gs.earthabides-第40章

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！


a　jeep　to　running　again。；　what　could　not　a　whole　munity　acplish　in　the　course　of　a　few　years？　
　　The　boys　unloosed　the　dogs　from　one　of　the　wagons　to　home　by　themselves。　They　hitched　the　wagon　behind　one　the　others。　Then　Dick　drove　one　team；　and　Bob　the　ther。　Ish；　with　Joey　beside　him；　started　out　bravely。　
　　Fallen　buildings　had　left　heaps　of　debris　in　the　street。　blowing　winds　had　drifted　leaves　and　dust　upon　the　bricks　and　the　winter　rains　had　washed　the　whole　into　semblances　natural　banks　and　hillocks。　Grass　was　growing　thickly；　on　o　little　mound　there　was　even　a　fair　stand　of　bushes。　Ish　stiffly　hither　and　thither；　finding　a　way　along　the　clogged　streets。　He　was　nearing　home　when　he　sharply　over　a　brick　and　heard　a　bang　as　the　left　rear　tire　out。　He　ended　the　day　driving　home　on　one　flat　tire；　badly；　but　taking　it　slowly　and　making　the　last　grade　successfully；　a　little　ahead　of　the　dog…teams。　In　spite　of　this　final　mishap；　he　felt　that　he　had　done　well。　
　　He　let　the　jeep　roll　to　a　stop　in　front　of　the　house；　leaned　back　in　triumphant　relief。　At　least　he　had　got　it　home。　
　　Then　he　pressed　the　horn…button；　and　after　these　years　of　silence　it　responded　wonderfully…TOOT…A…TOOT…TOOT！　
　　He　expected　children；　and　older　people　too；　to　e　hurrying　from　all　directions　at　the　unaccustomed　sound；　but　there　was　no　one。　Only　a　sudden　barking　of　dogs　sprang　up　from　everywhere。　Then　the　team…dogs　joined　in　the　chorus；　as　they　now　came　up　the　hill；　and　the　boys　joined　him。　Ish　felt　a　sudden　emptiness　of　fear　inside　him。　Once　before；　long　ago；　he　had　e　into　a　strangely　empty　town；　and　blown　the　horn　of　his　car；　and　now　it　was　easy　enough　to　think　that　something　might　have　happened　when　your　whole　universe　consisted　of　only　some　thirty　more　or　less　defenseless　people。　But　that　was　only　for　a　moment。　
　　Then　he　saw　Mary；　her　baby　on　her　arm；　e　unconcernedly　out　of　the　house　down　the　street；　and　wave　to　him。　〃They've　all　gone　bull…dodging！〃　she　called。　
　　The　boys　were　suddenly　excited　to　join　the　sport。　They　loosed　the　dogs　from　the　carts；　and　were　off；　not　even　asking　permission　of　Ish。　Even　Joey；　now　wholly　recovered　from　his　illness；　rushed　off　with　the　others。　Ish　felt　suddenly　left　alone　and　neglected；　his　triumph　at　restoring　transportation　gone　suddenly　sour　in　his　mouth。　Only　Mary　came　to　look　at　the　jeep。　She　stared　with　big　enough　eyes；　but　was　as　untalkative　as　the　baby；　who　also　stared。　
　　Ish　got　out　of　the　jeep；　and　stretched。　His　long　legs　were　cramped　from　its　close　quarters；　and　his　bad　loin　ached　from　even　this　small　amount　of　bumping。　
　　〃Well；〃　he　said　with　a　little　pride　in　his　voice；　〃what　do　you　think　of　it；　Mary？〃　Mary　was　his　own　daughter；　but　she　was　not　much　like　either　of　her　parents；　and　her　stolidity　often　bothered　him。　
　　〃Good！〃　she　said　with　a　Choctaw…like　imperturbability。　
　　Ish　felt　that　there　was　not　much　to　follow　up　along　that　line。　〃Where's　the　bull…dodging？〃　he　asked。　
　　〃Down　by　the　big　oak　tree。〃　
　　Just　then　they　heard　the　loud　sound　of　yelling；　and　Ish　knew　that　someone　had　made　a　good　maneuver　at　dodging。　
　　〃Well；　I　guess　I　might　as　well　go　down　and　see　the　national　sport；〃　he　said；　though　he　knew　the　irony　would　be　wasted。　
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mary；　and　began　to　stroll　back　with　her　baby　toward　her　own　house。　200　
　　Ish　went　off　on　the　path　down　the　hill；　across　lots；　through　what　had　once　been　someone's　backyard。　〃National　sport！〃　he　was　still　thinking　to　himself　bitterly；　although　he　realized　that　the　bitterness　might　be　partly　because　his　own　triumphant　entry　had　been　spoiled。　He　heard　another　shout　from　ahead　which　indicated　that　again　someone　put　himself　within　a　few　inches　of　the　bull's　homs。　
　　Bull…dodging　was　dangerous；　too；　although　actually　no　one　had　ever　been　killed　or　even　badly　hurt。　Ish　rather　disapproved　of　the　whole　business；　but　he　did　not　feel　that　he　was　in　a　position　to　set　himself　firmly　against　it。　The　boys　needed　some　way　to　get　rid　of　their　energy；　and　perhaps　they　even　needed　something　dangerous。　By　and　large；　life　was　perhaps　too　quiet　and　too　safe　these　days。　Possibly…the　image　of　Mary　came　to　his　mind　again…too　safe　and　unadventurous　life　tended　to　produce　stolid　people。　These　days　children　never　had　to　be　warned　against　crossing　the　street　because　of　automobiles；　and　there　were　dozens　of　other　daily　hazards　of　the　old　civilization　such　as　the　mon　cold；　not　to　mention　atomic　bombs；　which　nobody　ever　needed　to　consider。　You　had　the　ordinary　run　of　sprains；　cuts；　and　bruises；　what　you　expected　among　people　living　largely　in　the　open；　and　handling　tools　like　hatchets　and　knives。　Once；　too；　Molly　had　burned　her　hands　badly；　and　there　had　been　a　near…drowning　when　a　three…year…old　had　slipped　from　the　pier　at　fishing。　
　　Now　he　came　into　the　edge　of　the　little　open　space　on　the　side　of　the　hill；　fairly　level；　close　to　the　flat　rock　where　the　numerals　of　the　years　were　incised。　It　had　once　been　a　park。　The　bull　was　being　played　in　the　center　of　the　grassy　spot。　It　was　not　a　lawn　such　as　you　expected　in　a　park。　The　grass　was　a　foot　tall　at　this　time　of　year；　and　would　have　been　taller　if　it　had　not　been　eaten　down；　by　cattle　and　elk。　
　　Harry；　Molly's　fifteen…year…old；　was　playing　the　bull；　and　Ish's　own　Walt　was　backing　him　up…what　they　called　〃playing　halfback〃…a　bit　of　jargon　surviving　from　the　Old　Times。　Although　Ish　did　not　consider　himself　an　expert；　his　first　glance　was　enough　to　let　him　know　that　this　particular　bull　was　not　very　dangerous。　He　must　have　been　of　almost　pure　Hereford　blood；　and　still　had　the　red　coat　with　the　white　face　and　front　markings。　Nevertheless　he　showed　the　cumulative　effects　of　ancestors　who　for　twenty…one　years　had　lived　as；　range　cattle；　knowing　no　man…supplied　shelter　or　food　and　surviving　as　best　they　could。　The　legs　were　longer；　the　barrel　of　the　body；　slimmer；　the　horns；　bigger。　At　the　moment；　there　was　a　pause　in　the　game　as　the　already　tiring　bull　stood　uncertain；　and　Harry　was　taunting　him　to　charge。　
　　At　the　edge　of　the　glade　among　the　trees　on　the　uphill　side；　the　spectators　were　sitting…almost　everybody　from　the　munity　in　fact；　including　Jeanie　with　her　baby。　Among　the　trees　they　would　have　no　trouble　getting　out　of　the　road　of　the　bull；　if　by　any　chance　he　should　suddenly　decide　to　leave　the　open　ground。　There　were　several　dogs　to　be　loosed　in　an　emergency；　and　Jack　sat　with　a　rifle　across　his　knees。　
　　The　bull　suddenly　came　to　life；　and　charged　ponderously　uphill　with　enough　power　to　have　wiped　out　twenty　boys。　But　Harry　dodged　neady；　and　the　bull　came　to　a　halting　stop；　uncertain　and　confused。　
　　A　little　girl　（she　was　Jean's　Betty）　sprang　suddenly　from　the　group；　and　cried　out　that　she　wanted　to　take　over。　She　was　a　wild；　dashing　little　figure；　her　skirts　tucked　up　high　around　her　thighs；　her　long　sun…tanned　legs　flashing　back　and　forth　in　the　sunshine。　Harry　yielded　place　to　his　half…sister。　The　bull　was　tired　now；　and　fit　for　a　girl　to　take　over。　Betty；　aided　by　Walt；　managed　to　provoke　a　few　charges　which　were　of　no　difficulty　to　dodge。　And　then；　suddenly；　a　little　boy　cried　out　loudly；　〃I'm　going　in！〃　
　　It　was　Joey。　Ish　frowned；　but　he　knew　that　he　would　not　have　to　exert　himself　to　forbid　it。　Joey　was　only　nine；　and　it　was　strictly　against　the　rules　for　anyone　so　young　to　try　bulldodging；　even　as　halfback。　The　older　boys　enforced　this　discipline　quickly　enough。　They　were　kindly；　but　firm。　
