The wind blew for three days.

Author ernest hemingway)/Translator Li Jing

The rain stopped and Nick began to climb the mountain. The road passed through the orchard, all the fruits were picked, and the autumn wind blew through the bare branches. Nick stopped and picked up the red apple that fell on the side of the road. Apples are wet and stick out in the hay. He stuffed apples into his wool coat pocket.

Going up the road, the top of the mountain is out of the orchard. The hut stood there with bare porches and smoking chimneys. There is a garage and henhouse behind the house, and a row of short trees are erected, as if to protect the Woods behind. Nick saw the big tree shaking violently in the forest. This is the first storm in autumn.

When Nick crossed the clearing in front of the orchard, the door of the hut opened and Bill came out and stood on the porch looking out.

He said, "Hey, awei!"

Nick went up the steps and said, "Hi, Bill!" " "

They stood side by side, overlooking the distance, across fields, orchards, a road, through low plains and Woods, and finally reached the lake. The strong wind blew straight along the hillside to the lake. They can even see rolling waves in Shili Gorge.

Nick said, "The wind roars like a lioness."

Bill said, "She will growl for three days."

Nick said, "Is your father at home?"

"No .. he went out hunting with a gun. Come in. "

Nick walked into the cabin. The fire in the fireplace is blazing. The fire roared with strong winds. Bill shut the door tightly.

Bill said, "Have a drink?"

Bill went into the kitchen and took out two cups and a pitcher. Nick took a bottle of whisky from the shelf above the stove.

He said, "Drink this?"

Bill said, "Good."

They sat by the fire and drank Irish whiskey mixed with water.

Nick said, "This wine is very strong and has a choking taste." He picked up the cup and looked at it carefully by the fire.

Bill said, "There is peat in it."

Nick said, "How can fertilizer be put into wine?"

Bill said, "It doesn't affect the taste."

Nick said, "Who have you ever seen put peat?"

Bill said, "No."

Nick said, "Me neither."

Nick stretched out his legs and put his feet in front of the fireplace, and his wet shoes began to steam.

Bill said, "You'd better take off your shoes."

"But I didn't wear socks."

Bill said, "Take off your shoes and dry them. I'll find you a pair of socks. " He said that and went to the attic. Nick heard him walk overhead. The attic is a big studio. Once upon a time, Nick sometimes slept there with Bill and his son. The innermost part is the dressing room. Because of the rain, they moved the cot back to the house, covered with rubber mats.

Bill went downstairs with a pair of thick wool socks in his hand.

He said, "It's already cold, so we can't walk barefoot any more."

Nick said, "It's time to wear socks again. What a nuisance. " He put on his socks, sat back in the chair and put his feet on the screen in front of the fireplace.

Bill said, "The screen will crash." Nick then put down his feet and simply put them in front of the fire.

He asked, "Is there anything to see?"

"Only newspapers."

"How did the ace team perform?"

"I lost two games in a row against the Giants."

"The Giants should have won."

Bill said, "competition from house to house. As long as McGraw can buy all the good players in the league, the giants will definitely win every game. "

Nick said, "He can't buy it all."

Bill said, "He can buy whatever he wants. Let's just say that he has a way to annoy those players and has to turn to him. "

Nick agreed: "For example, Heini Zimu."

"That guy will be McGraw's trump card."

Bill stood up.

Nick went on to say, "He hits the ball very accurately." The fire roasted his leg, which was a little hot.

Bill said, "He is also a good outfielder, but he lost the ball."

Nick guessed, "Maybe that's why McGraw bought him."

Bill agreed. "I don't know."

Nick said, "There are always many things we don't know."

"Of course. But although we are far away, we have a lot of inside information. "

"Yes, just like horse racing. If you have never seen a horse, how to choose? "

"That's right."

Bill reached for the whisky. As soon as his big hand grabbed the bottle, he poured it into the cup handed by Nick.

"How much water?"

"As much as wine."

Bill sat on the floor, near Nick's chair.

