崩溃(Things Fall Apart) (英文版)作者:奇奴阿·阿切比-第26部分

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th　destruction。
　　Mr。　Smith　was　in　his　church　when　he　heard　the　masked　spirits　ing。　He　walked　quietly　to　the　door　which　manded　the　approach　to　the　church　pound；　and　stood　there。　But　when　the　first　three　or　four　egwugwu　appeared　on　the　church　pound　he　nearly　bolted。　He　overcame　this　impulse　and　instead　of　running　away　he　went　down　the　two　steps　that　led　up　to　the　church　and　walked　towards　the　approaching　spirits。
　　They　surged　forward；　and　a　long　stretch　of　the　bamboo　fence　with　which　the　church　pound　was　surrounded　gave　way　before　them。　Discordant　bells　clanged；　machetes　clashed　and　the　air　was　full　of　dust　and　weird　sounds。　Mr。　Smith　heard　a　sound　of　footsteps　behind　him。　He　turned　round　and　saw　Okeke；　his　interpreter。　Okeke　had　not　been　on　the　best　of　terms　with　his　master　since　he　had　strongly　condemned　Enoch's　behavior　at　the　meeting　of　the　leaders　ol　the　church　during　the　night。　Okeke　had　gone　as　far　as　to　say　that　Enoch　should　not　be　hidden　in　the　parsonage；　because　he　would　only　draw　the　wrath　of　the　clan　on　the　pastor。　Mr。　Smith　had　rebuked　him　in　very　strong　language；　and　had　not　sought　his　advice　that　morning。　But　now；　as　he　came　up　and　stood　by　him　confronting　the　angry　spirits；　Mr。　Smith　looked　at　him　and　smiled。　It　was　a　wan　smile；　but　there　was　deep　gratitude　there。
　　For　a　brief　moment　the　onrush　of　the　egwugwu　was　checked　by　the　unexpected　posure　of　the　two　men。　But　it　was　only　a　momentary　check；　like　the　tense　silence　between　blasts　of　thunder。　The　second　onrush　was　greater　than　the　first。　It　swallowed　up　the　two　men。　Then　an　unmistakable　voice　rose　above　the　tumult　and　there　was　immediate　silence。　Space　was　made　around　the　two　men；　and　Ajofia　began　to　speak。
　　Ajofia　was　the　leading　egwugwu　of　Umuofia。　He　was　the　head　and　spokesman　of　the　nine　ancestors　who　administered　justice　in　the　clan。　His　voice　was　unmistakable　and　so　he　was　able　to　bring　immediate　peace　to　the　agitated　spirits。　He　then　addressed　Mr。　Smith；　and　as　he　spoke　clouds　of　smoke　rose　from　his　head。
　　〃The　body　of　the　white　man；　I　salute　you；〃　he　said；　using　the　language　in　which　immortals　spoke　to　men。
　　〃The　body　of　the　white　man；　do　you　know　me？〃　he　asked。
　　Mr。　Smith　looked　at　his　interpreter；　but　Okeke；　who　was　a　native　of　distant　Umuru；　was　also　at　a　loss。
　　Ajofia　laughed　in　his　guttural　voice。　It　was　like　the　laugh　of　rusty　metal。　〃They　are　strangers；〃　he　said；　〃and　they　are　ignorant。　But　let　that　pass。〃　He　turned　round　to　his　rades　and　saluted　them；　calling　them　the　fathers　of　Umuofia。　He　dug　his　rattling　spear　into　the　ground　and　it　shook　with　metallic　life。　Then　he　turned　once　more　to　the　missionary　and　his　interpreter。
　　〃Tell　the　white　man　that　we　will　not　do　him　any　harm；〃　he　said　to　the　interpreter。　〃Tell　him　to　go　back　to　his　house　and　leave　us　alone。　We　liked　his　brother　who　was　with　us　before。　He　was　foolish；　but　we　liked　him；　and　for　his　sake　we　shall　not　harm　his　brother。　But　this　shrine　which　he　built　must　be　destroyed。　We　shall　no　longer　allow　it　in　our　midst。　It　has　bred　untold　abominations　and　we　have　e　to　put　an　end　to　it。〃　He　turned　to　his　rades。　〃Fathers　of　Umuofia；　1　salute　you”　and　they　replied　with　one　guttural　voice。　He　turned　again　to　the　missionary。　〃You　can　stay　with　us　if　you　like　our　ways。　You　can　worship　your　own　god。　It　is　good　that　a　man　should　worship　the　gods　and　the　spirits　of　his　fathers。　Go　back　to　your　house　so　that　you　may　not　be　hurt。　Our　anger　is　great　but　we　have　held　it　down　so　that　we　can　talk　to　you。〃
