gulliver of mars-第10节

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CHAPTER　V

When　I　woke；　feeling　as　refreshed　as　though　I　had　been　dreaming　through　a　long　night；　An；　seeing　me　open…eyed；　helped　me　to　my　feet；　and　when　I　had　recovered　my　senses　a　little；　asked　if　we　should　go　on。　　I　was　myself　again　by　this　time；　so　willingly　took　her　hand；　and　soon　came　out　of　the　tangle　into　the　open　spaces。　　I　must　have　been　under　the　spell　of　the　Martian　wines　longer　than　it　seemed；　for　already　it　was　late　in　the　afternoon；　the　shadows　of　trees　were　lying　deep　and　far…reaching　over　the　motley　crowds　of　people。　　Out　here　as　the　day　waned　they　had　developed　some　sort　of　method　in　their　sports。　　In　front　of　us　was　a　broad；　grassy　course　marked　off　with　garlanded　finger…posts；　and　in　this　space　rallies　of　workfolk　were　taking　part　in　all　manner　of　games　under　the　eyes　of　a　great　concourse　of　spectators；　doing　the　Martians'　pleasures　for　them　as　they　did　their　labours。　　An　led　me　gently　on；　leaning　on　my　arm　heavier；　I　thought；　than　she　had　done　in　the　morning；　and　ever　and　anon　turning　her　gazelle…like　eyes　upon　me　with　a　look　I　could　not　understand。　　As　we　sauntered　forward　I　noticed　all　about　lesser　circles　where　the　yellow…girted　ones　were　drawing　delighted　laughter　from　good…tempered　crowds　by　tricks　of　sleight…of…hand；　and　posturing；　or　toss…　ing　gilded　cups　and　balls　as　though　they　were　catering；　as　indeed　they　were；　for　outgrown　children。　　Others　fluted　or　sang　songs　in　chorus　to　the　slow　clapping　of　hands；　while　others　were　doing　I　knew　not　what；　sitting　silent　amongst　si…　lent　spectators　who　every　now　and　then　burst　out　laughing　for　no　cause　that　I　could　see。　　But　An　would　not　let　me　stop；　and　so　we　pushed　on　through　the　crowd　till　we　came　to　the　main　enclosures　where　a　dozen　slaves　had　run　a　race　for　the　amusement　of　those　too　lazy　to　race　them…　selves；　and　were　sitting　panting　on　the　grass。

To　give　them　time　to　get　their　breath；　perhaps；　a　man　stepped　out　of　the　crowd　dressed　in　a　dark　blue　tunic；　a　strange　vacuous…looking　fellow；　and　throwing　down　a　sheaf　of　javelins　marched　off　a　dozen　paces；　then；　facing　round；　called　out　loudly　he　would　give　sixteen　suits　of　〃summer　cloth〃　to　any　one　who　could　prick　him　with　a　javelin　from　the　heap。

〃Why；〃　I　said　in　amazement；　〃this　is　the　best　of　fools　no　one　could　miss　from　such　a　distance。〃

〃Ay　but；〃　replied　my　guide；　〃he　is　a　gifted　one；　versed　in　mystics。〃

I　was　just　going　to　say　a　good　javelin；　shod　with　iron；　was　a　stronger　argument　than　any　mystic　I　had　ever　heard　of　could　stand；　when　out　of　the　crowd　stepped　a　youth；　and　amid　the　derisive　cheers　of　his　friends　chose　a　reed　from　the　bundle。　　He　poised　it　in　his　hand　a　minute　to　get　the　middle；　then　turned　on　the　living　target。　　Whatever　else　they　might　be；　these　Martians　were　certainly　beautiful　as　the　day…　time。　　Never　had　I　seen　such　a　perfect　embodiment　of　grace　and　elegance　as　that　boy　as　he　stood　there　for　a　moment　poised　to　the　throw；　the　afternoon　sunshine　warm　and　strong　on　his　bunched　brown　hair；　a　girlish　flush　of　shyness　on　his　handsome　face；　and　the　sleek　perfection　of　his　limbs；　clear　cut　against　the　dusky　background　beyond。　　And　now　the　javelin　was　going。　　Surely　the　mystic　would　think　better　of　it　at　the　last　moment！　　No！　the　initiate　held　his　ground　with　tight…shut　lips　and　retrospective　eyes；　and　even　as　I　looked　the　weapon　flew　upon　its　errand。

