the hungry stones and other stories-第8节
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d such a prejudice against him； occupied him day and night。 A kind of physical love like that of animals； a longing to be in the presence of the one who is loved； an inexpressible wistfulness during absence； a silent cry of the inmost heart for the mother； like the lowing of a calf in the twilight；…this love； which was almost an animal instinct； agitated the shy； nervous； lean； uncouth and ugly boy。 No one could understand it； but it preyed upon his mind continually。
There was no more backward boy in the whole school than Phatik。 He gaped and remained silent when the teacher asked him a question； and like an overladen ass patiently suffered all the blows that came down on his back。 When other boys were out at play； he stood wistfully by the window and gazed at the roofs of the distant houses。 And if by chance he espied children playing on the open terrace of any roof； his heart would ache with longing。
One day he summoned up all his courage； and asked his uncle： 〃Uncle； when can I go home？〃
His uncle answered； 〃Wait till the holidays come。〃But the holidays would not come till November； and there was a long time still to wait。
One day Phatik lost his lesson…book。 Even with the help of books he had found it very difficult indeed to prepare his lesson。 Now it was impossible。 Day after day the teacher would cane him unmercifully。 His condition became so abjectly miserable that even his cousins were ashamed to own him。 They began to jeer and insult him more than the other boys。 He went to his aunt at last； and told her that he bad lost his book。
His aunt pursed her lips in contempt； and said： 〃You great clumsy； country lout。 How can I afford； with all my family； to buy you new books five times a month？〃
That night； on his way back from school； Phatik had a bad headache with a fit of shivering。 He felt he was going to have an attack of malarial fever。 His one great fear was that he would be a nuisance to his aunt。
The next morning Phatik was nowhere to be seen。 All searches in the neighbourhood proved futile。 The rain had been pouring in torrents all night； and those who went out in search of the boy got drenched through to the skin。 At last Bisbamber asked help from the police。
At the end of the day a police van stopped at the door before the house。 It was still raining and the streets were all flooded。 Two constables brought out Phatik in their arms and placed him before Bishamber。 He was wet through from head to foot； muddy all over； his face and eyes flushed red with fever； and his limbs all trembling。 Bishamber carried him in his arms； and took him into the inner apartments。 When his wife saw him； she exclaimed； 〃What a heap of trouble this boy has given us。 Hadn't you better send him home ？〃
Phatik heard her words； and sobbed out loud： 〃Uncle； I was just going home； but they dragged me back again；〃
The fever rose very high； and all that night the boy was delirious。 Bishamber brought in a doctor。 Phatik opened his eyes flushed with fever； and looked up to the ceiling； and said vacantly： 〃Uncle； have the holidays come yet？ May I go home？〃
Bishamber wiped the tears from his own eyes； and took Phatik's lean and burning hands in his own； and sat by him through the night。 The boy began again to mutter。 At last his voice became excited： 〃Mother；〃 he cried； 〃don't beat me like that！ Mother！ I am telling the truth！〃
The next day Phatik became conscious for a short time。 He turned his eyes about the room； as if expecting some one to come。 At last； with an air of disappointment； his head sank back on the pillow。 He turned his face to the wall with a deep sigh。
Bishamber knew his thoughts； and； bending down his head； whispered： 〃Phatik； I have sent for your mother。〃 The day went by。 The doctor said in a troubled voice that the boy's condition was very critical。
Phatik began to cry out； 〃By the mark！ three fathoms。 By the mark four fathoms。 By the mark…。〃 He had heard the sailor on the river… steamer calling out the mark on the plumb…line。 Now he was himself plumbing an unfathomable sea。
Later in the day Phatik's mother burst into the room like a whirlwind； and began to toss from side to side and moan and cry in a loud voice。
Bishamber tried to calm her agitation； but she flung herself on the bed； and cried： 〃Phatik； my darling； my darling。〃
Phatik stopped his restless movements for a moment。 His hands ceased beating up and down。 He said： 〃Eh？〃
The mother cried again： 〃Phatik； my darling； my darling。〃
