green mansions-第42节
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me。〃
I heard her with astonishment。 〃It must not be； Rima；〃 I cried。 〃What； let you leave menow you are mineto go all that distance； through all that wild country where you might lose yourself and perish alone？ Oh； do not think of it！〃
She listened； regarding me with some slight trouble in her eyes； but smiling a little at the same time。 Her small hand moved up my arm and caressed my cheek； then she drew my face down to hers until our lips met。 But when I looked at her eyes again； I saw that she had not consented to my wish。 〃Do I not know all the way now；〃 she spoke； 〃all the mountains； rivers； forestshow should I lose myself？ And I must return quickly； not step by step； walkingresting； restingwalking； stopping to cook and eat； stopping to gather firewood； to make a shelterso many things！ Oh； I shall be back in half the time； and I have so much to do。〃
〃What can you have to do； love？everything can be done when we are in the wood together。〃
A bright smile with a touch of mockery in it flitted over her face as she replied： 〃Oh； must I tell you that there are things you cannot do？ Look； Abel；〃 and she touched the slight garment she wore； thinner now than at first； and dulled by long exposure to sun and wind and rain。
I could not command her； and seemed powerless to persuade her； but I had not done yet； and proceeded to use every argument I could find to bring her round to my view； and when I finished she put her arms around my neck and drew herself up once more。 〃O Abel； how happy I shall be！〃 she said； taking no notice of all I had said。 〃Think of me alone； days and days； in the wood； waiting for you； working all the time； saying： 'Come quickly； Abel； come slow； Abel。 O Abel； how long you are！ Oh； do not come until my work is finished！' And when it is finished and you arrive you shall find me； but not at once。 First you will seek for me in the house； then in the wood； calling： 'Rime！ Rima！' And she will be there； listening； hid in the trees； wishing to be in your arms； wishing for your lipsoh； so glad； yet fearing to show herself。 Do you know why？ He told youdid he not？that when he first saw her she was standing before him all in whitea dress that was like snow on the mountain…tops when the sun is setting and gives it rose and purple colour。 I shall be like that； hidden among the trees； saying： 'Am I differentnot like Rima？ Will he know mewill he love me just the same？' Oh； do I not know that you will be glad； and love me； and call me beautiful？ Listen！ Listen！〃 she suddenly exclaimed； lifting her face。
Among the bushes not far from the cave's mouth a small bird had broken out in song； a clear； tender melody soon taken up by other birds further away。
〃It will soon be morning；〃 she said； and then clasped her arms about me once more and held me in a long； passionate embrace； then slipping away from my arms and with one swift glance at the sleeping old man； passed out of the cave。
For a few moments I remained sitting； not yet realizing that she had left me； so suddenly and swiftly had she passed from my arms and my sight； then； recovering my faculties； I started up and rushed out in hopes of overtaking her。
It was not yet dawn； but there was still some light from the full moon； now somewhere behind the mountains。 Running to the verge of the bushgrown plateau； I explored the rocky slope beneath without seeing her form； and then called： 〃Rima！ Rima！〃
A soft； warbling sound； uttered by no bird； came up from the shadowy bushes far below； and in that direction I ran on； then pausing； called again。 The sweet sound was repeated once more； but much lower down now； and so faintly that I scarcely heard it。 And when I went on further and called again and again； there was no reply； and I knew that she had indeed gone on that long journey alone。
CHAPTER XVIII
When Nuflo at length opened his eyes he found me sitting alone and despondent by the fire； just returned from my vain chase。 I had been caught in a heavy mist on the mountain…side； and was wet through as well as weighed down by fatigue and drowsiness； consequent upon the previous day's laborious march and my night…long vigil； yet I dared not think of rest。 She had gone from me； and I could not have prevented it； yet the thought that I had allowed her to slip out of my arms； to go away alone on that long； perilous journey； was as intolerable as if I had consented to it。
