第10章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"When the World Shook",免费读到尾

  \"Iamverythirsty,\"saidBastinpresently。\"Thosesmellsseemtohavedriedmeup。Iamgoingtogetsometea——Imeanwater,asunfortunatelythereisnotea,\"andhesetofftowardsthemouthofthecave。

  Wefollowedhim,Idon’tquiteknowwhy,exceptthatwewishedtobreathefreelyoutside,alsoweknewthatthesepulchreanditscontentswouldbeassafeastheyhadbeenfor——well,howlong?

  Itprovedtobeabeautifulmorningoutside。Wewalkedupanddownenjoyingitsub—consciously,forreallyour——thatisBickley’sandmyown——intelligenceswereconcentratedonthatsepulchreanditscontents。WhereBastin’smayhavebeenIdonotknow,perhapsinavisionaryteapot,sinceIwassurethatitwouldtakehimadayortwotoappreciatethesignificanceofourdiscoveries。Atanyrate,hewanderedoff,makingnoremarksaboutthem,todrinkwater,Isuppose。

  Presentlyhebegantoshouttousfromtheendofthetable—rockandwewenttoseethereasonofhisnoise。Itprovedtobeverysatisfactory,forwhilewewereinthecavetheOrofenanshadbroughtabsolutelyeverythingbelongingtous,togetherwithalargesupplyoffoodfromthemainisland。Notasinglearticlewasmissing;evenourbooks,acanwiththebottomout,andthebrokenpiecesofalittlepocketmirrorhadbeenreligiouslytransported,andwiththeseafewarticlesthathadbeenstolenfromus,notablymypocket—knife。Evidentlyagreattaboohadbeenlaiduponallourpossessions。TheywerenowcarefullyarrangedinoneofthegroovesoftherockthatBickleysupposedhadbeenmadebythewheelsofaeroplanes,whichwaswhywehadnotseenthematonce。

  Eachofusrushedforwhatwedesiredmost——Bastinforoneofthecanistersoftea,Iformydiaries,andBickleyforhischestofinstrumentsandmedicines。Thesewereremovedtothemouthofthecave,andafterthemtheotherthingsandthefood;alsoabelltentandsomecampfurniturethatwehadbroughtfromtheship。ThenBastinmadesometeaofwhichhedrankfourlargepannikins,havingfirstsaidgraceoveritwithunwontedfervour。

  Nordidwedisdainourshareofthebeverage,althoughBickleypreferredcocoaandIcoffee。Cocoaandcoffeewehadnotimetomakethen,andinviewofthatsepulchreinthecave,whathadwetodowithcocoaandcoffee?

  SoBickleyandIsaidtoeachother,andyetpresentlyhechangedhismindandinaspecialmetalmachinecarefullymadesomeextremelystrongblackcoffeewhichhepouredintoathermosflask,previouslywarmedwithhotwater,addingtheretoaboutaclaretglassofbrandy。Alsoheextractedcertaindrugsfromhismedicine—chest,andwiththem,asInoted,ahypodermicsyringe,whichhefirstboiledinakettleandthenshutupinalittletubewithaglassstopper。

  Thesepreparationsfinished,hecalledtoTommytogivehimthescrapsofourmeal。ButtherewasnoTommy。Thedogwasmissing,andthoughwehuntedeverywherewecouldnotfindhim。Finallyweconcludedthathehadwanderedoffdownthebeachonbusinessofhisownandwouldreturninduecourse。WecouldnotbotheraboutTommyjustthen。

  Aftermakingsomefurtherpreparationsandfidgetingaboutalittle,Bickleyannouncedthataswehadnowsomeproperparaffinlampsofthepowerfulsortwhichareknownas\"hurricane,\"heproposedbytheiraidtocarryoutfurtherexaminationsinthecave。

  \"IthinkIshallstopwhereIam,\"saidBastin,helpinghimselffromthekettletoafifthpannikinoftea。\"Thosecorpsesareveryinteresting,butIdon’tseeanyuseinstaringatthemagainatpresent。Onecanalwaysdothatatanytime。IhavemissedMaramaoncealreadybybeingawayinthatcave,andIhavealottosaytohimaboutmypeople;Idon’twanttobeabsentincaseheshouldreturn。\"

