第92部分(第6/7 頁)

at

never　relaxed；　she　was　aware　of　their　red　nostrils　flaming　with

long　endurance；　and　of　their　haunches；　so　rounded；　so　massive；

pressing；　pressing；　pressing　to　burst　the　grip　upon　their

breasts；　pressing　for　ever　till　they　went　mad；　running　against

the　walls　of　time；　and　never　bursting　free。　Their　great　haunches

were　smoothed　and　darkened　with　rain。　But　the　darkness　and

wetness　of　rain　could　not　put　out　the　hard；　urgent；　massive　fire

that　was　locked　within　these　flanks；　never；　never。

She　went　on；　drawing　near。　She　was　aware　of　the　great　flash

of　hoofs；　a　bluish；　iridescent　flash　surrounding　a　hollow　of

darkness。　Large；　large　seemed　the　bluish；　incandescent　flash　of

the　hoof…iron；　large　as　a　halo　of　lightning　round　the　knotted

darkness　of　the　flanks。　Like　circles　of　lightning　came　the　flash

of　hoofs　from　out　of　the　powerful　flanks。

They　were　awaiting　her　again。　They　had　gathered　under　an　oak

tree；　knotting　their　awful；　blind；　triumphing　flanks　together；

and　waiting；　waiting。　They　were　waiting　for　her　approach。　As　if

from　a　far　distance　she　was　drawing　near；　towards　the　line　of

twiggy　oak　trees　where　they　made　their　intense　darkness；

gathered　on　a　single　bank。

She　must　draw　near。　But　they　broke　away；　they　cantered　round；

making　a　wide　circle　to　avoid　noticing　her；　and　cantered　back

into　the　open　hillside　behind　her。

They　were　behind　her。　The　way　was　open　before　her；　to　the

gate　in　the　high　hedge　in　the　near　distance；　so　she　could　pass

into　the　smaller；　cultivated　field；　and　so　out　to　the　high…road

and　the　ordered　world　of　man。　Her　way　was　clear。　She　lulled　her

heart。　Yet　her　he