when the world shook-第27章
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looked as though it were made of velvet。 Moreover； his face had
plumped out。 He still looked ancient； it is true； and unutterably
wise； but now he resembled an antique youth； so great were his
energy and vigour。 Also； his dark and glowing eyes shone with a
fearful intensity。 In short； he seemed impressive and terrible
almost beyond imagining。
He looked about him slowly； then asked in a deep； cold voice；
speaking in the Orofenan tongue：
〃What do you； slaves？〃
No one seemed able to answer； they were too horror…stricken at
this sudden vision of their fabled god； whose fierce features of
wood had become flesh； they only turned to fly。 He waved his thin
hand and they came to a standstill； like animals which have
reached the end of their tether and are checked by the chains
that bind them。 There they stood in all sorts of postures；
immovable and looking extremely ridiculous in their paint and
feathers； with dread unutterable stamped upon their evil faces。
The Sleeper spoke again：
〃You would murder as did your forefathers； O children of snakes
and hogs fashioned in the shape of men。 You would sacrifice those
who dwell in my shadow to satisfy your hate because they are
wiser than you。 Come hither thou；〃 and he beckoned with a bony
finger to the chief magician。
The man advanced towards him in short jumps； as a mechanical
toy might do； and stood before him； his miniature crate and
feathers all awry and the sweat of terror melting the paint in
streaks upon his face。
〃Look into the eyes of Oro； O worshipper of Oro；〃 said the
Sleeper； and he obeyed； his own eyes starting out of his head。
〃Receive the curse of Oro；〃 said the Ancient again。 Then
followed a terrible spectacle。 The man went raving mad。 He
bounded into the air to a height inconceivable。 He threw himself
upon the ground and rolled upon the rock。 He rose again and
staggered round and round； tearing pieces out of his arms with
his teeth。 He yelled hideously like one possessed。 He grovelled；
beating his forehead against the rock。 Then he sat up； slowly
choked anddied。
His companions seemed to catch the infection of death as
terrified savages often do。 They too performed dreadful antics；
all except three of them who stood paralysed。 They rushed about
battering each other with their fists and wooden weapons； looking
like devils from hell in their hideous painted attire。 They
grappled and fought furiously。 They separated and plunged into
the lake； where with a last grimace they sank like stones。
It seemed to last a long while； but I think that as a matter of
fact within five minutes it was over； they were all dead。 Only
the three paralysed ones remained standing and rolling their
eyes。
The Sleeper beckoned to them with his thin finger； and they
walked forward in step like soldiers。
〃Lift that man from the boat；〃 he said； pointing to Bastin；
〃cut his bonds and those of the others。〃
They obeyed with a Wonderful alacrity。 In a minute we stood at
liberty and were pulling the grass gags from our mouths。 The
Ancient pointed to the head magician who lay dead upon the rock；
his hideous； contorted countenance staring open…eyed at heaven。
〃Take that sorcerer and show him to the other sorcerers yonder；〃
he said； 〃and tell them where your fellows are if they would find
them。 Know by these signs that the Oro； god of the Mountain； who
has slept a while； is awake； and ill will it go with them who
question his power or dare to try to harm those who dwell in his
house。 Bring food day by day and await commands。 Begone！〃
The dreadful…looking body was bundled into one of the canoes；
that out of which Bastin had emerged。 A rower sprang into each of
them and presently was paddling as he had never done before。 As
the setting moon vanished； they vanished with it； and once more
there was a great silence。
〃I am going to find my boots；〃 said Bastin。 〃This rock is hard
and I hurt my feet kicking at those poor fellows who appear to
have come to a bad end； how； I do not exactly understand。
Personally； I think that more allowances should have been made
for them； as I hope will be the case elsewhere； since after all
they only acted according to their lights。〃
〃Curse their lights！〃 ejaculated Bickley； feeling his throat
which was bruised。 〃I'm glad they are out。〃
Bastin limped away in search of his boots； but Bickley and I
stood where we were contemplating the awakened Sleeper。 All
recollection of the recent tumultuous scene seemed to have passed
from his mind； for he was engaged in a study of the heavens。 They
were wonderfully brilliant now that the moon was down； brilliant
as they only can be in the tropics when the sky is clear。
Something caused me to look round； and there； coming towards
us； was she who said her name was Yva。 Evidently all her weakness
had departed also； for now she needed no support； but walked with
a peculiar gliding motion that reminded me of a swan floating
forward on the water。 Well had we named her the Glittering Lady；
for in the starlight literally she seemed to glitter。 I suppose
the effect came from her golden raiment； which； however； I
noticed； as in her father's case； was not the same that she had
worn in the coffin； also from her hair that seemed to give out a
light of its own。 At least； she shimmered as she came； her tall
