Копи царя Соломона
We Give a Sign
IhaveworkedoutthereckoningsaswellasIcan,withoutknowingourexactposition; andImakeoutthattheeclipseshouldbeginhereaboutteno’clocktomorrownight,andlasttillhalf-pasttwelve.Foranhourandahalforsothereshouldbealmosttotaldarkness."
"Well,"saidSirHenry,"Isupposewehadbetterriskit."
Iacquiesced,thoughdoubtfully,foreclipsesarequeercattletodealwith—itmightbeacloudynight,forinstance,orourdatesmightbewrong—andsentUmbopatosummonthechiefsback. Presentlytheycame,andIaddressedthemthus—
"GreatmenoftheKukuanas,andthou,Infadoos,listen. Welovenottoshowourpowers,fortodosoistointerferewiththecourseofnature,andtoplungetheworldintofearandconfusion. Butsincethismatterisagreatone,andasweareangeredagainstthekingbecauseoftheslaughterwehaveseen,andbecauseoftheactoftheIsanusiGagool, whowouldhaveputourfriendIgnositodeath,wehavedeterminedtobreakarule,andtogivesuchasignasallmenmaysee. Comehither";andIledthemtothedoorofthehutandpointedtotheredballofthemoon. "Whatseeyethere?"
"Weseethesinkingmoon,"answeredthespokesmanoftheparty.
"Itisso.Nowtellme,cananymortalmanputoutthatmoonbeforeherhourofsetting,andbringthecurtainofblacknightdownupontheland?"
Thechieflaughedalittleatthequestion. "No,mylord,thatnomancando. Themoonisstrongerthanmanwholooksonher,norcanshevaryinhercourses."
