the garden of allah-第5章

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paralysed。　Her　fingers　were　yellow　from　peeling　an　orange；　and　her
smart　little　hat　was　cocked　on　one　side。　There　were　grains　of　sand　on
her　black　gown；　and　when　she　saw　her　mistress　she　at　once　began　to
compress　her　lips；　and　to　assume　the　expression　of　obstinate　patience
characteristic　of　properly…brought…up　servants　who　find　themselves
travelling　far　from　home　in　outlandish　places。

〃Have　you　been　asleep；　Suzanne？〃

〃No；　Mam'zelle。〃

〃You've　had　an　orange？〃

〃I　couldn't　get　it　down；　Mam'zelle。〃

〃Would　you　like　to　see　if　you　can　get　a　cup　of　coffee　here？〃

〃No；　thank　you；　Mam'zelle。　I　couldn't　touch　this　Arab　stuff。〃

〃We　shall　soon　be　there　now。〃

Suzanne　made　all　her　naturally　small　features　look　much　smaller；
glanced　down　at　her　skirt；　and　suddenly　began　to　shake　the　grains　of
sand　from　it　in　an　outraged　manner；　at　the　same　time　extending　her
left　foot。　Two　or　three　young　Arabs　came　up　and　stood；　staring；　round
her。　Their　eyes　were　magnificent；　and　gravely　observant。　Suzanne　went
on　shaking　and　patting　her　skirt；　and　Domini　walked　away　down　the
platform；　wondering　what　a　French　maid's　mind　was　like。　Suzanne's
certainly　had　its　limitations。　It　was　evident　that　she　was　horrified
by　the　sight　of　bare　legs。　Why？

As　Domini　walked　along　the　platform　among　the　fruit…sellers；　the
guides；　the　turbaned　porters　with　their　badges；　the　staring　children
and　the　ragged　wanderers　who　thronged　about　the　train；　she　thought　of
the　desert　to　which　she　was　now　so　near。　It　lay；　she　knew；　beyond　the
terrific　wall　of　rock　that　faced　her。　But　she　could　see　no　opening。
The　towering　summits　of　the　cliffs；　jagged　as　the　teeth　of　a　wolf；
broke　crudely　upon　the　serene　purity　of　the　sky。　Somewhere；　concealed
in　the　darkness　of　the　gorge　at　their　feet；　was　the　mouth　from　which
had　poured　forth　that　wonderful　breath；　quivering　with　freedom　and
with　unearthly　things。　The　sun　was　already　declining；　and　the　light　it
cast　becoming　softened　and　romantic。　Soon　there　would　be　evening　in
the　desert。　Then　there　would　be　night。　And　she　would　be　there　in　the
night　with　all　things　that　the　desert　holds。

A　train　of　camels　was　passing　on　the　white　road　that　descended　into
the　shadow　of　the　gorge。　Some　savage…looking　men　accompanied　them；
crying　continually；　〃Oosh！　Oosh！〃　They　disappeared；　desert…men　with
their　desert…beasts；　bound　no　doubt　on　some　tremendous　journey　through
the　regions　of　the　sun。　Where　would　they　at　last　unlade　the　groaning
camels？　Domini　saw　them　in　the　midst　of　dunes　red　with　the　dying　fires
of　the　west。　And　their　shadows　lay　along　the　sands　like　weary　things
reposing。

She　started　when　a　low　voice　spoke　to　her　in　French；　and；　turning
round；　saw　a　tall　Arab　boy；　magnificently　dressed　in　pale　blue　cloth
trousers；　a　Zouave　jacket　braided　with　gold；　and　a　fez；　standing　near
her。　She　was　struck　by　the　colour　of　his　skin；　which　was　faint　as　the
colour　of　/cafe　au　lait/；　and　by　the　contrast　between　his　huge　bulk
and　his　languid；　almost　effeminate；　demeanour。　As　she　turned　he　smiled
at　her　calmly；　and　lifted　one　hand　toward　the　wall　of　rock。

〃Madame　has　seen　the　desert？〃　he　asked。

〃Never；〃　answered　Domini。

〃It　is　the　garden　of　oblivion；〃　he　said；　still　in　a　low　voice；　and
speaking　with　a　delicate　refinement　that　was　almost　mincing。　〃In　the
desert　one　forgets　everything；　even　the　little　heart　one　loves；　and
the　desire　of　one's　own　soul。〃

〃How　can　that　be？〃　asked　Domini。

〃Shal…lah。　It　is　the　will　of　God。　One　remembers　nothing　any　more。〃

His　eyes　were　fixed　upon　the　gigantic　pinnacles　of　the　rocks。　There
was　something　fanatical　and　highly　imaginative　in　their　gaze。

