The evening before, Kissy had come back from selling her shells at the market and had found Bond writhing1 on the floor of his room with cramps2 in his stomach muscles and her mother clucking helplessly over him. She had shooed her mother away, spread the soft futon on the floor beside him and had pulled off his bathing pants and rolled him on to the futon face downwards3. Then she had stood upright on his back and had walked softly up and down his spine4 from his buttocks to his neck, and the ache had slowly gone. She told him to lie still and brought him warm milk. Then she led him into the tiny bathhouse and poured hot and then tepid5 water over him from an awabi tub until all the salt was out of his skin and hair. She dried him softly, rubbed warm milk into his sunburn and his chafed6 hands, and led him back to his room, telling him with gentle sternness to go to sleep and to call her if he awoke in the night and needed anything. She blew out his candle and left him, and he went out, to the night-song of the cricket in its cage, like a light.
In the morning, nothing remained of his aches except the soreness of the hands, and Kissy gave him the rare treat of an egg beaten up in his rice and bean curd7 and he apologized for his bad manners of the night before. She said, 'Todoroki-san, you have the spirit of ten samurai, but you have the body of only one. I should have known that I had asked too much of that single body. It was the pleasure of the day. It made me forget everything else. So it is I who apologize, and today we will not go so far. Instead, we will keep close to the cliffs of the island and see what we can find. I will do the rowing, for it is a small distance, but you will be able to do more diving because the place that I know of, which I haven't visited for many weeks, is inshore and the water is, at the most, twenty feet deep.'
And so it had been, and Bond had worn a shirt to protect him from the sun and his tally8 of shells had gone up to twenty-one, and the solitary9 shadow of the day had been the clear view he had had of the black fortress10 across the straits and the chunky yellow-and-black warning balloon that flew the column of black ideograms above it.
During one of their rests, Bond casually11 asked Kissy what she knew of the castle, and he was surprised by the way her face darkened. 'Todoroki-san, we do not usually talk about that place. It is almost a forbidden subject on Kuro. It is as if hell had suddenly opened its mouth half a mile away across the sea from our home. And my people, the Ama, are like what I have read about your gipsies. We are very superstitious12. And we believe the devil himself has come to live over there.' She didn't look at the fortress, but gestured with her head. 'Even the kanushi-san does not deny our fears, and our elders say that the gatjins have always been bad for Japan and that this one is the incarnation of all the evil in the West. And there is already a legend that has grown up on the island. It is that our six Jizo Guardians13 will send a man from across the sea to slay14 this "King of Death", as we call him.' 'Who are these Guardians?'
'Jizo is the god who protects children. He is, I think, a Buddhist15 god. On the other side of the island, on the foreshore, there are five statues. The sixth has been mostly washed away. They are rather frightening to see. They squat16 there in a line. They have rough bodies of stone and round stones for heads and they wear white shirts that are changed by the people every month. They were put there centuries ago by our ancestors. They sit on the line of low tide, and as the tide comes up it covers them completely and they keep watch under the surface of the sea and protect us, the Ama, because we are known as "The Children of the Sea". At the beginning of every June, when the sea is warm after the winter and the diving begins, every person on the island forms into a procession and we go to the Six Guardians and sing to them to make them happy and favourable17 towards us.'
'And this story of the man from Kuro. Where did it come from?'
'Who knows? It could have come from the sea or the air and thus into the minds of the people. Where do stories like that come from? It is widely believed.'
'Ah, so desu ka!' said Bond, and they both laughed and got on with the work.
On the third day, when Bond was as usual eating his breakfast on the doorstep, Kissy came to the doorway18 and said softly, 'Come inside, Todoroki-san.' Mystified, he went in and she shut the door behind him.
She said in a low voice, 'I have just heard from a messenger from the kannushi-san that there were people here yesterday in a boat from the mainland. They brought presentos - cigarettes and sweets. They were asking about the visit of the police boat. They said it came with three visitors and left with only two. They wanted to know what had happened to the third visitor. They said they were guards from the castle and it was their duty to prevent trespassers. The elders accepted the presentos, but they showed shiran-kao, which is "the face of him who knows nothing", and referred the men to the kannushi-san who said that the third visitor was in charge of fishing licences. He had felt sick on the way to the island and had perhaps lain down in the boat on the way back. Then he dismissed the men and sent a boy to the top of the High Place to see where the boat went, and the boy reported that it went to the bay beside the castle and was put back into the boathouse that is there. The kannusbi-san thought that you should know these things.' She looked at him piteously. 'Todoroki-san, I have a feeling of much friendship for you. I feel that there are secret things between you and the kannushi-san, and that they concern the castle. I think you should tell me enough to put me out of my unhappiness.'
