the blue flower-第3部分

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people　of　the　city；　not　only　among　those　who　walked　together
in　the　visitation　of　the　Source；　but　also　among　those　who
remained　behind；　for　many　of　them　were　kind　and　generous；
faithful　in　their　work；　and　very　pleasant　in　their
conversation。

Yet　there　was　something　lacking　between　me　and　them。　　I
came　not　onto　firm　ground　with　them；　for　all　their　warmth　of
welcome　and　their　pleasant　ways。　　They　were　by　nature　of　the
race　of　those　who　dwell　ever　in　one　place；　even　in　their　thoughts
they　went　not　far　abroad。　　But　I　have　been　ever　a　seeker；　and　the
world　seems　to　me　made　to　wander　in；　rather　than　to　abide　in　one
corner　of　it　and　never　see　what　the　rest　has　in　store。　　Now
this　was　what　the　people　of　Saloma　could　not　understand；　and
for　this　reason　I　seemed　to　them　always　a　stranger；　an　alien；
a　guest。　　The　fixed　circle　of　their　life　was　like　an　invisible
wall；　and　with　the　best　will　in　the　world　they　knew　not　how　to
draw　me　within　it。　　And　I；　for　my　part；　while　I　understood
well　their　wish　to　rest　and　be　at　peace；　could　not　quite
understand　the　way　in　which　it　found　fulfilment；　nor　share　the
repose　which　seemed　to　them　all…sufficient　and　lasting。　　In
their　gardens　I　saw　ever　the　same　flowers；　and　none　perfect。
At　their　feasts　I　tasted　ever　the　same　food；　and　none　that
made　an　end　of　hunger。　　In　their　talk　I　heard　ever　the　same
words；　and　none　that　went　to　the　depth　of　thought。　　The　very
quietude　and　fixity　of　their　being　perplexed　and　estranged　me。
What　to　them　was　permanent；　to　me　was　transient。　　They　were
inhabitants：　　I　was　a　visitor。

The　one　in　all　the　city　of　Saloma　with　whom　was　most　at　home
was　Ruamie；　the　little　granddaughter　of　the　old　man　with　whom
I　lodged。　　To　her；　a　girl　of　thirteen；　fair…eyed　and　full　of
joy；　the　wonted　round　of　life　had　not　yet　grown　to　be　a　matter　of
course。　　She　was　quick　to　feel　and　answer　the　newness　of　every
day　that　dawned。　　When　a　strange　bird　flew　down　from　the
mountains　into　the　gardens；　it　was　she　that　saw　it　and　wondered
at　it。　　It　was　she　that　walked　with　me　most　often　in　the　path　to
the　Source。　　She　went　out　with　me　to　the　fields　in　the　morning
and　almost　every　day　found　wild…flowers　that　were　new　to　me。
At　sunset　she　drew　me　to　happy　games　of　youths　and　children；
where　her　fancy　was　never　tired　of　weaving　new　turns　to　the
familiar　pastimes。　　In　the　dusk　she　would　sit　beside　me　in　an
arbour　of　honeysuckle　and　question　me　about　the　flower　that　I
was　seeking；for　to　her　I　had　often　spoken　of　my　quest。

〃Is　it　blue；〃　she　asked；　〃as　blue　as　the　speedwell　that
grows　beside　the　brook？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　as　much　bluer　than　the　speedwell；　as　the　river
is　deeper　than　the　brook。〃

〃And　is　it　she　asked；　〃as　bright　as　the　drops　of　dew　in
the　moonlight？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　brighter　than　the　drops　of　dew　as　the　sun　is
clearer　than　the　moon。〃

〃And　is　it　sweet；〃　she　asked；　〃as　sweet　as　the　honeysuckle
when　the　day　is　warm　and　still？〃

〃Yes；　it　is　as　much　sweeter　than　the　honeysuckle　as　the
night　is　stiller　and　more　sweet　than　the　day。〃

