gulliver of mars-第11部分

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round　upon　her　orbit；　and　redder　and　redder　over　the　city　tops　rose　the　circumference　of　the　earth。　　It　seemed　to　me　all　the　silent　multitude　were　breathing　heavily　as　we　watched　that　giddy　dance；　and　whatever　THEY　felt；　all　my　own　senses　seemed　to　be　winding　up　upon　that　re…　volving　figure　as　thread　winds　on　a　spindle。

〃When　will　she　stop？〃　I　whispered　to　my　friend　under　my　breath。

〃When　the　earth…star　rests　in　the　roof…niche　of　the　temple　it　is　climbing；〃　she　answered　back。

〃And　then？〃

〃On　the　tripod　is　a　globe　of　water。　　In　it　she　will　see　the　destiny　of　the　year；　and　will　tell　us。　　The　whiter　the　water　stays；　the　better　for　us；　it　never　varies　from　white。　　But　we　must　not　talk；　see！　she　is　stopping。〃

And　as　I　looked　back；　the　dance　was　certainly　ebbing　now　with　such　smoothly　decreasing　undulations；　that　every　heart　began　to　beat　calmer　in　response。　　There　was　a　minute　or　two　of　such　slow　cessation；　and　then　to　say　she　stopped　were　too　gross　a　description。　　Motion　rather　died　away　from　her；　and　the　priestess　grounded　as　smoothly　as　a　ship　grounds　in　fine　weather　on　a　sandy　bank。　　There　she　was　at　last；　crouched　behind　the　tripod；　one　corner　of　the　cloth　covering　it　grasped　in　her　hand；　and　her　eyes　fixed　on　the　shining　round　just　poised　upon　the　distant　run。

Keenly　the　girl　watched　it　slide　into　zenith；　then　the　cloth　was　snatched　from　the　tripod…top。　　As　it　fell　it　un…　covered　a　beautiful　and　perfect　globe　of　clear　white　glass；　a　foot　or　so　in　diameter；　and　obviously　filled　with　the　thin…　nest；　most　limpid　water　imaginable。　　At　first　it　seemed　to　me；　who　stood　near　to　the　priestess　of　Mars；　with　that　beaming　sphere　directly　between　us；　and　the　newly　risen　world；　that　its　smooth　and　flawless　face　was　absolutely　devoid　of　sign　or　colouring。　　Then；　as　the　distant　planet　became　stronger　in　the　magnifying　Martian　air；　or　my　eyes　better　accustomed　to　that　sudden　nucleus　of　brilliancy；　a　delicate　and　in…　finitely　lovely　network　of　colours　came　upon　it。　　They　were　like　the　radiant　prisms　that　sometimes　flush　the　surface　of　a　bubble　more　than　aught　else　for　a　time。　　But　as　I　watched　that　mosaic　of　yellow　and　purple　creep　softly　to　and　fro　upon　the　globe　it　seemed　they　slowly　took　form　and　meaning。　　Another　minute　or　two　and　they　had　certainly　con…　gealed　into　a　settled　plan；　and　then；　as　I　stared　and　wondered；　it　burst　upon　me　in　a　minute　that　I　was　looking　upon　a　picture；　faithful　in　every　detail；　of　the　world　I　stood　on；　all　its　ruddy　forests；　its　sapphire　sea；　both　broad　and　narrow　ones；　its　white　peaked　mountains；　and　unnumbered　islands　being　mapped　out　with　startling　clearness　for　a　spell　upon　that　beaming　orb。

Then　a　strange　thing　happened。　　Heru；　who　had　been　crouching　in　a　tremulous　heap　by　the　tripod；　rose　stealthily　and　passed　her　hands　a　few　times　across　the　sphere。　　Colour　and　picture　vanished　at　her　touch　like　breath　from　a　mirror。　Again　all　was　clear　and　pellucid。

〃Now；〃　said　my　companion；　〃now　listen！　　For　Heru　reads　the　destiny；　the　whiter　the　globe　stays　the　better　for　us〃　and　then　I　felt　her　hand　tighten　on　mine　with　a　startled　grasp　as　the　words　died　away　upon　her　lips。

