第18部分(第4/7 頁)

here's　all　the　rest　of　them。　If　anything　es　between　us　we're　gone　and　then　they　have　us。〃

〃They　won't　get　us；〃　I　said。　〃Because　you're　too　brave。　Nothing　ever　happens　to　the　brave。〃

〃They　die　of　course。〃

〃But　only　once。〃

〃I　don't　know。　Who　said　that？〃

〃The　coward　dies　a　thousand　deaths；　the　brave　but　one？〃

〃Of　course。　Who　said　it？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃He　was　probably　a　coward；〃　she　said。　〃He　knew　a　great　deal　about　cowards　but　nothing　about　the　brave。　The　brave　dies　perhaps　two　thousand　deaths　if　he's　intelligent。　He　simply　doesn't　mention　them。〃

〃I　don't　know。　It's　hard　to　see　inside　the　head　of　the　brave。〃

〃Yes。　That's　how　they　keep　that　way。〃

〃You're　an　authority。〃

〃You're　right；　darling。　That　was　deserved。〃

〃You're　brave。〃

〃No；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　would　like　to　be。〃

〃I'm　not；〃　I　said。　〃I　know　where　I　stand。　I've　been　out　long　enough　to　know。　I'm　like　a　ball…player　that　bats　two　hundred　and　thirty　and　knows　he's　no　better。〃

〃What　is　a　ball…player　that　bats　two　hundred　and　thirty？　It's　awfully　impressive。〃

〃It's　not。　It　means　a　mediocre　hitter　in　baseball。〃

〃But　still　a　hitter；〃　she　prodded　me。

〃I　guess　we're　both　conceited；〃　I　said。　〃But　you　are　brave。〃

〃No。　But　I　hope　to　be。〃

〃We're　both　brave；〃　I　said。　〃And　I'm　very　brave　when　I've　had　a　drink。〃

〃We're　splendid　people；〃　Catherine　said。　She　went　over　to　the　armoire　and　brought　me　the　cognac　and　a　glass。　〃Have　a　drink；　darling；〃　she　said。　〃You've　been　awfully　good。〃

〃I　don't　really　want　one。〃

〃Take　one。〃

〃All　right。〃　I　poured　the　water　glass　a　third　full　of　cognac　and　drank　it　off。

〃That　was　very　big；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　brandy　is　for　heroes。　B