time enough for love-时间足够你爱(英文版)-第109部分

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ember　that　I　haven't　told　you　anything。〃　？
　　
　　〃Captain；　I've　already　forgotten　it。〃　（Pop　thinks　he's　doing　me　a　favor！）　〃Thank　you；　sir！〃
　　
　　〃Not　at　all。　Dismissed。〃
　　
　　DA　CAPO
　　
　　VII
　　
　　Staff　Sergeant　Theodore　Bronson　found　Kansas　City　changed…uniforms　everywhere；　posters　everywhere。　Uncle　Sam　stared　out　at　him：　〃I　want　you　for　the　United　States　Army。〃　A　Red　Cross　nurse　was　shown　holding　a　wounded　man　in　a　stretcher　as　if　he　were　a　baby；　with　the　one　word：
　　
　　〃GIVE；〃　A　sign　on　a　restaurant　said：　〃We　Observe　All　Meatless；　Wheatless；　and　Sweetless　Days。〃　Service　flags　were　in　many　windows…he　counted　five　stars　on　one；　saw　several　with　gold　stars。
　　
　　More　traffic　than　he　recalled　and　streetcars　were　crowded；　many　passengers　in　uniform…it　seemed　as　if　all　of　Camp　Funston　and　every　camp　or　fort　within　reaching　distance　had　all　been　dumped　into　the　city　at　once。　Untrue；　he　knew；　but　the　train　he　had　dozed　in　most　of　last　night　had　been　so　jammed　that　it　seemed　true。
　　
　　That　〃Khaki　Special〃　had　been　almost　as　dirty　as　a　cattle　train　and　even　slower；　it　had　sidetracked　again　and　again　in　favor　of　freights；　and　once　for　a　troop　train。　Lazarus　arrived　in　Kansas　City　late　in　the　morning；　tired　and　filthy…having　left　camp　clean　and　rested。　But　he　had　his　battered　old　grip　with　him　and　planned　to　correct　both　conditions　before　seeing　his　〃adopted〃　family。
　　
　　Waving　a　five…dollar　bill　in　front　of　the　railroad　station　got　him　a　taxi；　but　the　hackie　insisted　on　picking　up　three　more　passengers　going　south　after　asking　what　direction　Lazarus　was　going。　The　taxicab　was　a　Ford　landaulet　like　his　own；　but　in　much　worse　condition。　The　glass　partition　between　front　and　back　seats　（the　feature　that　made　it　a　〃limousine〃）　had　been　removed；　and　the　collapsible　half…top　of　the　rear　partrnent　appeared　to　have　collapsed　for　the　last　time。　But
　　
　　530with　five　in　it；　plus　baggage　on　knees；　ventilation　was　wele。　The　driver　said；　〃Sergeant；　you　were　first。　Where　to？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　Said　that　he　wanted　to　find　a　hotel　room　out　south；　near　Thirty…first。
　　
　　〃You're　an　optimist…hard　enough　to　find　one　downtown。　But　we'll　try。　Drop　these　other　gentlemen　first；　maybe？〃
　　
　　Eventually　he　wound　up　near　Thirty…first　and　Main…〃Permanent　and　Transient…all　rooms　&　apts。　with　bath。〃　The　driver　said；　〃This　joint　costs　too　much…but　it's　this　or　go　back　downtown。　No；　keep　your　money　till　we　see　if　they　can　take　you。　You　about　to　go　overseas？〃
　　
　　〃So　I　hear。〃
　　
　　〃So　your　fare　is　a　dollar；　I　don't　take　no　tips　from　a　man　about　to　go　over…I　got　a　boy　'Over　There。'　Le'me　talk　to　that　clerk。〃
　　
