A STRANGE MEETING
The present of “self-preservation” the of men most at some period or other of their lives. It itself to Alan now. A of the came over him, and very he into the of a piece of rock, from which, all unseen, he take a view of his surroundings.
He at once that it was to no mine that he had come, for strange, about in the distance, that did not to the upper world.
Suddenly of these into the water and with a roll came him at a pace, and with a movement out of the water and sat on the of the bank. He five of them, and saw that they were naked, and their skins were of a most shade, an almost exact match to the that the place. They were talking in an unknown tongue, and Alan from his place to catch a view of these strange, people he had come among in such an way. Short—he would judge them to be no more than three six, at the most, but with that out like iron across their bodies. Their hair, in to their skins, was of an almost hue, and in the perfectly to their waists. The men theirs close, on the very top of their heads, where it 54was allowed to long, and was and braided, and with ornaments.
Their were pointed, and their were small, but of a brilliance. From the middle of the forehead, a or horn, about ten long. For some time Alan puzzled over the horn, but its use was to him only too soon. It was a of offence. One of the rose, and an against her companion. The man did his best to her, but it was useless, and she down, and with a Alan realize, her into the man’s face, and with a wild into the water and away. The man was left with a on his cheek, from which a sickly, purply-white fluid. With chuckles, the three off, the man alone. Alan him intently. Diving to the of the river, the there an long time, and then with a of water in his hand. He a of these on his wound, to which they by a of their own, and the man away also, Alan more alone than before.
His still more and he came out of his place, for nothing but to food; but his were weak, and he fell, and that he himself along. As he on the ground, a sweet his nostrils, and looking he that on little low all about him, a luscious-looking, fruit.
He one and it. It was like a in size and appearance, but was to the touch, like a peach. He it—it was sweet and refreshing, so he ate his fill, with his last of himself once more into the arms of the rocks, and asleep. When he he another off the fruit that in such abundance—it was and nutritious, and the juice his thirst. He looked around him. There was no one about, and the of the walls, 55he his way the path. It was not an easy road, for the were and the way rough, and the to keep himself him. At last he came to the end of the passage, and saw that the river out into a large lake, about two hundred yards across. Peculiar at either side, and in the centre was an on which vegetation—short, stunted, trees, and a peculiar, moss, that the ground like grass.
It was a scene. Purple light from trees that were planted at regular everywhere. The light to from nothing, as it under the large that as shades—yet Alan it was natural, and by the power of the people he had seen.
A wide passage to the right, and in of him Alan saw a large chamber, on one by the lake. Branching off in all were other passages which to open out into other and roadways, in the whole place like a warren.
Suddenly an crash sounded, by the of and the of and away in the he saw a of rapidly, all in the same direction. Cloaks of the same from their shoulders, and the on their heads. He them with interest. The passed in quick succession, then they less and less frequent, until only one or two came up. The of rose on the air, and Alan that it must be some religious service to which they all were bent. After the last one had Alan waited some minutes to see if any more would pass, but as no one else came he walked slowly in the direction from which the had appeared.
In a very space of time he himself in a street. Peculiar either of it, with their doors open wide and no of life. He looked about him carefully, and one. He 56found it was into three rooms—all on the ground floor. There was a sleeping room, for of that same moss, dried, were on the floor; there was also a room and a kitchen. Warily he looked about him, and then out into the street. The main into smaller ones and at last, at the very end, a large rose upon the scene—larger and more than any of the others he had passed on his way. All this time he had no of life—the were to secure in their of inviolability.
Cautiously Alan toward the and as he came close to it, he saw that a had been left on guard—a with an evil-looking knife across his shoulders, and a scimitar-like in his hand. The man was looking away into the and did not Alan’s approach. “Hullo,” said Alan pleasantly. The was magical. The and the strange, white man. For an he still, and then, with a movement that Alan was for, at him, and to his in Alan’s face. In the white man to free himself from the grip; he was no match for this of the underworld. His no as he Alan, and at length he him over his as if he had been a child, and with him at a quick the street.
The shock, the time Alan had been through, took his away, and when he came to, he he was on a soft and there was a pain in his arm. A was over him, a that its as it its victim, and Alan at once that he was in an enemy’s hand.
