下载辰思小说免费APP
`Heiscome，’saidtheboy，inavoicelittlelouderthanasigh，andvanished。Kimfeltsurethattheboyhadbeenpostedtoguidehimfromthefirst，but，puttingaboldfaceonit，partedthecurtain。Ablack-beardedman，withagreenshadeoverhiseyes，satatatable，and，onebyone，withshort，whitehands，pickedupglobulesoflightfromatraybeforehim，threadedthemonaglancingsilkenstring，andhummedtohimselfthewhile。KimwasconsciousthatbeyondthecircleoflighttheroomwasfullofthingsthatsmeltlikeallthetemplesofalltheEast。Awhiffofmusk，apuffofsandal-wood，andabreathofsicklyjessamine-oilcaughthisopenednostrils。
`Iamhere，’saidKimatlast，speakinginthevernacular：thesmellsmadehimforgetthathewastobeaSahib。
`Seventy-nine，eighty，eighty-one，’themancountedtohimself；stringingpearlafterpearlsoquicklythatKimcouldscarcelyfollowhisfingers。
HeslidoffthegreenshadeandlookedfixedlyatKimforafullhalf-minute。
Thepupilsoftheeyedilatedandclosedtopin-pricks，asifatwill。
TherewasafakirbytheTaksaliGatewhohadjustthisgiftandmademoneybyit，especiallywhencursingsillywomen。Kimstaredwithinterest。Hisdisreputablefriendcouldfurthertwitchhisears，almostlikeagoat，andKimwasdisappointedthatthisnewmancouldnotimitatehim。
`Donotbeafraid，’saidLurganSahibsuddenly。
`WhyshouldIfear？’
`Thouwiltsleepheretonight，andstaywithmetillitistimetogoagaintoNucklao。Itisanorder。’
`Itisanorder，’Kimrepeated。`ButwhereshallIsleep？’
`Here，inthisroom。’LurganSahibwavedhishandtowardsthedarknessbehindhim。
`Sobeit，’saidKimcomposedly。`Now？’
Henoddedandheldthelampabovehishead。Asthelightsweptthem，thereleapedoutfromthewallsacollectionofTibetandevil-dancemasks，hangingabovethefiend-embroidereddraperiesofthoseghastlyfunctions-hornedmasks，scowlingmasks，andmasksofidioticterror。Inacorner，aJapanesewarrior，mailedandplumed，menacedhimwithahalberd，andascoreoflancesandkhandasandkuttarsgavebacktheunsteadygleam。ButwhatinterestedKimmorethanallthesethings-hehadseendevil-dancemasksattheLahoreMuseum-wasaglimpseofthesoft-eyedHinduchildwhohadlefthiminthedoorway，sittingcross-leggedunderthetableofpearlswithalittlesmileonhisscarletlips。
`IthinkthatLurganSahibwishestomakemeafraid。AndIamsurethatthatdevil’sbratbelowthetablewishestoseemeafraid。Thisplace，’
hesaidaloud，`islikeaWonderHouse。Whereismybed？’
LurganSahibpointedtoanativequiltinacornerbytheloathsomemasks，pickedupthelamp，andlefttheroomblack。
`WasthatLurganSahib？’Kimaskedashecuddleddown。Noanswer。HecouldheartheHinduboybreathing，however，and，guidedbythesound，crawledacrossthefloor，andcuffedintothedarkness，crying：`Giveanswer，devil！IsthisthewaytolietoaSahib？’
Fromthedarknesshefanciedhecouldheartheechoofachuckle。Itcouldnotbehissoft-fleshedcompanion，becausehewasweeping。SoKimlifteduphisvoiceandcalledaloud：`LurganSahib！OLurganSahib！Isitanorderthatthyservantdoesnotspeaktome？’
`Itisanorder。’Thevoicecamefrombehindhimandhestarted。
`Verygood。Butremember，’hemuttered，asheresoughtthequilt，`I
willbeattheeinthemorning。IdonotloveHindus。’
Thatwasnocheerfulnight；theroombeingoverfullofvoicesandmusic。
Kimwaswakedtwicebysomeonecallinghisname。Thesecondtimehesetoutinsearch，andendedbybruisinghisnoseagainstaboxthatcertainlyspokewithahuma
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