hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第12章

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〃Have　another。　You　usually　have　two　in　the　evening。　I'll　take　a　small　one　to　keep　company。
〃No。　Let's　go　home。〃
In　the　night　he　woke　and　heard　the　wind　high　and　wild　and　turned　and　pulled　the　sheet　over　his　shoulder　and　shut　his　eyes　again。　He　felt　her　breathing　and　shut　his　eyes　again。　He　felt　her　breathing　softly　and　regularly　and　then　he　went　back　to　sleep。
Chapter　Eleven

IT　WAS　THE　SECOND　DAY　of　the　wind　and　it　had　not　slackened。

He　left　the　ongoing　narrative　of　their　journey　where　it　was　to　write　a　story　that　had　come　to　him　four　or　five　days　before　and　had　been　developing；　probably；　he　thought；　in　the　last　two　nights　while　he　had　slept。　He　knew　it　was　bad　to　interrupt　any　work　he　was　engaged　in　but　he　felt　confident　and　sure　of　how　well　he　was　going　and　he　thought　he　could　leave　the　longer　narrative　and　write　the　story　which　he　believed　he　must　write　now　or　lose。

The　story　started　with　no　difficulty　as　a　story　does　when　it　is　ready　to　be　written　and　he　got　past　the　middle　of　it　and　knew　he　should　break　off　and　leave　it　until　the　next　day。　If　he　could　not　keep　away　from　it　after　he　had　taken　a　break　he　would　drive　through　and　finish　it。　But　he　hoped　he　could　keep　away　from　it　and　hit　it　fresh　the　next　day。　It　was　a　good　story　and　now　he　remembered　how　long　he　had　intended　to　write　it。　The　story　had　not　come　to　him　in　the　past　few　days。　His　memory　had　been　inaccurate　in　that。　It　was　the　necessity　to　write　it　that　had　come　to　him。　He　knew　how　the　story　ended　now。　He　had　always


known　the　wind　and　sand…scoured　bones　but　they　were　gone　now　and　he　was　inventing　all　of　it。　It　was　all　true　now　because　it　happened　to　him　as　he　wrote　and　only　its　bones　were　dead　and　scattered　and　behind　him。　It　started　now　with　the　evil　in　the　shamba　and　he　had　to　write　it　and　he　was　very　well　into　it。

He　was　tired　and　happy　from　his　work　when　he　found　Catherine's　note　that　she　had　not　wanted　to　disturb　him；　had　gone　out　and　would　be　back　for　lunch。　He　left　the　room　and　ordered　breakfast　and；　as　he　waited　for　it；　Monsieur　Aurol；　the　proprietor；　came　in　and　they　spoke　about　the　weather。　Monsieur　Aurol　said　the　wind　came　this　way　sometimes。　It　was　not　a　true　mistral；　the　season　guaranteed　that；　but　it　would　probably　blow　for　three　days。　The　weather　was　insane　now。　Monsieur　had　undoubtedly　noticed　that。　If　anyone　kept　track　of　it　they　would　know　that　it　had　not　been　normal　since　the　war。

David　said　he　had　not　been　able　to　keep　track　of　it　because　he　had　been　travelling　but　there　was　no　doubt　that　the　weather　was　strange。　Not　only　the　weather；　said　Monsieur　Aurol；　every　thing　was　changed　and　what　was　not　changed　was　changing　fast。　It　might　very　well　all　be　for　the　best　and　he；　for　one；　did　not　oppose　it。　Monsieur；　as　a　man　of　the　world；　probably　saw　it　in　the　same　way。

Undoubtedly；　said　David；　seeking　for　a　decisive　and　terminal　idiocy；　it　was　necessary　to　review　the　cadres。

