cabin fever-第21部分

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hich　he　held　firmly　grasped　in　a　greasy　little　fist。　Now　and　then　Bud　would　reach　into　his　hip　pocket；　pull　out　his　handkerchief　as　a　make…shift　napkin；　and　would　carefully　wipe　the　border　of　gravy　from　the　baby's　mouth；　and　stuff　the　handkerchief　back　into　his　pocket　again。

Both　seemed　abominably　happy　and　self…satisfied。　Lovin　Child　kicked　his　heels　against　the　rough　table　frame　and　gurgled　unintelligible　conversation　whenever　he　was　able　to　articulate　sounds。　Bud　replied　with　a　rambling　monologue　that　implied　a　perfect　understanding　of　Lovin　Child's　talkand　incidentally　doled　out　information　for　Cash's　benefit。

Cash　cocked　an　eye　at　the　two　as　he　went　by；　threw　the　wood　down　on　his　side　of　the　hearth；　and　began　to　replenish　the　fire。　If　he　heard；　he　gave　no　sign　of　understanding　or　interest。

〃I'll　bet　that　old　squaw　musta　half　starved　yah；〃　Bud　addressed　the　baby　while　he　spooned　gravy　out　of　a　white　enamel　bowl　on　to　the　second　slice　of　bread。　〃You're　putting　away　grub　like　a　nigger　at　a　barbecue。　I'll　tell　the　world　I　don't　know　what　woulda　happened　if　I　hadn't　run　across　yuh　and　made　her　hand　yuh　over。〃

〃Jajajajah！〃　said　Lovin　Child；　nodding　his　head　and　regarding　Bud　with　the　twinkle　in　his　eyes。

〃And　that's　where　you're　dead　right；　Boy。　I　sure　do　wish　you'd　tell　me　your　name；　but　I　reckon　that's　too　much　to　ask　of　a　little　geezer　like　you。　Here。　Help　yourself；　kidyou　ain't　in　no　Injun　camp　now。　You're　with　white　folks　now。〃

Cash　sat　down　on　the　bench　he　had　made　for　himself；　and　stared　into　the　fire。　His　whole　attitude　spelled　abstraction；　nevertheless　he　missed　no　little　sound　behind　him。

He　knew　that　Bud　was　talking　largely　for　his　benefit；　and　he　knew　that　here　was　the　psychological　time　for　breaking　the　spell　of　silence　between　them。　Yet　he　let　the　minutes　slip　past　and　would　not　yield。　The　quarrel　had　been　of　Bud's　making　in　the　first　place。　Let　Bud　do　the　yielding；　make　the　first　step　toward　amity。

But　Bud　had　other　things　to　occupy　him　just　then。　Having　eaten　all　his　small　stomach　would　hold；　Lovin　Child　wanted　to　get　down　and　explore。　Bud　had　other　ideas；　but　they　did　not　seem　to　count　for　much　with　Lovin　Child；　who　had　an　insistent　way　that　was　scarcely　to　be　combated　or　ignored。

〃But　listen　here；　Boy！〃　Bud　protested；　after　he　had　for　the　third　time　prevented　Lovin　Child　from　backing　off　the　table。　〃I　was　going　to　take　off　these　dirty　duds　and　wash　some　of　the　Injun　smell　off　yuh。　I'll　tell　a　waiting　world　you　need　a　bath；　and　your　clothes　washed。〃

〃Ugh；　ugh；　ugh；〃　persisted　Lovin　Child；　and　pointed　to　the　floor。

So　Bud　sighed　and　made　a　virtue　of　defeat。　〃Oh；　well；　they　say　it's　bad　policy　to　take　a　bath　right　after　yuh　eat。　We'll　let　it　ride　awhile；　but　you　sure　have　got　to　be　scrubbed　a　plenty　before　you　can　crawl　in　with　me；　old…timer；〃　he　said；　and　set　him　down　on　the　floor。

Lovin　Child　went　immediately　about　the　business　that　seemed　most　important。　He　got　down　on　his　hands　and　knees　and　gravely　inspected　the　broad　black　line；　hopefully　testing　it　with　tongue　and　with　fingers　to　see　if　it　would　yield　him　anything　in　the　way　of　flavor　or　stickiness。　It　did　not。　It　had　been　there　long　enough　to　be　thoroughly　dry　and　tasteless。　He　got　up；　planted　both　feet　on　it　and　teetered　back　and　forth；　chuckling　up　at　Bud　with　his　eyes　squinted。

