hemingway, ernest - garden of eden-第2章

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e　hiss　through　the　water。　He　tried　to　hold　it　as　lightly　as　he　could　and　the　long　pole　was　bent　to　the　breaking　point　of　the　line　and　trace　by　the　fish　which　kept　trying　to　go　toward　the　open　sea。　The　young　man　walked　with　him　on　the　jetty　to　ease　the　strain　but　the　fish　kept　pulling　so　that　as　he　drove　a　quarter　of　the　rod　was　forced　under　water。

The　waiter　had　come　from　the　cafe　and　was　very　excited。　He　was　talking　by　the　young　man's　side　saying；　〃Hold　him。　Hold　him。　Hold　him　as　softly　as　you　can。　He'll　have　to　tire。　Don't　let　him　break。　Soft　with　him。　Softly。　Softly。〃

There　was　no　way　the　young　man　could　be　softer　with　him　except　to　get　into　the　water　with　the　fish　and　that　did　not　make　sense　as　the　canal　was　deep。　If　I　could　only　walk　along　the　bank　with　him；　he　thought。　But　they　had　come　to　the　very　end　of　the　jetty。　More　than　half　the　pole　was　under　water　now。

〃Just　hold　him　softly；〃　the　waiter　pleaded。　〃It's　a　strong　trace。〃　The　fish　bored　deep；　ran；　zig…zagged　and　the　long　bamboo　pole　bent　with　his　weight　and　his　rapid；　driving　strength。　Then　he　came　up　thrashing　at　the　surface　and　then　was　down　again　and　the　young　man　found　that　although　the　fish　felt　as　strong　as　ever　the　tragic　violence　was　lessened　and　now　he　could　be　led　around　the　end　of　the　jetty　and　up　the　canal。

〃Softly　does　it；〃　the　waiter　said。　〃Oh　softly　now。　Softly　for　us　all。〃

Twice　more　the　fish　forced　his　way　out　to　the　open　sea　and　twice　the　young　man　led　him　back　and　now　he　was　leading　him　gently　along　the　jetty　toward　the　cafe。

〃How　is　he？〃　asked　the　waiter。

〃He's　fine　but　we've　beaten　him。〃

〃Don't　say　it；〃　the　waiter　said。　〃Don't　say　it。　We　must　tire　him。　Tire　him。　Tire　him。〃

〃He's　got　my　arm　tired；〃　the　young　man　said。

〃Do　you　want　me　to　take　him？〃　the　waiter　asked　hopefully。

〃My　God　no。〃

〃Just　easy；　easy；　easy。　Softly；　softly；　softly；〃　the　waiter　said。

The　young　man　worked　the　fish　past　the　terrace　of　the　cafe　and　into　the　canal。　He　was　swimming　just　under　the　surface　but　was　still　strong　and　the　young　man　wondered　if　they　would　take　him　all　the　way　up　the　canal　through　the　length　of　the　town。　There　were　many　other　people　now　and　as　they　went　by　the　hotel　the　girl　saw　them　out　of　the　window　and　shouted；　〃Oh　what　a　wonderful　fish！　Wait　for　me！　Wait　for　me！〃

She　had　seen　the　fish　clearly　from　above　and　his　length　and　the　shine　of　him　in　the　water　and　her　husband　with　the　bamboo　pole　bent　almost　double　and　the　procession　of　people　following。　When　she　got　down　to　the　canal　bank　and；　running；　caught　up　with　the　people；　the　procession　had　stopped。　The　waiter　was　in　the　water　at　the　edge　of　the　canal　and　her　husband　was　guiding　the　fish　slowly　against　the　bank　where　there　was　a　clump　of　weeds　growing。　The　fish　was　on　the　surface　now　and　the　waiter　bent　down　and　brought　his　hands　together　from　either　side　and　then　lifted　the　fish　with　his　thumbs　in　both　his　gills　and　moved　up　the　bank　of　the　canal　with　him。　He　was　a　heavy　fish　and　the　waiter　held　him　high　against　his　chest　with　the　head　under　his　chin　and　the　tail　flopping　against　his　thighs。

Several　men　were　pounding　the　young　man　on　the　back　and　putting　their　arms　around　him　and　a　woman　from　the　fish　market　kissed　him。　Then　the　girl　had　her　arms　around　him　and　kissed　him　and　he　said；　〃Did　you　see　him？〃

Then　they　all　went　over　to　see　him　laid　out　on　the　side　of　the　road　silver　as　a　salmon　and　dark　gunmetal　shining　on　his　back。　He　was　a　handsome　beautifully　built　fish　with　great　live　eyes　and　he　breathed　slowly　and　brokenly。

〃What　is　he？〃

〃A　loup；〃　he　said。　〃That's　a　sea　bass。　They　call　them　bar　too。　They're　a　wonderful　fish。　This　is　the　biggest　one　I've　ever　seen。

The　waiter；　whose　name　was　Andre；　came　over　and　put　his　arms　around　David　and　kissed　him　and　then　he　kissed　the　girl。

〃Madame；　it　is　necessary；〃　he　said。　〃It　is　truly　necessary。　No　one　ever　caught　such　a　fish　on　such　tackle。〃

