1. The package was lying by the front door: a cube-shaped carton sealed with tape, their name and address printed on it: "Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lewis, 21 7 E. Thirty-seventh Street, New York, New York 10016." Norma picked it up, and went into the apartment. It was just getting dark. After she put the lamb chops in the broiler, she sat down to open the package.
Inside the carton was a push-button unit fastened to a small wooden box. She also saw a folded piece of paper Scotch-taped to the bottom of the box. She pulled it off: "Mr. Steward will call on you at 8:00P.M." Norma put the button unit beside her on the couch. She reread the typed note, smiling.
前門(mén)邊上放著一個(gè)包裹——是一個(gè)用膠帶密封起來(lái)的方形紙箱，上面印著收件人的姓名和地址——“亞瑟·劉易斯先生和太太，紐約州紐約市第三十七街 21 7 E號(hào)，郵編：10016“。諾爾瑪拾起包裹，走進(jìn)了公寓。夜色漸漸降臨。她把羊排放入烤箱，然后坐下來(lái)打開(kāi)包裹。紙箱內(nèi)部是一個(gè)固定在一個(gè)小木盒上的按鈕裝置。她還看到盒子底部用透明膠帶粘著的一張折疊起來(lái)的紙條。她扯下了紙條，上邊寫(xiě)著：“今晚8點(diǎn)斯圖爾德先生要拜訪您家?！敝Z爾瑪把按鈕裝置放在她身邊的沙發(fā)上。她又讀了一遍那張打印的紙條，臉上掛著微笑。
2. The doorbell rang at eight o'clock. ''I'll get it," Norma called from the kitchen. Arthur was in the living room, reading. There was a small man in the hallway. He removed his hat as Norma opened the door. "Mrs. Lewis?" he inquired politely. "Yes?" ''I'm Mr. Steward." "Oh, yes." Norma repressed a smile. She was sure now it was a sales pitch. "May I come in?" asked Mr. Steward. ''I'm rather busy," Norma said, ''I'll get you your whatchamacallit, though." She started to turn.
8點(diǎn)的時(shí)候門(mén)鈴響了?！拔襾?lái)開(kāi)門(mén)，”諾爾瑪在廚房喊道。此時(shí)，亞瑟正在起居室里看書(shū)。門(mén)外站著一個(gè)矮小的男人。諾爾瑪打開(kāi)房門(mén)時(shí)，他摘下了帽子。“是劉易斯太太嗎？“他禮貌地詢問(wèn)道?！蹦惺?？“”我是斯圖爾德先生?！?“哦，知道了。”諾爾瑪忍住沒(méi)笑。她現(xiàn)在確認(rèn)這人是個(gè)推銷(xiāo)員了?！拔铱梢赃M(jìn)去嗎？”斯圖爾德先生問(wèn)道。“我很忙，”諾爾瑪說(shuō)，“但我會(huì)把那個(gè)不知是什么的東西拿給你。”她轉(zhuǎn)身要朝屋里走去。
3. "Don't you want to know what it is?" Norma turned back and frowned. She didn't like his attitude. "What are you trying to sell?" she asked. ''I'm not selling anything," he answered. Arthur came out of the living room. "Something wrong?" Mr. Steward introduced himself. "Oh, the-" Arthur pointed toward the living room and smiled. "What is that gadget, anyway?" "It won't take long to explain," replied Mr. Steward.
“您難道不想知道它是什么嗎？”諾爾瑪轉(zhuǎn)回身，皺起眉頭。她不喜歡這個(gè)人的態(tài)度?！澳阆胍u(mài)什么？”她問(wèn)?！拔沂裁匆膊毁u(mài)，”他回答。亞瑟從起居室里走了出來(lái)?！笆裁辞闆r？”斯圖爾德先生做了自我介紹?！芭?，就是”亞瑟一邊指向起居室一邊微笑著說(shuō)，“那個(gè)什么小玩意，是吧？”“很短的時(shí)間就可以解釋清楚，“斯圖爾德先生回答道。
4. They went into the living room and Mr. Steward sat in Norma's chair. "So what's it for?" asked Arthur. "If you push the button," Mr. Steward told him, "somewhere in the world someone you don't know will die. In return for which you will receive a payment of $50,000." Norma stared at the small man. He was smiling. "What are you talking about?" Arthur asked him. Mr. Steward looked surprised. "But I've just explained," he said. "Is this a practical joke?" asked Arthur. "Not at all. The offer is completely genuine."
