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<h2> CHAPTER XIV </h2>
<h3> ALLAN MISSES OPPORTUNITY </h3>
<p>All the while that she was talking thus the Lady or the Queen or the
Witch-woman, Ayesha, had been walking up and down the place from the
curtains to the foot of the dais, sweeping me with her scented robes as
she passed to and fro, and as she walked she waved her arms as an orator
might do to emphasise the more moving passages of her tale. Now at the end
of it, or what I took to be the end, she stepped on to the dais and sank
upon the couch as if exhausted, though I think her spirit was weary rather
than her body.</p>
<p>Here she sat awhile, brooding, her chin resting on her hand, then suddenly
looked up and fixing her glance upon me—for I could see the flash of
it through her thin veil—said,</p>
<p>"What think you of this story, Allan? Do you believe it and have you ever
heard its like?"</p>
<p>"<i>Never</i>," I answered with emphasis, "and of course I believe every
word. Only there are one or two questions that with your leave I would
wish to ask, Ayesha."</p>
<p>"By which you mean, Allan, that you believe nothing, being by nature
without faith and doubtful of all that you cannot see and touch and
handle. Well, perhaps you are wise, since what I have told you is not all
the truth. For example, it comes back to me now that it was not in the
temple on the Nile, or indeed upon the Earth, that I saw the vision of
Aphrodite and of Isis, but elsewhere; also that it was here in K�r that I
was first consumed by passion for Kallikrates whom hitherto I had scorned.
In two thousand years one forgets much, Allan. Out with your questions and
I will answer them, unless they be too long."</p>
<p>"Ayesha," I said humbly, reflecting to myself that my questions would, at
any rate, be shorter than her varying tale, "even I who am not learned
have heard of these goddesses of whom you speak, of the Grecian Aphrodite
who rose from the sea upon the shores of Cyprus and dwelt at Paphos and
elsewhere——"</p>
<p>"Yes, doubtless like most men you have heard of her and perchance also
have been struck across the eyes with her hair, like your betters before
you," she interrupted with sarcasm.</p>
<p>"——Also," I went on, avoiding argument, "I have heard of Isis
of the Egyptians, Lady of the Moon, Mother of Mysteries, Spouse of Osiris
whose child was Horus the Avenger."</p>
<p>"Aye, and I think will hear more of her before you have done, Allan, for
now something comes back to me concerning you and her and another. I am
not the only one who has broken the oaths of Isis and received her curse,
Allan, as <i>you</i> may find out in the days to come. But what of these
heavenly queens?"</p>
<p>"Only this, Ayesha; I have been taught that they were but phantasms fabled
by men with many another false divinity, and could have sworn that this
was true. And yet you talk of them as real and living, which perplexes
me."</p>
<p>"Being dull of understanding doubtless it perplexes you, Allan. Yet if you
had imagination you might understand that these goddesses are great
Principles of Nature; Isis, of throned Wisdom and strait virtue, and
Aphrodite, of Love, as it is known to men and women who, being human, have
it laid upon them that they must hand on the torch of Life in their little
hour. Also you would know that such Principles can seem to take shape and
form and at certain ages of the world appear to their servants visible in
majesty, though perchance to-day others with changed names wield their
sceptres and work their will. Now you are answered on this matter. So to
the next."</p>
<p>Privately I did not feel as though I were answered at all and I was sure
that I know nothing of the kind she indicated, but thinking it best to
leave the subject, I went on,</p>
<p>"If I understood rightly, Ayesha, the events which you have been pleased
first to describe to me, and then to qualify or contradict, took place
when the Pharaohs reigned. Now no Pharaoh has sat upon the throne of Egypt
for near two thousand years, for the last was a Grecian woman whom the
Romans conquered and drove to death. And yet, Ayesha, you speak as though
you have lived all through that gulf of time, and in this there must be
error, because it is impossible. Therefore I suppose you to mean that this
history has come down to you in writing, or perhaps in dreams. I believe
that even in such far-off times there were writers of romance, and we all
know of what stuff dreams are made. At least this thought comes to me," I
added hurriedly, fearing lest I had said too much, "and one so wise as you
are, I repeat, knows well that a woman who says she has lived two thousand
years must be mad or—suffer from delusions, because I repeat, it is
impossible."</p>
