WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.320 --> 00:00:05.200 Wonder if prices will ever come down. Set up with 2 00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:08.839 the post war worlds, wanna get. 3 00:00:08.720 --> 00:00:23.559 Away from it all. We offer you Escape. 4 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:27.519 You are standing at the edge of an enchanted grove, 5 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:32.280 lured by a soft, caressing voice inviting you to destruction. 6 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.240 You have nearly sold your soul to an ancient goddess 7 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:39.280 from whom you must escape. 8 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:54.920 Escape produced by William N. Ropesen and designed to free 9 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.679 you from the four walls of today for a half 10 00:00:57.759 --> 00:00:58.960 hour of high adventure. 11 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:07.799 To day, we escaped to the African vault and an 12 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:12.040 enchanted shrine of great antiquity, as John Buckham told it 13 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:32.079 in his Weird Story, a Grove of Ashtarots. We stumbled 14 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.400 on to the place Lawson and I during the second 15 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:39.000 day after we left Taquis. We travel on horseback some 16 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:43.560 forty miles or so through typical African velt, lush and green, 17 00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:47.280 with plenty of game and good hunting. It was late 18 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:50.400 afternoon when we topped a rise and saw before us 19 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:53.519 a small plateau of such beauty that we both reined 20 00:01:53.519 --> 00:01:56.640 in and sat staring at it, not speaking for some moments. 21 00:01:58.040 --> 00:02:01.640 A tiny sparkling stream won the through the burdened meadow grasses, 22 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:05.159 and at the edge of the plateau tumbled in a crystal. 23 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:06.319 Waterfall down to the plain below. 24 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:11.039 Graceful clumps of strange trees grew here and there, and 25 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:14.280 bushes blazed in a riot of bloom. I'd seen nothing 26 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:17.000 remotely like it in all the miles we'd come. It 27 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:21.680 stood alone, droud and lovely, an alien island in a. 28 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.319 Sea of tropic junks. 29 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:29.960 Great heavens, John, and your whole life, have you ever 30 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:33.080 seen anything like it? If some artists had design that plateau, 31 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:35.080 placed every tree and bush by hand, it couldn't be 32 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:39.240 any more perfect. It's it's almost weird, isn't it here? 33 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:43.280 It shouldn't be here, It doesn't belong. But there isn't 34 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:45.360 a plant growing over there that's like any we've seen 35 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:47.439 in the rest of the jungle, or probably a difference 36 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:49.840 in minerals in the soil, something of that kind mms. 37 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.319 More than that, they're not even the same varieties. 38 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:56.120 It's true that one grove standing alone there near the edge. 39 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:00.639 I I've never seen trees that slender and fragile in 40 00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:01.159 the bark. 41 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:06.400 It looks like silver velvet, silver velvet. H that's quite 42 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:10.840 an idea, John, Hmm. Yes, I guess it isn't that anyway. 43 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:11.919 Those doves seem to like it. 44 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:15.439 They never stopped circling over that one particular grove, probably 45 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.759 nesting there. A flock of white doves circling over the 46 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:26.879 silver grove. But you know there's something vaguely familiar about that, Yes, 47 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.159 there is, John, Can you make out some kind of 48 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:31.120 a dark shape there through the trees, over to the 49 00:03:31.159 --> 00:03:31.919 center of the grove. 50 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:32.879 Eh? 51 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:37.199 Yes, come on, let's ride over and take a look him. 52 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.719 No, h not not now? 53 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:41.240 Huh? 54 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:41.520 Why? 55 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:44.479 I mean you'll have plenty of chance to see it later. 56 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:49.560 What are you trying to say, John, I'm going to build. 57 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:53.080 A home here, ah home out here in the middle 58 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.360 of the jungle, miles from the road in from Tacky. 59 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.439 I've got money enough and no one but me to 60 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:02.280 spend it. I've always wanted to live in Africa, always, Lawson, 61 00:04:03.319 --> 00:04:04.680 or for the last five minutes. 62 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.000 It doesn't matter. 