the garden of allah-第31章

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contained　no　trace　of　plants。　On　either　hand　rose　steep　walls　of
earth；　higher　than　a　man；　and　crowned　with　prickly　thorn　bushes。　Over
them　looked　palm　trees。　At　the　end　of　the　garden　ran　a　slow　stream　of
muddy　water　in　a　channel　with　crumbling　banks　trodden　by　many　naked
feet。　Beyond　it　was　yet　another　lower　wall　of　earth；　yet　another　maze
of　palms。　Heat　and　silence　brooded　here　like　reptiles　on　the　warm　mud
of　a　tropic　river　in　a　jungle。　Lizards　ran　in　and　out　of　the
innumerable　holes　in　the　walls；　and　flies　buzzed　beneath　the　ragged
leaves　of　the　fig　trees　and　crawled　in　the　hot　cracks　of　the　earth。

The　landlord　wished　to　put　a　table　under　the　vine　close　to　the　cabaret
wall；　but　Domini　begged　him　to　bring　it　to　the　end　of　the　garden　near
the　stream。　With　the　furious　assistance　of　honest　Mustapha　he　carried
it　there　and　quickly　laid　it　in　the　shadow　of　a　fig　tree；　while　Domini
and　Androvsky　waited　in　silence　on　two　straw…bottomed　chairs。

The　atmosphere　of　the　garden　was　hostile　to　conversation。　The　sluggish
muddy　stream；　the　almost　motionless　trees；　the　imprisoned　heat　between
the　surrounding　walls；　the　faint　buzz　of　the　flies　caused　drowsiness
to　creep　upon　the　spirit。　The　long　ride；　too；　and　the　ardent　desert
air；　made　this　repose　a　luxury。　Androvsky's　face　lost　its　emotional
expression　as　he　gazed　almost　vacantly　at　the　brown　water　shifting
slowly　by　between　the　brown　banks　and　the　brown　walls　above　which　the
palm　trees　peered。　His　aching　limbs　relaxed。　His　hands　hung　loose
between　his　knees。　And　Domini　half　closed　her　eyes。　A　curious　peace
descended　upon　her。　Lapped　in　the　heat　and　silence　for　the　moment　she
wanted　nothing。　The　faint　buzz　of　the　flies　sounded　in　her　ears　and
seemed　more　silent　than　even　the　silence　to　which　it　drew　attention。
Never　before；　not　in　Count　Anteoni's　garden；　had　she　felt　more　utterly
withdrawn　from　the　world。　The　feathery　tops　of　the　palms　were　like　the
heads　of　sentinels　guarding　her　from　contact　with　all　that　she　had
known。　And　beyond　them　lay　the　desert；　the　empty；　sunlit　waste。　She
shut　her　eyes；　and　murmured　to　herself；　〃I　am　in　far　away。　I　am　in　far
away。〃　And　the　flies　said　it　in　her　ears　monotonously。　And　the　lizards
whispered　it　as　they　slipped　in　and　out　of　the　little　dark　holes　in
the　walls。　She　heard　Androvsky　stir；　and　she　moved　her　lips　slowly。
And　the　flies　and　the　lizards　continued　the　refrain。　But　she　said　now；
〃We　are　in　far　away。〃

Honest　Mustapha　strode　forward。　He　had　a　Bashi…Bazouk　tread　to　wake　up
a　world。　/Dejeuner/　was　ready。　Domini　sighed。　They　took　their　places
under　the　fig　tree　on　either　side　of　the　deal　table　covered　with　a
rough　white　cloth；　and　Mustapha；　with　tremendous　gestures；　and
gigantic　postures　suggesting　the　untamed　descendant　of　legions　of
freeborn；　sun…suckled　men；　served　them　with　red　fish；　omelette；
gazelle　steaks；　cheese；　oranges　and　dates；　with　white　wine　and　Vals
water。

Androvsky　scarcely　spoke。　Now　that　he　was　sitting　at　a　meal　with
Domini　he　was　obviously　embarrassed。　All　his　movements　were　self…
conscious。　He　seemed　afraid　to　eat　and　refused　the　gazelle。　Mustapha
broke　out　into　turbulent　surprise　and　prolonged　explanations　of　the
delicious　flavour　of　this　desert　food。　But　Androvsky　still　refused；
looking　desperately　disconcerted。

〃It　really　is　delicious；〃　said　Domini；　who　was　eating　it。　〃But　perhaps
you　don't　care　about　meat。〃

She　spoke　quite　carelessly　and　was　surprised　to　see　him　look　at　her　as
if　with　sudden　suspicion　and　immediately　help　himself　to　the　gazelle。

