gulliver of mars-第13章

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aid；　with　a　start；　〃surely　THIS　might　be　the　golden　pool　and　these　the　silver　fish　but　the　hair…fine　line？　　And　again　I　meditated　deeply；　with　all　my　senses　on　the　watch。

Slowly　the　urn　crept　round；　and　as　each　man　took　a　ticket　from　it；　and　passed　it；　smiling；　to　the　seneschal　behind　him；　that　official　read　out　the　name　upon　it；　and　a　blushing　damsel　slipped　from　the　crowd　above；　crossing　over　to　the　side　of　the　man　with　whom　chance　had　thus　lightly　linked　her　for　the　brief　Martian　year；　and　putting　her　hands　in　his　they　kissed　before　all　the　company；　and　sat　down　to　their　places　at　the　table　as　calmly　as　country　folk　might　choose　partners　at　a　village　fair　in　hay…time。

But　not　so　with　me。　　Each　time　a　name　was　called　I　started　and　stared　at　the　drawer　in　a　way　which　should　have　filled　him　with　alarm　had　alarm　been　possible　to　the　peace…soaked　triflers；　then　turned　to　glance　to　where；　amongst　the　women；　my　tender　little　princess　was　leaning　against　a　pillar；　with　drooping　head；　slowly　pulling　a　con…　volvulus　bud　to　pieces。　　None　drew；　though　all　were　thinking　of　her；　as　I　could　tell　in　my　fingertips。　　Keener　and　keener　grew　the　suspense　as　name　after　name　was　told　and　each　slim　white　damsel　skipped　to　the　place　allotted　her。　　And　all　the　time　I　kept　muttering　to　myself　about　that　〃golden　pool；〃　wondering　and　wondering　until　the　urn　had　passed　half　round　the　tables　and　was　only　some　three　men　up　from　meand　then　an　idea　flashed　across　my　mind。　　I　dipped　my　fingers　in　the　scented　water…basin　on　the　table；　drying　them　carefully　on　a　napkin；　and　waiting；　outwardly　as　calm　as　any；　yet　inwardly　wrung　by　those　tremors　which　beset　all　male　creation　in　such　circumstances。

And　now　at　last　it　was　my　turn。　　The　great　urn；　blazing　golden；　through　its　rosy　covering；　was　in　front；　and　all　eyes　on　me。　　I　clapped　a　sunburnt　hand　upon　its　top　as　though　I　would　take　all　remaining　in　it　to　myself　and　stared　round　at　that　companyonly　her　herself　I　durst　not　look　at！　　Then；　with　a　beating　heart；　I　lifted　a　corner　of　the　web　and　slipped　my　hand　into　the　dark　inside；　muttering　to　myself　as　I　did　so；　〃A　golden　pool；　and　a　silver　fish；　and　a　line　no　thicker　than　a　hair。〃　　I　touched　in　turn　twenty　perplexing　tablets　and　was　no　whit　the　wiser；　and　felt　about　the　sides　yet　came　to　nothing；　groping　here　and　there　with　a　rising　despair；　until　as　my　fingers；　still　damp　and　fine　of　touch；　went　round　the　sides　a　second　time；　yes！　there　was　some…　thing；　something　in　the　hollow　of　the　fluting；　a　thought；　a　thread；　and　yet　enough。　　I　took　it　unseen；　lifting　it　with　in…　finite　forbearance；　and　the　end　was　weighted；　the　other　tablets　slipped　and　rattled　as　from　their　midst；　hanging　to　that　one　fine　virgin　hair；　up　came　a　pearly　billet。　　I　doubted　no　longer；　but　snapped　the　thread；　and　showed　the　tablet；　heard　Heru's　name；　read　from　it　amongst　the　soft　applause　of　that　luxurious　company　with　all　the　unconcern　I　could　muster。

There　she　was　in　a　moment；　lip　to　lip　with　me；　before　them　all；　her　eyes　more　than　ever　like　planets　from　her　native　skies；　and　only　the　quick　heave　of　her　bosom；　slowly　subsiding　like　a　ground　swell　after　a　storm；　remaining　to　tell　that　even　Martian　blood　could　sometimes　beat　quicker　than　usual！　　She　sat　down　in　her　place　by　me　in　the　simplest　way；　and　soon　everything　was　as　merry　as　could　be。　　The　main　meal　came　on　now；　and　as　far　as　I　could　see　those　Martian　gallants　had　extremely　good　appetites；　though　they　drank　at　first　but　little；　wisely　remembering　the　strength　of　their　wines。　　As　for　me；　I　ate　of　fishes　that　never　swam　in　earthly　seas；　and　of　strange　fowl　that　never　flapped　a　way　through　thick　terrestrial　air；　ate　and　drank　as　happy　as　a　king；　and　falling　each　moment　more　and　more　in　love　with　the　wonderfully　beautiful　girl　at　my　side　who　was　a　real　woman　of　flesh　and　blood　I　knew；　yet　somehow　so　dainty；　so　pink　and　white；　so　unlike　other　girls　in　the　smoothness　of　her　outlines；　in　the　subtle　grace　of　each　unthinking　attitude；　that　again　and　again　I　looked　at　her　over　the　rim　of　my　tankard　half　fearing　she　might　dissolve　into　nothing；　being　the　half…fairy　which　she　was。

