time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第46章

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　　〃Uh　。　。　I　said　i　was；　didn't　I？〃
　　
　　〃You　didn't　say。　You　still　have　not。〃
　　
　　…〃I　accept。〃
　　
　　The　girl　child　had　listened　quietly；　face　serious。　Gibbon　said　to　her；　〃Can　you　stand　up　a　moment；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。〃
　　
　　He　put　her　down；　she　trembled　and　held　onto　his　kilt。　Gibbons　dug　into　his　sporran；　then　using　Buck's　broad　rump　as　a　desk；　wrote　a　draft　and　a　bill　of　sale。　He　handed　them　to；　Learner。　〃Take　that　to　Hilda　at　the　bank。　Sign　the　bill　of　sale　and　give　it　back　to　me。〃
　　
　　Silently　Learner　signed；　looked　at　the　draft　and　pocketed　it；　handed　over　the　bill　of　sale。　〃Thanks；　Banker…you　old　skinflint。　Where　do　you　want　him　delivered？〃
　　
　　〃You've　delivered　him。　Dismount。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？　How　do　1　get　to　the　bank？　How　am　I　supposed　to　get　home？〃
　　
　　〃You　walk。〃
　　
　　〃What？　Well；　of　all　the　sneaky；　underhanded　tricks！　You　get　the　mule　when　I　get　the　cash。　At　the　bank。〃
　　
　　〃Leamer；　I　paid　top　dollar　for　that　mule　because　I　need　him　now。　But　I　see　that　we　did　not　have　a　meeting　of　minds。　Okay；　hand　back　my　draft　and　here's　your　bill　of　sale。〃
　　
　　Learner　looked　startled。　〃Oh；　no；　you　don't！　You　made　a　deal。〃
　　
　　〃Then　get　off　my　mule　at　once〃…Gibbons　just　happened　to　rest　his　hand　on　the　handle　of　the　all…purpose　knife　every　man　carried…〃and　dogtrot　into　town　and　you'll　be　there　before　Hilda　closes。　Now　move。〃　His　eyes；　cold　and　blank；　held　Learner's。
　　
　　〃Can't　you　take　a　joke？〃　Learner　grumbled　as　he　swung　down。　He　started　walking　rather　fast　toward　town。
　　
　　〃Oh；　Clyde！〃
　　
　　Learner　stopped。　〃What　do　you　want　now？〃
　　
　　〃If　you　see　the　Volunteer　Fire　Team　headed　this　way；　tell　them　it's　too　late；　the　Harper　place　is　gone。　But　tell　Mccarthy　I　said　it　wouldn't　hurt　to　send　a　couple　of　men　to　check。〃
　　
　　〃Okay；　okay！〃
　　
　　〃And；　Clyde…what　was　it　you　used　to　teach？〃
　　
　　〃'Teach'？　I　taught　'Creative　Writing。'　I　told　you　I　had　a　good　education？〃
　　
　　〃So　you　did。　Better　hurry；　Hilda　closes　promptly；　she　has　to　pick　up　her　kids　at　Mrs。　Mayberry's　school。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　ignored　Learner's　answer；　picked　up　the　little　girl；　then　said；　〃Steady；　Buck。　Stand　still；　old　fellow。〃　He　swung　the　child　high；　settled　her　gently　astride　the　mule's　withers。　〃Hang　onto　his　mane。〃　He　toed　the　left　stirrup；　swung　up　behind　her；　scooted　back　in　the　saddle；　then　lifted　her　again　and　placed　her　somewhat　in　his　lap　but　mostly　in　the　saddle　just　back　of　the　pommel。　〃Hang　onto　the　horn；　dear。　Both　hands。　fortable？〃
　　
　　〃This　is　fun！〃
　　
　　〃Lots　of　fun；　baby　girl。　Buck！　Hear　me；　boy？〃
　　
　　The　mule　nodded。
　　
　　〃Walk。　Walk　back　to　town。　Slow　walk。　Steady。　Don't　stub　your　feet。　Get　me？　I'm　not　going　to　use　the　reins。〃
　　
　　〃Shrrow　。　。　Rrrawk！〃
　　
　　〃Right；　Buck。〃　Gibbons　took　a　hitch　in　the　reins；　let　them　fall　loosely　on　Buck's　neck…squeezed　the　mule　with　his　knees；　let　him　go。　Buck　ambled　toward　town。
　　
　　After　a　few　minutes　the　little　girl　said　gravely；　〃What　about　Mama　and　Daddy？〃
　　
　　〃Mama　and　Daddy　are　all　right。　They　knqw　I'm　taking　care　of　you。　What's　your　name；　dear？〃
　　
　　〃Dora。
　　
　　〃That's　a　nice　name；　Dora。　A　pretty　name。　Do　you　want　to　know　my　name？〃
　　
　　〃That　man　called　you　'Banker。'〃
