gulliver of mars-第2部分

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Meanwhile　that　steak　was　late；　and　now　that　the　tempor…　ary　excitement　of　the　evening　was　wearing　off　I　fell　dull　again。　　What　a　dark；　sodden　world　it　was　that　frowned　in　on　me　as　I　moved　over　to　the　window　and　opened　it　for　the　benefit　of　the　cool　air；　and　how　the　wind　howled　about　the　roof　tops。　　How　lonely　I　was！　　What　a　fool　I　had　been　to　ask　for　long　leave　and　come　ashore　like　this；　to　curry　favour　with　a　set　of　stubborn　dunderheads　who　cared　nothing　for　meor　Polly；　and　could　not　or　would　not　understand　how　important　it　was　to　the　best　interests　of　the　Service　that　I　should　get　that　promotion　which　alone　would　send　me　back　to　her　an　eligible　wooer！　　What　a　fool　I　was　not　to　have　volunteered　for　some　desperate　service　instead　of　wast…　ing　time　like　this！　　Then　at　least　life　would　have　been　interesting；　now　it　was　dull　as　ditch…water；　with　wretched　vistas　of　stagnant　waiting　between　now　and　that　joyful　day　when　I　could　claim　that　dear；　rosy…checked　girl　for　my　own。　　What　a　fool　I　had　been！

〃I　wish；　I　wish；〃　I　exclaimed；　walking　round　the　little　room；　〃I　wish　I　were〃

While　these　unfinished　exclamations　were　actually　passing　my　lips　I　chanced　to　cross　that　infernal　mat；　and　it　is　no　more　startling　than　true；　but　at　my　word　a　quiver　of　expectation　ran　through　that　gaunt　weba　rustle　of　antici…　pation　filled　its　ancient　fabric；　and　one　frayed　corner　surged　up；　and　as　I　passed　off　its　surface　in　my　stride；　the　sentence　still　unfinished　on　my　lips；　wrapped　itself　about　my　left　leg　with　extraordinary　swiftness　and　so　effectively　that　I　nearly　fell　into　the　arms　of　my　landlady；　who　opened　the　door　at　the　moment　and　came　in　with　a　tray　and　the　steak　and　tomatoes　mentioned　more　than　once　already。

It　was　the　draught　caused　by　the　opening　door；　of　course；　that　had　made　the　dead　man's　rug　lift　so　strangely　what　else　could　it　have　been？　　I　made　this　apology　to　the　good　woman；　and　when　she　had　set　the　table　and　closed　the　door　took　another　turn　or　two　about　my　den；　con…　tinuing　as　I　did　so　my　angry　thoughts。

〃Yes；　yes；〃　I　said　at　last；　returning　to　the　stove　and　taking　my　stand；　hands　in　pockets；　in　front　of　it；　〃anything　were　better　than　this；　any　enterprise　however　wild；　any　adventure　however　desperate。　　Oh；　I　wish　I　were　anywhere　but　here；　anywhere　out　of　this　redtape…ridden　world　of　ours！　　I　WISH　I　WERE　IN　THE　PLANET　MARS！〃

How　can　I　describe　what　followed　those　luckless　words？　Even　as　I　spoke　the　magic　carpet　quivered　responsively　under　my　feet；　and　an　undulation　went　all　round　the　fringe　as　though　a　sudden　wind　were　shaking　it。　　It　humped　up　in　the　middle　so　abruptly　that　I　came　down　sitting　with　a　shock　that　numbed　me　for　the　moment。　　It　threw　me　on　my　back　and　billowed　up　round　me　as　though　I　were　in　the　trough　of　a　stormy　sea。　　Quicker　than　I　can　write　it　lapped　a　corner　over　and　rolled　me　in　its　folds　like　a　chrysalis　in　a　cocoon。　　I　gave　a　wild　yell　and　made　one　frantic　struggle；　but　it　was　too　late。　　With　the　leathery　strength　of　a　giant　and　the　swiftness　of　an　accomplished　cigar…　roller　covering　a　〃core〃　with　leaf；　it　swamped　my　efforts；　straightened　my　limbs；　rolled　me　over；　lapped　me　in　fold　after　fold　till　head　and　feet　and　everything　were　gone　crushed　life　and　breath　back　into　my　innermost　being；　and　then；　with　the　last　particle　of　consciousness；　I　felt　myself　lifted　from　the　floor；　pass　once　round　the　room；　and　finally　shoot　out；　point　foremost；　into　space　through　the　open　window；　and　go　up　and　up　and　up　with　a　sound　of　rending　atmospheres　that　seemed　to　tear　like　riven　silk　in　one　pro…　longed　shriek　under　my　head；　and　to　close　up　in　thunder　astern　until　my　reeling　senses　could　stand　it　no　longer。　　and　time　and　space　and　circumstances　all　lost　their　meaning　to　me。




