she-第59章
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shudder to think what would be the result of her
arrival there。 What her powers were I knew； and I
could not doubt but that she would exercise them to
the full。 It might be possible to control her for a
while； but her proud； ambitious spirit would be
certain to break loose and avenge itself for the long
centuries of its solitude。 _i_ She _i_ would； if
necessary； and if the power of her beauty did not
unaided prove equal to the occasion； blast her way to
any end she set before her； and； as she could not die；
and for aught I knew could not even be killed； what
was there to stop her？ In the end she would； I had
little doubt； assume absolute rule over the British
dominions； and probably over the whole earth； and；
though I was sure that she would speedily make ours
the most glorious and prosperous empire that the world
has ever seen； it would be at the cost of a terrible
sacrifice of life。
The whole thing sounded like a dream or some
extraordinary invention of a speculative brain； and
yet it was a facta wonderful factwhich the whole
world would soon be called on to take notice。 What was
the meaning of it all？ After much thinking I could
only conclude that this wonderful creature； whose
passion had kept her for so many centuries chained； as
it were； and comparatively harmless； was now about to
be used by Providence as a means to change the order
of the world； and possibly； by the building up of a
power that could no more be rebelled against or
questioned than the decrees of Fate； to change it
materially for the better。
CHAPTER XXIII
THE TEMPLE OF TRUTH
Our preparations did not take us very long。 We put a
change of clothing apiece and some spare boots into my
Gladstone bag； also we took our revolvers and an
express rifle each； together with a good supply of
ammunition； a precaution to which； under Providence；
we subsequently owed our lives over and over again。
The rest of our gear； together with our heavy rifles；
we left behind us。
A few minutes before the appointed time we once more
attended in Ayesha's boudoir； and found her also
ready； her dark cloak thrown over her winding sheet…
like wrappings。
〃Are ye prepared for the great venture？〃 she said。
〃We are；〃 I answered； 〃though for my part； Ayesha； I
have no faith in it。〃
〃Ah； my Holly；〃 she said； 〃thou art of a truth like
those old Jewsof whom the memory vexes me so sorely…
…unbelieving； and hard to accept that which they have
not known。 But thou shalt see； for unless my mirror
yonder lies；〃 and she pointed to the font of crystal
water； 〃the path is yet open as it was of old time。
And now let us start upon the new life which shall
endwho knoweth where？〃
〃Ah；〃 I echoed； 〃who knoweth where？〃 and we passed
down into the great central cave； and out into the
light of day。 At the mouth of the cave we found a
single litter with six bearers； all of them mutes；
waiting； and with them I was relieved to see our old
friend Billali； for whom I had conceived a sort of
affection。 It appeared that； for reasons not necessary
to explain at length； Ayesha had thought it best that；
with the exception of herself； we should proceed on
foot； and this we were nothing loath to do； after our
long confinement in these caves； which； however
suitable they might be for sarcophagia singularly
inappropriate word； by the way； for these particular
tombs； which certainly did not consume the bodies
given to their keepingwere depressing habitations
for breathing mortals like ourselves。 Either by
accident or by the orders of _i_ She _i_ ； the space
in front of the cave where we had beheld that awful
dance was perfectly clear of spectators。 Not a soul
was to be seen； and consequently I do not believe that
our departure was known to anybody； except perhaps the
mutes who waited on _i_ She _i_ ； and they were； of
course； in the habit of keeping what they saw to
themselves。
In a few minutes' time we were stepping out sharply
across the great cultivated plain or lake bed； framed
like a vast emerald in its setting of frowning cliff；
and had another opportunity of wondering at the
extraordinary nature of the site chosen by these old
people of Ko^r for their capital； and at the
marvellous amount of labor； ingenuity； and engineering
skill that must have been brought into requisition by
the founders of the city to drain so huge a sheet of
water； and to keep it clear of subsequent
accumulations。 It is； indeed； so far as my experience
goes； an unequalled instance of what man can do in the
face of nature； for in my opinion such achievements as
the Suez Canal or even the Mont Cenis Tunnel do not
approach this ancient undertaking in magnitude and
grandeur of conception。
When we had been walking for about half an hour；
enjoying ourselves exceedingly in the delightful cool
which about this time of the day always appeared to
descend upon the great plain of Ko^r； and which in
some degree atoned for the want of any kind or sea
breezefor all wind was kept off by the rocky
mountain wallwe began to get a clear view of what
Billali had informed us were the ruins of the great
city。 And even from that distance we could see how
wonderful those ruins were； a fact which with every
step we took became more evident。 The city was not
very large if compared to Babylon or Thebes； or other
cities of remote antiquity； perhaps its outer wall
contained some twelve square miles of ground； or a
little more。 Nor had the walls； so far as we could
judge when we reached them； been very high； probably
not more than forty feet； which was about their
present height where they had not； through the sinking
of the ground or some such cause； fallen into ruin。
The reason of this； no doubt； was that the people of
Ko^r； being protected from any outside attack by far
more tremendous ramparts than any that the hand of man
could rear； only required them for show and to guard
against civil discord。 But； on the other hand； they
were as broad as they were high； built entirely of
dressed stone； hewn； no doubt； from the vast caves；
and surrounded by a great moat about sixty feet in
width； some reaches of which were still filled with
water。 About ten minutes before the sun finally sank
we reached this moat； and passed down and through it；
clambering across what evidently were the piled…up
fragments of a great bridge in order to do so； and
then with some little difficulty up the slope of the
wall to its summit。 I wish that it lay within the
power of my pen to give some idea of the grandeur of
the sight that then met our view。 There； all bathed in
the red glow of the sinking sun； were miles upon miles
of ruinscolumns； temples； shrines； and the palaces
of kings； varied with patches of green bush。 Of
course； the roofs of these buildings had long since
fallen into decay and vanished； but owing to the
extreme massiveness of the style of building； and to
the hardness and durability of the rock employed； most
of the party walls and great columns still remained
standing。
Straight before us stretched away what had evidently
been the main thoroughfare of the city； for it was
very wide； wider than the Thames Embankment； and
regular。 Being； as we afterwards discovered； paved； or
rather built； throughout of blocks of dressed stone；
such as were employed in the walls； it was but little
overgrown even now with grass and shrubs； that could
get no depth of soil to live in。 What had been the
parks and gardens； on the contrary； were now dense
jungle。 Indeed； it was easy even from a distance to
trace the course of the various roads by the burned…up
appearance of the scanty grass that grew upon them。 On
either side of this great thoroughfare were vast
blocks of ruins； each block； generally speaking； being
separated。 from its neighbor by a space of what had
once； I suppose； been garden…ground； but was now dense
and tangled bush。 They were all built of the same
colored stone； and most of them had pillars； which was
as much as we could make out in the fading light as we
passed swiftly up t
