green mansions-第29节

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〃Traitor！　　Traitor！〃　　she　cried；　still　　looking　homewards　and　using　quick；　passionate　gestures。　　〃It　was　all　known　to　you；　and　you　deceived　me　all　these　years；　even　to　me；　Rima；　you　lied　with　your　lips！　　Oh；　horrible！　　Was　there　ever　such　a　scandal　known　in　Guayana？　　Come；　follow　me；　let　us　go　at　once　to　Riolama。〃　　And　without　so　much　as　casting　a　glance　behind　to　see　whether　I　followed　or　no；　she　hurried　away；　and　in　a　couple　of　minutes　disappeared　from　sight　over　the　edge　of　the　flat　summit。　　〃Rime！　　Rima！　　Come　back　and　listen　to　me！　　Oh；　you　are　mad！　　Come　back！　　Come　back！〃

But　she　would　not　return　or　pause　and　listen；　and　looking　after　her；　I　saw　her　bounding　down　the　rocky　slope　like　some　wild；　agile　creature　possessed　of　padded　hoofs　and　an　infallible　instinct；　and　before　many　minutes　she　vanished　from　sight　among　crabs　and　trees　lower　down。

〃Nuflo；　old　man；〃　said　I；　looking　out　towards　his　lodge；　〃are　there　no　shooting　pains　in　those　old　bones　of　yours　to　warn　you　in　time　of　the　tempest　about　to　burst　on　your　head？〃

Then　I　sat　down　to　think。



CHAPTER　XII

To　follow　impetuous；　bird…like　Rima　in　her　descent　of　the　hill　would　have　been　impossible；　nor　had　I　any　desire　to　be　a　witness　of　old　Nuflo's　discomfiture　at　the　finish。　　It　was　better　to　leave　them　to　settle　their　quarrel　themselves；　while　I　occupied　myself　in　turning　over　these　fresh　facts　in　my　mind　to　find　out　how　they　fitted　into　the　speculative　structure　I　had　been　building　during　the　last　two　or　three　weeks。　　But　it　soon　struck　me　that　it　was　getting　late；　that　the　sun　would　be　gone　in　a　couple　of　hours；　and　at　once　I　began　the　descent。　　It　was　not　accomplished　without　some　bruises　and　a　good　many　scratches。　　After　a　cold　draught；　obtained　by　putting　my　lips　to　a　black　rock　from　which　the　water　was　trickling；　I　set　out　on　my　walk　home；　keeping　near　the　western　border　of　the　forest　for　fear　of　losing　myself。　　I　had　covered　about　half　the　distance　from　the　foot　of　the　hill　to　Nuflo's　lodge　when　the　sun　went　down。　　Away　on　my　left　the　evening　uproar　of　the　howling　monkeys　burst　out；　and　after　three　or　four　minutes　ceased；　the　after　silence　was　pierced　at　intervals　by　screams　of　birds　going　to　roost　among　the　trees　in　the　distance；　and　by　many　minor　sounds　close　at　hand；　of　small　bird；　frog；　and　insect。　　The　western　sky　was　now　like　amber…coloured　flame；　and　against　that　immeasurably　distant　luminous　background　the　near　branches　and　clustered　foliage　looked　black；　but　on　my　left　hand　the　vegetation　still　appeared　of　a　uniform　dusky　green。　In　a　little　while　night　would　drown　all　colour；　and　there　would　be　no　light　but　that　of　the　wandering　lantern…fly；　always　unwelcome　to　the　belated　walker　in　a　lonely　place；　since；　like　the　ignis　fatuus；　it　is　confusing　to　the　sight　and　sense　of　direction。

