Almayer had dismissed his workmen for the midday rest, and, his little daughter on his shoulder, ran quickly across the courtyard, making for the shade of the verandah of his house. He laid the sleepy child on the seat of the big rocking-chair, on a pillow which he took out of his own hammock, and stood for a while looking down at her with tender and pensive16 eyes. The child, tired and hot, moved uneasily, sighed, and looked up at him with the veiled look of sleepy fatigue17. He picked up from the floor a broken palm-leaf fan, and began fanning gently the flushed little face. Her eyelids18 fluttered and Almayer smiled. A responsive smile brightened for a second her heavy eyes, broke with a dimple the soft outline of her cheek; then the eyelids dropped suddenly, she drew a long breath through the parted lips — and was in a deep sleep before the fleeting19 smile could vanish from her face.
Almayer moved lightly off, took one of the wooden armchairs, and placing it close to the balustrade of the verandah sat down with a sigh of relief. He spread his elbows on the top rail and resting his chin on his clasped hands looked absently at the river, at the dance of sunlight on the flowing water. Gradually the forest of the further bank became smaller, as if sinking below the level of the river. The outlines wavered, grew thin, dissolved in the air. Before his eyes there was now only a space of undulating blue — one big, empty sky growing dark at times. . . . Where was the sunshine? . . . He felt soothed20 and happy, as if some gentle and invisible hand had removed from his soul the burden of his body. In another second he seemed to float out into a cool brightness where there was no such thing as memory or pain. Delicious. His eyes closed — opened — closed again.
“Almayer!”
With a sudden jerk of his whole body he sat up, grasping the front rail with both his hands, and blinked stupidly.
“What? What’s that?” he muttered, looking round vaguely21.
“Here! Down here, Almayer.”
Half rising in his chair, Almayer looked over the rail at the foot of the verandah, and fell back with a low whistle of astonishment22.
“A ghost, by heavens!” he exclaimed softly to himself.
“Will you listen to me?” went on the husky voice from the courtyard. “May I come up, Almayer?”
Almayer stood up and leaned over the rail. “Don’t you dare,” he said, in a voice subdued23 but distinct. “Don’t you dare! The child sleeps here. And I don’t want to hear you — or speak to you either.”
“You must listen to me! It’s something important.”
“Not to me, surely.”
“Yes! To you. Very important.”
“You were always a humbug,” said Almayer, after a short silence, in an indulgent tone. “Always! I remember the old days. Some fellows used to say there was no one like you for smartness — but you never took me in. Not quite. I never quite believed in you, Mr. Willems.”
“I admit your superior intelligence,” retorted Willems, with scornful impatience24, from below. “Listening to me would be a further proof of it. You will be sorry if you don’t.”
“Oh, you funny fellow!” said Almayer, banteringly. “Well, come up. Don’t make a noise, but come up. You’ll catch a sunstroke down there and die on my doorstep perhaps. I don’t want any tragedy here. Come on!”
Before he finished speaking Willems’ head appeared above the level of the floor, then his shoulders rose gradually and he stood at last before Almayer — a masquerading spectre of the once so very confidential26 clerk of the richest merchant in the islands. His jacket was soiled and torn; below the waist he was clothed in a worn-out and faded sarong. He flung off his hat, uncovering his long, tangled27 hair that stuck in wisps on his perspiring28 forehead and straggled over his eyes, which glittered deep down in the sockets29 like the last sparks amongst the black embers of a burnt-out fire. An unclean beard grew out of the caverns30 of his sunburnt cheeks. The hand he put out towards Almayer was very unsteady. The once firm mouth had the tell-tale droop9 of mental suffering and physical exhaustion31. He was barefooted. Almayer surveyed him with leisurely32 composure.
“Well!” he said at last, without taking the extended hand which dropped slowly along Willems’ body.
“I am come,” began Willems.
“So I see,” interrupted Almayer. “You might have spared me this treat without making me unhappy. You have been away five weeks, if I am not mistaken. I got on very well without you — and now you are here you are not pretty to look at.”
“Let me speak, will you!” exclaimed Willems.
“Don’t shout like this. Do you think yourself in the forest with your . . . your friends? This is a civilized33 man’s house. A white man’s. Understand?”
“I am come,” began Willems again; “I am come for your good and mine.”
“You look as if you had come for a good feed,” chimed in the irrepressible Almayer, while Willems waved his hand in a discouraged gesture. “Don’t they give you enough to eat,” went on Almayer, in a tone of easy banter25, “those — what am I to call them — those new relations of yours? That old blind scoundrel must be delighted with your company. You know, he was the greatest thief and murderer of those seas. Say! do you exchange confidences? Tell me, Willems, did you kill somebody in Macassar or did you only steal something?”
