time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第92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！


　a　report　of　how　many　pieces　of　mail　each　man　under　his　corn…
　　
　　？mand　has　received　that　week。〃　（And　a　damnable　invasion　of　privacy；　and　the　sort　of　multiplication　of　clerical　work　that　bogs　down　armies！　The　bomesick　ones　have　homes　and　（10　get　mail。　The　loners　don't　want　letters；　they　want　women　and　whiskey。　The　prairie　dog　pee　they　sell　for　whiskey　in　this　〃dry〃　state　has　made　a　teetotaler　of　me。）　〃But　that　should　not　be　separate　paper　work；　Captain；　it　need　only　be　a　column　of　tally　marks　on　the　regular　weekly　report。　Both　pany　manders　and　top　sergeants　are　going　to　bellyache　if　it's　too　time…consuming…and　the　manding　General　would　receive　reports　that　would　be　mostly　products　of　pany　clerks'　imaginations。　The　Captain　knows　that；　I　feel　sure。〃
　　
　　？Lazarus'　father　gave　the　grin　that　made　him　look　like　Teddy　Roosevelt。　〃Sergeant；　you　have　iust　caused　me　to　revise　a　letter　I'm　preparing　for　the　General。　As　long　as　I　am　assigned　to　'Plans　&　Training'　no　new　program　will　add　to　the　mountain　of　paper　work　if　I　can　help　it。　I　have　been　trying　to　sweat　this　one　down　to　size；　and　you've　shown　me　a　way　to　do　it。　Tell　me；　why　did　you　turn　down　officers'　training　when　it　was　offered　to　you？　Or　don't　tell　me　if　you　don't　want　to；　it's　your　business。〃
　　
　　？（Pop；　I'm　going　to　have　to　lie　to　you…for　I　can't　point　out　that　a　platoon　leader　has　a　life　expectancy　of　around　twenty　minutes　if　he　takes　his　platoon　〃over　the　top〃　and　does　it　by　the　Book。　What　a　war！）　〃Sir；　look　at　it　this　way。　Suppose　I　put　in　for　it。　A　month　to　get　it　approved。　Then　three　months　at　Benning；　or　Leavenworth；　or　wherever　they're　sending　them。　Then　back　here；　or　Bliss；　or　somewhere　and　I'll　be　assigned　to　recruits。　Six　months　with　them　and　we　g~　？verseas。　More　training　behind　the　lines　'Over　There'　from　what　I　hear。　Adds
　　
　　up　to　about　a　year；　and　the　waris　over；　and　I　haven't　been
　　
　　？in　it。〃
　　
　　〃Mmm　。　。　you　could　be　right。　You　want　to　go　to　France？〃
　　
　　〃Yes；　sir！〃　（Christ；　no！）
　　
　　〃Just　last　Sunday；　in　K。C。；　my　father…in…law　told　me　that
　　
　　？would　be　your　answer。　But　you　may　not　know；　Sergeant；　that　the　billet　you　are　in　will　be　just　as　frustrating　。　。　without　the　pensation　of　bars　on　your　shoulders。　Hcre　in　'Plans　&　Training'　we　keep　track　of　every　enlisted　instructor…and　the　ones　who　don't　work　out　we　ship　out　。　。　but　the　ones　who　do　work　out　we　hang　onto　like　grim　death。
　　
　　〃Except　forone　thing…〃　His　father　smiled　again。　〃We　have　been　asked…the　polite　word　for　'ordered'…to　supply　some　of　our　best　instructors　for　that　behind…the…lines　training　in　France　you　mentioned。　I　knoade　it　a　point　to　note　the　weekly　reports　on　you　ever　since　my　father…in…law　told　me　about　you。　Surprising　proficiency　for　a　man　with　no　bat　time　。　。　plus　a　slight　tendency　to　be　nonregulation　about　minor　points；　which…privately…I　do　not　find　a　drawback；　the　utterly　regulation　soldier　is　a　barracks　soldier。　Est…ce　que　vous　parlez　la　langue　franise？〃
　　
　　〃Oui；　mon　capitaine。〃
　　
　　〃Eh；　bien！　Peut…re　vous　avez　enr？autrefois　en　la　Legion　Etrange；　n'est…ce　pas？〃
　　
　　〃Pardon；　mon　capitaine？　Je　ne　prends　pas。〃
　　
