arizona nights(亚利桑那之夜)-第26章
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〃To Mollyhay！〃 said I。 This far I reckon we'd hung onto ourselves
because it was serious。 Now I began to laugh。 So did Denton。 We
laughed and laughed。
〃A damn long way To Mollyhay。〃
said I。 Then we laughed some more； until the tears ran down our
cheeks； and we had to hold our poor weak sides。 Pretty soon we fetched
up with a gasp。
〃A damn long way To Mollyhay；〃
whispered Denton； and then off we went into more shrieks。 And
when we would sober down a little； one or the other of us would say it
again；
〃A damn long way To Mollyhay；〃
and then we'd laugh some more。 It must have been a sweet sight！
At last I realised that we ought to pull ourselves together； so I snubbed up
short； and Denton did the same； and we set to laying plans。 But every
minute or so one of us would catch on some word； and then we'd trail off
into rhymes and laughter and repetition。 〃Keep him going as long as
you can；〃 said Denton。 〃Yes。〃 〃And be sure to stick to the
beach。〃 That far it was all right and clear…headed。 But the word
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〃beach〃 let us out。
〃I'm a peach Upon the beach；〃
sings I； and there we were both off again until one or the other
managed to grope his way back to common sense again。 And sometimes
we crow…hopped solemnly around and around the prostrate Schwartz like a
pair of Injins。 But somehow we got our plan laid at last； slipped the
coins into Schwartz's pocket； and said good…bye。
〃Old socks； good…bye； You bet I'll try；〃
yelled Denton； and laughing fit to kill； danced off up the beach； and
out into a sort of grey mist that shut off everything beyond a certain
distance from me now。 So I kicked Schwartz； he felt in his pocket；
threw a gold piece away； and 〃bought a little more walk。〃
My entire vision was fifty feet or so across。 Beyond that was grey
mist。 Inside my circle I could see the sand quite plainly and Denton's
footprints。 If I moved a little to the left； the wash of the waters would lap
under the edge of that grey curtain。
If I moved to the right； I came to cliffs。 The nearer I drew to them；
the farther up I could see； but I could never see to the top。 It used to
amuse me to move this area of consciousness about to see what I could
find。 Actual physical suffering was beginning to dull； and my head
seemed to be getting clearer。 One day； without any apparent reason； I
moved at right angles across the beach。 Directly before me lay a piece of
sugar cane； and one end of it had been chewed。 Do you know what
that meant？ Animals don't cut sugar cane and bring it to the beach and
chew one end。 A new strength ran through me； and actually the grey mist
thinned and lifted for a moment； until I could make out dimly the line of
cliffs and the tumbling sea。 I was not a bit hungry； but I chewed on
the sugar cane； and made Schwartz do the same。 When we went on I
kept close to the cliff； even though the walking was somewhat heavier。
I remember after that its getting dark and then light again； so the night
must have passed； but whether we rested or walked I do not know。
Probably we did not get very far； though certainly we staggered ahead
after sun…up； for I remember my shadow。 About midday； I suppose； I
made out a dim trail leading up a break in the cliffs。 Plenty of such trails
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we had seen before。 They were generally made by peccaries in search of
cast…up fish I hope they had better luck than we。 But in the middle
of this； as though f
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or a sign； lay another piece of chewed sugar cane。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN THE
CALABASH STEW
I had agreed with Denton to stick to the beach； but Schwartz could not
last much longer； and I had not the slightest idea how far it might prove to
be to Mollyhay。 So I turned up the trail。 We climbed a mountain
ten thousand feet high。 I mean that； and I know； for I've climbed them
that high； and I know just how it feels； and how many times you have to
rest； and how long it takes； and how much it knocks out of you。 Those
are the things that count in measuring height； and so I tell you we climbed
that far。 Actually I suppose the hill was a couple of hundred feet； if not
less。 But on account of the grey mist I mentioned； I could not see the top；
and the illusion was complete。 We reached the summit late in the
afternoon； for the sun was square in our eyes。 But instead of blinding me；
it seemed to clear my sight； so that I saw below me a little mud hut with
smoke rising behind it； and a small patch of cultivated ground。 I'll
pass over how I felt about it： they haven't made the words Well；
we stumbled down the trail and into the hut。 At first I thought it was
empty； but after a minute I saw a very old man crouched in a corner。 As I
looked at him he raised his bleared eyes to me； his head swinging slowly
from side to side as though with a kind of palsy。 He could not see me；
that was evident； nor hear me； but some instinct not yet decayed turned
him toward a new presence in the room。 In my wild desire for water I
found room to think that here was a man even worse off than myself。
A vessel of water was in the corner。 I drank it。 It was more than I could
hold； but I drank even after I was filled； and the waste ran from the corners
of my mouth。 I had forgotten Schwartz。 The excess made me a little
sick； but I held down what I had swallowed； and I really believe it soaked
into my system as it does into the desert earth after a drought。 In a
moment or so I took the vessel and filled it and gave it to Schwartz。
Then it seemed to me that my responsibility had ended。 A sudden great
dreamy lassitude came over me。 I knew I needed food； but I had no wish
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for it； and no ambition to search it out。 The man in the corner mumbled
at me with his toothless gums。 I remember wondering if we were all to
starve there peacefully togetherSchwartz and his remaining gold coins；
the man far gone in years； and myself。 I did not greatly care。 After
a while the light was blotted out。 There followed a slight pause。 Then I
knew that someone had flown to my side； and was kneeling beside me and
saying liquid； pitying things in Mexican。 I swallowed something hot and
strong。 In a moment I came back from wherever I was drifting； to look
up at a Mexican girl about twenty years old。 She was no great matter
in looks； but she seemed like an angel to me then。 And she had sense。
No questions； no nothing。 Just business。 The only thing she asked of
me was if I understood Spanish。 Then she told me that her brother
would be back soon； that they were very poor； that she was sorry she had
no meat to offer me； that they were VERY poor； that all they had was
calabasha sort of squash。 All this time she was bustling things together。
Next thing I know I had a big bowl of calabash stew between my knees。
Now； strangely enough； I had no great interest in that calabash stew。 I
tasted it； sat and thought a while； and tasted it again。 By and by I had
emptied the bowl。 It was getting dark。 I was very sleepy。 A man
came in； but I was too drowsy to pay any attention to him。 I heard the
sound of voices。 Then I was picked up bodily and carried to an out…
building and laid on a pile of skins。 I felt the weight of a blanket thrown
over me I awoke in the night。 Mind you； I had practically had no
rest at all for a matter of more than two weeks； yet I woke in a few hours。
And； remember； even in eating the calabash stew I had felt no hunger in
spite of my long fast。 But now I found myself ravenous。 You boys do
not know what hunger is。 It HURTS。 And all the rest of that night I lay
awake chewing on the rawhide of a pack…saddle that hung near me。
Next morning the young Mexican and his sister came to us early； bringing
more calabash stew。 I fell on it like a wild animal； and just wallowed in
it； so eager was I to eat。 They stood and watched meand I suppose
Schwartz； too； though I had now lost interest in anyone but myself
glancing at each other in pity from time to time。 When I had finished
the man told me that they had decided to kill a beef so we could have
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meat。 They were very poor； but God had brought us to them I
appreciated this afterward。 At the time I merely caught at the word
〃meat。〃 It seemed to me I could have eaten the animal entire； hide； hoofs；
and tallow。 As a matter of fact； it was mighty lucky they didn't have any
meat。 If they had； we'd probably have killed ourselves with it。 I
suppose the calabash was about the best thing for us under the
circumstances。 The Mexican went out to hunt up his horse。 I called
the girl b
