gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第34节
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before an imperious physical demand。 All through the long hours of the
night； while the waves outside champed upon the gravels； and the
woodmen snored and grunted uneasily as they simultaneously dreamt of
the day's hunting and digested its proceeds； I slept； and then when dawn
began to break I passed from that heavy stupor into another and lighter
realm； wherein fancy again rose superior to bodily fatigue； and events of
the last few days passed in procession through my mind。
I dreamt I was lunching at a fashionable seaside resort with Polly at
my side； and An kept bringing us melons； which grew so monstrous every
time a knife was put into them that poor Polly screamed aloud。 I dreamt
I was afloat on a raft； hotly pursued by my tailor； whose bare and shiny
headmay Providence be good to him！was garlanded with roses； while
in his fist was a bunch of unpaid bills； the which he waved aloft； shouting
to me to stop。 And thus we danced down an ink…black river until he had
chiveyed me into the vast hall of the Admiralty； where a fearsome
Secretary； whose golden teeth rattled and dropped from his head with
mingled cold and anger； towered above me as he asked why I was absent
from my ship without leave。 And I was just mumbling out excuses while
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stooping to pick up his golden dentistry； when some one stirring in the hut
aroused me。 I started up on my elbow and looked around。 Where was I？
For a minute all was confused and dark。 The heavy mound…like forms of
sleeping men； the dim outlines of their hunting gear upon the walls； the
pale sea beyond； half seen through the open doorway； just turning livid in
the morning light； and then as my eyes grew more ac… customed to the
obscurity； and my stupid senses returned； I recognised the surroundings；
and； with a sigh； remembered yesterday's adventures。 However； it would
never do to mope； so； rising silently and picking a way through human
lumber on the floor； I went out and down to the water's edge； where
〃shore…going〃 clothes； as we sailors call them； were slipped off； and I
plunged into the sea for a swim。
It was a welcome dip； for I needed the plunge physically and
intellectually； but it came to an abrupt conclusion。 The Thither folk
apparently had never heard of this form of enjoyment； to them water stood
for drinking or drowning； nothing else； and since one could not drink the
sea； to be in it meant； even for a ghost； to drown。 Consequently； when
the word went round the just rousing villages that 〃He…on…foot… from…afar〃
was adrift in the waves； rescue parties were hur… riedly organised； a boat
launched； and； in spite of all my kicking and shouting （which they took to
be evidence of my semi…moribund condition）； I was speedily hauled out by
hairy and powerful hands； pungent herbs burnt un… der my nose； and my
heels held high in the air in order that the water might run out of me。 It
was only with the greatest difficulty those rough but honest fellows were
eventually got to believe me saved。
The breakfast I made of grilled deer flesh and a fish not unlike salmon；
however； convinced them of my recovery； and afterward we parted very
good friends； for there was some… thing in the nature of those rugged
barbarians just coming into the dawn of civilisation that won my liking far
more than the effete gentleness of others across the water。
When the time of parting came they showed no curiosity as to my
errand； but just gave me some food in a fish…skin bag； thrust a heavy
stone…headed axe into my hand； 〃in case I had to talk to a thief on the
road；〃 and pointed out on the southern horizon a forked mountain； under
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which； they said； was the harbour and high…road to King Ar…hap's capital。
Then they hugged me to their hairy chests in turn； and let me go with a
traveller's blessing。
There I was again； all alone； none but my thoughts for companions；
and nothing but youth to excuse the folly in thus venturing on a reckless
quest！
However； who can gainsay that same youth？ The very spice of danger
made my steps light and the way pleasant。 For a mile or two the track was
plain enough； through an undulating country gradually becoming more
and more wooded with vegetation； changing rapidly from Alpine to sub…
tropical。 The air also grew warmer； and when the divid… ing ridge was
crossed and a thick forest entered； the snows and dreadful region of
Deadmen's Ice already seemed leagues and leagues away。
Probably a warm ocean current played on one side of the peninsula；
while a cold one swept the other； but for sci… entific aspects of the question
I cared little in my joy at being anew in a soft climate； amongst beautiful
flowers and vivid life again。 Mile after mile slipped quickly by as I
strode along； whistling 〃Yankee Doodle〃 to myself and revelling in the
change。 At one place I met a rough…looking Martian woodcutter； who
wanted to fight until he found I also wanted to； when he turned very civil
and as talkative as a solitary liver often is when his tongue gets started。
He particularly desired to know where I came from； and； as in the case
with so many other of his countrymen； took it for granted； and with very
little surprise； that I was either a spirit or an inhabitant of another world。
With this idea in his mind he gave me a curious piece of information；
which； unfortunately； I was never able to follow up。
〃I don't think you can be a spirit；〃 he said； critically eyeing my clothes；
which were now getting ragged and dirty beyond description。 〃They are
finer…looking things than you； and I doubt if their toes come through their
shoes like yours do。 If you are a wanderer from the stars； you are not like
that other one we have down yonder；〃 and he pointed to the southward。
〃What！〃 I asked； pricking my ears in amazement； 〃an… other wanderer
from the outside world！ Does he come from the earth？〃using the word
An had given me to signify my own planet。
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〃No； not from there； from the one that burns blue in evening between
sun and sea。 Men say he worked as a stoker or something of the kind
when he was at home； and got trifling with a volcano tap； and was lapped
in hot mud； and blown out here。 My brother saw him about a week ago。〃
〃Now what you say is down right curious。 I thought I had a
monopoly of that kind of business in this sphere of yours。 I should be
tremendously interested to see him。〃
〃No you wouldn't；〃 briefly answered the woodman。 〃He is the
stupidest fool ever blown from one world to another more stupid to look
at than you are。 He is a gaseous； wavey thing； so glum you can't get two
words a week out of him； and so unstable that you never know when you
are with him and when the breeze has drifted him somewhere else。〃
I could but laugh and insist； with all respect to the woodcutter； such an
individual were worth the knowing however unstable his constitution； at
which the man shrugged his shoulders and changed the conversation； as
though the subject were too trivial to be worth much consideration。
This individual gave me the pleasure of his company until nearly
sundown； and finding I took an interest in things of the forest； pointed out
more curious plants and trees than I have space to mention。 Two of them；
however； cling to my memory very tenaciously。 One was a very Circe
amongst plants； the horrible charm of which can never be forgotten。 We
were going down a glade when a most ravishing odour fell upon my
nostrils。 It was heavenly sweet yet withal there lurked an incredibly；
unexpressibly tempting spice of
