when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第17节
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contents were spilled upon the floor。 He stooped to scoop some of the
mustard into the cup； and the succeeding spasm doubled him upon the
floor。 Matt smiled。
〃Stay with it；〃 he encouraged。 〃It's the stuff all right。 It's fixed me
up。〃
Jim heard him and turned toward him a stricken face； twisted with
suffering and pleading。 Spasm now followed spasm till he was in
convulsions； rolling on the floor and yellowing his face and hair in the
mustard。
Matt laughed hoarsely at the sight； but the laugh broke midway。 A
tremor had run through his body。 A new paroxysm was beginning。 He
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
arose and staggered across to the sink； where； with probing forefinger； he
vainly strove to assist the action of the emetic。 In the end； he clung to the
sink as Jim had clung； filled with the horror of going down to the floor。
The other's paroxysm had passed； and he sat up； weak and fainting； too
weak to rise； his forehead dripping； his lips flecked with a foam made
yellow by the mustard in which he had rolled。 He rubbed his eyes with
his knuckles； and groans that were like whines came from his throat。
〃What are you snifflin' about？〃 Matt demanded out of his agony。
〃All you got to do is die。 An' when you die you're dead。〃
〃I 。 。 。 ain't 。 。 。 snifflin' 。 。 。 it's 。 。 。 the 。 。 。 mustard 。 。 。 stingin' 。 。 。
my 。 。 。 eyes；〃 Jim panted with desperate slowness。
It was his last successful attempt at speech。 Thereafter he babbled
incoherently； pawing the air with shaking arms till a fresh convulsion
stretched him on the floor。
Matt struggled back to the chair； and； doubled up on it； with his arms
clasped about his knees； he fought with his disintegrating flesh。 He came
out of the convulsion cool and weak。 He looked to see how it went with
the other； and saw him lying motionless。
He tried to soliloquize； to be facetious； to have his last grim laugh at
life； but his lips made only incoherent sounds。 The thought came to him
that the emetic had failed； and that nothing remained but the drug store。
He looked toward the door and drew himself to his feet。 There he saved
himself from falling by clutching the chair。 Another paroxysm had begun。
And in the midst of the paroxysm； with his body and all the parts of it
flying apart and writhing and twisting back again into knots； he clung to
the chair and shoved it before him across the floor。 The last shreds of his
will were leaving him when he gained the door。 He turned the key and
shot back one bolt。 He fumbled for the second bolt； but failed。 Then he
leaned his weight against the door and slid down gently to the floor。
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WHEN GOD LAUGHS； AND OTHER STORIES
CREATED HE THEM
She met him at the door。
〃I did not think you would be so early。〃
〃It is half past eight。〃 He looked at his watch。 〃The train leaves at
9。12。〃
He was very businesslike； until he saw her lips tremble as she abruptly
turned and led the way。
〃It'll be all right； little woman；〃 he said soothingly。 〃Doctor
Bodineau's the man。 He'll pull him through； you'll see。〃
They entered the living…room。 His glance quested apprehensively
about； then turned to her。
〃Where's Al？〃
She did not answer； but with a sudden impulse came close to him and
stood motionless。 She was a slender； dark…eyed woman； in whose face
was stamped the strain and stress of living。 But the fine lines and the
haunted look in the eyes were not the handiwork of mere worry。 He
knew whose handiwork it was as he looked upon it； and she knew when
she consulted her mirror。
〃It's no use； Mary；〃 he said。 He put his hand on her shoulder。
〃We've tried everything。 It's a wretched business； I know； but what else
can we do？ You've failed。 Doctor Bodineau's all that's left。〃
〃If I had another chance 。 。 。 〃 she began falteringly。
〃We've threshed that all out；〃 he answered harshly。 〃You've got to
buck up； now。 You know what conclusion we arrived at。 You know you
haven't the ghost of a hope in another chance。〃
She shook her head。 〃I know it。 But it is terrible； the thought of his
going away to fight it out alone。〃
〃He won't be alone。 There's Doctor Bodineau。 And besides； it's a
beautiful place。〃
She remained silent。
〃It is the only thing；〃 he said。
〃It is the only thing；〃 she repeated mechanically。
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He looked at his watch。 〃Where's Al？〃
〃I'll send him。〃
When the door had closed behind her； he walked over to the window
and looked out； drumming absently with his knuckles on the pane。
〃Hello。〃
He turned and responded to the greeting of the man who had just
entered。 There was a perceptible drag to the man's feet as he walked across
toward the window and paused irresolutely halfway。
〃I've changed my mind； George；〃 he announced hurriedly and
nervously。 〃I'm not going。〃
He plucked at his sleeve； shuffled with his feet； dropped his eyes； and
with a strong effort raised them again to confront the other。
George regarded him silently； his nostrils distending and his lean
fingers unconsciously crooking like an eagle's talons about to clutch。
In line and feature； there was much of resemblance between the two
men； and yet； in the strongest resemblances there was a radical difference。
Theirs were the same black eyes； but those of the man at the window were
sharp and straight looking； while those of the man in the middle of the
room were cloudy and furtive。 He could not face the other's gaze； and
continually and vainly struggled with himself to do so。 The high cheek
bones with the hollows beneath were the same； yet the texture of the
hollows seemed different。 The thin…lipped mouths were from the same
mould； but George's lips were firm and muscular； while Al's were soft and
loosethe lips of an ascetic turned voluptuary。 There was also a sag at
the corners。 His flesh hinted of grossness； especially so in the eagle…like
aquiline nose that must once have been like the other's； but that had lost
the austerity the other's still retained。
Al fought for steadiness in the middle of the floor。 The silence
bothered him。 He had a feeling that he was about to begin swaying back
and forth。 He moistened his lips with his tongue。
〃I'm going to stay；〃 he said desperately。
He dropped his eyes and plucked again at his sleeve。
〃And you are only twenty…six years old；〃 George said at last。 〃You
poor； feeble old man。〃
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〃Don't be so sure of that；〃 Al retorted； with a flash of belligerence。
〃Do you remember when we swam that mile and a half across the
channel？〃
〃Well； and what of it？〃 A sullen expression was creeping across Al's
face。
〃And do you remember when we boxed in the barn after school？〃
〃I could take all you gave me。〃
〃All I gave you！〃 George's voice rose momentarily to a higher pitch。
〃You licked me four afternoons out of five。 You were twice as strong as
I three times as strong。 And now I'd be afraid to land on you with a
sofa cushion； you'd crumple up like a last year's leaf。 You'd die； you poor；
miserable old man。〃
〃You needn't abuse me just because I've changed my mind；〃 the other
protested； the hint of a whine in his voice。
His wife entered； and he looked appealingly to her； but the man at the
window strode suddenly up to him and burst out
