第23章

类别:其他 作者:Robert Louis Stevenson字数:5832更新时间:18/12/27 09:07:25
wantingtogoandseehisfamilyinthebush-’Buthehasnofamilyinthebush,’saidLloyd。’No,’saidMitaiele。 Theywenttotheboy’sbed(theysleepinthewalled-incompartmentoftheverandah,oncemydressing-room)andcalledatonceforme。Helaylikeoneasleep,talkingindrowsytonesbutwithoutexcitement,andattimes’cheeping’ likeafrightenedmouse;hewasquitecooltothetouch,andhispulsenotfast;hisbreathingseemedwhollyventral;thebuststill,thebellymovingstrongly。Presentlyhegotfromhisbed,andranforthedoor,withhisheaddownnotthreefeetfromthefloorandhisbodyallonastretchforward,likeastrikingsnake:Isay’ran,’butthisstrangemovementwasnotswift。LloydandImasteredhimandgothimbackinbed。Soontherewasanotherandmoredesperateattempttoescape,inwhichLloydhadhisringbroken。Thenweboundhimtothebedhumanelywithsheets,ropes,boardsandpillows。Helaythereandsometimestalked,sometimeswhispered,sometimesweptlikeanangrychild;hisprincipalwordwas’Faamolemole’-’Please’-andhekepttellingusatintervalsthathisfamilywerecallinghim。Duringthisinterval,bythespecialgraceofGod,myboyscamehome;wehadalreadycalledinArrick,theblackboy;nowwehadthatHercules,Lafaele,andamanSavea,whocomesfromPaatalise’sownislandandcanalonecommunicatewithhimfreely。Lloydwenttobed,Itookthefirstwatch,andsatinmyroomreading,whileLafaeleandArrickwatchedthemadman。SuddenlyArrickcalledme;Iranintotheverandah; therewasPaatalisefreeofallhisbondsandLafaeleholdinghim。Totellwhatfollowedisimpossible。Wewerefivepeopleathim-LafaeleandSavea,verystrongmen,Lloyd,I andArrick,andthestrugglelasteduntil1A。M。beforewehadhimbound。Onedetailforaspecimen:LloydandIhadchargeofoneleg,wewerebothsittingonit,andlo!wewerebothtossedintotheair-I,Idaresay,acoupleoffeet。Atlastwehadhimspread-eagledtotheironbedstead,byhiswristsandankles,withmattedrope;amostinhumanebusiness,butwhatcouldwedo?itwasallwecoulddotomanageitevenso。Thestrengthoftheparoxysmshadbeensteadilyincreasing,andwetrembledforthenext。AndnowI cometopureRiderHaggard。Lafaeleannouncedthattheboywasverybad,andhewouldget’somemedicine’whichwasafamilysecretofhisown。Someleaveswerebroughtmysteriouslyin;chewed,placedontheboy’seyes,droppedinhisears(seeHamlet)andstuckuphisnostrils;ashedidthis,theweirddoctorpartlysmotheredthepatientwithhishand;andbyabout2A。M。hewasinadeepsleep,andfromthattimeheshowednosymptomofdementiawhatever。Themedicine(saysLafaele)isprincipallyusedforthewholesaleslaughteroffamilies;hehimselffearedlastnightthathisdosewasfatal;onlyoneotherperson,onthisisland,knowsthesecret;andshe,Lafaeledarklywhispers,hasabusedit。 Thisremarkabletreewemusttrytoidentify。 Theman-of-wardoctorcameupto-day,gaveusastrait- waistcoat,taughtustobandage,examinedtheboyandsawhewasapparentlywell-heinsistedondoinghisworkallmorning,poorlad,andwhenhefirstcamedownkissedallthefamilyatbreakfast!TheDoctorwasgreatlyexcited,asmaybesupposed,aboutLafaele’smedicine。 TUESDAY。 AllyesterdaywritingmymailbythehandofBelle,tosavemywrist。Thisisagreatinvention,towhichIshallstick,ifitcanbemanaged。WehadsomealarmaboutPaatalise,buthesleptwellallnightforabenediction。Thislunaticasylumexercisehasnoattractionsforanyofus。 Idon’tknowifIrememberedtosayhowmuchpleasedIwaswithACROSSTHEPLAINSineveryway,insideandout,andyouandme。Thecriticsseemtotasteit,too,aswellascouldbehoped,andIbelieveitwillcontinuetobringmeinafewshillingsayearforawhile。Butsuchbookspayonlyindirectly。 Tounderstandthefullhorrorofthemadscene,andhowwellmyboysbehaved,rememberthatTHEYBELIEVEDP。’SRAVINGS,theyKNEWthathisdeadfamily,thirtystrong,crowdedthefrontverandahandcalledonhimtocometotheotherworld。 TheyKNEWthathisdeadbrotherhadmethimthatafternooninthebushandstruckhimonbothtemples。Andremember!wearefightingthedead,andtheyhadtogooutagainintheblacknight,whichisthedeadman’sempire。Yetlastevening,whenIthoughtP。wasgoingtorepeattheperformance,IsentdownforLafaele,whohadleaveofabsence,andheandhiswifecameupabouteighto’clockwithalightedbrand。