gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第20章
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GULLIVER OF MARS
Three times I essayed the task； hunger and disgust contending for mastery；
three times turned back in loathing。 At last I could stand the sight no
more； and； slamming the knife up again； turned on my heels； and fairly ran
for fresh air and the shore； where the sea was beginning to glimmer in the
light a few score yards through the forest stems。 There； once more out on
the open； on a pebbly beach； I stripped； spreading my things out to dry on
the stones； and laying myself down with the lapping of the waves in my
ears； and the first yellow sunshine thawing my limbs； tried to piece
together the hurrying events of the last few days。
What were my gay Martians doing？ Lazy dogs to let me； a stranger；
be the only one to draw sword in defence of their own princess！ Where
was poor Heru； that sweet maiden wife？ The thought of her in the hands
of the ape…men was odious。 And yet was I not mad to try to rescue； or
even to follow her alone？ If by any chance I could get off this beast…
haunted place and catch up with the ravishers； what had I to look for from
them except speedy extinction； and that likely enough by the most painful
process they were acquainted with？
The other alternative of going back empty handed was terribly
ignominious。 I had lectured the amiable young manhood of Seth so
soundly on the subject of gallantry； and set them such a good example on
two occasions； that it would be bathos to saunter back； hands in pockets；
and con… fess I knew nothing of the lady's fate and had been daunted by
the first night alone in the forest。 Besides； how dull it would be in that
beautiful； tumble…down old city without Heru； with no expectation day by
day of seeing her sylph…like form and hearing the merry tinkle of her fairy
laughter as she scoffed at the unknown learning col… lected by her
ancestors in a thousand laborious years。 No！ I would go on for certain。
I was young； in love； and angry； and before those qualifications difficulties
became light。
Meanwhile； the first essential was breakfast of some kind。 I arose；
stretched； put on my half…dried clothes； and mount… ing a low hummock on
the forest edge looked around。 The sun was riding up finely into the sky；
and the sea to the eastward shone for leagues and leagues in the loveliest
azure。 Where it rippled on my own beach and those of the low islands
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noted over night； a wonderful fire of blue and red played on the sands as
though the broken water were full of living gems。 The sky was full of
strange gulls with long； forked tails； and a lovely little flying lizard with
transparent wings of the palest greenlike those of a grass… hopperwas
flitting about picking up insect stragglers。
All this was very charming； but what I kept saying to myself was
〃Streaky rashers and hot coffee： rashers and coffee and rolls；〃 and； indeed；
had the gates of Paradise themselves opened at that moment I fear my first
look down the celestial streets within would have been for a restaurant。
They did not； and I was just turning away disconsolate when my eye
caught； ascending from behind the next bluff down the beach； a thin strand
of smoke rising into the morning air。
It was nothing so much in itselfa thin spiral creeping upwards mast…
high； then flattening out into a mushroom headbut it meant everything to
me。 Where there was fire there must be humanity； and where there was
human… ityay； to the very outlayers of the universethere must be
breakfast。 It was a splendid thought； I rushed down the hillock and went
gaily for that blue thread amongst the reeds。 It was not two hundred
yards away； and soon below me was a tiny bay with bluest water frilling a
silver beach； and in the midst of it a fire on a hearth dancing round a pot
that simmered gloriously。 But of an owner there was nothing to be seen。
I peered here and there on the shore； but nothing moved； while out to sea
the water was shining like molten metal with not a dot upon it！what did
it matter？ I laughed as； pleased and hungry； I slipped down the bank and
strode across the sands； it pleased Fate to play bandy with me； and if it
sent me supperless to bed； why； here was restitution in the way of
breakfast。 I took up a morsel of the stuff in the kettle on a handy stick and
found it goodindeed； I knew it at once as a very dainty mess made from
the roots of a herb the Martians great… ly liked； An had piled my platter
with it when we supped that night in the market…place of Seth； and the
sweet white stuff had melted into my corporal essence； it seemed； with…
