gulliver of mars-第28章

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。　　Some　ribald　passer…by　put　a　battered　felt　hat　upon　Vishnu's　sacred　curls；　and　there　the　poor　image　sat；　an　alien　in　an　indifferent　land；　a　sack　across　its　shoulders；　a　〃billycock〃　upon　its　head；　and　honoured　at　most　with　a　passing　stare。　　I　thought　of　that　lonely　image　as　al…　most　as　lonely　I　stood　on　the　Thither　men's　quay；　without　the　support　of　friends　or　heroics；　wondering　what　to　do　next。

However；　a　cheerful　disposition　is　sometimes　better　than　a　banking　account；　and　not　having　the　one　I　cultivated　the　other；　sunning　myself　amongst　the　bales　for　a　time；　and　then；　since　none　seemed　interested　in　me；　wandered　off　into　the　town；　partly　to　satisfy　my　curiosity；　and　partly　in　the　vague　hope　of　ascertaining　if　my　princess　was　really　here；　and；　if　possible；　getting　sight　of　her。

Meanwhile　it　turned　hot　with　a　supernatural；　heavy　sort　of　heat　altogether；　I　overheard　passersby　exclaiming；　out　of　the　common；　and　after　wandering　for　an　hour　through　gardens　and　endless　streets　of　thatched　huts；　I　was　glad　enough　to　throw　myself　down　in　the　shadow　of　some　trees　on　the　outskirts　of　the　great　central　pile　of　buildings；　a　whole　village　in　itself　of　beam…built　towers　and　dwelling…　place；　suggesting　by　its　superior　size　that　it　might　actually　be　Ar…hap's　palace。

Hotter　and　hotter　it　grew；　while　a　curious　secondary　sunrise　in　the　west；　the　like　of　which　I　never　saw　before　seemed　to　add　to　the　heat；　and　heavier　and　heavier　my　eye…　lids；　till　I　dozed　at　last；　and　finally　slept　uncomfortably　for　a　time。

Rousing　up　suddenly；　imagine　my　surprise　to　see　sitting；　chin　on　knees；　about　a　yard　away；　a　slender　girlish　figure；　infinitely　out　of　place　in　that　world　of　rough　barbarians。　Was　it　possible？　　Was　I　dreaming？　　No；　there　was　no　doubt　about　it；　she　was　a　girl　of　the　Hither　folk；　slim　and　pretty；　but　with　a　wonderfully　sad　look　in　her　gazelle　eyes；　and　scarcely　a　sign　of　the　indolent　happiness　of　Seth　in　the　pale　little　face　regarding　me　so　fixedly。

〃Good　gracious；　miss；〃　I　said；　still　rubbing　my　eyes　and　doubting　my　senses；　〃have　you　dropped　from　the　skies？　　You　are　the　very　last　person　I　expected　to　see　in　this　barbarian　place。〃

〃And　you　too；　sir。　　Oh；　it　is　lovely　to　see　one　so　newly　from　home；　and　free…seemingnot　a　slave。〃

〃How　did　you　know　I　was　from　Seth？〃

〃Oh；　that　was　easy　enough；〃　and　with　a　little　laugh　she　pointed　to　a　pebble　lying　between　us；　on　which　was　a　piece　of　battered　sweetmeat　in　a　perforated　bamboo　box。　　Poor　An　had　given　me　something　just　like　that　in　a　playful　mood；　and　I　had　kept　it　in　my　pocket　for　her　sake；　being；　as　you　will　have　doubtless　observed；　a　sentimental　young　man；　and　now　I　clapped　my　hand　where　it　should　have　been；　but　it　was　gone。

〃Yes；〃　said　my　new　friend；　〃that　is　yours。　　I　smelt　the　sweetmeat　coming　up　the　hill；　and　crossed　the　grass　until　I　found　you　here　asleep。　　Oh；　it　was　lovely！　　I　took　it　from　your　pocket；　and　white　Seth　rose　up　before　my　swimming　eyes；　even　at　the　scent　of　it。　　I　am　Si；　well　named；　for　that　in　our　land　means　sadness；　Si；　the　daughter　of　Prince　Hath's　chief　sweetmeat…maker；　so　I　should　know　something　of　such　stuff。　　May　I；　please；　nibble　a　little　piece？〃

〃Eat　it　all；　my　lass；　and　welcome。　　How　came　you　here？　But　I　can　guess。　　Do　not　answer　if　you　would　rather　not。〃

〃Ay；　but　I　will。　　It　is　not　every　day　I　can　speak　to　ears　so　friendly　as　yours。　　I　am　a　slave；　chosen　for　my　luckless　beauty　as　last　year's　tribute　to　Ar…hap。〃

〃And　now？〃

〃And　now　the　slave　of　Ar…hap's　horse…keeper；　set　aside　to　make　room　for　a　fresher　face。〃

