the ninth vibration-第33章

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　was　the　eternal　Child；　lifting　dying；　appealing　eyes　to　the　Woman；　as　he　clung　to　her　knees。　She　did　not　think　this　…　she　felt　it；　and　it　dominated　her　utterly。　The　Woman　answered。　As　if　it　had　been　her　own　flesh　and　blood；　she　swept　the　panting　body　behind　her　and　faced　the　man　with　uplifted　dagger　and　knew　her　victory　assured；　whether　in　life　or　death。　On　came　the　horrible　rush；　the　flaming　eyes；　and；　if　it　was　chance　that　set　the　dagger　against　his　throat；　it　was　cool　strength　that　drove　it　home　and　never　wavered　until　the　blood　welling　from　the　throat　quenched　the　flame　in　the　wild　eyes；　and　she　stood　triumphing　like　a　war…goddess；　with　the　man　at　her　feet。　Then；　strong　and　flushed；　Maya　the　Queen　gathered　the　half…dead　boy　in　her　arms；　and；　both　drenched　with　blood；　they　moved　slowly　down　the　hall　and　outside　met　the　hurrying　crowd；　with　Dwaymenau；　whom　the　scream　had　brought　to　find　her　son。

〃You　have　killed　him！　She　has　killed　him！〃　Scarcely　could　the　Rajput　woman　speak。　She　was　kneeling　beside　him　…　he　hideous　with　blood。　〃She　hated　him　always。　She　has　murdered　him。　Seize　her！〃

〃Woman；　what　matter　your　hates　and　mine？〃　the　Queen　said　slowly。　〃The　boy　is　stark　with　fear。　Carry　him　in　and　send　for　old　Meh　Shway　Gon。　Woman；　be　silent！〃

When　a　Queen　commands；　men　and　women　obey；　and　a　Queen　commanded　then。　A　huddled　group　lifted　the　child　and　carried　him　away；　Dwaymenau　with　them；　still　uttering　wild　threats；　and　the　Queen　was　left　alone。

She　could　not　realize　what　she　had　done　and　left　undone。　She　could　not　understand　it。　She　had　hated；　sickened　with　loathing；　as　it　seemed　for　ages；　and　now；　in　a　moment　it　had　blown　away　like　a　whirlwind　that　is　gone。　Hate　was　washed　out　of　her　soul　and　had　left　it　cool　and　white　as　the　Lotus　of　the　Blessed　One。　What　power　had　Dwaymenau　to　hurt　her　when　that　other　Power　walked　beside　her？　She　seemed　to　float　above　her　in　high　air　and　look　down　upon　her　with　compassion。　Strength；　virtue　flowed　in　her　veins；　weakness；　fear　were　fantasies。　She　could　not　understand；　but　knew　that　here　was　perfect　enlightenment。　About　her　echoed　the　words　of　the　Blessed　One：　〃Never　in　this　world　doth　hatred　cease　by　hatred；　but　only　by　love。　This　is　an　old　rule。〃

〃Whereas　I　was　blind；　now　I　see；〃　said　Maya　the　Queen　slowly　to　her　own　heart。　She　had　grasped　the　hems　of　the　Mighty。

Words　cannot　speak　the　still　passion　of　strength　and　joy　that　possessed　her。　Her　step　was　light。　As　she　walked；　her　soul　sang　within　her；　for　thus　it　is　with　those　that　have　received　the　Law。　About　them　is　the　Peace。

In　the　dawn　she　was　told　that　the　Queen；　Dwaymenau；　would　speak　with　her；　and　without　a　tremor　she　who　had　shaken　like　a　leaf　at　that　name　commanded　that　she　should　enter。　It　was　Dwaymenau　that　trembled　as　she　came　into　that　unknown　place。

With　cloudy　brows　and　eyes　that　would　reveal　no　secret；　she　stood　before　the　high　seat　where　the　Queen　sat　pale　and　majestic。

〃Is　it　well　with　the　boy？〃　the　Queen　asked　earnestly。

〃Well；〃　said　Dwaymenau；　fingering　the　silver　bosses　of　her　girdle。

〃Then　…　is　there　more　to　say？〃　The　tone　was　that　of　the　great　lady　who　courteously　ends　an　audience。　〃There　is　more。　The　men　brought　in　the　body　and　in　its　throat　your　dagger　was　sticking。　And　my　son　has　told　me　that　your　body　was　a　shield　to　him。　You　offered　your　life　for　his。　I　did　not　think　to　thank　you　…　but　I　thank　you。〃　She　ended　abruptly　and　still　her　eyes　had　never　met　the　Queen's。

〃I　accept　your　thanks。　Yet　a　mother　could　do　no　less。〃

The　tone　was　one　of　dismissal　but　still　Dwaymenau　lingered。

〃The　dagger；〃　she　said　and　drew　it　from　her　bosom。　On　the　clear；　pointed　blade　the　blood　had　curdled　and　dried。　〃I　never　thought　to　ask　a　gift　of　you；　but　this　dagger　is　a　memorial　of　my　son's　danger。　May　I　keep　it？〃

〃As　you　will。　Here　is　the　sheath。〃　From　her　girdle　she　drew　it　…　rough　silver；　encrusted　with　rubies　from　the　mountains。

The　hand　rejected　it。

〃Jewels　I　cannot　take；　but　bare　steel　is　a　fitting　gift　between　us　two。〃

〃As　you　will。〃

The　Queen　spoke　compassionately；　and　Dwaymenau；　still　with　veiled　eyes；　was　gone　without　fare　well。　The　empty　sheath　lay　on　the　seat　…　a　symbol　of　the　sharp…edged　hate　that　had　passed　out　of　her　life。　She　touched　the　sheath　to　her　lips　and；　smiling；　laid　it　away。

