mohammed ali and his house-第5部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃I　will　learn　to　live　without　eating！〃　he　cried；　in　a　loud　voice。

For　days　he　would　wander　about　in　the　forests　and　among　the　rocks；　at　a　distance　from　all　human　habitations；　taking　no　food；　in　order　that　he　might　accustom　himself　to　live　on　little。

On　one　occasion　he　remained　absent　from　his　mother's　hut　two　days　and　nights；　and　Khadra　awaited　his　return　in　deathly　anxiety。　Will　he　never　return；　has　she　lost　him；　her　only　son；　the　hope　of　her　future；　the　blessing　of　her　existence？

At　last；　on　the　third　day；　she　sees　him　coming；　pale　and　exhausted；　he　totters　toward　her；　and　yet　his　bearing　is　defiant；　and　his　eye　sparkles。

She　hurries　forward　with　extended　arms　to　meet　him。　〃Where　have　you　been；　my　beloved；　where　were　you　tarrying　in　the　distance；　forgetting　that　a　mother's　heart　was　longing　for　you？〃

He　pressed　his　mother's　hand　to　his　lips；　looking　steadfastly　into　her　eyes。　〃I　was　with　my　future；　Mother　Khadra；〃　said　he　in　a　low　voice。　〃I　was　with　the　days　that　are　to　come；　the　days　when　I　shall　stand　on　the　palace；　a　man；　a　hero；　sword　in　hand；　at　my　feet　a　people　looking　up　to　me　imploringly。　You　see；　mother；　your　dream　is　fulfilled；　the　hero　who　stands　up　there　has　again　transformed　himself　into　your　boy！　He　is　here　and　greets　you。〃

〃But　why　is　my　boy　pale　and　exhausted？〃　asked　Sitta　Khadra；　anxiously；　as　she　clasped　him　in　her　arms。

〃I　don't　know！〃　said　he；　wearily。　〃It　seems　to　me　that　my　feet　refuse　to　bear　me　longer；　that　something　is　drawing　me　upward。　Let　us　go　to　the　hut；　mother。〃

He　grasped　her　arm　hastily　and　led　her　away　as　though　he　were　quite　strong；　but　Khadra　observed　that　his　lips　trembled；　and　that　his　face　was　pallid。

〃He　looks　hungry；〃　she　murmured　to　herself。　〃Yes；　I　see　he　is　hungry！　Buried　in　his　thoughts；　he　has　again　forgotten　to　take　food。〃

She　said　no　more；　but　walked　hastily　to　the　hut　and　led　him　in。　〃Son　of　my　heart；　I　have　been　awaiting　you；〃　said　she；　with　an　innocent　air。　〃I　did　not　wish　to　partake　of　our　simple　supper　until　my　son　had　come　home。　Let　us　sit　down　and　eat。　Allah　bless　our　meal！〃

It　does　not　escape　her　that　his　eye　suddenly　glitters　as　he　looks　at　the　bread　and　dates　brought　yesterday　by　the　boys　as　his　tribute。

With　a　quick　motion　he　stretches　out　his　hand　toward　the　fruit；　but　suddenly　withdraws　it；　as　if　ashamed　of　himself。

〃It　does　not　become　children　to　seat　themselves　before　their　parents；　and　eat　before　they　have　broken　bread。　Eat；　mother；　seat　yourself；　and　allow　your　son　to　wait　on　you。〃

That　he　might　not　feel　hurt；　she　seated　herself　quickly　and　took　part　of　the　fruit　offered　her。　She　handed　him　some；　and　now　human　nature　conquered　the　spirit；　and　he　heartily　ate　of　the　fruit　and　bread。

〃Where　were　you；　my　boy？　Light　of　my　eyes；　where　were　you？〃　asked　the　mother。

〃Up　there　among　the　rocks；　and　below　on　the　shore；〃　replied　he；　smiling。

〃Where　did　you　find　food　there？　I　know　that　eagles；　hawks；　and　doves；　find　their　food　among　the　rocks；　but　for　mankind　there　is　no　food　there。〃

〃And　I　found　none；　Mother　Khadra；　I　must　learn　to　do　with　little；　to　conquer　hunger；　and　I　fought　with　it　for　two　days。　See　how　I　am　rewarded！my　food　never　tasted　so　deliciously　before。〃

〃Eat；　my　boy！　Allah　bless　your　food　and　drink！　How　fortunate　that　I　have　something　for　your　thirst；　too！　Uncle　Toussoun　Aga　brought　me　to…day　a　bottle　of　Cyprian　wine；　a　present　from　Mr。　Lion。　You　must　drink　of　it；　my　boy。〃

