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CHAPTER XV
AYESHA GIVES JUDGMENT
THE next thing that I remember was opening my eyes and
perceiving the form of Job； who had now practically
recovered from his attack of fever。 He was standing in
the ray of light that pierced into the cave from the
outer air； shaking out my clothes as a makeshift for
brushing them； which he could not do because there was
no brush； and then folding them up neatly and laying
them on the foot of the stone couch。 This done； he got
my travelling dressing…case out of the Gladstone bag；
and opened it ready for my use。 First； he stood it on
the foot of the couch also； then； being afraid； I
suppose； that I should kick it off； he placed it on a
leopard skin on the floor； and stood back a step or
two to observe the effect。 It was not satisfactory； so
he shut up the bag； turned it on end； and； having
rested it against the foot of the conch； placed the
dressing…case on it。 Next； he looked at the pots full
of water； which constituted our washing apparatus。
〃Ah！〃 I heard him murmur； 〃no hot water in this
beastly place。 I suppose these poor creatures only use
it to boil each other in；〃 and he sighed deeply。
〃What is the matter； Job？〃 I said。
〃Beg pardon； sir；〃 he said； touching his hair。 〃I
thought you were asleep； sir； and I am sure you look
as though you want it。 One might think from the look
of you that you had been having a night of it。〃
I only groaned by way of answer。 I had； indeed； been
having a night of it； such as I hope never to have
again。
〃How is Mr。 Leo； Job？〃
〃Much the same； sir。 If he don't soon mend； he'll end；
sir； and that's all about it； though I must say that
that there savage； Ustane； do do her best for him；
almost like a baptized Christian。 She is always
hanging round and looking after him； and if I ventures
to interfere； it's awful to see her； her hair seems to
stand on end； and she curses and swears away in her
heathen talkat least I fancy she must be cursing
from the look of her。〃
〃And what do you do then？〃
〃I make her a perlite bow； and I say； 'Young woman；
your position is one that I don't quite understand；
and can't recognize。 Let me tell you that I has a duty
to perform to my master as is incapacitated by
illness； and that I am going to perform it until I am
incapacitated too ； but she don't take no heed； not
sheonly curses and swears away worse than ever。 Last
night she put her hand under that sort of nightshirt
she wears and whips out a knife with a kind of a curl
in the blade； so I whips out my revolver； and we walks
round and round each other till at last she bursts out
laughing。 It isn't nice treatment for a Christian man
to have to put up with from a savage； however handsome
she may be； but it is what people must expect as is
fools enough〃 （Job laid great emphasis on the 〃fools〃）
〃to come to such a place to look for things no man is
meant to find。 It's a judgment on us； sirthat's my
opinion； and I； for one； is of opinion that the
judgment isn't half done yet； and when it is done； we
shall be done too； and just stop in these beastly
caves with the ghosts and the corpses for once and
all。 And now； sir； I must be seeing about Mr。 Leo's
broth； if that wild…cat will let me； and perhaps you
would like to get up； sir； because it's past nine
o'clock。〃
Job's remarks were not of an exactly cheering order to
a man who had passed such a night as I had； and； what
is more； they had the weight of truth。 Taking one
thing with another； it appeared to me to be an utter
impossibility that we should escape from the place
where we were。 Supposing that Leo recovered； and
supposing that _i_ She _i_ would let us go； which was
exceedingly doubtful； and that she did not 〃blast〃 us
in some moment of vexation； and that we were not hot…
potted by the Amahagger； it would be quite impossible
for us to find our way across the network of marshes
which； stretching for scores and scores of miles；
formed a stronger and more impassable fortification
round the various Amahagger households than any that
could be built or designed by man。 No； there was but
one thing to doface it out； and； speaking for my own
part； I was so intensely interested in the whole weird
story that； so far as I was concerned； notwithstanding
the shattered state of my nerves； I asked nothing
better； even if my life paid forfeit to my curiosity。
What man for whom psychology has charms could forbear
to study such a character as that of this Ayesha when
the opportunity of doing so presented itself？ The very
