小说园

第34部分（第4页）

And　she　had　to　dance　in　exultation　beyond　him。　Because　he　was

in　the　house；　she　had　to　dance　before　her　Creator　in　exemption

from　the　man。　On　a　Saturday　afternoon；　when　she　had　a　fire　in

the　bedroom；　again　she　took　off　her　things　and　danced；　lifting

her　knees　and　her　hands　in　a　slow；　rhythmic　exulting。　He　was　in

the　house；　so　her　pride　was　fiercer。　She　would　dance　his

nullification；　she　would　dance　to　her　unseen　Lord。　She　was

exalted　over　him；　before　the　Lord。

She　heard　him　ing　up　the　stairs；　and　she　flinched。　She

stood　with　the　firelight　on　her　ankles　and　feet；　naked　in　the

shadowy；　late　afternoon；　fastening　up　her　hair。　He　was　startled。

He　stood　in　the　doorway；　his　brows　black　and　lowering。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　said；　gratingly。　〃Youll　catch　a

cold。〃

And　she　lifted　her　hands　and　danced　again；　to　annul　him；　the

light　glanced　on　her　knees　as　she　made　her　slow；　fine　movements

down　the　far　side　of　the　room；　across　the　firelight。　He　stood

away　near　the　door　in　blackness　of　shadow；　watching；　transfixed。

And　with　slow；　heavy　movements　she　swayed　backwards　and

forwards；　like　a　full　ear　of　corn；　pale　in　the　dusky　afternoon；

threading　before　the　firelight；　dancing　his　non…existence；

dancing　herself　to　the　Lord；　to　exultation。

He　watched；　and　his　soul　burned　in　him。　He　turned　aside；　he

could　not　look；　it　hurt　his　eyes。　Her　fine　limbs　lifted　and

lifted；　her　hair　was　sticking　out　all　fierce；　and　her　belly；

big；　strange；　terrifying；　uplifted　to　the　Lord。　Her　face　was

rapt　and　beautiful；　she　danced　exulting　before　her　Lord；　and

knew　no　man。

It　hurt　him　as　he　watched　as　if　he　were　at　the　stake。　He　felt

he　was　being　burned　alive。　The　strangeness；　the　power　of　her　in

her　dancing　consumed　him；　he　was　burned；　he　could　not　grasp；　he

could　not　understand。　He　waited　obliterated。　Then　his　eyes

became　blind　to　her；　he　saw　her　no　more。　And　through　the

unseeing　veil　between　them　he　called　to　her；　in　his　jarring

voice：

〃What　are　you　doing　that　for？〃

〃Go　away；〃　she　said。　〃Let　me　dance　by　myself。〃

〃That　isnt　dancing；〃　he　said　harshly。　〃What　do　you　want　to

do　that　for？〃

〃I　dont　do　it　for　you；〃　she　said。　〃You　go　away。〃