hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第36节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ck　and　held　it　in；　watching　the　papyrus　grass　ahead　on　his　left　and　the　empty　beach　and　the　sea　on　his　right　as　he　saw　the　black　road　ahead。　He　put　the　car　at　the　road　again　until　he　saw　the　white　painted　bridge　coming　at　him　fast　then　held　his　speed　as　he　calculated　the　distance；　raised　his　foot　from　the　throttle　and　pumped　the　brakes　gently。　She　was　steady　and　lost　momentum　at　each　pump　with　no　devia　tion　and　no　binding。　He　brought　the　car　to　a　stop　before　the　bridge；　downshifted　and　then　put　her　at　the　road　again　in　a　rising　disciplined　snarl　along　the　N。6　to　Cannes。　〃She　burned　them　all；〃　he　said。　〃Oh　David；〃　Marita　said　and　they　drove　on　into　Cannes　where　the　lights　were　on　now　and　David　stopped　the　car　under　the　trees　in　front　of　the　cafe　where　they　had　first　met。　〃Wouldn't　you　rather　go　somewhere　else？〃　Marita　asked。　〃I　don't　care；〃　David　said。　〃It　doesn't　make　a　hell　of　a　lot　of　difference。〃
228　229
。　。

〃If　you'd　rather　just　drive；〃　Marita　offered。
〃No。　I'd　rather　cool　out；〃　David　said。　〃I　just　wanted　to　see　if　the　car　was　in　shape　for　her　to　drive　it。〃
〃She's　going？〃
〃She　says　so。〃
They　were　sitting　at　the　table　on　the　terrace　in　the　dappled　shadow　of　the　leaves　of　the　trees。　The　waiter　had　brought　Marita　a　Tio　Pepe　and　David　a　whiskey　and　Perrier。
〃Do　you　want　me　to　go　with　her？〃　Marita　said。
〃You　don't　really　think　anything　will　happen　to　her？〃
〃No；　David。　I　think　she's　done　her　damage　for　a　while。〃
〃Could　be；〃　David　said。　〃She　burned　every　fucking　thing　except　the　narrative。　The　stuff　about　her。〃
〃It's　a　wonderful　narrative；〃　Marita　said。
〃Don't　buck　me　up；〃　David　said。　〃I　wrote　it　and　I　wrote　what　she　burned。　Don't　give　me　the　stuff　they　feed　the　troops。〃
〃You　can　write　them　again。〃
〃No；〃　David　told　her。　〃When　it's　right　you　can't　remember。　Every　time　you　read　it　again　it　comes　as　a　great　and　unbelievable　surprise。　You　can't　believe　you　did　it。　When　it's　once　right　you　never　can　do　it　again。　You　only　do　it　once　for　each　thing。　And　you're　only　allowed　so　many　in　your　life。〃
〃So　many　what？〃
〃So　many　good　ones。〃
〃But　you　can　remember　them。　You　must。〃
〃Not　me　and　not　you　and　not　anybody。　They're　gone。　Once　I　get　them　right　they're　gone。〃
〃She　was　wicked　to　you。〃
〃No；〃　David　said。
〃What　then？〃
〃Hurried；〃　David　said。　〃Everything　today　was　because　she　was　hurried　really。〃
〃I　hope　you'll　be　as　kind　to　me。〃
〃You　just　stay　around　and　help　me　not　to　kill　her。　You　know　what　she's　going　to　do　don't　you？　She's　going　to　pay　me　for　the　stories　so　that　I　won't　lose　anything。〃
〃No。〃
〃Yes　she　is。　She's　going　to　have　her　lawyers　have　them　appraised　in　some　fantastic　Rube　Goldberg　manner　and　then　she's　going　to　pay　me　double　the　appraisal　price。〃
〃Truly；　David；　she　didn't　say　that。〃
〃She　said　it　and　it's　infinitely　sound。　Only　the　details　need　working　out　and　what's　more　the　doubling　of　the　appraisal　or　whatever　makes　it　generous　and　gives　her　pleasure。〃
〃You　can't　let　her　drive　alone；　David。〃
〃I　know　it。〃
〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃
〃I　don't　know。　But　let's　sit　here　for　a　little　while；〃　David　said。　〃There　isn't　any　hurry　now。　I　think　she's　probably　tired　and　gone　to　sleep。　I'd　like　to　go　to　sleep　too；　with　you；　and　wake　up　and　find　the　stuff　all　there　and　not　gone　and　go　to　work　again。〃
〃We　will　sleep　and　someday　when　you　wake　up　you'll　work　as　wonderfully　as　you　did　this　morning。〃
〃You're　awfully　good；〃　David　said。　〃But　you　certainly　got　into　a　fine　lot　of　trouble　when　you　came　in　here　that　night；　didn't
you？〃

