Читать книгу Pyg - Russell Potter - Страница 12

4

Having been so earnestly desirous of finding my way through the World, I now discovered that it was a far Vaster and more Inhospitable place than I could ever have Imagined. For the Animal, once Domesticated, it must ever be thus: they have been made a place beside Man, and given a purpose in life quite Contrary to that assigned them by Nature; their Existence is not even properly their Own. I soon discovered that I was even Less at home in this New Life than I had been my Last, and I held out little hope that this Disjointure within the order of things could ever be Mended. My Benefactor, of course, was as kindly and Protective as he could possibly be, obtaining wild roots and herbs for me to Eat, and making each night a Bed for me upon the Heather. And yet, despite his good Intentions, his small hands could hardly Gather anything approaching the quantity of Food to which I, a Prize Pig, had become accustomed; nor could I, having come from a Line that long ago had had its natural Talents bred out of it, manage any better for Myself.

Looking back, it is Remarkable to me that we endured as long as we did. I had, of course, no notion of Numbers or Dates at that time, but I should say it was a Fortnight, and perhaps even a few days more, before we finally stumbled upon that Place which was, for a time at least, to be a sort of Haven for us both. We had, so far as we were able, kept off the High roads, following a crooked path across pasture, heath and marshland. Occasionally, when Sam was able, he would Hide me in a convenient place, then Nip across a farmer’s field and Glean a meagre meal for us both. It was late in the Year, and Winter would soon be coming on, which meant the pickings were Scarce, and our Situation daily grew more Perilous. I lost a good deal of the Weight I had so Famously acquired, and began, in Appearance at least, to resemble my Darker and Leaner ancestors. Sam, although never an especially Tidy lad, began to acquire such a Patina of dirt that you would have taken him for a Gypsy, or one of those boys who labour all day in a Coal-pit. We were indeed a Capital pair—the Wild Boy and the Wild Boar, we might well have been called—and our one comfort was that, if found, it would scarce be likely that anyone would Recognise us, or suspect our Origins.

It was while we were in this Dismal state that we came upon a large country farm which, even from a Distance, looked to be a step up from the rest. It was not just the well-kept buildings and pastures, though these were certainly Picturesque, but rather the curious appearance of the Creatures who dwelt therein that captured our attention. The Horses, which we spied First, were most Odd in their bearing: they walked with a certain deliberate trot, much as animals that have been trained for Dressage, and yet their manners seemed entirely Natural, as though they were executing a Dance of their own Design. Some years after this, I read of the singular race of Houyhnhnms, as described by Dean Swift, and had I known of them before, I would have sworn these were They. Coming closer, we beheld several dogs that appeared to have the run of the Place and yet—again, in an uncannily Human sort of way—exhibited a curious sort of courtesy. When they passed, it seemed as though they did Bow to one another (that is, make a motion with their Heads not, as some delineate a dog’s hallo, to say ‘Bow Wow’), and they did Often rise up on their hind Quarters, and place their Paws upon a Rail or a Wall, standing in this posture for some Minutes on End. We were the more Amazed to see a great number of Cats, which appeared to dwell alongside the Dogs in perfect Harmony, as if there was no Reason in the World for any animosity between them.

Such a place stirred in us great Wonder, as well as (I must admit) a modicum of Fear. Had it not been for the extreme Lateness of the Season, the pinch of Winter being already at our Heels—and for the great Emptiness in our Stomachs—I doubt that we would have hazarded to draw nearer. And yet, by a sort of strange Fascination, nearer and nearer did we draw, until at last we attracted the attention of several of the Dogs. These creatures did not, to our Amazement, bark at us or attempt to drive us away, but instead ran quickly back toward the main House, emerging a few moments later in the company of the most singular Man I had then, or have ever since, Encountered.

This man—whose name, we would soon learn, was Mr Silas Bisset—seemed as much or even More at home among his Animal comrades as he would in any Human company. As he walked, he made a strange variety of ticking and clicking noises with his mouth, in response to which the dogs all came quite close to him, and trotted as if called to Heel. He whistled a curious tune and at once, as if summoned by their Maker, a great flurry of yellow Finches came and flew about his Head, with one almost Roosting inside the bald spot atop of it. After another whistle, they flew off, but then came a parade of Cats such as I have never seen before or since. These animals, I knew well enough even then, are most reluctant to come to anyone’s call, or hurry upon an errand other than their own—and yet here were at least a half-dozen of them, trotting along like Kittens after their Mother! As this strange confabulation of creatures drew near us, we could make out still one more Member of the Assembly—a white Mouse peeped at us from the man’s Pocket!

At last this strange party came to a Halt, and we instantly did the same. The man smiled, bowed deeply, and began to address us in the most mellifluous and enchanting of tones. I could not understand his Speech, if by that one means the Words, but in the Tone of his Discourse there was such ease that I stood as if some strange Spell had been cast upon me. I was overcome by a desire to Please this man, who was so Pleasant in himself, and who had such admirable Affinities with the Animal world. Sam, for his part, looked as dazed as I felt, and could hardly think how to reply. At length, he did speak, and it was simply to lay out our situation as Plainly as could be, communicating with words and signs our Weariness, the length of our Journey, and our great hunger. To this, the man replied with laughter, and further light words. At a gesture, he dismissed his entire entourage, which straightway dispersed about the grounds, and beckoned us within his singular Abode.

