ThatEveningSunGoDown(byWilliamFaulkner)

1、ThatEveningSunGoDown(byWilliamFaulkner)MondayisnodifferentfromanyotherweekdayinJeffersonnow.Thestreetsarepavednow,andthetelephoneandtheelectriccompaniesarecuttingdownmoreandmoreoftheshadetrees-thewateroaks,themaplesandlocustsandelms-tomakeroomforironpolesbearingclustersofbloatedandghostlyandbloodles

2、sgrapes,andwehaveacitylaundrywhichmakestheroundsonMondaymorning,gatheringthebundlesofclothesintobright-colored,speciallymademotor-cars:thesoiledwearingofawholeweeknowfleesapparition-likebehindalertandirritableelectrichorns,withalongdiminishingnoiseofrubberandasphaltlikeatearingofsilk,andeventheNegro

3、womenwhostilltakeinwhitepeoples'washingaftertheoldcustom,fetchanddeliveritinautomobiles.Butfifteenyearsago,onMondaymorningthequiet,dusty,shadystreetswouldbefullofNegrowomenwith,balancedontheirsteadyturbanedheads,bundlesofclothestiedupinsheets,almostaslargeascottonbales,carriedsowithouttouchofhan

4、dbetweenthekitchendoorofthewhitehouseandtheblackenedwash-potbesideacabindoorinNegroHollow.Nancywouldsetherbundleonthetopofherhead,thenuponthebundleinturnshewouldsettheblackstrawsailorhatwhichsheworewinterandsummer.Shewastall,withahigh,sadfacesunkenalittlewhereherteethweremissing.Sometimeswewouldgoap

5、artofthewaydownthelaneandacrossthepasturewithher,towatchthebalancedbundleandthehatthatneverbobbednorwavered,evenwhenshewalkeddownintotheditchandclimbedoutagainandstoopedthroughthefence.Shewouldgodownonherhandsandkneesandcrawlthroughthegap,herheadrigid,up-tilted,thebundlesteadyasarockoraballoon,andri

6、setoherfeetandgoon.|Sometimesthehusbandsofthewashingwomenwouldfetchanddelivertheclothes,butJubahneverdidthatforNancy,evenbeforefathertoldhimtostayawayfromourhouse,evenwhenDilseywassickandNancywouldcometocookforus.Andthenabouthalfthetimewe'dhavetogodownthelanetoNancy'shouseandtellhertocomeona

7、ndgetbreakfast.Wewouldstopattheditch,becausefathertoldustonothaveanythingtodowithJubah-hewasashortblackman,witharazorscardownhisface-andwewouldthrowrocksatNancy'shouseuntilshecametothedoorleaningherheadarounditwithoutanyclotheson."Whatyawlmean,chunkingmyhouse?"Nancysaid."Whatyouli

8、ttledevilsmean?""Fathersaysforyoutocomeandgetbreakfast,"Caddysaid."Fathersaysit'soverahalfanhournow,andyou'vegottocomethisminute.""Iain'tstudyingnobreakfast,"Nancylaid."Igoingtogetmysleepout.""Ibetyou'redrunk,"Jasonsaid."Fat

9、hersaysyou'redrunk.Areyoudrunk,Nancy?"WhosaysIis?"Nancysaid."Igottogetmysleepout.Iain'tstudyingnobreakfast.Soafterawhilewequitchunkingthehouseandwentbackhome.Whenshefinallycame,itwastoolateformetogotoschool.Sowethoughtitwaswhiskeyuntilthatdaywhentheyarrestedheragainandtheywere

10、takinghertojailandtheypassedMr.Stovall.HewasthecashierinthebankandadeaconintheBaptistchurch,andNancybegantosay:"Whenyougoingtopayme,whiteman?Whenyougoingtopayme,whiteman?It'sbeenthreetimesnowsinceyoupaidmeacent-"Mr.Stovallknockedherdown,butshekeptonsaying,"Whenyougoingtopayme,whit

