the coming race(一个即临种族)-第3章
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skimming noiselessly over the floor。 Gazing on it； I then saw that it was
no living form； but a mechanical automaton。 It might be two minutes
after it vanished through a doorless opening； half screened by curtains at
the other end of the hall； when through the same opening advanced a boy
of about twelve years old； with features closely resembling those of my
guide； so that they seemed to me evidently son and father。 On seeing me
the child uttered a cry； and lifted a staff like that borne by my guide； as if
in menace。 At a word from the elder he dropped it。 The two then
conversed for some moments； examining me while they spoke。 The
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child touched my garments； and stroked my face with evident curiosity；
uttering a sound like a laugh； but with an hilarity more subdued that the
mirth of our laughter。 Presently the roof of the hall opened； and a
platform descended； seemingly constructed on the same principle as the
'lifts' used in hotels and warehouses for mounting from one story to
another。
The stranger placed himself and the child on the platform； and
motioned to me to do the same； which I did。 We ascended quickly and
safely； and alighted in the midst of a corridor with doorways on either
side。
Through one of these doorways I was conducted into a chamber fitted
up with an oriental splendour； the walls were tesselated with spars； and
metals； and uncut jewels； cushions and divans abounded； apertures as for
windows but unglazed； were made in the chamber opening to the floor；
and as I passed along I 15observed that these openings led into spacious
balconies； and commanded views of the illumined landscape without。 In
cages suspended from the ceiling there were birds of strange form and
bright plumage； which at our entrance set up a chorus of song； modulated
into tune as is that of our piping bullfinches。 A delicious fragrance； from
censers of gold elaborately sculptured； filled the air。 Several automata；
like the one I had seen； stood dumb and motionless by the walls。 The
stranger placed me beside him on a divan and again spoke to me； and
again I spoke； but without the least advance towards understanding each
other。
But now I began to feel the effects of the blow I had received from the
splinters of the falling rock more acutely that I had done at first。
There came over me a sense of sickly faintness； accompanied with
acute； lancinating pains in the head and neck。 I sank back on the seat and
strove in vain to stifle a groan。 On this the child； who had hitherto
seemed to eye me with distrust or dislike； knelt by my side to support me；
taking one of my hands in both his own； he approached his lips to my
forehead； breathing on it softly。 In a few moments my pain ceased； a
drowsy； heavy calm crept over me； I fell asleep。
How long I remained in this state I know not； but when I woke I felt
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perfectly restored。 My eyes opened upon a group of silent forms； seated
around me in the gravity and quietude of Orientals… all more or less like
the first stranger； the same mantling wings； the same fashion of garment；
the same sphinx…like faces； with the deep dark eyes and red man's colour；
above all； the same type of race… race akin to man's； but infinitely stronger
of form and grandeur of aspect… and inspiring the same unutterable feeling
of dread。 Yet each countenance was mild and tranquil； and even kindly
in expression。 And； strangely enough； it seemed to me that in this very
calm and benignity consisted the secret of the dread which the
countenances inspired。 They seemed as void of the lines and shadows
which care and sorrow； and passion and sin； 16leave upon the faces of
men； as are the faces of sculptured gods； or as； in the eyes of Christian
mourners； seem the peaceful brows of the dead。
I felt a warm hand on my shoulder； it was the child's。 In his eyes
there was a sort of lofty pity and tenderness； such as that with which we
may gaze on some suffering bird or butterfly。 I shrank from that touch… I
shrank from that eye。 I was vaguely impressed with a belief that； had he
so pleased； that child could have killed me as easily as a man can kill a
bird or a butterfly。 The child seemed pained at my repugnance； quitted
me； and placed himself beside one of the windows。 The others continued
to converse with each other in a low tone； and by their glances towards me
I could perceive that I was the object of their conversation。 One in
especial seemed to be urging some proposal affecting me on the being
whom I had first met； and this last by his gesture seemed about to assent to
it； when the child suddenly quitted his post by the window； placed himself
between me and the other forms； as if in protection； and spoke quickly and
eagerly。 By some intuition or instinct I felt that the child I had before so
dreaded was pleading in my behalf。 Ere he had ceased another stranger
entered the room。 He appeared older than the rest； though not old； his
countenance less smoothly serene than theirs； though equally regular in its
features； seemed to me to have more the touch of a humanity akin to my
own。 He listened quietly to the words addressed to him； first by my
guide； next by two others of the group； and lastly by the child； then turned
towards myself； and addressed me； not by words； but by signs and
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gestures。 These I fancied that I perfectly understood； and I was not
mistaken。 I comprehended that he inquired whence I came。 I extended
my arm； and pointed towards the road which had led me from the chasm
in the rock； then an idea seized me。 I drew forth my pocket…book； and
sketched on one of its blank leaves a rough design of the ledge of the rock；
the rope； myself clinging to it； then of the cavernous rock below； the head
of the reptile； 17the lifeless form of my friend。 I gave this primitive kind
of hieroglyph to my interrogator； who； after inspecting it gravely； handed
it to his next neighbour； and it thus passed round the group。 The being I
had at first encountered then said a few words； and the child； who
approached and looked at my drawing； nodded as if he comprehended its
purport； and； returning to the window； expanded the wings attached to his
form； shook them once or twice； and then launched himself into space
without。 I started up in amaze and hastened to the window。 The child
was already in the air； buoyed on his wings； which he did not flap to and
fro as a bird does； but which were elevated over his head； and seemed to
bear him steadily aloft without effort of his own。 His flight seemed as
swift as an eagle's； and I observed that it was towards the rock whence I
had descended； of which the outline loomed visible in the brilliant
atmosphere。 In a very few minutes he returned； skimming through the
opening from which he had gone； and dropping on the floor the rope and
grappling…hooks I had left at the descent from the chasm。 Some words in
a low tone passed between the being present； one of the group touched an
automaton； which started forward and glided from the room； then the last
comer； who had addressed me by gestures； rose； took me by the hand； and
led me into the corridor。 There the platform by which I had mounted
awaited us； we placed ourselves on it and were lowered into the hall below。
My new companion； still holding me by the hand； conducted me from the
building into a street （so to speak） that stretched beyond it； with buildings
on either side； separated from each other by gardens bright with rich…
coloured vegetation and strange flowers。 Interspersed amidst these
gardens； which were divided from each other by low walls； or walking
slowly along the road； were many forms similar to those I had already
seen。 Some of the passers…by； on observing me； approached my guide；
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evidently by their tones； looks； and gestures addressing to him inquiries
18about myself。 In a few moments a crowd collected around us；
examining me with great interest； as if I were some rare wild animal。 Yet
even in gratifying their curiosity they preserved a grave and courteous
demeanour； and after a few words from my guide； who seemed to me to
deprecate obstruction in our road； they fell back with a stately inclination
of head； and resumed their own way with tranquil indifference。 Midway
in this thoroughfare we stopped at a building that differed from those we
had hitherto passed； inasmuch as it formed three sides of a vast court； at
the angles of which were lofty pyramidal towers； in the open space
between the sides was a circular fountain of colossal dimensions； and
throwing up a dazzling spray of what seemed to me fire。 We entered the
building through an open doorway and came into an enormous hall； in
which were several groups of children； all apparently employed in work as
at some great factory。 There was a huge engine in the wall
