gulliver of mars-第30章

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　necromancer's　could　not　between　them　have　de…　vised　a　harder　task。〃

Out　into　the　courtyard　I　went；　with　my　heart　beating　finely　in　spite　of　my　assumed　indifference；　got　the　bag　from　a　peg　in　my　sleeping…room；　and　was　back　before　the　log　throne　ere　four　minutes　were　gone。

〃The　old　Hither　king's　compliments　to　your　majesty；〃　I　said；　bowing；　while　a　deathly　hush　fell　on　all　the　assembly；　〃and　he　says　though　your　ancestors　little　liked　to　hear　his　voice　while　alive；　he　says　he　has　no　objection　to　giving　you　some　jaw　now　he　is　dead；〃　and　I　threw　down　on　the　floor　the　golden　circlet　of　the　frozen　king。

Ar…hap's　eyes　almost　started　from　his　head　as；　with　his　courtiers；　he　glared　in　silent　amazement　at　that　shining　thing　while　the　great　drops　of　fear　and　perspiration　trickled　down　his　forehead。　　As　for　poor　Heru；　she　rose　like　a　spirit　behind　them；　gazed　at　the　jaw…bone　of　her　mythical　an…　cestor；　and　then　suddenly　realising　my　errand　was　done　and　she　apparently　free；　held　out　her　hands；　and；　with　a　tremulous　cry；　would　have　come　to　me。

But　Ar…hap　was　too　quick　for　her。　　All　the　black　savage　blood　swelled　into　his　veins　as　he　swept　her　away　with　one　great　arm；　and　then　with　his　foot　gave　the　luckless　jaw　a　kick　that　sent　it　glittering　and　spinning　through　the　far　doorway　out　into　the　sunshine。

〃Sit　down；〃　he　roared；　〃you　brazen　wench；　who　are　so　eager　to　leave　a　king's　side　for　a　nameless　vagrant's　care！　And　you；　sir；〃　turning　to　me；　and　fairly　trembling　with　rage　and　dread；　〃I　will　not　gainsay　that　you　have　done　the　errand　set　you；　but　it　might　this　once　be　chance　that　got　you　that　cursed　token；　some　one　happy　turn　of　luck。　　I　will　not　yield　my　prize　on　one　throw　of　the　dice。　　Another　task　you　must　do。　　Once　might　be　chance；　but　such　chance　comes　not　twice。〃

〃You　swore　to　give　me　the　maid　this　time。〃

〃And　why　should　I　keep　my　word　to　a　half…proved　spirit　such　as　you？〃

〃There　are　some　particularly　good　reasons　why　you　should；〃　I　said；　striking　an　attitude　which　I　had　once　seen　a　music…hall　dramatist　take　when　he　was　going　to　blast　somebody's　futurea　stick　with　a　star　on　top　of　it　in　his　hand　and　forty　lines　of　blank　verse　in　his　mouth。

The　king　writhed；　and　begged　me　with　a　sign　to　desist。

〃We　have　no　wish　to　anger　you。　　Do　us　this　other　task　and　none　will　doubt　that　you　are　a　potent　spirit；　and　even　I；　Ar…hap；　will　listen　to　you。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　I　answered　sulkily；　〃what　is　it　to　be　this　time？〃

After　a　minute's　consultation；　and　speaking　slowly　as　though　conscious　of　how　much　hung　on　his　words；　the　king　said；

〃Listen！　　My　soothsayer　tells　me　that　somewhere　there　is　a　city　lost　in　a　forest；　and　a　temple　lost　in　the　city；　and　a　tomb　lost　in　the　temple；　a　city　of　ghosts　and　djins　given　over　to　bad　spirits；　wherefore　all　human　men　shun　it　by　day　and　night。　　And　on　the　tomb　is　she　who　was　once　queen　there；　and　by　her　lies　her　crown。　　Quick！　oh　you　to　whom　all　dis…　tances　are　nothing；　and　who　see；　by　your　finer　essence；　into　all　times　and　places。　　Away　to　that　city！　　Jostle　the　memories　of　the　unclean　things　that　hide　in　its　shadows；　ask　which　amongst　them　knows　where　dead　Queen　Yang　still　lies　in　dusty　state。　　Get　guides　amongst　your　comrade　ghosts。　　Find　Queen　Yang；　and　bring　me　here　in　five　minutes　the　bloody　circlet　from　her　hair。〃

