green mansions-第43章
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cted us with drowsiness; and I had probably been nodding for some time; but starting at last and opening my eyes; I missed Rima。 The old man appeared to be asleep; although still in a sitting posture close to the fire。 I rose and hurried out; drawing my cloak close around me to protect me from the rain; but what was my surprise on emerging from the cave to feel a dry; bracing wind in my face and to see the desert spread out for leagues before me in the brilliant white light of a full moon! The rain had apparently long ceased; and only a few thin white clouds appeared moving swiftly over the wide blue expanse of heaven。 It was a welcome change; but the shock of surprise and pleasure was instantly succeeded by the maddening fear that Rima was lost to me。 She was nowhere in sight beneath; and running to the end of the little plateau to get free of the thorn trees; I turned my eyes towards the summit; and there; at some distance above me; caught sight of her standing motionless and gazing upwards。 I quickly made my way to her side; calling to her as I approached; but she only half turned to cast a look at me and did not reply。
〃Rima;〃 I said; 〃why have you come here? Are you actually thinking of climbing the mountain at this hour of the night?〃 〃Yeswhy not?〃 she returned; moving one or two steps from me。
〃Rimasweet Rima; will you listen to me?〃
〃Now? Oh; nowhy do you ask that? Did I not listen to you in the wood before we started; and you also promised to do what I wished? See; the rain is over and the moon shines brightly。 Why should I wait? Perhaps from the summit I shall see my people's country。 Are we not near it now?〃
〃Oh; Rima; what do you expect to see? Listenyou must listen; for I know best。 From that summit you would see nothing but a vast dim desert; mountain and forest; mountain and forest; where you might wander for years; or until you perished of hunger or fever; or were slain by some beast of prey or by savage men; but oh; Rima; never; never; never would you find your people; for they exist not。 You have seen the false water of the mirage on the savannah; when the sun shines bright and hot; and if one were to follow it one would at last fall down and perish; with never a cool drop to moisten one's parched lips。 And your hope; Rimathis hope to find your people which has brought you all the way to Riolamais a mirage; a delusion; which will lead to destruction if you will not abandon it。〃
She turned to face me with flashing eyes。 〃You know best!〃 she exclaimed。 〃You know best and tell me that! Never until this moment have you spoken falsely。 Oh; why have you said such things to menamed after this place; Riolama? Am I also like that false water you speak ofno divine Rima; no sweet Rima? My mother; had she no mother; no mother's mother? I remember her; at Voa; before she died; and this hand seems reallike yours; you have asked to hold it。 But it is not he that speaks to menot one that showed me the whole world on Ytaioa。 Ah; you have wrapped yourself in a stolen cloak; only you have left your old grey beard behind! Go back to the cave and look for it; and leave me to seek my people alone!〃
Once more; as on that day in the forest when she prevented me from killing the serpent; and as on the occasion of her meeting with Nuflo after we had been together on Ytaioa; she appeared transformed and instinct with intense resentmenta beautiful human wasp; and every word a sting。
〃Rima;〃 I cried; 〃you are cruelly unjust to say such words to me。 If you know that I have never deceived you before; give me a little credit now。 You are no delusionno mirage; but Rima; like no other being on earth。 So perfectly truthful and pure I cannot be; but rather than mislead you with falsehoods I would drop down and die on this rock; and lose you and the sweet light that shines on us for ever。〃
As she listened to my words; spoken with passion; she grew pale and clasped her hands。 〃What have I said? What have I said?〃 She spoke in a low voice charged with pain; and all at once she came nearer; and with a low; sobbing cry sank down at my feet; uttering; as on the occasion of finding me lost at night in the forest near her home; tender; sorrowful expressions in her own mysterious language。 But before I could take her in my arms she rose again quickly to her feet and moved away a little space from me。
〃Oh no; no; it cannot be that you know best!〃 she began again。 〃But I know that you have never sought to deceive me。 And now; because I falsely accused you; I cannot go there without you〃pointing to the summit〃but must stand still and listen to all you have to say。〃
〃You know; Rima; that your grandfather has now told me your historyhow he found your mother at this place; and took her to Voa; where you were born; but of your mother's people he knows nothing; and therefore he can now take you no further。〃
〃Ah; you think that! He says that now; but he deceived me all these years; and if he lied to me in the past; can he not still lie; affirming that he knows nothing of my people; even as he affirmed that he knew not Riolama?〃
〃He tells lies and he tells truth; Rima; and one can be distinguished from the other。 He spoke truthfully at last; and brought us to this place; beyond which he cannot lead you。〃
〃You are right; I must go alone。〃
〃Not so; Rima; for where you go; there we must go; only you will lead and we follow; believing only that our quest will end in disappointment; if not in death。〃
〃Believe that and yet follow! Oh no! Why did he consent to lead me so far for nothing?〃
〃Do you forget that you compelled him? You know what he believes; and he is old and looks with fear at death; remembering his evil deeds; and is convinced that only through your intercession and your mother's he can escape from perdition。 Consider; Rima; he could not refuse; to make you more angry and so deprive himself of his only hope。〃
My words seemed to trouble her; but very soon she spoke again with renewed animation。 〃If my people exist; why must it be disappointment and perhaps death? He does not know; but she came to him heredid she not? The others are not here; but perhaps not far off。 Come; let us go to the summit together to see from it the desert beneath usmountain and forest; mountain and forest。 Somewhere there! You said that I had knowledge of distant things。 And shall I not know which mountainwhich forest?〃
〃Alas! no; Rima; there is a limit to your far…seeing; and even if that faculty were as great as you imagine; it would avail you nothing; for there is no mountain; no forest; in whose shadow your people dwell。〃
For a while she was silent; but her eyes and clasping fingers were restless and showed her agitation。 She seemed to be searching in the depths of her mind for some argument to oppose to my assertions。 Then in a low; almost despondent voice; with something of reproach in it; she said: 〃Have we come so far to go back again? You were not Nuflo to need my intercession; yet you came too。〃
〃Where you are; there I must beyou have said it yourself。 Besides; when we started I had some hope of finding your people。 Now I know better; having heard Nuflo's story。 Now I know that your hope is a vain one。〃
〃Why? Why? Was she not found heremother? Where; then; are the others?〃
〃Yes; she was found here; alone。 You must remember all the things she spoke to you before she died。 Did she ever speak to you of her peoplespeak of them as if they existed; and would be glad to receive you among them some day?〃
〃No。 Why did she not speak of that? Do you knowcan you tell me?〃
〃I can guess the reason; Rima。 It is very sadso sad that it is hard to tell it。 When Nuflo tended her in the cave and was ready to worship her and do everything she wished; and conversed with her by signs; she showed no wish to return to her people。 And when he offered her; in a way she understood; to take her to a distant place; where she would be among strange beings; among others like Nuflo; she readily consented; and painfully performed that long journey to Voa。 Would you; Rima; have acted thuswould you have gone so far away from your beloved people; never to return; never to hear of th