第97部分(第7/7 頁)

ded　me　with　an　empty　lot

ravaged　by　fire；　and　nearby；　a　dry　well。”

At　this　point　I　knew　I　couldn’t　go　on　and　I　told　them　so。　“If　you　were　in　my

shoes；　you　would’ve　considered　the　salvation　of　your　artist　brethren　and　done

the　same　thing；”　I　said　confidently。

When　I　heard　them　agree　with　me；　I　felt　like　crying。　I　was　going　to　say　it

was　because　their　passion；　which　I　hardly　deserved；　softened　my　heart；　but

no。　I　was　going　to　say　it　was　because　I　again　heard　the　thud　of　his　body　hitting

the　bottom　of　the　well　wherein　I　dropped　him　after　killing　him；　but　no。　I　was

going　to　say　it　was　because　I　remembered　how　happy　I　was　before　being　a

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murderer；　how　I’d　been　like　everybody　else；　but　no。　The　blind　man　who　used

to pass through our neighborhood in my childhood appeared in my mind’s

eye：　He’d　take　a　dirty　metal　water　dipper　out　of　his　even　dirtier　clothes；　and

would call out to us neighborhood kids who watched him from a distance；

there by the local water fountain； “My children； which of you will fill this

blind　old　man’s　drinking　cup