the garden of allah-第41章

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He　looked　straight　into　her　eyes　and　there　was　something　dominating　in
his　expression。

〃You　think　it　is　the　desert　that　could　teach　you　whether　the　world
holds　anything　but　a　mirage；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃Well；　I　don't　think　it
would　be　the　desert　that　could　teach　me。〃

She　said　nothing　more；　but　let　her　horse　go　and　rode　off。　He　followed；
and　as　he　rode　awkwardly；　yet　bravely；　pressing　his　strong　legs
against　his　animal's　flanks　and　holding　his　thin　body　bent　forward；　he
looked　at　Domini's　upright　figure　and　brilliant；　elastic　gracethat
gave　in　to　her　horse　as　wave　gives　to　windwith　a　passion　of　envy　in
his　eyes。

They　did　not　speak　again　till　the　great　palm　gardens　of　the　oasis　they
had　seen　far　off　were　close　upon　them。　From　the　desert　they　looked
both　shabby　and　superb；　as　if　some　millionaire　had　poured　forth　money
to　create　a　Paradise　out　here；　and；　when　it　was　nearly　finished；　had
suddenly　repented　of　his　whim　and　refused　to　spend　another　farthing。
The　thousands　upon　thousands　of　mighty　trees　were　bounded　by　long；
irregular　walls　of　hard　earth；　at　the　top　of　which　were　stuck
distraught　thorn　bushes。　These　walls　gave　the　rough；　penurious　aspect
which　was　in　such　sharp　contrast　to　the　exotic　mystery　they　guarded。
Yet　in　the　fierce　blaze　of　the　sun　their　meanness　was　not
disagreeable。　Domini　even　liked　it。　It　seemed　to　her　as　if　the　desert
had　thrown　up　waves　to　protect　this　daring　oasis　which　ventured　to
fling　its　green　glory　like　a　defiance　in　the　face　of　the　Sahara。　A
wide　track　of　earth；　sprinkled　with　stones　and　covered　with　deep　ruts；
holes　and　hummocks；　wound　in　from　the　desert　between　the　earthen　walls
and　vanished　into　the　heart　of　the　oasis。　They　followed　it。

Domini　was　filled　with　a　sort　of　romantic　curiosity。　This　luxury　of
palms　far　out　in　the　midst　of　desolation；　untended　apparently　by　human
handsfor　no　figures　moved　among　them；　there　was　no　one　on　the　road
suggested　some　hidden　purpose　and　activity；　some　concealed　personage；
perhaps　an　Eastern　Anteoni；　whose　lair　lay　surely　somewhere　beyond
them。　As　she　had　felt　the　call　of　the　desert　she　now　felt　the　call　of
the　oasis。　In　this　land　thrilled　eternally　a　summons　to　go　onward；　to
seek；　to　penetrate；　to　be　a　passionate　pilgrim。　She　wondered　whether
her　companion's　heart　could　hear　it。

〃I　don't　know　why　it　is；〃　she　said；　〃but　out　here　I　always　feel
expectant。　I　always　feel　as　if　some　marvellous　thing　might　be　going　to
happen　to　me。〃

She　did　not　add　〃Do　you？〃　but　looked　at　him　as　if　for　a　reply。

〃Yes；　Madame；〃　he　said。

〃I　suppose　it　is　because　I　am　new　to　Africa。　This　is　my　first　visit
here。　I　am　not　like　you。　I　can't　speak　Arabic。〃

She　suddenly　wondered　whether　the　desert　was　new　to　him　as　to　her。　She
had　assumed　that　it　was。　Yet　as　he　spoke　Arabic　it　was　almost　certain
that　he　had　been　much　in　Africa。

〃I　do　not　speak　it　well；〃　he　answered。

And　he　looked　away　towards　the　dense　thickets　of　the　palms。　The　track
narrowed　till　the　trees　on　either　side　cast　patterns　of　moving　shade
across　it　and　the　silent　mystery　was　deepened。　As　far　as　the　eye　could
see　the　feathery；　tufted　foliage　swayed　in　the　little　wind。　The　desert
had　vanished；　but　sent　in　after　them　the　message　of　its　soul；　the
marvellous　breath　which　Domini　had　drunk　into　her　lungs　so　long　before
she　saw　it。　That　breath　was　like　a　presence。　It　dwells　in　all　oases。
The　high　earth　walls　concealed　the　gardens。　Domini　longed　to　look　over
and　see　what　they　contained；　whether　there　were　any　dwellings　in　these
dim　and　silent　recesses；　any　pools　of　water；　flowers　or　grassy　lawns。

Her　horse　neighed。

〃Something　is　coming；〃　she　said。

They　turned　a　corner　and　were　suddenly　in　a　village。　A　mob　of　half…
naked　children　scattered　from　their　horses'　feet。　Rows　of　seated　men
in　white　and　earth…coloured　robes　stared　upon　them　from　beneath　the
shadow　of　tall；　windowless　earth　houses。　White　dogs　rushed　to　and　fro
upon　the　flat　roofs；　thrusting　forward　venomous　heads；　showing　their
teeth　and　barking　furiously。　Hens　fluttered　in　agitation　from　one　side
to　the　other。　A　grey　mule；　tethered　to　a　palm…wood　door　and　loaded
with　brushwood；　lashed　out　with　its　hoofs　at　a　negro；　who　at　once
began　to　batter　it　passionately　with　a　pole；　and　a　long　line　of
sneering　camels　confronted　them；　treading　stealthily；　and　turning
their　serpentine　necks　from　side　to　side　as　they　came　onwards　with　a
soft　and　weary　inflexibility。　In　the　distance　there　was　a　vision　of　a
glaring　market…place　crowded　with　moving　forms　and　humming　with
noises。

