下载辰思小说免费APP
Followedtheusualaimlessbabblethateverylow-castenativemustraiseoneveryoccasion。Itdieddown，andKimlayoutbehindthelittleknotofMahbub’sfollowers，almostunderthewheelsofahorse-truck，aborrowedblanketforcovering。Nowabedamongbrickbatsandballast-refuseonadampnight，betweenovercrowdedhorsesandunwashedBaltis，wouldnotappealtomanywhiteboys；butKimwasutterlyhappy。Changeofscene，service，andsurroundingswerethebreathofhislittlenostrils，andthinkingoftheneatwhitecotsofStXavier’sallarowunderthepunkahgavehimjoyaskeenastherepetitionofthemultiplication-tableinEnglish。
`Iamveryold，’hethoughtsleepily。`EverymonthIbecomeayearmoreold。Iwasveryyoung，andafooltoboot，whenItookMahbub’smessagetoUmballa。EvenwhenIwaswiththatwhiteRegimentIwasveryyoungandsmallandhadnowisdom。ButnowIlearneveryday，andinthreeyearstheColonelwilltakemeoutofthemadrissahandletmegoupontheRoadwithMahbubhuntingforhorses’pedigrees，ormaybeIshallgobymyself；ormaybeIshallfindthelamaandgowithhim。Yes；thatisbest。TowalkagainasachelawithmylamawhenhecomesbacktoBenares。’Thethoughtscamemoreslowlyanddisconnectedly。Hewasplungingintoabeautifuldreamlandwhenhisearscaughtawhisper，thinandsharp，abovethemonotonousbabbleroundthefire。Itcamefrombehindtheiron-skinnedhorse-truck。
`Heisnothere，then？’
`Whereshouldhebebutroysteringinthecity。Wholooksforaratinafrog-pond？Comeaway。Heisnotourman。’
`HemustnotgobackbeyondthePassesasecondtime。Itistheorder。’
`Hiresomewomantodrughim。Itisafewrupeesonly，andthereisnoevidence。’
`Exceptthewoman。Itmustbemorecertain；andrememberthepriceuponhishead。’
`Ay，butthepolicehavealongarm，andwearefarfromtheBorder。
IfitwereinPeshawur，now！’
`Yes-inPeshawur，’thesecondvoicesneered。`Peshawur，fullofhisblood-kin-fullofbolt-holesandwomenbehindwhoseclotheshewillhide。
Yes，PeshawurorJehannumwouldsuitusequallywell。’
`Thenwhatistheplan？’
`Ofool，haveInottolditahundredtimes？Waittillhecomestoliedown，andthenonesureshot。Thetrucksarebetweenusandpursuit。Wehavebuttorunbackoverthelinesandgoourway。Theywillnotseewhencetheshotcame。Waithereatleasttillthedawn。Whatmanneroffakirartthou，toshiveratalittlewatching？’
`Oho！’thoughtKim，behindclose-shuteyes。`OnceagainitisMahbub。
Indeedawhitestallion’spedigreeisnotagoodthingtopeddletoSahibs！
OrmaybeMahbubhasbeensellingothernews。Nowwhatistodo，Kim？I
knownotwhereMahbubhouses，andifhecomesherebeforethedawntheywillshoothim。Thatwouldbenoprofitforthee，Kim。Andthisisnotamatterforthepolice。ThatwouldbenoprofitforMahbub；and’-hegiggledalmostaloud-`IdonotrememberanylessonatNucklaowhichwillhelpme。Allah！HereisKimandyonderarethey。First，then，Kimmustwakeandgoaway，sothattheyshallnotsuspect。Abaddreamwakesaman-thus-’
Hethrewtheblanketoffhisface，andraisedhimselfsuddenlywiththeterrible，bubbling，meaninglessyelloftheAsiaticrousedbynightmare。
`Urr-urr-urr-urr！Ya-la-la-la-la！Narain！Thechurel！
Thechurel！’
Achurelisthepeculiarlymalignantghostofawomanwhohasdiedinchild-bed。Shehauntslonelyroads，herfeetareturnedbackwardsontheankles，andsheleadsmentotorment。
LouderroseKim’squaveringhowl，tillatlastheleapedtohisfeetandstaggeredoffsleepily，whilethecampcursedhimforwakingthem。
Sometwentyyardsfartherupthelinehelaydownagain，takingcarethatthewhisperersshouldhearhisgruntsandgroansasherecomposedhimself。
Afterafewminutesherolledtowardstheroadandstoleawayintothethickdarkness。
Hepaddledalongswiftlytillhecametoaculvert，anddroppedbehindit，hischinonalevelwiththecoping-stone。Herehecouldcommandallthenight-traffic，himselfunseen。
Twoorthreecartspassed，jinglingouttothesuburbs；acoughingpolicemanandahurryingfoot-pas
后续内容为VIP可读请开通VIP，或购买此章节
