Complete Works of George Moore

by George Moore

  The otters had already distributed some fishes among the cubs, and these were eagerly disputed with a strange whistling noise, each holding a fish in his forepaws, and eating his way from the head down to the tail which he discarded. Adam and Eve could see the fish did not like being eaten, for the fish struggled, but the cubs held the fishes tightly in their paws, and continued to gnaw them. I wonder what the fishes taste like, Eve said; but neither had eaten flesh, and they were loth to take a piece from the cubs, which they could have easily done, for one of the cubs had shown such signs of friendliness that he almost offered them a piece of fish, but they were loth to accept his gift, for they were suddenly possessed of a strange premonition, a sort of instinctive knowledge it was that the larger animals were responsible for the coming into the world of the smaller animals, and these smaller animals were being fed by them upon fish. But what becomes of the fish? they asked themselves; for they that are now within the otters were swimming in the river, leaping in the sunlight a while ago, and feeling that neither could explain the mystery to the other, Adam and Eve retired to their own side of the river, perplexed and unhappy.

  It was some days later, while they were bathing in the river, that they caught sight of the otters with their four cubs in the river, daddy and mummy teaching the younglings how to pursue the fishes under the water, and a great commotion they were making, the terrified fishes striving to escape from their enemies in all directions, some of them darting up an inlet in which there was so little water that Adam and Eve might have picked them out with their hands. One of the cubs followed these, and presently he caught one of them, and Adam and Eve expected to see him return to the river and bring his spoil to the rock in front of the den and eat it there, but a second thought seemed to come through his mind, and instead of returning to the river he trotted up the bank and laid the fish at their feet.

  He allowed them to stroke him and he jumped round them, and then, remembering that his business was to pursue fishes, he returned to the water, and they saw no more of him till next day. Will he bring us a fish again? Eve said, and they waited at the head of a creek. He had not forgotten them and, not content with giving them one fish, he returned to the water and began to hunt the fishes. Adam and Eve thought they would see no more of him, and with the fish he had given them they returned to their dwelling under the plane-trees in the dough or dell, out of reach of the winds, and great was their surprise when they saw the otter following them with a fish in his mouth, and, as if to encourage them to eat the fish he had brought them, he laid it before them and began to eat another, one they had picked out of the shallows, and he ate with a relish which they accepted as wilful exaggeration, his purpose being to win them over to his mode of life. We shall do well to imitate the animals, Eve said, for they know more than we do, isn’t that so? she asked, as she sliced a fish with a sharp stone and gave half of it to Adam. The animals must know more than we do; it could not be else, he said, they having lived upon the earth always, and as he said these words a shadow overran his face, and to disperse it she called to Othniel, the name they had given the otter, and he came trotting round her feet, and jumped upon her knees. Look at our little swimmer, she said, who didn’t need any teaching. Is he not asking us to take him down to the river? We must, for his diet is fish, and we cannot catch them for him. But he has just eaten, Adam answered, for he was thinking that it might be better to wean Othniel from the river, if that were possible. But as his diet is fish we cannot keep him from the river, Eve replied, and all three went down to the river together, Othniel passing into the stream silently as oil, and showing himself a faster swimmer than his wild brethren, and a more expert fisher.

  He remained so long under water that Eve clasped her hands, certain he was drowning; a moment after they caught sight of the beloved brown-whiskered face coming towards them, a silver fish in his jaws. But though he seems to prefer us to his brethren, the river will tempt him away from us, Adam said. Thou art thinking of Lilith, Eve answered, and Adam denied that this was so, saying that he was dreaming of weapons whereby he might take the fish from the river, and, possessed by this idea, he began to sharpen flints. But the fishes were swift and sudden and eluded the spear till Othniel, as if he would save Adam from humiliation, began to drive them towards Adam. At last a frightened fish fell to Adam’s spear, and over this fish Othniel started a great gambol; nor would he be gainsaid of his fun, and his pretty ways and intelligence took such a hold on their affections that they lived in dread lest they should lose him, a not unreasonable dread for he was often unable to subdue his mood to remain in the river: he would raise himself half-way out of the water, acknowledging their calling by the gesture; and by a sudden dive he sought to tell them that they need not expect him yet awhile. They sought the little runaway up the river where the water rushed over the boulders; he allowed them to capture him after a long frolic in the warm autumn nights and in turn they carried him to a comfortable bed of leaves in the cave. But if his mood was for deep waters he kept down the stream and they called and swam out to him in vain; to swim after an otter is vainer than to call to him; and the alarmed twain stood watching the current swirling almost silently past the walls that Iahveh had built round the garden, widening as it flowed, looping round islands, disappearing into forests, seeming by times to lose itself in marshes and fens, but recovering itself always and threading its way into the grey autumn hills safely. But going whither? they asked themselves, forgetful of Othniel; but only for a moment: the river brought him to us, Eve said, and the river has taken him away. Iahveh is greater than the river, Adam answered, therefore we must pray that he may bid Othniel return to us. The words were on Eve’s lips to reply: Iahveh cannot do that but her feet turned into the path and they prayed at the stone altar on the hill-top that Othniel might be given back to them.

