gulliver of mars-第9节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


elf　nearly　as　lazy　as　the　master　he　bore；　with　trappings　sewed　over　bits　of　coloured　shell　and　coral；　yet　somehow　it　was　all　extraordinarily　unreal。　It　was　a　city　full　of　the　ghosts　of　the　life　which　once　pulsed　through　its　ways。　　The　streets　were　peopled；　the　chatter　of　voices　everywhere；　the　singing　boys　and　laughing　girls　wandering；　arms　linked　together；　down　the　ways　filled　every　echo　with　their　merriment；　yet　somehow　it　was　all　so　shallow　that　again　and　again　I　rubbed　my　eyes；　wonder…　ing　if　I　were　indeed　awake；　or　whether　it　were　not　a　pro…　longed　sleep　of　which　the　tomorrow　were　still　to　come。

〃What　strikes　me　as　strangest　of　all；　good　comrade；〃　I　observed　pleasantly　to　the　tripping　presence　at　my　elbow；　〃is　that　these　countrymen　of　yours　who　shirk　to　climb　a　flight　of　steps；　and　have　palms　as　soft　as　rose　petals；　these　wide　ways　paved　with　stones　as　hard　as　a　usurer's　heart。〃

An　laughed。　　〃The　stones　were　still　in　their　native　quar…　ries　had　it　been　left　to　us　to　seek　them；　we　are　like　the　conies　in　the　ruins；　sir；　the　inheritors　of　what　other　hands　have　done。〃

〃Ay；　and　undone；　I　think；　as　well；　for　coming　along　I　have　noted　axe　chippings　upon　the　walls；　smudges　of　ancient　fire　and　smoke　upon　the　cornices。〃

An　winced　a　little　and　stared　uneasily　at　the　walls；　mut…　tering　below　her　breath　something　about　trying　to　hide　with　flower　garlands　the　marks　they　could　not　banish；　but　it　was　plain　the　conversation　was　not　pleasing　to　her。　　So　unpleasant　was　talk　or　sight　of　woodmen　（Thither…folk；　as　she　called　them；　in　contradiction　to　the　Hither　people　about　us　here）；　that　the　girl　was　clearly　relieved　when　we　were　free　of　the　town　and　out　into　the　open　play…　ground　of　the　people。　　The　whole　place　down　there　was　a　gay；　shifting　crowd。　　The　booths　of　yesterday；　the　ar…　cades；　the　archways；　were　still　standing；　and　during　the　night　unknown　hands　had　redecked　them　with　flowers；　while　another　day's　sunshine　had　opened　the　coppice　buds　so　that　the　whole　place　was　brilliant　past　expression。　　And　here　the　Hither　folk　were　varying　their　idleness　by　a　general　holiday。　　They　were　standing　about　in　groups；　or　lying　ranked　like　new…plucked　flowers　on　the　banks；　piping　to　each　other　through　reeds　as　soft　and　melodious　as　running　water。　　They　were　playing　inconsequent　games　and　breaking　off　in　the　middle　of　them　like　children　looking　for　new　pleasures。　　They　were　idling　about　the　drinking　booths；　delicately　stupid　with　quaint；　thin　wines；　dealt　out　to　all　who　asked；　the　maids　were　ready　to　chevy　or　be　chevied　through　the　blossoming　thickets　by　anyone　who　chanced　upon　them；　the　men　slipped　their　arms　round　slen…　der　waists　and　wandered　down　the　paths；　scarce　seeming　to　care　even　whose　waist　it　was　they　circled　or　into　whose　ear　they　whispered　the　remainder　of　the　love…tale　they　had　begun　to　some　one　else。　　And　everywhere　it　was　〃Hi；〃　and　〃Ha；〃　and　〃So；〃　and　〃See；〃　as　these　quaint　people　called　to　one　another；　knowing　each　other　as　familiarly　as　ants　of　a　nest；　and　by　the　same　magic　it　seemed　to　me。

