书城外语美国名家短篇小说赏析(初级)
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第13章 The Law of Life Jack London(1)

Introduction:An ancient Indian tribe was about to start its annual migration while the former headman was too old to follow。Being left with a pile of fagots,he was aware of the fact that death was waiting for him。In the remaining hours of his life,huddled next to the fire,he meditated on the law of life。

1.OLD KOSKOOSH listened greedily。Though his sight had long since faded,his hearing was still acute,and the slightest sound penetrated to the glimmering intelligence which yet abode behind the withered forehead,but which no longer gazed forth upon the things of the world。Ah!that was Sit-cum-to-ha,shrilly anathematizing thedogs as she cuffed and beat them into the harnesses。Sit-cum-to-hawas his daughter’s daughter,but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her broken grandfather,sitting alone there in the snow,forlorn and helpless。Camp must be broken。The long trail waited while the short day refused to linger。Lifecalled her,and the duties of life,not death。And he was very close to death now。

评注:这是一篇有着浓重的自然主义印记的小说,无论从小说情节设置还是主题上都有和现实主义小说不同之处。它以极地为背景,以原始的印第安部落为描写对象,将人的社会属性降到最低,强调人的自然属性和动物本能,即繁衍、生存。

2.The thought made the old man panicky for the moment,and hestretched fortha palsied hand which wandered tremblingly over the small heap of dry wood beside him。Reassured that it was indeed there,his hand returned to the shelter of his mangy furs,and he again fell to listening。The sulky crackling of half-frozen hides told him that the chief’s moose-skin lodge had been struck,and even then was being rammed and jammed into portable compass。The chief was his son,stalwart and strong,headman of the tribesmen,and a mighty hunter。As the women toiled with the camp luggage,his voice rose,chiding them for their slowness。Old Koskoosh strained his ears。It was the last time he would hear that voice。Therewent Geehow’s lodge!And Tusken’s!Seven,eight,nine only the shaman’s could be still standing。There!They were at work upon it now。He could hear the shaman grunt as he piled it on the sled。A child whimpered,and a woman soothed it with soft,crooning gutturals。Little Koo-tee,the old man thought,a fretful child,and not overstrong。It would die soon,perhaps,and they would burn a hole through the frozen tundra and pile rocks above to keep the wolverines away。Well,what did it matter?A few years at best,and as many an empty belly as a full one。And in the end,Death waited,ever-hungry and hungriest of them all。

acute:adj。敏锐的

glimmer:v。发出微光

abode:abide的过去分词,abide:v。居住

withered:adj。干枯的

gaze:v。凝视

anathematize:v。诅咒,咒骂

cuff:v。用手拍打

harness:n。挽具

broken:adj。衰弱的。下文中break the camp 则指拔营

forlorn:adj。孤独的,孑然的

panicky:adj。惊慌的,紧张不安的

palsied:adj。麻痹的,瘫痪的

mangy:adj。脏而破旧的

fall to doing something:开始做某事

sulky:adj。愠怒的,生闷气的

crackling:n。噼噼啪啪的响声

hide:n。兽皮

moose:n。驯鹿

ram and jam:指把帐篷塞起来

stalwart:adj。强壮的,雄健的

mighty:adj。强有力的,巨大的

chide:v。[文学用语]责怪,责骂

strain one’s ears:竖起耳朵听

shaman:n。萨满,巫师

grunt:v。嘟哝

whimper:v。呜咽,啜泣

soothe:v。抚慰,安慰

croon:v。柔声哼唱

guttural:n。从喉咙发出的声音

fretful:adj。易烦躁的

tundra:n。冻原,苔原

wolverine:n。狼獾

3.What was that?Oh,the men lashing the sleds and drawing tight the thongs。He listened,who would listen no more。The whiplashes snarled and bit among thedogs。Hear them whine!How they hated the work and the trail!They were off!Sled after sled churned slowly away into the silence。They were gone。They had passed out of his life,and he faced the last bitter hour alone。No。The snow crunched beneath a moccasin a man stood beside him upon hishead a hand rested gently。His son was good to do this thing。He remembered other old men whose sons had not waited after the tribe。But his son had。He wandered away into the past,till the young man’s voice brought him back。

评注:前3段描写的场景都冷酷、暴力,缺乏最基本的温情。

4.“Is it well with you?”he asked。

5.And the old man answered,“It is well。”

6.“There be wood beside you,”the younger man continued,“andthe fire burns bright。The morning is gray,and the cold has broken。It will snow presently。Even now it is snowing。”

7.“Ay,even now it is snowing。”

8.“The tribesmen hurry。Their bales are heavy,andtheir bellies flat with lack of feasting。The trail is long and they travel fast。Go now。It is well?”

thong:n。皮带子

snarl:v。咆哮,怒吼

whine:v。哀鸣

churn:v。搅拌

crunch:v。发出咯吱咯吱的响声

moccasin:n。皮制平底鞋

bale:n。大包,大捆

feast:v。尽情吃喝,饱餐

9“It is well。I am as a last year’s leaf,clinging lightly to the stem。Thefirst breath that blows,and I fall。My voice is become like an old woman’s。Myeyes no longer show me the way of my feet,and my feet are heavy,and I am tired。It is well。”

评注:4~9段描写了老人的儿子在离开之前和老人简短的对话。这一场景略有一丝温情,但同时也说明自然法则不可抵抗,而这一切在他们的生活中已经是常态。自然主义作品常带有悲观的决定论(determinism)色彩,认为人只能顺从自然法则,而不能与之对抗。

10.He bowed his head in content till the last noise of the complaining snow had died away,and he knew his son was beyond recall。Then his hand crept out in haste to the wood。It alone stood between him and the eternity that yawned in upon him。At last the measure of his life was a handful offagots。One by one theywould go to feed the fire,and just so,step by step,death would creep upon him。When the last stick had surrendered up its heat,the frost would begin to gather strength。First his feet would yield,then his hands and the numbness wouldtravel,slowly,from the extremities to the body。His head would fall forward upon his knees,and he would rest。It was easy。All men must die。

die away:声音逐渐变弱,慢慢消失

creep:v。悄悄的进行

yawn:v。张得很大

measure:n。度量单位

fagot:n。柴捆

yield:v。投降,屈服

extremity:n。人体中离心最远的部位

11.He did not complain。It was the way of life,and it was just。He had been born close to the earth,close to the earth had he lived,and the law thereof was not new to him。It was the law of all flesh。Nature was not kindly to the flesh。She had no concern for that concrete thing called the individual。Her interest lay in the species,the race。This was the deepest abstraction Old Koskoosh’sbarbaric mind was capable of,but he grasped it firmly。He saw it exemplified inall life。The rise of the sap,the bursting greenness of the willow bud,the fall of the yellow leaf—in this alone was told the whole history。But one task did Nature set the individual。Did he not perform it,he died。Did he perform it,it was all the same,he died。Nature did not care there were plenty who were obedient,and it was only the obedience in this matter,not the obedient,which lived and lived always。The tribe of Koskoosh was very old。The old men he had known when a boy,had known old men before them。Therefore it was true that the tribe lived,that it stood for the obedience of all its members,way down into the forgotten past,whose very resting-places were unremembered。They did not count they were episodes。They had passed away like cloudsfrom a summer sky。He also was an episode,and would pass away。Nature did not care。To life she set onetask,gave one law。To perpetuate was the task of life,its lawwas death。

