the research magnificent-第56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！


rg　itself　became　the　storm　centre。　Benham　and　White　were　present　at　this　marketplace　affair；　a　confused　crowded　occasion；　in　which　a　little　leaven　of　active　men　stirred　throisis　that　the　masters　were　too　incapable　and　too　mean　to　prevent。　〃Oh；　God！〃　cried　Benham；　〃when　will　men　be　princes　and　take　hugh　a　large　uncertain　multitude　of　decently　dressed　onlookers。　The　whole　big　square　was　astir；　a　swaying　crowd　of　men。　　A　ramshackle　platform　improvised　upon　a　trolley　struggled　through　the　swarming　straw　hats　to　a　street　corner；　and　there　was　some　speaking。　At　first　it　seemed　as　though　military　men　were　using　this　platform；　and　then　it　was　manifestly　in　possession　of　an　excited　knot　of　labour　leaders　with　red　rosettes。　　The　military　men　had　said　their　say　and　got　down。　　They　came　close　by　Benham；　pushing　their　way　across　the　square。　　〃We've　warned　them；〃　said　one。　　A　red　flag；　like　some　misunderstood　remark　at　a　tea…party；　was　fitfully　visible　and　incomprehensible　behind　the　platform。　　Somebody　was　either　pitched　or　fell　off　the　platform。　　One　could　hear　nothing　from　the　speakers　except　a　minute　bleating。　。　。　。　Then　there　were　shouts　that　the　police　were　charging。　　A　number　of　mounted　men　trotted　into　the　square。　　The　crowd　began　a　series　of　short　rushes　that　opened　lanes　for　the　passage　of　the　mounted　police　as　they　rode　to　and　fro。　　These　men　trotted　through　the　crowd；　scattering　knots　of　people。　　They　carried　pick…handles；　but　they　did　not　seem　to　be　hitting　with　them。　　It　became　clear　that　they　aimed　at　the　capture　of　the　trolley。　　There　was　only　a　feeble　struggle　for　the　trolley；　it　was　captured　and　hauled　through　the　scattered　spectators　in　the　square　to　the　protection　of　a　small　impassive　body　of　regular　cavalry　at　the　opposite　corner。　　Then　quite　a　number　of　people　seemed　to　be　getting　excited　and　fighting。　　They　appeared　to　be　vaguely　fighting　the　foot…police；　and　the　police　seemed　to　be　vaguely　pushing　through　them　and　dispersing　them。　　The　roof　of　a　little　one…story　shop　became　prominent　as　a　centre　of　vigorous　stone…throwing。　It　was　no　sort　of　battle。　　Merely　the　normal　inconsecutiveness　of　human　affairs　had　become　exaggerated　and　pugnacious。　　A　meeting　was　being　prevented；　and　the　police　engaged　in　the　operation　were　being　pelted　or　obstructed。　　Mostly　people　were　just　looking　on。　〃It　amounts　to　nothing；〃　said　Benham。　　〃Even　if　they　held　a　meeting；　what　could　happen？　　Why　does　the　Government　try　to　stop　it？〃　The　drifting　and　charging　and　a　little　booing　went　on　for　some　time。　Every　now　and　then　some　one　clambered　to　a　point　of　vantage；　began　a　speech　and　was　pulled　down　by　policemen。　　And　at　last　across　the　confusion　came　an　idea；　like　a　wind　across　a　pond。　The　strikers　were　to　go　to　the　Power　Station。　That　had　the　effect　of　a　distinct　move　in　the　game。　　The　Power　Station　was　the　centre　of　Johannesburg's　light　and　energy。　　There　if　anywhere　it　would　be　possible　to　express　one's　disapproval　of　the　administration；　one's　desire　to　embarrass　and　confute　it。　　One　could　stop　all　sorts　of　things　from　the　Power　Station。　　At　any　rate　it　was　a　repartee　to　the　suppression　of　the　meeting。　　erything　will　be　soonwhen　one　comes　to　death　then　everything　is　at　one's　fingertipsI　can　feel　that　greater　wback　of　a　number　of　Everybody　seemed　gladdened　by　a　definite　project。　Benham　and　White　went　with　the　crowd。　At　the　intersection　of　two　streets　they　were　held　up　for　a　time；　the　scattered　drift　of　people　became　congested。　　Gliding　slowly　across　the　mass　came　an　electric　tram；　an　entirely　unbattered　tram　with　even　its　glass　undamaged；　and　then　another　and　another。　　Strikers；　with　the　happy　expression　of　men　who　have　found　something　expressive　to　do；　were　escorting　the　trams　off　the　street。　　They　were　being　meticulously　careful　with　them。　　Never　was　there　less　mob　violence　in　a　riot。　　They　walked　by　the　captured　cars　almost　deferentially；　like　rough　men　honoured　by　a　real　lady's　company。　　And　when　White　and　Benham　reached　the　Power　House　the　marvel　grew。　　The　rioters　were　already　in　possession　and　going　freely　over　the　whole　place；　and　they　had　injured　nothing。　　They　had　stopped　the　engines；　but　they　had　not　even　disabled　them。　　Here　too　manifestly　a　majority　of　the　people　were；　like　White　and　Benham；　merely　lookers…on。　