Even　as　the　girl　spoke；　the　sphere；　which　had　been　beam…　ing　in　the　centre　of　the　silent　square　like　a　mighty　white　jewel；　began　to　flush　with　angry　red。　　Redder　and　redder　grew　the　gleama　fiery　glow　which　seemed　curdling　in　the　interior　of　the　round　as　though　it　were　filled　with　flame；　redder　and　redder；　until　the　princess；　staring　into　it；　seemed　turned　against　the　jet…black　night　behind；　into　a　form　of　molten　metal。　　A　spasm　of　terror　passed　across　her　as　she　stared；　her　limbs　stiffened；　her　frightened　hands　were　clutched　in　front；　and　she　stood　cowering　under　that　great　crimson　nucleus　like　one　bereft　of　power　and　life；　and　lost　to　every　sense　but　that　of　agony。　　Not　a　syllable　came　from　her　lips；　not　a　movement　stirred　her　body；　only　that　dumb；　stupid　stare　of　horror；　at　the　something　she　saw　in　the　globe。　What　could　I　do？　　I　could　not　sit　and　see　her　soul　come　out　at　her　frightened　eyes；　and　not　a　Martian　moved　a　finger　to　her　rescue；　the　red　shine　gleamed　on　empty　faces；　tier　above　tier；　and　flung　its　broad　flush　over　the　endless　rank　of　open…mouthed　spectators；　then　back　I　looked　to　Heruthat　winsome　little　lady　for　whom；　you　will　re…　member；　I　had　already　more　than　a　passing　fancyand　saw　with　a　thrill　of　emotion　that　while　she　still　kept　her　eyes　on　the　flaming　globe　like　one　in　a　horrible　dream　her　hands　were　slowly；　very　slowly；　rising　in　supplication　to　ME！　It　was　not　vanity。　　There　was　no　mistaking　the　direction　of　that　silent；　imploring　appeal。

Not　a　man　of　her　countrymen　moved；　not　even　black　Hath！　　There　was　not　a　sound　in　the　world；　it　seemed；　but　the　noisy　clatter　of　my　own　shoenails　on　the　marble　flags。　　In　the　great　red　eye　of　that　unholy　globe　the　Martians　glimmered　like　a　picture　multitude　under　the　red　cliff　of　their　ruined　palace。　　I　glared　round　at　them　with　contempt　for　a　minute；　then　sprang　forward　and　snatched　the　prin…　cess　up。　　It　was　like　pulling　a　flower　up　by　the　roots。　　She　was　stiff　and　stark　when　I　lay　hold　of　her；　but　when　I　tore　her　from　the　magic　ground　she　suddenly　gave　a　piercing　shriek；　and　fainted　in　my　arms。

Then　as　I　turned　upon　my　heels　with　her　upon　my　breast　my　foot　caught　upon　the　cloths　still　wound　about　the　tripod　of　the　sphere。　　Over　went　that　implement　of　a　thousand　years　of　sorcery；　and　out　went　the　red　fire。　　But　little　I　caredthe　princess　was　safe！　　And　up　the　palace　steps；　amidst　a　low；　wailing　hum　of　consternation　from　the　re…　covering　Martians；　I　bore　that　bundle　of　limp　and　senseless　loveliness　up　into　the　pale　shine　of　her　own　porch；　and　there；　laying　her　down　upon　a　couch；　watched　her　recover　presently　amongst　her　women　with　a　varied　assortment　of　emotions　tingling　in　my　veins。




CHAPTER　VI

Beyond　the　first　flutter　of　surprise；　the　Martians　had　shown　no　interest　in　the　abrupt　termination　of　the　year's　divinations。　　They　melted　away；　a　trifle　more　silently　per…　haps　than　usual；　when　I　shattered　the　magic　globe；　but　with　their　invariable　indifference；　and　having　handed　the　reviving　Heru　over　to　some　women　who　led　her　away；　apparently　already　half　forgetful　of　the　things　that　had　just　happened；　I　was　left　alone　on　the　palace　steps；　not　even　An　beside　me；　and　only　the　shadow　of　a　passerby　now　and　then　to　break　the　solitude。　　Whereon　a　great　lone…　liness　took　hold　upon　me；　and；　pacing　to　and　fro　along　the　ancient　terrace　with　bent　head　and　folded　arms；　I　bewailed　my　fate。　　To　and　fro　I　walked；　heedless　and　melancholy；　thinking　of　the　old　world；　that　was　so　far　and　this　near　world　so　distant　from　me　in　everything　making　life　worth　living；　thinking；　as　I　strode　gloomily　here　and　there；　how　gladly　I　would　exchange　these　poor　puppets　and　the　mockery　of　a　town　they　dwelt　in；　for　a　sight　of　my　com…　rades　and　a　corner　in　the　poorest　wine…shop　salon　in　New　York　or　'Frisco；　idly　speculating　why；　and　how；　I　came　here；　as　I　sauntered　down　amongst　the　glistening；　shell…like　fragments　of　the　shattered　globe；　and　finding　no　answer。　How　could　I？　　It　was　too　fair；　I　thought；　standing　there　in　the　open；　there　was　a　fatal　sweetness　in　the　air；　a　deadly　sufficiency　in　the　beauty　of　everything　around　falling　on　the　lax　senses　like　some　sleepy　draught　of　pleasure。　　Not　a　leaf　stirred；　the　wide　purple　roof　of　the　sky　was　unbroken　by　the　healthy　promise　of　a　cloud　from　rim　to　rim；　the　splendid　country；　teeming　with　its　spring…time　richness；　lay　in　rank　perfection　everywhere；　and　just　as　rank　and　sleek　and　passionless　were　those　who　owned　it。

