the yellow god-第27章

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place　of　his　captivity。　So　this　woman's　story　was　true；　an　ancient
Egyptian　had　once　been　husband　to　the　Asika　of　his　day。

Meanwhile　his　guide　had　passed　a　long　way　down　the　line　and　halting　in
front　of　another　gold…wrapped　figure；　opened　its　mask。

〃This　is　that　man；〃　she　said；　〃who　told　us　he　came　from　a　land　called
Roma。　Look；　the　helmet　still　rests　upon　his　head；　though　time　has
eaten　into　it；　and　that　ring　upon　your　hand　was　taken　from　his　finger。
I　have　a　head…dress　made　upon　the　model　of　that　helmet　which　I　wear
sometimes　in　memory　of　this　man　who；　my　soul　remembers；　was　brave　and
pleasant　and　a　gallant　lover。〃

〃Indeed；〃　answered　Alan；　looking　at　the　sunken　face　above　which　a　rim
of　curls　appeared　beneath　the　rusting　helmet。　〃Well；　he　doesn't　look
very　gallant　now；　does　he？〃　Then　he　peered　down　between　the　body　and
its　gold　casing　and　saw　that　in　his　body　hand　the　man　still　held　a
short　Roman　sword；　lifted　as　though　in　salute。　So　she　had　not　lied　in
this　matter　either。

Meanwhile　the　Asika　had　glided　on　to　the　end　of　the　hall　behind　the
heaps　of　treasure。

〃There　is　one　more　white　man；〃　she　said；　〃though　we　know　little　of
him；　for　he　was　fierce　and　barbarous　and　died　without　learning　our
tongue；　after　killing　a　great　number　of　the　priests　of　that　day
because　they　would　not　let　him　go；　yes；　died　cutting　them　down　with　a
battle…axe　and　singing　some　wild　song　of　his　own　country。　Come　hither；
slave；　and　bend　yourself　so；　resting　your　hands　upon　the　ground。〃

Jeekie　obeyed；　and　actively　as　a　cat　the　priestess　leaped　on　to　his
back；　and　reaching　up　opened　the　mask　of　a　corpse　in　the　second　row
and　held　her　lamp　before　its　face。

It　was　better　preserved　than　the　others；　so　that　its　features　remained
comparatively　perfect；　and　about　them　hung　a　tangle　of　golden　hair。
Moreover；　a　broad　battle…axe　appeared　resting　on　the　shoulder。

〃A　viking；〃　thought　Alan。　〃I　wonder　how　/he/　came　here。〃

When　he　had　looked　the　Asika　leaped　from　Jeekie's　back　to　the　ground
and　waving　her　arm　around　her；　began　to　talk　so　rapidly　that　Alan
could　understand　nothing　of　her　words；　and　asked　Jeekie　to　translate
them。

〃She　say；〃　explained　Jeekie　between　his　chattering　teeth；　〃that　all
rest　these　Johnnies　very　poor　crew；　natives　and　that　lot　except　one
who　worship　false　Prophet　and　cut　throat　of　Asika　of　that　time；
because　she　infidel　and　he　teach　her　better；　also　eat　his　dinner　out
of　Little　Bonsa　and　chuck　her　into　water。　Very　wild　man；　that　Arab；
but　priests　catch　him　at　last　and　fill　him　with　hot　gold　before　Little
Bonsa　because　he　no　care　a　damn　for　ghosts。　So　he　die　saying　Hip；　hip；
hurrah！　for　houri　and　green　field　of　Prophet　and　to　hell　with　Asika
and　Bonsa；　Big　and　Little！　Now　he　sit　up　there　and　at　night　time　worst
ghost　of　all　the　crowd；　always　come　to　finish　off　Mungana。　That　all
she　say；　and　quite　enough　too。　Come　on　quick；　she　want　you　and　no　like
wait。〃

By　now　the　Asika　had　passed　almost　round　the　hall；　and　was　standing
opposite　to　an　empty　niche　beyond　and　above　which　there　were　perhaps　a
score　of　bodies　gold…plated　in　the　usual　fashion。

〃That　is　your　place；　Vernoon；〃　she　said　gently；　contemplating　him　with
her　soft　and　heavy　eyes；　〃for　it　was　prepared　for　the　white　man　with
whom　Little　Bonsa　fled　away；　and　since　then；　as　you　see；　there　have
been　many　Munganas；　some　of　whom　belong　to　me；　indeed；　that　one；〃　and
she　touched　a　corpse　on　which　the　gold　looked　very　fresh；　〃only　left
me　last　year。　But　we　always　knew　that　Little　Bonsa　would　bring　you
back　again；　and　so　you　see；　we　have　kept　your　place　empty。〃

〃Indeed；〃　remarked　Alan；　〃that　is　very　kind　of　you；〃　and　feeling　that
he　would　faint　if　he　stayed　longer　in　this　horrible　and　haunted　vault；
he　pushed　past　her　with　little　ceremony　and　walked　out　through　the
gates　into　the　passage　beyond。