A maiden was a good creature to look upon,full-breasted and strong,with spring toher step and light in her eyes。But her task was yet before her。The light in her eyes brightened,her step quickened,she was now bold with the young men,now timid,and she gave them of her own unrest。And ever she grew fairer and yet fairer to look upon,till some hunter,able no longer to withhold himself,took herto his lodge to cook and toil for him and to become the mother of his children。And with the coming of her offspring her looks left her。Her limbs dragged and shuffled,her eyes dimmed and bleared,and only the little children found joy against the withered cheek of the old squaw by the fire。Her task was done。But a little while,on the first pinch of famine or the first long trail,and she would be left,even as he had been left,in the snow,with a little pile of wood。Such was the law。

12.He placed a stick carefully upon the fire and resumed his meditations。It was the same everywhere,with all things。The mosquitoes vanished withthe first frost。The little tree-squirrel crawled away to die。When age settledupon the rabbit it became slow and heavy,and could no longer outfoot its enemies。Even the big bald-face grew clumsy and blind and quarrelsome,in the end tobe dragged down by a handful of yelping huskies。He remembered how he had abandoned his own father on an upper reach of the Klondike one winter,the winter before the missionary came with his talk-books and his box of medicines。Many a timehad Koskoosh smacked his lips over the recollection of that box,though now hismouth refused to moisten。The“painkiller”had been especially good。But the missionary was a bother after all,for he brought no meat into the camp,and he ate heartily,and the hunters grumbled。But he chilled his lungs on the divide by the Mayo,and the dogs afterwards nosed the stones away and fought over his bones。

评注:第11段中老人的思绪带有强烈的自然主义痕迹。一方面他相信命运的决定论,认为个人无论如何努力都无法同自然的规律抗争;另一方面他相信人类的动物本能,认为人和其他动物没什么区别,生存和繁衍是根本动力。这里作者还引出一个人类社会的牧师,用嘲讽的口吻说明宗教等一系列人类社会文明的产物在人的本能面前既无能又可笑,不堪一击。

barbaric:adj。野蛮的

grasp:v。理解,抓住

sap:n。植物的汁液

count:v。重要

episode:n。一段时间,时期

perpetuate:v。使长存

spring:n。弹性,弹力

shuffle:v。拖着脚步走

bleared:adj。视野模糊的

squaw:n。美洲印第安妇女

resume:v。继续

meditation:n。沉思,冥想

squirrel:n。松鼠

outfoot:v。比……跑得快

quarrelsome:adj。好争论的,喜欢争吵的

yelp:v。吠

husky:n。哈士奇,爱斯基摩犬

missionary:n。传教士

smack:v。咂嘴

moisten:v。使潮湿

heartily:adv。本意为热心地,开心地,eat heartily指大吃大喝

grumble:v。抱怨,发牢骚

13.Koskoosh placed another stick on the fire and harked back deeper into the past。There was the time of the Great Famine,when the old men crouched empty-bellied to the fire,and let fall from their lips dim traditions of the ancient day when the Yukon ran wide open for three winters,and then lay frozen for three summers。He had lost his mother in that famine。In the summer the salmonrun hadfailed,and the tribe looked forward to the winter and the coming of the caribou。Then the winter came,but with it there were no caribou。Never had the like been known,not even in the lives of the old men。But the caribou did not come,and it was the seventh year,and the rabbits had not replenished,and the dogs were naught but bundles of bones。And through the long darkness the children wailed and died,and the women,and the old men and not one in ten of the tribe lived to meet the sun when it came back in the spring。That was a famine!

14.But he had seen times of plenty,too,when the meat spoiled on their hands,and the dogs were fat and worthless with overeating—times when they let thegame go unkilled,and the women were fertile,and the lodges were cluttered with sprawling men-children and women-children。Then it was the men became high-stomached,and revived ancient quarrels,and crossed the divides tothe south to kill the Pellys,and to the west that they might sit by the dead fires of the Tananas。He remembered,when a boy,during a time of plenty,when he saw a moose pulled down by the wolves。Zing-ha lay with him in the snow and watched—Zing-ha,who later became the craftiest of hunters,and who,in the end,fell through an air hole on the Yukon。They found him,a month afterward,just as he had crawled halfway out and frozen stiff to the ice。

hark back:回想

salmon run:一年一度的鱼汛

caribou:n。北美驯鹿

replenish:v。再次充满,再装满

naught:nothing的古体

bundle:n。一捆

wail:v。大声哭

game:n。猎物

fertile:adj。可繁育后代的

clutter:v。胡乱塞满

sprawling:adj。无计划扩展的

men-children and women-children就是指男孩女孩,作者故意不使用boy,girl,以及前文用daughter’s daughter代替granddaughter,造成一种和人类社会的疏离感。

revive:v。(使)复原

crafty:adj。狡猾的,能干的

15.But the moose。Zing-ha and he had gone out that day to play at hunting after the manner of their fathers。On the bed of the creek they struck the fresh track of a moose,and with it the tracks of many wolves。“An old one,”Zing-ha,who was quicker at reading the sign,said—“an old one who cannot keep up withthe herd。The wolves have cut him out from his brothers,and theywill never leave him。”And it was so。It was their way。By day and by night,never resting,snarling on his heels,snapping at his nose,they would stay by him to the end。HowZing-ha and he felt the blood lust quicken!The finish would be a sight to see!

