messer marco polo(马可·波罗)-第8章
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readmitted to paradise。 And if he didn't come back； there were others to
take his place。
The Old Man of the Mountain always kept one hundred and one
assassins and four hundred and four women to tend them。
Now when the caravan of the Polos had come to rest for the day； the
Old Man of the Mountain put out white； not black magic； and he drew
Marco Polo to the castle as a magnet draws a needle。 And Marco Polo
galloped up to the Castle in the waning moon； and the Old Man looked
down on him from the battlements and stroked his long white beard。
〃Do you know me； Marco Polo？〃
〃I know you and I have no fear of you； Old Man of the Mountain。〃
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〃And why have you no fear of me； Marco Polo？〃
〃Because the cross of the Lord Jesus is between me and harm。 Because
it protects me night and day。〃
〃I know Eesa ben…Miriam；〃 said the Old Man。 〃He was a great
prophet。 But whether he would have protected you from me； we will differ
about that。 I've often thought of you； Marco Polo； and you coming this
way。 I could have used you in my work of keeping the kings and chieftains
of the world in fear and subjection。〃
〃Then why am n't I in your garden； Old Man of the Mountain？〃
〃The four most beautiful women in the world are in my garden。 There
is a tall； black…haired woman； and she is fairer and more adroit than Lilith；
who was before Eve； and there is a tall； blond woman； and she is like a
queen； and there is a slim； copper…colored woman； and she is like an idol
in a shrine； and there is a little brown…haired woman； and she is like a
child。 But none of those women could make you believe you were in
paradise while there's a face in your heart。 Not the cross of the Lord
Jesus is between you and me； but the face of little Golden Bells of China。〃
〃But I am not going to China to woo Golden Bells； Old Man of the
Mountain。 I am going to convert the men of Cathay。〃
The Old Man of the Mountain laughed and stroked his beard。
〃You had a sermon from Gregory before you came away。 Did he tell
you you were to convert the men of Cathay？〃
〃He did not。〃
〃Ali； Gregory's a sound man。 He knew you can't make saints in a day。
Why； child； I've seen the beginning of the world； and I've seen the end of it。
I've seen the beginning in a crystal glass； and I've seen the end in a pool of
ink in a slave's hand。 I've seen mankind begin lower nor the gibbering
ape； and I've seen them end the shining sons of God。 Millions on
millions on millions of years； multiplied unto dizziness； crawling；
infinitesimal work overcoming nature； overcoming themselves；
overcoming the princes of the powers of darkness； one of whom I am。
But this is too deep for you； Marco Polo。
〃Now you can go on your way without hindrance from me； Marco
Polo； because of the memory of an old time； when the courting of a
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woman was more to me than the killing of a man； when beauty meant
more nor power。
〃Let you be on your way； Marco Polo； while I sit here a lonely old man；
with wee； soft ghosts whispering to him。 Let you be hastening on your
way before I remember I am a prince of the powers of darkness and should
do you harm。 。 。
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CHAPTER IX
And so they went on eastward； ever eastward； and the moons were
born； grew； waned； and died。 。 。
They passed through Khotan； where the divers bring up jade from the
rivers； white jade and black jade； and green jade veined with gold。 They
passed through Carnal； the shameful city； whose women are fair and
wanton； whose men are cuckolds。 And they passed through the province
of Chitingolos； where are the mountains of the Salamanders。 They passed
through the city of Campicha； where there are more idols than men。 And
they passed through the great city of Samarkand； where the Green Stone is
on which Timur's throne was set。 。 。 And were born and died。 。 。
They passed through Tangut； where the men will not carry the dead
out through the door of a house； but must break a hole in the wall。 And
they passed through Kialehta； where there are snow…white camels。 And
they passed through the lands of Prester John。
And now they were in the Tatar lands。 There passed them lowing
musk oxen。 There passed them the wild asses of Mongolia。 There
passed them the barbarians； with their great tents on wheels。 There
passed them the black…jowled； savage； idolaters。 There passed them the
