the ninth vibration-第25章

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She　turned　to　her　rival。　〃If　you　have　meant　truly；　I　thank　you。〃

〃I　have　meant　truly。〃

She　turned　to　go；　but　the　Queen　caught　her　by　the　hand。

〃Why　have　you　done　this？〃　she　asked；　looking　into　the　strange　eyes　of　the　strange　woman。

Something　like　tears　gathered　in　them　for　a　moment；　but　she　brushed　them　away　as　she　said　hurriedly：

〃I　was　grateful。　You　saved　my　son。　Is　it　not　enough？〃

〃No；　not　enough！〃　cried　the　Queen。　〃There　is　more。　Tell　me；　for　death　is　upon　us。〃

〃His　footsteps　are　near；〃　said　the　Indian。　〃I　will　speak。　I　love　my　lord。　In　death　I　will　not　cheat　him。　What　you　have　known　is　true。　My　child　is　no　child　of　his。　I　will　not　go　down　to　death　with　a　lie　upon　my　lips。　Come　and　see。〃

Dwaymenau　was　no　more。　Sundari；　the　Indian　woman；　awful　and　calm；　led　the　Queen　down　the　long　ball　and　into　her　own　chamber；　where　Mindon；　the　child；　slept　a　drugged　sleep。　The　Queen　felt　that　she　had　never　known　her；　she　herself　seemed　diminished　in　stature　as　she　followed　the　stately　figure；　with　its　still；　dark　face。　Into　this　room　the　enemy　were　breaking；　shouldering　their　way　at　the　door　…　a　rabble　of　terrible　faces。　Their　fury　was　partly　checked　when　only　a　sleeping　child　and　two　women　confronted　them；　but　their　leader；　a　grim　and　evil…　looking　man；　strode　from　the　huddle。

〃Where　is　the　son　of　the　King？〃　be　shouted。　〃Speak；　women！　Whose　is　this　boy？〃

Sundari　laid　her　hand　upon　her　son's　shoulder。　Not　a　muscle　of　her　face　flickered。

〃This　is　his　son。〃

〃His　true　son　…　the　son　of　Maya　the　Queen？〃

〃His　true　son；　the　son　of　Maya　the　Queen。〃

〃Not　the　younger　…　the　mongrel？〃

〃The　younger　…　the　mongrel　died　last　week　of　a　fever。〃

Every　moment　of　delay　was　precious。　Her　eyes　saw　only　a　monk　and　a　boy　fleeing　across　the　wide　river。

〃Which　is　Maya　the　Queen？〃

〃This；〃　said　Sundari。　〃She　cannot　speak。　It　is　her　son　…　the　Prince。〃

Maya　had　veiled　her　face　with　her　hands。　Her　brain　swam；　but　she　understood　the　noble　lie。　This　woman　could　love。　Their　lord　would　not　be　left　childless。　Thought　beat　like　pulses　in　her　…　raced　along　her　veins。　She　held　her　breath　and　was　dumb。

His　doubt　was　assuaged　and　the　lust　of　vengeance　was　on　him　…　a　madness　seized　the　man。　But　even　his　own　wild　men　shrank　back　a　moment；　for　to　slay　a　sleeping　child　in　cold　blood　is　no　man's　work。

〃You　swear　it　is　the　Prince。　But　why？　Why　do　you　not　lie　to　save　him　if　you　are　the　King's　woman？〃

〃Because　his　mother　has　trampled　me　to　the　earth。　I　am　the　Indian　woman　…　the　mother　of　the　younger；　who　is　dead　and　safe。　She　jeered　at　me　…　she　mocked　me。　It　is　time　I　should　see　her　suffer。　Suffer　now　as　I　have　suffered；　Maya　the　Queen！〃

This　was　reasonable　…　this　was　like　the　women　he　bad　known。　His　doubt　was　gone　…　he　laughed　aloud。

〃Then　feed　full　of　vengeance！〃　he　cried；　and　drove　his　knife　through　the　child's　heart。

For　a　moment　Sundari　wavered　where　she　stood；　but　she　held　herself　and　was　rigid　as　the　dead。

〃Tha…du！　Well　done！〃　she　said　with　an　awful　smile。　〃The　tree　is　broken；　the　roots　cut。　And　now　for　us　women　…　our　fate；　0　master？〃

〃Wait　here；〃　he　answered。　〃Let　not　a　hair　of　their　heads　be　touched。　Both　are　fair。　The　two　for　me。　For　the　rest　draw　lots　when　all　is　done。〃

The　uproar　surged　away。　The　two　stood　by　the　dead　boy。　So　swift　had　been　his　death　that　he　lay　as　though　he　still　slept　…　the　black　lashes　pressed　upon　his　cheek。

With　the　heredity　of　their　different　races　upon　them；　neither　wept。　But　silently　the　Queen　opened　her　arms；　wide　as　a　woman　that　entreats　she　opened　them　to　the　Indian　Queen；　and　speechlessly　the　two　clung　together。　For　a　while　neither　spoke。

