carson mccullers - the heart is a lonely hunter-第60节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


me　into　trouble。
'
Trouble！'　Jake　said　rudely。　〃What　in　the　name　of　Christ　do　you
think　you're　in　now？
'
'Less　us　quiet　down；'　Portia　said　nervously。　〃This　here　the　way
it　is；　Mr。　Blount。　They　done　let　Willie　off　at　the　camp　before
his　time　were　served。　But　they　done　also　impressed　it　on　him
not　to—I　believe　you　understand　what　us　means。　Naturally
Willie　he　scared。　Naturally　us　means　to


249
be　careful—'cause　that　the　best　thing　us　can　do。　We　already
got　enough　trouble　as　is。
'
'What　happened　to　the　guards？
'
Them　w…white　men　were　fired。　That　what　they　told　me。
'
'And　where　are　your　friends　now？
'
〃What　friends？
'


。Why；　the　other　two　boys。'　
They　n…not　my　friends；'　Willie　said。　'Us　all　has　had　a　big　
falling　out'　
'How　you　mean？'　
Portia　pulled　her　earrings　so　that　the　lobes　of　her　ears　
stretched　out　like　rubber。　〃This　here　what　Willie　means。　You　
see；　during　them　three　days　when　they　hurt　so　bad　they　
commenced　to　quarrel。　Willie　don't　ever　want　to　see　any　of　
them　again。　That　one　thing　Father　and　Willie　done　argued　
about　already。　This　here　Buster'　
〃Buster　got　a　wooden　leg；'　said　the　boy　by　the　window。　1　seen　
him　on　the　street　today。'　
This　here　Buster　don't　have　no　folks　and　it　were　Father's　idea　
to　have　him　move　on　in　with　us。　Father　want　to　round　up　all　
the　boys　together。　How　he　reckons　us　can　feed　them　I　sure　
don't　know。'　
That　ain't　a　good　idea。　And　besides　us　was　never　very　good　
friends　anyway。'　Willie　felt　the　stumps　of　his　legs　with　his　
dark；　strong　hands。　'I　just　wish　I　knowed　where　my　f…f…feets　
are。　That　the　main　thing　worries　me。　The　doctor　never　given　
them　back　to　me。　I　sure　do　wish　I　knowed　where　they　are。'　
Jake　looked　around　him　with　dazed；　gin…clouded　eyes。　
Everything　seemed　unclear　and　strange。　The　heat　in　the　

kitchen　dizzied　him　so　that　voices　echoed　in　his　ears。　The
smoke　choked　him。　The　light　hanging　from　the　ceiling　was
turned　on　but；　as　the　bulb　was　wrapped　in　newspaper　to　dim
its　strength；　most　of　the　light　came　from　between　the　chinks　of
the　hot　stove。　There　was　a　red　glow　on　all　the　dark　faces
around　him。　He　felt　uneasy　and　alone。　Singer　had　left　the
room　to　visit　Portia's　father。　Jake　wanted　him　to　come　back　so
that　they　could　leave。　He　walked　awkwardly　across　the　floor
and　sat　down　on　the　bench　between　Marshall　Nicolls　and　John
Roberts。
'Where　is　Portia's　father？'　he　asked。250


'Doctor　Copeland　is　in　the　front　room；　sir；'　said　Roberts。
'Is　he　a　doctor？
'
〃Yes；　sir。　He　is　a　medical　doctor。
'
There　was　a　scuffle　on　the　steps　outside　and　the　back　door
opened。　A　warm；　fresh　breeze　lightened　the　heavy　air。　First　
a
tall　boy　dressed　hi　a　linen　suit　and　gilded　shoes　entered　the
room　with　a　sack　in　his　arms。　Behind　him　came　a　young　boy
of　about　seventeen。
'Hey；　Highboy。　Hey　there；　Lancy；'　Willie　said。　'What　you　all
brought　me？
'
Highboy　bowed　elaborately　to　Jake　and　placed　on　the　table
two　fruit　jars　of　wine。　Lancy　put　beside　them　a　plate　covered
with　a　fresh　white　napkin。
This　here　wine　is　a　present　from　the　Society；'　Highboy　said。
'And　Lancy's　mother　sent　some　peach　puffs。
'
'How　is　the　Doctor；　Miss　Portia？'　Lancy　asked。


