【01-01】 [爱情与金钱 / 罗维纳·阿金耶米 著] Love or Money by Romena Akinyemi ■ 简介 你是一名不错的侦探,是吗?如果是的话,那你得比沃尔什探长先找出凶手。沃尔什探长是名警探,他工作虽说慢了点,可十分细心。你是位“快手”吗?侦探是干什么的呢?侦探就是寻找线索的人。而线索就是告诉你谁是凶手的重要但又细小的事物。发现线索不容易,但本故事中有许多线索。有些线索有用——它们能帮助你,可有些线索却不利——它们妨碍你找到凶手。你得仔细点读,否则你会错过线索。 但请记住:你不必相信人们说的每件事。凶手显然会撒谎,可能其他人因不同的理由也会撒谎。也许他们希望某人死去。但是谁希望呢?谁杀的?你能找出凶手吗? 罗伊纳·阿金耶米是英国人,但在非洲度过了许多年。《爱情与金钱》是她为英语学生写的第一部故事。 |
■ 1 Chapter The Clarkson family lived in the country near Cambridge,about half a mile from the nearest village and about a mile from the river.They had a big,old house with a beautiful garden,a lot of flowers and many old.trees. One Thursday morning in July,Jackie came in from the garden.She was a tall,fat woman,thirty years old.It was the hottest day of the year,but she wore a warm brown skirt and yellow shirt.She went into the kitchen to get a drink of water.Just then the phone rang. 'Cambridge 1379,'Jackie said. 'Hello.This is Diane.I want to talk to Mother.' 'Mother isn't here,'Jackie said.'She's at the doctor's.' 'Why?What's Wrong?' 'Nothing's wrong,'Jackie said.'Why are you telephoning? You are going to come this weekend? Mother wants everyone to be here.' 'Yes,I want to come,'Diane said.'I'm phoning because I have no money for the train ticket.' 'No money!Mother is always giving you money!' 'This phone call is very expensive,'Diane said coldly.'Tell Mother please.I need the money.' Jackie put the phone down.She took a cigarette from her bag and began to smoke.She felt angry because her sister al-ways asked for money.Diane was twenty years old, the youngest in the family.She lived in London,in one room of a big house.She wanted to be a singer.She sang very well but she could never get work. Jackie went back into the kitchen and began to make some sandwiches.Just then the back door opened,and her mother came in. 'It's very hot!'Molly said.She took off her hat and put it down on the table.She was a tall,dark woman with beautiful eyes. Two big,black dogs came into the kitchen after her and ran across to her.She sat down and put her hands on their heads. Jackie put the sandwiches on the table.'Mother,'she said,'Diane phoned.She wants money for her train ticket.' Molly closed her eyes for a minute.Then she stood up.'This afternoon I want you to get the house ready for the weekend,'she said.'Oh,and please go to the village later and get my tablets.' 'Yes,Mother,'Jackie said. Molly went to the door. 'Mother,please wait a minute,'Jackie said.'Peter Hobbs came here this morning.He's very angry with you about that letter.He lost his job,you know.Why did you write to his office?He wants to talk to you about it.' 'Well,I don't want to talk to him,'Molly said.She opened the door. 'But Mother,you don't understand.He's seventeen,and it was his first job.He's very,very angry.He says… he says he's going to kill you!' Molly did not answer.She went out of the room and closed the door. ■ 1 克拉克森家住在剑桥附近的乡下,离最近的村庄约有半英里路,距离河有1英里左右。他们有幢大而古老带有美丽花园的房子,花园里有许多花和许多古树。 7月的一个星期四早上,杰基从花园进了屋。她是个高大,肥胖,30来岁的女人。这是一年中最热的日子,而她却穿着暖色调的黄色衬衫和棕色裙子。她走进厨房去喝水,这时电话响了。 “剑桥1379号,”杰基说。 “你好!我是黛安娜。我想和妈妈说话。” “妈妈不在家,”杰基说。“她看医生去了。” “怎么了?出了什么事?” “没什么,”杰基说。“你打电话干嘛?这个周末你回来吗?妈妈希望每个人都在。” “是啊,我想回来,”黛安娜说。“我正因为没钱买火车票,才打电话。” “没钱!妈妈总是给你钱!” “电话费很贵,”黛安娜冷冷说道。“请告诉妈妈,我需要钱。” 杰基放下电话,她从包里拿了枝烟抽起来。她因她的妹妹总是要钱感到生气。黛安娜20岁了,在家里最小。她住在伦敦,在一所大房子里有间屋子。她想成为一个歌唱家,她唱得很棒可是她却从来不愿找工作。 杰基走回厨房动手做一些三明治。这时后门开了,她的母亲走了进来。 “天太热了!”莫利说道,她脱下帽子放在桌上。她是位高个子、皮肤浅黑,有双美丽眼睛的女人。 两条大黑狗跟着她进了厨房围着她转,她坐下来把手放在它们的头上。 杰基把三明治放在桌上。“妈妈,”她说道,“黛安娜打来电话,她想要钱买火车票。” 莫利闭上眼一会,然后站起来。“下午我希望你收拾一下房子为周末做准备,”她说。“哦,随后请去村里给我买些药片。” “好的,妈妈,”杰基说。 莫利向门口走去。 “妈妈,请等一会。”杰基说。“彼得·霍布斯今早来了,他对你的那封信很生气。你知道,他丢了工作。你为什么写信给他的办公室?他想和你谈谈这事。” “好啦,我不想和他谈,”莫利说,她打开门。 “可是妈妈,你不明白。他17岁了,那是他第一份工作,他非常非常生气。他说……他说他会杀了你!” 莫利没答话,她走出房间关上了门。 |
■ 2 Chapter It was seven o'clock on Saturday evening.Jackie stood at the window.A car drove slowly up to the front door and stopped.A tall man with white hair got out,It was Albert,the husband of Molly's sister. 'Here's Uncle Albert,'Jackie said.'Always late.' She went out of the room and opened the front door.Albert came in and went at once to Molly. 'Oh,dear.I'm very late.I am sorry,'Albert said.'Fifty years old today!What a wonderful dress!' Molly did not smile.'Thank you,Albert.We're all getting older.'Tonight she wore a long black dress,and the two black dogs sat at her feet.'Everyone is here now.Let's go in to dinner,'she said. Everyone stood up and went to the table. 'The table looks nice,Jackie.What wonderful flowers!'Diane said.She was a beautiful girl,with long black hair and dark blue eyes.She wore a long red dress. Albert sat down next to Roger Roger was Molly's son,her second child.He lived in Cambridge,in an expensive house. 'Someone called Peter stopped me down the road,'Albert said.'Who is he? He's very angry with you,Molly.' 'That's Peter Hobbs,from the house across the road,'Jackie said quickly.She looked across the table at Molly.'He lost his job last week and he's angry with everyone.' 'It's Molly he doesn't like,'Albert said. Molly said nothing.Everyone began to eat. 'How is Aunt Annie?'Jackie asked. 'She's much worse now,'Albert said.'She stays in bed all the time.She needs a nurse twenty-four hours a day.' 'I am sorry,'Molly said. Albert stopped eating and looked at Molly.'It's very difficult and very expensive,you know.Annie feels very unhappy because you don't visit her,Molly.She loves you very much.You are her little sister;you know.' Molly closed her eyes for a minute.' I know that,Albert.I am fifty years old,but I am always her“little”sister.Well,we can talk about it later.' Albert laughed.'Oh yes,we can talk later.It's always later with you,Molly.Always tomorrow.Never today.' Jackie watched her mother.Her mother was angry with Albert.Molly never liked talking about her sister Annie and she did not like visiting her because she was very ill. 'That's a beautiful dress,Diane.Is it new?'Jackie asked. 'Thank you,Jackie.Yes,it's new,and very expensive.I got it on Wednesday,'Diane said.She smiled at Jackie. 'All your things are expensive,'Jackie said.She remembered the phone call on Thursday about the train ticket. 'I don't like cheap things,'Diane said.'And I'm going to need more money soon.I want to go to America.Can you help me,Roger?' 'Oh no,'Roger said.'Nobody wants to help you, Diane.You don't like working,we all know that,but we all want you to get a job.' Diane laughed.'It doesn't matter,Roger.I don't need your help.Mother always helps me.Mother loves me best.'She suddenly smiled,a quick,beautiful smile.But her eyes were cold. Jackie looked at her mother.Molly's face was white.Jackie did not understand.Was her mother afraid of Diane?Jackie wanted her mother to be happy today. 'Would you like some more meat,Uncle Albert?'Jackie asked.'Roger,can you give everyone some more to drink? Roger got up and began to give more wine to everyone.'This is good wine,'he said. Molly smiled for the first time.'Yes,your father loved this wine.He often drank it.' 'Yes,'Albert said,and looked at Molly.'Expensive,too.' 'Would you like to meet Mr Briggs this weekend,Roger?Jackie asked quickly.'He's the new man at the farm.He wants to meet you.' 'Briggs?Briggs?'Molly said,suddenly angry.'Don't talk to me about that man.I don't like him.He wants half my garden for his farm.He needs more land,he says.I don't want him in my house.He's always dirty and he has bad teeth.' Jackie stood up and got her bag.'Excuse me,I want a cigarette.' 'Cigarettes!Always a cigarette in your mouth,'Molly said.'I don't like it.Cigarettes aren't good for you.' Jackie began to smoke.She felt angry but she said nothing.She wanted her mother to be happy this evening,but it was very difficult. Roger drank some more wine.'Well,Mother,perhaps Mr Briggs is right.The garden is very big,you know,'he said.'It's a lot of work for you.The house is big,too.You're fifty now.You need to be more careful.' 'Roger!I don't need a nurse,you know!I work in the garden every day;I feel happy there.'Molly stood up.'I know you all want my money.You come here for a free dinner,you don't want to see me.You don't love me.You want my house,and my money.Well,you can all wait.No-body is getting more money from me,not before I die!' 'Don't say that,Mother!'Jackie cried. Molly walked across the room to the door.'I feel ill now.I'm going upstairs to bed.' Molly left the room.Nobody moved. 'One day I'm going to kill that woman,'Diane said quietly. Roger looked at Diane but said nothing.Albert moved his head slowly up and down.'Ill!She's angry,that's all,'he said.'Molly always gets angry about money.Why can't she be good to her sister?Annie's going to die soon.Molly knows that.' Jackie finished her cigarette and stood up.'Would everyone like some coffee?Come into the kitchen and let's drink it there.' ■ 2 星期六晚上7点。杰基站在窗前。一辆小车徐徐驶到前门停下来。一个白头发、高个子的男人下了车,他是艾伯特,莫利姐姐的丈夫。 “是艾伯特姨父,”杰基说。“他总是迟到。” 她走出房间打开前门。艾伯特走进来,立刻便走向莫利。 “哦,亲爱的,抱歉,我来得太迟了,”艾伯特说。“今天是你50岁生日!多漂亮的裙子!” 莫利没有笑。“谢谢你,艾伯特。我们都老了。”今晚她穿了一条长长的黑裙子,两条黑狗蹲在她脚边。“现在大家都到了,咱们吃饭吧。”她说。 大家都站起来走到桌前。 “餐桌看起来不错,杰基。多美的花啊!”黛安娜说。她是个美丽的女孩,有一头长长的黑头发和一双深蓝色的眼睛,她穿了一条红色的长裙。 艾伯特坐在罗杰的旁边。罗杰是莫利的儿子,她的第二个孩子。他住在剑桥一幢昂贵的房子里。 “有个叫彼特的人沿路阻挡我,”艾伯特说。“他是谁?他很生你的气,莫利。” “那是彼得·霍布斯,家住在马路对面的房子里。”杰基很快地说。她看着餐桌对面的莫利。“他上周丢了工作,他生每个人的气。” “他不喜欢的是莫利,”艾伯特说。 莫利一言不发。大家开始吃东西。 “安妮姨妈好吗?”杰基问。 “她现在更糟糕了,”艾伯特说。“她所有时间都呆在床上。她一天24小时都需要护士。” “我真难过”,莫利说。 艾伯特停下来看着莫利。“你知道,这事非常麻烦并且非常花钱。莫利,安妮因为你不去看她很不高兴。她非常爱你,你知道,你是她的小妹妹。” 莫利闭上了眼。“我知道这些,艾伯特。我都50岁了,可我总是她的'小'妹妹。好吧,我们以后再谈这事。” 艾伯特笑道。“哦,是啊,我们以后再谈。莫利,和你总是以后,总是明天。从来不是今天。” 杰基看着她的母亲,她的母亲生艾伯特的气。莫利从来就不喜欢谈论她姐姐,也不喜欢去拜访她。而她病得很重。 “这裙子真漂亮,黛安娜。是新的吗?”杰基问。 “谢谢,杰基。是的,新裙子,非常贵。我周三才买的。”黛安娜说。她冲着杰基微笑。 “你所有的东西都昂贵,”杰基说。她记起周四关于火车票的电话。 “我不喜欢便宜的东西,”黛安娜说。“我不久会需要更多的钱,我想去美国。罗杰,你能帮我吗?” “哦,不行,”罗杰说。“没有人想帮你,黛安娜。我们都知道,你不喜欢工作,但是我们都希望你找份工作。” 黛安娜笑道。“没关系,罗杰。我不需要你的帮助,妈妈总是会帮我的,妈妈最爱我。”她突然笑了一下,一个转瞬即逝美丽的微笑。可她的眼神却是冷冷的。 杰基看着她的妈妈,莫利脸色苍白。杰基不明白为什么。她的妈妈会怕黛安娜?杰基希望她的妈妈今天快快乐乐。 “艾伯特姨父,你还要些肉吗?”杰基问。“罗杰,你能给每人再添些饮料吗?” 罗杰站起来动手给大家加了些酒。“这酒不错,”他说。 莫利第一次笑了。“是啊,你父亲爱喝这种酒。他经常喝。” “是啊”,艾伯特看着莫利说“也非常贵。” “罗杰,这个周末你想见见布里格斯吗?”杰基急忙问。“他刚来农场。他想见见你。” “布里格斯?布里格斯?”莫利说,她突然生气了。“不要和我谈那个男人,我不喜欢他。他想要我把一半的花园当他的农场。他说,他需要更多的土地。我不希望他来我家,他总是脏兮兮的,还有一口坏牙。” 杰基站起来拿她的包。“抱歉,我想抽枝烟。” “烟!你的嘴总是叼着烟,”莫利说。“我讨厌烟,抽烟对你不好。” 杰基开始抽烟,她感到很生气,但她什么也没说。她想让她妈妈今晚快乐些,可看来这非常难。 罗杰喝了好些酒。“好啦,妈妈,布里格斯先生可能是对的。你清楚,花园是太大了,”他说。“你要干许多的事,房子也太大了。你都50岁了,你需要更多的照顾。” “罗杰!你明白,我不需要护士!我每天在花园里干点活,我在那儿感到快乐。”莫利站起来。“我知道你们都想要我的钱。你们来这儿只为一顿免费的晚餐,不是想来看看我,你们不爱我。你们想要我的房子,我的钱。好吧,你们都等着。在我死之前,任何人都别想从我这儿得一点儿!” “别说这些,妈妈!”杰基叫道。 莫利穿过房间走到门前。“现在我感到不舒服。我要上楼睡觉了。” 莫利离开了房间,大家都没动。 “有一天我会杀了这女人,”黛安娜平静地说。 罗杰看看黛安娜,但什么也没说。艾伯特上下摇晃着脑袋。“不舒服!她生气了,就这样,”他说。“莫利谈到钱总要生气。为什么她不能对她姐姐好点?安妮不久就要死了,莫利知道这些。” 杰基抽完烟站起来。“每人都来些咖啡吗?到厨房去,咱们在那儿喝吧!” ■ 3 Chapter Early next morning the house was quiet.Suddenly there was a cry from the room next to Roger's,his mother's room.Roger opened his eyes and looked at the clock.It was nearly seven o'clock.He got out of bed and opened the door quietly.At the same time the door of his mother's room opened and Diane came out.Her face was very white. 'Roger!It' s Mother!I brought a cup of coffee for her and I found her dead.She's dead…dead in her bed,'she cried. Roger went quickly to the door of his mother's room and looked in.The window was open but the room was warm.Molly was on the bed,one hand under her head.Roger went across to the bed and put his hand on her arm.It was cold.On the little table next to the bed was a hot cup of coffee and an empty cup. 'I'm going to call the doctor,'Diane said. 'She's dead,'Roger said slowly.His face,too,was white.'Mother is dead!' Diane walked across the room to the door.'I'm going to phone the doctor,'she said again. 'Wait a minute!'Roger called.'Let's tell the family first.' 'Family!Nobody loved Mother!'Diane went out and ran downstairs. Roger slowly went downstairs after her and stood by the telephone. 'Dr Pratt,this is Diane Clarkson.It's my mother—she's dead.Can you come quickly?' Diane put the phone down.'It isn't true,Roger!Mother dead!Daddy died last winter,and now Mother.'Diane began to cry. 'Don't cry,Diane,'Roger said.'Let's go upstairs and tell Uncle Albert and Jackie.' 'No!You tell them!Nobody loved Mother.You aren't sorry.Look at you!You want her money.That's all.' Roger suddenly wanted to hit Diane.'Be quiet!'he said.'What about you?You didn't love Mother.You wanted her money,too.Don't forget that!' 'It's true,'Diane said.'Oh,I can't stay in this house.I'm going out.I'm going to the river with the dogs.' 'No,'Roger said.'The doctor's coming and I want you here.' Diane said nothing.She went into the kitchen and at once the dogs got up and came to her.'Beautiful dogs!Daddy loved you and Mother loved you.Now I'm going to love you.'She opened the back door and went out with the dogs. Roger did not move.He stood by the telephone.'It's true,'he thought.'I am happy about the money.I needed money,and now I'm rich.Things are going to be easier for me now.But Mother…why didn't I love her more? And now she's dead.'Slowly,Roger went back upstairs.He wanted to dress before Dr Pratt arrived. Dr Pratt was a little fat man without much hair.He was the family doctor and he knew all the Clarkson family very well.He went upstairs at once and looked at Molly's body.He looked carefully at the cup of coffee and the empty cup on the table next to her bed. 'I'm sorry,Roger,'he said.'Where is Diane?She phoned me.' 'She went out with the dogs,'Roger said.'She was angry with me—angry with everyone.' Dr Pratt said nothing for a minute.'This is going to be very difficult.I'm going to phone the police,Roger.' 'Police!Why?What's wrong? 'I don't know.Your mother wasn't ill.I saw her on Thursday and she was very well.Why did she die?I don' t understand.I want to find out.' Roger went across to the window and looked out at the gar-den.It was a beautiful summer morning.The sky was blue and the garden was green.It was all very quiet.His mother loved this garden.But Tom Briggs wanted the garden.And Roger wanted the garden,too.Roger felt worse and worse. 'Your mother took sleeping tablets,'Dr Pratt said.'Did you know?On Thursday she had a new bottle of tablets,but I can't find it here in her room.' 'I didn't know,'Roger said.'Very well.Let's go down-stairs and you can phone the police.' Roger went into the kitchen and made some coffee.Just then Diane came in with the dogs. 'Roger,'she said.'Look,I'm sorry.I was angry and said some angry things.' 'It doesn't matter,'Roger said.'Here you are,have some coffee.Dr Pratt is phoning the police.Did you know Mother took sleeping tablets?Well,the bottle is not in her room.' 'What?I don't understand.'Diane took the coffee and be-gan to drink.Her eyes looked big and dark. Just then Dr Pratt came into the kitchen.'They're coming at once,'he said.'Diane—I'm sorry about your mother.' 'Dr Pratt,I want to tell you about last night.Everyone was very angry…' 'Be quiet!'Roger said quickly. 'Diane never thinks before she opens her mouth,'he thought angrily. Diane did not look at Roger.'Last night Mother went to bed early because everyone…' 'Don't tell me,'Dr Pratt said.'You can tell the police.' Roger's face went red.Suddenly he felt afraid.'The police are going to talk to everyone,and ask questions,'he thought.'And they're going to want answers.It's going to be very difficult.'He finished his coffee and stood up. 'I'm going upstairs,'he said.'I'm going to tell Uncle Al-bert and Jackie about Mother…and about the police.' ■ 3 第二天清晨整幢房子静悄悄的。突然从罗杰房间旁边他母亲的屋子里传出一声尖叫。罗杰睁开眼看了下钟,还不到7点。他下了床,悄悄打开门。正在这时他母亲房间的门也打开了,黛安娜走出来,她的脸非常苍白。 “罗杰!妈妈她,我端了杯咖啡给她,发现她死了。她死了……死在她床上,”她哭道。 罗杰急忙走到他母亲的门前往里看,窗户是开着的,可房间里是温暖的。莫利躺在床上,一只手在她头下。罗杰走到床前把手放在她的手臂上,尸体已经冷了。床边的小桌上有杯热咖啡和一个空杯子。 “我打电话去叫医生,”黛安娜说。 “她死了,”罗杰慢慢地说。他的脸也变白了。“妈妈死了!” 黛安娜穿过房间走到门口。“我去打电话叫医生,”她又说。 “等会儿!”罗杰叫道。“咱们得先告诉家人。” “家里人!没有人爱妈妈!”黛安娜走出去跑下楼。 罗杰跟着她慢慢走下楼站在电话旁。 “普拉特先生,我是黛安娜·克拉克森。我的妈妈——她死了。你能尽快赶来吗?” 黛安娜放下电话。“这不是真的,罗杰!妈妈死了!爸爸去年冬天死了,现在妈妈也死了。”黛安娜开始哭泣。 “别哭了,黛安娜,”罗杰说。“咱们上楼去告诉艾伯特姨父和杰基。” “不!你去告诉他们!没人爱妈妈,你们不必内疚。看看你们!你们想要她的钱。不过如此。” 罗杰突然想揍黛安娜。“安静点!”他说。“你怎么了?你不爱妈妈,你也想要她的钱,别忘了这点!” “不错,”黛安娜说。“哦,我不能再呆在这儿了。我要出去。我要和狗去河边。” “不行,”罗杰说。“医生就要来了,我想你留在这儿。” 黛安娜没说话。她走进厨房。狗立即站起来走到她旁边。“多漂亮的狗!爸爸爱你们,妈妈也爱你们。现在我会爱你们的。”她打开后门,带着狗走了出去。 罗杰没动,他仍站在电话旁。“不错,”他想。“我的确为钱高兴。我需要钱,现在我是富有的了。事情现在对我来说更容易。但是妈妈……我为什么不多爱她些呢?可现在她死了。”罗杰慢慢地上了楼,他想在普拉特医生来前穿好衣服。 普拉特医生是个矮胖没有多少头发的男人,他是家庭医生并且他非常清楚克拉克森一家人。他立即上楼查看莫利的尸体。他仔细看了床边桌子上的一杯咖啡和空杯子。 “抱歉,罗杰,”他说。“黛安娜在哪儿?她给我打了电话。” “她带着狗出去了,”罗杰说。“她冲我生气,对每个人都生气。” 普拉特医生沉默了一会。“这事非常难办。罗杰,我要打电话给警察。” “警察!为什么?出了什么事?” “我不清楚,你的母亲没病,我周四见到她身体很好。她为什么会死?我不明白,我想找出原因。” 罗杰走到窗前向外看花园。这是个美丽的夏天清晨,天空蓝蓝的而花园是一片绿色,一切都非常安静。他的妈妈爱这个花园,然而汤姆·布里格斯却打着这个花园的主意,并且罗杰也想要这个花园。罗杰觉得事情越来越糟。 “你的妈妈服了安眠药,”普拉特医生说。“你知道吗?她周四买了瓶安眠药,可是我在她的房间却找不到。” “我不知道,”罗杰说。“好吧。咱们下楼去,你可以给警察打电话。” 罗杰走进厨房弄了些咖啡,这时黛安娜带着狗走进来。 “罗杰,”她说。“你瞧,我很抱歉。我生气了并说了些令人生气的话。” “没关系,”罗杰说。“给你,喝点咖啡。普拉特医生正打电话给警察。你知道妈妈服安眠药吗?唷,瓶子不在她的屋里。” “什么?我不知道。”黛安娜端起咖啡开始喝。她的眼睛看起来又大又黑。 这时普尔特医生走进厨房。“他们马上来,”他说。“黛安娜——我为你妈妈难过。” “普拉特医生,我想告诉你有关昨晚的事,每人都非常生气……” “安静些!”罗杰急忙说。 “黛安娜在张嘴前从不想想,”他生气地想。 黛安娜没看罗杰。“昨晚妈妈早早就上床了,因为每个人……” “别告诉我,”普拉特医生说。“你可以告诉警察。” 罗杰的脸红了,突然他觉得有些害怕。“警察会找每个人谈话,问些问题。”他想。“然后他们会想要答案,这事非常棘手。”他喝完咖啡站起来。 “我上楼去,”他说。“我去告诉艾伯特姨父和杰基有关妈妈的事……还有报警的事。” |
■ 2 Chapter It was seven o'clock on Saturday evening.Jackie stood at the window.A car drove slowly up to the front door and stopped.A tall man with white hair got out,It was Albert,the husband of Molly's sister. 'Here's Uncle Albert,'Jackie said.'Always late.' She went out of the room and opened the front door.Albert came in and went at once to Molly. 'Oh,dear.I'm very late.I am sorry,'Albert said.'Fifty years old today!What a wonderful dress!' Molly did not smile.'Thank you,Albert.We're all getting older.'Tonight she wore a long black dress,and the two black dogs sat at her feet.'Everyone is here now.Let's go in to dinner,'she said. Everyone stood up and went to the table. 'The table looks nice,Jackie.What wonderful flowers!'Diane said.She was a beautiful girl,with long black hair and dark blue eyes.She wore a long red dress. Albert sat down next to Roger Roger was Molly's son,her second child.He lived in Cambridge,in an expensive house. 'Someone called Peter stopped me down the road,'Albert said.'Who is he? He's very angry with you,Molly.' 'That's Peter Hobbs,from the house across the road,'Jackie said quickly.She looked across the table at Molly.'He lost his job last week and he's angry with everyone.' 'It's Molly he doesn't like,'Albert said. Molly said nothing.Everyone began to eat. 'How is Aunt Annie?'Jackie asked. 'She's much worse now,'Albert said.'She stays in bed all the time.She needs a nurse twenty-four hours a day.' 'I am sorry,'Molly said. Albert stopped eating and looked at Molly.'It's very difficult and very expensive,you know.Annie feels very unhappy because you don't visit her,Molly.She loves you very much.You are her little sister;you know.' Molly closed her eyes for a minute.' I know that,Albert.I am fifty years old,but I am always her“little”sister.Well,we can talk about it later.' Albert laughed.'Oh yes,we can talk later.It's always later with you,Molly.Always tomorrow.Never today.' Jackie watched her mother.Her mother was angry with Albert.Molly never liked talking about her sister Annie and she did not like visiting her because she was very ill. 'That's a beautiful dress,Diane.Is it new?'Jackie asked. 'Thank you,Jackie.Yes,it's new,and very expensive.I got it on Wednesday,'Diane said.She smiled at Jackie. 'All your things are expensive,'Jackie said.She remembered the phone call on Thursday about the train ticket. 'I don't like cheap things,'Diane said.'And I'm going to need more money soon.I want to go to America.Can you help me,Roger?' 'Oh no,'Roger said.'Nobody wants to help you, Diane.You don't like working,we all know that,but we all want you to get a job.' Diane laughed.'It doesn't matter,Roger.I don't need your help.Mother always helps me.Mother loves me best.'She suddenly smiled,a quick,beautiful smile.But her eyes were cold. Jackie looked at her mother.Molly's face was white.Jackie did not understand.Was her mother afraid of Diane?Jackie wanted her mother to be happy today. 'Would you like some more meat,Uncle Albert?'Jackie asked.'Roger,can you give everyone some more to drink? Roger got up and began to give more wine to everyone.'This is good wine,'he said. Molly smiled for the first time.'Yes,your father loved this wine.He often drank it.' 'Yes,'Albert said,and looked at Molly.'Expensive,too.' 'Would you like to meet Mr Briggs this weekend,Roger?Jackie asked quickly.'He's the new man at the farm.He wants to meet you.' 'Briggs?Briggs?'Molly said,suddenly angry.'Don't talk to me about that man.I don't like him.He wants half my garden for his farm.He needs more land,he says.I don't want him in my house.He's always dirty and he has bad teeth.' Jackie stood up and got her bag.'Excuse me,I want a cigarette.' 'Cigarettes!Always a cigarette in your mouth,'Molly said.'I don't like it.Cigarettes aren't good for you.' Jackie began to smoke.She felt angry but she said nothing.She wanted her mother to be happy this evening,but it was very difficult. Roger drank some more wine.'Well,Mother,perhaps Mr Briggs is right.The garden is very big,you know,'he said.'It's a lot of work for you.The house is big,too.You're fifty now.You need to be more careful.' 'Roger!I don't need a nurse,you know!I work in the garden every day;I feel happy there.'Molly stood up.'I know you all want my money.You come here for a free dinner,you don't want to see me.You don't love me.You want my house,and my money.Well,you can all wait.No-body is getting more money from me,not before I die!' 'Don't say that,Mother!'Jackie cried. Molly walked across the room to the door.'I feel ill now.I'm going upstairs to bed.' Molly left the room.Nobody moved. 'One day I'm going to kill that woman,'Diane said quietly. Roger looked at Diane but said nothing.Albert moved his head slowly up and down.'Ill!She's angry,that's all,'he said.'Molly always gets angry about money.Why can't she be good to her sister?Annie's going to die soon.Molly knows that.' Jackie finished her cigarette and stood up.'Would everyone like some coffee?Come into the kitchen and let's drink it there.' ■ 2 星期六晚上7点。杰基站在窗前。一辆小车徐徐驶到前门停下来。一个白头发、高个子的男人下了车,他是艾伯特,莫利姐姐的丈夫。 “是艾伯特姨父,”杰基说。“他总是迟到。” 她走出房间打开前门。艾伯特走进来,立刻便走向莫利。 “哦,亲爱的,抱歉,我来得太迟了,”艾伯特说。“今天是你50岁生日!多漂亮的裙子!” 莫利没有笑。“谢谢你,艾伯特。我们都老了。”今晚她穿了一条长长的黑裙子,两条黑狗蹲在她脚边。“现在大家都到了,咱们吃饭吧。”她说。 大家都站起来走到桌前。 “餐桌看起来不错,杰基。多美的花啊!”黛安娜说。她是个美丽的女孩,有一头长长的黑头发和一双深蓝色的眼睛,她穿了一条红色的长裙。 艾伯特坐在罗杰的旁边。罗杰是莫利的儿子,她的第二个孩子。他住在剑桥一幢昂贵的房子里。 “有个叫彼特的人沿路阻挡我,”艾伯特说。“他是谁?他很生你的气,莫利。” “那是彼得·霍布斯,家住在马路对面的房子里。”杰基很快地说。她看着餐桌对面的莫利。“他上周丢了工作,他生每个人的气。” “他不喜欢的是莫利,”艾伯特说。 莫利一言不发。大家开始吃东西。 “安妮姨妈好吗?”杰基问。 “她现在更糟糕了,”艾伯特说。“她所有时间都呆在床上。她一天24小时都需要护士。” “我真难过”,莫利说。 艾伯特停下来看着莫利。“你知道,这事非常麻烦并且非常花钱。莫利,安妮因为你不去看她很不高兴。她非常爱你,你知道,你是她的小妹妹。” 莫利闭上了眼。“我知道这些,艾伯特。我都50岁了,可我总是她的'小'妹妹。好吧,我们以后再谈这事。” 艾伯特笑道。“哦,是啊,我们以后再谈。莫利,和你总是以后,总是明天。从来不是今天。” 杰基看着她的母亲,她的母亲生艾伯特的气。莫利从来就不喜欢谈论她姐姐,也不喜欢去拜访她。而她病得很重。 “这裙子真漂亮,黛安娜。是新的吗?”杰基问。 “谢谢,杰基。是的,新裙子,非常贵。我周三才买的。”黛安娜说。她冲着杰基微笑。 “你所有的东西都昂贵,”杰基说。她记起周四关于火车票的电话。 “我不喜欢便宜的东西,”黛安娜说。“我不久会需要更多的钱,我想去美国。罗杰,你能帮我吗?” “哦,不行,”罗杰说。“没有人想帮你,黛安娜。我们都知道,你不喜欢工作,但是我们都希望你找份工作。” 黛安娜笑道。“没关系,罗杰。我不需要你的帮助,妈妈总是会帮我的,妈妈最爱我。”她突然笑了一下,一个转瞬即逝美丽的微笑。可她的眼神却是冷冷的。 杰基看着她的妈妈,莫利脸色苍白。杰基不明白为什么。她的妈妈会怕黛安娜?杰基希望她的妈妈今天快快乐乐。 “艾伯特姨父,你还要些肉吗?”杰基问。“罗杰,你能给每人再添些饮料吗?” 罗杰站起来动手给大家加了些酒。“这酒不错,”他说。 莫利第一次笑了。“是啊,你父亲爱喝这种酒。他经常喝。” “是啊”,艾伯特看着莫利说“也非常贵。” “罗杰,这个周末你想见见布里格斯吗?”杰基急忙问。“他刚来农场。他想见见你。” “布里格斯?布里格斯?”莫利说,她突然生气了。“不要和我谈那个男人,我不喜欢他。他想要我把一半的花园当他的农场。他说,他需要更多的土地。我不希望他来我家,他总是脏兮兮的,还有一口坏牙。” 杰基站起来拿她的包。“抱歉,我想抽枝烟。” “烟!你的嘴总是叼着烟,”莫利说。“我讨厌烟,抽烟对你不好。” 杰基开始抽烟,她感到很生气,但她什么也没说。她想让她妈妈今晚快乐些,可看来这非常难。 罗杰喝了好些酒。“好啦,妈妈,布里格斯先生可能是对的。你清楚,花园是太大了,”他说。“你要干许多的事,房子也太大了。你都50岁了,你需要更多的照顾。” “罗杰!你明白,我不需要护士!我每天在花园里干点活,我在那儿感到快乐。”莫利站起来。“我知道你们都想要我的钱。你们来这儿只为一顿免费的晚餐,不是想来看看我,你们不爱我。你们想要我的房子,我的钱。好吧,你们都等着。在我死之前,任何人都别想从我这儿得一点儿!” “别说这些,妈妈!”杰基叫道。 莫利穿过房间走到门前。“现在我感到不舒服。我要上楼睡觉了。” 莫利离开了房间,大家都没动。 “有一天我会杀了这女人,”黛安娜平静地说。 罗杰看看黛安娜,但什么也没说。艾伯特上下摇晃着脑袋。“不舒服!她生气了,就这样,”他说。“莫利谈到钱总要生气。为什么她不能对她姐姐好点?安妮不久就要死了,莫利知道这些。” 杰基抽完烟站起来。“每人都来些咖啡吗?到厨房去,咱们在那儿喝吧!” ■ 3 Chapter Early next morning the house was quiet.Suddenly there was a cry from the room next to Roger's,his mother's room.Roger opened his eyes and looked at the clock.It was nearly seven o'clock.He got out of bed and opened the door quietly.At the same time the door of his mother's room opened and Diane came out.Her face was very white. 'Roger!It' s Mother!I brought a cup of coffee for her and I found her dead.She's dead…dead in her bed,'she cried. Roger went quickly to the door of his mother's room and looked in.The window was open but the room was warm.Molly was on the bed,one hand under her head.Roger went across to the bed and put his hand on her arm.It was cold.On the little table next to the bed was a hot cup of coffee and an empty cup. 'I'm going to call the doctor,'Diane said. 'She's dead,'Roger said slowly.His face,too,was white.'Mother is dead!' Diane walked across the room to the door.'I'm going to phone the doctor,'she said again. 'Wait a minute!'Roger called.'Let's tell the family first.' 'Family!Nobody loved Mother!'Diane went out and ran downstairs. Roger slowly went downstairs after her and stood by the telephone. 'Dr Pratt,this is Diane Clarkson.It's my mother—she's dead.Can you come quickly?' Diane put the phone down.'It isn't true,Roger!Mother dead!Daddy died last winter,and now Mother.'Diane began to cry. 'Don't cry,Diane,'Roger said.'Let's go upstairs and tell Uncle Albert and Jackie.' 'No!You tell them!Nobody loved Mother.You aren't sorry.Look at you!You want her money.That's all.' Roger suddenly wanted to hit Diane.'Be quiet!'he said.'What about you?You didn't love Mother.You wanted her money,too.Don't forget that!' 'It's true,'Diane said.'Oh,I can't stay in this house.I'm going out.I'm going to the river with the dogs.' 'No,'Roger said.'The doctor's coming and I want you here.' Diane said nothing.She went into the kitchen and at once the dogs got up and came to her.'Beautiful dogs!Daddy loved you and Mother loved you.Now I'm going to love you.'She opened the back door and went out with the dogs. Roger did not move.He stood by the telephone.'It's true,'he thought.'I am happy about the money.I needed money,and now I'm rich.Things are going to be easier for me now.But Mother…why didn't I love her more? And now she's dead.'Slowly,Roger went back upstairs.He wanted to dress before Dr Pratt arrived. Dr Pratt was a little fat man without much hair.He was the family doctor and he knew all the Clarkson family very well.He went upstairs at once and looked at Molly's body.He looked carefully at the cup of coffee and the empty cup on the table next to her bed. 'I'm sorry,Roger,'he said.'Where is Diane?She phoned me.' 'She went out with the dogs,'Roger said.'She was angry with me—angry with everyone.' Dr Pratt said nothing for a minute.'This is going to be very difficult.I'm going to phone the police,Roger.' 'Police!Why?What's wrong? 'I don't know.Your mother wasn't ill.I saw her on Thursday and she was very well.Why did she die?I don' t understand.I want to find out.' Roger went across to the window and looked out at the gar-den.It was a beautiful summer morning.The sky was blue and the garden was green.It was all very quiet.His mother loved this garden.But Tom Briggs wanted the garden.And Roger wanted the garden,too.Roger felt worse and worse. 'Your mother took sleeping tablets,'Dr Pratt said.'Did you know?On Thursday she had a new bottle of tablets,but I can't find it here in her room.' 'I didn't know,'Roger said.'Very well.Let's go down-stairs and you can phone the police.' Roger went into the kitchen and made some coffee.Just then Diane came in with the dogs. 'Roger,'she said.'Look,I'm sorry.I was angry and said some angry things.' 'It doesn't matter,'Roger said.'Here you are,have some coffee.Dr Pratt is phoning the police.Did you know Mother took sleeping tablets?Well,the bottle is not in her room.' 'What?I don't understand.'Diane took the coffee and be-gan to drink.Her eyes looked big and dark. Just then Dr Pratt came into the kitchen.'They're coming at once,'he said.'Diane—I'm sorry about your mother.' 'Dr Pratt,I want to tell you about last night.Everyone was very angry…' 'Be quiet!'Roger said quickly. 'Diane never thinks before she opens her mouth,'he thought angrily. Diane did not look at Roger.'Last night Mother went to bed early because everyone…' 'Don't tell me,'Dr Pratt said.'You can tell the police.' Roger's face went red.Suddenly he felt afraid.'The police are going to talk to everyone,and ask questions,'he thought.'And they're going to want answers.It's going to be very difficult.'He finished his coffee and stood up. 'I'm going upstairs,'he said.'I'm going to tell Uncle Al-bert and Jackie about Mother…and about the police.' ■ 3 第二天清晨整幢房子静悄悄的。突然从罗杰房间旁边他母亲的屋子里传出一声尖叫。罗杰睁开眼看了下钟,还不到7点。他下了床,悄悄打开门。正在这时他母亲房间的门也打开了,黛安娜走出来,她的脸非常苍白。 “罗杰!妈妈她,我端了杯咖啡给她,发现她死了。她死了……死在她床上,”她哭道。 罗杰急忙走到他母亲的门前往里看,窗户是开着的,可房间里是温暖的。莫利躺在床上,一只手在她头下。罗杰走到床前把手放在她的手臂上,尸体已经冷了。床边的小桌上有杯热咖啡和一个空杯子。 “我打电话去叫医生,”黛安娜说。 “她死了,”罗杰慢慢地说。他的脸也变白了。“妈妈死了!” 黛安娜穿过房间走到门口。“我去打电话叫医生,”她又说。 “等会儿!”罗杰叫道。“咱们得先告诉家人。” “家里人!没有人爱妈妈!”黛安娜走出去跑下楼。 罗杰跟着她慢慢走下楼站在电话旁。 “普拉特先生,我是黛安娜·克拉克森。我的妈妈——她死了。你能尽快赶来吗?” 黛安娜放下电话。“这不是真的,罗杰!妈妈死了!爸爸去年冬天死了,现在妈妈也死了。”黛安娜开始哭泣。 “别哭了,黛安娜,”罗杰说。“咱们上楼去告诉艾伯特姨父和杰基。” “不!你去告诉他们!没人爱妈妈,你们不必内疚。看看你们!你们想要她的钱。不过如此。” 罗杰突然想揍黛安娜。“安静点!”他说。“你怎么了?你不爱妈妈,你也想要她的钱,别忘了这点!” “不错,”黛安娜说。“哦,我不能再呆在这儿了。我要出去。我要和狗去河边。” “不行,”罗杰说。“医生就要来了,我想你留在这儿。” 黛安娜没说话。她走进厨房。狗立即站起来走到她旁边。“多漂亮的狗!爸爸爱你们,妈妈也爱你们。现在我会爱你们的。”她打开后门,带着狗走了出去。 罗杰没动,他仍站在电话旁。“不错,”他想。“我的确为钱高兴。我需要钱,现在我是富有的了。事情现在对我来说更容易。但是妈妈……我为什么不多爱她些呢?可现在她死了。”罗杰慢慢地上了楼,他想在普拉特医生来前穿好衣服。 普拉特医生是个矮胖没有多少头发的男人,他是家庭医生并且他非常清楚克拉克森一家人。他立即上楼查看莫利的尸体。他仔细看了床边桌子上的一杯咖啡和空杯子。 “抱歉,罗杰,”他说。“黛安娜在哪儿?她给我打了电话。” “她带着狗出去了,”罗杰说。“她冲我生气,对每个人都生气。” 普拉特医生沉默了一会。“这事非常难办。罗杰,我要打电话给警察。” “警察!为什么?出了什么事?” “我不清楚,你的母亲没病,我周四见到她身体很好。她为什么会死?我不明白,我想找出原因。” 罗杰走到窗前向外看花园。这是个美丽的夏天清晨,天空蓝蓝的而花园是一片绿色,一切都非常安静。他的妈妈爱这个花园,然而汤姆·布里格斯却打着这个花园的主意,并且罗杰也想要这个花园。罗杰觉得事情越来越糟。 “你的妈妈服了安眠药,”普拉特医生说。“你知道吗?她周四买了瓶安眠药,可是我在她的房间却找不到。” “我不知道,”罗杰说。“好吧。咱们下楼去,你可以给警察打电话。” 罗杰走进厨房弄了些咖啡,这时黛安娜带着狗走进来。 “罗杰,”她说。“你瞧,我很抱歉。我生气了并说了些令人生气的话。” “没关系,”罗杰说。“给你,喝点咖啡。普拉特医生正打电话给警察。你知道妈妈服安眠药吗?唷,瓶子不在她的屋里。” “什么?我不知道。”黛安娜端起咖啡开始喝。她的眼睛看起来又大又黑。 这时普尔特医生走进厨房。“他们马上来,”他说。“黛安娜——我为你妈妈难过。” “普拉特医生,我想告诉你有关昨晚的事,每人都非常生气……” “安静些!”罗杰急忙说。 “黛安娜在张嘴前从不想想,”他生气地想。 黛安娜没看罗杰。“昨晚妈妈早早就上床了,因为每个人……” “别告诉我,”普拉特医生说。“你可以告诉警察。” 罗杰的脸红了,突然他觉得有些害怕。“警察会找每个人谈话,问些问题。”他想。“然后他们会想要答案,这事非常棘手。”他喝完咖啡站起来。 “我上楼去,”他说。“我去告诉艾伯特姨父和杰基有关妈妈的事……还有报警的事。” |
■ 4 Chapter The police arrived very quickly.There were a lot of them.Some of them with cameras went upstairs to Molly's room.Two detectives talked to Dr Pratt in the kitchen.The family waited in the sitting room.It was a hot day again and the windows were open.The dogs sat quietly at Diane's feet.Nobody talked.Jackie smoked.They waited for a long time.Suddenly the door opened and the two detectives came in. 'Good morning.I am Detective Inspector Walsh and this is Sergeant Foster.'The Inspector did not smile.He was a big man in an old black suit and a black hat and coat.He wore a coat because he always felt cold.'Last night someone put sleeping tablets in Mrs Clarkson's hot milk.We are going to question everybody,and we need a room,please.' Roger stood up.'I'm Roger Clarkson.You can have my father's old office.Come with me,it's along here,' The office was not a very big room,but there was a table and three or four chairs.Roger opened the window. 'I would like to talk first to your uncle,Albert King,'In-spector Walsh said.He took off his hat and coat and sat down behind the table. 'Of course,'said Roger and left the room. Sergeant Foster waited by the door.He was a very tall young man with black hair and a nice smile.He was not very happy this morning because he usually played tennis on Sunday mornings.He was one of the best players at the Cambridge Tennis Club. Albert came in and sat down. 'I'm going to ask some questions,Mr King,'the Inspector said,'and Sergeant Foster is going to write it all down.' Albert looked at his feet.'Yes,yes.It's your job.I know that.' 'Tell me about last night,'Inspector Walsh asked quietly. 'You were angry with Mrs Clarkson.' Albert looked at Inspector Walsh for the first time.'Yes,I was.Everyone was angry.Roger was angry.Diane wanted money to go to America.Then there's a man called Tom Brig-gs…He wants half the garden for his farm.Molly was a rich woman.I need money because my wife Annie—Molly's sister—is very ill.I told Molly this.' 'What happened next?' 'Well,Molly was angry with everyone and went upstairs.We went into the kitchen for coffee.Jackie wanted everyone to go up and say good night to Molly.She lives here with Molly so she wanted Molly to be happy.At first Roger said no.He was angry and didn't want to see his mother.' 'And did you see Molly in her room?' 'Yes.I was tired and I went upstairs first.I went to Molly's room and asked her for money again.But no—there was no money for her sister.'Albert stopped and put his hand over his eyes. Inspector Walsh watched Albert for a minute.'Did you hear noises after you went to bed?' 'Everyone went into Molly's room to say good night,I think.Later,I heard someone…He—or she—went down-stairs.That was about midnight.' 'Very well,Mr King.Thank you,you can go now.'Albert left the room. Inspector Walsh put his hands behind his head.'What time is it?I'm hungry.We're learning a lot,but I need some coffee.' 'Shall I go to the kitchen?'Sergeant Foster asked. 'Oh,no.Later.Let's see Jackie Clarkson next.' Jackie came in and sat down.She looked down at her hands and said nothing. 'We found the empty bottle of your mother's sleeping tablets in Diane's room,'the Inspector said suddenly.Then he waited.Jackie's face did not change and she said nothing. 'Tell me,did your mother get her tablets from the shop in the village?' 'Yes.My mother usually took a sleeping tablet every night so she needed a lot of tablets.Sometimes she got them from the shop,sometimes I did.On Thursday,I asked Peter Hobbs to get them.He lives in the house across the road,and he of-ten goes to the village on his bicycle.' 'I see.Your mother wanted to stay in this house.How about you?Did you want to move?' Jackie looked up for a minute and then down at her hands a-gain.'This is Mother's house.I loved my mother.She was good to me.' 'Did you see your mother in her room last night?' 'Yes,everyone did.Diane made hot milk and took it to Mother.She usually drank a cup of hot milk before she slept.' Inspector Walsh put his hands behind his head.Jackie was very quiet.'What did your mother say?' Jackie opened her bag and looked for a cigarette.'Can I smoke?' 'Of course.This is your house,'Inspector Walsh said.He watched Jackie.'What did your mother say?'he asked again. 'She wanted to go downstairs again.She remembered the dogs—she wanted to get some dinner for them. I went to my room and she went downstairs.' 'What time was this?' 'I don't remember.About midnight,I think.' 'And the cup of hot milk?' 'It was on the table by her bed.' 'Did you need your mother's money?' 'No,Inspector.Money is not important to me.There are more important things,'Jackie said quietly. 'Well,your uncle Albert wanted money.Tom Briggs wanted the garden.You wanted nothing?' Jackie finished her cigarette and looked up at the Inspector.Her eyes were suddenly angry.'Don't forget Peter Hobbs.He lost his job because of my mother.He wanted to kill her,you know.And what about Diane?You found the empty bottle in her bag.' Inspector Walsh listened carefully.'We're going to question everyone,Miss Clarkson.' Jackie said nothing for a minute.'Would you like some sandwiches and coffee,Inspector?' 'Ah!Yes,please!'Inspector Walsh said warmly.'I would like sandwiches and coffee very much.' Jackie left the room.Inspector Walsh thought about her.Why was she suddenly angry?The room was quiet. ■ 4 警察很快就到了,来了许多人,一些人带着相机上楼到莫利的房间。两个侦探在厨房和普拉特医生谈话。家人在客厅等着。这又是个热天,窗户开着,狗安静地坐在黛安娜脚旁。没人说话。杰基抽着烟。他们等了很长时间。突然门开了,两名侦探走了进来。 “早上好。我是沃尔什探长,这是福斯特警官。”探长没有笑。他是个高大的男人,穿件黑色的旧衣服,披着件黑色外套,戴着顶黑色的帽子。 他总觉得冷所以穿了件外套。“昨晚有人把安眠药放在克拉克森太太的热牛奶里,我们会问每个人。劳驾,我们需要一个房间。” 罗杰站起来。“我是罗杰·克拉克森。你们可以用我父亲过去的办公室。跟我来,就在这儿。” 办公室不是很大,但有一张桌子和三四把椅子。罗杰打开了窗户。 “我想先和你的姨父艾伯特·金谈谈,”沃尔什探长说。他脱下帽子和外套,坐在桌旁。 “当然可以,”罗杰说,然后离开了。 福斯特警官等在门边。他是个高个子、黑头发,有着迷人微笑的年青人。他通常在周日早上打网球,因而今早他有些不高兴。他是剑桥网球俱乐部最好的队员之一。 艾伯特走进来坐下。 “金先生,我想问你几个问题,”探长说,“然后福斯特警官会把你说的话都记录下来。” 艾伯特看着自己的脚。“好,好的。这是你们的工作。我理解。” “告诉我有关昨晚的事。”沃尔什探长平静地问。“你对克拉克森太太生气了。” 艾伯特这才直视着沃尔什探长。“是的,我生气了。每个人都生气了,罗杰生气了,黛安娜想要钱去美国。然后有个叫汤姆·布里格斯的男人……他想要一半花园当他的农场。莫利是个富有的女人。我需要钱,因为我的妻子安妮——莫利的姐姐——病得很重。我把这些告诉了莫利。” “接着发生了什么?” “嗯,莫利冲大家生气,然后上了楼。我们进厨房去喝咖啡。杰基希望每人都上去对莫利道晚安。她和莫利住在一块,所以她想让莫利快乐些。开始罗杰不同意,他在生气,不想见他的妈妈。” “接着你去莫利的房间见她了?” “是的。我累了,我先上了楼。我去莫利的房间又向她要钱。但是不行——她没有钱给她的姐姐。”艾伯特停下来并用手蒙住了眼睛。 沃尔什探长看了会艾伯特。“你上床后听到什么声音吗?”“我想,每人都到莫利的房间对他道晚安。随后,我听到有人……他——或则她——下了楼。那时大概是午夜了。” “很好,金先生,谢谢。你现在可以走了。”艾伯特离开了房间。 沃尔什探长把手放在脑后。“几点了?我饿了。我们了解了不少东西,但我需要点咖啡。” “要我去厨房吗?”福斯特警官问。 “哦,不,呆会儿。咱们接下来见见杰基·克拉克森。” 杰基走进来坐下,她低头看着手没说话。 “我们在黛安娜的房间发现了你妈妈安眠药的空瓶子。”探长突然说,然后他等着。杰基脸色没变,她一言不发。“告诉我,你的妈妈是从村里的商店买到药的吗?” “对。妈妈通常每晚都要服一片安眠药,所以她要许多药片。有时她去商店买,有时是我去。周四我请彼特·霍布斯去买。他住在马路对面的那幢房子,他经常骑自行车去村里。” “明白了。你母亲想留在这幢房子里。你呢?你想搬家吗?” 杰基抬头看了会然后又低下头看着她的手。“这是我妈妈的房子。我爱我的妈妈,她对我很好。” “昨晚你去她的房间见她了吗?” “去了,每人都去了。黛安娜煮了热牛奶并端给了妈妈。她通常在睡前要喝杯热牛奶。” 沃尔什探长把手放在脑后。杰基很平静。“你的妈妈说些什么?” 杰基打开包找了枝烟。“我可以抽吗?” “当然,这是你的家,”沃尔什探长说,他看着杰基。“你的妈妈说了些什么?”他又问。 “她又想下楼。她想起了狗——她想给它们弄点东西吃。我走回我的房间然后她下了楼。” “这时几点了?” “我记不清了。我想大概是午夜。” “那么那杯热牛奶呢?” “它在她床边的桌上。” “你需要你母亲的钱吗?” “不,探长。钱对我不重要。有比钱更重要的东西,”杰基平静地说。 “嗯,你的艾伯特姨父要钱,汤姆·布里格斯想要花园。你什么也不想要?” 杰基抽完烟抬头看着探长。她的眼里突然冒着火气。“别忘了彼特·霍布斯。是我妈妈使他丢了工作。你知道,他想杀她。还有黛安娜呢?你们在她包里发现了空瓶子。” 沃尔什探长仔细听着。“我们会对每个人提问,克拉克森小姐。” 杰基沉默了一会。“探长,你们要些三明治和咖啡吗?” “哈!好,麻烦了!”沃尔什探长温和地说。“我非常想要三明治和咖啡。” 杰基离开了房间。沃尔什探长想,她为什么突然生气了?房间静悄悄的。 ■ 5 Chapter After the coffee and sandwiches,Inspector Walsh called Roger Clarkson to the office.Roger came in and sat down.The Inspector began at once. 'Now,Mr Clarkson.Why was your mother angry with you last night?' 'This house is very big,'Roger said.'It was a lot of work for Mother.I wanted her to move.But no,she loved this house and garden.She didn't want to move.' 'Tell me about your job,Mr Clarkson.Your mother is dead and now you're rich.Do you need money?' Roger's face was suddenly afraid.'What are you saying?I didn't kill my mother.I need money,that's true.A friend and I want to build ten houses here,in this garden.We can get a lot of money for them.So.I wanted Mother to sell this house.It's true.But Mr Briggs wanted half the garden,too,you know,for his farm.' Inspector Walsh moved a pencil on the table.'Tell me,what happened upstairs?You went to your mother's room?' 'Yes,I did.I wanted to say goodnight to my mother.' 'Did you talk about the house again?' 'Yes,I did.Again,she said no.She loved the house and didn't want to sell it.' Inspector Walsh watched Roger for a minute.'I see.We found the empty bottle of sleeping tablets,Mr Clarkson,in Diane's room.' Roger's face did not change.'Oh?Someone put them there.Diane did not kill my mother,I know that.She found the body.' 'Very well.I would like to see Diane next.' Roger got up and left the room. Inspector Walsh stood up and put his hands in his pockets.He went to the window and looked out at the trees.Why was Roger Clarkson afraid?Was it important?He looked at Sergeant Foster. 'Tomorrow morning,go to Mr Clarkson's office-you have the name,'he said.'Ask some questions about him,about his job,friends,money.' Sergeant Foster wrote it down.'Yes,Inspector.' 'A good day for tennis,Sergeant?' Sergeant Foster laughed.'Don't say that.It's not easy,you know.I don't like sitting here looking at the sun.' Diane came into the room and sat down.She looked at Sergeant Foster and smiled.'I saw you at the Tennis Club last month,I think.You play very well.' Sergeant Foster's face went red.Inspector Walsh looked at him.'Oh yes.A fast and exciting player is Sergeant Foster.' Diane smiled again at Sergeant Foster and his face went redder. 'Well,Miss Clarkson,'Inspector Walsh said,'I want you to talk about last night.' Diane stopped smiling.'Oh,I can talk about last night.I can't stop talking about it.We were all angry.Mother went to bed early and I made hot milk for her.We were all in the kitchen,and Peter Hobbs came in He nearly broke the back door down.'Diane stopped. 'Yes?' 'He was very angry about a letter.He wanted to kill Mother.Are you going to talk to him?' 'We're going to talk to everyone.' 'Good.Tom Briggs came into the kitchen,too.Are you going to talk to him?' 'I'm asking the questions,Miss Clarkson.When did you take the milk upstairs?' 'I went up after Roger.'She stopped for a minute.Then she began again.'I didn't like my mother,Inspector.She killed my father,you know.Last winter,after Christmas,she drove the car into a tree and killed my father.' Inspector Walsh watched Diane's face carefully.'I see.So you wanted to kill your mother?' Diane laughed.'I wanted to kill her,but I didn't.I can tell you a lot of things about this family,Inspector.Everyone wanted Mother to die.Uncle Albert wanted her money for his wife,Annie.And then my brother.He needs a lot of money.He has an expensive house and an expensive car.And think of Jackie.Do you know that Jackie didn't like Mother?A long time age,a nice boy worked here.He was the gardener.Jackie loved him very much,but Mother said no.A gardener was not a good husband for a Clarkson girl!' Inspector Walsh listened quietly.All this was very interesting but was it important?Perhaps.What a happy family the Clarksons were! 'We found the empty bottle of sleeping tablets in your room,'Inspector Walsh said quietly. He watched her face carefully. Diane stood up suddenly,her face angry.'What?I didn't put it there!I'm not going to listen to this!'She ran out of the room. 'Well,well,well,'Inspector Walsh said.'She likes you,Sergeant.You need to be careful.' Sergeant Foster laughed but his face went red again. 'Someone put sleeping tablets in Molly's hot milk,'the In-spector said.'All the family were in the kitchen last night.Peter Hobbs and Tom Briggs were there,too.One of them killed Molly.' Inspector Walsh got his hat and coat.'Come on.We need to talk to Peter Hobbs and Tom Briggs.Let's get some more coffee first.I'd like a sandwich,too.I'm hungry again!' ■ 5 用完咖啡和三明治后,沃尔什探长叫罗杰·克拉克森到办公室,罗杰走进来坐下。探长马上就开始了提问。 “嗨,克拉克森先生,你母亲昨晚为何生你的气?” “房子太大了,”罗杰说。“妈妈得干许多活,我希望她搬家。可是不行,她爱这所房子和花园,她不想搬。” “克拉克森先生,告诉我有关你工作的事,你母亲死了,现在你富有了。你需要钱吗?” 罗杰的脸突然露出害怕的神色。“你在说什么?我没有杀我的妈妈。我需要钱,这是真的。我和一个朋友想在这儿的花园里建10所房子,这事能使我们赚许多钱,所以我希望妈妈卖了这所房子,这是真的。可是布里格斯先生也想要半个花园当他的农场,这你是知道的。” 沃尔什探长在桌上摆弄着铅笔。“告诉我,楼上发生了什么事?你去你母亲的房间了吗?” “是的,我去了。我想对妈妈道一声晚安。” “你又谈起了房子?” “是的,我说了。她又说不行,她爱这所房子,她不想卖掉它。” 沃尔什探长看了罗杰一会。“明白了。克拉克森先生,在黛安娜的房间里我们发现了安眠药的空瓶。” 罗杰没变脸色。“哦?有某个人把它们放在那里了。黛安娜不会杀妈妈,我知道这事,是她发现了尸体。” “很好。下一个我想见见黛安娜。” 罗杰站起来离开了房间。 沃尔什探长站起来把手放进口袋。他走到窗前看着外边树。为什么罗杰·克拉克森会害怕?这重要吗?他看着福斯特警官。 “明天早上,去克拉克森先生的办公室——你知道他的名字。”他说。“问些有关他的情况,工作、朋友、钱。” 福斯特警官记了下来。“好的,探长。” “打网球的好天气,警官?” 福斯特警官笑道。“别说这个,你知道,这种天气可不容易遇到。我不喜欢坐在这儿看太阳。” 黛安娜走进房间坐下来,她看着福斯特警官并冲他笑。“我想,我上个月在网球俱乐部见过你,你打得很棒。” 福斯特警官的脸变红了。沃尔什探长看着他。“哦,是的。那位打得激烈、兴奋的球员就是福斯特警官。” 黛安娜又朝着福斯特警官笑,他的脸变得更红了。 “好了,克拉克森小姐,”沃尔什探长说。“我想请你谈谈昨晚的事。” 黛安娜收住了笑容。“哦,我可以谈谈昨晚,我的确是要谈谈。我们都生气了。妈妈早早就上了床,然后我端了杯热牛奶给她。我们都在厨房,随后彼特·霍布斯进来了,他几乎把后门给砸倒了。”黛安娜停住了。 “接着呢?” “他对那封信很生气,他想杀妈妈。你会和他谈谈吗?” “我们会找每个人谈。” “很好。汤姆·布里格斯也进了厨房。你要和他谈谈吗?” “克拉克森小姐,我提几个问题。你什么时候端牛奶上楼的?” “在罗杰之后。”她停了一会,然后她又说。“我不喜欢妈妈,探长。你要知道,她杀了我父亲。去年冬天,圣诞节后,她开车撞着一棵树,害死了我父亲。” 沃尔什警官仔细看着黛安娜的脸。“我明白了,所以你要杀死你母亲?” 黛安娜笑了。“我是想杀她,但是我没干。探长,我可以告诉你有关这个家的许多事。每个人都希望母亲死。艾伯特姨父想要她的钱给他妻子安妮。还有我的哥哥,他需要很多钱。他有一所昂贵的房子和一辆昂贵的轿车。再想想杰基。你知道杰基不喜欢妈妈吗?很久以前,一个不错的男孩在这儿工作,他是个园丁,杰基非常爱他,可是妈妈不同意。一个园丁对克拉克森家女孩来说不是个好丈夫!” 沃尔什探长平静地听着。这些都很有趣,可是它们重要吗?也许如此。克拉克森家是一个多么快乐的家庭! “我们在你的房间找到安眠药的空瓶,”沃尔什探长平静地说,他仔细看着她的脸。 黛安娜突然站起来,她一脸怒气。“什么?我没有放在那儿!我不要听这些!”她跑出房间。 “好了,好了,好了,”沃尔什探长说。“她喜欢你,警官,你得小心点。” 福斯特警官笑笑,他的脸却又变红了。 “有人把安眠药放在莫利的热牛奶里,”探长说。“所有人昨晚都在厨房。彼特·霍布斯和汤姆·布里格斯也在那儿。他们中有人杀了莫利。” 沃尔什探长戴上帽子穿上外衣。“走吧,我们需要和彼特·霍布斯和汤姆·布里格斯谈谈。咱们得先喝点咖啡,我还想要块三明治。我又饿了!” |
■ 6 Chapter They found Peter Hobbs under his car—an old green car.He got up slowly.He wore old blue trousers and a dirty orange shirt. 'We want to talk about Mrs Clarkson,'Inspector Walsh said. 'Oh,it's about her,'Peter said.He looked at the Inspec-tor.'I know she's dead.Someone in the village told me.' 'Why did you go to the Clarkson's house last night?' 'Jackie wanted me to come and see her brother,Roger. “You're angry,”she said.“Come and tell Roger.”I went to the house but nobody opened the door.So I made a lot of noise and then they opened the door.Old Mrs Clarkson wasn't there.But I told Roger.I told them all!'Peter hit the car with his hand.'I wanted to kill that woman.I lost my job,my first job,because of her.Last month I was in trouble with the police and that old woman wrote to my office and she told them about the police.I wanted to kill her!' 'Take it easy!'Inspector Walsh said.'What happened next?' 'Jackie gave me some coffee,but her brother didn't listen to me,'Peter said angrily.'Then Tom Briggs came in.He wanted to talk to Roger,too.But Roger didn't listen to him.Jackie was very unhappy—she nearly cried.Then I went home.That's all.' 'I see.Now tell me about the tablets.You went to the village on Thursday?' 'Tablets?Oh,yes.I remember.Jackie wanted me to get her mother's tablets from the village.I go to the village on my bicycle—this car doesn't work.' 'Thank you,Peter.That's all.' 'That's all?'Peter laughed angrily.'You're going to come back,I know that!I know the police!' Tom Briggs'farm was about half a mile away,near the river.It was not a big farm,and the house was old and dirty. 'Not much money here,'Inspector Walsh said. Tom Briggs was a young man,about thirty years old,with dirty hands and bad teeth.'What's wrong?Excuse me,I'm eating my dinner,'he said. 'We can wait.Finish your dinner,'Inspector Walsh said.'We want to ask one or two questions about last night.' 'Come and wait in the front room,'Tom said and opened the door. Inspector Walsh looked at the things in the front room.There was an old black and white television,and some books on the table.There was a picture of a happy young girl with long brown hair on the table,too.Inspector Walsh looked at the picture for a long time.Who was the girl? Tom Briggs came back into the front room. 'Finished?'Inspector Walsh asked.'You know Mrs Clark-son is dead?' Tom Briggs sat down suddenly on the nearest chair.'What?How did she die?When did it happen?I was there last night.' 'She died last night or early this morning.What did you do last night?' 'Me?Why are you asking me?I went there to meet Mr Clarkson Roger.I'm losing money on this farm and I need more land.I want half Mrs Clarkson's garden.' 'You went into the kitchen.What did you do next?Can you remember?' Tom Briggs looked at Sergeant Foster and then back at Inspector Walsh.'I remember it very well.All the family were in the kitchen.Peter Hobbs was there,too.I talked to Roger.He wants his mother to sell the house.But he wants the land.He doesn't want me to have it.But now Mrs Clark-son is dead.What's going to happen now?' Inspector Walsh got up and took the picture of the girl from the table.'Who's this?' Tom's face went red.'Who?Oh!That's a friend.It's not…It was a long time ago.' The two detectives walked back to the Clarksons' house through the garden.It was beautiful,green and quiet.Inspector Walsh felt tired and hungry.Who killed Molly?He knew the answer now,but he needed to ask one or two more questions. 'Let's go,Sergeant,'he said,and put on his hat again.'Tomorrow is a new day.' ■ 6 他们在小车下找到彼特·霍布斯——一辆旧的绿色小车。他慢慢站起来。他穿了条旧的蓝裤子和一件脏兮兮的桔色衬衫。 “我们想和你谈谈克拉克森太太,”沃尔什探长说。“哦,谈谈她,”彼特说。他看着探长。“我知道她死了,村里有人告诉了我。” “昨晚你为什么去克拉克森家?” “杰基要我去见她的弟弟,罗杰。'你生气了,'她说,'来告诉罗杰吧。'我去了那儿但没人给我开门。所以我弄出很大的噪音,然后他们开了门。老克拉克森太太不在那儿。但是我告诉了罗杰,我全都告诉了他们!”彼特用手敲打着车。“我想杀了那个女人。我丢了工作,我的第一份工作,就是因为她。上个月我跟警察有些纠纷,那老女人就写信给我的办公室,她告诉他们有关警察的事。我想杀了她!” “很容易!”沃尔什探长说,“接下来发生了什么事?” “杰基给我咖啡,可她的弟弟没听我说,”彼特生气地说。“然后汤姆·布里格斯进来了。他也想和罗杰谈谈,可罗杰不听他的。杰基很不高兴——她几乎哭了。然后我回家了。就这些。” “明白了。现在告诉我有关药片的事。你周四去村里了吗?” “药片?哦,是的。我想起来了。杰基要我从村里给她妈妈带些药片。我骑自行车去村里的——这辆车坏了。” “谢谢,彼特。到此为止吧。” “到此为止?”彼特生气地笑笑。“你们会回来,我知道!我知道警察。” 汤姆·布里格斯的农场离河大约有半英里远。这是个不大的农场,并且房子又旧又脏。 “这儿不值多少钱,”沃尔什探长说。 汤姆·布里格斯是个年轻人,大约30来岁,一双手很脏,还有一口坏牙。“出了什么事?抱歉,我正在吃饭,”他说。 “我们可以等,你去吃饭吧,”沃尔什探长说。“我们想问一两个有关昨晚的问题。” “进来在前屋等吧,”汤姆说着打开了门。 沃尔什探长看着前屋的东西。屋里有一台旧的黑白电视机,桌上还有些书。一个棕色长发,充满快乐的年青女孩的相片也在桌上,沃尔什探长盯着照片看了好一会。这女孩是谁? 汤姆·布里格斯走进前屋。 “吃完了?”沃尔什探长问。“你知道克拉克森太太死了吗?” 汤姆·布里格斯突然跌坐在最靠近身边的椅子上。“什么?她怎么死的?什么时候发生的?我昨晚还在那儿。” “她死于昨晚或是今天清晨。你昨晚干了什么?” “我?你为什么要问我?我去那儿见克拉克森先生——罗杰。我的农场在亏损,我需要更多的土地。我想要克拉克森夫人的半个花园。” “你进了厨房,你接下来干了什么?你能记得吗?” 汤姆·布里格斯看着福斯特警官,然后又回头看着沃尔什探长。“我记得非常清楚。所有的家人都在厨房,彼特·霍布斯也在那儿。我和罗杰谈话,他想要他母亲卖了房子,可是他要地,他不想让我得到它。但是现在克拉克森夫人死了。将会发生什么呢?” 沃尔什探长站起来,拿起桌上女孩的照片。“这是谁?” 汤姆的脸变红了。“谁?哦!那是一个朋友。这不是……这是很久以前的了。” 两人穿过花园走回到克拉克森家。花园美丽葱绿宁静。沃尔什探长觉得又累又饿。谁杀了莫利?他现在知道了答案,可他需要再问一两个问题。 “咱们走,警官,”他说,然后戴上帽子。“明天是新的一天了。” ■ 7 Chapter On Monday morning Sergeant Foster went to Roger's office and asked some questions.And then he went to Albert's house and asked some more questions.Inspector Walsh sat in his office and telephoned.He made phone calls about Peter Hobbs and he made phone calls about Tom Briggs.And then he had some coffee and sandwiches. At three o'clock the two detectives drove to the Clarksons' house. 'I would like to see everyone,'he told Roger. Everyone came into the sitting room and sat down. Inspector Walsh stood in front of the windows and looked at them,one by one.'I want to talk to you Someone killed Molly Clarkson.Someone put sleeping tablets in her hot milk and killed her Nobody wanted to tell me the true story,but now I know the true story and I'm going to tell you.' The two dogs came slowly into the room and sat down at Diane's feet.It was very quiet in the room. The Inspector looked at Albert.'Mr King,your wife is very ill and needs a nurse.You told me this.You didn't tell me about your house.You're selling your house next month because you need the money.' Albert was angry.'Last year I asked Molly's husband for some money,and he said yes.But then he died in an accident.' 'Accident!'Diane cried.'That was no accident.Mother killed Daddy because she wanted his money! 'Let's talk about you now,Diane,'said Inspector Walsh.You visited your mother every month and you took money from her.Last month she gave you money for your television.This month she gave you money for your telephone.Every month you told your mother:“It was no accident;you killed Daddy.I'm going to tell the police.”Your mother was afraid of the police and so she gave you the money.But in the end she wanted to stop you.She told Dr Pratt.No more money,she told Dr Pratt on Thursday;and on Saturday she died.You took the hot milk to your mother-what did she tell you?' Diane began to cry.'I loved Daddy!He always gave money to me;he loved me.It was Mother-she didn't love Daddy and she didn't love me.Diane stopped.The dogs got up and went to the door.'It's true,I took a lot of money from Mother.On Saturday she told me—no more money.I wanted to kill her,but I didn't.' The dogs came back and sat down again at Diane's feet.Inspector Walsh looked at Roger.'Mr Clarkson also needed money.' Roger's face went red.'Don't tell them!Please!' 'Mr Clarkson lost his job last month.He has no money.But he has an expensive house and an expensive car.He likes expensive things.' His sisters looked at him,but Roger put his hand over his eyes.'Don't talk to me!' 'It doesn't matter now!'Diane said.'Mother is dead and we have a lot of money.You don't need a job.' Roger's face went red again.'Be quiet,Diane!' 'Now,Inspector Walsh began again.'Peter Hobbs is a very angry young man.Mrs Clarkson was not very nice to him.He got the sleeping tablets from the shop.But did he put the tablets in the hot milk?I think not.Tom Briggs wanted half the garden for his farm.He was in the kitchen that night.Did he put sleeping tablets in the hot milk?I think not.' Suddenly it began to rain.For a minute everyone watched it through the window.Jackie took a cigarette from her bag and began to smoke. 'But someone wanted Peter Hobbs to come into the kitchen that night.She wanted everyone to see him,and listen to him,'Inspector Walsh said. 'She…?I don't understand,'Roger began,and stopped. Inspector walsh moved away from the window and sat down.'I'm going to tell you the true story now.Miss Clark-son,you wanted Peter Hobbs to come to the house that night.He was very angry with your mother because of that letter.He said:“I want to kill her.”And you wanted everyone to hear that. Why?' Jackie's face went white.It's not true!What about Diane?You found the empty bottle in her bag!' Diane stood up.'In my bag?Jackie!What are you talking about?' 'Be quiet,please,and sit down,'Inspector Walsh said.He looked at Jackie.'It's true:we found the bottle in Diane's bag.But how do you know that?We didn't tell you.' 'You did…before…you told me before!' 'No.We found the empty bottle in Diane's room.We told you that.You talked about Diane's bag;we didn't tell you.Sergeant foster wrote it all down.'Inspector Walsh looked carefully at Jackie.'A long time ago,you knew Tom Briggs.He was the gardener here and you loved him.But your mother didn't like him.' Jackie put her hands to her head.'No!No!' 'We found your picture-an old one-in Mr Briggs'house.You were younger then,and your hair was long.Last year Tom Briggs came back,and you wanted him.He loved you,too,but he had no money.He wanted the garden for his farm,he wanted money,he wanted you.But your mother said no.In the end,you wanted to kill your mother…and you did kill her.Your mother went downstairs to see the dogs and you put the sleeping tablets in her hot milk.Later,you put the empty bottle in Diane's bag. Jackie stood up.Her eyes were dark and afraid.'You don't understand!she cried.'Mother gave me nothing…all those years.I wanted to be happy…to be with Tom.That's all.I love Tom,and he loves me.But Mother said no.Always no.'Then she began to cry.Nobody looked at her. Jackie left the house in a police car.Inspector Walsh watched and then walked slowly to his car.He felt tired and hungry.He stopped and looked back at the house. 'Well,'he said to Sergeant Foster,'in the end,they go the money:Albert,Roger,Diane.They're all rich now.But are they going to be happy?' He got into the car.'Let's go,'he said.'I'm hungry;need a sandwich.' ■ 7 星期一早上,福斯特警官去罗杰的办公室,问了几个问题,然后他去艾伯特家,问了些别的问题。沃尔什探长坐在办公室打电话。他打电话找彼特·霍夫斯,然后又打电话找汤姆·布里格斯。接着他要了些咖啡和三明治。 3点钟,两名侦探开车去了克拉克森家。 “我想见见每个人,”他告诉罗杰。 大家都走进客厅坐下来。 沃尔什探长站在窗前轮流地看了每个人一眼。“我想和你们谈谈。有人杀死了莫利·克拉克森,有人把安眠药放在她的热牛奶里杀了她。没人愿意告诉我实情,但现在我知道了事情真象,我将会告诉你们。” 两条狗慢慢走进房间坐在黛安娜脚旁。房间里非常安静。 探长看着艾伯特。“金先生,你妻子病得很重需要一名护士,你告诉了我。你却没告诉我有关你的房子。因为你们需要钱,你们下个月就要卖了你们的房子。” 艾伯特生气了。“去年我向莫利的丈夫要些钱,他答应了。可接着他死于一场事故。” “事故!”黛安娜叫道。“那不是事故!妈妈想要他的钱,所以她杀了爸爸!” “咱们现在谈谈你,黛安娜,”沃尔什探长说。“你每个月都来见你母亲,然后从她那儿要走钱。上个月她给你钱买电视,这个月她又为你的电话付钱。每次你告诉你的母亲:'那不是一场事故;你杀了爸爸。我要告诉警察。'你母亲害怕警察,所以她给你钱。但是最后她想阻止你。她告诉了普拉特医生,没有太多的钱了,她是周四告诉普拉特医生的。接着星期天她死了。你端热牛奶给你母亲——她给你说些什么?” 黛安娜开始哭。“我爱爸爸!他总是给我钱,他爱我。就是妈妈——她不爱爸爸,也不爱我。”黛安娜停住了。狗站起来向门口走去。“是真的,我从母亲那儿要了不少钱。我想杀了她,可我没有。” 狗回来又坐在黛安娜脚旁。 沃尔什探长看着罗杰。“克拉克森先生也需要钱。” 罗杰的脸变红了。“请你别告诉他们!” “克拉克森先生上个月失业了,他没有钱了。可他有一所昂贵的房子和一辆车。他喜欢昂贵的东西。” 他的姐妹看着他,可罗杰用手捂住眼睛。“别对我说这些!”“现在没关系!”黛安娜说。“妈妈死了,我们有很多钱,你不需要一份工作。” 罗杰的脸又变红了。“住嘴,黛安娜!” “现在,”沃尔什探长又开始说了。“彼特·霍布斯是个非常忿怒的年轻人,克拉克森太太对他不太好。他从商店里买到安眠药,可他会把安眠药放在热牛奶里吗?我认为不会。汤姆·布里格斯想要半个花园当他的农场。他那晚在厨房,是他放安眠药在热牛奶里了吗?我认为没有。” 突然天开始下雨了。好一会儿大家都看着窗外的雨。杰基从包里拿了枝烟,开始抽。 “可有人要彼特·霍布斯那晚会厨房。她想要大家都看见他,并听他说话,”沃尔什探长说。 “她……?我不明白,”罗杰说着,然后又停住了。 沃尔什探长从窗边走过来坐下。“现在我将告诉你们事件的真象。克拉克森小姐,你那晚要彼特·霍布斯来家里。他因为那封信很生你母亲的气。他说:'我要杀了她。'因而你想要大家都听到这话。为什么?” 杰基的脸变白了。“这不是真的!黛安娜呢?你们在她包里发现了空瓶子!” 黛安娜站起来。“在我包里?杰基!你在说什么?” “请安静,坐下,”沃尔什探长说,看着杰基。 “没错,我们在黛安娜的包里发现了瓶子。可你怎么知道的?我们并没有告诉你。” “你们告诉了……先前……你们先前告诉了我!” “没有。我们在黛安娜的房间发现了空瓶,我们告诉了你这事。你说的是黛安娜的包,我们没有告诉你。福斯特警官记下来了。”沃尔什探长仔细看着杰基。“很久以前,你认识了汤姆·布里格斯,他是这儿的园丁,你爱上了他,可你的母亲不喜欢他。” 杰基把手放在头上。“不!不!” “我发现你的相片——一张旧的——在布里格斯家里。你比现在年青,头发长长的。去年汤姆·布里格斯回来了,你想得到他,他也爱你,可他没有钱。他想要花园当他的农场,他想要钱,他也想得到你。可你母亲不同意。最后,你想杀了你母亲……然后你真的杀了她。你母亲下楼去看狗,然后你把安眠药放在她的热牛奶里。随后,你把空瓶子放进黛安娜的包里。” 杰基站起来,她黑黑的眼睛带着恐惧。“你们不知道!”她大声道。“母亲什么也没给我……这么多年了。我想要幸福……和汤姆一起,就这些。我爱汤姆,他也爱我。可母亲不同意,总是不同意。”然后她开始哭,没人理睬她。 杰基走出房子上了警车。沃尔什探长注视着她,然后慢慢走向他的车。他觉得又累又饿。他停下来回头看着那所房子。 “好了,”他对福斯特警官说,“最后,他们得到了钱:艾伯特,罗杰,黛安娜。他们现在都富有了。可他们会快乐吗?” 他上了小车。“咱们走吧,”他说。“我饿了,我需要块三明治。” |
