THE SACRAMENT OF SCHLERIK-ITATA
Alan over his uncle, but the High Priest him away. “Touch him not,” said he sternly, and such in his tones, that Alan involuntarily.
Again the was repeated—Sir John was prayed over, with the “waters of purity,” and incensed. As the sweet their way up his nostrils, he stirred. Alan to him and him. “It was only foolishness, Alan,” said he brokenly. “But the Argenta—my ship—I was so proud of her. Masters, you know how I felt? She was my all in my days of sorrow. And in my days of joy, when we in her, she was my joy.”
“I understand, Uncle John. But try not to mind—when one is in Rome—you know the rest. We are in Jupiter and we must do as the Jovians wish.”
Persoph the Jkak, came up to them. “Nay, not,” said he kindly. “We have this place of sin. An air bird to take the place of the one that has gone shall be at your disposal. Go you home. Cards will be you for the Sacrament of Schlerik-itata. I of you all—attend it. Nay, I you. We will meet again eight Kymos. Farewell. Farewell.”
Waz-Y-Kjesta, to their bhor. “Come, my friend,” said he. “I will drive you another way—we will drive along the of the secti, and watch the breakers roll in.” The sea was wonderful; the sea was blue, a deep, blue, and the breakers, with foam, rolled in to a shore. They 233passed bays, promontories, and rocks—and they the drive of beauty.
Alan asked, “What is the Sacrament of Sch—”
“Schlerik-itata?” the Waz.
“Yes.”
“My friend, you must wait until you it. You will us more when you have been to the home of Ak-Marn. Now to-night, there is a small party being by Kulmervan and his students at the Observatory. I have been asked to you all. Will you come?”
“With pleasure,” said Alan.
“The Jkak is sending you all a complete outfit, my friend. Your are old, travel-stained and torn—they are too. If you accept his present, wear to-night your garments.”
“Will you help me to them?” asked Alan.
The Waz himself up with a air, but it as soon passed. “I was forgetting, my friend, that you know not our customs. The men will you. When you home, you will your house staffed, and Quori, a most and adviser.”
“What about meeting to-night for the party?”
“I will call for you as the Kymo sinks. You will have for your use.”
When they home they a note them from Mavis, them to come over and have with her and Desmond, and they walked through the garden to the other house. Mavis was waiting for them, her and her sparkling. “It’s a country,” said she. “I’ve nothing to do all day; the cooking and to go by clockwork. Morkaba is Baby’s personal and mine; she has my frock. How do you like it?” and she on one the soft of Keemarnian dress.
It was of a soft green, with and her was left around her shoulders, and above her ears by a narrow of gold that as she her head.
“I like it much than the old English 234fashions,” said she. “Desmond is not yet—he will look splendid.”
“We shall later,” said Sir John, “and I shall be to out of these and dirty garments. All the same I don’t myself a an and a century saint.”
They their meal; eggs in a of fruit and vegetables proved to be the part, and this was by a grain, to barley, but of a green colour, and sweet. There was milk to drink, and of cream.
“They to be almost here,” said Mavis, “for although we have had of milk, eggs and cream, I have not a of fish or meat.”
“All the better,” said Sir John, “after all that while we were on the Argenta—ugh!”
They in to the students’ party. The Waz had himself their guide, and they were very for his services. The large ground of the Observatory had been into a of roses. At one end, almost by flowers, were the musicians—playing music on soft-toned, instruments.
The Host in Chief, Kulmervan, with Waiko, on a at one end and their guests, who were all by an who a kilt-like shirt and a cape. As the entered he from a card they gave him, in his own language and then in English, “Sir John, Alan, Desmond, Masters, and Mavis.” No were on Jupiter, and so they no Keemarnian title. To Sir John they gave his prefix, although they did not it.
A great when the was made—Kulmervan left the and toward his guests, and this mark of was by from all the others who were present.
“Welcome,” said he. “I your upon our land. Indeed, it was I who helped to focus 235our of upon your and helped to you into our atmosphere.”
“What are your rays?” asked Alan. “Surely you had any to use one before?”
