the yellow god-第29章

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breastplate。　For　a　long　while　she　would　stand　there；　examining　him
greedily　and　even　the　few　little　belongings　that　remained　to　him；　and
then　with　a　hungry　sigh　glide　away　and　vanish　in　the　shadows。　How　she
came　or　how　she　vanished　Alan　could　not　discover。　Clearly　she　did　not
use　the　door；　and　he　could　find　no　other　entrance　to　the　room。　indeed
at　times　he　thought　he　must　be　suffering　from　delusion；　but　Jeekie
shook　his　great　head　and　did　not　agree　with　him。

〃She　there　right　enough；〃　he　said。　〃She　walk　over　me　as　though　I　log
and　I　smell　stuff　she　put　on　hair；　but　I　think　she　come　and　go　by
magic。　Asika　do　that　if　she　please。〃

〃Then　I　wish　she　would　teach　me　the　secret；　Jeekie。　I　should　soon　be
out　of　Asiki…land；　I　can　tell　you。〃

All　that　day　Alan　had　been　in　her　company；　answering　her　endless
questions　about　his　past；　the　lands　that　he　had　visited；　and
especially　the　women　that　he　had　known。　He　had　the　tact　to　tell　her
that　none　of　these　were　half　so　beautiful　as　she　was；　which　was　true
in　a　sense　and　pleased　her　very　much；　for　in　whatever　respects　she
differed　from　them；　in　common　with　the　rest　of　her　sex　she　loved　a
compliment。　Emboldened　by　her　good　humour；　he　had　ventured　to　suggest
that　being　rested　and　having　restored　Little　Bonsa；　he　would　be　glad
to　return　with　her　gifts　to　his　own　country。　Next　instant　he　was
sorry；　for　as　soon　as　she　understood　his　meaning　she　grew　almost　white
with　rage。

〃What！〃　she　said；　〃you　desire　to　leave　me？　Know；　Vernoon；　that　I　will
see　you　dead　first　and　myself　also；　for　then　we　shall　be　born　again
together　and　can　never　more　be　separated。〃

Nor　was　this　all；　for　she　burst　into　weeping；　threw　her　arms　about
him；　drew　him　to　her；　kissed　him　on　the　forehead；　and　then　thrust　him
away；　saying：

〃Curses　on　the　priests'　law　that　makes　us　wait　so　long；　and　curses　on
that　Mungana　who　will　not　die　and　may　not　be　killed。　Well；　he　shall
pay　for　it　and　within　two　months；　Vernoon；　oh！　within　two　months〃
and　she　stretched　out　her　arms　with　a　gesture　of　infinite　passion；
then　turned　and　left　him。

〃My！〃　said　Jeekie　afterwards；　for　he　had　watched　all　this　scene　open…
mouthed；　〃my！　but　she　mean　business。　Mrs。　Jeekie　never　kiss　me　like
that；　nor　any　other　female　either。　She　dead　nuts　on　you；　Major。　Very
great　compliment！　'Spect　when　you　Mungana；　she　keep　you　alive　a　long
time；　four　or　five　years　perhaps；　if　no　other　white　man　come　this　way。
Pity　you　can't　take　it　on　a　bit；　Major；〃　he　added　insidiously；
〃because　then　she　grow　careless　and　make　you　chief　and　we　get　chance
scoop　out　that　gold　house　and　bolt　with　bally　lot。　Miss　Barbara
sensible　woman；　when　she　see　all　that　cash　she　not　mind；　she　say
'Bravo；　old　boy；　quite　right　spoil　Lady　Potiphar　in　land　of　bondage；
but　Jeekie　must　have　ten　per　cent。　because　he　show　you　how　do　it。'〃

Alan　was　so　depressed；　and　indeed　terrified　by　this　demonstration　on
the　part　of　his　fearful　hostess；　that　he　could　neither　laugh　at
Jeekie；　nor　swear　at　him。　He　only　sat　still　and　groaned；　feeling　that
bad　as　things　were　they　were　bound　to　become　worse。



Above　the　perpetual　booming　of　the　death　drums　rose　a　sound　of　wild
music。　The　door　burst　open；　and　through　it　came　a　number　of　priests；
their　nearly　naked　bodies　hideously　painted　and　on　their　heads　the
most　devilish…looking　masks。　Some　of　them　clashed　cymbals；　some　blew
horns　and　some　beat　little　drums　all　to　time　which　was　given　to　them
by　a　bandmaster　with　a　golden　rod。　In　front　of　them　with　painted　face
and　decked　in　his　gorgeous　apparel；　walked　the　Mungana　himself。

〃They　come　to　take　us　to　Bonsa　worship；〃　explained　Jeekie。　〃Cheer　up；
Major；　very　exciting　business；　no　go　to　sleep　there；　as　in　English
church。　See　the　god　all　time　and　no　sermon。〃