Then；　and　then　for　the　first　time；　I　believed　the　planet　was　haunted　indeed；　and　I　myself　unknowingly　under　some　strange　and　watchful　influence。　　Spirits；　demons！　　Oh！　what　but　some　incomprehensible　power；　some　unseen　influence　shap…　ing　my　efforts　to　its　ends；　could　have　moved　that　hairy　barbarian　to　play　a　second　time　into　my　hands　like　this；　to　choose　from　the　endless　records　of　his　world　the　second　of　the　two　incidents　I　had　touched　in　hasty　travel　through　it？　I　was　almost　overcome　for　a　minute；　then；　pulling　myself　together；　strode　forward　fiercely；　and；　speaking　so　that　all　could　hear　me；　cried；　〃Base　king；　who　neither　knows　the　capacities　of　a　spirit　nor　has　learned　as　yet　to　dread　its　anger；　see！　your　commission　is　executed　in　a　thought；　just　as　your　punishment　might　be。　　Heru；　come　here。〃　　And　when　the　girl；　speechless　with　amazement；　had　risen　and　slipped　over　to　me；　I　straightened　her　pretty　hair　from　her　fore…　head；　and　then；　in　a　way　which　would　make　my　fortune　if　I　could　repeat　it　at　a　conjuror's　table；　whipped　poor　Yang's　gemmy　crown　from　my　pocket；　flashed　its　baleful　splendour　in　the　eyes　of　the　courtiers；　and　placed　it　on　the　tresses　of　the　first　royal　lady　who　had　worn　it　since　its　rightful　owner　died　a　hundred　years　before。

A　heavy　silence　fell　on　the　hall　as　I　finished；　and　nothing　was　heard　for　a　time　save　Heru　sobbing　on　my　breast　and　a　thirsty　baby　somewhere　outside　calling　to　its　mother　for　the　water　that　was　not　to　be　had。　　But　presently　on　those　sounds　came　the　fall　of　anxious　feet；　and　a　messenger；　entering　the　doorway；　approached　the　throne；　laid　him…　self　out　flat　twice；　after　which　obeisance　he　proceeded　to　remind　the　king　of　the　morning's　ceremonial　on　a　distant　hill　to　〃pray　away　the　comet；〃　telling　his　majesty　that　all　was　ready　and　the　procession　anxiously　awaiting　him。

Whereon　Ar…hap；　obviously　very　well　content　to　change　the　subject；　rose；　and；　coming　down　from　the　dais；　gave　me　his　hand。　　He　was　a　fine　fellow；　as　I　have　said；　strong　and　bold；　and　had　not　behaved　badly　for　an　autocrat；　so　that　I　gripped　his　mighty　fist　with　great　pleasure。

〃I　cannot　deny；　stranger；〃　he　said；　〃that　you　have　done　all　that　has　been　asked　of　you；　and　the　maid　is　fairly　yours。　Yet　before　you　take　away　the　prize　I　must　have　some　as…　surance　of　what　you　yourself　will　do　with　her。　　Therefore；　for　the　moment；　until　this　horrible　thing　in　the　sky　which　threatens　my　people　with　destruction　has　gone；　let　it　be　truce　between　usyou　to　your　lodgings；　and　the　princess　back；　unharmed；　amongst　my　women　till　we　meet　again。〃

〃But〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　the　king；　waving　his　hand。　　〃Be　content　with　your　advantage。　　And　now　to　business　more　important　than　ten　thousand　silly　wenches；〃　and　gathering　up　his　robes　over　his　splendid　war…gear　the　wood　king　stalked　haughtily　from　the　hall。




CHAPTER　XVIII

Hotter　and　hotter　grew　that　stifling　spell；　more　and　more　languid　man　and　beast；　drier　and　drier　the　parching　earth。

All　the　water　gave　out　on　the　morning　after　I　had　bearded　Ar…hap　in　his　den；　and　our　strength　went　with　it。　No　earthly　heat　was　ever　like　it；　and　it　drank　our　vitality　up　from　every　pore。　　Water　there　was　down　below　in　the　bitter；　streaming　gulf；　but　so　noisome　that　we　dared　not　even　bathe　there；　here　there　was　none　but　the　faintest　trickle。　All　discipline　was　at　an　end；　all　desire　save　such　as　was　born　of　thirst。　　Heru　I　saw　as　often　as　I　wished　as　she　lay　gasping；　with　poor　Si　at　her　feet；　in　the　women's　verandah；　but　the　heat　was　so　tremendous　that　I　gazed　at　her　with　lack…lustre　eyes；　staggering　to　and　fro　amongst　the　court…　yard　shadows；　without　nerve　to　plot　her　rescue　or　strength　to　carry　out　anything　my　mind　might　have　conceived。

We　prayed　for　rain　and　respite。　　Ar…hap　had　prayed　with　a　wealth　of　picturesque　ceremonial。　　We　had　all　prayed　and　cursed　by　turns；　but　still　the　heavens　would　not　relent；　and　the　rain　came　not。

At　last　the　stifling　heat　and　vapour　reached　an　almost　intolerable　pitch。　　The　earth　reeked　with　unwholesome　hum…　ours　no　common　summer　could　draw　from　it；　the　air　was　sulphurous　and　heavy；　while　overhead　the　sky　seemed　a　tawny　dome；　from　edge　to　edge　of　angry　clouds；　parting　now　and　then　to　let　us　see　the　red　disc　threatening　us。

