CHAPTER XXI
THE FLYING MONSTER
I retired to bed, but could not sleep. The offer of escape filled mewith excited thoughts. These made sleep impossible, and as I lay awakeI thought that perhaps it would be well to know what might beLayelah's plan of escape, for I might then make use of it to saveAlmah. I determined to find out all about it on the followingjom--to question her as to the lands of the Gojin, to learn all herpurpose. It might be that I could make use of that very plan to saveAlmah; but if not, why then I was resolved to remain and meet my fatewith her. If Layelah could be induced to take both of us, I was ofcourse resolved to go, trusting to chance as to the claims of Layelahupon me, and determined at all hazards to be faithful to Almah; but ifshe should positively refuse to save Almah, then I thought it possiblethat I might be able to find in Layelah's plan of escape something ofwhich I might avail myself. I could not imagine what it was, but itseemed to me that it might be something quite feasible, especially fora desperate man. The only thought I had was of escape by means of someboat over the seas. In a boat I would be at home. I could make use ofa 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 ofthe Gojin.
On the following jom the Kohen Gadol and Layelah came quite earlyand spent much time. I was surprised to see the Kohen Gadol devotinghimself in an absurd fashion to Almah. It at once occurred to me thatLayelah had obtained her father's co-operation in her scheme, and thatthe old villain actually imagined that he could win the hand of Almah.To Almah herself I had said nothing whatever about the proposal ofLayelah, so that she was quite ignorant of the intentions of hercompanion; but it was excessively annoying to me to see suchproceedings going on under my own eyes. At the same time I felt thatit would be both unwise and uncivil to interfere; and I was also quitesure that Almah's affections were not to be diverted from me byanyone, much less by such an elderly party as the Kohen Gadol. It wasvery trying, however, and, in spite of my confidence in Almah, myjealousy was excited, and I began to think that the party ofphilosophical Radicals were not so agreeable as the orthodox cannibalswhom I first met. As for Layelah, she seemed quite unconscious of anydisturbance in my mind. She was as amiable, as sprightly, asinquisitive, and as affectionate as ever. She even outdid herself, anddevoted herself to me with an abandon that was quite irresistible.
After Almah had left me, Layelah came again, and this time she wasalone.
"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, andtherefore I questioned her eagerly about it; but to all of myquestions she only replied that she would show me, and I might judgefor myself.
Layelah led the way, and I followed her. We traversed long galleriesand vast halls, all of which were quite empty. It was thesleeping-time, and only those were visible who had some duties whichkept them up later than usual. Faint, twinkling lights but feeblyilluminated the general gloom. At length we came to an immense cavern,which was darker than ever, and without any lamps at all. Through avast portal, which was closed with a barred gateway, the beams of thebrilliant aurora penetrated and disclosed something of the interior.
Here Layelah stopped and peered through the gloom while I stoodwaiting by her side, wondering what means of escape could be found inthis cavern. As I stood I heard through the still air the sound as ofliving things. For a time I saw nothing, but at length I descried avast, shadowy form moving forward toward the portal, where thedarkness 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 allthat I had ever seen. Its head was large and its jaws long, armed withrows of terrible teeth like those of a crocodile. Its body was ofgreat size. It walked on its hind-legs, so as to maintain itself in anupright attitude, and in that position its height was over twelvefeet. But the most amazing thing about this monster has yet to betold. As it walked its forearms waved and fluttered, and I sawdescending from them what seemed like vast folded leathern wings,which shook and swayed in the air at every step. Its pace was about asfast as that of a man, and it moved with ease and lightness. It seemedlike some enormous bat, or rather like a winged crocodile, or yetagain like one of those monstrous dragons of which I had read, but inwhose actual existence I had never believed. Yet here I saw one livingand 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 ofdragons, had no place here. This beast had but a short caudalappendage, and all its terrors lay in its jaws and in its wings.
For a moment I stood almost lifeless with terror and surprise. Then Ishrank 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 atfeeding-time. But this one is very tame. There are three or fourothers in here, and all as tame as I am. They all know me. Come upnearer; don't be afraid. These athalebs are easily tamed."
"How can such tremendous monsters be tamed?" I asked, in anincredulous tone.
"Oh, man can tame anything. The athalebs are very docile when they aretaken young. They are very long lived. This one has been in servicehere for a hundred seasons and more."
At this I began to regain my confidence, and as Layelah moved nearerto the athaleb I accompanied her. A nearer view, however, was by nomeans reassuring. The dragon look of the athaleb was stronger thanever, for I could see that all its body was covered with scales. Onits neck and back was a long ridge of coarse hair, and the sweep ofits vast arms was enormous. It was with a quaking heart that I stoodnear; 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 enormousback, 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 hisback, 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 thatyou will mount this hideous monster, and trust yourself to him?"
"Certainly," said Layelah, quietly. "He is very docile. There isharness here with which we can guide him. Should you like to seehim harnessed?"
"Very much indeed," said I.
