the garden of allah-第74节

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A　long　time　passed；　but　they　did　not　feel　it　to　be　long。　When　their
camel　halted　they　unclasped　their　hands　slowly　like　sleepers
reluctantly　awaking。

They　heard　Batouch's　voice　outside　the　palanquin。

〃Madame！〃　he　called。　〃Madame！〃

〃What　is　it？〃　asked　Domini；　stifling　a　sigh。

〃Madame　should　draw　the　curtains。　We　are　halfway　to　Arba。　It　is　time
for　/dejeuner/。　I　will　make　the　camel　of　Madame　lie　down。〃

A　loud　〃A…a…ah！〃　rose　up；　followed　by　a　fierce　groaning　from　the
camel；　and　a　lethargic；　yet　violent；　movement　that　threw　them　forward
and　backward。　They　sank。　A　hand　from　without　pulled　back　the　curtains
and　light　streamed　over　them。　They　set　their　feet　in　sand；　stood　up；
and　looked　about　them。

Already　they　were　far　out　in　the　desert；　though　not　yet　beyond　the
limit　of　the　range　of　red　mountains；　which　stretched　forward　upon
their　left　but　at　no　great　distance　beyond　them　ended　in　the　sands。
The　camels　were　lying　down　in　a　faintly　defined　track　which　was
bordered　upon　either　side　by　the　plain　covered　with　little　humps　of
sandy　soil　on　which　grew　dusty　shrub。　Above　them　was　a　sky　of　faint
blue；　heavy　with　banks　of　clouds　towards　the　east；　and　over　their
heads　dressed　in　wispy　veils　of　vaporous　white；　through　which　the　blue
peered　in　sections　that　grew　larger　as　they　looked。　Towards　the　south；
where　Arba　lay　on　a　low　hill　of　earth；　without　grass　or　trees；　beyond
a　mound　covered　thickly　with　tamarisk　bushes；　which　was　a　feeding…
place　for　immense　herds　of　camels；　the　blue　was　clear　and　the　light　of
the　sun　intense。　A　delicate　breeze　travelled　about　them；　stirring　the
bushes　and　the　robes　of　the　Arabs；　who　were　throwing　back　their　hoods；
and　uncovering　their　mouths；　and　smiling　at　them；　but　seriously；　as
Arabs　alone　can　smile。　Beside　them　stood　two　white　and　yellow　guard
dogs；　blinking　and　looking　weary。

For　a　moment　they　stood　still；　blinking　too；　almost　like　the　dogs。　The
change　to　this　immensity　and　light　from　the　narrow　darkness　of　the
palanquin　overwhelmed　their　senses。　They　said　nothing；　but　only　stared
silently。　Then　Domini；　with　a　large　gesture；　stretched　her　arms　above
her　head；　drawing　a　deep　breath　which　ended　in　a　little；　almost
sobbing；　laugh　of　exultation。

〃Out　of　prison；〃　she　said　disconnectedly。　〃Out　of　prisoninto　this！〃
Suddenly　she　turned　upon　Androvsky　and　caught　his　arm；　and　twined　both
of　her　arms　round　it　with　a　strong　confidence　that　was　careless　of
everything　in　the　intensity　of　its　happiness。

〃All　my　life　I've　been　in　prison；〃　she　said。　〃You've　unlocked　the
door！〃　And　then；　as　suddenly　as　she　had　caught　his　arm；　she　let　it　go。
Something　surged　up　in　her；　making　her　almost　afraid；　or；　if　not　that；
confused。　It　was　as　if　her　nature　were　a　horse　taking　the　bit　between
its　teeth　preparatory　to　a　tremendous　gallop。　Whither？　She　did　not
know。　She　was　intoxicated　by　the　growing　light；　the　sharp；　delicious
air；　the　huge　spaces　around　her；　the　solitude　with　this　man　who　held
her　soul　surely　in　his　hands。　She　had　always　connected　him　with　the
desert。　Now　he　was　hers　into　the　desert；　and　the　desert　was　hers　with
him。　But　was　it　possible？　Could　such　a　fate　have　been　held　in　reserve
for　her？　She　scarcely　dared　even　to　try　to　realise　the　meaning　of　her
situation；　lest　at　a　breath　it　should　be　changed。　Just　then　she　felt
that　if　she　ventured　to　weigh　and　measure　her　wonderful　gift　Androvsky
would　fall　dead　at　her　feet　and　the　desert　be　folded　together　like　a
scroll。