terror of the pursuit added to its fascination； and
besides； as I as forced to own to myself even now in
the sober light of day； she herself had attractions
that I could not forget。 Not even the dreadful sight
which I had witnessed during the night could drive the
folly from my mind； and alas！ that I should have to
admit it； it has not been driven thence to this hour。
After I had dressed myself I passed into the eating；
or； rather； embalming chamber； and had some food；
which was； as before； brought to me by the girl mutes。
When I had finished。 I went and saw poor Leo； who was
quite off his head； and did not even know me。 I asked
Ustane how she thought he was； but she only shook her
head and began to cry a little。 Evidently her hopes
were small； and I then and there made up my mind that；
if it were in any way possible； I would get _i_ She
_i_ to come and see him。 Surely she could cure him if
she choseat any rate； she said she could。 While I
was in the room； Billali entered； and also shook his
head。
〃He will die at night；〃 he said。
〃God forbid； my father；〃 I answered； and turned away
with a heavy heart。
〃 _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ commands thy
presence； my Baboon；〃 said the old man as soon as we
got to the curtain； 〃but； O my dear son； be more
careful。 Yesterday I made sure in my heart that _i_
She _i_ would blast thee when thou didst not crawl
upon thy stomach before her。 _i_ She _i_ is sitting in
the great hall even now to do justice upon those who
would have smitten thee and the Lion。 Come on； my son；
come swiftly。〃
I turned； and followed him down the passage； and when
we reached the great central cave saw that many
Amahagger； some robed； and some merely clad in the
sweet simplicity of a leopard skin； were hurrying up
it。 We mingled with the throng； and walked up the
enormous and； indeed； almost interminable cave。 All
the way its walls were elaborately sculptured； and
every twenty paces or so passages opened out of it at
right angles； leading； Billali told me； to tombs；
hollowed in the rock by 〃the people who were before。〃
Nobody visited those tombs now； he said； and I must
say that my heart rejoiced when I thought of the
opportunities of antiquarian research which opened out
before me。
At last we came to the head of the cave； where there
was a rock dais almost exactly similar to the one on
which we had been so furiously attacked； a fact that
proved to me that these daises must have been used as
altars； probably for the celebration of religious
ceremonies； and more especially of rites connected
with the interment of the dead。 On either side of this
dais were passages leading； Billali informed me； to
other caves full of dead bodies。 〃Indeed；〃 he added；
〃the whole mountain is full of dead； and nearly all of
them are perfect。〃
In front of the dais were gathered a great number of
people of both sexes； who stood staring about in their
peculiar gloomy fashion； which would have reduced Mark
Tapley himself to misery in about five minutes。 On the
dais was a rude chair of black wood inlaid with ivory；
having a seat made of grass fibre； and a footstool
formed of a wooden slab attached to the framework of
the chair。
Suddenly there was a cry of 〃 _i_ Hiya！ Hiya！ _i_ 〃 （〃
_i_ She _i_ ！ _i_ She _i_ ！〃）； and thereupon the
entire crowd of spectators instantly precipitated
itself upon the ground； and lay still as though it
were individually and collectively stricken dead；
leaving me standing there like some solitary survivor
of a massacre。 As it did so a long string of guards
began to defile from a passage to the left； and ranged
themselves on either side of the dais。 Then followed
about a score of male mutes； then as many women mutes
bearing lamps； and then a tall； white figure； swatbed
from head to foot； in whom I recognized _i_ She _i_
herself。 _i_ She _i_ mounted the dais and sat…down
upon the chair； and spoke to me in Greek。 I suppose
because she did not wish those present to understand
what she said。
〃Come hither； O Holly；〃 she said； 〃and sit thou at my
feet； and see me do justice on those who would have
slain thee。 Forgive me if my Greek doth halt like a
lame man； it is so long since I have heard the sound
of it that my tongue is stiff； and will not bend
rightly to the words。〃
I bowed； and； mounting the dais； sat down at her feet。
〃How didst thou sleep； my Holly？〃 she asked。
〃I slept not well； O Ayesha！〃 I answered with perfect
truth； and with an inward fear that perhaps she knew