the mysterious stranger-第15章

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and　swords；　the　Greeks　and　Romans　added　protective　armor　and　the　fine
arts　of　military　organization　and　generalship；　the　Christian　has　added
guns　and　gunpowder；　a　few　centuries　from　now　he　will　have　so　greatly
improved　the　deadly　effectiveness　of　his　weapons　of　slaughter　that　all
men　will　confess　that　without　Christian　civilization　war　must　have
remained　a　poor　and　trifling　thing　to　the　end　of　time。〃

Then　he　began　to　laugh　in　the　most　unfeeling　way；　and　make　fun　of　the
human　race；　although　he　knew　that　what　he　had　been　saying　shamed　us　and
wounded　us。　　No　one　but　an　angel　could　have　acted　so；　but　suffering　is
nothing　to　them；　they　do　not　know　what　it　is；　except　by　hearsay。

More　than　once　Seppi　and　I　had　tried　in　a　humble　and　diffident　way　to
convert　him；　and　as　he　had　remained　silent　we　had　taken　his　silence　as　a
sort　of　encouragement；　necessarily；　then；　this　talk　of　his　was　a
disappointment　to　us；　for　it　showed　that　we　had　made　no　deep　impression
upon　him。　　The　thought　made　us　sad；　and　we　knew　then　how　the　missionary
must　feel　when　he　has　been　cherishing　a　glad　hope　and　has　seen　it
blighted。　　We　kept　our　grief　to　ourselves；　knowing　that　this　was　not　the
time　to　continue　our　work。

Satan　laughed　his　unkind　laugh　to　a　finish；　then　he　said：　〃It　is　a
remarkable　progress。　　In　five　or　six　thousand　years　five　or　six　high
civilizations　have　risen；　flourished；　commanded　the　wonder　of　the　world；
then　faded　out　and　disappeared；　and　not　one　of　them　except　the　latest
ever　invented　any　sweeping　and　adequate　way　to　kill　people。　　They　all　did
their　bestto　kill　being　the　chiefest　ambition　of　the　human　race　and　the
earliest　incident　in　its　historybut　only　the　Christian　civilization　has
scored　a　triumph　to　be　proud　of。　　Two　or　three　centuries　from　now　it　will
be　recognized　that　all　the　competent　killers　are　Christians；　then　the
pagan　world　will　go　to　school　to　the　Christiannot　to　acquire　his
religion；　but　his　guns。　　The　Turk　and　the　Chinaman　will　buy　those　to　kill
missionaries　and　converts　with。〃

By　this　time　his　theater　was　at　work　again；　and　before　our　eyes　nation
after　nation　drifted　by；　during　two　or　three　centuries；　a　mighty
procession；　an　endless　procession；　raging；　struggling；　wallowing　through
seas　of　blood；　smothered　in　battle…smoke　through　which　the　flags　glinted
and　the　red　jets　from　the　cannon　darted；　and　always　we　heard　the　thunder
of　the　guns　and　the　cries　of　the　dying。

〃And　what　does　it　amount　to？〃　said　Satan；　with　his　evil　chuckle。
〃Nothing　at　all。　　You　gain　nothing；　you　always　come　out　where　you　went
in。　　For　a　million　years　the　race　has　gone　on　monotonously　propagating
itself　and　monotonously　reperforming　this　dull　nonsenseto　what　end？　　No
wisdom　can　guess！　　Who　gets　a　profit　out　of　it？　　Nobody　but　a　parcel　of
usurping　little　monarchs　and　nobilities　who　despise　you；　would　feel
defiled　if　you　touched　them；　would　shut　the　door　in　your　face　if　you
proposed　to　call；　whom　you　slave　for；　fight　for；　die　for；　and　are　not
ashamed　of　it；　but　proud；　whose　existence　is　a　perpetual　insult　to　you
and　you　are　afraid　to　resent　it；　who　are　mendicants　supported　by　your
alms；　yet　assume　toward　you　the　airs　of　benefactor　toward　beggar；　who
address　you　in　the　language　of　master　to　slave；　and　are　answered　in　the
language　of　slave　to　master；　who　are　worshiped　by　you　with　your　mouth；
while　in　your　heartif　you　have　oneyou　despise　yourselves　for　it。　　The
first　man　was　a　hypocrite　and　a　coward；　qualities　which　have　not　yet
failed　in　his　line；　it　is　the　foundation　upon　which　all　civilizations
have　been　built。　　Drink　to　their　perpetuation！　　Drink　to　their
augmentation！　　Drink　to〃　Then　he　saw　by　our　faces　how　much　we　were
hurt；　and　he　cut　his　sentence　short　and　stopped　chuckling；　and　his　manner
changed。　　He　said；　gently：　〃No；　we　will　drink　one　another's　health；　and
let　civilization　go。　　The　wine　which　has　flown　to　our　hands　out　of　space
by　desire　is　earthly；　and　good　enough　for　that　other　toast；　but　throw
away　the　glasses；　we　will　drink　this　one　in　wine　which　has　not　visited
this　world　before。〃

