the ninth vibration-第27章

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came　a　woman　veiled　like　the　other。　She　did　not　kneel；　but　took　the　mirror　in　her　hand；　and　Allah…u…Din　drew　up　behind　her　back。　From　her　face　she　raised　the　veil　of　gold　Dakka　webs；　and　gazed　into　the　mirror；　holding　it　high；　and　that　Accursed　stumbled　back；　blinded　with　beauty；　saying　this　only；…　〃I　have　seen　the　Treasure　of　Chitor。〃

So　the　purdah　fell　about　her。

The　next　day；　after　the　Imaum　of　the　Accursed　had　called　them　to　prayer；　they　departed；　and　Allah…u…Din；　paying　thanks　to　the　Rana　for　honours　given　and　taken；　and　swearing　friendship；　besought　him　to　ride　to　his　camp；　to　see　the　marvels　of　gold　and　steel　armor　brought　down　from　the　passes；　swearing　also　safe…conduct。　And　because　the　Rajputs　trust　the　word　even　of　a　foe；　he　went。

（A　hi！　that　honour　should　strike　hands　with　traitors！）


IV

The　hours　went　by；　heavy…footed　like　mourners。　Padmini　the　Rani　knelt　by　the　window　in　her　tower　that　overlooks　the　plains。　Motionless　she　knelt　there；　as　the　Goddess　Uma　lost　in　her　penances；　and　she　saw　her　Lord　ride　forth；　and　the　sparkle　of　steel　where　the　sun　shone　on　them；　and　the　Standard　of　the　Cold　Disk　on　its　black　ground。　So　the　camp　of　the　Moslem　swallowed　them　up；　and　they　returned　no　more。　Still　she　knelt　and　none　dared　speak　with　her；　and　as　the　first　shade　of　evening　fell　across　the　hills　of　Rajasthan；　she　saw　a　horseman　spurting　over　the　flat；　and　he　rode　like　the　wind；　and；　seeing；　she　implored　the　Gods。

Then　entered　the　Twice…Born；　that　saint　of　clear　eyes；　and　he　bore　a　scroll；　and　she　rose　and　seated　herself；　and　he　stood　by　her；　as　her　ladies　cowered　like　frightened　doves　before　the　woe　in　his　face　as　he　read。

〃To　the　Rose　of　Beauty；　The　Pearl　among　Women；　the　Chosen　of　the　Palace。　Who；　having　seen　thy　loveliness；　can　look　on　another？　Who；　having　tasted　the　wine　of　the　Houris；　but　thirsts　forever？　Behold；　I　have　thy　King　as　hostage。　Come　thou　and　deliver　him。　I　have　sworn　that　he　shall　return　in　thy　place。〃

And　from　a　smaller　scroll；　the　Brahman　read　this：…

〃I　am　fallen　in　the　snare。　Act　thou　as　becomes　a　Rajputni。〃

Then　that　Daughter　of　the　Sun　lifted　her　head；　for　the　thronging　of　armed　feet　was　heard　in　the　Council　Hall　below。　From　the　floor　she　caught　her　veil　and　veiled　herself　in　haste；　and　the　Brahman　with　bowed　head　followed；　while　her　women　mourned　aloud。　And；　descending；　between　the　folds　of　the　purdah　she　appeared　white　and　veiled；　and　the　Brahman　beside　her；　and　the　eyes　of　all　the　Princes　were　lowered　to　her　shrouded　feet；　while　the　voice　they　had　not　heard　fell　silvery　upon　the　air；　and　the　echoes　of　the　high　roof　repeated　it。

〃Chief　of　the　Rajputs；　what　is　your　counsel？〃　And　he　of　Marwar　stepped　forward；　and　not　rais…　ing　his　eyes　above　her　feet；　answered；…

〃Queen；　what　is　thine？〃

For　the　Rajputs　have　ever　heard　the　voice　of　their　women。

And　she　said；…

〃I　counsel　that　I　die　and　my　head　be　sent　to　him；　that　my　blood　may　quench　his　desire。〃

And　each　talked　eagerly　with　the　other；　but　amid　the　tumult　the　Twice…Born　said；…

〃This　is　not　good　talk。　In　his　rage　he　will　slay　the　King。　By　my　yoga；　I　have　seen　it。　Seek　another　way。〃

So　they　sought；　but　could　determine　nothing；　and　they　feared　to　ride　against　the　dog；　for　he　held　the　life　of　the　King；　and　the　tumult　was　great；　but　all　were　for　the　King's　safety。

Then　once　more　she　spoke。

〃Seeing　it　is　determined　that　the　King's　life　is　more　than　my　honour；　I　go　this　night。　In　your　hand　I　leave　my　little　son；　the　Prince　Ajeysi。　Prepare　my　litters；　seven　hundred　of　the　best；　for　all　my　women　go　with　me。　Depart　now；　for　I　have　a　thought　from　the　Gods。〃

Then；　returning　to　her　bower；　she　spoke　this　letter　to　the　saint；　and　he　wrote　it；　and　it　was　sent　to　the　camp。