  \"Towashupthethings,Isuppose,\"saidBickleywithasniff;

  \"orperhapstoeatthetea—leaves。\"

  \"Well,asamatteroffact,Ihavenoticedthatthesenativeshaveapeculiartastefortea—leaves。Ithinktheybelievethemtobeamedicine,butIdon’tsupposetheywouldcomesofarforthem,thoughperhapstheymightinthehopeofgettingtheheadofOro。Anyhow,Iamgoingtostophere。\"

  \"Praydo,\"saidBickley。\"Areyouready,Humphrey?\"

  Inodded,andhehandedtomeafelt—coveredflaskofthenon—

  conductingkind,filledwithboilingwater,atinofpreservedmilk,andalittlebottleofmeatextractofamostconcentratedsort。Then,havinglittwoofthehurricanelampsandseenthattheywerefullofoil,westartedbackupthecave。

  ChapterXI

  ResurrectionWereachedthesepulchrewithoutstoppingtolookattheparkedmachinesoreventhemarvelousstatuethatstoodaboveit,forwhatdidwecareaboutmachinesorstatuesnow?Asweapproachedwewereastonishedtohearlowandcavernousgrowlings。

  \"Thereissomewildbeastinthere,\"saidBickley,halting。

  \"No,byGeorge!it’sTommy。Whatcanthedogbeafter?\"

  Wepeepedin,andtheresureenoughwasTommylyingonthetopoftheGlitteringLady’scoffinandgrowlinghisverybestwiththehairstandingupuponhisback。Whenhesawwhoitwas,however,hejumpedoffandfriskedround,lickingmyhand。

  \"That’sverystrange,\"Iexclaimed。

  \"Notstrangerthaneverythingelse,\"saidBickley。

  \"Whatareyougoingtodo?\"Iasked。

  \"Openthesecoffins,\"heanswered,\"beginningwiththatoftheoldgod,sinceIwouldratherexperimentonhim。Iexpecthewillcrumbleintodust。Butifbychancehedoesn’tI’lljamalittlestrychnine,mixedwithsomeotherdrugs,ofwhichyoudon’tknowthenames,intooneofhisveinsandseeifanythinghappens。Ifitdoesn’t,itwon’thurthim,andifitdoes——well,whoknows?

  Nowgivemeahand。\"

  Wewenttotheleft—handcoffinandbyinsertingthehookonthebackofmyknife,ofwhichtherealuseistopickstonesoutofhorses’hoofs,intooneofthelittleair—holesIhavedescribed,managedtoraisetheheavycrystallidsufficientlytoenableustoforceapieceofwoodbetweenitandthetop。Therestwaseasy,forthehingesbeingofcrystalhadnotcorroded。

  Intwominutesitwasopen。

  Fromthechestcameanoverpoweringspicyodour,andwithitaveritablebreathofwarmairbeforewhichwerecoiledalittle。

  Bickleytookapocketthermometerwhichhehadathandandglancedatit。Itmarkedatemperatureof82degreesinthesepulchre。Havingnotedthis,hethrustitintothecoffinbetweenthecrystalwallanditsoccupant。Thenwewentoutandwaitedalittlewhiletogivetheodourstimetodissipate,fortheymadetheheadreel。

  Afterfiveminutesorsowereturnedandexaminedthethermometer。Ithadrisento98degrees,thenaturaltemperatureofthehumanbody。

  \"Whatdoyoumakeofthatifthemanisdead?\"hewhispered。

  Ishookmyhead,andaswehadagreed,settohelpinghimtoliftthebodyfromthecoffin。Itwasagoodweight,quiteelevenstoneIshouldsay;moreover,itwasnotstill,forthehipjointsbent。Wegotitoutandlaiditonablanketwehadspreadonthefloorofthesepulchre。WhilstIwasthusengagedIsawsomethingthatnearlycausedmetoloosemyholdfromastonishment。Beneaththehead,thecentreofthebackandthefeetwerecrystalboxesabouteightinchessquare,orrathercrystalblocks,forinthemIcouldseenoopening,andtheseboxesemittedafaintphosphorescentlight。Itouchedoneofthemandfoundthatitwasquitewarm。

