Not all Roads lead to Philadelphia. Chesapeake means as much, and often more, to the Back Inhabitants as Philadelphia,— so Roads here seldom run in the same sense as the West Line, but rather athwart it, coming up from Chesapeake, and going on, to the North and the West. Soon, lesser1 roads, linking farms and closer Markets, begin to feed into these Line-crossing roads,— before long, on one or more of the Corners so defin'd, a Tavern2 will appear. It is thus, in the Back-Country, evident to all, however unschool'd in Euclid, that each time the Visto crosses a Road, there's sure to be an Oasis3 but a few miles north or south.
"Here's how we'll do it," proposes Mason. "Whenever we come to a Road, one of us goes North, the other South. The one not finding a Tav?ern in a reasonable Time, returns to the Line, where he finds either the other waiting, or that the other has not yet return'd,— in which case, he then continues in the same direction, either meeting the other returning, or finding him, already a dozen pints4 down."
East of Susquehanna, under this System, there prove to be Crossings where Inns lie both North and South of the Line, and on such Occasions, entire days may pass with each Surveyor in his own Tavern, not exactly waiting for the other to show up,— possibly imagining the good time the other must be having and failing to share. Later, across Susquehanna, there come days when the only Inns are worse than no Inn, and presently days when there are no Inns at all, and at last the night they encamp knowing that for an unforeseeable stretch of Nights, they must belong to this great Swell5 of Forested Mountains, this place of ancient Revenge, and Beasts outside the Fire-light,— the sun this particular evening as if in celestial6 Seal, spreading into a Glory, transgressing7 all Metes8 and Bounds, filling the Trees, lighting9 the Animals, their flanks averted10, wash'd in its oncoming Flow, bringing to human faces a precision approaching purification, goading11 each soul, as if again and again, ever toward the Shambles12 of Eternity13. The Axmen stand beneath it, no less bruised14, worn or hungry than from any other day, blinking, turning away, then returning to this Radiance that flares15 from behind edges of Shapes uncertain,— the Creation they believe they know,— re-created.
Later, not all will agree on what they have seen.
Thus, as the Communication is a long sequence of Fortified16 remount?ing stations, so is the Line a long sequence of Taverns17 and Ordinaries, and absences of the same. One day, the Meridian18 having been closely enough establish'd, and with an hour or two of free time available to them, one heads north, one south, and 'tis Dixon's luck to discover The Rabbi of Prague, headquarters of a Kabbalistick Faith, in Correspon?dence with the Elect Cohens of Paris, whose private Salute19 they now greet Dixon with, the Fingers spread two and two, and the Thumb held away from them likewise, said to represent the Hebrew letter Shin and to signify, "Live long and prosper20." The area just beyond the next Ridge21 is believ'd to harbor a giant Golem, or Jewish Automaton22, taller than the most ancient of the Trees. As explain'd to Dixon, 'twas created by an Indian tribe widely suppos'd to be one of the famous Lost Tribes of Israel, who had somehow given up control of the Creature, sending it headlong into the Forest, where it would learn of its own gift of Mobile Invisibility.
"And...do you folk wear Special Hats, anything like that?" inquires Dixon. It sounds enough like the Frenchman's Duck to make him cau?tious. "Most of thee, in Speech and Address, I'd've guess'd to be Irish.. .I thought thee were known for Little People. This is a Wonder of the Wilderness23, for fair... ?"
"If, I say 'if,' you do see it," advises the Landlord, "you'll then talk of Wonders indeed.”
"Sure that Golem,— you have to catch him when he's asleep," asserts a short red-headed woodsman in Deerskins, who is holding a tankard in one hand and a Lancaster County rifle in the other.
"Of course," adds a florid Forge-keeper who occupies the entire side of one Table, "that might not be for years." He chuckles24, and the Tankards rattle25 upon the Shelves.
"Aye, some of us have never seen him, only heard his steps on the nights when there is no Moon, or his voice, speaking from above the only words he knows,— 'Eyeh asher Eyeh,'' - in on which, in Tones hush'd, though ominous26, the others now join.
"That is, 'I am that which I am,' " helpfully translates a somehow nautical-looking Indiv. with gigantick Fore-Arms, and one Eye ever a-Squint from the Smoke of his Pipe.
"Tho' Rashi in his Commentary has, 'I will be what I will be,' as the Tense is ambiguous between present and future."
"Isn't that what God said to Moses?" Dixon inquires.
"Exodus27 3:14. 'Tis what the Indians'll say to you, if you go far enough west,— being the Lost Tribes of Israel out there, whose Creature this is."
