when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第37节
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had had far more than his share of the hard； gruelling fightsthe kind that
worked the heart and lungs to bursting； that took the elastic out of the
arteries and made hard knots of muscle out of Youth's sleek suppleness；
that wore out nerve and stamina and made brain and bones weary from
excess of effort and endurance overwrought。 Yes； he had done better
than all of them。 There were none of his old fighting partners left。 He
was the last of the old guard。 He had seen them all finished； and he had
had a hand in finishing some of them。
They had tried him out against the old uns； and one after another he
had put them awaylaughing when； like old Stowsher Bill； they cried in
the dressing…room。 And now he was an old un； and they tried out the
youngsters on him。 There was that bloke； Sandel。 He had come over
from New Zealand with a record behind him。 But nobody in Australia
knew anything about him； so they put him up against old Tom King。 If
Sandel made a showing； he would be given better men to fight； with
bigger purses to win； so it was to be depended upon that he would put up a
fierce battle。 He had everything to win by itmoney and glory and
career； and Tom King was the grizzled old chopping…block that guarded
the highway to fame and fortune。 And he had nothing to win except
thirty quid； to pay to the landlord and the tradesmen。 And； as Tom King
thus ruminated； there came to his stolid vision the form of Youth； glorious
Youth； rising exultant and invincible； supple of muscle and silken of skin；
with heart and lungs that had never been tired and torn and that laughed at
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limitation of effort。 Yes； Youth was the Nemesis。 It destroyed the old
uns and recked not that； in so doing； it destroyed itself。 It enlarged its
arteries and smashed its knuckles； and was in turn destroyed by Youth。
For Youth was ever youthful。 It was only Age that grew old。
At Castlereagh Street he turned to the left； and three blocks along
came to the Gayety。 A crowd of young larrikins hanging outside the door
made respectful way for him； and he heard one say to another： 〃That's
'im！ That's Tom King！〃
Inside； on the way to his dressing…room； he encountered the secretary；
a keen…eyed； shrewd…faced young man； who shook his hand。
〃How are you feelin'； Tom？〃 he asked。
〃Fit as a fiddle；〃 King answered； though he knew that he lied； and that
if he had a quid； he would give it right there for a good piece of steak。
When he emerged from the dressing…room； his seconds behind him；
and came down the aisle to the squared ring in the centre of the hall； a
burst of greeting and applause went up from the waiting crowd。 He
acknowledged salutations right and left； though few of the faces did he
know。 Most of them were the faces of kiddies unborn when he was
winning his first laurels in the squared ring。 He leaped lightly to the
raised platform and ducked through the ropes to his corner； where he sat
down on a folding stool。 Jack Ball； the referee； came over and shook his
hand。 Ball was a broken… down pugilist who for over ten years had not
entered the ring as a principal。 King was glad that he had him for referee。
They were both old uns。 If he should rough it with Sandel a bit beyond
the rules； he knew Ball could be depended upon to pass it by。
Aspiring young heavyweights； one after another； were climbing into
the ring and being presented to the audience by the referee。 Also； he
issued their challenges for them。
〃Young Pronto；〃 Bill announced； 〃from North Sydney； challenges the
winner for fifty pounds side bet。〃
The audience applauded； and applauded again as Sandel himself
sprang through the ropes and sat down in his corner。 Tom King looked
across the ring at him curiously； for in a few minutes they would be locked
together in merciless combat； each trying with all the force of him to
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
knock the other into unconsciousness。 But little could he see； for Sandel；
like himself； had trousers and sweater on over his ring costume。 His face
was strongly handsome； crowned with a curly mop of yellow hair； while
his thick； muscular neck hinted at bodily magnificence。
Young Pronto went to one corner and then the other； shaking hands
with the principals and dropping down out of the ring。 The challenges
went on。 Ever Youth climbed through the ropesYouth unknown； but
insatiablecrying out to mankind that with strength and skill it would
match issues with the winner。 A few years before； in his own heyday of
invincibleness； Tom King would have been amused and bored by these
preliminaries。 But now he sat fascinated； unable to shake the vision of
Youth from his eyes。 Always were these youngsters rising up in the
boxing game； springing through the ropes and shouting their defiance； and
always were the old uns going down before them。 They climbed to
success over the bodies of the old uns。 And ever they came； more and
more youngstersYouth unquenchable and irresistible and ever they put
the old uns away； themselves becoming old uns and travelling the same
downward path； while behind them； ever pressing on them； was Youth
eternalthe new babies； grown lusty and dragging their elders down； with
behind them more babies to the end of timeYouth that must have its will
and that will never die。
King glanced over to the press box and nodded to Morgan； of the
Sportsman； and Corbett； of the Referee。 Then he held out his hands；
while Sid Sullivan and Charley Bates； his seconds； slipped on his gloves
and laced them tight； closely watched by one of Sandel's seconds； who
first examined critically the tapes on King's knuckles。 A second of his
own was in Sandel's corner； performing a like office。 Sandel's trousers
were pulled off； and； as he stood up； his sweater was skinned off over his
head。 And Tom King； looking； saw Youth incarnate； deep…chested；
heavy…thewed； with muscles that slipped and slid like live things under the
white satin skin。 The whole body was a…crawl with life； and Tom King
knew that it was a life that had never oozed its freshness out through the
aching pores during the long fights wherein Youth paid its toll and
departed not quite so young as when it entered。
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The two men advanced to meet each other； and； as the gong sounded
and the seconds clattered out of the ring with the folding stools； they
shook hands and instantly took their fighting attitudes。 And instantly；
like a mechanism of steel and springs balanced on a hair trigger； Sandel
was in and out and in again； landing a left to the eyes； a right to the ribs；
ducking a counter； dancing lightly away and dancing menacingly back
again。 He was swift and clever。 It was a dazzling exhibition。 The house
yelled its approbation。 But King was not dazzled。 He had fought too
many fights and too many youngsters。 He knew the blows for what they
weretoo quick and too deft to be dangerous。 Evidently Sandel was
going to rush things from the start。 It was to be expected。 It was the
way of Youth； expending its splendour and excellence in wild insurgence
and furious onslaught； overwhelming opposition with its own unlimited
glory of strength and desire。
Sandel was in
