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villa rubein and other stories-第14章

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see five or six policemen on the platform; one quite close。  He

opened the door; looked at me; and walked through the carriage into

the corridor。  I took some tobacco and rolled up a cigarette; but it

shook; 〃Harz lifted the ivy twig; 〃like this。  In a minute the

conductor and two more policemen came。  'He was here;' said the

conductor; 'with this gentleman。'  One of them looked at me; and

asked: 'Have you seen a policeman travelling on this train?'  'Yes;'

I said。  'Where?'  'He got out at St。  Polten。'  The policeman asked

the conductor: 'Did you see him get out there?'  The conductor shook

his head。  I said: 'He got out as the train was moving。'  'Ah!' said

the policeman; 'what was he like?'  'Rather short; and no moustache。

Why?'  ' Did you notice anything unusual?'  'No;' I said; 'only that

he wore coloured trousers。  What's the matter?'  One policeman said

to the other: 'That's our man!  Send a telegram to St。 Polten; he has

more than an hour's start。'  He asked me where I was going。  I told

him: 'Linz。'  'Ah!' he said; 'you'll have to give evidence; your name

and address please?'  'Josef Reinhardt; 17 Donau Strasse。'  He wrote

it down。  The conductor said: 'We are late; can we start?'  They shut

the door。  I heard them say to the conductor: 'Search again at Linz;

and report to the Inspector there。'  They hurried on to the platform;

and we started。  At first I thought I would get out as soon as the

train had left the station。  Then; that I should be too far from the

frontier; better to go on to Linz and take my chance there。  I sat

still and tried not to think。



After a long time; we began to run more slowly。  I put my head out

and could see in the distance a ring of lights hanging in the

blackness。  I loosened the carriage door and waited for the train to

run slower still; I didn't mean to go into Linz like a rat into a

trap。  At last I could wait no longer; I opened the door; jumped and

fell into some bushes。  I was not much hurt; but bruised; and the

breath knocked out of me。  As soon as I could; I crawled out。  It was

very dark。  I felt heavy and sore; and for some time went stumbling

in and out amongst trees。  Presently I came to a clear space; on one

side I could see the town's shape drawn in lighted lamps; and on the

other a dark mass; which I think was forest; in the distance too was

a thin chain of lights。  I thought: 'They must be the lights of a

bridge。'  Just then the moon came out; and I could see the river

shining below。  It was cold and damp; and I walked quickly。  At last

I came out on a road; past houses and barking dogs; down to the river

bank; there I sat against a shed and went to sleep。  I woke very

stiff。  It was darker than before; the moon was gone。  I could just

see the river。  I stumbled on; to get through the town before dawn。

It was all black shapes…houses and sheds; and the smell of the river;

the smell of rotting hay; apples; tar; mud; fish; and here and there

on a wharf a lantern。  I stumbled over casks and ropes and boxes; I

saw I should never get clearthe dawn had begun already on the other

side。  Some men came from a house behind me。  I bent; and crept

behind some barrels。  They passed along the wharf; they seemed to

drop into the river。  I heard one of them say: 'Passau before night。'

I stood up and saw they had walked on board a steamer which was lying

head up…stream; with some barges in tow。  There was a plank laid to

the steamer; and a lantern at the other end。  I could hear the

fellows moving below deck; getting up steam。  I ran across the plank

and crept to the end of the steamer。  I meant to go with them to

Passau!  The rope which towed the barges was nearly taut; and I knew

if I could get on to the barges I should be safe。  I climbed down on

this rope and crawled along。  I was desperate; I knew they'd soon be

coming up; and it was getting light。  I thought I should fall into

the water several times; but I got to the barge at last。  It was

laden with straw。  There was nobody on board。  I was hungry and

thirstyI looked for something to eat; there was nothing but the

ashes of a fire and a man's coat。  I crept into the straw。  Soon a

boat brought men; one for each barge; and there were sounds of steam。

As soon as we began moving through the water; I fell asleep。  When I

woke we were creeping through a heavy mist。  I made a little hole in

the straw and saw the bargeman。  He was sitting by a fire at the

barge's edge; so that the sparks and smoke blew away over the water。

He ate and drank with both hands; and funny enough he looked in the

mist; like a big bird flapping its wings; there was a good smell of

coffee; and I sneezed。  How the fellow started!  But presently he

took a pitchfork and prodded the straw。  Then I stood up。  I couldn't

help laughing; he was so surpriseda huge; dark man; with a great

black beard。  I pointed to the fire and said 'Give me some; brother!'