He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　Sitta　Khadra；　I　will　not　drink　of　the　wine　sent　you　by　the　noble　merchant　to　restore　your　strength。　Water　from　the　well；　from　the　spring　of　life；　is　a　better　drink　for　me。　For　you；　the　Cyprian　wine；　for　me　the　spring…wine　that　bubbles　from　the　rock。〃

He　took　down　the　gourd　cup　from　the　wall；　and　went　out　and　quenched　his　thirst　with　long　draughts　at　the　spring；　and　then　returned　to　his　mother。　He　was　now　restored　to　strength　and　vigor；　the　color　returned　to　his　cheeks；　and　his　knees　no　longer　trembled。

〃My　eyes'　delight；　my　Mohammed　fresh　and　full　of　life　again！〃　cried　Mother　Khadra。　〃Light　of　my　life；　I　am　glad　to　see　you　yourself　again。　But　I　beg　you；　my　boy；　not　to　make　such　cruel　experiments　on　yourself。　It　is　wholesome　to　harden　the　body；　but　not　to　abuse　it；　and　you　abuse　your　own　handsome　self　when　you　torment　yourself　with　hunger　and　thirst　unnecessarily。〃

〃Not　unnecessarily；　Mother　Khadra；〃　he　replied；　shaking　his　head。　〃He；　only；　who　knows　how　to　practise　self…denial；　can　enjoy。　At　first　I　couldn't　understand　this；　now　I　do；　and　have　experienced　it　in　myself。　I　have　practised　self…denial　for　two　days；　and　now　I　have　enjoyed；　and　thus　it　shall　be　in　the　future；　Sitta　Khadra。　I　shall　learn　to　do　without；　in　order　that　I　may　enjoy。　Do　not　scold　me　for　this；　do　not　say；　with　the　rest；　that　I　am　an　obstinate　boy！　I　am　not；　mother；　but　I　must　prepare　myself　for　the　future　which　you　have　announced　to　me。　Your　dream　must　be　realized；　and　therefore　must　I　do　what　I　am　doing。　Let　me　have　my　way；　and　remember　that　Allah　is　with　me　everywhere。　And　remember　this；　too；　mother；　that　wherever　I　may　be；　I　shall　hear　your　call　should　you　need　me。　If；　at　any　time　when　I　am　not　here；　you　should　need　me；　you　have　only　to　step　out　before　the　door；　and　imitate　the　scream　of　the　eagle　when　he　hovers　in　the　air　over　his　nest；　and　announces　to　his　brood　that　he　is　coming。　You　recollect　hearing　it　when　we　were　on　the　cliffs　together　the　other　day。　I　pointed　to　an　eagle　hovering　in　the　air；　imitated　his　cry；　and　begged　you　to　do　so　too。　It　was　not　done　without　a　purpose；　mother：　I　wished　you　to　learn　his　cry；　in　order　that　you；　too；　might　call　your　brood　in　case　of　need。〃

The　mother　smiled。　〃A　strange　idea！　What　would　people　think　if　I　should　step　out　before　the　door；　and　scream　into　the　air　in　the　tones　of　an　eagle？〃

〃Let　people　think　what　they　please；　mother；〃　said　he；　with　a　contemptuous　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　〃What　care　we？　They　already　laugh　at　and　mock　us。　But　a　time　shall　come；　Sitta　Khadra；　when　they　shall　bow　down　before　you；　and　I　only　implore　that　Allah　may　permit　you　to　live　to　see　the　time　when　your　son　shall　stand　on　the　palace；　and　wield　his　sword　over　humanity。　Why　do　you　sigh；　mother？〃　he　asked　hastily；　and　what　he　had　never　before　observed；　suddenly　occurred　to　him；　her　cheeks　were　sunken；　and　her　face　pale。　〃Why　do　you　weep；　mother？〃

〃I　know　not；　my　son。　I　only　fear　the　time　is　yet　far　distant　when　Mohammed　Ali　shall　stand　on　the　palace　with　uplifted　sword；　the　nations　bowed　down　before　him！　I　am　only　afraid　I　shall　not　live　to　see　this　time。〃

〃Are　you　ill；　mother；　are　you　ill？〃　cried　the　boy；　anxiously　and　tenderly。　He　rushed　to　her；　clasped　her　in　his　arms；　and　fixed　his　brown　eyes　on　hers　with　an　earnest；　anxious　look。　〃Tell　meI　conjure　you　in　the　name　of　the　prophettell　me；　are　you　ill；　Sitta　Khadra？〃

