太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > when the world shook >

第46节

when the world shook-第46节

小说: when the world shook 字数: 每页4000字

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!




bewildered and overcome。 My brain rocked。 I would seek sleep; and

in it escape; or at any rate rest from all these mysteries。





On the following morning we despatched Bastin to keep his

rendezvous in the sepulchre at the proper time。 Had we not done

so I felt sure that he would have forgotten it; for on this

occasion he was for once an unwilling missioner。 He tried to

persuade one of us to come with himeven Bickley would have been

welcome; but we both declared that we could not dream of

interfering in such a professional matter; also that our presence

was forbidden; and would certainly distract the attention of his

pupil。



〃What you mean;〃 said the gloomy Bastin; 〃is that you intend to

enjoy yourselves up here in the female companionship of the

Glittering Lady whilst I sit thousands of feet underground

attempting to lighten the darkness of a violent old sinner whom I

suspect of being in league with Satan。〃



〃With whom you should be proud to break a lance;〃 said Bickley。



〃So I am; in the daylight。 For instance; when he uses your

mouth to advance his arguments。 Bickley; but this is another

matter。 However; if I do not appear again you will know that I

died in a good cause; and; I hope; try to recover my remains and

give them decent burial。 Also; you might inform the Bishop of how

I came to my end; this is; if you ever get an opportunity; which

is more than doubtful。〃



〃Hurry up; Bastin; hurry up!〃 said the unfeeling Bickley; 〃or

you will be late for your appointment and put your would…be

neophyte into a bad temper。〃



Then Bastin went; carrying under his arm a large Bible printed

in the language of the South Sea Islands。



A little while later Yva appeared; arrayed in her wondrous

robes which; being a man; it is quite impossible for me to

describe。 She saw us looking at these; and; after greeting us

both; also Tommy; who was enraptured at her coming; asked us how

the ladies of our country attired themselves。



We tried to explain; with no striking success。



〃You are as stupid about such matters as were the men of the

Old World;〃 she said; shaking her head and laughing。 〃I thought

that you had with you pictures of ladies you have known which

would show me。〃



Now; in fact; I had in a pocket…book a photograph of my wife in

evening…dress; also a miniature of her head and bust painted on

ivory; a beautiful piece of work done by a master hand; which I

always wore。 These; after a moment's hesitation; I produced and

showed to her; Bickley having gone away for a little while to see

about something connected with his attempted analysis of the

Life…water。 She examined them with great eagerness; and as she

did so I noted that her face grew tender and troubled。



〃This was your wife;〃 she said as one who states what she knows

to be a fact。 I nodded; and she went on:



〃She was sweet and beautiful as a flower; but not so tall as I

am; I think。〃



〃No;〃 I answered; 〃she lacked height; given that she would have

been a lovely woman。〃



〃I am glad you think that women should be tall;〃 she said;

glancing at her shadow。 〃The eyes were such as mine; were they

notin colour; I mean?〃



〃Yes; very like yours; only yours are larger。〃



〃That is a beautiful way of wearing the hair。 Would you be

angry if I tried it? I weary of this old fashion。〃



〃Why should I be angry?〃 I asked。



At this moment Bickley reappeared and she began to talk of the

details of the dress; saying that it showed more of the neck than

had been the custom among the women of her people; but was very

pretty。



〃That is because we are still barbarians;〃 said Bickley; 〃at

least; our women are; and therefore rely upon primitive methods

of attraction; like the savages yonder。〃



She smiled; and; after a last; long glance; gave me back the

photograph and the miniature; saying as she delivered the latter:



〃I rejoice to see that you are faithful; Humphrey; and wear

this picture on your heart; as well as in it。〃



〃Then you must be a very remarkable woman;〃 said Bickley。

〃Never before did I hear one of your sex rejoice because a man

was faithful to somebody else。〃



〃Has Bickley been disappointed in his love…heart; that he is so

angry to us women?〃 asked Yva innocently of me。 Then; without

waiting for an answer; she inquired of him whether he had been

successful in his analysis of the Life…water。



〃How do you know what I was doing with the Life…water? Did

Bastin tell you?〃 exclaimed Bickley。



〃Bastin told me nothing; except that he was afraid of the

descent to Nyo; that he hated Nyo when he reached it; as indeed I

do; and that he thought that my father; the Lord Oro; was a devil

or evil spirit from some Under…world which he called hell。〃



〃Bastin has an open heart and an open mouth;〃 said Bickley;

