the yellow god-第39部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


approached　this　door　it　opened　and　through　it；　like　a　hunted　thing；
ran　the　bedizened　Mungana；　husband　of　the　Asika；　terror；　or　madness；
shining　in　his　eyes。　Catching　sight　of　his　wife；　who　bore　the　lamp；　he
threw　himself　upon　his　knees　and　snatching　at　her　robe；　addressed　some
petition　to　her；　speaking　so　rapidly　that　Alan　could　not　follow　his
words。

For　a　moment　she　listened；　then　dragged　her　dress　from　his　hand　and
spurned　him　with　her　foot。　There　was　something　so　cruel　in　the　gesture
and　the　action；　so　full　of　deadly　hate　and　loathing；　that　Alan；　who
witnessed　it；　experienced　a　new　revulsion　of　feeling　towards　the
Asika。　What　kind　of　a　woman　must　she　be；　he　wondered；　who　could　treat
a　discarded　lover　thus　in　the　presence　of　his　successor？

With　a　groan　or　a　sob；　it　was　difficult　to　say　which；　the　poor　man
rose　and　perceived　Alan；　whose　face　he　now　beheld　for　the　first　time；
since　the　Asika　had　told　him　not　to　mask　himself　as　they　would　meet　no
one。　The　sight　of　it　seemed　to　fill　him　with　jealous　fury；　at　any　rate
he　leapt　at　his　rival；　intending；　apparently；　to　catch　him　by　the
throat。　Alan；　who　was　watching　him；　stepped　aside；　so　that　he　came
into　violet　contact　with　the　wall　of　the　passage　and；　half…stunned　by
the　shock；　reeled　onwards　into　the　darkness。

〃The　hog！〃　said　the　Asika；　or　rather　she　hissed　it；　〃the　hog；　who
dared　to　touch　me　and　to　strike　at　you。　Well；　his　time　is　shortwould
that　I　could　make　it　shorter！　Did　you　hear　what　he　sought　of　me？〃

Alan；　who　wished　for　no　confidences；　replied　by　asking　what　the
Mungana　was　doing　in　the　Treasure　House；　to　which　she　answered　that
the　spirits　who　dwelt　there　were　eating　up　his　soul；　and　when　they　had
devoured　it　all　he　would　go　quite　mad　and　kill　himself。

〃Does　this　happen　to　all　Munganas？〃　inquired　Alan。

〃Yes；　Vernoon；　if　the　Asika　hates　them；　but　if　she　loves　them　it　is
otherwise。　Come；　let　us　forget　the　wretch；　who　would　kill　you　if　he
could；〃　and　she　led　the　way　into　the　hall　and　up　it；　passing　between
the　heaps　of　gold。

On　the　table　where　lay　the　necklaces　of　gems　she　set　down　her　lamp；
whereof　the　light；　all　there　was　in　that　great　place；　flickered　feebly
upon　the　mask　of　Little　Bonsa；　which　had　been　moved　here　apparently
for　some　ceremonial　purpose；　and　still　more　feebly　upon　the　hideous；
golden　countenances　and　winding　sheets　of　the　ancient；　yellow　dead　who
stood　around　in　scores　placed　one　above　the　other；　each　in　his
appointed　niche。　It　was　an　awesome　scene　and　one　that　oppressed　Jeekie
very　much；　for　he　murmured　to　Alan：

〃Oh　my！　Major；　family　vault　child's　play　to　this　hole；　just　like〃
here　his　comparison　came　to　an　end；　for　the　Asika　cut　it　short　with　a
single　glance。

〃Sit　here　in　front　of　me；〃　she　said　to　Alan；　〃and　you；　Jeekie；　sit　at
your　lord's　side；　and　be　silent　till　I　bid　you　speak。〃

Then　she　crouched　down　in　a　heap　behind　them；　threw　the　cloth　or　veil
she　carried　over　her　head；　and　in　some　way　that　they　did　not　see；
suddenly　extinguished　the　lamp。