He　teetered　so　enthusiastically　that　he　sat　down　unexpectedly　and　with　much　emphasis。　That　put　him　between　two　impulses；　and　while　they　battled　he　stared　round…eyed　at　Bud。　But　he　decided　not　to　cry；　and　straightway　turned　himself　into　a　growly　bear　and　went　down　the　line　on　all　fours　toward　Cash；　growling　〃Ooooooo！〃　as　fearsomely　as　his　baby　throat　was　capable　of　growling。

But　Cash　would　not　　be　scared。　He　refused　absolutely　to　jump　up　and　back　off　in　wild…eyed　terror；　crying　out　〃Ooh！　Here　comes　a　bear！〃　the　way　Marie　had　always　donethe　way　every　one　had　always　done；　when　Lovin　Child　got　down　and　came　at　them　growling。　Cash　sat　rigid　with　his　face　to　the　fire；　and　would　not　look。

Lovin　Child　crawled　all　around　him　and　growled　his　terriblest。　For　some　unexplainable　reason　it　did　not　work。　Cash　sat　stiff　as　though　he　had　turned　to　some　insensate　metal。　From　where　he　sat　watchingcurious　to　see　what　Cash　would　doBud　saw　him　flinch　and　stiffen　as　a　man　does　under　pain。　And　because　Bud　had　a　sore　spot　in　his　own　heart；　Bud　felt　a　quick　stab　of　understanding　and　sympathy。　Cash　Markham's　past　could　not　have　been　a　blank；　more　likely　it　held　too　much　of　sorrow　for　the　salve　of　speech　to　lighten　its　hurt。　There　might　have　been　a　child。。。。　　　〃Aw；　come　back　here！〃　Bud　commanded　Lovin　Child　gruffly。

But　Lovin　Child　was　too　busy。　He　had　discovered　in　his　circling　of　Cash；　the　fanny　buckles　on　Cash's　high　overshoes。　He　was　investigating　them　as　he　had　investigated　the　line；　with　fingers　and　with　pink　tongue；　like　a　puppy。　From　the　lowest　buckle　he　went　on　to　the　top　one；　where　Cash's　khaki　trousers　were　tucked　inside　with　a　deep　fold　on　top。　Lovin　Child's　small　forefinger　went　sliding　up　in　the　mysterious　recesses　of　the　fold　until　they　reached　the　flat　surface　of　the　knee。　He　looked　up　farther；　studying　Cash's　set　face；　sitting　back　on　his　little　heels　while　he　did　so。　Cash　tried　to　keep　on　staring　into　the　fire；　but　in　spite　of　himself　his　eyes　lowered　to　meet　the　upward　look。

〃Pik…k？〃　chirped　Lovin　Child；　spreading　his　fingers　over　one　eye　and　twinkling　up　at　Cash　with　the　other。

Cash　flinched　again；　wavered；　swallowed　twice；　and　got　up　so　abruptly　that　Lovin　Child　sat　down　again　with　a　plunk。　Cash　muttered　something　in　his　throat　and　rushed　out　into　the　wind　and　the　slow…falling　tiny　white　flakes　that　presaged　the　storm。

Until　the　door　slammed　shut　Lovin　Child　looked　after　him；　scowling；　his　eyes　a　blaze　of　resentment。　He　brought　his　palms　together　with　a　vicious　slap；　leaned　over；　and　bumped　his　forehead　deliberately　and　painfully　upon　the　flat　rock　hearth；　and　set　up　a　howl　that　could　have　been　heard　for　three　city　blocks。


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN。　AND　BUD　NEVER　GUESSED

That　night；　when　he　had　been　given　a　bath　in　the　little　zinc　tub　they　used　for　washing　clothes；　and　had　been　carefully　buttoned　inside　a　clean　undershirt　of　Bud's；　for　want　of　better　raiment；　Lovin　Child　missed　something　out　of　his　sleepytime　cudding。　He　wanted　Marie；　and　he　did　not　know　how　to　make　his　want　known　to　this　big；　tender；　awkward　man　who　had　befriended　him　and　filled　his　thoughts　till　bedtime。　He　began　to　whimper　and　look　seekingly　around　the　little　cabin。　The　whimper　grew　to　a　cry　which　Bud's　rude　rocking　back　and　forth　on　the　box　before　the　fireplace　could　not　still。

〃M'eetake！〃　wailed　Lovin　Child；　sitting　up　and　listening。　〃M'ee　takeUvin　Chal！〃

〃Aw；　now；　you　don't　wanta　go　and　act　like　that。　Listen　here；　Boy。　You　lay　down　here　and　go　to　sleep。　You　can　search　me　for　what　it　is　you're　trying　to　say；　but　I　guess　you　want　your　mama；　maybe；　or　your　bottle；　chances　are。　Aw；　looky！〃　Bud　pulled　his　watch　from　his　pocketa　man's　infallible　remedy　for　the　weeping　of　infant　chargesand　dangled　it　anxiously　before　Lovin　Child。

