登陆注册
875300000004

第4章 在行路中遇见自己 (3)

On this waning autumn afternoon the northern Maine landscape is tart, compelling, shadowed here and there by puffs of fair-weather cumulus, remnants of summer. Here, a dozen miles west of Waldoboro, I once spent my summers from the age of 12 to 14 at one of those Indian-named boys’ camps—more years ago than I like to think about.

I stand on the rise near what was once the baseball diamond. To my right is the black oak, several hundred years old, beside which we used to hold our Saturday night campfires. How many times on heat-heavy August days have I stood on this rise looking out over the wooded landscape toward the Camden hills? For me it was always a magical prospect, the austere countryside stretching away with the sharp definition of an 18th-century aquatint across hill and woodland to Mt. Battie outlined against the horizon. At our campfire evenings, when we gathered around the great oak just after sunset, Mount Battie without losing its definition would take on a blue luminosity.

Over the years a ragged second-growth of aspen and birch and speckled alder, at the far edge of the baseball diamond, has blotted out that view. Now there is nothing to see beneath the crystalline sky but the uneven tops of second-growth trees. Already the sky has begun to taken on the steelier tints of winter. Even Mt. Battie has disappeared.

On sultry afternoons, when the air quivered in the cool and fading light of early evening, I used to stand here by the old oak and look out across an interlude of scrub and swamp from which several miles away, a hill emerged. As a hill it was insignificant enough. Below its bare summit an abandoned pasture lay dotted with ground juniper and outcroppings of granite. Yet something about that hill drew me, beckoned to me, across the miles. I could not bear to take my eyes from it, I knew only that before summer ended I must go to it, make my way over the pasture, up and up past shrub and granite until I stood on the very summit. It was something I had to do. I could not explain why. I did not even ask myself.

Not that it was easy to get away from camp. Morning and afternoon, our activities were recorded in a counselor’ s notebook. We had to be swimming or rowing or playing tennis or baseball or practicing a track event or going off on nature walks or making some gadget in the carpentry shop—just so long as we did something. But to do nothing, to climb a hill for no reason, that was outside the rules, against the “camp spirit”.

Saturday afternoons, with their influx of parents and visitors, brought a certain relaxation, less accountability. On one such blue and vivid afternoon I slipped away to get to my hill. From the great oak, I could see its summit ahead of me, unknown, inviting. Inconspicuously, I edged along the baseball field, then slipped into the underbrush.

It was hard going, hard to keep a sense of direction in such a tangle of vine and thicket. I stumbled over rotten logs, stepped into anthills. Marsh hillocks gave way under my feet, dead branches snagged me, prickly seeds worked into my wet sneakers. The air was stagnant. With mosquitoes droning and hover-flies circling and darting, I plodded on, losing myself and losing track of time.

I must have been struggling on for at least an hour. Suddenly I came to a clearing, an open grove of ash and maple, and as the sunlight filtered through the leaves. I saw in front of me a cluster of ornate diminutive houses. Brightly painted in a variety of colors, trimmed with scrollwork and cusps and scalloped shingles, with narrow, high-pitched roofs, each was no more than an arm’ s length from the next, and all were empty. There was no sign of any living being.

To me, emerging from the wood, the sunlit grove was like something out of Grimm, as if this odd little village had been put under a spell and had been asleep for 100 years. A yellow house in front of me with a blue-latticed front porch could have been waiting for Hansel and Gretel. So quiet the grove was, so still the air, that even the aspen leaves hung limp. Blue and green dragonflies, poised in the air, added to the enchantment. Far off, I could hear the wich-wich-wich of a yellow warbler and a locust’ s somnolent buzz. Otherwise silence.

I went up on the porch of a pinktrimmed house and peered through the single window. What I saw was prosaic enough—a room with a couple of chairs, a table, a couch, a kerosene lamp. A ladder led upstairs to a sleeping loft. The grove was a mystery. Why were those little houses there? Why were they empty and yet at the same time cared for? Who owned them? It was eerie to see these miniatures huddled together against all that space. I half expected some guardian to come rushing out and ask me what I was doing there.

I suppose my enchanted village was some sort of camp meeting ground, used a few weeks each summer. I never did find out. On that afternoon I did not linger. The sun’ s rays were already slanting, the shadows longer, and my hill still lay ahead of me. Again I plunged into the underbrush, breaking through at last to a rutted road scored with puddles. But at the first turning I reached the foot of the hill, my hill, open and placed in the lengthened sunshine. Its thin meadow grass had turned brown, a stone wall that once enclosed the pasture had fallen apart, and velvety mullein leaves were thrusting up between the boulders. Up I went, over a granite ledge and across the meadow, trampling down hardhack and meadowsweet in my hurry to get to the top.

