September 25, 2025 • 28 mins
In this captivating sequel to Palos of the Dog Star Pack, Jason Croft embarks on a thrilling new chapter of his adventures on Palos. Having shed his earthly form, his astral projection now inhabits the body of a Palosian man. With his exceptional knowledge and skills, the high priest hails Jason as the voice of God. However, this divine status threatens to derail his ultimate goal marrying Naia, the very reason for his journey. Will he be able to navigate the complexities of his new role while pursuing love? - Summary by Krista Zaleski
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Chapter seventeen of the Mouthbeasts of Zitu. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
The Mouthbeasts of Zitu by John Ulwrick g c in
the Grip of War. As for the other matter which
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speeded his preparations, it had nothing whatever to do with love,
was the exact antithesis of it, dealt wholly with human passion,
human strife. It was now over five weeks since the
relief expedition had sailed to Bither from Hemaira, and no
word had come from Zetra since. Mentally, Croft had allowed
at least two weeks for the galleys to reach Bither,
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the capital of the Northeastern state, and unload their motors
and men. Another week, he figured should bring them well
into contact with Missarian forces. If jack Or moved as
quickly as he felt assured he would, and drunk as
he was with love busi as he was with his
own inivors, Croft forgotten not entirely affairs of state. As
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a result, he chose a night some weeks after he
felt sure the Bythurian army and its reinforcements should have
reached the Lithurian borders, and willed himself to Jackal's tint
the strange sight. But his eyes swam above what at
first appeared to him as an enormous grassy plain, and
beyond it was a forest, dark in its own shadows,
beneath the moonlight. And beyond that again was a fire
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of flares. Toward these he propelled himself, without knowing whither
exactly he was going, yet arriving to find them. The
flaring remains of burning houses spread out on yet another
open space, beside a river, a mere village such as
the peasant classes were accustomed to inhabit, rather than one
of the larger walled towns, and around it, through it
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their bodies picked out by the moonlight and leaping of
the plains, were hundreds not of bithers soldiers, but of leaping, howling,
spear shaking, blood and lust cloated miseri men. And beyond it, now,
as he saw, overcoming his first surprise, lay one of
the armoured motors, ringed with intermingled the Thurian and the
Missarian corpses, and tipped upon its side. Disaster for the
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first time, Croft suspected of Atherian route. In a flash,
he returned to his original purpose and once more demanded
the jaguar's position to be revealed. And now a walled
town appeared before him, not so large as Amira, but
decidedly greater than Zeitra, to judge from the circuit of
its walls, beside which countless fire urns flared, and within
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those walls. As he sped above them, Croft beheld a
beaten army's rack, two of the motors parked close inside
a gate. Weary men showing the marks of conflict, stretched
out beside them in a sudden bivolac, then into a
palace built of what seemed a brown sandstone. The huge
inner court paved in green for fire urns flared, and
guardsmen stood before a door through which men in armour
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with stern drawn faces passed in and out. Roft followed
the progress of the latter, and so came at last
to the presence of the man he desired, jack Or
of Tamarisia, Jakhor of AfOR precedent of a nation once
a haughty king, jack Or of AfOR wounded slightly the
binding bandage wound about his grizzled head, with his armor
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dust stained and smeared with the grime of conflict. Jack
Or scowling like some savage creature, overborne, driven into a corner,
with a sinewy hand of a musk of her arm,
fingering a nervous fashioned sword, and about him a cluster
of drawn browed, armored men, one of whom Kroft judged
Bi Madai, governor of Bither, since his armor was jeweled
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with the sign of state, a green medallion happed by
a bar of iridescent crystals to symbolize the mighty river
bith which crossed it with its flood. Mozaire said, Jagor
has loosened upon us her whole bard. Armed. Are they
by Zolaria, led by Zaleria's men, my sheer weight of numbers,
we were overborne. The wings of our army cut so
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that the center was ungulfed. Two of the motors broke down,
and those in charge of them knew not the secret
of the one device which causes them to run, because
he who constructed them first held the knowledge to himself.
The men with the rifles within them were cut off
when their supply of bullets was gone. Those others so
armed killed so long as their bullets held out, when
they also fell back before these blue fiends as well.
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The fault is not with the weapons, but with the
first seeming of the matter. Men of Bithor, we face
no barbarian border. Rating this the principal city of your
eastern lands, shall soon be assailed. Men of byth Or,
this is war for fresh aid. I have sent for
more men and weapons. Thrice on as many fields have
we met them, and thrice have we been driven back
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by press of numbers. They swarm like blue vermin, and
where one dies too take his place. Yet, though crushed,
we are not vanquished. Wherefore we fall back on Atlaw
as a strong place for our defense. Strong walls has
atlah Madai replied, and Jaguar speaks strong words from a
strong heart. Yet if this be war indeed inspired and
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sent upon us, not bither alone, but all Tamearisia may
be affected thereby fither fall. And since he who made
these new weapons knows surely best their use, were it
not well also to send one asking him a zitu's
mouthpiece to give us aid for a single moment, Jaguar winced,
and then he inclined his head. Aye, but I have bither,
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so have I done in the mouth of him who
departed for Zeitr and Hamaira for speech with zud the
high Priest, and Rober my son, I have placed words
to that effect. For as you have said, this matter
affects not one man or another, or even yet one state.
The peril lies now to our welfare as a nation.
For Jakar to avail himself. Not all means to combat
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it Jaguar were wrong. And by Zitu I swear that,
above all other things in life is Tamarisia that Jaguar loves.
Croft thrilled to those words. Here spoke the old time
Jaguar patriot again, even as the first time he had
watched the man and listened as now to his words
in those days when he sought to strengthen his nation
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through the sacrifice of Nya, hoping so to what Xalaria's plans.
So now the general Lissimo of Tamarisia's forces seemed thinking
of his country first. Wherefore Croft felt shaken in his soul,
so that a responsive emotion towards Rober's father waked within
him and glowed, and he vowed that such aid as
was asked he would give, both as Malthis s of
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Zitu and as a man to whom Tamarisia's welfare, both
present and future, was identical with his. Swiftly he made calculation.