Presently　she　asked；　〃Did　that　deed　of　mine；　the　hair　in　the　urn；　offend　you；　stranger？〃

〃Offend　me；　lady！〃　I　laughed。　　〃Why；　had　it　been　the　blackest　crime　that　ever　came　out　of　a　perverse　imagination　it　would　have　brought　its　own　pardon　with　it；　I；　least　of　all　in　this　room；　have　least　cause　to　be　offended。〃

〃I　risked　much　for　you　and　broke　our　rules。〃

〃Why；　no　doubt　that　was　so；　but　'tis　the　privilege　of　your　kind　to　have　some　say　in　this　little　matter　of　giving　and　taking　in　marriage。　　I　only　marvel　that　your　countrywomen　submit　so　tamely　to　the　quaintest　game　of　chance　I　ever　played　at。

〃Ay；　and　it　is　women's　nature　no　doubt　to　keep　the　laws　which　others　make；　as　you　have　said　yourself。　　Yet　this　rule；　lady；　is　one　broken　with　more　credit　than　kept；　and　if　you　have　offended　no　one　more　than　me；　your　penance　is　easily　done。〃

〃But　I　have　offended　some　one；〃　she　said；　laying　her　hand　on　mine　with　gentle　nervousness　in　its　touch；　〃one　who　has　the　power　to　hurt；　and　enough　energy　to　resent。　　Hath；　up　there　at　the　cross…table；　have　I　offended　deeply　tonight；　for　he　hoped　to　have　me；　and　would　have　compelled　any　other　man　to　barter　me　for　the　maid　chance　assigned　to　him；　but　of　you；　somehow；　he　is　afraidI　have　seen　him　staring　at　you；　and　changing　colour　as　though　he　knew　something　no　one　else　knows〃

〃Briefly；　charming　girl；〃　I　said；　for　the　wine　was　be…　ginning　to　sing　in　my　head；　and　my　eyes　were　blinking　stupidly〃briefly；　Hath　hath　thee　not；　and　there's　an　end　of　it。　　I　would　spit　a　score　of　Haths；　as　these　figs　are　spit　on　this　golden　skewer；　before　I　would　relinquish　a　hair　of　your　head　to　him；　or　to　any　man；〃　and　as　everything　about　the　great　hall　began　to　look　gauzy　and　unreal　through　the　gathering　fumes　of　my　confusion；　I　smiled　on　that　gracious　lady；　and　began　to　whisper　I　know　not　what　to　her；　and　whisper　and　doze；　and　doze

I　know　not　how　long　afterwards　it　was；　whether　a　minute　or　an　hour；　but　when　I　lifted　my　head　suddenly　from　the　lady's　shoulder　all　the　place　was　in　confusion；　every　one　upon　their　feet；　the　talk　and　the　drinking　ceased；　and　all　eyes　turned　to　the　far　doorway　where　the　curtains　were　just　dropping　again　as　I　looked；　while　in　front　of　them　were　standing　three　men。

These　newcomers　were　utterly　unlike　any　othersa　fright…　ful　vision　of　ugly　strength　amidst　the　lolling　loveliness　all　about。　　Low　of　stature；　broad　of　shoulder；　hairy；　deep…chest…　ed；　with　sharp；　twinkling　eyes；　set　far　back　under　bushy　eyebrows；　retreating　foreheads；　and　flat　noses　in　faces　tan…　ned　to　a　dusky　copper　hue　by　exposure　to　every　kind　of　weather　that　racks　the　extreme　Martian　climate　they　were　so　opposite　to　all　about　me；　so　quaint　and　grim　amongst　those　mild；　fair…skinned　folk；　that　at　first　I　thought　they　were　but　a　disordered　creation　of　my　fancy。

I　rubbed　my　eyes　and　stared　and　blinked；　but　no！　they　were　real　men；　of　flesh　and　blood；　and　now　they　had　come　down　with　as　much　stateliness　as　their　bandy　legs　would　admit　of；　into　the　full　glare　of　the　lights　to　the　centre　table　where　Hath　sat。　　I　saw　their　splendid　apparel；　the　great　strings　of　rudely　polished　gems　hung　round　their　hairy　necks　and　wrists；　the　cunningly　dyed　skins　of　soft…furred　animals；　green　and　red　and　black；　wherewith　their　limbs　were　swathed；　and　then　I　heard　some　one　by　me　whisper　in　a　frightened　tone；　〃The　envoys　from　over　seas。〃