〃We　better　have　him　weighed；〃　David　said。

They　were　at　the　cafe　now。　The　young　man　had　put　the　tackle　away；　after　the　weighing；　and　washed　up　and　the　fish　was　on　a　block　of　ice　that　had　come　in　the　camion　from　Nimes　to　ice　the　mackerel　catch。　The　fish　had　weighed　a　little　over　fifteen　pounds。　On　the　ice　he　was　still　silver　and　beautiful　but　the　color　on　his　back　had　changed　to　gray。　Only　his　eyes　still　looked　alive。　The　mackerel　fishing　boats　were　coming　in　now　and　the　women　were　unloading　the　shining　blue　and　green　and　silver　mackerel　from　the　boats　into　baskets　and　carrying　the　heavy　baskets　on　their　heads　to　the　fish　house。　It　was　a　very　good　catch　and　the　town　was　busy　and　happy。

〃What　are　we　going　to　do　with　the　big　fish？〃　the　girl　asked。

〃They're　going　to　take　him　in　and　sell　him；〃　the　young　man　said。　〃He's　too　big　to　cook　here　and　they　say　it　would　be　wicked　to　cut　him　up。　Maybe　he'll　go　right　up　to　Paris。　He'll　end　in　some　big　restaurant。　Or　somebody　very　rich　will　buy　him。〃

〃He　was　so　beautiful　in　the　water；〃　she　said。　〃And　when　Andre　held　him　up。　I　couldn't　believe　him　when　I　saw　him　out　of　the　window　and　you　with　your　mob　following　you。〃

〃We'll　get　a　small　one　for　us　to　eat。　They're　really　wonderful。　A　small　one　ought　to　be　grilled　with　butter　and　with　herbs。　They're　like　striped　bass　at　home。〃

〃I'm　excited　about　the　fish；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　we　have　wonder　ful　simple　fun？〃

They　were　hungry　for　lunch　and　the　bottle　of　white　wine　was　cold　and　they　drank　it　as　they　ate　the　celery　remoulade　and　the

small　radishes　and　the　home　pickled　mushrooms　from　the　big　glass　jar。　The　bass　was　grilled　and　the　grill　marks　showed　on　the　silver　skin　and　the　butter　melted　on　the　hot　plate。　There　was　sliced　lemon　to　press　on　the　bass　and　fresh　bread　from　the　bakery　and　the　wine　cooled　their　tongues　of　the　heat　of　the　fried　potatoes。　It　was　good　light；　dry；　cheerful　unknown　white　wine　and　the　restaurant　was　proud　of　it。

〃We're　not　great　conversationalists　at　meals；〃　the　girl　said。　〃Do　I　bore　you；　darling？〃

The　young　man　laughed。

〃Don't　laugh　at　me；　David。〃

〃I　wasn't。　No。　You　don't　bore　me。　I'd　be　happy　looking　at　you　if　you　never　said　a　word。〃

He　poured　her　another　small　glass　of　the　wine　and　filled　his　own。

〃I　have　a　big　surprise。　I　didn't　tell　you；　did　I？〃　the　girl　said。

〃What　sort　of　surprise？〃

〃Oh　it's　very　simple　but　it's　very　complicated。〃

〃Tell　me。〃

〃No。　You　might　like　it　and　maybe　you　couldn't　stand　it。〃

〃It　sounds　too　dangerous。〃

〃It's　dangerous；〃　she　said。　〃But　don't　ask　me。　I'm　going　up　to　the　room　if　I　may。

The　young　man　paid　for　the　lunch　and　drank　the　wine　that　was　left　in　the　bottle。　Then　he　went　upstairs。　The　girl's　clothes　were　folded　on　one　of　the　Van　Gogh　chairs　and　she　was　waiting　for　him　in　the　bed　with　the　sheet　over　her。　Her　hair　was　spread　out　over　the　pillow　and　her　eyes　were　laughing　and　he　lifted　the　sheet　and　she　said；　〃Hello；　darling。　Did　you　have　a　nice　lunch？〃

Afterwards　they　lay　together　with　his　arm　under　her　head　and　were　happy　and　lazy　and　he　felt　her　turn　her　head　from　side　to　side　and　stroke　it　against　his　cheek。　It　felt　silky　and　barely　roughened　from　the　sun　and　the　sea。　Then　with　her　hair　all　forward　over　her　face　so　it　touched　him　as　her　head　moved　she　started　to　play　with　him　lightly　and　exploringly　and　then　with　delight　and　she　said；　〃You　do　love　me；　don't　you？〃

He　nodded　and　kissed　the　top　of　her　head　and　then　turned　her　head　and　held　it　and　kissed　her　lips。

〃Oh；〃　she　said。　〃Oh。〃

A　long　time　later　they　were　lying　each　holding　the　other　close　and　she　said；　〃And　you　love　me　just　the　way　I　am？　You're　sure。

〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃So　much　yes。〃

〃Because　I'm　going　to　be　changed。〃

〃No；〃　he　said。　〃No。　Not　changed。〃

〃I'm　going　to；〃　she　said。　〃It's　for　you。　It's　for　me　too。　I　won't　pretend　it's　not。　But　it　will　do　something　to　you。　I'm　sure　but　I　shouldn't　say　it。〃

〃I　like　surprises　but　I　like　everything　the　way　it　is　just　now　at　this　minute。〃

〃Then　maybe　I　shouldn't　do　it；〃　she　said。　〃Oh　I'm　sad。　It　was　such　a　wonderful　dangerous　surprise。　I　thought　about　it　for　days　and　I　didn't　decide　until　this　morning。〃

〃If　it's　something　you　really　want。〃

〃It　is；〃　she　said。　〃And　I'm　going　to　do　it。　You've　liked　every　thing　we've　done　so　far　haven't　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