Part 7 (2/2)
But Lemuel Gulliver try very hard to be Houvhnhnm. Master come to talk with him all time, and he tell Master how he come from England place, and Master tell him how bad it is, and how England Yahoos worse than our kind. Sometimes Master tell him about us Yahoos, and he says lies. He says about killing Yahoos in fields after oats cut, but says other Yahoos do the killing because they vicious.
Lemuel Gulliver think about this, then he say. I wonder, sir, whether I might propose an economical use of the dead brutes? You hare perhaps noticed that I have supplied the want of covering for my body with the furs of small beasts. In my country, the skins of larger animals are taken and prepared in such a way as to provide a substance called leather, that hath divers uses both practical and ornamental. The fat of such beasts hath also serviceable qualities when rendered down into tallow. Perhaps the dead Yahoos might be turned to a like utility?
I didn't know what all that mean, but next day Lemuel Gulliver and Servant bring home dead Yahoo.
Lemuel Gulliver untie me and bring me out, tie noose to tree, say: Take these tools and skin this creature, as you have skinned the others. That means I have to cut up poor dead Yahoo. I feel bad, but he dead, can't hurt him. Lemuel Gulliver and Servant cut wood in field and make big rack; when I have skin off they take away tools and tie skin to rack and sc.r.a.pe it. I sit by dead Yahoo and cry.
So bad! So bad! Makes me cry now. Too many bad things tell you. But soon Lemuel Gulliver has factory in field where he makes dead Yahoos into candles and leather and parchment. He think Houvhnhnms be impressed by his diligence and industry. That mean he want them think him Houvhnhnm like them. they don't. He try harder, he tell Master about good way to get rid of too many Yahoos by cutting off boys' danglies. He says they do this beasts in England all the time. Master listen and say nothing. I scared what they do girls in England, be very quiet all time. Only good thing is, bleeding every month stops.
Lemuel Gulliver almost not like Yahoo now: sound just like Houvhnhnms when he talk and walk, nod his head like them, shake his hair out of his face like them, look sideways like them. He try not eating with hands, make a mess, get mad. I not laugh though. He mad I get sick in mornings.
Then one day I sc.r.a.ping Yahoo skin outside and Servant come up to me and smell me all over. He see me with this eye, then turn head and see that eve. Then he go trotting off fast, and Lemuel Gulliver busy pouring hot fat into bowl, not notice.
By and by Master comes out with Servant and looks at me. Gentle Yahoo, he says to Lemuel Gulliver , what have you done? This Yahoo female is going to bear young. That mean he see I have baby soon.
Lemuel Gulliver stare and stare, then say: It isn't mine! The dirty wench must have coupled with a Yahoo before her capture, or admitted some beast whilst I was out! That means, he not b.u.mpb.u.mp me.
Master shake his head. He say: She has been guarded in your absence, Gentle Yahoo, and when I gave her to you she was not yet fertile. There can be no doubt that her condition is your doing. This is most troublesome; it was hoped that her extreme youth, and your penchant for unnatural congress, would prevent conception. That mean, you DID TOO b.u.mpb.u.mp her, and it bad. Lemuel Gulliver fall on the ground at Master's feet, kiss them, cry.
He say: Pardon! pardon, oh my Master! Never would I give you the slightest cause to reproach me!
That means, don't hurt me. Master prods him with hoof and says: Do not indulge yourself in such fits of pa.s.sion. It was I who advised you to satisfy your natural appet.i.tes. Unfortunately, my neighbors will hear of this. Greatly as they have disapproved of my keeping a tame Yahoo for my diversion (albeit one nominally more civilised and rational than the common breed) they will positively censure me for allowing one to reproduce. What should we do if a race of such monsters arose, cleverer than those we govern with such effort? What am I to do? all that means was, other Masters not want me have baby.
Lemuel Gulliver get up on hands and knees, dropping big tears. He say: Dear Master, do not imagine that I entertain any foolish fondness for the creature! Say but the word and I'll stifle the wench with my own hands! Then I might be provided with a boy to my purpose, and-He mean he kill me! Master snort and stamp his feet. He say: Gentle Yahoo,you are saying the thing which is not again!
I hear all this, I take sc.r.a.per and put it in my mouth, sneaky so they don't see. Lemuel Gulliver look at Master and his face get sneaky too. He say, I understand you, best and wisest of Masters.
Master says: Secure the female in your stall and then we will discuss the matter in greater detail, you and I. That mean, he going to tell Lemuel Gulliver how to kill me. They send Servant away and Lemuel Gulliver take me into House and tie my leg. He not see I hid sc.r.a.per! He go out. I spit out sc.r.a.per and cut, cut, cut at rope so hard!
