There are no Gods under all the Heavens. I know it … But for awhile I thought it was my Sahib come back, and he was my God. Yes, once I made music on a pianno in the Mission-house at Kotgarh. Now I give alms to priests who are heatthen.’ She wound up with the English word, and tied the mouth of the brimming bag.
‘I wait for thee, chela,’ said the lama, leaning against the door-post.
The woman swept the tall figure with her eyes. ‘He walk! He cannot cover half a mile. Whither would old bones go?’
At this Kim, already perplexed by the lama’s collapse and foreseeing the weight of the bag, fairly lost his temper.
‘What is it to thee, woman of ill-omen, where he goes?’
‘Nothing — but something to thee, priest with a Sahib’s face. Wilt thou carry him on thy shoulders?’
‘I go to the Plains. None must hinder my return. I have wrestled with my soul till I am strengthless. The stupid body is spent, and we are far from the Plains.’
‘Behold!’ she said simply, and drew aside to let Kim see his own utter helplessness. ‘Curse me. Maybe it will give him strength. Make a charm! Call on thy great God. Thou art a priest.’ She turned away.
The lama had squatted limply, still holding by the door-post. One cannot strike down an old man that he recovers again like a boy in the night. Weakness bowed him to the earth, but his eyes that hung on Kim were alive and imploring.
‘It is all well,’ said Kim. ‘It is the thin air that weakens thee. In a little while we go! It is the mountain- sickness. I too am a little sick at stomach,’ … and he knelt and comforted with such poor words as came first to his lips. Then the woman returned, more erect than ever.
‘Thy Gods useless, heh? Try mine. I am the Woman of Shamlegh.’ She hailed hoarsely, and there came out of a cow-pen her two husbands and three others with a dooli, the rude native litter of the Hills, that they use for carrying the sick and for visits of state. ‘These cattle’ — she did not condescend to look at them — ‘are thine for so long as thou shalt need.’
‘But we will not go Simla-way. We will not go near the Sahibs,’ cried the first husband.
‘They will not run away as the others did, nor will they steal baggage. Two I know for weaklings. Stand to the rear-pole, Sonoo and Taree.’ They obeyed swiftly. ‘Lower now, and lift in that holy man. I will see to the village and your virtuous wives till ye return.’
‘When will that be?’
‘Ask the priests. Do not pester me. Lay the food-bag at the foot, it balances better so.’
‘Oh, Holy One, thy Hills are kinder than our Plains!’ cried Kim, relieved, as the lama tottered to the litter. ‘It is a very king’s bed — a place of honour and ease. And we owe it to —’
‘A woman of ill-omen. I need thy blessings as much as I do thy curses. It is my order and none of thine. Lift and away! Here! Hast thou money for the road?’
She beckoned Kim to her hut, and stooped above a battered English cash-box under her cot.
‘I do not need anything,’ said Kim, angered where he should have been grateful. ‘I am already rudely loaded with favours.’