gulliver of mars-第26章

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s　and　hundreds　of　bones　and　those　poor　little　relics　of　humanity　jutting　out　of　the　sand　everywhere。　　In　the　hush　of　that　great　dead　nursery　the　little　white　trophies　seemed　inexpressibly　pathetic；　and　I　should　have　turned　back　reverently　from　that　chamber　of　forgotten　sorrows　but　that　something　caught　my　eye　in　the　centre　of　it。

It　was　an　oblong　pile　of　white　stone；　very　ill…used　and　chipped；　wrist…deep　in　dust；　yet　when　a　slant　of　light　came　in　from　above　and　fell　straight　upon　it；　the　marble　against　the　black　gloom　beyond　blazed　like　living　pearl。　　It　was　dazzling；　and　shading　my　eyes　and　going　tenderly　over　through　the　poor　dead　babes；　I　looked；　and　there；　full　in　the　shine；　lay　a　woman's　skeleton；　still　wrapped　in　a　robe　of　which　little　was　left　save　the　hard　gold　embroidery。　　Her　brown　hair；　wonderful　to　say；　still　lay　like　lank；　dead　sea…　weed　about　her；　and　amongst　it　was　a　fillet　crown　of　plain　iron　set　with　gems　such　as　eye　never　looked　upon　before。　There　were　not　many；　but　enough　to　make　the　proud　sim…　plicity　of　that　circlet　glisten　like　a　little　band　of　firea　gleaming　halo　on　her　dead　forehead　infinitely　fascinating。　　At　her　sides　were　two　other　little　bleached　human　flowers；　and　I　stood　before　them　for　a　long　time　in　silent　sympathy。

Could　this　be　Queen　Yang；　of　whom　the　woodcutter　had　told　me？　It　must　bewho　else？　And　if　it　were；　what　strange　chance　had　brought　me　herea　stranger；　yet　the　first　to　come；　since　her　sorrow；　from　her　distant　kindred？　And　if　it　were；　then　that　fillet　belonged　of　right　to　Heru；　the　last　rep…　resentative　of　her　kind。　　Ought　I　not　to　take　it　to　her　rather　than　leave　it　as　spoil　to　the　first　idle　thief　with　pluck　enough　to　deride　the　mysteries　of　the　haunted　city？　Long　time　I　thought　over　it　in　the　faint；　heavy　atmosphere　of　that　hall；　and　then　very　gently　unwound　the　hair；　lifted　the　circlet；　and；　scarcely　knowing　what　I　did；　put　it　in　my　shoulder…bag。

After　that　I　went　more　cheerfully　into　the　outside　sun…　shine；　and　setting　my　clothes　to　dry　on　a　stone；　took　stock　of　the　situation。　　The　place　was；　perhaps；　not　quite　so　romantic　by　day　as　by　night；　and　the　scattered　trees；　matted　by　creepers；　with　which　the　whole　were　overgrown；　prevented　anything　like　an　extensive　view　of　the　ruined　city　being　ob…　tained。　　But　what　gave　me　great　satisfaction　was　to　note　over　these　trees　to　the　eastward　a　two…humped　mountain；　not　more　than　six　or　seven　miles　distantthe　very　one　I　had　mislaid　the　day　before。　　Here　was　reality　and　a　chance　of　getting　back　to　civilisation。　　I　was　as　glad　as　if　home　were　in　sight；　and　not；　perhaps；　the　less　so　because　the　hill　meant　villages　and　food；　and　you　who　have　doubtless　lunched　well　and　lately　will　please　bear　in　mind　I　had　had　nothing　since　breakfast　the　day　before；　and　though　this　may　look　picturesque　on　paper；　in　practice　it　is　a　painful　item　in　one's　programme。

Well；　I　gave　my　damp　clothes　but　a　turn　or　two　more　in　the　sun；　and　then；　arguing　that　from　the　bare　ground　where　the　forest　ended　half…way　up　the　hill；　a　wide　view　would　be　obtained；　hurried　into　my　garments　and　set　off　thither　right　gleefully。　　A　turn　or　two　down　the　blank　streets；　now　prosaic　enough；　an　easy　scramble　through　a　gap　in　the　crumbling　battlements；　and　there　was　the　open　forest　again；　with　a　friendly　path　well　marked　by　the　passage　of　those　wild　animals　who　made　the　city　their　lair　trending　towards　my　landmark。

A　light　breakfast　of　soft　green　nuts；　plucked　on　the　way；　and　then　the　ground　began　to　bend　upwards　and　the　woods　to　thin　a　little。　　With　infinite　ardour；　just　before　mid…　day；　I　scrambled　on　to　a　bare　knoll　on　the　very　hillside；　and　fell　exhausted　before　the　top　could　be　reached。

