Yermah

“ Yermah raised his head and gazed with streaming eyes at an apparition of Kerœcia, as he had last seen her in life, standing in the eastern entrance.
“She smiles and beckons me!” he said, in an awe-struck whisper. “Oh! my soul, why hast thou forsaken me? Why should death touch thee, if I must live?”
“Death claimed nothing but the physical body,” said Akaza, softly. “She feels not its loss. Look at her serene countenance. Wouldst thou spare her pain?” ”

“ From his breast Yermah drew the locket containing Kerœcia’s ring. Taking Alcyesta’s hand, he silently slipped it on her finger, while unchecked tears coursed down her cheeks.
Turning to Ildiko, he handed her the locket. Facing them all, he said:
“Be of good cheer! A long era of peace and prosperity is for thee and thine. Thou art saved from the floods for a divine purpose. Let this knowledge be thy secret refuge, lest thou be tempted to depart from the way.” ”

“ Ben Hu Barabe faced west, and with a graceful sweep of the arm, poured the liquid on the ground.
“A libation to the Trinity, whose creative, destructive and preservative aspects are everywhere manifest,” said Yermah, as he stood behind Kerœcia, and held up a jeweled cup evenly full of metheglin.
“Om-ah! Om-ah! Om-ah!” responded the assemblage, as Yermah made a low obeisance to the east, and poured out the offering with a wide splash. ”

“ Yermah, too, had passed a sleepless night. He spent the day on the water, floating and drifting with the ebb and flow of the tide, struggling to reconcile himself with the conditions confronting him. At night he came back to Iaqua, but purposely avoided meeting Orondo. Love made him humble, and he did not for a moment doubt the result of Orondo’s wooing. He knew that his countryman was a lovable man, and he could not find it in his heart to blame Kerœcia for accepting him. No—Orondo had asked his consent and blessing; he must be willing to give it with all his heart. ”

“ Pennants of the priesthood, of the civic federation, and of the innumerable clans, were everywhere afloat on the breeze, while Iaqua was a mass of Monbas streamers, banners and flags. All of the balsas flew the colors of the high-priestess, and there was a splendid escort pageant along the canal.
When Kerœcia approached the landing, long lines of citizens extended from Iaqua to the water’s edge. As Yermah led the way in a state chariot, a deafening shout arose. The wheels fairly flew over the causeway as the thoroughbred horses galloped in even step under Yermah’s steady hand. ”

“ Yermah dared not trust himself to look back, while Kerœcia groped her way into the house and hid in her own room, safe from human eye.
“Men kiss like women,” she murmured naïvely, and in a surprised tone. “Their lips are the same, but—” Then she buried her face in her hands while a hot blush burned its way to the roots of her hair. Her cheeks still tingled with the light sweep of mustache and beard, and she fell to wondering if she could see the kiss as plainly as she still felt it. Those dear arms! How strong and masterful their protecting enfoldment!... ”

“ The initiate cannot speak to the heart of man until he has himself drained to the dregs the bitter cup of life’s miseries.”
Yermah lifted a startled face, and peered intently about him in the vain hope of locating the speaker.
“Fear not, my beloved! Man is only what he thinks. He mingles his aura with that of his fellows, and the Redeemer becomes the fellow-sufferer, because the twain are made one in sorrow. Rise and go forth comforted. Thou hast loosed the belt of Orion. Thou hast crossed the bridge of Kinevat.” ”

“ By a nod he beckoned to the warrior-priests waiting, to bring forward a palanquin, which they had gone into the temple to procure. Gently as a woman could have done, he seated the Dorado and motioned the attendants to go on.
Yermah’s look of gratitude made his strong chin tremble, and brought the old haunted expression back to his face. A cold, clammy perspiration stood out on Yermah’s lips and brow as he sank back utterly exhausted. When he closed his eyes, Orondo said to himself: “He will never be paler in death. Poor heart-broken soul!” ”

“ His fate decrees that he shall disappear like illusory imagination.”
“Over the stomach is Ildiko’s name, the moon, and a figure six. Does that mean that she has designs on Mars?” asked Yermah, jokingly.
“Whatever glamour she casts will be in vain. It will avail her nothing,” responded Akaza, smiling, also. “Setos, thou seest, is the right knee. His number is seven, and his planet the earth itself. Desire for pomp and glory is his weakness.” Both men laughed heartily.
“Poor Setos,” said Yermah; “his vanity is prodigious.”
“Alcamayn is the left knee, marked number eight, and the planet Venus. ”