【01-02】 [苏格兰玛丽女王 / 提姆·维克瑞 著] Mary Queen of Scots by Tim Vicary ■ 简介 1561年,苏格兰还是个未开化的国家。当年轻的苏格兰女王从法国回到苏格兰时,起初,她的人民非常高兴见到她。她的丈夫——法国国王死了,现在,她需要一个新的丈夫。可是玛丽,这位苏格兰女王是个天主教徒,而当时大多数的苏格兰人都是新教徒。当时的英格兰女王——伊丽莎白一世也是位新教徒。在那个年代,人们都乐于为他们自己的教会而战,并不惜献出生命。 年轻的玛丽女王该嫁给谁呢?谁是她的朋友,谁是她的敌人?玛丽既美丽又聪明,她热爱生活,喜欢冒险,也热爱人民。或许,她爱的人太多了。人们说她“又狂又坏,认识她是危险的”。但那是真的吗? 1587年,玛丽坐在英格兰的福瑟临黑城堡里,疲惫又忧伤。现在她是伊丽莎白女王的囚徒,不久将被送上断头台。她拿起笔开始给她的儿子詹姆斯——现在的苏格兰国王写信。这就是她一生的故事…… 提姆·维克瑞是位经验丰富的教师、作家。他在英格兰北部的约克镇上居住、工作。 |
■ 1 Fotheringhay My name is Bess Curle, but this is not my story. It is the story of my lady Mary, Queen of Scots.She wrote the story, and then she gave it to me. I am going to give it to her son. She began the story a week ago. It was January 1587, and we sat here in our cold room in Fotheringhay Castle, in the north of England. We couldn't see much from the window.One or two houses, a river, some trees, some horses, and a road. That's all. The road goes to London, the home of Queen Elizabeth of England. Mary sat with her little dog in her hands and watched it, all day long. No one came along the road. Nothing happened. I watched Mary, unhappily. ‘Please, Your Majesty, come away from that window,'I said.‘ It doesn't help. No one is going to come. Queen Eliza-beth can't do it—Queens don't kill Queens.' ‘Don't they, Bess?'mary said.‘Then why are we here, in this prison?Why am I not free?' ‘Why, Your Majesty?Because Queen Elizabeth is afraid of you.' ‘That's right,'mary said.‘She's afraid of me, and she hates me too. She hates me because I am beautiful, and she is not; because I had three husbands, and she never married.And because many people—good Catnolic people in England,France,Scotland,Spain—say that I, Mary, am the true Queen of England, not Elizabeth.And Elizabeth has no chil-dren, so, when she is dead, my son James…' She came away from the window and stood in front of me.‘James,'she said quietly,‘my son.Does he think about me sometimes? He was only ten months old when I last saw him. It is nearly twenty years…' ‘Of course he thinks about you, Your Majesty,'I said. ‘You write to him often.How can he forget his mother?' ‘Then why doesn't he write to me?'mary asked.‘Does he want me to say here in an English prison?' ‘No, of course not, Your Majesty. But—he has a lot of work, Your Majesty.He is the King of Scotland, and…' ‘He is not the King of Scotland,Bess,'she said.‘Not be- fore I am dead.Remember that.' ‘No, Your Majesty, of course not. But perhaps people tell him things that are untrue. You know what people say. Per-haps—perhaps he thinks you killed his father.' Mary's face went white.She was very angry, and for a minute I was afraid.She said:‘You know that's a lie, Bess.It is a lie! I did not kill James's father—I knew nothing about it!' ‘I know that,Your Majesty.But perhaps James doesn't know it.He hears so many lies, all the time. He needs to know the true story.Why don't you write, and tell him?' Mary sat down slowly. She looked old and tired.‘All right, Bess,'she said.‘Give me a pen, please. I'm going to write to James, and tell him the true story. You can give it to him when I'm dead.' ‘Dead, Your Majesty? Don't say that. You aren't going to die.' Her old, tired eyes looked at me.‘Yes I am, Bess. You know what is going to happen. One day soon, a man is going to bring a letter from Queen Elizabeth. And then her men are going to kill me. But before I die, I would like to write to my son James. I want to tell him the story of my life.So give me a pen, please.' I gave her a pen. This is what she wrote: ■ 1 福瑟临黑 我的名字叫贝斯·柯尔,但这不是我的故事。它是有关我的夫人玛丽苏格兰女王的故事。她写下了这个故事,便交给我。我将把它转交给她的儿子。 她开始写这个故事是在一个星期以前。那是在1587年的1月,我们坐在英格兰北部福瑟临黑城堡中的一间寒冷的屋子里。透过窗户,我们看不到多少东西,一两幢房屋,一条河流,一些树木,几匹马和一条路,仅此而已。 这条路通往伦敦——英格兰伊丽莎白女王的住宅。一整天玛丽都坐着,手里抱着她的小狗,两眼望着这条路。 没有人从这条路上走来,什么也没有发生。我望着玛丽,心里很悲哀。 “陛下,请您离开那扇窗户吧,”我说道。“那没有用。不会有人来的。伊丽莎白女王不能那样做——女王不杀女王的。” “难道他们不会吗,贝斯?”玛丽说。“那我们为什么会在这里,坐在这个监狱里?为什么我不能自由?” “您问为什么吗,陛下?那是因为伊丽莎白女王害怕您。” “对极了,”玛丽说。“她怕我,并且还恨我。她恨我是因为我漂亮,而她不漂亮;是因为我有三个丈夫,而她从没有结婚。还因为许多人——好心的英格兰、法国、苏格兰、西班牙的天主教教徒们说我玛丽才是英格兰真正的女王,而非伊丽莎白。伊丽莎白没有小孩,因此,她死后,我的儿子詹姆斯……。” 她离开窗口走过来坐在我的面前。“詹姆士,”她平静地说,“我的儿子。有时他会想起我吗?我最后一次见到他时他才10个月。都快20年了……” “他当然会想您的,陛下,”我说。“你经常给他写信,他怎么可能忘记自己的母亲呢?” “那为什么他不给我写信呢?”玛丽问道。“他想让我呆在英格兰监狱里吗?” “不,当然不,陛下。可是——他有许多事要做,陛下。他是苏格兰的国王,而且……” “他不是苏格兰国王,贝斯,”她说。“我没死,他就不是。记住这点。” “是的,陛下,他当然不是。可是也许人们会告诉他一些不真实的情况。您知道人们会说什么。也许——也许他认为是您杀死了他的父亲。” 玛丽的脸一下子变白了。她很愤怒,那一会儿我真觉得害怕。她说:“你知道那是个谎言,贝斯。那是个谎言!我没有杀死詹姆斯的父亲——我对那一无所知!” “我知道,陛下。可是也许詹姆斯不知道。他总是听到那么多谎言,他需要知道真实的情况。您为什么不写信告诉他呢?” 玛丽慢慢地坐了下来。她看起来又苍老又疲惫。“好吧,贝斯,”她说。“请给我一枝笔,我这就给詹姆斯写信,告诉他真实的故事。我死后,你可以把信交给他。” “死?陛下,不要那样说。您不会死。” 她看着我眼神苍老而疲惫说道,“不,我会死的,贝斯。你知道将会发生什么。不久的一天,一个人带来伊丽莎白女王的一封信。随后,她的人便杀了我。但在我死之前,我要给我的儿子詹姆斯写信。我要告诉他我一生的故事。来,给我一枝笔吧。” 我拿给她一枝笔。这就是她所写的: |
■ 2 France Dear James. Very soon I am going to die, and meet my God.Before I die, I want to write the true story of my life for you. Everything that I write here is true—I cannot lie to you, or to God. Please believe that, James. It's impor- tant to me. My father died when I was one week old, so I was the Queen of Scots when I was a baby. At first I lived with my mother in Scotland, and then, when I was five, I went to France. My mother was French, but she stayed in Scotland, and died there. I went to France to marry the King of France's son. His name was Francis, and he was one year younger than me. In 1559, his father died, so Francis was King. Then I was Queen of France, and Queen of Scotland too. I was very happy in France. Francis, my husband, was like a little brother to me. I think he loved me, bur he was very young,and he was often ill.And then,in 1560,he died.He was sixteen years old. When he died I was very unhappy, and my life was very different. There was a new King and Queen, and I wasn't important in France, any more. But I was still Queen of Scots, so I came back to Scotland. When I arrived in Scotland, I was a young girl of eighteen. My mother was dead, and there was no one there to meet me. I walked off the ship,and I slept in a little house near the sea. Next day, the Scots lords came from Edinburgh. They were pleased to see me, and for a week everyone was happy. People smiled at me and sang in the streets. I think everyone liked me. Then, that Sunday, I went to church. James, my son, you are a Protestant and I am a Catholic.You are a good man, and you love God, but your church and my church are enemies. I was born a Catholic, and I am going to die a Catholic. I love God, too—I hope you understand that. I'm not going to change now. That Sunday, people shouted angrily in the streets.‘Your Majesty,'said the Scots lords.‘Scotland is a Protestant coun-try. You can't go to a Catholic church here. The Scottish people don't like Catholics.' ‘I'm sorry, my lords,'I said.‘But I am your Queen—no one tells me what to do.I don't hate Protestants,and I'm not going to kill them. The people can go to their Protestant churches, and pray to God there. But I'm going to pray with Catholics, in my church.' People were angry because of that. A man called John Knox came to see me. He was a famous Protestant churchman, but I didn't like him. He was a big, angry man with black clothes.He hated the Catholic church, and wanted all Catholics to leave Scotland. To him, the Protestant church was the only true church of God. He said:‘Your Majesty, you're a young woman, like my daughter. Women can't understand difficult 10things like God or the church. Find a good Protestant husband,girl. Let him rule this country for you.' I was very angry with this man Knox. I was a Queen, but I was only eighteen. He didn't talk quietly—he shouted at me.I cried because of his angry words. I could not understand him—he talked so much, and he knew so many books. But I did not go to his church. He was right about one thing. Perhaps I could rule Scotland without a man, but I could not have a child without one. And every Queen needs a son or daughter to come after her.So I began to look for a husband. ■ 2 法国 亲爱的詹姆斯,很快我就要死去,去见我的上帝了。在我死之前,我要给你写下我一生的真实的故事。在这里我写的一切都是真实的——我不能对你说谎,也不能对上帝说谎。请相信这一切,詹姆斯,这对我很重要。 在我出生只有一个星期的时候我的父亲便去世了。因此在我还是个婴儿的时候我就成了苏格兰的女王。起初我和母亲一起住在苏格兰,后来在我五岁的时候我去了法国。我母亲是法国人,可是她却呆在苏格兰直到去世。 我去法国并嫁给了法国王子。他叫弗朗西斯,比我小一岁。1559年,他的父亲去世了,因此弗朗西斯成了国王。于是,我既是法国王后,又是苏格兰女王。 在法国我很幸福。我的丈夫弗朗西斯就像是我的一个小弟弟。我想他是爱我的,但是他太年轻了,还经常生病。之后,1560年,他死了,年仅16岁。 他死后我非常伤心,而且我的生活也发生了很大的变化。法国有了新的国王和王后,我在法国已显得不再重要。但是我仍然是苏格兰的女王,因此,我回到了苏格兰。我回到苏格兰的那会儿,我是个才18岁的小姑娘。我的母亲已经去世了,因此没有人来接我。我下了船,就在海边的一间小屋里过夜。 第二天,苏格兰的贵族们从爱丁堡来了。他们见到我很高兴。有一个星期大家都很开心。人们朝我微笑,在大街上唱歌。我以为每个人都很喜欢我。然后,在那个星期天,我去了教堂。 詹姆斯,我的儿子,你是个新教徒而我是个天主教徒。你是好人,且热爱上帝,可是你的教会和我的教会是仇敌。我生为天主教徒,死也是天主教徒。我也爱上帝,——我希望你能理解这些。即使现在我也不打算改变。 那个星期天,人们在大街上愤怒地叫喊。“陛下,”那些苏格兰贵族们说道。“苏格兰是个信奉新教的国家。你不能上这里的天主教教堂。苏格兰人民不喜欢天主教徒。” “很抱歉,我的勋爵们,”我说。“可我是你们的女王——没有人能告诉我该怎样做。我不憎恨新教徒,也不会杀害他们。人们可以去他们的新教教堂,并在那里祈祷上帝。而我也将和天主教教徒们一起在我的教堂里向上帝祈祷。” 人们听到这些发怒了。一个名叫约翰·诺克斯的人来见我。他是个有名的新教教士,可我不喜欢他。他个头很大,怒气冲冲,穿着一身黑衣服。他憎恨天主教会,且想让所有的天主教教徒都离开苏格兰。对他来说,新教教会才是唯一真正属于上帝的教会。他说道:“陛下,你是位年轻女子,就像我的女儿。女人是不会懂得诸如上帝、教会这类困难的事情的。找一个新教徒的好丈夫吧,女孩,让他来为你统治这个国家。” 我对这个名叫诺克斯的男人很生气。我是女王,可我只有18岁。他没有平静地和我说话——他对我大声叫嚷。由于他措词严厉,我哭了。我不能接受他——虽然他说了那么多,并读过那么多书,但我不会去他的教堂。 可有一点他是对的。没有男人,或许我可以统治苏格兰,但没有男人,我就不会有小孩。每个女王都需要有个儿子或女儿来继承王位。因此我开始物色一个丈夫。 ■ 3 Darnley and Riccio At first I wanted to marry the son of the King of Spain,Don Carlos. But he was a Catholic, of course, and my Scots lords did not like that. It was difficult for me, James. I wanted to please myself. I wanted to please my friends and family in France and to please my people, too. And then there was the Queen of England. At first I wanted very much to be friends with Elizabeth.We wrote many letters, and talked about a meeting—a meet-ing between two sister Queens.Elizabeth wrote to me at this time. Our two countries need to be friends.You need a husband,I need a friend.Why not marry my friend Robert Dudley,the Earl of Leicester?He is a tall,strong man. I think he could be a good husband for you. I was very angry about this letter.There were a lot of sto-ries about Elizabeth and Robert Dudley.They were good friends—he often danced and sang and talked with her. Some-times,people said, he stayed in her room all night. Dudley had a wife, but one day she died very suddenly. It was an ac-cident—she fell down the stairs, they say. But then, perhaps she was unhappy, because of her husband and Elizabeth. ‘And she writes to me about a man like this!'I thought.‘She wants him to marry me, because he is her friend—her lover,perhaps!She wants her lover to be King of Scotland!' I found a better man than Dudley, James. I found Henry Darnley, your father. He was nineteen years old, and I was twenty-three.He was a tall man, with a beautiful face and big green eyes. He talked and sang well, and I liked dancing with him. He often wore expensive black clothes, and he laughed a lot when he was with me. He was very young and friendly, and I felt happy when I was with him. I liked him very much, and I thought he loved me too. He was an important man, too.We were cousins—his grandfather was King of Scots, and his great-grandfather was Henry VII of England. In July 1565, I married him. Elizabeth was very angry, and so were a lot of the Scots lords. My half-brother, the Earl of Moray, tried to stop the marriage. I had to fight him, and he ran south, to England.But I was happy.Your father and I laughed, every day. He was now Henry, King of Scots. After one or two weeks, the laughter stopped. A King has a lot of work, James, you know that. He has to read hundreds of letters, talk to people, and think about a lot of important things.I did those things,every day.But now,I thought,I had a man to help me. ‘My lord Henry,'I said.‘Would you like to read all the letters with me? You can sit next to me, and you can work with me every day.' Your father looked unhappy.‘I'm not interested in work like that,'he said.‘I don't understand it.' ‘Of course not,'I said.‘You're a young man, my love.But I can teach you.' For one or two days he sat down with me, and I tried to teach him. But it was true, he was not interested in the work,and he did not try to understand it. ‘You do it, Mary,'he said.‘I'm going out with my friends. We're going to ride, and drink, and swim.' So I did all the work. At night, too, he often went out with his friends in the town. They drank a lot, and laughed and sang, and there were often fights. But no one said anything,because he was the King, my husband. What could people say? They were unhappy, but they were afraid of him. Some of them went to England, to the Earl of Moray. At this time I was often very tired, because I was pregnant.You, my son James, were alive inside me. But I did all the work of a Queen and I needed friends too.One of these friends was a young Italian, David Riccio. Riccio was a little man and he was not tall or beautiful or strong. But he was a very clever, interesting man. He wrote many of my letters for me, and helped me. He sang well, too,and I sometimes sang with him in the evenings. I liked him very much,and at first,your father liked him too. But then, Moray's friends began to talk about me and Ric-cio.‘David Riccio is in the Queen's rooms every night,'they said to your father.‘She laughs and sings and dances with him, my lord—it is not right! He is not a Scotsman, and he is not her husband. He is always with her.' Perhaps they said other things,too—I don't know.A lot of Scots lords listened to them. But I tell you, James, before God, I did nothing wrong. David Riccio was a good man. He worked hard, and he helped me—so of course I liked him.Your father did not work—he went out to the town every night with his friends,and drank. And then one night, your father came home. ■ 3 达恩利和里奇奥 开始的时候,我想嫁给西班牙国王的儿子,唐·卡洛斯。可他是个天主教徒。当然,我的这些苏格兰贵族们不喜欢那样。这对我太难了,詹姆斯。我想让自己愉快,又想让我在法国的朋友和家人高兴,也想让我的人民满意。此外,还有英格兰女王。 起初,我极想和伊丽莎白交朋友。我们通了很多信,并讨论有关会面的事宜——两位姐妹女王之间的会面。这时,伊丽莎白给我写信道: 我们两个国家需要成为朋友。你需要一个丈夫,我需要一个朋友。为什么不嫁给我的朋友莱斯特伯爵罗伯特·达德利呢?他高大健壮,我想他会成为你的好丈夫的。 对这封信我很恼火。关于伊丽莎白和罗伯特·达德利之间有许多传闻。他们是好朋友——他经常和她唱歌、跳舞、聊天。人们说他有时还一整夜呆在她的房间里。达德利有妻子,但有一天却突然死了。他们说那是一次意外事故——她从楼上摔了下来。不过,也许她很不快乐,由于他丈夫和伊丽莎白的关系。 “她写信给我介绍这样一个男人!”我想。“她想让他娶我,是因为他是她的朋友——她的情人。或许,她想让她的情人成为苏格兰的国王!” 詹姆斯,我找到了一个比达德利好的男人,他就是你的父亲亨利·达恩利。 他19岁,我23岁。他很高大,有一张英俊的脸庞和一双绿色的大眼睛。他说话很动听,歌也唱得好。我很喜欢和他一起跳舞。他经常穿一身高贵的黑色衣服,而且和我在一起时他常常面带微笑。他是那样的年轻和友善,和他在一起我感到很幸福。我非常喜欢他,我想他也爱我。 他还是个很重要的人物。我们是堂姐弟——他的祖父曾是苏格兰国王,他的曾祖父是英格兰的亨利二世。 1565年7月,我嫁给了他。伊丽莎白非常恼怒,许多英格兰贵族也是。我的同父异母兄弟,马里伯爵,试图想阻止这场婚姻。我不得不和他作战,他逃到了南方,去了英格兰。我很快乐。你的父亲和我每天欢声笑语。他现在是苏格兰亨利亲王了。 过了两三个星期,笑声不复存在。一个国王有许多工作要做,詹姆斯,你是知道的。他不得不阅读成千上万封书信;和民众交谈;仔细考虑许多重要的事务。我每天做这些事情,不过现在,我想我有个男人来帮我了。 “亨利,我的丈夫,”我说。“你想和我一起阅读这些书信吗?你可以陪在我身边,每天和我一起工作。” 你父亲看起来不太高兴。“我对那样的工作不感兴趣,”他说。“我不懂那些。” “当然不懂啦,”我说。“你还年轻,我亲爱的。不过我可以教你。” 他和我一起坐了一两天,我试着去教他。但没错,他确实对这项工作不感兴趣,也不打算去领会。 “你做吧,玛丽,”他说。“我要和朋友们出去,我们要去骑马、喝酒、游泳。” 因此我又承担起所有的工作。晚上,他也经常和镇上的朋友一起出去。他们喝很多酒,又笑又唱,还经常打架。但没有人说什么,因为他是亲王,我的丈夫。人们能说什么呢?他们很不高兴,但他们怕他。他们有些人去了英格兰,到马里伯爵那里去了。 那段时间我经常感到疲惫不堪。因为我怀孕了。你,我的儿子詹姆斯,在我的体内生存着。可我仍在做一个女王应做的一切工作,因此我也需要朋友。朋友中有一位是个年轻的意大利人,叫达维·里奇奥。 里奇奥是个小男人,他不高,不好看也不强壮。但他是个非常聪明、有趣的男人。他替我写了许多信,给我帮助。他歌也唱得好,在晚上,有时我们一起唱歌。我很喜欢他,起初,你的父亲也喜欢他。 不过没多久,马里的朋友们开始谈论我和里奇奥。“达维·里奇奥整夜呆在女王的房间里。”他们对你的父亲说。“她和他唱歌、跳舞,笑声不断,我的亲王——这是不对的!他不是苏格兰人,也不是她的丈夫。可他总是和她在一起。” 也许他们还说了些别的事情。——我不知道。很多苏格兰贵族都听到了。不过我告诉你,詹姆斯,在上帝的面前,我没做任何错事。达维·里奇奥是个好人,他工作努力,还帮助我——我当然喜欢他。你的父亲不工作——他每天晚上和他的朋友到镇上去喝酒。 此后的一天晚上,你的父亲回家来了。 |
■ 4 The death of David Riccio It was a Saturday evening in March 1566. I was in Edin-burgh with some friends. David Riccio was there, with six or seven other people. We were in a small room, but there was a good dinner on the table, and we were happy. It was dark outside, but inside it was warm and friendly. Suddenly, a door opened behind me. In the door was Henry Darnley,my husband.I stood up and smiled. ‘Good evening, my lord,'I said.‘Please come in. Would you like something to eat?' ‘No, thank you,'he said.‘I'm not hungry.But I want to sit next to you, wife. Please tell that man to move.' A man got out of the chair next to me and Darnley sat beside me.Then he put his arms round me. I did not like it. His face was hot, and his eyes looked unhappy. But I smiled and said,‘I'm happy to see you, my lord.' ‘Are you, Mary?'He laughed.‘Are you really?' ‘Yes, of course, my lord. But—' Then the second door opened and his friend, Lord Ruthven,stood there.He had a knife in his hand. His face was red, and he looked very angry. Af first no one moved. Then Ruthven said,‘Your Majesty,send David Riccio out of this room, now! I want him!' I looked at Riccio. He was afraid.‘Why?'I said.‘Why do you want him?' ‘He is a bad, wicked man!'Ruthven said.‘Send him out!' ‘No!'I said.‘You want to kill him. David Riccio is my friend! He stays here, with me!' ‘He goes out, woman!'Lord Ruthven said.‘ King Henry,hold your wife, please!' I stood up, but Darnley held my arms and I could not move.David Riccio ran behind me and held my dress. My friends in the room stood up too, and moved towards Ruthven angrily.But he had a knife in his hand. ‘Get back!'he said angrily.‘Don't touch me!' Then five men with knives ran into the little room, and there was a fight. One man held a knife in my face, and an-other man hit David Riccio, behind me. Then they pulled him out of the room. ‘Help me!'he screamed.‘Help me, my Queen—please!They're going to kill me!Don't—aaaaaargh!' I couldn't help him, because Darnley had me in his arms.But I could hear David Riccio's screams. I think he fell down the stairs, and he screamed for two or three minutes. Then it was quiet. ‘What are you doing?'I asked Darnley angrily.‘Riccio is a good man—why are you doing this?' Darnley laughed.‘You are my wife, Mary—not David Ric-cio's!'he said.‘so why are you with him every evening?You never talk to me!' ‘I don't talk to you because you are never here!'I said.‘You are always drinking with your friends! You aren't a king, you're a stupid boy!' He laughed again. It was not a nice laugh.‘Well,'he said.‘Perhaps I am a boy, but that is better than David Riccio,now.Do you want to go and see him?' I did see him, five minutes after that. He was very dead,and there was blood all over the floor. Poor David Riccio. He sings to God now, not me. I looked at Henry Darnley, my husband. He had a stupid smile on his face. But I think he was afraid of me.I looked at him a long time, and the smile went away. ‘Remember this night,husband,'I said to him.‘Remem-ber it well.Think about it when you look into my eyes, and before you go to sleep. David Riccio was my friend, and you killed him in front of me. I'm never going to forget that,Henry Darnley. Never!' ■ 4 达维·里奇奥之死 1566年 3月的一个星期六晚上。我和一些朋友呆在爱丁堡。达维·里奇奥也在那里,另外还有六、七个人。我们在一间小屋子里,桌上摆着丰盛的菜肴,我们都很高兴。虽然外面夜幕笼罩,但屋子里充满了温暖和友好的气氛。 突然,我身后的门被打开了,门口站着我的丈夫亨利·达恩利。我站起来朝他笑。 “晚上好,我的丈夫,”我说道,“请进来吧,你想吃点什么吗?” “不,谢谢,”他说。“我不饿。但我想坐在你身边,我的妻子。请叫那个人走开。” 一人从我身旁的座位上站起来,达恩利坐到了我身边。然后他伸出手环抱着我。我不喜欢这样。他的脸很热,他的眼神看起来很不高兴。但我还是笑着对他说。“很高兴见到你,我的丈夫。” “是吗,玛丽?”他笑道。“是真的吗?” “是的,当然是的,我的丈夫。不过——” 接着,第二扇门打开了,他的朋友——鲁斯温勋爵站在那儿。他手里拿着一把刀。他的脸红红的,满脸怒容。 起初,谁也没有动。然后鲁斯温说道,“陛下,把达维·里奇奥从这房间里赶出去,马上!我要他!” 我看着里奇奥,他显得很害怕。“为什么?”我问,“你为什么要他?” “他是个不道德的坏人!”鲁斯温说。“把他赶出去!” “不!”我说。“你想杀他。达维·里奇奥是我的朋友!他呆在这里,和我在一起!” “他得出来,女人!”鲁斯温勋爵说。“亨利亲王,抓住你的妻子,快点!” 我站了起来,可是达恩利抓住我的胳膊,我不能动弹。达维·里奇奥跑到我身后抓住我的衣服。我房间里的朋友们也站了起来,愤怒地向鲁斯温逼近,但是鲁斯温手里拿着刀。 “回去!”他怒吼。“不要过来!” 接着,五个拿刀的男人冲进了这间小屋。一场冲突开始了。一个男人把刀架在我面前,另一个人去攻击躲在我身后的达维·里奇奥。然后他们把他拖出了房间。 “救命!”他尖叫道。“救救我,我的女王——请救救我!他们要杀我!不要!——啊!” 我帮不了他,因为达恩利紧紧抓着我。可是我能听到达维·里奇奥的尖叫声。我想他是从楼梯上摔了下去,尖叫持续了二三分钟后。一切归于平静。 “你在干什么?”我愤怒地责问达恩利。“里奇奥是个好人——你为什么要这样做?” 达恩利笑道。“你是我的妻子,玛丽——不是达维·里奇奥的!”他说。“所以你为什么要每晚和他呆在一起?你从没对我说过!” “我没有对你说是因为你从来不在这里!”我说。“你总是和你的朋友们不停地喝酒!你不是个亲王,你是个愚蠢的小男孩!” 他又一次笑了,那是个不带好意的笑。“好吧,”他说。“也许我只是个男孩,但也比达维·里奇奥强。你想去看看他吗? 五分钟后,我看到了他。他已经死了,地上到处是血。可怜的达维·里奇奥,他现在给上帝唱歌了,而不再为我。 我看着亨利·达恩利——我的丈夫。他脸上带着愚蠢的微笑。但我认为他还是怕我的。我盯着他看了很久,他脸上的笑容渐渐消失了。 “记住今天晚上,丈夫,”我对他说。“好好记住。在你看着我的眼睛的时候,在你上床睡觉之前,好好想一想这件事。达维·里奇奥是我的朋友,而你却当着我的面杀死了他。对此我永远都不会原谅,亨利·达恩利,永远不!” ■ 5 My son is born Next morning, Darnley came to see me. He was afraid.‘What's the matter,husband?'I said.‘Why are you crying?' ‘Oh Mary, Mary!'he said. ‘I'm sorry! I was wrong!I helped those men to kill Riccio, and now the Earl of Moray is back here with them!He hates me!I am afraid they're going to kill me, and you too. Think of our child, Mary, here inside you!' He took me in his arms again.I was very angry. I am sorry, James, that this man was your father. He was a stupid boy, not a man. He was tall and strong and beautiful but he could never think like a man or a king. I said,‘ You know these men, Henry. What do they want?' ‘They—they want our child, Mary. They don't want us.They're going to put you in prison. They don't want you to be Queen—they want your child to be King or Queen. I—I don't know what they want to do with me.' ‘Perhaps they want you to be King, too, without me,'I said quietly.‘Then you can do what they say, like a little boy.' ‘Perhaps,Mary.They said that,yesterday.But now that Moray's here—I don't know. I'm afraid. Please help me!'He began to cry again.‘What can we do?' ‘We can run away,'I said.‘We can leave Edinburgh quick-ly and quietly, before Ruthven and his men stop us. Be quiet for a minute. I want to think.' I walked up and down for two or three minutes, then I said:‘Henry, go back to these men. Tell them—' ‘No! Mary, please! I can't! I'm afraid of them!' ‘Listen to me,Henry!And try to be a man. Go and tell them I'm ill, because of the child.Say I'm not angry with them. Tell them anything—lie to them. Then, tonight, bring some men and horses here, behind the castle…' He went, and did it.All day I waited in my rooms, and lis-tened. Then, at one o'clock in the morning, Darnley and I went quietly down the stairs behind the castle.Some of my friends were there, with horses for us. Quickly, we rode away into the night. That was a very bad night. It was dark and cold. I was ill,and Darnley was afraid.‘Come on!'he said.‘Ride faster,woman! You're too slow!' But I was pregnant, and it was cold and dark. We rode for five bours in the rain.‘I can't, Henry!'I said.‘I'm ill.Think of the baby! I don't want it to die!' ‘Why not?'he said.‘ We can always make another one!' I'm sorry, but it is true. Your father said things like that,James.Then he rode away in front of me, into the dark. I rode slowly behind, with my good woman, Bess Curle. In the morning we arrived at Dunbar Castle. Darnley slept,and I wrote letters to my friends. Next day Lord Bothwell came to help me. I liked him—he was a good, strong man.Soon I had an army of 8,000 men. Bothwell and I rode back to Edinburgh with the army. Lord Ruthven died, and some of his friends ran away. But the Earl of Moray stayed. All that summer I ruled the country, and waited for the ba-by. My husband stayed outside my rooms. I did not want to see him. No one did. Perhaps he drank with his friends. I don't know. And then, on 19th June, in a small room in Edinburgh Cas-tle, my baby was born. It took a long time, but at last you were in my arms, James, my son. I asked your father to come in.‘My Lord Henry,'I said.‘This is our baby! Look at him, my Lord. Take him in your arms. He is your son—isn't he beautiful?' But your father did not love me, James. Very often, after you were born, he slept with other women. I know that be-cause he talked to everyone about it. I think he wanted people to know. And I am sorry, but I do not think he loved you,James. When I took you to church and gave you your name,he did not come. He wasn't interested. But because of him, David Riccio was dead. I could never forget that.Never. ■ 5 我儿子的出生 第二天早晨,达恩利来见我。他显得很害怕。 “怎么了,丈夫?”我问道。“你干吗哭?” “噢玛丽,玛丽!”他说。“对不起,我错了!我帮助那些人杀死了里奇奥,现在马里伯爵回来了,和他们在一起!他恨我!我怕他们会杀了我,还有你。玛丽,为你肚子里的我们的孩子想一想吧!” 他又一次抱着我。我很生气。很抱歉,詹姆斯,这人就是你的父亲。他是个愚蠢的男孩,不是个男子汉。他高大健壮又漂亮,可是他从来没想过要让自己像个男子汉或一个亲王。 我说,“你了解这些人,亨利。他们想要什么?” “他们——他们想要我们的孩子,玛丽。他们不要我们。他们要把你关进监狱,他们不想让你做女王——他们想让你的孩子做国王或女王。我——我不知道他们要怎样处置我。” “或许他们也想让你做国王,而不要我。”我很平静地说。“然后你就按他们说的去做,像个乖男孩。” “也许吧,玛丽。他们昨天是这样说的。不过现在马里回来了——我不知道。我很害怕,请帮帮我吧!”他又开始哭了起来。“我们该怎么办?” “我们可以逃走,”我说。“我们可以在鲁斯温和他们的人阻拦我们之前迅速而不声不响地离开爱丁堡。安静一会儿,让我想一想。” 我来来回回徘徊了二三分钟,说:“亨利,回到那些人那里去。告诉他们——” “不!玛丽,请别这样!我办不到!我怕他们!” “听我说,亨利!试着做一个男子汉。去告诉他们,我病了,是因为怀孕的缘故。说我不对他们生气。再跟他们说些什么——骗骗他们。然后,今天晚上,带上这里的一些人和马,从城堡后……。” 他去了,也这样做了。一整天我等在自己的房间里听动静。在清晨1点钟,达恩利和我悄悄地从城堡后的楼梯下来。我的一些朋友们已牵了一些马等在那里。很快地,我们骑马消失在夜幕里。 那是个很糟糕的夜晚。外面又黑又冷。我生病了,达恩利很害怕。“快点!”他说。“骑得快点,女人,你太慢了!” 可我是个孕妇,外面又冷又黑。我们在雨中骑了五个小时。“我不能,亨利!”我说。“我病了。为孩子想一想!我不想让它死掉!” “为什么不呢?”他说。“我们可以再要一个!” 我很抱歉,但那是真的。你父亲是那样说的,詹姆斯。随后,他远远地骑在了我前面,消失在夜色里。我和我的好伙伴贝斯·柯尔在后面慢慢地骑着。 早晨我们到了唐巴尔城堡。达恩利睡着了,我给我的朋友写信。第二天,博思韦尔勋爵来帮助我。我喜欢他——他是个善良、健壮的男人。不久,我就拥有了一支八千士兵的军队。博思韦尔和我率领着军队驱马回到爱丁堡。结果鲁斯温勋爵死了,他的一些朋友逃走了。可马里伯爵留了下来。 整个夏季我治理着这个国家,并等待着孩子的降生。我的丈夫不在我房间。我不想见到他。没有人想见到他。或许他和他的朋友在一起喝酒。我不知道。 不久以后,6月19日,在爱丁堡的一间小房间里,我的孩子出生了。詹姆斯,我的儿子,生你费了好长时间,但最终,你还是躺在我怀抱里了。 我把你父亲叫进来。“亨利,我的丈夫,”我说。“这是我们的孩子!看着他吧,我的丈夫。抱抱他,他是你的儿子——难道他不漂亮吗?” 可是你的父亲不爱我,詹姆斯。在你出生之后,他经常和别的女人睡觉。我知道这个是因为他对谁都这么说。我想他是想让人们都知道。我很抱歉,可我认为他并不爱你,詹姆斯。当我带你去教堂给你取名字时,他没来,他没有兴趣。 可就是因为他,达维·里奇奥死了。我永远不会忘记这一点,永远不! |
