gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第43章
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empire； and the next moment the frightened slaves； stumbling under their
burdens； had swept poor Heru through the doorway。
I glanced savagely round at the curling smoke overhead； the red
tendrils of fire climbing up a distant wall； and there on a table by us was a
half…finished flask of the lovely tinted wine of forgetfulness。 If Hath
would not come sober perhaps he might come drunk。
〃Here；〃 I cried； 〃drink to tomorrow； your majesty； a sov… ereign toast in
all ages； and better luck next time with these hairy gentlemen battering at
your majesty's doors；〃 and splashing out a goblet full of the stuff I handed
it to him。
He took it and looked rather lovingly into the limpid pool； then
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deliberately poured it on the step in front of him； and throwing the cup
away said pleasantly；
〃Not tonight； good comrade； tonight I drink a deeper draught of
oblivion than that；and here come my cup… bearers。〃
Even while he spoke the palace gates had given way； there was a
horrible medley of shrieks and cries； a quick sound of running feet； then
again the arras lifted and in poured a horde of Ar…hap's men…at…arms。 The
moment they caught sight of us about a dozen of them； armed with bows；
drew the thick hide strings to their ears and down the hall came a ravening
flight of shafts。 One went through my cap； two stuck quivering in the
throne； and one； winged with owl feather； caught black Hath full in the
bosom。
He had stood out boldly at the first coming of that onset； arms crossed
on breast； chin up； and looking more of a gentleman than I had ever seen
him look before； and now； stricken； he smiled gravely； then without
flinching； and still eyeing his enemies with gentle calm； his knees un…
locked； his frame trembled； then down he went headlong； his red blood
running forth in rivulets amongst the wine of oblivion he had just poured
out。
There was no time for sentiment。 I shrugged my shoulders； and
turning on my heels； with the woodmen close after me； sprang through the
near doorway。 Where was Heru？ I flew down the corridor by which it
seemed she had re… treated； and then； hesitating a moment where it divided
in two； took the left one。 This to my chagrin presently began to trend
upwards； whereas I knew Heru was making for the river down below。
But it was impossible to go back； and whenever I stopped in those
deserted passages I could hear the wolflike patter of men's feet upon my
trail。 On again into the stony laby… rinths of the old palace； ever upwards；
in spite of my desire to go down； until at last； the pursuers off the track for
a moment； I came to a north window in the palace wall； and； hot and
breathless； stayed to look out。
All was peace here； the sky a lovely lavender； a promise of coming
morning in it； and a gold…spangled curtain of stars out yonder on the
horizon。 Not a soul moved。 Below appeared a sheer drop of a hundred
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feet into a moat wind… ing through thickets of heavy…scented convolvulus
flowers to the waterways beyond。 And as I looked a skiff with half a
dozen rowers came swiftly out of the darkness of the wall and passed like
a shadow amongst the thickets。 In the prow was all Hath's wedding plate；
and in the stern； a faint vision of unconscious loveliness； lay Heru！
Before I could lift a finger or call out； even if I had had a mind to do so；
the shadow had gone round a bend； and a shout within the palace told me I
was sighted again。
On once more； hotly pursued； until the last corridor ended in two doors
leading into a half…lit gallery with open win… dows at the further end。
There was a wilderness of lumber down the sides of the great garret； and
now I come to think of it more calmly I imagine it was Hath's Lost
Property Office； the vast receptacle where his slaves deposited everything
lazy Martians forgot or left about in their daily life。 At that moment it
only represented a last refuge； and into it I dashed； swung the doors to and
fastened them just as the foremost of Ar…hap's men hurled themselves
upon the barrier from outside。
There I was like a rat in a trap； and like a rat I made up my mind to
fight savagely to the end； without for a mo… ment deceiving myself as to
what that end must be。 Even up there the horrible roar of destruction was
plainly audible as the barbarians sacked and burned the ancient town； and
I was glad from the bottom of my heart my poor little princess was safely
