df.theedge-µÚ49²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
a¡¡scattering¡¡of¡¡grey¡¡hairs¡£¡¡Bald£»¡¡blond£»¡¡tangled¡¡and¡¡trimmed£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡Filmer¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡wasn't¡¡in¡¡the¡¡downstairs¡¡lounge£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wasn't¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bar¡¡where¡¡the¡¡poker¡¡school¡¡was¡¡as¡¡usual¡¡in¡¡progress£»¡¡oblivious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡scenery¡£¡¡That¡¡left¡¡only¡¡the¡¡Lorrimores'¡¡car¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with¡¡Mercer£»¡¡Bambi¡¡and¡¡Sheridan¡£¡¡Xanthe¡¡was¡¡with¡¡Rose¡¡and¡¡Cumber¡¡Young£»¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡approach¡¡of¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡white¡¡peaks¡¡under¡¡a¡¡cloudless¡¡sky¡£
¡¡¡¡I¡¡walked¡¡irresolutely¡¡back¡¡towards¡¡Filmer's¡¡bedroom£»¡¡wondering¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡disinclination¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡it¡¡was¡¡merely¡¡prudence¡¡or¡¡otherwise¡¡plain¡¡fear£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡afraid¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡latter¡£
¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡because¡¡if¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡I'd¡¡spend¡¡too¡¡much¡¡of¡¡my¡¡life¡¡regretting¡¡it¡£¡¡A¡¡permanent¡¡D¡¡minus¡¡in¡¡the¡¡balance¡¡sheet¡£¡¡By¡¡the¡¡time¡¡I¡¡left¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡room¡¡and¡¡started¡¡along¡¡the¡¡corridor¡¡past¡¡the¡¡kitchen£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡already¡¡feeling¡¡breathless£»¡¡already¡¡conscious¡¡of¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way¡¡good¡¡for¡¡self¡confidence¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡dry¡¡mouth¡¡I¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡chilly¡¡shifting¡¡join¡¡between¡¡cars£»¡¡opening¡¡and¡¡closing¡¡the¡¡doors£»¡¡every¡¡step¡¡bringing¡¡me¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡risky¡¡mitment¡£
¡¡¡¡Filmer's¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡room¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡¡car¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡kitchen¡£¡¡I¡¡rounded¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡into¡¡the¡¡corridor¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡reluctance¡¡and¡¡was¡¡just¡¡about¡¡to¡¡put¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door¡¡handle¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡car¡¡attendant£»¡¡dressed¡¡exactly¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was£»¡¡came¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡roomette¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡car£»¡¡saw¡¡me£»¡¡waved¡¡and¡¡started¡¡walking¡¡towards¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡With¡¡craven¡¡relief¡¡I¡¡went¡¡slowly¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'Hi£»'¡¡and¡¡how¡¡was¡¡I¡¡doing¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡the¡¡familiar¡¡one¡¡who'd¡¡told¡¡me¡¡about¡¡Filmer's¡¡private¡¡breakfast£»¡¡who'd¡¡shown¡¡me¡¡how¡¡to¡¡fold¡¡and¡¡unfold¡¡the¡¡armchairs¡¡and¡¡bunks£»¡¡the¡¡one¡¡who¡¡looked¡¡after¡¡both¡¡the¡¡car¡¡we¡¡were¡¡in¡¡and¡¡the¡¡three¡¡bedrooms£»¡¡Daffodil's¡¡among¡¡them£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dome¡¡car¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡all¡¡afternoon¡¡and¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡and¡¡was¡¡friendly¡¡and¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡talk£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡made¡¡it¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡shed¡¡him¡¡and¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to¡¡my¡¡nefarious¡¡business¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡talked¡¡about¡¡Daffodil¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mess¡¡she¡¡had¡¡made¡¡of¡¡her¡¡bedroom¡£
