dream life and real life(梦境与现实)-第2章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
an aloe； and fell asleep。
。。。
But； in the morning； she saw what a glorious place it was。 The rocks
were piled on one another； and tossed this way and that。 Prickly pears
grew among them； and there were no less than six kippersol trees scattered
here and there among the broken kopjes。 In the rocks there were
hundreds of homes for the conies； and from the crevices wild asparagus
hung down。 She ran to the river； bathed in the clear cold water； and
tossed it over her head。 She sang aloud。 All the songs she knew were
sad； so she could not sing them now； she was glad； she was so free； but she
sang the notes without the words； as the cock…o…veets do。 Singing and
jumping all the way； she went back； and took a sharp stone； and cut at the
root of a kippersol； and got out a large piece； as long as her arm； and sat to
6
… Page 7…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
chew it。 Two conies came out on the rock above her head and peeped at
her。 She held them out a piece； but they did not want it； and ran away。
It was very delicious to her。 Kippersol is like raw quince； when it is
very green； but she liked it。 When good food is thrown at you by other
people； strange to say； it is very bitter； but whatever you find yourself is
sweet！
When she had finished she dug out another piece； and went to look for
a pantry to put it in。 At the top of a heap of rocks up which she
clambered she found that some large stones stood apart but met at the top；
making a room。
〃Oh； this is my little home！〃 she said。
At the top and all round it was closed； only in the front it was open。
There was a beautiful shelf in the wall for the kippersol； and she
scrambled down again。 She brought a great bunch of prickly pear； and
stuck it in a crevice before the door； and hung wild asparagus over it； till it
looked as though it grew there。 No one could see that there was a room
there； for she left only a tiny opening； and hung a branch of feathery
asparagus over it。 Then she crept in to see how it looked。 There was a
glorious soft green light。 Then she went out and picked some of those
purple little ground flowersyou know themthose that keep their faces
close to the ground； but when you turn them up and look at them they are
deep blue eyes looking into yours！ She took them with a little earth； and
put them in the crevices between the rocks； and so the room was quite
furnished。 Afterwards she went down to the river and brought her arms
full of willow； and made a lovely bed； and； because the weather was very
hot； she lay down to rest upon it。
She went to sleep soon； and slept long； for she was very weak。 Late
in the afternoon she was awakened by a few cold drops falling on her face。
She sat up。 A great and fierce thunderstorm had been raging； and a few
of the cool drops had fallen through the crevice in the rocks。 She pushed
the asparagus branch aside； and looked out； with her little hands folded
about her knees。 She heard the thunder rolling； and saw the red torrents
rush among the stones on their way to the river。 She heard the roar of the
river as it now rolled； angry and red； bearing away stumps and trees on its
7
… Page 8…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
muddy water。 She listened and smiled； and pressed closer to the rock
that took care of her。 She pressed the palm of her hand against it。
When you have no one to love you； you love the dumb things very much。
When the sun set； it cleared up。 Then the little girl ate some kippersol；
and lay down again to sleep。 She thought there was nothing so nice as to
sleep。 When one has had no food but kippersol juice for two days； one
doesn't feel strong。
〃It is so nice here；〃 she thought as she went to sleep； 〃I will stay here
always。〃
Afterwards the moon rose。 The sky was very clear now； there was
not a cloud anywhere； and the moon shone in through the bushes in the
door； and made a lattice…work of light on her face。 She was dreaming a
beautiful dream。 The loveliest dreams of all are dreamed when you are
hungry。 She thought she was walking in a beautiful place； holding her
father's hand； and they both had crowns on their heads； crowns of wild
asparagus。 The people whom they passed smiled and kissed her； some
gave her flowers； and some gave her food； and the sunlight was
everywhere。 She dreamed the same dream over and over； and it grew
more and more beautiful； till； suddenly； it seemed as though she were
standing quite alone。 She looked up： on one side of her was the high
