第20章

类别:其他 作者:H.Rider Haggard字数:10317更新时间:19/01/07 15:17:55
ButOrofixedhiseyesuponmeandslowlywavedhisthinhandtoandfroabovemyhead。 Mysensesreeled。Thencameagreatdarkness。 Theyreturnedagain。NowIwasstandinginanicy,reekingfog,whichIknewcouldbelongtooneplaceonly——London,inDecember,andatmysidewasOro。 \"Isthistheclimateofyourwonderfulcity?\"heasked,orseemedtoask,inanaggrievedtone。 Irepliedthatitwas,foraboutthreemonthsintheyear,andbegantolookaboutme。 SoonIfoundmybearings。Infrontofmeweregreatpilesofbuildings,lookingdimandmysteriousinthefog,inwhichI recognisedtheHousesofParliamentandWestminsterAbbey,forbothcouldbeseenfromwherewestoodinfrontoftheWestminsterBridgeStation。IexplainedtheiridentitytoOro。 \"Good,\"hesaid。\"LetusenteryourPlaceofTalk。\" \"ButIamnotamember,andwehavenopassesfortheStrangers’Gallery,\"Iexpostulated。 \"Weshallnotneedany,\"herepliedcontemptuously。\"Leadon。\" Thusadjured,Icrossedtheroad,Orofollowingme。Lookinground,tomyhorrorIsawhimrightinthepathofamotor—buswhichseemedtogooverhim。 \"There’sanendtoOro,\"thoughtItomyself。\"Well,atanyrate,Ihavegothome。\" Nextinstanthewasatmysidequiteundisturbedbytheincidentofthebus。WecametoapolicemanatthedoorandI hesitated,expectingtobechallenged。Butthepolicemanseemedabsolutelyindifferenttoourpresence,evenwhenOromarchedpasthiminhisflowingrobes。SoIfollowedwithalikesuccess。 ThenIunderstoodthatwemustbeinvisible。 Wepassedtothelobby,wherememberswerehurryingtoandfro,andconstituentsandpressmenweregathered,andsoonintotheHouse。Orowalkedupitsfloorandtookhisstandbythetable,infrontoftheSpeaker。Ifollowedhim,nonesayingusNo。 Asitchancedtherewaswhatiscalledasceneinprogress——I thinkitwasoverIrishmatters;thedetailsareofnoaccount。 Membersshouted,Ministersprevaricatedandgrewangry,theSpeakerintervened。Onthewhole,itwasratheradegradingspectacle。Istood,orseemedtostand,andwatcheditall。Oro,inhissweepingrobes,whichlookedsoincongruousinthatplace,stepped,orseemedtostep,uptotheprincipalpersonagesoftheGovernmentandOpposition,whomIindicatedtohim,andinspectedthemonebyone,asanaturalistmightexaminestrangeinsects。 Then,returningtome,hesaid: \"Comeaway;Ihaveseenandheardenough。Whowouldhavethoughtthatthisnationofyourswasstrugglingforitslifeinwar?\" WepassedoutoftheHouseandsomehowcametoTrafalgarSquare。Ameetingwasinprogressthere,convened,apparently,toadvocatetherightsofLabour,alsothoseofwomen,alsotoprotestagainstthingsingeneral,especiallythethreatofConscriptionintheserviceofthecountry。 Herethenoisewastremendous,and,thefoghavingliftedsomewhat,wecouldseeeverything。SpeakersbawledfromthebaseofNelson’scolumn。Theirsupporterscheered,theiradversariesrushedatthem,andinoneortwoinstancessucceededinpullingthemdown。Awomanclimbedupandbegantoscreamoutsomethingwhichcouldonlybeheardbyafewreportersgatheredroundher。 Ithoughtheranunpleasant—lookingperson,andevidentlyherremarkswerenotpalatabletothemajorityofherauditors。Therewasarush,andshewasdraggedfromthebaseofoneofLandseer’slionsonwhichshestood。