At the best it would take eight days for the
messenger Jagor had despatched to arrive. He willed himself back
to his own apartments in a flash and set up
on his couch. Much might be done in a week,
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he thought, and there was much to be done. Jagor
had failed largely because the drivers of the motors understood
not the nature of the magnetoes which Kroft had kept
secret in their making, and the ammunition for the rifles
had given out well for the first part. He had
dry cells now to ensure ignition, aside from the more
complicated device, motors must be equipped with him without delay,
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and the arsenal rober and he had equipped many zetrins
before set working much ammunition, many cartridges and grenades turned out.
He rose and called a guard and sent him for
Rover at once, and when he came to him, his
face somewhat puzzled by this, summons from his slumbers. He
told them all that he had learned and how, and
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from past experience. Rober believed without question. Zitu, he cried,
springing up and standing before Kroft with eyes that were flashing.
They are driven back on Atla, shut up inside her walls.
Two of the motors destroyed their bullets. Well nigh exhausted,
they sinned for fresh aid. Hi, Well, piece of Zitu,
how do you advise? Croft told him. Start all men
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working on more bullets and the bombs we throw by hand.
Send men to call the assembly together against the time
Jaguar's messenger comes. Yet stink not why save that? Robert
commands order all captains of Decterans to hold those men
we trained readiness for a possible call to arms. Give
these orders. Merely say naught as yet of war. I
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Rober nodded. It shall be done speed. Also, Croft went
on the completion of the other airplanes in the morning,
I begin training men to fly them when they are done. Also,
it's eyes narrow with a sudden thought, Robe, we shall
remove the dynamo and transport it to Atla. After we
have shown Himira this new light. Thou wilt do that?
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Still in the face of this, Rover, stammered. Kroft nodded.
Before his mind's eye floated Naya of Vaffir's face. Naya
whose to pin the seal of a zeal on her
girdle the day the light, he had promised to Homier
was born, Come weal or woe, come war or peace,
Crofts or naught should interfere with that occasion, Aye, he said,
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on the seventh sun. From this yet, despite Croft's interdiction
on the spreading of the word abroad, Naya and Gaya
were told, the latter as Rover's wife, the former as
Croft's assistant in his work. For from now on she
became fully that day after day, from the hour of
the morning bath until late at night, she toiled in
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the laboratory he had equipped in the palace, preparing the
chemicals for the dry cells, aiding him with a tight
lipped yet unfaltering purpose while the cells were packed, taking
full charge in the daytime, while he was engaged elsewhere
on other work. Aladd in a coarse smock, acid stained
and scorched, her hands soiled by the manipulation of reagents.
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She yet had never to Jason presented a farer braver sight.
She worked. She neither complained nor cried out. She gave
her service to her country and to him. In the
depths of her purple eyes and almost spartan light, Dyah
helped day after day. She labored beside her under her direction,
learning in turn from Nyah what she had learned from craft.
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Are you not glad you have taught me to fly?
Nyah questioned one night, as they were see you not
Zesu's hand in this, beloved, since when you were gone
to the spawn of Maziar's undoing, I may continue your
work you. Kroft faltered, sickened at the picture of her, meaning,
you must not, as I have told you, there is
danger Ah. But her smile was very gentle. Is there
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not danger to thee as well? Think not? My heart
is like a frightened bird? Did it speaking place in
my mind? Know you not that to me? The loss
of you blots out the world? No, Kroft cried and
swept her into his arms. Tis a brave, brave heart,
Beloved caught and held her fingers, brave, brave heart. For
a moment she against him. He felt her shake. Then
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it was over, and she straightened up again and three sons,
She said, gursial shall glow again on my girdle. Tell me, Beloved,
for I hunger for the knowledge. How may this separation
of the spirit from the body, which you have thrice
brought about within my knowledge, be by one self attained
by desire, said Groft, By a focusing of all the
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yearning of the soul on that one thing, without doubt,
without fear, by centering the mind on its attaining, and
on the object whereat in that state you wish to arrive.
For Indeed, Beloved, it is the desire of the spirit
in life that accomplishes all things. Desire, she repeated, softly, Desire. Ay,
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now I see, one must forget all save only it
alone to attain it. It must be so great that
nothing else save only it remains as great as the
love you have wakened in me as your desire for me, Ah, Beloved,
When first Guy had told me of your seeking me
from earth, I thought it madness, even though then the
thought itself sent me a flame. And then she threw
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out her arms and stood before him, glorious and her
soul's surrender. Then you come to me, and what at
first I called a dream Naya, rob Stanleard lost in
the colory of her Naya, What have you in your mind?
She came closer. Am I not your mate? Who am
about to lose you? It were this power mine? Perchance
I too might visit you in dreams. And now Kroft
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saw her meaning, and like her, quivered as once more
he held her in his arms. Then came to him,
I relight. Kroft smiled in singular fashion. On the day
it came, Afir's Red City was in carnival attire. Its
pavements swarmed with life. Open refreshment booths did a thriving business.
Jugglers plied their skill on woven mats stretched out in
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open squares. Jostling crowds swarmed about them, filling the air
with jest and good natured cries. The whole place hummed
with a myriad life. And yet to Jason, the whole
scene was unreal, a mask, a carnival domino, spread as
it was above a grinning skull to him driving in
his motor Vanaiah in purple and gold, above which her
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snowy left shoulder and throat made a band of ivory.
The whole vast assemblage seemed no more than the shifting
phantasmagoria of a dream, the gorgeous play of color through
the mind of a sleeperd not as yet awake. For
Harmaira made merry in her ignorance of the catastrophe striking
against the national borders to the east. Jagors a messenger
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had not as yet arrived. And though Hamira dreamed a
dream of splendor in which none had a thought care.
