得救
死一般的寂静。任何声音都不能从空荡荡的灰色的水泥墙滲入,也没有声音能从这里溢出。这些冰冷的,毫无生命力的,冷酷的石头砌成的墙壁已经矗立在这里几十年了,也许上百年了。把这样的一个石头陷井称作房间似乎是一件很可笑的事情,没有家具,没有温暖。不。它只是一个盒子,一个水泥制成的盒子。
我退回属于我的角落,瑟瑟发抖,我用双手抱膝,似乎这样能使我暖和一点。我是不会再有温暖的感觉了,暖气对我来说已经没有必要。我闭上眼睛好阻止我用眼睛去观察,但是我已经不需要睁开眼睛去看世界了。在我的头顶上是石头筑成的天,在我的身边是光滑的人造的石头的壁,在我面前的巨大的方形的房间是空荡荡的,冰冷的水泥地是牢不可破的,只有一具尸体。
躺在房屋中间的隆起的一堆,是一个十几岁少女的尸体,被遗弃在那里,任其腐烂。她穿着白蓝相间的校服。一开始,我看她还具有着让人难以抵抗的魅力,可现在,她简直是惨不忍睹,但我闻不到从她腐烂身体散发出来的恶臭。我这样说是不是对死亡的大不敬?不过不要紧,我知道她不会怪我的,我当然知道。
这曾经是防空洞,但现在一切都被清空了。这里曾是最普通的庇护所,简单的方形房间。我在外面的时候曾经听人们说过防空洞就要被拆除,可我从来没有在意。这个防空洞没有什么用处,也不引人注意。只有一次它被一个有些阴森的蓝色灯光四处照过,但在我变成现在这个样子以前,一切都在黑暗之中。
有一个闷闷的敲击的声音从房屋外面传来,我睁开眼睛,什么都没听到。我想那一定是我的幻觉,我总爱胡思乱想。我的耳边总回响着各种各样的声音,非真实的,又确实存在的声音。我把我的膝抱得更紧了,让它们紧紧地贴在我的胸前,但我却什么都感受不到。我又闭上了我的眼睛,出去的门仍然是锁着的。
我的思想有些错乱,我想到了麦克斯,我已经想不出他的模样,只能一遍遍地想他的名字,我想他,太想他。我的感觉早已迟钝,但只要我一想到他,一阵钻心的刺骨的疼痛就会袭来。我以为我几乎不会感觉到痛了,只有这样的思想让我还存有希望,我是不允许有任何的情感存在的。
“哎,吉姆,这儿好臭啊,好象什么东西死了的味道。”
这是一个男性的声音,它让我过了好一阵子才反应过来话的含义。他说的真的太对了。
“简直漆黑一团嘛。手电在哪儿?我什么都看不见。”另外一个声音说道。
突然,一束黄光照进了房间,光线在地上寻找着。手电筒,我回忆到,它叫手电筒啊!
当光在面前的尸体来回照射时,我饶有兴趣地看着。又有一束黄光加入了进来。黄光没有和先前出现过的蓝光混合,它们各自独立着。第二束光也在尸体上来回照射着,然后,它停住了。
“天啊!”声音很吃惊,“我认为这是个死去的女孩呀。”
又有更多的震惊的和害怕的声音。我继续躲在角落里,没有人注意。
“从味道上判断,这女孩最少死了有一个月了。”有一个声音小声地说,一个女性的声音。
我不能想起我的声音是什么样的,这是一个女性的声音。不过这不重要,真的不重要,重要的是我被发现了。
静静地,在我死了以后,我第一次得以提升。
我被发现了。
在我跟随着那束看不见的蓝光,被它照耀着向上的同时,泪水刺痛了我的双眼,差点掉了下来。
我得救了。
在被这个人类世界艰难的羁绊住后,我终于可以离开了。我允许我的眼泪任意地流出因为这是我最后一次保持人的形态,我跟随着蓝光,消失了,无声无息地。
*
在某个地方,麦克斯正坐在家门口的台阶上,他叹着气。已经和他做了四年的女朋友一个月前失踪了。他想念她,他希望她生气离去的时候能给他说上一句话,更希望她一切都好。
麦克斯感到有什么东西从他的脸上滑过,他向上看去,下雨了。
轻如羽毛的水从天堂滴落,麦克斯伤心地望着天空。
他想起了爱玛的眼泪。
Found
The silence is suffocating. The grey, concrete walls of the empty room allow no sounds to seep in, nor any to escape. They are unfeeling, heartless and lifeless slabs of stone set in place decades – maybe centuries – ago. It seems almost funny to call this stone trap a room, being bare of all furnishings and warmth. No. It’s a box. A box made of concrete.
