stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第34节
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understood。
How long he lay there he scarcely knew； but it seemed to him weeks。
At last he heard footsteps on the stairs。 He endeavoured vainly to raise
himself； and； though he strove to cry out； his tongue refused to frame the
words。 Lying there； living and yet lifeless； he saw the door open and Amos
enter。 The old man hesitated a moment； for the room was dark； while
Gregorio； who had easily recognised his visitor； lay impotent on the floor。
Before Amos could become used to the darkness the door again opened；
and Madam Marx entered with a lamp in her hand。 Amos turned to see
who had followed him； and； in turning； his foot struck against Gregorio's
body。 Immediately； the woman crying softly； both visitors knelt beside the
sick man。 A fierce look blazed in Gregorio's eyes； but the strong words of
abuse that hurried through his brain would not be said。
〃He is very ill；〃 said Amos； 〃he has had a stroke of some sort。〃
〃Help me to carry him to my house；〃 sobbed the woman； and she
kissed the Greek's quivering lip and pallid brow。 Then rising to her feet；
she turned savagely on the Jew。
〃It is your fault。 It is you who have killed him。〃
〃Nay； madam； I had called here for my money； and I had a right to do
so。 It has been owing for a long time。〃
〃No； you have killed him。〃
〃Indeed； I wished him well。 I was willing to forgive the debt if he
would let me take the child。〃
A horrid look of agony passed over Gregorio's face； but he remained
silent and motionless。 The watchers saw that he understood and that a
tempest of wrath and pain surged within the lifeless body。 They stooped
down and carried him downstairs and across the road to the Penny…
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farthing Shop。 The Jew's touch burned Gregorio like hot embers； but he
could not shake himself free。 When he was laid on a bed in a room above
the bar； through the floor of which rose discordant sounds of revelry；
Amos left them。 Madam Marx flung herself on the bed beside him and
wept。
Two days later Gregorio sat； at sunset； by Madam Marx's side； on the
threshold of the cafe。 He had recovered speech and use of limbs。 With
wrathful eloquence he had told his companion the history of the terrible
night； and now sat weaving plots in his maddened brain。
Replying to his assertion that Amos was responsible； Madam Marx
said：
〃Don't be too impetuous； Gregorio。 Search cunningly before you strike。
Maybe your wife knows something。〃
〃My wife！ Not she； she is with her Englishman。 Amos has stolen the
boy； and you know it as well as I do。 Didn't he tell you he wanted the child？
I met him that night； and he told me if I did not pay I had only myself to
blame for the trouble that would fall on me。〃
〃Come； come； Gregorio； cheer up！〃 said the woman； for the Greek；
with head resting on his hands； was sobbing violently。
〃I tell you； all I cared for in life is taken from me。 But I will have my
revenge； that I tell you too。〃
For a while they sat silent； looking into the street。 At last Gregorio
spoke：
〃My wife has not returned since that night； has she？〃
〃I have not seen her。〃
〃Well； I must see her； she can leave the Englishman now。〃
Madam Marx laughed a little； but said nothing。
〃There is Ahmed；〃 cried Gregorio； as a blue…clad figure passed on the
other side of the street。 He beckoned to the Arab； who came across at his
summons。
〃You seem troubled；〃 he said； as he looked into the Greek's face； and
Gregorio retold the terrible story。
〃You know nothing of all this？〃 he added； suspiciously； as his narrative
ended。
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〃Nothing。〃
〃My God！ it is so awful I thought all the world knew of it。 You often
nursed and played with the boy？〃
〃Ay； and fed him。 We Arabs love children； even Christian children； and
I will help you if I can。〃
〃Why should Amos want the boy？〃 asked Madam Marx； as she put
coffee and tobacco before the guests。
〃Because I owe him money； and he knew the loss of my son would be
the deadliest revenge。 He will make my son a Jew； a beastly Jew。 By God；
he shall not； he shall not！〃
〃We must find him and save him；〃 said the woman。
〃He will never be a Jew。 That is not what Amos wants your son for；
there are plenty of Jews。〃 Ahmed spoke quietly。
〃They sacrifice children；〃 he continued； after a moment's pause；
〃surely you know that； and if you would save your boy there is not much
time to lose。〃
Gregorio trembled at Ahmed's words。 He wondered how he could have
forgotten the common report； and his fingers grasped convulsively the
handle of his knife。
〃Let us go to Amos；〃 he said； speaking the words with difficulty； for he
was choking with fear for his son。
〃Wait；〃 answered the Arab； 〃I will come again to…night and bring some
friends with me； two men who will be glad to serve you。 We Arabs are not
sorry to strike at the Jews； we have our own wrongs。 Wait here till I
come。〃
〃But what will you do？〃 asked Madam Marx； looking anxiously on the
man she loved； though her words were for the Arab。
〃Gregorio will ask for his son。 If the old man refuses to restore him； or
denies that he has taken him； then we will know the worst； and then〃
Gregorio's knife…blade glittered in the sunset rays； as he tested its
sharpness between thumb and finger。 The Arab watched with a smile。 〃We
understand one another；〃 he said。 There was no need to finish the
description of his plan。 With a solemn wave of his hand he left the cafe。
〃That man Ahmed；〃 said Madam Marx； 〃has a grudge against Amos。 It
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dates from the bombardment； and he had waited all these years to avenge
himself。 I believe it was the loss of his wife。〃
〃Amos made her a Jewess； eh？〃 And then； after a pause； Gregorio
added：
〃So we can depend on Ahmed。 To…night I will win back my son or〃
〃Or？〃 queried madam； tremblingly。
〃Or Amos starts on his journey to hell。 God； how my fingers itch to
slay him！ The devil； the Jew devil！〃
X AT THE HOUSE OF AMOS
As Ahmed had advised； Gregorio settled himself patiently to await the
summons。 Madam would have liked to ask him many questions； and to
have extracted a promise from him not to risk his life in any mad
enterprise his accomplice might suggest。 But though the Greek's body
seemed almost lifeless； so quietly and immovably he rested on his chair；
there was a restless look in his eyes that told her how fiercely and
irrepressibly his anger burned。 She knew enough of his race to know that
no power on earth could stop him striking for revenge。 And she trembled；
for she knew also that directly he had begun to strike his madness would
increase； and that only sheer physical exhaustion would stay his hand。
Madam Marx was unhappy； and as she waited on her customers her
eyes rested continually on the Greek； who heeded her not。 Once she
carried some wine to him； and he drank eagerly； spilling a few drops on
the floor first。 〃It's like blood；〃 he muttered； and smiled。 Madam hastily
covered his mouth with her trembling fingers。
Just before midnight Ahmed arrived with his two friends。 Gregorio
saw them at once； and； calling them to him； they spoke together in low
voices for a few moments。 There was little need for words； and soon；
scarcely noticed by the drinkers and gamblers； they passed out into the
street and walked slowly toward the Jew's house。 Ahmed rapidly repeated
the plan of action。 When they reached the door they stood for a moment
before they woke the Arab； and these words passed between them：
〃For a wife。〃
〃For a sister。〃
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〃For a
