the garden of allah-第68部分

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were　playing　a　game　with　stones　set　in　an　ordered　series　of　small
holes　scooped　by　their　fingers　in　the　dust。　A　negro　crossed　the　flat
space　before　the　Bordj　carrying　on　his　head　a　huge　earthen　vase　to　the
well　near　by；　where　a　crowd　of　black　donkeys；　just　relieved　of　their
loads　of　brushwood；　was　being　watered。　From　the　south　two　Spahis　were
riding　in　on　white　horses；　their　scarlet　cloaks　floating　out　over
their　saddles；　and　from　the　west；　moving　slowly　to　a　wailing　sound　of
indistinct　music；　a　faint　beating　of　tomtoms；　was　approaching　a　large
caravan　in　a　cloud　of　dust　which　floated　back　from　it　and　melted　away
into　the　radiance　of　the　sunset。

When　they　gained　the　great　open　space　before　the　building　they　were
bathed　in　the　soft　golden　light；　in　which　all　these　figures　of
Africans；　and　all　these　animals；　looked　mysterious　and　beautiful；　and
full　of　that　immeasurable　significance　which　the　desert　sheds　upon
those　who　move　in　it；　specially　at　dawn　or　at　sundown。　From　the
plateau　they　dominated　the　whole　of　the　plain　they　had　traversed　as
far　as　Beni…Mora；　which　on　the　morrow　would　fade　into　the　blue
horizon。　Its　thousands　of　palms　made　a　darkness　in　the　gold；　and　still
the　tower　of　the　hotel　was　faintly　visible；　pointing　like　a　needle
towards　the　sky。　The　range　of　mountains　showed　their　rosy　flanks　in
the　distance。　They；　too；　on　the　morrow　would　be　lost　in　the　desert
spaces；　the　last　outposts　of　the　world　of　hill　and　valley；　of　stream
and　sea。　Only　in　the　deceptive　dream　of　the　mirage　would　they　appear
once　more；　looming　in　a　pearl…coloured　shaking　veil　like　a　fluid　on
the　edge　of　some　visionary　lagune。

Domini　was　glad　that　on　this　first　night　of　their　journey　they　could
still　see　Beni…Mora；　the　place　where　they　had　found　each　other　and
been　given　to　each　other　by　the　Church。　As　the　camel　stopped　before
the　great　doorway　of　the　Bordj　she　turned　in　the　palanquin　and　looked
down　upon　the　desert；　motioning　to　the　camel…driver　to　leave　the　beast
for　a　moment。　She　put　her　arm　through　Androvsky's　and　made　his　eyes
follow　hers　across　the　vast　spaces　made　magical　by　the　sinking　sun　to
that　darkness　of　distant　palms　which；　to　her；　would　be　a　sacred　place
for　ever。　And　as　they　looked　in　silence　all　that　Beni…Mora　meant　to
her　came　upon　her。　She　saw　again　the　garden　hushed　in　the　heat　of
noon。　She　saw　Androvsky　at　her　feet　on　the　sand。　She　heard　the　chiming
church　bell　and　the　twitter　of　Larbi's　flute。　The　dark　blue　of　trees
was　as　the　heart　of　the　world　to　her　and　as　the　heart　of　life。　It　had
seen　the　birth　of　her　soul　and　given　to　her　another　newborn　soul。
There　was　a　pathos　in　seeing　it　fade　like　a　thing　sinking　down　till　it
became　one　with　the　immeasurable　sands；　and　at　that　moment　she　said　to
herself；　〃When　shall　I　see　Beni…Mora　againand　how？〃　She　looked　at
Androvsky；　met　his　eyes；　and　thought：　〃When　I　see　it　again　how
different　I　shall　be！　How　I　shall　be　changed！〃　And　in　the　sunset　she
seemed　to　be　saying　a　mute　good…bye　to　one　who　was　fading　with　Beni…
Mora。

As　soon　as　they　had　got　off　the　camel　and　were　standing　in　the　group
of　staring　Arabs；　Batouch　begged　them　to　come　to　their　tents；　where
tea　would　be　ready。　He　led　them　round　the　angle　of　the　wall　towards
the　west；　and　there；　pitched　in　the　full　radiance　of　the　sunset；　with
a　wide　space　of　hard　earth　gleaming　with　gypse　around　it；　was　a　white
tent。　Before　it；　in　the　open　air；　was　stretched　a　handsome　Arab
carpet；　and　on　this　carpet　were　set　a　folding　table　and　two　folding
chairs。　The　table　held　a　japanned　tray　with　tea…cups；　a　milk　jug　and
plates　of　biscuits　and　by　it；　in　an　attitude　that　looked　deliberately
picturesque　stood　Ouardi；　the　youth　selected　by　Batouch　to　fill　the
office　of　butler　in　the　desert。

