the garden of allah-第66章

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across　the　vast　plains　of　grey　sand；　followed　at　a　short　distance　by
Batouch　and　Ali。

〃Monsieur　is　mad　to　start　in　the　noon；〃　grumbled　Batouch。　〃But
Monsieur　is　not　like　Madame。　He　may　live　in　the　desert　till　he　is　old
and　his　hair　is　grey　as　the　sand；　but　he　will　never　be　an　Arab　in　his
heart。〃

〃Why；　Batouch…ben…Brahim？〃

〃He　cannot　rest。　To　Madame　the　desert　gives　its　calm；　but　to
Monsieur〃　He　did　not　finish　his　sentence。　In　front　Domini　and
Androvsky　had　put　their　horses　to　a　gallop。　The　sand　flew　up　in　a　thin
cloud　around　them。

〃Nom　d'un　chien！〃　said　Batouch；　who；　in　unpoetical　moments；
occasionally　indulged　in　the　expletives　of　the　French　infidels　who
were　his　country's　rulers。　〃What　is　there　in　the　mind　of　Monsieur
which　makes　him　ride　as　if　he　fled　from　an　enemy？〃

〃I　know　not；　but　he　goes　like　a　hare　before　the　sloughi；　Batouch…ben
Brahim；〃　answered　Ali；　gravely。

Then　they　sent　their　horses　on　in　chase　of　the　cloud　of　sand　towards
the　southwest。

About　four　in　the　afternoon　they　reached　the　camp　at　Mogar。

As　they　rode　in　slowly；　for　their　horses　were　tired　and　streaming　with
heat　after　their　long　canter　across　the　sands；　both　Domini　and
Androvsky　were　struck　by　the　novelty　of　this　halting…place；　which　was
quite　unlike　anything　they　had　yet　seen。　The　ground　rose　gently　but
continuously　for　a　considerable　time　before　they　saw　in　the　distance
the　pitched　tents　with　the　dark　forms　of　the　camels　and　mules。　Here
they　were　out　of　the　sands；　and　upon　hard；　sterile　soil　covered　with
small　stones　embedded　in　the　earth。　Beyond　the　tents　they　could　see
nothing　but　the　sky；　which　was　now　covered　with　small；　ribbed　grey
clouds；　sad…coloured　and　autumnal；　and　a　lonely　tower　built　of　stone；
which　rose　from　the　waste　at　about　two　hundred　yards　from　the　tents　to
the　east。　Although　they　could　see　so　little；　however；　they　were
impressed　with　a　sensation　that　they　were　on　the　edge　of　some　vast
vision；　of　some　grandiose　effect　of　Nature；　that　would　bring　to　them　a
new　and　astonishing　knowledge　of　the　desert。　Perhaps　it　was　the　sight
of　the　distant　tower　pointing　to　the　grey　clouds　that　stirred　in　them
this　almost　excited　feeling　of　expectation。

〃It　is　like　a　watch…tower；〃　Domini　said；　pointing　with　her　whip。　〃But
who　could　live　in　such　a　place；　far　from　any　oasis？〃

〃And　what　can　it　overlook？〃　said　Androvsky。　〃This　is　the　nearest
horizon　line　we　have　seen　since　we　came　into　the　desert。〃

〃Yes；　but〃

She　glanced　at　him　as　they　put　their　horses　into　a　gentle　canter。　Then
she　added：

〃You；　too；　feel　that　we　are　coming　to　something　tremendous；　don't　you？

Her　horse　whinnied　shrilly。　Domini　stroked　his　foam…flecked　neck　with
her　hand。

〃Abou　is　as　full　of　anticipation　as　we　are；〃　she　said。　Androvsky　was
looking　towards　the　tower。

〃That　was　built　for　French　soldiers；〃　he　said。　A　moment　afterwards　he
added：

〃I　wonder　why　Batouch　chose　this　place　for　us　to　camp　in？〃

There　was　a　faint　sound　as　of　irritation　in　his　voice。

〃Perhaps　we　shall　know　in　a　minute；〃　Domini　answered。　They　cantered
on。　Their　horses'　hoofs　rang　with　a　hard　sound　on　the　stony　ground。

〃It's　inhospitable　here；〃　Androvsky　said。　She　looked　at　him　in
surprise。

〃I　never　knew　you　to　take　a　dislike　to　any　halting…place　before；〃　she
said。　〃What's　the　matter；　Boris？〃

He　smiled　at　her；　but　almost　immediately　his　face　was　clouded　by　the
shadow　of　a　gloom　that　seemed　to　respond　to　the　gloom　of　the　sky。　And
he　fixed　his　eyes　again　upon　the　tower。

〃I　like　a　far　horizon；〃　he　answered。　〃And　there's　no　sun　to…day。〃

〃I　suppose　even　in　the　desert　we　cannot　have　it　always；〃　she　said。　And
in　her　voice；　too；　there　was　a　touch　of　melancholy；　as　if　she　had
caught　his　mood。　A　minute　later　she　added：