With　increasing　anxiety　I　hastened　on；　when　all　at　once　a　low　growl　issuing　from　the　bushes　some　yards　ahead　of　me　brought　me　to　a　stop。　　In　a　moment　the　dogs；　Susio　and　Goloso；　rushed　out　from　some　hiding　place　furiously　barking；　but　they　quickly　recognized　me　and　slunk　back　again。　　Relieved　from　fear；　I　walked　on　for　a　short　distance；　then　it　struck　me　that　the　old　man　must　be　about　somewhere；　as　the　dogs　scarcely　ever　stirred　from　his　side。　　Turning　back；　I　went　to　the　spot　where　they　had　appeared　to　me；　and　there；　after　a　while；　I　caught　sight　of　a　dim；　yellow　form　as　one　of　the　brutes　rose　up　to　look　at　me。　　He　had　been　lying　on　the　ground　by　the　side　of　a　wide…spreading　bush；　dead　and　dry；　but　overgrown　by　a　creeping　plant　which　had　completely　covered　its　broad；　flat　top　like　a　piece　of　tapestry　thrown　over　a　table；　its　slender　terminal　stems　and　leaves　hanging　over　the　edge　like　a　deep　fringe。　　But　the　fringe　did　not　reach　to　the　ground　and　under　the　bush。　　in　its　dark　interior。　　I　caught　sight　of　the　other　dog；　and　after　gazing　in　for　some　time；　I　also　discovered　a　black；　recumbent　form；　which　I　took　to　be　Nuflo。

〃What　are　you　doing　there；　old　man？〃　　I　cried。　　〃Where　is　Rimahave　you　not　seen　her？　　Come　out。〃

Then　he　stirred　himself；　slowly　creeping　out　on　all　fours；　and　finally；　getting　free　of　the　dead　twigs　and　leaves；　he　stood　up　and　faced　me。　　He　had　a　strange；　wild　look；　his　white　beard　all　disordered；　moss　and　dead　leaves　clinging　to　it；　his　eyes　staring　like　an　owl's；　while　his　mouth　opened　and　shut；　the　teeth　striking　together　audibly；　like　an　angry　peccary's。　　After　silently　glaring　at　me　in　this　mad　way　for　some　moments；　he　burst　out：　〃Cursed　be　the　day　when　I　first　saw　you；　man　of　Caracas！　Cursed　be　the　serpent　that　bit　you　and　had　not　sufficient　power　in　its　venom　to　kill！　　Ha！　　you　come　from　Ytaioa；　where　you　talked　with　Rima？　　And　you　have　now　returned　to　the　tiger's　den　to　mock　that　dangerous　animal　with　the　loss　of　its　whelp。　　Fool；　if　you　did　not　wish　the　dogs　to　feed　on　your　flesh；　it　would　have　been　better　if　you　had　taken　your　evening　walk　in　some　other　direction。〃

These　raging　words　did　not　have　the　effect　of　alarming　me　in　the　least；　nor　even　of　astonishing　me　very　much；　albeit　up　till　now　the　old　man　tract　always　shown　himself　suave　and　respectful。　　His　attack　did　not　seem　quite　spontaneous。　　In　spite　of　the　wildness　of　his　manner　and　the　violence　of　his　speech；　he　appeared　to　be　acting　a　part　which　he　had　rehearsed　beforehand。　　I　was　only　angry；　and　stepping　forward；　I　dealt　him　a　very　sharp　rap　with　my　knuckles　on　his　chest。　　〃Moderate　your　language；　old　man；〃　I　said；　〃remember　that　you　are　addressing　a　superior。〃

〃What　do　you　say　to　me？〃　　he　screamed　in　a　shrill；　broken　voice；　accompanying　his　words　with　emphatic　gestures。　　〃Do　you　think　you　are　on　the　pavement　of　Caracas？　　Here　are　no　police　to　protect　youhere　we　are　alone　in　the　desert　where　names　and　titles　are　nothing；　standing　man　to　man。〃

〃An　old　man　to　a　young　one；〃　I　returned。　　〃And　in　virtue　of　my　youth　I　am　your　superior。　　Do　you　wish　me　to　take　you　by　the　throat　and　shake　your　insolence　out　of　you？〃