Bond smiled. He went up to her and took her face in both his hands and kissed her on the lips. He said, 'You are very beautiful and kind, Kissy. Today we will not take the boat out because I must have some rest. Lead me up to the High Place from which I can take a good look at this castle and I will tell you what I can. I was going to anyway, for I shall need your help. Afterwards, I would like to visit the Six Guardians. They interest me - as an anthropologist19.'
Kissy collected their usual lunch in a small basket, put on her brown kimono and rope-soled shoes and they set off along a small footpath20 that zigzagged21 up the peak behind the crouching22 grey cluster of the village. The time of the camellia was almost past, but here there were occasional bushes of wild camellias in red and white, and there was a profusion23 of these round a small grove24 of dwarf25 maples26, some of which already wore their flaming autumn colours. The grove was directly above Kissy's house. She led him in and showed him the little Shinto shrine27 behind a rough stone torь. She said, 'Behind the shrine there is a fine cave, but the people of Kuro are afraid of it as it is full of ghosts. But I explored it once and if there are ghosts there they are friendly ones,' She clapped her hands before the shrine, bent28 her head for a moment, and clapped them again. Then they went on up the path to the top of the thousand-foot peak. A brace29 of gorgeous copper30 pheasants with golden tails fled squawking over the brow and down to a patch of bushes on the southern cliff as they approached. Bond told Kissy to stay out of sight while he went and stood behind the tall cairn of stones on the summit and gazed circumspectly31 round it and across the straits.
He could see over the high fortress wall and across the park to the towering black-and-gold donjon of the castle. It was ten o'clock. There were figures in blue peasant dress with high boots and long staves moving busily about the grounds. They occasionally seemed to prod32 into the bushes with their staves. They wore black maskos over their mouths. It crossed Bond's mind that they might be doing the morning rounds looking for overnight prey33. What did they do when they found some half-blinded creature, or a pile of clothes beside one of the fumaroles whose little clouds of steam rose here and there in the park? Take them to the Doctor? And, in the case of the living, what happened then? And when he, Bond, got up that wall tonight, where was he going to hide from the guards? Well, sufficient unto the day! At least the straits were calm and it was cloudless weather. It looked as if he would get there all right. Bond turned away and went back to Kissy and sat with her on the sparse34 turf. He gazed across the harbour to where the Ama fleet lay sprawled35 across the middle distance.
He said, 'Kissy, tonight I have to swim to the castle and climb the wall and get inside.'
She nodded. 'I know this. And then you are going to kill this man and perhaps his wife. You are the man who we believe was to come to Kuro from across the sea and do these things.' She continued to gaze out to sea. She said dully, 'But why have you been chosen? Why should it not be another, a Japanese?'
'These people are gaijins. I am a gaijin. It will cause less trouble for the State if the whole matter is presented as being trouble between foreigners.'
'Yes, I see. And has the kannushi-san given his approval?'
'Yes.'
'And if… And after. Will you come back and be my boatman again?'
'For a time. But then I must go back to England.'
'No. I believe that you will stay for a long time on Kuro.'
'Why do you believe that?'
'Because I prayed for it at the shrine. And I have never asked for such a big thing before. I am sure it will be granted.' She paused. 'And I shall be swimming with you tonight.' She held up a hand. 'You will need company in the dark and I know the currents. You would not get there without me.'
Bond took the small dry paw in his. He looked at the childish, broken nails. His voice was harsh. He said, 'No. This is man's work.'
She looked at him. The brown eyes were calm and serious. She said, and she used his first name, 'Taro-san, your other name may mean thunder, but I am not frightened of thunder. I have made up my mind. And I shall come back every night, at midnight exactly, and wait among the rocks at the bottom of the wall. I shall wait for one hour in case you need my help in coming home. These people may harm you. Women are much stronger in the water than men. That is why it is the Ama girls who dive and not the Ama men. I know the waters round Kuro as a peasant knows the fields round his farm, and I have as little fear of them. Do not be stiff-necked in this matter. In any case, I shall hardly sleep until you come back. To feel that I am close to you for a time and that you may need me will give me some peace. Say yes, Taro-san.'
