emb.seethemdie-第10节

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　〃I　have　to　get　dressed；〃　the　girl　repeated　blankly；　seemingly　embarrassed　by　his　scrutiny。
　〃Well；　that　can　wait；　can't　it？〃　he　asked。
　The　girl　seemed　very　puzzled。　〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　said。
　〃Well　。。。　uh　。。。　don't　you　know？〃
　〃No？〃　the　girl　said；　and　again　she　raised　her　voice　at　the　end　of　the　word　so　that　it　sounded　like　a　question。
　〃Well　。。。　I　was　talking　to　a　fellow　last　night。　It　was　really　very　early　this　morning。　Downtown。　In　a　bar。〃
　〃Yes？〃'
　〃And　he　said　I　should　e　up　here。〃
　〃What　for？〃
　〃He　said　I'd　find　you　here；〃　Jeff　said。
　He　looked　at　her；　and　he　thought；　Well；　he　didn't　exactly　say　I　would　find　you　here；　because　no　one　ever　expects　to　find　something　like　you；　no　one　ever　really　expects　to　e　across　something　like　you　ever　in　his　life。
　〃He　didn't　say　that；〃　the　girl　said。
　〃Yes。　Yes；　he　did。〃
　〃What　was　his　name？　The　man　who　told　you　about　me？〃
　〃I　don't　remember；〃　Jeff　paused。　〃I　was　drunk。〃
　〃Are　you　drunk　now？〃
　He　smiled　tentatively。　〃Sober　as　a　judge。〃
　〃And　this　fellow　told　you　about　me？　He　said　you　would　find　me？'
　〃Well　。。。　not　exactly。　I　mean；　I　didn't　expect　anyone　as　。。。　as　pretty　as　you。　But　he　said…〃
　〃What　did　he　say；　exactly？〃
　〃He　said　I　should　go　uptown。。。〃
　〃Yes？〃
　〃And　I　should　look　for　a　place　called　La　Gallina。〃
　〃La　Ga…　oh。〃　She　paused　and　looked　at　him　more　closely。　〃I　see。　Yes。　Now　I　understand。〃
　〃Good。　I　got　to　admit；　you're　really　something。　I　mean　a　guy　just　doesn't　expect　。。。　I　mean；　I'm　not　trying　to　say　anything　against　what　you　do；　or　anything　like　that　。。。　but　。。。　well；　you　know；　it's　just　unusual；　that's　all。　To　find　one　as　pretty　as　you。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　the　girl　said。　She　smiled。　〃I　think　you've　made　a　mistake。〃
　〃This　is　La　Gallina；　isn't　it？〃　Jeff　asked；　looking　at　the　gilt　lettering　on　the　plate…glass　windows　again。
　〃Oh；　yes。　This　is　La　Gallina。〃
　〃And　you　did　e　out　of　there；　didn't　you？〃
　〃Yes；　I　certainly　did。〃
　There　was　a　strange　twinkle　in　her　brown　eyes。　He　looked　at　her　suspiciously　and　realized　she　was　trying　to　suppress　a　laugh。
　〃You　do　work　in　there？〃　he　asked。　〃Don't　you？〃
　〃I　do。〃
　〃Well；　what's　so　funny？〃　he　said；　beginning　to　get　slightly　annoyed。
　The　girl　would　not　allow　the　laugh　to　escape　her　mouth。　〃Nothing；〃　she　said。　〃Nothing。〃　…　〃Well；　then；　all　right；〃　he　said。
　〃All　right；〃　she　answered。
　They　stood　staring　at　each　other；　Jeff　trying　to　figure　out　what　was　so　goddamned　funny；　and　the　girl　trying　her　best　not　to　laugh。
　〃Well？〃　he　said　at　last。
　〃Well　what？〃
　〃Well；　let's　go　to　bed。〃
　〃You　and　me？〃
　〃Well；　sure；　you　and　me。　Who　did　you　think　I　meant？〃
　The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃No。　I　don't　think　so。〃
　She　started　to　move　away　from　him；　and　he　caught　her　arm；　stopping　her。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃Well。。。〃　Again；　she　held　back　a　laugh。　She　thought　for　a　moment；　and　then　said；　〃I　guess　I　don't　like　sailors。〃
　〃That's　no　attitude；〃　Jeff　said；　grinning。　〃Some　of　my　best　friends　are　sailors。〃
　〃No；〃　the　girl　said；　shaking　her　head。　〃No。　Sorry。　No　sailors。〃　She　saw　the　disappointment　on　his　face　and　quickly　added；　〃Besides；　I'm　too　high。〃
