Волны

           ’Andhisvoicedownstairsinthehall?Andcatchingsightofhimwhenhedoesnotseeone?Onewaitsandhedoesnotcome.Itgetslaterandlater.Hehasforgotten.Heiswithsomeoneelse.Heisfaithless,hislovemeantnothing.Oh,thentheagony--thentheintolerabledespair!Andthenthedooropens.Heishere.’

           ’Rippinggold,Isaytohim,"Come",’saidJinny.’Andhecomes;hecrossestheroomtowhereIsit,withmydresslikeaveilbillowingroundmeonthegiltchair.Ourhandstouch,ourbodiesburstintofire.Thechair,thecup,thetable--nothingremainsunlit.Allquivers,allkindles,allburnsclear.’

           (’Look,Rhoda,’saidLouis,’theyhavebecomenocturnal,rapt.Theireyesarelikemoths’wingsmovingsoquicklythattheydonotseemtomoveatall.’

           ’Hornsandtrumpets,’saidRhoda,’ringout.Leavesunfold;thestagsblareinthethicket.Thereisadancingandadrumming,likethedancingandthedrummingofnakedmenwithassegais.’

           ’Likethedanceofsavages,’saidLouis,’roundthecamp-fire.Theyaresavage;theyareruthless.Theydanceinacircle,flappingbladders.Theflamesleapovertheirpaintedfaces,overtheleopardskinsandthebleedinglimbswhichtheyhavetornfromthelivingbody.’

           ’Theflamesofthefestivalrisehigh,’saidRhoda.’Thegreatprocessionpasses,flinginggreenboughsandfloweringbranches.Theirhornsspillbluesmoke;theirskinsaredappledredandyellowinthetorchlight.Theythrowviolets.