the research magnificent-第34章

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ooked　like　a　man　lying　asleep　on　a　grassy　bank。　　But　he　lay　very　still　indeed；　he　did　not　look　up；　he　did　not　stir　as　they　passed；　the　pose　of　his　hand　was　stiff；　and　when　Benham　glanced　back　at　him；　he　stifled　a　little　cry　of　horror。　　For　this　man　had　no　face　and　the　flies　had　been　busy　upon　him。　。　。　。　Benham　caught　Amanda's　bridle　so　that　she　had　to　give　her　attention　to　her　steed。　〃Ahead！〃　he　said；　〃Ahead！　　Look；　a　village！〃　（Why　the　devil　didn't　they　bury　the　man？　　Why？　And　that　fool　Giorgio　and　the　others　were　pulling　up　and　beginning　to　chatter。　　After　all　she　might　look　back。）　Through　the　trees　now　they　could　see　houses。　　He　quickened　his　pace　and　jerked　Amanda's　horse　forward。　。　。　。　But　the　village　was　a　still　one。　　Not　a　dog　barked。　Here　was　an　incredible　village　without　even　a　dog！　And　then；　then　they　saw　some　more　people　lying　about。　　A　woman　lay　in　a　doorway。　　Near　her　was　something　muddy　that　might　have　been　a　child；　beyond　were　six　men　all　spread　out　very　neatly　in　a　row　with　their　faces　to　the　sky。　〃Cheetah！〃　cried　Amanda；　with　her　voice　going　up。　　〃They've　been　killed。　　Some　one　has　killed　them。〃　Benham　halted　beside　her　and　stared　stupidly。　　〃It's　a　band；〃　he　said。　　〃It'spropaganda。　　Greeks　or　Turks　or　Bulgarians。〃　〃But　their　feet　and　hands　are　fastened！　　And　。　。　。　　WHAT　HAVE　THEY　BEEN　DOING　TO　THEM？　。　。　。〃　〃I　want　to　kill；〃　cried　Benham。　　〃Oh！　I　want　to　kill　people。　　Come　on；　Amanda！　　It　blisters　one's　eyes。　　Come　away。　　Come　away！　　Come！〃　Her　face　was　white　and　her　eyes　terror…stricken。　　She　obeyed　him　mechanically。　　She　gave　one　last　look　at　those　bodies。　。　。　。　Down　the　deep…rutted　soil　of　the　village　street　they　clattered。　They　came　to　houses　that　had　been　set　on　fire。　。　。　。　〃What　is　that　hanging　from　a　tree？〃　cried　Amanda。　　〃Oh；　oh！〃　〃Come　on。　。　。　。〃　Behind　them　rode　the　others　scared　and　hurrying。　The　sunlight　had　become　the　light　of　hell。　　There　was　no　air　but　horror。　　Across　Benham's　skies　these　fly…blown　trophies　of　devilry　dangled　mockingly　in　the　place　of　God。　　He　had　no　thought　but　to　get　away。　Presently　they　encountered　a　detachment　of　Turkish　soldiers；　very　greasy　and　ragged；　with　worn…out　boots　and　yellow　faces；　toiling　up　the　stony　road　belatedly　to　the　village。　　Amanda　and　Benham　riding　one　behind　the　other　in　a　stricken　silence　passed　this　labouring　column　without　a　gesture；　but　presently　they　heard　the　commander　stopping　and　questioning　Giorgio。　。　。　。　Then　Giorgio　and　the　others　came　clattering　to　overtake　them。　Giorgio　was　too　full　to　wait　for　questions。　　He　talked　eagerly　to　Benham's　silence。　It　must　have　happened　yesterday；　he　explained。　　They　were　Bulgarianstraitors。　　They　had　been　converted　to　the　Patriarchists　by　the　Greeksby　a　Greek　band；　that　is　to　say。　　They　had　betrayed　one　of　their　own　people。　　Now　a　Bulgarian　band　had　descended　upon　them。　　Bulgarian　bands　it　seemed　were　always　particularly　rough　on　Bulgarian…speaking　Patriarchists。　。　。　。

