placed¡¡in¡¡Bassett's¡¡hands¡¡an¡¡indubitable¡¡white¡¡man's¡¡head¡£
Ancient¡¡it¡¡was¡¡beyond¡¡question£»¡¡white¡¡it¡¡was¡¡as¡¡the¡¡blond¡¡hair
attested¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡have¡¡sworn¡¡it¡¡once¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡an¡¡Englishman£»
and¡¡to¡¡an¡¡Englishman¡¡of¡¡long¡¡before¡¡by¡¡token¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡gold
circlets¡¡still¡¡threaded¡¡in¡¡the¡¡withered¡¡ear¡lobes¡£
¡¨Now¡¡your¡¡head¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¨¡¡the¡¡devil¡devil¡¡doctor¡¡began¡¡on¡¡his
favourite¡¡topic¡£
¡¨I'll¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡what£»¡¨¡¡Bassett¡¡interrupted£»¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡a¡¡new¡¡idea¡£
¡¨When¡¡I¡¡die¡¡I'll¡¡let¡¡you¡¡have¡¡my¡¡head¡¡to¡¡cure£»¡¡if£»¡¡first£»¡¡you¡¡take
me¡¡to¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One¡£¡¨
¡¨I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡your¡¡head¡¡anyway¡¡when¡¡you¡¡are¡¡dead£»¡¨¡¡Ngurn¡¡rejected
the¡¡proposition¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡added£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡brutal¡¡frankness¡¡of¡¡the
savage£º¡¡¡¡¡¨Besides£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡not¡¡long¡¡to¡¡live¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡almost¡¡a
dead¡¡man¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡grow¡¡less¡¡strong¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡not¡¡many¡¡months¡¡I
shall¡¡have¡¡you¡¡here¡¡turning¡¡and¡¡turning¡¡in¡¡the¡¡smoke¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is
pleasant£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡long¡¡afternoons£»¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡one¡¡you
have¡¡known¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡you¡¡and¡¡tell
you¡¡the¡¡many¡¡secrets¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡Which¡¡will¡¡not¡¡matter£»¡¡for
you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡dead¡£¡¨
¡¨Ngurn£»¡¨¡¡Bassett¡¡threatened¡¡in¡¡sudden¡¡anger¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡know¡¡the¡¡Baby
Thunder¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Iron¡¡that¡¡is¡¡mine¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡£¨This¡¡was¡¡in¡¡reference¡¡to¡¡his
all¡potent¡¡and¡¡all¡awful¡¡shotgun¡££©¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡can¡¡kill¡¡you¡¡any¡¡time£»¡¡and
then¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡get¡¡my¡¡head¡£¡¨
¡¨Just¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡will¡¡Vngngn£»¡¡or¡¡some¡¡one¡¡else¡¡of¡¡my¡¡folk¡¡get¡¡it£»¡¨
Ngurn¡¡complacently¡¡assured¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨And¡¡just¡¡the¡¡same¡¡will¡¡it¡¡turn
here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡and¡¡turn¡¡devil¡devil¡¡house¡¡in¡¡the¡¡smoke¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡quicker
you¡¡slay¡¡me¡¡with¡¡your¡¡Baby¡¡Thunder£»¡¡the¡¡quicker¡¡will¡¡your¡¡head¡¡turn
in¡¡the¡¡smoke¡£¡¨
And¡¡Bassett¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡was¡¡beaten¡¡in¡¡the¡¡discussion¡£
What¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One£¿¡¡¡¡¡Bassett¡¡asked¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡times¡¡in
the¡¡succeeding¡¡week£»¡¡while¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡stronger¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡was
the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wonderful¡¡sound£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡this¡¡Sun¡¡Singer£»¡¡this
Star¡Born¡¡One£»¡¡this¡¡mysterious¡¡deity£»¡¡as¡¡bestial¡conducted¡¡as¡¡the
black¡¡and¡¡kinky¡headed¡¡and¡¡monkey¡like¡¡human¡¡beasts¡¡who¡¡worshipped
it£»¡¡and¡¡whose¡¡silver¡sweet£»¡¡bull¡mouthed¡¡singing¡¡and¡¡commanding¡¡he
had¡¡heard¡¡at¡¡the¡¡taboo¡¡distance¡¡for¡¡so¡¡long£¿
Ngurn¡¡had¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡bribe¡¡with¡¡the¡¡inevitable¡¡curing¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head
