Analy High School - Azalea Yearbook (Sebastopol, CA)

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The Ebony Box By ZELDA PITKIN (Third Award) O N a wet, muddy street in New York I found it. It was just a little ebony box; but such a box! Dainty,intri¬ cate designs were carved upon the dark surface. On the box sprawled a hideous little dragon with sparking rubies for eyes. Every minute scale of the dragon was carved by a master hand so cunning in workmanship that the beholder must pause and marvel at the wonder of it. I turned it over and over, gazing at its exquisite beauty ,and taking out my hand¬ kerchief I carefully wiped the mud and rain from it. As I did so a faint delicate odor was wafted to me. I raised my head, inhaling the perfume. “Spring must be coming,” I said, “I smell flowers.” I carried the little box home to my dingy apartments and set it on the table. Dropping to a chair in front of it I fell to wondering where it came from. I tried to open it, but the lid would not budge. My curiosity grew and grew. What was in that box? Again that faint sweet aroma came drifting to me. What yas it? Did it come from the box? I bent closer. It became stronger and sweeter. I closed my eyes with the joy of it. How strong it was! I opened niv eyes and my sight fell upon great clustered masses of cherry blossoms blooming above and around me, and the breeze showered them down to the green grass beneath my feet. I stood underneath a great flowering tree of them. The bees buzzed happily among the flowers and somewhere ,a songster poured forth his liquid notes of song. High up among the snowy flowers a bluebird flashed his brilliant plume. Where was this land where springtime was so joyous? Through the trees came the answer, a little brown Japanese m.aiden with sad almond eyes and troubled face. A playful breeze showered the white petals on her shining black hair and blue clad shoulders, but she gave no heed. Why should she be crying so, when spring was everywhere and the birds were singing stories about the houses they would build among the branches? I spoke to her and asked her the cause of her apparent grief. 17

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many fathers’ sons. Hotep h,as told me all he knows of the matter; he knew Anubis. You have slain him because of your private avarice. How much you must answer for. Let us lift him upon the saddle.” Slowly Sarenchis went to the prostrate figure, and bend¬ ing over him looked into Anubis’ face. The latter opened his eyes and scared at the older man. The quaking coward shrank away as from an apparition, but Anubis, springing to his feet, caught the sword from the old man’s belt, and plunged it deep into his breast. Slowly he drew it out, as with a relish, and heard the thud of the fallen body with a fiendish exhilaration He turned to the dazed figure beside him and held out the drip¬ ping sword with the air of one who has captured a prize. With a harsh, choked laugh he swung himself upon the riderless horse and rode away into the darkness. The soldier stood frozen with horror as he listened to the receding cl,ank and jingle of Anubis’ chains. “Oh, Holy Isis,” he cried, “my brother goes to seek his father whom he has not seen for fifteen years. How shall I tell him he has this night slain him with his own hands?”

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Then she told me. There was ,a little ebony box given to an emperor ages ago by a Japanese god. It was the greatest treasure of the royal family and each succeeding emperor jealously guarded it. He alone knew what it contained, but there were many surmises as to its secret. Some people said that there were precious jewels and gold in it, and others told tales of a little ivory god with flashing blue jewels for eyes and tiny feet of gold, who sat cross-legged on the velvet lining of the box. One very old wise man said it held the secret of eter¬ nal youth, ,and a very old lady said the secret of a child’s laughter was hidden in it. Many believed that there was noth¬ ing in the box at all and said the tales of jewels and treasure were just foolish rumors, but the emperor alone knew and smiled wisely to himself. She had been entrusted with the care of the box by the emperor’s daughter. It had only been for a short time, and in that time she had lost it and the emperor was very angry. If it was not found in one hour he would cut off her head. She had hunted everywhere for the box and no where was it to be found. She did not know where she had lost it; only that she had had it and then it was gone. As she told her story an overwhelming desire swept over me to know what w,as in the mysterious box. My hand sought my pocket and I never knowing how it got there! We went to the emperor’s palace. He was a little old wizened brown man with sharp eyes that continually shifted from place to place, watching every movement made. I fell to my knees before him and made respectful obei¬ sance. Rising I s,aid, “0, Emperor, if I could return the gift of the gods to you, what would you give me?” His skinny hands clutched at his embroidered robe, but he said scornfully, “Who is this mad creature who talks of my treasure?” “Look, 0 Emperor!” and I drew forth the little box. He reached forward his hands and cried, “It is mine, give it to me.” I drew back. “Not until I am rewarded for finding it.” “What do you ask for a reward?” Tell me the secret of the box and show me the hidden spring that I may open it and see the treasure with my own eyes. ’ ’ 18