〃Don't　try　to　put　me　outside；〃　Marita　said。　〃I　know　what　I　got　into。〃
〃Sure；〃　said　David。　〃We　both　know。　Do　you　want　another　drink？〃
〃If　you　do；〃　Marita　said　and　then；　〃I　didn't　know　it　was　a　battle　when　I　came。〃
〃Neither　did　I。〃
〃With　you　it's　really　only　you　against　time。
〃Not　the　time　that's　Catherine's。〃
〃Only　because　her　time　is　different。　She's　panicked　by　it。　You

said　tonight　that　all　of　today　was　only　hurry。　That　wasn't　true　but　it　was　perceptive。　And　you　won　so　well　over　time　for　so　long。〃

Very　much　later　he　called　for　the　waiter　and　paid　for　the　drinks　and　left　a　good　tip　and　he　had　started　the　car　and　put　on　the　lights　and　was　letting　out　the　clutch　when　what　had　really　happened　came　back　to　him　again。　It　was　back　as　clear　and　unblurred　as　when　he　had　first　looked　into　the　trash　burner　and　seen　the　ashes　that　had　been　stirred　by　the　broomstick。　He　pushed　his　headlights　carefully　out　through　the　quiet　and　empty　evening　of　the　town　and　followed　them　along　the　port　onto　the　road。　He　felt　Marita's　shoulder　by　him　and　heard　her　say；　〃I　know；　David。　It　hit　me　too。〃

〃Don't　let　it。〃

〃I'm　glad　it　did。　There's　nothing　to　do　but　we'll　do　it。〃

〃Good。〃

〃We'll　really　do　it。　Toi　et　moi。〃

Chapter　Twenty…eight



AT　THE　HOTEL　Madame　came　in　from　the　kitchen　when　David　and　Marita　came　into　the　main　room。　She　had　a　letter　in　her　hand。
〃Madame　took　the　train　for　Biarritz；〃　she　said。　〃She　left　this　letter　for　Monsieur。〃
'When　did　she　go？〃　David　asked。
〃Immediately　after　Monsieur　and　Madame　left；〃　Madame　Aurol　said。　〃She　sent　the　boy　to　the　station　for　the　ticket　and　to　reserve　a　wagon…lit。〃
David　began　reading　the　letter。
'What　would　you　eat？〃　Madame　said。　〃Some　cold　chicken　and　a　salad？　An　omelette　to　start。　There's　lamb　too　if　Monsieur　would　rather。　What　would　he　like；　Madame？〃
Marita　and　Madame　Aurol　were　talking　together　and　David　finished　reading　the　letter。　He　put　it　in　his　pocket　and　looked　at　Madame　Aurol。　〃Did　she　seem　herself　when　she　left？〃
〃Perhaps　not；　Monsieur。〃
〃She'll　be　back；〃　David　said。
〃Yes；　Monsieur。〃

〃We　will　take　good　care　of　her。〃

〃Yes；　Monsieur。〃　She　began　to　cry　a　little　as　she　turned　the　omelette　and　David　put　his　arm　around　her　and　kissed　her。　〃Go　and　talk　to　Madame；〃　she　said；　〃and　let　me　set　the　table。　Aurol　and　the　boy　are　at　Napoule；　mixing　belote　and　politics。〃

〃I'll　set　it；〃　Marita　said。　〃Open　the　wine；　David；　please。　Don't　you　think　we　should　have　a　bottle　of　the　Lanson？〃

