the yellow god-第23章

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which　he　took　to　be　chicken　or　guinea…fowl；　and　a　gold　cup　containing
water　pleasantly　flavoured　with　some　essence。　This　cup　interested　him
very　much　both　on　account　of　its　shape　and　workmanship；　which　if　rude；
was　striking　in　design；　resembling　those　drinking　vessels　that　have
been　found　in　Mycenian　graves。　Also　it　proved　to　him　that　Jeekie's
stories　of　the　abundance　of　the　precious　metal　among　the　Asiki　had　not
been　exaggerated。　If　it　were　not　very　plentiful；　they　would　scarcely；
he　thought；　make　their　travelling　cups　of　gold。　Evidently　there　was
wealth　in　the　land。

After　the　food　had　been　handed　to　him　the　litter　went　on　again；　and
seated　upon　his　cushions；　he　ate　and　drank　heartily　enough；　for　now
that　the　worst　of　his　fatigue　had　passed　away；　his　hunger　was　great。
In　some　absurd　fashion　this　meal　reminded　him　of　that　which　a
traveller　makes　out　of　a　luncheon　basket　upon　a　railway　line　in　Europe
or　America。　Only　there　the　cups　are　not　of　gold　and　among　the　Asiki
were　no　paper　napkins；　no　salt　and　mustard；　and　no　three　and　sixpence
or　dollar　to　pay。　Further；　until　he　got　used　to　it；　luncheon　in　a
linen　mask　with　a　moveable　mouth　was　not　easy。　This　difficulty　he
overcame　at　last　by　propping　the　imitation　lips　apart　with　a　piece　of
bone；　after　which　things　were　easier。

When　he　had　finished　he　threw　the　platter　and　the　remains　out　of　the
litter；　retaining　the　cup　for　further　examination；　and　recommenced　his
intoned　and　poetical　converse　with　Jeekie。

To　set　it　out　at　length　would　be　wearisome；　but　in　the　course　of　an
hour　or　so　he　collected　a　good　deal　of　information。　Thus　he　learned
that　they　were　due　to　arrive　at　the　Asiki　city；　which　was　called　Bonsa
Town；　by　nightfall；　or　a　little　after。　Also　he　was　informed　that　the
mask　he　wore　was；　as　he　had　guessed；　a　kind　of　undress　uniform　without
which　he　must　never　appear；　since　for　anyone　except　the　Asika　herself
to　look　upon　the　naked　countenance　of　an　individual　so　mysteriously
mixed　up　with　Little　Bonsa；　was　sacrilege　of　the　worst　sort。　Indeed
Jeekie　assured　him　that　the　priests　who　had　put　on　the　headdress　when
he　was　insensible　were　first　blindfolded。

This　news　depressed　Alan　very　much；　since　the　prospect　of　living　in　a
linen　mask　for　an　indefinite　period　was　not　cheerful。　Recovering；　he
chanted　a　query　as　to　the　fate　of　the　Ogula　crew　and　their　chief
Fahni。

〃Not　de…ad；〃　intoned　Jeekie　in　reply；　〃and　not　gone　back。　A…all　alive…
O；　somewhere　behind　there。　Fanny　very　sick　about　it；　for　he　think
Asiki　bring　them　along　for　sacrifice；　poo…or　beg…gars。〃

Finally　he　inquired　where　Little　Bonsa　was　and　was　answered　that　he
himself　as　its　lawful　guardian；　was　sitting　on　the　fetish　in　its　tin
box；　tidings　that　he　was　able　to　verify　by　groping　beneath　the
cushions。

After　this　his　voice　gave　out；　though　Jeekie　continued　to　sing　items
of　interesting　news　from　time　to　time。　Indeed　there　were　other　things
that　absorbed　Alan's　attention。　Looking　through　the　peepholes　and
cracks　in　the　curtains；　he　saw　that　at　last　they　had　reached　the　crest
of　a　ridge　up　which　they　had　been　climbing　for　hours。　Before　them　lay
a　vast　and　fertile　valley；　much　of　which　seemed　to　be　under
cultivation；　and　down　it　flowed　a　broad　and　placid　river。　Opposite　to
him　and　facing　west　a　great　tongue　of　land　ran　up　to　a　wall　of
mountains　with　stark　precipices　of　black　rock　that　seemed　to　be
hundreds；　or　even　thousands；　of　feet　high；　and　at　the　tip　of　this
tongue　a　mighty　waterfall　rushed　over　the　precipice；　looking　at　that
distance　like　a　cascade　of　smoke。　This　torrent；　which　he　remembered
was　called　Raaba；　fell　into　a　great　pool　and　there　divided　itself　into
two　rushing　branches　that　enclosed　an　ellipse　of　ground；　surrounded　on
all　sides　by　water；　for　on　its　westernmost　extremity　the　branches　met
again　and　after　flowing　a　while　as　one　river；　divided　once　more　and
wound　away　quietly　to　north　and　south　further　than　the　eye　could
reach。　On　the　island　thus　formed；　which　may　have　been　three　miles　long
by　two　in　breadth；　stood　thousands　of　straw…roofed；　square…built　huts
with　verandas；　neatly　arranged　in　blocks　and　lines　and　having　between
them　streets　that　were　edged　with　palms。

