time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第65部分

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　　Gibbons　felt　in　his　shirt　pocket；　found　a　sweet；　gave　it　to　Buck　on　the　flat　of　his　hand。　The　mule　took　it　neatly；　nodded　thanks。　Gibbons　reflected　that　these　mutant　mules；　fertile　and　breeding　true；　were　the　biggest　help　to　colonizing　since　the　Libby　Drive。　They　took　cold…sleep　easily…when　you　shipped　swine；　half　your　breeding　stock　arrived　as　pork…and　they　could　look　out　for　themselves　in　many　ways；　a　mule　could　stomp　a　wild　loper　to　death。
　　
　　He　said；　〃So　long；　Buck。　Going　for　a　walk。　Walk。　Tell　Boss。〃
　　
　　〃Shoh…rrrong！〃　acknowledged　the　mule。　〃Pye！〃
　　
　　Gibbons　turned　left　and　headed　out　of　town　while　considering　how　big　a　loan　to　offer　Clyde　Learner　with　Buck　as　security。　A　good…tempered；　smart　stallion　mule　was　a　prize…and　about　the　only　unmortgaged　asset　Clyde　had　left。　Gibbons　had　no　doubt　that　a　loan　on　Buck　would　put　Clyde　back　on　his　feet…literally…as　soon　as　the　loan　was　due。　Gibbons　felt　no　pity。　A　man　who　couldn't　cut　the　mustard　on　New　Beginnings　was　worthless；　no　sense　in　propping　him　up。
　　
　　No；　don't　lend　Clyde　a　dollar！　Offer　to　buy　outright…at　10　percent　over　a　fair　price。　A　decent　hardworking　animal　should　not　belong　to　a　lazy　bum。　Gibbons　had　no　need　for　a　saddle　mule…but　it　would　do　him　good　to　ride　an　hour　or　so　each　day。　Man　got　flabby　sitting　in　a　bank。
　　
　　Marry　again　and　give　Buck　to　his　bride　as　a　wedding　present。　A　pleasant　thought；　but　the　only　Howards　on　pla　were　married　couples　and　not　one　with　a　husband…high　daughter…as　well　as　all　being　in　masquerade　until　the　place　grew　populous　enough　that　the　Families　would　set　up　a　clinic　here。　Safer。　Once　burned；　forever　shy。　He　avoided　Howards；　and　they　avoided　each　other；　on　the　surface。　Be　nice　to　be　married　again；　though。　The　Magee　family…actually　Barstows…had　two　or　three　girls　growing　up。　Maybe　he　should　pay　them　a　call　someday。
　　
　　In　the　meantime…He　felt　gusty　and　good；　stuffed　with　scrambled　eggs　and　wicked　thoughts；　and　wondered　where　there　was　a　female　who　felt　the　same　way　and　could　duck　out　and　share　their　interest。　Ernie　knew　several　who　shared　his　enthusiasm…but　not　available　at　this　time　of　day；　not　for　a　casual　romp。　Which　was　all　he　was　wanted；　it　was　not　fair　to　engage　in　anything　serious　with　an　ephemeral　no　matter　how　sweet　she　was…especially　if　she　was　truly　sweet。
　　
　　Banker　Gibbons　was　at　the　edge　of　town　and　about　to　turn　back　when　he　noticed　smoke　from　a　house　farther　out…the　Harper　place。　What　had　be？n　the　Harper　place；　he　amended；　before　they　homesteaded　outback；　but　now　occupied　by；　uh；　Bud　Brandon　and　his　wife；　Marje…nice　young　couple　from　the　second　shipload。　One　child？　He　thought　so。
　　
　　Running　a　fireplace　on　a　day　like　this？　Possibly　burning　trash。
　　
　　Hey；　that　smoke　is　not　from　the　chimney！　Gibbons　broke　into　a　run。
　　
