In her own chamber, Azala, tottering towards her divan, sank upon it
exhausted, while I, grasping her hand, stood by in rigid silence, not
daring to speak.
As upon her cushion she was lying, one arm beneath her head, I watched
the flush of health mount to her countenance, and her beauty gradually
return. She opened her eyes, and as she gazed into mine long and
steadily, I told myself that she was nothing like any other daughter of
man. Those glorious orbs under their great curved brows shone upon me
like suns under triumphal arches. The idea of holding her in my arms
brought me a fury of rapture; she held me bound by an unseen chain. It
seemed as though she had become my very soul, and yet for all that there
flowed between us the invisible waves of an ocean without bounds. She,
the daughter of the Sultan, was remote and inaccessible. The splendour
of her beauty diffused around her a nebula of light, and I found myself
believing at moments that she was not before me--that she did not really
exist--that it was all a dream.
She moved, the diamonds on her heaving bosom shining resplendently, and
raising herself slowly to a sitting posture, asked in a low, intense
tone,--
"Now that thou hast gazed into the Prism of Destiny and witnessed the
sign in the heavens, fearest thou to penetrate further the veil of evil
that surroundeth us?"
"Already have I spoken, O Pearl among Women. I fear not to speak the
truth," I answered, yet half inclined to scoff at the pictures shown in
the prism. Yet the distinctness of the gloomy mirage had impressed me,
and I refrained from saying anything to give her pain.
"Then thou must of necessity seek the spot, the image of which hath been
revealed," she said, and motioning me to a cushion near her, added,
"Take thine ease for short space, and lend me thine ear."
Drawing the cushion closer to her, I seated myself, my hand still
clasping hers; then, with a slight sigh, she gazed into my face with a
look of earnest passion and continued,--
"The great rock and the black water in combination answereth with
exactness to the description of the Lake of the Accursed which none has
found, but which existeth in the legends of our people, and hath long
been discussed by our wise men. It is said that the Rock of the Great
Sin, rising sheer and inaccessible from the unfathomable waters, formeth
the gate of the Land of the No Return, the unknown country which none
can enter nor leave, and upon which human eyes have never gazed. Our
story-tellers oft repeat the popular belief that the Lake of the
Accursed hideth an unknown, but amazing wonder, although for centuries
our armies and our caravans have travelled far and wide over the face of
the earth, yet none has discovered it. By the fact of its image being
thrice revealed in the sky, I am convinced that if its whereabouts could
be discovered, we should find that which we seek."
"But apparently it existeth only in the sayings of thy wise men," I
observed, dubiously.
"The descriptions of it all agree, even though the versions, which the
story-tellers relate as to its origin, may differ," she answered, her
eyes appearing to penetrate far away in the distance beyond terrestrial
space. "Those of the tribe of Zamfara assert that ages ago, in the face
of the Rock of the Great Sin, there was a large and deep cavern whence
issued a black and unwholesome vapour, and men feared to approach
because it was the gate of the Land of the No Return. It was the
continual resort of a huge serpent, whose bite was fatal, who zealously
guarded the gloomy portals of the forbidden land, and who swallowed his
victims; but once a man of lion courage dared to escape while the
serpent slept, and successfully got away, while, in the heat of noon,
the Great Devourer closed his eyes. The serpent, however, awoke in time
to see the adventurer flying across the desert, but too late to kill
him. Then, in a paroxysm of rage that mortal man should have eluded his
vigilance, he smote the rock thrice with his tail, when, with a noise
like thunder, the cavern closed, and about it was formed the deep, black
pool known as the Lake of the Accursed, which has ever since rendered it
unapproachable. Such is the story most popular among our people,
although there are some others, notably that of the Kanouri, who declare
that, far back in the dim ages, before the days of the Prophet, a great
host of one of the Pagan conquerors of Ethiopia was on its way to
penetrate into an unknown region where the presence of man had already
been forbidden by the gods. When, having crossed the desert many days,
they were at last about to enter the fruitful land to despoil it, the
earth suddenly opened and devoured them, leaving in their place the
Accursed Lake with the great rock as a terrible warning to future
generations who might be seized with a desire to gain knowledge and
riches withheld from them."
"Do all the versions agree that the Rock of the Great Sin is the gate of
a region unknown?" I asked, intensely interested in these quaint
beliefs of the storytellers.