With　some　difficulty　he　extracted　the　small　hands　from　the　long　limp　tunnels　of　sleeves；　and　placed　the　watch　in　the　eager　fingers。

〃Listen　to　the　tick…tick！　Aw；　I　wouldn't　bite　into　it。。。　oh；　well；　darn　it；　if　nothing　else'll　do　yuh；　why；　eat　it　up！〃

Lovin　Child　stopped　crying　and　condescended　to　take　a　languid　interest　in　the　watchwhich　had　a　picture　of　Marie　pasted　inside　the　back　of　the　case；　by　the　way。　〃Ee？〃　he　inquired；　with　a　pitiful　little　catch　in　his　breath；　and　held　it　up　for　Bud　to　see　the　busy　little　second　hand。　〃Ee？〃　he　smiled　tearily　and　tried　to　show　Cash；　sitting　aloof　on　his　bench　beside　the　head　of　his　bunk　and　staring　into　the　fire。　But　Cash　gave　no　sign　that　he　heard　or　saw　anything　save　the　visions　his　memory　was　conjuring　in　the　dancing　flames。

〃Lay　down；　now；　like　a　good　boy；　and　go　to　sleep；〃　Bud　wheedled。　〃You　can　hold　it　if　you　want　toonly　don't　drop　it　on　the　floorhere！　Quit　kickin'　your　feet　out　like　that！　You　wanta　freeze？　I'll　tell　the　world　straight；　it's　plumb　cold　and　snaky　outside　to…night；　and　you're　pretty　darn　lucky　to　be　here　instead　of　in　some　Injun　camp　where　you'd　have　to　bed　down　with　a　mess　of　mangy　dogs；　most　likely。　Come　on；　nowlay　down　like　a　good　boy！〃

〃M'ee！　M'ee　take！〃　teased　Lovin　Child；　and　wept　again；　steadily；　insistently；　with　a　monotonous　vigor　that　rasped　Bud's　nerves　and　nagged　him　with　a　vague　memory　of　something　familiar　and　unpleasant。　He　rocked　his　body　backward　and　forward；　and　frowned　while　he　tried　to　lay　hold　of　the　memory。　It　was　the　high…keyed　wailing　of　this　same　man…child　wanting　his　bottle；　but　it　eluded　Bud　completely。　There　was　a　tantalizing　sense　of　familiarity　with　the　sound；　but　the　lungs　and　the　vocal　chords　of　Lovin　Child　had　developed　amazingly　in　two　years；　and　he　had　lost　the　small…infant　wah…hah。

Bud　did　not　remember；　bat　for　all　that　his　thoughts　went　back　across　those　two　years　and　clung　to　his　own　baby；　and　he　wished　poignantly　that　he　knew　how　it　was　getting　along；　and　wondered　if　it　had　grown　to　be　as　big　a　handful　as　this　youngster；　and　how　Marie　would　handle　the　emergency　he　was　struggling　with　now：　a　lost；　lonesome　baby　boy　that　would　not　go　to　sleep　and　could　not　tell　why。

Yet　Lovin　Child　was　answering　every　one　of　Bud's　mute　questions。　Lying　there　in　his　〃Daddy　Bud's〃　arms；　wrapped　comically　in　his　Daddy　Bud's　softest　undershirt；　Lovin　Child　was　proving　to　his　Daddy　Bud　that　his　own　man…child　was　strong　and　beautiful　and　had　a　keen　little　brain　behind　those　twinkling　blue　eyes。　He　was　telling　why　he　cried。　He　wanted　Marie　to　take　him　and　rock　him　to　sleep；　just　as　she　had　rocked　him　to　sleep　every　night　of　his　young　memory；　until　that　time　when　he　had　toddled　out　of　her　life　and　into　a　new　and　peculiar　world　that　held　no　Marie。

By　and　by　he　slept；　still　clinging　to　the　watch　that　had　Marie's　picture　in　the　back。　When　he　was　all　limp　and　rosy　and　breathing　softly　against　Bud's　heart；　Bud　tiptoed　over　to　the　bunk；　reached　down　inconveniently　with　one　hand　and　turned　back　the　blankets；　and　laid　Lovin　Child　in　his　bed　and　covered　him　carefully。　On　his　bench　beyond　the　dead　line　Cash　sat　leaning　forward　with　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　and　su