hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第24章

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saw　and　acted　and　thought　tactically。　That's　why　it's　not　a　better　book。　Because　I　wasn't　more　intelligent。〃

〃It　is　a　very　good　book。　The　flying　parts　are　wonderful　and　the　feeling　for　the　other　people　and　for　the　planes　themselves。〃

〃I'm　good　on　other　people　and　on　technical　and　tactical　things；〃　David　said。　〃I　don't　mean　to　talk　wet　or　to　brag。　But；　Marita；　nobody　knows　about　himself　when　he　is　really　involved。　Yourself　isn't　worth　considering。　It　would　be　shameful　at　the　time。〃

〃But　afterwards　you　know。〃

〃Sure。　Sometimes。〃

〃Can　I　read　the　narrative？〃

David　poured　wine　in　the　glasses　again。

〃How　much　did　she　tell　you？〃

〃She　said　she　told　me　everything。　She　tells　things　very　well　you　know。〃

〃I'd　rather　you　didn't　read　it；〃　David　said。　〃All　it　would　do　is　make　trouble。　I　didn't　know　there　would　be　you　when　I　wrote　it　and　I　can't　help　her　telling　you　things　but　I　don't　have　to　have　you　read　about　them　too。〃

〃Then　I　mustn't　read　it？〃

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't。　I　don't　want　to　give　you　orders。〃

〃Then　I　have　to　tell　you；〃　the　girl　said。

〃She　let　you　read　it？〃

〃Yes。　She　said　I　should。〃

〃God　damn　her。〃

〃She　didn't　do　it　to　do　wrong。　It　was　when　she　was　so　worried。〃

〃So　you　read　it　all？〃

〃Yes。　It's　wonderful。　It's　so　much　better　than　the　last　book　and　now　the　stories　are　so　much　better　than　it　or　than　anything。〃

〃What　about　the　Madrid　part？〃　He　looked　at　her　and　she　looked　up　at　him　and　then　moistened　her　lips　and　did　not　look　away　and　she　said　very　carefully；　〃I　knew　all　about　that　because　I'm　just　the　way　you　are。


When　they　were　lying　together　Marita　said；　〃You　don't　think　about　her　when　you　make　love　to　me？〃

〃No；　stupid。〃

〃You　don't　want　me　to　do　her　things？　Because　I　know　them　all　and　I　can　do　them。〃

〃Stop　talking　and　just　feel。〃

〃I　can　do　them　better　than　she　can。〃

〃Stop　talking。〃

〃Don't　think　you　have　to&mdash；〃

〃Don't　talk。〃

〃But　you　don't　have　to&mdash；〃

〃No　one　has　to　but　we　are&mdash；〃

They　lay　holding　each　other　close　and　hard　and　then　gently　finally　and　Marita　said；　〃I　have　to　go　away　but　I'll　be　back。　Please　sleep　for　me。〃

She　kissed　him　and　when　she　came　back　he　was　asleep。　He　had　meant　to　wait　for　her　but　he　had　fallen　asleep　while　he　waited。　She　lay　down　by　him　and　kissed　him　and　when　he　did　not　wake　she　lay　by　him　very　quietly　and　tried　to　sleep　too。　But　she　was　not　sleepy　and　she　kissed　him　very　softly　again　and　then　commenced　to　play　with　him　very　gently　while　she　pushed　her　breasts　against　him。　He　stirred　in　his　sleep　and　she　lay　now　with　her　head　down　below　his　chest　and　played　softly　and　searchingly　making　small　intimacies　and　discoveries。

It　was　a　long　cool　afternoon　and　David　slept　and　when　he
184　185
。


woke　Marita　was　gone　and　he　heard　the　two　girls'　voices　on　the　terrace。　He　dressed　and　unbolted　the　door　to　his　working　room　and　then　came　out　from　the　door　of　that　room　onto　the　flagstones。　There　was　no　one　on　the　terrace　except　the　waiter　who　was　taking　in　the　tea　things　and　he　found　the　girls　in　the　bar。


Chapter　Twenty…three


　　THE　TWO　GIRLS　were　both　sitting　at　the　bar　with　a　bottle　of　Perrier…Jouet　in　a　bucket　with　ice　and　they　both　looked　fresh　and　lovely。　〃It's　just　like　meeting　an　ex…husband；〃　Catherine　said。　〃It　makes　me　feel　very　sophisticated。〃　She　had　never　looked　gayer　or　more　lovely。　〃I　must　say　it　agrees　with　you。〃　She　looked　at　David　in　mock　appraisal。　〃Do　you　think　he's　all　right？〃　Marita　said。　She　looked　at　David　and　blushed。　〃And　well　you　might　blush；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Look　at　her；　David。〃　〃She　looks　very　well；〃　David　said。　〃So　do　you。〃　〃She　looks　about　sixteen；〃　Catherine　said。　〃She　said　she　told　you　about　reading　the　narrative。　〃I　think　you　should　have　asked　me；〃　David　said。　〃I　know　I　should；〃　Catherine　said。　〃But　I　started　to　read　it　for　myself　and　then　it　was　so　interesting　I　thought　Heiress　ought