And　the　days　went　by　and　Dwaymenau　came　no　more　before　her；　and　her　days　were　fulfilled　with　peace。　And　now　again　the　Queen　ruled　in　the　palace　wisely　and　like　a　Queen；　and　this　Dwaymenau　did　not　dispute；　but　what　her　thoughts　were　no　man　could　tell。

Then　came　the　end。

One　night　the　city　awakened　to　a　wild　alarm。　A　terrible　fleet　of　war…boats　came　sweeping　along　the　river　thick　as　locusts　…　the　war　fleet　of　the　Lord　of　Prome。　Battle　shouts　broke　tile　peace　of　the　night　to　horror；　axes　battered　on　the　outer　doors；　the　roofs　of　the　outer　buildings　were　all　aflame。　It　was　no　wonderful　incident；　but　a　common　one　enough　of　those　turbulent　days　…　reprisal　by　a　powerful　ruler　with　raids　and　hates　to　avenge　on　the　Lord　of　the　Golden　Palace。　It　was　indeed　a　right　to　be　gainsaid　only　by　the　strong　arm；　and　the　strong　arm　was　absent；　as　for　the　men　of　Pagan；　if　the　guard　failed　and　the　women's　courage　sank；　they　would　return　to　blackened　walls；　empty　chambers　and　desolation。

At　Pagan　the　guard　was　small；　indeed；　for　the　King's　greed　of　plunder　had　taken　almost　every　able　man　with　him。　Still；　those　who　were　left　did　what　they　could；　and　the　women；　alert　and　brave；　with　but　few　exceptions；　gathered　the　children　and　handed　such　weapons　as　they　could　muster　to　the　men；　and　themselves；　taking　knives　and　daggers；　helped　to　defend　the　inner　rooms。

In　the　farthest；　the　Queen；　having　given　her　commands　and　encouraged　all　with　brave　words；　like　a　wise；　prudent　princess；　sat　with　her　son　beside　her。　Her　duty　was　now　to　him。　Loved　or　unloved；　he　was　still　the　heir；　the　root　of　the　House　tree。　If　all　failed；　she　must　make　ransom　and　terms　for　him；　and；　if　they　died；　it　must　be　together。　He；　with　sparkling　eyes；　gay　in　the　danger；　stood　by　her。　Thus　Dwaymenau　found　them。

She　entered　quietly　and　without　any　display　of　emotion　and　stood　before　the　high　seat。

〃Great　Queen〃　…　she　used　that　title　for　the　first　time　…　　〃the　leader　is　Meng　Kyinyo　of　Prome。　There　is　no　mercy。　The　end　is　near。　Our　men　fall　fast；　the　women　are　fleeing。　I　have　come　to　say　this　thing：　Save　the　Prince。〃

〃And　how？〃　asked　the　Queen；　still　seated。　〃I　have　no　power。〃

〃I　have　sent　to　Maung　Tin；　abbot　of　the　Golden　Monastery；　and　he　has　said　this　thing。　In　the　Kyoung　across　the　river　he　can　hide　one　child　among　the　novices。　Cut　his　hair　swiftly　and　put　upon　him　this　yellow　robe。　The　time　is　measured　in　minutes。〃

Then　the　Queen　perceived；　standing　by　the　pillar；　a　monk　of　a　stern；　dark　presence；　the　creature　of　Dwaymenau。　For　an　instant　she　pondered。　Was　the　woman　selling　the　child　to　death？　Dwaymenau　spoke　no　word。　Her　face　was　a　mask。　A　minute　that　seemed　an　hour　drifted　by；　and　the　yelling　and　shrieks　for　mercy　drew　nearer。

〃There　will　be　pursuit；〃　said　the　Queen。　〃They　will　slay　him　on　the　river。　Better　here　with　me。〃

〃There　will　be　no　pursuit。〃　Dwaymenau　fixed　her　strange　eyes　on　the　Queen　for　the　first　time。

What　moved　in　those　eyes？　The　Queen　could　not　tell。　But　despairing；　she　rose　and　went　to　the　silent　monk；　leading　the　Prince　by　the　hand。　Swiftly　he　stripped　the　child　of　the　silk　pasoh　of　royalty；　swiftly　he　cut　the　long　black　tresses　knotted　on　the　little　head；　and　upon　the　slender　golden　body　he　set　the　yellow　robe　worn　by　the　Lord　Himself　on　earth；　and　in　the　small　hand　he　placed　the　begging…bowl　of　the　Lord。　And　now；　remote　and　holy；　in　the　dress　that　is　of　all　most　sacred；　the　Prince；　standing　by　the　monk；　turned　to　his　mother　and　looked　with　grave　eyes　upon　her；　as　the　child　Buddha　looked　upon　his　Mother　…　also　a　Queen。　But　Dwaymenau　stood　by　silent　and　lent　no　help　as　the　Queen　folded　the　Prince　in　her　arms　and　laid　his　hand　in　the　hand　of　the　monk　and　saw　them　pass　away　among　the　pillars；　she　standing　still　and　white。

She　turned　to　her　rival。　〃If　you　have　meant　truly；　I　thank　you。〃

〃I　have　meant　truly。〃

She　turned　to　go；　but　the　Queen　caught　her　by　the　hand。

〃Why　have　you　done　this？〃　she　ask