 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. H. Rider Haggard Asha the Return of She Chapter 15. The Second Ordeal Horrors spout and left the place, whereon the Hesia signed to us to stand upon her right and to a tenet to stand upon her left. Presently, from either side, the hooded priests and priestesses stole into the chamber, and to the number of fifty or more ranged themselves along its walls. Then came two figures draped in black and masked over parchment books in their hands, and placed themselves on either side of the corpse, while Horrors stood at its feet facing the Hesia. Now she lifted the cistern that she held, and in obedience to the signal Horrors said, Let the books be opened. Thereon the masked accuser to the right broke the seal of his book and began to read his pages. It was a tale of the sins of this dead man, entered as fully as though that officer were his own conscience given life and voice. In cold and horrible detail it told of the evil doings of his childhood, of his youth, and of his ripe years, and thus massed together the record was black indeed. I listened amazed, wondering what spy had been set upon the deeds of John the Man throughout his days, thinking also with a shudder of how heavy would be the tale against any one of us. If such a spy should companion him from the cradle to the grave, remembering too that full surely this count is kept by scribes even more watchful than the ministers of Hes. At length the long story drew to its close, lastly told of the murder of that noble upon the banks of the river. It told of the plot against our lives for no just cause. It told of our cruel hunting with the death hounds and of its end. Then the accuser shut his book and cast it on the ground saying, Such is the record, O mother, sum it up as though has been given wisdom. Without speaking the Hesia pointed with the Systrom to the defender who thereon broke the seal of his book and began to read. Its tale spoke of all the good that the dead man had done, of every noble word that he had said, of every kind action, of plans which he had made for the welfare of his vassals, of temptations to ill that he had resisted, of the true love that he had borne to the woman who became his wife, of the prayers which he had made, and of the offerings which he had sent to the temple of Hes. Making no mention of her name it told of how that wife of his had hated him, of how she and the magician who had fostered and educated her and was her relative and guide, had set other women to lead him astray that she might be free of him, of how too they had driven him mad with a poisonous drink which took away his judgment, unchained all the evil in his heart and caused him by its painful influence to shrink unnaturally from her whose love he still desired. Also it set out that the heavis of his crimes were inspired by this wife of his who sought to be foul his name in the ears of the people whom she led him to oppress, and how bitter jealousy drove him to cruel acts, the last and worst of which caused him folly to violate the law of hospitality and in attempting to bring about the death of blameless guests at their hands to find his own. Thus the defender read, and having read close the book and threw it on the ground saying, Such is the record, O mother, sum it up as thou hast been given wisdom. Then the kanya, who all this time had stood cold and impassive, stepped forward to speak, and with her her uncle the shaman Simbri. But before a word passed a teen slips the Hesiah raised her scepter and forbade them, saying, Thy day of trial is not yet, nor have we ought to do with thee. When thou lies'd where he lies, and the books of thy deeds are read aloud to her who sits in judgment then, let thine advocate make answer for these things. So be it, answered Atina hortily and fell back. Now it was the turn of the high priest Oros. Mother he said, Thou hast heard. Balance the writings, assess the truth, and according to thy wisdom issue thy commands. Shall we hurl him, who was rassen, feet first into the fiery gulf, that he may walk again in the paths of life, or head first, in token that he is dead indeed? Then while all waited, in a hushed expectancy, the great priestess delivered her verdict. I hear, I balance, I assess, but judge I do not, who claim no such power. Let the spirit who sent him forth, to whom he is returned again, pass judgment on his spirit. This dead one has sinned deeply, yet has he been more deeply sinned against, nor against that man can be reckoned the account of his deeds of madness. Cast him then to his grave, feet first, that his name may be whitened in the ears of those unborn, and that thence he may return again at the time appointed. It is spoken. Now the chooser lifted the book of his accusations from the ground, and advancing hurled it into the gulf in token that it was blotted out. Then he turned and vanished from the chamber. While the advocate taking up his book gave it into the keeping of the priest Oros, it might be preserved in the archives of the temple forever. This done, the priest began a funeral chum and a solemn invocation to the great lord of the underworld, that he would receive the spirit and acquitted there as here it had been acquitted by the Hesea, his minister. Here their dear ended certain of the priests, advancing with slow steps, lifted the beer and carried it to the edge of the gulf. Then at a sign from the mother hurled it feet foremost into the fiery lake below, whilst all watched to see how it struck the flame. For this they held to be an omen. Since should the body turn over in its descent, it was taken as a sign that the judgment of mortal men had been refused in the place of the immortals. It did not turn. It rushed downwards straight as a plummet and plunged into the fire hundreds of feet below and therefore ever vanished. This indeed was not strange since as we discovered afterwards the feet were weighted. In fact this solemn read was but a formula that down to the exact words of judgment and committal had been practiced here from unknown antiquity over the bodies of the priests and priestesses of the mountain and of certain of the great ones of the plain. So it was in ancient Egypt whence without doubt this ceremony of the trial of the dead was to read and so it continued to be in the land of Hese for no priestess ever ventured to condemn the soul of one departed. The real interest of the custom apart from its solemnity and awful surroundings centered in the accurate knowledge displayed by the masked accuser and advocate of the life deeds of the deceased. It showed that although the college of Hese affected to be indifferent to the doings and politics of the people of the plain, that they once ruled and over which while secretly awaiting an opportunity of reconquest they still claimed a spiritual authority. The attitude was assumed rather than real. Moreover it suggested a system of espionage so piercing and extraordinary that it was difficult to believe it unaided by the habitual exercise of some gift of clairvoyance. The service if I may call it so was finished. The dead man had followed the record of his sins into that lurid sea of fire and by now was but a handful of charred dust. But if his books had closed ours remained opened and as its strangest chapter we knew it all of us and waited our nerves thrilled with expectancy. The Hesea set brooding on her rocky throne. She also knew that the hour had come. Presently she sighed. Then motioned with her scepter and spoke a word or two, dismissing the priests and priestesses who departed and were seen no more. Two of them remained however, Oros and the head priestess who was called Papave, a young woman of a noble countenance. Listen my servants she said. Great things are about to happen which have to do with the coming of gender strangers for whom I have waited these many years as is well known to you. Nor can I tell the issue since to me to whom power is given so freely foresight of the future is denied. It well may happen therefore that this seat will soon be empty and this frame but food for eternal fires. Nay, grieve not, grieve not for I do not die and if so the spirit shall return again. Harken Papave, thou art of the blood and to thee alone have I opened all the doors of wisdom. If I pass now or at any time take thou the ancient power, fill thou my place and in all things do as I have instructed thee that from this mountain light