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CHAPTER
XXIX
THE TRIAL OF THE GODS JUANNA
had scarcely restored the remainder of her deadly medicine to its hiding-place,
when the curtains were drawn and Nam entered. After his customary salutations,
which on this occasion were more copious than usual, he remarked blandly that
the moon had risen in a clear sky. ‘Which
means, I suppose, that it is time for us to start,’ said Leonard gruffly. Then
they set out, Juanna in her monk-like robe, and Otter in his red fringe and a
goat-skin cape which he insisted upon wearing. ‘I may
as well die warm as cold, Baas,’ he explained, ‘for of cold I shall know enough
when I am dead.’ At the
palace gate Olfan and a guard were waiting, but they found no opportunity of
speaking with him. Here also were gathered a great number of priests, who
preceded and followed them. The
procession being formed, they were led solemnly to a different gate of the
temple than that by which they had entered it on their previous visits. On this
occasion the secret passages were avoided, and they passed up a broad avenue
through the centre of the amphitheatre, to seats that had been prepared for
them on that side of the pool which was furthest from the colossal idol. As
before, the temple was crowded with human beings, and their advance through it
was very impressive, for the priests chanted as they walked, while the
multitude preserved an ominous silence. At
first Leonard was at a loss to know why they were placed on the hither side of
the pool, but presently he saw the reason. In front of the chairs to be
occupied by Juanna and Otter, an open space of rock was left, semi-circular in
shape, on which were set other seats to the number of thirty or more. These
seats were allotted to elders of the people, who, as Leonard guessed rightly,
had been chosen to act as their judges. The position was selected for the
convenience of these elders, and in order that the words they spoke might be
heard by a larger proportion of their vast audience. When
Juanna and Otter were seated, and Leonard and Francisco had taken their places
behind them, Nam came forward to address the Council and the multitude beyond. ‘Elders
of the People of the Mist,’ he said, ‘I have conveyed your wishes to the holy
gods, who but lately have deigned to put on the flesh of men and to visit us
their people; namely, that they should meet you here and talk with you of the
trouble which has come upon the land. And now the gracious gods have assented
to your wish, and behold, they are face to face with you and with this great
company of their children. Be pleased therefore to make known what you desire
to the gods, that they may answer you, either with their own mouths or by the
voice of me, their servant.’ He
ceased, and after a pause, during which the people murmured angrily, an elder
rose and said: ‘We
would know of you how it is, O Aca, and O Jâl, that the summer has deserted the
land. Now our strait is very sorry, for famine will come upon us with the
winter snows. A while ago, O Aca, and O Jâl, you changed the worship of this
people, forbidding the victims who had been prepared to be offered up at the
spring festival, and lo! there has been no spring. Therefore, we ask a word of
you on this matter, for the people have consulted together, and say by our
voice that they will have no gods who kill the spring. Speak, O ye gods, and
you Nam, speak also, for we would learn the reason of these evils; and from you,
O Nam, we would learn
how it comes that you have proclaimed gods in the land whose breath has
destroyed the sunshine.’ ‘Ye ask
me, O People of the Mist,’ answered Juanna, ‘why it is that the winter
stretches out his hand over the slumber of the spring, forbidding her to awake,
and I will answer you in few words and short. It is because of your
disobedience and the hardness of your hearts, O ye rebellious children. Did ye
not do sacrifice when we forbade you to take the blood of men? Ay, and have not
our servants been stolen secretly away and put to death to satisfy your lust
for slaughter? It is for this reason, because of your disobedience, that the
heavens have grown hard as your own hearts and will not bless you with their
sunshine and their gentle rain. I have answered you.’ Then
again the spokesman of the elders rose and said: ‘We
have heard your words, O Aca, and they are words of little comfort, for to