Nick said, "It's nice to have heavy rain in autumn, don't you think?"

"Very good."

Nick said, "The best time of the year."

Bill said, "It must be boring in the city at this time."

Nick said, "I really want to take part in the world series."

Bill said, "Games are usually held in new york or Philadelphia, so don't go there."

"I wonder, when will the ace team win a game?"

Bill said, "I'm afraid we can't wait in this life."

Nick said, "well, if they can win a game, they will go crazy!" " "

"Do you remember that they almost won a race before the train accident?"

Nick said, "Why don't you remember!" He remembered at once.

Bill went to the window and picked up a book on the table, which he had just put on the table before he went out. He leaned back in Nick's chair, with a cup in one hand and a book in the other.

"What are you looking at?"

"Richard faivre"

"I can't read that book."

Bill said, "Yes, it's not that bad, really, awei."

Nick asked, "Do you have any books that I haven't read?"

"Have you read Lovers in the Woods?"

"Read it. That's it They pull out their swords and put them in the middle before going to bed every night. "

"That's a good book, awei."

"That book is really good. But I don't understand what that sword is for. It has to stand all night, with the blade facing up, and can't lie flat, otherwise it will pass as soon as it turns over, whether it has a sword or not. "

Bill said, "That sword is a symbol."

Nick said, "Yes, but it's useless."

"Have you read the book Perseverance?"

Nick said, "That's a really good book. The protagonist will never get rid of his father. Do you still have walpole's books? "

Bill said, "The Black Forest is about Russia."

Nick asked, "Does he still know about Russia?"

I don't know. Those writers can write anything. He may have lived in Russia when he was a child. He knows a lot of local things. "

Nick said, "I really want to meet him."

Bill said, "I want to see chesterton."

Nick said, "I wish he were here now. We can take him with us when we go fishing in the Loire River tomorrow. "

Bill said, "I don't think he likes fishing."

Nick said, "I'm sure he would like to come. He is definitely a good man. Do you remember such a passage in "Flying Inn"?

If the angel gives you something to drink,

Thank him for his kindness first,

Then he turned away and fell into the ditch. ? That's it. I guess he must be better than walpole. "

Bill said, "Yes, chesterton people are better, but walpole writes better."

Nick said, "I don't know. Chesterton wrote all the classics. "

Bill insisted, "What walpole wrote is also very classic."

Nick said, "I wish they were all here now. Tomorrow we will go fishing in the Loire River and take them all with us. "

Bill said, "Let's get drunk."

Nick agreed: "All right."

Bill said, "My dad won't mind."

Nick said, "Are you sure?"

Bill said, "I'm sure."

Nick said, "I'm already a little drunk."

Bill said, "You're not drunk."

He got up from the floor and reached for the whisky. Nick, pass the glass. Bill stared at the glass tightly when he poured the wine.

Bill poured him half a glass of whisky.

He said, "Go and get some water yourself. There is only one glass of wine left. "

Nick asked, "Is there any more wine?"

"There are still many bottles, but my father only lets me drink the opened wine."

Nick said, "All right."

Bill explained, "Dad said he was drunk because he opened the wine."

Nick said, "That makes sense." He found this sentence very interesting. He never thought of it that way. He always feels drunk because he drinks alone.

He asked respectfully, "How is your father recently?"

Bill said, "He's fine. It's just a little crazy sometimes. "

Nick said, "He is very exciting." Nick poured the water from the pitcher into the glass. Water is slowly mixed with whisky. Whiskey is more than water.

Bill said, "Yes, he must be."

Nick said, "My father is fine, too."

Bill said, "Of course, it must be good."

Nick said, "He said he had never touched alcohol in his life." When he said this, he seemed to announce a scientifically verified fact.

"He is a doctor and my father is a painter. Not the same. "

Nick said sadly, "He missed a lot."

Bill said, "Not necessarily. Everything is compensated. "

Nick just admitted, "He said he missed a lot."

Bill said, "Yes, Dad has a hard time."

Nick said, "It's always even."