may shine upon the world. Further I command thee and thee also, Oros my priest, that if I be summoned hence you entertain these strangers hospitably until it's possible to escort them from the land whether by the road they came or across the northern hills and deserts. Should the Kanya attene attempt to detain them against their will then raise the tribes upon her in the name of the Hesea, depose her from her seat, conquer her land and hold it, hear and obey. Mother, we hear and we will obey, answered Oros and Papave as with a single voice. She waved her hand to show that this matter was finished. Then after long thought spoke again, addressing herself to the Kanya. Attene, last night thou didst ask me a question why thou dost love this man? and she pointed to Leo. To that the answer would be easy, for is he not one who might well stir passion in the breast of a woman such as thou art? But thou didst say also that thine own heart and the wisdom of yonder magician thy uncle told thee that since thy soul first sprang to life thou hadst loved him, and didst adure me by the power to whom I must give my account to draw the curtain from the past and let the truth be known. Woman, the hour has come and I obey thy summons not because thou dost command, but because it is my will. Of the beginning I can tell thee nothing who am still human and know goddess. I know not why we three are wrapped in this coil of fate. I know not the destinies to which we journey up the ladder of a thousand lives with grief and pain climbing the endless stair of circumstance or, if I know, I may not say. Therefore I take up the tale where my own memory gives me life. This year paused, and we saw her frame shake as though beneath some fearful inward effort of the will. Look now, behind you, she cried, throwing her arms wide. We turned, and at first so nothing save the great curtain of fire that rose from the abyss of the volcano, whereof, as I have told, the crest was bent over by the wind like the crest of a breaking billow, but presently, as we watched, in the depth of this red veil, nature's awful lamp flame, a picture, began to form as it forms in the seers magic crystal. Behold, a temple set amid sands and washed by a wide palm-bordered river and across its pyloned court processions of priests who pass to and fro with flaunting banners. The court empties. I could see the shadow of a falcon's wings that fled across its sunlit floor. A man, clad in a priest's white robe, shaven-headed and barefooted, enters through the southern pylon gate and walks slowly towards a painted granite shrine in which sits the image of a woman crowned with a double crown of Egypt, summoned by the lotus bloom and holding in her hand the sacred cistern. Now, as though he heard some sound, he hauls and looks towards us and by the heaven above me, his face is the face of Leo Vinci in his youth, the face, too, of that calicratus whose corpse we had seen in the caves of Kor. Look, look, gasped Leo, catching me by the arm, but I only nodded my head in answer. The man walks on again and kneeling before the goddess in the shrine embraces her feet and makes his prayer to her. Now the gates roll open and a procession enters, headed by a veiled, noble-looking woman who bears offerings which she sets on the table before the shrine, bending her knee to the effigy of the goddess. Her oblations made, she turns to depart and as she goes, brushes her hand against the hand of the watching priest who hesitates, then follows her. When all her company have passed the gate, she lingers alone in the shadow of the pylon, whispering to the priest and pointing to the river and the southern land beyond. He is disturbed, he reasons with her till after one swift glance round she lets drop her veil, bending towards him and their lips meet. As time flies her face is turned towards us and lo, it is the face of Athene and amid her dusky hair the aura is reflected in yule gold, the symbol of her royal rang. She looks at the shaven priest, she laughs as though in triumph. She points to the western sun and to the river and is gone. I, and that laugh of long ago is echoed by Athene at our side for she also laughs in triumph and cries aloud to the old shaman. True diviners were my heart and thou, behold how I won him in the past. Then like ice on fire fell the cold voice of the Hesea. Be silent woman and see how thou didst lose him in the past. Lo, the scene changes and on a couch a lovely shape lies sleeping. She dreams, she is afraid and over her vents and whispers in her ears a shadowy form, clad with the emblems of the goddess in the shrine. But now wearing upon her head the vulture cap. The woman wakes from her dream and looks round and oh, the face is the face of Asha as it was seen of us when first she loosed her veil in the caves of coral. Asae went up from us we could not speak who thus fearfully once more beheld her loveliness. Again she sleeps, again the awful form bends over her and whispers. It points, the distance opens. Lo, on a stormy sea a boat and in the boat two wrapped in each other's arms the priest and the royal woman while over them like a vengeance row-necked and ragged pinioned hoovers a following a vulture such a vulture as the goddess wore for headdress. That picture fades from its burning frame leaving the vast sheet of fire empty as the noonday sky. Then another forms. First a great smooth-walled cave carpeted with sand, a cave that we remembered well. Then lying on the sand now no longer shaven but golden haired the corpse of the priest staring upwards with his glazed eyes his white skin streaked with blood and standing over him two women. One holds a javelin in her hand and is naked except for her flowing hair and beautiful, beautiful beyond imagining. The other wrapped in a dark cloak meets the air with her hands casting up her eyes as though to call the curse of heaven upon her rival's head and those women are she into whose sleeping ear the shadow had whispered and the royal Egyptian who had kissed her lover beneath the pylon gate. Slowly all the figures faded. It was as though the fire ate them up. For first they became thin and white as ashes then vanished. Hesea who had been leaning forward sank backwards in her chair as if weary with a toil of her own magic. For a while confused pictures flitted rapidly to and fro across the vast mirror of the flame such as might be reflected from an intelligence crowded with the memories of over 2,000 years which it was too exhausted to separate and define. Wild scenes, multitudes of people, great caves and in them faces amongst others our own starting up distorted and enormous to grow tiny in an instant and depart. Stark imaginations of forms, towering and divine of things monstrous and inhuman armies marching, illimitable battlefields and corpses rolling blood and hoovering over them in the streets of the slain. These pictures died as the others had died and the fire was blank again. Then Hesea spoke in a voice very faint at first that by slow degrees grows stronger. Is thy question answered, o Athena? I have seen strange sights mother, mighty limnings worthy of thy magic but how know I that they are more than the vapors of thine own brain cast upon yonder fire to deceive and mock us. Considered in the light of subsequent revelations vouchsafed to us by Asha herself I am inclined to believe that Athena's chute surmise was accurate and that these fearful pictures although founded on events that had happened in the past were in the main vapors cast upon the crater fire that was once raised in our minds to deceive and mock us. LHH Listen then said the Hesea in her weary voice to the interpretation of the writing and cease to trouble me with thy doubts many an age ago but shortly after I began to live this last long life of mine Isis, the great goddess of Egypt had her holy house at Bebit near the Nile. She is in ruin now and Isis has departed from Egypt though still under the power that fashioned it and her she rules the world for she is nature's self. Of that shrine a certain man a Greek callicratus by name was chief priest chosen for her service by the favour of the goddess bowed to her eternally and to her alone by the dreadful oath eternal. In the flame thou sourced that priest and here at thy side he stands reborn to fulfill his destiny and ours. There lived also a daughter of Pharaoh's house one Amenartas who cast eyes of love upon this callicratus and wrapping