the garden of allah-第93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！


far…seeing　glance；　that　surely　pierced　beyond　the　blue　horizon　line
and　reached　a　faroff　world。　What　world？　He　asked　himself　the　question；
but　no　answer　came；　and　he　dropped　his　eyes。　A　new　and　horrible
sadness　came　to　him；　a　new　sensation　of　separation　from　Domini。　She
had　set　their　bodies　apart；　and　he　had　yielded。　Now；　was　she　not
setting　something　else　apart？　For；　in　spite　of　all；　in　spite　of　his
treacherous　existence　with　her；　he　had　so　deeply　and　entirely　loved
her　that　he　had　sometimes　felt；　dared　to　feel；　that　in　their　passion
in　the　desert　their　souls　had　been　fused　together。　His　was　blackhe
knew　itand　hers　was　white。　But　had　not　the　fire　and　the　depth　of
their　love　conquered　all　differences；　made　even　their　souls　one　as
their　bodies　had　been　one？　And　now　was　she　not　silently；　subtly；
withdrawing　her　soul　from　his？　A　sensation　of　acute　despair　swept　over
him；　of　utter　impotence。

〃Domini！〃　he　said；　〃Domini！〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered。

And　this　time　she　withdrew　her　eyes　from　the　blue　distance　and　looked
at　him。

〃Domini；　you　must　trust　me。〃

He　was　thinking　of　the　two　tents　set　the　one　apart　from　the　other。

〃Domini；　I've　borne　something　in　silence。　I　haven't　spoken。　I　wanted
to　speak。　I　triedbut　I　did　not。　I　bore　my　punishmentyou　don't
know；　you'll　never　know　what　I　felt　lastlast　nightwhenI've　borne
that。　But　there's　one　thing　I　can't　bear。　I've　lived　a　lie　with　you。
My　love　for　you　overcame　me。　I　fell。　I　have　told　you　that　I　fell。
Don'tdon't　because　of　thatdon't　take　away　your　heart　from　me
entirely。　DominiDominidon't　do　that。〃

She　heard　a　sound　of　despair　in　his　voice。

〃Oh；　Boris；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　knew！　There　was　only　one　moment　when　I
fancied　my　heart　was　leaving　you。　It　passed　almost　before　it　came；　and
now〃

〃But；〃　he　interrupted；　〃do　you　knowdo　you　know　that　sincesince　I
spoke；　since　I　told　you；　you'veyou've　never　touched　me？〃

〃Yes；　I　know　it；〃　she　replied　quietly。

Something　told　him　to　be　silent　then。　Something　told　him　to　wait　till
the　night　came　and　the　camp　was　pitched　once　more。

They　rested　at　noon　for　several　hours；　as　it　was　impossible　to　travel
in　the　heat　of　the　day。　The　camp　started　an　hour　before　they　did。　Only
Batouch　remained　behind　to　show　them　the　way　to　Ain…la…Hammam；　where
they　would　pass　the　following　night。　When　Batouch　brought　the　horses
he　said：

〃Does　Madame　know　the　meaning　of　Ain…la…Hammam？〃

〃No；〃　said　Domini。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Source　des　tourterelles；〃　replied　Batouch。　〃I　was　there　once　with　an
English　traveller。〃

〃Source　des　tourterelles；〃　repeated　Domini。　〃Is　it　beautiful；　Batouch？
It　sounds　as　if　it　ought　to　be　beautiful。〃

She　scarcely　knew　why；　but　she　had　a　longing　that　Ain…la…Hammam　might
be　tender；　calm；　a　place　to　soothe　the　spirit；　a　place　in　which
Androvsky　might　be　influenced　to　listen　to　what　she　had　to　tell　him
without　revolt；　without　despair。　Once　he　had　spoken　about　the
influence　of　place；　about　rising　superior　to　it。　But　she　believed　in
it；　and　she　waited；　almost　anxiously；　for　the　reply　of　Batouch。　As
usual　it　was　enigmatic。

〃Madame　will　see；〃　he　answered。　〃Madame　will　see。　But　the
Englishman〃

〃Yes？〃

〃The　Englishman　was　ravished。　'This；'　he　said　to　me；　'this；　Batouch；
is　a　little　Paradise！'　And　there　was　no　moon　then。　To…night　there　will
be　a　moon。〃

〃Paradise！〃　exclaimed　Androvsky。

He　sprang　upon　his　horse　and　pulled　up　the　reins。　Domini　said　no　more。
They　had　started　late。　It　was　night　when　they　reached　Ain…la…Hammam。
As　they　drew　near　Domini　looked　before　her　eagerly　through　the　pale
gloom　that　hung　over　the　sand。　She　saw　no　village；　only　a　very　small
grove　of　palms　and　near　it　the　outline　of　a　bordj。　The　place　was　set
in　a　cup　of　the　Sahara。　All　around　it　rose　low　hummocks　of　sand。　On
two　or　three　of　them　were　isolated　clumps　of　palms。　Here　the　eyes
roamed　over　no　vast　distances。　There　was　little　suggestion　of　space。
She　drew　up　her　horse　on　one　of　the　hummocks　and　gazed　down。　She　heard
doves　murmuring　in　their　soft　voices　among　the　trees。　The　tents　were
pitched　near　the　bordj。