CHAPTER　II

How　long　that　wild　rush　lasted　I　have　no　means　of　judging。　It　may　have　been　an　hour；　a　day；　or　many　days；　for　I　was　throughout　in　a　state　of　suspended　animation；　but　presently　my　senses　began　to　return　and　with　them　a　sensa…　tion　of　lessening　speed；　a　grateful　relief　to　a　heavy　pressure　which　had　held　my　life　crushed　in　its　grasp；　without　destroy…　ing　it　completely。　　It　was　just　that　sort　of　sensation　though　more　keen　which；　drowsy　in　his　bunk；　a　traveller　feels　when　he　is　aware；　without　special　perception；　harbour　is　reached　and　a　voyage　comes　to　an　end。　　But　in　my　case　the　slowing　down　was　for　a　long　time　comparative。　　Yet　the　sensation　served　to　revive　my　scattered　senses；　and　just　as　I　was　awakening　to　a　lively　sense　of　amazement；　an　incredible　doubt　of　my　own　emotions；　and　an　eager　desire　to　know　what　had　happened；　my　strange　conveyance　oscillated　once　or　twice；　undulated　lightly　up　and　down；　like　a　wood…　pecker　flying　from　tree　to　tree；　and　then　grounded；　bows　first；　rolled　over　several　times；　then　steadied　again；　and；　coming　at　last　to　rest；　the　next　minute　the　infernal　rug　opened；　quiver…　ing　along　all　its　borders　in　its　peculiar　way；　and　humping　up　in　the　middle　shot　me　five　feet　into　the　air　like　a　cat　tossed　from　a　schoolboy's　blanket。

As　I　turned　over　I　had　a　dim　vision　of　a　clear　light　like　the　shine　of　dawn；　and　solid　ground　sloping　away　below　me。　Upon　that　slope　was　ranged　a　crowd　of　squatting　people；　and　a　staid…looking　individual　with　his　back　turned　stood　nearer　by。　　Afterwards　I　found　he　was　lecturing　all　those　sitters　on　the　ethics　of　gravity　and　the　inherent　properties　of　falling　bodies；　at　the　moment　I　only　knew　he　was　directly　in　my　line　as　I　descended；　and　him　round　the　waist　I　seized；　giddy　with　the　light　and　fresh　air；　waltzed　him　down　the　slope　with　the　force　of　my　impetus；　and；　tripping　at　the　bottom；　rolled　over　and　over　recklessly　with　him　sheer　into　the　arms　of　the　gaping　crowd　below。　　Over　and　over　we　went　into　the　thickest　mass　of　bodies；　making　a　way　through　the　people；　until　at　last　we　came　to　a　stop　in　a　perfect　mound　of　writhing　forms　and　waving　legs　and　arms。　　When　we　had　done　the　mass　disentangled　itself　and　I　was　able　to　raise　my　head　from　the　shoulder　of　someone　on　whom　I　had　fallen；　lifting　him；　or　herwhich　was　it？into　a　sitting　posture　alongside　of　me　at　the　same　time；　while　the　others　rose　about　us　like　wheat…stalks　after　a　storm；　and　edged　shyly　off；　as　well　as　they　might。

