beasts, men and gods-第19节

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or　he　was　a　close　friend　and　pupil　of　the　Dalai　Lama　in　Potala　（Lhasa）；　was　the　most　learned　among　the　Lamites；　a　famous　thaumaturgist　and　doctor。　　He　occupied　an　almost　independent　position　in　his　relationship　with　the　Living　Buddha　and　achieved　to　the　leadership　of　all　the　old　wandering　tribes　of　Western　Mongolia　and　Zungaria；　even　extending　his　political　domination　over　the　Mongolian　tribes　of　Turkestan。　　His　influence　was　irresistible；　based　as　it　was　on　his　great　control　of　mysterious　science；　as　he　expressed　it；　but　I　was　also　told　that　it　has　its　foundation　largely　in　the　panicky　fear　which　he　could　produce　in　the　Mongols。　Everyone　who　disobeyed　his　orders　perished。　　Such　an　one　never　knew　the　day　or　the　hour　when；　in　his　yurta　or　beside　his　galloping　horse　on　the　plains；　the　strange　and　powerful　friend　of　the　Dalai　Lama　would　appear。　　The　stroke　of　a　knife；　a　bullet　or　strong　fingers　strangling　the　neck　like　a　vise　accomplished　the　justice　of　the　plans　of　this　miracle　worker。

Without　the　walls　of　the　yurta　the　wind　whistled　and　roared　and　drove　the　frozen　snow　sharply　against　the　stretched　felt。　　Through　the　roar　of　the　wind　came　the　sound　of　many　voices　in　mingled　shouting；　wailing　and　laughter。　　I　felt　that　in　such　surroundings　it　were　not　difficult　to　dumbfound　a　wandering　nomad　with　miracles；　because　Nature　herself　had　prepared　the　setting　for　it。　　This　thought　had　scarcely　time　to　flash　through　my　mind　before　Tushegoun　Lama　suddenly　raised　his　head；　looked　sharply　at　me　and　said：

〃There　is　very　much　unknown　in　Nature　and　the　skill　of　using　the　unknown　produces　the　miracle；　but　the　power　is　given　to　few。　　I　want　to　prove　it　to　you　and　you　may　tell　me　afterwards　whether　you　have　seen　it　before　or　not。〃

He　stood　up；　pushed　back　the　sleeves　of　his　yellow　garment；　seized　his　knife　and　strode　across　to　the　shepherd。

〃Michik；　stand　up！〃　he　ordered。

When　the　shepherd　had　risen；　the　Lama　quickly　unbuttoned　his　coat　and　bared　the　man's　chest。　　I　could　not　yet　understand　what　was　his　intention；　when　suddenly　the　Tushegoun　with　all　his　force　struck　his　knife　into　the　chest　of　the　shepherd。　　The　Mongol　fell　all　covered　with　blood；　a　splash　of　which　I　noticed　on　the　yellow　silk　of　the　Lama's　coat。

〃What　have　you　done？〃　I　exclaimed。

〃Sh！　　Be　still；〃　he　whispered　turning　to　me　his　now　quite　blanched　face。

With　a　few　strokes　of　the　knife　he　opened　the　chest　of　the　Mongol　and　I　saw　the　man's　lungs　softly　breathing　and　the　distinct　palpitations　of　the　heart。　　The　Lama　touched　these　organs　with　his　fingers　but　no　more　blood　appeared　to　flow　and　the　face　of　the　shepherd　was　quite　calm。　　He　was　lying　with　his　eyes　closed　and　appeared　to　be　in　deep　and　quiet　sleep。　　As　the　Lama　began　to　open　his　abdomen；　I　shut　my　eyes　in　fear　and　horror；　and；　when　I　opened　them　a　little　while　later；　I　was　still　more　dumbfounded　at　seeing　the　shepherd　with　his　coat　still　open　and　his　breast　normal；　quietly　sleeping　on　his　side　and　Tushegoun　Lama　sitting　peacefully　by　the　brazier；　smoking　his　pipe　and　looking　into　the　fire　in　deep　thought。

