she-第24章
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for her cold hands； almost could I think that she
slept and would one day awake； so fair and peaceful
was she in her robes of white。 White was she； too； and
her hair was yellow and lay down her almost to the
feet。 There are many such still in the tombs at the
place where _i_ She _i_ is for those who set them
there had a way I know naught of； whereby to keep
their beloved out of the crumbling hand of Decay； even
when Death had slain them。 Ay； day by day I came
hither； and gazed on her till at last； laugh not at
me； stranger； for I was but a silly lad； I learned to
love that dead form； that shell which once had held a
life that no more is。 I would creep up to her and kiss
her cold face； and wonder how many men had lived and
died since she was； and who had loved her and embraced
her in the days that long had passed away。 And； my
Baboon； I think I learned wisdom from that dead one；
for of a truth it taught me of the littleness of life；
and the length of death； and how all things that are
under the sun go down one path； and are forever
forgotten。 And so I mused； and it seemed to me that
wisdom flowed into me from the dead； till one day my
mother； a watchful woman； but hasty minded； seeing I
was changed； followed me； and saw the beautiful white
one； and feared that I was bewitched； as； indeed； I
was。 So half in dread； and half in anger； she took the
lamp； and； standing the dead woman up against the wall
there； set fire to her hair； and she burned fiercely；
even down to the feet； for those who are thus kept
burn excellently well。
〃See； my son； there on the roof is yet the smoke of
her burning。〃
I looked up doubtfully； and there； sure enough； on the
roof of the sepulchre was a peculiarly unctuous and
sooty mark； three feet or more across。 Doubtless it
had in the course of years been rubbed off the sides
of the little cave； but on the roof it remained； and
there was no mistaking its appearance。
〃She burned；〃 he went on in a meditative way； 〃even to
the feet； but the feet I came back and saved； cutting
the burned bone from them； and hid them under the
stone bench there； wrapped up in a piece of linen。
Surely； I remember it as though it were but yesterday。
Perchance they are there if none have found them； even
to this hour。 Of truth I have not entered this chamber
from that time to this very day。 Stay； I will look；
and； kneeling down； he groped about with his long arm
in the recess under the。 stone bench。 Presently his
face brightened； and with an exclamation he pulled
something forth that was caked in dust； which he shook
on to the floor。 It was covered with the remains of a
rotting rag； which he undid； and revealed to my
astonished gaze a beautifully shaped and almost white
woman's foot； looking as fresh and firm as though it
had but now been placed there。
〃Thou seest； my son； the Baboon；〃 he said； in a sad
voice； 〃I spake the truth to thee； for here is yet one
foot remaining。 Take it； my son； and gaze upon it。〃
I took this cold fragment of…mortality in my hand and
looked at it in the light of the lamp with feelings
which I cannot describe； so mixed up were they between
astonishment； fear； and fascination。 It was light；
much lighter I should say than it had been in the
living state； and the flesh to all appearance was
still flesh； though about it there clung a faintly
aromatic odor。 For the rest it was not shrunk or
shriveled； or even black and unsightly； like the flesh
of Egyptian mummies； but plump and fair； and； except
where it had been slightly burned； perfect as on the
day of deatha very triumph of embalming。
Poor little foot！ I set it down upon the stone bench
where it had lain for so many thousand years； and
wondered whose was the beauty that it had upborne
through the pomp and pageantry of a forgotten
civilizationfirst as a merry child's； then as a
blushing maid's； and lastly as a perfect woman's。
Through what halls of Life had its soft step echoed；
and in the end； with what courage had it trodden down
the dusty ways of Death！ To whose side had it stolen
in the hush of night when the black slave slept upon
the marble floor； and who had listened for its
stealing？ Shapely little foot！ Well might it have been
set upon the proud neck of a conqueror bent at last to
woman's beauty； and well might the lips of nobles and
of kings have been pressed upon its jewelled
whiteness。
I wrapped up this relic of the past in the remnants of
the old linen rag which had evidently formed a portion
of its owner's grave…clothes； for it was partially
burned； and put it away in my Gladstone bag； which I
had bought at the Army and Navy Storesa strange
combination； I thought。 Then with Billali's help I
staggered off to see Leo。 I found him dreadfully
bruised； worse even than myself； perhaps owing to the
excessive whiteness of his skin； and faint and weak
with the loss of blood from the flesh wound in his
side； but for all that cheerful as a cricket； and
asking for some breakfast。 Job and Ustane got him on
to the bottom； or rather the sacking of a litter；
which was removed from its pole for that purpose； and
with the aid of old Billali carried him out into the
shade at the mouth of the cave； from which； by the
way； every trace of the slaughter of the previous
night had now been removed； and there we all
breakfasted； and indeed spent that day； and most of
the two following ones。
On the third morning Job and myself were practically
recovered。 Leo also was so much better that I yielded
to Billali's often expressed entreaty； and agreed to
start at once upon our journey to Ko^r； which we were
told was the name of the place where the mysterious
_i_ She _i_ lived； though I still feared for its
effects upon Leo； and especially lest the motion
should cause his wound； which was scarcely skinned
over； to break open again。 Indeed； had it not been for
Billali's evident anxiety to get off； which led us to
suspect that some difficulty or danger might threaten
us if we did not comply with it； I would not have
consented to go。
CHAPTER X
SPECULATIONS
WITHIN an hour of our finally deciding to start； five
litters were brought up to the door of the cave； each
accompanied by four regular bearers and two spare
hands； also a band of about fifty armed Amahagger； who
were to form the escort and carry the baggage。 Three
of these litters； of course； were for us； and one for
Billali； who； I was immensely relieved to hear； was to
be our companion； while the fifth I presumed was for
the use of Ustane。
〃Does the lady go with us； my father？〃 I asked of
Billali； as he stood superintending things generally。
He shrugged his shoulders as he answered；
〃If she wills。 In this country the women do what they
please。 We worship them； and give them their way；
because without them the world could not go on； they
are the source of life。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said； the matter never having struck me quite
in that light before。
〃We worship them；〃 he went on； 〃up to a certain point；
till at last they get unbearable； which；〃 he added；
〃they do about every second generation。〃
〃And then what do you do？〃 I asked； with curiosity。
〃Then；〃 he answered； with a faint smile； 〃we rise； and
kill the old ones as an example to the young ones； and
to show them that we are the strongest。 My poor wife
was killed in that way three years ago。 It was very
sad； but； to tell thee the truth； my son； life has
been happier since； for my age protects me from the
young ones。〃
〃In short；〃 I replied； quoting the saying of a great
man whose wisdom has not yet lightened the darkness of
the Amahagger； 〃thou hast found thy position one of
greater freedom and less responsibility。〃
This phrase puzzled him a little at first from its
vagueness； though I think my translation hit off its
sense very well； but at last he saw it； and
appreciated it。
〃Yes； yes； my Baboon；〃 he said； 〃I see it now； but all
the 'responsibilities' are killed； at least some of
them are； and that is why there are so few old women
about just now。 Well；