〃What　is　your　name？〃　Domini　asked。

〃Batouch；　Madame。　You　are　going　to　Beni…Mora？〃

〃Yes；　Batouch。〃

〃I　too。　To…night；　under　the　mimosa　trees；　I　shall　compose　a　poem。　It
will　be　addressed　to　Irena；　the　dancing…girl。　She　is　like　the　little
moon　when　it　first　comes　up　above　the　palm　trees。〃

Just　then　the　train　from　Beni…Mora　ran　into　the　station；　and　Domini
turned　to　seek　her　carriage。　As　she　was　coming　to　it　she　noticed；　with
the　pang　of　the　selfish　traveller　who　wishes　to　be　undisturbed；　that　a
tall　man；　attended　by　an　Arab　porter　holding　a　green　bag；　was　at　the
door　of　it　and　was　evidently　about　to　get　in。　He　glanced　round　as
Domini　came　up；　half　drew　back　rather　awkwardly　as　if　to　allow　her　to
precede　him；　then　suddenly　sprang　in　before　her。　The　Arab　lifted　in
the　bag；　and　the　man；　endeavouring　hastily　to　thrust　some　money　into
his　hand；　dropped　the　coin；　which　fell　down　between　the　step　of　the
carriage　and　the　platform。　The　Arab　immediately　made　a　greedy　dive
after　it；　interposing　his　body　between　Domini　and　the　train；　and　she
was　obliged　to　stand　waiting　while　he　looked　for　it；　grubbing
frantically　in　the　earth　with　his　brown　fingers；　and　uttering　muffled
exclamations；　apparently　of　rage。　Meanwhile；　the　tall　man　had　put　the
green　bag　up　on　the　rack；　gone　quickly　to　the　far　side　of　the
carriage；　and　sat　down　looking　out　of　the　window。

Domini　was　struck　by　the　mixture　of　indecision　and　blundering　haste
which　he　had　shown；　and　by　his　impoliteness。　Evidently　he　was　not　a
gentleman；　she　thought；　or　he　would　surely　have　obeyed　his　first
impulse　and　allowed　her　to　get　into　the　train　before　him。　It　seemed；
too；　as　if　he　were　determined　to　be　discourteous；　for　he　sat　with　his
shoulder　deliberately　turned　towards　the　door；　and　made　no　attempt　to
get　his　Arab　out　of　the　way；　although　the　train　was　just　about　to
start。　Domini　was　very　tired；　and　she　began　to　feel　angry　with　him；
contemptuous　too。　The　Arab　could　not　find　the　money；　and　the　little
horn　now　piped　its　warning　of　departure。　It　was　absolutely　necessary
for　her　to　get　in　at　once　if　she　did　not　mean　to　stay　at　El…Akbara。
She　tried　to　pass　the　grovelling　Arab；　but　as　she　did　so　he　suddenly
sprang　up；　jumped　on　to　the　step　of　the　carriage；　and；　thrusting　his
body　half　through　the　doorway；　began　to　address　a　torrent　of　Arabic　to
the　passenger　within。　The　horn　sounded　again；　and　the　carriage　jerked
backwards　preparatory　to　starting　on　its　way　to　Beni…Mora。

Domini　caught　hold　of　the　short　European　jacket　the　Arab　was　wearing；
and　said　in　French：

〃You　must　let　me　get　in　at　once。　The　train　is　going。〃

The　man；　however；　intent　on　replacing　the　coin　he　had　lost；　took　no
notice　of　her；　but　went　on　vociferating　and　gesticulating。　The
traveller　said　something　in　Arabic。　Domini　was　now　very　angry。　She
gripped　the　jacket；　exerted　all　her　force；　and　pulled　the　Arab
violently　from　the　door。　He　alighted　on　the　platform　beside　her　and
nearly　fell。　Before　he　had　recovered　himself　she　sprang　up　into　the
train；　which　began　to　move　at　that　very　moment。　As　she　got　in；　the　man
who　had　caused　all　the　bother　was　leaning　forward　with　a　bit　of　silver
in　his　hand；　looking　as　if　he　were　about　to　leave　his　seat。　Domini
cast　a　glance　of　contempt　at　him；　and　he　turned　quickly　to　the　window
again　and　stared　out；　at　the　same　time　putting　the　coin　back　into　his
pocket。　A　dull　flush　rose　on　his　cheek；　but　he　attempted　no　apology；
and　did　not　even　offer　to　fasten　the　lower　handle　of　the　door。

