EARLY WORK-The Man Who Loved a Double Bass

  <strong>TheManWhoLovedaDoubleBass</strong>

  Allartists,theysay,arealittlemad.Thismadnessis,toacertai,aself-createdmythdesigokeepthegeneralityawayfromthephenomenallyclose-knitcreativeunity.Yet,intheworldoftheartists,thesciouslyetricarealwaysrespectfulandadmiringofthosewhohavethecetobegenuinelyalittlemad.

  ThatwashowJohnnyJameson,thebassplayer,cametobetreated--withrespedadmiration;fortherecouldbenodoubtthatJamesonwasasmadasahatter.

  Andthemusislookedafterhim.Hewashoutwork,orabed,orapacketofcigarettes,orabeerifhewantedoherewasalwayssomeoakingcareofthethingshecouldaroundtodoinghimself.Itmustalsobeadmittedthathewasaveryfinebassplayer.

  Inthis,infact,laytheseedofhistrouble.Forhisbass,hisgreat,gleaming,voluptuousbass,wasmother,father,wife,childandmistresstohimandheloveditandsteadfastpassion.

  Jamesonwasasmall,quietmanwithrapidlyreghairandahugepairofheavyspectacleshidingmild,short-sightedeyes.Hehardlywentanywherewithouthisbass,whichhecarriedeffortlessly,slungonhisback,asRedIndianwomencarrytheirbabies.Butitwasabigbabyforonesofrail-lookingashetocarry.

  TheycalledthebassLola.Lolawasthemostbeautifulbassinthewholeworld.Hershapewasthatofafull-breasted,full-hippedwoman,recalliainprimitiveeffigiesoftheModdesssogloriously,essentiallyfemininewasshe,strippedofirrelevanciesofheadandlimbs.

  Jamesohourspolishingherredwood,alreadyawarm,chestnutcolour,toaneverdeeper,everricherglow.Ontour,hesatplacidlyinthebuswhiletheothermusisdrank,arguedandgambledaroundhim,andhewouldtakeLolafromherblackcase,anduntheragsthatpaddedher,withatrembliion.Thenhewouldtakeoutaspecial,softsilkhandkerchiefaoworkonhispolishing,smililyatnothingandblinkinghisshort-sightedeyeslikeahappycat.

  Thebasswasalwaystreatedlikealady.Thebandstartedtobuyhercoffeeandteaincafésforajoke.Lateritceasedtobeajokeandbecameahabit.Theextradrinkwasalwaysorderedandplacedbeforeherandtheyigwhentheywentawayanditwasstilloable,coldanduntouched.

  JamesonalwaystookLolaintocafésbutopublicbarsbecause,afterall,shewasalady.WhoeverdrankwithJamesondidsointhesaloonandboughtLolaapineapplejuice,althoughsometimesshecouldbeprevailedupontotakeaglassofsherryatfestiveoccasionslikeChristmasorabirthdayorwhensomeoneswifehadachild.

  ButJamesonwasjealousifshegottoomuchattentionandwouldlookdaggersatamanwhotooktoomanylibertieswithher,likeslappingherakingfacetiousremarks.

  Jamesonhadonlyeverbeenknowntostrikeamanoncewhenhehadbrokenthenoseofadrunken,iivepianistwhomadeacoarsejestaboutLolainJamesonspresence.SonobodyeverjokedaboutLolawhenJamesonwasthere.

  ButiyoungmusiswerehideouslyembarrassedifeveritfelloutthattheyhadtosharearoomwithJamesonwhileontour.SoJamesonandLolausuallyhadaroomtothemselves.AwayfromJamesorumpeter,GeoffClarke,wouldsaythatJamesonwastrulyweddedtohisartandperhapstheyoughttobookthebridalsuiteforthepairatsomehotel,sometime.

