RoaldDahlManFromtheSouth剖析.docx

RoaldDahlManFromtheSouth剖析.docx

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RoaldDahlManFromtheSouth剖析

ManFromtheSouth

BYROALDDAHL

Itwasgettingontowardsixo’clocksoIthoughtI’dbuymyselfabeerandgooutandsitinadeckchairbytheswimmingpoolandhavealittleeveningsun.

Iwenttothebarandgotthebeerandcarrieditoutsideandwandereddownthegardentowardthepool.

Itwasafinegardenwithlawnsandbedsofazaleasandtallcoconutpalms,andthewindwasblowingstronglythroughthetopsofthepalmtreesmakingtheleaveshissandcrackleasthoughtheywereonfire. Icouldseetheclustersofbigbrownnutshandingdownunderneaththeleaves.

Therewereplentyofdeckchairsaroundtheswimmingpoolandtherewerewhitetablesandhugebrightlycoloredumbrellasandsunburnedmenandwomensittingaroundinbathingsuits. Inthepoolitselftherewerethreeorfourgirlsandaboutadozenboys,allsplashingaboutandmakingalotofnoiseandthrowingalargerubberballatoneanother.

Istoodwatchingthem. ThegirlswereEnglishgirlsfromthehotel. TheboysIdidn’tknowabout,buttheysoundedAmericanandIthoughttheywereprobablynavalcadetswho’dcomeashorefromtheU.S.navaltrainingvesselwhichhadarrivedintheharborthatmorning.

Iwentoverandsatdownunderayellowumbrellawheretherewerefouremptyseats,andIpouredmybeerandsettledbackcomfortablywithacigarette.

Itwasverypleasantsittingthereinthesunshinewithbeerandacigarette. Itwaspleasanttositandwatchthebatherssplashingaboutinthegreenwater.

TheAmericansailorsweregettingonnicelywiththeEnglishgirls. They’dreachedthestagewheretheyweredivingunderthewaterandtippingthemupbytheirlegs.

JustthenInoticedasmall,oldishmanwalkingbrisklyaroundtheedgeofthepool. Hewasimmaculatelydressedinawhitesuitandhewalkedveryquicklywithlittlebouncingstrides,pushinghimselfhighupontohistoeswitheachstep. HehadonalargecreamyPanamahat,andhecamebouncingalongthesideofthepool,lookingatthepeopleandthechairs.

Hestoppedbesidemeandsmiled,showingtworowsofverysmall,uneventeeth,slightlytarnished. Ismiledback.

“Excusepleess,butmayIsithere?

”

“Certainly,”Isaid. “Goahead.”

Hebobbedaroundtothebackofthechairandinspecteditforsafety,thenhesatdownandcrossedhislegs. Hiswhitebuckskinshowshadlittleholespunchedalloverthemforventilation.

“Afineevening,”hesaid. “TheyarealleveningsfinehereinJamaica.” Icouldn’ttelliftheaccentwereItalianorSpanish,butIfeltfairlysurehewassomesortofaSouthAmerican. Andoldtoo,whenyousawhimclose. Probablyaroundsixty-eightorseventy.

“Yes,”Isaid. “Itiswonderfulhere,isn’tit.”

“Andwho,mightIaskarealldese?

 Deseisnohotelpeople.” Hewaspointingatthebathersinthepool.

“Ithinkthey’reAmericansailors,”Itoldhim. “They’reAmericanswhoarelearningtobesailors.”

“OfcoursedeyareAmericans. Whoelseindeworldisgoingtomakeasmuchnoiseasdat?

 YouarenotAmerican,no?

”

“No,”Isaid. “Iamnot.”

SuddenlyoneoftheAmericancadetswasstandinginfrontofus. HewasdrippingwetfromthepoolandoneoftheEnglishgirlswasstandingtherewithhim.

“Arethesechairstaken?

”hesaid.

“No,”Ianswered.

“MindifIsitdown?

”

“Goahead.”

“Thanks,”hesaid. Hehadatowelinhishandandwhenhesatdownheunrolleditandproducedapackofcigarettesandalighter. Heofferedthecigarettestothegirlandsherefused;thenheofferedthemtomeandItookone. Thelittlemansaid,“Tankyou,no,butItinkIhaveacigar.” Hepulledoutacrocodilecaseandgothimselfacigar,thenheproducedaknifewhichhadasmallscissorsinitandhesnippedtheendoffthecigar.

“Here,letmegiveyoualight.” TheAmericanboyhelduphislighter.

“Datwillnotworkindiswind.”

“Sure,it’llwork. Italwaysworks.”

Thelittlemanremovedhisunlightedcigarfromhismouth,cockedhisheadononesideandlookedattheboy.

“All-ways?

”hesaidsoftly.

“Sure,itneverfails. Notwithmeanyway.”

Thelittleman’sheadwasstillcockedoverononesideandhewasstillwatchingtheboy. “Well,well. Soyousaydisfamouslighteritneverfails. Issdatyousay?

”

“Sure,”theboysaid. “That’sright.” Hewasaboutnineteenortwentywithalongfreckledfaceandarathersharpbirdlikenose. Hischestwasnotverysunburnedandtherewerefrecklestheretoo,andafewwispsofpale-reddishhair. Hewasholdingthelighterinhisrighthand,readytoflipthewheel. “Itneverfails,”hesaid,smilingnowbecausehewaspurposelyexaggeratinghislittleboast. “Ipromiseyouitneverfails.”

“Onemomint,pleess.” Thehandthatheldthecigarcameuphigh,palmoutward,asthoughitwerestoppingtraffic. “Nowjussonemomint.” Hehadacuriouslysoft,tonelessvoiceandhekeptlookingattheboyallthetime.

