roads of destiny-第35部分

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wall　against　which　the　street　splintered　developed　a　stone　coping　topped　with　an　armature　of　spikes。　Beyond　it　loomed　what　appeared　to　be　the　acute　angles　of　mountain　peaks；　pierced　here　and　there　by　little　lambent　parallelograms。　Considering　this　vista；　Tansey　at　length　persuaded　himself　that　the　seeming　mountains　were；　in　fact；　the　convent　of　Santa　Mercedes；　with　which　ancient　and　bulky　pile　he　was　better　familiar　from　different　coigns　of　view。　A　pleasant　note　of　singing　in　his　ears　reinforced　his　opinion。　High；　sweet；　holy　carolling；　far　and　harmonious　and　uprising；　as　of　sanctified　nuns　at　their　responses。　At　what　hour　did　the　Sisters　sing？　He　tried　to　think　was　it　six；　eight；　twelve？　Tansey　leaned　his　back　against　the　limestone　wall　and　wondered。　Strange　things　followed。　The　air　was　full　of　white；　fluttering　pigeons　that　circled　about；　and　settled　upon　the　convent　wall。　The　wall　blossomed　with　a　quantity　of　shining　green　eyes　that　blinked　and　peered　at　him　from　the　solid　masonry。　A　pink；　classic　nymph　came　from　an　excavation　in　the　cavernous　road　and　danced；　barefoot　and　airy；　upon　the　ragged　flints。　The　sky　was　traversed　by　a　company　of　beribboned　cats；　marching　in　stupendous；　aerial　procession。　The　noise　of　singing　grew　louder；　an　illumination　of　unseasonable　fireflies　danced　past；　and　strange　whispers　came　out　of　the　dark　without　meaning　or　excuse。

Without　amazement　Tansey　took　note　of　these　phenomena。　He　was　on　some　new　plane　of　understanding；　though　his　mind　seemed　to　him　clear　and；　indeed；　happily　tranquil。

A　desire　for　movement　and　exploration　seized　him：　he　rose　and　turned　into　the　black　gash　of　street　to　his　right。　For　a　time　the　high　wall　formed　one　of　its　boundaries；　but　further　on；　two　rows　of　black…　windowed　houses　closed　it　in。

Here　was　the　city's　quarter　once　given　over　to　the　Spaniard。　Here　were　still　his　forbidding　abodes　of　concrete　and　adobe；　standing　cold　and　indomitable　against　the　century。　From　the　murky　fissure；　the　eye　saw；　flung　against　the　sky；　the　tangled　filigree　of　his　Moorish　balconies。　Through　stone　archways　breaths　of　dead；　vault…chilled　air　coughed　upon　him；　his　feet　struck　jingling　iron　rings　in　staples　stone…buried　for　half　a　cycle。　Along　these　paltry　avenues　had　swaggered　the　arrogant　Don；　had　caracoled　and　serenaded　and　blustered　while　the　tomahawk　and　the　pioneer's　rifle　were　already　uplifted　to　expel　him　from　a　continent。　And　Tansey；　stumbling　through　this　old…world　dust；　looked　up；　dark　as　it　was；　and　saw　Andalusian　beauties　glimmering　on　the　balconies。　Some　of　them　were　laughing　and　listening　to　the　goblin　music　that　still　followed；　others　harked　fearfully　through　the　night；　trying　to　catch　the　hoof　beats　of　caballeros　whose　last　echoes　from　those　stones　had　died　away　a　century　ago。　Those　women　were　silent；　but　Tansey　heard　the　jangle　of　horseless　bridle…bits；　the　whirr　of　riderless　rowels；　and；　now　and　then；　a　muttered　malediction　in　a　foreign　tongue。　But　he　was　not　frightened。　Shadows；　nor　shadows　of　sounds　could　daunt　him。　Afraid？　No。　Afraid　of　Mother　Peek？　Afraid　to　face　the　girl　of　his　heart？　Afraid　of　tipsy　Captain　Peek？　Nay！　nor　of　these　apparitions；　nor　of　that　spectral　singing　that　always　pursued　him。　Singing！　He　would　show　them！　He　lifted　up　a　strong　and　untuneful　voice：

　　〃When　you　hear　them　bells　go　tingalingling；〃

serving　notice　upon　those　mysterious　agencies　that　if　it　should　come　to　a　face…to…face　encounter

