the red one-第16章

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beside　the　fire；　and　joined　him。



〃Hello；　grandpa；〃　the　new…comer　greeted；　then　paused　to　stare　at

the　other's　flaring；　sky…open　nostril。　　〃Say；　Whiskers；　how'd　ye

keep　the　night　dew　out　of　that　nose　o'　yourn？〃



Whiskers　growled　an　incoherence　deep　in　his　throat　and　spat　into

the　fire　in　token　that　he　was　not　pleased　by　the　question。



〃For　the　love　of　Mike；〃　the　fat　man　chuckled；　〃if　you　got　caught

out　in　a　rainstorm　without　an　umbrella　you'd　sure　drown；　wouldn't

you？〃



〃Can　it；　Fatty；　can　it；〃　Whiskers　muttered　wearily。　　〃They　ain't

nothin'　new　in　that　line　of　chatter。　　Even　the　bulls　hand　it　out　to

me。〃



〃But　you　can　still　drink；　I　hope〃；　Fatty　at　the　same　time　mollified

and　invited；　with　his　one　hand　deftly　pulling　the　slip…knots　that

fastened　his　bundle。



From　within　the　bundle　he　brought　to　light　a　twelve…ounce　bottle　of

alki。　　Footsteps　coming　down　the　embankment　alarmed　him；　and　he　hid

the　bottle　under　his　hat　on　the　ground　between　his　legs。



But　the　next　comer　proved　to　be　not　merely　one　of　their　own　ilk；

but　likewise　to　have　only　one　arm。　　So　forbidding　of　aspect　was　he

that　greetings　consisted　of　no　more　than　grunts。　　Huge…boned；　tall；

gaunt　to　cadaverousness；　his　face　a　dirty　death's　head；　he　was　as

repellent　a　nightmare　of　old　age　as　ever　Dore　imagined。　　His

toothless；　thin…lipped　mouth　was　a　cruel　and　bitter　slash　under　a

great　curved　nose　that　almost　met　the　chin　and　that　was　like　a

buzzard's　beak。　　His　one　hand；　lean　and　crooked；　was　a　talon。　　The

beady　grey　eyes；　unblinking　and　unwavering；　were　bitter　as　death；

as　bleak　as　absolute　zero　and　as　merciless。　　His　presence　was　a

chill；　and　Whiskers　and　Fatty　instinctively　drew　together　for

protection　against　the　unguessed　threat　of　him。　　Watching　his

chance；　privily；　Whiskers　snuggled　a　chunk　of　rock　several　pounds

in　weigh　close　to　his　hand　if　need　for　action　should　arise。　　Fatty

duplicated　the　performance。



Then　both　sat　licking　their　lips；　guiltily　embarrassed；　while　the

unblinking　eyes　of　the　terrible　one　bored　into　them；　now　into　one；

now　into　another；　and　then　down　at　the　rock…chunks　of　their

preparedness。



〃Huh！〃　sneered　the　terrible　one；　with　such　dreadfulness　of　menace

as　to　cause　Whiskers　and　Fatty　involuntarily　to　close　their　hands

down　on　their　cave…man's　weapons。



〃Huh！〃　the　other　repeated；　reaching　his　one　talon　into　his　side

coat　pocket　with　swift　definiteness。　　〃A　hell　of　a　chance　you　two

cheap　bums　'd　have　with　me。〃



The　talon　emerged；　clutching　ready　for　action　a　six…pound　iron

quoit。



〃We　ain't　lookin'　for　trouble；　Slim；〃　Fatty　quavered。



〃Who　in　hell　are　you　to　call　me　'Slim'？〃　came　the　snarling　answer。



〃Me？　　I'm　just　Fatty；　an'　seein'　's　I　never　seen　you　before　…　〃



〃An'　I　suppose　that's　Whiskers；　there；　with　the　gay　an'　festive

lamp　tan…going　into　his　eyebrow　an'　the　God…forgive…us　nose　joy…

riding　all　over　his　mug？〃



〃It'll　do；　it'll　do；〃　Whiskers　muttered　uncomfortably。　　〃One

monica's　as　good　as　another；　I　find；　at　my　time　of　life。　　And

everybody　hands　it　out　to　me　anyway。　　And　I　need　an　umbrella　when

it　rains　to　keep　from　getting　drowned；　an'　all　the　rest　of　it。〃



〃I　ain't　used　to　company　…　don't　like　it；〃　Slim　growled。　　〃So　if

you　guys　want　to　stick　around；　mind　your　step；　that's　all；　mind

your　step。〃



He　fished　from　his　pocket　a　cigar　stump；　self…evidently　shot　from

the　gutter；　and　prepared　to　put　it　in　his　mouth　to　chew。　　Then　he

changed　his　mind；　glared　at　his　companions　savagely；　and　unrolled

his　bundle。　　Appeared　in　his　hand　a　druggist's　bottle　of　alki。