CHAPTER　XII

THE　GOLD　HOUSE

〃How　you　like　Asiki…land；　Major？〃　asked　Jeekie；　who　had　followed　him
and　was　now　leaning　against　a　wall　fanning　himself　feebly　with　his
great　hand。　〃Funny　place；　isn't　it；　Major？　I　tell　you　so　before　you
come；　but　you　no　believe　me。〃

〃Very　funny；〃　answered　Alan；　〃so　funny　that　I　want　to　get　out。〃

〃Ah！　Major；　that　what　eel　say　in　trap　where　he　go　after　lob…worm；　but
he　only　get　out　into　frying　pan　after　cook　skin　him　alive…o。　Ah！　here
come　cookI　mean　Asika。　She　only　stop　shut　up　those　stiff　'uns；　who
all　love　lob…worm　one　day。　Very　pretty　woman；　Asika；　but　thank　God　she
not　set　cap　at　me；　who　like　to　be　buried　in　open　like　Christian　man。〃

〃If　you　don't　stop　it；　Jeekie；〃　replied　Alan　in　a　concentrated　rage；
〃I'll　see　that　you　are　buried　just　where　you　are。〃

〃No　offence；　Major；　no　offence；　my　heart　full　and　bubble　up。　I　wonder
what　Miss　Barbara　say　if　she　see　you　mooing　and　cooing　with　dark…eyed
girl　in　gold　snake　skin？〃

Just　then　the　Asika　arrived　and　by　way　of　excuse　for　his　flight；　Alan
remarked　to　her　that　the　treasure…hall　was　hot。

〃I　did　not　notice　it；〃　she　answered；　〃but　he　who　is　called　my　husband；
Mungana；　says　the　same。　The　Mungana　is　guardian　of　the　dead；〃　she
explained；　〃and　when　he　is　required　so　to　do；　he　sleeps　in　the　Place
of　the　Treasure　and　gathers　wisdom　from　the　spirits　of　those　Munganas
who　were　before　him。〃

〃Indeed。　And　does　he　like　that　bed…chamber？〃

〃The　Mungana　likes　what　I　like；　not　what　he　likes；〃　she　replied
haughtily。　〃Where　I　send　him　to　sleep；　there　he　sleeps。　But　come；
Vernoon；　and　I　will　show　you　the　Holy　Water　where　Big　Bonsa　dwells；
also　the　house　in　which　I　have　my　home；　where　you　shall　visit　me　when
you　please。〃

〃Who　built　this　place？〃　asked　Alan　as　she　led　him　through　more　dark
and　tortuous　passages。　〃It　is　very　great。〃

〃My　spirit　does　not　remember　when　it　was　built；　Vernoon；　so　old　is　it；
but　I　think　that　the　Asiki　were　once　a　big　and　famous　people　who
traded　to　the　water　upon　the　west；　and　even　to　the　water　on　the　east；
and　that　was　how　those　white　men　became　their　slaves　and　the　Munganas
of　their　queens。　Now　they　are　small　and　live　only　by　the　might　and
fame　of　Big　and　Little　Bonsa；　not　half　filling　the　rich　land　which　is
theirs。　But；〃　she　added　reflectively　and　looking　at　him；　〃I　think　also
that　this　is　because　in　the　past　fools　have　been　thrust　upon　my　spirit
as　Munganas。　What　it　needs　is　the　wisdom　of　the　white　man；　such　wisdom
as　yours；　Vernoon。　If　that　were　added　to　my　magic；　then　the　Asiki
would　grow　great　again；　seeing　that　they　have　in　such　plenty　the　gold
which　you　have　shown　me　the　white　man　loves。　Yes；　they　would　grow
great　and　from　coast　to　coast　the　people　should　bow　at　the　name　of
Bonsa　and　send　him　their　sons　for　sacrifice。　Perhaps　you　will　live　to
see　that　day；　Vernoon。　Slave；〃　she　added；　addressing　Jeekie；　〃set　the
mask　upon　your　lord's　head；　for　we　come　where　women　are。〃

Alan　objected；　but　she　stamped　her　foot　and　said　it　must　be　so；　having
once　worn　Little　Bonsa；　as　her　people　told　her　he　had　done；　his　naked
face　might　not　be　seen。　So　Alan　submitted　to　the　hideous　head…dress
and　they　entered　the　Asika's　house　by　some　back　entrance。

