gs.earthabides-第33章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　Then　at　this　point　in　the　recurrent　course　of　his　thinking　he　always　had　to　correct　himself　again。　He　could　not；　and　should　not；　be　merely　the　observer　and　student。　Plato　and　the　others…each　of　them　could　merely　watch　and　ment；　even　cynically；　if　he　so　felt。　Through　his　writings　he　might　influence　future　generations；　but　he　himself　was　in　no　appreciable　way　responsible　for　the　growth　and　development　of　the　society　in　which　he　lived。　Only　now　and　then　had　the　scholar　also　bee　the　ruler…Marcus　Aurelius；　Thomas　More；　Woodrow　Wilson。　To　be　sure；　Ish　realized　that　he　himself　was　not　a　ruler　exactly；　but　he　was　the　man　of　ideas；　the　thinker；　in　a　munity　of　only　a　few　individuals。　Necessarily　the　others　turned　to　him　in　their　rare　times　of　trouble；　and　if　any　real　emergency　should　arise；　he　would　almost　certainly　have　to　assume　leadership。　
　　The　thought　had　already　in　the　course　of　the　years　sent　him　to　the　City　Library　after　books　about　scholars　who　had　also　bee　rulers。　Their　fates　were　not　forting。　Marcus　Aurelius　had　worn　himself　out；　body　and　soul；　in　bloody　and　fruitless　campaigns　on　the　Danube　frontier。　Thomas　More　had　gone　to　the　scaffold；　and　afterwards；　ironically；　he　had　been　canonized　as　a　martyr　of　the　Church。　The　biographers　often　called　Wilson　a　martyr　also；　although　no　Church　of　Peace　had　made　him　St。　Woodrow。　No；　the　scholar　in　power　had　not　prospered　notably。　Yet　he；　Ish；　in　a　munity　which　even　yet　numbered　only　thirty…six　people；　was　so　placed　that　he　probably　could　wield　more　influence　in　the　shaping　of　its　future　than　an　emperor　or　a　chancellor　or　a　president　in　the　Old　Times。　
　　Heavy　rains　in　the　week　after　New　Years　had　slowed　the　falling　of　the　water　level　in　the　reservoir。　Then；　a　little　earlier　than　usual；　came　the　mid…winter　dry　spell。　
　　Like　the　blood　of　some　leviathan　oozing　from　a　hundred　thousand　pinpricks；　the　life…giving　water　flowed　away　through　open　faucets　and　leaking　joints　and　broken　pipes。　
　　And　now；　where　the　still…standing　gauge　showed　that　the　depth　had　recently　been　twenty　feet；　only　a　thin　skin　of　water　covered　the　bottom　of　the　reservoir。　
　　When　Ish　woke　up　that　morning；　he　realized　that　it　was　a　fine　sunny　day；　and　that　he　had　slept　well　and　was　rested。　Em　was　gone　from　the　bed；　and　he　heard　the　familiar　little　sounds　from　downstairs　which　meant　that　breakfast　would　soon　be　ready。　He　lay　still　for　a　few　minutes；　thoroughly　enjoying　himself；　ing　back　more　slowly　than　usual　to　full　consclousness。　He　felt　it　a　very　fortunate　circumstance　to　be　able　to　lie　in　bed　a　little　while　longer　if　you　wished；　not　merely　on　Sunday　morning；　but　on　any　morning。　There　was　no　sharp　looking　at　clocks；　in　the　life　that　they　lived　now；　and　no　need　for　him　or　for　anyone　else；　to　catch　the　7：53　train。　He　was　living　a　life　of　greater　freedom　than　anyone　could　possibly　have　lived　in　the　Old　Times。　Perhaps；　with　his　special　temperament　he　was　even　living　more　happily　now　than　he　could　have　lived　then。　
　　When　he　felt　ready；　he　got　up　and　shaved。　There　was　no　hot　water；　but　he　did　not　care　about　that　particularly。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　nobody　would　have　minded　if　he　had　not　shaved　at　all；　but　he　liked　the　sense　of　cleanliness　and　stimulation　that　the　shave　gave　him。　
　　He　dressed…a　new　sport　shirt　and　a　pair　of　blue　jeans。　He　stuck　his　feet　into　some　fortable　slippers；　went　slopping　down　stairs；　and　steered　toward　the　kitchen。　
　　As　he　came　to　the　door；　he　heard　Em　say；　rather　more　sharply　than　she　was　used　to　speak；　〃Josey　child；　why　don't　you　turn　that　faucet　farther；　so　you　can　really　get　some　water？〃　
　　〃But；　Mommie；　it　is　turned　on；　as　hard　as　I　can　turn　it。〃　
　　Ish；　ing　into　the　kitchen；　saw　that　Josey　was　holding　the　tea…kettle　in　the　sink　under　the　faucet；　and　that　only　a　trickle　of　water　was　running。　
　　〃Morning！〃　he　said。　〃I　guess　I'll　have　to　get　George　to　e　over　and　fix　up　that　plumbing　a　little　bit。　Josey；　why　don't　you　run　out　into　the　garden；　and　get　some　water　from　one　of　the　outside　faucets？〃　
　　Josey　trotted　off　agreeably；　and　when　she　was　gone；　Ish　took　the　opportunity　to　kiss　Em；　and　to　tell　her　what　he　was　planning　for　the　day。　Josey　was　gone　for　a　little　while；　and　then　came　back　with　the　kettle　full。　
　　〃The　water　out　there　ran　faster　for　a　little　while；　and　then　it　just　died　out　to　a　trickle；　too；〃　she　said；　setting　the　kettle　on　the　gasoline　stove。　
　　〃That's　a　nuisance！〃　said　Em。　〃We'll　need　more　water　for　washing　the　dishes。〃　
　　Ish　recognized　the　tone　of　voice。　This　was　one　of　the　times　when　a　crisis　was　laid　directly　at　the　feet　of　the　menfolk　to　do　something　about。　
　　Breakfast　was　served　on　the　dining…room　table；　and　the　table　looked　just　about　the　way　it　might　have　looked　in　the　Old　Times。　Ish　sat　at　one　end；　and　Em　at　the　other。　They　had　only　four　children　at　home　now。　Robert；　who　was　sixteen；　and　almost　fully　grown　up；　according　to　the　standards　of　The　Tribe；　sat　on　one　side。　Beside　him　was　Walt；　who　was　twelve；　and　very　big　and　active　for　his　age。　And　on　the　other　side；　close　to　the　kitchen　door；　sat　Joey　and　Josey；　part　of　whose　work　was　to　help　with　breakfast；　by　aiding　with　the　cooking　and　setting　of　the　table；　and　running　in　and　out　to　wait　on　table　and　helping　to　wash　the　dishes　afterwards。　
　　As　he　sat　down；　Ish　could　not　help　thinking　how　little　this　particular　scene　differed　from　what　it　might　have　been　in　the　Old　Times。　To　be　sure；　he　would　never　have　expected　then　to　be　the　father　of　so　many　children。　But；　granting　the　numbers；　the　family　group　was　just　what　it　might　have　been　at　any　time　in　almost　any　society…father；　mother；　and　children；　tightly　grouped　to　form　the　basic　social　unit；　so　basic　in　fact　that　it　might　be　considered　biological　rather　than　social。　After　all；　he　thought；　the　family　was　the　toughest　of　all　human　institutions。　It　had　preceded　civilization；　and　so　it　naturally　survived　afterwards。　
　　There　was　grapefiruit…juice；　out　of　cans；　of　course。　Ish　had　long　since　begun　to　doubt　seriously　whether　after　all　this　time　there　was　anything　valuable　in　the　way　of　vitamins　left　in　canned　juices。　Even　the　taste　had　gone　flat。　But　they　continued　drinking　it；　because　it　felt　good　on　the　stomach；　even　though　there　might　not　be　any　vitamins；　and　at　worst　it　probably　was　doing　them　no　harm。　There　were　no　eggs；　because　there　had　been　no　hens　since　the　Great　Disaster。　There　was　no　bacon；　either；　because　canned　or；　glassed　bacon　was　hard　to　find　now　and　there　were　no　pigs　in　this　vicinity；　as　far　as　they　had　ever　discovered。　But　they　had　beef…ribs；　braised　and　well　browned；　which　were　a　fairly　good　substitute　for　bacon；　even　to　Ish's　taste。　The　children；　of　course；　liked　nothing　better。　In　fact；　they　made　the　principal　part　of　their　breakfast　on　the　beef…ribs　because　they　had　grown　up　being　largely　meat…eaters　and　expecting　or　wanting　little　else。　Ish　and　Em；　on　the　contrary；　had　always　been　used　to　having　toast　or　cereal；　and　now　that　the　rats　and　weevils　had　ruined　all　flour　and　packaged　cereals；　they　had　hominy；　from　cans；　cooked　up　so　as　to　be　something　like　a　breakfast…food。　They　ate　it　with　canned　milk　and　to　sweeten　it　there　was　white　corn…syrup；　because　lately　they　had　been　unable　to　find　any　sugar　that　rats　and　weather　had　spared。　The　grownups　also　had　coffee。　Ish　used　milk　and　…syrup　in　his；　Em　had　always　preferred　hers　black　and　unsweetened　anyway。　The　vacuum…packed　coffee；　like　the　grapefruit　juice；　had　lost　much　of　its　flavor。　
　　They　had　settled　gradually　upon　this　menu　as　their　standard　one　for　breakfast。　Except　perhaps　for　lack　of　vitamins；　it　seemed　to　offer　a　fairly　well　balanced　meal；　and　to　supply　vitamins　they　had　fresh　fruit　whenever　they　could　find　any；　though　now　that　blight　and　insects　and　rabbits　had　ruined　the　orchards；　there　was　little　fruit　to　be　had；　except　for　wild　strawberries　and　blackberries；　a　few　wormy　apples；　and　some　sour　plums　from　trees　gone　wild。　On　the　whole；　however；　Ish　found　it　a　satisfying　breakfast。　
　　After　he　had　finished；　Ish　slumped　into　an　easy…chair　in　the　living　room；　picked　a　cigarette　from　the　humidifier；　and　lighted　it。　But　the　cigarette　was　not　very　satisfactory。　They　were　no　longer　able　to　find　vacuum…packed　ones；　and　the　ordinary　ones　had　dried　out　almost　pletely　in　the　packages　now；　no　matter　how　well　sealed。　You　had　to　keep　them　in　the　humidifier　a　while　to　get　them　decently　smokable；　and　then　the　trouble　was　that　you　were　likely　to　get　them　even　too　damp。　That　was　what　was　wrong　with　this　one。　And　then　also；　he　could　not　quite　enjoy　the　cigarette　because　his　conscience　was　bothering　him。　From　the　kitchen　he　could　hear　uncertain　sounds　from　Em　and　the　twins；　and　he　gathered　that　they　were　still　having　trouble　getting　water。　
　　〃Might　as　well　go　over；〃　he　thought；　〃and　see　George；　and　get　him　to　clean　out　that　pipe　or　whatever　it　is。〃　He　got　up　and　went　out。　
　　On　the　way　to　George's；　however；　he　stopped　at　Jean's　house　to　pick　up　Ezra…not　that　Ezra　could　fix　anything；　or　that　he　needed　Ezra　for　any　negotiation　with　George；　but　just　because　he　always　liked　to　see　Ezra。　He　knocked；　and　Jean　came　to　the　door。　
　　〃Ez　is　not　here　now；〃　she　said。　〃He's　over　at　Molly's　this　week。〃　Ish　had　the　ftumy　feeling　that　he　often　had　when　fac　Ing　the　actual　practice　of　bigamy。　He　did　not　exactly　see　how　Jean　and　Molly　kept　on　such　good　terms；　and　even　helped　each　other　out　in　all　the　little　emergencies　of　housekeeping。　It　was　merely　another　triumph　of　Ezra's　at　getting　along　with　human　beings　and　making　them　get　along　with　each　other。　Ish　turned　to　go；　and　then　he　recollected；　and　looked　back。　
　　〃Oh；　Jean；〃　he　said。　〃Say；　is　your　water　running　all　right　this　morning？〃　
　　〃Why；　no；〃　said　Jean。　〃No；　it　isn't。　There's　just　a　little　trickle　ing　out。〃　
　　She　closed　the　door；　and　Ish　went　down　the　porch　steps　and　headed　for　Molly's　house。　He　felt　a　sudden　little　chill　of　apprehension。　
　　He　picked　up　Ezra　at　Molly's；　and　discovered　that　she　at　least　had　had　no　difficulty　with　water。　That；　however；　might　be　the　result　of　her　house　being　several　feet　lower　than　Jean's　so　that　the　water　might　not　yet　have　run　out　of　the　pipes。　
　　They　went　over　to　George's　house；　which　stood　neat　and　trim　inside　its　freshly　painted　white　picket…fence。　Maurine　showed　them　into　the　living…room；　and　told　therif　to　sit　down　while　she　went　to　get　George；　who　was　puttering　around　somewhere　as　usual。　Ish　sat　down　in　one　of　the　big　velourcovered　overstuffed　chairs。　Then；　as　always；　he　looked　around　the　living…room　with　a　sense　of　amazement；　mingled　with　an　almost　perverted　pleasure。　The　living…roorn　in　George　and　Maurine's　house　looked　exactly　the　way　the　living…room　of　any　prosperous　carpenter　would　have　looked　back　in　the　years　before　the　Great　Disaster。　There　were　bridge…lamps　with　pink　shades；　and　tassels　hanging　from　them。　There　was　a　very　expensive　electric　clock；　and　a　magnificent　console　radio…phonograph；　which　had　four　different　bands　of　reception。　There　was　also　a　television　set。　On　both　tables　were　scarves　carefully　crumpled　up　to　give　an　elegant　look　to　things；　and　on　one　table　were　neat　piles　of　several　popular　magazines。　
　　The　bridge…lamps　did　not　work；　because　there　was　no　electricity；　and　the　hands　of　the　electric　clock　always　stood　at　12：17。　The　magazines　were　at　least