the mahatma and the hare-第15章

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people。〃

〃I　don't　like　Tom；〃　said　the　Hare；　with　decision。　〃Tom　shot　me　when
you　told　him　not　to　shoot。　Tom　shut　me　up　in　a　filthy　place　with　a
yellow　rabbit　which　he　forgot　to　feed；　so　that　it　wanted　to　eat　me。
Tom　tried　to　cut　me　off　from　the　wood　so　that　the　running　dogs　might
catch　me；　although　you　shouted　to　him　that　it　was　not　sportsmanlike。
Tom　dragged　me　out　of　the　sea　and　blew　down　my　nostrils　to　keep　me
alive。　Tom　threw　me　to　the　hounds；　although　Giles　remonstrated　with
him　and　even　the　huntsman　begged　him　to　let　me　go。　I　tell　you　that　I
don't　like　Tom。〃

〃Still；　Mr。　Hare；〃　pleaded　the　Red…faced　Man；　〃I　hope　that　if　it
should　be　in　your　power　when　we　get　through　those　Gates；　that　you　will
be　merciful　to　Tom。　I　can't　think　of　much　to　say　for　him　in　this
hurry；　but　there；　he　is　my　only　son　and　the　truth　is　that　I　love　him。
You　know　he　may　liveto　be　differentif　you　don't　bring　some
misfortune　on　him。〃

〃Who　am　I　to　bring　misfortune　or　to　withhold　it？〃　asked　the　Hare；
softening　visibly。　〃Well；　I　know　what　love　means；　for　my　mother　loved
me　and　I　loved　her　in　my　way。　I　tell　you　that　when　I　saw　her　dead；
turned　from　a　beautiful　living　thing　into　a　stained　lump　of　flesh　and
fur；　I　felt　dreadful。　I　understand　now　that　you　love　Tom　as　my　mother
loved　me；　and；　Man；　for　the　sake　of　your　lovenot　for　his　sake；　mind
I　promise　you　that　I　won't　say　anything　against　Tom　if　I　can　help
it；　or　do　anything　either。〃

〃You're　a　real　good　fellow！〃　exclaimed　the　Red…faced　Man；　with　evident
relief。　〃Give　me　your　hand。　Oh！　I　forgot；　you　can't。　Hullo！　what's　up
now？　Everything　seems　to　be　altering。〃

*****

As　he　spoke；　to　my　eyes　the　Lights　began　to　change　in　earnest。　All　the
sky　（I　call　it　sky　for　clearness）　above　the　mighty　Gates　became　as　it
were　alive　with　burning　tongues　of　every　colour　that　an　artist　can
conceive。　By　degrees　these　fiery　tongues　or　swords　shaped　themselves
into　a　vast　circle　which　drove　back　the　walls　of　darkness；　and　through
this　circle；　guided；　guarded　by　the　spirits　of　dead　suns；　with　odours
and　with　chantings；　descended　that　crowned　City　of　the　Mansions　before
whose　glory　imagination　breaks　and　even　Vision　veils　her　eyes。

It　descended；　its　banners　wavering　in　the　winds　of　prayer；　it　hung
above　the　Gates；　the　flowers　of　all　splendours；　Heaven's　very　rose；
hung　like　an　opal　on　the　boundless　breast　of　night；　and　there　it
stayed。

The　Voice　in　the　North　called　to　the　Voice　in　the　South；　the　Voice　in
the　East　called　to　the　Voice　in　the　West；　and　up　the　Great　White　Road
sped　the　Angel　of　the　Road；　making　report　as　he　came　that　all　his
multitude　were　gathered　in　and　for　that　while　the　Road　was　barred。

He　passed　and　in　a　flash　the　Gates　were　burned　away。　The　ashes　of　them
fell　upon　the　heads　of　those　waiting　at　the　Gates；　whitening　their
faces　and　drying　their　tears　before　the　Change。　They　fell　upon　the　Man
and　the　Hare　beside　me；　veiling　them　as　it　were　and　making　them
silent；　but　on　me　they　did　not　fall。　Then；　from　between　the　Wardens　of
the　Gates；　flowed　forth　the　Helpers　and　the　Guardians　（save　those　who
already　were　without　comforting　the　children）　seeking　their　beloved
and　bearing　the　Cups　of　slumber　and　new　birth；　then　pealed　the
question

〃Who　hath　suffered　most？　Let　that　one　first　taste　of　peace。〃

Now　all　the　dim　hosts　surged　forward　since　each　outworn　soul　believed
that　it　had　suffered　most　and　was　in　the　bitterest　need　of　peace。　But
the　Helpers　and　the　Guardians　gently　pressed　them　back；　and　again
there　pealed；　no　question　but　a　command。

This　was　the　command：

　　　〃Draw　near；　thou　Hare。〃

*****

Jorsen　asked　me　what　happened　after　this　justification　of　the　Hare；
which；　if　I　heard　aright；　appeared　to　suggest　that　by　the　decree　of
some　judge　unknown；　the　woes　of　such　creatures　are　not　unnoted　and
despised；　or　left　unsolaced。　Of　course　I　had　to　answer　him　that　I
could　not　tell。

Perhaps　nothing　happened　at　all。　Perhaps　all　the　wonders　I　seemed　to
see；　even　the　Road　by　which　souls　travel　from　There　to　Here　and　from
Here　to　There；　and　the　Gates　that　were　burned　away；　and　the　City　of
the　Mansions　that　descended；　were　but　signs　and　symbols　of　mysteries
which　as　yet　we　cannot　grasp　or　understand。

Whatever　may　be　the　truth　as　to　this　matter　of　my　visions；　I　need
hardly　add；　however；　that　no　one　can　be　more　anxious　than　I　am　myself
to　learn　in　what　way　the　Red…faced　Man；　speaking　on　behalf　of　our
dominant　race；　and　the　Hare；　speaking　as　an　appointed　advocate　of　the
subject　animal　creation；　finished　their　argument　in　the　light　of
fuller　knowledge。　Much　also　do　I　wonder　which　of　them　was　proved　to　be
right；　a　difficult　matter　whereon　I　feel　quite　incompetent　to　express
any　views。

But　you　see　at　that　moment　I　woke　up。　The　edge　of　the　Road　on　which　I
was　standing　seemed　to　give　way　beneath　me；　and　I　fell　into　space　as
one　does　in　a　nightmare。　It　is　a　very　unpleasant　sensation。

*****

I　remember　noticing　afterwards　that　I　could　not　have　been　long　asleep。
When　I　began　to　dream　I　had　only　just　blown　out　the　candle；　and　when　I
awoke　again　there　was　still　a　smouldering　spark　upon　its　wick。

But；　as　I　have　said；　in　that　spirit…land　wither　I　had　journeyed　is　to
be　found　neither　time　nor　space　nor　any　other　familiar　thing。







End