the garden of allah-第6部分

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backwards　preparatory　to　starting　on　its　way　to　Beni…Mora。

Domini　caught　hold　of　the　short　European　jacket　the　Arab　was　wearing；
and　said　in　French：

〃You　must　let　me　get　in　at　once。　The　train　is　going。〃

The　man；　however；　intent　on　replacing　the　coin　he　had　lost；　took　no
notice　of　her；　but　went　on　vociferating　and　gesticulating。　The
traveller　said　something　in　Arabic。　Domini　was　now　very　angry。　She
gripped　the　jacket；　exerted　all　her　force；　and　pulled　the　Arab
violently　from　the　door。　He　alighted　on　the　platform　beside　her　and
nearly　fell。　Before　he　had　recovered　himself　she　sprang　up　into　the
train；　which　began　to　move　at　that　very　moment。　As　she　got　in；　the　man
who　had　caused　all　the　bother　was　leaning　forward　with　a　bit　of　silver
in　his　hand；　looking　as　if　he　were　about　to　leave　his　seat。　Domini
cast　a　glance　of　contempt　at　him；　and　he　turned　quickly　to　the　window
again　and　stared　out；　at　the　same　time　putting　the　coin　back　into　his
pocket。　A　dull　flush　rose　on　his　cheek；　but　he　attempted　no　apology；
and　did　not　even　offer　to　fasten　the　lower　handle　of　the　door。

〃What　a　boor！〃　Domini　thought　as　she　bent　out　of　the　window　to　do　it。

When　she　turned　from　the　door；　after　securing　the　handle；　she　found
the　carriage　full　of　a　pale　twilight。　The　train　was　stealing　into　the
gorge；　following　the　caravan　of　camels　which　she　had　seen
disappearing。　She　paid　no　more　attention　to　her　companion；　and　her
feeling　of　acute　irritation　against　him　died　away　for　the　moment。　The
towering　cliffs　cast　mighty　shadows；　the　darkness　deepened；　the　train；
quickening　its　speed；　seemed　straining　forward　into　the　arms　of　night。
There　was　a　chill　in　the　air。　Domini　drank　it　into　her　lungs　again；
and　again　was　startled；　stirred；　by　the　life　and　the　mentality　of　it。
She　was　conscious　of　receiving　it　with　passion；　as　if；　indeed；　she
held　her　lips　to　a　mouth　and　drank　some　being's　very　nature　into　hers。
She　forgot　her　recent　vexation　and　the　man　who　had　caused　it。　She
forgot　everything　in　mere　sensation。　She　had　no　time　to　ask；　〃Whither
am　I　going？〃　She　felt　like　one　borne　upon　a　wave；　seaward；　to　the
wonder；　to　the　danger；　perhaps；　of　a　murmuring　unknown。　The　rocks
leaned　forward；　their　teeth　were　fastened　in　the　sky；　they　enclosed
the　train；　banishing　the　sun　and　the　world　from　all　the　lives　within
it。　She　caught　a　fleeting　glimpse　of　rushing　waters　far　beneath　her；
of　crumbling　banks；　covered　with　debris　like　the　banks　of　a　disused
quarry；　of　shattered　boulders；　grouped　in　a　wild　disorder；　as　if　they
had　been　vomited　forth　from　some　underworld　or　cast　headlong　from　the
sky；　of　the　flying　shapes　of　fruit　trees；　mulberries　and　apricot
trees；　oleanders　and　palms；　of　dull　yellow　walls　guarding　pools　the
colour　of　absinthe；　imperturbable　and　still。　A　strong　impression　of
increasing　cold　and　darkness　grew　in　her；　and　the　noises　of　the　train
became　hollow；　and　seemed　to　be　expanding；　as　if　they　were　striving　to
press　through　the　impending　rocks　and　find　an　outlet　into　space；
failing；　they　rose　angrily；　violently；　in　Domini's　ears；　protesting；
wrangling；　shouting；　declaiming。　The　darkness　became　like　the　darkness
of　a　nightmare。　All　the　trees　vanished；　as　if　they　fled　in　fear。　The
rocks　closed　in　as　if　to　crush　the　train。　There　was　a　moment　in　which
Domini　shut　her　eyes；　like　one　expectant　of　a　tremendous　blow　that
cannot　be　avoided。