him in her spells for then as now she practiced witcheries caused him to break his oath and fly with her as thou sourced written in the flame. Thou atine was that Amenartas. Lastly there lived a certain Arabian named Asha a wise and lovely woman who in the emptiness of her heart and the sorrow of much knowledge had sought refuge in the service of the universal mother thinking there to win the true wisdom which ever fled from her. That Asha as thou sourced also the goddess visited in a dream bidding her to follow those faithless ones and work heaven's vengeance on them and promising her in reward victory over death upon the earth and beauty such as had not been known in woman. She followed far she awaited them where they wandered guided by a sage named Noot one who from the beginning had been appointed to a service and that of another. Asha Holly was that man. She found the essence in which to bathe is to outlive generations faith and empires saying I will slay these guilty ones I will slay them presently as I am commanded. Yet Asha slew Noot for now their sin was her sin since she who had never loved came to desire this man. She led them to the place of life where to clothe him and herself with immortality and let the woman die but it was not so fated for then the goddess smote the life was Asha's as had been sworn but in its first hour blinded with jealous rage because he shrank from her unveiled glory to the mortal woman at his side this Asha brought him to his death and Alas left herself undying. Thus did the angry goddess work woe upon her faithless ministers giving to the priests swift doom to the priests asha long remorse and misery and to the royal amenartis jealousy more bitter than life for death and the fate of unending effort to win back that love which defying heaven she had dared to steal but to be bereft thereof then now the ages pass and at the time appointed to that undying Asha who whilst awaiting his rebirth from century to century mourned his loss and did bitter penance for his sins came back the man her heart's desire then whilst all went well for her and him again the goddess smote and robbed her of her reward before her lovers living in her eyes sunk in utter shame and misery the beautiful became hideous the undying seemed to die yet o calicratis I tell thee that she died not did not Asha swear to the yonder in the caves of core that she would come again for even in that awful hour this comfort kissed her soul thereafter Leo Vinci who art calicratis did not her spirit lead thee to sleep and stand with thee upon this very pinnacle which should be thy beacon light to guide thee back to her and didst thou not search these many years not knowing that she companion thy every step and strove to guard thee in every danger till at length in the permitted hour thou earnest back to her she paused and looked towards Leo as though awaiting his reply the first part of the tale except from the writing of the sherd I know nothing lady he said of the rest I or rather we know that it is true yet I would ask a question and I pray thee of thy charity let thy answer be swift and short thou says that in the permitted hour I came back to Asha where then is Asha art thou Asha and if so why is thy voice changed why art thou less in stature oh in the name of whatever god thou dost worship tell me art thou Asha I am Asha she answered solemnly that very Asha to whom thou didst pledge thyself eternally she lies she lies I tell thee husband for such with her own lips she declares thou art to me that yonder woman who says that she parted from the young and beautiful less than twenty years ago is none other than the aged priestess who for a century at least has borne rule in these halls of Hesse let her deny it if she can auras said the mother tell thou the tale of the death of that priestess of whom the kanya speaks the priest bowed and in his usual calm voice as though he were narrating some event of every day said mechanically and in a fashion that carried no conviction to my mind eighteen years ago on the fourth night of the first month of the winter in the year two thousand three hundred and thirty three of the founding of the worship of Hesse on this mountain the priestess of whom the kanya tene speaks died of old age in my presence in the hundred and eight gear of her rule three hours later we went to lift her from the throne on which she died to prepare her corpse for burial in this fire according to the ancient custom law a miracle for she lived again the same yet very changed thinking this a work of evil magic the priests and priestesses of the college rejected her and would have driven her from the building there on the mountain blazed and thundered the light from the fiery pillars died and great terror fell upon the souls of men then from the deep darkness about the altar where stands the statue of the mother of men the voice of the living goddess spoke saying except ye her whom I have said to rule over you that my judgments and my purpose may be fulfilled the voice ceased the fiery torch is burnt again and we bowed the knee to the new Hesiah and named her mother in the ears of all that is the tale to which hundreds can bear witness thou hearst a tene said the Hesiah does thou still doubt I answered the kanya for I hold that auras also lies or if he lies not then he dreams or perhands that voice he heard was alone now if thou art this undying woman this asha let proof be made of it to these two men who knew thee in the past tear away those wrappings that guard thy loveliness thus jealously let thy shape divine thy beauty incomparable shine out upon our dazzled sight surely thy lover will not forget such chance surely he will know thee and bow the knee saying this is my immortal and no other woman then and not till then I will believe that thou art even what thou declares thyself to be an evil spirit who bought undying life with murder and used thy demon loveliness to bewitch the souls of men now the Hesiah on the throne seemed to be much troubled for she rocked herself to and fro and rang her white draped hands Calicratus who said in a voice that sounded like a moan is this thy will for if it be know that I must obey yet I pray thee command it not for the time is not yet come the promise unbreakable is not yet fulfilled I am somewhat changed Calicratus since I kissed thee on the brow and named thee mine John during the caves of coral Leo looked about him desperately till his eyes fell upon the mocking face of Athena who cried bid her unveil my lord I swear to thee I'll not be jealous at that taunt he took fire I he said I bid her unveil that I may first who otherwise must die of this suspense how so ever changed if she be Asha I shall know her and if she be Asha I shall love her bold words Calicratus answered the Hesiah yet from my very heart I thank thee for them those sweet words of trust and faithfulness to those not what learn now the truth for I may keep not back from thee when I unveil it is decreed that thou must make thy choice for the last time on this earth between yonder woman my rival from the beginning and that Asha to whom thou art sworn thou canst reject me if thou will and no ill shall come to thee but many a blessing as men reckon them power and wealth and love only then thou must hear my memory from thy heart and leave thee to follow thy fate alone till at the last the purpose of these deeds and sufferings is made clear be warned no light or deal lies before thee be warned I can promise thee not save such love as woman never gave to man love that perhands I know not must yet remain unsatisfied upon the earth then she turned to me and said oh holly thou true friend thou garden from of old thou next to him most beloved by me to thy clear and innocent spirit perhands wisdom may be given that is denied to us the little children whom thine arms protect counsel thou him my holly with a counsel that is given thee and I will obey thy words thy befalls will bless thee from my soul I and should he cast me off then in the land beyond the lands in the star appointed where all earthly passions fade together we will dwell eternally in a friendship glorious thou and I alone for thou wilt not react, thy steel forged in the furnace of pure truth and power shall not lose its temper in these small fires of temptation and become a rusted chain to bind thee to another woman's breast until it conquer to her heart and thine Asha I thank thee for thy words