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〃So do I； though to tell you the truth I like them。 I am going to keep
it and do nothingas yet。 Still； I want you always to remember one
thingdon't laugh at me〃here again she looked me in the eyes〃that
there is a time coming； some way off I think； when I and youno one
else； Mr。 Quatermainwill breathe that smoke again together and see
strange things。〃
〃No； no！〃 I replied； 〃I have given up tobacco of the Kendah variety；
it is too strong for me。〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 she said； 〃for something that is stronger than the Kendah
tobacco will make you do itwhen I wish。〃
〃Did Har？t tell you that； Lady Ragnall？〃
〃I don't know；〃 she answered confusedly。 〃I think the Ivory Child told
me； it used to talk to me often。 You know that Child isn't really
destroyed。 Like my reason that seemed to be lost； it has only gone
backwards or forwards where you and I shall see it again。 You and I
and no othersunless it be the little yellow man。 I repeat that I do
not know when that will be。 Perhaps it is written in those rolls of
papyrus； which they have given me also； because they said they
belonged to me who am 'the first priestess and the last。' They told
me； however； or perhaps；〃 she added； passing her hand across her
forehead； 〃it was the Child who told me； that I was not to attempt to
read them or have them read； until after a great change in my life。
What the change will be I do not know。〃
〃And had better not inquire； Lady Ragnall； since in this world most
changes are for the worse。〃
〃I agree； and shall not inquire。 Now I have spoken to you like this
because I felt that I must do so。 Also I want to thank you for all you
have done for me and George。 Probably we shall not talk in such a way
again； as I am situated the opportunity will be lacking； even if the
wish is present。 So once more I thank you from my heart。 Until we meet
againI mean really meetgood…bye；〃 and she held her right hand to
me in such a fashion that I knew she meant me to kiss it。
This I did very reverently and we walked back to the temple almost in
silence。
That month of rest； or rather the last three weeks of it； since for
the first few days after the battle I was quite prostrate； I occupied
in various ways； amongst others in a journey with Har？t to Simba Town。
This we made after our spies had assured us that the Black Kendah were
really gone somewhere to the south…west； in which direction fertile
and unoccupied lands were said to exist about three hundred miles
away。 It was with very strange feelings that I retraced our road and
looked once more upon that wind…bent tree still scored with the marks
of Jana's huge tusk； in the boughs of which Hans and I had taken
refuge from the monster's fury。 Crossing the river； quite low now； I
travelled up the slope down which we raced for our lives and came to
the melancholy lake and the cemetery of dead elephants。
Here all was unchanged。 There was the little mount worn by his feet；
on which Jana was wont to stand。 There were the rocks behind which I
had tried to hide； and near to them some crushed human bones which I
knew to be those of the unfortunate Mar？t。 These we buried with due
reverence on the spot where he had fallen； I meanwhile thanking God
that my own bones were not being interred at their side； as but for
Hans would have been the caseif they were ever interred at all。 All
about lay the skeletons of dead elephants； and from among these we
collected as much of the best ivory as we could carry； namely about
fifty camel loads。 Of course there was much more； but a great deal of
the stuff had been exposed for so long to sun and weather that it was
almost worthless。
Having sent this ivory back to the Town of the Child； which was being
rebuilt after a fashion； we went on to Simba Town through the forest；
dispatching pickets ahead of us to search and make sure that it was
empty。 Empty it was indeed； never did I see such a place of
desolation。
The Black Kendah had left it just as it stood； except for a pile of
corpses which lay around and over the altar in the market…place； where
the three poor camelmen were sacrificed to Jana； doubtless those of
wounded men who had died during or after the retreat。 The doors of the
houses stood open； many domestic articles； such as great jars
resembling that which had been set over the head of the dead man whom
we were commanded to restore life； and other furniture lay about
because they could not be carried away。 So did a great quantity of
spears and various weapons of war； whose owners being killed would
never want them again。 Except a few starved dogs and jackals no living
creature remained in the town。 It was in its own way as waste and even
more impressive than the graveyard of elephants by the lonely lake。
〃The curse of the Child worked well；〃 said Har？t to me grimly。 〃First；
the storm； the hunger； then the battle； and now the misery of flight
and ruin。〃
〃It seems so；〃 I answered。 〃Yet that curse； like others； came back to
roost； for if Jana is dead and his people fled； where are the Child
and many of its people？ What will you do without your god； Har？t？〃
〃Repent us of our sins and wait till the Heavens send us another； as
doubtless they will in their own season；〃 he replied very sadly。
I wonder whether they ever did and； if so； what form that new divinity
put on。
I slept； or rather did not sleep； that night in the same guest…house
in which Mar？t and I had been imprisoned during our dreadful days of
fear； reconstructing in my mind every event connected with them。 Once
more I saw the fires of sacrifice flaring upon the altar and heard the
roar of the dancing hail that proclaimed the ruin of the Black Kendah
as loudly as the trumpet of a destroying angel。 Very glad was I when
the morning came at length and； having looked my last upon Simba Town；
I crossed the moats and set out homewards through the forest whereof
the stripped boughs also spoke of death； though in the spring these
would grow green again。
Ten days later we started from the Holy Mount； a caravan of about a
hundred camels； of which fifty were laden with the ivory and the rest
ridden by our escort under the command of Har？t and our three selves。
But there was an evil fate upon this ivory； as on everything else that
had to do with Jana。 Some weeks later in the desert a great sandstorm
overtook us in which we barely escaped with our lives。 At the height
of the storm the ivory…laden camels broke loose； flying before it。
Probably they fell and were buried beneath the sand； at any rate of
the fifty we only recovered ten。
Ragnall wished to pay me the value of the remaining loads； which ran
into thousands of pounds； but I would not take the money； saying it
was outside our bargain。 Sometimes since then I have thought that I
was foolish； especially when on glancing at that codicil to his will
in after days； the same which he had given me before the battle； I