green mansions-第38部分

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　in　gathering　firewood　and　in　constructing　a　shelter。　　At　length；　when　we　were　nearly　under　the　peak；　he　began　to　ascend。　　The　rise　in　this　place　was　gentle；　and　the　vegetation；　chiefly　composed　of　dwarf　thorn　trees　rooted　in　the　clefts　of　the　rock；　scarcely　impeded　our　progress；　yet　Nuflo　moved　obliquely；　as　if　he　found　the　ascent　difficult；　pausing　frequently　to　take　breath　and　look　round　him。　　Then　we　came　to　a　deep；　ravine…like　cleft　in　the　side　of　the　mountain；　which　became　deeper　and　narrower　above　us；　but　below　it　broadened　out　to　a　valley；　its　steep　sides　as　we　looked　down　were　clothed　with　dense；　thorny　vegetation；　and　from　the　bottom　rose　to　our　ears　the　dull　sound　of　a　hidden　torrent。　　Along　the　border　of　this　ravine　Nuflo　began　toiling　upwards；　and　finally　brought　us　out　upon　a　stony　plateau　on　the　mountain…side。　　Here　he　paused　and；　turning　and　regarding　us　with　a　look　as　of　satisfied　malice　in　his　eyes；　remarked　that　we　were　at　our　journey's　end；　and　he　trusted　the　sight　of　that　barren　mountain…side　would　compensate　us　for　all　the　discomforts　we　had　suffered　during　the　last　eighteen　days。

I　heard　him　with　indifference。　　I　had　already　recognized　the　place　from　his　own　exact　description　of　it；　and　I　now　saw　all　that　I　had　looked　to　seea　big；　barren　hill。　　But　Rima；　what　had　she　expected　that　her　face　wore　that　blank　look　of　surprise　and　pain？　〃Is　this　the　place　where　mother　appeared　to　you？〃　　she　suddenly　cried。　　〃The　very　placethis！　　This！〃　　Then　she　added：　〃The　cave　where　you　tended　herwhere　is　it？〃

〃Over　there；〃　he　said；　pointing　across　the　plateau；　which　was　partially　overgrown　with　dwarf　trees　and　bushes；　and　ended　at　a　wall　of　rock；　almost　vertical　and　about　forty　feet　high。

Going　to　this　precipice；　we　saw　no　cave　until　Nuflo　had　cut　away　two　or　three　tangled　bushes；　revealing　an　opening　behind；　about　half　as　high　and　twice　as　wide　as　the　door　of　an　ordinary　dwelling…house。

The　next　thing　was　to　make　a　torch；　and　aided　by　its　light　we　groped　our　way　in　and　explored　the　interior。　　The　cave；　we　found；　was　about　fifty　feet　long；　narrowing　to　a　mere　hole　at　the　extremity；　but　the　anterior　portion　formed　an　oblong　chamber；　very　lofty；　with　a　dry　floor。　　Leaving　our　torch　burning；　we　set　to　work　cutting　bushes　to　supply　ourselves　with　wood　enough　to　last　us　all　night。　　Nuflo；　poor　old　man；　loved　a　big　fire　dearly；　a　big　fire　and　fat　meat　to　eat　（the　ranker　its　flavour；　the　better　he　liked　it）　were　to　him　the　greatest　blessings　that　man　could　wish　for。　　In　me　also　the　prospect　of　a　cheerful　blaze　put　a　new　heart；　and　I　worked　with　a　will　in　the　rain；　which　increased　in　the　end　to　a　blinding　downpour。

By　the　time　I　dragged　my　last　load　in；　Nuflo　had　got　his　fire　well　alight；　and　was　heaping　on　wood　in　a　most　lavish　way。　　〃No　fear　of　burning　our　house　down　tonight；〃　he　remarked；　with　a　chucklethe　first　sound　of　that　description　he　had　emitted　for　a　long　time。