Nuflo was at first startled to hear of her sudden departure； but he laughed at my fears； affirming that after having once been over the ground she could not lose herself； that she would be in no danger from the Indians； as she would invariably see them at a distance and avoid them； and that wild beasts； serpents； and other evil creatures would do her no harm。 The small amount of food she required to sustain life could be found anywhere； furthermore； her journey would not be interrupted by bad weather； since rain and heat had no effect on her。 In the end he seemed pleased that she had left us； saying that with Rima in the wood the house and cultivated patch and hidden provisions and implements would be safe； for no Indian would venture to come where she was。 His confidence reassured me； and casting myself down on the sandy floor of the cave； I fell into a deep slumber； which lasted until evening； then I only woke to share a meal with the old man； and sleep again until the following day。
Nuflo was not ready to start yet； he was enamoured of the unaccustomed comforts of a dry sleeping…place and a fire blown about by no wind and into which fell no hissing raindrops。 Not for two days more would he consent to set out on the return journey； and if he could have persuaded me our stay at Riolama would have lasted a week。
We had fine weather at starting； but before long it clouded； and then for upwards of a fortnight we had it wet and stormy； which so hindered us that it took us twenty…three days to accomplish the return journey； whereas the journey out had only taken eighteen。 The adventures we met with and the pains we suffered during this long march need not be related。 The rain made us miserable； but we suffered more from hunger than from any other cause； and on more than one occasion were reduced to the verge of starvation。 Twice we were driven to beg for food at Indian villages； and as we had nothing to give in exchange for it； we got very little。 It is possible to buy hospitality from the savage without fish…hooks； nails； and calico； but on this occasion I found myself without that impalpable medium of exchange which had been so great a help to me on my first journey to Parahuari。 Now I was weak and miserable and without cunning。 It is true that we could have exchanged the two dogs for cassava bread and corn； but we should then have been worse off than ever。 And in the end the dogs saved us by an occasional capturean armadillo surprised in the open and seized before it could bury itself in the soil； or an iguana； opossum； or labba； traced by means of their keen sense of smell to its hiding…place。 Then Nuflo would rejoice and feast； rewarding them with the skin； bones； and entrails。 But at length one of the dogs fell lame； and Nuflo； who was very hungry； made its lameness an excuse for dispatching it； which he did apparently without compunction； notwithstanding that the poor brute had served him well in its way。 He cut up and smoke…dried the flesh； and the intolerable pangs of hunger compelled me to share the loathsome food with him。 We were not only indecent； it seemed to me； but cannibals to feed on the faithful servant that had been our butcher。 〃But what does it matter？〃 I argued with myself。 〃All flesh； clean and unclean； should be； and is； equally abhorrent to me； and killing animals a kind of murder。 But now I find myself constrained to do this evil thing that good may come。 Only to live I take it nowthis hateful strength…giver that will enable me to reach Rima； and the purer； better life that is to be。〃
During all that time； when we toiled onwards league after league in silence； or sat silent by the nightly fire； I thought of many things； but the past； with which I had definitely broken； was little in my mind。 Rima was still the source and centre of all my thoughts； from her they rose； and to her returned。 Thinking； hoping； dreaming； sustained me in those dark days and nights of pain and privation。 Imagination was the bread that gave me strength； the wine that exhilarated。 What sustained old Nuflo's mind I know not。 Probably it was like a chrysalis； dormant； independent of sustenance； the bright…winged image to be called at some future time to life by a great shouting of angelic hosts and noises of musical instruments slept secure； coffined in that dull； gross nature。
The old beloved wood once more！ Never did his native village in some mountain valley seem more beautiful to the Switzer； returning； war…worn； from long voluntary exile； than did that blue cloud on the horizonthe forest where Rima dwelt； my bride； my beautifuland towering over it the dark cone of Ytaioa； now seem to my hungry eyes！ How near at lasthow near！ And yet the two or three intervening leagues to be traversed so slowly； step by stephow vast the distance see
