the garden of allah-第83章
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why。 He was husbanding his great joy as she had husbanded the dark
hours of the previous night that to her were golden。 And that
unfinished action； that impulse unfulfilled； showed her more clearly
the depths of his passion for her even than had the desperate clasp of
his hands about her knees in the garden。 That which he did not do now
was the greatest assertion possible of all that he would do in the
life that was before them； and made her feel how entirely she belonged
to him。 Something within her trembled like a poor child before whom is
suddenly set the prospect of a day of perfect happiness。 She thought
of the ending of this day； of the coming of the evening。 Always the
darkness had parted them； at the ending of this day it would unite
them。 In Androvsky's eyes she read her thought of the darkness
reflected； reflected and yet changed； transmuted by sex。 It was as if
at that moment she read the same story written in two waysby a woman
and by a man； as if she saw Eden； not only as Eve saw it； but as Adam。
A long time passed； but they did not feel it to be long。 When their
camel halted they unclasped their hands slowly like sleepers
reluctantly awaking。
They heard Batouch's voice outside the palanquin。
〃Madame！〃 he called。 〃Madame！〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Domini； stifling a sigh。
〃Madame should draw the curtains。 We are halfway to Arba。 It is time
for /dejeuner/。 I will make the camel of Madame lie down。〃
A loud 〃A…a…ah！〃 rose up； followed by a fierce groaning from the
camel； and a lethargic； yet violent； movement that threw them forward
and backward。 They sank。 A hand from without pulled back the curtains
and light streamed over them。 They set their feet in sand； stood up；
and looked about them。
Already they were far out in the desert； though not yet beyond the
limit of the range of red mountains； which stretched forward upon
their left but at no great distance beyond them ended in the sands。
The camels were lying down in a faintly defined track which was
bordered upon either side by the plain covered with little humps of
sandy soil on which grew dusty shrub。 Above them was a sky of faint
blue； heavy with banks of clouds towards the east； and over their
heads dressed in wispy veils of vaporous white； through which the blue
peered in sections that grew larger as they looked。 Towards the south；
where Arba lay on a low hill of earth； without grass or trees； beyond
a mound covered thickly with tamarisk bushes； which was a feeding…
place for immense herds of camels； the blue was clear and the light of
the sun intense。 A delicate breeze travelled about them； stirring the
bushes and the robes of the Arabs； who were throwing back their hoods；
and uncovering their mouths； and smiling at them； but seriously； as
Arabs alone can smile。 Beside them stood two white and yellow guard
dogs； blinking and looking weary。
For a moment they stood still； blinking too； almost like the dogs。 The
change to this immensity and light from the narrow darkness of the
palanquin overwhelmed their senses。 They said nothing； but only stared
silently。 Then Domini； with a large gesture； stretched her arms above
her head； drawing a deep breath which ended in a little； almost
sobbing； laugh of exultation。
〃Out of prison；〃 she said disconnectedly。 〃Out of prisoninto this！〃
Suddenly she turned upon Androvsky and caught his arm； and twined both
of her arms round it with a strong confidence that was careless of
everything in the intensity of its happiness。
〃All my life I've been in prison；〃 she said。 〃You've unlocked the
door！〃 And then； as suddenly as she had caught his arm； she let it go。
Something surged up in her； making her almost afraid； or； if not that；
confused。 It was as if her nature were a horse taking the bit between
its teeth preparatory to a tremendous gallop。 Whither？ She did not
know。 She was intoxicated by the growing light； the sharp； delicious
air； the huge spaces around her； the solitude with this man who held
her soul surely in his hands。 She had always connected him with the
desert。 Now he was hers into the desert； and the desert was hers with
him。 But was it possible？ Could such a fate have been held in reserve
for her？ She scarcely dared even to try to realise the meaning of her
situation； lest at a breath it should be changed。 Just then she felt
that if she ventured to weigh and measure her wonderful gift Androvsky
would fall dead at her feet and the desert be folded together like a
scroll。
〃There is Beni…Mora； Madame；〃 said Batouch。
She was glad he spoke to her； turned and followed with her eyes his
pointing hand。 Far off she saw a green darkness of palms； and above it
a white tower； small； from here； as the tower of a castle of dolls。
〃The tower！〃 she said to Androvsky。 〃We first spoke in it。 We must bid
it good…bye。〃
She made a gesture of farewell towards it。 Androvsky watched the
movement of her hand。 She noticed now that she made no movement that
he did not observe with a sort of passionate attention。 The desert did
not exist for him。 She saw that in his eyes。 He did not look towards
the tower even when she repeated：
〃We mustwe owe it that。〃
Batouch and Ali were busy spreading a cloth upon the sand； making it
firm with little stones； taking out food； plates； knives； glasses；
bottles from a great basket slung on one of the camels。 They moved
deftly； seriously intent upon their task。 The camel…drivers were
loosening the cords that bound the loads upon their beasts； who roared
venomously； opening their mouths； showing long decayed teeth； and
turning their heads from side to side with a serpentine movement。
Domini and Androvsky were not watched for a moment。
〃Why won't you look？ Why won't you say good…bye？〃 she asked； coming
nearer to him on the sand softly； with a woman's longing to hear him
explain what she understood。
〃What do I care for it； or the palms； or the sky； or the desert？〃 he
answered almost savagely。 〃What can I care？ If you were mine behind
iron bars in that prison you spoke ofdon't you think it's enough for
metoo mucha cup running over？〃
And he added some words under his breath； words she could not hear。
〃Not even the desert！〃 she said with a catch in her voice。
〃It's all in you。 Everything's in youeverything that brought us
together； that we've watched and wanted together。〃
〃But then；〃 she said； and now her voice was very quiet； 〃am I peace
for you？〃
〃Peace！〃 said Androvsky。
〃Yes。 Don't you remember once I said that there must be peace in the
desert。 Then is it in mefor you？〃
〃Peace！〃 he repeated。 〃To…day I can't think of peace； or want it。
Don't you ask too much of me！ Let me live to…day； live as only a man
can wholet me live with all that is in me to…dayDomini。 Men ask to
die in peace。 Oh； DominiDomini！〃
His expression was like arms that crushed her； lips that pressed her
mouth； a heart that beat on hers。
〃Madame est servie！〃 cried Batouch in a merry voice。
His mistress did not seem to hear him。 He cried again：
〃Madame est servie！〃
Then Domini turned round and came to the first meal in the sand。 Two
cushions lay beside the cloth upon an Arab quilt of white； red； and
orange colour。 Upon the cloth； in vases of rough pottery； stained with
designs in purple； were arranged the roses brought by Smain from Count
Anteoni's garden。
〃Our wedding breakfast！〃 Domini said under her breath。
She felt just then as if she were living in a wonderful romance。
They sat down side by side and ate with a good appetite； served by
Batouch and Ali。 Now and then a pale yellow butterfly； yellow as the
sand； flitted by them。 Small yellow birds with crested heads ran
swiftly among the scrub； or flew low over the flats。 In the sky the
vapours gathered themselves together and moved slowly away towards the
east； leaving the blue above their heads unflecked with white。 With
each moment the heat of the sun grew more intense。 The wind had gone。
It was difficult to believe that it had ever roared over the desert。 A
little way from them the camel…drivers squatted beside the beasts；
eating flat loaves of yellow bread； and talking together in low；
guttural voices。 The guard do