pretty white…faced women。 There passed them huge； abominable dogs。
And they came to the town of Lob； and a new moon arose； and they
entered the Desert of the Singing Sands。
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CHAPTER X
Wherever they went now was sand； and a dull haze that made the sun
look like a copper coin。 And a great silence fell on the caravan； and
nothing was heard but the crunch of the camels' pads and the tinkle of the
camels' bells。 And no green thing was seen。
And a great terror fell on the caravan； so that one night a third of the
caravan deserted。 The rest went on in silence under the dull sun。 And
now they came across a village of white skeletons grinning in the silent
sand。 And at night there was nothing heard； not even the barking of a
dog。 And others of the caravan deserted； and others were lost。
And now they had come so far into the desert that they could not
return； but must keep on their way； and on the fifth day they came to the
Hill of the Drum。 And all through the night they could not sleep for the
booming of the Drum。 And some of the caravan went mad there； and
fled screaming into the waste。
And now there was only a great haze about them； and they looked at
one another with terror； saying： 〃Were we ever any place where green was；
where birds sang； or there was sweet water？ Or maybe we are dead。 Or
maybe this was all our life； and the pleasant towns； and the lamplight in
the villages； and the apricots in the garden； and our wives and children；
maybe they were all a dream that we woke in the middle of。 Let us lie
down and sleep that we may dream again。〃
But Marco Polo would not let them lie down； for to lie down was
death。 But he drove them onward。 And again they complained： 〃Surely
God never saw this place that He left it so terrible。 Surely He was never
here。 He was never here。〃
And now that their minds were pitched to the height of madness； the
warlocks of the desert took shape and jeered at them； and the white…
sheeted ghosts flitted alongside of them； and the goblins of the Gobi
harried them from behind。 And the sun was like dull copper through the
haze； and the moon like a guttering candle； and stars there were none。
And when the moon was at its full； they came to the Hill of the Bell。
And through the night the Bell went GONGH； GONGH； GONGH； until
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they could feel it in every fiber of their bodies； and their skin itched with it。
They would stop their ears。 But they would hear it in the palms of their
hands and the soles of their feet。 GONGH； GONGH； GONGH。
And when they left the Hill of the Bell there were only six of the
caravan left； and a multitude of white…sheeted ghosts。 And the caravan
plodded onward dully。 And now the warlocks of the desert played
another cruelty。 Afar off they would put a seeming of a lake； and the
travelers would press on gladly； crying； 〃There is water！ Water！ God
lives！ God lives！〃 But there was only sand。 And now it would be a
green vision； and they would cry： 〃We have come to the edge of the desert。
After the long night； dawn。 God lives！ God lives！〃 But there would be
only sand； sand。 And now it would be a city of shining domes in the
distance。 And they would nudge one another and croak； 〃There are men
there； brother； secure streets； and merchants in their booths； people to talk
with； and water for our poor throats。〃 But there would be only sand； sand；
sand。 。 。 And they would cry like children。 〃God is dead！ Haven't you
heard？ Don't you know？ God is dead in His heaven； and the warlocks
are loosed on the land！〃
And on the last day of the moon they were all but in sight of the
desert's edge； though they didn't know。 And the goblins and the warlocks
took counsel； for they were now afraid Marco and his few people would
escape。 They gathered together and they read the runes of the Flowing
Sand。
And suddenly the camels rushed screaming into the desert with sudden
panic； and a burning wind came； and the sands rose； and the desert heeled
like a ship； and the day became night。
And young Marco Polo could stand no more。 That was the end； the
end of him； the end of the world； the end of everything。 There was red
darkness every where； and he could see nobody。 〃O my Lord Jesus！〃 he
cried。 〃O little Golden Bells！〃 The wind boomed like an organ。 The
sand screamed。 〃O my Lord Jesus！ O little Golden Bells！〃 And the
voices of his father and uncle were li
