the garden of allah-第74章

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〃Boris；〃　she　asked　him；　half　in　jest；　half　in　earnest；　〃shall　we　buy　a
desert　island　to　live　in？〃

〃Let　us　buy　an　oasis；〃　he　said。　〃That　would　be　the　perfthe　safest
life　for　us。〃

〃The　safest？〃

〃The　safest　for　our　happiness。　Domini；　I　have　a　horror　of　the　world！〃
He　said　the　last　words　with　a　strong；　almost　fierce；　emphasis。

〃Had　you　it　always；　or　only　since　we　have　been　married？〃

〃Iperhaps　it　was　born　in　me；　perhaps　it　is　part　of　me。　Who　knows？〃

He　had　relapsed　into　a　gravity　that　was　heavy　with　gloom；　and　looked
about　him　with　eyes　that　seemed　to　wish　to　reject　all　that　offered
itself　to　their　sight。

〃I　want　the　desert　and　you　in　it；〃　he　said。　〃The　lonely　desert；　with
you。〃

〃And　nothing　else？〃

〃I　want　that。　I　cannot　have　that　taken　from　me。〃

He　looked　about　him　quickly　from　side　to　side　as　they　rode　up　the
street；　as　if　he　were　a　scout　sent　in　advance　of　an　army　and　suspected
ambushes。　His　manner　reminded　her　of　the　way　he　had　looked　towards　the
tower　as　they　rode　into　Mogar。　And　he　had　connected　that　tower　with
the　French。　She　remembered　his　saying　to　her　that　it　must　have　been
built　for　French　soldiers。　As　they　rode　into　Mogar　he　had　dreaded
something　in　Mogar。　The　strange　incident　with　De　Trevignac　had
followed。　She　had　put　it　from　her　mind　as　a　matter　of　small；　or　no；
importance；　had　resolutely　forgotten　it；　had　been　able　to　forget　it　in
their　dream　of　desert　life　and　desert　passion。　But　the　entry　into　a
city　for　the　moment　destroyed　the　dreamlike　atmosphere　woven　by　the
desert；　recalled　her　town　sense；　that　quick…wittedness；　that　sharpness
of　apprehension　and　swiftness　of　observation　which　are　bred　in　those
who　have　long　been　accustomed　to　a　life　in　the　midst　of　crowds　and
movement；　and　changing　scenes　and　passing　fashions。　Suddenly　she
seemed　to　herself　to　be　reading　Androvsky　with　an　almost　merciless
penetration；　which　yet　she　could　not　check。　He　had　dreaded　something
in　Mogar。　He　dreaded　something　here　in　Amara。　An　unusual　incidentfor
the　coming　of　a　stranger　into　their　lives　out　of　their　desolation　of
the　sand　was　unusualhad　followed　close　upon　the　first　dread。　Would
another　such　incident　follow　upon　this　second　dread？　And　of　what　was
this　dread　born？

Batouch　drew　her　attention　to　the　fact　that　they　were　coming　to　the
marketplace；　and　to　the　curious　crowds　of　people　who　were　swarming　out
of　the　tortuous；　narrow　streets　into　the　main　thoroughfare　to　watch
them　pass；　or　to　accompany　them；　running　beside　their　horses。　She
divined　at　once；　by　the　passionate　curiosity　their　entry　aroused；　that
he　had　misspent　his　leisure　in　spreading　through　the　city　lying
reports　of　their　immense　importance　and　fabulous　riches。

〃Batouch；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　been　talking　about　us。〃

〃No；　Madame；　I　merely　said　that　Madame　is　a　great　lady　in　her　own
land；　and　that　Monsieur〃

〃I　forbid　you　ever　to　speak　about　me；　Batouch；〃　said　Androvsky；
brusquely。

He　seemed　worried　by　the　clamour　of　the　increasing　mob　that　surrounded
them。　Children　in　long　robes　like　night…gowns　skipped　before　them；
calling　out　in　shrill　voices。　Old　beggars；　with　diseased　eyes　and
deformed　limbs；　laid　filthy　hands　upon　their　bridles　and　demanded
alms。　Impudent　boys；　like　bronze　statuettes　suddenly　endowed　with　a
fury　of　life；　progressed　backwards　to　keep　them　full　in　view；　shouting
information　at　them　and　proclaiming　their　own　transcendent　virtues　as
guides。　Lithe　desert　men；　almost　naked；　but　with　carefully…covered
heads；　strode　beside　them；　keeping　pace　with　the　horses；　saying
nothing；　but　watching　them　with　a　bright　intentness　that　seemed　to
hint　at　unutterable　designs。　And　towards　them；　through　the　air　that
seemed　heavy　and　almost　suffocating　now　that　they　were　among
buildings；　and　through　clouds　of　buzzing　flies；　came　the　noise　of　the
larger　tumult　of　the　market…place。