when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡Vngngn£»¡¡imbecile¡¡and¡¡chief¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡was¡¡too
imbecilic£»¡¡too¡¡much¡¡under¡¡the¡¡sway¡¡of¡¡Ngurn£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡considered¡£
Remained¡¡Balatta£»¡¡who£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡time¡¡she¡¡found¡¡him¡¡and¡¡poked¡¡his
blue¡¡eyes¡¡open¡¡to¡¡recrudescence¡¡of¡¡her¡¡grotesque¡¡female
hideousness£»¡¡had¡¡continued¡¡his¡¡adorer¡£¡¡¡¡Woman¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had
long¡¡known¡¡that¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡to¡¡win¡¡from¡¡her¡¡treason¡¡of¡¡her¡¡tribe
was¡¡through¡¡the¡¡woman's¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡her¡£
Bassett¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fastidious¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡recovered¡¡from¡¡the
initial¡¡horror¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡Balatta's¡¡female¡¡awfulness¡£¡¡¡¡Back¡¡in
England£»¡¡even¡¡at¡¡best¡¡the¡¡charm¡¡of¡¡woman£»¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been
robust¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡now£»¡¡resolutely£»¡¡as¡¡only¡¡a¡¡man¡¡can¡¡do¡¡who¡¡is¡¡capable
of¡¡martyring¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡science£»¡¡he¡¡proceeded¡¡to
violate¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fineness¡¡and¡¡delicacy¡¡of¡¡his¡¡nature¡¡by¡¡making¡¡love
to¡¡the¡¡unthinkably¡¡disgusting¡¡bushwoman¡£
He¡¡shuddered£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡averted¡¡face¡¡hid¡¡his¡¡grimaces¡¡and¡¡swallowed
his¡¡gorge¡¡as¡¡he¡¡put¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡around¡¡her¡¡dirt¡crusted¡¡shoulders¡¡and
felt¡¡the¡¡contact¡¡of¡¡her¡¡rancidoily¡¡and¡¡kinky¡¡hair¡¡with¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡and
chin¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡nearly¡¡screamed¡¡when¡¡she¡¡succumbed¡¡to¡¡that¡¡caress¡¡so
at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡first¡¡of¡¡the¡¡courtship¡¡and¡¡mowed¡¡and¡¡gibbered¡¡and
squealed¡¡little£»¡¡queer£»¡¡pig¡like¡¡gurgly¡¡noises¡¡of¡¡delight¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
too¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡next¡¡he¡¡did¡¡in¡¡the¡¡singular¡¡courtship¡¡was¡¡to
take¡¡her¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡and¡¡give¡¡her¡¡a¡¡vigorous¡¡scrubbing¡£
From¡¡then¡¡on¡¡he¡¡devoted¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡her¡¡like¡¡a¡¡true¡¡swain¡¡as
frequently¡¡and¡¡for¡¡as¡¡long¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡¡as¡¡his¡¡will¡¡could¡¡override¡¡his
repugnance¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡marriage£»¡¡which¡¡she¡¡ardently¡¡suggested£»¡¡with¡¡due
observance¡¡of¡¡tribal¡¡custom£»¡¡he¡¡balked¡¡at¡£¡¡¡¡Fortunately£»¡¡taboo¡¡rule
was¡¡strong¡¡in¡¡the¡¡tribe¡£¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡Ngurn¡¡could¡¡never¡¡touch¡¡bone£»¡¡or
flesh£»¡¡or¡¡hide¡¡of¡¡crocodile¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ordained¡¡at¡¡his¡¡birth¡£
Vngngn¡¡was¡¡denied¡¡ever¡¡the¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡Such¡¡pollution£»¡¡did¡¡it
chance¡¡to¡¡occur£»¡¡could¡¡be¡¡purged¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡the¡¡offending
female¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡once£»¡¡since¡¡Bassett's¡¡arrival£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡girl
of¡¡nine£»¡¡running¡¡in¡¡play£»¡¡stumbled¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡against¡¡the¡¡sacred
chief¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡the¡¡girl¡child¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡whispers£»¡¡Balatta
told¡¡Bassett¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡three¡¡days¡¡and¡¡nights¡¡in¡¡dying
before¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Balatta£»¡¡the¡¡breadfruit¡¡was¡¡taboo¡¡to
her¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡which¡¡Bassett¡¡was¡¡thankful¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡taboo¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been