63 00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:08.039 Somehow, even though I'd never seen it, I've dreamed of 64 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.719 this spot all my life. I've got to live here. 65 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:14.280 I want to live here, I mean, but so quickly, 66 00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:16.079 at least think it over. Third, No, I don't have 67 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:19.879 to take it over. I know what has to be done, John. 68 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:33.319 It's here that I've built my tabernacle. I couldn't understand 69 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:37.480 Lawson giving into this sudden, foolish impulse. It wasn't like him, 70 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:42.639 but there was nothing I could do. I left him 71 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.920 at Tarquy the next day and returned to the matter 72 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:48.319 of fact world of business in London. And it was 73 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:52.560 three years before I saw him again, three years before 74 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:55.519 I returned to Africa to find that he built a 75 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.279 manor house in the jungle and equipped it with all 76 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:01.959 the conveniences of the English country side, of which not 77 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.000 the least was travels his butler's. May I be so 78 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:06.720 bold to save mister Buckham. 79 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:08.279 It's very good to see you again, sir. 80 00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:10.600 You bring a breath of old London out of this 81 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:12.319 heathen foreign country. 82 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:14.439 Well, thank you, Travis, it's good to see you again. 83 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:17.360 This is something different from the old granite front on 84 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:18.279 Grosvenor Square. 85 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:21.920 Is indeed it is, sir, A great many things are different. Yes, 86 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.560 mister Lawson's turned this jungle clearing into a paradise on earth. 87 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:28.360 If your pardon me, sir, I think paradise is not 88 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:29.120 quite the word. 89 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.199 Hm hm, oh, Well, perhaps i'd better tell. 90 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:35.160 The Master you've arrived, mister button, he's been lying down. 91 00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.680 Oh not ill hold, I'll tell him you're here. 92 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:44.319 Sir Travers left the room and I waited alone, wondering 93 00:05:44.360 --> 00:05:48.120 at the strangeness of his manner. I finally decided it 94 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.079 must be induced by homesickness. 95 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:53.519 I looked about me, as impressed. 96 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.959 By the austere magnificence of the library as I've been 97 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.720 by the grounds outside. There was an imposing mental piece 98 00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:02.759 of that. It went in and on it was placed, 99 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:06.240 an object elegantly fashioned of bellabester in the form of 100 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:10.160 a half moon, was curiously carved with signs of the zodiac. 101 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:14.000 There was something compelling, almost unearthly about it. 102 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:17.240 Fascinated. I reached out my head. 103 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.480 I should not touch that about you huh, oh, lawson, 104 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:25.079 I didn't hear you come in. Oh yes, jah, oh 105 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:27.279 fine loss and couldn't be better you. 106 00:06:28.279 --> 00:06:28.920 I wit it down. 107 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:34.000 Wh yes, thank you, this wonderful thing again, oh man. 108 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:36.279 Been wanting to get down here for the last three years. 109 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:37.560 But you know how it is in London. 110 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:40.160 Time gets away from you and the first thing you know, 111 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:48.800 uh God, no, no, thank you. 112 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:49.360 Not now. 113 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:53.319 When I finally did get the chance, I couldn't even 114 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:54.959 wait for an answer from you. I sent a while 115 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:57.199 and then followed it right on down. Yes, surprise me 116 00:06:57.319 --> 00:06:59.199 of it. I haven't had a visitor here for the 117 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:00.120 last two years. 118 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:03.639 Oh, well, didn't that explains why Travis talked the way 119 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:03.920 he did. 120 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:05.199 I thought it must be. 121 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:06.759 Well made travers talk the way he did. What did 122 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.639 he say, Wilson, what's wrong with you? 123 00:07:10.279 --> 00:07:11.240 He didn't say anything. 124 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:13.720 I'm afraid. 125 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:23.600 Hi, I'm sorry, Chap. I haven't felt very well in 126 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:29.279 last few days. Well that explains it, I say, at 127 00:07:29.319 --> 00:07:31.399 least you seem to be eating all right. You're actually 128 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:35.240 getting a bit plump. Actually, I'm fat, gross, flabby and 129 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.040 obscenely fat. Isn't that what you really mean? 130 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:38.199 Well? 131 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:42.279 No, I was only joking. 132 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:48.639 Never mind. Uh what do you think of the place? 