CHAPTER XXI
THE LESSON
"Yes," answered Ayesha, laughing very softly, "for that purpose alone,O truth-seeking Allan, whose curiosity is so fierce that the wide worldcannot hold it, did you come to Kor and not to seek wealth or new lands,or to fight more savages. No, not even to look upon a certain Ayesha,of whom the old wizard told you, though I think you have always loved totry to lift the veil that hides women's hearts, if not their faces. Yetit was I who brought you to Kor for my own purposes, not your desire,nor Zikali's map and talisman, since had not the white lady who liessick been stolen by Rezu, never would you have pursued the journey norfound the way hither."
"How could you have had anything to do with that business?" I askedtestily, for my nerves were on edge and I said the first thing that cameinto my mind.
"That, Allan, is a question over which you will wonder for a long whileeither beneath or beyond the sun, as you will wonder concerning muchthat has to do with me, which your little mind, shut in its iron box ofignorance and pride, cannot understand to-day.
"For example, you have been wondering, I am sure, how the lightningkilled those eleven men whose bodies you went to look on an hour or twoago, and left the rest untouched. Well, I will tell you at once that itwas not lightning that killed them, although the strength within mewas manifest to you in storm, but rather what that witch-doctor of yourfollowing called wizardry. Because they were traitors who betrayed yourarmy to Rezu, I killed them with my wrath and by the wand of my power.Oh! you do not believe, yet perhaps ere long you will, since thus tofulfil your prayer I must also kill you--almost. That is the trouble,Allan. To kill you outright would be easy, but to kill you just enoughto set your spirit free and yet leave one crevice of mortal life throughwhich it can creep back again, that is most difficult; a thing that onlyI can do and even of myself I am not sure."
"Pray do not try the experiment----" I began thoroughly alarmed, but shecut me short.
"Disturb me no more, Allan, with the tremors and changes of youruncertain mind, lest you should work more evil than you think, andmaking mine uncertain also, spoil my skill. Nay, do not try to fly, foralready the net has thrown itself about you and you cannot stir, whoare bound like a little gilded wasp in the spider's web, or like birdsbeneath the eyes of basilisks."
This was true, for I found that, strive as I would, I could not move alimb or even an eyelid. I was frozen to that spot and there was nothingfor it except to curse my folly and say my prayers.
All this while she went on talking, but of what she said I have notthe faintest idea, because my remaining wits were absorbed in thesemuch-needed implorations.