　　Mr。　Smith　said　to　his　interpreter：　〃Tell　them　to　go　away　from　here。　This　is　the　house　of　God　and　I　will　not　live　to　see　it　desecrated。〃
　　Okeke　interpreted　wisely　to　the　spirits　and　leaders　of　Umuofia：　〃The　white　man　says　he　is　happy　you　have　e　to　him　with　your　grievances；　like　friends。　He　will　be　happy　if　you　leave　the　matter　in　his　hands。〃
　　〃We　cannot　leave　the　matter　in　his　hands　because　he　does　not　understand　our　customs；　just　as　we　do　not　understand　his。　We　say　he　is　foolish　because　he　does　not　know　our　ways；　and　perhaps　he　says　we　are　foolish　because　we　do　not　know　his。　Let　him　go　away。〃
　　Mr。　Smith　stood　his　ground。　But　he　could　not　save　his　church。　When　the　egwugwu　went　away　the　red…earth　church　which　Mr。　Brown　had　built　was　a　pile　of　earth　and　ashes。　And　for　the　moment　the　spirit　of　the　clan　was　pacified。
　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE
　　For　the　first　time　in　many　years　Okonkwo　had　a　feeling　that　was　akin　to　happiness。　The　times　which　had　altered　so　unaccountably　during　his　exile　seemed　to　be　ing　round　again。　The　clan　which　had　turned　false　on　him　appeared　to　be　making　amends。
　　He　had　spoken　violently　to　his　clansmen　when　they　had　met　in　the　marketplace　to　decide　on　their　action。　And　they　had　listened　to　him　with　respect。　It　was　like　the　good　old　days　again；　when　a　warrior　was　a　warrior。　Although　they　had　not　agreed　to　kill　the　missionary　or　drive　away　the　Christians；　they　had　agreed　to　do　something　substantial。　And　they　had　done　it。　Okonkwo　was　almost　happy　again。
　　For　two　days　after　the　destruction　of　the　church；　nothing　happened。　Every　man　in　Umuofia　went　about　armed　with　a　gun　or　a　machete。　They　would　not　be　caught　unawares；　like　the　men　of　Abame。
　　Then　the　District　missioner　returned　from　his　tour。　Mr。　Smith　went　immediately　to　him　and　they　had　a　long　discussion。　The　men　of　Umuofia　did　not　take　any　notice　of　this；　and　if　they　did；　they　thought　it　was　not　important。　The　missionary　often　went　to　see　his　brother　white　man。　There　was　nothing　strange　in　that。
　　Three　days　later　the　District　missioner　sent　his　sweet…tongued　messenger　to　the　leaders　of　Umuofia　asking　them　to　meet　him　in　his　headquarters。　That　also　was　not　strange。　He　often　asked　them　to　hold　such　palavers；　as　he　called　them。　Okonkwo　was　among　the　six　leaders　he　invited。
　　Okonkwo　warned　the　others　to　be　fully　armed。　〃An　Umuofia　man　does　not　refuse　a　call；〃　he　said。　〃He　may　refuse　to　do　what　he　is　asked；　he　does　not　refuse　to　be　asked。　But　the　times　have　changed；　and　we　must　be　fully　prepared。〃
　　And　so　the　six　men　went　to　see　the　District　missioner；　armed　with　their　machetes。　They　did　not　carry　guns；　for　that　would　be　unseemly。　They　were　led　into　the　courthouse　where　the　District　missioner　sat。　He　received　them　politely。　They　unslung　their　goatskin　bags　and　their　sheathed　machetes；　put　them　on　the　floor；　and　sat　down。
　　〃I　have　asked　you　to　e；〃　began　the　missioner；　〃because　of　what　happened　during　my　absence。　I　have　been　told　a　few　things　but　I　cannot　believe　them　until　I　have　heard　your　own　side。　Let　us　talk　about　it　like　friends　and　find　a　way　of　ensuring　that　it　does　not　happen　again。〃