  ButClarkegaveJamesonagoodjobinhistradgroupthatwascalledtheWestEndSyncopatntheaugustechoesoftheheydressedthemselvesupioppersandtailcoatswhenperfandtheirsouped-upversionof"WestEndBlues"(plusnewvocal)hadpeedtothelowerreachesofthetoptwenty.

  TheyalllookedgrotesqueioppersandnonemrotesquethanJameson;butthebandstillmademoney.

  Makingmoney,however,meantdayafterdayspentinavertedGreeravellingupanddownthetryfromoneone-night-standtothe.Itmeantdatesatexges,townhalls,grimybasinpubs.Itmeantstantbone-wearinessandstantcashaandthebandalllovedit.Theyallsharedacrazyjubilation.

  "Thetradboomaintgoingtolastforever,soletsenjoyit!"saidLenNelson,theclariist.

  Hewasaninciblefornicator,whoseideaofprofitingfromthetradboomwastolurestar-struckyounggirlsfromtheprovincialclubsandcertsupintohishotelbedroomandtherecopulatewiththem.Helovedsuccess.And,toalesserextent,theyallexulted.

  Except,ofcourse,Jameson,whodidnotevennoticethattradwasbooming.Heplayedjustwhateverhewastoldtoplay.HeneverreallycaredwhatitwasaslongasthequalityofthesoundheproduceddidnotoffendLola.

  OnenightinNovember,theywereeoplayatasmalltownintheFenlandwastesofEastAnglia.Darknesscamewiththeafternoingmistwithittofillthedykesandshroudthepollardwillows.Thebandbusfollowedastraightroadwithurnordipaheyreachedthepubwherethejazzclubatwhichtheyweretoperformwasheld,andclimbedfromthebus,thedarknessfellaroundtheirshoulderslikearain-soakedbla.

  "Aretheyexpegus?"askedDaveJennings,thedrummer,anxiously.Notalightshohepub.

  Afrayedposterpiheaindoorannouheiring.Buttheilandrainhadsosoftehepaperthattheslogan:"Fridaynightisravenight--withtheraving,rioting,hitparadehappyWestEndSyncopators"wasalmostindecipherable.

  "Well,itsnotopeningtime,yet,"fortedLenNelson.

  "Moresthepity,"gruntedJennings.

  "Ofcoursetheyreexpegus,"saidGeofffirmly."Theclubbookedusupmonthsago,beforetherecordeven.ThatswhytedadateinthisGod-forsakenhole,isntit,Simeon?"

  ThemanagereripatetiamedSimeonPrice,afailedtenorsaxmanwhotravelledwiththemoutofnostalgiaforhisswingingdays.Simeonwasstaringatthepubwithbright,frightenedeyes.

  "Idontlikeithere,"hesaidandshivered."Theressomethingintheair."

  "Bloodylotofwetintheair,"grumbledNelson."Betthedolliesroundhereallgotwebbedfeet."

  "DontethemysteriousEast,"GeedSimeon.

  Simeonshookhisheadagitatedlyandshiveredinspiteofthegreat,turned-upcollarofhisenormouscashmerecoat.HealwaysdressedlikeastageJew.HisracewashisgimmidhealwaysaffectedastrongYiddishatalthoughhisfamilyhadbeenrespectedmembersoftheMaerbeoisiefornearly150years.

  Butthenthelandlordappearedahetwosixthframmarschoolboyswhorantheclubandtherewasbeerandchatandwarmthandlaughter.JamesonwasveryworriedihedampshouldhurtLola,her,rotherstrings.Heallowedohegrammarschoolboys,theycalledhimtheBoyDavidatoobuyherarumande,forherhealthssake.NelsonandJenningshadtotakethewBoyDavidoffintotheGentsandexplainaboutLola,quietly.

  ButSimeonsslender,delicatelypointednosewasalmostaquiverwithsensibility,smellingsomethingwrong,troubleiair.TheEastAnglianairwasbadforhisweaklungs.TheBoyDavidwastalkingabouthisclub.