〃It　is　wonderful！〃　I　confessed。　　〃I　have　never　seen　anything　like　it！〃

〃About　what　are　you　speaking？〃　asked　the　Kalmuck。

〃About　your　demonstration　or　'miracle；'　as　you　call　it；〃　I　answered。

〃I　never　said　anything　like　that；〃　refuted　the　Kalmuck；　with　coldness　in　his　voice。

〃Did　you　see　it？〃　I　asked　of　my　companion。

〃What？〃　he　queried　in　a　dozing　voice。

I　realized　that　I　had　become　the　victim　of　the　hypnotic　power　of　Tushegoun　Lama；　but　I　preferred　this　to　seeing　an　innocent　Mongolian　die；　for　I　had　not　believed　that　Tushegoun　Lama；　after　slashing　open　the　bodies　of　his　victims；　could　repair　them　again　so　readily。

The　following　day　we　took　leave　of　our　hosts。　　We　decided　to　return；　inasmuch　as　our　mission　was　accomplished；　and　Tushegoun　Lama　explained　to　us　that　he　would　〃move　through　space。〃　　He　wandered　over　all　Mongolia；　lived　both　in　the　single；　simple　yurta　of　the　shepherd　and　hunter　and　in　the　splendid　tents　of　the　princes　and　tribal　chiefs；　surrounded　by　deep　veneration　and　panic…fear；　enticing　and　cementing　to　him　rich　and　poor　alike　with　his　miracles　and　prophecies。　　When　bidding　us　adieu；　the　Kalmuck　sorcerer　slyly　smiled　and　said：

〃Do　not　give　any　information　about　me　to　the　Chinese　authorities。〃

Afterwards　he　added：　　〃What　happened　to　you　yesterday　evening　was　a　futile　demonstration。　　You　Europeans　will　not　recognize　that　we　dark…minded　nomads　possess　the　powers　of　mysterious　science。　　If　you　could　only　see　the　miracles　and　power　of　the　Most　Holy　Tashi　Lama；　when　at　his　command　the　lamps　and　candles　before　the　ancient　statue　of　Buddha　light　themselves　and　when　the　ikons　of　the　gods　begin　to　speak　and　prophesy！　　But　there　exists　a　more　powerful　and　more　holy　man。　。　。〃

〃Is　it　the　King　of　the　World　in　Agharti？〃　I　interrupted。

He　stared　and　glanced　at　me　in　amazement。

〃Have　you　heard　about　him？〃　he　asked；　as　his　brows　knit　in　thought。

After　a　few　seconds　he　raised　his　narrow　eyes　and　said：　　〃Only　one　man　knows　his　holy　name；　only　one　man　now　living　was　ever　in　Agharti。　　That　is　I。　　This　is　the　reason　why　the　Most　Holy　Dalai　Lama　has　honored　me　and　why　the　Living　Buddha　in　Urga　fears　me。　But　in　vain；　for　I　shall　never　sit　on　the　Holy　Throne　of　the　highest　priest　in　Lhasa　nor　reach　that　which　has　come　down　from　Jenghiz　Khan　to　the　Head　of　our　yellow　Faith。　　I　am　no　monk。　　I　am　a　warrior　and　avenger。〃

He　jumped　smartly　into　the　saddle；　whipped　his　horse　and　whirled　away；　flinging　out　as　he　left　the　common　Mongolian　phrase　of　adieu：　〃Sayn！　　Sayn…bayna！〃

On　the　way　back　Tzeren　related　to　us　the　hundreds　of　legends　surrounding　Tushegoun　Lama。　　One　tale　especially　remained　in　my　mind。　　It　was　in　1911　or　1912　when　the　Mongols　by　armed　force　tried　to　attain　their　liberty　in　a　struggle　with　the　Chinese。　　The　general　Chinese　headquarters　in　Western　Mongolia　was　Kobdo；　where　they　had　about　ten　thousand　soldiers　under　the　command　of　their　best　officers。　　The　command　to　capture　Kobdo　was　sent　to　Hun　Baldon；　a　simple　shepherd　who　had　distinguished　himself　in　fights　with　the　Chinese　and　received　from　the　Living　Buddha　the　title　of　Prince　of　Hun。　　Ferocious；　absolutely　without　fear　and　possessing　gigantic　strength；　Baldon　had　several　times　led　to　the　attack　his　poorly　armed　Mongols　but　each　time　had　been　forced　to　retreat　after　losing　many　of　his　men　under　the　machine…gun　fire。　　Unexpectedly　Tushegoun　Lama　arrived。　　He　collected　all　the　soldiers　and　then　said　to　them：

