the moon and sixpence(月球和六便士)-第61章
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〃If it please thee I will stay； poor child。〃
Ata flung herself on her knees before him； and clasped his legs with
her arms and kissed them。 Strickland looked at Dr。 Coutras with a faint
smile。
〃In the end they get you； and you are helpless in their hands。 White or
brown； they are all the same。〃
Dr。 Coutras felt that it was absurd to offer expressions of regret in so
terrible a disaster； and he took his leave。 Strickland told Tane； the boy； to
lead him to the village。 Dr。 Coutras paused for a moment； and then he
addressed himself to me。
〃I did not like him； I have told you he was not sympathetic to me； but
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as I walked slowly down to Taravao I could not prevent an unwilling
admiration for the stoical courage which enabled him to bear perhaps the
most dreadful of human afflictions。 When Tane left me I told him I would
send some medicine that might be of service； but my hope was small that
Strickland would consent to take it； and even smaller that； if he did； it
would do him good。 I gave the boy a message for Ata that I would come
whenever she sent for me。 Life is hard； and Nature takes sometimes a
terrible delight in torturing her children。 It was with a heavy heart that I
drove back to my comfortable home in Papeete。〃
For a long time none of us spoke。
〃But Ata did not send for me；〃 the doctor went on； at last； 〃and it
chanced that I did not go to that part of the island for a long time。 I had
no news of Strickland。 Once or twice I heard that Ata had been to
Papeete to buy painting materials； but I did not happen to see her。 More
than two years passed before I went to Taravao again； and then it was once
more to see the old chiefess。 I asked them whether they had heard
anything of Strickland。 By now it was known everywhere that he had
leprosy。 First Tane； the boy； had left the house； and then； a little time
afterwards； the old woman and her grandchild。 Strickland and Ata were
left alone with their babies。 No one went near the plantation； for； as you
know； the natives have a very lively horror of the disease； and in the old
days when it was discovered the sufferer was killed； but sometimes； when
the village boys were scrambling about the hills； they would catch sight of
the white man； with his great red beard； wandering about。 They fled in
terror。 Sometimes Ata would come down to the village at night and arouse
the trader； so that he might sell her various things of which she stood in
need。 She knew that the natives looked upon her with the same horrified
aversion as they looked upon Strickland； and she kept out of their way。
Once some women； venturing nearer than usual to the plantation； saw her
washing clothes in the brook； and they threw stones at her。 After that the
trader was told to give her the message that if she used the brook again
men would come and burn down her house。〃
〃Brutes；〃 I said。
〃； men are always the same。 Fear
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makes them cruel。。。。 I decided to see Strickland； and when I had finished
with the chiefess asked for a boy to show me the way。 But none would
accompany me； and I was forced to find it alone。〃
When Dr。 Coutras arrived at the plantation he was seized with a
feeling of uneasiness。 Though he was hot from walking； he shivered。
There was something hostile in the air which made him hesitate； and he
felt that invisible forces barred his way。 Unseen hands seemed to draw him
back。 No one would go near now to gather the cocoa…nuts； and they lay
rotting on the ground。 Everywhere was desolation。 The bush was
encroaching； and it looked as though very soon the primeval forest would
regain possession of that strip of land which had been snatched from it at
the cost of so much labour。 He had the sensation that here was the abode
of pain。 As he approached the house he was struck by the unearthly
silence； and at first he thought it was deserted。 Then he saw Ata。 She
was sitting on her haunches in the lean…to that served her as kitchen；
watching some mess cooking in a pot。 Near her a small boy was playing
silently in the dirt。 She did not smile when she saw him。
〃I have come to see Strickland；〃 he said。
〃I will go and tell him。〃
She went to the house； ascended the few steps that led to the verandah；
and entered。 Dr。 Coutras followed her； but waited outside in obedience to
her gesture。 As she opened the door he smelt the sickly sweet smell
which makes the neighbourhood of the leper nauseous。 He heard her
speak； and then he heard Strickland's answer； but he did not recognise the
voice。 It had become hoarse and indistinct。 Dr。 Coutras raised his
eyebrows。 He judged that the disease had already attacked the vocal
chords。 Then Ata came out again。
〃He will not see you。 You must go away。〃
Dr。 Coutras insisted； but she would not let him pass。 Dr。 Coutras
shrugged his shoulders； and after a moment's rejection turned away。 She
walked with him。 He felt that she too wanted to be rid of him。
〃Is there nothing I can do at all？〃 he asked。
〃You can send him some paints；〃 she said。 〃There is nothing else he
wants。〃
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〃Can he paint still？〃
〃He is painting the walls of the house。〃
〃This is a terrible life for you； my poor child。〃
Then at last she smiled； and there was in her eyes a look of
superhuman love。 Dr。 Coutras was startled by it； and amazed。 And he
was awed。 He found nothing to say。
〃He is my man；〃 she said。
〃Where is your other child？〃 he asked。 〃When I was here last you
had two。〃
〃Yes； it died。 We buried it under the mango。〃
When Ata had gone with him a little way she said she must turn back。
Dr。 Coutras surmised she was afraid to go farther in case she met any of
the people from the village。 He told her again that if she wanted him she
had only to send and he would come at once。
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Chapter LVI
Then two years more went by； or perhaps three； for time passes
imperceptibly in Tahiti； and it is hard to keep count of it； but at last a
message was brought to Dr。 Coutras that Strickland was dying。 Ata had
waylaid the cart that took the mail into Papeete； and besought the man
who drove it to go at once to the doctor。 But the doctor was out when the
summons came； and it was evening when he received it。 It was
impossible to start at so late a
