CHAPTER I
關燈
小
中
大
comesdownitmightbeexpectedtowashtheexcrescencebackintothesoil.Housesdofall,peoplearedrownedandleftrotting,butthegeneraloutlineofthetownpersists,swellinghere,shrinkingthere,likesomelowbutindestructibleformoflife.
Inland,theprospectalters.ThereisanovalMaidan,andalongsallowhospital.HousesbelongingtoEurasiansstandonthehighgroundbytherailwaystation.Beyondtherailway—whichrunsparalleltotheriver—thelandsinks,thenrisesagainrathersteeply.Onthesecondriseislaidoutthelittlecivilstation,andviewedhenceChandraporeappearstobeatotallydifferentplace.Itisacityofgardens.Itisnocity,butaforestsparselyscatteredwithhuts.Itisatropicalpleasauncewashedbyanobleriver.Thetoddypalmsandneemtreesandmangoesandpepulthatwerehiddenbehindthebazaarsnowbecomevisibleandintheirturnhidethebazaars.Theyrisefromthegardenswhereancienttanksnourishthem,theyburstoutofstiflingpurlieusandunconsideredtemples.Seeking,lightandair,andendowedwithmorestrength
