red eve-第7章

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time　to　speak；　nor　have　they　anything　to　do　with　you。　Whilst　I　dwelt
in　Kambaluc　as　the　guest　of　the　Emperor　Timur；　I　made　study　of　the
religion　of　this　mighty　people；　who；　I　was　told；　worshipped　gods　in
the　shape　of　men。　I　visited　a　shrine　called　the　Temple　of　Heaven；
hoping　that　there　I　should　see　such　a　god　who　was　named　Tien；　but
found　in　it　nothing　but　splendid　emptiness。

〃Then　I　asked　if　there　was　no　god　that　I　could　see　with　my　eyes；
whereon　the　Emperor　laughed　at　me　and　said　there　was　such　a　god；　but
he　counselled　me　not　to　visit　him。　I　prayed　him　to　suffer　me　to　do　so；
since　I；　who　worshipped　the　only　true　God；　feared　no　other。　Whereon；
growing　angry；　he　commanded　some　of　his　servants　to　'take　this　fool　to
the　house　of　Murgh　and　let　him　see　whether　his　God　could　protect　him
against　Murgh。'　Having　said　this　he　bade　me　farewell；　adding　that
though　every　man　must　meet　Murgh　once；　few　met　him　twice；　and
therefore　he　did　not　think　that　he　should　see　me　again。

〃Now；　in　my　heart　I　grew　afraid；　but　none　would　tell　me　more　of　this
Murgh　or　what　was　likely　to　happen　to　me　at　his　hands。　Still；　I　would
not　show　any　fear；　and；　strong　in　the　faith　of　Christ；　I　determined　to
look　upon　this　idol；　for　such　I　expected　him　to　be。

〃That　night　the　servants　of　Timur　bore　me　out　of　the　city　in　a　litter；
and　by　the　starlight　I　saw　that　we　travelled　toward　a　hill　through
great　graveyards；　where　people　were　burying　their　dead。　At　the　foot　of
the　hill　they　set　me　down　upon　a　road；　and　told　me　to　walk　up　it；　and
that　at　dawn　I　should　see　the　House　of　Murgh；　whereof　the　gates　were
always　open；　and　could　enter　there　if　I　wished。　I　asked　if　they　would
wait　for　my　return；　whereon　they　answered；　smiling；　that　if　I　so
desired　they　would　do　so　till　evening；　but　that　it　seemed　scarcely
needful；　since　they　did　not　suppose　that　I　should　return。

〃'Do　yonder　pilgrims　to　the　House　of　Murgh　return？'　asked　their
captain；　pointing　towards　those　graveyards　which　we　had　passed。

〃I　made　no　answer；　but　walked　forward　up　a　broad　and　easy　road；
unchallenged　of　any；　till　I　came　to　what；　even　in　that　dim　light；　I
could　see　was　a　great　and　frowning　gateway；　whereof　the　doors　appeared
to　be　open。　Now；　at　first　I　thought　I　would　pass　this　gateway　at　once
and　see　what　lay　beyond。　But　from　this　I　was　held　back　by　some　great
fear；　for　which　I　could　find　no　cause；　unless　it　were　bred　of　what　the
Emperor　and　his　servants　had　said　to　me。　So　I　remembered　their　words
namely；　that　I　should　tarry　till　dawn　to　enter　the　house。

〃There；　then；　I　tarried；　seated　on　the　ground　before　the　gateway；　and
feeling　as　though；　yet　alive；　I　had　descended　among　the　dead。　Indeed；
the　silence　was　that　of　the　dead。　No　voice　spoke；　no　hound　barked；　no
leaf　stirred。　Only　far　above　me　I　heard　a　continual　soughing；　as
though　winged　souls　passed　to　and　fro。　Never　in　my　life　had　I　felt　so
much　alone；　never　so　much　afraid。

〃At　length　the　dawn　broke；　and　oh；　glad　was　I　to　see　its　light；　for
fear　lest　I　should　die　in　darkness！　Now　I　saw　that　I　was　on　a　hilltop
where　grew　great　groves　of　cedar　trees；　and　that　set　amid　them　was　a
black…tiled　temple；　surrounded　by　a　wall　built　of　black　brick。

〃It　was　not　a　great　place；　although　the　gateway；　which　was　surmounted
by　two　black　dragons　of　stone　or　iron；　was　very　great；　so　great　that　a
tall　ship　could　have　sailed　through　it　and　left　its　arch　untouched。

〃I　kneeled　down　and　prayed　to　the　blessed　Saints　and　the　guardian
angels　to　protect　me。　Then　I　arose；　crossed　myself　to　scare　off　all
evil　things　by　that　holy　sign；　and　set　forward　toward　the　mighty
gateway。　Oh；　never；　never　till　that　hour　had　I　understood　how　lowly　a
thing　is　man！　On　that　broad　road；　travelling　toward　the　awful；　dragon…
guarded　arch；　beyond　which　lay　I　knew　not　what；　it　seemed　to　me　that　I
was　the　only　man　left　in　the　world；　I；　whose　hour　had　come　to　enter
the　portals　of　destruction。

