the yellow god-第25章

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〃You　told　me　that　this　Asika　is　a　married　woman；　did　you　not？〃
remarked　Alan　gloomily。

〃Oh；　yes；　Major；　always　married；　one　down；　other　come　on；　you　see。　But
she　not　always　like　her　husband；　and　then　she　make　him　sit　up；　poor
devil；　and　he　die　double　quick。　Great　honour　to　be　Asika's　husband；
but　soon　all　finished。　P'raps〃

Then　he　checked　himself　and　suggested　that　Alan　should　have　a　bath
while　he　cleaned　his　clothes；　an　attention　that　they　needed。

Scarcely　had　Alan　finished　his　toilet；　donned　the　Arab…looking　linen
robe　over　his　own　fragmentary　flannels；　and　above　it　the　hateful　mask
which　Jeekie　insisted　he　must　wear；　when　there　came　a　knocking　on　the
door。　Motioning　to　Alan　to　take　his　seat　upon　a　stool；　Jeekie　undid
the　bars；　and　as　before　women　appeared　with　food　and　waited　while　they
ate；　which　this　time；　having　overcome　his　nervousness；　Alan　did　more
leisurely。　Their　meal　done；　one　of　the　women　asked　Jeekie；　for　to　his
master　they　did　not　seem　to　dare　to　speak；　whether　the　white　lord　did
not　wish　to　walk　in　the　garden。　Without　waiting　for　an　answer　she　led
him　to　the　end　of　the　large　room　and；　unbarring　another　door　that　they
had　not　noticed；　revealed　a　passage；　beyond　which　appeared　trees　and
flowers。　Then　she　and　her　companions　went　away　with　the　fragments　of
the　meal。

〃Come　on；〃　said　Alan；　taking　up　the　box　containing　Little　Bonsa；　which
he　did　not　dare　to　leave　behind；　〃and　let　us　get　into　the　air。〃

So　they　went　down　the　passage　and　at　the　end　of　it　through　gates　of
copper　or　gold；　they　knew　not　which；　that　had　evidently　been　left　open
for　them；　into　the　garden。　It　was　a　large　place；　a　good　many　acres　in
extent　indeed；　and　kept　with　some　care；　for　there　were　paths　in　it　and
flowers　that　seemed　to　have　been　planted。　Also　here　grew　certain　of
the　mighty　cedar　trees　that　they　had　seen　from　far　off；　beneath　those
spreading　boughs　twilight　reigned；　while　beyond；　not　more　than　half　a
mile　away；　the　splendid　river…fall　thundered　down　the　precipice。　For
the　rest　they　could　find　no　exit　to　that　garden　which　on　one　side　was
enclosed　by　a　sheer　cliff　of　living　rock；　and　on　the　others　with　steep
stone　walls　beyond　which　ran　a　torrent；　and　by　the　buildings　of　the
Gold　House　itself。

For　a　while　they　walked　up　and　down　the　rough　paths；　till　at　last
Jeekie；　wearying　of　this　occupation；　remarked：

〃Melancholy　hole　this；　Major。　Remind　me　of　Westminster　Abbey　in　London
fog；　where　your　uncle　of　blessed　mem'ry　often　take　me　pray　and　look　at
fusty　tomb　of　king。　S'pose　we　go　back　Gold　House　and　see　what　happen。
Anything　better　than　stand　about　under　cursed　old　cedar　tree。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Alan；　who　through　the　eyeholes　of　his　mask　had　been
studying　the　walls　to　seek　a　spot　in　them　that　could　be　climbed　if
necessary；　and　found　none。

So　they　returned　to　the　room；　which　had　been　swept　and　garnished　in
their　absence。　No　sooner　had　they　entered　it　than　the　door　opened　and
through　it　came　long　lines　of　Asiki　priests；　each　of　whom　staggered
beneath　the　weight　of　a　hide　bag　that　he　bore　upon　his　shoulder；　which
bags　they　piled　up　about　the　stone　altar。　Then；　as　though　at　some
signal；　each　priest　opened　the　mouth　of　his　bag　and　Alan　saw　that　they
wee　filled　with　gold；　gold　in　dust；　gold　in　nuggets；　gold　in　vessels
perfect　or　broken；　more　gold　than　Alan　had　ever　seen　before。

〃Why　do　they　bring　all　this　stuff　here？〃　he　asked；　and　Jeekie
translated　his　question。

〃It　is　an　offering　to　the　lord　of　Little　Bonsa；〃　answered　the　head
priest；　bowing；　〃a　gift　from　the　Asika。　The　heaven…born　white　man　sent
word　by　his　Ogula　messengers　that　he　desired　gold。　Here　is　the　gold
that　he　desired。〃

Alan　stared　at　the　treasure；　which　after　all　was　what　he　had　come　to
seek。　If　only　he　had　it　safe　in　England；　he　would　be　a　rich　man　and
his　troubles　ended。　But　how　could　he　get　it　to　England？　Here　it　was
worthless　as　mud。

