gulliver of mars-第23章

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e　earth？〃using　the　word　An　had　given　me　to　signify　my　own　planet。

〃No；　not　from　there；　from　the　one　that　burns　blue　in　evening　between　sun　and　sea。　　Men　say　he　worked　as　a　stoker　or　something　of　the　kind　when　he　was　at　home；　and　got　trifling　with　a　volcano　tap；　and　was　lapped　in　hot　mud；　and　blown　out　here。　　My　brother　saw　him　about　a　week　ago。〃

〃Now　what　you　say　is　down　right　curious。　　I　thought　I　had　a　monopoly　of　that　kind　of　business　in　this　sphere　of　yours。　　I　should　be　tremendously　interested　to　see　him。〃

〃No　you　wouldn't；〃　briefly　answered　the　woodman。　　〃He　is　the　stupidest　fool　ever　blown　from　one　world　to　another　more　stupid　to　look　at　than　you　are。　　He　is　a　gaseous；　wavey　thing；　so　glum　you　can't　get　two　words　a　week　out　of　him；　and　so　unstable　that　you　never　know　when　you　are　with　him　and　when　the　breeze　has　drifted　him　somewhere　else。〃

I　could　but　laugh　and　insist；　with　all　respect　to　the　woodcutter；　such　an　individual　were　worth　the　knowing　however　unstable　his　constitution；　at　which　the　man　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　changed　the　conversation；　as　though　the　subject　were　too　trivial　to　be　worth　much　consideration。

This　individual　gave　me　the　pleasure　of　his　company　until　nearly　sundown；　and　finding　I　took　an　interest　in　things　of　the　forest；　pointed　out　more　curious　plants　and　trees　than　I　have　space　to　mention。　　Two　of　them；　however；　cling　to　my　memory　very　tenaciously。　　One　was　a　very　Circe　amongst　plants；　the　horrible　charm　of　which　can　never　be　forgotten。　We　were　going　down　a　glade　when　a　most　ravishing　odour　fell　upon　my　nostrils。　　It　was　heavenly　sweet　yet　withal　there　lurked　an　incredibly；　unexpressibly　tempting　spice　of　wickedness　in　it。　　The　moment　he　caught　that　ambrosial　invitation　in　the　air　my　woodman　spit　fiercely　on　the　ground；　and　taking　a　plug　of　wool　from　his　pouch　stuffed　his　nostrils　up。　　Then　he　beckoned　me　to　come　away。　　But　the　odour　was　too　ravishing；　I　was　bound　to　see　whence　it　arose；　and　finding　me　deaf　to　all　warnings；　the　man　reluctantly　turned　aside　down　the　enticing　trail。　　We　pushed　about　a　hundred　yards　through　bushes　until　we　came　to　a　little　arena　full　in　sunshine　where　there　were　neither　birds　nor　butterflies；　but　a　death…like　hush　upon　everything。　　Indeed；　the　place　seemed　shunned　in　spite　of　the　sodden　loveliness　of　that　scent　which　monopolised　and　mounted　to　my　brain　until　I　was　beginning　to　be　drunk　with　the　sheer　pleasure　of　it。　　And　there　in　the　centre　of　the　space　stood　a　plant　not　unlike　a　tree　fern；　about　six　feet　high；　and　crowned　by　one　huge　and　lovely　blossom。　　It　resembled　a　vast　passion…flower　of　incredible　splendour。　　There　were　four　petals；　with　points　resting　on　the　ground；　each　six　feet　long；　ivory…white　inside；　exquisitely　patterned　with　glittering　silver　veins。　　From　the　base　of　these　rose　upright　a　gauzy　veil　of　azure　filaments　of　the　same　length　as　the　petals；　wirelike；　yet　soft　as　silk；　and　inside　them　again　rested　a　chalice　of　silver　holding　a　tiny　pool　of　limpid　golden　honey。　　Circe；　indeed！　　It　was　from　that　cup　the　scent　arose；　and　my　throat　grew　dry　with　longing　as　I　looked　at　it；　my　eyes　strained　through　the　blue　tendrils　towards　that　liquid　nectar；　and　my　giddy　senses　felt　they　must　drink　or　die！　　I　glanced　at　the　woodman　with　a　smile　of　drunken　happiness；　then　turned　tottering　legs　towards　the　blossom。　　A　stride　up　the　smooth　causeway　of　white　petals；　a　push　through　the　azure　haze；　and　the　wine　of　the　wood　enchantress　would　be　minemolten　am…　ber　wine；　hotter　and　more　golden　than　the　sunshine；　the　fire　of　it　was　in　my　veins；　the　recklessness　of　intoxication　was　on　me；　life　itself　as　nothing　compared　to　a　sip　from　that　chalice；　my　lips　must　taste　or　my　soul　would　die；　and　with　trembling　hand　and　strained　face　I　began　to　climb。

