when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第31节
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muttered one to another。
But the four boys cried out against the injustice of it。
〃Our lives is just as dear to us as the rest iv yez；〃 O'Brien protested。
〃An' our famblies； too。 As for wives an' childer； who is there savin'
meself to care for me old mother that's a widow； as you know well；
Michael Behane； that comes from Limerick？ 'Tis not fair。 Let the lots
be drawn between all of us； men and b'ys。〃
Mahoney was the only man who spoke in favour of the boys； declaring
that it was the fair thing for all to share alike。 Sullivan and the captain
insisted on the drawing of lots being confined to the boys。 There were
high words； in the midst of which Sullivan turned upon O'Brien； snarling
〃'Twould be a good deed to put you out of the way。 You deserve it。
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'Twould be the right way to serve you； an' serve you we will。〃
He started toward O'Brien； with intent to lay hands on him and
proceed at once with the killing； while several others likewise shuffled
toward him and reached for him。 He stumbled backwards to escape them；
at the same time crying that he would submit to the drawing of the lots
among the boys。
The captain prepared four sticks of different lengths and handed them
to Sullivan。
〃You're thinkin' the drawin'll not be fair；〃 the latter sneered to O'Brien。
〃So it's yerself'll do the drawin'。〃
To this O'Brien agreed。 A handkerchief was tied over his eyes；
blindfolding him； and he knelt down on the deck with his back to Sullivan。
〃Whoever you name for the shortest stick'll die；〃 the captain said。
Sullivan held up one of the sticks。 The rest were concealed in his
hand so that no one could see whether it was the short stick or not。
〃An' whose stick will it be？〃 Sullivan demanded。
〃For little Johnny Sheehan；〃 O'Brien answered。
Sullivan laid the stick aside。 Those who looked could not tell if it
were the fatal one。 Sullivan held up another stick。
〃Whose will it be？〃
〃For George Burns；〃 was the reply。
The stick was laid with the first one； and a third held up。
〃An' whose is this wan？〃
〃For myself；〃 said O'Brien。
With a quick movement； Sullivan threw the four sticks together。 No
one had seen。
〃'Tis for yourself ye've drawn it；〃 Sullivan announced。
〃A good deed；〃 several of the men muttered。
O'Brien was very quiet。 He arose to his feet； took the bandage off；
and looked around。
〃Where is ut？〃 he demanded。 〃The short stick？ The wan for me？〃
The captain pointed to the four sticks lying on the deck。
〃How do you know the stick was mine？〃 O'Brien questioned。 〃Did
you see ut； Johnny Sheehan？〃
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Johnny Sheehan； who was the youngest of the boys； did not answer。
〃Did you see ut？〃 O'Brien next asked Mahoney。
〃No； I didn't see ut。〃
The men were muttering and growling。
〃'Twas a fair drawin'；〃 Sullivan said。 〃Ye had yer chanct an' ye lost；
that's all iv ut。〃
〃A fair drawin'；〃 the captain added。 〃Didn't I behold it myself？ The
stick was yours； O'Brien； an' ye may as well get ready。 Where's the cook？
Gorman； come here。 Fetch the tureen cover； some of ye。 Gorman； do
your duty like a man。〃
〃But how'll I do it；〃 the cook demanded。 He was a weak…eyed； weak…
chinned； indecisive man。
〃'Tis a damned murder！〃 O'Brien cried out。
〃I'll have none of ut；〃 Mahoney announced。 〃Not a bite shall pass me
lips。〃
〃Then 'tis yer share for better men than yerself；〃 Sullivan sneered。
〃Go on with yer duty； cook。〃
〃'Tis not me duty； the killin' of b'ys；〃 Gorman protested irresolutely。
〃If yez don't make mate for us； we'll be makin' mate of yerself；〃
Behane threatened。 〃Somebody must die； an' as well you as another。〃
Johnny Sheehan began to cry。 O'Brien listened anxiously。 His face
was pale。 His lips trembled； and at times his whole body shook。
〃I signed on as cook；〃 Gorman enounced。 〃An' cook I wud if galley
there was。 But I'll not lay me hand to murder。 'Tis not in the articles。
I'm the cook〃
〃An' cook ye'll be for wan minute more only；〃 Sullivan said grimly； at
the same moment gripping the cook's head from behind and bending it
back till the windpipe and jugular were stretched taut。 〃Where's yer knife；
Mike？ Pass it along。〃
At the touch of the steel； Gorman whimpered。
〃I'll do ut； if yez'll hold the b'y。〃
The pitiable condition of the cook seemed in some fashion to nerve up
O'Brien。
〃It's all right； Gorman；〃 he said。 〃Go on with ut。 'Tis meself knows
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yer not wantin' to do ut。 It's all right； sir〃this to the captain； who had
laid a hand heavily on his arm。 〃Ye won't have to hold me； sir。 I'll stand
still。〃
〃Stop yer blitherin'； an' go an' get the tureen cover；〃 Behane
commanded Johnny Sheehan； at the same time dealing him a heavy cuff
alongside the head。
The boy； who was scarcely more than a child； fetched the cover。 He
crawled and tottered along the deck； so weak was he from hunger。 The
tears still ran down his cheeks。 Behane took the cover from him； at the
same time administering another cuff。
O'Brien took off his coat and bared his right arm。 His under lip still
trembled； but he held a tight grip on himself。 The captain's penknife was
opened and passed to Gorman。
〃Mahoney； tell me mother what happened to me； if ever ye get back；〃
O'Brien requested。
Mahoney nodded。
〃'Tis black murder； black an' damned；〃 he said。 〃The b'y's flesh'll do
none iv yez anny good。 Mark me words。 Ye'll not profit by it； none iv
yez。〃
〃Get ready；〃 the captain ordered。 〃You； Sullivan； hold the cover
that's itclose up。 Spill nothing。 It's precious stuff。〃
Gorman made an effort。 The knife was dull。 He was weak。
Besides； his hand was shaking so violently that he nearly dropped the
knife。 The three boys were crouched apart； in a huddle； crying and
sobbing。 With the exception of Mahoney； the men were gathered about
the victim； craning their necks to see。
〃Be a man； Gorman；〃 the captain cautioned。
The wretched cook was seized with a spasm of resolution； sawing
back and forth with the blade on O'Brien's wrist。 The veins were severed。
Sullivan held the tureen cover close underneath。 The cut veins gaped
wide； but no ruddy flood gushed forth。 There was no blood at all。 The
veins were dry and empty。 No one spoke。 The grim and silent figures
swayed in unison with each heave of the ship。 Every eye was turned
fixedly upon that inconceivable and monstrous thing； the dry veins of a
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creature that was alive。
〃'Tis a warnin'；〃 Mahoney cried。 〃Lave the b'y alone。 Mark me
words。 His death'll do none iv yez anny good。〃
〃Try at the elbowthe left elbow； 'tis nearer the heart；〃 the captain said
finally； in a dim and husky voice that was unlike his own。
〃Give me the knife；〃 O'Brien said roughly； taking it out of the cook's
hand。 〃I can't be lookin' at ye puttin' me to hurt。〃
Quite coolly he cut the vein at the left elbow； but； like the cook； he
failed to bring blood。
〃This is all iv no use；〃 Sullivan said。 〃'Tis better to put him out iv his
misery by bleedin' him at the throat。〃
The strain had been too much for the lad。
〃Don't be doin' ut；〃 he cried。 〃There'll be no blood
