Henry's nose wrinkled in distaste. Again his hideaway would be invaded and he would have to move on. But where to?
They were opposite him now, a bare twenty feet away. Most of them looked as alike as brothers and sisters, logically enough; there was not one who wasn't a cousin in some degree to the others. Plump, round-faced and dull-eyed, they lived from cradle to grave according to custom. It was the custom, when they were old enough to feel the urge, to join a group like this. Together they tramped the valley from spring to fall, gathering4 fruit and nuts as they came in season. When a couple felt like settling down they awaited a vacant Mastership—a plot of orchard5 and the house that went with it—and moved in. They took over the responsibilities of the place and bred or adopted the three children necessary to hold it. They remained there until they became Elders. Then they moved into Town, where they worked in the factories, idled and gossiped until death overtook them.
They were ignorant, superstitious6, living out their dull routine as generations before them had. Only a few questioned it. Almost none made any active challenge.
The youngsters sighted the tavern8 and made for it at a dead run, wanting to claim favorable bunks9 before the others arrived.
Henry was impatient. Ants were crawling over his foot, but it would never do for him to be seen, especially in the woods. One didn't go into them. They were inhabited by goblins, ghosts and fearsome animals.
Finally they were past. He straightened, started to step into the path, then squatted again quickly. Coming alone, behind the others, was the girl.
Her slimness and pale hair made her stand out from the rest. His thoughts had been upon her since that day when his group passed the house of her father, an avocado Master, down in the lower valley. She had called to them to wait, had run inside to come back with her two pouches10, one for her personal belongings12, the other for food. Living on a fruit diet as they did, they ate most of their awakened13 hours.
"I'm Theta!" she called out happily as she joined them. "Mama says I'm old enough to go with you." She recognized a cousin and ran over to join her, her hair a spot of brightness among the dark. He wanted her from that moment, but she was far too young. He would have to wait.
Coming towards Theta from the opposite direction was the slap of flat feet.
In a moment Henry recognized Ole. He was considerably14 older than the others; his only object in life was enjoying all the young girls who joined the group. He was a bulky dullard and a bully15, his eyes small and mean.
It was evident that he was looking for the girl. A pleased expression spread over his face when he saw her. She stopped abruptly16, looking about for a way to flee, but the path was enclosed by woods and Ole was on her.
"Leave me alone!" she cried in anger as his hand closed about her wrist. Henry could see disgust for him in her eyes. Why didn't she let him have what he wanted and be done with him? That was the way most of the girls responded.
"Won't have anything to do with me, eh?" gloated Ole. "Think you are too good for us! I been watching you, asking about you. None of the boys have had you ... but you won't get by me!"
Henry felt a surge of sympathy for her, fed by his dislike for the other. He slipped into the path. He was almost up to them before he was seen. Ole swung about, still holding the girl. Henry stopped six feet off.
"Why don't you let her alone if she doesn't want you?" he asked with deceiving mildness, apparently17 relaxed.
There was startled fright in Ole's eyes. Henry had appeared so suddenly, from nowhere. Worse, he was proscribed18. He was accused of learning witchery.
Henry was taller than Ole, but thin and almost weak looking. This would be something to boast about: capturing the witch singlehanded, bringing him in for punishment!
"Make me let her alone, then!" he challenged.
It was usual to boast and strut19 before fighting. Henry took the advantage of immediate20 attack. He sprang at the other, catching21 him before he unhanded the girl, with a right to the jaw22, a left to the belly23.
Theta ran about fifty feet down the path, then turned to watch. Ole, head down, was closing in to grip his opponent, but Henry stepped to one side, coming up with a blow to Ole's right eye. Ole raised his guard and Henry sank both fists into the other's stomach.
Ole doubled up.
There was no fight in him. He plunged24 past Henry, down the path towards the tavern. Henry faced the girl. She came towards him without hesitation25.
"Thank you," she said. "I shouldn't have left the others. I didn't think he had noticed."
She walked slowly towards the tavern, Henry beside her. The past year had made her taller, filled her out. Yet the sweetness of her expression was the same, and the vitality26 in her face and eyes.
"He's been after you then?"
She nodded. "Him and a couple of others."
It was just a turn in the path to sight of the tavern. Henry halted.
"You seem to forget I'm proscribed," he reminded her.
"I don't care! I like you—always have." Her voice became tragic27, "Why did you go into that awful learning house?"
"I got tired of wondering—wondering what kept the food in the bins28 fresh, how it got from the hoppers in the fields to the bins. What made the light and heat. Where the water came from."