sacrifice is the custom of the land, and hitherto no evil has befallen us
because of that ancient custom. Yet if there has been offence, it is not we who
have offended, but rather the priests in whose hands these matters lie; and as
for your servants, we know nothing of them, or of their fate. Now, Nam, make
answer to the charges of the gods, and to the questions of the people, for you
are the chief of their servants and you have proclaimed them to be true gods
and set them over us to rule us.’ Thus
adjured, Nam stood forward, and his mien was humble and anxious, for he saw
well that his accusers were not to be trifled with, and that his life, or at
least his power, was at stake, together with those of the gods. ‘Children
of the Mist,’ he began, ‘your words are sharp, yet I do not complain of them,
for, as ye shall learn, my fault has been grievous. Truly, I am the chief of
the servants of the gods, and I am also the servant of the people, and now it
would seem that I have betrayed both gods and people, though not of my own
will. ‘Listen:
ye know the legend that has come down to us, how that Aca and Jâl should
reappear in the land, wearing the shapes of a fair white maiden and of a black
dwarf. Ye know also how they came as had been promised, and how I showed them
to you here in this temple, and ye accepted them. Ye remember that then they
put away the ancient law and forbade the sacrifices, and by the hand of their
servant who is named Deliverer, they destroyed two of the priests, my brethren,
in a strange and terrible fashion. ‘Then I
murmured, though they threatened me with death, but ye overruled my words and
accepted the new law, and from that hour all things have gone ill. Now I took
counsel with my heart, for it seemed wonderful to me that the gods should
discard their ancient worship, and I said to my heart: Can these be true gods,
or have I perchance been duped? Thenceforward I held my peace, and set myself
to watch, and now after much watching — alas! I must say it to my shame — I
have discovered that they are no true gods, but wicked liars who have sought to
usurp the places of the gods.’ He
paused, and a roar of rage and astonishment went up from the assembled
thousands. ‘It has
come at last,’ whispered Leonard into Juanna’s ear. ‘Yes,
it has come,’ she answered. ‘Well, I expected it, and now we must face it out.’
When
the tumult had subsided, the spokesman of the elders addressed Nam, saying: ‘These
are heavy words, O Nam, and having uttered them you must prove them, for until
they are proved, we will not believe readily that there live human beings so
wicked that they dare to name themselves as gods. When you proclaimed these
strangers to be Aca and Jâl we accepted them, perhaps too easily and after too
short a search. Now you denounce them as liars, but we will not disclaim them
whom we have once received till we are sure that there is no room for error. It
may chance, Nam, that it would please you well to cast aside those gods who
have threatened you with death and do not love you.’ ‘I
should be bold indeed,’ answered Nam, ‘if I dared to speak as I have spoken
lacking testimony to establish a charge so dreadful as that which I bring
against these wanderers. Nor should I seek to publish my own shame and folly
were I not forced thereto by knowledge that, did I conceal it, would make me a
partner of their crime. Listen, this is the tale of those whom we have
worshipped: the fair woman, as she herself told us, is named Shepherdess of the
Heavens, and she is the wife of the white man who is named Deliverer, and the
dwarf Dweller in the Waters is their servant, together with the second white
man and the others. ‘Dwelling
in a far country, these men and the woman chanced to learn the story of our
people — how, I shall show you presently — and also that we find in the earth
and use in the ceremonies of our temple certain red and blue stones which among
the white people are of priceless value. These they determined to steal, being
adventurers who seek after wealth. To this end the Shepherdess learned our
language, also she learned how to play the part of Aca, while the dwarf, dog
that he is, dared to take the holy name of Jâl. I will be short: they
accomplished their journey, and the rest you know. But, as it happened, none of
the stones they covet have come into their hands, except that gem which the
Shepherdess wears upon her forehead, and this she brought with her. ‘Now,
