Adventure Magazine Cover — page 83: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Web of the Sun without fear of sticking. That is the method we priests use in collecting our alms—it is a great miracle. The people flock to see it. It refreshes their faith in other things they know nothing about.” Lassiter was moved to smile, but his smile flickered out in the aura of Birdsong’s death. “Tt really helps prove those things, senor,” proceeded the priest gravely. ‘“‘Be- lief in the Sun is the truth for my people; without it they could not exist.” Lassiter leaned against the pilaster mus- ing and presently said: “T dare say that’s right. Religious truth is any theory with sufficient coherence to satisfy man’s inquisitiveness, and yet at the same time offer him sufficient inducement to bear the ills of life.”’ The behemoth opened his slit-like eyes. Like all men, he was vastly impressed with the promoter’s wisdom because he had re- peated his own theory in slightly different words. 7 “Senor, you are the man I have been praying to come to Motobatl.” Lassiter regarded him curiously. “You must become high priest in the temple of the Sun.” Lassiter did not know whether this were a jest or not. “I am in earnest, core I have prayed for such a man. None of my acolytes can take my place. Neither Jagala nor Quiz- Quiz. They do not comprehend that the temple is for man and not man for the temple. Until you came, I was the only skeptic, the only disbeliever in Motobatl. I alone could administer the holy rites purely for the benefit of my people, without the cor- ruption of faith or credulity or idolatry or useless sacrifice.” “You really want me to become high priest?”’ “Indeed I do!” Lassiter stood staring at this monstrous proposal, and yet as he thought it over, he perceived that its monstrosity was really superficial. Back of it lay a genuine love for his people. “saeq NOR were Gogoma’s motives en- tirely without parallel in-Lassiter’s “aee"s own experience.* In America Las- siter recalled conversations with ministers who frankly admitted that while, personal- ly, they did not accept all the tenets of their 73 churches, still they preached them to their congregations, because the business man, the professional, the man around town were not prepared to receive the recondite learn- ing of the study. ; Also he had heard laymen admit that they could not allow their minister to know exactly what they believed because he led too secluded a life to receive the full glare of truth such as they found in the market place. Such ‘stewardship of spiritual values always impressed Lassiter as a beautiful and a thoughtful attitude. ~ Now he was a little surprized to find himself shocked over the same condition in Motobatl. Moreover, the notion began to appeal to him. It touched the streak of romance, of play-acting that had always lain at his heart. It promised his life a certain dramatic completion—high priest, hierophant in the hugest and most ornate temple of the earth. “Would it be necessary for me to become an acolyte until your death?” The high priest raised a pulpy protesting hand. “You would be installed at once, within a week. I wish to devote the remainder of my life to my own immortality, brother.” The promoter looked at him curiously. The high priest touched the brightly col- ored birds in his basket. “TImmortal—the birds?” “Senor,” intoned the high priest solemnly, “only one thing is immortal on earth, and that is beauty. Our philosophies change with the years, history is a forgetting, sci- ence is man’s last guess, but a work of beauty, sefor, lives on and on. It is immortal , Lassiter had never before seen the high priest aroused. “What do you do?” he asked curiously. “ET paint with feathers.”’ “Did you do the tapestry in your audience chamber?” “That was my master Vaihue’s work. If you love color and form, Sefior Lassiter, if the rainbow bent over your mother’s couch when you were foaled, then come——” He started moving his bulk impulsively toward the great entrance, then hesitated and stopped. It was the only impulsive movement Lassiter ever saw him commit. He reconsidered. ‘No, there will be time after you become the high priest, brother. We will hurry MICLOOOK C©@