hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第3章

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〃Don't　you　like　it　at　the　sides？〃　she　asked。　〃It　isn't　faked　or　phony。　It's　a　true　boy's　haircut　and　not　from　any　beauty　shop。〃

〃Who　cut　it？〃

〃The　coiffeur　at　Aigues　Mortes。　The　one　who　cut　your　hair　a　week　ago。　You　told　him　how　you　wanted　yours　cut　then　and　I　told　him　to　cut　mine　just　the　same　as　yours。　He　was　very　nice　and　wasn't　at　all　surprised。　He　wasn't　worried　at　all。　He　said　exactly　like　yours？　And　I　said　exactly。　Doesn't　it　do　anything　to　you；　David？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。

〃Stupid　people　will　think　it　is　strange。　But　we　must　be　proud。　I　love　to　be　proud。〃

〃So　do　I；〃　he　said。　〃We'll　start　being　proud　now。

They　sat　there　in　the　cafe　and　watched　the　reflection　of　the　setting　sun　over　the　water　and　watched　the　dusk　come　to　the　town　and　they　drank　the　fine　l'eau。　People　came　by　the　cafe　without　being　rude　to　see　the　girl　because　they　had　been　the　only　foreigners　in　the　village　and　had　been　there　now　nearly　three　weeks　and　she　was　a　great　beauty　and　they　liked　her。　Then　there　had　been　the　big　fish　today　and　ordinarily　there　would　have　been　much　talk　about　that　but　this　other　was　a　big　thing　in　the　village　too。　No　decent　girls　had　ever　had　their　hair　cut　short　like　that　in　this　part　of　the　country　and　even　in　Paris　it　was　rare　and　strange　and　could　be　beautiful　or　could　be　very　bad。　It　could　mean　too　much　or　it　could　only　mean　showing　the　beautiful　shape　of　a　head　that　could　never　be　shown　as　well。

They　ate　a　steak　for　dinner；　rare；　with　mashed　potatoes　and　flageolets　and　a　salad　and　the　girl　asked　if　they　might　drink　Tavel。　〃It　is　a　great　wine　for　people　that　are　in　love；〃　she　said。

She　had　always　looked；　he　thought；　exactly　her　age　which　was　now　twenty…one。　He　had　been　very　proud　of　her　for　that。　But　tonight　she　did　not　look　it。　The　lines　of　her　cheekbones　showed　clear　as　he　had　never　seen　them　before　and　she　smiled　and　her　face　was　heartbreaking。


In　the　room　it　was　dark　with　only　a　little　light　from　outside。　It　was　cool　now　with　the　breeze　and　the　top　sheet　was　gone　from　the　bed。

〃Dave；　you　don't　mind　if　we've　gone　to　the　devil；　do　you？〃

〃No；　girl；〃　he　said。

〃Don't　call　me　girl。〃

〃Where　I'm　holding　you　you　are　a　girl；〃　he　said。　He　held　her　tight　around　her　breasts　and　he　opened　and　closed　his　fingers　feeling　her　and　the　hard　erect　freshness　between　his　fingers。

〃They're　just　my　dowry；〃　she　said。　〃The　new　is　my　surprise。　Feel。　No　leave　them。　They'll　be　there。　Feel　my　cheeks　and　the　back　of　my　neck。　Oh　it　feels　so　wonderful　and　good　and　clean　and　new。　Please　love　me　David　the　way　I　am。　Please　under　stand　and　love　me。〃

He　had　shut　his　eyes　and　he　could　feel　the　long　light　weight　of　her　on　him　and　her　breasts　pressing　against　him　and　her　lips　on　his。　He　lay　there　and　felt　something　and　then　her　hand　holding　him　and　searching　lower　and　he　helped　with　his　hands　and　then　lay　back　in　the　dark　and　did　not　think　at　all　and　only　felt　the　weight　and　the　strangeness　inside　and　she　said；　〃Now　you　can't　tell　who　is　who　can　you？〃

〃You　are　changing；〃　she　said。　〃Oh　you　are。　You　are。　Yes　you　are　and　you're　my　girl　Catherine。　Will　you　change　and　be　my　girl　and　let　me　take　you？〃

〃You're　Catherine。〃

〃No。　I'm　Peter。　You're　my　wonderful　Catherine。　You're　my　beautiful　lovely　Catherine。　You　were　so　good　to　change。　Oh　thank　you；　Catherine；　so　much。　Please　understand。　Please　know　and　understand。　I'm　going　to　make　love　to　you　forever。〃

At　the　end　they　were　both　dead　and　empty　but　it　was　not　over。　They　lay　side　by　side　in　the　dark　with　their　legs　touching　and　her　head　was　on　his　arm。　The　moon　had　risen　and　there　was　a　little　more　light　in　the　room。　She　ran　her　hand　exploringly　down　over　his　belly　without　looking　and　said；　〃You　don't　think　I'm　wicked？〃