<p>At these quite innocent remarks she sprang to her feet in a rage that
might truly be called royal in every sense.</p>
<p>"Impossible! Romance! Dreams! Delusions! Mad!" she cried in a ringing
voice. "Oh! of a truth you weary me, and I have a mind to send you whither
you will learn what is impossible and what is not. Indeed, I would do it,
and now, only I need your services, and if I did there would be none left
for me to talk with, since your companion is moonstruck and the others are
but savages of whom I have seen enough.</p>
<p>"Hearken, fool! <i>Nothing</i> is impossible. Why do you seek, you who
talk of the impossible, to girdle the great world in the span of your two
hands and to weigh the secrets of the Universe in the balance of your
petty mind and, of that which you cannot understand, to say that it is
not? Life you admit because you see it all about you. But that it should
endure for two thousand years, which after all is but a second's beat in
the story of the earth, that to you is 'impossible,' although in truth the
buried seed or the sealed-up toad can live as long. Doubtless, also, you
have some faith which promises you this same boon to all eternity, after
the little change called Death.</p>
<p>"Nay, Allan, it is possible enough, like to many other things of which you
do not dream to-day that will be common to the eyes of those who follow
after you. Mayhap you think it impossible that I should speak with and
learn of you from yonder old black wizard who dwells in the country whence
you came. And yet whenever I will I do so in the night because he is in
tune with me, and what I do shall be done by all men in the years unborn.
Yes, they shall talk together across the wide spaces of the earth, and the
lover shall hear her lover's voice although great seas roll between them.
Nor perchance will it stop at this; perchance in future time men shall
hold converse with the denizens of the stars, and even with the dead who
have passed into silence and the darkness. Do you hear and understand me?"</p>
<p>"Yes, yes," I answered feebly.</p>
<p>"You lie, as you are too prone to do. You hear but you do not understand
nor believe, and oh! you vex me sorely. Now I had it in my mind to tell
you the secret of this long life of mine; long, mark you, but not endless,
for doubtless I must die and change and return again, like others, and
even to show you how it may be won. But you are not worthy in your
faithlessness."</p>
<p>"No, no, I am not worthy," I answered, who at that moment did not feel the
least desire to live two thousand years, perhaps with this woman as a
neighbour, rating me from generation to generation. Yet it is true, that
now when I am older and a certain event cannot be postponed much longer, I
do often regret that I neglected to take this unique chance, if in truth
there was one, of prolonging an existence which after all has its
consolations—especially when one has made one's pile. Certainly it
is a case, a flagrant case, of neglected opportunities, and my only
consolation for having lost them is that this was due to the uprightness
of my nature which made it so hard for me to acquiesce in alternative
statements that I had every cause to disbelieve and thus to give offence
to a very powerful and petulant if attractive lady.</p>
<p>"So that is done with," she went on with a little stamp of indignation,
"as soon you will be also, who, had you not crossed and doubted me, might
have lived on for untold time and become one of the masters of the world,
as I am."</p>
<p>Here she paused, choked, I think, with her almost childish anger, and
because I could not help it, I said,</p>
<p>"Such place and power, if they be yours, Ayesha, do not seem to bring you
much reward. If I were a master of the world I do not think that I should
choose to dwell unchangingly among savages who eat men and in a pile of
ruins. But perhaps the curses of Aphrodite and of Isis are stronger
masters still?" and I paused inquiringly.</p>
<p>This bold argument—for now I see that it was bold—seemed to
astonish and even bewilder my wonderful companion.</p>
<p>"You have more wisdom than I thought," she said reflectively, "who have
come to understand that no one is really lord of anything, since above
there is always a more powerful lord who withers all his pomp and pride to
nothingness, even as the great kings learned in olden days, and I, who am
higher than they are, am learning now. Hearken. Troubles beset me wherein
I would have your help and that of your companions, for which I will pay
each of you the fee that he desires. The brooding white man who is with
you shall free his daughter and unharmed; though that <i>he</i> will be
unharmed I do not promise. The black savage captain shall fight his fill
and gain the glory that he seeks, also something that he seeks still more.
