JohnnyBear Abrideged.docx

JohnnyBear Abrideged.docx

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JohnnyBearAbrideged

JohnnyBear

byJohnSteinbeck

（1）ThevillageofLomaisbuilt,asitsnameimplies,onalowroundhillthatriseslikeanislandoutoftheflatmouthoftheSalinasValleyincentralCalifornia.Tothenorthandeastofthetownablacktuleswampstretchesformiles,buttothesouththemarshhasbeendrained.Richvegetablelandhasbeentheresultofthedraining,landsoblackwithwealththatthelettuceandcauliflowersgrowtogiants.

（2）Theownersoftheswamptothenorthofthevillagebegantocovettheblackland.Theybandedtogetherandformedareclamationdistrict.Iworkforthecompanywhichtookthecontracttoputaditchthrough.Thefloatingclamshelldiggerarrived,wasputtogetherandstartedeatingaditchofopenwaterthroughtheswamp.

（3）Itriedlivinginthefloatingbunkhousewiththecrewforawhile,butthemosquitoesthathunginbanksoverthedredgerandtheheavypestilentialmistthatsneakedoutoftheswampeverynightandslidneartothegrounddrovemeintothevillageofLoma,whereItookafurnishedroom,themostdismalIhaveeverseen,inthehouseofMrs.Ratz.Imighthavelookedfarther,buttheideaofhavingmymailcomeincareofMrs.Ratzdecidedme.Afterall,Ionlysleptinthebarecoldroom.Iatemymealsinthegalleyofthefloatingbunkhouse.

（4）Therearen’tmorethantwohundredpeopleinLoma.TheMethodistchurchhasthehighestplaceonthehill;itsspireisvisibleformiles.Twogroceries,ahardwarestore,anancientMasonicHallandtheBuffaloBarcomprisethepublicbuildings.Onthesideofthehillsarethesmallwoodenhousesofthepopulation,andontherichsouthernflatsarethehousesofthelandowners,smallyardsusuallyenclosedbyhighwallsofclippedcypresstokeepoutthedrivingafternoonwinds.

（5）TherewasnothingtodoinLomaintheeveningexcepttogotothesaloon,anoldboardbuildingwithswingingdoorsandawoodensidewalkawning.Neitherprohibitionnorrepealhadchangeditsbusiness,itsclientele,orthequalityofitswhisky.InthecourseofaneveningeverymaleinhabitantofLomaoverfifteenyearsoldcameatleastoncetotheBuffaloBar,hadadrink,talkedawhileandwenthome.

（6）FatCarl,theownerandbartender,greetedeverynewcomerwithaphlegmaticsullennesswhichneverthelessinspiredfamiliarityandaffection.Hisfacewassour,histonedownrightunfriendly,andyet-Idon’tknowhowhedidit.IknowIfeltgratifiedandwarmwhenFatCarlknewmewellenoughtoturnhissourpigfacetomeandsaywithsomeimpatience,“Well,what’s

itgoingtobe?

”Healwaysaskedthatalthoughheservedonlywhisky,andonlyonekindofwhisky.Ihaveseenhimflatlyrefusetosqueezesomelemonjuiceintoitforastranger.（7）FatCarldidn’tlikethefumadiddles.Heworeabigtowelabouthismiddleandhepolishedtheglassesonitashemovedabout.Thefloorwasbarewoodsprinkledwithsawdust,thebaranoldstorecounter,thechairswerehardandstraight;theonlydecorationswerethepostersandcardsandpicturesstucktothewallbycandidatesforcountyelections,salesmanandauctioneers.Someoftheseweremanyyearsold.ThecardofSheriffRittalstillbeggedforreelectionalthoughRittalhadbeendeadforsevenyears.

（8）TheBuffaloBarsounds,eventome,likeaterribleplace,butwhenyouwalkeddownthenightstreet,overthewoodensidewalks,whenthelongstreamersofswampfog,likewaving,dirtybunting,flappedinyourface,whenfinallyyoupushedopentheswingingdoorsofFatCarl’sandsawmensittingaroundtalkinganddrinking,andFatCarlcomingalongtowardyou,itseemedprettynice.Youcouldn’tgetawayfromit.

（9）Therewouldbeagameofthemildestkindofpokergoingon.TimothyRatz,thehusbandofmylandlady,wouldbeplayingsolitaire,cheatingprettybadlybecausehetookadrinkonlywhenhegotitout.I’veseenhimgetitoutfivetimesinarow.Whenhewonhepiledthecardsneatly,stoodupandwalkedwithgreatdignitytothebar.FatCarl,withaglasshalffilledbeforehearrived,asked,“What’llitbe?

”

“Whisky,”saidTimothygravely.

（10）Inthelongroom,menfromthefarmsandthetownsatinthestraighthardchairsorstoodagainsttheoldcounter.Asoft,monotonousrattleofconversationwentonexceptattimesofelectionsorbigprizefights,whentheremightbeorationsorloudopinions.

Ihatedtogooutintothedampnight,andtohearfaroffintheswampthechutteringoftheDieselengineonthedredgerandtheclangofthebucket,andthentogotomyowndismalroomatMrs.Ratz’.

（11）SoonaftermyarrivalinLomaIscrapedanacquaintancewithMaeRomero,aprettyhalf-Mexicangirl.SometimesintheeveningsIwalkedwithherdownthesouthsideofthehill,untilthenastyfogdroveusbackintotown.AfterIescortedherhomeIdroppedinatthebarforawhile.