〃I　passed　into　the　cold　shadow　of　the　gateway；　unchallenged　by　any
watchman；　and　found　myself　in　a　courtyard　surrounded　by　a　wall　also
built　of　black　brick；　which　had　doors　in　it　that　seemed　to　be　of　dark
stone　or　iron。　Whither　these　doors　led　I　do　not　know；　since　the　wall
cut　off　the　sight　of　any　buildings　that　may　have　lain　beyond。　In　the
centre　of　this　courtyard　was　a　pool　of　still；　black　water；　and　at　the
head　of　the　pool　a　chair　of　black　marble。〃

Sir　Andrew　paused；　and　Hugh　said：

〃A　plain　place　for　a　temple；　Father；　without　adornments　or　images。　But
perhaps　this　was　the　outer　court；　and　the　temple　stood　within。〃

〃Ay；　son；　the　plainest　temple　that　ever　I　saw；　who　have　seen　many　in
all　lands；　though　what　was　beyond　it　I　do　not　know。　And　yetterrible；
terrible；　terrible！I　tell　you　that　those　black　walls　and　that　black
water　were　more　fearsome　to　look　on　than　any　churchyard　vault　grim
with　bones；　or　a　torture…pit　where　victims　quiver　out　their　souls
midst　shrieks　and　groanings。　And　yet　I　could　see　nothing　of　which　to
be　afraid；　and　hear　nothing　save　that　soughing　of　invisible　wings
whereof　I　have　spoken。　An　empty　chair；　a　pool　of　water；　some　walls　and
doors；　and；　above；　the　quiet　sky。　What　was　there　to　fear　in　such
things　as　these？　Still；　so　greatly　did　I　fear　that　I　sank　to　my　knees
and　began　to　pray　once　more；　this　time　to　the　blessed　Saviour　himself；
since　I　was　sure　that　none　else　could　help　me。

〃When　I　looked　up　again　the　chair　was　no　longer　empty。　Hugh；　a　man　sat
in　it；　of　whom　I　thought　at　first　only　one　thingthat　he　must　be　very
strong；　though　not　bigger　than　other　men。　Strength　seemed　to　flow　from
him。　I　should　not　have　wondered　if　he　had　placed　his　hands　upon　the
massive　sides　of　that　stone　chair　and　torn　it　asunder。〃

〃What　was　he　like；　Father？　Samson　or　Goliath？〃

〃I　never　saw　either；　son；　so　cannot　say。　But　what　was　he　like？　Oh；　I
cannot　say　that　either；　although　still　I　see　him　in　my　heart。　My
mortal　lips　will　not　tell　the　likeness　of　that　man；　perhaps　because　he
seemed　to　be　like　all　men；　and　yet　different　from　all。　He　had　an　iron
brow；　beneath　which　shone　deep；　cold　eyes。　He　was　clean…shaven；　or
perchance　his　face　grew　no　hair。　His　lips　were　thick　and　still　and　his
features　did　not　change　like　those　of　other　men。　He　looked　as　though
he　could　not　change；　as　though　he　had　been　thus　for　infinite　ages；　and
yet　remained　neither　young　nor　old。　As　for　his　dress；　he　wore　a　cloak
of　flaming　red；　such　a　cloak　as　your　Eve　loves　to　wear；　and　white
sandals　on　his　feet。　There　was　no　covering　on　his　shaven　head；　which
gleamed　like　a　skull。　His　breast　was　naked；　but　across　it　hung　one　row
of　black　jewels。　From　the　sheen　of　them　I　think　they　must　have　been
pearls；　which　are　sometimes　found　of　that　colour　in　the　East。　He　had
no　weapon　nor　staff；　and　his　hands　hung　down　on　either　side　of　the
chair。

〃For　a　long　while　I　watched　him；　but　if　he　saw　me　he　took　no　note。　As
I　watched　I　perceived　that　birds　were　coming　to　and　leaving　him　in
countless　numbers；　and　thought　that　it　must　be　their　wings　which　made
the　constant　soughing　sound　that　filled　all　the　still　and　dreadful
air。〃

〃What　kind　of　birds　were　they；　Father？〃

〃I　am　not　sure；　but　I　think　doves；　at　least；　their　flight　was　straight
and　swift　like　to　that　of　doves。　Yet　of　this　I　am　not　sure　either；
since　I　saw　each　of　them　for　but　a　second。　As　they　reached　the　man
they　appeared　out　of　nothingness。　They　were　of　two　colours；　snow…white
and　coal…black。　The　white　appeared　upon　his　right　side；　the　black　upon
his　left　side。　Each　bird　in　those　never…ceasing　streams　hovered　for　an
instant　by　his　head；　the　white　over　his　right　shoulder；　the　black　over
his　left　shoulder；　as　though　they　whispered　a　message　to　his　ear；　and
having　whispered　were　gone　upon　their　errand。〃

