the garden of allah-第16章

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Count　Anteoni　looked　down　at　her。　She　did　not　notice　it；　and　he　kept
his　eyes　on　her　for　a　moment。　Then　he　turned　to　the　desert　again。

By　degrees；　as　she　watched；　Domini　became　aware　of　many　things
indicative　of　life；　and　of　many　lives　in　the　tremendous　expanse　that
at　first　had　seemed　empty　of　all　save　sun　and　mystery。　She　saw　low；
scattered　tents；　far…off　columns　of　smoke　rising。　She　saw　a　bird　pass
across　the　blue　and　vanish　towards　the　mountains。　Black　shapes
appeared　among　the　tiny　mounds　of　earth；　crowned　with　dusty　grass　and
dwarf　tamarisk　bushes。　She　saw　them　move；　like　objects　in　a　dream；
slowly　through　the　shimmering　gold。　They　were　feeding　camels；　guarded
by　nomads　whom　she　could　not　see。

At　first　she　persistently　explored　the　distances；　carried　forcibly　by
an　/elan/　of　her　whole　nature　to　the　remotest　points　her　eyes　could
reach。　Then　she　withdrew　her　gaze　gradually；　reluctantly；　from　the
hidden　summoning　lands；　whose　verges　she　had　with　difficulty　gained；
and　looked；　at　first　with　apprehension；　upon　the　nearer　regions。　But
her　apprehension　died　when　she　found　that　the　desert　transmutes　what
is　close　as　well　as　what　is　remote；　suffuses　even　that　which　the　hand
could　almost　touch　with　wonder；　beauty；　and　the　deepest；　most　strange
significance。

Quite　near　in　the　river　bed　she　saw　an　Arab　riding　towards　the　desert
upon　a　prancing　black　horse。　He　mounted　a　steep　bit　of　path　and　came
out　on　the　flat　ground　at　the　cliff　top。　Then　he　set　his　horse　at　a
gallop；　raising　his　bridle　hand　and　striking　his　heels　into　the　flanks
of　the　beast。　And　each　of　his　movements；　each　of　the　movements　of　his
horse；　was　profoundly　interesting；　and　held　the　attention　of　the
onlooker　in　a　vice；　as　if　the　fates　of　worlds　depended　upon　where　he
was　carried　and　how　soon　he　reached　his　goal。　A　string　of　camels　laden
with　wooden　bales　met　him　on　the　way；　and　this　chance　encounter　seemed
to　Domini　fraught　with　almost　terrible　possibilities。　Why？　She　did　not
ask　herself。　Again　she　sent　her　gaze　further；　to　the　black　shapes
moving　stealthily　among　the　little　mounds；　to　the　spirals　of　smoke
rising　into　the　glimmering　air。　Who　guarded　those　camels？　Who　fed
those　distant　fires？　Who　watched　beside　them？　It　seemed　of　vital
consequence　to　her　that　she　should　know。

Count　Anteoni　took　out　his　watch　and　glanced　at　it。

〃I　am　looking　to　see　if　it　is　nearly　the　hour　of　prayer；〃　he　said。
〃When　I　am　in　Beni…Mora　I　usually　come　here　then。〃

〃You　turn　to　the　desert　as　the　faithful　turn　towards　Mecca？〃

〃Yes。　I　like　to　see　men　praying　in　the　desert。〃

He　spoke　indifferently；　but　Domini　felt　suddenly　sure　that　within　him
there　were　depths　of　imagination；　of　tenderness；　even　perhaps　of
mysticism。

〃An　atheist　in　the　desert　is　unimaginable；〃　he　added。　〃In　cathedrals
they　may　exist　very　likely；　and　even　feel　at　home。　I　have　seen
cathedrals　in　which　I　could　believe　I　was　one；　buthow　many　human
beings　can　you　see　in　the　desert　at　this　moment；　Madame？〃

Domini；　still　with　her　round　chin　in　her　hands；　searched　the　blazing
region　with　her　eyes。　She　saw　three　running　figures　with　the　train　of
camels　which　was　now　descending　into　the　river　bed。　In　the　shadow　of
the　low　white　tower　two　more　were　huddled；　motionless。　She　looked　away
to　right　and　left；　but　saw　only　the　shallow　pools；　the　hot　and
gleaming　boulders；　and　beyond　the　yellow　cliffs　the　brown　huts　peeping
through　the　palms。　The　horseman　had　disappeared。

〃I　can　see　five；〃　she　answered。

〃Ah！　you　are　not　accustomed　to　the　desert。〃

〃There　are　more？〃

〃I　could　count　up　to　a　dozen。　Which　are　yours？〃

〃The　men　with　the　camels　and　the　men　under　that　tower。〃

〃There　are　four　playing　the　/jeu　des　dames/　in　the　shadow　of　the　cliff
opposite　to　us。　There　is　one　asleep　under　a　red　rock　where　the　path
ascends　into　the　desert。　And　there　are　two　more　just　at　the　edge　of
the　little　oasisFiliash；　as　it　is　called。　One　is　standing　under　a
palm；　and　one　is　pacing　up　and　down。〃

