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！
on me one of her 〃lastword〃 glances。
〃Go to school without another word；〃
she said； quietly。
I knew that quiet tone； and I went。
And now I was sure that all was over
between my parents and myself。 I be…
gan to wonder if I need really wait till
I was grown up before leaving home。
So miserably absorbed was I in think…
ing of this； and in pitying myself with
a consuming pity； that everything at
school seemed to pass like the shadow
of a dream。 I blundered in whatever
I tried to do； was sharply scolded for
not hearing the teacher until she had
spoken my name three times； and was
holding on to myself desperately in my
effort to keep back a flood of tears；
when I became aware that something
was happening。
There suddenly was a perfect silence
in the room the sort of silence that
makes the heart beat too fast。 The
mist swimming before me did not； I per…
ceived； come from my own eyes； but
from the changing colour of the air； the
usual transparency of which was being
tinged with yellow。 The sultriness of
the day was deepening； and seemed to
carry a threat with it。
〃Something is going to happen；〃
thought I； and over the whole room
spread the same conviction。 Electric
currents seemed to snap from one con…
sciousness to another。 We dropped our
books； and turned our eyes toward the
western windows； to look upon a
changed world。 It was as if we peered
through yellow glass。 In the sky soft…
looking； tawny clouds came tumbling
along like playful cats or tigers。 A
moment later we saw that they were
not playful； but angry； they stretched
out claws； and snarled as they did so。
One claw reached the tall chimneys of
the schoolhouse； another tapped at the
cupola； one was thrust through the wall
near where I sat。
Then it grew black； and there was a
bellowing all about us； so that the com…
mands of the teacher and the screams
of the children barely could be heard。
I knew little or nothing。 My shoulder
was stinging； something had hit me on
the side of the head； my eyes were full
of dust and mortar； and my feet were
carrying me with the others along the
corridor； down the two flights of wide
stairs。 I do not think we pushed each
other or were reckless。 My recollec…
tion is only of many shadowy figures
flying on with sure feet out of the build…
ing that seemed to be falling in upon us。
Presently we were out on the land…
ing before the door； with one more
flight of steps before us； that reached
to the street。 Something so strong that
it might not be denied gathered me up
in invisible arms； whirled me round
once or twice and dropped me； not un…
gently； in the middle of the road。 And
then； as I struggled to my knees and；
wiping the dust from my eyes； looked
up； I saw dozens of others being lifted
in the same way； and blown off into the
yard or the street。 The larger ones
were trying to hold on to the smaller；
and the teachers were endeavouring to
keep the children from going out of the
building； but their efforts were of no
avail。 The children came on； and were
blown about like leaves。
Then I saw what looked like a high
yellow wall advancing upon me a roar…
ing and fearsome mass of driven dust；
sticks； debris。 It came over me that my
own home might be there； in strips and
fragments； to beat me down and kill
me； and with the thought came a swift
little vision out of my geography of the
Arabs in a sand…storm on the desert。 I
gathered up my fluttering dress skirt；
held it tight about my head； and lay flat
upon the ground。
It seemed as if a long time passed；
a time in which I knew very little ex…
cept that I was fighting for my breath
as I never had fought for anything。
There were more hurts and bruises
now； but they did not matter。 Just to
draw my own breath in my own way
seemed to be the only thing in the
world that was of any account。 And
then there was a shaft of flame； an ear…
splitting roar； and the rain was upon
us in sheets； in streams； in visible riv…
ers。
I imagined that it would last a long
time； and wondered in a daze how I
could get home in a rain like that
for I should have to face it。 I could
see that in a few seconds the gutters
had begun to race； the road where I
lay was a stream； and then then the
rain ceased。 Never was anything so
astonishing。 The sky came out blue；
tattered rags of cloud raced across it；
and I had time to conclude that； whip…
ped and almost breathless though I
was； I was still alive。
And then I saw a curious sight。 Down
the street in every direction came rush…
ing hatless men and women。 Here and
there a wild…eyed horse was being
lashed along。 All the town was coming。
They were in their work clothes； in
their slippers； in their wrappers they
were in anything and everything。 Some
of them sobbed as they ran； some called
aloud names that I knew。 They were
fathers and mothers looking for their
children。
And who was that that woman with
a white face； with hair falling about her
shoulders； where it had fallen as she
ran that woman whose breath came
between her teeth strangely and who
called my name over and over； bleat…
ingly； as a mother sheep calls its lamb？
At first I did not recognise her； and
then； at last； I knew。 And that creature
with the rolling eyes and the curious
ash…coloured face who； mumbling some…
thing over and over in his throat； came
for me； and snatched me up and wiped
my face free of mud； and felt of me
here and there with trembling hands
who was he？
And breaking out of the crowd of
men who had come running from the
street of stores and offices； was an…
other strange being； with a sort of bat…
tle light in his eyes； who； seeing me；
gathered me to him and bore me away
toward home。 Looking back； I could
see the woman I knew following； lean…
ing on the arm of the boy with the roll…
ing eyes； whose eyes had ceased to roll；
and who was quite recognisable now as
Toot。
A happiness that was almost as ter…
rible as sorrow welled up in my heart。
I did not weep； or laugh； or talk。 All
I had experienced had carried me be…
yond mere excitement into exultation。
I exulted in life； in love。 My conceit
and sulkiness died in that storm； as did
many another thing。 I was alive。 I
was loved。 I said it over and over to
myself silently； in 〃my heart's deep
core；〃 while mother washed me with
trembling hands in my own dear room；
bound up my hurts； braided my hair；
and put me； in a fresh night…dress； into
my bed。 I do not recall that we talked
to each other； but in every caress of
her hands as she worked I felt the un…
spoken assurances of a love such as I
had not dreamed of。
Father had gone running back to the
school to see if he could be of any as…
sistance to his neighbours； and had
taken Toot with him； but they were
back presently to say that beyond a few
sharp injuries and broken bones； no
harm had been done to the children。 It
was considered miraculous that no one
had been killed or seriously injured；
and I noticed that father's voice trem…
bled as he told of it； and that mother
could not answer； and that Toot sobbed
like a big silly boy。
Then as we talked together； behold；
a second storm was upon us a sh