17.1 明仔載伊欲轉厝 ah

Chiuⁿ 17.

17.1 Bîn-á-chài i boeh tńg-chhù ah

Tán Carradine koh chhut-hiān tī pēⁿ-pâng ê hit ē-tàu, Grant í-keng ē-tàng ka-tī kiâⁿ kàu thang-á koh tńg-lâi ah. I tùi che hong-sîn takx, Sè-lia̍p Chí soah tio̍h kā thê-chhéⁿ kóng, che sī 18 kò-goe̍h ê gín-á to chò ē-kàu. M̄-koh, kin-á-ji̍t Grant án-chóaⁿ to bē jīn-su.

“Lí siūⁿ kóng góa tio̍h koh tó kúi-nā kò-goe̍h, kám m̄-sī?” i āng-siaⁿ kóng.

“Khòaⁿ lí chiah kín khong-ho̍k, goán chin hoaⁿ-hí neh,” yi chhâx ìn, jiân-āu koh pó͘ chi̍t-kù: “Tong-jiân lah, ē-tit siu-hôe lí ê chhn̂g-ūi, goán mā chin hoaⁿ-hí.”

Kóng soah, lâu chi̍t-ê kim-sek khiû-mô͘ kap ut thêngx chè-ho̍k ê pōe-iáⁿ, yi khokxx kiâⁿ hiòng cháu-lông khì.

Grant tó-lo̍h chhn̂g, kō͘ chiap-kīn jîn-chû ê sim-chêng khòaⁿ i chit-keng sióx kaⁿ-lô. M̄-koán sī khiā tī Ke̍k-tiám (Pole) ê lâng, a̍h sī khiā tī Everest soaⁿ-chiam ê lâng, lóng bô hoat-tō͘ thé-hōe chi̍t-ê lâng kúi-nā lé-pài tanx sī thé-tāng 12 chio̍h (76 kg) ê hùi-bu̍t, koh-chài ē-tàng khiā tī thang-piⁿ ê hit-chióng sim-chêng. Grant ê kám-siū tāi-khài sī án-ne.

Bîn-á-chài i boeh tńg-chhù ah. Tńg-chhù hō͘ Tinker Tt ho̍k-sāi. Ta̍k-ji̍t i tio̍h pòaⁿ-kang tó tī chhn̂g, kiâⁿ-lō͘ tio̍h kī koái-á, tān i í-keng sī i ka-tī ah lah. M̄-bián koh hông hoah lâi hoah khì. Bián siū-kà tī liú-lia̍h ê é-kó͘-á, mā bián pì-ìm tī hó-sim kòe-thâu ê tōa-phiāng..ê.

He sī chi̍t-phìⁿ chhàn-lān ê chiân-kéng.

I í-keng kā móa-sim hoaⁿ-hí kap o-ló kui-ê sià hō͘ Williams Sûn-chó ah, hit-lâng túx oân-sêng tī Essex ê khó͘-kang, sūn-lō͘ lâi thàm I; á i mā hi-bāng Marta ē-tàng sūn-lō͘ kòe-lâi, hó-thang tī yi bīn-chêng tián i he sin tit-tio̍h ê lâm-chú khì-khài.

“Le̍k-sú chheh tha̍k liáu án-chóaⁿ ah?” Williams án-ne mn̄g.

“Hó kah bô-tè pí. Góa chèng-bêng in lóng m̄-tio̍h.” 

Williams chhùi gi chi̍t-ē. “Góa ioh, eng-tong ū hoat-lu̍t kìm-chí án-ne chò. MI 5 (An-choân Kio̍k) bē kah-ì che. Khó-lêng ē pìⁿ-chò poān-kok a̍h mō͘-hoān kun-ông hit-lūi ê chōe. Chit-ê sî-tāi, he chin pháiⁿ-kóng. Góa nā-sī lí, góa ē kài sio-sim neh.” 

“Chí-iàu góa oa̍h-leh, góa éng-oán bē koh siong-sìn jīm-hô le̍k-sú chheh só͘ siá ê. Thiⁿ-kong pó-pì oh.” 

