创客小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第12章 暖暖的河流（第5页）

"Isthisthefirsttimeyouhavebeenuhereinthemountains，Richard？

"herfatheraskedme，turninginhischairtowardsme。

"Iveneverbeenwithinahundredmilesofherebefore，sir。Itsadifferentcountryuhere，butIsuoseyouwouldthinkthesameaboutthecoast，wouldntyou？

"

"Oh，butFatherusedtoliveinNorfolk，

"Gretchensaid。

"Didntyou，Father？

"

"Ilivedtherefornearlythreeyears。

"

Therewassomethingelsehewouldsay，andbothofuswaitedforhimtocontinue。

"Fatherisamastermechanic，

"Gretchenwhiseredtome，

"Heworksintherailroadshos。

"

"Yes，

"hesaidafterawhile。

"Ivelivedinmanylaces，buthereiswhereIwishtostay。

"

Myfirstthoughtwastoaskhimwhyhereferredthemountainstoothersections，butsuddenlyIwasawarethatbothheandGretchenwerestrangelysilent。Betweenthem，Isatwonderingaboutit。

Afterawhilehesokeagain，nottomeandnottoGretchen，butasthoughhewereseakingtosomeoneelseontheorch，afourthersonwhomIhadfailedtoseeinthedarkness。Iwaited，tenseandexcited，forhimtocontinue。

Gretchenmovedherchairafewinchesclosertomine，hermotionsgentleandwithoutsound。Thewarmthoftherivercameuandcovereduslikeablanketonachillnight。

"AfterGretchenandtheothertwogirlslosttheirmother，

"hesaid，almostinaudibly，bendingforwardoverhiskneesandgazingoutacrossthebroadgreenriver，

"afterwelosttheirmother，Icamebacktothemountainstolive。IcouldntstayinNorfolk，andIcouldntstanditinBaltimore。ThiswastheonlylaceonearthwhereIcouldfindeace。Gretchenremembershermother，butneitherofyoucanyetunderstandhowitiswithme。HermotherandIwerebornhereinthemountains，andwelivedheretogetherforalmosttwentyyears。Thenaftersheleftus，Imovedaway，foolishlybelievingthatIcouldforget。ButIwaswrong。OfcourseIwaswrong。Amancantforgetthemotherofhischildren，eventhoughheknowshewillneverseeheragain。

"

Gretchenleanedclosertome，andIcouldnotkeemyeyesfromherdarklyframedrofilebesideme。Theriverbelowusmadenosound，butthewarmthofitsvaorwouldnotletmeforgetthatitwasstillthere。

Herfatherhadbentfartherforwardinhischairuntilhisarmswererestingonhisknees，andheseemedtobetryingtoseesomeoneontheothersideoftheriver，highonthemountaintoaboveit。Hiseyesstrained，andtheshaftoflightthatcamethroughtheoendoorwayfelluonthemandglistenedthere。Tearsfellfromhisfacelikefragmentsofstars，burningintohisquiveringhandsuntiltheywereoutofsight。

Presently，stillinsilence，hegotuandmovedthroughthedoorway。HishugeshadowfelluonGretchenandmeashestoodtheremomentarilybeforegoinginside。Iturnedandlookedtowardhimbut，eventhoughhewasassingfromsight，Icouldnotkeemyeyesuonhim。

Gretchenleanedcloseragainstme，squeezingherfingersintothehollowofmyhandandtouchingmyshoulderwithhercheeksasthoughsheweretryingtowiesomethingfromthem。Herfathersfootstesgrewfainter，andatlastwecouldnolongerhearhim。

Somewherebelowus，alongthebankoftheriver，anexresstraincrasheddownthevalley，creakingandscreamingthroughthenight。Occasionallyitslightsflashedthroughtheoeningsinthedarkness，dancingonthebroadgreenriverlikeolarlightsinthenorth，andthemetallicechoofitssteelrumbledagainstthehighwallsofthemountains。Gretchenclasedherhandstightlyovermyhand，tremblingtoherfingertis。

"Richard，whydidyoucometoseeme？

"

Hervoicewasmingledwiththescreamingmetallicechoofthetrainthatnowseemedfaroff。

Ihadexectedtofindherlookinguintomyface，butwhenIturnedtoher，Isawthatshewasgazingfardownintothevalley，downintothewarmwatersoftheriver。SheknewwhyIhadcome，butshedidnotwishtohearmesaywhyIhad。

IdidnotknowwhyIhadcometoseeher，now。IhadlikedGretchen，andIhaddesiredheraboveanyoneelseIknew。ButIcouldnottellherthatIlovedher，afterhavingheardherfatherseakoflove。IwassorryIhadcome，nowafterhavingheardhimseakofGretchensmotherashedid。IknewGretchenwouldgiveherselftome，becauseshelovedme；butIhadnothingtogiveherinreturn。Shewasbeautiful，verybeautiful，andIhaddesiredher。Thatwasbefore。Now，IknewthatIcouldneveragainthinkofherasIhadcomereared。