Though the crowds looked in indolent leisure through street and
public square, though copper bodied motives roared and panted of
her pavements laid invite men as smooth in their surface
as a floor, though plumed nupus pranced with a clatter
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of slender feet and bright eyes. Softly shrouded and perfumed
women rode with them to the games of the afternoon,
the beginning of the celebration of what all thought a
new era in the life of Amerisia, and AfOR still
beneath the surface, seeming because of Croft's knowledge, the words
he had spoken to Rover and Rover's orders, the inner
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soul of Camira and all AfOR prepared on this day
for war. In a way, the aspect of the city
reminded Jason of the condition of the woman at his
side in those past days, when the soul of her
had been his as always, and only the objective mind
had failed as yet to wait. The day she had
come to the game with him alone at his own request,
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outside the vast stadium, where formerly all public games had
been held, a huge thing of red stone that always
reminded Croft of the colossem of throne. He helped her
down through bowing crowds. They gained the entrance, giving on
what had once been a whale box, now observed for
the Governor of Afra's suite. He led her in through
a gilded and fresco passage and conducted her to where
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a scarlet canopy spread above a tier of seats. She
sank down inclining her head in salutation to a hundred
greetings from neighboring boxes, until the purple plumed rising from
the sincter in her golden hair, set a nadding above
her glovely face. Rover came with Gaya. A few moments later,
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the vast assemblage rose and the games began. First was
a chariot race, entered by six chariots drawn each by
a team of four bloomed nufas driven at top speed. Marthos,
a young noble one handling amid a claim from the thousands,
ranged about the immense amphitheater and was awarded a metal garland,
standing flushed with triumph before Rober's box. Followed various athletic contests,
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javelin throwing, foot racing, shooting with bows and arrows at
a herd of wild taverns driven into the arena from
bends beneath the tiers of seats, wrestling matches, and other
sports in which both men and women took part and away.
As he sat at Naya's side, seeing reminded Croft of
a reproduction of a public ceremonial of ancient Greece, where
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as in Greece and in Tamarisia were generations untold. The
contestants threw off all their clothing as they came to
their stations, and worked frankly nude till they had ended
their exhibition of skill or strength. When once more their
garments were dawned, the minor events ended. There came a pause.
Then from the far end of the arena suddenly their
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dashed a chariot drawn by four pure white nupas, warned,
bloomed straight for Rover's box. They plunged and came to
a rearing halt. As Marcos, to whom had been awarded
this further honor, drew them to a stand bof rose.
He descended from the box and entered the cart. Flad
and brown he was, and the suit Naya had designed
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and had made for him. So once more the Nuplas
traversed the arena's length and stopped nearer to where the
men from the hangars had trundled the great plain into sight.
In a leap aboard, the attendants ran to their places.
Two men turned the engine over. It caught above the
whispers of the multitude. Its roar rang out. The great
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plane trembled, Its attendants released it. It trundled forward over
the hard packed flour of yellow sand. Straight as a die.
It surged toward Rover's box until suddenly crossed changed his veins,
and then it rose. It shot up at what looked
like a forty five degree slant, up and up and up,
until it swam above the vast concourse of back silted faces,
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like the hum of a giant beetle. The sound of
its whirring engine came down from a cloudless sky to
a myriad ears. Once twice. Croft made a circuit of
the arena and then began to settle, finishing with a
graceful bulplay which left him within a few feet of
his start. Hi Hi, Hail to the mouthpieces of Zitu.
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Hailed to Jason, teacher of all Tamorisia, Hailed to him
whose mind Zitu has enlightened above all others. The cry
of the multi tune rang out. Croft once more in
Marthos's chariot, pushed back his leather helmet and bowed, vowing
to right and left claimed as a conqueror might have been.
He rode back to Rover's box and left the chariot
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and ascended to his seat and looked into Niga's face,
finding it somewhat white, but smiling, and bowing again. Before
the tempest of acclamation began to subside. Then came the
game of ball on a diamond arena. Attendants were beginning
already to mark out between the men from the Founderies
and the team from the airplane shop. Roger himself rose
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and taking the ball from an ornate box extended to
him by a guardsman cast it out. Then, as it
was passed snappily to the picture of the Foundry's team,
Sho had won the inning elected to send the airplane
aggregation to bat by all he cried, And suddenly, as
the first batter fanned and flung his bat away and
walked to the bench, very much like any disgrunted batsman
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of Earth, Kroft smiled. It was unbelievable, of course, it
was a phantasmic gloria of the brain. The thing couldn't be.
And yet there was the pitcher of Foundries and a
short skirted tunic below which his lean thighs showed above
his leg cases of leather, cradling the ball and cuddling
it at his palm. And there was the catcher squatted
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down back of the plate, breastplate and mask, twiddling the
signaling fingers of a huge labor brown hand and were snap.
There was the ball flutting into his midstrike one. That
was the Empire's voice. Crack. That was the sound of
a ball met fairly and lies swiftly out And there
it went, the clean drive between first and second base
into the right outfield run run, go on, go on,
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That was Rover yelling and ungovernor like excitement. Run go on, run, oh,
run run. That was the voice of Naya, the woman
by his side. Kroft turned to her and found her
leaning forward, straining her slender link from the hips. Lips parted,
hurting her blue eyes wide hauled it. That was the
airplane's captain goating the runner. Bud the right outfield had
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slammed the ball into the second baseman's glove. Roff smiled again.
It couldn't be a baseball game on Pelos, but it was,
And as it went on, the assembled multitude went wild.
They cheered, they jeered, They urged and encouraged, and cat
called and howled. They stamped on the tiers of seats
with leather and bare and metal shod feet. They waved
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hands and arms. State assembly men, already gathered by Rober's
orders and guests of the occasion forgot dignity and joined
in the rising roars that greeted the different plays and
Naiga ofv After was beating against Croft's thigh and yelling yes, yelling,
as the Founder's first baseman wropped home on a far
reaching drive. Come on, come on, she was urging the runner,
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come on, adamoy, come home, croft presenter, beating little fists
and held it. The runner scored. She looked into Jason's
face and smiled, gruffed, thrilled. She was all woman, all glorious,
lovely woman who knew it, had seen it proved in
the last week when she worked stern lipped for the
good of her nation. But to day, in this new
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found pastime, she had forgotten for the monk to become
a child. The game ended for the Founders three to one,
bringing with its termination and intubition, since not until dusk
would the lights be turned off. Blue men of messair
with torches began moving about the vast circuit of the arena,
lighting hundreds of oil flares. Blue girls with skins of
taber hide on their naked backs and shoulders and metal
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cups in their hands, began threading the tears of seats,
sawing a mild light. Wine, vendors of fruits and conserves
for the women, and baked meats and wheat and cakes
flied in active trade. In the rear of Roger's box
was spread at table, and a mule was served, and
before its beginning, Meeger high priest of Affor arrived to him.
