“Police!” he heard over the roar of the traffic. “Help! Police!”
Detective Sergeant3 Stokes had come out upon the balcony. But up to the time that Nicol Brinn turned and proceeded in leisurely4 fashion in the direction of the Cavalry5 Club, the sergeant had not succeeded in attracting any attention.
Nicol Brinn did not hurry. Having his hands thrust in the pockets of his light overcoat, he sauntered along Piccadilly as an idle man might do. He knew that he had ample time to keep his appointment, and recognizing the vital urgency of the situation, he was grateful for some little leisure to reflect.
One who had obtained a glimpse of his face in the light of the shop windows which he passed must have failed to discern any evidence of anxiety. Yet Nicol Brinn knew that death was beckoning6 to him. He knew that his keen wit was the only weapon which could avail him to-night; and he knew that he must show himself a master of defence.
A lonely man, of few but enduring friendships, he had admitted but one love to his life, except the love of his mother. This one love for seven years he had sought to kill. But anything forceful enough to penetrate7 to the stronghold of Nicol Brinn’s soul was indestructible, even by Nicol Brinn himself.
So, now, at the end of a mighty8 struggle, he had philosophically9 accepted this hopeless passion which Fate had thrust upon him. Yet he whose world was a chaos10 outwardly remained unmoved.
Perhaps even that evil presence whose name was Fire-Tongue might have paused, might have hesitated, might even have changed his plans, which, in a certain part of the world, were counted immutable11, had he known the manner of man whom he had summoned to him that night.
Just outside the Cavalry Club a limousine12 was waiting, driven by a chauffeur13 who looked like some kind of Oriental. Nicol Brinn walked up to the man, and bending forward:
“Fire-Tongue,” he said, in a low voice.
The chauffeur immediately descended14 and opened the door of the car. The interior was unlighted, but Nicol Brinn cast a comprehensive glance around ere entering. As he settled himself upon the cushions, the door was closed again, and he found himself in absolute darkness.
“Ah,” he muttered. “Might have foreseen it.” All the windows were curtained, or rather, as a rough investigation15 revealed, were closed with aluminium16 shutters17 which were immovable.
A moment later, as the car moved off, a lamp became lighted above him. Then he saw that several current periodicals were placed invitingly18 in the rack, as well as a box of very choice Egyptian cigarettes.
“H’m,” he murmured.
He made a close investigation upon every side, but he knew enough of the organization with which he was dealing19 to be prepared for failure.
He failed. There was no cranny through which he could look out. Palpably, it would be impossible to learn where he was being taken. The journey might be a direct one, or might be a detour20. He wished that he could have foreseen this device. Above all, he wished that Detective Sergeant Stokes had been a more clever man.
It would have been good to know that he was followed. His only hope was that someone detailed21 by Paul Harley might be in pursuit.
Lighting22 a fresh cigar, Nicol Brinn drew a copy of the Sketch23 from the rack, and studied the photographs of more or less pretty actresses with apparent contentment. He had finished the Sketch, and was perusing24 the Bystander, when, the car having climbed a steep hill and swerved25 sharply to the right, he heard the rustling26 of leaves, and divined that they were proceeding27 along a drive.
He replaced the paper in the rack, and took out his watch. Consulting it, he returned it to his pocket as the car stopped and the light went out.
The door, which, with its fellow, Nicol Brinn had discovered to be locked, was opened by the Oriental chauffeur, and Brinn descended upon the steps of a shadowed porch. The house door was open, and although there was no light within:
“Come this way,” said a voice, speaking out of the darkness.
Nicol Brinn entered a hallway the atmosphere of which seemed to be very hot.
“Allow me to take your hat and coat,” continued the voice.
He was relieved of these, guided along a dark passage; and presently, an inner door being opened, he found himself in a small, barely furnished room where one shaded lamp burned upon a large writing table.
His conductor, who did not enter, closed the door quietly, and Nicol Brinn found himself looking into the smiling face of a Hindu gentleman who sat at the table.
The room was decorated with queer-looking Indian carvings28, pictures upon silk, and other products of Eastern craftsmanship29. The table and the several chairs were Oriental in character, but the articles upon the table were very European and businesslike in appearance. Furthermore, the Hindu gentleman, who wore correct evening dress, might have been the representative of an Eastern banking30 house, as indeed he happened to be, amongst other things.
“Good evening,” he said, speaking perfect English “won’t you sit down?”
He pointed31 with a pen which he was holding in the direction of a heavily carved chair which stood near the table. Nicol Brinn sat down, regarding the speaker with lack-lustre eyes.