〃Of　course　not。　But　how　long　have　you　thought　about　that？〃
〃Not　all　the　time。　But　quite　a　lot。　You　were　so　wonderful　to　let　it　happen。〃
The　young　man　put　his　arms　around　the　girl　and　held　her　very　tight　to　him　and　felt　her　lovely　breasts　against　his　chest　and　kissed　her　on　her　dear　mouth。　He　held　her　close　and　hard　and　inside　himself　he　said　goodbye　and　then　goodbye　and　goodbye。
〃Let's　lie　very　still　and　quiet　and　hold　each　other　and　not　think　at　all；〃　he　said　and　his　heart　said　goodbye　Catherine　good　bye　my　lovely　girl　goodbye　and　good　luck　and　goodbye。



Chapter　Two

HE　STOOD　UP　and　looked　up　and　down　the　beach；　corked　the　bottle　of　oil　and　put　it　in　a　side　pocket　of　the　rucksack　and　then　walked　down　to　the　sea　feeling　the　sand　grow　cool　under　his　feet。　He　looked　at　the　girl　on　her　back　on　the　sloping　beach；　her　eyes　closed；　her　arms　against　her　sides；　and　behind　her　the　slanted　square　of　canvas　and　the　　first　tufts　of　beach　grass。　She　ought　not　to　stay　too　long　in　that　position　with　the　sun　straight　up　and　down　on　her；　he　thought。　Then　he　walked　out　and　dove　flat　into　the　　clear　cold　water　and　turned　on　his　back　and　swam　backstroke　out　to　sea　watching　the　　beach　beyond　the　steady　beat　of　his　legs　and　feet。　He　turned　in　the　water　and　swam　　down　to　the　bottom　and　touched　the　coarse　sand　and　felt　the　heavy　ridges　of　it　and　then　　came　up　to　the　surface　and　swam　steadily　in；　seeing　how　slow　he　could　keep　the　beat　　of　his　crawl。　He　walked　up　to　the　girl　and　saw　that　she　was　asleep。　He　found　his　wristwatch　in　the　rucksack　to　check　the　time　when　he　should　wake　her。　There　was　a　　cold　bottle　of　white　wine　wrapped　in　a　newspaper　and　with　their　towels　around　it。　He　uncorked　it　without　removing　the　paper　or　the　towels　and　took　a　cool　draught　from　the　awkward　bundle。　Then　he　sat　down　to　watch　the　girl　and　to　look　out　to　sea。

This　sea　was　always　colder　than　it　looked；　he　thought。　It　did　not　really　warm　until　the　middle　of　summer　except　on　the　shallow　beaches。　This　beach　dropped　off　quite　suddenly　and　the　water　had　been　sharply　cold　until　the　swimming　warmed　him。　He　looked　out　at　the　sea　and　the　high　clouds　and　noticed　how　far　the　fishing　fleet　was　working　to　the　westward。　Then　he　looked　at　the　girl　sleeping　on　the　sand　that　was　quite　dry　now　and　beginning　to　blow　delicately　with　the　rising　wind　when　his　feet　stirred。

During　the　night　he　had　felt　her　hands　touching　him。　And　when　he　woke　it　was　in　the　moonlight　and　she　had　made　the　dark　magic　of　the　change　again　and　he　did　not　say　no　when　she　spoke　to　him　and　asked　the　questions　and　he　felt　the　change　so　that　it　hurt　him　all　through　and　when　it　was　finished　after　they　were　both　exhausted　she　was　shaking　and　she　whispered　to　him；　〃Now　we　have　done　it。　Now　we　really　have　done　it。〃

Yes；　he　thought。　Now　we　have　really　done　it。　And　when　she　went　to　sleep　suddenly　like　a　tired　young　girl　and　lay　beside　him　lovely　in　the　moonlight　that　showed　the　beautiful　new　strange　line　of　her　head　as　she　slept　on　her　side　he　leaned　over　and　said　to　her　but　not　aloud；　〃I'm　with　you。　No　matter　what　else　you　have　in　your　head　I'm　with　you　and　I　love　you。〃

In　the　morning　he　had　been　very　hungry　for　breakfast　but　he　waited　for　her　to　wake。　He　kissed　her　finally　and　she　woke　and　smiled　and　got　up　sleepily　and　washed　in　the　big　basin　and　slouched　in　front　of　the　mirror　of　the　armoire　and　brushed　her　hair　and　looked　at　the　mirror　unsmiling　and　then　smiled　and　touched　her　cheeks　with　the　tips　of　her　fingers　and　pulled　a　striped　shirt　over　her　head　and　then　kissed　him。　She　stood　straight　so　her　breasts　pushed　against　his　chest　and　she　said；　〃Don't　worry；　David。　I'm　your　good　girl　come　back　again。

