按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The threat did not carry conviction； and as far as Ish could remember； he had never seen the easygoing Ezra punish a child。 Nevertheless； at the paternal order the scuffle subsided with no more than the conventional protest from Weston； 〃Aw； Betty started it！〃
〃Yes； but what do you want ice for anyway； George？〃 This was Ralph speaking。 It was a natural and never…failing phase of the argument。 The boys； who had never known what it was to have ice； had no urge to make them go to the work of obtaining it。
Ish was thinking to himself that George had been asked that question a great many times in the course of this argument before。 He really should have had his answer ready； but George was not a quick thinker and was not a man to be hurried。 He shifted his tongue in his mouth； shaping words before he actually set out to reply； and in the pause Ish again watched Joey。 The little boy's glance moved quickly from the hesitant George to Ezra and to Jack； as if to see how those others were taking the pause； then Joey's eyes sought his father's again。 All at once there was a quick radeship and sense of understanding in the glance。 Joey seemed to be saying that either his father or he would find an answer quickly and not hesitate as George was doing。
Then something exploded inside Ish's brain。 He did not hear the words that at last began to unroll slowly from George's mouth。
〃Joey！〃 Ish was thinking…and the name seemed to reverberate all through his consciousness。 〃Joey！ He is the one！〃
〃Thou knowest not；〃 Koheleth wrote in his wisdom； 〃how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child。〃 And though the centuries have passed since Koheleth looked upon all things and found them fickle as wind； yet still we know little of what goes to the making of a man…least surely of all； why usually there issue forth only those who see what is； and why rarely； now and then； there es forth among them the chosen one； Child of the Blessing； who sees not what is； but sees what is not； and seeing thus what is not； imagines also what may be。 Yet without this rare one all men are as beasts。
First in the dark depths and the flooding； those unlike halves must meet that carry within them each the perfect half of genius。 But that is not all！ Also the child must be born to the world in fitting time and place； fulfilling its need。 But even that is not all。 Also the child must live； in a world where death walks daily。
When each year children are born in millions； now and then the infinitesimal chance will happen； and there will be greatness and vision。 But how will it be； if the people are broken and scattered； and the children only a few？
Then； almost without knowing what had happened； Ish found himself on his feet。 He was talking。 In fact； he was making a speech。 〃Look here；〃 he was saying； 〃we've got to do something about all this。 We've waited long enough！〃
As he stood there； he was only in his own living…room； and he was talking only to the few people who were there。 He knew that they were only a few； and yet it seemed to him not so much as if he were talking just to these few in this little room； but rather that he was in some great amphitheater and talking to a whole nation or to all the people of the world。
〃This has got to stop！〃 he said。 〃We mustn't go on living forever just in this happy way； scavenging among all the supplies that the Old Times left here for us； not creating or doing anything for ourselves。 These things will an give out some day…if not in our years； in our children's； or grandchildren's。 What will happen then？ What will they do when they won't know how to produce more things？ Food； they can get； I suppose…there will still be cattle and rabbits。 But what about all the more plicated things we enjoy？ What； even； about building fires after the matches have all been used； or spoiled？〃
He paused； and looked around again。 They all seemed pleased； and seemed to be agreeing with him。 Joey's face was transcendent with excitement。
〃That refrigerator you were talking about just now； a of you！〃 Ish went on。 〃That's an example。 We talk about it； but we never do anything。 We're like that story…that old king in the old story…the one who sat enchanted and everything moved around hun； but he could never make any move to break the spell。 I used to think we were just suffering from the shock of the Great Disaster。 Perhaps that was it； in those first days。 When people have their whole world go to pieces around them； they can't expect to make a fresh start immediately。 But that was twenty…one years ago； and many of us have even been born since that time。
〃There are lots of things we should do。 We should get some more domestic animals； not just dogs。 We ought to be growing more of our own food now； not just raiding the old grocery stores still。 We ought to be teaching the children to read and write more。 （No one has ever supported me strongly enough in that。） We can't go on scavenging like this forever…we must go forward。〃
He paused； searching for words by which to point out to them the old truism that unless we go forward we inevitably go back； but suddenly they all applauded loudly； as if he had finished。 He thought that he had really swayed them by a sudden flood of eloquence； but then he realized； as he looked around； that the applause was largely in good…natured irony。
〃That's the fine old speech again； Dad；〃 Roger remarked。 Ish glared at him angrily for a moment； having really been the leader of The Tribe for twenty…one years； he did not like to have himself put down thus as merely an old codger with some funny ideas。 But then Ezra laughed good…naturedly； and everybody joined in the laughter； and the tension fell off。
〃Well； what are we going to do about it then？〃 Ish asked。 〃I may have made the same speech before； but even if I have； it's true； nevertheless。〃
He paused expectantly。 Then Jack； who was Ish's oldest son； unlimbered himself from where he was lolling on the floor； and got to his feet。 Jack was taller and much more powerful than his father now； he was； himself； a father。
〃I'm sorry； Dad；〃 he said； 〃but I've got to go。〃
〃What's the matter？ What is it？〃 Ish snapped back to him； a little irritated。
〃Well； nothing so very much； but there's something I have to do this afternoon。〃
〃Won't it wait？〃
Jack was already moving toward the door。
〃I suppose it might wait；〃 he said； as he put his hand on the door knob。 〃But I think I'd better be going anyway。〃
There was silence for a moment； except for the sounds of the door opening； and shutting； as Jack went out。 Ish felt himself suddenly angry； and he knew that his face was flushed。
〃Go on talking； Ish；〃 Ish heard the voice； and knew through his anger that it was Ezra's。 〃We would like to hear just what you think we ought to do； you have the ideas。〃 Yes； it was Ezra's voice； and Ezra as usual was saying something quickly to cover up the difficulty and make people feel better。 He was even flattering Ish。
Nevertheless； at the voice； Ish relaxed。 Why should he be angry with Jack for acting independently？ He should； rather； be happy。 Jack was a grown man now； no longer a little boy and merely a son。 The flush faded from Ish's face； but still he felt a profound sense of trouble within him； and he was led on to talk more。 If the incident could do nothing else； at least it could supply him with a text。
〃This business with Jack right here now； that's something I want to talk about； too。 We've drifted along all these years not doing anything about producing our own food and getting civilization back into some kind of running…order； as regards all the material things。 That's one matter； and an important one； but it isn't the only one。 Civilization wasn't just only gadgets and how to make them and run them。 It was all sorts of social organization too…all sorts of rules； and laws； and ways of life； among people and groups of people。 The family…that's all we have left of a that organization！ That's natural； I suppose。 But the family can't be enough when there get to be more people。 When a little child does something we don't like； the father and mother correct it； and bring it into line。 But when one of the children grows up； that's all over。 We haven't any laws…we aren't a democracy； or a monarchy； or a dictatorship； or anything。 If someone…Jack； for instance…wants to walk out on what seems to be a kind of important meeting； nobody can stop him。 Even if we take a vote here and decide to do something； even then； there's no means of enforcement…oh； a little public opinion； perhaps； but that's all。〃
He had trailed off to a lame ending； rather than ing to a conclusion。 He had been speaking more from the emotional drive that Jack's move had aroused in him。 He was not a trained orator； and had certainly no practice。
Yet； as he looked around； he saw that the speech had apparently made a very good impression。 Ezra was the one who spoke first。
〃Yes； you bet！〃 he said。 〃Don't you remember all of those wonderful times we used to have back in those days。 Golly； what wouldn't I give just now to be over there with George's big radio and turn it right on an