the mysterious stranger-第2章

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morning　and　had　a　good　breakfast　with　him　and　then　went　down　and　crossed
the　bridge　and　went　away　up　into　the　hills　on　the　left　to　a　woody　hill…
top　which　was　a　favorite　place　of　ours；　and　there　we　stretched　out　on　the
grass　in　the　shade　to　rest　and　smoke　and　talk　over　these　strange　things；
for　they　were　in　our　minds　yet；　and　impressing　us。　　But　we　couldn't
smoke；　because　we　had　been　heedless　and　left　our　flint　and　steel　behind。

Soon　there　came　a　youth　strolling　toward　us　through　the　trees；　and　he　sat
down　and　began　to　talk　in　a　friendly　way；　just　as　if　he　knew　us。　　But　we
did　not　answer　him；　for　he　was　a　stranger　and　we　were　not　used　to
strangers　and　were　shy　of　them。　　He　had　new　and　good　clothes　on；　and　was
handsome　and　had　a　winning　face　and　a　pleasant　voice；　and　was　easy　and
graceful　and　unembarrassed；　not　slouchy　and　awkward　and　diffident；　like
other　boys。　　We　wanted　to　be　friendly　with　him；　but　didn't　know　how　to
begin。　　Then　I　thought　of　the　pipe；　and　wondered　if　it　would　be　taken　as
kindly　meant　if　I　offered　it　to　him。　　But　I　remembered　that　we　had　no
fire；　so　I　was　sorry　and　disappointed。　　But　he　looked　up　bright　and
pleased；　and　said：

〃Fire？　　Oh；　that　is　easy；　I　will　furnish　it。〃

I　was　so　astonished　I　couldn't　speak；　for　I　had　not　said　anything。　　He
took　the　pipe　and　blew　his　breath　on　it；　and　the　tobacco　glowed　red；　and
spirals　of　blue　smoke　rose　up。　　We　jumped　up　and　were　going　to　run；　for
that　was　natural；　and　we　did　run　a　few　steps；　although　he　was　yearningly
pleading　for　us　to　stay；　and　giving　us　his　word　that　he　would　not　do　us
any　harm；　but　only　wanted　to　be　friends　with　us　and　have　company。　　So　we
stopped　and　stood；　and　wanted　to　go　back；　being　full　of　curiosity　and
wonder；　but　afraid　to　venture。　　He　went　on　coaxing；　in　his　soft；
persuasive　way；　and　when　we　saw　that　the　pipe　did　not　blow　up　and　nothing
happened；　our　confidence　returned　by　little　and　little；　and　presently　our
curiosity　got　to　be　stronger　than　our　fear；　and　we　ventured　backbut
slowly；　and　ready　to　fly　at　any　alarm。

He　was　bent　on　putting　us　at　ease；　and　he　had　the　right　art；　one　could
not　remain　doubtful　and　timorous　where　a　person　was　so　earnest　and　simple
and　gentle；　and　talked　so　alluringly　as　he　did；　no；　he　won　us　over；　and
it　was　not　long　before　we　were　content　and　comfortable　and　chatty；　and
glad　we　had　found　this　new　friend。　　When　the　feeling　of　constraint　was
all　gone　we　asked　him　how　he　had　learned　to　do　that　strange　thing；　and　he
said　he　hadn't　learned　it　at　all；　it　came　natural　to　himlike　other
thingsother　curious　things。

〃What　ones？〃

〃Oh；　a　number；　I　don't　know　how　many。〃

〃Will　you　let　us　see　you　do　them？〃

〃Doplease！〃　the　others　said。

〃You　won't　run　away　again？〃

〃Noindeed　we　won't。　　Please　do。　　Won't　you？〃

〃Yes；　with　pleasure；　but　you　mustn't　forget　your　promise；　you　know。〃

We　said　we　wouldn't；　and　he　went　to　a　puddle　and　came　back　with　water　in
a　cup　which　he　had　made　out　of　a　leaf；　and　blew　upon　it　and　threw　it　out；
and　it　was　a　lump　of　ice　the　shape　of　the　cup。　　We　were　astonished　and
charmed；　but　not　afraid　any　more；　we　were　very　glad　to　be　there；　and
asked　him　to　go　on　and　do　some　more　things。　　And　he　did。　　He　said　he
would　give　us　any　kind　of　fruit　we　liked；　whether　it　was　in　season　or
not。　　We　all　spoke　at　once；

〃Orange！〃

〃Apple！〃

〃Grapes！〃

〃They　are　in　your　pockets；〃　he　said；　and　it　was　true。　　And　they　were　of
the　best；　too；　and　we　ate　them　and　wished　we　had　more；　though　none　of　us
said　so。

〃You　will　find　them　where　those　came　from；〃　he　said；　〃and　everything　else
your　appetites　call　for；　and　you　need　not　name　the　thing　you　wish；　as
long　as　I　am　with　you；　you　have　only　to　wish　and　find。〃

