This time there could be no mistake. That cold gray of his passionless
face, the steely glitter in his eyes, were read correctly by Kao. His
eyes narrowed. For the first time a dull flame leaped into his
colorless cheeks.
"Ah, I told you this because I thought we would work together,
friends," he cried. "But it is not so. You, like my golden-headed
goddess, hate me! You hate me because of my yellow skin. You say to
yourself that I have a yellow heart. And she hates me, and she says
that--but she is mine, MINE!" He sprang suddenly to his feet and swept
about him with his flowing arms. "See what I have prepared for her! It
is here she will come, here she will live until I take her away. There,
on that dais, she will give up her soul and her beautiful body to
me--and you cannot help it, she cannot help it, all the world cannot
help it--AND SHE IS COMING TO ME TONIGHT!"
"TONIGHT!" gasped John Keith.
He, too, leaped to his feet. His face was ghastly. And Kao, in his
silken gown, was sweeping his arms about him.
"See! The candles are lighted for her. They are waiting. And tonight,
when the town is asleep, she will come. AND IT IS YOU WHO WILL MAKE HER
COME, JOHN KEITH!"
Facing the devils in Kao's eyes, within striking distance of a creature
who was no longer a man but a monster, Keith marveled at the coolness
that held him back.
"Yes, it is you who will at last give her soul and her beautiful body
to me," he repeated. "Come. I will show you how--and why!"
He glided toward the dais. His hand touched a panel. It opened and in
the opening he turned about and waited for Keith.
"Come!" he said.
Keith, drawing a deep breath, his soul ready for the shock, his body
ready for action, followed him.