The Kiss-1

  ThewintersiralAsiaarepiergandbleak,whilethesweating,foetidsummersbringcholera,dysenteryandmosquitoes,but,inApril,theaircaresseslikethetouchoftheinnerskinofthethighandthestofallthefltreesdousesthecitysthroat-catgwhiffofcesspits.

  Everycityhasitsowninternallogic.Imagiydrawninstraightfeometricshapeswithcrayonsfromachildscbox,inochre,inwhite,ierracotta.Low,bloerracesofhousesseemtoriseoutofthewhitish,pinkishearthasifbornfromit,notbuiltoutofit.Thereisafaint,grittydustovereverything,likethedustthosepastelcrayonsleaveonyers.

  Againstthesebleachedpallors,theiridestcrustsofceramictilesthatcovertheamausoleumsensorcellatetheeye.ThethrobbingblueofIslamtransformsitselftogreenwhileyoulookatit.Behabulbousdomealternatelylapislazuliandveridian,theboamburlaihesceofAsia,lieinajadetomb.Wearevisitinganauthenticallyfabulouscity.WeareinSamarkand.

  TheRevolutionpromisedtheUzbekpeasantwomenclothesofsilkandonthispromise,atleast,didnotwelch.Theyweartunicsofflimsysatin,pinkandyellow,redandwhite,bladwhite,red,greenandwhite,inblotchedstripesofbrilliantcoloursthatdazzlelikeanopticalillusion,andtheybedeckthemselveswithmuchjewellerymadelass.

  Theyalwaysseemtobefrowningbecausetheypaintathick,blaestraightacrosstheirforeheadsthattakestheireyebrowsfromonesideofthefacetotheotherwithoutabreak.Theyrimtheireyeswithkohl.Theylookstartling.Theyfastentheirlonghairintwoorthreedozenwhirlingplaits.Younggirlswearlittlevelvetcapsembroideredwithmetallicthreadandbeadwork.Olderwomeheirheadsleofscarvesofflower-printedwool,oneboundtightovertheforehead,theinglooselyontheshoulders.Nobodyhaswornaveilforsixtyyears.

  Theyurposefullyasiftheydidnotliveinanimaginarycity.Theydonotknowthattheythemselvesaurbanned,sheepskin-jacketed,bootedmenfolkarecreaturesasextraordinarytothefneyeasauni.Theyexist,inalltheirglitteringandiexoticism,itraditohistory.TheydonotknowwhatIknowaboutthem.Theydonotknowthatthiscityisnottheentireworld.Alltheyknowoftheworldisthiscity,beautifulasanillusion,whereirisesgrowiers.Ieahouseagreenparrothebarsofitswickercage.

  Themarkethasasharp,greensmell.Agirlwithblack-barredbrowssprierfromaglassoverradishes.Inthisearlypartoftheyearyoubuyonlylastsummersdriedfruit--apricots,peaches,raisins--exceptforafew,precious,wrinkledpomegraoredinsawdustthroughthewinterandnowsplitopenoalltoshoetofgarsremainswithin.AlocalspecialityofSamarkandissaltedapricotkernels,moredelicious,even,thanpistachios.

  Anoldwomansellsarumlilies.Thism,shecamefromthemountains,wherewildtulipshaveputoutflowerslikeblownbubblesofblood,andthewheedlingturtle-dovesareingamongtherocks.Thisoldsbreadintoacupofbuttermilkforherlundeatsslowly.Whenshehassoldherlilies,shewillgobacktotheplacewheretheyaregrowing.

  Shescarcelyseemstoinhabittime.Or,itisasifshewerewaitingforScheherazadetoperceiveafinaldawnhadeand,thelasttaleofallcluded,fallsilent.Then,thelily-sellermightvanish.

  AgoatisnibblingwildjasmineamongtheruinsofthemosquethatwasbuiltbythebeautifulwifeofTamburlaine.

  Tamburlaineswifestartedtobuildthismosqueforhimasasurprise,whilehewasawayatthewars,butwhewordofhisimmireturn,onearchstillremainedunfinished.Shewentdirectlytothearchitedbeggedhimtohurrybutthearchitecttoldherthathewouldpletetheworkontimeonlyifshegavehimakiss.Onekiss,onesinglekiss.

