The People of the Mist

by H. Rider Haggard

  CHAPTER XXVIII

  JUANNA PREVARICATES

  The morrow drew towards its evening. Like those that had gone beforeit, this day had been misty and miserable, only distinguished from itspredecessors by the fall of some sharp showers of sleet. Now, as theafternoon waned, the sky began to clear in its accustomed fashion; butthe bitter wind sweeping down the mountains, though it drove away thefog, gave no promise of any break in the weather. At sunset Leonard wentto the palace gates and looked towards the temple, about the wallsof which a number of people were already gathering, as though inanticipation of some great event. They caught sight of him, and drewas near to the gates of the palace as they dared, howling curses andshaking their fists.

  "This is a foretaste of what we must expect to-night, I suppose," saidLeonard to Francisco, who had followed him, as they retreated across thecourtyard. "We are in trouble now, friend. I do not so much care for myown sake, but it breaks my heart to think of Juanna. What will be theend of it, I wonder?"

  "For me, Outram, the end will be death, of that I am sure; well, I havelong expected it, and I am ready to die. What your fate will be I cannotsay; but as to the Senora, comfort yourself; for many weeks I have had apresentiment that she will escape safely."

  "In that case I am ready enough to go," answered Leonard. "Life is asdear to me as to other men; but I tell you, Francisco, that I would paymine down gladly to-night as the price of her deliverance."

  "I know it, Outram; we are both of one mind there, and perhaps beforemany hours are over we shall be called upon to practise what we preach."

  By now they had reached the throne-room, where Otter, who for the lasttwenty hours had been quite sober, was squatted on the floor at thefoot of his throne, a picture of repentant misery, while Juanna walkedswiftly up and down the long room, lost in reflection.

  "Any news, Leonard?" she said as they came in.

  "None, except that there are great preparations going on yonder," and henodded towards the temple; "also a mob is howling at the gates."

  "Oh!" groaned Otter, addressing Juanna, "cannot you, who are namedShepherdess of the Heavens, prophesy to these people that the weatherwill break, and so save us from the Snake?"

  "I can prophesy," she answered; "but it will not change to-night, nor, Ithink, to-morrow. However, I will try."

  Then came a silence: nobody seemed to have anything to say. It wasbroken by the entrance of Olfan, whose face showed the disturbance ofhis mind.

  "What passes, Olfan?" asked Juanna.

  "Queen," he answered sadly, "there is great trouble at hand. The peoplerave for the blood of you, their gods. Nam told you that ye are summonedthis night to confer with the people. Alas! I must tell you otherwise.This night ye will be put upon your trial before the Council of theElders."

  "That we guessed, Olfan, and if the verdict goes against us, what then?"

  "Alas that I must say it! Then, Queen, you will be hurled, all of you,into the pool of the Snake, to be food for the Snake."

  "Cannot you protect us, Olfan?"

  "I cannot, O Queen, except with my own life. The soldiers are undermy command indeed; but in this matter they will not obey me, for thepriests have whispered in their ears, and if the sun does not shine theytoo must starve next winter. Pardon me, Queen, but if you are gods, howis it that you need help from me who am but a man? Cannot the gods thenprotect themselves and be avenged upon their enemies?"

  Juanna looked despairingly at Leonard, who sat by her side pulling athis beard, as was his fashion when perplexed.

  "I think that you had better tell him," he said in English. "Oursituation is desperate. Probably in a few hours he will know us to beimpostors; indeed, he guesses it already. It is better that he shouldlearn the truth from our own lips. The man is honest; moreover, he oweshis life to us, though it is true that were it not for us he would neverhave been in danger of his life. Now we must trust him and take ourchance; if we make a mistake, it does not greatly matter--we have madeso many already."

  Juanna bowed her head and thought awhile, then she lifted it and spoke.

  "Olfan," she said, "are we alone? That which I have to say must beoverheard by none."

  "We are alone, Queen," he answered, glancing round, "but these wallshave ears."

  "Olfan, draw near."

  He obeyed, and leaning forward she spoke to him almost in a whisper,while the others clustered round to hear her words.

  "You must call me Queen no more," she said in a voice broken withhumiliation. "I am no goddess, I am but a mortal woman, and this man,"and she pointed to Otter, "is no god, he is only a black dwarf."

  She paused, watching the effect of her words. An expression ofastonishment swept across the king's face, but it was her boldnessrather than the purport of her speech that caused it. Then he smiled.

  "Perhaps I have guessed as much," he answered. "And yet I must stillcall you by that name, seeing that you are the queen of all women, forsay, where is there another so lovely, so brave, or so great? Here atleast there are none," and he bowed before her with a stately courtesythat would have become any European gentleman.

  Now it was Leonard's turn to look astonished. There was nothing in theking's words to which he could take objection, and yet he did not liketheir tone; it was too full of admiration. Moreover it seemed to himthat Olfan was not in the least disappointed to discover as a fact thatJuanna was only a woman--a supposition which was fully established byhis next speech.

  "I am glad to learn from your own lips, Queen, that you are no goddess,but a mortal lady, seeing that goddesses are far away and we men mustworship them from afar, whereas women--we may love," and again he bowed.