〃But　this　is　the　most　civilized　rioting；〃　said　Benham。　　〃It　isn't　rioting；　it's　drifting。　　Just　as　things　drifted　in　Moscow。　　Because　nobody　has　the　rudder。　。　。　。　〃What　maddens　me；〃　he　said；　〃is　the　democracy　of　the　whole　thing。　White！　　I　HATE　this　modern　democracy。　　Democracy　and　inequality！　Was　there　ever　an　absurder　combination？　　What　is　the　good　of　a　social　order　in　which　the　men　at　the　top　are　commoner；　meaner　stuff　than　the　men　underneath；　the　same　stuff；　just　spoilt；　spoilt　by　prosperity　and　opportunity　and　the　conceit　that　comes　with　advantage？　　This　trouble　wants　so　little；　just　a　touch　of　aristocracy；　just　a　little　cultivated　magnanimity；　just　an　inkling　of　responsibility；　and　the　place　migold　of　life？　　When　will　the　kingship　in　us　wake　up　and　come　to　its　own？　。　。　。　Look　at　this　place！　　Look　at　this　place！　。　。　。　　The　easy；　accessible　happiness！　　The　manifest　prosperity。　　The　newness　and　the　sunshine。　　And　the　silly　bitterness；　the　rage；　the　mischief　and　miseries！　。　。　。〃　And　then：　〃It's　not　our　quarrel。　。　。　。〃　〃It's　amazing　how　every　human　quarrel　draws　one　in　to　take　sides。　Life　is　one　long　struggle　against　the　incidental。　　I　can　feel　my　anger　gathering　against　the　Government　here　in　spite　of　my　reason。　I　want　to　go　and　expostulate。　　I　have　a　ridiculous　idea　that　I　ought　to　go　off　to　Lord　Glindividuals　into　the　roadway　and　then　a　derisive　shouting。　　Nobody　had　been　hit。　　The　soldiers　had　fired　in　the　air。　〃But　thiadstone　or　Botha　and　expostulate。　。　。　。　　What　good　would　it　do？　　They　move　in　the　magic　circles　of　their　own　limitations；　an　official；　a　politicianhow　would　they　put　it？　‘with　many　things　to　consider。　。　。　。'　〃It's　my　weakness　to　be　drawn　into　quarrels。　　It's　a　thing　I　have　to　guard　against。　。　。　。　〃What　does　it　all　amount　to？　　It　is　like　a　fight　between　navvies　in　a　tunnel　to　settle　the　position　of　the　Pole　star。　　It　doesn't　concern　us。　。　。　。　　Oh！　it　doesn't　indeed　concern　us。　　It's　a　scuffle　in　the　darkness；　and　our　business；　the　business　of　all　brains；　the　only　permanent　good　work　is　to　light　up　the　world。　。　。　。　　There　will　be　mischief　and　hatred　here　and　suppression　and　then　forgetfulness；　and　then　things　will　go　on　again；　a　little　better　or　a　little　worse。　。　。　。〃　〃I'm　tired　of　this　place；　White；　and　of　all　such　places。　　I'm　tired　of　the　shouting　and　running；　the　beating　and　shooting。　　I'm　sick　of　all　the　confusions　of　life's　experience；　which　tells　only　of　one　need　amidst　an　endless　multitude　of　distresses。　　I've　seen　my　fill　of　wars　and　disputes　and　struggles。　　I　see　now　how　a　man　may　grow　weary　at　last　of　life　and　its　disorders；　its　unreal　exacting　disorders；　its　blunders　and　its　remorse。　　No！　　I　want　to　begin　upon　the　realities　I　have　made　for　myself。　　For　they　are　the　realities。　I　want　to　go　now　to　some　quiet　corner　where　I　can　polish　what　I　have　learnt；　sort　out　my　accumulations；　be　undisturbed　by　these　transitory　symptomatic　things。　。　。　。　〃What　was　that　boy　saying？　　They　are　burning　the　STAR　office。　。　。　。　Well；　let　them。　。　。　。〃　And　as　if　to　emphasize　his　detachment；　his　aversion；　from　the　things　that　hurried　through　the　night　about　them；　from　the　red　flare　in　the　sky　and　the　distant　shouts　and　revolver　shots　and　scuffling　flights　down　side　streets；　he　began　to　talk　again　of　aristocracy　and　the　making　of　greatness　and　a　new　great　spirit　in　men。　　All　the　rest　of　his　life；　he　said；　must　be　given　to　that。　　He　would　say　his　thing　plainly　and　honestly　and　afterwards　other　men　would　say　it　clearly　and　beautifully；　here　it　would　touch　a　man　and　there　it　would　touch　a　man；　the　Invisible　King　in　us　all　would　find　himself　and　know　himself　a　little　in　this　and　a　little　in　that；　and　at　last　a　day　would　come；　when　fair　things　and　fine　things　would　rule　the　world　and　such　squalor　as　this　about　them　would　beng　red　and　strange　to　his　face　with　both　hands；　above　them　his　eyes　were　round　and　anxious。　Blood　came　out　betwing。　　He　shouted　out　something　about　〃Foolery！〃　Haroun　al　Raschid　was　flinging　aside　all　this　sublime　indifference　to　current　things。　。　。　。　But　the　carbines　spoke　again。　Benham　seemed　to　run　unexpectedly　against　something　invisible。　　He　spun　right　round　and　fell　down　into　a　sitting　position。　　He　sat　looking　surprised。　After　one　moment　of　blank　funk　White　drew　out　his　pocket　handkerchief；　held　it　arm　high　by　way　of　a　white　flag；　and　ran　out　from　the　piazza　of　the　hotel。

