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Red Eve
by H。 Rider Haggard
DEDICATION
Ditchingham；
May 27； 1911。
My dear Jehu：
For five long but not unhappy years； seated or journeying side by
side； we have striven as Royal Commissioners to find a means
whereby our coasts may be protected from 〃the outrageous flowing
surges of the sea〃 （I quote the jurists of centuries ago）； the
idle swamps turned to fertility and the barren hills clothed with
forest； also； with small success； how 〃foreshore〃 may be best
defined！
What will result from all these labours I do not know； nor whether
grave geologists ever read romance save that which the pen of Time
inscribes upon the rocks。 Still； in memory of our fellowship in
them I offer to you this story； written in their intervals； of Red
Eve； the dauntless； and of Murgh； Gateway of the Gods； whose
dreadful galley still sails from East to West and from West to
East； yes； and evermore shall sail。
Your friend and colleague；
H。 Rider Haggard。
To Dr。 Jehu； F。G。S。；
St。 Andrews； N。B。
RED EVE
MURGH THE DEATH
They knew nothing of it in England or all the Western countries in
those days before Crecy was fought； when the third Edward sat upon the
throne。 There was none to tell them of the doom that the East； whence
come light and life； death and the decrees of God； had loosed upon the
world。 Not one in a multitude in Europe had ever even heard of those
vast lands of far Cathay peopled with hundreds of millions of cold…
faced yellow men； lands which had grown very old before our own
familiar states and empires were carved out of mountain； of forest；
and of savage…haunted plain。 Yet if their eyes had been open so that
they could see； well might they have trembled。 King； prince； priest；
merchant； captain； citizen and poor labouring hind； well might they
all have trembled when the East sent forth her gifts！
Look across the world beyond that curtain of thick darkness。 Behold！ A
vast city of fantastic houses half buried in winter snows and reddened
by the lurid sunset breaking through a saw…toothed canopy of cloud。
Everywhere upon the temple squares and open spaces great fires burning
a strange fuelthe bodies of thousands of mankind。 Pestilence was
king of that city； a pestilence hitherto unknown。 Innumerable hordes
had died and were dying； yet innumerable hordes remained。 All the
patient East bore forth those still shapes that had been theirs to
love or hate； and； their task done； turned to the banks of the mighty
river and watched。
Down the broad street which ran between the fantastic houses advanced
a procession toward the brown； ice…flecked river。 First marched a
company of priests clad in black robes； and carrying on poles lanterns
of black paper； lighted； although the sun still shone。 Behind marched
another company of priests clad in white robes； and bearing white
lanterns； also lighted。 But at these none looked； nor did they listen
to the dirges that they sang； for all eyes were fixed upon him who
filled the centre space and upon his two companions。
The first companion was a lovely woman； jewel…hung； wearing false
flowers in her streaming hair； and beneath her bared breasts a kirtle
of white silk。 Life and love embodied in radiance and beauty； she
danced in front； looking about her with alluring eyes； and scattering
petals of dead roses from a basket which she bore。 Different was the
second companion； who stalked behind； so thin； so sexless that none
could say if the shape were that of man or woman。 Dry； streaming locks
of iron…grey； an ashen countenance； deep…set； hollow eyes； a beetling；
parchment…covered brow； lean shanks half hidden with a rotting rag；
claw…like hands which clutched miserably at the air。 Such was its
awful fashion； that of new death in all its terrors。
Between them； touched of neither； went a man； naked save for a red
girdle and a long red cloak that was fastened round his throat and
hung down from his broad shoulders。 There was nothing strange about
this man； unless it were perhaps the strength that seemed to flow from
him and the glance of his icy eyes。 He was just a burly yellow man；
whose age none could tell； for the hood of the red cloak hid his hair；
one who seemed to be far removed from youth； and yet untouched by
time。 He walked on steadily； intently； his face immovable； taking no
heed。
Only now and again he turned those long eyes of his upon one of the