133 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.240 Chair place? Why? 134 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:51.720 It's amazing. 135 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:52.480 It's beautiful. 136 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:54.839 No one could ever believe it without seeing it. I 137 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:57.519 doubt if there's another place like it anywhere in the world. 138 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.600 You're right about that. There isn't another list like it 139 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:01.879 anywhere in the world. 140 00:08:02.839 --> 00:08:06.000 Oh that reminds me. I notice he left the grove 141 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:07.399 as it was without bothering it. 142 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.519 Tell me, did you ever find out what it was 143 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:17.600 we saw that afternoon. Yes, John, I've found what it was. Well, John, 144 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:19.639 I haven't overseer your name of mc jobson. Quite a 145 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.079 competent man. I want you to leave with him in 146 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.800 the morning, take a three or four day hunting trip. 147 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:25.720 He knows the country. You'll find your plenty of game. 148 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:28.000 Oh, but I I came here to see you. 149 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:33.000 I'm fighting about a fever. Happens every so often. I'll 150 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:34.279 be all right by the time you get back. 151 00:08:34.360 --> 00:08:35.159 Oh, now, wait a minute. 152 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:37.080 If you're sick, I'm certainly not going to run what 153 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:44.600 I tell you. Laws I'm sorry to talk this way, 154 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:47.879 but I know what has to be done, all right, Lawson, 155 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:54.080 whatever you say, good, settle it. Believe me, John, I 156 00:08:54.200 --> 00:09:00.240 know what's best for me. Yeah, I'm sure you do thing. 157 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:00.559 John. 158 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:03.759 That carving that sits on the matter, I must ask 159 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:04.759 you not to touch. 160 00:09:04.519 --> 00:09:07.000 It, quite old. 161 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:10.960 Rare, I should not like anything to happen to it. 162 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:21.519 M that night, when I retired, I found. 163 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:22.559 It impossible to sleep. 164 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:25.799 I tossed fitfully, trying to think of some reason for 165 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:28.679 the great change that came over my friend. 166 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.840 In these pert three years. Drunk string actual sickness, ever. 167 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:36.840 Physical or mental, no, none of them gave any complete answer. 168 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:42.279 My windows looked out across to the turf, and I 169 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:46.000 saw the grove of strange trees was based now in 170 00:09:46.039 --> 00:09:48.320 the moonlight by a soft, silvery haze. 171 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:50.679 Even now in the middle of the night. 172 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:52.960 The flock of doves circled in the air above it, 173 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:56.559 gleaming white from wing and breast as they wheeled in 174 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.720 the shads of moonlight. 175 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:01.279 I dozed off, finally to wake up. 176 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:03.919 Suddenly, in that brief hour before the first light of dawn, 177 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:07.919 I happened to glance from the window, and in the 178 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:12.200 fading moon glow saw a figure approaching the house. It 179 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:16.600 drew nearer, and I thought it was Lawson, barefooted wearing 180 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:21.320 a white dressing gar Shortly I heard his weary steps past. 181 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:23.440 My door, and afterward the. 182 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:29.519 House was silent. I lay there wide awake. Lawson had 183 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:31.600 been coming from the direction of the grove. 184 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.200 In at the button. 185 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:51.039 Oh morning, m Jabson. Sit down now. 186 00:10:51.080 --> 00:10:53.360 In regard to that hunting trip we talked about her, 187 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:55.559 I cannot see your choice of two or three. 188 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:57.960 No, no, never mind, I'm not going on any hunting trips. 189 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.519 That last might be decided. 190 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:04.679 That was last night mcjobson. Tell me how long has 191 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.720 mister Lawson been sick? 192 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:07.200 Oh? 193 00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:10.559 It comes and goes, happens about once a month like this. 194 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:13.159 He's not a man that he was when I first 195 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:13.759 came here. 196 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:18.399 Do you have any ideas about what might be the matter? Hi? 197 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:21.120 Well, what are they? 198 00:11:21.879 --> 00:11:24.480 If I told you what was in my head, you'd 199 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:27.679 think me that, why don't you wait until tomorrow? 