We　obeyed；　and　reached　up　and　received　the　new　cups　as　they　descended。
They　were　shapely　and　beautiful　goblets；　but　they　were　not　made　of　any
material　that　we　were　acquainted　with。　　They　seemed　to　be　in　motion；　they
seemed　to　be　alive；　and　certainly　the　colors　in　them　were　in　motion。
They　were　very　brilliant　and　sparkling；　and　of　every　tint；　and　they　were
never　still；　but　flowed　to　and　fro　in　rich　tides　which　met　and　broke　and
flashed　out　dainty　explosions　of　enchanting　color。　　I　think　it　was　most
like　opals　washing　about　in　waves　and　flashing　out　their　splendid　fires。
But　there　is　nothing　to　compare　the　wine　with。　　We　drank　it；　and　felt　a
strange　and　witching　ecstasy　as　of　heaven　go　stealing　through　us；　and
Seppi's　eyes　filled　and　he　said　worshipingly：

〃We　shall　be　there　some　day；　and　then〃

He　glanced　furtively　at　Satan；　and　I　think　he　hoped　Satan　would　say；
〃Yes；　you　will　be　there　some　day；〃　but　Satan　seemed　to　be　thinking　about
something　else；　and　said　nothing。　　This　made　me　feel　ghastly；　for　I　knew
he　had　heard；　nothing；　spoken　or　unspoken；　ever　escaped　him。　　Poor　Seppi
looked　distressed；　and　did　not　finish　his　remark。　　The　goblets　rose　and
clove　their　way　into　the　sky；　a　triplet　of　radiant　sundogs；　and
disappeared。　　Why　didn't　they　stay？　　It　seemed　a　bad　sign；　and　depressed
me。　　Should　I　ever　see　mine　again？　　Would　Seppi　ever　see　his？




Chapter　9

It　was　wonderful；　the　mastery　Satan　had　over　time　and　distance。　　For　him
they　did　not　exist。　　He　called　them　human　inventions；　and　said　they　were
artificialities。　　We　often　went　to　the　most　distant　parts　of　the　globe
with　him；　and　stayed　weeks　and　months；　and　yet　were　gone　only　a　fraction
of　a　second；　as　a　rule。　　You　could　prove　it　by　the　clock。　　One　day　when
our　people　were　in　such　awful　distress　because　the　witch　commission　were
afraid　to　proceed　against　the　astrologer　and　Father　Peter's　household；　or
against　any；　indeed；　but　the　poor　and　the　friendless；　they　lost　patience
and　took　to　witch…hunting　on　their　own　score；　and　began　to　chase　a　born
lady　who　was　known　to　have　the　habit　of　curing　people　by　devilish　arts；
such　as　bathing　them；　washing　them；　and　nourishing　them　instead　of
bleeding　them　and　purging　them　through　the　ministrations　of　a　barber…
surgeon　in　the　proper　way。　　She　came　flying　down；　with　the　howling　and
cursing　mob　after　her；　and　tried　to　take　refuge　in　houses；　but　the　doors
were　shut　in　her　face。　　They　chased　her　more　than　half　an　hour；　we
following　to　see　it；　and　at　last　she　was　exhausted　and　fell；　and　they
caught　her。　　They　dragged　her　to　a　tree　and　threw　a　rope　over　the　limb；
and　began　to　make　a　noose　in　it；　some　holding　her；　meantime；　and　she
crying　and　begging；　and　her　young　daughter　looking　on　and　weeping；　but
afraid　to　say　or　do　anything。

They　hanged　the　lady；　and　I　threw　a　stone　at　her；　although　in　my　heart　I
was　sorry　for　her；　but　all　were　throwing　stones　and　each　was　watching　his
neighbor；　and　if　I　had　not　done　as　the　others　did　it　would　have　been
noticed　and　spoken　of。　　Satan　burst　out　laughing。

All　that　were　near　by　turned　upon　him；　astonished　and　not　pleased。　　It
was　an　ill　time　to　laugh；　for　his　free　and　scoffing　ways　and　his
supernatural　music　had　brought　him　under　suspicion　all　over　the　town　and
turned　many　privately　against　him。　　The　big　blacksmith　called　attention
to　him　now；　raising　his　voice　so　that　all　should　hear；　and　said：

〃What　are　you　laughing　at？　　Answer！　　Moreover；　please　explain　to　the
company　why　you　threw　no　stone。〃