multitude who watched him pass crouched upon their knees in solemn
silence； always upon one； whether it were man； woman； or child； with a
glance meant for that one and no other。 And ever the one upon whom it
fell rose from the knee； made obeisance； and departed as though filled
with some inspired purpose。
Down to the quay went the black priests； the white priests； and the
red…cloaked man； preceded by rose life； followed by ashen death。
Through the funeral fires they wended； and the lurid sunset shone upon
them all。
To the pillars of this quay was fastened a strange； high…pooped ship
with crimson sails set upon her masts。 The white priests and the black
priests formed lines upon either side of the broad gangway of that
ship and bowed as the red…cloaked man walked over it between them
quite alone； for now she with the dead roses and she of the ashen
countenance had fallen back。 As the sun sank； standing on the lofty
stern； he cried aloud：
〃Here the work is done。 Now I； the Eating Fire； I the Messenger； get
me to the West。 Among you for a while I cease to burn； yet remember
me； for I shall come again。〃
As he spoke the ropes of the ship were loosened； the wind caught her
crimson sails； and she departed into the night； one blood…red spot
against its blackness。
The multitude watched until they could see her no longer。 Then they
flamed up with mingled joy and rage。 They laughed madly。 They cursed
him who had departed。
〃We live； we live； we live！〃 they cried。 〃Murgh is gone！ Murgh is
gone！ Kill his priests！ Make sacrifice of his Shadows。 Murgh is gone
bearing the curse of the East into the bosom of the West。 Look； it
follows him！〃 and they pointed to a cloud of smoke or vapour； in which
terrible shapes seemed to move dimly； that trailed after the
departing； red…sailed ship。
The black priests and the white priests heard。 Without struggle；
without complaint； as though they were but taking part in some set
ceremony； they kneeled down in lines upon the snow。 Naked from the
waist up； executioners with great swords appeared。 They advanced upon
the kneeling lines without haste； without wrath； and； letting fall the
heavy swords upon the patient； outstretched necks； did their grim
office till all were dead。 Then they turned to find her of the flowers
who had danced before； and her of the tattered weeds who had followed
after； purposing to cast them to the funeral flames。 But these were
gone； though none had seen them go。 Only out of the gathering darkness
from some temple or pagoda…top a voice spoke like a moaning wind。
〃Fools；〃 wailed the voice； 〃still with you is Murgh； the second Thing
created； Murgh； who was made to be man's minister。 Murgh the Messenger
shall reappear from beyond the setting sun。 Ye cannot kill； ye cannot
spare。 Those priests you seemed to slay he had summoned to be his
officers afar。 Fools！ Ye do but serve as serves Murgh； Gateway of the
Gods。 Life and death are not in your hands or in his。 They are in the
hands of the Master of Murgh； Helper of man； of that Lord whom no eye
hath seen； but whose behests all who are born obeyyes； even the
mighty Murgh； Looser of burdens； whom in your foolishness ye fear。〃
So spoke this voice out of the darkness； and that night the sword of
the great pestilence was lifted from the Eastern land； and there the
funeral fires flared no more。
CHAPTER I
THE TRYSTING…PLACE
On the very day when Murgh the Messenger sailed forth into that
uttermost sea； a young man and a maiden met together at the Blythburgh
marshes； near to Dunwich； on the eastern coast of England。 In this；
the month of February of the year 1346； hard and bitter frost held
Suffolk in its grip。 The muddy stream of Blyth； it is true； was frozen
only in places； since the tide； flowing up from the Southwold harbour；
where it runs into the sea between that ancient town and the hamlet of
Walberswick； had broken up the ice。 But all else was set hard and
fast； and now toward sunset the cold was bitter。
Stark and naked stood the tall； dry reeds。 The blackbirds and
starlings perched upon the willows seemed swollen into feathery balls；
the fur started on the backs of hares； and a four…horse wain could
travel in safety over swamps where at any other time a schoolboy dared
not set his foot。
On such an eve； with snow threatening； the great marsh was utterly
desolate； and th