同类推荐
  • 被侮辱与被损害的人

    被侮辱与被损害的人

    陀思妥耶夫斯基是一位超越时空的作家,又是一位充满矛盾的作家。正如世界有多复杂,人有多复杂,陀思妥耶夫斯基本人也有多复杂一样。现在,俄罗斯和全世界已悄然兴起一门新的学问——陀思妥耶夫斯基学。陀思妥耶夫斯基本人是个谜,他的作品也是个谜。破译这个谜,是全世界陀思妥耶夫斯基学家研究的基本课题。专家们把陀思妥耶夫斯基的生平与创作,一般分为两个时期:西伯利亚之前和西伯利亚之后。本书《被侮辱与被损害的人》(一八六一)则处于这两个时期之间,带有明显的过渡性质:既保留了四十年代作品的思想、内容和风格,又承上启下,开创了作家后期以探索社会秘密、人心秘密为主的社会-心理-哲理小说的先河。
  • 三句半搞定零售导购英语口语

    三句半搞定零售导购英语口语

    本书从“热情迎客”、“服装饰品”、“生活必须品”、“旅游纪念品”、“其他商品”、“商场服务”六个方面入手,围绕每个主题词挑选出“三句半”英文。”——“三句”是指最时髦实用的三个交流常用句,“半”是指点滴解析与说明,让你轻松学会一口流利的零售导购英语。本书以最地道、最实用的句型、对话,让你灵活应用、举一反三;以最纯正、最清晰的朗读为你提供超值的试听享受。精心安排的句型和对话,清楚地显示英语词、语、句的意义和表达能力,让你一说就上口。
  • 不爱也是一种爱

    不爱也是一种爱

    本书收录的百则经典美文,围绕着爱的主题,或婉转或浪漫,或温和或充满激情,洋溢着浓浓的爱意,让心灵为之震撼;有的灵气十足,宛如一线罅隙中奔涌而出的清泉,悄然渗入心田,融语言美、意境美于一体;有的语言凝炼、言简意赅;有的叙述详尽、丝丝入扣。
  • 出国英语一本通

    出国英语一本通

    本书共7章内容,依次为“出国行程”“出国留学”“出国旅游”“出国商务”“国外定居”“国外购物”“回国返程”。这些章节包含86个话题,涵盖最常用的场景对话,为您出国之旅做最佳语言沟通的准备。
  • 用耳朵听最优美的名著

    用耳朵听最优美的名著

    系列图书精选的各类故事、散文、演讲、时文及名著片段,均用词精准简洁,语句流畅优美,将引领你进入趣、情、爱与理的博大世界,使你更加充满信心地去追求梦想。这里有嘻嘻哈哈的幽默故事,有体会幸福与生活的感悟故事,有帮你战胜挫折给你勇气的故事,有闪烁着人性光辉的美德故事,有发人深省的智慧故事,也有在成长路上给你动力的哲理故事。相信本系列图书能为你展现一个美丽新世界并使您的英语学习更上一层楼。
热门推荐
  • 无尽藏

    无尽藏

    一卷图,一首诗,一座迷宫般的园林。《无尽藏》集禅意、诗意、悬疑于一体,通过破译一幅《夜宴图》,讲述了南唐后主李煜治下的宫里宫外的斗争。史虚白、朱紫薇、秦蒻兰、樊若水、大司徒、小长老、耿炼师、李后主这些书中人物也是历史人物,以他们各自不同的境遇,将我们带入到了南唐那烟雾缭绕的历史迷宫里。
  • 绾绾青丝三千繁花不及汝

    绾绾青丝三千繁花不及汝

    狐族桃岐山……“师父,绾绾不能永远活在您的羽翼下,狐族近日也战事纷纷,绾绾想要保护好狐族,保护好青丘,保护好桃岐山。”白绾绾双膝跪下。白色纤衣已被尘土浸染。“对不起,绾绾,是师父太自私,师父不想让你受到任何人的伤害......”风如初小酌一杯,心里愧疚地想。白绾绾打断了风如初的沉默,“师父?师父?您可同意?”“不可,绾绾本是青丘九尾蓝狐之后人,若有什么万一,本尊如何与狐帝狐后交代。”风如初拂起白袖,起身离座,扶起白绾绾。谁知,白绾绾某夜竟穿过狐玉瀑布独自离开.......
  • 天赐宝贝之偏偏喜欢你

