the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第14章
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sir。〃
It was a beautiful world； this world outside of the iron bars。 Every
one in it contributed to his pleasure and to his comfort。 In this world he
was not starved nor manhandled。 He thought of this joyfully as he leaped
up the stairs； where young men with grave faces and with their hands held
negligently behind their backs bowed to him in polite surprise at his speed。
But they had not been starved on condensed milk。 He threw his coat and
hat at one of them； and came down the hall fearfully and quite weak with
dread lest it should not be real。 His voice was shaking when he asked
Ellis if he had reserved a table。 The place was all so real； it must be true
this time。 The way Ellis turned and ran his finger down the list showed it
was real； because Ellis always did that； even when he knew there would
not be an empty table for an hour。 The room was crowded with beautiful
women； under the light of the red shades they looked kind and
approachable； and there was food on every table； and iced drinks in silver
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buckets。
It was with the joy of great relief that he heard Ellis say to his
underling； 〃Numero cinq； sur la terrace； un couvert。〃 It was real at last。
Outside； the Thames lay a great gray shadow。 The lights of the
Embankment flashed and twinkled across it； the tower of the House of
Commons rose against the sky； and here； inside； the waiter was hurrying
toward him carrying a smoking plate of rich soup with a pungent
intoxicating odor。
And then the ragged palms； the glaring sun； the immovable peaks； and
the white surf stood again before him。 The iron rails swept up and sank
again； the fever sucked at his bones； and the pillow scorched his cheek。
One morning for a brief moment he came back to real life again and
lay quite still； seeing everything about him with clear eyes and for the first
time； as though he had but just that instant been lifted over the ship's side。
His keeper； glancing up； found the prisoner's eyes considering him
curiously； and recognized the change。 The instinct of discipline brought
him to his feet with his fingers at his sides。
〃Is the Lieutenant feeling better？〃
The Lieutenant surveyed him gravely。
〃You are one of our hospital stewards。〃
〃Yes； Lieutenant。〃
〃Why ar'n't you with the regiment？〃
〃I was wounded； too； sir。 I got it same time you did； Lieutenant。〃
〃Am I wounded？ Of course； I remember。 Is this a hospital ship？〃
The steward shrugged his shoulders。 〃She's one of the transports。
They have turned her over to the fever cases。〃
The Lieutenant opened his lips to ask another question； but his own
body answered that one； and for a moment he lay silent。
〃Do they know up North that Ithat I'm all right？〃
〃Oh； yes； the papers had it inthere was pictures of the Lieutenant in
some of them。〃
〃Then I've been ill some time？〃
〃Oh； about eight days。〃
The soldier moved uneasily； and the nurse in him became uppermost。
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〃I guess the Lieutenant hadn't better talk any more；〃 he said。 It was
his voice now which held authority。
The Lieutenant looked out at the palms and the silent gloomy
mountains and the empty coast…line； where the same wave was rising and
falling with weary persistence。
〃Eight days；〃 he said。 His eyes shut quickly； as though with a sudden
touch of pain。 He turned his head and sought for the figure at the foot of
the cot。 Already the figure had grown faint and was receding and
swaying。
〃Has any one written or cabled？〃 the Lieutenant spoke； hurriedly。
He was fearful lest the figure should disappear altogether before he
could obtain his answer。 〃Has any one come？〃
〃Why； they couldn't get here； Lieutenant； not yet。〃
The voice came very faintly。 〃You go to sleep now； and I'll run and
fetch some letters and telegrams。 When you wake up； may be I'll have a
lot for you。〃
But the Lieutenant caught the nurse by the wrist； and crushed his hand
in his own thin fingers。 They were hot； and left the steward's skin wet
with perspiration。 The Lieutenant laughed gayly。
〃You see； Doctor；〃 he said； briskly； 〃that you can't kill me。 I can't die。
I've got to live； you understand。 Because； sir； she said she would come。
She said if I was wounded； or if I was ill； she would come to me。 She
didn't care what people thought。 She would come any way and nurse
mewell； she will come。
〃So； Doctorold man〃 He plucked at the steward's sleeve； and
stroked his hand eagerly； 〃old man〃 he began again； beseechingly； 〃you'll
not let me die until she comes； will you？ What？ No； I know I won't die。
Nothing made by man can kill me。 No； not until she comes。 Then； after
thateight days； she'll be here soon； any moment？ What？ You think so；
too？ Don't you？ Surely； yes； any moment。 Yes； I'll go to sleep now；
and when you see her rowing out from shore you wake me。 You'll know
her； you can't make a mistake。 She is likeno； there is no one like her
but you can't make a mistake。〃
That day strange figures began to mount the sides of the ship； and to
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occupy its every turn and angle of space。 Some of them fell on their
knees and slapped the bare deck with their hands； and laughed and cried
out； 〃Thank God； I'll see God's country again！〃 Some of them were
regulars； bound in bandages； some were volunteers； dirty and hollow…eyed；
with long beards on boys' faces。 Some came on crutches； others with
their arms around the shoulders of their comrades； staring ahead of them
with a fixed smile； their lips drawn back and their teeth protruding。 At
every second step they stumbled； and the face of each was swept by swift
ripples of pain。
They lay on cots so close together that the nurses could not walk
between them。 They lay on the wet decks； in the scuppers； and along the
transoms and hatches。 They were like shipwrecked mariners clinging to
a raft； and they asked nothing more than that the ship's bow be turned
toward home。 Once satisfied as to that； they relaxed into a state of self…
pity and miserable oblivion to their environment； from which hunger nor
nausea nor aching bones could shake them。
The hospital steward touched the Lieutenant lightly on the shoulder。
〃We are going North； sir；〃 he said。 〃The transport's ordered North to
New York； with these volunteers and the sick and wounded。 Do you hear
me； sir？〃
The Lieutenant opened his eyes。 〃Has she come？〃 he asked。
〃Gee！〃 exclaimed the hospital steward。 He glanced impatiently at the
blue mountains and the yellow coast； from which the transport was
drawing r
