approached this door it opened and through it； like a hunted thing；
ran the bedizened Mungana； husband of the Asika； terror； or madness；
shining in his eyes。 Catching sight of his wife； who bore the lamp； he
threw himself upon his knees and snatching at her robe； addressed some
petition to her； speaking so rapidly that Alan could not follow his
words。
For a moment she listened； then dragged her dress from his hand and
spurned him with her foot。 There was something so cruel in the gesture
and the action； so full of deadly hate and loathing； that Alan； who
witnessed it； experienced a new revulsion of feeling towards the
Asika。 What kind of a woman must she be； he wondered； who could treat
a discarded lover thus in the presence of his successor？
With a groan or a sob； it was difficult to say which； the poor man
rose and perceived Alan； whose face he now beheld for the first time；
since the Asika had told him not to mask himself as they would meet no
one。 The sight of it seemed to fill him with jealous fury； at any rate
he leapt at his rival； intending； apparently； to catch him by the
throat。 Alan； who was watching him； stepped aside； so that he came
into violet contact with the wall of the passage and； half…stunned by
the shock； reeled onwards into the darkness。
〃The hog！〃 said the Asika； or rather she hissed it； 〃the hog； who
dared to touch me and to strike at you。 Well； his time is shortwould
that I could make it shorter！ Did you hear what he sought of me？〃
Alan； who wished for no confidences； replied by asking what the
Mungana was doing in the Treasure House； to which she answered that
the spirits who dwelt there were eating up his soul； and when they had
devoured it all he would go quite mad and kill himself。
〃Does this happen to all Munganas？〃 inquired Alan。
〃Yes； Vernoon； if the Asika hates them； but if she loves them it is
otherwise。 Come； let us forget the wretch； who would kill you if he
could；〃 and she led the way into the hall and up it； passing between
the heaps of gold。
On the table where lay the necklaces of gems she set down her lamp；
whereof the light； all there was in that great place； flickered feebly
upon the mask of Little Bonsa； which had been moved here apparently
for some ceremonial purpose； and still more feebly upon the hideous；
golden countenances and winding sheets of the ancient； yellow dead who
stood around in scores placed one above the other； each in his
appointed niche。 It was an awesome scene and one that oppressed Jeekie
very much； for he murmured to Alan：
〃Oh my！ Major； family vault child's play to this hole； just like〃
here his comparison came to an end； for the Asika cut it short with a
single glance。
〃Sit here in front of me；〃 she said to Alan； 〃and you； Jeekie； sit at
your lord's side； and be silent till I bid you speak。〃
Then she crouched down in a heap behind them； threw the cloth or veil
she carried over her head； and in some way that they did not see；
suddenly extinguished the lamp。
Now they were in deep darkness； the darkness of death； and in utter
silence； the silence of the dead。 No glimmer of light； and yet to Alan
it seemed as though he could feel the flash of the crystal eyes of
Little Bonsa； and of all the other eyes set in the masks of those
departed men who once had been the husbands of the bloodstained
priestess of the Asiki； till one by one； as she wearied of them； they
were bewitched to madness and to doom。 In that utter quiet he thought
even that he could hear them stir within their winding sheets； or it
may have been that the Asika had risen and moved among them on some
errand of her own。 Far away something fell to the floor； a very light
object； such as flake of rock or a scale of gold。 Yet the noise of it
struck his nerves loud as a clap of thunder； and those of Jeekie also；
for he felt him start at his side and heard the sudden hammerlike beat
of his heart。
What was the woman doing in this dreadful place； he wondered。 Well； it
was easy to guess。 Doubtless she had brought them here to scare and
impress them。 Presently a voice； that of some hidden priest； would
speak to them； and they would be asked to believe it a message from
the spirit world； or a spirit itself might be arrangedwhat could be
easier in their mood and these surroundings？
Now the Asika was speaking behind them in a muffled voice。 From the
tone of it she appeared to be engaged in argument or supplication in
some strange tongue。 At any rate Alan could not understand a word of
what she said。 The argument； or prayer； went on for a long while； with
pauses as though for answers。 Then suddenly it ceased and once more
they were plunged into that unfathomable silence。
CHAPTER XVI
WHAT THE ASIKA SHOWED ALAN
It seemed to Alan that he went to sleep and dreamed。
He dreamed that it was late autumn in England。 Leaves drifted down
from the trees beneath the breath of a strong； damp wind； and ran or
floated along the road till they vanished into a ditch； or caught
against a pile of stones that had been laid ready for its repair。 He