他們一起走進(jìn)起居室，斯圖爾德先生坐在諾爾瑪?shù)囊巫由?。“那東西是干什么用的？”亞瑟問(wèn)。 “當(dāng)您按下按鈕時(shí)，”斯圖爾德先生告訴他，“世界上某個(gè)地方的某個(gè)您不認(rèn)識(shí)的人就會(huì)死去。作為回報(bào)，您將得到5萬(wàn)美元的報(bào)酬?！敝Z爾瑪凝視著這個(gè)面帶笑容的矮小男人?！澳阏f(shuō)什么呢？”亞瑟問(wèn)他。斯圖爾德先生看起來(lái)有些驚訝。“但我剛剛解釋過(guò)了啊，”他說(shuō)?！斑@是個(gè)惡作劇嗎？”亞瑟問(wèn)。“完全不是。這個(gè)交易完全是真實(shí)的?！?br />5. "You aren't making sense," Arthur said. "You expect us to believe-" "Whom do you represent?" demanded Norma. Mr. Steward looked embarrassed. ''I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to tell you that," he said. "However, I assure you, the organization is of international scope." "I think you'd better leave," Arthur said, standing. Mr. Steward rose. "Of course." "And take your button unit with you." "Are you sure you wouldn't care to think about it for a day or so? I will leave my card in case," said Mr. Steward. He placed it on the table by the door. When he was gone, Arthur tore it in half and tossed away the pieces.
“我不知道你在說(shuō)什么，”亞瑟說(shuō)，“你希望我們相信…… ”“你代表誰(shuí)來(lái)的？”諾爾瑪逼問(wèn)道。斯圖爾德先生看起來(lái)有點(diǎn)兒尷尬?！拔铱峙挛也荒茈S便告訴您，”他說(shuō)，“不過(guò)，我向您保證，我服務(wù)的是一個(gè)國(guó)際組織。”“我覺(jué)得你最好趕快離開(kāi)，”亞瑟說(shuō)，隨即站起身來(lái)。斯圖爾德先生也站了起來(lái)?！爱?dāng)然可以?！薄斑€有，請(qǐng)把你的按鈕裝置也帶走?！薄澳_定您不需要再考慮一兩天嗎？留下我的名片，后悔了可以聯(lián)系我，“斯圖爾德先生說(shuō)。他把名片放在門(mén)邊的桌子上。但，當(dāng)他離開(kāi)后，亞瑟就把它撕成了兩半，并扔掉了。

6. Norma was still sitting on the sofa. "What do you think it was?" she asked. "I don't care to know," he answered. She tried to smile but couldn't. "Aren't you curious at all?" "No." He shook his head. "Why won't you talk about it?" Norma asked. “Doesn't it intrigue you?" "It offends me," Arthur said. "I know, but doesn't it intrigue you, too? You think it's a practical joke?" she asked. "If it is, it's a sick one." Norma did not give up. "Maybe some eccentric millionaire is doing it." "Maybe." "Wouldn't you like to know?" Arthur shook his head. "Why?" "Because it's immoral," he told her. Norma slid beneath the covers. "Well, I think it's intriguing," she said. Arthur turned off the lamp and leaned over to kiss her. "Good night," he said. "Good night." Norma closed her eyes. “Fifty thousand dollars…”, she thought.