　　〃Nor　will　I　understand　you　if　we　talk　three　more　words　of　it。　But　I'm　studying　hard；　as　I　expect　French　to　be　my　own　ticket　out　of　this　dusty　place。　Bronson；　forget　that　I　asked　that　question。　But　I　must　ask　one　more　and　I　want　an　absolutely　straight　answer。　Is　there　any　possibility　whatever　that　any　French　authority　might　be　looking　for　you？　I　don't　give　a　tinker's　dam　what　you　may　have　done　in　the　past；　and　neither　does　the　War　Department。　But　we　must　protect　our　own。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　barely　hesitated。　（Pop　is　telling　me　plain　as　print　that　if　I　am　a　deserter　from　the　Foreign　Legion…or　have　escaped　from　Devil's　Island　or　any　such…he's　going　to　keep　me　out　of　French　jurisdiction。）　〃Absolutely　none；　sir！〃
　　
　　〃I'm　relieved　to　hear　it。　There　have　been　latrine　rumors　that　Pop　Johnson　could　neither　confirm　nor　deny。　Speaking　of　him…Stand　up　a　moment。　Now　left　face；　please。　And　about　face。　Bronson；　I'm　convinced。　I　don't　remember　my　wife's　Uncle　Ned；　but　I　would　give　long　odds　that　you　are　related　to
　　
　　？527
　　
　　528my　father…in…law；　and　his　theory　certainly　fits。　Which　makes　us　'kinfolk'　of　some　sort。　After　the　war　is　over；　perhaps　we　can　dig　into　it。　But　I　understand　that　my　children　call　you　'Uncle　Ted'　。　。　which　seems　close　enough　and　suits　me　if　it　suits　you。〃
　　
　　〃Sir；　it　does；　indeed！　It's　good　to　have　a　family；　under　any　assumption。〃
　　
　　？〃I　think　so。　Just　one　more　thing　。　。　and　this　you　must　forget　once　you　go　out　that　door。　I　think　that　a　rocker　for　those
　　
　　昪hevrons　will　show　up　one　of　these　days　。　。　and　not　long　after　you'll　be　wven　a　short　leave　that　you　haven't　requested。　When　tklat　happens；　don't　start　any　continued　stories。　prenezvous？〃
　　
　　〃Mais　oui；　mon　capitaine；　certainement。〃
　　
　　〃I　wish　I　could　tell　you　that　we　will　be　in　the　same　outfit；　Pop　Johnson　would　like　that。　But　I　can't。　In　the　meantime　please　remember　that　I　haven't　told　you　anything。〃　？
　　
　　〃Captain；　I've　already　forgotten　it。〃　（Pop　thinks　he's　doing　me　a　favor！）　〃Thank　you；　sir！〃
　　
　　〃Not　at　all。　Dismissed。〃
　　
　　DA　CAPO
　　
　　VII
　　
　　Staff　Sergeant　Theodore　Bronson　found　Kansas　City　changed…uniforms　everywhere；　posters　everywhere。　Uncle　Sam　stared　out　at　him：　〃I　want　you　for　the　United　States　Army。〃　A　Red　Cross　nurse　was　shown　holding　a　wounded　man　in　a　stretcher　as　if　he　were　a　baby；　with　the　one　word：
　　
　　〃GIVE；〃　A　sign　on　a　restaurant　said：　〃We　Observe　All　Meatless；　Wheatless；　and　Sweetless　Days。〃　Service　flags　were　in　many　windows…he　counted　five　stars　on　one；　saw　several　with　gold　stars。
　　
　　More　traffic　than　he　recalled　and　streetcars　were　crowded；　many　passengers　in　uniform…it　seemed　as　if　all　of　Camp　Funston　and　every　camp　or　fort　within　reaching　distance　had　all　been　dumped　into　the　city　at　once。　Untrue；　he　knew；　but　the　train　he　had　dozed　in　most　of　last　night　had　been　so　jammed　that　it　seemed　true。
　　
　　That　〃Khaki　Special〃　had　been　almost　as　dirty　as　a　cattle　train　and　even　slower；　it　had　sidetracked　again　and　again　in　favor　of　freights；　and　once　for　a　troop　train。　Lazarus　arrived　in　Kansas　City　late　in　the　morning；　tired　and　filthy…having　left　camp　clean　and　rested。　But　he　had　his　battered　old　grip　with　him　and　planned　to　correct　both　conditions　before　seeing　his　〃adopted〃　family。
　　