17

〃Are　you　hit？〃　cried　White　dropping　to　his　knees　and　making　himself　as　compact　as　possible。　　〃Benham！〃　Benham；　after　a　moment　of　perplexed　thought　answered　in　a　strange　voice；　a　whisper　into　which　a　whistling　note　had　been　mixed。　〃It　was　stupid　of　me　to　come　out　here。　　Not　my　quarrel。　　Faults　on　both　sides。　　And　now　I　can't　ge　as　impossible　any　more　for　men　as　a　Stone　Age　Corroboree。　。　。　。　Late　or　soon？　Benham　sought　for　some　loose　large　measure　of　time。　〃Before　those　constellations　above　us　have　changed　their　shapes。　。　。　。　〃Does　it　matter　if　we　work　at　something　that　will　take　a　hundred　years　or　ten　thousand　years？　　It　will　never　come　in　our　lives；　White。　　Not　soon　enough　for　that。　　But　after　that　evorld　I　shall　never　see　as　one　feels　the　dawn　coming　through　the　last　darkness。　。　。　。〃

16

The　attack　on　the　Rand　Club　began　while　Benham　and　White　were　at　lunch　in　the　dining…room　at　the　Sherborough　on　the　day　following　the　burning　of　the　STAR　office。　　The　Sherborough　dining…room　was　on　the　first　floor；　and　the　Venetian　window　beside　their　table　opened　on　to　a　verandah　above　a　piazza。　　As　they　talked　they　became　aware　of　an　excitement　in　the　street　below；　shouting　and　running　and　then　a　sound　of　wheels　and　the　tramp　of　a　body　of　soldiers　marching　quickly。　　White　stood　up　and　looked。　　〃They're　seizing　the　stuff　in　the　gunshops；〃　he　said；　sitting　down　again。　　〃It's　amazing　they　haven't　done　it　before。〃　They　went　on　eating　and　discussing　the　work　of　a　medical　mission　at　Mukden　that　had　won　Benham's　admiration。　。　。　。　A　revolver　cracked　in　the　street　and　there　was　a　sound　of　glass　smashing。　　Then　more　revolver　shots。　　〃That's　at　the　big　club　at　the　corner；　I　think；〃　said　Benham　and　went　out　upon　the　verandah。　Up　and　down　the　street　mischief　was　afoot。　　Outside　the　Rand　Club　in　the　cross　street　a　considerable　mass　of　people　had　accumulated；　and　was　being　hustled　by　a　handful　of　khaki…clad　soldiers。　　Down　the　street　people　were　looking　in　the　direction　of　the　market…place　and　then　suddenly　a　rush　of　figures　flooded　round　the　corner；　first　a　froth　of　scattered　individuals　and　then　a　mass；　a　column；　marching　with　an　appearance　of　order　and　waving　a　flag。　　It　was　a　poorly　disciplined　body；　it　fringed　out　into　a　swarm　of　sympathizers　and　spectators　upon　the　side　walk；　and　at　the　head　of　it　two　men　disputed。　　They　seemed　to　be　differing　about　the　direction　of　the　whole　crowd。　　Suddenly　one　smote　the　other　with　his　fist；　a　blow　that　hurled　him　sideways；　and　then　turned　with　a　triumphant　gesture　to　the　following　ranks；　waving　his　arms　in　the　air。　　He　was　a　tall　lean　man；　hatless　and　collarless；　greyhaired　and　wild…eyed。　　On　he　came；　gesticulating　gauntly；　past