the garden of allah-第93节
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walked faster on the sand； to and fro before the tent。 Why had he
looked at the tent in which Androvsky slept with horror？ Was it
because Androvsky had denounced the religion that he reverenced and
loved？ Could it have been that？ But thendid Androvsky actively hate
religion？ Perhaps he hated it； and concealed his hatred from her
because he knew it would cause her pain。 Yet she had sometimes felt as
if he were seeking； perhaps with fear； perhaps with ignorance； perhaps
with uncertainty； but still seeking to draw near to God。 That was why
she had been able to hope for him； why she had not been more troubled
by his loss of the faith in which he had been brought up； and to which
she belonged heart and soul。 Could she have been wrong in her
feelingdeceived？ There were men in the world； she knew； who denied
the existence of a God； and bitterly ridiculed all faith。 She
remembered the blasphemies of her father。 Had she married a man who；
like him； was lost； who； as he had； furiously denied God？
A cold thrill of fear came into her heart。 Suddenly she felt as if；
perhaps； even in her love； Androvsky had been a stranger to her。
She stood upon the sand。 It chanced that she looked towards the camp
of the Ouled Nails； whose fires blazed upon the dunes。 While she
looked she was presently aware of a light that detached itself from
the blaze of the fires； and moved from them； coming towards the place
where she was standing； slowly。 The young moon only gave a faint ray
to the night。 This light travelled onward through the dimness like an
earth…bound star。 She watched it with intentness； as people watch any
moving thing when their minds are eagerly at work； staring； yet
scarcely conscious that they see。
The little light moved steadily on over the sands； now descending the
side of a dune； now mounting to a crest； and always coming towards the
place where Domini was standing； And presently this determined
movement towards her caught hold of her mind； drew it away from other
thoughts； fixed it on the light。 She became interested in it； intent
upon it。
Who was bearing it？ No doubt some desert man； some Arab。 She imagined
him tall； brown； lithe； half…naked； holding the lamp in his muscular
fingers； treading on bare feet silently； over the deep sand。 Why had
he left the camp？ What was his purpose？
The light drew near。 It was now moving over the flats and seemed； she
thought； to travel more quickly。 And always it came straight towards
where she was standing。 A conviction dawned in her that it was
travelling with an intention of reaching her； that it was carried by
someone who was thinking of her。 But how could that be？ She thought of
the light as a thing with a mind and a purpose； borne by someone who
backed up its purpose； helping it to do what it wanted。 And it wanted
to come to her。
In Mogar！ Androvsky had dreaded something in Mogar。 De Trevignac had
come。 He dreaded something in Amara。 This light came。 For an instant
she fancied that the light was a lamp carried by De Trevignac。 Then
she saw that it gleamed upon a long black robe； the soutane of a
priest。
As she and Androvsky rode into Amara she had asked herself whether his
second dread would be followed； as his first dread had been； by an
unusual incident。 When she saw the soutane of a priest； black in the
lamplight； moving towards her over the whiteness of the sand； she said
to herself that it was to be so followed。 This priest stood in the
place of De Trevignac。
Why did he come to her？
CHAPTER XXIII
When the priest drew close to the tent Domini saw that it was not he
who carried the lantern； but a native soldier； one of the Tirailleurs；
formerly called Turcos； who walked beside him。 The soldier saluted
her； and the priest took off his broad； fluffy black hat。
〃Good…evening； Madame；〃 he said； speaking French with the accent of
Marseilles。 〃I am the Aumonier of Amara； and have just heard of your
arrival here； and as I was visiting my friends on the sand…hills
yonder； I thought I would venture to call and ask whether I could be
of any service to you。 The hour is informal； I know； but to tell the
truth； Madame； after five years in Amara one does not know how to be
formal any longer。〃
His eyes； which had a slightly impudent look； rare in a priest but not
unpleasing； twinkled cheerfully in the lamplight as he spoke； and his
whole expression betokened a highly social disposition and the most
genuine pleasure at meeting with a stranger。 While she looked at him；
and heard him speak； Domini laughed at herself for the imaginations
