 Heart of the World by H. Ryder Haggard This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 19 The Sacrilege Now Maya bent over the form of her father and took the talisman from his neck. I feel like one who robs the dead, she said. Remember that it is to save the living and be comforted, answered Matai. Come, let us be going for the night draws on. Take a lamp, each of you, he said presently, when we had reached the further end of the Great Hall, where he unlocked the copper gates with a key from the bunch that hung at his girdle. We passed through, and turning he almost closed the gate, but not quite. Why do you leave the gates ajar? I asked. Because there are none to follow us, he answered, and who knows what may happen. Should we be forced to fly the sanctuary, open doors are easier to pass than those that are shut. Who or what would force us to fly the sanctuary? I asked. Matai shrugged his shoulders and went on without answering. Now we passed down many stairs along passages and through secret doors, each of which Matai left open behind us, till at length we came to a black wall of marble. On this wall, Matai felt with his thumb, till he found a spot that, being pressed, slid back, revealing a keyhole into which he inserted a small silver key. Then again he pressed upon the marble and a panel moved that might have been two feet wide by six in height, and we saw that light streamed through the opening. Beckoning to us, he walked through the gap in the wall, and one by one we followed him into the sanctuary of the nameless God, and stood on the further side of the wall, huddled together and clasping each other's hands, for the place was awesome, and its utter silence and solemnity filled us with fear. The first thing that caught our eyes, as was natural, for it was built into the wall opposite to us, and through it streamed the light that filled the chamber, was the most wonderful and mystic effigy of the city of the heart. The effigy was a colossal mask of singular and fearful beauty, fashioned from polished jade, and similar in design to those which are to be found in the ruins of Pellangke and other deserted Indian cities, whereof no man knows the age. This huge green mask was placed above the narrow door that gave entrance to the sanctuary and had been carved to represent the countenance of a being that, although its features were human, resembled neither man nor woman in its unearthly dignity and its stamp of cruel calm. The thick lips were carved with a contentious smile, and between them gleamed teeth made of white enamel, and nose was aquiline with widespread nostrils that seemed to inhale the incense of worship, and the forehead in whose center appeared the impress of a woman's hand soaked in some scarlet dye was broad, low, and retreating. Beneath the solemn and contracting brows were jeweled eyes. Through these eyes, and indeed from the entire surface of the mask, streamed light, making the face visible as though it were limbed in phosphorus, for the jade was transparent as the thinnest alabaster, and behind it burned two great lamps that were named after the sun and moon. Such was the effigy of the nameless spirit that we now beheld for the first time, who had face but no form, the spirit, mouth of the heart, to whom every lesser God was subject, utterer of the thoughts of the heart of heaven, Lord of power, dweller in the darkness behind the sun, searcher of the secrets of death. Without pity was this God of theirs, and without wrath, who clothed in eternal calm, so these people fabled, rested in a home of darkness, watching the shadow of events celestial and terrestrial in his mirror of the moon, and telling of them to the heart which was his soul. The seal of the woman's blood-stained hand was set upon his brow, because woman is a symbol of life renewed. The hand is the sign of purpose, and the strength to do it, and by blood and anguish must every purpose be accomplished. But the nameless one executed no purpose, that was the work of lesser gods. In the beginning the heart thought and the mouth blew with his breath, giving life to the earth, and causing it to roll forward among the spheres, and now the eyes watched, ever smiling, while it and those upon it work out our doom, till at length its primal force grows faint and fails. When, so said the priests, heart and mouth and eyes will think and speak, and search, and at their command a new world shall arise from the corpse of the old, and a new life from the lives of those who dwelt thereon. Therefore it was, though now faith waned among them with their waning energies, that this people, knowing no better creed, worshiped the threefold fate without a name, whom they held to be master of gods and men. Therefore also long generations since, in this spot which we came to violate, to them the most holy on earth, they set up effigies of a heart, a mouth and eyes as symbols of his attributes. The roof of the sanctuary, which was of no great size, was vault shaped in imitation of the arching sky, and in it appeared a golden sun, a silver crescent moon, and the stars of heaven. Its walls were lined throughout with polished blocks of the beautiful stone known as Mexican onyx, fretted over to the height of a man with a border of hieroglyphics and effigies of the lesser gods in attitudes of adoration, all of them cast in gold, and set flush with the face of the wall. The furniture was very simple, consisting only of stools, cut from rich woods heavily gilded in quaint designs, and a small table whereon lay sheets of paper made of bark together with brushes of reed fiber and pots of pigment, such as were used in the picture writing of this people. Lastly, at that end, by which we had entered the chamber, stood an altar of black marble written around with letters shaped in gold, and upon this altar lay something covered with a silken cloth. For a minute or more, we remain silent, contemplating these wonders. Then, with a gesture of impatience, Matai spoke in a whisper, saying, Let that be done which we have come to do, for now the sacrilege is committed, and it is too late for doubts. Speaking thus, he stepped to the altar and lifted the silken cloth that lay over the object which was upon it, revealing the image of a human heart fashioned in bloodstone, and veined with arteries of gold. In the center of this heart appeared a small and shallow hole that had been hollowed in its substance. This is the tradition, said Matai, still speaking in a whisper, that when the two halves of a certain talisman are placed in this hollow, the symbol will open and reveal that which has been set within since it was fashioned by Kokamats thousands of years ago, and there is this in favor of the truth of the tale that golden hinges appear upon the sides of the symbol. Now one half of the talisman has rested here for many generations, till Zibalbe took it with him, indeed when he went out to seek for the other half, and yet the symbol has never opened. Still, I am sure that it will open when the whole talisman is set in its place. In this matter, however, there is something more to fear than the vengeance of the gods, for, as I can read well, it is written in those letters that encircle the altar, and ancient tradition tells us that if the symbol be stirred from the place where it has lain for so many years, the floodgate will roll back and the waters of the lake will pour in upon the city, destroying it and its inhabitants. Yet the floodgate cannot roll back when it is not shut, nor can the waters flow in during the dry season, when they are not on a level with the walls, answered Maya. They cannot, lady, and yet other things may happen. Why was the heart set thus? Was it not that in the utmost need of its worshippers they might choose death rather than defeat and slavery? And was this choice given to them in the wet months only? Be sure that if at this moment any despairing or impious hand tore yonder symbol from its altar, either the waters would rush up through the bed of the city or subterranean fires would break loose and burn it. Still, though there is something I think that we have little to fear, seeing that the writer says that in order to bring about so terrible a doom, the symbol must be torn from its altar with might. Now to our task. Stranger, give to the lady Maya your half of the ancient talisman that she may set it together with the half she bears in the place prepared in the symbol. With a sigh, seeing that it was too late to draw back, I undid the emerald from my neck and gave it to Maya, who laid it side by side with its counterpart upon the palm of her trembling hand and stepped with it to the altar. Here she stood for a moment, then whispered in a faint voice, terror has taken hold of me, and I fear to do this thing, yet