Herskirtwashalfrentoffherandherbodicesplitdowntheback。Finally,shewasconveyedaway,kicking,biting,andscratching,byanumberofpolice。Itwasadisgustingsight,andtumultensued。 \"Letusgo,\"saidOro。\"Yourofficersoforderaregood;therestisnotgood。\" Laterwefoundourselvesoppositetothedoorsofafamousrestaurantwhereamagnificentandgiganticcommissionairehelpedladiesfrommotor—cars,receivinginreturnmoneyfromthemenwhoattendedonthem。Weentered;itwasthehourofdinner。Theplacesparkledwithgems,andthenakedbacksofthewomengleamedintheelectriclight。Coursefolloweduponcourse; champagneflowed,afinebandplayed,everythingwascostly; everythingwas,inasense,repellent。 \"Thesearethewealthycitizensofanationengagedinfightingforitslife,\"remarkedOrotome,strokinghislongbeard。\"Itisinteresting,veryinteresting。Letusgo。\" Wewentoutandon,passingapublic—housecrowdedwithwomenwhohadlefttheirbabiesinchargeofchildrenintheicystreet。ItwasadayofIntercessionforthesuccessofEnglandinthewar。Thiswasplacardedeverywhere。Weentered,or,rather,Orodid,Ifollowinghim,oneofthechurchesintheStrandwhereaneveningservicewasinprogress。Thepreacherinthepulpit,averyableman,washoldingforthuponthenecessityfornationalrepentanceandself—denial;alsoofprayer。Inthebodyofthechurchexactlythirty—twopeople,mostofthemelderlywomen,werelisteningtohimwithanairofplacidacceptance。 \"Thepriesttalkswell,buthishearersarenotmany,saidOro。 \"Letusgo。\" Wecametotheflauntingdoorsofagreatmusic—hallandpassedthroughthem,thoughtoothersthiswouldhavebeenimpossible,fortheplacewasfilledfromfloortoroof。Initspromenadesmenweredrinkingandsmoking,whilegaudywomen,paintedandlow—robed,leeredatthem。Onthestagegirlsdanced,throwingtheirlegsabovetheirheads。Thentheyvanishedamidstapplause,andawomaninayellowrobe,whopretendedtobetipsy,sangahorribleandvulgarsongfulloftopicalallusions,whichwasreceivedwithscreamsofdelightbytheenormousaudience。 \"Herethehearersareverymany,butthosetowhomtheylistendonottalkwell。Letusgo,\"saidOro,andwewent。 Atarecruitingstationwepausedamomenttoconsiderposterssupposedtobeattractive,theverysightofwhichsentathrillofshamethroughme。Irememberthattheinscriptionunderoneofthemwas:\"Whatwillyourbestgirlsay?\" \"Isthathowyougatheryoursoldiers?Lateritwillbeotherwise,\"saidOro,andpassedon。 WereachedBlackfriarsandenteredahallatthedoorsofwhichstoodwomeninpoke—bonnets,verysweet—faced,earnest—lookingwomen。TheircountenancesseemedtostrikeOro,andhemotionedmetofollowhimintothehall。Itwasquitefullofamiserable— lookingcongregationofperhapsathousandpeople。AmanintheblueandreduniformoftheSalvationArmywaspreachingofdutytoGodandcountry,ofself—denial,hopeandforgiveness。Heseemedahumbleperson,buthiswordswereearnest,andloveflowedfromhim。Someofhismiserablecongregationwept,othersstaredathimopen—mouthed,afew,whowereveryweary,slept。Hecalledthemuptoreceivepardon,andanumber,ledbythesweet— facedwomen,cameandkneltbeforehim。Heandotherswhisperedtothem,thenseemedtoblessthem,andtheyrosewiththeirfaceschanged。 \"Letusgo,\"saidOro。