the garden of allah-第5部分

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There　were　no　Arabs　journeying　now。　No　tents　huddled　among　the　low
bushes。　The　last　sign　of　vegetation　was　obliterated。　The　earth　rose
and　fell　in　a　series　of　humps　and　depressions；　interspersed　with　piles
of　rock。　Every　shade　of　yellow　and　of　brown　mingled　and　flowed　away
towards　the　foot　of　the　mountains。　Here　and　there　dry　water…courses
showed　their　teeth。　Their　crumbling　banks　were　like　the　rind　of　an
orange。　Little　birds；　the　hue　of　the　earth；　with　tufted　crests；
tripped　jauntily　among　the　stones；　fluttered　for　a　few　yards　and
alighted；　with　an　air　of　strained　alertness；　as　if　their　minute　bodies
were　full　of　trembling　wires。　They　were　the　only　living　things　Domini
could　see。

She　thought　again　of　her　father。　In　some　such　region　as　this　his　soul
must　surely　be　wandering；　far　away　from　God。

She　let　down　the　glass。

The　wind　was　really　cold　and　blowing　gustily。　She　drank　it　in　as　if
she　were　tasting　a　new　wine；　and　she　was　conscious　at　once　that　she
had　never　before　breathed　such　air。　There　was　a　wonderful；　a　startling
flavour　in　it；　the　flavour　of　gigantic　spaces　and　of　rolling　leagues
of　emptiness。　Neither　among　mountains　nor　upon　the　sea　had　she　ever
found　an　atmosphere　so　fiercely　pure；　clean　and　lively　with
unutterable　freedom。　She　leaned　out　to　it；　shutting　her　eyes。　And　now
that　she　saw　nothing　her　palate　savoured　it　more　intensely。　The
thought　of　her　father　fled　from　her。　All　detailed　thoughts；　all　the
minutia　of　the　mind　were　swept　away。　She　was　bracing　herself　to　an
encounter　with　something　gigantic；　something　unshackled；　the　being
from　whose　lips　this　wonderful　breath　flowed。

When　two　lovers　kiss　their　breath　mingles；　and；　if　they　really　love；
each　is　conscious　that　in　the　breath　of　the　loved　one　is　the　loved
one's　soul；　coming　forth　from　the　temple　of　the　body　through　the
temple　door。　As　Domini　leaned　out；　seeing　nothing；　she　was　conscious
that　in　this　breath　she　drank　there　was　a　soul；　and　it　seemed　to　her
that　it　was　the　soul　which　flames　in　the　centre　of　things；　and　beyond。
She　could　not　think　any　longer　of　her　father　as　an　outcast　because　he
had　abandoned　a　religion。　For　all　religions　were　surely　here；　marching
side　by　side；　and　behind　them；　background　to　them；　there　was　something
far　greater　than　any　religion。　Was　it　snow　or　fire？　Was　it　the
lawlessness　of　that　which　has　made　laws；　or　the　calm　of　that　which　has
brought　passion　into　being？　Greater　love　than　is　in　any　creed；　or
greater　freedom　than　is　in　any　human　liberty？　Domini　only　felt　that　if
she　had　ever　been　a　slave　at　this　moment　she　would　have　died　of　joy；
realising　the　boundless　freedom　that　circles　this　little　earth。

〃Thank　God　for　it！〃　she　murmured　aloud。

Her　own　words　woke　her　to　a　consciousness　of　ordinary　thingsor　made
her　sleep　to　the　eternal。

She　closed　the　window　and　sat　down。

A　little　later　the　sun　came　out　again；　and　the　various　shades　of
yellow　and　of　orange　that　played　over　the　wrinkled　earth　deepened　and
glowed。　Domini　had　sunk　into　a　lethargy　so　complete　that；　though　not
asleep；　she　was　scarcely　aware　of　the　sun。　She　was　dreaming　of
liberty。

