the yellow god-第26章

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new　thought　struck　her。

〃Your　lips　are　free　now；〃　she　said；　〃kiss　my　hand　after　the　fashion　of
your　own　country；〃　and　she　stretched　it　out　to　Alan；　leaving　him　no
choice　but　to　obey　her。

〃Why；〃　she　went　on　mischievously；　taking　his　hand　and　in　turn　touching
it　with　her　red　lips；　〃why；　are　you　a　thief；　Vernoon？　That　ring　was
mine　and　you　have　stolen　it。　How　did　you　steal　that　ring？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　he　answered；　through　Jeekie；　〃I　found　it　on　my　finger。
I　cannot　understand　how　it　came　there。　I　understand　nothing　of　all
this　talk。〃

〃Well；　well；　keep　it；　Vernoon；　only　give　me　that　other　ring　of　yours
in　exchange。〃

〃I　cannot；〃　he　replied；　colouring。　〃I　promised　to　wear　it　always。〃

〃Whom　did　you　promise？〃　she　asked　with　a　flash　of　rage。　〃Was　it　a
woman？　Nay；　I　see；　it　is　a　man's　ring；　and　that　is　well；　for　otherwise
I　would　bring　a　curse　on　her；　however　far　off　she　may　be　dwelling。　Say
no　more　and　forgive　my　anger。　A　vow　is　a　vowkeep　your　ring。　But
where　is　that　one　you　used　to　wear　in　bygone　days？　I　recall　that　it
had　a　cross　upon　it；　not　this　star　and　figure　of　an　eagle。〃

Now　Alan　remembered　that　his　uncle　owned　such　a　ring　with　a　cross　upon
it；　and　was　frightened；　for　how　did　this　woman　know　these　things？

〃Jeekie；〃　he　said；　〃ask　the　Asika　if　I　am　mad；　or　if　she　is。　How　can
she　know　what　I　used　to　wear；　seeing　that　I　was　never　in　this　place
till　yesterday；　and　certainly　I　have　not　met　her　anywhere　else。〃

〃She　mean　when　you　your　reverend　uncle；〃　said　Jeekie；　wagging　his
great　head；　〃she　think　you　identical　man。〃

〃What　troubles　you；　Vernoon；〃　the　Asika　asked　softly；　then　added
anything　but　softly　to　Jeekie；　〃Translate；　you　dog；　and　be　swift。〃

So　Jeekie　translated　in　a　great　hurry；　telling　her　what　Alan　had　said；
and　adding　on　his　own　account　that　he；　silly　white　man　that　he　was；
could　not　understand　how；　as　she　was　quite　a　young　woman；　she　could
have　seen　him　before　she　was　born。　If　that　were　so；　she　would　be　old
and　ugly　now；　not　beautiful　as　she　was。

〃I　never　saw　you　before；　and　you　never　saw　me；　Lady；　yet　you　talk　as
though　we　had　been　friends；〃　broke　in　Alan　in　his　halting　Asiki。

〃So　we　were　in　the　spirit；　Vernoon。　It　was　she　who　went　before　me　who
loved　that　white　man　whose　face　was　as　your　face　is；　but　her　ghost
lives　on　in　me　and　tells　me　the　tale。　There　have　been　many　Asikas；　for
thousands　of　years　they　have　ruled　in　this　land；　yet　but　one　spirit
belongs　to　them　all；　it　is　the　string　upon　which　the　beads　of　their
lives　are　threaded。　White　man；　I；　whom　you　think　young；　know
everything　back　to　the　beginning　of　the　world；　back　to　the　time　when　I
was　a　monkey　woman　sitting　in　those　cedar　trees；　and　if　you　wish；　I
can　tell　it　you。〃

〃I　should　like　to　hear　it　very　much　indeed；〃　answered　Alan；　when　he
had　mastered　her　meaning；　〃though　it　is　strange　that　none　of　the　rest
of　us　remember　such　things。　Meanwhile；　O　Asika；　I　will　tell　you　that　I
desire　to　return　to　my　own　land；　taking　with　me　that　gift　of　gold　that
you　have　given　me。　When　will　it　please　you　to　allow　me　to　return？〃

〃Not　yet　a　while；　I　think；〃　she　said；　smiling　at　him　weirdly；　for　no
other　word　will　describe　that　smile。　〃My　spirit　remembers　that　it　was
always　thus。　Those　wanderers　who　came　hither　always　wished　to　return
again　to　their　own　country；　like　the　birds　in　spring。　Once　there　was　a
white　man　among　them；　that　was　more　than　twenty　hundred　years　ago；　he
was　a　native　of　a　country　called　Roma；　and　wore　a　helmet。　He　wished　to
return；　but　my　mother　of　that　day；　she　kept　him　and　by　and　by　I　will
show　him　to　you　if　you　like。　Before　that　there　was　a　brown　man　who
came　from　a　land　where　a　great　river　overflows　its　banks　every　year。
He　was　a　prince　of　his　own　country；　who　had　fled　from　his　king　and　the
desert　folk　made　a　slave　of　him；　and　so　he　drifted　hither。　He　wished
to　return　also；　for　my　mother　of　that　day；　or　my　spirit　that　dwelt　in
her；　showed　to　him　that　if　he　could　but　be　there　they　would　make　him
king　in　his　own　land。　But　my　mother　of　that　day；　she　would　not　let　him
go；　and　by　and　by　I　will　show　him　to　you；　if　you　wish。〃

