"To Falkynkip, I assume, to look for work on the ranches. But what does that—"

"No, not to Falkynkip, sir. Farther west. Pidruid is where they have gone. To wait for the coming of the dragons."

"What?"

"As in the revelation, sir."

"Simoost—!"

"You know nothing about the revelation, then?"

Etowan Elacca felt a surge of anger such as he had rarely known in his tranquil and well-fulfilled life. "I know nothing whatever about the revelation, no," he said with barely controllable fury.

"I will tell you, sir. I will tell you everything."

The Ghayrog was silent an instant, as though arranging his thoughts with some precision.

Then he took a deep breath and said, "There is an old belief, sir, that at a certain time great trouble will come upon the world, and all Majipoor will be thrust into confusion. And at that time, so it is said, the sea dragons will leave the sea, they will go forth onto the land and proclaim a new kingdom, and they will work an immense transformation in our world. And that time will be known as the time of the revelation."

"Whose fantasy is this?"

"Yes, fantasy is a good word for it, sir. Or fable, or, if you like, fairy-tale. It is not scientific. We understand that the sea-dragons are unable to emerge from the water. But the belief is quite widespread among some people, and they take much comfort from it."

"Which ones are those?"

"The poor people, chiefly. Mainly the Liimen, though some of the other races subscribe to it also, sir. I have heard it is prevalent among some Hjorts, and certain Skandars. It is not widely known among humans, and particularly not by such gentry as you, sir. But I tell you there are many now who say that the time of the revelation has come, that the blight upon the land and the shortage of food is the first sign of it, that the Coronal and Pontifex will soon be swept away and the reign of the water-kings will begin. And those who believe such a thing, sir, are going now toward the cities of the coast, toward Pidruid and Narabal and Til-omon, so that they can see the water-kings come ashore and be among the first to worship them. I know this to be the truth, sir. It is happening all through the province, and for all I know, it is happening everywhere in the world. Millions have begun to march toward the sea."

"How astonishing," said Etowan Elacca. "How ignorant I am, here in my little world within the world!"

He ran his finger down the length of the dragon-tooth, to the sharp tip, and pressed it tightly until he felt the pain. "And these? What do they signify?"

"As I understand it, sir, they place them here and there, as signs of the revelation and as trail markers showing the route to the coast. A few scouts move ahead of the great multitude of pilgrims heading west, and place the teeth, and soon afterward the others follow in their path."