永别了,武器(英文版)海明威著-第54部分

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ould　not　suddenly　be　too　thin　from　the　soda。　I　would　get　a　bottle　of　whiskey　and　have　them　bring　ice　and　soda。　That　was　the　sensible　way。　Good　whiskey　was　very　pleasant。　It　was　one　of　the　pleasant　parts　of　life。
〃What　are　you　thinking；　darling？〃
〃About　whiskey。〃
〃What　about　whiskey？〃
〃About　how　nice　it　is。〃
Catherine　made　a　face。　〃All　right；〃　she　said。
We　stayed　at　that　hotel　three　weeks。　It　was　not　bad；　the　diningroom　was　usually　empty　and　very　often　we　ate　in　our　room　at　night。　We　walked　in　the　town　and　took　the　cogwheel　railway　down　to　Ouchy　and　walked　beside　the　lake。　The　weather　became　quite　warm　and　it　was　like　spring。　We　wished　we　were　back　in　the　mountains　but　the　spring　weather　lasted　only　a　few　days　and　then　the　cold　rawness　of　the　breaking…up　of　winter　came　again。
Catherine　bought　the　things　she　needed　for　the　baby；　up　in　the　town。　I　went　to　a　gymnasium　in　the　arcade　to　box　for　exercise。　I　usually　went　up　there　in　the　morning　while　Catherine　stayed　late　in　bed。　On　the　days　of　false　spring　it　was　very　nice；　after　boxing　and　taking　a　shower；　to　walk　along　the　streets　smelling　the　spring　in　the　air　and　stop　at　a　caf？to　sit　and　watch　the　people　and　read　the　paper　and　drink　a　vermouth；　then　go　down　to　the　hotel　and　have　lunch　with　Catherine。　The　professor　at　the　boxing　gymnasium　wore　mustaches　and　was　very　precise　and　jerky　and　went　all　to　pieces　if　you　started　after　him。　But　it　was　pleasant　in　the　gym。　There　was　good　air　and　light　and　I　worked　quite　hard；　skipping　rope；　shadowboxing；　doing　abdominal　exercises　lying　on　the　floor　in　a　patch　of　sunlight　that　came　through　the　open　window；　and　occasionally　scaring　the　professor　when　we　boxed。　I　could　not　shadow…box　in　front　of　the　narrow　long　mirror　at　first　because　it　looked　so　strange　to　see　a　man　with　a　beard　boxing。　But　finally　I　just　thought　it　was　funny。　I　wanted　to　take　off　the　beard　as　soon　as　I　started　boxing　but　Catherine　did　not　want　me　to。
Sometimes　Catherine　and　I　went　for　rides　out　in　the　country　in　a　carriage。　It　was　nice　to　ride　when　the　days　were　pleasant　and　we　found　two　good　places　where　we　could　ride　out　to　eat。　Catherine　could　not　walk　very　far　now　and　I　loved　to　ride　out　along　the　country　roads　with　her。　When　there　was　a　good　day　we　had　a　splendid　time　and　we　never　had　a　bad　time。　We　knew　the　baby　was　very　close　now　and　it　gave　us　both　a　feeling　as　though　something　were　hurrying　us　and　we　could　not　lose　any　time　together。




