pdouglas.thecodex-第25部分
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ways made our sons angry。 But then the missionaries came and explained to us that Jesus would give us new things in heaven so we didn't need to bury anything with the dead。 So we stopped doing it。 But I believe the old way was better。 And I am not sure that Jesus has all these new things for people when they die。 The pictures I have seen of him show a poor man without cooking pots； pigs； chickens； shoes； or even a wife。〃 Don Alfonso sniffed loudly。 〃But then； perhaps it is better to bury yourself with your possessions than letting the sons fight over them。 Even before you are dead they are fighting。 That is why I already gave everything I owned to my sons and daughters and live like a wretch。 This is the respectable thing to do。 Now my sons have nothing to fight over； and； what is more important； they do not wish me dead。〃
He finished his speech and put his pipe back in his mouth。
〃Did any other white people e by？〃 Sally asked。
〃Ten days ago two dugouts with four men； two mountain Indians and two white men； stopped。 I thought the younger one might be Jesus Christ； but at the missionary school they said he was only a type of person called a hippie。 They stayed a day； and they went on。 Then a week ago four dugouts with army soldiers and two gringos arrived。 They hired Don Orlando to guide them and left。 This is why I ask myself： Why are all these crazy yanquis suddenly going into the Meambar Swamp？ Are they all looking for your father's tomb？〃
〃Yes。 They're my two brothers。〃
〃Why are you not cooperating？〃
Tom didn't answer。
Sally spoke。 〃You mentioned mountain Indians with the first white man。 Do you know where they e from？〃
〃They are naked savage Indians from the highlands who paint themselves red and black。 They are not Christians。 We are a little bit Christian here in Pito Solo。 Not much； just enough to get by when the missionaries e with North American food and medicine。 Then we sing and clap for Jesus。 That is how I got my new glasses。〃 He removed them and held them out to Tom for inspection。
Tom said； 〃Don Alfonso； we need a guide to take us upriver； and we need supplies and equipment。 Can you help us？〃
Don Alfonso puffed and puffed； then nodded。 〃I will take you。〃
〃Oh no；〃 Tom said； looking at the feeble old man with alarm。 〃That isn't what I was asking。 We couldn't take you away from the village where you're needed。〃
〃Me？ Needed？ The village would like nothing more than to get rid of old Don Alfonso！〃
〃But you're their chief。〃
〃Chief？ Puah！〃
〃It'll be a long； hard journey；〃 said Tom； 〃not suitable for a man of your age。〃
〃I am still as strong as a tapir！ I'm young enough to marry again。 In fact； I need a sixteen…year…old who will fit right in that empty place in my hammock and bounce me to sleep every night with little sighs and kisses…〃
〃Don Alfonso…〃
〃I need a sixteen…year…old to tease me and poke her tongue in my ear to wake me up in the morning so I get up with the birds。 Do not concern yourselves any longer： I； Don Alfonso Boswas； will take you through the Meambar Swamp。〃
〃No；〃 said Tom as firmly as he could。 〃You will not。 We need a younger guide。〃
〃You cannot avoid it。 I dreamed you would e and that I would go with you。 So it is decided。 I speak English and Spanish； but I prefer Spanish。 English frightens me。 It sounds like one is being choked。〃
Tom glanced at Sally； exasperated。 This old man was impossible。
At that moment Marisol returned with her mother。 They were each carrying wooden trenchers laid with palm leaves； on which were piled fresh hot tortillas； fried plantains； roasted meats and nuts； and fresh fruit。
Tom had never been so hungry in his life。 He and Sally tucked into the feast； joined by Don Alfonso； while the girl and her mother watched in satisfied silence。 All conversation ceased while they ate。 When he and Sally had finished； the woman silently took their plates and refilled them； and then refilled them a third time。
When the meal was over； Don Alfoso leaned back and wiped his mouth。