〃What；　do　you　threaten　me　with　violence？〃　　he　exclaimed；　throwing　himself　into　a　hostile　attitude。　　〃You；　the　man　I　saved；　and　sheltered；　and　fed；　and　treated　like　a　son！　　Destroyer　of　my　peace；　have　you　not　injured　me　enough？　　You　have　stolen　my　grandchild's　heart　from　me；　with　a　thousand　inventions　you　have　driven　her　mad！　　My　child；　my　angel；　Rima；　my　saviour！　　With　your　lying　tongue　you　have　changed　her　into　a　demon　to　persecute　me！　And　you　are　not　satisfied；　but　must　finish　your　evil　work　by　inflicting　blows　on　my　worn　body！　　All；　all　is　lost　to　me！　　Take　my　life　if　you　wish　it；　for　now　it　is　worth　nothing　and　I　desire　not　to　keep　it！〃　　And　here　he　threw　himself　on　his　knees　and；　tearing　open　his　old；　ragged　mantle；　presented　his　naked　breast　to　me。　〃Shoot！　　Shoot！〃　　he　screeched。　　〃And　if　you　have　no　weapon　take　my　knife　and　plunge　it　into　this　sad　heart；　and　let　me　die！〃　　And　drawing　his　knife　from　its　sheath；　he　flung　it　down　at　my　feet。

All　this　performance　only　served　to　increase　my　anger　and　contempt；　but　before　I　could　make　any　reply　I　caught　sight　of　a　shadowy　object　at　some　distance　moving　towards　ussomething　grey　and　formless；　gliding　swift　and　noiseless；　like　some　great　low…flying　owl　among　the　trees。　　It　was　Rima；　and　hardly　had　I　seen　her　before　she　was　with　us；　facing　old　Nuflo；　her　whole　frame　quivering　with　passion；　her　wide…open　eyes　appearing　luminous　in　that　dim　light。

〃You　are　here！〃　　she　cried　in　that　quick；　ringing　tone　that　was　almost　painful　to　the　sense。　　〃You　thought　to　escape　me！　　To　hide　yourself　from　my　eyes　in　the　wood！　　Miserable！　　Do　you　not　know　that　I　have　need　of　youthat　I　have　not　finished　with　you　yet？　Do　you；　then；　wish　to　be　scourged　to　Riolama　with　thorny　twigsto　be　dragged　thither　by　the　beard？〃

He　had　been　staring　open…mouthed　at　her；　still　on　his　knees；　and　holding　his　mantle　open　with　his　skinny　hands。　　〃Rima！　　Rima！　　have　mercy　on　me！〃　　he　cried　out　piteously。　　〃I　cannot　go　to　Riolama；　it　is　so　farso　far。　　And　I　am　old　and　should　meet　my　death。　　Oh；　Rima；　child　of　the　woman　I　saved　from　death；　have　you　no　compassion？　　I　shall　die；　I　shall　die！〃

〃Shall　you　die？　　Not　until　you　have　shown　me　the　way　to　Riolama。　And　when　I　have　seen　Riolama　with　my　eyes；　then　you　may　die；　and　I　shall　be　glad　at　your　death；　and　the　children　and　the　grandchildren　and　cousins　and　friends　of　all　the　animals　you　have　slain　and　fed　on　shall　know　that　you　are　dead　and　be　glad　at　your　death。　　For　you　have　deceived　me　with　lies　all　these　years　even　meand　are　not　fit　to　live！　　Come　now　to　Riolama；　rise　instantly；　I　command　you！〃

Instead　of　rising　he　suddenly　put　out　his　hand　and　snatched　up　the　knife　from　the　ground。　　〃Do　you　then　wish　me　to　die？〃　　he　cried。　　〃Shall　you　be　glad　at　my　death？　　Behold；　then　I　shall　slay　myself　before　your　eyes。　　By　my　own　hand；　Rima；　I　am　now　about　to　perish；　striking　the　knife　into　my　heart！〃

While　speaking　he　waved　the　knife　in　a　tragic　manner　over　his　head；　but　I　made　no　movement；　I　was　convinced　that　he　had　no　intention　of　taking　his　own　lifethat　he　was　still　acting。　　Rima；　incapable　of　understanding　such　a　thing；　took　it　differently。

〃Oh；　you　are　going　to　kill　yourself。〃　　she　cried。　　〃Oh；　wicked　man；　wait　until　you　know　what　will　happen　to　you　after　death。　　All　shall　now　be　told　to　my　m