After　we　had　satisfied　our　hunger；　and　had　smoked　one　or　two　cigarettes；　the　unaccustomed　warmth；　and　dryness；　and　the　firelight　affected　us　with　drowsiness；　and　I　had　probably　been　nodding　for　some　time；　but　starting　at　last　and　opening　my　eyes；　I　missed　Rima。　　The　old　man　appeared　to　be　asleep；　although　still　in　a　sitting　posture　close　to　the　fire。　　I　rose　and　hurried　out；　drawing　my　cloak　close　around　me　to　protect　me　from　the　rain；　but　what　was　my　surprise　on　emerging　from　the　cave　to　feel　a　dry；　bracing　wind　in　my　face　and　to　see　the　desert　spread　out　for　leagues　before　me　in　the　brilliant　white　light　of　a　full　moon！　The　rain　had　apparently　long　ceased；　and　only　a　few　thin　white　clouds　appeared　moving　swiftly　over　the　wide　blue　expanse　of　heaven。　　It　was　a　welcome　change；　but　the　shock　of　surprise　and　pleasure　was　instantly　succeeded　by　the　maddening　fear　that　Rima　was　lost　to　me。　　She　was　nowhere　in　sight　beneath；　and　running　to　the　end　of　the　little　plateau　to　get　free　of　the　thorn　trees；　I　turned　my　eyes　towards　the　summit；　and　there；　at　some　distance　above　me；　caught　sight　of　her　standing　motionless　and　gazing　upwards。　　I　quickly　made　my　way　to　her　side；　calling　to　her　as　I　approached；　but　she　only　half　turned　to　cast　a　look　at　me　and　did　not　reply。

〃Rima；〃　I　said；　〃why　have　you　come　here？　　Are　you　actually　thinking　of　climbing　the　mountain　at　this　hour　of　the　night？〃　〃Yeswhy　not？〃　　she　returned；　moving　one　or　two　steps　from　me。

〃Rimasweet　Rima；　will　you　listen　to　me？〃

〃Now？　　Oh；　nowhy　do　you　ask　that？　　Did　I　not　listen　to　you　in　the　wood　before　we　started；　and　you　also　promised　to　do　what　I　wished？　　See；　the　rain　is　over　and　the　moon　shines　brightly。　　Why　should　I　wait？　　Perhaps　from　the　summit　I　shall　see　my　people's　country。　　Are　we　not　near　it　now？〃

〃Oh；　Rima；　what　do　you　expect　to　see？　　Listenyou　must　listen；　for　I　know　best。　　From　that　summit　you　would　see　nothing　but　a　vast　dim　desert；　mountain　and　forest；　mountain　and　forest；　where　you　might　wander　for　years；　or　until　you　perished　of　hunger　or　fever；　or　were　slain　by　some　beast　of　prey　or　by　savage　men；　but　oh；　Rima；　never；　never；　never　would　you　find　your　people；　for　they　exist　not。　　You　have　seen　the　false　water　of　the　mirage　on　the　savannah；　when　the　sun　shines　bright　and　hot；　and　if　one　were　to　follow　it　one　would　at　last　fall　down　and　perish；　with　never　a　cool　drop　to　moisten　one's　parched　lips。　　And　your　hope；　Rimathis　hope　to　find　your　people　which　has　brought　you　all　the　way　to　Riolamais　a　mirage；　a　delusion；　which　will　lead　to　destruction　if　you　will　not　abandon　it。〃

She　turned　to　face　me　with　flashing　eyes。　　〃You　know　best！〃　　she　exclaimed。　　〃You　know　best　and　tell　me　that！　　Never　until　this　moment　have　you　spoken　falsely。　　Oh；　why　have　you　said　such　things　to　menamed　after　this　place；　Riolama？　　Am　I　also　like　that　false　water　you　speak　ofno　divine　Rima；　no　sweet　Rima？　　My　mother；　had　she　no　mother；　no　mother's　mother？　　I　remember　her；　at　Voa；　before　she　died；　and　this　hand　seems　reallike　yours；　you　have　asked　to　hold　it。　　But　it　is　not　he　that　speaks　to　menot　one　that　showed　me　the　whole　world　on　Ytaioa。　　Ah；　you　have　wrapped　yourself　in　a　stolen　cloak；　only　you　have　left　your　old　grey　beard　behind！　　Go　back　to　the　cave　and　look　for　it；　and　leave　me　to　seek　my　people　alone！〃