“It is not true!” exclaimed Willems, hotly. “I only borrowed. . . . They all lied! I . . . ”
“Sh-sh!” hissed34 Almayer, warningly, with a look at the sleeping child. “So you did steal,” he went on, with repressed exultation35. “I thought there was something of the kind. And now, here, you steal again.”
For the first time Willems raised his eyes to Almayer’s face.
“Oh, I don’t mean from me. I haven’t missed anything,” said Almayer, with mocking haste. “But that girl. Hey! You stole her. You did not pay the old fellow. She is no good to him now, is she?”
“Stop that. Almayer!”
Something in Willems’ tone caused Almayer to pause. He looked narrowly at the man before him, and could not help being shocked at his appearance.
“Almayer,” went on Willems, “listen to me. If you are a human being you will. I suffer horribly — and for your sake.”
Almayer lifted his eyebrows36. “Indeed! How? But you are raving,” he added, negligently37.
“Ah! You don’t know,” whispered Willems. “She is gone. Gone,” he repeated, with tears in his voice, “gone two days ago.”
“No!” exclaimed the surprised Almayer. “Gone! I haven’t heard that news yet.” He burst into a subdued laugh. “How funny! Had enough of you already? You know it’s not flattering for you, my superior countryman.”
Willems — as if not hearing him — leaned against one of the columns of the roof and looked over the river. “At first,” he whispered, dreamily, “my life was like a vision of heaven — or hell; I didn’t know which. Since she went I know what perdition means; what darkness is. I know what it is to be torn to pieces alive. That’s how I feel.”
“You may come and live with me again,” said Almayer, coldly. “After all, Lingard — whom I call my father and respect as such — left you under my care. You pleased yourself by going away. Very good. Now you want to come back. Be it so. I am no friend of yours. I act for Captain Lingard.”
“Come back?” repeated Willems, passionately38. “Come back to you and abandon her? Do you think I am mad? Without her! Man! what are you made of? To think that she moves, lives, breathes out of my sight. I am jealous of the wind that fans her, of the air she breathes, of the earth that receives the caress39 of her foot, of the sun that looks at her now while I . . . I haven’t seen her for two days — two days.”
The intensity40 of Willems’ feeling moved Almayer somewhat, but he affected41 to yawn elaborately
“You do bore me,” he muttered. “Why don’t you go after her instead of coming here?”
“Why indeed?”
“Don’t you know where she is? She can’t be very far. No native craft has left this river for the last fortnight.”
“No! not very far — and I will tell you where she is. She is in Lakamba’s campong.” And Willems fixed42 his eyes steadily43 on Almayer’s face.
“Phew! Patalolo never sent to let me know. Strange,” said Almayer, thoughtfully. “Are you afraid of that lot?” he added, after a short pause.
“I— afraid!”
“Then is it the care of your dignity which prevents you from following her there, my high-minded friend?” asked Almayer, with mock solicitude44. “How noble of you!”
There was a short silence; then Willems said, quietly, “You are a fool. I should like to kick you.”
“No fear,” answered Almayer, carelessly; “you are too weak for that. You look starved.”
“I don’t think I have eaten anything for the last two days; perhaps more — I don’t remember. It does not matter. I am full of live embers,” said Willems, gloomily. “Look!” and he bared an arm covered with fresh scars. “I have been biting myself to forget in that pain the fire that hurts me there!” He struck his breast violently with his fist, reeled under his own blow, fell into a chair that stood near and closed his eyes slowly.
“Disgusting exhibition,” said Almayer, loftily. “What could father ever see in you? You are as estimable as a heap of garbage.”
“You talk like that! You, who sold your soul for a few guilders,” muttered Willems, wearily, without opening his eyes.
“Not so few,” said Almayer, with instinctive45 readiness, and stopped confused for a moment. He recovered himself quickly, however, and went on: “But you — you have thrown yours away for nothing; flung it under the feet of a damned savage46 woman who has made you already the thing you are, and will kill you very soon, one way or another, with her love or with her hate. You spoke47 just now about guilders. You meant Lingard’s money, I suppose. Well, whatever I have sold, and for whatever price, I never meant you — you of all people — to spoil my bargain. I feel pretty safe though. Even father, even Captain Lingard, would not touch you now with a pair of tongs48; not with a ten-foot pole . . . .”
He spoke excitedly, all in one breath, and, ceasing suddenly, glared at Willems and breathed hard through his nose in sulky resentment49. Willems looked at him steadily for a moment, then got up.