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Croft and Nia rose side by side and bowed, And
suddenly Nia was once more all woman as she looked
into her companion's face and flushed from throat to eyes.
Megher's coming meant she was to pledge herself to Croft
before all the assembled men and women of AfOR once
that in light came on, and in such fashion it
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was done, two heralds with silver trumpets appeared in scarlet livery,
the color of Roeber's house. From the front of Rover's box.
They blew a glass, and on that signal the arena
attendants began running to and fro extinguishing all lights over
the arena. Night came down, as one by one the
oil flares died. Croft gave a final glance to the
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woman at his side, to her face, her form, to
her dress of purple and gold. He had asked her
to put it on. It was the garment she had
worn on the first formal occasion in which he had
ever seen her take part, and its colors were the
same as the orac colors of that astral form of
hers which he had seen and found divine. Taking her hand,
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he led her quite to the front of the box.
There on either side had replaced one of Tamarisia's first
two arcs, and in the back of the box was
the controlling switch. And miles away in the Mountain's mind
were waiting for the signal of the player on Hamira's
walls to release the power. Already one had gone to
see that the player was lit, and a captain was
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without to carry word when it shone forth. Now suddenly
he appeared. Croft closed the switch, a click, a hiss,
the crackling ignition of incandescent carbon, a rising glow in
the darkness, thin light, clear, radiant light, light that flared
up and wavered and steadied, and shone on Naya of Afa,
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sheathed in purple and gold. A babble of sound, cheer
of acclaim, the trumpets of heralds rang out. Jason stepped
forward and took his place close by Nia's side. MegaR,
the High Priest, arose, robed in his vestments of azure,
accompanied by two temple boys. Each bore a silver goblet
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on the tray of the same metal that sparkled under
the light. Meger lifted a silver stave crowned with the
cross on Sata who cries to Meger. His voice rang
out a maid who would pledge herself and her life
to the man of her choosing O Prince of Zitu.
Rober replied, the man is present. Meger went on in
ritualistic form. Ay he stands beside her. Robert declared, who
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sponsors this woman? Meger inquired, I, Rober of affor her cousin,
child of the sister of her who gave her life.
Come then, in the name of Zitu, Meger said, and
advanced to face the arena back of Naya and croft
Naya of AfOR thou woman and being woman, sister of God,
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and hence priestess of that shrine of life which is eternal,
the guardian of the fire of life which is eternal.
Is it thine intent to pledge thyself to this man
who stands now at thy side? Aye, said Naya of
Affort clearly, and looked not at Meger, as she answered,
but into Jason's eyes. And thou, Jason, known as the
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mouthpiece of whom Zitu has inspired with his wisdom, even
as no other man, do thou accept this pledge and
with it the woman herself to make her in the
fullness of time, thy bride, to cherish her and cause
her to live as a glory to the name of woman,
to whom all men may justly give respect. Aye, so
I pledge by Zitu and Azel give her of life,
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said Jason, gazing on the woman as he spoke the words.
Then take this maide of affor MegaR drew from his
robe a lute silver cross, and placed it in her hands.
Hold it and guard it. Look upon it as a
symbol of that life eternal that you shall be kept eternal,
and which taken from the hands of a zeal the angel,
shall be transmuted within thee into the life of men. Turning,
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he took the two goblets from their bearers and poured
wine from one to the other and back. One he
extended to Naya, and one to Croft. Drink. He said,
let these symbolize thy two bodies, the life of which
shall be united from this time and purpose. Drink, and
may Zitu bless THEE in that union which comes into
existence by his intent. Jason raised his goblet. I drink
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of thee deeply, he spoke, to the lovely chalice of
mortal life. Standing there, Naya set her goblet to her lips,
and I of the then and then only Croft took
that medallion of silver ringed with red stones, which Citra
had burned against his breast, and lifting the golden girdle
wh cinctured Nya's body above the hips, he pinned it
once more upon it, so that it flashed like a
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scarlet eye beneath the new born light. Mager lifted his stave,
Azel's seal he has set upon her. Let it speak
to all men's sight. Hail, pale mouthed beasts of Zitu, Hail, Hail, Hail.
Nya made of affort from the vast arena, a roar
of acknowledgment and approbation toward its way upward into the night.