41


One　morning　I　awoke　about　three　o'clock　hearing　Catherine　stirring　in　the　bed。
〃Are　you　all　right；　Cat？〃
〃I've　been　having　some　pains；　darling。〃
〃Regularly？〃
〃No；　not　very。〃
〃If　you　have　them　at　all　regularly　we'll　go　to　the　hospital。〃
I　was　very　sleepy　and　went　back　to　sleep。　A　little　while　later　I　woke　again。
〃Maybe　you'd　better　call　up　the　doctor；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　think　maybe　this　is　it。〃
I　went　to　the　phone　and　called　the　doctor。　〃How　often　are　the　pains　ing？〃　he　asked。
〃How　often　are　they　ing；　Cat？〃
〃I　should　think　every　quarter　of　an　hour。〃
〃You　should　go　to　the　hospital；　then；〃　the　doctor　said。　〃I　will　dress　and　go　there　right　away　myself。〃
I　hung　up　and　called　the　garage　near　the　station　to　send　up　a　taxi。　No　one　answered　the　phone　for　a　long　time。　Then　I　finally　got　a　man　who　promised　to　send　up　a　taxi　at　once。　Catherine　was　dressing。　Her　bag　was　all　packed　with　the　things　she　would　need　at　the　hospital　and　the　baby　things。　Outside　in　the　hall　I　rang　for　the　elevator。　There　was　no　answer。　I　went　downstairs。　There　was　no　one　downstairs　except　the　night…watchman。　I　brought　the　elevator　up　myself；　put　Catherine's　bag　in　it；　she　stepped　in　and　we　went　down。　The　night…watchman　opened　the　door　for　us　and　we　sat　outside　on　the　stone　slabs　beside　the　stairs　down　to　the　driveway　and　waited　for　the　taxi。　The　night　was　clear　and　the　stars　were　out。　Catherine　was　very　excited。
〃I'm　so　glad　it's　started；〃　she　said。　〃Now　in　a　little　while　it　will　be　all　over。〃
〃You're　a　good　brave　girl。〃
〃I'm　not　afraid。　I　wish　the　taxi　would　e；　though。〃
We　heard　it　ing　up　the　street　and　saw　its　headlights。　It　turned　into　the　driveway　and　I　helped　Catherine　in　and　the　driver　put　the　bag　up　in　front。
〃Drive　to　the　hospital；〃　I　said。
We　went　out　of　the　driveway　and　started　up　the　hill。
At　the　hospital　we　went　in　and　I　carried　the　bag。　There　was　a　woman　at　the　desk　who　wrote　down　Catherine's　name；　age；　address；　relatives　and　religion；　in　a　book。　She　said　she　had　no　religion　and　the　woman　drew　a　line　in　the　space　after　that　word。　She　gave　her　name　as　Catherine　Henry。
〃I　will　take　you　up　to　your　room；〃　she　said。　We　went　up　in　an　elevator。　The　woman　stopped　it　and　we　stepped　out　and　followed　her　down　a　hall。　Catherine　held　tight　to　my　arm。
〃This　is　the　room；〃　the　woman　said。　〃Will　you　please　undress　and　get　into　bed？　Here　is　a　night…gown　for　you　to　wear。〃
〃I　have　a　night…gown；〃　Catherine　said。
〃It　is　better　for　you　to　wear　this　night…gown；〃　the　woman　said。
I　went　outside　and　sat　on　a　chair　in　the　hallway。
〃You　can　e　in　now；〃　the　woman　said　from　the　doorway。　Catherine　was　lying　in　the　narrow　bed　wearing　a　plain；　square…cut　night…gown　that　looked　as　though　it　were　made　of　rough　sheeting。　She　smiled　at　me。
〃I'm　having　fine　pains　now；〃　she　said。　The　woman　was　holding　her　wrist　and　timing　the　pains　with　a　watch。
〃That　was　a　big　one；〃　Catherine　said。　I　saw　it　on　her　face。
〃Where's　the　doctor？〃　I　asked　the　woman。
〃He's　lying　down　sleeping。　He　will　be　here　when　he　is　needed。〃
〃I　must　do　something　for　Madame；　now；〃　the　nurse　said。　〃Would　you　please　step　out　again？〃
I　went　out　into　the　hall。　It　was　a　bare　hall　with　two　windows　and　closed　doors　all　down　the　corridor。　It　smelled　of　hospital。　I　sat　on　the　chair　and　looked　at　the　floor　and　prayed　for　Catherine。
〃You　can　e　in；〃　the　nurse　said。　I　went　in。
〃Hello；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。
〃How　is　it？〃
〃They　are　ing　quite　often　now。〃　Her　face　drew　up。　Then　she　smiled。
〃That　was　a　real　one。　Do　you　want　to　put　your　hand　on　my　back　again；　nurse？〃
〃If　it　helps　you；〃　the　nurse　said。
〃You　go　away；　darling；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Go　out　and　get　something　to　eat。　I　may　do　this　for　a　long　time　the　nurse　says。〃
〃The　first　labor　is　usually　protracted；〃　the　nurse　said。
〃Please　go　out　and　get　something　to　eat；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I'm　fine；　really。〃
〃I'll　stay　awhile；〃　I　said。
The　pains　came　quite　regularly；　then　slackened　off。　Catherine　was　very　excited。　When　the　pains　were　bad　she　called　them　good　ones。　When　they　started　to　fall　off　she　was　disappointed　and　ashamed。
〃You　go　out；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃I　think　you　are　just　making　me　self…conscious。〃　Her　face　tied　up。　〃There。　That　was　better。　I　so　want　to　be　a　good　wife　and　have　this　child　without　any　foolishness。　Please　go　and　get　some　breakfast；　darling；　and　then　e　back。　I　won't　miss　you。　Nurse　is　splendid　to　me。〃
〃You　have　plenty　of　time　for　breakfast；〃　the　nurse　said。
〃I'll　go　then。　Good…by；　sweet。〃
〃Good…by；〃　Catherine　said；　〃and　have　a　fine　breakfast　for　me　too。〃
〃Where　can　I　get　breakfast？〃　I　asked　the　nurse。
〃There's　a　caf？down　the　street　at　the　square；〃　she　said。　〃It　should　be　open　now。〃
Outside　it　was　getting　light。　I　walked　down　the　empty　street　to　the　caf？　There　was　a　light　in　the　window。　I　went　in　and　stood　at　the　zinc　bar　and　an　old　man　served　me　a　glass　of　white　wine　and　a　brioche。　The　brioche　was　yesterday's。　I　dipped　it　in　the　wine　and　then　drank　a　glass　of　coffee。
〃What　do　you　do　at　this　hour？〃　the　old　man　asked。
〃My　wife　is　in　labor　at　the　hospital。〃
〃So。　I　wish　you　good　luck。〃
〃Give　me　another　glass　of　wine。〃
He　poured　it　from　the　bottle　slopping　it　over　a　little　so　some　ran　down　on　the　zinc。　I　drank　this　glass；　paid　and　went　out。　Outside　along　the　street　were　the　refuse　cans　from　the　houses　waiting　for　the　collector。　A　dog　was　nosing　at　one　of　the　cans。
〃What　do　you　want？〃　I　asked　and　looked　in　the　can　to　see　if　there　was　anything　I　could　pull　out　for　him；　there　was　nothing　on　top　but　coffee…grounds；　dust　and　some　dead　flowers。
〃There　isn't　anything；　dog；〃　I　said。　The　dog　crossed　the　street。　I　went　up　the　stairs　in　the　hospital　to　the　floor　Catherine　was　on　and　down　the　hall　to　her　room。　I　knocked　on　the　door。　There　was　no　answer。　I　opened　the