The Wonderful City by J. S. Fletcher

Author:J. S. Fletcher [Fletcher, J. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4405-4526-9
Publisher: Prologue Books
Published: 2012-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XII.

THE SILENT CITY — THE COLUMN OF FIRE AND SMOKE — OUR LIVES AT STAKE.

WE STOOD WITHIN an open space which appeared to measure about two hundred and fifty yards in each direction. To the west it was bounded by a massive pile of buildings, evidently mainly fashioned out of the black rock; to the south, by the great wall of rock which overlooked the harbour and through which the archway had given us entrance; to the north, by a further rock-like mass, through certain openings in which we caught glimpses of the high cliffs on the further side of the lake; and on the east, by a gigantic dome-shaped temple, partly cut from the rock and partly reared by art. Though there were many wonderful things to see in this square, my eyes from the first instant of our entrance there were riveted on this temple. From the top of its dome rose the column of smoke, occasionally lighted by flashes of bright flame, which we had noticed from the shores of the lake earlier in the day. It rose high in the heavens and spread out into a fan-shaped cloud, obscuring the sun and spreading a shadow of darkness over the city beneath. As I watched it a suspicion shot through my mind which presently grew into conviction. We were standing on the very edge of the crater of a volcano! The Ma’ Rhamans might not know it, but I had no doubt by that time that far beneath us, and far beneath the wonderful lake, burned the fatal fire which might at any moment break forth and immolate the people who lived on its very brink.

I had no time, however, to follow this thought out or to speak of it to my companions. Before us, seated on a low platform or balcony in front of the massive pile which we subsequently found to be the palace, sat the king, an old man of somewhat feeble figure, whose hair and beard were white as snow. He was robed in a finely-spun woollen cloth, which enveloped his figure from head to foot, and was surmounted at the shoulders by a great cloak of rougher white material. His head was bare, but round his forehead glittered a magnificent string of pearls, which seemed to have been strung together in some primitive fashion. Another band of pearls hung from his neck; a third encircled his waist.

Felix and I stared at each other with astonishment on seeing this exhibition of barbaric wealth. The pearls must have represented an enormous fortune. We turned from them and their wearer to gaze at the persons surrounding the king. On the king’s right hand stood a young man, dressed in white and wearing a single chain of pearls about his neck. He was of good appearance, gentle and kindly in demeanour, and seemed to be examining my companions and myself with much interest. On the left hand of the sovereign stood an old man, clothed

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.