the garden of allah-第12章

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〃Please　give　me　something　that　is　of　the　Eastnot　violets；　not
lilac。〃

〃Amber；〃　said　Batouch。

The　merchant；　still　smiling；　reached　up　to　a　shelf；　showing　an　arm
like　a　brown　twig；　and　took　down　a　glass　bottle　covered　with　red　and
green　lines。　He　removed　the　stopper；　made　Domini　take　off　her　glove；
touched　her　bare　hand　with　the　stopper；　then　with　his　forefinger
gently　rubbed　the　drop　of　perfume　which　had　settled　on　her　skin　till
it　was　slightly　red。

〃Now；　smell　it；〃　he　commanded。

Domini　obeyed。　The　perfume　was　faintly　medicinal；　but　it　filled　her
brain　with　exotic　visions。　She　shut　her　eyes。　Yes；　that　was　a　voice　of
Africa　too。　Oh！　how　far　away　she　was　from　her　old　life　and　hollow
days。　The　magic　carpet　had　been　spread　indeed；　and　she　had　been　wafted
into　a　strange　land　where　she　had　all　to　learn。

〃Please　give　me　some　of　that；〃　she　said。

The　merchant　poured　the　amber　into　a　phial；　where　it　lay　like　a　thread
in　the　glass；　weighed　it　in　a　scales　and　demanded　a　price。　Batouch
began　at　once　to　argue　with　vehemence；　but　Domini　stopped　him。

〃Pay　him；〃　she　said；　giving　Batouch　her　purse。

The　perfume…seller　took　the　money　with　dignity；　turned　away；　squatted
upon　his　haunches　against　the　blackened　wall；　and　picked　up　the　broad…
leaved　volume　which　lay　upon　the　floor。　He　swayed　gently　and
rhythmically　to　and　fro。　Then　once　more　the　voice　of　the　drowsy　bee
hummed　in　the　shadows。　The　worshipper　and　the　Prophet　stood　before　the
feet　of　Allah。

And　the　womanshe　was　set　afar　off；　as　woman　is　by　white…robed　men　in
Africa。

〃Now；　Batouch；　you　can　carry　the　perfume　to　the　hotel　and　I　will　go　to
that　garden。〃

〃Alone？　Madame　will　never　find　it。〃

〃I　can　ask　the　way。〃

〃Impossible！　I　will　escort　Madame　to　the　gate。　There　I　will　wait　for
her。　Monsieur　the　Count　does　not　permit　the　Arabs　to　enter　with
strangers。〃

〃Very　well；〃　Domini　said。

The　seller　of　perfumes　had　led　her　towards　a　dream。　She　was　not
combative；　and　she　would　be　alone　in　the　garden。　As　they　walked
towards　it　in　the　sun；　through　narrow　ways　where　idle　Arabs　lounged
with　happy　aimlessness；　Batouch　talked　of　Count　Anteoni；　the　owner　of
the　garden。

Evidently　the　Count　was　the　great　personage　of　Beni…Mora。　Batouch
spoke　of　him　with　a　convinced　respect；　describing　him　as　fabulously
rich；　fabulously　generous　to　the　Arabs。

〃He　never　gives　to　the　French；　Madame；　but　when　he　is　here　each
Friday；　upon　our　Sabbath；　he　comes　to　the　gate　with　a　bag　of　money　in
his　hand；　and　he　gives　five　franc　pieces　to　every　Arab　who　is　there。〃

〃And　what　is　he？　French？〃

〃He　is　Italian；　but　he　is　always　travelling；　and　he　has　made　gardens
everywhere。　He　has　three　in　Africa　alone；　and　in　one　he　keeps　many
lions。　When　he　travels　he　takes　six　Arabs　with　him。　He　loves　only　the
Arabs。〃

Domini　began　to　feel　interested　in　this　wandering　maker　of　gardens；
who　was　a　pilgrim　over　the　world　like　Monte　Cristo。

〃Is　he　young？〃　she　asked。

〃No。〃

〃Married？〃

〃Oh；　no！　He　is　always　alone。　Sometimes　he　comes　here　and　stays　for
three　months；　and　is　never　once　seen　outside　the　garden。　And　sometimes
for　a　year　he　never　comes　to　Beni…Mora。　But　he　is　here　now。　Twenty
Arabs　are　always　working　in　the　garden；　and　at　night　ten　Arabs　with
guns　are　always　awake；　some　in　a　tent　inside　the　door　and　some　among
the　trees。

〃Then　there　is　danger　at　night？〃

〃The　garden　touches　the　desert；　and　those　who　are　in　the　desert
without　arms　are　as　birds　in　the　air　without　wings。〃