  "Bitoldworld,themembership,really,thoughwegetpeopleinfortheclubfromquiteawayaway--artstudents,even,andafeyoungsters,aherjacketswhoefrommilesontheirmotorbikes.Butthelocalteds,well,theystillevenhavesideboardsacollarstotheirjackets!"

  Therewasachorusofincredulousmirthandtheboyatoncebecameembarrassedandboughtmoredrinkstocoverhisfusion.Thebaostaythenightatthepub,whichhidanumberofbedroomsbehinditsunimposingfa?ade.Simeoawayfromthebartofeelthesheetsonhisbed.Theyweredamp.Histhroatimmediatelysetupasympathetictig.

  Jameson,humpingLola,alsocreptaway,tothebawheremusiddangwerepermitted.Heunedhisinstrumentandsathuddledoveritinthecold,caressingwithhissilkenrag.Theroomaroundhimwaitedfortheclubtoopen,theshabbylinesofquietchairswaited,thelittleplatformforthemusiswaited.

  Butthereotentuhenight.Themusisseandtheirlaughterbecamedefiantastheytriedthtentheuneasinessawaywiththeirmerriment.Andtheyfailed.Theiryounghostscaughtthesilent,depressediionuntiltheywerealljustsittingaround,drinkingforwantofsomethiodo.ButJamesony;hewastheonlyonehappy,sittingawayfromthemall,withLolabetweenhisknees.

  Asthebandassembledonthecrampedplatform,thefirstersarrivedandstoodaroundwiththeirfirsthalfpintsofbitter.Musicbegaomerswaitedpassivelyforthefirstextrovertcouplewhowouldstarttodance.

  Theywereaneasilyreisabletype,theseearlyoheboysworepale,loosesweaterswithpaisleysilkscarvestuckedcasuallyintotheveenedthegirlsweretrickedoutinpseudobeatstyle,blackorheavymeshstogs,loosedressesheavilyfriheywerethechildrenoflocaldoctors,clergymen,teachers,retiredsoldiers,probablystudentsintheirlastschoolyear.Theyworeduffelcoatsanddrovebatteredoldcarsandhadateocollectthoselittleaashtrayswithveterancarsonthem.

  Justbeforethefirstbreak,ablack-leggedgirlinashortlittlepleatedskirtandayouthincavalrytwilltrousersventured,giggling,ontothefloortodaheydidsoinapeculiarlyself-sciouswaythatmadethemusiswinkandgrinatoher.Graduallytheroombegantofill.Artstudentsfromanearbytown,sniggeringatthebeoisedthem;apartyofcrop-hairedmodernists,whohadalsotravelledsomedistahemodernistshadsharp,pointednosesandItaliansuits.Theirgirlsdressedwithstudiedformality,facesstylised,palecheeksandlips,vividlypaintedeyes,hairimmaculate,stiffwithlacquer.

  ThemodernistschaffedSimeon,wholihepaydeskbecausetheboysinchargeweresoyoungthatheworriedforthem.Themodernistsjokedaboutthegreytophatsaripedtrousersandwerepatronisingabout"WestEndBlues"and,infact,thewholetradsetupaltogether;theywerehere,theyimplied,justbecausetherehappeobenothingelsedoingthatnight.Simeonsmiledwithprofessionalwarmthandwonderedwhetherhedareslipawaytosprayhisthroat.

  Buthiseyesslittedwithsuspiwhenhesawagroupofyouthswereparkingmotorcyclesoutsidethepub;hecouldseethemthroughtheopendoor.Theytookofftheircrashhelmetsahemuheircycles,wheretheygleamedwhitely,likemushroomsornewlaideggs.Thentheboysapproached,plasticjacketscreaking.Simeonpersonallytoreofftheirjacketsforthemandwatchedthemanxiouslyastheyfoughtforbrowhebar.

  "Now,thosechapsarereallyfarlesspotentialtroublethanthosemodernistfriendsofyours,"admoheBoyDavid.Simeonsighed.

