按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
some three hundred of the bodyguard straggled up the hill； limp and
sweating； behind a group of pennons； in the midst of which rode a
horseman whose commanding presence and splendid war harness
impressed me； though I could not make out his features； a wild；
impressionist scene of black outlines； tossing headgear； and spears
glittering and vanishing in front of the red glare in the sky； but nothing
more。 Even the dry throats of the suitors in the courtyard hardly
mustered a husky cry of welcome as the cavalcade trooped into the
enclosure； and then the shadows enfolded them up in silence； and； too hot
and listless to care much what the morrow brought forth； I threw myself
on the bare floor； tossing and turning in a vain endeavour to sleep until
dawn came once more。
A thin mist which fell with daybreak drew a veil over the horrible
glare in the west for an hour or two； and taking advantage of the slight
alleviation of heat； I rose and went into the gardens to enjoy a dip in a pool；
making； with its surrounding jungle of flowers； one of the pleasantest
things about the wood…king's forest citadel。 The very earth seemed
scorched and baking underfootand the pool was gone！ It had run as dry
as a limekiln； nothing remained of the pretty fall which had fed it but a
miserable trickle of drops from the cascade above。 Down beyond the
town shone a gleam of water where the bitter canal steamed and sim…
mered in the first grey of the morning； but up here six months of scorching
drought could not have worked more havoc。 The very leaves were
dropping from the trees； and the luxuriant growths of the day before
150
… Page 151…
GULLIVER OF MARS
looked as though a simoon had played upon them。
I staggered back in disgust； and found some show of official activity
about the palace。 It was the king's custom； it appeared； to hear petitions
and redress wrongs as soon after his return as possible； but today the
ceremony was to be cut short as his majesty was going out with all his
court to a neighbouring mountain to 〃pray away the comet；〃 which by this
time was causing dire alarm all through the city。
〃Heaven's own particular blessing on his prayers； my friend；〃 I said to
the man who told me this。 〃Unless his majesty's orisons are fruitful； we
shall all be cooked like baked potatoes before nightfall； and though I have
faced many kinds of death； that is not the one I would choose by
preference。 Is there a chance of myself being heard at the throne？ Your
peculiar climate tempts me to hurry up with my business and begone if I
may。〃
〃Not only may you be heard； sir； but you are sum… moned。 The king
has heard of you somehow； and sent me to find and bring you into his
presence at once。〃
〃So be it；〃 I said； too hot to care what happened。 〃I have no levee
dress with me。 I lost my luggage check some time ago； but if you will
wait outside I will be with you in a moment。〃
Hastily tidying myself up； and giving my hair a comb； as though just
off to see Mr。 Secretary for the Navy； or on the way to get a senator to
push a new patent medicine for me； I rejoined my guide outside； and
together we crossed the wide courtyard； entered the great log…built portals
of Ar…hap's house； and immediately afterwards found ourselves in a vast
hall dimly lit by rays coming in through square spaces under the eaves；
and crowded on both sides with guards； courtiers； and supplicants。 The
heat was tre… mendous； the odour of Thither men and the ill…dressed hides
they wore almost overpowering。 Yet little I recked for either； for there at
the top of the room； seated on a dais made of rough…hewn wood inlet with
gold and covered with splendid furs； was Ar…hap himself。
A fine fellow； swarthy； huge； and hairy； at any other time or place I
could have given him due admiration as an admirable example of the
savage on the borderland of grace and culture； but now I only glanced at
151
… Page 152…
GULLIVER OF MARS
him； and then to where at his side a girl was crouching； a gem of human
loveliness against that dusky setting。 It was Heru； my ravished princess；
and； still clad in her diaphanous Hither robes； her face white with anxiety；
her eyes bright as stars； the embodiment of helpless； flowery beauty； my
heart turned over at sight of her。
Poor girl！ When she saw me stride into the hall she rose swiftly from
Ar…hap's side； clasped her pretty hands； and giving a cry of joy would have
rushed towards me； but the king laid a mighty paw upon her； under which
she subsided with a shiver as though the touch had blanched all the life
within。
〃Good morning； your majesty；〃 I said； walking boldly up to the lower
step of the dais。
〃Good morning； most singular…looking vagrant from the Unknown；〃
answered the monarch。 〃In what way can I be of service to you？''
〃I have come about that girl；〃 I said； nodding to where Heru lay
blossoming in the hot gloom like some night… flowering bud。 〃I do not
know whether your majesty is aware how she came here； but it is a highly
discreditable incident in what is doubtless your otherwise blameless reign。
Some rough scullions intrusted with the duty of col… lecting your majesty's
customs asked Prince Hath of the Hither people to point out the most
attractive young person at his wedding feast； and the prince indicated that
lady there at your side。 It was a dirty trick； and all the worse because it
was inspired by malice； which is the meanest of all weaknesses。 I had
the pleasure of knocking down some of your majesty's representatives； but
they stole the girl away while I slept； and； briefly； I have come to fetch her
back。〃
The monarch had followed my speech； the longest ever made in my
life； with fierce； blinking eyes； and when it stopped looked at poor
shrinking Heru as though for ex… planation； then round the circle of his
awestruck courtiers； and reading dismay at my boldness in their faces；
burst into a guttural laugh。
〃I suppose you have the great and puissant Hither nation behind you in
this request； Mr。 Spirit？〃
〃No； I came alone； hoping to find justice here； and； if not； then
152
… Page 153…
GULLIVER OF MARS
prepared to do all I could to make your majesty curse the day your
servants maltreated my friends。〃
〃Tall words； stranger！ May I ask what you propose to do if Ar…hap； in
his own palace； amongst his people and soldiers； refuses to disgorge a
pretty prize at the bidding of one shabby interlopermuddy and
friendless？〃
〃What should I do？〃
〃Yes；〃 said the king； with a haughty frown。 〃What would you do？〃
I do not know what prompted the reply。 For a moment I was
completely at a loss what to say to this very obvious question； and then all
on a sudden； remembering they held me to be some kind of disembodied
spirit； by a happy inspiration； fixing my eyes grimly on the king； I
answered；
〃What would I do？ Why； I WOULD HAUNT YOU！〃
It may not seem a great stroke of genius here； but the effect on the
Martian was instantaneous。 He sat straight up； his hands tightened； his
eyes dilated； and then fidgeting un… easily； after a minute he beckoned to
an over…dressed in… dividual； whom Heru afterwards told me was the Court
necromancer； and began whispering in his ear。
After a minute's consultation he turned again； a