I can see it!’ he shouted, and his voice came eerily back down the tunnel to the rest of the band.
‘The city! The city like — like — all the stars at once!’
The others rushed to see, and one by one their heads popped through the round hole on the nether side of the earth, their faces glowing with wonder.
‘It must be God’s city,’ said Martin. ‘There’s so much light!’
And indeed, the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it. For the Glory of God did lighten it, and cast a halo of light even into the clouds, and light was scattered as far as the eye could see like burning seeds upon a dark field. And though the miners all still held fast to the rope lest they plummet into the sky, it was Martin who saw about him trees and grass and houses, which had no need of rope, and so did let go, and praised God for his goodness that stuck him there to earth, and all the others.
Searle stared at the stone towers which rose upon the far side of a great harbour, and felt the chill of fear, for the towers bespoke a mighty and unearthly power, yet there was no sign of the Great Church, and therefore he was reluctant to proceed.
Griffin?’ cried Connor, for he would brook no delay, and sought direction from the boy. And Griffin signalled them for- ward, to the harbour, and the towers beyond.
‘We go as the crow flies.’ And so they did, and each one held onto the other’s tunic, this dark and huddled band running forward into the lustre thrown up by the celestial city, and as suddenly then they came to a halt.
Griffin! What’s that?’ asked Connor. ‘I — I don’t know,’ replied the boy, for ahead the light seemed to flow upon the ground like a river, yet was not, for they crept closer and saw the humped form of ten thousand rushing creatures. And each one seemed intent upon a single goal for none deviated a whit from its fellows, but followed the same black path, beaten smooth and wide by the ceaseless passage of those who had gone before, and those who came after.
Yet they were not creatures known to mankind, so smooth of flank, and fast, and big, with glowing eyes from which the light shot forth and pierced the night. ‘Vermin,’ whispered Arno.
‘Nay,’ said Martin, ‘yet perhaps it is all the slain knights of Christendom re- turning to their long home.’
‘Nor that,’ said Searle.
‘For those things are not God’s work.’
‘But Searle,’ said Ulf, ‘if this is God’s city, they must be angels.
riffin,’ hissed Connor, and the very ground did quake with the terrible passage of what lay before them, ‘must we cross that?’
And the boy hung his head, for he knew the answer yet knew also there was danger to overpower any but the most staunch.
‘Yes, Con — we must.’ 