〃An；〃　I　said　presently；　when　we　had　wandered　an　hour　or　so　through　the　drifting　throng；　〃have　these　good　country…　men　of　yours　no　other　names　but　monosyllabic；　nothing　to　designate　them　but　these　chirruping　syllables？〃

〃Is　it　not　enough？〃　answered　my　companion。　　〃Once　in…　deed　I　think　we　had　longer　names；　but；〃　she　added；　smiling；　〃how　much　trouble　it　saves　to　limit　each　one　to　a　single　sound。　It　is　uncivil　to　one's　neighbours　to　burden　their　tongues　with　double　duty　when　half　would　do。〃

〃But　have　you　no　patronymicsnothing　to　show　the　child　comes　of　the　same　source　as　his　father　came？〃

〃We　have　no　fathers。〃

〃What！　no　fathers？〃　I　said；　starting　and　staring　at　her。

〃No；　nor　mothers　either；　or　at　least　none　that　we　remem…　ber；　for　again；　why　should　we？　　Mayhap　in　that　strange　dis…　trict　you　come　from　you　keep　count　of　these　things；　but　what　have　we　to　do　with　either　when　their　initial　duty　is　done。　Look　at　that　painted　butterfly　swinging　on　the　honey…　laden　catkin　there。　　What　knows　she　of　the　mother　who　shed　her　life　into　a　flowercup　and　forgot　which　flower　it　was　the　minute　afterwards。　　We；　too；　are　insects；　stranger。〃

〃And　do　you　mean　to　say　of　this　great　concourse　here；　that　every　atom　is　solitary；　individual；　and　can　claim　no　kin…　dred　with　another　save　the　loose　bonds　of　a　general　fraterni…　tya　specious　idea；　horrible；　impracticable！〃

Whereat　An　laughed。　　〃Ask　the　grasshoppers　if　it　is　im…　practicable；　ask　the　little　buzzing　things　of　grass　and　leaves　who　drift　hither　and　thither　upon　each　breath　of　wind；　finding　kinsmen　never　but　comrades　everywhereask　them　if　it　is　horrible。〃

This　made　me　melancholy；　and　somehow　set　me　thinking　of　the　friends　immeasurably　distant　I　had　left　but　yesterday。

What　were　they　doing？　　Did　they　miss　me？　　I　was　to　have　called　for　my　pay　this　afternoon；　and　tomorrow　was　to　have　run　down　South　to　see　that　freckled　lady　of　mine。　What　would　she　think　of　my　absence？　　What　would　she　think　if　she　knew　where　I　was？　　Gods；　it　was　too　mad；　too　absurd！　　I　thrust　my　hands　into　my　pockets　in　fierce　des…　peration；　and　there　they　clutched　an　old　dance　programme　and　an　out…of…date　check　for　a　New　York　ferry…boat。　　I　scowled　about　on　that　sunny；　helpless　people；　and　laying　my　hand　bitterly　upon　my　heart　felt　in　the　breast…pocket　beneath　a　packet　of　unpaid　Boston　tailors'　bills　and　a　note　from　my　landlady　asking　if　I　would　let　her　aunt　do　my　washing　while　I　was　on　shore。　　Oh！　what　would　they　all　think　of　me？　　Would　they　brand　me　as　a　deserter；　a　poltroon；　and　a　thief；　letting　my　name　presently　sink　down　in　shame　and　mystery　in　the　shadowy　realm　of　the　forgotten？　　Dread…　ful　thoughts！　　I　would　think　no　more。

Maybe　An　had　marked　my　melancholy；　for　presently　she　led　me　to　a　stall　where　in　fantastic　vases　wines　of　sorts　I　have　described　before　were　put　out　for　all　who　came　to　try　them。　　There　was　medicine　here　for　every　kind　of　dulnessnot　the　gross　cure　which　earthly　wine　effects；　but　so　nicely　proportioned　to　each　specific　need　that　one　could　regulate　one's　debauch　to　a　hairbreadth；　rising　through　all　the　gamut　of　satisfaction；　from　the　staid　contentment　coming　of　that　flask　there　to　the　wild　extravagances　of　the　further…　most　vase。　　So　my　stripling　told　me；　running　her　finger　down　the　line　of　beakers　carved　with　strange　figures　and　cased　in　silver；　each　in　its　cluster　of　little　attendant　drinking…　cups；　like…coloured；　and　waiting　round　on　the　white　napkins　as　the　shore　boats　wait　to　unload　a　cargo　round　the　sides　of　a　merchant　vessel。