\"Idonotunderstandtheserites,butatlastinyourgreatandwonderfulcityIhaveseensomethingthatispureandnoble。\" Wewentout。Inthestreetstherewasgreatexcitement。Peoplerantoandfropointingupwards。Searchlights,likehugefingersofflame,stoleacrossthesky;gunsboomed。Atlast,intheglareofasearchlight,wesawalongandsinisterobjectfloatinghighaboveusandgleamingasthoughitweremadeofsilver。Flashescamefromitfollowedbyterribleboomingreportsthatgrewnearerandnearer。Ahousecollapsedwithacrashjustbehindus。 \"Ah!\"saidOro,withasmile。\"Iknowthis——itiswar,warasitwaswhentheworldwasdifferentandyetthesame。\" Ashespoke,amotor—busrumbledpast。Anotherflashandexplosion。Aman,walkingwithhisarmsroundthewaistofagirljustaheadofus;seemedtobetossedupandtomelt。Thegirlfellinaheaponthepavement;somehowherheadandherfeethadcomequiteclosetogetherandyetsheappearedtobesittingdown。Themotor—busburstintofragmentsanditspassengershurtledthroughtheair,merehideouslumpsthathadbeenmenandwomen。Theheadofoneofthemcamedancingdownthepavementtowardsus,acigarstillstuckinthecornerofitsmouth。 \"Yes,thisiswar,\"saidOro。\"Itmakesmeyoungagaintoseeit。Butdoesthiscityofyoursunderstand?\" Wewatchedawhile。Acrowdgathered。Policemenranup,ambulancescame。Theplacewascleared,andallthatwaslefttheycarriedaway。Afewminuteslateranothermanpassedbywithhisarmroundthewaistofanothergirl。Anothermotor—busrumbledup,and,avoidingtheholeintheroadway,travelledon,itsconductorkeepingakeenlook—outforfares。 Thestreetwasclearedbythepolice;theairshipcontinueditscourse,spawningbombsinthedistance,andvanished。Theincidentwasclosed。 \"Letusgohome,\"saidOro。\"Ihaveseenenoughofyourgreatandwonderfulcity。IwouldrestinthequietofNyoandthink。\" ThenextthingthatIrememberwasthevoiceofBastin,saying: \"Ifyoudon’tmind,Arbuthnot,Iwishthatyouwouldgetup。 TheGlitteringLady(hestillcalledherthat)iscomingheretohaveatalkwithmewhichIshouldprefertobeprivate。Excusemefordisturbingyou,butyouhaveoversleptyourself;indeed,I thinkitmustbenineo’clock,sofarasIcanjudgebythesun,formywatchisveryerraticnow,eversinceBickleytriedtocleanit。\" \"Iamsorry,mydearfellow,\"Isaidsleepily,\"butdoyouknowIthoughtIwasinLondon——infact,IcouldswearthatIhavebeenthere。\" \"Then,\"interruptedBickley,whohadfollowedBastinintothehut,givingmethatdoubtfulglancewithwhichIwasnowfamiliar,\"Iwishtogoodnessthatyouhadbroughtbackaneveningpaperwithyou。\" AnightortwolaterIwasagainsuddenlyawakenedtofeelthatOrowasapproaching。Heappearedlikeaghostinthebrightmoonlight,greetedme,andsaid: \"Tonight,Humphrey,wemustmakeanotherjourney。Iwouldvisittheseatofthewar。\" \"Idonotwishtogo,\"Isaidfeebly。 \"Whatyouwishdoesnotmatter,\"hereplied。\"Iwishthatyoushouldgo,andthereforeyoumust。\" \"Listen,Oro,\"Iexclaimed。\"Idonotlikethisbusiness;itseemsdangeroustome。\" \"Thereisnodangerifyouareobedient,Humphrey。\" \"Ithinkthereis。Idonotunderstandwhathappens。DoyoumakeuseofwhattheLadyYvacalledtheFourthDimension,sothatourbodiespassovertheseasandthroughmountains,likethevibrationsofourWireless,ofwhichIwasspeakingtoyou?