when god laughs and other stories(当上帝发笑时)-第34节
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accidents happened to the workmen； their fellows； as was the custom；
made grants from the fund； but the overseers refused to pay over the
grants。 What could the slaves do？ They had their rights under the law；
but they had no access to the law。 Those that complained to the overseers
were punished。 You know yourselves what form such punishment takes
the fines for faulty work that is not faulty； the overcharging of accounts in
the Company's store； the vile treatment of one's women and children； and
the allotment to bad machines whereon； work as one will； he starves。
Once； the slaves of Hell's Bottom protested to Vanderwater。 It was
the time of the year when he spent several months in Kingsbury。 One of
the slaves could write； it chanced that his mother could write； and she had
secretly taught him as her mother had secretly taught her。 So this slave
wrote a round robin； wherein was contained their grievances； and all the
slaves signed by mark。 And； with proper stamps upon the envelope； the
round robin was mailed to Roger Vanderwater。 And Roger Vanderwater
did nothing； save to turn the round robin over to the two overseers。
Clancy and Munster were angered。 They turned the guards loose at night
on the slave pen。 The guards were armed with pick handles。 It is said
that next day only half of the slaves were able to work in Hell's Bottom。
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They were well beaten。 The slave who could write was so badly beaten
that he lived only three months。 But before he died； he wrote once more；
to what purpose you shall hear。
Four or five weeks afterward； Tom Dixon； a slave； had his arm torn off
by a belt in Hell's Bottom。 His fellow…workmen； as usual； made a grant
to him from the fund； and Clancy and Munster； as usual； refused to pay it
over from the fund。 The slave who could write； and who even then was
dying； wrote anew a recital of their grievances。 And this document was
thrust into the hand of the arm that had been torn from Tom Dixon's body。
Now it chanced that Roger Vanderwater was lying ill in his palace at
the other end of Kingsburynot the dire illness that strikes down you and
me； brothers； just a bit of biliousness； mayhap； or no more than a bad
headache because he had eaten too heartily or drunk too deeply。 But it
was enough for him； being tender and soft from careful rearing。 Such
men； packed in cotton wool all their lives； are exceeding tender and soft。
Believe me； brothers； Roger Vanderwater felt as badly with his aching
head； or THOUGHT he felt as badly； as Tom Dixon really felt with his
arm torn out by the roots。
It happened that Roger Vanderwater was fond of scientific farming；
and that on his farm； three miles outside of Kingsbury； he had managed to
grow a new kind of strawberry。 He was very proud of that new
strawberry of his； and he would have been out to see and pick the first ripe
ones； had it not been for his illness。 Because of his illness he had ordered
the old farm slave to bring in personally the first box of the berries。 All
this was learned from the gossip of a palace scullion； who slept each night
in the slave pen。 The overseer of the plantation should have brought in
the berries； but he was on his back with a broken leg from trying to break
a colt。 The scullion brought the word in the night； and it was known that
next day the berries would come in。 And the men in the slave pen of
Hell's Bottom； being men and not cowards； held a council。
The slave who could write； and who was sick and dying from the pick…
handle beating； said he would carry Tom Dixon's arm； also； he said he
must die anyway； and that it mattered nothing if he died a little sooner。
So five slaves stole from the slave pen that night after the guards had made
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their last rounds。 One of the slaves was the man who could write。 They
lay in the brush by the roadside until late in the morning； when the old
farm slave came driving to town with the precious fruit for the master。
What of the farm slave being old and rheumatic； and of the slave who
could write being stiff and injured from his beating； they moved their
bodies about when they walked； very much in the same fashion。 The
slave who could write put on the other's clothes； pulled the broad…brimmed
hat over his eyes； climbed upon the seat of the wagon； and drove on to
town。 The old farm slave was kept tied all day in the bushes until
evening； when the others loosed him and went back to the slave pen to
take their punishment for having broken bounds。
In the meantime； Roger Vanderwater lay waiting for the berries in his
wonderful bedroomsuch wonders and such comforts were there that they
would have blinded the eyes of you and me who have never seen such
things。 The slave who could write said afterward that it was like a glimpse
of Paradise！ And why not？ The labour and the lives of ten thousand
slaves had gone to the making of that bedchamber； while they themselves
slept in vile lairs like wild beasts。 The slave who could write brought in
the berries on a silver tray or platteryou see； Roger Vanderwater wanted
to speak with him in person about the berries。
The slave who could write tottered his dying body across the
wonderful room and knelt by the couch of Vanderwater； holding out before
him the tray。 Large green leaves covered the top of the tray； and these the
body…servant alongside whisked away so that Vanderwater could see。
And Roger Vanderwater； propped upon his elbow； saw。 He saw the fresh；
wonderful fruit lying there like precious jewels； and in the midst of it the
arm of Tom Dixon as it had been torn from his body； well washed； of
course； my brothers； and very white against the blood…red fruit。 And also
he saw； clutched in the stiff； dead fingers； the petition of his slaves who
toiled in Hell's Bottom。
〃Take and read；〃 said the slave who could write。 And even as the
master took the petition； the body…servant； who till then had been
motionless with surprise； struck with his fist the kneeling slave upon the
mouth。 The slave was dying anyway； and was very weak； and did not
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mind。 He made no sound； and； having fallen over on his side； he lay
there quietly； bleeding from the blow on the mouth。 The physician； who
had run for the palace guards； came back with them； and the slave was
dragged upright upon his feet。 But as they dragged him up； his hand
clutched Tom Dixon's arm from where it had fallen on the floor。
〃He shall be flung alive to the hounds！〃 the body…servant was crying in
great wrath。 〃He shall be flung alive to the hounds！〃
But Roger Vanderwater； forgetting his headache； still leaning on his
elbow； commanded silence； and went on reading the petition。 And while
he read； there was silence； all standing upright； the wrathful body…servant；
the physician； the palace guards； and in their midst the slave； bleeding at
the mouth and still holding Tom Dixon's arm。 And when Roger
Vanderwater had done； he turned upon the slave； saying
〃If in this paper there be one lie； you shall be sorry that you were ever
born。〃
And the slave said； 〃I have been sorry all my life that I was born。〃
Roger Vanderwater looked at him closely； and the slave said
〃You have done your worst to me。 I am dying now。 In a week I
shall be dead； so it does not
