beasts, men and gods-第35章

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I　had　heard　very　much　about　the　Bogdo　Khan　before　this　opportunity　to　see　him。　　I　had　heard　of　his　love　of　alcohol；　which　had　brought　on　blindness；　about　his　leaning　toward　exterior　western　culture　and　about　his　wife　drinking　deep　with　him　and　receiving　in　his　name　numerous　delegations　and　envoys。

In　the　room　which　the　Bogdo　used　as　his　private　study；　where　two　Lama　secretaries　watched　day　and　night　over　the　chest　that　contained　his　great　seals；　there　was　the　severest　simplicity。　　On　a　low；　plain；　Chinese　lacquered　table　lay　his　writing　implements；　a　case　of　seals　given　by　the　Chinese　Government　and　by　the　Dalai　Lama　and　wrapped　in　a　cloth　of　yellow　silk。　　Nearby　was　a　low　easy　chair；　a　bronze　brazier　with　an　iron　stovepipe　leading　up　from　it；　on　the　walls　were　the　signs　of　the　swastika；　Tibetan　and　Mongolian　inscriptions；　behind　the　easy　chair　a　small　altar　with　a　golden　statue　of　Buddha　before　which　two　tallow　lamps　were　burning；　the　floor　was　covered　with　a　thick　yellow　carpet。

When　we　entered；　only　the　two　Lama　secretaries　were　there；　for　the　Living　Buddha　was　in　the　small　private　shrine　in　an　adjoining　chamber；　where　no　one　is　allowed　to　enter　save　the　Bogdo　Khan　himself　and　one　Lama；　Kanpo…Gelong；　who　cares　for　the　temple　arrangements　and　assists　the　Living　Buddha　during　his　prayers　of　solitude。　　The　secretary　told　us　that　the　Bogdo　had　been　greatly　excited　this　morning。　　At　noon　he　had　entered　his　shrine。　　For　a　long　time　the　voice　of　the　head　of　the　Yellow　Faith　was　heard　in　earnest　prayer　and　after　his　another　unknown　voice　came　clearly　forth。　　In　the　shrine　had　taken　place　a　conversation　between　the　Buddha　on　earth　and　the　Buddha　of　heaventhus　the　Lamas　phrased　it　to　us。

〃Let　us　wait　a　little；〃　the　Baron　proposed。　　〃Perhaps　he　will　soon　come　out。〃

As　we　waited　the　General　began　telling　me　about　Jahantsi　Lama；　saying　that；　when　Jahantsi　is　calm；　he　is　an　ordinary　man　but；　when　he　is　disturbed　and　thinks　very　deeply；　a　nimbus　appears　about　his　head。

After　half　an　hour　the　Lama　secretaries　suddenly　showed　signs　of　deep　fear　and　began　listening　closely　by　the　entrance　to　the　shrine。　　Shortly　they　fell　on　their　faces　on　the　ground。　　The　door　slowly　opened　and　there　entered　the　Emperor　of　Mongolia；　the　Living　Buddha；　His　Holiness　Bogdo　Djebtsung　Damba　Hutuktu；　Khan　of　Outer　Mongolia。　　He　was　a　stout　old　man　with　a　heavy　shaven　face　resembling　those　of　the　Cardinals　of　Rome。　　He　was　dressed　in　the　yellow　silken　Mongolian　coat　with　a　black　binding。　　The　eyes　of　the　blind　man　stood　widely　open。　　Fear　and　amazement　were　pictured　in　them。　　He　lowered　himself　heavily　into　the　easy　chair　and　whispered：　　〃Write！〃

A　secretary　immediately　took　paper　and　a　Chinese　pen　as　the　Bogdo　began　to　dictate　his　vision；　very　complicated　and　far　from　clear。　He　finished　with　the　following　words：

〃This　I；　Bogdo　Hutuktu　Khan；　saw；　speaking　with　the　great　wise　Buddha；　surrounded　by　the　good　and　evil　spirits。　　Wise　Lamas；　Hutuktus；　Kanpos；　Marambas　and　Holy　Gheghens；　give　the　answer　to　my　vision！〃

As　he　finished；　he　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　head　and　asked　who　were　present。

〃Khan　Chiang　Chin　Baron　Ungern　and　a　stranger；〃　one　of　the　secretaries　answered　on　his　knees。

The　General　presented　me　to　the　Bogdo；　who　bowed　his　head　as　a　sign　of　greeting。　　They　began　speaking　together　in　low　tones。　　Through　the　open　door　I　saw　a　part　of　the　shrine。　　I　made　out　a　big　table　with　a　heap　of　books　on　it；　some　open　and　others　lying　on　the　floor　below；　a　brazier　with　the　red　charcoal　in　it；　a　basket　containing　the　shoulder　blades　and　entrails　of　sheep　for　telling　fortunes。　Soon　the　Baron　rose　and　bowed　before　the　Bogdo。　　The　Tibetan　placed　his　hands　on　the　Baron's　head　and　whispered　a　prayer。　　Then　he　took　from　his　own　neck　a　heavy　ikon　and　hung　it　around　that　of　the　Baron。

