carson mccullers - the heart is a lonely hunter-第50部分

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！


talked　about　God。　Sometimes　she　would　wake　up　in　the　night　
and　shiver　over　what　they　had　said。　Harry　was　a　Pantheist。　


That　was　a　religion；　the　same　as　Baptist　or　Catholic　or　Jew。　
Harry　believed　that　after　you　were　dead　and　buried　you　
changed　to　plants　and　fire　and　dirt　and　clouds　and　water。　It　
took　thousands　of　years　and　then　finally　you　were　a　part　of　all　
the　world。　He　said　he　thought　

229　
that　was　better　than　being　one　single　angel。　Anyhow　it　was　
better　than　nothing。　
Harry　threw　the　newspaper　into　his　hall　and　then　came　over。　
'It's　hot　like　summer；'　he　said。　'And　only　March。'　
'Yeah。　I　wish　we　could　go　swimming。'　
'We　would　if　there　was　any　place。'　
There's　not　any　place。　Except　that　country　club　pool。'　
'I　sure　would　like　to　do　something—to　get　out　and　go　
somewhere。'　
〃Me　too；'　she　said；　'Wait！　I　know　one　place。　It's　out　in　the　
country　about　fifteen　miles。　It's　a　deep；　wide　creek　in　the　
woods。　The　Girl　Scouts　have　a　camp　there　in　the　summertime。　Mrs。　Wells　took　me　and　George　and　Pete　and　Sucker　
swimming　there　one　time　last　year。'　
If　you　want　to　I　can　get　bicycles　and　we　can　go　tomorrow。　I　
have　a　holiday　one　Sunday　a　month。'　
'Well　ride　out　and　take　a　picnic　dinner；'　Mick　said。　
'O。K。　ITl　borrow　the　bikes。'　
It　was　time　for　him　to　go　to　work。　She　watched　him　walk　
down　the　street。　He　swung　his　arms。　Halfway　down　the　block　
there　was　a　bay　tree　with　low　branches。　Harry　took　a　running　
jump；　caught　a　limb；　and　chinned　himself。　A　happy　feeling　
came　in　her　because　it　was　true　they　were　real　good　friends。　
Also　he　was　handsome。　Tomorrow　she　would　borrow　Hazel's　
blue　necklace　and　wear　the　sfflc　dress。　And　for　dinner　they　
would　take　jelly　sandwiches　and　Nehi。　Maybe　Harry　would　
bring　something　queer；　because　they　ate　orthodox　Jew。　She　
watched　him　until　he　turned　the　corner。　It　was　true　that　he　had　
grown　to　be　a　very　good…looking　fellow。　
Harry　in　the　country　was　different　from　Harry　sitting　on　the　


back　steps　reading　the　newspapers　and　thinking　about　Hitler。　
They　left　early　in　the　morning。　The　wheels　he　borrowed　were　
the　kind　for　boys—with　a　bar　between　the　legs。　They　strapped　
the　lunches　and　bathing…suits　to　the　fenders　and　were　gone　
before　nine　o'clock。　The　morning　was　hot　and　sunny。　Within　
an　hour　they　were　far　out　of　town　on　a　red　clay　road。　The　
fields　were　bright　and　ereen　and　the　sharp　smell　of　pine　trees　
was　in　the　air。　Harry　talked　in　a　very　excited　way。　The　warm　
wind　blew　into　their　faces。　Her　mouth　was　very　dry　and　she　
was　hungry。230　

'See　that　house　up　on　the　hill　there？　Less　us　stop　and　get　some　
water。'　
'No；　we　better　wait。　Well　water　gives　you　typhoid。'　
'I　already　had　typhoid。　I　had　pneumonia　and　a　broken　leg　and　a　
infected　foot。'　
'I　remember。'　
'Yeah；'　Mick　said。　'Me　and　Bill　stayed　in　the　front　room　when　
we　had　typhoid　fever　and　Pete　Wells　would　run　past　on　the　
sidewalk　holding　his　nose　and　looking　up　at　the　window。　Bill　
was　very　embarrassed。　All　my　hair　came　out　so　I　was　bald…
headed。'　
'I　bet　we're　at　least　ten　miles　from　town。　We've　been　riding　an　
hour　and　a　half—fast　riding；　too。'　
'I　sure　am　thirsty；'　Mick　said。　'And　hungry。　What　you　got　in　
that　sack　for　lunch？'　
'Cold　liver　pudding　and　chicken　salad　sandwiches　and　pie。'　
That's　a　good　picnic　dinner。'　She　was　ashamed　of　what　she　had　
brought。　'I　got　two　hard…boiled　eggs—already　stuffed—with　
separate　little　packages　of　salt　and　pepper。　And　sandwiches—　
blackberry　jelly　with　butter。　Everything　wrapped　in　oil　paper。　
And　paper　napkins。'　
'I　didn't　intend　for　you　to　bring　anything；'　Harry　said。　*My　
Mother　fixed　lunch　for　both　of　us。　I　asked　you　out　here　and　
all。　We'll　come　to　a　store　soon　and　get　cold　drinks。'　
They　rode　half　an　hour　longer　before　they　finally　came　to　the　
filling…station　store。　Harry　propped　up　the　bicycles　and　she　
went　in　ahead　of　him。　After　the　bright　glare　the　store　seemed　
dark。　The　shelves　were　stacked　with　slabs　of　white　meat；　cans　
of　oil；　and　sacks　of　meal。　Flies　buzzed　over　a　big；　sticky　jar　of　