　　Ten　minutes　later　Lazarus　was　luxuriating　in　the　first　tub　bath　he　had…had　since　April　6；　1917。　Then　he　slept　three　hours。　When　his　inner　alarm　woke　him；　he　dressed　in　clean　clothes　from　skin　out；　his　best　uniform…the　breeches　he　had　retailored　for　a　smarter　peg　at　the　knee。　He　went　down　to　the　lobby　and　telephoned　his　family's　home。
　　
　　Carol　ansa；　it's　Uncle　Ted！〃
　　
　　Maureen　Smith's　voice　was　serenely　warm。　〃Where　are　you；　Sergeant　Theodore？　Brian　Junior　wants　to　go　fetch　you　home；〃
　　
　　〃Please　tell　him　thanks；　Mrs。　Smith；　but　Fm　in　a　hotel　at　the　Thirty…first　Street　car　line；　I'll　be　there　before　he　could　get　here…if　I'm　wele。〃
　　
　　〃Wele'？　What　a　way　for　our　adopted　soldier　to　talk。　Yt；u　don't　belong　in　a　hotel；　you　must　stay　here。　Brian…my　husband；　I　mean；　the　Captain…told　us　to　expect　you　and　that　you　were　to　stay　with　us。　Did　he　not　tell　you　so'？〃
　　
　　〃M。a'axn；　I've　seen　the　Captain　just　once；　three　weeks　ago。　So　far　as　I　know；　he　doesn't　know　I'm　on　leave。〃　Lazarus　added；　〃I　don't　want　to　put　you　out。〃
　　
　　〃Pish　and　tush；　Sergeant　Theodore；　let's　have　no　more　of　that。　At　the　beginning　of　the　war　we　changed　the　maid's　room　downstairs…my　sewing　room；　where　you　played　chess　with　Woodrow…into　a　guest　room；　so　that　the　Captain　could　bring　a　brother　officer　home　on　a　weekend。　Must　I　tell　my　husband　that　you　refused　to　sleep　there？〃
　　
　　（Maureen　my　love；　that's　putting　the　~at　too　close　to　the　canary！　I　won't　sleep；　I'll　lie　awake　thinking　about　you　upstairs…surrounded　by　kids　and　Gramp。）　〃Mrs。　Captain　gen
　　
　　erous　hostess　ma'am；　I'll　be　utterly　delighted　to　sleep　in　your　sewing　room。〃
　　
　　〃That's　better；　Sergeant。　For　a　moment　I　thought　Mama　was　going　to　have　to　spank。〃
　　
　　Brian　Junior　was　waiting　at　the　Benton　car　stop；　with　George　as　footman；　and　with　Carol　and　Marie　in　the　back　seat。　George　grabbed　the　grip　and　took　charge　of　it；　Marie　shrilled；　〃My；　doesn't　Uncle　Ted　look　pretty！〃　and　Carol　corrected　her：
　　
　　〃Handsome；　Marie。　Soldiers　look　handsome　and　smart；　not　'pretty。'　Isn't　that　right；　Uncle　Ted？〃
　　
　　Lazarris　picked　the　smaller　girl　up　by　her　elbows　and　kissed　her　cheek；　set　her　down。　〃Technically　correct；　Carol…but　'pretty'　suits　me　just　fine　if　Marie　thinks　I　am。　Quite　a　weling　mittee…do　I　run　along　behind？〃
　　
　　〃You　sit　in　the　tonneau　with　the　girls；〃　Brian　Junior　ruled。　〃But　look　at　this　first！〃　He　pointed。　〃A　foo？　throttle！　Isn't　that　bully？〃
　　
　　Lazarus　agreed；　then　took　a　few　moments　to　inspect　the　car…in　better　shape　than　he　had　left　it；　shining　and　clean　from　spokes　to　top　and　with　several　new　items　besides　the　foot　accelerator：　a　ditssy　radiator　cap；　rubber　nonskids　for　the　pedals；　a　tire　holder　on　the　rear　with　a　patent…leather　cover　for　a　spare　tire；　a　robe　rail　in　the？rear　partment　with　a　lap　robe　folded　neatly；　and…finishing　touch…a　cut…glass　bud　vase　with　a　single　rose。　〃Is　the　engine　kept　as　beautifully　as　the　rest？〃