And　he　said　true。　　There　was　never　anything　so　wonderful　and　so
interesting。　　Bread；　cakes；　sweets；　nutswhatever　one　wanted；　it　was
there。　　He　ate　nothing　himself；　but　sat　and　chatted；　and　did　one　curious
thing　after　another　to　amuse　us。　　He　made　a　tiny　toy　squirrel　out　of
clay；　and　it　ran　up　a　tree　and　sat　on　a　limb　overhead　and　barked　down　at
us。　　Then　he　made　a　dog　that　was　not　much　larger　than　a　mouse；　and　it
treed　the　squirrel　and　danced　about　the　tree；　excited　and　barking；　and
was　as　alive　as　any　dog　could　be。　　It　frightened　the　squirrel　from　tree
to　tree　and　followed　it　up　until　both　were　out　of　sight　in　the　forest。
He　made　birds　out　of　clay　and　set　them　free；　and　they　flew　away；　singing。

At　last　I　made　bold　to　ask　him　to　tell　us　who　he　was。

〃An　angel；〃　he　said；　quite　simply；　and　set　another　bird　free　and　clapped
his　hands　and　made　it　fly　away。

A　kind　of　awe　fell　upon　us　when　we　heard　him　say　that；　and　we　were　afraid
again；　but　he　said　we　need　not　be　troubled；　there　was　no　occasion　for　us
to　be　afraid　of　an　angel；　and　he　liked　us；　anyway。　　He　went　on　chatting
as　simply　and　unaffectedly　as　ever；　and　while　he　talked　he　made　a　crowd
of　little　men　and　women　the　size　of　your　finger；　and　they　went　diligently
to　work　and　cleared　and　leveled　off　a　space　a　couple　of　yards　square　in
the　grass　and　began　to　build　a　cunning　little　castle　in　it；　the　women
mixing　the　mortar　and　carrying　it　up　the　scaffoldings　in　pails　on　their
heads；　just　as　our　work…women　have　always　done；　and　the　men　laying　the
courses　of　masonryfive　hundred　of　these　toy　people　swarming　briskly
about　and　working　diligently　and　wiping　the　sweat　off　their　faces　as
natural　as　life。　　In　the　absorbing　interest　of　watching　those　five
hundred　little　people　make　the　castle　grow　step　by　step　and　course　by
course；　and　take　shape　and　symmetry；　that　feeling　and　awe　soon　passed
away　and　we　were　quite　comfortable　and　at　home　again。　　We　asked　if　we
might　make　some　people；　and　he　said　yes；　and　told　Seppi　to　make　some
cannon　for　the　walls；　and　told　Nikolaus　to　make　some　halberdiers；　with
breastplates　and　greaves　and　helmets；　and　I　was　to　make　some　cavalry；
with　horses；　and　in　allotting　these　tasks　he　called　us　by　our　names；　but
did　not　say　how　he　knew　them。　　Then　Seppi　asked　him　what　his　own　name
was；　and　he　said；　tranquilly；　〃Satan；〃　and　held　out　a　chip　and　caught　a
little　woman　on　it　who　was　falling　from　the　scaffolding　and　put　her　back
where　she　belonged；　and　said；　〃She　is　an　idiot　to　step　backward　like　that
and　not　notice　what　she　is　about。〃

It　caught　us　suddenly；　that　name　did；　and　our　work　dropped　out　of　our
hands　and　broke　to　piecesa　cannon；　a　halberdier；　and　a　horse。　　Satan
laughed；　and　asked　what　was　the　matter。　　I　said；　〃Nothing；　only　it　seemed
a　strange　name　for　an　angel。〃　He　asked　why。

〃Because　it'sit'swell；　it's　his　name；　you　know。〃

〃Yeshe　is　my　uncle。〃

He　said　it　placidly；　but　it　took　our　breath　for　a　moment　and　made　our
hearts　beat。　　He　did　not　seem　to　notice　that；　but　mended　our　halberdiers
and　things　with　a　touch；　handing　them　to　us　finished；　and　said；　〃Don't
you　remember？　he　was　an　angel　himself；　once。〃

〃Yesit's　true；〃　said　Seppi；　〃I　didn't　think　of　that。〃

〃Before　the　Fall　he　was　blameless。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Nikolaus；　〃he　was　without　sin。〃

〃It　is　a　good　familyours；〃　said　Satan；　〃there　is　not　a　better。　　He　is
the　only　member　of　it　that　has　ever　sinned。〃