loose　candy　on　the　counter。　

。What　kind　of　drinks　you　got？'　Harry　asked。
The　storeman　started　to　name　them　over。　Mick　opened　the　ice
box　and　looked　inside。　Her　hands　felt　good　in　the　cold　water。
'I　want　a　chocolate　Nehi。　You　got　any　of　them？
'
'Ditto；'　Harry　said。　'Make　it　two。
'
'No；　wait　a　minute。　Here's　some　ice…cold　beer。　I　want　a　bottle
of　beer　if　you　can　treat　as　high　as　that'　Harry　ordered　one　for
himself；　also。　He　thought　it　was
231　

a　sin　for　anybody　under　twenty　to　drink　beer—but　maybe　he　
just　suddenly　wanted　to　be　a　sport。　After　the　first　swallow　he　
made　a　bitter　face。　They　sat　on　the　steps　in　front　of　the　store。　
Mick's　legs　were　so　tired　that　the　muscles　in　them　jumped。　
She　wiped　the　neck　of　the　bottle　with　her　hand　and　took　a　
long；　cold　pull。　Across　the　road　there　was　a　big　empty　field　of　
grass；　and　beyond　that　a　fringe　of　pine　woods。　The　trees　were　
every　color　of　green—from　a　bright　yellow…green　to　a　dark　
color　that　was　almost　black。　The　sky　was　hot　blue。　
'I　like　beer；'　she　said。　'I　used　to　sop　bread　down　in　the　drops　
our　Dad　left。　I　like　to　lick　salt　out　my　hand　while　I　drink。　This　
is　the　second　bottle　to　myself　I've　ever　had。'　
The　first　swallow　was　sour。　But　the　rest　tastes　good。'　
The　storeman　said　it　was　twelve　miles　from　town。　They　had　
four　more　miles　to　go。　Harry　paid　him　and　they　were　out　in　the　
hot　sun　again。　Harry　was　talking　loud　and　he　kept　laughing　
without　any　reason。　
'Gosh；　the　beer　along　with　this　hot　sun　makes　me　dizzy。　But　I　
sure　do　feel　good；'　he　said。　
'I　can't　wait　to　get　in　swimming。'　
There　was　sand　in　the　road　and　they　had　to　throw　all　their　
weight　on　the　pedals　to　keep　from　bogging。　Harry's　shirt　was　
stuck　to　his　back　with　sweat。　He　still　kept　talking。　The　road　
changed　to　red　clay　and　the　sand　was　behind　them。　There　was　
a　slow　colored　song　in　her　mind—one　Portia's　brother　used　to　
play　on　his　harp。　She　pedaled　in　time　to　it。　
Then　finally　they　reached　the　place　she　had　been　looking　for。　
〃This　is　it！　See　that　sign　that　says　PRIVATE？　We　got　to　climb　
the　bob…wire　fence　and　then　take　that　path　there—see！'　


The　woods　were　very　quiet。　Slick　pine　needles　covered　the　
ground。　Within　a　few　minutes　they　had　reached　the　creek。　The　
water　was　brown　and　swift。　Cool。　There　was　no　sound　except　
from　the　water　and　a　breeze　singing　high　up　in　the　pine　trees。　
It　was　like　the　deep；　quiet　woods　made　them　timid；　and　they　
walked　softly　along　the　bank　beside　the　creek。　
'Don't　it　look　pretty。'　
Harry　laughed。　'What　makes　you　whisper？　Listen　here！'232　

