Sanford Hantee of the Natural Research Department, after much opportunity to wrestle1 with the subtle and gritty and hard-testing demon2 of delay, came at last to Hurda again, and stepped out of the coach with a throb3 in his chest and a knot in his throat which only the best and bravest soldiers have brought in from the field. As the moments of waiting at the edge of the jungle passed, it dawned upon him that something had happened, or Carlin already would be with him, at least crossing the big sun-shot area from the walled city. . . . What had happened is this story of the monster Kabuli, which is an animal story even without the entrance of the racing4 elephant, Gunpat Rao.
Many months before, five merchants came in from far Kabul and sat down in the market-place at Hurda, day by day unfolding more of their packs. They brought nuts from High Himalaya, foot-hill raisins5 and the long white Kabuli grapes themselves, packed in cotton, a dozen to fifteen in the box. Then there were dried figs6 and dates, pomegranates picked up far this side of the Hills, Kabuli weaves of cloth, and silks inwoven with gold thread. They were small packs, but worth a great price; which is important to relate in any company.
Now these five Kabulies were usually together (not too far from the kadamba tree where Ratna Ram7 sat); and their turbans were of different colours, but their hearts were mainly of one kind of hell. Sometimes they stood and sometimes they moved one by one among the bazaars8; but Hurda thought of them as one alien presence, and signified that the hugest of them, the monster himself, was also the most hateful and dangerous, which he was.
If I should tell how tall he was exactly, and this in the midst of Sikhs and other of the tallest people of the world, you would think it one of the high lights of a writer-man, and if I should tell you of the face of this monster; the soft folds of fury resting there in the main; the bulk of loose greyish lids over the whites of eyes flecked with brown pigments10; of the sunken upper lip and the nose drooping11 against it, you would say long before I had finished, "Let up on the poor beast—"
And this was a rich man, this Kabuli; richer than any of these brothers, and deeper-minded; so that he could think with keener power to make his thought come true. Also, life was more full to him than to the others, so that he could look over the world of his packs; and when he slept in the midst of his packs, all his treasure was not there. You really should have seen him smile as the head-missionary12, Mr. Maurice, approached, and you should have seen the smile change to a sneer13, without a flick14 of difference in the expression of the eyes. And perhaps it is just as well that you missed the look that came into the eyes of the monster Kabuli when the beautiful English missionary, Margaret Annesley, passed.
Miss Annesley was Carlin's closest friend in Hurda. They worked together among the women and children, among the sick and hungry, and found much to do, without entering the deeper concerns of soul-wellbeing which Mr. Maurice attended. These last were rather reticent15 concerns of Carlin, especially. Mr. Maurice protested against their moving through certain parts of the city, against entering Mohammedan households, or the quarters of the bazaar9 women—all of which talk was well-listened to. Miss Annesley had no fear, because she was essentially16 clean. She was effective and tireless, a thrilling sort of saint; but she could see no evil, not even in the monster Kabuli. Carlin had no fear because she was Carlin; but she had a clear eye for jungle shadows—for beasts, saints, and men. As for the Kabuli, she quietly remarked:
"Why, Margaret, can't you see he's a mad dog?"
In other words, Carlin used the optic nerve as well as the vision said to be of the soul.
"But, my dear, he seemed really stirred," Miss Annesley protested.
"I do not doubt he was stirred," Carlin replied. Her mind was the mind of India, with Western contrasts; also it was familiar from both angles with the various attractive attributes of her friend. . . . But Margaret Annesley continued to greet the monster Kabuli from time to time. Having great means and worldly goods and riotous17 health, he had nothing to discuss but his soul—which few beside Margaret would have found ostensible18.
"I tell you he has rabies," Carlin once repeated.
This did no good; so she went to Deenah who was Miss Annesley's servant, a Hindu of the Hindus and priceless. Deenah declared that he was already aware of the danger; that he missed nothing; also that he was watchful19 as one who feared the worst.
Deenah was a small man, swift and noiseless. He had an invincible20 equilibrium21 and authority in his own world, which was a considerable establishment back of the dining-room, including a most delectable22 little creature even smaller than Deenah, but quite as important, and sharing all light and shadow by his side. Deenah had a look of forked lightning and a mellow23 voice. The more angry he became, the more caressing24 his tones.
One day while he was down in the bazaars buying provisions, the monster Kabuli beckoned25 Deenah to come closer. They stood together—terrier and blood-hound—and Deenah listened while the form and colour of better conditions was outlined for his sake. . . . The Kabuli had heard that Deenah was a great servant; he had heard it from many sources, even that Deenah was favourably26 compared with the chief commissioner27's favourite servant—who was a picked man of ten thousand.
Deenah inclined his head, hearkening for the tone within the tone, but gravely acknowledged that he had heard much in this life harder to listen to.