11、eman?It'sbeenthreetimesnowsince-"untilMrStovallkickedherinthemouthwithhisheelandthemarshalcaughtMr.Stovallback,andNancylyinginthestreet,laughing.Sheturnedherheadandspatoutsomebloodandteethandsaid,"It'sbeenthreetimesnowsincehepaidmeacent."Thatwashowshelostherteeth,andallthatday

12、theytoldaboutNancyandMr.Stovall,andallthatnighttheonesthatpassedthejailcouldhearNancysingingandyelling.Theycouldseeherhandsholdingtothewindowbars,andalotofthemstoppedalongthefence,listeningtoherandtothejailertryingtomakehershutup.Shedidn'tshutupuntiljustbeforedaylight,whenthejailerbegantohearabu

13、mpingandscrapingupstairsandhewentupthereandfoundNancyhangingfromthewindowbar.Hesaidthatitwascocaineandnotwhiskey,becausenoniggerwouldtrytocommitsuicideunlesshewasfullofcocaine,becauseaniggerfullofcocainewasnotaniggeranylonger.Thejailercutherdownandrevivedher;thenhebeather,whippedher.Shehadhunghersel

14、fwithherdress.Shehadfixeditallright,butwhentheyarrestedhershedidn'thaveonanythingexceptadressandsoshedidn'thaveanythingtotieherhandswithandshecouldn'tmakeherhandsletgoofthewindowledge.SothejailerheardthenoiseandranupthereandfoundNancyhangingfromthewindow,starknaked.WhenDilseywassickinher

15、cabinandNancywascookingforus,wecouldseeherapronswellingout;thatwasbeforefathertoldJubahtostayawayfromthehouse.Jubahwasinthekitchen,sittingbehindthestove,withhisrazorscaronhisblackfacelikeapieceofdirtystring.HesaiditwasawatermelonNancyhadunderherdress.Anditwaswinter,too."Wheredidyougetawatermelo

16、ninthewinter,"Caddysaid."Ididn't,"Jubahsaid."Itwasn'tmethatgiveittoher.ButIcancutitdown,sameasifitwas.""Whatmakesyouwanttotalkthatwaybeforethesechillen?"Nancysaid."Whyn'tyougoontowork?Youdoneet.YouwantMr.Jasontocatchyouhangingaroundhiskitchen,talki

17、ngthatwaybeforethesechillen?""Talkingwhatway,Nancy?"Caddysaid.Ican'thangaroundwhiteman'skitchen,"Jubahsaid."Butwhitemancanhangaroundmine.Whitemancancomeinmyhouse,butIcan'tstophim.Whenwhitemanwanttocomeinmyhouse,Iain'tgotnohouse.Ican'tstophim,buthecan'

18、tkickmeoutenit.Hecan'tdothat."Dilseywasstillsickinhercabin.FathertoldJubahtostayoffourplace.Dilseywasstillsick.Itwasalongtime.Wewereinthelibraryaftersupper."Isn'tNancythroughyet?"mothersaid."Itseemstomethatshehashadplentyoftimetohavefinishedthedishes.""LetQuenti

19、ngoandsee,"fathersaid."GoandseeifNancyisthrough,Quentin.Tellhershecangoonhome."Iwenttothekitchen.Nancywasthrough.Thedisheswereputawayandthefirewasout.Nancywassittinginachair,closetothecoldstove.Shelookedatme."Motherwantstoknowifyouarethrough,"Isaid."Yes,"Nancysaid.