200 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.039 You won't need to ask. It's a full moon? 201 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.200 Full moon? 202 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:35.360 What does that have to do with it? 203 00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:39.759 You'll find it in the Bible. Read the eleventh chapter 204 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:41.279 of the Second Book of Kings. 205 00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:51.159 I found the Bible in the library and summed. 206 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.600 It open to the passage he's mentioned. I read through 207 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:59.600 it once without understanding, and then one sentence seemed to 208 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:03.600 leap up from the page. For Solomon went after Ashtaroth, 209 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:12.120 the goddess of the Sidonian estra Chteroth, of course Asteroths, 210 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:16.080 goddess of the ancient East, whose strange rituals held a 211 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.639 dark fascination for the children of Israel over and over, 212 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:22.639 during them away from their fierce prophets to worship at 213 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:27.879 her shrines. The white doves of Ashtaroth circling the shrine 214 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:31.200 of her silver grove right then the grove at the 215 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:33.480 end of the turf must hide a lost shrine dedicated 216 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:39.639 to her worship. What of Lassom did his blood carry 217 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:42.559 one fraction from all Israel with the same ancient weakness 218 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:46.759 to hear and answer the call of the goddess? Did 219 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:51.759 he become an acolyte of Asteroth? What weird writes did 220 00:12:51.799 --> 00:12:55.600 he perform in the grove at night? And then I 221 00:12:55.679 --> 00:12:59.919 remember tonight the worship of Ashtaroth had always reached its 222 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:08.840 climax on the night of the full moon. Lawson did 223 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:12.600 not appear all day, And that evening after dinner mc 224 00:13:12.679 --> 00:13:15.480 jobson and I took up our watch on the dark peranda, 225 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.600 looking into the windows of the library. 226 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.000 We've been there at least an hour. 227 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:25.159 And look, Lawson, you came into the library. 228 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:25.799 I see him. 229 00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.759 Hey, what's he after? 230 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:31.759 I suppose you want a little figure on the mantels. 231 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:34.879 He watched him take the curved half moon of alabaster 232 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:37.000 and slip it into the pocket of the road he 233 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:37.480 was wearing. 234 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:40.559 Then he turned and left the room. 235 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.039 In a moment, he came out. 236 00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:44.039 The front door and walked off across the turf in 237 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.639 the moonlight. 238 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:48.320 He bestedda a bit of a stat and then follow it. No, 239 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:51.159 he'd see us for sure in that moonlight. I do 240 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:51.960 not think so. 241 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.399 He did not look back. 242 00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:55.039 Now, sirs, there were ten of us. 243 00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.120 Following mc jobson. 244 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.000 What is it all about? 245 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.320 You've read the book? 246 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:02.759 Yes, yes, it's the ancient goddessess to us. 247 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:05.080 But what is the ceremony? 248 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.519 What does he do and what is it that made 249 00:14:07.559 --> 00:14:08.279 him the way he is? 250 00:14:08.799 --> 00:14:12.159 The ceremony he'll be seeing mister Buckan as to what 251 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.039 has made him like he is. 252 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:14.679 It does an. 253 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.639 Evil thing, and all the while he knows it to 254 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:21.840 be evil. It canna help himself, and he knows that too. 255 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:26.320 Yes, I think I see what you mean. When that's 256 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.639 been going. Now he's gone into the grove. 257 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:38.000 We crossed the turf quickly and passed into the black 258 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:40.879 and silver shadows of the moonlit grove, working our way 259 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:44.440 carefully toward the center. The only sound at first was 260 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.080 the piping of the doves circling high. 261 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.960 Over the lacy branches above our heads. 262 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:54.240 I saw as we approached that the center of the 263 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:58.600 grove had been cleared to form a small circular arena, 264 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.759 was covered with smooth turf, and standing in the middle 265 00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:05.639 of it was a cone of rock thirty feet high, 266 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:08.759 a smooth, sharp tower of stone that pointed up toward 267 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:14.200 the tops of the trees. And then I saw Lawson. 