They　had　come　out　from　among　the　houses　now　into　a　broad；　straight
road；　bordered　on　the　left　by　land　that　was　under　cultivation；　by
fruit　trees；　and　farther　away　by　giant　palms；　between　whose　trunks
could　be　seen　the　stony　reaches　of　the　desert　and　spurs　of　grey…blue
and　faint　rose…coloured　mountains。　On　the　right　was　a　shady　garden
with　fountains　and　stone　benches；　and　beyond　stood　a　huge　white　palace
built　in　the　Moorish　style；　and　terraced　roofs　and　a　high　tower
ornamented　with　green　and　peacock…blue　tiles。　In　the　distance；　among
more　palms；　appeared　a　number　of　low；　flat　huts　of　brown　earth。　The
road；　as　far　as　the　eyes　could　see；　stretched　straight　forward　through
enormous　groves　of　palms；　whose　feathery　tops　swayed　gently　in　the
light　wind　that　blew　from　the　desert。　Upon　all　things　rained　a　flood
of　blue　and　gold。　A　blinding　radiance　made　all　things　glad。

〃How　glorious　light　is！〃　Domini　exclaimed；　as　she　looked　down　the　road
to　the　point　where　its　whiteness　was　lost　in　the　moving　ocean　of　the
trees。

Batouch　assented　without　enthusiasm；　having　always　lived　in　the　light。

〃As　we　return　from　the　garden　we　will　visit　the　tower；〃　he　said；
pointing　to　the　Moorish　palace。　〃It　is　a　hotel；　and　is　not　yet　open；
but　I　know　the　guardian。　From　the　tower　Madame　will　see　the　whole　of
Beni…Mora。　Here　is　the　negro　village。〃

They　traversed　its　dusty　alleys　slowly。　On　the　side　where　the　low
brown　dwellings　threw　shadows　some　of　the　inhabitants　were　dreaming　or
chattering；　wrapped　in　garments　of　gaudy　cotton。　Little　girls　in　the
fiercest　orange　colour；　with　tattooed　foreheads　and　leathern　amulets；
darted　to　and　fro；　chasing　each　other　and　shrieking　with　laughter。
Naked　babies；　whose　shaven　heads　made　a　warm　resting…place　for　flies；
stared　at　Domini　with　a　lustrous　vacancy　of　expression。　At　the　corners
of　the　alleys　unveiled　women　squatted；　grinding　corn　in　primitive
hand…mills；　or　winding　wool　on　wooden　sticks。　Their　heads　were　covered
with　plaits　of　imitation　hair　made　of　wool；　in　which　barbaric　silver
ornaments　were　fastened；　and　their　black　necks　and　arms　jingled　with
chains　and　bangles　set　with　squares　of　red　coral　and　large　dull　blue
and　green　stones。　Some　of　them　called　boldly　to　Batouch；　and　he
answered　them　with　careless　impudence。　The　palm…wood　door　of　one　of
the　houses　stood　wide　open；　and　Domini　looked　in。　She　saw　a　dark　space
with　floor　and　walls　of　earth；　a　ceiling　of　palm　and　brushwood；　a　low
divan　of　earth　without　mat　or　covering　of　any　kind。

〃They　have　no　furniture？〃　she　asked　Batouch。

〃No。　What　do　they　want　with　it？　They　live　out　here　in　the　sun　and　go
in　to　sleep。〃

Life　simplified　to　this　extent　made　her　smile。　Yet　she　looked　at　the
squatting　figures　in　the　gaudy　cotton　rags　with　a　stirring　of　envy。
The　memory　of　her　long　and　complicated　London　years；　filled　with　a
multitude　of　so…called　pleasures　which　had　never　stifled　the　dull　pain
set　up　in　her　heart　by　the　rude　shock　of　her　mother's　sin　and　its
result；　made　this　naked；　sunny；　barbarous　existence　seem　desirable。
She　stood　for　a　moment　to　watch　two　women　sorting　grain　for　cous…cous。
Their　guttural　laughter；　their　noisy　talk；　the　quick　and　energetic
movements　of　their　busy　black　hands；　reminded　her　of　children's
gaiety。　And　Nature　rose　before　her　in　the　sunshine；　confronting
artifice　and　the　heavy　languors　of　modern　life　in　cities。　How　had　she
been　able　to　endure　the　yoke　so　long？

〃Will　Madame　take　me　to　London　with　her　when　she　returns？〃　said
Batouch；　slyly。

〃I　am　not　going　back　to　London　for　a　very　long　time；〃　she　replied　with
energy。

〃You　will　stay　here　many　weeks？〃

〃Months；　perhaps。　And　perhaps　I　shall　travel　on　into　the　desert。　Yes；
I　must　do　that。〃

〃If　we　followed　the　white　road　into　the　desert；　and　went　on　and　on　for
many　days；　we　should　come　at　last　to　Tombouctou；〃　said　Batouch。　〃But
very　likely　we　should　be　killed　by　the　Touaregs。　They　are　fierce　and
they　hate　strangers。〃

