Suddenly an exceptionally clear vision arose in his memory. Far away, in his distant homeland, to the noise of the sea and the pines, Thessa had stood like this in those far-off days that were never to come again…
Iruma placed her hands behind her head, bent slightly from the waist and sighed. Pandion was overwhelmed — Iruma had adopted exactly the pose as that in which he had tried to depict Thessa.
The whole past rose before Pandion’s eyes. With even greater strength he felt the urge to return to Oeniadae. To the road, forward to new battles, away from Iruma!… Pandion was tormented by desires that had formerly been so clear but were now doubled in his mind. He discovered contradictions in himself, that he had never before known, and they frightened him.
Here he felt the call of life — hot like the sun of Africa, youthful like the flowering plains after the rain, powerful like a swollen stream — the power of life. Far away there, in his homeland, were his brightest dreams of great creative art. But was not beauty itself standing before him, close and joyous? So different were Iruma and Thessa; they were in no way alike, yet in both of them there was true beauty.
Pandion’s alarm was transmitted to the girl. She drew near to him and the melodious tones of a strange language broke the silence.
“You are ours, Golden Eyes, I have danced the dance of the great goddess and our ancestor has accepted your gifts…” Iruma’s voice broke off, her long lashes covered her eyes. The girl threw her arms round Pandion’s neck and pressed tightly to him.
Everything went dark before his eyes. With a desperate effort he broke out of the girl’s embrace. She raised her head. Her mouth was childishly half open.
“Don’t you want to live here? Are you going away with your companions?” asked Iruma in astonishment, and Pandion felt ashamed.
Pandion gently drew the girl towards him and, trying to find suitable words from amongst those of the language of her people that he knew, he told her of his great nostalgic longing’ for his own country; he told her about Thessa… Iruma turned her head upwards to Pandion’s broad chest, her eyes peered into the golden gleam of his eyes, her teeth were bared in a feeble smile. Iruma began to speak and in the sound of her words there was that same tenderness, that same caressing love that had intoxicated Pandion when Thessa spoke to him.
“Yes,” she said. “If you cannot live here, you must go away.” The girl stammered the last words. “But if I and my people seem good to you, stay with us, Golden Eyes. Think, decide, come to me… I shall wait.”
The girl straightened up, holding her head proudly. Pandion had seen her similarly serious and severe at the time of the dance. For a whole minute the young Hellene stood before her; then, making a sudden decision, he held out his hands to the girl. But she was gone beyond the trees, melting into the gloom of the thicket…
Iruma’s disappearance struck Pandion like a heavy loss. He stood for a long time in that gloomy forest and then wandered slowly across the golden haze of the glade, going he knew not where, struggling against the desire to run after Iruma, to tell her that he loved her and would stay with her.
Iruma, as soon as she had hidden herself behind the trees from Pandion’s eyes, began to run, jumping lightly over the roots and slipping between the lianas. She went on faster until she became exhausted. Breathing heavily, she stopped on the edge of a calm pond, a silent backwater of the river, which here became much wider. The bright light blinded her and her body felt the heat after the darkness and coolness of the forest.
Iruma looked round her sorrowfully, and through her tears she saw her reflection in the smooth surface of the water; almost involuntarily she examined her whole self in that mirror… Yes, she was beautiful! But, apparently, beauty was not all if the stranger, Golden Eyes, brave, kind and tender, wanted to leave her. Apparently, something else was needed… But what?…
The sun set behind the undulating plain. A blue, slanting shadow lay at the threshold of the house before which Kidogo and Cavius were sitting.
The way the two friends were fidgeting, told Pandion they had been waiting for him for a long time. With downcast eyes Pandion walked up to his two friends. Cavius got up’, solemn and stern, and placed his hand on Pandion’s shoulder.
“We want to talk to you, he and I.” The Etruscan nodded towards Kidogo, who was standing beside them. “You did not attend our council, but everything’s been decided — we set out tomorrow…”
Pandion staggered back. Too much had been happening in the course of the last three days. Still he did not think that his comrades would be in such a hurry. He would have hurried just as much himself if not… if not for Iruma!
Pandion read condemnation in the looks of his friends. He was now faced with the necessity of coming to a decision, a necessity that had long been tormenting his soul and which he had unconsciously evaded in the naïve hope that everything would come right of itself. It was as though a wall cut him off again from that world of liberty which in actual fact existed only in Pandion’s dreams.
He had to decide whether he would stay there with Iruma or go away with his companions and lose her for ever. If he stayed there, it would be for ever, too; only by the combined efforts of twenty-seven men prepared to face anything, even certain death, for the sake of returning to their own homes, would it be possible to cover the distance that held them prisoners. If he stayed, therefore, he would for ever lose his native land, the sea, Thessa, everything that had succoured him and helped him get to that land.
Would he be able to live there, submerge himself in that friendly but strange life when his comrades were no longer with him, comrades who had been tested in times of peril and on whose friendship he had unwittingly become accustomed to depend at all times? After long contemplation Pandion’s heart told him the right answer.
Would it not, ‘moreover, be treachery to leave those friends who had saved him and-thanks to whom he was well again?