"But the Old Ones did it all by magic!"
"What kind of magic?" His face had a slightly mocking expression. "If that was so why are things beginning to break down? Magic should go on forever."
From the direction of the tavern came sounds of shouting. He smiled at her. "You'd better go on before they think I've turned you into a bat."
"Henry—" she began, but she had lingered too long. The whole group rounded the turn, trotting29, their faces twisted in superstitious fury. They raised their arms when they sighted the two. Each hand had a stone in it.
"She's one of them too!" screamed fat, malicious30 Hecla, seeing a chance to vent31 her envy. "They're planning something! Throw! Throw!"
Her voice was a hysterical32 shriek33. Henry saw the stones in the air. Grasping the girl's wrist he drew her into the brush beside the path.
He stopped his flight under an ancient tree and let go her wrist.
"See," he said, "even to speak to me is dangerous."
She tossed her head and brushed the hair from her brow, her eyes scornful. "I don't care. I'm sick of them."
"You can go back. Give them some fancy tale about my hexing you, but say that you crossed two sticks or something and got away."
She looked him squarely in the face, her own composed and determined34. "I'd rather stay with you."
"It's not nice," he began, "the life I live. Hiding in the woods by day, sneaking36 into deserted37 houses or taverns38 at night for food and warmth. I've been doing it all summer now, and that's bad enough. In a month the Masters of these upper levels will be closing their houses and the taverns, moving to town for the winter. Everything on the lower levels will be taken up. They expect me to be starved into surrender."
Theta dropped to her knees beside him.
"I'd rather be with you. I've wanted to be with you ever since I first saw you. But you never seemed to notice me."
"I noticed you." He placed a hand over hers. "But you were so young looking, so sweet. I was waiting for you to grow up a little more. Then, when I found an open Mastership, I was going to ask you to share it with me."
"Henry!" she cried. "I've always wanted you! That's why I never...."
He put an arm about her and pulled her close. They sat that way for minutes.
"I'll give you a Mastership!" he cried out. "I'll give you the whole valley!" He pushed her shoulders around until she was facing him. "What is your first wish, Mistress of the Valley?"
Henry made a rueful face. "My dear, that is something you will have to become used to: being hungry. But fortunately I know of a ruined and deserted house where the bins are still operating."
The forest they were in filled a steep-sided ravine. He followed it for some distance, then started abruptly up the left-hand slope to a low-crowned crest41 planted with apple trees. A hundred yards away was the house.
One corner of it was crushed by a fallen tree. The low sun made shafts42 of light through the trees as Henry approached it cautiously, Theta behind him. He entered through the broken wall into what was once a bedroom, then through a door into the remainder of the house.
It was a typical living room they entered, with the regular ration7 of furnishings. The visiphone and visiscreen were set into the inner wall; a calendar clock was over the front door, its dial marked with symbols for planting, pruning43, cutting and picking. The hand was approaching the latter symbol, Henry went through into the kitchen, leaving her to watch through the window. He returned with a basket of mixed fruit.
She reached for an avocado, plucking her knife from its sheath with the other hand.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" Henry cried. "You are a sinner now, remember?" He pushed the basket towards her. "Fill your pouch11 first, eat later."
They ate, keeping an eye on the path towards the house until dark. No one moved at night except on extreme emergency, and then only with lanterns and noise. Without lights on other than the normal glow of the walls they retired44 to one of the undamaged bedrooms.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
squatted
|
|
| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
synthetic
|
|
| adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
orchard
|
|
| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
superstitious
|
|
| adj.迷信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
ration
|
|
| n.定量(pl.)给养，口粮；vt.定量供应 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
tavern
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
bunks
|
|
| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
pouches
|
|
| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
pouch
|
|
| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
belongings
|
|
| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
bully
|
|
| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
proscribed
|
|
| v.正式宣布（某事物）有危险或被禁止( proscribe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
strut
|
|
| v.肿胀，鼓起；大摇大摆地走；炫耀；支撑；撑开；n.高视阔步；支柱，撑杆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
belly
|
|
| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
vitality
|
|
| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
bins
|
|
| n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
trotting
|
|
| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
malicious
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
vent
|
|
| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hysterical
|
|
| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
shriek
|
|
| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
jutting
|
|
| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
sneaking
|
|
| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
taverns
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈，酒馆( tavern的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
tingling
|
|
| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
crest
|
|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
shafts
|
|
| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
pruning
|
|
| n.修枝，剪枝，修剪v.修剪（树木等）( prune的现在分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
rippling
|
|
| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |