salammbo-第49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！
However； the day was closing in。 Barkings were heard； and they
approached them。
Then in the twilight they perceived an enclosure of dry stones
shutting in a rambling edifice。 A dog was running along the top of the
wall。 The slave threw some pebbles at him and they entered a lofty
vaulted hall。
A woman was crouching in the centre warming herself at a fire of
brushwood； the smoke of which escaped through the holes in the
ceiling。 She was half hidden by her white hair which fell to her
knees； and unwilling to answer； she muttered with idiotic look words
of vengeance against the Barbarians and the Carthaginians。
The runner ferreted right and left。 Then he returned to her and
demanded something to eat。 The old woman shook her head； and murmured
with her eyes fixed upon the charcoal：
〃I was the hand。 The ten fingers are cut off。 The mouth eats no more。〃
The slave showed her a handful of gold pieces。 She rushed upon them；
but soon resumed her immobility。
At last he placed a dagger which he had in his girdle beneath her
throat。 Then； trembling； she went and raised a large stone； and
brought back an amphora of wine with fish from Hippo…Zarytus preserved
in honey。
Salammbo turned away from this unclean food； and fell asleep on the
horses' caparisons which were spread in a corner of the hall。
He awoke her before daylight。
The dog was howling。 The slave went up to it quietly； and struck off
its head with a single blow of his dagger。 Then he rubbed the horses'
nostrils with blood to revive them。 The old woman cast a malediction
at him from behind。 Salammbo perceived this； and pressed the amulet
which she wore above her heart。
They resumed their journey。
From time to time she asked whether they would not arrive soon。 The
road undulated over little hills。 Nothing was to be heard but the
grating of the grasshoppers。 The sun heated the yellowed grass； the
ground was all chinked with crevices which in dividing formed； as it
were； monstrous paving…stones。 Sometimes a viper passed； or eagles
flew by； the slave still continued running。 Salammbo mused beneath her
veils； and in spite of the heat did not lay them aside through fear of
soiling her beautiful garments。
At regular distances stood towers built by the Carthaginians for the
purpose of keeping watch upon the tribes。 They entered these for the
sake of the shade； and then set out again。
For prudence sake they had made a wide detour the day before。 But they
met with no one just now； the region being a sterile one； the
Barbarians had not passed that way。
Gradually the devastation began again。 Sometimes a piece of mosaic
would be displayed in the centre of a field； the sole remnant of a
vanished mansion； and the leafless olive trees looked at a distance
like large bushes of thorns。 They passed through a town in which
houses were burnt to the ground。 Human skeletons might be seen along
the walls。 There were some； too； of dromedaries and mules。 Half…gnawed
carrion blocked the streets。
Night fell。 The sky was lowering and cloudy。
They ascended again for two hours in a westerly direction； when
suddenly they perceived a quantity of little flames before them。
These were shining at the bottom of an ampitheatre。 Gold plates； as
they displaced one another； glanced here and there。 These were the
cuirasses of the Clinabarians in the Punic camp； then in the
neighbourhood they distinguished other and more numerous lights； for
the armies of the Mercenaries； now blended together； extended over a
great space。
Salammbo made a movement as though to advance。 But Schahabarim's man
took her further away； and they passed along by the terrace which
enclosed the camp of the Barbarians。 A breach became visible in it；
and the slave disappeared。
A sentry was walking upon the top of the entrenchment with a bow in
his hand and a pike on his shoulder。
Salammbo drew still nearer； the Barbarian knelt and a long arrow
pierced the hem of her cloak。 Then as she stood motionless and
shrieking； he asked her what she wanted。
〃To speak to Matho；〃 she replied。 〃I am a fugitive from Carthage。〃
He gave a whistle； which was repeated at intervals further away。
Salammbo waited； her frightened horse moved round and round； sniffing。
When Matho arrived the moon was rising behind her。 But she had a
yellow veil with black flowers over her face； and so many draperies
about her person； that it was impossible to make any guess about her。
From the top of the terrace he gazed upon this vague form standing up
like a phantom in the penumbrae of the evening。
At last she said to him：
〃Lead me to your tent！ I wish it！〃
A recollection which he could not define passed through his memory。 He
felt his heart beating。 The air of command intimidated him。
〃Follow me！〃 he said。
The barrier was lowered； and immediately she was in the camp of the
Barbarians。
It was filled with a great tumult and a great throng。 Bright fires
were burning beneath hanging pots； and their purpled reflections
illuminating some places left others completely in the dark。 There was
shouting and calling； shackled horses formed long straight lines amid
the tents； the latter were round and square； of leather or of canvas；
there were huts of reeds； and holes in the sand such as are made by
dogs。 Soldiers were carting faggots； resting on their elbows on the
ground； or wrapping themselves up in mats and preparing to sleep； and
Salammbo's horse sometimes stretched out a leg and jumped in order to
pass over them。
She remembered that she had seen them before； but their beards were
longer now； their faces still blacker； and their voices hoarser。
Matho； who walked before her； waved them off with a gesture of his arm
which raised his red mantle。 Some kissed his hands； others bending
their spines approached him to ask for orders； for he was now
veritable and sole chief of the Barbarians； Spendius； Autaritus； and
Narr' Havas had become disheartened； and he had displayed so much
audacity and obstinacy that all obeyed him。
Salammbo followed him through the entire camp。 His tent was at the
end； three hundred feet from Hamilcar's entrenchments。
She noticed a wide pit on the right； and it seemed to her that faces
were resting against the edge of it on a level with the ground； as
decapitated heads might have done。 However； their eyes moved； and from
these half…opened mouths groanings escaped in the Punic tongue。
Two Negroes holding resin lights stood on both sides of the door。
Matho drew the canvas abruptly aside。 She followed him。 It was a deep
tent with a pole standing up in the centre。 It was lighted by a large
lamp…holder shaped like a lotus and full of a yellow oil wherein
floated handfuls of burning tow； and military things might be
distinguished gleaming in the shade。 A naked sword leaned against a
stool by the side of a shield； whips of hippopotamus leather； cymbals；
bells； and necklaces were displayed pell…mell on baskets of esparto…
grass； a felt rug lay soiled with crumbs of black bread； some copper
money was carelessly heaped upon a round stone in a corner； and
through the rents in the canvas the wind brought the dust from
without； together with the smell of the elephants； which might be
heard eating and shaking their chains。
〃Who are you？〃 said Matho。
She looked slowly around her without replying； then her eyes were
arrested in the background； where something bluish and sparkling fell
upon a bed of palm…branches。
She advanced quickly。 A cry escaped her。 Matho stamped his foot behind
her。
〃Who brings you here？ why do you come？〃
〃To take it！〃 she replied； pointing to the zaimph； and with the other
hand she tore the veils from her head。 He drew back with his elbows
behind him； gaping； almost terrified。
She felt as if she were leaning on the might of the gods；