〃My　sister！〃　said　Maya　the　Queen。　And　again；　〃0　great　of　heart！〃

She　laid　her　cheek　against　Sundari's；　and　a　wave　of　solemn　joy　seemed　to　break　in　her　soul　and　flood　it　with　life　and　light。

〃Had　I　known　sooner！〃　she　said。　〃For　now　the　night　draws　on。〃

〃What　is　time？〃　answered　the　Rajput　woman。　〃We　stand　before　the　Lords　of　Life　and　Death。　The　life　you　gave　was　yours；　and　I　am　unworthy　to　kiss　the　feet　of　the　Queen。　Our　lord　will　return　and　his　son　is　saved。　The　House　can　be　rebuilt。　My　son　and　I　were　waifs　washed　up　from　the　sea。　Another　wave　washes　us　back　to　nothingness。　Tell　him　my　story　and　he　will　loathe　me。〃

〃My　lips　are　shut；〃　said　the　Queen。　〃Should　I　betray　my　sister's　honour？　When　he　speaks　of　the　noble　women　of　old；　your　name　will　be　among　them。　What　matters　which　of　us　he　loves　and　remembers？　Your　soul　and　mine　have　seen　the　same　thing；　and　we　are　one。　But　I　…　what　have　I　to　do　with　life？　The　ship　and　the　bed　of　the　conqueror　await　us。　Should　we　await　them；　my　sister？〃

The　bright　tears　glittered　in　the　eyes　of　Sundari　at　the　tender　name　and　the　love　in　the　face　of　the　Queen。　At　last　she　accepted　it。

〃My　sister；　no；〃　she　said；　and　drew　from　her　bosom　the　dagger　of　Maya；　with　the　man's　blood　rusted　upon　it。　〃Here　is　the　way。　I　have　kept　this　dagger　in　token　of　my　debt。　Nightly　have　I　kissed　it；　swearing　that；　when　the　time　came；　I　would　repay　my　debt　to　the　great　Queen。　Shall　I　go　first　or　follow；　my　sister？〃

Her　voice　lingered　on　the　word。　It　was　precious　to　her。　It　was　like　clear　water；　laying　away　the　stain　of　the　shameful　years。

〃Your　arm　is　strong；〃　answered　the　Queen。　〃I　go　first。　Because　the　King's　son　is　safe；　I　bless　you。　For　your　love　of　the　King；　I　love　you。　And　here；　standing　on　the　verge　of　life；　I　testify　that　the　words　of　the　Blessed　One　are　truth　…　that　love　is　All；　that　hatred　is　Nothing。〃

She　bared　the　breast　that　this　woman　had　made　desolate　…　that；　with　the　love　of　this　woman；　was　desolate　ho　longer；　and；　stooping；　laid　her　hand　on　the　brow　of　Mindon。　Once　more　they　embraced；　and　then；　strong　and　true；　and　with　the　Rajput　passion　behind　the　blow；　the　stroke　fell　and　Sundari　had　given　her　sister　the　crowning　mercy　of　deliverance。　She　laid　the　body　beside　her　own　son；　composing　the　stately　limbs；　the　quiet　eyelids；　the　black　lengths　of　hair　into　majesty。　So；　she　thought；　in　the　great　temple　of　the　Rajput　race；　the　Mother　Goddess　shed　silence　and　awe　upon　her　worshippers。　The　two　lay　like　mother　and　son　…　one　slight　hand　of　the　Queen　she　laid　across　the　little　body　as　if　to　guard　it。

Her　work　done；　she　turned　to　the　entrance　and　watched　the　dawn　coming　glorious　over　the　river。　The　men　shouted　and　quarreled　in　the　distance；　but　she　heeded　them　no　more　than　the　chattering　of　apes。　Her　heart　was　away　over　the　distance　to　the　King；　but　with　no　passion　now：　so　might　a　mother　have　thought　of　her　son。　He　was　sleeping；　forgetful　of　even　her　in　his　dreams。　What　matter？　She　was　glad　at　heart。　The　Queen　was　dearer　to　her　than　the　King　…　so　strange　is　life；　so　healing　is　death。　She　remembered　without　surprise　that　she　had　asked　no　forgiveness　of　the　Queen　for　all　the　cruel　wrongs；　for　the　deadly　intent　…　had　made　no　confession。　Again　what　matter？　What　is　forgiveness　when　love　is　all？

She　turned　from　the　dawn…light　to　the　light　in　the　face　of　the　Queen。　It　was　well。　Led　by　such　a　hand；　she　could　present　herself　without　fear　before　the　Lords　of　Life　and　Death　…　she　and　the　child。　She　smiled。　Life　is　good；　but　death；　which　is　more　life；　is　better。　The　son　of　the　King　was　safe；　but　her　own　son　safer。

When　the　conqueror　reentered　the　chamber；　he　found　the　dead　Queen　guarding　the　dead　child；　and　across　her　feet；　as　not　worthy　to　lie　beside　her；　was　the　body　of　the　Indian　woman；　most　beautiful　in　death。



FIRE　OF　BEAUTY

（Salutation　to　Ganesa　the　Lord　of　Wisdom；　and　to　Saraswate　the　Lady　of　Sweet　Speech！）