out of it。 Nor did I bear her or hers the least resentment for making off
while there was yet time and leaving me to my fateanything else would
have been contrary to Martian nature。 Doubtless she would get away； as
Hath had said； and elsewhere drop a few pearly tears and then over her
sugar…candy and lotus…eating forget with happy completenessmost
blessed gift！ And meanwhile the foresaid barbarians were battering on
my doors； while over their heads choking smoke was pouring in in ever…
increas… ing volumes。
In burst the first panel； then another； and I could see through the gaps a
medley of tossing weapons and wild faces without。 Short shrift for me if
they came through； so in the obstinacy of desperation I set to work to pile
old furniture and dry goods against the barricade。 And as they yelled and
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hammered outside I screamed back defiance from within； sweating；
tugging； and hauling with the strength of ten men； piling up the old
Martian lumber against the opening till； so fierce was the attack outside；
little was left of the original doorway and nothing between me and the
beseigers but a rampart of broken woodwork half seen in a smother of
smoke and flames。
Still they came on； thrusting spears and javelins through every crevice
and my strength began to go。 I threw two tables into a gap； and brained a
besieger with a sweet… meat…seller's block and smothered another； and
overturned a great chest against my barricade； but what was the purpose of
it all？ They were fifty to one and my rampart quaked before them。 The
smoke was stifling； and the pains of dis… solution in my heart。 They burst
in and clambered up the rampart like black ants。 I looked round for still
one more thing to hurl into the breach。 My eyes lit on a roll of carpet： I
seized it by one corner meaning to drag it to the door… way； and it came
undone at a touch。
That strange； that incredible pattern！ Where in all the vicissitudes of
a chequered career had I seen such a one before？ I stared at it in
amazement under the very spears of the woodmen in the red glare of
Hath's burning palace。 Then all on a sudden it burst upon me that IT
WAS THE ACCURSED RUG； the very one which in response to a
careless wish had swept me out of my own dear world； and forced me to
take as wild a journey into space as ever fell to a man's lot since the
universe was made！
And in another second it occurred to me that if it had brought me
hither it might take me hence。 It was but a chance； yet worth trying when
all other chances were against me。 As Ar…hap's men came shouting over
the barricade I threw myself down upon that incredible carpet and cried
from the bottom of my heart；
〃I wishI wish I were in New York！〃
Yes！
A moment of thrilling suspense and then the corners lifted as though a
strong breeze were playing upon them。 An… other moment and they had
curled over like an incoming surge。 One swift glance I got at the smoke
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and flames； the glittering spears and angry faces； and then fold upon fold；
a stifling； all…enveloping embrace； a lift； a sense of super… human speed
and then forgetfulness。
When I came to； as reporters say； I was aware the rug had ejected me
on solid ground and disappeared； forever。 Where was I！ It was cool；
damp； and muddy。 There were some iron railings close at hand and a
street lamp overhead。 These things showed clearly to me； sitting on a
doorstep under that light； head in hand； amazed and giddyso amazed that
when slowly the recognition came of the in… credible fact my wish was
gratified and I was home again； the stupendous incident scarcely appealed
to my tingling sen… ses more than one of the many others I had lately
undergone。
Very slowly I rose to my feet； and as like a discreditable reveller as
could be； climbed the steps。 The front door was open； and entering the
oh； so familiar hall a sound of voices in my sitting…room on the right
caught my ear。
〃Oh no； Mrs。 Brown；〃 said one； which I recognised at once as my
Polly's； 〃he is dead for certain； and my heart is breaking。 He would never；
never have left me so long without writing if he had been alive；〃 and then
came a great sound of sobbing。
〃Bless your kind heart； miss；〃 said the voice of my land… lady in reply；
〃but you don't know as much about young gentlemen as I do。 It is not
likely； if he has gone off on the razzle…dazzle； as I am sure he has； he is
going to write every post and tell you about it。 Now you go off
