gs.earthabides-第38章
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Everybody had a pleasant sense of confidence and security in the growth of the munity； or of The Tribe； as they now said more often。 The birth of each baby was a time of real rejoicing； as the shadows seemed to draw back a little and the circle of light to enlarge。
Soon after the beginning of that year； a decent…looking oldish man came up to George's house one morning。 He was one of those wanderers who still occasionally； though less and less often； passed through。
They received him hospitably； but like the others he showed little reaction to what they did for him。 He stayed only over one night； and then went off again； without even saying good…bye； in the aimless way of those shocked ones。
He had scarcely gone； it seemed； before people began feeling irritable。 All the babies started crying。 Then soon there were sore throats and running noses and aching heads and swollen eyes； and The Tribe was suddenly in all the throes Of an epidemic。
This was all the more remarkable because throughout the preceding years the general health had been so unbelievably good。 Ezra and some of the others had suffered with bad teeth； George； who was the oldest； had plained of various aching joints which he described under the old…fashioned term 〃rheumatism〃； occasionally a scratch became infected。 But even the mon cold seemed to have vanished entirely； and there were only two diseases that remained active。 One Of these struck each of the children sooner or later； it was a great deal like measles in its symptoms； and doubtless it was measles； and that was what they called it； lacking any doctor to make them sure。 The other began with a violent sore throat； but yielded so quickly to sulfa pills that no one really knew its full course。 As long as there were sulfa pills in any drug store and they kept potent in spite of age； Ish saw no need to find out experimentally just how this sore throat would develop； if left untreated。
Why so few diseases remained…this seemed miraculous to people like George and Maurine； and they were inclined to be superstitious about the matter。 They felt that God in some great anger had nearly wiped out the human race in one vast plague； and thus being satisfied； had seen fit to remove the minor plagues as a kind of pensation…just as； after Noah's flood； he had set the rainbow in the sky as a sign that there would never again be another such flood。
To Ish； however； the explanation was plain。 Since so large a proportion of the people had died； the chain of most infections had been broken； and many individual diseases had； you might say； 〃died〃 when their particular kinds of bacteria became extinct。 Of course there would still be the diseases which might spring from the mere deterioration of the human body； such as heart…failure and cancer； and George's 〃rheumatism；〃 and there might also be animal…borne infections； like tularemia and tick…fever。 Also there could be； here and there； individual survivors who carried some disease in chronic form； but could still pass it on to others； just as someone of themselves had probably been responsible for the survival of 〃measles。〃
The old man； everyone remembered too late； had blown his nose occasionally。 Doubtless he had an infected sinus； and so had infected them all with what used to be called 〃die mon cold；〃 although lately it had been so unmon as to seem extinct。
In any case there was something almost ic in the way so many disgustingly healthy people were suddenly transformed into sneezers and coughers and hawkers and noseblowers。
Fortunately； the cold ran its course without plications； and in a few weeks everyone was ivell again。 Throughout the rest of that year Ish lived in fear of another outbreak。 There was a good chance； he knew； that the infection might be quiescent in one of them； and then break loose again when die short…time immunity of the others had worn off。 But the long dry summer （it was particularly sunny that year） doubtless helped everyone to throw。off the last vestiges of the infection。 That was great luck！ Ish had been highly susceptible in the Old Times。 He had sometimes said； not altogether as a joke； that the loss of the mon cold pensated for the acpanying loss of civilization。
That autumn； however； the good luck ran out。 No one ever knew exactly what happened； but three of the children fell ill with violent diarrhoea； and died。 Most likely they had been wandering about at play in one of the near…by uninhabited houses； and had found some poison…ant…poison； perhaps。 Tasting it curiously they had found it sweet； and shared it。 Even when dead； civilization seemed to lay traps。
One of the children had been Ish's own son。 He had always worried； not about himself； but about Em； in such a case。 Yet； though she moumed for the child； he saw that he had underestimated her strength。 Her hold on life was so strong that； paradoxically； she could accept death also as a part of life。 Both Molly and Jean； the other bereaved mothers； grieved hysterically； and were much more stricken。
That year two children were born； but nevertheless the total number of The Tribe for the first time was smaller at the end than at the beginning of a year。 They called it the Year of the Deaths。
The Year 10 had no remarkable events； and no one was convinced as to what it should be called。 But when they sat on the flat rock and Ish poised his hammer and began to cut with the chisel； for the first time some of the children spoke up； and they said it should be called the Year of the Fishing。 This was because during this year they had discovered that the Bay was swarming with beautiful striped bass； and they had had a great deal of fun going fishing and catching them。 Besides supplying a very fine variety to the diet； the fishing had also been a real source of amusement to everybody。 But in general； Ish was surprised how little actual necessity they had to seek amusement。 In the kind of life that they lived there always seemed to bea good deal to do just to get food and to support oneself in fort and there was in it a great deal of satisfaction which did not call for anything as definite as amusement。
In the Year 11； Molly and Jean bore children； but Molly's died at birth。 This was a great disappointment； because it was the first one that they had lost at childbirth； and in the course of the years the women had bee very skillful at helping one another。 They thought that perhaps this death was caused from Molly's being old now。
When it came to naming the year； however； there was a dispute between old and young。 The older ones thought it should be called the Year when Princess Died。。。。 She had been ailing； an old dog； for some time。 No one knew just how ancient she was； because she might have been anywhere from one year to three or four when she first picked up Ish。 She had remained the same…always the princess； expecting the best of treatment； always unreliable； always ready to disappear on the trail of an imaginary rabbit just when you wanted her。 But for all you might say against her； she had shown a very real character； and the older people could remember the time when she seemed very important along San Lupo Drive； almost another person。
By now there were dozens of dogs around。 Nearly all of them must be children or grandchildren or great…grandchildren of Princess； who on various occasions had disappeared for a day or two and apparently met an old friend among the wild dogs or picked up a new one。 As the result of a lot of inbreeding and out…breeding and cross…breeding； these present dogs were very little like beagles； but varied tremendously in size and color and temperament。
But to the children Princess had been an old and not very interesting dog of uncertain temper。 They said that this should be the Year of the Wood…Carving； and after a momentary hesitation Ish supported them； even though Princess had meant more to him than to anyone else。 She had taken him out of himself in those first bad days and let him free himself of fear； and her wild barking dash had taken him into the house where he found Em； when otherwise he might have hesitated and driven on。 But also； he thought； Princess was over and do
