the ninth vibration-第26部分

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〃Why　is　it　hidden？〃

〃A　robe　across　her　face。　Oh；　let　me　go！〃

〃And　the　child？　See！〃

〃Let　me　go。　Stop　…　my　head　…　my　head！　I　cannot　see。　The　child　is　hidden。　Her　arm　holds　it。　A　woman　stoops　above　them。〃

〃A　woman？　Who？　Is　it　like　me？　Speak！　See！〃

〃A　woman。　It　is　like　you；　mother　…　it　is　like　you。　I　fear　very　greatly。　A　knife　…　a　knife！　Blood！　I　cannot　see　…　I　cannot　speak！　I　…　I　sleep。〃

His　face　was　ghastly　white　now；　his　body　cold　and　collapsed。　Terrified；　she　caught　him　to　her　breast　and　relaxed　the　power　of　her　will　upon　him。　For　that　moment；　she　was　only　the　passionate　mother　and　quaked　to　think　she　might　have　hurt　him。　An　hour　passed　and　he　slept　heavily　in　her　arms；　and　in　agony　she　watched　to　see　the　colour　steal　back　into　the　olive　cheek　and　white　lips。　In　the　second　hour　he　waked　and　stretched　himself　indolently；　yawning　like　a　cat。　Her　tears　dropped　like　rain　upon　him　as　she　clasped　him　violently　to　her。

He　writhed　himself　free；　petulant　and　spoilt。　〃Let　me　be。　I　hate　kisses　and　women's　tricks。　I　want　to　go　forth　and　play。　I　have　had　a　devil's　dream。

〃What　did　you　see　in　your　dream；　prince　of　my　heart？〃　She　caught　frantically　at　the　last　chance。

〃A　deer　…　a　tiger。　I　have　forgotten。　Let　me　go。〃　He　ran　off　and　she　sat　alone　with　her　doubts　and　fears。　Yet　triumph　coloured　them　too。　She　saw　a　dead　woman；　a　dead　child；　and　herself　bending　above　them。　She　hid　the　vessel　in　her　bosom　and　went　out　among　her　women。

Weeks　passed；　and　never　a　word　that　she　dreaded　from　Maya　the　Queen。　The　women　of　Dwaymenau；　questioning　the　Queen's　women；　heard　that　she　seemed　to　have　heavy　sorrow　upon　her。　Her　eyes　were　like　dying　lamps　and　she　faded　as　they。　The　King　never　entered　her　palace。　Drowned　in　Dwaymenau's　wiles　and　beauty；　her　slave；　her　thrall；　he　forgot　all　else　but　his　fighting；　his　hunting　and　his　long　war…boats；　and　whether　the　Queen　lived　or　died；　he　cared　nothing。　Better　indeed　she　should　die　and　her　place　be　emptied　for　the　beloved；　without　offence　to　her　powerful　kindred。

And　now　he　was　to　sail　upon　a　raid　against　the　Shan　Tsaubwa；　who　had　denied　him　tribute　of　gold　and　jewels　and　slaves。　Glorious　were　the　boats　prepared　for　war；　of　brown　teak　and　gilded　until　they　shone　like　gold。　Seventy　men　rowed　them；　sword　and　lance　beside　each。　Warriors　crowded　them；　flags　and　banners　fluttered　about　them；　the　shining　water　reflected　the　pomp　like　a　mirror　and　the　air　rang　with　song。　Dwaymenau　stood　beside　the　water　with　her　women；　bidding　the　King　farewell；　and　so　he　saw　her；　radiant　in　the　dawn；　with　her　boy　beside　her；　and　waved　his　hand　to　the　last。

The　ships　were　gone　and　the　days　languished　a　little　at　Pagan。　They　missed　the　laughter　and　royalty　of　the　King；　and　few　men；　and　those　old　and　weak；　were　left　in　the　city。　The　pulse　of　life　beat　slower。

And　Dwaymenau　took　rule　in　the　Golden　Palace。　Queen　Maya　sat　like　one　in　a　dream　and　questioned　nothing；　and　Dwaymenau　ruled　with　wisdom　but　none　loved　her。　To　all　she　was　the　interloper；　the　witch…woman；　the　out…land　upstart。　Only　the　fear　of　the　King　guarded　her　and　her　boy；　but　that　was　strong。　The　boys　played　together　sometimes；　Mindon　tyrannizing　and　cruel；　Ananda　fearing　and　complying；　broken　in　spirit。

