gs.earthabides-第23章
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window carefully behind him； to keep at least that one store free of rats。
After he had returned to the house； he reflected upon his position again； and decided that as yet the mere maintenance of life would be easy； indefinitely。 Food； clothing…the shops were full； and he had only to help himself！ Water still gushed from the faucets at full pressure。 Gas had failed； and if it had been a country of bitterly cold winters； he might have had to consider laying in some kind of fuel supply。 But his gasoline stove served excellently for cooking； if the fireplace was not sufficient in the winter； he could round up a battery of such stoves and supply himself with all the heat he needed。 In fact； he soon began to feel so pleasantly self…sufficient that he feared he was turning into a hermit like the old man he had once seen。
In those days when there had been death even in the air and civilization tottered toward its end…in those days； the men who controlled the flow of the water looked at one another and said； 〃Even though we fall sick and die； still； the people must have water。〃 And they thought of plans that they had laid carefully in those times when men feared that bombs would fall。 Then they set the valves and opened the channels； so that the water flowed freely all the way from the great dams in the mountains and through the long siphons and into the tunnels and finally to the reservoirs from which it would flow； all at the pull of the earth； through all the faucets。 〃Now；〃 they said； 〃when we are gone； the water will flow on…yes； until the pipes rust out； and that will be the time of a generation！〃 Then they died。 But they died as men who have finished their work and lie down quietly； secure in their honor。
So at the end； there was still the blessing of water； and no one thirsted。 And even when only a few wanderers walked through the city streets； the water still flowed。
Ish had feared at first that he would suffer from mere boredom； but he soon found himself as busy as he wished to be。 The desire for activity which had expressed itself in his eastern trip had now faded out。 He slept a great deal。 He also found himself sitting for long periods； conscious but in sheer apathy。 Such lapses； however； frightened him； and he always tried to force himself into some kind of activity。
Fortunately； though the mechanics of living were not plicated； they took up an appreciable part of his time。
He had to prepare his food； and he soon found that unless he washed the dishes promptly； a stream of ants appeared； to make everything twice as difficult。 He was forced； for the same reason； to wrap up the garbage and carry it somewhere away from the house。 He had to feed Princess； since she was getting smelly； he even bathed her； over her loud protests。
One day； wanting to shake himself out of his apathy； he went to the Public Library； smashed a lock with his hammer； and after some browsing found himself （a little to his own amusement） walking out with Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson。
These books； however； did not interest him greatly。 Crusoe's religious preoccupations seemed boring and rather silly。 As for the Robinsons； he felt （as he had felt when a boy） that the ship remained for the family a kind of infinite grab…bag from which at any time they might take exactly what they wanted。
Although the radio was dead； he still had the family's record…player and collection of records。 After a while he located in a music store a better record…player。 It was heavy； but he was just able to get it home on the station…wagon tailgate； and set it up in the fiving…room。 He also took all the records he wanted。 Feeling the need of something more too； he helped himself to a fine accordion。 With the aid of an instructionbook； he managed to make some very soul…satisfying noises on it； although Princess objected at times with loud howls。 He also supplied himself with drawing…materials； but never got round to using them。
His chief interest remained the careful observation of what was happening to the world after the removal of man's controls。 He drove around through all parts of the city； and into the near…by country。 At other times； carrying his field…glasses； he took long walks through the hills； with Princess trailing now behind him and now dashing off in wild pursuit of that perpetual unseen rabbit。
Once he searched for the old man whom he had found storing up all those supplies of miscellaneous goods。 After some trouble he located the house； and found the rat's nest of materials which had been piled in it。 But the old man was not in the house； and there was no evidence as to where he had gone or whether he was still alive。 Aside from this； Ish made no effort to find people； remembering how unsatisfactory had been the results of his previous attempts。
The look of the streets was changing a little。 The drought of summer had not yet been broken； but the winds had blown dust and leaves and trash； and deposited them in little piles here and there。 Over most of the city he saw no animals at all； neither dogs nor cats nor rats。 In certain areas； however； particularly near the water…front； he saw a good many dogs； although only of a certain kind。 They were small and active ones； terriers or terrier…like mongrels。 By watching； he saw that they marked the establishment of some new cycle of life。 They scavenged in the supplies which they found in the stores； perhaps having learned this from the rats。 Where the rats pawed open a carton of crackers； the dogs came in and ate。 But also the dogs apparently lived largely upon the rats。 This accounted for their concentration in the areas where rats had been somewhat abundant even before the catastrophe。 The dogs had also apparently driven away or killed off the cats； doubtless getting scratched in the process； but also achieving some desperately needed meals。
These dogs amused Ish。 They seemed almost to swagger； cocky still； as terriers were supposed to be。 Though dirty and thin； they exuded vigor and self…confidence； as if knowing that they had solved the problem of life。 Temperamentally they must represent the individuals who had always lived more； or less on their own； taking care of themselves as they wished and paying scant attention to man。 They showed no interest in Ish； keeping distance； not trying either to make friends or to escape from him。 After Princess had tangled in a rough…and…tumble fight with one of the bitches； he took the precaution of keeping her on a leash or in the car whenever he drove through such districts。
In parks and on the edges of the city； wherever there was a good growth of bushes； he occasionally saw a cat。 They kept mostly to the branches； apparently fearing the dogs and at the same time ready to prey upon birds。
During his walks in the hills he had never seen any dogs until one day he was surprised to hear a medley of yaps and deeper bays。 Gaining a point from which he could look out； he saw a half dozen cattle； on what had once been the golf course； closely pursued and being harried by some eight or ten dogs。 Focusing the field…glasses； he saw that the dogs were of different varieties； but none of them of the short…legged ratter type。 There was a magnificent Dane； a collie； a spotted Dalmatian and others which had more the mongrel look but were all long of leg and moderately powerful。 They were obviously a hunting pack； spontaneously formed and already experienced at their business。 They were trying to cut out one of the calves。 But the cattle fought back； vigorously； homs toward the pack； or kicking out from behind。 They gradually made their way out of the open stretches of grass。 When they reached the shelter of some bushes at the edge of the golf course； they seemed to gain the advantage； and the dogs drew off。
Since the show was over； Ish called Princess； and they started to walk back a mile toward where he had left the car。 In a few minutes he heard the bay of the pack again。 It came closer； and suddenly he knew that they were on his own trail。
Panic struck at him。 He started to run。 But after a few yards he realized that running would be of no use and only an invitation。 He stilled