  "Youwouldnthave,byanyce,suchathingasanaspirin--andperhaps,mightitbepossible,couldIgetaglassofhotmilk?"

  Iheclubroom,athicksmokehazedimmedthealreadylowlightingandtheroomwasinsemi-darkness.Armsandlegsflailed,beerslopped.Themusicwassolouditseemedalmostatangible,brazenwall.TheWestEndSyncopatorswerehalf-waythroughanothersuccessfuldate.

  Buttheleatherjacketskeptapartfromthemain,happycrowd.Theyhadtakenoveroicularerforthemselvesandwerenotdangbutstandinguptotheirbeer,laughingandgrinning.

  Theboysinthebandplayedaedandgulpedrestorativebitterbetweenchoruses.Theyundidtheirsilkwaistcoatsandtheirblacktiesandmoppedtherediionsmadeontheirforeheadsbytheirtophats.Itwasjustlikeanyotherdate.

  Justlikeanyotherdateuntiloheleatherjacketsspilledhisbeerallovertheolivegreenbuttocksofathingirlihdresswhojivedbackwardsintohim.Sheturned,angry.Heapologisedwithprofuseironyandthatmadehermrystill.Thegirlplaiohersharp,short-jacketedescortaherjacketsstoodallroundandleered.

  "Ayougoingtosaysorrytothisyounglady,then,mate?"thegirlsdangpartnershoutedabovethemusic.

  Theleatherjacketsclosedrankslikeasnappedclasp-kheirindistinguishable,pallid,slack-jawedfacesallgrionce.

  "AndwhatifIaintparticularlysorry?Wastedallmybeer,Ihave."

  AgroupofItalianyouthsdesertedtheirgirlstogatherbehindtheolive-sheathedgirlsdefender.Andthatwashowitstarted.Thequarrelboiledupintoafineragoutofcries,shouts,blowsandthediminteriorwhirledwiththrustinglimbsandcrashingbottlesastheeageryouthsmetinfight.Abottlesmashedthesingle,red-pairicbulbandtherewasahorrorofdarkness.Inthechaos,apairofleatherjacketslaunchedanattathemusiswhoweremoaningandterrifiedandstrikinglittlematchestoseesomethingofthebattle.

  "Thatsuchathingshouldhappenwhehetoptwenty!"gaspedSimeon.

  TheYoungservativescamescurryingpastshepherdingfrightenedSusans,Brendas,andJennifers.Buttheartstudentsclusteredsafelyatthediggle.Thetight-skirtedteddygirlsdroppedtheirimpassivity;likevalkyriestheyrodethebattle,cheeringthefighterson.Theirexaltedfacesflickeredinandoutofthelightthattrickledthroughfromthepublicbar.

  Nowthemusiscastasidetheirtophats,theirinstrumentsandtheirrality.SimeonsawLenNelson--asjerkyanduainiermittentlightasamaninanearlyfilm--leapfromthedaisandseizeanItalianyouthbyhisnarrowandimmaculatelapelsandshake,shake,shakehimuntiltheboysmouthgapedopen,howling.

  "Nothinglikeiteverhappenedbefore!"theBoyDavidkeptexclaiminginanapologetizy.Therewerecrashesandsplinteringsandthelandlordappeared,trembling.SimeontookhimintotheprivatebartosoothehimwithhisownScotch.

  "Quiteliketheolddays,befotfamous,"pantedNelson,defendingthemicrophone.

  Butitwasalloververyquickly,whensomeoneshoutedsomethingaboutthepolidtheroomemptiedlikeabathwhentheplugispulledout.Themusisheavybreathingandlittleexclamationsoftriumphandsighsweretheonlysoundsintheroom.

  "WouldIbesuchafoolastocallthepolice?"demandedSimeoorically.Sotheyalllaughedaforadrink.

  "Here,"saidsomeoer,"hasanyoneseenJameson?"

  "Notsihelightswentout."