268 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:20.799 He stood by the base of the conical tower, his 269 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:24.480 arms uplifted, the symbol of the heat moon bound to 270 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:29.840 his forehead, enchanting words with meanings I could not even guess. 271 00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:32.440 No. 272 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:36.240 Lawson threw off his white robe and began a curious 273 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:40.120 kind of dance, moving around the foot of the cone 274 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:43.399 and a worn path beaten in the turf, the same 275 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:47.519 path he must have followed many other nights before. He 276 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:51.759 moved faster and faster, uttering now and again a wild cry. 277 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.399 We stared, entranced at the circle of moonlight. 278 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.240 And as he danced, a strange new sound slipped into 279 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:03.720 my consciousness, an earthly melody that seemed to come from 280 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:08.080 the tower, from the trees, or may perhaps have been 281 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:10.960 born within my own mind, tricked by the magic fantasy 282 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:16.679 of moonlight, shadows, and perhaps madness. It brought to me 283 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:20.720 one vivid thought of the worm soft lips of an 284 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:27.679 unseen goddess of lips incarnadine, whispering gently and sensuously across 285 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:32.919 the reeds of a pen pipe. I stirred uneasily, felt 286 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.440 the quickening of my pulse if I. 287 00:16:34.600 --> 00:16:37.120 Tried to resist that, mister Buckan, there's only a thing 288 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.759 of evil coat and a pulse. 289 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:41.720 Beauty my jobson murder felt it tour Then it was 290 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:44.840 more than a trick of my own senses. Something in 291 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:47.279 me thrilled to the core of the weird melody. I 292 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:50.720 wanted to rush out and throw myself at the base 293 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:53.279 of the stone tower, to dance as Lawson was doing, 294 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:57.679 to spend all eternity in adoration and worship of the 295 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:00.399 beauty of astral Oh, mister Buccan, do. 296 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:02.080 What it's done to him, fight it. 297 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.879 I'd fight it. 298 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:06.160 I lost all knowledge of time. The dance had grown 299 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.039 swifter and fiercer. The moonless figure and the clearing moved 300 00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.920 faster and faster, pasture, eating and gyrating in temper to 301 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.839 the crazy rhythm. 302 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.359 My blood was pounding in my throat. 303 00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:18.599 My ears ringing, the music searched for my brain, and 304 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:19.720 ever mounting waves of. 305 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:20.640 Incandent and sound. 306 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.960 Now I was beyond reason, possessed by an overpowering crazy one. 307 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:29.119 The cock crew. 308 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:38.200 Then the grove was deathly still, and at the foot 309 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.400 of the tower loss and ly unconscious. 310 00:17:56.599 --> 00:17:57.640 How is it, mister Bucken. 311 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.279 He's lost a lot of blood. 312 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:01.079 But I think of you, I'm good. 313 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.319 It was a near thing. 314 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.720 Travor's got a couple of sleeping tables in to him. 315 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:09.680 Do not be waking up before tonight, at least mc jobson. 316 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.400 I suppose you. 317 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.240 Know what we have to do. 318 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:16.240 I'm well aware of what should be done, sir, but 319 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:17.440 I've no idea how. 320 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:17.759 To do it. 321 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.680 I think I do. 322 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:23.000 I shall take full responsibility, but I'll need men or 323 00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:23.640 we can get. 324 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:26.720 The natives will not go near the place. But there's 325 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.960 some thirty white men under the back of arm a 326 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:31.720 few miles back on the bush. But I what a highway, 327 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.759 I'll pay it, just get them. Would you mind telling 328 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:36.039 me what you're proposing to do? 329 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:42.960 Yes, some things that may sound as mad as laws 330 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:46.960 in himself. I'm going to deal with that grove the 331 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.640 same way King Josiah. 332 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:52.759 Did Ah compacted me vaguely. 