the garden of allah-第43章

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her　thoughts；　feelings　and　desires　were　ranged　for　this　man's
inspection；　but　she　walked　resolutely　through　the　narrow　doorway　and
sat　down　on　one　of　the　divans。　Count　Anteoni　followed。

She　now　saw　that　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　on　the　ground；　there　was　a
symmetrical　pyramid　of　sand；　and　that　the　Diviner　was　gently　folding
together　a　bag　in　his　long　and　flexible　fingers。

〃You　see！〃　said　the　Count。

She　nodded；　without　speaking。　The　little　sand　heap　held　her　eyes。　She
strove　to　think　it　absurd　and　the　man　who　had　shaken　it　out　a
charlatan　of　the　desert；　but　she　was　really　gripped　by　an　odd　feeling
of　awe；　as　if　she　were　secretly　expectant　of　some　magical
demonstration。

The　Diviner　squatted　down　once　more　on　his　haunches；　stretched　out　his
fingers　above　the　sand　heap；　looked　at　her　and　smiled。

〃La　vie　de　MadameI　see　it　in　the　sablela　vie　de　Madame　dans　le
grand　desert　du　Sahara。〃

His　eyes　seemed　to　rout　out　the　secrets　from　every　corner　of　her
being；　and　to　scatter　them　upon　the　ground　as　the　sand　was　scattered。

〃Dans　le　grand　desert　du　Sahara；〃　Count　Anteoni　repeated；　as　if　he
loved　the　music　of　the　words。　〃Then　there　is　a　desert　life　for
Madame？〃

The　Diviner　dropped　his　fingers　on　to　the　pyramid；　lightly　pressing
the　sand　down　and　outward。　He　no　longer　looked　at　Domini。　The
searching　and　the　satire　slipped　away　from　his　eyes　and　body。　He
seemed　to　have　forgotten　the　two　watchers　and　to　be　concentrated　upon
the　grains　of　sand。　Domini　noticed　that　the　tortured　expression；　which
had　come　into　his　face　when　she　met　him　in　the　street　and　he　stared
into　the　bag；　had　returned　to　it。　After　pressing　down　the　sand　he
spread　the　bag　which　had　held　it　at　Domini's　feet；　and　deftly
transferred　the　sand　to　it；　scattering　the　grains　loosely　over　the
sacking；　in　a　sort　of　pattern。　Then；　bending　closely　over　them；　he
stared　at　them　in　silence　for　a　long　time。　His　pock…marked　face　was
set　like　stone。　His　emaciated　hands；　stretched　out；　rested　above　the
grains　like　carven　things。　His　body　seemed　entirely　breathless　in　its
absolute　immobility。

The　Count　stood　in　the　doorway；　still　as　he　was；　surrounded　by　the
motionless　purple　flowers。　Beyond；　in　their　serried　ranks；　stood　the
motionless　trees。　No　incense　was　burning　in　the　little　brazier　to…day。
This　cloistered　world　seemed　spell…bound。

A　low　murmur　at　last　broke　the　silence。　It　came　from　the　Diviner。　He
began　to　talk　rapidly；　but　as　if　to　himself；　and　as　he　talked　he　moved
again；　broke　up　with　his　fingers　the　patterns　in　the　sand；　formed
fresh　ones；　spirals；　circles；　snake…like　lines；　series　of　mounting
dots　that　reminded　Domini　of　spray　flung　by　a　fountain；　curves；
squares　and　oblongs。　So　swiftly　was　it　done　and　undone　that　the　sand
seemed　to　be　endowed　with　life；　to　be　explaining　itself　in　these
patterns；　to　be　presenting　deliberate　glimpses　of　hitherto　hidden
truths。　And　always　the　voice　went　on；　and　the　eyes　were　downcast；　and
the　body；　save　for　the　moving　hands　and　arms；　was　absolutely
motionless。

Domini　looked　over　the　Diviner　to　Count　Anteoni；　who　came　gently
forward　and　sat　down；　bending　his　head　to　listen　to　the　voice。

〃Is　it　Arabic？〃　she　whispered。

He　nodded。

〃Can　you　understand　it？〃

〃Not　yet。　Presently　it　will　get　slower；　clearer。　He　always　begins　like
this。〃

〃Translate　it　for　me。〃

〃Exactly　as　it　is？〃

〃Exactly　as　it　is。〃

〃Whatever　it　may　be？〃

〃Whatever　it　may　be。〃

He　glanced　at　the　tortured　face　of　the　Diviner　and　looked　grave。

〃Remember　you　have　said　I　am　fearless；〃　she　said。

He　answered：

〃Whatever　it　is　you　shall　know　it。〃

Then　they　were　silent　again。　Gradually　the　Diviner's　voice　grew
clearer；　the　pace　of　its　words　less　rapid；　but　always　it　sounded
mysterious　and　inward；　less　like　the　voice　of　a　man　than　the　distant
voice　of　a　secret。