water¡£
For¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡fabricated¡¡a¡¡special¡¡taboo¡£¡¡¡¡Only¡¡could¡¡he¡¡marry£»
he¡¡explained£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Southern¡¡Cross¡¡rode¡¡highest¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡£
Knowing¡¡his¡¡astronomy£»¡¡he¡¡thus¡¡gained¡¡a¡¡reprieve¡¡of¡¡nearly¡¡nine
months£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡confident¡¡that¡¡within¡¡that¡¡time¡¡he¡¡would¡¡either
be¡¡dead¡¡or¡¡escaped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡with¡¡full¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One
and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡source¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One's¡¡wonderful¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡he
had¡¡fancied¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One¡¡to¡¡be¡¡some¡¡colossal¡¡statue£»¡¡like¡¡Memnon£»
rendered¡¡vocal¡¡under¡¡certain¡¡temperature¡¡conditions¡¡of¡¡sunlight¡£
But¡¡when£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡war¡¡raid£»¡¡a¡¡batch¡¡of¡¡prisoners¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡and
the¡¡sacrifice¡¡made¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡rain£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sun
could¡¡play¡¡no¡¡part£»¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One¡¡had¡¡been¡¡more¡¡vocal¡¡than¡¡usual£»
Bassett¡¡discarded¡¡that¡¡hypothesis¡£
In¡¡company¡¡with¡¡Balatta£»¡¡sometimes¡¡with¡¡men¡¡and¡¡parties¡¡of¡¡women£»
the¡¡freedom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡was¡¡his¡¡for¡¡three¡¡quadrants¡¡of¡¡the
compass¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡fourth¡¡quadrant£»¡¡which¡¡contained¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One's
abiding¡¡place£»¡¡was¡¡taboo¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡made¡¡more¡¡thorough¡¡love¡¡to¡¡Balatta¡¡¡
also¡¡saw¡¡to¡¡it¡¡that¡¡she¡¡scrubbed¡¡herself¡¡more¡¡frequently¡£¡¡¡¡Eternal
female¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡any¡¡treason¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡love¡£¡¡¡¡And£»
though¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡her¡¡was¡¡provocative¡¡of¡¡nausea¡¡and¡¡the¡¡contact
of¡¡her¡¡provocative¡¡of¡¡despair£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡escape¡¡her
awfulness¡¡in¡¡his¡¡dream¡haunted¡¡nightmares¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡he¡¡nevertheless
was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cosmic¡¡verity¡¡of¡¡sex¡¡that¡¡animated¡¡her¡¡and¡¡that
made¡¡her¡¡own¡¡life¡¡of¡¡less¡¡value¡¡than¡¡the¡¡happiness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡lover
with¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡mate¡£¡¡¡¡Juliet¡¡or¡¡Balatta£¿¡¡¡¡Where¡¡was¡¡the
intrinsic¡¡difference£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡soft¡¡and¡¡tender¡¡product¡¡of¡¡ultra¡
civilization£»¡¡or¡¡her¡¡bestial¡¡prototype¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡thousand¡¡years
before¡¡her£¿¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡difference¡£
Bassett¡¡was¡¡a¡¡scientist¡¡first£»¡¡a¡¡humanist¡¡afterward¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the
jungle¡heart¡¡of¡¡Guadalcanal¡¡he¡¡put¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡to¡¡the¡¡test£»¡¡as¡¡in
the¡¡laboratory¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡put¡¡to¡¡the¡¡test¡¡any¡¡chemical¡¡reaction¡£
He¡¡increased¡¡his¡¡feigned¡¡ardour¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bushwoman£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time
increasing¡¡the¡¡imperiousness¡¡of¡¡his¡¡will¡¡of¡¡desire¡¡over¡¡her¡¡to¡¡be
led¡¡to¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One¡¡face¡¡to¡¡face¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡old¡¡story£»
he¡¡recognized£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡must¡¡pay£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡when¡¡the
two¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡one¡¡day£»¡¡were¡¡catching¡¡the¡¡unclassified¡¡and¡¡unnamed
