the blue flower-第4节

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follow　it。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　looking　at　me　half　in　doubt；　〃I　think　I
understand。　　But　wherever　you　go　I　hope　you　will　find　the
flower　at　last。〃

In　truth　there　were　many　things　in　the　city　that　troubled
me　and　made　me　restless；　in　spite　of　the　sweet　comfort　of
Ruamie's　friendship　and　the　tranquillity　of　the　life　in
Saloma。　　I　came　to　see　the　meaning　of　what　the　old　man　had
said　about　the　shadow　that　rested　upon　his　thoughts。　　For
there　were　some　in　the　city　who　said　that　the　hours　of
visitation　were　wasted；　and　that　it　would　be　better　to　employ
the　time　in　gathering　water　from　the　pools　that　formed　among
the　mountains　in　the　rainy　season；　or　in　sinking　wells　along
the　edge　of　the　desert。　　Others　had　newly　come　to　the　city　and
were　teaching　that　there　was　no　Source；　and　that　the　story　of
the　poor　man　who　reopened　it　was　a　fable；　and　that　the　hours　of
visitation　were　only　hours　of　dreaming。　　There　were　many　who
believed　them；　and　many　more　who　said　that　it　did　not　matter
whether　their　words　were　true　or　false；　and　that　it　was　of　small
moment　whether　men　went　to　visit　the　fountain　or　not；　provided
only　that　they　worked　in　the　gardens　and　kept　the　marble　pools
and　basins　in　repair　and　opened　new　canals　through　the　fields；
since　there　always　had　been　and　always　would　be　plenty　of　water。

As　I　listened　to　these　sayings　it　seemed　to　me　doubtful
what　the　end　of　the　city　would　be。　　And　while　this　doubt　was
yet　heavy　upon　me；　I　heard　at　midnight　the　faint　calling　of
the　trumpet；　sounding　along　the　crest　of　the　mountains：　and　as
I　went　out　to　look　where　it　came　from；　I　saw；　through　the
glimmering　veil　of　the　milky　way；　the　shape　of　a　blossom　of
celestial　blue；　whose　petals　seemed　to　fall　and　fade　as　I
looked。　　So　I　bade　farewell　to　the　old　man　in　whose　house　I
had　learned　to　love　the　hour　of　visitation　and　the　Source　and
the　name　of　him　who　opened　it；　and　I　kissed　the　hands　and　the
brow　of　the　little　Ruamie　who　had　entered　my　heart；　and　went
forth　sadly　from　the　land　of　Koorma　into　other　lands；　to　look　for
the　Blue　Flower。



II

In　the　Book　of　the　Voyage　without　a　Harbour　is　written　the
record　of　the　ten　years　which　passed　before　I　came　back　again
to　the　city　of　Saloma。

It　was　not　easy　to　find；　for　I　came　down　through　the
mountains；　and　as　I　looked　from　a　distant　shoulder　of　the
hills　for　the　little　bay　full　of　greenery；　it　was　not　to　be
seen。　　There　was　only　a　white　town　shining　far　off　against　the
brown　cliffs；　like　a　flake　of　mica　in　a　cleft　of　the　rocks。
Then　I　slept　that　night；　full　of　care；　on　the　hillside；　and
rising　before　dawn；　came　down　in　the　early　morning　toward　the
city。

The　fields　were　lying　parched　and　yellow　under　the
sunrise；　and　great　cracks　gaped　in　the　earth　as　if　it　were
thirsty。　　The　trenches　and　channels　were　still　there；　but
there　was　little　water　in　them；　and　through　the　ragged　fringes　of
the　rusty　vineyards　I　heard；　instead　of　the　cheerful　songs　of　the
vintagers；　the　creaking　of　dry　windlasses　and　the　hoarse　throb　of
the　pumps　in　sunken　wells。　　The　girdle　of　gardens　had　shrunk　like
a　wreath　of　withered　flowers；　and　all　the　bright　embroidery；　of
earth　was　faded　to　a　sullen　gray。