People of the Mist, when doubts of these gods had entered into me I made a
plan: I set spies to watch them in the palace yonder, those spies being the
wife who was given to the dwarf and her handmaidens. Also, I caused their black
servants to be seized and thrown to the Snake, one or two of them at a time,
for of this I was sure, that if they had the power they would protect their
servants. But, as the Snake knows, those men were not protected. Meanwhile
reports came to me from the women, and more especially from Saga, the
granddaughter of my brother, who was given as a bride to Jâl. And this was
their report: that the dwarf behaved himself like a cur of low birth, and that
when he was in liquor, which was often, he babbled of his doings with the
Deliverer in other lands, though all that he said they could not tell me
because even now he has little knowledge of our tongue. ‘When
these tales came to my ears you may guess, O People of the Mist, that if I had
doubted before, now my very heart was shaken, and yet I had no proof. In my
darkness I prayed to the gods for light and, lo! light came. Among the
followers of these wanderers was a woman, and but yesterday this woman visited
me and confessed all. Forty years ago she had fled from among our people — I
know not why, but she took with her a knowledge of our secrets. It was she who
told them of the gods and the story of the gods, and she instructed them how
they should deceive us and win the red stones which they desired. But now her
heart repents her of the evil, and I will summon her before you, that ye may
judge between me and these liars who have brought me to this shame. Bring forth
the woman.’ There
was a silence, and so intense was the interest that no sound carne from the audience,
which watched for the appearance of the witness. Presently Soa advanced from
the shadows at the foot of the colossus, and escorted by two priests took her
stand in the centre of the semi-circle of judges. ‘Speak,
woman,’ said Nam. Then
Soa spoke. ‘I am of the People of the Mist,’ she said, ‘as ye may know by
looking on me and hearing me. I was the daughter of a priest, and forty years
ago, when I was young and fair, I fled this land for my own reasons, and
travelled south for three months’ journey, till I came to a village on a mighty
river, where I dwelt for twenty years earning my livelihood as a doctoress of
medicine. Then there came into that village a white man, whose wife gave birth
to a daughter and died. I became the nurse of that daughter; she is the woman
who sits before you, and her name is Shepherdess. ‘Twenty
years more went by, and I desired to return to my own land that I might die
among my people. I told the tale of my land and of its wealth to the
Shepherdess and to her husband the Deliverer, for I dared not travel alone.
Therefore in my wickedness I showed them how they might feign to be the gods of
the People of the Mist, come back according to the legend, for I saw that the
dwarf, the Deliverer’s servant, was shaped like to the shape of the statue of
Jâl, who sits in stone above you. Being greedy, they fell into the plan, for
above all things they desired to win the precious stones. But when we were come
hither the true gods visited me in a dream so that my heart was troubled because
of the evil which I had done, and yesterday I escaped to Nam and told him all
the tale which you have heard. That is the story, People of the Mist, and now I
pray your mercy and your pardon.’ Soa
ceased, and Leonard, who had been watching the multitude, whispered to Juanna: ‘Speak
quickly if you can think of anything to say. They are silent now because of
their astonishment, but in another minute they will break out, and then —’ ‘People
of the Mist,’ cried Juanna, taking the hint, ‘you have heard the words of Nam
and the words of her who was my servant. They dare to tell you that we are no
gods. So be it: on this matter we will not reason with you, for can the gods
descend to prove their godhead? We will not reason, but I will say this in
warning: put us away if you wish, — and it may well chance that we shall suffer
ourselves to be put away, since the gods do not desire to rule over those who
reject them, but would choose rather to return to their own place. ‘Yet
for you it shall be a sad and an unlucky day when ye lift a hand against our
majesty, for in going we will leave you that by which we shall be remembered.
