the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第27章
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was given； it was all off with us。 It was strange ground； and pitch dark。
The leper's dogs came out and bayed at us； and we stumbled around till
we got lost。
〃The squarehead solved it。 He led the way into the first detached
house。 We shut the door after us and struck a light。 There were six
lepers。 We routed them up； and I talked in native。 What I wanted was
a kokua。 A kokua is； literally； a helper； a native who is clean that lives
in the settlement and is paid by the Board of Health to nurse the lepers；
dress their sores； and such things。 We stayed in the house to keep track
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of the inmates； while the squarehead led one of them off to find a kokua。
He got him； and he brought him along at the point of his revolver。 But
the kokua was all right。 While the squarehead guarded the house；
Burnley and I were guided by the kokua to Lyte's house。 He was all
alone。
〃'I thought you fellows would come；' Lyte said。 'Don't touch me；
John。 How's Ned； and Charley； and all the crowd？ Never mind； tell
me afterward。 I am ready to go now。 I've had nine months of it。
Where's the boat？'
〃We started back for the other house to pick up the squarehead。 But
the alarm had got out。 Lights were showing in the houses； and doors
were slamming。 We had agreed that there was to be no shooting unless
absolutely necessary； and when we were halted we went at it with our
fists and the butts of our revolvers。 I found myself tangled up with a
big man。 I couldn't keep him off me； though twice I smashed him
fairly in the face with my fist。 He grappled with me； and we went
down； rolling and scrambling and struggling for grips。 He was getting
away with me； when some one came running up with a lantern。 Then I
saw his face。 How shall I describe the horror of it。 It was not a face
only wasted or wasting featuresa living ravage； noseless； lipless； with
one ear swollen and distorted； hanging down to the shoulder。 I was
frantic。 In a clinch he hugged me close to him until that ear flapped in
my face。 Then I guess I went insane。 It was too terrible。 I began
striking him with my revolver。 How it happened I don't know； but just
as I was getting clear he fastened upon me with his teeth。 The whole
side of my hand was in that lipless mouth。 Then I struck him with the
revolver butt squarely between the eyes； and his teeth relaxed。〃
Cudworth held his hand to me in the moonlight； and I could see the
scars。 It looked as if it had been mangled by a dog。
〃Weren't you afraid？〃 I asked。
〃I was。 Seven years I waited。 You know； it takes that long for the
disease to incubate。 Here in Kona I waited； and it did not come。 But
there was never a day of those seven years； and never a night； that I did
not look out on 。 。 。 on all this 。 。 。 〃 His voice broke as he swept his
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eyes from the moon…bathed sea beneath to the snowy summits above。
〃I could not bear to think of losing it； of never again beholding Kona。
Seven years！ I stayed clean。 But that is why I am single。 I was
engaged。 I could not dare to marry while I was in doubt。 She did not
understand。 She went away to the States and married。 I have never
seen her since。
〃Just at the moment I got clear of the leper policeman there was a
rush and clatter of hoofs like a cavalry charge。 It was the squarehead。
He had been afraid of a rumpus and he had improved his time by making
those blessed lepers he was guarding saddle up four horses。 We were
ready for him。 Lyte had accounted for three kokuas； and between us
we untangled Burnley from a couple more。 The whole settlement was
in an uproar by that time； and as we dashed away somebody opened
upon us with a Winchester。 It must have been Jack McVeigh； the
superintendent of Molokai。
〃That was a ride！ Leper horses； leper saddles； leper bridles； pitch…
black darkness； whistling bullets； and a road none of the best。 And the
squarehead's horse was a mule； and he didn't know how to ride； either。
But we made the whaleboat； and as we shoved off through the surf we
could hear the horses coming down the hill from Kalaupapa。
〃You're going to Shanghai。 You look Lyte Gregory up。 He is
employed in a German firm there。 Take him out to dinner。 Open up
wine。 Give him everything of the best； but don't let him pay for
anything。 Send the bill to me。 His wife and the kids are in Honolulu；
and he needs the money for them。 I know。 He sends most of his
salary； and lives like an anchorite。 And tell him about Kona。 There's
where his heart is。 Tell him all you can about Kona。〃
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JACK LONDON BY HIMSELF
I was born in San Francisco in 1876。 At fifteen I was a man among
men； and if I had a spare nickel I spent it on beer instead of candy；
because I thought it was more manly to buy beer。 Now； when my years
are nearly doubled； I am out on a hunt for the boyhood which I never
had； and I am less serious than at any other time of my life。 Guess I'll
find that boyhood！ Almost the first things I realized were
responsibilities。 I have no recollection of being taught to read or write…
…I could do both at the age of fivebut I know that my first school was in
Alameda before I went out on a ranch with my folks and as a ranch boy
worked hard from my eighth year。
The second school were I tried to pick up a little learning was an
irregular hit or miss affair at San Mateo。 Each class sat in a separate
desk； but there were days when we did not sit at all； for the master used
to get drunk very often； and then one of the elder boys would thrash him。
To even things up； the master would then thrash the younger lads； so you
can think what sort of school it was。 There was no one belonging to
me； or associated with me in any way； who had literary tastes or ideas；
the nearest I can make to it is that my great…grandfather was a circuit
writer； a Welshman； known as 〃Priest〃 Jones in the backwoods； where
his enthusiasm led him to scatter the Gospel。
One of my earliest and strongest impressions was of the i