〃And　do　you　know　whose　face　that　is？〃

〃Not　I；　a　hapless　maid　sent　into　this　land　of　horrors；　to　bear　ignominy　and　stripes；　to　eat　coarse　food　and　do　coarse　work；　the　miserable　plaything　of　some　brute　in　semi…human　form；　with　but　the　one　consolation　of　dying　early　as　we　tribute…women　always　die。　　Poor　comrade　in　exile；　I　only　know　her　as　yet　by　sympathy。〃

〃What　if　I　said　it　was　Heru；　the　princess？〃

The　Martian　girl　sprang　to　her　feet；　and　clasping　her　hands　exclaimed；

〃Heru；　the　Slender！　　Then　the　end　comes；　for　it　is　written　in　our　books　that　the　last　tribute　is　paid　when　the　best　is　paid。　　Oh；　how　splendid　if　she　gave　herself　of　free　will　to　this　slavery　to　end　it　once　for　all。　　Was　it　so？〃

〃I　think；　Si；　your　princess　could　not　have　known　of　that　tradition；　she　did　not　come　willingly。　　Besides；　I　am　come　to　fetch　her　back；　if　it　may　be；　and　that　spoils　the　look　of　sacrifice。〃

〃You　to　fetch　her　back；　and　from　Ar…hap's　arms？　　My　word；　Sir　Spirit；　you　must　know　some　potent　charms；　or；　what　is　less　likely；　my　countrymen　must　have　amazingly　improved　in　pluck　since　I　left　them。　　Have　you　a　great　army　at　hand？〃

But　I　only　shook　my　head；　and；　touching　my　sword；　said　that　here　was　the　only　army　coming　to　rescue　Heru。　Whereon　the　lady　replied　that　she　thought　my　valour　did　me　more　honour　than　my　discretion。　　How　did　I　propose　to　take　the　princess　from　her　captors？

〃To　tell　the　truth；　damsel；　that　is　a　matter　which　will　have　to　be　left　to　your　invention；　or　the　kindness　of　such　as　you。　　I　am　here　on　a　hare…brained　errand；　playing　knight…　errant　in　a　way　that　shocks　my　common　sense。　　But　since　the　matter　has　gone　so　far　I　will　see　it　through；　or　die　in　the　attempt。　　Your　bully　lord　shall　either　give　me　Heru；　stock；　lock；　and　block；　or　hang　me　from　a　yard…arm。　　But　I　would　rather　have　the　lady。　　Come；　you　will　help　me；　and；　as　a　beginning；　if　she　is　in　yonder　shanty　get　me　speech　with　her。〃

Poor　Si's　eyes　dilated　at　the　peril　of　the　suggestion；　and　I　saw　the　sluggish　Martian　nature　at　war　against　her　better　feelings。　　But　presently　the　latter　conquered。　　〃I　will　try；〃　she　said。　　〃What　matter　a　few　stripes　more　or　less？〃　pointing　to　her　rosy　shoulders　where　red　scars　crisscross　upon　one　an…　other　showed　how　the　Martian　girls　fared　in　Ar…hap's　palace　when　their　novelty　wore　off。　　〃I　will　try　to　help　you；　and　if　they　kill　me　for　itwhy；　that　will　not　matter　much。〃　　And　forthwith　in　that　blazing　forenoon　under　the　flickering　shadow　of　the　trees　we　put　our　heads　together　to　see　what　we　might　do　for　Heru。

It　was　not　much　for　the　moment。　　Try　what　we　would　that　afternoon；　I　could　not　persuade　those　who　had　charge　of　the　princess　to　let　me　even　approach　her　place　of　im…　prisonment；　but　Si；　as　a　woman；　was　more　successful；　actually　seeing　her　for　a　few　moments；　and　managed　to　whisper　in　her　ear　that　I　had　come；　the　Spirit…with…the…gold…buttons…　down…his　front；　afterwards　describing　to　me　in　flowing　Mar…　tian　imagerybut　doubtless　not　more　highly　coloured　than　poor　Heru's　emotion　warrantedhow　delightedly　that　lady　had　received　the　news。

Si　also　did　me　another　service；　presenting　me　to　the　porter's　wife；　who　kept　a　kind　of　boarding…house　at　the　gates　of　Ar…hap's　palace　for　gentlemen　and　ladies　with　grievances。　　I　had　heard　of　lobbying　before；　and　the　pre…　sentation　of　petitions；　though　I　had　never　indulged　myself　in　the　pastime；　but　the　crowd　of　petitioners　here；　with　petitions　as　wild　and　picturesque　as　their　own　motley　ap…　pearances；　was　surely　the　strangest　that　ever　gathered　round　a　seat　of　supreme　authority。

