The Day of Resis

by Lillian Frances Mentor

“I should say so,” said Mr. Graham. “And if I am not mistaken, we will have trouble in getting away from here.”

“One thing sure,” said Mr. Bruce, “he has no intention of letting Enola leave the country.”

“He is a strange man, this Onrai,” said Mr. Graham, “and, in fact, the people are a queer anomaly and hard to make out. They have no secrets, seemingly, their lives are like open books, and they have no reason for being otherwise; but they can be as mum as oysters, as they say in America, when they wish to keep anything from you, and as evasive as a man paying taxes, when they take such a notion. For a race who has never had occasion to use any deception, they are certainly without a peer.”

The talk now turned onto other subjects, and after a short time, all retired to their apartments to take their last sleep in the country, or away from the beautiful Temple. All were up very early the following morning, for they desired to reach the city before noon, so as not to have to stop before getting there for the midday rest. There was more life and gayety in the party on this morning than had been seen among them for weeks. All seemed happy and glad that the long journey was so near an end, and there was much joyous conversation and singing as they rode out before the sun had yet risen.

Straight to the beautiful avenue, which had been their guide for so many, many miles, and the trees of which had given them such shady comfort, they rode. Even the animals seemed to realize that their long journey was at an end, for they started off at a good lively gait and maintained it throughout the morning. Onrai this morning seemed depressed; his head was bent and he seemed dejected. He had forbidden those who had joined the party, just before starting on this journey, never to speak of or mention in any way the things which he had told them on the morning of their departure. He had said that it was his duty as King and head of the people to impart to them the sad news; that the details of this great calamity were better known to him than to any other of his people, and he could the better tell the story for this reason. Therefore, his men had said nothing during the long journey, and those of the Onians whom they had met had learned nothing of the horrible event. Onrai now realized that the time had almost come for him to stand up before the mighty throng which would gather at his command, and tell them of the fearful death of five thousand of the fathers, sons, husbands and brothers of On.

He had seen in his mind’s eye, the look of utter despair and great pain, and had heard the cries of the sufferers, and all this saddened him. He felt that it would be next to an impossibility for him to explain so they could understand, and the doubt which would accompany his explanation would but add to the pain of those who had lost loved ones.

But the elephants and zebras were bearing them fast toward the city, as if mocking the King and being desirous of hurrying him to that time and place so dreaded.

The sun had nearly reached its zenith, when the first one of the beautiful city villas was seen through the green trees in the distance, and not long after they were once more, after many weeks’ riding, between rows of the pink villas. All was quiet, for this was resting hour; but as they got nearer the heart of the city, numerous ones of the Onians would show themselves, and upon seeing that it was the King and his party, they would make a respectful obeisance and watch them until lost in the distance.

At last the Temple was reached, and our friends were once more in their delightful apartments. Every comfort had been found in the villas en route, but none that they were ever in had such large and magnificent apartments as this grand Temple. The attendants took them in hand at once, and after a bath and light lunch, all of the tired wanderers slept.

In the evening all gathered in the dining hall as usual, and it was hard to suppose that they had been away for so long. Mr. Graham and Mr. Bruce started to take their evening promenade on the terrace, and were surprised to see a number of soldiers, so they looked, walking in a measured beat about the grounds.