Now　they　were　in　deep　darkness；　the　darkness　of　death；　and　in　utter
silence；　the　silence　of　the　dead。　No　glimmer　of　light；　and　yet　to　Alan
it　seemed　as　though　he　could　feel　the　flash　of　the　crystal　eyes　of
Little　Bonsa；　and　of　all　the　other　eyes　set　in　the　masks　of　those
departed　men　who　once　had　been　the　husbands　of　the　bloodstained
priestess　of　the　Asiki；　till　one　by　one；　as　she　wearied　of　them；　they
were　bewitched　to　madness　and　to　doom。　In　that　utter　quiet　he　thought
even　that　he　could　hear　them　stir　within　their　winding　sheets；　or　it
may　have　been　that　the　Asika　had　risen　and　moved　among　them　on　some
errand　of　her　own。　Far　away　something　fell　to　the　floor；　a　very　light
object；　such　as　flake　of　rock　or　a　scale　of　gold。　Yet　the　noise　of　it
struck　his　nerves　loud　as　a　clap　of　thunder；　and　those　of　Jeekie　also；
for　he　felt　him　start　at　his　side　and　heard　the　sudden　hammerlike　beat
of　his　heart。

What　was　the　woman　doing　in　this　dreadful　place；　he　wondered。　Well；　it
was　easy　to　guess。　Doubtless　she　had　brought　them　here　to　scare　and
impress　them。　Presently　a　voice；　that　of　some　hidden　priest；　would
speak　to　them；　and　they　would　be　asked　to　believe　it　a　message　from
the　spirit　world；　or　a　spirit　itself　might　be　arrangedwhat　could　be
easier　in　their　mood　and　these　surroundings？

Now　the　Asika　was　speaking　behind　them　in　a　muffled　voice。　From　the
tone　of　it　she　appeared　to　be　engaged　in　argument　or　supplication　in
some　strange　tongue。　At　any　rate　Alan　could　not　understand　a　word　of
what　she　said。　The　argument；　or　prayer；　went　on　for　a　long　while；　with
pauses　as　though　for　answers。　Then　suddenly　it　ceased　and　once　more
they　were　plunged　into　that　unfathomable　silence。



CHAPTER　XVI

WHAT　THE　ASIKA　SHOWED　ALAN

It　seemed　to　Alan　that　he　went　to　sleep　and　dreamed。

He　dreamed　that　it　was　late　autumn　in　England。　Leaves　drifted　down
from　the　trees　beneath　the　breath　of　a　strong；　damp　wind；　and　ran　or
floated　along　the　road　till　they　vanished　into　a　ditch；　or　caught
against　a　pile　of　stones　that　had　been　laid　ready　for　its　repair。　He
knew　the　road　well　enough；　he　even　knew　the　elm　tree　beneath　which　he
seemed　to　stand　on　the　crest　of　a　hill。　It　was　that　which　ran　from　Mr。
Champers…Haswell's　splendid　house；　The　Court；　to　the　church；　he　could
see　them　both；　the　house　to　the　right；　the　church　to　the　left；　and　his
eyesight　seemed　to　have　improved；　since　he　was　able　to　observe　that　at
either　place　there　was　bustle　and　preparation　as　though　for　some　big
ceremony。

Now　the　big　gates　of　The　Court　opened　and　through　them　came　a　funeral。
It　advanced　toward　him　with　unnatural　swiftness；　as　though　it　floated
upon　air；　the　whole　melancholy　procession　of　it。　In　a　few　seconds　it
had　come　and　gone　and　yet　during　those　seconds　he　suffered　agony；　for
there　arose　in　his　mind　a　horrible　terror　that　this　was　Barbara's
burying。　He　could　not　have　endured　it　for　another　moment；　he　would
have　cried　out　or　died；　only　now　the　mourners　passed　him　following　the
coffin；　and　in　the　first　carriage　he　saw　Barbara　seated；　looking　sad
and　somewhat　troubled；　but　well。　A　little　further　down　the　line　came
another　carriage；　and　in　it　was　Sir　Robert　Aylward；　staring　before　him
with　cold；　impassive　face。

In　his　dream　Alan　thought　to　himself　that　he　must　have　borrowed　this
carriage；　which　would　not　be　strange；　as　he　generally　used　motors；　for
there　was　a　peer's　coronet　upon　the　panels　and　the　silver…mounted
harness。

The　funeral　passed　and　suddenly　vanished　into　the　churchyard　gates；
leaving　Alan　wondering　why　his　cousin　Haswell　was　not　seated　at
Barbara's　side。　Then　it　occurred　to　him　that　it　might　be　because　he
was　in　the　coffin；　and　at　that　moment　in　his　dream　he　heard　the　Asika
asking　Jeekie　what　he　saw；　heard　Jeekie　answering　also；　〃A　burying　in
the　country　called　England。〃