On　the　hither　side　of　the　pool　was　what　looked　like　a　park；　for　here
grew　great；　black　trees；　which　from　their　flat　shape　Alan　took　to　be
some　variety　of　cedar；　and　standing　alone　in　the　midst　of　this　park
where　no　other　habitations　could　be　discovered；　was　a　large；　low
building　with　dark…coloured　walls　and　gabled　roofs　that　flashed　like
fire。

〃The　Gold　House！〃　said　Alan　to　himself　with　a　gasp。　〃So　it　is　not　a
dream　or　a　lie。〃

The　details　at　that　distance　he　could　not　discover；　nor　did　he　try　to
do　so；　for　the　general　glory　of　the　scene　held　him　in　its　grip。　At
this　evening　hour；　for　a　little　while；　the　level　rays　of　the　setting
sun　poured　straight　up　the　huge；　water…hollowed　kloof。　They　struck
upon　the　face　of　the　fall；　staining　it　and　the　clouds　of　mist　that
hung　above；　to　a　hundred　glorious　hues；　indeed　the　substance　of　the
foaming　water　seemed　to　be　interlaced　with　rainbows　whereof　the　arch
reached　their　crest　and　the　feet　were　lost　in　the　sullen　blackness　of
the　pool　beneath。　Beautiful　too　was　the　valley；　glowing　in　the　quiet
light　of　evening；　and　even　the　native　town　thus　gilded　and　glorified；
looked　like　some　happy　home　of　peace。

The　sun　was　sinking　rapidly；　and　before　the　litter　reached　the　foot　of
the　hill　and　began　to　cross　the　rich　valley；　all　the　glory　had
departed　and　only　the　cataract　showed　white　and　ghost…like　through　the
gloom。　But　still　the　light；　which　seemed　to　gather　to　itself；　gleamed
upon　that　golden　roof　amid　the　cedar　trees；　then　the　moon　rose　and　the
gold　was　turned　to　silver。　Alan　lay　back　upon　his　cushions　full　of
wonder；　almost　of　awe。　It　was　a　marvellous　thing　that　he　should　have
lived　to　reach　this　secret　place　hidden　in　the　heart　of　Africa　and
defended　by　swamps；　mountains　and　savages　to　which；　so　far　as　he　knew；
only　one　white　man　had　ever　penetrated。　And　to　think　of　it！　That　white
man；　his　own　uncle；　had　never　even　held　it　worth　while　to　make　public
any　account　of　its　wonders；　which　apparently　had　seemed　to　him　of　no
importance。　Or　perhaps　he　thought　that　if　he　did　he　would　not　be
believed。　Well；　there　they　were　before　and　about　him；　and　now　the
question　was；　what　would　be　his　fate　in　this　Gold　House　where　the
great　fetish　dwelt　with　its　priestess？

Ah！　that　priestess！　Somehow　he　shivered　a　little　when　he　thought　of
her；　it　was　as　though　her　influence　were　over　him　already。　Next　moment
he　forgot　her　for　a　while；　for　they　had　come　to　the　river　brink　and
the　litter　was　being　carried　on　to　a　barge　or　ferry；　about　which　were
gathered　many　armed　men。　Evidently　the　Gold　House　was　well　defended
both　by　Nature　and　otherwise。　The　ferry　was　pulled　or　rowed　across　the
river；　he　could　not　see　which；　and　they　passed　through　a　gateway　into
the　town　and　up　a　broad　street　where　hundreds　of　people　watched　his
advent。　They　did　not　seem　to　speak；　or　if　they　spoke　their　voices　were
lost　in　the　sound　of　the　thunder　of　the　great　cataract　which　dominated
the　place　with　its　sullen；　continuous　roar。　It　took　Alan　days　to
become　accustomed　to　that　roar；　but　by　the　inhabitants　of　Asiki…land
apparently　it　was　not　noticed；　their　ears　and　voices　were　attuned　to
overcome　its　volume　which　their　fathers　had　known　from　the　beginning。

