Chapter 9. The Cavern of the Dead

On going forth into the outer grotto I saw the table spread with a sumptuous repast, and the apartment in a blaze of light. Als ich in die äußere Grotte ging, sah ich, wie sich der Tisch mit einer üppigen Mahlzeit ausbreitete und die Wohnung in einem Lichtblitz stand. En sortant dans la grotte extérieure, je vis la table étalée d'un somptueux repas, et l'appartement dans un éclat de lumière.

Almah was not here; and though some servants made signs for me to eat, yet I could not until I should see whether she was coming or not. I had to wait for a long time, however; and while I was waiting the chief entered, shading his eyes with his hand from the painful light. Ik moest echter lang wachten; en terwijl ik wachtte kwam het opperhoofd binnen, zijn ogen met zijn hand afschermend voor het pijnlijke licht. He bowed low with the most profound courtesy, saying, "Salonla," to which I responded in the same way. He seemed much pleased at this, and made a few remarks, which I did not understand; whereupon, anxious to lose no time in learning the language, I repeated to him all the words I knew, and asked after others. I pointed to him and asked his name. He said, "Kohen." This, however, I afterward found was not a name, but a title. The "Kohen" did not remain long, for the light was painful. After his departure I was alone for some time, and at length Almah made her appearance. I sprang to meet her, full of joy, and took her hand in both of mine and pressed it warmly. She smiled, and appeared quite free from the melancholy of the previous day. We ate our breakfast together, after which we went out into the world of light, groping our way along through the dark passages amid the busy crowd.

Almah could see better than I in the darkness; but she was far from seeing well, and did not move with that easy step and perfect certainty which all the others showed. Like me, she was a child of light, and the darkness was distressing to her. As we went on we were seen by all, but were apparently not considered prisoners. On the contrary, all looked at us with the deepest respect, and bowed low or moved aside, and occasionally made little offerings of fruit or flowers to one or the other of us. It seemed to me that we were treated with equal distinction; and if Almah was their queen, I, their guest, was regarded with equal honor. Whatever her rank might be, however, she was to all appearance the most absolute mistress of her own actions, and moved about among all these people with the independence and dignity of some person of exalted rank. Quel que fût son rang, cependant, elle était selon toute apparence la maîtresse la plus absolue de ses propres actions, et se déplaçait parmi tous ces gens avec l'indépendance et la dignité d'une personne d'un rang élevé. At length we emerged into the open air. Endlich tauchten wir im Freien auf.

Here the contrast to the cavern gloom inside gave to the outer world unusual brightness and splendor, so that even under the heavy overarching tree-ferns, which had seemed so dark when I was here before, it now appeared light and cheerful. Ici, le contraste avec l'obscurité de la caverne à l'intérieur donnait au monde extérieur une luminosité et une splendeur inhabituelles, de sorte que même sous les lourdes fougères arborescentes, qui avaient semblé si sombres lorsque j'étais ici auparavant, il paraissait maintenant léger et joyeux. Almah turned to the right, and we walked along the terrace. But few people were visible. They shrank from the light, and kept themselves in the caverns. Then after a few steps we came to the base of a tall half-pyramid, the summit of which was above the tops of the trees. I pointed to this, as though I wished to go up. Almah hesitated for a moment, and seemed to shrink back, but at length, overcoming her reluctance, began the ascent. A flight of stony steps led up. On reaching the top, I found it about thirty feet long by fifteen wide, with a high stone table in the middle. At that moment, however, I scarce noticed the pyramid summit, and I only describe it now because I was fated before long to see it with different feelings. À ce moment, cependant, je remarquai à peine le sommet de la pyramide, et je ne le décris que maintenant parce que je devais bientôt le voir avec des sentiments différents. What I then noticed was the vast and wondrous display of all the glories of nature that burst at once upon my view. Ce que j'ai alors remarqué, c'est le vaste et merveilleux déploiement de toutes les gloires de la nature qui ont éclaté à ma vue. There was that same boundless sea, rising up high toward the horizon, as I had seen it before, and suggesting infinite extent. There were the blue waters breaking into foam, the ships traversing the deep, the far-encircling shores green in vegetation, the high rampart of ice-bound mountains that shut in the land, making it a world by itself. Il y avait les eaux bleues qui se brisaient en écume, les navires traversant les profondeurs, les rivages lointains verdoyants de végétation, le haut rempart de montagnes gelées qui enfermaient la terre, en faisant un monde à part. There was the sun, low on the horizon, which it traversed on its long orbit, lighting up all these scenes till the six-months day should end and the six-months night begin. Il y avait le soleil, bas sur l'horizon, qu'il traversa sur sa longue orbite, éclairant toutes ces scènes jusqu'à ce que le jour de six mois se termine et que commence la nuit de six mois. For a long time I stood feasting my eyes upon all this splendor, and at length turned to see whether Almah shared my feelings.