Such　a　sleek；　slim　youth　it　was　who　sat　up　facing　me；　with　a　flush　of　gentle　surprise　on　his　face；　and　dapper　hands　that　felt　cautiously　about　his　anatomy　for　injured　places。　　He　looked　so　quaintly　rueful　yet　withal　so　good…　tempered　that　I　could　not　help　bursting　into　laughter　in　spite　of　my　own　amazement。　　Then　he　laughed　too；　a　sedate；　musical　chuckle；　and　said　something　incomprehensible；　point…　ing　at　the　same　time　to　a　cut　upon　my　finger　that　was　bleed…　ing　a　little。　　I　shook　my　head；　meaning　thereby　that　it　was　nothing；　but　the　stranger　with　graceful　solicitude　took　my　hand；　and；　after　examining　the　hurt；　deliberately　tore　a　strip　of　cloth　from　a　bright　yellow　toga…like　garment　he　was　wearing　and　bound　the　place　up　with　a　woman's　tenderness。

Meanwhile；　as　he　ministered；　there　was　time　to　look　about　me。　　Where　was　I？　　It　was　not　the　Broadway；　it　was　not　Staten　Island　on　a　Saturday　afternoon。　　The　night　was　just　over；　and　the　sun　on　the　point　of　rising。　　Yet　it　was　still　shadowy　all　about；　the　air　being　marvellously　tepid　and　pleasant　to　the　senses。　　Quaint；　soft　aromas　like　the　breath　of　a　new　worldthe　fragrance　of　unknown　flowers；　and　the　dewy　scent　of　never…trodden　fields　drifted　to　my　nostrils；　and　to　my　ears　came　a　sound　of　laughter　scarcely　more　human　than　the　murmur　of　the　wind　in　the　trees；　and　a　pretty　undulating　whisper　as　though　a　great　concourse　of　people　were　talking　softly　in　their　sleep。　　I　gazed　about　scarcely　knowing　how　much　of　my　senses　or　surroundings　were　real　and　how　much　fanciful；　until　I　presently　be…　came　aware　the　rosy　twilight　was　broadening　into　day；　and　under　the　increasing　shine　a　strange　scene　was　fashion…　ing　itself。

At　first　it　was　an　opal　sea　I　looked　on　of　mist；　shot　along　its　upper　surface　with　the　rosy　gold　and　pinks　of　dawn。　Then；　as　that　soft；　translucent　lake　ebbed；　jutting　hills　came　through　it；　black　and　crimson；　and　as　they　seemed　to　mount　into　the　air　other　lower　hills　showed　through　the　veil　with　rounded　forest　knobs　till　at　last　the　brightening　day　dis…　pelled　the　mist；　and　as　the　rosy…coloured　gauzy　fragments　went　slowly　floating　away　a　wonderfully　fair　country　lay　at　my　feet；　with　a　broad　sea　glimmering　in　many　arms　and　bays　in　the　distance　beyond。　　It　was　all　dim　and　unreal　at　first；　the　mountains　shadowy；　the　ocean　unreal；　the　flowery　fields　be…　tween　it　and　me　vacant　and　shadowy。

Yet　were　they　vacant？　　As　my　eyes　cleared　and　day　brightened　still　more；　and　I　turned　my　head　this　way　and　that；　it　presently　dawned　upon　me　all　the　meadow　cop…　pices　and　terraces　northwards　of　where　I　lay；　all　that　blue　and　spacious　ground　I　had　thought　to　be　bare　and　vacant；　were　alive　with　a　teeming　city　of　booths　and　tents；　now　I　came　to　look　more　closely　there　was　a　whole　town　upon　the　slope；　built　as　might　be　in　a　night　of　boughs　and　branches　still　unwithered；　the　streets　and　ways　of　that　city　in　the　shadows　thronged　with　expectant　people　moving　in　groups　and　shifting　to　and　fro　in　lively　streamschatting　at　the　stalls　and　clustering　round　the　tent　doors　in　soft；　gauzy；　pa