登陆注册
5388400000020

第20章

PANAWE

The husband got up to meet his wife and their guest. He was clothed in white. He had a beardless face, with breve and poigns. His skin, on face and body alike, was so white, fresh, and soft, that it scarcely looked skin at all - it rather resembled a new kind of pure, snowy flesh, extending right down to his bones. It had nothing in common with the artificially whitened skin of an over-civilised woman. Its whiteness and delicacy aroused no voluptuous thoughts; it was obviously the manifestation of a cold and almost cruel chastity of nature. His hair, which fell to the nape of his neck, also was white; but again, from vigour, not decay. His eyes were black, quiet and fathomless. He was still a young man, but so stern were his features that he had the appearance of a lawgiver, and this in spite of their great beauty and harmony.

His magn and Joiwind's intertwined for a single moment and Maskull saw his face soften with love, while she looked exultant. She put him in her husband's arms with gentle force, and stood back, gazing and smiling. Maskull felt rather embarrassed at being embraced by a man, but submitted to it; a sense of cool, pleasant languor passed through him in the act.

"The stranger is red - blooded, then?"

He was startled by Panawe's speaking in English, and the voice too was extraordinary. It was absolutely tranquil, but its tranquillity seemed in a curious fashion to be an illusion, proceeding from a rapidity of thoughts and feelings so great that their motion could not be detected. How this could be, he did not know.

"How do you come to speak in a tongue you have never heard before?"demanded Maskull.

"Thought is a rich, complex thing. I can't say if I am really speaking your tongue by instinct, or if you yourself are translating my thoughts into your tongue as I utter them.""Already you see that Panawe is wiser than I am," said Joiwind gaily.

"What is your name?" asked the husband.

"Maskull."

"That name must have a meaning - but again, thought is a strange thing. I connect that name with something - but with what?""Try to discover," said Joiwind.

"Has there been a man in your world who stole something from the Maker of the, universe, in order to ennoble his fellow creatures?""There is such a myth, The hero's name was Prometheus.""Well, you seem to be identified in my mind with that action - but what it all means I can't say, Maskull.""Accept it as a good omen, for Panawe never lies, and never speaks thoughtlessly.""There must be some confusion. These are heights beyond me," said Maskull calmly, but looking rather contemplative.

"Where do you come from?"

"From the planet of a distant sun, called Earth.""What for?"

"I was tired of vulgarity," returned Maskull laconically. He intentionally avoided mentioning his fellow voyagers, in order that Krag's name should not come to light.

"That's an honourable motive," said Panawe. "And what's more, it may be true, though you spoke it as a prevarication.""As far as it goes, it's quite true," said Maskull, staring at him with annoyance and surprise.

The swampy lake extended for about half a mile from where they were standing to the lower buttresses of the mountain. Feathery purple reeds showed themselves here and there through the shallows. The water was dark green. Maskull did not see how they were going to cross it.

Joiwind caught his arm. "Perhaps you don't know that the lake will bear us?"Panawe walked onto the water; it was so heavy that it carried his weight. Joiwind followed with Maskull. He instantly started to slip about - nevertheless the motion was amusing, and he learned so fast, by watching and imitating Panawe, that he was soon able to balance himself without assistance. After that he found the sport excellent.

For the same reason that women excel in dancing, Joiwind's half falls and recoveries were far more graceful and sure than those of either of the men. Her slight, draped form - dipping, bending, rising, swaying, twisting, upon the surface of the dark water - this was a picture Maskull could not keep his eyes away from.

The lake grew deeper. The gnawl water became green - black. The crags, gullies, and precipices of the shore could now be distinguished in detail. A waterfall was visible, descending several hundred feet. The surface of the lake grew disturbed - so much so that Maskull had difficulty in keeping his balance. He therefore threw himself down and started swimming on the face of the water.

Joiwind turned her head, and laughed so joyously that all her teeth flashed in the sunlight.

