the garden of allah-第85章
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for a moment。 She put her arm through Androvsky's and made his eyes
follow hers across the vast spaces made magical by the sinking sun to
that darkness of distant palms which； to her； would be a sacred place
for ever。 And as they looked in silence all that Beni…Mora meant to
her came upon her。 She saw again the garden hushed in the heat of
noon。 She saw Androvsky at her feet on the sand。 She heard the chiming
church bell and the twitter of Larbi's flute。 The dark blue of trees
was as the heart of the world to her and as the heart of life。 It had
seen the birth of her soul and given to her another newborn soul。
There was a pathos in seeing it fade like a thing sinking down till it
became one with the immeasurable sands； and at that moment she said to
herself； 〃When shall I see Beni…Mora againand how？〃 She looked at
Androvsky； met his eyes； and thought： 〃When I see it again how
different I shall be！ How I shall be changed！〃 And in the sunset she
seemed to be saying a mute good…bye to one who was fading with Beni…
Mora。
As soon as they had got off the camel and were standing in the group
of staring Arabs； Batouch begged them to come to their tents； where
tea would be ready。 He led them round the angle of the wall towards
the west； and there； pitched in the full radiance of the sunset； with
a wide space of hard earth gleaming with gypse around it； was a white
tent。 Before it； in the open air； was stretched a handsome Arab
carpet； and on this carpet were set a folding table and two folding
chairs。 The table held a japanned tray with tea…cups； a milk jug and
plates of biscuits and by it； in an attitude that looked deliberately
picturesque stood Ouardi； the youth selected by Batouch to fill the
office of butler in the desert。
Ouardi smiled a broad welcome as they approached； and having made sure
that his pose had been admired； retired to the cook's abode to fetch
the teapot； while Batouch invited Domini and Androvsky to inspect the
tent prepared for them。 Domini assented with a dropped…out word。 She
still felt in a dream。 But Androvsky； after casting towards the tent
door a glance that was full of a sort of fierce shyness； moved away a
few steps； and stood at the edge of the hill looking down upon the
incoming caravan； whose music was now plainly audible in the stillness
of the waste。
Domini went into the tent that was to be their home for many weeks；
alone。 And she was glad just then that she was alone。 For she too；
like Androvsky； felt a sort of exquisite trouble moving； like a wave；
in her heart。 On some pretext； but only after an expression of
admiration； she got rid of Batouch。 Then she stood and looked round。
From the big tent opened a smaller one； which was to serve Androvsky
as a dressing…room and both of them as a baggage room。 She did not go
into that； but saw； with one glance of soft inquiry； the two small；
low beds； the strips of gay carpet； the dressing…table； the stand and
the two cane chairs which furnished the sleeping…tent。 Then she looked
back to the aperture。 In the distance； standing alone at the edge of
the hill； she saw Androvsky； bathed in the sunset； looking out over
the hidden desert from which rose the wild sound of African music；
steadily growing louder。 It seemed to her as if he must be gazing at
the plains of heaven； so magically brilliant and tender； so pellucidly
clear and delicate was the atmosphere and the colour of the sky。 She
saw no other form； only his； in this poem of light； in this wide world
of the sinking sun。 And the music seemed to be about his feet； to rise
from the sand and throb in its breast。
At that moment the figure of Liberty； which she had seen in the
shadows of the dancing…house； came in at the tent door and laid； for
the first time； her lips on Domini's。 That kiss was surely the
consecration of the life of the sands。 But to…day there had been
another consecration。 Domini had a sudden impulse to link the two
consecrations together。
She drew from her breast the wooden crucifix Androvsky had thrown into
the stream at Sidi…Zerzour； and； softly going to one of the beds； she
pinned the crucifix above it on the canvas of the tent。 Then she
turned and went out into the glory of the sunset to meet the fierce
music that was rising from the desert。
CHAPTER XVIII
Night had fallen over the desert； a clear purple night； starry but
without a moon。 Around the Bordj； and before a Cafe Maure built of
brown earth and palm…wood； opposite to it； the Arabs who were halting
to sleep at Arba on their journeys to and from Beni…Mora were huddled；
sipping coffee； playing dominoes by the faint light of an oil lamp；
smoking cigarettes and long pipes of keef。 Within the court of the
Bordj the mules were feeding tranquilly in rows。 The camels roamed the
plain among the tamarisk bushes； watched over by shrouded shadowy
guardians sleepless as they were。 The mountains； the palms of Beni…
Mora； were lost in the darkness that lay over the desert。
On the low hill； at some distance beyond the white tent of Domini and
Androvsky； the obscurity was lit up fiercely by the blaze of a huge
fire of brushwood； the flames of which towered up towards the stars；
flickering this way and that as the breeze took them； and casting a
wild illumination upon the wild faces of the rejoicing desert men who
were gathered about it； telling stories of the wastes； singing songs
that were melancholy and remote to Western ears； even though they
hymned past victories over the infidels； or passionate ecstasies of
love in the golden regions of the sun。 The steam from bowls of cous…
cous and stews of mutton and vegetables curled up to join the thin
smoke that made a light curtain about this fantasia； and from time to
time； with a shrill cry of exultation； a half…naked form； all gleaming
eyes and teeth and polished bronze…hued limbs； rushed out of the
blackness beyond the fire； leaped through the tongues of flame and
vanished like a spectre into the embrace of the night。
All the members of the caravan； presided over by Batouch in glory；
were celebrating the wedding night of their master and mistress。
Domini and Androvsky had already visited them by their bonfire； had
received their compliments； watched the sword dance and the dance of
the clubs； touched with their lips； or pretended to touch； the stem of
a keef； listened to a marriage song warbled by Ali to the
accompaniment of a flute and little drums； and applauded Ouardi's
agility in leaping through the flames。 Then； with many good…nights；
pressures of the hand； and auguries for the morrow； they had gone away
into the cool darkness； silently towards their tent。
They walked slowly； a little apart from each other。 Domini looked up
at the stars and saw among them the star of Liberty。 Androvsky looked
at her and saw all the stars in her face。 When they reached the tent
door they stopped on the warm earth。 A lamp was lit within； casting a
soft light on the simple furniture and on the whiteness of the two
beds； above one of which Domini imagined； though from without she
could not see； the wooden crucifix Androvsky had once worn in his
breast。
〃Shall we stay here a little？〃 Domini said in a low voice。 〃Out here？〃
There was a long pause。 Then Androvsky answered：
〃Yes。 Let us feel it allall。 Let us feel it to the full。〃
He caught hold of her hand with a sort of tender roughness and twined
his fingers between hers； pressing his palm against hers。
〃Don't let us miss anything to…night；〃 he said。 〃All my life is
to…night。 I've had no life yet。 To…morrowwho knows whether we shall
be dead to…morrow？ Who knows？ But we're alive to…night； flesh and
blood； heart and soul。 And there's nothing here； there can be nothing
here to take our life from us； the life of our love to…night。 For
we're out in the desert； we're right away from anyone； everything。
We're in the great freedom。 Aren't we； Domini？ Aren't we？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃Yes。〃
He took her other hand in the same way。 He was facing her； and he held
his hands against his heart with hers in them； then pressed her hands
against her heart； then drew them back again to his。
〃Then let us realise it。 Let us forget