The Kabuli continued that Deenah was no doubt appreciated on a small scale in the house of Annesley Sahiba; but the establishment itself, as well as the people, was inadequate28 to offer scope for the talents of such a man as Deenah; also that Deenah was remiss29 in making no better provision for the future of his own household; also, the gifts should be considered—and now the Kabuli was opening his packs.
Deenah granted that life was not all sumptuous30 as he might wish, but he had been given to understand no man's life was so in this world; he would be glad now, to hear the plan by which all that he lacked could appear and all that he hoped for, come to pass.
The Kabuli opened wider his treasures. Deenah's narrow-lidded eyes feasted upon the wealths and crafts of many men. . . . And the plan had to do, not with this night nor with the next, but with the night after these two nights were passed, and Deenah's Sahiba and the Hakima (literally, the physician, which meant Carlin) were to be brought for the evening to the house of the Kabuli's friend, one Mirza Khan, a Mohammedan, whose soul also was in great need.
Deenah's voice was gentle as he enquired31 how he was to be used—why riches accrued32 to him, since it was the life of the life of his mistress to serve those ill or in need, body or soul. The Kabuli replied that he was not sure that the Sahiba would go to a Mohammedan house, even with her friend the Hakima, unless Deenah could assure his mistress that the Mohammedan was well known to him and honourable33, his house an abode34 of fellowship and peace.
Deenah considered well, in soft tones saying presently that he could not accomplish this thing alone, but must advise with his fellow-servants who were trustworthy. In fact, if the Kabuli could come this afternoon—when the Sahiba and the Hakima would be away—and tell his story once more, in the presence of the utterly35 reliable among the servants—all might be brought to pass.
The Kabuli did not care for the plan, but Deenah repeated that he could not do this thing alone; his voice admirably gentle, as he reiterated36 his own helplessness. . . . Still he granted with hesitation37 that the Sahiba deigned38 to trust him to a degree. . . . At this moment the Kabuli saw Deenah's eyes forking at the treasure-pack. There was longing39 in them that was pain. The face of Deenah was the face of one struck and crippled with his own needs, which point helped the Kabuli to decision.
The terms of the agreement were made straight and fixed40. Deenah went back to his house where he made the monster's plan known to the servants. In the afternoon, when the house was empty, the monster Kabuli called and opened a small pack in the quiet shade of the compound, before the eyes of six men and one woman, as much Deenah as himself. . . . When the time in the story came that Deenah was to use his influence upon the mind of his mistress, there seemed a slowness of understanding among the other servants; so that the Kabuli had to speak again and very clearly.
Just now the head of Deenah bent41 low over the open pack, the movement of his hand instantly drawing and filling the eye of the trader from Kabul; and then it was that the Sahiba's syce, who was a huge man, materialised a lakri from under his long cotton tunic—the lakri being a stick of olive-wood from High Himalaya and very hard. This he brought down with great force upon the hugest and ugliest head in all Central Provinces at that time.
The great body was dragged farther back toward the servants' quarters. Here Deenah officiated. With each blow he enunciated43 in caressing tones, some term of the agreement . . . until he heard the protest of the mother of his little son:
"Shall you, Deenah, who are only her man-servant, have all the privilege of defending the Sahiba—to whom I, Shanti, am as her own child?"
And Deenah, not missing a count, cried:
"Come and defend!"
So Deenah's wife and the other women came, bringing the smooth hand stones with which they ground the spices into curry44 powder. . . . And when the beating was over, they carefully tied up the pack of the Kabuli and sealed it without a single article missing. Then they carried the body out of the compound, across the main highway, beyond the parallel bridle-road, and let it slide softly down into the little khud beyond, deeper and deeper each year from erosion.
A little afterward45, that same afternoon, Margaret Annesley and Carlin Deal were walking along the bridle-path. Hearing a moan they looked over into the khud, where the monster Kabuli was coming to. He managed to raise one hand, but the movement of the fingers somehow struck the pity from Carlin's heart. It was not a clean gesture of a chastened man. Even though his body was terribly bruised46 and broken, the face was that of Ravage47 in person. Carlin pulled her companion on. They hastened to the bungalow48 where the tied pack was in evidence and strange sounds reached them from the servants' compound.
It was the picture of a tranced group that they saw—Deenah sitting upon the ground, uttering frightful49 low curses securely coupled together—in the language of all languages for this ancient art. The others were around him, even two or three of the women.
"Deenah!" Miss Annesley called.
The concentration was not to be broken.
"Deenah—is a madness come to this place?"
The head of her priceless servant was bowing close to the ground, but his mind was still away; and in high concord50 to his tones, were the tones of the small delectable one, whose eyes, dark and vivid, were the eyes of Jael singing her song after slaying51 Sisera. Margaret turned to her syce. There were tears and sweat in his eyes, but no answering human gleam.
"Carlin—" she said. "Help me carry the daik-ji—"
It was a huge vessel52 containing several gallons of cool water; and this was lifted by four hands and poured upon Deenah, whose eyes met them at once with the light of reason.