20、Shelookedatme."Idonefinished."Shelookedatme."Whatisit?"Isaid.Whatisit?""Iain'tnothingbutanigger,"Nancysaid."Itain'tnoneofmyfault."Shelookedatme,sittinginthechairbeforethecoldstove,thesailorhatonherhead.Iwentbacktothelibrary.Itwasthecoldstoveandall

21、,whenyouthinkofakitchenbeingwarmandbusyandcheerful.Andwithacoldstoveandthedishesallputaway,andnobodywantingtoeatatthathour."Isshethrough?"mothersaid."Yessum,"Isaid."Whatisshedoing?"mothersaid."She'snotdoinganything.She'sthrough.""I'llgoandsee,

22、"fathersaid."Maybeshe'swaitingforJubahtocomeandtakeherhome,"Caddysaid."Jubahisgone,"Isaid.NancytoldushowonemorningshewokeupandJubahwasgone."Hequitme,"Nancysaid."DonegonetoMemphis,Ireckon.Dodgingthemcitypo-liceforawhile,Ireckon.""Andagoodriddance,

23、"fathersaid."Ihopehestaysthere.""Nancy'sscairedofthedark,"Jasonsaid."Soareyou,"Caddysaid."I'mnot,"Jasonsaid."Scairycat,"Caddysaid."I'mnot,"Jasonsaid."You,Candace!"mothersaid.Fathercameback."Iamgoingtowalkdown

24、thelanewithNancy,"hesaid."ShesaysJubahisback.""Hassheseenhim?"mothersaid."No.SomeNegrosentherwordthathewasbackintown.Iwon'tbelong.""You'llleavemealone,totakeNancyhome?"mothersaid."Ishersafetymoreprecioustoyouthanmine?""Iwon'tbel

25、ong,"fathersaid."You'llleavethesechildrenunprotected,withthatNegroabout?""I'mgoing,too,"Caddysaid."Letmego,father.""Whatwouldhedowiththem,ifhewereunfortunateenoughtohavethem?"fathersaid."Iwanttogo,too,"Jasonsaid."Jason!"mothers

26、aid.Shewasspeakingtofather.Youcouldtellthatbythewayshesaidit.Likeshebelievedthatalldayfatherhadbeentryingtothinkofdoingthethingthatshewouldn'tlikethemost,andthatsheknewallthetimethatafterawhilehewouldthinkofit.Istayedquiet,becausefatherandIbothknewthatmotherwouldwanthimtomakemestaywithher,ifshej

27、ustthoughtofitintime.Sofatherdidn'tlookatme.Iwastheoldest.IwasnineandCaddywassevenandJasonwasfive."Nonsense,"fathersaid."Wewon'tbelong."Nancyhadherhaton.Wecametothelane."Jubahalwaysbeengoodtome,"Nancysaid."Wheneverhehadtwodollars,oneofthemwasmine."Wewa

28、lkedinthelane."IfIcanjustgetthroughthelane,"Nancysaid,"Ibeallrightthen.Thelanewasalwaysdark."ThisiswhereJasongotscaredonHallowe'en,"Caddysaid."Ididn't,"Jasonsaid."Can'tAuntRacheldoanythingwithhim?"fathersaid.AuntRachelwasold.Shelivedinacabinbe

29、yondNancy's,byherself.Shehadwhitehairandshesmokedapipeinthedoor,alldaylong;shedidn'tworkanymore.TheysaidshewasJubah'smother.Sometimesshesaidshewasandsometimesshesaidshewasn'tanykintoJubah."Yes,youdid,"Caddysaid."YouwerescairderthanFrony.YouwerescairderthanT.P.even.Scai

30、rderthanniggers.""Can'tnobodydonothingwithhim,"Nancysaid."HesayIdonewokeupthedevilinhim,andain'tbutonethinggoingtolayitagain.""Well,he'sgonenow,"fathersaid."There'snothingforyoutobeafraidofnow.Andifyou'djustletwhitemenalone.""Letw

31、hatwhitemenalone?"Caddysaid."Howletthemalone?""Heain'tgonenowhere,"Nancysaid."Icanfeelhim.Icanfeelhimnow,inthislane.Hehearingustalk,everyword,hidsomewhere,waiting.Iain'tseenhim,andIain'tgoingtoseehimagainbutoncemore,withthatrazor.Thatrazoronthatstringdownhis

