the garden of allah-第72章

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quickly　learned　to　face　this　truth　with　steady　eyes　and　an　unflinching
heart。

At　moments　Androvsky　retreated　from　her；　his　mind　became　remotemore；
his　heart　was　far　from　her；　and；　in　its　distant　place；　was　suffering。
Of　that　she　was　assured。

But　she　was　assured；　too；　that　she　stood　to　him　for　perfection　in
human　companionship。　A　woman's　love　is；　perhaps；　the　only　true
divining　rod。　Domini　knew　instinctively　where　lay　the　troubled　waters；
what　troubled　them　in　their　subterranean　dwelling。　She　was　certain
that　Androvsky　was　at　peace　with　her　but　not　with　himself。　She　had
said　to　him　in　the　tent　that　she　thought　he　sometimes　felt　far　away
from　God。　The　conviction　grew　in　her　that　even　the　satisfaction　of　his
great　human　love　was　not　enough　for　his　nature。　He　demanded；　sometimes
imperiously；　not　only　the　peace　that　can　be　understood　gloriously；　but
also　that　other　peace　which　passeth　understanding。　And　because　he　had
it　not　he　suffered。

In　the　Garden　of　Allah　he　felt　a　loneliness　even　though　she　was　with
him；　and　he　could　not　speak　with　her　of　this　loneliness。　That　was　the
barrier　between　them；　she　thought。

She　prayed　for　him：　in　the　tent　by　night；　in　the　desert　under　the
burning　sky　by　day。　When　the　muezzin　cried　from　the　minaret　of　some
tiny　village　lost　in　the　desolation　of　the　wastes；　turning　to　the
north；　south；　east　and　west；　and　the　Mussulmans　bowed　their　shaved
heads；　facing　towards　Mecca；　she　prayed　to　the　Catholics'　God；　whom
she　felt　to　be　the　God；　too；　of　all　the　devout；　of　all　the　religions
of　the　world；　and　to　the　Mother　of　God；　looking　towards　Africa。　She
prayed　that　this　man　whom　she　loved；　and　who　she　believed　was　seeking；
might　find。　And　she　felt　that　there　was　a　strength；　a　passion　in　her
prayers；　which　could　not　be　rejected。　She　felt　that　some　day　Allah
would　show　himself　in　his　garden　to　the　wanderer　there。　She　dared　to
feel　that　because　she　dared　to　believe　in　the　endless　mercy　of　God。
And　when　that　moment　came　she　felt；　too；　that　their　lovehers　and　his
for　each　other　would　be　crowned。　Beautiful　and　intense　as　it　was　it
still　lacked　something。　It　needed　to　be　encircled　by　the　protecting
love　of　a　God　in　whom　they　both　believed　in　the　same　way；　and　to　whom
they　both　were　equally　near。　While　she　felt　close　to　this　love　and　he
far　from　it　they　were　not　quite　together。

There　were　moments　in　which　she　was　troubled；　even　sad；　but　they
passed。　For　she　had　a　great　courage；　a　great　confidence。　The　hope　that
dwells　like　a　flame　in　the　purity　of　prayer　comforted　her。

〃I　love　the　solitudes；〃　he　said。　〃I　love　to　have　you　to　myself。〃

〃If　we　lived　always　in　the　greatest　city　of　the　world　it　would　make　no
difference；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃You　know　that；　Boris。〃

He　bent　over　from　his　saddle　and　clasped　her　hand　in　his；　and　they
rode　thus　up　the　great　slope　of　the　sands；　with　their　horses　close
together。

The　minarets　of　the　city　grew　more　distinct。　They　dominated　the　waste
as　the　thought　of　Allah　dominates　the　Mohammedan　world。　Presently；　far
away　on　the　left；　Domini　and　Androvsky　saw　hills　of　sand；　clearly
defined　like　small　mountains　delicately　shaped。　On　the　summits　of
these　hills　were　Arab　villages　of　the　hue　of　bronze　gleaming　in　the
sun。　No　trees　stood　near　them。　But　beyond　them；　much　farther　off；　was
the　long　green　line　of　the　palms　of　a　large　oasis。　Between　them　and
the　riders　moved　slowly　towards　the　minarets　dark　things　that　looked
like　serpents　writhing　through　the　sands。　These　were　caravans　coming
into　the　city　from　long　journeys。　Here　and　there；　dotted　about　in　the
immensity；　were　solitary　horsemen；　camels　in　twos　and　threes；　small
troops　of　donkeys。　And　all　the　things　that　moved　went　towards　the
minarets　as　if　irresistibly　drawn　onwards　by　some　strong　influence
that　sucked　them　in　from　the　solitudes　of　the　whirlpool　of　human　life。

