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the edge of which the city stood； was a green island。 From the south；
whence the wanderers came； the desert sloped gently upwards for a long
distance； perhaps half a day's march； and many kilometres before the
city was reached； the minarets of its mosques were visible； pointing
to the brilliant blue sky that arched the whiteness of the sands。
Round about the city； on every side； great sand…hills rose like
ramparts erected by Nature to guard it from the assaults of enemies。
These hills were black with the tents of desert tribes； which； from
far off； looked like multitudes of flies that had settled on the
sands。 The palms of the oasis； which stretched northwards from the
city； could not be seen from the south till the city was reached； and
in late spring this region was a strange and barbarous pageant of blue
and white and gold； crude in its intensity； fierce in its crudity；
almost terrible in its blazing splendour that was like the Splendour
about the portals of the sun。
Domini and Androvsky rode towards Amara at a foot's pace； looking
towards its distant towers。 A quivering silence lay around them； yet
already they seemed to hear the cries of the voices of a great
multitude； to be aware of the movement of thronging crowds of men。
This was the first Sahara city they had drawn near to； and their minds
were full of memories of the stories of Batouch； told to them by the
camp fire at night in the uninhabited places which； till now； had been
their home： stories of the wealthy date merchants who trafficked here
and dwelt in Oriental palaces； poor in aspect as seen from the dark
and narrow streets； or zgags； in which they were situated； but within
full of the splendours of Eastern luxury； of the Jew moneylenders who
lived apart in their own quarter； rapacious as wolves； hoarding their
gains； and practising the rites of their ancient andaccording to the
Arabsdetestable religion； of the marabouts； or sacred men； revered
by the Mohammedans； who rode on white horses through the public ways；
followed by adoring fanatics who sought to touch their garments and
amulets； and demanded importunately miraculous blessings at their
handsthe hedgehog's foot to protect their women in the peril of
childbirth； the scroll； covered with verses of the Koran and enclosed
in a sheaf of leather； that banishes ill dreams at night and stays the
uncertain feet of the sleep…walker； the camel's skull that brings
fruit to the palm trees； the red coral that stops the flow of blood
from a knife…woundof the dancing…girls glittering in an armour of
golden pieces； their heads tied with purple and red and yellow
handkerchiefs of silk； crowned with great bars of solid gold and
tufted with ostrich feathers； of the dwarfs and jugglers who by night
perform in the marketplace； contending for custom with the sorceresses
who tell the fates from shells gathered by mirage seas； with the
snake…charmerswho are immune from the poison of serpents and the
acrobats who come from far…off Persia and Arabia to spread their
carpets in the shadow of the Agha's dwelling and delight the eyes of
negro and Kabyle； of Soudanese and Touareg with their feats of
strength； of the haschish smokers who； assembled by night in an
underground house whose ceiling and walls were black as ebony； gave
themselves up to day…dreams of shifting glory； in which the things of
earth and the joys and passions of men reappeared； but transformed by
the magic influence of the drug； made monstrous or fairylike；
intensified or turned to voluptuous languors； through which the Ouled
Nail floated like a syren； promising ecstasies unknown even in
Baghdad； where the pale Circassian lifts her lustrous eyes； in which
the palms were heavy with dates of solid gold； and the streams were
gliding silver。
Often they had smiled over Batouch's opulent descriptions of the
marvels of Ain…Amara； which they suspected to be very far away from
the reality； and yet； nevertheless； when they saw the minarets soaring
above the sands to the brassy heaven； it seemed to them both as if；
perhaps； they might be true。 The place looked intensely barbaric。 The
approach to it was grandiose。
Wide as the sands had been； they seemed to widen out into a greater
immensity of arid pallor before the city gates as yet unseen。 The
stretch of blue above looked vaster here； the horizons more remote；
the radiance of the sun more vivid； more inexorable。 Nature surely
expanded as if in an effort to hold her arm against some tremendous
spectacle set in its bosom by the activity of men； who were strong and
ardent as the giants of old； who had powers and a passion for
employing them persistently not known in any other region of the
earth。 The immensity of Mogar brought sadness to the mind。 The
immensity of Ain…Amara brought excitement。 Even at this distance from
it； when its minarets were still like shadowy fingers of an unlifted
hand； Androvsky and Domini were conscious of influences streaming
forth from its battlements over the sloping sands like a procession
that welcomed them to a new phase of desert life。
〃And people talk of the monotony of the Sahara！〃 Domini said speaking
out of their mutual thought。 〃Everything is here； Boris； you've never
drawn near to London。 Long before you reach the first suburbs you feel
London like a great influence brooding over the fields and the woods。
Here you feel Amara in the same way brooding over the sands。 It's as
if the sands were full of voices。 Doesn't it excite you？〃
〃Yes；〃 he said。 〃But〃and he turned in his saddle and looked back〃I
feel as if the solitudes were safer。〃
〃We can return to them。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We are splendidly free。 There's nothing to prevent us leaving Amara
tomorrow。〃
〃Isn't there？〃 he answered； fixing his eyes upon the minarets。
〃What can there be？〃
〃Who knows？〃
〃What do you mean； Boris？ Are you superstitious？ But you reject the
influence of place。 Don't you rememberat Mogar？〃
At the mention of the name his face clouded and she was sorry she had
spoken it。 Since they had left the hill above the mirage sea they had
scarcely ever alluded to their night there。 They had never once talked
of the dinner in camp with De Trevignac and his men； or renewed their
conversation in the tent on the subject of religion。 But since that
day； since her words about Androvsky's lack of perfect happiness even
with her far out in the freedom of the desert； Domini had been
conscious that； despite their great love for each other； their mutual
passion for the solitude in which it grew each day more deep and more
engrossing； wrapping their lives in fire and leading them on to the
inner abodes of sacred understanding； there was at moments a barrier
between them。
At first she had striven not to recognise its existence。 She had
striven to be blind。 But she was essentially a brave woman and an
almost fanatical lover of truth for its own sake； thinking that what
is called an ugly truth is less ugly than the loveliest lie。 To deny
truth is to play the coward。 She could not long do that。 And so she
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