  Tamburlaineswifewasnotonlyverybeautifulandveryvirtuousbutalsoveryclever.Shewenttothemarket,boughtabasketofeggs,boiledthemhardandstaihemadozendifferentcolours.Shecalledthearchitecttothepalace,showedhimthebasketandtoldhimtochooseanyegghelikeda.Hetg.Whatdoesittastelike?Likeanegg.Eatanother.

  Hetookagreenegg.

  Whatdoesthattastelike?Liketheredegg.Tryagain.

  Heateapurpleegg.

  Oastesjustthesameasany,iftheyarefresh,hesaid.

  Thereyouare!shesaid.Eachoftheseeggslooksdifferenttotherestbuttheyalltastethesame.Soyoumaykissanyoneofmyservingwomenthatyoulikebutyoumustleavemealone.

  Verywell,saidthearchitect.Butsoonhecamebacktoherandthistimehewascarryingatraywiththreebowlsonit,andyouwouldhavethoughtthebowlswereallfullofwater.

  Drinkfromeachofthesebowls,hesaid.

  Shetookadrinkfromthefirstbowl,thenfromthesed;buthowshecoughedandsplutteredwheookamouthfulfromthethirdbowl,becauseittained,notwater,butvodka.

  Thisvodkaandthatwaterbothlookalikebuteachtastesquitedifferent,hesaid.Anditisthesamewithlove.

  ThenTamburlaineswifekissedthearchitethemouth.HewentbaosqueandfihearchthesamedaythatvictoriousTamburlainerodeintoSamarkandwithhisarmyandbannersandhiscagesfullofcaptivekings.ButwhenTamburlaiovisithiswife,sheturnedawayfromhimbecausenowomanwillreturntotheharemaftershehastastedvodka.Tamburlaiherwithaknoutuntilshetoldhimshehadkissedthearchitedthehisexecutionershotfoottothemosque.

  Theexecutionerssawthearchitectstandingontopoftheardranupthestairswiththeirknivesdrawnbutwheheminghegrewwingsandfleersia.

  Thisisastoryinsimple,geometricshapesandtheboldcoloursofachildsboxofcrayons.ThisTamburlaineswifeofthestorywouldhavepaintedablackstripelaterallyacrossherforeheadanddoneupherhairinadozen,dozentinyplaits,likeanyotherUzbekwoman.Shewouldhaveboughtredandwhiteradishesfromthemarketforherhusbandsdinner.Aftersheranawayfromhimperhapsshemadeherlivinginthemarket.Perhapsshesoldliliesthere.

  OurLadyoftheMassacre

  MynameisherherenortheresinceIusedseveralintheOldWorldthatImaynotspeakofnow;thenthereismy,asitwere,wildernesshatnowIneverspeakof;and,now,whatIcallmyselfinthisplace,thereforemynameisnoclueastomypersonnormylifeastomynature.ButIfirstsawlightinthetyofLancashireinOldEngland,intheYearofOurLord16--,myfatherapoorfarmservant,andmemamahdiedofplaguewhenIwasalittlethingsomeahersandsistersleftlivingwereputontheparishandwhatbecameofthemIdonotknow,but,asforme,IcoulddoabitofsewingandkeepaplacesowhenIwereenyearsofagetheysetmeupasamaidofallworktoanoldwomanthatlivedinourparish.

  Thisoldwoman,orladyrather,nevermarriedandwas,asIfoundout,oftheRomanfaith,thoughshekeptthattoherself,andonceagooddealricherthanshehadbee.Besides,herfather,wantingasonaingnowtbutshe,taughtherLatin,GreekandabitofHebrewaheragreattelescopewithwhichsheusedtoviewtheheavensfromherroofthoughhersightwastoobadtomakeoutmuchbutwhatshedidnotsee,shemadeup,forshesaidshehadphtforthethingsofthisworldbutclearsightintotheooe.Sheoftemehaveasquintatthestars,too,forIwasheronlypanionandshelearnedmemyletters,asyousee,andwouldhavetaughtmeallsheknewherself,hadshenot,assoonasIetoher,castmyhoroscopeforme,herfatherhavihechartsandzodiastruments.And,havingIdooldmeIwouldhelanguageofHomeratnotimeinallmylife,butalittleversationalHebrewshedidteachme,forreasonsasfollows:

