erewhon revisited-第12章
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〃Don't be jealous； my dearest boy；〃 he said to me。 〃I love you
quite as dearly as I love him； or better； but he was sprung upon me
so suddenly； and dazzled me with his comely debonair face； so full
of youth； and health； and frankness。 Did you see him； he would go
straight to your heart； for he is wonderfully like you in spite of
your taking so much after your poor mother。〃
I was not jealous； on the contrary； I longed to see this youth； and
find in him such a brother as I had often wished to have。 But let
me return to my father's story。
The young man； after examining the permit； declared it to be in
form； and returned it to my father； but he eyed him with polite
disfavour。
〃I suppose；〃 he said； 〃you have come up； as so many are doing； from
Bridgeford and all over the country； to the dedication on Sunday。〃
〃Yes；〃 said my father。 〃Bless me！〃 he added； 〃what a wind you have
up here！ How it makes one's eyes water； to be sure；〃 but he spoke
with a cluck in his throat which no wind that blows can cause。
〃Have you met any suspicious characters between here and the
statues？〃 asked the youth。 〃I came across the ashes of a fire
lower down； there had been three men sitting for some time round
it； and they had all been eating quails。 Here are some of the
bones and feathers； which I shall keep。 They had not been gone
more than a couple of hours； for the ashes were still warm； they
are getting bolder and bolderwho would have thought they would
dare to light a fire？ I suppose you have not met any one； but if
you have seen a single person； let me know。〃
My father said quite truly that he had met no one。 He then
laughingly asked how the youth had been able to discover as much as
he had。
〃There were three well…marked forms； and three separate lots of
quail bones hidden in the ashes。 One man had done all the
plucking。 This is strange； but I dare say I shall get at it
later。〃
After a little further conversation the Ranger said he was now
going down to Sunch'ston； and； though somewhat curtly； proposed
that he and my father should walk together。
〃By all means；〃 answered my father。
〃Before they had gone more than a few hundred yards his companion
said； 〃If you will come with me a little to the left； I can show
you the Blue Pool。〃
To avoid the precipitous ground over which the stream here fell；
they had diverged to the right； where they had found a smoother
descent； returning now to the stream； which was about to enter on a
level stretch for some distance； they found themselves on the brink
of a rocky basin； of no great size； but very blue； and evidently
deep。
〃This；〃 said the Ranger； 〃is where our orders tell us to fling any
foreign devil who comes over from the other side。 I have only been
Head Ranger about nine months； and have not yet had to face this
horrid duty； but；〃 and here he smiled； 〃when I first caught sight
of you I thought I should have to make a beginning。 I was very
glad when I saw you had a permit。〃
〃And how many skeletons do you suppose are lying at the bottom of
this pool？〃
〃I believe not more than seven or eight in all。 There were three
or four about eighteen years ago； and about the same number of late
years； one man was flung here only about three months before I was
appointed。 I have the full list； with dates； down in my office；
but the rangers never let people in Sunch'ston know when they have
Blue…Pooled any one； it would unsettle men's minds； and some of
them would be coming up here in the dark to drag the pool； and see
whether they could find anything on the body。〃
My father was glad to turn away from this most repulsive place。
After a time he said； 〃And what do you good people hereabouts think
of next Sunday's grand doings？〃
Bearing in mind what he had gleaned from the Professors about the
Ranger's opinions； my father gave a slightly ironical turn to his
pronunciation of the words 〃grand doings。〃 The youth glanced at
him with a quick penetrative look； and laughed as he said； 〃The
doings will be grand enough。〃
〃What a fine temple they have built；〃 said my father。 〃I have not
yet seen the picture； but they say the four black and white horses
are magnificently painted。 I saw the Sunchild ascend； but I saw no
horses in the sky； nor anything like horses。〃
The youth was much interested。 〃Did you really see him ascend？〃 he
asked； 〃and what； pray； do you think it all was？〃
〃Whatever it was； there were no horses。〃
〃But there must have been； for； as you of course know； they have
lately found some droppings from one of them； which have been
miraculously preserved； and they are going to show them next Sunday
in a gold reliquary。〃
〃I know；〃 said my father； who； however； was learning the fact for
the first time。 〃I have not yet seen this precious relic； but I
think they might have found something less unpleasant。〃
〃Perhaps they would if they could；〃 replied the youth； laughing；
〃but there was nothing else that the horses could leave。 It is
only a number of curiously rounded stones； and not at all like what
they say it is。〃
〃Well； well；〃 continued my father； 〃but relic or no relic； there
are many who； while they fully recognise the value of the
Sunchild's teaching； dislike these cock and bull stories as
blasphemy against God's most blessed gift of reason。 There are
many in Bridgeford who hate this story of the horses。〃
The youth was now quite reassured。 〃So there are here； sir；〃 he
said warmly； 〃and who hate the Sunchild too。 If there is such a
hell as he used to talk about to my mother； we doubt not but that
he will be cast into its deepest fires。 See how he has turned us
all upside down。 But we dare not say what we think。 There is no
courage left in Erewhon。〃
Then waxing calmer he said； 〃It is you Bridgeford people and your
Musical Banks that have done it all。 The Musical Bank Managers saw
that the people were falling away from them。 Finding that the
vulgar believed this foreign devil Higgsfor he gave this name to
my mother when he was in prisonfinding thatBut you know all
this as well as I do。 How can you Bridgeford Professors pretend to
believe about these horses； and about the Sunchild's being son to
the sun； when all the time you know there is no truth in it？〃
〃My sonfor considering the difference in our ages I may be
allowed to call you sowe at Bridgeford are much like you at
Sunch'ston； we dare not always say what we think。 Nor would it be
wise to do so； when we should not be listened to。 This fire must
burn itself out； for it has got such hold that nothing can either
stay or turn it。 Even though Higgs himself were to return and tell
it from the house…tops that he was a mortalay； and a very common
onehe would be killed； but not believed。〃
〃Let him come； let him show himself； speak out and die； if the
people choose to kill him。 In that case I would forgive him；
accept him for my father； as silly people sometimes say he is； and
honour him to my dying day。〃
〃Would that be a bargain？〃 said my father； smiling in spite of
emotion so strong that he could hardly bring the words out of his
mouth。
〃Yes； it would；〃 said the youth doggedly。
〃Then let me shake hands with you on his behalf； and let us change
the conversation。〃
He took my father's hand； doubtfully and somewhat disdainfully； but
he did not refuse it。
CHAPTER VI： FURTHER CONVERSATION BETWEEN FATHER AND SONTHE
PROFESSORS' HOARD
It is one thing to desire a conversation to be changed； and another
to change it。 After some little silence my father said； 〃And may I
ask what name your mother gave you？〃
〃My name；〃 he answered； laughing； 〃is George； and I wish it were
some other； for it is the first name of that arch…impostor Higgs。
I hate it as I hate the man who owned it。〃
My father said nothing； but he hid his face in his hands。
〃Sir；〃 said the other； 〃I fear you are in some distress。〃
〃You remind me；〃 replied my father； 〃of a son who was stolen from
me when he was a child。 I searched for him； during many years； and
at last fell in with him by accident； to find him all the heart of
father could wish。 But alas！ he did not take kindly to
