But she'd speak about going away again.Persistently.Angrily. Mr Mason pulled up near the empty huts on our way home that evening.All gone to one of those dances,'he said.'Young and old.How deserted the place looks.' We'll hear the drums if there is a dance.'I hoped he'd ride on quickly but he stayed by the huts to watch the sun go down.the sky and the sea were on fire when we left Bertrand Bay at last. From a long way off I saw the shadow of our house high up on its stone foundations.There was a smell of ferns and river water and I felt safe again,as if I was one of the righteous.(Godfrey said that we were not righteous.One day when he was drunk he told me that we were all damned and no use praying.) They've chosen a very hot night for their dance,'Mr Mason said,and Aunt Cora came on to the glacis.'What dance?Where?' 'There is some festivity in the neighbourhood.The huts were abandoned.A wedding perhaps?' 'Not a wedding,'I said.There is never a wedding.'He frowned at me nut Aunt Cora smiled. When they had gone indoors I leaned my arms on the cool glacis railings and thought that I would never like him very much.I still called him Mr Mason'in my head.Goodnight white pappy,'I said one evening and he was not vexed,he laughed.In some ways it was better before he came though he'd rescued us from poverty and misery.Only just in time too.'The black people did not hate us quite so much when we were poor.We were white but we had not escaped and soon we would be dead for we had no money left.What was there to hate? Now it had started up again and worse than before,my mother knows but she can't make him believe it.I wish I could tell him that out here is not at all like English people think it is.I wish I could hear them talking and Aunt Cora's laugh.I was glad she was staying with us.And I could hear the bamboos shiver and creak though there was no wind.It had been hot and still and dry for days.The colours had gone from the sky,the light was blue and could not last long.The glacis was not a good place when night was coming,Christophine said.As I went indoors my mother was talking in an excited voice. 'Very well.As you refuse to consider it,I will go and take Pierre with me.You won't object to that,I hope?' 'You are perfectly right,Annette,'said Aunt Cora and that did surprise me.She seldom spoke when they argued. Mr Mason also seemed surprised and not at all pleased. You talk so wildly,'he said.And you are so mistaken.Of course you can get away for a change if you wish it.I promise you.' 'You have promised that before,'she said.'You don't keep your promises.' 第10页共88页But she’d speak about going away again. Persistently. Angrily. Mr Mason pulled up near the empty huts on our way home that evening. ‘All gone to one of those dances,’ he said. ‘Young and old. How deserted the place looks.’ ‘We’ll hear the drums if there is a dance.’ I hoped he’d ride on quickly but he stayed by the huts to watch the sun go down, the sky and the sea were on fire when we left Bertrand Bay at last. From a long way off I saw the shadow of our house high up on its stone foundations. There was a smell of ferns and river water and I felt safe again, as if I was one of the righteous. (Godfrey said that we were not righteous. One day when he was drunk he told me that we were all damned and no use praying.) ‘They’ve chosen a very hot night for their dance,’ Mr Mason said, and Aunt Cora came on to the glacis. ‘What dance? Where?’ ‘There is some festivity in the neighbourhood. The huts were abandoned. A wedding perhaps?’ ‘Not a wedding,’ I said. ‘There is never a wedding.’ He frowned at me nut Aunt Cora smiled. When they had gone indoors I leaned my arms on the cool glacis railings and thought that I would never like him very much. I still called him ‘Mr Mason’ in my head. ‘Goodnight white pappy,’ I said one evening and he was not vexed, he laughed. In some ways it was better before he came though he’d rescued us from poverty and misery. ‘Only just in time too.’ The black people did not hate us quite so much when we were poor. We were white but we had not escaped and soon we would be dead for we had no money left. What was there to hate? Now it had started up again and worse than before, my mother knows but she can’t make him believe it. I wish I could tell him that out here is not at all like English people think it is. I wish … I could hear them talking and Aunt Cora’s laugh. I was glad she was staying with us. And I could hear the bamboos shiver and creak though there was no wind. It had been hot and still and dry for days. The colours had gone from the sky, the light was blue and could not last long. The glacis was not a good place when night was coming, Christophine said. As I went indoors my mother was talking in an excited voice. ‘Very well. As you refuse to consider it, I will go and take Pierre with me. You won’t object to that, I hope?’ ‘You are perfectly right, Annette,’ said Aunt Cora and that did surprise me. She seldom spoke when they argued. Mr Mason also seemed surprised and not at all pleased. ‘You talk so wildly,’ he said. ‘And you are so mistaken. Of course you can get away for a change if you wish it. I promise you.’ ‘You have promised that before,’ she said. ‘You don’t keep your promises.’ 第10 页共88页