the garden of allah-第114节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


were　dining；　Androvsky　noticed　that　their　people　were　busy　unpegging
the　two　sleeping…tents。

〃What　are　they　doing？〃　he　said　to　Domini；　uneasily。　In　his　present
condition　everything　roused　in　him　anxiety。　In　every　unusual　action　he
discerned　the　beginning　of　some　tragedy　which　might　affect　his　life。

〃I　told　Batouch　to　put　our　tents　on　the　other　side　of　the　bordj；〃　she
answered。

〃Yes。　But　why？〃

〃I　thought　that　to…night　it　would　be　better　if　we　were　a　little　more
alone　than　we　are　here；　just　opposite　to　that　Cafe　Maure；　and　with　the
servants。　And　on　the　other　side　there　are　the　palms　and　the　water。　And
the　doves　were　talking　there　as　we　rode　in。　When　we　have　finished
dinner　we　can　go　and　sit　there　and　be　quiet。〃

〃Together；〃　he　said。

An　eager　light　had　come　into　his　eyes。　He　leaned　forward　towards　her
over　the　little　table　and　stretched　out　his　hand。

〃Yes；　together；〃　she　said。

But　she　did　not　take　his　hand。

〃Domini！〃　he　said；　still　keeping　his　hand　on　the　table；　〃Domini！〃

An　expression；　that　was　like　an　expression　of　agony；　flitted　over　her
face　and　died　away；　leaving　it　calm。

〃Let　us　finish；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Look；　they　have　taken　the　tents！
In　a　moment　we　can　go。〃

The　doves　were　silent。　The　night　was　very　still　in　this　nest　of　the
Sahara。　Ouardi　brought　them　coffee；　and　Batouch　came　to　say　that　the
tents　were　ready。

〃We　shall　want　nothing　more　to…night；　Batouch；〃　Domini　said。　〃Don't
disturb　us。〃

Batouch　glanced　towards　the　Cafe　Maure。　A　red　light　gleamed　through
its　low　doorway。　One　or　two　Arabs　were　moving　within。　Some　of　the　camp
attendants　had　joined　the　squatting　men　without。　A　noise　of　busy
voices　reached　the　tents。

〃To…night；　Madame；〃　Batouch　said　proudly；　〃I　am　going　to　tell　stories
from　the　/Thousand　and　One　Nights/。　I　am　going　to　tell　the　story　of
the　young　Prince　of　the　Indies；　and　the　story　of　Ganem；　the　Slave　of
Love。　It　is　not　often　that　in　Ain…la…Hammam　a　poet〃

〃No；　indeed。　Go　to　them；　Batouch。　They　must　be　impatient　for　you。〃

Batouch　smiled　broadly。

〃Madame　begins　to　understand　the　Arabs；〃　he　rejoined。　〃Madame　will
soon　be　as　the　Arabs。〃

〃Go；　Batouch。　Lookthey　are　longing　for　you。〃

She　pointed　to　the　desert　men；　who　were　gesticulating　and　gazing
towards　the　tents。

〃It　is　better　so；　Madame；〃　he　answered。　〃They　know　that　I　am　here　only
for　one　night；　and　they　are　eager　as　the　hungry　jackal　is　eager　for
food　among　the　yellow　dunes　of　the　sand。〃

He　threw　his　burnous　over　his　shoulder　and　moved　away　smiling；　and
murmuring　in　a　luscious　voice　the　first　words　of　Ganem；　the　Slave　of
Love。

〃Let　us　go　now；　Boris；〃　Domini　said。

He　got　up　at　once　from　the　table；　and　they　walked　together　round　the
bordj。

On　its　further　side　there　was　no　sign　of　life。　No　traveller　was
resting　there　that　night；　and　the　big　door　that　led　into　the　inner
court　was　closed　and　barred。　The　guardian　had　gone　to　join　the　Arabs
at　the　Cafe　Maure。　Between　the　shadow　cast　by　the　bordj　and　the　shadow
cast　by　the　palm　trees　stood　the　two　tents　on　a　patch　of　sand。　The
oasis　was　enclosed　in　a　low　earth　wall；　along　the　top　of　which　was　a
ragged　edging　of　brushwood。　In　this　wall　were　several　gaps。　Through
one；　opposite　to　the　tents；　was　visible　a　shallow　pool　of　still　water
by　which　tall　reeds　were　growing。　They　stood　up　like　spears；
absolutely　motionless。　A　frog　was　piping　from　some　hidden　place；
giving　forth　a　clear　flute…like　note　that　suggested　glass。　It　reminded
Domini　of　her　ride　into　the　desert　at　Beni…Mora　to　see　the　moon　rise。
On　that　night　Androvsky　had　told　her　that　he　was　going　away。　That　had
been　the　night　of　his　tremendous　struggle　with　himself。　When　he　had
spoken　she　had　felt　a　sensation　as　if　everything　that　supported　her　in
the　atmosphere　of　life　and　of　happiness　had　foundered。　And　nownow
she　was　going　to　speak　to　himto　tell　himwhat　was　she　going　to　tell
him？　How　much　could　she；　dared　she；　tell　him？　She　prayed　silently　to
be　given　strength。

In　the　clear　sky　the　young　moon　hung。　Beneath　it；　to　the　left；　was　one
star　like　an　attendant；　the　star　of　Venus。　The　faint　light　of　the　moon
fell　upon　the　water　of　the　pool。　Unceasingly　the　frog　uttered　its
nocturne。

Domini　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　water　listening。　Then　she
glanced　up　at　the　moon　and　the　solitary　star。　Androvsky　stood　by　her。

〃Shall　welet　us　sit　on　the　wall；　where　the　gap　is；〃　she　said。　〃The
water　is　beautiful；　beautiful　with　that　light　on　it；　and　the　palms
palms　are　always　beautiful；　especially　at　night。　I　shall　never　love
any　other　trees　as　I　love　palm　trees。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　he　answered。

They　sat　down　on　the　wall。　At　first　they　did　not　speak　any　more。　The
stillness　of　the　water；　the　stillness　of　reeds　and　palms；　was　against
speech。　And　the　little　flute…like　note　that　came　to　them　again　and
again　at　regular　intervals　was　like　a　magical　measuring　of　the　silence
of　the　night　in　the　desert。　At　last　Domini　said；　in　a　low　voice：

〃I　heard　that　note　on　the　night　when　I　rode　out　of　Beni…Mora　to　see
the　moon　rise　in　the　desert。　Boris；　you　remember　that　night？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。

He　was　gazing　at　the　pool；　with　his　face　partly　averted　from　her；　one
hand　on　the　wall；　the　other　resting　on　his　knee。

〃You　were　brave　that　night；　Boris；〃　she　said。

〃II　wished　to　beI　tried　to　be。　And　if　I　had　been〃

He　stopped；　then　went　on：　〃If　I　had　been；　Domini；　really　brave；　if　I
had　done　what　I　meant　to　do　that　night；　what　would　our　lives　have　been
to…day？〃

〃I　don't　know。　We　mustn't　think　of　that　to…night。　We　must　think　of　the
future。　Boris；　there's　no　life；　no　real　life　without　bravery。　No　man
or　woman　is　worthy　of　living　who　is　not　brave。〃

He　said　nothing。

〃Boris；　let　usyou　and　Ibe　worthy　of　living　to…nightand　in　the
future。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand　then；〃　he　answered。　〃Give　it　me；　Domini。〃

But　she　did　not　give　it　to　him。　Instead　she　went　on；　speaking　a　little
more　rapidly：

〃Boris；　don't　rely　too　much　on　my　strength。　I　am　only　a　woman；　and　I
have　to　struggle。　I　have　had　to　struggle　more　than　perhaps　you　will
ever　know。　Youmust　not　makemake　things　impossible　for　me。　I　am
tryingvery　hardtoI'myou　must　not　touch　me　to…night；　Boris。〃

