第24章

“OAmon，IthySacrificer，IthyMagician，towhomthougivestpower，IthepriestandservantofIsis，MotherofMysteries，Queenofthecompanyofthegods，calluponthee。ShewhostandsbeforetheeisbutaHebrewwoman。Yet，asthouknowestwell，OFather，inthishousesheismorethanwoman，inasmuchassheistheVoiceandSwordofthineenemy，Jahveh，godoftheIsraelites。Shethinks，mayhap，thatshehascomehereofherownwill，butthouknowest，FatherAmon，asIknow，thatsheissentbythegreatprophetsofherpeople，thosemagicianswhoguidehersoulwithspellstoworktheeevilandtosetthee，Amon，beneaththeheelofJahveh。Thestakeseemssmall，thelifeofthisonemaid，nomore；yetitisverygreat。Thisisthestake，O Father：ShallAmonruletheworld，orJahveh。Ifthoufallestto-night，thoufallestforever；ifthoudosttriumphto-night，thoudosttriumphforever。Inyondershapeofstonehidesthyspirit；inyondershapeofwoman’sfleshhidesthespiritofthyfoe。Smiteher，OAmon，smitehertosmalldust；letnotthestrengththatisinherprevailagainstthystrength，lestthynameshouldbedefiledandsorrowsandlossshouldcomeuponthelandwhichisthythrone；lest，too，thewizardsoftheIsraelitesshouldovercomeusthyservants。 ThusprayethKithymagician，onwhosesoulithaspleasedtheetopourstrengthandwisdom。“ Thenfollowedagreatsilence。 Watchingthestatueofthegod，presentlyIthoughtthatitmoved，andasIcouldseebythestiramongthem，sodidtheothers。Ithoughtthatitsstoneeyesrolled，IthoughtthatitliftedtheScourgeofPowerinitsgranitehand，thoughwhetherthesethingsweredonebysomespiritorbysomepriest，orbythemagicofKi，Idonotknow。 Attheleast，agreatwindbegantoblowaboutthetemple，stirringourrobesandcausingthelampstoflicker。OnlytherobesofMerapididnotstir。YetshesawwhatIcouldnotsee，forsuddenlyhereyesgrewfrightened。 “Thegodisawake，“whisperedBakenkhonsu。“Nowgood-byetoyourfairIsraelite。See，thePrincetrembles，Kismiles，andthefaceofUsertiglowswithtriumph。“ Ashespokethebluescarab？uswassnatchedfromMerapi’sbreastasthoughbyahand。Itfelltothefloorasdidherwimple，sothatnowsheappearedwithherrichhairflowingdownherrobe。Thentheeyesofthestatueseemedtoceasetoroll，thewindceasedtoblow，andagaintherewassilence。 Merapistooped，liftedthewimple，replaceditonherhead，foundthescarab？usclasp，andveryquietly，asawomanwhowastiringherselfmightdo，madeitfastinitsplaceagain，asightatwhichIheardUsertigasp。 Foralongwhilewewaited。Watchingthefacesofthecongregation，I sawamazementanddoubtonthoseofthepriests，rageonthatofKi，andonSeti’stheflickerofalittlesmile。Merapi’seyeswereclosedasthoughshewereasleep。Atlengthsheopenedthem，andturningherheadtowardsthePrincesaid： “Ohigh-priestofAmon-Ra，hasyourgodworkedhiswillonme，ormustIwaitlongerbeforeIcalluponmyGod？“ “Dowhatyouwillorcan，woman，andmakeanend，foralmostitisthemomentofdawnwhenthetempleworshipopens。“ ThenMerapiclaspedherhands，andlookingupwards，prayedaloudverysweetlyandsimply，saying： “OGodofmyfathers，trustinginThee，I，apoormaidofThypeopleIsrael，havesetthelifeThougavestmeinThyHand。If，asI believe，ThouarttheGodofgods，IprayTheeshowasignandawonderuponthisgodoftheEgyptians，andtherebydeclareThineHonourandkeepmybreathwithinmybreast。IfitpleasesTheenot，thenletmedie，asdoubtlessformymanysinsIdeservetodo。OGodofmyfathers，Ihavemademyprayer。HearitorrejectitaccordingtoThyWill。“ Sosheended，andlisteningtoher，Ifeltthetearsrisinginmyeyes，becauseshewassomuchalone，andIfearedthatthisgodofherswouldnevercometosaveherfromthetormentsofthepriests。 Setialsoturnedhisheadaway，andstareddownthesanctuaryattheskyovertheopencourtwherethelightsofdawnweregathering。 Oncemoretherewassilence。Thenagainthatwindblew，verystrongly，extinguishingthelamps，and，asitseemedtome，whirlingawayMerapifromwhereshewas，sothatnowshestoodtoonesideofthestatue。 Thesanctuarywasfilledwithgloom，tillpresentlythefirstraysoftherisingsunstruckupontheroof。Theyfelldown，down，asminutefollowedminute，tillatlengththeyrestedlikeaswordofflameuponthestatueofAmon-Ra。Oncemorethatstatueseemedtomove。Ithoughtthatitlifteditsstonearmstoprotectitshead。Theninamomentwitharendingnoise，itsmightymassburstasunder，andfellinsmalldustaboutthethrone，almosthidingitfromsight。 “BeholdmyGodhasansweredme，themosthumbleofHisservants，“saidMerapiinthesamesweetandgentlevoice。“Beholdthesignandthewonder!“ “Witch!“screamedthehead-priestRoi，andfledaway，followedbyhisfellows。 “Sorceress!“hissedUserti，andfledalso，asdidalltheothers，savethePrince，Bakenkhonsu，IAna，andKitheMagician。 Westoodamazed，andwhilewedidso，KiturnedtoMerapiandspoke。 Hisfacewasterriblewithfearandfury，andhiseyesshonelikelamps。Althoughhedidbutwhisper，Iwhowasnearesttothemheardallthatwassaid，whichtheotherscouldnotdo。 “Yourmagicisgood，Israelite，“hemuttered，“sogoodthatithasovercomeminehereinthetemplewhereIserve。“ “Ihavenomagic，“sheansweredverylow。“Iobeyedacommand，nomore。“ Helaughedbitterly，andasked： “Shouldtwoofatradewastetimeonfoolishness？Listennow。Teachmeyoursecrets，andIwillteachyoumine，andtogetherwewilldriveEgyptlikeachariot。“ “Ihavenosecrets，Ihaveonlyfaith，“saidMerapiagain。 “Woman，“hewenton，“womanordevil，willyoutakemeforfriendorfoe？HereIhavebeenshamed，sinceitwastomeandnottotheirgodsthattheprieststrustedtodestroyyou。YetIcanstillforgive。 Choosenow，knowingthatasmyfriendshipwillleadyoutorule，tolifeandsplendour，somyhatewilldriveyoutoshameanddeath。“ “Youarebesideyourself，andknownotwhatyousay。ItellyouthatI havenomagictogiveortowithhold，“sheanswered，asonewhodidnotunderstandorwasindifferent，andturnedawayfromhim。 ThereonhemutteredsomecursewhichIcouldnotcatch，bowedtotheheapofdustthathadbeenthestatueofthegod，andvanishedawayamongthepillarsofthesanctuary。 “Oho-ho!“laughedBakenkhonsu。“NotinvainhaveIlivedtobesoveryold，fornowitseemswehaveanewgodinEgypt，andtherestandshisprophetess。“ Merapicametotheprince。 “Ohigh-priestofAmon，“shesaid，“doesitpleaseyoutoletmego，forIamveryweary？“ Itwastheappointeddayandhour。BycommandofthePrinceIdrovewithhimtothepalaceofPharaoh，whitherherHighnessthePrincessrefusedtobehiscompanion，andforthefirsttimewetalkedtogetherofthatwhichhadpassedinthetemple。 “HaveyouseentheladyMerapi？“heaskedofme。 IansweredNo，asIwastoldthatshewassickwithinherhouseandlayabedsufferingfromweariness，orIknewnotwhat。 “Shedoeswelltokeepthere，“saidSeti，“Ithinkthatifshecameoutthosepriestswouldmurderheriftheycould。Alsothereareothers，“andheglancedbackatthechariotthatboreUsertiinstate。 “Say，Ana，canyouinterpretallthismatter？“ “NotI，Prince。IthoughtthatperhapsyourHighness，thehigh-priestofAnon，couldgivemelight。“ “Thehigh-priestofAmonwandersinthickdarkness。KiandtherestswearthatthisIsraeliteisasorceresswhohasoutmatchedtheirmagic，buttomeitseemsmoresimpletobelievethatwhatshesaysistrue；thathergodisgreaterthanAmon。“ “Andifthisbetrue，Prince，whatarewetodowhoaresworntothegodsofEgypt？“ “Bowourheadsandfallwiththem，Isuppose，Ana，sincehonourwillnotsufferustodesertthem。“ “Eveniftheybefalse，Prince？“ “Idonotthinkthattheyarefalse，Ana，thoughmayhaptheybelesstrue。AtleasttheyarethegodsoftheEgyptiansandweareEgyptians。“Hepausedandglancedatthecrowdedstreets，thenadded，“See，whenIpassedthiswaythreedaysagoIwasreceivedwithshoutsofwelcomebythepeople。Nowtheyaresilent，everyone。“ “Perhapstheyhaveheardofwhatpassedinthetemple。“ “Doubtless，butitisnotthatwhichtroublesthemwhothinkthatthegodscanguardthemselves。TheyhaveheardalsothatIwouldbefriendtheHebrewswhomtheyhate，andthereforetheybegintohateme。WhyshouldIcomplainwhenPharaohshowsthemtheway？“ “Prince，“Iwhispered，“whatwillyousaytoPharaoh？“ “ThatdependsonwhatPharaohsaystome。Ana，ifIwillnotdesertourgodsbecausetheyseemtobetheweaker，thoughitshouldprovetomyadvantage，doyouthinkthatIwoulddeserttheseHebrewsbecausetheyseemtobeweaker，eventogainathrone？“ “Theregreatnessspeaks，“Imurmured，andaswedescendedfromthechariothethankedmewithalook。 WepassedthroughthegreathalltothatsamechamberwherePharaohhadgivenmethechainofgold。Alreadyhewasthereseatedattheheadofthechamberandwearingonhisheadthedoublecrown。Abouthimweregatheredallthoseofroyalbloodandthegreatofficersofstate。Wemadeourobeisances，butoftheseheseemedtotakenonote。