\" \"No,Humphrey。Thatmethodisgoodandeasy,butIdonotuseitbecauseifIdidweshouldbevisibleintheplaceswhichwevisit,sincetherealltheatomsthatmakeamanwouldcollecttogetheragainandbeaman。\" \"What,then,doyoudo?\"Iasked,exasperated。 \"Man,Humphrey,isnotone;heismany。Thus,amongstotherthingshehasaDouble,whichcanseeandhear,ashecanintheflesh,ifitisseparatedfromtheflesh。\" \"TheoldEgyptiansbelievedthat,\"Isaid。 \"Didthey?Doubtlesstheyinheritedtheknowledgefromus,theSonsofWisdom。Thecupofourlearningwassofullthat,keepitsecretaswewould,fromtimetotimesomeofitoverflowedamongthevulgar,anddoubtlessthusthelightofourknowledgestillburnsfeeblyintheworld。\" Ireflectedtomyselfthatwhatevermightbetheirothercharacteristics,theSonsofWisdomhadlostthatofmodesty,butIonlyaskedhowheusedhisDouble,supposingthatitexisted。 \"Veryeasily,\"heanswered。\"Insleepitcanbedrawnfromthebodyandsentuponitsmissionbyonethatisitsmaster。\" \"ThenwhileyouwereasleepforallthosethousandsofyearsyourDoublemusthavemademanyjourneys。\" \"Perhaps,\"herepliedquietly,\"andmyspiritalso,whichisanotherpartofmethatmayhavedweltinthebodiesofothermen。Butunhappily,ifsoIforget,andthatiswhyIhavesomuchtolearnandmustevenmakeuseofsuchpoorinstrumentsasyou,Humphrey。\" \"ThenifIsleepandyoudistilmyDoubleoutofme,Isupposethatyousleeptoo。InthatcasewhodistilsyourDoubleoutofyou,LordOro?\" Hegrewangryandanswered: \"Asknomorequestions,blindandignorantasyouare。Itisyourpartnottoexamine,buttoobey。Sleepnow,\"andagainhewavedhishandoverme。 Inaninstant,asitseemed,wewerestandinginagreyoldtownthatIjudgedfromitsappearancemustbeeitherinnorthernFranceorBelgium。Itwasmuchshatteredbybombardment;thechurch,forinstance,wasaruin;alsomanyofthehouseshadbeenburnt。Now,however,nofiringwasgoingonforthetownhadbeentaken。ThestreetswerefullofarmedmenwearingtheGermanuniformandhelmet。Wepasseddownthemandwereabletoseeintothehouses。InsomeofthesewereGermansoldiersengagedinlootingandinotherthingssohorriblethateventheunmovedOroturnedawayhishead。 Wecametothemarket—place。ItwascrowdedwithGermantroops,alsowithagreatnumberoftheinhabitantsofthetown,mostofthemelderlymenandwomenwithchildren,whohadfallenintotheirpower。TheGermans,underthecommandofofficers,weredraggingthemenfromthearmsoftheirwivesandchildrentooneside,andwithrifle—buttsbeatingbackthescreamingwomen。AmongthemenInoticedtwoorthreepriestswhoweredoingtheirbesttosoothetheircompanionsandevengivingthemabsolutioninhurriedwhispers。 Atlengththeseparationwaseffected,whereonatahoarsewordofcommand,acompanyofsoldiersbegantofireatthemenandcontinueddoingsountilallhadfallen。Thenpettyofficerswentamongtheslaughteredandwithpistolsblewoutthebrainsofanywhostillmoved。 \"Thesebutchers,yousay,areGermans?\"askedOroofme。 \"Yes,\"Ianswered,sickwithhorror,forthoughIwasinthemindandnotinthebody,Icouldfeelastheminddoes。HadI beeninthebodyalso,Ishouldhavefainted。 \"Thenweneednotwastetimeinvisitingtheircountry。Itisenough;letusgoon。\" Wepassedoutintotheopenlandandcametoavillage。