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So as it seemed and did Emaira's greatest holiday. So
for Croft and Naya began in a new phase of life. Yet,
though she had never seemed nearer dearer to him, the
mouthpiece of Zitu was vaguely disturbed. As they rode back
to the palace through the still pleasure making crowds. Everything
seemed very peaceful, very auspicious, But he could not rid
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his mind of the picture which had troubled him for
a week. The picture of a burning village of blue
men leaping in savage exultation of a beaten army's route. Hence,
it was with no pleasure that an hour after their
return from the urna while yet the city flared and
rang the carnival life of the people. A palace guard
brought word to him from Rover, asking his presence at once,
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Nor when he had followed to the audience chamber of
the palace, was he surprised to meet a man with
a drawn face and eyes a trifle haggard, a man
wearing bither's green and silver circle, who rose now and
saluted him with flat palm forward and burst into hurried,
excited speech. Mouthpiece of Zitu byther Is sore assailed her
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armies beaten the aid AfOR sent her largely destroyed. Wherefore,
in the name of Bythar and of Tamarazia jagor president
of the nation, now at Apla sends me to you
and to Robar of Afar, his son, who speak what
is in his heart. End of Chapter seventeen
Chapter seventeen of the Mouthbeasts of Zitu. This is a
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The Mouthbeasts of Zitu by John Ulwrick g c in
the Grip of War. As for the other matter which
(00:23):
speeded his preparations, it had nothing whatever to do with love,
was the exact antithesis of it, dealt wholly with human passion,
human strife. It was now over five weeks since the
relief expedition had sailed to Bither from Hemaira, and no
word had come from Zetra since. Mentally, Croft had allowed
at least two weeks for the galleys to reach Bither,
(00:45):
the capital of the Northeastern state, and unload their motors
and men. Another week, he figured should bring them well
into contact with Missarian forces. If jack Or moved as
quickly as he felt assured he would, and drunk as
he was with love busi as he was with his
own inivors, Croft forgotten not entirely affairs of state. As
(01:05):
a result, he chose a night some weeks after he
felt sure the Bythurian army and its reinforcements should have
reached the Lithurian borders, and willed himself to Jackal's tint
the strange sight. But his eyes swam above what at
first appeared to him as an enormous grassy plain, and
beyond it was a forest, dark in its own shadows,
beneath the moonlight. And beyond that again was a fire
(01:28):
of flares. Toward these he propelled himself, without knowing whither
exactly he was going, yet arriving to find them. The
flaring remains of burning houses spread out on yet another
open space, beside a river, a mere village such as
the peasant classes were accustomed to inhabit, rather than one
of the larger walled towns, and around it, through it
(01:49):
their bodies picked out by the moonlight and leaping of
the plains, were hundreds not of bithers soldiers, but of leaping, howling,
spear shaking, blood and lust cloated miseri men. And beyond it, now,
as he saw, overcoming his first surprise, lay one of
the armoured motors, ringed with intermingled the Thurian and the
Missarian corpses, and tipped upon its side. Disaster for the
(02:14):
first time, Croft suspected of Atherian route. In a flash,
he returned to his original purpose and once more demanded
the jaguar's position to be revealed. And now a walled
town appeared before him, not so large as Amira, but
decidedly greater than Zeitra, to judge from the circuit of
its walls, beside which countless fire urns flared, and within
(02:35):
those walls. As he sped above them, Croft beheld a
beaten army's rack, two of the motors parked close inside
a gate. Weary men showing the marks of conflict, stretched
out beside them in a sudden bivolac, then into a
palace built of what seemed a brown sandstone. The huge
inner court paved in green for fire urns flared, and
guardsmen stood before a door through which men in armour
(02:58):
with stern drawn faces passed in and out. Roft followed
the progress of the latter, and so came at last
to the presence of the man he desired, jack Or
of Tamarisia, Jakhor of AfOR precedent of a nation once
a haughty king, jack Or of AfOR wounded slightly the
binding bandage wound about his grizzled head, with his armor
(03:21):
dust stained and smeared with the grime of conflict. Jack
Or scowling like some savage creature, overborne, driven into a corner,
with a sinewy hand of a musk of her arm,
fingering a nervous fashioned sword, and about him a cluster
of drawn browed, armored men, one of whom Kroft judged
Bi Madai, governor of Bither, since his armor was jeweled
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with the sign of state, a green medallion happed by
a bar of iridescent crystals to symbolize the mighty river
bith which crossed it with its flood. Mozaire said, Jagor
has loosened upon us her whole bard. Armed. Are they
by Zolaria, led by Zaleria's men, my sheer weight of numbers,
we were overborne. The wings of our army cut so
(04:03):
that the center was ungulfed. Two of the motors broke down,
and those in charge of them knew not the secret
of the one device which causes them to run, because
he who constructed them first held the knowledge to himself.
The men with the rifles within them were cut off
when their supply of bullets was gone. Those others so
armed killed so long as their bullets held out, when
they also fell back before these blue fiends as well.
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The fault is not with the weapons, but with the
first seeming of the matter. Men of Bithor, we face
no barbarian border. Rating this the principal city of your
eastern lands, shall soon be assailed. Men of byth Or,
this is war for fresh aid. I have sent for
more men and weapons. Thrice on as many fields have
we met them, and thrice have we been driven back
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by press of numbers. They swarm like blue vermin, and
where one dies too take his place. Yet, though crushed,
we are not vanquished. Wherefore we fall back on Atlaw
as a strong place for our defense. Strong walls has
atlah Madai replied, and Jaguar speaks strong words from a
strong heart. Yet if this be war indeed inspired and
(05:09):
sent upon us, not bither alone, but all Tamearisia may
be affected thereby fither fall. And since he who made
these new weapons knows surely best their use, were it
not well also to send one asking him a zitu's
mouthpiece to give us aid for a single moment, Jaguar winced,
and then he inclined his head. Aye, but I have bither,
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so have I done in the mouth of him who
departed for Zeitr and Hamaira for speech with zud the
high Priest, and Rober my son, I have placed words
to that effect. For as you have said, this matter
affects not one man or another, or even yet one state.
The peril lies now to our welfare as a nation.
For Jakar to avail himself. Not all means to combat
(05:55):
it Jaguar were wrong. And by Zitu I swear that,
above all other things in life is Tamarisia that Jaguar loves.
Croft thrilled to those words. Here spoke the old time
Jaguar patriot again, even as the first time he had
watched the man and listened as now to his words
in those days when he sought to strengthen his nation
(06:16):
through the sacrifice of Nya, hoping so to what Xalaria's plans.
So now the general Lissimo of Tamarisia's forces seemed thinking
of his country first. Wherefore Croft felt shaken in his soul,
so that a responsive emotion towards Rober's father waked within
him and glowed, and he vowed that such aid as
was asked he would give, both as Malthis s of
(06:39):
Zitu and as a man to whom Tamarisia's welfare, both
present and future, was identical with his. Swiftly he made calculation.
At the best it would take eight days for the
messenger Jagor had despatched to arrive. He willed himself back
to his own apartments in a flash and set up
on his couch. Much might be done in a week,
(07:00):
he thought, and there was much to be done. Jagor
had failed largely because the drivers of the motors understood
not the nature of the magnetoes which Kroft had kept
secret in their making, and the ammunition for the rifles
had given out well for the first part. He had
dry cells now to ensure ignition, aside from the more
complicated device, motors must be equipped with him without delay,
(07:22):
and the arsenal rober and he had equipped many zetrins
before set working much ammunition, many cartridges and grenades turned out.