　〃High？〃
　〃Yes；　my　price。　My　。。。　uh　。。。　my　fee？〃　She　made　it　sound　as　if　she　were　asking　him　what　the　correct　word　should　be。
　〃Well；　how　high　is　high？〃　Jeff　asked；　beginning　to　bargain。'
　〃A　lot。〃　The　girl　considered　the　question　gravely。　〃More　than　you　earn　in　a　week。〃
　〃How　much　is　that？〃
　〃Very；　very　high；〃　she　said。
　〃Well；　how　much？　Can't　you　tell　me？　Boy；　you　sure　act　strange　for　a。。。〃
　〃I　told　you；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Very　very　very　high。〃　She　seemed　at　a　loss　for　words。　She　struggled　with　her　thoughts　and　then　desperately　said；　〃What's　the　highest　you　ever　paid？〃
　〃Twenty。　But　that　was　on　the　Coast。　On　the　Coast。。。〃
　〃I'm　much　higher　than　that；〃　she　said　quickly；　seemingly　relieved。
　〃Forty？〃
　〃Higher。〃
　〃A　hundred？〃　he　asked；　appalled。
　〃Goodness；〃　the　girl　said；　her　eyes　twinkling　again。　〃Do　I　look　like　a　mon　streetwalker？〃
　〃Well；　no；　no；〃　he　said　hastily；　〃you　don't。　But　a　hundred　dollars；　God；　I。。。〃
　〃I　didn't　say　a　hundred。　I　said　higher。〃
　〃I　haven't　even　got　twenty；〃　he　said　despondently。　〃You　see；　I　was　in　a　poker　game　and。。。〃
　〃Well；　there　are　other　girls；〃　she　said　curtly。　〃Goodbye。〃
　She　turned　on　her　heel　and　began　walking　up　the　street。　Jeff　watched　her　and　then；　galvanized　into　sudden　action；　he　yelled；　〃Hey！　Wait！〃　and　ran　after　her。
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　said。
　〃Listen；　can't　we　talk　this　over？〃
　〃Why？〃
　〃Well；　I　。。。　I　think　you're　pretty。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃I　mean　it。　I'm　not　just　saying　it　so　you'll。。。〃　He　paused。　〃I　mean　it。〃
　〃Why　don't　you　go　home；　sailor？〃　she　said　kindly；　her　face　suddenly　turning　so　tender　that　he　wanted　to　kiss　her　right　then　and　there　in　the　street；　even　though　you　weren't　supposed　to　kiss　girls　like　this；　still　he　wanted…
　〃Home？〃　he　said。　〃Hell；　I　live　in　Colorado。　Listen；　can't　we　talk　this　over？〃
　〃Sailor…〃
　〃Jeff。〃
　〃Jeff；　all　right；　Jeff；　I'm　not　what　you　think。　I'm　not　what　the　fellow　sent　you　uptown　for。〃
　〃Huh？〃
　〃I　cook　for　La　Gallina　and　some　of　the　other　bars。　They　have　steam　tables。　I　prepare　the　food　for　them。〃
　〃You　pre…　oh。〃　He　paused。　〃So　you　were　in　there。。。〃
　〃Getting　things　ready　for　when　they　open；〃　the　girl　said；　nodding。
　〃Oh。〃　He　paused　again。　〃And　all　that　business　about　price。。。〃
　〃I　was　fooling　you。〃
　〃Oh。　Well；　I'm　sorry。〃
　〃That's　all　right。　I'm　sorry　I　fooled　you。〃
　〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃　He　studied　her　soberly。　〃You're　still　very　pretty。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Do　you　。。。　do　you　have　to　run　off？〃
　〃I　have　to　get　dressed。　I'm　going　to　church。〃
　〃I'll　go　with　you；〃　he　said　quickly。
　〃Are　you　Catholic？〃
　〃Presbyterian。　I'll　go　with　you　anyway。　I've　gone　to　all　kinds　of　religious　services　in　the　Navy。　I'm　something　of　an　expert。　You　see；　I　do　it　to　get　out　of　work　parties。　Whenever　I'm　on　a　work　party　and　they　announce　like；　'All　people　of　the　Jewish　faith；　prepare　to　leave　the　ship　for　religious　services；'　I　all　of　a　sudden　bee　a　person　of　the　Jewish　faith。　I'm　just　sorry　there　aren't　less　work　parties　and　more　religions。〃
