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Is this thetime and place to chatter of pretty women?
But stay, I will tell you
what haschanced. May I shoot that priest, Baas, or will you? You fellows have
readof the effects of opium smoking; well, it was that kind of thing,
onlyworse.
Will you wait upon the god living,or will you wait upon him dead? I
was puzzled for a moment till Hans remarked:I think she means the matches,
Baas.
Baas, said Hans again, I believe that is the gorilla-woman I shotin the
river. Also that it would be wise not tointerfere in matters that did not
concern us.
Then she stared towards Hans and myself, waving her arms, and
Ithought was about to address us. I was puzzled for a moment till Hans
remarked:I think she means the matches, Baas.
Is this thetime and place to
chatter of pretty women? I asked, seeing that she who waschosen last year must
be sacrificed this year? Had you aught to do with her death, Lord? Will you
wait upon the god living,or will you wait upon him dead?
Indeed, Ihad not eaten
such a meal for years. Yet strangely enough it was all wildly, deliriously
exciting andreally I seemed to enjoy it. Dacha in person, thought I to myself,
and sure enough Dacha it was.
Infact, I think it was Dramana who kissed me, for
she, too, had gonemad. You will learn all about Heu-Heu before the night
isover. Meanwhile, I understand that you wish to get out ofthis place and to
save your sister. Will you wait upon the god living,or will you wait upon him
dead?
Meanwhile, I understand that you wish to get out ofthis place and to save
your sister. Here, seeing that we were quite alone, forall had gone to the
sacrifice, I spoke to her. Dacha looked towards us, hesitating, and I saw that
it was time toact. I asked of Dramana who now was seatedat my side, a perfect
model of propriety. Mighty though I be, I must be careful not to angerhim lest
myself I should be burnt to cinders.
Then she fell down there upon the table
and was still.
But then your people roughly hunted her away, sothat we were
obliged to walk to your town. Indeed, Ihad not eaten such a meal for years. Had
notDacha called it the Dust of Illusions?
Had notDacha called it the Dust of
Illusions? Tall and stately, she stood quite still before us, her blackhair
streaming down upon her shoulders. Be silent,for here the ears of the god are
everywhere. She annoyed the Lord-of-the-Fire with herattentions, so he slew
her, as was right and proper.
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