一无所有-第67部分
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le children are stoical。 They cry over bumps； but they take the big things as they e； they don't whine like so many adults。〃
They walked along aide by side。 The autumn stars had e out； incredible in number and brilliance； twinkling and almost blinking because of the dust stirred up by the earthquake and the wind； so that the whole sky seemed to tremble； a shaking of diamond chips； a scintillation of sunlight on a black sea。 Under that uneasy splendor the hills were dark and solid； the roofs hardedged； the light of the street lamps mild。
〃Four yeara ago；〃 Shevek said。 〃It was four years ago that I came back to Abbenay； from that place in South rising — what was it called？ — Red Springs。 It was a night like this； windy； the stars。 I ran； I ran all the way from Plains Street to the domicile。 And you weren't there； you'd gone。 Four years！〃
〃The moment I left Abbenay I knew I'd been a fool to go。 Famine or no famine。 I should have refused the posting。〃
〃It wouldn't have made much difference。 Sabul was waiting to tell me I was through at the Institute。〃
〃If I'd been there； you wouldn't have gone down to the Dust。〃
〃Maybe not； but we mightn't have kept postings together。 For a while it seemed as if nothing could hold together； didn't it？ The towns in Southwest — there weren't any children left in them。 There still aren't。 They sent them north； into regions where there was local food； or a chance of it And they stayed to keep the mines and mills going。 It's a wonder we pulled through； all of us； isn't it？ 。。。 But by damn； I will do my own work for a while now！〃
She took his arm。 He stopped short； as if her touch had electrocuted him on the spot。 She shook him； smiling。 〃You didn't eat； did you？〃
〃No。 Oh Takver； I have been sick for you； sick for you！〃
They came together； holding on to each other fiercely； in the dark street between the lamps； under the stars。 They broke apart as suddenly； and Shevek backed up against the nearest wall。 〃I'd better eat something；〃 he said； and Takver said； 〃Yes； or you'll fall flat on your face！ e on。〃 They went a block to the mons； the largest building in Chakar。 Regular dinner was over； but the cooks were eating； and provided the traveler a bowl of stew and all the bread he wanted。 They all sat at the table nearest the kitchen。 The other tables had already been cleaned and set for next morning。 The big room was cavernous； the ceiling rising into shadow； the far end obscure except where a bowl or cup winked on a dark table； catching the light。 The cooks and servers were a quiet crew； tired after the day's work； they ate fast； not talking much； not paying much attention to Takver and the stranger。 One after another they finished and got up to take their dishes to the washers in the kitchen。 One old woman said as she got up； 〃Dont hurry； ammari； they've got an hour's washing yet to do。〃 She had a grim face and looked dour； not maternal； not benevolent； but she spoke with passion； with the charity of equals。 She could do nothing for them but say； 〃Don't hurry；〃 and look at them for a moment with the look of brotherly love。
They could do no more for her； and little more for each other。
They went back to Domicile Eight； Room 3； and there their long desire was fulfilled。 They did not even light the lamp； they both liked making love in darkness。 The first time they both came as Shevek came into her； the second time they struggled and cried out in a rage of joy； prolonging their climax as if delaying the moment of death； the third time they were both half asleep； and circled about the center of infinite pleasure； about each other's being； like plas circling blindly； quietly； in the flood of sunlight； about the mon center of gravity； swinging； circling endlessly。
Takver woke at dawn。 She leaned on her elbow and looked across Shevek at the grey square of the window； and then at him。 He lay on his back； breathing so quietly that his chest scarcely moved； his face thrown back a little； remote and stem in me thin light。 We came； Takver thought； from a great distance to each other。 We have always done so。 Over great distances； over years； over abysses of chance。 It is because he es from so far away that nothing can separate us。 Nothing； no distances； no years； can be greater than the distance that's already between us； the distance of our sex； the difference of our being； our minds； that gap； that abyss which we bridge with a look； with a touch； with a word； the easiest thing in the world。 Look how far away he is； asleep。 Look how far away he is； he always is。 But he es back； he es back； he es back。。。
Takver put in notice of departure at the hospital in Chakar； but stayed till they could replace her in the laboratory。 She worked her eighthour shift — in the third quarter of the year 168 many people were still on the long work shifts of emergency postings； for though the drought had broken in the winter of 167； the economy had by no means returned to normal yet。 〃Long post and short mons〃 was still the rule for people in skilled work； but the food was now adequate to the day's work； which had not been true a year ago and two years ago。
Shevek did not do much of anything for a while。 He did not consider himself ill； after the four years of famine everyone was so used to the effects of hardship and malnutrition that they took them as the norm。 He had the dust cough that was endemic in southern desert munities； a chronic irritation of the bronchia similar to silicosis and other miners diseases； but this was also something one took for granted where he had been living。 He simply enjoyed the fact that if he felt like doing nothing； there was nothing he had to do。
For a few days he and Sherut shared the room daytimes； both of them sleeping till late afternoon； then Sherut； a placid woman of forty； moved in with another woman who worked night shift； and Shevek and Takver had the room to themselves for the four decads they stayed on in Chakar。 While Takver was at work he slept； or walked out in the fields or on the dry； bare hills above the town。 He went by the learning center late in the afternoon and watched Sadik and the other children on the playgrounds； or got involved； as adults often did； in one of the children's projects — a group of mad sevenyearold carpenters； or a pair of sober twelveyearold' surveyors having trouble with triangulation。 Then he walked with Sadik to the room； they met Takver as she got off work and went to the baths together and to mons。 An hour or two after dinner he and Takver took the child back to her dormitory and returned to the room。 The days were utterly peaceful； in the autumn sunlight； in the silence of the hills。 It was to Shevek a time outside time； beside the flow； unreal； enduring； enchanted。 He and Takver sometimes talked very late； other nights they went to bed not lons after dark and slept nine hours； ten hours； in the profound； crystalline silence of the mountain night。
He had e with luggage： a tattered little fiberboard case； his name printed large on it in black ink； all Anarresti carried papers； keepsakes； the spare pair of boots； in the same kind of case when they traveled； orange fiberboard； well scratched and dented。 His contained a new shirt he had picked up as he came through Abbenay； a couple of books and some papers； and a curious object； which as it lay in the case appeared to consist of a series of flat loops of wire and a few glass beads。 He revealed this； with some mystery； to Sadik； his second evening there。
〃It's a necklace；〃 the child said with awe。 People in the small towns wore a good deal of jewelry。 In sophisticated Abbenay there was more sense of the tension between the principle of nonownership and the impulse to selfadornment； and there a ring or pin was the limit of good taste。 But elsewhere the deep connection between the aesthetic and the acquisitive was simply not worried about； people bedecked themselves unabashedly。 Most districts had a professional jeweler who did his work for love and fame； as well as the craft shops； where you could make to suit your own taste with the modest materials offered — copper； silver； beads； spinels； and the gars and yellow diamonds of Southrising。 Sadik had not seen many
