the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第13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！
that he； too； had a wound； a red badge of cour… age。
The spectral soldier was at his side like a stalking reproach。 The
man's eyes were still fixed in a stare into the unknown。 His gray；
appalling face had attracted attention in the crowd； and men； slowing to
his dreary pace； were walking with him。 They were discussing his plight；
questioning him and giving him advice。
91 In a dogged way he repelled them； signing to them to go on and
leave him alone。 The shadows of his face were deepening and his tight
lips seemed holding in check the moan of great despair。 There could be
seen a certain stiffness in the movements of his body； as if he were taking
infinite care not to arouse the passion of his wounds。 As he went on； he
seemed always look… ing for a place； like one who goes to choose a grave。
Something in the gesture of the man as he waved the bloody and
pitying soldiers away made the youth start as if bitten。 He yelled in
horror。 Tottering forward he laid a quivering hand upon the man's arm。
As the latter slowly turned his waxlike features toward him； the youth
screamed：
〃Gawd！ Jim Conklin！〃
The tall soldier made a little commonplace smile。 〃Hello； Henry；〃 he
said。
The youth swayed on his legs and glared strangely。 He stuttered and
stammered。 〃Oh； Jimoh； Jimoh； Jim〃
The tall soldier held out his gory hand。 There was a curious red and
black combination of new blood and old blood upon it。 〃Where yeh been；
54
… Page 55…
The Red Badge of Courage
Henry？〃 he asked。 He continued in a monoto… nous voice； 〃I thought
mebbe yeh got keeled over。 There 's been thunder t' pay t'…day。 I was
worryin' about it a good deal。〃
The youth still lamented。 〃Oh； Jimoh； Jim oh； Jim〃
〃Yeh know；〃 said the tall soldier； 〃I was out there。〃 He made a
careful gesture。 〃An'； Lord； what a circus！ An'； b'jiminey； I got shot I
got shot。 Yes； b'jiminey； I got shot。〃 He reiterated this fact in a
bewildered way； as if he did not know how it came about。
The youth put forth anxious arms to assist him； but the tall soldier
went firmly on as if pro… pelled。 Since the youth's arrival as a guardian
for his friend； the other wounded men had ceased to display much interest。
They occupied them… selves again in dragging their own tragedies toward
the rear。
Suddenly； as the two friends marched on； the tall soldier seemed to be
overcome by a terror。 His face turned to a semblance of gray paste。 He
clutched the youth's arm and looked all about him； as if dreading to be
overheard。 Then he began to speak in a shaking whisper：
〃I tell yeh what I'm 'fraid of； HenryI 'll tell yeh what I 'm 'fraid of。 I
'm 'fraid I 'll fall down an' then yeh knowthem damned artillery
wagonsthey like as not 'll run over me。 That 's what I 'm 'fraid of〃
The youth cried out to him hysterically： 〃I 'll take care of yeh； Jim！
I'll take care of yeh！ I swear t' Gawd I will！〃
〃Surewill yeh； Henry？〃 the tall soldier beseeched。
〃YesyesI tell yehI'll take care of yeh； Jim！〃 protested the youth。
He could not speak accurately because of the gulpings in his throat。
But the tall soldier continued to beg in a lowly way。 He now hung
babelike to the youth's arm。 His eyes rolled in the wildness of his terror。
〃I was allus a good friend t' yeh； wa'n't I； Henry？ I 've allus been a pretty
good feller； ain't I？ An' it ain't much t' ask； is it？ Jest t' pull me along
outer th' road？ I 'd do it fer you； Wouldn't I； Henry？〃
He paused in piteous anxiety to await his friend's reply。
The youth had reached an anguish where the sobs scorched him。 He
strove to express his loyalty； but he could only make fantastic gestures。
However； the tall soldier seemed suddenly to forget all those fears。
55
… Page 56…
The Red Badge of Courage
He became again the grim； stalking specter of a soldier。 He went stonily
forward。 The youth wished his friend to lean upon him； but the other
always shook his head and strangely protested。 〃Nonono leave me
beleave me be〃
His look was fixed again upon the unknown。 He moved with
mysterious purpose； and all of the youth's offers he brushed aside。 〃No
no leave me beleave me be〃
The youth had to follow。
Presently the latter heard a voice talking softly near his shoulders。
Turning he saw that it belonged to the tattered soldier。 〃Ye 'd better take
