CHAPTER XVI
THE BEGGAR AND THE KING
It was the afternoon of the third day. Tua and Asti, seated in thewindow-place of their splendid prison, looked through the wooden screendown into the court below, where, according to his custom at this hour,Janees the King sat in the shadow to administer justice and hear thepetitions of his subjects. The two women were ill at ease, for the timeof respite had almost passed.
"Night draws near," said Tua, "and with it will come Janees. Look how heeyes this window, like a hungry lion waiting to be fed. Kepher has madeno sign; perchance after all he is but a wandering beggar-man filledwith strange fancies, or perchance he is dead, as may well happen at hisage. At least, he makes no sign, nor does Amen, to whom I have prayedso hard, send any answer to my prayers. I am forsaken. Oh! Asti, you whoare wise, tell me, what shall I do?"
"Trust in the gods," said Asti. "There are still three hours to sundown,and in three hours the gods, to whom time is nothing, can destroy theworld and build it up again. Remember when we starved in the pylon towerat Memphis, and what befell us there. Remember the leap to death and theBoat of Ra, and those by whom it was captained. Remember and trust inthe gods."
"I trust--in truth I trust, Asti, but yet--oh! let us talk of somethingelse. I wonder what has chanced in Memphis since we left it in sostrange a fashion? Do you think that awful Ka of mine queens it therewith Abi for a husband? If so, I almost grieve for Abi, for she hadsomething in her eyes which chilled my mortal blood, and yet you say sheis a part of me, a spirit who cannot die, cast in my mould, and given tome at birth. I would I had another Ka, and that you could draw it forthagain, Asti, to bewitch this Janees, and hold him while we fled. See,that case draws to an end at length. Janees is giving judgment, orrather his councillor is, for he prompts him all the time. Can you nothear his whispers? As for Janees himself, his thoughts are here, I feelhis eyes burn me through this wooden screen. He is about to rise. Why!Who comes? Awake, Nurse, and look."
Asti obeyed. There in the gate of the court she saw a tall man,white-bearded, yellow-faced, horny-eyed, ancient, who, clad in atattered robe, leaned upon his staff of thornwood, and stared about himblindly as though the sun bewildered him. The guards came to thrusthim away, but he waved his staff, and they fell back from him as thoughthere were power in that staff. Now his slow, tortoise-like eyes seemedto catch sight of the glittering throne, and of him who sat upon it,and with long strides he walked to the throne and halted in front of it,again leaning on his staff.
"Who is this fellow," asked Janees in an angry voice, "who stands hereand makes no obeisance to the King?"
"Are you a king?" asked Kepher. "I am very blind. I thought you were buta common man such as I am, only clad in bright clothes. Tell me, whatis it like to be a king, and have all things beneath your feet. Do youstill hope and suffer, and fear death like a common man? Is the fleshbeneath your gold and purple the same as mine beneath my rags? Do oldmemories torment you, memories of the dead who come no more? Can youfeel griefs, and the ache of disappointment?"
"Do I sit here to answer riddles, Fool?" answered Janees angrily. "Turnthe fellow out. I have business."
Now guards sprang forward to do the King's bidding, but again Kepherwaved his staff, and again they fell back. Certainly it seemed as thoughthere were power in that staff.
"Business, King," he said. "Not of the State, I think, but with onewho lodges yonder," and he nodded towards the shuttered room whence Tuawatched him. "Well, that is three hours hence after the sun has set, soyou still have time to listen to my prayer, which you will do, as it isof this same lady with whom you have business."
"What do you know of the lady, you old knave, and of my dealings withher?" asked Janees angrily.
"Much of both, O King, for I am her father, and--shall I tell the rest?"
"Her father, you hoary liar!" broke in Janees.
"Aye, her father, and I have come to tell you that as our blood is moreancient than yours, I will not have you for a son-in-law, any more thanthat daughter of mine will have you for a husband."
Now some of the courtiers who heard these words laughed outright, butJanees did not laugh, his dark face turned white with rage, and hegasped for breath.
"Drag this madman forth," he shouted at length, "and cut out hisinsolent tongue."
Again the guards sprang forward, but before ever they reached him Kepherwas speaking in a new voice, a voice so terrible that at the sound of itthey stopped, leaving him untouched.