But　what　were　hunger　or　fatigue　to　the　satisfaction　of　that　moment？　There　was　the　sea　before　me；　the　clear；　strong；　gracious　sea；　blue　leagues　of　it；　furrowed　by　the　white　ridges　of　some　distant　storm。　　I　could　smell　the　scent　of　it　even　here；　and　my　sailor　heart　rose　in　pride　at　the　companion…　ship　of　that　alien　ocean。　　Lovely　and　blessed　thing！　how　often　have　I　turned　from　the　shallow　trivialities　of　the　land　and　found　consolation　in　the　strength　of　your　stately　soli…　tudes！　　How　often　have　I　turned　from　the　tinselled　presence　of　the　shore；　the　infinite　pretensions　of　dry　land　that　make　life　a　sorry；　hectic　sham；　and　found　in　the　black　bosom　of　the　Great　Mother　solace　and　comfort！　　Dear；　lovely　sea；　man…　half　of　every　sphere；　as　far　removed　in　the　sequence　of　your　strong　emotions　from　the　painted　fripperies　of　the　woman…land　as　pole　from　polethe　grateful　blessing　of　the　humblest　of　your　followers　on　you！

The　mere　sight　of　salt　water　did　me　good。　　Heaven　knows　our　separation　had　not　been　long；　and　many　an　unkind　slap　has　the　Mother　given　me　in　the　bygone；　yet　the　mere　sight　of　her　was　tonic；　a　lethe　of　troubles；　a　sedative　for　tired　nerves；　and　I　gazed　that　morning　at　the　illimitable　blue；　the　great；　unfettered　road　to　everywhere；　the　ever…　varied；　the　immutable；　the　thing　which　was　before　every…　thing　and　shall　be　last　of　all；　in　an　ecstasy　of　affection。

There　was　also　other　satisfaction　at　hand。　　Not　a　mile　away　lay　a　well…defined　roaddoubtless　the　one　spoken　of　by　the　wood…cutterand　where　the　track　pointed　to　the　seashore　the　low　roofs　and　circling　smoke　of　a　Thither　town…　ship　showed。

There　I　went　hot…footed；　and；　much　too　hungry　to　be　nice　in　formality；　swung　up　to　the　largest　building　on　the　waterside　quay　and　demanded　breakfast　of　the　man　who　was　lounging　by　its　doorway　chewing　a　honey　reed。　　He　looked　me　up　and　down　without　emotion；　then；　falling　into　the　common　mistake；　said；

〃This　is　not　a　hostel　for　ghosts；　sir。　　We　do　not　board　and　lodge　phantoms　here；　this　is　a　dry　fish　shop。〃

〃Thrice　blessed　trade！〃　I　answered。　　〃Give　me　some　dried　fish；　good　fellow；　or；　for　the　matter　of　that；　dried　horse　or　dog；　or　anything　mortal　teeth　can　bite　through；　and　I　will　show　you　my　tastes　are　altogether　mundane。〃

But　he　shook　his　head。　　〃This　is　no　place　for　the　likes　of　you；　who　come；　mayhap；　from　the　city　of　Yang　or　some　other　abode　of　disembodied　spiritsyou；　who　come　for　mischief　and　pay　harbourage　with　mischanceis　it　likely　you　could　eat　wholesome　food？〃

〃Indeed　I　could；　and　plenty　of　it；　seeing　I　have　dined　and　breakfasted　along　the　hedges　with　the　blackbirds　this　two　days。　　Look　here；　I　will　pay　in　advance。　　Will　that　get　me　a　meal？〃　and；　whipping　out　my　knife；　cut　off　another　of　my　fast…receding　coat　buttons。

The　man　took　it　with　great　interest；　as　I　hoped　he　would；　the　yellow　metal　being　apparently　a　very　scarce　commodity　in　his　part　of　the　planet。

〃Gold？〃　he　asked。

〃Wellahem！　　I　forgot　to　ask　the　man　who　sewed　them　on　for　me　what　they　were　exactly；　but　it　looks　like　gold；　doesn't　it？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　turning　it　to　and　fro　admiringly　in　his　hand；　〃you　are　the　first　ghost　I　ever　knew　to　pay　in　ad…　vance；　and　plenty　of　them　go　to　and　fro　through　here。　　Such　a　pretty　thing　is　well　worth　a　mealif；　indeed；　you　can　stomach　our　rough　fare。　　Here；　you　woman　within；〃　he　called　to　the　lady　whom　I　presume　was　his　wife；　〃here　is　a　gentleman　from　the　nether　regions　who　wants　some　break…　fast　and　has　paid　in　advance。　　Give　him　some　of　your　best；　for　he　has　paid　well。〃

〃And　what；〃　said　a　female　voice　from　inside；　〃what　if　I　refused　to　serve　another　of　these　plaguy　wanderers　you　are　always　foisting　upon　me？〃

