Part 39 (1/2)
This happened after her husband had recovered from the hurts he received in the battle, on an occasion when he was obliged to separate from her for a day in order to attend to some matter in the Town of the Child
I think it had to do with the rifles used in the battle, which he had presented to the White Kendah So, leaving h, who seeht of his wife even for an hour
I took her for a walk in the wood, to that very point indeed on the lip of the crater whence we had watched her play her part as priestess at the Feast of the First-fruits After we had stood there a while ent down a to retrace the last part of our ht, whereof now for the first ti anall sat down and said:
”Do you know, Mr Quatermain, these are the first words we have really had since that party at Ragnall before I was otten, you tookI recollectedto say, or so I supposed
”Well,” she said slowly, ”you see that after all there was soht would best be dealt with by a doctor--about Africa and the rest, I h of course we should always res In any case they are done with now”
”Not quite, Mr Quatero Also in another sense I believe that they are but begun”
”I do not understand, Lady Ragnall”
”Nor do I, but listen You know that of anything which happened during those months I have no memory at all, except of that one dreae in the hut I re killed by that horrible circus elephant, just as the Ivory Child was killed or rather destroyed by Jana, which I suppose is another of your coincidences, Mr Quater until I woke up and saw George standing in front of me covered with blood, and you, and Jana dead, and the rest”
”Because during that tinall”
”Yes, but where had it gone? I tell you, Mr Quater about reat deal of what seeo or in soe, as I hope you will not either It ht upset him”
”What do you remember?” I asked
”That's the trouble; I can't tell you What was once very clear to ue and forrasp it, it slips away It was another life to this, quite a different life; and there was a great story in it of which I think e have been going through is either a sequel or a prologue I see, or saw, cities and te theh, but my recollection is that you stood in some relationshi+p to me, either that of father or brother”
”Or perhaps a cousin,” I suggested
”Or perhaps a cousin,” she repeated, s very intie, I don't knohat he was, or Hart either But the odd thing is that little yellowfor a few minutes that I can remember, comes more clearly back to my mind than any of you He was a dwarf, much stouter than when I saw him the other day, but very like I recall hi an ivory rod, seated upon a stool at the feet of a great personage--a king, I think The king asked him questions, and everyone listened to his answers That is all, except that the scenes seeht”
”Which is , Lady Ragnall, or you will catch a chill under these damp cedars”
I said this because I did not wish to pursue the conversation I considered it too exciting under all her circuathering on her face and in her beautiful eyes, which I re before she was h:
”Yes, it is da and damp will not hurt me For the rest you need not be afraid, Mr Quatermain I did not lose my mind It was taken from me by soiven back and I do not think it will be taken again in that way”
”Of course it won't,” I exclai?”
”_You_ did,” she answered, lookingHart and the head priestess have iven me a box full of that herb they called tobacco, but of which I have discovered the real name is Taduki It is the same that they burned in the bohen you and I saw visions at Ragnall Castle, which visions, Mr Quatermain, by another of your coincidences, have since been translated into facts”
”I know We saw you breathe that sain as priestess when you uttered the prophecy as Oracle of the Child at the Feast of the First-fruits But what are you going to do with this stuff, Lady Ragnall? I think you have had enough of visions just at present”
”So do I, though to tell you the truth I like the--as yet Still, I want you always to reain she looked , some way off I think, when I and you--no one else, Mr Quatere things”