"Yes. In the harem ofttimes have I heard slaves of the tribes of Zara,
Boulgouda and of Digguera each relate their version, and all coincide
that the rock was at one period a gate which gave entrance to a
forbidden land. Some say there lieth behind the rock Al-Hotama, [an
apartment in hell, so called because it will break into pieces whatever
is thrown into it], where the kindled fire of Allah mounteth above the
hearts of those cast therein, the dreaded place which the Koran telleth
us is as an arched vault on columns of vast extent wherein the dwellers
have garments of fire fitted unto them. Others believe that beyond the
Lake of the Accursed there lieth the gardens into which Allah
introduceth those who believe and act righteously, the Land of Paradise
through which rivers flow, where the great lote-tree flourisheth, and
where the dwellers are adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls, and
their vestures are of silk. All are in accord that the land beyond is
the Land of the No Return."
"And thou desireth me to set forth in search of this legendary spot
which no man hath yet discovered?" I said.
"To elucidate the mystery of the marks we bear will be to thine own
benefit, as well as to mine," she answered, gazing into my eyes with a
look of affection. "Thou, an Arab by birth but a Dervish by compulsion,
art the enemy of my race, and peradventure had thy companions not been
slaughtered by my guards thine hosts would have ere this occupied Kano
and looted this our palace. Yet we love each other, though I am a
disgraced outcast from the harem, in peril of my life--"
"Why art thou in such deadly peril? Thou has not explained to me," I
interrupted.
"My death or marriage would secure the position of Khadidja, my mother's
rival, as Sultana. Therefore there are intrigues on foot to take my
life by violent but secret means."
"Or peradventure thy marriage?" I suggested.
"Alas!" she said quickly, smiling with sadness. "Didst thou not witness
in the prism the decree of Fate? Sooner or later I shall fall beneath
the sword of my secret enemy."
"Nay, nay," I said, entwining my arm about her white neck and drawing
her towards me. "Anticipate not foul assassination, but seek Allah's
aid, and bear courage while I strive."
"I trust thee, Zafar," she murmured, in a soft voice, with tears in her
eyes. "I trust in thee to extricate me from the perils that surround me
like a cloud on every side."
"Lovest thou me fondly enough to marry?" I asked in intense
earnestness, holding both her hands and looking into her clear, bright
orbs.
"Of a verity I do," she answered, blushing.
"Then how can we wed?" I asked. "I am, alas! but poor, and to ask of
the Sultan for thee would only be the smiting off of mine own head, for
already hath he forbidden me to set foot within his Empire on pain of
instant death."
"It is but little I know concerning the Mystery of the Asps, beyond the
legend that the key to the secret lieth hidden at the Rock of the Great
Sin, the whereabouts of which no man knoweth; nevertheless, I am
convinced that if thou canst penetrate its true meaning thou wilt not
find the Sultan implacable."
"His Majesty feareth the sight of the mark upon me," I said,
reflectively. "Knowest thou the reason?" She hesitated for a few
moments, as if reluctant to explain, then replied,--
"I know not."
"Dost thou promise to wed me if I am successful in my search after the
truth?" I asked, pressing her tiny hand in mine.
"Zafar," she answered, in a low tone, full of tenderness, as she clung
to me, "I love no other man but thee. My father's hatred standeth
between us, therefore we must wait, and if in the meantime thine efforts
to obtain knowledge of the meaning of the marks upon our breasts are
successful, then most assuredly will the Sultan give me unto thee in
marriage and rejoice thee with abundant favours."
Raising my right hand, I answered, "It is written upon the stone that
Allah is the living one. If a man prove obstinate, woe unto him. I
swear upon our Book of Everlasting Will to strive while I have breath
towards the elucidation of the mystery."
Tightening her grasp upon my hand with her bejewelled fingers, she said,
"I also take oath that during thine absence no man shall enter my
presence. Whithersoever thou goest there shall also accompany thee my
blessing, which shall be as a torch in the darkness of night, and thy
guide in the brightness of day. Strive on with fearless determination;
strive on, ever remembering that one woman's life is at stake, and that
that woman is Azala, thy Beloved. Peace be upon thee."
"By mine eyes I am thy slave," I said. "My ear is in thine hand;
whatever thou ordainest I am bound to obey without doubt or hesitation.
No other word need be said. I will go wherever thou commandest, were it
even to fetch Malec himself from the innermost chambers of the world
beneath."
"Be it so," she exclaimed, smiling, fingering her necklet of charms.