she had just been cherishing。 He had a broad figure； long arms； large
feet encased in stout； comfortable boots。 His face was burnt brown by
the sun and partially concealed by a heavy black beard； whiskers and
moustache。 His features were blunt and looked boyish； though his age
must have been about forty。 The nose was snub； and accorded with the
expression in his eyes； which were black like his hair and full of
twinkling lights。 As he smiled genially on Domini he showed two rows
of small； square white teeth。 His Marseilles accent exactly suited his
appearance； which was rough but honest。 Domini welcomed him gladly。
Indeed； her reception of him was more than cordial； almost eager。 For
she had been vaguely expecting some tragic figure； some personality
suggestive of mystery or sorrow； and she thought of the incidents at
Mogar； and associated the moving light with the approach of further
strange events。 This homely figure of her religion； beaming
satisfaction and comfortable anticipation of friendly intercourse；
laid to rest fears which only now； when she was conscious of relief；
she knew she had been entertaining。 She begged the priest to come into
the dining…tent； and； taking up the little bell which was on the
table； went out into the sand and rang it for Ouardi。
He came at once； like a shadow gliding over the waste。
〃Bring us coffee for two； Ouardi； biscuits〃she glanced at her
visitor〃bon…bons； yes； the bon…bons in the white box； and the
cigars。 And take the soldier with you and entertain him well。 Give him
whatever he likes。〃
Ouardi went away with the soldier； talking frantically； and Domini
returned to the tent； where she found the priest gleaming with joyous
anticipation。 They sat down in the comfortable basket chairs before
the tent door； through which they could see the shining of the city's
lights and hear the distant sound of its throbbing and wailing music。
〃My husband has gone to see the city；〃 Domini said after she had told
the priest her name and been informed that his was Max Beret。
〃We only arrived this evening。〃
〃I know； Madame。〃
He beamed on her； and stroked his thick beard with his broad； sunburnt
hand。 〃Everyone in Amara knows； and everyone in the tents。 We know；
too； how many tents you have； how many servants； how many camels；
horses； dogs。〃
He broke into a hearty laugh。
〃We know what you've just had for dinner！〃
Domini laughed too。
〃Not really！〃
〃Well； I heard in the camp that it was soup and stewed mutton。 But
never mind！ You must forgive us。 We are barbarians！ We are sand…
rascals！ We are ruffians of the sun！〃
His laugh was infectious。 He leaned back in his chair and shook with
the mirth his own remarks had roused。
〃We are ruffians of the sun！〃 he repeated with gusto。 〃And we must be
forgiven everything。〃
Although clad in a soutane he looked； at that moment； like a type of
the most joyous tolerance； and Domini could not help mentally
comparing him with the priest of Beni…Mora。 What would Father Roubier
think of Father Beret？
〃It is easy to forgive in the sun；〃 Domini said。
The priest laid his hands on his knees； setting his feet well apart。
She noticed that his hands were not scrupulously clean。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃it is impossible to be anything but lenient in the
sun。 That is my experience。 Excuse me but are you a Catholic？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃So much the better。 You must let me show you the chapel。 It is in the
building with the cupolas。 The congregation consists of five on a full
Sunday。〃 His laugh broke out again。 〃I hope the day after to…morrow
you and your husband will make it seven。 But； as I was saying； the sun
teaches one a lesson of charity。 When I first came to live in Africa
in the midst of the sand…rascalseh； Madame！I suppose as a priest I
ought to have been shocked by their goings…on。 And indeed I tried to
be； I conscientiously did my best。 But it was no good。 I couldn't be
shocked。 The sunshine drove it all out of me。 I could only say； 'It is
not for me to question /le bon Dieu/； and /le bon Dieu/ has created
these people and set them here in the sand to behave as they do。' What
is my business？ I can't convert them。 I can't change their morals。 I
must just be a friend to them； cheer them up in their sorrows； give
them a bit if they're starving； doctor them a little。 I'm a first…rate
hand at making an Arab take a pill or a powder！when they are ill；
and make them at home with the white marabout。 That's what the sun has
taught me； and every sand…rascal and sand…rascal's child in Amara is a
friend of mine。〃
He stretched out his legs as if he wished to el
