gulliver of mars-第14章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ed a finger to her rescue； the red shine gleamed on empty faces； tier above tier； and flung its broad flush over the endless rank of open…mouthed spectators； then back I looked to Heruthat winsome little lady for whom； you will re… member； I had already more than a passing fancyand saw with a thrill of emotion that while she still kept her eyes on the flaming globe like one in a horrible dream her hands were slowly； very slowly； rising in supplication to ME！ It was not vanity。 There was no mistaking the direction of that silent； imploring appeal。
Not a man of her countrymen moved； not even black Hath！ There was not a sound in the world； it seemed； but the noisy clatter of my own shoenails on the marble flags。 In the great red eye of that unholy globe the Martians glimmered like a picture multitude under the red cliff of their ruined palace。 I glared round at them with contempt for a minute； then sprang forward and snatched the prin… cess up。 It was like pulling a flower up by the roots。 She was stiff and stark when I lay hold of her； but when I tore her from the magic ground she suddenly gave a piercing shriek； and fainted in my arms。
Then as I turned upon my heels with her upon my breast my foot caught upon the cloths still wound about the tripod of the sphere。 Over went that implement of a thousand years of sorcery； and out went the red fire。 But little I caredthe princess was safe！ And up the palace steps； amidst a low； wailing hum of consternation from the re… covering Martians； I bore that bundle of limp and senseless loveliness up into the pale shine of her own porch； and there； laying her down upon a couch； watched her recover presently amongst her women with a varied assortment of emotions tingling in my veins。
CHAPTER VI
Beyond the first flutter of surprise； the Martians had shown no interest in the abrupt termination of the year's divinations。 They melted away； a trifle more silently per… haps than usual； when I shattered the magic globe； but with their invariable indifference； and having handed the reviving Heru over to some women who led her away； apparently already half forgetful of the things that had just happened； I was left alone on the palace steps； not even An beside me； and only the shadow of a passerby now and then to break the solitude。 Whereon a great lone… liness took hold upon me； and； pacing to and fro along the ancient terrace with bent head and folded arms； I bewailed my fate。 To and fro I walked； heedless and melancholy； thinking of the old world； that was so far and this near world so distant from me in everything making life worth living； thinking； as I strode gloomily here and there； how gladly I would exchange these poor puppets and the mockery of a town they dwelt in； for a sight of my com… rades and a corner in the poorest wine…shop salon in New York or 'Frisco； idly speculating why； and how； I came here； as I sauntered down amongst the glistening； shell…like fragments of the shattered globe； and finding no answer。 How could I？ It was too fair； I thought； standing there in the open； there was a fatal sweetness in the air； a deadly sufficiency in the beauty of everything around falling on the lax senses like some sleepy draught of pleasure。 Not a leaf stirred； the wide purple roof of the sky was unbroken by the healthy promise of a cloud from rim to rim； the splendid country； teeming with its spring…time richness； lay in rank perfection everywhere； and just as rank and sleek and passionless were those who owned it。
Why； even I； who yesterday was strong； began to come under the spell of it。 But yesterday the spirit of the old world was still strong within me； yet how much things were now changing。 The well…strung muscles loosening； the heart beating a slower measure； the busy mind drowsing off to listlessness。 Was I； too； destined to become like these？ Was the red stuff in my veins to be watered down to pallid Martian sap？ Was ambition and hope to desert me； and idleness itself become laborious； while life ran to seed in gilded uselessness？ Little did I guess how unnecessary my fears were； or of the incredible fairy tale of adventure into which fate was going to plunge me。
Still engrossed the next morning by these thoughts； I decided I would go to Hath。 Hath was a manat least they said sohe might sympathise even though he could not help； and so； dressing finished； I went down towards the innermost palace whence for an hour or two had come sounds of unwonted bustle。 Asking for the way occasion… ally from sleepy folk lolling about the corridors； waiting as it seemed for their breakfasts to come to them； and embarrassed by the new daylight； I wandered to and fro in the labyrinths of that stony ant…heap until I chanced upon a curtained doorway which admitted to a long cham… ber； high…roofed； ample in proportions； with colonnades on either side separated from the main aisle by rows of flowery figures and emblematic scroll…work； meaning I knew not what。 Above those pillars ran a gallery with many windows looking out over the ruined city。 While at the further end of the chamber stood three broad steps leading to a dais。 As I entered； the whole place was full of bustling girls； their yellow garments like a bed of flowers in the sunlight trickling through the casements； and all intent on the spreading of a feast on long tables ranged up and down the hall。 The morning light streamed in on the white cloths。 It glittered on the glass and the gold they were putting on the trestles； and gave resplendent depths of colour to the ribbon bands round the pillars。 All were so busy no one noticed me standing in the twilight by the door； but presently； laying a hand on a worker's shoulder； I asked who they banqueted for； and why such unwonted preparation？
〃It is the marriage…feast tonight； stranger； and a marvel you did not know it。 You； too； are to be wed。〃
〃I had not heard of it； damsel； a paternal forethought of your Government； I suppose？ Have you any idea who the lady is？〃
〃How should I know？〃 she answered laughingly。 〃That is the secret of the urn。 Meanwhile； we have set you a place at the table…head near Princess Heru； and tonight you dip and have your chance like all of them； may luck send you a rosy bride； and save her from Ar…hap。〃
〃Ay； now I remember； An told me of this before； Ar…hap is the sovereign with whom your people have a little difference； and shares unbidden in the free distribution of brides to…night。 This promises to be interesting； depend on it I will come； if you will keep me a place where I can hear the speeches； and not forget me when the turtle soup goes round； I shall be more than grateful。 Now to another matter。 I want to get a few minutes with your President； Prince Hath。 He concentrates the fluid intelligence of this sphere； I am told。 Where can I find him？〃
〃He is drunk； in the library； sir！〃
〃My word！ It is early in the day for that； and a singular conjunction of place and circumstance。〃
〃Where；〃 said the girl； 〃could he safer be？ We can always fetch him if we want him； and sunk in blue ob… livion he will not come to harm。〃
〃A cheerful view； Miss； which is worthy of the attention of our reformers。 Nevertheless； I will go to him。 I have known men tell more truth in that state than in any other。〃
The servitor directed me to the library； and after deso… late wanderings up crumbling steps and down mouldering corridors； sunny and lovely in decay； I came to the im… mense lumber…shed of knowledge they had told me of； a city of dead books； a place of dusty cathedral aisles stored with forgotten learning。 At a table sat Hath the purposeless； enthroned in leather and vellum； snoring in divine content amongst all that wasted labour； and nothing I could do was sufficient to shake him into semblance of intelligence。 So perforce I turned away till he should have come to him… self； and wandering round the splendid litter of a noble library； presently amongst the ruck of volumes on the floor； amongst those lordly tomes in tattered green and gold； and ivory； my eye lit upon a volume propped up curiously on end； and going to it through the confusion I saw by the dried fruit rind upon the sticks supporting it； that the