　　As　he　reached　the　Harper　place；　the　entire　roof　was　burning。　Lazarus　skidded　to　a　stop　and　tried　to　judge　the　situation。　Like　most　older　houses；　the　Harper　place　had　Po　ground…floor　windows　and　but　a　single　door　that　fit　tightly　and　opened　outward…a　design　for　a　time　when　lopers　and　dragons　were　ubiquitous。
　　
　　Opening　that　door　would　be　opening　the　damper　on　a　burning　fire。
　　
　　He　did　not　waste　an　instant　debating　it；　that　door　must　stay　closed。　He　ran　around　the　house；　spotting　windows　of　the　upper　floor　and　looking　for　means　to　reach　one…a　ladder　or　anything。　Was　anyone　inside？　Didn't　the　Brandons　even　have　knotted…rope…fire　escapes？　Probably　not；　good　rope　came　from　Earth　and　retailed　at　niy　dollars　a　meter…the　Harpers　would　not　have　left　any　behind。
　　
　　A　window　with　its　shutters　open　and　smoke　pouring　out…　He　yelled；　〃Hey！　Anybody　home！〃　A　figure　showed　at　the　window；　and　something　was　thrown　out　to　him。
　　
　　Automatically　he　made　a　good　catch；　spotting　what　it　was　while　in　the　air；　going　to　the　ground　with　it　to　soften　the　impact。　A　small　child…　He　looked　up；　saw　an　arm　…hanging　over　the　windowsill。
　　
　　The　roof　fell　in；　the　arm　disappeared。
　　
　　Gibbons　scrambled　up　fast；　holding　the　little　boy…no；　little　girl；　he　corrected…and　moved　hastily　back　from　the　holocaust。　He　did　not　consider　the　possibility　that　someone　might　be　alive　in　that　raging　fire；　he　simply　hoped　that　they　had　died　quickly　and　gave　it　no　more　thought。　He　cradled　the　child　in　his　arms。　〃Are　you　all　right；　honey？〃
　　
　　〃1　guess　so；〃　she　answered；　then　added　gravely；　〃but　Mama's　awful　sick。〃
　　
　　〃Mama　is　all　right　now；　dear；〃　he　said　gently；　〃and　so　is　Papa。〃
　　
　　〃You're　。sure？〃　The　child　twisted　in　his　arms；　tried　to　see　the　burning　house。
　　
　　He　interposed　his　shoulder。　〃Fm　sure。〃　He　held　her　more　firmly　and　started　walking。
　　
　　Halfway　back　to　town　they　encountered　Clyde　Leamer；　mounted　on　Buck。　Clyde　reined　up。　〃Oh；　there　you　are！　Banker；　I　want　to　talk　to　you。〃
　　
　　〃Stow　it；　Clyde。〃
　　
　　〃Huh？　But　you　don't　understand。　I've　got　to　have　some　money。　Nnthing　but　bad　luck　the　whole　season。　Seems　like　everything　I　touch…〃
　　
　　〃Clyde…shut　your　yap！〃
　　
　　〃What？〃　Leamer　seemed　to　notice　for　the　first　time　that　the　banker　was　carrying　something。　〃Hey！　ain't　that　the　Brandon　kid？〃
　　
　　〃Yes。〃
　　
　　〃Thought　so。　Now　about　this　loan…〃
　　
　　〃I　told　you　to　shut　up。　The　bank　won't　lend　you　another　dollar。〃
　　
　　〃But　you've　got　to　listen。　Seems　to　me　the　munity　ought　to　help　a　farmer　who's　had　bad　luck。　If　it　weren't　for　the　farmers…〃
　　
　　第34节
　　
　　〃You　listen。　If　you　spent　as　much　time　working　as　you　do　talking；　you　wouldn't　need　to　talk　about　'bad　luck。'　Even　your　stable　is　dirty。　Mm　。　。　what　price　do　you　want　for　that　stud　brute？〃
　　
　　〃Buck？　Why；　I　wouldn't　sell　Buck。　But　here's　what　I　had　in　mind；　Banker。　You're　a　kindly　man　even　if　you　do　talk　rough　and　I　know　you　won't　see　my　kids　starve。　Now　Buck　is　a　valuable　property；　and　I　figure　he　ought　to　be　security　for　about…well；　about；　say…〃
　　
　　〃Clyde；　the　best　thing　you　can　do　for　your　kids　is　to　cut　your　throat。　Then　people　would　adopt　them。　No　loan；　Clyde…not　a　dollar；　not　a　dime。　But　I'll　buy　Buck　myself；　right　now。　Name　a　Wice。〃