  \"Greatheavens!\"Iexclaimed,\"here’smagic。\"

  \"There’snosuchthing,\"answeredBickleyinhisusualformula。

  Thenanexplanationseemedtostrikehimandheadded,\"Notmagicbutradiumorsomethingofthesort。That’showthetemperaturewaskeptup。Insufficientquantityitispracticallyindestructible,yousee。Myword!thisoldgentlemanknewathingortwo。\"

  Againwewaitedalittlewhiletoseeifthebodybeguntocrumbleonexposuretotheair,Itakingtheopportunitytomakearoughsketchofitinmypocket—bookinanticipationofthatevent。Butitdidnot;itremainedquitesound。

  \"Heregoes,\"saidBickley。\"Ifheshouldbealive,hewillcatchcoldinhislungsafterlyingforagesinthatbabyincubator,asIsupposehehasdone。Soitisnowornever。\"

  Thenbiddingmeholdtheman’srightarm,hetookthesterilizedsyringewhichhehadprepared,andthrustingtheneedleintoaveinheselectedjustabovethewrist,injectedthecontents。

  \"Itwouldhavebeenbetterovertheheart,\"hewhispered,\"butIthoughtIwouldtrythearmfirst。Idon’tlikeriskingchillsbyuncoveringhim。\"

  Imadenoanswerandagainwewaitedandwatched。

  \"Greatheavens,he’sstirring!\"Igaspedpresently。

  Stirringhewas,forhisfingersbegantomove。

  Bickleybentdownandplacedhiseartotheheart——Iforgottosaythathehadtestedthisbeforewithastethoscope,buthadbeenunabletodetectanymovement。

  \"Ibelieveitisbeginningtobeat,\"hesaidinanawedvoice。

  Thenheappliedthestethoscope,andadded,\"Itis,itis!\"

  Nexthetookafilamentofcottonwoolandlaiditontheman’slips。Presentlyitmoved;hewasbreathing,thoughveryfaintly。

  Bickleytookmorecottonwoolandhavingpouredsomethingfromhismedicine—chestontoit,placeditoverthemouthbeneaththeman’snostrils——Ibelieveitwassalvolatile。

  Nothingfurtherhappenedforalittlewhile,andtorelievethestrainonmymindIstaredabsentlyintotheemptycoffin。HereI

  sawwhathadescapedournotice,twosmallplatesofwhitemetalandcutuponthemwhatItooktobestarmaps。BeyondtheseandtheglowingboxeswhichIhavementioned,therewasnothingelseinthecoffin。Ihadnotimetoexaminethem,foratthatmomenttheoldmanopenedhismouthandbegantobreathe,evidentlywithsomediscomfortandeffort,ashisemptylungsfilledthemselveswithair。Thenhiseyelidslifted,revealingawonderfulpairofdarkglowingeyesbeneath。Nexthetriedtositupbutwouldhavefallen,hadnotBickleysupportedhimwithhisarm。

  IdonotthinkhesawBickley,indeedheshuthiseyesagainasthoughthelighthurtthem,andwentintoakindoffaint。ThenitwasthatTommy,whoallthiswhilehadbeenwatchingtheproceedingswithgraveinterest,cameforward,wagginghistail,andlickedtheman’sface。Atthetouchofthedog’sredtongue,heopenedhiseyesforthesecondtime。Nowhesaw——notusbutTommy,foraftercontemplatinghimforafewseconds,somethinglikeasmileappeareduponhisfiercebutnobleface。More,heliftedhishandandlaiditonthedog’shead,asthoughtopatitkindly。Halfaminuteorsolaterhisawakeningsensesappreciatedourpresence。Theincipientsmilevanishedandwasreplacedbyasomewhatterriblefrown。