it must be done, and not by me, said Matai, or we shall have come on a fool's errand and go back some of us to a fool's death, and he looked towards me. I will not do it, I said, answering his look, not because I fear your gods, but my own conscience I do fear. Then I will, said the senior boldly, for I fear neither. Give me that trinket, Maya. She obeyed and presently he had caused the two halves of the talisman to fall into their ancient and appointed bed in the symbol. In the great silence I remember the sound they made, as they tinkled against the stone, struck my ear so sharply that I started. For some seconds, perhaps twenty, we stood still, watching the altar with eager eyes, but the symbol never stirred. Then I said, it seems, Matai, that you must hide your writing elsewhere, since yonder heart will not open, or if it will, we have not found the key. Wait a little, broke in the senior, perhaps the springs are rusted, and before any of us could interfere to stop him, he placed his thumbs upon the halves of the emerald and pressed so hard that the symbol trembled on its marble stand. Beware, cried Matai, and as the echoes of his voice died away, all of us started in astonishment for lo, the heart was opening like a flower. Slowly it opened till the severed talisman fell from it, and the two halves lay back on the marble on the altar, revealing something hidden in its center that shone like an ember in the lamp light. We crept forward and looked, then stood silent, and half afraid, for in the hollow of the heart, laid upon a square plate of gold, which was covered with picture writing, glared a red jewel shaped like a human eye that seemed to answer stair with stair. If we stand like this, we shall grow frighten, said the senior, roughly, glancing around him as he spoke. There is nothing to fear in a red stone cut out like an eye. If you think so, white man, answered Matai in a voice that shook a little, strive as he would to command it. Lift up the holy thing and give me the writing that is beneath it. Stay first, take this. Set it in the symbol replacing the eye upon it, and he handed him a forged tablet. The senior obeyed, nor did any wonder come to pass when he lifted that dreadful looking jewel and changed the true for the false. Read it, said Maya, as the tablet was passed to Matai. You have knowledge of the ancient writings? Perhaps it were best left unread, he said doubtfully. Nay, she answered, let us know the worst. Read it, I bid you. Then he read these strange words in a slow and solemn voice. The eye that has slept and is awakened sees the heart and purpose of the wicked. I say that in the hour of the desolation of my city, not all the waters of the holy lake shall wash away their sin. Now the faces of us who heard turned gray in the lamp light. For though the gods of this people were false, we felt that the voice of a true prophet spoke to us from the accusing tablet, and that we had called down upon our heads a vengeance which we could not measure. Did I not tell you that it were wiser to leave the writing unread, gasped Matai, letting the tablet fall from his hand as though it were a snake? The clatter of it as it struck the marble floor seemed to wake us from our evil dream, for the senior turned to him and said fiercely, What does it matter what the thing says, rogue, seeing that you forged it as you forged the other? Ah, would that I had, answered Matai, when doom overtakes you and all of us, then shall you learn whether I forged that ancient writing. He lifted it from the floor and, hiding it in his robe, added, close the heart-white man and give back the severed jewel to those who wear it. The senior obeyed, replacing the silken cloth over the symbol, so that the altar seemed to be as it had been. Now let us be going, said Matai, and rejoice that if yonder I has seen our wickedness, at least it is hidden from the sight of man. Doubtless the vengeance of the gods is sure, but that of man is swift. As he spoke, we turned to leave the sanctuary, and, of a sudden, Mayas screamed and would have fallen had not the senior caught her. Well might she scream for there in the narrow niche of the secret door by which we had entered, framed in it as a corpses, framed in its coffin, stood a white figure, which at first I took to be that of some avenging ghost, so ghost-like were the wrappings, the snowy beard and hair, and the thin, fierce face. Another instance, and I saw that indeed it was a ghost, the ghost of Zebolbe, or rather his body come back from the boundaries of death to spy upon our sacrilege before it crossed them forever. Yes, it was Zebolbe, for while he had seemed to be unconscious upon the bed in the chamber, his senses were awake, and, oh, what must he have suffered when he, the high priest of the nameless god, heard us plan our fraud upon his sanctuary. Then after we had left him, fury and despair unfettered the limbs that had been bound so fast, and gave him strength to follow us, though they could not unlock his frozen tongue. He had followed, painfully he had crept down the stairs along the passages, and threw the open door, for the path was known to him, even in the dark, till at length he came to the secret entrance of the sanctuary. Here once more his force deserted him, here unable to speak or stir, he had leaned against the wall and seen and heard all that was done and said, oh, never shall I forget the rage of his quivering face, or the agony and horror of his tormented eyes as they met our own. No curse could have been so awful as that look which he let fall upon his daughter. No outraged deity or demon could have seemed more terrible to the human sight than was the tall figure of this dying man, striving even in death to protect the honor of his gods, which we had violated in their most ancient holy of holies. Never have I seen such a dreadful sight, and I pray that never again may I do so either in this world or the next. The dying Zibalbe saw our fear, and with a last effort he staggered forward toward his daughter, his clenched hands held above his head. For a moment he stood before her as she lay upon her lover's arm, staring up at him like a bird at a snake, while he swayed to and fro above her like a snake about to strike. Then, of a sudden, foam mingled with blood burst from his lips, and he sank down at her feet, dead, dying in a silence that was more awful than any sound. Of all that followed, I need not write. Indeed, I cannot. So great was my horror at this scene, and so intense the strain which was put upon my vital force during these hours, that I have little memory of what chanced after Zibalbe's death, till I found myself lying exhausted upon the bed in my prison cell. Somehow we calmed and silenced Maya. Somehow we escaped from that hateful sanctuary, and by slow degrees brought her and the dead body of her father up the narrow stairs and passages to the hall above where we laid the corpse upon its bed. Then Matai left us, and I remember no more till the next morning when nobles and leeches came to watch by the body of the dead Kachike, and to embalm it in readiness for the tomb. The next two days went heavily for the three of us, oppressed as we were by the silent gloom of our prison and the memories of that dreadful night. The love between Maya and her father had never been deep, for they were out of tune with each other. Still, now that he was dead, she mourned him, the more perhaps because he had died hating and cursing her. By degrees she recovered from her superstitious fears, born of the writing in the symbol, but her father's maledictions she never could forget, and though she was willing to earn and to bear these for the sake of her love for the senior, I think that the memory lay between them like a shadow. Oh, why did I ever love you, she would say? What have you to do with me whom race and law and fate have set apart from me? And yet she went on loving him, even more dearly. I also wasn't happy for though I put little faith in these omens or in the vaporings of dead prophets and the tricks of living charlatans, I felt that ill luck which had clung to me in the past was with me still. Things had gone cross with me, Zibalbe was dead, and woman, the inevitable, had drawn away the heart of my friend and dragged me in my plans into the whirlpool of her passions, whence, if at all, they must emerge ruined and shapeless. Still, summoning the patience of my race to my aid, I bore these secret troubles as I might, giving counsel and comfort to the lovers who lost in their own doubts and difficulties thought, as was natural, little of me and my ambitions. At length, they carried away the corpse of Zibalbe to be wrapped in its winding sheet of gold, and set with all ancient pomp and ceremony by those of its forefathers in