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第19节

classic mystery and detective stories-第19节

小说: classic mystery and detective stories 字数: 每页4000字

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as Margrave guided it; burning up the herbage over which it played;

and leaving a distinct ring; like that which; in our lovely native

fable talk; we call the 〃Fairy's ring;〃 but yet more visible

because marked in phosphorescent light。  On the ring thus formed

were placed twelve small lamps; fed with the fluid from the same

vessel; and lighted by the same rod。  The light emitted by the

lamps was more vivid and brilliant than that which circled round

the ring。



Within the circumference; and immediately round the woodpile;

Margrave traced certain geometrical figures; in whichnot without

a shudder; that I overcame at once by a strong effort of will in

murmuring to myself the name of 〃Lilian〃I recognized the

interlaced triangles which my own hand; in the spell enforced on a

sleepwalker; had described on the floor of the wizard's pavilion。

The figures were traced like the circle; in flame; and at the point

of each triangle (four in number) was placed a lamp; brilliant as

those on the ring。  This task performed; the caldron; based on an

iron tripod; was placed on the woodpile。  And then the woman;

before inactive and unheeding; slowly advanced; knelt by the pile

and lighted it。  The dry wood crackled and the flame burst forth;

licking the rims of the caldron with tongues of fire。



Margrave flung into the caldron the particles we had collected;

poured over them first a liquid; colorless as water; from the

largest of the vessels drawn from his coffer; and then; more

sparingly; drops from small crystal phials; like the phials I had

seen in the hand of Philip Derval。



Having surmounted my first impulse of awe; I watched these

proceedings; curious yet disdainful; as one who watches the

mummeries of an enchanter on the stage。



〃If;〃 thought I; 〃these are but artful devices to inebriate and

fool my own imagination; my imagination is on its guard; and reason

shall not; this time; sleep at her post!〃



〃And now;〃 said Margrave; 〃I consign to you the easy task by which

you are to merit your share of the elixir。  It is my task to feed

and replenish the caldron; it is Ayesha's to feed the fire; which

must not for a moment relax in its measured and steady heat。  Your

task is the lightest of all: it is but to renew from this vessel

the fluid that burns in the lamps; and on the ring。  Observe; the

contents of the vessel must be thriftily husbanded; there is

enough; but not more than enough; to sustain the light in the

lamps; on the lines traced round the caldron; and on the farther

ring; for six hours。  The compounds dissolved in this fluid are

scarceonly obtainable in the East; and even in the East months

might have passed before I could have increased my supply。  I had

no months to waste。  Replenish; then; the light only when it begins

to flicker or fade。  Take heed; above all; that no part of the

outer ringno; not an inchand no lamp of the twelve; that are to

its zodiac like stars; fade for one moment in darkness。〃



I took the crystal vessel from his hand。



〃The vessel is small;〃 said I; 〃and what is yet left of its

contents is but scanty; whether its drops suffice to replenish the

lights I cannot guessI can but obey your instructions。  But; more

important by far than the light to the lamps and the circle; which

in Asia or Africa might scare away the wild beasts unknown to this

landmore important than light to a lamp is the strength to your

frame; weak magician!  What will support you through six weary

hours of night watch?〃



〃Hope;〃 answered Margrave; with a ray of his old dazzling style。

〃Hope!  I shall liveI shall live through the centuries!〃





VIII





One hour passed away; the fagots under the caldron burned clear in

the sullen; sultry air。  The materials within began to seethe; and

their color; at first dull and turbid; changed into a pale…rose

hue; from time to time the Veiled Woman replenished the fire; after

she had done so reseating herself close by the pyre; with her head

bowed over her knees; and her face hid under her veil。



The lights in the lamps and along the ring and the triangles now

began to pale。  I resupplied their nutriment from the crystal

vessel。  As yet nothing strange startled my eye or my ear beyond

the rim of the circlenothing audible; save; at a distance; the

musical wheel…like click of the locusts; and; farther still; in the

forest; the howl of the wild dogs that never bark; nothing visible;