〃Would　you　be　afraid　to　go？〃　Domini　asked　him；　curiously。

〃Why　afraid？〃

〃Of　being　killed？〃

He　looked　calmly　surprised。　〃Why　should　I　be　afraid　to　die？　All　must
pass　through　that　door。　It　does　not　matter　whether　it　is　to…day　or
to…morrow。〃

〃You　have　no　fear　of　death；　then？〃

〃Of　course　not。　Have　you；　Madame？〃　He　gazed　at　Domini　with　genuine
astonishment。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　answered。

And　she　wondered　and　could　not　tell。

〃There　is　the　Villa　Anteoni。〃

Batouch　lifted　his　hand　and　pointed。　They　had　turned　aside　from　the
way　to　Tombouctou；　left　the　village　behind　them；　and　come　into　a
narrow　track　which　ran　parallel　to　the　desert。　The　palm　trees　rustled
on　their　right；　the　green　corn　waved；　the　narrow　cuttings　in　the　earth
gleamed　with　shallow　water。　But　on　their　other　side　was　limitless
sterility；　the　wide；　stony　expanse　of　the　great　river　bed；　the　Oued…
Beni…Mora；　then　a　low　earth　cliff；　and　then　the　immense　airy　flats
stretching　away　into　the　shining　regions　of　the　sun。　At　some　distance；
raised　on　a　dazzling　white　wall　above　the　desert　in　an　unshaded　place；
Domini　saw　a　narrow；　two…sided　white　house；　with　a　flat　roof　and　a　few
tiny　loopholes　instead　of　windows。　One　side　looked　full　upon　the
waterless　river　bed；　the　other；　at　right　angles　to　it；　ran　back
towards　a　thicket　of　palms　and　ended　in　an　arcade　of　six　open　Moorish
arches；　through　which　the　fierce　blue　of　the　cloudless　sky　stared；
making　an　almost　theatrical　effect。　Beyond；　masses　of　trees　were
visible；　looking　almost　black　against　the　intense；　blinding　pallor　of
wall；　villa　and　arcade；　the　intense　blue　above。

〃What　a　strange　house！〃　Domini　said。　〃There　are　no　windows。〃

〃They　are　all　on　the　other　side；　looking　into　the　garden。〃

The　villa　fascinated　Domini　at　once。　The　white　Moorish　arcade　framing
bare；　quivering　blue；　blue　from　the　inmost　heart　of　heaven；　intense　as
a　great　vehement　cry；　was　beautiful　as　the　arcade　of　a　Geni's　home　in
Fairyland。　Mystery　hung　about　this　dwelling；　a　mystery　of　light；　not
darkness；　secrets　of　flame　and　hidden　things　of　golden　meaning。　She
felt　almost　like　a　child　who　is　about　to　penetrate　into　the　red　land
of　the　winter　fire；　and　she　hastened　her　steps　till　she　reached　a　tall
white　gate　set　in　an　arch　of　wood；　and　surmounted　with　a　white　coat　of
arms　and　two　lions。　Batouch　struck　on　it　with　a　white　knocker　and　then
began　to　roll　a　cigarette。

〃I　will　wait　here　for　Madame。〃

Domini　nodded。　A　leaf　of　wood　was　pulled　back　softly　in　the　gate；　and
she　stepped　into　the　garden　and　confronted　a　graceful　young　Arab
dressed　in　pale　green；　who　saluted　her　respectfully　and　gently　closed
the　door。

〃May　I　walk　about　the　garden　a　little？〃　she　asked。

She　did　not　look　round　her　yet；　for　the　Arab's　face　interested　and
even　charmed　her。　It　was　aristocratic；　enchantingly　indolent；　like　the
face　of　a　happy　lotus…eater。　The　great；　lustrous　eyes　were　tender　as　a
gazelle's　and　thoughtless　as　the　eyes　of　a　sleepy　child。　His
perfectly…shaped　feet　were　bare　on　the　shining　sand。　In　one　hand　he
held　a　large　red　rose　and　in　the　other　a　half…smoked　cigarette。

Domini　could　not　kelp　smiling　at　him　as　she　put　her　question；　and　he
smiled　contentedly　back　at　her　as　he　answered；　in　a　low；　level　voice：

〃You　can　go　where　you　will。　Shall　I　show　you　the　paths？〃

He　lifted　his　hand　and　calmly　smelt　his　red　rose；　keeping　his　great
eyes　fixed　upon　her。　Domini's　wish　to　be　alone　had　left　her。　This　was
surely　the　geni　of　the　garden；　and　his　company　would　add　to　its
mystery　and　fragrance。

〃You　need　not　stay　by　the　door？〃　she　asked。

〃No　one　will　come。　There　is　no　one　in　Beni…Mora。　And　Hassan　will
stay。〃

He　pointed　with　his　rose　to　a　little　tent　that　was　pitched　close　to
the　gate　beneath　a　pepper　tree。　In　it　Domini　saw　a　brown　boy