the bridge-builders-第4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！



thrust　it　into　Findlayson's　hand；　saying：　〃Nay；　do　not　be　afraid。　

It　is　no　more　than　opium　…　clean　Malwa　opium。〃



Findlayson　shook　two　or　three　of　the　dark…brown　pellets　into　his

hand；　and　hardly　knowing　what　he　did；　swallowed　them。　　The　stuff

was　at　least　a　good　guard　against　fever　…the　fever　that　was

creeping　upon　him　out　of　the　wet　mud　…and　he　had　seen　what　Peroo

could　do　in　the　stewing　mists　of　autumn　on　the　strength　of　a　dose

from　the　tin　box。



Peroo　nodded　with　bright　eyes。　　〃In　a　little　…　in　a　little　the

Sahib　will　find　that　he　thinks　well　again。　　I　too　will　…〃

He　dived　into　his　treasure…box；　resettled　the　rain…coat　over

his　head；　and　squatted　down　to　watch　the　boats。　　It　was　too　dark

now　to　see　beyond　the　first　pier；　and　the　night　seemed　to　have

given　the　river　new　strength。　　Findlayson　stood　with　his　chin　on

his　chest；　thinking。　　There　was　one　point　about　one　of　the　piers

…　the　seventh　…　that　he　had　not　fully　settled　in　his　mind。　　The

figures　would　not　shape　themselves　to　the　eye　except　one　by　one

and　at　enormous　intervals　of　time。　　There　was　a　sound　rich　and

mellow　in　his　ears　like　the　deepest　note　of　a　double…bass　…　an

entrancing　sound　upon　which　he　pondered　for　several　hours；　as　it

seemed。　Then　Peroo　was　at　his　elbow；　shouting　that　a　wire　hawser

had　snapped　and　the　stone…boats　were　loose。　　Findlayson　saw　the

fleet　open　and　swing　out　fanwise　to　a　long…drawn　shriek　of　wire

straining　across　gunnels。



〃A　tree　hit　them。　　They　will　all　go；〃　cried　Peroo。　　〃The　main

hawser　has　parted。　　What　does　the　Sahib　do？〃



An　immensely　complex　plan　had　suddenly　flashed　into　Findlayson's

mind。　　He　saw　the　ropes　running　from　boat　to　boat　in　straight

lines　and　angles　…　each　rope　a　line　of　white　fire。　　But　there　was

one　rope　which　was　the　master　rope。　　He　could　see　that　rope。　　If

he　could　pull　it　once；　it　was　absolutely　and　mathematically

certain　that　the　disordered　fleet　would　reassemble　itself　in　the

backwater　behind　the　guard…tower。　　But　why；　he　wondered；　was

Peroo　clinging　so　desperately　to　his　waist　as　he　hastened　down

the　bank？　　It　was　necessary　to　put　the　Lascar　aside；　gently　and

slowly；　because　it　was　necessary　to　save　the　boats；　and；　further；

to　demonstrate　the　extreme　ease　of　the　problem　that　looked　so

difficult。　　And　then　…　but　it　was　of　no　conceivable　importance　…

a　wire…rope　raced　through　his　hand；　burning　it；　the　high　bank

disappeared；　　and　with　it　all　the　slowly　dispersing　factors　of

the　problem。　　He　was　sitting　in　the　rainy　darkness　…　sitting　in　a

boat　that　spun　like　a　top；　and　Peroo　was　standing　over　him。



〃I　had　forgotten；〃　said　the　Lascar；　slowly；　〃that　to　those

fasting　and　unused；　the　opium　is　worse　than　any　wine。　　Those　who

die　in　Gunga　go　to　the　Gods。　　Still；　I　have　no　desire　to　present

myself　before　such　great　ones。　　Can　the　Sahib　swim？〃



〃What　need？　　He　can　fly　…　fly　as　swiftly　as　the　wind；〃　was　the

thick　answer。



〃He　is　mad！〃　muttered　Peroo；　under　his　breath。　　〃And　he　threw　me

aside　like　a　bundle　of　dung…cakes。　　Well；　he　will　not　know　his

death。　　The　boat　cannot　live　an　hour　here　even　if　she　strike

nothing。　　It　is　not　good　to　look　at　death　　with　a　clear　eye。〃



He　refreshed　himself　again　from　the　tin　box；　squatted　down　in　the

bows　of　the　reeling；　pegged；　and　stitched　craft；　staring　through

the　mist　at　the　nothing　that　was　there。　　A　warm　drowsiness　crept

over　Findlayson；　the　Chief　Engineer；　whose　duty　was　with　his

bridge。　　The　heavy　raindrops　struck　him　with　a　thousand　tingling

little　thrills；　and　the　weight　of　all　time　since　time　was　made

