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1、TheEnglishPatientMichaelOndaatjeInmemoryofSkipandMaryDickinsonForQuintinandGriffinAndforLouiseDennys,withthanks‘Mostofyou,Iamsure,rememberthetragiccircumstancesofthedeathofGeoffreyCliftonatGilfKebir,followedlaterbythedisappearanceofhiswife,KatharineClifton,which
2、tookplaceduringthe1939desertexpeditioninsearchofZerzura.“Icannotbeginthismeetingtonightwithoutreferringverysympatheticallytothosetragicoccurrences.“Thelecturethisevening...”FromtheminutesoftheGeographicalSocietymeetingofNovember194-,LondonITheVillaShestandsupint
3、hegardenwhereshehasbeenworkingandlooksintothedistance.Shehassensedashiftintheweather.Thereisanothergustofwind,abuckleofnoiseintheair,andthetallcypressessway.Sheturnsandmovesuphilltowardsthehouse,climbingoveralowwall,feelingthefirstdropsofrainonherbarearms.Shecros
4、sestheloggiaandquicklyentersthehouse.Inthekitchenshedoesn’tpausebutgoesthroughitandclimbsthestairswhichareindarknessandthencontinuesalongthelonghall,attheendofwhichisawedgeoflightfromanopendoor.Sheturnsintotheroomwhichisanothergarden—thisonemadeupoftreesandbowers
5、paintedoveritswallsandceiling.Themanliesonthebed,hisbodyexposedtothebreeze,andheturnshisheadslowlytowardsherassheenters.Everyfourdaysshewasheshisblackbody,beginningatthedestroyedfeet.Shewetsawashclothandholdingitabovehisanklessqueezesthewaterontohim,lookingupashe
6、murmurs,seeinghissmile.Abovetheshinstheburnsareworst.Beyondpurple.Bone.Shehasnursedhimformonthsandsheknowsthebodywell,thepenissleepinglikeaseahorse,thethintighthips.HipbonesofChrist,shethinks.Heisherdespairingsaint.Heliesflatonhisback,nopillow,lookingupatthefoli
7、agepaintedontotheceiling,itscanopyofbranches,andabovethat,bluesky.Shepourscalamineinstripesacrosshischestwhereheislessburned,whereshecantouchhim.Shelovesthehollowbelowthelowestrib,itscliffofskin.Reachinghisshoulderssheblowscoolairontohisneck,andhemutters.What?she
8、asks,comingoutofherconcentration.Heturnshisdarkfacewithitsgreyeyestowardsher.Sheputsherhandintoherpocket.Sheunskinstheplumwithherteeth,withdrawsthestoneandpass