little¡¡black¡¡fish£»¡¡an¡¡inch¡¡long£»¡¡half¡eel¡¡and¡¡half¡scaled£»¡¡rotund
with¡¡salmon¡golden¡¡roe£»¡¡that¡¡frequented¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡that
were¡¡esteemed£»¡¡raw¡¡and¡¡whole£»¡¡fresh¡¡or¡¡putrid£»¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡delicacy¡£
Prone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡muck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡decaying¡¡jungle¡floor£»¡¡Balatta¡¡threw
herself£»¡¡clutching¡¡his¡¡ankles¡¡with¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡kissing¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡and
making¡¡slubbery¡¡noises¡¡that¡¡chilled¡¡his¡¡backbone¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down¡¡again¡£
She¡¡begged¡¡him¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡her¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡exact¡¡this¡¡ultimate¡¡love¡
payment¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡told¡¡him¡¡of¡¡the¡¡penalty¡¡of¡¡breaking¡¡the¡¡taboo¡¡of¡¡the
Red¡¡One¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡week¡¡of¡¡torture£»¡¡living£»¡¡the¡¡details¡¡of¡¡which¡¡she
yammered¡¡out¡¡from¡¡her¡¡face¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mire¡¡until¡¡he¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡he
was¡¡yet¡¡a¡¡tyro¡¡in¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frightfulness¡¡the¡¡human¡¡was
capable¡¡of¡¡wreaking¡¡on¡¡the¡¡human¡£
Yet¡¡did¡¡Bassett¡¡insist¡¡on¡¡having¡¡his¡¡man's¡¡will¡¡satisfied£»¡¡at¡¡the
woman's¡¡risk£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡solve¡¡the¡¡mystery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Red¡¡One's
singing£»¡¡though¡¡she¡¡should¡¡die¡¡long¡¡and¡¡horribly¡¡and¡¡screaming¡£
And¡¡Balatta£»¡¡being¡¡mere¡¡woman£»¡¡yielded¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡led¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the
forbidden¡¡quadrant¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡abrupt¡¡mountain£»¡¡shouldering¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the
north¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡intrusion¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south£»¡¡tormented¡¡the
stream¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡fished¡¡into¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡and¡¡gloomy¡¡gorge¡£
After¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡along¡¡the¡¡gorge£»¡¡the¡¡way¡¡plunged¡¡sharply¡¡upward¡¡until
they¡¡crossed¡¡a¡¡saddle¡¡of¡¡raw¡¡limestone¡¡which¡¡attracted¡¡his
geologist's¡¡eye¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡climbing£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡paused¡¡often¡¡from
sheer¡¡physical¡¡weakness£»¡¡they¡¡scaled¡¡forest¡clad¡¡heights¡¡until¡¡they
emerged¡¡on¡¡a¡¡naked¡¡mesa¡¡or¡¡tableland¡£¡¡¡¡Bassett¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡stuff
of¡¡its¡¡composition¡¡as¡¡black¡¡volcanic¡¡sand£»¡¡and¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡a¡¡pocket
magnet¡¡could¡¡have¡¡captured¡¡a¡¡full¡¡load¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sharply¡¡angular
grains¡¡he¡¡trod¡¡upon¡£
And¡¡then¡¡holding¡¡Balatta¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡leading¡¡her¡¡onward£»¡¡he
came¡¡to¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡pit£»¡¡obviously¡¡artificial£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart
of¡¡the¡¡plateau¡£¡¡¡¡Old¡¡history£»¡¡the¡¡South¡¡Seas¡¡Sailing¡¡Directions£»
scores¡¡of¡¡remembered¡¡data¡¡and¡¡connotations¡¡swift¡¡and¡¡furious£»
surged¡¡through¡¡his¡¡brain¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Mendana¡¡who¡¡had¡¡discovered¡¡the
islands¡¡and¡¡named¡¡them¡¡Solomon's£»¡¡believing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found¡¡that
monarch's¡¡fabled¡¡mines¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡had¡¡laughed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡old¡¡navigator's
child¡like¡¡credulity£»
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü