按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
They spent a long time sweating the first tire off the rim。 Bob barked a knuckle； and Dick tore a finger…nail half off。 Getting the 〃new〃 tire onto the rim was even more of a struggle； both because of their clumsiness and because of the tire's own aged stiffness。 At last； tired and thoroughly irritated with one another and with the whole job； they finished getting this one tire onto the rim。
Just as they were pausing； triumphant but fired； Ish heard Joey calling to him from across the garage。
〃What is it； Joey？' he answered； a little petulantly。
〃e here； Daddy。〃
〃Oh； Joey； I'm tired；〃 he said； but he went； and the two other boys trailed with him。 Joey was pointing at the spare wheel of one of the jeeps。
〃Look； Daddy；〃 he said； 〃why couldn't you use that one？〃
〃All Ish could do was to burst out laughing。
〃Well； boys；〃 he said to Dick and Bob； 〃that's the time we made fools of ourselves！〃
The tire on the spare wheel had been suspended in the air all these years； and it was already on a wheel。 They had not needed to shift any tires。 All they had needed to do was to take this and the other spares； pump them up； and put them on their own jeep。 They had done a lot of work for no purpose because they had just barged along and not used their heads。
Then Ish； suddenly recognizing his own stupidity； strangely gained a new pleasure。 Joey was the one who had seen！ But by now it was time for lunch。
They had brought along only their spoons and always essential can…openers。 Now they went off to the nearest grocery store。
Like all the others it was a scene of devastation and litter and ruin。 A mess！ It was depressing to Ish； even horrible； in spite of the many times he had seen its like。 The boys； however； thought nothing of it； never having seen a grocery store in any other state。 Rats and mice had chewed into all the cartons； and the floor was deep with the remnants of cardboard and paper； mixed with rodent droppings。 Even the toilet paper had been chewed； probably for nesting。
But the rodents could do nothing with glass or tin； and so the bottles and cans were undisturbed。 They even looked startlingly neat； at first glance； in contrast with the mess elsewhere。 When you looked closer； they were not really neat。 Droppings were scattered even on these shelves； and many labels had been chewed； probably because of the paste beneath the paper。 Also the colors had faded； so that the once bright red tomatoes on the labels were a sickly yellow； and the rosy…cheeked peaches had almost disappeared。
The labels； however； were still readable。 At least； Ish and Joey could read them； and the others； though they got stuck on many hard words like apricots and asparagus； could at least tell what was inside by looking at the pictures。 They selected what they wanted。
The boys were quite ready to sit down in the liner and eat。 Ish； however； wanted to get outside。 So they went and sat on the curb in the sun。
They did not bother with a fire； but ate a cold lunch out of the cans； each to his choice； from a selection of baked beans； sardines； salmon； liver loaf； ed beef； olives； peanuts； and asparagus。 Such a meal； Ish knew； ran high in proteins and fats and low in carbohydrates； but there were few carbohydrates that had been canned or bottled； and the few that you could find； like hominy and macaroni； called for heating。 For drink； they had tomato juice。 They ate a desert of canned nectarines and pineapple。
When they had finished； they wiped off the spoons and can…openers and put them back into their pockets。 The halfempty cans they merely left lying。 There was so much litter in the street already that something more did not matter。
The boys； Ish was glad to notice； were in a hurry to get back to work at the car。 They had apparently begun to feel a little of the intoxication that was likely to e from a mastery over power。 He himself was a little tired； and a new idea was shaping in his mind。
〃Say； boys；〃 he said； 〃Bob and Dick； I mean。 Do you think you can go back and shift those wheels by yourselves？〃
〃Sure；〃 said Dick； but he looked puzzled。
〃What I mean is…well； Joey is too little to be much use； and I'm tired。 It's only four blocks to the City Library from here。 Joey can go with me。 Want to； Joey？〃
Joey was already on his feet with the excitement of the idea。 The other boys were happy to get back to the tires。
As they walked toward the Library； Joey ran ahead in his eagerness。 It was ridiculous； thought Ish； that he had never taken Joey there before。 But all this matter of Joey's reading and intellectual interests had developed very rapidly。
Because of his policy of saving the great University Library as a reserve； Ish had been using this library for his own purposes for many years； and had long since forced the lock on the main entrance。 Now he pushed the heavy door open； and entered proudly with his youngest son。
They stood in the main reading…room； and then wandered； through the stacks。 Joey said nothing； but Ish could see his eyes drink the titles in as he passed。 They came out from the stacks again； and stood in the main lobby by the entrance looking back。 Then Ish had to break the silence。
〃Well； what do you think of it？〃
〃Is it all the books in the world？〃
〃Oh； no！ Just a few of them。〃
〃Can I read them？〃
〃Yes； you can read any you want to。 Always bring them back； and put them in place again； so they won't get lost and scattered。〃
〃What's in the books？〃
〃Oh； something of pretty near everything。 If you read them all； you would know a lot。〃
〃I'll read them all！〃
Ish felt a sudden warning shadow fall on the happiness of his mind。
〃Oh； no； Joey！ You couldn't possibly read them all； and you wouldn't want to。 There are dull ones and stupid ones and silly ones； and even bad ones。 But I'll help you pick out the good ones。 Now； though； we'd better go。〃
He was actually glad to get Joey away。 The stimulation of seeing so many books so suddenly seemed almost more than was good for the frail little boy。 Ish was glad that he had not taken him to the University Library。 In due time now he could take him there。
As they walked toward the garage； Joey did not run ahead。 This time he kept close to his father； he was thinking。 Finally he spoke：
〃Daddy； what is the name of those things that are on the ceilings of our rooms…like shiny white balls？ You said once they used to make light。〃
〃Oh； those are called 'electric lights。'〃
〃If I read the books； could I make them make light again？〃
Ish felt a sudden intoxication of pleasure； and immediately after it a sense of fear。 This must not go too fast！
〃Well； Joey； I don't know；〃 he said； trying to speak with unconcern。 〃Maybe you could； maybe not。 Things like that take time； and a lot of people working together。 You've got to go slow。〃
Then they walked without speaking。 Ish was proud and triumphant that Joey had absorbed so much of his own feeling； and yet he was fearful。 Joey was moving even too fast。 The intellect should not run ahead of the rest of the personality。 Joey needed phy