gulliver of mars-第2章

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〃Yes；　yes；〃　I　said　at　last；　returning　to　the　stove　and　taking　my　stand；　hands　in　pockets；　in　front　of　it；　〃anything　were　better　than　this；　any　enterprise　however　wild；　any　adventure　however　desperate。　　Oh；　I　wish　I　were　anywhere　but　here；　anywhere　out　of　this　redtape…ridden　world　of　ours！　　I　WISH　I　WERE　IN　THE　PLANET　MARS！〃

How　can　I　describe　what　followed　those　luckless　words？　Even　as　I　spoke　the　magic　carpet　quivered　responsively　under　my　feet；　and　an　undulation　went　all　round　the　fringe　as　though　a　sudden　wind　were　shaking　it。　　It　humped　up　in　the　middle　so　abruptly　that　I　came　down　sitting　with　a　shock　that　numbed　me　for　the　moment。　　It　threw　me　on　my　back　and　billowed　up　round　me　as　though　I　were　in　the　trough　of　a　stormy　sea。　　Quicker　than　I　can　write　it　lapped　a　corner　over　and　rolled　me　in　its　folds　like　a　chrysalis　in　a　cocoon。　　I　gave　a　wild　yell　and　made　one　frantic　struggle；　but　it　was　too　late。　　With　the　leathery　strength　of　a　giant　and　the　swiftness　of　an　accomplished　cigar…　roller　covering　a　〃core〃　with　leaf；　it　swamped　my　efforts；　straightened　my　limbs；　rolled　me　over；　lapped　me　in　fold　after　fold　till　head　and　feet　and　everything　were　gone　crushed　life　and　breath　back　into　my　innermost　being；　and　then；　with　the　last　particle　of　consciousness；　I　felt　myself　lifted　from　the　floor；　pass　once　round　the　room；　and　finally　shoot　out；　point　foremost；　into　space　through　the　open　window；　and　go　up　and　up　and　up　with　a　sound　of　rending　atmospheres　that　seemed　to　tear　like　riven　silk　in　one　pro…　longed　shriek　under　my　head；　and　to　close　up　in　thunder　astern　until　my　reeling　senses　could　stand　it　no　longer。　　and　time　and　space　and　circumstances　all　lost　their　meaning　to　me。




CHAPTER　II

How　long　that　wild　rush　lasted　I　have　no　means　of　judging。　It　may　have　been　an　hour；　a　day；　or　many　days；　for　I　was　throughout　in　a　state　of　suspended　animation；　but　presently　my　senses　began　to　return　and　with　them　a　sensa…　tion　of　lessening　speed；　a　grateful　relief　to　a　heavy　pressure　which　had　held　my　life　crushed　in　its　grasp；　without　destroy…　ing　it　completely。　　It　was　just　that　sort　of　sensation　though　more　keen　which；　drowsy　in　his　bunk；　a　traveller　feels　when　he　is　aware；　without　special　perception；　harbour　is　reached　and　a　voyage　comes　to　an　end。　　But　in　my　case　the　slowing　down　was　for　a　long　time　comparative。　　Yet　the　sensation　served　to　revive　my　scattered　senses；　and　just　as　I　was　awakening　to　a　lively　sense　of　amazement；　an　incredible　doubt　of　my　own　emotions；　and　an　eager　desire　to　know　what　had　happened；　my　strange　conveyance　oscillated　once　or　twice；　undulated　lightly　up　and　down；　like　a　wood…　pecker　flying　from　tree　to　tree；　and　then　grounded；　bows　first；　rolled　over　several　times；　then　steadied　again；　and；　coming　at　last　to　rest；　the　next　minute　the　infernal　rug　opened；　quiver…　ing　along　all　its　borders　in　its　peculiar　way；　and　humping　up　in　the　middle　shot　me　five　feet　into　the　air　like　a　cat　tossed　from　a　schoolboy's　blanket。

As　I　turned　over　I　had　a　dim　vision　of　a　clear　light　like　the　shine　of　dawn；　and　solid　ground　sloping　away　below　me。　Upon　that　slope　was　ranged　a　crowd　of　squatting　people；　and　a　staid…looking　individual　with　his　back　turned　stood　nearer　by。　　Afterwards　I　found　he　was　lecturing　all　those　sitters　on　the　ethics　of　gravity　and　the　inherent　properties　of　falling　bodies；　at　the　moment　I　only　knew　he　was　directly　in　my　line　as　I　descended；　and　him　round　the　waist　I　seized；　giddy　with　the　light　and　fresh　air；　waltzed　him　down　the　slope　with　the　force　of　my　impetus；　and；　tripping　at　the　bottom；　rolled　over　and　over　recklessly　with　him　sheer　into　the　arms　of　the　gaping　crowd　below。　　Over　and　over　we　went　into　the　thickest　mass　of　bodies；　making　a　way　through　the　people；　until　at　last　we　came　to　a　stop　in　a　perfect　mound　of　writhing　forms　and　waving　legs　and　arms。　　When　we　had　done　the　mass　disentangled　itself　and　I　was　able　to　raise　my　head　from　the　shoulder　of　someone　on　whom　I　had　fallen；　lifting　him；　or　herwhich　was　it？into　a　sitting　posture　alongside　of　me　at　the　same　time；　while　the　others　rose　about　us　like　wheat…stalks　after　a　storm；　and　edged　shyly　off；　as　well　as　they　might。

