6. The Biters Of The City Walls

           ItappearedthatforthepresentatanyrateIwastohavemyresidenceintheroyalpyramid.Theglitteringcavalcadedrewupinthegreatpavedsquarewhichliesbeforethebuilding,andmasseditselfingroups.Themammothwashaltedbeforethedoorway,andwhenastairhadbeenbrought,thetrumpetssounded,andwethreewhohadriddeninthegoldenhalf-castleunderthecanopyofsnakes,descendedtotheground.

           Itwasplainthatweweregoingfrombeneaththeopenskytotheapartmentswhichlayinsidethevaststonemazesofthepyramid,andwithoutthinking,theinstinctofcustomandreverencethathadbecomepartofmynaturecausedmetoturntowherethetoweringrocksoftheSacredMountainfrownedabovethecity,andmaketheusualobeisance,andofferupinsilencetheprescribedprayer.IsayIdidthisthingunthinking,andasamatterofcommoncustom,butwhenIrosetomyfeet,IcouldhaveswornIheardatitteroflaughterfromsomewhereinthatfancifullybedeckedcrowdofonlookers.

           Iglancedinthedirectionofthescoffers,frowninglyenough,andthenIturnedtoPhorenicetodemandtheirpromptpunishmentforthedisrespect.Butherewasastrangething.Ihadlookedtoseeherintheactandarticleofrisingfromanobeisance;butthereshewas,standingerect,andhadclearlynevertouchedherforeheadtotheground.Moreover,shewasregardingmewithaqueerlookwhichIcouldnotfathom.

           Butwhateverwasinhermind,shehadnoplantobawlaboutitthenbeforethepeoplecollectedinthesquare.