"In the Infancy28 Gospel of Thomas, you see, Jesus as a Boy made small, as you'd say, toy Golems out of Clay,— Sparrows that flew, Rab?bits that hopp'd. Golem fabrication is integral to the Life of Jesus, and thence to Christianity."
"Nor is it any Wonder here by South Mountain, anyway. Sometimes the Invisible will all at once appear,— sometimes what you see may not be there at all."
"I am told of certain Stars, in the Chinese system of Astrology, which are invisible so long as they keep moving, only being seen, when they pause. Might thy Golem share this Property?"
The Company rush to enlighten Dixon. " 'Tis shard29 with this whole accursed Continent," the quarrelsome Carrot-top lets him know, waving his Rifle and narrowly missing several Tankards upon the Table.
"— Which, as if in answer to God's recession, remain'd invisible, denied to us, till it became necessary to our Souls that it come to rest, self-reveal'd, tho' we pretended to 'discover' it—”
"By the time of Columbus, God's project of Disengagement was obvi?ous to all,— with the terrible understanding that we were to be left more and more to our own solutions."
"America, withal, for centuries had been kept hidden, as are certain Bodies of Knowledge. Only now and then were selected persons allow'd Glimpses of the New World,—
"Never Reporters that anyone else was likely to believe,— men who ate the Flesh and fornicated with the Ghosts of their Dead, murderers and Pirates on the run, monks30 in parchment Coracles stitched together from copied Pages of the Book of Jonah, fishermen too many Nights out of Port, any Runagate craz'd enough to sail West."
"All matters of what becomes Visible, and when. Revelation exists as a Fact,— and continues, as Time proceeds. If new Continents may become visible, why not Planets, sir, as Planets are in your Line?"
"Ye'd have to ask Mason, who should be here Hourly."
"Howbeit,— the Secret was safe until the choice be made to reveal it. It has been denied to all who came to America, for Wealth, for Refuge, for Adventure. This 'New World' was ever a secret Body of Knowledge,— meant to be studied with the same dedication31 as the Hebrew Kabbala would demand. Forms of the Land, the flow of water, the occurrence of what us'd to be call'd Miracles, all are Text,— to be attended to, manip?ulated, read, remember'd."
"Hence as you may imagine, we take a lively interest in this Line of yours," booms the Forge-keeper, "inasmuch as it may be read, East to West, much as a Line of Text upon a Page of the sacred Torah,— a Tel?lurian Scripture32, as some might say,—
'Twill terminate somewhere to the West, no one, not even you and your Partner, knows where. An utterance33. A Message of uncertain length, apt to be interrupted at any Moment, or Chain. A smaller Panto?graph copy down here, of Occurrences in the Higher World."
"Another case of, 'As above, so below.''
"No longer, Alas34, a phrase of Power,— this Age sees a corruption35 and disabling of the ancient Magick. Projectors36, Brokers37 of Capital, Insur-ancers, Peddlers upon the global Scale, Enterprisers and Quacks,— these are the last poor fallen and feckless inheritors of a Knowledge they can never use, but in the service of Greed. The coming Rebellion is theirs,— Franklin, and that Lot,— and Heaven help the rest of us, if they prevail."
"Yet," puts in a queer, uncollected sort of Townsman, who's been drinking so far in silence, "what of the way Mr. Franklin and his people stopp'd the Paxtonians before the City, as the Pope halted Attila before Rome,—
'Like Leo First, upon the Mincian Bank, Before that Horde38, Rank after endless Rank...'
- yes and now, as then, the preponderant Question is, What kind of
Arrangements were made? With conquest in their grasp and sight, our
own Barbarians39 in like wise turn'd, and sought once again their wild
back-lands, renouncing40 their chance to sack the Quaker Rome."
"Enjoy its Women." General Comment. "Careful, Lad, some of them's us."
"Just so. What argument could have prov'd compelling enough to dis?suade them?—
'The Kite, the Key, the mortal Thundering
As Heaven's Flame assaults the hempen41 String,'
- Eh?— for they esteem42 Franklin a Magician. A Figure of Power. We
know what he is,— but to the Mobility43, he is the Ancestor of Miracle,— or, of Wonders, which pass as well with them,— without which, indeed,
they would soon grow inquisitive44 and troublesome. For, as long as it
remains45 possible to keep us deluded46 that we are 'free men,' we back
Inhabitants will feed the Metropolis47, open new roads to it, fight in its
behalf,— we may be Presbyterian today, and turn'd only by the force of
God, but after very few seasons of such remorseless Gulling48, we must be
weak and tractable49 enough even for the Philadelphian men of affairs,
who themselves cannot be reckon'd as any sort of Faithful, but rather
among Doubt's advancing Phalanx,— of whom one must ask, If they no
longer believe in Bishops50, where next, might their Irreverence51 not take
them?"