"Beware how you lay a finger on me, you men of Tat," he cried, "for howknow you who dwells within these rags? Janees, you who call yourself aKing, listen to the commands of a greater king, whose throne is yonderabove the sun. Ere night falls upon the earth, set that maiden upon whomyou would force yourself and her companion and all her goods withoutyour southern gate, and leave them there unharmed. Such is the commandof the King of kings, who dwells on high."
"And what if I mock at the command of this King?" asked Janees.
"Mock not," replied Kepher. "Bethink you of a certain picture that thelady Asti showed you in the water, and mock not."
"It was but an Egyptian trick, Wizard, and one in which I see you hada hand. Begone, I defy you and your sorceries, and your King. To-nightthat maid shall be my wife."
"Then, Janees, Lord of Tat, listen to the doom that I am sent to decreeupon you. To-night you shall have another bride, and her name is Death.Moreover, for their sins, and because their eyes are evil, and they haverejected the worship of the gods, many of your people shall accompanyyou to darkness, and to-morrow another King, who is not of your House,shall rule in Tat."
Kepher ceased speaking, then turned and walked slowly down the court ofjudgment and through its gates, nor did any so much as lift a finger tostay him, for now about this old man there seemed to be a majesty whichmade them strengthless.
"Bring that wizard back and kill him here," shouted Janees presently,as the spell passed off them, and like hounds from a leash they sprangforward to do the bidding of the King.
But without the walls they could not find him. A woman had seen himhere, a child had seen him there, some slaves had watched him passyonder, and ran away because they noted that he had no shadow. Atlength, after many a false turn, they tracked him to the southern gate,and there the guard said that just such a beggar-man had passed throughas they were about to close the gate, vanishing into the sandstorm whichblew without. They followed, but so thickly blew that sand that theylost each other in their search, and but just before sundown returnedto the palace singly, where in his rage the king commanded them to bebeaten with rods upon their feet.
Now the darkness came, and at the appointed hour Janees, hardening hisheart, went up into the chamber where dwelt Tua and Asti, leaving hisguard of eunuchs at the door. The lamps were lit within that chamber,and the window-places closed, but without the desert wind howled loudly,and the air was blind with sand. On the farther side of the marblebasin, as once before, Tua and Asti stood awaiting him.
"Lady," he said, "it is the appointed hour, and I seek your answer."
"King," replied Tua, "hear me, and for your own sake--not for mine. Iam more than I seem. I have friends in the earth and air, did not one ofthem visit you to-day in yonder court? Put away this madness and let mebe, for I wish you good, not evil, but if you so much as lay a fingeron me, then I think that evil draws near, or at the best I die by my ownhand."
"Lady," replied Janees in a cold voice, "have done with threats; I awaityour answer."
"King," said Tua, "for the last time I plead with you. You think that Ilie to save myself, but it is not so. I would save you. Look now," andshe threw back her veil and opened the wrappings about her throat. "Lookat that which is stamped upon my breast, and think--is it well to offerviolence to a woman who bears this holy seal?"
"I have heard of such a one," said Janees hoarsely, for the sight ofher beauty maddened him. "They say that she was born in Thebes, and ofa strange father, though, if so, how came sh
e here? I am told that shereigns as Pharaoh in Egypt."
"Ask that question of your oracles, O King, but remember that rumourdoes not always lie, and let the daughter of that strange father go."
"There is another who claims to be your father, Lady, if by now mysoldiers have not scourged him to his death--a tattered beggar-man."
"Whom those soldiers could not touch or find," broke in Asti, speakingfor the first time.
"Well," went on Janees, without heeding her, "whether your father be abeggar or a god, or even if you are Hathor's self come down from heavento be the death of men, know that I take you for my own. For the thirdtime, answer, will you be my Queen of your own choice, or must my womendrown yonder witch in this water at your feet, and drag you hence?"
Now Tua made no answer. She only let fall her veil, folded her arms uponher breast, and waited. But Asti, mocking him, cried in a loud voice,that he might hear above the howling of the hurricane without:
"Call your women, King, for the air is full of sand that chokes mythroat, and I long for the water which you promise me."
Then, in his fury, Janees turned, and shouted:
"Come hither, Slaves, and do what I have commanded you."
As he spoke the door burst open, and through it, no longer clad in rags,but wearing a white robe and head-dress, walked Kepher the Wanderer,while after him, their red swords in their hands, came savage-lookingchiefs, bearded, blank-faced, round-eyed, with gold chains that clankedupon their mail, captains of the Desert, men who knew neither fear normercy.
