the ninth vibration-第32章

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！


with　small　holes；　and　thus　she　was　set　afloat　on　the　terrible　river。　And　not　till　the　slow　filling　and　sinking　of　the　jars　was　the　agony　over　and　the　cries　for　mercy　stilled。　No；　the　Queen's　speech　was　safe　with　her；　but　was　it　safe　with　the　Queen？　For　her　silence；　Dwaymenau　must　take　measures。

Then　she　put　it　all　aside　and　laughed　and　jested　with　the　King　and　did　indeed　for　a　time　forget；　for　she　loved　him　for　his　black…browed　beauty　and　his　courage　and　royalty　and　the　childlike　trust　and　the　man's　passion　that　mingled　in　him　for　her。　Daily　and　nightly　such　prayers　as　she　made　to　strange　gods　were　that　she　might　bear　a　son；　true　son　of　his。

Next　day；　in　the　noonday　stillness　when　all　slept；　she　led　her　young　son　by　the　hand　to　her　secret　chamber；　and；　holding　him　upon　her　knees　in　that　rich　and　golden　place；　she　lifted　his　face　to　hers　and　stared　into　his　eyes。　And　so　unwavering　was　her　gaze；　so　mighty　the　hard；　unblinking　stare　that　his　own　was　held　against　it；　and　he　stared　back　as　the　earth　stares　breathless　at　the　moon。　Gradually　the　terror　faded　out　of　his　eyes；　they　glazed　as　if　in　a　trance；　his　head　fell　stupidly　against　her　bosom；　his　spirit　stood　on　the　borderland　of　being　and　waited。

Seeing　this；　she　took　his　palm　and；　molding　it　like　wax；　into　the　cup　of　it　she　dropped　clear　fluid　from　a　small　vessel　of　pottery　with　the　fylfot　upon　its　side　and　the　disks　of　the　god　Shiva。　And　strange　it　was　to　see　that　lore　of　India　in　the　palace　where　the　Blessed　Law　reigned　in　peace。　Then；　fixing　her　eyes　with　power　upon　Mindon；　she　bade　him；　a　pure　child；　see　for　her　in　its　clearness。

〃Only　virgin…pure　can　see！〃　she　muttered；　staring　into　his　eyes。　〃See！　See！〃

The　eyes　of　Mindon　were　closing。　He　half　opened　them　and　looked　dully　at　his　palm。　His　face　was　pinched　and　yellow。

〃A　woman　…　a　child；　on　a　long　couch。　Dead！　I　see！〃

〃See　her　face。　Is　her　head　crowned　with　the　Queen's　jewels？　See！〃

〃Jewels。　I　cannot　see　her　face。　It　is　hidden。〃

〃Why　is　it　hidden？〃

〃A　robe　across　her　face。　Oh；　let　me　go！〃

〃And　the　child？　See！〃

〃Let　me　go。　Stop　…　my　head　…　my　head！　I　cannot　see。　The　child　is　hidden。　Her　arm　holds　it。　A　woman　stoops　above　them。〃

〃A　woman？　Who？　Is　it　like　me？　Speak！　See！〃

〃A　woman。　It　is　like　you；　mother　…　it　is　like　you。　I　fear　very　greatly。　A　knife　…　a　knife！　Blood！　I　cannot　see　…　I　cannot　speak！　I　…　I　sleep。〃

His　face　was　ghastly　white　now；　his　body　cold　and　collapsed。　Terrified；　she　caught　him　to　her　breast　and　relaxed　the　power　of　her　will　upon　him。　For　that　moment；　she　was　only　the　passionate　mother　and　quaked　to　think　she　might　have　hurt　him。　An　hour　passed　and　he　slept　heavily　in　her　arms；　and　in　agony　she　watched　to　see　the　colour　steal　back　into　the　olive　cheek　and　white　lips。　In　the　second　hour　he　waked　and　stretched　himself　indolently；　yawning　like　a　cat。　Her　tears　dropped　like　rain　upon　him　as　she　clasped　him　violently　to　her。

He　writhed　himself　free；　petulant　and　spoilt。　〃Let　me　be。　I　hate　kisses　and　women's　tricks。　I　want　to　go　forth　and　play。　I　have　had　a　devil's　dream。

〃What　did　you　see　in　your　dream；　prince　of　my　heart？〃　She　caught　frantically　at　the　last　chance。

〃A　deer　…　a　tiger。　I　have　forgotten。　Let　me　go。〃　He　ran　off　and　she　sat　alone　with　her　doubts　and　fears。　Yet　triumph　coloured　them　too。　She　saw　a　dead　woman；　a　dead　child；　and　herself　bending　above　them。　She　hid　the　vessel　in　her　bosom　and　went　out　among　her　women。

Weeks　passed；　and　never　a　word　that　she　dreaded　from　Maya　the　Queen。　The　women　of　Dwaymenau；　questioning　the　Queen's　women；　heard　that　she　seemed　to　have　heavy　sorrow　upon　her。　Her　eyes　were　like　dying　lamps　and　she　faded　as　they。　The　King　never　entered　her　palace。　Drowned　in　Dwaymenau's　wiles　and　beauty；　her　slave；　her　thrall；　he　forgot　all　else　but　his　fighting；　his　hunting　and　his　long　war…boats；　and　whether　the　Queen　lived　or　died；　he　cared　nothing。　Better　indeed　she　should　die　and　her　place　be　emptied　for　the　beloved；　without　offence　to　her　powerful　kindred。