She　drew　a　little　farther　away　from　him。　A　faint　breath　of　air　made
the　leaves　of　the　palm　trees　rustle　slightly；　made　the　reeds　move　for
an　instant　by　the　pool。　He　laid　his　hand　again　on　the　wall　from　which
he　had　lifted　it。　There　was　a　pleading　sound　in　her　voice　which　made
him　feel　as　if　it　were　speaking　close　against　his　heart。

〃I　said　I　would　tell　you　to…night　where　we　are　going。〃

〃Tell　me　now。〃

〃We　are　going　back　to　Beni…Mora。　We　are　not　very　far　off　from　Beni…
Mora　to…nightnot　very　far。〃

〃We　are　going　to　Beni…Mora！〃　he　repeated　in　a　dull　voice。　〃We　are〃

He　sat　up　on　the　wall；　looking　straight　into　her　face。

〃Why？〃　he　said。　His　voice　was　sharp　now；　sharp　with　fear。

〃Boris；　do　you　want　to　be　at　peace；　not　with　me；　but　with　God？　Do　you
want　to　get　rid　of　your　burden　of　misery；　which　increasesI　know　it
day　by　day？〃

〃How　can　I？〃　he　said　hopelessly。

〃Isn't　expiation　the　only　way？　I　think　it　is。〃

〃Expiation！　Howhow　canI　can　never　expiate　my　sin。〃

〃There's　no　sin　that　cannot　be　expiated。　God　isn't　merciless。　Come
back　with　me　to　Beni…Mora。　That　little　churchwhere　you　married　me
come　back　to　it　with　me。　You　could　not　confess　to　theto　Father
Beret。　I　feel　as　if　I　knew　why。　Where　you　married　me　you　willyou
mustmake　your　confession。〃

〃To　the　priest　whoto　Father　Roubier！〃

There　was　fierce　protest　in　his　voice。

〃It　does　not　matter　who　is　the　priest　who　will　receive　your
confession。　Only　make　it　theremake　it　in　the　church　at　Beni…Mora
where　you　married　me。〃

〃That　was　your　purpose！　That　is　where　you　are　taking　me！　I　can't　go；　I
won't！　Domini；　think　what　you　are　doing！　You　are　asking　too　much〃

〃I　feel　that　God　is　asking　that　of　you。　Don't　refuse　Him。〃

〃I　cannot　goat　Beni…Mora　where　wewhere　everything　will　remind
us〃

〃Ah；　don't　you　think　I　shall　feel　it　too？　Don't　you　think　I　shall
suffer？〃

He　felt　horribly　ashamed　when　she　said　that；　bowed　down　with　an
overwhelming　weight　of　shame。

〃But　our　lives〃he　stammered〃butif　I　goafterwardsif　I　make　my
confessionafterwardsafterwards？〃

〃Isn't　it　enough　to　think　of　that　one　thing？　Isn't　it　better　to　put
everything　else；　every　other　thought；　away？　It　seems　so　clear　to　me
that　we　should　go　to　Beni…Mora。　I　feel　as　if　I　had　been　toldas　a
child　is　told　to　do　something　by　its　father。〃

She　looked　up　into　the　clear　sky。

〃I　am　sure　I　have　been　told；〃　she　added。　〃I　know　I　have。〃

There　was　a　long　silence　between　them。　Androvsky　felt　that　he　did　not
dare　to　break　it。　Something　in　Domini's　face　and　voice　cast　out　from
him　the　instinct　of　revolt；　of　protest。　He　began　to　feel　exhausted；
without　power；　like　a　sick　man　who　is　being　carried　by　bearers　in　a
litter；　and　who　looks　at　the　landscape　through　which　he　is　passing
with　listless　eyes；　and　who　scarcely　has　the　force　to　care　whither　he
is　being　borne。

〃Domini；〃　he　said　at　last；　and　his　voice　sounded　very　tired；　〃if　you
say　I　must　go　to　Beni…Mora　I　will　go。　I　have　done　you　a　great　wrong
andand〃

〃Don't　think　of　me　any　more；〃　she　said。　〃Thinkthin