Phatik very slowly turned his head and； without seeing anybody； said： 〃Mother； the holidays have come。〃
MY LORD； THE BABY
I
Raicharan was twelve years old when he came as a servant to his master's house。 He belonged to the same caste as his master； and was given his master's little son to nurse。 As time went on the boy left Raicharan's arms to go to school。 From school he went on to college； and after college he entered the judicial service。 Always； until he married； Raicharan was his sole attendant。
But； when a mistress came into the house； Raicharan found two masters instead of one。 All his former influence passed to the new mistress。 This was compensated for by a fresh arrival。 Anukul had a son born to him； and Raicharan by his unsparing attentions soon got a complete hold over the child。 He used to toss him up in his arms； call to him in absurd baby language； put his face close to the baby's and draw it away again with a grin。
Presently the child was able to crawl and cross the doorway。 When Raicharan went to catch him； he would scream with mischievous laughter and make for safety。 Raicharan was amazed at the profound skill and exact judgment the baby showed when pursued。 He would say to his mistress with a look of awe and mystery： 〃Your son will be a judge some day。〃
New wonders came in their turn。 When the baby began to toddle； that was to Raicharan an epoch in human history。 When he called his father Ba…ba and his mother Ma…ma and Raicharan Chan…na； then Raicharan's ecstasy knew no bounds。 He went out to tell the news to all the world。
After a while Raicharan was asked to show his ingenuity in other ways。 He had； for instance； to play the part of a horse； holding the reins between his teeth and prancing with his feet。 He had also to wrestle with his little charge； and if he could not； by a wrestler's trick； fall on his back defeated at the end； a great outcry was certain。
About this time Anukul was transferred to a district on the banks of the Padma。 On his way through Calcutta he bought his son a little go…cart。 He bought him also a yellow satin waistcoat； a gold…laced cap； and some gold bracelets and anklets。 Raicharan was wont to take these out； and put them on his little charge with ceremonial pride； whenever they went for a walk。
Then came the rainy season； and day after day the rain poured down in torrents。 The hungry river； like an enormous serpent； swallowed down terraces； villages； cornfields； and covered with its flood the tall grasses and wild casuarinas on the sand…banks。 From time to time there was a deep thud； as the river…banks crumbled。 The unceasing roar of the rain current could be beard from far away。 Masses of foam； carried swiftly past； proved to the eye the swiftness of the stream。
One afternoon the rain cleared。 It was cloudy； but cool and bright。 Raicharan's little despot did not want to stay in on such a fine afternoon。 His lordship climbed into the go…cart。 Raicharan； between the shafts； dragged him slowly along till he reached the rice…fields on the banks of the river。 There was no one in the fields； and no boat on the stream。 Across the water； on the farther side； the clouds were rifted in the west。 The silent ceremonial of the setting sun was revealed in all its glowing splendour。 In the midst of that stillness the child； all of a sudden； pointed with his finger in front of him and cried： 〃Chan…nal Pitty fow。〃
Close by on a mud…flat stood a large Kadamba tree in full flower。 My lord； the baby； looked at it with greedy eyes； and Raicharan knew his meaning。 Only a short time before he had made； out of these very flower balls； a small go…cart； and the child had been so entirely happy dragging it about with a string； that for the whole day Raicharan was not made to put on the reins at all。 He was promoted from a horse into a groom。
But Raicharan had no wish that evening to go splashing knee…deep through the mud to reach the flowers。 So he quickly pointed his finger in the opposite direction； calling out： 〃Oh； look； baby； look！ Look at the bird。〃 And with all sorts of curious noises he pushed the go…cart rapidly away from the tree。
But a child； destined to be a judge； cannot be put off so easily。 And besides； there was at the time nothing to attract his eyes。 And you cannot keep up for ever the pretence of an imaginary bird。
The little Master's mind was made up； and Raicharan was at his wits' end。 〃Very well； baby；〃 he said at last； 〃you sit still in the cart； and I'll go and get you the pretty flower。 Only mind you don't go near the water。〃
As he said this； he made his legs bare to the knee； and waded through the oozing
