midday
Alan followed her through a kind of swing door which opened into another of the endless halls , but when he looked for her there she was nowhere to be seen . A priest who was waiting beyond the door bowed and informed him that the Asika had gone to her own place , and would see him that evening . Then bowing again he led them back by various passages to the room where they had slept . `` Jeekie , '' said Alan after their food had been brought to them , this time , he observed , by men , for it was now past midday , `` you were born in Asiki-land ; tell me the truth of this business . What does that woman mean when she talks about her spirit having been here from the beginning . '' `` She mean , Major , that every time she die her soul go into someone else , whom priests find out by marks . Also Asika always die young , they never let her become old woman , but how she die and where they bury her , no one know ` cept priests .