the Hall of the Dead. My a wept indeed, but I, for my part, was glad to see the last of him, so I think was the senior whose spirits had begun to fail him in the presence of so much remorse and grief. That day it was the day previous to the night of the rising of the waters on which we were to appear before the counsel of the heart. In the sanctuary, Tikal came to visit us. To Maya he bowed low, but on the senior and myself he looked with an angry eye, with the eye indeed of one who would have killed us if he dared. First, with many fine words and empty compliments, he offered her his sympathy upon the death of her father. For this she returned her thanks, quoting, however, with a flash of her old spirit, a certain proverb of her own people, of which the meaning is that the death of one man is the breath of another. My father was your foetical, she added, and now that he is gone you will be able to sleep and reign in peace. Not altogether so, lady, he answered, seeing that he has left behind him a more dangerous rival to my power, namely yourself. I will not hide from you, Maya, what you soon must learn, that a large portion of the people, and with them many of the nobles accusing me of your father's murder, clamor that I should be deposed and that you should be set in my place as Kachike of the city of the heart. Some few days ago I might have stilled their outcry by commanding you to be put to death, but now it is too late for, since then, time is fought for you, and doubtless your end would be followed by my own. When, alas, we met, cousin, I asked you a certain question to which you promised me to answer when your father was dead or recovered, and today I have come to hear that answer. While Zabaube lived, I had much to offer him and you in exchange for your hand, and I offered it freely. So high a value did I place upon it when it seemed lost to me that I was prepared to lay down my power, to suffer your father to violate the laws, and to incur the eternal hate and enmity of Matai, his daughter, and his party. Now I must make you a lower bid, that of equal power for myself, and for your friends here, whatever they may desire. Should you refuse me, this is the alternative. Civil war in the city till one of us is destroyed, an instant death as the portion of these strangers. But, Maya, I pray you not to refuse me, for I have something more to offer you, my undying love. From a child I've always loved you, Maya, although you have treated me coldly enough, and now day by day I love you more. Indeed, I believe that you and your father were dead yonder in the wilderness, for then I had faith in Matai, whom now I know to be a rogue, and Matai swore that it was written in the stars. Even so, I would not have wed another woman for my heart bled at the loss of you, had not Matai made this marriage the price of his support, without which I could not hope to be anointed kachike, seeing that I have many jealous enemies. It was ambition that led me to consent, and bitterly have I regretted my folly ever since, for if she who is called my wife loves me, I hate her, and by this means or by that I will be rid of her. Forgive me, then, my sin against you, remembering only that I have loved and served you in the past, as I will love and serve you in the future, and that it was you who brought about these troubles, because though I prayed you to stay and did all in my power to prevent you, you determined to accompany your father upon his mad journey into the wilderness. Now, I have spoken, and I thank you for the courtesy with which you have listened to me. You have spoken, cousin, she answered, and your words have been gentle. Yet, if I understand you, write some few days since you were in doubt as to whether it would not be better to murder me here in this dark sum a hole where you have placed us. If policy put any such thought into my mind, my love drove it out again, he answered with confusion. So, you admit that this was so, she said, well, a day may come when policy might breed the thought, and love grown weary prove not warm enough to wither it. Also, it seems that even now you threatened these, my companions, with death, should I refuse you your desire. If you should refuse me my desire, Maya, perhaps it will be for a secret reason of your own. And he scowled at the senior angrily, a reason that the death of these men, or one of them, will remove. Be sure of one thing, Tecal, she broke in sharply, that such a wicked deed would put an end forever to your hopes of making me your wife. Now listen, I have heard your words, and they have touched me somewhat, for I think that although you have broken your oath to my father, and your troth to me, at heart you are honest in your love. Still I can give you no answer now, and for this reason, that the answer does not lie with me, but rather with the gods. Tomorrow night we appear before the High Court of the Council of the Heart, and you yourself shall set the severed portions of the talisman that have traveled so far to seek in the place prepared to receive it, in the symbol that is on the altar of the sanctuary. Then, as my dead father believed, and he was gifted with wisdom from above, the God shall declare his purpose, in this way or in that, showing his servants why all these things have come about, and what they must do to fulfill his will. By that will, cousin, and not by my own, I shall be guided in this and in all other things. Tikal thought a while and answered, if nothing follows this ceremony and the oracles of the God are silent, then what? Then Tikal, she said softly, you may ask me again if I will become your wife, and perhaps, if the council suffers it, I shall not say nay, now, fair well, for grief still shadows me, and I can talk no more. 20 The Council of the Heart When Tikal was gone, I sat silent, for although it might be necessary to save our lives, and to bring about the fulfillment of Maya's love, all this double-dealing did not please me, and I could not talk of it with a light heart. But the Senor said, I hope that Yonder rogue Matai may not have repented or been overbred by Tikal and set some other prophecy in the hollow of the symbol. Then, Maya, you will be taken at your word, and things will be worse than ever they have been. I pray not, and it is not likely, she answered, starting, then with a quick burst of passion, she added, why do you look at me with such reproach, Ignatio? No, do not answer, for I know. It is because you think me a cheat and a liar and are saying in your heart, this is a woman's honor. Thus would any woman act in the hour of temptation. Ignatio, with all your courtesy, you hate and despise us women, looking on us as lower than yourselves, as a snare to your strength and a pitfall for your feet. Well, if so, thus were we made, and can we quarrel with that which made us? Also in some ways we are greater than you, though you may not be pleased to call yourselves more honest. You would not have dared for your love, what I have dared for mine. You would not have offered deadly outrage to the God of your people, to the instinct of your blood and the teachings of your youth. No, you would have sat still and wrung your hands and seen your lover perish before your face, and then have turned your eyes to the sky and said, it cannot be helped, it is well. At least I am clean in the sight of heaven, so be it. I, Maya, am of a different nature. I have dared all these things, and I joy in them, even though you watch me ever with your melancholy eyes. Why should I not? Is not my love everything to me, and is it shameful that this should be so? I believe no more in the unknown God. Why then should I fear to offend him? I will not see my betroth given up to death and myself to worse than death. And how can I harm my people by taking a man nobler than themselves to be my husband? Cease then to approach me by your silence, or rather learn to pity me for my straight is sore, and doubtless vengeance dogs my heels. Let it fall if it will on me, but not on you, beloved, oh, not on you. And suddenly her anger left her, and she sank into the senor's arms to lie there weeping bitterly. I went to the further end of the hall and sat reading the ancient writings of this people, which we had found in the chamber. Indeed, this was my daily occupation, for now I found that these lovers liked to be alone, unless it happened that there were plans to be thought out or counseled to be given. A shadow grew between me and the senor in those days, for though he said nothing of it, he also was angry, because I did not approve of the dark plot to which we were parties, and Maya's outburst spoke his name with her own. Nor was this wonderful. Now, looking back, I do not blame her or him or think they had did that they did wrong. I believe