gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第2章
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Altogether； I thought as I kicked it out straight upon my floor； it was
a strange and not unhandsome article of furnitureit would do nicely for
the mess…room on the Carolina； and if any representatives of yonder
poor old fel… low turned up tomorrow； why； I would give them a couple of
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dollars for it。 Little did I guess how dear it would be at any price！
Meanwhile that steak was late； and now that the tempor… ary
excitement of the evening was wearing off I fell dull again。 What a dark；
sodden world it was that frowned in on me as I moved over to the window
and opened it for the benefit of the cool air； and how the wind howled
about the roof tops。 How lonely I was！ What a fool I had been to ask
for long leave and come ashore like this； to curry favour with a set of
stubborn dunderheads who cared nothing for meor Polly； and could not
or would not understand how important it was to the best interests of the
Service that I should get that promotion which alone would send me back
to her an eligible wooer！ What a fool I was not to have volunteered for
some desperate service instead of wast… ing time like this！ Then at least
life would have been interesting； now it was dull as ditch…water； with
wretched vistas of stagnant waiting between now and that joyful day when
I could claim that dear； rosy…checked girl for my own。 What a fool I had
been！
〃I wish； I wish；〃 I exclaimed； walking round the little room； 〃I wish I
were〃
While these unfinished exclamations were actually passing my lips I
chanced to cross that infernal mat； and it is no more startling than true； but
at my word a quiver of expectation ran through that gaunt weba rustle of
antici… pation filled its ancient fabric； and one frayed corner surged up； and
as I passed off its surface in my stride； the sentence still unfinished on my
lips； wrapped itself about my left leg with extraordinary swiftness and so
effectively that I nearly fell into the arms of my landlady； who opened the
door at the moment and came in with a tray and the steak and tomatoes
mentioned more than once already。
It was the draught caused by the opening door； of course； that had
made the dead man's rug lift so strangely what else could it have been？
I made this apology to the good woman； and when she had set the table
and closed the door took another turn or two about my den； con… tinuing as
I did so my angry thoughts。
〃Yes； yes；〃 I said at last； returning to the stove and taking my stand；
hands in pockets； in front of it； 〃anything were better than this； any
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enterprise however wild； any adventure however desperate。 Oh； I wish I
were anywhere but here； anywhere out of this redtape…ridden world of ours！
I WISH I WERE IN THE PLANET MARS！〃
How can I describe what followed those luckless words？ Even as I
spoke the magic carpet quivered responsively under my feet； and an
undulation went all round the fringe as though a sudden wind were
shaking it。 It humped up in the middle so abruptly that I came down
sitting with a shock that numbed me for the moment。 It threw me on my
back and billowed up round me as though I were in the trough of a stormy
sea。 Quicker than I can write it lapped a corner over and rolled me in its
folds like a chrysalis in a cocoon。 I gave a wild yell and made one frantic
struggle； but it was too late。 With the leathery strength of a giant and the
swiftness of an accomplished cigar… roller covering a 〃core〃 with leaf； it
swamped my efforts； straightened my limbs； rolled me over； lapped me in
fold after fold till head and feet and everything were gone crushed life
and breath back into my innermost being； and then； with the last particle
of consciousness； I felt myself lifted from the floor； pass once round the
room； and finally shoot out； point foremost； into space through the open
window； and go up and up and up with a sound of rending atmospheres
that seemed to tear like riven silk in one pro… longed shriek under my head；
and to close up in thunder astern until my reeling senses could stand it no
longer。 and time and space and circumstances all lost their meaning to
me。
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CHAPTER II
How long that wild rush lasted I have no means of judging。 It may
have been an hour； a day； or many days； for I was throughout in a state of
suspended animation； but presently my senses began to return and with
them a sensa… tion of lessening speed； a grateful relief to a heavy pressure
which had held my life crushed in its grasp； without destroy… ing it
completely。 It was just that sort of sensation though more keen which；
drowsy in his bunk； a traveller feels when he is aware； without special
perception； harbour is reached and a voyage comes to an end。 But in my
case the slowing down was for a long time comparative。 Yet the
sensation served to revive my scattered senses； and just as I was
awakening to a lively sense of amazement； an incredible doubt of my own
emotions； and an eager desire to know what had happened； my strange
conveyance oscillated once or twice； undulated lightly up and down； like a
wood… pecker flying from tree to tree； and then grounded； bows first；
rolled over several times； then steadied again； and； coming at last to rest；
the next minute the infernal rug opened； quiver… ing along all its borders in
its peculiar way； and humping up in the middle shot me five feet into the
air like a cat tossed from a schoolboy's blanket。
As I turned over I had a dim vision of a clear light like the shine of
dawn； and solid ground sloping away below me。 Upon that slope was
ranged a crowd of squatting people； and a staid…looking individual with his
back turned stood nearer by。 Afterwards I found he was lecturing all
those sitters on the ethics of gravity and the inherent properties of falling
bodies； at the moment I only knew he was directly in my line as I
descended； and him round the waist I seized； giddy with the light and fresh
air； waltzed him down the slope with the force of my impetus； and；
tripping at the bottom； rolled over and over recklessly with him sheer into
the arms of the gaping crowd below。 Over and over we went into the
thickest mass of bodies； making a way through the people； until at last we
came to a stop in a perfect mound of writhing forms and waving legs and
arms。 When we had done the mass disentangled itself and I was able to
raise my head from the shoulder of someone on whom I had fallen； lifting
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him； or herwhich was it？into a sitting posture alongside of me at the
same time； while the others rose about us like wheat…stalks after a storm；
and edged shyly off； as well as they might。
Such a sleek； slim youth it was who sat up facing me； with a flush of
gentle surprise on his face； and dapper hands that felt cautiously about his
anatomy for injured places。 He looked so quaintly rueful yet withal so
good… tempered that I could not help bursting into laughter in spite of my
own amazement。 Then he laughed too； a sedate； musical chuckle； and
said something incomprehensible； point… ing at the same time to a cut
upon my finger that was bleed… ing a little。 I shook my head； meaning
thereby that it was nothing； but the stranger with graceful solicitude took
my hand； and； after examining the hurt； deliberately tore a strip of cloth
from a bright yellow toga…like garment he was wearing and bound the
place up with a woman's tenderness。
Meanwhile； as he ministered； there was time to look about me。
Where was I？ It was not the Broadway； it was not Staten Island on a
Saturday afternoon。 The night was just over； and the sun on the point of
rising。 Yet it was still shadowy all about； the air being marvellously tepid
and pleasant to the senses。 Quaint； soft aromas like the breath of a new
worldthe fragrance of unknown flowers； and the dewy scent of never…
trodden fields drifted to my nostrils； and to my ears came a sound of
laughter scarcely more human than the murmur of the wind in the trees；
and a pretty undulating whisper as though a great concourse of people
were talking softly in their sleep。 I gazed about scarcely knowing how
much of my senses or surroundings were real and how much fanciful； until
I presently be… came aware the rosy twilight was broadening into day； and
under the increasing shine a strange scene was fashion… ing itself。
At first it was an opal sea I looked on of mist； shot along its upper
surface with the rosy gold and pinks of dawn。 Then； as that soft；
translucent lake ebbed； jutting hills came through it； black and crimson；
and as they seemed to mount into the air other lower hills showed through
the veil with rounded forest knobs till at last the brightening day dis…
pelled the mist； and as the rosy…coloured gauzy fragments went slowly
floating away a wonderfully fair country lay at my feet； with a broad sea
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glimmering in many arms and bays in the distance beyond。 It was all
dim and unreal at first； the mountains shadowy；