〃What　was　that　errand；　Father？〃

〃How　can　I　know；　as　no　one　ever　told　me？　Yet　I　will　hazard　a　guess
that　it　had　to　do　with　the　mystery　of　life　and　death。　Souls　that　were
born　into　the　world；　and　souls　departing　from　the　world；　perchance；
making　report　to　one　of　God's　ministers　clothed　in　flesh。　But　who　can
say？　At　least　I　watched　those　magic　fowls　till　my　eyes　grew　dizzy；　and
a　sort　of　slumber　began　to　creep　into　my　brain。

〃How　long　I　stayed　thus　I　do　not　remember；　for　I　had　lost　all　sense　of
time。　In　the　end；　however；　I　was　awakened　by　a　cold；　soft　voice；　the
sound　of　which　seemed　to　flow　through　my　veins　like　ice；　that
addressed　me　in　our　own　rough　English　tongue；　spoken　as　you　and　I
learned　it　at　our　nurses'　knees。

〃'To　what　god　were　you　praying　just　now；　Andrew　Arnold？'

〃'Oh；　sir；'　I　answered；　'how　do　you；　who　dwell　in　Cathay；　where　I　am　a
stranger；　know　my　language　and　my　name？'

〃He　lifted　his　cold　eyes　and　looked　at　me；　and　I　felt　them　pierce　into
the　depths　of　my　soul。　'In　the　same　way　that　I　know　your　heart；'　he
said。　'But　do　not　ask　questions。　Answer　them；　that　I　may　learn　whether
you　are　a　true　man　or　a　liar。'

〃'I　was　praying　to　Christ；'　I　faltered；　'the　Saviour　of　us　all。'

〃'A　great　God；　Andrew　Arnold；　and　a　pure；　though　His　followers　are　few
in　the　world　as　yet。　But　do　you　think　that　He　can　save　you　from　Me；　as
you　were　asking　Him　to　do？'

〃'He　can　save　my　soul；'　I　replied；　plucking　up　courage；　who　would　not
deny　the　Lord　even　in　a　devil's　den。

〃'Ah！　your　soul。　Well；　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　souls；　except　to
count　them　as　they　pass　through　my　dominion；　and　you　are　quite　right
to　pray　to　one　of　the　lords　of　that　into　which　you　go。　Now；　man；　what
is　your　business　with　me；　and　why　do　you　visit　one　of　whom　you　are　so
much　afraid？'

〃'O　Murgh！'　I　began；　then　ceased；　for　I　knew　not　what　to　answer。

〃'So　they　have　told　you　my　name？　Now　I　will　tell　you　one　of　its
meanings。　It　is　〃Gate　of　the　Gods。〃　Why　did　you　dare　to　visit　Gate　of
the　Gods？　You　fear　to　answer。　Listen！　You　came　forth　to　see　some
painted　idol；　or　some　bedizened　priest　muttering　rites　he　does　not
understand　to　that　which　is　not；　and　lo！　you　have　found　that　which　is
behind　all　idols　and　all　priests。　You　sought　an　incensed　and　a　golden
shrine　and　you　have　found　only　the　black　and　iron　portals　which　every
man　must　pass　but　which　few　desire　to　enter　until　they　are　called。
Well；　you　are　young　and　strong；　come　try　a　fall　with　Murgh；　and　when
he　has　thrown　you；　rise　and　choose　which　of　those　ways　you　will；'　and
he　swept　his　hand　toward　the　doors　around　him。　'Then　forget　this　world
and　enter　into　that　which　you　have　chosen。'

〃Now；　because　I　could　not　help　myself；　I　rose　from　my　knees　and
advanced；　or　was　drawn　toward　that　dreadful　man。　As　I　came　he；　too；
rose　from　his　chair；　stretching　out　his　arms　as　a　wrestler　does；　and　I
knew　that　within　the　circle　of　those　arms　lay　my　death。　Still　I；　who
in　my　youth　was　held　brave；　went　on　and　rushed；　striving　to　clasp　him。
Next　moment；　before　ever　I　touched　himoh；　well　was　it　for　me　that　I
touched　him　not！some　strength　seized　me　and　whirled　me　round　and
round　as　a　dead　leaf　is　whirled　by　the　wind；　and　tossed　me　up　and　cast
me　down　and　left　me　prone　and　nerveless。

〃'Rise；'　said　the　cold　voice　above　me；　'for　you　are　unhurt。'

〃So　I　rose；　and　felt　even　then　that　I　who　thought　that　every　bone　in
my　body　must　be　broken；　was　stronger　than　I　had　ever　been　before。　It
was　as　though　the　lamp　which　had　burnt　low　was　filled