第19部分(第1/8 頁)

Miss　Van　Campen　ignored　the　actual　question。　She　had　to　ignore　it　or　leave　the　room。　She　was　not　ready　to　leave　because　she　had　disliked　me　for　a　long　time　and　she　was　now　cashing　in。

〃I　have　known　many　men　to　escape　the　front　through　self…inflicted　wounds。〃

〃That　wasn't　the　question。　I　have　seen　self…inflicted　wounds　also。　I　asked　you　if　you　had　ever　known　a　man　who　had　tried　to　disable　himself　by　kicking　himself　in　the　scrotum。　Because　that　is　the　nearest　sensation　to　jaundice　and　it　is　a　sensation　that　I　believe　few　women　have　ever　experienced。　That　was　why　I　asked　you　if　you　had　ever　had　the　jaundice；　Miss　Van　Campen；　because……〃　Miss　Van　Campen　left　the　room。　Later　Miss　Gage　came　in。

〃What　did　you　say　to　Van　Campen？　She　was　furious。〃

〃We　were　paring　sensations。　I　was　going　to　suggest　that　she　had　never　experienced　childbirth……〃

〃You're　a　fool；〃　Gage　said。　〃She's　after　your　scalp。〃

〃She　has　my　scalp；〃　I　said。　〃She's　lost　me　my　leave　and　she　might　try　and　get　me　court…martialled。　She's　mean　enough。〃

〃She　never　liked　you；〃　Gage　said。　〃What's　it　about？〃

〃She　says　I've　drunk　myself　into　jaundice　so　as　not　to　go　back　to　the　front。〃

〃Pooh；〃　said　Gage。　〃I'll　swear　you've　never　taken　a　drink。　Everybody　will　swear　you've　never　taken　a　drink。〃

〃She　found　the　bottles。〃

〃I've　told　you　a　hundred　times　to　clear　out　those　bottles。　Where　are　they　now？〃

〃In　the　armoire。〃

〃Have　you　a　suitcase？〃