Presently　the　train　slackened　and　stopped。　She　heard　a　loud　chattering
of　many　voices　and　looked　out。　The　sun　was　now　shining　brilliantly；
and　she　saw　a　station　crowded　with　Arabs　in　white　burnouses；　who　were
vociferously　greeting　friends　in　the　train；　were　offering　enormous
oranges　for　sale　to　the　passengers；　or　were　walking　up　and　down　gazing
curiously　into　the　carriages；　with　the　unblinking　determination　and
indifference　to　a　return　of　scrutiny　which　she　had　already　noticed　and
thought　animal。　A　guard　came　up；　told　her　the　place　was　El…Akbara；　and
that　the　train　would　stay　there　ten　minutes　to　wait　for　the　train　from
Beni…Mora。　She　decided　to　get　out　and　stretch　her　cramped　limbs。　On
the　platform　she　found　Suzanne；　looking　like　a　person　who　had　just
been　slapped。　One　side　of　the　maid's　face　was　flushed　and　covered　with
a　faint　tracery　of　tiny　lines。　The　other　was　greyish　white。　Sleep　hung
in　her　eyes；　over　which　the　lids　drooped　as　if　they　were　partially
paralysed。　Her　fingers　were　yellow　from　peeling　an　orange；　and　her
smart　little　hat　was　cocked　on　one　side。　There　were　grains　of　sand　on
her　black　gown；　and　when　she　saw　her　mistress　she　at　once　began　to
compress　her　lips；　and　to　assume　the　expression　of　obstinate　patience
characteristic　of　properly…brought…up　servants　who　find　themselves
travelling　far　from　home　in　outlandish　places。

〃Have　you　been　asleep；　Suzanne？〃

〃No；　Mam'zelle。〃

〃You've　had　an　orange？〃

〃I　couldn't　get　it　down；　Mam'zelle。〃

〃Would　you　like　to　see　if　you　can　get　a　cup　of　coffee　here？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　Mam'zelle。　I　couldn't　touch　this　Arab　stuff。〃

〃We　shall　soon　be　there　now。〃

Suzanne　made　all　her　naturally　small　features　look　much　smaller；
glanced　down　at　her　skirt；　and　suddenly　began　to　shake　the　grains　of
sand　from　it　in　an　outraged　manner；　at　the　same　time　extending　her
left　foot。　Two　or　three　young　Arabs　came　up　and　stood；　staring；　round
her。　Their　eyes　were　magnificent；　and　gravely　observant。　Suzanne　went
on　shaking　and　patting　her　skirt；　and　Domini　walked　away　down　the
platform；　wondering　what　a　French　maid's　mind　was　like。　Suzanne's
certainly　had　its　limitations。　It　was　evident　that　she　was　horrified
by　the　sight　of　bare　legs。　Why？

As　Domini　walked　along　the　platform　among　the　fruit…sellers；　the
guides；　the　turbaned　porters　with　their　badges；　the　staring　children
and　the　ragged　wanderers　who　thronged　about　the　train；　she　thought　of
the　desert　to　which　she　was　now　so　near。　It　lay；　she　knew；　beyond　the
terrific　wall　of　rock　that　faced　her。　But　she　could　see　no　opening。
The　towering　summits　of　the　cliffs；　jagged　as　the　teeth　of　a　wolf；
broke　crudely　upon　the　serene　purity　of　the　sky。　Somewhere；　concealed
in　the　darkness　of　the　gorge　at　their　feet；　was　the　mouth　from　which
had　poured　forth　that　wonderful　breath；　quivering　with　freedom　and
with　unearthly　things。　The　sun　was　already　declining；　and　the　light　it
cast　becoming　softened　and　romantic。　Soon　there　would　be　evening　in
the　desert。　Then　there　would　be　night。　And　she　would　be　there　in　the
night　with　all　things　that　the　desert　holds。

A　train　of　camels　was　passing　on　the　white　road　that　descended　into
the　shadow　of　the　gorge。　Some　savage…looking　men　accompanied　them；
crying　continually；　〃Oosh！　Oosh！〃　They　disappeared；　desert…men　with
their　desert…beasts；　bound　no　doubt　on　some　tremendous　journey　through
the　regions　of　the　sun。　Where　would　they　at　last　unlade　the　groaning
camels？　Domini　saw　them　in　the　midst　of　dunes　red　with　the　dying　fires
of　the　west。　And　their　shadows　lay　along　the　sands　like　weary　things
reposing。

