登陆注册
5451800000047

第47章 QUICK LIGHTS A MATCH(1)

"Here we begin to turn, for this cave is a great circle," said Maqueda over her shoulder.

But Oliver, whom she addressed, had left her side and was engaged in taking observations behind the hunchback's funeral chair with an instrument which he had produced from his pocket.

She followed him and asked curiously what this thing might be, and why he made use of it here.

"We call it a compass," he answered, "and it tells me that beyond us lies the east, where the sun rises; also it shows at what height we stand above the sea, that great water which you have never seen, O Child of Kings. Say now, if we could walk through this rock, what should we find out yonder?"

"The lion-headed idol of the Fung, I have been told," she answered.

"That which you saw before you blew up the gate of the city Harmac.

But how far off it may be I do not know, for I cannot see through stone. Friend Adams, help me to refill the lamps, for they burn low, and all these dead would be ill company in the dark. So at least my people think, since there is not one of them that dares to enter this place. When first we found it only a few years ago and saw the company it held, they fled, and left me to search it alone. Look, yonder are my footsteps in the dust."

So I refilled the shallow hand-lamps, and while I did so Orme took some hasty observations of which he jotted down the results in his pocket-book.

"What have you learned?" she asked, when at last he rejoined us somewhat unwillingly, for she had been calling to him to come.

"Not so much as I should have done if you could have given me more time," he replied, adding in explanation, "Lady, I was brought up as an engineer, that is, one who executes works, and to do so takes measurements and makes calculations. For instance, those dead men who hollowed or dressed these caves must have been engineers and no mean ones."

"We have such among us now," she said. "They raise dams and make drains and houses, though not so good as those which were built of old. But again I ask--what have you learned, O wise Engineer?"

"Only that here we stand not so very far above the city Harmac, of which I chanced to take the level, and that behind yonder chair there was, I think, once a passage which has been built up. But be pleased to say nothing of the matter, Lady, and to ask me no more questions at present, as I cannot answer them with certainty."

"I see that you are discreet as well as wise," she replied with some sarcasm. "Well, since I may not be trusted with your counsel, keep it to yourself."

Oliver bowed and obeyed this curt instruction.

Then we began our return journey, passing many more groups of skeletons which now we scarcely troubled to look at, perhaps because the heavy air filled with dust that once had been the flesh of men, was telling on our energies. Only I noticed, or rather the observant Quick called my attention to the fact, that as we went the kings in their chairs were surrounded by fewer and fewer attendants and women, and that the offerings placed at their feet were of an ever-lessening value. Indeed, after we had passed another five or six of them, their murdered retinues dwindled to a few female skeletons, doubtless those of favourite wives who had been singled out for this particular honour.

At length there were none at all, the poor monarchs, who now were crowded close together, being left to explore the shades alone, adorned merely with their own jewellery and regalia. Ultimately even these were replaced by funeral gold-foil ornaments, and the trays of treasure by earthenware jars which appeared to have contained nothing but food and wine, and added to these a few spears and other weapons.

The last of the occupied chairs, for there were empty ones beyond, contained bones which, from their slenderness and the small size of the bracelets among them, I saw at once had belonged to a woman who had been sent to the grave without companions or any offerings at all.

"Doubtless," said Maqueda, when I pointed this out to her, "at that time the ancients had grown weak and poor, since after so many kings they permitted a woman to rule over them and had no wealth to waste upon her burial. That may have been after the earthquake, when only a few people were left in Mur before the Abati took possession of it."

"Where, then, are those of your own house buried?" asked Oliver, staring at the empty chairs.

"Oh! not in this place," she answered; "I have told you it was discovered but a few years ago. We rest in tombs outside, and for my part I will sleep in the simple earth, so that I may live on in grass and flowers, if in no other way. But enough of death and doom. Soon, who can tell how soon? we shall be as these are," and she shuddered.

"Meanwhile, we breathe, so let us make the best of breath. You have seen your fee, say, does it content you?"

"What fee?" he asked. "Death, the reward of Life? How can I tell until I have passed its gate?"

Here this philosophical discussion was interrupted by the sudden decease of Quick's lamp.

"Thought there was something wrong with the blooming thing," said the Sergeant, "but couldn't turn it up, as it hasn't got a screw, without which these old-fashioned colza oils never were no good. Hullo!

Doctor, there goes yours," and as he spoke, go it did.

