hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第16章

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The　pretty　dark　girl　was　bringing　a　tray　with　a　small　bowl　rounded　with　caviar；　a　half　lemon；　a　spoon　and　two　pieces　of　toast　and　the　young　waiter　had　a　bucket　with　a　bottle　of　the　B6llinger　and　a　tray　with　three　glasses。
〃This　will　be　good　for　David；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Then　we　can　go　swimming　before　lunch。〃


After　the　swimming　and　lying　in　the　sun　on　the　beach　and　a　big　long　lunch　with　more　of　the　Bdllinger；　Catherine　said；　〃I'm　really　tired　and　sleepy。〃
〃You　swam　a　long　way；〃　David　said。　〃We'll　make　a　siesta。〃

〃I　want　to　really　sleep；〃　Catherine　said。

〃Do　you　feel　well；　Catherine？〃　the　girl　asked。

〃Yes。　just　deadly　sleepy。〃

〃We'll　put　you　to　bed；〃　David　said。　〃Do　you　have　a　ther　mometer？〃　he　asked　the　girl。

〃I'm　sure　I　haven't　any　fever；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　just　want　to　sleep　for　a　long　time。〃

When　she　was　in　bed　the　girl　brought　in　the　thermometer　and　David　took　Catherine's　temperature　and　her　pulse。　The　temperature　was　normal　and　the　pulse　was　one　hundred　and　five。

〃The　pulse　is　a　little　high；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　don't　know　your　normal　pulse。〃

〃I　don't　either　but　it's　probably　too　fast。〃

〃I　don't　think　the　pulse　means　much　with　the　temperature　normal；〃　David　said。　〃But　if　you　have　a　fever　I'll　bring　a　doctor　up　from　Cannes。〃

〃I　don't　want　a　doctor；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　just　want　to　sleep。　Can　I　sleep　now？〃

〃Yes；　my　beauty。　You　call　if　you　want　me。

They　stood　and　watched　her　go　to　sleep　and　then　went　out　very　quietly　and　David　walked　along　the　stones　and　looked　through　the　window。　Catherine　was　sleeping　quietly　and　her　breathing　was　regular。　He　brought　two　chairs　up　and　a　table　and　they　sat　in　the　shade　near　Catherine's　window　and　looked　out　through　the　pines　to　the　blue　sea。　〃What　do　you　think？〃　David　asked。

〃I　don't　know。　She　was　happy　this　morning。　just　as　you　saw　her　when　you　finished　writing。〃

'What　about　now？〃

〃Maybe　just　a　reaction　from　yesterday。　She's　a　very　natural　girl；　David；　and　this　is　natural。〃

〃Yesterday　was　like　loving　someone　when　someone　s　died；〃　he　said。　〃It　wasn't　right。〃　He　stood　up　and　walked　to　the　window

and　looked　in。　Catherine　was　sleeping　in　the　same　position　and　breathing　lightly。　〃She's　sleeping　well；〃　he　told　the　girl。　〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　take　a　nap？〃

〃I　think　so。〃

〃I'm　going　down　to　my　room　where　I　work；〃　he　said。　〃There's　a　door　to　yours　that　bolts　on　each　side。〃　He　walked　down　along　the　stones　and　unlocked　the　door　of　his　room　and　then　unbolted　the　door　between　the　two　rooms。　He　stood　and　waited　and　then　heard　the　bolt　turn　on　the　other　side　of　the　door　and　then　the　door　opened。　They　sat　side　by　side　on　the　bed　and　he　put　his　arm　around　her。　〃Kiss　me；〃　David　said。

〃I　love　to　kiss　you；〃　she　said。　〃I　love　it　so　very　much。　But　I　can't　do　the　other。〃

〃No？〃

〃No；　I　can't。〃

Then　she　said；　〃Isn't　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you　now？　I'm　so　ashamed　about　the　other　but　you　know　how　it　could。　make　trouble。〃

〃Just　lie　here　by　me。〃

〃I'd　love　that。〃

〃Do　what　you　like。〃

〃I　will；〃　she　said。　〃You　too　please。　Do　what　we　can。


Catherine　slept　all　through　the　afternoon　and　early　evening。　David　and　the　girl　were　sitting　at　the　bar　having　a　drink　together　and　the　girl　said；　〃They　never　did　bring　the　mirror。〃

〃Did　you　ask　old　man　Aurol　about　it？〃

〃Yes。　He　was　pleased。〃

〃I'd　better　pay　him　corkage　on　that　Bollinger　or　something。〃

〃I　gave　him　four　bottles　and　two　very　good　bottles　of　fine。　He's　taken　care　of。　It　was　Madame　I　was　afraid　of　about　trouble。〃

〃You　were　absolutely　right。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　make　trouble；　David。〃

〃No；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　think　you　do。〃

The　young　waiter　had　come　in　with　more　ice　and　David　made　two　martinis　and　gave　her　one。　The　waiter　put　in　the　garlic　olives　and　then　went　back　to　the　kitchen。