The little yellow man asks nothing save to be with his master like a dog
and to satisfy at once his stomach and his apish curiosity. You, Allan,
shall see those dead over whom you brood at night, though the other
guerdon that you might have won is now passed from your reach because you
mock me in your heart."</p>
<p>"What must we do to gain these things?" I asked. "How can we humble
creatures help one who is all powerful and who has gathered in her breast
the infinite knowledge of two thousand years?"</p>
<p>"You must make war under my banner and rid me of my foes. As for the
reason, listen to the end of my tale and you shall learn."</p>
<p>I reflected that it was a marvellous thing that this queen who claimed
supernatural powers should need our help in a war, but thinking it wiser
to keep my meditations to myself, said nothing. As a matter of fact I
might just as well have spoken, since as usual she read my thoughts.</p>
<p>"You are thinking that it is strange, Allan, that I, the Mighty and
Undying, should seek your aid in some petty tribal battle, and so it would
be were my foes but common savages. But they are more; they are men
protected by the ancient god of this immemorial city of K�r, a great god
in his day whose spirit still haunts these ruins and whose strength still
protects the worshippers who cling to him and practise his unholy rites of
human sacrifice."</p>
<p>"How was this god named?" I asked.</p>
<p>"<i>Rezu</i> was his name, and from him came the Egyptian Re or Ra, since
in the beginning K�r was the mother of Egypt and the conquering people of
K�r took their god with them when they burst into the valley of the Nile
and subdued its peoples long before the first Pharaoh, Menes, wore Egypt's
crown."</p>
<p>"Ra was the sun, was he not?" I asked.</p>
<p>"Aye, and Rezu also was a sun-god whom from his throne in the fires of the
Lord of Day, gave life to men, or slew them if he willed with his
thunderbolts of drought and pestilence and storm. He was no gentle king of
heaven, but one who demanded blood-sacrifice from his worshippers, yes,
even that of maids and children. So it came about that the people of K�r,
who saw their virgins slain and eaten by the priests of Rezu, and their
infants burned to ashes in the fires that his rays lit, turned themselves
to the worship of the gentle moon, the goddess whom they named <i>Lulala</i>,
while some of them chose Truth for their queen, since Truth, they said,
was greater and more to be desired than the fierce Sun-King or even the
sweet Moon-Lady, Truth, who sat above them both throned in the furthest
stars of Heaven. Then the demon, Rezu, grew wroth and sent a pestilence
upon K�r and its subject lands and slew their people, save those who clung
to him in the great apostasy, and with them some others who served Lulala
and Truth the Divine, that escaped I know not how."</p>
<p>"Did you see this great pestilence?" I asked, much interested.</p>
<p>"Nay, it befell generations before I came to K�r. One Junis, a priest,
wrote a record of it in the caves yonder where I have my home and where is
the burying-place of the countless thousands that it slew. In my day K�r,
of which, should you desire to hear it, I will tell you the history, was a
ruin as it is now, though scattered in the lands amidst the tumbled stones
which once built up her subject cities, a people named the Amahagger dwelt
in Households, or Tribes and there sacrificed men by fire and devoured
them, following the rites of the demon Rezu. For these were the
descendants of those who escaped the pestilence. Also there were certain
others, children of the worshippers of Lulala whose kingdom is the moon,
and of Truth the Queen, who clung to the gentle worship of their
forefathers and were ever at war with the followers of Rezu."</p>
<p>"What brought <i>you</i> to K�r, Ayesha?" I asked irrelevantly.</p>
<p>"Have I not said that I was led hither by the command and the symbol of
great Isis whom I serve? Also," she added after a pause, "that I might
find a certain pair, one of whom had broken his oaths to her, tempted
thereto by the other."</p>
<p>"And did you find them, Ayesha?" I asked.</p>
<p>"Aye, I found them, or rather they found me, and in my presence the
goddess executed her decree upon her false priest and drove his temptress
back to the world."</p>
<p>"That must have been dreadful for you, Ayesha, since I understood that you
also—liked this priest."</p>
<p>She sprang from her couch and in a low, hissing voice which resembled the
sound made by an angry snake and turned my blood cold to hear, exclaimed,</p>
<p>"Man, do you dare to mock me? Nay, you are but a blundering, curious fool,
