the ninth vibration-第30部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　strong　arm；　and　the　strong　arm　was　absent；　as　for　the　men　of　Pagan；　if　the　guard　failed　and　the　women's　courage　sank；　they　would　return　to　blackened　walls；　empty　chambers　and　desolation。

At　Pagan　the　guard　was　small；　indeed；　for　the　King's　greed　of　plunder　had　taken　almost　every　able　man　with　him。　Still；　those　who　were　left　did　what　they　could；　and　the　women；　alert　and　brave；　with　but　few　exceptions；　gathered　the　children　and　handed　such　weapons　as　they　could　muster　to　the　men；　and　themselves；　taking　knives　and　daggers；　helped　to　defend　the　inner　rooms。

In　the　farthest；　the　Queen；　having　given　her　commands　and　encouraged　all　with　brave　words；　like　a　wise；　prudent　princess；　sat　with　her　son　beside　her。　Her　duty　was　now　to　him。　Loved　or　unloved；　he　was　still　the　heir；　the　root　of　the　House　tree。　If　all　failed；　she　must　make　ransom　and　terms　for　him；　and；　if　they　died；　it　must　be　together。　He；　with　sparkling　eyes；　gay　in　the　danger；　stood　by　her。　Thus　Dwaymenau　found　them。

She　entered　quietly　and　without　any　display　of　emotion　and　stood　before　the　high　seat。

〃Great　Queen〃　…　she　used　that　title　for　the　first　time　…　　〃the　leader　is　Meng　Kyinyo　of　Prome。　There　is　no　mercy。　The　end　is　near。　Our　men　fall　fast；　the　women　are　fleeing。　I　have　come　to　say　this　thing：　Save　the　Prince。〃

〃And　how？〃　asked　the　Queen；　still　seated。　〃I　have　no　power。〃

〃I　have　sent　to　Maung　Tin；　abbot　of　the　Golden　Monastery；　and　he　has　said　this　thing。　In　the　Kyoung　across　the　river　he　can　hide　one　child　among　the　novices。　Cut　his　hair　swiftly　and　put　upon　him　this　yellow　robe。　The　time　is　measured　in　minutes。〃

Then　the　Queen　perceived；　standing　by　the　pillar；　a　monk　of　a　stern；　dark　presence；　the　creature　of　Dwaymenau。　For　an　instant　she　pondered。　Was　the　woman　selling　the　child　to　death？　Dwaymenau　spoke　no　word。　Her　face　was　a　mask。　A　minute　that　seemed　an　hour　drifted　by；　and　the　yelling　and　shrieks　for　mercy　drew　nearer。

〃There　will　be　pursuit；〃　said　the　Queen。　〃They　will　slay　him　on　the　river。　Better　here　with　me。〃

〃There　will　be　no　pursuit。〃　Dwaymenau　fixed　her　strange　eyes　on　the　Queen　for　the　first　time。

What　moved　in　those　eyes？　The　Queen　could　not　tell。　But　despairing；　she　rose　and　went　to　the　silent　monk；　leading　the　Prince　by　the　hand。　Swiftly　he　stripped　the　child　of　the　silk　pasoh　of　royalty；　swiftly　he　cut　the　long　black　tresses　knotted　on　the　little　head；　and　upon　the　slender　golden　body　he　set　the　yellow　robe　worn　by　the　Lord　Himself　on　earth；　and　in　the　small　hand　he　placed　the　begging…bowl　of　the　Lord。　And　now；　remote　and　holy；　in　the　dress　that　is　of　all　most　sacred；　the　Prince；　standing　by　the　monk；　turned　to　his　mother　and　looked　with　grave　eyes　upon　her；　as　the　child　Buddha　looked　upon　his　Mother　…　also　a　Queen。　But　Dwaymenau　stood　by　silent　and　lent　no　help　as　the　Queen　folded　the　Prince　in　her　arms　and　laid　his　hand　in　the　hand　of　the　monk　and　saw　them　pass　away　among　the　pillars；　she　standing　still　and　white。

She　turned　to　her　rival。　〃If　you　have　meant　truly；　I　thank　you。〃

〃I　have　meant　truly。〃

She　turned　to　go；　but　the　Queen　caught　her　by　the　hand。

〃Why　have　you　done　this？〃　she　asked；　looking　into　the　strange　eyes　of　the　strange　woman。