Ouardi　smiled　a　broad　welcome　as　they　approached；　and　having　made　sure
that　his　pose　had　been　admired；　retired　to　the　cook's　abode　to　fetch
the　teapot；　while　Batouch　invited　Domini　and　Androvsky　to　inspect　the
tent　prepared　for　them。　Domini　assented　with　a　dropped…out　word。　She
still　felt　in　a　dream。　But　Androvsky；　after　casting　towards　the　tent
door　a　glance　that　was　full　of　a　sort　of　fierce　shyness；　moved　away　a
few　steps；　and　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　hill　looking　down　upon　the
incoming　caravan；　whose　music　was　now　plainly　audible　in　the　stillness
of　the　waste。

Domini　went　into　the　tent　that　was　to　be　their　home　for　many　weeks；
alone。　And　she　was　glad　just　then　that　she　was　alone。　For　she　too；
like　Androvsky；　felt　a　sort　of　exquisite　trouble　moving；　like　a　wave；
in　her　heart。　On　some　pretext；　but　only　after　an　expression　of
admiration；　she　got　rid　of　Batouch。　Then　she　stood　and　looked　round。

From　the　big　tent　opened　a　smaller　one；　which　was　to　serve　Androvsky
as　a　dressing…room　and　both　of　them　as　a　baggage　room。　She　did　not　go
into　that；　but　saw；　with　one　glance　of　soft　inquiry；　the　two　small；
low　beds；　the　strips　of　gay　carpet；　the　dressing…table；　the　stand　and
the　two　cane　chairs　which　furnished　the　sleeping…tent。　Then　she　looked
back　to　the　aperture。　In　the　distance；　standing　alone　at　the　edge　of
the　hill；　she　saw　Androvsky；　bathed　in　the　sunset；　looking　out　over
the　hidden　desert　from　which　rose　the　wild　sound　of　African　music；
steadily　growing　louder。　It　seemed　to　her　as　if　he　must　be　gazing　at
the　plains　of　heaven；　so　magically　brilliant　and　tender；　so　pellucidly
clear　and　delicate　was　the　atmosphere　and　the　colour　of　the　sky。　She
saw　no　other　form；　only　his；　in　this　poem　of　light；　in　this　wide　world
of　the　sinking　sun。　And　the　music　seemed　to　be　about　his　feet；　to　rise
from　the　sand　and　throb　in　its　breast。

At　that　moment　the　figure　of　Liberty；　which　she　had　seen　in　the
shadows　of　the　dancing…house；　came　in　at　the　tent　door　and　laid；　for
the　first　time；　her　lips　on　Domini's。　That　kiss　was　surely　the
consecration　of　the　life　of　the　sands。　But　to…day　there　had　been
another　consecration。　Domini　had　a　sudden　impulse　to　link　the　two
consecrations　together。

She　drew　from　her　breast　the　wooden　crucifix　Androvsky　had　thrown　into
the　stream　at　Sidi…Zerzour；　and；　softly　going　to　one　of　the　beds；　she
pinned　the　crucifix　above　it　on　the　canvas　of　the　tent。　Then　she
turned　and　went　out　into　the　glory　of　the　sunset　to　meet　the　fierce
music　that　was　rising　from　the　desert。



CHAPTER　XVIII

Night　had　fallen　over　the　desert；　a　clear　purple　night；　starry　but
without　a　moon。　Around　the　Bordj；　and　before　a　Cafe　Maure　built　of
brown　earth　and　palm…wood；　opposite　to　it；　the　Arabs　who　were　halting
to　sleep　at　Arba　on　their　journeys　to　and　from　Beni…Mora　were　huddled；
sipping　coffee；　playing　dominoes　by　the　faint　light　of　an　oil　lamp；
smoking　cigarettes　and　long　pipes　of　keef。　Within　the　court　of　the
Bordj　the　mules　were　feeding　tranquilly　in　rows。　The　camels　roamed　the
plain　among　the　tamarisk　bushes；　watched　over　by　shrouded　shadowy
guardians　sleepless　as　they　were。　The　mountains；　the　palms　of　Beni…
Mora；　were　lost　in　the　darkness　that　lay　over　the　desert。