　The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃I　would　feel　funny。〃
　〃Are　you　religious？　Is　that　it？〃
　〃I　suppose　so。　Yes。〃
　〃Well；　I　mean；　the　church　won't　fall　down　or　anything　if　I　walk　into　it。　Believe　me。　I've　been　inside　Catholic　churches　before。　It's　a　nice　service。〃　He　nodded；　thinking　over　the　various　services　he　had　been　to。
　〃I　would　still　feel　funny；〃　the　girl　said。　She　looked　at　him　in　indecision；　and　then　made　a　slight　movement　of　departure。
　〃Look；〃　he　said。　〃Look　。。。　don't　run　off。〃
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃
　〃You'll　be　busy；〃　she　said。　〃La　Gallina　opens　at　noon。〃
　〃Well；　that　。。。　you　know；　it's　not　that　important。〃
　〃Isn't　it？〃
　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　he　said　firmly。　〃Look；　won't　you　。。。　won't　you　stay　with　me？〃
　The　girl　looked　at　her　watch。　〃I　have　to　go；〃　she　said。　〃I　want　to　catch　the　eleven　o'clock　Mass。〃
　〃Will　you　meet　me　after　church？〃
　〃Why　should　I？〃
　〃I　want　you　to。　Don't　you　want　to？〃
　The　girl　hesitated。　Then　she　said；　〃Yes；　I　do。〃
　〃Then　why　don't　you？〃
　〃Are　you　on　a　ship？〃
　〃Yes。　Look；　will　you。。。〃
　〃What　kind？〃
　〃A　destroyer。〃
　〃Is　it　big？〃
　〃Pretty　big。　Will　you　meet　me？〃
　〃Why　do　you　want　to　meet　me？　Haven't　you　got　a　girl　back　home？〃
　〃I　used　to；　but　not　any　more。　Have　。。。　have　you　got　a　。。。　a　boy？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Good。　That's　good。〃　He　smiled。
　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　and　she　returned　the　smile。
　〃Will　you　。。。　will　you　meet　me？〃
　〃If　I　do　。。。　would　we　go　someplace　outside　the　neighborhood？〃
　〃If　you　like。〃
　〃Where　will　we　go？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　know　this　city　too　well。〃
　〃But　we　will　leave　the　neighborhood？〃
　〃Yes。　You　see；　if　we　were　back　in　Colorado；　I'd　take　you　up　in　the　mountains。　We'd　pack　a　picnic　basket　and　go　up　in　the　mountains。　I'd　drive　you　in　my　car。　I've　got　a　'37　Ford。〃
　〃What　color　is　it？〃
　〃Yellow。　I　painted　it　myself。〃
　〃I　knew　it　was　yellow；〃　she　said。
　〃Did　you？　How'd　you　know？〃
　〃Yellow　or　red。　Those　are　the　two　colors　I　thought。〃
　〃Hey；　you　know　I　was　going　to　paint　it　red　but　Jenken's　…　that's　the　hardware　store　back　home　…　was　all　out。　So　I　took　yellow。〃
　〃Do　you　live　in　a　very　small　town？〃
　〃Fletcher？　Well；　it's　not　so　small；　you　understand。〃
　〃Do　you　have　apartment　buildings？〃
　〃Oh；　no。〃
　〃Why　did　you　leave　home？〃
　〃I　wanted　to　see　the　world；〃　he　said　glibly；　and　then　he　knew　immediately　that　glibness　was　not　for　this　girl。　With　this　girl　you　played　it　straight　or　you　didn't　play　it　at　all。　〃I　was　going　to　get　drafted；〃　he　said；　〃so　I　figured　I'd　rather　be　in　the　Navy。　So　I　enlisted。〃　He　shrugged。
　〃And　the　world？　Have　you　seen　it？〃
　〃A　little　of　it。〃
　〃Have　you　been　to　Puerto　Rico？〃
　〃No。　Have　you？〃
　〃No。　It's　supposed　to　be　beautiful　there。　I　was　born　here。　I've　never　been　outside　this　city。〃　She　paused。　〃Oh；　yes；　I　once　went　to　a　wedding　in　Pennsylvania。〃
　〃You'd　like　my　town；〃　he　said。　〃You　really　would。〃
　〃Yes；　I　know　I　would。〃
　They　fell　silent。　She　stared　up　at　him；　and　he　felt　terribly　unsure　of　himself　all　at　once；　unsure　and　far　younger　than　he　actually　was。　In　a　very　small　voice；　he　said；　〃Meet　me　after　church。　Please