　　
　　George　opened　the　hood。　Lazarus　looked　and　nodded　approvingly。　〃It　could　take　a　white…glove　inspection。〃
　　
　　〃That's　exactly　what　Grandpa　gives　it；〃　Brian　declared。　〃He　says　if　we　don't　take　care　of　it；　we　can't　use　it。〃
　　
　　〃You　do　take　care　of　it。〃
　　
　　Lazarus　arrived　in　royal　splendor；　one　arm　aroi~d~abig　little　girl；　the　other　around　a　small　little　girl。　Graiisp　was　waiting　on　the　front　porch；　came　down　the　walk　to　meet　him；　and　Lazarus　suddenly　revised　his　mental　image：　The　old　soldier　was　in　uniform　and　seemed　a　foot　taller　and　ramrod　straight…ribbons　on　his　chest；　chevrdns　on　his　sleeves；　puttees　most　carefully　rolled；　campaign　hat　perched　high　and　turned　up　slightly　behind。
　　
　　As　Lazarus　turned　from　handing　Carol　out；　Marie　having　danced　ahead；　Oramp　paused　and　threw　Lazarus　a　sweeping　tFhrockmartin　salute。　〃Wele　home；　Sergeant！〃
　　
　　Lazarus　returned　it　as　flamboyantly。　〃Thank　you；　Sergeant；
　　
　　531
　　
　　I'm　glad　to　be　here。〃　He　added；　〃Mr。　Johnson；　you　didn't　tell　me　you　were　a　supply　sergeant。〃
　　
　　〃Somebody　has　to　count　the　socks。　I　agreed　to　take…〃
　　
　　The　rest　was　lost　to　Woodie's　explosive　arrival。　〃Hey；　Uncle　Sergeant！　You're　going　to　play　chess　with　me！〃
　　
　　〃Sure；　Sport；〃　Lazarus　agreed；　his　attention　distracted　by　two　other　things：　Mrs。　Smith　at　the　open　door；　and　a　service　flag　in　the　parlor　window。　Three　stars…　Three？
　　
　　Then　Gramp　was　urging　him　in　with　something　about　this　being　a　drill　night　so　supper　would　be　early。　Nancy　kissed
　　
　　第75节
　　
　　？him；　openly　and　without　glancing　first　for　her　mother's　approval…then　Dickie　had　to　be　picked　up　and　kissed；　and　Baby　Ethel　（walking！）；　and　at　last　Maureen　gave　him　her　slender　hand；　drew　him　to　her；　and　brushed　his　cheek　with　her　lips。　〃Sergeant　Theodore　。　。　it　is　so　good　to　have　you
　　
　　？home。〃
　　
　　Supper　was　a　noisy；　well…run　circus；　with　Gramp　presiding　in　lieu　of　his　son…in…law；　while　his　daughter　ran　things　with　serene　dignity　from　the　other　end　and　did　not　get　up　once　Lazarus　placed　her　chair　under　her　and　took　his　seat　of　honor　on　her　right。　Her　three　oldest　daughters　did　all　that　was　necessary。　Ethel　sat　in　a　highchair　on　her　mother's　left　with　George　helping　her…Lazarus　learned　that　this　duty　rotated　among　the　five　eldest。
　　
　　It　was　a　lavish　meal　for　wartime；　with　hot；　golden　cornbread　replacing　white　bread；　this　being　a　wheatless　day…and　irmest　discipline　（administered　by　Nancy　and　Brian　Junior）　re~1uired　that　every　morsel　accepted　must　be　eaten；　with　admonitions　about　hungry　Belgians。　Lazarus　did　not　care　what　he　ate　but　remembered　to　pliment　the　cooks　（three）；　and　tried　to　answer　all　that　was　said　to　him…nearly　impossible　as　Brian　and　George　wanted　to　tell　about　their　troop's　drive　to　colle。…t　walnut　shells　and　peach　pits　and　how　many　it　took　for　eah　gas　mask；　and　Marie　had　to　be　allowed　to　boast　that　she　could　knit　just　as　well　as　George　could　and　she　did　not　either　drop　stit~hes！…and　hoake　a　blanket；　while　Gramp　wanted　to　talk　shop　with　Lazarus　and　had　to　be　stern　to　get　a　word　in　edgewise。