The spoke to him, but Alan was unable to the it uttered. Suddenly it a command, and four men, in a of armour, came up to Alan, and him up him once more out of the place into the street. Outside they him on a litter, by four men, and at a 57fast him through the streets. The air and hotter, until Alan choked; at last, however, they came to their journey’s end, and Alan was out of the litter, and himself high gates. They were very massive, of a gold colour, and on the side. One of his a to the wall, and in answer to its tones, two women, veiled, came toward them and the locks. Alan was almost too weak to walk, but was pushed along a passage until he himself in a place so vast, so wonderful, so awful, that it left him and trembling.
It was a temple into which he had been brought—so that he was unable to see the end of it. An high near him, and at were smaller ones all the walls. Statues and images, and beautiful, the place, and the with a that was and overpowering. But it was not only the and that left Alan breathless—it was a wonder more terrible, more awe-inspiring than his mind had conceived.
The whole of the centre of the temple was of a fire—a fire that ran the length of the building, and in the in a red glow. A glass-like rose to three above the level of the flames, and through it Alan see into the of a of fire, of all and and in a wild ecstasy. The of the fire he not guess—but the fire a that alone was to the of any man.
The was intense, yet the did not to notice it, and they Alan to a that rose near the high altar, him to it by a chain, and then left him there, alone. He his one by one. His brain was reeling. He all he had was but the result of fever, and he would wake up presently to himself in Mrs. Slater’s little at Marshfielden. 58But no, he he was and not dreaming,—and looked about him in bewilderment. That there were people in the centre of the earth he would have believed—yet here was the proof—for was he not a in their clutches?
He looked at the fire. Never had he anything like it. It to go into depths, and its and sang and maliciously. He he would be into its by the folk, and to think of it, but then a of came over him. After all it would be a quick death, for nothing live long in those flames.
Immediately opposite him was the high altar. Six steps up to it, and he looked with at them and at the red they bore; and with an laugh, asked himself these were blood. If so, whose? Round the on were huge, figures; and here and there, an image of almost beauty, that with the and of the place.
To the right of Alan was a still more figure. About twenty high it stood, with looking out across the fire. Its were open wide, and to the under was a of the same glass-like that the flames. This from the idol’s mouth to the of the furnace, and of out thick on Alan’s brow. The meaning of the was only too clear. The of these were the idol, by it on to the slide, and into the fire—a sacrifice. Time passed, and Alan he would be able to it again.
Suddenly upon his ear came wild and shrieks, the of drums, the of by singing. Then the a little, only to itself once more as the the door of their temple. Alan in as a of men 59into the place, two of left their places in the procession, and to him of him roughly.
Priests and took their place in the procession, which was to an end by a high priest, who the most and gems; slowly he walked to the high altar, his to the ground, and two the ends of his cloak, which they as they the steps. When he the top step he his on the itself, and himself the fire, the whole company of his example. Boys in almost the of the ones by the high priest, aloft, which their perfume, and sent the faint, with the of the big fire.
Then they rose and the began, intoned; an sang; and the chanted, while live pigs, oxen, and were alive into the flames. There was a wild from each animal as it the heat, a crackling—and it was to ashes. Alan when his turn would come, and for the of unconsciousness.
Suddenly his him high above their heads, and him to the altar. And then in of him was a goat, and two priests, themselves from the crowd, the animal alive, the still and to the flames, and over Alan with their knives, still with blood, above him. Then the came and he that he no pain, but he that his had been cut away from him, and he was left on the slab, naked. Incense was over him, and he was from to in sweet oils. Then he was from the and had to submit to being from to in garments. Sandals were upon his feet, and for a moment he these people meant him 60well—but as the passed through his mind, the of the great open on hinges, a of steps within; and Alan the hour of his had come.
With to his and the noisy of in his ears, Alan was led, powerless, although resisting, to the open doorway. The steps were until they his feet, and the pain him to higher where he to relief. When he the step, and in comfort, that it was cool, the door to. He was alone, and saw that he was in the of the idol, looking through its into the of the fire. Then he a him, and that his were in iron bands. Again the idol’s shook, and he was on his belly. Slowly the was into position; another move of the idol, and he was way it, and as he saw in a of water him in place of the fire, and himself in a suit, to the water chute!
Slowly, slowly he to slip, and why he did not go faster. He to his and so himself to over with death—but the iron were him fast, and he he would the only when his it. The was now unbearable; the were up toward him; he already upon his their breath. His arms were out him, and he was at too great an to them up. Then came a of agony, an almost unbearable. His had the fire! powerless to take them out, he and in a to obtain relief. No came from his teeth to the pain he was enduring.