　　
　　Leamer　gulped　and　hesitated。　〃Twenty…five　thousand。〃
　　
　　Gibbons　started　walking　toward　town。　Leamer　said　hastily；　〃Twenty　thousand！〃　Gibbons　did　not　answer。
　　
　　Learner　reined　the　mule　around；　turned　in　front　of　the　banker；　and　stopped。　〃Banker；　you've　got　me　by　the　short　hairs。　Eighteen　thousand　and　you're　stealing　him。〃
　　
　　〃Leamer；　I　won't　steal　from　you。　Put　him　up　for　auction；　and　I　might　bid。　Or　might　not。　How　much　do　you　think　he'll　bring　at　auction？〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　fifteen　thousand。〃
　　
　　〃You　think　so？　I　don't。　I　know　how　old　he　is　without　looking　at　his　teeth；　and　just　what　you　paid　for　him；　off　the　ship。　I　know　what　people　around　here　can　afford　and　will　pay。　But　go　ahead；　he's　yours。　Bear　in　mind　that　if　you　put　a　low…bid　price　against　him；　you　owe　the　auctioneer　ten　percent　even　if　he　doesn't　sell。　But　it's　your　business；　Clyde。　Now　get　out　of　my　way；　I　want　to　get　this　child　into　town　and　lying　down；　she's　had　a　bad　time。〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　what　will　you　pay？〃
　　
　　〃Twelve　thousand。〃…
　　
　　〃Why；　that's　robbery！〃
　　
　　〃You　don't　have　to　take　it。　Suppose　…　an　auction　brings　fifteen　thousand　dollars…as　you　hope。　Your　　is　thirteen　five。　But　suppose　an　auction　brings　only　ten　thousand；　which　I　find　more　likely。　You　　nine　thousand。　G'bye；　Clyde；　I'm　in　a　hurry。〃
　　
　　〃Well…thirteen　thousand？〃
　　
　　〃Clyde；　I　named　my　top　price。　You've　dealt　with　me　often　enough　to　know　that　when　I　say　it's　top　dollar；　then　it's　top　dollar。　But…throw　in　that　saddle　and　bridle　and　answer　one　question　and　I'll　sweeten　it　by　five　hundred　dollars。〃
　　
　　〃What　question？〃
　　
　　〃How　did　you　…happen　to　migrate？〃
　　
　　Learner　looked　startled；　then　laughed　unmirthfully。　〃Because　I　was　crazy；　if　you　want　to　know　the　truth。〃
　　
　　〃Aren't　we　all？　That's　hardly　an　answer；　Clyde。〃
　　
　　〃Well　。　。　my　old　man　is　a　banker…and　as　hard…nosed　as　you　are！　I　was　doing　all　right；　I　had　a　proper；　respectable　job；　teaching。　College。　But　the　pay　wasn't　much；　and　my　old　man　was　always　snotty　about　it　when　I　ran　a　little　short。　Snoopy。　Disparaging。　Finally　I　got　so　sick　of　it　that　I　asked　him　what　he　would　think　of　paying　Yvonne's　fare　and　mine　in　the　'Andy　J。'？　Migrate。　Be　rid　of　us。
　　
　　〃To　my　surprise　he　agreed。　But　I　didn't　back　out。　I　knew　that　a　man　with　a　fine　education　like　mine　could　get　ahead　anywhere　。　。　and　it　wasn't　like　we　was　being　dumped　on　some　wild　pla；　we　were　second　wave；　you　may　remember。
　　
　　〃Only　it　was　a　wild　pla　and　I've　had　to　do　things　that　no　gentleman　ought　to　have　to　touch。　But　you　just　wait；　Banker；　kids　around　here　are　growing　up；　and　there　will　be　a　place　for　higher　education；　not　the　trivia　Mrs。　Mayberry　teaches　in　that　so…called　school　of　hers。　That's　where　I　e　in…　you'll　be　calling　me　'Professor'　yet；　and　speaking　respectful！3　You'll　see。〃
　　
　　〃Good　luck　to　you。　Are　you　accepting　my　offer？　Twelv　thousand　five　hundred；　；　including　bridle　and　saddle。〃
　　
　　〃Uh　。　。　I　said　i　was；　didn't　I？〃
　　
　　〃You　didn't　say。　You