　　〃There'll　be　a　hot　time　　　In　the　old　town　　　To…night！〃

How　long　Tansey　consumed　in　treading　this　haunted　byway　was　not　clear　to　him；　but　in　time　he　emerged　into　a　more　commodious　avenue。　When　within　a　few　yards　of　the　corner　he　perceived；　through　a　window；　that　a　small　confectionary　of　mean　appearance　was　set　in　the　angle。　His　same　glance　that　estimated　its　meagre　equipment；　its　cheap　soda…water　fountain　and　stock　of　tobacco　and　sweets；　took　cognizance　of　Captain　Peek　within　lighting　a　cigar　at　a　swinging　gaslight。

As　Tansey　rounded　the　corner　Captain　Peek　came　out；　and　they　met　/vis…　a…vis/。　An　exultant　joy　filled　Tansey　when　he　found　himself　sustaining　the　encounter　with　implicit　courage。　Peek；　indeed！　He　raised　his　hand；　and　snapped　his　fingers　loudly。

It　was　Peek　himself　who　quailed　guiltily　before　the　valiant　mien　of　the　drug　clerk。　Sharp　surprise　and　a　palpable　fear　bourgeoned　upon　the　Captain's　face。　And；　verily；　that　face　was　one　to　rather　call　up　such　expressions　on　the　faces　of　others。　The　face　of　a　libidinous　heathen　idol；　small　eyed；　with　carven　folds　in　the　heavy　jowls；　and　a　consuming；　pagan　license　in　its　expression。　In　the　gutter　just　beyond　the　store　Tansey　saw　a　closed　carriage　standing　with　its　back　toward　him　and　a　motionless　driver　perched　in　his　place。

〃Why；　it's　Tansey！〃　exclaimed　Captain　Peek。　〃How　are　you；　Tansey？　H…　have　a　cigar；　Tansey？〃

〃Why；　it's　Peek！〃　cried　Tansey；　jubilant　at　his　own　temerity。　〃What　deviltry　are　you　up　to　now；　Peek？　Back　streets　and　a　closed　carriage！　Fie！　Peek！〃

〃There's　no　one　in　the　carriage；〃　said　the　Captain；　smoothly。

〃Everybody　out　of　it　is　in　luck；〃　continued　Tansey；　aggressively。　〃I'd　love　for　you　to　know；　Peek；　that　I'm　not　stuck　on　you。　You're　a　bottle…nosed　scoundrel。〃

〃Why；　the　little　rat's　drunk！〃　cried　the　Captain；　joyfully；　〃only　drunk；　and　I　thought　he　was　on！　Go　home；　Tansey；　and　quit　bothering　grown　persons　on　the　street。〃

But　just　then　a　white…clad　figure　sprang　out　of　the　carriage；　and　a　shrill　voiceKatie's　voicesliced　the　air：　〃Sam！　Sam！help　me；　Sam！〃

Tansey　sprung　toward　her；　but　Captain　Peek　interposed　his　bulky　form。　Wonder　of　wonders！　the　whilom　spiritless　youth　struck　out　with　his　right；　and　the　hulking　Captain　went　over　in　a　swearing　heap。　Tansey　flew　to　Katie；　and　took　her　in　his　arms　like　a　conquering　knight。　She　raised　her　face；　and　he　kissed　herviolets！　electricity！　caramels！　champagne！　Here　was　the　attainment　of　a　dream　that　brought　no　disenchantment。

〃Oh；　Sam；〃　cried　Katie；　when　she　could；　〃I　knew　you　would　come　to　rescue　me。　What　do　you　suppose　the　mean　things　were　going　to　do　with　me？〃

〃Have　your　picture　taken；〃　said　Tansey；　wondering　at　the　foolishness　of　his　remark。

〃No；　they　were　going　to　eat　me。　I　heard　them　talking　about　it。〃

〃Eat　you！〃　said　Tansey；　after　pondering　a　moment。　〃That　can't　be；　there's　no　plates。〃

But　a　sudden　noise　warned　him　to　turn。　Down　upon　him　were　bearing　the　Captain　and　a　monstrous　long…bearded　dwarf　in　a　spangled　cloak　and　red　trunk…hose。　The　dwarf　leaped　twenty　feet　and　clutched　them。　The　Captain　seized　Katie　and　hurled　her；　shrieking；　back　into　the　carriage；　himself　followed；　and　the　vehicle　dashed　away。　The　dwarf　lifted　Tansey　high　above　his　head　and　ran　with　him　into　the　store。　Holding　him　with　one　hand；　he　raised　the　lid　of　an　enormous　chest　half　filled　with　cakes　of　ice；　flung　Tansey　inside；　and　closed　down　the　cover。

