the ninth vibration-第30节
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strong arm； and the strong arm was absent； as for the men of Pagan； if the guard failed and the women's courage sank； they would return to blackened walls； empty chambers and desolation。
At Pagan the guard was small； indeed； for the King's greed of plunder had taken almost every able man with him。 Still； those who were left did what they could； and the women； alert and brave； with but few exceptions； gathered the children and handed such weapons as they could muster to the men； and themselves； taking knives and daggers； helped to defend the inner rooms。
In the farthest； the Queen； having given her commands and encouraged all with brave words； like a wise； prudent princess； sat with her son beside her。 Her duty was now to him。 Loved or unloved； he was still the heir； the root of the House tree。 If all failed； she must make ransom and terms for him； and； if they died； it must be together。 He； with sparkling eyes； gay in the danger； stood by her。 Thus Dwaymenau found them。
She entered quietly and without any display of emotion and stood before the high seat。
〃Great Queen〃 … she used that title for the first time … 〃the leader is Meng Kyinyo of Prome。 There is no mercy。 The end is near。 Our men fall fast； the women are fleeing。 I have come to say this thing： Save the Prince。〃
〃And how？〃 asked the Queen； still seated。 〃I have no power。〃
〃I have sent to Maung Tin； abbot of the Golden Monastery； and he has said this thing。 In the Kyoung across the river he can hide one child among the novices。 Cut his hair swiftly and put upon him this yellow robe。 The time is measured in minutes。〃
Then the Queen perceived； standing by the pillar； a monk of a stern； dark presence； the creature of Dwaymenau。 For an instant she pondered。 Was the woman selling the child to death？ Dwaymenau spoke no word。 Her face was a mask。 A minute that seemed an hour drifted by； and the yelling and shrieks for mercy drew nearer。
〃There will be pursuit；〃 said the Queen。 〃They will slay him on the river。 Better here with me。〃
〃There will be no pursuit。〃 Dwaymenau fixed her strange eyes on the Queen for the first time。
What moved in those eyes？ The Queen could not tell。 But despairing； she rose and went to the silent monk； leading the Prince by the hand。 Swiftly he stripped the child of the silk pasoh of royalty； swiftly he cut the long black tresses knotted on the little head； and upon the slender golden body he set the yellow robe worn by the Lord Himself on earth； and in the small hand he placed the begging…bowl of the Lord。 And now； remote and holy； in the dress that is of all most sacred； the Prince； standing by the monk； turned to his mother and looked with grave eyes upon her； as the child Buddha looked upon his Mother … also a Queen。 But Dwaymenau stood by silent and lent no help as the Queen folded the Prince in her arms and laid his hand in the hand of the monk and saw them pass away among the pillars； she standing still and white。
She turned to her rival。 〃If you have meant truly； I thank you。〃
〃I have meant truly。〃
She turned to go； but the Queen caught her by the hand。
〃Why have you done this？〃 she asked； looking into the strange eyes of the strange woman。
Something like tears gathered in them for a moment； but she brushed them away as she said hurriedly：
〃I was grateful。 You saved my son。 Is it not enough？〃
〃No； not enough！〃 cried the Queen。 〃There is more。 Tell me； for death is upon us。〃
〃His footsteps are near；〃 said the Indian。 〃I will speak。 I love my lord。 In death I will not cheat him。 What you have known is true。 My child is no child of his。 I will not go down to death with a lie upon my lips。 Come and see。〃
Dwaymenau was no more。 Sundari； the Indian woman； awful and calm； led the Queen down the long ball and into her own chamber； where Mindon； the child； slept a drugged sleep。 The Queen felt that she had never known her； she herself seemed diminished in stature as she followed the stately figure； with its still； dark face。 Into this room the enemy were breaking； shouldering their way at the door … a rabble of terrible faces。 Their fury was partly checked when only a sleeping child and two women confronted them； but their leader； a grim and evil… looking man； strode from the huddle。
〃Where is the son of the King？〃 be shouted。 〃Speak； women！ Whose is this boy？〃
Sundari laid her hand upon her son's shoulder。 Not a muscle of her face flickered。
〃This is his son。〃
〃His true son … the son of Maya the Queen？〃
〃His true son； the son of Maya the Queen。〃
〃Not the younger … the mongrel？〃
