"It is very far away," grunted Bhairon. "Also, it is a lie."

"Many women have kissed Krishna. They told him this to cheer
their own hearts when the grey hairs came, and he has told us the
tale," said the Bull, below his breath.

"Their Gods came, and we changed them. I took the Woman and made
her twelve-armed. So shall we twist all their Gods," said Hanuman.

" Their Gods! This is no question of their Gods - one or three - man
or woman. The matter is with the people. They move, and not the
Gods of the bridgebuilders," said Krishna.

"So be it. I have made a man worship the fire-carriage as it stood
still breathing smoke, and he knew not that he worshipped me," said
Hanuman the Ape. "They will only change a little the names of their
Gods. I shall lead the builders of the bridges as of old; Shiv
shall be worshipped in the schools by such as doubt and despise
their fellows; Ganesh shall have his mahajuns, and Bhairon the
donkey-drivers, the pilgrims, and the sellers of toys. Beloved,
they will do no more than change the names, and that we have seen
a thousand times."

"Surely they will do no more than change the names," echoed Ganesh;
but there was an uneasy movement among the Gods.

"They will change more than the names. Me alone they cannot kill,
so long as a maiden and a man meet together or the spring follows
the winter rains. Heavenly Ones, not for nothing have I walked