Si　whispered　in　the　ear　of　that　good　woman　the　nature　of　my　errand；　with　doubtless　some　blandishment　of　her　own；　and　my　errand　being　one　so　much　above　the　vulgar　and　so　nearly　touching　the　sovereign；　I　was　at　once　ac…　corded　a　separate　room　in　the　gate…house；　whence　I　could　look　down　in　comparative　peace　on　the　common　herd　of　suitors；　and　listen　to　the　buzz　of　their　invective　as　they　practised　speeches　which　I　calculated　it　would　take　Ar…hap　all　the　rest　of　his　reign　to　listen　to；　without　allowing　him　any　time　for　pronouncing　verdicts　on　them。

Here　I　made　myself　comfortable；　and　awaited　the　return　of　the　sovereign　as　placidly　as　might　be。　　Meanwhile　fate　was　playing　into　my　feeble　hands。

I　have　said　it　was　hot　weather。　　At　first　this　seemed　but　an　outcome　of　the　Martian　climate；　but　as　the　hours　went　by　the　heat　developed　to　an　incredible　extent。　　Also　that　red　glare　previously　noted　in　the　west　grew　in　intensity；　till；　as　the　hours　slipped　by；　all　the　town　was　staring　at　it　in　panting　horror。　　I　have　seen　a　prairie　on　fire；　luckily　from　the　far　side　of　a　comfortably　broad　river；　and　have　ridden　through　a　pine…　forest　when　every　tree　for　miles　was　an　uplifted　torch；　and　pungent　yellow　smoke　rolled　down　each　corrie　side　in　grey　rivers　crested　with　dancing　flame。　　But　that　Martian　glare　was　more　sombre　and　terrible　than　either。

〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked　of　poor　Si；　who　came　out　gasping　to　speak　to　me　by　the　gate…house。

〃None　of　us　know；　and　unless　the　gods　these　Thither　folk　believe　in　are　angry；　and　intend　to　destroy　the　world　with　yonder　red　sword　in　the　sky；　I　cannot　guess。　　Perhaps；〃　she　added；　with　a　sudden　flash　of　inspiration；　〃it　comes　by　your　machinations　for　Heru's　help。〃

〃No！〃

〃If　not　by　your　wish；　then；　in　the　name　of　all　you　love；　set　your　wish　against　it。　　If　you　know　any　incantations　suitable　for　the　occasion；　oh；　practise　them　now　at　once；　for　look；　even　the　very　grass　is　withering；　birds　are　dropping　from　trees；　fishes；　horribly　bloated；　are　beginning　to　float　down　the　steaming　rills；　and　I；　with　all　others；　have　a　nameless　dread　upon　me。〃

Hotter　and　hotter　it　grew；　until　about　sunset　the　red　blaze　upon　the　sky　slowly　opened；　and　showed　us　for　about　half　an　hour；　through　the　opening　a　lurid；　flame…coloured　meteor　far　out　in　space　beyond；　then　the　cleft　closed　again；　and　through　that　abominable　red　curtain　came　the　very　breath　of　Hades。

What　was　really　happening　I　am　not　astronomer　enough　to　say；　though　on　cooler　consideration　I　have　come　to　the　conclusion　that　our　planet；　in　going　out　to　its　summer　pastures　in　the　remoter　fields　of　space；　had　somehow　come　across　a　wandering　lesser　world　and　got　pretty　well　singed　in　passing。　　This　is　purely　my　own　opinion；　and　I　have　not　yet　submitted　it　to　the　kindly　authorities　of　the　Lick　Obser…　vatory　for　verification。　　All　I　can　say　for　certain　is　that　in　an　incredibly　short　space　of　time　the　face　of　the　country　changed　from　green　to　sear；　flowers　drooped；　streams　（there　were　not　many　in　the　neighbourhood　apparently）　dried　up；　fishes　died；　a　mighty　thirst　there　was　nothing　to　quench　set…　tled　down　on　man　and　beast；　and　we　all　felt　that　unless　Providence　listened　to　the　prayers　and　imprecations　which　the　whole　town　set　to　work　with　frantic　zeal　to　hurl　at　it；　or　that　abominable　comet　in　the　sky　sheered　off　on　another　tack　with　the　least　possible　delay；　we　should　all　be　re…　duced　to　cinders　in　a　very　brief　space　of　time。




CHAPTER　XVII

The　evening　of　the　second　day　had　already　come；　when　Ar…hap　arrived　home　after　weekending　amongst　a　tribe　of　rebellious　subjects。　　But　any　imposing　State　entry　which　might　have　been　intended　was　rendered　impossible　by　the　heat　and　the　threat　of　that　baleful　world　in　the　western　sky。

It　was　a　lurid　but　disordered　spectacle　which　I　wit…　nessed　from　my　room　in　the　gate…house　just　after　nightfall。　The　returning　army　had　apparently　fallen　away　exhausted　on　its　march　through　the　town；　only　some　three　hundred　of　the　bodyguard　straggled　up　the　hill；　limp　and　sweating；　behind　a　group　of　pennons；　in　the　midst　of　which　rode　a　horseman　whose　commanding　presence　and　splendid　war　harness　impressed　me；　though　I　could　not　m