象人-第1章

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Chapter　1

　　

The　Creature　in　the　Shop

　　

My　name　is　Dr　Frederick　Treves。　I　am　a　doctor　at　the　London　Hospital。　One　day　in　1884；　I　saw　a　picture　in　the　window　of　a　shop　near　the　hospital。　I　stopped　in　front　of　the　shop　and　looked　at　the　picture。　At　first　I　felt　interested；　then　I　felt　angry；　then　afraid。　It　was　a　horrible；　ugly　picture。　There　was　a　man　in　the　picture；　but　he　did　not　look　like　you　and　me。　He　did　not　look　like　a　man。　He　looked　like　an　elephant。　

I　read　the　writing　under　the　picture。　It　said：

e　in　and　see　the　Elephant　Man。　2　pence。　I　opened　the　door　and　went　in。　

There　was　a　man　in　the　shop。　He　was　a　dirty　man　in　an　old　coat　with　a　cigarette　in　his　mouth。　‘What　do　you　want？’he　asked。　

‘I'd　like　to　see　the　elephant　man；　please；　’I　said。　

The　man　looked　at　me　angrily。　‘Well；　you　can't；　’　he　said。　‘The　shop's　closing　now。　You　can　e　back　tomorrow。　’

‘I'm　sorry；　’I　said。　‘　But　I　would　like　to　see　him　now。　I　have　no　time　tomorrow—I　have　a　lot　of　work　to　do。　But　I　can　give　you　more　than　2　pence。　’

The　man　looked　at　me　carefully。　Then　he　took　the　cigarette　out　of　his　mouth　and　smiled　with　his　yellow　teeth。　

‘All　right；　sir；　’he　said。　‘Give　me　twelve　pence　then。　’

I　gave　him　the　money　and　he　opened　a　door　at　the　back　of　the　shop。　We　went　into　a　little　room。　The　room　was　cold　and　dark；　and　there　was　a　horrible　smell　in　it。　

A　creature　sat　on　a　chair　behind　a　table。　I　say　a　creature；　because　it　was　not　a　man　or　a　woman；　like　you　or　me。　The　creature　did　not　move　or　look　at　us。　It　sat　very　quietly　on　the　chair　in　the　cold；　dark；　dirty　room；　and　looked　at　the　table。　The　creature　had　a　cloth　over　its　head；　because　of　the　cold。　On　the　table　in　front　of　it；　there　was　a　dead　flower。　

‘Stand　up！　’said　the　shopkeeper；　loudly。　

The　creature　stood　up　slowly。　It　took　the　old　cloth　off　its　head；　and　put　it　on　the　chair。　

I　looked　at　the　creature　and　felt　sad。　I　am　a　doctor；　so　I　know　a　lot　about　accidents　and　ill　people。　I　see　horrible；　ugly　things　every　day。　But　this　creature；　this　thing；　was　the　worst　of　all。　There　were　no　men　or　women　in　the　hospital　like　him。　

He　wore　some　old　trousers；　but　no　shirt；　coat；　or　shoes；　so　I　could　see　his　body　very　well。　His　head　was　the　most　interesting　thing。　It　was　very；　very　big—like　an　enormous　bag　with　a　lot　of　books　in　it。　The　head　did　not　have　much　hair；　and　there　was　another　bag　of　brown；　dirty　skin　at　the　back　of　it。　This　skin　came　down　below　his　neck。　I　could　not　see　one　of　his　eyes　very　well；　because　a　lot　of　skin　came　down　in　front　of　his　face；　too。　

An　enormous　red　tooth　came　out　of　his　mouth；　under　his　nose。　It　looked　like　an　elephant's　tooth。　The　mouth　and　nose　were　like　holes　in　the　face。　The　face　could　not　smile　or　laugh　or　look　angry　or　sad；　because　the　skin　could　not　move。　It　was　dead；　like　an　elephant's　face。　

There　were　more　bags　of　dirty　skin　on　the　front　and　back　of　the　creature's　body。　These　bags　came　down　to　his　legs。　The　right　arm　was　enormous；　and　there　were　bags　of　skin　on　it；　too。　The　right　hand　was　like　a　man's　foot。　

But　the　left　hand　the　left　arm　and　the　left　hand　were　beautiful！　The　left　arm　had　wonderful　skin；　and　the　fingers　of　the　left　hand　were　long　and　beautiful。　It　was　like　a　young　woman's　hand！　

‘Walk；　Merrick！　’　said　the　shopkeeper　angrily。　‘e　on；　quickly；　move！　’He　hit　the　creature　with　his　hand。　