“Shallwenotperhapsmakealittlebetondat?

” Hesmiledattheboy. “Shallwenotmakealittlebetonwhetheryourlighterlights?

”

“Sure,I’llbet,”theboysaid. “Whynot?

”

“Youliketobet?

”

“Sure,I’llalwaysbet.”

Themanpausedandexaminedhiscigar,andImustsayIdidn’tmuchlikethewayhewasbehaving. Itseemedhewasalreadytryingtomakesomethingoutofthis,andtoembarrasstheboy,andatthesametimeIhadthefeelinghewasrelishingaprivatelittlesecretallhisown.

Helookedupagainattheboyandsaidslowly,“Iliketobet,too. Whywedon’thaveagoodbetondisting?

 Agoodbigbet?

“Nowwaitaminute,”theboysaid. “Ican’tdothat. ButI’llbetyouadollar,orwhateveritisoverhere-someshillings,Iguess.”

Thelittlemanwavedhishandagain. “Listentome. Nowwehavesomefun. Wemakeabet. DenwegouptomyroomhereindehotelwhereissnowindandIbetyouyoucannotlightdisfamouslighterofyourstentimesrunningwithoutmissingonce.”

“I’llbetIcan,”theboysaid.

“Allright. Good. Wemakeabet,yes?

”

“Sure. I’llbetyouabuck.”

“No,no. Imakeyouverygoodbet. IamrichmanandIamsportingmanalso. Listentome. Outsidedehotelissmycar. Issveryfinecar. Americancarfromyourcountry. Cadillac-”

“Hey,now. Waitaminute.” Theboyleanedbackinhisdeckchairandhelaughed. “Ican’tputupthatsortofproperty. Thisiscrazy.”

“Notcrazyatall. YoustrikelightersuccessfullytentimesrunningandCadillacisyours. YouliketohavedisCadillac,yes?

”

“Sure,I’dliketohaveaCadillac.” Theboywasstillgrinning.

“Allright. Fine. WemakeabetandIputupmyCadillac.”

“AndwhatdoIputup?

”

“Thelittlemancarefullyremovedtheredbandfromhisstillunlightedcigar. “Ineveraskyou,myfriend,tobetsomethingyoucannotafford. Youunderstand?

”

“ThenwhatdoIbet?

”

“Imakeitveryeasyforyou,yes?

”

“Okay. Youmakeiteasy.”

“Somesmalltingyoucanaffordtogiveaway,andifyoudidhappentoloseityouwouldnotfeeltoobad. Right?

”

“Suchaswhat?

”

“Suchas,perhaps,delittlefingerofyourlefthand.”

“Mywhat!

 Theboystoppedgrinning.

“Yes. Whynot?

 Youwin,youtakedecar. Youlooss,Itakedefinger.”

“Idon’tgetit. Howd’youmean,youtakethefinger?

”

“Ichopitoff.”

“Jumpingjeepers!

 That’sacrazybet. IthinkI’lljustmakeitadollar.”

Themanleanedback,spreadouthishandspalmsupwardandgaveatinycontemptuousshrugoftheshoulders. “Well,well,well,”hesaid. “Idonotunderstand. Yousayitlightsbutyouwillnotbet. Denweforgetit,yes?

”

Theboysatquitestill,staringatthebathersinthepool. Thenherememberedsuddenlyhehadn’tlightedhiscigarette. Heputitbetweenhislips,cuppedhishandsaroundthelighterandflippedthewheel. Thewicklightedandburnedwithasmall,steady,yellowflameandthewayheheldhishandsthewinddidn’tgettoitatall.

“CouldIhavealight,too?

”Isaid.

“Gee,I’msorry. Iforgotyoudidn’thaveone.”

Iheldoutmyhandforthelighter,buthestoodupandcameovertodoitforme.

“Thankyou,”Isaid,andhereturnedtohisseat.

“Youhavingagoodtime?

”Iasked.

“Fine,”heanswered. “It’sprettynicehere.”

Therewasasilencethen,andIcouldseethatthelittlemanhassucceededindisturbingtheboywithhisabsurdproposal. Hewassittingthereverystill,anditwasobviousthatasmalltensionwasbeginningtobuildupinsidehim. Thenhestartedshiftingaboutinhisseat,andrubbinghischest,andstrokingthebackofhisneck,andfinallyheplacedbothhandsonhiskneesandbegantappinghisfingersagainsthisknee-caps. Soonhewastappingwithoneofhisfeetaswell.

“Nowjustletmecheckuponthisbetofyours,”hesaidatlast. “YousaywegouptoyourroomandifImakethislighterlighttentimesrunningIwinaCadillac. IfitmissesjustoncethenIforfeitthelittlefingerofmylefthand. Isthatright?

”

“Certainly. Datisdebet. ButItinkyouareafraid.”

“WhatdowedoifIlose?

 DoIhavetoholdmyfingeroutwhileyouchopitoff?

”

“Oh,no!

 Datwouldbenogood. Andyoumightbetemptedtorefusetoholditout. WhatIshoulddoIshouldtieoneofyourhandstodetablebeforewestartedandIshouldstandderewithaknifereadytogochopdemomintyourlightermissed.”

“WhatyearistheCadillac?

”theboyasked.

“Excuse. Inotunderstand.”

“Whatyear-howoldistheCadillac?

”

“Ah!

 Howold?

 Yes. Itislastyear. Quitenowcar. ButIseeyouarenotbettingman. Americansneverare.”

TheboypausedforjustamomentandheglancedfirstattheEnglishgirl,thenatme. “Yes,”hesaid