Looking　over　the　heads　of　the　throng　Domini　saw　the　wide　road　opening
out　into　a　great　space；　with　the　first　palms　of　the　oasis　thronging　on
the　left；　and　a　cluster　of　buildings；　many　with　small　cupolas；　like
down…turned　white　cups；　on　the　right。　On　the　farther　side　of　this
space；　which　was　black　with　people　clad　for　the　most　in　dingy
garments；　was　an　arcade　jutting　out　from　a　number　of　hovel…like
houses；　and　to　the　right　of　them；　where　the　market…place；　making　a
wide　sweep；　continued　up　hill　and　was　hidden　from　her　view；　was　the
end　of　the　great　building　whose　gilded　cupolas　they　had　seen　as　they
rode　in　from　the　desert；　rising　above　the　city　with　the　minarets　of
its　mosques。

The　flies　buzzed　furiously　about　the　horses'　heads　and　flanks；　and　the
people　buzzed　more　furiously；　like　larger　flies；　about　the　riders。　It
seemed　to　Domini　as　if　the　whole　city　was　intent　upon　her　and
Androvsky；　was　observing　them；　considering　them；　wondering　about　them；
was　full　of　a　thousand　intentions　all　connected　with　them。

When　they　gained　the　market…place　the　noise　and　the　watchful　curiosity
made　a　violent　crescendo。　It　happened　to　be　market　day　and；　although
the　sun　was　setting；　buying　and　selling　were　not　yet　over。　On　the　hot
earth　over　which；　whenever　there　is　any　wind　from　the　desert；　the
white　sand　grains　sift　and　settle；　were　laid　innumerable　rugs　of　gaudy
colours　on　which　were　disposed　all　sorts　of　goods　for　sale；　heavy
ornaments　for　women；　piles　of　burnouses；　haiks；　gandouras；　gaiters　of
bright　red　leather；　slippers；　weaponsmany　jewelled　and　gilt；　or　rich
with　patterns　in　silverpyramids　of　the　cords　of　camels'　hair　that
bind　the　turbans　of　the　desert　men；　handkerchiefs　and　cottons　of　all
the　colours　of　the　rainbow；　cheap　perfumes　in　azure　flasks　powdered
with　golden　and　silver　flowers　and　leaves；　incense　twigs；　panniers　of
henna　to　dye　the　finger…nails　of　the　faithful；　innumerable
comestibles；　vegetables；　corn；　red　butcher's　meat　thickly　covered　with
moving　insects；　pale　yellow　cakes　crisp　and　shining；　morsels　of　liver
spitted　on　skewerswhich；　cooked　with　dust　of　keef；　produce　a　dreamy
drunkenness　more　overwhelming　even　than　that　produced　by　haschish
musical　instruments；　derboukas；　guitars；　long　pipes；　and　strange
fiddles　with　two　strings；　tomtoms；　skins　of　animals　with　heads　and
claws；　live　birds；　tortoise　backs；　and　plaits　of　false　hair。

The　sellers　squatted　on　the　ground；　their　brown　and　hairy　legs
crossed；　calmly　gazing　before　them；　or；　with　frenzied　voices　and
gestures；　driving　bargains　with　the　buyers；　who　moved　to　and　fro；
treading　carelessly　among　the　merchandise。　The　tellers　of　fates　glided
through　the　press；　fingering　the　amulets　that　hung　upon　their　hearts。
Conjurors　proclaimed　the　merits　of　their　miracles；　bawling　in　the
faces　of　the　curious。　Dwarfs　went　to　and　fro；　dressed　in　bright
colours　with　green　and　yellow　turbans　on　their　enormous　heads；　tapping
with　long　staves；　and　relating　their　deformities。　Water…sellers
sounded　their　gongs。　Before　pyramids　of　oranges　and　dates；　neatly
arranged　in　patterns；　sat　boys　crying　in　shrill　voices　the　luscious
virtues　of　their　fruits。　Idiots；　with　blear　eyes　and　protending　under…
lips；　gibbered　and　whined。　Dogs　barked。　Bakers　hurried　along　with
trays　of　loaves　upon　their　heads。　From　the　low　and　smoky　arcades　to
right　and　left　came　the　reiterated　grunt　of　negroes　pounding　coffee。　A
fanatic　was　roaring　out　his　prayers。　Arabs　in　scarlet　and　blue　cloaks
passed　by　to　the　Bain　Maure；　under　whose　white　and　blue　archway
lounged　the　Kabyle　masseurs　with　folded；　muscular　arms。　A　marabout；
black　as　a　coal；　rode　on　a　white　horse　towards　the　great　mosque；
followed　by　his　servant　on　foot。

