herland(她乡)-第43节
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wise women with still eyes； and with the best of the teachers。 There was
a stir； a thrill； a deep excitement everywhere。
Our teaching about the rest of the world has given them all a
sense of isolation； of remoteness； of being a little outlying sample of a
country； overlooked and forgotten among the family of nations。 We had
called it 〃the family of nations；〃 and they liked the phrase immensely。
They were deeply aroused on the subject of evolution； indeed；
the whole field of natural science drew them irresistibly。 Any number of
them would have risked everything to go to the strange unknown lands
and study； but we could take only one； and it had to be Ellador； naturally。
We planned greatly about coming back； about establishing a
connecting route by water； about penetrating those vast forests and
civilizingor exterminatingthe dangerous savages。 That is； we men
talked of that lastnot with the women。 They had a definite aversion to
killing things。
But meanwhile there was high council being held among the
wisest of them all。 The students and thinkers who had been gathering
facts from us all this time； collating and relating them； and making
inferences； laid the result of their labors before the council。
Little had we thought that our careful efforts at concealment had
been so easily seen through； with never a word to show us that they saw。
They had followed up words of ours on the science of optics； asked
innocent questions about glasses and the like； and were aware of the
defective eyesight so common among us。
With the lightest touch； different women asking different
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questions at different times； and putting all our answers together like a
picture puzzle； they had figured out a sort of skeleton chart as to the
prevalence of disease among us。 Even more subtly with no show of
horror or condemnation； they had gathered somethingfar from the truth；
but something pretty clearabout poverty； vice； and crime。 They even
had a goodly number of our dangers all itemized； from asking us about
insurance and innocent things like that。
They were well posted as to the different races； beginning with
their poison…arrow natives down below and widening out to the broad
racial divisions we had told them about。 Never a shocked expression of
the face or exclamation of revolt had warned us； they had been extracting
the evidence without our knowing it all this time； and now were studying
with the most devout earnestness the matter they had prepared。
The result was rather distressing to us。 They first explained the
matter fully to Ellador； as she was the one who purposed visiting the Rest
of the World。 To Celis they said nothing。 She must not be in any way
distressed； while the whole nation waited on her Great Work。
Finally Jeff and I were called in。 Somel and Zava were there；
and Ellador； with many others that we knew。
They had a great globe； quite fairly mapped out from the small
section maps in that compendium of ours。 They had the different peoples
of the earth roughly outlined； and their status in civilization indicated。
They had charts and figures and estimates； based on the facts in that
traitorous little book and what they had learned from us。
Somel explained： 〃We find that in all your historic period； so
much longer than ours； that with all the interplay of services； the exchange
of inventions and discoveries； and the wonderful progress we so admire；
that in this widespread Other World of yours； there is still much disease；
often contagious。〃
We admitted this at once。
〃Also there is still； in varying degree； ignorance； with prejudice
and unbridled emotion。〃
This too was admitted。
〃We find also that in spite of the advance of democracy and the
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increase of wealth； that there is still unrest and sometimes combat。〃
Yes； yes； we admitted it all。 We were used to these things and
saw no reason for so much seriousness。
〃All things considered；〃 they said； and they did not say a
hundredth part of the things they were considering； 〃we are unwilling to
expose our country to free communication with the rest of the worldas
yet。 If Ellador comes back； and we approve her report； it may be done
laterbut not yet。
〃So we have this to ask of you gentlemen ＇they knew that word
was held a title of honor with us＇； that you promise not in any way to
betray the location of this country until permission after Ellador's
return。〃
Jeff was perfectly satisfied。 He thought they were quite right。
He always did。 I never saw an alien become naturalized more quickly
than that man in Herland。
I studied it awhile； thinking of the time they'd have if some of
our contagions got loose there； and concluded they were right。 So I agreed。
Terry was the obstacle。 〃Indeed I won't！〃 he protested。 〃The
first thing I'll do is to get an expedition fixed up to force an entrance into
Ma…land。〃
〃Then；〃 they said quite calmly； 〃he must remain an absolute
prisoner； always。〃
〃Anesthesia would be kinder；〃 urged Moadine。
〃And safer；〃 added Zava。
〃He will promise； I think；〃 said Ellador。
And he did。 With which agreement we at last left Herland。
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