the yellow god-第32章

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saw　nothing　of　the　Asika。　After　its　orgy　of　witchcraft　and　bloodshed
on　the　previous　night；　weariness　and　silence　seemed　to　have　fallen
upon　the　town。　At　any　rate　no　sound　came　from　it　that　could　be　heard
above　the　low；　constant　thunder　of　the　great　waterfall　rushing　down
its　precipice；　and　in　the　cedar…shadowed　garden　where　Alan　walked　till
he　was　weary；　attended　by　Jeekie　and　the　Ogula　savages；　not　a　soul　was
to　be　seen。

On　the　following　morning；　when　he　was　sitting　moodily　in　his　room；　two
priests　came　to　conduct　him　to　the　Asika。　Having　no　choice；　followed
by　Jeekie；　he　accompanied　them　to　her　house；　masked　as　usual；　for
without　this　hateful　disguise　he　was　not　allowed　to　stir。　He　found　her
lying　upon　a　pile　of　cushions　in　a　small　room　that　he　had　never　seen
before；　which　was　better　lighted　than　most　in　that　melancholy　abode；
and　seemed　to　serve　as　her　private　chamber。　In　front　of　her　lay　the
skin　of　the　lion　that　he　had　sent　as　a　present；　and　about　her　throat
hung　a　necklace　made　of　its　claws；　heavily　set　in　gold；　with　which　she
was　playing　idly。

At　the　opening　of　the　door　she　looked　up　with　a　swift　smile　that
turned　to　a　frown　when　she　saw　that　he　was　followed　by　Jeekie。

〃Say；　Vernoon；〃　she　asked　in　her　languorous　voice；　〃can　you　not　stir　a
yard　without　that　ugly　black　dog　at　your　heels？　Do　you　bring　him　to
protect　your　back？　If　so；　what　is　the　need？　Have　I　not　sworn　that　you
are　safe　in　my　land？〃

Alan　made　Jeekie　interpret　this　speech；　then　answered　that　the　reason
was　that　he　knew　but　little　of　her　tongue。

〃Can　I　not　teach　it　to　you　alone；　then；　without　this　low　fellow
hearing　all　my　words？　Well；　it　will　not　be　for　long；〃　and　she　looked
at　Jeekie　in　a　way　that　made　him　feel　very　uncomfortable。　〃Get　behind
us；　dog；　and　you；　Vernoon；　come　sit　on　these　cushions　at　my　side。　Nay；
not　there；　I　said　upon　the　cushionsso。　Now　I　will　take　off　that　ugly
mask　of　yours；　for　I　would　look　into　your　eyes。　I　find　them　pleasant；
Vernoon；〃　and　without　waiting　for　his　permission；　she　sat　up　and　did
so。　〃Ah！〃　she　went　on；　〃we　shall　be　happy　when　we　are　married；　shall
we　not？　Do　not　be　afraid；　Vernoon；　I　will　not　eat　out　your　heart　as　I
have　those　of　the　men　that　went　before　you。　We　will　live　together
until　we　are　old；　and　die　together　at　last；　and　together　be　born
again；　and　so　on　and　on　till　the　end　which　even　I　cannot　foresee。　Why
do　you　not　smile；　Vernoon；　and　say　that　you　are　pleased；　and　that　you
will　be　happy　with　me　who　loved　you　from　the　moment　that　my　eyes　fell
upon　you　in　sleep？　Speak；　Vernoon；　lest　I　should　grow　angry　with　you。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　to　say；〃　answered　Alan　despairingly　through　Jeekie；
〃the　honour　is　too　great　for　me；　who　am　but　a　wandering　trader　who
came　here　to　barter　Little　Bonsa　against　the　gold　I　need〃to　support
my　wife　and　family；　he　was　about　to　add；　then　remembering　that　this
statement　might　not　be　well　received；　substituted；　〃to　support　my　old
parents　and　eight　brothers　and　sisters　who　are　dependent　upon　me；　and
remain　hungry　until　I　return　to　them。〃

〃Then　I　think　they　will　remain　hungry　a　long　time；　Vernoon；　for　while
I　live　you　shall　never　return。　Much　as　I　love　you　I　would　kill　you
first；〃　and　her　eyes　glittered　as　she　said　the　words。　〃Still；〃　she
added；　noting　the　fall　in　his　face；　〃if　it　is　gold　that　they　need；　you
shall　send　it　them。　Yes；　my　people　shall　take　all　that　I　gave　you　down
to　the　coast；　and　there　it　can　be　put　in　a　big　canoe　and　carried
across　the　water。　See　to　the　packing　of　the　stuff；　you　black　dog；〃　she
said　to　Jeekie　over　her　shoulder；　〃and　when　it　is　ready　I　will　send　it
hence。〃

Alan　began　to　thank　her；　though　he　thought　it　more　than　probable　that
even　if　she　kept　her　word；　this　bullion　would　never　get　to　Old
Calabar；　and　much　less　to　England。　But　she　waived　the　matter　aside　as
one　in　which　she　was　not　interested。