On　the　low　hill；　at　some　distance　beyond　the　white　tent　of　Domini　and
Androvsky；　the　obscurity　was　lit　up　fiercely　by　the　blaze　of　a　huge
fire　of　brushwood；　the　flames　of　which　towered　up　towards　the　stars；
flickering　this　way　and　that　as　the　breeze　took　them；　and　casting　a
wild　illumination　upon　the　wild　faces　of　the　rejoicing　desert　men　who
were　gathered　about　it；　telling　stories　of　the　wastes；　singing　songs
that　were　melancholy　and　remote　to　Western　ears；　even　though　they
hymned　past　victories　over　the　infidels；　or　passionate　ecstasies　of
love　in　the　golden　regions　of　the　sun。　The　steam　from　bowls　of　cous…
cous　and　stews　of　mutton　and　vegetables　curled　up　to　join　the　thin
smoke　that　made　a　light　curtain　about　this　fantasia；　and　from　time　to
time；　with　a　shrill　cry　of　exultation；　a　half…naked　form；　all　gleaming
eyes　and　teeth　and　polished　bronze…hued　limbs；　rushed　out　of　the
blackness　beyond　the　fire；　leaped　through　the　tongues　of　flame　and
vanished　like　a　spectre　into　the　embrace　of　the　night。

All　the　members　of　the　caravan；　presided　over　by　Batouch　in　glory；
were　celebrating　the　wedding　night　of　their　master　and　mistress。

Domini　and　Androvsky　had　already　visited　them　by　their　bonfire；　had
received　their　compliments；　watched　the　sword　dance　and　the　dance　of
the　clubs；　touched　with　their　lips；　or　pretended　to　touch；　the　stem　of
a　keef；　listened　to　a　marriage　song　warbled　by　Ali　to　the
accompaniment　of　a　flute　and　little　drums；　and　applauded　Ouardi's
agility　in　leaping　through　the　flames。　Then；　with　many　good…nights；
pressures　of　the　hand；　and　auguries　for　the　morrow；　they　had　gone　away
into　the　cool　darkness；　silently　towards　their　tent。

They　walked　slowly；　a　little　apart　from　each　other。　Domini　looked　up
at　the　stars　and　saw　among　them　the　star　of　Liberty。　Androvsky　looked
at　her　and　saw　all　the　stars　in　her　face。　When　they　reached　the　tent
door　they　stopped　on　the　warm　earth。　A　lamp　was　lit　within；　casting　a
soft　light　on　the　simple　furniture　and　on　the　whiteness　of　the　two
beds；　above　one　of　which　Domini　imagined；　though　from　without　she
could　not　see；　the　wooden　crucifix　Androvsky　had　once　worn　in　his
breast。

〃Shall　we　stay　here　a　little？〃　Domini　said　in　a　low　voice。　〃Out　here？〃
There　was　a　long　pause。　Then　Androvsky　answered：

〃Yes。　Let　us　feel　it　allall。　Let　us　feel　it　to　the　full。〃

He　caught　hold　of　her　hand　with　a　sort　of　tender　roughness　and　twined
his　fingers　between　hers；　pressing　his　palm　against　hers。

〃Don't　let　us　miss　anything　to…night；〃　he　said。　〃All　my　life　is
to…night。　I've　had　no　life　yet。　To…morrowwho　knows　whether　we　shall
be　dead　to…morrow？　Who　knows？　But　we're　alive　to…night；　flesh　and
blood；　heart　and　soul。　And　there's　nothing　here；　there　can　be　nothing
here　to　take　our　life　from　us；　the　life　of　our　love　to…night。　For
we're　out　in　the　desert；　we're　right　away　from　anyone；　everything。
We're　in　the　great　freedom。　Aren't　we；　Domini？　Aren't　we？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Yes。〃

He　took　her　other　hand　in　the　same　way。　He　was　facing　her；　and　he　held
his　hands　against　his　heart　with　hers　in　them；　then　pressed　her　hands
against　her　heart；　then　drew　them　back　again　to　his。

〃Then　let　us　realise　it。　Let　us　forget　our　prison。　Let　us　forget
everything