Such　a　sleek；　slim　youth　it　was　who　sat　up　facing　me；　with　a　flush　of　gentle　surprise　on　his　face；　and　dapper　hands　that　felt　cautiously　about　his　anatomy　for　injured　places。　　He　looked　so　quaintly　rueful　yet　withal　so　good…　tempered　that　I　could　not　help　bursting　into　laughter　in　spite　of　my　own　amazement。　　Then　he　laughed　too；　a　sedate；　musical　chuckle；　and　said　something　incomprehensible；　point…　ing　at　the　same　time　to　a　cut　upon　my　finger　that　was　bleed…　ing　a　little。　　I　shook　my　head；　meaning　thereby　that　it　was　nothing；　but　the　stranger　with　graceful　solicitude　took　my　hand；　and；　after　examining　the　hurt；　deliberately　tore　a　strip　of　cloth　from　a　bright　yellow　toga…like　garment　he　was　wearing　and　bound　the　place　up　with　a　woman's　tenderness。

Meanwhile；　as　he　ministered；　there　was　time　to　look　about　me。　　Where　was　I？　　It　was　not　the　Broadway；　it　was　not　Staten　Island　on　a　Saturday　afternoon。　　The　night　was　just　over；　and　the　sun　on　the　point　of　rising。　　Yet　it　was　still　shadowy　all　about；　the　air　being　marvellously　tepid　and　pleasant　to　the　senses。　　Quaint；　soft　aromas　like　the　breath　of　a　new　worldthe　fragrance　of　unknown　flowers；　and　the　dewy　scent　of　never…trodden　fields　drifted　to　my　nostrils；　and　to　my　ears　came　a　sound　of　laughter　scarcely　more　human　than　the　murmur　of　the　wind　in　the　trees；　and　a　pretty　undulating　whisper　as　though　a　great　concourse　of　people　were　talking　softly　in　their　sleep。　　I　gazed　about　scarcely　knowing　how　much　of　my　senses　or　surroundings　were　real　and　how　much　fanciful；　until　I　presently　be…　came　aware　the　rosy　twilight　was　broadening　into　day；　and　under　the　increasing　shine　a　strange　scene　was　fashion…　ing　itself。

At　first　it　was　an　opal　sea　I　looked　on　of　mist；　shot　along　its　upper　surface　with　the　rosy　gold　and　pinks　of　dawn。　Then；　as　that　soft；　translucent　lake　ebbed；　jutting　hills　came　through　it；　black　and　crimson；　and　as　they　seemed　to　mount　into　the　air　other　lower　hills　showed　through　the　veil　with　rounded　forest　knobs　till　at　last　the　brightening　day　dis…　pelled　the　mist；　and　as　the　rosy…coloured　gauzy　fragments　went　slowly　floating　away　a　wonderfully　fair　country　lay　at　my　feet；　with　a　broad　sea　glimmering　in　many　arms　and　bays　in　the　distance　beyond。　　It　was　all　dim　and　unreal　at　first；　the　mountains　shadowy；　the　ocean　unreal；　the　flowery　fields　be…　tween　it　and　me　vacant　and　shadowy。

Yet　were　they　vacant？　　As　my　eyes　cleared　and　day　brightened　still　more；　and　I　turned　my　head　this　way　and　that；　it　presently　dawned　upon　me　all　the　meadow　cop…　pices　and　terraces　northwards　of　where　I　lay；　all　that　blue　and　spacious　ground　I　had　thought　to　be　bare　and　vacant；　were　alive　with　a　teeming　city　of　booths　and　tents；　now　I　came　to　look　more　closely　there　was　a　whole　town　upon　the　slope；　built　as　might　be　in　a　night　of　boughs　and　branches　still　unwithered；　the　streets　and　ways　of　that　city　in　the　shadows　thronged　with　expectant　people　moving　in　groups　and　shifting　to　and　fro　in　lively　streamschatting　at　the　stalls　and　clustering　round　the　tent　doors　in　soft；　gauzy；　parti…coloured　crowds　in　a　way　both　fascinating　and　　per…　plexing。