〃You　must　not　fear　death　and　must　not　retreat。　　You　are　fighting　and　dying　for　Mongolia；　for　which　the　gods　have　appointed　a　great　destiny。　　See　what　the　fate　of　Mongolia　will　be！〃

He　made　a　great　sweeping　gesture　with　his　hand　and　all　the　soldiers　saw　the　country　round　about　set　with　rich　yurtas　and　pastures　covered　with　great　herds　of　horses　and　cattle。　　On　the　plains　appeared　numerous　horsemen　on　richly　saddled　steeds。　　The　women　were　gowned　in　the　finest　of　silk　with　massive　silver　rings　in　their　ears　and　precious　ornaments　in　their　elaborate　head　dresses。　Chinese　merchants　led　an　endless　caravan　of　merchandise　up　to　distinguished　looking　Mongol　Saits；　surrounded　by　the　gaily　dressed　tzirik　or　soldiers　and　proudly　negotiating　with　the　merchants　for　their　wares。

Shortly　the　vision　disappeared　and　Tushegoun　began　to　speak。

〃Do　not　fear　death！　　It　is　a　release　from　our　labor　on　earth　and　the　path　to　the　state　of　constant　blessings。　　Look　to　the　East！　　Do　you　see　your　brothers　and　friends　who　have　fallen　in　battle？〃

〃We　see；　we　see！〃　the　Mongol　warriors　exclaimed　in　astonishment；　as　they　all　looked　upon　a　great　group　of　dwellings　which　might　have　been　yurtas　or　the　arches　of　temples　flushed　with　a　warm　and　kindly　light。　　Red　and　yellow　silk　were　interwoven　in　bright　bands　that　covered　the　walls　and　floor；　everywhere　the　gilding　on　pillars　and　walls　gleamed　brightly；　on　the　great　red　altar　burned　the　thin　sacrificial　candles　in　gold　candelabra；　beside　the　massive　silver　vessels　filled　with　milk　and　nuts；　on　soft　pillows　about　the　floor　sat　the　Mongols　who　had　fallen　in　the　previous　attack　on　Kobdo。　Before　them　stood　low；　lacquered　tables　laden　with　many　dishes　of　steaming；　succulent　flesh　of　the　lamb　and　the　kid；　with　high　jugs　of　wine　and　tea；　with　plates　of　borsuk；　a　kind　of　sweet；　rich　cakes；　with　aromatic　zatouran　covered　with　sheep's　fat；　with　bricks　of　dried　cheese；　with　dates；　raisins　and　nuts。　　These　fallen　soldiers　smoked　golden　pipes　and　chatted　gaily。

This　vision　in　turn　also　disappeared　and　before　the　gazing　Mongols　stood　only　the　mysterious　Kalmuck　with　his　hand　upraised。

〃To　battle　and　return　not　without　victory！　　I　am　with　you　in　the　fight。〃

The　attack　began。　　The　Mongols　fought　furiously；　perished　by　the　hundreds　but　not　before　they　had　rushed　into　the　heart　of　Kobdo。　Then　was　re…enacted　the　long　forgotten　picture　of　Tartar　hordes　destroying　European　towns。　　Hun　Baldon　ordered　carried　over　him　a　triangle　of　lances　with　brilliant　red　streamers；　a　sign　that　he　gave　up　the　town　to　the　soldiers　for　three　days。　　Murder　and　pillage　began。　　All　the　Chinese　met　their　death　there。　　The　town　was　burned　and　the　walls　of　the　fortress　destroyed。　　Afterwards　Hun　Baldon　came　to　Ulia