when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第19节
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enough。〃
George glanced desperately up the street。 The car was in sight。
〃There isn't time for a drink；〃 he said。
〃I don't want a drink。 I want a bottle。〃 Al's voice became
wheedling。 〃Go on； George。 It's the last； the very last。〃
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〃No。〃 The denial was as final as George's thin lips could make it。
Al glanced at the approaching car。 He sat down suddenly on the
curbstone。
〃What's the matter？〃 his brother asked； with momentary alarm。
〃Nothing。 I want some whisky。 It's my stomach。〃
〃Come on now； get up。〃
George reached for him； but was anticipated； for his brother sprawled
flat on the pavement； oblivious to the dirt and to the curious glances of the
passers…by。 The car was clanging its gong at the crossing； a block away。
〃You'll miss it；〃 Al grinned from the pavement。 〃And it will be your
fault。〃
George's fists clenched tightly。
〃For two cents I'd give you a thrashing。〃
〃And miss the car；〃 was the triumphant comment from the pavement。
George looked at the car。 It was halfway down the block。 He
looked at his watch。 He debated a second longer。
〃All right；〃 he said。 〃I'll get it。 But you get on that car。 If you
miss it； I'll break the bottle over your head。〃
He dashed across the street and into the saloon。 The car came in and
stopped。 There were no passengers to get off。 Al dragged himself up
the steps and sat down。 He smiled as the conductor rang the bell and the
car started。 The swinging door of the saloon burst open。 Clutching in
his hand the suit case and a pint bottle of whisky； George started in pursuit。
The conductor； his hand on the bell cord； waited to see if it would be
necessary to stop。 It was not。 George swung lightly aboard； sat down
beside his brother； and passed him the bottle。
〃You might have got a quart；〃 Al said reproachfully。
He extracted the cork with a pocket corkscrew； and elevated the bottle。
〃I'm sick 。 。 。 my stomach；〃 he explained in apologetic tones to the
passenger who sat next to him。
In the train they sat in the smoking…car。 George felt that it was
imperative。 Also； having successfully caught the train； his heart softened。
He felt more kindly toward his brother； and accused himself of
unnecessary harshness。 He strove to atone by talking about their mother；
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and sisters； and the little affairs and interests of the family。 But Al was
morose； and devoted himself to the bottle。 As the time passed； his mouth
hung looser and looser； while the rings under his eyes seemed to puff out
and all his facial muscles to relax。
〃It's my stomach；〃 he said； once； when he finished the bottle and
dropped it under the seat； but the swift hardening of his brother's face did
not encourage further explanations。
The conveyance that met them at the station had all the dignity and
luxuriousness of a private carriage。 George's eyes were keen for the ear
marks of the institution to which they were going； but his apprehensions
were allayed from moment to moment。 As they entered the wide
gateway and rolled on through the spacious grounds； he felt sure that the
institutional side of the place would not jar upon his brother。 It was more
like a summer hotel； or； better yet； a country club。 And as they swept on
through the spring sunshine； the songs of birds in his ears； and in his
nostrils the breath of flowers； George sighed for a week of rest in such a
place； and before his eyes loomed the arid vista of summer in town and at
the office。 There was not room in his income for his brother and himself。
〃Let us take a walk in the grounds；〃 he suggested； after they had met
Doctor Bodineau and inspected the quarters assigned to Al。 〃The
carriage leaves for the station in half an hour； and we'll just have time。〃
〃It's beautiful；〃 he remarked a moment later。 Under his feet was the
velvet grass； the trees arched overhead； and he stood in mottled sunshine。
〃I wish I could stay for a month。〃
〃I'll trade places with you；〃 Al said quickly。
George laughed it off； but he felt a sinking of the heart。
〃Look at that oak！〃 he cried。 〃And that woodpecker！ Isn't he a
beauty！〃
〃I don't like it here；〃 he heard his brother mutter。
George's lips tightened in preparation for the struggle； but he said
〃I'm going to send Mary and the children off to the mountains。 She
needs it； and so do they。 And when you're in shape； I'll send you right on
to join them。 Then you can take your summer vacation before you come
back to the office。〃
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〃I'm not going to stay in this damned hole； for all you talk about it；〃 Al
announced abruptly。
〃Yes you are； and you're going to get your health and strength back
again； so that the look of you will put the colour in Mary's cheeks where it
used to be。〃
〃I'm going back with you。〃 Al's voice was firm。 〃I'm going to take
the same train back。 It's about time for that carriage； I guess。〃
〃I haven't told you all my plans；〃 George tried to go on； but Al cut him
off。
〃You might as well quit that。 I don't want any of your soapy talking。
You treat me like a child。 I'm not a child。 My mind's made up； and I'll
show you how long it can stay made up。 You needn't talk to me。 I don't
care a rap for what you're going to say。〃
A baleful light was in his eyes； and to his brother he seemed for all the
world like a cornered rat； desperate and ready to fight。 As George looked
at him he remembered back to their childhood； and it came to him that at
last was aroused in Al the same old stubborn strain that had enabled him；
as a child； to stand against all force and persuasion。
George abandoned hope。 He had lost。 This creature was not human。
The last fine instinct of the human had fled。 It was a brute； sluggish and
stolid； impossible to movejust the raw stuff of life； combative； rebellious；
and indomitable。 And as he contemplated his brother he felt in himself
the rising up of a similar brute。 He became suddenly aware that his
fingers were tensing and crooking like a thug's； and he knew the desire to
kill。 And his reason； turned traitor at last； counselled that he should kill；
that it was the only thing left for him to do。
He was aroused by a servant calling to him through the trees that the
carriage was waiting。 He answered。 Then； looking straight before him；
he discovered his brother。 He had forgotten it was his brother。 It had
been only a thing the moment before。 He began to talk； and as he talked
the way became clear to him。 His reason had not turned traitor。 The
brute in him had merely orientated his reason。
〃You are no earthly good； Al； 〃 he said。 〃You know that。 You've
made Mary's life a hell。 You are a curse to your children。 And you have
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not made life exactly a paradise for the rest of us。〃
〃There's no use your talking；〃 Al interjected。 〃I'm not going to stay
here。〃
〃That's what I'm coming to；〃 George continued。 〃You don't have to
stay here。〃 （Al's face brightened； and he involuntarily made a movement；
as though about to start toward the carriage。） 〃On the other hand； it is not
necessary that you should return with me。 There is another way。〃
George's hand went to his hip pocket and appeared with a revolver。 It
lay along his palm； the butt toward Al； and toward Al he extended it。 At
the same time； with his