but the trees and the mountain range girding the plains silvered by

the moon; and the arch of the cavern; the flush of wild blooms on

its sides; and the gleam of dry bones on its floor; where the

moonlight shot into the gloom。



The second hour passed like the first。  I had taken my stand by the

side of Margrave; watching with him the process at work in the

caldron; when I felt the ground slightly vibrate beneath my feet;

and looking up; it seemed as if all the plains beyond the circle

were heaving like the swell of the sea; and as if in the air itself

there was a perceptible tremor。



I placed my hand on Margrave's shoulder and whispered; 〃To me earth

and air seem to vibrate。  Do they seem to vibrate to you?〃



〃I know not; I care not;〃 he answered impetuously。  〃The essence is

bursting the shell that confined it。  Here are my air and my earth!

Trouble me not。  Look to the circlefeed the lamps if they fail!〃



I passed by the Veiled Woman as I walked toward a place in the ring

in which the flame was waning dim; and I whispered to her the same

question which I had whispered to Margrave。  She looked slowly

around and answered; 〃So is it before the Invisible make themselves

visible!  Did I not bid him forbear?〃  Her head again drooped on

her breast; and her watch was again fixed on the fire。



I advanced to the circle and stooped to replenish the light where

it waned。  As I did so; on my arm; which stretched somewhat beyond

the line of the ring; I felt a shock like that of electricity。  The

arm fell to my side numbed and nerveless; and from my hand dropped;

but within the ring; the vessel that contained the fluid。

Recovering my surprise or my stun; hastily with the other hand I

caught up the vessel; but some of the scanty liquid was already

spilled on the sward; and I saw with a thrill of dismay; that

contrasted indeed the tranquil indifference with which I had first

undertaken my charge; how small a supply was now left。



I went back to Margrave; and told him of the shock; and of its

consequence in the waste of the liquid。



〃Beware;〃 said he; that not a motion of the arm; not an inch of the

foot; pass the verge of the ring; and if the fluid be thus

unhappily stinted; reserve all that is left for the protecting

circle and the twelve outer lamps!  See how the Grand Work

advances; how the hues in the caldron are glowing blood…red through

the film on the surface!



And now four hours of the six were gone; my arm had gradually

recovered its strength。  Neither the ring nor the lamps had again

required replenishing; perhaps their light was exhausted less

quickly; as it was no longer to be exposed to the rays of the

intense Australian moon。  Clouds had gathered over the sky; and

though the moon gleamed at times in the gaps that they left in blue

air; her beam was more hazy and dulled。  The locusts no longer were

heard in the grass; nor the howl of the dogs in the forest。  Out of

the circle; the stillness was profound。



And about this time I saw distinctly in the distance a vast Eye。

It drew nearer and nearer; seeming to move from the ground at the

height of some lofty giant。  Its gaze riveted mine; my blood

curdled in the blaze from its angry ball; and now as it advanced

larger and larger; other Eyes; as if of giants in its train; grew

out from the space in its rearnumbers on numbers; like the

spearheads of some Eastern army; seen afar by pale warders of

battlements doomed to the dust。  My voice long refused an utterance

to my awe; at length it burst forth shrill and loud:



〃Look; look!  Those terrible Eyes!  Legions on legions。  And hark!

that tramp of numberless feet; THEY are not seen; but the hollows

of earth echo the sound of their march!〃



Margrave; more than ever intent on the caldron; in which; from time

to time; he kept dropping powders or essences drawn forth from his

coffer; looked up; defyingly; fiercely:



〃Ye come;〃 he said in a low mutter; his once mighty voice sounding

hollow and laboring; but fearless and firm〃ye comenot to

conquer; vain rebels!ye whose dark chief I struck down at my feet

in the tomb where my spell had raised up the ghost of your first

human master; the Chaldee!  Earth and air have their armies still

faithful to me; and still I remember the war song that summons them

up to confront you!  Ayesha; Ayesha! recall the wild troth that we

pledged among the roses; recall the dread bond by which we united

our sway over hosts that yet own

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