■ 6 Kirk O'Field I had a new man to help me now.The Earl of Bothwell—a strong,clever man. He was older than me;he was not a boy like Darnley. He worked hard and he could think. He was a good fighter and he was not afraid of other men. Per-haps you are like him, James, my son? In January your father,Darnley,was ill in Glasgow.I went to see him, and took him back to Edinburgh. He was unhappy, and afraid of people. He saw enemies behind every door. Poor stupid boy! He said he loved me again. I was an-gry, but I felt sorry for him, too. He was very ill. ‘It's not far now, Henry,'I said.‘You can sleep in the castle.' ‘No, not there, please, Mary!'he said.‘I don't want to go into the castle. I'm afraid of it!' ‘But where do you want to go?'I asked. ‘Find me a little house outside the town, and stay with me there,'he said.‘We can be happy there.' So I found him a small house called Kirk o'Field,outside Edinburgh. He stayed there, in a room upstairs, and some-times I slept in a room downstairs. Darnley was often afraid,and I visited him every day. Slowly, he got better. On Sunday,9th February, there was a big wedding in Ed-inburgh. After the wedding, Bothwell and I walked out to Kirk o'Field to see Darnley and talk to him. Everyone sang,and laughed, and was very happy. At ten o'clock I was tired.‘Good night, my lords,'I said. ‘I'm going downstairs to bed.' Lord Bothwell put his hand on my arm.‘Your Majesty,'he said.‘You can't sleep here now.Don't you remember?Peo-ple are dancing and singing in town tonight—everyone wants you to go.' ‘Oh, yes. I forgot,'I said.‘Of course, people want to see me there. So, good night, Henry. Sleep well.' Darnley was very unhappy.‘Please, Mary my love, don't go!'he said.‘Don't leave me here!' But I did not love him now. I remembered the night when Riccio died.So I smiled and said,‘Good night,Henry.Be a man now.don't be afraid of the dark.' Then I went downstairs with Lord Bothwell. Outside the house, we met one of Bothwell's men. He looked afraid, and there was something black on his face and hands. ‘Jesus, man, how dirty you are!'I said.‘Don't come near me with those hands.' ‘No, my lady, of course not,'he said. He looked at Both-well for a minute, and then ran away quickly. I laughed, got on my horse, and forgot about it. I tell you before God, James, I did not kill your father.It was not me. I knew nothing about it—nothing! I sang and danced in town, and then went to bed in Edin-burgh Castle. Then, at two o'clock in the morning, there was a sudden noise—a very big BANG! Everybody heard it all through the town. ‘My God!'I said.‘What's that?' Everyone ran out of their rooms.Lord Bothwell was down-stairs.‘Don't be afraid, ladies,'he said.‘My men are out-side—they're going to see what it is.' After an hour he came to see me.‘Please sit down, my lady,'he said.‘I have some unhappy news.' ‘Yes,my lord.What is it?' ‘It's your husband, Lord Darnley. He is dead.' ‘But—how? How did he die? Who killed him?' ‘I don't know, my lady.That bang—that was his house,Kirk o'Field. It's not there any more.' ‘What? And Darnley was inside?' ‘Well, no, my lady,'Bothwell said slowly.‘My men found him in the garden, not in the house. He is wearing only night clothes, and there is no blood on him. But he is dead. I am sorry.' ‘Take me out there! I want to see him—now!' ‘Yes, my lady.' I went out to Kirk o'Field in the early morning. There was no house now—no walls, no doors, no windows—nothing.And there in the garden, a long way from the house, was that poor dead boy, my husband. I did not love him but I cried then. He was your father,James, and I did not kill him. I don't know who killed him,but he had many enemies in Scotland. I was very afraid.I, too, had enemies, and I often slept there. Perhaps someone wanted to kill me, too. ■ 6 柯克·欧菲尔德 现在,我又有一个人来帮我了。博思韦尔勋爵——一个健壮聪明的男人。他比我大;他不像达恩利那样像个小男孩。他工作努力且会思考。他是个勇士,他不怕别人。或许你像他,詹姆斯,我的儿子? 一月份,你的父亲,达恩利在格拉斯加生病了。我去看他,并把他带回爱丁堡。他很不愉快且害怕周围的人。每一扇门后面都有他的仇敌。可怜、愚蠢的男孩!他说他又爱我了。我很生气,但我也觉得对不住他。他病得很重。 “现在不远了,亨利,”我说。“你可以睡在城堡里。” “不,我不睡那儿,求求你,玛丽!”他说。“我不想走进城堡。我怕!” “但是你要去哪儿呢?”我问道。 “给我在镇外找一间小房子,我们一起呆在那儿,”他说。“我们在那里可以很幸福。” 于是,我在爱丁堡外给他找了一间叫柯克·欧菲尔德的小屋。他住在那边楼上的一间小房间里,而我有时候睡在楼下的房间里。达恩利经常感到恐惧。我每天都去看望他。渐渐地,他好转起来了。 2月9日,星期日,在爱丁堡有一个大型的婚礼。婚礼结束后,我和博思韦尔一起出来去柯克·欧菲尔德看望达恩利,陪他聊天。人们欢歌笑语,非常快乐。 十点钟了,我感到很累。“晚安,我的丈夫,我的勋爵,”我说道。“我下楼去睡了。” 博思韦尔勋爵抓住我的胳膊。“陛下,”他说。“现在你不能睡这儿。你难道忘了?今晚人们在镇上载歌载舞——每个人都想你去。” “噢,对,我忘了,”我说。“当然,人们想在那儿见到我。好吧,晚安,亨利,睡个好觉。” 达恩利很不高兴。“玛丽,我亲爱的,请不要走!”他说。“不要留下我一人在这里!” 可是我现在不爱他了。我想起里奇奥被杀的那一晚。于是我笑着说,“晚安,亨利。现在要像个男子汉。不要害怕黑暗。” 于是我和博思韦尔勋爵下了楼。在房子外面,我们碰到了一个博思韦尔的人。他看起来很惊慌,脸上和手上沾了些黑乎乎的东西。 “上帝,你这个人多脏啊!”我说。“手这么脏,不要走近我。” “是,夫人,当然不,”他说。他朝博思韦尔看了一眼,很快就跑开了。我笑了,我骑上我的马,就把这事给忘了。 在上帝面前,詹姆斯,我告诉你,我没有杀死你的父亲。不是我杀的。我对此一无所知——一点儿也不知道! 我在镇上又唱又跳,然后就睡在了爱丁堡城里。早晨两点钟,突然传来了呼的一声巨响!整个镇上的人都听见了。 “我的上帝啊!”我说。“那是什么声音?” 大家都从自己的房间里跑出来。博思韦尔勋爵下了楼。“不要害怕,夫人,”他说道。“我的人已经出去了——他们去看看到底是怎么回事。” 一个小时后他来见我。“请坐下,我的夫人,”他说道。“我有一些不愉快的消息告诉你。” “好的,我的勋爵,是什么?” “是你的丈夫,达恩利亲王。他死了。” “可是——怎么会?他怎么死的?谁杀了他?” “我不知道,我的夫人。那声巨响——就来自他的房子,柯克·欧菲尔德。它已不存在了。” “什么?可达恩利在里面吗?” “噢,他不在,我的夫人,”博思韦尔慢慢地说。 “我的人在花园里而不是在房子里发现了他。他只穿着睡衣,身上没有血迹。可他已经死了。我很难过。” “把我带到那儿去!我想见他——现在!” “好吧,我的夫人。” 清晨,我去了柯克·欧菲尔德。现在那里已经没有房子了——没有墙,没有门,没有窗户——什么也没有。而在花园里,离房子很远的地方,躺着那可怜的男孩的尸体——那就是我的丈夫。 虽然我不爱他,但那时候我哭了。他是你的父亲,詹姆斯,我没有杀他。我不知道是谁杀死了他,但他在苏格兰有很多仇敌。 我感到很害怕。我也有仇敌,而我经常睡在那里。或许有人也想杀我。 ■ 7 Bothwell Soon everyone in Europe heard the news. The Queen of France and the Queen of England wrote angry letters to me. Who killed the King? they asked. I was very unhappy at this time, James. We looked for the killers, but we could not find them. Please believe me, James. The Scots lords are difficult men. Some were friends, some were enemies, but they changed all the time. Many people in Scotland said:‘Bothwell killed Lord Darn-ley.'I heard them, outside the castle, and in the town. But I never believed it. People in Edinburgh sold horrible stories and pictures of Bothwell the same day that Darnley died. It was too soon. Perhaps Darnley's killers wrote these stories about Bothwell, before they killed Darnley. I don't think Lord Bothwell killed your father,James. He was a good friend to me in difficult times. He was a good strong, clever man, and he worked hard. I liked that. A lot of women liked him,I think. Three times that spring, he asked me to marry him. He had a wife, and I could not marry again, so soon. I asked him to wait. Then, on24th April, I rode out of Edinburgh to the north.I had five or six friends with me.Six miles outside the town,Lord Bothwell met us, with an army. ‘Why are you here,my lord?'I said. He smiled.‘ Because I want to meet you, Mary,'he said.‘I want you to come with me to my castle.'He rode next to me, and his men rode between me and my friends. I was afraid,and a little excited,too.‘But,my lord,you can't do this!'I said.‘I don't want to come with you now.' ‘But I want you, Mary,'he said.‘Your friends can't stop me. I love you, and I want to marry you. What's wrong with that?' I said nothing.What could I say?I liked him,and he had an army. I had only six friends.So I rode with him to his cas-tle in Dunbar, and stayed there two weeks. And then… He was a strong man, and I was only a woman. And I did like him, James. I liked him very much. After two weeks in Dunbar, Bothwell and I rode back to Edinburgh. His wife did not want him, and was happy to di-vorce him.So,on 15th May 1567, I married him. He was a good man, James. A much better man than your father. I needed a strong man to help me rule the country. But I was wrong. I understand that now. All the Scots lords were afraid of Bothwell, and many of them were his ene-mies. They had an army, and on 15th June,Bothwell and I rode out to fight them. We met them at Carberry Hill. It was a hot day, and the two big armies stood, and looked, and waited. Their army had a big flag with a picture of your poor dead father,Darnley, on it. Under the picture, there were the words ‘Find my killers, oh God.' ‘Come on, my lord,'I said to Bothwell.‘Our army is bet-ter than theirs—let's fight them!' Both well rode up and down, and talked to his men. But they didn't want to fight. They talked, and looked at the flag, and waited. Then some of them walked home. At five o'clock that evening Lord Kirkcaldy rode from his army to talk to us. He said to me,‘My lady, leave your hus-band, and come with us.We don't want men to die.' And so, because our men didn't want to fight, I went with him. It was a very bad day for me. They took me back to Ed-inburgh, and people in the streets screamed at me:‘Kill the woman! She sleeps with her husband's killer!We want James to be King! Kill her now!' I was unhappy, and afraid, and I was pregnant again.They took me to Lochleven Castle, and put me in a room like a prison.There, I did not eat for two weeks, and Bothwell's children—there were two babies—wer born dead.I nearly died too—I was so angry and tired and ill. Then, one day after the babies died, Lord Lindsay gave me a letter. It said: I,Mary, Queen of Scots, give the kingdom of Scotland to my son, James.From today, James is the new King of Scots.But because he is a child, the Earl of Moray, my half—brother, can rule the country for him. Because I was afraid, and tired, and ill, I wrote my name on the letter:Mary. But it is not important,James,it doesn't change anything.I am Queen of Scots, not you. That letter changes nothing. Bothwell went over the sea, and died in a prison in Denmark. I was a prisoner in Lochleven for a year. A lot of people in Europe were angry about that. Queen Elizabeth wrote to the Earl of Moray.‘You cannot keep a Queen in prison,'she said.‘It is very wrong!'I was pleased about that.But Moray didn't listen. Lord Douglas lived in the castle, and his young son,William,liked me. One day, there was a wedding in the castle. People sang and danced and drank. William Douglas gave me some old women's clothes. I put the clothes on, and walked quietly out of the castle with him. He shut the castle door behind us, to keep his father's friends in. Then we got on some horses, and rode away through the night. All my friends came back to me. Soon I had a big army.‘Mary is our Queen again!'people said.‘Give her back her son!'You were in Earl Moray's castle, James, so I came to fight him. I rode with my army to Langside, near Glasgow.And there… There, James… There, my son, I lost the fight. I am so sorry. I had many good, strong men in my army, but Earl Moray's men were stronger. Many of my men died, and some ran away. After the fight, I ran away too. I did not want to go to prison again. So I rode south, to England.‘Queen Elizabeth wants to help me,'I thought.‘She understands.She wrote to Moray and she is a Queen,like me.I can come back to Scotland with her army, kill Moray, and find my baby son James.I am in England but I am free.I can try again.' I was wrong about that, too. Very wrong. ■ 7 博思韦尔 不久,每个欧洲的人都知道了这件事。法国的女王和英格兰的女王给我写来了愤怒的信。谁杀死了亲王?他们质问道。在那段时间里我很不愉快,詹姆斯。我们寻找凶手,但是我们没能找到。请相信我,詹姆斯。苏格兰的贵族们很难对付。有些是朋友,有些是敌人,可他们不停地变。 苏格兰的很多人都说:“博思韦尔杀死了达恩利亲王。”在城堡外,在镇上,我都能听到这种传言。但是我从来不相信它。爱丁堡的人出售有关博思韦尔的可怕的故事和图片,叫做《达恩利死的那一天》。这简直太神速了。或许杀达恩利的凶手们在他们杀死达恩利之前就写了这些有关博思韦尔的故事。 我认为博思韦尔勋爵没有杀害你父亲,詹姆斯。在我艰难时,他是我很好的朋友。他是个善良、健壮、聪明的男人,而且他工作努力。我很喜欢这点。许多女人都喜欢他,我想。 在那个春天,他向我求了三次婚。他有妻子,我不能这么快又一次嫁人。我让他等一等。 在4月24日,我骑马离开爱丁堡去北方。有五六个朋友随同我。在出城镇6英里的地方,博思韦尔勋爵带着一支队伍在那里迎候我。 “你怎么在这儿,我的勋爵?”我问道。 他笑了。“因为我想见到你,玛丽,”他说。“我想让你跟我到我的城堡去。”他骑马跟在我旁边,他的人骑马跟在我和我的朋友之间。 我很害怕,又有点儿激动。“可是,我的勋爵,你不能这样做!”我说。“我不能现在就跟你走。” “但是我需要你,玛丽。”他说:“你的朋友们阻止不了我。我爱你。我要娶你。那又有什么错”? 我无话可说。我能说什么呢?我喜欢他,并且他有一支队伍,而我只有六个朋友。于是,我骑马随他来到他在唐巴尔的城堡,并在那儿呆了两个星期。之后……他是个强有力的男人,而我只是个女人。而且我确实很喜欢他,詹姆斯。我非常喜欢他。 在唐巴尔呆了两个星期后,我和博思韦尔驱马回到爱丁堡。他的妻子不想要他了,并且很乐意地和他离了婚。因此,在1567年5月15日,我嫁给了他。 他是个好人,詹姆斯。一个比你父亲好得多的男人。我需要一个强壮的男人来帮我统治这个国家。 但是我错了。现在我明白了。所有苏格兰贵族都很害怕博思韦尔,他们中有许多人是他的敌人。他们拥有一支军队。于是在6月15日,我和博思韦尔策马去迎战他们。 我们在卡贝琳山头相遇。那是个炎热的一天,两支大规模的军队站着互相观望等待。他们的军队有一面很大的旗帜,上面是你可怜的死去的父亲的画像。画像下面有一行字“找出杀死我的杀手,噢!上帝!” “冲吧,我的勋爵,”我对博思韦尔说道。“我们的军队比他们的强,跟他们战斗吧!” 博思韦尔骑着马跑来跑去,并和他的人说着什么。可他们不想打仗。他们一边望着那面军旗,一边谈论着等待着。然后,有一些人回去了。 晚上5点钟,柯克考德勋爵骑马从他的军队里过来和我们谈话。他对我说,“我的夫人,离开你的丈夫,跟我们一起走。我们不想有人死亡。” 正因为我们的人不想打仗,我跟他走了。这一天对我来说实在太糟了。他们把我带回了爱丁堡,街上的人们冲着我尖叫:“杀了这个女人!她和杀她丈夫的凶手一起睡觉!我们要让詹姆斯做国王!现在就杀了她!” 我既伤心又害怕,那时候我又怀孕了。他们把我带到拉克利文城堡,并把我关进一间像监狱一样的房间里。在那里,我两个星期没有吃饭,并且怀着博思韦尔的孩子——两个婴儿——一出生就死了。我几乎也要死掉——我感到非常愤怒、非常疲惫,而且病得很重。在两个婴儿死去的那一天,林德辛勋爵给了我一封信。信上写道: 我,玛丽,苏格兰女王,把苏格兰王国交给我的儿子,詹姆斯。从今天起,詹姆斯就是苏格兰的国王了。但因为他还是个小孩,可以由马里伯爵,我的同父异母兄弟为他治理这个国家。 由于我害怕、疲惫,又在生病,于是我便在信上签了名:玛丽。但这并不重要,詹姆斯,这并不能改变什么。我是苏格兰的女王,不是你。那封信改变不了什么。 博思韦尔飘洋过海,并死在了丹麦的监狱中。我在拉克利文做了一年的囚徒。许多欧洲人民对此感到非常愤怒。伊丽莎白女王写信给马里伯爵。“你不能囚禁一个女王,”她说。“这是极其错误的!”我很高兴她这样说。但马里根本不听。 道格拉斯勋爵住在这城堡里,他年轻的儿子,威廉很喜欢我。一天,在城堡里有一场婚礼。人们唱歌跳舞,举杯畅饮。威廉·道格拉斯给了我一些老妇人的衣服。我穿上这些衣服,并随他偷偷地离开了城堡。他关上了身后城堡的门,留下他父亲的朋友们在里面。于是我们骑上马,连夜骑马离开。 我所有的朋友都回到了我身边。不久,我就有了一支庞大的军队。“玛丽又是我们的女王了!”人们说道。“把她的儿子还给她!”你在马里伯爵的城堡里,詹姆斯,因此我去和他作战。我骑马率领我的军队来到格拉斯哥附近的朗塞得。并且在那里…… 在那里,詹姆斯…… 在那里,我的儿子,我战败了。我是那么伤心。在我的军队里,我有许多精良的战士。可马里伯爵的士兵比我们还要强壮。我的很多人都战死了,有些跑了。战争结束后,我也落荒而逃。 我再也不想进监狱了。因此我往南骑,去英格兰。“伊丽莎白女王会帮助我。”我想。“她能理解的。她写过信给马里,并且她像我一样是个女王。我可以带着她的军队回到苏格兰,杀了马里,找回我的孩子詹姆斯。我虽在英格兰但我是自由人。我可以东山再起。” 关于这点我又错了,而且大错特错。 |
■ 8 England Elizabeth didn't give me her army.She put me in prison.You know this,James—it is the story of your life,not mine. I was twenty-five years old when I came to England, and I am forty-five now.Twenty years in English prisons. Moray told lies about me. Mary and Bothwell killed Darn-ley, he said.Mary slept with Riccio and Bothwell and killed her husband. But it's not true!They're all lies, James— wicked lies!They only said these things because I am a woman, and a Catholic, and they don't want a Catholic queen in Scotland, they want a Protestant king. A king like you, James.Why, James my son, don't you help me? Why are you friendly with Elizabeth, my enemy?You don't want me back in Scotland, do you? You believe these lies, don't you?You talk to Moray and his friends, every day.But they lied about me,James.Moray and his friends killed Riccio Then killed your father, too.They stole my husband Bothwell, stole my son… Stole my son's love… I am sorry, James.Forgive me.Sometimes I get very angry.It is difficult not to be angry, when you are in prison for twenty years. Elizabeth didn't know what to do.Sometimes she believed Moray, sometimes she didn't.She was afraid to kill me, be-cause I was a Queen. She was afraid to let me go free, bcause I have friends in England. The English Catholics want me to be Queen of England, not her. And she is a woman with no husband and no son, so she hates me, too. Sometimes the English Catholics write to me and ask me for help, and sometimes I write to them.Sometimes Elizabeth's men find these letters. The English Protestants want to kill me because of these letters.‘You are a wicked woman!'they say:‘ You killed your husband, Darnley, and now you want to kill our Queen Elizabeth.You're going to die!' ‘I did not kill my husband,'I said.‘And when l came to England, I did not want to kill your Queen. I asked her for help—I wanted to go back to Scotand!But,my lords,she put me in prison for twenty years! Twenty years, my lords!I want to be free—don't you understand that? when men write to me and try to help me, then yes, sometimes I write back!Why not? Is that wicked, do you think?' They didn't listen. Of course not. They want to kill me.And so they wrote to Queen Elizabeth. And now I sit here, in Fotheringhay Castle, and wait for her to answer. I do not want to die, James my son, but I do not want to live all my life in an English prison. I am old, and tired of life. Think well of me, James, my son, and… ■ 8 英格兰 伊丽莎白没有给我她的军队。她把我关进了监狱。你知道这些的,詹姆斯——它是有关你生活的故事,不是我的。我来到英格兰时才25岁,而现在我已经45岁了,在英格兰的监狱里呆了20年。 有关我的情况马里撒了谎。玛丽和博思韦尔杀死了达恩利,他说。玛丽和里奇奥、博思韦尔同床共眠,还杀死了她的丈夫。但这不是真的!他们全在说谎,詹姆斯——恶意的谎言!他们只提这些事是因为我是个女人,是个天主教教徒,而且在苏格兰,他们不想要一个天主教教徒的女王,他们想要一个新教教徒的国王。 一个像你这样的国王,詹姆斯。为什么不帮助我呢?詹姆斯,我的儿子,为什么你还和伊丽莎白,我的仇敌友好相处呢?你不想让我回到苏格兰,是吗?你相信这些谎言,不是吗?你每天和马里以及他的朋友们说话。可是他们编造了关于我的谎言,詹姆斯。马里和他的朋友杀死了里奇奥,然后又杀死了你的父亲。他们偷走了我的丈夫博思韦尔,偷走了我的儿子。…… 偷走了我儿子的爱…… 我很抱歉,詹姆斯。原谅我。有时候我很愤怒。当你在监狱呆了20年之久,不生气是很难的。 伊丽莎白不知道该怎样做。她有时相信马里,有时候不。她不敢杀我,因为我是个女王。她不敢让我获得自由是因为我在英格兰有朋友。英格兰天主教教徒想让我成为英格兰女王,而不是她。再说她是个没有丈夫没有儿子的女人,因此她也恨我。 有时英格兰的天主教教徒们给我写信询问我是否需要帮助,有时我也写信给他们。有时伊丽莎白的人发现了这些书信。英格兰的新教教徒们想杀我就是因为这些书信。“你是个不道德的女人!”他们说:“你杀死了自己的丈夫,达恩利,而现在你又想杀我们的女王伊丽莎白。你死期将至了。” “我没有杀害我丈夫,”我说,“而且当我来到英格兰时,我并没有想杀害你们的女王。我来请求她的帮助——我想回到苏格兰!但是,我的勋爵们,她把我关进了监狱整整20年! 20年啊!我的勋爵们!我要自由——难道你们不理解吗?人们给我写信试图想帮助我,的确是的,有时我也回信!为什么不呢?你们认为那很不道德吗?” 他们不听。当然不听了。他们想杀我。因此他们给伊丽莎白女王写信。现在我坐在这里,在福瑟临黑城堡里,等待她的答复。我不想死,詹姆斯我的儿子,但是我也不想一辈子呆在英格兰监狱里。我老了,对生活也厌倦了。多想一想我吧,詹姆斯,我的儿子,并且…… ■ 9 A death Queen Mary stopped writing then. Yesterday afternoon,7th February 1587, we heard a horse outside our win-dow. Mary looked out. There was a man there, on the road from London. He had a letter from the Queen of England. In the evening, an Englishman, Lord Shrewsbury,came to see Mary,‘I am sorry,my lady,'he said.‘But I have a letter from my Queen. You're going to die, tomorrow.' Mary did not move.‘When?'she asked quietly. ‘At half past eight in the morning,'he said.‘I am very sorry, my lady.'He went away. We did not sleep much that night.We talked and prayed to God, and she gave me her letter to her son, James.‘Give it to him, Bess, please,'she said.‘And tell him how I died.' ‘Yes, my lady,'I said. And so now I am going to tell you.King James.This is how your mother died. At six o'clock she got up,prayed, and dressed. She put on a red petticoat first, then a black dress, and a white veil over the dress. The veil came from her head to her feet; she could see out through it, but we could not see her face. She looked like a woman on her wedding day. When the Englishmen came we went downstairs with her.Her little dog walked beside her, under the veil, but the Eng-lishmen didn't see that. Six of us went into a big room with her. A hundred people stood and watched. A Protestant churchman came to talk to her,‘My lady,'he said.‘Pray with me—' ‘No,'she said.‘Thank you, but no. I was born a Catholic and I'm going to die a Catholic. I think God understands that.'she prayed for five minutes, and then stood up. The executioner came towards her. He was a big, strong man with an axe, and something black over his face. ‘I am sorry, my lady,'he said.‘I don't hate you, but this is my work. Please forgive me.' ‘Of course I forgive you,'mary said.‘I am old, and tired,and you're going to open my prison doors for me. I am going to see God.Do your work well.' Then she looked at me and her friends.‘Don't cry for me,ladies,'she said.‘Please, don't cry now.' She could not walk to the block, so the executioner helped her. He took off her white veil, and then he took off her black dress, and put it on the floor. She stood there, in her red pet-ticoat,with a smile on her face. Then the executioner put something over her eyes. Very slowly, Mary put her head on the block. ‘The Lord my God is my one true friend,'she said.‘I give my life,oh God,into your hands.' Then the executioner lifted his axe, once… twice… oh God!three times…and her head—her poor,poor head,fell on the floor. It was very quiet in the room after that. It is a little thing,a head—a very little thing. But there was so much blood—blood on her red petticoat, blood on her black dress and her white veil, blood on the executioner's shoes, blood all over the floor. Blood, blood everywhere. We all looked, and said nothing. The executioner put down his axe and stood quietly. And then Mary's little dog came out from under her bloody dress and veil, and walked slowly, un-happily, through the blood towards her head. My lord,the story of your poor mother's life finishes here.We, her friends, cry for her, but that is how your mother died. She died like a Queen. A good lady and a famous Queen. Mary, Queen of Scots. ■ 9 死亡 然后,玛丽女王停止了写信。昨天下午,即1587年的2月7日,我们听到窗外传来了马蹄声。玛丽向窗外望去,从伦敦方向来了一个男人,他捎来了英格兰女王的一封信。 晚上,一位英格兰人,休斯贝林勋爵来看玛丽。“我很抱歉,我的夫人,”他说。“可是我有一封英格兰女王写来的信。你明天将被处死。” 玛丽一动也没动。“什么时候?”她平静地问道。 “早上8点半钟。”他说。“我十分抱歉,我的夫人。”他说完就离开了。 那晚我们没睡多少。我们谈着话并且向上帝祈祷,她把给她儿子詹姆斯的信交给我。“请把信交给他,贝斯。”她说。“并且告诉他我是怎么死的。” “好的,夫人,”我说道。因此,现在就由我来告诉你,詹姆斯国王,你母亲是怎么死的吧。 早上6点钟,她起床了,祈祷完毕,穿好衣服。她先穿上一件红色的衬裙,然后穿上一件黑色的连衣裙,再在裙子外面套上一件白色的薄纱裙。纱裙一直从脸罩到脚;透过它,她能看得见外面,但我们不能看到她的脸。她看起来像个婚礼上的新娘。 那英格兰人来的时候,我们就跟着她下了楼。她的小狗跟在她身边,跑在纱裙下面,但那英格兰人没有看到它。我们六个人跟她走进了一间大房间。有100人站在那里观望。 一个新教教士走过来和她说话。“我的夫人,”他说道。“跟我一起祈祷——” “不,”她说。“谢谢你,但我不。我生为天主教教徒,死也为天主教教徒。我想上帝会明白的。”她祈祷了5分钟,然后站了起来。那刽子手向她走过来。他又大又壮,手里拿着斧子,一个黑乎乎的东西盖着他的脸。 “我很抱歉,我的夫人,”他说。“我不想伤害你,但这是我的工作。请原谅我。” “当然我会原谅你。”玛丽说。“我老了,也感到累了,你将为我打开监狱的大门。我将去见上帝了。好好干。” 随后她看着我和她的朋友们。“不要为我而哭,夫人们,”她说。“现在请别哭了。” 她不能走到木台那儿,于是那刽子手拉她过去。他脱下她白色的纱裙,然后脱下她黑色的连衣裙,放到地板上去。她站在那里,穿着红色的衬裙,脸上带着微笑。接着,那刽子手用东西遮住了她的眼睛。慢慢地,慢慢地,玛丽将头放在了木台上。 “我的主上帝是我的一个真正的朋友,”她说。“噢,上帝,我把我的生命放进你的手中。” 然后那刽子手举起了他的斧子。一次……两次……噢,上帝!三次……她的头——她的可怜的,可怜的头颅,掉在了地板上。 在那之后房间是一片寂静。它只是个小东西,一只头颅——一个非常小的东西。但却有这么多血——鲜血渗到她红色的衬裙上,渗到她黑色的连衣裙和她那白色的纱裙上,鲜血流到了刽子手的鞋上,地板上到处是血,血,到处是血。 我们怔怔地看着,一句话也说不出来。刽子手放下了斧子,一言不发地站着。那时,玛丽的小狗从她那被鲜血染红了的连衣裙和纱裙下面钻了出来,淌过鲜血很伤心地,慢慢地走向她的头颅。 我的国王,有关你可怜的母亲的生平就说到这里了。我们,做为她的朋友,为她哭泣,但这就是你母亲怎么死的。她死得像个女王。一位好夫人,一位驰名的女王。 玛丽,苏格兰女王。 |
【01-03】 [在月亮下面 / 罗维纳·阿金耶米 著] Under the Moon by Romena Akinyemi ■ 简介 太阳是一个巨大的燃烧着的火球。没有来自太阳的光和热,我们就不能在地球这颗行星上生存。在这颗行星周围有臭氧层保护着我们免受太阳之火的伤害。但是如果臭氧层破裂,将会怎样呢?现在臭氧层上已经有了小洞,有人说那些小洞会变得越来越大——直到有一天再没有任何东西挡在我们和太阳的火焰之间。 事情发生在2222年。地球人制造了AOL——人工臭氧层。美丽的地球又有了1000年的生命。树又发芽了,下雨了,河里有了水…… 但现在是2522年,人工臭氧层已经破裂。幼嫩的树林开始枯萎,河流也逐渐干涸。凯和瑞拉从他们的宇宙飞船里看到了这危险的情景,可他们又能做些什么呢?月亮下面的部族里住着他们的朋友,可是路途遥远,而地球首领高格又不肯听从他们的指挥。 本书的作者罗维纳·阿金耶米是英国人。曾在非洲居住和工作了多年。现在她在剑桥工作和生活。 |
■ 1 AOL Five hundred kilometres over Europe,Ship OM-45 moved north.In a room at the back of the ship,Kiah watched the numbers on the computer in front of him. ‘Time for dinner,’Rilla said. The numbers changed quickly and Kiah's eyes didn't move.Rilla went across the room to his table.She began to watch the numbers,too. ‘What's wrong with the satellite?’she asked.She was a beautiful girl,about twenty years old,with long black hair and big eyes. ‘Nothing's wrong with the satellite,’Kiah answered quietly.‘It's the AOL.’He began to write the numbers in the book on his table. Suddenly,the numbers stopped changing.Kiah looked at Rilla.‘Over Europe,’he said.‘It's happening.The AOL is breaking up.There are big holes in the AOL and they're getting bigger.’ ‘You're right!Shall we see Captain Seru now,before dinner?’ Kiah stood up.He was nearly two metres tall,with dark eyes and hair.‘Yes,come on,’he said. Quickly,they went to Captain Seru's room.They waited at the door. ‘Come in!’captain Seru called.She was a little woman with a fat face.‘Come in!Would you like a drink?’ ‘No,thank you,’Kiah answered.‘I'd like you to look at these numbers.’Kiah gave Captain Seru his book. Captain Seru looked at the numbers.Suddenly,her face changed.‘No,no, ’she said.‘I don't want to talk.It's late and I'm tired.Sit down and have a drink.’ Kiah and Rilla sat down.There was a big window in Captain Seru's room.Kiah looked out of the window at the dark sky.He saw the Moon.It was cold and white in the dark sky. ‘Captain Seru,’he began.‘It's important.Look at those numbers carefully.The AOL is beginning to—’ ‘Stop!’captain Seru stood up and put her hands in her pockets.She went to the window and looked at the sky. ‘Three hundred years ago,Earth nearly died,’Rilla said.‘Earth stopped dying because of the AOL.But now,over Europe,the AOL is breaking up.We would like you to talk to Earth Commander.’ Captain Seru did not move.‘Do you remember Adai?’she asked.She didn't wait for an answer.‘I was on his ship,two years ago.One evening,the satellite gave us interesting numbers about the AOL.We went back to Earth and saw Earth Commander.’captain Seru stopped speaking. Rilla looked at Kiah.‘And then?’she asked Captain Seru. ‘Gog was angry,very angry,’captain Seru said.‘In the end,he sent Adai to the Moon. Adai's there now,Commander of the Moon colony,under the Moon.’ Kiah waited for a second or two.‘I know about Adai. But we need to talk to Earth Commander again.These numbers are worse.’ Captain Seru's face went red.‘You don't understand.I'm not going to talk to Gog.Last time,he sent me to a weather ship in the Antarctic!This is my first Ship for two years!’And Captain Seru began drinking. Kiah stood up.‘Thank you,Captain Seru.’ Captain Seru said nothing. Kiah and Rilla left the room,and walked slowly downstairs.The Ship was dark and quiet.It was eight o'clock and every-body was at dinner. ‘What are we going to do next?’Rilla asked. ‘I need to talk to Adai,’Kiah said. ‘OK,talk to Adai.But he's far away on the Moon colony,’Rilla said.‘Let's visit Commander Zadak.’ ‘Zadak?Commander of Australia? He's famous!’ ‘Yes.He's my father's friend.He worked with my father in Brazil ten years ago.Perhaps he can help us.’ Kiah smiled.‘Good!We return to Earth next week.I can phone Adai from Kisangani and then we can go to Australia. But now,I'm hungry!Let's get some dinner.’ ■ 1 人工臭氧层 OM-45号宇宙飞船在欧洲上空500公里的高度向北飞行。飞船尾部的一个房间里,凯注视着面前计算机屏幕上的数字。 “该吃饭了。”瑞拉叫他。 那些数字飞快地变换着,凯眼都不眨一下。瑞拉穿过房间走到他的桌旁。她也开始观察那些数字。 “卫星怎么了?”她问。她是个美丽的女孩,大约二十岁,黑黑的长发,大大的眼睛。 “卫星没问题,”凯平静地回答,“是人工臭氧层。”他伏在桌上,开始往一个本子上记录那些数字。 突然,那些数字停止了变换。凯转向瑞拉。“在欧洲上空,”他说,“已经开始了。人工臭氧层正在破裂。那上面本来就有大洞了,现在那些洞还在增大。” “说得对,咱们现在去见塞鲁船长吧,待会儿再吃饭好吗?” 凯站起身。他身高几乎有两米,眼睛和头发都是黑色的。“好,走吧。”他说。 他们迅速朝塞鲁船长的房间走去。他们等在船长的门外。 “进来!”塞鲁船长喊道。她是个胖脸的小个子女人。“进来!喝点什么吗?” “不用,谢谢,”凯说,“我想请您看看这些数字。”凯把自己的笔记本递给塞鲁船长。 塞鲁船长看了看那些数字。突然,她的脸色变了。“不,不,”她说,“我不想谈。时候不早了,我也累了。坐下喝点什么吧。” 凯和瑞拉坐了下来。塞鲁船长的房间里有一扇大窗子。凯透过玻璃凝望黑色的天空。他看见了月亮。在黑色的天幕下月亮显得冰冷皎洁。 “塞鲁船长,”他开口了,“这事很重要。仔细看看那些数字。人工臭氧层已经开始……” “别说了。”塞鲁船长站起身把双手插进衣兜。她走到窗前注视着天空。 “300年前,地球几乎毁灭,”瑞拉说,“因为有人工臭氧层地球才免于灾难。但是现在,在欧洲上空,人工臭氧层正在破裂。我们希望您能和地球司令高格谈一谈。” 塞鲁船长没有动。“你还记得阿岱吗?”她问。不等回答,她接着说:“两年前我在他的船上。一天晚上卫星发回了关于人工臭氧层的一些不寻常的数据。我们回到地球去见地球司令。”塞鲁船长停了下来。 瑞拉看了一眼凯。“然后呢?”她问船长。 “高格生气了,特别生气,”塞鲁船长说,“最后,他把阿岱分配到了月球。阿岱现在还在那儿,在月亮下面作月亮部族的司令。” 凯等了一两秒钟:“我知道阿岱的事。但是我们需要再和地球司令谈谈。这些数据比上次的还要糟。” 塞鲁船长的脸涨红了:“你不明白。我不会去跟高格说的。上次他把我发配到了南极的一艘气象飞船上。我第一次在飞船上呆了两年。”塞鲁船长喝了一口水。 凯站起身:“谢谢您,塞鲁船长。” 塞鲁船长没说话。 凯和瑞拉出了门,脚步迟缓地下楼去了。飞船里寂静漆黑。8点钟了,大家都在吃饭。 “下一步咱们怎们办?”瑞拉问。 “我得跟阿岱谈谈。”凯说。 “好,跟阿岱谈谈。可是他现在在遥远的月亮部族,”瑞拉说,“咱们还是去见扎达克司令吧。” “扎达克?澳大利亚司令?他很有名气呢!” “是的,他是我父亲的朋友。10年前他和我父亲一起在巴西工作。也许他能帮忙。” 凯笑了,“好,咱们下周回地球后。我可以在基桑加尼给阿岱打个电话,然后咱们就去澳大利亚。现在嘛,我可饿了。咱们吃饭去吧。” ■ 2 Visit to Australia On Friday,after three weeks in space,Kiah and Rilla finished work and left Ship OM-45 on a space plane to Kisangani.Kiah phoned Adai and Rilla phoned Commander Zadak in Australia.The next morning they took an aeroplane to Sydney.A taxi took them from the airport to Commander Zadak's office,some kilometres north of Sydney. ‘Wait for us here,’Kiah said to the taxi driver. Kiah and Rilla walked to the gate.About ten guards stood in front of the gate.Across the road,a train waited. ‘Rilla,OM-45,’Rilla said.‘To see Commander Zadak at four-thirty.’ ‘Let me call the Commander's office,’the guard said. Kiah and Rilla waited.It was hot and Kiah began to feel thirsty. The guard came back.‘I'm sorry,’he said.‘The Com-mander can't see you.’ ‘But I talked to the Commander yesterday,’Rilla said. ‘He wanted to see us at four-thirty.’ ‘The Commander is leaving on the train in three minutes,’the guard said. ‘Can we wait and see him here?’Kiah asked. ‘No!'the guard shouted.‘Get out of here!’ Kiah and Rilla walked back to the taxi. ‘Where's the driver?’Kiah asked. ‘Look!He's sitting under that tree,’Rilla said. Just then,Commander Zadak came out of the gate.He was a very tall,big man with blue eyes and a lot of white hair.Two guards marched in front of him,and two guards marched be-hind him.They all carried guns. ‘There he is!’Rilla cried.‘Commander!’And she began to run along the road to him. ‘Commander Zadak did not stop.A guard opened the door of the train and the Commander got in.Slowly,the train began to move.’ Kiah ran to the taxi and jumped in.Then he drove the taxi fast down the road.The taxi driver saw him and ran after him.The train began to move faster.Suddenly,Kiah drove the taxi off the road.He drove in front of the train and stopped. The train came nearer.And then the train stopped, very near the taxi,and some guards jumped off.Kiah opened the door and got out of the taxi. ‘Put up your hands!'the guards shouted. Two of the guards began to hit Kiah. ‘Stop that!’someone shouted.‘Bring him over here!’It was Commander Zadak. Kiah stood in front of the Commander.Just then,Rilla ar-rived. ‘Oh,it's you!’commander Zadak said.He did not smile.‘Rilla,your father's going to be angry.’ ‘We want to talk to you,Commander,’Rilla said.‘It's very important.’ ‘Very well.I'm listening.’ Kiah began to talk.‘Two years ago,Adai told you about the holes in the AOL.Now they're worse.The AOL is break-ing up over Europe.Please look at these numbers and this satellite picture.’ He gave his book to Commander Zadak and the Commander looked at the numbers. ‘It's important,Commander,’Kiah said.‘In ten years Earth is going to die.’ ‘You stopped my train because of this?’commander Zadak asked.‘Two years ago Adai talked to me about the AOL.Then he talked to Earth Commander,and what happened?Where is Adai now?Is the Moon colony helping the AOL?’ ‘We know about Adai,Commander,’Rilla said.‘But someone needs to talk to Earth Commander again.’ ‘I'm going to talk to Gog about rain,I can tell you that.Earth needs rain:there was no rain last winter.Half of Australia has no water and my trees here are dying.Without rain,many people are going to die.Is Gog going to understand that?I don't know!’ Commander Zadak began to walk back to his train.‘Move that taxi!’he called to his guards. Some guards moved the taxi back to the road and then they jumped on to the train again.The train began to move. ‘OK,’the taxi driver shouted.‘What are you going to do next?Drive my taxi into the river?’ Kiah smiled.He took some money from his pocket and gave it to the taxi driver. The taxi driver looked at the money.‘OK,OK,’he said.‘Where now?Back to the airport?’ Kiah took Rilla's hand,‘Yes,’he said.‘Let's get back to Kisangani.We can phone Adai again tomorrow.’ ■ 2 访问澳大利亚 这是个星期五,凯和瑞拉已经在太空飞行了三周。他们结束了工作,离开OM-45号宇宙飞船,乘航天飞机飞往基桑加尼。凯和瑞拉分别跟阿岱和在澳大利亚的司令扎达克通了电话。第二天早晨他们乘飞机来到悉尼。一辆出租车把他们从机场带到了悉尼以北几公里以外扎达克司令的办公室。 “在这儿等我们。”凯吩咐出租车司机。 凯和瑞拉朝大门走去。门口站着大约十几个卫兵。一辆火车正等在马路对面。 “我叫瑞拉,OM-45号的,”瑞拉说,“扎达克司令4点半要接见我们。” “我给司令办公室打个电话。”卫兵说。 凯和瑞拉站在那儿等着。天气很热,凯感到口干舌燥。 那个卫兵回来了。“对不起,”他说,“司令不能见你们。” “可是我昨天跟司令说过,”瑞拉说,“他答应今天4点半见我们。” “再过三分钟司令就要坐火车出发了。”卫兵说。 “我们能不能在这儿等着见他一面?”凯问。 “不行!”卫兵喊了起来,“出去!” 凯和瑞拉回到出租车那儿。 “司机哪去了?”凯问。 “那不是嘛!在那棵树下坐着呢。”瑞拉说。 正说着,扎达克司令出现在大门口。他高大魁梧,蓝眼睛,长着一头浓密的白发。四个卫兵两前两后阔步护卫着他。他们都带着熗。 “他在那儿!”瑞拉喊了起来,“扎达克司令!”她随即顺着马路朝他跑去。 扎达克司令并没有停下脚步。一个卫兵打开火车门,扎达克跨了进去。火车缓缓地开动了。 凯奔向那辆出租车,迅速坐进车里。随即他开着车飞快地顺路而下。出租车司机看见了他,在后面紧追不放。火车在加速。突然,凯把出租车开下了马路。直驶到火车前头停了下来。 火车越来越近了。在就要撞到出租车的时候,它停了下来。几个卫兵从车厢里跳了下来。凯打开车门从出租车里出来。 “举起手来!”卫兵们朝他喊。 两个卫兵对凯一阵拳打脚踢。 “住手!”有人喊了一声,“把他带到这儿来!”是扎达克司令。 凯站到了司令面前。正在这时,瑞拉赶到了。 “噢,是你。”扎达克司令说话了。他不带一丝笑容:“瑞拉,你父亲会生气的。” “我们想和您谈谈,司令,”瑞拉说,“这事非常重要。” “说吧,我听着呢。” 凯开口了:“两年前阿岱曾跟您谈过臭氧层上的洞。现在情况更糟了。欧洲上空的臭氧层已经开裂。请您看看这些数据和这张卫星照片。” 他把笔记本递给扎达克司令,扎达克看了看本子上的数据。 “这事非常重要,司令,”凯说,“10年后地球就要毁灭了。” “你们拦住我的火车就为这事?”扎达克司令问,“两年前阿岱跟我谈过臭氧层的事。然后他又跟地球司令谈了这件事。之后又怎么样了呢?阿岱现在在哪?月亮部族能帮助修复臭氧层吗?” “我们知道阿岱的事,司令。”瑞拉说,“但是得有人再去跟地球司令谈谈。” “我可以告诉你们,我正准备去跟高格谈谈雨水的事。地球需要雨水:去年冬天没下雨。澳大利亚有一半地区没有水,我们的树都要枯死了。假如没有水的话很多人都要活不下去了。高格会理解这一切吗?我不知道。” 扎达克司令朝他的火车走去。“把那辆出租车弄走!”他朝卫兵们喊。 几个卫兵把出租车推到了公路上,然后跳上了火车。火车启动了。 “好啊,”出租车司机喊道,“你们还想干什么?把我的出租车开到河里去?” 凯笑了。他从衣兜里拿出一些钱递给出租车司机。 出租车司机看了看那些钱。“好吧,好吧。”他说,“现在去哪?回机场?” 凯拉住瑞拉的手。“是的,”他说,“咱们回基桑加尼去。我们明天再给阿岱打个电话。” |
■ 3 Earth Commander The next day in Kisangani,Kiah and Rilla waited quietly in an office in Gog's house.Suddenly, Commander Zadak came into the office and gave some letters to the man behind the table.He saw the two young people and stopped in front of them. ‘You again!’he said.‘What are you doing here?’ Kiah stood up.‘Good morning,Commander.We're here because we want to see Earth Commander.’ ‘I saw Earth Commander some minutes ago and talked to him about rain,’Zadak said quietly.‘But he didn't listen.Your captain,Seru,was here earlier this morning and began to tell him about the holes in the AOL.But Gog doesn't want to hear about our planet.He's always talking about Mars.In the end,he's going to destroy Earth.’ ‘Please help us!’Rilla cried.‘Come and see Gog with us!’ ‘No.’Zadak looked at Kiah and then at Rilla with his blue eyes.‘I'm not talking to Gog again.And you—Gog isn't going to listen to you.Be careful—and good luck!’ Commander Zadak opened the door and left the office. Rilla looked at Kiah.‘Earth Commander is a difficult man.I don't understand him.’ ‘Everyone is afraid of him,’Kiah said.‘And Commander Zadak isn't going to help us.’ Kiah and Rilla waited.They waited and waited.At nearly twelve o'clock,a guard came into the office. ‘Come!’he said. Kiah and Rilla went with the guard.The house was big and old,with big windows and many doors.The guard went downstairs and opened one of the doors.There was nobody in the room. ‘Wait here,'the guard said,and left. Kiah and Rilla sat down on the expensive green and black chairs and looked at the expensive flowers on the tables.There were no windows in this room.Suddenly,the door opened and a tall,fat woman came in.Her name was Bel,and she was Gog's wife.She had a lot of long red hair and she wore an expensive blue dress.Bel liked expensive things.She carried a cat.The cat was black and white:half its face was black and half was white;half its body was black and half was white. ‘Why are you here? Why do you want to see Earth Commander?’she asked. Rilla stood up.‘How do you do?’she said.‘We want to talk to Earth Commander about the AOL.We have new numhers from the satellite.’ Bel's face was red.‘The AOL!Earth Commander knows about the AOL,and he is the best man—’ ‘Excuse me,’Kiah said quietly.‘We want to help Earth Commander.’ Bel began to laugh.‘Help?You?’the cat jumped down and walked across the room.‘How can you help?Why can't you understand? Listen.Earth Commander is working on the spaceship for Mars.It's difficult and expensive work.’the cat jumped on to Rilla's chair and looked at her with its yellow eyes.‘Two years ago,Adai wanted more money for the AOL—and Earth Commander sent him to the colony under the Moon.Now you're talking about the AoL.Do you want to go to the Moon,too?’ The door opened again and a different guard came in.‘Excuse me.Earth Commander is ready now.’ Bel stood up.‘You can see Earth Commander now,'she said coldly.‘But you're going to be sorry!’ The guard opened a different door,and Bel and the cat went into a beautiful room with expensive,very old tables and chairs.Rilla and Kiah went in behind them.There were no windows in the room,but a lot of pictures.There was Gog!The richest man on Earth;and the worst man on Earth.He was tall and fat,and without much hair.He sat behind a big table with a television,three computers and five telephones.He watched the television and didn't look at Kiah or Rilla.Two guards with guns stood behind him and two more guards stood near the door. ‘Here they are!’Bel said.‘They aren't friends,oh no!They want to talk about the AOL,of course.No one under-stands about Mars—’ ‘That's all right,that's all right,’Gog said quickly.And then he looked up,first at Rilla and then at Kiah.His eyes were cold and green.‘I know about you two,’he said.‘Your captain told me about you.You're famous!Two children!You want to help planet Earth,is that right?’He waited.The cat jumped on to his table and sat down in front of the television. ‘Yes,Commander,’Kiah began.‘The AOL is breaking up—’ ‘When?Tonight?Tomorrow?’Gog said angrily.‘I heard this old story two years ago,from Adai.Everyone comes here and wants money-money for the AOL,money for rain,money for the Moon colony.But I am Earth Commander,and you are nobody!I know about the AOL and the AOL is good for a hundred years!’ ‘But the satellite—’Kiah began again. ‘Be quiet!’Gog cried.‘I am Earth Commander!I'm not going to give money for the AOL!Or for rain!Or for the Moon!’Gog looked at the guards near the door.‘Take them —take them away.I don't want to hear them.’ The guards moved behind Kiah and Rilla,and Bel began to laugh.‘Goodbye!'she said.‘You're not going to the Moon,you're going to prison!You can talk about the holes in the AOL there!’ ■ 3 地球司令 第二天在基桑加尼,凯和瑞拉在高格住处的一间办公室里静静地等待着。突然,扎达克司令走进办公室,递给办公桌后面的那个人一些信件。他看见了两个年轻人,在他们面前站住了。 “又是你们!”他说,“你们在这儿干嘛?” 凯站了起来:“早晨好,司令。我们来这儿是为了见地球司令。” “几分钟前我见到了地球司令,还跟他谈了雨水的事。”扎达克平静地说,“但是他不听。你们塞鲁船长今天早晨来过,并且告诉他人工臭氧层有了洞。可是高格不想听我们这颗星球的事。他总是谈论火星。最终他会毁了地球。” “请您帮帮我们!”瑞拉喊着,“和我们一起去见见高格吧!” “不,”扎达克用他蓝蓝的眼睛看了看凯,又看了看瑞拉,“我再也不去跟高格谈了。而你们——高格不会听你们的。小心点——祝你们好运!” 扎达克司令打开房门走出了办公室。 瑞拉看了看凯:“地球司令是个不好相处的人。我真不知道他是怎么想的。” “大家都怕他,”凯说,“扎达克司令也不准备帮助我们。” 凯和瑞拉等待着。他们等啊等。快12点时,一个卫兵走进办公室。 “来吧。”他说。 凯和瑞拉跟在卫兵后面。这是座宽敞的旧房子,有许多大窗户,许多门。卫兵下了楼,打开了一扇门。房间里一个人也没有。 “在这儿等着。”卫兵说了一句就离开了。凯和瑞拉在昂贵的绿黑相间的椅子上坐了下来,观赏着桌子上那些名贵的鲜花。这个房间没有窗子。突然,门开了,一个身高体胖的女人走了进来。她叫贝尔,是高格的妻子。她有一头浓密的红色长发,穿着一件昂贵的蓝色裙子。贝尔喜欢昂贵的东西。她抱着一只猫。那是只黑白相间的猫:猫脸一半黑一半白;猫身也是一半黑一半白。 “你们来这儿干嘛?你们为什么要见地球司令?”她问, 瑞拉站起身。“你好,”她说,“我们要和地球司令谈谈人工臭氧层的事。我们从卫星上获得了新数据。” 贝尔的脸涨红了:“人工臭氧层。地球司令知道人工臭氧层的事。他是最——” “对不起,”凯平静地说,“我们想帮助地球司令。” 贝尔笑了:“帮助?你们?”那只猫跳了下来走到房间的另一头。“你们怎么帮他?你们怎么不明白呢?听着,地球司令正忙着制造去火星的飞船。这可是既费力又费钱的工作。”那只猫跳到瑞拉的椅子上,黄色的眼睛看着她。“两年前,阿岱想为人工臭氧层要更多的钱——地球司令把他送到了月亮下面的部族。现在你们又在谈人工臭氧层,你们也想到月亮那儿去吗?” 门又开了,另一个卫兵走了进来:“对不起,地球司令可以接见了。” 贝尔站起身。“你们现在可以去见地球司令了,”她冷冰冰地说,“可你们会后悔的!” 卫兵打开另外一扇门,贝尔和那只猫走进一个摆满非常古老、昂贵的家具的房间。瑞拉和凯跟在他们后面。这间屋子也没有窗户,墙上挂满了图画。高格就在里面!这个世界上最富也最坏的人。他又高又胖,头发稀疏。他坐在一张大桌子后面,桌上放着一台电视,三台电脑,五部电话。只见他注视着电视屏幕,根本不看凯和瑞拉。两个持熗的卫兵站在他身后,还有两个站在门边。 “他们来了,”贝尔说,“他们不是朋友,噢,不是。当然,他们要谈谈人工臭氧层的事。没人懂得火星——” “行了,行了,”高格不耐烦地打断她。之后他抬起头看看瑞拉又看看凯。那是一双冷漠的绿眼睛。“我知道你们俩,”他说,“你们船长跟我说起过你们。你们名气不小啊!两个孩子!你们想拯救地球,是不是?”他等着回答。那只猫跳上他的桌子坐在电视机前。 “是的,司令,”凯开口了,“人工臭氧层正在破裂——” “什么时候?今天晚上?明天?”高格生气地说,“两年前我就听阿岱说过这个老掉牙的故事。每个人都到这儿来要钱——为人工臭氧层,为下雨的事,为月亮部族。但是我是地球司令,你们什么也不是!我知道人工臭氧层,它能坚持一百年!” “可是卫星——”凯又开口了。 “少废话!”高格叫了起来,“我是地球司令!我不会为人工臭氧层花钱!也不为下雨的事花钱!也不为月亮!”高格看了一眼门口的卫兵,“把他们——把他们带走。我不想听他们讲话。” 卫兵们在凯和瑞拉身后行动起来,贝尔笑了:“再见了!”她说,“你们去不了月球,你们要去的地方是监狱!你们可以在那儿谈论人工臭氧层上的洞!” ■ 4 Prison 888 Commander Zadak was in his room at the biggest hotel in Kisangani.Suddenly,he heard the phone. ‘Commander?’someone said,very quietly.‘A man and a woman—from Ship OM-45—in prison 888.’the phone went dead.Zadak put the phone down,stood up,and left his room. Prison 888 was a big white building without windows,near Gog's house.There were a lot of guards at the gate,and some more guards marched past the bulding.All the guards carried guns. Commander Zadak walked across the road to the prison.‘I want to visit someone.My name is Commander Zadak.’ ‘I'm sorry,Commander,’a guard said.‘We can't open the gate.Nobody can go in without a letter from Earth Commander.’ ‘That's all right,’Zadak said,and walked along the road,past the prison. A guard ran behind him.‘Excuse me,Commander,’he said quickly.‘Please come back tonight.I can open the back gate at midnight.You can see the two people from Ship OM-45.’ Zadak looked at the guard.‘Your captain's going to kill you.’ The guard smiled.‘My captain phoned you about the two people from OM-45.He's the brother of Captain Seru.’ Zadak didn't smile.‘The prison commander is going to kill you and your captain.’ ‘It doesn't matter,’the guard said.‘We want to help.’ ‘Midnight,’Zadak said,and walked away. At midnight there were four guards at the front gate of prison 888,and there was one guard at the back gate.The guard opened the gate and Zadak went in.The guard said nothing.They walked downstairs into a big room.A lot of prisoners slept on the floor because there were no beds or chairs.Kiah and Rilla sat on the floor near the door. ‘You can talk for five minutes,’the guard said quietly. ‘The next guard arrives at 12.15.’ Kiah and Rilla stood up.‘Good evening,Commander,’they said. Zadak looked at the prisoners.‘Why are all these people here?’he said to Kiah and Rilla.‘They're in prison because Gog doesn't like them.I talk to Gog about rain,I talk to him about the AOL,but he never listens.Today,someone told me about some fires in the new forest here in Africa;but Gog doesn't want to hear about those fires.’Zadak laughed angrily.‘And he doesn't want to hear about my trees in Australia.He never listens to me.He's always thinking about Mars,Not about our beautiful planet Earth.’ Kiah listened carefully.‘Take it easy,Commander,’he said quietly.‘Please talk to Adai.Adai wants to help.He can come back from the Moon and help you.’ ‘No,’Zadak said.‘I phoned Adai this afternoon. He's a good man and he wants to help.But I don't need help.I'm going to stop Gog:I'm going to kill him.’ Kiah closed his eyes for a minute.‘Gog's guards have guns.They can kill you,Commander,’he said.‘You need more people to help.Wait for Adai.He can help you to look for more people.’ ‘No,Kiah’,Zadak said quietly.‘I don't want more people.Adai can come back to Earth after Gog is dead—after I am dead,perhaps.I don't want Adai to die,too.’ ‘Excuse me,Commander,’the guard said.He looked at the clock near the door. ‘OK.Let's go,’Zadak said to the guard.He looked at Rilla and then at Kiah.His eyes were very blue.‘Goodbye,’ he said. ‘Goodbye,Commander,’Kiah said. ‘Be careful!’Rilla cried.‘And good luck!’ Early that morning,Earth Commander's house was quiet.A guard opened the door. ‘Good morning, Commander Zadak,’he said.‘Earth Commander isn't in his office.’ ‘That's all right,’Zadak said.‘I can wait.’ Zadak went upstairs and waited. At eight o'clock Bel came into the room.‘Good morning,Commander,'she said.‘You're early this morning.Are you happier today?Earth Commander was very angry with you yesterday.Don't begin talking about rain or the AOL today.’ Zadak smiled,but his blue eyes were cold.‘No,’he said.‘I'm not going to talk about rain today.’ Just then,Gog came into the room.He looked at Zadak.‘What's wrong?Why are you here at eight o'clock in the morning?’ Zadak took his gun from his pocket.Gog saw the gun and his face went white.His eyes were dark and afraid.For a sec-ond nobody moved. Suddenly,Bel's black and white cat ran into the room. ‘Guards!Guards!’Bel shouted. The cat jumped at Zadak,and Zadak hit the cat away from him.Bel ran across the room to Gog and Zadak,at that second,shot at Gog.But Bel was between him and Gog.She gave a cry and fell to the floor.Her hair looked very red on the black floor. ‘No!’Gog cried.‘You shot Bel!’ Three guards ran into the room with their big guns and stood in front of Gog. ‘Kill him!’Gog shouted,and began to help Bel. Zadak looked at the guards and then at Bel and Gog.Kiah was right:he was going to die. ‘I'm sorry,Kiah.I'm sorry,Adai,’he said quietly.The guards shot Zadak.Slowly,he fell to the floor. ■ 4 888号监狱 在基桑加尼最大的饭店,扎达克司令正呆在他的房间里。突然,电话铃响了。 “司令吗?”有人非常平静地说,“一个男的和一个女的——从OM-45号飞船上来的——正在888号监狱里。”电话挂断了。扎达克放下听筒,站起身,离开了他的房间。 888号监狱座落在高格家附近,是座没有窗户的高大的白色建筑。监狱门口有许多卫兵,还有更多的卫兵从监狱门口走过。所有的卫兵都带着熗。 扎达克司令穿过马路来到监狱门前:“我是扎达克司令。我要见一个人。” “对不起,司令,”一个卫兵说,“我们不能开门。没有地球司令的信谁也不能进去。” “好吧,”扎达克说。他顺着马路从监狱旁边绕了过去。 一个卫兵从后面赶了上来。“对不起,司令,”他说得很快,“请您今天晚上来吧。午夜的时候我可以打开后门。您能见到从OM-45号宇宙飞船来的那两个人。” 扎达克注视着那个卫兵:“你们队长会杀了你的。” 那个卫兵笑了:“是我们队长给您打电话,告诉您OM-45号那两个人的事的。他是塞鲁船长的哥哥。” 扎达克没有笑:“监狱长会把你和你们队长都杀掉的。” “没关系,”那个卫兵说,“我们愿意帮忙。” “午夜。”扎达克说了一声就走了。 午夜时分,888号监狱正门前有四个卫兵,还有一个卫兵守在后门。那个卫兵打开后门,扎达克走了进去。卫兵什么也没说。他们走下楼梯进了一个大房间。那个房间里没有床也没有椅子,许多犯人睡在地板上。凯和瑞拉坐在门边的地板上。 “你们可以谈五分钟,”那个卫兵悄悄说,“下一班卫兵十二点一刻来。” 凯和瑞拉站起身:“晚上好,司令。”他们说。 扎达克看了看那些犯人:“这些人为什么被关在这儿?”他问凯和瑞拉。“高格不喜欢他们,所以把他们关了起来。我跟高格说了下雨的事,还有人工臭氧层的事,可是他根本不听。今天有人告诉我非洲那些幼林失火了,可是高格根本不想听火灾的事。”扎达克愤怒地冷笑了一声:“他也不想知道澳大利亚我那些树林的事。他从来不听我的。他总想着火星,从来不想想我们美丽的地球。” 凯认真听着。“别太在意,司令,”他平静地说,“请您和阿岱谈谈。他会帮忙的。他可以从月球回来帮助您。” “不行,”扎达克说,“今天下午我给他打了电话。他是个好人,也愿意帮忙。可我不需要帮助。我要阻止高格;我要杀了他。” 凯闭目凝神了一会儿。“高格的卫兵有熗。他们会杀了您的,司令。”他说,“您需要多一些人帮忙。等等阿岱。他能帮您找更多的人。” “不,凯,”扎达克平静地说,“我不需要更多的人。阿岱可以在高格死了以后——也许我死了以后再回来。我不希望阿岱也来送死。” “对不起,司令。”那个卫兵说。他看了看门边挂着的表。 “好吧,咱们走。”扎达克对卫兵说。他看了看瑞拉又看了看凯。他的双眼晶莹碧蓝。“再见了。”他说。 “再见,司令。”凯说。 “要小心!”瑞拉喊着,“祝您好运!” 那天清晨,地球司令的家里非常安静。一个卫兵打开房门。 “早晨好,扎达克司令,”他说,“地球司令不在办公室。” “没关系,”扎达克说,“我可以等。” 扎达克来到楼上开始等待。 8点钟的时候贝尔走了进来。“早晨好,司令,”她说,“今天您可真早。您今天高兴点了吗?因为您地球司令昨天非常生气。今天可别上来就谈什么雨水或者人工臭氧层的事了。” 扎达克笑了,可他的蓝眼睛里透着寒光。“不会的,”他说,“今天我不准备谈雨水的事。” 正说着,高格走了进来。他看着扎达克:“这是怎么了?你为什么早晨8点钟就来这儿?” 扎达克从衣兜里掏出了熗。高格看见了那支熗,脸色煞白。他目光灰暗,充满恐惧。一时间大家都僵在了那儿。 突然,贝尔那只黑白相间的猫跑了进来。 “卫兵!卫兵!”贝尔喊了起来。 那只猫朝扎达克扑过来,扎达克把猫抢到一边。贝尔朝房间另一头的高格跑去,就在这时,扎达克朝高格开熗了。可是贝尔正好跑到他和高格之间。她叫了一声就倒在了地板上。在黑色地板的映衬下她的头发显得越发红艳。 “不!”高格大喊,“你打死了贝尔!” 三个拿着长熗的卫兵跑了进来,站在高格面前。 “杀了他!”高格叫着,一边去扶贝尔。 扎达克看了看那几个卫兵,又看了看贝尔和高格。凯说得对:他活不成了。 “凯,阿岱,我对不起你们。”他平静地说。 卫兵们朝扎达克开了熗。他缓缓地倒在地板上。 |
■ 5 Forest fires Later that morning,four guards took Rilla to Gog's of-fice.His face looked tired and his eyes were red. ‘Leave us,’he said to the guards.Then he looked at Rilla.‘Tell me about Kiah.When did you first meet him?Is Zadak his friend?What do they talk about?’ Rilla looked down at the floor and said nothing. ‘Come on,tell me!’Gog said angrily.He waited,but Rillasaid nothing.‘Tell me about Zadak,then.Your father and Commander Zadak were friends.Now, you're talking to Zadak about the AOL.I know that.What is Zadak saying?’ ‘Why?Why do you want to know about Commander Zadak?’Rilla asked. ‘I'm asking the questions,not you,’Gog said.‘Did you see Zadak yesterday?’ ‘The AOL is important,not Commander Zadak,’Rilla said. Gog watched Rilla carefully.‘Zadak is dead.’ ‘No!’Rilla cried. ‘He is dead,’Gog said again.‘You lost your friend,here in this building,early this morning.My guards shot him.’ Rilla's face went white.‘What happened?Tell me!’ ‘I'm going to tell you one thing,’Gog said angrily.‘I'm going to destroy Australia.I'm going to burn Zadak's new forest there.You can tell all your friends!Zadak wanted to kill me,but I killed him.He wanted money for rain,money for the AOL,and now he's dead.You can tell all those prisoners in prison 888.They wanted to stop me,but they can't now.I'm going to Mars!Bel always wanted to go to Mars.’He began to hit the table with his hand.‘I'm going to leave this dead planet!Nobody can stop me!’ ‘You're crazy,’Rilla said.‘You killed Zadak,but one day someone is going to kill you.’ Gog stood up.His face was tired and he looked ill.‘Be qui-et!’he said.‘Guards!Take her away.Back to 888.’ The guards came in and took Rilla out. ‘What happened?’she asked them.‘Commander Zadak is dead;why is Gog angry?’ The guards said nothing.But after they returned to the gate of 888,a guard said to Rilla,very quietly:‘Bel is dead.Zadak didn't shoot Gog,but he shot Bel,before the guards shot him.’ A guard took Rilla into the prison, and soon she was with Kiah again. ‘What happened?’Kiah asked.‘Tell me.’ Rilla put her hands over her face and began to cry.‘Zadak is dead,’she began.‘He didn't kill Gog.He killed Bel before the guards shot him,and now Gog is going to destroy Australia.’ Kiah sat down on the floor next to Rilla.His face was sad. ‘Don't cry,’he said quietly. Three or four prisoners came across the room. ‘What's the matter?’they asked. ‘Zadak is dead,’Kiah said.‘But Bel is dead,too.’ ‘What's going to happen next?’someone asked.But nobody answered. The next afternoon,Captain Seru's brother took Kiah and Rilla to a little room at the back of the prison.They sat down,and five minutes later Captain Seru arrived.Nobody smiled. ‘You were right,Captain,’Kiah said.‘Gog sent us to prison because we told him about the holes in the AOL.’ Seru smiled.‘You were right,Kiah,’she said.‘Those satellite numbers were very bad.I began to tell Gog,but he didn't listen to me.’ ‘Would you like some coffee?And some sandwiches?’seru's brother asked. ‘Yes,please,’seru said.‘I'm hungry.’she looked at Kiah and Rilla.‘Things are very bad.’ ‘What's happening?’Rilla asked. ‘You know about Zadak?And Bel?’ ‘Yes.Gog told Rilla yesterday,’Kiah said. Seru smiled,but her eyes were not happy.‘Gog talked to me this morning,'she said.Her brother came in with the coffee and sandwiches and Seru began to eat.‘Gog wants to know about Zadak,and about you,’she said.‘He's going to kill us all,I think,before he goes to Mars.’ Suddenly,Rilla felt ill.‘I can't eat now!’she cried.But she took some coffee and began to drink.‘Let's get out of here,’she said.‘Perhaps we can get a plane to Brazil and go to my family.’ ‘Difficult,’seru said.‘Last night fires began in the new forest in Europe,and they're moving across Europe.The fires in Africa are burning fast.Gog began to destroy Zadak's forest in Australia yesterday.’ ‘Did you phone Adai?’Kiah asked. ‘Adai!You never stop talking about Adai.What can he do?’Rilla said.She felt angry. Seru looked at Rilla for a minute.‘Yes,I phoned Adai be-fore I came here.I told him about Zadak and Bel,and about the fires.He asked about you,Kiah.He can't come down at Kisangani airport because Gog is there with a lot of his guards.Ship MARS 4 is nearly ready and Gog is watching it.He wants to leave Earth tomorrow.’ ‘How can Adai help us?’Rilla asked.‘He can't shoot all the guards here.’ Captain Seru finished the last sandwich.‘Let's leave that to Adai,’she said.‘We can do nothing.’ ‘Are you going to stay here?’Kiah asked. ‘Yes,'seru answered.‘Adai is coming to the prison after he arrives on Earth.’ ‘Oh yes?’Rilla said tiredly.‘But when?Gog can kill us before Adai comes.’‘No,he can't,’seru's brother said.‘You can stay here,in this room.Gog's guards are all afraid—afraid of the fires,afraid of the people.They aren't going to look for you here.’ ■ 5 森林大火 那天上午发生了这些事情之后,四个卫兵把瑞拉带到了高格的办公室。高格一脸疲惫,眼睛红红的。 “出去吧。”他吩咐卫兵。之后他转向瑞拉:“跟我说说凯。你第一次见到他是什么时候?扎达克是他的朋友吗?他们都谈些什么呢?” 瑞拉低头看着地板,一言不发。 “说呀,告诉我!”高格生气地喊。他等待着,瑞拉仍旧什么也没说。“那就说说扎达克吧。你爸爸和扎达克司令是朋友。现在你把人工臭氧层的事告诉了他。我知道这些。扎达克他怎么说?” “为什么?为什么你想知道扎达克司令的事?”瑞拉问。 “是我在提问,不是你,”高格说,“昨天你见到扎达克了吗?” “人工臭氧层才是重要的,不是扎达克司令。”瑞拉说。 高格凝视着瑞拉:“扎达克死了。” “不!”瑞拉叫了起来。 “他死了,”高格重复了一遍,“你失去了你的朋友。就在这座楼里。今天清晨,我的卫兵开熗打死了他。” 瑞拉的脸白了:“出了什么事?告诉我!” “有一件事我得告诉你,”高格恼怒地说,“我要毁掉澳大利亚。我要把扎达克新栽的树木烧毁,你可以告诉你所有的朋友。扎达克想杀死我,可我杀了他。他想为下雨的事,为人工臭氧层要钱。可现在他死了。你可以告诉888号监狱里所有的人。他们想阻止我,可现在他们不可能了。我要去火星。贝尔一直想去火星的。”他用手敲打着桌面,“我要离开这个死亡的星球!没人能阻拦我!” “你疯了,”瑞拉说,“你杀了扎达克,但总有一天也会有人把你杀掉的。” 高格站起身。他面色疲惫,憔悴不堪。“住嘴!”他喊着,“卫兵!把她带走。带回888号监狱去。” 卫兵们把瑞拉带了出去。 “出了什么事?”她问他们,“扎达克司令死了,高格为什么那么生气?” 卫兵们什么也没说。可是到了888号监狱门口,一个卫兵小声告诉瑞拉:“贝尔死了。扎达克没打着高格,可他打死了贝尔,然后卫兵才朝扎达克开的熗。” 一个卫兵把瑞拉带进监狱,很快瑞拉就回到了凯身边。 “出了什么事?”凯问,“告诉我。” 瑞拉捂着脸哭了起来。“扎达克死了,”她说,“他没能杀死高格。他打死贝尔之后那些卫兵杀了他,现在高格要毁掉澳大利亚。” 凯在瑞拉身边坐了下来。“别哭了。”他轻轻对瑞拉说,脸上流露出悲伤的神情。 三四个犯人走了过来。“出了什么事?”他们问。 “扎达克死了,”凯说,“贝尔也死了。” “以后还会出什么事呢?”一个人问。可是没人回答。 第二天下午,塞鲁船长的哥哥把凯和瑞拉带到监狱后面的一个小房间。他们坐了下来,5分钟后,塞鲁船长来了。大家都很严肃。 “船长,不出您所料,”凯说,“我们告诉高格人工臭氧层有洞的事,他就把我们送进了监狱。” 塞鲁笑了。“你说得对,凯,”她说,“那些卫星数据的确很糟糕。我试着跟高格说,可他根本不听我的。” “要点咖啡吗?还有三明治?”塞鲁的哥哥问。 “好吧,要一点,”塞鲁说,“我饿了。”她看着凯和瑞拉:“情况非常糟糕。” “出了什么事?”瑞拉问。 “你知道扎达克的事吗?还有贝尔?” “瑞拉知道,高格昨天告诉她了。”凯说。 塞鲁笑了,可她的目光中却没有喜悦的神情。“高格今天早晨跟我谈过了。”她说。她哥哥拿着咖啡和三明治走了进来,塞鲁边吃边说:“高格想知道关于扎达克的情况,他也想知道关于你们的情况。”她说,“我想,他要把我们大家都杀掉,然后再去火星。” 突然,瑞拉感到很难受。“我现在吃不下去!”她喊着,一边倒了杯咖啡喝起来。“咱们出去吧,”她说,“也许我们能搭上去巴西的飞机回我家去。” “很困难,”塞鲁说,“昨天夜里欧洲的新森林起了火,火势正向整个欧洲蔓延。非洲的大火越烧越猛。昨天高格开始摧毁扎达克在澳大利亚的森林。” “你给阿岱打电话了吗?”凯问。 “阿岱!你怎么老是说起他,他能干什么呢?”瑞拉非常生气。 塞鲁注视了一阵瑞拉:“是的,我来之前给阿岱打过电话。我告诉了他扎达克和贝尔的事,还有火灾。他还问到你,凯。他不能降落在基桑加尼机场,因为高格在那儿,他还布置了许多士兵。火星4号宇宙飞船已经基本准备就绪,高格正密切关注着它的进展。他想明天离开地球。” “阿岱怎么帮助我们呢?”瑞拉问,“他也不能把这儿所有的卫兵都打死。” 塞鲁船长吃完了最后一个三明治。“这个问题就留给阿岱吧,”她说,“我们什么也做不了。” “您准备呆在这儿吗?”凯问。 “是的,”塞鲁说,“阿岱降落在地球上之后就会到这座监狱来的。” “噢,真的吗?”瑞拉疲惫地说,“可是什么时候呢?阿岱来之前高格可能就把我们杀了。” “不,他不会,”塞鲁的哥哥说,“你们可以呆在这儿,在这个房间里。高格的卫兵都害怕——怕那些火灾;怕那些人。他们不会到这儿来找你们的。” ■ 6 Spaceship to the Moon And so they waited.And waited.Rilla slept in her chair.Kiah and Seru talked quietly.Seru's brother came and went.Most of the prison guards ran away with the prisoners.Seven or eight people—some prisoners and some guards—didn't want to run away,so they came into the room and waited,too. Ten o'clock came,then eleven o'clock.It was very quiet.Seru walked up and down the room.Kiah sat next to Rilla.Seru's brother came into the room again. ‘It's after midnight,’he said. Just then, they heard the noise of a plane.Kiah stood up.‘Come on,’he said.‘Let's get out of the building.’ Quietly,they left the building.It was a dark,hot night.There were no guards in front of the prison,so they went to the gate and waited there.Suddenly,they saw the plane.It was a little plane,and it was going to come down on the road in front of the prison! Rilla took Kiah's hand.‘You were right,’she said.‘I'm sorry.’ Kiah smiled.He began to feel happy.‘That's all right.I understand.I know Adai very well,and you don't.’ The plane stopped and someone opened the door.Kiah ran across to the plane. ‘How many can you take?’he called.‘There are twelve of us.’ ‘That's all right,’someone said.‘Quickly,the spaceship is waiting.’ The twelve people got into the little plane,and the plane be-gan to move.Rilla looked at the captain of the plane.He was tall,with brown hair.He looked nice.Was this the famous Commander Adai? ‘Where is the spaceship?’Kiah asked. ‘At the old airport,’the man said.‘One of the fires is moving very quickly across the new forest.It's going to arrive at the west of Kisangani before tomorrow,I think.But the old airport is OK.’then the man looked at Kiah and smiled warmly.‘My brother’,he said.‘My little brother,in prison 888!’ ‘Your brother?Commander Adai?’Rilla asked.‘But you didn't tell me that!’ Kiah smiled.‘Nobody knew,’he said.‘But now—it doesn't matter now.Everyone can know.’ The little plane came down at the old airport,south of the town. ‘Let's be careful,’Adai said.‘We don't want someone to shoot us before we leave.’ The spaceship was dark.Quickly,everyone jumped down from the plane and ran across to the spaceship.Soon, the spaceship left Earth,and everyone looked down at the burning planet.They saw the dark smoke over Africa,and here and there,through the smoke,the red,angry fires. ‘The fires are destroying the forest very quickly,’seru said. Adai put his hand on Kiah's arm.‘I'm sorry about Zadak,’he said. ‘I wanted him to wait,’Kiah said.‘I wanted him to talk to you.’ Adai's face was sad.‘He didn't want me to die,’he said quietly.‘He was a good man.And now he's dead.’ ‘And Gog is going to Mars,’seru said. ‘Mars?He's crazy!Mars isn't ready for people,’Adai said. ‘But Gog wants to go,and so he's going,’seru said.‘Tell us about the Moon colony.That isn't ready:you need more money.’ ‘No,I don't,’Adai said.‘The Moon colony is ready.I asked for more money because of Zadak:I wanted to give him money for rain.But Gog didn't listen;he wanted all Earth's money for the spaceship to Mars.’ ‘I don't want to leave Earth,’Rilla said sadly.She felt tired and afraid. Adai smiled warmly at Rilla.‘Nobody wants to leave Earth,’he said.‘But under the Moon is the best home for us now.Wait and see.The Moon colony is a beautiful,wonderful country,with rivers and rain,forests and flowers,buildings—and the first town.You can visit Earth again soon,and bring more people to the Moon colony.We all want to help Earth,because it's our first home.I know that.At the same time,you are going to be happy under the Moon.’ Suddenly,someone cried:‘Look at the Moon!’ And through the window of the spaceship they saw the Moon before them,cold,white and beautiful;and under the Moon,there was the Moon colony! ■ 6 飞往月球的宇宙飞船 于是他们等待着。等了又等。瑞拉蜷在她的椅子里睡着了。凯和塞鲁悄悄地谈着什么。塞鲁的哥哥进来一趟又出去了。监狱里的大部分卫兵都和犯人一起逃走了。只有大约七八个人——包括犯人和卫兵,不愿意逃走,于是也到这个房间里一起等待。 10点钟, 11点钟。房间里安静极了。塞鲁在房间里走来走去。凯坐在瑞拉身边。塞鲁的哥哥又走了进来。 “已经过了午夜了。”他说。 就在这时,他们听到一阵飞机的轰鸣。凯站起身。“来啊,”他说,“咱们到楼外面去。” 他们悄悄地离开了大楼。这是个漆黑闷热的夜晚。监狱前面没有卫兵,于是他们来到大门口,在那儿等着。突然,他们看到了一架飞机。那是一架小飞机,正准备在监狱门前的马路上降落。 瑞拉抓住凯的手。“你说得对,”她说,“我很抱歉。” 凯笑了。他高兴起来:“没关系,我明白。我非常了解阿岱,而你并不了解他。” 那架飞机停了下来,有人打开了舱门。凯朝飞机跑了过去。 “你们能带多少人?”他喊着,“我们一共12个人。” “没问题,”有人答道,“快点,宇宙飞船正等着呢。” 12个人都上了那架小飞机,飞机启动了。瑞拉看了看机长。他身材高大,头发是棕色的。这个人看上去很不错。他是不是那位著名的阿岱司令? “宇宙飞船在哪儿?”凯问。 “那个老机场,”那人说,“一股大火正掠过新森林。我想明天之前这火就会烧到基桑加尼西部。好在那个老机场还能用。”说完,那人注视着凯,脸上带着亲切的笑容。“我的弟弟,”他说,“我的小弟弟,住进了888号监狱!” “他是你哥哥?阿岱司令?”瑞拉问,“可你从来没跟我说过!” 凯笑了。“以前没人知道,”他说,“可是现在——现在没关系了。大家都可以知道。” 小飞机在城南的飞机场降落了。 “咱们要小心,”阿岱说,“可不能在出发之前中了别人的熗子儿。” 宇宙飞船笼罩在一片黑暗中。大家迅速跳下飞机朝飞船跑去。很快,飞船离开了地球,大家俯视着下面这颗燃烧着的星球。他们看到了非洲上空的黑烟,以及黑烟下面到处肆虐的愤怒的烈焰。 “大火很快就会把森林烧毁。”塞鲁说。 阿岱把手搭在凯的臂膀上。“扎达克的事真让我难过。”他说。 “我曾希望他再等等,”凯说,“我本来想让他和你谈谈。” 阿岱神情悲切。“他不想让我送死,”他低声说,“他是个好人。可现在他死了。” “还有,高格要到火星去。”塞鲁船长说。 “火星?他疯了!火星还不能住人。”阿岱说。 “可高格要去,他马上就要出发了。”塞鲁说,“跟我们讲讲月亮部族吧。它还不成形,你还需要很多钱。” “不,我不需要,”阿岱说,“月亮部族已经准备就绪。我要更多的钱是为了扎达克:我想给他钱解决雨水的问题。可是高格不听;他要把地球所有的钱都用在去火星的宇宙飞船上。” “我不想离开地球。”瑞拉忧伤地说。她感到又累又恐惧。 阿岱对瑞拉温和地笑了笑。“没有人愿意离开地球,”他说,“可是现在我们最好的家园在月亮下面。等着看吧。月亮部族是个美丽迷人的国家,有河流,有雨水,也有森林和鲜花,还有楼房——第一座城镇。你很快就可以再回到地球去。然后带更多的人到月亮部族去。我们都想帮助地球,因为它是我们的第一个家。我理解你。同时,你也一定会在月亮下面生活得愉快的。” 突然,有人喊了一声:“快看月亮!” 透过飞船的玻璃窗,他们看到了眼前的月球:冰冷,洁白,美丽;而在月亮下面,他们看到了月亮部族! |
