hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第27章

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〃I'm　ready；　David；〃　she　said。　She　had　on　a　tight　sweater　and　slacks　and　her　face　was　shining。　She　brushed　her　dark　hair　and　looked　at　him。
〃It's　wonderful　when　you're　so　gay。
〃It's　such　a　good　day；〃　he　said。　〃And　we're　so　lucky。〃
〃Do　you　think　so？〃　she　said　as　they　walked　to　the　car。　〃Do　you　think　we're　really　lucky？〃
〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　it　changed　this　morning　or　maybe　in　the　night。〃


204　205
Chapter　Twenty…five






CATHERINE's　CAR　was　in　the　driveway　of　the　hotel　when　they　drove　up。　It　was　parked　on　the　right　side　of　the　gravelled　approach。　David　stopped　the　Isotta　behind　it　and　he　and　Marita　got　out　and　walked　down　the　drive　past　the　small；　low　empty　blue　car　and　onto　the　flagstones　of　the　walk　without　speaking。

They　passed　David's　room　with　the　locked　door　and　the　open　windows　and　Marita　stopped　outside　of　her　door　and　said；　〃Good　bye。〃

〃What　are　you　doing　this　afternoon？〃　he　asked。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　be　here。〃

He　walked　on　down　to　the　patio　of　the　hotel　and　went　in　the　main　door。　Catherine　was　sitting　at　the　bar　reading　the　Paris　Herald　with　a　glass　and　half　a　bottle　of　wine　beside　her　on　the　bar。　She　looked　up　at　him。

〃What　brought　you　back？〃　she　asked。

〃VVe　had　lunch　in　town　and　came　on　up；〃　David　said。

〃How　is　your　whore？〃


209

。　。
〃I　haven't　one　yet。〃
〃I　mean　the　one　you　write　the　stories　for。〃

〃Oh。　The　stories。

〃Yes。　The　stories。　The　dreary　dismal　little　stories　about　your　adolescence　with　your　bogus　drunken　father。〃

〃He　wasn't　so　bogus　really。〃

〃Didn't　he　defraud　his　wife　and　all　his　friends？〃

〃No。　Just　himself　really。〃

〃You　certainly　make　him　despicable　in　these　last　sketches　or　vignettes　or　pointless　anecdotes　you　write　about　him。〃

〃You　mean　the　stories。〃

〃You　call　them　stories；〃　Catherine　said。

〃Yes；〃　David　said　and　poured　a　glass　of　the　lovely　cold　wine　on　the　bright　clear　day　in　the　pleasant；　sunny　room　in　the　clean；　comfortable　hotel　and；　sipping　it；　felt　it　fail　to　lift　up　his　dead　cold　heart。

〃Would　you　like　me　to　go　and　get　Heiress？〃　Catherine　said。　〃It　wouldn't　do　to　have　her　think　that　we'd　had　a　misunder　standing　about　whose　day　it　is　or　that　we'd　taken　up　solitary　drinking　together。〃

〃You　don't　need　to　get　her。〃

〃I'd　like　to。　She　took　care　of　you　today　and　I　didn't。　Really；　David；　I'm　not　a　bitch　yet。　I　just　act　and　talk　like　one。〃

While　David　waited　for　Catherine　to　come　back　he　drank　another　glass　of　the　champagne　and　read　the　Paris　edition　of　The　New　York　Herald　she　had　left　on　the　bar。　Drinking　the　wine　by　himself　it　did　not　taste　the　same　and　he　found　a　cork　in　the　kitchen　to　stop　up　the　bottle　before　he　put　it　back　in　the　ice　chest。　But　the　bottle　did　not　feel　heavy　enough　and　lifting　it　against　the　light　that　came　in　the　west　window　he　saw　how　little　wine　was　left　and　he　poured　it　out　and　drank　it　off　and　put　the　bottle　down　on　the　tiled　floor。　Even　when　he　drank　it　off　quickly　it　did　nothing　for　him。


210

Thank　Cod　he　was　breaking　through　on　the　stories　now。　What　had　made　the　last　book　good　was　the　people　who　were　in　it　and　the　accuracy　of　the　detail　which　made　it　believable。　He　had；　really；　only　to　remember　accurately　and　the　form　came　by　what　he　would　choose　to　leave　out。　Then；　of　course；　he　could　close　it　like　the　diaphragm　of　a　camera　and　intensify　it　so　it　could　be　concentrated　to　the　point　where　the　heat　shone　bright　and　the　smoke　began　to　rise。　He　knew　that　he　was　getting　this　now。

