just david(公正的大卫)-第2章
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〃Father； what is it to bedead？〃
〃What do you mean； David？〃
〃The boy who brings the milkhe had the squirrel this morning。 He
said it was not asleep。 It wasdead。〃
〃It means that the squirrel； the real squirrel under the fur； has gone
away； David。〃
〃Where？〃
〃To a far country； perhaps。〃
〃Will he come back？〃
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〃No。〃
〃Did he want to go？〃
〃We'll hope so。〃
〃But he left hishis fur coat behind him。 Didn't he needthat？〃
〃No； or he'd have taken it with him。〃
David had fallen silent at this。 He had remained strangely silent indeed
for some days； then； out in the woods with his father one morning； he gave
a joyous shout。 He was standing by the ice…covered brook； and looking at
a little black hole through which the hurrying water could be plainly seen。
〃Daddy； oh； daddy； I know now how it is； about beingdead。〃
〃WhyDavid！〃
〃It's like the water in the brook； you know； THAT'S going to a far
country； and it isn't coming back。 And it leaves its little cold ice…coat
behind it just as the squirrel did； too。 It does n't need it。 It can go without it。
Don't you see？ And it's singinglisten！it's singing as it goes。 It WANTS
to go！〃
〃Yes； David。〃 And David's father had sighed with relief that his son
had found his own explanation of the mystery； and one that satisfied。
Later； in his books； David found death again。 It was a man； this time。
The boy had looked up with startled eyes。
〃Do people； real people； like you and me； be dead； father？ Do they go
to a far country？
〃Yes； son in timeto a far country ruled over by a great and good King
they tell us。
David's father had trembled as he said it； and had waited fearfully for
the result。 But David had only smiled happily as he answered：
〃But they go singing； father； like the little brook。 You know I heard it！〃
And there the matter had ended。 David was ten now； and not yet for
him did death spell terror。 Because of this David's father was relieved； and
yetstill because of thishe was afraid。
〃David；〃 he said gently。 〃Listen to me。〃
The boy turned with a long sigh。
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〃Yes； father。〃
〃We must go away。 Out in the great world there are men and women
and children waiting for you。 You've a beautiful work to do； and one can't
do one's work on a mountain…top。〃
〃Why not？ I like it here； and I've always been here。〃
〃Not always； David； six years。 You were four when I brought you here。
You don't remember； perhaps。〃
David shook his head。 His eyes were again dreamily fixed on the sky。
〃I think I'd like itto goif I could sail away on that little cloud…boat
up there；〃 he murmured。
The man sighed and shook his head。
〃We can't go on cloud…boats。 We must walk； David； for a wayand we
must go soonsoon；〃 he added feverishly。 〃I must get you backback
among friends； before〃
He rose unsteadily； and tried to walk erect。 His limbs shook； and the
blood throbbed at his temples。 He was appalled at his weakness。 With a
fierceness born of his terror he turned sharply to the boy at his side。
〃David； we've got to go！ We've got to goTO…MORROW！〃
〃Father！〃
〃Yes； yes； come！〃 He stumbled blindly； yet in some way he reached
the cabin door。
Behind him David still sat； inert； staring。 The next minute the boy had
sprung to his feet and was hurrying after his father。
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JUST DAVID
CHAPTER II
THE TRAIL
A curious strength seemed to have come to the man。 With almost
steady hands he took down the photographs and the Sistine Madonna；
packing them neatly away in a box to be left。 From beneath his bunk he
dragged a large； dusty traveling…bag； and in this he stowed a little food； a
few garments； and a great deal of the music scattered about the room。
David； in the doorway； stared in dazed wonder。 Gradually into his eyes
crept a look never seen there before。
〃Father； where are we going？〃 he asked at last in a shaking voice； as
he came slowly into the room。
〃Back； son； we're going back。〃
〃To the village； where we get our eggs and bacon？〃
〃No； no； lad； not there。 The other way。 We go down into the valley this
time。〃
〃The valleyMY valley； with the Silver Lake？〃
〃Yes； my son； and beyondfar beyond。〃 The man spoke dreamily。 He
was looking at a photograph in his hand。 It had slipped in among the loose
sheets of music； and had not been put away with the others。 It was the
likeness of a beautiful woman。
For a moment David eyed him uncertainly； then he spoke。
〃Daddy； who is that？ Who are all these people in the pictures？ You've