They landed in a few more minutes on a promontory of black rock. The water on Maskull's garment and body evaporated very quickly. He gazed upward at the towering mountain, but at that moment some strange movements on the part of Panawe attracted his attention. His face was working convulsively, and he began to stagger about. Then he put his hand to his mouth and took from it what looked like a bright - coloured pebble. He looked at it carefully for some seconds. Joiwind also looked, over his shoulder, with quickly changing colors. After this inspection, Panawe let the object -whatever it was - fall to the ground, and took no more interest in it.

"May I look?" asked Maskull; and, without waiting for permission, he picked it up. It was a delicately beautiful egg - shaped crystal of pale green.

"Where did this come from?" he asked queerly.

Panawe turned away, but Joiwind answered for him. "It came out of my husband.""That's what I thought, but I couldn't believe it. But what is it?""I don't know that it has either name or use. It is merely an overflowing of beauty.""Beauty?"

Joiwind smiled. "If you were to regard nature as the husband, and Panawe as the wife, Maskull, perhaps everything would be explained."Maskull reflected.

同类推荐
  • 太清修丹秘诀

    太清修丹秘诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 律抄手决

    律抄手决

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北京梨园金石文字录

    北京梨园金石文字录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 继世纪闻

    继世纪闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 神异经

    神异经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 天玄帝尊

    天玄帝尊

    刘晨在家崩爆米花把自己崩穿越了。穿越之后,他发现自己成了天玄大陆飞云宗内的炼丹废材。这之后,他便碰到两个棘手的问题需要解决。一个,他要是再崩坏丹炉,他的师傅云间子就要斩断他的手脚;另一个,深爱着他的小师妹刘芸要出嫁了,她要他参加一月后的比试娶他。为了兑现对刘芸的承诺,刘晨只得加紧练功。几番努力,终于成为掌门,却几番波折。
  • 每天都在作死一万遍

    每天都在作死一万遍

    德维尔的兴趣是解剖各种各样的东西,被称为“变态医生”。直到有一天,他解剖了一个不正常的人,却不知道这人以后和他的纠葛。在相隔世纪的时光相遇,正巧你爱我我爱你,这样不是最美好的吗?
  • 尊重儿童权利·译言古登堡计划

    尊重儿童权利·译言古登堡计划

    科扎克以人的基本权利作为论据,认为:“世上没有小孩,他们都是人”,并且呼吁人们尊重儿童的每一天,尊重儿童的无知和认知世界的努力,尊重他们的失败和泪水,以及他们的财物和物质需求。孩子有权保持他原本的样子。雅努什·科扎克年为我们提供了一个契机,引发我们对于科扎克三个理念的思索——儿童的尊严、权利以及其公民地位。“老医生”希望孩子能够被客观公正地对待。他认为,我们要和孩子沟通交流,聆听他们的想法,理解他们,了解和满足他们的需求,而最重要的是要给他们时间。在雅努什·科扎克年里,让我们认真思考,我们能为孩子做些什么,让他们拥有快乐的童年,成长为富有创造力、幸福的人。
  • 异世之召唤亿万神魔

    异世之召唤亿万神魔

    2019年具有标志性的著作,一本宏伟巨著,世界观庞大,点击破千万,万人追读。朕既生,当无敌,镇压一切,万古长河,唯天帝长存。任他江湖巨孽,武林豪杰,盖世天骄,绝代霸主,在朕面前统统俯首。不然,统统斩杀。穿越异界,得到卡牌系统,战胜敌人或者杀死敌人可获得卡牌。叮,恭喜宿主获得李元霸卡牌,横扫无敌,隋唐第一好汉!叮,恭喜宿主获得楚霸王项羽,力拔山河!叮,恭喜宿主获得孙悟空。叮,恭喜宿主获得杨戬。.........无敌皇上读者群1:469694748(未满)无敌皇上读者群2:695776548(未满)
  • 都市诡话1

    都市诡话1

    无论伊氏兄妹搬到哪个城市,死亡诅咒总是如影随行,他们能预知哪些人将会在诡异事件中死去,却也将自己拖入了死咒包围的深渊。画中恶鬼索命、随意扭曲的变形人、吃人的五角怪屋、海中爬出的灵瞳恶女、能把活人拉进去杀死的恐怖片、让人一梦不醒的恶灵、迷失的异次元公寓,惊悚恐怖的事情接二连三发生,他们用脆弱的身体拼命抵抗,这些无助的人们惊声尖叫,他们想要活下去!然而,眼睛会欺骗他们,环境会迷惑他们,头脑会误导他们。人怕鬼,鬼玩人,他们一次次眼睁睁地看着被诅咒的人坠入死亡深渊。到底怎样才能活下去!
  • 德鲁德疑案

    德鲁德疑案

    修道城,一座古老的城市。它单调乏味,门庭萧瑟,到处可以闻到教堂地下墓穴中泥土的味道,到处遍布着历代教士修女们留下的坟墓痕迹……埃德温·德鲁德,我们的男主人公;咪咪,德鲁德美丽可爱的未婚妻;贾思伯,仅仅年长埃德温一德鲁德几岁的舅舅;内维尔,咪咪的仰慕者。几个年轻入围绕在咪咪周围,在幽暗阴沉的修道城里掀起了一场爱情的漩涡。最终,德鲁德生死不明,内维尔成为唯一的嫌犯。格里斯帕克教士对内维尔坚信不疑,与咪咪的监护人一起,带领大家展开了一系列的暗地调查。然而……作者狄更斯的突然辞世让案件真相成了一团永远的疑云。有谁,能够解开这个没有答案的谜?
  • 超能探案

    超能探案

    “维护正义找出真相吗?为什么不直接说拯救宇宙呢?小鬼就是天真。。。”他手臂一伸直接接住了要扑桌的她。“小心点。。。你这么扑上去。。。”“我没事,不会磕到的”她红着脸松了一口气“我是说,你这么扑上去,文案桌上刚刚拼好的线索都要乱了”他彻底无视了她的自作多情。
  • 溺宠吾家小妻

    溺宠吾家小妻

    推荐梧桐新文《未来之系统喊我去种药》,傲娇系统带你在线种药,吃遍各类药膳,嫁给大美男,走上人生巅峰。 本文纯属宠文,无宫斗。清爽。本文慢热。身为一穿越女,风兮兮从小就小心翼翼的掩饰自己的与众不同,她不想被当成妖孽被道士给收拾掉。从小五个哥哥就对自己极端的宠溺,长大了又有了夫君对自己百依百顺。风兮兮在古代的生活可谓是风生水起。精彩片段一:风兮兮一一看过自己的哥哥,然后有扫视了他们给自己带的东西,实在是有些无语,她是来上学的,不是来郊游的啊。但心里却很开心。精彩片段二:““你为什么对我这么好呢?”“因为我想对你好。”“如果我闯祸了,你会不会骂我、打我呢?”“你是我的宝贝,怎么舍得骂你、打你。况且你闯祸了我帮你兜着。你想怎么闯祸都行。”风兮兮无语,宠溺也太过分了吧,都无法无天了。幸亏姐是穿越过来的。
  • 京都百侠图

    京都百侠图

    张宝瑞,笔名磐石、秋凉、雨亭等。著名文学家,书画家,社会活动家,中国作家协会会员,悬疑推理小说代表作家之一。1982年毕业于中国人民大学新闻系,历任新华社北京分社总编辑,高级记者,新华出版社副总编辑。中国纪实文学研究会理事,中国武侠文学学会副会长,金蔷薇文化沙龙主席。1971年开始从事长篇小说和影视剧本创作。
  • 水花崖

    水花崖

    本书以武乡建党到抗日战争这段光辉的历史为背景,以郭水瀛这个艺术人物的传奇故事为主线,通过主人翁曲折的爱情故事和坎坷的革命历程,多角度、多侧面地描写了武乡的革命历史故事。