  "Well,whatdoesitmatter?Imgoingtobed,"saidSimeon."Iveadreadfulcolding,Ifeelit.Notthatgoingtobedwilldomemuchgoihesheetsare..."

  ThentheyallofthemfotaboutJamesonuntilverymuchlater,whenallbutGeoffandNelsonhadfinallyfollowedSimeonupthestairstobed.GeoffandNelsolyhappy,decidedtogoandhavealookatthedamageintheclubroom.Theytookalightbulbfromthebarandpluggeditintothesocketwheretheredlighthadoncebeen.Andintofocusleaptalltheshatteredglassandbrokenchairsandbrownbeerpuddlessoakingintothefloor.

  Soberedatonce,Geoffclimbedontothestageandpokedanxiouslyamorumentsremaining.Miraculously,thedrumanditsaccessorieshadsurvivedand--hesighed--thereseemednotacasualtyonthedais.Thenhefoundaterriblething.WhereJamesonhadsatwithLola,thereremaihingonthefloorbutaheapofchestnut-colouredfirewood.

  "Oh,Christ,"hesaid.Nelsonlookedup,startledatthetoheothersvoice."Jameson,hoingtotellJameson,Len?Hisbass..."

  TheystoodtogetherandgazedatLolaspatheticfragmentedcorpse.Bothweretouchedwithacoldfingerofaweanddreadandasuperstitioussorrow;theladywhodidnotgointopublicbarswassuddenlynomorethanafewgracelesssplinters.

  "Doyouknowifheknows?"whisperedNelson.Itdidnotseemrighttotalkinaloudvoice.

  "Ihaventseenhimsiroublebegan."

  "Evenifhedoesknow,well,heoughttohaveabitofpany,atatimelikethis,afewfriendsaroundhim..."

  "Maybehesupinhisroom."

  TheyfoundoutfromthelandlordthatJamesonhadbeenlodgedinanattihighatthetopoftheoldrabbit-warrenofaplace.FenlandmisthadcreptintothepubanditblurredtheirvisionasGeoffandNelsonclimbedflightafterflightofstairs.Itwasverylate,now,andcold,withabone-chilli,cold.Then,withoutwarning,everylightwentout.Stri,NelsonclutchedatGeoff.

  "Len,itsallright,donttakeon.Itmustbeafuse,orsomething,perhapsthewiring--rottenoldwiringtheyhaveinhousesasoldasthis."

  Buthehimselfwasbadlyscared.Theybothfeltanalien,almosttangiblesomethinginthedarkness,feltitinthedampkissofthemist-soakedairontheircheeks.

  "Alight,Geoff,now."

  Geoffclickedhiscigarettelighter.Thetinyflameonlyintensifiedthedarknessarouheyreachedthetopmostlanding.

  "Hereweare."

  Thedoorswungopen.Geoffheldhislighterhigh.Theysawfirstachair,overturhefloor.Thentheysawtheopeycaseofadoublebassonthecheaptaffetabedspread.Thecasewasshapedforalltheworldlikeacoffin.ButLolawouldnotlieinit,althoughitwasherown.

  Andiillcircleoflight,sairoffeet,gently,backwardsandforwards,forwardsandbackwards...GeoffraisedhislighterabovehisheaduntiltheycouldseeallofJameson,hangingfromadisusedgasbracket,hisgentlefacebladtwisted.Beddeddeepinhisneckwasabrilliantsilkenrag,theraghehadusedforsolongtopolishhisbass.Somethingglihefloorbehhim--hisglasses,dropped,broken.

  Asoddenwindcameinthroughtheopenwindowandswallowedthelighterflameatohentherewasengulfingdarknessandinthedarknessnoheslowcreak,creak,creak.Awomengrabbedateachothershandslikefrightenedchildren.

  Inaroombehem,thesamelittlewindtrickledthroughanill-fittingwindowframeandtickledSimeonPricesthroatsothathecoughedandstirredalittle,uneasily,inhissleep.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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