the faith of men(人们的信任)-第32节
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blanket the earth from the cold of outer space。 That was all。 Nothing
happened。 No storms； no churning waters and threshing forests； nothing
but the machine…like precipitation of accumulated moisture。 Possibly the
most notable thing that occurred through the weary weeks was the gliding
of the temperature up to the unprecedented height of fifteen below。 To
atone for this； outer space smote the earth with its cold till the mercury
froze and the spirit thermometer remained more than seventy below for a
fortnight； when it burst。 There was no telling how much colder it was
after that。 Another occurrence； monotonous in its regularity； was the
lengthening of the nights； till day became a mere blink of light between
the darkness。
Neil Bonner was a social animal。 The very follies for which he was
doing penance had been bred of his excessive sociability。 And here； in
the fourth year of his exile； he found himself in company… …which were to
travesty the wordwith a morose and speechless creature in whose sombre
eyes smouldered a hatred as bitter as it was unwarranted。 And Bonner； to
whom speech and fellowship were as the breath of life； went about as a
ghost might go； tantalized by the gregarious revelries of some former life。
In the day his lips were compressed； his face stern； but in the night he
clenched his hands； rolled about in his blankets； and cried aloud like a
little child。 And he would remember a certain man in authority and curse
him through the long hours。 Also； he cursed God。 But God understands。
He cannot find it in his heart to blame weak mortals who blaspheme in
Alaska。
And here； to the post of Twenty Mile； came Jees Uck； to trade for flour
and bacon； and beads； and bright scarlet cloths for her fancy work。 And
further； and unwittingly； she came to the post of Twenty Mile to make a
lonely man more lonely； make him reach out empty arms in his sleep。
For Neil Bonner was only a man。 When she first came into the store； he
looked at her long； as a thirsty man may look at a flowing well。 And she；
with the heritage bequeathed her by Spike O'Brien； imagined daringly and
smiled up into his eyes； not as the swart…skinned peoples should smile at
the royal races； but as a woman smiles at a man。 The thing was
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inevitable； only； he did not see it； and fought against her as fiercely and
passionately as he was drawn towards her。 And she？ She was Jees Uck；
by upbringing wholly and utterly a Toyaat Indian woman。
She came often to the post to trade。 And often she sat by the big
wood stove and chatted in broken English with Neil Bonner。 And he
came to look for her coming； and on the days she did not come he was
worried and restless。 Sometimes he stopped to think； and then she was
met coldly； with a resolve that perplexed and piqued her； and which； she
was convinced； was not sincere。 But more often he did not dare to think；
and then all went well and there were smiles and laughter。 And Amos
Pentley； gasping like a stranded catfish； his hollow cough a…reek with the
grave； looked upon it all and grinned。 He； who loved life； could not live；
and it rankled his soul that others should be able to live。 Wherefore he
hated Bonner； who was so very much alive and into whose eyes sprang joy
at the sight of Jees Uck。 As for Amos； the very thought of the girl was
sufficient to send his blood pounding up into a hemorrhage。
Jees Uck； whose mind was simple； who thought elementally and was
unused to weighing life in its subtler quantities； read Amos Pentley like a
book。 She warned Bonner； openly and bluntly； in few words； but the
complexities of higher existence confused the situation to him； and he
laughed at her evident anxiety。 To him； Amos was a poor； miserable
devil； tottering desperately into the grave。 And Bonner； who had suffered
much； found it easy to forgive greatly。
But one morning； during a bitter snap； he got up from the breakfast…
table and went into the store。 Jees Uck was already there； rosy from the
trail； to buy a sack of flour。 A few minutes later； he was out in the snow
lashing the flour on her sled。 As he bent over he noticed a stiffness in his
neck and felt a premonition of impending physical misfortune。 And as he
put the last half… hitch into the lashing and attempted to straighten up； a
quick spasm seized him and he sank into the snow。 Tense and quivering；
head jerked back； limbs extended； back arched and mouth twisted and
distorted； he appeared as though being racked limb from limb。 Without cry
or sound； Jees Uck was in the snow beside him； but he clutched both her
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wrists spasmodically； and as long as the convulsion endured she was
helpless。 In a few moments the spasm relaxed and he was left weak and
fainting； his forehead beaded with sweat； and his lips flecked with foam。
〃Quick！〃 he muttered； in a strange； hoarse voice。 〃Quick！ Inside！〃
He started to crawl on hands and knees； but she raised him up； and；
supported by her young arm； he made faster progress。 As he entered the
store the spasm seized him again； and his body writhed irresistibly away
from her and rolled and curled on the floor。 Amos Pentley came and
looked on with curious eyes。
〃Oh； Amos！〃 she cried in an agony of apprehension and helplessness；
〃him die； you think？〃 But Amos shrugged his shoulders and continued to
look on。
Bonner's body went slack； the tense muscles easing down and an
expression of relief coming into his face。 〃Quick！〃 he gritted between
his teeth； his mouth twisting with the on…coming of the next spasm and
with his effort to control it。 〃Quick； Jees Uck！ The medicine！ Never
mind！ Drag me！〃
She knew where the medicine…chest stood； at the rear of the room
beyond the stove； and thither； by the legs； she dragged the struggling man。
As the spasm passed he began； very faint and very sick； to overhaul the
chest。 He had seen dogs die exhibiting symptoms similar to his own； and
he knew what should be done。 He held up a vial of chloral hydrate； but
his fingers were too weak and nerveless to draw the cork。 This Jees Uck
did for him； while he was plunged into another convulsion。 As he came
out of it he found the open bottle proffered him； and looked into the great
black eyes of the woman and read what men have always read in the
Mate…woman's eyes。 Taking a full dose of the stuff； he sank back until
another spasm had passed。 Then he raised himself limply on his elbow。
〃Listen； Jees Uck！〃 he said very slowly； as though aware of the
necessity for haste and yet afraid to hasten。 〃Do what I say。 Stay by my
side； but do not touch me。 I must be very quiet； but you must not go
away。〃 His jaw began to set and his face to quiver and distort with the
fore…running pangs； but he gulped and struggled to master them。 〃Do not
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got away。 And do not let Amos go away。 Understand！ Amos must
stay right here。〃
She nodded her head； and he passed off into the first of many
convulsions； which gradually diminished in force and frequency。 Jees Uck
hung over him remembering his injunction and not daring to touch him。
Once Amos grew restless and made as though to go into the kitchen； but a
quick blaze from her eyes quelled him； and after that； save for his laboured
breathing and charnel cough； he was very quiet。
Bonner slept。 The blink of light that marked the day disappeared。
Amos； fol
