carson mccullers - the heart is a lonely hunter-第31部分

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three　months　and　now　it　seemed　new　to　him　again。　
'I　sure　do　wish　I　had　a　costume；'　Bubber　said。　
'What　kind　do　you　want？'　
'A　real　cool　costume。　A　real　pretty　one　made　out　of　all　
different　colors。　Like　a　butterfly。　That's　what　I　want　for　
Christmas。　That　and　a　bicycle！'　
'Sissy；'　said　Spareribs。　
Bubber　hauled　the　big　rifle　up　to　his　shoulder　again　and　took　
aim　at　a　house　across　the　street。　'I'd　dance　around　in　

141　
my　costume　if　I　had　one。　I'd　wear　it　every　day　to　school。'　Mick　
sat　on　the　front　steps　and　kept　her　eyes　on　Ralph。　Bubber　
wasn't　a　sissy　like　Spareribs　said。　He　just　loved　pretty　things。　
She'd　better　not　let　old　Spareribs　get　away　with　that。　
'A　person's　got　to　fight　for　every　single　thing　they　get；'　she　


said　slowly。　'And　I've　noticed　a　lot　of　times　that　the　farther
down　a　kid　comes　in　the　family　the　better　the　kid　really　is。
Younger　kids　are　always　the　toughest。　I'm　pretty　hard　'cause
I've　a　lot　of　them　on　top　of　me。　Bubber　—he　looks　sick；　and
likes　pretty　things；　but　he's　got　guts　underneath　that。　If　all　this
is　true　Ralph　sure　ought　to　be　a　real　strong　one　when　he's　old
enough　to　get　around。　Even　though　he's　just　seventeen　months
old　I　can　read　something　hard　and　tough　in　that　Ralph's　face
already。
'
Ralph　looked　around　because　he　knew　he　was　being　talked
about。　Spareribs　sat　down　on　the　ground　and　grabbed　Ralph's
hat　off　his　head　and　shook　it　in　his　face　to　tease　him。
'AH　right！'　Mick　said。　'You　know　what　111　do　to　you　if　you
start　him　to　cry。　You　just　better　watch　out'
Everything　was　quiet。　The　sun　was　behind　the　roofs　of　the
houses　and　the　sky　in　the　west　was　purple　and　pink。　On　the
next　block　there　was　the　sound　of　kids　skating。　Bubber　leaned
up　against　a　tree　and　he　seemed　to　be　dreaming　about
something。　The　smell　of　supper　came　out　of　the　house　and　it
would　be　time　to　eat　soon。
'Lookit；'　Bubber　said　suddenly。　'Here　comes　Baby　again。　She
sure　is　pretty　in　the　pink　costume。
'
Baby　walked　toward　them　slowly。　She　had　been　given　a　prize
box　of　popcorn　candy　and　was　reaching　in　the　box　for　the
prize。　She　walked　in　that　same　prissy；　dainty　way。　You　could
tell　that　she　knew　they　were　all　looking　at　her。
'Please；　Baby'　Bubber　said　when　she　started　to
pass　them。　'Lemme　see　your　little　pink　pocketbook　and　touch
your　pink　costume。
'
Baby　started　humming　a　song　to　herself　and　did　not　listen。　She
passed　by　without　letting　Bubber　play　with　her。　She　only
ducked　her　head　and　grinned　at　him　a　little。
Bubber　still　had　the　big　rifle　up　to　his　shoulder。　He　made　
a
loud　pow　sound　and　pretended　like　he　had　shot　Then　he　called
to　Baby　again—in　a　soft；　sad　voice　like　he142


was　calling　a　little　kitty。　'Please；　Baby—come　here；
Baby
'
He　was　too　quick　for　Mick　to　stop　him。　She　had　just　seen　his
hand　on　the　trigger　when　there　was　the　terrible　ping　of　the