〃There　goes　the　soul　of　a　fool！〃　I　exclaimed；　and　as　the　words　were　uttered　the　spear　struck；　or　seemed　to；　between　the　neck　and　shoulder；　but　instead　of　piercing　rose　high　into　the　air；　quivering　and　flashing；　and　presently　turning　over；　fell　back；　and　plunged　deep　into　the　turf；　while　a　low　murmur　of　indifferent　pleasure　went　round　amongst　the　onlookers。

Thereat　An；　yawning　gently；　looked　to　me　and　said；　〃A　strong…willed　fellow；　isn't　he；　friend？〃

I　hesitated　a　minute　and　then　asked；　〃Was　it　WILL　which　turned　that　shaft？〃

She　answered　with　simplicity；　〃Why；　of　coursewhat　else？〃

By　this　time　another　boy　had　stepped　out；　and　having　chosen　a　javelin；　tested　it　with　hand　and　foot；　then　re…　tiring　a　pace　or　two　rushed　up　to　the　throwing　mark　and　flung　it　straight　and　true　into　the　bared　bosom　of　the　man。　And　as　though　it　had　struck　a　wall　of　brass；　the　shaft　leapt　back　falling　quivering　at　the　thrower's　feet。　　Another　and　another　tried　unsuccessfully；　until　at　last；　vexed　at　their　futility；　I　said；　〃I　have　a　somewhat　scanty　wardrobe　that　would　be　all　the　better　for　that　fellow's　summer　suiting；　by　your　leave　I　will　venture　a　throw　against　him。〃

〃It　is　useless；〃　answered　An；　〃none　but　one　who　knows　more　magic　than　he；　or　is　especially　befriended　by　the　Fates　can　touch　him　through　the　envelope　he　has　put　on。〃

〃Still；　I　think　I　will　try。〃

〃It　is　hopeless；　I　would　not　willingly　see　you　fail；〃　whispered　the　girl；　with　a　sudden　show　of　friendship。

〃And　what；〃　I　said；　bending　down；　〃would　you　give　me　if　I　succeeded？〃　　Whereat　An　laughed　a　little　uneasily；　and；　withdrawing　her　hand　from　mine；　half　turned　away。　　So　I　pushed　through　the　spectators　and　stepped　into　the　ring。　I　went　straight　up　to　the　pile　of　weapons；　and　having　chosen　one　went　over　to　the　mystic。　　〃Good　fellow；〃　I　cried　out　os…　tentatiously；　trying　the　sharpness　of　the　javelin…point　with　my　finger；　〃where　are　all　of　those　sixteen　summer　suits　of　yours　lying　hid？〃

〃It　matters　nothing；〃　said　the　man；　as　if　he　were　asleep。

〃Ay；　but　by　the　stars　it　does；　for　it　will　vex　the　quiet　repose　of　your　soul　tomorrow　if　your　heirs　should　swear　they　could　not　find　them。〃

〃It　matters　nothing；〃　muttered　the　will…wrapped　visionary。

〃It　will　matter　something　if　I　take　you　at　your　word。　　Come；　friend　Purple…jerkin；　will　you　take　the　council　with　your　legs　and　run　while　there　is　yet　time；　or　stand　up　to　be　thrown　at？〃

〃I　stand　here　immoveable　in　the　confidence　of　my　initia…　tion。〃

〃Then；　by　thunder；　I　will　initiate　you　into　the　mysteries　of　a　javelin…end；　and　your　blood　be　on　your　head。〃

The　Martians　were　all　craning　their　necks　in　hushed　eagerness　as　I　turned　to　the　casting…place；　and；　poising　the　javelin；　faced　the　magician。　　Would　he　run　at　the　last　moment？　　I　half　hoped　so；　for　a　minute　I　gave　him　the　chance；　then；　as　he　showed　no　sign　of　wavering；　I　drew　my　hand　back；　shook　the　javelin　back　till　it　bent　like　a　reed；　and　hurled　it　at　him。