This　man　was　perpetually　giving　a　touch　of　the　whip　to　her　curiosity
to　keep　it　alert。　Yet　she　felt　oddly　at　ease　with　him。　He　seemed
somehow　part　of　her　impression　of　the　desert；　and　now；　as　they　sat
under　the　fig　tree　between　the　high　earth　walls；　and　at　their　/al
fresco/　meal　in　unbroken　silencefor　since　her　last　remark　Androvsky
had　kept　his　eyes　down　and　had　not　uttered　a　wordshe　tried　to
imagine　the　desert　without　him。

She　thought　of　the　gorge　of　El…Akbara；　the　cold；　the　darkness；　and
then　the　sun　and　the　blue　country。　They　had　framed　his　face。　She
thought　of　the　silent　night　when　the　voice　of　the　African　hautboy　had
died　away。　His　step　had　broken　its　silence。　She　thought　of　the　garden
of　Count　Anteoni；　and　of　herself　kneeling　on　the　hot　sand　with　her
arms　on　the　white　parapet　and　gazing　out　over　the　regions　of　the　sun；
of　her　dream　upon　the　tower；　of　her　vision　when　Irena　danced。　He　was
there；　part　of　the　noon；　part　of　the　twilight；　chief　surely　of　the
worshippers　who　swept　on　in　the　pale　procession　that　received　gifts
from　the　desert's　hands。　She　could　no　longer　imagine　the　desert
without　him。　The　almost　painful　feeling　that　had　come　to　her　in　the
gardenof　the　human　power　to　distract　her　attention　from　the　desert
powerwas　dying；　perhaps　had　completely　died　away。　Another　feeling
was　surely　coming　to　replace　it；　that　Androvsky　belonged　to　the　desert
more　even　than　the　Arabs　did；　that　the　desert　spirits　were　close　about
him；　clasping　his　hands；　whispering　in　his　ears；　and　laying　their
unseen　hands　about　his　heart。　But

They　had　finished　their　meal。　Domini　set　her　chair　once　more　in　front
of　the　sluggish　stream；　while　honest　Mustapha　bounded；　with　motions
suggestive　of　an　ostentatious　panther；　to　get　the　coffee。　Androvsky
followed　her　after　an　instant　of　hesitation。

〃Do　smoke；〃　she　said。

He　lit　a　small　cigar　with　difficulty。　She　did　not　wish　to　watch　him；
but　she　could　not　help　glancing　at　him　once　or　twice；　and　the
conviction　came　to　her　that　he　was　unaccustomed　to　smoking。　She　lit　a
cigarette；　and　saw　him　look　at　her　with　a　sort　of　horrified　surprise
which　changed　to　staring　interest。　There　was　more　boy；　more　child　in
this　man　than　in　any　man　she　had　ever　known。　Yet　at　moments　she　felt
as　if　he　had　penetrated　more　profoundly　into　the　dark　and　winding
valleys　of　experience　than　all　the　men　of　her　acquaintance。

〃Monsieur　Androvsky；〃　she　said；　looking　at　the　slow　waters　of　the
stream　slipping　by　towards　the　hidden　gardens；　〃is　the　desert　new　to
you？〃

She　longed　to　know。

〃Yes；　Madame。〃

〃I　thought　perhapsI　wondered　a　little　whether　you　had　travelled　in
it　already。〃

〃No；　Madame。　I　saw　it　for　the　first　time　the　day　before　yesterday。〃

〃When　I　did。〃

〃Yes。〃

So　they　had　entered　it　for　the　first　time　together。　She　was　silent；
watching　the　pale　smoke　curl　up　through　the　shade　and　out　into　the
glare　of　the　sun；　the　lizards　creeping　over　the　hot　earth；　the　flies
circling　beneath　the　lofty　walls；　the　palm　trees　looking　over　into
this　garden　from　the　gardens　all　around；　gardens　belonging　to　Eastern
people；　born　here；　and　who　would　probably　die　here；　and　go　to　dust
among　the　roots　of　the　palms。

On　the　earthen　bank　on　the　far　side　of　the　stream　there　appeared；
while　she　gazed；　a　brilliant　figure。　It　came　soundlessly　on　bare　feet
from　a　hidden　garden；　a　tall；　unveiled　girl；　dressed　in　draperies　of
vivid　magenta；　who　carried　in　her　exquisitely…shaped　brown　hands　a
number　of　handkerchiefsscarlet；　orange；　yellow　green　and　flesh
colour。　She　did　not　glance　into　the　/auberge/　garden；　but　caught　up
her　draperies　into　a　bunch　with　one　hand；　exposing　her　slim　legs　far
above　the　knees；　waded　into　the　stream；　and　bending；　dipped　the
handkerchiefs　in　the　water。

The　current　took　them。　They　streamed　out　on　the　muddy　surface　of　the
stream；　and　tugged　as　if；　suddenly　endowed　with　life；　they　were
striving　to　escape　from　the　hand　that　held　them。

