第8章爱是琥珀(8)
第8章爱是琥珀(8)
thefishingboatwasascabbyoldtub，butwhenyou，reonlypaying15dollarsapersonforthreehoursoffishing，youdon，tcomplain.therewereseveralpeopleonboard，sittingonbenchesoneachsideofthedeck.afewwereinthecabin.
thecaptain，smategaveeachofusarodandreelandabucketofbaitbeforewecastoff.
“we，remakingupajackpotforwhoevercatchestheestfish，”thematesaid，“ifyouguyswantinonit，itwillcostyouabuckapiece.”dadgavehimthreedollars.ifiguredpayingforbennywaswastedmoney.heprobablywouldn，tevenbaithishook.
iwasright.thekidstaredsuspiciouslyintothebucketandmadeaface.
“thisstuffstinks！whatisit？”
“deadfish.”itoldhim.
“doihavetotouchit？”
“ifyouwanttobaityourhook，youdo.”
“here，benny，”dadsaid，“takemyrod.thehook，sbaitedandinthewater.i，lluseyours.”
“ok！”saidbenny.hegrippedthehandleoftherodasifhislifedependedonit.
abreezehadsprungup，andthewaveswerechoppy.somecloudsslidoverthesun.nobodycaughtanything.
thenbennysaid，“something，sjerkingmyline.whatshouldido？”
“jerkback！”itoldhim.ireachedforhisrod，“i，llgetitforyou！”
“lethimdoit，joe.”dadsaid，“pull，benny，andhangontight！”
wouldn，tyouknowit？bennycaughtthefirstfish-alittlesnapper-andheactedasifitwereaprizemarlin.
meanwhiletheskyhadgrowndark，andthebreezehadturnedintoastiffwind，thewavesrosehigher.dropsofrainslappedourfaces，thetemperaturedropped，andthunderrumbledinthedistance.theboatrockedlikearunawaycradle.
dad，sfaceturnedgreen.
“ithinki，llgobelow.”hesaidashehandedmehisrod，“lookafterbenny.”
heeredacrossthedeckandbentovertherail.
ihadexpectedbennytogetseasick，butnotdad.well，thekidwouldprobablybenext.
thewaveswerereallyhighnow.onesecondtheboatseemedtobestandingonahilltop，andthenextitwouldplungeintoavalley.iclungtotherailandwatchedthewavesriseandfall.
mystomachsuddenlyheaved，andabittertasteroseintomythroat.ileanedovertherailandlostmylunch.i，dneverbeensosickinallmylife-andiwasfreezing！goosebumpsstoodoutonmyarmslikegrapefruits.whyhadn，tiwornajacket？whyhadievencome？whoneededtogodeep-seafishinganyway？isuddenlyrealizedihatedfish-especiallythedeadonesinthebaitbuckets.thestinkofthemfilledmynose，myhead-mystomach！breakfastfollowedlunch.
“maybeyou，dbettergoinsidethecabin，joe.”saidbenny，“i，llhelpyou.”
“idon，tneedanyhelp！”
butidid.iwassoweakmylegstrembled.icouldneverhavecrossedthatsquirmingdeckifbennyhadn，tsupportedme.thekidwasstrongerthanhelooked.hehelpedmedownthestepsandsteeredmetothebenchwheredadwassittingwithhisheaddroopingonhischest.
dadbrieflystaredatuswithblearyeyesbeforeclosingthemagain.iknewjusthowhefelt.
itwaswarmerinthecabin，butikeptshiveringwhileitriedtokeepmystomachfromcrawlingintomymouth.
bennytookoffhiswindbreakeranddrapeditovermyshoulders.“you，dbetterliedownonthebenchandputyourheadonmylap.”hesaid.
ilaytherefortherestofthatmiserablevoyage.whenifinallytotteredofftheboat，isaidi，dneverstepoffsolidgroundagain.dadsaidhefeltthesameway.
ithankedbennyforhisjacket-andforhisskinnythighs，whichhadmadeapillowformywoozyhead.
“noproblem！”bennygrinned，“whatarebrothersfor？”
“tomakemoney！”ipointedatthebundleofdollarbillshewascarrying.becauseofthestorm，nobodyelsehadcaughtafish，sobennyhadwonthejackpot.
hedeservedit.
“他跟我们一起吗？”我发着牢骚。
我反感地盯着同父异母的新弟弟本尼，他正坐在爸爸的车的后座上。本尼八岁了，个子瘦小，长着明亮的小眼睛和大大的耳朵。如今爸爸和妈妈离婚了，我每隔一个周末才能见到爸爸一次，但本尼总是插进来毁了一切。
那次我们去远足，他身上起了水泡。动物园使他打喷嚏。看棒球比赛时，一颗花生落到他鼻子上。如果爸爸一定要再婚，我不明白为什么他要选本尼的妈妈。我的意思是，她还不错。在这场婚姻中，糟糕的只是本尼也包括在内。
今天，我和爸爸将第一次去深海钓鱼。现在计划泡汤了。
“乔，”爸爸用耐心的口吻说，“本尼是你弟弟……”
“所谓的弟弟！”
“我们会玩得很开心的，”爸爸向我允诺道，“你最好带件夹克。”
“为什么？”我朝着佛罗里达州青灰色的天空瞟了一眼。“今天很热。”
渔船像个结痂的旧澡盆，但是一想到每人只花十五美元就可以钓三个小时，你就不会埋怨了。有几个人正坐在船上甲板两侧的长椅上，另外几个人待在船舱里。
在我们抛下钓鱼线之前，大副给我们每人一个鱼竿和鱼线，还有一桶饵料。
“我们设了头奖，奖给那个能钓到最大鱼的人，”大副说，“如果你们想将这个奖收入囊中，一个人得花一美元。”
爸爸给了他三美元。我估计给本尼付钱完全是浪费钱。他可能连给鱼钩穿饵都不会。
我的猜测是对的。这个小孩疑惑地盯着桶里，挤眉弄眼。
“这些东西发臭了！是什么啊？”
“死鱼。”我告诉他。
“我必须碰它吗？”