Just thinking about going down made Alvin start to sink； until he was clear to the bottom； on the shiny clear floor。 Floor？ It could have been the ceiling for all he knowed。 There was light ing up from there just like it was shining through the other walls； and he saw pictures there； too。
He saw a huge cloud of dust spin faster and faster； but instead of spitting out dust it sucked it all in； and suddenly it started glowing； and then it caught fire； and it was the sun； just as plain as could be。 Alvin knew somewhat about the planets； cause Thrower talked about them； so he wasn't surprised to see them glowing points of light that pretty soon got dim。 And after a while instead of dust mixed with darkness； it was all either worlds or empty space； pretty much。 He saw the Earth； so small； but then he came closer and he saw how big it was； spinning so fast； one face of the Earth lit up from sunlight； the other face dark。 He stood in the sky； it seemed； looking down on the lit place； but he could see all that was going on。 First bare rock； spouting volcanoes； then out of the ocean； plants spreading out； growing tall； ferns and trees。 He saw fish leaping in the sea； crawly life on the shore where the tide came in； and then bugs and other small critters； hopping and nibbling on leaves and catching each other and eating each other up。 Them animals kept getting bigger and bigger； so fast Alvin couldn't follow the changes； just the Earth spinning and him watching； huge monstrous creatures like he never heard of； with long snakey necks some of them； and teeth and jaws to tear down trees with a single bite； it looked like。 And then they were gone； and there were elephants and antelopes and tigers and horses； all the life of the earth； getting more and more like what Alvin thought animals ought to look like。 But nowhere in all this did he see a man。 He found apes and hairy things that hit each other with rocks； things that walked on their hind legs but looked about as dumb as frogs。
And then he did see some folks； though he wasn't sure at first cause they were Black and he hadn't seen but one Black man in his life； a slave owned by a peddler from the Crown Colonies； who happened to e through Vigor Church maybe two years back。 But they looked like human people； all right； Black or not； and they were pulling fruit down out of trees and berries off of bushes； feeding each other； a passel of pickaninnies following in their tracks。 Two of the young ones got to fighting； and the big one killed the little one。 The papa came back then； and kicked the one who did the killing； made him go away。 Then he picked up the dead one and brought him back to the mama； both of them crying； and they laid that dead child down and covered him up with rocks。 Then they gathered up their family and walked on； and after just a few steps they were eating again； and the tears stopped； and they went on； just went on。 These are folks； that's sure； thought Alvin。 This is just the way human people are。
The Earth kept turning； and by the time it e round again there was all kinds of folks； dark ones in the hot countries； light ones in the cold countries； with all shades in between。 Except when America came under the light of the sun。 In America folks was pretty much all the same kind； all Red； whether they lived north or south； hot or cold； wet or dry。 And the land was at peace； pared to the other part of the world。 It was strange for him to see； because when the big part of the land came by； with all its different races and nations； why； it changed with every sweep of the Earth； whole countries moved from one place to another； everything always shuffling around； and wars every minute everywhere。 The smaller land； America； it had some too； but it was all slower； gentler。 The people lived in a different rhythm。 The land had its own heartbeat； its own life。
From time to time more people would e from the old world fishermen； mostly。 Off course； led astray by storms； running from enemies。 They'd e； and for a time they'd live their old…world life in America； trying to build fast； and breed fast； and kill as much as they could。 Like a sickness。 But then they'd either join in with the Reds and disappear； or get killed off。 None of them ever kept up their old…world ways。
Until now； thought Alvin。 Now when we came； we were just too strong。 Like getting a couple of colds maybe； and you begin to think you won't never get real sick； and then you get a dose of smallpox and you know that you were never truly sick before at all。
Alvin felt a hand on his shoulder。
〃So there is where you looked；〃 said the Prophet。 〃What did you see？〃
〃I think I saw the whole creation of the world；〃 said Al。 〃Just like in the Bible。 I think I saw〃
〃I know what you saw。 We all see this； all who have ever e to this place。〃
〃I thought you said I was the first you brought。〃
〃This place there are many doors inside。 Some walk in through fire。 Some walk in through water。 Some through being buried in the earth。 Some by falling through the air。 They e to this place and see。 They go back and tell what they remember； as much of it as they understood； and tell it； as much as they have words to say； and others listen and remember； as much as they can understand。 This is the seeing place。〃
〃I don't want to leave；〃 said Alvin。
〃No； and neither does the other one。〃
〃Who？ Is there somebody else here？〃
The Prophet shook his head。 〃Not his body。 But I feel him in me； looking； out of my eye。〃 He tapped the cheekbone under his good eye。 〃Not this eye； the other。〃
〃Can't you tell who it is？〃
〃White；〃 he said。 〃It doesn't matter。 Whoever it is did no harm。 I think maybe will do a good thing。 Now we go。〃
〃But I want to know all the stories in this place！〃
The Prophet laughed。 〃You could live forever and not see all the stories。 They change faster than a man can see。〃
〃How will I ever e here again？ I want to see everything； all of it！〃
〃I will never bring you back；〃 said the Prophet。
〃Why？ Did I do something wrong？〃
〃Hush； Roach Boy。 I will never bring you back； because I will never e here myself again。 This is the last time。 I have seen the end of all my dreams。〃
For the first time； Alvin realized how sad the Prophet looked。 His face was haggard with grief。
〃I saw you in this place。 I saw that I had to bring you here。 I saw you in the hands of the Chok…Taw。 I sent my brother to get you； bring you back。〃
〃Is it cause you brought me here that you can't never e here again yourself？〃
〃No。 The land has chosen。 The end will be soon。〃 He smiled； but it was a ghastly smile。 〃Your preacher； Reverend Thrower； he said to me once if your foot gets sick； cut it off。 Right？〃
〃I don't remember that。〃
〃I do；〃 said the Prophet。 〃This part of the land； it is already sick。 Cut it off； so the rest of the land can live。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 Alvin conjured up pictures in his mind； about pieces of the land breaking off and failing into the sea。
〃Red man will go west of the Mizzipy。 White man will stay east。 Red part of land will live。 White part of land will be very dead； cut off。 Full of smoke and metal； guns and death。 Red men who stay in the east will turn White。 And White men won't e west of the Mizzipy。〃
〃There's already White men west of the Mizzipy。 Trappers and traders； mostly； but a few farmers with their families。 〃
〃I know；〃 said the Prophet。 〃But what I see here today I know how to make the White man never e west again； and how to make the Red man never stay east。 〃
〃How're you going to do that？〃
〃If I tell；〃 said the Prophet； 〃then it won't happen。 Some things in this place； you can't tell； or it changes； and they go away。〃
〃Is it the crystal city？〃 asked Alvin。
〃No；〃 said the Prophet。 〃It is the river of blood。 It is the forest of iron。〃
〃Show me！〃 demanded the boy。 〃Let me see what you saw！〃
〃No；〃 said the Prophet。 〃You wouldn't keep the secret。〃
〃Why wouldn't I？ If I give my word I won't break it！〃
〃You could give your word all day； Roach Boy； but if you saw the vision you would cry out in fear and pain。 And you would tell your brother。 You