〃Tell　me　again；〃　she　asked；　〃when　you　saw　it；　and　why　do
you　seek　it？〃

〃Once　I　saw　it　when　I　was　a　boy；　no　older　than　you。　　Our
house　looked　out　toward　the　hills；　far　away　and　at　sunset
softly　blue　against　the　eastern　sky。　　It　was　the　day　that　we
laid　my　father　to　rest　in　the　little　burying…ground　among　the
cedar…trees。　　There　was　his　father's　grave；　and　his　father's
father's　grave；　and　there　were　the　places　for　my　mother　and
for　my　two　brothers　and　for　my　sister　and　for　me。　　I　counted
them　all；　when　the　others　had　gone　back　to　the　house。　　I　paced
up　and　down　alone；　measuring　the　ground；　there　was
room　enough　for　us　all；　and　in　the　western　corner　where　a
young　elm…tree　was　growing；that　would　be　my　place；　for　I　was
the　youngest。　　How　tall　would　the　elm…tree　be　then？　　I　had
never　thought　of　it　before。　　It　seemed　to　make　me　sad　and
restless；wishing　for　something；　I　knew　not　what；longing　to
see　the　world　and　to　taste　happiness　before　I　must　sleep
beneath　the　elm…tree。　　Then　I　looked　off　to　the　blue　hills；
shadowy　and　dream…like；　the　boundary　of　the　little　world　that
I　knew。　　And　there；　in　a　cleft　between　the　highest　peaks　I　saw
a　wondrous　thing：　for　the　place　at　which　I　was　looking　seemed
to　come　nearer　and　nearer　to　me；　I　saw　the　trees；　the　rocks；
the　ferns；　the　white　road　winding　before　me；　the　enfolding
hills　unclosed　like　leaves；　and　in　the　heart　of　them　I　saw　a
Blue　Flower；　so　bright；　so　beautiful　that　my　eyes　filled　with
tears　as　I　looked。　　It　was　like　a　face　that　smiled　at　me　and
promised　something。　　Then　I　heard　a　call；　like　the　note　of　a
trumpet　very　far　away；　calling　me　to　come。　　And　as　I　listened
the　flower　faded　into　the　dimness　of　the　hills。〃

〃Did　you　follow　it；〃　asked　Ruamie；　〃and　did　you　go　away　from
your　home？　　How　could　you　do　that？〃

〃Yes；　Ruamie；　when　the　time　came；　as　soon　as　I　was　free；
I　set　out　on　my　journey；　and　my　home　is　at　the　end　of　the
journey；　wherever　that　may　be。〃

〃And　the　flower；〃　she　asked；　〃you　have　seen　it　again？〃

〃Once　again；　when　I　was　a　youth；　I　saw　it。　　After　a　long
voyage　upon　stormy　seas；　we　came　into　a　quiet　haven；　and　there
the　friend　who　was　dearest　to　me；　said　good…by；　for　he　was
going　back　to　his　own　country　and　his　father's　house；　but　I
was　still　journeying　onward。　　So　as　I　stood　at　the　bow　of　the
ship；　sailing　out　into　the　wide　blue　water；　far　away　among　the
sparkling　waves　I　saw　a　little　island；　with　shores　of　silver
sand　and　slopes　of　fairest　green；　and　in　the　middle　of　the
island　the　Blue　Flower　was　growing；　wondrous　tall　and
dazzling；　brighter　than　the　sapphire　of　the　sea。　　Then　the
call　of　the　distant　trumpet　came　floating　across　the　water；
and　while　it　was　sounding　a　shimmer　of　fog　swept　over　the
island　and　I　could　see　it　no　more。〃

〃Was　it　a　real　island；〃　asked　Ruamie。　　〃Did　you　ever　find
it？〃

〃Never；　for　the　ship　sailed　another　way。　　But　once　again
I　saw　the　flower；　three　days　before　I　came　to　Saloma。　　It　was
on　the　edge　of　the　desert；　close　under　the　shadow　of　the　great
mountains。　　A　vast　loneliness　was　round　about　me；　it　seemed　as
if　I　was　the　only　soul　living　upon　earth；　and　I　longed　for　the
dwellings　of　men。　　Then　as　I　woke　in　the　morning　I　looked　up
at　the　dark　ridge　of　the　mountains；　and　there　against　the
brightening　blue　of　the　sky　I　saw　the　Blue　Flower　standing　up
clear　and　brave。　　It　shone　so　deep　and　pure　that　the　sky　grew
pale　around　it。　　Then　the　echo　of　the　far…off　trumpet　drifted
down　the　hillsides；　and　the　sun　rose；　and　the　flower　was
melted　away　in　light。　　So　I　rose　and　travelled　on　till　I　came
to　Saloma。〃

〃And　now；〃　said　the　child；　〃you　are　at　home　with　us。　　Will
you　not　stay　for　a　long；　long　while？　　You　may　find　the　Blue
Flower　here。　　There　are　many　kinds　in　the　fields。　　I　find　new
ones　every　day。〃

