gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第49章
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inspiration； 〃it comes by your machinations for Heru's help。〃
〃No！〃
〃If not by your wish； then； in the name of all you love； set your wish
against it。 If you know any incantations suitable for the occasion； oh；
practise them now at once； for look； even the very grass is withering； birds
are dropping from trees； fishes； horribly bloated； are beginning to float
down the steaming rills； and I； with all others； have a nameless dread upon
me。〃
Hotter and hotter it grew； until about sunset the red blaze upon the sky
slowly opened； and showed us for about half an hour； through the opening
a lurid； flame…coloured meteor far out in space beyond； then the cleft
closed again； and through that abominable red curtain came the very
breath of Hades。
What was really happening I am not astronomer enough to say； though
on cooler consideration I have come to the conclusion that our planet； in
going out to its summer pastures in the remoter fields of space； had
somehow come across a wandering lesser world and got pretty well singed
in passing。 This is purely my own opinion； and I have not yet submitted
it to the kindly authorities of the Lick Obser… vatory for verification。 All
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I can say for certain is that in an incredibly short space of time the face of
the country changed from green to sear； flowers drooped； streams （there
were not many in the neighbourhood apparently） dried up； fishes died； a
mighty thirst there was nothing to quench set… tled down on man and beast；
and we all felt that unless Providence listened to the prayers and
imprecations which the whole town set to work with frantic zeal to hurl at
it； or that abominable comet in the sky sheered off on another tack with
the least possible delay； we should all be re… duced to cinders in a very
brief space of time。
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CHAPTER XVII
The evening of the second day had already come； when Ar…hap arrived
home after weekending amongst a tribe of rebellious subjects。 But any
imposing State entry which might have been intended was rendered
impossible by the heat and the threat of that baleful world in the western
sky。
It was a lurid but disordered spectacle which I wit… nessed from my
room in the gate…house just after nightfall。 The returning army had
apparently fallen away exhausted on its march through the town； only
some three hundred of the bodyguard straggled up the hill； limp and
sweating； behind a group of pennons； in the midst of which rode a
horseman whose commanding presence and splendid war harness
impressed me； though I could not make out his features； a wild；
impressionist scene of black outlines； tossing headgear； and spears
glittering and vanishing in front of the red glare in the sky； but nothing
more。 Even the dry throats of the suitors in the courtyard hardly
mustered a husky cry of welcome as the cavalcade trooped into the
enclosure； and then the shadows enfolded them up in silence； and； too hot
and listless to care much what the morrow brought forth； I threw myself
on the bare floor； tossing and turning in a vain endeavour to sleep until
dawn came once more。
A thin mist which fell with daybreak drew a veil over the horrible
glare in the west for an hour or two； and taking advantage of the slight
alleviation of heat； I rose and went into the gardens to enjoy a dip in a pool；
making； with its surrounding jungle of flowers； one of the pleasantest
things about the wood…king's forest citadel。 The very earth seemed
scorched and baking underfootand the pool was gone！ It had run as dry
as a limekiln； nothing remained of the pretty fall which had fed it but a
miserable trickle of drops from the cascade above。 Down beyond the
town shone a gleam of water where the bitter canal steamed and sim…
mered in the first grey of the morning； but up here six months of scorching
drought could not have worked more havoc。 The very leaves were
dropping from the trees； and the luxuriant growths of the day before
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looked as though a simoon had played upon them。
I staggered back in disgust； and found some show of official activity
about the palace。 It was the king's custom； it appeared； to hear petitions
and redress wrongs as soon after his return as possible； but today the
ceremony was to be cut short as his majesty was going out with all his
court to a neighbouring mountain to 〃pray away the comet；〃 which by this
time was causing dire alarm all through the city。
〃Heaven's own particular blessing on his prayers； my friend；〃 I said to
the man who told me this。 〃Unless his majesty's orisons are fruitful； we
shall all be cooked like baked potatoes before nightfall； and though I have
faced many kinds of death； that is not the one I would choose by
preference。 Is there a chance of myself being heard at the throne？ Your
peculiar climate tempts me to hurry up with my business and begone if I
may。〃
〃Not only may you be heard； sir； but you are sum… moned。 The king
has heard of you somehow； and sent me to find and bring you into his
presence at once。〃
〃So be it；〃 I said； too hot to care what happened。 〃I have no levee
dress with me。 I lost my luggage check some time ago； but if you will
wait outside I will be with you in a moment。〃
Hastily tidying myself up； and giving my hair a comb； as though just
off to see Mr。 Secretary for the Navy； or on the way to get a senator to
push a new patent medicine for me； I rejoined my guide outside； and
together we crossed the wide courtyard； entered the great log…built portals
of Ar…hap's house； and immediately afterwards found ourselves in a vast
hall dimly lit by rays coming in through square spaces under the eaves；
and crowded on both sides with guards； courtiers； and supplicants。 The
heat was tre… mendous； the odour of Thither men and the ill…dressed hides
they wore almost overpowering。 Yet little I recked for either； for there at
the top of the room； seated on a dais made of rough…hewn wood inlet with
gold and covered with splendid furs； was Ar…hap himself。
A fine fellow； swarthy； huge； and hairy； at any other time or place I
could have given him due admiration as an admirable example of the
savage on the borderland of grace and culture； but now I only glanced at
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him； and then to where a
