gs.earthabides-第42节

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e　stiffness　of　old　age　in　his　legs。　Getting　the　dogs　together　and　making　everything　ready　always　took　some　time。　At　moments　like　these；　Ish　regretted　that　horse…taming　had　e　to　be　a　lost　art。　There　were　no　wild　horses　left　in　the　immediate　vicinity；　but　he　was　sure　that　they　could　find　plenty　of　them　farther　east　in　the　open　plains　country　of　die　San　Joaquin　Valley。　But　the　trouble　really　was　that　all　three　men　had　been　city…people　who　were　used　to　driving　automobiles；　not　one　of　them　really　knew；　anything　about　horse…keeping　or　horse…managing；　and　so　they　had　never　made　the　effort　to　keep　horses。　Actually；　the　dogs　were　in　many　ways　more　convenient　because　they　demanded　little　care；　and　fed　on　the　less　choice　cuts　of　the　many　cattle　which　could　be　killed　easily　in　the　surrounding　country。　But　to　have　horses；　you　would　have　had　to　see　that　they　were　kept　on　good　pasture；　and　protected　from　wolves　and　lions。　So　on　the　whole；　now　that　automobiles　were　difficult　to　keep　running；　the　dog…teams　were　probably　the　simplest　answer　to　their　modest　requirements　for　transportation；　and　George　was　very　happy　to　make　the　little　wagons　and　keep　them　in　repair。　It　had　taken　Ish　years　to　get　over　the　feeling；　when　he　was　driving　in　one　of　the　wagons　behind　four　dogs；　that　he　was　acting　in　some　kind　of　ridiculous　pageant；　and　made　a　ludicrous　spectacle。　But；　of　course；　no　one　else　felt　the　same；　and　he　had　gradually　e　to　accept　the　situation。　After　all；　people　had　thought　it　natural　to　have　dogs　pull　sleds。　Why　not　wagons？　
　　They　left　the　dog…teams　at　the　foot　of　the　final　slope；　and　climbed　up　along　the　old　path；　breaking　their　way　through　thick　blackberry　bushes。　They　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　reservoir；　and　looked　across　its　empty　expanse。　There　was　a　little　skim　of　water　in　two　or　three　low　spots；　but　the　outlet…pipe　stood　up　into　the　air。　They　took　a　long　look；　and　it　was　Ezra　who　spoke　at　last：　
　　〃That's　that！〃　
　　They　discussed　the　possibilities　a　little；　but　without　much　interest　or　conviction。　They　were　already　half　way　through　the　rainy　season；　so　that　there　was　little　possibility　that　rainfall　would　put　water　into　the　reservoir　again。　They　went　down　the　path；　picked　up　the　dog…teams；　and　started　home。　
　　As　they　neared　the　houses；　the　dogs　began　to　bark；　and　the　house…dogs　barked　back　at　them。　Everyone　had　time　to　assemble　at　Ish's　house　to　hear　the　news。　When　they　had　heard　it；　the　older　people　looked　so　glum　that　the　children　caught　the　infection；　and　one　little　fellow；　who　was　probably　too　young　to　understand　anything　actually；　began　to　cry。　In　the　babble　of　conversation　it　soon　became　evident　that　no　one　was　much　worried　about　actual　thirst；　but　that　the　women　were　greatly　concerned　that　the　toilets　would　no　longer　work。　They　did　not　mind　this　one　day；　but　it　was　the　thought　that　they　would　never　work　again！　It　seemed　that　all　life　had　taken　a　step　backward。　
　　Only　Maurine　accepted　the　situation　philosophically。　〃I　growed　up　my　first　eighteen　years　on　the　old　farm　in　South　Dakota；〃　she　said。　〃I　run　out　to　the　outhouse；　all　kinds　of　weather；　and　I　never　seen　a　flusher　except　maybe　when　we　was　in　town　on　Saturdays。　That　was　one　of　the　things　I　liked　best　when　pappy　piled　us　into　the　old　Chevy　and　we　went　to　California。　But　I　always　felt　it　wouldn't　last；　and　I'd　end　up；　a…runnin'　out　in　all　weathers；　way　I　began。　Rushers　was　nice。　But　it's　all　over　now；　and　I　say；　'Thank　the　good　Lord　the　weather　ain't　so　cold　here　as　in　South　Dakota。'〃　
　　The　older　men　were　more　concerned　with　the　problem　of　drinking…water。　At　first；　like　the　confirmed　city…dwellers　that　they　had　been；　they　thought　in　terms　of　finding　where　supplies　of　bottled　water　had　been　left　in　the　stores　and　warehouses。　But　soon　they　saw　that　even　in　the　approaching　dry　season；　there　could　be　no　real　lack　of　water。　In　spite　of　the　long　rainless　summer；　the　area　was　not　a　desert；　and　the　little　streams　in　the　gullies；　though　no　one　had　ever　paid　much　attention　to　them；　must　actually　be　supplying　the　water　for　all　the　cattle　and　the　other　animals　which　wandered　in　the　region。　