The　girl's　face　was　beautiful；　with　small　regular　features　and
lustrous；　tender　eyes。　Her　figure；　not　yet　fully　developed；　was
perfect　in　shape；　and　seemed　to　thrill　softly　with　the　spirit　of
youth。　Her　tint　of　bronze　suggested　statuary；　and　every　fresh　pose
into　which　she　fell；　while　the　water　eddied　about　her；　strengthened
the　suggestion。　With　the　golden　sunlight　streaming　upon　her；　the　brown
banks；　the　brown　waters；　the　brown　walls　throwing　up　the　crude　magenta
of　her　bunched…up　draperies；　the　vivid　colours　of　the　handkerchiefs
that　floated　from　her　hand；　with　the　feathery　palms　beside　her；　the
cloudless　blue　sky　above　her；　she　looked　so　strangely　African　and　so
completely　lovely　that　Domini　watched　her　with　an　almost　breathless
attention。

She　withdrew　the　handkerchiefs　from　the　stream；　waded　out；　and　spread
them　one　by　one　upon　the　low　earth　wall　to　dry；　letting　her　draperies
fall。　When　she　had　finished　disposing　them　she　turned　round；　and；　no
longer　preoccupied　with　her　task；　looked　under　her　level　brows　into
the　garden　opposite　and　saw　Domini　and　her　companion。　She　did　not
start；　but　stood　quite　still　for　a　moment；　then　slipped　away　in　the
direction　whence　she　had　come。　Only　the　brilliant　patches　of　colour　on
the　wall　remained　to　hint　that　she　had　been　there　and　would　come
again。　Domini　sighed。

〃What　a　lovely　creature！〃　she　said；　more　to　herself　than　to　Androvsky。

He　did　not　speak；　and　his　silence　made　her　consciously　demand　his
acquiescence　in　her　admiration。

〃Did　you　ever　see　anything　more　beautiful　and　more　characteristic　of
Africa？〃　she　asked。

〃Madame；〃　he　said　in　a　slow；　stern　voice；　〃I　did　not　look　at　her。〃

Domini　felt　piqued。

〃Why　not？〃　she　retorted。

Androvsky's　face　was　cloudy　and　almost　cruel。

〃These　native　women　do　not　interest　me；〃　he　said。　〃I　see　nothing
attractive　in　them。〃

Domini　knew　that　he　was　telling　her　a　lie。　Had　she　not　seen　him
watching　the　dancing　girls　in　Tahar's　cafe？　Anger　rose　in　her。　She
said　to　herself　then　that　it　was　anger　at　man's　hypocrisy。　Afterwards
she　knew　that　it　was　anger　at　Androvsky's　telling　a　lie　to　her。

〃I　can　scarcely　believe　that；〃　she　answered　bluntly。

They　looked　at　each　other。

〃Why　not；　Madame？〃　he　said。　〃If　I　say　it　is　so？〃

She　hesitated。　At　that　moment　she　realised；　with　hot　astonishment；
that　there　was　something　in　this　man　that　could　make　her　almost
afraid；　that　could　prevent　her　even；　perhaps；　from　doing　the　thing　she
had　resolved　to　do。　Immediately　she　felt　hostile　to　him；　and　she　knew
that；　at　that　moment；　he　was　feeling　hostile　to　her。

〃If　you　say　it　is　so　naturally　I　am　bound　to　take　your　word　for　it；〃
she　said　coldly。

He　flushed　and　looked　down。　The　rigid　defiance　that　had　confronted　her
died　out　of　his　face。

Honest　Mustapha　broke　joyously　upon　them　with　the　coffee。　Domini
helped　Androvsky　to　it。　She　had　to　make　a　great　effort　to　perform　this
simple　act　with　quiet；　and　apparently　indifferent；　composure。

〃Thank　you；　Madame。〃

His　voice　sounded　humble；　but　she　felt　hard　and　as　if　ice　were　in　all
her　veins。　She　sipped　her　coffee；　looking　straight　before　her　at　the
stream。　The　magenta　robe　appeared　once　more　coming　out　from　the　brown
wall。　A　yellow　robe　succeeded　it；　a　scarlet；　a　deep　purple。　The　girl；
with　three　curious　young　companions；　stood　in　the　sun　examining　the
foreigners　with　steady；　unflinching　eyes。　Domini　smiled　grimly。　Fate
gave　her　an　opportunity。　She　beckoned　to　the　girls。　They　looked　at
each　other　but　did　not　move。　She　held　up　a　bit　of　silver　so　that　the
sun　was　on　it；　and　beckoned　them　again。　The　magenta　robe　was　lifted
above　the　pretty　knees　it　had　covered。　The　yellow；　the　scarlet；　the
deep　purple　robes　rose　too；　making　their　separate　revelations。　And　the
fo