〃I　can　hear　now；〃　whispered　the　Count。

〃What　is　he　saying？〃

〃He　is　speaking　about　the　desert。〃

〃Yes？〃

〃He　sees　a　great　storm。　Wait　a　moment！〃

The　voice　spoke　for　some　seconds　and　ceased；　and　once　again　the
Diviner　remained　absolutely　motionless；　with　his　hands　extended　above
the　grains　like　carven　things。

〃He　sees　a　great　sand…storm；　one　of　the　most　terrible　that　has　ever
burst　over　the　Sahara。　Everything　is　blotted　out。　The　desert　vanishes。
Beni…Mora　is　hidden。　It　is　day；　yet　there　is　a　darkness　like　night。　In
this　darkness　he　sees　a　train　of　camels　waiting　by　a　church。〃

〃A　mosque？〃

〃No；　a　church。　In　the　church　there　is　a　sound　of　music。　The　roar　of
the　wind；　the　roar　of　the　camels；　mingles　with　the　chanting　and　drowns
it。　He　cannot　hear　it　any　more。　It　is　as　if　the　desert　is　angry　and
wishes　to　kill　the　music。　In　the　church　your　life　is　beginning。〃

〃My　life？〃

〃Your　real　life。　He　says　that　now　you　are　fully　born；　that　till　now
there　has　been　a　veil　around　your　soul　like　the　veil　of　the　womb
around　a　child。〃

〃He　says　that！〃

There　was　a　sound　of　deep　emotion　in　her　voice。

〃That　is　all。　The　roar　of　the　wind　from　the　desert　has　silenced　the
music　in　the　church；　and　all　is　dark。〃

The　Diviner　moved　again；　and　formed　fresh　patterns　in　the　sand　with
feverish　rapidity；　and　again　began　to　speak　swiftly。

〃He　sees　the　train　of　camels　that　waited　by　the　church　starting　on　a
desert　journey。　The　storm　has　not　abated。　They　pass　through　the　oasis
into　the　desert。　He　sees　them　going　towards　the　south。〃

Domini　leaned　forward　on　the　divan；　looking　at　Count　Anteoni　above　the
bent　body　of　the　Diviner。

〃By　what　route？〃　she　whispered。

〃By　the　route　which　the　natives　call　the　road　to　Tombouctou。〃

〃Butit　is　my　journey！〃

〃Upon　one　of　the　camels；　in　a　palanquin　such　as　the　great　sheikhs　use
to　carry　their　women；　there　are　two　people；　protected　against　the
storm　by　curtains。　They　are　silent；　listening　to　the　roaring　of　the
wind。　One　of　them　is　you。〃

〃Two　people！〃

〃Two　people。〃

〃Butwho　is　the　other？〃

〃He　cannot　see。　It　is　as　if　the　blackness　of　the　storm　were　deeper
round　about　the　other　and　hid　the　other　from　him。　The　caravan　passes
on　and　is　lost　in　the　desolation　and　the　storm。〃

She　said　nothing；　but　looked　down　at　the　thin　body　of　the　Diviner
crouched　close　to　her　knees。　Was　this　pock…marked　face　the　face　of　a
prophet？　Did　this　skin　and　bone　envelop　the　soul　of　a　seer？　She　no
longer　wished　that　Larbi　was　playing　upon　his　flute　or　felt　the
silence　to　be　unnatural。　For　this　man　had　filled　it　with　the　roar　of
the　desert　wind。　And　in　the　wind　there　struggled　and　was　finally　lost
the　sound　of　voices　of　her　Faith　chantingwhat？　The　wind　was　too
strong。　The　voices　were　too　faint。　She　could　not　hear。

Once　more　the　Diviner　stirred。　For　some　minutes　his　fingers　were　busy
in　the　sand。　But　now　they　moved　more　slowly　and　no　words　came　from　his
lips。　Domini　and　the　Count　bent　low　to　watch　what　he　was　doing。　The
look　of　torture　upon　his　face　increased。　It　was　terrible；　and　made
upon　Domini　an　indelible　impression；　for　she　could　not　help　connecting
it　with　his　vision　of　her　future；　and　it　suggested　to　her　formless
phantoms　of　despair。　She　looked　into　the　sand；　as　if　she；　too；　would
be　able　to　see　what　he　saw　and　had　not　told；　looked　till　she　began　to
feel　almost　hypnotised。　The　Diviner's　hands　trembled　now　as　they　made
the　patterns；　and　his　breast　heaved　under　his　white　robe。　Presently　he
traced　in　the　sand　a　triangle　and　began　to　speak。

