gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第41章
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have yonder two…humped mountain in front。 To the left is the sea； and
behind the hill runs the canal and road by which all traffic comes or goes
to Ar…hap。 But above all things pass not to the hills right； for no man goes
there； there away the forests are thick as night； and in their perpetual
shadows are the ruins of a Hither city； a haunted fairy town to which some
travellers have been； but whence none ever returned alive。〃
〃By the great Jove； that sounds promising！ I would like to see that
town if my errand were not so urgent。〃
But the old fellow shook his shaggy head and turned a shade yellower。
〃It is no place for decent folk；〃 he growled。 〃I myself once passed within a
mile of its outskirts at dusk； and saw the unholy little people's lanterned
processions starting for the shrine of Queen Yang； who； tradition says；
killed herself and a thousand babies with her when we took this land。〃
〃My word； that was a holocaust！ Couldn't I drop in there to lunch？ It
would make a fine paper for an anti… quarian society。〃
Again the woodman frowned。 〃Do as I bid you； son。 You are too
young and green to go on ventures by yourself。 Keep to the straight road：
shun the swamps and the fairy forest； else will you never see Ar…hap。〃
〃And as I have very urgent and very important business with him；
comrade； no doubt your advice is good。 I will call on Princess Yang
some other day。 And now goodbye！ Rougher but friendlier shelter than
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you have given me no man could ask for。 I am downright sorry to part
with you in this lonely land。 If ever we meet again〃 but we never did！
The honest old churl clasped me into his hairy bosom three times； stuffed
my wallet with dry fruit and bread； and once more repeating his directions；
sent me on my lonely way。
I confess I sighed while turning into the forest； and looked back more
than once at his retreating form。 The loneliness of my position； the
hopelessness of my venture； welled up in my heart after that good
comradeship； and when the hut was out of sight I went forward down the
green grass road； chin on chest； for twenty minutes in the deepest
dejection。 But； thank Heaven； I was born with a tough spirit； and possess a
mind which has learned in many fights to give brave counsel to my spirit；
and thus presently I shook myself together； setting my face boldly to the
quest and the day's work。
It was not so clear a morning as the previous one； and a steamy wind
on what at sea I should have called the starboard bow； as I pressed forward
to the distant hill； had a curiously subduing effect on my thoughts； and
filled the forest glades with a tremulous unreality like to nothing on our
earth； and distinctly embarrassing to a stranger in a strange land。 Small
birds in that quaint atmospheric haze looked like condors； butterflies like
giant fowl； and the sim… plest objects of the forest like the imaginations of
a disordered dream。 Behind that gauzy hallucination a fine white mist
came up； and the sun spread out flat and red in the sky； while the pent…in
heat became almost unendurable。
Still I plodded on； growling to myself that in Christian latitudes all the
evidences would have been held to be… token a storm before night；
whatever they might do here； but for the most part lost in my own gloomy
speculations。 That was the more pity since； in thinking the walk over now；
it seems to me that I passed many marvels； saw many glorious vistas in
those nameless forests； many spreads of colour； many incidents that； could
I but remember them more distinctly； would supply material for making
my fortune as a descriptive traveller。 But what would you？ I have
forgotten； and am too virtuous to draw on my imagination； as it is
sometimes said other travellers have done when picturesque facts were
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deficient。 Yes； I have forgotten all about that day； save that it was sultry
hot； that I took off my coat and waistcoat to be cooler； carrying them； like
the tramp I was； across my arm； and thus dishevelled passed some time in
the afternoon an encampment of forest folk； wherefrom almost all the men
were gone； and the women shy and surly。
In no very social humour myself； I walked round their woodland
village； and on the outskirts； by a brook； just as I was wishing there were
some one to eat my solitary lunch with； chanced upon a fellow busily
engaged in hammering stones into weapons upon a flint anvil。
He was an ugly…looking individual at best； yet I was hard up for
company； so I put my coat down； and； seating myself on a log opposite；
proceeded to open my wallet； and take out the frugal stores the woodman
had given me that morning。
The man was seated upon the ground holding a stone anvil between
his feet； while with his hands he turned and chipped with great skill a
spear…head he was making out of flint。 It was about the only pastime he
had； and his little yellow eyes gleamed with a craftsman's pleasure； his
shaggy round shoulders were bent over the task； the chips flew in quick
particles； and the wood echoed musically as the arti… ficer watched the
thing under his hands take form and fashion。 Presently I spoke； and the
worker looked up； not too pleased at being thus interrupted。 But he was
easy of propitiation； and over a handful of dried raisins communi… cative。
How； I asked； knowing a craftsman's craft is often nearest to his heart；
how was it such things as that he chipped came to be thought of by him
and his？ Whereon the woodman； having spit out the raisin…stones and
wiped his fingers on his fur； said in substance that the first weapon was
fashioned when the earliest ape hurled the first stone in wrath。
〃But； chum；〃 I said； taking up his half…finished spear and touching the
razor…fine edge with admiring caution； 〃from hurling the crude pebble to
fashioning such as this is a long stride。 Who first edged and pointed the
primitive malice？ What man with the soul of a thousand unborn fighters in
him notched and sharpened your natural rock？〃
Whereon the chipper grinned； and answered that； when the woodmen
had found stones that would crack skulls； it came upon them presently that
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they would crack nuts as well。 And cracking nuts between two stones
one day a flint shattered； and there on the grass was the golden secret of
the edgethe thing that has made man what he is。
〃Yet again； good fellow；〃 I queried； 〃even this happy chance only
gives us a weapon； sharp； no doubt； and cal… culated to do a hundred
services for any ten the original pebble could have done； but still
unhandled； small in force； imperfectnow tell me； which of your amiable
ancestors first put a handle to the fashioned flint； and how he thought of
it？〃
The workman had