"The wicks!" exclaimed Maqueda, "we forgot to bring new wicks, and without them of what use is oil? Come, be swift; we are still far from the mouth of this cave, where none except the high priests will dare to seek us," and, taking Oliver by the hand, she began to run, leaving us two to follow as best we could.

"Steady, Doctor," said Quick, "steady. In the presence of disaster comrades should always stick together, as it says in the Red-book presented by the crown to warrant officers, but paid for out of their deferred allowance. Take my arm, Doctor. Ah! I thought so, the more haste the less speed. Look there," and he pointed to the flying shapes ahead, now a long way off, and with only one lamp between them.

同类推荐
  • 蕅益大师佛学十种

    蕅益大师佛学十种

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞真上清开天三图七星移度经

    洞真上清开天三图七星移度经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 随隐漫录

    随隐漫录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 起信论疏笔削记

    起信论疏笔削记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 林外野言

    林外野言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 王爷的杀手小娇妻

    王爷的杀手小娇妻

    "王爷,该练剑了......”"王爷,该练琴去了......“”丫头,我不去了,亲我一下我才去!“
  • 猫城记

    猫城记

    老舍最为奇绝的小说作品。一架飞往火星的飞机在碰撞到火星的一刹那机毁人亡,只剩下“我”幸存下来,却被一群长着猫脸的外星人带到了他们的猫城,开始了艰难的外星生活。猫人也有历史,拥有两万多年的文明,在古代,他们也与外国打过仗,而且打胜过,可是在最近五百年中,自相残杀的结果叫他们完全把打外国人的观念忘掉,而一致的对内,导致文明的退化。而“我”亲眼目睹了一场猫人与矮子兵的战争,以猫城全城覆没而结束了这座私欲日益彭胀的外星文明古城……
  • 快穿之失忆女主开挂了

    快穿之失忆女主开挂了

    (1V1,男女主身心干净)殷黎死后莫名其妙被强行绑定了系统。系统说可以帮助她重生,而重生的条件是要她攻略男主完成任务,进入各个位面,搜集夜神魂魄。忘记前世的殷黎,为了恢复前世记忆,答应了系统任务。系统以为宿主是个失忆的小新新,结果却是个酷、霸、拽。于是,萌新系统变成了怂系统。而它的宿主遇到各个绝色攻略对象,竟然毫不动心,简直是要上天。痞帅校草、深情王爷、傲娇总裁、病娇王子、一系列的攻略目标,没一个省心的。而最终,披荆斩棘,一往无前的不知是她,还是他。
  • 慕木于飞

    慕木于飞

    为你百般隐忍,千般算计,只是为得一人心。亦正亦邪,神秘背景,到底为何而来。“别说女子,即使男子有汝般心机者本王也闻所未闻,你千方百计嫁给我到底为了什么?”“为了你的心。你若怀疑我企图染指玄天帝国权势,我不做什么王妃,你也抛下你这个劳什子王爷,无论你去哪,我都跟你走。你可愿意?”
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 地球球长

    地球球长

    2020年的这天,太阳照常升起。但是地球人不知道,远在632光年之外,神运号船长林放,把地球买下来了。因为他前几天在一家餐厅的卫生间,听到某个银河联盟官员炫耀说,太阳系将会被拆迁。书友群:826176135(新建)
  • 最幸运的事就是遇上你

    最幸运的事就是遇上你

    #短篇校园“可以帮我追我的男神么?我尽我所能,答应你任何条件。”“成交。”--“你还记得你曾经跟我说过的么?答应我任何条件。”易瑾坏坏的笑着,“做我女朋友。”安梓歆摇头拒绝:“不要,你之前跟我说的未成年不能谈恋爱。”霸道地抱住安梓歆,“我比你大,早成年了,至于你我可是特地算好了时间的,你还有几十秒即将成年。”安梓歆:“……”三、二、一!“现在,你成年了,也是我的了。”【有甜√】
  • 诸天武神路

    诸天武神路

    曾在倚天号令天下,亦在天龙论武龙城,于笑傲书写神话,在大唐破碎虚空……穿越无数世界,成就盖世武神。
  • 将魂落

    将魂落

    武将重生,不一样的时代,主角可自定义。喜欢谁就支持谁。
  • 凡人修仙传之陆师兄

    凡人修仙传之陆师兄

    穿越了,陆师兄,就是那个连名字都没有的倒霉蛋??