green mansions-第23节
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ughter's origin。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 I returned； 〃your story explains why she can call a wild bird to her hand； and touch a venomous serpent with her bare foot and receive no harm。〃
〃Doubtless you are right；〃 said the old dissembler。 〃Living alone in the wood； she had only God's creatures to play and make friends with； and wild animals； I have heard it said； know those who are friendly towards them。〃
〃You treat her friends badly；〃 said I； kicking the long tail of the coatimundi away with my foot； and regretting that I had joined in his repast。
〃Senor； you must consider that we are only what Heaven made us。 When all this was formed；〃 he continued； opening his arms wide to indicate the entire creation； 〃the Person who concerned Himself with this matter gave seeds and fruitless and nectar of flowers for the sustentation of His small birds。 But we have not their delicate appetites。 The more robust stomach which he gave to man cries out for meat。 Do you understand？ But of all this； friend； not one word to Rima！〃
I laughed scornfully。 〃Do you think me such a child； old man； as to believe that Rima； that little sprite； does not know that you are an eater of flesh？ Rima； who is everywhere in the wood； seeing all things； even if I lift my hand against a serpent； she herself unseen。〃
〃But； sir； if you will pardon my presumption； you are saying too much。 She does not come here； and therefore cannot see that I eat meat。 In all that wood where she flourishes and sings； where she is in her house and garden； and mistress of the creatures； even of the small butterfly with painted wings； there； sir； I hunt no animal。 Nor will my dogs chase any animal there。 That is what I meant when I said that if an animal should stumble against their legs； they would lift up their noses and pass on without seeing it。 For in that wood there is one law； the law that Rima imposes； and outside of it a different law。〃
〃I am glad that you have told me this；〃 I replied。 〃The thought that Rima might be near； and； unseen herself； look in upon us feeding with the dogs and； like dogs； on flesh； was one which greatly troubled my mind。〃
He glanced at me in his usual quick； cunning way。
〃Ah； senor； you have that feeling tooafter so short a time with us！ Consider； then； what it must be for me； unable to nourish myself on gums and fruitlets； and that little sweetness made by wasps out of flowers； when I am compelled to go far away and eat secretly to avoid giving offence。〃
It was hard； no doubt； but I did not pity him； secretly I could only feel anger against him for refusing to enlighten me； while making such a presence of openness； and I also felt disgusted with myself for having joined him in his rank repast。 But dissimulation was necessary； and so； after conversing a little more on indifferent topics； and thanking him for his hospitality； I left him alone to go on with his smoky task。
On my way back to the lodge； fearing that some taint of Nuflo's evil…smelling den and dinner might still cling to me； I turned aside to where a streamlet in the wood widened and formed a deep pool； to take a plunge in the water。 After drying myself in the air； and thoroughly ventilating my garments by shaking and beating them； I found an open； shady spot in the wood and threw myself on the grass to wait for evening before returning to the house。 By that time the sweet； warm air would have purified me。 Besides； I did not consider that I had sufficiently punished Rima for her treatment of me。 She would be anxious for my safety； perhaps even looking for me everywhere in the wood。 It was not much to make her suffer one day after she had made me miserable for three； and perhaps when she discovered that I could exist without her society she would begin to treat me less capriciously。
So ran my thoughts as I rested on the warm ground； gazing up into the foliage； green as young grass in the lower； shady parts； and above luminous with the bright sunlight； and full of the murmuring sounds of insect life。 My every action； word； thought； had my feeling for Rima as a motive。 Why； I began to ask myself； was Rima so much to me？ It was easy to answer that question： Because nothing so exquisite had ever been created。 All the separate and fragmentary beauty and melody and graceful motion found scattered throughout nature were concentrated and harmoniously combined in her。 How various； how luminous； how divine she was！ A being for the mind to marvel at； to admire continually； finding some new grace and charm every hour； every moment； to add to the old。 And there was； besides； the fascinating mystery surrounding her origin to arouse and keep my interest in her continually active。
That was the easy answer I returned to the question I had asked myself。 But I knew that there was another answera reason more powerful than the first。 And I could no longer thrust it back； or hide its shining face with the dull； leaden mask of mere intellectual curiosity。 BECAUSE I LOVED HER； loved her as I had never loved before； never could love any other being； with a passion which had caught something of her own brilliance and intensity； making a former passion look dim and commonplace in comparisona feeling known to everyone； something old and worn out； a weariness even to think of。
From these reflections I was roused by the plaintive three…syllable call of an evening birda nightjar common in these woods； and was surprised to find that the sun had set； and the woods already shadowed with the twilight。 I started up and began hurriedly walking homewards； thinking of Rima； and was consumed with impatience to see her； and as I drew near to the house； walking along a narrow path which I knew； I suddenly met her face to face。 Doubtless she had heard my approach； and instead of shrinking out of the path and allowing me to pass on without seeing her； as she would have done on the previous day； she had sprung forward to meet me。 I was struck with wonder at the change in her as she came with a swift； easy motion； like a flying bird； her hands outstretched as if to clasp mine； her lips parted in a radiant； welcoming smile； her eyes sparkling with joy。
I started forward to meet her； but had no sooner touched her hands than her countenance changed； and she shrunk back trembling； as if the touch had chilled her warm blood； and moving some feet away； she stood with downcast eyes； pale and sorrowful as she had seemed yesterday。 In vain I implored her to tell me the cause of this change and of the trouble she evidently felt； her lips trembled as if with speech； but she made no reply； and only shrunk further away when I attempted to approach her； and at length； moving aside from the path； she was lost to sight in the dusky leafage。
I went on alone； and sat outside for some time； until old Nuflo returned from his hunting； and only after he had gone in and had made the fire burn up did Rima make her appearance； silent and constrained as ever。
CHAPTER X
On the following day Rima continued in the same inexplicable humour； and feeling my defeat keenly； I determined once more to try the effect of absence on her； and to remain away on this occasion for a longer period。 Like old Nuflo； I was secret in going forth next morning； waiting until the girl was out of the way； then slipping off among the bushes into the deeper wood； and finally quitting its shelter； I set out across the savannah towards my old quarters。 Great was my surprise on arriving at the village to find no person there。 At first I imagined that my disappearance in the forest of evil fame had caused them to abandon their home in a panic； but on looking round I concluded that my friends had only gone on one of their periodical visits to some neighbouring village。 For when these Indians visit their neighbours they do it in a very thorough manner； they all go； taking with them their entire stock of provisions； their cooking utensils； weapons； hammocks； and even their pet animals。 Fortunately in this case they had not taken quite everything； my hammock was there； also one small pot； some cassava bread； purple potatoes； and a few ears of maize。 I concluded that these had been left for me in the event of my return； also that they had not been gone very many hours； since a log of wood buried under the ashes of the hearth was still alight。 Now； as their absences from home usually last many days； it was plain that I would have the big naked barn…like house to myself for as long as I thought proper to remain； with little food to eat； but the prospect did not disturb me； and I resolved to amuse myself with music。 In vain I hunted for my guitar； the Indians had taken it to delight their friends by twanging its strings。 At odd moments during the last day or two I had been composing a simple melody in my brain； fitting it to ancient words； and now； without an instrument to assist me； I began softly singing to myself：
Muy mas clara que la luna
Sola una
en el mundo vos nacistes。
After music I made up the fire and parched an ear of maize for my dinner； and while laboriously crunching the dry hard grain I thanked Heaven for having bestowed on me such good molars。 Finally I slung my hammock in its old corner； and plac