One look was enough. She stood absorbed in the scene, as though she were drinking in deep draughts of all this matchless beauty. Elle restait absorbée par la scène, comme si elle buvait à grands traits de toute cette beauté incomparable. Она стояла, поглощенная зрелищем, словно глотала всю эту несравненную красоту. I felt amazed at this; I saw how different she seemed from the others, and could not account for it. Je me suis senti étonné de cela; Je voyais à quel point elle semblait différente des autres, et je ne pouvais pas m'en rendre compte. But as yet I knew too little of the language to question her, and could only hope for a future explanation when I had learned more. We descended at length and walked about the terrace and up and down the side streets.

All were the same as I had noticed before--terraced streets, with caverns on one side and massive stone structures on the other. I saw deep channels, which were used as drains to carry down mountain torrents. J'ai vu des canaux profonds, qui servaient de drains pour acheminer les torrents de montagne. I did not see all at this first walk, but I inspected the whole city in many subsequent walks until its outlines were all familiar. I found it about a mile long and about half a mile wide, constructed in a series of terraces, which rose one above another in a hollow of the mountains round a harbor of the sea. Je l'ai trouvé d'environ un mille de long et d'environ un demi-mille de large, construit en une série de terrasses qui s'élevaient les unes au-dessus des autres dans un creux des montagnes autour d'un port de la mer. On my walks I met with but few people on the streets, and they all seemed troubled with the light. I saw also occasionally some more of those great birds, the name of which I learned from Almah; it was "opkuk. For some time my life went on most delightfully.

I found myself surrounded with every comfort and luxury. Almah was my constant associate, and all around regarded us with the profoundest respect. The people were the mildest, most gentle, and most generous that I had ever seen. The Kohen seemed to pass most of his time in making new contrivances for my happiness. Le Cohen semblait passer le plus clair de son temps à fabriquer de nouveaux artifices pour mon bonheur. This strange people, in their dealings with me and with one another, seemed animated by a universal desire to do kindly acts; and the only possible objection against them was their singular love of darkness. My freedom was absolute.

No one watched me. Almah and I could go where we chose. So far as I could perceive, we were quite at liberty, if we wished, to take a boat and escape over the sea. It seemed also quite likely that if we had ordered out a galley and a gang of oarsmen, we should have been supplied with all that we might want in the most cheerful manner. Such a thought, however, was absurd. Flight! Why should I think of flying? I had long ago lost all idea of time; and here, where it was for the present perpetual day, I was more at a loss than ever.

I supposed that it was somewhere in the month of March, but whether at the beginning or the end I could not tell. The people had a regular system of wake-time and sleep-time, by which they ordered their lives; but whether these respective times were longer or shorter than the days and nights at home I could not tell at that time, though I afterward learned all about it. On the whole, I was perfectly content--nay, more, perfectly happy; more so, indeed, than ever in my life, and quite willing to forget home and friends and everything in the society of Almah. While in her company there was always one purpose upon which I was most intent, and that was to master the language. Alors qu'elle était en sa compagnie, il y avait toujours un objectif auquel j'étais le plus attaché, et c'était de maîtriser la langue. I made rapid progress, and while she was absent I sought out others, especially the Kohen, with whom to practice. The Kohen was always most eager to aid me in every conceivable way or to any conceivable thing; and he had such a gentle manner and showed such generous qualities that I soon learned to regard him with positive affection. Almah was always absent for several hours after I rose in the morning, and when she made her appearance it was with the face and manner of one who had returned from some unpleasant task.

It always took some time for her to regain that cheerfulness which she usually showed. I soon felt a deep curiosity to learn the nature of her employment and office here, and as my knowledge of the language increased I began to question her. My first attempts were vain. Mijn eerste pogingen waren tevergeefs. She looked at me with indescribable mournfulness and shook her head. This, however, only confirmed me in my suspicions that her duties, whatever they might be, were of a painful nature; so I urged her to tell me, and asked her as well as I could if I might not share them or help her in some way. To all this, however, she only returned sighs and mournful looks for an answer. A tout cela, cependant, elle ne retourna que des soupirs et des regards lugubres pour une réponse. It seemed to me, from her manner and from the general behavior of the people, that there was no express prohibition on my learning anything, doing anything, or going anywhere; and so, after this, I besought her to let me accompany her some time. But this too she refused. My requests were often made, and as I learned more and more of the language I was able to make them with more earnestness and effect, until at length I succeeded in overcoming her objections. "It is for your own sake," said she, "that I have refused, Atam-or. « C'est pour vous, dit-elle, que j'ai refusé, Atam-or.