〃Tell　me；〃　she　asked；　〃would　you　have　me　other　than　I　am？　First；　do
you　think　me　beautiful？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Alan　honestly；　〃very　beautiful　when　you　are　quiet　as
now；　not　when　you　are　dancing　as　you　did　the　other　night　without　your
robes。〃

When　she　understood　what　he　meant　the　Asika　actually　blushed　a　little。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　she　answered　in　a　voice　that　for　her　was　quite　humble。
〃I　forget　that　it　might　seem　strange　in　your　eyes。　It　has　always　been
the　custom　for　the　Asika　to　do　as　I　did　at　feasts　and　sacrifices；　but
perhaps　that　is　not　the　fashion　among　your　women；　perhaps　they　always
remain　veiled；　as　I　have　heard　the　worshippers　of　the　Prophet　do；　and
therefore　you　thought　me　immodest。　I　am　very；　very　sorry；　Vernoon。　I
pray　you　to　forgive　me　who　am　ignorant　and　only　do　what　I　have　been
taught。〃

〃Yes；　they　always　remain　veiled；〃　stammered　Alan；　though　he　was　not
referring　to　their　faces；　and　as　the　words　passed　his　lips　he　wondered
what　the　Asika　would　think　if　she　could　see　a　ballet　at　a　London
music…hall。

〃Is　there　anything　else　wrong？〃　she　went　on　gently。　〃If　so；　tell　me
that　I　may　set　it　right。〃

〃I　do　not　like　cruelty　or　sacrifices；　O　Asika。　I　have　told　you　that
bloodshed　is　/orunda/　to　me；　and　at　the　feast　those　men　were　poisoned
and　you　mocked　them　in　their　pain；　also　many　others　were　taken　away　to
be　killed　for　no　crime。〃

She　opened　her　beautiful　eyes　and　stared　at　him；　answering：

〃But；　Vernoon；　all　this　is　not　my　fault；　they　were　sacrifices　to　the
gods；　and　if　I　did　not　sacrifice；　I　should　be　sacrificed　by　the
priests　and　wizards　who　live　to　sacrifice。　Yes；　myself　I　should　be
made　to　drink　the　poison　and　be　mocked　at　while　I　died　like　a　snake
with　a　broken　back。　Or　even　if　I　escaped　the　vengeance　of　the　people；
the　gods　themselves　would　kill　me　and　raise　up　another　in　my　place。　Do
they　not　sacrifice　in　your　country；　Vernoon？〃

〃No；　Asika；　they　fight　if　necessary　and　kill　those　who　commit　murder。
But　they　have　no　fetish　that　asks　for　blood；　and　the　law　they　have
from　heaven　is　a　law　of　mercy。〃

She　stared　at　him　again。

〃All　this　is　strange　to　me；〃　she　said。　〃I　was　taught　otherwise。　Gods
are　devils　and　must　be　appeased；　lest　they　bring　misfortune　on　us；　men
must　be　ruled　by　terror；　or　they　would　rebel　and　pull　down　the　great
House；　doctors　must　learn　magic；　or　how　could　they　avert　spells？
wizards　must　be　killed；　or　the　people　would　perish　in　their　net。　May
not　we　who　live　in　a　hell；　strive　to　beat　back　its　flame　with　the
wisdom　our　forefathers　have　handed　on　to　us？　Tell　me；　Vernoon；　for　I
would　know。〃

〃You　make　your　own　hell；〃　answered　Alan　when　with　the　help　of　Jeekie
he　understood　her　talk。

She　pondered　over　his　words　for　a　while；　then　said：

〃I　must　think。　The　thing　is　big。　I　wander　in　blackness；　I　will　speak
with　you　again。　Say　now；　what　else　is　wrong　with　me？〃

Now　Alan　thought　that　he　saw　opportunity　for　a　word　in　season　and　made
a　great　mistake。

〃I　think　that　you　treat　your　husband；　that　man　whom　you　call　Mungana；
very　badly。　Why　should　you　drive　him　to　his　death？〃

At　these　words　the　Asika　leapt　up　in　a　rage；　and　seeking　something　to
vent　her　temper　on；　violently　boxed　Jeekie's　ears　and　kicked　him　with
her　sandalled　foot。

〃The　Mungana！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃that　beast！　What　have　I　to　do　with　him？
I　hate　him；　as　I　hated　the　others。　The　priests　thrust　him　on　me。　He
has　had　his　day；　let　him　go。　In　your　country　do　they　make　women　live
with　men　whom　they　loathe？　I　love　/you/；　Bonsa　himself　knows　why？
Perhaps　because　you　have　a　white　skin　and　white　thoughts。　But　I　hate
that　man。　What　is　the　use　of　being　Asika　if　I　cannot　take　what　I　love
and　reject　what　I　hate？　Go　away；　Vernoon；　go　away；　you　have　angered
me；　and　if　it　were　not　for　what　you　have　said　about　that　new　law　of
mercy；　I　think　that　I　would　cut　your　throat；〃　and　again　she　boxed
Jeekie's　ears　and　kicked　him　in　the　shins。