Once　more；　as　on　that　day　in　the　forest　when　she　prevented　me　from　killing　the　serpent；　and　as　on　the　occasion　of　her　meeting　with　Nuflo　after　we　had　been　together　on　Ytaioa；　she　appeared　transformed　and　instinct　with　intense　resentmenta　beautiful　human　wasp；　and　every　word　a　sting。

〃Rima；〃　I　cried；　〃you　are　cruelly　unjust　to　say　such　words　to　me。　If　you　know　that　I　have　never　deceived　you　before；　give　me　a　little　credit　now。　　You　are　no　delusionno　mirage；　but　Rima；　like　no　other　being　on　earth。　　So　perfectly　truthful　and　pure　I　cannot　be；　but　rather　than　mislead　you　with　falsehoods　I　would　drop　down　and　die　on　this　rock；　and　lose　you　and　the　sweet　light　that　shines　on　us　for　ever。〃

As　she　listened　to　my　words；　spoken　with　passion；　she　grew　pale　and　clasped　her　hands。　　〃What　have　I　said？　　What　have　I　said？〃　　She　spoke　in　a　low　voice　charged　with　pain；　and　all　at　once　she　came　nearer；　and　with　a　low；　sobbing　cry　sank　down　at　my　feet；　uttering；　as　on　the　occasion　of　finding　me　lost　at　night　in　the　forest　near　her　home；　tender；　sorrowful　expressions　in　her　own　mysterious　language。　　But　before　I　could　take　her　in　my　arms　she　rose　again　quickly　to　her　feet　and　moved　away　a　little　space　from　me。

〃Oh　no；　no；　it　cannot　be　that　you　know　best！〃　　she　began　again。　〃But　I　know　that　you　have　never　sought　to　deceive　me。　　And　now；　because　I　falsely　accused　you；　I　cannot　go　there　without　you〃pointing　to　the　summit〃but　must　stand　still　and　listen　to　all　you　have　to　say。〃

〃You　know；　Rima；　that　your　grandfather　has　now　told　me　your　historyhow　he　found　your　mother　at　this　place；　and　took　her　to　Voa；　where　you　were　born；　but　of　your　mother's　people　he　knows　nothing；　and　therefore　he　can　now　take　you　no　further。〃

〃Ah；　you　think　that！　　He　says　that　now；　but　he　deceived　me　all　these　years；　and　if　he　lied　to　me　in　the　past；　can　he　not　still　lie；　affirming　that　he　knows　nothing　of　my　people；　even　as　he　affirmed　that　he　knew　not　Riolama？〃

〃He　tells　lies　and　he　tells　truth；　Rima；　and　one　can　be　distinguished　from　the　other。　　He　spoke　truthfully　at　last；　and　brought　us　to　this　place；　beyond　which　he　cannot　lead　you。〃

〃You　are　right；　I　must　go　alone。〃

〃Not　so；　Rima；　for　where　you　go；　there　we　must　go；　only　you　will　lead　and　we　follow；　believing　only　that　our　quest　will　end　in　disappointment；　if　not　in　death。〃

〃Believe　that　and　yet　follow！　　Oh　no！　　Why　did　he　consent　to　lead　me　so　far　for　nothing？〃

〃Do　you　forget　that　you　compelled　him？　　You　know　what　he　believes；　and　he　is　old　and　looks　with　fear　at　death；　remembering　his　evil　deeds；　and　is　convinced　that　only　through　your　intercession　and　your　mother's　he　can　escape　from　perdition。　　Consider；　Rima；　he　could　not　refuse；　to　make　you　more　angry　and　so　deprive　himself　of　his　only　hope。〃

My　words　seemed　to　trouble　her；　but　very　soon　she　spoke　again　with　renewed　animation。　　〃If　my　people　exist；　why　must　it　be　disappointment　and　perhaps　death？　　He　does　not　know；　but　she　came　to　him　heredid　she　not？　　The　others　are　not　here；　but　perhaps　not　far　o