the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第33章
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emotions had she guessed what thoughts were his！ It was she who broke
the silence。
〃Can you find the way to the long…house where my father is？〃 she
asked。
Bulan； startled at the question； looked up from his reverie。 The thing
must be faced； then； sooner than he thought。 How was he to tell her of his
intention？ It occurred to him to sound her firstpossibly she would make
no objection to the plan。
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〃You are anxious to return？〃 he asked。
〃Why； yes； of course； I am；〃 she replied。 〃My father will be half mad
with apprehension； until he knows that I am safe。 What a strange
question； indeed。〃 Still； however； she did not doubt the motives of her
companion。
〃Suppose we should be unable to find our way to the long…house？〃 he
continued。
〃Oh； don't say such a thing；〃 cried the girl。 〃It would be terrible。 I
should die of misery and fright and loneliness in this awful jungle。 Surely
you can find your way to the river it was but a short march through the
jungle from where we landed to the spot at which you took me away from
that fearful Malay。〃
The girl's words cast a cloud over Bulan's hopes。 The future looked
less roseate with the knowledge that she would be unhappy in the life that
he had been mapping for them。 He was silentthinking。 In his breast a
riot of conflicting emotions were waging the first great battle which was to
point the trend of the man's characterwould the selfish and the base
prevail； or would the noble？
With the thought of losing her his desire for her companionship
became almost a mania。 To return her to her father and von Horn would
be to lose her of that there could be no doubt； for they would not leave
her long in ignorance of his origin。 Then； in addition to being deprived
of her forever； he must suffer the galling mortification of her scorn。
It was a great deal to ask of a fledgling morality that was yet scarcely
cognizant of its untried wings； but even as the man wavered between right
and wrong there crept into his mind the one great and burning question of
his lifehad he a soul？ And he knew that upon his decision of the fate of
Virginia Maxon rested to some extent the true answer to that question； for；
unconsciously； he had worked out his own crude soul hypothesis which
imparted to this invisible entity the power to direct his actions only for
good。 Therefore he reasoned that wickedness presupposed a small and
worthless soul； or the entire lack of one。
That she would hate a soulless creature he accepted as a foregone
conclusion。 He desired her respect； and that fact helped him to his final
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decision； but the thing that decided him was born of the truly chivalrous
nature he possessedhe wanted Virginia Maxon to be happy； it mattered
not at what cost to him。
The girl had been watching him closely as he stood silently thinking
after her last words。 She did not know the struggle that the calm face hid；
yet she felt that the dragging moments were big with the question of her
fate。
〃Well？〃 she said at length。
〃We must eat first；〃 he replied in a matter…of…fact tone； and not at all as
though he was about to renounce his life's happiness； 〃and then we shall
set out in search of your father。 I shall take you to him； Virginia； if man
can find him。〃
〃I knew that you could；〃 she said； simply； 〃but how my father and I
ever can repay you I do not knowdo you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bulan； and there was a sudden rush of fire to his eyes that
kept Virginia Maxon from urging a detailed explanation of just how she
might repay him。
In truth she did not know whether to be angry； or frightened； or glad of
the truth that she read there； or mortified that it had awakened in her a
realization that possibly an analysis of her own interest in this young
stranger might reveal more than she had imagined。
The constraint that suddenly fell upon them was relieved when Bulan
motioned her to follow him back down the trail into the gorge in search of
food。 There they sat together upon a fallen tree beside a tiny rivulet； eating
the fruit that the man gathered。 Often their eyes met as they talked； but
always the girl's fell before the open worship of the man's。
Many were the men who had looked in admiration at Virginia Maxon
in the past； but never； she felt； with eyes so clean and brave and honest。
There was no guile or evil in them； and because of it she wondered all the
more that she could not face them。
〃What a wonderful soul those eyes portray；〃 she thought； 〃and how
perfectly they assure the safety of my life and honor while their owner is
near me。〃
And the man thought： 〃Would that I owned a soul that I might aspire
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to live always near heralways to protect her。〃
When they had eaten the two set out once more in search of the river；
and the confidence that is born of ignorance was theirs； so that beyond
each succeeding tangled barrier of vines and creepers they looked to see
the swirling stream that would lead them to the girl's father。
On and on they trudged； the man often carrying the girl across the
rougher obstacles and through the little streams that crossed their path；
until at last came noon； and yet no sign of the river they sought。 The
combined jungle craft of the two had been insufficient either to trace the
way that they had come； or point the general direction of the river。
As the afternoon drew to a close Virginia Maxon commenced to lose
heartshe was confident that they were lost。 Bulan made no pretence of
knowing the way； the most that he would say being that eventually they
must come to the river。 As a matter…of…fact had it not been for the girl's
evident concern he would have been glad to know that they were
irretrievably lost； but for her sake his efforts to find the river were
conscientious。
When at last night closed down upon them the girl was； at heart； terror
stricken； but she hid her true state from the man； because she knew that
their plight was no fault of his。 The strange and uncanny noises of the
jungle night filled her with the most dreadful forebodings； and when a
cold； drizzling rain set in upon them her cup of misery was full。
Bulan rigged a rude shelter for her； making her lie down beneath it；
and then he removed his Dyak war…coat and threw it over her； but it was
hours before her exhausted body overpowered her nervous fright and won
a fitful and restless slumber。 Several times Virginia became obsessed
with the idea that Bulan had left her alone there in the jungle； but when
she called his name he answered from close beside her shelter。
She thought that he had reared another for himself nearby； but even the
thought that he might sleep filled her with dread； yet she would not call to
him again； since she knew that he needed his rest even more than she。
And all the night Bulan stood close beside the woman he had learned to
love stood almost naked in the chill night air and the cold rain； lest some
savage man or beast creep out of the darkness after her while he slept。
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The next day with its night； and the next； and the next were but
repetitions of the first。 It had become an agony of suffering for the man
to fight off sleep longer。 The girl read part of the truth in his heavy eyes
and worn face； and tried to force him to take needed rest； but she did not
guess that he had not slept for four days and nights。
At last abused Nature succumbed to the terrific strain that had been put
upon her； and the giant constitution of the man went down before the cold
and the wet； weakened and impoverished by loss of sleep and insufficient
food； for through the last two days he had been able to find but little； and
that little he had given to the girl； telling her that he had eaten his fill while
he gathered hers。
It was on the fifth morning； when Virginia awoke； that she found
Bulan rolling and tossing upon the wet ground before her shelter； delirious
with fever。 At the sight of the mighty figure reduced to pitiable
inefficiency and weakness； despite the knowledge that her protector could
no longer protect； the fear of the jungle faded from the heart of the young
girlshe was no more a weak and trembling daughter of an effete
civilization。 Instead she was a lioness； watching over and protecting her
sick mate。 The analogy did not occur to her； but something else did as
she saw the flushed face and fever wracked body of the man whose appeal
to her she would have thought purely physical had she given the subject
any analytic consideration； and as a realization of his utter helplessness
came to her she bent over him and kissed first his forehead and then his
lips。
〃What a noble and unselfish love yours has been；〃 she murmured。
〃You have even tried to hide it that my position might be the easier to bear；
and now that it may be too late I learn that I love youthat I have always
loved you。 Oh； Bulan； my Bulan； what a cruel fate that permitted us to
find one another only to die together！〃
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16 SING SPEAKS
For a week Professor Maxon with von Horn and Sing sought for
Virginia。 They could get no help from the natives of the long…house； who
feared the vengeance of Muda Saffir should he learn that they h