  Iahveh is in no mood to listen to us to-night, Adam said: we cannot awaken him. And Eve answered: though he doesn’t answer us, he may have heard us, and certain that he had heard their prayers and would answer them favourably they slept lightly, awakened often, first by sighings that seemed to come from Othniel’s bed. Eve’s ears were quicker than Adam’s, but in answer to her Adam said: it isn’t he, but the wind sighing in the trees. Again Eve awakened Adam, saying: hearken, and Adam answered: it is not he but a pebble fallen from the roof. Again they were awakened: a bird or bat, Adam said, may have come, but it has gone again. Sleep on.

  A day passed and another without seeing him, and they had begun to despair of ever seeing him again, when their despair passed into joy for they saw him coming towards them thinking more of his warm bed of leaves than of them. But he had come back and they excused his heartlessness, Eve saying: he has been thrown about by the current and is well tired. This might well have been so for the river was in flood, and even an otter cannot swim against a current flowing heavily against him. Let him lie and rest himself, and while resting, Eve continued: do thou be fishing for him in the river with the new spear and if thou canst catch fish for him we may keep him in the cave always. And Eve waited while Adam fished, but he brought no fish home with him, and Othniel, waking hungry in the evening, was taken to the river. Canst not see, Eve said, how turbulent is the water? the river is no longer the same river; the banks are overflowed and the edges thronged with birds — birds we have never seen before. These come up the river, Adam answered her, when the cold weather is near.

  CHAPTER 38.

  THE RAINY SEASON began soon after, and the river rose steadily day after day, till Adam was of a mind that it would be safer to move up the hill-side to Iahveh’s altar than to remain in the dough in which they might be easily drowned; even Othniel, Adam said, great a swimmer as he was, could not contend against the waters as they are now running. Again and again he thrust his spear into the pools, but the fishes had sought to escape the force of the flood by sinking to the bottom, and to get himself a dinner, Othniel ascended the river and remained away for days over the hill-side, fishing being eas
ier higher up the stream; and when he returned he was so tired that it seemed as if he would not be able to sleep off his weariness. They were glad of this for the storms continued despite their prayers to Iahveh; it were better they said that Othniel should fast than that he should drown; and very hungry, indeed, he was when a sweet south-wind began to blow over the garden. He caught his dinner quickly and they thought to persuade him to leave the river; but deaf to all callings, he lingered by the brink, loth to leave it. For him every breeze seemed to be laden with tidings, and with beating hearts they watched him sniffing through the reeds. He is not seeking fishes, but his kin, Eve said, and a few days after, an otter that had doubtless scented him from afar, belike from the banks of the islands beyond the walls, met him in the current, and the otters went away together.

  The river brought him to us, Eve said; the river has taken him from us; under yonder bank they will beget young. As these words were spoken it fell out that Adam’s eyes should meet Eve’s and they knew that the same suffering as had befallen Othniel was upon them.