I　stared　about　me　like　a　child　at　its　first　pantomime；　dimly　understanding　all　I　saw　was　novel；　but　more　allured　to　the　colour　and　life　of　the　picture　than　concerned　with　its　exact　meaning；　and　while　I　stared　and　turned　my　finger　was　bandaged；　and　my　new　friend　had　been　lisping　away　to　me　without　getting　anything　in　turn　but　a　shake　of　the　head。　　This　made　him　thoughtful；　and　thereon　followed　a　curious　incident　which　I　cannot　explain。　　I　doubt　even　whether　you　will　believe　it；　but　what　am　I　to　do　in　that　case？　　You　have　already　accepted　the　episode　of　my　com…　ing；　or　you　would　have　shut　the　covers　before　arriving　at　this　page　of　my　modest　narrative；　and　this　emboldens　me。　I　may　strengthen　my　claim　on　your　credulity　by　pointing　out　the　extraordinary　marvels　which　science　is　teaching　you　even　on　our　own　little　world。　　To　quote　a　single　instance：　If　any　one　had　declared　ten　years　ago　that　it　would　shortly　be　practicable　and　easy　for　two　persons　to　converse　from　shore　to　shore　across　the　Atlantic　without　any　intervening　medium；　he　would　have　been　laughed　at　as　a　possibly　amusing　but　certainly　extravagant　romancer。　　Yet　that　pic…　turesque　lie　of　yesterday　is　amongst　the　accomplished　facts　of　today！　　Therefore　I　am　encouraged　to　ask　your　in…　dulgence；　in　the　name　of　your　previous　errors；　for　the　following　and　any　other　instances　in　which　I　may　appear　to　trifle　with　strict　veracity。　　There　is　no　such　thing　as　the　impossible　in　our　universe！

When　my　friendly　companion　found　I　could　not　under…　stand　him；　he　looked　serious　for　a　minute　or　two；　then　shortened　his　brilliant　yellow　toga；　as　though　he　had　ar…　rived　at　some　resolve；　and　knelt　down　directly　in　front　of　me。　　He　next　took　my　face　between　his　hands；　and　putting　his　nose　within　an　inch　of　mine；　stared　into　my　eyes　with　all　his　might。　　At　first　I　was　inclined　to　laugh；　but　before　long　the　most　curious　sensations　took　hold　of　me。　They　commenced　with　a　thrill　which　passed　all　up　my　body；　and　next　all　feeling　save　the　consciousness　of　the　loud　beating　of　my　heart　ceased。　　Then　it　seemed　that　boy's　eyes　were　inside　my　head　and　not　outside；　while　along　with　them　an　intangible　something　pervaded　my　brain。　The　sensation　at　first　was　like　the　application　of　ether　to　the　skina　cool；　numbing　emotion。　　It　was　followed　by　a　curious　tingling　feeling；　as　some　dormant　cells　in　my　mind　answered　to　the　thought…transfer；　and　were　filled　and　fertil…　ised！　　My　other　brain…cells　most　distinctly　felt　the　vitalising　of　their　companions；　and　for　about　a　minute　I　experi…　enced　extreme　nausea　and　a　headache　such　as　comes　from　over…study；　though　both　passed　swiftly　off。　　I　presume　that　in　the　future　we　shall　all　obtain　knowledge　in　this　way。　The　Professors　of　a　later　day　will　perhaps　keep　shops　for　the　sale　of　miscellaneous　information；　and　we　shall　drop　in　and　be　inflated　with　learning　just　as　the　bicyclist　gets　his　tire　pumped　up；　or　the　motorist　is　recharged　with　electricity　at　so　much　per　unit。　　Examinations　will　then　become　matters　of　capacity　in　the　real　meaning　of　that　word；　and　we　shall　be　tempted　to　invest　our　pocket…money　by　advertisements　of　〃A　cheap　line　in　Astrology；〃　〃Try　our　double…strength；　two…　minute　course　of　Classics；〃　〃This　is　remnant　day　for　Trig…　onometry　and　Metaphysics；〃　and　so　on。

My　friend　did　not　get　as　far　as　that。　　With　him　the　process　did　not　take　more　than　a　minute；　but　it　was　startling　in　its　results；　and　reduced　me　to　an　extraordinary　state　of　hypnotic　receptibility。　　When　it　was　over　my　instructor　tapped　with　a　finger　on　my　lips；　uttering　aloud　as　he　did　so　the　words

〃Know　none；　know　some；　know　little；　know　morel〃　again　　and　again；　and　the　strangest　part　of　it　is　that　as　he　spoke　I　did　know　at　first　a　little；　then　more；　and　still　more；　by　swift　accumulation；　of　his　speech　and　meaning。　　In　fact；　when　pre…　sently　he　suddenly　laid　a　hand　over　my　eyes　and　then　let　go　of　my　head　with　a　pleasantly　put　question　as　to　how　I　felt；　I　had　no　difficulty　whatever　in　answering　him　in　his　own　tongue；