Precisely；　said　Monsieur　Aurol。

They　left　it　at　that　and　David　finished　his　caf6　creme　and　read　the　Miroir　des　Sports　and　began　to　miss　Catherine。　He　went　into　the　room　and　found　Far　Away　and　Long　Ago　and　came　out　onto　the　terrace　and　settled　himself　in　the　sun　by　the　table　out　of　the　wind　to　read　the　lovely　book。　Catherine　had　sent　to　Galignani's　in　Paris　for　the　Dent　edition　for　a　present　for　him　and　when　the　books　had　come　they　had　made　him　feel　truly　rich。　The　figures　in　his　bank　balances；　the　franc　and　dollar　accounts；　had；　ever　since
Grau　du　Roi；　seemed　completely　unreal　and　he　had　never　con　sidered　them　as　actual　money。　But　the　books　of　W。　H。　Hudson　had　made　him　feel　rich　and　when　he　told　Catherine　this　she　was　very　pleased。
After　he　had　read　an　hour　he　started　to　miss　Catherine　very　badly　and　he　found　the　boy　who　served　at　table　and　asked　him　to　bring　a　whiskey　and　Perrier。　Later　he　had　another。　It　was　well　past　lunch　when　he　heard　the　car　come　up　the　hill。
They　came　along　the　walk　and　he　heard　their　voices。　They　were　excited　and　happy；　then　the　girl　was　suddenly　silent；　and　Catherine　said；　〃Look　who　I　brought　to　see　you。
〃Please；　I　know　I　should　not　have　come；〃　the　girl　said。　It　was　the　dark　handsome　one　of　the　two　they　had　met　at　the　cafe　yesterday；　the　one　who　blushed。
〃How　are　you？〃　David　said。　She　had　evidently　been　to　the　coiffeur's　and　her　hair　had　been　cropped　short　the　way　Catherine's　had　been　at　Biarritz。　〃I　see　you　found　the　place。〃
The　girl　blushed　and　looked　at　Catherine　for　courage。　〃Look　at　her；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Go　muss　her　head　up。〃　〃Oh　Catherine；〃　the　girl　said。　Then　she　said　to　David；　〃You　can　if　you　want。〃
〃Don't　be　frightened；〃　he　said。　〃What　do　you　think　you've　got　into？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　just　so　happy　to　be　here。〃
'Where　have　you　two　been？〃　David　asked　Catherine。　〃Jean's　of　course。　Then　we　just　stopped　and　had　a　drink　and　I　asked　Marita　if　she'd　come　to　lunch。　Aren't　you　glad　to　see　us？〃'
〃I'm　delighted。　Will　you　have　another　drink？〃
〃Would　you　make　martinis？〃　Catherine　asked。　〃One　won't　hurt　you；〃　she　said　to　the　girl。
〃No　please。　I　have　to　drive。〃
〃Do　you　want　a　sherry？〃
〃No　please。〃



David　went　behind　the　bar　and　found　glasses　and　some　ice　and　made　two　martinis。
〃I'll　taste　yours　if　I　may；〃　the　girl　said　to　him。
〃You're　not　afraid　of　him　now　are　you？〃　Catherine　asked　her。　〃Not　at　all；〃　the　girl　said。　She　blushed　again。　〃It　tastes　very　good　but　terribly　strong。
〃They　are　strong；〃　David　said。　〃But　there's　a　strong　wind　today　and　we　drink　according　to　the　wind。〃
〃Oh；〃　said　the　girl。　〃Do　all　Americans　do　that？〃
〃Only　the　oldest　families；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Us；　the　Morgans；　the　Woolworths；　the　Jelkses；　the　Jukeses。　You　know。〃
〃It's　rugged　in　the　blizzards　and　in　hurricane　months；〃　David　said。　〃Sometimes　I　wonder　if　we'll　get　through　the　autumnal　equinox。〃
〃I'd　like　to　have　one　sometime　when　I　didn't　have　to　drive；〃　the　girl　said。
〃You　don't　have　to　drink　because　we　do；〃　Catherine　said。　〃And　don't　mind　that　we　make　jokes　all　the　time。　Look　at　her　David。　Aren't　you　glad　I　brought　her？〃
〃I　love　it　that　you　make　jokes；〃　the　girl　said。　〃You　must　forgive　me　that　I'm　so　happy　to　be　here。〃
〃You　were　nice　to　come；〃　David　said。
When　they　were　at　lunch　in　the　dining　room　out　of　the　wind；　David　asked；　〃What　about　your　friend　Nina？〃
〃She's　gone　away。
〃She　was　handsome；〃　David　said。
〃Yes。　We　had　a　very　big　fight　and　she　went　away。
〃She　was　a　bitch；〃　Catherine　said。　〃But　then　I　think　almost　everyone　is　a　bitch。〃
〃Usually　they　are；〃　the　girl　said。　〃I　always　hope　not　but　they　are。
〃I　know　plenty　of　women　who　aren't　bitches；〃　David　said。
〃Yes。　You　would；〃　the　girl　said。

〃Was　Nina　happy？〃　Catherine　asked。

〃I　hope　she　will　be　happy；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Happiness　in　intelligent　people　is　the　rarest　thing　I　know。〃

〃You　haven't　had　such　a　long　time　to　find　out　about　it。

〃If　you　make　mistakes　you　find　out　faster；〃　the　girl　said。

'You've　been　happy　all　morning；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We　had　a　wonderful　time。〃

〃You　don't　need　to　tell　me；〃　the　girl　said。　〃And　I'm　happier　now　than　I　can　remember　ever。〃

Later；　over　salad　David　asked　the　girl；　〃Are　you　staying　far　from　here　along　the　coast？〃

〃I　don't　think　I'm　staying。〃

〃Really？　That's　too　bad；〃　he　said　and　felt　the　tension　come　to　the　table　and　draw　taut　as　a　hawser。　He　looked　from　the　girl　with　her　eyelashes　down　so　they　touched　her　cheeks　to　Catherine　and　she　looked　at　him　very　straight　and　said；　〃She　was　going　back　to　Paris　and　I　said　why　not　stay　here　if　Aurol　has　a　room？　Gome　on　up　to　lunch　and　see　if　David　likes　you　and　if　you　like　the　place。　David　do　you　like　her？〃