what I really felt was not indignation at a trick, which might well be pardoned seeing how much hung to it. But superstitious fear, lest some force human or infernal should visit that trick with vengeance, for as we know, even the devils have power against us if we give it to them by fighting the world with our own weapons. On the following day the attendants who set our meals brought with them clean robes for each of us, scented and wonderfully worked, and for Maya certain royal ornaments. In these we arrayed ourselves before evening and waited. The hours passed, and at length the copper gates were opened, and a band of nobles and guards presented themselves before us, saying that they were commanded to lead us to the sanctuary. We answered that nothing would please us better, who were heartily weary of living like rats in the dark, and in a few minutes we found ourselves walking up the stairs toward the crest of the pyramid. We reached it and saw the stairs shining above us, and felt the breath of heaven blowing in our faces, and never has a sight of the stars, or the taste of the night air seemed more sweet to me. Leaving the watch house we walked to the great stair across the lonely summit of the pyramid, and began to descend its side. At the foot of the stairway we turned to the right, till we came to a double door of copper, beautifully worked, placed in the center of the western face of the pyramid, and guarded by a small body of soldiers who saluted and admitted us. Beyond the doors was a great hall, not unlike that which had served as our prison, lit with lamps, lined with polished marble, and having on either side of its length another other doorways leading to the apartments that were used as sleeping places for the officers on duty. At the threshold of this hall we were met by priests, clothed in pure white into whose custody we were given by the company of nobles and soldiers that had escorted us thus far. Surrounded by the priests who chanted as they walked, we passed down the hall till we reached another, and a smaller door beyond this lay a labyrinth of steeply sloping passages, running in every direction deep into the bowels of the rock beneath the pyramid. So intricate and numerous were these tunnels that even with the assistance of the lights which the priests carried, it would have been almost impossible for anyone not having their secret to find a path through them, or even to keep his face in a given direction for more than a few paces. Along these passageways our guides went without faltering, turning now to the right, now to the left, and now seeming to retrace their footsteps till at length they halted to open a third door, covered over with plates of beaten gold, on the further side of which lay the most sacred spot, save one in the city of the heart. It was a chamber that served the threefold purpose of a judgment hall, a church wherein the nobles attended worship, and a burial place of the departed caches of the city. Here in this vast and awful vault, each of them set in his own niche and, companion by his consort, stood the bodies of every king-priest who had reigned in the holy city, enclosed in coffins of solid gold, fashioned to the shape and likeness of the corpse within, and having the name age date of the death, and a brief account of the good or evil that the man had done, cut in symbols on his breast. There they stood eternally, men and women made in gold, and beneath their brows gleamed false eyes of emeralds, numerous as were the niches in the chamber, each had its tenets, and in the last recess, that nearest to the entrance, stood a newcomer, for here in his gilded sheath was placed the corpse of Zebolbe by the side of her who had been his wife and Maya's mother. For a moment Maya paused to look upon the bodies of her parents, then with a sigh and an obeisance she passed on saying to me, see this hall of the dead is full, there is no place left for me or for my descendants, and surely this is an evil omen. Well, she added with a sigh, what does it matter where they set us when we are dead? For my part I had sooner sleep in the earth or beneath the waters and stand forever cased in gold and glaring with jeweled eyes upon the darkness. Yes, if I might I should choose the earth that bore me, for it would turn my flesh to flowers. Then we went on, defiling before the silent company of the gold and dead, who seemed to watch us as we walked, till passing round a judgment seat that was set near the end of the hall we stood in front of a little door over which burned great lamps. This door was guarded by two priests with drawn swords, which they pointed toward us as a sign that we should halt. Then the priest who had escorted us so far fell back behind the judgment seat, and we were left alone. Give the sign, keepers of the gate, said Maya. Thereupon one of the men with the drawn swords uttered a low and peculiar cry, like the wail of a child. When he had made the strange sound thrice at intervals of about half a minute, it was answered from within by another and louder cry, pitched upon the same note. Then, of a sudden, the door was flung wide, and the stern-looking man with the shaven head came through it. Who are you that seek entrance into the sanctuary? He asked, are you gods or devils, men or women? We are two men and a woman, answered Maya, priests and priestsess of the heart, and we come to take our trial before the council of the heart, as is our right. Do you know the open signs of the heart, the signs of brotherhood and of unity and of love that you dare to stand upon the threshold of the sanctuary to cross which is death to the ignorant? We know them, answered Maya, and one by one we gave those signs. Do you know the secret signs of the heart that you dare to cross this threshold? He asked again. Otherwise, get you back and take your trial in the common judgment hall. I know them, answered Maya, and I vouch for these men who accompany me. Suffer me then to enter, and these with me, for I am here by ancient right, and I have knowledge both of the outward signs and the inner mysteries. Now the man withdrew, and the door was closed behind him. Presently he appeared again and said, I have reported to the council, and it is the will of the council that you should enter. Follow me, said Maya to us, and when you are spoken to make no answer till I have vouched for you, I will answer for you. The priests let their swords fall and passing through the doors, for there were two of them connected by a short passage. Once more we found ourselves standing beneath the mask of the unknown God in the sanctuary of the city of the heart, but now it was no longer empty. Behind the little altar were three stools, and upon them clad in wonderful apparel, and adorned with golden gems sat Tikal, Makai, and Nawa, who was the only woman present. In front of the altar was an open space, and beyond its circle, each wearing the orders of his spiritual rank, sat the brethren of the heart according to their degree to the number of thirty-six. Led by Maya, we advanced into the space before the altar and stood there in silence. None of those presents took note of us. Indeed, they did not seem to see us, but sat with bent heads and with hands folded crosswise on their breasts. At length one of the brethren, he who was nearest to the door and had question us without, rose and addressing Tikal, said, Keeper of the heart, one who claims to be of our company, stands before you, and with her, two of whom she vouches, who, although they be strangers by your command, I have proved to be brethren of the heart, though what more they may be I know not. Be pleased then to prove them also by the voice of their sponsor, that their mouths may be opened, and their prayer come to the ears of the council. At his words, two of the brethren rose and blindfolded the senior and myself, lest we should see the sacred signs with all of which indeed I was well acquainted, but Maya they did not blindfold. Then we heard Tikal asking, How are you named? Who are strange to our eyes? We made no reply for a voice in our ears, cautioned us to be silent. We are named the son of the sea and Ignatio the wanderer, answered the voice of Maya. Son of the sea and Ignatio the wanderer, why come you here? asked Tikal, through the gate on which is written death to the stranger and the uninstructed. Because we have a prayer to utter and offering to make, and because although we dwell in a far land, we are the servants of the heart, answered Maya. How come ye here? The heart led, the mouth whispered, and we followed the light of the eyes. Show me the sign of the light of the eyes, or die to this world. Now there was silence, and though we could not see it, Maya showed the sign on our behalf. Show me the second