16.Eager-footed,they took the trail,and even he,Koskoosh,slow of sight and an unversed tracker,could have followed it blind,it was so wide。Hot were they on the heels of the chase,reading the grim tragedy,fresh-written,at everystep。Now they came to where the moose had made a stand。Thrice the length of a grown man’s body,in every direction,had the snow been stamped about and uptossed。In the midst were the deep impressions of the splay-hoofed game,and all about,everywhere,were the lighter footmarks of the wolves。Some,while their brothers harried the kill,had lain to one side and rested。The full-stretched impress of their bodies in the snow was as perfect as though made the moment before。One wolf had been caught in a wild lunge of the maddened victim and trampled to death。A few bones,well picked,bore witness。

creek:n。小溪

herd:n。兽群

lust:n。强烈的欲望

unversed:adj。对某事不了解的,不熟悉的

uptossed:v。这里指雪被翻起来

splay-hoofed:adj。长着外翻的蹄子的

harry:v。侵扰

lunge:n。猛冲

trample:v。踩,践踏

bear witness:见证,证明曾发生过某事

17.Again,they ceased the uplift of their snowshoes at a second stand。Here the great animal had fought desperately。Twice had he been dragged down,as the snow attested,and twice had he shaken his assailants clear and gained footing once more。He had done his task long since,but none the less was life dear to him。Zing-ha said it was a strange thing,a moose once down to get free again butthis one certainly had。The shaman would see signs and wonders in this when theytold him。

18.And yet again,they come to where the moose had made to mount the bank andgain the timber。But his foes had laid on frombehind,till he reared and fell back upon them,crushing two deep into the snow。It was plain the kill was at hand,for their brothers had left them untouched。Two more stands were hurried past,brief in time-length and very close together。The trail was red now,and theclean stride of the great beast had grown short and slovenly。Then they heard the first sounds of the battle—not the full-throated chorus ofthe chase,but the short,snappy bark which spoke of close quarters and teeth toflesh。Crawlingup the wind,Zing-ha bellied it through the snow,and with him crept he,Koskoosh,who was to be chief of the tribesmen in the years to come。Together they shoved aside the under branches of a young spruce and peered forth。It was the end they saw。

attest:v。证明

assailant:n。攻击者

timber:n。木材

foe:n。敌人

rear:v。用后脚站立

slovenly:adj。不整洁的,邋遢的

chorus:n。合唱

snappy:adj。短小而粗暴的

shove:v。推,挤

spruce:n。云杉

19.The picture,like all of youth’s impressions,was still strong with him,and his dim eyes watched the end played out as vividly as in that far-off time。Koskoosh marvelled at this,for in the days which followed,when he was a leader of men and a head of councilors,he had done great deeds and made his name a curse in the mouths of the Pellys,to say naught of the strange white man he had killed,knife to knife,in open fight。

20.For long he pondered on the days of his youth,till the fire died down andthe frost bit deeper。He replenished it with two sticks this time,and gauged his grip on life by what remained。If Sit-cum-to-ha had only remembered her grandfather,and gathered a larger armful,his hours would have been longer。It wouldhave been easy。But she was ever a careless child,and honored not her ancestors from the time the Beaver,son of the son of Zing-ha,first cast eyes upon her。Well,what mattered it?Had he not done likewise in his own quick youth?For a while he listened to the silence。Perhaps the heart of his son might soften,andhe would come back with the dogs to take his old father on with the tribe to where the caribou ran thick and the fat hung heavy upon them。

21.He strained his ears,his restless brain for the moment stilled。Not a stir,nothing。He alone took breath in the midst of the great silence。It was very lonely。Hark!What was that?A chill passed over his body。The familiar,long-drawn howl broke the void,and it was close at hand。Then on his darkened eyes wasprojected the vision of the moose—the old bull moose—the torn flanks and bloody sides,the riddled mane,and the great branching horns,down low and tossing to the last。He saw the flashing forms of gray,the gleaming eyes,the lolling tongues,the slavered fangs。And he saw the inexorable circle close in till it became a dark point in the midst of the stamped snow。

22.A cold muzzle thrust against his cheek,and at its touchhis soul leaped back to the present。His hand shot into the fire and dragged out a burning fagot。Overcome for the nonce by his hereditary fear of man,the brute retreated,raising a prolonged call to his brothers and greedily they answered,till a ring of crouching,jaw-slobbered gray was stretched round about。The old man listenedto the drawing in of this circle。He waved his brand wildly,andsniffs turned to snarls but the panting brutes refused to scatter。Now one wormed his chest forward,dragging his haunches after,now a second,now a third but never a one drew back。Why should he cling to life?he asked,and dropped the blazing stick into the snow。It sizzled and went out。The circle grunted uneasily,but held itsown。Again he saw the last stand of the old bull moose,and Koskoosh dropped his head wearily upon his knees。What did it matter after all?Was it not the law of life?

评注:最后一段描写了老人自己被兽群围攻,从本能抵抗到放弃抵抗的过程,和文章主题相吻合。本篇小说带有明显的自然主义色彩,它将场景设置在极地,如同将人物放在实验室中,验证人在极端的自然条件下表现出的绝大多数是自然性;人也是生物链中的一环,逃脱不了生命法则的约束。它对人在理性作用下主动掌控命运这一观念持否定的态度。它淡化甚至抹去了道德的作用,但这不意味着它是不道德的(immoral),我们只能说它是超道德的(amoral),因为道德只存在于人类社会。

marvel at:赞叹

ponder:v。思考

gauge:v。正确衡量

long-drawn:拖长声音的

howl:n。哀号

void:n。虚空

flank:n。肋部

riddled:adj。布满的

mane:n。鬃毛

loll:v。使舌头垂下

fang:n。尖牙

inexorable:adj。不可阻挡的

muzzle:n。狗或马等动物的口鼻部

for the nonce:暂时

hereditary:adj。遗传的

slobber:v。淌口水

draw in:收缩

sniff:n。嗅

pant:v。喘气

haunch:n。人的臀部,胯部

sizzle:v。嗞嗞响

Comprehension Exercises:

1.What function does the setting play in the story?

2.What does the reminiscence of the hunting scene symbolize?

3.Why does he refuse to fight any longer at last?

杰克·伦敦(1876—1916)美国著名作家。代表作《野性的呼唤》、《马丁·伊登》和《热爱生命》。他自小家境贫困,生活困苦,颠沛流离,从事过各种体力劳动,后来自学成才,成为当时非常杰出的一位商业作家。这段经历在他的自传体小说《马丁·伊登》中有所体现。

参考译文

一个干净明亮的地方

海明威

1.时间很晚了,大家都离开餐馆,只有一个老人还坐在树叶挡住灯光的阴影里。白天里,街上尽是尘埃,到了晚上,露水压住了尘埃。这个老人喜欢坐得很晚,因为他是个聋子,现在是夜里,十分寂静,他感觉得到跟白天的不同。呆在餐馆里的两个侍者知道这老人有点儿醉了,他虽然是个好主顾,可是,他们知道,如果他喝得太醉了,他会不付账就走,所以他们一直在留神他。

2.“上个星期他想自杀,”一个侍者说。

3.“为什么?”

4.“他绝望啦。”

5.“干嘛绝望?”

6.“没事儿。”

7.“你怎么知道是没事儿?”

8.“他有很多钱。”

9.他们一起坐在紧靠着餐馆大门墙边的桌旁,眼睛望着平台,那儿的桌子全都空无一人,只有那个老人坐在随风轻轻飘拂的树叶的阴影里。有个少女和一个大兵走过大街。街灯照在他那领章的铜号码上。那个少女没戴帽子,在他身旁匆匆走着。

10.“警卫队会把他逮走,”一个侍者说。

11.“如果他到手了他要找的东西,那又有什么关系呢?”

