the yellow god-第36章

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knew　the　road　well　enough；　he　even　knew　the　elm　tree　beneath　which　he
seemed　to　stand　on　the　crest　of　a　hill。　It　was　that　which　ran　from　Mr。
Champers…Haswell's　splendid　house；　The　Court；　to　the　church；　he　could
see　them　both；　the　house　to　the　right；　the　church　to　the　left；　and　his
eyesight　seemed　to　have　improved；　since　he　was　able　to　observe　that　at
either　place　there　was　bustle　and　preparation　as　though　for　some　big
ceremony。

Now　the　big　gates　of　The　Court　opened　and　through　them　came　a　funeral。
It　advanced　toward　him　with　unnatural　swiftness；　as　though　it　floated
upon　air；　the　whole　melancholy　procession　of　it。　In　a　few　seconds　it
had　come　and　gone　and　yet　during　those　seconds　he　suffered　agony；　for
there　arose　in　his　mind　a　horrible　terror　that　this　was　Barbara's
burying。　He　could　not　have　endured　it　for　another　moment；　he　would
have　cried　out　or　died；　only　now　the　mourners　passed　him　following　the
coffin；　and　in　the　first　carriage　he　saw　Barbara　seated；　looking　sad
and　somewhat　troubled；　but　well。　A　little　further　down　the　line　came
another　carriage；　and　in　it　was　Sir　Robert　Aylward；　staring　before　him
with　cold；　impassive　face。

In　his　dream　Alan　thought　to　himself　that　he　must　have　borrowed　this
carriage；　which　would　not　be　strange；　as　he　generally　used　motors；　for
there　was　a　peer's　coronet　upon　the　panels　and　the　silver…mounted
harness。

The　funeral　passed　and　suddenly　vanished　into　the　churchyard　gates；
leaving　Alan　wondering　why　his　cousin　Haswell　was　not　seated　at
Barbara's　side。　Then　it　occurred　to　him　that　it　might　be　because　he
was　in　the　coffin；　and　at　that　moment　in　his　dream　he　heard　the　Asika
asking　Jeekie　what　he　saw；　heard　Jeekie　answering　also；　〃A　burying　in
the　country　called　England。〃

〃Of　whom；　Jeekie？〃　Then　after　some　hesitation；　the　answer：

〃Of　a　lady　whom　my　lord　loves　very　much。　They　bury　her。〃

〃What　was　her　name；　Jeekie？〃

〃Her　name　was　Barbara。〃

〃Bar…bara；　why　that　you　told　me　was　the　name　of　his　mother　and　his
sister。　Which　of　them　is　buried？〃

〃Neither；　O　Asika。　It　was　another　lady　who　loved　him　very　much　and
wanted　to　marry　him；　and　that　was　why　he　ran　away　to　Africa。　But　now
she　is　dead　and　buried。〃

〃Are　all　women　in　England　called　Barbara；　Jeekie？〃

〃Yes；　O　Asika；　Barbara　means　woman。〃

〃If　your　lord　loved　this　Barbara；　why　then　did　he　run　away　from　her？
Well；　it　matters　not　since　she　is　dead　and　buried；　for　whatever　their
spirits　may　feel；　no　man　cares　for　a　woman　that　is　dead　until　she
clothes　herself　in　flesh　again。　That　was　a　good　vision　and　I　will
reward　you　for　it。〃

〃I　have　earned　nothing；　O　Asika；〃　answered　Jeekie　modestly；　〃who　only
tell　you　what　I　see　as　I　must。　Yet；　O　Asika；〃　he　added　with　a　note　of
anxiety　in　his　voice；　〃why　do　you　not　read　these　magic　writings　for
yourself？〃

〃Because　I　dare　not；　or　rather　because　I　can　not；〃　she　answered
fiercely。　〃Be　silent；　slave；　for　now　the　power　of　the　good　broods　upon
my　soul。〃

The　dream　went　on。　A　great　forest　appeared；　such　a　forest　as　they　had
passed　before　they　met　the　cannibals；　and　set　beneath　one　of　the
trees；　a　tent　and　in　that　tent　Barbara；　Barbara　weeping。　Someone　began
to　lift　the　flap　of　the　tent。　She　sprang　up；　snatching　at　a　pistol
that　lay　beside　her；　turning　its　muzzle　towards　her　breast。　A　man
entered　the　tent。　Alan　saw　his　face；　it　was　his　own。　Barbara　let　fall
the　pistol　and　fell　backwards　as　though　a　bullet　from　it　had　pierced
her　heart。　He　leapt　towards　her；　but　before　he　came　to　where　she　lay
everything　had　vanished　and　he　heard　Jeekie　droning　out　his　lies　to
the　Asika；　telling　her　that　the　vision　he　had　seen　was　one　of　her　and
his　master　seated　with　their　arms　about　each　other　in　a　chamber　of　the
Golden　House。