gun。　Baby　crumpled　down　to　the　sidewalk。　It　was　like　she　was　
nailed　to　the　steps　and　couldn't　move　or　scream。　Spareribs　had　
his　arm　up　over　his　head。　
Bubber　was　the　only　one　that　didn't　realize。　'Get　up；　Baby；'　he　
hollered。　'I　ain't　mad　with　you。'　
It　all　happened　in　a　second。　The　three　of　them　reached　Baby　at　
the　same　time。　She　lay　crumpled　down　on　the　dirty　sidewalk。　
Her　skirt　was　over　her　head；　showing　her　pink　panties　and　her　
little　white　legs。　Her　hands　were　open—in　one　there　was　the　
prize　from　the　candy　and　in　the　other　the　pocketbook。　There　
was　blood　all　over　her　hair　ribbon　and　the　top　of　her　yellow　
curls。　She　was　shot　in　the　head　and　her　face　was　turned　down　
toward　the　ground。　
So　much　happened　in　a　second。　Bubber　screamed　and　dropped　
the　gun　and　ran。　She　stood　with　her　hands　up　to　her　face　and　
screamed　too。　Then　there　were　many　people。　Her　Dad　was　the　
first　to　get　there。　He　carried　Baby　into　the　house。　
'She's　dead；'　said　Spareribs。　'She's　shot　through　the　eyes。　I　seen　
her　face。'　
Mick　walked　up　and　down　the　sidewalk；　and　her　tongue　stuck　
in　her　mouth　when　she　tried　to　ask　was　Baby　killed。　Mrs。　
Wilson　came　running　down　the　block　from　the　beauty　parlor　
where　she　worked。　She　went　into　the　house　and　came　back　out　
again。　She　walked　up　and　down　in　the　street；　crying　and　
pulling　a　ring　on　and　off　her　finger。　Then　the　ambulance　came　
and　the　doctor　went　in　to　Baby。　Mick　followed　him。　Baby　was　
lying　on　the　bed　in　the　front　room。　The　house　was　quiet　as　a　
church。　
Baby　looked　like　a　pretty　little　doll　on　the　bed。　Except　for　the　
blood　she　did　not　seem　hurt。　The　doctor　bent　over　and　looked　
at　her　head。　After　he　finished　they　took　Baby　out　on　a　
stretcher。　Mrs。　Wilson　and　her　Dad　got　into　the　ambulance　
with　her。　
The　house　was　still　quiet。　Everybody　had　forgotten　about　
Bubber。　He　was　nowhere　around。　An　hour　passed。　Her　Mama　
and　Hazel　and　Etta　and　all　the　boarders　waited　in　the　front　
room。　Mister　Singer　stood　in　the　doorway。　

After　a　long　time　her　Dad　came　home。　He　said　Baby　wouldn't　


die　but　that　her　skull　was　fractured。　He　asked　for　Bubber。　
Nobody　knew　where　he　was。　It　was　dark　outside。　They　called　
Bubber　in　the　back　yard　and　in　the　street。　They　sent　Spareribs　
and　some　other　boys　out　to　hunt　for　him。　It　looked　like　Bubber　
had　gone　clear　out　of　the　neighborhood。　Harry　went　around　to　
a　house　where　they　thought　he　might　be。　
Her　Dad　walked　up　and　down　the　front　porch。　'I　never　have　
whipped　any　of　my　kids　yet；'　he　kept　saying。　'I　never　believed　
in　it。　But　I'm　sure　going　to　lay　it　onto　that　kid　as　soon　as　I　get　
my　hands　on　him。'　
Mick　sat　on　the　banisters　and　watched　down　the　dark　street。　'I　
can　manage　Bubber。　Once　he　comes　back　I　can　take　care　of　
him　all　right。'　
'You　go　out　and　hunt　for　him。　You　can　find　him　better　than　
anybody　else。'　
As　soon　as　her　Dad　said　that　she　suddenly　knew　where　Bubber　
was。　In　the　back　yard　there　was　a　big　oak　and　in　the　summer　
they　had　built　a　tree　house。　They　had　hauled　a　big　box　up　in　
this　oak；　and　Bubber　used　to　love　to　sit　up　in　the　tree　house　by　
himself。　Mick　left　the　family　and　the　boarders　on　the　front　
porch　and　walked　back　through　the　alley　of　the　dark　yard。　
She　stood　for　a　minute　by　the　trunk　of　the　tree。　'Bubber—；'　she　
said　quietly。　'It's　Mick。'　
He　didn't　answer；　but　she　knew　he　was　there。　It　was　like　she　
could　smell　him。　She　swung　up　on　the　lowest　branch　and　
climbed　slowly。　She　was　really　mad　with　that　kid　and　would　
have　to　teach　him　a　lesson。　When　she　reached　the　tree　house　
she　spoke　to　him　again—and　still　there　wasn't　any　answer。　She　
climbed　into　the　big　box　and　felt　around　the　edges。　At　last　she　
touched　him。　He　was　scrounged　up　in　a　corner　and　his　legs　
were　trembling。　He　had　been　holding　his　breath；　and　when　she　
touched　him　the　sobs　and　the　breath　came　out　all　at　once。　
'I—I　didn't　mean　Baby　to　fall。　She　was　just　so　little　and　cute—　
seemed　to　me　like　I　just　had　to　take　a　pop　at　her。'　
Mick　sat　down　on　the　floor　of　the　tree　house。　'Baby's　dead；'　
she　said。　They　got　a　lot　of　people　hunting　for　you。'　
Bubber　quit　crying。　He　was　very　quiet。　
*You　know　what　Dad's　doing　in　the　house？'144　

