Will you help me and your Princess toescape from
bondage, or will you not? It is not so difficult as it seems, Lady. He passedthrough
the door and descended the steps, the rest of us trailingalong.
Such things dont happen in the orderly course of
the worldsevents.
Yet by this victoryApepi, the King of the
Shepherds, became in fact Pharaoh of all Egypt.
Now some answered one thing and some another. Aye,
speak with him and satisfy your heart as to whether I be a trueman or a false, Lady
Kemmah.
That is, if theQueen consents and nothing hinders
us, such as death or bonds.
Youd have a harder time convicting him than youd
havehad convicting Bliss.
Would you see her who is sprung from him and the
lady who gave herbirth follow by the same road?
And he launched outinto a detailed recapitulation
of the case. What did he say to you and where did you meet him, Kemmah? Yeah, I can
see that, he said sourly, after a moment.
However, I dont go in for mysticism myself. We
stood, in a kind of paralyzed awe, looking down on the body ofthe great
Egyptologist.
He lighted a cigarette and puffed on it cheerfully.
Your question seems foolish, Tau, seeing that where they go, I mustaccompany them, I
answered.
Lets seewhat a bit of extra-legal persuasion will
do. Still, the gods know their own business,so why should we trouble ourselves about
such things?
Yes, Lord, answered Rima, heavily, it prophesies
good to the child,but, as I fear, ill to others.
He replied:A learned man told it to me, a holy
hermit to whom I confess mysins, which alas!
Vances comment came simultaneouslywith our
realization that the study was empty.
Still, the gods know their own business,so why
should we trouble ourselves about such things? He looked round him to see that we
were alone.
Aye, speak with him and satisfy your heart as to
whether I be a trueman or a false, Lady Kemmah.
In this city dwell traitors whoare parties to the
plot. Bliss is a colossalegoist, and, if cornered, might blurt out the truth and
boast of hiscleverness.
I know that you would not, he went on, and not for
your own sakeonly. It would have saved me much troubleof mind.
Would you see her who is sprung from him and the
lady who gave herbirth follow by the same road? He passedthrough the door and
descended the steps, the rest of us trailingalong. The king whom once youdandled on
your knees lies in his tomb, slain by the Shepherd spears. Lets stagger roundto my
humble abode, and Ill give you a brandy-and-soda. The king whom once youdandled on
your knees lies in his tomb, slain by the Shepherd spears. Of couse, I didnt know if
he wouldgrasp the opportunity or not.
Withthe mace he broke the statues sandstone ankles,
and dropped thefigure over Blisss skull.
Forthere, Queen, kneeling in it as though lost in
prayer, was an agedman. We knew Bliss was guilty, and yet there was no way toreach
him.
The lords and priests had gone, every one of
them.
We knew Bliss was guilty, and yet there was no way
toreach him.