A　third　time　the　dream　descended　on　Alan　like　a　cloud。　It　seemed　to
him　that　he　was　borne　beyond　the　flaming　borders　of　the　world。
Everything　around　was　new　and　unfamiliar；　vast；　changing；　lovely；
terrible。　He　stood　alone　upon　a　pearly　plain　and　the　sky　above　him　was
lit　with　red　moons；　many　and　many　of　them　that　hung　there　like　lamps。
Spirits　began　to　pass　him。　He　could　catch　something　of　their　splendour
as　they　sped　by　with　incredible　swiftness；　he　could　hear　the　music　of
their　laughter。　One　rose　up　at　his　side。　It　was　the　Asika；　only　a
thousand　times　more　splendid；　clothed　in　all　the　glory　of　hell。
Majestically　she　bent　towards　him；　her　glowing　eyes　held　his；　the
deadly　perfume　of　her　breath　beat　upon　his　brow　and　made　him　drunken。

She　spoke　to　him　and　her　voice　sounded　like　distant　bells。

〃Through　many　a　life；　through　many　a　life；〃　she　said；　〃bought　with
much　blood；　paid　for　with　a　million　tears；　but　mine　at　last；　the　soul
that　I　have　won　to　comfort　my　soul　in　the　eternal　day。　Come　to　the
place　I　have　made　ready　for　you；　the　hell　that　shall　turn　to　heaven　at
your　step；　come；　you　by　whom　I　am　redeemed；　and　drive　away　those　gods
that　torture　me　because　I　was　their　servant　that　I　might　win　you。〃

So　she　spoke；　and　though　all　his　soul　revolted；　yet　the　fearful
strength　that　was　in　her　seemed　to　draw　him　onward　whither　she　would
go。　Then　a　light　shone　and　that　light　was　the　face　of　Barbara　and　with
a　suddenness　that　was　almost　awful；　the　wild　dream　came　to　an　end。



Alan　was　in　his　own　room　again；　though　how　he　got　there　he　did　not
recollect。

〃Jeekie；〃　he　said；　〃what　has　happened？　I　seem　to　have　had　a　very
curious　dream；　there　in　the　Treasure…place；　and　to　have　heard　you
telling　the　Asika　a　string　of　incredible　falsehoods。〃

〃Oh！　no；　Major；　Jeekie　can't　lie；　too　good　Christian；　he　tell　her　what
/he/　see；　or　what　he　think　she　see　if　she　look；　'cause　though　p'raps
he　see　nothing；　she　never　believe　that。　And；〃　he　added　with　a　burst　of
confidence；　〃what　the　dickens　it　matter　what　he　tell　her；　so　long　as
she　swallow　same　and　keep　quiet？　Nasty　things　always　make　women　like
Asika　quite　outrageous。　Give　them　sweet　to　suck；　say　Jeekie；　and　if
they　ill　afterwards；　that　no　fault　of　his。　They　had　sweet。〃

〃Quite　so；　Jeekie；　quite　so；　only　I　should　advise　you　not　to　play　too
many　tricks　upon　the　Asika；　lest　she　should　happen　to　find　you　out。
How　did　I　get　back　here？〃

〃Like　man　that　walk　in　his　sleep；　Major。　She　go　first；　you　follow；
just　as　little　lamb　after　Mary　in　hymn。〃

〃Jeekie；　did　you　really　see　anything　at　all？〃

〃No；　Major；　nothing　partic'lar；　except　ghost　of　Mrs。　Jeekie　and　of
your　reverend　uncle；　both　of　them　very　angry。　That　magic　all　stuff；
Major。　Asika　put　something　in　your　grub　make　you　drunk；　so　that　you
think　her　very　wise。　Don't　think　of　it　no　more；　Major；　or　you　go　off
your　chump。　If　Jeekie　see　nothing；　depend　on　it　there　nothing　to　see。〃

〃Perhaps　so；　Jeekie；　but　I　wish　I　could　be　sure　you　had　seen　nothing。
Listen　to　me；　we　must　get　out　of　this　place　somehow；　or　as　you　say；　I
shall　go　off　my　chump。　It's　haunted；　Jeekie；　its　haunted；　and　I　think
that　Asika　is　a　devil；　not　a　woman。〃

〃That　what　priests　say；　Major；　very　old　devilpart　of　Bonsa；〃　he
answered；　looking　at　his　master　anxiously。　〃Well；　don't　you　fret；
Jeekie　not　afraid　of　devils；　Jeekie　get　you　out　in　good　time。　Go　to
bed　and　leave　it　all　to　Jeekie。〃