out any gross intermediate process of digestion。 And here I was again；
hungry； sniffing the fragrant breath of a full meal and not a soul in sightI
should have been a fool not to have eaten。 So thinking； down I sat；
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taking the pot from its place； and when it was a little cool plunging my
hands into it and feasting with as good an appetite as ever a man had
before。
It was gloriously ambrosial； and deeper and deeper I went； with the tall
stalk of the smoke in front growing from the hearth…stones like some
strange new plant； the plea… sant sunshine on my back； and never a thought
for any… thing but the task in hand。 Deeper and deeper； oblivious of all
else； until to get the very last drops I lifted the pipkin up and putting back
my head drank in that fashion。
It was only when with a sigh of pleasure I lowered it slowly again that
over the rim as it sank there dawned upon me the vision of a Martian
standing by an empty canoe on the edge of the water and regarding me
with calm amaze… ment。 I was； in fact； so astonished that for a minute the
empty pot stood still before my face； and over its edge we stared at each
other in mute surprise； then with all the dig… nity that might be I laid the
vessel down between my feet and waited for the newcomer to speak。 She
was a girl by her yellow garb； a fisherwoman； it seemed； for in the prow of
her craft was piled a net upon which the scales of fishes were twinklinga
Martian； obviously； but something more ro… bust than most of them； a
savour of honest work about her sunburnt face which my pallid friends
away yonder were lacking in； and when we had stared at each other for a
few moments in silence she came forward a step or two and said without a
trace of fear or shyness； 〃Are you a spirit； sir？
〃Why；〃 I answered； 〃about as much； no more and no less； than most of
us。〃
〃Aye；〃 she said。 〃I thought you were； for none but spirits live here
upon this island； are you for good or evil？〃
〃Far better for the breakfast of which I fear I have robbed you； but
wandering along the shore and finding this pot boiling with no owner； I
ventured to sample it； and it was so good my appetite got the better of
manners。〃
The girl bowed； and standing at a respectful distance asked if I would
like some fish as well； she had some； but not many； and if I would eat she
would cook them for me in a minuteit was not often； she added lightly；
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she had met one of my kind before。 In fact； it was obvious that simple
person did actually take me for a being of another world； and was it for me
to say she was wrong？ So adopt… ing a dignity worthy of my reputation I
nodded gravely to her offer。 She fetched from the boat four little fishes
of the daintiest kind imaginable。 They were each about as big as a hand
and pale blue when you looked down upon them； but so clear against the
light that every bone and vein in their bodies could be traced。 These
were wrapped just as they were in a broad； green leaf and then the Martian；
taking a pointed stick； made a hollow in the white ashes； laid them in side
by side； and drew the hot dust over again。
While they cooked we chatted as though the acquaintance were the
most casual thing in the world； and I found it was indeed an island we
were on and not the mainland； as I had hoped at first。 Seth； she told me；
was far away to the eastward； and if the woodmen had gone by in their
ships they would have passed round to the north…west of where we were。
I spent an hour or two with that amiable individual； and； it is to be
hoped； sustained the character of a spiritual visitant with considerable
dignity。 In one particular at least； that； namely； of appetite； I did honour
to my supposed source； and as my entertainer would not hear of payment
in material kind； all I could do was to show her some conjuring tricks；
which greatly increased her belief in my supernatural origin； and to teach
her some new hitches and knots； using her fishing…line as a means of
illustration； a demonstration which called from her the natural observation
that we must be good sailors 〃up aloft〃 since we knew so much about
cordage； then we parted。
She had seen nothing of the woodmen； though she had heard they had
been to Seth and thought； from some niceties of geographical calculation
which I could not follow； they would have crossed to the north； as just
stated； of her island。 There she told me； with much surprise at my desire
for the information； how I might； by following the forest track to the
westward coast； make my way to a fishing village； where they would give
me a canoe and direct me； since such was my extraordinary wish； to the
place where； if
