第23章 找到另一座山TheLastHill2（第1页）

第23章找到另一座山TheLastHill（2）

Onsultryafterheairquiveredinthedfadinglightofearlyeveaheoldoakandlookoutainterludeofsdsfromwhichseveralmilesaway，ahillemerged。Asahillitwasinsignifiough。Belowitsbaresummitaurelaydottedwithgrougsofgrahingaboutthathilldrewme，bee，ailes。Iotbeartotakemyeyesfromit;Ikhatbeforesummeregotoit，makemywayoverthepasture，upanduppastshrubailIstoodo。ItwassomethingIhadtodo。Iotexplainwhy。Ididnotevenaskmyself。

Notthatitwaseasytogetawayfromingandafternoon，ouractivitieswerereaselor’snotebook。Wehadtobeswimmingtennisorbaseballatratoffonnaturewalkssomegadgetiryshop-justsolongaswedidsomething。Buttodonothing，toclimbahillforwasoutsidetherules，againstthe“campspirit”。

Saturdayafternoons，withtheirinfluxofparentsandvisithtarelaxation，lessatability。Ononesudvividafternooogettomyhill。Fromthegreatoak，Icouldseeitssummitaheadofme，unknown，inviting。Inspicuously，Iedgedalongthebaseballfield，theheunderbrush。

Itwashardgoing，hardtokeepasenseofdiresugleofvihicket。Istumbleds，steppedintoanthills。Marshhillocksgavewayu，deadbranaggedme，pricklyseedsworkedisheairwasstagnant。Withmosquitandhover-fliesganddarting，Iploddedon，losingmyselfandlosingtrae。

Imusthavebeenstrugglingonforatleastanhour。Sudde，anopengroveofashahesunlightfilteredthroughtheleaves。Isawinfroeroforivehhtlypaintediyofedwithscrollsandscallopedshihnarrow，high-pitchedroofs，eaorethanahfromthe，ay。Therewasnosignofanylivingbeing。

Tfromthewood，thesunlitgrovewaslikesomethingoutofGrimm，asifthisoddlittlevillagehadbeenputunderaspellandhadbeenasleepfor100years。Ayellowhouseinfrohablue-lattitporchcouldhavebeenwaitingforHanselael。Soquietthegrovewas，sostilltheair，thateventheaspenleaveshunglimp。Blueandgreendragonflies，poisedintheair，addedtothee。Faroff，Icouldheartheichofayellowwarblerandalobuzz。Otherwisesilence。

&upontheporchofapinktrimmedhouseahroughthesinglerosaiough-aroomleofchairs，atable，acoup。Aladderledupstairstoasleepingloft。Thegrovewasamystery。WhywerethoselittlehousesthereWhyweretheyemptyahesametimecaredforWhoowwaseerietoseetheseminiatureshuddledtainstallthatspace。IhalfexpeeguardiantoutaIwasdoingthere。

Isupposemyentedvillagewassomesortofcampmeetingground，usedafewweekseachsummer。Ineverdidfindout。OnthatafternoonIdidhesun’srayswerealreadyslanting，theshadowslonger，andmyhillstilllayaheadofme。Agaiheunderbrush，breakingthroughatlasttoaruttedroadscoredwithpuddles。Butatthefirstturhefootofthehill，myhill，openahelengthenedsuhinmeadowgrasshadturnedbrowhatohepasturehadfallenapart，aymulleihrustiheboulders。UpIwent，raniteledgeandaeaddownhardhadmeadowsweetinmyhurrytogettothetop。

Atlast，uhesky’sbowl，Istoodatthecrestbreathless，thehillsolid，tangibleueelusiveianowIwasthere。YetevenasIreachedmygoal，itbegantoslipawayfrhtahead，beyondmoremilesofwoodland，Icouldseeanotherhill，somewhathigher，somewhatlrazingplaitsclearedslopeasummithihgreen。Mysterious，fullofpromise，itwasahillIshould，inmyoldlonging，thatishedImightbe，onthatfartherhill。ButevenasIlookedatit。Isebeyondtherewouldbeanotherhill，ayeta。Battie，beyohemiles。Evegoingrouherewouldalwaysbeanotherhill。Ahen，suddenlyahatoneeverreachthelasthill。