〃What　a　boor！〃　Domini　thought　as　she　bent　out　of　the　window　to　do　it。

When　she　turned　from　the　door；　after　securing　the　handle；　she　found
the　carriage　full　of　a　pale　twilight。　The　train　was　stealing　into　the
gorge；　following　the　caravan　of　camels　which　she　had　seen
disappearing。　She　paid　no　more　attention　to　her　companion；　and　her
feeling　of　acute　irritation　against　him　died　away　for　the　moment。　The
towering　cliffs　cast　mighty　shadows；　the　darkness　deepened；　the　train；
quickening　its　speed；　seemed　straining　forward　into　the　arms　of　night。
There　was　a　chill　in　the　air。　Domini　drank　it　into　her　lungs　again；
and　again　was　startled；　stirred；　by　the　life　and　the　mentality　of　it。
She　was　conscious　of　receiving　it　with　passion；　as　if；　indeed；　she
held　her　lips　to　a　mouth　and　drank　some　being's　very　nature　into　hers。
She　forgot　her　recent　vexation　and　the　man　who　had　caused　it。　She
forgot　everything　in　mere　sensation。　She　had　no　time　to　ask；　〃Whither
am　I　going？〃　She　felt　like　one　borne　upon　a　wave；　seaward；　to　the
wonder；　to　the　danger；　perhaps；　of　a　murmuring　unknown。　The　rocks
leaned　forward；　their　teeth　were　fastened　in　the　sky；　they　enclosed
the　train；　banishing　the　sun　and　the　world　from　all　the　lives　within
it。　She　caught　a　fleeting　glimpse　of　rushing　waters　far　beneath　her；
of　crumbling　banks；　covered　with　debris　like　the　banks　of　a　disused
quarry；　of　shattered　boulders；　grouped　in　a　wild　disorder；　as　if　they
had　been　vomited　forth　from　some　underworld　or　cast　headlong　from　the
sky；　of　the　flying　shapes　of　fruit　trees；　mulberries　and　apricot
trees；　oleanders　and　palms；　of　dull　yellow　walls　guarding　pools　the
colour　of　absinthe；　imperturbable　and　still。　A　strong　impression　of
increasing　cold　and　darkness　grew　in　her；　and　the　noises　of　the　train
became　hollow；　and　seemed　to　be　expanding；　as　if　they　were　striving　to
press　through　the　impending　rocks　and　find　an　outlet　into　space；
failing；　they　rose　angrily；　violently；　in　Domini's　ears；　protesting；
wrangling；　shouting；　declaiming。　The　darkness　became　like　the　darkness
of　a　nightmare。　All　the　trees　vanished；　as　if　they　fled　in　fear。　The
rocks　closed　in　as　if　to　crush　the　train。　There　was　a　moment　in　which
Domini　shut　her　eyes；　like　one　expectant　of　a　tremendous　blow　that
cannot　be　avoided。

She　opened　them　to　a　flood　of　gold；　out　of　which　the　face　of　a　man
looked；　like　a　face　looking　out　of　the　heart　of　the　sun。



CHAPTER　III

It　flashed　upon　her　with　the　desert；　with　the　burning　heaps　of
carnation　and　orange…coloured　rocks；　with　the　first　sand　wilderness；
the　first　brown　villages　glowing　in　the　late　radiance　of　the　afternoon
like　carven　things　of　bronze；　the　first　oasis　of　palms；　deep　green　as
a　wave　of　the　sea　and　moving　like　a　wave；　the　first　wonder　of　Sahara
warmth　and　Sahara　distance。　She　passed　through　the　golden　door　into
the　blue　country；　and　saw　this　face；　and；　for　a　moment；　moved　by　the
exalted　sensation　of　a　magical　change　in　all　her　world；　she　looked　at
it　simply　as　a　new　sight　presented；　with　the　sun；　the　mighty　rocks；
the　hard；　blind　villages；　and　the　dense　trees；　to　her　eyes；　and
connected　it　with　nothing。　It　was　part　of　this　strange　and　glorious
desert　region　to　her。　That　was　all；　for　a　moment。

In　the　play　of　untempered　golden　light　the　face　seemed　pale。　It　was
narrow；　rather　long；　with　marked　and　prominent　features；　a　nose　with　a
high　bridge；　a　mouth　with　straight；　red　lips；　and　a　powerful　chin。　The
eyes　were　hazel；　almost　yellow；　with　curious　markings　of　a　darker
shade　in　the　yellow；　dark　centres　that　looked　black；　and　dark　outer
circles。　The　eyelashes　were　very　long；　the　eyebrows　thick　and　strongly
curved。　The　forehead　was　high；　and　swelled　out　slightly　above　the
temples。　There　was　no　hair　on　the　face；　which　was　closely　shaved。　Near
the　mouth　were　two　faint　lines　that　made　Domini　think　of　physical
suffering；　and　also　of　mediaeval　knights。　Despite　the　glory　of　the
sunshine　there　seemed　to　be　a　shadow　falling　across　the　face。

This　was　all　that　Domini　noticed　before　the　spell　of　change　and　the
abrupt　glory　was　broken；　and　she　kne