hung　heavy　on　his　eyelids。　　He　thought　and　perceived　that　he　was

perfectly　secure；　for　the　water　was　so　solid　that　a　man　could

surely　step　out　upon　it；　and；　standing　still　with　his　legs　apart

to　keep　his　balance　…　this　was　the　most　important　point　…　would

be　borne　with　great　and　easy　speed　to　the　shore。　　But　yet　a

better　plan　came　to　him。　　It　needed　only　an　exertion　of　will　for

the　soul　to　hurl　the　body　ashore　as　wind　drives　paper；　to　waft　it

kite…fashion　to　the　bank。　　Thereafter　…　the　boat　spun　dizzily　…

suppose　the　high　wind　got　under　the　freed　body？　　Would　it　tower

up　like　a　kite　and　pitch　headlong　on　the　far…away　sands；　or　would

it　duck　about；　beyond　control；　through　all　eternity？　　Findlayson

gripped　the　gunnel　to　anchor　himself；　for　it　seemed　that　he　was

on　the　edge　of　taking　the　flight　before　he　had　settled　all　his

plans。　　Opium　has　more　effect　on　the　white　man　than　the　black。

Peroo　was　only　comfortably　indifferent　to　accidents。　　〃She　cannot

live；〃　he　grunted。　　〃Her　seams　open　already。　　If　she　were　even　a

dinghy　with　oars　we　could　have　ridden　it　out；　but　a　box　with

holes　is　no　good。　　Finlinson　Sahib；　she　fills。〃



〃Accha！　　I　am　going　away。　　Come　thou　also。〃　In　his　mind；

Findlayson　had　already　escaped　from　the　boat；　and　was　circling

high　in　air　to　find　a　rest　for　the　sole　of　his　foot。　　His　body　…

he　was　really　sorry　for　its　gross　helplessness　…　lay　in　the

stern；　the　water　rushing　about　its　knees。



〃How　very　ridiculous！〃　he　said　to　himself　from　his　eyrie　…〃　that

…　is　Findlayson　…　　chief　of　the　Kashi　Bridge。　　The　poor　beast　is

going　to　be　drowned；　too。　　Drowned　when　it's　close　to　shore。　　I'm

…　I'm　on　shore　already。　　Why　doesn't　　it　come　along？〃



To　his　intense　disgust；　he　found　his　soul　back　in　his　body　again；

and　that　body　spluttering　and　choking　in　deep　water。　　The　pain　of

the　reunion　was　atrocious；　but　it　was　necessary；　also；　to　fight

for　the　body。　　He　was　conscious　of　grasping　wildly　at　wet　sand；

and　striding　prodigiously；　as　one　strides　in　a　dream；　to　keep

foothold　in　the　swirling　water；　till　at　last　he　hauled　himself

clear　of　the　hold　of　the　river；　and　dropped；　panting；　on　wet

earth。



〃Not　this　night；〃　said　Peroo；　in　his　ear。　　〃The　Gods　have

protected　us。〃　　The　Lascar　moved　his　feet　cautiously；　and　they

rustled　among　dried　stumps。　　〃This　is　some　island　of　last　year's

indigo…crop；〃　he　went　on。　　〃We　shall　find　no　men　here；　but　have

great　care；　Sahib；　all　the　snakes　of　a　hundred　miles　have　been

flooded　out。　　Here　comes　the　lightning；　on　the　heels　of　the

wind。　Now　we　shall　be　able　to　look；　but　walk　carefully。〃



Findlayson　was　far　and　far　beyond　any　fear　of　snakes；　or　indeed

any　merely　human　emotion。　　He　saw；　after　he　had　rubbed　the　water

from　his　eyes；　with　an　immense　clearness；　and　trod；　so　it　seemed

to　himself　with　world…encompassing　strides。　　Somewhere　in　the

night　of　time　he　had　built　a　bridge　…　a　bridge　that　spanned

illimitable　levels　of　shining　seas；　but　the　Deluge　had　swept　it

away；　leaving　this　one　island　under　heaven　for　Findlayson　and　his

companion；　sole　survivors　of　the　breed　of　Man。



An　incessant　lightning；　forked　and　blue；　showed　all　that　there　was

to　be　seen　on　the　little　patch　in　the　flood　…　a　clump　of　thorn；

a　clump　of　swaying　creaking　bamboos；　and　a　grey　gnarled　peepul

overshadowing　a　Hindoo　shrine；　from　whose　dome　floated　a

tattered　red　flag。　　The　holy　man　whose　summer　resting…place　it

was　had　long　since　abandoned　it；　and　the　weather　had　broken　the

red…daubed　image　of　his　god。　　The　two　men　stumbled；　heavy…limbed

and　heavy…eyed；　over　the　ashes　of　a　brick…set　cooking…place；　and

dropped　down　under　the　shelter　of　the　branches；　while　the　rain