sign, the sign of the mouth, or be cursed by the mouth, and die to this world and the next. Again there was silence. Show me the sign of the heart, the third and greatest sign. Lest the heart think of you and you die to this world, to the next world and all the worlds that are to be, lest ye be cast out between the light and darkness, and lost in the gulf of fire that joins heaven to hell. Now we heard a sound of rustling, as though all the company had risen and were prostrating themselves, and presently the bandages were lifted from our eyes. Strangers said to Cal, your mouths are opened in the sanctuary according to the ancient form, and it is lawful for the council to listen to your prayer. Speak, then, without fear. Then I spoke, saying, Brethren, for so I will dare to call you, seeing that I also, though a stranger M of the brotherhood of the heart, as I can prove to you if need be, I, in higher rank than any present here, unless it be you, O keeper of the heart, on my own behalf, on behalf of my brother, who also is our company, and on behalf of my lady of the heart, daughter of him who ruled you, and heiress to his power, I speak and make my prayer to you. It would seem that we three, together with Zibalbe, who is dead, and therefore beyond the execution of your judgment, have violated the laws of this city. We, by daring to enter its gates, and Zibalbe, and the Lady Maya, by leading us to those gates. For this crime we should have been put to death eight days ago upon the pyramid, had not the Lady Maya here claimed a right to have our cause laid before this high tribunal. In her case, and in that of her father, this was conceded, and I pray now that the same clemency may be extended to me and to my brother. Upon what grounds do you claim this, stranger Astikow? Upon the ground that we are brethren to the inmost circle of the heart, and therefore have committed no crime in visiting this city, which is free to us by right of our rank and office. Now there was a murmur of true from the counsel behind me, and Tikal also said true, but added, if you are brethren of the inmost circle of the heart, you are free from offense. But first you must prove that this is so, which is yet you have not done. A brother of the inmost circle knows its mysteries, and can answer the secret questions. Come, let us put you to the test, but first let the white man be removed from the sanctuary, for in this matter each must vouch for himself. Accordingly this senior was led away, and the doors having been closed and the lamps shaded, the oldest and most instructed of the counselors stood forward and put me to the test with many questions, all of which I answered readily. Then they commanded me to stand before the altar, and as keeper of the heart to open the heart in the highest degree. This I did also, though afterwards they told me that my ritual differed in some particulars from their own. After that I took up my parable and questioned them till at length none there could answer me, no not even the high priest or matai. Indeed they confessed humbly that I was more instructed than any one of them, and because of this knowledge from that day forward I was held in veneration in the city of the heart. Now I was given a seat among the brethren, the highest, after those of the chief priest and the great officers, and the senior was summoned. He entered with a downcast look, and while Maya and I watched him sadly, his examination began. It was not long, at the second question he became confused and used angry language in Spanish and English and broke down. Brethren said to call, and there was joy in his eyes, he spoke, it seems to me that we need not trouble further with the imposter. By daring to enter our city he has earned the penalty of death. Moreover he has blackened his crime by claiming to be of our brotherhood, whereas he scarcely knows the simplest password. It is your will that he should be taken to this fate, if so speak the word of doom. Now Maya arose affrighted, but motioning to her to be silent, I spoke, saying, hear me before the fatal word is spoken which cannot be recalled. This man is of our inmost brotherhood, though he has not been formally admitted to the inner circles, and has forgotten those of the mysteries which were talked to him at his initiation. Listen, and I will tell you how he came to join the Order of the Heart. Then I told them the tale of my rescue by the Senor, told them also of the story of our meeting with Sabalbe, and of our journey to the City of the Heart, speaking to them for an hour or more while they hearkened earnestly. When I had done they debated as to the fate of the Senor, and, though by only one vote, decided that if I had nothing more to urge on his behalf, he must straightway die. I have something more to urge before you pass judgment. I said my need and despair, speaking and acting a lie, to save the life of my beloved friend. Yes, I who had blamed Maya for this same deed, though it has to do with the mysteries of your religion rather than those of our Order. It was the belief of Sabalbe who is dead that when the two halves of the ancient talisman, the halves night and morning, that together make the perfect day are set in their place in the symbol which once they filled before the dividing of the peoples, then it shall be made clear what part must be played by each of us wanderers in the fate that is to be. To this end did Sabalbe undertake his journey and lo, here is that which he went to seek, I drew the talisman from my breast adding, take it to call for I resign it and I lay it with its fellow in the place that is prepared for them so that we may learn and that all your people may learn what truth there is in the visions of Sabalbe. That is our desire, answered to call, taking the severed emerald and its counterpart which Maya gave to him. Let the white man, son of the sea, be placed without the sanctuary and guarded there a while, for so at least he will gain time to prepare himself for death. Fear not, lady, he added, noting Maya's anxious face, no harm shall be done to him till this matter of the prophecy is made clear. Now for the second time the senior was removed, when he had gone to Cal's spoke, tracing the history of the prophecy so far as it was known and reciting its substances that when once more the two halves of the symbol of the heart were laid side by side in their place on the altar in the sanctuary, then from that hour the people should grow great again. In all this, he said, I have little faith still Sabalbe who in his way was wise believed it and the story having gone abroad the people clamor that it should be put to the test. Is this your will also? It is our will, answered the counselors. Good, then let it be done, and on your heads be it, if harm should come of the deed. Matai the council commands you to set these fragments in the hollow of the symbol. If such is the order of the council I have no choice but to obey, said Matai, yet though none else have done so I give my voice against it for I hold that this is childishness and never did I know any good to spring from prophecies and he pauses though waiting for the answer. Obey, obey, said the council for curiosity had got hold of them and they craned their necks forward to see what might happen. Obey, repeated Tikal, but beware how you shake the heart lest the legend prove true and we should perish in the doom of waters. Then Matai set the two halves of the talisman in their place and as before in the midst of an utter silence low the symbol opened like a flower. Leaning forward I saw the eye within its hollow, but it seemed to me that the fire had faded from the heart of the jewel for now it gleamed coldly like the eye of a man who is two hours dead. I think that Matai noted this also for as the symbol opened he started and his hand shook. Now when they saw the marvel a gasp of wonder rose from the council then Tikal spoke saying, it seems that there was wisdom in Zabaalbey's madness for the heart has opened indeed and within it is a stone eye resting upon a plate of gold that is covered with writing. Read the writing they cried displacing the eye Tikal lifted the plate of gold and scanned it. I cannot he said shaking his head it is written in a character more ancient than in the eye of learn take it Matai for you are instructed in such signs. Matai took the tablet and studied it long with an anxious face upon which at length light broke that chanced a non to wonder or rather blank amaze so that I watching him began to think not knowing all the cleverness of Matai that the senior was right and the tablet had been tampered with since we saw it. Read read cried the council brethren he said the words seem clear yet so strange in this writing that I fear my learning is at fault and