Suddenly above the he a woman’s voice, and imperious. There was a silence, and then, with a terrible of the idol, Alan once again the and he was safe the of the image. Tears his 61face, of pain. Of the had gone wrong. All that would have to be again. He his hands out in of him. Numbness had set in and cold.
The door in the opened and a girl the steps and came toward him. She was small, like her around her, and of the same colour, and the in her forehead, painted gold and with gems, in some way to her beauty. Almost of English mould, her were small and pretty, and her like a of gold past her knees. Upon her she a of gold, and Alan she must be queen of the people, for her power was paramount. She her cool, hands on Alan’s shoulder, and him the now stairs; and once more he himself in the temple. He was dazed, and that this woman had saved him. From a an she took and lotions, and and up his poor, hands. The was almost magical. The ceased, and a of came over him. She then offered him her arm, and him to the gates of the temple. There a small was her, by a that was the of in the underworld. Small, with an and legs—its small in proportion, it had and a the of its face. Indeed, the “Schloun” was a mixture of and goat, and had the bulldog’s of build. It was a animal, and Alan as he took his place in the chariot. The was comfortable, the floor, upon which they sat was with and cushions, and by side, the man and his protector through the of this world.
At last they stopped in of an building, larger than the one where Alan had originally been captured. The woman Alan into it, and took him into an that was for her private use. A soft, the floor, 62while across the door. The woman pointed to a and sat down, and Alan, her meaning, sat near her. She spoke to him slowly and repeatedly, but he was unable to her tongue.
“Kaweeka” she over and over again, and at last he understood. It was her name!
Then he rose and to the door and called “Kaweeka” and the woman and and her on the ground to her delight.
Suddenly she rose and him, and her arms about him, planted a very English full upon his mouth. Alan who had flirted, for any girl, when he was in England, his and a wild pass through him at the touch of her lips. Then a of came over him. What was she? Why, human. If he succeeded in to the upper world again, and took her with him, scientists would want to her as a newly animal! Could he her?—marriage?—love?—passion?—he too well which she had when her touched his.
He away from her in loathing, and a hard light came into her as she put her up to his. Her was undeniable, but there was something unholy, almost unclean, about her; and although him from to foot, he away and walked to the other of the apartment.
But Kaweeka him. She her arms about his and his against her breast, and he the wild of a next to his. “Kaweeka,” he cried, “Kaweeka.” And he her to him still closer, all else but that a warm thing was in his arms, and that thing a woman.
Suddenly Kaweeka herself, and with a low laugh to Alan that she him to her. She the way through a long corridor, up a of wide and stairs to a room on the second floor. It was a apartment, anything he had seen, and as he looked 63about him, he a low chuckle, and Kaweeka through the door, it her.
Alan a of relief. The air for her absence, and he looked him curiously. Low the room, and on a table of was food and wine. He was and from his in the temple, and he to on the that had been provided and the for it.
In one of the room a large of yellow porcelain, and it was with blue, green, yellow and fungi—flowers they not be called—but as they were almost beautiful. Their were long and of leaf, and the flower at the very top. Some of the “flowers” were almost like heads, others like mushrooms—while one or two at least Alan most of the pink he had when on a at Rozel in Jersey. The of a against the and if his position had not been so hopeless, he would have his adventure.
There were no in the room—at least not what the world above would by the word—but there was an opening the narrow that to let in light and air. There was no to it, only at either side, which be across if was desired.
In two of the room were tall braziers, and Alan touched the large that from them. Instantly the room was with the soft, light that to from the trees; and Alan that his was right—the trees some natural light which the had learnt to control, and which they ran along the much in the same way that we electricity along cables. At any the result was very pleasing, and the light none of the that is of electricity.
His being he a 64curtain that was across the nearest the “window” opening. He it aside, and it was a door. It was on the principle, and as it moved he saw him a room that almost an exact of the he was in. Carefully he inside—and there in the corner, he saw a low mattress, and in the he he saw it move so slightly. He startled, but on his ears came the of breathing: some one or something was sleeping there. He moved toward it, and saw the of a man on the couch. Suddenly the over, his to view. Alan an that the sleeping man. For a moment there was and then a great on the air—“My God—it’s Alan.”
“Dez, old boy!” his cousin, his thick and fast. “Dez! Thank God I’ve you. Steady, boy, steady—it’s two against those now,” and the man low and as if his would break.
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