〃What　does　Madame　think？〃　asked　Batouch。　〃Does　Madame　agree　with　the
Englishman？〃

〃It　is　a　strange　little　place；〃　she　answered。

She　listened　to　the　voices　of　the　doves。　A　dog　barked　by　the　bordj。

〃It　is　almost　like　a　hiding…place；〃　she　added。

Androvsky　said　nothing；　but　he；　too；　was　gazing　intently　at　the　trees
below　them；　he；　too；　was　listening　to　the　voices　of　the　doves。　After　a
moment　he　looked　at　her。

〃Domini；〃　he　whispered。　〃Herewon't　youwon't　you　let　me　touch　your
hand　again　here？〃

〃Come；　Boris；〃　she　answered。　〃It　is　late。〃

They　rode　down　into　Ain…la…Hammam。

The　tents　had　all　been　pitched　near　together　on　the　south　of　the
bordj；　and　separated　by　it　from　the　tiny　oasis。　Opposite　to　them　was　a
Cafe　Maure　of　the　humblest　kind；　a　hovel　of　baked　earth　and　brushwood；
with　earthen　divans　and　a　coffee　niche。　Before　this　was　squatting　a
group　of　five　dirty　desert　men；　the　sole　inhabitants　of　Ain…la…Hammam。
Just　before　dinner　Domini　gave　an　order　to　Batouch；　and；　while　they
were　dining；　Androvsky　noticed　that　their　people　were　busy　unpegging
the　two　sleeping…tents。

〃What　are　they　doing？〃　he　said　to　Domini；　uneasily。　In　his　present
condition　everything　roused　in　him　anxiety。　In　every　unusual　action　he
discerned　the　beginning　of　some　tragedy　which　might　affect　his　life。

〃I　told　Batouch　to　put　our　tents　on　the　other　side　of　the　bordj；〃　she
answered。

〃Yes。　But　why？〃

〃I　thought　that　to…night　it　would　be　better　if　we　were　a　little　more
alone　than　we　are　here；　just　opposite　to　that　Cafe　Maure；　and　with　the
servants。　And　on　the　other　side　there　are　the　palms　and　the　water。　And
the　doves　were　talking　there　as　we　rode　in。　When　we　have　finished
dinner　we　can　go　and　sit　there　and　be　quiet。〃

〃Together；〃　he　said。

An　eager　light　had　come　into　his　eyes。　He　leaned　forward　towards　her
over　the　little　table　and　stretched　out　his　hand。

〃Yes；　together；〃　she　said。

But　she　did　not　take　his　hand。

〃Domini！〃　he　said；　still　keeping　his　hand　on　the　table；　〃Domini！〃

An　expression；　that　was　like　an　expression　of　agony；　flitted　over　her
face　and　died　away；　leaving　it　calm。

〃Let　us　finish；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Look；　they　have　taken　the　tents！
In　a　moment　we　can　go。〃

The　doves　were　silent。　The　night　was　very　still　in　this　nest　of　the
Sahara。　Ouardi　brought　them　coffee；　and　Batouch　came　to　say　that　the
tents　were　ready。

〃We　shall　want　nothing　more　to…night；　Batouch；〃　Domini　said。　〃Don't
disturb　us。〃

Batouch　glanced　towards　the　Cafe　Maure。　A　red　light　gleamed　through
its　low　doorway。　One　or　two　Arabs　were　moving　within。　Some　of　the　camp
attendants　had　joined　the　squatting　men　without。　A　noise　of　busy
voices　reached　the　tents。

〃To…night；　Madame；〃　Batouch　said　proudly；　〃I　am　going　to　tell　stories
from　the　/Thousand　and　One　Nights/。　I　am　going　to　tell　the　story　of
the　young　Prince　of　the　Indies；　and　the　story　of　Ganem；　the　Slave　of
Love。　It　is　not　often　that　in　Ain…la…Hammam　a　poet〃

〃No；　indeed。　Go　to　them；　Batouch。　They　must　be　impatient　for　you。〃

Batouch　smiled　broadly。

〃Madame　begins　to　understand　the　Arabs；〃　he　rejoined。　〃Madame　will
soon　be　as　the　Arabs。〃

〃Go；　Batouch。　Lookthey　are　longing　for　you。〃

She　pointed　to　the　desert　men；　who　were　gesticulating　and　gazing
towards　the　tents。

