the garden of allah-第24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！


traveller。

For　it　was　this　dance　of　the　/ennui/　of　the　East　which　raised　up　in
him　this　obvious　battle；　which　drove　his　secret　into　the　illumination
of　the　hanging　lamps　and　gave　it　to　a　woman；　who　felt　half　confused；
half　ashamed　at　possessing　it；　and　yet　could　not　cast　it　away。

If　they　both　lived　on；　without　speaking　or　meeting；　for　another　half
century；　Domini　could　never　know　the　shape　of　the　devil　in　this　man；
the　light　of　the　smile　upon　its　face。

The　dancing　woman　had　observed　him；　and　presently　she　began　slowly　to
wriggle　towards　him　between　the　rows　of　Arabs；　fixing　her　eyes　upon
him　and　parting　her　scarlet　lips　in　a　greedy　smile。　As　she　came　on　the
stranger　evidently　began　to　realise　that　he　was　her　bourne。　He　had
been　leaning　forward；　but　when　she　approached；　waving　her　red　hands；
shaking　her　prominent　breasts；　and　violently　jerking　her　stomach；　he
sat　straight　up；　and　then；　as　if　instinctively　trying　to　get　away　from
her；　pressed　back　against　the　wall；　hiding　the　painting　of　the　Ouled
Nail　and　the　French　soldier。　A　dark　flush　rose　on　his　face　and　even
flooded　his　forehead　to　his　low…growing　hair。　His　eyes　were　full　of　a
piteous　anxiety　and　discomfort；　and　he　glanced　almost　guiltily　to
right　and　left　of　him　as　if　he　expected　the　hooded　Arab　spectators　to
condemn　his　presence　there　now　that　the　dancer　drew　their　attention　to
it。　The　dancer　noticed　his　confusion　and　seemed　pleased　by　it；　and
moved　to　more　energetic　demonstrations　of　her　art。　She　lifted　her　arms
above　her　head；　half　closed　her　eyes；　assumed　an　expression　of　languid
ecstasy　and　slowly　shuddered。　Then；　bending　backward；　she　nearly
touched　the　floor；　swung　round；　still　bending；　and　showed　the　long
curve　of　her　bare　throat　to　the　stranger；　while　the　girls；　huddled　on
the　bench　by　the　musicians；　suddenly　roused　themselves　and　joined
their　voices　in　a　shrill　and　prolonged　twitter。　The　Arabs　did　not
smile；　but　the　deepness　of　their　attention　seemed　to　increase　like　a
cloud　growing　darker。　All　the　luminous　eyes　in　the　room　were　steadily
fixed　upon　the　man　leaning　back　against　the　hideous　picture　on　the
wall　and　the　gaudy　siren　curved　almost　into　an　arch　before　him。　The
musicians　blew　their　hautboys　and　beat　their　tomtoms　more　violently；
and　all　things；　Domini　thought；　were　filled　with　a　sense　of　climax。
She　felt　as　if　the　room；　all　the　inanimate　objects；　and　all　the
animate　figures　in　it；　were　instruments　of　an　orchestra；　and　as　if
each　individual　instrument　was　contributing　to　a　slow　and　great；　and
irresistible　crescendo。　The　stranger　took　his　part　with　the　rest；　but
against　his　will；　and　as　if　under　some　terrible　compulsion。

His　face　was　scarlet　now；　and　his　shining　eyes　looked　down　on　the
dancer's　throat　and　breast　with　a　mingling　of　eagerness　and　horror。
Slowly　she　raised　herself；　turned；　bent　forwards　quivering；　and
presented　her　face　to　him；　while　the　women　twittered　once　more　in
chorus。　He　still　stared　at　her　without　moving。　The　hautboy　players
prolonged　a　wailing　note；　and　the　tomtoms　gave　forth　a　fierce　and　dull
murmur　almost　like　a　death；　roll。

〃She　wants　him　to　give　her　money；〃　Batouch　whispered　to　Domini。　〃Why
does　not　he　give　her　money？〃

Evidently　the　stranger　did　not　understand　what　was　expected　of　him。
The　music　changed　again　to　a　shrieking　tune；　the　dancer　drew　back；　did
a　few　more　steps；　jerked　her　stomach　with　fury；　stamped　her　feet　on
the　floor。　Then　once　more　she　shuddered　slowly；　half　closed　her　eyes；
glided　close　to　the　stranger；　and　falling　down　deliberately　laid　her
head　on　his　knees；　while　again　the　women　twittered；　and　the　long　note
of　the　hautboys　went　through　the　room　like　a　scream　of　interrogation。

Domini　grew　hot　as　she　saw　the　look　that　came　into　the　stranger's　face
when　the　woman　touched　his　knees。

