when the world shook-第34章

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me　as　a　bedroom。　There　are　degrees　in　the　pleasures　of　solitude

and；　in　short；　I　will　not　disturb　your　privacy　at　night。〃



Oro　waved　his　hand　and　we　departed　down　that　awful　and　most

dreary　hall。



〃I　hope　you　will　spend　a　pleasant　time　here；　Bastin；〃　I　said；

looking　back　from　the　doorway　at　its　cold；　illuminated　vastness。



〃I　don't　expect　to；〃　he　answered；　〃but　duty　is　duty；　and　if　I

can　drag　that　old　sinner　back　from　the　pit　that　awaits　him；　it

will　be　worth　doing。　Only　I　have　my　doubts　about　him。　To　me　he

seems　to　bear　a　strong　family　resemblance　to　Beelzebub；　and　he's

a　bad　companion　week　in　and　week　out。〃



We　went　through　the　portico；　Yva　leading　us；　and　passed　the

fountain　of　Life…water；　of　which　she　cautioned　us　to　drink　no

more　at　present；　and　to　prevent　him　from　doing　so；　dragged　Tommy

past　it　by　his　collar。　Bickley；　however；　lingered　under　the

pretence　of　making　a　further　examination　of　the　statue。　As　I　had

seen　him　emptying　into　his　pocket　the　contents　of　a　corked　bottle

of　quinine　tabloids　which　he　always　carried　with　him；　I　guessed

very　well　that　his　object　was　to　procure　a　sample　of　this　water

for　future　analysis。　Of　course　I　said　nothing；　and　Yva　and　Bastin

took　no　note　of　what　he　was　doing。



When　we　were　clear　of　the　palace；　of　which　we　had　only　seen　one

hall；　we　walked　across　an　open　space　made　unutterably　dreary　by

the　absence　of　any　vegetation　or　other　sign　of　life；　towards　a

huge　building　of　glorious　proportions　that　was　constructed　of

black　stone　or　marble。　It　is　impossible　for　me　to　give　any　idea

of　the　frightful　solemnity　of　this　doomed　edifice；　for　as　I　think

I　have　said；　it　alone　had　a　roof；　standing　there　in　the　midst　of

that　brilliant；　unvarying　and　most　unnatural　illumination　which

came　from　nowhere　and　yet　was　everywhere。　Thus；　when　one　lifted　a

foot；　there　it　was　between　the　sole　of　the　boot　and　the　floor；　or

to　express　it　better；　the　boot　threw　no　shadow。　I　think　this

absence　of　shadows　was　perhaps　the　most　terrifying　circumstance

connected　with　that　universal　and　pervading　light。　Through　it　we

walked　on　to　the　temple。　We　passed　three　courts；　pillared　all　of

them；　and　came　to　the　building　which　was　larger　than　St。　Paul's

in　London。　We　entered　through　huge　doors　which　still　stood　open；

and　presently　found　ourselves　beneath　the　towering　dome。　There

were　no　windows；　why　should　there　be　in　a　place　that　was　full　of

light？　There　was　no　ornamentation；　there　was　nothing　except　black

walls。　And　yet　the　general　effect　was　magnificent　in　its　majestic

grace。



〃In　this　place；〃　said　Yva；　and　her　sweet　voice　went　whispering

round　the　walls　and　the　arching　dome；　〃were　buried　the　Kings　of

the　Sons　of　Wisdom。　They　lie　beneath；　each　in　his　sepulchre。　Its

entrance　is　yonder；〃　and　she　pointed　to　what　seemed　to　be　a

chapel　on　the　right。　〃Would　you　wish　to　see　them？〃



〃Somehow　I　don't　care　to；〃　said　Bastin。　〃The　place　is　dreary

enough　as　it　is　without　the　company　of　a　lot　of　dead　kings。〃



〃I　should　like　to　dissect　one　of　them；　but　I　suppose　that　would

not　be　allowed；〃　said　Bickley。



〃No；〃　she　answered。　〃I　think　that　the　Lord　Oro　would　not　wish

you　to　cut　up　his　forefathers。〃



〃When　you　and　he　went　to　sleep；　why　did　you　not　choose　the

family　vault？〃　asked　Bastin。



〃Would　you　have　found　us　there？〃　she　queried　by　way　of　answer。

Then；　understanding　that　the　invitation　was　refused　by　general

consent；　though　personally　I　should　have　liked　to　accept　it；　and

have　never　ceased　regretting　that　I　did　not；　she　moved　towards　a