After　salutations　…　〃Wisdom　and　strength　have　attained　their　end。　Have　ready　for　release　the　Rana　of　Chitor；　for　this　night　I　come　with　my　ladies；　the　prize　of　the　conqueror。〃

When　the　sun　sank；　a　great　procession　with　torches　descended　the　steep　way　of　Chitor　…　seven　hundred　litters；　and　in　the　first　was　borne　the　Queen；　and　all　her　women　followed。

All　the　streets　were　thronged　with　women；　weeping　and　beating　their　breasts。　Very　greatly　they　wept；　and　no　men　were　seen；　for　their　livers　were　black　within　them　for　shame　as　the　Treasure　of　Chitor　departed；　nor　would　they　look　upon　the　sight。　And　across　the　plains　went　that　procession；　as　if　the　stars　had　fallen　upon　the　earth；　so　glittered　the　sorrowful　lights　of　the　Queen。

But　in　the　camp　was　great　rejoicing；　for　the　Barbarians　knew　that　many　fair　women　attended　on　her。

Now；　before　the　entrance　to　the　camp　they　had　made　a　great　shamiana　＇tent＇　ready；　hung　with　shawls　of　Kashmir　and　the　plunder　of　Delhi；　and　there　was　set　a　silk　divan　for　the　Rani；　and　beside　it　stood　the　Loser　and　the　Gainer；　Allah…u…Din　and　the　King；　awaiting　the　Treasure。

Veiled　she　entered；　stepping　proudly；　and　taking　no　heed　of　the　Moslem；　she　stood　before　her　husband；　and　even　through　the　veil　he　could　feel　the　eyes　he　knew。

And　that　Accursed　spoke；　laughing。

〃I　have　won…I　have　won；　0　King！　Bid　farewell　to　the　Chosen　of　the　Palace　…　the　Beloved　of　the　Viceregent　of　Kings！〃

Then　she　spoke　softly；　delicately；　in　her　own　tongue；　that　the　outcast　should　not　guess　the　matter　of　her　speech。

〃Stand　by　me。　Stir　not。　And　when　I　raise　my　arm；　cry　the　cry　of　the　Rajputs。　NOW！〃

And　she　flung　her　arm　above　her　head；　and　instantly；　like　a　lion　roaring；　he　shouted；　drawing　his　sword；　and　from　every　litter　sprang　an　armed　man；　glittering　in　steel；　and　the　bearers；　humble　of　mien；　were　Rajput　knights；　every　one。

And　Allah…u…Din　thrust　at　the　breast　of　the　Queen；　but　around　them　surged　the　war；　and　she　was　hedged　with　swords　like　a　rose　in　the　thickets。

Very　full　of　wine；　dull　with　feasting　and　lust　and　surprised；　the　Moslems　fled　across　the　plains；　streaming　in　a　broken　rabble；　cursing　and　shouting　like　low…caste　women；　and　the　Rajputs；　wiping　their　swords；　returned　from　the　pursuit　and　laughed　upon　each　other。

But　what　shall　be　said　of　the　joy　of　the　King　and　of　her　who　had　imagined　this　thing；　in…　structed　of　the　Goddess　who　is　the　other　half　of　her　Lord？

So　the　procession　returned；　singing；　to　Chitor　with　those　Two　in　the　midst；　but　among　the　dogs　that　fled　was　Allah…u…Din；　his　face　blackened　with　shame　and　wrath；　the　curses　choking　in　his　foul　throat。

（Aid！　that　the　evil　still　walk　the　ways　of　the　world！）


V

So　the　time　went　by　and　the　beauty　of　the　Queen　grew；　and　her　King　could　see　none　but　hers。　Like　the　moon　she　obscured　the　stars；　and　every　day　he　remembered　her　wisdom；　her　valour；　and　his　soul　did　homage　at　her　feet；　and　there　was　great　content　in　Chitor。

It　chanced　one　day　that　the　Queen；　looking　from　her　high　window　that　like　an　eagle's　nest　overhung　the　precipice；　saw；　on　the　plain　beneath；　a　train　of　men；　walking　like　ants；　and　each　carried　a　basket　on　his　back；　and　behind　them　was　a　cloud　of　dust　like　a　great　army。　Already　the　city　was　astir　because　of　this　thing；　and　the　rumours　came　thick　and　the　spies　were　sent　out。

In　the　dark　they　returned；　and　the　Rana　entered　the　bower　of　Padmini；　his　eyes　burning　like　coal　with　hate　and　wrath；　and　he　flung　his　arm　round　his　wife　like　a　shield。

〃He　is　returned；　and　in　power。　Counsel　me　again；　0　wife；　for　great　is　thy　wisdom！〃

