options-第31章
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〃You're rising in the scale；〃 I said。 〃What you seem to need is a first…class clairvoyant。〃
〃And if I say that I am dying to hear a Beethoven sonata； and stamp my foot when I say it； he must know by that that what my soul craves is salted almonds； and he will have them ready in his pocket。〃
〃Now；〃 said I； 〃I am at a loss。 I do not know whether your soul's affinity is to be an impresario or a fancy grocer。〃
Chole turned her pearly smile upon me。
〃Take less than half of what I said as a jest；〃 she went on。 〃And don't think too lightly of the little things； Boy。 Be a paladin if you must； but don't let it show on you。 Most women are only very big children； and most men are only very little ones。 Please us； don't try to overpower us。 When we want a hero we can make one out of even a plain grocer the third time he catches our handkerchief before it falls to the ground。〃
That evening I was taken down with pernicious fever。 That is a kind of coast fever with improvements and high…geared attachments。 Your temperature goes up among the threes and fours and remains there； laughing scornfully and feverishly at the cinchona trees and the coal… tar derivatives。 Pernicious fever is a case for a simple mathematician instead of a doctor。 It is merely this formula： Vitality ＋ the desire to livethe duration of the fever the result。
I took to my bed in the two…roomed thatched hut where I had been comfortably established； and sent for a gallon of rum。 That was not for myself。 Drunk； Stamford was the best doctor between the Andes and the Pacific。 He came； sat at my bedside； and drank himself into condition。
〃My boy；〃 said he； 〃my lily…white and reformed Romeo； medicine will do you no good。 But I will give you quinine； which； being bitter； will arouse in you hatred and anger…two stimulants that will add ten per cent。 to your chances。 You are as strong as a caribou calf； and you will get well if the fever doesn't get in a knockout blow when you're off your guard。〃
For two weeks I lay on my back feeling like a Hindoo widow on a burning ghat。 Old Atasca； an untrained Indian nurse； sat near the door like a petrified statue of What's…the…Use； attending to her duties； which were； mainly； to see that time went by without slipping a cog。 Sometimes I would fancy myself back in the Philippines； or； at worse times； sliding off the horsehair sofa in Sleepytown。
One afternoon I ordered Atasca to vamose； and got up and dressed carefully。 I took my temperature； which I was pleased to find 104。 I paid almost dainty attention to my dress； choosing solicitously a necktie of a dull and subdued hue。 The mirror showed that I was looking little the worse from my illness。 The fever gave brightness to my eyes and color to my face。 And while I looked at my reflection my color went and came again as I thought of Chloe Greene and the millions of eons that had passed since I'd seen her； and of Louis Devoe and the time he had gained on me。
I went straight to her house。 I seemed to float rather than walk； I hardly felt the ground under my feet； I thought pernicious fever must be a great boon to make one feel so strong。
I found Chloe and Louis Devoe sitting under the awning in front of the house。 She jumped up and met me with a double handshake。
〃I'm glad； glad； glad to see you out again！〃 she cried； every word a pearl strung on the string of her sentence。 〃You are well； Tommyor better； of course。 I wanted to come to see you； but they wouldn't let me。
〃Oh yes；〃 said I； carelessly； 〃it was nothing。 Merely a little fever。 I am out again； as you see。〃
We three sat there and talked for half an hour or so。 Then Chloe looked out yearningly and almost piteously across the ocean。 I could see in her sea…blue eyes some deep and intense desire。 Devoe； curse him！ saw it too。
〃What is it？〃 we asked； in unison。
〃Cocoanut…pudding；〃 said Chloe； pathetically。 〃I've wanted someoh； so badly； for two days。 It's got beyond a wish； it's an obsession。
〃The cocoanut season is over；〃 said Devoe； in that voice of his that gave thrilling interest to his most commonplace words。 〃I hardly think one could be found in Mojada。 The natives never use them except when they are green and the milk is fresh。 They sell all the ripe ones to the fruiterers。〃
〃Wouldn't a broiled lobster or a Welsh rabbit do as well？〃 I remarked； with the engaging idiocy of a pernicious…fever convalescent。
Chloe came as near to pouting as a sweet disposition and a perfect profile would allow her to come。
The Reverend Homer poked his ermine…lined face through the doorway and added a concordance to the conversation。
〃Sometimes；〃 said he； 〃old Campos keeps the dried nuts in his little store on the hill。 But it would be far better； my daughter； to restrain unusual desires； and partake thankfully of the daily dishes that the Lord has set before us。〃
〃Stuff！〃 said I。
〃How was that？〃 asked the Reverend Homer； sharply。
〃I say it's tough；〃 said I； 〃to drop into the vernacular； that Miss Greene should be deprived of the food she desires…a simple thing like kalsomine…pudding。 Perhaps；〃 I continued； solicitously； 〃some pickled walnuts or a fricassee of Hungarian butternuts would do as well。〃
Every one looked at me with a slight exhibition of curiosity。
Louis Devoe arose and made his adieus。 I watched him until he had sauntered slowly and grandiosely to the corner； around which he turned to reach his great warehouse and store。 Chloe made her excuses； and went inside for a few minutes to attend to some detail affecting the seven…o'clock dinner。 She was a passed mistress in housekeeping。 I had tasted her puddings and bread with beatitude。
When all had gone； I turned casually and saw a basket made of plaited green withes hanging by a nail outside the door…jamb。 With a rush that made my hot temples throb there came vividly to my mind recollections of the head…huntersthose grim； flinty； relentless little men； never seen； but chilling the warmest noonday by the subtle terror of their concealed presence。 。 。 。 From time to time； as vanity or ennui or love or jealousy or ambition may move him； one creeps forth with his snickersnee and takes up the silent trail。 。 。 。 Back he comes； triumphant； bearing the severed； gory head of his victim 。 。 。 His particular brown or white maid lingers； with fluttering bosom； casting soft tiger's eyes at the evidence of his love for her。
I stole softly from the house and returned to my hut。 From its supporting nails in the wall I took a machete as heavy as a butcher's cleaver and sharper than a safety…razor。 And then I chuckled softly to myself； and set out to the fastidiously appointed private office of Monsieur Louis Devoe； usurper to the hand of the Pearl of the Pacific。
He was never slow at thinking； he gave one look at my face and another at the weapon in my hand as I entered his door； and then he seemed to fade from my sight。 I ran to the back door； kicked it open； and saw him running like a deer up the road toward the wood that began two hundred yards away。 I was after him； with a shout。 I remember hearing children and women screaming； and seeing them flying from the road。
He was fleet； but I was stronger。 A mile； and I had almost come up with him。 He doubled cunningly and dashed into a brake that extended into a small canon。 I crashed through this after him； and in five minutes had him cornered in an angle of insurmountable cliffs。 There his instinct of self…preservation steadied him； as it will steady even animals at bay。 He turned to me； quite calm； with a ghastly smile。
〃Oh； Rayburn！〃 he said； with such an awful effort at ease that I was impolite enough to laugh rudely in his face。 〃Oh； Rayburn！〃 said he； 〃come； let's have done with this nonsense。 Of course； I know it's the fever and you're not yourself； but collect yourself； man…give me that ridiculous weapon； now； and let's go back and talk it over。〃
〃I will go back；〃 said I； 〃carrying your head with me。 We will see how charmingly it can discourse when it lies in the basket at her door。〃
〃Come；〃 said he； pe
