hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第18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！



At　half　past　ten　he　had　crossed　the　lakes　and　was　well　beyond　them。　By　then　he　had　reached　the　river　and　the　great　grove　of　fig　trees　where　they　would　make　their　camp。　The　bark　of　the　trunks　was　green　and　yellow　and　the　branches　were　heavy。　Baboons　had　been　eating　the　wild　figs　and　there　were　baboon　droppings　and　broken　figs　on　the　ground。　The　smell　was　foul。

But　the　half　past　ten　was　on　the　watch　on　his　wrist　as　he　looked　at　it　in　the　room　where　he　sat　at　a　table　feeling　the　breeze　from　the　sea　now　and　the　real　time　was　evening　and　he　was　sitting　against　the　yellow　gray　base　of　a　tree　with　a　glass　of　whiskey　and　water　in　his　hand　and　the　rolled　figs　swept　away　watching　the　porters　butchering　out　the　Kongoni　he　had　shot　in　the　first　grassy　swale　they　passed　before　they　came　to　the　river。

I'll　leave　them　with　meat；　he　thought　and　so　it　is　a　happy　camp　tonight　no　matter　what　comes　after。　So　he　put　his　pencils　and　the　notebooks　away　and　locked　the　suitcase　and　went　out　the　door　and　walked　on　the　stones；　dry　and　warm　now；　to　the　hotel　patio。

The　girl　was　sitting　at　one　of　the　tables　reading　a　book。　She　wore　a　striped　fisherman's　shirt　and　tennis　skirt　and　espadrilles　and　when　she　saw　him　she　looked　up　and　David　thought　she　was　going　to　blush　but　she　seemed　to　check　it　and　said；　〃Good　morning；　David。　Did　you　work　well？〃

〃Yes；　beauty；〃　he　said。

She　stood　up　then　and　kissed　him　good　morning　and　said；　〃I'm　very　happy　then。　Catherine　went　in　to　Cannes。　She　said　to　tell　you　I　was　to　take　you　swimming。〃

〃Didn't　she　want　you　to　go　in　town　with　her？〃


〃No。　She　wanted　me　to　stay。　She　said　you　got　up　terribly　early　to　work　and　maybe　you'd　be　lonely　when　you　finished。　Can　I　order　some　breakfast？　You　shouldn't　always　not　eat　breakfast。〃
The　girl　went　into　the　kitchen　and　she　came　out　with　oeufs　plat　avec　jambon　and　English　mustard　and　Sovora。
〃Was　it　difficult　today？〃　she　asked　him。
〃No；〃　he　said。　〃It's　always　difficult　but　it's　easy　too。　It　went　very　well。〃
〃I　wish　I　could　help。〃
〃Nobody　can　help；〃　he　said。
〃But　I　can　help　in　other　things　can't　I？〃
He　started　to　say　there　are　no　other　things　but　he　did　not　say　it　and　instead　he　said；　〃You　have　and　you　do。〃
He　wiped　the　last　of　the　egg　and　mustard　up　from　the　shallow　dish　with　a　small　piece　of　bread　and　then　drank　some　tea。　〃How　did　you　sleep？〃　he　asked。
〃Very　well；〃　the　girl　said。　〃I　hope　that's　not　disloyal。〃
〃No。　That's　intelligent。〃
〃Can　we　stop　being　so　polite？〃　the　girl　asked。　〃Everything　was　so　simple　and　fine　until　now。〃
〃Yes；　let's　stop。　Let's　stop　even　the　'I　can't　David　nonsense；〃　he　said。
〃All　right；〃　she　said　and　stood　up。　〃If　you　want　to　go　swim　ming　I'll　be　in　my　room。
He　stood　up。　〃Please　don't　go；〃　he　said。　〃I've　stopped　being　a　shit。〃
〃Don't　stop　for　me；〃　she　said。　〃Oh　David　how　could　we　ever　get　in　a　thing　like　this？　Poor　David。　What　women　do　to　you。　She　was　stroking　his　head　and　smiling　at　him。　〃I'll　get　the　swimming　things　if　you　want　to　swim。
〃Good；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　go　get　my　espadrilles。〃

They　lay　on　the　sand　where　David　had　spread　the　beach　robes　and　the　towels　in　the　shade　of　a　red　rock　and　the　girl　said；　〃You　go　in　and　swim　and　then　I　will。〃

He　lifted　very　slowly　and　gently　up　out　and　away　from　her　and　then　waded　out　from　the　beach　and　dove　under　where　the　water　was　cold　and　swam　deep。　When　he　came　up　he　swam　out　against　the　chop　of　the　breeze　and　then　swam　in　to　where　the　girl　was　waiting　for　him　standing　up　to　her　waist　in　the　water　her　black　head　sleek　and　wet；　her　light　brown　body　dripping。　He　held　her　tight　and　the　waves　washed　against　them。

