the blue flower-第22章

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am　going　to　Jerusalem　in　search　of　one　who　is　to　be　born　King
of　the　Jews；　a　great　Prince　and　Deliverer　of　all　men。　　I　dare
not　delay　any　longer　upon　my　journey；　for　the　caravan　that　has
waited　for　me　may　depart　without　me。　　But　see；　here　is　all　that　I
have　left　of　bread　and　wine；　and　here　is　a　potion　of　healing
herbs。　　When　thy　strength　is　restored　thou　canst　find　the
dwellings　of　the　Hebrews　among　the　houses　of　Babylon。〃

The　Jew　raised　his　trembling　hand　solemnly　to　heaven。

〃Now　may　the　God　of　Abraham　and　Isaac　and　Jacob　bless　and
prosper　the　journey　of　the　merciful；　and　bring　him　in　peace　to
his　desired　haven。　　Stay！　　I　have　nothing　to　give　thee　in
returnonly　this：　that　I　can　tell　thee　where　the　Messiah　must
be　sought。　　For　our　prophets　have　said　that　he　should　be　born
not　in　Jerusalem；　but　in　Bethlehem　of　Judah。　　May　the　Lord
bring　thee　in　safety　to　that　place；　because　thou　hast　had　pity
upon　the　sick。〃

It　was　already　long　past　midnight。　　Artaban　rode　in　haste；
and　Vasda；　restored　by　the　brief　rest；　ran　eagerly　through　the
silent　plain　and　swam　the　channels　of　the　river。　　She　put
forth　the　remnant　of　her　strength；　and　fled　over　the　ground
like　a　gazelle。

But　the　first　beam　of　the　rising　sun　sent　a　long　shadow　before
her　as　she　entered　upon　the　final　stadium　of　the　journey；　and　the
eyes　of　Artaban；　anxiously　scanning　the　great　mound　of　Nimrod　and
the　Temple　of　the　Seven　Spheres；　could　discern　no　trace　of　his
friends。

The　many…coloured　terraces　of　black　and　orange　and　red　and
yellow　and　green　and　blue　and　white；　shattered　by　the
convulsions　of　nature；　and　crumbling　under　the　repeated　blows
of　human　violence；　still　glittered　like　a　ruined　rainbow　in
the　morning　light。

Artaban　rode　swiftly　around　the　hill。　　He　dismounted　and
climbed　to　the　highest　terrace；　looking　out　toward　the　west。

The　huge　desolation　of　the　marshes　stretched　away　to　the
horizon　and　the　border　of　the　desert。　　Bitterns　stood　by　the
stagnant　pools　and　jackals　skulked　through　the　low　bushes；　but
there　was　no　sign　of　the　caravan　of　the　Wise　Men；　far　or　near。

At　the　edge　of　the　terrace　he　saw　a　little　cairn　of　broken
bricks；　and　under　them　a　piece　of　papyrus。　　He　caught　it　up
and　read：　　〃We　have　waited　past　the　midnight；　and　can　delay　no
longer。　　We　go　to　find　the　King。　　Follow　us　across　the　desert。〃

Artaban　sat　down　upon　the　ground　and　covered　his　head　in
despair。

〃How　can　I　cross　the　desert；〃　said　he；　〃with　no　food　and
with　a　spent　horse？　　I　must　return　to　Babylon；　sell　my
sapphire；　and　buy　a　train　of　camels；　and　provision　for　the
journey。　　I　may　never　overtake　my　friends。　　Only　God　the
merciful　knows　whether　I　shall　not　lose　the　sight　of　the　King
because　I　tarried　to　show　mercy。〃



III

There　was　a　silence　in　the　Hall　of　Dreams；　where　I　was
listening　to　the　story　of　the　Other　Wise　Man。　　Through　this
silence　I　saw；　but　very　dimly；　his　figure　passing　over　the
dreary　undulations　of　the　desert；　high　upon　the　back　of　his
camel；　rocking　steadily　onward　like　a　ship　over　the　waves。

The　land　of　death　spread　its　cruel　net　around　him。　　The
stony　waste　bore　no　fruit　but　briers　and　thorns。　　The　dark
ledges　of　rock　thrust　themselves　above　the　surface　here　and
there；　like　the　bones　of　perished　monsters。　　Arid　and
inhospitable　mountain…ranges　rose　before　him；　furrowed　with　dry
channels　of　ancient　torrents；　white　and　ghastly　as　scars　on　the
face　of　nature。　　Shifting　hills　of　treacherous　sand　were　heaped
like　tombs　along　the　horizon。　　By　day；　the　fierce　heat　pressed
its　intolerable　burden　on　the　quivering　air。　　No　living　creature
moved　on　the　dumb；　swooning　earth；　but　tiny　jerboas　scuttling
through　the　parched　bushes；　or　lizards　vanishing　in　the　clefts　of
the　rock。　　By　night　the　jackals　prowled　and　barked　in　the
distance；　and　the　lion　made　the　black　ravines　echo　with　his
hollow　roaring；　while　a　bitter；　blighting　chill　followed　the
fever　of　the　day。　　Through　heat　and　cold；　the　Magian　moved
steadily　onward。

