trooper peter halket of mashonaland-第8部分

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But　I　walked　behind　him。〃



〃And　then；〃　asked　Peter；　seeing　that　the　stranger　was　silent；　〃what

happened　to　him　after　that？〃



〃That　was　only　last　Sunday；〃　said　the　stranger。



There　was　silence　again　for　some　seconds。



Then　Peter　said；　〃Well；　anyhow；　at　least　he　didn't　die！〃



The　stranger　crossed　his　hands　upon　his　knees。　　〃Peter　Simon　Halket；〃　he

said；　〃it　is　easier　for　a　man　to　die　than　to　stand　alone。　　He　who　can　stand

alone　can；　also；　when　the　need　be；　die。〃



Peter　looked　up　wistfully　into　the　stranger's　face。　　〃I　should　not　like　to

die　myself；〃　he　said；　〃not　yet。　　I　shall　not　be　twenty…one　till　next

birthday。　　I　should　like　to　see　life　first。〃



The　stranger　made　no　answer。



Presently　Peter　said；　〃Are　all　the　men　of　your　company　poor　men？〃



The　stranger　waited　a　while　before　he　answered；　then　he　said；〃There　have

been　rich　men　who　have　desired　to　join　us。　　There　was　a　young　man　once；　and

when　he　heard　the　conditions；　he　went　away　sorrowful；　for　he　had　great

possessions。〃



There　was　silence　again　for　a　while。



〃Is　it　long　since　your　company　was　started？〃　asked　Peter。



〃There　is　no　man　living　who　can　conceive　of　its　age；〃　said　the　stranger。　

〃Even　here　on　this　earth　it　began；　when　these　hills　were　young；　and　these

lichens　had　hardly　shown　their　stains　upon　the　rocks；　and　man　still　raised

himself　upwards　with　difficulty　because　the　sinews　in　his　thighs　were　weak。

In　those　days；　which　men　reck　not　of　now；　man；　when　he　hungered；　fed　on　the

flesh　of　his　fellow　man　and　found　it　sweet。　　Yet　even　in　those　days　it　came

to　pass　that　there　was　one　whose　head　was　higher　than　her　fellows　and　her

thought　keener；　and；　as　she　picked　the　flesh　from　a　human　skull；　she

pondered。　　And　so　it　came　to　pass　the　next　night；　when　men　were　gathered

around　the　fire　ready　to　eat；　that　she　stole　away；　and　when　they　went　to

the　tree　where　the　victim　was　bound；　they　found　him　gone。　　And　they　cried

one　to　another；　'She；　only　she；　has　done　this；　who　has　always　said；　'I　like

not　the　taste　of　man…flesh；　men　are　too　like　me；　I　cannot　eat　them。'　　'She

is　mad；'　they　cried；　'let　us　kill　her！'　　So；　in　those　dim；　misty　times　that

men　reck　not　of　now；　that　they　hardly　believe　in；　that　woman　died。　　But　in

the　heads　of　certain　men　and　women　a　new　thought　had　taken　root；　they　said；

'We　also　will　not　eat　of　her。　　There　is　something　evil　in　the　taste　of

human　flesh。'　　And　ever　after；　when　the　fleshpots　were　filled　with　man…

flesh；　these　stood　aside；　and　half　the　tribe　ate　human　flesh　and　half　not；

then；　as　the　years　passed；　none　ate。



〃Even　in　those　days；　which　men　reck　not　of　now；　when　men　fell　easily　open

their　hands　and　knees；　they　were　of　us　on　the　earth。　　And；　if　you　would

learn　a　secret；　even　before　man　trod　here；　in　the　days　when　the　dicynodont

bent　yearningly　over　her　young；　and　the　river…horse　which　you　find　now

nowhere　on　earth's　surface；　save　buried　in　stone；　called　with　love　to　his

mate；　and　the　birds　whose　footprints　are　on　the　rocks　flew　in　the　sunshine

calling　joyfully　to　one　anothereven　in　those　days　when　man　was　not；　the

fore…dawn　of　this　kingdom　had　broken　on　the　earth。　　And　still　as　the　sun

