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need。 She knew that the natives looked upon her with the same horrified
aversion as they looked upon Strickland； and she kept out of their way。
Once some women； venturing nearer than usual to the plantation； saw her
washing clothes in the brook； and they threw stones at her。 After that the
trader was told to give her the message that if she used the brook again
men would come and burn down her house。〃
〃Brutes；〃 I said。
〃； men are always the same。 Fear
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makes them cruel。。。。 I decided to see Strickland； and when I had finished
with the chiefess asked for a boy to show me the way。 But none would
accompany me； and I was forced to find it alone。〃
When Dr。 Coutras arrived at the plantation he was seized with a
feeling of uneasiness。 Though he was hot from walking； he shivered。
There was something hostile in the air which made him hesitate； and he
felt that invisible forces barred his way。 Unseen hands seemed to draw him
back。 No one would go near now to gather the cocoa…nuts； and they lay
rotting on the ground。 Everywhere was desolation。 The bush was
encroaching； and it looked as though very soon the primeval forest would
regain possession of that strip of land which had been snatched from it at
the cost of so much labour。 He had the sensation that here was the abode
of pain。 As he approached the house he was struck by the unearthly
silence； and at first he thought it was deserted。 Then he saw Ata。 She
was sitting on her haunches in the lean…to that served her as kitchen；
watching some mess cooking in a pot。 Near her a small boy was playing
silently in the dirt。 She did not smile when she saw him。
〃I have come to see Strickland；〃 he said。
〃I will go and tell him。〃
She went to the house； ascended the few steps that led to the verandah；
and entered。 Dr。 Coutras followed her； but waited outside in obedience to
her gesture。 As she opened the door he smelt the sickly sweet smell
which makes the neighbourhood of the leper nauseous。 He heard her
speak； and then he heard Strickland's answer； but he did not recognise the
voice。 It had become hoarse and indistinct。 Dr。 Coutras raised his
eyebrows。 He judged that the disease had already attacked the vocal
chords。 Then Ata came out again。
〃He will not see you。 You must go away。〃
Dr。 Coutras insisted； but she would not let him pass。 Dr。 Coutras
shrugged his shoulders； and after a moment's rejection turned away。 She
walked with him。 He felt that she too wanted to be rid of him。
〃Is there nothing I can do at all？〃 he asked。
〃You can send him some paints；〃 she said。 〃There is nothing else he
wants。〃
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〃Can he paint still？〃
〃He is painting the walls of the house。〃
〃This is a terrible life for you； my poor child。〃
Then at last she smiled； and there was in her eyes a look of
superhuman love。 Dr。 Coutras was startled by it； and amazed。 And he
was awed。 He found nothing to say。
〃He is my man；〃 she said。
〃Where is your other child？〃 he asked。 〃When I was here last you
had two。〃
〃Yes； it died。 We buried it under the mango。〃
When Ata had gone with him a little way she said she must turn back。
Dr。 Coutras surmised she was afraid to go farther in case she met any of
the people from the village。 He told her again that if she wanted him she
had only to send and he would come at once。
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Chapter LVI
Then two years more went by； or perhaps three； for time passes
imperceptibly in Tahiti； and it is hard to keep count of it； but at last a
message was brought to Dr。 Coutras that Strickland was dying。 Ata had
waylaid the cart that took the mail into Papeete； and besought the man
who drove it to go at once to the doctor。 But the doctor was out when the
summons came； and it was evening when he received it。 It was
impossible to start at so late an hour； and so it was not till next day soon
after dawn that he set out。 He arrived at Taravao； and for the last time
tramped the seven kilometres that led to Ata's house。 The path was
overgrown； and it was clear that for years now it had remained all but
untrodden。 It was not easy to find the way。 Sometimes he had to stumble
along the bed of the stream； and sometimes he had to push through shrubs；
dense and thorny； often he was obliged to climb over rocks in order to
avoid the hornet…nests that hung on the trees over his head。 The silence
was intense。
It was with a sigh of relief that at last he came upon the little unpainted
house； extraordinarily bedraggled now； and unkempt； but here too was the
same intolerable silence。 He walked up； and a little boy； playing
unconcernedly in the sunshine； started at his approach and fled quickly
away： to him the stranger was the enemy。 Dr。 Coutras had a sense that
the child was stealthily watching him from behind a tree。 The door was
wide open。 He called out； but no one answered。 He stepped in。 He
knocked at a door； but again there was no answer。 He turned the handle
and entered。 The stench that assailed him turned him horribly sick。 He
put his handkerchief to his nose and forced himself to go in。 The light
was dim； and after the brilliant sunshine for a while he could see nothing。
Then he gave a start。 He could not make out where he was。 He seemed
on a sudden to have entered a magic world。 He had a vague impression
of a great primeval forest and of naked people walking beneath the trees。
Then he saw that there were paintings on the walls。
〃； I hope the sun hasn't affected me；〃 he mutt