she-第69章
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pillar that passed and repassed in a circle。
〃Let's see it come once more；〃 said Leo； 〃we shall
never look upon its like again in this world。〃
It seemed a bit of idle curiosity； but somehow I
shared it； and we so waited till； turning slowly round
upon its own axis； it had flamed and thundered by； and
I remember wondering for how many thousands of years
this same phenomenon had been taking place in the
bowels of the earth； and for how many more thousands
it would continue to take place。 I wondered also if
any mortal eyes would ever again mark its passage； or
any mortal ears be thrilled and fascinated by the
swelling volume of its majestic sound。 I do not think
that they will。 I believe that we are the last human
beings who will ever see that unearthly sight。
Presently it had gone； and we too turned to go。
But before we did so we each took Job's cold hand in
ours and shook it。 It was a rather ghastly ceremony；
but it was the only means in our power of showing our
respect to the faithful dead and of celebrating his
obsequies。 The heap beneath the white garment we did
not uncover。 We had no wish to look upon that terrible
sight again。 But we went to the pile of rippling hair
that had fallen from her in the agony of that hideous
change which was worse than a thousand natural deaths；
and each of us drew from it a shining lock； and these
locks we still have； the sole memento that is left to
us of Ayesha as we knew her in the fulness of her
grace and glory。 Leo pressed the perfumed hair to his
lips。
〃 _i_ She _i_ called to me not to forget her；〃 he
said； hoarsely； 〃and swore that we should meet again。
By Heaven！ I never will forget her。 Here I swear that；
if we live to get out of this； I will not for all my
days have anything to say to another living woman； and
that wherever I go I will wait for her as faithfully
as she waited for me。〃
〃Yes；〃 I thought to myself； 〃if she comes back as
beautiful as we knew her。 But supposing she came back
like that！〃
Well； and then we went。 We went； and left those two in
the presence of the very well and spring of Life； but
gathered to the cold company of Death。 How lonely they
looked as they lay there； and how ill…assorted！ That
little heap had been for two thousand years the
wisest； loveliest； proudest creatureI can hardly
call her womanin the whole universe。 _i_ She _i_ had
been wicked； too； in her way； but； oh！ such is the
frailty of the human heart； her wickedness had not
detracted from her charm。 Indeed； I am by no means
certain that it did not add to it。 It was； after all；
of a grand order； there was nothing mean or small
about Ayesha。
And poor Job； too！ His presentiment had come true； and
there was an end of him。 Well； he has a strange burial
placeno Norfolk hind ever had a stranger； or ever
willand it is something to lie in the same sepulchre
with the poor remains of the imperial _i_ She _i_ 。
We looked our last upon them and the indescribable
rosy glow in which they lay； and then with hearts far
too heavy for words we left them； and crept thence
broken…down menso broken down that we even renounced
the chance of practically immortal life； because all
that made life valuable had gone from us； and we knew
even then that to prolong our days indefinitely would
only be to prolong our sufferings。 For we feltyes；
both of usthat； having once looked Ayesha in the
eyes； we could not forget her forever and ever while
memory and identity remained。 We both loved her now
and for always； she was stamped and carven on our
hears； and no other woman or interest could ever raze
that splendid die。 And Ithere lies the stingI had
and have no right to think thus of her。 As she told
me； I was naught to her； and never shall be through
the unfathomed depth of Time； unless； indeed；
conditions alter； and a day comes at last when two men
may love one woman； and all three be happy in the
fact。 It is the only hope of my broken…heartedness；
and a rather faint one。 Beyond it I have nothing。 I
have paid down this heavy price； all that I am worth
here and hereafter； and that is my sole reward。 With
Leo it is different； and often and often I bitterly
envy him。 his happy lot； for if _i_ She _i_ was right；
and her wisdom and knowledge did not fail her at the
last； which； arguing from the precedent of her own
case； I think most unlikely； he has some future to
look forward to。 But I have none； and yetmark the
folly and the weakness of the human heart； and let him
who is wise learn wisdom from ityet I would not have
it otherwise。 I mean that I am content to give what I
have given and must always give； and take in payment
those crumbs that fall from my mistress's table； the
memory of a few kind words； the hope one day in the
far undreamed future of a sweet smile or two of
recognition； a little gentle friendship； and a little
show of thanks for my devotion to herand Leo。
If that does not constitute true love； I do not know
what does； and all I have to say is that it is a very
bad state of mind for a man on the wrong side of
middle age to fall into。
CHAPTER XXVII
WE LEAP
WE passed through the caves without trouble； but when
we came to the slope of the inverted cone two
difficulties stared us in the face。 The first of these
was the laborious nature of the ascent； and the next
the extreme difficulty of finding our way。 Indeed； had
it not been for the mental notes that I had
fortunately taken of the shape of various rocks； etc。；
I am sure that we never should have managed it at all；
but have wandered about in the dreadful womb of the
volcanofor I suppose it must once have been
something of the sortuntil we died of exhaustion and
despair。 As it was we went wrong several times； and
once nearly fell into a huge crack or crevasse。 It was
terrible work creeping about in the dense gloom and
awful stillness from boulder to boulder； and examining
it by the feeble light of the lamps to see if I could
recognize its shape。 We rarely spoke； our hearts were
too heavy for speech； we simply stumbled about falling
sometimes and cutting ourselves； in a rather dogged
sort of way。 The fact was that our spirits were
utterly crushed； and we did not greatly care what
happened to us。 Only we felt bound to try and save our
lives while we could； and； indeed； a natural instinct
prompted us to it。 So for some three or four hours； I
should thinkI cannot tell exactly how long； for we
had no watch left that would gowe blundered on。
During the last two hours we were completely lost； and
I began to fear that we had got into the funnel of
some subsidiary cone； when at last I suddenly
recognized a very large rock which we had passed in
descending but a little way from the top。 It is a
marvel that I should have recognized it； and； indeed；
we had already passed it going at right angles to the
proper path； when something about it struck me； and I
turned back and examined it in an idle sort of way；
and； as it happened； this proved our salvation。
After this we gained the rocky natural stair without
much further trouble； and in due course found
ourselves back in the little chamber where the
benighted Noot had lived and died
But nowa fresh terror stared us in the face。 It will
be remembered that； owing to Job's fear and
awkwardness； the plank upon which we had crossed from
the huge spur to the rocking…stone had been whirled
off into the tremendous gulf below。
How were we to cross without the plank？
There was only one answerwe must try and _i_ jump
_i_ it； or else stop there till we starved。 The
distance in itself was not so very great； between
eleven and twelve feet I should think； and I have seen
Leo jump over twenty when he was a young fellow at
college； but； then； think of the conditions。 Two
weary； worn…out men； one of them on the wrong side of
forty； a rocking…stone to take off from； a trembling
point of rock some few feet across to land upon； and a
bottomless gulf to be cleared in a raging gale！ It was
bad enough； God knows； but when I pointed out these