〃I　will　stay　while　I　can；　Ruamie；〃　I　answered；
taking　her　hand　in　mine　as　we　walked　back　to　the　house　at
nightfall；　〃but　how　long　that　may　be　I　cannot　tell。　　For　with
you　I　am　at　home；　yet　the　place　where　I　must　abide　is　the
place　where　the　flower　grows；　and　when　the　call　comes　I　must
follow　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　looking　at　me　half　in　doubt；　〃I　think　I
understand。　　But　wherever　you　go　I　hope　you　will　find　the
flower　at　last。〃

In　truth　there　were　many　things　in　the　city　that　troubled
me　and　made　me　restless；　in　spite　of　the　sweet　comfort　of
Ruamie's　friendship　and　the　tranquillity　of　the　life　in
Saloma。　　I　came　to　see　the　meaning　of　what　the　old　man　had
said　about　the　shadow　that　rested　upon　his　thoughts。　　For
there　were　some　in　the　city　who　said　that　the　hours　of
visitation　were　wasted；　and　that　it　would　be　better　to　employ
the　time　in　gathering　water　from　the　pools　that　formed　among
the　mountains　in　the　rainy　season；　or　in　sinking　wells　along
the　edge　of　the　desert。　　Others　had　newly　come　to　the　city　and
were　teaching　that　there　was　no　Source；　and　that　the　story　of
the　poor　man　who　reopened　it　was　a　fable；　and　that　the　hours　of
visitation　were　only　hours　of　dreaming。　　There　were　many　who
believed　them；　and　many　more　who　said　that　it　did　not　matter
whether　their　words　were　true　or　false；　and　that　it　was　of　small
moment　whether　men　went　to　visit　the　fountain　or　not；　provided
only　that　they　worked　in　the　gardens　and　kept　the　marble　pools
and　basins　in　repair　and　opened　new　canals　through　the　fields；
since　there　always　had　been　and　always　would　be　plenty　of　water。

As　I　listened　to　these　sayings　it　seemed　to　me　doubtful
what　the　end　of　the　city　would　be。　　And　while　this　doubt　was
yet　heavy　upon　me；　I　heard　at　midnight　the　faint　calling　of
the　trumpet；　sounding　along　the　crest　of　the　mountains：　and　as
I　went　out　to　look　where　it　came　from；　I　saw；　through　the
glimmering　veil　of　the　milky　way；　the　shape　of　a　blossom　of
celestial　blue；　whose　petals　seemed　to　fall　and　fade　as　I
looked。　　So　I　bade　farewell　to　the　old　man　in　whose　house　I
had　learned　to　love　the　hour　of　visitation　and　the　Source　and
the　name　of　him　who　opened　it；　and　I　kissed　the　hands　and　the
brow　of　the　little　Ruamie　who　had　entered　my　heart；　and　went
forth　sadly　from　the　land　of　Koorma　into　other　lands；　to　look　for
the　Blue　Flower。



II

In　the　Book　of　the　Voyage　without　a　Harbour　is　written　the
record　of　the　ten　years　which　passed　before　I　came　back　again
to　the　city　of　Saloma。

It　was　not　easy　to　find；　for　I　came　down　through　the
mountains；　and　as　I　looked　from　a　distant　shoulder　of　the
hills　for　the　little　bay　full　of　greenery；　it　was　not　to　be
seen。　　There　was　only　a　white　town　shining　far　off　against　the
brown　cliffs；　like　a　flake　of　mica　in　a　cleft　of　the　rocks。
Then　I　slept　that　night；　full　of　care；　on　the　hillside；　and
rising　before　dawn；　came　down　in　the　early　morning　toward　the
city。

The　fields　were　lying　parched　and　yellow　under　the
sunrise；　and　great　cracks　gaped　in　the　earth　as　if　it　were
thirsty。　　The　trenches　and　channels　were　still　there；　but
there　was　little　water　in　them；　and　through　the　ragged　fringes　of
the　rusty　vineyards　I　heard；　instead　of　the　cheerful　songs　of　the
vintagers；　the　creaking　of　dry　windlasses　and　the　hoarse　throb　of
the　pumps　in　sunken　wells。　　The　girdle　of　gardens　had　shrunk　like
a　wreath　of　withered　flowers；　and　all　t