hand. And in a voice that trembled till it broke she cried:

"What is it? What does all this mean? Tell me!"

To him she clung.

"Tell me the truth--and save me! Is it _real?_"

Stern looked at her wonderingly. He smiled a strange, wan, mirthless
smile.

All about him he looked. Then his lips moved, but for the moment no
sound came.

He made another effort, this time successful.

"There, there," said he huskily, as though the dust and dryness of the
innumerable years had got into his very voice. "There, now, don't be
afraid!

"Something seems to have taken place here while--we've been asleep.
What? What is it? I don't know yet. I'll find out. There's nothing to
be alarmed about, at any rate."

"But--_look!_" She pointed at the hideous desolation.

"Yes, I see. But no matter. You're alive. I'm alive. That's two of us,
anyhow. Maybe there are a lot more. We'll soon see. Whatever it may
be, we'll win."