“A query32 has arisen respecting your fraternal rights,” continued the Hindu. “Am I to understand that you claim to belong to the Seventh Kama?”
“Certainly,” replied Brinn in a toneless voice.
The Hindu drew his cuff33 back from a slender yellow wrist, revealing a curious mark which appeared to be branded upon the flesh. It was in the form of a torch or flambeau surmounted34 by a tongue of flame. He raised his black brows, smiling significantly.
Nicol Brinn stood up, removing his tight dinner jacket. Then, rolling back his sleeve from a lean, sinuous35 forearm, he extended the powerful member, having his fist tightly clenched36.
Upon the inside of his arm, just above the elbow, an identical mark had been branded!
The Hindu stood up and saluted37 Nicol Brinn in a peculiar38 manner. That is to say, he touched the second finger of his right hand with the tip of his tongue, and then laid the finger upon his forehead, at the same time bowing deeply.
Nicol Brinn repeated the salutation, and quietly put his coat on.
“No.”
“At Moon Ali Lane.”
“Ah!” exclaimed the Hindu. “I see it all. In Bombay?”
“In Bombay.”
“When, and by whom, may I ask?”
“By Ruhmani, November 23, 1913.”
“Strange,” murmured Rama Dass. “Brother Ruhmani died in that year; which accounts for our having lost touch with you. What is your grade?”
“The fifth.”
“You have not proceeded far, brother. How do you come to be unacquainted with our presence in England?”
“I cannot say.”
“None.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“More and more strange,” murmured the Hindu, watching Nicol Brinn through the gold-rimmed spectacles which he wore. “I have only known one other case. Such cases are dangerous, brother.”
“No blame attaches to me,” replied Nicol Brinn.
“I have not said so,” returned Rama Dass. “But in the Seventh Kama all brothers must work. A thousand lives are as nothing so the Fire lives. We had thought our information perfect, but only by accident did we learn of your existence.”
“Indeed,” murmured Nicol Brinn, coldly.
Not even this smiling Hindu gentleman, whose smile concealed42 so much, could read any meaning in those lack-lustre eyes, nor detect any emotion in that high, cool voice.
“A document was found, and in this it was recorded that you bore upon your arm the sign of the Seventh Kama.”
“‘Tis Fire that moves the grains of dust,” murmured Nicol Brinn, tonelessly, “which one day make a mountain for the gods.”
Rama Dass stood up at once and repeated his strange gesture of salutation, which Nicol Brinn returned ceremoniously; and resumed his seat at the table.
“You are advanced beyond your grade, brother,” he said. “You are worthy43 the next step. Do you wish to take it?”
“You speak well,” the Hindu said. “We have here your complete record. It shall not be consulted. To do so were unnecessary. We are satisfied. We regret only that one so happily circumstanced to promote the coming of the Fire should have been lost sight of. Last night there were three promotions45 and several rejections46. You were expected.”
“But I was not summoned.”
“No,” murmured Rama Dass. “We had learned of you as I have said. However, great honour results. You will be received alone. Do you desire to advance?”
“No. Give me time.”
Rama Dass again performed the strange salutation, and again Nicol Brinn returned it.
“We respect your decision.”
The Hindu rang a little silver bell upon his table, and the double doors which occupied one end of the small room opened silently, revealing a large shadowy apartment beyond.
Rama Dass stood up, crossed the room, and standing48 just outside the open doors, beckoned49 to Nicol Brinn to advance.
“There is no fear,” he said, in a queer, chanting tone.
“There is no fear,” repeated Nicol Brinn.
“There is no love.”
“There is no love.”
“There is no death.”
“There is no death.”
“Fire alone is eternal.”
“Fire alone is eternal.”
As he pronounced those words Nicol Brinn crossed the threshold of the dark room, and the double doors closed silently behind him.
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收听单词发音
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1
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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7
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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limousine
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| n.豪华轿车 | |
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chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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aluminium
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| n.铝 (=aluminum) | |
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shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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invitingly
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| adv. 动人地 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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24
perusing
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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carvings
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| n.雕刻( carving的名词复数 )；雕刻术；雕刻品；雕刻物 | |
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craftsmanship
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| n.手艺 | |
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banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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34
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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38
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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40
initiated
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| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
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41
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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44
swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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45
promotions
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| 促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传 | |
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46
rejections
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| 拒绝( rejection的名词复数 )； 摒弃； 剔除物； 排斥 | |
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47
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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48
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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49
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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