〃for which I respect him。 Follow his example if you will; Lady

Yva; and tell us who and what is the Lord Oro; and who and what

are you。〃



〃Have we not done so already? If not; I will repeat。 The Lord

Oro and I are two who have lived on from the old time when the

world was different; and yet; I think; the same。 He is a man and

not a god; and I am a woman。 His powers are great because of his

knowledge; which he has gathered from his forefathers and in a

life of a thousand years before he went to sleep。 He can do

things you cannot do。 Thus; he can pass through space and take

others with him; and return again。 He can learn what is happening

in far…off parts of the world; as he did when he told you of the

war in which your country is concerned。 He has terrible powers;

for instance; he can kill; as he killed those savages。 Also; he

knows the secrets of the earth; and; if it pleases him; can

change its turning so that earthquakes happen and sea becomes

land; and land sea; and the places that were hot grow cold; and

those that were cold grow hot。〃



〃All of which things have happened many time in the history of

the globe;〃 said Bickley; 〃without the help of the Lord Oro。〃



〃Others had knowledge before my father; and others doubtless

will have knowledge after him。 Even I; Yva; have some knowledge;

and knowledge is strength。〃



〃Yes;〃 I interposed; 〃but such powers as you attribute to your

father are not given to man。〃



〃You mean to man as you know him; man like Bickley; who thinks

that he has learned everything that was ever learned。 But it is

not so。 Hundreds of thousands of years ago men knew more than it

seems they do today; ten times more; as they lived ten times

longer; or so you tell me。〃



〃Men?〃 I said。



〃Yes; men; not gods or spirits; as the uninstructed nations

supposed them to be。 My father is a man subject to the hopes and

terrors of man。 He desires power which is ambition; and when the

world refused his rule; he destroyed that part of it which

rebelled; which is revenge。 Moreover; above all things he dreads

death; which is fear。 That is why he suspended life in himself

and me for two hundred and fifty thousand years; as his knowledge

gave him strength to do; because death was near and he thought

that sleep was better than death。〃



〃Why should he dread to die;〃 asked Bickley; 〃seeing that sleep

and death are the same?〃



〃Because his knowledge tells him that Sleep and Death are not

the same; as you; in your foolishness; believe; for there Bastin

is wiser than you。 Because for all his wisdom he remains ignorant

of what happens to man when the Light of Life is blown out by the

breath of Fate。 That is why he fears to die and why he talks with

Bastin the Preacher; who says he has the secret of the future。〃



〃And do you fear to die?〃 I asked。



〃No; Humphrey;〃 she answered gently。 〃Because I think that

there is no death; and; having done no wrong; I dread no evil。 I

had dreams while I was asleep; O Humphrey; and it seemed to me

that〃



Here she ceased and glanced at where she knew the miniature was

hanging upon my breast。



〃Now;〃 she continued; after a little pause; 〃tell me of your

world; of its history; of its languages; of what happens there;

for I long to know。〃



So then and there; assisted by Bickley; I began the education

of the Lady Yva。 I do not suppose that there was ever a more apt

pupil in the whole earth。 To begin with; she was better

acquainted with every subject on which I touched than I was

myself; all she lacked was information as to its modern aspect。

Her knowledge ended two hundred and fifty thousand years ago; at

which date; however; it would seem that civilisation had already

touched a higher water…mark than it has ever since attained。

Thus; this vanished people understood astronomy; natural

magnetism; the force of gravity; steam; also electricity to some

subtle use of which; I gathered; the lighting of their

underground city was to be attributed。 They had mastered

architecture and the arts; as their buildings and statues showed;


返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的