He rose and called a guard and sent him for
Rover at once, and when he came to him, his
face somewhat puzzled by this, summons from his slumbers. He
told them all that he had learned and how, and
(07:42):
from past experience. Rober believed without question. Zitu, he cried,
springing up and standing before Kroft with eyes that were flashing.
They are driven back on Atla, shut up inside her walls.
Two of the motors destroyed their bullets. Well nigh exhausted,
they sinned for fresh aid. Hi, Well, piece of Zitu,
how do you advise? Croft told him. Start all men
(08:06):
working on more bullets and the bombs we throw by hand.
Send men to call the assembly together against the time
Jaguar's messenger comes. Yet stink not why save that? Robert
commands order all captains of Decterans to hold those men
we trained readiness for a possible call to arms. Give
these orders. Merely say naught as yet of war. I
(08:28):
Rober nodded. It shall be done speed. Also, Croft went
on the completion of the other airplanes in the morning,
I begin training men to fly them when they are done. Also,
it's eyes narrow with a sudden thought, Robe, we shall
remove the dynamo and transport it to Atla. After we
have shown Himira this new light. Thou wilt do that?
(08:49):
Still in the face of this, Rover, stammered. Kroft nodded.
Before his mind's eye floated Naya of Vaffir's face. Naya
whose to pin the seal of a zeal on her
girdle the day the light, he had promised to Homier
was born, Come weal or woe, come war or peace,
Crofts or naught should interfere with that occasion, Aye, he said,
(09:12):
on the seventh sun. From this yet, despite Croft's interdiction
on the spreading of the word abroad, Naya and Gaya
were told, the latter as Rover's wife, the former as
Croft's assistant in his work. For from now on she
became fully that day after day, from the hour of
the morning bath until late at night, she toiled in
(09:33):
the laboratory he had equipped in the palace, preparing the
chemicals for the dry cells, aiding him with a tight
lipped yet unfaltering purpose while the cells were packed, taking
full charge in the daytime, while he was engaged elsewhere
on other work. Aladd in a coarse smock, acid stained
and scorched, her hands soiled by the manipulation of reagents.
(09:54):
She yet had never to Jason presented a farer braver sight.
She worked. She neither complained nor cried out. She gave
her service to her country and to him. In the
depths of her purple eyes and almost spartan light, Dyah
helped day after day. She labored beside her under her direction,
learning in turn from Nyah what she had learned from craft.
(10:16):
Are you not glad you have taught me to fly?
Nyah questioned one night, as they were see you not
Zesu's hand in this, beloved, since when you were gone
to the spawn of Maziar's undoing, I may continue your
work you. Kroft faltered, sickened at the picture of her, meaning,
you must not, as I have told you, there is
danger Ah. But her smile was very gentle. Is there
(10:40):
not danger to thee as well? Think not? My heart
is like a frightened bird? Did it speaking place in
my mind? Know you not that to me? The loss
of you blots out the world? No, Kroft cried and
swept her into his arms. Tis a brave, brave heart,
Beloved caught and held her fingers, brave, brave heart. For
a moment she against him. He felt her shake. Then
(11:02):
it was over, and she straightened up again and three sons,
She said, gursial shall glow again on my girdle. Tell me, Beloved,
for I hunger for the knowledge. How may this separation
of the spirit from the body, which you have thrice
brought about within my knowledge, be by one self attained
by desire, said Groft, By a focusing of all the
(11:23):
yearning of the soul on that one thing, without doubt,
without fear, by centering the mind on its attaining, and
on the object whereat in that state you wish to arrive.
For Indeed, Beloved, it is the desire of the spirit
in life that accomplishes all things. Desire, she repeated, softly, Desire. Ay,
(11:45):
now I see, one must forget all save only it
alone to attain it. It must be so great that
nothing else save only it remains as great as the
love you have wakened in me as your desire for me, Ah, Beloved,
When first Guy had told me of your seeking me
from earth, I thought it madness, even though then the
thought itself sent me a flame. And then she threw
(12:07):
out her arms and stood before him, glorious and her
soul's surrender. Then you come to me, and what at
first I called a dream Naya, rob Stanleard lost in
the colory of her Naya, What have you in your mind?
She came closer. Am I not your mate? Who am
about to lose you? It were this power mine? Perchance
I too might visit you in dreams. And now Kroft
(12:30):
saw her meaning, and like her, quivered as once more
he held her in his arms. Then came to him,
I relight. Kroft smiled in singular fashion. On the day
it came, Afir's Red City was in carnival attire. Its
pavements swarmed with life. Open refreshment booths did a thriving business.
Jugglers plied their skill on woven mats stretched out in
(12:53):
open squares. Jostling crowds swarmed about them, filling the air
with jest and good natured cries. The whole place hummed
with a myriad life. And yet to Jason, the whole
scene was unreal, a mask, a carnival domino, spread as
it was above a grinning skull to him driving in
his motor Vanaiah in purple and gold, above which her
(13:15):
snowy left shoulder and throat made a band of ivory.
The whole vast assemblage seemed no more than the shifting
phantasmagoria of a dream, the gorgeous play of color through
the mind of a sleeperd not as yet awake. For
Harmaira made merry in her ignorance of the catastrophe striking
against the national borders to the east. Jagors a messenger
(13:36):
had not as yet arrived. And though Hamira dreamed a
dream of splendor in which none had a thought care.
