The dark faces of the men turned ashen, but they made no effort to
escape their doom. One of them crept up the steps and laid his neck upon
the edge of gold, while the other, uttering no word, threw himself on
his face at the foot of them, waiting his turn. Then a door opened and
there appeared a great and brutal-looking fellow, naked except for a
loin cloth, who bore in his hand a huge weapon, half knife and half axe.
First he looked at the Asika, who nodded almost imperceptibly, then
sprang on to a prolongation of the golden steps, bowed to Little Bonsa
on her column behind and heaved up his knife.
Now for the first time Alan really understood what was about to happen,
and that what he had imagined a stage rehearsal, was to become a hideous
murder.
"Stop!" he shouted in English, being unable to remember the native word.
The executioner paused with his axe poised in mid-air; the victim turned
his head and looked, as though surprised; the second victim and the
priests their companions looked also. Jeekie fell on to his knees and
burst into fervent prayer addressed apparently to Little Bonsa. The
Asika smiled and did nothing.
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