"
"Thou alone of men lovest life more than the World's Desire!" said the
Queen. "Thou hast ever sickened for the love of this strange Witch, but
thy life thou lovest even better than her beauty, and thou dost not dare
attempt again the adventure of her embrace. Know, Eperitus, that this
sorrow is come upon the land, that all men love yonder witch and rave of
her, and to each she wears a different face and sings in another voice.
When she stands upon the pylon tower, then thou wilt see the madness
with which she has smitten them. For they will weep and pray and tear
their hair. Then they will rush through the temple courts and up to the
temple doors, and be thrust back again by that which guards her. But
some will yet strive madly on, and thou wilt hear the clash of arms
and they will fall dead before thee. Accursed is the land, I tell thee,
Wanderer; because of that Phantom it is accursed. For it is she who
brings these woes on Khem; from her, not from our slaves and their mad
conjurers, come plagues, I say, and all evil things. And till a man be
found who may pass her guard, and come face to face with the witch and
slay her, plagues and woes and evil things shall be the daily bread of
Khem. Perchance, Wanderer, thou art such a man," and she looked on him
strangely. "Yet if so, this is my counsel, that thou go not up against
her, lest thou also be bewitched, and a great man be lost to us.
Pages:
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113