hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第20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！


〃I'm　sorry；〃　David　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　have　anything　before　lunch？〃
〃Please　excuse　me；　Catherine；〃　Marita　said。　〃I'll　be　back　in　a　moment。〃
〃You're　still　drinking　before　lunch？〃　Catherine　asked　David。
〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　think　it　matters　if　you're　getting　a　lot　of　exercise。〃
〃There　was　an　empty　whiskey　glass　on　the　bar　when　I　came

〃Yes；〃　said　David。　〃I　had　two　whiskeys　actually。〃
〃Actually；〃　she　mimicked　him。　〃You're　very　British　today。〃
〃Really？〃　he　said。　〃I　didn't　feel　very　British。　I　felt　sort　of　half…assed　Tahitian。〃
〃It's　just　your　way　of　speaking　that　irritates　me；　she　said。　〃Your　choice　of　words。〃
〃I　see；〃　he　said。　〃Did　you　want　a　shot　before　they　bring　the　chow？〃
〃You　don't　have　to　be　a　clown。〃
〃The　best　clowns　don't　talk；〃　he　said。
〃Nobody　accused　you　of　being　the　best　of　clowns；〃　she　said。　〃Yes。　I'd　like　a　drink　if　it　isn't　too　much　work　for　you　to　make　it。〃
He　made　three　martinis；　measuring　them　each　out　separately　and　pouring　them　into　the　pitcher　where　there　was　a　big　chunk　of　ice　and　then　stirring。
〃Who　is　the　third　drink　for？〃
〃Marita。〃
〃Your　paramour？〃
〃My　what？〃
〃Your　paramour。
〃You　really　said　it；〃　David　told　her。　〃I'd　never　heard　that　word　pronounced　and　I　had　absolutely　no　hope　of　ever　hearing　it　in　this　life。　You're　really　wonderful。〃
〃It's　a　perfectly　common　word。〃
〃It　is　at　that；〃　David　said。　〃But　to　have　the　sheer；　naked　courage　to　use　it　in　conversation。　Devil；　be　good　now。　Couldn't　you　say　'your　dusky　paramour'？〃
Catherine　looked　away　as　she　raised　her　glass。
〃And　I　used　to　find　this　type　of　banter　amusing；〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　want　to　try　to　be　decent？〃　David　asked。　〃Both　of　us　decent？〃
〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Here　comes　your　whatever　you　call　her　looking　sweet　and　innocent　as　ever。　I　must　say　I'm　glad　I　had　her　before　you　did。　Dear　Marita&mdash；tell　me；　did　David　work　before　he　started　drinking　today？〃
〃Did　you　David？〃　Marita　asked。
〃I　finished　a　story；〃　David　said。
〃And　I　suppose　Marita's　already　read　it？〃
〃Yes；　I　did。〃



。


〃You　know；　I've　never　read　a　story　of　David's。　I　never　interfere。　I've　only　tried　to　make　it　economically　possible　for　him　to　do　the　best　work　of　which　he　is　capable。〃

David　took　a　sip　of　his　drink　and　looked　at　her。　She　was　the　same　wonderful　dark　and　beautiful　girl　as　ever　and　the　ivory　white　hair　was　like　a　scar　across　her　forehead。　Only　her　eyes　had　changed　and　her　lips　that　were　saying　things　they　were　incapable　of　saying。

〃I　thought　it　was　a　very　good　story；〃　Marita　said。　〃It　was　strange　and　how　do　you　say　pastorale。　Then　it　became　terrible　in　a　way　I　could　not　explain。　I　thought　it　was　magnifique。〃

〃Well&mdash；；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We　all　speak　French　you　know。　You　might　have　made　the　whole　emotional　outburst　in　French。〃

〃I　was　deeply　moved　by　the　story；〃　Marita　said。

〃Because　David　wrote　it　or　because　it　really　is　first　rate？〃

〃Both；〃　the　girl　said。

〃Well；〃　Catherine　said；　〃is　there　any　reason　then　why　I　can't　read　this　extraordinary　story？　I　did　put　up　the　money　for　it。〃

〃You　did　what？〃　David　asked。

〃Perhaps　not　exactly。　You　did　have　fifteen　hundred　dollars　when　you　married　me　and　that　book　about　all　the　mad　fliers　has　sold；　hasn't　it？　You　never　tell　me　how　much。　But　I　did　put　up　a　substantial　sum　and　you　must　admit　you've　lived　more　com　fortably　than　you　did　before　you　married　me。〃

The　girl　did　not　say　anything　and　David　watched　the　waiter　setting　the　table　on　the　terrace。　He　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　about　twenty　minutes　before　the　time　they　usually　had　lunch。　〃I'd　like　to　go　in　and　clean　up　if　I　may；〃　he　said。

〃Don't　be　so　bloody　false　polite；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Why　can't　I　read　the　story？〃

〃It's　just　written　in　pencil。　It　hasn't　even　been　copied。　You　wouldn't　want　to　read　it　that　way。〃