This　story　was　composed　by　the　Brahmin　Visravas；　that　dweller　on　the　banks　of　holy　Kashi；　and　though　the　events　it　records　are　long　past；　yet　it　is　absolutely　and　immutably　true　because；　by　the　power　of　his　yoga；　he　summoned　up　every　scene　before　him；　and　beheld　the　persons　moving　and　speaking　as　in　life。　Thus　he　had　naught　to　do　but　to　set　down　what　befell。

What　follows；　that　hath　he　seen。


I

Wide　was　the　plain；　the　morning　sun　shining　full　upon　it；　drinking　up　the　dew　as　the　Divine　drinks　up　the　spirit　of　man。　Far　it　stretched；　resembling　the　ocean；　and　riding　upon　it　like　a　stately　ship　was　the　league…long　Rock　of　Chitor。　It　is　certainly　by　the　favour　of　the　Gods　that　this　great　fortress　of　the　Rajput　Kings　thus　rises　from　the　plain；　leagues　in　length；　noble　in　height；　and　very　strange　it　is　to　see　the　flat　earth　fall　away　from　it　like　waters　from　the　bows　of　a　boat；　as　it　soars　into　the　sky　with　its　burden　of　palaces　and　towers。

Here　dwelt　the　Queen　Padmini　and　her　husband　Bhimsi；　the　Rana　of　the　Rajputs。

The　sight　of　the　holy　ascetic　Visravas　pierced　even　the　secrets　of　the　Rani's　bower；　where；　in　the　inmost　chamber　of　marble；　carved　until　it　appeared　like　lace　of　the　foam　of　the　sea；　she　was　seated　upon　cushions　of　blue　Bokhariot　silk；　like　the　lotus　whose　name　she　bore　floating　upon　the　blue　depths　of　the　lake。　She　had　just　risen　from　the　shallow　bath　of　marble　at　her　feet。

Most　beautiful　was　this　Queen；　a　haughty　beauty　such　as　should　be　a　Rajput　lady；　for　the　name　〃Rajput〃　signifies　Son　of　a　King；　and　this　lady　was　assuredly　the　daughter　of　Kings　and　of　no　lesser　persons。　And　since　that　beauty　is　long　since　ashes　（all　things　being　transitory）；　it　is　permitted　to　describe　the　mellowed　ivory　of　her　body；　the　smooth　curves　of　her　hips；　and　the　defiance　of　her　glimmering　bosom；　half　veiled　by　the　long　silken　tresses　of　sandal…　scented　hair　which　a　maiden　on　either　side；　bowing　toward　her；　knotted　upon　her　head。　But　even　he　who　with　his　eyes　has　seen　it　can　scarce　tell　the　beauty　of　her　face　…　the　slender　arched　nose；　the　great　eyes　like　lakes　of　darkness　in　the　reeds　of　her　curled　lashes；　the　mouth　of　roses；　the　glance；　deer…like　but　proud；　that　courted　and　repelled　admiration。　This　cannot　be　told；　nor　could　the　hand　of　man　paint　it。　Scarcely　could　that　fair　wife　of　the　Pandava　Prince；　Draupadi　the　Beautiful　（who　bore　upon　her　perfect　form　every　auspicious　mark）　excel　this　lady。

（Ashes　…　ashes！　May　Maheshwara　have　mercy　upon　her　rebirths！）

Throughout　India　had　run　the　fame　of　this　beauty。　In　the　bazaar　of　Kashmir　they　told　of　it。　It　was　recorded　in　the　palaces　of　Travancore；　and　all　the　lands　that　lay　between；　and　in　an　evil　hour　…　may　the　Gods　curse　the　mother　that　bore　him！　…　it　reached　the　ears　of　Allah…u…　Din；　the　Moslem　dog；　a　very　great　fighting　man　who　sat　in　Middle　India；　looting　and　spoiling。

（Ahi！　for　the　beauty　that　is　as　a　burning　flame！）

In　the　gardens　beneath　the　windows　of　the　Queen；　the　peacocks；　those　maharajas　of　the　birds；　were　spreading　the　bronze　and　emerald　of　their　tails。　The　sun　shone　on　them　as　on　heaps　of　jewels；　so　that　they　dazzled　the　eyes。　They　stood　about　the　feet　of　the　ancient　Brahmin　sage；　he　who　had　tutored　the　Queen　in　her　childhood　and　given　her　wisdom　as　the　crest…jeweled　of　her　loveliness。　He；　the　Twice…born　sat　under　the　shade　of　a　neem　tree；　hearing　the　gurgle　of　the　sacred　waters　from　the　Cow's　Mouth；　where　the　great　tank　shone　under　the　custard…apple　boughs；　and；　at　peace　with　all　the　world；　he　read　in　the　Scripture　which　affirms　the　transience　of　all　things　drifting　across　the　thought　of　the　Supreme　like　clouds　upon　the　surface　of　the　Ocean。

（Ahi！　that　loveliness　is　also　illusion！）

Her　women　placed　about