'im outa th' road； pardner。 There 's a batt'ry comin' helitywhoop down th'
road an' he 'll git runned over。 He 's a goner anyhow in about five
minutesyeh kin see that。 Ye 'd better take 'im outa th' road。 Where th'
blazes does he git his stren'th from？〃
〃Lord knows！〃 cried the youth。 He was shaking his hands helplessly。
He ran forward presently and grasped the tall soldier by the arm。
〃Jim！ Jim！〃 he coaxed； 〃come with me。〃
The tall soldier weakly tried to wrench himself free。 〃Huh；〃 he said
vacantly。 He stared at the youth for a moment。 At last he spoke as if
dimly comprehending。 〃Oh！ Inteh th' fields？ Oh！〃
He started blindly through the grass。
The youth turned once to look at the lashing riders and jouncing guns
of the battery。 He was startled from this view by a shrill outcry from the
tattered man。
〃Gawd！ He's runnin'！〃
Turning his head swiftly； the youth saw his friend running in a
staggering and stumbling way toward a little clump of bushes。 His heart
seemed to wrench itself almost free from his body at this sight。 He made
a noise of pain。 He and the tattered man began a pursuit。 There was a
singular race。
When he overtook the tall soldier he began to plead with all the words
he could find。 〃Jim Jimwhat are you doingwhat makes you do this
wayyou 'll hurt yerself。〃
The same purpose was in the tall soldier's face。 He protested in a
56
… Page 57…
The Red Badge of Courage
dulled way； keeping his eyes fastened on the mystic place of his intentions。
〃Nonodon't tech meleave me beleave me be〃
The youth； aghast and filled with wonder at the tall soldier； began
quaveringly to question him。 〃Where yeh goin'； Jim？ What you thinking
about？ Where you going？ Tell me； won't you； Jim？〃
The tall soldier faced about as upon relentless pursuers。 In his eyes
there was a great appeal。 〃Leave me be； can't yeh？ Leave me be fer a
minnit。〃
The youth recoiled。 〃Why； Jim；〃 he said； in a dazed way； 〃what's the
matter with you？〃
The tall soldier turned and； lurching danger… ously； went on。 The
youth and the tattered soldier followed； sneaking as if whipped； feeling
unable to face the stricken man if he should again confront them。 They
began to have thoughts of a solemn ceremony。 There was something rite…
like in these movements of the doomed soldier。 And there was a
resemblance in him to a devotee of a mad religion； blood…sucking； muscle…
wrench… ing； bone…crushing。 They were awed and afraid。 They hung
back lest he have at command a dreadful weapon。
At last； they saw him stop and stand motion… less。 Hastening up； they
perceived that his face wore an expression telling that he had at last found
the place for which he had struggled。 His spare figure was erect； his
bloody hands were quietly at his side。 He was waiting with patience for
something that he had come to meet。 He was at the rendezvous。 They
paused and stood； ex… pectant。
There was a silence。
Finally； the chest of the doomed soldier began to heave with a strained
motion。 It increased in violence until it was as if an animal was within
and was kicking and tumbling furiously to be free。
This spectacle of gradual strangulation made the youth writhe； and
once as his friend rolled his eyes； he saw something in them that made him
sink wailing to the ground。 He raised his voice in a last supreme call。
〃JimJimJim〃
The tall soldier opened his lips and spoke。 He made a gesture。
〃Leave me bedon't tech meleave me be〃
57
… Page 58…
The Red Badge of Courage
There was another silence while he waited。
Suddenly； his form stiffened and straightened。 Then it was shaken by a
prolonged ague。 He stared into space。 To the two watchers there was a
curious and profound dignity in the firm lines of his awful face。
He was invaded by a creeping strangeness that slowly enveloped him。
For a moment the tremor of his legs caused him to dance a sort of hideous
hornpipe。 His arms beat wildly about his head in expression of implike
enthusiasm。
His tall figure stretched itself to its full height。 There was a slight
rending sound。 Then it began to swing forward； slow and straight； in the
man… ner of a falling tree。 A swift muscular contortion made the left
shoulder strike the ground first。
The body seemed to bounce a little way from the earth。 〃God！〃 said
the tattered soldier。
The youth had watched； spellbound； this ceremony at the place of
meeting。 His face had been twisted into an expression of every agony he
had imagine