Slowly；　the　creature　walked　across　the　room。　But　he　could　not　walk　well。　His　legs　were　very　big　and　fat；　and　he　had　a　bad　back。　He　could　not　walk　far　without　a　stick。　

‘All　right；　thank　you；　’I　said。　‘Let　him　sit　down。　I　don't　want　to　see　any　more。　’I　felt　ill；　and　the　smell　in　the　room　was　very　bad。　

‘Yes；　sir；　’said　the　shopkeeper。　‘Sit　down；　Merrick。　’

We　went　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door。　The　shop－keeper　smiled　at　me　with　his　yellow　teeth。　

‘Wonderful；　sir；　isn't　it？’he　said。　‘The　best　Elephant　Man　in　England！　Hundreds　of　people　e　to　see　him；　you　know；　hundreds！　I　take　him　all　over　the　country；　I　do！　’

‘Yes；　very　interesting；　’I　said。　‘Can　I　sit　down？’

‘Yes；　sir；　of　course。　Here's　a　chair。　’He　looked　at　me；　smiling。　‘Would　you　like　a　glass　of　water；　sir？’

‘Yes；　please；　’I　said。　Then　I　looked　at　the　things　in　the　dirty　shop。　There　were　two　or　three　bad　apples　and　some　old　black　bananas：that　was　all。　‘Er；　no…no；　thank　you。　I'm　all　right；　’I　said。　‘Did　you…did　you　call　the　creature　Merrick？’

‘That's　right；　sir。　Joseph　Merrick。　The　best　ElephantMan　in　England！　I　take　him　all　over　the　country；　you　know。　Lots　of　people　want　to　see　him。　’

‘Yes；　I　see。　Do　you　get　a　lot　of　money？’

‘Well；　sometimes　we　do；　sir；　yes。　But　it's　difficult；　you　see；　sir；　because　of　the　police。　The　police　don't　like　us；　you　see；　sir。　So　we　can't　stay　in　a　town　very　long。　We　usually　move　every　week。　’

‘Yes；　I　see。　Well；　anyway；　Mr…er？’

‘Silcock；　sir。　Simon　Silcock。　’

‘Yes；　well；　Mr　Silcock；　I'm　a　doctor　at　the　London　Hospital。　My　name　is　Dr　Treves。　I　think　this…er…　this　man　Joseph　Merrick　is　very　interesting；　and　I　would　like　to　see　him　at　the　hospital。　I　want　to　look　at　him　more　carefully；　you　see。　

‘Yes　sir；　I　see。　But　how　can　he　get　to　the　hospital？It's　going　to　be　difficult。　’

‘Why；　man？　The　hospital's　not　far　from　here。　’

‘Well；　yes；　sir。　I　know。　But；　you　see；　Merrick　can't　walk　very　well。　He　needs　help。　’

‘You　can　e　with　him。　Do　you　want　more　money？Is　that　it？’

‘Well；　yes；　sir；　I　do。　But；　you　see；　people　are　afraid　of　him　too…　In　the　road；　little　boys　always　run　after　him　and　hit　him。　Then　the　police　get　angry　because　people　are　afraid。　Sometimes　they　take　us　to　prison。　’

‘I　see；　’I　said。　‘Well；　how　can　he　e　to　the　hospital；　then？’

‘Bring　a　cab；　sir；　’said　Silcock。　‘You　can　take　him　to　the　hospital　in　a　cab。　’

　　
Chapter　2

　　

The　Card

　　

So　next　day；　at　seven　o’clock；　I　came　to　the　shop　in　a　cab。　There　were　not　very　many　people　in　the　road；　be－cause　it　was　early　in　the　morning。　In　November　it　is　dark　at　seven　o’clock　in　the　morning；　and　I　could　not　see　the　shop　very　well。　I　waited　five　minutes。　A　postman　walked　past。　Then　the　door　of　the　shop　opened；　and　the　creature；　Merrick　；　came　out。　

I　could　not　see　his　face　or　his　body。　He　had　an　enormous　black　hat　on　his　head；　like　a　big　box。　A　grey　cloth　came　down　from　the　hat；　in　front　of　his　face。　There　was　a　hole　in　the　cloth　in　front　of　his　eyes。　He　could　see　out　of　the　hole　but　I　could　not　see　in。　He　wore　a　long　black　coat；　too。　The　coat　began　at　his　neck；　and　ended　at　his　feet；　so　I　could　not　see　his　arms；　his　body；　or　his　legs。　On　his　feet　he　wore　big　shoes；　like　old　bags。　