and it is well for you that this is so, since otherwise like Kallikrates,
never should you leave K�r living. Cease from seeking that which you may
not learn. Suffice it for you to know that the doom of Isis fell upon the
lost Kallikrates, her priest forsworn, and that on me also fell her doom,
who must dwell here, dead yet living, till he return again and the play
begins afresh.</p>
<p>"Stranger," she went on in a softer voice, "perchance your faith, whate'er
it be, parades a hell to terrify its worshippers and give strength to the
arms of its prophesying priests, who swear they hold the keys of doom or
of the eternal joys. I see you sign assent" (I had nodded at her extremely
accurate guess) "and therefore can understand that in such a hell as this,
here upon the earth I have dwelt for some two thousand years, expiating
the crime of Powers above me whereof I am but the hand and instrument,
since those Powers which decreed that I should love, decree also that I
must avenge that love."</p>
<p>She sank down upon the couch as though exhausted by emotion, of which I
could only guess the reasons, hiding her face in her hands. Presently she
let them fall again and continued,</p>
<p>"Of these woes ask me no more. They sleep till the hour of their
resurrection, which I think draws nigh; indeed, I thought that you
perchance——But let that be. 'Twas near the mark; nearer,
Allan, than you know, not in it! Therefore leave them to their sleep as I
would if I might—ah! if I might, whose companions they are
throughout the weary ages. Alas! that through the secret which was
revealed to me I remain undying on the earth who in death might perhaps
have found a rest, and being human although half divine, must still busy
myself with the affairs of earth.</p>
<p>"Look you, Wanderer, after that which was fated had happened and I
remained in my agony of solitude and sorrow, after, too, I had drunk of
the cup of enduring life and like the Prometheus of old fable, found
myself bound to this changeless rock, whereon day by day the vultures of
remorse tear out my living heart which in the watches of the night is ever
doomed to grow again within my woman's breast, I was plunged into petty
troubles of the flesh, aye and welcomed them because their irk at times
gave me forgetfulness. When the savage dwellers in this land came to know
that a mighty one had arisen among them who was the servant of the Lady of
the Moon, those of them who still worshipped their goddess Lulala,
gathered themselves about me, while those of them who worshipped Rezu
sought to overthrow me.</p>
<p>"'Here,' they said, 'is the goddess Lulala come to earth. In the name of
Rezu let us slay her and make an end,' for these fools thought that I
could be killed. Allan, I conquered them, but their captain, who also is
named Rezu and whom they held and hold to be an emanation of the god
himself walking the earth, I could not conquer."</p>
<p>"Why not?" I asked.</p>
<p>"For this reason, Allan. In some past age his god showed him the same
secret that was shown to me. He too had drunk of the Cup of Life and lives
on unharmed by Time, so that being in strength my equal, no spear of mine
can reach his heart clad in the armour of his evil god."</p>
<p>"Then what spear can?" I inquired helplessly, who was bewildered.</p>
<p>"None at all, Allan, yet an <i>axe</i> may, as you shall hear, or so I
think. For many generations there has been peace of a sort between the
worshippers of Lulala who dwell with me in the Plain of K�r, or rather of
myself, since to these people <i>I</i> am Lulala, and the worshippers of
Rezu, who dwell in the strongholds beyond the mountain crest. But of late
years their chief Rezu, having devastated the lands about, has grown
restless and threatened to attack on K�r, which is not strong enough to
stand against him. Moreover he has sought for a white queen to rule under
him, purposing to set her up to mock my majesty."</p>
<p>"Is that why those cannibals carried away the daughter of my companion,
the Sea-Captain who is named Avenger?" I asked.</p>
<p>"It is, Allan, since presently he will give it out that I am dead or fled,
if he has not done so already, and that this new queen has arisen in my
place. Thereby he hopes to draw away many who cling to me ere he advances
upon K�r, carrying with him this girl veiled as I am, so that none may
know the difference between us, since not a man of them has ever looked
upon my face, Allan. Therefore this Rezu must die, if die he can;
otherwise, although it is impossible that he should harm me, he may slay
or draw away my people and leave me with none to rule in this place where
