RELATING TO HISTORY
“How long have we been here, Lanny?”
“Together do you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Oh months and months—I can’t count time.”
“Neither can I. Days pass—we and we sleep, only to wake to another day like the last, like every day here.”
“How have you got with the translation, Dez?”
“Nearly to the end.”
“Splendid. What do you make of it?”
“Just what we expected—It is a very of part of the Pentateuch.”
“How much of it?”
“Nearly all Genesis—a minute of Exodus—and Leviticus.”
Alan gave a satisfied sigh. “That’s splendid,” he remarked. Many months had passed since they had the that the language of the was a Hebrew, and and they set to work to learn it. They the and them down, and then to them into Hebrew where it was at all possible.
Very after the of the high priest’s and only child, as the proved to be, a house was at the boys’ disposal, and they left the protection of Kaweeka, and together with a of servants, who looked after them. They were free to go out among the people, and they to almost happy. With the of a they up they asked the high for “reading” 80and he had them copies of the “Kadetha” which proved to be the Bible of these people.
It was very difficult to read as it was on in a that had through time. The characters, too, being different from the Hebrew they knew, were from top to of the page of from right to left, as are most Asiatic languages.
From what they the “Kadetha” was into two parts—the Moiltee—which proved to be part of the three books of Moses—and “Jarcobbi,” five books by one of the of the people after their into the of the earth. That these people were of the against Moses, the boys had not the of doubt—the proof in the “Kadetha” was only too conclusive. They were now able to with the people, and were able to many of their beliefs.
The true meaning of the Light they were so unable to fathom, but “Har-Barim” the high priest, told them there would be no more to the Fire from “Above” as he called the world. The people to take more to them, but Kaweeka and brooding, and they that she was a enemy, and the person most to be in the underworld. Little Myruum, the high priest’s daughter, many hours with them, and they learnt much of the language from her prattle.
They were to all the services and religious in the temple, and the boys noted with that the fire to be daily its power. Its smaller and smaller, and they noticed the in it when they had not it for days.
“Jovah,” they said to Har-Barim one day. “Tell us your history, now we your language.”
The old man at them. “There is little to tell,” he said. “It is true we were once of the earth above—once white people like yourselves; but for over 81three thousand, three hundred and three years we have in the of the earth. Our skins are changed—they have taken the of the land we are to in. Our in the earth to make and houses and for their families, and they left us the of their labour.” He pointed as he spoke to the that from his forehead.
“What of Korah?” they asked him.
“Coorer?” he the word differently. “Korah,” he told them, was their angel. It was Korah, with the in his who them to up against Moses, and it was Korah they away from their when the had closed in upon them, to them no more the light of the sun.
“How do you mean?” asked Alan. “How did you him out of your lives, my Jovah?”
Jovah “Father” and was the term by which all the people Har-Barim.
“Why, my sons, when the closed upon our forefathers, all upon Korah as the father of all their woes. He was and left dead—then a was up in of him and all his family, together with all his possessions, and there he was left to perish. One of his escaped, however, and her have been Princesses of Kalvar, as we call our country, since.”
“Then Kaweeka—” Alan.
“Yes, my son. In Kaweeka you see the Princess of Kalvar, and direct in the female line of the Korah himself.”
“Where is Korah’s place?” asked Desmond.
Har-Barim his head. “No one knows—in the of time that have passed the has been lost, and the exact position forgotten. No one knows—no one will know, until—but there, read from the line of the part of our prophet, Zurishadeel,” and taking a small from his pocket he it to Alan and left them to it for themselves.
82Laboriously they out the translation—
“For the of Korah the is with those of his household. Their shall and their powder, and in a their last place shall be forgotten. But on the day the is no more—for a shall in a learn the way—the fire shall quickly, people shall enter the land of Kalvar, and and shall come to all those that the earth. Yea, the people that are in the of it, and they that have been from it—when the Fire less—when the Tomb of Korah is then shall all in time perish.”
“Cheery old chap, isn’t he?” laughed Desmond.
But Alan was thoughtful. “I wonder what the of the fire is. They to it, although they pray to the ‘Lord of their Fathers.’ It is less—I can’t help that something terrible will if it go out entirely.”
For some time they at the they had when a Desmond’s paper him look up. It was Kaweeka—Kaweeka who had not visited them for months it seemed, and presence now to some evil. Quietly she them for a minutes, and a light came into her eyes. They and with an almost glow—and in her whole being was one of and almost fervour.
“Come,” said she at last, and out a hand to each. They to her, and she them to the temple which was deserted. The great fire was in and starts. Suddenly a would out, as if to be killed, and a moment later it would and among the embers. Then the fire would a of which in a fury, only to its folds, and lifeless.
It was still of course, but the boys 83that its life was the end, and that its power was nearly gone.
Kaweeka on Desmond and in a of him.
“Desmond,” she cried, “I loved you—I would have you happy, but he”—pointing to Alan—“he came us. He my from its place my breast—he me love him also, and then on my love and me.”
“That is fair, Kaweeka. I to you—”
“No,” said Desmond, doing his best to her.
“Enough,” she and then a to which the boys in horror, as they that almost a had come upon Kaweeka—the of Korah.