It　was　like　she　could　hear　Bubber　listening。　


'You　know　Warden　Lawes—you　heard　him　over　the　radio。　
And　you　know　Sing　Sing。　Well；　our　Dad's　writing　a1　letter　to　
Warden　Lawes　for　him　to　be　a　little　bit　kind　to　you　when　they　
catch　you　and　send　you　to　Sing　Sing。'　
The　words　were　so　awful…sounding　in　the　dark　that　a　shiver　
came　over　her。　She　could　feel　Bubber　trembling。　
'They　got　little　electric　chairs　there—just　your　size。　And　when　
they　turn　on　the　juice　you　just　fry　up　like　a　piece　of　burnt　
bacon。　Then　you　go　to　Hell。'　
Bubber　was　squeezed　up　in　the　corner　and　there　was　not　a　
sound　from　him。　She　climbed　over　the　edge　of　the　box　to　get　
down。　'You　better　stay　up　here　because　they　got　policemen　
guarding　the　yard。　Maybe　in　a　few　days　I　can　bring　vou　
something　to　eat'　
Mick　leaned　against　the　trunk　of　the　oak　tree。　That　would　
teach　Bubber　all　right。　She　had　always　managed　him　and　she　
knew　more　about　that　kid　than　anybody　else。　Once；　about　a　
year　or　two　ago；　he　was　always　wanting　to　stop　off　behind　
bushes　and　pee　and　play　with　himself　awhile。　She　had　caught　
on　to　that　pretty　quick。　She　gave　him　a　good　slap　every　time　it　
happened　and　in　three　days　he　was　cured。　Afterwards　he　never　
even　peed　normal　like　other　kids—he　held　his　hands　behind　
him。　She　always　had　to　nurse　that　Bubber　and　she　could　
always　manage　him。　In　a　little　while　she　would　go　back　up　to　
the　tree　house　and　bring　him　in。　After　this　he　would　never　
want　to　pick　up　a　gun　again　in　all　his　life。　
There　was　still　this　dead　feeling　in　the　house。　The　boarders　all　
sat　on　the　front　porch　without　talking　or　rocking　in　the　chairs。　
Her　Dad　and　her　Mama　were　in　the　front　room。　Her　Dad　drank　
beer　out　of　a　bottle　and　walked　up　and　down　the　floor。　Baby　
was　going　to　get　well　all　right；　so　this　worry　was　not　about　
her。　And　nobody　seemed　to　be　anxious　about　Bubber。　It　was　
something　else。　
'That　Bubber！〃　said　Etta。　
Tm　shamed　to　go　out　of　the　house　after　this；'　Hazel　said。　
Etta　and　Hazel　went　into　the　middle　room　and　closed　the　door。　
Bill　was　in　his　room　at　the　back。　She　didn't　want　to　talk　with　
them。　She　stood　around　in　the　front　hall　and　thought　it　over　by　
herself。　


Her　Dad's　footsteps　stopped。　'It　was　deliberate；'　he　said。　'It's　
not　like　the　kid　was　just　fooling　with　the　gun　and　it　went　off　
by　accident。　Everybody　who　saw　it　said　he　took　deliberate　
aim。'　
'I　wonder　when　we'll　hear　from　Mrs。　Wilson；'　her　Mama　said。　

■'We'll　hear　plenty；　all　right！'　
'I　reckon　we　will。'　
Now　that　the　sun　was　down　the　night　was　cold　again　like　
November。　The　people　came　in　from　the　front　porch　and　sat　in　
the　living…room—but　nobody　lighted　a　fire。　Mick's　sweater　
was　hanging　on　the　hat　rack；　so　she　put　it　on　and　stood　with　
her　shoulders　bent　over　to　keep　warm。　She　thought　about　
Bubber　sitting　out　in　the　cold；　dark　tree　house。　He　had　really　
believed　every　word　she　said。　But　he　sure　deserved　to　worry　
some。　He　had　nearly　killed　that　Baby。　
'Mick；　can't　you　think　of　some　place　where　Bubber　might　
be？'her　Dad　asked。　
'He's　in　the　neighborhood；　I　reckon。'　
Her　Dad　walked　up　and　down　with　the　empty　beer　bottle　in　
his　hand。　He　walked　li