'Tamb' Itam, disordered, panting, with trembling lips and wild eyes, stood for a time before her as if a sudden spell had been laid on him. Then he broke out very quickly: "They have killed Dain Waris and many more." She clapped her hands, and her first words were, "Shut the gates." Most of the fortmen had gone back to their houses, but Tamb' Itam hurried on the few who remained for their turn of duty within. The girl stood in the middle of the courtyard while the others ran about. "Doramin," she cried despairingly as Tamb' Itam passed her. Next time he went by he answered her thought rapidly, "Yes. But we have all the powder in Patusan." She caught him by the arm, and, pointing at the house, "Call him out," she whispered, trembling.
'Tamb' Itam ran up the steps. His master was sleeping. "It is I, Tamb' Itam," he cried at the door, "with tidings that cannot wait." He saw Jim turn over on the pillow and open his eyes, and he burst out at once. "This, Tuan, is a day of evil, an accursed day." His master raised himself on his elbow to listen -- just as Dain Waris had done. And then Tamb' Itam began his tale, trying to relate the story in order, calling Dain Waris Panglima, and saying: "The Panglima then called out to the chief of his own boatmen, 'Give Tamb' Itam something to eat' " -- when his master put his feet to the ground and looked at him with such a discomposed face that the words remained in his throat.
' "Speak out," said Jim. "Is he dead?" "May you live long," cried Tamb' Itam. "It was a most cruel treachery. He ran out at the first shots and fell." . . . His master walked to the window and with his fist struck at the shutter7. The room was made light; and then in a steady voice, but speaking fast, he began to give him orders to assemble a fleet of boats for immediate8 pursuit, go to this man, to the other -- send messengers; and as he talked he sat down on the bed, stooping to lace his boots hurriedly, and suddenly looked up. "Why do you stand here?" he asked very red-faced. "Waste no time." Tamb' Itam did not move. "Forgive me, Tuan, but . . . but," he began to stummer. "What?" cried his master aloud, looking terrible, leaning forward with his hands gripping the edge of the bed. "It is not safe for thy servant to go out amongst the people," said Tamb' Itam, after hesitating a moment.
'Then Jim understood. He had retreated from one world, for a small matter of an impulsive9 jump, and now the other, the work of his own hands, had fallen in ruins upon his head. It was not safe for his servant to go out amongst his own people! I believe that in that very moment he had decided10 to defy the disaster in the only way it occurred to him such a disaster could be defied; but all I know is that, without a word, he came out of his room and sat before the long table, at the head of which he was accustomed to regulate the affairs of his world, proclaiming daily the truth that surely lived in his heart. The dark powers should not rob him twice of his peace. He sat like a stone figure. Tamb' Itam, deferential11, hinted at preparations for defence. The girl he loved came in and spoke12 to him, but he made a sign with his hand, and she was awed14 by the dumb appeal for silence in it. She went out on the verandah and sat on the threshold, as if to guard him with her body from dangers outside.
'What thoughts passed through his head -- what memories? Who can tell? Everything was gone, and he who had been once unfaithful to his trust had lost again all men's confidence. It was then, I believe, he tried to write -- to somebody -- and gave it up. Loneliness was closing on him. People had trusted him with their lives -- only for that; and yet they could never, as he had said, never be made to understand him. Those without did not hear him make a sound. Later, towards the evening, he came to the door and called for Tamb' Itam. "Well?" he asked. "There is much weeping. Much anger too," said Tamb' Itam. Jim looked up at him. "You know," he murmured. "Yes, Tuan," said Tamb' Itam. "Thy servant does know, and the gates are closed. We shall have to fight." "Fight! What for?" he asked. "For our lives." "I have no life," he said. Tamb' Itam heard a cry from the girl at the door. "Who knows?" said Tamb' Itam. "By audacity16 and cunning we may even escape. There is much fear in men's hearts too." He went out, thinking vaguely17 of boats and of open sea, leaving Jim and the girl together.
'I haven't the heart to set down here such glimpses as she had given me of the hour or more she passed in there wrestling with him for the possession of her happiness. Whether he had any hope -what he expected, what he imagined -- it is impossible to say. He was inflexible18, and with the growing loneliness of his obstinacy19 his spirit seemed to rise above the ruins of his existence. She cried "Fight!" into his ear. She could not understand. There was nothing to fight for. He was going to prove his power in another way and conquer the fatal destiny itself. He came out into the courtyard, and behind him, with streaming hair, wild of face, breathless, she staggered out and leaned on the side of the doorway20. "Open the gates," he ordered. Afterwards, turning to those of his men who were inside, he gave them leave to depart to their homes. "For how long, Tuan?" asked one of them timidly. "For all life," he said, in a sombre tone.
'A hush21 had fallen upon the town after the outburst of wailing23 and lamentation24 that had swept over the river, like a gust25 of wind from the opened abode26 of sorrow. But rumours27 flew in whispers, filling the hearts with consternation28 and horrible doubts. The robbers were coming back, bringing many others with them, in a great ship, and there would be no refuge in the land for any one. A sense of utter insecurity as during an earthquake pervaded29 the minds of men, who whispered their suspicions, looking at each other as if in the presence of some awful portent30.
'The sun was sinking towards the forests when Dain Waris's body was brought into Doramin's campong. Four men carried it in, covered decently with a white sheet which the old mother had sent out down to the gate to meet her son on his return. They laid him at Doramin's feet, and the old man sat still for a long time, one hand on each knee, looking down. The fronds31 of palms swayed gently, and the foliage32 of fruit trees stirred above his head. Every single man of his people was there, fully33 armed, when the old nakhoda at last raised his eyes. He moved them slowly over the crowd, as if seeking for a missing face. Again his chin sank on his breast. The whispers of many men mingled34 with the slight rustling35 of the leaves.
'The Malay who had brought Tamb' Itam and the girl to Samarang was there too. "Not so angry as many," he said to me, but struck with a great awe13 and wonder at the "suddenness of men's fate, which hangs over their heads like a cloud charged with thunder." He told me that when Dain Waris's body was uncovered at a sign of Doramin's, he whom they often called the white lord's friend was disclosed lying unchanged with his eyelids36 a little open as if about to wake. Doramin leaned forward a little more, like one looking for something fallen on the ground. His eyes searched the body from its feet to its head, for the wound maybe. It was in the forehead and small; and there was no word spoken while one of the by-standers, stooping, took off the silver ring from the cold stiff hand. In silence he held it up before Doramin. A murmur15 of dismay and horror ran through the crowd at the sight of that familiar token. The old nakhoda stared at it, and suddenly let out one great fierce cry, deep from the chest, a roar of pain und fury, as mighty37 as the bellow38 of a wounded bull, bringing great fear into men's hearts, by the magnitude of his anger and his sorrow that could be plainly discerned without words. There was a great stillness afterwards for a space, while the body was being borne aside by four men. They laid it down under a tree, and on the instant, with one long shriek39, all the women of the household began to wail22 together; they mourned with shrill40 cries; the sun was setting, and in the intervals41 of screamed lamentations the high sing-song voices of two old men intoning the Koran chanted alone.
'About this time Jim, leaning on a gun-carriage, looked at the river, and turned his back on the house; and the girl, in the doorway, panting as if she had run herself to a standstill, was looking at him across the yard. Tamb' Itam stood not far from his master, waiting patiendy for what might happen. All at once Jim, who seemed to be lost in quiet thought, turned to him and said, "Time to finish this."
' "Tuan?" said Tamb' Itam, advancing with alacrity42. He did not know what his master meant, but as soon as Jim made a movement the girl started too and walked down into the open space. It seems that no one else of the people of the house was in sight. She tottered43 slightly, and about half-way down called out to Jim, who had apparently44 resumed his peaceful contemplation of the river. He turned round, setting his back against the gun. "Will you fight?" she cried. "There is nothing to fight for," he said; "nothing is lost." Saying this he made a step towards her. "Will you fly?" she cried again. "There is no escape," he said, stopping short, and she stood still also, silent, devouring45 him with her eyes. "And you shall go?" she said slowly. He bent46 his head. "Ah!" she exclaimed, peering at him as it were, "you are mad or false. Do you remember the night I prayed you to leave me, and you said that you could not? That it was impossible! Impossible! Do you remember you said you would never leave me? Why? I asked you for no promise. You promised unasked -- remember." "Enough, poor girl," he said. "I should not be worth having."
'Tamb' Itam said that while they were talking she would laugh loud and senselessly like one under the visitation of God. His master put his hands to his head. He was fully dressed as for every day, but without a hat. She stopped laughing suddenly. "For the last time," she cried menacindy, "will you defend yourself?" "Nothing can touch me," he said in a last flicker47 of superb egoism. Tamb' Itam saw her lean forward where she stood, open her arms, and run at him swiftly. She flung herself upon his breast and clasped him round the neck.
' "Ah! but I shall hold thee thus," she cried.... "Thou art mine!"
'She sobbed48 on his shoulder. The sky over Patusan was bloodred, immense, streaming like an open vein49. An enormous sun nestled crimson50 amongst the tree-tops, and the forest below had a black and forbidding face.
'Tamb' Itam tells me that on that evening the aspect of the heavens was angry and frightful51. I may well believe it, for I know that on that very day a cyclone52 passed within sixty miles of the coast, though there was hardly more than a languid stir of air in the place.
'Suddenly Tamb' Itam saw Jim catch her arms, trying to unclasp her hands. She hung on them with her head fallen back; her hair touched the ground. "Come here!" his master called, and Tamb' Itam helped to ease her down. It was difficult to separate her fingers. Jim, bending over her, looked earnestly upon her face, and all at once ran to the landing-stage. Tamb' Itam followed him, but turning his head, he saw that she had struggled up to her feet. She ran after them a few steps, then fell down heavily on her knees. "Tuan! Tuan!" called Tamb' Itam, "look back;" but Jim was already in a canoe, standing up paddle in hand. He did not look back. Tamb' Itam had just time to scramble53 in after him when the canoe floated clear. The girl was then on her knees, with clasped hands, at the water-gate. She remained thus for a time in a supplicating54 attitude before she sprang up. "You are false!" she screamed out after Jim. "Forgive me," he cried. "Never! Never!" she called back.
