gs.earthabides-第49部分
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that he was the host。 There was no secretary taking a record of what happened。 But then； there were no motions made and no votes taken。 As always； it was more a social than a parliamentary gathering。 Ish listened to the conversation back and forth。
〃e to think of it； though…how's anybody know we'd get water in that well？〃
〃Can't be a well till you do get water。〃
〃Well； that hole…in…the…ground then？〃
〃You got something there！〃
〃Maybe this would do better。。。。 Run a pipe over to some click or spring； and hitch it onto our old pipes。〃
〃How about it； George？ That sound O。K。？〃
〃。。。。 Why； sure。。。。 I guess so。。。 Yeah。。。 I guess I could connect up some pipes。〃
〃Trouble would be； though； when everybody wants water at once。〃
〃Have to build a dam…earth…dam would be all right…so's to have a little bitty head behind your water。〃
〃Guess we could do that？〃
〃。。。。 Sure 。。。 Be some work； though。〃
As the conversation wandered on almost placently； Ish found himself gradually being more disturbed。 To him it seemed as if this day had seen a retrograde and perhaps irretrievable step。 Suddenly he found himself on his feet； and he was really making a speech to the ten people who were there before him。
〃This shouldn't have happened；〃 he said。 〃We shouldn't have let this creep up on us。 Any time in the last six months we should have been able to see that the water in the reservoir was failing； but we never even went to look at it。 And here we are； caught suddenly； and shoved back so that we'll perhaps never be able to catch up with things again。 We've made too many mistakes。 We ought to be teaching the children to read and write。 （No one has ever supported me strongly enough in that。） We ought to send an expedition to find out what's happening other places。 It's not safe not to know what may be happening just over the hill。 We should have more domestic animals…some hens； anyway。 We ought to be growing food。。。〃
Then； when he was really in full career； someone started clapping； and he stopped for applause； feeling pleased。 But everyone was laughing good…naturedly； and again he realized that the applause was ironic。
Through the noise of the hand…clapping he heard one of the boys saying： 〃Good old dad！ He's said it again！〃
And another replied：
〃Time for George and the refrigerator！〃
Ish joined in the laughter。 He was not angry this time； but he was crestfallen at having unconsciously repeated himself and even more at having again failed to make his point。 Then Ezra was speaking…good old Ezra who was always quick to cover up anyone's embarrassment！
〃Yes； that's the old speech； but maybe there's a new point there。 How about that business of sending out an expedition？〃
To Ish's surprise a vigorous discussion arose； and in its course he was struck again by the unpredictable quality of people； particularly in a group。 He had thrown out the new idea without any special forethought； it had sprung spontaneously from the events of the day…the surprise which had e upon them because they had not taken the pains to explore around the reservoir。 He would have considered it the least important of his suggestions； but this was the one that caught the group…imagination。 Suddenly everyone was in favor of it； and Ish joined the crowd in vigorous support。 It was better； he felt； to do something…anything to break the lethargy。
Soon he felt himself being more enthusiastic。 His original idea of an 〃expedition〃 had merely been that they should explore the country for a hundred miles or so roundabout； but he found that the others had understood him to envisage something much more。 Soon； his imagination kindling； he went along with them。 In a few minutes everyone was talking of a transcontinental expedition。 〃Lewis…and…Clark in reverse！〃 thought Ish to himself； but he said nothing； knowing that few of those present would know anything about Lewis and Clark。
The talk ran on vigorously：
〃Too long for walking！〃
〃Or dog…teams either！〃
〃Horses would do better； if we had some！〃
〃There're sure to be some over in the big valley。〃
〃Take a long time to catch and break them。〃
As he listened； still another thought crossed Ish's mind。 His old dream； the one which had e again that afternoon！ How did they really know that the Government of the United States had actually failed？ Even if it had； it might have been reconstituted。 It would be small and weak； of course； and might not yet have been able to re…establish touch with the West Coast。 By their own effort they might make the contact。
Another curious feature was that nearly everyone wanted to go！ It was the best evidence you could want as to the way in which people generally…males； at least…were born with itchy feet； always ready to go somewhere else and see new things。 The question became one of elimination。 Ish was ruled out； scarcely being able to put up a good protest； because of his disability where the mountain…lion had clawed him； far back in the Year of the Lions。 George was too old。 Ezra； in spite of his vigorous arguments； was disqualified as being the worst shot of them all and generally the least fitted to take care of himself in the open。 As for the 〃boys；〃 everyone except themselves agreed that they should not leave their wives and young families。 In the end the decision was for Robert and Richard； youngsters； but well able to take care of themselves。 Their mothers； Em and Molly； looked doubtful； but the enthusiasm of the meeting oven…ode their objections。 Robert and Richard were delighted。
The more ticklish questions were really as to the route and the means of transportation。 In the last few years no one had used an automobile； and several once…fine cars stood forlorn and ruinous along San Lupo Drive on hopelessly flat tires； the children used them for playhouses。 The trouble of keeping automobiles going was more work than pleasure； and the roads in all directions had bee so clogged with fallen trees and the bricks of chimneys brought down by the earthquake that there would have been little practical advantage to trying to travel about the city by car； even if you had a workable one。 On top of all that； the younger men had never known the fun of driving a car under good conditions； and so had no interest。 Finally； where would you go if you had a car？ You had no friends to visit in the other part of town； and no movies to go to。 To bring cans and bottles home from the grocery stores； the dog…teams did well enough； and they also served for fishing…expeditions to the bay…shore。
Still； the older ones agreed； it might be possible to get an automobile running again； and to drive it for a considerable distance； even on rotten tires； if you kept the speed down below； say； twenty…five miles an hour。 And that was really traveling； pared with a dog…team！ Fast enough too to take you to New York in a month easily…provided the roads were passable！
That was the other difficult point…the route！ Ish was suddenly at home； bringing into play his old knowledge of geography。 Everything to the east； across the Sierra Nevada； would be pletely blocked by fallen trees and landslides； and the roads to the north would probably be the same。 The best chance would certainly be through the more open country toward the south； actually the route by winch Ish had gone to New York once long before。 The desert roads might still be almost as good as ever。 The Colorado River bridges might still be standing or might have fallen。 ne only way to find out would be to go and see。
His excitement rising； the old road…maps standing out more clearly in his mind； Ish planned the route eastward。 Beyond the Colorado the mountains should not be too difficult； and there were no big rivers for a long way…until you came to the Rio Grande at Albuquerque。 Beyond there； if you could just get through the Sandia Mountains； you had open plateau country； and farther east there would be more and more choice of roads。 （You could still find gasoline in drums； that would be no great problem。） Once on the plains； you should be able to get to the Missouri or the Mississippi； and even across those largest riv
