hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第26章

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ee　his　stern　and　then　his　father　moved　ahead　of　him　and　he　followed　and　they　came　alongside　the　elephant　as　though　he　was　a　ship　and　David　saw　the　blood　coming　from　his　Ranks　and　running　down　his　sides　and　then　his　father　raised　his　rifle　and　fired　and　the　elephant　turned　his　head　with　the　great　tusks　moving　heavy　and　slow　and　looked　at　them　and　when　his　father　fired　the　second　barrel　the　elephant　seemed　to　sway　like　a　felled　tree　and　came　smashing　down　toward　them。　But　he　was　not　dead。　He　had　been　anchored　and　now　he　was　down　with　his　shoulder　broken。　He　did　not　move　but　his　eye　was　alive　and　looked　at　David。　He　had　very　long　eyelashes　and　his　eye　was　the　most　alive　thing　David　had　ever　seen。

〃Shoot　him　in　the　ear　hole　with　the　three　oh　three；〃　his　father　said。　〃Go　on。〃

〃You　shoot　him；〃　David　had　said。

Juma　had　come　up　limping　and　bloody；　the　skin　of　his　fore　head　hanging　down　over　his　left　eye；　the　bone　of　his　nose　showing　and　one　ear　torn　and　had　taken　the　rifle　from　David　without　speaking　and　pushed　the　muzzle　almost　into　the　ear　hole　and　fired　twice　jerking　the　bolt　and　driving　it　forward　angrily。　The　eye　of　the　elephant　had　opened　wide　on　the　first　shot　and　then　started　to　glaze　and　blood　came　out　of　the　ear　and　ran　in　two　bright　streams　down　the　wrinkled　gray　hide。　It　was　a　different　colored　blood　and　David　had　thought　I　must　remember　that　and　he　had　but　it　had　never　been　of　any　use　to　him。　Now　all　the
198　'99
。　。


dignity　and　majesty　and　all　the　beauty　was　gone　from　the　elephant　and　he　was　a　huge　wrinkled　pile。

〃Well　we　got　him；　Davey；　thanks　to　you；〃　his　father　had　said。　〃Now　we'd　better　get　a　fire　going　so　I　can　put　Juma　back　together　again。　Come　here　you　bloody　Humpty　Dumpty。　Those　tusks　will　keep。〃

Juma　had　come　to　him　grinning　bringing　the　tail　of　the　elephant　that　had　no　hairs　on　it　at　all。　They　had　made　a　dirty　joke　and　then　his　father　had　begun　to　speak　rapidly　in　Swahili：

How　far　to　water？　How　far　will　you　have　to　go　to　get　people　to　get　those　tusks　out　of　here？　How　are　you；　you　worthless　old　pig　fucker？　What　have　you　broken？

Then　with　the　answers　known　his　father　had　said；　〃You　and　I　will　go　back　to　get　the　packs　where　we　dropped　them　when　we　went　in　after　him。　Juma　can　get　wood　and　have　the　fire　ready。　The　medical　kit　is　in　my　pack。　We　have　to　get　the　packs　before　it's　dark。　He　won't　infect。　It's　not　like　claw　wounds。　Let's　go。〃

His　father　had　known　how　he　had　felt　about　the　elephant　and　that　night　and　in　the　next　few　days　he　had　tried　if　not　to　convert　him　to　bring　him　back　to　the　boy　he　had　been　before　he　had　come　to　the　knowledge　that　he　hated　elephant　hunting。　David　had　put　no　statement　of　his　father's　intention；　which　had　never　been　stated；　in　the　story　but　had　only　used　the　happenings；　the　disgusts；　the　events　and　feelings　of　the　butchering；　and　the　work　of　chopping　out　the　tusks　and　of　the　rough　surgery　on　Juma　disguised　by　mockery　and　railery　to　keep　the　pain　in　contempt　and　reduce　its　stature　since　there　were　no　drugs。　The　added　responsibility　David　was　given　and　the　trust　that　was　offered　him　and　not　accepted　he　had　put　in　the　story　without　pointing　their　significance。　He　had　tried　to　make　the　elephant　alive　beneath　the　tree　anchored　in　his　final　anguish　and　drowning　in　the　blood　that　had　flowed　so　many　times　before　but　always　staunched　and　now　was　rising　in　him　so　he　could　not　breathe；　the　great　heart　pumping　it　to　drown　him　as　he　watched　the　man　who　came

to　finish　him。　David　had　been　so　proud　the　elephant　had　scented　Juma　and　charged　him　instantly。　He　would　have　killed　Juma　if　his　father　had　not　fired　into　him　so　that　he　had　thrown　Juma　into　the　trees　with　his　trunk　and　charged　on　with　the　death　in　him；　feeling　it　as　only　another　wound　until　the　blood　welled　up　and　he　could　not　breathe　against　it。　That　evening　as　David　had　sat　by　the　fire　he　had　looked　at　Juma　with　his　stitched　up　face　and　his　broken　ribs　that　he　tried　to　breathe　without　and　wondered　if　the　elephant　had　recognized　him　when　he　had　tried　to　kill　him。　He　hoped　he　had。　The　elephant　was　his　hero　now　as　his　father　had　been　for　a　long　time　and　he　had　thought；　I　did　not　believe　he　could　do　it　when　he　was　so　old　and　tired。　He　would　have　killed　Juma　too。　But　he　didn't　look　at　me　as　though　he　wanted　to　kill　me。　He　only　looked　sad　the　same　way　I　felt。　He　visited　his　old　friend　on　the　day　he　died。