〃You　will　not　die　but　you　will　be　incarnated　in　the　highest　form　of　being。　　Remember　that；　Incarnated　God　of　War；　Khan　of　grateful　Mongolia！〃　　I　understood　that　the　Living　Buddha　blessed　the　〃Bloody　General〃　before　death。


During　the　next　two　days　I　had　the　opportunity　to　visit　the　Living　Buddha　three　times　together　with　a　friend　of　the　Bogdo；　the　Buriat　Prince　Djam　Bolon。　　I　shall　describe　these　visits　in　Part　IV。

Baron　Ungern　organized　the　trip　for　me　and　my　party　to　the　shore　of　the　Pacific。　　We　were　to　go　on　camels　to　northern　Manchuria；　because　there　it　was　easy　to　avoid　cavilling　with　the　Chinese　authorities　so　badly　oriented　in　the　international　relationship　with　Poland。　　Having　sent　a　letter　from　Uliassutai　to　the　French　Legation　at　Peking　and　bearing　with　me　a　letter　from　the　Chinese　Chamber　of　Commerce；　expressing　thanks　for　the　saving　of　Uliassutai　from　a　pogrom；　I　intended　to　make　for　the　nearest　station　on　the　Chinese　Eastern　Railway　and　from　there　proceed　to　Peking。　　The　Danish　merchant　E。　V。　Olufsen　was　to　have　traveled　out　with　me　and　also　a　learned　Lama　Turgut；　who　was　headed　for　China。

Never　shall　I　forget　the　night　of　May　19th　to　20th　of　1921！　　After　dinner　Baron　Ungern　proposed　that　we　go　to　the　yurta　of　Djam　Bolon；　whose　acquaintance　I　had　made　on　the　first　day　after　my　arrival　in　Urga。　　His　yurta　was　placed　on　a　raised　wooden　platform　in　a　compound　located　behind　the　Russian　settlement。　　Two　Buriat　officers　met　us　and　took　us　in。　　Djam　Bolon　was　a　man　of　middle　age；　tall　and　thin　with　an　unusually　long　face。　　Before　the　Great　War　he　had　been　a　simple　shepherd　but　had　fought　together　with　Baron　Ungern　on　the　German　front　and　afterwards　against　the　Bolsheviki。　　He　was　a　Grand　Duke　of　the　Buriats；　the　successor　of　former　Buriat　kings　who　had　been　dethroned　by　the　Russian　Government　after　their　attempt　to　establish　the　Independence　of　the　Buriat　people。　　The　servants　brought　us　dishes　with　nuts；　raisins；　dates　and　cheese　and　served　us　tea。

〃This　is　the　last　night；　Djam　Bolon！〃　said　Baron　Ungern。　　〃You　promised　me　。　。　。〃

〃I　remember；〃　answered　the　Buriat；　〃all　is　ready。〃

For　a　long　time　I　listened　to　their　reminiscences　about　former　battles　and　friends　who　had　been　lost。　　The　clock　pointed　to　midnight　when　Djam　Bolon　got　up　and　went　out　of　the　yurta。

〃I　want　to　have　my　fortune　told　once　more；〃　said　Baron　Ungern；　as　though　he　were　justifying　himself。　　〃For　the　good　of　our　cause　it　is　too　early　for　me　to　die。　。　。　。〃

Djam　Bolon　came　back　with　a　little　woman　of　middle　years；　who　squatted　down　eastern　style　before　the　brazier；　bowed　low　and　began　to　stare　at　Baron　Ungern。　　Her　face　was　whiter；　narrower　and　thinner　than　that　of　a　Mongol　woman。　　Her　eyes　were　black　and　sharp。　　Her　dress　resembled　that　of　a　gypsy　woman。　　Afterwards　I　learned　that　she　was　a　famous　fortune　teller　and　prophet　among　the　Buriats；　the　daughter　of　a　gypsy　woman　and　a　Buriat。　　She　drew　a　small　bag　very　slowly　from　her　girdle；　took　from　it　some　small　bird　bones　and　a　handful　of　dry　grass。　　She　began　whispering　at　intervals　unintelligible　words；　as　she　threw　occasional　handfuls　of　the　grass　into　the　fire；　which　gradually　filled　the　tent　with　a　soft　fragrance。　　I　felt　a　distinct　palpitation　of　my　heart　and　a　swimming　in　my　head。　　After　the　fortune　teller　had　burned　all　her　grass；　she　placed　the　bird　bones　on　the　charcoal　and　turned　them　over　again　and　again　with　a　small　pair　of　bronze　pincers。　　As　the　bones　blackened；　she　began　to　examine　them　and　then　suddenly　her　face　took　on　an　expression　of　fear　and　pain。　　She　nervously　tore　off　the　kerchief　which　bound　her　head　and；　contracted　with　convulsions；　began　snapping　out　short；　sharp　phrases。

