GLN:8:18 Though Ancheti protested, it was agreed that he should remain behind at the dwelling place of Formana.
GLN:8:19 So, making things ready, Hurmanetar and Formana departed in the morning light, while Ancheti remained behind, a guardian of young women, and his heart was sore. He raised his voice to Heaven, saying, "O Father of the Gods, whom Hurmanetar knows, why did You give him this restless heart? Why did You bestow it upon him? You have stirred his spirit, so now he goes into unimaginable danger. O Father of the Gods, of whom I am ignorant, overlook my shortcomings and hear my voice; from this day until he overcomes the Evil Thing and returns, let him ever rest in Your thoughts. Stand by him when he faces the Watchman at the Gate. Strengthen his arm when he strikes at the things that lurk to devour. What these might be or their nature is beyond my imagination. I know them only from the talk of men, each of whom sees them from a different stance. Yet, have any truly seen and lived to return? I know not, but I pray sincerely for him, whom I serve."
GLN:8:20 When Hurmanetar and Formana came to the edge of the forest, they were attacked by lions, but they slew the beasts. Then they entered the forest and saw great trees, such as they had not seen before. They went sleepless, for dread things lurked in the murky light of the forest. They pressed on, coming to the foot of the mountain where they camped and slept, for it was an open place.
GLN:8:21 Then, as the sun rose next day, they climbed the mountain until they came to a cleared place before the cave known as the Portal of the
Dead. Here Hurmanetar took leave of Formana, who remained in a hut just beyond the cleared place.
GLN:8:22 Now, Hurmanetar looked about, seeking the Guardian, for he knew what had to be done before he could enter the cave. Then he saw, to his right and beside the cave, a stone hut, and seated before it was a very old woman. Going up to the woman he greeted her and said, "I am one who would enter the dread place, the Abode of Death, the Threshold of the Otherworld, the Door Replacing the Misty Veil. I am one sanctified, one knowing the Lesser Mysteries, I am an Enlightened One."
GLN:8:23 The woman replied by asking the three questions, which all who would span the spheres must answer, and when this was done correctly, she invited Hurmanetar into the hut. Inside, she indicated a stool, and when he was seated she spread a cord around him in a circle. Then she placed a firepot before him, onto which she poured the contents of a small leather bag. She also gave him a pot of green water, which he drank.
GLN:8:24 Some time later, after he had slept awhile, Hurmanetar was conducted to the cave and left there at a spot known as the Devil's Mouth, for there, an evil breath came from an opening in the ground. He remained there for awhile, and again he slept. Awaking, he moved forward into a dark passage, but his movement was strange and he saw as through a narrow tunnel, while his body appeared light and airy.
GLN:8:25 He came to the place where the Watchman kept guard at the gate and beside him the Terror squatted. Hurmanetar drew his sword and faced the awful pair; he advanced cautiously towards them. Then, when they met, the air was filled with a loud clamour, great hissing noises beat at the ears; shouts and screams tore overhead. There was a howling such as no mortal has heard outside of that awful place. Hurmanetar drew back a pace, then advanced again and, behold, both the Watchman and the Terror suddenly vanished, and the hideous clamour was stilled.
GLN:8:26 Hurmanetar passed through the portal and came to a wider, more open place wherein there was a pool of water. It was deep, dark and still. He gazed into the water, and surely no mortal has ever seen such sights as he saw pictured in its stillness. He passed it by. Terrifying shadows leaped and quivered over the walls as he entered a narrowing passage, cast by some hidden ruddy light which seemed to dance as though alive. Then he saw daylight ahead.
GLN:8:27 He came out into the daylight; on one hand, the mountainside reared up; on the other was a vast chasm, between the two ran a narrow path and up this he went. Great birds attacked him, eagles and birds with strange heads. He fought them off and continued upward until he came within sight of the abode of Akamen. He came to it after the long journey upward and stood before the great brazen doors, the seven-bolted doors.