12.“他这会儿还是从街上溜走为好。警卫队会找他麻烦,他们五分钟前才经过这里。”

13.那老人坐在阴影里,用杯子敲敲茶托。那个年纪比较轻的侍者上他那儿去。

14.“你要什么?”

15.老人朝他看了看。“再来杯白兰地,”他说。

16.“你会喝醉的,”侍者说。老人朝他看了一看。侍者走开了。

17.“他会通宵待在这里,”他对他的同事说。“我这会儿真想睡。我从来没有在三点钟以前睡觉过。他应该在上星期就自杀了。”

18.侍者从餐馆里的柜台上拿了一瓶白兰地和另一个茶托,大步走了出来,送到老人桌上。他放下茶托,把杯子倒满了白兰地。

19.“你应该在上星期就自杀了,”他对那个聋子说。老人把手指一晃。“再加一点,”他说。侍者又往杯子里倒酒,酒溢了出来,顺着高脚杯的脚流进了一叠茶托的第一只茶托。“谢谢你。”老人说。侍者把酒瓶拿回到餐馆去。他又同他的同事坐在桌旁。

20.“他这会儿喝醉了,”他说。

21.“他每天晚上都喝醉。”

22.“他干嘛要自杀呀?”

23.“我怎么知道。”

24.“他上次是怎样自杀的?”

25.“他用绳子上吊。”

26.“谁把他放下来的?”

27.“他侄女。”

28.“干嘛要把他放下来?”

29.“为他的灵魂担忧。”

30.“他有多少钱?”

31.“他有很多钱。”

32.“他准有八十岁喽。”

33.“不管怎样,我算准他有八十岁。”

34.“我真希望他回家去。我从来没有在三点钟以前睡觉过。那是个什么样的睡觉时间呀?”

35.“他因为不喜欢睡觉所以才不睡觉。”

36.“他孤孤单单。我可不孤单。我有个老婆在床上等着我呢。”

37.“他从前也有过老婆。”

38.“这会儿有老婆对他可没好处。”

39.“话可不能这么说。他有老婆也许会好些。”

40.“他侄女会照料他。”

41.“我知道。你刚才说是她把他放下来的。”

42.“我才不要活得那么老。老人邋里邋遢。”

43.“不一定都是这样。这个老人干干净净。他喝起啤酒来并不滴滴答答往外漏。哪怕这会儿喝醉了。你瞧他。”

44.“我才不想瞧他。我希望他回家去。他并不关心那些非干活不可的人。”

45.那老人从酒杯上抬起头来望望广场,又望望那两个侍者。

46.“再来杯白兰地,”他指着杯子说。那个着急的侍者跑了过去。

47.“没啦,”他不顾什么句法地说,蠢汉在对醉汉或外国人说话时就这么说法。“今晚上没啦。打烊啦。”

48.“再来一杯,”那老人说。

49.“不,没啦,”侍者一边拿块毛巾揩揩桌沿,一边摇摇头。

50.老人站了起来,慢慢地数着茶托,打口袋里摸出一只装硬币的钱夹子来,付了酒账,又放下半个比塞塔作小账。那个侍者瞅着他顺着大街走去,这个年纪很大的人走起路来,虽然脚步不很稳,却很有神气。

51.“你干嘛不让他呆下来喝酒呢?”那个不着急的侍者问道。他们这会儿正在拉下百叶窗。“还不到二点半呢。”

52.“我要回家睡觉了。”

53.“一个钟头算啥?”

54.“他无所谓,我可很在乎。”

55.“反正是一个钟头。”

56.“你说话就像那个老人一模一样。他可以买啤酒回家去喝嘛。”

57.“这可不一样。”

58.“是呀,这是不一样的。”那个有老婆的侍者表示同意说。他不希望做得不公道,他只是有点儿着急。

59.“那么你呢?你不怕不到你通常的时间就回家吗?”

60.“你想侮辱我吗?”

61.“不,老兄,只是开开玩笑。”

62.“不,”那个着急的侍者一边说,一边拉下了铁百叶窗后站了起来。“我有信心。我完全有信心。”

63.“你有青春,信心,又有工作,”那个年纪大些的侍者说,“你什么都有了。”

64.“那么,你缺少什么呢?”

65.“除了工作,什么都缺。”

66.“我有什么,你也都有了。”

67.“不,我从来就没有信心,我也不年轻了。”

68.“好啦,好啦,别乱弹琴了,把门锁上吧。”

69.“我是属于那种喜欢在餐馆呆得很晚的人,”那个年纪大些的侍者说。

70.“我同情那种不想睡觉的人,同情那种夜里要有亮光的人。”

71.“我要回家睡觉去了。”

72.“我们是不一样的,”那个年纪大些的侍者说。这会儿,他穿好衣服要回家了。“这不光是个年轻和信心的问题,虽然青春和信心都是十分美妙的。我每天晚上都很不愿意打烊,因为可能有人要上餐馆。”

73.“老兄,开通宵的酒店有的是。”

74.“你不懂。这儿是个干净愉快的餐馆。十分明亮。而且这会儿,灯光很亮,还有缥缈的树影。”

75.“晚安啦,”那个年轻的侍者说。

76.“晚安,”年纪大些的侍者说。他关了电灯,继续在自说自话。亮固然要很亮,但也必须是个干净愉快的地方。你不要听音乐。你肯定不要听音乐。你也不会神气地站在酒吧前面,虽然这会儿那里应有尽有。他怕什么?他不是怕,也不是发慌。他心里很有数,这是虚无缥缈。全是虚无缥缈,人也是虚无缥缈的。人所需要的只是虚无缥缈和亮光以及干干净净和井井有条。有些人生活于其中却从来没有感觉到,可是,他知道一切都是虚无缥缈的,一切都是为了虚无缥缈,虚无缥缈,为了虚无缥缈。我们的虚无缥缈就在虚无缥缈中,虚无缥缈是你的名字,你的王国也叫虚无缥缈,你将是虚无缥缈中的虚无缥缈,因为原来就是虚无缥缈。给我们这个虚无缥缈吧,我们日常的虚无缥缈,虚无缥缈是我们的,我们的虚无缥缈,因为我们是虚无缥缈的,我们的虚无缥缈,我们无不在虚无缥缈中,可是,把我们打虚无缥缈中拯救出来吧;为了虚无缥缈。欢呼全是虚无缥缈的虚无缥缈,虚无缥缈与汝同在。他含笑站在一个酒吧前,那儿有架闪光的蒸汽压咖啡机。

77.“你要什么?”酒吧招待问道。

78.“虚无缥缈。”