IwassittinginthebaronenighttalkingtoAlexHartnell,whoownedanicelittlefarm.Weweretalkingaboutblackbassfishing,whenthefrontdoorsopenedandswungclosed.Ahushfellonthemenintheroom.Alexnudgedmeandsaid,“It’sJohnnyBear.”Ilookedaround.

（12）HisnamedescribedhimbetterthanIcan.Helookedlikeagreat,stupid,smilingbear.Hisblackmattedheadbobbedforwardandhislongarmshungoutasthoughheshouldhavebeenonallfoursandwasonlystandinguprightasatrick.Hislegswereshortandbowed,endingwithstrange,squarefeet.Hewasdressedindarkbluedenim,buthisfeetwerebare;theydidn’tseemtobecrippledordeformedinanyway,buttheyweresquare,justaswideastheywerelong.（13）Hestoodinthedoorway,swinginghisarmsjerkilythewayhalf-witsdo.Onhisfacetherewasafoolishhappysmile.Hemovedforwardandforallhisbulkandclumsiness,heseemedtocreep.Hedidn’tmovelikeaman,butlikesomeprowlingnightanimal.Atthebarhestopped,hislittlebrighteyeswentaboutfromfacetofaceexpectantly,andheasked,“Whisky?

”

（14）Lomawasnotatreatingtown.Amanmightbuyadrinkforanotherifhewereprettysuretheotherwouldimmediatelybuyoneforhim.Iwassurprisedwhenoneofthequietmenlaidacoinonthecounter.FatCarlfilledtheglass.Themonstertookitandgulpedthewhisky.

“Whatthedevil-”Ibegan.ButAlexnudgedmeandsaid,“Sh.”

（15）Therebeganacuriouspantomime.JohnnyBearmovedtothedoorandthenhecamecreepingback.Thefoolishsmileneverlefthisface.Inthemiddleoftheroomhecroucheddownonhisstomach.Avoicecamefromhisthroat,avoicethatseemedfamiliartome.

“Butyouaretoobeautifultoliveinadirtytownlikethis.”

Thevoicerosetoasoftthroatytone,withjustatraceofaccentinthewords.“Youjusttellmethat.”

（16）I’msureInearlyfainted.Thebloodpoundedinmyears.Iflushed.ItwasmyvoicecomingoutofthethroatofJohnnyBear,mywords,myintonation.AndthenitwasthevoiceofMaeRomero-exact.IfIhadnotseenthecrouchingmanonthefloorIwouldhavecalledtoher.Thedialoguewenton.Suchthingssoundsillywhensomeoneelsesaysthem.JohnnyBearwentrighton,orratherIshouldsayIwentrighton.Hesaidthingsandmadesounds.（17）GraduallythefacesofthementurnedfromJohnnyBear,turnedtowardme,andtheygrinnedatme.Icoulddonothing.IknowthatifItriedtostophimIwouldhaveafightonmyhands,andsothescenewenton,toafinish.WhenitwasoverIwascravenlygladMaeRomerohadnobrothers.Whatobvious,forced,ridiculouswordshadcomefromJohnnieBear.Finallyhestoodup,stillsmilingthefoolishsmile,andheaskedagain,“Whisky?

”

（18）Ithinkthemeninthebarweresorryforme.Theylookedawayfrommeandtalkedelaboratelytooneanother.JohnnyBearwenttothebackoftheroom,crawledunderaroundcardtable,curleduplikeadogandwenttosleep.

AlexHartnellwasregardingmewithcompassion.“Firsttimeyoueverheardhim?

”

“Yes,whatinhellishe?

”

（19）Alexignoredmyquestionforamoment.Ifyou'reworryingaboutMae'sreputation,don't.JohnnyBearhasfollowedMaebefore.”

“Buthowdidhehearus?

Ididn’tseehim.”

“NooneseesorhearsJohnnyBearwhenhe’sonbusiness.Hecanmovelikenomovementatall.Knowwhatouryoungmendowhentheygooutwithgirls?

Theytakeadogalong.DogsareafraidofJohnnyandtheycansmellhimcoming.”

（20）“ButgoodGod!

Thosevoices-”

Alexnodded.“Iknow.SomeofuswroteuptotheuniversityaboutJohnny,andayoungmancamedown.HetookalookandthenhetoldusaboutBlindTom.EverhearofBlindTom?

”

“YoumeantheNegropianoplayer?

Yes,I’veheardofhim.”

（21）“Well,BlindTomwasahalf-wit.Hecouldhardlytalk,buthecouldimitateanythingheheardonthepiano,longpieces.Theytriedhimwithfinemusiciansandhereproducednotonlythemusicbuteverylittlepersonalemphasis.Tocatchhimtheymadelittlemistakes,andheplayedthemistakes.（22）Hephotographedtheplayinginthetiniestdetail.ThemansaysJohnnyBearisthesame,onlyhecanphotographwordsandvoices.HetestedJohnnywithalongpassageinGreekandJohnnydiditexactly.Hedoesn’tknowthewordshe’ssaying,hejustsaysthem.Hehasn’tbrainsenoughtomakeanythingup,soyouknowthatwhathesaysiswhatheheard.”

（23）“Butwhydoeshedoit?

Whyisheinterestedinlisteningifhedoesn’tunderstand?

”

Alexrolledacigaretteandlightedit.“Heisn’t,butheloveswhiskey.Heknowsifhelistens

inwindowsandcomeshereandrepeatswhathehears,someonewillgivehimwhisky.HetriestopalmoffMrs.Ratz’conversationinthestore,orJerryNolandarguingwithhismother,buthecan’tgetwhiskeyforsuchthings.”

Isaid,“It’sfunnysomebodyhasn’tshothimwhilehewaspeekinginwindows.”

（