"Bear witness, I am cursing softly," he said.
"Are you my head servant?"
"I am thy servant."
"And you permit this bazaar-tamasha in your compound?"
Deenah observed that this was not an affair upon which he could speak to the Sahiba, his mistress. Meanwhile Carlin watched Deenah's eyes fill with the keen reds of bloody53 memory.
"Go away, Margaret," Carlin said. "He will talk to me. Please go now.
In six breaths he will be back in his trance again—"
So it happened. Deenah watched his mistress depart, then he raised his eyes to Carlin, saying:
"The Hakima will understand. These things are not for the Sahiba—"
"Speak—"
Deenah arose, saying: "It is not good for you to set foot in my house, but come to the threshold; then neither my voice nor the voices of these shall enter her understanding—"
The tale of the monster Kabuli was unfolded to Carlin without a single interruption for several moments; in fact, until Margaret Annesley came running forth55, crying:
"Are you never going to cease talk and carry help to the Kabuli—who is hurt?"
Carlin beckoned her back. "Not hurt, dear. He is ill. He has hydrophobia."
"Our protection depends upon you," Deenah concluded, to Carlin. "We commit ourselves to you; we render our lives and honour into your care. You alone, Hakima-ji, can present the story of these doings to the chief commissioner, whose name we hold in honour above other men. Will you see that it be known—not one thread has been taken or changed from the pack of the Kabuli; also, the chief commissioner—out of his equity56 which has never failed—shall judge us, knowing that we did the beating for the Sahiba's sake."
The chief commissioner at Hurda was a good and a just man. He listened seriously and spoke57 to Carlin of the value of good Indian servants in the houses of the English; of the dangers of the tiger in the grass and the serpent upon the rock and the Kabuli in the khud—to whom he would attend at once.
It was many weeks after that when the case was called, and Deenah's eyes grew red-rimmed like a pit-terrier's as he told the story again, but his voice fondled the ears of those present in the court-room. . . . One by one, the other four Kabulies left the market-place in Hurda; and when the monster himself had been made to pay and his healing had been uninterrupted for many weeks, there came, a day when the unwalled city of Hurda knew him no more.
He was not forgotten, even though months sped by; for in Miss Annesley's heart was a pang58 over the big man who had been horribly hurt. . . . Meanwhile for Carlin all life was changed—as the magic of swift afterglow changes every twig59 and leaf and stem. Then came her hard days, watching for Skag's return—the weeks passing while he waited in Poona. Every morning from a distance, she observed the train come in from the South. When Skag did not appear, sometimes she would go alone for a while to the edge of the jungle, but never deep, because he had asked her not to. Sometimes it was an hour or two before she was ready to look out at the world or the light again. . . .
One early morning as she crossed the market-place, Carlin saw a strange elephant there with his mahout; and a messenger approached deferentially60, asking if she were the Hakima, and if she could lead the way to Annesley Sahiba. . . . Four hours' journey away—this was the messenger's story—a native prince whose dignity included the keeping of one elephant, an honourable dispensation from Indian Government, had called in great need for the ministration of the Hakima, and that of her friend, Annesley Sahiba—for lo, unto him a child was to be born.
Carlin asked if she were needed at once—thinking of the many days and the train at noontime. The messenger said that within four hours he was told to deliver the Hakima and Annesley Sahiba at the palace door. He followed along, and the elephant came behind him, as she walked toward Margaret's bungalow. . . . If Skag were to come this day, she thought! . . . Deenah was away, but Carlin left word with his wife that she would be back that night, or early the next day. Margaret was ready. Carlin was in the howdah beside her, before there was really a chance to think.
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1
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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raisins
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| n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 ) | |
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figs
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| figures 数字，图形，外形 | |
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ram
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| (random access memory)随机存取存储器 | |
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8
bazaars
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| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
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bazaar
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| n.集市，商店集中区 | |
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pigments
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| n.（粉状）颜料( pigment的名词复数 )；天然色素 | |
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11
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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12
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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14
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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15
reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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riotous
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| adj.骚乱的；狂欢的 | |
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ostensible
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| adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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24
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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remiss
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| adj.不小心的，马虎 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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31
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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32
accrued
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| adj.权责已发生的v.增加( accrue的过去式和过去分词 )；（通过自然增长）产生；获得；（使钱款、债务）积累 | |
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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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41
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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42
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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enunciated
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| v.（清晰地）发音( enunciate的过去式和过去分词 )；确切地说明 | |
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44
curry
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| n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革 | |
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45
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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46
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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47
ravage
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| vt.使...荒废，破坏...；n.破坏，掠夺，荒废 | |
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48
bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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49
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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50
concord
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| n.和谐；协调 | |
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51
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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52
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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53
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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54
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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55
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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56
equity
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| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
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57
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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58
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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59
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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60
deferentially
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| adv.表示敬意地，谦恭地 | |
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