第14部分(第3/7 頁)

　of　burning　water。　Whatever　was　happening　in　his　distantbody　now；　he　could　not　change　or　stop；　his　cheat　heaved；　his　laugher　rose　and　bubbled　at　hismouth；　like　blood。

And　his　father　looked　on　him。　His　father’s　eyes　looked　down　on　him；　and　John　began　toscream。　His　father’s　eyes　stripped　him　naked；　and　hated　what　they　saw。　And　as　he　turned；screaming；　in　the　dust　again；　trying　to　escape　his　father’s　eyes；　those　eyes；　that　face；　and　all　theirfaces；　and　the　far…off　yellow　light；　all　departed　from　his　vision　as　though　he　had　gone　blind。　Hewas　going　down　again。　There　is；　his　soul　cried　out　again；　no　bottom　to　the　darkness！

He　did　not　where　he　was。　There　was　silence　everywhere—only　a　perpetual；　distant；　fainttrembling　far　beneath　him—the　roaring　perhaps；　of　the　fires　of　Hell；　over　which　he　was　suspended；or　the　echo；　persistent；　invincible　still；　of　the　moving　feet　of　the　saints。　He　thought　of　themountain…top；　where　he　longed　to　be；　where　the　sun　would　cover　him　like　a　cloth　of　gold；　wouldcover　his　head　like　a　crown　of　fire；　and　in　his　hands　he　would　hold　a　living　rod。　But　this　was　nomountain　where　John　lay；　here；　no　robe；　no　crown。　And　the　living　rod　was　uplifted　in　other　hands。

‘I’m　going　to　beat　sin　out　of　him。　I’m　going　to　beat　it　out。’

Yes；　he　had　sinned；　and　his　father　was　looking　for　him。　Now；　John　did　not　make　a　sound；and　did　not　move　at　all；　hoping　that　his　father　would　pass　him　by。

‘Leave　him　be。　Leave　him　alone。　Let　him　pray　to　the　Lord。’

‘Yes；　Mama。　I’m　going　to　try　to　love　the　Lord。’

‘He　done　run　off　somewhere。　I’m　going　to　find　him。　I’m　going　to　beat　it　out。’

Yes；　he　had　sinned：　one　morning；　alone；　in　the　dirty　bathroom；　in　the　square；　dirt…graycupboard　room　that　was　filled　with　the　stink　of　his　father。　Someti