〃And　what；〃　I　said；　after　curiously　examining　each　liquor　in　turn；　〃what　is　that　which　stands　alone　there　in　the　humble　earthen　jar；　as　though　unworthy　of　the　company　of　the　others。〃

〃Oh；　that；〃　said　my　friend；　〃is　the　most　essential　of　them　allthat　is　the　wine　of　recovery；　without　which　all　the　others　were　deadly　poisons。〃

〃The　which；　lady；　looks　as　if　it　had　a　moral　attaching　to　it。〃

〃It　may　have；　indeed　I　think　it　has；　but　I　have　forgotten。　Prince　Hath　would　know！　　Meanwhile　let　me　give　you　to　drink；　great　stranger；　let　me　get　you　something。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　I　laughed；　〃reach　me　down　an　antidote　to　fate；　a　specific　for　an　absent　mistress；　and　forgetful　friends。〃

〃What　was　she　like？〃　said　An；　hesitating　a　little　and　frowning。

〃Nay；　good　friend；〃　was　my　answer；　〃what　can　that　matter　to　you？〃

〃Oh；　nothing；　of　course；〃　answered　that　Martian；　and　while　she　took　from　the　table　a　cup　and　filled　it　with　fluid　I　felt　in　the　pouch　of　my　sword…belt　to　see　if　by　chance　a　bit　of　money　was　Iying　there；　but　there　was　none；　only　the　pips　of　an　orange　poor　Polly　had　sucked　and　laughingly　thrown　at　me。

However；　it　did　not　matter。　　The　girl　handed　me　the　cup；　and　I　put　my　lips　to　it。　　The　first　taste　was　bitter　and　acrid；　like　the　liquor　of　long…steeped　wood。　　At　the　second　taste　a　shiver　of　pleasure　ran　through　me；　and　I　opened　my　eyes　and　stared　hard。　　The　third　taste　grossness　and　heavi…　ness　and　chagrin　dropped　from　my　heart；　all　the　com…　plexion　of　Providence　altered　in　a　flash；　and　a　stupid　irresistible　joy；　unreasoning；　uncontrollable　took　possession　of　my　fibre。　　I　sank　upon　a　mossy　bank　and；　lolling　my　head；　beamed　idiotically　on　the　lolling　Martians　all　about　me。　　How　long　I　was　like　that　I　cannot　say。　　The　heavy　minutes　of　sodden　contentment　slipped　by　unnoticed；　un…　umbered；　till　presently　I　felt　the　touch　of　a　wine…cup　at　my　lips　again；　and　drinking　of　another　liquor　dulness　vanished　from　my　mind；　my　eyes　cleared；　my　heart　throbbed；　a　fantastic　gaiety　seized　upon　my　limbs；　I　bounded　to　my　feet；　and　seizing　An's　two　hands　in　mine；　swung　that　damsel　round　in　a　giddy　dance；　capering　as　never　dancer　danced　before；　till　spent　and　weary　I　sank　down　again　from　sheer　lack　of　breath；　and　only　knew　thereafter　that　An　was　sitting　by　me　saying；　〃Drink！　drink　stranger；　drink　and　forget！〃　and　as　a　third　time　a　cup　was　pressed　to　my　lips；　aches　and　pleasures；　stupidness　and　joy；　life　itself；　seemed　slipping　away　into　a　splendid　golden　vacuity；　a　hazy　epi…　sode　of　unconscious　Elysium；　indefinite；　and　unfathomable。




CHAPTER　V

When　I　woke；　feeling　as　refreshed　as　though　I　had　been　dreaming　through　a　long　night；　An；　seeing　me　open…eyed；　helped　me　to　my　feet；　and