諾爾瑪仍然坐在沙發(fā)上。“你覺(jué)得那是個(gè)什么東西？”她問(wèn)?！拔也幌胫?，”亞瑟回答說(shuō)。她試圖擠出一絲笑容，但沒(méi)成功。“你一點(diǎn)兒也不好奇嗎？” “一點(diǎn)兒也不?！彼麚u了搖頭。 “你為什么不愿意說(shuō)說(shuō)這件事？”諾爾瑪問(wèn)道，“它難道沒(méi)有激起你的興趣嗎？”“它讓我感到不舒服，”亞瑟說(shuō)道，“我知道，但它難道沒(méi)同時(shí)激起你的興趣嗎？你真的覺(jué)得它就是個(gè)惡作劇嗎？“她問(wèn)?！比绻?，它也是個(gè)令人作嘔的惡作劇?！爸Z爾瑪沒(méi)有放棄。“也許某個(gè)古怪的百萬(wàn)富翁正在運(yùn)作這件事?！薄耙苍S吧?！薄澳悴幌肓私庖幌聠幔俊眮喩獡u了搖頭?！盀槭裁矗俊薄耙?yàn)檫@事不道德，”他告訴她。諾爾瑪鉆進(jìn)被窩?！昂冒桑业故怯X(jué)得這事挺有趣的，”她說(shuō)。亞瑟關(guān)了燈，俯身親吻她?！巴戆?，”他說(shuō)?！巴戆玻敝Z爾瑪閉上了眼睛?！拔迦f(wàn)美元呢......”，她心想。
7. The next day, the package was somehow lying by the front door; Norma saw it. “Well… of all the nerve!”, she thought. She picked up the package and carried it into the kitchen, leaving it on the table. She sat in the living room, but after a while, she went back into the kitchen to turn the cutlets in the broiler. She put the package in a bottom cabinet. She'd throw it out in the morning, she thought to herself.
第二天，那個(gè)包裹莫名其妙地又出現(xiàn)在前門(mén)邊上。諾爾瑪看到了它?！班?.....真是厚顏無(wú)恥！”，她心想。她拾起包裹，把它帶到廚房，并放在了桌子上。她坐在起居室里，但過(guò)了一會(huì)兒，她又回到廚房，給烤箱里的肉餅翻個(gè)面。她把包裹放進(jìn)了一個(gè)底柜?！霸绯繒r(shí)就應(yīng)該把它扔掉”，她心想。
8. "Maybe some eccentric millionaire is playing games with people," she said. Arthur looked up from his dinner. "I don't understand you. Let it go," he told her. Norma ate in silence. Suddenly, she put her fork down. "Suppose it's a genuine offer?" she said. Arthur stared at her. He looked incredulous. "What would you like to do? Get the button back and push it? Murder someone?" Norma looked disgusted. "Murder! How can you call it murder if you don't even know the person?" Arthur looked astounded. "Are you saying what I think you are?" "If it's some old peasant ten thousand miles away? Some diseased native in Congo?" "How about a baby boy in Pennsylvania?" Arthur countered. "Some beautiful little girl on the next block?"
“也許是某個(gè)古怪的百萬(wàn)富翁正和人們做游戲呢，”她說(shuō)。亞瑟停下了晚餐，抬起頭來(lái)?！拔也幻靼啄阍谙胧裁?。忘了它吧，”他告訴她。諾爾瑪開(kāi)始默默地吃晚餐。突然，她放下了叉子?！凹偈惯@件事是真的，結(jié)果會(huì)是怎樣？”她說(shuō)。亞瑟凝視著她，目光里充滿了疑慮。“你想要怎么做？把那個(gè)按鈕裝置弄回來(lái)，然后按下它？謀殺掉某個(gè)人？”諾爾瑪看起來(lái)有些反感?！爸\殺！如果你甚至都不認(rèn)識(shí)那個(gè)人，怎么能稱(chēng)之為謀殺？”亞瑟露出了震驚的表情。“你想表達(dá)的是我認(rèn)為的那個(gè)意思嗎？”“如果他是一萬(wàn)英里之外的某位老農(nóng)呢？剛果的某個(gè)患病的土著人呢？” “那要是賓夕法尼亞州的一個(gè)男嬰呢？”亞瑟反駁道，“或者，居住在附近街區(qū)的某個(gè)漂亮的小女孩呢？”
9. "The point is, Norma," he continued, "what's the difference whom you kill? It's still murder." "The point is," Norma broke in, "if it's someone you've never seen in your life and never will see, someone whose death you don't even have to know about, you still wouldn't push the button?" Arthur stared at her, appalled. "You mean you would?" "Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur." "What has the amount-" "Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur," Norma interrupted. "A chance to take that trip to Europe we've always talked about." "Norma, no." "A chance to buy that cottage on the island." "Norma, no." His face was white. She shuddered. "All right, take it easy, why are you getting so upset? It's only talk." After dinner, Arthur said, ''I'd rather not discuss it anymore, if you don't mind.” Norma shrugged. "Fine with me."
