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Allan Quatermain-Part28_H.Rider Haggard(1856-1925)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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we were conducted into one of the ray or 'petal' courts, as the



priests call them, and there left for at least half-an-hour.

Here we conferred together, and realizing that we stood in great



danger of our lives, determined, if any attempt should be made

upon us, to sell them as dearly as we could -- Umslopogaas announcing



his fixed intention of committing sacrilege on the person of

Agon, the High Priest, by splitting his head with Inkosi-kaas.



From where we stood we could perceive that an immense multitude

were pouring into the temple, evidently in expectation of some



unusual event, and I could not help fearing that we had to do

with it. And here I may explain that every day, when the sunlight



falls upon the central altar, and the trumpets sound, a burnt

sacrifice is offered to the Sun, consisting generally of the



carcase of a sheep or ox, or sometimes of fruit or corn. This

even comes off about midday; of course, not always exactly at



that hour, but as Zu-Vendis is situated not far from the Line,

although -- being so high above the sea it is very temperate



-- midday and the falling of the sunlight on the altar were generally

simultaneous. Today the sacrifice was to take place at about



eight minutes past twelve.

Just at twelve o'clock a priest appeared, and made a sign, and



the officer of the guard signified to us that we were expected

to advance, which we did with the best grace that we could muster,



all except Alphonse, whose irrepressible teeth instantly began

to chatter. In a few seconds we were out of the court and looking



at a vast sea of human faces stretching away to the farthest

limits of the great circle, all straining to catch a glimpse



of the mysterious strangers who had committed sacrilege; the

first strangers, mind you, who, to the knowledge of the multitude,



had ever set foot in Zu-Vendis since such time that the memory

of man runneth not to the contrary.



As we appeared there was a murmur through the vast crowd that

went echoing away up the great dome, and we saw a visible blush



of excitement grow on the thousands of faces, like a pink light

on a stretch of pale cloud, and a very curious effect it was.



On we passed down a lane cut through the heart of the human

mass, till presently we stood upon the brazen patch of flooring



to the east of the central altar, and immediately facing it.

For some thirty feet around the golden-winged figures the space



was roped off, and the multitudes stood outside the ropes. Within

were a circle of white-robed gold-cinctured priests holding long



golden trumpets in their hands, and immediately in front of us

was our friend Agon, the High Priest, with his curious cap upon



his head. His was the only covered head in that vast assemblage.

We took our stand upon the brazen space, little knowing what



was prepared for us beneath, but I noticed a curious hissing

sound proceedingapparently from the floor for which I could



not account. Then came a pause, and I looked around to see if

there was any sign of the two Queens, Nyleptha and Sorais, but



they were not there. To the right of us, however, was a bare

space that I guessed was reserved for them.



We waited, and presently a far-offtrumpet blew, apparently high

up in the dome. Then came another murmur from the multitude,



and up a long lane, leading to the open space to our right, we

saw the two Queens walking side by side. Behind them were some



nobles of the Court, among whom I recognized the great lord Nasta,

and behind them again a body of about fifty guards. These last



I was very glad to see. Presently they had all arrived and taken

their stand, the two Queens in the front, the nobles to the right



and left, and the guards in a double semicircle behind them.

Then came another silence, and Nyleptha looked up and caught



my eye; it seemed to me that there was meaning in her glance,

and I watched it narrowly. From my eye it travelled down to



the brazen flooring, on the outer edge of which we stood. Then

followed a slight and almost imperceptible sidelong movement



of the head. I did not understand it, and it was repeated.

Then I guessed that she meant us to move back off the brazen



floor. One more glance and I was sure of it -- there was danger

in standing on the floor. Sir Henry was placed on one side of



me, Umslopogaas on the other. Keeping my eyes fixed straight




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