〃Oh；〃　I　thought　sleepily　to　myself；　〃so　these　are　the　ape…men　of　the　western　woods；　are　they？　　Those　who　long　ago　vanquished　my　white…skinned　friends　and　yearly　come　to　claim　their　tribute。　　Jove；　what　hay　they　must　have　made　of　them！　　How　those　peach…skinned　girls　must　have　screamed　and　the　downy　striplings　by　them　felt　their　dimpled　knees　knock　together；　as　the　mad　flood　of　barbarians　came　pour…　ing　over　from　the　forest；　and　long　ago　stormed　their　cit…　adels　like　a　stream　of　red　lava；　as　deadly；　as　irresistible；　as　remorseless！〃　　And　I　lay　asprawl　upon　my　arms　on　the　table　watching　them　with　the　stupid　indifference　I　thought　I　could　so　well　afford。

Meanwhile　Hath　was　on　foot；　pale　and　obsequious　like　others　in　the　presence　of　those　dread　ambassadors；　but　more　collected；　I　thought。　　With　the　deepest　bows　he　welcomed　them；　handing　them　drink　in　a　golden　State　cup；　and　when　they　had　drunk　（I　heard　the　liquor　running　down　their　great　throats；　in　the　frightened　hush；　like　water　in　a　runnel　on　a　wet　day）；　they　wiped　their　fierce　lips　upon　their　furry　sleeves；　and　the　leader　began　reciting　the　tribute　for　the　year。　　So　much　corn；　so　much　wineand　very　much　it　wasso　many　thousands　ells　of　cloth　and　webbing；　and　so　much　hammered　gold；　and　sinah　and　lar；　precious　metal　of　which　I　knew　nothing　as　yet；　and　ever　as　he　went　growl…　ing　through　the　list　in　his　harsh　animal　voice；　he　refreshed　his　memory　with　a　coloured　stick　whereon　a　notch　was　made　for　every　item；　the　woodmen　not　having　come　as　yet；　apparently；　to　the　gentler　art　of　written　signs　and　symbols。　　Longer　and　longer　that　caravan　of　unearned　wealth　stretched　out　before　my　fancy；　but　at　last　it　was　done；　or　all　but　done；　and　the　head　envoy；　passing　the　painted　stick　to　a　man　behind；　folded　his　bare；　sinewy　arms；　upon　which　the　red　fell　bristles　as　it　does　upon　a　gorilla's；　across　his　ample　chest；　and；　including　us　all　in　one　general　scowl；　turned　to　Hath　as　he　said

〃All　this　for　Ar…hap；　the　wood…king；　my　master　and　yours；　all　this；　and　the　most　beautiful　woman　here　tonight　at　your　tables！〃

〃An　item；〃　I　smiled　stupidly　to　myself；　for　indeed　I　was　very　sleepy　and　had　no　nice　perception　of　things；　〃which　shows　his　majesty　with　the　two…pronged　name　is　a　jolly　fellow　after　all；　and　knows　wealth　is　incomplete　without　the　crown　and　priming　of　all　riches。　　I　wonder　how　the　Martian　boys　will　like　this　postscript；〃　and　chin　on　hand；　and　eyes　that　would　hardly　stay　open；　I　watched　to　see　what　would　happen　next。　　There　was　a　little　conversation　between　the　prince　and　the　ape…man；　then　I　saw　Hath　the　traitor　point　in　my　direction　and　say

〃Since　you　ask　and　will　be　advised；　then；　mighty　sir；　there　can　be　no　doubt　of　it；　the　most　beautiful　woman　here　tonight　is　undoubtedly　she　who　sits　yonder　by　him　in　blue。〃

〃A　very　pretty　compliment！〃　I　thought；　too　dull　to　see　what　was　coming　quickly；　〃and　handsome　of　Hath；　all　things　considered。〃

And　so　I　dozed　and　dozed；　and　then　started；　and　stared！　Was　I　in　my　senses？　　Was　I　mad；　or　dreaming？　　The　drunk…　enness　dropped　from　me　like　a　mantle；　with　a　single；　smothered　cry　I　came　to　myself　and　saw　that　it　was　all　too　true。　　The　savage　envoy　had　come　down　the　hall　at　Hath's　vindictive　prompting；　had　lifted　my　fair　girl　to　her　feet；　and　there；　even　as　I　looked；　had　drawn　her；　white　as　death；　into　the　red　circle　of　his　arm；　and　with　one　hand　under　her　chin　had　raised　her　sweet　face　to　within　an　inch　of　his；　and　was　staring　at　her　with　small；　ugly　eyes。

〃Yes；〃　said　the　enjoy；　more　interestedly　than　he　had　spoken　yet；　〃it　will　do；　the　tribute　is　acceptedfor　Ar…　hap；　my　master！〃　　And　taking　shrinking　Heru　by　the　wrist；　and　laying　a　heavy　hand　upon　her　shoulder；　he　was　about　to　lead　her　up　the　hall。

I　was　sober　enough　then。　　I　was　on　foot　in　an　instant；　and　before　a