I answered simply and by them and that promise of thine I thy poor friend for more I never thought to be am a thousand fold repaid for many sufferings this I will add that for my part I know that thou art she whom we have lost since whatever the lips that speak them thou's thoughts and words are Asha's and hers alone thus I spoke not knowing what else to say for I was filled with a great joy a calm and ineffable satisfaction which broke thus feebly from my heart for now I knew that I was dear to Asha as I had always been dear to Leo the closest of friends from whom she never would be parted what more could I desire we fell back we spoke together whilst they watched us silently what we said I do not quite remember but the end of it was that as the Hesiah had done Leo made me judge and choose then into my mind there came a clear command from my own conscience or otherwise who can say this was the command that I should bid her to unveil and that fate declare its purposes decide said Leo I cannot bear much more like that woman whoever she may be whatever happens I will not blame your horrors good I answered I have decided and stepping forward I said we have taken counsel Hes and it is our will who would learn the truth rest that thou should unveil before us here and now I hear and obey the princess answered in a voice like to that of a dying woman only I beseech you both be pitiful to me spare me your mockeries add not the calls of your hate and scorn to the fires of a soul in hell for whatever I am I became it for thy sake Calicratus yet I also am a thirst for knowledge for though I know all wisdom although I wield much power one thing remains to me to learn what is the worth of the love of man and if indeed it can live beyond the horrors of the grave then rising slowly they see I walked or rather tottered to the unroofed open space in front of the rock chamber and stood there quite near to the brink of the flaming gulf beneath come here there papa and loose these veils she cried in a shrill thin voice papa advanced and with a look of aive upon her handsome face began the task not a tall woman yet as she bent over her I noted that she seemed to tower above her mistress the Hesia the outer veils fell revealing more within these fell also and now before us stood the mummy like shape although it seemed to be of less stature of that strange being who had met us in the place of bones so it would seem that our mysterious guide the priestess Hes were the same look length by length the wrappings sank from her would they never end how small grew the frame within she was very short now unnaturally short for a full grown woman and oh I grew sick at heart the last bandages uncoiled themselves like shavings from a stick two wrinkled hands appeared then the feet once I had seen such on the mummies of a princess of Egypt and even now by some fantastic play of the mind I remembered that on her coffin this princess was named the beautiful everything was gone now except a shift and a last in a veil about the head Hes waved back the priestess papa who fell half into the ground and lay there covering her eyes with her hand then uttering something like a scream she gripped this veil in her thin taloons tore it away and with a gesture of uttermost despair turned and faced us oh she was, nay, I will not describe her I knew her at once for thus had I seen her last before the fire of life and strangely enough through that cloak of humanity's last decay still shown some resemblance to the glorious and superhuman Asha the shape of the face the air of defined pride that for an instant bore her up I know not what yes there she stood and the fierce light of the heartless fires beat upon her revealing every shame there was a dreadful silence I saw Leo's lips turn white and his knees to begin to give but by some effort he recovered himself and stayed still and upright like a dead man held by a wire also I saw a tene and this is to her credit turn her head away she had decided to see her rival humiliated but that horrible sight shocked her some sense of their common womanhood for the moment touched her pity only Simbri who I think knew what to expect and Oros remained quite unmoved indeed in that ghastly silence the latter spoke and ever afterwards I loved him for his words what of the vile vessel rotted in the grave of time what of the flesh that perishes he said look through the ruined lamp turn a light which burns within look through its covering carrion to the inextinguishable soul my heart applauded these noble sentiments I was of one mind with Oros but oh heaven I felt that my brain was going and I wished that it would go so that I might hear and see no more that look which gathered on Asha's mummy face at first there had been a little hope but the hope died and anguish anguish anguish took its place something must be done this could not endure my lips clave together no word would come my feet refused to move I began to contemplate the scenery how wonderful were that sheet of flame and the ripples which ran up and down its height how avesome its billowy crest it would be warm lying in yonder below with a dead russon but oh I wished that I shared his bed and had finished with these agonies thank heaven Athena was speaking she had stepped to the side of the naked-headed thing and stood by it in all the pride of a rich beauty and perfect womanhood Leo Vinci or Calicrates said Athena take which name thou wilt thou thinkst ill of me perhaps but now that at least I scorned to mock a rival in her mortal shame she told us a wild tale but now a tale true or false but more false than true I think of how I robbed a goddess of a votary and how that goddess Asha's self perhaps was avenged upon me for the crime of yielding to the man I loved well let goddesses if such indeed there be take their way and work their will upon the helpless and I a mortal will take mine until the clutch of doom closes round my throat and chokes out life and memory and I too am a goddess or a clot meanwhile thou man I shame not to say it before all these witnesses I love thee and it seems that this this woman or goddess loves thee also and she has told us that now now thou must choose between us once and forever she has told us too that if I sinned against Isis whose minister be it remembered she declares herself herself she sinned yet more for she would have taken thee both from a heavenly mistress and from an earthly bride and yet snatched that garden of immortality which is hers today therefore if I am evil she is worse nor does the flame that burns within the casket where of aura spoke shines so very pure and bright choose thou then Leo Vinci and let there be an end I want not myself thou knowst what I have been and ceased what I am to give thee love and happiness and may have children to follow after thee and with them some place and power what yonder which can give thee thou canst guess tales of the past pictures on the flame wise maxims and honoured words and after thou art dead once more promises perhaps of joy to come on the terrible goddess whom she serves so closely shall be pieced I have spoken yet the word O thou for whom if the Hesias tale be true I did once lay down my royal rank and dare the dangers of an un-sale sea O thou whom in age is gone I would have sheltered with my frail body from the sorcerers of this cold self-seeking witch O thou whom but a little while ago at my own life's risk I drew from death in yonder river choose to all this speech so moderate yet so cruel so well-recent and yet so false because of its glosses and omissions the huddled Asha seemed to listen with a fierce intentness yet she may no answer not a single word not a sign even she who had said her say and scorned to plead her part I looked at Leo's fashion face he leaned towards Satene drawn perhaps by the passion shining in her butchers eyes then of a sudden straightened himself shook his head and sighed the color flamed to his brow and his eyes grew almost happy after all he said thinking aloud rather than speaking I have to do not with unknowable pasts or with mystic futures but with the things of my own life Asha waited for me through two thousand years Atene could marry a man she hated for power's sake and then could poison him as perhaps she would poison me when I wear it her I know not what oath I swore to Amanartas if such a woman live I remember the oath I swore to Asha if I shrink from her now why then my life