〃Marita　read　it　that　way。

〃Read　it　after　lunch　then。〃
〃I　want　to　read　it　now；　David。〃
〃I　really　wouldn't　read　it　before　lunch。〃
〃Is　it　disgusting？〃
〃It's　a　story　about　Africa　back　before　the　1914　War。　In　the　time　of　the　Maji…Maji　War。　The　native　rebellion　of　1905　in　Tanganyika。〃
〃I　didn't　know　you　wrote　historical　novels。〃
〃I　wish　you'd　leave　it　alone；〃　David　said。　〃It's　a　story　that　happens　in　Africa　when　I　was　about　eight　years　old。〃
〃I　want　to　read　it。〃


David　had　gone　to　the　far　end　of　the　bar　and　was　shaking　dice　out　of　a　leather　cup。　The　girl　sat　on　a　stool　next　to　Catherine。　He　watched　her　watching　Catherine　as　she　read。
〃It　starts　very　well；〃　she　said。　〃Though　your　handwriting　is　atrocious。　The　country　is　superb。　The　passage。　What　Marita　miscalled　the　pastorale　part。〃
She　put　down　the　first　notebook　and　the　girl　picked　it　up　and　held　it　on　her　lap；　her　eyes　still　watching　Catherine。
Catherine　read　on　and　said　nothing　now。　She　was　halfway　through　the　second　part。　Then　she　tore　the　cahier　in　two　and　threw　it　on　the　floor。
〃It's　horrible；〃　she　said。　〃It's　bestial。　So　that　was　what　your　father　was　like。〃
〃No；〃　said　David。　〃But　that　was　one　way　he　was。　You　didn't　finish　it。〃
〃Nothing　would　make　me　finish　it。
〃I　didn't　want　you　to　read　it　at　all。〃
〃No。　You　both　conspired　to　make　me　read　it。〃
〃May　I　have　the　key；　David；　to　lock　it　up？〃　the　girl　asked。　She　had　retrieved　the　torn　halves　of　the　notebook　from　the　floor。　It

was　just　ripped　apart。　It　was　not　torn　across。　David　gave　her　his　key。
〃It's　even　more　horrible　written　in　that　child's　notebook；〃　Catherine　said。　〃You're　a　monster。〃
〃It　was　a　very　odd　rebellion；〃　David　said。
〃You're　a　very　odd　person　to　write　about　it；〃　she　said。
〃I　asked　you　not　to　read　the　story。〃
She　was　crying　now。　〃I　hate　you；〃　she　said。


They　were　in　their　room　in　bed　and　it　was　late。
〃She'll　go　away　and　you'll　have　me　shut　up　or　put　away；　Catherine　said。
〃No。　That　isn't　true。〃
〃But　you　suggested　we　go　to　Switzerland。〃
〃If　you　were　worried　we　could　see　a　good　doctor。　The　same　way　we'd　go　to　the　dentist。〃
〃No。　They'd　shut　me　up。　I　know。　Everything　that's　innocent　to　us　is　crazy　to　them。　I　know　about　those　places。〃
〃It's　an　easy　drive　and　beautiful。　We'd　go　by　Aix　and　St。　Remy　and　up　the　Rh6ne　from　Lyon　to　Geneva。　We'd　see　him　and　get　some　good　advice　and　make　a　fun　trip　out　of　it。〃
〃I　won't　go。〃
〃A　very　good　intelligent　doctor　that&mdash；〃
〃I　won't　go。　Didn't　you　hear　me？　I　won't　go。　I　won't　go。　Do　you　want　me　to　scream？〃
〃All　right。　Don't　think　about　it　now。　Just　try　to　sleep。〃
〃If　I　don't　have　to　go。〃
〃We　don't　have　to。〃
〃I'll　sleep　then。　Are　you　going　to　work　in　the　morning？〃
〃Yes。　I　might　as　well。〃
〃You'll　work　well；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　you　will。　Good　night　David。　You　sleep　well　too。〃