　　Ogbuefi　Ekwueme　rose　to　his　feet　and　began　to　tell　the　story。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　the　missioner。　〃I　want　to　bring　in　my　men　so　that　they　too　can　hear　your　grievances　and　take　warning。　Many　of　them　e　from　distant　places　and　although　they　speak　your　tongue　they　are　ignorant　of　your　customs。　James！　Go　and　bring　in　the　men。〃　His　interpreter　left　the　courtroom　and　soon　returned　with　twelve　men。　They　sat　together　with　the　men　of　Umuofia；　and　Ogbuefi　Ekwueme　began　to　tell　the　story　of　how　Enoch　murdered　an　egwugwu。
　　It　happened　so　quickly　that　the　six　men　did　not　see　it　ing。　There　was　only　a　brief　scuffle；　too　brief　even　to　allow　the　drawing　of　a　sheathed　machete。　The　six　men　were　handcuffed　and　led　into　the　guardroom。
　　〃We　shall　not　do　you　any　harm；〃　said　the　District　missioner　to　them　later；　〃if　only　you　agree　to　cooperate　with　us。　We　have　brought　a　peaceful　administration　to　you　and　your　people　so　that　you　may　be　happy。　If　any　man　ill…treats　you　we　shall　e　to　your　rescue。　But　we　will　not　allow　you　to　ill…treat　others。　We　have　a　court　of　law　where　we　judge　cases　and　administer　justice　just　as　it　is　done　in　my　own　country　under　a　great　queen。　I　have　brought　you　here　because　you　joined　together　to　molest　others；　to　burn　people's　houses　and　their　place　of　worship。　That　must　not　happen　in　the　dominion　of　our　queen；　the　most　powerful　ruler　in　the　world。　I　have　decided　that　you　will　pay　a　fine　of　two　hundred　bags　of　cowries。　You　will　be　released　as　soon　as　you　agree　to　this　and　undertake　to　collect　that　fine　from　your　people。　What　do　you　say　to　that？〃
　　The　six　men　remained　sullen　and　silent　and　the　missioner　left　them　for　a　while。　He　told　the　court　messengers；　when　he　left　the　guardroom；　to　treat　the　men　with　respect　because　they　were　the　leaders　of　Umuofia。　They　said；　〃Yes　sir；〃　and　saluted。
　　As　soon　as　the　District　missioner　left；　the　head　messenger；　who　was　also　the　prisoners'　barber；　took　down　his　razor　and　shaved　off　all　the　hair　on　the　men's　heads。　They　were　still　handcuffed；　and　they　just　sat　and　moped。
　　〃Who　is　the　chief　among　you？〃　the　court　messengers　asked　in　jest。　〃We　see　that　every　pauper　wears　the　anklet　of　title　in　Umuofia。　Does　it　cost　as　much　as　ten　cowries？〃
　　The　six　men　ate　nothing　throughout　that　day　and　the　next。　They　were　not　even　given　any　water　to　drink；　and　they　could　not　go　out　to　urinate　or　go　into　the　bush　when　they　were　pressed。　At　night　the　messengers　came　in　to　taunt　them　and　to　knock　their　shaven　heads　together。
　　Even　when　the　men　were　left　alone　they　found　no　words　to　speak　to　one　another。　It　was　only　on　the　third　day；　when　they　could　no　longer　bear　the　hunger　and　the　insults；　that　they　began　to　talk　about　giving　in。
　　〃We　should　have　killed　the　white　man　if　you　had　listened　to　me；〃　Okonkwo　snarled。
　　〃We　could　have　been　in　Umuru　now　waiting　to　be　hanged；〃　someone　said　to　him。
　　〃Who　wants　to　kill　the　white　man？〃　asked　a　messenger　who　had　just　rushed　in。　Nobody　spoke。
　　〃You　are　not　satisfied　with　your　crime；　but　you　must　kill　the　white　man　on　top　of　it。〃　He　carried　a　strong　stick；　and　he　hit　each　man　a　few　blows　on　the　head　and　back。　Okonkwo　was　choked　with　hate。
　　As　soon　as　the　six　men　were　locked　up；　court　messengers　went　into　Umuofia　to　tell　the　people　that　their　leaders　would
　　not　be　released　unless　they　paid　a　fine　of　two　hundred　and　fifty　bags　of　cowries。
　　〃Unless　you　pay　the　fine　immediately；〃　said　their　headman；　〃we　will　take　your　leaders　to　Umuru　before　the　big　white　man；　and　hang　them。〃
　　This　story　spread　quickly　through　the　villages；　and　was　added　to　as　it　went。　Some　said　that　the　men　had　a