red eve-第10章

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perchance　his　face　grew　no　hair。　His　lips　were　thick　and　still　and　his
features　did　not　change　like　those　of　other　men。　He　looked　as　though
he　could　not　change；　as　though　he　had　been　thus　for　infinite　ages；　and
yet　remained　neither　young　nor　old。　As　for　his　dress；　he　wore　a　cloak
of　flaming　red；　such　a　cloak　as　your　Eve　loves　to　wear；　and　white
sandals　on　his　feet。　There　was　no　covering　on　his　shaven　head；　which
gleamed　like　a　skull。　His　breast　was　naked；　but　across　it　hung　one　row
of　black　jewels。　From　the　sheen　of　them　I　think　they　must　have　been
pearls；　which　are　sometimes　found　of　that　colour　in　the　East。　He　had
no　weapon　nor　staff；　and　his　hands　hung　down　on　either　side　of　the
chair。

〃For　a　long　while　I　watched　him；　but　if　he　saw　me　he　took　no　note。　As
I　watched　I　perceived　that　birds　were　coming　to　and　leaving　him　in
countless　numbers；　and　thought　that　it　must　be　their　wings　which　made
the　constant　soughing　sound　that　filled　all　the　still　and　dreadful
air。〃

〃What　kind　of　birds　were　they；　Father？〃

〃I　am　not　sure；　but　I　think　doves；　at　least；　their　flight　was　straight
and　swift　like　to　that　of　doves。　Yet　of　this　I　am　not　sure　either；
since　I　saw　each　of　them　for　but　a　second。　As　they　reached　the　man
they　appeared　out　of　nothingness。　They　were　of　two　colours；　snow…white
and　coal…black。　The　white　appeared　upon　his　right　side；　the　black　upon
his　left　side。　Each　bird　in　those　never…ceasing　streams　hovered　for　an
instant　by　his　head；　the　white　over　his　right　shoulder；　the　black　over
his　left　shoulder；　as　though　they　whispered　a　message　to　his　ear；　and
having　whispered　were　gone　upon　their　errand。〃

〃What　was　that　errand；　Father？〃

〃How　can　I　know；　as　no　one　ever　told　me？　Yet　I　will　hazard　a　guess
that　it　had　to　do　with　the　mystery　of　life　and　death。　Souls　that　were
born　into　the　world；　and　souls　departing　from　the　world；　perchance；
making　report　to　one　of　God's　ministers　clothed　in　flesh。　But　who　can
say？　At　least　I　watched　those　magic　fowls　till　my　eyes　grew　dizzy；　and
a　sort　of　slumber　began　to　creep　into　my　brain。

〃How　long　I　stayed　thus　I　do　not　remember；　for　I　had　lost　all　sense　of
time。　In　the　end；　however；　I　was　awakened　by　a　cold；　soft　voice；　the
sound　of　which　seemed　to　flow　through　my　veins　like　ice；　that
addressed　me　in　our　own　rough　English　tongue；　spoken　as　you　and　I
learned　it　at　our　nurses'　knees。

〃'To　what　god　were　you　praying　just　now；　Andrew　Arnold？'

〃'Oh；　sir；'　I　answered；　'how　do　you；　who　dwell　in　Cathay；　where　I　am　a
stranger；　know　my　language　and　my　name？'

〃He　lifted　his　cold　eyes　and　looked　at　me；　and　I　felt　them　pierce　into
the　depths　of　my　soul。　'In　the　same　way　that　I　know　your　heart；'　he
said。　'But　do　not　ask　questions。　Answer　them；　that　I　may　learn　whether
you　are　a　true　man　or　a　liar。'

〃'I　was　praying　to　Christ；'　I　faltered；　'the　Saviour　of　us　all。'

〃'A　great　God；　Andrew　Arnold；　and　a　pure；　though　His　followers　are　few
in　the　world　as　yet。　But　do　you　think　that　He　can　save　you　from　Me；　as
you　were　asking　Him　to　do？'

〃'He　can　save　my　soul；'　I　replied；　plucking　up　courage；　who　would　not
deny　the　Lord　even　in　a　devil's　den。

〃'Ah！　your　soul。　Well；　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　souls；　except　to
count　them　as　they　pass　through　my　dominion；　and　you　are　quite　right
to　pray　to　one　of　the　lords　of　that　into　which　you　go。　Now；　man；　what
is　your　business　with　me；　and　why　do　you　visit　one　of　whom　you　are　so
much　afraid？'

〃'O　Murgh！'　I　began；　then　ceased；　for　I　knew　not　what　to　answer。

〃'So　they　have　told　you　my　name？　Now　I　will　tell　you　one　of　its
meanings。　It　is　〃Gate　of　the　Gods。〃　Why　did　you　dare　to　visit　Gate　of
the　Gods？　You　fear　to　answer。　Listen！　You　came　forth　to　see　some
painted　idol；　or　some　bedizened　priest　muttering　rites　he　does　not
understand　to　that　which　is　not；　and　lo！　you　have　found　that　which　is
behind　all　idols　and　all　priests。　You　sought　an　incensed　and　a　golden
shrine　and　you　have　found　only　the　black　and　iron　portals　which　every
man　must　pass　but　which　few　desire　to　enter　until　they　are　called。
Well；　you　are　young　and　strong；　come　try　a　fall　with　Murgh；　and　when
he　has　thrown　you；　rise　and　choose　which　of　those　ways　you　will；'　and
he　swept　his　hand　toward　the　doors　around　him。　'Then　forget　this　world
and　enter　into　that　which　you　have　chosen。'