'Oh, all right, Kissy,' said Bond gruffly. 'I was only going to ask you to row me to a starting point down there somewhere.' He gestured to the left across the straits. 'But if you insist on being an extra target for the sharks…'
'The sharks never trouble us. The Six Guardians look after that. We never come to any harm. Years ago, 'one of the Amas caught her rope in a rock underwater, and the people have talked of the accident ever since. The sharks just think we are big fish like themselves.' She laughed happily. 'Now it is all settled and we can have something to eat and then I
will take you down to see the Guardians. The tide will be low by then and they will want to inspect you.'
They followed another little path from the summit. It went over the shoulder of the peak and down to a small protected bay to the east of the village. The tide was far out and they could wade36 over the flat black pebbles37 and rocks and round the corner of the promontory38. Here, on a stretch of flat stony39 beach, five people squatted40 on a square foundation of large rocks and gazed out towards the horizon. Except that they weren't people. They were, as Kissy had described, stone pedestal bodies with large round boulders41 cemented to their tops. But rough white shirts were roped round them, and they looked terrifyingly human as they sat in immobile judgement and guardianship42 over the waters and what went on beneath them. Of the sixth, only the body remained. His head must have been destroyed by a storm.
They walked round in front of the five and looked up at the smooth blank faces and Bond, for the first time in his life, had a sensation of deep awe43. So much belief, so much authority seemed to have been invested by the builders in these primitive44, faceless idols45, guardians of the blithe46, naked Ama girls, that Bond had a ridiculous urge to kneel and ask for their blessing47 as the Crusaders had once done before their God. He brushed the impulse aside, but he did bow his head and briefly48 ask for good fortune to accompany his enterprise. And then he stood back and watched with a pull at his heartstrings while Kissy, her beautiful face strained and pleading, clapped to attract their attention and then made a long and impassioned speech in which his name recurred49. At the end, when she again clapped her hands, did the round boulder-heads briefly nod? Of course not! But, when Bond took Kissy's hand and they walked away, she said happily, 'It is all right, Todoroki-san. You saw them nod their heads?'
'No,' said Bond firmly, 'I did not.'
They crept round the eastern shore of Kuro and pulled the boat up into a deep cleft50 in the black rocks. It was just after eleven o'clock and the giant moon rode high and fast through wisps of mackerel cloud. They talked softly, although they were out of sight of the fortress and half a mile away from it. Kissy took off her brown kimono and folded it neatly51 and put it in the boat. Her body glowed in the moonlight. The black triangle between her legs beckoned52, and the black string round her waist that held the piece of material was an invitation to untie53 it. She giggled54 provocatively55. 'Stop looking at my Black Cat!'
'Why is it called that?'
'Guess!'
Bond carefully pulled on his ninja suit of black cotton. It was comfortable enough and would give warmth in the water. He left the head-shroud hanging down his back and pushed the goggles56 that belonged to Kissy's father up his forehead. The small floating pack he was to tow behind him rode jauntily57 in the waters of the creek58, and he tied its string firmly to his right wrist so that he would always know it was there.
He smiled at Kissy and nodded.
She came up to him and threw her arms round his neck and kissed him full on the lips.
Before he could respond, she had pulled down her goggles and had dived into the quiet, mercury sea.
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收听单词发音
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1
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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cramps
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| n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚 | |
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3
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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tepid
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| adj.微温的，温热的，不太热心的 | |
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chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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curd
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| n.凝乳；凝乳状物 | |
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tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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10
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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11
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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13
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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14
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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15
Buddhist
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| adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒 | |
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16
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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17
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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18
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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19
anthropologist
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| n.人类学家，人类学者 | |
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20
footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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21
zigzagged
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| adj.呈之字形移动的v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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23
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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24
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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25
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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26
maples
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| 槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木 | |
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27
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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29
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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30
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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31
circumspectly
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| adv.慎重地，留心地 | |
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32
prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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33
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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34
sparse
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| adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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36
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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37
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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38
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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39
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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40
squatted
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| 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。 | |
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41
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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42
guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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43
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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44
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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45
idols
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| 偶像( idol的名词复数 )； 受崇拜的人或物； 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物； 神像 | |
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46
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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47
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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48
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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49
recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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50
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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51
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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52
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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54
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
provocatively
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56
goggles
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| n.护目镜 | |
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57
jauntily
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| adv.心满意足地；洋洋得意地；高兴地；活泼地 | |
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58
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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