I　should　not　be　able　to　make　any　one　understand　how　exciting　it　all　was。
You　know　that　kind　of　quiver　that　trembles　around　through　you　when　you
are　seeing　something　so　strange　and　enchanting　and　wonderful　that　it　is
just　a　fearful　joy　to　be　alive　and　look　at　it；　and　you　know　how　you　gaze；
and　your　lips　turn　dry　and　your　breath　comes　short；　but　you　wouldn't　be
anywhere　but　there；　not　for　the　world。　　I　was　bursting　to　ask　one
questionI　had　it　on　my　tongue's　end　and　could　hardly　hold　it　backbut
I　was　ashamed　to　ask　it；　it　might　be　a　rudeness。　　Satan　set　an　ox　down
that　he　had　been　making；　and　smiled　up　at　me　and　said：

〃It　wouldn't　be　a　rudeness；　and　I　should　forgive　it　if　it　was。　　Have　I
seen　him？　　Millions　of　times。　　From　the　time　that　I　was　a　little　child　a
thousand　years　old　I　was　his　second　favorite　among　the　nursery　angels　of
our　blood　and　lineageto　use　a　human　phraseyes；　from　that　time　until
the　Fall；　eight　thousand　years；　measured　as　you　count　time。〃

〃Eightthousand！〃

〃Yes。〃　He　turned　to　Seppi；　and　went　on　as　if　answering　something　that　was
in　Seppi's　mind：　〃Why；　naturally　I　look　like　a　boy；　for　that　is　what　I
am。　　With　us　what　you　call　time　is　a　spacious　thing；　it　takes　a　long
stretch　of　it　to　grow　an　angel　to　full　age。〃　　There　was　a　question　in　my
mind；　and　he　turned　to　me　and　answered　it；　〃I　am　sixteen　thousand　years
oldcounting　as　you　count。〃　　Then　he　turned　to　Nikolaus　and　said：　〃No；
the　Fall　did　not　affect　me　nor　the　rest　of　the　relationship。　　It　was　only
he　that　I　was　named　for　who　ate　of　the　fruit　of　the　tree　and　then
beguiled　the　man　and　the　woman　with　it。　　We　others　are　still　ignorant　of
sin；　we　are　not　able　to　commit　it；　we　are　without　blemish；　and　shall
abide　in　that　estate　always。　　We〃　Two　of　the　little　workmen　were
quarreling；　and　in　buzzing　little　bumblebee　voices　they　were　cursing　and
swearing　at　each　other；　now　came　blows　and　blood；　then　they　locked
themselves　together　in　a　life…and…death　struggle。　　Satan　reached　out　his
hand　and　crushed　the　life　out　of　them　with　his　fingers；　threw　them　away；
wiped　the　red　from　his　fingers　on　his　handkerchief；　and　went　on　talking
where　he　had　left　off：　〃We　cannot　do　wrong；　neither　have　we　any
disposition　to　do　it；　for　we　do　not　know　what　it　is。〃

It　seemed　a　strange　speech；　in　the　circumstances；　but　we　barely　noticed
that；　we　were　so　shocked　and　grieved　at　the　wanton　murder　he　had
committedfor　murder　it　was；　that　was　its　true　name；　and　it　was　without
palliation　or　excuse；　for　the　men　had　not　wronged　him　in　any　way。　　It
made　us　miserable；　for　we　loved　him；　and　had　thought　him　so　noble　and　so
beautiful　and　gracious；　and　had　honestly　believed　he　was　an　angel；　and　to
have　him　do　this　cruel　thingah；　it　lowered　him　so；　and　we　had　had　such
pride　in　him。　　He　went　right　on　talking；　just　as　if　nothing　had　happened；
telling　about　his　travels；　and　the　interesting　things　he　had　seen　in　the
big　worlds　of　our　solar　systems　and　of　other　solar　systems　far　away　in
the　remotenesses　of　space；　and　about　the　customs　of　the　immortals　that
inhabit　them；　somehow　fascinating　us；　enchanting　us；　charming　us　in　spite
of　the　pitiful　scene　that　was　now　under　our　eyes；　for　the　wives　of　the
little　dead　men　had　found　the　crushed　and　shapeless　bodies　and　were
crying　over　them；　and　sobbing　and　lamenting；　and　a　priest　was　kneeling
there　with　his　hands　crossed　upon　his　breast；　praying；　and　crowds　and
crowds　of　pitying　friends　were　massed　about　them；　reverently　uncovered；
with　their　bare　heads　bowed；　and　many　with　the　tears　running　downa
scene　which　Satan　paid　no　attention　to　until　the　small　noise　of　the
weeping　and　praying　began　to　annoy　him；　then　he　reached　out　and　took　the
heavy　board　seat　out　of　our　swing　and　brought　it　down　and　mashed　all
those　people　into　the　earth　just　as　if　they　had　been　flies；　and　went　on
talking　just　the　same。

An　angel；　and　kill　a　priest！　　An　angel　who　did　not　know　how　to　do　wrong；
and　yet　destroys　in　cold　blood　hundreds　of　helpless　poor　men　and　women
who　had　never　done　him　any　harm！　　It　made　us　sick　to　see　that　awful　deed；
and　to　think　that　none　of　those　poor　creatures　was　prepa