He pulled me out of the straw; I was so stiff; I couldn't move。  I

sat by the fire; and ate black bread and turnips; and drank coffee;

while he stood by; watching me and muttering。  I couldn't understand

him wellhe spoke a dialect from Hungary。  He asked me: How I got

therewho I waswhere I was from?  I looked up in his face; and he

looked down at me; sucking his pipe。  He was a big man; he lived

alone on the river; and I was tired of telling lies; so I told him

the whole thing。  When I had done he just grunted。  I can see him now

standing over me; with the mist hanging in his beard; and his great

naked arms。  He drew me some water; and I washed and showed him my

wig and moustache; and threw them overboard。  All that day we lay out

on the barge in the mist; with our feet to the fire; smoking; now and

then he would spit into the ashes and mutter into his beard。  I shall

never forget that day。  The steamer was like a monster with fiery

nostrils; and the other barges were dumb creatures with eyes; where

the fires were; we couldn't see the bank; but now and then a bluff

and high trees; or a castle; showed in the mist。  If I had only had

paint and canvas that day!〃  He sighed。



〃It was early Spring; and the river was in flood; they were going to

Regensburg to unload there; take fresh cargo; and back to Linz。  As

soon as the mist began to clear; the bargeman hid me in the straw。

At Passau was the frontier; they lay there for the night; but nothing

happened; and I slept in the straw。  The next day I lay out on the

barge deck; there was no mist; but I was freethe sun shone gold on

the straw and the green sacking; the water seemed to dance; and I

laughedI laughed all the time; and the barge man laughed with me。

A fine fellow he was!  At Regensburg I helped them to unload; for

more than a week we worked; they nicknamed me baldhead; and when it

was all over I gave the money I earned for the unloading to the big

bargeman。  We kissed each other at parting。  I had still three of the

gulden that Luigi gave me; and I went to a house…painter and got work

with him。  For six months I stayed there to save money; then I wrote

to my mother's cousin in Vienna; and told him I was going to London。

He gave me an introduction to some friends there。  I went to Hamburg;

and from there to London in a cargo steamer; and I've never been back

till now。〃









XI



After a minute's silence Christian said in a startled voice: 〃They

could arrest you then!〃



Harz laughed。



〃If they knew; but it's seven years ago。〃



〃Why did you come here; when it's so dangerous?〃



〃I had been working too hard; I wanted to see my countryafter seven

years; and when it's forbidden!  But I'm ready to go back now。〃  He

looked down at her; frowning。



〃Had you a hard time in London; too?〃



〃Harder; at firstI couldn't speak the language。  In my profession

it's hard work to get recognised; it's hard work to make a living。

There are too many whose interest it is to keep you downI shan't

forget them。〃



〃But every one is not like that?〃



〃No; there are fine fellows; too。  I shan't forget them either。  I

can sell my pictures now; I'm no longer weak; and I promise you I

shan't forget。  If in the future I have power; and I shall have

powerI shan't forget。〃



A shower of fine gravel came rattling on the wall。  Dawney was

standing below them with an amused expression on his upturned face。



〃Are you going to stay there all night?〃 he asked。  〃Greta and I have

bored each other。〃



〃We're coming;〃 called Christian hastily。



On the way back neither spoke a word; but when they reached the

Villa; Harz took her hand; and said: 〃Fraulein Christian; I can't do

any more with your picture。  I shan't touch it again after this。〃



She made no answer; but they looked at each other; and both seemed to

ask; to entreat; something more; then her eyes fell。  He dropped her

hand; and saying; 〃Good…night;〃 ran after Dawney。



In the corridor; Dominique; car
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