79.“又是个神经病,”酒吧招待说过后,转过头去。

80.“来一小杯,”那个侍者说。

81.酒吧招待倒了一杯给他。

82.“灯很亮,也很愉快,只是这个酒吧没有擦得很光洁,”侍者说。

83.酒吧招待看看他,但是,没有搭腔,夜深了,不便谈话。

84.“你要再来一小杯吗?”酒吧招待问道。

85.“不,谢谢你,”侍者说罢,走出去了。他不喜欢酒吧和酒店。一个干净明亮的餐馆又是另一回事。现在他不再想什么了,他要回家,到自己屋里去。他要去躺在床上,最后,天亮了,他就要睡觉了。到头来,他对自己说,大概又只是失眠。许多人一定都失眠。

洞房花烛夜

霍金斯

1.自1953年以来我就在汽车站的杂志摊打工,并时刻等候某位意中女人的出现。在我接手工作时,那边墙上淡淡的浅绿色的油漆还是刚刚涂过的。从朝鲜战场上归来的军人总是止步到这里来买香烟。从陆军、海上警卫、海军和海上陆战队军人身上我学会了识别各种徽章。

2.一次,我被一位穿着棕色夹克的敦实白人劫持。他露出剩下的两颗牙,将一个用带捆扎的小自动枪管对准我的胸膛。我递给他所有现钱却一点儿不感到恐惧。我觉得,他跟我属于一类,我可以死于那个柜台后,也可以和他同归于尽,共同享用那几个现钱。我们同是天涯沦落人。所以我将钱交给他后,顿生一种富有的感觉——323美元——我把他打发走之后才报了警。

3.汽车站这种地方什么事情都可能发生。20世纪60年代这里流行嬉皮士,年轻人打扮得衣冠不整。习惯睡在睡袋里,随身所带的还有包裹和卷起来的帐篷。就在那时,我开始觉得中意女郎——某个厌倦了长发男孩和旅途劳顿的姑娘,会姗姗而至,并且与我携手徒步回家,在吱吱作响的弹簧床上蜷着身体与我同衾共枕。于是我倍加留心,张目四顾。一天,我终于看到一位年轻女郎,她看上去疲惫不堪,十分需要朋友的帮助。我为她买了一片三明治、一杯咖啡、一杯糖果奶油花生露;还为她买了一些阿斯匹林、一品脱牛奶、一个指甲刀和一件纪念衬衫。

4.我跟她说,我有一个住处,她可以去那儿休息和停留,时间长短都不限;我还告诉她虽然房间很简陋,只有一间屋子,但我的东西即是她的东西。住处是干净的,这一点我清楚。因为在见到这个到处闲逛的女郎的前一天我就把房间彻底清扫了一次。

5.她抚摸着我的头发,说我充满了爱心,并说她将睡上大约12个小时,然后离开。我领着她回了家,她怦然倒下,哭了——说我“真善良”然后便倒头睡着了。我躺在她床边的地板上,并说我乐意睡在那儿。到了半夜,由于欲火烧身,我醒来了,感觉房间好像在旋转。我乱了方寸,双眼蒙眬。于是我爬起来,轻轻地溜到她床上。那位女郎和衣而睡,鼾声如雷。我抚摸她的皮肤,仅仅是衣服下的皮肤,她真的一点也没醒来,只是叹息一下,翻了个身。早晨我在床上醒来时,她早已不见踪影。

6.自1953年以来,我就在这儿打工,并时刻等候某位意中女人的出现。我猜想,那位意中女人确实来过。只是有些美满姻缘昙花一现,转眼即逝。

一小时的故事

凯特·肖邦

1.大家都知道马拉德夫人的心脏有毛病,所以在把她丈夫的死讯告诉她时是非常注意方式方法的。

2.是她的姐姐朱赛芬告诉她的,话都没说成句;吞吞吐吐、遮遮掩掩地暗示着。她丈夫的朋友理查德也在她身边。正是他在报社收到了铁路事故的消息,那上面“死亡者”一项中,布兰特雷·马拉德的名字排在第一。他一直等到来了第二封电报,把情况弄确实了,然后才匆匆赶来报告噩耗,以显示他是一个多么关心人、能够体贴入微的朋友。

3.要是别的妇女遇到这种情况,一定是手足无措,无法接受现实。她可不是这样。她立刻一下子倒在姐姐的怀里,放声大哭起来。当哀伤的风暴逐渐减弱时,她独自走向自己的房里,她不要别人跟着她。

4.正对着打开的窗户,放着一把舒适、宽大的安乐椅。全身的精疲力竭,似乎已浸透到她的心灵深处,她一屁股坐了下来。

5.她能看到房前场地上洋溢着初春活力的轻轻摇曳着的树梢。空气里充满了阵雨的芳香。下面街上有个小贩在吆喝着他的货物。远处传来了什么人的微弱歌声。屋檐下,数不清的麻雀在叽叽喳喳地叫着。

6.对着她的窗的正西方,相逢又相重的朵朵行云之间露出了这儿一片、那儿一片的蓝天。

7.她坐在那里,头靠着软垫,一动也不动,嗓子眼里偶尔啜泣一两声,身子抖动一下,就像那哭着哭着睡着了的小孩,做梦还在抽噎。

8.她还年轻,美丽。沉着的面孔出现的线条,说明了一种相当的抑制能力。可是,这会儿她两眼只是呆滞地凝视着远方的一片蓝天。从她的眼光看来她不是在沉思,而像是在理智地思考什么问题,却又尚未做出决定。

9.什么东西正向她走来,她等待着,又有点害怕。那是什么呢?她不知道,太微妙难解了,说不清,道不明。可是她感觉得出来,那是从空中爬出来的,正穿过洋溢在空气中的声音、气味、色彩而向她奔来。

10.这会儿,她的胸口激动地起伏着。她开始认出来那正向她逼近,就要占有她的东西,她挣扎着决心把它打回去——可是她的意志就像她那白皙纤弱的双手一样软弱无力。

11.当她放松自己时,从微弱的嘴唇间溜出了悄悄的声音。她一遍又一遍地低声悄语:“自由了,自由了,自由了!”但紧跟着,从她眼中流露出一副茫然的神情、恐惧的神情。她的目光明亮而锋利。她的脉搏加快了,循环中的血液使她全身感到温暖、松快。

12.她没有停下来问问自己,是不是有一种邪恶的快感控制着她。她现在头脑清醒,精神亢奋,她根本不认为会有这种可能。

13.她知道,等她见到死者那交叉着的双手时,等她见到死者那张一向含情脉脉地望着她、如今已是僵硬、灰暗、毫无生气的脸庞时,她还是会哭的。不过她透过那痛苦的时刻看到,来日方长的岁月可就完全属于她了。她张开双臂欢迎这岁月的到来。

14.在那即将到来的岁月里,没有人会替她做主;她将独立生活。再不会有强烈的意志而迫使她屈从了,多古怪,居然有人相信,盲目而执拗地相信,自己有权把自己的意志强加于别人。在她目前心智特别清明的一刻里,她看清楚:促成这种行为的动机无论是出于善意还是出于恶意,这种行为本身都是有罪的。

15.当然,她是爱过他的——有时候是爱他的。但经常是不爱他的。那又有什么“关系”!有了独立的意志——她现在突然认识到这是她身上最强烈的一种冲动,爱情这未有答案的神秘事物,又算得了什么呢!

