THE NOVELIST

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 62

THE NOVELIST

OUTER DARKNESS.

A PACIFIC ADVENTURE.

By

FRANK H. BODLE

(A New Zealand Author.)

(Copyright.—For the Witness.)

CHAPTER XVII.—SUNSET. They came out of the gloomy galleries into the glory of tropic sunshine, and collapsed upon the peak of the old' altar. A light, cool breeze beat upon their faces, the dull throbbing of the surf drummed in their ears. The Woman was the first to stagger to her feet; the wonder and glory of it all overwhelming her weariness. She shaded her eyes from the brightness of the sun and stared around, incredulous, fascinated, even a little terrified. “It is more beautiful than any dream,” she muttered awestruck. “Had I known ” She did not finish the sentence, watching instead the curving, graceful flight of a light-hearted company of sea birds. “Well, I’m ” came a mumble from below the altar. “No, you're not, father,” Kitty called emphatically, and springing to her feet, leapt down beside her recumbent parent. She kissed him with hearty goodwill. “We’re back, though just a little longer than I said.” “As usual, my dear,” the Professor stated, but there was more of joy than reproach in his tone. “Who is the lady in the bizarre costume, and where is Rawiri?” “Rawiri stayed behind, father.” Kittj’ bent and straightened the Professor's errant tie. “He behaved magnificently. This Woman is the Ariki of an underground people who proves all your theories right. Now I’ll get the Rapa boys to carry you and Brian back into camp. He's hurt and knocked up.” “I can walk.” the Professor announced with pride. “They made me a pair of eruches, and I progress with the agility of the bounding marsupial.” They came to the camp at last, and Brian was placed in bed. Ho did not waken, even when Kitty, taking her father’s flask, poured a good stiff dose of brandy down his throat. “Now tell me everything,” the little scientist demanded, as he, Kitty, and the Woman (a coat of Kitty’s over her shoulders) sat beside the camp fire. They looked into such a sunset as only the/ tropics can show. And Kitty told the story, speaking slowly and in Maori so that the other woman could understand. She told of the people of the underworld, of their memories, and of the gallant fight they had made against a cruel fate and harsh surroundings. The Woman listened, saying no word. Her eyes were on the glory of the sunset; she watched the magic mingling of gold and scarlet and green that fused and melted into ribbons of pale orange tipped with pink. “It is beyond all our dreams,” she whispered brokenly. “So beautiful that I fear it is itself but a dream.” “It is no dream,” Kitty answered evenly. “And when we have slept, the sun will come again. There be fish in the sea below, and land for all the grain you need.” “I must go back,” the Woman said soberly. “I must go back and bring my people to this place.” “Yes. You must go back.” Kitty . looked round, hearing a mutter from the tent where Brian slept. “And Periani ?” “Periani is mine,” Kitty replied With utter certainty—“is mine not because I lore him, but because he loves me. There is no other way.” ' “I must go back,” the Woman repeated sadly. “It was an evil thing I did, and I am sorry. I must bring my people to this beauty.” x “Listen to me.” Kitty grasped the Woman’s hand and placed it against her own cheek. “I have heard much of your goodness to Periani, and I know that you risked everything to save his life. For that, no matter what you now do, I am your friend while I have breath left.” Impulsively the Woman flung her arm round Kitty and drew her close. “No emotionalism, I beg, my dear,” the professor snapped, from across the fire. “Science and sentiment do not—” “This isn’t science,” Kitty shot back tartly. “It’s a much more vital thing, human nature, and if it displeases you, you are quite at liberty to go to bed.” She stroked the Woman's Iqng hair caressingly, and for tba second time kissed her with tenderness and love and a of understanding that very rarely one woman gives to another. “I must go back,” the Woman said once more, all bitterness won from her voice; "and somehow, some time I’ll bring my people here.”

Kitty grew practical. “You told Periani, so I heard from Rawiri, that you would not bring your people here because they could not rule, because they would be slaves.” ‘Better slaves here than chiefs below,” the Woman murmured. “But you have a magic talisman that will make you rulers even here,’’ Kitty went on excitedly. “That fire-earth you have is very . precious to the men of this world. For it they will come with many gifts. Of your great store, you will dole out a little at a time, and they will give you in tribute—everything you ask.” “But—but,” the Woman stammered. “But you must let no man of those who will come go underground,” Kitty hurried on. “Take all their gifts; but let no man see your store and secret place.” “I can swim back,” the Woman mused, but how to bring them over. There’s no man left can swim again.’’ “You have forges and smiths,” Kitty answered eagerly. “They can make metal poles and drive them in the river bed to join the broken bridge. It will take time, but it can be done, and you have Rawiri, if he lives, who has helped build many bridges in his own land. You can do this ' “We can do this, Kiti, wise one/’ The Woman's.voice caught fire. “It will take time, but we can do it. Soon all my people shall see the beauties of the Land of Ra. When I have seen the sun once more, I shall do down, alone, into the Darkness.” “And to-morrow we must sail away.” Kitty drew her new-found friend very close. “For Periani must be taken to a doctor to be healed.” “Aie,” said the Woman dully, her voice full of pain. “You must take him away.” She wept softly. ‘ But we shall come back, never fear,” Kitty cried tremulously. “We shall be here to greet you.” . - ./‘Confound it!” said the Professor testily. “You can call it human nature if you like, but I prefer to be scientifically accurate, and describe it as plain, sloppy sentiment. And the extraordinary part of the whole thing is that its all over a red-headed Hibernian, who, at this precise moment is snoring like that member of the genus Orca, vulgarly but quite erroneously known as the grampus. Do you hear him?” The Professor struggled disgustedly to his feet. * “You can elucidate your human nature by yourselves. I’m going to bed.” “He says he's very happy, but very tired.” Kitty's translation bordered on what a scholar would call “free.” She swung her companion to her feet, and locked an arm around the' Woman’s waist. “Let us go in together, and kiss Periani good-night,” she said. “I’ll teach you how to do it.” (The End.)