333 00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:00.559 Yeah, here it is, and the high place places that 334 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:04.839 were before Jerusalem, which Solomon, the King of Israel, had 335 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:08.960 builded for Estra, the abomination of the Sidonian. Did the 336 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:14.400 king defile and he brake in pieces the images and 337 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:18.799 cut down the groves, both the altar and the high place. 338 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:23.480 He braked down and burned the high place, and stamped 339 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:27.400 it small to powder, and burned the grove. 340 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:32.920 I test the worth of God. I need dynamite, but 341 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.359 I have plenty of it down at the workshop. I'll 342 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:37.839 go after the men first. We shall be ready to 343 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.599 start by nine o'clock this morning. 344 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.559 It was just past nine when we entered the grove, 345 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:57.720 carrying axes and a couple of shotguns, and driving several 346 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.759 teams of oxen. 347 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:00.200 Light. 348 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:03.519 Breeze had sprung up, and it whispered and rustled in 349 00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:05.240 the branches of the silver trees. 350 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.319 We took care of the doves. 351 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:09.960 First shot them one by one until we killed them 352 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:13.039 all twenty seven, then piled their white bodies at the 353 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:16.000 foot of the pointed rock. Then the men set to work, 354 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:25.440 with the axes, chopping through the slender trunks of the trees. 355 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:28.680 I stood by the stone tower, the high place of 356 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:39.799 King Solomon, and watched while the work went aroung gradually, gradually, 357 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.680 borne perhaps in the sighing wind. 358 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:46.759 A strange bence. He crept into my mind. 359 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:53.400 Oh no, please do please no. 360 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:59.640 I then sid I could hear a voice coming from 361 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:02.200 the tower, from the truth. 362 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:09.720 This voice was soft, warm and pleading. 363 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:16.599 Listen with your heart. Can the spirit within you not 364 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:18.079 hear and feel? 365 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:22.240 The heart of all sorrow was in that voice, and 366 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:28.279 the soul of all loveliness, distantaneous with all the bodiless 367 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:31.400 grace of a goddess older than time and desire. 368 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:38.200 Please listen. I can not know that I am beautiful 369 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.960 and once gone, am gone forever. 370 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:47.079 I could not believe that I was imagining this soft 371 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:51.880 and lovely voice. I felt a sudden and overpowering adoration 372 00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:55.720 for this exquisite creature who whispered in the breath of 373 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.720 the wind. I wanted to call out to the men, 374 00:21:59.160 --> 00:22:02.519 order them to stop desecration of a home and sanctuary. 375 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:07.119 Then I thought of Lsson, of what he'd become, and 376 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:09.079 I fought back them plots. 377 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:14.000 How can you judge who will soon listen? One who 378 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:16.960 is part of the whole divinity of nature? 379 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.960 No, no, I won't. 380 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:23.720 I can't listen to happening, but one with the eyes 381 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.839 of your heart, and. 382 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:34.640 You'll belong to me wherever. No, please, No, you have killed. 383 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:38.599 My doves, covered though white breast with blood. 384 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:40.480 Are you not yet, sir? 385 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.279 It's got to be done. 386 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:45.160 It's got to be done. 387 00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:51.400 No, please, you could stop now and leave the high place. 388 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:57.359 New trees would grow, other doves would come and nest 389 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:57.920 in them. 390 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:02.759 And I can't What do you say, mister Buckan, I 391 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.759 couldn't quite hear you. 392 00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:08.960 M Oh, nothing, nothing at all. 393 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:11.799 Well, I'm ready to put the dynamite around the tower here, 394 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:14.400 if you'll move back a little way with Jobson. 395 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:21.160 With Jobson, perhaps perhaps we could leave the tower. Maybe 396 00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:22.519 it's enough to clear the grove. 397 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:28.160 There's not enough, the book says, as their children remember 398 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.359 the altars. 399 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.720 And the groves. 400 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.400 But the green trees. 401 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.119