the garden of allah-第36节

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the　dry　and　thin　air　as　in　a　clear；　cool　bath；　did　not　suffer　from　the
burning　rays　of　the　sun；　but　felt　radiant　yet　half　lazy　too。　They　went
on　and　on　in　silence　as　intimate　friends　might　ride　together；　isolated
from　the　world　and　content　in　each　other's　company；　content　enough　to
have　no　need　of　talking。　Not　once　did　it　strike　Domini　as　strange　that
she　should　go　far　out　into　the　desert　with　a　man　of　whom　she　knew
nothing；　but　in　whom　she　had　noticed　disquieting　peculiarities。　She
was　naturally　fearless；　but　that　had　little　to　do　with　her　conduct。
Without　saying　so　to　herself　she　felt　she　could　trust　this　man。

The　dark　green　line　showed　clearer　through　the　sunshine　across　the
gleaming　flats。　It　was　possible　now　to　see　slight　irregularities　in
it；　as　in　a　blurred　dash　of　paint　flung　across　a　canvas　by　an
uncertain　hand；　but　impossible　to　distinguish　palm　trees。　The　air
sparkled　as　if　full　of　a　tiny　dust　of　intensely　brilliant　jewels；　and
near　the　ground　there　seemed　to　quiver　a　maze　of　dancing　specks　of
light。　Everywhere　there　was　solitude；　yet　everywhere　there　was　surely
a　ceaseless　movement　of　minute　and　vital　things；　scarce　visible　sun
fairies　eternally　at　play。

And　Domini's　careless　feeling　grew。　She　had　never　before　experienced
so　delicious　a　recklessness。　Head　and　heart　were　light；　reckless　of
thought　or　love。　Sad　things　had　no　meaning　here　and　grave　things　no
place。　For　the　blood　was　full　of　sunbeams　dancing　to　a　lilt　of　Apollo。
Nothing　mattered　here。　Even　Death　wore　a　robe　of　gold　and　went　with　an
airy　step。　Ah；　yes；　from　this　region　of　quivering　light　and　heat　the
Arabs　drew　their　easy　and　lustrous　resignation。　Out　here　one　was　in
the　hands　of　a　God　who　surely　sang　as　He　created　and　had　not　created
fear。

Many　minutes　passed；　but　Domini　was　careless　of　time　as　of　all　else。
The　green　line　broke　into　feathery　tufts；　broadened　into　a　still　far…
off　dimness　of　palms。

〃Water！〃

Androvsky's　voice　spoke　as　if　startled。　Domini　pulled　up。　Their　horses
stood　side　by　side；　and　at　once；　with　the　cessation　of　motion；　the
mysticism　of　the　desert　came　upon　them　and　the　marvel　of　its　silence；
and　they　seemed　to　be　set　there　in　a　wonderful　dream；　themselves　and
their　horses　dreamlike。

〃Water！〃　he　said　again。

He　pointed；　and　along　the　right…hand　edge　of　the　oasis　Domini　saw
grey；　calm　waters。　The　palms　ran　out　into　them　and　were　bathed　by　them
softly。　And　on　their　bosom　here　and　there　rose　small；　dim　islets。　Yes；
there　was　water；　and　yet　The　mystery　of　it　was　a　mystery　she　had
never　known　to　brood　even　over　a　white　northern　sea　in　a　twilight　hour
of　winter；　was　deeper　than　the　mystery　of　the　Venetian　/laguna　morta/；
when　the　Angelus　bell　chimes　at　sunset；　and　each　distant　boat；　each
bending　rower　and　patient　fisherman；　becomes　a　marvel；　an　eerie　thing
in　the　gold。