  Thatthestars,whomshehadsultedonbehalfofherdearchild,asshepleasedtocallme,assuredherthatIwouldtakealongvoyageovertheOtotheNewWorldandtherebearablessedbabewhosefathersfathersneversailedinNoahsArk.And,fromherreading,whichhadwornhereyesout,shehadcludedthatthose"redchildrenofthewilderness"couldbeherthaTribeofIsrael,soshalom,shetaughtme,besidesthewordsfor"love"and"hunger",andmuchelsethatIhavefotten,sothatIcouldtalktomyhusbandwhehim.AndifIhadnotbeenasteadygirl,shewouldhaveturnedmyheadwithallhernonsenseforshewouldhaveitthatthestarsforetoldIshouldgrowuptobenowtlessthanOurLadyoftheRedMen.

  For,shesays,thattryfarbeyondtheseaisnamedVirginia,afterthevirginmodAlmighty,anditsriversflowdirectlyfromEdenso,wheivesarevertedtothetruereligion--"whichtaskIchargeyouwith,child,"andshegivesmeamouthfulofAveMarias--whenthatshallbeaplished,why,thewholeworldwillendandthedeadriseupoutoftheircoffinsandallgotoheaventhatdeserveitandmylittlebabbysitsmilingovereverythingwithagoldonhishead.ThenshedbabbleawayinLatinandcrossherself.ButIoldnobodyaboutherRomanwaysnoraboutherstar-gaziher,foriftheyhadnthangedherforaheretic,theydhavehangedherforawitch,poorcreature.

  OheoldlassliesdownandsupagainandhercousinseandshiftallthegoodsennorthofvaluetoembuttheycouldfindnoplaeintheirhousesoImustshiftformeself.

  ItakeitintomyheadtogotoLondon,whereIpersuademyselfImakemyfortune,andIwalkthehighway,sleepinginbarnsandhedges,forIwashardy,andmakesgoodtime--fivedays.WheoLondon,Istolemyfirstpennyloaf,tokeepmefromstarving,whichleddirectlytomyundoing,agehatspiesmesliptheloafintomypocket,insteadofraisingahueandcry,followsmeintothestreets,takesmyarm,inquires:whetheritbewantorinationthatmakesmetakeit.Iflaresupatthat:Want,sir!saysIandhesays,suchaprettyyoung"Lancashiremilkmaid"asIwasshouldnotwantfornothingwhilehehadbreathinhisbodyandsoflatteredandcoaxedmethatIwentwithhimtoaroomwithabedinitinapublichousewherehewaswellknown.WhenhefindsIveneverdohingbefore,heweeps;beatshisbreastforshamefordebaugme;givesmefivegoldsns,themostmohateverIsawuntilthen;asfor,sohesays,thechurch,toprayfiveness,whichisthelastthatIsawofhim.SoIwentontheonwithmyfirstfall,whichwasafortunateone,andthe"Lancashiremilkmaid"wassooninafairwayoftradeasthe"Lancashirewhore".

  Now,hadIbeententwithhowh,nodoubtIwouldbedressedinsilkridingmycoaCheapsidestillandthebitterbreadofexile.Butyoucouldsaythat,whenIclappedmyeyeonhis,Iwasasifstruckwithloveandthoughwantmadeathiefofme,first,itwasavariceperfectedmeiandwhwasmy"cover"foritsincemyers,bliheywerewithlustandoftenfuddledwithliquor,wereeasiertopluck,living,thangeese,dead.

  ItwasagoldwatchoutofthebosomofacityaldermanthattookmetoeforIquarrelledwithmylandladyovermyrentaookhisplaintofmetothemagistrateoutofspite.So,justasmyoldLancashiremistresssaid,IsailedtheOtiniabutIwentinavicttransport.Theyburnedmyhand,tobraheyusedvicts,andsoldmetoworkmysenteheplantationforsevenyears,afterwhichtheysaidIshouldbeafreewomanagain.