that I had best give it to others to decipher no read read they cried again almost angrily then he read this is the voice of the nameless god that his prophet heard in the year of the beginning of the sanctuary and graved upon a tablet of gold which he set in a secret place in the symbol of the sanctuary to be declared in that far off hour when the lost is found in the signs of the day and the night are come together to thee it speaks unborn daughter to achieve to be whose name is the name of a nation when my people have grown old and their numbers are lessened and their heart is faint then maiden take to thyself as a husband a man of the race of the white god a son of the sea foam who thou shalt lead hither across the desert so my people shall once more prosper and grow strong and the land shall be to thy child and the child of the god east and west and north and south further than the eagles wing between sunrise and set now as matai read the face of tecal grew black with rage and before ever the echoes of his voice had died away he sprang from his seat crying whoever it was that wrote this lying prophecy god or man let him be accused shall the lady maya for her it must be whose name is the name of a nation be given in marriage to the white dog who awaits his doom without that door and shall his son rule over us first will i see her dead in him with her then one of the oldest of the council a man named demas who as i learned afterwards had been foster brother to zebal bay rose and answered rathaly it seems that these things must be so to call and beware how you utter threats of death lest they should fall upon your own head we have called upon the god and the god has spoken in no uncertain voice the lady maya must become wife to the white man son of the sea and then things shall be fall as they are fated what answered to call is this wandering stranger be set over me and all of us that i do not know said the counselor the writing does not say so the writing says that his son shall be set over us and as yet he has no son but this is certain that the lady maya must be given to him as wife and in her right he well may rule seeing that she is the lawful heir of to her father and not you to call although you have usurped her place now many voices called upon maya till she stood forward and spoke with downcast eyes what shall i say she began except one thing that my will is the will of gods and if it is fated that i should be given to the white man in marriage why so let it be for many years i was taught to look elsewhere but he who was to have been my husband and she pointed towards to call chose himself another wife and now i see that he did this not altogether of his own will but because it was so decreed one thing more i who am but woman have no desire to rule or to take the place that the lady now holds the writing says that in a day to come a far off day some child of mine if indeed i am that daughter of the chief whose name is the name of a nation shall rule in truth let him then come in his hour and take the glories that await him and meanwhile to call do you sit in your place and leave me to rest in peace the lady maya speaks you fair to call and my daughter said matai and if the people will have it you may do well to accept her offer leaving the future to shape itself she says she is ready to take the white man as a husband but we have not yet heard whether the white man will take her as a wife it may be he added with a smile that he will rather choose to die but at least we must have an answer from his lips that is if you accept this prophecy as sent from heaven say do you accept it we accept it answered the council almost with a single voice then let the white man son of the sea be brought before us at matai end of chapter 20 heart of the world by h writer haggard this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org chapter 21 of the marriage of maya presently the door opened and the senior was led into the sanctuary as he thought to his death for i saw that his teeth were set and that his hand was clenched as though to defend himself but as he came the most of the council rose and bowed to him saying hail to you son of the sea favored of heaven father foreordained of the deliverer to come then he knew that the plot had succeeded and uttered a great sigh of relief harken white lord said matai for to call sat still and scowled on him in silence the gods have spoken by their oracle as zebal bay thought so it is and your feet have been led for a purpose to the gates of the city of the heart listen to the words of the gods and taking the tablet he read to him the false prophecy now choose white man will you take the lady maya to wife or will you be put to death in that having wandered to the city of the heart you were fused to obey the command of the of its gods then the senior thought and answered the man would be foolish who hesitated between death and so fair and sweet a bride still this is a matter that i cannot decide alone what says the lady maya she says answered maya that although this is a marriage for which she did not look and it is a new thing that a daughter of the heart of the heart should take a stranger of less ancient blood to husband the will of heaven is her will and the lord that heaven chooses for her shall be her lord and she stretched out her hand to the senior he took it and bending down kissed her fingers saying may i be worthy of your choice lady now i thought that the ceremonies were finished and was glad for i grew weary of assisting at this farce but the old priest sebal bay's foster brother rose and said one thing more must be done brethren before we leave this sanctuary and it is to swear in these strangers members of the council they have wandered here from far and here with us they must live and die seeing that both of them know our secrets and one of them is predestined to become the father of that great lord for who arising we have looked for many generations therefore until the child is born he must be watched and guarded as priests watch a sacred fire i it is well thought of let them be sworn and learn that to break the oath is death was the answer then matai rose as keeper of the sanctuary and said you white man son of the sea and you ignacio the wanderer a lord of the heart do swear upon the holy symbol of the heart the oath to break which is to die horribly in this world and to be lost everlastingly in the worlds that are to be you swear setting in pledge your souls and bodies for the fulfillment of the oath that neither by word nor sign nor deed will you reveal art of the mysteries or the councils of this brotherhood whereof you will be the faithful servants till your deaths holding its supreme above every power upon earth you swear that you will not possess yourselves of the treasures of the city of the heart nor without the consent of this high brotherhood attempt to leave its gates or to bring any strangers within its walls these things you swear with your hands upon your upon the altar setting in pledge your souls and bodies for the fulfillment of the oath other clauses there were also which i have forgotten but this was the substance of the vow that was dictated to us we looked at each other helplessly and then there being no escape we swore kneeling before the altar with our hands resting upon it as the solemn words of confirmation passed our lips we heard a sound of the movement of heavy stones behind us arise now said the old priest turn brethren and look upon that which lies behind you we obeyed and the next instant shrank back against the altar in alarm for within six feet of us a massive stone in the floor had been lifted revealing the mouth of a well from the deep recesses of which came the distant sound of rushing waters behold brethren he went on and should the oath which you have sworn be broken in a single letter learn after what fashion you must suffer for your sins into that pit you shall be cast that the water may choke your breath and the demons of the underworld may pray upon your souls through all eternity have you seen and seen do you understand we have seen and we understand we answered then let the mouth of the pit be sealed again and pray you in your hearts that it may never be open to receive the living body of you or any of us son of the sea and you Ignacio the wanderer the oaths have been sworn and the ceremony is finished henceforth till your deaths you are of our number sharers in our rights and privileges and you will be assigned houses attendance and revenues fitted to your situation go forth brethren that you may refresh yourselves and prepare to meet the people upon the summit of the pyramid at dawn that is within an hour lead them away with you my lord matai so we went leaving behind us the