〃There　is　Beni…Mora；　Madame；〃　said　Batouch。

She　was　glad　he　spoke　to　her；　turned　and　followed　with　her　eyes　his
pointing　hand。　Far　off　she　saw　a　green　darkness　of　palms；　and　above　it
a　white　tower；　small；　from　here；　as　the　tower　of　a　castle　of　dolls。

〃The　tower！〃　she　said　to　Androvsky。　〃We　first　spoke　in　it。　We　must　bid
it　good…bye。〃

She　made　a　gesture　of　farewell　towards　it。　Androvsky　watched　the
movement　of　her　hand。　She　noticed　now　that　she　made　no　movement　that
he　did　not　observe　with　a　sort　of　passionate　attention。　The　desert　did
not　exist　for　him。　She　saw　that　in　his　eyes。　He　did　not　look　towards
the　tower　even　when　she　repeated：

〃We　mustwe　owe　it　that。〃

Batouch　and　Ali　were　busy　spreading　a　cloth　upon　the　sand；　making　it
firm　with　little　stones；　taking　out　food；　plates；　knives；　glasses；
bottles　from　a　great　basket　slung　on　one　of　the　camels。　They　moved
deftly；　seriously　intent　upon　their　task。　The　camel…drivers　were
loosening　the　cords　that　bound　the　loads　upon　their　beasts；　who　roared
venomously；　opening　their　mouths；　showing　long　decayed　teeth；　and
turning　their　heads　from　side　to　side　with　a　serpentine　movement。
Domini　and　Androvsky　were　not　watched　for　a　moment。

〃Why　won't　you　look？　Why　won't　you　say　good…bye？〃　she　asked；　coming
nearer　to　him　on　the　sand　softly；　with　a　woman's　longing　to　hear　him
explain　what　she　understood。

〃What　do　I　care　for　it；　or　the　palms；　or　the　sky；　or　the　desert？〃　he
answered　almost　savagely。　〃What　can　I　care？　If　you　were　mine　behind
iron　bars　in　that　prison　you　spoke　ofdon't　you　think　it's　enough　for
metoo　mucha　cup　running　over？〃

And　he　added　some　words　under　his　breath；　words　she　could　not　hear。

〃Not　even　the　desert！〃　she　said　with　a　catch　in　her　voice。

〃It's　all　in　you。　Everything's　in　youeverything　that　brought　us
together；　that　we've　watched　and　wanted　together。〃

〃But　then；〃　she　said；　and　now　her　voice　was　very　quiet；　〃am　I　peace
for　you？〃

〃Peace！〃　said　Androvsky。

〃Yes。　Don't　you　remember　once　I　said　that　there　must　be　peace　in　the
desert。　Then　is　it　in　mefor　you？〃

〃Peace！〃　he　repeated。　〃To…day　I　can't　think　of　peace；　or　want　it。
Don't　you　ask　too　much　of　me！　Let　me　live　to…day；　live　as　only　a　man
can　wholet　me　live　with　all　that　is　in　me　to…dayDomini。　Men　ask　to
die　in　peace。　Oh；　DominiDomini！〃

His　expression　was　like　arms　that　crushed　her；　lips　that　pressed　her
mouth；　a　heart　that　beat　on　hers。

