登陆注册
5145400000050

第50章

"The magic of Asti with which she has been endowed from on high to save you, Neter-Tua, that gives me strength. Know that although you cannot always see me, I am your eternal companion. Through life I go with you, and when you die I watch in your tomb, perfect, incorruptible, preserving your wisdom, your loveliness, and all that is yours, until the day of resurrection. I have power, I have the secret knowledge which dwells in you, although you cannot grasp it; Iremember the Past, the infinite, infinite Past that you forget, Iforesee the Future, the endless, endless Future that is hidden from you, to which the life you know is but as a single leaf upon the tree, but as one grain of sand in the billions of the Desert. I look upon the faces of the gods, and hear their whisperings; Fate gives me his book to read; I sleep secure in the presence of the Eternal who sent me forth, and to whom at last I return again, my journey ended, my work fulfilled, bearing you in my holy arms. O Morning-Star, the spells of Asti have clothed me in this magic flesh, the might of Amen has set me on my feet. I am here, your servant, to obey."Now, amazed, bewildered, Tua called out:

"Awake, Nurse, awake, for I am mad. It seems to me that a messenger from on high, robed in my own flesh, stands before me and speaks with me."Asti opened her eyes, and, perceiving the beautiful figure, rose and did obeisance to it, but said no word.

"Be seated," said the Ka, "and hear me, time is short. I awoke at the summons, I came forth, I am present, I endure until the spell is taken off me, and I return whence I came. O Interpreter, speak the will of her of whom I am, that I may do it in my own fashion. There is food--eat and drink, then speak."

So Asti ate and drank as Tua had done, and when she had finished and was satisfied, behold! the cup and the platter vanished away. Next in a slow, quiet voice she spoke, saying:

"O Shadow of this royal Star, by my spells incorporate, this is our case: Here we starve in misery, and without the gate Abi waits the end. If the Queen lives, he will take her who hates him to be his wife; if she dies he will seize her throne. Our wisdom is finished.

What must we do to save this Star that it may shine serene until its appointed hour of setting?""Is that all you seek?" asked the Double, when she had finished.

"Nay," broke in Tua hurriedly, "I would not shine alone, I seek another Star to share my sky with me.""Have you faith and will you obey?" asked the Double again. "For without faith I can do nothing."Now Asti looked at Tua who bowed her head in assent to an unspoken question, then she answered:

"We have faith, we will obey."

"So be it," said the Shadow. "Presently Abi will come to ask whether the Queen consents to be his wife, or whether she will bide here until she dies. I who wear the fashion of the Queen will go forth and be his wife, oh! such a wife as man never had before," and as she spoke the words an awful look swept across her face, and her deep eyes flamed.

"Ill goes it with the mortal man who weds a wraith that hates him and is commanded to work his woe," she added.

Now Asti and Tua understood and smiled, then the Queen said:

"So you will sit in my seat, O Shadow, and as your lord, Abi will sit on Pharaoh's throne and find it hard. But what of Egypt and my people?""Fear not for Egypt and your people, O Morning Star. With these it shall go well enough until you come back to claim them.""And what of my companion and myself?" asked Tua.

The Double raised her sceptre, and pointed to the open window-space between them, beneath which, hundreds of feet beneath, ran the milky waters of the river.

"You shall trust yourselves to the bosom of Father Nile," she answered solemnly.

Now the Queen and Asti stared at each other.

"That means," said Tua, "that we must trust ourselves to Osiris, for none can fall so far and live.""Think you so, O Star? Where, then, is that faith you promised, without which I can do nothing? Nay, I tell no more. Do my bidding, or let me go, and deal with Abi as it pleases you. Choose now, he draws near," and as she spoke the words they heard the bronze gates of the temple clash upon their hinges.

Tua shivered at the sound, then sprang from the couch, and drew herself to her full height, exclaiming:

"For my part I have chosen. Never shall it be said that Pharaoh's daughter was a coward. Better the breast of Osiris than the arms of Abi, or slow death in a dungeon. In Amen and in thee, O Double, I put my trust."The Shadow looked from her to Asti, who answered briefly:

"Where my Lady goes there I follow, knowing that Mermes always waits.

What shall we do?"

The Ka motioned to them to stand together in the narrow winding-place, and this they did, their arms about each other. Next she lifted her sceptre and spoke some word.

