THE FLYING MONSTER
I retired to bed, but could not sleep. The offer of escape filled me
with excited thoughts. These made sleep impossible, and as I lay awake
I thought that perhaps it would be well to know what might be
Layelah's plan of escape, for I might then make use of it to save
Almah. I determined to find out all about it on the following
jom--to question her as to the lands of the Gojin, to learn all her
purpose. It might be that I could make use of that very plan to save
Almah; but if not, why then I was resolved to remain and meet my fate
with her. If Layelah could be induced to take both of us, I was of
course resolved to go, trusting to chance as to the claims of Layelah
upon me, and determined at all hazards to be faithful to Almah; but if
she should positively refuse to save Almah, then I thought it possible
that I might be able to find in Layelah's plan of escape something of
which I might avail myself. I could not imagine what it was, but it
seemed to me that it might be something quite feasible, especially for
a desperate man. The only thought I had was of escape by means of some
boat over the seas. In a boat I would be at home. I could make use of
a sail so as to elude pursuit, and could guide myself by the stars.
The only thing that I wanted to know was the situation of the lands of
the Gojin.
On the following jom the Kohen Gadol and Layelah came quite early
and spent much time. I was surprised to see the Kohen Gadol devoting
himself in an absurd fashion to Almah. It at once occurred to me that
Layelah had obtained her father's co-operation in her scheme, and that
the old villain actually imagined that he could win the hand of Almah.
To Almah herself I had said nothing whatever about the proposal of
Layelah, so that she was quite ignorant of the intentions of her
companion; but it was excessively annoying to me to see such
proceedings going on under my own eyes. At the same time I felt that
it would be both unwise and uncivil to interfere; and I was also quite
sure that Almah's affections were not to be diverted from me by
anyone, much less by such an elderly party as the Kohen Gadol. It was
very trying, however, and, in spite of my confidence in Almah, my
jealousy was excited, and I began to think that the party of
philosophical Radicals were not so agreeable as the orthodox cannibals
whom I first met. As for Layelah, she seemed quite unconscious of any
disturbance in my mind. She was as amiable, as sprightly, as
inquisitive, and as affectionate as ever. She even outdid herself, and
devoted herself to me with an abandon that was quite irresistible.
After Almah had left me, Layelah came again, and this time she was
alone.
"I have come," said she, "to show you the way in which we can escape,
whenever you decide to do so."
It was the thing above all others which I wished to know, and
therefore I questioned her eagerly about it; but to all of my
questions she only replied that she would show me, and I might judge
for myself.
Layelah led the way, and I followed her. We traversed long galleries
and vast halls, all of which were quite empty. It was the
sleeping-time, and only those were visible who had some duties which
kept them up later than usual. Faint, twinkling lights but feebly
illuminated the general gloom. At length we came to an immense cavern,
which was darker than ever, and without any lamps at all. Through a
vast portal, which was closed with a barred gateway, the beams of the
brilliant aurora penetrated and disclosed something of the interior.
Here Layelah stopped and peered through the gloom while I stood
waiting by her side, wondering what means of escape could be found in
this cavern. As I stood I heard through the still air the sound as of
living things. For a time I saw nothing, but at length I descried a
vast, shadowy form moving forward toward the portal, where the
darkness was less. It was a form of portentous size and fearful shape,
and I could not make out at first the nature of it. It surpassed all
that I had ever seen. Its head was large and its jaws long, armed with
rows of terrible teeth like those of a crocodile. Its body was of
great size. It walked on its hind-legs, so as to maintain itself in an
upright attitude, and in that position its height was over twelve
feet. But the most amazing thing about this monster has yet to be
told. As it walked its forearms waved and fluttered, and I saw
descending from them what seemed like vast folded leathern wings,
which shook and swayed in the air at every step. Its pace was about as
fast as that of a man, and it moved with ease and lightness. It seemed
like some enormous bat, or rather like a winged crocodile, or yet
again like one of those monstrous dragons of which I had read, but in
whose actual existence I had never believed. Yet here I saw one living
and moving before me--an actual dragon, with the exception of a tail;
for that appendage, which plays so great a part in all the pictures of
dragons, had no place here. This beast had but a short caudal
appendage, and all its terrors lay in its jaws and in its wings.
For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then I
shrank back, but Layelah laid her hand on my arm.
"Don't be afraid," said she; "it's only an athaleb."
"But won't it--won't it bite?" I asked, with a shudder.
"Oh no," said Layelah; "it swallows its victuals whole."
At this I shrank away still farther.
"Don't be afraid," said Layelah again. "Its jaws are muzzled, and,
besides, it's a tame athaleb. Its jaws are unmuzzled only at
feeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or four
others in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come up
nearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed."
"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in an
incredulous tone.
"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they are
taken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in service
here for a hundred seasons and more."
At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearer
to the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by no
means reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger than
ever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. On
its neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep of
its vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stood
near; but the coolness of Layelah reassured me, for she went close up,
as a boy would go up to a tame elephant, and she stroked his enormous
back, and the monster bent down his terrible head and seemed pleased.
"This," said Layelah, "is the way we have of escaping."
"This!" I exclaimed, doubtfully.
"Yes," said she. "He is trained to the service. We can mount on his
back, and he will fly with us wherever I choose to guide him."
"What!" I exclaimed, as I shrank back--"fly! Do you mean to say that
you will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?"
"Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There is
harness here with which we can guide him. Should you like to see
him harnessed?"
"Very much indeed," said I.
Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. The
huge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought two
long straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projecting
tip of each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to which
there was attached a grappling-iron.
"We seat ourselves on his back," said Layelah. "I guide with these
reins. When we land anywhere I fasten him with the grapple. He looks
dull now, but if I were to open the gate and remove his muzzle he
would be off like the wind."
"But can he carry both of us?" I asked.
"Easily," said Layelah. "He can carry three persons without fatigue."
"Could you mount on his back now, and show me how you sit?"
Layelah readily assented, and mounted with the greatest ease, seating
herself on the broadest part of the back between the wings.
"Here," said she, "is room for you. Will you not come?"
For an instant I hesitated; but then the sight of her, seated there as
coolly as though she were on a chair reassured me, and I climbed up
also, though not without a shudder. The touch of the fearful monster
was abhorrent but I conquered my disgust and seated myself close
behind Layelah. Here she sat, holding the reins in her hands, with the
grapple just in front of her; and, seated in this position, she went
on to explain the whole process by which the mighty monster was guided
through the air.
No sooner had I found myself actually on the back of the athaleb than
all fear left me. I perceived fully how completely tame he was, and
how docile. The reins attached to his wings could be pulled with the
greatest ease, Just as one would pull the tiller-ropes of a boat.
"Familiarity breeds contempt;" and now, since the first terror had
passed away, I felt perfect confidence, and under the encouragement of
Layelah I had become like some rustic in a menagerie, who at first is
terrified by the sight of the elephant, but soon gains courage enough
to mount upon his back. With my new-found courage and presence of mind
I listened most attentively to all of Layelah's explanations, and
watched most closely the construction and fastening of the harness;
for the thought had occurred to me that this athaleb might be of avail
in another way--that if I did not fly with Layelah, I might fly with
Almah. This thought was only of a vague and shadowy character--a dim
suggestion, the carrying out of which I scarce dared to think
possible; still, it was in my mind, and had sufficient power over me
to make me very curious as to the plans of Layelah. I determined to
find out where she proposed to go, and how far; to ask her about the
dangers of the way and the means of sustenance. It seemed, I confess,
rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use them for
another purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me at
that time every device which was for her safety seemed fair and
honorable.
"Here," said Layelah--"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape. The
athaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fear
that they will put you to death--a land where the people love light
and life. Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready to
go now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon be
far away."
She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not to
be beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned her
proposal away with a question:
"How far is it," I asked, "to that land?"
"It is too far for one flight," said Layelah. "We go first over the
sea till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, where
there are mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athaleb
on fish, which are to be found on the shore. The athaleb knows his way
there well, for he goes there once every season for a certain sacred
ceremony. He has done this for fifty or sixty seasons, and knows his
way there and back perfectly well. The difficulty will be, when we
leave Magones, in reaching the land of the Orin."
"The Orin?" I repeated. "Who are they?"
"They are a people among the Gojin who love life and light. It is
their land that I wish to reach, if possible."
"Where is it?" I asked, eagerly.
"I cannot explain," said Layelah. "I can only trust to my own skill,
and hope to find the place. We may have to pass over different lands
of the Gojin, and if so we may be in danger."
"What is the reason why the athaleb goes to Magones every season?"
I asked.
"To take there the chief pauper of the season, who has won the prize
of death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among the
Kosekin."
"Is Magones barren?"
"It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountains
and wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in the
middle of the sea."
"How can we get away from here?" I asked, after some silence.
"From here?--why, I open the gates, and the athaleb flies away; that
is all."
"But shall we not be prevented?"
"Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyone
is eager to help his neighbor."
"But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparing
for flight, would they not stop me?"
"No."
I was amazed at this.
"But," said I, "am I not a victim--preserved for the great sacrifice?"
"You are; but you are free to go where you like, and do what you like.
Your character of victim makes you most distinguished. It is the
highest honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your high
dignity, and no one dreams that you are anxious to escape."
"But if I did escape, would they not pursue me?"
"Certainly not."
"What would they do for a victim?"
"They would wonder at your unaccountable flight, and then choose some
distinguished pauper."
"But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death at
my entreaty?"
"Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty.
That's a question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable of
such a base act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager to
help each other to such a fate."
"But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would not
pursue me?"
"Oh no."
"Are there any in the land who are exempt from the sacrifice?"
"Oh yes; the Athons, Meleks, and Kohens--these are not worthy of the
honor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain to
this honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers who
are chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the rich
and powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed."
"Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted in
that way?"
"Oh, that would be too great a dishonor; it would be impossible.
On the contrary, the whole people are anxious to honor you to the
very uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges and
blessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossible
for them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I am
Malca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiserated
by the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought of
one like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts and
new offices. If my present love of light and life were generally
known, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealth
and new offices and powers, which I do not want."
"But you love riches, do you not? and you must want them still?"
"No," said Layelah, "I do not want them now."
"Why, what do you want?" I asked.
"You!" said she, with a sweet smile.
I said nothing, but tried desperately to think of something that might
divert the conversation.
Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musing
tone:
"As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because you
love her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world that
I ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange to
say, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessing
of death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of the
Kosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?"
I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violent
effort.
"Are there any other athalebs here?"
"Oh yes."
"How many?"
"Four."
"Are they all as tame as this?"
"Oh yes, all quite as tame; there is no difference whatever."
Upon this I left the back of the athaleb, and Layelah also descended,
after which she proceeded to show me the other monsters. At length she
unharnessed the athaleb and we left the cavern.