the garden of allah-第97章
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〃Don't I seem so？〃
She did not reply。 She was searching her heart for the answer
searching it with an almost terrible sincerity。 He waited for her
answer； sitting quite still。 His hand was always against her face。
After what seemed to him an eternity she said：
〃Boris！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why did you say that about a woman's love being able even to go down
into hell to preach to the spirits in prison？〃
He did not answer。 His hand seemed to her to lie more heavily on her
cheek。
〃II am not sure that you are quite happy with me；〃 she said。
She spoke like one who reverenced truth； even though it slew her。
There was a note of agony in her voice。
〃Hush！〃 he said。 〃Hush； Domini！〃
They were both silent。 Beyond the canvas of the tent that shut out
from them the camp they heard a sound of music。 Drums were being
beaten。 The African pipe was wailing。 Then the voice of Ali rose in
the song of the 〃Freed Negroes〃：
〃No one but God and I
Knows what is in my heart。〃
At that moment Domini felt that the words were truehorribly true。
〃Boris；〃 she said。 〃Do you hear？〃
〃Hush； Domini。〃
〃I think there is something in your heart that sometimes makes you sad
even with me。 I think perhaps I partly guess what it is。〃
He took his hand away from her face； his arm from her shoulder； but
she caught hold of him； and her arm was strong like a man's。
〃Boris； you are with me； you are close to me； but do you sometimes
feel far away from God？〃
He did not answer。
〃I don't know； I oughtn't to ask； perhaps。 I don't askno； I don't。
But； if it's that； don't be too sad。 It may all come righthere in
the desert。 For the desert is the Garden of Allah。 And； Borisput out
the light。〃
He extinguished the candle with his hand。
〃You feel； perhaps； that you can't pray honestly now； but some day you
may be able to。 You will be able to。 I know it。 Before I knew I loved
you I saw youpraying in the desert。〃
〃I！〃 he whispered。 〃You saw me praying in the desert！〃
It seemed to her that he was afraid。 She pressed him more closely with
her arms。
〃It was that night in the dancing…house。 I seemed to see a crowd of
people to whom the desert had given gifts； and to you it had given the
gift of prayer。 I saw you far out in the desert praying。〃
She heard his hard breathing； felt it against her cheek。
〃Ifif it is that； Boris； don't despair。 It may come。 Keep the
crucifix。 I am sure you have it。 And I always pray for you。〃
They sat for a long while in the dark； but they did not speak again
that night。
Domini did not sleep； and very early in the morning； just as dawn was
beginning； she stole out of the tent； shutting down the canvas flap
behind her。
It was cold outsidecold almost as in a northern winter。 The wind of
the morning； that blew to her across the wavelike dunes and the white
plains； seemed impregnated with ice。 The sky was a pallid grey。 The
camp was sleeping。 What had been a fire； all red and gold and leaping
beauty； was now a circle of ashes； grey as the sky。 She stood on the
edge of the hill and looked towards the tower。
As she did so； from the house behind it came a string of mules；
picking their way among the stones over the hard earth。 De Trevignac
and his men were already departing from Mogar。
They came towards her slowly。 They had to pass her to reach the track
by which they were going on to the north and civilisation。 She stood
to see them pass。
When they were quite near De Trevignac； who was riding； with his head
bent down on his chest； muffled in a heavy cloak； looked up and saw
her。 She nodded to him。 He sat up and saluted。 For a moment she
thought that he was going on without stopping to speak to her。 She saw
that he hesitated what to do。 Then he pulled up his mule and prepared
to get off。
〃No； don't； Monsieur；〃 she said。
She held out her hand。
〃Good…bye；〃 she added。
He took her hand； then signed to his men to ride on。 When they had
passed； saluting her； he let her hand go。 He had not spoken a word。
His face； burned scarlet by the sun； had a look of exhaustion on it；
but also another lookof horror； she thought； as if in his soul he
was recoiling from her。 His inflamed blue eyes watched her； as if in a
search that was intense。 She stood beside the mule in amazement。 She
could hardly believe that this was the man who had thanked her； with
tears in his eyes； for her hospitality the night before。 〃Good…bye；〃
he said； speaking at last； coldly。 She saw him glance at the tent from
which she had come。 The horror in his face surely deepened。 〃Goodbye；
Madame；〃 he repeated。 〃Thank you for your hospitality。〃 He pulled up
the rein to ride on。 The mule moved a step or two。 Then suddenly he
checked it and turned in the saddle。 〃Madame！〃 he said。 〃Madame！〃
She came up to him。 It seemed to her that he was going to say
something of tremendous importance to her。 His lips； blistered by the
sun； opened to speak。 But he only looked again towards the tent in
which Androvsky was still sleeping； then at her。
A long moment passed。
Then De Trevignac； as if moved by an irresistable impulse； leaned from
the saddle and made over Domini the sign of the cross。 His hand
dropped down against the mule's side； and without another word； or
look； he rode away to the north； following his men。
CHAPTER XXI
That same day； to the surprise of Batouch； they left Mogar。 To both
Domini and Androvsky it seemed a tragic place； a place where the
desert showed them a countenance that was menacing。
They moved on towards the south； wandering aimlessly through the warm
regions of the sun。 Then； as the spring drew into summer； and the heat
became daily more intense； they turned again northwards； and on an
evening in May pitched their camp on the outskirts of the Sahara city
of Amara。
This city； although situated in the northern part of the desert； was
called by the Arabs 〃The belly of the Sahara；〃 and also 〃The City of
Scorpions。〃 It lay in the midst of a vast region of soft and shifting
sand that suggested a white sea； in which the oasis of date palms； at
the edge of which the city stood； was a green island。 From the south；
whence the wanderers came； the desert sloped gently upwards for a long
distance； perhaps half a day's march； and many kilometres before the
city was reached； the minarets of its mosques were visible； pointing
to the brilliant blue sky that arched the whiteness of the sands。
Round about the city； on every side； great sand…hills rose like
ramparts erected by Nature to guard it from the assaults of enemies。
These hills were black with the tents of desert tribes； which； from
far off； looked like multitudes of flies that had settled on the
sands。 The palms of the oasis； which stretched northwards from the
city； could not be seen from the south till the city was reached； and
in late spring this region was a strange and barbarous pageant of blue
and white and gold； crude in its intensity； fierce in its crudity；
almost terrible in its blazing splendour that was like the Splendour
about the portals of the sun。
Domini and Androvsky rode towards Amara at a foot's pace； looking
towards its distant towers。 A quivering silence lay around them； yet
already they seemed to hear the cries of the voices of a great
multitude； to be aware of the movement of thronging crowds of men。
This was the first Sahara city they had drawn near to； and their minds
were full of memories of the stories of Batouch； told to them by the
camp fire at night in the uninhabited places which； till now； had been
their home： stories of the wealthy date merchants who trafficked here
and dwelt in Oriental palaces； poor in aspect as seen from the dark
and narrow streets； or zgags； in which they were situated； but within
full of the splendours of Eastern luxury； of the Jew moneylenders who
lived apart in their own quarter； rapacious as wolves； hoarding their
gains； and practising the rites of their ancient andaccording to the
Arabsdetestable religion； of the marabouts； or sacred men； revered
by the Mohammedans； who rode on white horses through the public ways；
followed by adoring fanatics who sought to touch their garments and
amulets； and dema
