the garden of allah-第55部分

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feet。　He　bowed　again　as　if　saluting　a　fetish；　and　again　and　again。
Ceaselessly　he　bowed　to　the　tomtoms；　always　jumping　softly　from　the
pavement。　His　long　hair　fell　over　his　face　and　back　upon　his　shoulders
with　a　monotonous　regularity　that　imitated　the　tomtoms；　as　if　he
strove　to　mould　his　life　in　accord　with　the　fetish　to　which　he　offered
adoration。　Flecks　of　foam　appeared　upon　his　lips；　and　the　asceticism
in　his　eyes　changed　to　a　bestial　glare。　His　whole　body　was　involved　in
a　long　and　snake…like　undulation；　above　which　his　hair　flew　to　and
fro。　Presently　the　second　youth；　moving　reverently　like　a　priest　about
the　altar；　stole　to　a　corner　and　returned　with　a　large　and　curved
sheet　of　glass。　Without　looking　at　Domini　he　came　to　her　and　placed　it
in　her　hands。　When　the　dancer　saw　the　glass　he　stood　still；　growled
again　long　and　furiously；　threw　himself　on　his　knees　before　Domini；
licked　his　lips；　then；　abruptly　thrusting　forward　his　face；　set　his
teeth　in　the　sheet　of　glass；　bit　a　large　piece　off；　crunched　it　up
with　a　loud　noise；　swallowed　it　with　a　gulp；　and　growled　for　more。　She
fed　him　again；　while　the　tomtoms　went　on　roaring；　and　the　child　in　its
red　pillow　watched　with　its　weary　eyes。　And　when　he　was　full　fed；　only
a　fragment　of　glass　remained　between　her　fingers；　he　fell　upon　the
ground　and　lay　like　one　in　a　trance。

Then　the　second　youth　bowed　to　the　tomtoms；　leaping　gently　on　the
pavement；　foamed　at　the　mouth；　growled；　snuffed　up　the　incense　fumes；
shook　his　long　mane；　and　placed　his　naked　feet　in　the　red…hot　coals　of
the　brazier。　He　plucked　out　a　coal　and　rolled　his　tongue　round　it。　He
placed　red　coals　under　his　bare　armpits　and　kept　them　there；　pressing
his　arms　against　his　sides。　He　held　a　coal；　like　a　monocle；　in　his　eye
socket　against　his　eye。　And　all　the　time　he　leaped　and　bowed　and
foamed；　undulating　his　body　like　a　snake。　The　child　looked　on　with　a
still　gravity；　and　the　tomtoms　never　ceased。　From　the　gallery　above
painted　faces　peered　down；　but　Domini　did　not　see　them。　Her　attention
was　taken　captive　by　the　young　priests　of　the　Sahara。　For　so　she
called　them　in　her　mind；　realising　that　there　were　religious　fanatics
whose　half…crazy　devotion　seemed　to　lift　them　above　the　ordinary
dangers　to　the　body。　One　of　the　musicians　now　took　his　turn；　throwing
his　tomtom　to　the　eater　of　glass；　who　had　wakened　from　his　trance。　He
bowed　and　leaped；　thrust　spikes　behind　his　eyes；　through　his　cheeks；
his　lips；　his　arms；　drove　a　long　nail　into　his　head　with　a　wooden
hammer；　stood　upon　the　sharp　edge　of　an　upturned　sword　blade。　With　the
spikes　protruding　from　his　face　in　all　directions；　and　his　eyes
bulging　out　from　them　like　balls；　he　spun　in　a　maze　of　hair；　barking
like　a　dog。　The　child　regarded　him　with　a　still　attention；　and　the
incense　fumes　were　cloudy　in　the　court。　Then　the　last　of　the　four　men
sprang　up　in　the　midst　of　a　more　passionate　uproar　from　the　tomtoms。
He　wore　a　filthy　burnous；　and；　with　a　shriek；　he　plunged　his　hand　into
its　hood　and　threw　some　squirming　things　upon　the　floor。　They　began　to
run；　rearing　stiff　tails　into　the　air。　He　sank　down；　blew　upon　them；
caught　them；　letting　them　set　their　tail　weapons　in　his　fingers；　and
lifting　them　thus；　imbedded；　high　above　the　floor。　Then　again　he　put
them　down；　breathed　upon　each　one；　drew　a　circle　round　each　with　his
forefinger。　His　face　had　suddenly　become　intense；　hypnotic。　The
scorpions；　as　if　mesmerised；　remained　utterly　still；　each　in　its　place
within　its　imaginary　circle；　that　had　become　a　cage；　and　their　master
bowed　to　the　fetish　of　the　tomtoms；　leaped；　grinned；　and　bowed　again；
undulating　his　body　in　a　maze　of　hair。