She　forced　herself　to　regard　him　with　a　smile。　〃No；　light　of　my　eyes！　beloved　of　my　soul！　When　I　see　you；　I　am　not　ill；　when　I　see　and　hear　you；　my　heart　is　in　health　and　at　rest；　and〃

〃You　have　no　disease；　no　pains？〃　asked　her　son；　interrupting　her。　〃Your　cheeks　are　pale；　and　your　lips　tremble。　Tell　me；　nothing　ails　you；　you　are　quite　well？〃

〃Quite　well；　my　beloved；　and　nothing　ails　me。　All　that　is　wanting　in　my　poor　life　is　the　moment　when　you　shall　have　become　a　great　man；　honored　by　men；　and　blessed　by　Allah。〃

〃Honored　by　men；　I　will　become；　the　blessing　of　Allah　you　shall　implore　down　upon　my　head；　mother！　You　must　only　remain　in　health　to　see　me　in　my　grandeur。　You　will　not　pain　me；　mother；　by　falling　ill；　and　following　my　father　Ibrahim　Aga；　before　you　can　say　to　him；　My　dream　is　realized；　and　your　son　Mohammed　has　become　a　great　and　mighty　hero；'　will　you？　Leave　me　not　too　soon；　mother；　promise　to　remain　with　me　on　earth　until　the　prophecy　is　fulfilled。〃

〃Dear　boy！〃　said　she；　with　a　sad　smile。　〃How　can　the　poor　child　of　earth　promise　what　Allah　must　alone　decide？　We　must　walk　as　Allah　directs；　and　submit　to　his　will。　with　humility；　for　thus　it　is　written　in　the　Koran：　Before　the　great　God　who　sits　enthroned　above　the　stars；　bow　thy　head　in　humility；　Allah　determines；　and　man　shall　obey　in　pious　submission。　So　must　we；　my　boy！　Man　is　mortal；　and　passes　away；　as　the　withered　leaf　is　wafted　away　by　the　wind　and　perishes；　so　the　storm　wind　of　life　seizes　upon　man　and　destroys　him。〃

〃But　not　you；　not　you；　mother！〃　cried　the　boy；　fiercely　grasping　his　mother's　shoulders　in　childish　anger。〃　No；　I　will　not　believe　it；　and　it　shall　not　be！　The　storm　shall　not　destroy　you；　for　you　must　live　to　see　your　son　great　and　mighty；　that　he　may　recompense　you　for　your　days　of　sorrow　and　suffering。〃

〃You　hurt　me；〃　said　his　mother；　gently　releasing　her　shoulders　from　his　grasp。　Mohammed　burst　into　tears　that　poured　down　his　cheeks　in　streams。

The　mother　kissed　them　away。　〃My　son；　pearl　of　my　existence！only　light　in　life's　night！my　beloved　son；　what　would　I　be　without　you？　what　should　I　do　in　the　dark　night　without　the　luster　of　this　star？　I　kiss　these　eyes；　son　of　my　heart；　and　bless　you　with　Allah's　blessing！　Be　strong　and　brave；　my　son；　and　weep　not！　Leave　tears　to　women。　You　are　a　man　in　spite　of　your　thirteen　years；　therefore　weep　not；　even　though　the　worst　should　befall；　weep　not。〃

〃The　worst？　What　does　that　mean；　mother？　You　wish　to　prepare　me；　I　read　it　in　your　look；　you　wish　to　prepare　me　for　your　death！　If　you　die；　I　will　die；　too；　if　you　die；　my　whole　life　will　I　bury　in　the　sea；　and〃

He　could　speak　no　further；　and　heart…sick　he　bowed　his　head　upon　his　mother's　shoulder。

〃You　are　not　yourself；　poor　boy；〃　said　she；　gently；　as　she　bathed　his　forehead　with　water；　〃you　see　the　body　still　governs　the　mind；　and　long　fasting　has　made　you　weak。　Remember　this；　my　boy。　To　keep　the　mind　vigorous　you　must　give　the　body　nourishment；　if　you　had　not　fasted　for　two　days；　you　would　not　weep　now。　Not　because　you　are　alarmed；　but　because　you　are　weak；　do　you　weep。〃

He　understood　these　words　of　heroism；　he　understood　that　maternal　love　had　given　her　strength　to　console　him　with　these　quiet；　matter…　of…fact　utterances。　He　tenderly　kissed　her　hands；　murmuring：　〃Sitta　Khadra；　you　are　a　heroine；　and　I　will　learn　from　you　to　be　a　hero。〃

They　sat　in　each　other's　embrace　for　a　long　time；　si