〃Well；〃　he　snarled；　〃I　suppose　I　gotta　give　you　cheap　skates　a

drink　when　I　ain't　got　more'n　enough　for　a　good　petrification　for

myself。〃



Almost　a　softening　flicker　of　light　was　imminent　in　his　withered

face　as　he　beheld　the　others　proudly　lift　their　hats　and　exhibit

their　own　supplies。



〃Here's　some　water　for　the　mixin's；〃　Whiskers　said；　proffering　his

tomato…can　of　river　slush。　　〃Stockyards　just　above；〃　he　added

apologetically。　　〃But　they　say　…　〃



〃Huh！〃　Slim　snapped　short；　mixing　the　drink。　　〃I've　drunk　worse'n

stockyards　in　my　time。〃



Yet　when　all　was　ready；　cans　of　alki　in　their　solitary　hands；　the

three　things　that　had　once　been　men　hesitated；　as　if　of　old　habit；

and　next　betrayed　shame　as　if　at　self…exposure。



Whiskers　was　the　first　to　brazen　it。



〃I've　sat　in　at　many　a　finer　drinking；〃　he　bragged。



〃With　the　pewter；〃　Slim　sneered。



〃With　the　silver；〃　Whiskers　corrected。



Slim　turned　a　scorching　eye…interrogation　on　Fatty。



Fatty　nodded。



〃Beneath　the　salt；〃　said　Slim。



〃Above　it；〃　came　Fatty's　correction。　　〃I　was　born　above　it；　and

I've　never　travelled　second　class。　　First　or　steerage；　but　no

intermediate　in　mine。〃



〃Yourself？〃　Whiskers　queried　of　Slim。



〃In　broken　glass　to　the　Queen；　God　bless　her；〃　Slim　answered；

solemnly；　without　snarl　or　sneer。



〃In　the　pantry？〃　Fatty　insinuated。



Simultaneously　Slim　reached　for　his　quoit；　and　Whiskers　and　Fatty

for　their　rocks。



〃Now　don't　let's　get　feverish；〃　Fatty　said；　dropping　his　own

weapon。　　〃We　aren't　scum。　　We're　gentlemen。　　Let's　drink　like

gentlemen。〃



〃Let　it　be　a　real　drinking；〃　Whiskers　approved。



〃Let's　get　petrified；〃　Slim　agreed。　　〃Many　a　distillery's　flowed

under　the　bridge　since　we　were　gentlemen；　but　let's　forget　the　long

road　we've　travelled　since；　and　hit　our　doss　in　the　good　old

fashion　in　which　every　gentleman　went　to　bed　when　we　were　young。〃



〃My　father　done　it　…　did　it；〃　Fatty　concurred　and　corrected；　as　old

recollections　exploded　long…sealed　brain…cells　of　connotation　and

correct　usage。



The　other　two　nodded　a　descent　from　similar　fathers；　and　elevated

their　tin　cans　of　alcohol。





By　the　time　each　had　finished　his　own　bottle　and　from　his　rags

fished　forth　a　second　one；　their　brains　were　well…mellowed　and　a…

glow；　although　they　had　not　got　around　to　telling　their　real　names。

But　their　English　had　improved。　　They　spoke　it　correctly；　while　the

argo　of　tramp…land　ceased　from　their　lips。



〃It's　my　constitution；〃　Whiskers　was　explaining。　　〃Very　few　men

could　go　through　what　I　have　and　live　to　tell　the　tale。　　And　I

never　took　any　care　of　myself。　　If　what　the　moralists　and　the

physiologists　say　were　true；　I'd　have　been　dead　long　ago。　　And　it's

the　same　with　you　two。　　Look　at　us；　at　our　advanced　years；

carousing　as　the　young　ones　don't　dare；　sleeping　out　in　the　open　on

the　ground；　never　sheltered　from　frost　nor　rain　nor　storm；　never

afraid　of　pneumonia　or　rheumatism　that　would　put　half　the　young

ones　on　their　backs　in　hospital。〃



He　broke　off　to　mix　another　drink；　and　Fatty　took　up　the　tale。



〃And　we've　had　our　fun；〃　he　boasted；　〃and　speaking　of　sweethearts

and　all；〃　he　cribbed　from　Kipling；　〃'We've　rogued　and　we've　ranged

…　'〃



〃'In　our　time；'〃　Slim　completed　the　crib　for　him。



〃I　should　say　so；　I　should　say　so；〃　Fatty　confirmed。　　〃And　been

loved　by　princesses　…　at　least　I　have。〃



〃Go　on　and　tell　us　about　it；〃　Whiskers　urged。　　〃The　night's　young；

and　why　shouldn't　we　remember　back　to　the　roofs　of　kings？〃



Nothing　loth；　Fatty　cleared　his　throat　for　the　recital　and　cast

about　in　his　mind　for　the　best　way　to　begin。



〃It　must　be　known　that　I　came　of　good　family。　　Percival　Delaney；

let　us　say；　yes；　let　us　say　Percival　Delaney；　was　not　unknown　at

Oxford　once　upon　a　time　…　not　for　scholarship；　I　am　frank　to　admit；

but　the　gay　young　dogs　of　that　day；　if　any　be　yet　alive；　would

remember　him　…　〃



〃My　people　came　over　with　the　Conqueror；〃　Whiskers　interrupted；

extending　his　hand　to　Fatty's　in　acknowledgment　of　the

introduction。



〃What　name？〃　Fatty　queried。　　〃I　did　not　seem　quite　to　catch　it。〃



〃Delarouse；　Chauncey　Delarouse。　　The　name　will　serve　as　well　as

any。〃



Both　completed　the　handshake　and　glanced　to　Slim。



〃Oh；　well；　while　we're　about　it　。　。　。　〃　　Fatty　urged。



〃Bruce　Cadogan　Cavendish；〃　Slim　growled　morosely。　　〃Go　on；

Percival；　with　your　princesses　and　the　roofs　of　kings。〃



〃Oh；　I　was　a　rare　young　devil；〃　Percival　obliged；　〃after　I　played

ducks　and　drakes　at　home　and　sported　out　over　the　world。　　And　I　was

some　figure　of　a　man　before　I　lost　my　shape　…　polo；　steeple…

chasing；　boxing。　　I　won　medals　at　buckjumping　in　Australia；　and　I

held　more　than　several　swimming　records　from　the　quarter　of　a　mile

up。　　Women　turned　their　heads　to　look　when　I　went　by。　　The　women！

God　bless　them！〃



And　Fatty；　alias　Percival　Delaney；　a　grotesque　of　manhood；　put　his

bulgy　hand　to　his　puffed　lips　and　kissed　audibly　into　the　starry

vault　of　the　sky。



〃And　the　Princess！〃　he　resumed；　with　another　kiss　to　the　stars。

〃She　was　as　fine　a　figure　of　a　woman　as　I　was　a　man；　as　high…

spirited　and　courageous；　as　reckless　and　dare…devilish。　　Lord；

Lord；　in　the　water　she　was　a　mermaid；　a　sea…goddess。　　And　when　it

came　to　blood；　beside　her　I　was　parvenu。　　Her　royal　line　traced

back　into　the　mists　of　antiquity。



〃She　was　not　a　daughter　of　a　fair…skinned　folk。　　Tawny　golden　was

she；　with　golden…brown　eyes；　and　her　hair　that　fell　to　her　knees

was　blue…black　and　straight；　with　just　the　curly　tendrilly　tendency

that　gives　to　woman's　hair　its　charm。　　Oh；　there　were　no　kinks　in

it；　any　more　than　were　there　kinks　in　the　hair　of　her　entire

genealogy。　　For　she　was　Polynesian；　glowing；　golden；　lovely　and

lovable；　royal　Polynesian。〃



Again　he　paused　to　kiss　his　hand　to　the　memory　of　her；　and　Slim；

alias　Bruce　Cadogan　Cavendish；　took　advantage　to　interject：



〃Huh！　　Maybe　you　didn't　shine　in　scholarship；　but　at　least　you

gleaned　a　vocabulary　out　of　Oxford。〃



〃And　in　the　South　Seas　garnered　a　better　vocabulary　from　the

lexicon　of　Love；〃　Percival　was　quick　on　the　uptake。



〃It　was　the　island　of　Talofa；〃　he　went　on；　〃meaning　love；　the　Isle

of　Love；　and　it　was　her　island。　　Her　father；　the　king；　an　old　man；

sat　on　his　mats　with　paralysed　knees　and　drank　squareface　gin　all

day　and　most　of　the　night；　out　of　grief；　sheer　grief。　　She；　my

princess；　was　the　only　issue；　her　brother　having　been　lost　in　their

double　canoe　in　a　hurricane　while　coming　up　from　a　voyage　to　Samoa。

And　among　the　Polynesians　the　royal　women　have　equal　right　with　the

men　to　rule。　　In　fact；　they　trace　their　genealogies　always　by　the

female　line。〃



To　this　both　Chauncey　Delarouse　and　Bruce　Cadogan　Cavendish　nodded

prompt　affirmation。



〃Ah；〃　said　Percival；　〃I　perceive　you　both　know　the　South　Seas；

wherefore；　without　undue　expenditure　of　verbiage　on　my　part；　I　am

assured　that　you　will　appreciate　the　charm　of　my　princess；　the

Princess　Tui…nui　of　Talofa；　the　Princess　of　the　Isle　of　Love。〃



He　kissed　his　hand　to　her；　sipped　from　his　condensed　milk　can　a

man…size　drink　of　druggist's　alcohol；　and　to　her　again　kissed　her

hand。



〃But　she　was　coy；　and　ever　she　fluttered　near　to　m