when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第18节
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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
〃You don't know your own mind for two successive minutes！ You
haven't any mind； you spineless； crawling worm！〃
〃You can't make me angry。〃 Al smiled with cunning； and glanced
triumphantly at his wife。 〃You can't make me angry；〃 he repeated； as
though the idea were thoroughly gratifying to him。 〃I know your game。
It's my stomach； I tell you。 I can't help it。 Before God； I can't！ Isn't it
my stomach； Mary？〃
She glanced at George and spoke composedly； though she hid a
trembling hand in a fold of her skirt。
〃Isn't it time？〃 she asked softly。
Her husband turned upon her savagely。 〃I'm not going to go！〃 he
cried。 〃That's just what I've been telling 。 。 。 him。 And I tell you again； all
of you； I'm not going。 You can't bully me。〃
〃Why； Al； dear； you said〃 she began。
〃Never mind what I said！〃 he broke out。 〃I've said something else
right now； and you've heard it； and that settles it。〃
He walked across the room and threw himself with emphasis into a
Morris chair。 But the other man was swiftly upon him。 The talon…like
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fingers gripped his shoulders； jerked him to his feet； and held him there。
〃You've reached the limit； Al； and I want you to understand it。 I've
tried to treat you like 。 。 。 like my brother； but hereafter I shall treat you
like the thing that you are。 Do you understand？〃
The anger in his voice was cold。 The blaze in his eyes was cold。 It
was vastly more effective than any outburst； and Al cringed under it and
under the clutching hand that was bruising his shoulder muscles。
〃It is only because of me that you have this house； that you have the
food you eat。 Your position？ Any other man would have been shown
the door a year agotwo years ago。 I have held you in it。 Your salary
has been charity。 It has been paid out of my pocket。 Mary 。 。 。 her
dresses 。 。 。 that gown she has on is made over； she wears the discarded
dresses of her sisters； of my wife。 Charitydo you understand？ Your
childrenthey are wearing the discarded clothes of my children； of the
children of my neighbours who think the clothes went to some orphan
asylum。 And it is an orphan asylum 。 。 。 or it soon will be。〃
He emphasized each point with an unconscious tightening of his grip
on the shoulder。 Al was squirming with the pain of it。 The sweat was
starting out on his forehead。
〃Now listen well to me；〃 his brother went on。 〃In three minutes you
will tell me that you are going with me。 If you don't； Mary and the
children will be taken away from youto…day。 You needn't ever come to
the office。 This house will be closed to you。 And in six months I shall
have the pleasure of burying you。 You have three minutes to make up
your mind。〃
Al made a strangling movement； and reached up with weak fingers to
the clutching hand。
〃My heart 。 。 。 let me go 。 。 。 you'll be the death of me；〃 he gasped。
The hand thrust him down forcibly into the Morris chair and released
him。
The clock on the mantle ticked loudly。 George glanced at it； and at
Mary。 She was leaning against the table； unable to conceal her trembling。
He became unpleasantly aware of the feeling of his brother's fingers on his
hand。 Quite unconsciously he wiped the back of the hand upon his coat。
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The clock ticked on in the silence。 It seemed to George that the room
reverberated with his voice。 He could hear himself still speaking。
〃I'll go；〃 came from the Morris chair。
It was a weak and shaken voice； and it was a weak and shaken man
that pulled himself out of the Morris chair。 He started toward the door。
〃Where are you going？〃 George demanded。
〃Suit case；〃 came the response。 〃Mary'll send the trunk later。 I'll be
back in a minute。〃
The door closed after him。 A moment later； struck with sudden
suspicion； George was opening the door。 He glanced in。 His brother
stood at a sideboard； in one hand a decanter； in the other hand； bottom up
and to his lips； a whisky glass。
Across the glass Al saw that he was observed。 It threw him into a
panic。 Hastily he tried to refill the glass and get it to his lips； but glass and
decanter were sent smashing to the floor。 He snarled。 It was like the
sound of a wild beast。 But the grip on his shoulder subdued and
frightened him。 He was being propelled toward the door。
〃The suit case；〃 he gasped。 〃It's there in that room。 Let me get it。〃
〃Where's the key？〃 his brother asked； when he had brought it。
〃It isn't locked。〃
The next moment the suit case was spread open； and George's hand
was searching the contents。 From one side it brought out a bottle of
whisky； from the other side a flask。 He snapped the case to。
〃Come on；〃 he said。 〃If we miss one car； we miss that train。〃
He went out into the hallway； leaving Al with his wife。 It was like a
funeral； George thought； as he waited。
His brother's overcoat caught on the knob of the front door and
delayed its closing long enough for Mary's first sob to come to their ears。
George's lips were very thin and compressed as he went down the steps。
In one hand he carried the suit case。 With the other hand he held his
brother's arm。
As they neared the corner； he heard the electric car a block away； and
urged his brother on。 Al was breathing hard。 His feet dragged and
shuffled； and he held back。
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〃A hell of a brother YOU are；〃 he panted。
For reply； he received a vicious jerk on his arm。 It reminded him of
his childhood when he was hurried along by some angry grown…up。 And
like a child； he had to be helped up the car step。 He sank down on an
outside seat； panting； sweating； overcome by the exertion。 He followed
George's eyes as the latter looked him up and down。
〃A hell of a brother YOU are；〃 was George's comment when he had
finished the inspection。
Moisture welled into Al's eyes。
〃It's my stomach；〃 he said with self…pity。
〃I don't wonder；〃 was the retort。 〃Burnt out like the crater of a
volcano。 Fervent heat isn't a circumstance。〃
Thereafter they did not speak。 When they arrived at the transfer point；
George came to himself with a start。 He smiled。 With fixed gaze that
did not see the houses that streamed across his field of vision； he had
himself been sunk deep in self…pity。 He helped his brother from the car；
and looked up the intersecting street。 The car they were to take was not
in sight。
Al's eyes chanced upon the corner grocery and saloon across the way。
At once he became restless。 His hands passed beyond his control； and he
yearned hungrily across the street to the door that swung open even as he
looked and let in a happy pilgrim。 And in that instant he saw the white…
jacketed bartender against an array of glittering glass。 Quite
unconsciously he started to cross the street。
〃Hold on。〃 George's hand was on his arm。
〃I want some whisky；〃 he answered。
〃You've already had some。〃
〃That was hours ago。 Go on； George； let me have some。 It's the last
day。 Don't shut off on me until we get thereGod knows it will be soon
enough。〃
George glanced desperately up the street。 The car was in sight。
〃T