They sat in front of the fire, watched the fire and thought about this profound truth.

Nick said, "I'll go to the back corridor and get a piece of wood." He looked at the fire and found it was not prosperous. He wants to show that he can work with a cup in one hand. Although his father never drinks a drop in his life, he still drinks a little. Bill won't drink him unless he is drunk himself.

Bill said, "If there is a very big beech, take that one." Bill is also sober and knows what to do.

Bill walked into the kitchen with wood. When he walked through the kitchen, he knocked over the plates on the table. He put down the wood and picked up the plate. There are preserved apricots soaked in water on the plate. He carefully picked up the fallen apricots, some of which rolled under the stove. He also picked them up and put them back on the plate. He scooped some water from the bucket beside the table and sprinkled it on the preserved apricots. He is very proud of himself. He is really capable.

He walked into the room with wood. Bill got up from his seat and helped him put the wood in the stove.

Nick said, "Good wood."

Bill said, "I kept it until the weather got bad." Wood like this can burn all night. "

Nick said: "There is charcoal left after burning, which can be used to make a fire in the morning."

Bill agreed. "That's right." They talked while drinking, and the more they talked, the more uncertain they became.

Nick said, "Let's have another bottle."

Bill said, "I think there should be an open bottle of wine in the cupboard."

He knelt in front of the cupboard and took out a square bottle from it.

He said, "It's scotch."

Nick said, "I'll get some more water." He went to the kitchen again. He scooped up the cold mountain spring water from the bucket with a spoon and poured it into the pitcher. He turned and walked to the living room, passed the big mirror in the dining room and stopped to look at himself in the mirror. His face looks strange. He smiled at himself in the mirror and the mirror grinned at him. He blinked at himself in the mirror and then walked on. The face in the mirror is not his face, but it doesn't matter.

Bill poured the wine.

Nick said, "Such a big glass."

Bill said, "This is not for ourselves, awei."

Nick raised his glass and asked, "Then why should we drink?"

Bill said, "To fish!"

Nick said, "All right. This is for you, sir, for fishing. "

Bill said, "No matter where you fish, drink to fishing."

Nick said, "Fishing, let's drink to fishing."

Bill said, "That's better than baseball."

Nick said, "These two can't be compared. How do we talk about baseball? "

Bill said, "That's wrong. Baseball is for fools. "

They drank all the wine in the cup.

"Now let's drink to chesterton."

Bill quickly chimed in: "And walpole."

Nick poured the wine. Bill pours water. They looked at each other and felt great.

Bill said, "Here's to you, sir, for chesterton and walpole."

Nick said, "Let's drink to this gentleman."

They gulped it down. Bill, fill the glass. Two people are sitting in a big chair in front of the fire.

Bill said, "awei, you did very wisely."

Nick asked, "What did you say?"

Bill said, "Break up with Maggie."

Nick said, "I think so."

"It must be done. Otherwise, you have to go back to your hometown to work and earn money to get married now. "

Nick didn't say anything.

Bill went on to say, "If a man gets married, he is completely finished. There is nothing left. Everything is gone. No future. You know what a married man looks like. "

Nick didn't say anything.

Bill said, "I can see that all married men are fat." No future. "

Nick said, "Yes."

Bill said, "It's not good to break up, but you will still fall in love with someone else, so it doesn't matter. Love can, but don't destroy it. "

Nick said, "Yes."

"If you marry her, you have to marry her family. Think about the man her mother and her mother married. "

Nick nodded.

"If you get married, those people will wander around your house all day, and you will have to go to their house for dinner on Sunday, and then you will have to invite them back. Her mother will nag her endlessly, telling her what to do and how to do it. "

Nick sat quietly.