'Tamb' Itam took the paddle from Jim's hands, it being unseemly that he should sit while his lord paddled. When they reached the other shore his master forbade him to come any farther; but Tamb' Itam did follow him at a distance, walking up the slope to Doramin's campong.
'It was beginning to grow dark. Torches twinkled here and there. Those they met seemed awestruck, and stood aside hastily to let Jim pass. The wailing of women came from above. The courtyard was full of armed Bugis with their followers55, and of Patusan people.
'I do not know what this gathering56 really meant. Were these preparations for war, or for vengeance57, or to repulse58 a threatened invasion? Many days elapsed before the people had ceased to look out, quaking, for the return of the white men with long beards and in rags, whose exact relation to their own white man they could never understand. Even for those simple minds poor Jim remains59 under a cloud.
'Doramin, alone! immense and desolate60, sat in his arm-chair with the pair of flintlock pistols on his knees, faced by a armed throng2. When Jim appeared, at somebody's exclamation61, all the heads turned round together, and then the mass opened right and left, and he walked up a lane of averted62 glances. Whispers followed him; murmurs63: "He has worked all the evil." "He hath a charm." . . . He heard them -- perhaps!
'When he came up into the light of torches the wailing of the women ceased suddenly. Doramin did not lift his head, and Jim stood silent before him for a time. Then he looked to the left, and moved in that direction with measured steps. Dain Waris's mother crouched64 at the head of the body, and the grey dishevelled hair concealed65 her face. Jim came up slowly, looked at his dead friend, lifting the sheet, than dropped it without a word. Slowly he walked back.
' "He came! He came!" was running from lip to lip, making a murmur to which he moved. "He hath taken it upon his own head," a voice said aloud. He heard this and turned to the crowd. "Yes. Upon my head." A few people recoiled66. Jim waited awhile before Doramin, and then said gently, "I am come in sorrow." He waited again. "I am come ready and unarmed," he repeated.
'The unwieldy old man, lowering his big forehead like an ox under a yoke67, made an effort to rise, clutching at the flintlock pistols on his knees. From his throat came gurgling, choking, inhuman68 sounds, and his two attendants helped him from behind. People remarked that the ring which he had dropped on his lap fell and rolled against the foot of the white man, and that poor Jim glanced down at the talisman69 that had opened for him the door of fame, love, and success within the wall of forests fringed with white foam70, within the coast that under the western sun looks like the very stronghold of the night. Doramin, struggling to keep his feet, made with his two supporters a swaying, tottering71 group; his little eyes stared with an expression of mad pain, of rage, with a ferocious72 glitter, which the bystanders noticed; and then, while Jim stood stiffened73 and with bared head in the light of torches, looking him straight in the face, he clung heavily with his left arm round the neck of a bowed youth, and lifting deliberately74 his right, shot his son's friend through the chest.
'The crowd, which had fallen apart behind Jim as soon as Doramin had raised his hand, rushed tumultuously forward after the shot. They say that the white man sent right and left at all those faces a proud and unflinching glance. Then with his hand over his lips he fell forward, dead.
'And that's the end. He passes away under a cloud, inscrutable at heart, forgotten, unforgiven, and excessively romantic. Not in the wildest days of his boyish visions could he have seen the alluring75 shape of such an extraordinary success! For it may very well be that in the short moment of his last proud and unflinching glance, he had beheld76 the face of that opportunity which, like an Eastern bride, had come veiled to his side.
'But we can see him, an obscure conqueror77 of fame, tearing himself out of the arms of a jealous love at the sign, at the call of his exalted78 egoism. He goes away from a living woman to celebrate his pitiless wedding with a shadowy ideal of conduct. Is he satisfied -quite, now, I wonder? We ought to know. He is one of us -- and have I not stood up once, like an evoked79 ghost, to answer for his eternal constancy? Was I so very wrong after all? Now he is no more, there are days when the reality of his existence comes to me with an immense, with an overwhelming force; and yet upon my honour there are moments too when he passes from my eyes like a disembodied spirit astray amongst the passions of this earth, ready to surrender himself faithfully to the claim of his own world of shades.
'Who knows? He is gone, inscrutable at heart, and the poor girl is leading a sort of soundless, inert80 life in Stein's house. Stein has aged81 greatly of late. He feels it himself, and says often that he is "preparing to leave all this; preparing to leave . . ." while he waves his hand sadly at his butterflies.'
End
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1
thronging
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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impulsive
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| adj.冲动的，刺激的；有推动力的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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inflexible
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| adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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portent
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| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
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fronds
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| n.蕨类或棕榈类植物的叶子( frond的名词复数 ) | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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44
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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45
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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47
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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50
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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51
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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52
cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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53
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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54
supplicating
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| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的现在分词 ) | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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56
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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59
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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64
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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