I retreat further into my corner, trembling and wrapping my arms around my knees for some semblance of warmth. Not that I can feel warmth any longer. Heat is no longer a necessity. My eyes are shut in an attempt to stop myself from seeing. But I don’t need my eyes to be open to see anymore. Above me is a sky of stone and, beneath me, is a ground of smooth, human-set rock. The large square room in front of me is empty, the cold floor of cement remaining unbroken. Except for the body.
Lying in a heap, in the center of the room, is the body of a teenage girl, abandoned and decaying. She wore a white-and-navy school uniform. At first, I had watched her in repulsed fascination but now, I can’t bear to look at her. I can’t even smell the stench that her rotting body is giving off. Did that qualify as disrespect for the dead? But then, I suppose it doesn’t really matter. I know she isn’t taking offence. That, I know for certain.
This used to be an old bomb shelter but, now, everything was cleared out. It was the most basic of shelters. Simply one square room. They had been talking about demolishing the shelter when I was on the Outside. I had never taken much notice. The shelter was useless and probably not very effective anyway. It was lit only by an eerie blue light that seemed to glow from nowhere and everywhere at once. Before I became what I am now, it was only darkness.
There’s a knocking sound and a muffled thump from outside the room. I open my eyes. There’s silence. I think I imagined it. I always imagine it. There are always voices surrounding me. They’re no longer real, but still exist. I hug my knees tighter to my chest without feeling anything. I close my eyes again. The only door out is still closed and locked.
My mind wanders dangerously and I remember Max. I can’t remember what his face looked like any more, so I cling to his name. I miss him so much. The acute, stabbing pain I had felt whenever I thought his name had long since dulled. I think I feel a slight ache, but it’s probably only wishful thinking. I’m not allowed emotions anymore.
There’s another thump and this time it’s followed by a crash. My eyes fly open and I stare at the mess of rubble that has become of the wall opposite me. The body is submerged in slabs of concrete and white dust.
“Urgh! Jim! It stinks in here! Smells like something died!”
It was a male voice. It took me a moment to recognize the words. He didn’t know how right he was.
“It’s pitch-black! Where’s your torch? I can’t see a thing!” It was another voice.
Suddenly, a beam of yellow light shot across the room. It searched the ground. Flashlight, I recalled. It’s called a flashlight.
I watched in fascination as it swung over the body. A second yellow light joined the first, but neither mixed with the glittering blue glow. The blue and the yellow remained separate. The second light made to swing over the body too but then paused.
“Sweet Jesus,” a voice breathed. “I think it’s a dead girl!”
There were sounds of shock and horror. I remained in my corner, unnoticed by all.
“She must have been in there at least a month, judging from the smell,” someone moans. It’s a female voice.
I can’t remember what my voice sounds like. It was a female voice. Not that it matters anymore. Nothing does. Not really. Because I am finally Found.
Silently, I rise for the first time since the Death.
I am Found.
Tears prick my eyes and threaten to fall as I slide forwards, unseen, to bathe in the blue light.
I am Found.
With my final bonds to this earth severed, I am finally allowed to leave. In a final gesture towards humanity, I allow my tears to fall freely and I disappear, unobserved, with the blue light.
*
Some way away, Max was sitting on his doorstep. He sighed. His girlfriend of four years had disappeared without a trace just over a month ago. He missed her. He wished she had said something to him before leaving but wasn’t angry. He just hoped she was okay.
He felt something brush his cheek and looked up, startled. It had begun to rain.
Light feathers of water were falling from the heavens to the earth. Max smiled sadly at the sky.
He was reminded of Emma’s tears.