They　kissed　and　she　said；　〃Everything　of　ours　washed　into　the　ocean。

〃We　have　to　get　back。〃

〃Let's　go　under　once　together　holding　tight。〃


Back　at　the　hotel　Catherine　had　not　arrived　and　after　they　had　taken　showers　and　changed　David　and　Marita　sat　at　the　bar　with　two　martinis。　They　looked　at　each　other　in　the　mirror。　They　watched　each　other　very　carefully　and　then　David　passed　his　finger　under　his　nose　while　he　looked　at　her　and　she　blushed。

〃I　want　to　have　more　things　like　that；〃　she　said。　〃Things　that　only　we　have　so　I　won't　be　jealous。〃

〃I　wouldn't　put　out　too　many　anchors；〃　he　said。　〃You　might　foul　the　cables。〃

〃No。　I'll　find　things　to　do　that　will　hold　you。〃

〃That's　a　good　practical　Heiress；〃　he　said。

〃I　wish　I　could　change　that　name。　Don't　you？〃

〃Names　go　to　the　bone；〃　he　said。

〃Then　let's　really　change　mine；〃　she　said。　〃Would　you　mind　terribly？〃

〃No。。　。　。　Haya。〃

〃Say　it　again　please。〃

〃Haya。〃
〃Is　it　good？〃
〃Very　good。　It's　a　small　name　between　us。　For　nobody　else　ever。

〃What　does　Haya　mean？〃

〃The　one　who　blushes。　The　modest　one。
He　held　her　close　and　tight　and　she　settled　against　him　and　her　head　was　on　his　shoulder。
〃Kiss　me　just　once；〃　she　said。


Catherine　came　into　the　big　room　dishevelled；　excited　and　full　of　accomplishment　and　gaiety。
〃You　did　take　him　swimming；〃　she　said。　〃You　both　do　look　handsome　enough；　though　still　wet　from　the　shower。　Let　me　look　at　you。
〃Let　me　look　at　you；〃　the　girl　said。　〃What　did　you　do　to　your　hair？〃
〃It's　cendre；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Do　you　like　it？　It's　a　rinse　that　Jean's　experimenting　with。〃

〃It's　beautiful；〃　the　girl　said。
Catherine's　hair　was　strange　and　exalting　against　her　dark　face。　She　picked　up　Marita's　drink　and　sipping　it　watched　her　self　in　the　mirror　and　said；　〃Did　you　have　fun　swimming？〃
〃We　both　had　a　good　swim；〃　the　girl　said。　〃But　not　as　long　as　yesterday。〃
〃This　is　such　a　good　drink；　David；〃　Catherine　said。　〃What　makes　your　martinis　better　than　anyone　else's？〃
〃Gin；〃　David　said。
〃Will　you　make　me　one　please？〃
〃You　don't　want　one　now；　Devil。　We're　going　to　have　lunch。〃

〃Yes　I　do；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　going　to　sleep　after　lunch。　You

didn't　have　to　go　through　all　the　bleaching　and　re…bleaching　and　all　of　it。　It's　exhausting。〃

〃What　color　is　your　hair　really　now？〃　David　asked。

〃It's　almost　like　white；〃　she　said。　〃You'd　like　it。　But　I　want　to　keep　this　so　we　see　how　it　lasts。〃

〃How　white　is　it？〃　David　asked。

〃About　like　the　soap　suds；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　remember？〃


That　evening　Catherine　was　completely　different　from　the　way　she　had　been　at　mid…day。　She　was　sitting　at　the　bar　when　they　drove　up　from　swimming。　The　girl　had　stopped　off　at　her　room　and　when　David　came　into　the　big　main　room　he　said；　〃What　have　you　done　to　yourself　now；　Devil？〃

〃I　shampooed　all　that　nonsense　out；〃　she　said。　〃It　made　gray　stains　on　the　pillow。〃

She　looked　very　striking；　her　hair　a　very　light　almost　toneless　silver　that　made　her　face　darker　than　it　had　ever　looked。

〃You're　too　damned　beautiful；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　wish　they'd　never　touched　your　hair。〃

〃It's　too　late　for　that　now。　Can　I　tell　you　something　else？〃

〃Sure。〃

〃Tomorrow　I'm　not　going　to　have　drinks　and　I'm　going　to　study　Spanish　and　read　again　and　stop　thinking　only　about　myself。〃

〃My　God；〃　David　said。　〃You　had　a　big　day。　Here；　let　me　get　a　drink　and　go　in　and　change。〃

〃I'll　be　here；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Put　on　your　dark　blue　shirt　will　you？　The　one　I　got　you　like　the　one　of　mine？〃

David　took　his　time　in　the　shower　and　changing　and　when　he　came　back　the　two　girls　were　together　at　the　bar　and　he　wished　he　could　have　a　painting　of　them。

〃I　told　Heiress　everything　about　my　new　leaf；〃　Catherine　said。　〃The　one　I　just　turned　over　and　how　I　want　you　to　love　her　too　and　you　can　marry　her　too　if　she'll　have　you。〃