Something　like　tears　gathered　in　them　for　a　moment；　but　she　brushed　them　away　as　she　said　hurriedly：

〃I　was　grateful。　You　saved　my　son。　Is　it　not　enough？〃

〃No；　not　enough！〃　cried　the　Queen。　〃There　is　more。　Tell　me；　for　death　is　upon　us。〃

〃His　footsteps　are　near；〃　said　the　Indian。　〃I　will　speak。　I　love　my　lord。　In　death　I　will　not　cheat　him。　What　you　have　known　is　true。　My　child　is　no　child　of　his。　I　will　not　go　down　to　death　with　a　lie　upon　my　lips。　Come　and　see。〃

Dwaymenau　was　no　more。　Sundari；　the　Indian　woman；　awful　and　calm；　led　the　Queen　down　the　long　ball　and　into　her　own　chamber；　where　Mindon；　the　child；　slept　a　drugged　sleep。　The　Queen　felt　that　she　had　never　known　her；　she　herself　seemed　diminished　in　stature　as　she　followed　the　stately　figure；　with　its　still；　dark　face。　Into　this　room　the　enemy　were　breaking；　shouldering　their　way　at　the　door　…　a　rabble　of　terrible　faces。　Their　fury　was　partly　checked　when　only　a　sleeping　child　and　two　women　confronted　them；　but　their　leader；　a　grim　and　evil…　looking　man；　strode　from　the　huddle。

〃Where　is　the　son　of　the　King？〃　be　shouted。　〃Speak；　women！　Whose　is　this　boy？〃

Sundari　laid　her　hand　upon　her　son's　shoulder。　Not　a　muscle　of　her　face　flickered。

〃This　is　his　son。〃

〃His　true　son　…　the　son　of　Maya　the　Queen？〃

〃His　true　son；　the　son　of　Maya　the　Queen。〃

〃Not　the　younger　…　the　mongrel？〃

〃The　younger　…　the　mongrel　died　last　week　of　a　fever。〃

Every　moment　of　delay　was　precious。　Her　eyes　saw　only　a　monk　and　a　boy　fleeing　across　the　wide　river。

〃Which　is　Maya　the　Queen？〃

〃This；〃　said　Sundari。　〃She　cannot　speak。　It　is　her　son　…　the　Prince。〃

Maya　had　veiled　her　face　with　her　hands。　Her　brain　swam；　but　she　understood　the　noble　lie。　This　woman　could　love。　Their　lord　would　not　be　left　childless。　Thought　beat　like　pulses　in　her　…　raced　along　her　veins。　She　held　her　breath　and　was　dumb。

His　doubt　was　assuaged　and　the　lust　of　vengeance　was　on　him　…　a　madness　seized　the　man。　But　even　his　own　wild　men　shrank　back　a　moment；　for　to　slay　a　sleeping　child　in　cold　blood　is　no　man's　work。

〃You　swear　it　is　the　Prince。　But　why？　Why　do　you　not　lie　to　save　him　if　you　are　the　King's　woman？〃

〃Because　his　mother　has　trampled　me　to　the　earth。　I　am　the　Indian　woman　…　the　mother　of　the　younger；　who　is　dead　and　safe。　She　jeered　at　me　…　she　mocked　me。　It　is　time　I　should　see　her　suffer。　Suffer　now　as　I　have　suffered；　Maya　the　Queen！〃

This　was　reasonable　…　this　was　like　the　women　he　bad　known。　His　doubt　was　gone　…　he　laughed　aloud。

〃Then　feed　full　of　vengeance！〃　he　cried；　and　drove　his　knife　through　the　child's　heart。

For　a　moment　Sundari　wavered　where　she　stood；　but　she　held　herself　and　was　rigid　as　the　dead。

〃Tha…du！　Well　done！〃　she　said　with　an　awful　smile。　〃The　tree　is　broken；　the　roots　cut。　And　now　for　us　women　…　our　fate；　0　master？〃

〃Wait　here；〃　he　answered。　〃Let　not　a　hair　of　their　heads　be　touched。　Both　are　fair。　The　two　for　me。　For　the　rest　draw　lots　when　all　is　done。〃

