nada the lily(百合娜达)-第25节

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the　Halakazi；　I　sprang　over　the　brink　of　the　rock　and　rushed　upon　the
wolves。　They；　too；　sprang　up　and　stood　howling；　with　bristling　hides
and　fiery　eyes；　and　the　smell　of　them　came　into　my　nostrils。　Yet　when
they　saw　it　was　a　man　that　rushed　upon　them；　they　were　seized　with
sudden　fear　and　fled　this　way　and　that；　leaping　by　great　bounds　from
the　place　of　rock；　which　is　the　knees　of　the　stone　Witch；　so　that
presently　I　stood　alone　in　front　of　the　cave。　Now；　having　conquered
the　wolf　ghosts　and　no　blow　struck；　my　heart　swelled　within　me；　and　I
walked　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave　proudly；　as　a　cock　walks　upon　a　roof；
and　looked　in　through　the　opening。　As　it　chanced；　the　sinking　sun
shone　at　this　hour　full　into　the　cave；　so　that　all　its　darkness　was
made　red　with　light。　Then；　once　more；　Umslopogaas；　I　grew　afraid
indeed；　for　I　could　see　the　end　of　the　cave。

〃Look　now！　There　is　a　hole　in　the　wall　of　the　cave；　where　the
firelight　falls　below　the　shadow　of　the　roof；　twice　the　height　of　a
man　from　the　floor。　It　is　a　narrow　hole　and　a　high；　is　it　not？as
though　one　had　cut　it　with　iron；　and　a　man　might　sit　in　it；　his　legs
hanging　towards　the　floor　of　the　cave。　Ay；　Umslopogaas；　a　man　might
sit　in　it；　might　he　not？　And　there　a　man　sat；　or　that　which　had　been　a
man。　There　sat　the　bones　of　a　man；　and　the　black　skin　had　withered　on
his　bones；　holding　them　together；　and　making　him　awful　to　see。　His
hands　were　open　beside　him；　he　leaned　upon　them；　and　in　the　right　hand
was　a　piece　of　hide　from　his　moocha。　It　was　half　eaten；　Umslopogaas；
he　had　eaten　it　before　he　died。　His　eyes　also　were　bound　round　with　a
band　of　leather；　as　though　to　hide　something　from　their　gaze；　one　foot
was　gone；　one　hung　over　the　edge　of　the　niche　towards　the　floor；　and
beneath　it　on　the　floor；　red　with　rust；　lay　the　blade　of　a　broken
spear。

〃Now　come　hither；　Umslopogaas；　place　your　hand　upon　the　wall　of　the
cave；　just　here；　it　is　smooth；　is　it　not？smooth　as　the　stones　on
which　women　grind　their　corn。　'What　made　it　so　smooth？'　you　ask。　I
will　tell　you。

〃When　I　peered　through　the　door　of　the　cave　I　saw　this：　on　the　floor
of　the　cave　lay　a　she…wolf　panting；　as　though　she　had　galloped　many　a
mile；　she　was　great　and　fierce。　Near　to　her　was　another　wolfhe　was　a
dogold　and　black；　bigger　than　any　I　have　seen；　a　very　father　of
wolves；　and　all　his　head　and　flanks　were　streaked　with　grey。　But　this
wolf　was　on　his　feet。　As　I　watched　he　drew　back　nearly　to　the　mouth　of
the　cave；　then　of　a　sudden　he　ran　forward　and　bounded　high　into　the
air　towards　the　withered　foot　of　that　which　hung　from　the　cleft　of　the
rock。　His　pads　struck　upon　the　rock　here　where　it　is　smooth；　and　there
for　a　second　he　seemed　to　cling；　while　his　great　jaws　closed　with　a
clash　but　a　spear's　breadth　beneath　the　dead　man's　foot。　Then　he　fell
back　with　a　howl　of　rage；　and　drew　slowly　down　the　cave。　Again　he　ran
and　leaped；　again　the　great　jaws　closed；　again　he　fell　down　howling。
Then　the　she…wolf　rose；　and　they　sprang　together；　striving　to　pull
down　him　who　sat　above。　But　it　was　all　in　vain；　they　could　never　come
nearer　than　within　a　spear's　breadth　of　the　dead　man's　foot。　And　now；
Umslopogaas；　you　know　why　the　rock　is　smooth　and　shines。　From　month　to
month　and　year　to　year　the　wolves　had　ravened　there；　seeking　to　devour
the　bones　of　him　who　sat　above。　Night　upon　night　they　had　leaped　thus
against　the　wall　of　the　cave；　but　never　might　their　clashing　jaws
close　upon　his　foot。　One　foot　they　had；　indeed；　but　the　other　they
could　not　come　by。