Alan　rose　and　bowed　himself　towards　the　door　while　she　stood　with　her
back　towards　him；　sobbing。　As　he　was　about　to　pass　it　she　wheeled
round；　wiping　the　tears　from　her　eyes　with　her　hand；　and　said：

〃I　forgot；　I　sent　for　you　to　thank　you　for　your　presents；　that；〃　and
she　pointed　to　the　lion　skin；　〃which　they　tell　me　you　killed　with　some
kind　of　thunder　to　save　the　life　of　that　old　cannibal；　and　this；〃　and
she　pulled　off　the　necklace　of　claws；　then　added；　〃as　I　am　too　bad　to
wear　it；　you　had　better　take　it　back　again；〃　and　she　threw　it　with　all
her　strength　straight　into　Jeekie's　face。

Fearing　worse　things；　the　much　maltreated　Jeekie　uttered　a　howl　and
bolted　through　the　door；　while　Alan；　picking　up　the　necklace；　returned
it　to　her　with　a　bow。　She　took　it。

〃Stop；〃　she　said。　〃You　are　leaving　the　room　without　your　mask　and　my
women　are　outside。　Come　here；〃　and　she　tied　the　thing　upon　his　head；
setting　it　all　awry；　then　pushed　him　from　the　place。

〃Very　poor　joke；　Major；　very　poor　indeed；〃　said　Jeekie　when　they　had
reached　their　own　apartment。　〃Lady　make　love　to　/you/；　/you/　play　prig
and　lecture　lady　about　holy　customs　of　her　country　and　she　box　/my/
ear　till　head　sing；　also　kick　me　all　over　and　throw　sharp　claws　in
face。　Please　you　do　it　no　more。　The　next　time；　who　knows？　she　stick
knife　in　/my/　gizzard；　then　kiss　/you/　afterward　and　say　she　so　sorry
and　hope　she　no　hurt　/you/。　But　how　that　help　poor　departed　Jeekie　who
get　all　kicks；　while　you　have　ha'pence？〃

〃Oh！　be　quiet；〃　said　Alan；　〃you　are　welcome　to　the　halfpence　if　you
would　only　leave　me　the　kicks。　The　question　is；　how　am　I　to　get　out　of
this　mess？　While　she　was　a　beautiful　savage　devil；　one　could　deal　with
the　thing；　but　if　she　is　going　to　become　human　it　is　another　matter。〃

Jeekie　looked　at　him　with　pity　in　his　eyes。

〃Always　thought　white　man　mad　at　bottom；〃　he　said；　shaking　his　big
head。　〃To　benighted　black　nigger　thing　so　very　simple。　All　you　got　to
do；　make　love　and　cut　when　you　get　chance。　Then　she　pleased　as　Punch；
everything　go　smooth　and　Jeekie　get　no　more　kicks。　Christian　religion
business　very　good；　but　won't　wash　in　Asiki…land。　Your　reverend　uncle
find　out　that。〃

Not　wishing　to　pursue　the　argument；　Alan　changed　the　subject　by　asking
his　indignant　retainer　if　he　thought　that　the　Asika　had　meant　what　she
said　when　she　offered　to　send　the　gold　down　to　the　coast。

〃Why　not；　Major？　That　good　lady　always　mean　what　she　say；　and　what　she
do　too；〃　and　he　dabbed　wrathfully　at　the　scratches　made　by　the　lion's
claws　on　his　face；　then　added；　〃She　know　her　own　mind；　not　like
shilly…shally；　see…saw　white　woman；　who　get　up　one　thing　and　go　to　bed
another。　If　she　love　she　love；　if　she　hate　she　hate。　If　she　say　she
send　gold；　she　send　it；　though　pity　to　part　with　all　that　cash；
because　'spect　someone　bag　it。〃

Alan　reflected　a　while。

〃Don't　you　see；　Jeekie；　that　here　is　a　chance；　if　a　very　small　one；　of
getting　a　message　to　the　coast。　Also　it　is　quite　clear　that　if　we　are
ever　able　to　escape；　it　will　be　impossible　for　us　to　carry　this　heavy
stuff；　whereas　if　we　send　it　on　ahead；　perhaps　some　of　it　might　get
through。　We　will　pack　it　up；　Jeekie；　at　any　rate　it　will　be　something
to　do。　Go　now　and　send　a　message　to　the　Asika；　and　ask　her　to　let　us
have　some　carpenters；　and　a　lot　of　well…seasoned　wood。〃

The　message　was　sent　and　an　hour　later　a　dozen　of　the　native　craftsmen
arrived　with　their　rude　tools　and　a　supply　of　planks　c