The Key West citizen., 1940-11-16
Chapter 80
Battle OF Love

~
w ing, she saw Temu standing
tall and straight on a hilltop
scanning the horizon through
feld-glasses. She watched him
with brooding eyes, a faint flush
on her cheeks. Presently she
turned and looked at the camel;
the beast had died sometime dur
ing the night.
"Temu's friend" Lynn thought.
She rose, staring at the eastern
horizon warmed with promise of
the rising sun.
Temu returned and stood at her
shoulder. A tremor went through
Lynn. What happens when we
die?" she asked.
According 20 Sherlock. moth
ing happens, Tara Lynn, any more
than when you turn page IN q
book you are reading"
Lynn thought q minute. Il don't
believe I'm the emanation Of q
goddess after al. I'm too stupid
about these things Of the spirit
/ scheme around 10 find the three
dimensional explanations for
everything. The last few days I've
been thinking about the little mis-
sionary boy that became your
Prince. Why. At the age of six ne
would have spoken English well
if he were an average child"
Temu smiled I'm quite conf
dent he wasn't subnormal."
Lynn refused TO be DETECTED
from her purpose. Surely, mis-
sionary parents would not have
taught their son the Buddhist
mantra"
Go on" he urged.
'He must have used English
words. He must have said, o
man, please take me home And
Sherlock heard the mantra be-
cause he expected to hear il.
wished TO hear it. Do you know
what the Prince thinks of the in
cident?"
He was pretty young when il
happened and under the handicap
of orphanhOod and starvation: he
knows only that the words he
must have said worked-wCrked
TO change him from an outcast
into i Prince. And does your eX-
PLANTATION lessen any of the mys-
terry of the forces that brought
Sherlock and the boy together?"
4 suppose not" sne acknowl-
edged slowly. She glanced up.
why is the Prince content 10
stay here instead of returning
homer"
HE did think once he would
live IN America He tried it. He
found no near relatives. no special
work he wanted TO do. The old
Prince and Sherlock were beg
ging him TO come back and take
up the responsibilities that be-
longed TO him. He came"
And became. as Dick says. a
typical. native ruler sunk in vice
and crime
Temu looked up at the ridge
which concealed the rising sun
before he spoke Has it Oc-
CURED to you that you might re-
form the MAN."
She could not tell if there were
irony in his voice or not Never
theless, her eyes biaZed; she
clenched her hands. Il could hate
you for that. Temu Darinl Why
sacrifice me TO your degenerate
Prince?"
Il do not consider it sacrifice
It is Jour destiny. He needs you"
Il do not need him"
"Oh, yes. you do, Lynn dear
You need someone to think of be-
sides yourself You are a rather
self-centered and wilful girl at
present
Bri1s auarre,
"CNCE we're speaking home
- truths, Temu, you are fan
attic"
THAT may be-" he agreed.
Then you think it is wrong for
me to lead my own life?"
Il think that if you or or any
one will follow the pattern laid
down for us, happiness will come
But let's not quarrel about it. The
Prince is not as bad as your
brother has painted him nor as
deserving of good fortune perhaps
as Sherlock thinks ne is. Sher-
dock was pleased that the boy
took after his father. a dark
skinned Scotchnan. and grew up
to resemble the people he lived
among as happily married couples
grow to look alike. The Prince
finally decided that his childhood
here had SPOILED him for any
other country"
There is a sort Of enchant-
ment," Lynn agreed, breathing in
the heady. mountain atmosphere.
"But TO stand il. one must believe
with Sherlock that nothing mat
tiers much except the inner
values"
Temu laughed. Speaking of in
ner values. how about breakfast"
He proceeded skillfully to build
a fire and brew their morning
tea.
Beyond this rise before US is
wide plateau" he said. "and
/ see a single yurta. Perhaps I
can buy horses there. Do you
wish TO try the walk with me or TO
wait here until / return for your
IN 90 with you" she said.
He searched her face with its
clear, unlined beauty. You
seem to stand up well under
hardships."
I'm a fend for punishment"
she acknowledged.
IL krO,r1L4 &T,o Eco - SI-a Hs-nk,