32、back,insidehisshirt.AndthenIain'tgoingtobeevensurprised.""Iwasn'tscaired,"Jasonsaid."Ifyou'dbehaveyourself,you'dhavekeptoutofthis,"fathersaid."Butit'sallrightnow.He'sprobablyinSt.Louisnow.Probablygotanotherwifebynowandforgotallaboutyou."&quo

33、t;Ifhehas,Ibetternotfindoutaboutit,"Nancysaid."I'dstandthereandeverytimehewroppedher,I'dcutthatarmoff.I'dcuthisheadoffandI'dslitherbellyandI'dshove-""Hush,"fathersaid."Slitwhosebelly,Nancy?"Caddysaid."Iwasn'tscared,"Jasonsaid."

34、;I'dwalkrightdownthislanebymyself.""Yah,"Caddysaid."Youwouldn'tdaretoputyourfootinitifwewerenotwithyou."IIDilseywasstillsick,andsowetookNancyhomeeverynightuntilmothersaid,"Howmuchlongeristhisgoingtogoon?ItobeleftaloneinthisbighousewhileyoutakehomeafrightenedNegr

35、o?"WefixedapalletinthekitchenforNancy.Onenightwewakedup,hearingthesound.Itwasnotsinginganditwasnotcrying,comingupthedarkstairs.Therewasalightinmother'sroomandweheardfathergoingdownthehall,downthebackstairs,andCaddyandIwentintothehall.Thefloorwascold.Ourtoescurledawayfromthefloorwhileweliste

36、nedtothesound.Itwaslikesinginganditwasn'tlikesinging,likethesoundsthatNegroesmake.Thenitstoppedandweheardfathergoingdownthebackstairs,andwewenttotheheadofthestairs.Thenthesoundbeganagain,inthestairway,notloud,andwecouldseeNancy'seyeshalfwayupthestairs,againstthewall.Theylookedlikecat'sey

37、esdo,likeabigcatagainstthewall,watchingus.Whenwecamedownthestepstowhereshewasshequitmakingthesoundagain,andwestoodthereuntilfathercamebackupfromthekitchen,withhispistolinhishand.HewentbackdownwithNancyandtheycamebackwithNancy'spallet.Wespreadthepalletinourroom.Afterthelightinmother'sroomwent

38、off,wecouldseeNancy'seyesagain."Nancy,"Caddywhispered,"areyouasleep,Nancy?"Nancywhisperedsomething.Itwasohorno,Idon'tknowwhich.Likenobodyhadmadeit,likeitcamefromnowhereandwentnowhere,untilitwaslikeNancywasnotthereatall;thatIhadlookedsohardathereyesonthestairthattheyhadgot

39、printedonmyeyelids,likethesundoeswhenyouhaveclosedyoureyesandthereisnosun."Jesus,"Nancywhispered."Jesus.""WasitJubah?"Caddywhispered."Didhetrytocomeintothekitchen?""Jesus,"Nancysaid.Likethis:Jeeeeee-eeeeeeeeesus,untilthesoundwentoutlikeamatchoracandl

40、edoes."Canyouseeus,Nancy?"Caddywhispered."Canyouseeoureyestoo?""Iain'tnothingbutanigger,"Nancysaid."Godknows.Godknows.""Whatdidyouseedownthereinthekitchen?"Caddywhispered."Whattriedtogetin?""Godknows,"Nancysaid.Wecouldseeherey

41、es."Godknows."Dilseygotwell.Shecookeddinner."You'dbetterstayinbedadayortwolonger,"fathersaid."Whatfor?"Dilseysaid."IfIhadbeenadaylater,thisplacewouldbetorackandruin.Getonoutofhere,now,andletmegetmykitchenstraightagain."Dilseycookedsupper,too.Andthatnight,j

42、ustbeforedark,Nancycameintothekitchen."Howdoyouknowhe'sback?"Dilseysaid."Youain'tseenhim.""Jubahisanigger,"Jasonsaid."Icanfeelhim,"Nancysaid."Icanfeelhimlayingyonderintheditch.""Tonight?"Dilseysaid."Ishetheretonight?""