〃You　must　have　splendid　eyes。〃

〃They　are　trained　to　the　desert。　But　there　are　probably　a　score　of
Arabs　within　sight　whom　I　don't　see。〃

〃Oh！　now　I　see　the　men　at　the　edge　of　the　oasis。　How　oddly　that　one　is
moving。　He　goes　up　and　down　like　a　sailor　on　the　quarter…deck。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　curious。　And　he　is　in　the　full　blaze　of　the　sun。　That
can't　be　an　Arab。〃

He　drew　a　silver　whistle　from　his　waistcoat　pocket；　put　it　to　his　lips
and　sounded　a　call。　In　a　moment　Smain　same　running　lightly　over　the
sand。　Count　Anteoni　said　something　to　him　in　Arabic。　He　disappeared；
and　speedily　returned　with　a　pair　of　field…glasses。　While　he　was　gone
Domini　watched　the　two　doll…like　figures　on　the　cliff　in　silence。　One
was　standing　under　a　large　isolated　palm　tree　absolutely　still；　as
Arabs　often　stand。　The　other；　at　a　short　distance　from　him　and　full　in
the　sun；　went　to　and　fro；　to　and　fro；　always　measuring　the　same　space
of　desert；　and　turning　and　returning　at　two　given　points　which　never
varied。　He　walked　like　a　man　hemmed　in　by　walls；　yet　around　him　were
the　infinite　spaces。　The　effect　was　singularly　unpleasant　upon　Domini。
All　things　in　the　desert；　as　she　had　already　noticed；　became　almost
terribly　significant；　and　this　peculiar　activity　seemed　full　of　some
extraordinary　and　even　horrible　meaning。　She　watched　it　with　straining
eyes。

Count　Anteoni　took　the　glasses　from　Smain　and　looked　through　them；
adjusting　them　carefully　to　suit　his　sight。

〃/Ecco！/〃　he　said。　〃I　was　right。　That　man　is　not　an　Arab。〃

He　moved　the　glasses　and　glanced　at　Domini。

〃You　are　not　the　only　traveller　here；　Madame。〃

He　looked　through　the　glasses　again。

〃I　knew　that；〃　she　said。

〃Indeed？〃

〃There　is　one　at　my　hotel。〃

〃Possibly　this　is　he。　He　makes　me　think　of　a　caged　tiger；　who　has　been
so　long　in　captivity　that　when　you　let　him　out　he　still　imagines　the
bars　to　be　all　round　him。　What　was　he　like？〃

All　the　time　he　was　speaking　he　was　staring　intently　through　the
glasses。　As　Domini　did　not　reply　he　removed　them　from　his　eyes　and
glanced　at　her　inquiringly。

〃I　am　trying　to　think　what　he　looked　like；〃　she　said　slowly。　〃But　I
feel　that　I　don't　know。　He　was　quite　unlike　any　ordinary　man。〃

〃Would　you　care　to　see　if　you　can　recognise　him？　These　are　really
marvellous　glasses。〃

Domini　took　them　from　him　with　some　eagerness。

〃Twist　them　about　till　they　suit　your　eyes。〃

At　first　she　could　see　nothing　but　a　fierce　yellow　glare。　She　turned
the　screw　and　gradually　the　desert　came　to　her；　startlingly　distinct。
The　boulders　of　the　river　bed　were　enormous。　She　could　see　the　veins
of　colour　in　them；　a　lizard　running　over　one　of　them　and　disappearing
into　a　dark　crevice；　then　the　white　tower　and　the　Arabs　beneath　it。
One　was　an　old　man　yawning；　the　other　a　boy。　He　rubbed　the　tip　of　his
brown　nose；　and　she　saw　the　henna　stains　upon　his　nails。　She　lifted
the　glasses　slowly　and　with　precaution。　The　tower　ran　away。　She　came
to　the　low　cliff；　to　the　brown　huts　and　the　palms；　passed　them　one　by
one；　and　reached　the　last；　which　was　separated　from　its　companions。
Under　it　stood　a　tall　Arab　in　a　garment　like　a　white　night…shirt。

〃He　looks　as　if　he　had　only　one　eye！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃The　palm…tree　manyes。〃

She　travelled　cautiously　away　from　him；　keeping　the　glasses　level。

〃Ah！〃　she　said　on　an　indrawn　breath。

As　she　spoke　the　thin；　nasal　cry　of　a　distant　voice　broke　upon　her
ears；　prolonging　a　strange　call。

〃The　Mueddin；〃　said　Count　Anteoni。

And　he　repeated　in　a　low　tone　the　words　of　the　angel　to　the　prophet：
〃Oh　thou　that　art　covered　arise　。　。　。　and　magnify　thy　Lord；　and　purify
thy　clothes；　and　depart　from　uncleanness。〃

