lost face(丢失的脸)-第26章
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that he has daughters older than El…Soo。〃
〃It is true； Porportuk is an old man；〃 said El…Soo。
〃It is for Porportuk to measure the strength his age；〃 said he who bled
at the mouth。 〃We be old men。 Behold！ Age is never so old as youth
would measure it。〃
And the circle of old men champed their gums； and nodded
approvingly； and coughed。
〃I told him that I would never be his wife；〃 said El…Soo。
〃Yet you took from him twenty…six times all that we possess？〃 asked a
one…eyed old man。
El…Soo was silent。
〃It is true？〃 And his one eye burned and bored into her like a fiery
gimlet。
〃It is true；〃 she said。
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〃But I will run away again；〃 she broke out passionately； a moment
later。 〃Always will I run away。〃
〃That is for Porportuk to consider；〃 said another of the old men。 〃It is
for us to consider the judgment。〃
〃What price did you pay for her？〃 was demanded of Akoon。
〃No price did I pay for her；〃 he answered。 〃She was above price。 I
did not measure her in gold…dust； nor in dogs； and tents； and furs。〃
The old men debated among themselves and mumbled in undertones。
〃These old men are ice；〃 Akoon said in English。 〃I will not listen to their
judgment； Porportuk。 If you take El…Soo； I will surely kill you。〃
The old men ceased and regarded him suspiciously。 〃We do not
know the speech you make；〃 one said。
〃He but said that he would kill me；〃 Porportuk volunteered。 〃So it
were well to take from him his rifle； and to have some of your young men
sit by him； that he may not do me hurt。 He is a young man； and what are
broken bones to youth！〃
Akoon； lying helpless； had rifle and knife taken from him； and to
either side of his shoulders sat young men of the Mackenzies。 The one…
eyed old man arose and stood upright。 〃We marvel at the price paid for
one mere woman；〃 he began； 〃but the wisdom of the price is no concern of
ours。 We are here to give judgment； and judgment we give。 We have
no doubt。 It is known to all that Porportuk paid a heavy price for the
woman El…Soo。 Wherefore does the woman El…Soo belong to Porportuk
and none other。〃 He sat down heavily； and coughed。 The old men
nodded and coughed。
〃I will kill you；〃 Akoon cried in English。
Porportuk smiled and stood up。 〃You have given true judgment；〃 he
said to the council； 〃and my young men will give to you much tobacco。
Now let the woman be brought to me。〃
Akoon gritted his teeth。 The young men took El…Soo by the arms。
She did not resist； and was led； her face a sullen flame； to Porportuk。
〃Sit there at my feet till I have made my talk；〃 he commanded。 He
paused a moment。 〃It is true；〃 he said； 〃I am an old man。 Yet can I
understand the ways of youth。 The fire has not all gone out of me。 Yet
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am I no longer young； nor am I minded to run these old legs of mine
through all the years that remain to me。 El…Soo can run fast and well。
She is a deer。 This I know； for I have seen and run after her。 It is not
good that a wife should run so fast。 I paid for her a heavy price； yet does
she run away from me。 Akoon paid no price at all； yet does she run to
him。
〃When I came among you people of the Mackenzie； I was of one mind。
As I listened in the council and thought of the swift legs of El…Soo； I was
of many minds。 Now am I of one mind again but it is a different mind
from the one I brought to the council。 Let me tell you my mind。 When
a dog runs once away from a master； it will run away again。 No matter
how many times it is brought back； each time it will run away again。
When we have such dogs； we sell them。 El… Soo is like a dog that runs
away。 I will sell her。 Is there any man of the council that will buy？〃
The old men coughed and remained silent
〃Akoon would buy；〃 Porportuk went on； 〃but he has no money。
Wherefore I will give El…Soo to him； as he said； without price。 Even now
will I give her to him。〃
Reaching down； he took El…Soo by the hand and led her across the
space to where Akoon lay on his back。
〃She has a bad habit； Akoon；〃 he said； seating her at Akoon's feet。 〃As
she has run away from me in the past； in the days to come she may run
away from you。 But there is no need to fear that she will ever run away；
Akoon。 I shall see to that。 Never will she run away from youthis is
the word of Porportuk。 She has great wit。 I know； for often has it bitten
into me。 Yet am I minded myself to give my wit play for once。 And by
my wit will I secure her to you； Akoon。〃
Stooping； Porportuk crossed El…Soo's feet； so that the instep of one lay
over that of the other； and then； before his purpose could be divined； he
discharged his rifle through the two ankles。 As Akoon struggled to rise
against the weight of the young men； there was heard the crunch of the
broken bone rebroken。
〃It is just；〃 said the old men； one to another。
El…Soo made no sound。 She sat and looked at her shattered ankles；
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on which she would never walk again。
〃My legs are strong； El…Soo；〃 Akoon said。 〃But never will they bear
me away from you。〃
El…Soo looked at him； and for the first time in all the time he had
known her； Akoon saw tears in her eyes。
〃Your eyes are like deer's eyes； El…Soo；〃 he said。
〃Is it just？〃 Porportuk asked； and grinned from the edge of the smoke
as he prepared to depart。
〃It is just；〃 the old men said。 And they sat on in the silence。
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