〃It's　not　a　club；〃　David　said。　〃It's　a　hotel。〃　Catherine　looked　away　and　he　moved　fast　to　help　her；　going　on　as　though　it　had　not　been　stated。　〃We　like　you　very　much　and　I'm　sure　Aurol　has　room。　He　should　be　delighted　to　have　someone　else　here。〃

The　girl　sat　at　the　table　with　her　eyes　down。　〃I　think　I'd　better　not。〃

〃Please　stay　a　few　days；〃　Catherine　said。　〃David　and　I　would　both　love　to　have　you。　I've　no　one　here　to　keep　me　company　while　he　works。　We'd　have　good　times　the　way　we　did　this　morning。　Tell　her　David。〃

The　hell　with　her；　David　thought。　Fuck　her。

〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　said。　〃Call　Monsieur　Aurol　please；〃　he　told　the　boy　who　served。　〃We'll　find　out　about　a　room。

'You　won't　mind　truly？〃　the　girl　asked。

96　97


〃We　wouldn't　have　asked　you　if　we　minded；〃　David　said。　〃We　like　you　and　you're　very　decorative。〃
〃I'll　be　useful　if　I　can；〃　the　girl　said。　〃I　hope　I'll　find　out　how　to　be。〃
〃Be　happy　the　way　you　were　when　you　came　in；〃　David　told　her。　〃That's　useful。〃
〃I　am　now；〃　the　girl　said。　〃I　wish　I'd　taken　the　martini　now　that　I　don't　have　to　drive。〃
〃You　can　have　one　tonight；〃　Catherine　said。

〃That　will　be　lovely。　Can　we　go　and　see　the　rooms　now　and　get　it　over　with？〃


David　had　driven　her　down　to　retrieve　the　big　old　Isotta　convertible　and　her　bags　from　where　the　car　had　been　parked　in　front　of　the　cafe　in　Cannes。
On　the　way　she　said；　〃Your　wife　is　wonderful　and　I'm　in　love　with　her。〃
She　was　sitting　beside　him　and　David　did　not　look　to　see　if　she　blushed。
〃I'm　in　love　with　her　too；〃　he　said。
〃I'm　in　love　with　you　also；〃　she　said。　〃Is　that　all　right？〃　He　dropped　his　arm　and　closed　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　and　she　leaned　close　against　him。
〃We'll　have　to　see　about　that；〃　he　said。
〃I'm　glad　I'm　smaller。〃
〃Smaller　than　who？〃
〃Catherine；〃　she　said。
〃That's　a　hell　of　a　thing　to　say；〃　he　said。
〃I　mean　I　thought　you　might　like　someone　of　my　size。　Or　do　you　only　care　for　tall　girls？〃
〃Catherine's　not　a　tall　girl。〃
〃Of　course　not。　I　only　meant　that　I　was　not　as　tall。〃
〃Yes　and　you're　very　dark　too。〃

〃Yes。　We'll　look　well　together。〃

〃Who　will？〃

〃Catherine　and　I　and　you　and　I。〃

〃We'll　have　to。〃

〃What　does　that　mean？〃

〃I　mean　we　can't　escape　looking　well　together　can　we；　if　we　look　well　and　we　are　together？〃

'We're　together　now。

〃No。〃　He　was　driving　with　only　one　hand　on　the　wheel；　leaning　back　and　looking　up　the　road　ahead　at　the　juncture　with　the　N。7。　She　had　put　her　hand　on　him。　〃We're　just　riding　in　the　same　car；〃　he　said。

〃But　I　can　feel　that　you　like　me。

〃Yes。　I'm　very　reliable　that　way　but　it　doesn't　mean　a　thing。〃

〃It　does　mean　something。〃

〃Just　what　it　says。〃

〃It's　a　very　nice　thing　to　say；〃　she　said　and　did　not　say　any　thing　more　nor　take　her　hand　away　until　they　had　turned　at　the　Boulevard　and　pulled　up　behind　the　old　Isotta　Fraschini　parked　in　front　of　the　cafe　under　the　old　trees。　Then　she　had　smiled　at　him　and　got　out　of　the　small　blue　car。

Now；　at　the　hotel　in　the　pines　that　were　still　being　blown　by　the　wind；　David　and　Catherine　were　alone　in　their　room　after　she　finally　came　in　from　settling　the　girl　in　the　two　rooms　that　she　had　taken。

〃I　think　she'll　be　comfortable；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Of　course　the　best　room　beside　our　own　is　the　one　at　the　far　end　where　you　work。〃

〃And　I'm　going　to　keep　it；〃　David　said。　〃I'm　going　damn　well　and　I　won't　change　my　work　room　for　an　imported　bitch！〃

'Why　are　you　being　so　violent？〃　Catherine　said。　〃No　one　asked　you　to　give　it　up。　I　just　said　it　was　the　best。　But　the　two　next　door　to　it　work　out　very　well。〃

〃Who　is　this　girl　anyway？〃
98　99

〃Don't　be　so　violent。　She's　a　nice　girl　and　I　like　her。　I　know　it　was　unforgivable　to　bring　her　up　w