〃We　could　in　Africa　if　I　was　registered　Mohammedan。　You're　allowed　three　wives。〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　much　nicer　if　we　were　all　married；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Then　no　one　could　criticize　us。　Will　you　really　marry　him；　Heiress？〃

〃Yes；〃　the　girl　said。

〃I'm　so　pleased；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Everything　I　worried　about　is　so　simple　now。〃

〃Would　you　really？〃　David　asked　the　dark　girl。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Ask　me。〃

David　looked　at　her。　She　was　very　serious　and　excited。　He　thought　of　her　face　with　her　eyes　closed　against　the　sun　and　her　black　head　against　the　whiteness　of　the　towel　robe　on　the　yellow　sand　as　it　had　been　when　they　had　made　love　at　last。　〃I'll　ask　you；〃　he　said。　〃But　not　in　any　damned　bar。

〃This　isn't　any　damned　bar；〃　Catherine　said。　〃This　is　our　own　special　bar　and　we　bought　the　mirror。　I　wish　we　could　marry　you　tonight。〃

〃Don't　talk　balls；〃　David　said。

〃I'm　not；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　really　mean　it。　Truly。〃

〃Do　you　want　a　drink？〃　David　asked。

〃No；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　want　to　get　it　said　right　first。　Look　at　me　and　see。〃　The　girl　was　looking　down　and　David　looked　at　Catherine。　〃I　thought　it　all　out　this　afternoon；〃　she　said。　〃I　really　did。　Didn't　I　tell　you；　Marita？〃

〃She　did；〃　the　girl　said。

David　saw　that　she　was　serious　about　this　and　that　they　had　reached　some　understanding　that　he　did　not　know　about。

〃I'm　still　your　wife；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We'll　start　with　that。　I　want　Marita　to　be　your　wife　too　to　help　me　out　and　then　she

inherits　from　me。

〃Why　does　she　have　to　inherit？〃

〃People　make　their　wills；〃　she　said。　〃And　this　is　more　important　than　a　will。〃

〃What　about　you？〃　David　asked　the　girl。

〃I　want　to　do　it　if　you　want　me　to。〃

〃Good；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　mind　if　I　have　a　drink？〃

〃You　have　one　please；〃　Catherine　said。　〃You　see　I'm　not　going　to　have　you　ruined　if　I'm　crazy　and　I　won't　be　able　to　decide。　I'm　not　going　to　be　shut　up　either。　I　decided　that　too。　She　loves　you　and　you　love　her　a　little。　I　can　tell。　You'd　never　find　anybody　else　like　her　and　I　don't　want　you　to　go　to　some　damn　bitch　or　be　lonely。〃

〃Come　on　and　cheer　up；〃　David　said。　〃You're　healthy　as　a　goat。〃

〃Well；　we're　going　to　do　it；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We'll　work　out　everything。〃


Chapter　Seventeen





THE　SUN　WAS　BRIGHT　now　in　the　room　and　it　was　a　new　day。

You　better　get　to　work；　he　told　himself。　You　can't　change　any　of　it　back。　Only　one　person　can　change　it　back　and　she　can't　know　how　she　will　wake　nor　if　she'll　be　there　when　she　wakes。　It　doesn't　matter　how　you　feel。　You　better　get　to　work。　You　have　to　make　sense　there。　You　don't　make　any　in　this　other。　Nothing　will　help　you。　Nor　would　have　ever　since　it　started。

When　he　finally　got　back　into　the　story　the　sun　was　well　up　and　he　had　forgotten　the　two　girls。　It　had　been　necessary　to　think　what　his　father　would　have　thought　sitting　that　evening　with　his　back　against　the　green…yellow　trunk　of　the　fig　tree　with　the　enameled　cup　of　whiskey　and　water　in　his　hand。　His　father　had　dealt　so　lightly　with　evil；　giving　it　no　chance　ever　and　denying　its　importance　so　that　it　had　no　status　and　no　shape　nor　dignity。　He　treated　evil　like　an　old　entrusted　friend；　David　thought；　and　evil；　when　she　poxed　him；　never　knew　she'd　scored。　His　father　was　not　vulnerable　he　knew　and；　unlike　most　people　he　had　known；　only　death　could　kill　him。　Finally；　he　knew　what

his　father　had　thought　and　knowing　it；　he　did　not　put　it　in　the　story。　He　only　wrote　what　his　father　did　and　how　he　felt　and　in　all　this　he　became　his　father　and　what　his　father　said　to　Mob　was　what　he　said。　He　slept　well　on　the　ground　under　the　tree　and　he　waked　and　heard　the　leopard　cough。　Later　he　did　not　hear　the　leopard　in　the　camp　but　he　knew　he　was　there　and　he　went　back　to　sleep。　The　leopard　was　after　meat　and　there　was　plenty　of　meat　so　there　was　no　problem。　In