〃I　thank　the　Asika；〃　he　said。　〃I　ask　for　porters　to　bear　her　gift　back
to　my　own　country；　since　it　is　too　heavy　for　me　and　my　servant　to
carry　alone。〃

At　these　words　the　priest　smiled　a　little；　then　said　that　the　Asika
desired　to　see　the　white　lord　and　to　receive　from　him　Little　Bonsa　in
return　for　the　gold；　and　that　he　could　proffer　his　request　to　her。

〃Good；〃　replied　Alan；　〃lead　me　to　the　Asika。〃

Then　they　started；　Alan　bearing　the　box　containing　Little　Bonsa；　and
Jeekie　following　after　him。　They　went　down　passages　and　through　sundry
doors　till　at　length　they　came　to　a　long　and　narrow　hall　that　seemed
to　be　lined　with　plates　of　gold。　At　the　end　of　this　hall　was　a　large
chair　of　black　wood　and　ivory　placed　upon　a　dais；　and　sitting　in　this
chair　with　the　light　pouring　on　her　from　some　opening　above；　was　the
woman　of　Alan's　dream；　beautiful　to　look　on　in　her　crown　and
glittering　garments。　Upon　a　stool　at　the　foot　of　the　dais　sat　a　man；　a
handsome　and　melancholy　man。　His　hair　was　tied　behind　his　head　in　a
pigtail　and　gilded；　his　face　was　painted　red；　white　and　yellow；　he
wore　ropes　of　bright…coloured　stones　about　his　neck；　middle；　arms　and
ankles；　and　held　a　kind　of　sceptre　in　his　hand。

〃Who　is　that　creature？〃　asked　Alan　over　his　shoulder　to　Jeekie。　〃The
Court　fool？〃

〃That　husband　of　Asika；　Major。　He　not　fool；　very　big　gun；　but　look　a
little　low　now　because　his　time　soon　up。　Come　on；　Major；　Asika　beckon
us。　Get　on　stomach　and　crawl；　that　custom　here；〃　he　added；　going　down
on　to　his　hands　and　knees；　as　did　all　the　priests　who　followed　them。

〃I'll　see　her　hanged　first；〃　answered　Alan　in　English。

Then　accompanied　by　the　creeping　Jeekie　and　the　train　of　prostrate
priests；　he　marched　up　the　long　hall　to　the　edge　of　the　dais　and　there
stood　still　and　bowed　to　the　woman　in　the　chair。

〃Greeting；　white　man；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice　when　she　had　studied
him　for　a　while。　〃Do　you　understand　my　tongue？〃

〃A　little；〃　he　answered　in　Asiki；　〃moreover；　my　servant　here　knows　it
well　and　can　translate。〃

〃I　am　glad；〃　she　said。　〃Tell　me　then；　in　your　country　do　not　people　go
on　to　their　knees　before　their　queen；　and　if　not；　how　do　they　greet
her？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Alan　with　the　help　of　Jeekie。　〃They　greet　her　by
raising　their　head…dress　or　kissing　her　hand。〃

〃Ah！〃　she　said。　〃Well；　you　have　no　head…dress；　so　kiss　/my/　hand；〃　and
she　stretched　it　out　towards　him；　at　the　same　time　prodding　the　man
whom　Jackie　had　said　was　her　husband；　in　the　back　with　her　foot；
apparently　to　make　him　get　out　of　the　way。

Not　knowing　what　to　do；　Alan　stepped　on　to　the　dais；　the　painted　man
scowling　at　him　as　he　passed。　Then　he　halted　and　said：

〃How　can　I　kiss　your　hand　through　this　mask；　Asika？〃

〃True；〃　she　answered；　then　considered　a　little　and　added；　〃White　man；
you　have　brought　back　Little　Bonsa；　have　you　not；　Little　Bonsa　who　ran
away　with　you　a　great　many　years　ago？〃

〃I　have；〃　he　said；　ignoring　the　rest　of　the　question。

〃Your　messengers　said　that　you　required　a　present　of　gold　in　return
for　Little　Bonsa。　I　have　sent　you　one；　is　it　sufficient？　If　not；　you
can　have　more。〃

〃I　cannot　say；　O　Asika；　I　have　not　examined　it。　But　I　thank　you　for
the　present　and　desire　porters　to　enable　me　to　carry　it　away。〃

〃You　desire　porters；〃　she　repeated　meditatively。　〃We　will　talk　of　that
when　you　have　rested　here　a　moon　or　two。　Meanwhile；　give　me　Little
Bonsa　that　she　may　be　restored　to　her　own　place。〃