rises　and　sets　and　the　planets　journey　round；　we　grow　and　grow。〃



The　stranger　rose　from　the　fire；　and　stood　upright：　　around　him；　and　behind

him；　the　darkness　stood　out。



〃All　earth　is　ours。　　And　the　day　shall　come；　when　the　stars；　looking　down

on　this　little　world；　shall　see　no　spot　where　the　soil　is　moist　and　dark

with　the　blood　of　man　shed　by　his　fellow　man；　the　sun　shall　rise　in　the

East　and　set　in　the　West　and　shed　his　light　across　this　little　globe；　and

nowhere　shall　he　see　man　crushed　by　his　fellows。　　And　they　shall　beat　their

swords　into　ploughshares　and　their　spears　into　pruning　hooks：　　nation　shall

not　lift　up　sword　against　nation；　neither　shall　they　learn　war　any　more。　

And　instead　of　the　thorn　shall　come　up　the　fir…tree；　and　instead　of　the

brier　shall　come　up　the　myrtle　tree：　　and　man　shall　nowhere　crush　man　on

all　the　holy　earth。　　Tomorrow's　sun　shall　rise；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃and　it

shall　flood　these　dark　kopjes　with　light；　and　the　rocks　shall　glint　in　it。

Not　more　certain　is　that　rising　than　the　coming　of　that　day。　　And　I　say　to

you　that　even　here；　in　the　land　where　now　we　stand；　where　today　the　cries

of　the　wounded　and　the　curses　of　revenge　ring　in　the　air；　even　here；　in

this　land　where　man　creeps　on　his　belly　to　wound　his　fellow　in　the　dark；

and　where　an　acre　of　gold　is　worth　a　thousand　souls；　and　a　reef　of　shining

dirt　is　worth　half　a　people；　and　the　vultures　are　heavy　with　man's　flesh

even　here　that　day　shall　come。　　I　tell　you；　Peter　Simon　Halket；　that　here

on　the　spot　where　now　we　stand　shall　be　raised　a　temple。　　Man　shall　not

gather　in　it　to　worship　that　which　divides；　but　they　shall　stand　in　it

shoulder　to　shoulder；　white　man　with　black；　and　the　stranger　with　the

inhabitant　of　the　land；　and　the　place　shall　be　holy；　for　men　shall　say；

'Are　we　not　brethren　and　the　sons　of　one　Father？'〃



Peter　Halket　looked　upward　silently。　　And　the　stranger　said：　　〃Certain　men

slept　upon　a　plain；　and　the　night　was　chill　and　dark。　　And；　as　they　slept；

at　that　hour　when　night　is　darkest；　one　stirred。　　Far　off　to　the　eastward；

through　his　half…closed　eyelids；　he　saw；　as　it　were；　one　faint　line；　thin

as　a　hair's　width；　that　edged　the　hill　tops。　　And　he　whispered　in　the

darkness　to　his　fellows：　　'The　dawn　is　coming。'　　But　they；　with　fast…closed

eyelids　murmured；　'He　lies；　there　is　no　dawn。'



〃Nevertheless；　day　broke。〃



The　stranger　was　silent。　　The　fire　burnt　up　in　red　tongues　of　flame　that

neither　flickered　nor　flared　in　the　still　night　air。　　Peter　Halket　crept

near　to　the　stranger。



〃When　will　that　time　be？〃　he　whispered；　〃in　a　thousand　years'　time？〃



And　the　stranger　answered；　〃A　thousand　years　are　but　as　our　yesterday's

journey；　or　as　our　watch　tonight；　which　draws　already　to　its　close。　　See；

piled；　these　rocks　on　which　we　now　stand？　　The　ages　have　been　young　and

they　have　grown　old　since　they　have　lain　here。　　Half　that　time　shall　not

pass　before　that　time　comes；　I　have　seen　its　dawning　already　in　the　hearts

of　men。〃



Peter　moved　nearer；　so　that　he　almost　knelt　at　the　stranger's　feet：　　his

gun　lay　on　the　ground　at　the　other　side　of　the　fire。



〃I　would　like　to　be　one　of　your　men；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　tired　of　belonging　to