The　Martians'　heads　turned　as　though　all　on　one　pivot　as　the　spear　sped　through　the　air；　expecting　no　doubt　to　see　it　recoil　as　others　had　done。　　But　it　took　him　full　in　the　centre　of　his　chest；　and　with　a　wild　wave　of　arms　and　a　flutter　of　purple　raiment　sent　him　backwards；　and　down；　and　over　and　over　in　a　shapeless　heap　of　limbs　and　flying　raiment；　while　a　low　murmur　of　awed　surprise　rose　from　the　spectators。　　They　crowded　round　him　in　a　dense　ring；　as　An　came　flitting　to　me　with　a　startled　face。

〃Oh；　stranger；〃　she　burst　out；　〃you　have　surely　killed　him！〃　but　more　astounded　I　had　broken　down　his　guard　than　grieved　at　his　injury。

〃No；〃　I　answered　smilingly；　〃a　sore　chest　he　may　have　tomorrow；　but　dead　he　is　not；　for　I　turned　the　lance…point　back　as　I　spun　it；　and　it　was　the　butt…end　I　threw　at　him！〃

〃It　was　none　the　less　wonderful；　I　thought　you　were　a　common　man；　a　prince　mayhap；　come　but　from　over　the　hills；　but　now　something　tells　me　you　are　more　than　that；〃　and　she　lapsed　into　thoughtful　silence　for　a　time。

Neither　of　us　were　wishful　to　go　back　amongst　those　who　were　raising　the　bruised　magician　to　his　legs；　but　wandered　away　instead　through　the　deepening　twilight　towards　the　city　over　meadows　whose　damp；　soft　fragrance　loaded　the　air　with　sleepy　pleasure；　neither　of　us　saying　a　word　till　the　dusk　deepened　and　the　quick　night　descended；　while　we　came　amongst　the　gardened　houses；　the　thousand　lights　of　an　unreal　city　rising　like　a　jewelled　bank　before　us；　and　there　An　said　she　would　leave　me　for　a　time；　meet…　ing　me　again　in　the　palace　square　later　on；　〃To　see　Princess　Heru　read　the　destinies　of　the　year。〃

〃What！〃　I　exclaimed；　〃more　magic？　　I　have　been　brought　up　on　more　substantial　mental　stuff　than　this。〃

〃Nevertheless；　I　would　advise　you　to　come　to　the　square；〃　persisted　my　companion。　　〃It　affects　us　all；　andwho　knows？　may　affect　you　more　than　any。〃

Therein　poor　An　was　unconsciously　wearing　the　cloak　of　prophesy　herself；　and；　shrugging　my　shoulders　good…　humouredly；　I　kissed　her　chin；　little　realising；　as　I　let　her　fingers　slip　from　mine；　that　I　should　see　her　no　more。

Turning　back　alone；　through　the　city；　through　ways　twinkling　with　myriad　lights　as　little　lamps　began　to　blink　out　amongst　garlands　and　flower…decked　booths　on　every　hand；　I　walked　on；　lost　in　varying　thoughts；　until；　fairly　tired　and　hungry；　I　found　myself　outside　a　stall　where　many　Martians　stood　eating　and　drinking　to　their　hearts'　content。　　I　was　known　to　none　of　them；　and；　forgetting　past　experience；　was　looking　on　rather　enviously；　when　there　came　a　touch　upon　my　arm；　and

〃Are　you　hungry；　sir？〃　asked　a　bystander。

〃Ay；〃　I　said；　〃hungry；　good　friend；　and　with　all　the　zest　which　an　empty　purse　lends　to　that　condition。〃

〃Then　here　is　what　you　need；　sir；　even　from　here　the　wine　smells　good；　and　the　fried　fruit　would　make　a　mouse's　eye　twinkle。　　Why　do　you　wait？〃

〃Why　wait？　　Why；　because　though　the　rich　m