I do not wish to lessen your happiness. Je ne souhaite pas diminuer votre bonheur. But you must know all soon; and so, if you wish to come with me and see what I have to do, why, you may come the next jom. Maar je moet alles snel weten; en dus, als je met me mee wilt gaan om te zien wat ik moet doen, wel, dan mag je de volgende keer komen. This meant the next day, jom being the division of time corresponding with our day.

At this promise I was so full of gratitude that I forgot all about the dark suggestiveness of her words. À cette promesse, j'étais si plein de gratitude que j'en oubliai la sombre suggestivité de ses paroles. Bij deze belofte was ik zo dankbaar dat ik de duistere suggestie van haar woorden helemaal vergat. The next jom I arose sooner than usual and went forth. Le jour suivant, je me levai plus tôt que d'habitude et sortis. De volgende dag stond ik eerder op dan normaal en ging weg. I found Almah waiting for me. She looked troubled, and greeted me with a mournful smile. Elle avait l'air troublée et m'a accueilli avec un sourire triste. "You will find pain in this," said she; "but you wish it, and if you still wish it, why, I will take you with me.

At this I only persisted the more, and so we set forth. A cela je n'en ai que plus persisté, et ainsi nous nous sommes mis en route.

We went through the cavern passages. Few people were there; all seemed asleep. Then we went out-of-doors and came into the full blaze of that day which here knew no night, but prolonged itself into months. Alors nous sommes sortis dehors et sommes entrés dans le plein feu de ce jour qui ici ne connaissait pas la nuit, mais s'est prolongé en mois. For a while Almah stood looking forth between the trees to where the bright sunlight sparkled on the sea, and then with a sigh she turned to the left. Pendant un moment, Almah se tint à regarder entre les arbres vers l'endroit où la lumière du soleil étincelait sur la mer, puis avec un soupir elle se tourna vers la gauche. I followed. On coming to the next portal she went in. I followed, and found myself in a rough cavern, dark and forbidding. J'ai suivi et je me suis retrouvé dans une caverne rugueuse, sombre et intimidante. Traversing this we came to an inner doorway, closed with a heavy mat. En traversant cela, nous arrivâmes à une porte intérieure, fermée par une lourde natte. Hier overheen kwamen we bij een binnendeur, afgesloten met een zware mat. This she raised, and passed through, while I went in after her. I found myself in a vast cavern, full of dim, sparkling lights, which served not to illuminate it, but merely to indicate its enormous extent. Je me trouvais dans une vaste caverne, pleine de lumières tamisées et étincelantes, qui ne servaient pas à l'éclairer, mais simplement à indiquer son énorme étendue.

Far above rose the vaulted roof, to a height of apparently a hundred feet. Under this there was a lofty half-pyramid with stone steps. En dessous, il y avait une haute demi-pyramide avec des marches en pierre. All around, as far as I could see in the obscure light, there were niches in the walls, each one containing a figure with a light burning at its feet. Tout autour, aussi loin que je pouvais voir dans la lumière obscure, il y avait des niches dans les murs, chacune contenant un personnage avec une lumière allumée à ses pieds. I took them for statues. Almah pointed in silence to one of these which was nearest, and I went up close so as to see it. The first glance that I took made me recoil with horror. Le premier regard que je jetai me fit reculer d'horreur.

It was no statue that I saw in that niche, but a shrivelled human form--a hideous sight. Ce n'était pas une statue que j'ai vue dans cette niche, mais une forme humaine ratatinée, un spectacle hideux. It was dark and dried; it was fixed in a sitting posture, with its hands resting on its knees, and its hollow eyes looking forward. Il faisait sombre et sec ; il était fixé dans une position assise, les mains appuyées sur ses genoux et ses yeux creux tournés vers l'avant. On its head was the mockery of a wreath of flowers, while from its heart there projected the handle and half of the blade of a knife which had been thrust there. Auf seinem Kopf war der Spott eines Blumenkranzes, während aus seinem Herzen der Griff und die Hälfte der Klinge eines Messers ragten, das dort gestoßen worden war. Sur sa tête se trouvait la parodie d'une couronne de fleurs, tandis que de son cœur se projetaient le manche et la moitié de la lame d'un couteau qui y avait été enfoncé. What was the meaning of this knife? It seemed to tell of a violent death. Yet the flowers must surely be a mark of honor. A violent death with honor, and the embalmed remains--these things suggested nothing else than the horrid thought of a human sacrifice. Une mort violente avec honneur, et les restes embaumés, ces choses ne suggéraient rien d'autre que l'horrible pensée d'un sacrifice humain. I looked away with eager and terrible curiosity. Je détournai le regard avec une curiosité avide et terrible. I saw all the niches, hundreds upon hundreds, all filled with these fearful occupants. I turned again with a sinking heart to Almah. Je me tournai à nouveau le cœur serré vers Almah. Her face was full of anguish. "This is my duty," said she.