ItwasintheoccupationofGermancavalry。Twoofthemheldalittlegirlofnineorten,onebyherbody,theotherbyherrighthand。Anofficerstoodbetweenthemwithadrawnswordfrontingtheterrifiedchild。Hewasahorrible,coarse—facedmanwholookedtomeasthoughhehadbeendrinking。 \"I’llteachtheyoungdeviltoshowusthewrongroadandletthoseFrenchswineescape,\"heshouted,andstruckwiththesword。Thegirl’srighthandfelltotheground。 \"WaraspractisedbytheGermans!\"remarkedOro。Thenhestepped,orseemedtostepuptothemanandwhispered,orseemedtowhisper,inhisear。 Idonotknowwhattongueorwhatspiritspeechheused,orwhathesaid,butthebloated—facedbruteturnedpale。Yes,hedrewsickwithfear。 \"Ithinktherearespiritsinthisplace,\"hesaidwithaGermanoath。\"IcouldhaveswornthatsomethingtoldmethatI wasgoingtodie。Mount!\" TheUhlansmountedandbegantorideaway。 \"Watch,\"saidOro。 Ashespokeoutofadarkcloudappearedanaeroplane。ItspilotsawthebandofGermansbeneathanddroppedabomb。Theaimwasgood,forthemissileexplodedinthemidstofthem,causingagreatcloudofdustfromwhicharosethescreamsofmenandhorses。 \"Comeandsee,\"saidOro。 Wewerethere。Outofthecloudofdustappearedonemangallopingfuriously。Hewasayoungfellowwho,asInoted,hadturnedhisheadawayandhiddenhiseyeswithhishandwhenthehorrorwasdoneyonder。Alltheothersweredeadexcepttheofficerwhohadworkedthedeed。Hewasstillliving,butbothhishandsandoneofhisfeethadbeenblownaway。Presentlyhedied,screamingtoGodformercy。 Wepassedonandcametoabarnwithwidedoorsthatswungalittleinthewind,causingtherustedhingestoscreamlikeacreatureinpain。Oneachofthesedoorshungadeadmancrucified。Thehatofoneofthemlayupontheground,andIknewfromtheshapeofitthathewasaColonialsoldier。 \"Didyounottellme,\"saidOroaftersurveyingthem,\"thattheseGermansareofyourChristianfaith?\" \"Yes;andtheNameofGodisalwaysontheirruler’slips。\" \"Ah!\"hesaid,\"IamgladthatIworshipFate。Bastinthepriestneedtroublemenomore。\" \"ThereissomethingbehindFate,\"Isaid,quotingBastinhimself。 \"Perhaps。SoindeedIhavealwaysheld,butaftermuchstudyI cannotunderstandthemannerofitsworking。Fateisenoughforme。\" Wewentonandcametoaflatcountrythatwaslinedwithditches,allofthemfullofmen,Germansononeside,EnglishandFrenchupontheother。Aterriblebombardmentshooktheearth,theshellsrainingupontheditches。PresentlythatfromtheEnglishgunsceasedandoutofthetrenchesinfrontofthemthousandsofmenwerevomited,whoranforwardthroughahailoffireinwhichscoresandhundredsfell,acrossanopenpieceofgroundthatwaspittedwithshellcraters。Theycametobarbedwiredefenses,orwhatremainedofthem,cutthewirewithnippersandpulleduptheposts。Thenthroughthegapstheysurgedin,shoutingandhurlinghandgrenades。TheyreachedtheGermantrenches,theyleaptintothemandfromthoseholesaroseahellishdin。Pistolswerefiredandeverywherebayonetsflashed。 Behindthemrushedahordeoflittle,dark—skinnedmen,Indianswhocarriedgreatknivesintheirhands。Thoseleaptoverthefirsttrenchandrunningonwithwildyells,divedintothesecond,thosewhowereleftofthem,andtherebeganhackingwiththeirknivesatthedefendersandthesoldierswhoworkedthespittingmaximguns。