It　was　a　very　young　boy's　story；　he　knew；　when　he　had　finished　it。　He　read　it　over　and　saw　the　gaps　he　must　fill　in　to　make　it　so　that　whoever　read　it　would　feel　it　was　truly　happening　as　it　was　read　and　he　marked　the　gaps　in　the　margin。

He　remembered　how　the　elephant　lost　all　dignity　as　soon　as　his　eye　had　ceased　to　be　alive　and　how　when　his　father　and　he　had　returned　with　the　packs　the　elephant　had　already　started　to　swell　even　in　the　cool　evening。　There　was　no　more　true　elephant；　only　the　gray　wrinkled　swelling　dead　body　and　the　huge　great　mottled　brown　and　yellow　tusks　that　they　had　killed　him　for。　The　tusks　were　stained　with　the　dried　blood　and　he　scraped　some　of　it　off　with　his　thumbnail　like　a　dried　piece　of　sealing　wax　and　put　it　in　the　pocket　of　his　shirt。　That　was　all　he　took　from　the　elephant　except　the　beginning　of　the　knowledge　of　loneliness。

After　the　butchery　his　father　tried　to　talk　to　him　that　night　by　the　fire。

〃He　was　a　murderer　you　know；　Davey；〃　he　had　said。　〃Juma　says　nobody　knows　how　many　people　he　has　killed。〃

〃They　were　all　trying　to　kill　him　weren't　they？〃
200　201

。　。
〃Naturally；〃　his　father　had　said；　〃with　that　pair　of　tusks。〃
〃How　could　he　be　a　murderer　then？〃

〃Just　as　you　like；〃　his　father　had　said。　〃I'm　sorry　you　got　so　mixed　up　about　him。〃

〃I　wish　he'd　killed　Juma；〃　David　had　said。

〃I　think　that's　carrying　it　a　little　far；〃　his　father　said。　〃Juma's　your　friend　you　know。〃

〃Not　anymore。

〃No　need　to　tell　him　so。〃

〃He　knows　it；〃　David　had　said。

〃I　think　you　misjudge　him；〃　his　father　said　and　they　had　left　it　there。

Then　when　they　were　finally　back　safely　with　the　tusks　after　all　the　things　that　had　happened　and　the　tusks　were　propped　against　the　wall　of　the　stick　and　mud　house　leaning　there　with　their　points　touching；　the　tusks　so　tall　and　thick　that　no　one　could　believe　them　even　when　they　touched　them　and　no　one；　not　even　his　father；　could　reach　to　the　top　of　the　bend　where　they　curved　in　for　the　points　to　meet；　there　when　Juma　and　his　father　and　he　were　heroes　and　Kibo　was　a　hero's　dog；　and　the　men　who　had　carried　the　tusks　were　heroes；　already　slightly　drunk　heroes　and　to　be　drunker；　his　father　had　said；　〃Do　you　want　to　make　peace　Davey？〃

〃All　right；〃　he　said　because　he　knew　this　was　the　start　of　the　never　telling　that　he　had　decided　on。

〃I'm　so　glad；〃　his　father　said。　〃It's　so　much　simpler　and　better。〃　Then　they　sat　on　old　men's　stools　under　the　shade　of　the　great　fig　tree　with　the　tusks　against　the　wall　of　the　hut　and　drank　native　beer　from　gourd　cups　that　were　brought　by　a　young　girl　and　her　younger　brother；　no　longer　a　detested　nuisance　but　the　servant　of　heroes；　sitting　in　the　dust　by　the　heroic　dog　of　a　hero　who　held　an　old　cockerel　newly　promoted　to　the　standing　of　the　heroes'　favorite　rooster。　They　sat　there　and　drank　beer　while　the　big　drum　started　and　the　Ngoma　began　to　build。

He　came　out　of　the　working　room　and　he　was　happy　and　empty　and　proud　and　Marita　was　waiting　for　him　on　the　terrace　sitting　in　the　sun　of　the　bright　early　fall　morning　that　he　had　not　known　existed。　It　was　a　perfect　morning；　still　and　cool。　The　sea　below　was　a　flat　calm　and　across　the　bay　was　the　white　curve　of　Cannes　with　the　dark　mountains　behind　it。