“ The day was well nigh spent when Akaza approached the camp near the mouth of the Indian Canyon. Yermah and Kerœcia advanced to meet him, hand in hand, like happy children. Kerœcia did not wait for a formal presentation but came forward graciously.
“Patriarch and hierophant,” she said, “this temple awaits thy ministration. The love and obedience of my people and myself are thine to command.”
“Fair daughter of the gods, thou hast already a place in my heart, as I perceive thou hast in the affections of my comrades. Mayst thou ever be surrounded by a nimbus of joy and gladness.” ”

“ The first joint of the finger is no longer; the middle of the palm no wider; the cubit from finger to elbow is the same. But the stars have changed their courses; even the zodiac has slipped its leashes. Man may profit by such example. Have done with this useless turmoil. Let the Ian have his due, and let the high-priestess Kerœcia, loose her own bonds.”
When he ceased speaking, the silence was intense.
“For this did I beseech thy presence,” said Yermah, aside to the agitated princess.
“We love the priestess Kerœcia, and we will obey her,” said Ben Hu Barabe, simply. ”

“ Yermah received the three-handled silver cup of humiliation from the high-priest Imos, and partook of its bitter contents. From him it passed to Oahspe, then to Orondo, Setos, Alcamayn, Ildiko, Rahula, Cezardis, Ben Hu Barabe, and Alcyesta and then on to every man and woman in the temple. ”

“ AKAZA KEEPS HIS VOW AND IS FINALLY FREE As he passed out of the temple, Akaza turned again to look at Yermah whose face was illumined, serene and calm. With his hands clasped before him, the Dorado stood as if in a dream, taking into the inner recesses of his heart the comforting assurance of immortality and of final union with the Divine, in which Kerœcia was a part.
“Farewell, beloved!” said the old man, as his eyes filled. “Thou hast passed the Gates of Light, and art come into thine own. Amenti, thou unknown, receive thy son! Amrah, King of the Brotherhood, give back my vow! ”

“ Yermah raised the fallen head, and as he did so blood spurted from the half-open mouth. Orondo groaned and shivered. His breath came in one stertorous gasp, and all was still.
“It is death!” cried Yermah, in alarm, “death, sudden and terrible! My poor friend!” he repeated, as Setos leaned over and peered into the ashen countenance. Hanabusa hustled Alcamayn roughly, but held him in a vise-like grip.
“Thou art a murderer,” he exclaimed, “and must answer well for this! Thou art my prisoner!”
The high-priest, Imos, assisted Yermah to lift the dead man, and Setos stood near Ildiko. ”

“ Alcamayn and Orondo shared Yermah’s consternation; but, like Setos, they never expected to return to Atlantis, and therefore their interest was not so personal and keen.
Yermah still seemed stupefied, but he roused himself by a mighty effort of will.
“Call all the people together in the Temple of Saturn, on the proper day, and let the four intervening suns rise on a fasting and contrite nation. Let every house and roadway be swept for purification. Let the anointing and ablution be thorough, and let them come to the temple laden with flowers; because where flowers grow, love has been. ”

“ Marriage to thee is forbidden. Only the commonplace mortal is content to vegetate, procreate and perish.” Then after a pause, he added: “Thine is not only race condition, Yermah, but before thou wert born, the Brotherhood decreed it for thee.”
“Thou—thou durst tell this to me, the future Servitor of Atlantis and all her dependencies! Out upon thee and thy Brotherhood! I will not submit to thy decrees! Thou—thou hast made me believe in thy love. Is this the language of consideration? The Brotherhood demands all that I value in life! Thou sayest that I have not failed so far. ”

“ With girlish eagerness and gratified pride, Kerœcia sat down so intent upon a display of dexterity and skill that she was unconscious of the fact that her soft clinging skirts were tightly drawn over one leg the entire length, and high enough to reveal the ankle and instep to good advantage. With the other 250foot she set the treadle going, and soon her shapely arms were following the flying shuttle. The well-poised head, the long, slender throat, and the regular rise and fall of a perfect bosom helped to complete the poetry of her motions, and Yermah feasted his eyes while she worked. ”