I had not, at that time, been inside any Human Dwelling place, and so had nothing with which to compare the Wonders I beheld. Never the less, I was fairly Confident that no other House was made as His was, with an eye to both the Human and Animal worlds. There were, at the level of my Eye, a number of doors and archways, perfectly accommodating the average Quadruped, and I passed by similarly sized Alcoves, in which were placed bright Cushions and bowls of Food and Water. At the same time, at the Human altitude, there were Tables laden with fruit and fresh vegetables, Couches of rich silk with Velvet draperies, and numerous benches upholstered with soft cloth and scattered with Pillows. The whole place seemed to have been built with such Double business in mind, and all in such a sensible and Complete manner, that it would have seemed Absurd to imagine any Other.

Our host invited us into an inner Chamber, where a fine repast was laid out for us both, as though we had been Expected. For Sam there was a steaming bowl of Porridge, a variety of Fruits and a large wedge of Cheese; for me, there was a large copper Basin, filled with the most tender grains and Vegetables, which had been cooked in Barley-water. I did not see any Meat upon the table that day, nor on any Other, so although our Host was too gracious to mention it, I was certain that its Absence was due to his devotion to his Animals, and his Abhorrence of the idea of Eating any of them. After our feast, we were led to a pair of Beds—Sam’s furnished with a soft mattress and a cotton Coverlet, mine quite heaped with fresh clean Straw. I doubt that either of us ever enjoyed such a Sleep as we did that day, for our weariness was as Profound as the relief we felt in discovering such a Friend. We must have slept the evening and night together, for we woke at Dawn with the Cock’s-crow, and found again an ample Meal set before us. Our Host was not present—doubtless his many Duties on the estate did not permit him to Wait upon our rising, but he would make his appearance shortly. Which indeed he did, within a little less than an hour; he once again bowed to us both, and directed Sam to a washroom where a large pail of warm water, with ample Soap and Towels, awaited him.

On emerging from his Bath, my Benefactor was restored to his former self, shiny and Pink; Mr Bisset had also provided him fresh Cloathes from his own Closet, and although they hung quite Loosely upon his small Frame, Sam did not seem to mind. We were again welcomed, with words of the Kindest tone, and I understood from Sam that we were to have the Run of the Place, and amuse ourselves as we saw Fit. We did so quite happily, discovering on our Peregrinations much more about the Place that surprised us, and not a little that Amazed. The outbuildings had, like the house, been outfitted for any sort of Animal or Man; the only exception being the Barn, which was, as with the more common sort, designed entirely on the scale of Horses; the only difference being that their Stalls had no doors, nor was there any sign of Bits, Reins, saddles or Stirrups, such as would ordinarily be employed. I did, on closer inspection, discover a Whip—but as it was quite old and dusty, and gave the appearance of having long lain idle, I thought nothing of it.

The grounds were beautifully kept, though we could find no sign of any other Persons on the Property. There had, apparently, been a Mrs Bisset at some point, for a portrait of her with her husband had a Prominent place in the Parlour, but if she were still Extant, there was no sign of her presence. Once or twice a Week, a wagon arrived with such Provisions as were required, other than those which the Farm itself produced, and twice each day, without fail, we sat down to a fine meal which was set out for us. We had our own dining-table, as did the cats, and also the Dogs, upon which was set every delicacy that each Animal might have desired—with the exception, as I have said, of Meat of any sort. Mr Bisset had developed a sort of concentrated Food, in the form of Pellets of compressed vegetable matter, which were Flavoured in such a manner that all seemed to find them Palatable. Even the Mouse had his own sort of concentrated food, but he alone was fed by Hand, as he rarely left his Master’s Pocket, save at night when he retired to a little suite of rooms that had been made for him in the manner of a child’s Doll’s House. This was placed on a high shelf, though whether to keep him Safe from the many Felines in the house, or simply because it was at a convenient Height for leaping in and out of pockets, I could not tell.

The only other activity we could discern in the home took place each afternoon in what must have been the former Drawing-room. The Cats were often called to Attend, but what it was they did therein I could not tell, as the door was kept closed at all times. The one Glimpse I caught was of a pair of brightly coloured Stools, between which a length of Cord had been tied, though what use such an arrangement could be to the Cats I could not begin to Imagine. And yet, in that Sight, I sensed that some further Demand, some greater Expectation, was made of us, the Animal residents of Mr Bisset’s Demesne, than simply to Live, and Frolic, and wander about his Grounds—indeed, that there was yet to be revealed some dread Command with which we all must Comply or else Forfeit the many accommodations made for us in this his House. This feeling, during all my first Time there, was very closely associated with these Doors, and I was quite convinced that, once they were to be Opened, all would be Revealed to me, for Better or for Worse.

And so one day it was. It began much like any other, in that a welcome Meal was all laid out upon Table and trough, such that both Sam and I were soon sated, and ready to set out upon our daily Rounds about the estate. We were accustomed to seeing Mr Bisset strolling upon the large stone Patio that adjoined his home, and there indeed he Was, but so strangely Dressed and Appointed that we scarce Knew him. He was attired in a complete suit, cap-à-pie, of Black silk, along with a Waistcoat of red Satin, a tall Hat of Beaver fur, and a great bow Tie of some checked material. He looked for all the world like a Showman in want of a Show, and indeed this appearance was to be borne out in a moment far more absolute than I was then capable of grasping. He strode into the Hall, and stood before the twin Doors of the occluded Room, then Bowed, most deeply, in my Direction. I did the same in Return, having many times observed such Formalities, and then stood in Awe as the Doors of Perception were most suddenly thrown Ope, revealing, no concatenation of Cats but rather this simple Tableau: the twenty-six letters of the Alphabet, and the eleven numerals from 0 to 10, which comprise the Alpha-numeric Range of these our Numbers. In that sight, I beheld at once the double path of my Destiny, for by these Means I might give Utterance to my Will, and yet with these same Characters Mr Bisset could express His, and by them I would—as I am even as I write the very words you see before you—henceforth be Bound.