　　
　　〃That's　not　my　name；　Dora；　that's　just　something　I　do　sometimes。　My　name　is　'Uncle　Gibbie。'　Can　you　say　that？〃
　　
　　〃'Uncle　Gibbie。'　That's　a　funny　name。〃
　　
　　〃So　it　is；　Dora。　And　this　is　Buck　we　are　riding。　He　is　a　friend　of　mine；　and　he'll　be　your　friend；　too；　now…so　say　hello　to　Buck。〃
　　
　　〃Hello；　Buck。〃
　　
　　〃Hayrrroh　。　。　Jorrrah！〃
　　
　　〃Say；　he　talks　lots　plainer　than　most　mules！　Doesn't　he？〃
　　
　　〃Buck　is　the　best　mule　on　New　Beginnings；　Dora。　And　the　smartest。　When　we　get　rid　of　this　bridle…Buck　doesn't　need　a　bit　in　his　mouth…he'll　be　able　to　talk　plainer　still　。　。　。and　you　can　teach　him　more　words。　Would　you　like　that？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes！〃　Dora　added；　〃If　Mama　lets　me。〃
　　
　　〃It's　all　right　with　Mama。　Do　you　like　to　sing；　Dora？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　sure！　I　know　a　clapping　song。　But　we　can't　clap　right　now。　Can　we？〃　…
　　
　　〃Right　now　I　think　we　had　better　hang　on　tight。〃　Gibbons　rapidly　reviewed　in　his　mind　his　repertoire　of　happy　songs；　rejected　a　round　dozen　as　unsuitable　for　young　ladies。　〃How　about　this　one？
　　
　　〃There's　a　pawnshop
　　
　　On　the　corner；
　　
　　Where　I　usually　keep　my　overcoat。
　　
　　〃Can　you　sing　that；　Dora？〃…
　　
　　〃Oh；　that's　easy！〃　The　baby　girl　sang　it　in　a　voice　so　high　that　Gibbons　was　reminded　of　a　canary。　〃Is　that　all；　Uncle　Gibbie？　And　what's　a…　'paunshot'？〃
　　
　　〃It's　a　place　to　keep　overcoats　when　you　don't　need　them。　Lots　more；　Dora。　Thousands…　and　thousands　of　verses。〃
　　
　　〃Thousands　and　thousands…'　Why；　that's　almost　as　much　as　a　hundred。　Isn't　it？〃
　　
　　〃Almost；　Dora。　Here's　another　verse：
　　
　　〃There's　a　trading　post
　　
　　By　the　pawnshop
　　
　　Where　my　sister　sells　candy。
　　
　　〃Do　you　like　candy；　Dora？〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　yes！　But　Mama　says　its　'spensive。〃
　　
　　〃Won't　be　so　expensive　next　year；　Dora；　there'll　be　more　sugar　beets　cropped。　But　。　。　'Open　your　mouth　and　close　your　eyes；　and　I'll　give　you　something　for　a　s'prise！'〃　He　felt　around　in　his　shirt　pocket；　then　said；　〃Oh；　sorry；　Dora；　the　surprise　will　have　to　wait　until　I　can　get　to　the　trading　post；　Buck　got　the　last　one。　Buck　likes　candy；　too。〃
　　
　　〃He　does？〃
　　
　　〃Yes　and　I'll　teach　you　how　to　give　it　to　him　without　losing　a　finger　by　mistake。　But　candy　isn't　too　good　for　him；　so　he　gets　it　only　as　a　special　surprise。　For　being　a　good…　boy。　Okay；　Buck？〃
　　
　　〃Oh…gay！　。　。　Pawsss！〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Mayberry's　school　was　letting　out　as　Gibbons　halted　Buck　in　front　of　it。　When　he　lifted　Dora　down；　she　seemec　very　tired；　so　he　picked　her　up　again。　〃Wait；　Buck。〃
　　
　　The　stragglers　among　the　pupils　stared　but　separated　and　let　him　through。
　　
　　〃Afternoon；　Mrs。　Mayberry。〃　Gibbons　had　gone　there　almost　by　instinct。　The　schoolmistress　was　a　gray…haired　widow；　fifty　or　more；　who　had　outlasted　two　husbands；　and　was　coping　sensibly　with　her　meager　chance　of　finding　a　third；　preferring　to　support　herself　rather　than　live　with　one　of　her　daughters；　stepdaughters；　or　daughters…in…law。　She　was　one　who　shared　Ernest　Gibbons'　enthusi？sm　for　the　hearty　pleasures　in　life　but　was　as　circumspect　about　it　as　he　was。　He　considered　her　sensible　in　every　way…a　prime　prospect　for　marriage　were　it　not　for　the　unfortunate　fact　that　they　ran　on　different　time　rates。
　　