colossal　object　which　stood　beneath　the　centre　of　the　dome。



On　a　stepped　base；　not　very　different　from　that　in　the　cave　but

much　larger；　sat　a　figure；　draped　in　a　cloak　on　which　was　graved

a　number　of　stars；　doubtless　to　symbolise　the　heavens。　The

fastening　of　the　cloak　was　shaped　like　the　crescent　moon；　and　the

foot…stool　on　which　rested　the　figure's　feet　was　fashioned　to

suggest　the　orb　of　the　sun。　This　was　of　gold　or　some　such　metal；

the　only　spot　of　brightness　in　all　that　temple。　It　was　impossible

to　say　whether　the　figure　were　male　or　female；　for　the　cloak

falling　in　long；　straight　folds　hid　its　outlines。　Nor　did　the

head　tell　us；　for　the　hair　also　was　hidden　beneath　the　mantle　and

the　face　might　have　been　that　of　either　man　or　woman。　It　was

terrible　in　its　solemnity　and　calm；　and　its　expression　was　as

remote　and　mystic　as　that　of　Buddha。　only　more　stern。　Also

without　doubt　it　was　blind；　it　was　impossible　to　mistake　the

sightlessness　of　those　staring　orbs。　Across　the　knees　lay　a　naked

sword　and　beneath　the　cloak　the　arms　were　hidden。　In　its　complete

simplicity　the　thing　was　marvelous。



On　either　side　upon　the　pedestal　knelt　a　figure　of　the　size　of

life。　One　was　an　old　and　withered　man　with　death　stamped　upon　his

face；　the　other　was　a　beautiful；　naked　woman；　her　hands　clasped

in　the　attitude　of　prayer　and　with　vague　terror　written　on　her

vivid　features。



Such　was　this　glorious　group　of　which　the　meaning　could　not　be

mistaken。　It　was　Fate　throned　upon　the　sun；　wearing　the

constellations　as　his　garment；　armed　with　the　sword　of　Destiny

and　worshipped　by　Life　and　Death。　This　interpretation　I　set　out

to　the　others。



Yva　knelt　before　the　statue　for　a　little　while；　bowing　her　head

in　prayer；　and　really　I　felt　inclined　to　follow　her　example；

though　in　the　end　I　compromised；　as　did　Bickley；　by　taking　off　my

hat；　which；　like　the　others；　I　still　wore　from　force　of　habit；

though　in　this　place　none　were　needed。　Only　Bastin　remained

covered。



〃Behold　the　god　of　my　people；〃　said　Yva。　〃Have　you　no　reverence

for　it；　O　Bastin？〃



〃Not　much；〃　he　answered；　〃except　as　a　work　of　art。　You　see　I

worship　Fate's　Master。　I　might　add　that　your　god　doesn't　seem　to

have　done　much　for　you；　Lady　Yva；　as　out　of　all　your　greatness

there's　nothing　left　but　two　people　and　a　lot　of　old　walls　and

caves。〃



At　first　she　was　inclined　to　be　angry；　for　I　saw　her　start。

Then　her　mood　changed；　and　she　said　with　a　sigh：



〃Fate's　Master！　Where　does　He　dwell？〃



〃Here　amongst　other　places；〃　said　Bastin。　〃I'll　soon　explain

that　to　you。〃



〃I　thank　you；〃　she　replied　gravely。　〃But　why　have　you　not

explained　it　to　Bickley？〃　Then　waving　her　hand　to　show　that　she

wished　for　no　answer；　she　went　on：



〃Friends；　would　you　wish　to　learn　something　of　the　history　of

my　people？〃



〃Very　much；〃　said　the　irrepressible　Bastin；　〃but　I　would　rather

the　lecture　took　place　in　the　open　air。〃



〃That　is　not　possible；〃　she　answered。　〃It　must　be　here　and　now；

or　not　at　all。　Come；　stand　by　me。　Be　silent　and　do　not　move。　I　am

about　to　set　loose　forces　that　are　dangerous　if　disturbed。〃







Chapter　XVI



Visions　of　the　Past





She　led　us　to　the　back　of　the　statue　and　pointed　to　each　of　us

where　we　should　remain。　Then　she　took　her　place　at　right　angles

to　us；　as　a　showman　might　do；　and　for　a　while　stood　immovable。

Watching　her　face；　once　more　I　saw　it；　and　indeed　all　her　body；

informed　with　that　strange　air　of　power；　and　noted　that　her　eyes

flashed　and　that　her　hair　grew　even　more　brilliant　than　was

common；　as　though　some　abnormal　strength　were　flowing　through　it

and　her。　Presently　she　spoke；　saying：



