04-01-04-三十九级台阶 [12]
There was nowhere to hide. The moor was open，but to me it was like a prison. I started to walk to the north， and as Iwalked，I saw a car about fifteen kilometres away on the road. And， in the valley below me，I could see a line of men walking slowly upwards. The north was no good. I turned，and began to run southwards. I ran hard， watching the skyline in front of me， and soon I thought I could see distant figures on the hill. I turned again and ran down to the road.
If you have enemies all around you， the best plan is to hide while they search and do not find you. But there was nothing to hide in， nothing but the moor，the heather， and the white road.
* * *
Then，in a bend in the road，I found the roadman. He had just started work mending the road， when he saw me.
I'm sorry I ever stopped farming！'he said. 'I was my own boss then. Now I have to do what the government orders， and I'm a prisoner here with aching eyes and a bad back. And my head's going to explode！'
He was about the same age as me， and wore big black glass-es. He started to work again，and then stopped.
'I can't do it，'he cried. 'I'm going back to bed. '
I asked him what the problem was， although I could guess.
'It was my daughter's wedding last night，so we were dancing and drinking until four o'clock in the morning. And the new Road Inspector is coming to visit today！ He'll comeand not find me，or he'll come and find me like this. Whatev-er happens， I'm finished. '
Then I had an idea. 'Does this new Inspector know you？'
'No. He started last week. '
'Where's your house？'He pointed to the small house I had seen before.
'Well，go back to bed，'I said，'and sleep in peace. I'll do your job for the day and see the Inspector. '
He stared at me for a minute，then smiled.
'You're the man for me！It's an easy job. 'He pointed to several big heaps of stones along the side of the road. 'Just put the stones down all along the edges of the road. My name's Alexander Turnbull，but my friends call me Ecky. If you speak to the Inspector politely，he'll be happy. I'll come back at five o'clock. '
I borrowed his glassed and a very dirty hat and gave him my good clothes. I also borrowed a very old pipe. My new friend walked off slowly to his bed. I hoped he would be inside his house when my enemies arrived.
I put as much dirt as possible on my face， hands and clothes， and rubbed some into my eyes to make them red. My boots did not look like a workman's boots，so I kicked them against the rocks to make them look older. The roadman had left his sandwiches and I was happy to eat some of them. There was still nothing moving on the road when I started work.
After some time I was getting hot， and I was beginning to count the hours until evening， when I heard a voice，and saw a young man in a small car looking at me.
'Are you Alexander Turnbull？'he said. ' I'm the new Road Inspector. You're doing these edges well，but there's a soft place about a kilometre down the hill. Don't forget that， will you？ Good day now. '
Clearly，the Inspector thought I was the roadman. As time passed，one or two other cars came along the road，and I bought some biscuits from a travelling shop. Finally，a big car stopped and two men got out and walked towards me. I had seen them before-from the window of the hotel. The fatter of the two looked at me with sharp bright eyes.
'Good morning，'he said. 'That's an easy job you've got there. '
'There are worse jobs and there are btter jobs，'I said. I spoke in Alexander Turnbull's strong Scottish accent.
The other man was looking at my boots. 'You've very fine boots. Were they made near here？'
'Oh no， the were made in London. I was given them by a man who was here on holiday last year. '
The fatter man spoke to the other in German. 'Let's move on. This man can't help us. '
They did ask one more question.
'Did you see anyone pass early this morning？Either on a bi－cycle or on foot？'
I pretended to think carefully.
'I wasn't up very early. You see，my daughter got married yesterday and I went to bed late. I looked out of the house at seven and there was nobody on the road. And I've seen no bicycles this morning. '