¡¡¡¡'Mess£¿¡¡'
¡¡¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡ask¡¡me£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡nodding£»¡¡'she'd¡¡had¡¡a¡¡bottle¡¡of¡¡vodka¡¡in¡¡her¡¡suitcase¡£¡£¡£¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡glass¡¡all¡¡over¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡Broken¡¡vodka¡¡bottle¡£¡¡And¡¡the¡¡mirror¡¡over¡¡the¡¡washbasin¡£¡¡In¡¡splinters¡£¡¡All¡¡over¡¡the¡¡place¡£¡¡I'd¡¡guess¡¡she¡¡threw¡¡the¡¡vodka¡¡bottle¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mirror¡¡and¡¡they¡¡both¡¡broke¡£'
¡¡¡¡'A¡¡bore¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡have¡¡to¡¡clear¡¡that¡¡up£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡surprised¡£¡¡'I¡¡didn't¡¡clear¡¡it¡£¡¡It's¡¡still¡¡like¡¡that¡£¡¡George¡¡can¡¡take¡¡a¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡£'¡¡He¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡'I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡if¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡will¡¡charge¡¡for¡¡her¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡Shouldn't¡¡be¡¡surprised¡£'
¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡my¡¡shoulder¡¡at¡¡someone¡¡ing¡¡into¡¡the¡¡car¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡car¡£
¡¡¡¡'Afternoon£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡reply¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡my¡¡head¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡Filmer's¡¡backview¡¡going¡¡into¡¡his¡¡bedroom¡£
¡¡¡¡Dear¡¡God£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡in¡¡horror£º¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡there¡¡with¡¡his¡¡briefcase¡¡open£»¡¡reading¡¡his¡¡papers¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡almost¡¡sick¡£
¡¡¡¡I¡¡sensed¡¡more¡¡than¡¡saw¡¡Filmer¡¡e¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡bedroom¡¡again¡¡and¡¡walk¡¡towards¡¡us¡£
¡¡¡¡'Can¡¡I¡¡help¡¡you£»¡¡sir£¿'¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡car¡¡attendant¡¡said£»¡¡going¡¡past¡¡me£»¡¡towards¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡'Yes¡£¡¡What¡¡do¡¡we¡¡do¡¡about¡¡our¡¡bags¡¡at¡¡Lake¡¡Louise£¿'
¡¡¡¡'Leave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡sir¡£¡¡We're¡¡collecting¡¡everyone's¡¡cases¡¡and¡¡transporting¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Chateau¡£¡¡They'll¡¡be¡¡delivered¡¡to¡¡your¡¡room¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Chateau£»¡¡sir¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Good£»'¡¡Filmer¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡back¡¡into¡¡his¡¡lair£»¡¡closing¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡Beyond¡¡the¡¡merest¡¡flicker¡¡of¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡about¡¡waist¡¡level£»¡¡he¡¡hadn't¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡at¡¡all¡£
¡¡¡¡'We¡¡did¡¡the¡¡same¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bags¡¡at¡¡Winnipeg£»'¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡car¡¡attendant¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me¡¡resignedly¡£¡¡'You'd¡¡think¡¡they'd¡¡learn¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Perhaps¡¡they¡¡will¡¡by¡¡Vancouver¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Yeah¡£'
¡¡¡¡I¡¡left¡¡him¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡and¡¡went¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡roomette¡¡and¡¡did¡¡some¡¡deep¡¡breathing¡¡and¡¡thanked¡¡every¡¡guardian¡¡angel¡¡in¡¡the¡¡firmament¡¡for¡¡my¡¡deliverance£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡particular¡¡the¡¡angel¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡car¡¡attendant's¡¡yellow¡¡waistcoat¡£