〃The younger … the mongrel died last week of a fever。〃
Every moment of delay was precious。 Her eyes saw only a monk and a boy fleeing across the wide river。
〃Which is Maya the Queen？〃
〃This；〃 said Sundari。 〃She cannot speak。 It is her son … the Prince。〃
Maya had veiled her face with her hands。 Her brain swam； but she understood the noble lie。 This woman could love。 Their lord would not be left childless。 Thought beat like pulses in her … raced along her veins。 She held her breath and was dumb。
His doubt was assuaged and the lust of vengeance was on him … a madness seized the man。 But even his own wild men shrank back a moment； for to slay a sleeping child in cold blood is no man's work。
〃You swear it is the Prince。 But why？ Why do you not lie to save him if you are the King's woman？〃
〃Because his mother has trampled me to the earth。 I am the Indian woman … the mother of the younger； who is dead and safe。 She jeered at me … she mocked me。 It is time I should see her suffer。 Suffer now as I have suffered； Maya the Queen！〃
This was reasonable … this was like the women he bad known。 His doubt was gone … he laughed aloud。
〃Then feed full of vengeance！〃 he cried； and drove his knife through the child's heart。
For a moment Sundari wavered where she stood； but she held herself and was rigid as the dead。
〃Tha…du！ Well done！〃 she said with an awful smile。 〃The tree is broken； the roots cut。 And now for us women … our fate； 0 master？〃
〃Wait here；〃 he answered。 〃Let not a hair of their heads be touched。 Both are fair。 The two for me。 For the rest draw lots when all is done。〃
The uproar surged away。 The two stood by the dead boy。 So swift had been his death that he lay as though he still slept … the black lashes pressed upon his cheek。
With the heredity of their different races upon them； neither wept。 But silently the Queen opened her arms； wide as a woman that entreats she opened them to the Indian Queen； and speechlessly the two clung together。 For a while neither spoke。
〃My sister！〃 said Maya the Queen。 And again； 〃0 great of heart！〃
She laid her cheek against Sundari's； and a wave of solemn joy seemed to break in her soul and flood it with life and light。
〃Had I known sooner！〃 she said。 〃For now the night draws on。〃
〃What is time？〃 answered the Rajput woman。 〃We stand before the Lords of Life and Death。 The life you gave was yours； and I am unworthy to kiss the feet of the Queen。 Our lord will return and his son is saved。 The House can be rebuilt。 My son and I were waifs washed up from the sea。 Another wave washes us back to nothingness。 Tell him my story and he will loathe me。〃
〃My lips are shut；〃 said the Queen。 〃Should I betray my sister's honour？ When he speaks of the noble women of old； your name will be among them。 What matters which of us he loves and remembers？ Your soul and mine have seen the same thing； and we are one。 But I … what have I to do with life？ The ship and the bed of the conqueror await us。 Should we await them； my sister？〃
The bright tears glittered in the eyes of Sundari at the tender name and the love in the face of the Queen。 At last she accepted it。
〃My sister； no；〃 she said； and drew from her bosom the dagger of Maya； with the man's blood rusted upon it。 〃Here is the way。 I have kept this dagger in token of my debt。 Nightly have I kissed it； swearing that； when the time came； I would repay my debt to the great Queen。 Shall I go first or follow； my sister？〃
Her voice lingered on the word。 It was precious to her。 It was like clear water； laying away the stain of the shameful years。
〃Your arm is strong；〃 answered the Queen。 〃I go first。 Because the King's son is safe； I bless you。 For your love of the King； I love you。 And here； standing on the verge of life； I testify that the words of the Blessed One are truth … that love is All； that hatred is Nothing。〃
She bared the breast that this woman had made desolate … that； with the love of this woman； was desolate ho longer； and； stooping； laid her hand on the brow of Mindon。 Once more they embraced； and then； strong and true； and with the Rajput passion behind the blow； the stroke fell and Sundari had given her sister the crowning mercy of deliverance。 She laid the body beside her own son； composing the stately limbs； the quiet eyelids； the black lengths of hair into majesty。 So； she thought； in the great temple of the Rajput race； the Mother Goddess shed silence and awe upon her worshippers。 The two lay like mother and son … one slight hand of the Queen she laid across the little body as if to guard it。
Her work done； she turned to the entrance and watched the dawn coming
