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priestess threw something that caused the flame to turn to smoke。 Then
Isis； for I prefer to call her so while describing this ceremony； was
caused to bend her head forward； so that it was enveloped in the smoke
exactly as she and I had done some years before in the drawing…room at
Ragnall Castle。 Presently the smoke died away and the two attendants
with the feathered head…dresses straightened her in the chair where
she sat still holding the babe against her breast as she might have
done to nurse it； but with her head bent forward like that of a person
in a swoon。
Now Har？t stepped forward and appeared to speak to the goddess at some
length； then fell back again and waited； till in the midst of an
intense silence she rose from her seat and； fixing her wide eyes on
the heavens； spoke in her turn； for although we heard nothing of what
she said； in that clear； morning light we could see her lips moving。
For some minutes she spoke； then sat down again upon the chair and
remained motionless； staring straight in front of her。 Har？t advanced
again； this time to the front of the altar； and； taking his stand upon
a kind of stone step； addressed the priests and priestesses and all
the encircling audience in a voice so loud and clear that I could
distinguish and understand every word he said。
〃The Guardian of the heavenly Child； the Nurse decreed； the appointed
Nurturer； She who is the shadow of her that bore the Child； She who in
her day bears the symbol of the Child and is consecrated to its
service from of old； She whose heart is filled with the wisdom of the
Child and who utters the decrees of Heaven； has spoken。 Hearken now to
the voice of the Oracle uttered in answer to the questions of me；
Har？t； the head priest of the Eternal Child during my life…days。 Thus
says the Oracle； the Guardian； the Nurturer； marked like all who went
before her with the holy mark of the new moon。 She on whom the spirit；
flitting from generation to generation； has alighted for a while。 'O
people of the White Kendah； worshippers of the Child in this land and
descendants of those who for thousands of years worshipped the Child
in a more ancient land until the barbarians drove it thence with the
remnant that remained。 War is upon you； O people of the White Kendah。
Jana the evil one； he whose other name is Set； he whose other name is
Satan； he who for this while lives in the shape of an elephant； he who
is worshipped by the thousands whom once you conquered； and whom still
you bridle by my might； comes up against you。 The Darkness wars
against the Daylight； the Evil wars against the Good。 My curse has
fallen upon the people of Jana； my hail has smitten them； their corn
and their cattle； they have no food to eat。 But they are still strong
for war and there is food in your land。 They come to take your corn；
Jana comes to trample your god。 The Evil comes to destroy the Good；
the Night to Devour the Day。 It is the last of many battles。 How shall
you conquer； O People of the Child？ Not by your own strength； for you
are few in number and Jana is very strong。 Not by the strength of the
Child； for the Child grows weak and old； the days of its dominion are
almost done； and its worship is almost outworn。 Here alone that
worship lingers； but new gods； who are still the old gods； press on to
take its place and to lead it to its rest。'
〃How then shall you conquer that； when the Child has departed to its
own place； a remnant of you may still remain？ In one way onlyso says
the Guardian； the Nurturer of the Child speaking with the voice of the
Child； by the help of those whom you have summoned to your aid from
far。 There were four of them； but one you have suffered to be slain in
the maw of the Watcher in the cave。 It was an evil deed； O sons and
daughters of the Child； for as the Watcher is now dead； so ere long
many of you who planned this deed must die who； had it not been for
that man's blood； would have lived on a while。 Why did you do this
thing？ That you might keep a secret； the secret of the theft of a
woman； that you might continue to act a lie which falls upon your head
like a stone from heaven。
〃Thus saith the Child： 'Lift no hand against the three who remain； and
what they shall ask； that give； for thus alone shall some of you be
saved from Jana and those who serve him； even though the Guardian and
the Child be taken away and the Child itself returned to its own
place。' These are the words of the Oracle uttered at the Feast of the
First…fruits； the words that cannot be changed and mayhap its last。〃
Har？t ceased； and there was silence while this portentous message sank
into the minds of his audience。 At length they seemed to understand
its ominous nature and from them all there arose a universal；
simultaneous groan。 As it died away the two attendants dressed as
goddesses assisted the personification of the Lady Isis to rise from
her seat and； opening the robes upon her breast； pointed to something
beneath her throat； doubtless that birthmark shaped like the new moon
which made her so sacred in their eyes since she who bore it and she
alone could fill her holy office。
All the audience and with them the priests and priestesses bowed
before her。 She lifted the symbol of the Child； holding it high above
her head； whereon once more they bowed with the deepest veneration。
Then still holding the effigy aloft； she turned and with her two
attendants passed into the sanctuary and doubtless thence by a covered
way into the house beyond。 At any rate we saw her no more。
As soon as she was gone the congregation； if I may call it so； leaving
their seats； swarmed down into the outer court of the temple through
its eastern gate； which was now opened。 Here the priests proceeded to
distribute among them the offerings taken from the altar； giving a
grain of corn to each of the men to eat and a flower to each of the
women； which flower she kissed and hid in the bosom of her robe。
Evidently it was a kind of sacrament。
Ragnall lifted himself a little upon his hands and knees； and I saw
that his eyes glowed and his face was very pale。
〃What are you going to do？〃 I asked。
〃Demand that those people give me back my wife； whom they have stolen。
Don't try to stop me； Quatermain； I mean what I say。〃
〃But； but；〃 I stammered； 〃they never will and we are but three unarmed
men。〃
Hans lifted up his little yellow face between us。
〃Baas；〃 he hissed； 〃I have a thought。 The Lord Baas wishes to get the
lady dressed like a bird as to her head and like one for burial as to
her body； who is； he says； his wife。 But for us to take her from among
so many is impossible。 Now what did that old witch…doctor Har？t
declare just now？ He declared； speaking for his fetish； that by our
help alone the White Kendah can resist the hosts of the Black Kendah
and that no harm must be done to us if the White Kendah would continue
to live。 So it seems； Baas