Though the crowds looked in indolent leisure through street and
public square, though copper bodied motives roared and panted of
her pavements laid invite men as smooth in their surface
as a floor, though plumed nupus pranced with a clatter
(13:56):
of slender feet and bright eyes. Softly shrouded and perfumed
women rode with them to the games of the afternoon,
the beginning of the celebration of what all thought a
new era in the life of Amerisia, and AfOR still
beneath the surface, seeming because of Croft's knowledge, the words
he had spoken to Rover and Rover's orders, the inner
(14:17):
soul of Camira and all AfOR prepared on this day
for war. In a way, the aspect of the city
reminded Jason of the condition of the woman at his
side in those past days, when the soul of her
had been his as always, and only the objective mind
had failed as yet to wait. The day she had
come to the game with him alone at his own request,
(14:38):
outside the vast stadium, where formerly all public games had
been held, a huge thing of red stone that always
reminded Croft of the colossem of throne. He helped her
down through bowing crowds. They gained the entrance, giving on
what had once been a whale box, now observed for
the Governor of Afra's suite. He led her in through
a gilded and fresco passage and conducted her to where
(15:01):
a scarlet canopy spread above a tier of seats. She
sank down inclining her head in salutation to a hundred
greetings from neighboring boxes, until the purple plumed rising from
the sincter in her golden hair, set a nadding above
her glovely face. Rover came with Gaya. A few moments later,
(15:21):
the vast assemblage rose and the games began. First was
a chariot race, entered by six chariots drawn each by
a team of four bloomed nufas driven at top speed. Marthos,
a young noble one handling amid a claim from the thousands,
ranged about the immense amphitheater and was awarded a metal garland,
standing flushed with triumph before Rober's box. Followed various athletic contests,
(15:46):
javelin throwing, foot racing, shooting with bows and arrows at
a herd of wild taverns driven into the arena from
bends beneath the tiers of seats, wrestling matches, and other
sports in which both men and women took part and away.
As he sat at Naya's side, seeing reminded Croft of
a reproduction of a public ceremonial of ancient Greece, where
(16:07):
as in Greece and in Tamarisia were generations untold. The
contestants threw off all their clothing as they came to
their stations, and worked frankly nude till they had ended
their exhibition of skill or strength. When once more their
garments were dawned, the minor events ended. There came a pause.
Then from the far end of the arena suddenly their
(16:28):
dashed a chariot drawn by four pure white nupas, warned,
bloomed straight for Rover's box. They plunged and came to
a rearing halt. As Marcos, to whom had been awarded
this further honor, drew them to a stand bof rose.
He descended from the box and entered the cart. Flad
and brown he was, and the suit Naya had designed
(16:49):
and had made for him. So once more the Nuplas
traversed the arena's length and stopped nearer to where the
men from the hangars had trundled the great plain into sight.
In a leap aboard, the attendants ran to their places.
Two men turned the engine over. It caught above the
whispers of the multitude. Its roar rang out. The great
(17:09):
plane trembled, Its attendants released it. It trundled forward over
the hard packed flour of yellow sand. Straight as a die.
It surged toward Rover's box until suddenly crossed changed his veins,
and then it rose. It shot up at what looked
like a forty five degree slant, up and up and up,
until it swam above the vast concourse of back silted faces,
(17:32):
like the hum of a giant beetle. The sound of
its whirring engine came down from a cloudless sky to
a myriad ears. Once twice. Croft made a circuit of
the arena and then began to settle, finishing with a
graceful bulplay which left him within a few feet of
his start. Hi Hi, Hail to the mouthpieces of Zitu.
(17:52):
Hailed to Jason, teacher of all Tamorisia, Hailed to him
whose mind Zitu has enlightened above all others. The cry
of the multi tune rang out. Croft once more in
Marthos's chariot, pushed back his leather helmet and bowed, vowing
to right and left claimed as a conqueror might have been.
He rode back to Rover's box and left the chariot
(18:12):
and ascended to his seat and looked into Niga's face,
finding it somewhat white, but smiling, and bowing again. Before
the tempest of acclamation began to subside. Then came the
game of ball on a diamond arena. Attendants were beginning
already to mark out between the men from the Founderies
and the team from the airplane shop. Roger himself rose
(18:33):
and taking the ball from an ornate box extended to
him by a guardsman cast it out. Then, as it
was passed snappily to the picture of the Foundry's team,
Sho had won the inning elected to send the airplane
aggregation to bat by all he cried, And suddenly, as
the first batter fanned and flung his bat away and
walked to the bench, very much like any disgrunted batsman
(18:55):
of Earth, Kroft smiled. It was unbelievable, of course, it
was a phantasmic gloria of the brain. The thing couldn't be.
And yet there was the pitcher of Foundries and a
short skirted tunic below which his lean thighs showed above
his leg cases of leather, cradling the ball and cuddling
it at his palm. And there was the catcher squatted
(19:15):
down back of the plate, breastplate and mask, twiddling the
signaling fingers of a huge labor brown hand and were snap.
There was the ball flutting into his midstrike one. That
was the Empire's voice. Crack. That was the sound of
a ball met fairly and lies swiftly out And there
it went, the clean drive between first and second base
into the right outfield run run, go on, go on,
(19:38):
That was Rover yelling and ungovernor like excitement. Run go on, run, oh,
run run. That was the voice of Naya, the woman
by his side. Kroft turned to her and found her
leaning forward, straining her slender link from the hips. Lips parted,
hurting her blue eyes wide hauled it. That was the
airplane's captain goating the runner. Bud the right outfield had
(19:59):
slammed the ball into the second baseman's glove. Roff smiled again.
It couldn't be a baseball game on Pelos, but it was,
And as it went on, the assembled multitude went wild.
They cheered, they jeered, They urged and encouraged, and cat
called and howled. They stamped on the tiers of seats
with leather and bare and metal shod feet. They waved
(20:19):
hands and arms. State assembly men, already gathered by Rober's
orders and guests of the occasion forgot dignity and joined
in the rising roars that greeted the different plays and
Naiga ofv After was beating against Croft's thigh and yelling yes, yelling,
as the Founder's first baseman wropped home on a far
reaching drive. Come on, come on, she was urging the runner,
(20:39):
come on, adamoy, come home, croft presenter, beating little fists
and held it. The runner scored. She looked into Jason's
face and smiled, gruffed, thrilled. She was all woman, all glorious,
lovely woman who knew it, had seen it proved in
the last week when she worked stern lipped for the
good of her nation. But to day, in this new
(21:00):
found pastime, she had forgotten for the monk to become
a child. The game ended for the Founders three to one,
bringing with its termination and intubition, since not until dusk
would the lights be turned off. Blue men of messair
with torches began moving about the vast circuit of the arena,
lighting hundreds of oil flares. Blue girls with skins of
taber hide on their naked backs and shoulders and metal
(21:23):
cups in their hands, began threading the tears of seats,
sawing a mild light. Wine, vendors of fruits and conserves
for the women, and baked meats and wheat and cakes
flied in active trade. In the rear of Roger's box
was spread at table, and a mule was served, and
before its beginning, Meeger high priest of Affor arrived to him.