“Lí tio̍h lâu kóa lē-gōa,” Williams kō͘ it-hiòng kò͘-chip ê lí-sèng án-ne kí-chhut. “Victoria Lú-ông sī chin ê, góa siūⁿ Julius Caesar mā khak-si̍t ū ji̍p-chhim Britain. Koh-ū 1066 nî.” 

“Góa taⁿ tùi 1066 nî mā tōa hoâi-gî ah. Góa khòaⁿ lí í-keng kā Essex sit-thâu khoán hó-sè ah. Hit-kho͘ sī siáⁿ-khoán lâng?” 

“Chi̍t-ê thiat-té ê sió kha-siàu. Chū 9 hòe khai-sí thau in Ma ê gîn-kak-á, kui sì-lâng hông sēng-pháiⁿ. Jû-kó 12 hòe ê sî ū kā siu-lí thiámx, hoān-sè ē-tit kiù i chi̍t-miā. Taⁿ, tī hēng-hoe lo̍h-liáu chêng, i tō boeh tiàu ah. Kin-nî chhun-thiⁿ khah chá lâi. Chit kúi-kang boeh-àm-á góa lóng tī hoe-hn̂g teh bô-êng, chòe-kīn ji̍t ū khah tn̂g ah neh. Lí ē chin hoaⁿ-hí koh phīⁿ-tio̍h sin-sian ê khong-khì.” 

Jiân-āu, i lī-khui, bīn-sek âng-gê, sîn-tì chheng-chhéⁿ, sim-thài ún-tēng, piáu-hiān chhut tī gín-á sî hông ūi i hó kō͘ phôe-tòa sut-kòe ê lâng ê khoán.

Só͘-í, Grant hi-bāng kî-thaⁿ ùi gōa-bīn sè-kài lâi ê hóng-kheh; i chin kín tō koh sī hit-ê sè-kài ê chi̍t hūn-chú ah. Tng he se̍k-sāi ê chhì-thàm -sèng khok-mn̂g siaⁿ thoân-lâi ê sî, i thiòng chi̍t-ē.

“Ji̍p-lâi, Brent!” i kiò chhut-lâi, chhiong-móa hoaⁿ-hí.

Brent kiâⁿ ji̍p-lâi.

M̄-koh, che m̄-sī téng-pái kiâⁿ chhut-khì hit-ê Brent.

Bô khòaⁿ-e i hoaⁿ-thâu hí-bīn. i sin tit-tio̍h ê khì-sè bô..khì ah.

I í-keng m̄-sī hit-ê pioneer /pai.o.ní.a/ Carradine, hit-ê khui-lō͘ sian-hong ah lah.

I kan-ta sī chi̍t-ê chhēng tn̂g koh khoah gōa-thò ê sán-thiu gín-á. i khòaⁿ khí-lâi siàu-liân, siū táⁿ-kek, ná sit-khì chhin-ài ê lâng.

Grant tio̍h chi̍t-kiaⁿ, khòaⁿ i bô-lám bô-ne thoa bô hia̍p-tiau ê kha-pō͘ kiâⁿ-ji̍p pâng-keng. Kin-á-ji̍t, i he ná phe-phāiⁿ-á ê tōa lak-tē-á bô thóng-chhut chi̍t-tha̍h chóa.