　　Just　at　this　point；　a　distinction　between　the　older　generation　and　the　younger　began　to　show　itself。　Ish；　in　spite　of　having　been　a　geographer；　could　not　have　told　off…hand　where　there　was　a　single　spring　or　dependable　stream　in　the　neighborhood；　although　he　could　still　locate　positions　by　names　of　streets　and　intersections。　The　youngsters；　on　the　other　hand；　could　quickly　tell　him　where　there　was　a　stream　of　running　water　at　this　season　of　the　year；　or　where　there　would　be　pools　of　water；　or　where　there　were　springs。　They　could　not　locate　these　places　by　reference　to　streets；　but　they　could　tell　in　general　where　they　were；　and　could　go　to　them　without　hesitation。　Ish　suddenly　found　himself　being　instructed　by　his　own　son　Walt；　who　assured　him　that　at　this　season　of　year　there　would　be　running　water　in　a　little　gully　which　Ish　had　scarcely　ever　noticed　because　it　flowed　through　under　San　Lupo　Drive　by　means　of　a　storm　drain。　
　　Before　long；　the　original　consternation　changed　to　a　kind　of　warm　excitement。　Some　of　the　youngsters　were　sent　off　with　the　dog…teams　and　some　five…gallon　cans　to　bring　back　water　from　the　nearest　spring。　The　older　ones　began　to　dig　holes　vigorously；　and　to　set　up　outhouses。　
　　The　enthusiasm　lasted　for　several　hours；　and　resulted　in　a　noticeable　amount　of　work。　Steady　pick…and…shovel　labor；　however；　was　something　to　which　no　one　was　accustomed；　and　by　noon　there　was　widespread　plaint　about　blisters　and　weariness。　When　they　separated　for　lunch；　Ish　suddenly　became　aware　that　no　one　was　ing　back　for　work。　It　was　amazing　how　many　important　matters　seemed　to　be　planned　for　that　afternoon…such　as　going　fishing；　and　wiping　out　an　ugly…acting　bull　who　might　prove　dangerous；　and　shooting　a　mess　of　quail　for　dinner。　Besides；　by　now　the　enthusiastic　youngsters　had　brought　in　a　supply　of　water　which　was　plentiful　for　all　immediate　needs　of　drinking　and　cooking。　The　difference　between　having　a　small　water…supply　and　no　water　at　all　was　tremendous；　psychologically。　A　five…gallon　can　sitting　in　the　kitchen…sink　took　away　all　sense　of　strain。　
　　After　lunch　Ish　again　relaxed　with　a　cigarette。　He　was　not　going　to　go　out　and　dig　by　himself。　As　the　story…books　told　things；　this　would　have　been　setting　a　noble　example。　Practically；　it　would　make　him　look　ridiculous。　
　　Little　Joey　came；　and　stood　nervously　for　a　moment　on　his　left　foot　with　his　right　leg　bent　at　the　knee；　and　then　reversed。　〃What's　the　matter；　Joey？〃　said　Ish。　
　　〃Don't　we　want　to　go　out　and　work　some　more？〃　
　　〃No；　Joey。　Not　this　afternoon。〃　
　　Joey　continued　balancing；　letting　his　gaze　wander　around　the　room　and　then　e　back　to　his　father。　
　　〃Go　along；　Joey；〃　said　Ish　gently。　〃Everything's　fine！　We'll　have　the　lesson　at　the　regular　time。〃　
　　Joey　went　off；　but　Ish　was　touched；　even　if　a　little　humiliated；　by　the　wordless　sympathy　which　his　youngest　son　was　offering。　Joey　scarcely　could　understand　the　larger　issues；　but　his　quick　mind　had　sensed　that　his　father　was　unhappy；　even　though　there　had　been　no　argument　between　him　and　the　others。　Yes；　Joey　was　the　one！　
　　Since　that　idea　had　first　e　to　Ish　on　New　Years　Day；　he　had　been　pressing　the　lessons；　and　Joey　had　been　absorbing　them　eagerly。　There　was　even　danger　that　he　might　turn　out　to　be　a　learned　pedant。　He　showed　little　ability　at　leadership　among　the　other　children；　and　sometimes　Ish　had　begun　to　doubt。　
　　This　small　incident　just　now；　for　instance！　It　might　show　intelligence　and　thought　for　the　future；　and　it　might　show　a　tendency　to　escape　from　contacts　with　those　of　his　own　age；　who　were　better　at　games　than　he；　and　to　seek　security　in　the　presence　of　his　father；　by　whom　he　felt　himself　appreciated。　Ish　hoped　that　the　other　children　did　not　feel　how　strongly　Joey　had　bee　his　favorite。　It　was　not　right　for　a　father　to　play　favorites；　but　this　situation　had　arisen　suddenly　and　involuntarily；　that　New　Years　Day。　
　　〃Oh；〃　he　thought；　〃don't　worry　about　it！〃　And　suddenly　he　felt　as　if　he　were　explaining　it　all　to　Em。　〃There　on　New　Years　Day；　I　was　suddenly　sure　that　Joey　was　the　Chosen　One。　Now　of　course　it's　all　blurred。　Maybe　this　is　only　the　feeling　a　father　gets　for　a　small　son。　Later　we　may　squabble；　just　the　way　I　do　with　Walt　now。　Yet；　I　hope！　The　other　boys　were　never　like　this…bright；　I　mean；　lightning…quick　at　lessons。　I　don't　know。　I　wish　I　knew。　I'll　keep　on　trying。〃　
　　Then；　as　he　lit　another　cigarette；　he　was　suddenly　angry。　He　himself　had　not　been　so　very　bright！　He　had　missed　the　opportunity。　During　the　years　he　had　been　saying；　〃Something　is　going　to　happen！〃　It　had　not　happened；　and　they　had　smiled　at　him　for　a　gloomy　and　not…to…be…regarded　prophet。　Now　this　morning　it　had　happened！　It　had　been　a　shock！　He　could　remember　the　scared　faces　when　he　and　Ezra　and　George　had　first　e　back　with　the　news。　Then　was　the　time　to　have　made　his　I…told…you…so　speech。　He　should　have　rubbed　it　in。　He　should　have　painted　the　future　with　disaster。　That　might　have　got　something　done。　
　　As　it　was…perhaps　he　himself　had　been　a　little　scared　at　the　moment…everyone　had　made　as　light　as　possible　of　the　matter；　searched　for　the