写在故事后面的话:
(一)关于统考
大约一个月以前,澳大利亚举行了全国统考,考试科目有数学和英文。统考每年进行,但只针对三年级,五年级,七年级和九年级的学生。今年,小儿子是五年级,女儿是九年级(初三)。对于统考,我采取放任自流的办法,由他们考去。考完之后,我才发现英文写作几个年级都是用的同一个题目《Found》,考试时间是45分钟。小儿子说他写的是关于发现脚印的故事,他自己说写的并不好。女儿说她比较满意,我让她把考试的作文写下来,给自己留个记录,也就有了本文的《得救》。我今天花了大约两个小时把它翻译出来,以飨大家。至于孩子们的作文能拿多少分,还得有一两个月才能拿到报告。我只能拭目以待了。我个人认为,女儿的作文很奇,要么得高分,要么得低分,不会得中间分数。
(二)关于Found
Found一词在英语有限的我看来就只有发现和找到的两个意思,当我说我拿发现作为标题,女儿坚决不同意,她说这不是她作文的本意,这个Found有更深的含义。最后她让我去理解Salvation这个词的含义,她说这才是她要表达的意思。我查了Salvation,它具有宗教的含义,即得救,超度。翻译到最后,我明白了,女儿是想讲一个孤独的灵魂得救的故事。
- Re: 得救posted on 06/15/2008
I haven't read it carefully but your daughter seems quite remarkable. She has depth. Others could possibly have written something like after having found a sivler dollar it was donated to quake relief for good. ;) - posted on 06/15/2008
touche wrote:
I haven't read it carefully but your daughter seems quite remarkable. She has depth. Others could possibly have written something like after having found a sivler dollar it was donated to quake relieve for good. ;)
谢谢你这样说.
下面是我女儿翻译的那首著名的诗《孩子,快!抓紧妈妈的手》
《孩子,快!抓紧妈妈的手》这首不知作者是谁的诗,深深地打动着我,时时萦绕在我的心头。有一天在网络上看到有人翻译这首诗,感觉翻译得不够贴切,有些中式英语的味道。正好和女儿又讲起四川大地震,也讲到这首诗,女儿说她来翻翻看,作为对在大地震中死去的孩子们的纪念,
Road to Paradise
Child,
Take my hand.
The road to paradise
Is too dark
I worry you will
Hurt yourself
Please hurry
And grasp my hand
I will lead you
Let me lead you
Mother,
I fear.
The road to heaven
Is so dark
And I cannot find your hand
Ever since
The walls collapsed
Darkness surrounds me
No longer will I be able
To see
Your loving eyes
Child,
Walk the road
That you must take.
Where you will not be sad
There will be no more endless text books
Or punishment
I promise.
But you must remember
Your father’s touch
My touch
And we must be together
In the next life
Mother,
You mustn’t worry.
The road to heaven is crowded
There are many friends
And we say
Not to cry.
Here
One person’s mother
Is everybody’s mother
And
One mother’s child
Is every mother’s child
I am not lonely
As time passes without me
Pass on your love
To the children who still live
Today
Mother,
Don’t cry.
Your tears can’t light our path
So let us walk
And find our own way
Through this darkness
Steadily
Towards the light
Mother,
I’ll remember.
I’ll remember you,
And father
I’ll remember our promise
For the next life
And then…
Then we will walk together
Roughly translated by Carol in memory of the children who died in the SiChuan Earthquake.
原诗:
孩子,快!抓紧妈妈的手
孩子
快
抓紧妈妈的手
去天堂的路
太黑了
妈妈怕你
碰了头
快
抓紧妈妈的手
让妈妈陪你走
妈妈
怕
天堂的路
太黑
我看不见你的手
自从
倒塌的墙
把阳光夺走
我再也看不见
你柔情的眸
孩子
你走吧
前面的路
再也没有忧愁
没有读不完的课本
和爸爸的拳头
你要记住
我和爸爸的摸样
来生还要一起走
妈妈
别担忧
天堂的路有些挤
有很多同学朋友
我们说
不哭
哪一个人的妈妈都是我们的妈妈
哪一个孩子都是妈妈的孩子
没有我的日子
你把爱给活的孩子吧
妈妈
你别哭
泪光照亮不了
我们的路
让我们自己
慢慢的走
妈妈
我会记住你和爸爸的模样
记住我们的约定
来生一起走
- Re: 得救posted on 06/16/2008
Wow, zangxi 女儿的小文真不错,她很会讲故事,且字浅意深,还是那么短的时间。
诗翻的也很好,虽然中文的读来更powerful。 - Re: 得救posted on 06/16/2008
Zangxi:
你女儿认识中文吗?她几岁离开的中国?