  MeanwhileBickleyhadpouredoutsomeofthehotcoffeelacedwithbrandyintothecupthatwasscrewedonthetopofthethermosflask。AdvancingtothemanwhomIsupported,heputittohislips。Hetastedandmadeawryface,butpresentlyhebegantosip,andultimatelyswalloweditall。Theeffectofthestimulantwaswonderful,forinafewminuteshecametolifecompletelyandwasevenabletositupwithoutsupport。

  Forquitealongwhilehegazedatusgravely,talkingusinandeverythingconnectedwithus。Forinstance,Bickley’smedicine—

  casewhichlayopenshowingthelittlevulcanitetubes,afewinstrumentsandotheroutfit,engagedhisparticularattention,andIsawatoncethatheunderstoodwhatitwas。Thushisarmstillsmartedwheretheneedlehadbeendriveninandontheblanketlaythesyringe。Helookedathisarm,thenlookedatthesyringe,andnodded。Theparaffinhurricanelampsalsoseemedtointerestandwinhisapproval。Wetwomen,asIthought,attractedhimleastofall;hejustsummedusupandourgarments,moreespeciallythegarments,withafewshrewdglances,andthenseemedtoturnhisthoughtstoTommy,whohadseatedhimselfquitecontentedlyathisside,evidentlyacceptinghimasanewadditiontoourparty。

  IconfessthatthisbehaviouronTommy’spartreassuredmenotalittle。Iamagreatbelieverintheinstinctsofanimals,especiallyofdogs,andIfeltcertainthatifthismanhadnotbeeninallessentialshumanlikeourselves,Tommywouldnothavetoleratedhim。Inthesamewaythesleeper’sclearlikingforTommy,atwhomhelookedmuchoftenerandwithgreaterkindnessthanhedidatus,suggestedthattherewasgoodnessinhimsomewhere,sincealthoughadoginitswonderfultolerancemayloveabadpersoninwhomitsmellsouthiddenvirtue,noreallybadpersoneverlovedadog,or,Imayadd,achildoraflower。

  Asamatteroffact,the\"oldgod,\"aswehadchristenedhimwhilehewasinhiscoffin,duringallourassociationwithhim,caredinfinitelymoreforTommythanhedidforanyofus,acircumstancethatultimatelywasnotwithoutitsinfluenceuponourfortunes。Butforthistherewasareasonaswelearnedafterwards,alsohewasnotreallysoamiableasIhoped。

  Whenwehadlookedateachotherforalongwhilethesleeperbegantoarrangehisbeard,ofwhichthelengthseemedtosurprisehim,especiallyasTommywasseatedononeendofit。

  FindingthisoutandapparentlynotwishingtodisturbTommy,hegaveuptheoccupation,andafteroneortwoattempts,forhistongueandlipsstillseemedtobestiff,addressedusinsomesonorousandmusicallanguage,unlikeanythatwehadeverheard。

  Weshookourheads。ThenbyanafterthoughtIsaid\"Goodday\"tohiminthelanguageoftheOrofenans。Hepuzzledoverthewordasthoughitweremoreorlessfamiliartohim,andwhenIrepeatedit,gaveitbacktomewithadifferenceindeed,butinawaywhichconvincedusthathequiteunderstoodwhatImeant。Theconversationwentnofurtheratthemomentbecausejustthensomememoryseemedtostrikehim。

  HewassittingwithhisbackagainstthecoffinoftheGlitteringLady,whomthereforehehadnotseen。Nowhebegantoturnround,andbeingtooweaktodoso,motionedmetohelphim。

  Iobeyed,whileBickley,guessinghispurpose,helduponeofthehurricanelampsthathemightseebetter。Withakindoffierceeagernesshesurveyedherwholaywithinthecoffin,andafterhehaddoneso,utteredasighasofintenserelief。