〃Don't　mind　her　tongue；　sir。　　It's　the　worst　part　of　her；　though　she　is　mighty　proud　of　it。　　Go　in　and　she　will　see　you　do　not　come　out　hungry；〃　and　the　Thither　man　returned　calmly　to　his　honey　stick。

〃Come　on；　you　Soul…with…a…man's…stomach；〃　growled　the　woman；　and　too　hungry　to　be　particular　about　the　tone　of　invitation；　I　strode　into　the　parlour　of　that　strange　refreshment　place。　　The　woman　was　the　first　I　had　seen　of　the　outer　race；　and　better　than　might　have　been　expected　in　appearance。　　Big；　strong；　and　ruddy；　she　was　a　mental　shock　after　the　slender　slips　of　girlhood　on　the　far　side　of　the　water；　half　a　dozen　of　whom　she　could　have　carried　off　without　effort　in　her　long　arms。　　Yet　there　was　about　her　the　credential　of　rough　health；　the　dignity　of　muscle；　an　upright　carriage；　an　animal　grace　of　movement；　and　withal　a　comely　though　strongly　featured　face；　which　pleased　me　at　once；　and　later　on　I　had　great　cause　to　remember　her　with　gratitude。　　She　eyed　me　sulkily　for　a　minute；　then　her　frown　gradually　softened；　and　the　instinctive　love　of　the　woman　for　the　supernatural　mastered　her　other　feelings。

〃Is　that　how　you　looked　in　another　world？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；　exactly；　cap　to　boots。　　What　do　you　think　of　the　attire；　ma'am？〃

〃Not　much；〃　replied　the　good　woman　frankly。　　〃It　could　not　have　been　becoming　even　when　new；　and　you　appear　as　though　you　had　taken　a　muddy　road　since　then。　　What　did　you　die　of？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　so　much　as　this；　madamthat　what　I　am　like　to　die　of　now　is　hunger；　plain；　unvarnished　hunger；　so；　in　Heaven's　name；　get　out　what　you　have　and　let　me　fall…to；　for　my　last　meal　was　yesterday　morning。〃

Whereat；　with　a　shrug　of　her　shoulders　at　the　eccentric…　ities　of　nether　folk；　the　woman　went　to　the　rear　of　the　house；　and　presently　came　back　with　a　meal　which　showed　her　husband　had　done　scant　justice　to　the　establishment　by　calling　it　a　dry　fish　shop。　　It　is　true；　fish　supplied　the　staple　of　the　repast；　as　was　inevitable　in　a　seaport；　but；　like　all　Martian　fish；　it　was　of　ambrosial　kind；　with　a　savour　about　it　of　wine　and　sunshine　such　as　no　fish　on　our　side　of　space　can　boast　of。　　Then　there　were　cakes；　steaming　and　hot；　vegetables　which　fitted　into　the　previous　course　with　exquisite　nicety；　and；　lastly；　a　wooden　tankard　of　the　in…　variable　Thither　beer　to　finish　off。　　Such　a　meal　as　a　hungry　man　might　consider　himself　fortunate　to　meet　with　any　day。

The　woman　watched　me　eat　with　much　satisfaction；　and　when　I　had　answered　a　score　of　artless　questions　about　my　previous　state；　or　present　condition　and　prospects；　more　or　less　to　her　satisfaction；　she　supplied　me　in　turn　with　some　information　which　was　really　valuable　to　me　just　then。

First　I　learned　that　Ar…hap's　men；　with　the　abducted　Heru；　had　passed　through　this　very　port　two　days　before；　and　by　this　time　were　probably　in　the　main　town；　which；　it　appeared；　was　only　about　twelve　hours'　rowing　up　the　salt…　water　estuary　outside。　　Here　was　news！　　Heru；　the　prize　and　object　of　my　wild　adventure；　close　at　hand　and　well。　　It　brought　a　whole　new　train　of　thoughts；　for　the　last　few　days　had　been　so　full　of　the　stress　of　travel；　the　bare；　hard　necessity　of　getting　forward；　that　the　object　of　my　quest；　illogical　as　it　may　seem；　had　gone　into　the　background　before　these　things。　　And　here　again；　as　I　finished　the　last　cake　and　drank　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　ale　tankard；　the　extreme　folly　of　the　venture　came　upon　me；　the　madness　of　venturing　single…handed　into　the　den　of　the　Wood　King。　What　had　I　to　hope　for？　What　chance；　however　remote；　was　there　of　successfully　wresting　that　blooming　prize　from　the　arms　of　her　captor？　Force　was　out　of　the　question；　stealth　was　utterly　impractical；　as　for　cajolery；　apparently　the　sole　remaining　means　of　winning　back　the　Princesswhy；　one　might　as　well　try　the　persuasion　of　a　penny　flute　upon　a　hungry　eagle　as　seek　to　rouse　Ar…hap's　sympathies　for　bereaved　Hath　in　that