“關(guān)鍵是，諾爾瑪，”他繼續(xù)說(shuō)道，“你殺的人究竟是誰(shuí)又有什么區(qū)別呢？這仍然是謀殺。” “關(guān)鍵是，”諾爾瑪插話道，“如果這人是你一生中從未謀面，也永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)見(jiàn)到的人，他的死亡甚至你都沒(méi)必要知道的話，你仍然不會(huì)按下那個(gè)按鈕嗎？”亞瑟盯著她，有些心驚膽寒?！澳愕囊馑际悄銜?huì)按下按鈕？” “五萬(wàn)美元呢，亞瑟?！?“錢(qián)多少又…… ”“五萬(wàn)美元啊，亞瑟，”諾爾瑪打斷了他?！坝辛诉@筆錢(qián)，我們一直心心念的歐洲行就可以實(shí)現(xiàn)了?！? “不行，諾爾瑪?！?“我們還可以買(mǎi)下島上的那套小別墅?！?“諾爾瑪，不行?！彼哪樕兊蒙n白。她打了個(gè)寒顫，“好吧，放輕松點(diǎn)兒，你為什么變得這么心煩意亂？我們只是討論討論而已。”晚飯后，亞瑟說(shuō)：“如果你不介意，我寧可不再討論這個(gè)話題了。”諾爾瑪聳了聳肩?！拔覜](méi)問(wèn)題?！?br />10. When Arthur had gone to work, Norma remained at the table, staring into her breakfast coffee. Suddenly, she turned abruptly, and took the package from the bottom cabinet. She stared at the button. “How ridiculous”, she thought. “All this furore over a meaningless button.” Reaching out, she pressed it down. “For us”, she thought angrily. She shuddered. Was it happening? A chill of horror swept across her. In a moment, it had passed. She made a contemptuous noise. Ridiculous, she thought. To get so worked up over nothing. She threw the button unit into the wastebasket and hurried to dress for work. She was just about to go when the telephone rang. She picked up the receiver. "Mrs. Lewis?" Mr. Steward asked. It couldn’t be her voice shrieking so much. Mr. Steward spoke and she started crying. This couldn’t be true! It couldn't be. "You said I wouldn't know the one that died!" she screamed. "My dear lady," Mr. Steward said. "Do you really think you knew your husband?"
亞瑟出去上班后，諾爾瑪一直呆在餐桌旁，直勾勾地盯著她的早餐咖啡。突然，她轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身來(lái)，從底柜取出包裹。她盯著那個(gè)按鈕?！岸嗝椿闹嚢　?，她想。 “所有這些瘋狂的想法都源自一個(gè)毫無(wú)意義的按鈕。”她伸出手，按下了它?！盀榱宋覀?，”她心里充滿了憤怒。她打了個(gè)寒顫。有事情發(fā)生了嗎？一陣恐怖的寒意席卷了她的全身。過(guò)了一會(huì)兒，寒意消失了。她發(fā)出了一個(gè)輕蔑的聲音。她覺(jué)得很荒謬。因?yàn)椴淮嬖诘氖虑槎屪约簮阑稹Ｋ寻粹o裝置扔進(jìn)了廢紙簍，然后趕緊穿上衣服準(zhǔn)備去上班。她正要出門(mén)時(shí)，電話鈴響了。她拿起聽(tīng)筒。“是劉易斯太太嗎？”電話那邊傳來(lái)了斯圖爾德先生的聲音。她從來(lái)沒(méi)有這樣尖叫過(guò)。斯圖爾德先生說(shuō)話時(shí)，她開(kāi)始哭了起來(lái)。這不可能是真的！不可能?！澳阏f(shuō)過(guò)我不會(huì)認(rèn)識(shí)那個(gè)死的人！”她尖叫道?！拔矣H愛(ài)的女士，”斯圖爾德先生說(shuō)，“您真的覺(jué)得您認(rèn)識(shí)您的丈夫嗎？”