〃I　shall　show　you　first　our　people　in　the　day　of　their　glory。

Look　in　front　of　you。〃



We　looked　and　by　degrees　the　vast　space　of　the　apse　before　us

became　alive　with　forms。　At　first　these　were　vague　and　shadowy；

not　to　be　separated　or　distinguished。　Then　they　became　so　real

that　until　he　was　reproved　by　a　kick；　Tommy　growled　at　them　and

threatened　to　break　out　into　one　of　his　peals　of　barking。



A　wonderful　scene　appeared。　There　was　a　palace　of　white　marble

and　in　front　of　it　a　great　courtyard　upon　which　the　sun　beat

vividly。　At　the　foot　of　the　steps　of　the　palace；　beneath　a　silken

awning；　sat　a　king　enthroned；　a　crown　upon　his　head　and　wearing

glorious　robes。　In　his　hand　was　a　jewelled　sceptre。　He　was　a

noble…looking　man　of　middle　age　and　about　him　were　gathered　the

glittering　officers　of　his　court。　Fair　women　fanned　him　and　to

right　and　left；　but　a　little　behind；　sat　other　fair　and　jewelled

women　who；　I　suppose；　were　his　wives　or　daughters。



〃One　of　the　Kings　of　the　Children　of　Wisdom　new…crowned；

receives　the　homage　of　the　world；〃　said　Yva。



As　she　spoke　there　appeared；　walking　in　front　of　the　throne　one

by　one；　other　kings；　for　all　were　crowned　and　bore　sceptres。　At

the　foot　of　the　throne　each　of　them　kneeled　and　kissed　the　foot

of　him　who　sat　thereon；　as　he　did　so　laying　down　his　sceptre

which　at　a　sign　he　lifted　again　and　passed　away。　Of　these　kings

there　must　have　been　quite　fifty；　men　of　all　colours　and　of

various　types；　white　men；　black　men；　yellow　men；　red　men。



Then　came　their　ministers　bearing　gifts；　apparently　of　gold　and

jewels；　which　were　piled　on　trays　in　front　of　the　throne。　I

remember　noting　an　incident。　An　old　fellow　with　a　lame　leg

stumbled　and　upset　his　tray；　so　that　the　contents　rolled　hither

and　thither。　His　attempts　to　recover　them　were　ludicrous　and

caused　the　monarch　on　the　throne　to　relax　from　his　dignity　and

smile。　I　mention　this　to　show　that　what　we　witnessed　was　no　set

scene　but　apparently　a　living　piece　of　the　past。　Had　it　been　so

the　absurdity　of　the　bedizened　old　man　tumbling　down　in　the　midst

of　the　gorgeous　pageant　would　certainly　have　been　omitted。



No；　it　must　be　life；　real　life；　something　that　had　happened；

and　the　same　may　be　said　of　what　followed。　For　instance；　there

was　what　we　call　a　review。　Infantry　marched；　some　of　them　armed

with　swords　and　spears；　though　these　I　took　to　be　an　ornamental

bodyguard；　and　others　with　tubes　like　savage　blowpipes　of　which　I

could　not　guess　the　use。　There　were　no　cannon；　but　carriages　came

by　loaded　with　bags　that　had　spouts　to　them。　Probably　these　were

charged　with　poisonous　gases。　There　were　some　cavalry　also；

mounted　on　a　different　stamp　of　horse　from　ours；　thicker　set　and

nearer　the　ground；　but　with　arched　necks　and　fiery　eyes　and；　I

should　say；　very　strong。　These　again；　I　take　it；　were　ornamental。

Then　came　other　men　upon　a　long　machine；　slung　in　pairs　in

armoured　sacks；　out　of　which　only　their　heads　and　arms　projected。

This　machine；　which　resembled　an　elongated　bicycle；　went　by　at　a

tremendous　rate；　though　whence　its　motive　power　came　did　not

appear。　It　carried　twenty　pairs　of　men；　each　of　whom　held　in　his

hand　some　small　but　doubtless　deadly　weapon；　that　in　appearance

resembled　an　orange。　Other　similar　machines　which　followed

carried　from　forty　to　a　hundred　pairs　of　men。



The　marvel　of　the　piece；　however；　were　the　aircraft。　These　came

by　in　great　numbers。　Sometimes　they　flew　in　flocks　like　wild

geese；　sometimes　singly；　sometimes　in　line　and　sometimes　in

ordered　squadrons；　with　outpost　and　officer　ships　and　an　exact

distance　kept　between　craft　and　craft。　None　of　them　seemed　to　be