Hour　after　hour　slipped　by　until；　when　evening　was　upon　us；　the　clouds　drew　together；　and　thunder；　with　a　continu…　ous　low　rumble；　began　to　rock　from　sky　to　sky。　　Fitful　showers　of　rain；　odorous　and　heavy；　but　unsatisfying；　fell；　and　birds　and　beasts　of　the　woodlands　came　slinking　in　to　our　streets　and　courtyards。　　Ever　since　the　sky　first　darkened　our　own　animals　had　become　strangely　familiar；　and　now　here　were　these　wild　things　of　the　woods　slinking　in　for　companion…　ship；　sagheaded　and　frightened。　　To　me　especially　they　came；　until　that　last　evening　as　I　staggered　dying　about　the　streets　or　sat　staring　into　the　remorseless　sky　from　the　steps　of　Heru's　prison　house；　all　sorts　of　beasts　drew　softly　in　and　crowded　about；　whether　I　sat　or　moved；　all　asking　for　the　hope　I　had　not　to　give　them。

At　another　time　this　might　have　been　embarrassing；　then　it　seemed　pure　commonplace。　　It　was　a　sight　to　see　them　slink　in　between　the　useless　showers；　which　fell　like　hot　tears　upon　ussleek　panthers　with　lolling　tongues；　russet…red　wood　dogs；　bears　and　sloths　from　the　dark　arcades　of　the　remote　forests；　all　casting　themselves　down　gasping　in　the　palace　shadows；　strange　deer；　who　staggered　to　the　garden　plots　and　lay　there　heaving　their　lives　out；　mighty　boars；　who　came　from　the　river　marshes　and　silently　nozzled　a　place　amongst　their　enemies　to　die　in！　　Even　the　wolves　came　off　the　hills；　and；　with　bloodshot　eyes　and　tongues　that　dripped　foam；　flung　themselves　down　in　my　shadow。

All　along　the　tall　stockades　apes　sat　sad　and　listless；　and　on　the　roof…ridges　storks　were　dying。　　Over　the　branches　of　the　trees；　whose　leaves　were　as　thin　as　though　we　had　had　a　six　months'　drought；　the　toucans　and　Martian　parrots　hung　limp　and　fashionless　like　gaudy　rags；　and　in　the　courtyard　ground　the　corn…rats　came　up　from　their　tunnels　in　the　scorching　earth　to　die；　squeaking　in　scores　along　under　the　walls。

Our　common　sorrow　made　us　as　sociable　as　though　I　were　Noah；　and　Ar…hap's　palace　mound　another　Ararat。　Hour　after　hour　I　sat　amongst　all　these　lesser　beasts　in　the　hot　darkness；　waiting　for　the　end。　　Every　now　and　then　the　heavy　clouds　parted；　changing　the　gloom　to　sudden　fiery　daylight　as　the　great　red　eye　in　the　west　looked　upon　us　through　the　crevice；　and；　taking　advantage　of　those　gleams；　I　would　reel　across　to　where；　under　a　spout　leading　from　a　dried　rivulet；　I　had　placed　a　cup　to　collect　the　slow　and　tepid　drops　that　were　all　now　coming　down　the　reed　for　Heru。　　And　as　I　went　back　each　time　with　that　sickly　spoonful　at　the　bottom　of　the　vessel　all　the　dying　beasts　lifted　their　heads　and　watchedthe　thirsty　wolves　shamb…　ling　after　me；　the　boars　half　sat　up　and　grunted　plaintively；　the　panthers；　too　weak　to　rise；　beat　the　dusty　ground　with　their　tails；　and　from　the　portico　the　blue　storks；　with　trailing　wings；　croaked　husky　greeting。

But　slower　and　slower　came　the　dripping　water；　more　and　more　intolerable　the　heat。　　At　last　I　could　stand　it　no　longer。　　What　purpose　did　it　serve　to　lay　gasping　like　this；　dying　cruelly　without　a　hope　of　rescue；　when　a　shorter　way　was　at　my　side？　　I　had　not　drank　for　a　day　and　a　half。　　I　was　past　active　reviling；　my　head　swam；　my　reason　was　clouded。　No！　　I　would　not　stand　it　any　longer。　　Once　more　I　would　take　Heru　and　poor　Si　the　cup　that　was　but　a　mockery　after　all；　then　fix　my　sword　into　the　ground　and　try　what　next　the　Fates　had　in　store　for　me。

So　once　again　the　leathern　mug　was　fetched　and　carried　through　the　prostrate　guards　to　where　the　Martian　girl　lay；　like　a　withered　flower；　upon　her　couch。　　Once　again　I　moistened　those　fair　lips；　while　my　own　tongue　was　black　and　swollen　in　my　throat；　then　told　Si；　who　had　had　none　all　the　afternoon；　to　drink　half　and　leave　half　for　H