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messenger between the worlds； knew that he would never live to carry that
message to the world … that message； for aught to the contrary； which
might already have waited man's hearing in the heart of Guadalcanal for
ten thousand years。 And Bassett stirred with resolve； calling Ngurn to
him； out under the shade of the breadfruit tree； and with the old devil…devil
doctor discussing the terms and arrangements of his last life effort； his
final adventure in the quick of the flesh。
〃I know the law； O Ngurn；〃 he concluded the matter。 〃Whoso is not
of the folk may not look upon the Red One and live。 I shall not live
anyway。 Your young men shall carry me before the face of the Red One；
and I shall look upon him； and hear his voice； and thereupon die； under
your hand； O Ngurn。 Thus will the three things be satisfied： the law；
my desire； and your quicker possession of my head for which all your
preparations wait。〃
To which Ngurn consented； adding：
〃It is better so。 A sick man who cannot get well is foolish to live on
for so little a while。 Also is it better for the living that he should go。
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THE RED ONE
You have been much in the way of late。 Not but what it was good for me
to talk to such a wise one。 But for moons of days we have held little talk。
Instead； you have taken up room in the house of heads； making noises like
a dying pig； or talking much and loudly in your own language which I do
not understand。 This has been a confusion to me； for I like to think on the
great things of the light and dark as I turn the heads in the smoke。 Your
much noise has thus been a disturbance to the long…learning and hatching
of the final wisdom that will be mine before I die。 As for you； upon whom
the dark has already brooded； it is well that you die now。 And I promise
you； in the long days to come when I turn your head in the smoke； no man
of the tribe shall come in to disturb us。 And I will tell you many secrets；
for I am an old man and very wise； and I shall be adding wisdom to
wisdom as I turn your head in the smoke。〃
So a litter was made； and； borne on the shoulders of half a dozen of the
men； Bassett departed on the last little adventure that was to cap the total
adventure； for him； of living。 With a body of which he was scarcely
aware； for even the pain had been exhausted out of it； and with a bright
clear brain that accommodated him to a quiet ecstasy of sheer lucidness of
thought； he lay back on the lurching litter and watched the fading of the
passing world； beholding for the last time the breadfruit tree before the
devil… devil house； the dim day beneath the matted jungle roof； the gloomy
gorge between the shouldering mountains； the saddle of raw limestone；
and the mesa of black volcanic sand。
Down the spiral path of the pit they bore him； encircling the sheening；
glowing Red One that seemed ever imminent to iridesce from colour and
light into sweet singing and thunder。 And over bones and logs of
immolated men and gods they bore him； past the horrors of other
immolated ones that yet lived； to the three…king… post tripod and the huge
king…post striker。
Here Bassett； helped by Ngurn and Balatta； weakly sat up； swaying
weakly from the hips； and with clear； unfaltering； all…seeing eyes gazed
upon the Red One。
〃Once； O Ngurn；〃 he said； not taking his eyes from the sheening；
vibrating surface whereon and wherein all the shades of cherry…red played
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THE RED ONE
unceasingly； ever a…quiver to change into sound； to become silken
rustlings； silvery whisperings； golden thrummings of cords； velvet pipings
of elfland； mellow distances of thunderings。
〃I wait；〃 Ngurn prompted after a long pause； the long…handled
tomahawk unassumingly ready in his hand。
〃Once； O Ngurn；〃 Bassett repeated； 〃let the Red One speak so that I
may see it speak as well as hear it。 Then strike； thus； when I raise my
hand； for； when I raise my hand； I shall drop my head forward and make
place for the stroke at the base of my neck。 But； O Ngurn； I； who am
about to pass out of the light of day for ever； would like to pass with the
wonder…voice of the Red One singing greatly in my ears。〃
〃And I promise you that never will a head be so well cured as yours；〃
Ngurn assured him； at the same time signalling the tribesmen to man the
propelling ropes suspended from the king…post striker。 〃Your head shall
be my greatest piece of work in the curing of heads。〃
Bassett smiled quietly to the old one's conceit； as the great carved log；
drawn back through two…score feet of space； was released。 The next
moment he was lost in ecstasy at the abrupt and thunderous liberation of
sound。 But such thunder！ Mellow it was with preciousness of all
sounding metals。 Archangels spoke in it； it was magnificently beautiful
before all other sounds； it was invested with the intelligence of supermen
of planets of other suns； it was the voice of God； seducing and
commanding to be heard。 And … the everlasting miracle of that interstellar
metal！ Bassett； with his own eyes； saw colour and colours transform into
sound till the whole visible surface of the vast sphere was a…crawl and
titillant and vaporous with what he could not tell was colour or was sound。
In that moment the interstices of matter were his； and the interfusings and
intermating transfusings of matter and force。
Time passed。 At the last Bassett was brought back from his ecstasy
by an impatient movement of Ngurn。 He had quite forgotten the old
devil…devil one。 A quick flash of fancy brought a husky chuckle into
Bassett's throat。 His shot…gun lay beside him in the litter。 All he had to do；
muzzle to head； was to press the trigger and blow his head into
nothingness。
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THE RED ONE
But why cheat him？ was Bassett's next thought。 Head…hunting；
cannibal be