子浪小说

第14部分（第2页）

There　was　no　one　on　the　street；　and　John　was　frightened。　The　buildings　on　this　street；　so　near　thatJohn　could　touch　them　on　either　side；　were　narrow；　also；　rising　like　spears　into　the　sky；　and　theywere　made　of　beaten　gold　and　silver。　John　knew　that　these　buildings　were　not　for　him—not　to…day—no；　nor　to…morrow；　either！　Then；　ing　up　this　straight　and　silent　street；　he　saw　a　woman；　veryold　and　black；　ing　toward　them；　staggering　on　the　crooked　stones。　She　was　drunk；　and　dirty；and　very　old；　and　her　mouth　was　bigger　than　his　mother’s　mouth；　or　his　own；　her　mouth　was　looseand　wet；　and　he　had　never　seen　anyone　so　black。　His　father　was　astonished　to　see　her；　and　besidehimself　with　anger；　but　John　was　glad。　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　cried：

‘See！　She’s　uglier　than　Mama！　She’s　uglier　than　me！’

‘You　mighty　proud；　ain’t　you；’　his　father　said；　‘to　be　the　Devil’s　son？’

But　John　did　no　listen　to　his　father。　He　turned　to　watch　the　woman　pass。　His　father　grabbedhis　arm。

“You　see　that？　That’s　sin。　That’s　what　the　Devil’s　son　runs　after。’

‘Whose　son　are　you？’　John　asked。

His　father　slapped　him。　John　laughed；　and　moved　a　little　away。

‘I　seen　it。　I　seen　it。　I　ain’t　the　Devil’s　son　for　nothing。’

His　father　reached　for　him；　but　John　was　faster。　He　moved　backward　down　the　shiningstreet；　looking　at　his　father—his　father　who　moved　toward　him；　one　hand　outstretched　in　fury。

‘And　I　heard　you—all　the　night…time　long。　I　know　what　you　do　in　the　dark；　black　man；when　you　think　the　Devil’s　son’s　asleep。　I　heard　you；　spitting；　and　groaning；　and　choking—and　Iseen　you；　riding　up　and　down；　and　going　in　and　out。　I　ain’t　the　Devil’s　son　for　nothing。’

The　listening　buildings；　rising　upward　yet；　leaned；　closing　out　the　sky。　John’s　feet　began　toslip；　tears　and　sweat　were　in　his　eyes；　still　moving　backward　before　his　father；　he　looked　about　himfor　deliverance；　but　there　was　no　deliverance　in　this　street　for　him。

‘And　I　hate　you。　I　hate　you。　I　don’t　care　about　your　golden　crown。　I　don’t　care　about　yourlong　white　robe。　I　seen　you　under　the　robe；　I　seen　you！’

Then　his　father　was　upon　him；　at　his　touch　there　was　singing；　and　fire。　John　lay　on　his　backin　the　narrow　street；　looking　up　at　his　father；　that　burning　face　beneath　the　burning　towers。

‘I’m　going　to　beat　it　out　of　you。　I’m　going　to　beat　it　out。’

His　father　raised　his　hand。　The　knife　came　down。　John　rolled　away；　down　the　white；descending　street；　screaming：

Father！　Father！

These　were　the　first　words　he　uttered。　In　a　moment　there　was　silence；　and　his　father　wasgone。　Again；　he　felt　the　saints　above　him—and　dust　in　his　mouth。　There　was　singing　somewhere；faraway；abovehim；singingslowandmourn（was）　ful。　He　lay　silent；　racked　beyondendurance；　salt　drying　on　his　face；　with　nothing　in　him　any　more；　no　lust；　no　fear；　no　shame；　nohope。　And　yet　he　knew　that　it　would　e　again—the　darkness　was　full　of　demons　crouching；waiting　to　worry　him　with　their　teeth　again。

Then　I　looked　in　the　grave　and　I　wondered。

Ah；　down！—what　was　he　searching　here；　all　alone　in　darkness？　But　now　he　knew；　for　ironyhad　left　him；　that　he　was　searching　something；　hidden　in　the　darkness；　that　must　be　found。　Hewould　die　if　it　was　not　found；　or；　he　was　dead　already；　and　would　never　again　be　joined　to　theliving；　if　it　was　not　found。

And　the　grave　looked　so　sad　and　lonesome。

In　the　grave　where　he　now　wandered—he　knew　it　was　the　grave；　it　was　so　cold　and　silent；and　he　moved　in　icy　mist—he　found　his　mother　and　his　father；　his　mother　dressed　in　scarlet；　hisfather　dressed　in　white。　They　did　not　see　him：　they　looked　backward；　over　their　shoulders；　at　acloud　of　witnesses。　And　there　was　his　Aunt　Florence；　gold　and　silver　flashing　on　her　fingers；brazen　ear…rings　dangling　from　her　ears；　and　there　was　another　woman；　whom　he　took　to　be　thatwife　of　his　father’s；　called　Debora

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