Bewildered；　amazed；　Alan　listened　to　her。　Evidently　the　woman　was　mad；
or　else　she　played　some　mystical　part　for　reasons　of　her　own。

〃When　will　you　let　me　go；　O　Asika？〃　he　repeated。

〃Not　yet　a　while；　I　think；〃　she　said　again。　〃You　are　too　comely　and　I
like　you；〃　and　she　smiled　at　him。　There　was　nothing　coarse　in　the
smile；　indeed　it　had　a　certain　spiritual　quality　which　thrilled　him。
〃I　like　you；〃　she　went　on　in　her　dreamy　voice；　〃I　would　keep　you　with
me　until　your　spirit　is　drawn　up　into　my　spirit；　making　it　strong　and
rich　as　all　the　spirits　that　went　before　have　done；　those　spirits　that
my　mothers　loved　from　the　beginning；　which　dwell　in　me　to…day。〃

Now　Alan　grew　alarmed；　desperate　even。

〃Queen；〃　he　said；　〃but　just　now　your　husband　sat　here；　is　it　right
then　that　you　should　talk　to　me　thus？〃

〃My　husband；〃　she　answered；　laughing。　〃Why；　that　man　is　but　a　slave
who　plays　the　part　of　husband　to　satisfy　an　ancient　law。　Never　has　he
so　much　as　kissed　my　finger　tips；　my　womenthose　who　waited　on　you
last　nightare　his　wives；　not　I；or　may　be；　if　he　will。　Soon　he　will
die　of　love　for　me；　and　then　when　he　is　dead；　though　not　before；　I　may
take　another　husband；　any　husband　that　I　choose；　and　I　think　that　no
black　man　shall　be　my　lord；　who　have　other；　purer　blood　in　me。
Vernoon；　five　centuries　have　gone　by　since　an　Asika　was　really　wed　to
a　foreign　man　who　wore　a　green　turban　and　called　himself　a　son　of　the
Prophet；　a　man　with　a　hooked　nose　and　flashing　eyes；　who　reviled　our
gods　until　they　slew　him；　even　though　he　was　the　beloved　of　their
priestess。　She　who　went　before　me　also　would　have　married　that　white
man　whose　face　was　like　your　face；　but　he　fled　with　Little　Bonsa；　or
rather　Little　Bonsa　fled　with　him。　So　she　passed　away　unwed；　and　in
her　place　I　came。〃

〃How　did　you　come；　if　she　whom　you　call　your　mother　was　not　your
mother？〃　asked　Alan。

〃What　is　that　to　you；　white　man？〃　she　replied　haughtily。　〃I　am　here；
as　my　spirit　has　been　here　from　the　first。　Oh！　I　see　you　think　I　lie
to　you；　come　then；　come；　and　I　will　show　you　those　who　from　the
beginning　have　been　the　husbands　of　the　Asika；〃　and　rising　from　her
chair　she　took　him　by　the　hand。

They　went　through　doors　and　by　long；　half…lit　passages　till　they　came
to　great　gates　guarded　by　old　priests　armed　with　spears。　As　they　drew
near　to　these　priests　the　Asika　loosed　a　scarf　that　she　wore　over　her
breast…plate　of　gold　fish　scales；　and　threw　the　star…spangled　thing
over　Alan's　head；　that　even　these　priests　should　not　see　his　face。
Then　she　spoke　a　word　to　them　and　they　opened　the　gates。　Here　Jeekie
evinced　a　disposition　to　remain；　remarking　to　his　master　that　he
thought　that　place；　into　which　he　had　never　entered；　〃much　too　holy
for　poor　nigger　like　him。〃

The　Asika　asked　him　what　he　had　said　and　he　explained　his　sense　of
unworthiness　in　her　own　tongue。

〃Come；　fellow；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃to　translate　my　words　and　to　bear
witness　that　no　trick　is　played　upon　your　lord。〃

Still　Jeekie　lingered　bashfully；　whereon　at　a　sign　from　her　one　of　the
priests　pricked　him　behind　with　his　great　spear；　and　uttering　a　low
howl　he　sprang　forward。