  Nexthepointedtothemetalcupoutofwhichhehaddrunk。

  Bickleyfilleditagainfromthethermosflask,whichIobservedexcitedhiskeeninterest,for,havingtouchedtheflaskwithhishandandfoundthatitwascool,heappearedtomarvelthatthefluidcomingfromitshouldbehotandsteaming。Presentlyhesmiledasthoughhehadgotthecluetothemystery,andswallowedhisseconddrinkofcoffeeandspirit。Thisdone,hemotionedtoustoliftthelidofthelady’scoffin,pointingoutacertaincatchintheboltswhichatfirstwecouldnotmaster,foritwillberememberedthatonthiscoffinthesewereshot。

  Intheend,bypursuingthesamemethodsthatwehadusedintheinstanceofhisown,weraisedthecoffinlidandoncemoreweredriventoretreatfromthesepulchreforawhilebytheoverpoweringodourliketothatofawholegreenhousefulloftuberoses,thatflowedoutofit,inducingakindofstupefactionfromwhichevenTommyfled。

  Whenwereturneditwastofindthemankneelingbythesideofthecoffin,forasyethecouldnotstand,withhisglowingeyesfixeduponthefaceofherwhosleptthereinandwavinghislongarmsaboveher。

  \"Hypnoticbusiness!Wonderifitwillwork,\"whisperedBickley。

  Thenheliftedthesyringeandlookedinquiringlyattheman,whoshookhishead,andwentonwithhismesmericpasses。

  Icreptroundhimandtookmystandbythesleeper’shead,thatImightwatchherface,whichwaswellworthwatching,whileBickley,withhismedicineathand,remainednearherfeet,I

  thinkengagedindisinfectingthesyringeinsomespiritoracid。

  Ibelievehewasabouttomakeanattempttouseitwhensuddenly,asthoughbeneaththeinfluenceofthehypnoticpasses,achangeappearedontheGlitteringLady’sface。Hitherto,beautifulasitwas,ithadbeenadeadfacethoughoneofapersonwhohadsuddenlybeencutoffwhileinfullhealthandvigourafewhours,oratthemostadayorsobefore。Nowitbegantoliveagain;itwasasthoughthespiritwerereturningfromafar,andnotwithouttoilandtribulation。

  Expressionafterexpressionflittedacrossthefeatures;indeedtheseseemedtochangesomuchfrommomenttomomentthattheymighthavebelongedtoseveraldifferentindividuals,thougheachwasbeautiful。ThefactoftheseremarkablechangeswiththesuggestionofmultiformpersonalitieswhichtheyconveyedimpressedbothBickleyandmyselfverymuchindeed。Thenthebreastheavedtumultuously;itevenappearedtostruggle。Nexttheeyesopened。Theywerefullofwonder,evenoffear,butoh!

  whatmarvelouseyes。Idonotknowhowtodescribethem,I

  cannotevenstatetheirexactcolour,exceptthatitwasdark,somethingliketheblueofsapphiresofthedeepesttint,andyetnotblack;large,too,andsoftasadeer’s。Theyshutagainasthoughthelighthurtthem,thenoncemoreopenedandwanderedabout,apparentlywithoutseeing。

  Atlengththeyfoundmyface,forIwasstillbendingoverher,and,restingthere,appearedtotakeitinbydegrees。More,itseemedtotouchandstirsomehumanspringinthestill—sleepingheart。Atleastthefearpassedfromherfeaturesandwasreplacedbyafaintsmile,suchasapatientsometimesgivestooneknownandwellloved,astheeffectsofchloroformpassaway。

  Forawhileshelookedatmewithanearnest,searchinggaze,thensuddenly,forthefirsttimemovingherarms,liftedthemandthrewthemroundmyneck。

  Theoldmanstared,bendinghisimperialbrowsintoalittlefrown,butdidnothing。Bickleystaredalsothroughhisglassesandsniffedasthoughindisapproval,whileIremainedquitestill,fightingwithawildimpulsetokissheronthelipsasonewouldanawakeningandbelovedchild。IdoubtifIcouldhavedoneso,however,forreallyIwasimmovable;myheartseemedtostopandallmymusclestobeparalysed。