Domini　felt　as　if　she；　like　the　scorpions；　had　been　mesmerised。　She；
too；　was　surely　bound　in　a　circle；　breathed　upon　by　some　arrogant
breath　of　fanaticism；　commanded　by　some　horrid　power。　She　looked　at
the　scorpions　and　felt　a　sort　of　pity　for　them。　From　time　to　time　the
bowing　fanatic　glanced　at　them　through　his　hair　out　of　the　corners　of
his　eyes；　licked　his　lips；　shook　his　shoulders；　and　uttered　a　long
howl；　thrilling　with　the　note　of　greed。　The　tomtoms　pulsed　faster　and
faster；　louder　and　louder；　and　all　the　men　began　to　sing　a　fierce
chant；　the　song　surely　of　desert　souls　driven　crazy　by　religion。　One
of　the　scorpions　moved　slightly；　reared　its　tail；　began　to　run。
Instantly；　as　if　at　a　signal；　the　dancer　fell　upon　his　knees；　bent
down　his　head；　seized　it　in　his　teeth；　munched　it　and　swallowed　it。　At
the　same　moment　with　the　uproar　of　the　tomtoms　there　mingled　a　loud
knocking　on　the　door。

Hadj's　lips　curled　back　from　his　pointed　teeth　and　he　looked
dangerous。

〃It　is　Batouch！〃　he　snarled。

Domini　got　up。　Without　a　word；　turning　her　back　upon　the　court；　she
made　her　way　out；　still　hearing　the　howl　of　the　scorpion…eater；　the
roar　of　the　tomtoms；　and　the　knocking　on　the　door。　Hadj　followed　her
quickly；　protesting。　At　the　door　was　the　man　with　the　pitted　white
face　and　the　thick　lips。　When　he　saw　her　he　held　out　his　hand。　She
gave　him　some　money；　he　opened　the　door；　and　she　came　out　into　the
night　by　the　triple　palm　tree。　Batouch　stood　there　looking　furious；
with　the　bridles　of　two　horses　across　his　arm。　He　began　to　speak　in
Arabic　to　Hadj；　but　she　stopped　him　with　an　imperious　gesture；　gave
Hadj　his　fee；　and　in　a　moment　was　in　the　saddle　and　cantering　away
into　the　dark。　She　heard　the　gallop　of　Batouch's　horse　coming　up
behind　her　and　turned　her　head。

〃Batouch；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　the　smartest〃she　used　the　word　/chic/
〃Arab　here。　Do　you　know　what　is　the　fashion　in　London　when　a　lady
rides　out　with　the　attendant　who　guards　herthe　really　smart　thing　to
do？〃

She　was　playing　on　his　vanity。　He　responded　with　a　ready　smile。

〃No；　Madame。〃

〃The　attendant　rides　at　a　short　distance　behind　her；　so　that　no　one
can　come　up　near　her　without　his　knowledge。〃

Batouch　fell　back；　and　Domini　cantered　on；　congratulating　herself　on
the　success　of　her　expedient。

She　passed　through　the　village；　full　of　strolling　white　figures；
lights　and　the　sound　of　music；　and　was　soon　at　the　end　of　the　long；
straight　road　that　was　significant　to　her　as　no　other　road　had　ever
been。　Each　time　she　saw　it；　stretching　on　till　it　was　lost　in　the
serried　masses　of　the　palms；　her　imagination　was　stirred　by　a　longing
to　wander　through　barbaric　lands；　by　a　nomad　feeling　that　was　almost
irresistible。　This　road　was　a　track　of　fate　to　her。　When　she　was　on　it
she　had　a　strange　sensation　as　if　she　changed；　developed；　drew　near　to
some　ideal。　It　influenced　her　as　one　person　may　influence　another。　Now
for　the　first　time　she　was　on　it　in　the　night；　riding　on　the　crowded
shadows　of　its　palms。　She　drew　rein　and　went　more　slowly。　She　had　a
desire　to　be　noiseless。