  "My word!" said Leonard to himself, "this king is setting himself up asmy rival. I almost wish I had put things on a more satisfactory footing;but of course it is absurd. Poor Juanna!"

  As for Juanna herself, she started and blushed; here was a new trouble,but however disagreeable it might prove to be, now was no time to showdispleasure.

  "Listen, Olfan," she said, "this is not an hour for pretty speecheswhich mean nothing, for it seems that before the light dawns again I maywell be dead and far beyond all love and worship. This is our tale: wecame to your land to seek adventures, and also to win those red stonesthat you name the blood of Aca, which among the white people are muchprized as ornaments for their women. That is why I, who am a woman,urged the Deliverer to undertake this journey, and it is because of myfolly that now we stand in danger of our lives."

  "Your pardon, Queen," said Olfan bluntly, "but I would ask you onequestion before you tell me the end of your tale. What is this white manto you?"

  Now Juanna was "in a cleft stick"; if she said that Leonard was nothingto her, it might possibly be better for him, though it was doubtfulwhether Olfan would believe her. If, on the other hand, she said thathe was her husband, it might be better for herself, and protect her fromthe advances of this dignified savage; but against this course her priderevolted. Had she not always indignantly repudiated the validity of thathateful marriage, and though she loved him, were not she and Leonardin a sense at daggers drawn? Still she must decide, and quickly; hercommon-sense told her that under the circumstances it was her pridewhich must give way.

  "He is my husband," she said boldly.

  Olfan's face fell; then a look of doubt came into it, for Juanna's modeof life, every detail of which was known to him, seemed to contradicther statement.

  Seeing that he did not believe her, Juanna plunged still deeper into themire.

  "He is my husband," she said again. "This man," and she pointed toFrancisco, "who is a priest among us, married us according to ourcustoms some six moons since, and Otter yonder was witness to themarriage."

  "Is this so?" asked Olfan.

  "It is so, King," replied Francisco. "I married them, and they are manand wife."

  "Yes, yes, it is so," put in Otter, "for I saw it done, and wecelebrated a great sacrifice in honour of that wedding feast. I wouldthat we could have suc
h another here to-night."

  "Fear not, Dwarf," answered Olfan with a touch of irritation, "you willsee enough of sacrifices before all is ended."

  Then a new thought struck him, and he added, "You say that the Delivereris your husband, Queen, and these men bear witness to it, all exceptyour lord himself! Now tell me one thing more: do you love him and wouldyou be sorry if he died?"

  Juanna's brow burnt red as the ruby stone upon it, for with theexception of her black robe she was prepared to proceed to the temple.But there was no help for it now; she must speak clearly, however muchit shamed her to do so, lest Olfan might take her silence as a hint, andthe "husband" for whom she disavowed affection should be removed fromher life for ever.

  "You have little right to put such a question to me, King, yet I willanswer it. I love him, and if he died I should die also."

  Leonard suppressed an exclamation with difficulty, for here was Juannaappearing in a new light indeed.

  "I am answered, Queen," said Olfan in tones of deep depression. "Now, ifit pleases you, will you end your tale?"

  "There is not much to tell," replied Juanna, heaving a sigh of relief,for this cross-examination as to her exact relations with Leonard hadbeen somewhat trying. "The woman Soa, my servant, is of your people;indeed, she is a daughter to Nam the priest, and fled the land fortyyears ago because she was destined to the Snake."

  "Where is she now?" interrupted Olfan, looking round.

  "We do not know; last night she vanished as our other servants havevanished."

  "Perhaps Nam knows, and if so you may see her again soon. Proceed,Queen."

  "After the Deliverer and I were married, Soa, who had been my nurse formany years, told us of the Great People her brethren, among whom shewished to die."

  "May her desire be gratified!" put in Otter.

  "And said that if we would escort her thither we could buy many suchstones as that upon my brow, which she had brought with her from thiscountry and given to me. Then it was that I, desiring the playthings,tormented my husband till he consented to lead me hither, though hisown heart spoke against it. So we came, and the journey was long andterrible, but at last we reached the cliff yonder which borders the Landof Mist, and it was then for the first time, when it was too late to goback, that Soa told us the tale of the gods of your people, and showedus that either we must do sacrilege and feign to be those gods comeback, as the prophecy promised, or perish miserably. Indeed this was herplot, to set up false gods over you, having first told the secret to thepriests that she might gain honour with them and save herself alive.

  "And now, Olfan, that is all the tale. We have played the game and wehave lost, or so it seems--that is, unless you help us;" and she claspedher hands and looked upon him pleadingly.

  The king dropped his eyes as though he were not willing to contemplatethe loveliness which, as he now learned, belonged to the white strangerat Juanna's side.

  "Have I not said that my power is little, Queen?" he answered somewhatsullenly. "Also, why should I help those who came to this land to trickus, and who have brought the anger of the gods upon its children?"

  "Because we saved your life, Olfan, and you swore to be loyal to us."

  "Had it not been for you, Queen, my life would not have been in danger;moreover, I swore fealty to gods, and now the gods are mortals, uponwhom the true gods will be avenged. Why then should I help you?"