【01-04】 [潘德尔的巫师 / 罗伊娜·艾金耶米 著] The Witches of Pendle by Rowena Akinyemi ■ 简介 17世纪的时候,英格兰有许多人相信巫术。巫师可能是一个老太婆,或是一个年轻女子——有时甚至会是一个成年男子或小男孩。不过,巫师通常都是女人。人们都害怕巫师,因为巫师仅凭一句诅咒就能使人丧命。 1612年,在兰开夏郡的潘德尔山附近住着一个名叫詹妮特·迪瓦斯的小女孩。那时她刚9岁,因家里穷时常饿肚子,长得很瘦弱。她缺衣少鞋,有时一连几天吃不上饭。生活对于她来说十分艰难。 詹妮特的外祖母老德姆代克是一个巫师。她的母亲伊丽莎白和她的姐姐艾丽森也都是巫师。就连她可怜兮兮、傻头傻脑的哥哥詹姆斯也是巫师……不管怎样,村民们是这样认为的。 本书以女主人公詹妮特的口吻来讲述她一家人的故事。故事从1634年讲起,当时詹妮特被关押在兰开斯特城堡监狱里…… 作者罗伊娜·艾金耶米是英国人,曾在非洲生活多年,现在在剑桥市工作、生活。她的这一有关潘德尔巫师的故事取材于发生在兰开夏郡的真实事件。 |
■ 1 THE PEDLAR The spring of 1634 arrives, but in the prison of Lancaster Castle it stays cold.The twenty women in the prison are dirty, hungry and cold. There are no beds or chairs and so they sleep on the cold floor.There are no windows,so it is al-ways dark.The women want to get out of the prison;they want to go home.Sometimes the guards open the big,old door and put some bread and water on the floor. Then they close the door again. My name is Jennet Device, and I am one of the twenty women in prison.Day after day, I sit on the cold floor and wait.I want to feel warm again; I want to see the sky again, and Pen-dle Hill, the beautiful hill near my home. But I am in the dark prison of Lancaster Castle, and I sit on the cold floor and wait. One day, something happens. The guards open the big, old door.'Jennet Device!'a guard calls.'Come here at once,witch!Somebody wants to see you.' I get up slowly because I'm very cold and I walk across the dark room to the door. Perhaps it' s someone from Read Hall!Perhaps I'm going home! 'Jennet Device,be quick!'the guard calls again. Someone is standing at the door with the guard.'Jennet,'he says quietly. I see him then: a tall man with brown hair and tired blue eyes.He is not from Read Hall.It is Mr Webster,from the church at Kild wick.My legs stop moving and suddenly I want to sit down. 'Come on, come on,' the guard says angrily. He begins to close the door. 'Come out here for a minute, Jennet,' Mr Webster says quietly.'Sit down and eat something.' I sit down at a little table near the door.Mr Webster gives me some bread and some meat and I begin to eat hungrily. 'Ten minutes,'the guard says.'After ten minutes,she goes in again. 'Thank you,'Mr Webster says. 'How is everyone at Read Hall?'I ask at last. Mr Webster smiles.'Everyone is well. I was there yesterday.' I close my eyes for a minute.' Mr Webster, it' s not true.I'm not a witch, you know.' 'I know,Jennet,'Mr Webster says.'Last week, I brought Edmund Robinson and his father into my church, and asked them about the boy's story. Many people believed Edmund' s story,but some people didn' t.Edmund Robinson is going to London tomorrow with his father, and a judge is going to ques-tion them.' The guard comes back and begins to open the door. ' Time!' he says. Mr Webster stands up.'God is here with you,Jennet.Never forget that.You can be happy,when God is with you.' I stand up too, and take the bread from the table.' Yes, Mr Webster. God is with me; I believe that.' But happy?How can I be happy? I go back into the dark prison, and the guard closes the door behind me.The women run to me.'Bread!Give us bread!'they cry. Quickly, I put the bread in my shirt.I don't want to lose it.I walk across the room and sit down on the floor. I am crying,but I feel a little better. Edmund Robinson, of Newchurch, is only ten years old. Edmund told lies about me and about many women: he saw us at a witches' meeting at a house called Hoarstones.It's not true,but many people believed him.What is he going to say in London? The truth? Or more lies. But now, in the prison of Lancaster Castle, I want to tell my story. It is a story about rich men and angry villagers;about old women and hungry children. It is a true story, and it happened to me. I was born in 1603. My family was always very poor, and after my father died, we were poorer. In winter, I was often ill and I was always cold and hungry. In summer, I was sometimes ill and I was often cold and hungry.We lived some miles from the village of New church, in an old house called Malkin Tower. It was dirty and cold.The rain came in through the windows and there were no doors. To the west, was the big hill called Pendle.Pendle Hill was beautiful.I loved Pendle Hill because it sat quietly all year and watched me. My story begins on the eighteenth day of March in the year 1612. I was nine years old, and my life began to change on that day.My mother and my grandmother were ill and they sat on the floor,with their dogs,near the little fire. My sister Alizon wanted to go out.'I'm going to look for bread,'she said. My brother James sat near the fire,his mouth open.'Go and look for bread,'he said.'Go and look for bread.'James often said things again and again. Alizon ran out of the house and I followed her. 'Go and look for bread!'James called. Alizon began to go east, up the hill and past the big trees be-hind Malkin Tower.Alizon walked fast. She was eighteen years old and she was tall with long,dirty brown hair and a white,hungry face. It was cold, but there was no rain .Alizon wore a coat and some shoes, but I had no coat and no shoes. ' Please wait a minute!' I called to my sister.' I want to come with you.' 'No!'Alizon cried.'Go back, I don't want you.' Suddenly, a dog ran in front of Alizon. ' Good dog, good dog!' Alizon called. The dog ran to her and she put her band on its head. It was my sister' s dog and it liked her. It was a big dog with big teeth and I didn' t like it because it was always hungry. I followed Alizon and her dog along the river to Colne.But before we arrived at Colne, we met John Law.John Law was a big fat man, about fifty years old. 'Can I have some money, please?'Alizon called.'I'm hun-gry· John Law didn' t answer. He walked slowly because he was fat and because he carried a big bag on his back.In his bag were a lot of beautiful things.He was a pedlar and he walked across the hills and visited all the villages. 'Can I have some money?'Alizon called again.'I'm very hungry!' John Law stopped.' Stop following me,' he said.' I'm not going to give you money.' 'Give me money!'Alizon said. 'I don' t want to give you money,' the pedlar said. He took his hat off.There was not much hair on his head.'I don't like you and I don' t like your family. A lot of bad women, you are,and your father was a bad man, too.' Alizon was angry.'Don't talk about my father—he' s dead now! Give me some money, old man!' John Law' s face was red.' No!' he cried. He began to walk up the hill to the village.'Go back to your dirty family!' Alizon began to laugh angrily.'A dead man!A dead man!'she called.'Dead before dark,John Law!'She looked down at her dog and put her hand on its head.'Go after him,dog,'she said.'Go after him and get him!' The big dog began to run after the pedlar.John Law stopped.He looked afraid and his face was very red.'Call your dog back,you bad girl!'he shouted. Suddenly,his mouth opened and his face went white.Slowly,he began to fall,and his big body hit the road.The dog came up to him,but the pedlar did not move. Alizon watched John Law for a minute.Then she said to me,'Go and call someone from the village.' I felt afraid,but I ran alog the road very quickly.'Help!Help!'I called to the villagers.'The pedlar is ill' The villagers came out of their houses and followed me down the hill.A young man looked at John Law carefully. 'He's not dead,'he said,'but he' s very ill.Let' s move him to the nearest house.Someone must go and call his son.' Just then, John Law began to talk very slowly.'I can' t move!' he said.' I 'm alive, but I can' t move!' I went back to stand near Alizon.The dog sat at her feet. 'That Device girl…'John Law said slowly,'she—she cursed me! She wanted me to die! And her dog came to get me. All the villagers looked at Alizon. 'I 'm sorry,'Alizon said quickly.'I'm very hungry and I wanted some money,that's all.' 'Go away!' the villagers cried.'You' re a witch, and we don' t want you in our village.' Alizon began to run away down the hill and her dog followed. I watched the villagers.They carried John Law slow-ly up the hill to the nearest house.And then I followed my sis-ter down the hill.I was hungry and tired and Malkin Tower was many miles away. I was nine years old and I was angry. I was angry because the pedlar was ill.I was angry because the villagers didn' t like me .And I was angry because my sister was a witch. ■ 1 小贩 1634年的春天来了,但是在兰开斯特城堡监狱里却是寒冷依旧。关在狱中的20个女犯人又脏、又饿、又冷。牢房里既没有床也没有椅子,她们就睡在冰冷的地上。由于没有窗户,房间里总是一片黑暗。女囚们想离开监狱;她们想回家。有时候看守打开破旧的大门,把面包和水放在地上,然后又将大门牢牢地关上。 我叫詹妮特·迪瓦斯,是20个女囚犯中的一员。日复一日,我坐在冰冷的地上等待着。我希望再次感受到温暖,我希望重新看到蔚蓝的天空和我家附近的美丽的潘德尔山。然而,我却是在黑暗的兰开斯特城堡监狱里,坐在冰冷的地上等待着。 有一天,发生了一件事。看守打开了破旧的大门。“詹妮特·迪瓦斯!”看守喊道。“快过来,女巫!有人要见你。” 因为太冷了,我缓慢地爬起来,穿过黑暗的房间向门口走去。也许是从里德宅院来的什么人!也许我要回家了! “詹妮特·迪瓦斯,快点!”那个看守又喊道。 有一个人站在门边,和看守在一起。“詹妮特,”他轻轻地说了一声。 这时,我看清楚他了:他是一个长着棕色头发的高个子男人,一双蓝眼睛里带着倦意。他不是里德宅院的人,他是从基尔德威克的教堂来的韦伯斯特先生。我的两条腿停止了挪动,突然,我想坐下来。 “快点,快点。”看守生气地说。他开始关上大门。 “出来呆会儿,詹妮特,”韦伯斯特先生平静地说。“坐下来吃点东西。” 我在靠门的一张小桌旁坐了下来。韦伯斯特先生给了我一些面包和肉,我大吃起来。 “10分钟,”看守说,“10分钟后她就得回去。” “谢谢你,”韦伯斯特先生说。 “里德宅院的人们都好吗?”我终于开口问道。 韦伯斯特先生微笑着说:“大家都好。我昨天到那里去了。” 我闭上眼睛,过了一小会儿,我说:“韦伯斯特先生,这不是真的。你知道,我不是女巫。” “我知道,詹妮特,”韦伯斯特先生说。“上个星期,我把埃德蒙·鲁滨逊和他的父亲带到我的教堂,向他们询问起了埃德蒙讲的故事。许多人相信埃德蒙的话,但是也有些人不相信。明天埃德蒙将和他的父亲一起去伦敦,在那里,法官会盘问他们的。” 那个看守回来了并打开了牢门。 “到时间了!”他说。 韦伯斯特先生站了起来。“上帝与你同在,詹妮特。别忘了这一点。当上帝陪伴着你时,你会快乐的。” 我也站起身来,把面包从桌上拿走。“是的,韦伯斯特先生。上帝与我同在;我相信。”可是,快乐?我怎么可能快乐呢? 我重又回到了黑暗的牢房,看守在我身后关上了牢门。女囚犯们向我跑来:“面包!给我们面包!”她们大喊着。 我迅速地把面包放进衬衣里。我可不愿失去它。我穿过房间坐到了地上。我在哭泣,但是我感觉稍好一点了。纽丘奇村的埃德蒙·鲁滨逊只有10岁。他说了有关我和很多妇女的谎话:他说他看到我们在一所名叫霍尔斯通斯的房子里参加女巫会议。那不是真的,可是许多人相信他的话。在伦敦他会讲些什么呢?真话?也许是更多的谎言。 不过现在,在兰开斯特城堡监狱里,我想讲述我的故事。它是一个关于有钱人和愤怒的村民们;关于老年妇女和饥饿的儿童的故事。这是一个真实的故事,它就发生在我的身上。 我出生于1603年。我的家庭一直非常贫穷。自从我的父亲去世后,我们的日子更艰难了。一年到头,我吃不饱、穿不暖,还常常生病。我们住在一所名叫马尔金塔的老房子里,离纽丘奇村有几英里远。这所房子又脏又冷,连一扇门也没有。下雨时雨水便从窗户浇进来。我家西面有一座潘德尔大山。它很美丽。我爱这座山,因为它终年宁静地坐落在那里,注视着我。 我的故事从这里讲起,那是1612年3月18日。当时我9岁。就在那一天,我的生活开始发生了变化。那天,我的妈妈和外祖母都生着病,她们围着一小堆火,和她们的几条狗一起坐在地上。 我的姐姐艾丽森想到外面去。“我去找点面包,”她说。 我哥哥詹姆斯张着嘴靠火坐着。“去找面包,”他说,“去找面包。”詹姆斯经常不断地重复他的话。 艾丽森跑出房子,我在后面跟着她。 “去找面包!”詹姆斯喊道。 艾丽森向东走去。她爬上山,走过马尔金塔后面的棵棵大树。艾丽森走得很快。她那年18岁,个子高高的,棕色的长发脏乎乎的。她脸色苍白,饥肠辘辘。天气很冷,但是没有下雨。艾丽森穿着外衣和鞋子,而我却既没有外衣也没有鞋子。 “请等一下!”我冲姐姐喊道。“我想和你一起去。” “不!”艾丽森大声说。“回去,我不需要你。” 忽然间,一只狗在艾丽森面前跑着。 “乖狗儿,乖狗儿!”艾丽森招呼道。那条狗跑到她面前,艾丽森把手放在它的头上。它是我姐姐的狗,它喜欢她。它是条大狗,牙齿很大,可我不喜欢它,因为它总是显得饥饿不堪。 我跟着艾丽森和她的狗沿着河向科恩村走去。在路上,我们遇到了约翰·劳。他是个大胖子,五十岁上下。 “您能给点钱吗?”艾丽森大声说。“我饿着呢。” 约翰·劳没有回答。他走得很慢,一来由于他胖,二来因为他背着一个大口袋,口袋里有许多好玩意儿。他是个小商贩,翻山越岭,跑遍了所有村庄。 “能给我点钱吗?”艾丽森又喊了一次。“我很饿!” 约翰·劳停住了。“别跟着我,”他说。“我不会给你钱的。” “给我钱!”艾丽森说。 “我不想给你钱,”小贩说。他摘下帽子,他的头发已经很稀少了。“我不喜欢你,我不喜欢你们全家。你们都是些坏女人,你的爸爸也是个坏人。” 艾丽森生气了。“不许你提起我父亲——他已经死了!给我钱,老头!” 约翰·劳的脸涨红了。“不!”他喊道。他开始上山往村里走去。“回到你那肮脏的家里去吧!” 艾丽森愤怒地大笑起来。“一个死人!一个死人!”她大喊着。“天黑前就死,约翰·劳!”她低下头看看她的狗,把手放在它的头上。“去追他,”她说,“去追他,抓住他。” 那条大狗奔跑着去追赶小贩。约翰·劳停下了脚步。他看上去很害怕,满脸通红。“把你的狗叫回去,你这个坏女孩!”他大声喊着。 突然,他的嘴张开了,脸色煞白。慢慢地,他倒了下去,他那硕大的身躯摔倒在路上。大狗冲到他身旁,而小贩却一动不动。 艾丽森盯着约翰·劳看了片刻,然后她对我说:“去村里叫人来。” 我很害怕,但还是沿着路快跑起来。”救人呐!救人呐!”我向村民们大喊。“小贩生病了!” 村民们从各自家里出来,跟着我下了山。一个年轻人仔细地看了看约翰·劳。 “他没有死,”他说。“可是他病得很重。咱们把他抬到最近的房子里去吧。必须把他的儿子叫来。” 就在那时,约翰·劳十分缓慢地说道:“我动不了。”他说。“我还活着,可我动不了。” 我回到艾丽森身旁站着。大狗蹲在她的脚边。 “那个迪瓦斯家的女孩子…”约翰·劳慢吞吞地说。“她——她诅咒我!她想让我死!她的狗向我扑过来。” 村民们都看着艾丽森。 “我很抱歉。”艾丽森急忙说。“我很饿,我想要点钱,就是这么回事。” “快走开!”村民们喊道。“你是个女巫,我们不想让你呆在我们村里。” 艾丽森向山下跑去,她的狗紧跟着她。我看着村民们。他们抬着约翰·劳缓慢地上山,向最近的一所房子走去。随后我跟着我的姐姐下了山。我又饿又乏,而马尔金塔远在数英里之外。那时我9岁,我很生气。我生气,因为小贩病了。我生气,因为村民们不喜欢我。我生气,因为我的姐姐是个女巫。 ■ 2 ROGER NOWELL John Law was ill because Alizon cursed him, and his son wanted Roger Nowell to question Alizon.Roger Nowell was a rich and important man in Lancashire, and he was the judge for all the villages near Pendle Hill.He lived at Read Hall, seven miles from Newchurch. On the thirtieth day of March,Mr Nowell's men came to Malkin Tower.Mr Nowell wanted to see Alizon at once. We walked from Malkin Tower to Read Hall: my sister Ali-zon,my brother James,and our mother,Elizabeth Device. I fol-lowed them because I didn' t want to stay at home with my grandmother. My grandmother was a difficult old woman, and I didn' t like her. Read Hall was an old house with a big garden and many old trees.Mr Nowell's servant opened the door for us. 'Come in,'Mr Nowell said.He was a tall man with a lot of white hair.His black coat looked warm and expensive. Alizon followed Mr Nowell into a room with a big fire.When I saw the fire, I wanted to go in,too! 'Are you cold,little one?'Mr Nowell asked me.'Come in,and sit near the fire.' I went across the room and sat down on the floor, next to the wonderful, hot fire. Mr Nowell sat behind a big fable. Two or three men, in black coats, stood near the window. Alizon stood in front of Mr Nowell. Her long hair was dirty, and her old dress looked dirti-er. 'Two weeks ago,on the eighteenth day of March, you met John Law near Colne,'Roger Nowell said.His voice was slow and careful.'Tell me about it.' 'I asked for money,'Alizon said.'The pedlar was very an-gry and I didn' t like him. I was angry, too, and I wanted him to die!' ' Tell me about your dog.' “The dog is my friend.'Alizon said slowly.'I wanted a friend, and I found that dog two months ago. I told my grand-mother, and she liked the dog, too.' 'Did the dog run after the pedlar?' 'Yes, of course. I cursed the pedlar, and the dog ran after him!'Alizon said.' I'm sorry now, because Mr Law is ill.' 'She's a witch!'one of the men said quietly. Roger Nowell stood up and walked across the room to the door.'James Device, come in. We want to question you.' James came in and stood next to Alizon.James was thirteen years old, nearly a man, but he was afraid of many things. He began to cry. 'Don't be afraid,'Mr Nowell said.'we want you to talk abut your grandmother,Old Demdike.' But Alizon wanted to talk.'Don' t ask him!' she said quick-ly.'I can tell you about my grandmother because I'm with her every minute of the day. I go with her from village to village. I go with her across Pendle Hill.She asks people for money and food, and I help her.'Alizon stopped.She looked at James, and then she looked at Mr Nowell.'She cursed a child once, and the child died later that year.' 'And you!'James said.'You cursed a child, too!Somebody told me!'James suddenly sat down on the floor and began to laugh loudly. 'Be quiet!'Roger Nowell said coldly.'Alizon Device,tell me the truth:did you curse a child?' 'Yes, I did,'Alizon cried.'The child called me a witch, and I was angry. I cursed the child,but I was sorry when the child died.' James looked up at Alizon, his mouth open.'The child died,the child died,'he said again and again. 'Alizon Device,you cannot go home again,'Roger Nowell said slowly.'You must go to the prison at Read.' 'But I need Alizon!'my mother shouted angrily from the door.'She takes care of Old Demdike,my mother.' I looked at my mother, at her red, angry face. I looked at Al-izon in her dirty dress, and at James on the floor with his mouth open.And then I looked at Mr Nowell:his brown eyes were warm, and his face was kind. On the second day of April, Roger Nowell and his men came to Ashlar House, near the village of Fence. Mr Nowell wanted to talk to my grandmother, and we all went with her to Ashlar House. Fence was not far from Malkin Tower, and my grand-mother walked there easily. Old Demdike was a little old woman with a fat face and no teeth.She was nearly eighty years old and she was a difficult old woman.Without Alizon,she was more difficult because my mother didn' t take care of her. When I saw Mr Nowell again at Ashlar House, I felt happy.I looked at his kind face and his warm brown eyes, and I want-ed to be near him. But there were a lot of people in the room,and I was afraid to go to him. 'Old Demdike , I'm going to ask you some questions, 'Mr Nowell began. Old Demdike was not afraid. She looked at all the men, in their expensive coats and hats. 'What can a poor old woman tell you rich men?'She laughed, and when she laughed I felt afraid.My grandmother was going to tell them everything! And she did! 'Twenty years ago,I met the Devil,'Old Demdike said.'He was a boy called Tibb and he was my friend.Then a cat came to visit me—a beautiful cat—and then a dog.They were all my friends.' Mr Nowell listened quietly to my grandmother, but some of the men began to talk angrily. 'Be careful,you rich men!'my grandmother cried.'I can curse you! I can kill people! I make clay pictures of people—man,woman or child.And when I break the clay,that man,woman or child dies!' People began to shout. ' She' s a witch! She must die!' 'Say no more; she must die, with all her family!' Roger Nowell stood up.'Be quiet!'He looked at the guards near the door.'Take her away,'he said.'Old Demdike and her granddaughter Alizon must go to the prison at Lancaster Castle.' The guards took my grandmother by the arms and carried her out of the door and put her on a horse.Everyone ran out of Ashlar House.They ran after the horses and shouted:'Kill the witch!' I looked for Mr Nowell, but he was on his horse, too, and he followed the guards quickly through the village. Slowly, I followed my mother and James.Malkin Tower was my home, but I didn' t want to go back there. I was a little child, and I wanted someone kind to take care of me. We stayed at home days, because we were afraid to go out.James sat in front of the fire, with his dog, and talked.'Lan-caster Castle, Lancaster Castle,' he said, again and again. My mother hit me and shouted at me because she was angry with the rich men. But after three days,my mother suddenly said,'James!We' re hungry and we must eat!' James didn' t answer. My mother went across the room to James and pulled his hair.'Get up!'she shouted.'Go out and find food for us!Your father isn' t here now; you must find food for us.' She hit him over the head. James stood up slowly.'Go out and find food,'he said.'I must go out and find food.' It was dark, and James was out for hours. But in the morn-ing, he came back with a sheep. 'I went to Barley,'James said happily.'I got this sheep,and now we can eat.' 'Get up, Jennet!'my mother shouted 'Come and help me!' It was Friday, the tenth day of April. My family had some friends, poor people, and on that day they came to Malkin Tower.They came and asked about Old Demdike and Alizon,and they stayed to eat and drink. I helped my mother. We cooked the sheep over a big fire,and our visitors ate with us. At the same time, they drank.They sat by the fire and drank,and talked about Lancaster Castle. 'Let 's go there!'an old woman cried.'Let 's go to Lancast-er Castle and find Old Demdike and Alizon!' 'We can curse the guards, and break down the door!' my mother said. 'Let' s bring them home!' said an old man. 'Jennet,bring the bottle! We need more drink!'shouted my mother. I got up and took more drink to my mother.But I fell over one of the dogs, and the bottle broke on the floor. The drink was gone! ' You bad child!' my mother shouted.'You' re a witch, too,you know!'She got up and began to hit me.She hit me over the head and pulled my hair.An old man laughed,and then ev-eryone laughed. I ran back across the room.I wasn 't a witch;I was a child,nine years old,and I hated my mother and all her friends! My face felt very hot because I was angry. I left the room and went out of the house. It was afternoon, but the sky was dark with rain.Pendle Hill was dark,too.It sat quietly and watched me. 'I'm going to Mr Nowell,' I said quietly, to Pendle Hill.'I'm going to tell him about my mother and her friends.' ■ 2 罗杰·诺埃尔 由于艾丽森的诅咒,约翰·劳病倒了。他的儿子希望罗杰·诺埃尔审问艾丽森。罗杰·诺埃尔是兰开夏郡一个有钱有势的人,他是潘德尔山一带所有村落的法官。他住在里德宅院,离纽丘奇村7英里远。 3月30日那天,诺埃尔先生手下的人来到了马尔金塔,因为诺埃尔先生想马上见一见艾丽森。 我们一行离开了马尔金塔步行前往里德宅院:我的姐姐艾丽森,我的哥哥詹姆斯,还有我的母亲伊丽莎白·迪瓦斯。我之所以与他们同行是因为我不想和外祖母一起留在家里。我的外祖母是一个很难相处的老太婆,我不喜欢她。 里德宅院是一所老房子,里面有一个大花园和许多古树。诺埃尔先生的用人为我们打开了房门。 “进来,”诺埃尔先生说。他个子很高,白发苍苍。他的黑色大衣看起来既暖和又昂贵。 艾丽森跟着诺埃尔先生走进了一个房间,那里面生着旺旺的炉火。当我看到炉火时,真希望自己也能跟着进去! “你冷吧,小家伙?”诺埃尔先生问我。“进来,坐到炉火旁边去。” 我穿过房间,坐到地板上,紧靠着那美妙的、暖烘烘的炉火。 诺埃尔先生在一张大桌子后面坐下。有两三个穿着黑大衣的男人靠近窗口站着。艾丽森站在诺埃尔先生面前,她的长发脏兮兮的,身上的旧裙子比头发还要脏。 “两个星期前,也就是3月18日那天,你在科恩村附近遇到了约翰·劳,”罗杰·诺埃尔说。他的声音低沉而谨慎。“给我讲讲这件事。” “我向他要钱,”艾丽森说。“小贩很生气,我不喜欢他。我也很生气,我希望他死!” “给我讲讲你的狗是怎么回事。” “它是我的朋友,”艾丽森慢慢地说道。“我想要一个朋友,两个月前我找到了那条狗。我把这件事告诉了我的外祖母,她也喜欢那条狗。” “那条狗是不是追赶小贩了?” “当然追了。我诅咒了小贩,那条狗便去追赶他!”艾丽森说。“现在劳先生病了,我很抱歉。” “她是个女巫!”一个男人轻声说。 罗杰·诺埃尔站了起来,穿过房间走到门口。“詹姆斯·迪瓦斯,进来。我们有话问你。” 詹姆斯走了进来,站在艾丽森身边。詹姆斯13岁,几乎是个男子汉了,但是,他对很多东西都感到恐惧。他哭了起来。 “别害怕,”诺埃尔先生说。“我们想让你讲讲你的外祖母老德姆代克的一些事。” 可是,这时候艾丽森却想说话。“别问他!”她急促地说。“我可以告诉你们关于我外祖母的事,因为我一天到晚和她在一起。我们俩一起翻越潘德尔山,走了一村又一村。她向人们讨饭要钱,我给她帮忙。”艾丽森停住了。她看了看詹姆斯,又看了看诺埃尔先生,接着说:“她曾经诅咒过一个小孩儿,后来,就在那一年,小孩儿死了。” “还有你!”詹姆斯说。“你也诅咒过一个小孩儿!有人告诉我了!”詹姆斯突然坐到了地板上,大笑起来。 “安静!”罗杰·诺埃尔冷冷地说。“艾丽森·迪瓦斯,对我说真话:你曾诅咒过一个小孩儿吗?” “是的,诅咒过,”艾丽森喊道。“那个孩子管我叫女巫,我生气了。我就诅咒了他,但是对于他的死我很抱歉。” 詹姆斯抬起头,张着嘴看着艾丽森。“那个孩子死了,那个孩子死了,”他一遍遍地说着。 “艾丽森·迪瓦斯,你不能再回家了。”罗杰·诺埃尔缓慢地说道。“我们必须把你送进里德监狱。” “可是我需要艾丽森!”我的妈妈在门边气愤地喊着。“是她照顾我的母亲老德姆代克。” 我看了看我的妈妈,她的脸涨得通红,脸上带着愤怒的表情。我又看了看穿着脏裙子的艾丽森,还有张着嘴坐在地上的詹姆斯。然后我看了一眼诺埃尔先生:他的棕色眼睛流露出热情,他的面容是和善的。 4月2日,罗杰·诺埃尔和他的随从人员来到了芬斯村附近的艾什拉屋。诺埃尔先生想和我的外祖母谈谈,于是我们全家和她一起去了艾什拉屋。芬斯村离马尔金塔不远,我的外祖母并没有费多少劲就走到了那里。 老德姆代克是个身材矮小的老太婆,她长着一张胖胖的脸,牙齿全掉光了。她快八十岁了,很难相处。艾丽森不在她更使性子,因为我的妈妈根本不照顾她。 当我在艾什拉屋再次看到诺埃尔先生时,我感到很高兴。看着他和善的面孔和充满热情的棕色眼睛,我很想靠他近一些。可是房间里人很多,我不敢过去。 “老德姆代克,我要问你一些问题。”诺埃尔先生说。 老德姆代克并不害怕。她看了看所有衣帽华贵的男人。“一个穷老太婆能告诉你们有钱人什么呢?”她哈哈大笑着说。她的笑声令我恐惧。我的外祖母就要把一切都告诉他们了! 她真地说了! “20年前,我遇到了魔鬼,”老德姆代克说。“他是一个名叫蒂勃的男孩,他是我的朋友。后来有一只猫来拜访我——一只美丽的猫——随后又来了一条狗。他们都是我的朋友。” 诺埃尔先生安静地听着,但是有些男人生气地交谈起来。 “小心点,你们这些有钱人!”我的外祖母喊道。“我能诅咒你们!我能让人丧命!我用泥制成人像——男人的,女人的或是小孩的,当我打碎人像时,那个男人、女人或小孩就会死去。” 人们开始大喊起来。 “她是个女巫!一定得要她的命!” “不要再说什么了,她必须死,和她的全家一起死!” 罗杰·诺埃尔站了起来。“安静!”他看了看守在门口的警卫。“把她带走。”他说。“必须把老德姆代克和她的外孙女艾丽森关进兰开斯特城堡监狱。” 卫兵们抓住我外祖母的胳膊,把她带出门,放到一匹马上。大家全都跑出了艾什拉屋。他们追赶着马队,高喊:“杀死女巫!” 我寻找着诺埃尔先生,可是他也上了马,跟在卫兵们后面迅速地穿过村子走了。 我跟在妈妈和詹姆斯后面慢慢地走着。马尔金塔是我的家,但是我并不想回去。我还是个孩子,我希望有个慈爱的人来关心我。 因为不敢出门,我们在家里呆了好些天。詹姆斯和他的狗坐在火堆前,嘴里念叨着:“兰开斯特城堡,兰开斯特城堡。”他一遍又一遍地说着。我妈妈打我,冲我大嚷大叫,因为那些有钱人很让她恼火。 3天后,妈妈突然说:“詹姆斯!我们饿了,咱们得吃东西呀!” 詹姆斯没有答话。 妈妈穿过房间走到詹姆斯跟前,揪着他的头发。“起来!”她大喊着。“出去给我们找点吃的!你爸爸现在不在了,你必须给我们找吃找喝。”她打了一下他的头。 詹姆斯慢慢腾腾地站起来。“出去找吃的,”他说。“我必须出去找吃的。” 天黑了,詹姆斯已经出去好几个小时了。第二天早上,他带着一只羊回来了。 “我到巴利村去了。”詹姆斯高兴地说。“我找到了这只羊,现在我们可以吃饭了。” “起来,詹妮特!”我妈妈喊道。“来给我帮忙!” 我们家有一些朋友,都是穷人。4月10日星期五那天,他们来到了马尔金塔。他们来询问老德姆代克和艾丽森的情况,然后留下来又吃又喝。 我帮助妈妈干活。我们在一大堆火上烤羊,客人们和我们一起吃饭。他们还喝起酒来。他们围坐在火堆旁一边喝酒,一边谈论着兰开斯特城堡。 “咱们到那儿去吧!”一个老太太大声说。“咱们去兰开斯特城堡救出老德姆代克和艾丽森!” “我们可以咒死看守,然后把门打破!”我妈妈说。 “咱们把她俩带回家来!”一个老头儿说。 “詹妮特,把酒瓶拿来!我们得再喝点!”妈妈喊道。 我站起来去给妈妈再拿些酒。可是我绊倒在一只狗身上,酒瓶掉在地上摔碎了,酒洒了! “你这个坏孩子!”我妈妈嚷道。“你也是个女巫,你清楚!”她站起来打我。她打我的头,揪我的头发。一个老头哈哈大笑,大家也都跟着哄笑起来。 我穿过房间跑了回去。我不是女巫;我是个9岁的孩子。我恨妈妈和她所有的朋友!由于愤怒我的脸很烫。我离开房间,走出了这所房子。当时是下午,但是由于下着雨,天很黑。潘德尔山也是一片漆黑。它静静地坐落在那里,注视着我。 “我要去找诺埃尔先生,”我平静地对潘德尔山说。“我要告诉他有关我妈妈和她的朋友们的事情。” |
