評論
打印
17 The fellow in the suit said, "We have chosen this locality for our first contact because it is isolated and peaceful. We know that you are the leader here."
穿西裝的那人說：“我們選擇此地作為第一接觸點，因為這里偏僻安靜。我們知道您是這里的首領。”
18 "I'm the sheriff, if that's what you mean, so spit it out. What's your trouble?"
“我是治安官，這是你要說的吧，有什么話就直說, 你們遇到什么麻煩了？”
19 "We have been careful to adopt your mode of dress and even to assume your appearance. We have also learned your language."
“我們非常謹慎，沿用了你們的衣著模式，甚至采用了你們的外貌。我們還學習了你們的語言。”
20 You could see the light break in on Cameron. He said, "You guys foreigners?" Cameron didn't go much for foreigners, never having met many outside the army, but generally he tried to be fair.
你可以看到卡默倫臉上開始現出領悟的神情。他說：“你倆是外國人？”卡默倫不怎么喜歡外國人，退伍后就沒怎么見過外國人，不過總的來說他盡力做到為人公正。
21 The man from the saucer said, "Foreigners? Indeed we are. We come from the watery place your people call Venus."
飛碟來人說：“外國人？正是如此。我們來自你們稱之為金星的水鄉。”
22 Cameron never blinked an eye. He said, "All right. This is the U.S.A. We all got equal rights regardless of race, color, or nationality. I'm at your service. What can I do for you?"
卡默倫連眼也沒眨一下便說：“好吧。這里是美國。我們這兒不論種族、膚色、國籍，一律平等。我為你們效勞。你們有何貴干？”
23 "We would like to have you make immediate arrangements for the important men of your U.S.A., as you call it, to be brought here for discussions leading to your people joining our great organization."
“我們希望您馬上與貴國，即你們所說的美國的要人聯系，前來此地商討加入我們組織的事宜。”
24 Slowly, Cameron got red. "Our people join your organization. We're already part of the U.N. and God knows what else. And I suppose I'm to get the President here, eh? Right now? In Twin Gulch? Send a hurry-up message?" He looked at me, as though he wanted to see a smile on my face, but I couldn't as much as fall down if someone had pushed the chair out from under me.
卡默倫的臉色漸漸漲紅。“我們加入你們的組織。我們已經是聯合國的成員了，天知道還有別的什么。我想是讓我把總統找來，呃？就現在？前來特溫加爾奇？要我送去一封加快信？”他看了看我，似乎想在我臉上看到一絲笑意，可此刻若有人從我身后把椅子抽開，我也不會摔倒在地。
25 The saucer man said, "Speed is desirable."
飛碟來人說：“事不宜遲。”
26 "You want Congress, too? The Supreme Court?"
“你們想不想要國會也來？還有最高法院？”
27 "If they will help, sheriff."
“那也無妨，治安官。”
28 And Cameron really went to pieces. He banged his income tax form and yelled, "Well, you're not helping me, and I have no time for wise guys who come around, especially foreigners. If you don't get the hell out of here straight away, I'll lock you up for disturbing the peace and I'll never let you out."
這下卡默倫真的氣壞了。他把稅單向桌上重重地一摔，叫道：“好啊，你們跟我添亂，我可沒時間跟你們這些自作聰明的人糾纏，尤其是外國人。要是你們不馬上從這里滾出去，我就以擾亂治安罪把你們關起來，永遠不放你們出來。”
29 "You wish us to leave?" said the man from Venus.
“您是要我們離開？”金星人問。
30 "Right now! Get the hell out of here and back to wherever you're from and don't ever come back. I don't want to see you and no one else around here does."
“這就走！滾出去，滾回你們老家去，別再回來。我不想見到你們，這兒誰都不想見到你們。”
31 The two men looked at each other.
那兩人對望了一眼。
32 Then the one who had done all the talking said, "I can see in your mind that you really wish, with great intensity, to be left alone. It is not our way to force ourselves or our organization on people who do not wish us or it. We will respect your privacy and leave. We will not return. We will put a warning around your world and none will enter."
一直作為發言人的那人于是說：“看得出您確實極其不愿受到打攪。我們從不愿將我們自己或我們組織的意見強加于無意接受者。我們尊重您的私人自由，馬上離開。我們將不再返回。我們會在你們地球周圍發布警告，不再會有人前來。”
33 Cameron said, "Mister, I'm tired of this garbage, so I'll count to three -- "
卡默倫說：“先生，夠了，別再胡說八道了，我要開始數3――”
34 They turned and left, and I just knew that everything they said was so. I was listening to them, you see, which Cameron wasn't, because he was busy thinking of his income tax, and it was as though I could hear their minds, know what I mean? I knew that there would be a kind of fence around earth, keeping others out.
那兩人轉身離去，我當然知道他們說的句句是實話。你知道，我一直在聽他們說，卡默倫可沒有，他一心只想著他的稅單，而且我似乎知道了他們腦子里在想什么，你明白我的意思嗎？我知道地球周圍會豎起一道屏障，使他人無法進入。
