gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第4章
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easy for two persons to converse from shore to shore across the Atlantic
without any intervening medium； he would have been laughed at as a
possibly amusing but certainly extravagant romancer。 Yet that pic…
turesque lie of yesterday is amongst the accomplished facts of today！
Therefore I am encouraged to ask your in… dulgence； in the name of your
previous errors； for the following and any other instances in which I may
appear to trifle with strict veracity。 There is no such thing as the
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impossible in our universe！
When my friendly companion found I could not under… stand him； he
looked serious for a minute or two； then shortened his brilliant yellow toga；
as though he had ar… rived at some resolve； and knelt down directly in
front of me。 He next took my face between his hands； and putting his
nose within an inch of mine； stared into my eyes with all his might。 At
first I was inclined to laugh； but before long the most curious sensations
took hold of me。 They commenced with a thrill which passed all up my
body； and next all feeling save the consciousness of the loud beating of my
heart ceased。 Then it seemed that boy's eyes were inside my head and
not outside； while along with them an intangible something pervaded my
brain。 The sensation at first was like the application of ether to the skina
cool； numbing emotion。 It was followed by a curious tingling feeling； as
some dormant cells in my mind answered to the thought…transfer； and were
filled and fertil… ised！ My other brain…cells most distinctly felt the
vitalising of their companions； and for about a minute I experi… enced
extreme nausea and a headache such as comes from over…study； though
both passed swiftly off。 I presume that in the future we shall all obtain
knowledge in this way。 The Professors of a later day will perhaps keep
shops for the sale of miscellaneous information； and we shall drop in and
be inflated with learning just as the bicyclist gets his tire pumped up； or
the motorist is recharged with electricity at so much per unit。
Examinations will then become matters of capacity in the real meaning of
that word； and we shall be tempted to invest our pocket…money by
advertisements of 〃A cheap line in Astrology；〃 〃Try our double…strength；
two… minute course of Classics；〃 〃This is remnant day for Trig… onometry
and Metaphysics；〃 and so on。
My friend did not get as far as that。 With him the process did not
take more than a minute； but it was startling in its results； and reduced me
to an extraordinary state of hypnotic receptibility。 When it was over my
instructor tapped with a finger on my lips； uttering aloud as he did so the
words
〃Know none； know some； know little； know morel〃 again and again；
and the strangest part of it is that as he spoke I did know at first a little；
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then more； and still more； by swift accumulation； of his speech and
meaning。 In fact； when pre… sently he suddenly laid a hand over my eyes
and then let go of my head with a pleasantly put question as to how I felt； I
had no difficulty whatever in answering him in his own tongue； and rose
from the ground as one gets from a hair…dresser's chair； with a vague idea
of looking round for my hat and offering him his fee。
〃My word； sir！〃 I said； in lisping Martian； as I pulled down my cuffs
and put my cravat straight； 〃that was a quick process。 I once heard of a
man who learnt a language in the moments he gave each day to having his
boots blacked； but this beats all。 I trust I was a docile pupil？〃
〃Oh； fairly； sir；〃 answered the soft； musical voice of the strange being
by me； 〃but your head is thick and your brain tough。 I could have taught
another in half the time。〃
〃Curiously enough；〃 was my response； 〃those are almost the very
words with which my dear old tutor dismissed me the morning I left
college。 Never mind； the thing is done。 Shall I pay you anything？〃
〃I do not understand。〃
〃Any honorarium； then？ Some people understand one word and not
the other。〃 But the boy only shook his head in answer。
Strangely enough； I was not greatly surprised all this time either at the
novelty of my whereabouts or at the hypnotic instruction in a new
language just received。 Per… haps it was because my head still spun too
giddily with that flight in the old rug for much thought； perhaps be… cause
I did not yet fully realise the thing that had happened。 But； anyhow； there
is the fact； which； like so many others in my narrative； must； alas！ remain
unexplained for the moment。 The rug； by the way； had completely disap…
peared； my friend comforting me on this score； however； by saying he had
seen it rolled up and taken away by one whom he knew。
〃We are very tidy people here； stranger；〃 he said； 〃and everything
found Lying about goes back to the Palace store… rooms。 You will laugh
to see the lumber there； for few of us ever take the trouble to reclaim our
property。〃
Heaven knows I was in no laughing mood when I saw that enchanted
web again！
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When I had lain and watched the brightening scene for a time； I got up；
and having stretched and shaken my clothes into some sort of order； we
strolled down the hill and joined the light…hearted crowds that twined
across the plain and through the streets of their city of booths。 They were
the prettiest； daintiest folk ever eyes looked upon； well…formed and like to
us as could be in the main； but slender and willowy； so dainty and light；
both the men and the women； so pretty of cheek and hair； so mild of aspect；
I felt； as I strode amongst them； I could have plucked them like flowers
and bound them up in bunches with my belt。 And yet somehow I liked
them from the first minute； such a happy； careless； light…hearted race；
again I say； never was seen before。 There was not a stain of thought or
care on a single one of those white foreheads that eddied round me under
their peaked； blossom…like caps； the perpetual smile their faces wore never
suffered rebuke anywhere； their very movements were graceful and slow；
their laughter was low and musical； there was an odour of friendly；
slothful happiness about them that made me admire whether I would or
no。
Unfortunately I was not able to live on laughter； as they appeared to be；
so presently turning to my acquaintance； who had told me his name was
the plain monosyllabic An； and clapping my hand on his shoulder as he
stood lost in sleepy reflection； said； in a good； hearty way； 〃Hullo； friend
Yellow…jerkin！ If a stranger might set himself athwart the cheerful
current of your meditations； may such a one ask how far 'tis to the nearest
wine…shop or a booth where a thirsty man may get a mug of ale at a
moderate reckoning？〃
