the coming race(一个即临种族)-第3节
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borrow the outlines of man； and are yet of another race。 It was tall； not
gigantic； but tall as the tallest man below the height of giants。
Its chief covering seemed to me to be composed of large wings folded
over its breast and reaching to its knees； the rest of its attire was composed
of an under tunic and leggings of some thin fibrous material。 It wore on
its head a kind of tiara that shone with jewels； and carried in its right hand
a slender staff of bright metal like polished steel。 But the face！ it was
that which inspired my awe and my terror。 It was the face of man； but
yet of a type of man distinct from our known extant races。 The nearest
approach to it in outline and expression is the face of the sculptured
sphinx… so regular in its calm； intellectual； mysterious beauty。 Its colour
was peculiar； more 13like that of the red man than any other variety of our
species； and yet different from it… a richer and a softer hue； with large
black eyes； deep and brilliant； and brows arched as a semicircle。 The
face was beardless； but a nameless something in the aspect； tranquil
though the expression； and beauteous though the features； roused that
instinct of danger which the sight of a tiger or serpent arouses。 I felt that
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this manlike image was endowed with forces inimical to man。 As it drew
near； a cold shudder came over me。 I fell on my knees and covered my
face with my hands。
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The Coming Race
CHAPTER V。
A voice accosted me… a very quiet and very musical key of voice… in a
language of which I could not understand a word； but it served to dispel
my fear。 I uncovered my face and looked up。 The stranger （I could
scarcely bring myself to call him man） surveyed me with an eye that
seemed to read to the very depths of my heart。 He then placed his left
hand on my forehead； and with the staff in his right； gently touched my
shoulder。 The effect of this double contact was magical。 In place of my
former terror there passed into me a sense of contentment； of joy； of
confidence in myself and in the being before me。 I rose and spoke in my
own language。 He listened to me with apparent attention； but with a
slight surprise in his looks； and shook his head； as if to signify that I was
not understood。 He then took me by the hand and led me in silence to the
building。 The entrance was open… indeed there was no door to it。 We
entered an immense hall； lighted by the same kind of lustre as in the scene
without； but diffusing a fragrant odour。 The floor was in large tesselated
blocks of precious metals； and partly covered with a sort of matlike
14carpeting。 A strain of low music； above and around； undulated as if
from invisible instruments； seeming to belong naturally to the place； just
as the sound of murmuring waters belongs to a rocky landscape； or the
warble of birds to vernal groves。
A figure in a simpler garb than that of my guide； but of similar fashion；
was standing motionless near the threshold。 My guide touched it twice
with his staff； and it put itself into a rapid and gliding movement；
skimming noiselessly over the floor。 Gazing on it； I then saw that it was
no living form； but a mechanical automaton。 It might be two minutes
after it vanished through a doorless opening； half screened by curtains at
the other end of the hall； when through the same opening advanced a boy
of about twelve years old； with features closely resembling those of my
guide； so that they seemed to me evidently son and father。 On seeing me
the child uttered a cry； and lifted a staff like that borne by my guide； as if
in menace。 At a word from the elder he dropped it。 The two then
conversed for some moments； examining me while they spoke。 The
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child touched my garments； and stroked my face with evident curiosity；
uttering a sound like a laugh； but with an hilarity more subdued that the
mirth of our laughter。 Presently the roof of the hall opened； and a
platform descended； seemingly constructed on the same principle as the
'lifts' used in hotels and warehouses for mounting from one story to
another。
The stranger placed himself and the child on the platform； and
motioned to me to do the same； which I did。 We ascended quickly and
safely； and alighted in the midst of a corridor with doorways on either
side。
Through one of these doorways I was conducted into a chamber fitted
up with an oriental splendour； the walls were tesselated with spars； and
metals； and uncut jewels； cushions and divans abounded； apertures as for
windows but unglazed； were made in the chamber opening to the floor；
and as I passed along I 15observed that these openings led into spacious
balconies； and commanded views of the illumined landscape without。 In
cages suspended from the ceiling there were birds of strange form and
bright plumage； which at our entrance set up a chorus of song； modulated
into tune as is that of our piping bullfinches。 A delicious fragrance； from
censers of gold elaborately sculptured； filled the air。 Several automata；
like the one I had seen； stood dumb and motionless by the walls。 The
stranger placed me beside him on a divan and again spoke to me； and
again I spoke； but without the least advance towards understanding each
other。
But now I began to feel the effects of the blow I had received from the
splinters of the falling rock more acutely that I had done at first。
There came over me a sense of sickly faintness； accompanied with
acute； lancinating pains in the head and neck。 I sank back on the seat and
strove in vain to stifle a groan。 On this the child； who had hitherto
seemed to eye me with distrust or dislike； knelt by my side to support me；
taking one of my hands in both his own； he approached his lips to my
forehead； breathing on it softly。 In a few moments my pain ceased； a
drowsy； heavy calm crept over me； I fell asleep。
How long I remained in this state I know not； but when I woke I felt
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perfectly restored。 My eyes opened upon a group of silent forms； seated
around me in the gravity and quietude of Orientals… all more or less like
the first stranger； the same mantling wings； the same fashion of garment；
the same sphinx…like faces； with the deep dark eyes and red man's colour；
above all； the same type of race… race akin to man's； but infinitely stronger
of form and grandeur of aspect… and inspiring the same unutterable feeling
of dread。 Yet each countenance was mild and tranquil； and even kindly
in expression。 And； strangely enough； it seemed to me that in this very
calm and benignity consisted the secret of the dread which the
countenances inspired。 They seemed as void of the lines and shadows
which care and sorrow； and passion and sin； 16leave upon the faces of
men； as are the faces of sculptured gods； or as； in the eyes of Christian
mourners； seem the peaceful brows of the dead。
I felt a warm hand on my shoulder； it was the child's。 In his eyes
there was a sort of lofty pity and tenderness； such as that with which we
may gaze on some suffering bird or butterfly。 I shrank from