He　closed　the　door　of　the　ice　chest　and　holding　the　cold　bottle　untwisted　the　seal　and　loosened　the　wire　and　then　carefully　moved　the　cork　between　his　thumb　and　first　finger　feeling　the　pinch　of　metal　cap　against　his　thumb　and　the　long　cold　rounded　promise　of　the　bottle。　He　brought　the　cork　out　gently　and　poured　three　glasses　full。　Madame　stood　back　from　the　stove　with　her　glass　and　they　all　raised　their　glasses。　David　did　not　know　what　to　drink　to　so　he　said　the　first　words　that　came　which　were；　〃A　nous　et　a　la　liberte。〃

They　all　drank　and　then　Madame　served　the　omelette　and　they　all　drank　again　without　making　a　toast。

〃Eat；　David；　please；〃　Marita　said。

〃All　right；〃　he　said　and　drank　some　of　the　wine　and　ate　some　of　the　omelette　slowly。

〃Just　eat　a　little；〃　Marita　said。　〃It　will　be　good　for　you。〃

Madame　looked　at　Marita　and　shook　her　head。　〃Nothing　is　helped　by　your　not　eating；〃　Madame　told　him。

〃Sure；〃　said　David　and　ate　slowly　and　carefully　and　drank　the　champagne　that　was　born　new　each　time　he　poured　a　glass。

〃Where　did　she　leave　the　car？〃　he　asked。

〃At　the　station；〃　Madame　said。　〃The　boy　rode　down　with　her。　He　brought　back　the　key。　It's　in　your　room。

'Was　the　wagon…lit　crowded？〃

〃No。　He　put　her　aboard。　There　were　very　few　passengers。　She　will　have　a　place。〃

〃It's　not　a　bad　train；〃　David　said。

〃Eat　some　chicken；〃　Madame　said；　〃and　drink　some　more　wine。　Op　en　another　bottle。　Your　women　are　thirsty　too。〃

〃I'm　not　thirsty；〃　Marita　said。

〃Yes；　you　are；〃　Madame　said。　〃Drink　up　now　and　take　a　bottle　with　you。　I　know　this　one。　It's　good　for　him　to　drink　good　wine。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　drink　too　much；　chbie；〃　David　said　to　Madame。　〃Because　tomorrow　is　a　bad　day　and　I'd　rather　not　feel　bad　too。〃

〃You　won't。　I　know　you。　Just　eat　now　to　please　me。

She　excused　herself　in　a　few　minutes　and　was　gone　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　David　ate　all　of　his　chicken　and　the　salad　finally　and　after　she　had　come　back　they　all　had　a　glass　of　wine　together　and　then　David　and　Marita　said　good　night　to　Madame　who　was　very　formal　now　and　went　out　onto　the　terrace　and　looked　at　the　night。　They　were　both　in　a　hurry　and　David　was　carrying　the　opened　bottle　of　wine　in　an　ice　bucket。　He　put　it　down　on　the　stove　and　took　Marita　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。　They　held　each　other　close　and　said　nothing　and　then　David　picked　up　the　bucket　and　they　walked　to　Marita's　room。

Her　bed　had　been　made　up　now　for　two　people　and　David　put　the　ice　bucket　down　on　the　floor　and　said；　〃Madame。〃

〃Yes；〃　Marita　said。　〃Naturally。〃


They　lay　together　with　the　night　clear　and　cool　outside　and　the　small　breeze　from　the　sea　and　Marita　said；　〃I　love　you；　David；　and　it's　so　sure　now。

Sure；　David　thought。　Sure。　Nothing　is　sure。

〃All　the　time　before　now；〃　Marita　said；　〃before　I　could　sleep　all　night　with　you　I've　thought　and　thought　you　wouldn't　like　the　sort　of　wife　who　couldn't　sleep。〃

〃What　sort　of　wife　are　you？〃

〃You'll　see。　A　happy　one　now。


Then　he　felt　it　was　a　long　time　before　he　went　to　sleep　but　really　it　was　not　and　when　he　woke　at　the　first　gray　light　he　saw　Marita　in　the　bed　beside　him　and　was　happy　until　he　remembered　what　had　happened。　He　was　very　careful　not　to　wake　her　but　when　she　stirred　he　kissed　her　before　he　stepped　out　of　bed