"The penalty for thine intrepidity is death," she continued, gravely.
"For the present I spare thee, but thou shalt die when it pleaseth me.
I am Istar, the ruler who holdeth her enemies in the hollow of her
hand."
"I am not thine enemy," I protested.
"Thou art!" she cried, with flashing eyes. "Thou, son of Anu, art the
Destroyer whose coming hath been foretold."
"I am prepared to serve thee, and to prove to thee that I have entered
thy land without evil intent," I said.
"Be it so," she answered, drawing herself up suddenly. "Thou shalt
serve me as slave, and attend me everywhere; but while I have breath
thou shalt never return unto thy master Anu, the god of Destruction, who
dwelleth in the land afar."
Her agitation was intense. In her excitement she stood beside her great
crystal throne, grasping with both hands one of the human-headed
monstrosities which served as arms, while her pale face had assumed a
haggard look, and around her eyes were large, dark rings. This woman
who, as Queen of the ancient realm, was also worshipped by every man and
woman as Istar, the Goddess of Love, possessed an extraordinary
personality. In features, in manner, in her luxurious mode of life, she
was remarkable; while, as I had already had illustration, she was cruel,
quick tempered and relentless, overlooking no fault, and holding her
unique position as some supernatural ruler of earth. The legend current
throughout Ea, prophesying the appearance of a visitant and the downfall
of the city, was extremely unfavourable to me, I knew; nevertheless, I
recollected my pledge to Azala, my long and adventurous journey thither,
and now that I was actually at last in Ea I was more than ever
determined to fathom the mystery that my well-beloved had alleged would
be revealed unto me. The strange life about me held me entranced with
wonder. Everything was upon a scale so colossal and extravagantly
luxurious that I gazed about lost in wonder. The dwelling-place of the
beautiful woman who held me captive, a palace and temple combined, was,
indeed, a magnificent pile of amazing proportions and was well named the
House of the Raising of the Head, for it was full of marvels at every
turn. Istar's firm determination that I should not leave her side was
certainly disconcerting; nevertheless the Koran telleth us that by
patience much can be accomplished; therefore, I decided to stifle the
voice of protest, endure my lot, and bow to the woman who had held me
humiliated as slave in sight of her brilliant court.
Again, with eyes flashing, she heaped fierce curses upon me, declaring
that my life should be made a burden; that ere a moon had passed I
should long for death; and that my face should never again be brightened
by the eyes of the woman I loved. In the midst of a string of epithets
bestowed upon me with a terrible volubility, two heralds, in golden
breastplates and white-plumed helmets, entered the chamber, and raising
their great brazen horns blew three loud blasts, whereat Istar, the
words of reproach dying on her lips, sank among the cushions of her
throne, while, almost at the same instant, the great silken curtains
again parted, revealing the assembled multitude of soldiers, courtiers,
eunuchs and priests, who had apparently remained awaiting their Queen's
pleasure. Erect, I stood beside the gleaming throne gazing upon the
brilliant court of this curious monarch, while Ninep, the tame lioness,
walked slowly past, sniffing inquiringly at her mistress, then stood
licking her soft, bejewelled hand, the hand that she declared would
strike me dead if I attempted to return to the world outside.
Impetuosity was one of her many peculiarities. One moment so fierce was
she that she would herself assassinate any who hesitated to obey her
wish; the next she would smile good-humouredly, as though she knew not a
moment of anger, and malice found no resting-place within her heart.
Suddenly she raised her hand, and a silence, deep and complete, fell
upon the gorgeous, perfumed multitude. Ninep yawned, stretched herself
at her mistress's feet, and placing her head upon her paws, blinked
lazily at those below the steps of polished silver.
"Know," she said a moment later, in a clear, not unmusical voice, "this
son of Anu beside me is indeed the Destroyer whom our fathers have
expected for ages, and whom the prophets have told us will bring evil
upon Ea."
"Let him be given as food to the lions!" they shouted. "Kill him, O
Istar, that he may not betray us into the hands of those who seek our
destruction! Anu hath set his seal upon Ea, and our city must be
overthrown, but let the spy be killed so that he may not furnish report
unto those who sent him hither."
"He shall die," Istar replied, briefly.