The　change　from　mysterious　peace　to　this　vivid　and　concentrated　life
was　startling。

With　difficulty　they　avoided　the　onset　of　the　camels　by　pulling　their
horses　into　the　midst　of　the　dreamers　against　the　walls；　who　rolled
and　scrambled　into　places　of　safety；　then　stood　up　and　surrounded
them；　staring　with　an　almost　terrible　interest　upon　them；　and
surveying　their　horses　with　the　eyes　of　connoisseurs。　The　children
danced　up　and　began　to　ask　for　alms；　and　an　immense　man；　with　a　broken
nose　and　brown　teeth　like　tusks；　laid　a　gigantic　hand　on　Domini's
bridle　and　said；　in　atrocious　French：

〃I　am　the　guide；　I　am　the　guide。　Look　at　my　certificates。　Take　no　one
else。　The　people　here　are　robbers。　I　am　the　only　honest　man。　I　will
show　Madame　everything。　I　will　take　Madame　to　the　inn。　Lookmy
certificates！　Read　them！　Read　what　the　English　lord　says　of　me。　I
alone　am　honest　here。　I　am　honest　Mustapha！　I　am　honest　Mustapha！〃

He　thrust　a　packet　of　discoloured　papers　and　dirty　visiting…cards　into
her　hands。　She　dropped　them；　laughing；　and　they　floated　down　over　the
horse's　neck。　The　man　leaped　frantically　to　pick　them　up；　assisted　by
the　robbers　round　about。　A　second　caravan　of　camels　appeared；　preceded
by　some　filthy　men　in　rags；　who　cried；　〃Oosh！　oosh！〃　to　clear　the　way。
The　immense　man；　brandishing　his　recovered　certificates；　plunged
forward　to　encounter　them；　shouting　in　Arabic；　hustled　them　back；
kicked　them；　struck　at　the　camels　with　a　stick　till　those　in　front
receded　upon　those　behind　and　the　street　was　blocked　by　struggling
beasts　and　resounded　with　roaring　snarls；　the　thud　of　wooden　bales
clashing　together；　and　the　desperate　protests　of　the　camel…drivers；
one　of　whom　was　sent　rolling　into　a　noisome　dust　heap　with　his　turban
torn　from　his　head。

〃The　inn！　This　is　the　inn！　Madame　will　descend　here。　Madame　will　eat
in　the　garden。　Monsieur　Alphonse！　Monsieur　Alphonse！　Here　are　clients
for　/dejeuner/。　I　have　brought　them。　Do　not　believe　Mohammed。　It　is　I
thatI　will　assist　Madame　to　descend。　I　will〃

Domini　was　standing　in　a　tiny　cabaret　before　a　row　of　absinthe
bottles；　laughing；　almost　breathless。　She　scarcely　knew　how　she　had
come　there。　Looking　back　she　saw　Androvsky　still　sitting　on　his　horse
in　the　midst　of　the　clamouring　mob。　She　went　to　the　low　doorway；　but
Mustapha　barred　her　exit。

〃This　is　Sidi…Zerzour。　Madame　will　eat　in　the　garden。　She　is　tired；
fainting。　She　will　eat　and　then　she　will　see　the　great　Mosque　of
Zerzour。〃

〃Sidi…Zerzour！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃Monsieur　Androvsky；　do　you　know　where
we　are？　This　is　the　famous　Sidi…Zerzour；　where　the　great　warrior　is
buried；　and　where　the　Arabs　make　pilgrimages　to　worship　at　his　tomb。〃

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

He　answered　in　a　low　voice。

〃As　we　are　here　we　ought　to　see。　Do　you　know；　I　think　we　must　yield　to
honest　Mustapha　and　have　/dejeuner/　in　the　garden。　It　is　twelve
o'clock　and　I　am　hungry。　We　might　visit　the　mosque　afterwards　and　ride
home　in　the　afternoon。〃

He　sat　there　hunched　up　on　the　horse　and　looked　at　her　in　silent
hesitation；　while　the　Arabs　stood　round　staring。

〃You'd　rather　not？〃

She　spoke　quietly。　He　shook　his　feet　out　of　the　stirrups。　A　number　of
brown　hands　and　arms　shot　forth　to　help　him。　Domini　turned　back　into
the　cabaret。　She　heard　a　tornado　of　voices　outside；　a　horse　neighing
and　trampling；　a　scuffling　of　feet；　but　she　did　not　glance　round。　In
about　three　minutes　Androvsky　joined　her。　He　was　limping　slightly　and
bending　forward　more　than　ever。　Behind　the　counter　on　which　stood　the
absinthe　bottle　was　a　tarnished　mirror；　and　she　saw　him　glance
quickly；　almost　guiltily　into　it；　put　up　his　hands　and　t