按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Of course； we were willing to meet them halfway。 It was
wholly to our advantage to be able to understand and speak with them； and
as to refusing to teach themwhy should we？ Later on we did try open
rebellion； but only once。
That first meal was pleasant enough； each of us quietly studying
his companion； Jeff with sincere admiration； Terry with that highly
technical look of his； as of a past masterlike a lion tamer； a serpent
charmer； or some such professional。 I myself was intensely interested。
It was evident that those sets of five were there to check any
outbreak on our part。 We had no weapons； and if we did try to do any
damage； with a chair； say； why five to one was too many for us； even if
they were women； that we had found out to our sorrow。 It was not
pleasant； having them always around； but we soon got used to it。
〃It's better than being physically restrained ourselves；〃 Jeff
philosophically suggested when we were alone。 〃They've given us a
roomwith no great possibility of escapeand personal libertyheavily
31
… Page 32…
HERLAND
chaperoned。 It's better than we'd have been likely to get in a man…
country。〃
〃Man…Country！ Do you really believe there are no men here；
you innocent？ Don't you know there must be？〃 demanded Terry。
〃Yees；〃 Jeff agreed。 〃Of courseand yet〃
〃And yetwhat！ Come； you obdurate sentimentalistwhat are
you thinking about？〃
〃They may have some peculiar division of labor we've never
heard of；〃 I suggested。 〃The men may live in separate towns； or they
may have subdued themsomehowand keep them shut up。 But there
must be some。〃
〃That last suggestion of yours is a nice one； Van；〃 Terry
protested。 〃Same as they've got us subdued and shut up！ you make me
shiver。〃
〃Well； figure it out for yourself； anyway you please。 We saw
plenty of kids； the first day； and we've seen those girls〃
〃Real girls！〃 Terry agreed； in immense relief。 〃Glad you
mentioned 'em。 I declare； if I thought there was nothing in the country
but those grenadiers I'd jump out the window。〃
〃Speaking of windows；〃 I suggested； 〃let's examine ours。〃
We looked out of all the windows。 The blinds opened easily
enough； and there were no bars； but the prospect was not reassuring。
This was not the pink…walled town we had so rashly entered the
day before。 Our chamber was high up； in a projecting wing of a sort of
castle； built out on a steep spur of rock。 Immediately below us were
gardens； fruitful and fragrant； but their high walls followed the edge of the
cliff which dropped sheer down； we could not see how far。 The distant
sound of water suggested a river at the foot。
We could look out east； west； and south。 To the southeastward
stretched the open country； lying bright and fair in the morning light； but
on either side； and evidently behind； rose great mountains。
〃This thing is a regular fortressand no women built it； I can tell
you that；〃 said Terry。 We nodded agreeingly。 〃It's right up among the
hillsthey must have brought us a long way。〃
32
… Page 33…
HERLAND
〃We saw some kind of swift…moving vehicles the first day；〃 Jeff
reminded us。 〃If they've got motors； they ARE civilized。〃
〃Civilized or not； we've got our work cut out for us to get away
from here。 I don't propose to make a rope of bedclothes and try those
walls till I'm sure there is no better way。〃
We all concurred on this point； and returned to our discussion as
to the women。
Jeff continued thoughtful。 〃All the same； there's something
funny about it；〃 he urged。 〃It isn't just that we don't see any men but we
don't see any signs of them。 Thethereaction of these women is
different from any that I've ever met。〃
〃There is something in what you say； Jeff；〃 I agreed。 〃There is
a differentatmosphere。〃
〃They don't seem to notice our being men；〃 he went on。 〃They
treat uswelljust as they do one another。 It's as if our being men was a
minor incident。〃
I nodded。 I'd noticed it myself。 But Terry broke in rudely。
〃Fiddlesticks！〃 he said。 〃It's because of their advanced age。
They're all grandmas； I tell youor ought to be。 Great aunts； anyhow。
Those girls were girls all right； weren't they？〃
〃Yes〃 Jeff agreed； still slowly。 〃But they weren't afraid they
flew up that tree and hid； like schoolboys caught out of bounds not like
shy girls。〃
〃And they ran like marathon winnersyou'll admit that； Terry；〃
he added。
Terry was moody as the days passed。 He seemed to mind our
confinement more than Jeff or I did； and he harped on Alima； and how
near he'd come to catching her。 〃If I had〃 he would say； rather savagely；
〃we'd have had a hostage and could have made terms。〃
But Jeff was getting on excellent terms with his tutor； and even
his guards； and so was I。 It interested me profoundly to note and study
the subtle difference between these women and other women； and try to
account for them。 In the matter of personal appearance； there was a great
difference。 They all wore short hair； some few inches at most； some
33
… Page 34…
HERLAND
curly； some not； all light and clean and fresh…looking。
〃If their hair was only long；〃 Jeff would complain； 〃they would
look so much more feminine。〃
I rather liked it myself； after I got used to it。 Why we should so
admire 〃a woman's crown of hair〃 and not admire a Chinaman's queue is
hard to explain； except that we are so convinced that the long hair
〃belongs〃 to a woman。 Whereas the 〃mane〃 in horses is on both； and in
lions； buffalos； and such creatures only on the male。 But I did miss itat
first。
Our time was quite pleasantly filled。 We were free of the
garden below our windows； quite long in its irregular rambling shape；
bordering the cliff。 The walls were perfectly smooth and high； ending in
the masonry of the building； and as I studied the great stones I became
convinced that the whole structure was extremely old。 It was built like
the pre…Incan architecture in Peru； of enormous monoliths； fitted as closely
as mosaics。
〃These folks have a history； that's sure；〃 I told the others。 〃And
SOME time they were fighterselse why a fortress？〃
I said we were free of the garden； but not wholly alone in it。
There was always a string of those uncomfortably strong women sitting
about； always one of them watching us even if the others were reading；
playing games； or busy at some kind of handiwork。
〃When I see them knit；〃 Terry said； 〃I can almost call them
feminine。〃
〃That doesn't prove anything；〃 Jeff promptly replied。 〃Scotch
shepherds knitalways knitting。〃
〃When we get out〃 Terry stretched himself and looked at the
far peaks； 〃when we get out of this and get to where the real women are
the mothers； and the girls〃
〃Well； what'll we do then？〃 I asked； rather gloomily。 〃How do
you know we'll ever get out？〃
This was an unpleasant idea； which we unanimously considered；
returning with earnestness to our studies。
〃If we are good boys and learn our lessons well；〃 I suggested。
34
… Page 35…
HERLAND
〃If we are quiet and respectful and polite and they are not afraid of us