　　
　　Maureen　Smith　seemed　to　find　it　unnecessary　to　talk~　She　smiled　and　looked　happy；　but　it　seemed　to　Lazarus　that　there　was　tension　under　her　self…control…tl）？ages…old　strain　of　Penelope。　（For　me；　darling？　No；　of　course　not。　I　wish　I　could　tell　you　that　Pop　will　e　back；　unharmed。　But　how　could
　　
　　532
　　
　　533I　make　you　believe　that　I　know？　You're　going　to　have　to　sweat　it　out　the　way　Penelope　did。　I'm　sorry；　my　love。）　〃Excuse　me；　Carol…　I　missed　that。〃
　　
　　〃I　said　it's　perfectly　horrid　that　you　have　to　go　back　so　soon！　When　you're　just　about　to　go　'Over　There。'〃
　　
　　〃But　it's　quite　a　lot；　Carol；　in　wartime。　It's　just　that　getting　here　and　getting　back　eats　up　so　much　time。　I'm　not　entitled　to　special　privileges；　I　don't　know　that　I　am　about　to　ship　out。〃
　　
　　There　was　silence　around　the　table；　and　the　older　boys　exchanged　glances。
　　
　　Ira　Thhnson　broke　it　by　saying　gently；　〃Sergeant；　the　children　know　what　a　pass　in　the　middle　of　the　week　means。　But　they　don't　talk；　they　are　disciplined。　My　son…in…law　decided…wisely；　I　think…not　to　keep　things　from　them　us'necessarily。〃
　　
　　〃But；　Grandpa；　when　Papa　has　leave；　he　doesn't　go　back　next　day。　It's　not　fair。〃
　　
　　〃That's　because；〃　Brian　Junior　said　wisely；　〃Papa　usually　rides　with　Captain　Bozell　in　that　big　ol'　Marmon　Six　and　they　burn　up　the　road。　Staff　Sergeant　Uncle　Ted；　I　could　drive　you　back　to　camp　Then　you　wouldn't　have　to　leave　till　late　~。　morrow　night
　　
　　Thank　you　Brian…but　I　don　t　think　we　d　better　If　I　cajcfr〃　the　train　we　call　the　'Reveille　Special'　tomorrow　evening~　P~　safe　even　if　the　train　is　a　bit　late；　and　this　is　one　time　~　in　not　going　to　risk　being　over　leave。〃
　　
　　I　agree　with　Sergeant　Bronson　'　Gramp　added　and　that　settles　it　Brian　Ted　can　t　risk　being　late~　~　~鏴　that　I　had　better　move　along　too　Daughter　if　Lmay~~cused？'
　　
　　Certainly　Father
　　
　　Sergeant　Johnson　may　I　drive　you　to　~~arade　ground？　Or　wherever　it　is？〃
　　
　　〃To　the　Armory。　No；　no；　Ted；　my　captain　picks　me　up　and　brings　me　home；　he　and　I　go　early　and　stay　late。　Mrrph。　Why　don't　you　take　Maureen　for　a　spin？　She　hasn't　been　out　of　the　house　for　a　week；　she's　getting　pale。〃
　　
　　〃Mrs。　Smith？　I'd　be　honored。〃
　　
　　〃We'll　all　go！〃
　　
　　〃George；〃　his　grandfather　said　firmly；　〃the　idea　is　to　give　your　mother　an　hour　free　of　the　pressure　and　noise　of　children。〃
　　
　　〃Sergeant　Ted　promised　to　…play　chess　with　me！〃