shape swaying at every step like a willow in the wind。 She drew
near； and I saw that her face； too； had filled out and now was
that of one in perfect health and vigour； while her eyes shone
softly and seemed wondrous large。
In her hands she carried those two plates of metal which I had
seen lying in the coffin of the Sleeper Oro。 These she gave to
him； then fell back out of his hearingif it were ever possible
to do this； a point on which I am not sureand began to talk to
me。 I noted at once that in the few hours during which she was
absent； her knowledge of the Orofenan tongue seemed to have
improved greatly as though she had drunk deeply from some hidden
fount of memory。 Now she spoke it with readiness； as Oro had done
when he addressed the sorcerers； although many of the words she
used were not known to me； and the general form of her language
appeared archaic； as for instance that of Spenser is compared
with modern English。 When she saw I did not comprehend her；
however； she would stop and cast her sentences in a different
shape； till at length I caught her meaning。 Now I give the
substance of what she said。
〃You are safe；〃 she began； glancing first at the palm ropes
that lay upon the rock and then at my wrists； one of which was
cut。
〃Yes； Lady Yva； thanks to your father。〃
〃You should say thanks to me。 My father was thinking of other
things； but I was thinking of you strangers； and from where I was
I saw those wicked ones coming to kill you。〃
〃Oh！ from the top of the mountain； I suppose。〃
She shook her head and smiled but vouchsafed no further
explanation； unless her following words can be so called。 These
were：
〃I can see otherwise than with my eyes； if I choose。〃 A
statement that caused Bickley； who was listening； to mutter：
〃Impossible！ What the deuce can she mean？ Telepathy； perhaps。〃
〃I saw；〃 she continued； 〃and told the Lord； my father。 He came
forth。 Did he kill them？ I did not look to learn。〃
〃Yes。 They lie in the lake； all except three whom he
sent away as messengers。〃
〃I thought so。 Death is terrible； O Humphrey； but it is a sword
which those； who rule must use to smite the wicked and the
savage。
Not wishing to pursue this subject； I asked her what her father
was doing with the metal plates。
〃He reads the stars；〃 she answered； 〃to learn how long we have
been asleep。 Before we went to sleep he made two pictures of
them； as they were then and as they should be at the time he had
set for our awakening。〃
〃We set that time；〃 interrupted Bickley。
〃Not so。 O Bickley；〃 she answered； smiling again。 〃In the
divine Oro's head was the time set。 You were the hand that
executed his decree。〃
When Bickley heard this I really thought he would have burst。
However； he controlled himself nobly； being anxious to hear the
end of this mysterious fib。
〃How long was the time that the lord Oro set apart for sleep？〃
I asked。
She paused as though puzzled to find words to express her
meaning； then held up her hands and said：
〃Ten；〃 nodding at her fingers。 By second thoughts she took
Bickley's hands； not mine； and counted his ten fingers。
〃Ten years；〃 said Bickley。 〃Well； of course； it is impossible；
but perhaps〃 and he paused。
〃Ten tens；〃 she went on with a deepening smile； 〃one hundred。〃
〃O！〃 said Bickley。
〃Ten hundreds； one thousand。〃
〃I say！〃 said Bickley。
〃Ten times ten thousand； one hundred thousand。〃
Bickley became silent。
〃Twice one hundred thousand and half a hundred thousand； two
hundred and fifty thousand years。 That was the space of time
which the lord Oro； my father； set for our sleep。 Whether it has
been fulfilled he will know presently when he has read the book
of the stars and made comparison of it with what he wrote before
we laid us down to rest；〃 and she pointed to the metal plates
which the Ancient was studying。
Bickley walked away； making sounds as though he were going to
be ill and looking so absurd in his indignation that I nearly
laughed。 The Lady Yva actually did laugh； and very musical was
that laugh。
〃He does not believe；〃 she said。 〃He is so clever he knows
everything。 But two hundred and fifty thousand years ago we
should have thought him quite stupid。 Then we could read the
stars and calculate their movements for ever。〃
〃So can we；〃 I answered； rather nettled。
〃I am glad； O Humphrey； since you will be able to show my
father if in one of them he is wrong。〃
Secretly I hoped that this task would not be laid on me。
Indeed； I thought it well to change the subject for the
edification of Bickley who had recovered and was drawn back by
his eager curiosity。 Just then； too； Bastin joined us； happy in
his regained boots。
〃You tell us； Lady Yva；〃 I said； 〃that you slept； or should
have slept for two hundred and fifty thousand years。〃 Here Bastin
opened his eyes。 〃If that was so； where was your mind all this
time？〃
〃If by my mind you mean spirit； O Humphrey； I have to answer
that at present I do not know for certain。 I think； however； that
it dwelt elsewhere； perhaps in other bodies on the earth； or some
different earth。 At least； I know that my heart is very full of
memories which as yet I cannot unroll and read。〃
〃Great heavens； this is madness！〃 said Bickley。
〃In the great heavens；〃 she answered slowly； 〃there are many
things which you； poor man； would think to be madness； but yet
are truth and pe
