下载辰思小说免费APP
“Whydotheybringallthisstuffhere？“heasked，andJeekietranslatedhisquestion。
“ItisanofferingtothelordofLittleBonsa，“answeredtheheadpriest，bowing，“agiftfromtheAsika。Theheaven-bornwhitemansentwordbyhisOgulamessengersthathedesiredgold。Hereisthegoldthathedesired。“
Alanstaredatthetreasure，whichafterallwaswhathehadcometoseek。IfonlyhehaditsafeinEngland，hewouldbearichmanandhistroublesended。ButhowcouldhegetittoEngland？Hereitwasworthlessasmud。
“IthanktheAsika，“hesaid。“Iaskforporterstobearhergiftbacktomyowncountry，sinceitistooheavyformeandmyservanttocarryalone。“
Atthesewordsthepriestsmiledalittle，thensaidthattheAsikadesiredtoseethewhitelordandtoreceivefromhimLittleBonsainreturnforthegold，andthathecouldprofferhisrequesttoher。
“Good，“repliedAlan，“leadmetotheAsika。“
Thentheystarted，AlanbearingtheboxcontainingLittleBonsa，andJeekiefollowingafterhim。Theywentdownpassagesandthroughsundrydoorstillatlengththeycametoalongandnarrowhallthatseemedtobelinedwithplatesofgold。Attheendofthishallwasalargechairofblackwoodandivoryplaceduponadais，andsittinginthischairwiththelightpouringonherfromsomeopeningabove，wasthewomanofAlan’sdream，beautifultolookoninhercrownandglitteringgarments。Uponastoolatthefootofthedaissataman，ahandsomeandmelancholyman。Hishairwastiedbehindhisheadinapigtailandgilded，hisfacewaspaintedred，whiteandyellow；heworeropesofbright-colouredstonesabouthisneck，middle，armsandankles，andheldakindofsceptreinhishand。
“Whoisthatcreature？“askedAlanoverhisshouldertoJeekie。“TheCourtfool？“
“ThathusbandofAsika，Major。Henotfool，verybiggun，butlookalittlelownowbecausehistimesoonup。Comeon，Major，Asikabeckonus。Getonstomachandcrawl；thatcustomhere，“headded，goingdownontohishandsandknees，asdidallthepriestswhofollowedthem。
“I’llseeherhangedfirst，“answeredAlaninEnglish。
ThenaccompaniedbythecreepingJeekieandthetrainofprostratepriests，hemarchedupthelonghalltotheedgeofthedaisandtherestoodstillandbowedtothewomaninthechair。
“Greeting，whiteman，“shesaidinalowvoicewhenshehadstudiedhimforawhile。“Doyouunderstandmytongue？“
“Alittle，“heansweredinAsiki，“moreover，myservanthereknowsitwellandcantranslate。“
“Iamglad，“shesaid。“Tellmethen，inyourcountrydonotpeoplegoontotheirkneesbeforetheirqueen，andifnot，howdotheygreether？“
“No，“answeredAlanwiththehelpofJeekie。“Theygreetherbyraisingtheirhead-dressorkissingherhand。“
“Ah！“shesaid。“Well，youhavenohead-dress，sokiss/my/hand，“andshestretcheditouttowardshim，atthesametimeproddingthemanwhomJackiehadsa
