time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第51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！


mules　running　free　had　no　duties　other　than　to　keep　eyes　out　'for　lope？s；　save　that　Buck　was　at　all　times　grand　marshal　of　the　paride；　picking　the　footing；　bossing　the　other　mules；
　　
　　carryIng　out　Smith's　orders。　…Mules　at　liberty　…　rotated　as　draft　animals；　only　Buck　was　never　in　harness。　Betty　and　Beulah　had　had　their　feelings　hurt　at　being　required　to　accept　harness；　they　were　gentry　o'f　the　saddle；　and　they　knew　it。　But　Buck　had　had　…　harsh　words　with　them　and　harsher　nips　and　kicks；　they　had　shut　up　and　hauled。
　　
　　No　real　driving　was　required；　only　two　reins　were　used；　one　to　each　of　the　lead　pair　and　running　from　them　back　through　rings　on　the　collars　of　the　following　mules　to　the　seat　of　the　leading　wagoti；　there　usually　loosely　secured　rather　than　held。　Although　the…　males　were　all　stallions；　these　mules　did　what　Buck　ordered。　Smith　had　stopped　at　Separation　and　lost　most　of　a　day　to　trade　a　strong　brute　with　good　shoulders　for　a　younger；　lighter　stud　because　the　bigger　mule　had　not　been　willing　to　accept　Buck's　dominance。　Buck　was　ready　to　fight　it　out；　but　Smith　did　not　let　the　old　mule　risk　it；　he　needed　Buck's　brain　and　judgment；　and　would　not　risk　Buck's　spirit　being　broken　by　losing　to　a　younger　stallion…or　take　a　chance　that　Buck　might　be　injured。
　　
　　In　real　trouble　more　reins　would　not　help。　If　the　mules　panicked　and　ran…unlikely　but　possible…two　humans　could　not　hold　them；　even　with　a　double　handful　of　reins。　Smith　was　ready　at　any　instant　to　pick　off　his　lead　pair；　then　hope　that　not　too　many　mules　would　break　legs　stumbling　over　the　corpses　and　pray　that　the　wagons　would　not　overturn。
　　
　　Smith　wanted　to　reach　their　destination　with　all　his　livestock；　he　hoped　to　get　there　with　about　80　percent　including　a　breeding　pair　of　each　sort…but　if　they　arrived　with　enough　draft　animals　to　pull　the　wagons　（including　at　least　one　breeding　pair）　plus　a　'pair　of　goats；　he　could　consider　it　a　conditional　victory　and　they　would　make　their　stand；　to　live　ortodie。　'　…
　　
　　How　many　mules　were　〃enough〃　was　a　variable。　Near　the　end　of　the　trip　it　could　be　as　low　as　four…then　go　back　and　get　the　second　wagon。　But　if　the　number　of　mules　dropped　below　twelve　before　they　conquered　Hopeless　Pass…turn　back。
　　
　　Turn　back　at　once。　Abandon　one　or　both　wagons；　jettison'　what　they　could　not　salvage；　slaughter　any　animals　that　could　not　make　it　without　help；　travel　light　with　any　extra　mules　trailing　along；　unwittmg　walking　larders。
　　
　　If　Woodrow　Wilson　Smith　limped　back　into　Separation　on　foot；　his　wife　riding…miscarried　but　still　alive…it　still　would　not　be　defeat。　He　had　his　hands；　he　had　his　brain；　he　had　the'
　　
　　。；　0'T
　　
　　strongest　of　human　incentives：　a　wife　to　care　for　and　cherish。　In　a　few　years　they　might　try　Hopeless　Pass　again…and　not　make　the　mistakes　he　had　made　the　first　time。
　　
　　In　the　meantime　he　was　happy；　with　all　the　wealth　any　man　could　hope　for。
　　
　　Smith　leaned　out　of　the　wagon　seat。　〃Hey；　Buck！　Suppertime。'
　　
　　〃Shupper　dime；〃　Buck　repeated；　then　called　out；　〃Shupper　dime！　Shirko　nigh！　Shirko　nigh！〃　The　lead　pair　turned　left；　started　bringing　the　train　around　in　a　circle。
　　
　　Dora　said；　〃The　Sun　is　still　high。〃
