評論
打印
"Do they know?" he asked at last, pointing to the persons on the verandah, now sitting in unusual, unaccountable silence.
“他們知道嗎？”最后，思特里克蘭德指著外面的人說；這些人這時靜悄悄地坐在露臺上，同往日的情景大不相同。
"These natives know the signs so well," said the doctor. "They were afraid to tell you."
“這些本地人對這種病的征象是非常清楚的，”醫生說，“只是他們不敢告訴你罷了。”
Strickland stepped to the door and looked out. There must have been something terrible in his face, for suddenly they all burst out into loud cries and lamentation. They lifted up their voices and they wept. Strickland did not speak. After looking at them for a moment, he came back into the room.
思特里克蘭德走到門口，向外面張望了一下。他的臉相一定非常可怕，因為外面的人一下子都哭叫、哀號起來，而且哭聲越來越大。思特里克蘭德一句話也沒說。他愣愣地看了他們一會兒，便轉身走回屋子。
"How long do you think I can last?"
“你認為我還能活多久？”
"Who knows? Sometimes the disease continues for twenty years. It is a mercy when it runs its course quickly."
“誰說得準？有時候染上這種病的人能活二十年，如果早一些死倒是上帝發慈悲呢。”
Strickland went to his easel and looked reflectively at the picture that stood on it.
思特里克蘭德走到畫架前面，沉思地看著放在上面的畫。
"You have had a long journey. It is fitting that the bearer of important tidings should be rewarded. Take this. It means nothing to you now, but it may be that one day you will be glad to have it."
“你到這里來走了很長一段路。帶來重要消息的人理應得到報酬。把這幅畫拿去吧。現在它對你不算什么，但是將來有一天可能你會高興有這樣一幅畫的。”
Dr. Coutras protested that he needed no payment for his journey; he had already given back to Ata the hundred-franc note, but Strickland insisted that he should take the picture. Then together they went out on the verandah. The natives were sobbing violently.
庫特拉斯醫生謝絕說，他到這兒來不需要報酬，就是那一百法郎他也還給了愛塔。但是思特里克蘭德卻堅持要他把這幅畫拿走。這以后他們倆一起走到外面陽臺上。幾個本地人仍然在非常哀痛地嗚咽著。
"Be quiet, woman. Dry thy tears," said Strickland, addressing Ata. "There is no great harm. I shall leave thee very soon."
“別哭了，女人。把眼淚擦干吧，”思特里克蘭德對愛塔說。“沒有什么大了不起的。我不久就要離開你了。”
"They are not going to take thee away?" she cried.
“他們不會把你弄走吧？”她哭著說。
