The Key West citizen., 1940-11-15
Chapter 81
Strange Ceremony

"CHERDOCK," Lynn said alb
- ruptly, they tell me you have
determined to die tonight"
He smiled. 81 have told you be-
fore that death is not important.
Now / tell you that it is not even
a necessity, but merely a habit of
the body-cnind which man has let
master him. Perhaps your chill
dren or your children's children
will experience the truth of this
and thus gain their freedom from
the cycle of birth and death. I
have not beer wise enough. l shall
wander for while through the
Bardo and then become a little
child again"
Lynn was moved by the sim
plicity and sincerity with which
he spoke. There seemed no doubt
in his mind as to what the future
should be. 1t occurred to her that
she had never seen him look so
Shining" before, as if already his
spirit was held but lightly by the
bonds of earth.
Seriously" she pleaded. "this
talk of death frightens me. Dick
says he will not compromise with
you"
Sherlock looked at her sternly
81 ask no compromise" Then his
face softened. And no grief, my
dear. Mourning is a sin; it is
lack of trust and a blindness of
spirit"
He struck a little drum at his
side and rose. Lynn followed him.
The Chinese guard came in and
they walked out together before
Lynn's unbelieving eyes.
'It is not right that he should
die" she thought.
Sherlock raised his hand in
blessing for the men who had as
sembled. Then he and Dick, the
guard, Chin PAX and two Mongol
1amaS from the Dukes retinue
climbed the hill.
Lynn brought a mat from her
tent and sat down where she
could keep her eyes on the hilltop.
She felt impatient and helpless
before tnis strange, Oriental IA
talisrn. Shadows mad thickened on
the ridges; only on the summit
where Sherlock sat. his bright,
old eyes to the sky. did faint re-
Election of the dying day still
glow.
Lynn shivered in the biting,
night air and spoke softly to her.
Golf fIo a-4 hn Gold -
A voice answered, HE is indH-
ferent, Tara Lynn"
She started and turned quickly;
no one was near, no one had
spoken. Yet she had heard Temu's
voice as clearly as if she were
held in the circle of his arms.
She entered her tent and lay
down, covering her face with her
hands.
New Plan
WHEN the men came to strike
w her tent at daybreak, she had
composed herself. She drank a
cup of rice water, and mounting
her camel, began the days march.
The sky soon became overcast
with high flying clouds The trav-
elers climbed an elevated divide
and saw before them a yet higher
ridge that separated them from
the vast plains of Shani Lun.
Dick rode up beside Lynn. "If
things go WELL" he said, "we
should reach the border tomorrow
night. Remember that Sherlock
has prepared the people for your
appearance. 1 and the Duke will
hasten on to the capital.
Il want you to say in the bor-
der town Of Dorchi for the first
night. Then we will send a state
automobile to carry you to Delun
where you will make a trump
phant entry the following day.
Since you're supposed to be the
reincarnatiOn of a Chinese prin-
cess, it might be well for you to
dress in Chinese garb for your
entrance to the palace. Wen ar
range that clothing be supplied
you at our headquarters in Dor
Chi"
Then what?" asked Lynn sob
erly. After l get to Delun. then
what?"
Then this country's ours and
we can do with it as We please"
he cried exultantly. Doesn't it
thrill you. Lynn? You shall civil
ize the people. if that is your wish.
and / shall make us all rich be-
yond the dreams of avarice."
She maGc no reply. He scrutin-
lied her face bent down in
thought
Right now. you look the image
of the brooding Tara he re-
marked. a touch of awe in his
tone. by God. Lynn. I believe
YOU DC belong to these peoplei
That old magician. Sherlock,
must have known what he was
talking about. You're coming
homei"
Lynn raised her head. her
cheeks suddenly flushed, her eyes
bright and shining. Somehow. I
feel myself that I'm coming
homei''
Shortly before noon the wealth
er changed for the worse; the
wind clouds taickened and dark
ened. A black tempest was upon
them. The whole caravan became
demoralized. Lynn felt as If she
were breasting a wall OF water
full of pebbles. The animals were
blown sideways and disappeared
from sight. She saw the camel