She　opened　them　to　a　flood　of　gold；　out　of　which　the　face　of　a　man
looked；　like　a　face　looking　out　of　the　heart　of　the　sun。



CHAPTER　III

It　flashed　upon　her　with　the　desert；　with　the　burning　heaps　of
carnation　and　orange…coloured　rocks；　with　the　first　sand　wilderness；
the　first　brown　villages　glowing　in　the　late　radiance　of　the　afternoon
like　carven　things　of　bronze；　the　first　oasis　of　palms；　deep　green　as
a　wave　of　the　sea　and　moving　like　a　wave；　the　first　wonder　of　Sahara
warmth　and　Sahara　distance。　She　passed　through　the　golden　door　into
the　blue　country；　and　saw　this　face；　and；　for　a　moment；　moved　by　the
exalted　sensation　of　a　magical　change　in　all　her　world；　she　looked　at
it　simply　as　a　new　sight　presented；　with　the　sun；　the　mighty　rocks；
the　hard；　blind　villages；　and　the　dense　trees；　to　her　eyes；　and
connected　it　with　nothing。　It　was　part　of　this　strange　and　glorious
desert　region　to　her。　That　was　all；　for　a　moment。

In　the　play　of　untempered　golden　light　the　face　seemed　pale。　It　was
narrow；　rather　long；　with　marked　and　prominent　features；　a　nose　with　a
high　bridge；　a　mouth　with　straight；　red　lips；　and　a　powerful　chin。　The
eyes　were　hazel；　almost　yellow；　with　curious　markings　of　a　darker
shade　in　the　yellow；　dark　centres　that　looked　black；　and　dark　outer
circles。　The　eyelashes　were　very　long；　the　eyebrows　thick　and　strongly
curved。　The　forehead　was　high；　and　swelled　out　slightly　above　the
temples。　There　was　no　hair　on　the　face；　which　was　closely　shaved。　Near
the　mouth　were　two　faint　lines　that　made　Domini　think　of　physical
suffering；　and　also　of　mediaeval　knights。　Despite　the　glory　of　the
sunshine　there　seemed　to　be　a　shadow　falling　across　the　face。

This　was　all　that　Domini　noticed　before　the　spell　of　change　and　the
abrupt　glory　was　broken；　and　she　knew　that　she　was　staring　into　the
face　of　the　man　who　had　behaved　so　rudely　at　the　station　of　El…Akbara。
The　knowledge　gave　her　a　definite　shock；　and　she　thought　that　her
expression　must　have　changed　abruptly；　for　a　dull　flush　rose　on　the
stranger's　thin　cheeks　and　mounted　to　his　rugged　forehead。　He　glanced
out　of　the　window　and　moved　his　hands　uneasily。　Domini　noticed　that
they　scarcely　tallied　with　his　face。　Though　scrupulously　clean；　they
looked　like　the　hands　of　a　labourer；　hard；　broad；　and　brown。　Even　his
wrists；　and　a　small　section　of　his　left　forearm；　which　showed　as　he
lifted　his　left　hand　from　one　knee　to　the　other；　were　heavily　tinted
by　the　sun。　The　spaces　between　the　fingers　were　wide；　as　they　usually
are　in　hands　accustomed　to　grasping　implements；　but　the　fingers
themselves　were　rather　delicate　and　artistic。