is a lie and my belief is a fraud then love will not endure the touch of age and never can survive the grave now remembering what Asha was I take her as she is in faith and hope of what she shall be at least love is immortal and if it must why let it feed on memory alone till death sets free the soul then stepping to where stood the dreadful shriveled form Leo knelt down before it and kissed her on the brow yes, he kissed the trembling horror of that wrinkled head and I think it was one of the greatest bravest acts ever done by man thou hast chosen said Atene in a cold voice and I tell thee, Leo Vinci that the manner of thy choice makes me mourn my loss the more take now thy, thy bride and let me hence but Asha still said no word and made no sign till presently she sank upon her bony knees and began to pray aloud these were the words of her prayer as I heard them though the exact power to which it was addressed is not very easy to determine as I never discovered who or what it was that she worshipped in her heart O thou minister of the Almighty will thou sharpsword in the hand of doom thou inevitable law that art named nature thou who wasst crowned as esses to the Egyptians but art the goddess of all climbs and ages thou that leads the man to the maid and lays the infant on his mother's breast that brings our dust to its indra dust that gives life to death and into the dark of death breathes the light of life again thou who causes the abundant earth to bear whose smile is spring whose laugh is the ripple of the sea whose noontide rest is drowsy summer and whose sleep is winter's night here thou the supplication of thy chosen child and minister of old thou gavest me thine own strength with deathless days and beauty above every daughter of the star but I sinned against thee sore and for my sin I paid in endless centuries of solitude in the vileness that makes me loathsome to my lover's eyes and for its diadem of perfect power sets upon my brow this crown of naked mockery yet in thy breath the swift essence that brought me light that brought me gloom thou didst vow to me that I who cannot die should once more pluck the lost flower of my immortal loveliness from this foul slime of shame therefore merciful mother that bore me to thee I make my prayer o let his true love atone for my sin or if it may not be then give me death the last and most blessed of thy boons end of chapter 15 of H. Ryder Haggard Asha the Return of She read by Lars Rolander this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org H. Ryder Haggard Asha the Return of She Chapter 60 The Change She ceased and there was a long, long silence Leo and I looked at each other in dismay we had hoped against hope that this beautiful and picturesque prayer addressed apparently to the great dumb spirit of nature would be answered that meant a miracle but what of it the prolongation of the life of Asha was a miracle though it is true that some humble reptiles are said to live as long as she had done the transference of her spirit from the caves of core to this temple was a miracle that is to our western minds though the dwellers in these parts of Central Asia would not hold it so that she should reappear with the same hideous body was a miracle but was it the same body was it not the body of the last Hesia one very ancient woman is much like another and 18 years of the working of the soul or identity within might well wear away their trivial differences lived to the borrowed form some resemblance to that which it had lived at least the figures on that mirror of the flame were a miracle nay, why so a hundred clairvoyance in a hundred cities can produce or see their like in water and in crystal the difference being only one of size they were but reflections of scenes familiar to the mind of Asha or perhaps not so much as that perhaps they were only fantasms called up in our mind by her mesmeric force nay, none of these things were true miracles since all, however strange might be capable of explanation what right then had we to expect a marvel now such thoughts as these rose in our minds as the endless minutes were born and died and nothing happened yes, at last one thing did happen the light from the sheet of flame died gradually away as the flame itself sank downwards into the abyss of the pit but about this in itself there was nothing wonderful for as we had seen with our own eyes from afar this fire varied much and indeed it was customary for it to die down at the approach of dawn which now drew very near still that onward creeping darkness added to the terrors of the scene by the last rays of the Lyrid light we saw Asha rise and advance some few paces to that little tongue of rock at the edge of the pit of which the body of Rasen had been hurled saw her standing on it also looking like some black mishapened in against the smoky glow which still rose from the depth beneath Leo would have gone forward to her for he believed that she was about to hurl herself to doom which indeed I thought was her design but the priest Auras and the priest's papa obeying I suppose some secret command that reached them I know not how sprang to him and ceasing his arms held him back then it became quite dark and through the darkness we could hear Asha chanting a dirge like him in some secret holy tongue to us. A great flake of fire floated through the gloom rocking to and fro like some vast bird upon its pinions. We had seen many such that night, torn by the gale from the crest of the blazing curtain as I have described but, but Horus whispered Leo through his chattering teeth that flame is coming up against the wind Perhaps the wind has changed I answered though I knew well that it had not, that it blew stronger than ever from the south nearer and nearer sailed the rocking flame two enormous wings was the shape of it was something dark between them it reached the little promontory the wings appear to fold themselves about the dwarfed figure that stood thereon illuminating it for a moment then the light went out of them and they vanished everything vanished a while passed it may have been one minute or ten when suddenly the priestess Papave in obedience to some summons which we could not hear crept by me I knew that it was she because her woman's garments touched me as she went. Another space of silence and of deep darkness during which I heard Papave return breathing in short sobbing gasps like one who is very frightened ah I thought Asha has cast herself into the pit the tragedy is finished then it was that the wondrous music came of course it may have been only the sound of priest chanting beyond us but I do not think so since its quality was quite different to any that I heard in the temple before or afterwards to any indeed that ever I heard upon the earth I cannot describe it but it was awful to listen to yet most entrancing from the black smoke veiled pit where the fire had burned it welled and echoed now a single heavenly voice now a sweet chorus and now an air shaking thunder as of a hundred organs played to time that diverse and majestic harmony seemed to include to express every human emotion and I have often thought since then that in its all embracing scoop and range this the song of pain or her rebirth was symbolical of the infinite variety of Asha's spirit yet like that spirit it had its master notes power, passion, suffering mystery and loveliness also there could be no doubt as to the general significance of the chant by whom so ever it was sung it was the change full story of a mighty soul it was worship, worship worship of a queen divine like slow clouds of incense fading to the bannered roof of some high choir the harbors of unearthly melodies grew faint in the far distance of the hollow pit they wailed themselves away look from the east a single ray of upward springing light behold the dawn said the quiet moist of auras that ray pierced the heavens above our heads a very sword of flame it sank downwards swiftly suddenly it fell not upon us for as yet the rocky walls of our chamber warded it away to the little promontory at its edge and there a glory covered with a single garment stood a shape celestial it seemed to be asleep since the eyes were shut or was it dead for at first that face was a face of death look the sunlight played upon her shining through this thin veil the dark eyes opened like the eyes of a wandering child the blood of life flowed up the ivory bosom into the pallid cheeks the