talisman of the broken heart for the priest refused to return it to me saying that at length the tokens named day and night had come together in their ancient place and henceforth there they must bide forever accompanied by Maya Matai and the escort of priests we pass through the holes and passages out into the courtyard of the temple and thanks to apartments in the palace where we refreshed ourselves with food for we were weary the trick had succeeded the ordeal was passed and for the present at least we were no longer in danger of our lives more the power of matai was confirmed his daughter was assured in her position as the wife of tikal also the senior and the lady maya were about to attain to the fullness of their desire and to be declared one in the presence of the people yet never did i partake in a sadder meal or behold faces more oppressed by care and the fear of the future for though nothing was said in our hearts each of us knew that we had become parties to a crime and that sooner or later in this way or in that our evil doing would find us out putting this matter aside i myself had good reason to mourn seeing that whatever the others had gained i had won nothing moreover i found myself bound by a solemn oath not even to attempt to leave this city whether i had journeyed with such high hopes well the thing was done and it was useless to regret it or to think of the future so turning to matai i asked him what was to happen on the pyramid there will be a great gathering of the people he answered as his customary at dawn after the night of the rising of waters and there will be a told all that has happened in the sanctuary then if it is their will to call will be confirmed as kachi k according to the bargain and either today or tomorrow the white man here will become the husband of the lady maya in order he added with a sneer that of their union may be born to deliver who is to be now if you are ready it is time for us to go for the multitude is gathered and an escort waits without leaving the palace we placed ourselves in the center of a party of nobles and guards who were in attendance and marched across the courtyard and up the steps of the pyramid the night was growing gray with the breaking of the dawn and in the pearly light through which the stars shone faintly we perceived that bands of priests and nobles wrapped in their broidered sarapes for the morning air was chilly stood in their appointed places around the altar in front of them were range the dense masses of the people drawn here to make their prayers upon this feast day and also by desire to learn the truth as to the death of zebol bay the fate of the strangers who had accompanied him from the unknown lands the decision of the council as to the successor to the place and power of kachi k and lastly whether or no the oracle of the god had spoken to his priests upon this or any other matter when the lost talisman was set in its place in the sanctuary on reaching the altar seats were given to us among the nobles of the heart those of maya and the senior being placed in such fashion that they would be visible to the whole multitude then followed a silence till it length the priest who was stationed upon the roof of the watch house blew a silver trumpet and proclaimed that the dawn had broken where on bands of singers who were in readiness began to chant a very beautiful hymn of which the refrain was caught up by the audience as they sang a beam from the rising sun struck upon the fire that burned above the altar and again the trumpet sounded then in the silence that followed the priest who stood by the fire clothed in white robes prayed in a loud voice saying oh god our god let our sins die with the dying year oh god our god strengthen us with thy strength comfort us with thy comfort during the year that is to be oh god our god have pity upon us lift us from the darkness of the past and give us light in the coming time hear us heart of heaven hear us he ceased and from the surrounding gloom many voices made a response saying hear us heart of heaven hear us for a space the old priest stood still the firelight flickering on his tall form and wrapped countenance as he gazed toward the east grayer and more gray grew the gloom till of a sudden array from the unrisen sun shot through the shadows like a spear and fell a thwart the summit of the pyramid pailing the holy fire that seemed to shrink before it at the coming of the sunbeam the multitude of worshipers men and women together rose from the marble pavement where on they had been kneeling in prayer casting off the dark cloaks which covered their white robes they turned extending their arms toward the east and cried in one accord hail to thee oh son bringer of all good things hail to thee newborn child of god now the light grew fast and soon the city appeared rising white and beautiful from its veil of mist and as the glory of the daylight fell upon it other priests who stood by the altar uttered prayers appointed to be offered upon the day of the beginning of the rising of waters to the people of the heart the occasion was a great one seeing then but little rain falls in their country thus they depended for a bountiful harvest upon the inundation of the island and of the low shores that lay around the lake by its waters swollen with the melted snow of the great mountains on the mainland when the waters retreated then they planted their grain in rich land made fertile by the mud without labor to themselves once before the lake rose again they gathered their corn and other crops after they had ended their praying and gifts of fresh flowers had been laid upon the altar by beautiful children chosen for that purpose to call bless the multitude as high priest and the simple ceremony came to an end then matai rose to speak telling the people all the things that had happened or so much of them as it was expedient that they should know he told them of the death of zibal bay of this setting of the last talisman the symbol and of the writing that was found therein which he read aloud to them amidst a dead silence then he told them how the lady maya and the white man had consented to be married in obedience to the voice of the oracle and lastly how she the lady maya had desired that her cousin tikal should continue to be kachike of the city of the heart that she might have more leisure to attend upon her heaven sent husband and to be at rest until that child was become a man whose wisdom and power should make them even greater than their forefathers had been when he had finished his address there was much applause with other expressions of joy and a spokesman from among the people asked when the marriage of the white man son of the sea to the lady maya would take place this question she answered in person saying modestly that her lord's will was that it should take place that very night in the banqueting hall of the palace and that a great feast should be celebrated in honor of the event after this the talking came to an end tikal having said no word good or bad beyond such as the duties of his office required and according to the custom of the country many people noble and simple came forward to congratulate her who was about to be made a bride weary of watching them and of hearing their pretty speeches i took advantage of the escort of a friendly noble and went to see the ceremony of the closing of the floodgate a huge block of marble that slid down a groove into a niche prepared to receive it where it was fastened with great bars of copper and sealed by certain officers although so i was told the rising water would not reach it for another eight or ten days even though the flood should prove to be a low one it was death to break those seals for a space of four full months and during all this time any who would leave the city must do so by means of ladders reaching from the wall to little wooden jetties where boats were moored afterwards we walked around the walls and through some of the main streets and i marveled at the greatness of this half deserted place for the most of it was in ruins and at the many strange sites that i saw there indeed i think that mexico in the time of montezuma my forefather was not more powerful or populace than this town must have been in the days of its prosperity about midday i returned to the apartments that had been assigned to me in the palace and hearing that the senor was still in attendance upon lady maya i ate my dinner alone with such appetite as i could find and lay down to sleep a while i was awakened from my rest by the senior who arrived looking his merry as he used to before ever molas came to lead us to the old indian doctor and his daughter and full of talk about the preparations for his wedding that night i listened to all he had