No, he must go with them and leave half his heart behind him in this foreign land!
Pandion’s will was not strong enough to withstand this trial. He seized the hands of his comrades, who were watching with alarm the mental struggle that was reflected in his face, and began to beseech them not to leave so soon. What did it matter, now that they were free, if they remained there a little longer, rested before undertaking a long journey and got a better knowledge of the country. ‘
Kidogo hesitated, for he was very fond of Pandion. But Cavius frowned still more sternly.
“Come inside, there are other eyes and ears here,” he said, pushing Pandion into their house; he himself went out and returned with a burning brand and lit a small torch. He thought it would be easier to cure Pandion of his indecision if it were light.
“What do you hope for if we stay here?” asked the Etruscan in stern tones, his words cutting right into Pandion’s heart. ”Especially if you intend to go in the end. Or do you want to take her with you?”
The thought that Iruma should go with them on their long journey had not entered Pandion’s mind, and he shook his head.
“Then I don’t understand you,” said Cavius brusquely. “Do you think that none of the others have found girls here that they like? Still none of them wavered at the conference, when they had to choose between a woman and their native land; not a soul thought of staying here. Iruma’s father, the hunter, thinks that you are not coming with us. He likes you, and your bravery is common knowledge amongst the — people. He said that he is ready to take you into his house! Surely you will not leave us and forget your own country for the sake of a girl?”
Pandion lowered his head. He could not explain to Cavius why he was wrong. How could Pandion tell him that he had not merely given way to passion? How could he explain how Iruma had affected him as an artist? On the other hand, the brutal truth of the Etruscan’s words stung him; he had forgotten that other peoples have different laws and customs. If he remained there, he would have to become a hunter and merge his life with the life of the people. S
uch was the inevitable price he would have to pay for happiness with Iruma… Then again, Iruma alone was all that was near to him in this land. The serene, hot expanses of the golden plain bore no resemblance to his own country, to the noisy and mobile expanses of the sea. And the girl was a part of that world, while he had not yet ceased to feel himself a temporary guest there… There, far in the distance, his native land shone like a beacon light. If that light went out, would he be able to live without it?
Cavius made a long pause in order to give Pandion an opportunity to think and then began again:
“You will become her husband only to leave her shortly afterwards and go away. Do you think her people will let us go in peace and help us? You will be paying them poorly for their hospitality. The punishment that you fully deserve will fall on all of us… And why are you so certain that the others of your party are willing to wait? They will not agree, and I am with them!”
Cavius stopped and then, as though a little ashamed at the brusqueness of his words, added:
“My heart aches, for when I reach the sea I shall not have a friend who is skilled in the sailing of ships. My Remdus is dead and all my hopes rested on you — you have sailed the sea, you learnt from the Phoenicians…” Cavius lowered his head and sat silent.
Kidogo ran over to Pandion and hung a bag on a long leather thong round his — neck.
“I looked after that for you while you were ill,” said the Negro. “It’s your sea amulet… It helped you defeat the rhinoceros, it will help us find our way to the sea if you go with us…”
Pandion remembered the stone that Yakhmos had given him. Until that moment, he had completely forgotten that gleaming symbol of the sea in the same way as he had forgotten many other things. He heaved a deep sigh. At that moment a tall man with a long spear in his hand entered the house. It was the father of Iruma. He sat down on the floor with natural ease, tucked his legs up under him and gave Pandion a friendly smile.
“I’ve come to you on an important matter,” he said, turning to Cavius. “You told us that you have decided to leave for your own country one sun from today.”
Cavius nodded his head in affirmation but did not speak, waiting for what was to come next. Pandion looked with disturbed feelings at Iruma’s father, who behaved with simple dignity.
“The journey is a long one, and there are many wild beasts lying in wait for man in the plains and in the forest,” continued the hunter. “You have but poor weapons. Remember, stranger: you cannot fight against beasts as you do against people. Swords, arrows and knives are good for use against man but against beasts the spear is better. Only the spear can stop an animal and reach its heart from a distance. Your spears are useless in our country.” He pointed to the thin Egyptian spear with its bronze head leaning against the wall. “This is the sort you need!”
Iruma’s father laid the weapon he had brought on Cavius’ knees and removed the long leather bag that covered it.
The heavy spear was more than four cubits long. Its shaft, two fingers thick, was made of hard, firm wood that was polished like bone. The shaft was slightly thickened in the middle where it was covered with the rough skin of the hyena. Instead of the usual spearhead it was surmounted by a blade, three fingers wide and a cubit long, made of light-coloured hard material — the rare and precious iron.;
Cavius touched the sharpened edge of the blade thoughtfully, tested the weight of the weapon and with a sigh returned it to its owner.
The latter smiled, studying the impression he had produced, and then said cautiously:
“It takes a lot of hard work to make a spear like this… The metal for it is obtained by a neighbouring people, who sell it at a high price. But that spear will save you time and again in mortal struggle…”
Cavius could not guess what the hunter was driving at and kept silent.