What　Catherine　had　said　about　the　stories　when　she　was　trying　to　hurt　him　had　started　him　thinking　about　his　father　and　all　the　things　he　had　tried　to　do　whatever　he　could　about。　Now；　he　told　himself；　you　must　try　to　grow　up　again　and　face　what　you　have　to　face　without　being　irritable　or　hurt　that　someone　did　not　understand　and　appreciate　what　you　wrote。　She　understands　it　less　and　less。　But　you've　worked　well　and　nothing　can　touch　you　as　long　as　you　can　work。　Try　to　help　her　now　and　forget　about　yourself。　Tomorrow　you　have　the　story　to　go　over　and　to　make　perfect。

But　David　did　not　want　to　think　about　the　story。　He　cared　about　the　writing　more　than　about　anything　else；　and　he　cared　about　many　things；　but　he　knew　that　when　he　was　doing　it　he　must　not　worry　about　it　nor　finger　it　nor　handle　it　any　more　than　he　would　open　up　the　door　of　the　darkroom　to　see　how　a　negative　was　developing。　Leave　it　alone；　he　told　himself。　You　are　a　bloody　fool　but　you　know　that　much。

His　thoughts　turned　to　the　two　girls　and　he　wondered　if　he　should　go　find　them　and　see　what　they　wanted　to　do　or　if　they　wanted　to　go　off　and　swim。　After　all；　it　was　Marita's　and　his　day　and　she　might　be　waiting。　Maybe　something　could　still　be　salvaged　out　of　the　day　for　all　of　them。　They　might　be　cooking　something　up。　He　ought　to　go　by　and　ask　what　they　wanted　to　do。　Then　do　it；　he　told　himself。　Don't　stand　here　and　think　about　it。　Go　on　and　find　them。


211
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The　door　to　Marita's　room　was　shut　and　he　knocked　on　it。

They　had　been　talking　and　when　he　knocked　the　talking　stopped。

〃Who　is　it？〃　Marita　asked。

He　heard　Catherine　laugh　and　she　said；　〃Come　in　whoever　you　are。

He　heard　Marita　say　something　to　her　and　Catherine　said；　〃Come　in；　David。〃

He　opened　the　door。　They　were　lying　in　the　big　bed　together　side　by　side；　the　sheet　pulled　up　under　their　chins。

〃Please　come　in；　David；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We've　been　waiting　for　you。〃

David　looked　at　them；　the　serious　dark　girl　and　the　fair　laugh　ing　one。　Marita　looked　at　him　trying　to　tell　him　something。　Catherine　was　laughing。

〃Won't　you　come　in　too；　David？〃

〃I　came　by　to　see　if　you　wanted　to　go　to　swim　or　anything；〃　David　said。

〃I　don't　want　to；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Heiress　was　in　bed　asleep　and　I　got　into　bed　with　her。　She　was　very　good　and　asked　me　to　leave。　She's　not　a　bit　unfaithful　to　you。　Not　in　the　least　little　bit。　But　won't　you　come　in　too　so　we　can　both　be　faithful　to　you？〃

〃No；〃　David　said。

〃Please；　David；〃　Catherine　said。　〃It's　such　a　lovely　day。〃

〃Do　you　want　to　go　to　swim？〃　David　asked　Marita。

〃I'd　like　to；〃　the　girl　said　above　the　sheet。

〃You　two　puritans；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Please　both　be　reasonable　and　come　to　bed　David。〃

〃I　want　to　go　to　swim；〃　Marita　said。　〃Please　go　out；　David。〃

'Why　can't　he　see　you？〃　Catherine　asked。　〃He　sees　you　at　the　beach。〃

〃He'll　see　me　at　the　cove；〃　Marita　said。　〃Please　go　out；　David。〃

David　went　out　and　closed　the　door　without　looking　back；　hearing　Marita　talking　in　a　low　voice　to　Catherine　and　Catherine's　laughter。　He　walked　down　the　flagstones　to　the　front　of　the　hotel　and　looked　out　at　the　sea。　There　was　a　light　breeze　now　and　he　watched　three　French　destroyers　and　a　cruiser；　neat　and　dark；　and　sharply　etched　on　the　blue　sea　as　they　moved　in　formation　working　out　some　problems。　They　were　far　out　and　they　looked　to　be　recognition　silhouettes　from　their　size　until　a　white　line　would　show　at　the　bow　as　a　ship　speeded　up　to　change　the　pattern。　David　watched　them　until　the　two　girls　came　up　to　him。

〃Please　don't　be　cross；〃　Catherine　said。

They　were　dressed　to　go　to　the　beach　and　Catherine　put　a　bag　with　the　towels　and　the　robes　on　an　iron　chair。

〃Are　you　going　swimming　too？〃　David　said　to　her。

〃If　you're　not　angry　with　me。

David　said　nothing　and　watched　the　ships　as　they　changed　course　and　another　destroyer　moved　out　of　the　pattern　at　a　sharp　angle　with　the　line　of　white　curling　back　from　her　bows。　She　began　to　make　smoke　and　it　trailed　in　a　black　widening　plume　as　she　curved　at　flank　speed。