〃Now　as　I　watched；　filled　with　fear　and　wonder；　the　she…wolf；　her
tongue　lolling　from　her　jaws；　made　so　mighty　a　bound　that　she　almost
reached　the　hanging　foot；　and　yet　not　quite。　She　fell　back；　and　then　I
saw　that　the　leap　was　her　last　for　that　time；　for　she　had　oversprung
herself；　and　lay　there　howling；　the　black　blood　flowing　from　her
mouth。　The　wolf　saw　also：　he　drew　near；　sniffed　at　her；　then；　knowing
that　she　was　hurt；　seized　her　by　the　throat　and　worried　her。　Now　all
the　place　was　filled　with　groans　and　choking　howls；　as　the　wolves
rolled　over　and　over　beneath　him　who　sat　above；　and　in　the　blood…red
light　of　the　dying　sun　the　sight　and　sounds　were　so　horrid　that　I
trembled　like　a　child。　The　she…wolf　grew　faint；　for　the　fangs　of　her
mate　were　buried　in　her　throat。　Then　I　saw　that　now　was　the　time　to
smite　him；　lest　when　he　had　killed　her　he　should　kill　me　also。　So　I
lifted　the　Watcher　and　sprang　into　the　cave；　having　it　in　my　mind　to
slay　the　wolf　before　he　lifted　up　his　head。　But　he　heard　my　footsteps；
or　perhaps　my　shadow　fell　upon　him。　Loosing　his　grip；　he　looked　up；
this　father　of　wolves；　then；　making　no　sound；　he　sprang　straight　at　my
throat。

〃I　saw　him；　and　whirling　the　Watcher　aloft；　I　smote　with　all　my
strength。　The　blow　met　him　in　mid…air；　it　fell　full　on　his　chest　and
struck　him　backwards　to　the　earth。　But　there　he　would　not　say；　for；
rising　before　I　could　smite　again；　once　more　he　sprang　at　me。　This
time　I　leaped　aside　and　struck　downwards；　and　the　blow　fell　upon　his
right　leg　and　broke　it；　so　that　he　could　spring　no　more。　Yet　he　ran　at
me　on　three　feet；　and；　though　the　club　fell　on　his　side；　he　seized　me
with　his　teeth；　biting　through　that　leather　bag；　which　was　wound　about
my　middle；　into　the　flesh　behind。　Then　I　yelled　with　pain　and　rage；
and　lifting　the　Watcher　endways；　drove　it　down　with　both　hands；　as　a
man　drives　a　stake　into　the　earth；　and　that　with　so　great　a　stroke
that　the　skull　of　the　wolf　was　shattered　like　a　pot；　and　he　fell　dead；
dragging　me　with　him。　Presently　I　sat　up　on　the　ground；　and；　placing
the　handle　of　the　Watcher　between　his　jaws；　I　forced　them　open；
freeing　my　flesh　from　the　grip　of　his　teeth。　Then　I　looked　at　my
wounds；　they　were　not　deep；　for　the　leather　bag　had　saved　me；　yet　I
feel　them　to　this　hour；　for　there　is　poison　in　the　mouth　of　a　wolf。
Presently　I　glanced　up；　and　saw　that　the　she…wolf　had　found　her　feet
again；　and　stood　as　though　unhurt；　for　this　is　the　nature　of　these
ghosts；　Umslopogaas；　that；　though　they　fight　continually；　they　cannot
destroy　each　other。　They　may　be　killed　by　man　alone；　and　that　hardly。
There　she　stood；　and　yet　she　did　not　look　at　me　or　on　her　dead　mate；
but　at　him　who　sat　above。　I　saw；　and　crept　softly　behind　her；　then；
lifting　the　Watcher；　I　dashed　him　down　with　all　my　strength。　The　blow
fell　on　her　neck　and　broke　it；　so　that　she　rolled　over　and　at　once　was
dead。