9

That　night　they　slept　in　a　dirty　little　room　in　a　peasant's　house　in　Resnia；　and　in　the　middle　of　the　night　Amanda　woke　up　with　a　start　and　heard　Benham　talking。　　He　seemed　to　be　sitting　up　as　he　talked。　But　he　was　not　talking　to　her　and　his　voice　sounded　strange。　〃Flies；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　sunlight！〃　He　was　silent　for　a　time　and　then　he　repeated　the　same　words。　Then　suddenly　he　began　to　declaim。　　〃Oh！　　Brutes　together。　　Apes。　Apes　with　knives。　　Have　they　no　lord；　no　master；　to　save　them　from　such　things？　　This　is　the　life　of　men　when　no　man　rules。　。　。　。　　When　no　man　rules。　。　。　。　　Not　even　himself。　。　。　。　　It　is　because　we　are　idle；　because　we　keep　our　wits　slack　and　our　wills　weak　that　these　poor　devils　live　in　hell。　　These　things　happen　here　and　everywhere　when　the　hand　that　rules　grows　weak。　　Away　in　China　now　they　are　happening。　　Persia。　　Africa。　。　。　。　　Russia　staggers。　　And　I　who　should　serve　the　law；　I　who　should　keep　order；　wander　and　make　love。　。　。　。　　My　God！　may　I　never　forget！　　May　I　never　forget！　Flies　in　the　sunlight！　　That　man's　face。　　And　those　six　men！　〃Grip　the　savage　by　the　throat。　〃The　weak　savage　in　the　foreign　office；　the　weak　savage　at　the　party　headquarters；　feud　and　indolence　and　folly。　　It　is　all　one　world。　This　and　that　are　all　one　thing。　　The　spites　of　London　and　the　mutilations　of　Macedonia。　　The　maggots　that　eat　men's　faces　and　the　maggots　that　rot　their　minds。　　Rot　their　minds。　　Rot　their　minds。　Rot　their　minds。　。　。　。〃　To　Amanda　it　sounded　like　delirium。　〃CHEETAH！〃　she　said　suddenly　between　remonstrance　and　a　cry　of　terror。　The　darkness　suddenly　became　quite　still。　　He　did　not　move。　She　was　afraid。　　〃Cheetah！〃　she　said　again。　〃What　is　it；　Amanda？〃　〃I　thought。　　Are　you　all　right？〃　〃Quite。〃　〃But　do　you　feel　well？〃　〃I've　got　this　cold　I　caught　in　Ochrida。　　I　suppose　I'm　feverish。　Butyes；　I'm　well。〃　〃You　were　talking。〃　Silence　for　a　time。　〃I　was　thinking；〃　he　said。　〃You　talked。〃　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said　after　another　long　pause。

