heavenly day。 The Asika was passive； some new mood being on her； and
scarcely troubled him at all except to call his attention to a tree； a
flower； or a prospect of the scenery。 Here on the mountain side； too；
the air was sweet； and for the restwell； he who had been so near to
death； was escaped for an hour from that gloomy home of bloodshed and
superstition； and saw God's sky again。
This journey was the first of many。 Every day the litters were waiting
and they visited some new place； although into the town itself they
never went。 Moreover； if they passed through outlying villages； though
Alan was forced to wear his mask； their inhabitants had been warned to
absent themselves； so that they saw no one。 The crops were left
untended and the cattle and sheep lowed hungrily in their kraals。 On
certain days； at Alan's request； they were taken to the spots where
the gold was found in the gravel bed of an almost dry stream that
during the rains was a torrent。
He descended from the litter and with the help of the Asika and
Jeekie； dug a little in this gravel； not without reward； for in it
they found several nuggets。 Above； too； where they went afterwards；
was a huge quartz reef denuded by water； which evidently had been
worked in past ages and was still so rich that in it they saw plenty
of visible gold。 Looking at it Alan bethought him of his City days and
of the hundreds of thousands of pounds capital with which this unique
proposition might have been floated。 Afterwards they were carried to
the places where the gems were found； stuck about in the clay； like
plums in a pudding； though none ever sought them now。 But all these
things interested the Asika not at all。
〃What is the good of gold；〃 she asked of Alan； 〃except to make things
of； or the bright stones except to play with？ What is the good of
anything except food to eat and power and wisdom that can open the
secret doors of knowledge； of things seen and things unseen； and love
that brings the lover joy and forgetfulness of self and takes away the
awful loneliness of the soul； if only for a little while？〃
Not wishing to drift into discussion on the matter of love； Alan asked
the priestess to define her 〃soul；〃 whence it came and whither she
believed it to be going。
〃My soul is I； Vernoon；〃 she answered； 〃and already very； very old。
Thus it has ruled amongst this people for thousands of years。〃
〃How is that？〃 he asked； 〃seeing that the Asika dies？〃
〃Oh！ no； Vernoon； she does not die； she only changes。 The old body
dies； the spirit enters into another body which is waiting。 Thus until
I was fourteen I was but a common girl； the daughter of a headman of
that village yonder； at least so they tell me； for of this time I have
no memory。 Then the Asika died and as I had the secret marks and the
beauty that is hers the priests burnt her body before Big Bonsa and
suffocated me； the child； in the smoke of the burning。 But I awoke
again and when I awoke the past was gone and the soul of the Asika
filled me； bringing with it its awful memories； its gathered wisdom；
its passion of love and hate； and its power to look backward and
before。〃
〃Do you ever do these things？〃 asked Alan。
〃Backward； yes； before very little； since you came； not at all；
because my heart is a coward and I fear what I might see。 Oh！ Vernoon；
Vernoon； I know you and your thoughts。 You think me a beautiful beast
who loves like a beast； who loves you because you are white and
different from our men。 Well； what there is of the beast in me the
gods of my people gave； for they are devils and I am their servant。
But there is more than that； there is good also which I have won for
myself。 I knew you would come even before I had seen your face； I knew
you would come；〃 she went on passionately； 〃and that is why I was
yours already。 But what would befall after you came； that I neither
knew； nor know； because I will not seek； who could learn it all。〃
He looked at her and she saw the doubt in his eyes。
〃You do not believe me； Vernoon。 Very well； this night you shall see；
you and that black dog of yours； that you may know I do not trick you；
and he shall tell me what you see； for he being but a low…born pig
will speak the truth； not minding if it hurts me； whereas you are
gentle and might spare； and myself I have sworn not to search the
future by an oath that I may not break。〃
〃What of the past？〃 asked Alan。
〃We will not waste time on it； for I know it all。 Vernoon； have you no
memories of Asiki…land？ Do you think you never visited it before？〃
〃Never；〃 said Alan； 〃it was my uncle who came and ran away with Little
Bonsa on his head。〃
〃That is news indeed；〃 she replied mockingly。 〃Did you then think that
I believed it to be you； though it is true that she who went before；
or my spirit that was in her； fell into error for an hour； and thought
that fool…uncle of yours was /the Man/。 When she found her mistake she
let him go； and bade the god go with him that it might bring back the
appointed Man； as it has done； yes； that Little Bonsa； who knew him of