At　the　foot　of　an　ancient；　leafless　olive…tree　I　saw　a
group　of　people　kneeling　around　a　newly　opened　well。　　I　asked
a　man　who　was　digging　beside　the　dusty　path　what　this　might
mean。　　He　straightened　himself　for　a　moment；　wiping　the　sweat
from　his　brow；　and　answered；　sullenly；　〃They　are　worshipping
the　windlass：　how　else　should　they　bring　water　into　their
fields？〃　　Then　he　fell　furiously　to　digging　again；　and　I
passed　on　into　the　city。

There　was　no　sound　of　murmuring　streams　in　the　streets；
and　down　the　main　bed　of　the　river　I　saw　only　a　few　shallow
puddles；　joined　together　by　a　slowly　trickling　thread。　　Even
these　were　fenced　and　guarded　so　that　no　one　might　come　near
to　them；　and　there　were　men　going　among　to　the　houses　with
water…skins　on　their　shoulders；　crying　〃Water！　Water　to　sell！〃

The　marble　pools　in　the　open　square　were　empty；　and　at　one
of　them　there　was　a　crowd　looking　at　a　man　who　was　being
beaten　with　rods。　　A　bystander　told　me　that　the　officers　of
the　city　had　ordered　him　to　be　punished　because　he　had　said
that　the　pools　and　the　basins　and　the　channels　were　not　all　of
pure　marble；　without　a　flaw。　　〃For　this；〃　said　he；　〃is　the
evil　doctrine　that　has　come　in　to　take　away　the　glory　of　our
city；　and　because　of　this　the　water　has　failed。〃

〃It　is　a　sad　change；〃　I　answered；　〃and　doubtless　they　who
have　caused　it　should　suffer　more　than　others。　　But　can　you
tell　me　at　what　hour　and　in　what　manner　the　people　now　observe
the　visitation　of　the　Source？〃

He　looked　curiously　at　me　and　replied：　　〃I　do　not
understand　you。　　There　is　no　visitation　save　the　inspection　of
the　cisterns　and　the　wells　which　the　syndics　of　the　city　；
whom　we　call　the　Princes　of　Water；　carry　on　daily　at　every
hour。　　What　source　is　this　of　which　you　speak？〃

So　I　went　on　through　the　street；　where　all　the　passers…by
seemed　in　haste　and　wore　weary　countenances；　until　I　came　to
the　house　where　I　had　lodged。　　There　was　a　little　basin　here
against　the　wall；　with　a　slender　stream　of　water　still　flowing
into　it；　and　a　group　of　children　standing　near　with　their
pitchers；　waiting　to　fill　them。

The　door　of　the　house　was　closed；　but　when　I　knocked；　it
opened　and　a　maiden　came　forth。　　She　was　pale　and　sad　in
aspect；　but　a　light　of　joy　dawned　over　the　snow　of　her　face；
and　I　knew　by　the　youth　in　her　eyes　that　it　was　Ruamie；　who
had　walked　with　me　through　the　vineyards　long　ago。

With　both　hands　she　welcomed　me；　saying：　　〃You　are
expected。　　Have　you　found　the　Blue　Flower？〃

〃Not　yet；〃　I　answered；　〃but　something　drew　me　back　to　you。
I　would　know　how　it　fares　with　you；　and　I　would　go　again　with
you　to　visit　the　Source。〃

At　this　her　face　grew　bright；　but　with　a　tender；　half…sad
brightness。

〃The　Source！〃　she　said。　　〃Ah；　yes；　I　was　sure　that　you　would
remember　it。　　And　this　is　the　hour　of　the　visitation。　　Come；　let
us　go　up　together。〃