。Honey；　he　been　mighty　sick　these　days。　What　worries　me　is　
he　so　strong。　It　a　bad　sign　when　a　person　sick　as　he　is　
suddenly　come　to　be　so　strong。'　Portia　turned　to　Jake。　'Don't　
you　think　it　a　bad　sign；　Mr。　Blount？'　
Jake　stared　at　her　dazedly。　'I　don't　know。'　
Lancy　glanced　sullenly　at　Jake　and　pulled　down　the　cuffs　of　
his　outgrown　shirt。　'Give　the　Doctor　my　family's　regards。'　
'Us　certainly　do　appreciate　this；'　Portia　said。　〃Father　was　
speaking　of　you　just　the　other　day。　He　haves　a　book　he　wants　
to　give　you。　Wait　just　one　minute　while　I　get　it　and　rinch　out　
this　plate　to　return　to　your　Mother。　This　were　certainly　a　
kindly　thing　for　her　to　do。'　

Marshall　Nicolls　leaned　toward　Jake　and　seemed　about　to　
speak　to　him。　The　old　man　wore　a　pair　of　pin…striped　trousers　
and　a　morning　coat　with　a　flower　in　the　buttonhole。　He　cleared　
his　throat　and　said：　'Pardon　me；　sir—but　unavoidably　we　
overheard　a　part　of　your　conversation　with　William　regarding　
the　trouble　he　is　now　in。　Inevitably　we　have　considered　what　
is　the　best　course　to　take。'　
'You　one　of　his　relatives　or　the　preacher　in　his　church？'　

。No；　I　am　a　pharmacist。　And　John　Roberts　on　your　left　is　
employed　in　the　postal　department　of　the　government。'　
'A　postman；'　repeated　John　Roberts。　
'With　your　permission'　Marshall　Nicolls　took　a　yellow　
silk　handkerchief　from　his　pocket　and　gingerly　blew　
251　
his　nose。　'Naturally　we　have　discussed　this　matter　extensively。　
And　without　doubt　as　members　of　the　colored　race　here　in　this　
free　country　of　America　we　are　anxious　to　do　our　part　toward　
extending　amicable　relationships。'　
We　wish　always　to　do　the　right　thing；'　said　John　Roberts。　
'And　it　behooves　us　to　strive　with　care　and　not　endanger　this　
amicable　relationship　already　established。　Then　by　gradual　
means　a　better　condition　will　come　about。'　
Jake　turned　from　one　to　the　other。　'I　don't　seem　to　follow　you。'　
The　heat　was　suffocating　him。　He　wanted　to　get　out。　A　film　
seemed　to　have　settled　over　his　eyeballs　so　that　all　the　faces　
around　him　were　blurred。　
Across　the　room　Willie　was　playing　his　harp。　Buddy　and　
Highboy　were　listening。　The　music　was　dark　and　sad。　When　
the　song　was　finished　Willie　polished　his　harp　on　the　front　of　
his　shirt。　'I　so　hungry　and　thirsty　the　slobber　in　my　mouth　done　
wet　out　the　tune。　I　certainly　will　be　glad　to　taste　some　of　that　
boogie…woogie。　To　have　something　good　to　drink　is　the　only　
thing　m…made　me　forget　this　misery。　If　I　just　knowed　where　
my　f…feets　are　now　and　could　drink　a　glass　of　gin　ever　night　I　
wouldn't　mind　so　much。'　
'Don't　fret；　Hon。　You　going　to　have　something；'　Portia　said。　
'Mr。　Blount；　would　you　care　to　take　a　peach　puff　and　a　glass　of　
wine？'　
'Thanks；'　Jake　said。　'That　would　be　good。'　