old； might search him out from among all the millions of men； born or
unborn； and bring him back to me。 Therefore also she chose a young
black dog who would live for many years； and bade the god to take him
with her； and told him of the wealth of our people that it might be a
bait upon the hook。 Do you see； Vernoon； that yellow dirt was the
bait； that II am the hook？ Well； you have felt it before； so it
should not gall you overmuch。〃
Now Alan was more frightened than he had been since he set foot in
Asiki…land； for of a sudden this woman became terrible to him。 He felt
that she knew things which were hidden from him。 For the first time he
believed in her； believed； that she was more than a mere passionate
savage set by chance to rule over a bloodthirsty tribe； that she was
one who had a part in his destiny。
〃Felt the hook？〃 he muttered。 〃I do not understand。〃
〃You are very forgetful；〃 she answered。 〃Vernoon； we have lived and
loved before； who were twin souls from the first。 That man now； whom I
told you lived once on the great river called the Nile； have you no
memory of him？ Well； well； let it be； I will tell you afterwards。 Here
we are at the Gold House again； to…night when I am ready I will send
for you； and this I promise； you shall leave me wiser than you were。〃
When they were alone in their room Alan told Jeekie of the expected
entertainment of crystal gazing； or whatever it might be； and the part
that he was to play in it。
〃You say that again； Major；〃 said Jeekie。
Alan repeated the information； giving every detail that he could
remember。
〃Oh！〃 said Jeekie； 〃I see Asika show us things； 'cause she afraid to
look at them herself； or take oath； or can't； or something。 She no ask
you tell her what she see； because you too kind hurt her feeling； if
happen to be something beastly。 But Jeekie just tell her because he so
truthful and not care curse about her feeling。 Well； that all right；
Jeekie tell her sure enough。 Only； Major； don't you interrupt。 Quite
possible these magic things； I see one show； you see another。 So don't
you go say； 'Jeekie； that a lie；' and give me away to Asika just
because you think you see different； 'cause if so you put me into
dirty hole； and of course I catch it afterwards。 You promise； Major？〃
〃Oh！ yes； I promise。 But； Jeekie； do you really think we are going to
see anything？〃
〃Can't say； Major；〃 and he shook his head gloomily。 〃P'raps all put up
job。 But lots of rum things in world； Major； specially among beastly
African savage who very curious and always ready pay blood to bad
Spirit。 Hope Asika not get this into her head； because no one know
what happen。 P'raps we see too much and scared all our lives； but
p'raps all tommy rot。〃
〃That's ittommy rot；〃 answered Alan； who was not superstitious。
〃Well； I suppose that we must go through with it。 But oh！ Jeekie； I
wish you would tell me how to get out of this。〃
〃Don't know； Major； p'raps never get out； p'raps learn how to…night。
Have to do something soon if want to go。 Mungana's time nearly up； and
thenoh my eye！〃
It was night； about ten o'clock indeed； the hour at which Alan
generally went to bed。 No message had come and he began to hope that
the Asika had forgotten； or changed her mind； and was just going to
say so to Jeekie when a light coming from behind him attracted his
attention and he turned to see her standing in a corner of the great
room； holding a lamp in her hand and looking towards him。 Her gold
breastplate and crown were gone； with every other ornament； and she
was clad； or rather muffled in robes of pure white fitted with a kind
of nun's hood which lay back upon her shoulders。 Also on her arm she
carried a shawl or veil。 Standing thus； all undecked； with her long
hair fastened in a simple knot； she still looked very beautiful； more
so than she had ever been； thought Alan； for the cruelty of her face
had faded and was replaced by a mystery very strange to see。 She did
not seem quite like a natural woman； and that was the reason； perhaps；
that Alan for the first time felt attracted by her。 Hitherto she had
always repelled him； but this night it was otherwise。
〃How did you come here？〃 he asked in a more gentle voice than he
generally used towards her。
Noting the change in his tone； she smiled shyly and even coloured a
little； then answered：
〃This house has many secrets； Vernoon。 When you are lord of it you
shall learn them all； till then I may not tell them to you。 But； come；
there are other secrets which I hope you shall see to…night； and；
Jeekie； come you also； for you shall be the mouth of your lord； so
that you may tell me what perhaps he would hide。〃
〃I will tell you everything； everything； O Asika；〃 answered Jeekie；
stretching out his hands and bowing almost to the ground。
Then they started and following many long passages as before； although
whether they were the same or others Alan could not tell； came at last
to a door which he recognized； that of the Treasure House。 As they
approached this door it opened and through it； like a hunted thing；
ran the bedizened Mungana； husband of the As