"This is the moat remarkable thing that we have yet encountered. It seems that this is the center of their religious system, and that strange man is its head. It is, as far as I can make out, based upon a kind of sun-worship.
The Sun and Venus
"AT rare intervals the cloud-dome opens overhead in a narrow rift, through which the sun appears for a few moments, as a vast, blinding ball of fire; larger and brighter, of course, than we ever see it from the earth. Sometimes a whole generation passes without this momentary opening of the heavens.
"Ala herself has never seen the vision of the bright god of the sky; but, like all her people, she regards it as a manifestation of a higher governing power, and every time that the phenomenon occurs there is an extraordinary outburst of enthusiasm, which arrests all other affairs, and the whole planet is swept by a wave of religious frenzy.
"This high priest is regarded as the mortal representative of the power above. Upon his death another, chosen by what I suppose may be called a council of augurs, takes his place. He has all the sacredness and influence of a Delphic oracle, and his utterances are considered as sure prophecies of future events."
"I'd never come to him for a fortune," broke In Jack. "I don't like his looks."
"Hush! But that's just what you have come for," replied Edmund with a smile. "And I don't know how the thing is going to work out for us. Ala has brought us here to learn this priest's opinion about—well, about me. You will understand. If he proves unpropitious, it won't be well. I hope for a favorable oracle."
This put an entirely new complexion upon the affair, and I began to regard the occupant of the black throne with an apprehension that I had not felt before. I could have wished our fate to lie in anybody's hands but his. I quite agreed with Jack on that point.
I wondered why Ala had not consulted this authority earlier, if she did not feel free to make her own choice and act her own will. Now that we, through Edmund, were so deeply involved, the consequences could not but be very serious if another adverse influence besides that of Ingra was directed against us.
But I suppose the girl queen had simply followed the dictates of her heart at first, and then events had so crowded upon one another that there was no opportunity to take counsel.
We were not compelled to wait long to discover the trend of the oracle. The beaked face and the jetty eyes were turnd upon us again, and without warning the gigantic form rose to its full height. One arm was thrown out toward us in a gesture of repulsion, while the eyes blazed from the out-thrust colorless countenance so fiercely that, in spite of all my efforts at self-command, I absolutely quailed before them.
Henry started back, and would have fled incontinently if Edmund had not seized his arm and detained him. Juba alone, to my surprise, remained totally unmoved. Either he did not understand, or else he had unwavering confidence in us, and so feared nothing.
Ala Defiant
ALA, for a moment, was overwhelmed with seeming disappointment and sorrow. Then she slowly raised her head, her cheeks reddened, her eyes shone with a determined look, and, meeting the glance of the great priest unflinchingly, she laid her hand on Edmund's shoulder. I saw a mingled look of pride, love, and defiance pass over Edmund's features; and then he faced the new enemy he had found with a firm glance.
"Now we are in for it," whispered Jack. "If Edmund pulls us out of this, I'll swear by him forever."
But the immediate consequences were not so serious—at least, in appearance—as our fears had anticipated.
The priest, from his towering elevation, glanced scornfully at Ala; and then, in a low, monotonous tone, began a kind of chant. Only Ala, of course, understood him; but, as she listened, an expression of growing horror came over her face. The scene lasted only two or three minutes. When the chant was finished, the oracular speaker slowly sank back upon his throne and turned away his face, which had become once more as impassive as marble.
Ala could hardly remain upright. She leaned on Edmund's arm, and, as I thought, sobbed.
Suddenly she straightened. The queenly look and manner returned. Her whole bearing and expression denoted resistance and resolution. Turning her back upon the black throne, without another glance at its occupant, but with a look at Edmund—in which her inmost soul shone forth in a way that there was no mistaking—she led us from the chamber.
The Priest's Prophecy
WHEN we were alone afterward in an apartment in the palace, Edmund told us the meaning of what had occurred.
"That the decision was adverse," he said, "I need not tell you. We have got the religious head of the planet against us now. But his closing speech, which Ala has explained to me as best she can, was a queer medley—a sort of prophetic vision, it would seem—which greatly affects Ala, though for my part I only laugh at it."
"But what was it?" urged Jack.
"Oh," said Edmund, "only a crazy Mother Shipton jumble of nonsense. He talked about a grand conflagration and a general wiping out of things and persons that he doesn't like. I snap my fingers at his divination, but without any mumble magic he can do us a lot of harm. If I could persuade Ala to go, I'd quit Venus within twenty-four hours. But I don't believe she'd consent to go, and I won't leave her, so that's the end of it."
Henry groaned in spirit, but Jack showed no white feather, and I don't believe I did either.
"Bully for you, Edmund!" Jack cried. "Go in and win. We'll stand by you, if we never see old New York again."
Edmund smiled with gratification, and grasped us each warmly by the hand.
