A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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94 or sing. She brought an instrument like a lute, and upon this she played some melancholy strains. At length the Kohen came in. His mild, benevolent face never exhibited more gentle and affectionate sympathy than now. He seated himself, and with eyes half closed, as usual, talked much; and yet, with a native delicacy which always distinguished this extraordinary man, he made no allusion to the awful Mista Kosek. For my own part, I could not speak. I was absent-minded, overwhelmed with gloom and despair, and at the same time full of aversion toward him and all his race. One question, however, I had to put. "Who were the victims of the Mista Kosek?" "They?" said he, with an agreeable smile. "Oh, they were the victims of the sacrifice." I sank back in my seat, and said no more. The Kohen then took Almah's lute, played and sang in a very sweet voice, and at length, with his usual consideration, seeing that I looked weary, he retired. CHAPTER XIV I LEARN MY DOOM Horror is a feeling that cannot last long; human nature is incapable of supporting it. Sadness, whether from bereavement, or disappointment, or misfortune of any kind, may linger on through life. In my case, however, the milder and more enduring feeling of sadness had no sufficient cause for existence. The sights which I had seen inspired horror, and horror only. But when the first rush of this feeling had passed there came a reaction. Calmness followed, and then all the circumstances of my life here conspired to perpetuate that calm. For here all on the surface was pleasant and beautiful; all the people were amiable and courteous and most generous. I had light and luxury and amusements. Around me there were thousands of faces, all greeting me with cordial affection, and thousands of hands all ready to perform my slightest wish. Above all, there was Almah. Everything combined to make her most dear to me. My life had been such that I never before had seen anyone whom I loved; and here Almah was the one congenial associate in a whole world of aliens: she was beautiful
95 and gentle and sympathetic, and I loved her dearly, even before I understood what my feelings were. One day I learned all, and found that she was more precious to me than all the world. It was one jom when she did not make her appearance as usual. On asking after her I learned that she was ill. At this intelligence there came over me a feeling of sickening anxiety and fear. Almah ill! What if it should prove serious? Could I endure life here without her sweet companionship? Of what value was life without her? And as I asked myself these questions I learned that Almah had become dearer to me than life itself, and that in her was all the sunshine of my existence. While she was absent, life was nothing; all its value, all its light, its flavor, its beauty, were gone. I felt utterly crushed. I forgot all else save her illness, and all that I had endured seemed as nothing when compared with this. In the midst of my own anxiety I was surprised to find that the whole community was most profoundly agitated. Among all classes there seemed to be but one thought--her illness. I could overhear them talking I could see them wait outside to hear about her. It seemed to be the one subject of interest, beside which all others were forgotten. The Kohen was absorbed in her case; all the physicians of the city were more or less engaged in her behalf; and there came forward as volunteers every woman in the place who had any knowledge of sick-duties. I was somewhat perplexed, however, at their manner. They were certainly agitated and intensely interested, yet not exactly sad. Indeed, from what I heard it seemed as though this strange people regarded sickness as rather a blessing than otherwise. This, however, did not interfere in the slightest degree with the most intense interest in her, and the most assiduous attention. The Kohen in particular was devoted to her. He was absent-minded, silent, and full of care. On the whole, I felt more than ever puzzled, and less able than ever to understand these people. I loved them, yet loathed them; for the Kohen I had at once affection and horror. He looked like an anxious father, full of tenderest love for a sick child--full also of delicate sympathy with me; and yet I knew all the time that he was quite capable of plunging the sacrificial knife in Almah's heart and of eating her afterward. But my own thoughts were all of Almah. I learned how dear she was. With her the brightness of life had passed; without her existence would be intolerable. Her sweet voice, her tender and gracious manner,
Page 1 and 2:
1 A Strange Manuscript Found in a C
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3 pitch out a bit of wood." Upon th
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5 And as he said this he reached ou
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7 attacked the copper cylinder, and
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9 "It looks like Egyptian papyrus,"
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11 extended far out from the promon
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13 was nowhere visible, nor were th
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15 consisted of a vast sheet of flo
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17 "Well, I do," said he, "and they
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19 THE LETTER. "Bristol April 20. 1
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21 attached to a piece of rock. "Th
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23 can have but one ending--there m
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25 thin, shrivelled, black, with lo
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27 run, but there was nothing of th
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29 chief attention, and while all l
