the garden of allah-第128章
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pitched near the bordj。
〃What does Madame think？〃 asked Batouch。 〃Does Madame agree with the
Englishman？〃
〃It is a strange little place；〃 she answered。
She listened to the voices of the doves。 A dog barked by the bordj。
〃It is almost like a hiding…place；〃 she added。
Androvsky said nothing； but he； too； was gazing intently at the trees
below them； he； too； was listening to the voices of the doves。 After a
moment he looked at her。
〃Domini；〃 he whispered。 〃Herewon't youwon't you let me touch your
hand again here？〃
〃Come； Boris；〃 she answered。 〃It is late。〃
They rode down into Ain…la…Hammam。
The tents had all been pitched near together on the south of the
bordj； and separated by it from the tiny oasis。 Opposite to them was a
Cafe Maure of the humblest kind； a hovel of baked earth and brushwood；
with earthen divans and a coffee niche。 Before this was squatting a
group of five dirty desert men； the sole inhabitants of Ain…la…Hammam。
Just before dinner Domini gave an order to Batouch； and； while they
were dining； Androvsky noticed that their people were busy unpegging
the two sleeping…tents。
〃What are they doing？〃 he said to Domini； uneasily。 In his present
condition everything roused in him anxiety。 In every unusual action he
discerned the beginning of some tragedy which might affect his life。
〃I told Batouch to put our tents on the other side of the bordj；〃 she
answered。
〃Yes。 But why？〃
〃I thought that to…night it would be better if we were a little more
alone than we are here； just opposite to that Cafe Maure； and with the
servants。 And on the other side there are the palms and the water。 And
the doves were talking there as we rode in。 When we have finished
dinner we can go and sit there and be quiet。〃
〃Together；〃 he said。
An eager light had come into his eyes。 He leaned forward towards her
over the little table and stretched out his hand。
〃Yes； together；〃 she said。
But she did not take his hand。
〃Domini！〃 he said； still keeping his hand on the table； 〃Domini！〃
An expression； that was like an expression of agony； flitted over her
face and died away； leaving it calm。
〃Let us finish；〃 she said quietly。 〃Look； they have taken the tents！
In a moment we can go。〃
The doves were silent。 The night was very still in this nest of the
Sahara。 Ouardi brought them coffee； and Batouch came to say that the
tents were ready。
〃We shall want nothing more to…night； Batouch；〃 Domini said。 〃Don't
disturb us。〃
Batouch glanced towards the Cafe Maure。 A red light gleamed through
its low doorway。 One or two Arabs were moving within。 Some of the camp
attendants had joined the squatting men without。 A noise of busy
voices reached the tents。
〃To…night； Madame；〃 Batouch said proudly； 〃I am going to tell stories
from the /Thousand and One Nights/。 I am going to tell the story of
the young Prince of the Indies； and the story of Ganem； the Slave of
Love。 It is not often that in Ain…la…Hammam a poet〃
〃No； indeed。 Go to them； Batouch。 They must be impatient for you。〃
Batouch smiled broadly。
〃Madame begins to understand the Arabs；〃 he rejoined。 〃Madame will
soon be as the Arabs。〃
〃Go； Batouch。 Lookthey are longing for you。〃
She pointed to the desert men； who were gesticulating and gazing
towards the tents。
〃It is better so； Madame；〃 he answered。 〃They know that I am here only
for one night； and they are eager as the hungry jackal is eager for
food among the yellow dunes of the sand。〃
He threw his burnous over his shoulder and moved away smiling； and
murmuring in a luscious voice the first words of Ganem； the Slave of
Love。
〃Let us go now； Boris；〃 Domini said。
He got up at once from the table； and they walked together round the
bordj。
On its further side there was no sign of life。 No traveller was
resting there that night； and the big door that led into the inner
court was closed and barred。 The guardian had gone to join the Arabs
at the Cafe Maure。 Between the shadow cast by the bordj and the shadow
cast by the palm trees stood the two tents on a patch of sand。 The