〃Now；　because　I　could　not　help　myself；　I　rose　from　my　knees　and
advanced；　or　was　drawn　toward　that　dreadful　man。　As　I　came　he；　too；
rose　from　his　chair；　stretching　out　his　arms　as　a　wrestler　does；　and　I
knew　that　within　the　circle　of　those　arms　lay　my　death。　Still　I；　who
in　my　youth　was　held　brave；　went　on　and　rushed；　striving　to　clasp　him。
Next　moment；　before　ever　I　touched　himoh；　well　was　it　for　me　that　I
touched　him　not！some　strength　seized　me　and　whirled　me　round　and
round　as　a　dead　leaf　is　whirled　by　the　wind；　and　tossed　me　up　and　cast
me　down　and　left　me　prone　and　nerveless。

〃'Rise；'　said　the　cold　voice　above　me；　'for　you　are　unhurt。'

〃So　I　rose；　and　felt　even　then　that　I　who　thought　that　every　bone　in
my　body　must　be　broken；　was　stronger　than　I　had　ever　been　before。　It
was　as　though　the　lamp　which　had　burnt　low　was　filled　suddenly　with　a
new　and　purer　oil。

〃'Man；'　said　mine　adversary；　and　I　thought　that　in　his　cold　eyes　there
was　something　like　a　smile；　'did　you　think　to　touch　Murgh　and　live？
Did　you　think　to　wrestle　with　him　as　in　a　book　of　one　of　your　prophets
a　certain　Jacob　wrestled　with　an　angel；　and　conquereduntil　it　was
his　turn　to　pass　the　Gate　of　the　Gods？'

〃Now　I　stared　at　this　dweller　in　Cathay；　who　spoke　my　tongue　and　knew
the　tale　of　Jacob　in　the　ancient　Book；　then　answered：

〃'Sir　Murgh；　or　Sir　Gate；　or　whatever　your　name　may　be；　I　thought　to
do　nothing。　You　drew　me　to　you；　you　challenged　me　and；　since　by　the
rule　of　my　Order　I　may　refuse　no　challenge　from　one　who　is　not　a
Christian；　I　came　on　to　do　my　best。　But　before　ever　I　laid　hand　on　you
I　was　cast　down　by　a　wind。　That　is　all　the　story；　save　that　it　has
pleased　you　to　let　me　live；　who　evidently　could　have　slain　me；　for
which　I　thank　you。'

〃'You　are　wrong；　Sir　Andrew；'　he　answered；　'I　did　not　draw　you　to　me。
Men　come　to　Murgh　at　their　appointed　hour；　Murgh　does　not　come　to
them。　You　sought　him　before　your　hour；　and　therefore　he　refused　you。
Yet　you　will　meet　him　again；　as　all　flesh　must　when　its　hour　comes；
and　because　you　are　bold　and　have　not　cringed　before　my　strength；　for
your　comfort　I　will　show　you　when　and　how。　Stand　by　me；　but　lay　no
hand　on　me　or　my　robe；　and　look　into　my　glass　while　for　a　moment；　for
your　sake；　I　stay　the　stream　of　time　and　show　you　what　lies　beneath
its　foam　that　blinds　the　eyes　of　men。'

〃He　waved　his　arms　and　the　black　doves　and　the　white　doves　ceased　to
appear　and　disappear；　and　the　eternal　soughings　of　their　wings　was
silent。　He　pointed　to　the　water　at　his　feet　and　I　saw；　not　a　picture；
but　a　scene　so　real　that　I　could　have　sworn　it　was　alive　about　me。
Yes；　those　who　took　part　in　it　stood　in　front　of　me　as　though　the　pool
were　solid　ground　that　their　feet　pressed。　/You/　were　one　of　them；
son；　/you/　were　one　of　them；〃　and　the　old　knight　paused；　supporting
himself　against　the　mantel…shelf　as　though　that　recollection　overcame
him。

〃What　did　you　see？〃　whispered　Hugh。

〃By　God's　holy　name；　I　saw　the　Blythburgh　Marshes　deep　in　snow　that
was　red；　blood…red　with　the　light　of　sunrise。　Oh！　I　could　not　be
mistook；　and　there　ran　the　wintry　river；　there　the　church　tower
soared；　there　were　the　frowning；　tree…clad　banks。　There　was　the　rough
moorland　over　which　the　east　wind　piped；　for　the　dead　bracken　bent
before　it；　and　not　twenty　paces　from　me　leaped　a　hare；　disturbed
suddenly　from　its　form　by　a　hungry　fox；　whose　red　head　peeped　through
the　reeds。　Yes；　yes；　I　saw　the　brute's　white　teeth　gleam　as　it　licked
its　disappointed　lips；　and　I　felt　glad　that　its　prey　had　beaten　it！
When　you　look　upon　that　scene；　Hugh；　as　one　day　you　shall；　remember
the　hare　and　the　head　of　the　hungry　fox；　and　by　these　judge　my　truth。〃

〃A　fox　and　a　hare！〃　broke　in　Hugh。　〃I'd　show　you　such　to…morrow；　was
there　no　more？〃

〃Ay；　much。　For　instance；　a　hollow　in　the　Marsh；　an　open　grave；　and　an
axe；　yes；　an　axe　that　had　delved