BUTTON, BUTTON
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T he package was lying by the front door--a cube-shaped carton aled with tape, the name and address printed by hand:
MR. AND MRS. ARTHUR LEWIS, 217 E. 37TH STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
10016.
Norma picked it up, unlocked the door, and went into the apartment. It was just getting dark.
After she put the lamb chops in the broiler, she made herlf a drink and sat down to open the package.
Inside the carton was a push-button unit fastened to a small wooden box. A glass dome covered the button. Norma tried to lift it off, but it was locked in place. She turned the unit over and saw a folded piece of paper Scotch-taped to the bottom of the box. She pulled it off: "Mr. Steward will call on you at "
Norma put the button unit beside her on the couch. She sipped the drink and reread the typed note, smiling.
A few moments later, she went back into the kitchen to make the salad.
T he doorbell rang at eight o'clock. "I'll get it," Norma called from the kitchen. Arthur was in the living room, reading.
There was a small man in the hallway. He removed his hat as Norma opened the door. "Mrs. Lewis?" he inquired politely.
"Yes?"
"I'm Mr. Steward."
"Oh, yes." Norma represd a smile. She was sure now it was a sales pitch.
"May I come in?" asked Mr. Steward.
"I'm rather busy," Norma said. "I'll get you your watchamacallit, though." She started to turn.
"Don't you want to know what it is?"
Norma turned back. Mr. Steward's tone had been offensive. "No, I don't think so," she
said.
"It could prove very valuable," he told her.
"Monetarily?" she challenged.
Mr. Steward nodded. "Monetarily," he said.
Norma frowned. She didn't like his attitude. "What are you trying to ll?" she asked.
"I'm not lling anything," he answered.
Arthur came out of the living room. "Something wrong?"
Mr. Steward introduced himlf.
"Oh, the ..." Arthur pointed toward the living room and smiled. "What is that gadget, anyway?"
"It won't take long to explain," replied Mr. Steward. "May I come in?"
"If you're lling something ..." Arthur said.
Mr. Steward shook his head. "I'm not."
Arthur looked at Norma. "Up to you," she said.
He hesitated. "Well, why not?" he said.
They went into the living room and Mr. Steward sat in Norma's chair. He reached into an inside coat pocket and withdrew a small aled envelope. "Inside here is a key to the bell-unit dome," he said. He t the envelope on the chairside table. "The bell is connected to our office."
"What's it for?" asked Arthur.
"If you push the button," Mr. Steward told him, "somewhere in the world, someone you don't know wil
l die. In return for which you will receive a payment of fifty thousand dollars."
Norma stared at the small man. He was smiling.
"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked him.
Mr. Steward looked surprid. "But I've just explained," he said.
"Is this a practical joke?" asked Arthur.
"Not at all. The offer is completely genuine."
"You aren't making n," Arthur said. "You expect us to believe ..."
"Whom do you reprent?" demanded Norma.
Mr. Steward looked embarrasd. "I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to tell you that," he said. "However, I assure you the organization is of international scope."
"I think you'd better leave," Arthur said, standing.
Mr. Steward ro. "Of cour."
"And take your button unit with you."
"Are you sure you wouldn't care to think about it for a day or so?"
Arthur picked up the button unit and the envelope and thrust them into Mr. Steward's hands. He walked into the hall and pulled open the door.
"I'll leave my card," said Mr. Steward. He placed it on the table by the door.
When he was gone, Arthur tore it in half and tosd the pieces onto the table. "God!" he said.
Norma was still sitting on the sofa. "What do you think it was?" she asked.
"I don't care to know," he answered.
She tried to smile but couldn't. "Aren't you curious at all?"
"No." He shook his head.
After Arthur returned to his book, Norma went back to the kitchen and finished washing the dishes.
"W hy won't you talk about it?" Norma asked later.
Arthur's eyes shifted as he brushed his teeth. He looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
"Doesn't it intrigue you?"
"It offends me," Arthur said.
"I know, but--" Norma rolled another curler in her hair "--doesn't it intrigue you, too?" "You think it's a practical joke?" she asked as they went into the bedroom.
邯郸学步的意思"If it is, it's a sick one."
Norma sat on the bed and took off her slippers.
"Maybe it's some kind of psychological rearch."
