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.