the friendly road(友好的路)-第23章
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raise more cattle； collect more interest； and the wonderful hedge continued
to flaunt its marvels still more notably upon the country road。 To what end？
Who knows？ Who knows？
I saw him afterward from time to time； tried to maintain some sort of
friendly relations with him； but it seemed as the years passed that he grew
ever lonelier and more bitter； and not only more friendless； but seemingly
more incapable of friendliness。 In times past I have seen what men call
tragediesI saw once a perfect young man die in his strengthbut it seems
to me I never knew anything more tragic than the life and death of Old
Toombs。 If it cannot be said of a man when he dies that either his nation；
his state； his neighborhood； his family； or at least his wife or child； is
better for his having lived； what CAN be said for him？
Old Toombs is dead。 Like Jehoram； King of Judah； of whom it is
terribly said in the Book of Chronicles； 〃he departed without being
desired。〃
Of this story of Nathan Toombs we talked much and long there in the
Ransome home。 I was with them； as I said； about two dayskept inside
most of the time by a driving spring rain which filled the valley with a
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pale gray mist and turned all the country roads into running streams。 One
morning； the weather having cleared； I swung my bag to my shoulder； and
with much warmth of parting I set my face again to the free road and the
open country。
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CHAPTER IX。 THE MAN
POSSESSED
I suppose I was predestined （and likewise foreordained） to reach the
city sooner or later。 My fate in that respect was settled for me when I
placed my trust in the vagrant road。 I thought for a time that I was more
than a match for the Road； but I soon learned that the Road was more than
a match for me。 Sly？ There's no name for it。 Alluring； lovable； mysterious…
…as the heart of a woman。 Many a time I followed the Road where it led
through innocent meadows or climbed leisurely hill slopes only to find
that it had crept around slyly and led me before I knew it into the back
door of some busy town。
Mostly in this country the towns squat low in the valleys； they lie in
wait by the rivers； and often I scarcely know of their presence until I am so
close upon them that I can smell the breath of their heated nostrils and
hear their low growlings and grumblings。
My fear of these lesser towns has never been profound。 I have even
been bold enough； when I came across one of them； to hasten straight
through as though assured that Cerberus was securely chained； but I found；
after a time； what I might indeed have guessed； that the Road； also led
irresistibly to the lair of the Old Monster himself； the He…one of the
species； where he lies upon the plain； lolling under his soiled gray blanket
of smoke。
It is wonderful to be safe at home again； to watch the tender； reddish
brown shoots of the Virginia creeper reaching in at my study window； to
see the green of my own quiet fields； to hear the peaceful clucking of the
hens in the sunny dooryardand Harriet humming at her work in the
kitchen。
When I left the Ransomes that fine spring morning； I had not the
slightest presentiment of what the world held in store for me。 After being a
prisoner of the weather for so long； I took to the Road with fresh joy。 All
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the fields were of a misty greenness and there were pools still shining in
the road； but the air was deliciously clear； clean； and soft。 I came through
the hill country for three or four miles； even running down some of the
steeper places for the very joy the motion gave me； the feel of the air on
my face。
Thus I came finally to the Great Road； and stood for a moment looking
first this way； then that。
〃Where now？〃 I asked aloud。
With an amusing sense of the possibilities that lay open before me； I
closed my eyes； turned slowly around several times and then stopped。
When I opened my eyes I was facing nearly southward： and that way I set
out； not knowing in the least what Fortune had presided at that turning。 If I
had gone the other way
I walked vigorously for two or three hours； meeting or passing many
people upon the busy road。 Automobiles there were in plenty； and loaded
wagons； and jolly families off for town； and a herdsman driving sheep；
and small boys on their way to school with their dinner pails； and a gypsy
wagon with lean； led horses following behind； and even a Jewish peddler
with a crinkly black beard； whom I was on the very point of stopping。