  Adam’s tongue clove to the roof of his mouth, and it was with an effort that he threw out some words to Eve, hoping thereby to hide his trouble from her. He will weary of his mate, Eve, he said, and he would have continued to reassure her, but Eve’s eyes were upon him. It is, perhaps, Iahveh’s will to enlighten us, he said: so let us go to his altar, and pray that he may do so. We were there this morning, Eve answered. But we did not pray that we might be enlightened, he replied. Our prayers this morning were not heart-felt prayers, therefore Iahveh did not hearken to us. And so that we may be enlightened, Eve said, I will cast myself before him and bow myself three times, and repeat the prayers thou hast taught me. Let us go to the praying stone, and they went thither, and so heart-felt were Eve’s utterances of the prayers he had taught her that Adam, on rising to his feet, was moved to draw her to him, and to kiss her again and again; and the emotion that their prayers to Iahveh had caused continued while they descended the hill-side; and it was on their way to the fig-trees that Adam said: see, Eve, how large the leaves are already, and in my prayers on the mount I heard Iahveh command us to weave garlands and wear them about our middles. Eve asked if the garland she had woven for her hair were not enough. Adam answered: Iahveh said about our middles. And when we go fishing, Eve persisted, may we not leave our garlands on the bank? Adam could not answer her, nor when she asked if the water were to wash away their garlands would they be answerable for the loss of them. While climbing up the bank, she persisted, we shall be naked. No matter, the cold water will subdue us, Adam said. Eve was minded to reply: the water will grow warmer, which it did, and when in it our trouble begin, if perchance shoulder should touch shoulder.

  The Lord punishes us, Adam cried, for our transgressions. But we have not transgressed, Eve answered. Why should he punish us? The ways of the lord are mysterious, we may not strive to look into his heart, Adam replied, words that brought no distinct meaning to Eve’s mind, but she wished to please Adam, and in accordance with his wish she did not gaze upon him as she often wished to do, but kept her eyes averted. It was her eyes that caused the rising of the flesh of which he was ashamed, for the lord had not vouchsafed the knowledge to him that he had bestowed upon Othniel. But the day will come when he will reveal the secret to us, said a voice within him, and with tears rolling down his cheeks he fell upon his knees and prayed till Eve could no longer keep her thoughts fixed on the great throne in which God sat watchful over his creatures, lest they should transgress his will. So Adam had told her, this was his belief, and it was her desire to share his belief, but a bird in the lilac distracted her thoughts from God, for she perceived the bird was building itself a little house in the bush. It came with fibre in its beak, which it wove into the moss, and the inside of the nest was plastered with clay, and when the nest was finished Eve could see the bird flattening itself out in the nest, the head only appearing above the rim, the black eyes showing through the green leaves. She told the story of the nest to Adam one day after prayer, and they went to the lilac bush and finding five eggs in it, Eve said: let us not disturb her nest, for we know not what her design may be.

  The mate that had helped to build the nest, now sat upon the bough above the nest, and Eve said: he sings to pass away the time of her labour. But of the design of the birds Adam could not tell Eve; for he had never noticed the ways of birds before, and was astonished when Eve said: Adam, the bird returns with worms to the nest; come, let us look into it, for it may contain something that our eyes have never seen.

  As you have already guessed, Alec, the nest contained chicks all gaping to be fed, and Adam said to Eve: this is very wonderful, and the wonder of the twain seemed to deepen when a cat came about their tree, and the parent birds came down on to the pathway and challenged it to fight, shrieking at it, bidding it go hence. Their eyes are like the sparks we see in the fire, Adam said, so angry are they. How they must love their young ones, Eve answered, and a great sorrow fell upon Adam and Eve, and he to himself and she to herself said: why have we no offspring like the animals we see about us? The squirrels and the cats, and the rats and the mice, and the birds have offspring, and love their offspring; only we are alone.

  And Lilith, who saw all these things in her magic well, said: my time has come to go to the garden and finish the story.

  CHAPTER 39.