　　Waving　a　five…dollar　bill　in　front　of　the　railroad　station　got　him　a　taxi；　but　the　hackie　insisted　on　picking　up　three　more　passengers　going　south　after　asking　what　direction　Lazarus　was　going。　The　taxicab　was　a　Ford　landaulet　like　his　own；　but　in　much　worse　condition。　The　glass　partition　between　front　and　back　seats　（the　feature　that　made　it　a　〃limousine〃）　had　been　removed；　and　the　collapsible　half…top　of　the　rear　partrnent　appeared　to　have　collapsed　for　the　last　time。　But
　　
　　530with　five　in　it；　plus　baggage　on　knees；　ventilation　was　wele。　The　driver　said；　〃Sergeant；　you　were　first。　Where　to？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　Said　that　he　wanted　to　find　a　hotel　room　out　south；　near　Thirty…first。
　　
　　〃You're　an　optimist…hard　enough　to　find　one　downtown。　But　we'll　try。　Drop　these　other　gentlemen　first；　maybe？〃
　　
　　Eventually　he　wound　up　near　Thirty…first　and　Main…〃Permanent　and　Transient…all　rooms　&　apts。　with　bath。〃　The　driver　said；　〃This　joint　costs　too　much…but　it's　this　or　go　back　downtown。　No；　keep　your　money　till　we　see　if　they　can　take　you。　You　about　to　go　overseas？〃
　　
　　〃So　I　hear。〃
　　
　　〃So　your　fare　is　a　dollar；　I　don't　take　no　tips　from　a　man　about　to　go　over…I　got　a　boy　'Over　There。'　Le'me　talk　to　that　clerk。〃
　　
　　Ten　minutes　later　Lazarus　was　luxuriating　in　the　first　tub　bath　he　had…had　since　April　6；　1917。　Then　he　slept　three　hours。　When　his　inner　alarm　woke　him；　he　dressed　in　clean　clothes　from　skin　out；　his　best　uniform…the　breeches　he　had　retailored　for　a　smarter　peg　at　the　knee。　He　went　down　to　the　lobby　and　telephoned　his　family's　home。
　　
　　Carol　ansa；　it's　Uncle　Ted！〃
　　
　　Maureen　Smith's　voice　was　serenely　warm。　〃Where　are　you；　Sergeant　Theodore？　Brian　Junior　wants　to　go　fetch　you　home；〃
　　
　　〃Please　tell　him　thanks；　Mrs。　Smith；　but　Fm　in　a　hotel　at　the　Thirty…first　Street　car　line；　I'll　be　there　before　he　could　get　here…if　I'm　wele。〃
　　
　　〃Wele'？　What　a　way　for　our　adopted　soldier　to　talk。　Yt；u　don't　belong　in　a　hotel；　you　must　stay　here。　Brian…my　husband；　I　mean；　the　Captain…told　us　to　expect　you　and　that　you　were　to　stay　with　us。　Did　he　not　tell　you　so'？〃
　　
　　〃M。a'axn；　I've　seen　the　Captain　just　once；　three　weeks　ago。　So　far　as　I　know；　he　doesn't　know　I'm　on　leave。〃　Lazarus　added；　〃I　don't　want　to　put　you　out。〃
　　
　　〃Pish　and　tush；　Sergeant　Theodore；　let's　have　no　more　of　that。　At　the　beginning　of　the　war　we　changed　the　maid's　room　downstairs…my　sewing　room；　where　you　played　chess　with　Woodrow…into　a　guest　room；　so　that　the　Captain　could　bring　a　brother　officer　home　on　a　weekend。　Must　I　tell　my　husband　that　you　refused　to　sleep　there？〃
　　
　　（Maureen　my　love；　that's　putting　the　~at　too　close　to　the　canary！　I　won't　sleep；　I'll　lie　awake　thinking　about　you　upstairs…surrounded　by　kids　and　Gramp。）　〃Mrs。　Captain　gen
　　
　　erous　hostess　ma'am；　I'll　be　utterly　delighted　to　sleep　in　your　sewing　room。〃
　　
　　〃That's　better；　Sergeant。　For　a　moment　I　thought　Mama　was　going　to　have　to　spank。〃
　　
　　Brian　Junior　was　waiting　at　the　Benton　car　stop；　with　George　as　footman；　and　with　Carol　and　Marie　in　the　back　seat。　George　grabbed　the　grip　and　took　charge　of　it；　Marie　shrilled；　〃My；　doesn't　Uncle　Ted　look　pretty！〃　and　Carol　corrected　her：
　　
　　〃Handsome；　Marie。　Soldiers　look　handsome　and　smart；　not　'pretty。'　Isn't　that　right；　Uncle　Ted？〃
　　