〃Now　I　rested　awhile；　then　went　to　the　mouth　of　the　cave　and　looked
out。　The　sun　was　sinking：　all　the　depth　of　the　forest　was　black；　but
the　light　still　shone　on　the　face　of　the　stone　woman　who　sits　forever
on　the　mountain。　Here；　then；　I　must　bide　this　night；　for；　though　the
moon　shone　white　and　full　in　the　sky；　I　dared　not　wend　towards　the
plains　alone　with　the　wolves　and　the　ghosts。　And　if　I　dared　not　go
alone；　how　much　less　should　I　dare　to　go　bearing　with　me　him　who　sat
in　the　cleft　of　the　rock！　Nay；　here　I　must　bide；　so　I　went　out　of　the
cave　to　the　spring　which　flows　from　the　rock　on　the　right　yonder　and
washed　my　wounds　and　drank。　Then　I　came　back　and　sat　in　the　mouth　of
the　cave；　and　watched　the　light　die　away　from　the　face　of　the　world。
While　it　was　dying　there　was　silence；　but　when　it　was　dead　the　forest
awoke。　A　wind　sprang　up　and　tossed　it　till　the　green　of　its　boughs
waved　like　troubled　water　on　which　the　moon　shines　faintly。　From　the
heart　of　it；　too；　came　howlings　of　ghosts　and　wolves；　that　were
answered　by　howls　from　the　rocks　abovehearken；　Umslopogaas；　such
howlings　as　we　hear　to…night！

〃It　was　awful　here　in　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　for　I　had　not　yet　learned
the　secret　of　the　stone；　and　if　I　had　known　it；　should　I　have　dared　to
close　it；　leaving　myself　alone　with　the　dead　wolves　and　him　whom　the
wolves　had　struggled　to　tear　down？　I　walked　out　yonder　on　to　the
platform　and　looked　up。　The　moon　shone　full　upon　the　face　of　the　stone
Witch　who　sits　aloft　forever。　She　seemed　to　grin　at　me；　and；　oh！　I
grew　afraid；　for　now　I　knew　that　this　was　a　place　of　dead　men；　a　place
where　spirits　perch　like　vultures　in　a　tree；　as　they　sweep　round　and
round　the　world。　I　went　back　to　the　cave；　and　feeling　that　I　must　do
something　lest　I　should　go　mad；　I　drew　to　me　the　carcase　of　the　great
dog…wolf　which　I　had　killed；　and；　taking　my　knife　of　iron；　I　began　to
skin　it　by　the　light　of　the　moon。　For　an　hour　or　more　I　skinned；
singing　to　myself　as　I　worked；　and　striving　to　forget　him　who　sat　in
the　cleft　above　and　the　howlings　which　ran　about　the　mountains。　But
ever　the　moonlight　shone　more　clearly　into　the　cave：　now　by　it　I　could
see　his　shape　of　bone　and　skin；　ay；　and　even　the　bandage　about　his
eyes。　Why　had　he　tied　it　there？　I　wonderedperhaps　to　hide　the　faces
of　the　fierce　wolves　as　they　sprang　upwards　to　grip　him。　And　always
the　howlings　drew　nearer；　now　I　could　see　grey　forms　creeping　to　and
fro　in　the　shadows　of　the　rocky　place　before　me。　Ah！　there　before　me
glared　two　red　eyes：　a　sharp　snout　sniffed　at　the　carcase　which　I
skinned。　With　a　yell；　I　lifted　the　Watcher　and　smote。　There　came　a
scream　of　pain；　and　something　galloped　away　into　the　shadows。

〃Now　the　skin　was　off。　I　cast　it　behind　me；　and　seizing　the　carcase