"Every jom I must come here and crown these victims with fresh flowers. A feeling of sickening horror overwhelmed me. Un sentiment d'horreur écœurante m'envahit.

Almah had spoken these words and stood looking at me with a face of woe. Almah avait prononcé ces mots et me regardait avec un visage triste. This, then, was that daily task from which she was wont to return in such sadness--an abhorrent task to her, and one to which familiarity had never reconciled her. C'était donc cette tâche quotidienne dont elle avait l'habitude de revenir dans une telle tristesse, une tâche odieuse pour elle, et à laquelle la familiarité ne l'avait jamais réconciliée. What was she doing here? What dark fate was it that thus bound this child of light to these children of darkness? Quel sombre destin liait ainsi cet enfant de la lumière à ces enfants des ténèbres ? Welk duister lot was het dat dit kind des lichts zo bond aan deze kinderen der duisternis? or why was she thus compelled to perform a service from which all her nature revolted? I read in her face at this moment a horror equal to my own; and at the sight of her distress my own was lessened, and there arose within me a profound sympathy and a strong desire to do something to alleviate her misery. "This is no place for you," continued Almah.

"Go, and I will soon join you. "No," said I, using her language after my own broken fashion--"no, I will not go--I will stay, I will help, if you will permit.

She looked at me earnestly, and seemed to see that my resolution was firmly fixed, and that I was not to be dissuaded from it.

"Very well," said she; "if you do stay and help me, it will be a great relief.

With these simple words she proceeded to carry out her work. Avec ces mots simples, elle se mit à accomplir son travail.

At the foot of the pyramid there was a heap of wreaths made out of fresh flowers, and these were to be placed by her on the heads of the embalmed corpses. "This work," said she, "is considered here the highest and most honorable that can be performed.

It is given to me out of kindness, and they cannot understand that I can have any other feelings in the performance than those of joy and exultation--here among the dead and in the dark. I said nothing, but followed and watched her, carrying the wreaths and supplying her. Je n'ai rien dit, mais je l'ai suivie et regardée, portant les couronnes et la fournissant.

She went to each niche in succession, and after taking the wreath off each corpse she placed a fresh one on, saying a brief formula at each act. By keeping her supplied with wreaths I was able to lighten her task, so much so that, whereas it usually occupied her more than two hours, on the present occasion it was finished in less than half an hour. She informed me that those which she crowned were the corpses of men who had been sacrificed during the present season--by season meaning the six months of light; and that though many more were here, yet they wore crowns of gold. Она сообщила мне, что те, которые она короновала, были трупами людей, принесенных в жертву в текущем сезоне - по сезону, означающему шесть месяцев света; и что, хотя здесь было гораздо больше людей, все же они носили золотые короны. At the end of ten years they were removed to public sepulchres. The number of those which had to be crowned by her was about a hundred. Her work was only to crown them, the labor of collecting the flowers and weaving the wreaths and attending to the lamps being performed by others. I left this place with Almah, sad and depressed.

She had not told me why these victims had been sacrificed, nor did I feel inclined to ask. A dark suspicion had come to me that these people, underneath all their amiable ways, concealed thoughts, habits, and motives of a frightful kind; and that beyond all my present brightness and happiness there might be a fate awaiting me too horrible for thought. Un sombre soupçon m'était venu que ces gens, sous toutes leurs manières aimables, cachaient des pensées, des habitudes et des motifs d'un genre effrayant ; et qu'au-delà de tout mon éclat et de mon bonheur actuels, il pourrait y avoir un sort qui m'attendait trop horrible pour être pensé. Ко мне пришло мрачное подозрение, что эти люди за всеми своими доброжелательными привычками скрывают мысли, привычки и побуждения ужасного рода; и что помимо всей моей теперешней яркости и счастья меня может ожидать судьба, слишком ужасная, чтобы думать. Yet I did not wish to borrow trouble. What I had seen and heard was quite enough for one occasion. I was anxious, rather, to forget it all. Nor did Almah’s words or manner in any way reassure me. She was silent and sad and preoccupied. It was as though she knew the worst, and knowing it, dared not speak; as though there was something more horrible which she dared not reveal. For my part, I feared it so that I dared not ask. It was enough for me just then to know that my mild and self-denying and generous entertainers were addicted to the abhorrent custom of human sacrifices. Il me suffisait alors de savoir que mes amuseurs doux, généreux et généreux étaient dépendants de l'odieuse coutume des sacrifices humains.