In　the　obscurity　the　thickets　of　the　palms　looked　more　exotic　than　in
the　light　of　day。　There　was　no　motion　in　them。　Each　tree　stood　like　a
delicately　carven　thing；　silhouetted　against　the　remote　purple　of　the
void。　In　the　profound　firmament　the　stars　burned　with　a　tremulous
ardour　they　never　show　in　northern　skies。　The　mystery　of　this　African
night　rose　not　from　vaporous　veils　and　the　long　movement　of　winds；　but
was　breathed　out　by　clearness；　brightness；　stillness。　It　was　the
deepest　of　all　mysterythe　mystery　of　vastness　and　of　peace。

No　one　was　on　the　road。　The　sound　of　the　horse's　feet　were　sharply
distinct　in　the　night。　On　all　sides；　but　far　off；　the　guard　dogs　were
barking　by　the　hidden　homes　of　men。　The　air　was　warm　as　in　a　hothouse；
but　light　and　faintly　impregnated　with　perfume　shed　surely　by　the
mystical　garments　of　night　as　she　glided　on　with　Domini　towards　the
desert。　From　the　blackness　of　the　palms　there　came　sometimes　thin
notes　of　the　birds　of　night；　the　whizzing　noise　of　insects；　the　glassy
pipe　of　a　frog　in　the　reeds　by　a　pool　behind　a　hot　brown　wall。

She　rode　through　one　of　the　villages　of　old　Beni…Mora；　silent；
unlighted；　with　empty　streets　and　closed　cafes　maures；　touched　her
horse　with　the　whip；　and　cantered　on　at　a　quicker　pace。　As　she　drew
near　to　the　desert　her　desire　to　be　in　it　increased。　There　was　some
coarse　grass　here。　The　palm　trees　grew　less　thickly。　She　heard　more
clearly　the　barking　of　the　Kabyle　dogs；　and　knew　that　tents　were　not
far　off。　Now；　between　the　trunks　of　the　trees；　she　saw　the　twinkling
of　distant　fires；　and　the　sound　of　running　water　fell　on　her　ears；
mingling　with　the　persistent　noise　of　the　insects；　and　the　faint　cries
of　the　birds　and　frogs。　In　front；　where　the　road　came　out　from　the
shadows　of　the　last　trees；　lay　a　vast　dimness；　not　wholly　unlike
another　starless　sky；　stretched　beneath　the　starry　sky　in　which　the
moon　had　not　yet　risen。　She　set　her　horse　at　a　gallop　and　came　into
the　desert；　rushing　through　the　dark。

〃Madame！　Madame！〃

Batouch's　voice　was　calling　her。　She　galloped　faster；　like　one　in
flight。　Her　horse's　feet　padded　over　sand　almost　as　softly　as　a
camel's。　The　vast　dimness　was　surely　coming　to　meet　her；　to　take　her
to　itself　in　the　night。　But　suddenly　Batouch　rode　furiously　up　beside
her；　his　burnous　flying　out　behind　him　over　his　red　saddle。

〃Madame；　we　must　not　go　further；　we　must　keep　near　the　oasis。〃

〃Why？〃

〃It　is　not　safe　at　night　in　the　desert；　and　besides〃

His　horse　plunged　and　nearly　rocketed　against　hers。　She　pulled　in。　His
company　took　away　her　desire　to　keep　on。

〃Besides？〃

Leaning　over　his　saddle　peak　he　said；　mysteriously：

〃Besides；　Madame；　someone　has　been　following　us　all　the　way　from　Beni…
Mora。〃

〃Who？〃

〃A　horseman。　I　have　heard　the　beat　of　the　hoofs　on　the　hard　road。　Once
I　stopped　and　turned；　but　I　could　see　nothing；　and　then　I　could　hear
nothing。　He；　too；　had　stopped。　But　when　I　rode　on　again　soon　I　heard
him　once　more。　Someone　found　out　we　were　going　and　has　come　after　us。〃

She　looked　back　into　the　violet　night　without　speaking。　She　heard　no
sound　of　a　horse；　saw　nothing　but　the　dim　track　and　the　faint；　shadowy
blackness　where　the　palms　began。　Then　she　put　her　hand　into　the　pocket
of　her　saddle　and　silently　held　up　a　tiny　revolver。

〃I　know；　but　there　might　be　more　than　one。　I　am　not　afraid；　but　if
anything　happens　to　Madame　no　one　will　ever　take　me　as　a　guide　any
more。〃