For ten seconds
or more she remained thus, then she spoke in a hollow and unnatural
voice:--
"O Black Heart and body that is white and beautiful, I look into your
heart, and it is black as blood, and it shall be black with blood.
Beautiful white body with black heart, you shall find your game and hunt
it, and it shall lead you into the House of the Homeless, into the Home
of the Dead, and it shall be shaped as a bull, it shall be shaped as a
tiger, it shall be shaped as a woman whom kings and waters cannot harm.
Beautiful white body and black heart, you shall be paid your wages,
money for money, and blow for blow. Think of my word when the spotted
cat purrs above your breast; think of it when the battle roars about
you; think of it when you grasp your great reward, and for the last time
stand face to face with the ghost of the dead in the Home of the Dead.
"O White Heart and black body, I look into your heart and it is white as
milk, and the milk of innocence shall save it. Fool, why do you strike
that blow? Let him be who is loved of the tiger, and whose love is as
the love of a tiger.
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