precipice； on the other was the river； with the willow trees； drooping their
branches into the water； and the moonlight was over all。 Up； against the
night sky the pointed leaves of the kippersol trees were clearly marked；
and the rocks and the willow trees cast dark shadows。
In her sleep she shivered； and half awoke。
〃Ah； I am not there； I am here；〃 she said； and she crept closer to the
rock； and kissed it； and went to sleep again。
It must have been about three o'clock； for the moon had begun to sink
towards the western sky； when she woke； with a violent start。 She sat up；
and pressed her hand against her heart。
〃What can it be？ A cony must surely have run across my feet and
frightened me！〃 she said； and she turned to lie down again； but soon she
sat up。 Outside； there was the distinct sound of thorns crackling in a fire。
She crept to the door and made an opening in the branches with her
8
… Page 9…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
fingers。
A large fire was blazing in the shadow； at the foot of the rocks。 A
little Bushman sat over some burning coals that had been raked from it；
cooking meat。 Stretched on the ground was an Englishman； dressed in a
blouse； and with a heavy； sullen face。 On the stone beside him was Dirk；
the Hottentot； sharpening a bowie knife。
She held her breath。 Not a cony in all the rocks was so still。
〃They can never find me here；〃 she said； and she knelt； and listened to
every word they said。 She could hear it all。
〃You may have all the money；〃 said the Bushman； 〃but I want the cask
of brandy。 I will set the roof alight in six places； for a Dutchman burnt
my mother once alive in a hut； with three children。〃
〃You are sure there is no one else on the farm？〃 said the navvy。
〃No； I have told you till I am tired；〃 said Dirk； 〃The two Kaffirs have
gone with the son to town； and the maids have gone to a dance； there is
only the old man and the two women left。〃
〃But suppose；〃 said the navvy； 〃he should have the gun at his bedside；
and loaded！〃
〃He never has；〃 said Dirk； 〃it hangs in the passage； and the cartridges
too。 He never thought when he bought it what work it was for！ I only
wish the little white girl was there still；〃 said Dirk； 〃but she is drowned。
We traced her footmarks to the great pool that has no bottom。〃
She listened to every word； and they talked on。
Afterwards； the little Bushman； who crouched over the fire； sat up
suddenly； listening。
〃Ha！ what is that？〃 he said。
A Bushman is like a dog： his ear is so fine he knows a jackal's tread
from a wild dog's。
〃I heard nothing；〃 said the navvy。
〃I heard；〃 said the Hottentot； 〃but it was only a cony on the rocks。〃
〃No cony； no cony；〃 said the Bushman； 〃see； what is that there moving
in the shade round the point？〃
〃Nothing； you idiot！〃 said the navvy。 〃Finish your meat； we must
start now。〃
9
… Page 10…
Dream Life and Real Life A Little African Story
There were two roads to the homestead。 One went along the open
plain； and was by far the shortest； but you might be seen half a mile off。
The other ran along the river bank； where there were rocks； and holes； and
willow trees to hide among。 And all down the river bank ran a little
figure。
The river was swollen by the storm full to its banks； and the willow
trees dipped their half…drowned branches into its water。 Wherever there
was a gap between them； you could see it flow； red and muddy； with the
stumps upon it。 But the little figure ran on and on； never looking； never
thinking； panting； panting！ There； where the rocks were the thickest；
there； where on the open space the moonlight shone； there； where the
prickly pears were tangled； and the rocks cast shadows； on it ran； the little
hands clinched； the little heart beating； the eyes fixed always ahead。
It was not far to run now。 Only the narrow path between the high
rocks and the river。
At last she came to the end of it； and stood for an instant。 Before her
lay the plain； and the red farmhouse； so near； that if persons had been
walking there you might have seen them in the moonlight。 She clasped
her hands。 〃Yes； I will tell them； I will tell them！〃 she said； 〃I am almost
there！〃 She ran forward again； then hesitated。 She shaded her eyes
from the moonlight； and looked。 Between her and the farmhouse there
were three figures moving over the low bushes。
In the sheeny moonlight you could see how they moved on； slowly and
furtively； the short one； and the one in light clothes； and the one in dark。
〃I cannot help them now！〃 she cried； and sank down on the ground；
with her little hands clasped before her。
。。。
〃Awake； awake！〃 said the farmer's