the　Chartered　Company。〃



The　stranger　looked　down　gently。　　〃Peter　Simon　Halket；〃　he　said；　〃can　you

bear　the　weight？〃



And　Peter　said；　〃Give　me　work；　that　I　may　try。〃



There　was　silence　for　a　time；　then　the　stranger　said；　〃Peter　Simon　Halket；

take　a　message　to　England〃Peter　Halket　started〃Go　to　that　great　people

and　cry　aloud　to　it：　　'Where　is　the　sword　was　given　into　your　hand；　that

with　it　you　might　enforce　justice　and　deal　out　mercy？　　How　came　you　to　give

it　up　into　the　hands　of　men　whose　search　is　gold；　whose　thirst　is　wealth；

to　whom　men's　souls　and　bodies　are　counters　in　a　game？　　How　came　you　to

give　up　the　folk　that　were　given　into　your　hands；　into　the　hand　of　the

speculator　and　the　gamester；　as　though　they　were　dumb　beasts　who　might　be

bought　or　sold？



〃'Take　back　your　sword；　Great　Peoplebut　wipe　it　first；　lest　some　of　the

gold　and　blood　stick　to　your　hand。



〃'What　is　this；　I　see！the　sword　of　the　Great　People；　transformed　to

burrow　earth　for　gold；　as　the　snouts　of　swine　for　earth　nuts！　　Have　you　no

other　use　for　it；　Great　Folk？



〃'Take　back　your　sword；　and；　when　you　have　thoroughly　cleansed　it　and　wiped

it　of　the　blood　and　mire；　then　raise　it　to　set　free　the　oppressed　of　other

climes。



〃'Great　Prince's　Daughter；　take　heed！　　You　put　your　sword　into　the　hands　of

recreant　knights；　they　will　dull　its　edge　and　mar　its　brightness；　and；　when

your　hour　of　need　comes　and　you　would　put　it　into　other　hands；　you　will

find　its　edge　chipped　and　its　point　broken。　　Take　heed！　　Take　heed！'



〃Cry　to　the　wise　men　of　England：　　'You；　who　in　peace　and　calm　in　shaded

chambers　ponder　on　all　things　in　heaven　and　earth；　and　take　all　knowledge

for　your　province；　have　you　no　time　to　think　of　this？　　To　whom　has　England

given　her　power？　　How　do　the　men　wield　it　who　have　filched　it　from　her？　

Say　not；　What　have　we　to　do　with　folk　across　the　waters；　have　we　not　matter

enough　for　thought　in　our　own　land？　　Where　the　brain　of　a　nation　has　no

time　to　go；　there　should　its　hands　never　be　sent　to　labour：　　where　the

power　of　a　people　goes；　there　must　its　intellect　and　knowledge　go；　to　guide

it。　　Oh；　you　who　sit　at　ease；　studying　past　and　futureand　forget　the

presentyou　have　no　right　to　sit　at　ease　knowing　nothing　of　the　working　of

the　powers　you　have　armed　and　sent　to　work　on　men　afar。　　Where　is　your

nation's　swordyou　men　of　thought？'



〃Cry　to　the　women　of　England：　　'You；　who　repose　in　sumptuous　houses；　with

children　on　your　knees；　think　not　it　is　only　the　rustling　of　the　soft

draped　curtains；　or　the　whistling　of　the　wind；　you　hear。　　Listen！　　May　it

not　be　the　far　off　cry　of　those　your　sword　governs；　creeping　towards　you

across　wide　oceans　till　it　pierces　even　into　your　inmost　sanctuary？　

Listen！



〃For　the　womanhood　of　a　dominant　people　has　not　accomplished　all　its　labour

when　it　has　borne　its　children　and　fed　them　at　its　breast：　　there　cries　to

it　also　from　over　seas　and　across　continents　the　voice　of　the　child…

peoples'Mother…heart；　stand　for　us！'　　It　would　be　better　for　you　that

your　wombs　should　be　barren　and　that　your　race　should　die　out；　than　that

you　should　listen；　and　give　no　answer。'〃



The　stranger　lifted　his　hands　upwards　as　he　spoke；　and　Peter　saw　there　were

the　marks　of　old　wounds　in　both。



〃Cry　aloud　to　the　working　men　and　women　of　England：　　'You；　who　for　ages

cried　out　because　the　heel　of　your　masters　was　heavy　on　you；　and　who　have

said；　'We　curse　the　kings　that　sit　at　ease；　and　care　not　who　oppresses　the

folk；　so　their　coffers　be　full　and　their