Intwentyminutesitwasover;thoselinesoftrenchesweretaken,andoncemorefromeithersidethegunsbegantoboom。 \"Waragain,\"saidOro,\"clean,honestwar,suchasthegodI callFatedecreesforman。Ihaveseenenough。NowIwouldvisitthosewhomyoucallTurks。IunderstandtheyhaveanotherworshipandperhapstheyarenoblerthantheseChristians。\" WecametoahillycountrywhichIrecognisedasArmenia,foronceItravelledthere,andstoppedonanseashore。HereweretheTurksinthousands。Theywereengagedindrivingbeforethemmobsofmen,womenandchildrenincountlessnumbers。Onandontheydrovethemtilltheyreachedtheshore。Theretheymassacredthemwithbayonets,withbullets,orbydrowning。Irememberadreadfulsceneofapoorwomanstandinguptoherwaistinthewater。Threechildrenwereclingingtoher——butIcannotgoon,reallyIcannotgoon。IntheendaTurkwadedoutandbayonetedherwhileshestrovetoprotectthelastlivingchildwithherpoorbodywhenceitsprang。 \"These,Iunderstand,\"saidOro,pointingtotheTurkishsoldiers,\"worshipaprophetwhotheysayisthevoiceofGod。\" \"Yes,\"Ianswered,\"andthereforetheymassacrethesewhoareChristiansbecausetheyworshipGodwithoutaprophet。\" \"AndwhatdotheChristiansmassacreeachotherfor?\" \"Powerandthewealthandterritoriesthatarepower。Thatis,theKingoftheGermanswishestoruletheworld,buttheotherNationsdonotdesirehisdominion。ThereforetheyfightforLibertyandJustice。\" \"Asitwas,soitisandshallbe,\"remarkedOro,\"onlywiththisdifference。Intheoldworldsomewerewise,buthere——\"andhestopped,hiseyesfixedupontheArmenianwomanstrugglinginherdeathagonywhilethemurdererdrownedherchild,thenadded: \"Letusgo。\" Ourroadranacrossthesea。OnitwesawashipsolargethatitattractedOro’sattention,andforonceheexpressedastonishment。 \"Inmyday,\"hesaid,\"wehadnovesselsofthisgreatnessintheworld。Iwishtolookuponit。\" Welandedonthedeckoftheship,orratherthefloatingpalace,andexaminedher。Shecarriedmanypassengers,someEnglish,someAmerican,andIpointedouttoOrothedifferencesbetweenthetwopeoples。Thesewerenot,heremarked,verywideexceptthattheAmericanwomenworemorejewels,alsothatsomeoftheAmericanmen,towhomwelistenedastheyconversed,spokeofthegreatnessoftheircountry,whereastheEnglishmen,iftheysaidanythingconcerningit,belittledtheircountry。 Presently,onthesurfaceoftheseaatalittledistanceappearedsomethingstrange,asmallandominousobjectlikeacanonthetopofapole。Avoicecriedout\"Submarine!\"andeveryonenearrushedtolook。 \"IfthoseGermanstryanyoftheirmonkeytricksonus,IguesstheUnitedStateswillgivethemhell,\"saidanothervoicenearby。 Thenfromthedirectionofthepolewiththetincanonthetopofit,camesomethingwhichcausedadisturbanceinthesmoothwaterandbubblestoriseinitswake。 \"Atorpedo!\"criedsome。 \"Shutyourmouth,\"saidthevoice。\"WhodaretorpedoavesselfullofthecitizensoftheUnitedStates?\" Nextcameaboomingcrashandafloodofupthrownwater,inthewashofwhichthatspeakerwascarriedawayintothedeep。Thenhorror!horror!horror!indescribable,asthemightyvesselwentwallowingtoherdoom。Boatslaunched;boatsoverset;boatsdraggedunderbyherrushthroughthewaterwhichcouldnotbestayed。