the red one(红色的那人)-第6章
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live； to continue to live； to grow strong and stronger against the day when
he would be strong enough to dare the grass…lands and the belted jungle
beyond； and win to the beach； and to some labour…recruiting； black…birding
ketch or schooner； and on to civilization and the men of civilization； to
whom he could give news of the message from other worlds that lay；
darkly worshipped by beastmen； in the black heart of Guadalcanal's
midmost centre。
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THE RED ONE
On the other nights； lying late under the breadfruit tree； Bassett spent
long hours watching the slow setting of the western stars beyond the black
wall of jungle where it had been thrust back by the clearing for the village。
Possessed of more than a cursory knowledge of astronomy； he took a sick
man's pleasure in speculating as to the dwellers on the unseen worlds of
those incredibly remote suns； to haunt whose houses of light； life came
forth； a shy visitant； from the rayless crypts of matter。 He could no more
apprehend limits to time than bounds to space。 No subversive radium
speculations had shaken his steady scientific faith in the conservation of
energy and the indestructibility of matter。 Always and forever must there
have been stars。 And surely； in that cosmic ferment； all must be
comparatively alike； comparatively of the same substance； or substances；
save for the freaks of the ferment。 All must obey； or compose； the same
laws that ran without infraction through the entire experience of man。
Therefore； he argued and agreed； must worlds and life be appanages to all
the suns as they were appanages to the particular of his own solar system。
Even as he lay here； under the breadfruit tree； an intelligence that
stared across the starry gulfs； so must all the universe be exposed to the
ceaseless scrutiny of innumerable eyes； like his； though grantedly different；
with behind them； by the same token； intelligences that questioned and
sought the meaning and the construction of the whole。 So reasoning； he
felt his soul go forth in kinship with that august company； that multitude
whose gaze was forever upon the arras of infinity。
Who were they； what were they； those far distant and superior ones
who had bridged the sky with their gigantic； red…iridescent； heaven…
singing message？ Surely； and long since； had they； too； trod the path on
which man had so recently； by the calendar of the cosmos； set his feet。
And to be able to send a message across the pit of space； surely they had
reached those heights to which man； in tears and travail and bloody sweat；
in darkness and confusion of many counsels； was so slowly struggling。
And what were they on their heights？ Had they won Brotherhood？ Or
had they learned that the law of love imposed the penalty of weakness and
decay？ Was strife； life？ Was the rule of all the universe the pitiless rule
of natural selection？ And； and most immediately and poignantly； were
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THE RED ONE
their far conclusions； their long…won wisdoms； shut even then in the huge；
metallic heart of the Red One； waiting for the first earth…man to read？ Of
one thing he was certain： No drop of red dew shaken from the lion…mane
of some sun in torment； was the sounding sphere。 It was of design； not
chance； and it contained the speech and wisdom of the stars。
What engines and elements and mastered forces； what lore and
mysteries and destiny…controls； might be there！ Undoubtedly； since so
much could be enclosed in so little a thing as the foundation stone of a
public building； this enormous sphere should contain vast histories；
profounds of research achieved beyond man's wildest guesses； laws and
formulae that； easily mastered； would make man's life on earth； individual
and collective； spring up from its present mire to inconceivable heights of
purity and power。 It was Time's greatest gift to blindfold； insatiable； and
sky…aspiring man。 And to him； Bassett； had been vouchsafed the lordly
fortune to be the first to receive this message from man's interstellar kin！
No white man； much less no outland man of the other bush…tribes；
had gazed upon the Red One and lived。 Such the law expounded by
Ngurn to Bassett。 There was such a thing as blood brotherhood。 Bassett；
in return； had often argued in the past。 But Ngurn had stated solemnly no。
Even the blood brotherhood was outside the favour of the Red One。
Only a man born within the tribe could look upon the Red One and live。
But now； his guilty secret known only to Balatta； whose fear of
immolation before the Red One fast…sealed her lips； the situation was
different。 What he had to do was to recover from the abominable fevers
that weakened him； and gain to civilization。 Then would he lead an
expedition back； and； although the entire population of Guadalcanal he
destroyed； extract from the heart of the Red One the message of the world
from other worlds。
But Bassett's relapses grew more frequent； his brief convalescences
less and less vigorous； his periods of coma longer； until he came to know；
beyond the last promptings of the optimism inherent in so tremendous a
constitution as his own； that he would never live to cross the grass lands；
perforate the perilous coast jungle； and reach the sea。 He faded as the
Southern Cross rose higher in the sky； till even Balatta knew that he would
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be dead ere the nuptial date determined by his taboo。 Ngurn made
pilgrimage personally and gathered the smoke materials for the curing of
Bassett's head； and to him made proud announcement and exhibition of
the artistic perfectness of his intention when Bassett should be dead。 As
for himself； Bassett was not shocked。 Too long and too deeply had life
ebbed down in him to bite him with fear of its impending extinction。 He
continued to persist； alternating periods of unconsciousness with periods
of semi…consciousness； dreamy and unreal； in which he idly wondered
whether he had ever truly beheld the Red One or whether it was a
nightmare fancy of delirium。
Came the day when all mists and cob…webs dissolved； when he found
his brain clear as a bell； and took just appraisement of his body's weakness。
Neither hand nor foot could he lift。 So little control of his body did he
have； that he was scarcely aware of possessing one。 Lightly indeed his
flesh sat upon his soul； and his soul； in its briefness of clarity； knew by its
very clarity that the black of cessation was near。 He knew the end was
close； knew that in all truth he had with his eyes beheld the Red One； the
messenger between the worlds； knew that he would never live to carry that
message to the world … that message； for aught to the contrary； which
might already have waited man's hearing in the heart of Guadalcanal for
ten thousand years。 And Bassett stirred with resolve； calling Ngurn to
him； out under the shade of the breadfruit tree； and with the old devil…devil
doctor discussing the terms and arrangements of his last life effort； his
final adventure in the quick of the flesh。
〃I know the law； O Ngurn；〃 he concluded the matter。 〃Whoso is not
of the folk may not look upon the Red One and live。 I shall not live
anyway。 Your young men shall carry me before the face of the Red One；
and I shall look upon him； and hear his voice； and thereupon die； under
your hand； O Ngurn。 Thus will the three things be satisfied： the law；
my desire； and your quicker possession of my head for which all your
preparations wait。〃
To which Ngurn consented； adding：
〃It is better so。 A sick man who cannot get well is foolish to live on
for so little a while。 Also is it better for the living that he should go。
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You have been much in the way of late。 Not but what it was good for me
to talk to such a wise one。 But for moons of days we have held little talk。
Instead； you have taken up room in the house of heads； making noises like
a dying pig； or talking much and loudly in your own language which I do
not understand。 This has been a confusion to me； for I like to think on the
great things of the light and dark as I turn the heads in the smoke。 Your
much noise has thus been a disturbance to the long…learning and hatching
of the final wisdom that will be mine before I die。 As for you； upon whom
the dark has already brooded； it is well that you die now。 And I promise
you； in the long days to come when I turn your head in the smoke； no man
of the tribe shall come in to disturb us。 And I will tell you many secrets；
for I am an old man and very wise； and I shall be adding wisdom to
wisdom as I turn your head in the smoke。〃
So a litter was made； and； borne on the shoulders of half a dozen of the
men； Bassett departed on the last little adventure that was to cap the total
adventure； for him； of living。 With a body of which he was scarcely
aware； for even the pain had been exhausted out of it； and with a bright
clear brain that accommodated him to a quiet ecstasy of sheer lucidness of
thought； he lay back on the lurching litter and watched the fading of the
passing world； beholding for the last time the breadfruit