Alan；　who　wore　a　linen　robe　over　the　remains　of　his　European　garments；
and　whose　mask　was　already　on　his　head；　rose　listlessly　and　bowed　to
the　gorgeous　Mungana　who；　poor　man；　answered　him　with　a　stare　of　hate；
knowing　that　this　wanderer　was　destined　to　fill　his　place。　Then　they
started；　Jeekie　accompanying　them；　and　walked　a　long　way　through
various　halls　and　passages；　bearing　first　to　the　left　and　then　to　the
right　again；　till　suddenly　through　some　side　door　they　emerged　upon　a
marvellous　scene。　The　first　impressions　that　reached　Alan's　mind　were
those　of　a　long　stretch　of　water；　very　black　and　still　and　not　more
than　eighty　feet　in　width。　On　the　hither　edge　of　this　canal；　seated
upon　a　raised　dais　in　the　midst　of　a　great　open　space　of　polished
rock；　was　the　Asika；　or　so　he　gathered　from　her　gold　breastplate　and
sparkling　garments；　for　her　fierce　and　beautiful　features　were　hid
beneath　an　object　familiar　enough　to　him；　the　yellow；　crystal…eyed
mask　of　Little　Bonsa。　Arranged　in　companies　about　and　behind　her　were
hundreds　of　people；　male　and　female；　clad　in　hideous　costumes　to
resemble　demons；　with　masks　to　match。　Some　of　these　masks　were　semi…
human　and　some　of　them　bore　a　likeness　to　the　heads　of　animals　and　had
horns　on　them；　while　their　wearers　were　adorned　with　skins　and　tails。
To　describe　them　in　their　infinite　variety　would　be　impossible；　indeed
the　recollection　that　Alan　carried　away　was　one　of　a　medi？val　hell　as
it　is　occasionally　to　be　found　portrayed　upon　〃Doom　pictures〃　in　old
churches。

On　the　further　side　of　the　water　the　entire　Asiki　people　seemed　to　be
gathered；　at　least　there　were　thousands　of　them　seated　upon　a　rising
rocky　slope　as　in　an　amphitheatre；　clad　only　in　the　ordinary　costume
of　the　Western　African　native；　and　in　some　instances　in　linen　cloaks。
This　great　amphitheatre　was　surrounded　by　a　high　wall　with　gates；　but
in　the　moonlight　he　found　it　difficult　to　discern　its　exact　limits。

Jeekie　nudged　Alan　and　pointed　to　the　centre　of　the　canal　or　pool。　He
looked　and　saw　floating　there　a　huge　and　hideous　golden　head；　twenty
times　as　large　as　life　perhaps；　with　great　prominent　eyes　that　glared
up　to　the　sky。　Its　appearance　was　quite　unlike　anything　else　in　the
world；　more　loathsome；　more　horrible；　man；　fish　and　animal；　all　seemed
to　have　their　part　in　it；　human　mouth　and　teeth；　fish…like　eyes　and
snout；　bestial　expression。

〃Big　Bonsa；〃　whispered　Jeekie。　〃Just　the　same　as　when　I　sweet　little
boy。He　live　here　for　thousand　of　years。〃

Preceded　by　the　Mungana　and　followed　by　Jeekie　and　the　priests；　the
band　bringing　up　the　rear；　Alan　was　marched　down　a　lane　left　open　for
him　till　he　came　to　some　steps　leading　to　the　dais；　upon　which　in
addition　to　that　occupied　by　the　Asika；　stood　two　empty　chairs。　These
steps　the　Mungana　motioned　him　to　mount；　but　when　Jeekie　tried　to
follow　him　he　turned　and　struck　him　contemptuously　in　the　face。　At
once　the　Asika；　who　was　watching　Vernon's　approach　through　the　eye…
holes　in　the　Little　Bonsa　mask；　said　fiercely：

〃Who　bade　you　strike　the　servant　of　my　guest；　O　Mungana？　Let　him　come
also　that　he　may　stand　behind　us　and　interpret。〃

Her　wretched　husband；　who　knew　that　this　public　slight　was　put　upon
him　purposely；　but　did　not　dare　to　protest　against　it；　bowed　his　head。
Then　all　three　of　them　climbed　to　the　dais；　the　priests　and　the
musicians　remaining　below。

〃Welcome；　Vernoon；〃　said　the　Asika　through　the　lips　of　the　mask；　which
to　Alan；　notwithstanding　the　dreadful　cruelty　of　its　expression；
looked　less　hateful　than　the　lovely；　tigerish　face　it　hid。　〃Welcome
and　be　seated　here　on　my　left　hand；　since　on　my　right　you　may　not　sit
as　yet。〃