and　river　roared　together。



The　stumps　of　the　indigo　crackled；　and　there　was　a　smell　of

cattle；　as　a　huge　and　dripping　Brahminee　bull　shouldered　his　way

under　the　tree。　　The　flashes　revealed　the　trident　mark　of

Shiva　on　his　flank；　the　insolence　of　head　and　hump；　the　luminous

stag…like　eyes；　the　brow　crowned　with　a　wreath　of　sodden　marigold

blooms；　and　the　silky　dewlap　that　almost　swept　the　ground。　　There

was　a　noise　behind　him　of　other　beasts　coming　up　from　the

flood…line　through　the　thicket；　a　sound　of　heavy　feet　and　deep

breathing。



〃Here　be　more　beside　ourselves；〃　said　Findlayson；　his　head　against

the　treepole；　looking　through　half…shut　eyes；　wholly　at　ease。



〃Truly；〃　said　Peroo；　thickly；　〃and　no　small　ones。〃



〃What　are　they；　then？　　I　do　not　see　clearly。〃



〃The　Gods。　　Who　else？　　Look！〃



〃Ah；　true！　　The　Gods　surely　…　the　Gods。〃　Findlayson　smiled　as　his

head　fell　forward　on　his　chest。　　Peroo　was　eminently　right。　After

the　Flood；　who　should　be　alive　in　the　land　except　the　Gods　that

made　it　…　the　Gods　to　whom　his　village　prayed　nightly　…　the　Gods

who　were　in　all　men's　mouths　and　about　all　men's　ways。　　He　could

not　raise　his　head　or　stir　a　finger　for　the　trance　that　held　him；

and　Peroo　was　smiling　vacantly　at　the　lightning。



The　Bull　paused　by　the　shrine；　his　head　lowered　to　the　damp

earth。　　A　green　Parrot　in　the　branches　preened　his　wet　wings　and

screamed　against　the　thunder　as　the　circle　under　the　tree　filled

with　the　shifting　shadows　of　beasts。　　There　was　a　black　Buck

at　the　Bull's　heels…such　a　Buck　as　Findlayson　in　his　far…away

life　upon　earth　might　have　seen　in　dreams　…　a　Buck　with　a　royal

head；　ebon　back；　silver　belly；　and　gleaming　straight　horns。　

Beside　him；　her　head　bowed　to　the　ground；　the　green　eyes　burning

under　the　heavy　brows；　with　restless　tail　switching　the　dead

grass；　paced　a　Tigress；　full…bellied　and　deep…jowled。



The　Bull　crouched　beside　the　shrine；　and　there　leaped　from　the

darkness　a　monstrous　grey　Ape；　who　seated　himself　man…wise　in　the

place　of　the　fallen　image；　and　the　rain　spilled　like　jewels　from

the　hair　of　his　neck　and　shoulders。　　Other　shadows　came　and　went

behind　the　circle；　among　them　a　drunken　Man　flourishing　staff　and

drinking…bottle。　　Then　a　hoarse　bellow　broke　out　from　near　the

ground。　　〃The　flood　lessens　even　now；〃　it　cried。　　〃Hour　by　hour

the　water　falls；　and　their　bridge　still　stands！〃



〃My　bridge；〃　said　Findlayson　to　himself　〃That　must　be　very　old

work　now。　　What　have　the　Gods　to　do　with　my　bridge？〃



His　eyes　rolled　in　the　darkness　following　the　roar。　　A　Mugger　…

the　blunt…nosed；　ford…haunting　Mugger　of　the　Ganges　…draggled

herself　before　the　beasts；　lashing　furiously　to　right　and　left

with　her　tail。



〃They　have　made　it　too　strong　for　me。　　In　all　this　night　I　have

only　torn　away　a　handful　of　planks。　　The　walls　stand。　　The　towers

stand。　　They　have　chained　my　flood；　and　the　river　is　not　free　any

more。　　Heavenly　Ones；　take　this　yoke　away！　　Give　me　clear　water

between　bank　and　bank！　　It　is　I；　Mother　Gunga；　that　speak。　　The

Justice　of　the　Gods！　　Deal　me　the　Justice　of　the　Gods！〃



〃What　said　I？〃　whispered　Peroo。　　〃This　is　in　truth　a　Punchayet　of

the　Gods。　　Now　we　know　that　all　the　world　is　dead；　save　you　and

I；　Sahib。〃



The　Parrot　screamed　and　fluttered　again；　and　the　Tigress；　her

ears　flat　to　her　head；　snarled　wickedly。



Somewhere　in　the　shadow；　a　great　trunk　and　gleaming　tusks　swayed

to　and　fro；　and　a　low　gurgle　broke　the　silence　that　followed　on

the　snarl。



〃We　be　here；〃　said　a　deep　voice；　〃the　Great　Ones。　　One　only　and

very　many。　　Shiv；　my　father；　is　here；　with　Indra。　　Kali　has

spoken　already。　　H