Chapter 9
關燈
小
中
大
thoveredbeforePhiliplikeaninsect.Thenitdescendedandgrippedhimbyhisbrokenelbow.
Philipstruckoutwithallthestrengthofhisotherarm.Ginofelltotheblowwithoutacryoraword.
“Youbrute!”exclaimedtheEnglishman.“Killmeifyoulike!Butjustyouleavemybrokenarmalone.”
Thenhewasseizedwithremorse,andkneltbesidehisadversaryandtriedtorevivehim.Hemanagedtoraisehimup,andproppedhisbodyagainsthisown.Hepassedhisarmroundhim.Againhewasfilledwithpityandtenderness.Heawaitedtherevivalwithoutfear,surethatbothofthemweresafeatlast.
Ginorecoveredsuddenly.Hislipsmoved.Foroneblessedmomentitseemedthathewasgoingtospeak.Buthescrambledupinsilence,rememberingeverything,andhemadenottowardsPhilip,buttowardsthelamp.
“Dowhatyoulikebutthinkfirst—”
Thelampwastossedacrosstheroom,outthroughtheloggia.Itbrokeagainstoneofthetreesbelow.Philipbegantocryoutinthedark.
Ginoapproachedfrombehindandgavehimasharppinch.Philipspunroundwithayell.Hehadonlybeenpinchedontheback,butheknewwhatwasinstoreforhim.Hestruckout,exhortingthedeviltofighthim,tokillhim,todoanythingbutthis.Thenhestumbledtothedoor.Itwasopen.Helosthishead,and,insteadofturningdownthestairs,heranacrossthelandingintotheroomopposite.Therehelaydownonthefloorbetweenthestoveandtheskirting-board.
Hissensesgrewsharper.HecouldhearGinocominginontiptoe.Heevenknewwhatwaspassinginhismind,hownowhewasatfault,nowhewashopeful,nowhewaswonderingwhetherafterallthevictimhadnotescapeddownthestairs.Therewasaquickswoopabovehim,andthenalowgrowllikeadog’s.Ginohadbrokenhisfinger-nailsagainstthestove.
Physicalpainisalmosttooterribletobear.Wecanjustbearitwhenitcomesbyaccidentorforourgood—asitgenerallydoesinmodernlife—exceptatschool.Butwhenitiscausedbythemalignityofaman,fullgrown,fashionedlikeourselves,allourcontroldisappears.Philip’sonethoughtwastogetawayfromthatroomatwhateversacrificeofnobilityorpride.
Ginowasnowatthefurtherendoftheroom,gropingbythelittletables.Suddenlytheinstinctcametohim.HecrawledquicklytowherePhiliplayandhadhimcleanbytheelbow.
Thewholearmseemedred-hot,andthebrokenbonegratedinthejoint,sendingoutshootsoftheessenceofpain.Hisotherarmwaspinionedagainstthewall,andGinohadtrampledinbehindthestoveandwaskneelingonhisl
