thus easily,' I whispered, 'may this dreadful thing be done. Thou
art instructed in the Word of Fear. If thou darest, let it pass thy
lips, or let us be gone.'

"'Nay, it shall be spoken,' she said--and thus she wrought. Passing to
the statue she hid her head within her cloak and with both hands grasped
the feet of the slain Hataska.

"Seeing this I also crouched upon the floor and hid my face, for it is
death to hear that Word with an uncovered face.

"Then in so soft a whisper that scarce had its breath stirred a feather
on her lips, Meriamun spoke the Word of Fear which may not be written,
whose sound has power to pass all space and open the ears of the dead
who dwell in Amenti. Softly she said it, for in a shout of thunder it
was caught up a