Arthur shrugged. "Could be."
"Maybe some eccentric millionaire is doing it."
"Maybe."
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Why?"
儿童奶"Becau it's immoral," he told her.
Norma slid beneath the covers. "Well, I think it's intriguing," she said.
Arthur turned off the lamp and leaned over to kiss her. "Good night," he said.
"Good night." She patted his back.
Norma clod her eyes. Fifty thousand dollars, she thought.
I n the morning, as she left the apartment, Norma saw the card halves on the table. Impulsively, she dropped them into her pur. She locked the front door and joined Arthur in the elevator.
While she was on her coffee break, she took the card halves from her pur and held the torn edges together. Only Mr. Steward's name and telephone number were printed on the
After lunch, she took the card halves from her pur again and Scotch-taped the edges together. Wh
y am I doing this? she thought.
Just before five, she dialed the number.
"Good afternoon," said Mr. Steward's voice.
Norma almost hung up but restrained herlf. She cleared her throat. "This is Mrs. Lewis," she said.
"Yes, Mrs. Lewis." Mr. Steward sounded plead.
"I'm curious."
"That's natural," Mr. Steward said.
"Not that I believe a word of what you told us."
"Oh, it's quite authentic," Mr. Steward answered.
"Well, whatever ..." Norma swallowed. "When you said someone in the world would die, what did you mean?"
"Exactly that," he answered. "It could be anyone. All we guarantee is that you don't know them. And, of cour, that you wouldn't have to watch them die."
"For fifty thousand dollars," Norma said.
"That is correct."
She made a scoffing sound. "That's crazy."
"Nonetheless, that is the proposition," Mr. Steward said. "Would you like me to return the button unit?"
Norma stiffened. "Certainly not." She hung up angrily.
T he package was lying by the front door; Norma saw it as she left the elevator. Well, of all the nerve, she thought. She glared at the carton as she unlocked the door. I just won't take it in, she thought. She went inside and started dinner.
Later, she carried her drink to the front hall. Opening the door, she picked up the package and carried it into the kitchen, leaving it on the table.
She sat in the living room, sipping her drink and looking out the window. After awhile, she went back into the kitchen to turn the cutlets in the broiler. She put the package in a bottom cabinet. She'd throw it out in the morning.
"M aybe some eccentric millionaire is playing games with people," she said.
Arthur looked up from his dinner. "I don't understand you."
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"What does that mean?"
"Let it go," he told her.
Norma ate in silence. Suddenly, she put her fork down. "Suppo it's a genuine offer," she
Arthur stared at her.
"Suppo it's a genuine offer."
"All right, suppo it is!" He looked incredulous. "What would you like to do? Get the button back and push it? Murder someone?"
Norma looked disgusted. "Murder."
"How would you define it?"
"If you don't even know the person?" Norma asked.
Arthur looked astounded. "Are you saying what I think you are?"
"If it's some old Chine peasant ten thousand miles away? Some diad native in the Congo?"
"How about some baby boy in Pennsylvania?" Arthur countered. "Some beautiful little girl on the next block?"贾宝玉人物形象分析
"Now you're loading things."
"The point is, Norma," he continued, "that who you kill makes no difference. It's still murder."如何通便
"The point is," Norma broke in, "if it's someone you've never en in your life and never will e, someone who death you don't even have to know about, you still wouldn't push the button?"
Arthur stared at her, appalled. "You mean you would?"
"Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur."
"What has the amount--"
"Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur," Norma interrupted. "A chance to take that trip to Europe we've always talked about."
"Norma, no."
寒露的古诗
"A chance to buy that cottage on the Island."
"Norma, no." His face was white. "For God's sake, no!"
She shuddered. "All right, take it easy," she said. "Why are you getting so upt? It's only talk."
After dinner, Arthur went into the living room. Before he left the table, he said, "I'd rather not discuss it anymore, if you don't mind."
兴的四字词语Norma shrugged. "Fine with me."
S he got up earlier than usual to make pancakes, eggs, and bacon for Arthur's breakfast. "What's the
occasion?" he asked with a smile.
"No occasion." Norma looked offended. "I wanted to do it, that's all."
"Good," he said. "I'm glad you did."
She refilled his cup. "Wanted to show you I'm not ..." She shrugged.