Janees looked and understood. He snatched out his sword, and for amoment stayed irresolute, while the great men ringed him round andwaited, their eyes fixed on Kepher's face.
"Spare him, Father, if it may be so," said Tua, "since love has made himmad."
"Too late!" answered Kepher solemnly. "Those who will not accept thewarning of the gods must suffer the vengeance of the gods. Janees, youwho would do violence to a helpless woman, your palace burns, yourcity is in my keeping, and the few who stood by you are slain. Janees,to-morrow another shall rule in your place. Amen the Father has decreedyour doom."
"Aye," echoed Janees heavily, "too late! Mortals cannot fight againstthe gods that make their sport of them. Some god commanded that I shouldlove. Some god commands that I shall die. So be it, I am glad to die;would that I had not been born to know grief and death. Tell me, OProphet, what evil power is there which ordains that we must be born andsuffer?"
Kepher beckoned to Tua and to Asti, and they followed him, leavingJanees ringed round by those stern-faced men.
"Farewell, Lady," he called to Tua as she passed. "Here and hereafterremember this of Janees, King of Tat, that he who might have saved hislife chose to die for love of you."
Then they went and saw him no more.
They passed the door of the great marble chamber about which they foundguards and eunuchs lying dead; they passed down the stairways, andthrough the tall gates where more soldiers lay dead, and lookingbehind them, saw that the palace was in flames. They reached the squarewithout, and at the command of Kepher entered into a litter, and wereborne by black slaves whither they knew not.
All that night they were borne, awake or sleeping, till at length themorning came, and they descended from the litter to find themselves inan oasis of the wilderness surrounded by a vast army of the desert men.Of the city of Tat they could see nothing; like a dream it had passedout of their lives, nor did they ever hear of it and its king again.Only in the pavilion that had been provided for them they found theirpearls and gold, and Tua's ivory harp.
They laid themselves down and slept, for they were very weary, only towake when once more the day had dawned. Then they rose and ate of thefood that had been placed by them, and went out of the tent. In theshadow of some palm trees stood Kepher, awaiting them, and with himcertain of the stern-faced, desert chiefs, who bowed as they advanced.
"Hearken, Lady Neferte, and you, O Asti her companion," said Kepher tothem, "I must depart, who, this matter finished, have my bread to begfar from here. Yet, fear not, for know that these Lords of the Desertare your servants, and for this reason were they born, that they mayhelp you on your way. Repeat your orders," he continued, addressing thechiefs.
Then the captain of them all said:
"Wanderer, known to our fathers' grandfathers, Guardian of our race bywhom we live and triumph, these are your commands: That we lead thisdivine Lady and her companion a journey of many moons across the desertsand mountains, till at length we bring her to the gates of the City ofGold, where our task ends. While one man of us remains alive they shallbe obeyed."
"You hear," said Kepher to Tua. "Put your trust in these men. Go inpeace in the day time, and sleep in peace at night, for be sure thatthey shall not fail you. But if they, or any other should perchancebring you into trouble, then strike upon the harp and call the name youknow, as you called it in the house of Janees the mad, and I think thatone will come to you. Lords of the Desert, whose great grandsires wereknown to me, and who live by my wisdom, this divine Lady is in yourkeeping. See that you guard her as you should, and when the journey isdone, return and make report to me. Farewell."
Then, lifting his staff, without speaking another word to Tua or toAsti, Kepher strode away from amongst them, walking through the ranksof the Desert men who forced their camels to kneel and saluted him as hepassed. Presently they saw him standing alone upon a ridge, and lookingtowards them for a while. Then of a sudden he was gone.
"Who is that man, O Captain, at whose bidding the wilderness swarmswith tribesmen and kings are brought to doom?" asked Asti when she hadwatched him disappear.
"Lady," he answered, "I cannot tell you, but from the beginning he hasbeen Master of the Desert, and those who dwell therein. At his word thesandwind blows as it blew yesterday to cover our advance, at his wordthe fountains spring and tribes grow great or sink to nothingness. Wethink that he is a spirit who moves where he lists, and executes thedecrees of heaven. At the least, though they but see him from time totime, all the dwellers in the wilderness obey him, as we do, and illdoes it go, as you have learned, with those dwellers in cities who knownot the power which breathes beneath that tattered robe."
"I thank you," answered Asti. "I think with you that this Wanderer isa spirit, and a great one, so great that I will not name his name.Captains, my Lady is ready to march towards the City of Gold, whitheryou will lead us."