Bill said, "It's great that you can escape. Now she can find someone to accompany her and live a happy and stable life. Water is water, oil is oil, and they don't get along. Just like Ida and I, we can't be together. She is suitable for someone like stratton. I guess you and Maggie are the same. "

Nick didn't say anything. There is not a drop of wine left, he is the only one. Bill is not here. He didn't sit in front of the fire either. He won't go fishing with Bill and his son tomorrow, nor will he do anything. He's not drunk. It's over. All he knew was that he was with Marjory, and now he has lost her. She left. He told her to go. That's the point. He may never see her again, or he may never have a chance. It's over. It's over.

Nick said, "Let's have another drink."

Bill poured the wine. Nick added a little water.

Bill said, "If you hadn't broken up, we wouldn't be drinking together like this."

That's true. He intended to go back to his hometown to find a job. He had planned to stay in Charlevoix all winter so as to be near Maggie. Now he doesn't know what to do next.

Bill said, "not to mention fishing together tomorrow." You did the right thing, so right. "

Nick said, "No way."

Bill said, "I know. This is the case. "

Nick said, "Suddenly it's all over. I don't know why. I have no choice. Just like the strong wind outside for three days, it blew all the leaves off the trees.

Bill said, "The point is that it's over."

Nick said, "It's my fault."

Bill said, "It doesn't matter whose fault it is."

Nick said, "I don't think so."

The point is that with Marjory gone, he may never see her again. He once told her that he would go to Italy together and they would be very happy. They said they would go to many places together. It's impossible now.

Bill said, "The most important thing is that everything is over. I'm telling you, Wei, I was worried when you didn't break up. You did the right thing. Her mother has gone too far, which is unbearable. I know. She tells people everywhere that you are engaged. "

Nick said, "We are not engaged."

"It's all spread."

Nick said, "I can't help it, but we're really not engaged."

Bill asked, "Aren't you going to get married?"

Nick said, "I intend to, but we are not engaged."

Bill asked him, "What's the difference?"

"I don't know, but there is a difference."

Bill said, "I don't see any difference."

Nick said, "Forget it, let's drink."

Bill said, "well, get drunk if you want."

Nick said, "Let's get drunk first, and then go swimming."

He drank all the wine in the glass.

He said, "I really don't want to treat her like that, but I can't help it." You know what her mother is like! " "

Bill said, "Her mother is really bad."

"Suddenly it's all over." Nick said, "I really shouldn't mention it."

Bill said, "You didn't bring it up. I brought it up first. I've said everything I need to say. Let's never talk about it again. Don't even think about it Maybe you two can start over. "

Nick didn't think about it. The whole thing seems to be completely over. Maybe really start all over again. This idea makes Nick feel good.

He said, "Yes, we can't take it lightly."

He is very happy now. It turns out that nothing is irreversible. He can still go to town on Saturday. Today is Thursday.

Nick said, "There is always a chance."

Bill said, "Be careful not to get involved again."

Nick said, "I'll be careful."

He felt very happy. Because it's not over yet Nothing was lost. He can still go to town on Saturday. He feels relaxed, much more relaxed than before There will always be a way out.

Nick said, "Let's take a shotgun and go to Shili Gorge to find your father."

"Go ahead."

Bill took two shotguns from the shelf on the wall. Open the magazine. Nick put on his wool coat and shoes. The shoes were a little hard by the fire. He is still drunk, but sober.

Nick asked, "How do you feel?"

Bill is buttoning his shirt: "Good. I am full of energy now. "

"It's no use getting drunk."

"yes. We should go outside. "

They walked down the steps and went out. It is windy outside.

Nick said, "The wind is so strong that the birds must have got under the haystack."

They walked against the wind towards the orchard.

Bill said, "I saw a pheasant this morning."

Nick said, "Maybe we can meet again."

Bill said, "It's too windy to shoot."

When he left home, he felt that Maggie was not so hard. This is no big deal. The strong wind blew all those things away.

Nick said, "It must have come from the other side of the lake."

Facing the wind, they heard the sound of shotguns

Bill said, "It's my father. He is in the swamp over there. "

Nick said, "Let's take a shortcut."

Bill said, "Good."

It's really no big deal now. The strong wind blew away everything in his heart. On Saturday night, he can still go to town. Just leave a hand.

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