But　she　answered　only　this；…

〃Fight；　for　this　time　it　is　to　the　death。〃

Then　each　day　she　watched　bow　the　baskets　of　earth；　emptied　upon　the　plain　at　first；　made　nothing；　an　ant　heap　whereat　fools　might　laugh。　But　each　day　as　the　trains　of　men　came；　spilling　their　baskets；　the　great　earthworks　grew　and　their　height　mounted。　Day　after　day　the　Rajputs　rode　forth　and　slew；　and　as　they　slew　it　seemed　that　all　the　teeming　millions　of　the　earth　came　forth　to　take　the　places　of　the　slain。　And　the　Rajputs　fell　also；　and　under　the　pennons　the　thundering　forces　returned　daily；　thinned　of　their　best。

（A　hi！　that　Evil　rules　the　world　as　God！）

And　still　the　earth　grew　up　to　the　heights；　and　the　protection　of　the　hills　was　slowly　withdrawn　from　Chitor；　for　on　the　heights　they　made　they　set　their　engines　of　war。

Then　in　a　red　dawn　that　great　saint　Narayan　came　to　the　Queen；　where　she　watched　by　her　window；　and　spoke。

〃0　great　lady；　I　have　dreamed　a　fearful　dream。　Nay；　rather　have　I　seen　a　vision。〃

With　her　face　set　like　a　sword；　the　Queen　said；…

〃Say　on。〃

〃In　a　light　red　like　blood；　I　waked；　and　beside　me　stood　the　Mother；　…　Durga；　…　awful　to　see；　with　a　girdle　of　heads　about　her　middle；　and　the　drops　fell　thick　and　slow　from　That　which　she　held　in　her　hand；　and　in　the　other　was　her　sickle　of　Doom。　Nor　did　she　speak；　but　my　soul　heard　her　words。〃

〃Narrate　them。〃

〃She　commanded：　‘Say　this　to　the　Rana：　〃In　Chitor　is　My　altar；　in　Chitor　is　thy　throne。　If　thou　wouldest　save　either；　send　forth　twelve　crowned　Kings　of　Chitor　to　die。'〃

As　he　said　this；　the　Rana；　fore…spent　with　fighting；　entered　and　heard　the　Divine　word。

Now　there　were　twelve　princes　of　the　Rajput　blood；　and　the　youngest　was　the　son　of　Padmini。　What　choice　had　these　most　miserable　but　to　appease　the　dreadful　anger　of　the　Goddess？　So　on　each　fourth　day　a　King　of　Chitor　was　crowned；　and　for　three　days　sat　upon　the　throne；　and　on　the　fourth　day；　set　in　the　front；　went　forth　and　died　fighting。　So　perished　eleven　Kings　of　Chitor；　and　now　there　was　left　but　the　little　Ajeysi；　the　son　of　the　Queen。

And　that　day　was　a　great　Council　called。

Few　were　there。　On　the　plains　many　lay　dead；　holding　the　gates　many　watched；　but　the　blood　was　red　in　their　hearts　and　flowed　like　Indus　in　the　melting　of　the　snows。　And　to　them　spoke　the　Rana；　his　hand　clenched　on　his　sword；　and　the　other　laid　on　the　small　dark　head　of　the　Prince　Ajeysi；　who　stood　between　his　knees。　And　as　he　spoke　his　voice　gathered　strength　till　it　rang　through　the　hall　like　the　voice　of　Indra　when　he　thunders　in　the　heavens。

〃Men　of　the　Rajputs；　this　child　shall　not　die。　Are　we　become　jackals　that　we　fall　upon　the　weak　and　tear　them？　When　have　we　put　our　women　and　children　in　the　forefront　of　the　war？　I　…　I　only　am　King　of　Chitor。　Narayan　shall　save　this　child　for　the　time　that　will　surely　come。　And　for　us　…　what　shall　we　do？　I　die　for　Chitor！〃

And　like　the　hollow　waves　of　a　great　sea　they　answered　him；…

〃We　will　die　for　Chitor。〃

There　was　silence　and　Marwar　spoke。

〃The　women？〃

〃Do　they　not　know　the　duty　of　a　Rajputni？〃　said　the　King。　〃My　household　has　demanded　that　the　caves　be　prepared。〃

And　the　men　clashed　stew　joy　with　their　swords；　and　the　council　dispersed。

Then　that　very　great　saint；　the　Twice…Born；　put　off　the　sacred　thread　that　is　the　very　soul　of　the　Brahman。　In　his　turban　he　wound　it　secretly；　and　he　stained　his　noble　Aryan　body　until　it　resembled　the　Pariahs；　foul　for　the　pure　to　see；　loathsome　for　the　pure　to　touch；　and　he　put　on　him　the　rags　of　the　lowest　of　the　earth；　and　taking　the　Prince；　he　removed　from　the　body　of　the　child　every　trace　of　royal　and　Rajput　birth；　and　he　appeared　like　a　child　of　the　Bhils　…　the　vile　forest　wanderers　that　shame　not　to　defile　their　lips　with　carrion。　And　in　this　guise　they　stood　before　the　Queen；　and　when　she　looked　on　the　saint；　the　tears　fell　from　her　eyes　like　rain；　not　for　grief　for　her　son；　nor　fo