Quickly　Portia　laid　a　cloth　on　the　table　and　set　down　one　plate
and　a　fork。　She　poured　a　large　tumblerful　of　the　wine。　'You
just　make　yourself　comfortable　here。　And　if　you　don't　mind　
I
going　to　serve　the　others。
'
The　fruit　jars　were　passed　from　mouth　to　mouth。　Before
Highboy　passed　a　jar　to　Willie　he　borrowed　Portia's　lipstick
and　drew　a　red　line　to　set　the　boundary　of　the　drink。　There
were　gurgling　noises　and　laughter。　Jake　finished　his　puff　and
carried　his　glass　back　with　him　to　his　place　between　the　two
old　men。　The　home…made　wine　was　rich　and　strong　as　brandy。
Willie　started　a　low　dolorous　tune　on　his　harp。　Portia　snapped
her　fingers　and　shuffled　around　the　room。
Jake　turned　to　Marshall　Nicolls。　*You　say　Portia's　father　is　
a
doctor？
'
〃Yes；　sir。　Yes；　indeed。　A　skilled　doctor。'252


'What's　the　matter　with　him？
'
The　two　Negroes　glanced　warily　at　each　other。
'He　were　in　an　accident；'　said　John　Roberts。
'What　kind　of　an　accident？
'
'A　bad　one。　A　deplorable　one。
'
Marshall　Nicolls　folded　and　unfolded　his　silk　handkerchief。
'As　we　were　remarking　a　while　ago；　it　is　important　not　to
impair　these　amicable　relations　but　to　promote　them　in　all
ways　earnestly　possible。　We　members　of　the　colored　race
must　strive　in　all　ways　to　uplift　our　citizens。　The　Doctor　in
yonder　has　strived　in　every　way。　But　sometimes　it　has　seemed
to　me　like　he　had　not　recognized　fully　enough　certain
elements　of　the　different　races　and　the　situation。
'
Impatiently　Jake　gulped　down　the　last　swallows　of　his　wine。
'Christ'　sake；　man；　speak　out　plain；　because　I　can't　understand
a　thing　you　say。
'
Marshall　Nicolls　and　John　Roberts　exchanged　a　hurt　look。
Across　the　room　Willie　still　sat　playing　music。　His　lips
crawled　over　the　square　holes　of　the　harmonica　like　fat；
puckered　caterpillars。　His　shoulders　were　broad　and　strong。
The　stumps　of　his　thighs　jerked　in　time　to　the　music。　Highboy
danced　while　Buddy　and　Portia　clapped　out　the　rhythm。
Jake　stood　up；　and　once　on　his　feet　he　realized　that　he　was
drunk。　He　staggered　and　then　glanced　vindictively　around



him；　but　no　one　seemed　to　have　noticed。　'Where's　Singer？'　he　
asked　Portia　thickly。　
The　music　stopped。　'Why；　Mr。　Blount；　I　thought　you　knowed　
he　was　gone。　While　you　were　sitting　at　the　table　with　your　
peach　puff　he　come　to　the　doorway　and　held　out　his　watch　to　
show　it　were　time　for　him　to　go。　You　looked　straight　at　him　
and　shaken　your　head。　I　thought　you　knowed　that。'　
'Maybe　I　was　thinking　about　something　else。'　He　turned　to　
Willie　and　said　angrily　to　him：　'I　never　did　even　get　to　tell　you　
what　I　come　here　for；　I　didn't　come　to　ask　you　to　do　anything。　
All　I　wanted—all　I　wanted　was　this。　You　and　the　other　boys　
were　to　testify　what　happened　and　I　was　to　explain　why。　Why　
is　the　only　important　thing—not　what。　I　would　have　pushed　
you　all　around　in　a　wagon　and　you　would　have　told　your　story　
and　afterward　I　would　have　ex

253　

plained　why。　And　maybe　it　might　have　meant　something。　
Maybe　it'　
He　felt　they　were　laughing　at　him。　Confusion　caused　him　to　
forget　what　he　had　meant　to　say。　The　room　was　full　of　dark；　
strange　faces　and　the　air　was　too　thick　to　breathe。　He　saw　a　
door　and　staggered　across　to　it。　He　was　in　a　dark　closet　
smelling　of