She　started　when　a　low　voice　spoke　to　her　in　French；　and；　turning
round；　saw　a　tall　Arab　boy；　magnificently　dressed　in　pale　blue　cloth
trousers；　a　Zouave　jacket　braided　with　gold；　and　a　fez；　standing　near
her。　She　was　struck　by　the　colour　of　his　skin；　which　was　faint　as　the
colour　of　/cafe　au　lait/；　and　by　the　contrast　between　his　huge　bulk
and　his　languid；　almost　effeminate；　demeanour。　As　she　turned　he　smiled
at　her　calmly；　and　lifted　one　hand　toward　the　wall　of　rock。

〃Madame　has　seen　the　desert？〃　he　asked。

〃Never；〃　answered　Domini。

〃It　is　the　garden　of　oblivion；〃　he　said；　still　in　a　low　voice；　and
speaking　with　a　delicate　refinement　that　was　almost　mincing。　〃In　the
desert　one　forgets　everything；　even　the　little　heart　one　loves；　and
the　desire　of　one's　own　soul。〃

〃How　can　that　be？〃　asked　Domini。

〃Shal…lah。　It　is　the　will　of　God。　One　remembers　nothing　any　more。〃

His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　gigantic　pinnacles　of　the　rocks。　There
was　something　fanatical　and　highly　imaginative　in　their　gaze。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　Domini　asked。

〃Batouch；　Madame。　You　are　going　to　Beni…Mora？〃

〃Yes；　Batouch。〃

〃I　too。　To…night；　under　the　mimosa　trees；　I　shall　compose　a　poem。　It
will　be　addressed　to　Irena；　the　dancing…girl。　She　is　like　the　little
moon　when　it　first　comes　up　above　the　palm　trees。〃

Just　then　the　train　from　Beni…Mora　ran　into　the　station；　and　Domini
turned　to　seek　her　carriage。　As　she　was　coming　to　it　she　noticed；　with
the　pang　of　the　selfish　traveller　who　wishes　to　be　undisturbed；　that　a
tall　man；　attended　by　an　Arab　porter　holding　a　green　bag；　was　at　the
door　of　it　and　was　evidently　about　to　get　in。　He　glanced　round　as
Domini　came　up；　half　drew　back　rather　awkwardly　as　if　to　allow　her　to
precede　him；　then　suddenly　sprang　in　before　her。　The　Arab　lifted　in
the　bag；　and　the　man；　endeavouring　hastily　to　thrust　some　money　into
his　hand；　dropped　the　coin；　which　fell　down　between　the　step　of　the
carriage　and　the　platform。　The　Arab　immediately　made　a　greedy　dive
after　it；　interposing　his　body　between　Domini　and　the　train；　and　she
was　obliged　to　stand　waiting　while　he　looked　for　it；　grubbing
frantically　in　the　earth　with　his　brown　fingers；　and　uttering　muffled
exclamations；　apparently　of　rage。　Meanwhile；　the　tall　man　had　put　the
green　bag　up　on　the　rack；　gone　quickly　to　the　far　side　of　the
carriage；　and　sat　down　looking　out　of　the　window。

Domini　was　struck　by　the　mixture　of　indecision　and　blundering　haste
which　he　had　shown；　and　by　his　impoliteness。　Evidently　he　was　not　a
gentleman；　she　thought；　or　he　would　surely　have　obeyed　his　first
impulse　and　allowed　her　to　get　into　the　train　before　him。　It　seemed；
too；　as　if　he　were　determined　to　be　discourteous；　for　he　sat　with　his
shoulder　deliberately　turned　towards　the　door；　and　made　no　attempt　to
get　his　Arab　out　of　the　way；　although　the　train　was　just　about　to
start。　Domini　was　very　tired；　and　she　began　to　feel　angry　with　him；
contemptuous　too。　The　Arab　could　not　find　the　money；　and　the　little
horn　now　piped　its　warning　of　departure。　It　was　absolutely　necessary
for　her　to　get　in　at　once　if　she　did　not　mean　to　stay　at　El…Akbara。
She　tried　to　pass　the　grovelling　Arab；　but　as　she　did　so　he　suddenly
sprang　up；　jumped　on　to　the　step　of　the　carriage；　and；　thrusting　his
body　half　through　the　doorway；　began　to　address　a　torrent　of　Arabic　to
the　passenger　within。　The　horn　sounded　again；　and　the　carriage　jerked
backwards　preparatory　to　starting　on　its　way　to　Beni…Mora。

Domini　caught　h