16.“自由了!身心自由了!”她悄悄低语着。

17.朱赛芬跪在关着的门外,嘴唇对着锁孔,苦苦哀求让她进去。“露易丝,开开门!求求你啦,开开门——你这样会得病的。你干什么呐?看在上帝的份儿上,开开门吧!”

18.“去吧。我没把自己搞病。”没有,她正透过那扇开着的窗子畅饮那真正的长生不老药呢。

19.她在纵情地幻想未来的岁月将会如何。春天,还有夏天以及所有各种时光都将为她自己所有。她悄悄地做了快速的祈祷,但愿自己生命长久一些。仅仅是在昨天,她一想到说不定自己会过好久才死去,就厌恶得发抖。

20.她终于站了起来,在她姐姐的强求下,打开了门。她眼睛里充满了胜利的激情,她的举止不知不觉竟像胜利女神一样。她紧搂着姐姐的腰,她们一齐下楼去了。理查德正站在下面等着她们。

21.有人在用弹簧锁钥匙开大门。进来的是布兰特雷·马拉德,略显旅途劳顿,但泰然自若地提着他的大旅行包和伞。他不但没有在发生事故的地方呆过,而且连出了什么事也不知道。他站在那儿,大为吃惊地听见了朱赛芬刺耳的尖叫声;看见了理查德急忙在他妻子面前遮挡着他的快速动作。

22.不过,理查德已经太晚了。

23.医生来后,他们说她是死于心脏病——说她是因为极度高兴致死的。

一桶白葡萄酒

埃德加·爱伦·坡

1.福吐纳托对我百般迫害,我都尽量忍在心头,可是一旦他胆敢侮辱我,我就发誓要报仇了。您早就摸熟我生性脾气,总不见得当我说说吓唬人。总有一天我要报仇雪恨;这个主意坚定不移,虽然坚定不移,但是我却没想到要去冒险。我不仅要给他吃吃苦头,还要让自己不受惩罚。报仇的自己得到报应,这笔仇就不算报了。复仇者如果让冤家觉得报仇者也会受到报应,这笔仇也同样不算报了。

2.不消说,我一言一语,一举一动都没引起福吐纳托怀疑。还是照常对他笑脸相迎,可他没看出如今我是想到让他送命才笑呢。

3.福吐纳托这人在某些方面虽令人尊重,甚至令人敬畏,可就是有个弱点。他自夸是品酒老手。意大利人没几个具有真正行家的气质。他们的热诚,多半都用来随机应变,看风使舵,好让英国和奥地利的大财主上当。谈到古画和珠宝方面,福吐纳托跟他同胞一样,他是个外行,不过谈到酒,他倒是真正识货。这点我跟他大致相同——对意大利葡萄酒,我也算内行,只要办得到的话,就大量买进。

4.在热闹的狂欢节里,有天傍晚,正当暮色苍茫,我碰到了这位朋友。他过度亲热地招呼我,因为他没少喝酒。这家伙扮成小丑,身穿杂色条纹紧身衣,头戴圆尖帽,上面系着铃铛。我看见他真是高兴极了,不由想握着他的手久久不放。

5.我对他说:“老兄啊,幸会,幸会。你今天气色真是好到极点。我弄到一大桶所谓白葡萄酒(西班牙蒙蒂利亚生产的一种甜酒),可我不放心。”

6.“怎么弄到的?”他说,“白葡萄酒?一大桶?不可能吧!在狂欢节期间哪弄得到?”

7.“我不放心,”我答道,“我真笨透了,居然没跟你商量,就照白葡萄酒的价钱全付清了。找不到你,可又生怕错过这笔买卖。”

8.“白葡萄酒!”

9.“我不放心。”

10.“白葡萄酒!”

11.“我一定得放下这条心!”

12.“白葡萄酒!”

13.“瞧你有事,我正想去找卢克雷西呢。只有他才能品酒。他会告诉我——”

14.“卢克雷西根本分不清白葡萄酒和雪利酒。”

15.“可有些傻瓜硬说他眼力跟你不相上下呢。”

16.“快,咱们走吧。”

17.“上哪儿?”

18.“上你地窖去。”

19.“老兄,这不行。我不愿欺你心好。我看出你有事。卢克雷西——”

20.“我没事,来吧。”

21.“老兄,这不行。有事没事倒没什么,就是冷得够呛,我看你受不了。地窖里潮得让人难以忍受。四壁都是硝。”

22.“无论如何,咱们还是走吧。白葡萄酒!你可上当啦。说到卢克雷西,他连雪利酒跟白葡萄酒都分不清。”

23.说着福吐纳托就架住我胳膊。我戴上黑绸面具,用短披风紧紧裹住身子,就由他催着我上公馆去了。

24.家里听差都不在家。他们都趁机溜出去过节了。我对他们说过我要到第二天早晨才回家,还跟他们讲明,不准在家惹事。我心里有数,这一吩咐,保管我刚转身,马上就一个个都跑光了。

25.我从烛台上拿了两个火把,一个给福吐纳托,领他穿过几套房间,走进拱廊,通往地窖,走下长长一座回旋楼梯,请他一路跟着,倍加小心。我们终于到了楼梯脚下,一块蒙特里梭府墓窖的湿地上。

26.我朋友的脚步摇摇晃晃,跨一步,帽上铃铛就叮叮当当地响。

27.“那桶酒呢?”他说。

28.“在前面,”我说,“留神墙上发光的蜘蛛网。”

29.他朝我回过身来,两只醉意蒙眬的眼睛水汪汪地盯着我。

30.“硝?”他终于问道。

31.“硝,”我答道,“你害上那种咳嗽有多久了?”

32.“呃嘿!呃嘿!——呃嘿!呃嘿!呃嘿!呃嘿!”