〃I　love　you　very　much；〃　he　said　to　the　dark　girl　as　she　stood　up。　He　put　his　arms　around　her　and　kissed　her　and　she　said；　〃You　finished　it。〃

〃Sure；〃　he　said。　〃Why　not？〃

〃I　love　you　and　I'm　so　proud；〃　she　said。　They　walked　out　and　looked　at　the　sea　with　their　arms　around　each　other。

〃How　are　you　girl？〃

〃I'm　very　well　and　very　happy；〃　Marita　said。　〃Did　you　mean　it　about　loving　me　or　was　it　just　the　morning？〃

〃It　was　the　morning；〃　David　said　and　kissed　her　again。

〃Can　I　read　the　story？〃

〃It's　too　lovely　a　day。〃

〃Can't　I　read　it　so　I　can　feel　like　you　do　and　not　just　happy　because　you're　happy　like　I　was　your　dog？〃

He　gave　her　the　key　and　when　she　brought　the　notebooks　and　read　the　story　at　the　bar　David　read　it　sitting　beside　her。　He　knew　it　was　ill　mannered　and　stupid。　He　had　never　done　this　before　with　anyone　and　it　was　against　everything　he　believed　about　writing　but　he　did　not　think　of　that　except　at　the　moment　when　he　put　his　arm　around　the　girl　and　looked　at　the　writing　on　the　lined　paper。　He　could　not　help　wanting　to　read　it　with　her　and　he　could　not　help　sharing　what　he　had　never　shared　and　what　he　had　believed　could　not　and　should　not　be　shared。

When　she　finished　reading　Marita　put　her　arms　around　David　and　kissed　him　so　hard　that　she　drew　blood　from　his　lip。　He　looked　at　her　and　tasted　his　blood　absentmindedly　and　smiled。

〃I'm　sorry　David；〃　she　said。　〃Please　forgive　me。　I'm　so　very　happy　and　prouder　than　you　are。
203
202
。　THE　GARDEN　OI~　EDEN


〃Is　it　all　right？〃　he　said。　〃Can　you　smell　the　shamba　smell　and　the　clean　smell　of　hut　inside　and　feel　the　smoothness　of　the　old　men　chairs？　It's　really　clean　in　the　hut　and　the　earth　floor　is　swept。〃

〃Of　course　it　is。　You　had　it　in　the　other　story。　I　can　see　the　angle　of　the　head　of　Kibo　the　heroic　dog　too。　You　were　such　a　lovely　hero。　Did　the　blood　make　a　stain　in　your　pocket？〃

〃Yes。　It　softened　when　I　sweated。〃

〃Let's　go　to　town　and　celebrate　the　day；〃　Marita　said。　〃There's　a　lot　of　things　that　we　can　do　today。〃

David　stopped　at　the　bar　and　poured　Haig　Pinch　and　then　cold　Perrier　into　a　glass　and　brought　it　with　him　to　the　room　where　he　drank　half　of　it　and　took　a　cold　shower。　Then　he　pulled　on　slacks　and　a　shirt　and　put　on　alpargatas　to　go　into　town。　He　felt　the　story　was　good　and　felt　even　better　about　Marita。　Neither　had　been　diminished　by　the　sharpening　of　perception　he　had　now；　and　clarity　had　come　with　no　sadness。

Catherine　was　doing　whatever　she　was　doing　and　would　do　whatever　she　would　do。　He　looked　out　and　felt　the　old　happy　carelessness。　It　was　a　day　for　flying　actually。　He　wished　there　was　a　field　where　he　could　rent　a　plane　and　take　Marita　up　and　show　her　what　you　could　do　with　a　day　like　this。　She　might　like　it。　But　there　isn't　any　field　here。　So　forget　that。　It　would　be　fun　though。　So　would　skiing。　That's　only　two　months　away　if　you　want　it。　Christ；　it　was　good　to　finish　today　and　have　her　there。　Marita　there　with　no　damned　jealousy　of　the　work　and　have　her　know　what　you　were　reaching　for　and　how　far　you　went。　She　really　knows　and　it's　not　faked。　I　do　love　her　and　you　make　a　note　of　it；　whiskey；　and　you　witness　it　for　me；　Perrier　old　boy　old　Perrier；　I　have　been　faithful　to　you；　Perrier；　in　my　fucking　fashion。　It　feels　very　good　when　you　feel　so　good。　It's　a　stupid　feeling　but　it　fits　on　this　day　so　put　it　on。
〃Come　on　girl；〃　he　said　to　Marita　at　the　door　of　her　room。　〃What's　holding　you　up　besides　your　beautiful　legs？〃
〃I'm　ready；　David；〃　she　said。　She　had　on　a　tight　sweater　and　slacks　and　her　face　was　shining。　She　brushed　her　dark　hair　and　looked　at　him。
〃It's　wonderful　when　you're　so　gay。
〃It's　suc