oasis was enclosed in a low earth wall； along the top of which was a
ragged edging of brushwood。 In this wall were several gaps。 Through
one； opposite to the tents； was visible a shallow pool of still water
by which tall reeds were growing。 They stood up like spears；
absolutely motionless。 A frog was piping from some hidden place；
giving forth a clear flute…like note that suggested glass。 It reminded
Domini of her ride into the desert at Beni…Mora to see the moon rise。
On that night Androvsky had told her that he was going away。 That had
been the night of his tremendous struggle with himself。 When he had
spoken she had felt a sensation as if everything that supported her in
the atmosphere of life and of happiness had foundered。 And nownow
she was going to speak to himto tell himwhat was she going to tell
him？ How much could she； dared she； tell him？ She prayed silently to
be given strength。
In the clear sky the young moon hung。 Beneath it； to the left； was one
star like an attendant； the star of Venus。 The faint light of the moon
fell upon the water of the pool。 Unceasingly the frog uttered its
nocturne。
Domini stood for a moment looking at the water listening。 Then she
glanced up at the moon and the solitary star。 Androvsky stood by her。
〃Shall welet us sit on the wall； where the gap is；〃 she said。 〃The
water is beautiful； beautiful with that light on it； and the palms
palms are always beautiful； especially at night。 I shall never love
any other trees as I love palm trees。〃
〃Nor I；〃 he answered。
They sat down on the wall。 At first they did not speak any more。 The
stillness of the water； the stillness of reeds and palms； was against
speech。 And the little flute…like note that came to them again and
again at regular intervals was like a magical measuring of the silence
of the night in the desert。 At last Domini said； in a low voice：
〃I heard that note on the night when I rode out of Beni…Mora to see
the moon rise in the desert。 Boris； you remember that night？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered。
He was gazing at the pool； with his face partly averted from her； one
hand on the wall； the other resting on his knee。
〃You were brave that night； Boris；〃 she said。
〃II wished to beI tried to be。 And if I had been〃
He stopped； then went on： 〃If I had been； Domini； really brave； if I
had done what I meant to do that night； what would our lives have been
to…day？〃
〃I don't know。 We mustn't think of that to…night。 We must think of the
future。 Boris； there's no life； no real life without bravery。 No man
or woman is worthy of living who is not brave。〃
He said nothing。
〃Boris； let usyou and Ibe worthy of living to…nightand in the
future。〃
〃Give me your hand then；〃 he answered。 〃Give it me； Domini。〃
But she did not give it to him。 Instead she went on； speaking a little
more rapidly：
〃Boris； don't rely too much on my strength。 I am only a woman； and I
have to struggle。 I have had to struggle more than perhaps you will
ever know。 Youmust not makemake things impossible for me。 I am
tryingvery hardtoI'myou must not touch me to…night； Boris。〃
She drew a little farther away from him。 A faint breath of air made
the leaves of the palm trees rustle slightly； made the reeds move for
an instant by the pool。 He laid his hand again on the wall from which
he had lifted it。 There was a pleading sound in her voice which made
him feel as if it were speaking close against his heart。
〃I said I would tell you to…night where we are going。〃
〃Tell me now。〃
〃We are going back to Beni…Mora。 We are not very far off from Beni…
Mora to…nightnot very far。〃
〃We are going to Beni…Mora！〃 he repeated in a dull voice。 〃We are〃
He sat up on the wall； looking straight into her face。
〃Why？〃 he said。 His voice was sharp now； sharp with fear。
〃Boris； do you want to be at peace； not with me； but with God？ Do you
want to get rid of your burden of misery； which increasesI know it
day by day？〃
〃How can I？〃 he said hopelessly。
〃Isn't expiation the only way？ I think it is。〃
〃Expiation！ Howhow canI can never expiate my sin。〃