to　read　it　too。
〃I'd　have　said　no。〃

。　。

〃But　the　point　is；〃　Catherine　said；　〃if　he　ever　says　no　about　anything；　Marita；　just　keep　right　on。　It　doesn't　mean　a　thing。〃
〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Marita　said。　She　smiled　at　David。
〃That's　because　he　hasn't　written　the　narrative　up　to　date。　When　he　does　you'll　find　out。〃
〃I'm　through　with　the　narrative；〃　David　said。
〃That's　dirty；〃　Catherine　said。　〃That　was　my　present　and　our　project。〃
〃You　must　write　it；　David；〃　the　girl　said。　〃You　will　won't　you？〃
〃She　wants　to　be　in　it；　David；〃　Catherine　said。　〃And　it　will　be　so　much　better　when　you　have　a　dark　girl　too。〃
David　poured　himself　a　glass　of　the　champagne。　He　saw　Marita　look　at　him；　a　warning；　and　he　said　to　Catherine；　〃I'll　go　on　with　it　when　I　finish　the　stories。　What　did　you　do　with　your　day？〃
〃I　had　a　fine　day。　I　made　decisions　and　planned　things。〃
〃Oh　God；〃　David　said。
〃They're　all　straightforward　plans；〃　Catherine　said。　〃You　don't　have　to　groan　about　them。　You've　been　doing　just　whatever　you　wanted　to　do　all　day　and　I　was　pleased。　But　I　have　a　right　to　make　a　few　plans。〃
〃What　sort　of　plans？〃　David　asked。　His　voice　sounded　very　flat。
〃First　we　have　to　start　seeing　about　getting　the　book　out。　I'm　going　to　have　to　have　the　manuscript　typed　up　to　where　it　is　now　and　see　about　getting　illustrations。　I　have　to　see　the　artists　and　make　the　arrangements。〃
〃You've　had　a　very　busy　day；〃　David　said。　〃You　know；　don't　you；　that　you　don't　get　manuscripts　typed　until　whoever　writes　them　has　gone　over　them　and　has　them　ready　for　typing？〃
〃That　isn't　necessary　because　I　only　need　a　rough　draft　to　show　the　artists。〃
〃I　see。　And　if　I　don't　want　it　copied　yet？〃
〃Don't　you　want　it　brought　out？　I　do。　And　someone　has　to　get　started　on　something　practical。〃

〃Who　are　the　artists　you　thought　up　today？〃

〃Different　ones　for　different　parts。　Marie　Laurencin；　Pascen；　Derain；　Dufy　and　Picasso。〃

〃For　Christ　sake；　Derain。〃

〃Can't　you　see　a　nice　Laurencin　of　Marita　and　me　in　the　car　when　we　stopped　the　first　time　by　the　Loup　on　the　way　to　Nice？〃

〃Nobody's　written　that。〃

〃Well　write　it　then。　It's　certainly　much　more　interesting　and　instructive　than　a　lot　of　natives　in　a　kraal　or　whatever　you　call　it　covered　with　flies　and　scabs　in　Central　Africa　with　your　drunken　father　staggering　around　smelling　of　sour　beer　and　not　knowing　which　ones　of　the　little　horrors　he　had　fathered。〃

〃There　goes　the　ball　game；〃　David　said。

〃What　did　you　say；　David？〃　Marita　said。

〃I　said　thank　you　very　much　for　having　lunch　with　me；　David　told　her。

〃Why　don't　you　thank　her　for　the　rest　of　it？〃　Catherine　said。　〃She　really　must　have　done　something　impressive　to　make　you　sleep　as　though　you　were　dead　until　the　absolute　end　of　the　afternoon。　Thank　her　for　that　at　least。〃

〃Thank　you　for　going　swimming；〃　David　said　to　the　girl。

〃Oh　did　you　swim？〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'm　glad　you　swam。

〃We　swam　quite　far；〃　Marita　said。　〃And　we　had　a　very　good　lunch。　Did　you　have　a　good　lunch；　Catherine？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　don't　remember。〃

〃Where　were　you？〃　Marita　asked　gently。

〃Saint　Raphael；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　remember　stopping　there　but　I　can't　remember　about　lunch。　I　never　notice　when　I　eat　by　myself。　But　I'm　quite　sure　I　did　have　lunch　there。　I　know　I　intended　to。〃

〃Was　it　nice　driving　back？〃　Marita　asked。　〃It　was　such　a　cool　lovely　afternoon。〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　didn't　notice。　I　was　think　ing　about　making　the　book　and　getting　it　started。　We　have　to　get
188　189
。　。


it　started。　I　don't　know　why　David　started　to　be　difficult　the　moment　I　commenced　to　put　a　little　order　into　it。　The　whole　thing　has　dragged　along　in　such　a　haphazard　way　that　I　was　suddenly　ashamed　of　all　of　us。〃

