the yellow god-第32章

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any　account　of　its　wonders；　which　apparently　had　seemed　to　him　of　no
importance。　Or　perhaps　he　thought　that　if　he　did　he　would　not　be
believed。　Well；　there　they　were　before　and　about　him；　and　now　the
question　was；　what　would　be　his　fate　in　this　Gold　House　where　the
great　fetish　dwelt　with　its　priestess？

Ah！　that　priestess！　Somehow　he　shivered　a　little　when　he　thought　of
her；　it　was　as　though　her　influence　were　over　him　already。　Next　moment
he　forgot　her　for　a　while；　for　they　had　come　to　the　river　brink　and
the　litter　was　being　carried　on　to　a　barge　or　ferry；　about　which　were
gathered　many　armed　men。　Evidently　the　Gold　House　was　well　defended
both　by　Nature　and　otherwise。　The　ferry　was　pulled　or　rowed　across　the
river；　he　could　not　see　which；　and　they　passed　through　a　gateway　into
the　town　and　up　a　broad　street　where　hundreds　of　people　watched　his
advent。　They　did　not　seem　to　speak；　or　if　they　spoke　their　voices　were
lost　in　the　sound　of　the　thunder　of　the　great　cataract　which　dominated
the　place　with　its　sullen；　continuous　roar。　It　took　Alan　days　to
become　accustomed　to　that　roar；　but　by　the　inhabitants　of　Asiki…land
apparently　it　was　not　noticed；　their　ears　and　voices　were　attuned　to
overcome　its　volume　which　their　fathers　had　known　from　the　beginning。

Presently　they　were　through　the　town　and　a　wooden　gate　in　an　inner
wall　which　surrounded　the　park　where　the　cedars　grew。　At　this　spot
Alan　noted　that　everybody　left　them　except　the　bearers　and　a　few　men
whom　he　took　to　be　priests。　On　they　stole　like　ghosts　beneath　the
mighty　trees；　from　whose　limbs　hung　long　festoons　of　moss。　It　was　very
dark　there；　only　in　places　where　a　bough　was　broken　the　moonlight　lay
in　white　gules　upon　the　ground。　Another　wall　and　another　gate；　and
suddenly　the　litter　was　set　down。　Its　curtains　opened；　torches
flashed；　women　appeared　clad　in　white　robes；　veiled　and　mysterious；
who　bowed　before　him；　then　half　led　and　half　lifted　him　from　his
litter。　He　could　feel　their　eyes　on　him　through　their　veils；　but　he
could　not　see　their　faces。　He　could　see　nothing　except　their　naked；
copper…coloured　arms　and　long　thin　hands　stretched　out　to　assist　him。

Alan　descended　from　the　litter　as　slowly　as　he　could；　for　somehow　he
shrank　from　the　quaint；　carved　portal　which　he　saw　before　him。　He　did
not　wish　to　pass　it；　its　aspect　filled　him　with　reluctance。　The　women
drew　him　on；　their　hands　pulled　at　his　arms；　their　shoulders　pressed
him　from　behind。　Still　he　hung　back；　looking　about　him；　till　to　his
delight　he　saw　the　other　litter　arrive　and　out　of　it　emerge　Jeekie；
still　wearing　his　sun…helmet　with　its　fringe　of　tattered　mosquito
curtain。

〃Here　we　are；　Major；〃　he　said　in　his　cheerful　voice；　〃turned　up　all
right　like　a　bad　ha'penny；　but　in　odd　situation。〃

〃Very　odd；〃　echoed　Alan。　〃Could　you　persuade　these　ladies　to　let　go　of
me？〃

〃Don't　know；〃　answered　Jeekie。　〃'Spect　they　doubtfully　your　wives；
'spect　you　have　lots　of　wives　here；　don't　get　white　man　every　day；　so
make　most　of　him。　Best　thing　you　do；　kick　out　and　teach　them　place。
Rub　nose　in　dirt　at　once　and　make　them　good；　that　first…class　plan
with　female。　I　no　like　interfere　in　such　delicate　matter。〃

Terrified　by　this　information；　Alan　put　out　his　strength　and　shook　the
women　off　him；　whereon　without　seeming　to　take　any　offence　they　drew
back　to　a　little　distance　and　began　to　bow；　like　automata。　Then　Jeekie
addressed　them　in　their　own　language；　asking　them　what　they　meant　by
defiling　this　mighty　lord；　born　of　the　Heavens；　with　the　touch　of
their　hands；　whereat　they　went　on　bowing　more　humbly　than　before。　Next
he　threw　aside　the　cushions　of　the　litter　and　finding　the　tin　box
containing　Little　Bonsa；　held　it　before　him　in　both　hands　and　bade　the
women　lead　on。

The　march　began；　a　bewildering　march。　It　was　like　a　nightmare。　Veiled
women　with　torches　before　and　behind；　Jeekie　stalking　ahead　carrying
the　battered　tin　box；　long　passages　lined　with　gold；　a　vision　of　black
water　edged　with　a　wide　promenade；　and　finally　a　large　lamp…lit　room
whereof　the　roof　was　supported　by　gilded　columns；　and　in　the　room
couches　of　cushions；　wooden　stools　inlaid　with　ivory；　vessels　of
water；　great　basins　made　of　some　black；　hard　wood；　and　in　the　centre　a
block　of　stone　that　looked　like　an　altar。