〃I　see　。　。　。　I　see　the　God　of　War。　。　。　。　　His　life　runs　out　。　。　。　horribly。　。　。　。　　After　it　a　shadow　。　。　。　black　like　the　night。　。　。　。　Shadow。　。　。　。　　One　hundred　thirty　steps　remain。　。　。　。　　Beyond　darkness。　。　。　。　　Nothing　。　。　。　I　see　nothing。　。　。　。　　The　God　of　War　has　disappeared。　。　。　。〃

Baron　Ungern　dropped　his　head。　　The　woman　fell　over　on　her　back　with　her　arms　stretched　out。　　She　had　fainted；　but　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　noticed　once　a　bright　pupil　of　one　of　her　eyes　showing　from　under　the　closed　lashes。　　Two　Buriats　carried　out　the　lifeless　form；　after　which　a　long　silence　reigned　in　the　yurta　of　the　Buriat　Prince。　　Baron　Ungern　finally　got　up　and　began　to　walk　around　the　brazier；　whispering　to　himself。　　Afterwards　he　stopped　and　began　speaking　rapidly：

〃I　shall　die！　　I　shall　die！　。　。　。　but　no　matter；　no　matter。　。　。　。　The　cause　has　been　launched　and　will　not　die。　。　。　。　　I　know　the　roads　this　cause　will　travel。　　The　tribes　of　Jenghiz　Khan's　successors　are　awakened。　　Nobody　shall　extinguish　the　fire　in　the　heart　of　the　Mongols！　　In　Asia　there　will　be　a　great　State　from　the　Pacific　and　Indian　Oceans　to　the　shore　of　the　Volga。　　The　wise　religion　of　Buddha　shall　run　to　the　north　and　the　west。　　It　will　be　the　victory　of　the　spirit。　　A　conqueror　and　leader　will　appear　stronger　and　more　stalwart　than　Jenghiz　Khan　and　Ugadai。　　He　will　be　more　clever　and　more　merciful　than　Sultan　Baber　and　he　will　keep　power　in　his　hands　until　the　happy　day　when；　from　his　subterranean　capital；　shall　emerge　the　King　of　the　World。　　Why；　why　shall　I　not　be　in　the　first　ranks　of　the　warriors　of　Buddhism？　　Why　has　Karma　decided　so？　　But　so　it　must　be！　　And　Russia　must　first　wash　herself　from　the　insult　of　revolution；　purifying　herself　with　blood　and　death；　and　all　people　accepting　Communism　must　perish　with　their　families　in　order　that　all　their　offspring　may　be　rooted　out！〃

The　Baron　raised　his　hand　above　his　head　and　shook　it；　as　though　he　were　giving　his　orders　and　bequests　to　some　invisible　person。

Day　was　dawning。

〃My　time　has　come！〃　said　the　General。　　〃In　a　little　while　I　shall　leave　Urga。〃

He　quickly　and　firmly　shook　hands　with　us　and　said：

〃Good…bye　for　all　time！　　I　shall　die　a　horrible　death　but　the　world　has　never　seen　such　a　terror　and　such　a　sea　of　blood　as　it　shall　now　see。　。　。　。〃

The　door　of　the　yurta　slammed　shut　and　he　was　gone。　　I　never　saw　him　again。

〃I　must　go　also；　for　I　am　likewise　leaving　Urga　today。〃

〃I　know　it；〃　answered　the　Prince；　〃the　Baron　has　left　you　with　me　for　some　purpose。　　I　will　give　you　a　fourth　companion；　the　Mongol　Minister　of　War。　　You　will　accompany　him　to　your　yurta。　　It　is　necessary　for　you。　。　。　。〃

Djam　Bolon　pronounced　this　last　with　an　accent　on　every　word。　　I　did　not　question　him　about　it；　as　I　was　accustomed　to　the　mystery　of　this　country　of　the　mysteries　of　good　and　evil　spirits。


CHAPTER　XXXIX

〃THE　MAN　WITH　A　HEAD　LIKE　A　SADDLE〃


After　drinking　tea　at　Djam　Bolon's　yurta　I　rode　back　to　my　quarters　and　packed　my　few　belongings。　　The　Lama　Turgut　was　already　there。

〃The　Minister　of　War　will　travel　with　us；〃　he　whispered。　　〃It　is　necessary。〃

〃All　right；〃　I　answered；　and　rode　off　to　Olufsen　to　summon　him。　But　Olufsen　unexpectedly　announced　that　he　was　forced　to　spend　some　few　days　more　in　Urgaa　fatal　decision　for　him；　for　a　month　later　he　was　reported　killed　by　Sepailoff　who　remained　as　Commandant　of　the　city　after　Baron　Ungern's　departure。　　The　War　Minister；　a　stout；　young　Mongol；　joined　our　caravan。　　When　we　had　gone　about　six　miles　from　the　city；　we　saw　an　automobile　coming　up　behind　us。　The　Lama　shrunk　up　inside　his　coat　and　looked　at　me　with　fear。　　I　felt　the　now　familiar　atmosphere　of　danger　and　so　opened　my　holster　and　threw　over　the　safety　catch　of　my　revolver。