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31 for this I would have burst thro
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33 not stop for one moment, but pur
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35 terror in my heart, I waited for
Page 37 and 38:
37 the surface were but the tiniest
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39 that a new peril had arisen from
Page 41 and 42:
41 roads winding far away along the
Page 43 and 44: 43 experience other sensations. I b
Page 45 and 46: 45 scrupulous delicacy and a carefu
Page 47 and 48: 47 wide space where four cross-road
Page 49 and 50: 49 Next came Noel Oxenden, late of
Page 51 and 52: 51 "Do you know what is is?" asked
Page 53 and 54: 53 have been written at least three
Page 55 and 56: 55 and his low position on the hori
Page 57 and 58: 57 "That's a complicated question,"
Page 59 and 60: 59 difficulty that I could see anyt
Page 61 and 62: 61 mutual inquiry. I was full of am
Page 63 and 64: 63 I was always rather quick at lea
Page 65 and 66: 65 The "Kohen" did not remain long,
Page 67 and 68: 67 likely that if we had ordered ou
Page 69 and 70: 69 looking forward. On its head was
Page 71 and 72: 71 CHAPTER X THE SACRED HUNT On tha
Page 73 and 74: 73 but not a man quailed. Never had
Page 75 and 76: 75 that I felt. "It was honor to th
Page 77 and 78: 77 The speed was amazing; the faste
Page 79 and 80: 79 I was senseless for I know not h
Page 81 and 82: 81 hiding. But I saw that she had a
Page 83 and 84: 83 them to go abroad, to travel by
Page 85 and 86: 85 the victims! Rejoice! Give thank
Page 87 and 88: 87 the eyes that weep over the path
Page 89 and 90: 89 dark season with a feast. From w
Page 91 and 92: 91 "This is beyond my comprehension
Page 93: 93 Almah shuddered. "If you had tol
Page 97 and 98: 97 and for you, and for the reason
Page 99 and 100: 99 fate." "Fate!" I repeated, looki
Page 101 and 102: 101 "You don't understand," said sh
Page 103 and 104: 103 you--are you not to be envied i
Page 105 and 106: 105 We give up everything for life.
Page 107 and 108: 107 anguish beyond expression--angu
Page 109 and 110: 109 To such a story I had nothing t
Page 111 and 112: 111 fear of death. This desire for
Page 113 and 114: 113 There are many other crimes, al
Page 115 and 116: 115 observed that women are a littl
Page 117 and 118: 117 "Why, it must be a dodo, of cou
Page 119 and 120: 119 shoulder-bones like those of th
Page 121 and 122: 121 "All these stories of strange a
Page 123 and 124: 123 Latin or Greek word begins with
Page 125 and 126: 125 question, and gives us the conn
Page 127 and 128: 127 that. It seemed better to go, f
Page 129 and 130: 129 "Then I see by this that Almah
Page 131 and 132: 131 He laughed joyously. "There's n
Page 133 and 134: 133 tide as crowded and as busy as
Page 135 and 136: 135 that I made this discovery; for
Page 137 and 138: 137 they were all regarded with gre
Page 139 and 140: 139 up--no, not even if they could
Page 141 and 142: 141 "And then," said I, "if so, wou
Page 143 and 144: 143 of my race--and the fear that I
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145 up." "She never will," said I.
Page 147 and 148:
147 help joining in, and so we both
Page 149 and 150:
149 I thought that perhaps it would
Page 151 and 152:
151 For a moment I stood almost lif
Page 153 and 154:
153 No sooner had I found myself ac
Page 155 and 156:
155 "No." I was amazed at this. "Bu
Page 157 and 158:
157 "Oh yes." "How many?" "Four." "
Page 159 and 160:
159 utterly unable to show to Layel
Page 161 and 162:
161 said: "I should like to fly in
Page 163 and 164:
163 a basin-shaped world--an immens
Page 165 and 166:
165 molten lava; between us and it
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167 did. I went back to the shore,
Page 169 and 170:
169 which was cooling and hardening
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171 triumph, was Layelah. "Ataesmzo
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173 as that. Do you not know that w
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175 intervals apart, flying in a st
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177 This, however, was intolerable;
Page 179 and 180:
179 from Layelah. She started back,
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181 to reach before life was extinc
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183 life or death, it is all the sa
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185 Magones, and had searched over
Page 187 and 188:
187 rot and rubbish to the Germania
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189 part do not suspect him of exag
Page 191 and 192:
191 "That very difference can be sh
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193 ring-shaped, but the action of
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195 a different view of the case. I
Page 197 and 198:
197 The Council of State gathered f
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199 this respect with the great pau
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201 inconceivable horror of that em
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203 class had a mania for doing wha
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205 I turned away in despair. At le
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207 darkness, faintly illuminating
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209 sacrifice?" "What?" he asked, w
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211 have heard of it, as the Koseki
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213 "I'll die first!" said I, fierc
Page 215 and 216:
215 with one common impulse came pr
Page 217 and 218:
217 CHAPTER XXXI CONCLUSION In the
Page 219 and 220:
219 Meleks, for we will take the mo
Page 221:
221 "What do you mean?" I exclaimed
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A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

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