gulliver of mars-第39章
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Si whispered in the ear of that good woman the nature of my errand； with doubtless some blandishment of her own； and my errand being one so much above the vulgar and so nearly touching the sovereign； I was at once ac… corded a separate room in the gate…house； whence I could look down in comparative peace on the common herd of suitors； and listen to the buzz of their invective as they practised speeches which I calculated it would take Ar…hap all the rest of his reign to listen to； without allowing him any time for pronouncing verdicts on them。
Here I made myself comfortable； and awaited the return of the sovereign as placidly as might be。 Meanwhile fate was playing into my feeble hands。
I have said it was hot weather。 At first this seemed but an outcome of the Martian climate； but as the hours went by the heat developed to an incredible extent。 Also that red glare previously noted in the west grew in intensity； till； as the hours slipped by； all the town was staring at it in panting horror。 I have seen a prairie on fire； luckily from the far side of a comfortably broad river； and have ridden through a pine… forest when every tree for miles was an uplifted torch； and pungent yellow smoke rolled down each corrie side in grey rivers crested with dancing flame。 But that Martian glare was more sombre and terrible than either。
〃What is it？〃 I asked of poor Si； who came out gasping to speak to me by the gate…house。
〃None of us know； and unless the gods these Thither folk believe in are angry； and intend to destroy the world with yonder red sword in the sky； I cannot guess。 Perhaps；〃 she added； with a sudden flash of inspiration； 〃it comes by your machinations for Heru's help。〃
〃No！〃
〃If not by your wish； then； in the name of all you love； set your wish against it。 If you know any incantations suitable for the occasion； oh； practise them now at once； for look； even the very grass is withering； birds are dropping from trees； fishes； horribly bloated； are beginning to float down the steaming rills； and I； with all others； have a nameless dread upon me。〃
Hotter and hotter it grew； until about sunset the red blaze upon the sky slowly opened； and showed us for about half an hour； through the opening a lurid； flame…coloured meteor far out in space beyond； then the cleft closed again； and through that abominable red curtain came the very breath of Hades。
What was really happening I am not astronomer enough to say； though on cooler consideration I have come to the conclusion that our planet； in going out to its summer pastures in the remoter fields of space； had somehow come across a wandering lesser world and got pretty well singed in passing。 This is purely my own opinion； and I have not yet submitted it to the kindly authorities of the Lick Obser… vatory for verification。 All I can say for certain is that in an incredibly short space of time the face of the country changed from green to sear； flowers drooped； streams （there were not many in the neighbourhood apparently） dried up； fishes died； a mighty thirst there was nothing to quench set… tled down on man and beast； and we all felt that unless Providence listened to the prayers and imprecations which the whole town set to work with frantic zeal to hurl at it； or that abominable comet in the sky sheered off on another tack with the least possible delay； we should all be re… duced to cinders in a very brief space of time。
CHAPTER XVII
The evening of the second day had already come； when Ar…hap arrived home after weekending amongst a tribe of rebellious subjects。 But any imposing State entry which might have been intended was rendered impossible by the heat and the threat of that baleful world in the western sky。
It was a lurid but disordered spectacle which I wit… nessed from my room in the gate…house just after nightfall。 The returning army had apparently fallen away exhausted on its march through the town； only some three hundred of the bodyguard straggled up the hill； limp and sweating； behind a group of pennons； in the midst of which rode a horseman whose commanding presence and splendid war harness impressed me； though I could not make out his features； a wild； impressionist scene of black outlines； tossing headgear； and spears glittering and vanishing in front of the red glare in the sky； but nothing more。 Even the dry throats of the suitors in the courtyard hardly mustered a husky cry of welcome as the cavalcade trooped into the enclosure； and then the shadows enfolded them up in silence； and； too hot and listless to care much what the morrow brought forth； I threw myself on the bare floor； tossing and turning in a vain endeavour to sleep until dawn came once more。
A thin mist which fell with daybreak drew a veil over the horrible glare in the west for an hour or two； and taking advantage of the slight alleviation of heat； I rose and went into the gardens to enjoy a dip in a pool； making； with its surrounding jungle of flowers； one of the pleasantest things about the wood…king's forest citadel。 The very earth seemed scorched and baking underfootand the pool was gone！ It had run as dry as a limekiln； nothing remained of the pretty fall which had fed it but a miserable trickle of drops from the cascade above。 Down beyond the town shone a gleam of water where the bitter canal steamed and sim… mered in the first grey of the morning； but up here six months of scorching drought could not have worked more havoc。 The very leaves were dropping from the trees； and the luxuriant growths of the day before looked as though a simoon had played upon them。
I staggered back in disgust； and found some show of official activity about the palace。 It was the king's custom； it appeared； to hear petitions and redress wrongs as soon after his return as possible； but today the ceremony was to be cut short as his majesty was going out with all his court to a neighbouring mountain to 〃pray away the comet；〃 which by this time was causing dire alarm all through the city。
〃Heaven's own particular blessing on his prayers； my friend；〃 I said to the man who told me this。 〃Unless his majesty's orisons are fruitful； we shall all be cooked like baked potatoes before nightfall； and though I have faced many kinds of death； that is not the one I would choose by preference。 Is there a chance of myself being heard at the throne？ Your peculiar climate tempts me to hurry up with my business and begone if I may。〃
〃Not only may you be heard； sir； but you are sum… moned。 The king has heard of you somehow； and sent me to find and bring you into his presence at once。〃
〃So be it；〃 I said； too hot to care what happened。 〃I have no levee dress with me。 I lost my luggage check some time ago； but if you will wait outside I will be with you in a moment。〃
Hastily tidying myself up； and giving my hair a comb； as though just off to see Mr。 Secretary for the Navy； or on the way to get a senator to push a new patent medicine for me； I rejoined my guide outside； and together we crossed the wide courtyard； entered the great log…built portals of Ar…hap's house； and immediately afterwards found ourselves in a vast hall dimly lit by rays coming in through square spaces under the eaves； and crowded on both sides with guards； courtiers； and supplicants。 The heat was tre… mendous； the odour of Thither men and the ill…dressed hides they wore almost overpowering。 Yet little I recked for either； for there at the top of the room； seated on a dais made of rough…hewn wood inlet with gold and covered with splendid furs； was Ar…hap himself。
A fine fellow； swarthy； huge； and hairy； at any other time or place I could have given him due admiration as an admirable example of the savage on the borderland of grace and culture； but now I only glanced at him； and then to where at his side a girl was crouching； a gem of human loveliness against that dusky setting。 It was Heru； my ravished princess； and； still clad in her diaphanous Hither robes； her face white with anxiety； her eyes bright as stars； the embodiment of helpless； flowery beauty； my heart turned over at sight of her。
Poor girl！ When she saw me stride into the hall she rose swiftly from Ar…hap's side； clasped her pretty h