Again　Domini　thought　of　the　approach　to　London；　and　of　the　dominion　of
great　cities；　those　octopus　monsters　created　by　men；　whose　tentacles
are　strong　to　seize　and　stronger　still　to　keep。　She　was　infected　by
Androvsky's　dread　of　a　changed　life；　and　through　her　excitement；　that
pulsed　with　interest　and　curiosity；　she　felt　a　faint　thrill　of
something　that　was　like　fear。

〃Boris；〃　she　said；　〃I　feel　as　if　your　thoughts　were　being　conveyed　to
me　by　your　touch。　Perhaps　the　solitudes　are　best。〃

By　a　simultaneous　impulse　they　pulled　in　their　horses　and　listened。
Sounds　came　to　them　over　the　sands；　thin　and　remote。　They　could　not
tell　what　they　were；　but　they　knew　that　they　heard　something　which
suggested　the　distant　presence　of　life。

〃What　is　it？〃　said　Domini。

〃I　don't　know；　but　I　hear　something。　It　travels　to　us　from　the
minarets。〃

They　both　leaned　forward　on　their　horses'　necks；　holding　each　other's
hand。

〃I　feel　the　tumult　of　men；〃　Androvsky　said　presently。

〃And　I。　But　it　seems　as　if　no　men　could　have　elected　to　build　a　city
here。〃

〃Here　in　the　'Belly　of　the　desert；'〃　he　said；　quoting　the　Arabs'　name
for　Amara。

〃Boris〃she　spoke　in　a　more　eager　voice；　clasping　his　hand
strongly〃you　remember　the　/fumoir/　in　Count　Anteoni's　garden。　The
place　where　it　stood　was　the　very　heart　of　the　garden。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃We　understood　each　other　there。〃

He　pressed　her　hand　without　speaking。

〃Amara　seems　to　me　the　heart　of　the　Garden　of　Allah。　Perhapsperhaps
we　shall〃

She　paused。　Her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　his　face。

〃What；　Domini？〃　he　asked。

He　looked　expectant；　but　anxious；　and　watched　her；　but　with　eyes　that
seemed　ready　to　look　away　from　her　at　a　word。

〃Perhaps　we　shall　understand　each　other　even　better　there。〃

He　looked　down　at　the　white　sand。

〃Better！〃　he　repeated。　〃Could　we　do　that？〃

She　did　not　answer。　The　far…off　villages　gleamed　mysteriously　on　their
little　mountains；　like　unreal　things　that　might　fade　away　as　castles
fade　in　the　fire。　The　sky　above　the　minarets　was　changing　in　colour
slowly。　Its　blue　was　being　invaded　by　a　green　that　was　a　sister
colour。　A　curious　light；　that　seemed　to　rise　from　below　rather　than　to
descend　from　above；　was　transmuting　the　whiteness　of　the　sands。　A
lemon　yellow　crept　through　them；　but　they　still　looked　cold　and
strange；　and　immeasurably　vast。　Domini　fancied　that　the　silence　of　the
desert　deepened　so　that；　in　it；　they　might　hear　the　voices　of　Amara
more　distinctly。

〃You　know；〃　she　said；　〃when　one　looks　out　over　the　desert　from　a
height；　as　we　did　from　the　tower　of　Beni…Mora；　it　seems　to　call　one。
There's　a　voice　in　the　blue　distance　that　seems　to　say；　'Come　to　me！　I
am　herehidden　in　my　retreat；　beyond　the　blue；　and　beyond　the　mirage；
and　beyond　the　farthest　verge！'〃

〃Yes；　I　know。〃

〃I　have　always　felt；　when　we　travelled　in　the　desert；　that　the　calling
thing；　the　soul　of　the　desert；　retreated　as　I　advanced；　and　still
summoned　me　onward　but　always　from　an　infinite　distance。〃

〃And　I　too；　Domini。〃

〃Now　I　don't　feel　that。　I　feel　as　if　now　we　were　coming　near　to　the
voice；　as　if　we　should　reach　it　at　Amara；　as　if　there　it　would　tell　us
its　secret。〃

〃Imagination！〃　he　said。

But　he　spoke　seriously；　almost　mystically。　His　voice　was　at　odds　with
the　word　it　said。　She　noticed　that　and　was　sure　that　he　was　secretly
sharing　her　sensation。　She　even　suspected　that　he　had　perhaps　felt　it
first。

〃Let　us　ride　on；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　see　the　change　in　the　light？　Do　you
see　the　green　in　the　sky？　It　is　cooler；　too。　This　is　the　wind　of
evening。〃