But　the　woodman　pulled　me　back。

〃Back；　stranger！〃　he　cried。　　〃Those　who　drink　there　never　live　again。〃

〃Blessed　oblivion！　　If　I　had　a　thousand　lives　the　price　were　still　too　cheap；〃　and　once　more　I　essayed　to　scramble　up。

But　the　man　was　a　big　fellow；　and　with　nostrils　plugged；　and　eyes　averted　from　the　deadly　glamour；　he　seized　me　by　the　collar　and　threw　me　back。　　Three　times　I　tried；　three　times　he　hurled　me　down；　far　too　faint　and　absorbed　to　heed　the　personal　violence。　　Then　standing　between　us；　〃Look；〃　he　said；　〃look　and　learn。〃

He　had　killed　a　small　ape　that　morning；　meaning　later　on　to　take　its　fur　for　clothing；　and　this　he　now　unslung　from　his　shoulder；　and　hitching　the　handle　of　his　axe　into　the　loose　skin　at　the　back　of　its　neck；　cautiously　advanced　to　the　witch　plant；　and　gently　hoisted　the　monkey　over　the　blue　palings。　　The　moment　its　limp；　dead　feet　touched　the　golden　pool　a　shudder　passed　through　the　plant；　and　a　bird　some…　where　far　back　in　the　forest　cried　out　in　horror。　　Quick　as　thought；　a　spasm　of　life　shot　up　the　tendrils；　and　like　tongues　of　blue　flame　they　closed　round　the　victim；　lapping　his　miserable　body　in　their　embrace。　　At　the　same　time　the　petals　began　to　rise；　showing　as　they　did　so　hard；　leathery；　un…　lovely　outer　rinds；　and　by　the　time　the　woodman　was　back　at　my　side　the　flower　was　closed。

Closer　and　closer　wound　the　blue　tendrils；　tighter　and　tighter　closed　the　cruel　petals　with　their　iron　grip；　until　at　last　we　heard　the　ape's　bones　crackling　like　dry　firewood；　then　next　his　head　burst；　his　brains　came　oozing　through　the　crevices；　while　blood　and　entrails　followed　them　through　every　cranny；　and　the　horrible　mess　with　the　overflow　of　the　chalice　curled　down　the　stem　in　a　hundred　steaming　rills；　till　at　last　the　petals　locked　with　an　ugly　snap　upon　their　ghastly　meal；　and　I　turned　away　from　the　sight　in　dread　and　loathing。

That　was　plant　Number　One。

Plant　Number　Two　was　of　milder　disposition；　and　won　a　hearty　laugh　for　my　friendly　woodman。　　In　fact；　being　of　a　childlike　nature；　his　success　as　a　professor　of　botany　quite　pleased　him；　and　not　content　with　answering　my　questions；　he　set　to　work　to　find　new　vegetable　surprises；　greatly　enjoying　my　wonder　and　the　sense　of　importance　it　gave　him。

In　this　way　we　came；　later　on　in　the　day；　to　a　spot　where　herbage　was　somewhat　scantier；　the　grass　coarse；　and　soil　shallow。　　Here　I　espied　a　tree　of　small　size；　apparently　withered；　but　still　bearing　a　few　parched　leaves　on　its　upper…　most　twigs。

〃Now　that；〃　quoth　the　professor；　〃is　a　highly　curious　tree；　and　I　should　like　you　to　make　a　close　acquaintance　with　it。　It　grows　from　a　seed　in　the　course　of　a　single　springtime；　perishes　in　the　summer；　but　a　few　specimens　stand　through…　out　the　winter；　provided　the　situation　is　sheltered；　as　this　one　has　done。　　If　you　will　kindly　go　down　and　shake　its　stem　I　believe　you　will　learn　something　interesting。〃

So；　very　willing　to　humour　him；　away　I　went　to　the　tree；　which　was　perfect　in　every　detail；　but　apparently　very　dry；　clasped　it　with　both　hands；　and；　pulling　myself　to…　gether；　gave　it　a　mighty　shake。　　The　result　was　instantaneous。　The　whole　thing　was　nothing　but　a　skin　of　dust；　whence　all　fibre　and　sap　had　gone；　and　at　my　touch　it　dissolved　into　a　cloud　of　powder；　a　huge　puff　of　white　dust　which　descended　on　me　as　though　a　couple　of　flour…bags　had　been　inverted　over　my　head；　and　as　I　staggered　out　sneez…　ing　and　blinking；　white　as　a　miller　from　face　to　foot；　the　Martian　burst　into　a　wild；　joyous　peal　of　laughter　that　made　the　woods　ring　again。　　His　merriment　was　so　sincere　I　had　not　the　heart　to　be　angry；　and　soon　laughed　as　loud　as　he　did；　though；　for　the　future；　I　took　his　botanical　es…　says　with　a　little　more　caution。