Alan　opened　the　tin　box　and　lifting　out　the　fetish；　gave　it　to　the
priestess；　who　took　it　and　with　a　serpentine　movement　of　extraordinary
grace　glided　from　her　chair　on　to　her　knees；　holding　the　mask　above
her　head　in　both　hands；　then　thrice　covered　her　face　with　it。　This
done；　she　called　to　the　priests；　bidding　them　take　Little　Bonsa　to　her
own　place　and　give　notice　throughout　the　land　that　she　was　back　again。
She　added　that　the　ancient　Feast　of　Little　Bonsa　would　be　held　on　the
night　of　the　full　moon　within　three　days；　and　that　all　preparations
must　be　made　for　it　as　she　had　commanded。

Then　the　head　medicine…man；　raising　himself　upon　his　knees；　crept　on
to　the　dais；　took　the　fetish　from　her　hands；　and　breaking　into　a　wild
song　of　triumph；　he　and　his　companions　crawled　down　the　hall　and
vanished　through　the　door；　leaving　them　alone　save　for　the　Asika's
husband。

When　they　had　gone　the　Asika　looked　at　this　man　in　a　reflective　way；
and　Alan　looked　at　him　also　through　the　eyeholes　of　his　mask；　finding
him　well　worth　studying。　As　has　been　said；　notwithstanding　his　paint
and　grotesque　decorations；　he　was　very　good…looking　for　a　native；　with
well…cut　features　of　an　Arab　type。　Also　he　was　tall　and　muscular　and
not　more　than　thirty　years　of　age。　What　struck　Alan　most；　however；　was
none　of　these　things；　nor　his　jewelled　chains；　nor　even　his　gilded
pigtail；　but　his　eyes；　which　were　full　of　terrors。　Seeing　them；　Alan
remembered　Jeekie's　story；　which　he　had　told　to　Mr。　Haswell's　guests
at　The　Court；　of　how　the　husband　of　the　Asika　was　driven　mad　by
ghosts。

Just　then　she　spoke　to　the　man；　addressing　him　by　name　and　saying：

〃Leave　us　alone；　Mungana；　I　wish　to　speak　with　this　white　lord。〃

He　did　not　seem　to　hear　her　words；　but　continued　to　stare　at　Alan。

〃Hearken！〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　voice　of　ice。　〃Do　my　bidding　and　begone；
or　you　shall　sleep　alone　to…night　in　a　certain　chamber　that　you　know
of。〃

Then　Mungana　rose；　looked　at　her　as　a　dog　sometimes　does　at　a　cruel
master　who　is　about　to　beat　it；　yes；　with　just　that　same　expression；
put　his　hands　before　his　eyes　for　a　little　while；　and　turning；　left
the　hall　by　a　side　door　which　closed　behind　him。　The　Asika　watched　him
go；　laughed　musically　and　said：

〃It　is　a　very　dull　thing　to　be　married；but　how　are　you　named；　white
man？〃

〃Vernon；〃　he　answered。

〃Vernoon；　Vernoon；〃　she　repeated；　for　she　could　not　pronounce　the　O
was　we　do。　〃Are　you　married；　Vernoon？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Have　you　been　married？〃

〃No；〃　he　answered；　〃never；　but　I　am　going　to　be。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　repeated；　〃you　are　going　to　be。　You　remember　that　you　were
near　to　it　many　years　ago；　when　Little　Bonsa　got　jealous　and　ran　away
with　you。　Well；　she　won't　do　that　again；　for　doubtless　she　is　tired　of
you　now；　and　besides；〃　she　added　with　a　flash　of　ferocity；　〃I'd　melt
her　with　fire　first　and　set　her　spirit　free。〃

While　Jeekie　was　trying　to　explain　this　mysterious　speech　to　Alan；　the
Asika　broke　in；　asking：

〃Do　you　always　want　to　wear　that　mask？〃

He　answered；　〃Certainly　not；〃　whereon　she　bade　Jeekie　take　it　off；
which　he　did。

〃Understand　me；〃　she　said；　fixing　her　great　languid　eyes　upon　his　in　a
fashion　that　made　him　exceedingly　uncomfortable；　〃understand；　Vernoon；
that　if　you　go　out　anywhere；　it　must　be　in　your　mask；　which　you　can
only　put　off　when　you　are　alone　with　me？〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because；　Vernoon；　I　do　not　choose　that　any　other　woman　should　see
your　face。　If　a　woman　looks　upon　your　uncovered　face；　remember　that
she　diesnot　nicely。〃

Alan　stared　at　her　blankly；　being　unable　to　find　appropriate　Asiki
words　in　which　to　reply　to　this　threat。　But　the　Asika　only　leaned　back
in　her　chair　and　laughed　at　his　evident　confusion　and　dismay；　till　a
new　thought　struck　her。

〃Your　lips　are　free　now；〃　she　said；　〃kiss　my　hand　after　the　fashion　of
your　own　country；〃　and　she　stretch