〃I'll　go　and　see　how　Catherine　is；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Things　will　turn　out　or　they　won't。〃

She　was　gone　for　about　ten　minutes　and　he　felt　of　the　girl's　drink　and　decided　to　drink　it　before　it　got　warm。　He　took　it　in　his　hand　and　raised　it　to　his　lips　and　he　found　as　it　touched　his　lips　that　it　gave　him　pleasure　because　it　was　hers。　It　was　clear　and　undeniable。　That's　all　you　need；　he　thought。　That's　all　you　need　to　make　things　really　perfect。　Be　in　love　with　both　of　them。　What's　happened　to　you　since　last　May？　What　are　you　anymore　anyway？　But　he　touched　the　glass　to　his　lips　again　and　there　was　the　same　reaction　as　before。　All　right；　he　said；　remember　to　do　the　work。　The　work　is　what　you　have　left。　You　better　fork　up　with　the　work。

The　girl　came　back　and　when　he　saw　her　come　in；　her　face　happy；　he　knew　how　he　felt　about　her。

〃She's　getting　dressed；〃　the　girl　said。　〃She　feels　fine。　Isn't　it　wonderful？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　loving　Catherine　too　as　always。

〃What　happened　to　my　drink？〃

〃I　drank　it；〃　he　said。　〃Because　it　was　yours。

〃Truly；　David？〃　She　blushed　and　was　happy。

〃That's　as　well　as　I　can　put　it；〃　he　said。　〃Here's　a　new　one。

She　tasted　it　and　passed　her　lips　very　lightly　over　the　rim　and　then　passed　it　to　him　and　he　did　the　same　and　took　a　long　sip。　〃You're　very　beautiful；〃　he　said。　〃And　I　love　you。

126　127


Chapter　Fifteen





HE　HEARD　THE　BUGATTI　start　and　the　noise　came　as　a　surprise　and　an　intrusion　because　there　was　no　motor　noise　in　the　country　where　he　was　living。　He　was　completely　detached　from　every　thing　except　the　story　he　was　writing　and　he　was　living　in　it　as　he　built　it。　The　difficult　parts　he　had　dreaded　he　now　faced　one　after　another　and　as　he　did　the　people；　the　country；　the　days　and　the　nights；　and　the　weather　were　all　there　as　he　wrote。　He　went　on　working　and　he　felt　as　tired　as　if　he　had　spent　the　night　crossing　the　broken　volcanic　desert　and　the　sun　had　caught　him　and　the　others　with　the　dry　gray　lakes　still　ahead。　He　could　feel　the　weight　of　the　heavy　double…barreled　rifle　carried　over　his　shoulder；　his　hand　on　the　muzzle；　and　he　tasted　the　pebble　in　his　mouth。　Across　the　shimmer　of　the　dry　lakes　he　could　see　the　distant　blue　of　the　escarpment。　Ahead　of　him　there　was　no　one；　and　behind　was　the　long　line　of　porters　who　knew　that　they　had　reached　this　point　three　hours　too　late。

It　was　not　him；　of　course；　who　had　stood　there　that　morning；　nor　had　he　even　worn　the　patched　corduroy　jacket　faded　almost　white　now；　the　armpits　rotted　through　by　sweat；　that　he　took　off

then　and　handed　to　his　Kamba　servant　and　brother　who　shared　with　him　the　guilt　and　knowledge　of　the　delay；　watching　him　smell　the　sour；　vinegary　smell　and　shake　his　head　in　disgust　and　then　grin　as　he　swung　the　jacket　over　his　black　shoulder　holding　it　by　the　sleeves　as　they　started　off　across　the　dry…baked　gray；　the　gun　muzzles　in　their　right　hands；　the　barrels　balanced　on　their　shoulders；　the　heavy　stocks　pointing　back　toward　the　line　of　porters。

It　was　not　him；　but　as　he　wrote　it　was　and　when　someone　read　it；　finally；　it　would　be　whoever　read　it　and　what　they　found　when　they　should　reach　the　escarpment；　if　they　reached　it；　and　he　would　make　them　reach　its　base　by　noon　of　that　day；　then　whoever　read　it　would　find　what　there　was　there　and　have　it　always。

All　your　father　found　he　found　for　you　too；　he　thought；　the　good；　the　wonderful；　the　bad；　the　very　bad；　the　really　very　bad；　the　truly　bad　and　then　the　much　worse。　It　was　a　shame　a　man　with　such　a　talent　for　disaster　and　for　delight　should　have　gone　the　way　he　went；　he　thought。　It　always　made　him　happy　to　remember　his　father　and　he　knew　his　father　would　have　liked　this　story。

It　was　nearly　noon　when　he　came　out　of　the　room　and　walked　barefoot　on　the　stones　of　the　patio　to　the　entrance　of　the　hotel。　In　the　big　room　workmen　were　putting　up　a　mirror　on　the　wall　behind　the　bar。　Monsieur　Aurol　and　the　young　waiter　were　with　them　and　he　spoke　to　them　and　went　out　in　the　kitchen　where　he　found　Madame。