The　force　of　the　fall　must　have　been　great；　for　Tansey　lost　consciousness。　When　his　faculties　revived　his　first　sensation　was　one　of　severe　cold　along　his　back　and　limbs。　Opening　his　eyes；　he　found　himself　to　be　seated　upon　the　limestone　steps　still　facing　the　wall　and　convent　of　Santa　Mercedes。　His　first　thought　was　of　the　ecstatic　kiss　from　Katie。　The　outrageous　villainy　of　Captain　Peek；　the　unnatural　mystery　of　the　situation；　his　preposterous　conflict　with　the　improbable　dwarfthese　things　roused　and　angered　him；　but　left　no　impression　of　the　unreal。

〃I'll　go　back　there　to…morrow；〃　he　grumbled　aloud；　〃and　knock　the　head　off　that　comic…opera　squab。　Running　out　and　picking　up　perfect　strangers；　and　shoving　them　into　cold　storage！〃

But　the　kiss　remained　uppermost　in　his　mind。　〃I　might　have　done　that　long　ago；〃　he　mused。　〃She　liked　it；　too。　She　called　me　'Sam'　four　times。　I'll　not　go　up　that　street　again。　Too　much　scrapping。　Guess　I'll　move　down　the　other　way。　Wonder　what　she　meant　by　saying　they　were　going　to　eat　her！〃

Tansey　began　to　feel　sleepy；　but　after　a　while　he　decided　to　move　along　again。　This　time　he　ventured　into　the　street　to　his　left。　It　ran　level　for　a　distance；　and　then　dipped　gently　downward；　opening　into　a　vast；　dim；　barren　spacethe　old　Military　Plaza。　To　his　left；　some　hundred　yards　distant；　he　saw　a　cluster　of　flickering　lights　along　the　Plaza's　border。　He　knew　the　locality　at　once。

Huddled　within　narrow　confines　were　the　remnants　of　the　once…famous　purveyors　of　the　celebrated　Mexican　national　cookery。　A　few　years　before；　their　nightly　encampments　upon　the　historic　Alamo　Plaza；　in　the　heart　of　the　city；　had　been　a　carnival；　a　saturnalia　that　was　renowned　throughout　the　land。　Then　the　caterers　numbered　hundreds；　the　patrons　thousands。　Drawn　by　the　coquettish　/senoritas/；　the　music　of　the　weird　Spanish　minstrels；　and　the　strange　piquant　Mexican　dishes　served　at　a　hundred　competing　tables；　crowds　thronged　the　Alamo　Plaza　all　night。　Travellers；　rancheros；　family　parties；　gay　gasconading　rounders；　sightseers　and　prowlers　of　polyglot；　owlish　San　Antone　mingled　there　at　the　centre　of　the　city's　fun　and　frolic。　The　popping　of　corks；　pistols；　and　questions；　the　glitter　of　eyes；　jewels　and　daggers；　the　ring　of　laughter　and　cointhese　were　the　order　of　the　night。

But　now　no　longer。　To　some　half…dozen　tents；　fires；　and　tables　had　dwindled　the　picturesque　festival；　and　these　had　been　relegated　to　an　ancient　disused　plaza。

Often　had　Tansey　strolled　down　to　these　stands　at　night　to　partake　of　the　delectable　/chili…con…carne/；　a　dish　evolved　by　the　genius　of　Mexico；　composed　of　delicate　meats　minced　with　aromatic　herbs　and　the　poignant　/chili　colorado/a　compound　full　of　singular　flavour　and　a　fiery　zest　delightful　to　the　Southron's　palate。

The　titillating　odour　of　this　concoction　came　now；　on　the　breeze；　to　the　nostrils　of　Tansey；　awakening　in　him　hunger　for　it。　As　he　turned　in　that　direction　he　saw　a　carriage　dash　up　to　the　Mexicans'　tents　out　of　the　gloom　of　the　Plaza。　Some　figures　moved　back　and　forward　in　the　uncertain　light　of　the　lanterns；　and　then　the　carriage　was　driven　swiftly　away。

Tansey　approached；　and　sat　at　one　of　the　tables　covered　with　gaudy　oil…cloth。　Traffic　was　dull　at　the　moment。　A　few　half…grown　boys　noisily　fared　at　another　table；　the　Mexicans　hung　listless　and　phlegmatic　about　their　wares。　And　it　was　still。　The　night　hum　of　the　city　crow