never told me about any of them except the little round one that you wear
in your pocket。 Who are they？〃
Instead of answering； the man turned faraway eyes on the boy and
smiled wistfully。
〃Ah； David； lad； how they'll love you！ How they will love you！ But
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you mustn't let them spoil you； son。 You must rememberremember all
I've told you。〃
Once again David asked his question； but this time the man only
turned back to the photograph； muttering something the boy could not
understand。
After that David did not question any more。 He was too amazed； too
distressed。 He had never before seen his father like this。 With nervous
haste the man was setting the little room to rights； crowding things into the
bag； and packing other things away in an old trunk。 His cheeks were very
red； and his eyes very bright。 He talked； too； almost constantly； though
David could understand scarcely a word of what was said。 Later； the man
caught up his violin and played； and never before had David heard his
father play like that。 The boy's eyes filled； and his heart ached with a pain
that choked and numbedthough why； David could not have told。 Still
later； the man dropped his violin and sank exhausted into a chair； and then
David； worn and frightened with it all； crept to his bunk and fell asleep。
In the gray dawn of the morning David awoke to a different world。 His
father； white…faced and gentle； was calling him to get ready for breakfast。
The little room； dismantled of its decorations； was bare and cold。 The bag；
closed and strapped； rested on the floor by the door； together with the two
violins in their cases； ready to carry。
〃We must hurry； son。 It's a long tramp before we take the cars。〃
〃The carsthe real cars？ Do we go in those？〃 David was fully awake
now。
〃Yes。〃
〃And is that all we're to carry？〃
〃Yes。 Hurry； son。〃
〃But we come backsometime？〃
There was no answer。
〃Father； we're coming backsometime？〃 David's voice was insistent
now。
The man stooped and tightened a strap that was already quite tight
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enough。 Then he laughed lightly。
〃Why； of course you're coming back sometime； David。 Only think of
all these things we're leaving！〃
When the last dish was put away； the last garment adjusted； and the
last look given to the little room； the travelers picked up the bag and the
violins； and went out into the sweet freshness of the morning。 As he
fastened the door the man sighed profoundly； but David did not notice this。
His face was turned toward the eastalways David looked toward the sun。
〃Daddy； let's not go； after all！ Let's stay here；〃 he cried ardently；
drinking in the beauty of the morning。
〃We must go； David。 Come； son。〃 And the man led the way across the
green slope to the west。
It was a scarcely perceptible trail； but the man found it； and followed it
with evident confidence。 There was only the pause now and then to steady
his none…too…sure step； or to ease the burden of the bag。 Very soon the
forest lay all about them； with the birds singing over their heads； and with
numberless tiny feet scurrying through the underbrush on all sides。 Just
out of sight a brook babbled noisily of its delight in being alive； and away
up in the treetops the morning sun played hide…and…seek among the
dancing leaves。
And David leaped； and laughed； and loved it all； nor was any of it
strange to him。 The birds； the trees； the sun； the brook； the scurrying little
creatures of the forest； all were friends of his。 But the manthe man did
not leap or laugh； though he； too； loved it all。 The man was afraid。
He knew now that he had undertaken more than he could carry out。
Step by step the bag had grown heavier； and hour by hour the insistent；
teasing pain in his side had increased until now it was a torture。 He had
forgotten that the way to the valley was so long； he had not realized how
nearly spent was his strength before he even started down the trail。
Throbbing through his brain was the question； what if； after all； he could
notbut even to himself he would not say the words。 At noon they
paused for luncheon； and at night they camped where the chattering brook
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had stopped to rest in a still； black pool。 The next morning the man and the
boy picked up the trail again； but without the bag。 Under some leaves in a
little hollow； the man had hidden the bag； and had then said； as if
casually：
〃I believe； after all； I won't carry this along。 There's nothing in it that
we really need； you know； now that I've taken out the luncheon box； an
