The Adventures of Kathlyn

Naturally the villagers set down their water skins and jars and copper

vessels and flocked about this exceptional holy man. They wanted to

believe him, but for years nothing had happened but the advent of the

lion, whence no one exactly knew, though the holy man had not been

backward in claiming it was due to his nearness to the god Vishnu.

They followed him eagerly to the temple. What they beheld transfixed

them. A woman with skin like the petals of the lotus and hair like

corn sat in the sacred sarcophagus and braided her hair, gazing the

while toward the bright sun.

The intake of many breaths produced a sound. Kathlyn turned instantly

toward this sound, for a moment expecting the return of the lion.

Immediately holy man and villagers threw themselves upon the ground,

striking their foreheads against the damp clay. The alien spirit still

ruled the substance; Kathlyn eyed them in mild astonishment, not at all

alarmed.

"Ai!" shrilled the holy man, springing to his feet. "Ai! She is our

ancient priestess, rising from her tomb of centuries! Ai, ai! O thou

unholy children, to doubt my word! Behold! Henceforth she shall share

the temple with the lion, and later she will give us prosperity, and my

name shall ever be in your households."

Having secured a priestess, he was now determined that he should not

lose her. The future was roseate indeed, and when he took his next

pilgrimage to holy Benares they would bestrew his pathway with lotus

flowers.

"Wood to start the sacred fires!" he commanded.

The villagers flew to obey his orders. He was indeed a holy man. Not

in the memory of the oldest had a miracle such as this happened. Upon

their return with wood and embers the holy man built the fire, handing

a lighted torch to Kathlyn and signifying for her to touch the tinder.

The spirit in Kathlyn told her that these people meant her no immediate

harm, so she stepped out of the sarcophagus and applied the torch. The

moment the flames began to crackle the villagers prostrated themselves

again and the holy man besmeared his bony chest with more ashes.

A second holy man appeared upon the scene, wanting in breath. His jaw

dropped and his eyes started to leave their sockets. Knowing his ilk

so thoroughly well, he flung himself down before the brazier and beat

his forehead upon the ground; not in any chastened spirit, but because

he had overslept that morning. This glory might have been his! Ai, ai!

Later the two conferred. During the day they should guard the

priestess, because, having taken human form, she might some day tire of

this particular temple. At night she would be well guarded by the lion.

Several awestricken women came forward with bowls of cooked rice and

fruits and a new copper drinking vessel. These they reverently placed

at Kathlyn's feet.