she-第68章
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remained the same size； or nearly so； and let all men
pray to God they never may； if they wish to keep their
reason。
At last she lay still； or only feebly moving。 _i_ She
_i_ ； who but two minutes before had gazed upon us the
loveliest； noblest； most splendid woman the world has
ever seen； she lay still before us； near the masses of
her own dark hair； no larger than a big monkey； and
hideousah； too hideous for words。 And yet； think of
thisat that very moment I thought of itit was the
same woman！
_i_ She _i_ was dying： we saw it； and thanked God
for while she lived she could feel； and what must she
have felt？ _i_ She _i_ raised herself upon her bony
hands； and blindly gazed around her； swaying her head
slowly from side to side； as a tortoise does。 _i_ She
_i_ could not see； for her whitish eyes were covered
with a horny film。 Oh； the horrible pathos of the
sight！ But she could still speak。
〃Kallikrates；〃 she said； in husky； trembling notes。
〃Forget me not； Kallikrates。 Have pity on my shame； I
shall come again； and shall once more be beautiful； I
swear itit is true！ _i_ Ohhh _i_ 〃 and she
fell upon her face； and was still。
On the very spot where more than twenty centuries
before she had slain Kallikrates the priest； she
herself fell down and died。
Overcome with the extremity of horror； we too fell on
the sandy floor of that dread place； and swooned away。
I know not how long we remained thus。 Many hours； I
suppose。 When at last I opened my eyes； the other two
were still outstretched upon the floor。 The rosy light
yet beamed like a celestial dawn； and the thunder…
wheels of the Spirit of Life yet rolled upon their
accustomed track； for as I awoke the great pillar was
passing away。 There； too； lay the hideous little
monkey frame； covered with crinkled yellow parchment；
that once had been the glorious _i_ She _i_ 。 Alas！ it
was no hideous dreamit was an awful and unparalleled
fact！
What had happened to bring this shocking change about？
Had the nature of the life…giving Fire changed！ Did
it； perhaps； from time to time send forth an essence
of Death instead of an essence of Life？ Or was it that
the frame once charged with its marvellous virtue
could bear no more； so that were the process repeated…
…it mattered not at what lapse of timethe two
impregnations neutralized each other； and left the
body on which they acted as it was before it ever came
into contact with the very essence of life？ This； and
this alone； would account for the sudden and terrible
aging of Ayesha； as the whole length of her two
thousand years took effect upon her。 I have not the
slightest doubt myself but that the frame now lying
before me was just what the frame of a woman would be
by any extraordinary means life could preserved in her
till at length she died at the age of two…and…twenty
centuries。
But who can tell what had happened？ There was the
fact。 Often since that awful hour I have reflected
that it requires no great stretch of imagination to
see the finger of Providence in the matter。
Ayesha locked up in her living tomb； waiting from age
to age for the coming of her lover； worked but a small
change in the order of the World。 But Ayesha strong
and happy in her love； clothed in immortal youth and
godlike beauty； and the wisdom of the centuries； would
have revolutionized society； and even perchance have
changed the destiny of mankind。 Thus she opposed
herself against the eternal Law； and； strong though
she was； by it was swept back to nothingnessswept
back with shame and hideous mockery！
For some minutes I lay faintly turning these terrors
over in my mind； while my physical strength came back
to me； which it quickly did in that buoyant
atmosphere。 Then I bethought me of the others； and
staggered to my feet； to see if I could arouse them。
But first I took up Ayesha's kirtle and the gauzy
scarf with which she had been wont to hide her
dazzling loveliness from the eyes of men； and；
averting my head so that I might not look upon it；
covered up that dreadful relic of the glorious dead；
that shocking epitome of human beauty and human life。
I did this hurriedly； fearing lest Leo should recover；
and see it again。
Then； stepping over the perfumed masses of dark hair
that lay I upon the sand； I stooped down by Job； who
was lying upon his face； and turned him over。 As I did
so his arm fell back in a way that I did not like； and
which sent a chill through me； and I glanced sharply
at him。 One look was enough。 Our old and faithful
servant was dead。 His nerves； already shattered by all
he had seen and undergone； had utterly broken down
beneath this last dire sight； and he had died of
terror； or in a fit brought on by terror。 One had only
to look at his face to see it。
It was another blow； but perhaps it may help people to
understand how overwhelmingly awful was the experience
through which we had passedwe didn't feel it much at
the time。 It seemed quite natural that the poor old
fellow should be dead。 When Leo came to himself； which
he did with a groan and trembling of the limbs about
ten minutes afterwards； and I told him that job was
dead； he merely said； 〃Oh！〃 And； mind you； this was
from no heartlessness； for he and Job were much
attached to each other； and he often talks of him now
with the deepest regret and affection。 It was only
that his nerves would bear no more。 A harp can give
out but a certain quantity of sound； however heavily
it is smitten。
Well； I set myself to recovering Leo； who； to my
infinite relief； I found was not dead； but only
fainting； and in the end I succeeded； as I have said；
and he sat up； and then I saw another dreadful thing。
When we entered that awful place his curling hair had
been of the ruddiest gold； now it was turning gray；
and by the time we gained the outer air it was snow
white。 Besides； he looked twenty years older。
〃What is to be done； old fellow？〃 he said； in a
hollow； dead sort of voice； when his mind had cleared
a little； and a recollection of what had happened
forced itself upon it。
〃Try and get out； I suppose；〃 I answered； 〃that is；
unless you would like to go in there；〃 and I pointed
to the column of fire that was once more rolling by。
〃I would go in if I were sure that it would kill me；〃
he said； with a little laugh。 〃It was my cursed
hesitation that did this。 If I had not been doubtful
she might never have tried to show me the road。 But I
am not sure。 The fire might have the opposite effect
upon me。 It might make me immortal； and； old fellow； I
have not the patience to wait a couple of thousand
years for her to come back again as she did for me。 I
had rather die when my hour comesand I should fancy
that it isn't far off eitherand go my ways to look
for her。 Do you go in if you like。〃
But I merely shook my head； my excitement was as dead
as ditch…water； and my distaste for the prolongation
of my mortal span had come back upon me more strongly
than ever。 Besides； we neither of us knew what the
effects of the fire might be。 The result upon _i_ She
_i_ had not been of an encouraging nature； and of the
exact causes that produced that result we were； of
course； ignorant。
〃Well； my boy；〃 I said； 〃we cannot stop here till we
go the way of those two；〃 and I pointed to the little
heap under the white garment and to the stiffening
corpse of poor Job。 〃If we are going we had better go。
But； by the way； I expect that the lamps have burned
out；〃 and I took one up and looked at it； and sure
enough it had。
〃There is some more oil in the vase；〃 said Leo；
indifferently〃if it is not broken； at least。〃
I examined the vessel in questionit was intact。 With
a trembling hand I filled the lampsluckily there was
still some of the linen wick unburned。 Then I lit them
with one of our wax matches。 While I did so we heard
the pillar of fire approaching once more as it went on
its never…ending journey； if； indeed； it was the same
pillar that passed and repassed in a circle。
〃Let's see it come once more；〃 said Leo； 〃we shall
neve