- Re: 得救posted on 06/16/2008
July wrote:
Zangxi:
你女儿认识中文吗?她几岁离开的中国?
回七月:说和听都还好,字认识一些,多数字不会写。她是十个月出来的。
谢谢浮生MM!喜欢的话我可以多上几篇女儿的文字和诗。
- Re: 得救posted on 06/16/2008
原诗很感人,死亡是可怕的,可黄泉路上有朋友亲人结伴同行,就好像有了很多安慰。人的心理真奇怪。
唯独不喜欢“爸爸的拳头”。翻译的好,把拳头改成了“punishment"了。 - Re: 得救posted on 06/16/2008
gz wrote:
原诗很感人,死亡是可怕的,可黄泉路上有朋友亲人结伴同行,就好像有了很多安慰。人的心理真奇怪。
唯独不喜欢“爸爸的拳头”。翻译的好,把拳头改成了“punishment"了。
同感!我也不喜欢拳头那两个字。
我问过女儿为什么题目要用Paradise,她说Paradise代表着来生的真实世界,heaven而是说的死后去的另一个世界,不是转世。我又问那为什么第二段又用heaven, 她说她不喜欢一个词在诗里被重复多次。 - posted on 06/19/2008
The Job
Amy, the receptionist, sat behind the desk of a local business. Outside, on the window was a sign saying:
HELP WANTED – Must be…
- In good health
- Good with computers
- Able to Type
- Bilingual
Everyone has Equal Opportunity.
So far, all the people who had tried for the job had been lacking in at least one area. Amy had just begun reading her novel when there was a tinkling of a bell and the door opened. Amy looked up, in time to see a dog trotting in. The dog looked at her and wagged his tail, before going up to the sign, looking at it and whining.
Getting the basic idea, Amy was surprised. The dog, seeing this jumped onto the chair set out for the interviewees. Feeling foolish, but deciding to humor the dog, Amy checked his pulse and asked him some basic questions about health conditions to which he either nodded or shook his head, in a doggy way. After the check-up she said, “I’m afraid we can’t hire you, the sign says you need to be able to type.
The dog jumped down and went to the computer, proceeding to type the words: “I don’t mean to brag but I believe I can type quite well.” After that, seeing that Amy was not altogether convinced that this wasn’t a trick he typed out a perfect letter.
Amy, now more then surprised, nodded and said, “You also need to be good with computers.”
The dog then quickly entered and executed a perfect program. The program worked flawlessly the first time.
Dumb-founded, Amy said, “I’m afraid we still can’t hire you, sir.”
The dog looked at her as if to say, “Why not?” before trotting over to the sign once again, and bumping the part that said “Everyone has Equal Opportunity” with its nose.
“Well, you see… The sign says you have to be bilingual.”
The dog rolled his eyes at Amy, as if exasperated, and opened his mouth in reply.
“Meow.”
写在《见工记》背后的故事:
大儿子做数学还好点,做起作文来我的头就疼了。
那天,有一个看图说话的作文,图上画着一条狗举着爪子,一位女士正端着爪子看。作文要求看图作文,作文可严肃可幽默。
大儿子的作文不用说是干巴巴的,就事论事:家里的狗在公园时爪子里进了个刺,妈妈领着它去宠物医院了。作文干巴不说,也少了作文应有的格式。总而言之,一塌糊涂。
我把女儿叫来指点,女儿对大儿子一顿训斥。我看这样的效果不好,便在第二天让女儿写一篇故事,前提一定不能长。
女儿写完了,她的故事又一次出乎我的意料,挺幽默的。我让两个儿子都读了,他们是心悦诚服。女儿的作文对于他们有没有帮助呢?还很难说。
(去年写的。)
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