Maya　the　Queen　walked　daily　in　the　long　and　empty　Golden　Hall　of　Audience；　where　none　came　now　that　the　King　was　gone；　pacing　up　and　down；　gazing　wearily　at　the　carved　screens　and　all　their　woodland　beauty　of　gods　that　did　not　hear；　of　happy　spirits　that　had　no　pity。　Like　a　spirit　herself　she　passed　between　the　red　pillars；　appearing　and　reappearing　with　steps　that　made　no　sound；　consumed　with　hate　of　the　evil　woman　that　had　stolen　her　joy。　Like　a　slow　fire　it　burned　in　her　soul；　and　the　face　of　the　Blessed　One　was　hidden　from　her；　and　she　had　forgotten　His　peace。　In　that　atmosphere　of　hate　her　life　dwindled。　Her　son's　dwindled　also；　and　there　was　talk　among　the　women　of　some　potion　that　Dwaymenau　had　been　seen　to　drop　into　his　noontide　drink　as　she　went　swiftly　by。　That　might　he　the　gossip　of　malice；　but　he　pined。　His　eyes　were　large　like　a　young　bird's；　his　hands　like　little　claws。　They　thought　the　departing　year　would　take　him　with　it。　What　harm？　Very　certainly　the　King　would　shed　no　tear。

It　was　a　sweet　and　silent　afternoon　and　she　wandered　in　the　great　and　lonely　hall；　sickened　with　the　hate　in　her　soul　and　her　fear　for　her　boy。　Suddenly　she　heard　flying　footsteps　…　a　boy's；　running　in　mad　haste　in　the　outer　hall；　and；　following　them；　bare　feet；　soft；　thudding。

She　stopped　dead　and　every　pulse　cried　…　Danger！　No　time　to　think　or　breathe　when　Mindon　burst　into　sight；　wild　with　terror　and　following　close　beside　him　a　man　…　a　madman；　a　short　bright　dah　in　his　grasp；　his　jaws　grinding　foam；　his　wild　eyes　starting　…　one　passion　to　murder。　So　sometimes　from　the　Nats　comes　pitiless　fury；　and　men　run　mad　and　kill　and　none　knows　why。

Maya　the　Queen　stiffened　to　meet　the　danger。　Joy　swept　through　her　soul；　her　weariness　was　gone。　A　fierce　smile　showed　her　teeth　…　a　smile　of　hate；　as　she　stood　there　and　drew　her　dagger　for　defense。　For　defense　…　the　man　would　rend　the　boy　and　turn　on　her　and　she　would　not　die。　She　would　live　to　triumph　that　the　mongrel　was　dead；　and　her　son；　the　Prince　again　and　his　father's　joy　…　for　his　heart　would　turn　to　the　child　most　surely。　Justice　was　rushing　on　its　victim。　She　would　see　it　and　live　content；　the　long　years　of　agony　wiped　out　in　blood；　as　was　fitting。　She　would　not　flee；　she　would　see　it　and　rejoice。　And　as　she　stood　in　gladness　…　these　broken　thoughts　rushing　through　her　like　flashes　of　lightning　…　Mindon　saw　her　by　the　pillar　and；　screaming　in　anguish　for　the　first　time；　fled　to　her　for　refuge。

She　raised　her　knife　to　meet　the　staring　eyes；　the　chalk　white　face；　and　drive　him　back　on　the　murderer。　If　the　man　failed；　she　would　not！　And　even　as　she　did　this　a　strange　thing　befell。　Something　stronger　than　hate　swept　her　away　like　a　leaf　on　the　river；　something　primeval　that　lives　in　the　lonely　pangs　of　childbirth；　that　hides　in　the　womb　and　breasts　of　the　mother。　It　was　stronger　than　she。　It　was　not　the　hated　Mindoin　…　she　saw　him　no　more。　Suddenly　it　was　the　eternal　Child；　lifting　dying；　appealing　eyes　to　the　Woman；　as　he　clung　to　her　knees。　She　did　not　think　this　…　she　felt　it；　and　it　dominated　her　utterly。　The　Woman　answered。　As　if　it　had　been　her　own　flesh　and　blood；　she　swept　the　panting　body　behind　her　and　faced　the　man　with　uplifted　dagger　and　knew　her　victory　assured；　whether　in　life　or　death。　On　came　the　horrible　rush；　the　flaming　eyes；　and；　if　it　was　chance　that　set　the　dagger　against　his　throat；　it　was　cool　strength　that　drove　it　home　and　never　wavered　until　the　blood　welling　from　the　throat　quenched　the　flame　in　the　wild　eyes；　and　she　stood　triumphing　like　a　war…goddess；　with　the　man　at　her　feet。　Then；　strong　and　flushed；　Maya　the　Queen　gathered　the　half…dead　boy　in　her　arms；　and；　both　drenched　with　blood；　they　moved　slowly　down　the　hall　and　outside　met　the　hurrying　crowd；　with　Dwaymenau；　whom　the　scream　had　brought　to　find　her　son。

〃You　have　killed　him！　She　has　killed　him！〃　Scarcely　could　the　Rajput　woman　speak。　She　was　kneeling　beside　him　…　he　hideous　with　blood。　〃She　hated　him　always。　She　has　murdered　him。　Seize　her！〃

〃Woman；　what　matter　your　hates　and　mine？〃　the　Queen　said　slowly。　〃The　boy　is　stark　with　fear。　Carry　him　in　and　send　for　old　Meh　Shway　Gon。　Woman；　be　silent！〃

When　a　Queen　commands；　men　and　women　obey；　and　a　Queen　commanded　then。　A　huddled　group　lifted　the　child　and　carried　him　away；　Dwaymenau　with　them；　still　uttering　wild　threats；　and　the　Queen　was　left　alone。

She　could　not　realize　what　she　had　done　and　left　undone。　She　could　not　understand　it。　She　had　hated；　sickened　with　loathing；　as　it　seemed　for　ages；　and　now；　in　a　moment　it　had　blown　away　like　a　whirlwind　that　is　gone。　Hate　was　washed　out　of　her　soul　and　had　left　it　cool　and　white　as　the　Lotus　of　the　Blessed　One。　What　power　had　Dwaymenau　to　hurt　her　when　that　other　Power　walked　beside　her？　She　seemed　to　float　above　her　in　high　air　and　look　down　upon　her　with　compassion。　Strength；　virtue　flowed　in　her　veins；　weakness；　fear　were　fantasies。　She　could　not　understand；　but　knew　that　here　was　perfect　enlightenment。　About　her　echoed　the　words　of　the　Blessed　One：　〃Never　in　this　world　doth　hatred　cease　by　hatred；　but　only　by　love。　This　is　an　old　rule。〃

〃Whereas　I　was　blind；　now　I　see；〃　said　Maya　the　Queen　slowly　to　her　own　heart。　She　had　grasped　the　hems　of　the　Mighty。

Words　cannot　speak　the　still　passion　of　strength　and　joy　that　possessed　her。　Her　step　was　light。　As　she　walked；　her　soul　sang　within　her；　for　thus　it　is　with　those　that　have　received　the　Law。　About　them　is　the　Peace。

In　the　dawn　she　was　told　that　the　Queen；　Dwaymenau；　would　speak　with　her；　and　without　a　tremor　she　who　had　shaken　like　a　leaf　at　that　name　commanded　that　she　should　enter。　It　was　Dwaymenau　that　trembled　as　she　came　into　that　unknown　place。

With　cloudy　brows　and　eyes　that　would　reveal　no　secret；　she　stood　before　the　high　seat　where　the　Queen　sat　pale　and　majestic。

〃Is　it　well　with　the　boy？〃　the　Queen　asked　earnestly。

〃Well；〃　said　Dwaymenau；　fingering　the　silver　bosses　of　her　girdle。

〃Then　…　is　there　more　to　say？〃　The　tone　was　that　of　the　great　lady　who　courteously　ends　an　audience。　〃There　is　more。　The　men　brought　in　the　body　and　in　its　throat　your　dagger　was　sticking。　And　my　son　has　told　me　that　your　body　was　a　shield　to　him。　You　offered　your　life　for　his。　I　did　not　think　to　thank　you　…　but　I　thank　you。〃　She　ended　abruptly　and　still　her　eyes　had　never　met　the　Queen's。

〃I　accept　your　thanks。　Yet　a　mother　could　do　no　less。〃

The　tone　was　one　of　dismissal　but　still　Dwaymenau　lingered。

〃The　dagger；〃　she　said　and　drew　it　from　her　bosom。　On　the　clear；　pointed　blade　the　blood　had　curdled　and　dried。　〃I　never　thought　to　ask　a　gift　of　you；　but　this　dagger　is　a　memorial　of　my　son's　danger。　May　I　keep　it？〃

〃As　you　will。　Here　is　the　sheath。〃　From　her　girdle　she　drew　it　…　rough　silver；　encrusted　with　rubies　from　the　mountains。

The　hand　rejected　it。

〃Jewels　I　cannot　take；　but　bare　steel　is　a　fitting　gift　between　us　two。〃

〃As　you　will。〃

The　Queen　spoke　compassionately；　and　Dwaymenau；　still　with　veiled　eyes；　was　gone　wit