raiment of black and curling tresses wavered in the wind the head of the dualed snake that held them sparkle beneath her breast was it an illusion or was this asher as she had been when she entered the rolling flame in the caverns of core our knees gave way beneath us and down our arms about each other's necks Leo and I sank till we lay upon the ground then a voice sweeter than honey softer than the whisper of twilight breeze among the reeds spoke near to us and these were the words it said come hither to me calicratus who would pay thee back the redeeming kiss of faith and love that gave me but now Leo struggled with his feet like a drunken man he staggered to where Asher stood then overcome sank before her on his knees arise she said it is I who should kneel to thee and she stretched out her hand to raise him whispering in his ear the while still he would not or could not rise so very slowly she bent over him and touched him with her lips to me I came and would have knelt also but she suffered it not nay she said in her rich remembered voice thou art no suitor it shall not be of lovers and of worshippers henceforth as before I can find a plenty if I will or even if I will it not but where shall I find another friend like to thee oh Holly whom thus I greet and leaning towards me with her lips she touched me also on the brow just touched me and no more fragrant was Asher's breath as roses the odor of roses clung to her lovely hair her sweet body gleamed like some white sea pearl a faint but palpable rage and scound her head no sculpture ever fashioned such a marvel as the arm with which she held her veil about her no stars in heaven ever shown more purely bright than did her calm entranced eyes yet it is true even with her lips upon me all I felt for her was a love divine into which no human passion entered once I acknowledged to my shame it was otherwise but I'm an old man now and have done with such freightess moreover had not Asher named me guardian protector friend and sworn to me that with her and Leo I should ever dwell where all earthly passions fail I repeat what more could I desire taking Leo by the hand Asher returned with him into the shelter of the Rockune chamber and when she entered its shadows shivered a little as though with cold I rejoiced at this I remember for it seemed to show me that she still was human divine as she might appear when her priest and priestess prostrated themselves before her newborn splendor but she motioned to them to rise laying a hand upon the head of each as though in blessing I'm cold she said give me my mantle and papa threw the purple broided garment upon her shoulders whence now it hung royally like a coronation robe nay she went on it is not this long lost shape mine which in his kiss my lord gave back to me that shivers in the icy wind it is my spirit self-bared to the bitter breath of destiny oh my love my love offended powers are not easily appeased even when they appear to pardon and though I shall no more be made a mockery in thy sight how long is given us together upon the world I know not but a little hour perhaps well ere we pass other where we will make it glorious drinking as deeply of the cup of joy as we have drunk of those sorrows and of shame this place is hateful to me for here I have suffered more than ever woman did on earth or phantom in the deepest hell it is hateful it is ill omen I pray that never again may I behold it in thy mind magician and of a sudden she turned fiercely upon the shaman simbri who stood near his arms crossed upon his breast only thou beautiful he answered a dim shadow of things to come I have what thou dost lack with all thy wisdom the gift of foresight and here I see a dead man lying another word she broke in with a fury born of some dark fear and thou shalt be that man fool put me not in mind that now I have strength again to rid of the ancient foes I hate lest I should use a sword thou thrustest to my hand and her eyes that had been so calm and happy blazed upon him like fire the old wizard felt their fearsome might and shrank from it till the wall stayed him great one now as ever I salute thee yes now as at the first beginning whereof we know alone he stammered I had no more to say the face of that dead man was not revealed to me I saw only that some crowned Khan of Caloon to be shall lie here as he whom the flame has taken lay an hour ago doubtless many a Khan of Caloon will lie here broadly fear not shaman my wrath is past yet be wise mine enemy and prophesy no more evil to the great come let us hence so still led by Leo she passed from that chamber and stood presently upon the apex of the soaring pillar the sun was up now flooding the mountain flanks the plains of Caloon far beneath and the distant misty peaks with a sheen of gold asha stood considering the mighty prospect then addressing Leo she said the world is very fair I give it all to thee now Athean spoke for the first time does thou mean his if thou art still the Hesia and not a demon risen from the pit that thou offers my territories to this man as a love gift if so I tell thee that first thou must conquer them un-gentle are thy words and mean answered asha yet I forgive them both for I also can scorn to mock a rival in my hour of victory when thou was the fairer thou did proffer him these very lands but say who is the fairer now look at us all of you and judge and she stood by Athean and smiled the Kanya was a lovely woman never to my knowledge have I seen one lovelier but oh how coarse and poor she showed beside the wild ethereal beauty of asha born again for that beauty was not altogether human far less so indeed than it had been in the caves of coral now it was the beauty of a spirit the little light that always shone upon asha's brow the wide-set maddening eyes which were filled sometimes with the fire of the stars and sometimes with the blue darkness of the heavens were in they float the curved lips so wistful yet so proud the tresses fine and glossy silk that still spread and rippled as though with a separate life the general air not so much of majesty as of some secret power hard to be restrained which that delicate body and proclaimed its presence to the most careless that flame of the soul within where of auras had spoken shining now through now vile vessel but in a vase of alabaster and of pearl none of these things and qualities were altogether human I felt it and was afraid and atene felt it also for she answered I am but a woman what thou art thou knows best still a taper cannot shine midst yonder fires or a glow worm against a fallen star nor can my mortal flesh compare with the glory thou hast earned from hell in payment for thy gifts and homage to the lord of ill yet as a woman I am thy equal and a spirit I shall be thy mysteries when robbed these borrowed beauties thou asha standest naked and ashamed before the judge of all whom thou hast deserted and defied yes as thou stoodst but now upon yonder brink about the burning pit where thou yet shalt wonder wailing thy lost love for this I know my enemy that man and spirit cannot mate and atene ceased choking in her bitter rage now watching asha I saw her wins a little beneath these evil omen words so also a tinge of gray touch the carmine of her lips and her deep eyes grew dark and troubled but in a moment her fears had gone and she was asking in a voice that drank clear a silver bells why raised though atene like some short lived summer torrent against the barrier of a seamless cliff dust think poor creature of an hour to sweep away the rock of my eternal strength with foam and bursting bubbles have done and listen I do not seek thy pity rule who if I will it can take the empire of the world yet learn thou holdest it of my hand more I purpose soon to visit thee in thy city choose if it shall be in peace or war therefore kanya purge thy court and amend thy laws that when I come I may find contentment in the land which now it lacks and confirm thee in thy government my console to thee also is that thou choose some worthy man to husband let him be whom thou willed if only he's just and upright and one upon whom thou mayst rest needing wise guidance as thou dost atene come now my guests let us hence and she walked past the kanya stepping fearlessly upon the very edge of the windswept rounded peak in a second the attempt had been made and fail so quickly indeed that it was not until Leo and I compared our impressions afterwards that we