Unit23Conflict【导读】《一个干净明亮的地方》是海明威的早期作品，是一部典型的虚无主义小说，具有典型的海明威风格：文章以虚无思想为主题并大量使用简洁句。【节选】Itwasverylateandeveryonehadleftthecafeexceptanoldmanwhosatintheshadowtheleavesofthetreemadeagainsttheelectriclight.Inthedaytimethestreetwasdusty,butatnightthedewsettledthedustandtheoldmanlikedtositlatebecausehewasdeafandnowatnightitwasquietandhefeltthedifference.Thetwowaitersinsidethecafeknewthattheoldmanwasalittledrunk,andwhilehewasagoodclienttheyknewthatifhebecametoodrunkhewouldleavewithoutpaying,sotheykeptwatchonhim.“Lastweekhetriedtocommitsuicide，”onewaitersaid.“Why？”“Hewasindespair.”“Whatabout？”“Nothing.”“Howdoyouknowitwasnothing？”“Hehasplentyofmoney.”Theysattogetheratatablethatwascloseagainstthewallnearthedoorofthecafeandlookedattheterracewherethetableswereallemptyexceptwheretheoldmansatintheshadowoftheleavesofthetreethatmovedslightlyinthewind.Agirlandasoldierwentbyinthestreet.Thestreetlightshoneonthebrassnumberonhiscollar.Thegirlworenoheadcoveringandhurriedbesidehim.“Theguardwillpickhimup，”onewaitersaid.“Whatdoesitmatterifhegetswhathe'safter？”“Hehadbettergetoffthestreetnow.Theguardwillgethim.Theywentbyfiveminutesago.”Theoldmansittingintheshadowrappedonhissaucerwithhisglass.Theyoungerwaiterwentovertohim.“Whatdoyouwant？”Theoldmanlookedathim.“Anotherbrandy，”hesaid.“You'llbedrunk，”thewaitersaid.Theoldmanlookedathim.Thewaiterwentaway.“He'llstayallnight，”hesaidtohiscolleague.“I'msleepynow.Inevergetintobedbeforethreeo'clock.Heshouldhavekilledhimselflastweek.”Thewaitertookthebrandybottleandanothersaucerfromthecounterinsidethecafeandmarchedouttotheoldman'stable.Heputdownthesaucerandpouredtheglassfullofbrandy.“Youshouldhavekilledyourselflastweek，”hesaidtothedeafman.Theoldmanmotionedwithhisfinger.“Alittlemore，”hesaid.Thewaiterpouredonintotheglasssothatthebrandysloppedoverandrandownthestemintothetopsaucerofthepile.“Thankyou，”theoldmansaid.Thewaitertookthebottlebackinsidethecafe.Hesatdownatthetablewithhiscolleagueagain.“He'sdrunknow，”hesaid.“He'sdrunkeverynight.”“Whatdidhewanttokillhimselffor？”“HowshouldIknow.”“Howdidhedoit？”“Hehunghimselfwitharope.”“Whocuthimdown？”“Hisniece.”“Whydidtheydoit？”“Fearforhissoul.”“Howmuchmoneyhashegot？”“He'sgotplenty.”“Hemustbeeightyyearsold.”“AnywayIshouldsayhewaseighty.”“Iwishhewouldgohome.Inevergettobedbeforethreeo'clock.Whatkindofhouristhattogotobed？”“Hestaysupbecausehelikesit.”“He'slonely.I'mnotlonely.Ihaveawifewaitinginbedforme.”“Hehadawifeonce，too.”“Awifewouldbenogoodtohimnow.”“Youcan'ttell.Hemightbebetterwithawife.”“Hisniecelooksafterhim.Yousaidshecuthimdown.”“Iknow.”“Iwouldn'twanttobethatold.Anoldmanisanastything.”“Notalways.Thisoldmanisclean.Hedrinkswithoutspilling.Evennow,drunk.Lookathim.”“Idon'twanttolookathim.Iwishhewouldgohome.Hehasnoregardforthosewhomustwork.”Theoldmanlookedfromhisglassacrossthesquare,thenoveratthewaiters.“Anotherbrandy，”hesaid,pointingtohisglass.Thewaiterwhowasinahurrycameover.“Finished，”hesaid,speakingwiththatomissionofsyntaxstupidpeopleemploywhentalkingtodrunkenpeopleorforeigners.“Nomoretonight.Closenow.”“Another，”saidtheoldman.“No.Finished.”Thewaiterwipedtheedgeofthetablewithatowelandshookhishead.Theoldmanstoodup,slowlycountedthesaucers,t...
