HT AFTER DARKNESS

A water-carrier in Syene was carrying a yoke across his shoulders and
the great earthen jars swung ponderously as he walked. His bare feet
disturbed the red dust of the path down to the granite-basined river,
and tiny clouds puffed out on each side of the way at every footfall.

On a housetop in Memphis, a gentlewoman, in a single gauze slip and
many jewels, lounged on a rug and gazed at nothing across the city. A
flat-shanked Ethiopian fanned her listlessly and dreamed also.

A little boy, innocent of raiment, stood before a new tomb, opposite
Tanis and awaited his father who labored within.

The water-carrier collapsed in his tracks; the lady shrieked; the
Ethiopian dropped the fan; the little boy fell on his face--all at the
same instant.

From the sea to the first cataract, from the deepest recess in the
Arabian hills to the remotest peak in the Libyan desert, Egypt was
blinded and muffled and smothered in a dead, black night--even darkness
that could be felt.

Kenkenes stood still. Harsh hands were no longer on him and for an
instant no sound was to be heard. Profound gloom enveloped him. His
every sense was frustrated.

Some one of his assailants had found his heart with a knife and this
was death, he thought.

Then strange, far-off murmurings filled his ears. From the river and
beside him went up wild, hoarse cries of men in mortal terror. Memphis
began to drone like a vast and troubled hive. The distant pastures
became blatant and the poultry near the huts of rustics cackled in wild
dismay. In the hills about beasts whimpered and the air was full of
the screaming of bewildered birds.

With the awakening of sound, Kenkenes knew that another plague had
befallen Egypt.

The dread that might have transfixed him was overcome by the instant
recollection of Rachel's peril. No restraining hands were upon him,
but he stood yet a space attempting to catch some rift in the thick
night. There was not one ray of light.

While he waited it was more distinctly borne in upon him that during
that space Rachel might suffer. He would go to her.

The night made a wall ahead of him which was imminent and
indiscernible. It was like a great weight upon his shoulders and a
pitfall at his feet.

He crouched and fumbled before him. His apprehension was physical; his
mind urged him; his body rebelled. He would have run but he could
barely force one foot ahead of the other. Illusory obsta