Presently　they　were　through　the　town　and　a　wooden　gate　in　an　inner
wall　which　surrounded　the　park　where　the　cedars　grew。　At　this　spot
Alan　noted　that　everybody　left　them　except　the　bearers　and　a　few　men
whom　he　took　to　be　priests。　On　they　stole　like　ghosts　beneath　the
mighty　trees；　from　whose　limbs　hung　long　festoons　of　moss。　It　was　very
dark　there；　only　in　places　where　a　bough　was　broken　the　moonlight　lay
in　white　gules　upon　the　ground。　Another　wall　and　another　gate；　and
suddenly　the　litter　was　set　down。　Its　curtains　opened；　torches
flashed；　women　appeared　clad　in　white　robes；　veiled　and　mysterious；
who　bowed　before　him；　then　half　led　and　half　lifted　him　from　his
litter。　He　could　feel　their　eyes　on　him　through　their　veils；　but　he
could　not　see　their　faces。　He　could　see　nothing　except　their　naked；
copper…coloured　arms　and　long　thin　hands　stretched　out　to　assist　him。

Alan　descended　from　the　litter　as　slowly　as　he　could；　for　somehow　he
shrank　from　the　quaint；　carved　portal　which　he　saw　before　him。　He　did
not　wish　to　pass　it；　its　aspect　filled　him　with　reluctance。　The　women
drew　him　on；　their　hands　pulled　at　his　arms；　their　shoulders　pressed
him　from　behind。　Still　he　hung　back；　looking　about　him；　till　to　his
delight　he　saw　the　other　litter　arrive　and　out　of　it　emerge　Jeekie；
still　wearing　his　sun…helmet　with　its　fringe　of　tattered　mosquito
curtain。

〃Here　we　are；　Major；〃　he　said　in　his　cheerful　voice；　〃turned　up　all
right　like　a　bad　ha'penny；　but　in　odd　situation。〃

〃Very　odd；〃　echoed　Alan。　〃Could　you　persuade　these　ladies　to　let　go　of
me？〃

〃Don't　know；〃　answered　Jeekie。　〃'Spect　they　doubtfully　your　wives；
'spect　you　have　lots　of　wives　here；　don't　get　white　man　every　day；　so
make　most　of　him。　Best　thing　you　do；　kick　out　and　teach　them　place。
Rub　nose　in　dirt　at　once　and　make　them　good；　that　first…class　plan
with　female。　I　no　like　interfere　in　such　delicate　matter。〃

Terrified　by　this　information；　Alan　put　out　his　strength　and　shook　the
women　off　him；　whereon　without　seeming　to　take　any　offence　they　drew
back　to　a　little　distance　and　began　to　bow；　like　automata。　Then　Jeekie
addressed　them　in　their　own　language；　asking　them　what　they　meant　by
defiling　this　mighty　lord；　born　of　the　Heavens；　with　the　touch　of
their　hands；　whereat　they　went　on　bowing　more　humbly　than　before。　Next
he　threw　aside　the　cushions　of　the　litter　and　finding　the　tin　box
containing　Little　Bonsa；　held　it　before　him　in　both　hands　and　bade　the
women　lead　on。

The　march　began；　a　bewildering　march。　It　was　like　a　nightmare。　Veiled
women　with　torches　before　and　behind；　Jeekie　stalking　ahead　carrying
the　battered　tin　box；　long　passages　lined　with　gold；　a　vision　of　black
water　edged　with　a　wide　promenade；　and　finally　a　large　lamp…lit　room
whereof　the　roof　was　supported　by　gilded　columns；　and　in　the　room
couches　of　cushions；　wooden　stools　inlaid　with　ivory；　vessels　of
water；　great　basins　made　of　some　black；　hard　wood；　and　in　the　centre　a
block　of　stone　that　looked　like　an　altar。

Jeekie　set　down　the　tin　box　upon　the　altar…like　stone；　then　he　turned
to　the　crowd　of　women　and　said；　〃Bring　food。〃　Instantly　they　departed；
closing　the　door　of　the　room　behind　them。

〃Now　for　a　wash；〃　said　Alan；　〃unlace　this　confounded　mask；　Jeekie。〃

〃Mustn't；　Major；　mustn't。　Priests　tell　me　that。　If　those　girls　see　you
without　mask；　perhaps　they　kill　them。　Wait　till　they　gone　after
supper；　then　take　it　off。　No　one　allowed　see　you　without　mask　except
Asika　herself。〃

Alan　stepped　to　one　of　the　wooden　bowls　full　of　water　which　stood
under　a　lamp；　and　gazed　at　his　own　reflection。　The　mask　was　gilded；
the　sham　lips　were　painted　red　and　round　the　eye…holes　were　black
lines。

〃Why；　it　is　horrible；〃　he　exclaimed；　starting　back。　〃I　look　like　a
devil　crossed　with　Guy　Fawkes。　Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　I　have