〃It　was　only　a　joke；〃　Catherine　said。　'We'd　been　making　such　good　rough　jokes。　You　and　I　had。〃

〃What　are　they　doing；　David？〃　Marita　asked。

〃Anti…sub　maneuvers；　I　think；〃　he　said。　〃Maybe　there　are　subs　working　with　them。　They're　probably　out　from　Toulon。〃

〃They　were　in　Sainte　Maxime　or　Saint　Raphael；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　saw　them　the　other　day。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　it　is　now　with　the　smoke　screen；〃　David　said。　〃There　must　be　other　ships　we　cane　t　see。

〃There　come　the　planes；〃　Marita　said。　〃Aren't　they　lovely？〃

They　were　very　small；　neat　sea…planes　and　three　of　them　were　coming　around　the　point　low　over　the　water。

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〃When　we　were　here　in　the　early　summer　they　had　gunnery　practice　off　the　Porquerolles　and　it　was　terrific；〃　Catherine　said。　〃It　shook　the　window。　Will　they　use　depth　bombs　now；　David？〃

〃I　don't　know。　I　shouldn't　think　so　if　they're　working　with　real　subs。〃

〃I　can　go　to　swim；　can't　I　please　David？〃　Catherine　asked。　〃I'm　going　away　and　then　you　can　swim　all　the　time　by　yourselves。〃

〃I　asked　you　to　swim；〃　David　said。

〃That's　true；〃　Catherine　said。　〃You　did。　Then　let's　go　now　and　all　be　friends　and　happy。　If　the　planes　come　in　close　they　can　see　us　on　the　beach　at　the　cove　and　that　will　cheer　them　up。

The　planes　did　come　by　close　off　the　cove　while　David　and　Marita　were　swimming　far　out　and　Catherine　was　tanning　on　the　beach。　They　passed　rapidly；　three　echelons　of　three；　their　big　Rh6ne　motors　roaring　suddenly　as　they　flew　over　then　dying　away　as　they　went　toward　Sainte　Maxime。

David　and　Marita　swam　back　in　to　the　beach　and　sat　on　the　sand　by　Catherine。

〃They　never　even　looked　at　me；〃　Catherine　said。　〃They　must　be　very　serious　boys。〃

〃What　did　you　expect？　Aerial　photography？〃　David　asked　her。

Marita　had　said　very　little　since　they　had　left　the　hotel　and　she　said　nothing　to　this。

〃It　was　fun　when　David　really　did　live　with　me；〃　Catherine　said　to　her。　〃I　can　remember　when　I　liked　everything　that　David　did。　You　must　try　to　like　his　things　too；　Heiress。　That　is　if　he　has　any　left。〃

〃Do　you　have　any　left；　David？〃　Marita　asked。

〃He　traded　everything　he　had　in　on　those　stories；〃　Catherine　said。　〃He　used　to　have　so　many　things。　I　certainly　hope　you　like　stories；　Heiress。〃

〃I　like　them；〃　Marita　said。　She　did　not　look　at　David　but　he

saw　her　serene　dark　face　and　sea　wet　hair　and　smooth　lovely　skin　and　her　beautiful　body　as　she　sat　looking　out　at　the　sea。

〃That's　good；〃　Catherine　said　lazily　and　took　a　long　deep　lazy　breath　as　she　stretched　out　on　the　beach　robe　on　the　sand　that　was　still　warm　from　the　afternoon　sun。　〃Because　that's　what　you're　going　to　get。　He　used　to　do　so　many　things　too　and　he　did　them　all　so　beautifully。　He　had　a　wonderful　life　and　all　he　thinks　about　now　is　Africa　and　his　drunken　father　and　his　press　cuttings。　His　clippings。　Has　he　ever　shown　you　his　clippings；　Heiress？〃

〃No；　Catherine；〃　Marita　said。

〃He　will；〃　Catherine　said。　〃He　tried　to　show　them　to　me　once　at　le　Grau　du　Roi　but　I　put　a　stop　to　that。　There　were　hundreds　of　them　and　every　one；　almost；　had　his　picture　and　they　were　all　the　same　pictures。　It's　worse　than　carrying　around　obscene　post　cards　really。　I　think　he　reads　them　by　himself　and　is　unfaithful　to　me　with　them。　In　a　wastebasket　probably。　He　always　has　a　wastebasket。　He　said　himself　it　was　the　most　important　thing　for　a　writer&mdash；〃

〃Let's　go　in　and　swim；　Catherine；〃　Marita　said。　〃I　think　I'm　getting　cold。〃

〃I　mean　the　wastebasket　was　the　most　important　thing　for　a　writer；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　used　to　think　I　ought　to　get　him　a　really　wonderful　one　that　would　be　worthy　of　him。　But　he　never　puts　anything　he　writes　in　the　wastebasket。　He　writes　in　those　ridiculous　child's　noteb