Falling to her she to Alan and him to her according to the of his world and hers. She offered to make him Prince of the land of Kalvar and of a thousand if he would but love her—be it so little. And when he her up and put her away from him, she looked him in the eyes, and for a full minute there was silence. Then with a of finality, she her hands and the inevitable. Then in a voice and with she to speak again—
“In the world you came from, O Men of the Sun, you saw and things. A light appeared in the sky—a light that was the of tragedy. I to you the Light, O Strangers. I will the of its being your eyes. Know you now, that this Fire is next in to the God of our Fathers. It is the Fire that us air to breathe, and light by which we can see. From the Fire we obtain our strength, and when it dies out our power will be gone. But know you also, that when our Fire dies and we perish, so will your world die also. You above are for your very on the Fire in the Earth’s belly—with our will come also the 84consummation of all mankind. See”—and she pointed to a of metal that looked like a rope—“See—this is the Light—the Light that we offer to our God of all, and that our Fire.”
Then she a dance. Grovelling on the in of the Fire, she nearer and nearer to the metal, and taking up one end of it, it until it in upon the floor. Still, with grace, she continued, now advancing, now retreating, until she had part of the about her body, and the boys that one end was in the of the Fire itself. And as they they that Kaweeka was dancing away from the Fire—away the length of the great Fire Hall, to where a little door was of gold.
The boys to the woman. Through the little door, they went, a dark passage which ended in a small that was with light. But the whole of the cave-like place and with a that was in its magnitude. They looked around and saw in one a large clock-like from which the came.
With almost Kaweeka herself from the metal and the end of it in the machine. Instantly they saw it in and brightness—it to and of life.
The two boys gave a cry—“The Light! The Light!” they cried, for this was the Light that had Marshfielden, and now they were its power from below.
Kaweeka over the metal, and touched a on the clock-like instrument’s face. Suddenly with a and a flash, the Light upwards. Through the of the cave—onwards—onwards—forcing an for itself by its own power, through and earth it tore,—until the of the boys were by a of blue. “The sky!” 85cried Desmond in amazement. The Light had once more visited the world! This then was the of Marshfielden!
The boys the metal in silence. In its it had Dan Murlock’s baby. Mr. Winthrop had from its caress. Mrs. Skeet—Mrs. Slater—it was to name all the of its power. Some element, than electricity, had been by these savages, to be used by them only for the purpose of destruction.
Long the boys until their from the brightness. Their were them as they of the it might back. Kaweeka sat in one and to herself, and the boys powerless to the place.
Voices rose in song—cymbals clashed—drums rolled—the service was being in the temple. Still they waited! The died away and the temple emptied, yet the Light had not returned.
They were cramped, their ached, and then the Light more than before. The of the sky for an instant; they the Light was returning—but it was not returning alone! Rigid in every the boys waited as it through the of the Earth.
The of metal larger on the as it its descent—then the end appeared in sight—a sheep, and dead, was its grasp. Silently Kaweeka came and touched a on the clock in the corner.
The noise ceased. The Light shadowed. The leading to the world above closed, only a to mark where it had been!
Kaweeka over the sheep and the Light from its body, the and flesh, and as if it had been a child it up in her arms and still to the end of the Light into the empty temple.
Without an she the sheep into the Fire, and the it savagely. Then she 86began again her wild and the Light up into its original until it in a by the of the Fire. “According to the of Zurishadele I speak. Behold, he ‘Whosoever shall the of Korah to die shall be by the people of Kalvar—yea until their blood through their and they are blind—until their up them and they fall—so shall they be that the people of Kalvar may deliver them up to the Fire.’”
“Well?” asked Alan.
Kaweeka evilly. “It is true I am of the of Korah, and you, my Alan, have me. I have you my love—I would give you all—but you have laughed at me and me. I would have you my body—but now I give you more—I will give you my life. The Fire is low—more fuel is needed to keep it alive. I will give myself for fuel—but in my life, I offer two more to the God of our Fathers. For as you are the of my destruction—so will the people upon you, and through the mouth of Mzata the Great, will you be offered a to the Fire.”
Lightly, gracefully, she onto the that the Fire, and then with a off her and her and them into the flames, that were waiting for the food that was offered them.
Then, naked, her about her, her dark skin in the light, she herself into the centre of the Fire.
Alan forward, but it was too late—the of fire had her, and all that was left of the of Korah was a skull, of its flesh, at them for an through the flames, it disappeared.
It was all so unexpected, so sudden, that the boys had not what she doing, and now, and bewildered, they at each other in horror.
Suddenly a through the silence. “Flee, flee,” it said, and they the voice of 87Har-Barim. “I cannot save you,” he continued. “My people will upon you and you—for although they loved not Kaweeka, yet the will have to be fulfilled. To-day is the of the of Meherut—to-morrow the great itself. Till then and then only can I the manner of Kaweeka’s death. As you saved my Myruum, so will I try to save you. This much can I tell you. Make for the that are and wild, where they narrow to the space of a and against a wall. Look for the that are red.—Now—go.”
“But where shall we go?” Alan.
“Take always the centre path, my son, and avoid the that are and smooth. The way is rough—thy path must of a be also, but with victory will come to you. Farewell!”
And Har-Barim left them alone in the temple.
Quickly they their way to their house, there was no time to be lost. Plans had to be and quickly. Once more they were in a land, where through no fault of their own, and would meet them once more.
88
