the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第21章
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am curious to know if this be true； and I am going to send you to see。 Of
course； if the story is well founded； I shall not expect you to come back。
That would be unreasonable； Sahib。〃
All this was said with a refined sarcasm which maddened me； and； as
he concluded； he began to edge stealthily toward me。 So strong is the
instinct of self…preservation within us that I doubt not a would…be suicide；
caught in the act of hanging himself； would struggle madly for his life
were someone else to forcibly adjust the noose about his neck。 At all
events； I found myself unwilling； at the last moment； to have someone else
launch me into eternity and； as I wished to gain time to think what I should
do to escape； I said to him：
〃Why do you bear me such malice？ Can you not see that any injury I
may have done you was purely in self…defence？ You sought the quarrel；
and I took the only means at hand to protect myself。 I did not； as you
know； seek to kill you； a thing I could easily have done； but was content
merely to make good my escape。 I …〃
〃Bah！〃 he said； interrupting me savagely。 〃That has nothing to do
with it。 Had you only pounded my head you might live； but you have
pounded my heart！ It is for that I hate you； and for that you die！〃
〃What have I done？〃 I asked。
〃What have you done？〃 he roared； furious with rage。 〃I will tell you。
You have by magic possessed the mind of my wife。 Your name； your
cursed name is ever upon her lips！ My entreaties； my supplications are
answered by nothing else。 Even in her sleep she starts up and calls for
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you。 You have cast a spell upon her。 Day by day she droops and
withers like a lotus…flower whose root is severed； yet ever and always； is
your cursed name upon her lips； goading me to madness； until at last I
have registered a sacred oath to kill you； and remove the accursed spell
you have thrown upon her。〃
Had he advanced upon me at this moment he would have found me as
helpless as a child； so overcome was I by the sudden joy which seized
upon me； and seemed to turn my melancholy inside out。 Those words of
hatred had been as a torch illumining the gloom of my despair； for they
had shown me that my existence was not altogether barren and
unproductive。 The life which has known the heaven of true love cannot
be called a failure。 There is no wall so high； no distance so great； no
separation so complete as to defy the ineffable commerce of two loving
hearts！ Lona； then； was still mine； despite all obstacles。 What a change
this knowledge made！ In an instant life became an inexpressible
benefaction； for it permitted me to realise I was beloved； … and death was
dowered with a new horror … the fear that I should cease to know it。
I was roughly aroused from my reflections by Rama Ragobah。
〃Come； Sahib；〃 he said； as his thick lips curled sneeringly； 〃suppose
you try your spells upon me？ You will never have a better chance than
now to show your power；〃 and again he made a slight movement toward
me with the gleaming knife。 The moon； low down upon the horizon； sent
a broad beam of light into the entrance of the cave and over the head and
shoulders of the Indian。 Its cold light shimmered along the blade which
was now held threateningly toward me。 The crisis had been reached。
In times of such great urgency one has frequently an inspiration …
instantaneous； disconnected； unbidden … which no amount of quiet；
peaceful thought would suggest。 Such extraordinary flashes are the
result of reasoning too rapid for consciousness to note。 The Indian had
already laid bare his right arm to the elbow before I had determined upon
the desperate course I would pursue； and upon which I must hazard all。
As he advanced upon me I seized the large； white sola hat from my head；
and hurled it full in his face。 It was a schoolboy trick； yet upon its
success depended my life。 Instinctively； and in spite of himself； Ragobah
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dodged； closed his eyes； and raised his right hand； knife and all； to shield
his face。 I sprang upon him at the same instant I threw my hat； and so was
able to reach him before he opened his eyes。 I had well calculated his
movements； and had made no mistake。 As I reached him his head was
bent downward and forward to let the hat pass over him。 His position
could not have been better for my purpose。 I 〃swung on him；〃 as we
used to say at the gymnasium； catching him under his protruded jaw； not
far from the region of the carotid artery。 The blow was well placed； and
desperation lent me phenomenal strength。 It raised him bodily off his feet；
and hurled him backward out of the cave； where he lay motionless。 He
was now in my power。 I seized his knife and bent over him。 Words
cannot express the hatred； the loathing I felt for him then and always。
Between me and the light of my happiness he had ever stood； an
impenetrable black mass。 Twice had he sought my life； yet now； when he
was in my power； I could not plunge his weapon into his heart。 Would it
not be just； I thought； to drag him into the cave； and hurl him down the
abyss he had intended for me？ Yes； he certainly merited it； yet I could
not do that either。 I wished the snake a thousand times dead； yet I could
not stamp it into the earth。
He was beginning to slightly move now； and something must be done。
It was useless to run； for the way was long； and he could easily overtake
me。 You may wonder why I did not take to the thicket； but if you had
ever had any experience with Indian jungles you would know that； without
the use of fire and axe； they are practically impenetrable。 Professor
Haeckel； botanising near that same spot； spent an hour in an endeavour to
force his way into one of these jungles； but only succeeded in advancing a
few steps into the thicket； when； stung by mosquitoes； bitten by ants； his
clothing torn from his bleeding arms and legs； wounded by the thousands
of sharp thorns of the calamus； hibiscus； euphorbias； lantanas； and myriad
other jungle plants； he was obliged； utterly discomfited； to desist。 If this
were the result of his efforts； made in broad daylight； and with deliberation；
what might I expect rushing into the thicket at night； as a refuge from a
pursuer far my superior in physical strength and fleetness of foot； and who；
moreover； had known the jungle from his boyhood？ Once overtaken by
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my enemy； the long knife in my hands would be of no avail against a stick
in his。 I saw all this clearly； and realised that he must be prevented from
following me。
There was no ti
