The council stared at this new sign that strong magic was with the priest of the robe––he was suddenly given knowledge of the tongue of Te-hua! Don Diego stared in wonder and crossed himself many times.
“It is a language infernal even to the people born to it,” he gasped––“but that it should be given to one of us on the day when we are openly claimed as brothers is a special sign of grace. Thanks to the saints who sent it your way instead of mine!”
“This man has brought evil on you until the earth groans and turns,” continued the Padre. “His mother of the caves is called ‘holy’ and he is called strong in the light of the sky:––But the sky is angry, and the Great God and his saints are angry that this 323 sorcerer has cheated you so long with enchantments of the devil! Be strong for the saving of your own souls, and leave him to his witch mates and to his hell!”
Even Don Ruy was astounded that the padre addressed the council in their own words––truly of all priests ever frocked he had found the one most subtle for the work in hand, for having gained the council––as it was easy to see he had gained them––Padre Vicente spoke in Castilian to Tahn-té.
“Yet does my office exact absolution for you, if you but crave it with a contrite heart,” he said for the benefit of Don Ruy and Don Diego who listened. “You have worked for your devils, and they have deserted you, and stripped you of power. Acknowledge the true God and the saints will intercede for your favor.”
Tahn-té looked at him, and his smile was strange.
“There was a man named Judas in your holy book,” he said, “only silver did he crave for his work. You are greater than Judas; you work for the metal more precious. Is it thirty pieces you want ere you crucify me utterly?”
The figure of a woman darkened the entrance––a slender fragile figure who moved to him swiftly, and noted no others in the dusk of the council house. In Shufinne the word had reached her of the horror of Pu-yé––and she had come quickly as might be, and the sound of his living voice drew her breathless, but thankful to his side, and his arm circled her in support and in tenderness as he looked over her head to the Te-hua men of the council.
“I see your thoughts, and I read them,” he said. “The men who seek the gold have put a wall between you and me. That which you have you can give 324 them;––but remember in your hearts that there are things which belong to the unborn, and such things you have no power to give them. Only so long as you keep your own religion, and your own gods, so long will your tribe stand as a tribe;––no longer! Step by step your children will have to fight the strangers for that which is now your own. Only your god-thoughts will bind you as brothers;––the god of the gold hunters will poison your blood, and will divide your clans, and will divide your children, until your names are forgotten in the land!”
“The sorcerer who tells you this is the brother to the serpents in the Desert!” said Padre Vicente springing to his feet in angry impatience;––“enough of words have been said of this––.”