　　Not　that　he　let　her　know　this。　He　had　not　been　a　disclosed　Howard　when　they　both　had　arrived　in　the　first　shipload；　and；　although　freshly　rejuvenated　on　Secundus　when　he　had　reappeared　on　Earth　and　organized　the　migration；　he　had　elected　to　be　thirty…five　or　so　（cosmetically）。　Since　that　time　he　had　carefully　aged　himself　each　year；　Helen　Mayberry　thought　of　him　as　a　contemporary；　returned　his　friendship；　shared　mutual　pleasure　with　him　from　time　to　time　without　trying　to　own　him。　He　respected　her　highly。
　　
　　〃Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Gibbons。　Why；　it's　Dora！　We　missed　you；　dear；　what　happened！　And…Is　that　a　bruise？〃　She　looked　closely；　said　nothing　about　the　fact　that　the　little　girl　was　filthy　dirty。
　　
　　She　straightened　up。　〃Seems　to　be　just　a　smudge。　I'm　glad　to　see　her；　I　fretted　a　little　this　morning　when　she　didn't　show　up　with　the　Parkinson　children。　It's　almost　Marjorie　Brandon's　time…perhaps　you　knew？〃
　　
　　〃Vaguely。　Where　can　I　put　Dora　down　for　a　few　minutes？　Conference。　Private。〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Mayberry's　eyes　widened　slightly；　but　she　answered　at　once。　〃The　couch…　No；　put　her　on　my　bed。〃　She　led　the　way；　said　nothing　about　getting　her　white　coverlet　dirty；　went　back　into　the　schoolroom　with　him　after　he　assured　Dora　that　they　would　be　gone　only　a　few　moments。
　　
　　Gibbons　explained　what　had　happened。　〃Dora　doesn't　know　that　her　parents　are　dead；　Helen…nor　do　I　think　it's　time　to　tell　her。〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Mayberry　considered　it。　〃Ernest；　are　you　sure　they　both　died？　Bud　would　have　seen　the　fire　if　he　had　been　working　his　own　fields；　but　he　sometimes　works　for　Mr。　Parkinson。〃
　　
　　〃Helen；　that　was　not　a　woman's　hand　I　saw。　Unless　Marje　Brandon　has　thick　black　hair　on　the　back　of　her　hands。〃
　　
　　〃No。　No；　that　would　be　Bud。〃　She　sighed。　〃Then　she's　an　orphan。　Poor　little　Dora！　A　nice　child。　Bright；　too。〃
　　
　　〃Helen；　can　you　take　care　of　her　a　few　days？　Will　you？〃
　　
　　第35节
　　
　　〃Ernest；　the　way　you　phrase　that　is　almost　offensive。　I　will　take　care　of　Dora　as　long　as　I　am　needed。〃
　　
　　〃Sorry；　I　didn't　mean　to　phrase　it　unpleasingly。　I　don't　expect　it　to　be　long；　some　family　will　adopt　her。　In　the　meantime　keep　track　of　your　expense；　then　we'll　work　out　what　her　room　and　board　should　be。〃
　　
　　〃Ernest；　that　will　e　to　exactly　zero。　The　only　cost　will　be　about　enough　food　to　feed　a　bird。　Which　I　can　certainly　do　for　Marjorie　Brandon's　little　girl。〃
　　
　　〃So？　Well；　I　can　find　some　family　to　board　her。　The　Learners。　Someone。〃
　　
　　〃Ernest~〃
　　
　　〃Get　your　feathers　down；　Helen。　That　child　was　placed　in　my　hands；　her　father's　last　dying　act。　And；　don't　be　a　dumb　fool；　I　know　to　the　penny　how　much　you　manage　to　save。　As　well　as　how　often　you　have　to　take　tuition　in　food　rather　than　cash。　This　is　a　cash　deal。　The　Learners　would　jump　at　it…as　well　as　several　others。　I　don't　have　to　leave　Dora　here…　and　won't；　unless　you　are　sensible。〃
　　
　　Mrs。　Mayberry　looked　grim…then　suddenly　smiled　and　looked　years　younger。　〃Ernest；　you're　a　bully。　And　a　bastard。　And　other　things　I　never　say　out　of　bed。　All　right…room…andboard。〃
　　
　　〃And　tuition。　Plus　any　special　expenses。　Doctor's　bills；　maybe。〃
　　
　　〃Triple　bastard。　You　always　pay　for　anything　you　get；　don't　you？　As　I　should　know。〃　She　glanced　at　the　unshuttered　windows。　〃Step　out　here　in　the　half　and　seal　it　with　a　kiss。　Bastard。〃
