“From end to end. A couple of days after we came up here.”
“But did you know the tradition?”
“Yes. Haslam told me. I questioned Mehrab Khan about it, and he is a firm believer in it. In fact, all the people are. That’s the reason I sent him on to the camp now. I didn’t want him to know what we were going to do, if only that there’s nothing to be gained by jumping with both feet upon other people’s prejudices, especially natives’. And these might look upon it as a desecration.”
“Has Mr Haslam been through it himself?”
Raynier whistled, then laughed.
“Haslam! Why, he’d about as soon go into it as Mehrab Khan.”
“Really, Mr Raynier, I couldn’t have believed you people out here were so superstitious. You are as bad as the natives themselves. I suppose you get it from them.”
“‘You’? Count me out, please. Didn’t I just say I’d been through the place? I’m doomed anyhow, you see,” he added banteringly, “but there’s no reason why you should be. So now we’ll get back to camp.”
“No. I want to go through it too.”
“Quite sure you won’t feel uncomfortable about it afterwards?” he said. “You might, you know.”