The Adventure MEGAPACK ®. Уильям Хоуп Ходжсон

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СКАЧАТЬ little of the risk she ran. She merely waited until the women’s house was wrapped in slumber before she stole down the tiny stairway. That death would be her portion if she were discovered, faded away before the magic of her lover’s kiss. The fact that the death would be a slow, torturous one, not swift and merciful, she never let come into her thoughts. The moment and Boud Ali were sufficient, and she felt that she would gladly pay any price for the joy, of resting in his arms.

      But tonight? Tonight her soul was full of terror, not for herself but for him! They had planned to meet, and her heart had been full of eager anticipation. Then only a few short moments ago word had been brought that the Rajah would visit the women’s quarters and that the dancing-girls should be ready to amuse him.

      * * * *

      Talfa on hearing the news, had prayed silently that his choice fall not on her when the dance was done. Then like a swift stab of horror had come the thought the Rajah would retire to the summer house with whomever he chose. That was the reason she had seen slaves working there today. They were cleaning and perfuming the pavilion for his use. And just at that time Boud Ali would be there waiting. Death would be his portion, and she could not save him. There was no way. The slave who let him into the garden was in the men’s part of the palace; so even if she knew which slave it was, she had no way of reaching him. And she would not dare disclose her secret to anyone who could send a message. Talfa, herself, could neither read nor write. Only fifteen years old, she had been educated solely to attract and interest the senses.

      In sheer panic, she had left the other girls, who were chattering like a group of excited monkeys, and had sought this window overlooking the garden. Out there, not very far away, her lover was waiting. What was it he had said of the power of thought? Gods! If only her thoughts could warn him! But she had no faith in her powers of concentration. By all the Gods, there must be a way! Then out of the night and her own despair, an idea was born.

      At their last meeting they had laughingly, joked of “The Black Adder,” a bandit who had been terrorizing the whole province of Tawnpore, so called because he struck quickly like the reptile, and his touch meant death; also because he was always robed in black with a silk hood over his face. No one had the slightest idea of his identity.

      When Talfa had playfully refused one of his caresses, Boud Ali had cried, “Submit, or I will call on the Black Adder to make you. See reason, oh, light of my life!”

      And then much later, after she had explained that she had refused only for the joy of giving in, they had spoken of the Black Adder again, and Boud Ali had told her some of the bandit’s less gory exploits. Perhaps he would remember their conversation and under cover of a song about the Black Adder she could warn the man she loved. No one hearing would think aught, for the Black Adder’s name was on every one’s lips.

      Of her own fate, should she be the chosen one, she had no time to think. Breathlessly she ran to fetch her lute, and quickly returned to her place by the window. She had little time. Soon she would be called for the ritual of bathing, perfuming and robing that always took place before the arrival of the Rajah.

      She struck the first notes softly. Then the music grew louder, the strain that had been played the night she first saw Boud Ali. She leaned far out the window and threw her clear sweet voice out into the night.

      “I, Talfa, sing a song of the Black Adder,” she repeated over and over, then swung into her song:

      *

      “The Black Adder came to the palace of the King.

      Within were jewels for his welcoming.

      Only the dancing-girl knew waiting was death’s sting.

      The dancing-girl sang, go away, go away—

      The King comes merrily to me this day.

      Black Adder, Black Adder, do not dare to stay!

      Black Adder, Black Adder, creep into your hole,

      Another night brings another goal—

      Only tonight would you pay the toll!

      Black Adder—”

      *

      Her voice died away as she saw the chief eunuch standing beside her. He laughed a shrill, thin laugh that frayed the edge of her nerve.

      “Little fool, to sit in the window and sing of the Black Adder when you should be staining your eyes with kohl to snare your lord with their beauty!”

      Her lute fell forgotten on the floor as one tiny hand pressed against her heart as though to still its wild beating.

      “Come, my pretty one,” continued the chief eunuch, as he pulled one of her long braids. “By all the Gods, were I a man, you could make me captive by your hair alone!”

      Unresisting, she followed him and passively gave herself into the hands of the women. The fatalism of her race had come to her aid. She had done her best. Now all rested upon the knees of the Gods.

      * * * *

      Later that evening, robed in blue gauze that revealed more than it concealed, with her long hair flowing about her shoulders, she danced with the other girls before the Rajah. Automatically her body moved to the music. Her thoughts were far away, with Boud Ali—hoping.

      Suddenly, as the dance brought her near to the couch where the Rajah was lying, she felt the long ends of her hair seized firmly. She stopped writhing and felt herself gently drawn toward the Rajah.

      Presently she stood facing him. He held her hair in his firm hands, having pulled it over her shoulder. She felt his eyes pass over her. Somehow she knew fate was upon her and that she would be the chosen one. Trembling, she heard his voice, “Bid the music stop, and send those other girls away.” Then she felt his hands upon her, tearing away her robes.

      “With hair like that you need no further covering. Come, dance for me, so; and when the dance is over, if you still please me—and fear not but that you will—you shall be honored with my love.”

      With a slight shudder she shook her hair over her, and of a truth it was more concealing than the blue gauze had been. “A Rajah has no love to give a dancing-girl,” she cried, remembering she had only one life to lose.

      The Rajah laughed, then his eyes looked into hers. “Perhaps—who knows?—even love! At any rate, tonight you shall be mine. I swear it! Now—dance.”

      The music started. Automatically Talfa began to move to its rhythm, and then she started to turn and twist in a series of wild convulsions. Another thought had come to her. Perhaps she could so madden and inflame his senses that he would take her here in this room where they were, and Boud Ali would not be discovered in the summer house, if her song had not been heard.

      She danced with a furious abandon such as she had never believed herself capable of. If she had drunk of the most potent of aphrodisiacs she could have put no more into her dance.

      At last the music came to an end with a loud crash of cymbals, and she fell exhausted at the Rajah’s feet.

      The Rajah detached the golden robe from his shoulders and threw it over her. Then he came and lifted her into his arms.

      “I, myself, will carry you to the pavilion,” he cried, his breath coming quickly, СКАЧАТЬ