He　bowed　and　took　the　chair　to　which　she　pointed；　while　her　husband
placed　himself　in　the　other　chair　upon　her　right；　and　Jeekie　stood
behind；　his　great　shape　towering　above　them　all。

〃This　is　a　festival　of　my　people；　Vernoon；〃　she　went　on；　〃such　a
festival　as　has　not　been　seen　for　years；　celebrated　because　Little
Bonsa　has　come　back　to　them。〃

〃What　is　to　happen？〃　he　asked　uneasily。　〃I　have　told　you；　Lady；　that
blood　is　/orunda/　to　me。　I　must　not　witness　it。〃

〃I　know；　be　not　afraid；〃　she　answered。　〃Sacrifice　there　must　be；　since
it　is　the　custom　and　we　may　not　defraud　the　gods；　but　you　shall　not
see　the　deed。　Judge　from　this；　Vernoon；　how　greatly　I　desire　to　please
you。〃

Now　Alan；　looking　about　him；　saw　that　immediately　beneath　the　dais　and
between　them　and　the　edge　of　the　water；　were　gathered　his　cannibal
friends；　the　Ogula；　and　Fahni　their　chief　who　had　rowed　him　to　Asiki…
land；　and　with　them　the　messengers　whom　they　had　sent　on　ahead。　Also
he　saw　that　their　arms　were　tied　behind　them　and　that　they　were
guarded　by　men　dressed　like　devils　and　armed　with　spears。

〃Ask　Fahni　why　he　and　his　people　are　bound；　Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　〃and
why　have　they　not　returned　to　their　own　country。〃

Jeekie　obeyed；　putting　the　question　in　the　Ogula　language；　whereon　the
poor　men　turned　and　began　to　implore　Alan　to　save　their　lives；　Fahni
adding　that　he　had　been　told　they　were　to　be　killed　that　night。

〃Why　are　these　men　to　be　slain？〃　asked　Alan　of　the　Asika。

〃Because　I　have　learned　that　they　attacked　you　in　their　own　country；
Vernoon；〃　she　answered；　〃and　would　have　killed　you　had　it　not　been　for
Little　Bonsa。　It　is　therefore　right　that　they　should　die　as　an
offering　to　you。〃

〃I　refuse　the　offering　since　afterwards　they　dealt　well　with　me。　Set
them　free　and　let　them　return　to　their　own　land；　Asika。〃

〃That　cannot　be；〃　she　replied　coldly。　〃Here　they　are　and　here　they
remain。　Still；　their　lives　are　yours　to　take　or　to　spare；　so　keep　them
as　your　servants　if　you　will；〃　and　bending　down　she　issued　a　command
which　was　instantly　obeyed；　for　the　men　dressed　like　devils　cut　the
bonds　of　the　Ogula　and　brought　them　round　to　the　back　of　the　dais；
where　they　stood　blessing　Alan　loudly　in　their　own　tongue。

Then　the　ceremonies　began　with　a　kind　of　infernal　ballet。　On　the
smooth　space　between　them　and　the　water's　edge　appeared　male　and
female　bands　of　dancers　who　emerged　from　the　shadows。　For　the　most
part　they　were　dressed　up　like　animals　and　imitated　the　cries　of　the
beasts　that　they　represented；　although　some　of　them　wore　little　or　no
clothing。　To　the　sound　of　wild　music　of　horns　and　drums　these
creatures　danced　a　kind　of　insane　quadrille　which　seemed　to　suggest
everything　that　is　cruel　and　vile　upon　the　earth。　They　danced　and
danced　in　the　moonlight　till　the　madness　spread　from　them　to　the
thousands　who　were　gathered　upon　the　farther　side　of　the　water；　for
presently　all　of　these　began　to　dance　also。　Nor　did　it　stop　there；
since　at　length　the　Asika　rose　from　her　chair　upon　the　dais　and　joined
in　the　performance　with　the　Mungana　her　husband。　Even　Jeekie　began　to
prance　and　shout　behind；　so　that　at　last　Alan　and　the　Ogula　alone
remained　still　and　silent　in　the　midst　of　a　scene　and　a　noise　which
might　have　been　that　of　hell　let　loose。

Leaving　go　of　her　husband；　the　Asika　bounded　up　to　Alan　and　tried　to
drag　him　from　his　chair；　thrusting　her　gold　mask　against　his　mask。　He
refused　to　move　and　after　a　while　she　left　him　and　returned　to
Mungana。　Louder　and　louder　brayed　the　music　and　beat　the　drums；　wilder
and　wilder　grew　the　shrieks。　Individuals　fell　exhausted　and　were
thrown　into　the　water　where　they　sank　or　floated　away　on　the　slow
moving　stream；　as　part　of　some　inexplicable　play　that　was　being
enacted。

Then　suddenly　the　Asika　stood