文案婚姻修订雷bradburyray-the marriage mender RayBradbury.pdfVIP

TheMarriageMender

RayBradbury

Inthesuntheheadboardwaslikeafountain,tossingupplumesofclearlight.Itwascarvedwithlions

andgargoylesandbeardedgoats.Itwasanawe-inspiringobjectevenatmidnight,asAntoniosatonthe

bedandunlacedhisshoesandputhislargecallousedhandouttotouchitsshimmeringharp.Thenhe

rolledoverintothisfabulousmachinefordreaming,andhelaybreathingheavily,hiseyesbeginningto

close.

“Everynight,”hiswife’svoicesaid,“wesleepinthemouthofacalliope.”

Hercomplaintshockedhim.Helayalongwhilebeforedaringtoreachuphishard-tippedfingersto

strokethecoldmetaloftheintricateheadboard,thethreadsofthislyrethathadsungmanywildand

beautifulsongsdowntheyears.

“Thisisnocalliope,”hesaid.

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“Itcrieslikeone,”Mariasaid.“Abillionpeopleonthisworldtonighthavebeds.Why,Iaskthesaints,

notus?”

“This,”saidAntoniogently,“isabed.”Hepluckedalittletuneontheimitationbrassharpbehindhis

head.Tohisearsitwas“SantaLucia.”

“Thisbedhashumpslikeaherdofcamelswasunderit.”

“Now,Mama,”Antoniosaid.HecalledherMamawhenshewasmad,thoughtheyhadnochildren.

“Youwereneverthisway,”hewenton,“untilfivemonthsagowhenMrs.Brancozzidownstairsbought

hernewbed.”

Mariasaidwistfully,“Mrs.Brancozzi’sbed.It’slikesnow.It’sallflatandwhiteandsmooth.”

“Idon’twantanydamnsnow,allflatandwhiteandsmooth!Thesesprings-feelthem!”hecriedangrily.

“Theyknowme.TheyrecognizethatthishourofnightIliethus,attwoo’clock,so!Threeo’clockthis

way,fouro’clockthat.Wearelikeatumblingact,we’veworkedtogetherforyearsandknowallthe

holdsand