Then　we　went　alone　through　the　busy　and　weary　multitudes
of　the　city　toward　the　mountain…path。　　So　forsaken　was　it　and
so　covered　with　stones　and　overgrown　with　wire…grass　that　I
could　not　have　found　it　but　for　her　guidance。　　But　as　we
climbed　upward　the　air　grew　clearer；　and　more　sweet；　and　I
questioned　her　of　the　things　that　had　come　to　pass　in　my
absence。　　I　asked　her　of　the　kind　old　man　who　had　taken　me
into　his　house　when　I　came　as　a　stranger。　　She　said；　softly；
〃He　is　dead。〃

〃And　where　are　the　men　and　women；　his　friends；　who　once
thronged　this　pathway？　　Are　they　also　dead？〃

〃They　also　are　dead。〃

〃But　where　are　the　younger　ones　who　sang　here　so　gladly　as
they　marched　upward？　　Surely　they；　are　living？〃

〃They　have　forgotten。〃

〃Where　then　are　the　young　children　whose　fathers　taught
them　this　way　and　bade　them　remember　it。　　Have　they　forgotten？〃

〃They　have　forgotten。〃

〃But　why　have　you　alone　kept　the　hour　of　visitation？　　Why
have　you　not　turned　back　with　your　companions？　　How　have　you
walked　here　solitary　day　after　day？〃

She　turned　to　me　with　a　divine　regard；　and　laying　her　hand
gently　over　mine；　she　said；　〃I　remember　always。〃

Then　I　saw　a　few　wild…flowers　blossoming　beside　the　path。

We　drew　near　to　the　Source；　and　entered　into　the　chamber
hewn　in　the　rock。　　She　kneeled　and　bent　over　the　sleeping
spring。　　She　murmured　again　and　again　the　beautiful　name　of
him　who　had　died　to　find　it。　　Her　voice　repeated　the　song　that
had　once　been　sung　by　many　voices。　　Her　tears　fell　softly　on
the　spring；　and　as　they　fell　it　seemed　as　if　the　water　stirred
and　rose　to　meet　her　bending　face；　and　when　she　looked　up　it
was　as　if　the　dew　had　fallen　on　a　flower。

We　came　very　slowly　down　the　path　along　the　river　Carita；
and　rested　often　beside　it；　for　surely；　I　thought；　the　rising
of　the　spring　had　sent　a‘little　more　water　down　its　dry　bed；　and
some　of　it　must　flow　on　to　the　city。　　So　it　was　almost　evening
when　we　came　back　to　the　streets。　　The　people　were　hurrying　to
and　fro；　for　it　was　the　day　before　the　choosing　of　new　Princes　of
Water；　and　there　was　much　dispute　about　them；　and　strife　over　the
building　of　new　cisterns　to　hold　the　stores　of　rain　which　might
fall　in　the　next　year。　　But　none　cared　for　us；　as　we　passed　by
like　strangers；　and　we　came　unnoticed　to　the　door　of　the　house。

Then　a　great　desire　of　love　and　sorrow　moved　within　my
breast；　and　I　said　to　Ruamie；　〃You　are　the　life　of　the　city；
for　you　alone　remember。　　Its　secret　is　in　your　heart；　and　your
faithful　keeping　of　the　hours　of　visitation　is　the　only　cause
why　the　river　has　not　failed　altogether　and　the　curse　of
desolation　returned。　　Let　me　stay　with　you；　sweet　soul　of　all
the　flowers　that　are　dead；　and　I　will　cherish　you　forever。
Together　we　will　visit　the　Source　every　day；　and　we　shall　turn
the　people；　by　our　lives　and　by　our　words；　back　to　that　which
they　have　forgotten。〃

There　was　a　smile　in　her　eyes　so　deep　that　its　meaning　cannot
be　spoken；　as　she　lifted　my　hand　to　her　lips；　and　answered；

〃Not　so；　dear　friend；　for　who　can　tell　whether　life　or
death　will　come　to　the　city；　whether　its　people　will　re