■ 3 A FAMILY OF WITCHES I ran from Malkin Tower,down the hill into Newchurch.James followed me. 'I want to go to Read Hall,too,'he said. We ran through the trees to Sabden Brook.The noise of the river was beautiful in my ears.We went along the river to the village of Sabden, and then it began to rain. Suddenly,we heard the noise of horses behind us.We got off the road, and watched the horses. It was Roger Nowell with some of his men. They saw us, and Mr Nowell stopped. 'It' s the Device children,' he said.' What's your name,child?' 'My name is Jennet,' I said.'We 're going to Read Hall. I want to talk to you.' Roger Nowell looked at me with his warm brown eyes.'Very well,'he said.'Come home with me,and we can talk.'He lifted me up on to his horse, and the horse moved quickly a-long the road to the village of Read.James ran along behind us. Very soon,we arrived at Read Hall.The servant opened the door for us,and we went into the warm house.James came in,too, and sat down next to me near the fire. Mr Nowell put his black hat down on the table.'Bring a hot drink and some food for these children,'he told the servant.' They' re cold and hungry.' The servant brought bread and hot milk for us, and James and I ate hungrily. I felt warm and happy in Mr Nowell' s house.I wanted to stay there all my life; I never wanted to go back to Malkin Tower. When we finished eating,Mr Nowell looked up from his book.'You wanted to talk to me,'he said quietly.'Well, I'm listening.' I got up ,went across the room and stood in front of Mr Nowell.' I'm afraid of my mother,' I began.' I'm afraid be-cause she' s a witch and she can kill people.' The room was quiet.Mr Nowell said nothing,but his brown eyes were kind. 'My mother and her friends are at Malkin Tower,'I told him.'They want to go to Lancaster Castle and kill the guards.They' re going to bring Old Demdike and Alizon home again.' Mr Nowell got up and left the room.After some time, he came back with two of his friends.They all sat down at the table. 'Jennet, I want you to tell me again about your mother and her friends.' 'They want to kill the guards at Lancaster Castle and bring Old Demdike home to Malkin Tower,'I said.Then I began to cry. 'Den't cry,'Mr Nowell said kindly.'We can help you,but we must talk to your brother first.James!'he called.'Tell me about your mother. Is she a witch?' ' She' s a witch. We' re all witches,' James began.' Old Demdike's a witch.One night,she went to the church at Newchurch and got some teeth from dead bodies there.The Devil talked to her and she brought the teeth to Malkin Tower.They're under the ground by our door!' ' Old Demdike' s a witch; we know that,' Mr Nowell said.'Tell us about your mother.' 'Mother' s a witch,' James said.' She killed Mr Robinson,from Barley village. She made a clay picture, and then she broke it, and Mr Robinson died a week later.'James smiled at Mr Nowell. He liked Mr Nowell because Mr Nowell didn' t shout at him.'And I'm a witch, too! I can kill people!' 'No, James!' I cried.' You' re not a witch! You don' t kill people!' ' Yes, I do,'James said angrily. His face went red.' My dog,Dandy, is the Devil and he killed a man for me. I wanted a shirt and Mr Duckworth was going to give me one of his old shirts.But in the end, he didn' t give it to me and I was very angry. I nearly killed Mr Duckworth!But I called Dandy,and he killed Mr Duckworth for me!' I began to cry.My brother was a witch,too! All my family were witches! 'Don't cry,Jennet,'Mr Nowell said.'Someone must take care of you.You can stay here at Read Hall with me.' When Mr Nowell' s men brought my mother to Read Hall, she said nothing at first. 'Tell us about the pictures of clay,'Mr Nowell said.'My men found pictures of clay at Malkin Tower.' My mother said nothing. 'Your mother,Old Demdike,is a witch.Your daughter is a witch,'Mr Nowell said.'Your son killed Mr Duckworth be-cause of shirt.Now,tell us about the clay pictures.' My mother said nothing. 'James told us about Mr Robinson of Barley,'Mr Nowell said .' Did you kill him?' Suddenly, my mother' s face went red and she began to shout at James.'A good son,you are! You told this rich man about Jack Robinson of Barley. Well, you told the truth. I killed him! I made a clay picture, and then I broke it, and a week later he died.I killed him because I hated him.' She stopped and looked at me . I wanted to run away but Mr Nowell's servant stood in front of the door.Then my mother laughed. 'Jennet Device, witch' s daughter! You hate us, I know that. Well, it doesn' t matter because you're right: you are different.You 're my daughter,but you're not the daugh-ter of my husband. Your father was a rich man, but he never gave me money.A witch' s child,he called you.And when you were born,he never came near me ngain.Jack Robinson learnt the truth about your father.He told the villagers of Barley and they called me a bad woman, but they didn 't call your father a bad man! Nobody in Barley gave me food again, because of Jack Robinson.I hated him,and so I killed him!' The room was very quiet and my mother laughed again. My hands felt cold and my face was hot, but I didn' t cry.When Mr Device died, I cried for days. But he was not my fa-ther.I looked at my mother,at her dirty hair and her ugly face, at her angry eyes. I hated her then, and I hated her for many years. ■ 3 巫师之家 我跑出马尔金塔,跑下潘德尔山来到了纽丘奇村。詹姆斯一直跟着我。 “我也想去里德宅院。”他说。 我们穿过树林来到了萨卜登小溪。潺潺的流水声在我听来十分悦耳。我们沿着河走到了萨卜登村,这时天下起雨来。 忽然,从我们身后传来了马蹄声。我们离开大路,看着那些马匹。那是罗杰·诺埃尔和他的手下。他们看到了我们俩,诺埃尔先生停了下来。 “原来是迪瓦斯家的孩子们,”他说。“孩子,你叫什么名字?” “我叫詹妮特,”我说。“我们要去里德宅院。我想和您谈谈。” 罗杰·诺埃尔用他那双充满热情的棕色眼睛看了看我。“很好,”他说。”跟我一起回家吧,这样我们就可以谈谈了。”他把我举起来放到他的马上,马于是迅速地沿着大道向里德村行进。詹姆斯一路跑着跟在我们后面。 很快,我们到达了里德宅院。先生的用人打开屋门,我们走进了十分暖和的房子。詹姆斯也进来了,他挨着我坐在炉火边。 诺埃尔先生把他的黑帽子放在桌子上。“给孩子们拿点热饮和一些吃的来。”他吩咐用人说。“他们又冷又饿。” 用人给我们拿来了面包和热牛奶,詹姆斯和我大吃起来。在诺埃尔先生家里,我感到既温暖又快乐。我希望一辈子呆在那儿;我再也不想回到马尔金塔去了。 我们吃完了饭,诺埃尔先生不再看书,抬起头来。“你有事想对我说,”他轻声说。“好吧,我听着呢。” 我站起身,穿过房间,站在诺埃尔先生面前。“我害怕我妈妈,”我开始说道。“我害怕,因为她是女巫,她能杀人。” 房间里十分安静。诺埃尔先生什么也没说,但是他的棕色眼睛是友善的。 “现在,我妈妈和她的朋友们正聚在马尔金塔,”我告诉他说。“他们想要去兰开斯特城堡杀死看守。他们打算把老德姆代克和艾丽森带回家。” 诺埃尔先生站起身离开了房间。过了一些时候,他和他的两个朋友一起回来了。他们全都在桌前坐了下来。 “詹妮特,我要你再对我说一遍有关你母亲和她朋友的事。” “他们想杀死兰开斯特城堡的看守,然后把老德姆代克带回马尔金塔。”我说。说完,我哭了。 “别哭,”诺埃尔先生和蔼地说。“我们能帮助你,不过我们必须先和你哥哥谈谈。詹姆斯!”他喊了一声。“给我讲讲你母亲的事。她是女巫吗?” “她是女巫。我们都是巫师。”詹姆斯说。“老德姆代克是个女巫。一天夜里,她去了纽丘奇村的教堂,从那里的尸体上取下了一些牙齿。魔鬼和她对了话,随后她把牙齿带回了马尔金塔,它们就在我家大门旁的地下。” “老德姆代克是个女巫,这我们知道,”诺埃尔先生说。“把你母亲的事告诉我们。” “妈妈是女巫,”詹姆斯说。“她杀死了巴利村的鲁滨逊先生。她做了一个泥像,然后把它打碎,一星期后鲁滨逊先生死去了。”詹姆斯对诺埃尔先生微笑了一下。他喜欢诺埃尔先生,因为诺埃尔先生不冲着他大喊大叫。“还有,我也是个巫师!我能害死人!” “不,詹姆斯!”我喊道。“你不是巫师!你不杀人!” “不,我杀人。”詹姆斯生气地说。他的脸红了起来。“我的狗丹迪是魔鬼,它为我杀过一个人。有一次我想要一件衬衣,达克沃思先生准备把他的一件旧衬衣给我。可是最后他没有给我,我非常生气。我差点儿杀了他!不过我喊来了丹迪,它为我杀死了达克沃思先生!” 我哭了起来。我的哥哥也是个巫师!我的全家都是巫师! “别哭,詹妮特,”诺埃尔先生说。“必须有人照顾你。你可以留在里德宅院,和我在一起。” 诺埃尔先生手下的人把我妈妈带到了里德宅院,起初她一言不发。 “把泥塑像的事告诉我们,”诺埃尔先生说。“我手下的人在马尔金塔找到了一些泥塑像。” 我妈妈没有作声。 “你的母亲老德姆代克是女巫。你的女儿是女巫,”诺埃尔先生说。“你的儿子为了一件衬衣杀死了达克沃思先生。现在把泥塑像的事告诉我们。” 我妈妈什么也没说。 “詹姆斯对我们讲了巴利村鲁滨逊先生的事,”诺埃尔先生说。“是你杀了他吗?” 突然间,我妈妈的脸涨红了,她冲着詹姆斯大喊:“你真是个好儿子!你把巴利村杰克·鲁滨逊的事告诉了这个有钱人。是的,你说的完全属实。是我杀了他!我做了一个泥像,然后把它打碎,一星期后他就死了。我杀了他是因为我恨他。” 她停下来看着我。我想跑开,可是诺埃尔先生的用人正站在门前。妈妈哈哈大笑着说:“詹妮特·迪瓦斯,巫师的女儿!我知道,你恨我们。嗯,这没什么,因为你是对的:你是不一样。你是我女儿,但你不是我丈夫的女儿。你的父亲是个有钱人,可他从来不给我钱。他管你叫巫师的孩子。从你一出生,他就再也没靠近过我。杰克·鲁滨逊得知你亲生父亲的真相后,便告诉了巴利村的居民们。他们说我是坏女人,却不说你父亲是一个坏男人!从那以后,在巴利村,再也没有人给我吃的了,这都是杰克·鲁滨逊造成的。我恨他,所以我杀了他!” 房间里静悄悄的,我的妈妈又大笑起来。 我的手冰凉冰凉,我的脸热辣辣。不过我没有哭。迪瓦斯先生去世时,我哭了好几天。然而他不是我父亲。我看着妈妈,看着她那肮脏的头发、丑陋的面容和愤怒的双眼。在那一刻,我真恨她,许多年来我一直恨她。 ■ 4 TRUTH AND LIES On the twenty-seventh day of April, the guards took my mother and James to Lancaster Castle, and my life at Read Hall began.Suddenly,it was spring.The sky was blue and there were beautiful flowers on the hills. From Read Hall,Pendle Hill looked different : it looked smaller, and it was not so important in my life.Sometimes I walked along Sabden Brook to Sabden, and then to Newchurch, and I felt happy to be near Pendle Hill again.But I never visited Malkin Tower again. Spring changed into summer,and in August I went to Lan-caster with Mr Nowell. Lancaster was thirty miles from Read Hall, and I got very tired because I sat on a horse for hours. It was a big, noisy town. I never saw so many people before in my life and I felt afraid. The trial of the witches of Pendle began at Lancaster Castle on the eighteenth day of August, and the judge was an impor-tant man from London.Judge Bromley listened to many people on that day, because there were a lot of witches from Lan-cashire in the prison.Old Demdike was not there because she died in May, before the judge arrived. I waited with Mr Nowell' s servant, and when a guard called my name, I went through a big door and saw the judge behind a table. Judge Bromley was rich and important, but his eyes were cold.Suddenly, I saw my mother! She was dirty and very thin.When she saw me,her face went red.My hair was clean now, and I wore shoes and an expensive dress. I saw my mother' s eyes: she hated me! 'Are you a witch?'Judge Bromley asked my mother. 'No, I 'm not,'my mother answered angrily. 'Did you kill Jack Robinson,of Barley village?' ' No, I did not.' 'Jennet Device is here,' a voice said quietly. It was Mr Nowell.'She can tell us the truth about her mother.' For a minute, my mother did not move. Then she ran across the room and shouted at me. 'You know nothing, you bad child! And I'm your mother!Don' t forget that!' The guards ran after my mother and pulled her to the floor. ' I'm no witch!'my mother shouted.' It' s all lies! Jennet,you' re a witch—a child of the Devil! You' re my daughter,and I know!' I was afraid and I put my hands over my eyes. I didn't want to see my mother' s ugly face. The guards pulled my motherout of the room and the noise stopped. 'Jennet Device,'the judge said.'Tell us the truth about your mother.' Roger Nowell lifted me up and put me on a table in front of the judge. 'My mother is a witch,'I began.'She has a friend, a dog called Ball. When she wants to kill somebody, she tells Ball…'I talked and talked;I told the judge everything. Judge Bromley listened carefully.'My child,is this the truth?' 'Yes,'I answered.'I'm telling you the truth.' The guards brought my mother back into the room again.Her face looked tired and her eyes were red. 'Elizabeth Device,your daughter told us about your dog,Ball. Your son, too, told us about the clay pictures. We know everything.' My mother said nothing.She didn't look at the judge and she didn' t look at me. Next, the guards brought my brother James into the room.When I saw James,I wanted to cry.James was thin and dirty and his hair was very long.He looked at the judge and at all the rich and important men in the room and he began to cry.Then he sat down on the floor. 'Stand up,James Device,'Judge Bromley said. The guards pulled James up,but he fell to the floor again. 'You killed Mr Duckworth,'Judge Bromley said. 'I wanted a shirt,'James cried. 'Is your brother a witch?'Judge Bromley asked me. ' Yes,' I said. My brother sat on the floor, his mouth open.He looked at me,but he didn't know me. I was clean,and fat because of all the good food at Read Hall. 'James told me about his friend,Dandy,'I began.'Dandy was the Devil and—' James heard the name Dandy,and he began to cry again.'I want Dandy!I want to go home!' The guards pulled him up from the floor and took him out of the room. I never saw my brother again. When the guards brought my sister Alizon in front of the judge, I said nothing.John Law,the pedlar,came into the room.He was a thin man now.He walked slowly and he talked slowly and his face looked ill .He told the judge about that day near Colne when Alizon cursed him and her dog ran after him. 'I'm sorry!' Alizon said.' I was angry with you that day,but I'm sorry now.' Alizon 's eyes were dark and afraid, but she had no friends in that room and nobody wanted to listen to her. Then Mr Nowell took me out and I waited with his servant in a different room. An hour later, there was the noise of many people shouting and crying. The servant smiled.'The trial is finished,' he said 'You' re a good child Jennet.You told the judge the truth about the Witches.' Mr Nowell took me home to Read Hall.And on the twen-tieth day of August 1612,the guards took my mother,my sis-ter and my brother out of prison ,and hanged them in front of Lancaster Castle. And so I lost my family. When I was a child, I wanted to be happy.I wanted to be warm, to wear shoes, to eat good food. I wanted someone to take care of me.That's all. My mother gave me nothing. She gave me no love.She never took care of me.Because my moth-er was a witch,my father ran away and I never knew him.My father was a rich man without a name, and I lived hungry and cold with a witch.And so I told Judge Bromley the truth about my family.Was I wrong?I don't know. I was happy for years at Read Hall. For twenty-one years, I forgot my family.I learned to cook for the Nowell family;I worked many hours every day but I was warm and I ate good food.Every Sunday,in my best dress,I went to church;every summer I walked over Pendle Hill.I never thought about my family, because I was happy at Read Hall. In August 1612,the guards hanged my family in front of Lancaster Castle. But their dead faces waited for me there; and a year ago, in 1633,when the guards put me in the prison in Lancaster Castle, I met them again. Day after day, I see their ugly, dead faces and hear their cold, angry voices. I think of them all the time. God is with me here,in prison. I believe that. But my dead family is with me too. Mr Webster,from the church at Kildwick,visits me again.His blue eyes are tired,but he smiles at me. 'Edmund Robinson and his father told the truth in London, 'he says quietly.' The child told lies about you be-cause he was afraid of his father. He wanted his father to love him.' I say nothing. Mr Webster wants to be kind, but he cannot help me.Mr Nowell cannot help me because he is dead.Ed-mund Robinson is only a child; he tells lies one day, and the truth the next day.But the truth cannot help me.What can I do against hate ,and lies?When Mr Nowell was alive,the Vil-lagers didn't talk about me.But when Mr Nowell died,the lies began.The villagers are all afraid of me——because my name is Device.They hate me——because my name is Device.They say I am a witch—— because my name is Device. I come from a family of witches, but I am not a witch. No-body died because I cursed them.I never made clay pictures, I never had a cat or dog.I only wanted to live quietly at Read Hall and watch the changing skies over Pendle Hill. When I was a child, I was always cold and hungry, and I hated my family because they were witches. In 1612, I told the truth, and the truth killed my family. Now, twenty-two years later,lies are going to kill me, here in Lancaster Castle, and I am cold and hungry again. Mr Webster gives me bread,and I go back into the prison.I can never go back to Read Hall;I know that now.I must stay here in Lancaster Castle, with my dead family. They are watching me, and waiting for me. I can never be free of them. This is my true story; and I want to finish it now. ■ 4 真相与谎言 4月27日,看守们把我妈妈和詹姆斯带到了兰开斯特城堡,我在里德宅院开始了新的生活。转眼间,春天来了。天空一片湛蓝,山上开着美丽的花朵。从里德宅院看去,潘德尔山显得和过去有些不同:它看起来小了点,而且它在我的生活中不再那么重要了。有时我沿着萨卜登小溪走到萨卜登村,然后再到纽丘奇村;我真高兴能再次靠近潘德尔山。但是我再也没有去过马尔金塔。 春去夏来,8月份我和诺埃尔先生一起去了兰开斯特。兰开斯特离里德宅院有30英里远,因为一连几小时坐在马背上,我很疲惫。兰开斯特是一个大而喧闹的市镇。我以前从来没有见过那么多的人,所以有点害怕。 8月18日,在兰开斯特城堡开始了对潘德尔地区的巫师的审判。法官是一位从伦敦来的重要人物。由于监狱里关着许多兰开夏郡的巫师,布罗姆利法官在那一天听取了很多人的证词。老德姆代克没有出庭,因为在法官到达之前,她已经在5月份死去了。 我和诺埃尔先生的用人在一起等候出庭。当看守叫到我的名字时,我穿过一扇大门往前走去,看见了桌子后面的法官大人。布罗姆利法官十分富有并且地位显赫,但是他的眼睛冰冷无情。突然,我看到了妈妈!她又脏又瘦。当她看见我时,她的脸变红了。当时我的头发很干净,我还穿着鞋子和一条挺贵的裙子。我从她的眼神中看出:她恨我! “你是女巫吗?”布罗姆利法官问妈妈。 “不,我不是。”我妈妈生气地回答。 “你是不是害死了巴利村的杰克·鲁滨逊?” “不,我没有。” “詹妮特·迪瓦斯就在这里。”一个声音平静地说。那是诺埃尔先生。“她可以告诉我们有关她母亲的真实情况。” 有一小会儿,我的妈妈一动不动。随后她跑着穿过房间,向我大喊:“你什么也不知道,你这个坏孩子!我是你妈妈,别忘了这点!” 看守们追着我妈妈,把她拉倒在地上。 “我不是女巫!”妈妈喊道。“那全是谎言!詹妮特,你是个女巫——魔鬼的孩子!你是我女儿,我知道!” 我很害怕,用手挡住眼睛。我不想看到妈妈那张丑陋的脸。看守们把妈妈拉出了房间,吵嚷声止住了。 “詹妮特·迪瓦斯,”法官说,“把你母亲的真实情况告诉我们。” 罗杰·诺埃尔把我举起来,放在法官前面的一张桌子上。 “我的妈妈是个女巫,”我说道。“她有一个朋友,是一条名叫鲍尔的狗。当她想杀死谁的时候,她就告诉鲍尔……”我讲啊,讲啊,把一切都告诉了法官。 布罗姆利法官仔细地听着。“我的孩子,这是真的吗?” “是的,”我回答说。“我说的都是真话。” 看守们又把我妈妈带回了房间。她面带倦容,眼睛红红的。 “伊丽莎白·迪瓦斯,你的女儿对我们讲了你的狗鲍尔的事。另外你的儿子对我们说了泥像的事。我们什么都知道了。” 我妈妈一声不吭。她既没有看法官,也没有看我。 接下来,看守们把我的哥哥詹姆斯带进了房间。当我看到哥哥时,我真想哭。詹姆斯又脏又瘦,头发长长的。他看了看法官和房间里有钱有势的人,哭了起来。然后,他坐在地上。 “站起来,詹姆斯·迪瓦斯,”布罗姆利法官说。 看守们把詹姆斯拖了起来,但是他又倒在了地上。 “你害死了达克沃思先生,”布罗姆利法官说。 “我想要件衬衣,”詹姆斯大声说。 “你哥哥是巫师吗?”布罗姆利法官问我。 “是,”我说。我哥哥张着嘴坐在地上。他看了我一眼,可是没认出我来。因为我很干净、胖乎乎的,那是由于在里德宅院吃得很好的缘故。 “詹姆斯给我讲过他的朋友丹迪的事,”我说。“丹迪是魔鬼,并且——” 詹姆斯听到丹迪这个名字,又叫了起来:“我要丹迪!我想回家!” 看守们把他从地上拉起来,带了出去。从此,我再也没有见过哥哥。 当看守们把我姐姐艾丽森带到法官前面时,我什么话都没说。小贩约翰·劳走进了房间。他变得非常瘦,走路、说话都很缓慢,一脸病容。他对法官讲述了那一天在科恩村附近,艾丽森诅咒他以及她的狗追赶他的事情。 “我很抱歉!”艾丽森说。“那天我很生你的气,不过现在我感到抱歉。”艾丽森的眼睛黑黑的,流露出恐惧。但是在那个房间里她没有一个朋友,没有人肯听她的话。 后来,诺埃尔先生把我领了出去,我和他的用人在另外一个房间里等着。一小时后,传来了许多人的哭嚷声。 用人笑了。“审判结束了,”他说。“你是个好孩子,詹妮特,你把有关巫师们的真相告诉了法官。” 诺埃尔先生把我带回里德宅院。1612年8月20日,看守们把我的妈妈、姐姐和哥哥押出监狱,在兰开斯特城堡前绞死了他们。 就这样我失去了我的一家。 当我还是个孩子时,我希望过得快乐。我想穿得暖和,想有鞋穿,有好东西吃。我盼望有人来关心我。仅此而已。我的妈妈什么也没有给过我。她从未给过我一点爱。她从不关心我。因为妈妈是女巫,我的父亲跑掉了,我根本不知道他是谁。他是一个没有名字的有钱人,而我却和女巫一起生活,过着饥寒交迫的日子。因此,我把我一家的真相告诉了布罗姆利法官。我错了吗?我不知道。 在里德宅院我幸福地生活了很多年。21年来,我忘记了我的家人。我学着为诺埃尔一家做饭;虽然每天工作很长时间,但是我穿得暖吃得好。每个星期天,我穿上最好的衣服去教堂祈祷;每年夏天我在潘德尔山上漫步。我从未想到过我的家人,因为我在里德宅院生活得很愉快。 1612年8月,看守们在兰开斯特城堡前绞死了我的一家。然而他们死去的面孔在那里等待着我。一年前,也就是1633年,看守们把我关进了兰开斯特城堡监狱。在狱中,我又遇到了他们。日复一日,我能看见他们丑陋的死去的面孔,听得到他们冰冷、气愤的声音。我总是想到他们。上帝在这里,在监狱中与我同在,对此我深信不疑。可是我死去的一家也与我同在。 基尔德威克教堂的韦伯斯特先生又来看我了。他看上去很疲劳,但是他向我微笑着。 “埃德蒙·鲁滨逊和他父亲在伦敦说了实话,”他轻声说。“那个孩子过去所说的有关你的事都是扯谎,因为他害怕他父亲。他希望父亲爱他。” 我什么也没说。韦伯斯特先生尽量和善地待我,可是他帮不了我。诺埃尔先生也无法帮我,因为他已经去世了。埃德蒙·鲁滨逊只是个孩子;他今天说谎,明天说真话,但是真话也帮不了我。我能做什么来对抗仇恨和谎言呢?诺埃尔先生在世时,村民们没有议论过我。然而诺埃尔先生去世后,谎言便开始流传起来。村民们都害怕我——因为我姓迪瓦斯。他们恨我——因为我姓迪瓦斯。他们说我是女巫——因为我姓迪瓦斯。 我来自巫师之家,可我不是巫师。我从未咒死过任何人。我从未制作过泥像。我从未养过猫或狗。我只想在里德宅院平静地生活,我只想凝望潘德尔山顶上那片不断变化的天空。 孩提时代,我总是挨饿受冻,我恨我的家人,因为他们都是巫师。1612年,我说了真话,而真话害死了我的一家。22年后的今天,谎言将使我在兰开斯特城堡中丧生,我再次陷入了饥寒交迫的苦难中。 韦伯斯特先生给了我面包,我又回到了牢房里。我再也无法重归里德宅院了;现在我知道这点了。我必须呆在兰开斯特城堡监狱里,和我死去的一家在一起。 他们正在注视着我,等待着我,我永远也无法摆脱他们。 这是我的真实故事;就讲到这儿吧。 |
【01-05】 [歌剧院的幽灵 / 詹妮弗·巴塞特 著] The Phantom of the Opera by Jennifer Bassett ■ 简介 你相信有鬼吗?当然不会相信。我们喜欢谈论鬼,喜欢讲述关于鬼的故事,但我们并非真的相信有鬼……是不是? 1880年,在巴黎歌剧院发生了一件不可思议的事情:一个舞蹈演员在黑暗的走廊里遇见了鬼。它穿越墙壁来到她的面前,它的脸上没有眼睛;一个舞台工人看见一个穿黑色晚礼服的男人,但他却有一个死人般的头颅,黄色的面孔,并且没有鼻子;人们听到另一个房间里有声音,而那个房间却是空的。 这就是歌剧院的幽灵…… 一个名叫盖斯顿·勒罗克斯的法国人最早创作了这个关于歌剧院的幽灵的故事。他的书很受欢迎,1925年它被拍成一部美国无声电影,由著名演员朗·钱尼扮演幽灵。从那以后,已经出现了许多其他的电影和戏剧,以及最近由安德鲁·劳埃德·韦伯创作的著名的英国音乐片。 本书作者詹妮弗·巴塞特是一位经验丰富的教师和作家。她生活和工作在英国西南部的德文郡。 |
■ 1 The dancers 'Quick!Quick!Close the door!It's him!'Annie Sorelli ran into the dressing-room, her face white. One of the girls ran and closed the door, and then they all turned to Annie Sorelli. 'Who?Where?What's the matter?' they cried. 'It's the ghost!'Annie said.'In the passage.I saw him.He came through the wall in front of me! And…and I saw his face!' Most of the girls were afraid, but one of them, a tall girl with black hair,laughed. 'Pooh!'she said.'Everybody says they see the Opera ghost, but there isn't really a ghost.You saw a shadow on the wall.'But she did not open the door,or look into the passage. 'Lots of people see him,' a second girl said.'Joseph Buquet saw him two days ago. Don't you remember?' Then all the girls began to talk at once. 'Joseph says the ghost is tall and he wears a black evening coat.' 'He has the head of a dead man, with a yellow face and no nose…' '…And no eyes-only black holes!' Then little Meg Giry spoke for the first time.'Don't talk about him.He doesn't like it.My mother told me.' 'Your mother?' the girl with black hair said.'What does your mother know about the ghost?' 'She says that Joseph Buquet is a fool. The ghost doesn't like people talking about him,and one day Joseph Buquet is go ing to be sorry, very sorry.' 'But what does your mother know? Tell us,tell us!' all the girls cried. 'Oh dear!'said Meg.'But please don't say a word to any one.You know my mother is the doorkeeper for some of the boxes in the Opera House.Well,Box 5 is the ghost's box!He watches the operas from that box,and sometimes he leaves flowers for my mother! 'The ghost has a box! And leaves flowers in it!' 'Oh, Meg,your mother's telling you stories!How can the ghost have a box?' 'It's true, it's true,I tell you!'Meg said.'Nobody buys tickets for Box 5, but the ghost always comes to it on opera nights.' 'So somebody does come there?' 'Why,no!… The ghost comes, but there is nobody there.' The dancers looked at Meg.'But how does your mother know?' one of them asked. 'There's no man in a black evening coat, with a yellow face.That's all wrong.My mother never sees the ghost in Box 5,but she hears him! He talks to her,but there is nobody there!And he doesn't like people talking about him!' But that evening the dancers could not stop talking about the Opera ghost.They talked before the opera, all through the opera, and after the opera. But they talked very quietly, and they looked behind them before they spoke. When the opera finished,the girls went back to their dress ing-room.Suddenly,they heard somebody in the passage,and Madame Giry, Meg's mother, ran into the room. She was a fat,motherly woman,with a red,happy face.But tonight her face was white. 'Oh girls,'she cried'.'Joseph Buquet is dead! You know he walks a long way down,on the fourth floor under the stage.The other stage workers found his dead body there an hour ago -with a rope around his neck!' 'It's the ghost!'cried Meg Giry.'The ghost killed him!' ■ 1 舞蹈演员们 “快!快!关门!是他!”安妮·索雷丽跑进化妆室,脸色苍白。 一个姑娘跑过去把门关上,然后她们都转向安妮·索雷丽。 “谁?在哪里?发生了什么事?”她们叫道。 “有鬼!”安妮说,“在走廊上,我看到了他。他穿过墙壁来到我的面前。我还……还看到了他的脸!” 绝大多数姑娘都很害怕,但她们中的一个高个子的黑发姑娘却大笑起来。 “呸!”她说,“每个人都说他们看到了这个歌剧院的幽灵,但是这里其实并没有鬼。你看见的只是墙上的影子。”但是她没有去把门打开,也没有到走廊上去看个究竟。 “许多人都看到过他,”又一个姑娘说,“约瑟夫·比凯两天前也看到过他,你们难道不记得了?” 随后所有的姑娘们立即开始谈论此事。 “约瑟夫说这幽灵是个高个子,他穿着黑色晚礼服。” “他有一个死人般的头颅,黄色面孔,没有鼻子……” “……而且没有眼睛——只是黑洞!” 接着娇小的梅格·吉丽第一次开口说话了:“不要谈论他。他不喜欢。我妈妈告诉我的。” “你妈妈?”黑头发姑娘问,“关于这幽灵的事儿,你妈妈都知道些什么?” “她说约瑟夫·比凯是个傻瓜。这幽灵不喜欢人们谈论他,总有一天约瑟夫·比凯会后悔的,会非常后悔的。” “但是你妈妈都知道些什么?告诉我们,告诉我们!”所有的姑娘都叫道。 “哦,亲爱的!”梅格说,“但是请不要跟任何人说一个字。你们知道我妈妈是歌剧院一些包厢的看门人。瞧!5号包厢就是这幽灵专用的!他用那个包厢看歌剧,并且有时候会留下一些鲜花给我妈妈!” “这幽灵还有包厢!而且在包厢里留下鲜花!” “哦,梅格,你妈妈在给你讲故事吧!幽灵怎么会有包厢呢?” “这是真的,这是真的,我告诉你们!”梅格说,“没有人买5号包厢的票,但是这个幽灵却经常在演晚场歌剧时到包厢里来。” “一些人也会来那里吧?” “为什么,不!……只有幽灵来,但是那里一个人也没有。” 舞蹈演员们看着梅格。“但是你妈妈是怎么知道的?”其中一个问道。 “这里根本没有穿黑色晚礼服、黄色面孔的男人。那都是瞎扯。我妈妈从来没有在5号包厢里看到过这个幽灵,但是她听到过!他跟她说话,然而里面却没有人!而且他不喜欢人们谈论他!” 但是那个晚上舞蹈演员们却不能停止谈论关于歌剧院的幽灵的话题。她们在歌剧开演前谈论着,在歌剧整个演出过程中谈论着,在歌剧演出结束后还谈论着。但是她们谈话的声音很小,而且她们在说话前总要先看看她们的身后的动静。 当歌剧演出结束的时候,姑娘们回到了她们的化妆室。突然,她们听到走廊上有人,原来是吉丽夫人,梅格的母亲,跑进了房间。她是一个肥胖的、慈母般的妇人,有一张微红肤色的、快乐的脸。但是今晚她的脸色却是苍白的。 “哦,姑娘们,”她叫道,“约瑟夫·比凯死了!要知道他是从高处掉下来,掉在舞台底下的第4层。其他的舞台杂工一个小时以前在那里发现了他的尸体——有一根绳子绕在他的脖子上!” “是幽灵!”梅格·古丽叫道,“是那个幽灵杀死了他!” ■ 2 The directors of the Opera House The Opera House was famous, and the directors of the Opera House were very important men.It was the first week of work for the two new directors, Monsieur Ar mand Moncharmin and Monsieur Firmin Richard.In the direc tors' office the next day,the two men talked about Joseph Bu quet. 'It was an accident,' Monsieur Armand said angrily.'Or Buquet killed himself.' 'An accident?…Killed himself?' Monsieur Firmin said.'Which story do you want,my friend? Or do you want the sto ry of the ghost?' 'Don't talk to me about ghosts!'Monsieur Armand said.'We have 1,500 people working for us in this Opera House,and everybody is talking about the ghost. They're all mad! I don't want to hear about the ghost, OK?' Monsieur Firmin looked at a letter on the table next to him. And what are we going to do about this letter,Armand?' 'Do?' cried Monsieur Armand.'Why, do nothing, of course! What can we do?' The two men read the letter again.It wasn't very long. To the new directors Because you are new in the Opera House,I am writing to tell you some important things.Never sell tickets for Box 5;that is my box for every opera night. Madame Giry, the door keeper, knows all about it. Also,I need money for my work in the Opera House.I am not expensive,and I am happy to take only20,000 francs a month. That is all. But please remem ber, I can be a good friend, but a bad enemy. O.G. 'Don't sell tickets for Box 5! 20,000 francs a month!'Monsieur Armand was very angry again.'That's the best box in the Opera House, and we need the money, Firmin! And who is this O.G,eh?Tell me that!' 'Opera Ghost,of course,'Monsieur tirmin said.'But you're right, Armand. We can do nothing about this letter. It's a joke, a bad joke. Somebody thinks we are fools, because we are new here.There are no ghosts in the Opera House!' The two men then talked about the opera for that night. It was Faust,and usually La Carlotta sang Margarita.La Carlotta was Spanish,and the best singer in Paris.But today,La Carlot ta was ill. 'Everybody in Paris is going to be at the opera tonight,'said Monsieur Armand,'and cur best singer is ill.Suddenly! She writes a letter to us just this morning-she is ill, she cannot sing tonight!' 'Don't get angry again, Armand,' Monsieur Firmin said quickly.'We have Christine Daaé, that young singer from Nor way.She can sing Margarita tonight.She has a good voice.' 'But she's so young, and nobody knows her!Nobody wants to listen to a new singer.' 'Wait and see.Perhaps Daaé can sing better than La Carlot ta.Who knows?' ■ 2 歌剧院的经理们 歌剧院很著名,而歌剧院的经理们也都是些非常显要的人物。这是两位新经理阿尔芒·蒙沙曼先生和菲尔曼·理查德先生上任的第一个星期。第二天,在经理办公室里,这两位先生谈起了约瑟夫·比凯的事。 “这是个意外事故,”阿尔芒先生气愤地说,“要不然比凯就是自杀的。” “意外事故?……自杀?”菲尔曼先生说,“你想要听一类故事,我的朋友?或者说你想听一个关于幽灵的故事?” “不要跟我谈关于幽灵的事!”阿尔芒先生说,“这个歌剧院里有1,500人在为我们工作,而每个人都在谈论关于幽灵的事。他们都疯了!我不想听到关于幽灵的事,行不行?” 菲尔曼先生看着他临近的桌子上一封给他的信。“那对于这封信我们该做些什么,阿尔芒?” “做些什么?”阿尔芒先生叫道,“为什么,什么也不做,当然!我们又能做些什么呢?”两位先生又读了一遍这封信。信并不很长。 致新任经理们 因为你们是歌剧院的新任经理,所以我写信告诉你们一些重要的事情。不要出售5号包厢的票;那是我观看每一场晚场歌剧的包厢。吉丽夫人,那位看门人,知道这一切。除此之外,我还需要在歌剧院工作的钱。我要价并不高,一个月拿两万法郎我就感到满足了。就这些。但是请记住,我会是一个好朋友,也会是一个死对头。 O.G.(注: O.G即 Opera Ghost的缩写。) “不要出售5号包厢的票!两万法郎一个月!”阿尔芒先生又来气了,“那是歌剧院最好的包厢,而且我们需要钱,菲尔曼!谁是这个O.G.啊?告诉我!” “自然是歌剧院的幽灵,”菲尔曼先生说,“但你是对的,阿尔芒。我绝对不能按照信上说的那么做。这是一个玩笑,一个恶毒的玩笑。一些人认为我们是傻瓜,因为我们是新来的。歌剧院里根本就没有幽灵!” 然后这两位先生就谈论起当晚的歌剧来。当晚的歌剧是《浮士德》,通常由拉·卡洛塔演唱玛格丽塔。拉·卡洛塔是西班牙人,是巴黎最好的歌唱家。但是今天,拉·卡洛塔却病了。 “今晚巴黎的每个人都会到歌剧院来,”阿尔芒先生说,“而我们最好的歌唱家却病了。她今天上午方才突然写信给我们——她病了,她今晚不能演唱了!” “不要再生气了,阿尔芒,”菲尔曼先生急忙说,“我们有克丽斯廷·达埃,那个年轻的挪威歌唱家。她今晚可以演唱玛格丽塔那个角色。她有一副好嗓子。” “但是她太年轻了,而且没有人知道她!没有人想听一位新歌唱家的演唱。” “等着瞧吧。也许达埃还会比拉·卡洛塔唱得更好。谁知道呢?” |