to say and strove earnestly to fall into his mood but as i suppose without effect for in the end he fell into mine which was but a sad one and began to talk regretfully of the past and doubtfully of the future now i did my best to cheer him but with little avail for he shook his head and said indian as she is i love maya and no other woman has been or can be so much to me yet i'm afraid ignatio for this marriage is ill omen and i pray that what was begun in trickery may not end in desolation also the future is black both for you and for me you came here for a certain purpose and will desire to leave again to follow your purpose nor although i take the lady to wife do i wish to spend my days in the city of the heart still it would seem that unless we can escape this is what we must do let us hope that we shall be able to escape i answered i doubt it he said for already i have discovered that though we be treated with all honor yet we shall be closely watched or at least i shall for certain reasons still come what may i trust that this marriage will make no breach in our friendship ignatio i do not know senior i answered though i think that for weeks its shadow has lain between us and i fear less that shadow should deepen also it has been fated that women and their loves should come between me my ambitions and my friends from the moment that my eyes fell upon the lady maya bound to the altar in the chapel of the hacienda i felt that her great beauty would bring trouble upon us and it would seem that my heart did not lie to me now under her guidance we have entered upon a dark and doubtful path whereof no man can see the end yes he answered but we took that path in order to save our lives she took it not to save her life on which i think she sets little store but to win a husband whom she desires for my part i hold that it would have been better for us to die if god so willed it then to live on with hearts fouled by deceit seeing that in the end die we must but no years of added life can wear away that stain well this must seem sad to talk to the ears of a bridegroom forget it friend and rest a while that you may do credit to the marriage feast without answering the senior lay down upon the bed where he remained whether sleeping or awake i do not know till the hour of sunset when he was aroused by the arrival of several lords and attendants who came to lead him to the bath on his return other messengers entered bearing magnificent robes and jewels the gift of the lady maya to be worn by him and by me at the ceremony then barbers having trimmed and scented his fair hair and beard according to the fashions of this people he was decked out like a victim for the sacrifice so soon as all was prepared the doors were flung wide and six officers of the palace came through them bearing wands of office in their hands accompanied by a troop of singing girls chosen for their loveliness which to speak truth was not small in the midst of these officers and ladies the senior was placed and followed by myself who walked behind with a heavy heart he set out for the banqueting hall as we reached at the doors were thrown open and the singers set up a love song pretty enough but so foolish that i have forgotten it we passed the threshold and found that the great hall was crowded with guests arrayed in their most brilliant attire where on the lamp light shown bravely through this company we walked till we reached an open space at the far end of the hall around which in a semi-circle sat the members of the council of the heart to call and his wife being placed in the center of them having the tie on their right and on their left the old priest dimos the foster brother of zebal bay who had administered the oath to us as we advanced with one exception all the council rose and bowed to the senior that exception was to cowl who stood straight before him and did not move scarcely had they resumed their seats when the sound of singing was heard again mingled with that of music and far away at the foot of the long hall appeared a band of musicians playing upon pipes of reeds clad in the royal livery of green and crowned with oak leaves after the musicians marched or rather danced a number of young girls robed in white only in carrying white lilies in their hands which they threw upon the floor to be trodden by the feet of the bride next came Maya herself a sight of beauty such as stirred even my cold heart and caused me to think more gently of the senior who had become party to a trick to win her she also was a raid in white embroidered with gold and having the symbol of the heart blazoned on her breast about her waist and neck were a girdle and collar of priceless emeralds on her head was set a tiara of perfect pearls taken in past ages from the shellfish of the lake and round her wrists and ankles were bangles of dead gold her waving hair hung loose almost to her sandaled feet and in her hand as token of her rank she bore a little golden scepter having at one end a great pearl and at the other a heart-shaped emeral on she came a rather floated her delicate head held high and so strange and beautiful was the aspect of her face that for my part from the instant that I beheld it till she stood before me by the bridegroom I seemed to see not else it was very pale and somewhat set indeed at that moment Maya looked more like a white woman than one of Indian blood and her curved lips were parted as though they waited for some forgotten words to pass them her deep blue eyes also were set wide and beneath the shadow of their lashes seemed full of mystery and wonder like the eyes of one who walks in her sleep and beholds things invisible to the waking sight presently they fell upon the eyes of the senior and of a sudden grew human while the red blood mantled on her breasts and arms and brow then for me the spell was broken I glanced at Cal and saw that on his face was the same look with which he had greeted Maya when on the night of his own wedding feast he beheld her whom he believed to be dead standing before him clothed in life and beauty eagerly despairing he watched her and I noticed that tears stood in his angry eyes and that a gust of jealous rage shook him from head to foot when he saw her flush with joy at the sight of the white rival from to call my glance traveled to the dark beauty at his side now his wife and I became aware that in this instant she grew certain of what perhaps before she only guessed that in his heart her husband loathed her as with all his soul and strength he loved the affianced of his youth who stood before him the bride of another man doubt fear rage looked out and turned from her ominous eyes as the knowledge went home to be succeeded by a possessing misery the misery of one who knows that all which makes life good to her is forever lost then pressing her hands to her heart for a moment she turned aside to hide her shame and wretchedness and when she looked up again her face was calm as the face of a statue but on it was frozen a mask of unchanging hate hate of the innocent woman who had robbed her now the bridegroom and the bride stood together in the open space surrounded by the half circle of the council of the heart among whom I was given a seat while behind them were arranged the musicians of singing girls and behind these again pressed the glittering audience of married guests when all were in their places a herald rose and cried out the names and titles of the pair reciting briefly that they were to be wed by the direct command of the guardian god of the city by the wish of the council of the heart and because of the love that they bore one another next reading from a written role he published the text of the agreement whereby maya renounced her right as ruler in favor of her cousin to call and i noticed this agreement was received by the company in cold silence and with some few expressions of disapproval lastly from another role he read the list of the honors prerogatives offices wealth houses and servants which were thereby assigned to the lady maya and her consort and also to myself their friend for the maintenance of their rank and dignity and of my comfort having finished this task he asked the senior and maya whether they had heard all that he had uttered by command of the council and if so whether they approved thereof they bowed their heads in assent whereupon the herald turned and addressing to call by all his titles called upon him in virtue of his priestly office and of his position as chief of the state to make these two one in the face of the people according to the ancient custom of the land to call heard him and rose from his seat as though to commence the service then sank down again saying seek some other priest herald for this thing i will not do end of chapter 21