The　Asika　led　the　way　down　a　passage；　which　they　saw　ended　in　a　big
hall　lit　with　lamps。　Now　they　were　in　it　and　Alan　became　aware　that
they　had　entered　the　treasure　house　of　the　Asiki；　since　here　were
piled　up　great　heaps　of　gold；　gold　in　ingots；　gold　in　nuggets；　in
stone　jars　filled　with　dust；　in　vessels　plain　or　embossed　with
monstrous　shapes　in　fetishes　and　in　little　squares　and　discs　that
looked　as　though　they　had　served　as　coins。　Never　had　he　seen　so　much
gold　before。

〃You　are　rich　here；　Lady；〃　he　said；　gazing　at　the　piles　astonished。

She　shrugged　her　shoulders。　〃Yes；　as　I　have　heard　that　some　people
count　wealth。　These　are　the　offerings　brought　to　our　gods　from　the
beginning；　also　all　the　gold　found　in　the　mountains　belongs　to　the
gods；　and　there　is　much　of　it　there。　The　gift　I　sent　to　you　was　taken
from　this　heap；　but　in　truth　it　is　but　a　poor　gift；　seeing　that
although　this　stuff　is　bright　and　serves　for　cups　and　other　things；　it
has　no　use　at　all　and　is　only　offered　to　the　gods　because　it　is　harder
to　come　by　than　other　metals。　Look；　these　are　prettier　than　the　gold；〃
and　from　a　stone　table　she　picked　up　at　hazard　a　long　necklace　of
large；　uncut　stones；　red　and　white　in　colour　and　set　alternatively；
that　Alan　judged　to　be　crystals　and　spinels。

〃Take　it；〃　she　said；　〃and　examine　it　at　your　leisure。　It　is　very　old。
For　hundreds　of　years　no　more　of　these　necklaces　have　been　made；〃　and
with　a　careless　movement　she　threw　the　chain　over　his　head　so　that　it
hung　upon　his　shoulders。

Alan　thanked　her；　then　remembered　that　the　man　called　Mungana；　who　was
the　husband；　real　or　official；　of　this　priestess；　had　been　somewhat
similarly　adorned；　and　shivered　a　little　as　though　at　a　presage　of
advancing　fate。　Still　he　did　not　return　the　thing；　fearing　lest　he
should　give　offence。

At　this　moment　his　attention　was　taken　from　the　treasure　by　the　sound
of　a　groan　behind　him。　Turning　round　he　perceived　Jeekie；　his　great
eyes　rolling　as　though　in　an　extremity　of　fear。

〃Oh　my　golly！　Major；〃　he　ejaculated；　pointing　to　the　wall；　〃look
there。〃

Alan　looked；　but　at　first　in　that　dim　light　could　only　discover　long
rows　of　gleaming　objects　which　reached　from　the　floor　to　the　roof。

〃Come　and　see；〃　said　the　Asika；　and　taking　a　lamp　from　that　table　on
which　lay　the　gems；　she　led　him　past　the　piles　of　gold　to　one　side　of
the　vault　or　hall。　Then　he　saw；　and　although　he　did　not　show　it；　like
Jeekie　he　was　afraid。

For　there；　each　in　his　own　niche　and　standing　one　above　the　other；
were　what　looked　like　hundreds　of　golden　men　with　gleaming　eyes。　At
first　until　the　utter　stillness　undeceived　him；　he　thought　that　they
/must/　be　men。　Then　he　understood　that　this　was　what　they　had　been；
now　they　were　corpses　wrapped　in　sheets　of　thin　gold　and　wearing
golden　masks　with　eyes　of　crystal；　each　mask　being　beaten　out　to　a
hideous　representation　of　the　man　in　life。

〃All　these　are　the　husbands　of　my　spirit；〃　said　the　priestess；　waving
the　lamp　in　front　of　the　lowest　row　of　them；　〃Munganas　who　were
married　to　the　Asikas　in　the　past。　Look；　here　is　he　who　said　that　he
ought　to　be　king　of　that　rich　land　where　year　after　year　the　river
overflows　its　banks；〃　and　going　to　one　of　the　first　of　the　figures　in
the　bottom　row；　she　drew　out　a　fastening　and　suffered　the　gold　mask　to
fall　forward　on　a　hinge；　exposing　the　face　within。

Although　it　had　evidently　been　treated　with　some　preservative；　this
head　now　was　little　more　than　a　skull　still　covered　with　dark　hair；
but　set　upon　its　brow　appeared　an　object　that　Alan　recognized　at　once；
a　simple　band　of　plain　gold；　and　rising　from　it　the　head　of　an　asp。
Without　doubt　it　was　the　/uraeus/；　that　symbol　which　only　the
royalties　of　Old　Egypt　dared　to　wear。　Without　doubt　also　either　this
man　had　brought　it　with　him　from　the　Nile；　or　in　memory　of　his　rank
and　home　he　had　fashioned　it　of　the　gold　that　was　so　plentiful　in　the
place　of　his　captivity。　So　this　woman's　story　was　tr