Oh, hó lah, Grant khòaⁿ-khui án-ne siūⁿ; tāi-chì teh keng-kòe lóng chin chhù-bī. Chóng ē tī tó-ūi tú-tio̍h chiòng-gāi. Lán bô khó-lêng kō͘ hit-chióng khin-sang, gōa-hâng ê hong-sek chò giâm-siok ê gián-kiù, koh hi-bāng ē-tit án-ne lâi chèng-bêng siáⁿ-hòe. Kì-jiân lán bē kî-bōng gōa-hâng..ê kiâⁿ-ji̍p Yard ē-tit kái-koat liân choan-gia̍p..ê to sit-pāi ê àn-kiāⁿ, sī án-chóaⁿ i ē siūⁿ kóng ka-tī pí le̍k-sú ha̍k-ka khah chhong-bêng? I goân-pún chí-sī siūⁿ boeh tùi ka-tī chèng-bêng, i tùi hit-pak siàu-siōng ê phòaⁿ-toàn sī chèng-khak; i siūⁿ boeh sé-chheng ka-tī ê kiàn-siàu: kā chōe-hoān khòaⁿ chò sī hoat-koaⁿ. M̄-koh, i tio̍h chiap-siū ka-tī ê chhò-gō͘, koh kah-ì án-ne. Hoān-sè che lóng sī ka-tī chò..lâi ê. Hoān-sè, tī sim-koaⁿ lāi-té, i í-keng tùi ka-tī kiàn-sek lâng-bīn ê pún-léng, sió-khóa siuⁿ tek-ì ah.

“Halo, Grant Ss.”

“Halo, Brent.”

Kóng si̍t-chāi, tùi hit-ê gín-á koh-khah hāi. i iáu tī kî-thāi kî-chek ê nî-kí. i iáu tī ē hō͘ ke-kui piak-phòa kiaⁿ-tio̍h ê nî-kí.

“Lí khòaⁿ khí-lâi teh siong-sim,” i kō͘ khin-sang ê gí-khì tùi gín-á kóng. “Ū siáⁿ-hòe bô sūn-ì sioh?”

“Lóng hāi liáux ah.”

--

章 17.

17.1 明仔載伊欲轉厝 ah 

等 Carradine koh 出現 tī 病房 ê hit 下晝, Grant 已經會當 ka-tī 行到 窗仔 koh 轉來 ah. 伊對 che 風神 takx, Sè-lia̍p Chí 煞著 kā 提醒講, 這是 18 個月 ê 囡仔 to 做會到. 毋過, 今仔日 Grant 按怎 to 袂認輸. 

“你想講 我著 koh 倒 幾若個月, 敢毋是?” 伊 āng-siaⁿ 講. 

“看 你 chiah 緊 康復, 阮真歡喜 neh,” 她 chhâx 應, 然後 koh 補一句: “當然 lah, 會得 收回 你 ê 床位, 阮 mā 真歡喜.” 

講煞, 留一个 金色虯毛 kap 熨 thêngx 制服 ê 背影, 她 khokxx 行向 走廊 去. 

Grant 倒落 床, kō͘ 接近 仁慈 ê 心情 看 伊 chit 間 sióx 監牢. 毋管是 徛 tī 極點 (Pole) ê 人, a̍h 是 徛 tī Everest 山尖 ê 人, lóng 無法度 體會 一个人 幾若 禮拜 tanx 是 體重 12 石 (76 kg) ê 廢物, 閣再會當 徛 tī 窗邊 ê 彼種心情. Grant ê 感受 大概 是 án-ne. 

明仔載 伊欲 轉厝 ah. 轉厝 hō͘ Tinker Tt 服侍. 逐日 伊著 半工 倒 tī 床, 行路 著 kī 枴仔, 但 伊已經是 伊 ka-tī ah lah. 毋免 koh hông 喝來喝去. 免 受教 tī 扭掠 ê 矮鼓仔, mā 免 庇蔭 tī 好心過頭 ê 大龐..ê. 

彼是 一片 燦爛 ê 前景. 

伊已經 kā 滿心歡喜 kap o-ló 規个 卸 hō͘ Williams 巡佐 ah, hit 人 túx 完成 tī Essex ê 苦工, 順路來探伊; á 伊 mā 希望 Marta 會當 順路過來, hó-thang tī 她面前 展 伊 he 新得著 ê 男子氣概.e 

“歷史冊 讀了 按怎 ah?” Williams án-ne 問. 

“好 kah 無塊比. 我證明 in lóng 毋著.” 

Williams 喙 gi 一下. “我臆, 應當 有法律 禁止 án-ne 做. MI 5 (安全局) 袂佮意 che. 可能會 pìⁿ-chò 叛國 a̍h 冒犯君王 hit 類 ê 罪. 這个時代, he 真歹講. 我 若是 你, 我會 kài 小心 neh.” 

