評論
打印
Nearly a fortnight after the caravan had returned to its headquarters in Palmyra,
商隊返回帕爾邁拉島兩個星期后的一天夜里，
Hafid was awakened from his straw cot in the stable,
海菲在牲口棚的草床上被人叫醒
and summoned to appear before Pathros.
主人召見他。
He hastened to the bed chamber of the master and stood uncertainly before the huge bed
他匆匆來到主人的寢宮，手足無措地立在床頭。
which dwarfed its occupant.
寬大的床鋪使得睡在上面的人看起來小了許多。
Pathros opened his eyes
柏薩羅睜開雙眼，
and struggled with his coverings until he was sitting upright.
掙扎著坐了起來。
His face was gaunt
他面容憔悴，
and blood vessels bulged in his hands.
手上青筋暴露，
It was difficult for Hafid to believe that this was the same man
海菲不敢相信，眼前的這個人，
with whom he had spoken only twelve days ago.
就是兩周前和自己講過話的那個人。
Pathros motioned toward the lower half of the bed
主人用手指了指床鋪的下半部，
and the youth sat carefully on its edge,
少年小心翼翼地挨著床邊坐下來，
waiting for the old man to speak.
等著主人發話。
Even Pathros' voice was different in sound and pitch from their last meet- tog.
他注意到就連主人說話的音調都和上次見面時大不相同。
"My son, ye have had many days to reconsider your ambitions.
“孩子，這些天來，你有足夠的時間考慮，
Is it still within thee to become a great salesman?"
你還想成為一個最偉大的推銷員嗎?”
"Yes, sire."
“是的，老爺。”
The ancient head nodded.
老人點了點頭，
"So be it. I had planned to spend much time with you
“那就開始吧！我本來計劃多花點時間和你在一起，
but as you can see there are other plans for me.
但是你也看得出來，我還有其它的事要做。
Although I consider myself a good salesman
雖然我是一個成功的推銷員，
I am unable to sell death on departing from my door.
但是我還是沒辦法把死亡從這個門口推銷出去。
He has been waiting for days like a hungry dog at our kitchen door.
死亡早在那兒等著我了，
Like the dog,
就像一只餓狗，
he knows that eventually the door will be left unguarded...."
等在廚房門口，稍一疏忽，它就沖進來……”
Coughing interrupted Pathros and Hafid sat motionless as the old man gasped for air.
話沒說完，他便咳了起來，海菲呆呆地坐在床邊，看著老人吃力地喘著氣。
Finally the coughs ceased and Pathros smiled weakly,
最后，咳嗽停了，柏薩羅露出虛弱的笑容。
"Our time together is brief so let us begin.
“我們在一起的時間不多了，我還是言歸正傳吧。
First, remove the small cedar chest which is beneath this bed."
你先把床下的香杉木箱子拉出來。”
Hafid knelt and pulled out a small leather- strapped box.
海菲跪下來，雙手摸索著，從床底拉出一只裹著皮革的小箱子，
He placed it below the contour made by Pathros' legs on the bed.
把它放在柏薩羅剛剛坐過的地方。
The old man cleared his throat,
老人清了清喉嚨，
"Many years ago when I possessed less status that even a camel boy,
“許多年以前，當我連個喂養駱駝的僮仆都不如的時候，
I was privileged to rescue a traveler from the East
無意間救了一個東方人，
who had been set upon by two bandits.
那時他被兩個強盜綁架。
He insisted that I had saved his life
事后，這個東方人硬說我是他的救命恩人，
and wished to reward me although I sought none.
一定要報答我。
Since I had neither a family nor funds
他見我無依無靠，孤苦伶仃的一個人，
he enjoined me to return with him to his home
就把我接到他家去，
and kin where I was accepted as one of his own.
與他的家人共享天倫之樂。”
"One day, after I had grown accustomed to my new life,
“我慢慢適應了那里的生活。一天，
he introduced me to this chest. Inside were ten leather scrolls, each one numbered.
他把這個箱子打開給我看，里面裝了十張羊皮卷，每一張都標了號碼。