The　uproar　surged　away。　The　two　stood　by　the　dead　boy。　So　swift　had　been　his　death　that　he　lay　as　though　he　still　slept　…　the　black　lashes　pressed　upon　his　cheek。

With　the　heredity　of　their　different　races　upon　them；　neither　wept。　But　silently　the　Queen　opened　her　arms；　wide　as　a　woman　that　entreats　she　opened　them　to　the　Indian　Queen；　and　speechlessly　the　two　clung　together。　For　a　while　neither　spoke。

〃My　sister！〃　said　Maya　the　Queen。　And　again；　〃0　great　of　heart！〃

She　laid　her　cheek　against　Sundari's；　and　a　wave　of　solemn　joy　seemed　to　break　in　her　soul　and　flood　it　with　life　and　light。

〃Had　I　known　sooner！〃　she　said。　〃For　now　the　night　draws　on。〃

〃What　is　time？〃　answered　the　Rajput　woman。　〃We　stand　before　the　Lords　of　Life　and　Death。　The　life　you　gave　was　yours；　and　I　am　unworthy　to　kiss　the　feet　of　the　Queen。　Our　lord　will　return　and　his　son　is　saved。　The　House　can　be　rebuilt。　My　son　and　I　were　waifs　washed　up　from　the　sea。　Another　wave　washes　us　back　to　nothingness。　Tell　him　my　story　and　he　will　loathe　me。〃

〃My　lips　are　shut；〃　said　the　Queen。　〃Should　I　betray　my　sister's　honour？　When　he　speaks　of　the　noble　women　of　old；　your　name　will　be　among　them。　What　matters　which　of　us　he　loves　and　remembers？　Your　soul　and　mine　have　seen　the　same　thing；　and　we　are　one。　But　I　…　what　have　I　to　do　with　life？　The　ship　and　the　bed　of　the　conqueror　await　us。　Should　we　await　them；　my　sister？〃

The　bright　tears　glittered　in　the　eyes　of　Sundari　at　the　tender　name　and　the　love　in　the　face　of　the　Queen。　At　last　she　accepted　it。

〃My　sister；　no；〃　she　said；　and　drew　from　her　bosom　the　dagger　of　Maya；　with　the　man's　blood　rusted　upon　it。　〃Here　is　the　way。　I　have　kept　this　dagger　in　token　of　my　debt。　Nightly　have　I　kissed　it；　swearing　that；　when　the　time　came；　I　would　repay　my　debt　to　the　great　Queen。　Shall　I　go　first　or　follow；　my　sister？〃

Her　voice　lingered　on　the　word。　It　was　precious　to　her。　It　was　like　clear　water；　laying　away　the　stain　of　the　shameful　years。

〃Your　arm　is　strong；〃　answered　the　Queen。　〃I　go　first。　Because　the　King's　son　is　safe；　I　bless　you。　For　your　love　of　the　King；　I　love　you。　And　here；　standing　on　the　verge　of　life；　I　testify　that　the　words　of　the　Blessed　One　are　truth　…　that　love　is　All；　that　hatred　is　Nothing。〃

She　bared　the　breast　that　this　woman　had　made　desolate　…　that；　with　the　love　of　this　woman；　was　desolate　ho　longer；　and；　stooping；　laid　her　hand　on　the　brow　of　Mindon。　Once　more　they　embraced；　and　then；　strong　and　true；　and　with　the　Rajput　passion　behind　the　blow；　the　stroke　fell　and　Sundari　had　given　her　sister　the　crowning　mercy　of　deliverance。　She　laid　the　body　beside　her　own　son；　composing　the　stately　limbs；　the　quiet　eyelids；　the　black　lengths　of　hair　into　majesty。　So；　she　thought；　in　the　great　temple　of　the　Rajput　race；　the　Mother　Goddess　shed　silence　and　awe　upon　her　worshippers。　The　two　lay　like　mother　and　son　…　one　slight　hand　of　the　Queen　she　laid　across　the　little　body　as　if　to　guard　it。

Her　work　done；　she　turned　to　the　entrance　and　watched　the　dawn　coming