〃Are　you　sure　I　did　not　throw　a　stone？〃

〃Yes。　　You　needn't　try　to　get　out　of　it；　I　had　my　eye　on　you。〃

〃And　II　noticed　you！〃　shouted　two　others。

〃Three　witnesses；〃　said　Satan：　〃Mueller；　the　blacksmith；　Klein；　the
butcher's　man；　Pfeiffer；　the　weaver's　journeyman。　　Three　very　ordinary
liars。　　Are　there　any　more？〃

〃Never　mind　whether　there　are　others　or　not；　and　never　mind　about　what
you　consider　usthree's　enough　to　settle　your　matter　for　you。　　You'll
prove　that　you　threw　a　stone；　or　it　shall　go　hard　with　you。〃

〃That's　so！〃　shouted　the　crowd；　and　surged　up　as　closely　as　they　could　to
the　center　of　interest。

〃And　first　you　will　answer　that　other　question；〃　cried　the　blacksmith；
pleased　with　himself　for　being　mouthpiece　to　the　public　and　hero　of　the
occasion。　　〃What　are　you　laughing　at？〃

Satan　smiled　and　answered；　pleasantly：　〃To　see　three　cowards　stoning　a
dying　lady　when　they　were　so　near　death　themselves。〃

You　could　see　the　superstitious　crowd　shrink　and　catch　their　breath；
under　the　sudden　shock。　　The　blacksmith；　with　a　show　of　bravado；　said：

〃Pooh！　　What　do　you　know　about　it？〃

〃I？　　Everything。　　By　profession　I　am　a　fortune…teller；　and　I　read　the
hands　of　you　threeand　some　otherswhen　you　lifted　them　to　stone　the
woman。　　One　of　you　will　die　to…morrow　week；　another　of　you　will　die　to…
night；　the　third　has　but　five　minutes　to　liveand　yonder　is　the　clock！〃

It　made　a　sensation。　　The　faces　of　the　crowd　blanched；　and　turned
mechanically　toward　the　clock。　　The　butcher　and　the　weaver　seemed　smitten
with　an　illness；　but　the　blacksmith　braced　up　and　said；　with　spirit：

〃It　is　not　long　to　wait　for　prediction　number　one。　　If　it　fails；　young
master；　you　will　not　live　a　whole　minute　after；　I　promise　you　that。〃

No　one　said　anything；　all　watched　the　clock　in　a　deep　stillness　which　was
impressive。　　When　four　and　a　half　minutes　were　gone　the　blacksmith　gave　a
sudden　gasp　and　clapped　his　hands　upon　his　heart；　saying；　〃Give　me
breath！　　Give　me　room！〃　and　began　to　sink　down。　　The　crowd　surged　back；
no　one　offering　to　support　him；　and　he　fell　lumbering　to　the　ground　and
was　dead。　　The　people　stared　at　him；　then　at　Satan；　then　at　one　another；
and　their　lips　moved；　but　no　words　came。　　Then　Satan　said：

〃Three　saw　that　I　threw　no　stone。　　Perhaps　there　are　others；　let　them
speak。〃

It　struck　a　kind　of　panic　into　them；　and；　although　no　one　answered　him；
many　began　to　violently　accuse　one　another；　saying；　〃You　said　he　didn't
throw；〃　and　getting　for　reply；　〃It　is　a　lie；　and　I　will　make　you　eat　it！〃
And　so　in　a　moment　they　were　in　a　raging　and　noisy　turmoil；　and　beating
and　banging　one　another；　and　in　the　midst　was　the　only　indifferent　one
the　dead　lady　hanging　from　her　rope；　her　troubles　forgotten；　her　spirit
at　peace。

So　we　walked　away；　and　I　was　not　at　ease；　but　was　saying　to　myself；　〃He
told　them　he　was　laughing　at　them；　but　it　was　a　liehe　was　laughing　at
me。〃

That　made　him　laugh　again；　and　he　said；　〃Yes；　I　was　laughing　at　you；
because；　in　fear　of　what　others　might　report　about　you；　you　stoned　the
woman　when　your　heart　revolted　at　the　actbut　I　was　laughing　at　the
others；　too。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　their　case　was　yours。〃

〃How　is　that？〃

〃Well；　there　were　sixty…eight　people　there；　and　sixty…two　of　them　had　no
more　desire　to　throw　a　stone　than　you　had。〃

〃Satan！〃

〃Oh；　it's　true。　　I　know　your　race。　　It　is　made　up　of　sheep。　　It　is
governed　by　minorities；　seldom　or　never　by　majorities。　　It　suppresses　its
feelings　and　its　beliefs　and　follows　the　handful　that　makes　the　most
noise。　　Sometimes　the　noisy　handful　is　right；　sometimes　wrong；　but　no
matter；　the　crowd　follows　it。　　The　va