〃Now look；〃 said Tom as firmly as he could。 〃Dream or no dream； you're not ing with us。 We need a younger man。
〃Or woman；〃 said Sally。
〃I will bring two young men with me； Chori and Pingo。 I'm the only one besides Don Orlando who knows the way through the Meambar Swamp。 Without a guide you will die。〃
〃I must decline your offer； Don Alfonso。〃
〃You don't have much time。 The soldiers are after you。〃
〃They were here？〃 Tom asked； alarmed。
〃They came this morning。 They will be back。〃
Tom glanced at Sally and then back to Don Alfonso。 〃We haven't done anything wrong。 I'll explain…〃
〃You do not need to explain。 The soldiers are evil men。 We must start provisioning immediately。 Marisol！〃
〃Yes； grandfather？〃
〃We will need tarpaulins； matches； petrol； two…cycle engine oil； tools； a frying pan； cooking pot； silverware； and water canteens。〃 He continued to reel off the list of supplies and food。
〃Do you have medicine？〃 Tom asked。
〃We have much North American medicine； thanks to the missionaries。 We did a lot of clapping for Jesus to get those medicines。 Marisol； tell the people to e with the items for sale at fair prices。〃
Marisol ran off； her braids flying； and in less than ten minutes she returned； leading a file of old men； women； and children； each carrying something。 Don Alfoso remained in the hut； aloof from the lowly business of buying and selling while Marisol handled the crowd。
〃Buy what you want and tell the others to go away；〃 Marisol said。 〃They will tell you the price。 Do not bargain； it is not our way。 Just say yes or no。 The prices are fair。〃
She spoke sharply to the ragged line of people； and they shuffled together； standing up straighter。
〃She's going to be chief of this village；〃 Tom said to Sally in English； looking over the orderly row of people。
〃She already is。〃
〃We are ready；〃 Marisol said。 She gestured at the first man in line。 He stepped forward and held out five old burlap sacks。
〃Four hundred；〃 said the girl。
〃Dollars？〃
〃Lempiras。〃
〃What's that in dollars？〃 said Tom。
〃Two。〃
〃We'll take them。〃
The next person stepped forward with a large sack of beans； a sack of loose dry corn； and an indescribably battered aluminum pot and lid。 The original handle was missing； and in its place was a beautifully carved and oiled piece of hardwood。 〃One dollar。〃
〃We'll take them。〃
The man laid them down and retreated； while the next one stepped forward； holding out two T…shirts； two pairs of dirty shorts； a trucker's hat； and a brand…new pair of Nikes。
〃Here's my change of clothes；〃 said Tom。 He looked at the shoes。 〃Just my size； too。 Imagine finding a brand…new pair of Air Jordans down here。〃
〃They make them here；〃 said Sally。 〃Remember the sweatshop scandals？〃
〃Oh yeah。〃
The procession of goods continued： plastic tarps； sacks of beans and rice； dried and smoked meats that Tom decided not to inquire too closely about； bananas； a fifty…five…gallon drum of petrol； a box of salt。 Quite a few had arrived with cans of extra…strength Raid； the insect repellent of choice； which Tom declined。
Suddenly a hush fell over the crowd。 Tom could hear the faint buzz of an outboard motor。 The girl spoke rapidly。
〃You must follow me into the forest。 Quickly。〃
Instantly the crowd had dispersed； and the village fell silent； seemingly empty。 The girl calmly led the way into the forest； following an almost invisible trail。 A twilight mist drifted through the trees。 There was swamp all around them； but the trail wound this way and that； keeping to high ground。 The sounds of the village died away； and they were wrapped in the muffled cloak of the forest。 After ten minutes of walking； the girl stopped。
〃We wait here。〃
〃How long？〃
〃Until the soldiers leave。〃
〃What about our boat？〃 Sally asked。 〃Won't they recognize our boat？〃
〃We already hid your boat。〃
〃That was a good idea。 Thank you。〃
〃You're wele。〃 The self…possessed girl turned her dark eyes back down the trail and waited； as still and quiet as a deer。
〃Where do you go to school？〃 Sally asked； after a moment。
〃The Baptist school down the river。〃
〃A missionary school？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Are you a Ch