A roar of approbation instantly broke forth; but next instant, again
raising her hand to command quiet, the queen-goddess continued,--
"He shall die when, as my slave, he hath served me."
"Let him die now, O Istar!" they shouted. "Gladden our hearts by
letting us see the lions tear him limb from limb. He is the Destroyer,
the visitant against whom the sages have warned us. Through him will
the vengeance of Anu, the dread god, descend upon us. Let him die!"
"No," she answered, both hands resting upon the crystal arms of her
glittering throne. "I have spoken. He is my personal slave, bound to
my side by night and by day."
"Dost thou not fear to have a son of Anu as thy body-servant?" asked an
aged priest, with flowing white beard and high head-dress of shining
gold, surmounted by a star, the emblem of Istar. "He may wreak
vengeance upon thee."
"I am Istar, and know not fear," she answered, haughtily. "Men bow to
me, and women make sacrifice in my temple. For those who incur my
displeasure, Merodach, the protector of mankind, will not mediate."
Then the queen-goddess nodded towards a man of tall stature, attired in
a robe of dead black. Again the trumpets sounded thrice, as signal for
her captains to come forward and present their reports. They came, one
by one, advancing to the foot of the steps, bowing upon one knee, and
obtaining the sanction of their sovereign upon various matters.
At last, when about twenty had been received and dismissed, a man older
than the rest, and wearing a breastplate in which rubies were set in the
form of a great star within a circle, advanced, knelt before the
bewitching Queen, and mumbled some words that I could not catch.
Istar inclined her head slightly in approbation. Then, bidding the
white-headed warrior to rise, said aloud,--
"Know, Larsa, this stranger that is within our gates hath discovered the
Rock of the Moon-god, and entered into our presence thereby. The curse
of Anu, the Progenitor, who changeth not the decree coming forth from
his mouth, hath fallen. Go with thine hosts far beyond the Mountains of
the Mist even unto the confines of Ea, and there search long and
diligently, so that thou mayest discover and defend the secret way. Let
not the feet of those of evil defile our land, for assuredly the sign is
set upon us, and destruction threateneth. Thy valiant hosts must avert
it."
"Thy will shall be done, O divine patroness," the old man answered,
bowing low till his beard almost swept the pavement. "I will haste to
do thy bidding."
"May Merodach encompass thee with his shield that none can penetrate,"
she exclaimed, as, turning, he went forth to lead his soldiers in search
of the strange, natural gate by which I had entered.
For an hour the queen-goddess continued to receive those who craved
audience, giving advice, hearing petitions, and dispensing justice.
Then her brows knit, she grew tired, and at her command the great
apartment was cleared of all except the twelve slaves whose duty it was
to cool her with their huge fans of flamingoes' wings.
"Thou hast not told me thy name," she exclaimed, suddenly turning upon
me.
"Thy servant is called Zafar," I answered.
"So be it," she said, glancing at me quickly, with sinister look. She
paused a moment, then, rising languidly from her seat, slowly descended
the steps, followed by all her retinue, including myself.
"Depart not from my sight," she commanded, turning towards me. "Where I
go, there shalt thou go also."
Through the great hall she led the way into a smaller apartment, hung
with gorgeous stuffs, where, in an alcove beyond, was a great couch
supported by four lions in silver, with curtains of purple worked with
silver. In the centre of the chamber was an upright conical stone,
black, with many lines of arrowheads engraved thereon. It was, I
afterwards learned, the symbol of Baal, the ruler and vivifier of
nature.
Her women, priestesses of Istar, attired in loose robes of pure white,
with their unbound hair secured by a golden fillet, unloosed her heavy
girdle of emeralds which confined her waist, removed her little slippers
of snake skin, and again bathed her face with some delicate perfume.
Then they tenderly laid her to rest upon the couch, and while four
men-at-arms, with drawn swords, took up their positions as guards, two
at head and two at foot, they threw themselves down upon the lion-skins
spread about. Before the alcove, wherein reclined the queen, a veil of
silver sheen descended, for already her wondrous eyes had closed, and,
tired out, she had fallen into a light slumber.
I, her slave, sat upon the floor, hugging my knees, deep in thought, and
waiting, with the silent guards, until the dawn. Truly my position was
a remarkable one. I had found that which all men before had failed to
discover. I was actually living in a world unknown.