CHAPTER　XIV

That　woodman　friend　of　mine　proved　so　engaging　it　was　difficult　to　get　away；　and　thus　when；　dusk　upon　us；　and　my　object　still　a　long　distance　off；　he　asked　me　to　spend　the　night　at　his　hut；　I　gladly　assented。

We　soon　reached　the　cabin　where　the　man　lived　by　himself　whilst　working　in　the　forest。　　It　was　a　picturesque　little　place　on　a　tree…overhung　lagoon；　thatched；　wattled；　and　all　about　were　piles　of　a　pleasant…scented　bark；　collected　for　the　purpose　of　tanning　hides；　and　I　could　not　but　marvel　that　such　a　familiar　process　should　be　practised　identically　on　two　sides　of　the　universal　ether。　　But　as　a　matter　of　fact　the　similarity　of　many　details　of　existence　here　and　there　was　the　most　striking　of　the　things　I　learned　whilst　in　the　red　planet。

Within　the　hut　stood　a　hearth　in　the　centre　of　the　floor；　whereon　a　comfortable　blaze　soon　sparkled；　and　upon　the　walls　hung　various　implements；　hides；　and　a　store　of　dried　fruits　of　various　novel　kinds。　　My　host；　when　he　had　somewhat　disdainfully　watched　me　wash　in　a　rill　of　water　close　by；　suggested　supper；　and　I　agreed　with　heartiest　good　will。

〃Nothing　wonderful！　　Oh；　Mr。　Blue…coat！〃　he　said；　pranc…　ing　about　as　he　made　his　hospitable　arrangements。　　〃No　fine　meat　or　scented　wine　to　unlock；　one　by　one；　all　the　doors　of　paradise；　such　as　I　have　heard　they　have　in　lands　be…　yond　the　sea；　but　fare　good　enough　for　plain　men　who　eat　but　to　live。　　So！　reach　me　down　yonder　bunch　of　yellow　aru　fruit；　and　don't　upset　that　calabash；　for　all　my　funniest　stories　lurk　at　the　bottom　of　it。〃

I　did　as　he　bid；　and　soon　we　were　squatting　by　the　fire　toasting　arus　on　pointed　sticks；　the　doorway　closed　with　a　wattle　hurdle；　and　the　black　and　gold　firelight　filling　the　hut　with　fantastic　shadows。　　Then　when　the　banana…like　fruit　was　ready；　the　man　fetched　from　a　recess　a　loaf　of　bread　savoured　with　the　dust　of　dried　and　pounded　fish；　put　the　foresaid　calabash　of　strong　ale　to　warm；　and　down　we　sat　to　supper　with　real　woodman　appetites。　　Seldom　have　I　enjoyed　a　meal　so　much；　and　when　we　had　finished　the　fruit　and　the　wheat　cake　my　guide　snatched　up　the　great　gourd　of　ale；　and　putting　it　to　his　lips　called　out：

〃Here's　to　you；　stranger；　here's　to　your　country；　here's　to　your　girl；　if　you　have　one；　and　death　to　your　enemies！〃　　Then　he　drank　deep　and　long；　and；　passed　the　stuff　to　me。

〃Here's　to　you；　bully　host；　and　the　missus；　and　the　children；　if　there　are　any；　and　more　power　to　your　el…　bow！〃the　which　gratified　him　greatly；　though　probably　he　had　small　idea　of　my　meaning。

And　right　merry　we　were　that　evening。　　The　host　was　a　jolly　good　fellow；　and　his　ale；　with　a　pleasant　savour　of　mint　in　it；　was　the　heartiest　drink　I　ever　set　lips　to。　　We　talked　and　laughed　till　the　very　jackals　yapped　in　sympathy　outside。　　And　when　he　had　told　a　score　of　wonderful　wood　stories　as　pungent　of　the　life　of　these　fairy　forests　as　the　aromatic　scent　of　his　bark…heaps　outside；　as　iridescent　with　the　colours　of　another　world　as　the　rainbow　bubbles　rid…　ing　down　his　starlit　rill；　I　took　a　turn；　and　told　him　of　the　commonplaces　of　my　world　so　far　away；　whereat　he　laughed　gloriously　again。　　The　greater　the　commonplace　the　larger　his　joy。　　The　humblest　story；　hardly　calculated　to　impress　a　griffin　between　watches　on　the　main…deck；　was　a　masterpiece　of　wit　to　that　gentle　savage；　and　when　I　〃took　off〃　the　tricks　and　foibles　of　some　of　my　superiorsHeaven　forgive　me　for　such　treason！he　listened　with　the　exquisite　open…　mouthed　delight　of　one　who　wanders　in　a　brand…new　world　of　mirth。

We　drank　and　laughed　over　that　strong　beer　till　the　little　owls　outside　raised　their　voice　in　combined　accord；　and　then　the　woodman；　shaking　the　last　remnant　of　his　sleepy　wits　together；　and　giving　a　re