Preceded by the Mungana and followed by Jeekie and the priests, the band bringing up the rear, Alan was marched down a lane left open for him till he came to some steps leading to the daïs, upon which in addition to that occupied by the Asika, stood two empty chairs. These steps the Mungana motioned him to mount, but when Jeekie tried to follow him he turned and struck him contemptuously in the face. At once the Asika, who was watching Vernon’s approach through the eye-holes in the Little Bonsa mask, said fiercely:
“Who bade you strike the servant of my guest, O Mungana? Let him come also, that he may stand behind us and interpret.”
Her wretched husband, who knew that this public slight was put upon him purposely, but did not dare to protest against it, bowed his head. Then all three of them climbed to the daïs, the priests and the musicians remaining below.
“Welcome, Vernoon,” said the Asika through the lips of the mask, which to Alan, notwithstanding the dreadful cruelty of its expression, looked less hateful than the lovely, tigerish face it hid. “Welcome and be seated here on my left hand, since on my right you may not sit—as yet.”
He bowed and took the chair to which she pointed, while her husband placed himself in the other chair upon her right, and Jeekie stood behind, his great shape towering above them all.
“This is a festival of my people, Vernoon,” she went on, “such a festival as has not been seen for years, celebrated because Little Bonsa has come back to them.”
“What is to happen?” he asked uneasily. “I have told you, Lady, that blood is orunda to me. I must not witness it.”
“I know, be not afraid,” she answered. “Sacrifice there must be, since it is the custom and we may not defraud the gods, but you shall not see the deed. Judge from this, Vernoon, how greatly I desire to please you.”
Now Alan, looking about him, saw that immediately beneath the daïs and between them and the edge of the water, were gathered his cannibal friends, the Ogula and Fahni their chief who had rowed him to Asiki-land, and with them the messengers whom they had sent on ahead. Also he saw that their arms were tied behind them and that they were guarded by men dressed like devils and armed with spears.
“Ask Fahni why he and his people are bound, Jeekie,” said Alan, “and why have they not returned to their own country.”