“Indeed, yes, my friend. Some time ago, some of our Keemarnians, while in the Heavens, themselves our atmosphere. They returned. Across the the red ‘Mydot’—Mars I think you call it—and ourselves, are many moving bodies. We that our met one of these, and were destroyed. Many men of science after these ones but none returned. Through our glass, we saw one of our air in space; it was unable to home. Then was the great magnetic discovered. In the space of time it was perfected, and played on the air bird. Gradually it was nearer and nearer to our until it was our atmosphere, and was able to land in safety. Since that time, if air too high, we have nearly always been able to save the spirits, and in your case, we you safely here.”
“It’s a invention,” said Sir John, “and I can would have been of value to our on earth.”
Kulmervan then presented them to Waiko, and Mavis was to a seat of on the dais.
They a most time, and the whole was very like what they were to on earth. Games were played,—games with and racquets, and and hoops, and the there was and dancing.
Refreshments were in a adjoining, and mainly of fruits and and pastries. The many Keemarnians they met, them in turn to parties and entertainments, and they they had more than they safely accept. “Never accept,” Waz-Y-Kjesta to them all, “unless you to your with your presence. A offends, but to accept and then to disappoint, is unforgivable.” Suddenly in the middle of the dancing a loud and clear. 236The and the still. Then out a of welcome, and the guests to the entrance in great excitement, and cheering. “It must be some one of who is coming,” said Desmond. “Perhaps it is the Rorka,” Mavis. There was a roll of drums, and then, on a by six men, entered a girl of eighteen years. The cortége stopped and Kulmervan low her, and her hand. She so slightly, and he her from her throne. She him, and proved to be small, not more than five in height, but of a almost indescribable. She was very and fragile. Her were purple-blue with long, black lashes. Her was of gold, and was with the colour of her eyes, while her of in about her. Perhaps it was her that the most. A perfect bow—they were of a that with the pink of her cheeks. Self possessed, and she looked as she the of the guests.
“Who is she, Alan?” asked Mavis. But he was of her question, he only and at the who had come so upon the scene.
Waiko in turn the who something to him. Immediately he came toward Mavis. “We are to-night,” said he. “The Ipso-Rorka Chlorie has from Pyrmo to welcome you. She of your presence and came at once.”
“Who is she?” asked Mavis.
“Why the lady in the land—the only child of our Rorka.”
Mavis toward where the girl stood, and the Ipso-Rorka out her hands to the English girl. “Welcome,” said she, in a voice and low. “I you start soon to the Rorka, my father, with a visit. May I welcome you first?” In turn the others were presented to her, but her attention was all 237for Mavis—it was Mavis the woman she wanted to know.
And Alan? He had his ideal! Years before, he he would meet her—and now he had. And a King’s daughter! And he a in a world! How he his toward her. Yet he dared—and his as his on her beauty. Not once did she address him—not once did she to notice him. Chlorie put her hand on Desmond’s arm. “I will with you,” said she smiling, and Alan them lead the of dancing couples. The of jealousy, earth jealousy, was in his heart.
“Why are you looking so—how can I put it—so sad?” asked Kulmervan.
Alan laughed. “He has a wife,” he muttered. “Why he take her from others?”
“But she has him. It is not for us to choose for the Ipso-Rorka,” said Kulmervan.
“Yes, but she is so beautiful, so sweet, so glorious,” Alan. Then he stopped suddenly. “Oh,” he continued, “what do you people of Jupiter know of love or hate? Your are too quiet, too to know of passion—”
“Teach me! Teach me!” Kulmervan toward him. “Your is drawn—your hard. Yet you look as if you with the world. What is it?”
“Love and hate,” said Alan grimly. Then he laughed. “What a I am. Desmond is my cousin; we love each other like brothers. He has Mavis—why should he not with the Ipso-Rorka? Mavis not mind.”
But Kulmervan away in silence. Knowledge had come to him in a way. He saw passion, love, hatred, anger, all a heart. Unconsciously the were upon his too mind. Love that had only was now in all its for the Princess Chlorie, the fair. And with love was the twin, hate—hate for Alan, the man he might him.