by the decree of Fate I must dwell on until he whom I seek returns. You
are thinking in your heart that such savages would be little loss and this
is so, but still they serve as slaves to me in my loneliness. Moreover I
have sworn to protect them from the demon Rezu and they have trusted in me
and therefore my honour is at stake, for never shall it be said that those
who trusted in She-who-commands, were overthrown because they put faith in
one who was powerless."</p>
<p>"What do you mean about an axe, Ayesha?" I asked. "Why can an axe alone
kill Rezu?"</p>
<p>"The thing is a mystery, O Allan, of which I may not tell you all, since
to do so I must reveal secrets which I have determined you shall not
learn. Suffice it to you to know that when this Rezu drank of the Cup of
Life he took with him his axe. Now this axe was an ancient weapon rumoured
to have been fashioned by the gods and, as it chanced, that axe drew to
itself more and stronger life than did Rezu, how, it does not matter, if
indeed the tale be more than a fable. At least this I know is true, for he
who guarded the Gate of Life, a certain Noot, a master of mysteries, and
mine also in my day of youth, who being a philosopher and very wise, chose
never to pass that portal which was open to him, said it to me himself ere
he went the way of flesh. He told this Rezu also that now he had naught to
fear save his own axe and therefore he counselled him to guard it well,
since if it was lifted against him in another's hands it would bring him
down to death, which nothing else could do. Like to the heel of Achilles
whereof the great Homer sings—have you read Homer, Allan?"</p>
<p>"In a translation," I answered.</p>
<p>"Good, then you will remember the story. Like to the heel of Achilles, I
say, that axe would be the only gate by which death could enter his
invulnerable flesh, or rather it alone could make the gate."</p>
<p>"How did Noot know that?" I asked.</p>
<p>"I cannot say," she answered with irritation. "Perchance he did not know
it. Perchance it is all an idle tale, but at least it is true that Rezu
believed and believes it, and what a man believes is true for him and will
certainly befall. If it were otherwise, what is the use of faith which in
a thousand forms supports our race and holds it from the horrors of the
Pit? Only those who believe nothing inherit what they believe—nothing,
Allan."</p>
<p>"It may be so," I replied prosaically, "but what happened about the axe?"</p>
<p>"In the end it was lost, or as some say stolen by a woman whom Rezu had
deserted, and therefore he walks the world in fear from day to day. Nay,
ask no more empty questions" (I had opened my mouth to speak) "but hear
the end of the tale. In my trouble concerning Rezu I remembered this wild
legend of the axe and since, when lost in a forest every path that may
lead to safety should be explored, I sent my wisdom forth to make inquiry
concerning it, as I who am great, have the power to do, of certain who are
in tune with me throughout this wide land of Africa. Amongst others, I
inquired of that old wizard whom you named Zikali, Opener of Roads, and he
gave me an answer that there lived in his land a certain warrior who ruled
a tribe called the People of the Axe by right of the Axe, of which axe
none, not even he, knew the beginning or the legend. On the chance, though
it was a small one, I bade the wizard send that warrior here with his axe.
Last night he stood before me and I looked upon him and the axe, which at
least is ancient and has a story. Whether it be the same that Rezu bore I
do not know who never saw it, yet perchance he who bears it now is
prepared to hold it aloft in battle even against Rezu, though he be
terrible to see, and then we shall learn."</p>
<p>"Oh! yes," I answered, "he is quite prepared, for that is his nature. Also
among this man's people, the holder of the Axe is thought to be
unconquerable."</p>
<p>"Yet some must have been conquered who held it," she replied musingly.
"Well, you shall tell me that tale later. Now we have talked long and you
are weary and astonished. Go, eat and rest yourself. To-night when the
moon rises I will come to where you are, not before, for I have much that
must be done, and show you those with whom you must fight against Rezu,
and make a plan of battle."</p>
<p>"But I do not want to fight," I answered, "who have fought enough and came
here to seek wisdom, not bloodshed."</p>
<p>"First the sacrifice, then the reward," she answered, "that is if any are
left to be rewarded. Farewell."</p>
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