¡¡¡¡Outside¡¡the¡¡window£»¡¡the¡¡promise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡became¡¡an¡¡embrace£»¡¡rocky¡¡hillsides¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡tall¡¡narrow¡¡pines¡¡crowding¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡railway¡¡line¡¡winding¡¡through¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Bow¡¡River¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡thick¡¡untidy¡¡collections¡¡of¡¡twigs¡¡sitting¡¡like¡¡Ascot¡¡hats¡¡on¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many¡¡telegraph¡¡poles£»¡¡which¡¡looked¡¡quite¡¡extraordinary£»¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡passengers¡¡had¡¡said¡¡the¡¡hats¡¡were¡¡osprey¡¡nests£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡poles¡¡were¡¡made¡¡with¡¡platforms¡¡on¡¡especially¡¡to¡¡acmodate¡¡them¡£¡¡Brave¡¡birds£»¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡laying¡¡their¡¡eggs¡¡near¡¡to¡¡the¡¡roaring¡¡trains¡£¡¡Hair¡raising¡¡entertainment¡¡for¡¡the¡¡hatchlings¡£
¡¡¡¡Our¡¡speed¡¡had¡¡slowed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡brisk¡¡prairie¡¡rattle¡¡to¡¡a¡¡grunting¡¡uphill¡¡slither£»¡¡the¡¡train¡¡taking¡¡two¡¡hours¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡the¡¡seventy¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡Calgary¡¡to¡¡Banff¡£¡¡When¡¡it¡¡stopped¡¡there£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley£»¡¡the¡¡snow¡topped¡¡peaks¡¡were¡¡suddenly¡¡revealed¡¡as¡¡standing¡¡around¡¡in¡¡a¡¡towering£»¡¡glistening£»¡¡uneven¡¡ring£»¡¡the¡¡quintessential¡¡mountains¡¡rising¡¡in¡¡bare¡¡majestic¡¡rocky¡¡grandeur¡¡from¡¡the¡¡thronging¡¡forested¡¡courtier¡¡foothills¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡most¡¡people¡¡do£»¡¡the¡¡strong¡¡lure¡¡of¡¡high¡¡mysterious¡¡frozen¡¡places¡¡and£»¡¡Filmer¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡myself¡¡smiling¡¡with¡¡pleasure£»¡¡lighthearted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bone¡£
¡¡¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡noticeably¡¡warm¡¡in¡¡Calgary£»¡¡owing£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡said£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡¡winds¡¡blowing¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mountains£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡Banff¡¡it¡¡was¡¡suitably¡¡cold¡£¡¡The¡¡engine¡¡huffed¡¡and¡¡puffed¡¡about¡¡and¡¡split¡¡the¡¡train¡¡in¡¡two£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡racegoers¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡front¡¡part¡¡off¡¡to¡¡a¡¡siding¡¡and¡¡ing¡¡back¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡up¡¡just¡¡the¡¡owners'¡¡quarters£»¡¡the¡¡three¡¡sleeping¡¡cars£»¡¡the¡¡dining¡¡car£»¡¡the¡¡dome¡¡car¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Lorrimores¡£¡¡Abbreviated¡¡and¡¡much¡¡lighter£»¡¡these¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡the¡¡train¡¡climbed¡¡at¡¡good¡¡speed¡¡for¡¡another¡¡three¡quarters¡¡of¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡and¡¡triumphantly¡¡drew¡¡up¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡log¡cabin¡¡station¡¡of¡¡Lake¡¡Louise¡£
¡¡¡¡With¡¡great¡¡cheerfulness¡¡the¡¡passengers¡¡disembarked£»¡¡shivering¡¡even¡¡in¡¡their¡¡coats¡¡after¡¡the¡¡warmth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cars£»¡¡but¡¡full¡¡of¡¡expectation£»¡¡Daffodil¡¡forgotten¡£¡¡They¡¡filed¡¡on¡¡to¡¡a¡¡waiting¡¡bus£»¡¡while¡¡their¡¡suitcases¡¡were¡¡loaded¡¡into¡¡a¡¡separate¡¡truck¡£¡¡I¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡a¡¡fraction¡¡of¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡Filmer¡¡would¡¡leave¡¡his¡¡briefcase¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ferried¡¡in¡¡that¡¡fashion£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡he¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡train¡¡the¡¡case¡¡went¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡clutched¡¡firmly¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fist¡£