〃Is　it　mirage？〃　she　said　to　him　almost　in　a　whisper。

And　suddenly　she　shivered。

〃Yes；　it　is；　it　must　be。〃

He　did　not　answer。　His　left　hand；　holding　the　rein；　dropped　down　on
the　saddle　peak；　and　he　stared　across　the　waste；　leaning　forward　and
moving　his　lips。　She　looked　at　him　and　forgot　even　the　mirage　in　a
sudden　longing　to　understand　exactly　what　he　was　feeling。　His　mystery
the　mystery　of　that　which　is　human　and　is　forever　stretching　out　its
armswas　as　the　fluid　mystery　of　the　mirage；　and　seemed　to　blend　at
that　moment　with　the　mystery　she　knew　lay　in　herself。　The　mirage　was
within　them　as　it　was　far　off　before　them　in　the　desert；　still；　grey；
full　surely　of　indistinct　movement；　and　even　perhaps　of　sound　they
could　not　hear。

At　last　he　turned　and　looked　at　her。

〃Yes；　it　must　be　mirage；〃　he　said。　〃The　nothing　that　seems　to　be　so
much。　A　man　comes　out　into　the　desert　and　he　finds　there　mirage。　He
travels　right　out　and　that's　what　he　reachesor　at　least　he　can't
reach　it；　but　just　sees　it　far　away。　And　that's　all。　And　is　that　what
a　man　finds　when　he　comes　out　into　the　world？〃

It　was　the　first　time　he　had　spoken　without　any　trace　of　reserve　to
her；　for　even　on　the　tower；　though　there　had　been　tumult　in　his　voice
and　a　fierceness　of　some　strange　passion　in　his　words；　there　had　been
struggle　in　his　manner；　as　if　the　pressure　of　feeling　forced　him　to
speak　in　despite　of　something　which　bade　him　keep　silence。　Now　he
spoke　as　if　to　someone　whom　he　knew　and　with　whom　he　had　talked　of
many　things。

〃But　you　ought　to　know　better　than　I　do；〃　she　answered。

〃I！〃

〃Yes。　You　are　a　man；　and　have　been　in　the　world；　and　must　know　what　it
has　to　givewhether　there's　only　mirage；　or　something　that　can　be
grasped　and　felt　and　lived　in；　and〃

〃Yes；　I'm　a　man　and　I　ought　to　know；〃　he　replied。　〃Well；　I　don't　know；
but　I　mean　to　know。〃

There　was　a　savage　sound　in　his　voice。

〃I　should　like　to　know；　too；〃　Domini　said　quietly。　〃And　I　feel　as　if
it　was　the　desert　that　was　going　to　teach　me。〃

〃The　deserthow？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

He　pointed　again　to　the　mirage。

〃But　that's　what　there　is　in　the　desert。〃

〃Thatand　what　else？〃

〃Is　there　anything　else？〃

〃Perhaps　everything；〃　she　answered。　〃I　am　like　you。　I　want　to　know。〃

He　looked　straight　into　her　eyes　and　there　was　something　dominating　in
his　expression。

〃You　think　it　is　the　desert　that　could　teach　you　whether　the　world
holds　anything　but　a　mirage；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃Well；　I　don't　think　it
would　be　the　desert　that　could　teach　me。〃

She　said　nothing　more；　but　let　her　horse　go　and　rode　off。　He　followed；
and　as　he　rode　awkwardly；　yet　bravely；　pressing　his　strong　legs
against　his　animal's　flanks　and　holding　his　thin　body　bent　forward；　he
looked　at　Domini's　upright　figure　and　brilliant；　elastic　gracethat
gave　in　to　her　horse　as　wave　gives　to　windwith　a　passion　of　envy　in
his　eyes。

