第84部分(第5/7 頁)

here。　But　in　Africa　it　seems　massive　and　fluid　with

terror……not　fear　of　anything……just　fear。　One　breathes

it；　like　the　smell　of　blood。　The　blacks　know　it。　They　worship

it；　really；　the　darkness。　One　almost　likes　it……the

fear……something　sensual。〃

She　thrilled　again　to　him。　He　was　to　her　a　voice　out　of　the

darkness。　He　talked　to　her　all　the　while；　in　low　tones；　about

Africa；　conveying　something　strange　and　sensual　to　her：　the

negro；　with　his　loose；　soft　passion　that　could　envelop　one　like

a　bath。　Gradually　he　transferred　to　her　the　hot；　fecund　darkness

that　possessed　his　own　blood。　He　was　strangely　secret。　The　whole

world　must　be　abolished。　He　maddened　her　with　his　soft；

cajoling；　vibrating　tones。　He　wanted　her　to　answer；　to

understand。　A　turgid；　teeming　night；　heavy　with　fecundity　in

which　every　molecule　of　matter　grew　big　with　increase；　secretly

urgent　with　fecund　desire；　seemed　to　e　to　pass。　She　quivered；

taut　and　vibrating；　almost　pained。　And　gradually；　he　ceased

telling　her　of　Africa；　there　came　a　silence；　whilst　they　walked

the　darkness　beside　the　massive　river。　Her　limbs　were　rich　and

tense；　she　felt　they　must　be　vibrating　with　a　low；　profound

vibration。　She　could　scarcely　walk。　The　deep　vibration　of　the

darkness　could　only　be　felt；　not　heard。

Suddenly；　as　they　walked；　she　turned　to　him　and　held　him

fast；　as　if　she　were　turned　to　steel。

〃Do　you　love　me？〃　she　cried　in　anguish。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　in　a　curious；　lapping　voice；　unlike　himself。

〃Yes；　I　love　you。〃

He　seemed　like　the　living　darkness　upon　her；　she　was　in　the

embrace　of　the　strong　darkness。　He　held　her　enclosed；　soft；