It　was　a　place　with　many　rooms　in　it；　but　they　were　all　remarkable　for
extreme　simplicity。　With　a　single　exception　no　gilding　or　gold　was　to
be　seen；　although　the　food　vessels　were　made　of　this　material　here　as
everywhere。　The　chambers；　including　those　in　which　the　Asika　lived　and
slept；　were　panelled；　or　rather　boarded　with　cedar　wood　that　was
almost　black　with　age；　and　their　scanty　furniture　was　mostly　made　of
ebony。　They　were　very　insufficiently　lighted；　like　his　own　room；　by
means　of　barred　openings　set　high　in　the　wall。　Indeed　gloom　and
mystery　were　the　keynotes　of　this　place；　amongst　the　shadows　of　which
handsome；　half…naked　servants　or　priestesses　flitted　to　and　fro　at
their　tasks；　or　peered　at　them　out　of　dark　corners。　The　atmosphere
seemed　heavy　with　secret　sin；　Alan　felt　that　in　those　rooms　unnameable
crimes　and　cruelties　had　been　committed　for　hundreds　or　perhaps
thousands　of　years；　and　that　the　place　was　yet　haunted　by　the　ghosts
of　them。　At　any　rate　it　struck　a　chill　to　his　healthy　blood；　more　even
than　had　that　Hall　of　the　Dead　and　of　heaped…up　golden　treasure。

〃Does　my　house　please　you？〃　the　Asika　asked　of　him。

〃Not　altogether；〃　he　answered；　〃I　think　it　is　dark。〃

〃From　the　beginning　my　spirit　has　ever　loved　the　dark；　Vernoon。　I
think　that　it　was　shaped　in　some　black　midnight。〃

They　passed　through　the　chief　entrance　of　the　house　which　had　pillars
of　woodwork　grotesquely　carved；　down　some　steps　into　a　walled　and
roofed…in　yard　where　the　shadows　were　even　more　dense　than　in　the
house　they　had　left。　Only　at　one　spot　was　there　light　flowing　down
through　a　hole　in　the　roof；　as　it　did　apparently　in　that　hall　where
Alan　had　found　the　Asika　sitting　in　state。　The　light　fell　on　to　a
pedestal　or　column　made　of　gold　which　was　placed　behind　an　object　like
a　large　Saxon　font；　also　made　of　gold。　The　shape　of　this　column
reminded　Alan　of　something；　namely　of　a　very　similar　column；　although
fashioned　of　a　different　material　which　stood　in　the　granite…built
office　of　Messrs。　Aylward　&　Haswell　in　the　City　of　London。　Nor　did
this　seem　wonderful　to　him；　since　on　top　of　it；　squatting　on　its　dwarf
legs；　stood　a　horrid　but　familiar　thing；　namely　Little　Bonsa　herself
come　home　at　last。　There　she　sat　smiling　cruelly；　as　she　had　smiled
from　the　beginning；　forgetful　doubtless　of　her　wanderings　in　strange
lands；　while　round　her　stood　a　band　of　priests　armed　with　spears。

Followed　by　the　Asika　and　Jeekie；　Alan　walked　up　and　looked　her　in　the
face　and　to　his　excited　imagination　she　appeared　to　grin　at　him　in
answer。　Then　while　the　priests　prostrated　themselves；　he　examined　the
golden　basin　or　laver；　and　saw　that　at　the　further　side　of　it　was　a
little　platform　approached　by　steps。　On　the　top　of　these　golden　steps
were　two　depressions　such　as　might　have　been　worn　out　in　the　course　of
ages　by　persons　kneeling　there。　Also　the　flat　edge　of　the　basin　which
stood　about　thirty　inches　above　the　level　of　the　topmost　step；　was
scored　as　though　by　hundreds　of　sword　cuts　which　had　made　deep　lines
in　the　pure　metal。　The　basin　itself　was　empty。

Seeing　that　these　things　interested　him；　the　Asika　volunteered　the
information　through　Jeekie；　that　this　was　a　divining…bowl；　and　that　if
those　who　went　before　her　had　wished　to　learn　the　future；　they　caused
Little　Bonsa　to　float　in　it　and　found　out　all　they　wanted　to　know　by
her　movements。　She；　however；　she　added；　had　other　and　better　methods
of　learning　things　that　were　predestined。

〃Where　does　the　water　come　from？〃　asked　Alan　thoughtlessly　searching
the　bowl　for　some　tap　or　inlet。

〃Out　of　the　hearts　of　men；〃　she　answered　with　a　low　and　dreadful
laugh。　〃These　marks　are　those　of　swords　and　every　one　of　them　means　a
life。〃　Then　seeing　that　he　looked　incredulous　she　added；　〃Stay；　I　will
show　you。　Little　Bonsa　must　be　thirsty　who　has　fasted　so　long；　also
there　are　matters　that　I　desire　to　know。　Come　hitheryou；　and　you；〃
and　she　pointed　at　hazard　to　the　two　priests　who　knelt　nearest　to　her；
〃and　do　you　bid　the　executioner　bring　his　axe；〃　she　went　on　to　a
third。

The　dark　faces　of　the　men　turned　ashen；　but　they　made　no　effort　to
escape　their　doom。　One　of　them　crept　up　th