she-第38章
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…so much more horrible even than anything that had
gone before； that I could no longer bear to look at it
and； turning； began to creep； shaking as I was in
every limb； slowly along the pitch…dark passage；
feeling in my trembling heart that I had had a vision
of a soul in Hell。
On I stumbled； I scarcely know how。 Twice I fell； once
I turned up the bisecting passage； but fortunately
found out my mistake in time。 For twenty minutes or
more I crept along； till at last it occurred to me
that I must have passed the little stair by which I
descended。 So； utterly exhausted； and nearly
frightened to death； I sank down at length there on
the stone flooring； and passed into oblivion。
When I came to I noticed a faint ray of light in the
passage just behind me。 I crept to it； and found it
was the little stair down which the weak dawn was
stealing。 Passing up it； I gained my chamber in
safety； and； flinging myself on the couch； was soon
lost in slumber； or rather stupor。
CHAPTER XV
AYESHA GIVES JUDGMENT
THE next thing that I remember was opening my eyes and
perceiving the form of Job； who had now practically
recovered from his attack of fever。 He was standing in
the ray of light that pierced into the cave from the
outer air； shaking out my clothes as a makeshift for
brushing them； which he could not do because there was
no brush； and then folding them up neatly and laying
them on the foot of the stone couch。 This done； he got
my travelling dressing…case out of the Gladstone bag；
and opened it ready for my use。 First； he stood it on
the foot of the couch also； then； being afraid； I
suppose； that I should kick it off； he placed it on a
leopard skin on the floor； and stood back a step or
two to observe the effect。 It was not satisfactory； so
he shut up the bag； turned it on end； and； having
rested it against the foot of the conch； placed the
dressing…case on it。 Next； he looked at the pots full
of water； which constituted our washing apparatus。
〃Ah！〃 I heard him murmur； 〃no hot water in this
beastly place。 I suppose these poor creatures only use
it to boil each other in；〃 and he sighed deeply。
〃What is the matter； Job？〃 I said。
〃Beg pardon； sir；〃 he said； touching his hair。 〃I
thought you were asleep； sir； and I am sure you look
as though you want it。 One might think from the look
of you that you had been having a night of it。〃
I only groaned by way of answer。 I had； indeed； been
having a night of it； such as I hope never to have
again。
〃How is Mr。 Leo； Job？〃
〃Much the same； sir。 If he don't soon mend； he'll end；
sir； and that's all about it； though I must say that
that there savage； Ustane； do do her best for him；
almost like a baptized Christian。 She is always
hanging round and looking after him； and if I ventures
to interfere； it's awful to see her； her hair seems to
stand on end； and she curses and swears away in her
heathen talkat least I fancy she must be cursing
from the look of her。〃
〃And what do you do then？〃
〃I make her a perlite bow； and I say； 'Young woman；
your position is one that I don't quite understand；
and can't recognize。 Let me tell you that I has a duty
to perform to my master as is incapacitated by
illness； and that I am going to perform it until I am
incapacitated too ； but she don't take no heed； not
sheonly curses and swears away worse than ever。 Last
night she put her hand under that sort of nightshirt
she wears and whips out a knife with a kind of a curl
in the blade； so I whips out my revolver； and we walks
round and round each other till at last she bursts out
laughing。 It isn't nice treatment for a Christian man
to have to put up with from a savage； however handsome
she may be； but it is what people must expect as is
fools enough〃 （Job laid great emphasis on the 〃fools〃）
〃to come to such a place to look for things no man is
meant to find。 It's a judgment on us； sirthat's my
opinion； and I； for one； is of opinion that the
judgment isn't half done yet； and when it is done； we
shall be done too； and just stop in these beastly
caves with the ghosts and the corpses for once and
all。 And now； sir； I must be seeing about Mr。 Leo's
broth； if that wild…cat will let me； and perhaps you
would like to get up； sir； because it's past nine
o'clock。〃
Job's remarks were not of an exactly cheering order to
a man who had passed such a night as I had； and； what
is more； they had the weight of truth。 Taking one
thing with another； it appeared to me to be an utter
impossibility that we should escape from the place
where we were。 Supposing that Leo recovered； and
supposing that _i_ She _i_ would let us go； which was
exceedingly doubtful； and that she did not 〃blast〃 us
in some moment of vexation； and that we were not hot…
potted by the Amahagger； it would be quite impossible
for us to find our way across the network of marshes
which； stretching for scores and scores of miles；
formed a stronger and more impassable fortification
round the various Amahagger households than any that
could be built or designed by man。 No； there was but
one thing to doface it out； and； speaking for my own
part； I was so intensely interested in the whole weird
story that； so far as I was concerned； notwithstanding
the shattered state of my nerves； I asked nothing
better； even if my life paid forfeit to my curiosity。
What man for whom psychology has charms could forbear
to study such a character as that of this Ayesha when
the opportunity of doing so presented itself？ The very
terror of the pursuit added to its fascination； and
besides； as I as forced to own to myself even now in
the sober light of day； she herself had attractions
that I could not forget。 Not even the dreadful sight
which I had witnessed during the night could drive the
folly from my mind； and alas！ that I should have to
admit it； it has not been driven thence to this hour。
After I had dressed myself I passed into the eating；
or； rather； embalming chamber； and had some food；
which was； as before； brought to me by the girl mutes。
When I had finished。 I went and saw poor Leo； who was
quite off his head； and did not even know me。 I asked
Ustane how she thought he was； but she only shook her
head and began to cry a little。 Evidently her hopes
were small； and I then and there made up my mind that；
if it were in any way possible； I would get _i_ She
_i_ to come and see him。 Surely she could cure him if
she choseat any rate； she said she could。 While I
was in the room； Billali entered； and also shook his
head。
〃He will die at night；〃 he said。
〃God forbid； my father；〃 I answered； and turned away
with a heavy heart。
〃 _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ commands thy
presence； my Baboon；〃 said the old man as soon as we
got to the curtain； 〃but； O my dear son； be more
careful。 Yesterday I made sure in my heart that _i_
She _i_ would blast thee when thou didst not crawl
upon thy stomach before her。 _i_ She _i_ is sitting in
the great hall even now to do justice upon those who
would have smitten thee and the Lion。 Come on； my son；
come swiftly。〃
I turned； and followed him down the passage； and when
we reached the great central cave saw that many
Amahagger； some robed； and some merely clad in the
sweet simplicity of a leopard skin； were hurrying up
it。 We mingled with the throng； and walked up the
enormous and； indeed； almost interminable cave。 All
the way its walls were elaborately sculptured； and
every twenty paces or so passages opened out of it at
right angles； leading； Billali told me； to tombs；
hollowed in the rock by 〃the people who were before。〃
Nobody visited those tombs now； he said； and I must
say that my heart rejoiced when I thought of the
opportunities of antiquarian research which opened out
before me。
At last we came to the head of the cave； where there
was a rock dais almost exactly similar to the one on
which we had been so furiously attacked； a fact that
proved to me that these daises must have been used as
altars； probably for the celebration of religious
ceremonie