〃Poor　Catherine；〃　Marita　said。　〃But　now　that　you　have　it　all　planned　you　must　feel　better。〃

〃I　do；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　felt　so　happy　when　I　came　in。　I　knew　I'd　made　you　happy　and　I'd　accomplished　something　prac　tical　too　and　then　David　made　me　feel　like　an　idiot　or　a　leper。　I　can't　help　it　if　I'm　practical　and　sensible。〃

〃I　know；　Devil；〃　David　said。　〃I　just　didn't　want　to　get　the　work　mixed　up。〃

〃But　it's　you　who　mixed　it　up；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Can't　you　see？　Jumping　back　and　forth　trying　to　write　stories　when　all　you　had　to　do　was　keep　on　with　the　narrative　that　meant　so　much　to　all　of　us。　It　was　going　so　well　too　and　we　were　just　coming　to　the　most　exciting　parts。　Someone　has　to　show　you　that　the　stories　are　just　your　way　of　escaping　your　duty。〃

Marita　looked　at　him　again　and　he　knew　what　she　was　trying　to　tell　him　and　he　said；　〃I　have　to　go　get　cleaned　up。　You　tell　Marita　about　it　and　I'll　be　back。〃

〃We　have　other　things　to　talk　about；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'm　sorry　I　was　rude　about　you　and　Marita。　I　couldn't　be　happier　about　you　really。〃

David　took　everything　that　had　been　said　in　with　him　to　the　bathroom　where　he　had　a　shower　and　changed　into　a　newly　washed　fisherman's　sweater　and　slacks。　It　was　quite　cool　now　in　the　evening　and　Marita　was　sitting　at　the　bar　looking　at　Vogue。

〃She's　gone　down　to　see　about　your　room；〃　Marita　said。

〃How　is　she？〃

〃How　should　I　know；　David？　She's　a　very　great　publisher　now。　She's　given　up　sex。　It　doesn't　interest　her　anymore。　It's　childish　really；　she　says。　She　doesn't　know　how　it　could　ever　have　meant　anything　to　her。　But　she　may　decide　to　have　an　affair

with　another　woman　if　she　ever　takes　it　up　again。　There's　quite　a　bit　about　another　woman。

〃Christ　I　never　thought　it　would　go　this　way。〃

〃Don't；〃　Marita　said。　〃No　matter　what　or　how　it　is　I　love　you　and　you　are　going　to　write　tomorrow。〃

Catherine　came　in　and　said；　〃You　look　wonderful　together　and　I'm　so　proud。　I　feel　as　though　I'd　invented　you。　Was　he　good　today；　Marita？〃

〃We　had　a　nice　lunch；〃　Marita　said。　〃Please　be　fair；　Catherine。〃

〃Oh　I　know　he's　a　satisfactory　lover；〃　Catherine　said。　〃He's　always　that。　That's　just　like　his　martinis　or　how　he　swims　or　skis　or　flew　probably。　I　never　saw　him　with　a　plane。　Everyone　says　he　was　marvelous。　It's　like　acrobats　really　I　suppose　and　just　as　dull。　I　wasn't　asking　about　that。〃

〃You　were　very　good　to　let　us　spend　a　day　together；　Catherine；〃　Marita　said。

〃You　can　spend　the　rest　of　your　lives　together；〃　Catherine　said。　〃If　you　don't　bore　each　other。　I　have　no　further　need　of　either　of　you。

David　was　watching　her　in　the　mirror　and　she　looked　calm；　handsome　and　normal。　He　could　see　Marita　looking　at　her　very　sadly。

〃I　do　like　to　look　at　you　though　and　I'd　like　to　hear　you　talk　if　you'd　ever　open　your　mouths。〃

〃How　do　you　do；〃　said　David。

〃That　was　quite　a　good　effort；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'm　very　well。〃

〃Have　any　new　plans？〃　David　asked。　He　felt　as　though　he　were　hailing　a　ship。

〃Only　what　I've　told　you；〃　Catherine　went　on。　〃They'll　prob　ably　keep　me　quite　busy。〃

〃What　was　all　the　guff　about　another　woman？〃

He　felt　Marita　kick　him　and　he　put　his　foot　on　hers　to　acknowledge。
190　'9'
。　。


〃That's　not　guff；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　want　to　have　one　more　try　to　see　if　I've　missed　anything。　I　might　have。〃

〃All　of　us　are　fallible；〃　David　said　and　Marita　kicked　him　again。

〃I　want　to　see；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　know　enough　about　that　now　so　I　should　be　able　to　tell。　Don't　worry　about　your　dark　girl。　She's　not　my　type　at　all。　She's　yours。　She's　what　you　like　and　very　nice　it　is　but　not　for　me。　I'm　not　attracted　to　the