Native　soldiers　went　by　to　the　Kasba　on　the　height；　or　strolled　down
towards　the　Cafes　Maures　smoking　cigarettes。　Circles　of　grave　men　bent
over　card　games；　dominoes　and　draughtscalled　by　the　Arabs　the
Ladies'　Game。　Khodjas　made　their　way　with　dignity　towards　the　Bureau
Arabe。　Veiled　women；　fat　and　lethargic；　jingling　with　ornaments；
waddled　through　the　arches　of　the　arcades；　carrying　in　their　painted
and　perspiring　hands　blocks　of　sweetmeats　which　drew　the　flies。
Children　played　in　the　dust　by　little　heaps　of　refuse；　which　they
stirred　up　into　clouds　with　their　dancing；　naked　feet。　In　front；　as　if
from　the　first　palms　of　the　oasis；　rose　the　roar　of　beaten　drums　from
the　negroes'　quarter；　and　from　the　hill…top　at　the　feet　of　the
minarets　came　the　fierce　and　piteous　noise　that　is　the　/leit…motif/　of
the　desert；　the　multitudinous　complaining　of　camels　dominating　all
other　sounds。

As　Domini　and　Androvsky　rode　into　this　whirlpool　of　humanity；　above
which　the　sky　was　red　like　a　great　wound；　it　flowed　and　eddied　round
them；　making　them　its　centre。　The　arrival　of　a　stranger…woman　was　a
rare；　if　not　an　unparalleled；　event　in　Amara；　and　Batouch　had　been
very　busy　in　spreading　the　fame　of　his　mistress。

〃Madame　should　dismount；〃　said　Batouch。　〃Ali　will　take　the　horses；　and
I　will　escort　Madame　and　Monsieur　up　the　hill　to　the　place　of　the
fountain。　Shabah　will　be　there　to　greet　Madame。〃

〃What　an　uproar！〃　Domini　exclaimed；　half　laughing；　half　confused。　〃Who
on　earth　is　Shabah？〃

〃Shabah　is　the　Caid　of　Amara；〃　replied　Batouch　with　dignity。　〃The
greatest　man　of　the　city。　He　awaits　Madame　by　the　fountain。〃　Domini
cast　a　glance　at　Androvsky。

〃Well？〃　she　said。

He　shrugged　his　shoulders　like　a　man　who　thinks　strife　useless　and　the
moment　come　for　giving　in　to　Fate。

〃The　monster　has　opened　his　jaws　for　us；〃　he　said；　forcing　a　laugh。
〃We　had　better　walk　in；　I　suppose。　ButO　Domini！the　silence　of　the
wastes！〃

〃We　shall　know　it　again。　This　is　only　for　the　moment。　We　shall　have
all　its　joy　again。〃

〃Who　knows？〃　he　said；　as　he　had　said　when　they　were　riding　up　the　sand
slope。　〃Who　knows？〃

Then　they　got　off　their　horses　and　were　taken　by　the　crowd。



CHAPTER　XXII

The　tumult　of　Amara　waked　up　in　Domini　the　town…sense　that　had　been
slumbering。　All　that　seemed　to　confuse；　to　daze；　to　repel　Androvsky；
even　to　inspire　him　with　fear；　the　noise　of　the　teeming　crowds；　their
perpetual　movement；　their　contact；　startled　her　into　a　vividness　of
life　and　apprehension　of　its　various　meanings；　that　sent　a　thrill
through　her。　And　the　thrill　was　musical　with　happiness。　To　the　sad　a
great　vision　of　human　life　brings　sadness　because　they　read　into　the
hearts　of　others　their　own　misery。　But　to　the　happy　such　a　vision
brings　exultation；　for　everywhere　they　find　dancing　reflections　of
their　own　joy。　Domini　had　lived　much　in　crowds；　but　always　she　had
been　actively　unhappy；　or　at　least　coldly　dreary　in　them。　Now；　for　the
first　time；　she　was　surrounded　by　masses　of　fellow…beings　in　her
splendid　contentment。　And　the　effect　of　this　return；　as　it　were；　to
something　like　the　former　material　conditions　of　her　life；　with　the
mental　and　affectional　conditions　of　it　transformed　by　joy；　was
striking　even　to　herself。　Suddenly　she　realised　to　the　full　her　own
humanity；　and　the　living　warmth　of　sympathy　that　is　fanned　into　flame
in　a　human　heart　by　the　presence　of　human　life　with　its　hopes；
desires；　fears；　passions；　joys；　that　leap　to　the　eye。　Instead　of
hating　this　fierce　change　from　solitude　with　the　man　she　loved　to　a
crowd　with　the　man　she　loved　she　rejoiced　in　it。　Androvsky　was　the
cause　of　both　her　joys；　joy　in　the　waste　and　joy　i