  HE WILL BE somewhere about here, she said, watching for his chance, for all that is going on in the garden he knows well; and we shall come upon each other before long for sure if I keep marching up and down these woods. A pleasant place enough for walking they are, she continued, looking round, well pleased with the woodland she was in, for though the trees were close together up above, there was plenty of room for walking between them — long, tall boles they were, as in the park over against Westport where I met you, Alec, for the first time, jumping from boulder to boulder, and climbing up the bank, saying you were sure that the master would not mind your having a look round for ferns. That was in the weeks back, and ever since we have been telling stories as friendly as any two men in the country. It seems strange that it should be so, but so it is; and now I must be getting on with my story of my lady Lilith, who was, at the time I’m speaking of, walking under the trees outside the garden, mindful of Lucifer, whom she knew to be about somewhere, and not far off, for she could get a smell of him in the air, and walking on whither her nose led her, she said: ’tis thicker about here, a sour smell like that of a snake. But it cannot be that, and walking on farther, looking round at every step she took, she said: something is here but my eyes cannot find it, and they have searched everywhere for it. She walked on, her eyes always set on the ground, never thinking that the one she was seeking might be in a tree till she heard a voice speaking to her, saying: Lilith, raise thine eyes and thou shalt find me, and when she raised her eyes, what do you think she saw but a big green and golden serpent coiled about the branches of a cedar with one great branch stretched out from the tree itself right over the garden wall, and the thought passed through her mind that it was a convenient branch for whomsoever would pass over the wall into the garden, and that perhaps that was the reason why Lucifer had changed himself into a big serpent, a serpent being able to glide and lift himself, whereas a four-footed beast, or a two-footed, for a matter of that, would be making no progress at all. Thou hast guessed rightly, he said, answering her thoughts, for Lucifer being an archangel could see into the mind, and having knowledge of all that was accomplishing on earth, said: right well thou didst answer them, meaning the angels of the Lord.

  Adam and Eve are at variance, he continued, each with the other, and with Iahveh, who has refused to tell how Adam must conduct himself with Eve so as to get offspring from her. It is odd surely that he should desire offspring of that puny creature with sloping shoulders and wide hips, short legs and very dirty, Lilith rapped out, forgetful of the presence of her lord. It is true that Eve as she came to Adam from Iahveh’s hands was not agree
able to his sight or smell, but a great change has come over Adam since he washed her and tressed her hair, Lucifer replied; and her legs are not shorter than thine... not in his eyes. Then, said Lilith, Iahveh has put a great spell upon him, blotting my image from his mind. But as soon as he sees me he will forget her; Iahveh’s spell is — My plan is better than a garden broil, Lucifer answered, and when Lilith asked him what these plans were, he said that his design was to provide Adam with the knowledge that God withheld from him. I was telling before the interruption — Master, for give me, Lilith cried, and Lucifer continued: Adam went to the praying stone and prayed Iahveh to tell him how he should love Eve, but he only got commandments from Iahveh: speak not of cocks and hens to me, said Iahveh; thou shalt not tread thy wife as a cock treads a hen, nor line her as a fox lines the vixen, nor cover her as the stallion cover the mare. How then? said Adam, and at this question Iahveh was angry, and with the temper flying out of both his eyes he bade Adam give his commandments to Eve, who was waiting to hear the joyful tidings as to the manner in which it is pleasing to Iahveh that mortals should obtain offspring.

  Did Eve weep, master, when she heard that she was not going to bear children? No, Lucifer answered, she answered Adam in words that she knew would please him, that he would do well to observe the will of God, and to make it easier for him, she said, that she loved him sufficiently to live with him though he may never make a woman of her. Cunning little minx, Lilith cried, she tries to keep the man by agreeing with him in everything he says, and submitting to him in all things. But why, she asked, does Iahveh refuse to allow Adam and Eve to have children? For that he is tired of the long struggle he had before he was able to throw us into hell, Lucifer replied, and yearns to live at peace among his angels, but the victor is never altogether victorious. Ever since our overthrow Adam has been a perplexity to him, and the perplexity has deepened since Adam asked him how he might procure offspring. Iahveh is afraid that the new race may take our side, and together we might succeed in giving him a fall. Iahveh, Lucifer continued, is great at present, but there is a fate over the God, and he that is now on high lives in fear of a race of unbelievers; to save himself he would forbid man to eat of the tree of knowledge. I will cross the garden wall and reveal the secret, Lilith cried. But, said Lucifer, Adam will know thee as his dream of old time. God has put a spell on him, said Lilith. Maybe he did, but I’m not sure of it, Lucifer replied. Well, what shall we do? she asked, and Lucifer said: by a stealthier method than by giving Adam the choice between thee and Eve, for remember that if he were to choose Eve we should be undone. I have thought of a better way, and for it I shall confide my snake shape to thee; in it thou shalt cross the garden wall, and as soon as Adam passes by the tree in which thou art hidden thou shalt lean out of the branch, and say: Adam, why so downcast, why so hopeless? Give thine ear to me and learn the secret.