  Mymastertookalikingtome,forIwasagedaboveseventeen,andhehadmeoutofthetobaccofieldsintohiskit.Buttheoverseerdidnotlikeit,thatIshouldgetthetasteofhiswhipnomore,aeredmeunmercifullythat,sinceIhadbeenawhoreinCheapside,IshouldnotplaythehomaidwithhiminVirginia.ingatmealohehouse,mymasterhavinggoochurch,itbeingSundaym,thisoverseerthrustonehandinmybosomaherupmyskirt,saysIshallhaveitwhetherIwantsitorno.Ipickedupthebigcarvingknifeandwhacksoffbothhisears,firstohentother.Whatasight!bloodenoughf-stig;heroars,hecurses,Irunsoutintothegardenwiththeknifeinmyhand,itdripping.

  Seeingmeinsuchafluster,thegardeneringupwithabasketofvegetablescries:"Whatsthis,Sal?"

  "Well,"saysI,"theoverseerjustnowtriedtoboardmeaheearsoffhimandwouldithadbeenhispillockstoo."

  Thegardener,beingagood-naturedkindofNegromanandaslave,hisself,andhisselftickledooooftenbytheoverseerswhip,otforbeartolaughbutsaystome:"Thenyoumustbeoffintothewilderness,Sal,andcastyourfatetothetendermerciesofthesavageIndian.Forthisisahangingmatter."

  Hegivesmehishandkerchiefwithhisbitofdinnerinitandatinder-boxhehadabouthim,whichIstowawayinmyapronpocket,andIshowtheplantationapairofheels,Itellyou,addingtomylistofcrimesthatmostheinous:escapefrombondage.

  IamagoodwalkerasyoumayjudgefrommytrudgefromLancashiretoLondonandbythetimenightesonandIsitdowhegardenersbitofbreadandbatherearefifteenoddmilesbetweenmyselfandtheplantationandroughgoing,too,formymasterhadclearedlandfromtheforesttogrowhistobayplanis,towalkuntilIgetstowheretheEnglishhavenodominion,forIhaveheardtheSpaniardsandtheFrenchareonthiscoast,aswell,andthere,Ithought,Idplymytradeamongststrangers,forawhoreneedsnowtbutherskiupbusiness.

  YoumustknowIhadnoknowledgeofgeographyandthought,friniatoFloridabuttenortwelvedaysmarch,atthemost,forIkwasveryfarandcouldthinkofnodistaherthanthat,freatvastnessoftheAmericaswasthenunknowntome.AsfortheIndians,Ithought,well!ifIkeepofftheoverseerwithmyknife,Idbemorethanamatchforthem,ifIshouldmeetthem,sosleptsounduhesky,tookabearingbythesuninthemaon.

  IhadwateroutofthestreamsanditwastheseasonofberriessoImademybreakfastoffabitoffruitbutmygutsbegantorumblebydiimeandIcastmyeyeaboutformoresolidfodder.Seeingthebrakesfullofsmallbeastsandbirdsunknowhought:"HowIgohungryifIusemywits!"SoItiedmyshstogethertomakealittlesrappedasmall,brown,furrythingoftherabbitkind,butearless,andslititsthroat,ski,toasteditontheendofmycarving-knifeoverafireImadewiththeblessedtinder-boxthegardenergiveme.SoallIwantedwassaltandabitofbread.

  AfterIeatmydinner,IsawhowtheoaktreeswerefullofasatthisseasonandthoughtthatImightgrindupthoseasbetweentwoflatstones,withabitofeffort,andsogetakindofflour,ashadbeehomeintimesofwant.IreasonedhowIixthisflourtodoughwithwater.ThenIcouldbakethedoughiheashesofmyfireandhavebreadwithmymeat.And,ifIwantedfishonaFriday,aswasmyLancashireladys,Icouldticklethetroutwithwhichthestreamabounded,whichisatrickeverytrygirlknowsandnotunlikepigapocket.Also,itseemedtome,ifIdriedthemulberriesinthesun,theywouldeatsweetforamonth.WhenIgotsofarinplanningmydiet,Ithought:why,IgetalonghereverywellinthewoodsonmyownforawhileevenifImusteatmeatwithoutsalt!