And　now　he　was　to　sail　upon　a　raid　against　the　Shan　Tsaubwa；　who　had　denied　him　tribute　of　gold　and　jewels　and　slaves。　Glorious　were　the　boats　prepared　for　war；　of　brown　teak　and　gilded　until　they　shone　like　gold。　Seventy　men　rowed　them；　sword　and　lance　beside　each。　Warriors　crowded　them；　flags　and　banners　fluttered　about　them；　the　shining　water　reflected　the　pomp　like　a　mirror　and　the　air　rang　with　song。　Dwaymenau　stood　beside　the　water　with　her　women；　bidding　the　King　farewell；　and　so　he　saw　her；　radiant　in　the　dawn；　with　her　boy　beside　her；　and　waved　his　hand　to　the　last。

The　ships　were　gone　and　the　days　languished　a　little　at　Pagan。　They　missed　the　laughter　and　royalty　of　the　King；　and　few　men；　and　those　old　and　weak；　were　left　in　the　city。　The　pulse　of　life　beat　slower。

And　Dwaymenau　took　rule　in　the　Golden　Palace。　Queen　Maya　sat　like　one　in　a　dream　and　questioned　nothing；　and　Dwaymenau　ruled　with　wisdom　but　none　loved　her。　To　all　she　was　the　interloper；　the　witch…woman；　the　out…land　upstart。　Only　the　fear　of　the　King　guarded　her　and　her　boy；　but　that　was　strong。　The　boys　played　together　sometimes；　Mindon　tyrannizing　and　cruel；　Ananda　fearing　and　complying；　broken　in　spirit。

Maya　the　Queen　walked　daily　in　the　long　and　empty　Golden　Hall　of　Audience；　where　none　came　now　that　the　King　was　gone；　pacing　up　and　down；　gazing　wearily　at　the　carved　screens　and　all　their　woodland　beauty　of　gods　that　did　not　hear；　of　happy　spirits　that　had　no　pity。　Like　a　spirit　herself　she　passed　between　the　red　pillars；　appearing　and　reappearing　with　steps　that　made　no　sound；　consumed　with　hate　of　the　evil　woman　that　had　stolen　her　joy。　Like　a　slow　fire　it　burned　in　her　soul；　and　the　face　of　the　Blessed　One　was　hidden　from　her；　and　she　had　forgotten　His　peace。　In　that　atmosphere　of　hate　her　life　dwindled。　Her　son's　dwindled　also；　and　there　was　talk　among　the　women　of　some　potion　that　Dwaymenau　had　been　seen　to　drop　into　his　noontide　drink　as　she　went　swiftly　by。　That　might　he　the　gossip　of　malice；　but　he　pined。　His　eyes　were　large　like　a　young　bird's；　his　hands　like　little　claws。　They　thought　the　departing　year　would　take　him　with　it。　What　harm？　Very　certainly　the　King　would　shed　no　tear。

It　was　a　sweet　and　silent　afternoon　and　she　wandered　in　the　great　and　lonely　hall；　sickened　with　the　hate　in　her　soul　and　her　fear　for　her　boy。　Suddenly　she　heard　flying　footsteps　…　a　boy's；　running　in　mad　haste　in　the　outer　hall；　and；　following　them；　bare　feet；　soft；　thudding。

She　stopped　dead　and　every　pulse　cried　…　Danger！　No　time　to　think　or　breathe　when　Mindon　burst　into　sight；　wild　with　terror　and　following　close　beside　him　a　man　…　a　madman；　a　short　bright　dah　in　his　grasp；　his　jaws　grinding　foam；　his　wild　eyes　starting　…　one　passion　to　murder。　So　sometimes　from　the　Nats　comes　pitiless　fury；　and　men　run　mad　and　kill　and　none　knows　why。

Maya　the　Queen　stiffened　to　meet　the　danger。　Joy　swept　through　her　soul；　her　weariness　was　gone。　A　fierce　smile　showed　her　teeth　…　a　smile　of　hate；　as　she　stood　there　and　drew　her　dagger　for　defense。　For　defense　…　the　man　would　rend　the　boy　and　turn　on　her　and　she　would　not　die。　She　would　live　to　triumph　that　the　mongrel　was　dead；　and　her　son；　the　Prince　again　and　his　father's　joy　…　for　his　heart　would　turn　to　the　child　most　surely。　Justice　was　rushing　on　its　victim。　She　would　see　it　and　live　content；　the　long　years　of　agony　wiped　out　in　blood；　as　was　fitting。　She　would　not　flee；　she　would　see　it　and　rejoice。　And　as　she　stood　in　gladness　…　these　broken　thoughts　rushing　through　her　like　flashes　of　lightning　…　Mindon　saw　her　by　the　pillar　and；　screaming　in　anguish　for　the　first　time；　fled　to　her　for　refuge。

She　raised　her　knife　to　meet　the　staring　eyes；　the　chalk　white　face；　and　drive　him　back　on　the　murderer。　If　the　man　failed；　she　would　not！　And　even　as　she　did　this　a　strange　thing　befell。　Something　stronger　than　hate　swept　her　away　like　a　leaf　on　the　river；　something　primeval　that　lives　in　the　lonely　pangs　of　childbirth；　that　hides　in　the　womb　and　breasts　of　the　mother。　It　was　stronger　than　she。　It　was　not　the　hated　Mindoin　…　she　saw　him　no　more。　Suddenly　it　was　the　eternal　Child；　lifting　dying；　appealing　eyes　to　the　Woman；　as　he　clung　to　her　knees。　She　di