herland(她乡)-第10节
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〃If we are quiet and respectful and polite and they are not afraid of us
then perhaps they will let us out。 And anywaywhen we do escape； it is
of immense importance that we know the language。〃
Personally； I was tremendously interested in that language； and
seeing they had books； was eager to get at them； to dig into their history； if
they had one。
It was not hard to speak； smooth and pleasant to the ear； and so
easy to read and write that I marveled at it。 They had an absolutely
phonetic system； the whole thing was as scientific as Esparanto yet bore
all the marks of an old and rich civilization。
We were free to study as much as we wished； and were not left
merely to wander in the garden for recreation but introduced to a great
gymnasium； partly on the roof and partly in the story below。 Here we
learned real respect for our tall guards。 No change of costume was
needed for this work； save to lay off outer clothing。 The first one was as
perfect a garment for exercise as need be devised； absolutely free to move
in； and； I had to admit； much better…looking than our usual one。
〃Fortyover fortysome of 'em fifty； I betand look at 'em！〃
grumbled Terry in reluctant admiration。
There were no spectacular acrobatics； such as only the young
can perform； but for all…around development they had a most excellent
system。 A good deal of music went with it； with posture dancing and；
sometimes； gravely beautiful processional performances。
Jeff was much impressed by it。 We did not know then how
small a part of their physical culture methods this really was； but found it
agreeable to watch； and to take part in。
Oh yes； we took part all right！ It wasn't absolutely compulsory；
but we thought it better to please。
Terry was the strongest of us； though I was wiry and had good
staying power； and Jeff was a great sprinter and hurdler； but I can tell you
those old ladies gave us cards and spades。 They ran like deer； by which I
mean that they ran not as if it was a performance； but as if it was their
natural gait。 We remembered those fleeting girls of our first bright
adventure； and concluded that it was。
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They leaped like deer； too； with a quick folding motion of the
legs； drawn up and turned to one side with a sidelong twist of the body。 I
remembered the sprawling spread…eagle way in which some of the fellows
used to come over the lineand tried to learn the trick。 We did not easily
catch up with these experts； however。
〃Never thought I'd live to be bossed by a lot of elderly lady
acrobats；〃 Terry protested。
They had games； too； a good many of them； but we found them
rather uninteresting at first。 It was like two people playing solitaire to see
who would get it first； more like a race or aa competitive examination；
than a real game with some fight in it。
I philosophized a bit over this and told Terry it argued against
their having any men about。 〃There isn't a man…size game in the lot；〃 I
said。
〃But they are interestingI like them；〃 Jeff objected； 〃and I'm
sure they are educational。〃
〃I'm sick and tired of being educated；〃 Terry protested。 〃Fancy
going to a dame schoolat our age。 I want to Get Out！〃
But we could not get out； and we were being educated swiftly。
Our special tutors rose rapidly in our esteem。 They seemed of rather
finer quality than the guards； though all were on terms of easy friendliness。
Mine was named Somel； Jeff's Zava； and Terry's Moadine。 We tried to
generalize from the names； those of the guards； and of our three girls； but
got nowhere。
〃They sound well enough； and they're mostly short； but there's
no similarity of terminationand no two alike。 However； our acquaintance
is limited as yet。〃
There were many things we meant to askas soon as we could
talk well enough。 Better teaching I never saw。 From morning to night
there was Somel； always on call except between two and four； always
pleasant with a steady friendly kindness that I grew to enjoy very much。
Jeff said Miss Zavahe would put on a title； though they apparently had
nonewas a darling； that she reminded him of his Aunt Esther at home；
but Terry refused to be won； and rather jeered at his own companion； when
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we were alone。
〃I'm sick of it！〃 he protested。 〃Sick of the whole thing。 Here
we are cooped up as helpless as a bunch of three…year…old orphans； and
being taught what they think is necessarywhether we like it or not。
Confound their old…maid impudence！〃
Nevertheless we were taught。 They brought in a raised map of
their country； beautifully made； and increased our knowledge of
geographical terms； but when we inquired for information as to the
country outside； they smilingly shook their heads。
They brought pictures； not only the engravings in the books but
colored studies of plants and trees and flowers and birds。 They brought
tools and various small objectswe had plenty of 〃material〃 in our school。
If it had not been for Terry we would have been much more
contented； but as the weeks ran into months he grew more and more
irritable。
〃Don't act like a bear with a sore head；〃 I begged him。 〃We're
getting on finely。 Every day we can understand them better； and pretty
soon we can make a reasonable plea to be let out〃
〃LET out！〃 he stormed。 〃LET outlike children kept after
school。 I want to Get Out； and I'm going to。 I want to find the men of
this place and fight！or the girls〃
〃Guess it's the girls you're most interested in；〃 Jeff commented。
〃What are you going to fight WITHyour fists？〃
〃Yesor sticks and stonesI'd just like to！〃 And Terry squared
off and tapped Jeff softly on the jaw。 〃Just for instance；〃 he said。
〃Anyhow；〃 he went on； 〃we could get back to our machine and
clear out。〃
〃If it's there；〃 I cautiously suggested。
〃Oh； don't croak； Van！ If it isn't there； we'll find our way down
somehowthe boat's there； I guess。〃
It was hard on Terry； so hard that he finally persuaded us to
consider a plan of escape。 It was difficult； it was highly dangerous； but
he declared that he'd go alone if we wouldn't go with him； and of course
we couldn't think of that。
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It appeared he had made a pretty careful study of the
environment。 From our end window that faced the point of the promontory
we could get a fair idea of the stretch of wall； and the drop below。 Also
from the roof we could make out more； and even； in one place； glimpse a
sort of path below the wall。
〃It's a question of three things；〃 he said。 〃Ropes； agility； and
not being seen。〃
〃That's the hardest part；〃 I urged； still hoping to dissuade him。
〃One or another pair of eyes is on us every minute except at night。〃
〃Therefore we must do it at night；〃 he answered。 〃That's easy。〃
〃We've got to think that if they catch us we may not be so well
treated afterward；〃 said Jeff。
〃That's the business risk we must take。 I'm goingif I break
my neck。〃 There was no changing him。
The rope problem was not easy。 Something strong enough to
hold a man and long enough to let us down into the garden； and then down
over the wall。 There were plenty of strong ropes in the gymnasiumthey
seemed to love to swing and climb on thembut we were never there by
ourselves。