　　
　　〃Yes；〃　her　husband　agreed；　〃and　that's　why。　The　Sun　is　high；　it's　very　hot；　the　mules　are　tired　and　sweaty　and　hungry　and　thirsty。　I　want　them　to　graze。　Tomorrow　we'll　be　up　before　dawn　and　rolling　at　first　light…make　as　manykilometers　as　possible　before　it　gets　too　bloody　hot。　Then　another　early　stop。〃
　　
　　〃I　wasn't　questioning　it；　dear；　I　simply　wanted　to　know　why。　I'm　finding　that　being　a　schoolmarm　hasn't　taught　me　all　I　need　to　know　to　be　a　pioneer　wife。〃
　　
　　〃I　understood；　that's　why　I　explaind。　Dora；　always　ask　me　if　I　do　anything　you　don't　understand；　you　do　have　to　know　。　。　because　if　something　happens　to　me；　then　it'll　be　up　to　you。　Just　hold　your　questions　until　later　if　I　seem　to　be　in　a　hurry。〃
　　
　　〃I'll　try；　Woodrow…I　am　trying。　I'm　hot　and　thirsty　myself；　those　poor　dears　must　be　feeling　it　dreadfully。　if　you　can　spare　me；　I'll　water　them　while　you　unharness。〃
　　
　　〃No；　Dora。〃
　　
　　〃But…　Sorry。〃
　　
　　〃Damn　it；　I　said　always　to　ask　why。　But　I　was　about　to　explain。　First　we　let　them　graze　a？　hour。　That　will　cool　them　down　some　in　spite　of　the　Sun；　and；　being　thirsty；　they'll　look　for　short　green　stuff　under　this　tall　dry　stuff。　They　will　get　a　little　moisture　out　of　that。　Meantime　I'm　going　to　measure　the　water　barrels　。　。　but　I　know　that　we're　going　on　short　water　rations。　Should've　yesterday。　Dorable；　you　see　that　patch　of　dark　green　way　up　there　below　the　pass？　I　think　there　is　water　there；　dry　as　it's　been　。　。　and　pray　hard　that　there　is；　because　I　don't　expect　to　find　water　between　here　and　there。　We　may　have　no　water　at　all　the　last　day　or　so。　It　doesn't　take　a　mule　long　to　die　without　water　and　not　much　longer　for　a　man。〃
　　
　　〃Woodrow　。　。　is　it　as　bad　as　that？〃
　　
　　〃It　is；　dear。　That's　why　I've　been　studying　the　photomaps。　The　clearest　ones　Andy　and　I　made　a　long　time　ago；　when　we　surveyed　this　pla…but　in　early　spring　for　this　hemisphere。　The　shots　Zack　took　for　me　aren't　much；　the　'Andy　I。'　isn't　equipped　as　a　survey　ship。　As　may　be；　I　took　this　route　becadSe　it　looked　faster。　But　every　wash　we've　crossed　the　past　ten　days　h；as　been　bone…dry。　My　mistake　and　it　may　be　my　last　one。〃
　　
　　〃Woodrow！　Don't　talk　that　way！〃
　　
　　〃Sorry；　dear。　But　there　is　always　a　last　mistake。　I'll　do　my　damnedest　to　see　that　this　is　not　my　last　mistake…because　it　must　not　happen　to　you。　I'm　simply　trying　to　impress　you　with　how　carefully　we　must　conserve　water。〃
　　
　　〃You've　impressed　me。　I'll　be　most　careful　with　cleaning　up　and　so　forth。〃
　　
　　〃I　still　haven't　made　it　clear。　There　will　be　no　washing　at　all…not　a　face　wash；　'not　even　a　hand　wash。　Pans　and　such　you'll　scour　with　dirt　and　grass　and　put　them　in　the　sunshine　and　hope　they　sterilize。　Water　is　only　for　drinking。　The　mules　go　on　half　water　rations　at　once；　and　you　and　I；　instead　of　the　liter　and　a　half　of　liquid　each　day　a　human　is　supposed　to　need；　will　each　try　to　get　by　on　a　half　liter。　Uh；　Mrs。　Whiskers　will　get　a　full　ration　of　water；　she　has　to　make　milk　for　her　kids。　If　it　gets　too　tough；　we　slaughter　the　kids　and　let　her　dry　up。〃
　　
　　〃Oh；　dear！〃
　　
　　〃We　may　not　have　to。　But；　Dora；　we　aren't　even　close　to　last　extremities。　If　the　going　gets　really　tough；　we　kill　a　mule　and　drink　its　blood。〃
　　
　　〃What！　Why；　they're　our　friends！〃
　　
