the virgin of the sun-第25节
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my hand。 They stared； then； with a low； sighing exclamation； one and
all fell upon their faces and rubbed their brows upon the ground。
As they lay there Kari addressed them； waving his arms and pointing
towards me from time to time。 Afterwards I learned that he was telling
them I was a god； for which lie may his soul be forgiven。
The end of it was that he bade them rise and led certain of them who
wore the white robes across the planks to the ship。 Here； while they
hung back； he advanced towards me； bowing and kissing the air till he
drew near； then he went upon his knees and laid his hands upon my
steel…clad feet。 More； from the bosom of his robe he drew out flowers
which he placed upon my knees as though in offering。
〃Now； Master；〃 he whispered to me； 〃rise and wave your sword and shout
aloud； to show that you are alive and not an image。〃
So up I sprang； circling Wave…Flame about my head and roaring like any
bull of Bashan； for my voice was always loud and carried far。 When
they saw the bright sword whirling through the air and heard these
bellowings； uttering cries of fear； those poor folk fled。 Indeed most
of them fell from the plank into the mud； where one stuck fast and was
like to drown； had not Kari rescued him； which his brethren were in
too great haste to do。
After they had gone Kari came and said that everything went well and
that henceforward I was not a man but the Spirit of the Sea come to
earth； such a spirit as had never been dreamed of even by the wizards。
Thus then did Hubert of Hastings become a god among those simple
people； who had never before so much as heard of a white man； or seen
armour or a sword of steel。
CHAPTER II
THE ROCKY ISLE
For another week or more I remained upon the /Blanche/ waiting till my
full strength returned； also because Kari said I must do so。 When I
asked him why； he replied for the reason that he wished news of my
coming to spread far and wide throughout the land from one tribe to
another； which it would do with great swiftness； flying； as he put it；
like a bird。 Meanwhile； every day I sat upon the poop in the armour
for an hour or more； and both these people and others from afar came
to look at me； bringing me presents in such quantity that we knew not
what to do with them。 Indeed； they built an altar and sacrificed wild
creatures to me； and birds； burning them with fire。 Both those that I
had seen and the other folk from a long way off made this offering。
At last one night； when； having eaten； Kari and I were seated together
in the moonshine before we slept； I turned on him suddenly； hoping
thus to surprise the truth out of his secret heart； and said：
〃What is your plan； Kari？ For； know； I weary of this life。〃
〃I was waiting for the Master to ask that question；〃 he replied with
his gentle smile。 （Again； I give not the very words he spoke in his
bad English； but the substance of them。） 〃Now will the Master be
pleased to listen？ As I have told the Master； I believe that the gods；
his God and my God； have brought me back to that part of the world
which is unknown to the Master； where I was born。 I believed this from
the first hour that my eyes opened on it after our swoon； for I knew
the trees and the flowers and the smell of the earth； and saw that the
stars in the heavens stood where I used to see them。 When I went
ashore and mingled with the natives； I discovered that this belief was
right； since I could understand something of their talk and they could
understand something of mine。 Moreover； among them was a man who came
from far away； who said that he had seen me in past years； wandering
like one mad； only that this man whom he had seen wore the image of a
certain god about his neck； whose name was too high for him to
mention。 Then I opened my robe and showed him that which I wear about
my neck； and he fell down and worshipped it； crying out that I was the
very man。〃
〃If so； it is marvellous；〃 I said。 〃But what shall we do？〃
〃The Master can do one of two things。 He can stop here； where these
simple people will make him their king and give him wives and all that
he desires； and so live out his life； since of return to the land
whence he came there is no hope。〃
〃And if there were I would not go；〃 I interrupted。
〃Or；〃 went on Kari； 〃he can try to travel to my country。 But that is
very far away。 Something of the journey which I made when I was mad
comes back and tells me that it is very； very far away。 First； yonder
mountains must be crossed till another sea is reached； which is no
great journey； though rough。 Then the coast of that sea must be
followed southward； for I know not how far； but； as I think； for
months or years of journeying； till at length the country of my people
is reached。 Moreover； that journeying is hard and terrible； since the
road runs through forests and deserts where dwell savage tribes and
huge snakes and wild beasts； like those planted on the flag of your
country； and where famine and sicknesses are common。 Therefore my
counsel to the Master is that he should leave it unattempted。〃
Now I thought awhile； and asked what he meant to do if I took this
counsel of his。 To which he replied：
〃I shall wait here awhile till I see the Master made a king among
these people and established in his rule。 Then I shall start on that
journey alone； hoping that what I could do when I was mad I shall be
able to do again when I am not mad。〃
〃I thought it；〃 I said。 〃But tell me； Kari； if we were to make this
journey and perchance live to reach your people； how would they
welcome us？〃
〃I do not know； Master； but I think that of the master they would make
a god； as will all the other people of this country。 Perhaps； too；
they will sacrifice this god that his strength and beauty may enter
into them。 As for me； some of them will try to kill me and others will
cling to me。 Who will conquer I do not know； and to me it matters
little。 I go to take my own and to be avenged； and if in seeking
vengeance I diewell； I die in honour。〃
〃I understand；〃 I said。 〃And now； Kari； let us start as soon as
possible before I become as mad from staring at those trees and
flowers and those big…eyed natives； that you say would make me a king；
as you tell me you were when you left your country。 Whether we shall
ever find that country I cannot say。 But at least we shall have done
our best and； if we fail； shall perish seeking； as in this way or in
that it is the lot of all brave men to do。〃
〃The Master has spoken；〃 said Kari； even more quietly than usual；
though as he spoke I saw his dark eyes flash and a trembling as of joy
run down his body。 〃Knowing all； he has made his choice； and whatever
happens； being what it is； he will not blame me。 Yet because the
Master has thus chosen； I say thisthat if we reach my country； and
if； perchance； I become a king there； even more than before I shall be
the Master's servant。〃
〃That is easy to promise now； Kari； but it will be time to talk of it
when we do reach your land；〃 I said； laughing； and asked him when we
were to start。
He replied not yet awhile； as he must make plans； and that in the
meantime I must walk upon the shore so that my legs might grow strong
again。 So there every day I walked in the cool of the morning and in
the evening； not going out of sight of the wreck。 I went armed and
carrying my big bow； but saw no one； since the natives had been warned
that I should walk and must not be looked upon while I did so。
Therefore； even when I passed through one of their villages of huts
built of mud and thatched with leaves； it seemed to be deserted。
Still； in the end the bow did not come amiss； for one evening； hearing
a little noise in a big tree under which I was about to pass that
reminded me of the purring of a cat； I looked up and saw a great beast
of the tiger sort lying on the bough of the tree and watching me。 Then
I drew the bow and sent an arrow through that beast； piercing it from
side to side； and down it came roaring and writhing； and biting at the
arrow till it died。
After this I returned to the ship and told Kari what had happened。 He
said it was fortunate I had killed the beast； which was of a very
fierce kind； and if I had not seen it； would have leapt on me as I
passed under the tree。 Also he sent natives to skin it who when they
saw that it was pierced through and through by the arrow； were amazed
and thought me an even greater god than before； their own bows being
but feeble and their arrows tipped with bone。
Three days after the killing of this beast we started on our journey
into a land unknown。 For a long while before Kari and I had been
engaged in collecting all the knives we could find in the ship； also
arrows； nails； axes； tools of carpentering； clothes； and I know not
what else besides； which goods we tied up in bundles wrapped in
sailcloth； each bundle weighing from thirty to forty pounds； to serve
as presents to natives or to trade away with them。 When I asked who
would carry them； Kari answered that I should see。 This I did at dawn
on the following morning when there arrived upon t
