Page:Ernest Bramah - Kai Lungs Golden Hours.djvu/80

 one who speaks bears now the commonplace name of Lieu, and is branded with the brand of Sun Wei. Formerly, indeed, he was a god, moving in the Upper Space and known to the devout as Ning, but now deposed by treachery."

"Unless the subject is one that has painful associations," remarked Tian considerately, "it is one on which this person would willingly learn somewhat deeper. What, in short, are the various differences existing between gods and men?"

"The gods are gods; men are men," replied Ning. "There is no other difference."

"Yet why do not the gods now exert their strength and raise from your present admittedly inferior position one who is of their band?"

"Behind their barrier the gods laugh at all men. How much more then is their gravity removed at the sight of one of themselves who has fallen lower than mankind?"

"Your plight would certainly seem to be an ill-destined one," admitted Tian, "for, as the Verses say, 'Gold sinks deeper than dross.' Is there anything that an ordinary person can do to alleviate your subjection?"

"The offer is a gracious one," replied Ning, "and such an occasion undoubtedly exists. Some time ago a pearl of unusual size and lustre slipped from its setting about this spot. I have looked for it in vain, but your acuter eyes, perchance"

Thus urged, the youth Tian searched the ground, but to no avail. Then chancing to look upwards, he exclaimed:

"Among the higher branches of the tallest bamboo