    天赐宝贝之偏偏喜欢你

    秦琛,江州第一少,位高权重,俊美无俦,进可驭女,退可掰男,世称公子无双。连翘,幼失双亲,寄居秦府,不但没受寄人篱下之苦,更以秦府大小姐之尊嚣张成长,促其嚣张者,秦琛也。【其一】“琛少,大小姐抓花了叶家千金的脸。”“只伤了脸?唔,匪匪,我是怎么教你的?人若推你一下,至少要将人打得三个月下不了床。”办案小警员:跪求心理阴影面积,求安抚。【其二】“琛少,大小姐打断了州长家小公子的腿。”“哦,匪匪可有受伤?”手下:珍爱生命,远离大小姐。【其三】“琛少,大小姐说今年中秋要到月亮上吃月饼。”“联系宇航局,安排好时间。”手下:跪抱大小姐的腿,求带。【然后的然后】秦琛大婚日,准新娘惨遭绑架。肇事者,连翘也!“琛少,大小姐说:你娶她,她放人,否则就撕票。”“我娶。”连翘逼婚成功,由秦府大小姐华丽变身成秦府少夫人,自此夫妻情浓,羡煞旁人。然而不过短短三年时间,夫妻情裂。“连翘,你不受牢狱之刑,谁人受。”秦琛亲手将连翘送进监狱。五年后,连翘出狱,自此,恩怨生,风云起。死生契阔间,她始知:由始至终他为她低到尘埃,由始至终他将她牢牢护在他的羽翼之下!★一句话:这里讲述的是一个嚣张的小太妹蜕变成殿堂级女王之后的故事。加一句:还有酷拽狂霸萌翻天的宝宝和她爹爱恨情仇的故事。★【父女交锋一】“帅哥哥,我四岁了,不是一岁的小孩子,这里明明是一场货真价实的袭击,你怎么能昧着良心说这是演习?”某男眼冒金星:好酷的娃娃。【父女交锋二】“帅哥哥,我看中你了。虽然你我年龄差距大了些,但我觉得你很好,你耐点心,等我长大了就嫁给你。唔,当然,关于我妈咪,你就别担心了,在我嫁给你之前,我会替她找个好老公的。”某男脸色阴沉:你敢找后爸,老子我打断你的腿。★一对一,身心干净,架空国度,请勿对号入座。★另外,推荐一下,喜欢古言的可以看看我的完结文:《我家娘子》俊美相爷PK腹黑千金。《夫子栽了》腹黑师徒,高手过招!《夫子归来之霸宠》爱美人不爱江山!《我的长孙皇后》千古一帝之霸宠。
  • 春风至

    春风至

    【占个坑,不知道什么时候开……】狗仔甲:“特大新闻报道,流量小花夏至荣获奥斯卡影后!”狗仔乙:“看我头条,‘影后夏至疑似秋文总裁宋皓文之女’。”狗仔丙:“第一手资料,‘影后夏至竟是尹氏集团二小姐’”此时,微博上又变了热搜――“影后夏至恋上男助理”众狗仔:“什么!?”别墅内,某男眨巴着大眼睛道:“娘子,他们说我是吃软饭的。”夏至:“好吃吗?”“嗯。”某男瞟了眼夏至的锁骨,咽了咽口水,“我要再来一碗!”
  • 海贼之木之界

    海贼之木之界

    一世为青雉养子,了解到失的八百年后,引发世界大战,世界得救,不幸身亡。二世回到了二十年前,失去记忆,变成孩子,被打被骂,变成奴隶,孩子们在他的眼前变成残肢断臂,他踏过血泊走向自由。仿佛是命运般的安排,他又走上了老路,一条不归之路。
  • 林中枪

    林中枪

    这从来不是什么豪迈的江湖,只有一代又一代人,在江湖之远庙堂之高,或刀或剑或枪或笔,挥斥方遒。
  • 极品教主

    极品教主

    美男生活真幸福!黄金马桶玉石床,妹子门外排成行,御姐萝莉姐妹花,你要咋样就咋样!
  • 诸葛的天下

    诸葛的天下

    架空的三国时代,诸葛家族的后人意外穿越到这里企图改变家族以后的悲惨命运。这里打战靠的是三大术,军师技、武将技、倾城技。曾经的糙汉子们都变成了萌妹子;张角掌握了雷电,吕布单骑追着百万大军,悲催的主角是多么想回家。
  • 蓝天绿草间

    蓝天绿草间

    水哗哗地流在手臂上,凉意一直往皮肤里面渗。消毒间的灯光是荧白的,有些刺眼。窗外,能看到城市,车在蠕动,还有那些人,有的还撑着伞。天有点小雨,空气也是闷的,东方的天一直没亮开来,灰灰地压了一层脏兮兮的厚云。柯力长长地吸了口气,感觉头有些晕。昨晚是糟糕的一晚,一直在迷糊状态。他甚至觉得好像没有入眠过,半睡半醒半梦,就这样一直折腾着他。这个夜变得漫长,无聊,他耸起耳朵,能听见各种声音,妻子的呼吸声,翻动声,外面的风声,还有偶尔的汽车喇叭声,夜归人的咳嗽声。有一阵,他还听到了蛐蛐的声音,像在窗台的外面,也像在树丛。
  • 懂心理,会管理

    懂心理,会管理

    俗话说,“知己知彼,百战不殆”,“得人心者得天下”。对于带队伍的管理者来说,如果不了解作为被管理者的员工的心理,在管理中可能以己度人,鸡同鸭讲,管理措施受到抵触。本书是通俗的管理心理学读物,可以帮助管理者充分了解员工的心理,对症下药,征服人心,巧妙地实施管理策略,成功地实现管理目标。