It comes loose and I go out. Run for hills, big trees. I hear yell, Lemuel Gulliver sees I running, he shout and run. Master run too but quiet. He fast. I not fast now, legs hurt, fat tummy. I run all the way over field and Master run up behind me. I think he catch me soon.
BUT!!! Out from trees come wild Yahoos! They run out, grab me! Two pull me into trees, others yell and throw s.h.i.+t at Master and Lemuel Gulliver. Up and up and up we go, all green leaves, free air, blue sky. Away into big trees. When we safe I so happy, we all play b.u.mpb.u.mp.
I tell wild Yahoos what happen. By and by many Houyhnhnm come under trees looking for me. They talk how Lemuel Gulliver sent away, crying all sad, go back over sea to England. They want kill me so I never have smart baby, but they never catch me, because we go away from there, go up in mountain trees, far far. We find this place by big rocks and falling water. Lots to eat. Safe. Happy.
Then you come out, and you so pretty! Little face like flower. You talk so soon and you so smart!
Look at pictures you make on stones, look at animals you make in clay. Mama love Baby and never, never let Houyhnhnm get her. But if ever big Yahoo come with nose like sc.r.a.per blade, talking like Houyhnhnm, Baby must run far and fast and climb highest tree. That Yahoo name Lemuel Gulliver , and he not like us. He never love anything, ever.
Don't be scared! He far away now Look, uncle Yahoo catch big fis.h.!.+ Let's go see.
What The Tyger Told Her.
You must observe carefully,” said the tiger.
He was an old tiger. He had survived in captivity more years than he might have been expected to, penned in his narrow iron run in such a cold wet country in all weathers. He was just the color of toast, and white underneath like bread too. His back was double-striped with black streaks and the rippling shadows of the bars as he paced continually, turn and turn again.
The little girl blinked, mildly surprised at being addressed. She had a round face, pale and freckled like a robin's egg. She had been squatting beside the tigers' pen for some minutes, fascinated by him. If anyone had seen her crouched there, crumpling the silk brocade of her tiny hooped gown, she'd have been scolded, for the summer dust was thick in the garden. But no one had noticed she was there.
”Power,” said the tyger, ”Comes from knowledge, you see. The best way to learn is to watch what happens. The best way to watch is unseen. Now, in my proper place, which is jungle meadow and forest canes, I am very nearly invisible. That,” and he looked with eyes green as beryls at the splendid house rising above the gardens, ”is your proper place. Are you invisible there?”
The little girl nodded her head.
”Do you know why you're invisible?”
She thought about it. ”Because John and James were born.”
”Your little brothers, yes. And so n.o.body sees you now?”
”And because” The child waved her hand in a gesture that took in the house, the garden, the menagerie and the immense park in which they were set. ”There's so many uncles and people here.
Mamma and I used to live in the lodging-house. Papa would come upstairs in his uniform. It was red. He was a poor officer. Then he got sick and lived with us in his nightgown. It 67 was white. He would drink from a bottle and shout, and I would hide behind the chair when he did. And John and James got born.
And Papa went to heaven. And Mamma said oh, my dear, whatever shall we do?”
”What did you do?” the tiger prompted.
”I didn't do anything. But Grandpapa forgave Mamma and sent for us.”
”What had your Mamma done, to be forgiven?”
”She wasn't supposed to marry Papa because she is,” and the child paused a moment to recollect the big words, ”an indigent tradesman's daughter. Papa used to tell her so when he drank out of the bottle.
But when she had John and James, that made it all right again, because they're the only boys.”
”So they're important.”
”They will inherit it all,” the child explained, as though she were quoting. ”Because Papa died and Uncle John is in India, and Uncle Thomas only has Louise.”
”But they haven't inherited yet.”
”No. Not until Grandpapa goes to heaven.”
”Something to think about, isn't it?” said the tiger, lowering his head to lap water from his stone trough.
The little girl thought about it.
”I thought Grandpapa was in heaven when we went to see him,” she said. ”We climbed so many stairs. And the bed was so high and white and the pillows like clouds. Grandpapa's nightgown was white.
He has white hair and a long, long beard. He shouted like Papa did. Mamma turned away crying. Mr.
Lawyer said It's only his pain, Mrs. Edgecombe. Uncle Thomas said Dear sister, come and have a gla.s.s of cordial. So she did and she was much better.”
”But n.o.body saw you there, did they?”
<script>