  Idonotknowforhowlongthisendured,butIdoknowhowitended。PresentlyintheintensesilenceIheardBastin’sheavyvoiceandlookinground,sawhisbigheadprojectingintothesepulchre。

  \"Well,Inever!\"hesaid,\"youseemtohavewokethemupwithavengeance。Ifyoubeginlikethatwiththelady,therewillbecomplicationsbeforeyouhavedone,Arbuthnot。\"

  Talkofbeingbroughtbacktoearthwitharush!IcouldhavekilledBastin,andBickley,turningonhimlikeatiger,toldhimtobeoff,findwoodandlightalargefireinfrontofthestatue。IthinkhewasabouttoarguewhentheAncientgavehimaglanceofhisfierceeyes,whichalarmedhim,andhedeparted,bewildered,toreturnpresentlywiththewood。

  Butthesoundofhisvoicehadbrokenthespell。TheLadyletherarmsfallwithastart,andshuthereyesagain,seemingtofaint。Bickleysprangforwardwithhissalvolatileandappliedittohernostrils,theAncientnotinterfering,forheseemedtorecognisethathehadtodealwithamanofskillandonewhomeantwellbythem。

  Intheendwebroughtherroundagainand,toomitdetails,Bickleygaveher,notcoffeeandbrandy,butamixturehecompoundedofhotwater,preservedmilkandmeatessence。Theeffectofitonherwaswonderful,sinceafewminutesafterswallowingitshesatupinthecoffin。Thenweliftedherfromthatnarrowbedinwhichshehadsleptfor——ah!howlong?andperceivedthatbeneathheralsowerecrystalboxesoftheradiant,heat—givingsubstance。Wesatheronthefloorofthesepulchre,wrappingheralsoinablanket。

  NowitwasthatTommy,afterfriskingroundherasthoughinwelcomeofanoldfriend,calmlyestablishedhimselfbesideherandlaidhisblackheaduponherknee。Shenoteditandsmiledforthefirsttime,amarvelouslysweetandgentlesmile。More,sheplacedherslenderhanduponthedogandstrokedhimfeebly。

  Bickleytriedtomakeherdrinksomemoreofhismixture,butsherefused,motioninghimtogiveittoTommy。This,however,hewouldnotdobecausetherewasbutonecup。Presentlybothofthesleepersbegantoshiver,whichcausedBickleyanxiety。AbusingBastinbeneathhisbreathforbeingsolongwiththefire,hedrewtheblanketscloseraboutthem。

  Thenanideacametohimandheexaminedtheglowingboxesinthecoffin。Theywereloose,beingmerelysetinpreparedcavitiesinthecrystal。Wrappingourhandkerchiefsabouthishand,hetookthemoutandplacedthemaroundthewakenedpatients,aproceedingofwhichtheAncientnoddedapproval。Justthen,too,Bastinreturnedwithhisfirstloadoffirewood,andsoonwehadamerryblazegoingjustoutsidethesepulchre。Isawthattheyobservedthelightingofthisfirebymeansofamatchwithmuchinterest。

  Nowtheygrewwarmagain,asindeedwedidalso——toowarm。TheninmyturnIhadanidea。Iknewthatbynowthesunwouldbebeatinghotlyagainsttherockofthemount,andsuggestedtoBickley,that,ifpossible,thebestthingwecoulddowouldbetogetthemintoitslife—givingrays。Heagreed,ifwecouldmakethemunderstandandtheywereabletowalk。SoItried。

  FirstIdirectedtheAncient’sattentiontothemouthofthecavewhichatthisdistanceshowedasawhitecircleoflight。Helookedatitandthenatmewithgraveinquiry。Imademotionstosuggestthatheshouldproceedthere,repeatingtheword\"Sun\"intheOrofenantongue。Heunderstoodatonce,thoughwhetherhereadmymindratherthanwhatIsaidIamnotsure。ApparentlytheGlitteringLadyunderstoodalsoandseemedtobemostanxioustogo。Onlyshelookedratherpitifullyatherfeetandshookherhead。Thisdecidedme。