“You brought strong bows from Tha-Quem with you,” continued the hunter. “We cannot make such bows and want to exchange spears for them. The chiefs have agreed to give you two spears for each bow, and the spears, in my opinion, will be of more service to you.”
Cavius glanced inquiringly at Kidogo and the Negro nodded his head in support of the hunter’s opinion.
“‘There is plenty of game in the plains,” said Kidogo, “and we shall not need any arrows, but it will be worse in the forest. Still, the forest is a long way off, and six spears in place of three bows will be of more use against wild beasts.”
Cavius thought for a while, then agreed to the exchange and began to haggle. The hunter, however, was not to be moved — he pointed to the great value of the weapons he offered. They would never have given two spears for a bow, he said, if they had not wanted to know how the bows of the Black Land were made.
“Good!” said the Etruscan. “We would have given you our bows as a gift in return for your hospitality if we had not been travelling so far. We accept your terms. Tomorrow you will receive the bows.”
The hunter’s face beamed, he slapped Cavius’ hand, raised the spear, examined the red reflection of the torch on the blade and covered it again with the little leather bag, decorated with pieces of different-coloured skin.
Cavius held out his hand, but the hunter did not give him the weapon.
“Tomorrow you will get six spears as good as this. But this one…” Iruma’s father made a slight pause, “this one I bring as a gift to your friend Golden Eyes. Iruma stitched the bag herself. Look how pretty it is!”
The hunter held out the spear to the young Hellene, who took it hesitantly.
“You are not going with them,” said Iruma’s father, pointing to Cavius and the Negro, “but a good spear is the first thing a hunter needs, and I want you to make my family famous when you become my son!”
Kidogo and Cavius peered into the face of their friend, and the Negro pressed his fingers till they cracked. The decisive moment had come unexpectedly.
Pandion turned pale and suddenly, with a sharp gesture of dismissal, returned the spear to the hunter.
“You refuse my gift? How is that to be understood?” shouted the hunter.
“I’m going with my companions,” muttered Pandion with difficulty.
Iruma’s father stood immobile, staring at Pandion without saying a word; then he hurled the spear down at his feet.
“Let it be so, but don’t dare so much as look at my daughter again. I’ll send her away today!”
Pandion stared at the hunter with wide-open, unwinking eyes. The genuine grief that distorted his manly face softened the wrath of Iruma’s father.
“You found courage enough to make your decision before it was too late,” he said. “But if you are going, go immediately…”
The hunter again gave Pandion a saturnine glare, examined him from head to foot and made an inarticulate sound.
As he left the house Iruma’s father turned to Cavius.
“What I have said holds good,” he said rudely and disappeared into the darkness.
Kidogo was greatly troubled at the gleam in Pandion’s eyes but realized that he would have no time for his friends at that moment. Pandion stood staring into space as though he were asking the distant expanses how he should act. He turned slowly round, threw himself on his bed and covered his face with his hands.
Cavius lit a new torch — he did not want to leave Pandion alone in the darkness with his thoughts. He and Kidogo tried to keep awake without speaking. From time to time they looked at their friend in alarm but could not do anything to help him.
The time passed slowly and night fell. Pandion moved on his bed, jumped up and stood listening and then rushed towards the door. Cavius’ broad shoulders, however, barred the way, and Pandion was brought up short against his folded arms and frowned wrathfully.
“Let me out!” shouted Pandion impatiently. “I can’t help it, I must say farewell to Iruma if she hasn’t been sent away yet.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” answered Cavius. “You’ll ruin her, yourself and all of us!”
Pandion did not reply to that but tried to push the Etruscan out of his way; but Cavius stood firm.
“You’ve made your decision, so that’s enough, don’t make her father more angry,” continued Cavius in an effort to convince his friend. “Just think of what might happen.”
Pandion pushed Cavius still harder but received in return a blow in the chest that made him step back. Kidogo, seeing the clash between his friends, did not know what to do. Pandion clenched his teeth and his eyes gleamed with the fire of wrath. With dilated nostrils he rushed at Cavius. The Etruscan rapidly pulled out his knife and, holding it with the hilt towards Pandion, said:
“Here you are, strike!”
Pandion was dumbfounded.
Cavius thrust out his chest, placed his left hand on his heart and with his right continued offering the dagger to Pandion.
“Strike, strike here! In any case I won’t let you out of here other than over my dead body! Kill me and then go!” shouted the infuriated Cavius.
This was the first time Pandion had seen his morose and wise friend in such a state. He turned away, groaned helplessly, staggered over to his own bed, fell on it and turned his back on his comrades.
Cavius was breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow and returned the knife to its place.
“We must watch him all night and leave as quickly as possible,” he said to Kidogo, who was quite frightened. “At dawn you’ll warn all the others to make ready.”
Pandion heard the Etruscan’s words quite clearly and realized that they meant him to have no opportunity of seeing Iruma. lie felt that he was being asphyxiated, there was an almost physical sense of being in a confined space. He struggled with himself, mustering all his will power, and gradually the violent despair, that was almost madness, gave way to calm sorrow.
Once more the hot plains of Africa opened up before twenty-seven stubborn men who were determined to reach their homes, come what might.
The Land of Foam Page 22