Their　hands　fell　apart　and　they　rode　slowly　on；　up　the　long　slope　of
the　sands。

Presently　they　saw　that　they　had　come　out　of　the　trackless　waste　and
that　though　still　a　long　way　from　the　city　they　were　riding　on　a
desert　road　which　had　been　trodden　by　multitudes　of　feet。　There　were
many　footprints　here。　On　either　side　were　low　banks　of　sand；　beaten
into　a　rough　symmetry　by　implements　of　men；　and　shallow　trenches
through　which　no　water　ran。　In　front　of　them　they　saw　the　numerous
caravans；　now　more　distinct；　converging　from　left　and　right　slowly　to
this　great　isle　of　the　desert　which　stretched　in　a　straight　line　to
the　minarets。

〃We　are　on　a　highway；〃　Domini　said。

Androvsky　sighed。

〃I　feel　already　as　if　we　were　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd；〃　he　answered。

〃Our　love　for　peace　oughtn't　to　make　us　hate　our　fellowmen！〃　she　said。
〃Come；　Boris；　let　us　chase　away　our　selfish　mood！〃

She　spoke　in　a　more　cheerful　voice　and　drew　her　rein　a　little　tighter。
Her　horse　quickened　its　pace。

〃And　think　how　our　stay　at　Amara　will　make　us　love　the　solitudes　when
we　return　to　them　again。　Contrast　is　the　salt　of　life。〃

〃You　speak　as　if　you　didn't　believe　what　you　are　saying。〃

She　laughed。

〃If　I　were　ever　inclined　to　tell　you　a　lie；〃　she　said；　〃I　should　not
dare　to。　Your　mind　penetrates　mine　too　deeply。〃

〃You　could　not　tell　me　a　lie。〃

〃Do　you　hear　the　dogs　barking？〃　she　said；　after　a　moment。　〃They　are
among　those　tents　that　are　like　flies　on　the　sands　around　the　city。
That　is　the　tribe　of　the　Ouled　Nails　I　suppose。　Batouch　says　they　camp
here。　What　multitudes　of　tents！　Those　are　the　suburbs　of　Amara。　I
would　rather　live　in　them　than　in　the　suburbs　of　London。　Oh；　how　far
away　we　are；　as　if　we　were　at　the　end　of　the　world！〃

Either　her　last　words；　or　her　previous　change　of　manner　to　a　lighter
cheerfulness；　almost　a　briskness；　seemed　to　rouse　Androvsky　to　a
greater　confidence；　even　to　anticipation　of　possible　pleasure。

〃Yes。　After　all　it　is　only　the　desert　men　who　are　here。　Amara　is　their
Metropolis；　and　in　it　we　shall　only　see　their　life。〃

His　horse　plunged。　He　had　touched　it　sharply　with　his　heel。

〃I　believe　you　hate　the　thought　of　civilisation；〃　she　exclaimed。

〃And　you？〃

〃I　never　think　of　it。　I　feel　almost　as　if　I　had　never　known　it；　and
could　never　know　it。〃

〃Why　should　you？　You　love　the　wilds。〃

〃They　make　my　whole　nature　leap。　Even　when　I　was　a　child　it　was　so。　I
remember　once　reading　/Maud/。　In　it　I　came　upon　a　passageI　can't
remember　it　well；　but　it　was　about　the　red　man〃

She　thought　for　a　moment；　looking　towards　the　city。

〃I　don't　know　how　it　is　quite；〃　she　murmured。　〃'When　the　red　man
laughs　by　his　cedar　tree；　and　the　red　man's　babe　leaps　beyond　the　sea'
something　like　that。　But　I　know　that　it　made　my　heart　beat；　and　that
I　felt　as　if　I　had　wings　and　were　spreading　them　to　fly　away　to　the
most　remote　places　of　the　earth。　And　now　I　have　spread　my　wings；　and
it's　glorious。　Come；　Boris！〃

They　put　their　horses　to　a　canter；　and　soon　drew　near　to　the　caravans。
They　had　sent　Batouch　and　Ali；　who　generally　accompanied　them；　on　with
the　rest　of　the　camp。　Both　had　many　friends　in　Amara；　and　were　eager
to　be　there。　It　was　obvious　that　they　and　all　the　attendants；　servants
and　camel…men；　thought　of　it　as　the　provincial　Frenchman　thinks　of
Paris；　as　a　place　of　all　worldly　wonders　and　delights。　Batouch　was　to
meet　them　at　the　entrance　to　the　city；　and　when　they　had　seen　the
marvels　of　its　market…place　was　to　conduct　them　to　the　tents　which
would　be　pitched　on　the　sand…hills　outside。

Their　horses　pulled　as　if　they；　too；　longed　for　a　spell　of　city　life
after　the　life　of　the　wastes；　and　Domini's　excitement　grew。　She　felt
vivid　animal　spirits　boiling　up　within　her；　the　sane　and　healthy　sense
that　welcomes　a　big　manif