Upon this Layelah walked up to the monster and stroked his breast. Thehuge athaleb at once lay down upon his belly. Then she brought twolong straps like reins, and fastened each to the tip of a projectingtip of each wing. Then she fastened a collar around his neck, to whichthere was attached a grappling-iron.
"We seat ourselves on his back," said Layelah. "I guide with thesereins. When we land anywhere I fasten him with the grapple. He looksdull now, but if I were to open the gate and remove his muzzle hewould 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, seatingherself 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 ascoolly as though she were on a chair reassured me, and I climbed upalso, though not without a shudder. The touch of the fearful monsterwas abhorrent but I conquered my disgust and seated myself closebehind Layelah. Here she sat, holding the reins in her hands, with thegrapple just in front of her; and, seated in this position, she wenton to explain the whole pro
cess by which the mighty monster was guidedthrough the air.
No sooner had I found myself actually on the back of the athaleb thanall fear left me. I perceived fully how completely tame he was, andhow docile. The reins attached to his wings could be pulled with thegreatest ease, Just as one would pull the tiller-ropes of a boat."Familiarity breeds contempt;" and now, since the first terror hadpassed away, I felt perfect confidence, and under the encouragement ofLayelah I had become like some rustic in a menagerie, who at first isterrified by the sight of the elephant, but soon gains courage enoughto mount upon his back. With my new-found courage and presence of mindI listened most attentively to all of Layelah's explanations, andwatched most closely the construction and fastening of the harness;for the thought had occurred to me that this athaleb might be of availin another way--that if I did not fly with Layelah, I might fly withAlmah. This thought was only of a vague and shadowy character--a dimsuggestion, the carrying out of which I scarce dared to thinkpossible; still, it was in my mind, and had sufficient power over meto make me very curious as to the plans of Layelah. I determined tofind out where she proposed to go, and how far; to ask her about thedangers of the way and the means of sustenance. It seemed, I confess,rather unfair to Layelah to find out her plans and use them foranother purpose; but then that other purpose was Almah, and to me atthat time every device which was for her safety seemed fair andhonorable.
"Here," said Layelah--"here, Atam-or, you see the way of escape. Theathaleb can carry us both far away to a land where you need never fearthat they will put you to death--a land where the people love lightand life. Whenever you are ready to go, tell me; if you are ready togo now, say so, and at once I will open the door, and we shall soon befar away."
She laid her hand on mine and looked at me earnestly; but I was not tobe beguiled into any hasty committal of myself, and so I turned herproposal 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 thesea till we come to a great island, which is called Magones, wherethere are mountains of fire; there we must rest, and feed the athalebon fish, which are to be found on the shore. The athaleb knows his waythere well, for he goes there once every season for a certain sacredceremony. He has done this for fifty or sixty seasons, and knows hisway there and back perfectly well. The difficulty will be, when weleave 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 istheir 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 landsof 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 prizeof death by starvation. It is one of the greatest honors among theKosekin."
"Is Magones barren?"
"It is an island of fire, without anything on it but craggy mountainsand wild rocks and flowing rivers of fire. It stands almost in themiddle 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; thatis all."
"But shall we not be prevented?"
"Oh no. No one here ever prevents anyone from doing anything. Everyoneis eager to help his neighbor."
"But if they saw me deliberately mounting the athaleb and preparingfor 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 thehighest honor and dignity. All believe that you rejoice in your highdignity, 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 somedistinguished pauper."
"But if I were to stay here, would they not save me from death atmy entreaty?"
"Oh, certainly not; they would never understand such an entreaty.That's a question of death, the supreme blessing. No one is capable ofsuch a base act as saving his fellow-man from death. All are eager tohelp each other to such a fate."
"But if I were to fly they would not prevent me, and they would notpursue 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 thehonor. The artisans and tradesmen are sometimes permitted to attain tothis honor; the laborers in greater numbers; but it is the paupers whoare chiefly favored. And this is a matter of complaint among the richand powerful, that they cannot be sacrificed."
"Well, why couldn't I be made an Athon or a Kohen, and be exempted inthat 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 thevery uttermost, and to bestow upon you the greatest privileges andblessings which can possibly be given. Oh no, it would be impossiblefor them to allow you to become an Athon or a Kohen. As for me, I amMalca, and therefore the lowest in the land--pitied and commiseratedby the haughty pauper class, who shake their heads at the thought ofone like me. All the people shower upon me incessantly new gifts andnew offices. If my present love of light and life were generallyknown, they would punish me by giving me new contributions of wealthand 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 mightdivert the conversation.
Layelah was silent for a few moments, and then went on in a musingtone:
"As I was saying, I love you, Atam-or, and I hate Almah because youlove her. I think Almah is the only human being in all the world thatI ever really hated; and yet, though I hate her, still, strange tosay, I feel as though I should like to give her the immense blessingof death, and that is a very strange feeling, indeed, for one of theKosekin. Do you understand, Atam-or, what such can possibly be?"
I did not answer, but turned away the conversation by a violenteffort.
"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 sheunharnessed the athaleb and we left the cavern.
A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder Page 21