He　had　a　stick　in　his　left　hand；　and　he　walked　very　slowly。　I　opened　the　door　of　the　cab；　and　got　out。　

‘Good　morning；　Mr　Merrick；　’I　said。　‘Can　you　get　in？’

‘Elpmyupasteps；　’he　said。　

‘I'm　sorry；　’I　said。　‘I　don't　understand。　’

For　a　minute　he　stood　by　the　door　of　the　cab　and　said　nothing。　Then　he　hit　the　cab　with　his　stick。　

‘STEPS！　’he　said　loudly。　‘Help　me　up　the　steps！　’

Then　I　understood。　There　were　three　steps　up　into　the　cab；　and　he　could　not　get　up　them。　

‘Yes；　I　see。　I'm　sorry；　’I　said。　‘Let　me　help　you。　’

I　took　his　left　hand　and　began　to　help　him。　My　right　hand　was　behind　his　back。　I　felt　very　strange。　His　left　hand　was　like　a　young　woman's；　but　his　back　under　the　coat；　was　horrible。　I　could　feel　the　bags　of　old　skin　on　his　back　under　the　coat。　

He　put　one　enormous　foot　on　the　first　step；　and　then　he　stopped。　After　a　minute；　he　moved　his　second　foot　slowly。　Then　he　stopped　and　waited　again。　

‘Hello；　sir。　Can　I　help　you？’

I　looked　behind　me。　It　was　the　postman。　And　behind　him；　I　could　see　three　young　boys。　One　of　the　boys　laughed。　

The　postman　smiled。　‘Is　the　gentleman　ill？’he　asked。　

I　thought　quickly。　‘Yes。　But　this　is　a　lady；　not　a　gentle…man。　I'm　a　doctor；　and　she's　ill。　Take　her　hand；　so　I　can　help　her　better。　’

The　postman　took　Merrick's　left　hand；　and　I　helped　him　with　two　hands　from　behind。　Slowly；　very　slowly；　Merrick　went　up　the　steps　and　into　the　cab。　

One　boy　was　very　near　the　cab。　He　called　to　his　friends。　

‘e　and　see　this；　boys！　A　fat　lady　in　a　black　coat！　And　look　at　that　enormous　hat！　’

The　boys　laughed。　They　were　very　near　the　cab　too；　now。　I　closed　the　door　quickly。　

‘Thank　you；　’I　said　to　the　postman。　

‘That's　all　right；　sir；　’he　said。　‘She's　a　strange　lady；　sir；　isn't　she？’

‘She's　ill；　that's　all；　’I　said　quickly。　‘We're　going　to　the　hospital。　Goodbye；　and　thank　you。　’

The　cab　drove　down　the　road　to　the　hospital。　I　locked　at　Merrick。　‘That　was　difficult；　wasn't　it？’I　said。　

At　first　he　said　nothing；　but　then　he　spoke。　His　voice　was　very　strange；　but　I　listened　to　him　carefully；　and　I　could　understand　him。　

‘The　steps　were　very　difficult；　’he　said。　‘But　most　things　are　difficult　for　me。　’

‘Yes；　’I　said。　‘　Nothing　is　easy　for　you；　is　it？’

‘No；　’he　said。　He　inute。　Then　he　said；　‘Who　are　you；　sir？’

‘Who　am　I？Oh；　I'm　sorry；　My　name　is　Dr　Treves。　Here；　this　is　my　card。　’

I　gave　him　a　card　with　my　name　on。　Then　I　thought；　‘That　was　no　good。　This　man　can't　read。　’But　Merrick　took　the　card　and　looked　at　it　very　carefully。　Then　he　put　it　in　his　trousers　pocket。　

I　did　not　talk　to　him　very　much　at　the　hospital。　I　looked　at　his　head　and　arms　and　legs　and　body　very　carefully。　Then　I　wrote　the　important　things　about　him　in　a　little　book。　A　nurse　helped　me。　Merrick　looked　at　her　sometimes；　but　she　did　not　smile　at　him　or　talk　to　him。　I　think　she　was　afraid　of　him。　I　think　Merrick　was　afraid　too；　because　he　was　very　quiet。　

At　four　o’clock　I　took　him　back　to　the　shop　in　a　cab。　The　next　day　I　looked　in　the　shop　window　again；　but　the　picture　was　not　there。　

　　
Chapter　3

　　

A　Letter　to‘The　Times’

　　

I　did　not　see　Merrick　again　for　two　years。　Then；　one　day；　the　police　found　him。　He　had　my　card　in　his　hand；　so　they　brought　him　to　the　London