He　did　not　sleep　for　a　long　time。　When　he　did　he　had　dreams　of　Africa。　They　were　good　dreams　until　the　one　that　woke　him。　He　got　up　then　and　went　direct　from　that　dream　to　work。　He　was　well　into　the　new　story　before　the　sun　came　up　out　of　the　sea　and　he　did　not　look　up　from　where　he　was　to　see　how　red　the　sun　was。　In　the　story　he　was　waiting　for　the　moon　to　rise　and　he　felt　his　dog's　hair　rise　under　his　hand　as　he　stroked　him　to　be　quiet　and　they　both　watched　and　listened　as　the　moon　came　up　and　gave　them　shadows。　His　arm　was　around　the　dog's　neck　now　and　he　could　feel　him　shivering。　All　of　the　night　sounds　had　stopped。　They　did　not　hear　the　elephant　and　David　did　not　see　him　until　the　dog　turned　his　head　and　seemed　to　settle　into　David。　Then　the　elephant's　shadow　covered　them　and　he　moved　past　making　no　noise　at　all　and　they　smelled　him　in　the　light　wind　that　came　down　from　the　mountain。　He　smelled　strong　but　old　and　sour　and　when　he　was　past　David　saw　that　the　left　tusk　was　so　long　it　seemed　to　reach　the　ground。　They　waited　but　no　other　elephants　came　by　and　then　David　and　the　dog　started　off　running　in　the　moonlight。　The　dog　kept　close　behind　him　and　when　David　stopped　the　dog　pressed　his　muzzle　into　the　back　of　his　knee。　David　had　to　see　the　bull　again　and　they　came　up　on　him　at　the　edge　of　the　forest。　He　was　travelling　toward　the　mountain　and　slowly　now　moving　into　the　steady　night　breeze。　David　came　close　enough　to　see　him　cut　off　the　moon　again　and　to　smell　the　sour　oldness　but　he　could　not　see　the　right　tusk。　He　was　afraid　to　work　closer　with　the　dog　and　he　took　him　back　with　the　wind　and　pushed　him　down　against　the　base　of　a　tree　and　tried　to　make　him　understand。　He　thought　the　dog　would　stay　and　he　did　but　when　David　moved　up　toward　the　bulk　of　the　elephant　again　he　felt　the　wet　muzzle　against　the　hollow　of　his　knee。

The　two　of　them　followed　the　elephant　until　he　came　to　an　opening　in　the　trees。　He　stood　there　moving　his　huge　ears。　His




bulk　was　in　the　shadow　but　the　moon　would　be　on　his　head。　David　reached　behind　him　and　closed　the　dog's　jaws　gently　with　his　hand　and　then　moved　softly　and　unbreathing　to　his　right　along　the　edge　of　the　night　breeze　feeling　it　on　his　cheek；　edging　with　it；　never　letting　it　get　between　him　and　the　bulk　until　he　could　see　the　elephant's　head　and　the　great　ears　slowly　moving。　The　right　tusk　was　as　thick　as　his　own　thigh　and　it　curved　down　almost　to　the　ground。

He　and　the　dog　moved　back；　the　wind　on　his　neck　now；　and　they　backtracked　out　of　the　forest　and　into　the　open　park　country。　The　dog　was　ahead　of　him　now　and　he　stopped　where　David　had　left　the　two　hunting　spears　by　the　trail　when　they　had　followed　the　elephant。　He　swung　them　over　his　shoulder　in　their　thong　and　leather　cup　harness　and；　with　his　best　spear　that　he　had　kept　with　him　all　the　time　in　his　hand；　they　started　on　the　trail　for　the　shamba。　The　moon　was　high　now　and　he　wondered　why　there　was　no　drumming　from　the　shamba。　Something　was　strange　if　his　father　was　there　and　there　was　no　drumming。

Chapter　Nineteen




THEY　WERE　LYING　on　the　firm　sand　of　the　smallest　of　the　three　coves；　the　one　they　always　went　to　when　they　were　alone；　and　the　girl　said；　〃She　won't　go　to　Switzerland。〃

〃She　shouldn't　go　to　Madrid　either。　Spain　is　a　bad　place　to　crack　up。〃

〃I　feel　as　though　we'd　been　married　all　our　lives　and　never　had　anything　but　problems。〃　She　pushed　his　hair　back　from　his　forehead　and　kissed　him。　〃Do　you　want　to　swim　now？〃

〃Yes。　Let's　dive　from　the　high　rock。　The　really　high　one。〃

〃You　do；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　swim　out　and　you　dive　over　my　head。〃

〃All　right。　But　hold　still　when　I　dive。〃

〃See　how　close　you　can　come。

Looking　up；　she　watched　him　poised　on　the　high　rock；　arced　brown　against　the　blue　sky。　Then　he　came　toward　her　and　the　water　rose　in　a　spout　from　a　hole　in　the　water　behind　her　shoulder。　He　turned　under　water　and　came　up　in　front　of　her　and　shook　his　head。　〃I　cut　it　too　fine；〃　he　said。

They　swam　out　to　the　point　and　back　and　then　wiped　each　other　dry　and　dressed　on　the　beach。

〃You　really　liked　me　diving　that　close？〃
〃I　loved　it。〃
He　kissed　her　and　she　felt　cool　and　fresh　from　the　swimming　and　she　still　tasted　of　the　sea。


Catherine　came　in　while　they　were　still　sitting　at　the　bar。　She　was　tired　and　quiet　and　polite。
At　the　table　she　said；　〃I　went　to　Nice　and　then　drove　the　little　Corniche　and　I　stopped　up　above　Villefranche　and　watched　a　battle　cruiser　come　in　and　then　it　was　late。〃
〃You　weren't　very　late；〃　Marita　said。
〃But　it　was　very　strange；〃　Catherine　said。　〃All　the　colors　were　too　bright。　Even　the　grays　were　bright。　The　olive　trees　were　glittery。〃
〃That's　the　noon　light；〃　David　said。
〃No。　I　don't　think