“ Without noticing the interruption, Yermah completed his sentence.
“Orondo did no evil. Nothing can be produced against him. He committed no violence, nor did he torment any heart. No one was by him treacherously slain.” ”

“ A round inlaid ivory wheel, supported by a porcelain tripod, was indicated. On its outer edge were the signs of the zodiac, chased in black, with a mother-of-pearl inlaying to indicate the spokes. A rough-edged parchment lay in the center, and Yermah’s quick eye saw that it was an orrery question, pertaining to Atlantis, drawn in colors.
“We are not to examine the horoscope at present,” explained Akaza, following Yermah’s gaze. “I brought thee in here to make sure of fire and the needs of the inner man. Now that they are secure, we shall devote the morning to the beach.” ”

“ But I have knowledge that they will feel more secure if thou wilt accept our protection.”
84“And the same feeling would prompt me to ask their permission,” she answered with a smile.
“So be it. To serve loyally is the office we desire.”
“This bright reflected glory pictures life,” exclaimed Yermah, as the warm afternoon sun spanned the long flowing veil of the falls with a succession of rainbows.
“Tell us why,” asked Kerœcia, and with a gesture of silence awaited an answer.
The pink and pride of Tlamco was before them, but he was still too young a man to teach philosophy. ”

“ In other words, that its birth into the body and contact with material life have left no stain upon its intrinsic purity.
Before this shrine Yermah ordered a purple veil of Akaza to be placed. Skulls and crossbones in white were painted upon this, to show that he was master of the living as well as of the dead.
The queen of odors, jasmine, which corresponds to G in alt, or equilibrium, filled the perfumed lamp suspended in the center of the shrine; while ewers of oil, containing citron, lemon, orange-peel, verbena, and rose sat on either side. ”

“ He substituted a purple robe for the water-soaked tunic, gave Yermah sandals, and finally wrapped his own cloak around him.
“Thy attendants, Yermah? It were not well to leave them to the mercies of air and water lashed to fury.”
“None saw me leave Iaqua. Neither man nor beast shall suffer because of my misdeeds,” said the Dorado. “It has taken all this time to find my way. The dying day left me resolved.”
“Thy spirit called to mine at that hour,” said Akaza with a glad smile. “I felt it then.”
“And wilt thou have me for thy companion for the night?” ”

“ Rahula who had been growing more and more excited, 374rushed to Yermah’s side, and throwing her hands up wildly, cried out:
“Hirach, thou who art mirrored in truth, palsy the tongue departing from thy formula! Orondo merits not an honored place in the Vale of Peace. The fishes yearn for his body. He lived not in truth, nor walked in the ways acceptable to the gods of magic mystery.” ”

“ Six weeks later, when brain-fever loosed its grip upon him, Akaza found Yermah lying face downward at the door of the Temple of Neptune. He was moaning and sobbing piteously. In a half-crazed condition, he had eluded observation, and started out to find his foster-father, but had fallen by the wayside, overcome by sheer bodily weakness. Akaza lifted him up, and hushed him as he would a child.
“Thou art wrong to grieve like this,” he said gently and soothingly. “The Father in the Trinity is the Universal Creator; the Son is man himself. ”

“ Yermah, Beloved of the Brotherhood: Follow the way marked out before thee.
When one bird hovers in the air while the other sits on a rock with cactus flowering at its base, halt thou and receive thy future task from him who was appointed to aid thee.
Go willingly. Thou hast no further mission in Tlamco. Fear not.
I have been before thee—and am with thee even unto the end of time.
Akaza. The eagles led them southward by sea for many days after leaving Monterey Bay, but on coming ashore they traveled inland until they reached the pueblos of the Colorado. ”

“ It represented the pyramid, the cone, the center, the heart, the ten Sephiroth proceeding from the One; the naught of the ten numerals in the tenfold ratio.
“And I am commanded to get rid of the my-ness, as a giant weed whose roots lie deep in the human heart?” said Yermah, slowly.
“Remember always,” responded Akaza, glad to see that Yermah’s mind was for the moment normal, “that the true self of man is God. Look for it in thy fellows; find it and hold fast to it in thyself. Thou must ponder these things well. ”