  "Because we have been friends, Olfan. You shall help us for my sake."

  "For your sake, Queen," he said bitterly, "for your sake, who tell methat you are this man's wife and that you love him to the death. Nay,this is much to ask. Had it been otherwise, had you been unwed andwilling to look upon me, the king of this land, with favour, thendoubtless I had died for your sake if there were need. But now--! Haveyou then no better reasons to show why I should risk my life for you andfor these men?"

  "I have two more reasons, King, and if they are not enough, then leaveus to our fate, and let us, who must prepare to die, waste no morebreath in words. The first is that we are your friends and have trustedyou, saving your life at the danger of our own and telling you this taleof our own free will. Therefore in the name of friendship, which youshould hold sacred, who are no common man but a king, we demand yourhelp, we who have put our lives in the hollow of your hand, knowing thatyou are of noble mind and will not betray us.

  "The second is that our interest is your interest: we strive against Namand the priests, and so do you. If Nam conquers us to-day, to-morrowit will be your turn, and the Snake, whose fangs we must feel, shall indays to come feed upon you also. Now is the hour of destiny for you andyour descendants: cling to us and break the yoke of Nam and the priests,or desert us and bind that yoke upon your shoulders to your doom. I havespoken--choose."

  Olfan thought awhile and answered:

  "Truly your mind is great, Queen, and sees far into the darkness ofthings such as our women have no knowledge of. You should have ruledthis country and not I, for then by now Nam, who is my master, wouldhave begged his daily bread at the gates of your palace, and the priestshis servants had become the hewers of your wood and the drawers of yourwater. But I will not talk to you of policy, for time is short. Nay, Iwill deal with your first reason and that alone.

  "You have conjured me in the name of friendship and of my oath, and bythe memory of service done, and not in vain. I am a man different fromthat race of men of whom you are, a wild chief of a wild tribe, havinglittle wisdom; yet I have learned these things--never to break apromise, never to desert a friend, and never to forget a service.Therefore, because I swore fealty to you, because you are my friend, andbecause you saved my life, I will protect you to the last, though itmay well chance that I can do nothing except die for you. For, Queen,although you can be nought to me while yonder man lives, still I amready to give my life for you. As for the others I will say this only,that I will not harm them or betray them.

  "Now I go to speak with certain of the great men who are friends to meand hate the priest, so that when this matter comes on for judgment theymay lift up their voices in your favour, for nothing can be done exceptby policy--that is, not now. Shortly I will return to lead you to thetemple. Till then, farewell," and he bowed and was gone.

  When the curtain had swung to behind Olfan, Juanna sank back in herchair and sighed, but Leonard sprang up and said:

  "Juanna, that savage is right, you should have been a queen. I know whatit must have cost you to say what you did."

  "Pray, to what do you refer, Leonard?" she said, interrupting himcoldly.

  "I mean about our being married and the rest."

  "Oh! yes. Well, you see it is sometimes necessary to tell white lies,and I think that after to-night I am entitled to a prize for generalproficiency in this respect. Of course," she added, dropping hersarcastic tone, "you will not misinterpret anything that I was forcedto say to Olfan with reference to yourself, because you know that thosestatements were the biggest fibs of all. Just then, had it been needful,I should have been prepared to swear that I was married to Otter anddeeply attached to him, or even to the king himself, who, by theway, strikes me as the most satisfactory savage that I have ever comeacross--in short, as a gentleman."

  Leonard turned pale with anger.

  "Really, Juanna," he said, "I think that you might wait until I seek totake some advantage of our friendship and accidental relations beforeyou rebuke me as you think fit to do. It is little short of an insult,and were we in any civilised country I would never speak to you again."

  "Don't get angry, Leonard," she said appealingly, for Juanna seemed tohave every mood at her command and ready to be assumed at a moment'snotice. Perhaps this gift was one of the secrets of her charm, sincemonotony is a thing to be avoided by women who seek to rule, even themonotony of sweetness. "It is very unkind of you," she went on, "tospeak crossly to me when I am so tired with talking to that savage andwe may all be dead and buried in a few hours," and she looked as thoughshe were going to cry.

&nb
sp; Leonard collapsed instantly, for Juanna's plaintive mood was the onethat he could resist the least of any.

  "You would make me angry if I were on my death-bed," he said, "that is,when you talk like that. But there it is, I cannot change you, so letus change the subject. Have you any of that poison to spare? If so, youmight serve us out a little; we may want it before the evening is over."

  Juanna put her hand to her hair and after some manipulation produced atiny skin bag, from which she extracted a brown ball of about the sizeof a rifle bullet.

  "I can afford to be generous," she said with a little laugh; "there isenough here to kill twenty of us."

  Then Leonard took a knife and chipped off three fragments from the ball,taking one himself and presenting the other two to Francisco and Otter.The priest received it doubtfully, but the dwarf would have none of it.

  "Keep it for yourself, Baas," he said, "keep it for yourself. Whateverway I die it shall not be thus. I do not love a medicine that causes mento tie themselves into knots and then turns them green. No, no; first Iwill face the jaws of the Snake."

  So Leonard took that piece also.