green mansions-第38章

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CHAPTER　XIV

Ah；　that　return　to　the　forest　where　Rima　dwelt；　after　so　anxious　day；　when　the　declining　sun　shone　hotly　still；　and　the　green　woodland　shadows　were　so　grateful！　　The　coolness；　the　sense　of　security；　allayed　the　fever　and　excitement　I　had　suffered　on　the　open　savannah；　I　walked　leisurely；　pausing　often　to　listen　to　some　bird　voice　or　to　admire　some　rare　insect　or　parasitic　flower　shining　star…like　in　the　shade。　　There　was　a　strangely　delightful　sensation　in　me。　　I　likened　myself　to　a　child　that；　startled　at　something　it　had　seen　while　out　playing　in　the　sun；　flies　to　its　mother　to　feel　her　caressing　hand　on　its　cheek　and　forget　its　tremors。　　And　describing　what　I　felt　in　that　way；　I　was　a　little　ashamed　and　laughed　at　myself；　nevertheless　the　feeling　was　very　sweet。　　At　that　moment　Mother　and　Nature　seemed　one　and　the　same　thing。　　As　I　kept　to　the　more　open　part　of　the　wood；　on　its　southernmost　border；　the　red　flame　of　the　sinking　sun　was　seen　at　intervals　through　the　deep　humid　green　of　the　higher　foliage。　　How　every　object　it　touched　took　from　it　a　new　wonderful　glory！　　At　one　spot；　high　up　where　the　foliage　was　scanty；　and　slender　bush　ropes　and　moss　depended　like　broken　cordage　from　a　dead　limbjust　there；　bathing　itself　in　that　glory…giving　light；　I　noticed　a　fluttering　bird；　and　stood　still　to　watch　its　antics。　　Now　it　would　cling；　head　downwards；　to　the　slender　twigs；　wings　and　tail　open；　then；　righting　itself；　it　would　flit　from　waving　line　to　line；　dropping　lower　and　lower；　and　anon　soar　upwards　a　distance　of　twenty　feet　and　alight　to　recommence　the　flitting　and　swaying　and　dropping　towards　the　earth。　　It　was　one　of　those　birds　that　have　a　polished　plumage；　and　as　it　moved　this　way　and　that；　flirting　its　feathers；　they　caught　the　beams　and　shone　at　moments　like　glass　or　burnished　metal。　　Suddenly　another　bird　of　the　same　kind　dropped　down　to　it　as　if　from　the　sky；　straight　and　swift　as　a　falling　stone；　and　the　first　bird　sprang　up　to　meet　the　comer；　and　after　rapidly　wheeling　round　each　other　for　a　moment；　they　fled　away　in　company；　screaming　shrilly　through　the　wood；　and　were　instantly　lost　to　sight；　while　their　jubilant　cries　came　back　fainter　and　fainter　at　each　repetition。

I　envied　them　not　their　wings：　at　that　moment　earth　did　not　seem　fixed　and　solid　beneath　me；　nor　I　bound　by　gravity　to　it。　　The　faint；　floating　clouds；　the　blue　infinite　heaven　itself；　seemed　not　more　ethereal　and　free　than　I；　or　the　ground　I　walked　on。　　The　low；　stony　hills　on　my　right　hand；　of　which　I　caught　occasional　glimpses　through　the　trees；　looking　now　blue　and　delicate　in　the　level　rays；　were　no　more　than　the　billowy　projections　on　the　moving　cloud　of　earth：　the　trees　of　unnumbered　kindsgreat　more；　cecropia；　and　greenheart；　bush　and　fern　and　suspended　lianas；　and　tall　palms　balancing　their　feathery　foliage　on　slender　stemsall　was　but　a　fantastic　mist　embroidery　covering　the　surface　of　that　floating　cloud　on　which　my　feet　were　set；　and　which　floated　with　me　near　the　sun。

The　red　evening　flame　had　vanished　from　the　summits　of　the　trees；　the　sun　was　setting；　the　woods　in　shadow；　when　I　got　to　the　end　of　my　walk。　　I　did　not　approach　the　house　on　the　side　of　the　door；　yet　by　some　means　those　within　became　aware　of　my　presence；　for　out　they　came　in　a　great　hurry；　Rima　leading　the　way；　Nuflo　behind　her；　waving　his　arms　and　shouting。　　But　as　I　drew　near；　the　girl　dropped　behind　and　stood　motionless　regarding　me；　her　face　pallid　and　showing　strong　excitement。　　I　could　scarcely　remove　my　eyes　from　her　eloquent　countenance：　I　seemed　to　read　in　it　relief　and　gladness　mingled　with　surprise　and　something　like　vexation。　　She　was　piqued　perhaps　that　I　had　taken　her　by　surprise；　that　after　much　watching　for　me　in　the　wood　I　had　come　through　it　undetected　when　she　was　indoors。

〃Happy　the　eyes　that　see　you！〃　　shouted　the　old　man；　laughing　boisterously。　

〃Happy　are　mine　that　look　on　Rima　again；〃　I　answered。　　〃I　have　been　long　absent。〃

〃Longyou　may　say　so；〃　returned　Nuflo。　　〃We　had　given　you　up。　　We　said　that；　alarmed　at　the　thought　of　the　journey　to　Riolama；　you　had　abandoned　us。〃