　　
　　They　moved；　she　placed　herself　so　that　the　angle　did　not　permit　anyone　to　see　them；　then　delivered　a　kiss　that　would　have　astounded　her　neighbors。
　　
　　〃Helen…〃
　　
　　She　brushed　her　lips　against　his。　〃The　answer　is　No；　Mr。　Gibbons。　Tonight　I'll　be　busy　reassuring　a　baby　girl。〃
　　
　　〃I　was　about　to　say；　'Don't　give　her　that　bath　I　know　you　intend　to　until　I　get　hold　of　Doe　Krausmeyer　and　have　him　examine　her。　She　seems　all　right…but　she　may　have　anything　from　broken　ribs　to　a　skull　condussion。　Oh；　get　her　clothes　off　and　sponge　her　a　little　for　the　worst　of　the　dirt；　that　won't　hurt　her　and　it　will　make　it　easier　for　Doe　to　examine　her。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　dear。　Get　your　lecherous　hands　off　my　bottom　and　I'll　get　to　work。　You　find　Doe。〃
　　
　　〃Right　away；　Mrs。　Mayberry。〃
　　
　　〃Until　later；　Mr。　Gibbons。　Au　'voir。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　told　Buck　to　wait；　walked　over　to　the　Waldorf；　found　（as　he　expected）　Dr。　Krausmeyer　in　the　bar。　The　physician　looked　up　from　his　drink。　〃Ernest！　What's　this　I。　hear　about　the　Harper　place？〃
　　
　　〃Well；　what　do　you　hear　about　it？　Put　down　that　glass　and　grab　your　bag。　Emergency。〃
　　
　　〃Now；　now！　Haven't　seen　the　emergency　yet　that　wouldn't　leave　time　to　finish　a　drink。　Clyde　Learner　was　just　in　and　bought　us　a　round　of　drinks…bought　this　one　you　urged　me　to　abandon…and　told　us　that　the　Harper　place　had　burned　and　killed　the　whole　Brandon　family。　Says　he　tried　to　rescue　them；　but　it　was　too　late。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　briefly　considered　the　desirability　of　a　fatal　accident　happening　to　both　Clyde　Learner　and　Doe　Krausmeyer　some　dark　night…but；　damn　it；　while　Clyde　would　be　no　loss；　if　Doc　died；　Gibbons　would　be　forced　to　hang　out　his　own　shingle…and　his　diplomas　did　not　read　〃Ernest　Gibbons。〃　Besides；　Doe　was　a　good　doctor　when　sober…and；　anyhow；　it's　your　own　fault；　old　son；　twenty　years　ago　you　interviewed　him　and　okayed　the　subsidy。　All　you　saw　was　a　bright　young　intern　and　failed　to　spot　the　incipient　lush。
　　
　　〃Now　that　you　mention　it；　Doe；　I　did　see　Clyde　hurrying　toward　the　Harper　place。　If　he　says　he　was　too　late　to　save　them　…　I　would　have　to　back　his　story。　However；　it　was　not　the　whole　family；　their　little　girl；　Dora；　was　saved。〃
　　
　　〃Well；　yes；　Clyde　did　say　that。　He　said　it　was　her　parents　he　couldn't　save。〃
　　
　　〃That's　right。　It's　the　little　girl　I　want　you　to　attend。　She's　suffering　from　multiple　abrasions　and　contusions；　possibly　broken　bones；　possible　internal　injuries；　a　strong　possibility　of　smoke　poisoning…and　a　certainty　of　extreme　emotional　shock　very　serious　in　a　child　that　age。　She's　across　the　street　at　Mrs。　Mayberry's　place。〃　He　added　softly；　〃I　think　you　ought　to　hurry；　Doctor；　I　really　do。　Don't　you？〃
　　
　　Dr。　Krausmeyer　looked　unhappily　at　his　drink；　then　straightened　up　and　said；　〃Mine　host；　if　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　put　this　on　the　back　of　the　bar；　I　shall　return〃　He　picked　up　his　bag。
　　
　　Dr。　Kratlsmeyer　found　nothing　wrong　with　the　child；　gave　her　a　sedative。　Gibbons　waited　until　Dora　was　asleep；　then　went　to　arrange　temporary　board　for　his　mule。　He　went　to　Jones　Brothers　（〃Fine　Stock…Mules　Bought；　Sold；　Traded；　Auctioned…Registered　Stallions　Standing