s, afforded many invaluable suggestions.

CHAPTER 19

When Zalu Zako was notified of the verdict of the Council and the words of
Tarum the sense of the inevitable returned, extinguishing the spark of
rebellion that had been kindled by his passion for Bakuma. To Bakahenzie,
or to the wizards separately, or collectively, he had had the strength to
voice his own desires, but to the veritable voice of Tarum was no
resistance dared. He was bidden to preside by right and precedent at the
anointing of the warriors. He did not make any feint at refusal, for his
will was crushed, as it had been weeks before by the doom of godhood and
celibacy.

Beyond the fact that Bakuma would soon be forbidden to him for ever, he
did not think; desire was strangled. Even the recollection that Bakahenzie
had stated that Moonspirit had taken her gave him no reaction. To him as
to his brethren, while in physical love is bound up the control of the
universe, because it is vaguely apprehended as a creative force, it is of
no importance to the individual lover unless he be guilty of breaking the
sexual tabu: if the girl is not a consenting party to the illicit union
then she is free; if she is, then it is death to both of them, for as
every one knows, such criminal action endangers the balance of the burden
of the world upon the shoulders of the King-God. Thus it was that the
words of Bakahenzie had produced no reaction against Moonspirit in the
mind of Zalu Zako; indeed, if the words were true and he could yet obtain
Bakuma, she might have a son by the white which would obviously bring the
marvellous power of white magic to his successor, the next King-God; and
possibly, had mused Zalu Zako, dimly straining at such a radical thought
against the influence of the priesthood, make the king more powerful a
magician than the witch-doctors themselves.

But he obeyed the mandate and took his place as bidden. Bakahenzie had
caused preparation to be begun immediately for the ceremony of making
enchantment against the spirits of the night. In the circle of cleared
ground, where sat the temporary Council of Elders, big fires were lighted
as the dark wall of the forest drew in upon them. Bakahenzie squatted
before a big calabash, specially reserved and enchanted for the making of
magic, in which a mess of certain herbs whose spirits were violent haters
of the demons of all trees, rocks and streams, were to be release