〃Go　and　tell　him　it's　money　she　wants！〃　she　whispered　to　Batouch。　〃Go
and　tell　him！〃

Batouch　got　up；　but　at　this　moment　a　roguish　Arab　boy；　who　sat　by　the
stranger；　laughingly　spoke　to　him；　pointing　to　the　woman。　The　stranger
thrust　his　hand　into　his　pocket；　found　a　coin　and；　directed　by　the
roguish　youth；　stuck　it　upon　the　dancer's　greasy　forehead。　At　once　she
sprang　to　her　feet。　The　women　twittered。　The　music　burst　into　a
triumphant　melody；　and　through　the　room　there　went　a　stir。　Almost
everyone　in　it　moved　simultaneously。　One　man　raised　his　hand　to　his
hood　and　settled　it　over　his　forehead。　Another　put　his　cigarette　to
his　lips。　Another　picked　up　his　coffeecup。　A　fourth；　who　was　holding　a
flower；　lifted　it　to　his　nose　and　smelt　it。　No　one　remained　quite
still。　With　the　stranger's　action　a　strain　had　been　removed；　a　mental
tension　abruptly　loosened；　a　sense　of　care　let　free　in　the　room。
Domini　felt　it　acutely。　The　last　few　minutes　had　been　painful　to　her。
She　sighed　with　relief　at　the　cessation　of　another's　agony。　For　the
stranger　had　certainlyfrom　shyness　or　whatever　causebeen　in　agony
while　the　dancer　kept　her　head　upon　his　knees。

His　angel　had　been　in　fear；　perhaps；　while　his　devil

But　Domini　tried　resolutely　to　turn　her　thoughts　from　the　smiling
face。

After　pressing　the　money　on　the　girl's　forehead　the　man　made　a
movement　as　if　he　meant　to　leave　the　room；　but　once　again　the　curious
indecision　which　Domini　had　observed　in　him　before　cut　his　action；　as
it　were；　in　two；　leaving　it　half　finished。　As　the　dancer；　turning；
wriggled　slowly　to　the　platform；　he　buttoned　up　his　jacket　with　a　sort
of　hasty　resolution；　pulled　it　down　with　a　jerk；　glanced　swiftly
round；　and　rose　to　his　feet。　Domini　kept　her　eyes　on　him；　and　perhaps
they　drew　his；　for；　just　as　he　was　about　to　step　into　the　narrow　aisle
that　led　to　the　door　he　saw　her。　Instantly　he　sat　down　again；　turned
so　that　she　could　only　see　part　of　his　face；　unbuttoned　his　jacket；
took　out　some　matches　and　busied　himself　in　lighting　a　cigarette。　She
knew　he　had　felt　her　concentration　on　him；　and　was　angry　with　herself。
Had　she　really　a　spy　in　her？　Was　she　capable　of　being　vulgarly　curious
about　a　man？　A　sudden　movement　of　Hadj　drew　her　attention。　His　face
was　distorted　by　an　expression　that　seemed　half　angry；　half　fearful。
Batouch　was　smiling　seraphically　as　he　gazed　towards　the　platform。
Suzanne；　with　a　pinched…up　mouth；　was　looking　virginally　at　her　lap。
Her　whole　attitude　showed　her　consciousness　of　the　many　blazing　eyes
that　were　intently　staring　at　her。　The　stomach　dance　which　she　had
just　been　watching　had　amazed　her　so　much　that　she　felt　as　if　she　were
the　only　respectable　woman　in　the　world；　and　as　if　no　one　would
suppose　it　unless　she　hung　out　banners　white　as　the　walls　of　Beni…
Mora's　houses。　She　strove　to　do　so；　and；　meanwhile；　from　time　to　time；
cast　sideway　glances　towards　the　platform　to　see　whether　another
stomach　dance　was　preparing。　She　did　not　see　Hadj's　excitement　or　the
poet's　malignant　satisfaction；　but　she；　with　Domini；　saw　a　small　door
behind　the　platform　open；　and　the　stout　Kabyle　appear　followed　by　a
girl　who　was　robed　in　gold　tissue；　and　decorated　with　cascades　of
golden　coins。

Domini　guessed　at　once　that　this　was　Irena；　the　returned　exile；　who
wished　to　kill　Hadj；　and　she　was　glad　that　a　new　incident　had　occurred
to　switch　off　the　general　attention　from　the　stranger。

Irena　was　evidently　a　favourite。　There　was　a　grave　movement　as　she
came　in；　a　white　undulation　as　all　the　shrouded　forms　bent　slightly
forward　in　her　direction。　Only　Hadj　caught　his　burnous　round　him　with
his　thin　fingers；　dropped　his　chin；　shook　his　hood　down　upon　his
forehead；　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　and；　curling　his　legs　under
him；　seemed　to　fall　asleep。　But　beneath　his　brown　lids　and　long　black
lashes　his　furtive　eyes　followed　every　movement　of　the　girl　in　the
sparkling　robe。

