Копи царя Соломона
Good Falls Sick
ButTwala,whoknewit,isdead,andIknowitnot,norknowIwhatisinit. Yetthereisalegendinthelandthatonce,manygenerationsgone,awhitemancrossedthemountains, andwasledbyawomantothesecretchamberandshownthewealthhiddeninit. Butbeforehecouldtakeitshebetrayedhim,andhewasdrivenbythekingofthatdaybacktothemountains,andsincethennomanhasenteredtheplace."
"Thestoryissurelytrue,Ignosi,foronthemountainswefoundthewhiteman,"Isaid.
"Yes,wefoundhim.AndnowIhavepromisedyouthatifyecancometothatchamber,andthestonesarethere—"
"Thegemuponthyforeheadprovesthattheyarethere,"Iputin,pointingtothegreatdiamondIhadtakenfromTwala’sdeadbrows.
"Mayhap;iftheyarethere,"hesaid,"yeshallhaveasmanyasyecantakehence—ifindeedyewouldleaveme,mybrothers."
"Firstwemustfindthechamber,"saidI.
"Thereisbutonewhocanshowittothee—Gagool."
"Andifshewillnot?"
"Thenshemustdie,"saidIgnosisternly."Ihavesavedheralivebutforthis. Stay,sheshallchoose," andcallingtoamessengerheorderedGagooltobebroughtbeforehim.
Inafewminutesshecame,hurriedalongbytwoguards,whomshewascursingasshewalked.
"Leaveher,"saidthekingtotheguards.
Sosoonastheirsupportwaswithdrawn,thewitheredoldbundle—forshelookedmorelikeabundlethananythingelse,outofwhichhertwobrightandwickedeyesgleamedlikethoseofasnake—sankinaheapontothefloor.