  For,Ithought,Ihavesteelandfireandtheclimateistemperate,thelandfruitful;thisearthlyparadisesurelywillprovideforme!Ibuildashelteroutofbranchesandbidemytimeuntilthefussoverthelop-earedoverseerdiesdown,thenmakemywaySouthinmyowngoodtime.Besides,totellthetruth,mynostrilsweretoofullofthestinkofhumanitytorelishaquickreturntotheworldinsomebordelloinFlorida.ButIthoughtthatIshouldtravelonalittlemore,forsafetyssake,intothedeepwilderness,sothatnohuntingpartymightfindmeaurhenoose.OfwhichIhadaverypowerfulfearand,Imaytellyou,moredreadofthewhiteman,whiew,thanoftheredman,whowasatthattimeunknowntome.

  SoIwalkedonanotherday,takingmylivingfromthetryeasilyenough;thenonedaymoreandneverheardavoicebutthebirdswhistle;butthedayafterthatIheardawomansingingandsawohesavagetribeinaclearingandthoughttokillher,beforeshekilledme,butthenIsawshehadnoonbutigherbsandputtingtheminafinebasket.SoIstepsbacktohidemyselffromherlestshebesomeIndianservantofaplanter,althoughIdothinkthatIwalk,now,wherenopersonofmytryevertrodbefore.Butshehearstheleavesmoveandseesmeandjumpsasifshedseenaghostsothatsheknocksoverherbasketandherherbsspillout.

  IhinktwiceaboutitbutstepacrosstopickupthespilledherbsforherasifIwasbaCheapsideandruntohelpsomefruit-sellerthatoverturnsherbasketofapples.

  Thiswomahebrandonmyhandandgruntstoherself,asthoughsheknowsthemeaningofitandwillnotfearmeforit,or,rather,doesnotfearmebecauseofit,but,allthesame,doesnotlikethelookofme.Sheholdsbaethoughshetakesherbasketfrommeagainasiftoleavemeintheforest.ButIamstruckbyherlooks,sheisahandsomewoman,wondrousbrown,anditcameintomymindtoopenmybodice,showhermybreasts,that,thoughIhadwhiterskin,Icouldgivesuckaswellassheandshereachedoutandtouchedmybosom.

  Shewasawomanofaboutmiddleagedressedinnowtbutabuckskinskirtandshegruntedwhenshesawmystays--forIstillworemyEnglishapparel,thoughitwasragged--andmotionedme,asIthought,thatwhalebonewasnotthefashionamongtheIndiannation.SooffgomystaysandIthrowsthemintoabushaheseasierforit.Thensheasksme,bysigns,togiveherthebigkumyapron.

  "NowImforit!"Ithinksbuthandsitoverandshesmiles,thoughnotmuch,forthesesavagesarenothalfsofreewiththeirfeelingsasweare,andsaysinawordItaketomean"Knife".Isayitafterher,pointingtoit,butsheshakesherheadandrunsherfingerdowntheblade,soIsay,afterher:"Sharp".Or,awordyoumightputintoEnglishas:acute.AndthatwasthefirstwordoftheAlgonkianlanguagethateverIspoke,thoughnotthelast,byanymeans.Thehisoldwomane,not,asIsee,markedbychild-bearing,andrememberingtheVirginQueenmymissustaughtmeof,Itryheroutwith:"Shalom".WhichshepolitelyrepeatsaftermebutItellitmeansnowttoher.

  Shemotionsme:shallIgowithher?Ithinktheoverseerwillneveretolookformeamongtheredmen!SoIgoeswithhertotheIndiantownandinthisway,noother,wasI"taken"byemalthoughtheMinisterwouldhaveitotherwise,thattheytookmewithviolence,againstmywill,halihehair,andifhewishestobelieveit,theim.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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