(21:43):
Croft and Nia rose side by side and bowed, And
suddenly Nia was once more all woman as she looked
into her companion's face and flushed from throat to eyes.
Megher's coming meant she was to pledge herself to Croft
before all the assembled men and women of AfOR once
that in light came on, and in such fashion it
(22:04):
was done, two heralds with silver trumpets appeared in scarlet livery,
the color of Roeber's house. From the front of Rover's box.
They blew a glass, and on that signal the arena
attendants began running to and fro extinguishing all lights over
the arena. Night came down, as one by one the
oil flares died. Croft gave a final glance to the
(22:26):
woman at his side, to her face, her form, to
her dress of purple and gold. He had asked her
to put it on. It was the garment she had
worn on the first formal occasion in which he had
ever seen her take part, and its colors were the
same as the orac colors of that astral form of
hers which he had seen and found divine. Taking her hand,
(22:47):
he led her quite to the front of the box.
There on either side had replaced one of Tamarisia's first
two arcs, and in the back of the box was
the controlling switch. And miles away in the Mountain's mind
were waiting for the signal of the player on Hamira's
walls to release the power. Already one had gone to
see that the player was lit, and a captain was
(23:08):
without to carry word when it shone forth. Now suddenly
he appeared. Croft closed the switch, a click, a hiss,
the crackling ignition of incandescent carbon, a rising glow in
the darkness, thin light, clear, radiant light, light that flared
up and wavered and steadied, and shone on Naya of Afa,
(23:30):
sheathed in purple and gold. A babble of sound, cheer
of acclaim, the trumpets of heralds rang out. Jason stepped
forward and took his place close by Nia's side. MegaR,
the High Priest, arose, robed in his vestments of azure,
accompanied by two temple boys. Each bore a silver goblet
(23:52):
on the tray of the same metal that sparkled under
the light. Meger lifted a silver stave crowned with the
cross on Sata who cries to Meger. His voice rang
out a maid who would pledge herself and her life
to the man of her choosing O Prince of Zitu.
Rober replied, the man is present. Meger went on in
ritualistic form. Ay he stands beside her. Robert declared, who
(24:16):
sponsors this woman? Meger inquired, I, Rober of affor her cousin,
child of the sister of her who gave her life.
Come then, in the name of Zitu, Meger said, and
advanced to face the arena back of Naya and croft
Naya of AfOR thou woman and being woman, sister of God,
(24:38):
and hence priestess of that shrine of life which is eternal,
the guardian of the fire of life which is eternal.
Is it thine intent to pledge thyself to this man
who stands now at thy side? Aye, said Naya of
Affort clearly, and looked not at Meger, as she answered,
but into Jason's eyes. And thou, Jason, known as the
(24:59):
mouthpiece of whom Zitu has inspired with his wisdom, even
as no other man, do thou accept this pledge and
with it the woman herself to make her in the
fullness of time, thy bride, to cherish her and cause
her to live as a glory to the name of woman,
to whom all men may justly give respect. Aye, so
I pledge by Zitu and Azel give her of life,
(25:21):
said Jason, gazing on the woman as he spoke the words.
Then take this maide of affor MegaR drew from his
robe a lute silver cross, and placed it in her hands.
Hold it and guard it. Look upon it as a
symbol of that life eternal that you shall be kept eternal,
and which taken from the hands of a zeal the angel,
shall be transmuted within thee into the life of men. Turning,
(25:46):
he took the two goblets from their bearers and poured
wine from one to the other and back. One he
extended to Naya, and one to Croft. Drink. He said,
let these symbolize thy two bodies, the life of which
shall be united from this time and purpose. Drink, and
may Zitu bless THEE in that union which comes into
existence by his intent. Jason raised his goblet. I drink
(26:10):
of thee deeply, he spoke, to the lovely chalice of
mortal life. Standing there, Naya set her goblet to her lips,
and I of the then and then only Croft took
that medallion of silver ringed with red stones, which Citra
had burned against his breast, and lifting the golden girdle
wh cinctured Nya's body above the hips, he pinned it
once more upon it, so that it flashed like a
(26:32):
scarlet eye beneath the new born light. Mager lifted his stave,
Azel's seal he has set upon her. Let it speak
to all men's sight. Hail, pale mouthed beasts of Zitu, Hail, Hail, Hail.
Nya made of affort from the vast arena, a roar
of acknowledgment and approbation toward its way upward into the night.
(26:55):
So as it seemed and did Emaira's greatest holiday. So
for Croft and Naya began in a new phase of life. Yet,
though she had never seemed nearer dearer to him, the
mouthpiece of Zitu was vaguely disturbed. As they rode back
to the palace through the still pleasure making crowds. Everything
seemed very peaceful, very auspicious, But he could not rid
(27:16):
his mind of the picture which had troubled him for
a week. The picture of a burning village of blue
men leaping in savage exultation of a beaten army's route. Hence,
it was with no pleasure that an hour after their
return from the urna while yet the city flared and
rang the carnival life of the people. A palace guard
brought word to him from Rover, asking his presence at once,
(27:41):
Nor when he had followed to the audience chamber of
the palace, was he surprised to meet a man with
a drawn face and eyes a trifle haggard, a man
wearing bither's green and silver circle, who rose now and
saluted him with flat palm forward and burst into hurried,
excited speech. Mouthpiece of Zitu byther Is sore assailed her
(28:02):
armies beaten the aid AfOR sent her largely destroyed. Wherefore,
in the name of Bythar and of Tamarazia jagor president
of the nation, now at Apla sends me to you
and to Robar of Afar, his son, who speak what
is in his heart. End of Chapter seventeen
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My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.