Now, too, they were no longer sailing on a river, but down
a canal bordered by banks of sand on either side, beyond which stretched
desert farther than the eye could reach.
Asti studied the desert, then turned and said:
"I think I know this canal, Lady, for once I sailed it as a child. I
think it is that which was dug by the Pharaohs of old, and repaired
after the fall of the Hyksos kings, and that it runs from Bubastis to
that bay down which wanderers sail towards the rising sun."
"Mayhap," answered Tua. "At least, this is the world that bore us and no
other, and by the mercy of Amen and the power of my Spirit we are still
alive, and not dead, or so it seems. Call now to the captain on yonder
deck; perhaps he will tell whither he bears us in his magic ship."
So Asti called, but the captain made no sign that he saw or heard her.
Next she called to the steersman, but although his veiled face was
towards them, he also made no sign, so that at last they believed either
that these were spirits or that they were men born deaf and dumb.
Pages:
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317