〃Have　you　any　beer；　Madame？〃　he　asked　her。

〃Mais　certainement；　Monsieur　J3ourne；〃　she　said　and　brought　a　cold　bottle　from　the　ice　chest。

〃I'll　drink　it　from　the　bottle；〃　he　said。

〃As　Monsieur　wishes；〃　she　said。　〃The　ladies　drove　to　Nice　I　believe。　Monsieur　worked　well？〃

〃Very　well。〃

〃Monsieur　works　too　hard。　It's　not　good　not　to　take　breakfast。〃
〃Is　there　any　of　that　caviar　left　in　the　tin？〃
〃I'm　sure　there　is。
〃I'll　take　a　couple　of　spoonsful。〃
〃Monsieur　is　odd；〃　Madame　said。　〃Yesterday　you　ate　it　with　champagne。　Today　with　beer。〃
〃I'm　alone　today；〃　David　said。　〃Do　you　know　if　my　bicyclette　is　still　in　the　remise？〃
〃It　should　be；〃　Madame　said。
David　took　a　spoonful　of　the　caviar　and　offered　the　tin　to　Madame。　〃Have　some；　Madame。　It's　very　good。〃
〃I　shouldn't；〃　she　said。
〃Don't　be　silly；〃　he　told　her。　〃Take　some。　There's　some　toast。　Take　a　glass　of　champagne。　There's　some　in　the　ice　box。〃
Madame　took　a　spoonful　of　caviar　and　put　it　on　a　piece　of　toast　left　from　breakfast　and　poured　herself　a　glass　of　rose。
〃It　is　excellent；〃　she　said。　〃Now　we　must　put　it　away。
〃Do　you　feel　any　good　effect？〃　David　asked。　〃I'm　going　to　have　one　more　spoon。
〃Ah；　Monsieur。　You　mustn't　joke　like　that。〃
〃Why　not？〃　David　said。　〃My　joking　partners　are　away。　If　those　two　beautiful　women　come　back　tell　them　I　went　for　a　swim　will　you？〃
〃Certainly。　The　little　one　is　a　beauty。　Not　as　beautiful　as　Madame　of　course。〃
〃I　find　her　not　too　ugly；〃　David　said。
〃She's　a　beauty；　Monsieur；　and　very　charming。〃
〃She'll　do　until　something　else　comes　along；〃　David　said。　〃If　you　think　she's　pretty。〃
〃Monsieur；〃　she　said　in　deepest　reproof。
〃What　are　all　the　architectural　reforms？〃　David　asked。
〃The　new　miroir　for　the　bar？　It's　such　a　charming　gift　to　the　maison。〃

〃Everyone's　full　of　charm；〃　David　said。　〃Charm　and　sturgeon　eggs。　Ask　the　boy　to　look　at　my　tires　while　I　put　something　on　my　feet　and　find　a　cap；　will　you　please？〃

〃Monsieur　likes　to　go　barefoot。　Me　too　in　summer。〃

〃We'll　go　barefoot　together　sometime。〃

〃Monsieur；〃　she　said　giving　it　everything。

〃Is　Aurol　jealous？〃

〃Sans　bla　gue　；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　tell　the　two　beautiful　ladies　you've　gone　swimming。〃

〃Keep　the　caviar　away　from　Aurol；〃　David　said。　〃A　bient6t；　chere　Madame。〃

〃A　tout　l'heure；　Monsieur。〃

On　the　shiny　black　road　that　mounted　through　the　pines　as　he　left　the　hotel　he　felt　the　pull　in　his　arms　and　his　shoulders　and　the　rounding　thrust　of　his　feet　against　the　pedals　as　he　climbed　in　the　hot　sun　with　the　smell　of　the　pines　and　the　light　breeze　that　came　from　the　sea。　He　bent　his　back　forward　and　pulled　lightly　against　his　hands　and　felt　the　cadence　that　had　been　ragged　as　he　first　mounted　begin　to　smooth　out　as　he　passed　the　hundred…meter　stones　and　then　the　first　red…topped　kilometer　marker　and　then　the　second。　At　the　headland　the　road　dipped　to　border　the　sea　and　he　braked　and　dismounted　and　put　the　bicycle　over　his　shoulder　and　walked　down　with　it　along　the　trail　to　the　beach。　He　propped　it　against　a　pine　tree　that　gave　off　the　resin　smell　of　the　hot　day　and　he　dropped　down　to　the　rocks；　stripped　and　put　his　espadrilles　on　his　shorts；　shirt　and　cap　and　he　dove　from　the　rocks　into　the　deep　clear　cold　sea。　He　came　up　through　the　varying　light　and　when　his　head　came　out　he　shook　it　to　clear　his　ears　and　then　swam　out　to　sea。　He　lay　on　his　back　and　floated　and　watched　the　sky　and　the　first　white　clouds　that　were　coming　with　the　breeze。

He　swam　back