Копи царя Соломона
We Give a Sign
"Yesayso.YetItellyouthattomorrownight,abouttwohoursbeforemidnight,wewillcausethemoontobeeatenupforaspaceofanhourandhalfanhour. Yes,deepdarknessshallcovertheearth,anditshallbeforasignthatIgnosiisindeedkingoftheKukuanas. Ifwedothisthing,willyebesatisfied?"
"Yea,mylords,"answeredtheoldchiefwithasmile,whichwasreflectedonthefacesofhiscompanions; "ifyedothisthing,wewillbesatisfiedindeed."
"Itshallbedone; wethree,Incubu,Bougwan,andMacumazahn,havesaidit,anditshallbedone. Dostthouhear,Infadoos?"
"Ihear,mylord, butitisawonderfulthingthatyepromise,toputoutthemoon,themotheroftheworld,whensheisatherfull."
"Yetshallwedoit,Infadoos."
"Itiswell,mylords.To-day,twohoursaftersunset,Twalawillsendformylordstowitnessthegirlsdance, andonehourafterthedancebeginsthegirlwhomTwalathinksthefairestshallbekilledbyScragga,theking’sson, asasacrificetotheSilentOnes,whositandkeepwatchbythemountainsyonder,"andhepointedtowardsthethreestrange-lookingpeakswhereSolomon’sroadwassupposedtoend. "Thenletmylordsdarkenthemoon,andsavethemaiden’slife, andthepeoplewillbelieveindeed."
"Ay,"saidtheoldchief,stillsmilingalittle,"thepeoplewillbelieveindeed."
"TwomilesfromLoo,"wentonInfadoos,"thereisahillcurvedlikeanewmoon,astronghold,wheremyregiment,andthreeotherregimentswhichthesechiefscommand,arestationed.