10

The　next　morning　Benham　had　a　pink　spot　on　either　cheek；　his　eyes　were　feverishly　bright；　he　would　touch　no　food　and　instead　of　coffee　he　wanted　water。　　〃In　Monastir　there　will　be　a　doctor；〃　he　said。　〃Monastir　is　a　big　place。　　In　Monastir　I　will　see　a　doctor。　　I　want　a　doctor。〃　They　rode　out　of　the　village　in　the　freshness　before　sunrise　and　up　long　hills；　and　sometimes　they　went　in　the　shade　of　woods　and　sometimes　in　a　flooding　sunshine。　　Benham　now　rode　in　front；　preoccupied；　intent；　regardless　of　Amanda；　a　stranger；　and　she　rode　close　behind　him　wondering。　〃When　you　get　to　Monastir；　young　man；〃　she　told　him；　inaudibly；　〃you　will　go　straight　to　bed　and　we'll　see　what　has　to　be　done　with　you。〃　〃AMMALATO；〃　said　Giorgio　confidentially；　coming　abreast　of　her。　〃MEDICO　IN　MONASTIR；〃　said　Amanda。　〃SI；MOLTI　MEDICI；　MONASTIR；〃　Giorgio　agreed。　Then　came　the　inevitable　dogs；　big　white　brutes；　three　in　full　cry　charging　hard　at　Benham　and　a　younger　less　enterprising　beast　running　along　the　high　bank　above　yapping　and　making　feints　to　descend。　The　goatherd；　reclining　under　the　shadow　of　a　rock；　awaited　Benham's　embarrassment　with　an　indolent　malice。　〃You　UNCIVILIZED　Beasts！〃　cried　Benham；　and　before　Amanda　could　realize　what　he　was　up　to；　she　heard　the　crack　of　his　revolver　and　saw　a　puff　of　blue　smoke　drift　away　above　his　right　shoulder。　　The　foremost　beast　rolled　over　and　the　goatherd　had　sprung　to　his　feet。　He　shouted　with　something　between　anger　and　dismay　as　Benham；　regardless　of　the　fact　that　the　other　dogs　had　turned　and　were　running　back；　let　fly　a　second　time。　　Then　the　goatherd　had　clutched　at　the　gun　that　lay　on　the　grass　near　at　hand；　Giorgio　was　bawling　in　noisy　remonstrance　and　also　getting　ready　to　shoot；　and　the　horse…owner　and　his　boy　were　clattering　back　to　a　position　of　neutrality　up　the　stony　road。　　〃BANG！〃　came　a　flight　of　lead　within　a　yard　of　Benham；　and　then　the　goatherd　was　in　retreat　behind　a　rock　and　Giorgio　was　shouting　〃AVANTI；　AVANTI！〃　to　Amanda。　She　grasped　his　intention　and　in　another　moment　she　had　Benham's　horse　by　the　bridle　and　was　leading　the　retreat。　　Giorgio　followed　close；　driving　the　two　baggage　mules　before　him。　〃I　am　tired　of　dogs；〃　Benham　said。　　〃Tired　to　death　of　dogs。　　All　savage　dogs　must　be　shot。　　All　through　the　world。　　I　am　tired〃　Their　road　carried　them　down　through　the　rocky　pass　and　then　up　a　long　slope　in　the　open。　　Far　away　on　the　left　they　saw　the　goatherd　running　and　shouting　and　other　armed　goatherds　appearing　among　the　rocks。　　Behind　them　the　horse…owner　and　his　boy　came　riding　headlong　across　the　zone　of　danger。　〃Dogs　must　be　shot；〃　said　Benham；　exalted。　　〃Dogs　must　be　shot。〃　〃Unless　they　are　GOOD　dogs；〃　said　Amanda；　keeping　beside　him　with　an　eye　on　his　revolver。　〃Unless　they　are　good　dogs　to　every　one；〃　said　Benham。　They　rushed　along　the　road　in　a　turbulent　dusty　huddle　of　horses　and　mules　and　riders。　　The　horse…owner；　voluble　in　Albanian；　was　trying　to　get　past　them。　　His　boy　pressed　behind　him。　　Giorgio　in　the　rear　had　unslung　his　rifle　and　got　it　across　the　front　of　his　saddle。　Far　away　they　heard　the　sound　of　a　shot；　and　a　kind　of　shudder　in　the　air　overhead　witnessed　to　the　flight　of　the　bullet。　　They　crested　a　rise　and　suddenly　between　the　tree　boughs　Monastir　was　in　view；　a　wide　stretch　of　white　town；　with　many　cypress　and　plane　trees；　a　winding　river　with　many　wooden　bridges；　clustering　minarets　of　pink　and　white；　a　hilly　cemetery；　and　scattered　patches　of　soldiers'　tents　like　some　queer　white　crop　to　supplement　its　extensive　barracks。　As　they　hurried　down　towards　this　city　of　refuge　a　long　string　of　mules　burthened　with　great　bales　of　green　stuff　appeared　upon　a　convergent　track　to　the　left。　　Besides　the　customary　muleteers　there　were；　by　way　of　an　escort；　a　couple　of　tattered　Turkish　soldiers。　All　these　men　watched　the　headlong　approach　of　Benham's　party　with　apprehensive　inquiry。　　Giorgio　shouted　some　sort　of　information　that　made　the　soldiers　brighten　up　and　stare　up　the　hill；　and　set　the　muleteers　whacking　and　shouting　at　their　convoy。　　It　struck　Amanda　that　Giorgio　must　be　telling　lies　about　a　Bulgarian　band。　　In　another　moment　Benham　and　Amanda　found　themselves　swimming　in　a　torrent　of　mules。　　Presently　they　overtook　a　small　flock　of　fortunately　nimble　sheep；　and　picked　up　several　dogs；　dogs　that　happily　disregarded　Benham　in　the　general　confusion。　　They　also　comprehended　a　small　springless　cart；　two　old　women　with　bundles　and　an　elderly　Greek　priest；　before　their　dusty；　barking；　shouting　cavalcade　reached　the　outskirts　of　Monastir。　　The　two　soldiers　had　halted　behind　to　cover　the　retreat。　Benham's　ghastly　face　was　now　bedewed　with　sweat　and　he　swayed　in　his　saddle　as　he　rode。　　〃This　is　NOT　civilization；　Amanda；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　NOT　civilization。〃　And　then　suddenly　with　extraordinary　pathos：　〃Oh！　　I　want　to　go　to　BED！　　I　want　to　go　to　BED！　　A　bed　with　sheets。　。　。　。〃　To　ride　into　Monastir　is　to　ride　into　a　maze。　　The　streets　go　nowhere　in　particular。　　At　least　that　was　the　effect　on　Amanda　and　Benham。　　It　was　as　if　Monastir　too　had　a　temperature　and　was　slightly　delirious。　　But　at　last　they　found　an　hotelquite　a　civilized　hotel。　。　。　。　The　doctor　in　Monastir　was　an　Armenian　with　an　ambition　that　outran　his　capacity　to　speak　English。　　He　had　evidently　studied　the　language　chiefly　from　books。　　He　thought　THESE　was　pronounced　〃theser〃　and　THOSE　was　pronounced　〃thoser；〃　and　that　every　English　sentence　should　be　taken　at　a　rush。　　He　diagnosed　Benham's　complaint　in　various　languages　and　failed　to　make　his　meaning　clear　to　Amanda。　One　combination　of　words　he　clung　to　obstinately；　having　clearly　the　utmost　faith　in　its　expressiveness。　　To　Amanda　it　sounded　like；　〃May；　Ah！　Slays；〃　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　he　sought　to　intimate　a　probable　fatal　termination　of　Benham's　fever。　　But　it　was　clear　that　the　doctor　was　not　satisfied　that　she　understood。　　He　came　again　with　a　queer　little　worn　book；　a　parallel　vocabulary　of　half…a…dozen　European　languages。　He　turned　over　the　pages　and　pointed　to　a　word。　　〃May！　　Ah！　　Slays！〃　he　repeated；　reproachfully；　almost　bitterly。　〃Oh；　MEASLES！〃　cried　Amanda。　。　。　。　So　the　spirited　honeymoon　passed　its　zenith。

11

The　Benhams　went　as　soon　as　possible　down　to　Smyrna　and　thence　by　way　of　Uskub　tortuously　back　to　Italy。　　They　recuperated　at　the　best　hotel　of　Locarno　in　golden　November　weather；　and　just　before　Christmas