〃It　is　better　so；　Madame；〃　he　answered。　〃They　know　that　I　am　here　only
for　one　night；　and　they　are　eager　as　the　hungry　jackal　is　eager　for
food　among　the　yellow　dunes　of　the　sand。〃

He　threw　his　burnous　over　his　shoulder　and　moved　away　smiling；　and
murmuring　in　a　luscious　voice　the　first　words　of　Ganem；　the　Slave　of
Love。

〃Let　us　go　now；　Boris；〃　Domini　said。

He　got　up　at　once　from　the　table；　and　they　walked　together　round　the
bordj。

On　its　further　side　there　was　no　sign　of　life。　No　traveller　was
resting　there　that　night；　and　the　big　door　that　led　into　the　inner
court　was　closed　and　barred。　The　guardian　had　gone　to　join　the　Arabs
at　the　Cafe　Maure。　Between　the　shadow　cast　by　the　bordj　and　the　shadow
cast　by　the　palm　trees　stood　the　two　tents　on　a　patch　of　sand。　The
oasis　was　enclosed　in　a　low　earth　wall；　along　the　top　of　which　was　a
ragged　edging　of　brushwood。　In　this　wall　were　several　gaps。　Through
one；　opposite　to　the　tents；　was　visible　a　shallow　pool　of　still　water
by　which　tall　reeds　were　growing。　They　stood　up　like　spears；
absolutely　motionless。　A　frog　was　piping　from　some　hidden　place；
giving　forth　a　clear　flute…like　note　that　suggested　glass。　It　reminded
Domini　of　her　ride　into　the　desert　at　Beni…Mora　to　see　the　moon　rise。
On　that　night　Androvsky　had　told　her　that　he　was　going　away。　That　had
been　the　night　of　his　tremendous　struggle　with　himself。　When　he　had
spoken　she　had　felt　a　sensation　as　if　everything　that　supported　her　in
the　atmosphere　of　life　and　of　happiness　had　foundered。　And　nownow
she　was　going　to　speak　to　himto　tell　himwhat　was　she　going　to　tell
him？　How　much　could　she；　dared　she；　tell　him？　She　prayed　silently　to
be　given　strength。

In　the　clear　sky　the　young　moon　hung。　Beneath　it；　to　the　left；　was　one
star　like　an　attendant；　the　star　of　Venus。　The　faint　light　of　the　moon
fell　upon　the　water　of　the　pool。　Unceasingly　the　frog　uttered　its
nocturne。

Domini　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　water　listening。　Then　she
glanced　up　at　the　moon　and　the　solitary　star。　Androvsky　stood　by　her。

〃Shall　welet　us　sit　on　the　wall；　where　the　gap　is；〃　she　said。　〃The
water　is　beautiful；　beautiful　with　that　light　on　it；　and　the　palms
palms　are　always　beautiful；　especially　at　night。　I　shall　never　love
any　other　trees　as　I　love　palm　trees。〃

〃Nor　I；〃　he　answered。

They　sat　down　on　the　wall。　At　first　they　did　not　speak　any　more。　The
stillness　of　the　water；　the　stillness　of　reeds　and　palms；　was　against
speech。　And　the　little　flute…like　note　that　came　to　them　again　and
again　at　regular　intervals　was　like　a　magical　measuring　of　the　silence
of　the　night　in　the　desert。　At　last　Domini　said；　in　a　low　voice：

〃I　heard　that　note　on　the　night　when　I　rode　out　of　Beni…Mora　to　see
the　moon　rise　in　the　desert。　Boris；　you　remember　that　night？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。

He　was　gazing　at　the　pool；　with　his　face　partly　averted　from　her；　one
hand　on　the　wall；　the　other　resting　on　his　knee。

〃You　were　brave　that　night；　Boris；〃　she　said。

〃II　wished　to　beI　tried　to　be。　And　if　I　had　been〃

He　stopped；　then　went　on：　〃If　I　had　been；　Domini；　really　brave；　if　I
had　done　what　I　meant　to　do　that　night；　what　would　our　lives　have　been
to…day？〃

〃I　don't　know。　We　mustn't　think　of　that　to…night。　We　must　think　of　the
future。　Boris；　there's　no　life；　no　real　life　without　bravery。　No　man
or　woman　is　worthy　of　living　who　is　not　brave。〃

He　said　nothing。

〃Boris；　let　usyou　and　Ibe　worthy　of　living　to…nightand　in　the
future。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand　then；〃　he　answered。　〃Give　it　me；　Domini。〃

But　she　did　not　give　it　to　him。　Instead　she　went　on；　speaking　a　little
more　rapidly：

〃Boris；　don't　rely　too　much　on　my　strength。　I　am　only　a　woman；　and　I
have　to　struggle。　I　have　had　to　struggle　more　than　perhaps　you　will
ever　know。　Youmust　not　makemake　things　impossible　for　me。　I　am
tryingvery　hardtoI'myou　must　not　touch　me　t