Then fire flashed before their eyes, a rush of wind beat upon their brows, and they knew no more.

同类推荐
  • 佛说优婆塞五戒相经

    佛说优婆塞五戒相经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净名玄论

    净名玄论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 舍卫国王梦见十事经

    舍卫国王梦见十事经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 辇下岁时记

    辇下岁时记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • On the Motion of Animals

    On the Motion of Animals

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 凤凰与传说

    凤凰与传说

    谨以此书献给姚女士。我爱你没有任何理由,就是因为我爱你。
  • 重播

    重播

    马洛以450美元的代价,受聘于一名律师,到火车站跟踪一名年轻女性,任务很简单:别跟丢人,只须查明下榻旅馆即可。然而马洛立刻发现事实绝不是这样,他决定买一张前往圣地亚哥的车票,追踪下去……一九五八年最后的长篇,马洛的谢幕之作。
  • 中书集:朱湘作品精选

    中书集:朱湘作品精选

    一个时代的开拓者和各种文学形式的集大成者,他们的作品来源于他们生活的时代,记载了那个时代社会生活的缩影,包含了作家本人对社会、生活的体验与思考,影响着社会的发展进程,具有永恒的魅力。他们是我们心灵的工程师,能够指导我们的人生发展,给予我们心灵鸡汤般的精神滋养。
  • 诸哽门

    诸哽门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 卓越管理者素质修炼

    卓越管理者素质修炼

    从管理者的人格魅力、角色定位、工作态度、行为准则、细节管理、学习能力、创新意识、愿景管理等八个方面,采用精彩案例加上深入浅出的理论分析,让所有的企业管理者明白:如何才能将自己打造成一个完美的企业管理者,让自己真正起到企业的桥梁纽带作用,也让自己成为企业不可或缺的人才。无论是渴望突破的中高层管理者,还是希望被提拔的基层管理者,都会在《卓越管理者素质修炼》中找到自己所需要的智慧。
  • 随身带着联盟商店

    随身带着联盟商店

    英雄联盟的商店突然附身到一个一个高中学生的身上,得此臂助,他将在花样都市掀起什么样的波澜?
  • 比我优雅的女人都恋爱了

    比我优雅的女人都恋爱了

    《比我优雅的女人都恋爱了》作者以她幽默的笔触,为现代女性提供了细致而绝妙的建议,告诉她们如何才能永保别致、优雅和迷人的仪态。她的教诲值得今天的每一位女士聆听和借鉴。书中内容涉及到日常的就餐、交往、谈话等诸多方面,对女性日常生活工作中的细节问题都进行了贴心的讲解。还对女性易陷入的感情困境提出了忠告,对于任何希望永远出色得体的女性来说,都具有极强的指导意义。本书将会告诉你一些比单调的说教更富有价值的东西;成为优雅女人,不仅仅是为了讨好他人,更是为了取悦自己。生活将会变得情趣十足、无比享受;目标也会更容易实现;成就感与满足感将会随之而来。
  • 茶归暖风时

    茶归暖风时

    “无论如何我都不可能娶那个你们随随便便给我安排的女孩!”五年后“那个……卿卿结个婚?”“不好意思,我不嫁。”女孩撇了他一眼,当初谁把我耍的团团转来着?嫁给他,不可能!男孩沉思了一下,斟酌的开口,“我嫁也行,卿卿你娶我吧!”茶思卿:????【男女主身心干净,1V1,请安心入坑,小甜饼!】
  • 7-11之恋

    7-11之恋

    蔡某是个艺术工作者,平日作词作曲、写小说拍纪录片,昼伏夜出。每个早上睡前,他会到街角的7-11买罐牛奶配御饭团当早餐,生活平稳规律。生活的变化,从不经意打破扑满开始。成堆的硬币自行玩起了配对游戏。每个早餐32元,2个10元、2个5元、2个1元,每天早晨的7-11之行,他可以游戏5个礼拜。和蔡某分享着早餐秘密的,是7-11的店员小凤。他的规律成了她的习惯,2个10元、2个5元、2个1元,每个早晨的10∶30,2个人若有似无的亲密。
  • 道微纪

    道微纪

    “每个生灵在他出生的时候,命运就已经注定了。”“可若是这样,那我为何会来到这个世界。”当顾兮寻睁开眼睛的时候......