238It as if death, although and purified, had into Keemar and sin. The prayers of the High Priest himself were unable to wash it away, until and the earth themselves less material and more and true.
The day for the Sacrament of Schlerik-itata at last and the themselves on the way to Ak-Marn’s palace.
Although the Aks had no powers, as had the Jkaks, they were in the esteem, for they were of blood.
Ak-Marn them warmly. They saw that his dress was different from the male costume. He was in white, and neither ornament. The material of his robe, which with a long to the ground, was almost like and there was something almost about the costume. Yet Ak-Marn was an old man, with a of white, and in plenty. Surely Schlerik-itata not be the same as matrimony, Mavis.
The guests were eight thousand in number, and all their and their raiment.
There was and dancing and much chatter, and the whole was one of and joy. Refreshments were in, and Ak-Marn to speak. The English people now the Keemarnian language well. It was easy, its simple, and its almost Latin.
“Friends,” said Ak-Marn. “I with you. Two and ten Kymos have since I my thirst or satisfied my hunger. I’ve prayed to Mitzor, the Great White Glory and Tower of Help, to prepare me for my journey. My call came eighty and five Kymos since—I saw the in fire. I my call, and am prepared. I go with in my heart—with in my breast. I am to be envied, my friends, for my days have been long upon Keemar. I my loved one, Viok, and our children, and our children’s children in your care, my friends. When I am gone, her with words—help her with counsel. I you with love in my heart. I 239you with the knowledge that our is not for long. Soon you will join me in the home of the Tower of Help. Remember that the of time cannot be measured.”
Then was broken, and there the “Feast of the Sacrament,” and the most friends of Ak-Marn to his “future”—drank to his “joy.” And Alan and Sir John were no longer mystified. They that what they in their as “Death” was nigh—but not Death, the of happiness, Death, the reaper, but Death in a form, a death that gave life—a death that was glorious.
“I at that the Jovians were of a nature than ours,” said Alan.
“If they have Death, they must be high,” said Sir John thoughtfully.
“Who is Mitzor?” asked Mavis.
“The God of our Fathers, my dear. The God of Abraham and the God of the New Testament. Whatever their religion and is, they the same God as we do,” said Alan.
“Are you sure?”
“Quite.”
When the was ended, the guests, one by one, to their host. It was a long business, as no one was permitted to pass without at least a personal from Ak-Marn who was seated on a chair near the doorway. And as each woman passed out, she was with a of beautiful, cut flowers, from which a white veil, while the men were long white with which they over their heads. Mavis her knee, and out her hands to the old man. “My child,” said he. “Our is so meaningless to you. Go home—pray to Mitzor the Mighty that He may and you, that when your time comes you may be to Him, through the medium of his Sacrament. Farewell.”
To Alan he spoke long and quietly. “My son,” said he, “you are in a world, you are young, you are 240carnal. Ah,” as Alan would have protested, “we of Keemar, my Alan, are not as of your world. We know not as you know it. Our parents, Menlin and Jorlar, were in a garden—” Alan started—“Yes, my friend, as your were. They not to temptation—so they in happy for many years. Then Mitzor in His great gave them the knowledge of Love—Love without sin. They mated. Their love grew. Children of love were into our world. Child was a glory; the estate. They neither sorrow, and so in love our grew.”
“Do you to say you are here?” asked Alan incredulously.
“My son, it is not an for us to in, for the do not to us, but to our parents. No—real has entered here, but we live in of its coming. In a off country—in Fyjipo—there is a large high walls. If anger, or lust, or is by any one of us, an order is and the is taken to the Hall of Sorrows to away his sins. Should a come upon us, for such we these to be—we are safe until it has passed, and until we can no longer our creatures.”
“It’s a country,” said Alan. “Where we come from, is all and and—”
“Nay, tell me not. I go on a journey. I shall my Mitzor. I you, should you or your friends this on you, yourselves, I beg, in the Hall of Sorrows. Stay there until it has passed, and the purity and of this land. Farewell.” The was Alan’s shoulders, and he too left the presence.