Maddenedmenandwomenrunningtoandfro,theireyesstartingfromtheirheads,claspingchildren,fasteninglifebeltsovertheircostlygowns,orappearingfromtheircabins,theirhandsfilledwithjewelsthattheysoughttosave。Orderscriedfromhighplacesbystern—facedofficersdoingtheirdutytothelast。Andalittlewayoffthatthinpolewithatincanonthetopofitwatchingitswork。 Thentheplungeoftheenormousshipintothedeep,itshugescrewsstillwhirlingintheairandtheboomoftheburstingboilers。Lastlyeverythinggonesaveafewboatsfloatingonthequietseaandaroundthemdotsthatweretheheadsofstrugglinghumanbeings。 \"Letusgohome,\"saidOro。\"IgrowtiredofthiswarofyourChristianpeoples。Itisnobetterthanthatofthebarbariannationsoftheearlyworld。Indeeditisworse,sincethenweworshippedFateandbutafewofushadwisdom。NowyouallclaimwisdomanddeclarethatyouworshipaGodofMercy。\" WiththesewordsstillringinginmyearsIwokeupupontheIslandofOrofena,filledwithterroratthehorriblepossibilitiesofnightmare。 Whatelsecoulditbe?Therewasthebrownandancientconeoftheextinctvolcano。Therewerethetallpalmsofthemainislandandthelakeglitteringinthesunlightbetween。TherewasBastinconductingakindofSundayschoolofOrofenansuponthepointoftheRockofOfferings,asnowhehadobtainedtheleaveofOrotodo。Therewasthemouthofthecave,andissuingfromitBickley,whobyhelpofoneofthehurricanelampshadbeenmakinganexaminationoftheburiedremainsofwhathesupposedtobeflyingmachines。Withoutdoubtitwasnightmare,andIwouldsaynothingtothemaboutitforfearofmockery。 YettwonightslaterOrocameagainandaftertheusualpreliminaries,said: \"Humphrey,thisnightwewillvisitthatmightyAmericannation,ofwhichyouhavetoldmesomuch,andtheotherNeutralCountries。 [AtthispointthereisagapinMr。Arbuthnot’sM。S。,soOro’sreflectionsontheNeutralNations,ifany,remainunrecorded。Itcontinues:] OnourhomewardwaywepassedoverAustralia,makingadetourtodoso。OfthecitiesOrotooknoaccount。Hesaidthattheyweretoolargeandtoomany,butthecountryinterestedhimsomuchthatIgatheredhemusthavegivengreatattentiontoagricultureatsometimeinthepast。Hepointedouttomethattheclimatewasfine,andthelandsofertilethatwithapropersystemofirrigationandwater—storageitcouldsupporttensofmillionsandfeednotonlyitselfbutagreatpartoftheoutlyingworld。 \"Butwherearethepeople?\"heasked。\"Outsideofthosehugehives,\"andheindicatedthegreatcities,\"Iseefewofthem,thoughdoubtlesssomeofthemenarefightinginthiswar。Well,inthedaystocomethismustberemedied。\" OverNewZealand,whichhefoundbeautiful,heshookhisheadforthesamereason。 OnanothernightwevisitedtheEast。Chinawithitsteemingmillionsinterestedhimextremely,partlybecausehedeclaredthesetobethedescendantsofoneofthebarbariannationsofhisownday。Hemadearemarktotheeffectthatthisracehadalwayspossessedpointsandcapacities,andthathethoughtthatwithpropergovernmentandinstructiontheirChineseoffspringwouldbeofuseinaregeneratedworld。 FortheJapaneseandallthattheyhaddoneintwoshortgenerations,hewentsofarastoexpressrealadmiration,averyrarethingwithOro,whowasbynaturecritical。Icouldseethatmentallyheputawhitemarkagainsttheirname。