could be sure of what had happened. As Asha passed her the maddened kanya drew a hidden dagger and struck with all her force at her rival's back. I saw the knife vanish to the hilt in her body as I thought but this cannot have been so since it fell to the ground and she who should have been dead took no hurt at all feeling that she had failed with a movement like a sudden lurch of a ship atene thrust at Asha proposing her to destruction in the depth beneath. Low her outstretched arms went past her although Asha never seemed to stir. Yes it was atene who would have fallen atene who already fell had not Asha put out her hand and caught her by the wrist bearing all her backward swaying weight as easily as though she were but an infant and without effort drawing her to safety Foolish woman she said in a pitting tones Was thou so vexed that thou wouldst strip thyself of the pleasant shape which heaven has given thee Surely this is madness atene for how knows thou in what likeness thou might be sent to tread the earth again as no queen perhaps but as a peasant's child deformed unsightly for such reward it is said is given to those that achieve self-murder or even as many thing shaped like a beast a snake a cat a Tigris why sea and she picked up the dagger from the ground and cast it into the air that point was poisoned had it but pricked thee now and she smiled at her and shook her head but atene could bear no more of this mockery more venoned than her own steel thou art not mortal she wailed how can I prevail against thee to heaven I leave thy punishment and there upon the rocky peak atene sank down and wept Leo stood nearest to her and the sight of this royal woman in her misery proved too much for him to bear stepping to her side he stooped and lifted her to her feet muttering some kind words for a moment she rested on his arm then shook herself free of him and took the prophet hand of her old uncle Simbri I see said Asha that is ever thou art cautious my lord Leo but it is best that her own servant shall take charge of her for she may hide more daggers come the day grows and surely we need rest end of chapter 16 of H Rider Haggard Asha the return of she read by Lars Rolander this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org H Rider Haggard Asha read the return of she Chapter 17 The Betrothal together we descended the multitudinous steps and passed the endless Rockune passages till we came to the door of the dwelling of the High Priestess and were led through it into a hall beyond here Asha parted from us saying that she was outworn as indeed she seemed to be with an utter awareness not of the body but of the spirit for her delicate form drew like a rain laden lily her eyes grew dim as those of a person in trance and a voice came in a soft sweet whisper the voice of one speaking in her sleep goodbye she said to us auras will guard you both and lead you to me at the appointed time rest you well so she went and the priest led us into a beautiful apartment that opened onto a sheltered garden so overcome were we also by all what we had endured and seen that we could scarcely speak much less discuss these marvelous events my brain swims said Leo to auras desire to sleep he bowed and conducted us to a chamber where were beds and on these we flung ourselves down and slept dreamlessly like little children when we awoke it was afternoon we rose and bathed then saying that we wish to be alone went together into the garden where even at this altitude now at the end of August the air was still mild and pleasant behind a rock by a bed of campanulas and other amounting flowers and ferns was a bench near to the banks of a little stream on which we seated ourselves what have you to say Horace asked Leo laying his hand upon my arm say I answered that things have come about most marvelously that we have dreamt to write and lay but not in vain that you are the most fortunate to be the most happy he looked at me somewhat strangely and answered yes of course she is lovely is she not but and his voice dropped with slowest whisper I wish Horace that Asha were a little more human even as human as she was in the caves of Korre I don't think she's quite flesh and blood and she kissed me if you can call it a kiss for she barely touched my hair indeed how can she be who changed us in an hour flesh and blood are not born of flame Horace are you sure that she was so born I asked like the vision on the fire may not that hideous shape have been but an illusion of our minds we feel the same Asha whom we knew in Korre not reborn but wafted hither by some mysterious agency perhaps Horace we do not know I think that we shall never know but I admit that to me the thing is terrifying I am drawn to her by an infinite attraction her eyes set my blood on fire the touch of her hand is as that of a wand of madness and yet between us there is some wall invisible still present or perhaps it is only fancy but Horace I think that she is afraid of Athena why in the old days the Kanya would have been dead and forgotten in an hour you remember Astana perhaps she may have grown more gentle Leo who like ourselves has learned hard lessons yes he answered I hope that it is so at any rate she has grown more divine only Horace what kind of a husband shall I be for that bright being if ever I get so far why should you not get so far I asked angrily for his words jarred upon my tense nerves I don't know he answered but on general principles do you think that such a fortune is out to a man also what did Athena mean when she said that man and spirit cannot mate and other things she meant that she hoped they could not I imagine and Leo it is useless to trouble yourself with forebodings that are more fitted to my years than yours and probably are based on nothing be a philosopher Leo you have striven by wonderful ways such as are unknown in the history of the world you have attained take the goods the gods provide you the glory the love and the power and let the future look to itself before he could answer Horace appeared from round the rock and bowing with more than his usual humility to Leo said that the Hesia decide our presence at a service in the sanctuary rejoiced at the prospect of seeing her again before to do so Leo sprang up and we accompanied him back to our apartment here priests were waiting who somewhat against his will trimmed his hair and beard and would have done the same for me had I not refused their offices then they placed gold embroidered sandals on our feet and wrapped Leo in a magnificent white robe also richly worked with gold and purple a somewhat similar robe but of less honoured design to me lastly a silver scepter was thrust into his hand and into mine a plain one this scepter was shaped like a crook and the sight of it gave me some clue to the nature of the forthcoming ceremony the crook of Osiris I whispered to Leo look here he answered I don't want to impersonate any Egyptian god or to be mixed up in their heathen idolatries in fact I won't better go through with it I suggested probably it's only something symbolical but Leo who notwithstanding the strange circumstances connected with his life retained the religious principles in which I had educated him very strongly indeed refused to move an inch until the nature of this service was made clear to him indeed he expressed himself upon the subject with vigor to auras at first the priest seemed puzzled what to do then explained that the forthcoming ceremony was one of betrothal on learning this Leo raised no further objections asking only with some nervousness whether the khania would be present auras answered no as she had already departed to Kallun vowing war and vengeance then we were led through long passages till finally we emerged into the gallery immediately in front of the great wooden doors of the apse at our approach these swung open and we entered it auras going first then Leo then myself and following us the procession of attendant priests as soon as our eyes became accustomed to the dazzling glare of the flaming pillars we saw that some great right was in progress in the temple for in front of the divine statue of motherhood that robed and arranged in serid ranks stood the company of the priests the number of over 200 and behind these the company of the priestesses facing this congregation and a little in advance of the two pillars of fire that fled on either side of the shrine Asha herself was seated in a raised chair so that she could be seen of all while to her rights to the similar chair of which I could guess the purpose she was unveiled and gorgeously apparelled though save for the white beneath her ropes were those of a queen rather than of a priestess about a radiant brow ran a narrow band of gold whence rose the head of a hooded asp cut out of a single crimson yule beneath which in endless profusion the glorious waving hair flowed down and around hiding even the folds of her purple cloak opening in front revealed an undertunic of white silk cut low upon her bosom and kept in place by a golden girl a double headed snake so like to that which she had worn in core that it might have been the same her naked arms were bare of ornaments and in her right hand she held the yule system set with its gems and bells no empress could have looked more royal and no woman was ever half so lovely for to Asha's human beauty was added a spiritual glory her heritage alone seeing her we could see not else the rhythmic movement of the bodies of the worshippers the rolling grandeur of their chant of welcome echoed from the mighty roof the fearful torches of living flame all these things were lost on us for there reborn enthroned her arms stretched out in gracious welcome sat the perfect and immortal woman the appointed bride of one of us the friend and lady of the other her divine presence breathing power mystery and love on we marched between the ranks of hero funds till auras and the priests left us and we stood alone face to face with Asha now she lifted her scepter and the chant seized in the midst of the following silence she rose from her seat and gliding down its steps came to where Leo stood and touched him on the forehead with her system crying in a loud sweet voice behold the chosen of the Hissia but on all that audience echoed in a shout of thunder welcome to the chosen of the Hissia then while the echoes of that glad cry yet rang round the rocky walls Asha motioned to me to stand at her side and taking Leo by the hand drew him towards her so that now he faced the white-robed company holding him thus she began to speak in clear and silvery tones priests and priestesses of Hiss servants with her of the mother of the world hear me now for the first time I appear among you as I am you who here to fore have looked but on a hooded shape not knowing its form or fashion learn now the reason that I draw my veil ye see this man whom ye believed a stranger that with his companion had wandered to our shrine I tell you that he is no stranger that of old in lives forgotten he was my lord who now comes to seek his love again say is it not so Calichratus it is so answered Leo priests and priestesses of Hiss as you know from the beginning it has been the right and custom of her who holds my place to choose one to be her lord is it not so it is so oh Hiss they answered she paused a while then with the gesture of infinite sweetness turned to Leo bent towards him thrice and slowly sank upon her knee say thou Asha said looking up at him with her wondrous eyes say before these here gathered and all those witnesses whom thou canst not see thus thou again accept me as thy affianced bride I lady he answered in a deep but shaken voice now and forever then while all watched in the midst of a great silence Asha rose cast down her sistrum scepter that rang upon the rocky floor and stretched out her arms towards him Leo also bent towards her and would have kissed her upon the lips but I who watched saw his face grow white as it drew near to hers while the radiant script from her brow to his turning his bright hair to gold I saw also that this strong man trembled like a reed and seemed as though he were about to fall I think that Asha noted it too for ere ever there lips met she thrust him from her and again that grey mist of fear gathered on her face in an instant it passed she had slipped from him and with her hand held his hand as though to support him thus they stood till his feet grew firm and his strength returned Oros restored the scepter to her and lifting it she said Oh love and lord take thou the place prepared for thee where thou shalt sit forever at my side for with myself I give thee more than snow or then I will tell thee now mount thy throne O affianced of hess and receive the worship of thy priests nay he answered with a start as that word fell upon his ears here and now I say it once and for all I am but a man who know nothing of strange gods their attributes and ceremonials none shall bow the knee to me and on earth Asha I bow mine to thee alone now at this bold speech some of those who heard it looked astonished and whispered to each other while a voice called beware thou chosen of the anger of the mother again for a moment Asha looked afraid then with a little laugh swept the thing aside saying surely with that I should be content O love thy adoration for thee the betrothal song no more so having no choice Leo mounted the throne where not withstanding his splendid presence enhanced as it was by those glittering robes he looked ill enough at ease as indeed must any man of his faith and race happily however if some act of semi-idolatrous homage had been proposed Asha found a means to prevent its celebration and soon all such matters were forgotten both by the singers who sang and us who listened to the majestic chant that followed of its words unfortunately we were unable to understand but little both because of the volume of sound and of the secret priestly language in which it was given though its general purport could not be mistaken female voices began it singing very low and conveying a strange impression of time and distance now followed bursts of gladness alternating with melancholy chords suggesting sighs and tears and sorrows long endured and at the end a joyous triumphant pain thrown to and fro between the men and women singers terminating in one united chorus repeated again and again louder and yet louder till it culminated in a veritable crash of melody then of a sudden ceased Asha rose and waved her scepter where on all the company bowed thrice then turned and breaking into some sweet low charm that sounded like a lullaby marched rank after rank across the width of the sanctuary and through the car and doors which closed behind the last of them when all had gone leaving us alone save for the priest Oros and the priest's papave who remained in attendance on their mistress Asha who sat gazing before her with dreaming empty eyes seemed to awake for she rose and said a noble chant is it not and an ancient it was the wedding song of the feast of Isis and Oris at Bebit in Egypt before ever I saw the dark some caves of Kor often have I observed my holly that music lingers longer than ought else in this changeful world though it is rare that the very word should remain unburied come beloved tell me by what name shall I call thee thou art calicratus and yet call me Leo Asha he answered as I was christened in the only life for which I have any knowledge this calicratus seems to have been an unlucky man and the deeds he did if in truth he was ought other than a tool in the hand of destiny have bred no good to the inheritors of his body or his spirit whichever it may be or to those women with whom his life was interwind for of calicratus I have had enough since that night when I looked upon the last of him in Kor ah, I remember she answered when thou sawst thyself lying in that narrow bed and I sang thee a song did I not of the past and of the future I can recall two lines of it the rest I have gotten onward never weary clad with splendor for a robe till accomplished be our fate and the night is rushing down yes my Leo now indeed we are clad with splendor for a robe and now our fate draws near to its accomplishment then perhaps will count the down rushing of the night and she sighed looked up tenderly and said see I am talking to thee in arabic has thou forgotten it so then let it be our tongue for I love it best of all who list it at my mother's knee now leave me here alone a while I would think also she added thoughtfully and speaking with a strange and impressive inflection of the voice there are some to whom I must give audience so we went all of us supposing that Asha was about to receive a deputation of the chiefs of the mountain tribes who came to felicitate her upon her betrothal end of chapter 17 of Asha the Return of She by H. Ryder Haggard read by Los Rolander