〃Madame　est　servie！〃　cried　Batouch　in　a　merry　voice。

His　mistress　did　not　seem　to　hear　him。　He　cried　again：

〃Madame　est　servie！〃

Then　Domini　turned　round　and　came　to　the　first　meal　in　the　sand。　Two
cushions　lay　beside　the　cloth　upon　an　Arab　quilt　of　white；　red；　and
orange　colour。　Upon　the　cloth；　in　vases　of　rough　pottery；　stained　with
designs　in　purple；　were　arranged　the　roses　brought　by　Smain　from　Count
Anteoni's　garden。

〃Our　wedding　breakfast！〃　Domini　said　under　her　breath。

She　felt　just　then　as　if　she　were　living　in　a　wonderful　romance。

They　sat　down　side　by　side　and　ate　with　a　good　appetite；　served　by
Batouch　and　Ali。　Now　and　then　a　pale　yellow　butterfly；　yellow　as　the
sand；　flitted　by　them。　Small　yellow　birds　with　crested　heads　ran
swiftly　among　the　scrub；　or　flew　low　over　the　flats。　In　the　sky　the
vapours　gathered　themselves　together　and　moved　slowly　away　towards　the
east；　leaving　the　blue　above　their　heads　unflecked　with　white。　With
each　moment　the　heat　of　the　sun　grew　more　intense。　The　wind　had　gone。
It　was　difficult　to　believe　that　it　had　ever　roared　over　the　desert。　A
little　way　from　them　the　camel…drivers　squatted　beside　the　beasts；
eating　flat　loaves　of　yellow　bread；　and　talking　together　in　low；
guttural　voices。　The　guard　dogs　roamed　round　them；　uneasily　hungry。　In
the　distance；　before　a　tent　of　patched　rags；　a　woman；　scantily　clad　in
bright　red　cotton；　was　suckling　a　child　and　staring　at　the　caravan。

Domini　and　Androvsky　scarcely　spoke　as　they　ate。　Once　she　said：

〃Do　you　realise　that　this　is　a　wedding　breakfast？〃

She　was　thinking　of　the　many　wedding　receptions　she　had　attended　in
London；　of　crowds　of　smartly…dressed　women　staring　enviously　at
tiaras；　and　sets　of　jewels　arranged　in　cases　upon　tables；　of　brides
and　bridegrooms；　looking　flushed　and　anxious；　standing　under　canopies
of　flowers　and　forcing　their　tired　lips　into　smiles　as　they　replied　to
stereotyped　congratulations；　while　detectivespoorly　disguised　as
gentlemenhovered　in　the　back…ground　to　see　that　none　of　the　presents
mysteriously　disappeared。　Her　presents　were　the　velvety　roses　in　the
earthen　vases；　the　breezes　of　the　desert；　the　sand　humps；　the　yellow
butterflies；　the　silence　that　lay　around　like　a　blessing　pronounced　by
the　God　who　made　the　still　places　where　souls　can　learn　to　know
themselves　and　their　great　destiny。

〃A　wedding　breakfast；〃　Androvsky　said。

〃Yes。　But　perhaps　you　have　never　been　to　one。〃

〃Never。〃

〃Then　you　can't　love　this　one　as　much　as　I　do。〃

〃Much　more；〃　he　answered。

She　looked　at　him；　remembering　how　often　in　the　past；　when　she　had
been　feeling　intensely；　she　had　it　borne　in　upon　her　that　he　was
feeling　even　more　intensely　than　herself。　But　could　that　be　possible
now？

〃Do　you　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　it　is　possible　for　you；　who　have　never
lived　in　cities；　to　love　this　land　as　I　love　it？〃

Androvsky　moved　on　his　cushion　and　leaned　down　till　his　elbow　touched
the　sand。　Lying　thus；　with　his　chin　in　his　hand；　and　his　eyes　fixed
upon　her；　he　answered：

〃But　it　is　not　the　land　I　am　loving。〃

His　absolute　concentration　upon　her　made　her　think　that；　perhaps；　he
misunderstood　her　meaning　in　speaking　of　the　desert；　her　joy　in　it。
She　longed　to　explain　how　he　and　the　desert　were　linked　together　in
her　heart；　and　she　drop