書蟲2級《草垛之戀》4. 草場之夜

4. At night in the hayfield

Geoffrey worked hard all afternoon, cutting the hay, while Maurice worked on the wagon. The brothers did not speak, but the feeling between them was warm and friendly. Geoffrey understood that their little fight would stay a secret – Maurice would not tell.

The sun got hotter and hotter. There was not a breath of wind, and everybody began to feel tired.

There's another day's work here,' said the father at teatime, while they sat under the tree.

Somebody will have to stay the night here then,' said Geoffrey. 'I'll do it.'

No, I'll do it,' said Maurice.

You did it last night,' said the father. 'You must get some rest tonight.'

No, I'm staying,' said Maurice.

He wants to meet his girl again,' explained Henry.

The father thought about this. 'I don't know...'

But in the end Maurice stayed. At eight o'clock, after sundown, the men got on their bicycles, the father got the wagon ready, and everybody left.

Slowly, the evening sky turned dark. The young man stood alone in the field, listening to the sounds of the night. It was still hot, and from the hedges came the rich, sweet smell of wild flowers. Then the moon came out, catching the flowers in its light, and they shone like white ghostly faces against the dark of the hedge.

Higher on the hill, the farm horses, free for the night, were moving around the field. Maurice had an hour to wait before Paula came, and he decided to take a bath in the little river at the bottom of the fields.

He washed himself in the cold water, and it felt good on his warm body. Above him the tall trees by the river whispered in a little wind. 'How beautiful the night is!' he thought. Laughing, he took a handful of white flowers from the hedge, and threw them over himself.

At nine o'clock he was waiting under the tree by the haystacks. He felt both excited, and afraid. She was late. At a quarter past nine she came, running across the field, as light and as quick as a bird.

Oh, their little girl would not go to sleep tonight,' she cried. 'I sat in that bedroom for an hour.' She looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. 'Ah, the night smells so good!' She smiled.

She was full of life, quick and strong at the same time.

I want' – she could not find the English words – 'I would like – to run – now!'

Maurice laughed. 'Let's run, then,' he said.

And in a second she was gone. Maurice ran after her, but he could not catch her easily. At last he caught her by the arm, and they stood together, laughing.

Maurice ran after her, but he could not catch her easily.

I can run faster,' she cried happily. 'Yes?'

No,' he replied, with his deep little laugh. 'No, you can't.' They walked on across the field, and then suddenly saw the three farm horses in front of them.

We ride a horse?' she said.

Now?' said Maurice. 'In the dark?'

Yes, yes,' she cried, 'in the dark!'

Maurice caught one of the horses, put the girl on the horse's back, then climbed up in front of her. She put her arms round his waist.

The horse walked uphill and at the top they stopped and looked round. Clouds were moving across the sky, hiding the moon and the stars. The night lay across the fields and hills like a great dark carpet, with here and there the little lights of a house or a farm.

Maurice could feel the girl's warm arms around his waist. 'Do you want to go back now?' he asked.

Maurice could feel the girl's warm arms around his waist.

I stay with you,' she answered softly.

Maurice gave a little laugh. He wanted to kiss her, but he was afraid to. The horse moved under them.

Let the horse go fast,' said Paula. 'Fast!'

All right then,' Maurice said. He hit the horse's neck. 'Come on, boy, let's go!' he cried.

And away they went down the hill, faster and faster. It was a wild, dangerous, exciting ride. Maurice held on to the horse with hands and knees; Paula held on to Maurice, her arms around his waist, and her face against his strong, warm back.

At last the horse came to a stop. Paula half fell off its back, and Maurice quickly jumped down beside her. They were both laughing, and excited by their wild ride. And suddenly, he had her in his arms, and was kissing her. They did not move for some time. Then, silently, arm in arm, they walked to the haystacks.

The sky was now dark and heavy with cloud. Maurice looked up, and felt a drop of rain on his face.

It's going to rain,' he said. 'I'll have to put the cover on the new stack.'

He left Paula, and went to the shed in the corner of the field. He pulled out the big heavy cover and pulled it across the ground to the stack.

What are you going to do?' asked Paula.

Put it over the top of the stack, to keep the rain out.'

Ah!' she cried. 'Up there!'

Rain began to fall. It was very dark between the two great buildings of hay. Maurice put the long ladder up the side of the stack, and Paula stared up at the black wall of hay above her.

You carry the cover up there?' she asked.

Yes,' said Maurice.

I must help you,' she said.

And she did. Maurice went first up the ladder, carrying one end of the cover, and Paula climbed up behind him, carrying the other end.

While they were climbing up the ladder, a light stopped on the road by the top field. It was Geoffrey on his bicycle, coming to help his brother with the cover for the haystack. Silently, he pushed his bicycle across the field to the shed. He was afraid to call out. If his brother was with the German girl, he did not want to surprise them together in the dark.

There was no one in the shed. He walked across to the stacks and was nearly there when he heard a noise. The ladder was slowly falling down the side of the stack. It hit the ground with a bang.

The ladder was slowly falling down the side of the stack.

What was that?' he heard Maurice's voice, from the top of the stack.

Something fell,' came the voice of the German girl.

Maurice lay down and looked over the side of the stack. 'It was the ladder!' he said. 'We knocked it down, when we were pulling the cover up.'

We're in prison up here?' the girl said, excited.

Yes. But if I shout, they'll hear at the vicar's house.'

Oh no,' she said quickly.

I don't want to,' he replied, with a short laugh.

He began to pull the cover across the top of the stack. Down below, Geoffrey moved quietly round the corner of the second haystack. He did not want them to see him. He heard Maurice's voice again.

One good thing, we won't get wet. We can sit under the cover.'

Maurice!' said the girl. She sounded worried.

What is it?' he said gently. 'You'll be all right. Look, the cover's on now. We can sit under this corner.'

Will I be all right, Maurice?'

Of course you will. But do you want to go back to the vicar's house? Shall I shout for somebody?'

No. No, I don't want to go back.'

Are you sure?' he asked.

Yes, yes, I am sure.' She laughed.

Geoffrey turned away at the last words, and walked back to the shed. The rain was now falling heavily. He felt miserable, and lonely.

In the shed he took the lamp off his bicycle and shone it round the walls. All the tools lay in one corner, and there was a big wooden box, and a deep bed of hay.

He put the lamp out and threw himself down on the hay. 'I'll put the ladder up for them later,' he thought. He lay there, thinking about his brother's luck, and the German girl, with her strange ways and her quick, bright laugh. 'Why does she like Maurice? Why doesn't she like me? No woman will ever love me,' he thought miserably. 'I'm too slow, I don't have the words.'