But　he　was　very　worried　now　and　he　thought　what　will　become　of　us　if　things　have　gone　this　wildly　and　this　dangerously　and　this　fast？　What　can　there　be　that　will　not　burn　out　in　a　fire　that　rages　like　that？　We　were　happy　and　I　am　sure　she　was　happy。　But　who　ever　knows？　And　who　are　you　to　judge　and　who　participated　and　who　accepted　the　change　and　lived　it？　If　that　is　what　she　wants　who　are　you　not　to　wish　her　to　have　it？　You're　lucky　to　have　a　wife　like　her　and　a　sin　is　what　you　feel　bad　after　and　you　don't　feel　bad。　Not　with　the　wine　you　don't　feel　bad；　he　told　himself；　and　what　will　you　drink　when　the　wine　won't　cover　for　you？

He　took　the　bottle　of　oil　out　of　the　rucksack　and　put　a　little　oil　on　the　girl's　chin　and　on　her　cheeks　and　on　her　nose　and　found　a　blue　faded　patterned　handkerchief　in　the　canvas　pocket　of　the　rucksack　and　laid　it　across　her　breast。

〃Must　I　stop？〃　the　girl　asked。　〃I'm　having　the　most　wonderful　dream。〃

〃Finish　the　dream；〃　he　said。

〃Thank　you。〃

In　a　few　minutes　she　breathed　very　deeply　and　shook　her　head　and　sat　up。

〃Let's　go　in　now；〃　she　said。

They　went　in　together　and　swam　out　and　then　played　under　water　like　porpoises。　When　they　swam　in　they　dried　each　other　off　with　towels　and　he　handed　her　the　bottle　of　wine　that　was　still　cool　in　the　rolled　newspaper　and　they　each　took　a　drink　and　she　looked　at　him　and　laughed。

〃It's　nice　to　drink　it　for　thirst；〃　she　said。　〃You　don't　really　mind　being　brothers　do　you？〃

〃No。〃　He　touched　her　forehead　and　her　nose　and　then　her　cheeks　and　chin　with　the　oil　and　then　put　it　carefully　above　and　behind　her　ears。

〃I　want　to　get　behind　my　ears　and　neck　tanned　and　over　my　cheekbones。　All　the　new　places。〃

〃You're　awfully　dark；　brother；〃　he　said。　〃You　don't　know　how　dark。〃

〃I　like　it；〃　the　girl　said。　〃But　I　want　to　be　darker。〃

They　lay　on　the　beach　on　the　firm　sand　that　was　dry　now　but　still　cool　after　the　high　tide　had　fallen。　The　young　man　put　some　oil　on　the　palm　of　his　hand　and　spread　it　lightly　with　his　fingers　over　the　girl's　thighs　and　they　glowed　warm　as　the　skin　took　the　oil。　He　went　on　spreading　it　over　her　belly　and　breasts　and　the　girl　said　sleepily；　〃We　don't　look　very　much　like　brothers　when　we're　this　way　do　we？〃

〃No。〃

〃I'm　trying　to　be　such　a　very　good　girl；〃　she　said。　〃Truly　you　don't　have　to　worry　darling　until　night。　We　won't　let　the　night　things　come　in　the　day。〃


At　the　hotel　the　postman　was　having　a　drink　while　he　waited　for　the　girl　to　sign　for　a　large　forwarding　envelope　heavy　with　enclosed　letters　from　her　bank　in　Paris。　There　were　three　letters　re…addressed　from　his　bank；　too。　It　was　the　first　mail　since　they　had　sent　the　hotel　as　a　forwarding　address。　The　young　man　gave　the　postman　five　francs　and　asked　him　to　have　another　glass　of　wine　with　him　at　the　zinc　bar。　The　girl　unhooked　the　key　from　the　board　and　said；　〃I'll　go　up　to　the　room　and　get　cleaned　up　and　meet　you　at　the　cafe。〃

After　he　finished　his　glass　he　said　goodbye　to　the　postman　and　walked　down　along　the　canal　to　the　cafe。　It　was　good　to　sit　in　the　shade　after　walking　back　bareheaded　in　the　sun　from　the　far　beach　and　it　was　pleasant　and　cool　in　the　cafe。　He　ordered　a

vermouth　and　soda　and　took　out　his　pocket　knife　and　slit　open　his　letters。　All　three　envelopes　were　from　his　publishers　and　two　of　them　were　fat　with　clippings　and　the　proofs　of　advertisements。　He　glanced　at　the　clippings　and　then　read　the　long　letter。　It　was　cheerful　and　guardedly　optimistic。　It　was　too　early　to　tell　how　the　book　would　do　but　everything　looked　good。　Most　of　the　reviews　were　excellent。　Of　course　there　were　some。　But　that　was　to　be　expected。　Sentences　had　been　underlined　in　the　reviews　that　would　probably　be　used　in　the　future　advertisements。　His　publisher　wished　he　could　say　more　about　how　the　book　would　do　but　he　never　made　predictions　as　to　sales。　It　was　bad　practice。　The