Why；　even　I；　who　yesterday　was　strong；　began　to　come　under　the　spell　of　it。　　But　yesterday　the　spirit　of　the　old　world　was　still　strong　within　me；　yet　how　much　things　were　now　changing。　　The　well…strung　muscles　loosening；　the　heart　beating　a　slower　measure；　the　busy　mind　drowsing　off　to　listlessness。　　Was　I；　too；　destined　to　become　like　these？　Was　the　red　stuff　in　my　veins　to　be　watered　down　to　pallid　Martian　sap？　　Was　ambition　and　hope　to　desert　me；　and　idleness　itself　become　laborious；　while　life　ran　to　seed　in　gilded　uselessness？　　Little　did　I　guess　how　unnecessary　my　fears　were；　or　of　the　incredible　fairy　tale　of　adventure　into　which　fate　was　going　to　plunge　me。

Still　engrossed　the　next　morning　by　these　thoughts；　I　decided　I　would　go　to　Hath。　　Hath　was　a　manat　least　they　said　sohe　might　sympathise　even　though　he　could　not　help；　and　so；　dressing　finished；　I　went　down　towards　the　innermost　palace　whence　for　an　hour　or　two　had　come　sounds　of　unwonted　bustle。　　Asking　for　the　way　occasion…　ally　from　sleepy　folk　lolling　about　the　corridors；　waiting　as　it　seemed　for　their　breakfasts　to　come　to　them；　and　embarrassed　by　the　new　daylight；　I　wandered　to　and　fro　in　the　labyrinths　of　that　stony　ant…heap　until　I　chanced　upon　a　curtained　doorway　which　admitted　to　a　long　cham…　ber；　high…roofed；　ample　in　proportions；　with　colonnades　on　either　side　separated　from　the　main　aisle　by　rows　of　flowery　figures　and　emblematic　scroll…work；　meaning　I　knew　not　what。　　Above　those　pillars　ran　a　gallery　with　many　windows　looking　out　over　the　ruined　city。　　While　at　the　further　end　of　the　chamber　stood　three　broad　steps　leading　to　a　dais。　　As　I　entered；　the　whole　place　was　full　of　bustling　girls；　their　yellow　garments　like　a　bed　of　flowers　in　the　sunlight　trickling　through　the　casements；　and　all　intent　on　the　spreading　of　a　feast　on　long　tables　ranged　up　and　down　the　hall。　　The　morning　light　streamed　in　on　the　white　cloths。　　It　glittered　on　the　glass　and　the　gold　they　were　putting　on　the　trestles；　and　gave　resplendent　depths　of　colour　to　the　ribbon　bands　round　the　pillars。　　All　were　so　busy　no　one　noticed　me　standing　in　the　twilight　by　the　door；　but　presently；　laying　a　hand　on　a　worker's　shoulder；　I　asked　who　they　banqueted　for；　and　why　such　unwonted　preparation？

〃It　is　the　marriage…feast　tonight；　stranger；　and　a　marvel　you　did　not　know　it。　　You；　too；　are　to　be　wed。〃

〃I　had　not　heard　of　it；　damsel；　a　paternal　forethought　of　your　Government；　I　suppose？　　Have　you　any　idea　who　the　lady　is？〃

〃How　should　I　know？〃　she　answered　laughingly。　　〃That　is　the　secret　of　the　urn。　　Meanwhile；　we　have　set　you　a　place　at　the　table…head　near　Princess　Heru；　and　tonight　you　dip　and　hav