小说园

第60部分（第2页）

fluid　underwater　energy　that　gave　them　unlimited　strength。　All

the　dancers　were　waving　intertwined　in　the　flux　of　music。

Shadowy　couples　passed　and　repassed　before　the　fire；　the　dancing

feet　danced　silently　by　into　the　darkness。　It　was　a　vision　of

the　depths　of　the　underworld；　under　the　great　flood。

There　was　a　wonderful　rocking　of　the　darkness；　slowly；　a

great；　slow　swinging　of　the　whole　night；　with　the　music　playing

lightly　on　the　surface；　making　the　strange；　ecstatic；　rippling

on　the　surface　of　the　dance；　but　underneath　only　one　great　flood

heaving　slowly　backwards　to　the　verge　of　oblivion；　slowly

forward　to　the　other　verge；　the　heart　sweeping　along　each　time；

and　tightening　with　anguish　as　the　limit　was　reached；　and　the

movement；　at　crises；　turned　and　swept　back。

As　the　dance　surged　heavily　on；　Ursula　was　aware　of　some

influence　looking　in　upon　her。　Something　was　looking　at　her。

Some　powerful；　glowing　sight　was　looking　right　into　her；　not

upon　her；　but　right　at　her。　Out　of　the　great　distance；　and　yet

imminent；　the　powerful；　overwhelming　watch　was　kept　upon　her。

And　she　danced　on　and　on　with　Skrebensky；　while　the　great；　white

watching　continued；　balancing　all　in　its　revelation。

〃The　moon　has　risen；〃　said　Anton；　as　the　music　ceased；　and

they　found　themselves　suddenly　stranded；　like　bits　of　jetsam　on

a　shore。　She　turned；　and　saw　a　great　white　moon　looking　at　her

over　the　hill。　And　her　breast　opened　to　it；　she　was　cleaved　like

a　transparent　jewel　to　its　light。　She　stood　filled　with　the　full

moon；　offering　herself。　Her　two　breasts　opened　to　make　way　for

it；　her　body　opened　one；　a　soft；

dilated　invitation　touched　by　the　moon。　She　wanted　the　moon　to

fill　in　to　her；　she　wanted　more；　more　munion　with　the　moon；

consummation。　But　Skrebensky　put　his　arm　round　her；　and　led　her

away。　He　put　a　big；　dark　cloak　round　her；　and　sat　holding　her

hand；　whilst　the　moonlight　streamed　above　the　glowing　fires。

She　was　not　there。　Patiently　she　sat；　under　the　cloak；　with

Skrebensky　holding　her　hand。　But　her　naked　self　was　away　there

beating　upon　the　moonlight；　dashing　the　moonlight　with　her

breasts　and　her　knees；　in　meeting；　in　munion。　She　half

started；　to　go　in　actuality；　to　fling　away　her　clothing　and　flee

away；　away　from　this　dark　confusion　and　chaos　of　people　to　the

hill　and　the　moon。　But　the　people　stood　round　her　like　stones；