“只要我 活 leh, 我永遠 袂 koh 相信 任何 歷史冊 所寫 ê. 天公保庇 oh.” 

“你著 留寡 例外,” Williams kō͘ 一向 固執 ê 理性 án-ne 指出. “Victoria 女王 是真 ê, 我想 Julius Caesar mā 確實 有入侵 Britain. Koh-ū 1066 年.” 

“我 今 對 1066 年 mā 大懷疑 ah. 我看 你已經 kā Essex 穡頭 款好勢 ah. Hit-kho͘ 是 啥款人?” 

“一个 徹底 ê 小跤數. 自 9 歲 開始 偷 in Ma ê 銀角仔, 規世人 hông 倖歹. 如果 12 歲 ê 時 有 kā 修理 thiámx, 凡勢 會得 救伊 一命. 今, tī 杏花 落了前, 伊 tō 欲吊 ah. 今年 春天 較早 來. Chit 幾工 欲暗仔 我 lóng tī 花園 teh 無閒, 最近 日 有 較長 ah neh. 你會 真歡喜 koh 鼻著 新鮮 ê 空氣.” 

然後, 伊離開, 面色紅牙, 神智清醒, 心態穩定, 表現出 tī 囡仔時 hông 為伊好 kō͘ 皮帶 sut 過 ê 人 ê 款. 

所以, Grant 希望 其他 ùi 外面世界 來 ê 訪客; 伊真緊 tō koh 是 彼个世界 ê 一份子 ah. Tng he 熟似 ê 試探性 硞門聲 傳來 ê 時, 伊暢一下. 

“入來, Brent!” 伊叫出來, 充滿歡喜. 

Brent行入來. 

毋過, che 毋是 頂擺 行出去 彼个 Brent. 

無看 e 伊 歡頭喜面. 伊 新得著 ê 氣勢 無..去 ah. 

伊已經毋是 彼个 pioneer /pai.o.ní.a/ Carradine, 彼个 開路先鋒 ah lah. 

伊 干焦是 一个 穿 長 koh 闊 外套 ê 瘦抽 囡仔. 伊 看起來 少年, 受打擊, ná 失去 親愛 ê 人. 

Grant 著一驚, 看伊 無攬無拈 拖 無協調 ê 跤步 行入 房間. 今仔日, 伊 he ná 批揹仔 ê 大橐袋仔 無 捅出 一疊紙. 

Oh, 好 lah, Grant 看開 án-ne 想; 代誌 teh 經過 lóng 真趣味. Chóng 會 tī 佗位 拄著 障礙. 咱無可能 kō͘ 彼種 輕鬆, 外行 ê 方式 做 嚴肅 ê 研究, koh 希望 會得 án-ne 來證明 啥貨. 既然 咱袂 期望 外行..ê 行入 Yard 會得解決 連 專業..ê to 失敗 ê 案件, 是按怎 伊會 想講 ka-tī 比 歷史學家 較聰明? 伊原本 只是 想欲 對 ka-tī 證明, 伊對 hit 幅肖像 ê 判斷 是正確; 伊想欲 洗清 ka-tī ê 見笑: kā 罪犯 看做 是 法官. 毋過, 伊著 接受 ka-tī ê 錯誤, koh 佮意 án-ne. 凡勢 che lóng 是 ka-tī 做..來 ê. 凡勢, tī 心肝內底, 伊已經 對 ka-tī 見識人面 ê 本領, 小可 siuⁿ 得意 ah. 

“Halo, Grant Ss.” 

“Halo, Brent.” 

講實在, 對 彼个囡仔 閣較 害. 伊 猶 tī 期待 奇蹟 ê 年紀. 伊 猶 tī 會 hō͘ 雞胿 煏破 驚著 ê 年紀. 

“你 看起來 teh 傷心,” 伊 kō͘ 輕鬆 ê 語氣 對 囡仔 講. “有 啥貨 無順意 sioh?” 

“Lóng 害 liáux ah.” 