Ay, we will bequeath to you three things: famine and pestilence and civil war,
which shall rage among you and destroy you till ye are no more a people. Ye
have suffered our servants to be murdered, and disobeyed our commands, and it
is for this reason, as I have told you, that the sun shines no more and the
summer will not come. Complete your wickedness if ye will, and let the gods
follow by the path that their servants trod. Then, People of the Mist, ye shall
reap as ye have sown, and death and desolation shall be your harvest. ‘Now
for that base slave who has borne false witness against us. Among the many
things she told you, one thing she has left untold: that she is daughter to Nam
the priest; that she fled the land because she was chosen bride to the Snake,
and is therefore an apostate worthy of death. One word also as to Nam, her
father; if his tale is true, then he himself is condemned by it, for doubtless
he knew all at the beginning, from the lips of his daughter Soa. ‘Yes,
knowing the truth he dared to set up gods in the land whom he believed to be
false, trusting thereby to increase his own power and glory, and when these
failed him because of his wickedness, then he did not scruple to cry aloud his
shame. I have spoken, People of the Mist. Now judge between us and let fate
follow judgment, for we renounce you.’ She
ended, her face alight with anger and her eyes flashing with excitement, and so
great was the power of her eloquence and beauty that it seemed to throw a spell
of silence over the hearts of her fierce and turbulent audience, while Soa
slunk back into the shadow and Nam cowered visibly. ‘It is
false, O people,’ he cried in a voice that trembled with rage and fear. ‘My
daughter told me the tale for the first time at dawn to-day.’ His
words awoke the audience as it were, and instantly there arose a babel of
sounds that rent the very skies. ‘His
daughter! He says that she is his daughter! Nam owns his crimes!’ yelled some. ‘Away
with the false gods!’ shouted others. ‘Touch
them not, they are true gods and will bring a curse upon us!’ answered a third
party, among whom Leonard recognised the voice of Olfan. And so
the clamour went on. For a full ten minutes it raged, till the exhaustion of
those that made it brought it to its end, and Juanna, who all this while sat
silent as some lovely marble statue, became aware that the spokesman of the
elders was once more addressing the multitude. ‘People
of the Mist,’ he said, ‘hold your peace and hearken to me. We have been chosen
judges of this matter, and now, having consulted together, we will give
judgment, and you shall be bound by it. As to whether these strangers who are
named Aca and Jai be true gods or false, we say no word. But if they are false
gods, then surely Nam is guilty with them.’ Here a
shout of assent burst from the audience, and Leonard watching the high priest
saw him tremble. ‘Yet,’
he went on, ‘they have told us by the mouth of her who sits before you that it
is because of our offences that the sun has ceased to shine at their command.
Therefore at their command it can be made to shine. Then let them give us a
sign or let them die, if indeed they are mortal, for if they are not mortal we
cannot kill them. And this shall be the sign which they must give: If to-morrow
at the dawn the mists hare vanished and the sun shines red and clear on the
snows of yonder mountain, then it is well and we will worship them. But if the
morning is cold and mist-laden, then, true gods or false, we will hurl them
from the head of the statue into the pit of the Snake, there to be dealt with
by the Snake, or to deal with him as it may chance. That is our judgment,
People of the Mist, and Nam shall carry it out if need be, for he shall keep
his power and his place until all these wonders are made clear, and then
himself he shall be judged according to their issue.’ Now the
great mass of the people cried aloud that this was a wise and a just saying,
but others were silent, for though they did not agree with it they dared not
dispute the sentence. Then Juanna rose and said: ‘We
have heard your words and we will withdraw to consider them, and by dawn ye
shall see us seated on the Black One yonder. But whether we will cause the sun
to shine or choose to pass to our own place by the path of boiling waters, we
do not know, though it seems to me that the last thing is better than the
first, for we weary of your company, People of the Mist, and it is not fitting
that we should bless you longer with our presence. Nevertheless, should we
choose that path, those evils which I have foretold shall fall upon you. Olfan,
lead us hence.’ The
king stepped forward with his guards and the procession passed back towards the
palace solemnly and in silence, for none attempted to bar their way. They
reached it safely at exactly ten o’clock by Leonard’s watch. ‘Now
let us eat and drink,’ said Leonard when they stood alone in the throne-room,
‘for we shall need all our strength to-night.’ ‘Yes,’ answered Juanna with a sad smile, ‘let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.’ |