〃Of　whom；　Jeekie？〃　Then　after　some　hesitation；　the　answer：

〃Of　a　lady　whom　my　lord　loves　very　much。　They　bury　her。〃

〃What　was　her　name；　Jeekie？〃

〃Her　name　was　Barbara。〃

〃Bar…bara；　why　that　you　told　me　was　the　name　of　his　mother　and　his
sister。　Which　of　them　is　buried？〃

〃Neither；　O　Asika。　It　was　another　lady　who　loved　him　very　much　and
wanted　to　marry　him；　and　that　was　why　he　ran　away　to　Africa。　But　now
she　is　dead　and　buried。〃

〃Are　all　women　in　England　called　Barbara；　Jeekie？〃

〃Yes；　O　Asika；　Barbara　means　woman。〃

〃If　your　lord　loved　this　Barbara；　why　then　did　he　run　away　from　her？
Well；　it　matters　not　since　she　is　dead　and　buried；　for　whatever　their
spirits　may　feel；　no　man　cares　for　a　woman　that　is　dead　until　she
clothes　herself　in　flesh　again。　That　was　a　good　vision　and　I　will
reward　you　for　it。〃

〃I　have　earned　nothing；　O　Asika；〃　answered　Jeekie　modestly；　〃who　only
tell　you　what　I　see　as　I　must。　Yet；　O　Asika；〃　he　added　with　a　note　of
anxiety　in　his　voice；　〃why　do　you　not　read　these　magic　writings　for
yourself？〃

〃Because　I　dare　not；　or　rather　because　I　can　not；〃　she　answered
fiercely。　〃Be　silent；　slave；　for　now　the　power　of　the　good　broods　upon
my　soul。〃

The　dream　went　on。　A　great　forest　appeared；　such　a　forest　as　they　had
passed　before　they　met　the　cannibals；　and　set　beneath　one　of　the
trees；　a　tent　and　in　that　tent　Barbara；　Barbara　weeping。　Someone　began
to　lift　the　flap　of　the　tent。　She　sprang　up；　snatching　at　a　pistol
that　lay　beside　her；　turning　its　muzzle　towards　her　breast。　A　man
entered　the　tent。　Alan　saw　his　face；　it　was　his　own。　Barbara　let　fall
the　pistol　and　fell　backwards　as　though　a　bullet　from　it　had　pierced
her　heart。　He　leapt　towards　her；　but　before　he　came　to　where　she　lay
everything　had　vanished　and　he　heard　Jeekie　droning　out　his　lies　to
the　Asika；　telling　her　that　the　vision　he　had　seen　was　one　of　her　and
his　master　seated　with　their　arms　about　each　other　in　a　chamber　of　the
Golden　House。

A　third　time　the　dream　descended　on　Alan　like　a　cloud。　It　seemed　to
him　that　he　was　borne　beyond　the　flaming　borders　of　the　world。
Everything　around　was　new　and　unfamiliar；　vast；　changing；　lovely；
terrible。　He　stood　alone　upon　a　pearly　plain　and　the　sky　above　him　was
lit　with　red　moons；　many　and　many　of　them　that　hung　there　like　lamps。
Spirits　began　to　pass　him。　He　could　catch　something　of　their　splendour
as　they　sped　by　with　incredible　swiftness；　he　could　hear　the　music　of
their　laughter。　One　rose　up　at　his　side。　It　was　the　Asika；　only　a
thousand　times　more　splendid；　clothed　in　all　the　glory　of　hell。
Majestically　she　bent　towards　him；　her　glowing　eyes　held　his；　the
deadly　perfume　of　her　breath　beat　upon　his　brow　and　made　him　drunken。

She　spoke　to　him　and　her　voice　sounded　like　distant　bells。

〃Through　many　a　life；　through　many　a　life；〃　she　said；　〃bought　with
much　blood；　paid　for　with　a　million　tears；　but　mine　at　last；　the　soul
that　I　have　won　to　comfort　my　soul　in　the　eternal　day。　Come　to　the
place　I　have　made　ready　for　you；　the　hell　that　shall　turn　to　heaven　at
your　step；　come；　you　by　whom　I　am　redeemed；　and　drive　away　those　gods
that　torture　me　because　I　was　their　servant　that　I　might　win　you。〃

So　she　spoke；　and　though　all　his　soul　revolted；　yet　the　fearful
strength　that　was　in　her　seemed　to　draw　him　onward　whither　she　would
go。　Then　a　light　shone　and　that　light　was