　　〃Dora；　listen　to　your　old　man。　I　promise　you　that　we　will　never　kill　Buck；　or　Beulah；　or　Betty。　If　I　must；　it　will　be　a　mule　we　bought　in　New　Pittsburgh。　But　if　one　of　our　three　old　friends　die…we　eat　him。　Her。〃
　　
　　〃I　don't　think　I　could。〃
　　
　　〃You　will　when　you're　hungry　enough。　If　you　think　about　the　baby　inside　you；　you'll　eat　without　hesitation　and　bless　your　dead　friend　for　helping　to　keep　your　baby　alive。　Don't　talk　about　what　you　can't　do　when　the　chips　are　down；　dear…　because　you　can。　Did　Helen　ever　tell　you　stories　about　the　first　winter　here？〃
　　
　　〃No。　She　said　I　didn't　need　to　know。〃
　　
　　〃Could　be　she　was　mistaken。　I'll　tell　you　one　of　the　less
　　
　　grisly　ones。　We　placed…i　placed…a　heel…and…toe　watch　over　the　seed　grain；　with　orders　to　shoot　'to　kill。　And　one　guard　did。　A　drumhead　court…martial　exonerated　the　guard；　the　man　he　killed　was　clearly　stealing　seed　grain…his　corpse　had　halfchewed　grain　in　its　mouth。　Not　Helen's　husband；　by　the　way；　he　died　like　a　gentleman…malnutrition　and　some　fever　I　never　identified。〃
　　
　　Smith　added；　〃Buck's　got　us　hauled　around。　Let's　get　busy。〃　He　jumped　down；　reached　up　to　help　her。　〃And　smile；　baby；　smile！…this　show　is　being　'transmitted　back　to　Earth　to　show　those　poor　crowded　people　how　easy　it　is　to　take　a　new　pla…courtesy　of　DuBarry's　Delicious　Deodorants；　of　which　I　need　a　bucketful。〃
　　
　　She　smiled。　〃I　stink　worse　than　you　…　do；　my　lcive。〃
　　
　　〃That's　better；　darling；　we'll　make　it。　it's　just　the　first　step　that's　a　dilly。　Oh；　yes！　No　cooking　fire。〃
　　
　　〃'No　f……'　Yes；　sir。〃　…
　　
　　〃Nor　any　until　we　get　out　of　this　dry　stuff。　Don't　strike　a　light　for　any　reason…even　if　you've　dropped　your　rubies　and　can't　find　them。〃　'　…
　　
　　〃'Rubies…'　Woodrow；　it　was　wonderful　of　you　'to　give　me　rubies。　But　right　now　I　would　swap　them　for　another　barrel　of　water。〃
　　
　　〃No；　you　wouldn't；　dearest；　because　rubies　don't　weigh　anythin？　and　I　took　every　barrel　the　mules　could　haul。　I　was　delighted　that　Zack　had　those　rubies　along　and　I　could　give　them　to　you。　A　bride　should　be　cherished。　Let's　take　care　of　these　tired　mules。〃　…
　　
　　After　they　turned　the　mules　loose；　Dora　tried　to　figure　out　what　she　could　feed　her　husband　without　the　use　of　fire　while　Smith　got　busy　on　the　fence。　The　fence　was　not　much；　but　having　only　two　wagons；　they　could　not　form　a　proper　defensive　circle；　the　best　that　could　be　done　was　to　angle　the　wagons　as　far　as　the　front　axle　of　the　second　wagon　permitted；　then　surround　the　bivouac　with　a　fence…　of　sorts…sharpened　stakes　of　brasswood；　each　two　meters　long；　and　held　together　and　spaced　by　what　passed　for　rope　in　New　Pittsburgh。　The　result；　when　held　up　on　two　sides　by　wagons　and　braced　to　the　ground　along　the　hypotenuse；　constituted　a　high　and　fairly　nasty　picket　fence。　It　would　not　slow　up　a　dragon；　but　this　was　not　dragon　country。　Lopers　did　not　like　it。
　　
　　Smith　did　not　like　it　much；　either；　but　it　was　made　on　New　Beginnings　of　all…native　materials；　could　be　repaired　by…a　man
　　
　　who　was　handy；　did'　not　weigh　much；　could　be　abandoned　with　no　great　'oss…and　contaii！ed　no　metal。　Smith　had　been　able　to　buy　two　sturdy；　boat…bodied；　Conestoga…type　wagons　in　New　Pittsburgh　only　by　offering　in　part　payment　plete　hardware　for；　two　other　wagons…hardware　imported　across　the　light…years　in　the　Andy　I。　New　Pittsburgh　was　far　more　〃New〃　than　〃Pittsburgh〃；　there　was　iron　ore　there　and　coal；　but　its　metals　industry　was　still　primitive。