〃WE　said！〃　　exclaimed　Rima；　her　pallid　face　suddenly　flushing。　　〃I　spoke　differently。〃

〃Yes；　I　knowI　know！〃　　he　said　airily；　waving　his　hand。　　〃You　said　that　he　was　in　danger；　that　he　was　kept　against　his　will　from　coming。　　He　is　present　nowlet　him　speak。〃

〃She　was　right；〃　I　said。　　〃Ah；　Nuflo；　old　man；　you　have　lived　long；　and　got　much　experience；　but　not　insightnot　that　inner　vision　that　sees　further　than　the　eyes。〃

〃No；　not　thatI　know　what　you　mean；〃　he　answered。　　Then；　tossing　his　hand　towards　the　sky；　he　added：　〃The　knowledge　you　speak　of　comes　from　there。〃

The　girl　had　been　listening　with　keen　interest；　glancing　from　one　to　the　other。　　〃What！〃　　she　spoke　suddenly。　　as　if　unable　to　keep　silence；　〃do　you　think；　grandfather；　that　SHE　tells　mewhen　there　is　dangerwhen　the　rain　will　ceasewhen　the　wind　will　bloweverything？　　Do　I　not　ask　and　listen；　lying　awake　at　night？　She　is　always　silent；　like　the　stars。〃

Then；　pointing　to　me　with　her　finger；　she　finished：

〃HE　knows　so　many　things！　　Who　tells　them　to　HIM？〃

〃But　distinguish；　Rima。　　You　do　not　distinguish　the　great　from　the　little；〃　he　answered　loftily。　　〃WE　know　a　thousand　things；　but　they　are　things　that　any　man　with　a　forehead　can　learn。　　The　knowledge　that　comes　from　the　blue　is　not　like　thatit　is　more　important　and　miraculous。　　Is　it　not　so；　senor？〃　　he　ended；　appealing　to　me。

〃Is　it；　then；　left　for　me　to　decide？〃　　said　I；　addressing　the　girl。

But　though　her　face　was　towards　me；　she　refused　to　meet　my　look　and　was　silent。　　Silent；　but　not　satisfied：　she　doubted　still；　and　had　perhaps　caught　something　in　my　tone　that　strengthened　her　doubt。

Old　Nuflo　understood　the　expression。　　〃Look　at　me；　Rima；〃　he　said；　drawing　himself　up。　　〃I　am　old；　and　he　is　youngdo　I　not　know　best？　　I　have　spoken　and　have　decided　it。〃

Still　that　unconvinced　expression；　and　her　face　turned　expectant　to　me。

〃Am　I　to　decide？〃　　I　repeated。

〃Who；　then？〃　　she　said　at　last；　her　voice　scarcely　more　than　a　murmur；　yet　there　was　reproach　in　the　tone；　as　if　she　had　made　a　long　speech　and　I　had　tyrannously　driven　her　to　it。

〃Thus；　then；　I　decide；〃　said　I。　　〃To　each　of　us；　as　to　every　kind　of　animal；　even　to　small　birds　and　insects；　and　to　every　kind　of　plant；　there　is　given　something　peculiara　fragrance；　a　melody；　a　special　instinct；　an　art；　a　knowledge；　which　no　other　has。　　And　to　Rima　has　been　given　this　quickness　of　mind　and　power　to　divine　distant　things；　it　is　hers；　just　as　swiftness　and　grace　and　changeful；　brilliant　colour　are　the　hummingbird's；　therefore　she　need　not　that　anyone　dwelling　in　the　blue　should　instruct　her。〃

The　old　man　frowned　and　shook　his　head；　while　she；　after　one　swift；　shy　glance　at　my　face；　and　with　something　like　a　smile　flitting　over　her　delicate　lips；　turned　and　re…entered　the　house。

I　felt　convinced　from　that　parting　look　that　she　had　understood　me；　that　my　words　had　in　some　sort　given　her　relief；　for；　strong　as　was　her　faith　in　the　supernatural；　she　appeared　as　ready　to　escape　from　it；　when　a　way　of　escape　offered；　as　from　the　limp　cotton　gown　and　constrained　manner　worn　in　the　house。　　The　religion　and　cotton　dress　were　evidently　remains　of　her　early　training　at　the　settlement　of　Voa。

Old　Nuflo；　strange　to　say；　had　proved　better　than　his　word。　Instead　of　inventing　new　causes　for　delay；　as　I　had　imagined　would　be　the　case；　he　now　informed　me　that　his　preparations　for　the　journey　were　all　but　complete；　that　he　had　only　waited　for　my　return　to　set　out。

Rima　soon　left　us　in　her　customary　way；　and　then；　talking　by　the　fire；　I　gave　an　account　of　my　detention　by　the　Indians　and　of　the　loss　of　my　revolver；　which　I　thought　very　serious。

〃You　seem　to　think　little　of　it；〃　I　said；　observing　that　he　took　it　very　coolly。　　〃Yet　I　know　not　how　I　shall　defend　myself　in　case　of　an　attack。〃

〃I　have　no　fear　of　an　attack；〃　he　answered。　　〃It　seems　to　me　the　same　thing　whether　you　have　a　revolver　or　many　revolvers　and　carbines　and　swords；　or　no　revolverno　weapon　at　all。　　And　for　a　very　simple　reason。　　While　Rima　is　with　us；　so　long　as　we　are　on　her　business；　we　are　pr