〃I　feel　exactly　as　if　I　were　on　a　hill　top　and　were　coming　to　a　view
of　the　sea。〃

Almost　as　she　spoke　they　cantered　in　among　the　tents　of　the
attendants；　and　reined　in　their　horses　at　the　edge　of　a　slope　that　was
almost　a　precipice。　Then　they　sat　still　in　their　saddles；　gazing。

They　had　been　living　for　weeks　in　the　midst　of　vastness；　and　had
become　accustomed　to　see　stretched　out　around　them　immense　tracts　of
land　melting　away　into　far　blue　distances；　but　this　view　from　Mogar
made　them　catch　their　breath　and　stiffed　their　pulses。

It　was　gigantic。　There　was　even　something　unnatural　in　its　appearance
of　immensity；　as　if　it　were；　perhaps；　deceptive；　and　existed　in　their
vision　of　it　only。　So；　surely；　might　look　a　plain　to　one　who　had　taken
haschish；　which　enlarges；　makes　monstrous　and　threateningly　terrific。
Domini　had　a　feeling　that　no　human　eyes　could　really　see　such　infinite
tracts　of　land　and　water　as　those　she　seemed　to　be　seeing　at　this
moment。　For　there　was　water　here；　in　the　midst　of　the　desert。　Infinite
expanses　of　sea　met　infinite　plains　of　snow。　Or　so　it　seemed　to　both
of　them。　And　the　sea　was　grey　and　calm　as　a　winter　sea；　breathing　its
plaint　along　a　winter　land。　From　it；　here　and　there；　rose　islets　whose
low　cliffs　were　a　deep　red　like　the　red　of　sandstone；　a　sad　colour
that　suggests　tragedy；　islets　that　looked　desolate；　and　as　if　no　life
had　ever　been　upon　them；　or　could　be。　Back　from　the　snowy　plains
stretched　sand　dunes　of　the　palest　primrose　colour；　sand　dunes
innumerable；　myriads　and　myriads　of　them；　rising　and　falling；　rising
and　falling；　till　they　were　lost　in　the　grey　distance　of　this　silent
world。　In　the　foreground；　at　their　horses'　feet；　wound　from　the　hill
summit　a　broad　track　faintly　marked　in　the　deep　sand；　and　flanked　by
huge　dunes　shaped；　by　the　action　of　the　winds；　into　grotesque
semblances　of　monsters；　leviathans；　beasts　with　prodigious　humps；
sphinxes；　whales。　This　track　was　presently　lost　in　the　blanched
plains。　Far　away；　immeasurably　far；　sea　and　snow　blended　and　faded
into　the　cloudy　grey。　Above　the　near　dunes　two　desert　eagles　were
slowly　wheeling　in　a　weary　flight；　occasionally　sinking　towards　the
sand；　then　rising　again　towards　the　clouds。　And　the　track　was　strewn
with　the　bleached　bones　of　camels　that　had　perished；　or　that　had　been
slaughtered；　on　some　long　desert　march。

To　the　left　of　them　the　solitary　tower　commanded　this　terrific　vision
of　desolation；　seemed　to　watch　it　steadily；　yet　furtively；　with　its
tiny　loophole　eyes。

〃We　have　come　into　winter；〃　Domini　murmured。

She　looked　at　the　white　of　the　camels'　bones；　of　the　plains；　at　the
grey　white　of　the　sky；　at　the　yellow　pallor　of　the　dunes。

〃How　wonderful！　How　terrible！〃　she　said。

She　drew　her　horse　to　one　side；　a　little　nearer　to　Androvsky's。

〃Does　the　Russian　in　you　greet　this　land？〃　she　asked　him。

He　did　not　reply。　He　seemed　to　be　held　in　thrall　by　the　sad　immensity
before　them。

〃I　realise　here　what　it　must　be　to　die　in　the　desert；　to　be　killed　by
itby　hunger；　by　thirst　in　it；〃　she　said　presently；　speaking；　as　if
to　herself；　and　looking　out　over　the　mirage　sea；　the　mirage　snow。
〃This　is　the　first　time　I　have　really　felt　the　terror　of　the　desert。〃

Her　horse　drooped　its　head　till　its　nose　nearly　touched　the　earth；　and
shook　itself　in　a　long　shiver。　She　shivered　too；　as　if　constrained　to
echo　an　animal's　distress。

〃Things　have　died　here；〃　Androvsky　said；　speaking　at　last　in　a　low
voice　and　pointing　with　his　long…lashed　whip　towards　the　camels'
skeletons。　〃Come；　Domini；　the　horses　are　tired。〃

He　cast　another　glance　at　the　tower；　and　they　dismounted　by　their
tent；　which　was　pitched　at　the　very　edge　of　the　steep　slope　that　sank
down　to　the　beast…like　shapes　of　the　near　dunes。