He　clapped　his　hand　over　his　mouth　and　gave　a　long　Indian　
whoop　that　echoed　back　at　them。　'Come　on。　Let's　jump　in　the　
water　and　cool　off。'　
'Aren't　you　hungry？'　
'O。K。　Then　we'll　eat　first。　We'll　eat　half　the　lunch　now　and　half　
later　on　when　we　come　out'　
She　unwrapped　the　jelly　sandwiches。　When　they　were　finished　
Harry　balled　the　papers　neatly　and　stuffed　them　into　a　hollow　
tree　stump。　Then　he　took　his　shorts　and　went　down　the　path。　
She　shucked　off　her　clothes　behind　a　bush　and　struggled　into　
Hazel's　bathing…suit　The　suit　was　too　small　and　cut　her　
between　the　legs。　
〃You　ready？'　Harry　hollered。　
She　heard　a　splash　in　the　water　and　when　she　reached　the　bank　
Harry　was　already　swimming。　'Don't　dive　yet　until　I　find　out　if　
there　are　any　stumps　or　shallow　places；'　he　said。　She　just　
looked　at　his　head　bobbing　in　the　water。　She　had　never　
intended　to　dive；　anyway。　She　couldn't　even　swim。　She　had　
been　in　swimming　only　a　few　times　in　her　life—and　then　she　
always　wore　water…wings　or　stayed　out　of　parts　that　were　over　
her　head。　But　it　would　be　sissy　to　tell　Harry。　She　was　
embarrassed。　All　of　a　sudden　she　told　a　tale：　
'I　don't　dive　any　more。　I　used　to　dive；　high　dive；　all　the　time。　
But　once　I　busted　my　head　open；　so　I　can't　dive　any　more。'　She　
thought　for　a　minute。　'It　was　a　double　jack…knife　dive　I　was　
doing。　And　when　I　came　up　there　was　blood　all　in　the　water。　
But　I　didn't　think　anything　about　it　and　just　began　to　do　
swimming　tricks。　These　people　were　hollering　at　me。　Then　I　
found　out　where　all　this　blood　in　the　water　was　coming　from。　
And　I　never　have　swam　good　since。'　
Harry　scrambled　up　the　bank。　'Gosh！　I　never　heard　about　that。'　


She　meant　to　add　on　to　the　tale　to　make　it　sound　more　
reasonable；　but　instead　she　just　looked　at　Harry。　His　skin　was　
light　brown　and　the　water　made　it　shining。　There　were　hairs　
on　his　chest　and　legs。　In　the　tight　trunks　he　seemed　very　
naked。　Without　his　glasses　his　face　was　wider　and　more　
handsome。　His　eyes　were　wet　and　blue。　He　was　looking　at　her　
and　it　was　like　suddenly　they　got　embarrassed。　

233　

The　water's　about　ten　feet　deep　except　over　on　the　other　bank；　
and　there　it's　shallow。'；　
'Less　us　get　going。　I　bet　that　cold　water　feels　good。'　
She　wasn't　scared。　She　felt　the　same　as　if　she　had　got　caught　at　
the　top　of　a　very　high　tree　and　there　was　nothing　to　do　but　just　
climb　down　the　best　way　she　could—a　dead…calm　feeling。　She　
edged　off　the　bank　and　was　in　ice…cold　water。　She　held　to　a　
root　until　it　broke　in　her　hands　and　then　she　began　to　swim。　
Once　she　choked　and　went　under；　but　she　kept　going　and　
didn't　lose　any　face。　She　swam　and　reached　the　other　side　of　
the　bank　where　she　could　touch　bottom。　Then　she　felt　good。　
She　smacked　the　water　with　her　fists　and　called　out　crazy　
words　to　make　echoes。　
Watch　here！'　
Harry　shimmied　up　a　tall；　thin　little　tree。　The　trunk　was　limber　
and　when　he　reached　the　top　it　swayed　down　with　him。　He　
dropped　into　the　water。　
'Me　too！　Watch　me　do　it！'　
〃That's　a　sapling。'　
She　was　as　good　a　climber　as　anybody　on　the　block。　She　
copied　exactly　what　he　had　done　and　hit　the　water　with　a　hard　
smack。　She　could　swim；　too。　Now　she　could　swim　O。K。　
They　played　follow　the　leader　and　ran　up　and　down　the　bank　
and　jumped　in　the　cold　brown　water。　They　hollered　and　
jumped　and　climbed。　They　played　around　for　maybe　two　
hours。　Then　they　were　standing　on　the　bank　and　they　both　
looked　at　each　other　and　there　didn't　seem　to　be　anything　new　
to　do。　Suddenly　she　said：　
'Have　you　ever　swam　naked？'　
The　woods　was　very　quiet　an