the mirror of kong ho(空赫的镜子)-第39节
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among the intricacies of the all…round collar and outer garments in
exchange； hung a slender rope about his back； and after completing the
artifice by a skilful device of massing coloured inks upon our faces； he
commanded me to lead him out by a chain and observe intelligently how a
captive Boxer chief should disport himself。
No sooner had we reached the platform than the one whom I
controlled leapt high into the air； dragged me to the edge of the erection；
showed his teeth towards the assembly and waved his arms menacingly at
them； then turning upon this person； he inflamed his face with passion；
rattled his chain furiously； and uttered such vengeance…laden cries that；
unable to subdue the emotion of fear； I abandoned all pretence； and
dropping the chain； fled to the furthest recess of the tent； followed by the
still threatening Fang。
There is an expression among us； 〃Cheng…hu was too considerate： he
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tried to drive nails with a cucumber。〃 Cheng…hu would certainly have
quickly found the necessity of a weapon of three…times hardened steel if he
had lived among these barbarians； who are insensible to the higher forms
of politeness； in addition to acting in a contrary and illogical manner on all
occasions。 Instead of being repelled and discouraged by Fang's outrageous
behaviour； they clamoured to be admitted into the tent more vehemently
than before； and so successfully established the venture that the one to
whom I must now allude throughout as Fang signified to me his covetous
intention of reducing the performance by a further two and a half minutes
in order to reap an added profit and to garner all his rice before the Hoang
Ho rose。
As for myself； revered； it would be immature to hold the gauze screen
of prevarication between your all…discerning mind and my own trepidation。
From the moment when I first saw the expression of utterly depraved
malignity and deep…seared hate which he had cunningly engraved upon his
face by means of the coloured inks； I was far from being comfortably
settled within myself。 Even the society of the not inelegant being of the
inner chamber； whom it was now my part to console with alluring words
and movements； could not for some time retain my face from a back…way
instinct at every sound； but when the detail was reached that she sank into
my grasp bereft of all energy； and for the first time I was just succeeding
in forgetting the unpropitious surroundings； the one Fang； who had entered
with unseemly stealth； suddenly hurled his soul…freezing battle…cry upon
my ear and leapt forward with uplifted knife。 Perceiving the action from
an angle of my eye even as he propelled himself through the air； I could
not restrain an ignoble wail of despair； and not scrupling to forsake the
maiden； I would have taken refuge beneath a couch had he not seized my
outer robe and hurled me to the ground。 From this point to the close of the
entertainment the vigorous person in question did not cease from raising
cries and challenges in an unfaltering and many…fathomed stream； while at
the same time he continued to spring from one extremity of the stage to
the other surrounded by every external attribute of an insatiable tiger…like
rage。 It is circumstantially related that the one near at hand； who has been
referred to as possessing a voiced machine； became demented； and bearing
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the contrivance to a certain tent erected by the charitable； entreated them
to remove the impediment from its speech so that it might be heard again
and his livelihood restored。 When the action of brandishing a profusion of
knives before the lesser one's eyes was reached； so nerve…shattering was
the impression which Fang created that the back of the tent had to be
removed in order to let out those who no longer had possession of
themselves； and to let in thoseto a ten…fold degreewho strove for
admission on the rumour spreading that something exceptionally repellent
was progressing within。
With what attenuated organs of repose this person would have reached
the end of so strenuous an occupation had he been compelled to twelve
enactments each hour throughout the gong…strokes of the day without any
literary relief； it is not enticing to dwell upon。 This evil was averted by a
timely intervention； for upon proceeding to the outer air for the third time I
at once perceived among the foremost throng the engaging full…face of
William Beveledge Greyson。 This really painstaking individual had
learned； as he afterwards explained； that the chiefs of exchange （those who
in the first case had opposed me resolutely；） had received a written omen；
and now in contrition were expressing their willingness to hold out a full
restitution。 With this assurance he had set forth in an unremitting search；
and guided by street…watchers； removers of superfluous earth； families
propelling themselves forward upon one foot； astrologers； two…wheeled
charioteers； and others who move early and secretly by night； he had
traced my description to this same Heath。 Here he had been attracted by
the displayed placard （remembering my honourable boast）； and
approaching nearer； he had plainly recognised my voice within。 But in
spite of this the successful disentanglement was by no means yet
accomplished。
Not expecting so involved a reversal of things； and being short…eyed
by nature； William Greyson did not wait for a fuller assurance than to be
satisfied that the one before him wore my robes and conformed in a
general outline； before he addressed him。
〃Kong Ho；〃 he said pleasantly； 〃what the Chief Evil Spirit are you
doing up there？〃 adding persuasively； 〃Come down； there's a good fellow。
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I have something important to tell you。〃
Thus appealed to； the one Fang hesitated in doubt； seeing on the one
hand a certain loss of face if he declined the conversation； and on the other
hand having no clear perception of what was required from him。 Therefore
he entered upon a course of evasion and somewhat incapably replied；
〃Chow Chop Wei Hai Wei Lung Tung Togo Kuroki Jim Jam Beri Beri。〃
〃Don't act the horned sheep；〃 said Beveledge； who was both resolute
and one easily set into violent motion by an opposing stream。 〃Come
down； or I'll come up and fetch you。〃 And not being satisfied with Fang's
ill…advised attempt to express himself equivocally； those around took up
the apt similitude of a self…opinionated animal； and began to suggest a
comparison to other creatures no less degraded。
〃Rats yourselves！〃 exclaimed the easily…inflamed person at my side；
losing the inefficient cords of his prudence beneath the sting。 〃Who's a
rabbit？ For two guinea…pigs I'd mow all the grass between here and the
Spaniards with your own left ears；〃 and not permitting me sufficient
preparation to withhold the chain more firmly； he abruptly cast himself
down among them； amid a scene of the most untamed confusion。
〃Oh； affectionately…disposed brethren；〃 I exclaimed； moving forward
and raising my hand in refined disapproval； 〃the sublime Confucius； in the
twenty…third chapter of the book called 'The Great Learning；' warns us
against〃 but before I could formulate the allusion Beveledge Greyson；
who at the sound of my conciliatory words had gazed first in astonishment
and then in a self…convulsed position； drew himself up to my side； and
taking a firm grasp upon the all…round collar； projected me without a pause
through the tent； and only halting for a moment to point significantly back
to the varied and animated scene behind； where； amid a very profuse
disp