knew the road well enough； he even knew the elm tree beneath which he
seemed to stand on the crest of a hill。 It was that which ran from Mr。
Champers…Haswell's splendid house； The Court； to the church； he could
see them both； the house to the right； the church to the left； and his
eyesight seemed to have improved； since he was able to observe that at
either place there was bustle and preparation as though for some big
ceremony。
Now the big gates of The Court opened and through them came a funeral。
It advanced toward him with unnatural swiftness； as though it floated
upon air； the whole melancholy procession of it。 In a few seconds it
had come and gone and yet during those seconds he suffered agony； for
there arose in his mind a horrible terror that this was Barbara's
burying。 He could not have endured it for another moment； he would
have cried out or died； only now the mourners passed him following the
coffin； and in the first carriage he saw Barbara seated； looking sad
and somewhat troubled； but well。 A little further down the line came
another carriage； and in it was Sir Robert Aylward； staring before him
with cold； impassive face。
In his dream Alan thought to himself that he must have borrowed this
carriage； which would not be strange； as he generally used motors； for
there was a peer's coronet upon the panels and the silver…mounted
harness。
The funeral passed and suddenly vanished into the churchyard gates；
leaving Alan wondering why his cousin Haswell was not seated at
Barbara's side。 Then it occurred to him that it might be because he
was in the coffin； and at that moment in his dream he heard the Asika
asking Jeekie what he saw； heard Jeekie answering also； 〃A burying in
the country called England。〃
〃Of whom； Jeekie？〃 Then after some hesitation； the answer：
〃Of a lady whom my lord loves very much。 They bury her。〃
〃What was her name； Jeekie？〃
〃Her name was Barbara。〃
〃Bar…bara； why that you told me was the name of his mother and his
sister。 Which of them is buried？〃
〃Neither； O Asika。 It was another lady who loved him very much and
wanted to marry him； and that was why he ran away to Africa。 But now
she is dead and buried。〃
〃Are all women in England called Barbara； Jeekie？〃
〃Yes； O Asika； Barbara means woman。〃
〃If your lord loved this Barbara； why then did he run away from her？
Well； it matters not since she is dead and buried； for whatever their
spirits may feel； no man cares for a woman that is dead until she
clothes herself in flesh again。 That was a good vision and I will
reward you for it。〃
〃I have earned nothing； O Asika；〃 answered Jeekie modestly； 〃who only
tell you what I see as I must。 Yet； O Asika；〃 he added with a note of
anxiety in his voice； 〃why do you not read these magic writings for
yourself？〃
〃Because I dare not； or rather because I can not；〃 she answered
fiercely。 〃Be silent； slave； for now the power of the good broods upon
my soul。〃
The dream went on。 A great forest appeared； such a forest as they had
passed before they met the cannibals； and set beneath one of the
trees； a tent and in that tent Barbara； Barbara weeping。 Someone began
to lift the flap of the tent。 She sprang up； snatching at a pistol
that lay beside her； turning its muzzle towards her breast。 A man
entered the tent。 Alan saw his face； it was his own。 Barbara let fall
the pistol and fell backwards as though a bullet from it had pierced
her heart。 He leapt towards her； but before he came to where she lay
everything had vanished and he heard Jeekie droning out his lies to
the Asika； telling her that the vision he had seen was one of her and
his master seated with their arms about each other in a chamber of the
Golden House。
A third time the dream descended on Alan like a cloud。 It seemed to
him that he was borne beyond the flaming borders of the world。
Everything around was new and unfamiliar； vast； changing； lovely；
terrible。 He stood alone upon a pearly plain and the sky above him was
lit with red moons； many and many of them that hung there like lamps。
Spirits began to pass him。 He could catch something of their splendour
as they sped by with incredible swiftness； he could hear the music of
their laughter。 One rose up at his side。 It was the Asika； only a
thousand times more splendid； clothed in all the glory of hell。
Majestically she bent towards him； her glowing eyes held his； the
deadly perfume of her breath beat upon his brow and made him drunken。
She spoke to him and her voice sounded like distant bells。
〃Through many a life； through many a life；〃 she said； 〃bought with
much blood； paid for with a million tears； but mine at last； the soul
that I have won to comfort my soul in the eternal day。 Come to the
place I have made ready for you； the hell that shall turn to heaven at
your step； come； you by whom I am redeemed； and drive away those gods
that torture me because I was their servant that I might win you。〃
So she spoke； and though all his soul revolted； yet the fearful
strength that was in her seemed to draw him onward whither she would
go。 Then a light shone and that light was