43、;Dilsey'saniggertoo,"Jasonsaid."Youtrytoeatsomething,"Dilseysaid."Idon'twantnothing,"Nancysaid."Iain'tanigger,"Jasonsaid."Drinksomecoffee,"Dilseysaid.ShepouredacupofcoffeeforNancy."Doyouknowhe'souttheretonight?Howcomeyouknowit'sto

44、night?""Iknow,"Nancysaid."He'sthere,waiting.Iknow.Idonelivedwithhimtoolong.Iknowwhathefixingtodoforeheknowsithimself.""Drinksomecoffee,"Dilseysaid.Nancyheldthecuptohermouthandblewintothecup.Hermouthpursedoutlikeaspreadingadder's,likearubbermouth,likeshehadb

45、lownallthecoloroutofherlipswithblowingthecoffee."Iain'tanigger,"Jasonsaid."Areyouanigger,Nancy?""Ihell-born,child,"Nancysaid."Iwon'tbenothingsoon.IgoingbackwhereIcomefromsoon."Shebegantodrinkthecoffee.Whileshewasdrinking,holdingthecupinbothhands,shebeg

46、antomakethesoundagain.Shemadethesoundintothecupandthecoffeesploshedoutontoherhandsandherdress.Hereyeslookedatusandshesatthere,herelbowsonherknees,holdingthecupinbothhands,lookingatusacrossthewetcup,makinthesound."LookatNancy,"Jasonsaid."Nancycan'tcookforusnow.Dilsey'sgotwellno

47、w.""Youhushup,"Dilseysaid.Nancyheldthecupinbothhands,lookingatus,makingthesound,likethereweretwoofthem:onelookingatusandtheothermakingthesound."Whyn'tyouletMr.Jasontelefoamthemarshal?"Dilseysaid.Nancystoppedthen,holdingthecupinherlongbrownhands.Shetriedtodrinksomecoffeea

48、gain,butitsploshedoutofthecup,ontoherhandsandherdressandsheputthecupdown.Jasonwatchedher"Ican'tswallowit,"Nancysaid."Iswallowsbutitwon'tgodownme.""Yougodowntothecabin,"Dilseysaid."FronywillfixyouapalletandI'llbetheresoon.""Won'tnoniggersto

49、phim,"Nancysaid."Iain'tanigger,"Jasonsaid."AmI,Dilsey?""Ireckonnot,"Dilseysaid.ShelookedatNancy."Idon'treckonso.Whatyougoingtodo,then?"Nancylookedatus.Hereyeswentfast,likeshewasafraidtherewasn'ttimetolook,withouthardlymovingatall.Shelookedatus

50、,atallthreeofusatonetime."YoumemberthatnightIstayedinyawls'room?"shesaid.Shetoldabouthowwewakedupearlythenextmorning,andplayed.Wehadtoplayquiet,onherpallet,untilfatherwokeanditwastimeforhertogodownandgetbreakfast."Goandaskyoumawtoletmestayheretonight,"Nancysaid."Iwon'

51、;tneednopallet.Wecanplaysomemore,"shesaid.Caddyaskedmother.Jasonwenttoo."Ican'thaveNegroessleepinginthehouse,"mothersaid.Jasoncried.Hecrieduntilmothersaidhecouldn'thaveanydessertforthreedaysifhedidn'tstop.ThenJasonsaidhewouldstopifDilseywouldmakeachocolatecake.Fatherwasthe

52、re."Whydon'tyoudosomethingaboutit?"mothersaid."Whatdowehaveofficersfor?""WhyisNancyafraidofJubah?"Caddysaid."Areyouafraidoffather,mother?""Whatcouldtheydo?"fathersaid."IfNancyhasn'tseenhim,howcouldtheofficersfindhim?""Thenwhyis

