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Chapter 4 4

Word Count: 4056    |    Released on: 28/11/2017

s seemed to close like the wings of a bird as I plunged at its touch into fathomless slumbers. But the next day had hardly broken when I was awake, and, stretching my limbs upon

room. I yawned and stretched, then rising, wrapped a silken quilt about me and went out into the flat terrace top, wherefrom all the city could be seen s

together thus early, there came a sound of flutes-for these people can do nothing without piping like finches in a thicket in May-and from the storehouses half-way over to the harbour there streamed a line of carts piled high with provender. Down came the teams attended by their slaves, circling and wheeling into the open place, and as they passed each group those lazy, lolling beggars crowded round and took the dole

le race as that which lay about, breakfasting in the limpid sunshine, could have come by a city like this, or kept even the ruins of its walls a

er?" she questioned in t

ambrosia

t and it will come up to wash and dres

for the washing and dressing I will defend myself to t

you never wash

dear girl, if you will leave me for a minute or two in quest of that

ly, carrying a tray covered with a white cloth, whereon were half a doz

e me hungry, "this is better than was hoped for; I thought from what I saw down yonder I should have

ake it, in his own country, and princes far

n fish, and a cake soft as milk and white as cot

e had it other

the sun as upon the other. Yet, somehow-you can hardly wonder at it-yesterday I looked to find your world, when I realised where I had tumbled to, a world of djin and giants; of mad possibilities over realised

llow your me

adise, and let me question you;" and while I sat and drank with that yellow servitor sitting in front of me, I plied her with questions, just as a baby might who had come into the world

er head, and said, "Hath might know, Hath understood most things, but herself knew little of

at

d armies to ward what they should bring home, or guard the city walls against all enemies,-for I suppose, An," I said, putting down my knife as the cheering thought came on me,-"I suppos

der subject had been chanced upon. She waved her hand impatien

to lever the dull mass of your too peacefulness. What is he like? How strong? How stands the quarrel be

jest if you k

prove; but anyhow, give me a chance to judge. Come, who is it that frightens all the blood out

se, that long ago this land of

ot

tle warmth. "If it comes

a people from beyond the broad, blue waters outside; a people huge of person, hairy and savage, uncouth, unlettered, and poor An's voice trembled even to describe them; a people without mercy or compunction, dwellers

have been a nightmare to us, making hectic our pleasures, and filling our p

e plunderers are far away. Why not rise and raid them in turn? To live under

fears his fa

eserts a

t put it to

or lose

or sit tamely down, and by paying the coward's fee for

ook! see yonder long row of boats with brown sails hanging loose reefed from every yard ranged all along the quay. Even from here you can make out the thin stream of porter slaves passing to and fro between them and the granaries like ants on a sunny path. Those are our tax-

t they take

irl-the fairest

very moderate, all

nly one as you say, stranger, yet he who loses her

ither man, nor beast, nor devil should stay me in my quest!" As I spoke I thought for a minute An's fingers trem

y are not accustomed, sir

e of my chamber, and leading the way by a corridor and marble steps while I followed, and whether it was the Martian air or the meal I know not, but thinki

ngst twined flowers and shrubs and gay, quaint birds building in the cornices, a sleek yout

stranger of

I ans

saying it would pleasure him greatly if

very civil indeed, but I

sooner or later I thought it would save me the trouble if I lay down till you came-those quaint people who built thes

hanks for the intended courtesy, but tell him the invitation should have started a week earlier; tell him from me, you nimble-footed messenger, that I will post-

He turned again and said, without a trace of incivility, "But indeed, stranger, I wish you

aces, but hollow, and used for birds and beasts-things these lazy Martians love. There was no tramp of busy feet, for no one was busy; no clank of swords or armour in those peaceful streets, for no one was warlike; no hustle, for no one hurried; no wide-packed asses nodding down the lanes, for there was nothing to fill their packs with, and though a cart sometimes came by with a load of lolling men and maids, or a small horse, for horses they had, paced along, itself nearly as lazy as the master he bore, with trappings sewed ove

nce at my elbow, "is that these countrymen of yours who shirk to climb a flight of steps, and ha

ad it been left to us to seek them; we are like the conies in

ng I have noted axe chippings upon the walls, smu

and during the night unknown hands had redecked them with flowers, while another day's sunshine had opened the coppice buds so that the whole place was brilliant past expression. And here the Hither folk were varying their idleness by a general holiday. They were standing about in groups, or lying ranked like new-plucked flowers on the banks, piping to each other through reeds as soft and melodious as running water. They were playing inconsequent games and breaking off in the middle of them like children looking for new pleasures. They were idling about the drinking booths, delicately st

rifting throng, "have these good countrymen of yours no other names but

she added, smiling, "how much trouble it saves to limit each one to a single sound. It is

ing to show the child comes of th

e no fa

" I said, starting

hese things, but what have we to do with either when their initial duty is done. Look at that painted butterfly swinging on the honey-laden catkin ther

solitary, individual, and can claim no kindred with another save the loos

buzzing things of grass and leaves who drift hither and thither upon each breath

et me thinking of the friends immeasur

ets in fierce desperation, and there they clutched an old dance programme and an out-of-date check for a New York ferry-boat. I scowled about on that sunny, helpless people, and laying my hand bitterly upon my heart felt in the breast-pocket beneath a packet of unpaid Boston tailors' bills and a note from my

so nicely proportioned to each specific need that one could regulate one's debauch to a hairbreadth, rising through all the gamut of satisfaction, from the staid contentment coming of that flask there to the wild extravagances of the furthermost vase. So my stripling told me, ru

turn, "what is that which stands alone there in the humble

ial of them all-that is the wine of recovery, w

oks as if it had a m

tten. Prince Hath would know! Meanwhile let me give y

an antidote to fate, a specific for an

said An, hesitating a

as my answer, "what c

it with fluid I felt in the pouch of my sword-belt to see if by chance a bit of money was lying ther

k upon a mossy bank and, lolling my head, beamed idiotically on the lolling Martians all about me. How long I was like that I cannot say. The heavy minutes of sodden contentment slipped by unnoticed, unnumbered, till presently I felt the touch of a wine-cup at my lips again, and drinking of another liquor dulness vanished from my mind, my eyes cleared, my heart throbbed; a fantastic gaiety seized upon my limbs; I bounded to my feet, and seizing An's two hands in mine,

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