Domini　observed　this　swiftly。　Then　she　saw　that　her　neighbour　was
unpleasantly　conscious　of　her　observation。　This　vexed　her　vaguely；
perhaps　because　even　so　trifling　a　circumstance　was　like　a　thin　link
between　them。　She　snapped　it　by　ceasing　to　look　at　or　think　of　him。
The　window　was　down。　A　delicate　and　warm　breeze　drifted　in；　coming
from　the　thickets　of　the　palms。　In　flashing　out　of　the　darkness　of　the
gorge　Domini　had　had　the　sensation　of　passing　into　a　new　world　and　a
new　atmosphere。　The　sensation　stayed　with　her　now　that　she　was　no
longer　dreaming　or　giving　the　reins　to　her　imagination；　but　was　calmly
herself。　Against　the　terrible　rampart　of　rock　the　winds　beat　across
the　land　of　the　Tell。　But　they　die　there　frustrated。　And　the　rains
journey　thither　and　fail；　sinking　into　the　absinthe…coloured　pools　of
the　gorge。　And　the　snows　and　even　the　clouds　stop；　exhausted　in　their
pilgrimage。　The　gorge　is　not　their　goal；　but　it　is　their　grave；　and
the　desert　never　sees　their　burial。　So　Domini's　first　sense　of　casting
away　the　known　remained；　and　even　grew；　but　now　strongly　and　quietly。
It　was　well　founded；　she　thought。　For　she　looked　out　of　the　carriage
window　towards　the　barrier　she　was　leaving；　and　saw　that　on　this　side；
guarding　the　desert　from　the　world　that　is　not　desert；　it　was　pink　in
the　evening　light；　deepening　here　and　there　to　rose　colour；　whereas　on
the　far　side　it　had　a　rainy　hue　as　of　rocks　in　England。　And　there　was
a　lustre　of　gold　in　the　hills；　tints　of　glowing　bronze　slashed　with　a
red　line　as　the　heart　of　a　wound；　but　recalling　the　heart　of　a　flower。
The　folds　of　the　earth　glistened。　There　was　flame　down　there　in　the
river　bed。　The　wreckage　of　the　land；　the　broken　fragments；　gleamed　as
if　braided　with　precious　things。　Everywhere　the　salt　crystals　sparkled
with　the　violence　of　diamonds。　Everywhere　there　was　a　strength　of
colour　that　hurled　itself　to　the　gaze；　unabashed　and　almost　savage；
the　colour　of　summer　that　never　ceases；　of　heat　that　seldom　dies；　in　a
land　where　there　is　no　autumn　and　seldom　a　flitting　cold。

Down　on　the　road　near　the　village　there　were　people；　old　men　playing
the　〃lady's　game〃　with　stones　set　in　squares　of　sand；　women　peeping
from　flat　roofs　and　doorways；　children　driving　goats。　A　man；　like　a
fair　and　beautiful　Christ；　with　long　hair　and　a　curling　beard；　beat　on
the　ground　with　a　staff　and　howled　some　tuneless　notes。　He　was　dressed
in　red　and　green。　No　one　heeded　him。　A　distant　sound　of　the　beating　of
drums　rose　in　the　air；　mingled　with　piercing　cries　uttered　by　a　nasal
voice。　And　as　if　below　it；　like　the　orchestral　accompaniment　of　a
dramatic　solo；　hummed　many　blending　noises；　faint　calls　of　labourers
in　the　palm…gardens　and　of　women　at　the　wells；　chatter　of　children　in
dusky　courts　sheltered　with　reeds　and　pale…stemmed　grasses；　dim
pipings　of　homeward…coming　shepherds　drowned；　with　their　pattering
charges；　in　the　golden　vapours　of　the　west；　soft　twitterings　of　birds
beyond　brown　walls　in　green　seclusions；　dull　barking　of　guard　dogs；
mutter　of　camel　drivers　to　their　velvet…footed　beasts。

The　caravan　which　Domini　had　seen　descending　into　the　gorge
reappeared；　moving　deliberately　along　the　desert　road　towards　the
south。　A　watch…tower　peeped　above　the　palms。　Doves　were　circling　round
it。　Many　of　them　were　white。　They　flew　like　ivory　things　above　this
tower　of　glowing　bronze；　which　slept　at　the　foot　of　the　pink　rocks。　On
the　left　rose　a　mass　of　blood…red　earth　and　stone。　Slanting　rays　of
the　sun　struck　it；　and　it　glowed　mysteriously　like　a　mighty　jewel。

As　Domini　leaned　out　of　the　window；　and　the　salt　crystals　sparkled　to
her　eyes；　and　the　palms　swayed　languidly　above　the　waters；　and　the
rose　and　mauve　of　the　hills；　the　red　and　orange　of　the　earth；　streamed
by　in　the　flames　of　the　sun　before　the　passing　train　like　a　barbaric
procession；　to　the　sound　of　the　hidden　drums；　the　cry　of　the　hidden
priest；　and　all　the　whispering　melodies　of　these　strange　and　unknown
lives；　tears　started　into　her　eyes。　The　entrance　into　this　land　of
flame　and　colour；　through　its　narrow　and　terrific　portal；　stirred　her
almost　beyond　her　present　strength。　The　glory　of　this　world　mounted　to
her　heart；