Are you not our honoured guests and the
messengersof a Great One? His coarse but handsome face grew cunning, and he smacked
his lips. But, Lady, I went on, what is to happen to me and to my companionwho is
named Lord-of-the-Fire? Thank you, I said, never mind the details.
For a while we remained thus insilence, staring at
the blackness in front where no lamps burned. But all the same, the remark stuck in
my mind and wasuseful afterwards.
So did Hans, for hewhispered:The Hairy People are
here, Baas. So did Hans, for hewhispered:The Hairy People are here,
Baas.
Meanwhile, I understand that you wish to get out
ofthis place and to save your sister. His messengers were here in ourfathers
day.
Nay, I answered, the god I mean is called Heu-Heu,
not Dacha. What will Heu-Heu do with the matches, Baas? Yes, I answered, and now I
understand where Zikalis magic comesfrom.
He says that you must come up and make your
offering to the god.
Yes, I answered, and now I understand where Zikalis
magic comesfrom.
I asked of Dramana who now was seatedat my side, a
perfect model of propriety. He says that you must come up and make your offering to
the god.
I obeyed, thinking it safer, and another ten
minutes or so went by inan intolerable stillness. Baas, said Hans again, I believe
that is the gorilla-woman I shotin the river.
In short, those who became alivein Heu-Heu, became
also dead to the world. Yes, Baas, though I dont believe that either will serve us
much.
The god is about to take her into his keeping, she
repliedenigmatically.
I pray Heu-Heu, he said, that thosefools may not
have caught and killed her with the others.
Ithought you were asking of other things. Some
dreadful act of voodooism such asnegroes practise in Haiti and on the West Coast?
Meanwhile, I understand that you wish to get out ofthis place and to save your
sister.