Fifteen　more　days　had　gone　by；　and　it　was　the　eve　of　the　night　of　the
second　full　moon　when　Alan　was　destined　to　become　the　husband　of　the
Asika。　She　had　sent　for　him　that　morning　and　he　found　her　radiant　with
happiness。　Whether　or　no　she　believed　Jeekie's　interpretation　of　the
visions　she　had　called　up；　it　seemed　quite　certain　that　her　mind　was
void　of　fears　and　doubts。　She　was　sure　that　Alan　was　about　to　become
her　husband；　and　had　summoned　all　the　people　of　the　Asiki　to　be
present　at　the　ceremony　of　their　marriage；　and　incidentally　of　the
death　of　the　Mungana　who；　poor　wretch；　was　to　be　forced　to　kill
himself　upon　that　occasion。

Before　they　parted　she　had　spoken　to　Alan　sweetly　enough。

〃Vernoon；〃　she　said；　〃I　know　that　you　do　not　love　me　as　I　love　you；
but　the　love　will　come；　since　for　your　sake　I　will　change　myself。　I
will　grow　gentle；　I　will　shed　no　more　blood；　that　of　the　Mungana　shall
be　the　last；　and　even　him　I　would　spare　if　I　could；　only　while　he
lives　I　may　not　marry　you；　it　is　the　one　law　that　is　stronger　than　I
am；　and　if　I　broke　it　I　and　you　would　die　at　once。　You　shall　even
teach　me　your　faith；　if　you　will；　for　what　is　good　to　you　is
henceforth　good　to　me。　Ask　what　you　wish　of　me；　and　as　an　earnest　I
will　do　it　if　I　can。〃

Now　Alan　looked　at　her。　There　was　one　thing　that　he　wished　above　all
othersthat　she　would　let　him　go。　But　this　he　did　not　dare　to　ask；
moreover；　it　would　have　been　utterly　useless。　After　all；　if　the
Asika's　love　was　terrible；　what　would　be　the　appearance　of　her
outraged　hate？　What　could　he　ask？　More　gold？　He　hated　the　very　name　of
the　stuff；　for　it　had　brought　him　here。　He　remembered　the　old　cannibal
chief；　Fahni；　who；　like　himself；　languished　a　prisoner；　daily
expecting　death。　Only　that　morning　he　had　implored　him　to　obtain　his
liberty。

〃I　thank　you；　Asika；〃　he　said。　〃Now；　if　your　words　are　true；　set　Fahni
free　and　let　him　return　to　his　own　country；　for　if　he　stays　here　he
will　die。〃

〃Surely；　Vernoon；　that　is　a　small　thing；〃　she　answered；　smiling；
〃though　it　is　true　that　when　he　gets　there　he　will　probably　make　war
upon　us。　Well；　let　him；　let　him。〃　Then　she　clapped　her　hands　and
summoned　priests；　whom　she　bade　go　at　once　and　conduct　Fahni　out　of
Bonsa…Town。　Also　she　bade　them　loose　certain　slaves　who　were　of　the
Ogula　tribe；　that　they　might　accompany　him　laden　with　provisions；　and
send　on　orders　to　the　outposts　that　Fahni　and　his　party　should　pass
unmolested　from　the　land。

This　done；　she　began　to　talk　to　Alan　about　many　matters；　however
little　he　might　answer　her。　Indeed　it　seemed　almost　as　though　she
feared　to　let　him　leave　her　side；　as　though　some　presentiment　of　loss
oppressed　her。

At　length；　to　Alan's　great　relief；　the　time　came　when　they　must　part；
since　it　was　necessary　for　her　to　attend　a　secret　ceremony　of
preparation　or　purification　that　was　called　〃Putting…off…the…Past。〃
Although　she　had　been　thrice　summoned；　still　she　would　not　let　him　go。

〃They　call　you；　Asika；〃　said　Alan。

〃Yes；　yes；　they　call　me；〃　she　replied；　springing　up。　〃Leave　me；
Vernoon；　till　we　meet　to…morrow　to　part　no　more。　Oh！　why　is　my　heart
so　heavy　in　me？　That　black　dog　of　yours　read　the　visions　that　I
summoned　but　might　not　look　on；　and　they　were　good　visions。　They
showed　that　the　woman　who　loved　you　is　dead；　they　showed　us　wedded；
and　other　deeper　things。　Surely　he　would　not　dare　to　lie　to　me；
knowing　that　if　he　did　I　would　flay　him　living　and　throw　him　to　the
vultures。　Why；　then；　is　my　heart　so　heavy　in　me？　Would　you　escape　me；
Vernoon？　Nay；　you　are　not　so　cruel；　nor　could　you　do　it　except　by
death。　Moreover；　man；　know　that　even　in　death　you　cannot　escape　me；
for　there　be　sure　I　shall　follow　you　and　claim　you；　to　whose　side　my
spirit　has　toiled　for　ages；　and　what　is　there　so　strong　that　it　can
snatch　you　from　my　hand？〃

She　looked　at　him　a　moment；　and　seizing　his　hand　burst　into　a　flood　of
tears；　and　seizing　his　hand　threw　herself　upon　her　knees　and　kissed　it
again　and　again。

〃Go　now；〃　she　said；　〃go；　and　let　my　love　go　with　you；　through　lives
and　deaths；　and　all