An　hour　later　Domini　said　to　Androvsky：

〃You　won't　go　after　gazelle　this　evening　surely？〃

They　had　been　having　coffee　in　the　tent　and　had　just　finished。
Androvsky　got　up　from　his　chair　and　went　to　the　tent　door。　The　grey　of
the　sky　was　pierced　by　a　gleaming　shaft　from　the　sun。

〃Do　you　mind　if　I　go？〃　he　said；　turning　towards　her　after　a　glance　to
the　desert。

〃No；　but　aren't　you　tired？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃I　couldn't　ride；　and　now　I　can　ride。　I　couldn't　shoot；　and　I'm　just
beginning〃

〃Go；〃　she　said　quickly。　〃Besides；　we　want　gazelle　for　dinner；　Batouch
says；　though　I　don't　suppose　we　should　starve　without　it。〃　She　came　to
the　tent　door　and　stood　beside　him；　and　he　put　his　arm　around　her。

〃If　I　were　alone　here；　Boris；〃　she　said；　leaning　against　his　shoulder；
〃I　believe　I　should　feel　horribly　sad　to…day。〃

〃Shall　I　stay？〃

He　pressed　her　against　him。

〃No。　I　shall　know　you　are　coming　back。　Oh；　how　extraordinary　it　is　to
think　we　lived　so　many　years　without　knowing　of　each　other's
existence；　that　we　lived　alone。　Were　you　ever　happy？〃

He　hesitated　before　he　replied。

〃I　sometimes　thought　I　was。〃

〃But　do　you　think　now　you　ever　really　were？〃

〃I　don't　knowperhaps　in　a　lonely　sort　of　way。〃

〃You　can　never　be　happy　in　that　way　now？〃

He　said　nothing；　but；　after　a　moment；　he　kissed　her　long　and　hard；　and
as　if　he　wanted　to　draw　her　being　into　his　through　the　door　of　his
lips。

〃Good…bye；〃　he　said；　releasing　her。　〃I　shall　be　back　directly　after
sundown。〃

〃Yes。　Don't　wait　for　the　dark　down　there。　If　you　were　lost　in　the
dunes！〃

She　pointed　to　the　distant　sand　hills　rising　and　falling　monotonously
to　the　horizon。

〃If　you　are　not　back　in　good　time；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　stand　by　the
tower　and　wave　a　brand　from　the　fire。〃

〃Why　by　the　tower？〃

〃The　ground　is　highest　by　the　tower。〃

She　watched　him　ride　away　on　a　mule；　with　two　Arabs　carrying　guns。
They　went　towards　the　plains　of　saltpetre　that　looked　like　snow　beside
the　sea　that　was　only　a　mirage。　Then　she　turned　back　into　the　tent；
took　up　a　volume　of　Fromentin's；　and　sat　down　in　a　folding…chair　at
the　tent　door。　She　read　a　little；　but　it　was　difficult　to　read　with
the　mirage　beneath　her。　Perpetually　her　eyes　were　attracted　from　the
book　to　its　mystery　and　plaintive　sadness；　that　was　like　the　sadness
of　something　unearthly；　of　a　spirit　that　did　not　move　but　that
suffered。　She　did　not　put　away　the　book；　but　presently　she　laid　it
down　on　her　knees；　open；　and　sat　gazing。　Androvsky　had　disappeared
with　the　Arabs　into　some　fold　of　the　sands。　The　sun…ray　had　vanished
with　him。　Without　Androvsky　and　the　sunshe　still　connected　them
together；　and　knew　she　would　for　ever。

The　melancholy　of　this　desert　scene　was　increased　for　her　till　it
became　oppressive　and　lay　upon　her　like　a　heavy　weight。　She　was　not　a
woman　inclined　to　any　morbid　imaginings。　Indeed；　all　that　was　morbid
roused　in　her　an　instinctive　disgust。　But　the　sudden　greyness　of　the
weather；　coming　after　weeks　of　ardent　sunshine；　and　combined　with　the
fantastic　desolation　of　the　landscape；　which　was　half　real　and　half
unreal；　turned　her　for　the　moment　towards　a　dreariness　of　spirit　that
was　rare　in　her。

She　realised　suddenly；　as　she　looked　and　did　not　see　Androvsky　even　as
a　black　and　moving　speck　upon　the　plain；　what　the　desert　would　seem　to
her　without　him；　even　in　sunshine；　the　awfulness　of　the　desolation　of
it；　the　horror　of　its　distances。　And　realising　this　she　also　realised
the　uncertainty　of　the　human　life　in　connection　with　any　other　human
life。　To　be　dependent　on　another　is　to　double　the　sum　of　the　terrors
of　uncertainty。　She　had　done　that。

If　the　immeasurable　sands　took　Androvsk