“Almayer,” he said resolutely50, “I want to become a trader in this place.”
Almayer shrugged51 his shoulders.
“Yes. And you shall set me up. I want a house and trade goods — perhaps a little money. I ask you for it.”
“Anything else you want? Perhaps this coat?” and here Almayer unbuttoned his jacket —“or my house — or my boots?”
“After all it’s natural,” went on Willems, without paying any attention to Almayer —“it’s natural that she should expect the advantages which . . . and then I could shut up that old wretch52 and then . . . ”
He paused, his face brightened with the soft light of dreamy enthusiasm, and he turned his eyes upwards53. With his gaunt figure and dilapidated appearance he looked like some ascetic54 dweller55 in a wilderness56, finding the reward of a self-denying life in a vision of dazzling glory. He went on in an impassioned murmur —
“And then I would have her all to myself away from her people — all to myself — under my own influence — to fashion — to mould — to adore — to soften57 — to . . . Oh! Delight! And then — then go away to some distant place where, far from all she knew, I would be all the world to her! All the world to her!”
His face changed suddenly. His eyes wandered for awhile and then became steady all at once.
“I would repay every cent, of course,” he said, in a business-like tone, with something of his old assurance, of his old belief in himself, in it. “Every cent. I need not interfere58 with your business. I shall cut out the small native traders. I have ideas — but never mind that now. And Captain Lingard would approve, I feel sure. After all it’s a loan, and I shall be at hand. Safe thing for you.”
“Ah! Captain Lingard would approve! He would app . . . ” Almayer choked. The notion of Lingard doing something for Willems enraged59 him. His face was purple. He spluttered insulting words. Willems looked at him coolly.
“I assure you, Almayer,” he said, gently, “that I have good grounds for my demand.”
“Your cursed impudence60!”
“Believe me, Almayer, your position here is not so safe as you may think. An unscrupulous rival here would destroy your trade in a year. It would be ruin. Now Lingard’s long absence gives courage to certain individuals. You know? — I have heard much lately. They made proposals to me . . . You are very much alone here. Even Patalolo . . . ”
“Damn Patalolo! I am master in this place.”
“But, Almayer, don’t you see . . . ”
“Yes, I see. I see a mysterious ass,” interrupted Almayer, violently. “What is the meaning of your veiled threats? Don’t you think I know something also? They have been intriguing61 for years — and nothing has happened. The Arabs have been hanging about outside this river for years — and I am still the only trader here; the master here. Do you bring me a declaration of war? Then it’s from yourself only. I know all my other enemies.
I ought to knock you on the head. You are not worth powder and shot though. You ought to be destroyed with a stick — like a snake.”
Almayer’s voice woke up the little girl, who sat up on the pillow with a sharp cry. He rushed over to the chair, caught up the child in his arms, walked back blindly, stumbled against Willems’ hat which lay on the floor, and kicked it furiously down the steps.
“Clear out of this! Clear out!” he shouted.
Willems made an attempt to speak, but Almayer howled him down.
“Take yourself off! Don’t you see you frighten the child — you scarecrow! No, no! dear,” he went on to his little daughter, soothingly62, while Willems walked down the steps slowly. “No. Don’t cry. See! Bad man going away. Look! He is afraid of your papa. Nasty, bad man. Never come back again. He shall live in the woods and never come near my little girl. If he comes papa will kill him — so!” He struck his fist on the rail of the balustrade to show how he would kill Willems, and, perching the consoled child on his shoulder held her with one hand, while he pointed63 toward the retreating figure of his visitor.
“Look how he runs away, dearest,” he said, coaxingly64. “Isn’t he funny. Call ‘pig’ after him, dearest. Call after him.”
The seriousness of her face vanished into dimples. Under the long eyelashes, glistening65 with recent tears, her big eyes sparkled and danced with fun. She took firm hold of Almayer’s hair with one hand, while she waved the other joyously66 and called out with all her might, in a clear note, soft and distinct like the pipe of a bird:—
“Pig! Pig! Pig!”
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收听单词发音
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1
avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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8
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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swirls
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| n.旋转( swirl的名词复数 )；卷状物；漩涡；尘旋v.旋转，打旋( swirl的第三人称单数 ) | |
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eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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negligently
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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44
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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tongs
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| n.钳；夹子 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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50
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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51
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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52
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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53
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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ascetic
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| adj.禁欲的；严肃的 | |
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55
dweller
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| n.居住者，住客 | |
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56
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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57
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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58
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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59
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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60
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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61
intriguing
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| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
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62
soothingly
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| adv.抚慰地，安慰地；镇痛地 | |
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63
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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64
coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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65
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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66
joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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