ThesearethethingsforwhichIhavetoforgivemyoldcattle-manhismanifoldshortcomings;theyareheroic-soaretheshortcomings,tobesure。 ItcameovermetheotherdaysuddenlythatthisdiaryofminetoyouwouldmakegoodpickingsafterIamdead,andamancouldmakesomekindofabookoutofitwithoutmuchtrouble。So,forGod’ssake,don’tlosethem,andtheywillproveapieceofprovisionformy’pooroldfamily,’asSimelecallsit。 AboutmycomingtoEurope,Igetmoreandmoredoubtful,andratherinclinetoCeylonagainasplaceofmeeting。Iamsoabsurdlywellhereinthetropics,thatitseemslikeaffectation。YetrememberIhaveneveroncestoodSydney。 Anyway,Ishallhavethemoneyforitallahead,beforeI thinkofsuchathing。 WehadabowlofPunchonyourbirthday,whichmyincrediblemothersomehowknewandremembered。 Isometimessitandyearnforanythinginthenatureofanincomethatwouldcomein-minehasallgottobegoneandfishedforwiththeimmortalmindofman。WhatIwantistheincomethatreallycomesinofitselfwhileallyouhavetodoisjusttoblossomandexistandsitonchairs。Thinkhowbeautifulitwouldbenottohavetomindthecritics,andnoteventhedarkestofthecrowd-SidneyColvin。Ishouldprobablyamusemyselfwithworksthatwouldmakeyourhaircurl,ifyouhadanyleft。 THEcharacterofmyhandwritingisexplained,alas!byscrivener’scramp。ThisalsoexplainshowlongIhaveletthepaperlieplain。 1P。M。 IwasbusycopyingDavidBalfourwithmylefthand-amostlaborioustask-Fannywasdownatthenativehousesuperintendingthefloor,LloyddowninApia,andBelleinherownhousecleaning,whenIheardthelattercallingonmyname。Iranoutontheverandah;andthereonthelawnbeheldmycrazyboywithanaxeinhishandanddressedoutingreenferns,dancing。Irandownstairsandfoundallmyhouseboysonthebackverandah,watchinghimthroughthedining-room。Iaskedwhatitmeant?-’Dancebelonghisplace,’theysaid-’Ithinkthisnotimetodance,’saidI。 ’Hashedonehiswork?’-’No,’theytoldme,’awaybushallmorning。’Buttheretheyallstayedonthebackverandah。I wentonalonethroughthedining-room,andbadehimstop。Hedidso,shoulderedtheaxe,andbegantowalkaway;butI calledhimback,walkeduptohim,andtooktheaxeoutofhisunresistinghands。Theboyisinallthingssogood,thatIcanscarcesayIwasafraid;onlyIfeltithadtobestoppederehecouldworkhimselfupbydancingtosomecraziness。Ourhouseboysprotestedtheywerenotafraid; allIknowistheywereallwatchinghimroundthebackdooranddidnotfollowmetillIhadtheaxe。Asfortheoutboys,whowereworkingwithFannyinthenativehouse,theythoughtitaverybadbusiness,andmadenosecretoftheirfears。 WEDNESDAY,6TH。 Ihavenoaccounttogiveofmystewardshipthesedays,andthere’sadaymoretoaccountforthanmerearithmeticwouldtellyou。ForwehavehadtwoMondayFourths,tobringusatlastontherightsideofthemeridian,havinghithertobeenanexceptionintheworldandkeptourprivatedate。 Businesshasfilledmyhourssansintermission。 TUESDAY,12TH Iamdoingnoworkandmymindisinabeyance。FannyandBellearesewing-machininginthenextroom;Ihavebeenpullingdowntheirhair,andFannyhasbeenkickingme,andnowIamdrivenout。AustinIhavebeenchasingabouttheverandah;nowhehasgonetohislessons,andImakebelievetowritetoyouindespair。Butthereisnothinginmymind; Iswiminmerevacancy,myheadislikearottennut;IshallsoonhavetobegintoworkagainorIshallcarryawaysomepartofthemachinery。Ihavegotyourinsufficientletter,forwhichIscorntothankyou。IhavehadnoreviewbyGosse,nonebyBirrell;anothertimeifIhavealetterintheTIMES,youmightsendmethetextaswell;alsopleasesendmeacricketbatandacake,andwhenIcomehomefortheholidays,Ishouldliketohaveapony。 Iam,sir,yourobedientservant,JACOBTONSON。 P。S。Iamquitewell;Ihopeyouarequitewell。Theworldistoomuchwithus,andmymotherbidsmebindmyhairandlacemybodiceblue。 MYDEARCOLVIN,-ThisisFridaynight,the(Ibelieve)18thor20thAugustorSeptember。Ishallprobablyregretto- morrowhavingwrittenyouwithmyownhandliketheApostlePaul。ButIamaloneoverhereintheworkman’shouse,whereIandBelleandLloydandAustinarepigging;therestareatcardsinthemainresidence。Ihavenotjoinedthembecause’bellybelongme’hasbeenkickingup,andIhavejusttaken15dropsoflaudanum。 OnTuesday,thepartysetout-selfinwhitecap,velvetcoat,cordsandyellowhalfboots,Belleinawhitekindofsuitandwhitecaptomatchmine,Lloydinwhiteclothesandlongyellowbootsandastrawhat,Grahaminkhakisandgaiters,Henry(myoldoverseer)inbluecoatandblackkilt,andthegreatLafaelewithabigship-bagonhissaddle-bow。 WeleftthemailattheP。O。,hadlunchatthehotel,andabout1。50setoutwestwardtotheplaceoftryst。Thiswasbyalittleshrunkenbrookinadeepchannelofmudonthefarsideofwhich,inathicketoflowtrees,allfullofmothsofshadowandbutterfliesofsun,welaydowntoawaitherladyship。Whiskeyandwater,thenasketchoftheencampmentforwhichweallposedtoBelle,passedoffthetimeuntil3。30。ThenIcouldholdonnolonger。30minuteslate。Hadthesecretoozedout?Weretheyarrested?Igotmyhorse,crossedthebrookagain,androdehardbacktotheVaeacrossroads,whenceIwasawareofwhiteclothesglancingintheotherlongstraightradiusofthequadrant。 Iturnedatoncetoreturntotheplaceoftryst;butD。 overtookme,andalmostboremedown,shouting’Ride,ride!’ likeaheroinaballad。LadyMargaretandhewereonlycometoshewtheplace;theyreturned,andtherestofourparty,reinforcedbyCaptainLeighandLadyJersey,setonforMalie。ThedelaywasduetoD。’sinfiniteprecautions,leadingthemuplanes,bybackways,andthendownagaintothebeachroadahundredyardsfurtheron。 ItwasagreedthatLadyJerseyexistednomore;shewasnowmycousinAmeliaBalfour。ThatrelativeandIheadedthemarch;sheisacharmingwoman,allofuslikeherextremelyaftertrialonthissomewhatrudeandabsurdexcursion。AndweAmelia’dorMissBalfour’dherwithgreatbutintermittentfidelity。Whenwecametothelastvillage,IsentHenryonaheadtowarntheKingofourapproachandamendhisdiscretion,ifthatmightbe。AsheleftIheardthevillagersaskingWHICHWASTHEGREATLADY?Andalittlefurther,atthebordersofMalieitself,wefoundtheguardmakingamusicofbuglesandconches。ThenIknewthegamewasupandthesecretout。Aconsiderableguardofhonour,mostlychildren,accompaniedus;but,forourgoodfortune,wehadbeenlookedforearlier,andthecrowdwasgone。 DinnerattheKing’s;heaskedmetosaygrace,Icouldthinkofnone-nevercould;GrahamsuggestedBENEDICTUSBENEDICAT,atwhichIleaped。Wewerenearlydone,whenoldPopoinflictedtheAtuahowl(ofwhichyouhaveheardalready) rightatLadyJersey’sshoulder。Shestartedinfinestyle- ’There,’Isaid,’wehavebeengivingyouachapterofScott,butthisgoesbeyondtheWaverleyNovels。’Afterdinner,kava。LadyJ。wasservedbeforeme,andtheKingDRANKLAST;itwastheleastformalkavaIeversawinthathouse,-nonamescalled,noshowofceremony。Allmyladiesarewelltrained,andwhenBelledrainedherbowl,theKingwaspleasedtoclaphishands。ThenheandImustretireforourprivateinterview,toanotherhouse。Hegavemehisownstaffandmademepassbeforehim;andintheinterview,whichwaslonganddelicate,hetwicecalledmeAFIOGA。Ah,thatleavesyoucold,butIamSamoanenoughtohavebeenmoved。SUSUGAismyacceptedrank;tobecalledAFIOGA- Heavens!whatanadvance-anditleavesEuropecold。ButitstaggeredmyHenry。Thefirsttimeitwascomplicated’lanasusugaMAlanaafioga-hisexcellencyANDhismajesty’-thenexttimeplainMajesty。Henrythenbeggedtointerrupttheinterviewandtellwhohewas-heisasmallfamilychiefinSawaii,notverysmall-’IdonotwishtheKing,’sayshe,’tothinkmeaboyfromApia。’Onourreturntothepalace,weseparated。Ihadaskedfortheladiestosleepalone- thatwasunderstood;butthatTusitala-hisafiogaTusitala-shouldgooutwiththeotheryoungmen,andnotsleepwiththehighbornfemalesofhisfamily-wasadoctrinereceivedwithdifficulty。LloydandIhadonescreen,GrahamandLeighanother,andwesleptwell。 InthemorningIwasfirstabroadbeforedawn;notverylong,alreadytherewasastirofbirds。Alittleafter,IheardsingingfromtheKing’schapel-exceedinggood-andwentacrossinthehourwhentheeastisyellowandthemorningbankisbreakingup,tohearitnearer。Allaboutthechapel,theguardswereposted,andallsalutedTusitala。I couldnotrefrainfromsmiling:’Sothereisaplacetoo,’I thought,’wheresentinelssaluteme。’Minehasbeenaqueerlife。 [Drawinginbookreproducedhereincharacters……]