The　call　died　away　and　was　renewed　three　times。　The　old　man　and　the
boy　beneath　the　tower　turned　their　faces　towards　Mecca；　fell　upon
their　knees　and　bowed　their　heads　to　the　hot　stones。　The　tall　Arab
under　the　palm　sank　down　swiftly。　Domini　kept　the　glasses　at　her　eyes。
Through　them；　as　in　a　sort　of　exaggerated　vision；　very　far　off；　yet
intensely　distinct；　she　saw　the　man　with　whom　she　had　travelled　in　the
train。　He　went　to　and　fro；　to　and　fro　on　the　burning　ground　till　the
fourth　call　of　the　Mueddin　died　away。　Then；　as　he　approached　the
isolated　palm　tree　and　saw　the　Arab　beneath　it　fall　to　the　earth　and
bow　his　long　body　in　prayer；　he　paused　and　stood　still　as　if　in
contemplation。　The　glasses　were　so　powerful　that　it　was　possible　to
see　the　expressions　on　faces　even　at　that　distance。　The　expression　on
the　traveller's　face　was；　or　seemed　to　be；　at　first　one　of　profound
attention。　But　this　changed　swiftly　as　he　watched　the　bowing　figure；
and　was　succeeded　by　a　look　of　uneasiness；　then　of　fierce　disgust；
thensurelyof　fear　or　horror。　He　turned　sharply　away　like　a　driven
man；　and　hurried　off　along　the　cliff　edge　in　a　striding　walk；
quickening　his　steps　each　moment　till　his　departure　became　a　flight。
He　disappeared　behind　a　projection　of　earth　where　the　path　sank　to　the
river　bed。

Domini　laid　the　glasses　down　on　the　wall　and　looked　at　Count　Anteoni。

〃You　say　an　atheist　in　the　desert　is　unimaginable？

〃Isn't　it　true？〃

〃Has　an　atheist　a　hatred；　a　horror　of　prayer？〃

〃Chi　lo　sa？　The　devil　shrank　away　from　the　lifted　Cross。〃

〃Because　he　knew　how　much　that　was　true　it　symbolised。〃

〃No　doubt　had　it　been　otherwise　he　would　have　jeered；　not　cowered。　But
why　do　you　ask　me　this　question；　Madame？〃

〃I　have　just　seen　a　man　flee　from　the　sight　of　prayer。〃

〃Your　fellow…traveller？〃

〃Yes。　It　was　horrible。〃

She　gave　him　back　the　glasses。

〃They　reveal　that　which　should　be　hidden；〃　she　said。

Count　Anteoni　took　the　glasses　slowly　from　her　hands。　As　he　bent　to　do
it　he　looked　steadily　at　her；　and　she　could　not　read　the　expression　in
his　eyes。

〃The　desert　is　full　of　truth。　Is　that　what　you　mean？〃　he　asked。

She　made　no　reply。　Count　Anteoni　stretched　out　his　hand　to　the　shining
expanse　before　them。

〃The　man　who　is　afraid　of　prayer　is　unwise　to　set　foot　beyond　the　palm
trees；〃　he　said。

〃Why　unwise？〃

He　answered　her　very　gravely。

〃The　Arabs　have　a　saying：　'The　desert　is　the　garden　of　Allah。'〃

*　　　*　　　*　　　*　　　*　　　*

Domini　did　not　ascend　the　tower　of　the　hotel　that　morning。　She　had
seen　enough　for　the　moment；　and　did　not　wish　to　disturb　her
impressions　by　adding　to　them。　So　she　walked　back　to　the　Hotel　du
Desert　with　Batouch。

Count　Anteoni　had　said　good…bye　to　her　at　the　door　of　the　garden；　and
had　begged　her　to　come　again　whenever　she　liked；　and　to　spend　as　many
hours　there　as　she　pleased。

〃I　shall　take　you　at　your　word；〃　she　said　frankly。　〃I　feel　that　I
may。〃

As　they　shook　hands　she　gave　him　her　card。　He　took　out　his。　〃By　the
way；〃　he　said；　〃the　big　hotel　you　passed　in　coming　here　is　mine。　I
built　it　to　prevent　a　more　hideous　one　being　built；　and　let　it　to　the
proprietor。　You　might　like　to　ascend　the　tower。　The　view　at　sundown　is
incomparable。　At　present　the　hotel　is　shut；　but　the　guardian　will　show
you　everything　if　you　give　him　my　card。〃

He　pencilled　some　words　in　Arabic　on　the　back　from　right　to　left。

〃You　write　Arabic；　too？〃　Domini　said；　watching　the　forming　of　the
pretty　curves　with　interest。

〃Oh；　yes；　I　am　more　than　half　African；　though　my　father　was　a　Sicil