  IdonotknowifIhavementionedanywherethatIamatallmanandverymuscular。Shewastall,also,butasIjudgednotsoveryheavyafterherlongfast。AtanyrateIfeltquitecertainthatIcouldcarryherforthatdistance。Stoopingdown,Iliftedherup,signingtohertoputherarmsroundmyneck,whichshedid。ThencallingtoBickleyandBastintobringalongtheAncientbetweenthem,withsomedifficultyIstruggledoutofthesepulchre,andstarteddownthecave。ShewasmoreheavythanI

  thought,andyetIcouldhavewishedthejourneylonger。Tobeginwithsheseemedquitetrustfulandhappyinmyarms,whereshelaywithherheadagainstmyshoulder,smilingalittleasachildmightdo,especiallywhenIhadtostopandthrowherlonghairroundmynecklikeamuffler,topreventitfromtrailinginthedust。

  Abundleoflavender,oratrussofnew—mownhay,couldnothavebeenmoresweettocarryandtherewassomethingelectricaboutthetouchofher,whichwentthroughandthroughme。Verysoonitwasover,andwewereoutofthecaveintothefullgloryofthetropicalsun。Atfirst,thathereyesmightbecomeaccustomedtoitslightandherawakenedbodytoitsheat,Isetherdownwhereshadowfellfromtheoverhangingrock,inacanvasdeckchairthathadbeenbroughtbyMaramawiththeotherthings,throwingtherugabouthertoprotectherfromsuchwindastherewas。Shenestledgratefullyintothesoftseatandshuthereyes,forthemotionhadtiredher。Inoted,however,thatshedrewinthesweetairwithlongbreaths。

  ThenIturnedtoobservethearrivaloftheAncient,whowasbeingbornebetweenBickleyandBastininwhatchildrenknowasadandy—chair,whichisformedbytwopeoplecrossingtheirhandsinapeculiarfashion。Itsaysmuchforthetremendousdignityofhispresencethateventhus,withonearmroundtheneckofBickleyandtheotherroundthatofBastin,andhislongwhitebeardfallingalmosttotheground,hestilllookedmostimposing。

  Unfortunately,however,justastheywereemergingfromthecave,Bastin,alwaysthemostawkwardofcreatures,managedtoleaveholdwithonehand,sothathispassengernearlycametotheground。NevershallIforgetthelookthathegavehim。

  Indeed,IthinkthatfromthismomenthehatedBastin。Bickleyherespectedasamanofintelligenceandlearning,althoughincomparisonwithhisown,thelatterwasinfantileandcrude;mehetoleratedandevenliked;butBastinhedetested。TheonlyoneofourpartyforwhomhefeltanythingapproachingrealaffectionwasthespanielTommy。

  Wesethimdown,fortunatelyuninjured,onsomerugs,andalsointheshadow。Then,afteralittlewhile,wemovedbothofthemintothesun。Itwasquitecurioustoseethemexpandthere。AsBickleysaid,whathappenedtothemmightwellbecomparedtothedevelopmentofabutterflywhichhasjustbrokenfromthelivinggraveofitschrysalisandcreptintothefull,hotradianceofthelight。Itscrinkledwingsunfold,theirbrillianttintsdevelop;inanhourortwoitisperfect,glorious,preparedforlifeandflight,anewcreature。

  Soitwaswiththispair,frommomenttomomenttheygatheredstrengthandvigour。Near—bytothem,asithappened,stoodalargebasketofthelusciousnativefruitsbroughtthatmorningbytheOrofenans,andatthesetheLadylookedwithlonging。WithBickley’spermission,IofferedthemtoherandtotheAncient,firstpeelingthemwithmyfingers。Theyateofthemgreedily,afullmeal,andwouldhavegoneonhadnotthesternBickley,fearinguntowardconsequences,removedthebasket。Againtheresultswerewonderful,forhalfanhourafterwardstheyseemedtobequitestrong。WithmyassistancetheGlitteringLady,asI

点击下载App,搜索"When the World Shook",免费读到尾