　　Lazarris　picked　the　smaller　girl　up　by　her　elbows　and　kissed　her　cheek；　set　her　down。　〃Technically　correct；　Carol…but　'pretty'　suits　me　just　fine　if　Marie　thinks　I　am。　Quite　a　weling　mittee…do　I　run　along　behind？〃
　　
　　〃You　sit　in　the　tonneau　with　the　girls；〃　Brian　Junior　ruled。　〃But　look　at　this　first！〃　He　pointed。　〃A　foo？　throttle！　Isn't　that　bully？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　agreed；　then　took　a　few　moments　to　inspect　the　car…in　better　shape　than　he　had　left　it；　shining　and　clean　from　spokes　to　top　and　with　several　new　items　besides　the　foot　accelerator：　a　ditssy　radiator　cap；　rubber　nonskids　for　the　pedals；　a　tire　holder　on　the　rear　with　a　patent…leather　cover　for　a　spare　tire；　a　robe　rail　in　the？rear　partment　with　a　lap　robe　folded　neatly；　and…finishing　touch…a　cut…glass　bud　vase　with　a　single　rose。　〃Is　the　engine　kept　as　beautifully　as　the　rest？〃
　　
　　George　opened　the　hood。　Lazarus　looked　and　nodded　approvingly。　〃It　could　take　a　white…glove　inspection。〃
　　
　　〃That's　exactly　what　Grandpa　gives　it；〃　Brian　declared。　〃He　says　if　we　don't　take　care　of　it；　we　can't　use　it。〃
　　
　　〃You　do　take　care　of　it。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　arrived　in　royal　splendor；　one　arm　aroi~d~abig　little　girl；　the　other　around　a　small　little　girl。　Graiisp　was　waiting　on　the　front　porch；　came　down　the　walk　to　meet　him；　and　Lazarus　suddenly　revised　his　mental　image：　The　old　soldier　was　in　uniform　and　seemed　a　foot　taller　and　ramrod　straight…ribbons　on　his　chest；　chevrdns　on　his　sleeves；　puttees　most　carefully　rolled；　campaign　hat　perched　high　and　turned　up　slightly　behind。
　　
　　As　Lazarus　turned　from　handing　Carol　out；　Marie　having　danced　ahead；　Oramp　paused　and　threw　Lazarus　a　sweeping　tFhrockmartin　salute。　〃Wele　home；　Sergeant！〃
　　
　　Lazarus　returned　it　as　flamboyantly。　〃Thank　you；　Sergeant；
　　
　　531
　　
　　I'm　glad　to　be　here。〃　He　added；　〃Mr。　Johnson；　you　didn't　tell　me　you　were　a　supply　sergeant。〃
　　
　　〃Somebody　has　to　count　the　socks。　I　agreed　to　take…〃
　　
　　The　rest　was　lost　to　Woodie's　explosive　arrival。　〃Hey；　Uncle　Sergeant！　You're　going　to　play　chess　with　me！〃
　　
　　〃Sure；　Sport；〃　Lazarus　agreed；　his　attention　distracted　by　two　other　things：　Mrs。　Smith　at　the　open　door；　and　a　service　flag　in　the　parlor　window。　Three　stars…　Three？
　　
　　Then　Gramp　was　urging　him　in　with　something　about　this　being　a　drill　night　so　supper　would　be　early。　Nancy　kissed
　　
　　第75节
　　
　　？him；　openly　and　without　glancing　first　for　her　mother's　approval…then　Dickie　had　to　be　picked　up　and　kissed；　and　Baby　Ethel　（walking！）；　and　at　last　Maureen　gave　him　her　slender　hand；　drew　him　to　her；　and　brushed　his　cheek　with　her　lips。　〃Sergeant　Theodore　。　。　it　is　so　good　to　have　you
　　
　　？home。〃
　　
　　Supper　was　a　noisy；　well…run　circus；　with　Gramp　presiding　in　lieu　of　his　son…in…law；　while　his　daughter　ran　things　with　serene　dignity　from　the　other　end　and　did　not　get　up　once　Lazarus　placed　her　chair　under　her　and　took　his　seat　of　honor　on　her　right。　Her　three　oldest　daughters　did　all　that　was　necessary。　Ethel　sat　in　a　highchair　on　her　mother's　left　with　George　helping　her…Lazarus　learned　that　this　duty　rotated　among　the　five　eldest。
　　
　　It　was　a　lavish　meal　for　wartime；　with　hot；　golden　cornbread　replacing　white　bread；　this　being　a　wheatless　day…and　irmest　discipline　（administered　by　Nancy　and　Brian　Junior）　re~1uired　that　every　morsel　accepted　must