She　came　in　slowly　and　languidly；　with　a　heavy　and　cross　expression
upon　her　face；　which　was　thin　to　emaciation　and　painted　white；　with
scarlet　lips　and　darkened　eyes　and　eyebrows。　Her　features　were　narrow
and　pointed。　Her　bones　were　tiny；　and　her　body　was　so　slender；　her
waist　so　small；　that；　with　her　flat　breast　and　meagre　shoulders；　she
looked　almost　like　a　stick　crowned　with　a　human　face　and　hung　with
brilliant　draperies。　Her　hair；　which　was　thick　and　dark　brown；　was
elaborately　braided　and　covered　with　a　yellow　silk　handkerchief。
Domini　thought　she　looked　consumptive；　and　was　bitterly　disappointed
in　her　appearance。　For　some　unknown　reason　she　had　expected　the　woman
who　wished　to　kill　Hadj；　and　who　obviously　inspired　him　with　fear；　to
be　a　magnificent　and　glowing　desert　beauty。　This　woman　might　be
violent。　She　looked　weary；　anaemic；　and　as　if　she　wished　to　go　to　bed；
and　Domini's　contempt　for　Hadj　increased　as　she　looked　at　her。　To　be
afraid　of　a　thin；　tired；　sleepy　creature　such　as　that　was　too　pitiful。
But　Hadj　did　not　seem　to　think　so。　He　had　pulled　his　hood　still
further　forward；　and　was　now　merely　a　bundle　concealed　in　the　shade　of
Suzanne。

Irena　stepped　on　to　the　platform；　pushed　the　girl　who　sat　at　the　end
of　the　bench　till　she　moved　up　higher；　sat　down　in　the　vacant　place；
drank　some　water　out　of　the　glass　nearest　to　her；　and　then　remained
quite　still　staring　at　the　floor；　utterly　indifferent　to　the　Arabs　who
were　devouring　her　with　their　eyes。　No　doubt　the　eyes　of　men　had
devoured　her　ever　since　she　could　remember。　It　was　obvious　that　they
meant　nothing　to　her；　that　they　did　not　even　for　an　instant　disturb
the　current　of　her　dreary　thoughts。

Another　girl　was　dancing；　a　stout；　Oriental　Jewess　with　a　thick　hooked
nose；　large　lips　and　bulging　eyes；　that　looked　as　if　they　had　been
newly　scoured　with　emery　powder。　While　she　danced　she　sang；　or　rather
shouted　roughly；　an　extraordinary　melody　that　suggested　battle；　murder
and　sudden　death。　Careless　of　onlookers；　she　sometimes　scratched　her
head　or　rubbed　her　nose　without　ceasing　her　contortions。　Domini
guessed　that　this　was　the　girl　whom　she　had　seen　from　the　tower
dancing　upon　the　roof　in　the　sunset。　Distance　and　light　had　indeed
transformed　her。　Under　the　lamps　she　was　the　embodiment　of　all　that
was　coarse　and　greasy。　Even　the　pitiful　slenderness　of　Irena　seemed
attractive　when　compared　with　her　billowing　charms；　which　she　kept　in
a　continual　commotion　that　was　almost　terrifying。

〃Hadj　is　nearly　dead　with　fear；〃　whispered　Batouch；　complacently。
Domini's　lips　curled。

〃Does　not　Madame　think　Irena　beautiful　as　the　moon　on　the　waters　of
the　Oued　Beni…Mora？〃

〃Indeed　I　don't；〃　she　replied　bluntly。　〃And　I　think　a　man　who　can　be
afraid　of　such　a　little　thing　must　be　afraid　of　the　children　in　the
street。〃

〃Little！　But　Irena　is　tall　as　a　female　palm　in　Ourlana。〃

〃Tall！〃

Domini　looked　at　her　again　more　carefully；　and　saw　that　Batouch　spoke
the　truth。　Irena　was　unusually　tall；　but　her　excessive　narrowness；　her
tiny　bones；　and　the　delicate　way　in　which　she　held　herself　deceived
the　eye　and　gave　her　a　little　appearance。

〃So　she　is；　but　who　could　be　afraid　of　her？　Why；　I　could　pick　her　up
and　throw　her　over　that　moon　of　yours。〃

〃Madame　is　strong。　Madame　is　like　the　lioness。　But　Irena　is　the　most
terrible　girl　in　all　Beni…Mora　if　she　loves　or　if　she　is　angry；　the
most　terrible　in　all　the　Sahara。〃

Domini　laughed。

〃Madame　does　not　know　her；〃　said　Batouch；　imperturbably。