　　〃Aah；　Joey；〃　said　Bob　from　his　age　of　sixteen；　〃you're　not　big　enough　yet。　You've　got　to　wait　a　couple　of　years；　anyway。〃　
　　〃Yeah？〃　said　Joey。　〃I'm　as　good　as　Walt　is；　anyway。〃　
　　The　way　he　said　it；　suggested　to　Ish　that　Joey　might　have　been　doing　a　little　practice　on　his　own；　sneaking　off　to　find　some　easy…looking　bull　and　playing　it　for　a　while；　perhaps　with　the　aid　of　Josey；　his　devoted　twin　sister。　Ish　felt　a　quick　coldness　pass　through　him　at　the　thought　of　any　danger　to　Joey…to　Joey；　particularly。　
　　After　a　few　more　half…hearted　protests；　however；　Joey　had　to　subside。　
　　By　this　time　the　bull；　fat　from　the　good　grazing；　was　thoroughly　tired　and　winded。　He　stood；　only　pawing　the　grass　a　little；　while　the　wildly　cavorting　Betty　swarmed　around　him；　and　even　turned　a　handspring。　But　the　sport　was　obviously；　over；　and　the　spectators　began　to　drift　off。　The　older　boys　called　to　Betty　and　Walter。　Suddenly　the　bull；　much　to　his　relief；　doubtless；　was　merely　left　standing　alone　in　the　center　of　the　grassy　spot。　
　　Back　at　the　houses；　Ish　went　to　look　at　the　well；　to　see　how　much　work　had　been　done　during　the　day。　He　found　that　it　had　been　sunk　only　a　foot　or　so。　Shovels　and　picks　were　left　scattered　about。　All　too　obviously；　the　easygoing　nature　of　the　munity　and　the　special　attraction　of　bull…dodging　had　prevented　much　labor　being　performed。　Ish　looked　at　the　shallow　hole　a　little　grimly。　
　　Yet　during　the　day　enough　water　had　been　carted　in　from　a　spring　to　provide　plenty　for　all　practical　purposes。　At　dinner　the　veal　roast　was　extremely　good；　and　the　only　thing　lacking　to　make　a　really　excellent　meal　for　Ish　was　that　his　Napa　Gamay　had　soured　a　little　in　the　bottle；　after　standing　for　better　than　a　quarter…century；　if　the　vintage…date　on　the　label　could　be　trusted。　
　　
　　Chapter　4
　　He　planned　that　the　boys　should　leave　on　the　fourth　day。　That　was　another　difference　between　the　Old　Times　and　these　now。　Then　it　was　all　so　plicated　that　anything　important　had　to　be　worked　out　a　long　time　ahead；　now　you　just　decided　on　something；　and　did　it。　Besides；　the　season　of　the　year　was　favorable；　and　he　feared　that　delay　would　only　permit　the　enthusiasm　for　the　expedition　to　seep　away。　
　　Throughout　the　intervening　days　he　kept　the　boys　busy。　He　practiced　them　at　driving。　He　took　them　to　the　garage　again；　and　picked　up　some　spare　parts；　such　as　a　fuel…pump　and　a　coil。　To　the　best　of　his　ability　he　showed　them　how　to　change　parts；　and　they　practiced　a　little。　
　　〃Or；〃　he　said；　〃you　might　find　it　easier；　if　you　have　trouble；　to　stop　in　at　some　garage　and　get　another　one　running；　just　as　we　did　here。　That　might　be　easier　than　to　try　patching　this　one。〃　
　　But　most　of　all　Ish　enjoyed　the　planning　of　the　route。　In　the　service　stations　he　found　road…maps；　yellow　and　faded。　He　studied　them　eagerly；　bringing　into　play　his　old　knowledge　of　the　land；　trying　to　imagine　how　flood　and　windstorm　and　treegrowth　would　have　affected　the　roads　at　different　points。　
　　〃Head　south　first；　for　Los　Angeles；〃　he　concluded　finally。　〃That　was　a　big　center　of　population　in　the　Old　Times。　There　are　probably　some　people　left；　maybe　a　munity。〃　
　　On　the　map　he　let　his　glance　run　southward　toward　Los　Angeles；　following　the　old　familiar　red　lines　of　the　routes。　
　　〃Try　99　first；〃　he　said。　〃You　can　probably　get　through。　If　it's　blocked　in　the　mountains　turn　back　toward　Bakersfield　and　work　across　to　466；　and　try　it　over　Tehachapi　Pass。。。。〃　
　　He　paused；　and　in　the　pause　he　suddenly　felt　his　throat　tight；　and　his　eyes　brimming。　Nostalgia　filled　him。　The　names；　it　must　have　been；　that　did　it！　Burbank；　Hollywood；　Pasadena…once　they　had　been　living　towns。　He　had　known　them。　Now　coyotes　hunted　jack…rabbits　through　their　drought…stricken　parks　and　back…lots。　Yet　all　the　names　still