GLN:8:28 Hurmanetar saw no Guardian before the doors, but he heard its voice as it asked the seven questions. He who had sat at the feet of Nintursu remembered well the replies to make, and as each was answered, a bolt slid back. Seven questions were asked, and seven answers rightly given. The great doors swung apart and Hurmanetar passed through, entering the courtyard of Akamen.
GLN:8:29 Within the courtyard, Hurmanetar fought and overcame the four great beast Beings, which feast on the bodies of men, but the sword of Hurmanetar laid them low. He passed through the Hall of Contest, where good and evil spirits fight an eternal battle for the souls of men, coming into the Chamber of Death. Now weary, he sat himself down on the stone called the Seat of Makilam, for it was then in this place, and he waited.
GLN:8:30 Then, Akamen the Terrible came, and Hurmanetar strove with him for half a day and prevailed, and so, he entered into the place where stood the Door of the Spheres. This, Hurmanetar opened with the Great Key; he passed through and entered the Abode of the Dead. He held fast to the Great Key, for without it there was no return, nor could it be held by his own powers alone, but only through the additional powers of those who might come to his aid.
GLN:8:31 A mist gathered before him, gradually thickening, and as it thickened, it gave off an ever increasing brilliant light, at the same time shaping itself into a glorious form of brightness. When the shaping was complete, a Being stood there, radiant as the sunlight and lovely as the moonbeam. Hurmanetar heard a voice coming out from the Glorious Being, which said, "Who are you that comes hither, wan of cheek and with lowered countenance, heavy-hearted and dejected in spirit, weary from a strange fray? There is lamentation, in your heart and surely none such as you has entered here beforetimes. Brave indeed is the one who seeks entry by force of arms." Hurmanetar answered, "O beautiful vision, indeed my heart is not light, for I have fought an inhuman contest. I have been assailed by hideous things unknown on Earth, things, which haunt the night dreams of men and are spoken of only in whispers. I have come seeking a friend, a companion of the hunt, the loyal one of my wanderings. His death lies heavily upon my heart; therefore, I have dared to come even unto this place."
GLN:8:32 The Form of Beauty said, "He whom you seek lies beyond the Waters of Death, but you who have passed the Guardians are permitted to go thence. One thing, however, you must not do. In the midst of the waters grows the plant of eternity, the forbidden tree, of which you and all men may not eat, a fruit of which was stolen by the serpent of ancient times. Partake of it now and you will suffer everlasting changelessness, the most dreadful of all fates. Go; tarry awhile, then return this way."
GLN:8:33 Hurmanetar passed over the still sullen waters to the Land of Waiting, where all spirits shine redly. He passed through the Great Doorway and came to the Place of Glory, the Land of Eternal living. He saw his friend, his companion of the hunt, the loyal one during his wanderings. Behold, there before his eyes was Yadol. Hurmanetar knew him, though he stood forth in a form more glorious than can be described to the understanding of men. He was here; life was in him, he was here in a bright and flowering place, a place of trees and waters, a place such as no man can describe.
GLN:8:34 Yadol spoke with Hurmanetar, and he spoke of things long forgotten by men and revealed truths unknown since the days when men walked with their Father. They spoke one with the other, they rested in pleasant places, they embraced, and they parted. Before Hurmanetar left, Yadol said, "As you have passed through the Portal of Death while yet uncalled from the embrace of the flesh, for no purpose other than gaining assurance that the dead do not pass into dust, it is decreed by the ordinance of this place that your life shall be shortened. Time enough, you will have; therefore, record the things of which we have spoken, that they may be guiding lights to men. Set them down in two books, one recording the Sacred Secrets, more precious than life itself and for the elect alone, The other recording the Sacred Mysteries for those who sit at the feet of the elect. One will be the Book of Truth Unveiled and the other the Book of Veiled Truth. the Book of Hidden Things."