Then　I　saw　the　gardens　and　orchards　of　Damascus；　watered
by　the　streams　of　Abana　and　Pharpar；　with　their　sloping　swards
inlaid　with　bloom；　and　their　thickets　of　myrrh　and　roses。　　I
saw　the　long；　snowy　ridge　of　Hermon；　and　the　dark　groves　of
cedars；　and　the　valley　of　the　Jordan；　and　the　blue　waters　of
the　Lake　of　Galilee；　and　the　fertile　plain　of　Esdraelon；　and　the
hills　of　Ephraim；　and　the　highlands　of　Judah。　　Through　all　these
I　followed　the　figure　of　Artaban　moving　steadily　onward；　until　he
arrived　at　Bethlehem。　　And　it　was　the　third　day　after　the　three
Wise　Men　had　come　to　that　place　and　had　found　Mary　and　Joseph；
with　the　young　child；　Jesus；　and　had　laid　their　gifts　of　gold　and
frankincense　and　myrrh　at　his　feet。

Then　the　Other　Wise　Man　drew　near；　weary；　but　full　of
hope；　bearing　his　ruby　and　his　pearl　to　offer　to　the　King。
〃For　now　at　last；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　surely　find　him；　though
I　be　alone；　and　later　than　my　brethren。　　This　is　the　place　of
which　the　Hebrew　exile　told　me　that　the　prophets　had　spoken；
and　here　I　shall　behold　the　rising　of　the　great　light。　　But　I
must　inquire　about　the　visit　of　my　brethren；　and　to　what　house
the　star　directed　them；　and　to　whom　they　presented　their
tribute。〃

The　streets　of　the　village　seemed　to　be　deserted；　and
Artaban　wondered　whether　the　men　had　all　gone　up　to　the
hill…pastures　to　bring　down　their　sheep。　　From　the　open　door　of　a
cottage　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　woman's　voice　singing　softly。　　He
entered　and　found　a　young　mother　hushing　her　baby　to　rest。　　She
told　him　of　the　strangers　from　the　far　East　who　had　appeared　in
the　village　three　days　ago；　and　how　they　said　that　a　star　had
guided　them　to　the　place　where　Joseph　of　Nazareth　was　lodging
with　his　wife　and　her　new…born　child；　and　how　they　had　paid
reverence　to　the　child　and　given　him　many　rich　gifts。

〃But　the　travellers　disappeared　again；〃　she　continued；　〃as
suddenly　as　they　had　come。　　We　were　afraid　at　the　strangeness
of　their　visit。　　We　could　not　understand　it。　　The　man　of
Nazareth　took　the　child　and　his　mother；　and　fled　away　that
same　night　secretly；　and　it　was　whispered　that　they　were　going
to　Egypt。　　Ever　since；　there　has　been　a　spell　upon　the
village；　something　evil　hangs　over　it。　　They　say　that　the
Roman　soldiers　are　coming　from　Jerusalem　to　force　a　new　tax
from　us；　and　the　men　have　driven　the　flocks　and　herds　far　back
among　the　hills；　and　hidden　themselves　to　escape　it。〃

Artaban　listened　to　her　gentle；　timid　speech；　and　the
child　in　her　arms　looked　up　in　his　face　and　smiled；　stretching
out　its　rosy　hands　to　grasp　at　the　winged　circle　of　gold　on
his　breast。　　His　heart　warmed　to　the　touch。　　It　seemed　like　a
greeting　of　love　and　trust　to　one　who　had　journeyed　long　in
loneliness　and　perplexity；　fighting　with　his　own　doubts　and
fears；　and　following　a　light　that　was　veiled　in　clouds。

〃Why　might　not　this　child　have　been　the　promised　Prince？〃
he　asked　within　himself；　as　he　touched　its　soft　cheek。　　〃Kings
have　been　born　ere　now　in　lowlier　houses　than　this；　and　the
favourite　of　the　stars　may　rise　even　from　a　cottage。　　But　it
has　not　seemed　good　to　the　God　of　wisdom　to　reward　my　search
so　soon　and　so　easily。　　The　one　whom　I　seek　has　gone　before
me；　and　now　I　must　follow　the　King　to　Egypt。〃

The　young　mother　laid　the　baby　in　its　cradle；　and　rose　to
minister　to　the　wants　of　the　strange　guest　that　fate　had
brought　into　her　house。　　She　set　food　before　him；　the　plain
fare　of　peasants；　but　willingly　offered；　and　therefore　full　of
refreshment　for　the　soul　as　well　as　for　the　body。　　Artaban
accepted　it　gratefully；　and；　as　he　ate；　the　child　fell　into　a
happy　slumber；　and　murmured　sweetly　in　its　dreams；　and　a　great
peace　filled　the　room。

But　suddenly　there　came　the　noise　of　a　wild　confusion　in
the　streets　of　the　village；　a　shrieking　and　wailing　of　women's
voices；　a　clangour　of　brazen　trumpets　and　a　clashing　of
swords；　and　a　desperate　cry：　　〃The　soldiers！　the　soldiers　of
Herod！　　They　are　killing　our　children。〃
　　The　young　mother's　face　grew　white　with　terror。　　She
clasped　her　child　to　her　bosom；　and　crouched　motionless　in　the
darkest　corner　of　the　room；　covering　him　with　the　folds　of　her
robe；　lest　he　should　wake　and　cry。