part 4-第6节
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〃It's not that so much。 It's waking up every morning
with the feeling that your life is your own； and your
strength is your own； and your talent is your own； that
you're all there； and there's no sag in you。〃 She stood for
a moment as if she were tortured by uncertainty； then
turned suddenly back to him。 〃Don't talk about these
things any more now；〃 she entreated。 〃It isn't that I
want to keep anything from you。 The trouble is that I've
got nothing to keepexcept （you know as well as I） that
feeling。 I told you about it in Chicago once。 But it always
makes me unhappy to talk about it。 It will spoil the day。
Will you go for a climb with me？〃 She held out her hands
with a smile so eager that it made Ottenburg feel how much
she needed to get away from herself。
He sprang up and caught the hands she put out so cor…
dially； and stood swinging them back and forth。 〃I won't
tease you。 A word's enough to me。 But I love it； all the
same。 Understand？〃 He pressed her hands and dropped
them。 〃Now； where are you going to drag me？〃
〃I want you to drag me。 Over there； to the other houses。
They are more interesting than these。〃 She pointed across
the gorge to the row of white houses in the other cliff。
〃The trail is broken away； but I got up there once。 It's
possible。 You have to go to the bottom of the canyon；
cross the creek； and then go up hand…over…hand。〃
Ottenburg； lounging against the sunny wall； his hands in
the pockets of his jacket； looked across at the distant dwell…
ings。 〃It's an awful climb；〃 he sighed； 〃when I could be
perfectly happy here with my pipe。 However〃 He
took up his stick and hat and followed Thea down the
water trail。 〃Do you climb this path every day？ You
surely earn your bath。 I went down and had a look at your
pool the other afternoon。 Neat place； with all those little
cottonwoods。 Must be very becoming。〃
〃Think so？〃 Thea said over her shoulder； as she swung
round a turn。
〃Yes； and so do you； evidently。 I'm becoming expert
at reading your meaning in your back。 I'm behind you so
much on these single…foot trails。 You don't wear stays； do
you？〃
〃Not here。〃
〃I wouldn't； anywhere； if I were you。 They will make
you less elastic。 The side muscles get flabby。 If you go in
for opera； there's a fortune in a flexible body。 Most of the
German singers are clumsy； even when they're well set up。〃
Thea switched a PINON branch back at him。 〃Oh； I'll
never get fat！ That I can promise you。〃
Fred smiled； looking after her。 〃Keep that promise； no
matter how many others you break；〃 he drawled。
The upward climb； after they had crossed the stream；
was at first a breathless scramble through underbrush。
When they reached the big boulders； Ottenburg went first
because he had the longer leg…reach； and gave Thea a hand
when the step was quite beyond her； swinging her up until
she could get a foothold。 At last they reached a little plat…
form among the rocks； with only a hundred feet of jagged；
sloping wall between them and the cliff…houses。
Ottenburg lay down under a pine tree and declared that
he was going to have a pipe before he went any farther。
〃It's a good thing to know when to stop； Thea；〃 he said
meaningly。
〃I'm not going to stop now until I get there；〃 Thea in…
sisted。 〃I'll go on alone。〃
Fred settled his shoulder against the tree…trunk。 〃Go
on if you like； but I'm here to enjoy myself。 If you meet a
rattler on the way； have it out with him。〃
She hesitated； fanning herself with her felt hat。 〃I never
have met one。〃
〃There's reasoning for you；〃 Fred murmured languidly。
Thea turned away resolutely and began to go up the
wall； using an irregular cleft in the rock for a path。 The
cliff； which looked almost perpendicular from the bottom；
was really made up of ledges and boulders； and behind
these she soon disappeared。 For a long while Fred smoked
with half…closed eyes； smiling to himself now and again。
Occasionally he lifted an eyebrow as he heard the rattle of
small stones among the rocks above。 〃In a temper；〃 he
concluded； 〃do her good。〃 Then he subsided into warm
drowsiness and listened to the locusts in the yuccas； and
the tap…tap of the old woodpecker that was never weary of
assaulting the big pine。
Fred had finished his pipe and was wondering whether
he wanted another； when he heard a call from the cliff far
above him。 Looking up； he saw Thea standing on the edge
of a projecting crag。 She waved to him and threw her arm
over her head； as if she were snapping her fingers in the air。
As he saw her there between the sky and the gulf； with
that great wash of air and the morning light about her；
Fred recalled the brilliant figure at Mrs。 Nathanmeyer's。
Thea was one of those people who emerge； unexpectedly；
larger than we are accustomed to see them。 Even at this
distance one got the impression of muscular energy and
audacity；a kind of brilliancy of motion；of a person…
ality that carried across big spaces and expanded among
big things。 Lying still； with his hands under his head；
Ottenburg rhetorically addressed the figure in the air。
〃You are the sort that used to run wild in Germany；
dressed in their hair and a piece of skin。 Soldiers caught
'em in nets。 Old Nathanmeyer；〃 he mused； 〃would like
a peep at her now。 Knowing old fellow。 Always buying
those Zorn etchings of peasant girls bathing。 No sag in
them either。 Must be the cold climate。〃 He sat up。
〃She'll begin to pitch rocks on me if I don't move。〃 In
response to another impatient gesture from the crag； he
rose and began swinging slowly up the trail。
It was the afternoon of that long day。 Thea was lying
on a blanket in the door of her rock house。 She and Otten…
burg had come back from their climb and had lunch； and
he had gone off for a nap in one of the cliff…houses farther
down the path。 He was sleeping peacefully； his coat under
his head and his face turned toward the wall。
Thea； too； was drowsy； and lay looking through half…
closed eyes up at the blazing blue arch over the rim of the
canyon。 She was thinking of nothing at all。 Her mind； like
her body； was full of warmth； lassitude； physical content。
Suddenly an eagle； tawny and of great size； sailed over the
cleft in which she lay； across the arch of sky。 He dropped
for a moment into the gulf between the walls； then wheeled；
and mounted until his plumage was so steeped in light that
he looked like a golden bird。 He swept on； following the
course of the canyon a little way and then disappearing
beyond the rim。 Thea sprang to her feet as if she had been
thrown up from the rock by volcanic action。 She stood
rigid on the edge of the stone shelf； straining her eyes after
that strong； tawny flight。 O eagle of eagles！ Endeavor；
achievement； desire； glorious striving of human art！ From
a cleft in the heart of the world she saluted it。 。 。 。 It had
come all the way； when men lived in caves； it was there。
A vanished race； but along the trails； in the stream； under
the spreading cactus； there still glittered in the sun the
bits of their frail clay vessels； fragments of their desire。
VII
FROM the day of Fred's arrival； he and Thea were
unceasingly active。 They took long rides into the
Navajo pine forests； bought turquoises and silver brace…
lets from the wandering Indian herdsmen； and rode twenty
miles to Flagstaff upon the slightest pretext。 Thea had
never felt this pleasant excitement about any man before；
and she found herself trying very hard to please young
Ottenburg。 She was never tired； never dull。 There was
a zest about waking up in the morning and dressing； about
walking； riding； even about sleep。
One morning when Thea came out from her room at
seven o'clock； she found Henry and Fred on the porch；
looking up at the sky。 The day was already hot and there
was no breeze。