--

17.

17.1

On the afternoon when Carradine reappeared in the room at the hospital Grant had walked to the window and back again, and was so cock-a-hoop about it that The Midget was moved to remind him that it was a thing that a child of eighteen months could do. But nothing could subdue Grant today.

‘Thought you’d have me here for months, didn’t you,’ he crowed.

‘We are very glad to see you better so quickly,’ she said primly; and added: ‘We are, of course, very glad, too, to have your bed.’

And she clicked away down the corridor, all blonde curls and starch.

Grant lay on his bed and looked at his little prison room with something approaching benevolence. Neither a man who has stood at the Pole nor a man who has stood on Everest has anything on a man who has stood at a window after weeks of being merely twelve stones of destitution. Or so Grant felt.

Tomorrow he was going home. Going home to be cosseted by Mrs Tinker. He would have to spend half of each day in bed and he would be able to walk only with the aid of sticks, but he would be his own man again. At the bidding of no one. In tutelage to no half-[Pg 208]pint piece of efficiency, yearned over by no lump of out-sized benevolence.

It was a glorious prospect.

He had already unloaded his hallelujahs all over Sergeant Williams, who had looked in on the completion of his chore in Essex, and he was now yearning for Marta to drop in so that he could peacock in front of her in his new-found manhood.

‘How did you get on with the history books?’ Williams had asked.

‘Couldn’t be better. I’ve proved them all wrong.’

Williams had grinned. ‘I expect there’s a law against that,’ he said. ‘MI 5 won’t like it. Treason or lèse-majesté or something like that it might turn out to be. You never know nowadays. I’d be careful if I was you.’

‘I’ll never again believe anything I read in a history book, as long as I live, so help me.’

‘You’ll have to make exceptions,’ Williams pointed out with Williams’ dogged reasonableness. ‘Queen Victoria was true, and I suppose Julius Caesar did invade Britain. And there’s 1066.’

‘I’m beginning to have the gravest doubts about 1066. I see you’ve tied up the Essex job. What is Chummy like?’

‘A thorough little bastard. Been treated soft all his life since he started stealing change from his Ma at the age of nine. A good belting at the age of twelve might have saved his life. Now he’ll hang before the almond blossom’s out. It’s going to be an early spring. I’ve been working every evening in the garden this last few days, now that the days are drawing out. You’ll be glad to sniff fresh air again.’

[Pg 209]And he had gone away, rosy and sane and balanced, as befitted a man who was belted for his good in his youth.

So Grant was longing for some other visitor from the outside world that he was so soon to be a part of again, and he was delighted when the familiar tentative tap came on his door.

‘Come in, Brent!’ he called, joyfully.

And Brent came in.

But it was not the Brent who had last gone out.

Gone was the jubilation. Gone was his newly acquired breadth.

He was no longer Carradine the pioneer, the blazer of trails.

He was just a thin boy in a very long, very large overcoat. He looked young, and shocked, and bereaved.

Grant watched him in dismay as he crossed the room with his listless unco-ordinated walk. There was no bundle of paper sticking out of his mail-sack of a pocket today.

Oh, well, thought Grant philosophically; it had been fun while it lasted. There was bound to be a snag somewhere. One couldn’t do serious research in that light-hearted amateur way and hope to prove anything by it. One wouldn’t expect an amateur to walk into the Yard and solve a case that had defeated the pro’s; so why should he have thought himself smarter than the historians. He had wanted to prove to himself that he was right in his face-reading of the portrait; he had wanted to blot out the shame of having put a criminal on the bench instead of in the dock. But he would have to accept his mistake, and like it. Perhaps he had asked for it.[Pg 210] Perhaps, in his heart of hearts, he had been growing a little pleased with himself about his eye for faces.

‘Hullo, Mr Grant.’

‘Hullo, Brent.’

Actually it was worse for the boy. He was at the age when he expected miracles to happen. He was still at the age when he was surprised that a balloon should burst.

‘You look saddish,’ he said cheerfully to the boy. ‘Something come unstuck.’

‘Everything.’

--