Читать книгу From Monkey to Man, or, Society in the Tertiary Age - Austin Bierbower - Страница 11

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Sosee had come down from the tree in which she received the news of the rape of Orlee, described in Chapter I, and, though she had given orders to Koree to bring back the child, she did not herself remain inactive. She rushed into the crowd, and, calling upon all, with wild screams, to rescue the child, went herself into the Swamp, and without any notion of where she was going, wandered about aimlessly till night, being completely lost. She found her way back only by the light of the moon, whose position in the heavens was some guide in her wanderings. Nor would she have returned at all, had she not hoped that some one else had, in the mean while, brought back the child.

On returning to the place from which she had started, she was distressed to learn that Orlee was not found, and she could scarcely be restrained from immediately starting again in pursuit of her. As Koree, however, had not yet returned, having searched farther and later than any, except Sosee, she hoped that he, inspired by her love, would come back with success. She had most confidence in him because she had most love for him, believing that what most pleased her fancy would best serve her purpose.

Her first disappointment in love was when she saw Koree return without the child; for in this crisis she felt more for her sister than for her lover, the newly lost being ever dearer than the long loved. Koree had failed to meet her expectation, or rather her desire; and in times of disappointment the little that is lacking outweighs all that is not.

“You have failed to bring back Orlee and the tail of the fat baboon,” she said, “Despair of my love till you fetch me both.”

This was spoken in the half-articulate manner already explained, as was the balance of the conversation (which we translate, however, into modern expression).

“What all the race of the Ammi could not do,” he replied, “you ought not to blame your lover for not accomplishing.”

“The love of one,” she retorted, “can do more than the indifference of many. If Orlee is ever found it will be by love, and not by numbers.”

“I will yet fetch her back,” he said; “love’s work is not exhausted in one effort, but requires time for its fruit. She will come in response to your love acting through mine. Neither man nor monkey shall defeat me, or excel me, in this task.”

“Go, then,” she said, “and I will go with you. Love co-operates, and never commands only.”

“I will go,” he replied: “and not care whether I return. With Sosee at my side, I could roam forever, indifferent whither we come, so we be still together. Had we not gone alone before we would not have returned without Orlee; but we came back to see each other. Love left behind defeats its own purpose sent before. If we separate we will be hunting each other, instead of keeping our thoughts on Orlee.”

“Let us then go,” she said, “and keep ourselves and our purposes united, and resolve not to return till we come with her.”

“I will go; for then will I have everything with me, and nothing to come back for.”

“If you go for my company only,” she said, “and not for the child, you will soon have neither. To be my lover you must want what I want, and not merely want me; and if you do not get it you will soon be without me, for love must achieve success to be rewarded with love.”

“I want more your wish than my own, and will give up everything for it.”

“Except me.”

“Yes, and you even.”

“You mean thing! I won’t go with you.”

“Well,” he replied, “I won’t go alone.”

“You don’t care for me a bit,” she said.

“You only care for me to serve your purpose,” he retorted.

“I will get Kibboo to go with me,” she next said.

“He may go,” replied Koree, “and I will stay with Alee till you return. She is a better climber, and can run faster than you.”

“Boo! hoo! she has no hair on her back, and is meaner than you. She ran from a little snake which I could bite in two.”

“But she loves me, and never quarrels with me.”

“She don’t love you; she only hates me, and wants to make you do so. She loves Ki, and picked the fleas off him when he came from the Swamp this evening.”

“Do you love me, Sosee?” he next asked with more tenderness.

“I won’t tell you,” she replied, sobbing.

“Will you go with me, and stay with me?”

“I never said I wouldn’t.”

Here followed a long pause, during which Sosee sobbed and sighed, and Koree looked about in his mind for some excuse for making peace without seeming to want to. Sosee came to his relief, however, with a question.

“Koree?”

“Well?”

“Will you go with me to find Orlee?”

Sosee, too proud to ask for his love, had asked for his service.

“Yes,” he replied, glad to give both, “and will not come back till we find her.”

“Won’t that be delightful! to hunt and find her together!”

“Yes,” he replied, “and let us start to-night, and before morning we may find her.”

But night and weariness had settled down upon them, and as the older men and women had determined to wait till morning before recommencing the search, the two lovers concluded to do likewise, saying that they could then search with greater vigor.

They then walked awhile, though weary, in the moonlight, and discoursed of love and Orlee, he speaking of his devotion and she of her confidence that he would bring back her sister.

“How approvingly,” he said “the monkey in the moon looks down upon our love.”

“And upon our resolution,” she replied.

They then parted to sleep for the night; and soon their love, their weariness and their purpose were all forgotten, except in disturbed dreams, in which he thought of wandering through unknown swamps with Sosee, and she pictured the rescue of her sister by a heroic lover.

In the silence and longing of that night, however, Koree audibly breathed the following sentiment, which is the first poetry made by the human race:

What is life

Without a wife?