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looked at him with heartfelt gratitude in their eyes； indeed one of
them kissed the place where his foot had trodden。 Jeekie； following；
gave him a kick to intimate that he was taking a liberty； but at the
same time stooped down and asked the man his name。 It occurred to him
that these rescued priests might some day be useful。
Alan followed her through a kind of swing door which opened into
another of the endless halls； but when he looked for her there she was
nowhere to be seen。 A priest who was waiting beyond the door bowed and
informed him that the Asika had gone to her own place； and would see
him that evening。 Then bowing again he led them back by various
passages to the room where they had slept。
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan after their food had been brought to them； this
time； he observed； by men； for it was now past midday； 〃you were born
in Asiki…land； tell me the truth of this business。 What does that
woman mean when she talks about her spirit having been here from the
beginning。〃
〃She mean； Major； that every time she die her soul go into someone
else； whom priests find out by marks。 Also Asika always die young；
they never let her become old woman； but how she die and where they
bury her； no one know 'cept priests。 Sometimes she have girl child who
become Asika after her； but if they have boy child； they kill him。 I
think this Asika daughter of her who make love to your reverend uncle。
All that story 'bout her mother not being married； lies； and all her
story lies too； she often marry。〃
〃But how about the spirit coming back； Jeekie？〃
〃'Spect that lie too； Major； though she think it solemn fact。 Priests
teach her all those old things。 Still；〃 he added doubtfully； 〃Asika
great medicine…woman and know a lot we don't know； can't say how。 Very
awkward customer； Major。〃
〃Quite so； Jeekie； I agree with you。 But to come to the point； what is
her game with me？〃
〃Oh！ Major；〃 he answered with a grin； 〃/that/ simple enough。 She tired
of black man； want change； mean to marry you according to law； that is
when Mungana dies； and he die jolly quick now。 She mustn't kill him；
but polish him off all the same； stick him to sleep with those dead
uns； till he go like drunk man and see things and drown himself。 Then
she marry you。 But till he dead； you all right； she only talk and make
eyes； 'cause of Asiki law； not 'cause she want to stop there。〃
〃Indeed； Jeekie； and how long do you think that Mungana will last？〃
〃Perhaps three months； Major； and perhaps two。 Think not more than
two。 Strong man； but he look devilish dicky this morning。 Think he
begin see snakes。〃
〃Very well； Jeekie。 Now listen to meyou've got to get us out of
Asiki…land by this day two months。 If you don't； that lady will do
anything to oblige me and no doubt there are more executioners left。〃
〃Oh！ Major； don't talk like silly fool。 Jeekie always hate fools and
suffer them badlylike holy first missionary bishop。 You know very
well this no place for ultra…Christian man like Jeekie； who only come
here to please you。 Both in same bag； Major； if I die； you die and
leave Miss Barbara up gum tree。 I get you out if I can。 But this stuff
the trouble；〃 and he pointed to the bags of gold。 〃Not want to leave
all that behind after such arduous walk。 No； no； I try get you out；
meanwhile you play game。〃
〃The game！ What game； Jeekie？〃
〃What game？ Why； Asika…game of course。 If she sigh； you sigh； if she
look at you； you look at her； if she squeeze hand； you squeeze hand；
if she kiss； you kiss。〃
〃I am hanged if I do； Jeekie。〃
〃Must； Major； must or never get out of Asiki…land。 What all that
matter？〃 he added confidentially。 〃Miss Barbara never know。 Jeekie
doesn't split； also quite necessary in situation； and you can't be
married till that Mungana dead。 All matter business； Major； make time
pass pleasant as well。 Asika jolly enough if you stroke her fur right
way； but if you put her back upoh Lor！ No trouble； sit and smile and
say； 'Oh； ducky； how beautiful you are！' that not hurt anybody。〃
In spite of himself Alan burst out laughing。
〃But how about the Mungana？〃 he asked。
〃Mungana； he got take that with rest。 Also I try make friends with
that poor devil。 Tell him it all my eye。 Perhaps he believe menot
sure。 If he me； I no believe /him/。 Mungana；〃 he added oracularly；
〃Mungana take his chance。 What matter？ In two months' time he nothing
but gold figure； No。 2403； just like one mummy in museum。 Now I try
catch my ma。 I hear she alive somewhere。 They tell me she used keep
lodging house for Bonsa pilgrim； but steal grub； say it cat； all that
sort of thing； and get run in as thief。 Afraid my ma come down very
much in world； not society lady now； shut up long way off in suburb。
Still p'raps she useful so best send her message by p'liceman； say how
much I love her； say her dear little Jeekie turn up again just to see
her sweet face。 Only don't know if she swallow that or if they let her
out prison unless I pay for all she prig。〃
CHAPTER XIII
THE FEAST OF LITTLE BONSA
It was the night of full moon and of the great feast of the return of
Little Bonsa。 Alan sat in his chamber waiting to be summoned to take
part in this ceremony and listening the while to that /Wow！ Wow！ Wow！/
of the death drums； whereof Jeekie had once spoken in England； which
could be clearly heard even above the perpetual boom of the cataract
tumbling down its cliff behind the town。 By now he had recovered from
the fatigue of his journey and his health was good； but the same could
not be said of his spirits； for never in his life had he felt more
downhearted； not even when he was sickening for blackwater fever； or
lay in bondage in the City； expecting every morning to wake up and
find his reputation blasted。 He was a prisoner in this dreadful；
gloomy place where he must live like a second Man in the Iron Mask；
without recreation or exercise other than he could find in the walled
garden where grew the black cedar trees； and； so far as he could see；
a prisoner without hope of escape。
Moreover； he could no longer disguise from himself the truth； Jeekie
was right。 The Asika had fallen in love with him； or at any rate made
up her mind that he should be her next husband。 He hated the sight of
the woman and her sinuous； evil beauty； but to be free of her was
impossible； and to offend her； death。 All day long she kept him about
her； and from his sleep he would wake up and as on the night of his
arrival； distinguish her leaning over him studying his face by the
light of the faintly…burning lamps； as a snake studies the bird it is
about to strike。 He dared not stir or give the slightest sign that he
saw her。 Nor indeed did he always see her； for he kept his eyes
closely shut。 But even in his heaviest slumber some warning sense told
him of her presence； and then above Jeekie's snores （for on these
occasions Jeekie always snored his loudest） he would hear a soft
footfall； as cat…like； she crept towards him； or the sweep of her
spangled robe； or the tinkling of the scales of her golden
breastplate。 For a long while she would stand there； examining him
greedily and even the few little belongings