gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第15节
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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
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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
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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
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recover presently amongst her women with a varied assortment of
emotions tingling in my veins。
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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