　　
　　The　chickens；　the　sow；　the　goats；　and　even　the　humans　were　tasty　temptations　to　wild　lopers；　but　with　the　goats　and　kids　shooed　inside　the　kraal；　two　alert　watchdogs；　and　sixteen　mules　grazing　on　all　sides；；　Smith　felt　reasonably　secure　at　night。　True；　a　loper　might　get　a　mule；　but　it　was　much　more　likely　that　the　mule　would　get　the　loper…especially　as　'other　mules　would　close　in　and　help　stomp　the　carnivore。　These　mules　dd　not　run　from　a　'loper；　they　struck　out　at　him。　Smith　thought　that；　in　time；　mules　might　clean　out　the　varmints　even　more　than　men　did；　make　them　as　scarce　as　mountain　lions　had　been　in　his　youth。
　　
　　A　mule…stomped　loper　was　readily　converted　into　loper　steak；　loper　stew；　loper　jerky…and　dog　and　cat　food；　and　Mrs。　Porky　the　sow　enjoyed　the　offal…all　at　no　loss　to　the　mules。　Smith　did　not　care　much　for　loper　in　any　form；　the　meat　was　too　strongly　flavored　for　his　taste…but　it　was　better　than　nothing　and　kept　them　from　digging　too　deeply　into　food　they　had　hauled　along。　Dora　did　not　share　her　husband's　distaste　for　loper　meat；　born　there　and　having　eaten　it　now　and　then　since　earliest　childhood；　it　seemed　to　her　a　normal　food。
　　
　　But　Smith　wished　that　he；　had　time　to　hunt　one　of　the　herbivores　that　were　the　loper's　natural　prey…six…legged　like　the　loper　but　otherwise　resembling　a　misshapen　okapi…　their　meat　was　much　milder。　They　were　called　〃prairie　goats；〃　which　they　were　not；　but　systematic　taxonomy　of　fauna　and　flora　on　…New　Beginnings　had　not　gone　far；　there　had　been　as　yet　no　time　for　such　intellectual　luxuries。　Smith　had　shot　a　prairie　goat　from　the　seat　of　the　wagon　a　week　earlier　（now　only　a　memory；　bittersweet；　of　tasty　tender　meat）。　Smith　did　not　feel　justified　in　taking　a　day　off　to　bunt　until　they　had　conquered　Hopeless　Pass。　But　he　kept　hoping　for　another　chance　shot。
　　
　　Maybe　now…　〃Fritz！　Lady　Macbeth！　Here！〃　The　dogs　trotted　up　and　waited。　〃High　sentry。　Loper！　Pr'airie　goat！　Up！〃　The　dogs　immediately　got　on　the　very　top　of　the　lead　wagon；　…
　　
　　making　it　in　two　jumps　and　a　scramble；　step；　seat；　and　curved　top。　；There　th~y　split　the　duty；　nigh　side　and　off　side…　and　there　they　would　stay　until　told　to　get　down。　Smith　had　paid　a　stiff　price　for　the　pair；　but　he　had　known　they　were　good　dogs；　he　had　picked　their　ancestors　on　Earth　and　had　fetched　them　with　the　first　wave。　Smith　was　not　a　〃doggie〃　man　in　any　fanatic　sense；　he　simply　believed　that　a　partnership　that　had　lasted　so　long　on　Earth　would　serve　men　equally　well　on
　　
　　strange　plas。
　　
　　Dora　was…　sobered　by　her　husband's　words；？but　once　she　got　busy　working；　she　cheered　up。　Shortly；　while　trying　to　plan　a　menu　from　little　choice　and　without　acooking　fire；　she　came　across　something　that　vexed　her…good　for　her　as　it　displ~aced　her　worrisome　thoughts。　Besides；　she　did　not　really　believe　that　her　husband　could　fail　at　anything。
　　
　　She　came　around　the　end　of　the　second　wagon；　crossed　the　little　kraal　to　where　her　husband　was　making　sure　that　his　fence　was　tight。　〃Oh；　that　pesky　little　rooster！〃
　　
　　Woodrow　looked　around。　〃Hon；　you　look　cute　in　just　a　sunbon。〃
　　
　　。〃Not　just　a　sunbon；　I'm　wearing