They　did　not　speak　again　till　the　great　palm　gardens　of　the　oasis　they
had　seen　far　off　were　close　upon　them。　From　the　desert　they　looked
both　shabby　and　superb；　as　if　some　millionaire　had　poured　forth　money
to　create　a　Paradise　out　here；　and；　when　it　was　nearly　finished；　had
suddenly　repented　of　his　whim　and　refused　to　spend　another　farthing。
The　thousands　upon　thousands　of　mighty　trees　were　bounded　by　long；
irregular　walls　of　hard　earth；　at　the　top　of　which　were　stuck
distraught　thorn　bushes。　These　walls　gave　the　rough；　penurious　aspect
which　was　in　such　sharp　contrast　to　the　exotic　mystery　they　guarded。
Yet　in　the　fierce　blaze　of　the　sun　their　meanness　was　not
disagreeable。　Domini　even　liked　it。　It　seemed　to　her　as　if　the　desert
had　thrown　up　waves　to　protect　this　daring　oasis　which　ventured　to
fling　its　green　glory　like　a　defiance　in　the　face　of　the　Sahara。　A
wide　track　of　earth；　sprinkled　with　stones　and　covered　with　deep　ruts；
holes　and　hummocks；　wound　in　from　the　desert　between　the　earthen　walls
and　vanished　into　the　heart　of　the　oasis。　They　followed　it。

Domini　was　filled　with　a　sort　of　romantic　curiosity。　This　luxury　of
palms　far　out　in　the　midst　of　desolation；　untended　apparently　by　human
handsfor　no　figures　moved　among　them；　there　was　no　one　on　the　road
suggested　some　hidden　purpose　and　activity；　some　concealed　personage；
perhaps　an　Eastern　Anteoni；　whose　lair　lay　surely　somewhere　beyond
them。　As　she　had　felt　the　call　of　the　desert　she　now　felt　the　call　of
the　oasis。　In　this　land　thrilled　eternally　a　summons　to　go　onward；　to
seek；　to　penetrate；　to　be　a　passionate　pilgrim。　She　wondered　whether
her　companion's　heart　could　hear　it。

〃I　don't　know　why　it　is；〃　she　said；　〃but　out　here　I　always　feel
expectant。　I　always　feel　as　if　some　marvellous　thing　might　be　going　to
happen　to　me。〃

She　did　not　add　〃Do　you？〃　but　looked　at　him　as　if　for　a　reply。

〃Yes；　Madame；〃　he　said。

〃I　suppose　it　is　because　I　am　new　to　Africa。　This　is　my　first　visit
here。　I　am　not　like　you。　I　can't　speak　Arabic。〃

She　suddenly　wondered　whether　the　desert　was　new　to　him　as　to　her。　She
had　assumed　that　it　was。　Yet　as　he　spoke　Arabic　it　was　almost　certain
that　he　had　been　much　in　Africa。

〃I　do　not　speak　it　well；〃　he　answered。

And　he　looked　away　towards　the　dense　thickets　of　the　palms。　The　track
narrowed　till　the　trees　on　either　side　cast　patterns　of　moving　shade
across　it　and　the　silent　mystery　was　deepened。　As　far　as　the　eye　could
see　the　feathery；　tufted　foliage　swayed　in　the　little　wind。　The　desert
had　vanished；　but　sent　in　after　them　the　message　of　its　soul；　the
marvellous　breath　which　Domini　had　drunk　into　her　lungs　so　long　before
she　saw　it。　That　breath　was　like　a　presence。　It　dwells　in　all　oases。
The　high　earth　walls　concealed　the　gardens。　Domini　longed　to　look　over
and　see　what　they　contained；　whether　there　were　any　dwellings　in　these
dim　and　silent　recesses；　any　pools　of　water；　flowers　or　grassy　lawns。

Her　horse　neighed。

〃Something　is　coming；〃　she　said。

They　turned　a　corner　and　were　suddenly　in　a　village。　A　mob　of　half…
naked　children　scattered　from　their　horses'　feet。　Rows　of　seated　men
in　white　and　earth…coloured　robes　stared　upon　them　from　beneath　the
shadow　of　tall；　windowless　earth　houses。　White　dogs　rushed　to　and　fro
upon　the　flat　roofs；　thrusting　forward　venomous　heads；　showing　their
teeth　and　barking　furiously。　Hens　fluttered　in　agitation　from　one　side
to　the　other。　A　grey　mule；　tethered　to