Free The Island Where Time Stands Still by Dennis Wheatley Page A

them.Apparently the valley had once been dense tropical jungle, but since brought by immense labour under control and converted with consummate artistry into an unbroken succession of glades, orchards and gardens.
    After about a mile they entered the avenue of palms and turned inland along it. Ahead now lay the most massive buildings, including the tall pagoda. From the position of the sun Gregory saw that they were heading north; and, now he was aware of the reason for the similarity of the lay-out to that of the Imperial City, he felt sure that the palace in which the Emperor gave audience must be a triple-roofed building straight ahead. In old China it was traditional for a superior always to be seated with his back to the north when he received an inferior. One of the many pseudonyms by which people referred to the Emperor had been
Nan Mien
, meaning ‘The Face which is turned towards the South’. Pekin itself is backed by a semi-circle of mountains to the north, while through the plain to the south passes the great trunk road, leading through gate after gate in the city, courtyard after courtyard of the palace, to end only at the steps of the Imperial Throne.
    Gregory’s guess, that here on a miniature scale the old symbolism would have been copied, proved correct. After passing through three handsome gates with roofs like inverted sickle moons they entered a spacious courtyard crowded with people. Before the main door in its far side the palaquin was set down and Sze Hsüan got out. He was received with deference by a number of men wearing the same uniforms as those who had done guard duty in the cage, spoke briefly to their officer, then passed into the palace. The officer came over to Gregory, bowed, and said in English:
    â€˜You will please follow me.’
    Beyond the huge outer door, across a lofty entrance hall, there was another, made of scrolled bronze-work having great flowers inlaid with mother of pearl; but the officer took Gregory into a small side room and told him to wait there.
    It was almost bare of furniture, but its walls were panelled with hand-embroidered silk depicting scenes from Chinese life, and for about twenty minutes Gregory amused himself admiring the superb needlework. The officer then came for him, led him through a further door and back into a second hall where a number of officials were evidently waiting to transact their business. They glanced curiously at him as he was conducted past them towards what appeared to be a blank wall; but the officer touched a hidden spring in it, a panel slid back, and he stepped through the opening into a far more magnificent hall than either of the others.
    A glance showed him that by a side entrance he had been brought to the Throne Room. At its far end there was a dais on which stood a golden throne formed from an intricate lotus design, the stems of the flowers being studded with pearls and the flowers themselves made of bright blue lapis lazuli.
    The throne was unoccupied, but on a stool a little to its right sat Sze Hsüan. Below the dais on either side were ranged three other stools, on each of which sat a Mandarin. They varied in age from a young man in his early twenties to a venerable grey-beard with a creased, monkey-like face, who might well have been over eighty. Gregory at once decided that the six Mandarins, together with old Sze Hsüan, each represented one of the Seven Families who had originally colonised the island, and that, from his place on the dais the latter filled the function of Prime Minister. Squatting on the floor at low tables, with ink, brushes and paper scrolls were a number of clerks taking records of the proceedings.
    The officer led Gregory forward to within about twenty paces of the throne, then stood quietly waiting while the members of the Council regarded him with impassive faces.
    Sze Hsüan addressed his fellow members in Chinese speaking at some length. When he had done, no attempt was made to