Waz-Y-Kjesta was waiting for them at the hall. “Go home,” he whispered. “Your you. I of you, eat no more this night, but in the early dawn, while Kymo still sleeps, put on your cloaks, and the Lady Mavis her veil, and go 241you to the Temple of Mitzor. Farewell.” It was a very party that retired to their rooms that night, yet the full of the Sacrament had not been to them.
It was dark when they arose, and in a they to the Temple. They had been it, and it was with much that they waited on the threshold. It was a very of marble—the colour of the sky. An rose up in the centre of the square of the Temple, and at the four corners, with the picture. A of fifty steps up to the doors which were of a metal, and with gems. Just was an antechamber, where the guests waited in until they were to the seats that were to them. The was wonderful. Mosaic in the light; the was of gold, and marble supported it the long aisle. An rose up at the end upon which were in marble and seraphim. In the sanctuary, if such it be called, was a small white of marble, with heavy, white at either side. It was in such a position that although it did not the view of the altar, which was high above the nave, yet it be by every one in the building.
The seats to Alan and his party were very near the where rails of gold the Sanctuary from the people’s part of the Temple. Music on the air—soft like and the song of birds; now out into and worship.
Suddenly there came a hush; a tinkled; the organ played softly, and there came the of boys’ sweet voices in ecstasy: from a door at the of the a dozen walked in their of white. The started the nave. After these boys came and deacons, and then Misrath, the High Priest walked in of a throne. On this sat 242Ak-Marn, his closed and his hands in prayer. Behind him walked his wife and their children. Their were radiant, it is true; yet there was a touch of in his wife’s gait. Then more and acolytes, all of joy.
The the Temple, and through the middle aisle, and through the rails into the Sanctuary. Ak-Marn was to the marble throne; his wife alone of his family had close behind, and now his arms were around her. Their met in one long kiss, then with a she left his side, and took her place with her family in the very seats.
The organ thundered. Voices in a pæan of praise. Then silence! Misrath came and offered prayers to Mitzor—prayers of offering, prayers of supplication. A of cut flowers was upon the altar. It was to be a offering, and as the of the on the air, the white were around the of Ak-Marn and he was from view. Then rent the air; the the throne, until it was by the smoke, like a pall.
Alan in wonder. The of the prayers, the singing, the around Ak-Marn him. Misrath’s voice rose above the music.
“Children of Keemar,” he intoned. “One more has been by the of Mitzor, and has left this world for ever. He has gone to Glory, gone to Happiness—gone to Mitzor Himself. Peace be his house. Peace be his wife. Peace be his for ever. We him—farewell.”
There was a great silence. The were stilled. Gradually the of the away from the marble throne, now in the of the Kymo.
Misrath touched the of the curtain, and them back. The little white was 243empty! Ak-Marn had returned to the of his Creator! But stay! On the floor, as if in the of its owner, the of Ak-Marn. The High Priest it, it, it with the of purity, and Ak-Marn’s wife it in her arms. Then the rose and sang one last song of praise, and at the end, left the building. And the last view Alan had of Ak-Marn’s wife was of a figure, like a bride, the little white that was the last place of her loved one.
“I don’t understand,” Mavis hoarsely, as they were being to their home.
“My dear, he is dead,” said Sir John.
“Dead? If that is Death, then it is something to welcome and not to dread,” she answered softly. There was a look in her eyes. “What a Sacrament! Death that is no sorrow—only a for a little while, and then—reunion.” She her husband’s hand. “Belovèd,” she murmured, “if Death comes to us like that, then can we have no any more. Its cannot us pain or grief. What do you think, Alan?”
But Alan did not answer. He was of two eyes, a laughing mouth, that on two soft, pink cheeks. He was to the and sweet close to his, and her roses with kisses. The knowledge and of Death had lapsed; Jupiter had it,—but with its had come love. Love, a thousandfold than Death. He looked to where the Sun, Kymo in all his glory, was shining. The whole world was in a of light. Yes, Jupiter had death, and him life and love!
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