Vaguely realizing that he was in the right, I gritted my teeth and waited.
Meanwhile, what was happening to Christopher and Lentala in that swirl of blind mob passion beyond the wall, and what meant the groans of men and the clang of metal? Christopher might save her life until the king should create a diversion, but what could a man do for himself, with a hundred swords at his breast?
As with dignity and deliberation King Rangan stepped upon the broad top of the wall, the afternoon sun came forth in imperial splendor, and wrapped him in its glory. He slowly faced the mob, raised his hand, and held it firmly aloft.
He had been seen before assuming the impressive attitude, and a mighty shout of mingled adoration and derision arose; it continued jarringly till he raised his hand; then gradually it fell into the deep roar of breakers after a storm, and thus faded to a silence broken only by the rumble of distant hordes moving on the palace. The king swept the multitude with his gaze, and spoke:
“Your king has grown old in service to his people, and now———”
“Gato! Gato! Give us Gato!”
“Every true subject of mine holds his life at the service of his king.”
“Give us Gato!”
The king stood in an iron silence.
“Show us Gato! We must see him! We must have him!”