■ 3 Christine Daaé Monsieur Firmin was right.All Paris talked about the new Margarita in Faust,the girl with the beautiful voice,the girl with the voice of an angel.People loved her.They laughed and cried and called for more.Daaé was wonder ful,the best singer in the world! Behind the stage Meg Giry looked at Annie Sorelli.'Chris tine Daaé never sang like that before.'she said to Annie.'Why was she so good tonight?' 'Perhaps she's got a new music teacher,'Annie said. The noise in the Opera House went on for a long time. In Box 14,Philippe,the Comte de Chagny,turned to his younger brother and smiled. 'Well, Raoul, what did you think of Daaé tonight?' Raoul,the Vicomte de Chagny,was twenty-one years old.He had blue eyes and black hair,and a wonderful smile.The Chagny family was old and rich,and many girls in Paris were in love with the young Vicomte.But Raoul was not interested in them. He smiled back at his brother.'What can I say? Christine is an angel, that's all. I'm going to her dressing-room to see her tonight.' Philippe laughed. He was twenty years older than Raoul, and was more like a father than a brother. 'Ah, I understand,'he said.'You are in love! But this is your first night in Paris, your first visit to the opera. How do you know Christine Daaé?' 'You remember four years ago,when I was on holiday by the sea,in Brittany?'Raoul said.'Well, I met Christine there. Iwas in love with her then,and I'm still in love with her today!' The Comte de Chagny looked at his brother.'Mmm, I see,'he said slowly.'Well, Raoul, remember she is only an opera singer.We know nothing about her family.' But Raoul did not listen.To him,good families were not im portant,and young men never listen to their older brothers. There were many people in Christine Daaé's dressing-room that night.But there was a doctor with Christine,and her beautiful face Looked white and ill.Raoul went quickly across the room and took her hand. 'Christine! What's the matter? Are you ill?' He went down on the floor by her chair.'Don't you remember me Raoul de Chagny,in Brittany?' Christine looked at him,and her blue eyes were afraid.She took her hand away.'No, I don't know you.Please go away.I'm not well.' Raoul stood up, his face red. Before he could speak, the doc tor said quickly,' Yes, yes, please go away. Everybody, please leave the room.Mademoiselle Daaé needs to be quiet.She is very tired.' He moved to the door,and soon everybody left the room.Christine Daaé was alone in her dressing-room. Outside in the passage the young Vicomte was angry and unhappy.How could Christine forget him?How could she say that to him? He waited for some minutes, then,very quietly and carefully,he went back to the door of her dressing-room.But he did not open the door, because just then he heard a man's voice in the room! 'Christine,you must love me!' the voice said. Then Raoul heard Christine's voice.'How can you talk like that? When I sing only for you…? Tonight, I gave everything to you, everything. And now I'm so tired. 'Her voice was un happy and afraid. 'You sang like an angel,' the man's voice said. Raoul walked away.So that was the answer! Christine Daaéhad a lover.But why was her voice so unhappy? He waited in the shadows near her room. He wanted to see her lover-his enemy! After about ten minutes Christine came out of her room,alone, and walked away down the passage. Raoul waited, but no man came out after her. There was nobody in the passage,so Raoul went quickly up to the door of the dressing-room,opened it and went in.He closed the door quietly behind him,then called out: 'Where are you? I know you're in here!Come out!' There was no answer.Raoul looked everywhere-under the chairs, behind all the clothes,in all the dark corners of the room.There was nobody there. ■ 3 克丽斯廷·达埃 菲尔曼先生说对了。整个巴黎都在谈论歌剧《浮士德》中玛格丽塔的新演唱者,那个有着美妙歌喉的姑娘,那个有着天使一般嗓音的姑娘。人们热爱她。他们更多地笑啊喊啊叫啊。达埃的演唱确实不错,她是世界上最好的歌唱家。 在舞台的后面梅格·吉丽看着安妮·索雷丽。“克丽斯廷·达埃以前从来没有唱得那么好,”她对安妮说,“为什么她今晚唱得这么好呢?” “或许她已经有了一位新的音乐老师。”安妮说。 歌剧院里的喧闹声持续了很长一段时间。在14号包厢里,菲利普,这位沙尼家族的伯爵,微笑着转向他的弟弟。 “嘿,拉乌尔,你觉得今晚达埃表演得怎么样?” 拉乌尔,这位沙尼家族的子爵21岁。他蓝眼睛黑头发,有着迷人的微笑。沙尼家族古老而富有,巴黎的许多姑娘都爱上了这位年轻的子爵,但是拉乌尔对她们却并不感兴趣。 他对他的哥哥报以微笑。“我能说什么呢?克丽斯廷是一位天使,就这样。今晚我要去她的化妆室拜访她。” 菲利普笑了。他比拉乌尔大20岁,与其说是拉乌尔的兄长,倒不如说是他的父亲。 “啊,我明白了,”他说,“你恋爱了!但是这是你在巴黎的第一个夜晚,是你第一次来歌剧院。你是如何认识克丽斯廷·达埃的呢?” “你还记得4年前,我在布列塔尼海边度假的时候吗?”拉乌尔说,“喔,我在那儿遇见了克丽斯廷。当时我就爱上了她,而且今天我还爱着她!” 这位沙尼家族的伯爵看着他的弟弟。“呣,我明白,”他一字一顿地说,“噢,拉乌尔,记住,她只是一个歌剧演员。我们对她的家庭一无所知。” 但是拉乌尔听不进去。对他来说,好的家庭并不重要,而且年轻人从来都听不进他们兄长的劝告。 那天晚上克丽斯廷·达埃的化妆室里有很多人。但是克丽斯廷的身边还有一位医生,而且她美丽的面容带有病色,显得苍白。拉乌尔快步穿过房间,握住她的手。 “克丽斯廷!怎么了?你病了吗?”他俯下身去靠近她的座椅,“你不记得我了——沙尼家族的拉乌尔,在布列塔尼?” 克丽斯廷看着他,她那蓝色的眼睛带着惊恐。她把她的手抽走。“不,我不认识你。请走吧。我身体不太好。” 拉乌尔站起来,他的脸红了。他还没来得及说话,那位医生就急忙抢着说:“对,对,请走吧。各位,请离开这房间。达埃小姐需要安静。她太累了。” 他走向门口,不久所有的人都离开了那个房间,只留下克丽斯廷·达埃独自在她的化妆室里。 在门外的走廊上年轻的子爵感到不悦和扫兴。克丽斯廷怎么会忘了他?她怎么会对他说那些话?他等了几分钟,然后,轻轻地,小心翼翼地,他又走回到她的化妆室的门口。但是他没有把门推开,因为就在这个时候他听到屋里有一个男人的声音! “克丽斯廷,你必须爱我!”那个声音说。 接着拉乌尔听到克丽斯廷的声音。“你怎么能那样跟我说话?什么时候我只为你歌唱……?今晚,我把一切都给了你,一切。而现在我太累了。”她的声音显得愁苦而害怕。 “你唱得象一位天使。”那个男人的声音说。 拉乌尔走开了。这样看来那就是答案!克丽斯廷有一个情人。但是为什么她的声音显得如此不悦?他在她的房间附近的一处阴影里等着。他要看看她的情人——他的情敌! 大约过了10分钟左右,克丽斯廷从她的房间里出来了。她独自一人,从走廊上下去。拉乌尔等着,但是没有男人跟着她出来。走廊上没有人,于是拉乌尔快步来到化妆室门前,推门而入。他轻轻地把身后的门关上,然后喊道: “你在哪里?我知道你在这儿!出来!” 没有回答。拉乌尔找遍了所有地方——椅子下面、所有的衣服背后、房间里的每一个阴暗角落。但毫无人影。 ■ 4 The Phantom is angry That was Tuesday night.On Wednesday morning Mon sieur Armand and Monsieur Firmin were happy men.Paris liked the new Margarita-everything in life was good.The next opera night was Friday. It was Faust again, but this time with La Carlotta singing Margarita. By Wednesday afternoon they were not so happy.A second letter arrived for them-from O.G. Why don't you listen to me? I am getting angry. Leave Box 5 free for me. And where are my 20, 000 francs? On Friday Daaé must sing Margarita again.She is now the best singer in Paris. La Carlotta cannot sing-she has a very ugly voice,like a toad. Remember, I am a bad enemy. O. G. 'So,Firmin,is this still a joke?'Monsieur Armand shouted. 'What are we going to do now, eh? Is O. G. the director here,or are we?' 'Don't shout,Armand,'said Monsieur Firmin tiredly.'I don't know the answers.Let's talk to Madame Giry, the door keeper of Box 5.Perhaps she can help us.' But Madame Giry was not helpful.Madame Giry was not afraid of ghosts, and she was not afraid of directors of Opera Houses. 'People say that you're a friend of the Opera ghost,Madame Giry,' Monsieur Armand began.'Tell us about him.Some people say he has no head.' 'And some people say he has no body,' said Monsieur Firmin.'What do you say, Madame Giry?' Madame Giry looked at the two men and laughed.'I say that the directors of the Opera House are fools!' 'What!'Monsieur Armand shouted. He stood up,and his face was red and angry.'Listen to me,woman-' 'Oh, sit down, Armand,and listen,' said Monsieur Firmin.'why do you say that,Madame Giry?' 'Because,Monsieur,the Opera ghost is angry with you.When the ghost wants something, he must have it. He is clever and dangerous,this ghost.The old directors before you, they knew that,oh yes. At first they tried to stop him. Then there were many accidents in the Opera House,many strange acci dents.And when did these accidents happen? When the ghost was angry!So,the old directors learnt very quickly.The ghost wants Box 5? He can have it every night.The ghost wants money?Let's give the money to him at once.Oh yes,the old directors understood very well.' 'But we are the directors, not the Opera ghost!' Monsieur Armand shouted.He turned to Monsieur Firmin.'This woman is mad.Why do we listen to her? On Friday night La Carlotta is going to sing Margarita. And you and I, Firmin,are going to watch the opera from Box 5.' 'Well, we can try that, Armand. But we don't want any ac cidents.' Madame Giry came nearer to the two men.'Listen to me,'she said quietly.'Remember Joseph Buquet? I tell you,the Opera ghost is a good friend, but a bad enemy.' The two men stared at her.'Those words,Monsieur Firmin said slowly,'why did you say those words, Madame Giry?' 'Because the ghost says them to me. I never see him, but I often hear him.He has a very nice voice and he doesn't shout at people.' ■ 4 幽灵发怒了 那是星期二的晚上。星期三上午阿尔芒先生和菲尔曼先生成了快乐的人。巴黎喜欢玛格丽塔的新演唱者——生活中的一切都是美好的。下一场晚场歌剧是在星期五,又是《浮士德》,但是这一次由拉·卡洛塔演唱玛格丽塔。 到星期三下午他们就不那么快乐了。第二封信送到了他们手中——来自O.G.的信。 你们为什么不听我的话?我会发怒的。把5号包厢空着留给我。另外我的两万法郎在哪里?星期五达埃必须再次演唱玛格丽塔。她是当今巴黎最好的歌唱家。拉·卡洛塔不能演唱——她的声音非常难听,活象一只癞蛤蟆。 记住,我是一个死对头。O.G. “如此看来,菲尔曼,这仅仅是一个玩笑吗?”阿尔芒先生喊道,“现在我们该做些什么,啊? O.G.是这里的经理,还是我们?” “不要喊叫,阿尔芒,”菲尔曼先生有气无力地说,“我也不知道如何是好。让我们同吉丽夫人,那个5号包厢的看门人谈一谈。或许她能帮助我们。” 但是吉丽夫人帮不了什么。吉丽夫人并不怕幽灵,也不怕歌剧院的经理们。 “人们说你是歌剧院幽灵的朋友,吉丽夫人,”阿尔芒先生打开了话题,“告诉我们有关他的情况。有人说他没有脑袋。” “而有人说他没有身体,”菲尔曼先生说,“你说呢,吉丽夫人?” 吉丽夫人看着这两个人大笑起来。“我说歌剧院的经理们都是傻瓜!” “什么!”阿尔芒先生喊道。他站起来,满脸通红,面显怒色。“听我说,小娘们——” “哦,坐下,阿尔芒,听她说,”菲尔曼先生说,“你为什么那样说,吉丽夫人?” “因为,先生,这歌剧院的幽灵对你们发怒了。因为这幽灵想要什么,他就必须得到它。他是聪明而危险的,这个幽灵。你们的那些前任却深谙此道,哦,对了。刚开始他们试图阻止他。接着在歌剧院里就发生了许多事故,许多意想不到的事故。而什么时候那些事故发生呢?就是这幽灵发怒的时候!所以,那些老经理们很快就知道该怎么做了。这幽灵想要5号包厢?他可以每个晚上都拥有它。这幽灵想要钱?让我们马上把钱给他。哦对了,那些老经理们领会得很好。” “但是我们是经理,而不是这歌剧院的幽灵!”阿尔芒先生喊道。他转向菲尔曼先生。“这个女人疯了。我们为什么要听她的?星期五晚上由拉·卡洛塔演唱玛格丽塔。而你和我,菲尔曼,到5号包厢里去观看歌剧。” “好,我们可以那样试试,阿尔芒。但是我们不希望发生任何事故。” 吉丽夫人走近这两个人。“听我说,”她轻声道:“记得约瑟夫·比凯吗?我告诉你们,这歌剧院的幽灵会是一个好朋友,但也会是一个死对头。” 这两个人凝视着她。“那些话,”菲尔曼先生一字一顿地说,“你为什么说那些话,吉丽夫人?” “因为这幽灵跟我说过那些话。我从来没有见过他,但是我经常听到他说话。他有一副很好的嗓子——而且不对人喊叫。 |
5 A letter for Raoul That Wednesday a letter also arrived for the young Vi comte de Chagny.He opened the letter,saw the name at the bottom, and smiled for the first time that day. Dear Raoul Of course I remember you!How could I forget you? Meet me on Thursday at three o'clock in the Tuileries Gar dens.Don't be angry with me,Raoul,please. Christine Daaé Raoul put the letter carefully into his pocket. Angry? How could he be angry with an angel? On Thursday he was in the Tuileries Gardens by two o'clock. At ten past three he began to feel unhappy.At half past three he wanted to die, or to kill somebody. And then… she came. She ran through the gardens to him,and in a second she was in his arms. 'Oh,Christine!'he said,again and again.'Oh, Christine!'They walked through the gardens together and talked for a long time. They remembered their happy weeks in Brittany,four years ago. 'But why did you go away,Christine?' Raoul asked.'Why didn't you write to me?' For a minute or two Christine said nothing.Then she said slowly,'We were so young, you and I.I was just a poor singer from Norway,and you…you were the Vicomte de Chagny.I knew I could never be your wife.' 'But I love you,Christine-' 'No,shh.Listen to me,Raoul,please.I went home to Nor way,and a year later,my father died.I was very unhappy,but I came back to France,to Paris.I worked and worked at my singing,because I wanted to be an opera singer. Not just a good singer, but the best opera singer in Paris.' 'And now you are,' Raoul said.He smiled.'All Paris is at your feet.' Christine turned her face away and said nothing. 'Christine,' Raoul said quietly.'I want to ask you a ques tion.Who was the man in your dressing-room on Tuesday night? Tell me,please!' Christine stopped and stared at him. Her face went white.'What man?'she whispered.'There was no man in my dress ing-room on Tuesday night.' Raoul put his hand on her arm.'I heard him,' he said.'I listened outside the door and heard a man's voice. Who was he?' 'Don't ask me,Raoul!There was a man's voice,yes,but there was no man in my room! It's true!Oh,Raoul,I'm so afraid.Sometimes I want to die.' 'Who is he? Tell me, Christine,please.I'm your friend,I can help you.Tell me his name!' 'I cannot tell you his name. It's a secret,' whispered Chris tine.'I never see him, I only hear his voice.But he is everywhere! He sees everything,hears everything.That's why I didn't speak to you on Tuesday night.He is my music teacher, Raoul.He's a wonderful singer.I sang so well on Tuesday night because of him. I am famous because of him.He is my angel of music!And he says he loves me.How can I leave him?' ■ 5 一封致拉乌尔的信 那个星期三也有一封信到了年轻的沙尼家族的子爵手里。他打开信,看到信末尾的署名,露出了那天的第一个微笑。 亲爱的拉乌尔: 我当然记得你!我怎么会忘了你呢?星期四下午3点到杜伊勒利花园来见我。请不要生我的气,拉乌尔。 克丽斯廷·达埃 拉乌尔小心翼翼地把这封信放进他的衣服口袋里。生气吗?他怎么会生一位天使的气呢?星期四他在2点以前就到了杜伊勒利花园。 3点过10分的时候他开始感到不快。或3点30分的时候他想死掉,或者杀人。 随后……她来了。她穿过花园奔向他,一下子扑到他怀里。 “哦,克丽斯廷!”他一遍又一遍地说,“哦,克丽斯廷!”他们一同漫步着穿过花园并且谈了很长时间。他们回忆起4年前在布列塔尼的快乐时光。 “但是为什么你离开那里了,克丽斯廷?”拉乌尔问,“你为什么不给我写信?” 克丽斯廷沉默了一两分钟,然后她才慢慢道来:“我和你太年轻,我只是一个从挪威来的贫穷的歌唱家,而你……你是沙尼家族的子爵。我知道我不可能成为你的妻子。” “但是我爱你,克丽斯廷——” “不,嘘,别作声,请听我说,拉乌尔。我回到了挪威,一年后,我父亲逝世了。我非常悲伤,但是我回到了法国,来到了巴黎。我拼命地唱啊唱啊,因为我想成为一名歌剧演唱家。不仅仅是优秀的歌唱家,而是巴黎最好的歌剧演唱家。” “现在你是了,”拉乌尔说。他微笑着,“整个巴黎都拜倒在你的脚下。” 克丽斯廷转过脸去,沉默不语。 “克丽斯廷,”拉乌尔轻声说,“我想问你一个问题。星期二晚上在你化妆室的那个男人是谁?请告诉我!” 克丽斯廷停下来凝视着他。她的脸变白了。“什么男人?”她低语道,“星期二晚上没有男人在我的化妆室里。” 拉乌尔把手放在她的手臂上。“我听到他的声音了,”他说:“我在门外听,听到了一个男人的声音。他是谁?” “不要问我,拉乌尔!是有一个男人的声音,是,但是我的房间里却没有男人!这是真的!哦,拉乌尔,我害怕极了。有时候我真想去死。” “他是谁?请告诉我,克丽斯廷。我是你的朋友,我会帮助你。告诉我他的名字!” “我不能告诉你他的名字。这是一个秘密,克丽斯廷低声道,“我从来没有见过他,我只是听到他的声音。但是他无处不在!他什么都看得到,什么都听得到。那就是我星期二晚上没有和你说话的原因。他是我的音乐老师,拉乌尔。他是一个极好的歌唱家。我星期二晚上之所以唱得那么好就是因为他。我之所以出名就是因为他。他是我的音乐天使!而他说他爱我。我怎么能离开他呢?” 6 La Carlotta sings Margarita On Friday morning La Carlotta had her break fast in bed.She drank her coffee and opened her morning let ters.One letter had no name on it. It was very short. You are ill. You cannot sing Margarita tonight.Stay at home and don't go to the Opera House. Accidents can hap pen.Do you want to lose your voice-for ever? La Carlotta was very, very angry. She got out of bed at once and did not finish her breakfast. 'This is from Christine Daaé' s friends,' she thought.'They want her to sing again tonight.That Daaé girl is going to be sorry for this! I,La Carlotta, I am the best opera singer in Paris.And nothing is going to stop me singing Margarita tonight!' At six o'clock that evening the dancers were in their dress ing-room.They talked and laughed and put on their red and black dresses for Faust.But Meg Giry was very quiet. 'What's the matter,Meg?'Annie Sorelli asked. 'It's the Opera ghost,Meg said.'My mother says he's angry.She's afraid that something's going to happen tonight.' 'Oh,pooh!'the girl with black hair said.'Who's afraid of an old ghost?' An hour later Monsieur Armand and Monsieur Firmin went into Box 5 and sat down.They were not afraid of ghosts.Of course not.There were no ghosts in the Opera House. Then Monsieur Armand saw some flowers on the floor by the door of the box.'Firmin,'he whispered,'did you put those flowers there?' Monsieur Firmin looked.'No,I didn't,'he whispered back'Did you?' 'Of course not, you fool!Shh,the music's beginning.' La Carlotta did not sing for the first hour.There were no strange voices in Box 5,and the two directors began to feel happier. Then La Carlotta came out onto the stage, and Mon sieur Firmin looked at Monsieur Armand. 'Did you hear a voice just then?' he asked quietly. 'No!'Monsieur Armand said,but he looked behind him twice, then three times, and suddenly felt cold. La Carlotta sang and sang, and nothing happened. Then she began a beautiful love song. 'My love begins to-Co-ack!' Everybody stared.What was the matter with Carlotta's voice What was that strange noise-Co-ack Carlotta stopped and began the song again. 'My love begins to-Co-ack! I cannot forget my-Co-ack!' It was the noise of a toad! People began to talk and laugh.Monsieur Firmin put his head in his bands.Then he felt Mon sieur Armand's hand on his arm.There was a voice in the box with them! A man's voice,laughing Poor Carlotta tried again,and again. 'I cannot forget my-Co-ack!' Then the two directors heard the voice again, behind them,in front of them, everywhere.'Her singing tonight is going to bring down the chandelier!' The two directors looked up at the top of the Opera House.Their faces were white.The famous chandelier, with its thou sand lights,broke away from its ropes and crashed down on to the people below. That was a terrible night for the Paris Opera House.One woman was killed by the chandelier, and many people were hurt.The Opera House closed for two weeks.And La Carlotta never sang again. ■ 6 拉·卡洛塔演唱玛格丽塔 星期五早晨拉·卡洛塔在床上用早餐。她一边喝咖啡一边拆阅她的晨信。有一封信没有署名。它非常短。 你病了。今晚你不能演唱玛格丽塔。呆在家里不要去歌剧院。否则会有意外。你想失声吗?——永远? 拉·卡洛塔非常非常气愤。她立即下床,连早餐都没有吃完。 “这是克丽斯廷·达埃的朋友写来的,”她想,“他们希望她今晚再次演唱。那个达埃姑娘将为此而感到懊悔!我,拉·卡洛塔,是巴黎最好的歌剧演唱家。没有什么能够阻止我今晚演唱玛格丽塔!” 当天晚上6点钟舞蹈演员们都来到了她们的化妆室。她们一边笑谈着一边穿上她们的红黑的《浮士德》歌剧服。但是梅格·吉丽却一言不发。 “怎么了,梅格?”安妮·索雷丽问。 “是歌剧院的幽灵,”梅洛说,“我妈妈说他发怒了。她担心今晚会发生什么事。” “哦,呸!”那个黑发姑娘说,“谁会害怕什么幽灵?” 一个小时以后阿尔芒先生和菲尔曼先生步入5号包厢坐下。他们从不害怕幽灵。歌剧院里根本就没有幽灵。 随后阿尔芒先生发现包厢门边的地上放着一些鲜花。“菲尔曼,”他轻声问,“是你把那些鲜花放在那里的?” 菲尔曼先生看了看。“不,我没有,”他反过来轻声问:“是你吗?” “当然不是,你这个傻瓜!嘘,歌剧开始了。” 拉·卡洛塔在开始的一个小时里不演唱。5号包厢里没有异样的声音,于是两位经理开始感觉心情愉快了。接着拉·卡洛塔出现在舞台上,这时菲尔曼先生看着阿尔芒先生。 “刚才你听到说话声了吗?”他轻声问。 “没有!”阿尔芒先生说,但是他往身后看了两次,随后又看了第三次,并且突然感到一丝凉意。 拉·卡洛塔唱啊唱,并没有发生什么事。接着她开始演唱一首优美的爱情歌曲。 “我的爱始于——科-艾克!” 众人面面相觑。卡洛塔的嗓音怎么了?那个陌生的杂音——科-艾克是什么? 卡洛塔停下来重新开始演唱。 “我的爱始于——科-艾克!” “我无法忘记我的——科-艾克!” 这是癞蛤蟆的鼓噪!人们开始交头接耳并且哄笑。菲尔曼先生把头埋进双手之中。然后他觉得阿尔芒先生的手放在了自己的手臂上。包厢里有一个声音!一个男人的声音,大笑着! 可怜的卡洛塔试了一次又一次。 “我无法忘记我的——科-艾克!” 接着这两位经理又听到了那个声音,它来自身后,身前,各个方向。“今晚她的演唱将会使枝形吊灯落下来!” 两位经理抬头朝歌剧院的屋顶看去。他们的脸色变得惨白。那著名的有着上千盏灯的枝形吊灯,竟然脱离束缚它的绳索坠落在下面的观众席上。 对于巴黎歌剧院来说那是一个可怕的夜晚。一名妇女被枝形吊灯砸死,另外许多人被砸伤。歌剧院为此关闭两周。而拉·卡洛塔从此再没有演唱过。 |
7 My angel of music For a week Raoul saw Christine every day.Some days Christine was quiet and unhappy,some days she laughed and sang. She never wanted to talk about the Opera House, or her singing, or Raoul's love for her. Raoul was very afraid for her.Who, or what,was this strange teacher,this man's voice,her'angel of music'? Then one day there was no Christine.She was not at her home, not at the Opera House,not at their meeting places Raoul looked everywhere and asked everybody.Where was Christine Daaé?But nobody knew. Two days before the Opera House opened again,a letter ar rived for Raoul.It was from Christine. Meet me in an hour at the top of the Opera House,on the tenth floor. The tenth floor of the Opera House was a dangerous place.There were hundreds of ropes going down to the stage below it was a long,long way down. Raoul and Christine sat in a dark corner,and Raoul took Christine's hands. Her face was white and tired. 'Listen,Raoul,'she said quiety.'I'm going to tell you ev erything.But this is our last meeting. I can never see you again.' 'No,Christine!'Raoul cried.' I love you,and we-' 'Shh! Quietly! Perhaps he can hear us.He's everywhere in the Opera House, Raoul!' 'Who?What are you talking about,Christine?' 'My angel of music.I couldn't meet you last Satuday be cause he came for me,and took me away.I was in my dressing room in the Opera House and suddenly,he was there in front of me! I saw the voice for the first time! He wore black evening clothes and a mask over his face. He took me throughmany secret doors and passages,down,down under the Opera House.There is a lake down there,a big lake; the waters are black and cold.He took me across the lake in a boat to his house.He lives there,Raoul,in a house on the lake,under the Opera House!' Raoul stared at her.Was his beautiful Christine mad? Chris tine saw his face,and said quickly: 'It's true,Raoul,It's true! And he…,he is the Phantom of the Opera!But he's not a ghost,he's not an angel of music,he's a man!His name is Erik,and he loves me,he wants me to be his wife!No,Raoul,listen, there is more.He told me all this in his house,in a beautiful room.He said that no woman could everlove him,because of his face.He was so unhappy! Then he took off his mask,and I saw his face.' She began to cry,and Raoul put his arms around her. 'Oh Raoul,he has the most terrible face!It is so ugly! I wanted to scream and run away.But where could I run to? He has the face of a dead man,Raoul,but he is not dead!He has no nose,just two black holes in his yellow face.And his eyes!Sometimes they are black holes,sometimes they have a terrible red light…' She put her face in her hands for a second.Then she said,'I stayed in his house for five days.He was very good to me,and I felt sorry for him, Raoul. He wants me to love him, and I told him…I told him…' 'No,Christine,no!You're going to be my wife!Come away with me at once,today!You can't go back to him.' 'But I must,' Christine said quietly.'He knows about you,Raoul.He knows about us.He says he's going to kill you.I must go back to him.' 'Never!' said Raoul.'I love you,Christine,and I'm going to kill this Erik!' Erik…Erik…Erik…Erik… The word whispered round the Opera House.Raoul and Christine stared. 'What was that?' Raoul said, afraid.'Was that… his voice?Where did it come from?' 'I'm afraid,Raoul,'Christine whispered.I'm singing Margarita again on Saturday.What's going to happen?' 'This,'Raoul said.'After the opera on Saturday night,you and I are going away together.Come on,let's go down now.I don't like it up here.' They went carefully along a dark passage to some stairs,then suddenly stopped.There was a man in front of them, a tall man in a long dark coat and a black hat.He turned and looked at them. 'No,not these stairs,'he said.'Go to the stairs at the front.And go quickly!' Christine turned and ran.Raoul ran after her. 'Who was that man?' he asked. 'It's the Persian,' Christine answered. 'But who is he? What's his name? Why did he tell us to go to the front stairs?' 'Nobody knows his name.He's just the Persian. He's al ways in the Opera House.I think he knows about Erik,but he never talks about him.Perhaps he saw Erik on those stairs, and wanted to help us.' Hand in hand,they ran quickly down the stairs,through passages,then more stairs and more passages.At one of the lit tle back doors to the Opera House,they stopped. 'On Saturday night,then.After the opera,'Raoul said. 'I'm going to take you away,and marry you.' Christine looked up into his face.'Yes,Raoul.' Then they kissed, there by the door of the Opera House.Their first kiss. ■ 7 我的音乐天使 在一个星期的时间里拉乌尔天天都与克丽斯廷约会。有时候克丽斯廷显得沉默而不太高兴,而有时候她又笑又唱。她从不愿提及歌剧院,不愿提及她的演唱,也不愿提及拉乌尔对她的爱。拉乌尔为她感到非常担心。这个奇怪的老师,这个男人的声音,她的“音乐天使”到底是谁,或者是什么? 后来有一天克丽斯廷不见了。她不在家里,不在歌剧院里,也不在他们约会的地方。拉乌尔到处找并且问遍了所有的人。克丽斯廷·达埃在哪里?但是没有人知道。 在歌剧院重新开业的前两天,一封信送到了拉乌尔手里。它是克丽斯廷写来的。 一个小时以后到歌剧院的顶层第10层来见我。 歌剧院的第10层是一个危险的地方。那里有数百条绳索垂向下面的舞台——长长地下垂着。 拉乌尔和克丽斯廷坐在一个阴暗的角落里,拉乌尔握着克丽斯廷的双手。她的脸色苍白,显得有些疲惫。 “听着,拉乌尔,”她轻声说,“我将把一切都告诉你。但是这是我们的最后一次约会。我再也不能见你了。” “不,克丽斯廷!”拉乌尔喊道,“我爱你,而且我们——” “嘘!小声点!也许他能听到我们。在歌剧院里他无处不在,拉乌尔!” “谁?你在说什么,克丽斯廷?” “我的音乐天使。上个星期六我不能来见你,因为他来邀我,并且把我带走了。当时我正在歌剧院我的化妆室里,突然地,他就出现在我的面前!我第一次看到了发出这个声音的人!他穿着黑色晚礼服,脸上戴着面罩。他带着我穿过许多秘密的门和走廊,在歌剧院的底下一直往下、往下走。那里的最下面有一个湖,一个挺大的湖;湖水又黑又凉。他用小船带着我渡过那个湖去他的住处。他住在那里,拉乌尔,住在湖上的房子里,在歌剧院的底下!” 拉乌尔凝视着她。他的美丽的克丽斯廷疯了吗?克丽斯廷看着他的脸,急急地说: “这是真的,拉乌尔,这是真的!而他……他就是那个歌剧院的幽灵!不过他不是鬼,他也不是音乐天使,他是一个实实在在的男人!他的名字叫埃里克,他爱我,他希望我成为他的妻子!不,拉乌尔,听着,还有。在他的房子里,在一个漂亮的房间里,他把这一切都告诉了我。他说没有一个女人曾经爱过他,都是因为他的脸。他是如此的不幸!接着他摘下他的面罩,我看到了他的脸。” 她开始叫起来,拉乌尔一把将她抱住。 “哦!拉乌尔,他有一张最最可怕的脸!它是如此的丑陋!我真想尖叫着跑掉,可是我能往哪儿跑?他有一张死人一样的脸,拉乌尔,但是他并不是死人!他没有鼻子,在他的黄色的脸上只有两个黑洞。而他的眼睛!有时候它们是黑洞,有时候它们则发出可怕的红光……” 她把脸埋入双手之中,片刻之后她说:“我在他的房子里呆了5天。他对我非常好,我觉得对不起他,拉乌尔。他希望我爱他,而我告诉他……我告诉他……” “不,克丽斯廷,不!你将成为我的妻子!来,马上和我离开这儿,今天!你不能回到他那儿去。” “但是我必须,”克丽斯廷轻声道,“他知道你,拉乌尔。他知道我们的事。他说他要杀了你。我必须回到他那儿去。” “决不!”拉乌尔说,“我爱你,克丽斯廷,而且我要杀了这个埃里克!” 埃里克……埃里克……埃里克……埃里克……这声音在歌剧院里低声回荡着。拉乌尔和克丽斯廷面面相觑。 “那是什么?”拉乌尔害怕地说,“那是……他的声音吗?它们是从哪儿发出来的?” “我害怕,拉乌尔,”克丽斯廷轻声说,“星期六我将再次演唱玛格丽塔。到时候会发生什么事呢?” “这样,”拉乌尔说,“演完星期六晚上的那场歌剧以后,你和我一起离开这儿。我们下去吧。我不喜欢呆在这里。” 他们小心翼翼地沿着黑暗的走廊朝楼梯走去,接着突然停住了。有一个男人站在他们前面,一个高个子男人,穿着深色长外衣,戴着一顶黑色帽子。他转过身来看着他们。 “不,别走这楼梯,”他说,“去前面那楼梯,快走!” 克丽斯廷转身就跑。拉乌尔跟着她跑。 “那个人是谁?”他问。 “是个波斯人。”克丽斯廷回答。 “但是他是谁?他叫什么名字?为什么他告诉我们要走前面的楼梯?” “没有人知道他的名字。他就是波斯人。他经常在歌剧院里。我想他了解埃里克,但是他从不提及他。或许他看到埃里克在那楼梯上,而想帮助我们。” 他们手拉着手飞快地跑下楼梯,穿过走廊,下面还有更多的楼梯和走廊。在快到歌剧院门口的一道门那儿,他们停住了。 “星期六晚上,到那时,演完歌剧以后,”拉乌尔说,“我要带你离开这儿,并且和你结婚。” 克丽斯廷抬头深情地看着他的脸。“好吧,拉乌尔。” 随后他们接吻了,在歌剧院的那道门边。那是他们的初吻。 ■ 8 Where is Christine Daaé? On Saturday morning Comte Philippe looked across the breakfast table at his brother. 'Don't do it,Raoul,please.All this talk about ghosts and phantoms.I think the girl is mad.' 'She's not mad,and I'm going to marry her,'Raoul said. 'She's only a little opera singer,'Philippe said unhappily. 'And she's very young.Are you still going to love her in ten,or twenty,years' time?' Raoul drank his coffee and did not answer. There were two more unhappy faces in the Opera House,too.The directors now understood about O.G.They didn't want any more accidents. 'Box 5 is free tonight for O.G. Daaé is singing Margarita.And here is 20,000 francs.Madame Giry can leave the money in Box 5 for him.Is that everything?'Monsieur Armand asked Monsieur Firmin. 'It's a lot of money,'Monsieur Firmin said unhappily.He thought for a minute.'What about some flowers in Box 5?Madame Giry says that O.G.likes flowers.' 'O.G.can bring his own flowers!' shouted Monsieur Ar mand. The evening began well.The chandelier was now back in place, with new ropes.All Paris was in the Opera House.Ev erybody wanted to hear Christine Daaé's voice again.People also knew about the love story between Christine Daaé and the Vicomte de Chagny.There are no love secrets in Paris!People watched the Comte and the Vicomte in Box 14 with interest.Young men from families like de Chagny do not marry opera Singers. When Christine came onto the stage,her face was white and she looked afraid.But she sang like an angel.Ah, what a voice!All Paris was in love with Christine Daaé. She began to sing the famous love song.Suddenly,every light in the Opera House went out.For a second nobody moved or spoke.Then a woman screamed,and all the lights came on again. But Christine Daaé was no longer on the stage!She was not behind the stage, she was not under the stage.Nobody could find her. The Opera House went mad.Everybody ran here and there,shouted and called. In the directors office, people ran in and out.The police came,and asked questions. But nobody could answer the questions.Monsieur Armand got angry and shouted,and Monsieur Firmin told him to be quiet.Then Madame Giry arrived in the office with her daughter Meg. 'Go away,woman!'Monsieur Armand shouted. 'Monsieur,there are three people missing now!'Madame Giry said.'Meg,tell the directors your story.' This was Meg's story. 'When the lights went out,we were just behind the stage.We heard a scream-I thlnk it was Christine Daaé's voice.Then the lights came back on,but Christine wasn't there!we were very afraid,and we began to run back to our dressing room.There were people running everywhere! Then we saw the Vicomte de Chagny.His face was red and he was very an gry.“Where's Christine? Where's Christine?he shouted.Suddenly the Persian came up behind him and took his arm.He said something to the Vicomte and they went into Christine Daaé's dressing-room…' 'Yes? And then?' Monsieur Firmin said quickly.'What happened next?' 'Nobody knows!' Meg's face was white.'We looked into Christine Daaé's dressing-room,but…but there was nobody there!' ■ 8 克丽斯廷·达埃哪去了? 星期六早上菲利普伯爵走到早餐桌那头他弟弟的面前。 “请不要做这样的事,拉乌尔。这里所有人都在谈论鬼啊幽灵啊。我想那个姑娘疯了。” “她没有疯,而且我要和她结婚。”拉乌尔说。 “她只是一个毫不起眼的歌剧演员,”菲利普不高兴地说,“而且她太年轻。 10年20年以后你还会仍然爱她吗?” 拉乌尔喝着咖啡没有回答。 在歌剧院里也有两张很不高兴的面孔。经理们现在终于知道了O.G.的厉害。他们不想再出现任何事故。 “5号包厢今晚空着留给O.G.由达埃来演唱玛格丽塔。另外这里是两万法郎。吉丽夫人可以把这些钱留在5号包厢里给他。所有的就那些事吧?”阿尔芒先生问菲尔曼先生。 “这是很多钱啊,”菲尔曼先生不高兴地说。他想了一会儿,“在5号包厢里放些鲜花怎么样?吉丽夫人说那个O.G.喜欢鲜花。” “O.G.可以带上他自己的鲜花!”阿尔芒先生喊道。 这个夜晚到来时,一切还是令人满意的。那枝形吊灯换了新的绳索又回到了它原来的位置。巴黎所有的人都到了歌剧院。每个人都想再次欣赏克丽斯廷·达埃的演唱。人们也都知道了克丽斯廷·达埃和沙尼家族的子爵之间的爱情故事。在巴黎没有什么爱情秘密!人们饶有兴趣地朝14号包厢里的伯爵和子爵张望着。出身于象沙尼那样家族的年轻人一般是不会与歌剧演员结婚的。 当克丽斯廷出现在舞台上的时候,她的脸色苍白而且看上去有些害怕。但是她唱得像一位天使。啊,多么美妙的声音!整个巴黎都爱上了克丽斯廷·达埃。 她开始演唱那首著名的爱情歌曲。突然,歌剧院里所有的灯都熄灭了。这片刻之间没有人走动,也没有人说话。随后一个女人尖叫起来,与此同时所有的灯又都亮了。 但是克丽斯廷却不再在舞台上了!她不在舞台的后面,她也不在舞台底下。没有人能够找到她。 歌剧院里乱得一团糟。每个人都跑来跑去,又喊又叫。在经理办公室里,人们跑进跑出。警察来了,问了一些问题。但是没有人能够回答这些问题。阿尔芒先生发着脾气,喊叫着,菲尔曼先生要他冷静一些。接着,吉丽夫人领着她的女儿梅格走进了办公室。 “出去,你这个小娘们!”阿尔曼先生喊道。 “先生,现在有三个人失踪了!”吉丽夫人说,“梅格,把你看到的事告诉经理们。” 这是梅格的故事。 “当灯熄灭的时候,我们正在舞台的后面。我们听到一声尖叫——我觉得是克丽斯廷·达埃的声音。随后灯又亮了,但是克丽斯廷不见了!我们非常害怕,我们都往自己的化妆室跑。人们到处乱跑!接着我们看见了沙尼家族的子爵。他满脸通红而且显得非常愤怒。'克丽斯廷你在哪里?克丽斯廷你在哪里?'他喊着。突然那个波斯人从他后面走上来抓住他的手臂。他对子爵说了些什么,然后他们就进了克丽斯廷·达埃的化妆室……” “是吗?那么后来呢?”菲尔曼先生着急地问,“接下来发生了什么事?” “没有人知道!”梅格脸色苍白,“我们朝克丽斯廷·达埃的化妆室里面看了看,但是……但是那里并没有人!” |