〃I should like sometime to know a Jew；〃 I said to myself。
As I travelled； feeling like one who possesses hidden riches； I came
quite without warning upon the beginning of my great adventure。 I had
been looking for a certain thing all the morning； first on one side of the
road； then the other； and finally I was rewarded。 There it was； nailed high
upon tree； the curious； familiar sign：
＇ REST ＇
I stopped instantly。 It seemed like an old friend。
〃Well；〃 said I。 〃I'm not at all tired； but I want to be agreeable。〃
With that I sat down on a convenient stone； took off my hat； wiped my
forehead； and looked about me with satisfaction； for it was a pleasant
country。
I had not been sitting there above two minutes when my eyes fell upon
one of the oddest specimens of humanity （I thought then） that ever I saw。
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He had been standing near the roadside； just under the tree upon which I
had seen the sign； 〃Rest。〃 My heart dotted and carried one。
〃The sign man himself！〃 I exclaimed。
I arose instantly and walked down the road toward him。
〃A man has only to stop anywhere here；〃 I said exultantly； 〃and things
happen。
The stranger's appearance was indeed extraordinary。 He seemed at first
glimpse to be about twice as large around the hips as he was at the
shoulders； but this I soon discovered to be due to no natural avoir…dupois
but to the prodigious number of soiled newspapers and magazines with
which the low…hanging pockets of his overcoat were stuffed。 For he was
still wearing an old shabby overcoat though the weather was warm and
brightand on his head was an odd and outlandish hat。 It was of fur； flat at
the top； flat as a pie tin； with the moth…eaten earlaps turned up at the sides
and looking exactly like small furry ears。 These； with the round steel
spectacles which he worethe only distinctive feature of his countenance
gave him an indescribably droll appearance。
〃A fox！〃 I thought。
Then I looked at him more closely。
〃No；〃 said I； 〃an owl； an owl！〃
The stranger stepped out into the road and evidently awaited my
approach。 My first vivid impression of his faceI remember it afterward
shining with a strange inward illuminationwas not favourable。 It was a
deep…lined； scarred； worn…looking face； insignificant if not indeed ugly in
its features； and yet； even at the first glance； revealing something
inexplainableincalculable
〃Good day； friend；〃 I said heartily。
Without replying to my greeting； he asked：
〃Is this the road to Kilburn？〃with a faint flavour of foreignness in his
words。
〃I think it is；〃 I replied； and I noticed as he lifted his hand to thank me
that one finger was missing and that the hand itself was cruelly twisted
and scarred。
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The stranger instantly set off up the Road without giving me much
more attention than he would have given any other signpost。 I stood a
moment looking after himthe wings of his overcoat beating about his
legs and the small furry ears on his cap wagging gently。
〃There；〃 said I aloud； 〃is a man who is actually going somewhere。〃
So many men in this world are going nowhere in particular that when
one comes alongeven though he be amusing and insignificantwho is
really （and passionately） going somewhere； what a stir he communicates
to a dull world！ We catch sparks of electricity from the very friction of his
passage。
It was so with this odd stranger。 Though at one moment I could not
help smiling at him； at the next I was following him。
〃It may be；〃 said I to myself； 〃that this is really the sign man！〃
I felt like Captain Kidd under full sail to capture a treasure ship； and as
I approached I was much agitated as to the best method of grappling and
boarding。 I finally decided； being a lover of bold methods； to let go my
largest gun firstfor moral effect。
〃So；〃 said I； as I ran alongside；〃you are the man who puts up the
signs。〃
He stopped and looked at me。
〃What signs？〃
〃Why the sign 'Rest' along this road。〃
He paused for some seconds with a perplexed expression on his face。
〃Then you are not the sign man？〃 I said。
〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I ain't any sign man。〃
I was not a little disappointed； but having made my attack； I
determined to see if there was any treasure aboardwhich； I suppose；
should be the procedure of any well…regulated pirate。
〃I'm going this way myself；〃 I said； 〃and if you have no objections〃
He stood looking at me curiously； indeed suspiciously； through his
round spectacles。
〃Have you got the passport？〃 he asked finally。
〃The passport！〃 I exclaimed； mystified in my turn。
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