¡¡¡¡I¡¡told¡¡Nell¡¡I¡¡would¡¡walk¡¡up¡¡the¡¡mile¡¡or¡¡so¡¡from¡¡the¡¡station¡¡so¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡arrive¡¡until¡¡everyone¡¡had¡¡booked¡¡in¡¡and¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡lobby¡£¡¡She¡¡said¡¡I¡¡could¡¡travel¡¡up¡¡anyway¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crew¡¡in¡¡their¡¡own¡¡bus£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡entrusted¡¡my¡¡bag¡¡to¡¡her¡¡keeping¡¡and¡¡in¡¡my¡¡grey¡¡regulation¡¡raincoat£»¡¡buttoned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡neck£»¡¡I¡¡enjoyed¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡cold¡¡air¡¡and¡¡the¡¡deepening¡¡harvest¡¡gold¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡afternoon¡¡sunlight¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡lobby¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grand¡¡Chateau£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡awash¡¡with¡¡polite¡¡young¡¡Japanese¡¡couples¡¡on¡¡honeymoon£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Unwins£»¡¡the¡¡Youngs¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Flokatis¡£
¡¡¡¡Nell¡¡was¡¡sprawled¡¡in¡¡a¡¡lobby¡¡armchair¡¡as¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡summon¡¡the¡¡energy¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡went¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡beside¡¡her¡¡before¡¡she'd¡¡realized¡¡I¡¡was¡¡there¡£
¡¡¡¡'Is¡¡everyone¡¡settled£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡sighed¡¡deeply¡¡and¡¡made¡¡no¡¡attempt¡¡at¡¡moving¡£¡¡'The¡¡suite¡¡I¡¡had¡¡reserved¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Lorrimores¡¡had¡¡been¡¡given¡¡to¡¡someone¡¡else¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡before¡¡we¡¡got¡¡here¡¡The¡¡people¡¡are¡¡not¡¡budging£»¡¡the¡¡management¡¡are¡¡not¡¡apologizing£»¡¡and¡¡Bambi¡¡is¡¡not¡¡pleased¡£'
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡can¡¡imagine¡£'
¡¡¡¡'On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡sitting¡¡with¡¡our¡¡backs¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡views¡¡on¡¡earth¡£'
¡¡¡¡I¡¡twisted¡¡round¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡saw£»¡¡between¡¡thronging¡¡Japanese£»¡¡black¡¡and¡¡white¡¡mountains£»¡¡a¡¡turquoise¡¡blue¡¡lake£»¡¡green¡¡pines¡¡and¡¡an¡¡advancing¡¡glacier£»¡¡all¡¡looking¡¡like¡¡painted¡¡stage¡¡scenery£»¡¡awesomely¡¡close¡¡and¡¡framed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡windows¡£
¡¡¡¡'Wow£»'¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡impressed¡£
¡¡¡¡'It¡¡won't¡¡go¡¡away£»'¡¡Nell¡¡said£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡£¡¡'It'll¡¡all¡¡still¡¡be¡¡there¡¡tomorrow¡£'
¡¡¡¡I¡¡flopped¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡chair¡£¡¡'It's¡¡amazing¡£'
¡¡¡¡'It's¡¡why¡¡people¡¡have¡¡been¡¡ing¡¡here¡¡to¡¡stare¡¡for¡¡generations¡£'
¡¡¡¡'I¡¡expected¡¡altogether¡¡more¡¡snow£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡'It'll¡¡be¡¡knee¡deep¡¡by¡¡Christmas¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Do¡¡you¡¡have¡¡any¡¡time¡¡off¡¡here£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡sideways¡£¡¡'Five¡¡seconds¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡but¡¡almost¡¡no¡¡privacy¡£'
¡¡¡¡I¡¡sighed¡¡lightly£»¡¡having¡¡expected¡¡nothing¡¡else¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡focus£»¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡round¡¡which¡¡the¡¡tour¡¡revolved£º¡¡the¡¡most¡¡visible¡¡person£»¡¡her¡¡behaviour¡¡vivisected¡£
¡¡¡¡'Your¡¡room¡¡is¡¡in¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wings¡£'¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡handing¡¡me¡¡a¡¡card¡¡with¡¡a¡¡number¡¡on¡¡it¡£¡¡'You¡¡just¡¡have¡¡to¡¡sign¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡they'll¡¡giv