33.我那可怜的朋友老半天答不出来。

34.“没什么,”最后他说道。

35.“不,”我坚定地答道,“咱们回去吧,你的身体要紧。你有钱有势,人人敬慕,又得人心;你像我从前一样幸福。要有个三长两短,那真是非同小可。我倒无所谓,咱们回去吧,你害病,我可担待不起。再说,还有卢克雷西——”

36.“够了,”他说,“咳嗽可不算什么,咳不死的。我不会咳死。”

37.“对——对,”我答道,“说真的,我可不是存心吓唬你——可总得好好预防才是。喝一口梅多克酒去去潮气吧。”

38.说着我就从泥地上的一长溜酒瓶里,拿起一瓶酒,砸了瓶颈。

39.“喝吧,”我说,把酒递给他。

40.他瞟了我一眼,就将酒瓶举到唇边。他歇下手,亲热地向我点点头,帽上铃铛就叮叮当当地响了。

41.“我为周围那些长眠地下的干杯。”他说。

42.“我为你万寿无疆干杯。”

43.他又搀着我胳膊,我们就继续往前走。

44.“这些地窖可真大。”他说。

45.“蒙特里梭家是大族,子孙多。”我答。

46.“我忘了你们府上的家徽啦。”

47.“偌大一只人脚,衬着一片蓝天;脚把一条腾起的蟒蛇踩烂了,蛇牙咬进脚跟。”

48.“那么家训呢?”

49.“以牙还牙。”

50.“妙啊!”他说。

51.喝了酒,他眼睛亮闪闪的,帽上铃铛又叮当地响。我喝了梅多克酒,心里更加胡思乱想了。我们走过尸骨和堆着大小酒桶的墙壁,进了墓窖的最深处,我又站住脚,这回竟放胆抓住福吐纳托的上臂。

52.“硝!”我说,“瞧,越来越多了。像青苔挂在拱顶上。咱们在河床下面啦。水珠子滴在尸骨里呢。快走,咱们趁早回去吧。你咳嗽——”

53.“没什么,”他说,“咱们往下走吧。不过先让我再喝口梅多克酒。”

54.我打开一壶葛拉维酒,递给他。他一口气喝光了,眼睛里顿时杀气腾腾。他大笑起来,把酒瓶往上一扔,那个手势,我可不明白是什么意思。

55.我吃惊地看着他。他又做了那个手势——一个古怪的手势。

56.“你不懂?”他说。

57.“我不懂。”我答。

58.“那你就不是同道。”

59.“怎的?”

60.“你不是共济会的。”

61.“是的,是的,”我说,“是的,是的。”

62.“你?不可能吧!你是?”

63.“一个瓦匠工。”我答。

64.“暗号呢,”他说,“暗号呢?”

65.“就是这个。”我边说边从短披风的褶裥下拿出把泥刀。

66.“你开玩笑呐,”他倒退几步,喊着说,“咱们还是往前去看白葡萄酒吧。”

67.“好吧,”我说,一边把泥刀重新放在披风下面,一边伸过胳膊给他扶着。他沉沉地靠在我胳膊上。我们经过一排很低的拱门,一直往下走,到了一个幽深的墓穴里,这里空气浑浊,手里火把顿时不见火光,只剩火焰了。

68.在墓穴的尽头,又出现了更狭窄的墓穴。四壁成排堆着尸骨,一直高高堆到拱顶,就跟巴黎那些大墓窖一个样。里头墓穴的三面墙,也一样堆着些尸骨。还有一面墙的尸骨都给推倒了,乱七八糟地堆在地上,积成相当大的一个尸骨堆。在尸骨倒塌处,只见里头还有一个壁龛,深约四英尺,宽达三英尺,高六七英尺。看上去当初造了并没打算派什么特别用处,不过是墓窖顶下两根大柱间的空隙罢了,后面却靠着一堵坚固的花岗石垣墙。

69.福吐纳托举起昏暗的火把,尽力朝壁龛深处仔细探看,可就是白费劲,火光微弱,看不见底。

70.“往前走,”我说,“白葡萄酒就在这里头。卢克雷西——”

71.“他是充内行,”我朋友一面摇摇晃晃地往前走,一面插嘴道,我紧跟在他屁股后走进去。一眨眼工夫,他走到壁龛的尽头了,一见给岩石挡住了道,就一筹莫展地发着愣。隔了片刻,我已经把他锁在花岗石墙上了。墙上装着两个铁环,横里相距两英尺左右。一个环上挂着根短铁链,另一个挂着把大锁。不消一刹那工夫,就把他拦腰拴上链子了。他惊慌失措,根本忘了反抗,我拔掉钥匙,就退出壁龛。

72.“伸出手去摸摸墙,”我说,“保你摸到硝。真是湿得很。让我再一次求求你回去吧。不回去?那我得离开你啦。可我还先得尽份心,照顾你一下。”

73.“白葡萄酒!”我朋友惊魂未定,不由失声喊道。

74.“不错,”我答,“白葡萄酒。”

75.说着我就在前文提过的尸骨堆间忙着。我把尸骨扔开,不久就掏出好些砌墙用的石块和灰泥。我便用这些材料,再靠那把泥刀,一个劲地在壁龛入口处砌起一堵墙来。

76.我连头一层石块还没砌成,就知道福吐纳托的醉意八成醒了。最先听到壁龛深处传出幽幽的一声哼叫。这不像醉鬼的叫声。随即一阵沉默,久久未了。我砌了第二层,再砌第三层,再砌第四层;接着就听到拼命摇晃铁链的声音。一直响了好几分钟,我索性歇下手中的活,在骨堆上坐下,为的是听得更加称心如意,等待当啷的声音终于哑寂,才重新拿起泥刀,不停手地砌上第五层,第六层,第七层。这时砌得差不多齐胸了。我又歇下手来,将火把举到石墙上,一线微弱的火光就照在里头那个人影上。

77.猛然间,那个上了锁链的人影从嗓子眼里发出一连串尖利响亮的喊声,仿佛想拼命吓退我。刹那间,我一时犹豫起来,簌簌发抖。我拔出长剑,手执长剑在壁龛里摸索起来;转念一想,又放下了心。我的手搁在墓窖那坚固的建筑上,就安心了。再走到墙跟前,那人大声嚷嚷,我也对他哇哇乱叫。他叫一声,我应一声,叫得比他响,比他亮。这一叫,对方叫嚷就减弱了。

78.这时已经深更半夜了,我也快干完了。第八层,第九层,第十层早砌上了,最后一层,也就是第十一层,也快砌完了;只消嵌进最后一块石块,再抹上灰泥就行了。我拼了命托起这块沉甸甸的石块,把石块一角放在原定地位。谁知这时壁龛里传来一阵低沉的笑声,吓得我头发根根直立。接着传来凄厉的一声,好不容易才认出那是福吐纳托老爷的声音。只听得说——“哈!哈!哈!——哈!——哈!——这倒真是个天大的笑话。绝妙的玩笑,回头到了公馆,就好笑个痛快啦——哈!哈!哈!我们的酒——哈!哈!哈!”