"Now then, Lad.— Tis Patrick Henry, Sir, they've all got the Itch,— "Why, these Presbyterians need no Oratory52 from the likes of me, not men who ev'ry day face Savages53 seeking to destroy them, who will set and hold a Line of Defense54 quite well before Schuylkill,— though 'twill be Deists and Illuminati, and Philosophers even stranger than that, pois'd upon the Mountaintops between, to observe and, who can say? direct the Engagement.—
'In pale and Lanthorn'd reverie the Fair Of Philadelphia lounge, discussing Hair,— Whilst in the steep Shade of some Western Alp, A Presbyterian's fighting for his Scalp.' "
"These Lines thou keep quoting...? I know I should recognize them... ? Is it Alexander Pope?"
"Why, 'tis Mr. Tox." A certain impatience55 of the Eye-brows.
"A Poet whom,— that is,— "
"In the Constellation56 'Poesia,'' Sir, to frame it in more comfortable terms for you, even the Wasp57 of Twickenham must be assign'd the Letter Beta, for 'tis Timothy Tox who is its Lumina. I was quoting from the Pennsylvaniad, of course."
"Of course."
"Oh, go on, then, Tim, tell him."
"Thoo are— "
"Not so loud. This is not my Home. I am upon the Scamper58, I fear, tho' none will speak of it. Like Mr. Wilkes, I have endanger'd my Freedom by Printing what displeaseth this King. Not 'the' King, you appreciate—" He peers at Dixon as a Physician might, waiting for some sign. "Only a Broadside. No more than a couple of hundred Copies. Went...some?thing like,
'As legionaries once in Skirts patroll'd
The streets of old Londinium, damp and cold,
So Troops in kilts invade us now, unbeckon'd,
Styling themselves "the Highland59 Forty-second."
Who is this King that fires upon his own,
Who are these Ministers, with heads of Stone,
Holy Experiment! 0 where be Thou,
Where be thy hopes, thy fears, thy terrors now?''
Outside, great Percussions upon the Earth are heard, coming ever closer. Trees, push'd over, crash to the ground. Bears, Bobcats, and Wolves come fleeing before whatever is just behind. Pewter dances across the boards of the Tables. Ale trembles in ev'ry Can. Observing Timothy Tox's Brightness of Eye and steadfastness60 of Lip, Dixon pre?tends Astonishment61. "Have thoo summon'd it here, with thy Verses?"
"Somewhat as ye may summon a Star with a Telescope. I pray no more than that."
"No Friend of the King, I collect...?"
"An American Golem. They thought the Black Boys who fought them at Fort Loudon were dangerous,— those were benevolent62 Elves in Com?parison. Here as in Prague, the Golem takes a dim view of Oppression, and is ever available to exert itself to the Contrary."
Out the Window, great Mud Feet are seen to stir, tall as the Eaves. The Countrymen raise Tankards in their direction. "A sovereign Deterrent63 to Black Watch Plaid," declares Mr. Tox.
"This Forest suffers not the Bag-Pipe's Scream, To stay away, the Brits it wiser deem.”
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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oasis
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| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方 | |
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pints
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| n.品脱( pint的名词复数 )；一品脱啤酒 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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transgressing
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| v.超越( transgress的现在分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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metes
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| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的第三人称单数 ) | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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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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goading
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| v.刺激( goad的现在分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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shambles
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| n.混乱之处；废墟 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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flares
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| n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开 | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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taverns
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| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
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meridian
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| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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automaton
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| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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exodus
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| v.大批离去，成群外出 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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shard
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| n.（陶瓷器、瓦等的）破片，碎片 | |
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monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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dedication
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| n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞 | |
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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33
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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corruption
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| n.腐败，堕落，贪污 | |
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projectors
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| 电影放映机，幻灯机( projector的名词复数 ) | |
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brokers
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| n.（股票、外币等）经纪人( broker的名词复数 )；中间人；代理商；（订合同的）中人v.做掮客（或中人等）( broker的第三人称单数 )；作为权力经纪人进行谈判；以中间人等身份安排… | |
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horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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40
renouncing
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的现在分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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hempen
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| adj. 大麻制的, 大麻的 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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mobility
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| n.可动性，变动性，情感不定 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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deluded
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| v.欺骗，哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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gulling
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| v.欺骗某人( gull的现在分词 ) | |
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tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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50
bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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irreverence
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| n.不尊敬 | |
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oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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56
constellation
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| n.星座n.灿烂的一群 | |
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57
wasp
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| n.黄蜂，蚂蜂 | |
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scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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steadfastness
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| n.坚定，稳当 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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deterrent
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| n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的 | |
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