53、sheafraid?"mothersaid."Shesaysheisthere.Shesayssheknowsheistheretonight.""Yetwepaytaxes,"mothersaid."ImustwaitherealoneinthisbighousewhileyoutakeaNegrowomanhome.""YouknowthatIamnotlyingoutsidewitharazor,"fathersaid.I'llstopifDilseywillmakeachocolateca

54、ke,"Jasonsaid.Mothertoldustogooutandfathersaidhedidn'tknowifJasonwouldgetachocolatecakeornot,butheknewwhatJasonwasgoingtogetinaboutaminute.WewentbacktothekitchenandtoldNancy."Fathersaidforyoutogohomeandlockthedoor,andyou'llbeallright,"Caddysaid."Allrightfromwhat,Nancy?IsJ

55、ubahmadatyou?"Nancywasholdingthecoffeecupinherhands,herelbowonherkneesandherhandsholdingthecupbetweenherknees.Shewaslookingintothecup."WhathaveyoudonethatmadeJubahmad?"Caddysaid.Nancyletthecupgo.Itdidn'tbreakonthefloor,butthecoffeespilledout,andNancysattherewithherhandsmakingthesh

56、apeofthecup.Shebegantomakethesoundagain,notloud.Notsingingandnotun-singing.Wewatchedher."Here,"Dilseysaid."Youquitthat,now.Yougeta-holtofyourself.Youwaithere.IgoingtogetVershtowalkhomewithyou."Dilseywentout.WelookedatNancy.Hershoulderskeptshaking,butshehadquitmakingthesound.Wewat

57、chedher."What'sJubahgoingtodotoyou?"Caddysaid."Hewentaway."Nancylookedatus."WehadfunthatnightIstayedinyawls'room,didn'twe?""Ididn't,"Jasonsaid."Ididn'thaveanyfun.""Youwereasleep,"Caddysaid."Youwerenotthere."&qu

58、ot;Let'sgodowntomyhouseandhavesomemorefun,"Nancysaid."Motherwon'tletus,"Isaid."It'stoolatenow.""Don'tbotherher,"Nancysaid."Wecantellherinthemorning.Shewon'tmind.""Shewouldn'tletus,"Isaid."Don'taskhernow,"Nan

59、cysaid."Don'tbotherhernow.""Theydidn'tsaywecouldn'tgo,"Caddysaid."Wedidn'task,"Isaid."Ifyougo,I'lltell,"Jasonsaid."We'llhavefun,"Nancysaid."Theywon'tmind,justtomyhouse.Ibeenworkingforyawlalongtime.Theywon'tmind.&q

60、uot;I'mnotafraidtogo,"Caddysaid."Jasonistheonethat'safraid.He'lltell.""I'mnot,"Jasonsaid."Youare,"Caddysaid."You'lltell.""Iwon'ttell,"Jasonsaid."I'mnotafraid."Jasonain'tafraidtogowithme,"Nancysaid.&

61、quot;Isyou,Jason?""Jasonisgoingtotell,"Caddysaid.Thelanewasdark.Wepassedthepasturegate."Ibetifsomethingwastojumpoutfrombehindthatgate,Jasonwouldholler.""Iwouldn't,"Jasonsaid.Wewalkeddownthelane.Nancywastalkingloud."Whatareyoutalkingsoloudfor,Nancy?"Ca

62、ddysaid."Who;me?"Nancysaid."ListenatQuentinandCaddyandJasonsayingI'mtalkingloud.""Youtalkliketherewasfourofushere,"Caddysaid."Youtalklikefatherwasheretoo.""Who;metalkingloud,Mr.Jason?"Nancysaid."NancycalledJason'Mister',"Caddysaid."ListenhowCaddyandQuentinandJasontalk,"Nancysaid."We'renottalkingloud,"Caddysaid."You'retheonethat'stalkinglikefather-""Hush,"Nancysaid;"hush,Mr.Jason.""NancycalledJason'Mister'a