"When thou hast discovered that which thou seekest, then, misfortune
will take its leave, and a new chapter in the book of thy life will
open. Of a verity thy thirst shall be slaked by cooling draughts of the
waters of Zemzem, thou shalt become clothed in the burnouse of honour,
armed with the hand of power, and mounted on the steed of splendour."
"And become the husband of the Pearl of Sokoto," I added, caressing her
with passionate fondness in the ecstasy of love.
She laughed, glancing at me with roguish raillery, her finger at her
lips. Then she answered, "That is the summit of earthly happiness
towards which I am striving." But her scented bosom rose and fell in a
long sigh as she added: "Without thee the days are dull and dreary, and
the nights interminable. From my lattice I gaze upon the palace courts
and the great city full of life and movement, in which I am not
permitted to participate, and think of thy freedom; for though daughter
of the Sultan, I am as much a prisoner as any unfortunate wretch in the
dungeons deep below. Thou art free, free to travel over the deserts and
the mountains in search of a key to the strange enigma; free to strive
towards my rescue and the fulfilment of my heart's desire; free to gain
that knowledge which, peradventure, may make thee honoured and esteemed
among men. Here will I await thy coming, and each day while thou art
absent, at the going down of the sun will I pray unto Allah, who setteth
his sign in the heavens, to shield thee with his cloak, and place in
thine hands the two-edged sword of conquest."
"Assuredly will I speed on the wings of haste to do thy bidding," I
answered, looking deep into the depths of her wonderful eyes as I knelt
beside her with one arm around her neck and her fair head pillowed upon
my breast. "At the _maghrib_ each day will I think of thee, and whether
in the desert or the forest, in the oasis or the city, I will send unto
thee a message of love and peace upon the sunset zephyr."
"My lattice shall be opened always at the call of the _mueddin_," she
said, "and thy words of comfort will be borne in unto me by the desert
wind. I shall know that, wherever thou art, thou thinkest at that hour
of me, and we will thus exchange mute, invisible confidences in each
other's love."
I looked at her a moment, dazed, then, rising slowly to my feet, seized
her hands, asking, "When shall I set forth?"
"Thy journey must be prosecuted with all dispatch. Tarry not, or
misfortune may overtake us both," she answered, raising herself, and
sitting upon her divan with her tiny feet and gold-bangled ankles
stretched out against the lion's skin spread upon the floor of polished
porphyry. "Ere the sun appeareth above the Hills of Guetzaoua thou must
pass out of the Kofa-n-Kura on the first stage of thy journey. Outside
the city gate thou wilt find a swift camel with its bags ready packed,
awaiting thee in charge of one of my male slaves. Mount, and hasten
from the city lest thy departure be detected."
"As chief of the Khalifa's _mulazimin_ I am liable to be overtaken and
brought back," I said. "Therefore I must speed quickly away, avoiding
the route of the caravans, for if I am missed I shall assuredly be
tracked. In what direction shall I prosecute my quest!"
"Alas! I cannot tell," she answered, shaking her head with sorrow.
"The Zamfara declare that the Rock of the Great Sin lieth far beyond the
land of the rising sun, while the Boulgouda contend that the gloomy spot
is situate away in the deep regions of the afterglow. But Allah
directeth not the unjust. Towards the pole-star it cannot be, for
already our fighting-men have spread themselves over the land and have
not discovered it, whereas on the other hand our wise men say it must be
beyond the impenetrable forests of the far-distant south. Travel,
therefore, not towards the north, but cross the great desert into the
distant lands, and make diligent inquiry among the Pagan dwellers in the
regions unknown, for by trusting unto Fortune thou mayest find that for
which thou searchest. Necessity is as a strong rider with stirrups like
razors, who maketh the sorry jade do that which the strong horse
sometimes will not do, therefore be of good cheer, and by recourse to
thine own ingenuity endeavour to gain swiftly the grim portals of the
Land of the No Return."
"Then thou canst give me absolutely no clue to its position?" I said,
puzzled, for I had expected that at least she would be able to tell me
in which direction the finger of popular belief pointed.
"No. The different versions held by the story-tellers are all
conflicting, regarding its position. Its whereabouts is an absolute
mystery." Then, placing her hand beneath the silken cushion whereon she
had been reclining, she drew forth a bag of gold, adding, "Take this,
for assuredly thou wilt require to give backsheesh unto the people of
the far-distant lands thou wilt visit."