Jeekie　set　down　the　tin　box　upon　the　altar…like　stone；　then　he　turned
to　the　crowd　of　women　and　said；　〃Bring　food。〃　Instantly　they　departed；
closing　the　door　of　the　room　behind　them。

〃Now　for　a　wash；〃　said　Alan；　〃unlace　this　confounded　mask；　Jeekie。〃

〃Mustn't；　Major；　mustn't。　Priests　tell　me　that。　If　those　girls　see　you
without　mask；　perhaps　they　kill　them。　Wait　till　they　gone　after
supper；　then　take　it　off。　No　one　allowed　see　you　without　mask　except
Asika　herself。〃

Alan　stepped　to　one　of　the　wooden　bowls　full　of　water　which　stood
under　a　lamp；　and　gazed　at　his　own　reflection。　The　mask　was　gilded；
the　sham　lips　were　painted　red　and　round　the　eye…holes　were　black
lines。

〃Why；　it　is　horrible；〃　he　exclaimed；　starting　back。　〃I　look　like　a
devil　crossed　with　Guy　Fawkes。　Do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　I　have　got
to　live　in　this　thing？〃

〃Afraid　so；　Major；　upon　all　public　occasion。　At　least　they　say　that。
You　holy；　not　lawful　see　your　sacred　face。〃

〃Who　do　the　Asiki　think　I　am；　then；　Jeekie？〃

〃They　think　you　your　reverend　uncle　come　back　after　many；　many　year。
You　see；　Major；　they　not　believe　uncle　run　away　with　Little　Bonsa；
they　believe　Little　Bonsa　run　away　with　uncle　just　for　change　of　air
and　so　on；　and　that　now；　when　she　tired　of　strange　land；　she　bring　him
back　again。　That　why　you　so　holy；　favourite　of　Little　Bonsa　who　live
with　you　all　this　time　and　keep　you　just　same　age；　bloom　of　youth。〃

〃In　Heaven's　name；〃　asked　Alan；　exasperated；　〃what　is　Little　Bonsa；
beyond　an　ancient　and　ugly　gold　fetish？〃

〃Hush；〃　said　Jeekie；　〃mustn't　call　her　names　here　in　her　own　house。
Little　Bonsa　much　more　than　fetish；　Little　Bonsa　alive；　or　so；〃　he
added　doubtfully；　〃these　silly　niggers　say。　She　wife　of　Big　Bonsa；　you
see；　to…morrow　p'raps。　But　their　story　this；　that　she　get　dead　sick　of
Big　Bonsa　and　bolt　with　white　Medicine　man；　who　dare　preach　she
nothing　but　heathen　idol。　She　want　show　him　whether　or　no　she　only
idol。　That　the　yarn；　priests　tell　it　me　to…day。　They　always　watch　for
her　there　by　the　edge　of　the　lake。　They　always　sure　Little　Bonsa　come
back。　Not　at　all　surprised；　but　as　she　love　you　once；　you　stop　holy；
and　I　holy　also；　thank　goodness；　because　she　take　me　too　as　servant。
Therefore　we　sleep　in　peace；　for　they　not　cut　out　throats；　at　any　rate
at　present；　though　I　think；〃　he　added　mournfully；　〃they　not　let　us　go
either。〃

Alan　sat　down　on　a　stool　and　groaned　at　the　appalling　prospect
suggested　by　this　information。

〃Cheer　up；　Major；〃　said　Jeekie　sympathetically。　〃Perhaps　manage　hook
it　somehow；　and　meanwhile　make　best　of　bad　business　and　have　high　old
time。　You　see　you　want　to　come　Asiki…land；　though　I　tell　you　it　rum
place；　and；〃　he　added　with　certitude　and　a　circular　sweep　of　his　hand；
〃by　Jingo！　you　here　now　and　I　daresay　they　give　you　all　the　gold　you
want。〃

〃What's　the　good　of　gold　unless　one　can　get　away　with　it？　What's　the
good　of　anything　if　we　are　prisoners　among　these　devils？〃

〃Perhaps　time　show；　Major。　Hush！　here　come　dinner。　You　sit　still　on
stool　and　look　holy。〃

The　door　opened　and　through　it　appeared　four　of　the　women　bearing
dishes　and　cups　full　of　drink；　fashioned　of　gold　like　that　which　had
been　given　to　Alan　in　the　litter。　He　noticed　at　once　that　they　had
removed　their　veils　and　outer　garments；　if　indeed　they　were　the　same
women；　and　now；　like　many　other　Africans；　were　but　lightly　clad　in
linen　capes　open　in　front　that　hung　over　their　shoulders；　short
petticoats　or　skirts　about　their　middles；　and　sandals。　Such　was　their
attire　which；　scanty　as　it　might　be；　was　yet　becoming　enough　and
extremely　rich。　Thus　the　cape　was　fastened　with　a　brooch　of　worked
gold；　so　were　the　sandal　straps；　while　the　petticoat　was　adorned　with
beads　of　gold　that　jingled　as　they　walked；　and　amongst　them　strings　of
other　beads　of　various　and　beautiful　colours；　that　might　be　glass　or
might　be　precious　stones