green mansions-第41章
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the cause； he found the wonderful womanhis saviour； as he expressed it。 She was not now standing nor able to stand； but half reclining among the rough stones； one foot； which she had sprained in that headlong flight down the ragged slope； wedged immovably between the rocks； and in this painful position she had remained a prisoner since noon on the previous day。 She now gazed on her visitor in silent consternation； while he； casting himself prostrate on the ground； implored her forgiveness and begged to know her will。 But she made no reply； and at length； finding that she was powerless to move； he concluded that； though a saint and one of the beings that men worship； she was also flesh and liable to accidents while sojourning on earth； and perhaps； he thought； that accident which had befallen her had been specially designed by the powers above to prove him。 With great labour； and not without causing her much pain； he succeeded in extricating her from her position； and then finding that the injured foot was half crushed and blue and swollen； he took her up in his arms and carried her to the stream。 There； making a cup of a broad green leaf； he offered her water； which she drank eagerly； and he also raved her injured foot in the cold stream and bandaged it with fresh aquatic leaves； finally he made her a soft bed of moss and dry grass and placed her on it。 That night he spent keeping watch over her； at intervals applying fresh wet leaves to her foot as the old ones became dry and wilted from the heat of the inflammation。
The effect of all he did was that the terror with which she regarded him gradually wore off； and next day； when she seemed to be recovering her strength； he proposed by signs to remove her to the cave higher up； where she would be sheltered in case of rain。 She appeared to understand him； and allowed herself to be taken up in his arms and carried with much labour to the top of the chasm。 In the cave he made her a second couch； and tended her assiduously。 He made a fire on the floor and kept it burning night and day； and supplied her with water to drink and fresh leaves for her foot。 There was little more that he could do。 From the choicest and fattest bits of toasted tapir flesh he offered her she turned away with disgust。 A little cassava bread soaked in water she would take； but seemed not to like it。 After a time； fearing that she would starve； he took to hunting after wild fruits； edible bulbs and gums； and on these small things she subsisted during the whole time of their sojourn together in the desert。
The woman； although lamed for life； was now so far recovered as to be able to limp about without assistance； and she spent a portion of each day out among the rocks and trees on the mountains。 Nuflo at first feared that she would now leave him； but before long he became convinced that she had no such intentions。 And yet she was profoundly unhappy。 He was accustomed to see her seated on a rock； as if brooding over some secret grief； her head bowed； and great tears falling from half…closed eyes。
From the first he had conceived the idea that she was in the way of becoming a mother at no distant datean idea which seemed to accord badly with the suppositions as to the nature of this heavenly being he was privileged to minister to and so win salvation； but he was now convinced of its truth； and he imagined that in her condition he had discovered the cause of that sorrow and anxiety which preyed continually on her。 By means of that dumb language of signs which enabled them to converse together a little； he made it known to her that at a great distance from the mountains there existed a place where there were beings like herself； women； and mothers of children； who would comfort and tenderly care for her。 When she had understood； she seemed pleased and willing to accompany him to that distant place； and so it came to pass that they left their rocky shelter and the mountains of Riolama far behind。 But for several days； as they slowly journeyed over the plain； she would pause at intervals in her limping walk to gaze back on those blue summits； shedding abundant tears。
Fortunately the village Voa； on the river of the same name； which was the nearest Christian settlement to Riolama； whither his course was directed； was well known to him； he had lived there in former years； and； what was of great advantage； the inhabitants were ignorant of his worst crimes； or； to put it in his own subtle way； of the crimes committed by the men he had acted with。 Great was the astonishment and curiosity of the people of Voa when； after many weeks' travelling； Nuflo arrived at last with his companion。 But he was not going to tell the truth； nor even the least particle of the truth； to a gaping crowd of inferior persons。 For these； ingenious lies； only to the priest he told the whole story； dwelling minutely on all he had done to rescue and protect her； all of which was approved by the holy man； whose first act was to baptize the woman for fear that she was not a Christian。 Let it be said to Nuflo's credit that he objected to this ceremony； arguing that she could not be a saint； with an aureole in token of her sainthood； yet stand in need of being baptized by a priest。 A priesthe added； with a little chuckle of malicious pleasurewho was often seen drunk； who cheated at cards； and was sometimes suspected of putting poison on his fighting…cock's spur to make sure of the victory！ Doubtless the priest had his faults； but he was not without humanity； and for the whole seven years of that unhappy stranger's sojourn at Voa he did everything in his power to make her existence tolerable。 Some weeks after arriving she gave birth to a female child； and then the priest insisted on naming it Riolama； in order； he said； to keep in remembrance the strange story of the mother's discovery at that place。
Rima's mother could not be taught to speak either Spanish or Indian； and when she found that the mysterious and melodious sounds that fell from her own lips were understood by none； she ceased to utter them； and thereafter preserved an unbroken silence among the people she lived with。 But from the presence of others she shrank； as if in disgust or fear； excepting only Nuflo and the priest； whose kindly intentions she appeared to understand and appreciate。 So far her life in the village was silent and sorrowful。 With her child it was different； and every day that was not wet； taking the little thing by the hand； she would limp painfully out into the forest； and there； sitting on the ground； the two would commune with each other by the hour in their wonderful language。
At length she began to grow perceptibly paler and feebler week by week； day by day； until she could no longer go out into the wood； but sat or reclined； panting for breath in the dull hot room； waiting for death to release her。 At the same time little Rima； who had always appeared frail； as if from sympathy； now began to fade and look more shadowy； so that it was expected she would not long survive her parent。 To the mother death came slowly； but at last it seemed so near that Nuflo and the priest were together at her side waiting to see the end。 It was then that little Rima； who had learnt from infancy to speak in Spanish； rose from the couch where her mother had been whispering to her； and began with some difficulty to express what was in the dying woman's mind。 Her child； she had said； could not continue to live in that hot wet place； but if taken away to a distance where there were mountains and a cooler air she would survive and grow strong again。
Hearing this； old Nuflo declared that the child should not perish； that he himself would take her away to Parahuari； a distant place where there were mountains and dry plains and open woods； that he would watch over her and care for her there as he had cared for her mother at Riolama。
When the substance of this speech had been made known by Rima to the dying woman； she suddenly rose up from her couch； which she had not risen from for many days； and stood erect on the floor； her wasted face shining with joy。 Then Nuflo knew that God's angels had come for her； and put out his arms to save her from fallin
