The door in the idol opened and a beautiful girl mounted the steps and
came toward him. She was small, like her companions around her, and of
the same colour, and the horn in her forehead, painted gold and hung
with gems, seemed in some weird way to enhance her beauty. Almost of
English mould, her features were small and pretty, and her wonderful
hair hung like a mantle of gold far past her knees. Upon her head she
wore a crown of gold, and Alan thought she must be queen of the
underworld people, for evidently her power was paramount. She placed her
cool, firm hands on Alan’s shoulder, and led him down the now cool
stairs; and once more he found himself in the temple. He was dazed, and
could hardly realize that this woman had saved him. From a basket an
attendant carried she took ointments and healing lotions, and bathed and
bound up his poor, maimed hands. The effect was almost magical. The
burning ceased, and a feeling of relief came over him. She then offered
him her arm, and led him to the outer gates of the temple. There a small
chariot was awaiting her, pulled by a hideous beast that was the beast
of burden in the underworld. Small, with an ungainly body and short
legs—its head small in proportion, it had immense tusks and a beard
covered the lower portions of its face. Indeed, the “Schloun” was a
mixture of rhinoceros and goat, and had the bulldog’s squareness of
build. It was a hideous animal, and Alan shuddered as he took his place
in the chariot. The equipage was extremely comfortable, the floor, upon
which they sat was laden with rugs and cushions, and side by side, the
man and his protector rode through the strange streets of this
underground world.
At last they stopped in front of an imposing building, even larger than
the one where Alan had originally been captured. The woman led Alan into
it, and took him into an apartment that was evidently reserved for her
private use. A soft, purple carpet lined the floor, while purple
curtains hung across the door. The woman pointed to a cushion and sat
down, and Alan, understanding her meaning, sat down near her. She spoke
to him slowly and repeatedly, but he was unable to understand her
tongue.
“Kaweeka” she repeated over and over again, and at last he understood.
It was her name!
Then he rose and went to the door and called “Kaweeka” and the woman
smiled and nodded and tapped her heel on the ground to signify her
delight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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