79.“白葡萄酒!”我说。

80.“哈!哈!哈!哈!哈!哈!——对,白葡萄酒。可还来得及吗?福吐纳托夫人他们不是在公馆里等咱们吗?咱们走吧。”

81.“对,”我说,“咱们走吧!”

82.“看在老天爷分上走吧,蒙特里梭!”

83.“对,”我说,“看在老天爷分上!”

84.谁知我说了这句话,怎么听都听不到一声回答。心里渐渐沉不住气了,便出声喊道:“福吐纳托!”

85.没搭腔。我再唤一遍——“福吐纳托!”

86.还是没搭腔。我将火把塞进还没砌上的墙孔,扔了进去。谁知只传来叮当的响声。我不由恶心起来,这是由于墓窖里那份湿气的缘故。我赶紧完工。把最后一块石头塞好,抹上灰泥。再紧靠着这堵新墙,重新堆好尸骨。五十年来一直没人动过。愿死者安息吧!

二十年以后

欧·亨利

1.执勤的警察正威严地沿着大街走着。这种威严是职业习惯,并非装腔作势,因为观众很少。还不到晚上10点,但阵阵冷风带着雨意已使大街上的行人寥寥无几。

2.警察拿着警棍,不时地转身警惕地注视着安静的大街,伟岸的身躯和一点点的自大给人留下了和平卫士的美好形象。这里的人们习惯早睡早起。虽然时不时地可以看到一两家雪茄店或夜宵店的灯光,但大多数商业店铺早已打烊。

3.在一个街区走到大约一半的地方,警察突然放慢了脚步。昏暗的灯光下,一个男子靠在一家小五金店的门口,嘴里叼着一支没有点燃的雪茄。警察向他走去的时候,男子很快说话了。

4.“这儿没有出什么事,警官先生。我只是在这儿等一位朋友罢了。这是20年前定下的一个约会。你听了觉得稀奇,是吗?好吧,如果你想确信这儿没出什么事的话,我讲给你听听。大约20年前,这儿,这个店铺所在的地方曾是一家餐馆——‘大乔布兰迪’餐馆。”

5.“大约5年前,”警察说,“那餐馆就被拆除了。”

6.门口的男子划了根火柴,点燃了叼在嘴上的雪茄。火柴的亮光显现了这个男子苍白的脸色,机警的目光,右眉角附近有一块小小的白色伤疤。

7.“20年前的今天晚上,”男子说,“我和吉米维尔斯在这里‘大乔布兰迪’餐馆共进晚餐。吉米是我最好的朋友,世界上最好的小伙子。我们俩在纽约这个城市里一起长大,亲密无间,情同手足。我18岁,吉米20岁。第二天一大早我就要动身去西部谋生。你无法让吉米离开纽约,他认为这是世界上最好的地方。当晚我们约定不管境况如何,不管相距多远,20年后的同一日、同一时,我们将再次来这里相会。我们估计,不管世事如何变化,20年后我们应该出人头地、腰缠万贯了。”

8.“听上去挺有意思,”警察说,“在我看来,是很长时间没有见面了。分手以后,你就没有收到过你那位朋友的信吗?”

9.“哦,收到过,有一段时间我们曾相互通信,”那男子说,“可是一两年之后,我们就失去了联系。你知道,西部是个很大的地方。而我呢,又总是不断地东奔西跑。但我相信,只要吉米还活着,就一定会来这儿和我相会。他是这世界上我最信得过的、最忠实的朋友。他决不会忘记,虽然我不远万里在今晚来到这里,只要同伴能够出现,那真是不虚此行。”

10.等待的男子从口袋里掏出一块漂亮的怀表。表壳上镶着小钻石。

11.“9:57了,”他说,“我们上一次是10点整在餐馆门口分手的。”

12.“你在西部混得不错,是吧?”警察问道。

13.“当然喽!吉米的光景要是能赶上我的一半就好了。吉米虽是个好小伙子,但比较老实。为了挣钱,我得与一些极精明的家伙周旋。在纽约人遵循常规,而在西部使他精明。”

14.警察移开了一两步。

15.“我得走了,希望你的朋友今晚能够来。假如他不准时赶来,你就不等他了吗?”

16.“不会的。”男子说,“我起码要再等他半个小时。如果吉米还活在人间,到时候他一定会来的。再见,警官先生。”

17.“晚安,先生。”警察一边说,一边离开去执勤。

18.天下起了毛毛雨,风也开始不停地刮着。街角上的几个过客将衣领竖得高高的,双手插进口袋里,悄无声息地匆匆急行。五金店门口那位千里迢迢赶来赴朋友之约的男子吸着雪茄等待着。

19.他等了大约20分钟的光景,这时,一个身材高大的人从街道对面急匆匆地径直向等待的男子走来。他身着长大衣,衣领竖起,盖住了耳朵。

20.“是你吗,鲍勃?”来人疑惑地问道。

21.“是你吗,吉米维尔斯?”站在门口的男子大声喊道。

22.“天哪!”来人叫道,握住了男子的双手。“不错,鲍勃。我早就知道只要你还活着,我会在这儿见到你的。噢,噢,噢!20年是不短的时间啊!原来的那个饭馆已经不在啦!鲍勃!真希望它还在,那样我们就可以在里面再次共进晚餐啦!老伙计,你在西部的情况怎么样?”

23.“好极了;我已经得到了我所需要的一切。你的变化不小啊,吉米。我从未想到你会长到这么高,高了两、三英寸呢。”

24.“噢,20岁以后,我是长高了一点儿。”

25.“吉米,你在纽约混得不错吧?”

26.“一般。我在市政府的一个部门上班。来,鲍勃,咱们找个我熟悉的地方,好好叙叙旧。”

27.两个人臂挽着臂走上了大街。来自西部的男子开始讲他的辉煌历史,另一位则饶有兴趣地听着。

28.街的拐角处有一家药店,店内灯火辉煌。来到亮处以后,两个人都不约而同地转过身来看对方的脸。

29.突然间,那来自西部的男子停住了脚步,松开了胳膊。

30.“你不是吉米维尔斯。”他突然说道,“20年的时间虽然不算短,但它也不会长到让一个人变得面目完全改变。”

31.“然而,他足可让一个好人变成坏人。”高个子说,“你已被逮10分钟了。鲍勃,芝加哥警方想到你会到这里来,通知我们说想跟你聊聊。悄无声息地去,好吗?那样比较明智。好,在我们去警察局之前,先给你看一张便条,你可以在窗口看,是维尔斯巡警让我交给你的。”

32.来自西部的男子打开递给自己的便条。开始读的时候他双手平稳,但读完的时候,便有些颤抖起来。便条很短。

33.“鲍勃:我准时赶到了约会地点。当你划着火柴点烟时,我发现你正是芝加哥警方所通缉的那个人。无论如何,我不忍心亲自动手,所以我离开了,只得找个便衣警察来完成使命。吉米”。