The　Count　bent　down　till　his　ear　was　almost　at　the　Diviner's　lips；　and
Domini　held　her　breath。　That　caravan　lost　in　the　desolation　of　the
desert；　in　the　storm　and　the　darknesswhere　was　it？　What　had　been　its
fate？　Sweat　ran　down　over　the　Diviner's　face；　and　dropped　upon　his
robe；　upon　his　hands；　upon　the　sand；　making　dark　spots。　And　the　voice
whispered　on　huskily　till　she　was　in　a　fever　of　impatience。　She　saw
upon　the　face　of　the　Count　the　Diviner's　tortured　look　reflected。　Was
it　not　also　on　her　face？　A　link　surely　bound　them　all　together　in　this
tiny　room；　close　circled　by　the　tall　trees　and　the　intense　silence。
She　looked　at　the　triangle　in　the　sand。　It　was　very　distinct；　more
distinct　than　the　other　patterns　had　been。　What　did　it　represent？　She
searched　her　mind；　thinking　of　the　desert；　of　her　life　there；　of　man's
life　in　the　desert。　Was　it　not　tent…shaped？　She　saw　it　as　a　tent；　as
her　tent　pitched　somewhere　in　the　waste　far　from　the　habitations　of
men。　Now　the　trembling　hands　were　still；　the　voice　was　still；　but　the
sweat　did　not　cease　from　dropping　down　upon　the　sand。

〃Tell　me！〃　she　murmured　to　the　Count。

He　obeyed；　seeming　now　to　speak　with　an　effort。

〃It　is　far　away　in　the　desert〃

He　paused。

〃Yes？　Yes？〃

〃Very　far　away　in　a　sandy　place。　There　are　immense　dunes；　immense
white　dunes　of　sand　on　every　side；　like　mountains。　Near　at　hand　there
is　a　gleam　of　many　fires。　They　are　lit　in　the　market…place　of　a　desert
city。　Among　the　dunes；　with　camels　picketed　behind　it；　there　is　a
tent〃

She　pointed　to　the　triangle　traced　upon　the　sand。

〃I　knew　it；〃　she　whispered。　〃It　is　my　tent。〃

〃He　sees　you　there；　as　he　saw　you　in　the　palanquin。　But　now　it　is
night　and　you　are　quite　alone。　You　are　not　asleep。　Something　keeps　you
awake。　You　are　excited。　You　go　out　of　the　tent　upon　the　dunes　and　look
towards　the　fires　of　the　city。　He　hears　the　jackals　howling　all　around
you；　and　sees　the　skeletons　of　dead　camels　white　under　the　moon。〃

She　shuddered　in　spite　of　herself。

〃There　is　something　tremendous　in　your　soul。　He　says　it　is　as　if　all
the　date　palms　of　the　desert　bore　their　fruit　together；　and　in　all　the
dry　places；　where　men　and　camels　have　died　of　thirst　in　bygone　years；
running　springs　burst　forth；　and　as　if　the　sand　were　covered　with
millions　of　golden　flowers　big　as　the　flower　of　the　aloe。〃

〃But　then　it　is　joy；　it　must　be　joy！〃

〃He　says　it　is　great　joy。〃

〃Then　why　does　he　look　like　that；　breathe　like　that？〃

She　indicated　the　Diviner；　who　was　trembling　where　he　crouched；　and
breathing　heavily；　and　always　sweating　like　one　in　agony。

〃There　is　more；〃　said　the　Count；　slowly。

〃Tell　me。〃

〃You　stand　alone　upon　the　dunes　and　you　look　towards　the　city。　He
hears　the　tomtoms　beating；　and　distant　cries　as　if　there　were　a
fantasia。　Then　he　sees　a　figure　among　the　dunes　coming　towards　you。〃

〃Who　is　it？〃　she　asked。

He　did　not　answer。　But　she　did　not　wish　him　to　answer。　She　had　spoken
without　meaning　to　speak。

〃You　watch　this　figure。　It　comes　to　you；　walking　heavily。〃

〃Walking　heavily？〃

〃That's　what　he　says。　The　dates　shrivel　on　the　palms；　the　streams　dry
up；　the　flowers　droop　and　die　in　the　sand。　In　the　city　the　tomtoms
faint　away　and　the　red　fires　fade　away。　All　is　dark　and　silent。　And
then　he　sees〃

〃Wait！〃　Domini　said　almost　sharply。

He　sat　looking　at　her。　She　pressed　her　hands　together。　In　her　dark
face；　with　its　heavy　eyebrows　and　strong；　generous　mouth；　a　contest
showed；　a　struggle　between　some　quick　desire　and　some　more　sluggish
but　determined　reluctance。　In　a　moment　she　spoke　again。

〃I　won't　hear　anything　more；　please。〃

〃But　you　said　'whatever　it　may　be。'〃

〃Yes。　But　I　won't　hear　anything　more。〃

She　spoke　very　quietly；　with　determination。

The　Diviner　was　beginning　to　move　his　hands　again；　to　make　fresh
patterns　in　the　sand；　to　speak　swiftl