Atlantida - Page 130/145

Tanit-Zerga's hand was on my arm. She drew me toward the abyss. I

tried not to tremble.

Everything below us was in shadow. In a low, firm voice, Tanit-Zerga

began to speak: "Everything is ready. I have twisted the rope about the pillar. Here

is the slip-knot. Put it under your arms. Take this cushion. Keep it

pressed against your hurt shoulder.... A leather cushion.... It is

tightly stuffed. Keep face to the wall. It will protect you against

the bumping and scraping."

I was now master of myself, very calm. I sat down on the sill of the

window, my feet in the void. A breath of cool air from the peaks

refreshed me.

I felt little Tanit-Zerga's hand in my vest pocket.

"Here is a box. I must know when you are down, so I can follow. You

will open the box. There are fire-flies in it; I shall see them and

follow you."

She held my hand a moment.

"Now go," she murmured.

I went.

I remember only one thing about that descent: I was overcome with

vexation when the rope stopped and I found myself, feet dangling,

against the perfectly smooth wall.

"What is the little fool waiting for?" I said to myself. "I have been

hung here for a quarter of an hour. Ah ... at last! Oh, here I am

stopped again." Once or twice I thought I was reaching the ground, but

it was only a projection from the rock. I had to give a quick shove

with my foot.... Then, suddenly, I found myself seated on the ground.

I stretched out my hands. Bushes.... A thorn pricked my finger. I was

down.

Immediately I began to get nervous again.

I pulled out the cushion and slipped off the noose. With my good hand,

I pulled the rope, holding it out five or six feet from the face of

the mountain, and put my foot on it.

Then I took the little cardboard box from my pocket and opened it.

One after the other, three little luminous circles rose in the inky

night. I saw them rise higher and higher against the rocky wall. Their

pale rose aureols gleamed faintly. Then, one by one, they turned,

disappeared.

"You are tired, Sidi Lieutenant. Let me hold the rope."

Ceghéir-ben-Cheikh rose up at my side.

I looked at his tall black silhouette. I shuddered, but I did not let

go of the rope on which I began to feel distant jerks.

"Give it to me," he repeated with authority.

And he took it from my hands.

I don't know what possessed me then. I was standing beside that great

dark phantom. And I ask you, what could I, with a dislocated

shoulder, do against that man whose agile strength I already knew?

What was there to do? I saw him buttressed against the wall, holding

the rope with both hands, with both feet, with all his body, much

better than I had been able to do.