Making a living as a door-to-door salesman demands a thick skin, both to protect against the weather and against constantly having the door shut in your face. Bill Porter puts up with all this and much, much more.
干挨家挨戶上門推銷這一營生得臉皮厚，這是因為干這一行不僅要經受風吹日曬，還要承受一次又一次的閉門羹。比爾 · 波特忍受著這一切，以及別的種種折磨。

Life of a Salesman
一個推銷員的生活
Tom Hallman Jr.
小湯姆 · 霍爾曼

1.The alarm rings. It's 5:45. He could linger under the covers, listening to the radio and a weatherman who predicts rain. People would understand. He knows that.
鬧鐘響了。是清晨5：45。他可以在被子里再躺一會兒，聽聽無線電廣播。天氣預報員預報有雨。人們會理解的。這點他清楚。
2.A surgeon's scar cuts across his lower back. The fingers on his right hand are so twisted that he can't tie his shoes. Some days, he feels like surrendering. But his dead mother's challenge echoes in his soul. So, too, do the voices of those who believed him stupid, incapable of living independently. All his life he's struggled to prove them wrong. He will not quit.
他的下背有一道手術疤痕。他右手的手指嚴重扭曲，連鞋帶都沒法系。有時，他真想放棄不干了。可在他內心深處，一直回響著已故老母的激勵, 還有那些說他蠢，說他不能獨立生活的人的聲音。他一生都在拚命去證明他們錯了。他決不能放棄不干。
3.And so Bill Porter rises.
于是比爾·波特起身了。
4.He takes the first unsteady steps on a journey to Portland's streets, the battlefield where he fights alone for his independence and dignity. He's a door-to-door salesman. Sixty-three years old. And his enemies -- a crippled body that betrays him and a changing world that no longer needs him -- are gaining on him.
他搖搖晃晃邁出了去波特蘭大街的頭幾步，波特蘭大街是他為獨立與尊嚴而孤身搏殺的戰場。他是個挨家挨戶上門推銷的推銷員，今年63歲。他的敵人――辜負他的殘疾的身體和一個不再需要他的變化著的世界――正一步一步把他逼向絕境。
5.With trembling hands he assembles his weapons: dark slacks, blue shirt and matching jacket, brown tie, tan raincoat and hat. Image, he believes, is everything.
他用顫抖的雙手收拾行裝：深色寬松褲，藍襯衣和與之相配的茄克衫，褐色領帶，土褐色雨衣和帽子。在他看來，形象就是一切。
6.He stops in the entryway, picks up his briefcase and steps outside. A fall wind has kicked up. The weatherman was right. He pulls his raincoat tighter.
他在門口停了一下，提起公文包，走了出去。秋風驟起，冷颼颼的。天氣預報員說得沒錯。他將雨衣裹裹緊。
7.He tilts his hat just so.
他把帽子往一側微微一斜。
8.On the 7:45 bus that stops across the street, he leaves his briefcase next to the driver and finds a seat in the middle of a pack of bored teenagers.
在街對面停靠的7：45那班公共汽車上，他把公文包放在司機身旁，在一群沒精打采的十幾歲的孩子當中找了個位子坐下。
9.He leans forward, stares toward the driver, sits back, then repeats the process. His nervousness makes him laugh uncontrollably. The teenagers stare at him. They don't realize Porter's afraid someone will steal his briefcase, with the glasses, brochures, order forms and clip-on tie that he needs to survive.
他身子往前一傾，盯著司機那兒望，然后靠著椅背坐下，接著他又反復這個過程。他心情緊張，控制不住自己而笑出聲來。那些孩子望著他。他們不明白，波特是擔心有人偷他的包，包里有他生存不可缺少的眼鏡，宣傳小冊子，定單，以及可用別針別上的領帶。
10.Porter senses the stares. He looks at the floor.
波特意識到了小孩子在盯著他看。他把目光轉向車廂地板。
11.His face reveals nothing. In his heart, though, he knows he should have been like these kids, like everyone on this bus. He's not angry. But he knows. His mother explained how the delivery had been difficult, how the doctor had used an instrument that crushed a section of his brain and caused cerebral palsy, a disorder of the nervous system that affects his speech, hands and walk.
他臉上沒有流露出任何神情。但在他心里，他知道自己本該和這些孩子一樣，和車上其他所有人一樣。他并不生氣。但他心里明白。他母親解釋說生他時難產，醫生使用了某種器械，損壞了他大腦的一部分，導致了大腦性麻痹，一種影響他說話，手部活動以及行走的神經系統的紊亂。
12.Porter came to Portland when he was 13 after his father, a salesman, was transferred here. He attended a school for the disabled and then Lincoln High School, where he was placed in a class for slow kids.
波特13歲那年隨著當推銷員的父親工作調動來到波特蘭。他上了一個殘疾人學校，后來就讀林肯高級中學，在那兒他被編入慢班。
13.But he wasn't slow.
但他并不笨。
14.His mind was trapped in a body that didn't work. Speaking was difficult and took time. People were impatient and didn't listen. He felt different -- was different -- from the kids who rushed about in the halls and planned dances he would never attend.
他由于身體不能正常運行而使腦子不能充分發揮其功能。他說話困難，而且慢。別人不耐煩，不聽他說。他覺得自己不同于――事實上也確實不同于――那些在過道里東奔西跑的孩子，那些孩子安排的舞會他永遠也不可能參加。
15.What could his future be? Porter wanted to do something and his mother was certain that he could rise above his limitations. With her encouragement, he applied for a job with the Fuller Brush Co. only to be turned down. He couldn't carry a product briefcase or walk a route, they said.
他將來會是個什么樣子呢？波特想做些事，母親也相信他能沖破身體的局限。在她的鼓勵之下，他向福勒牙刷公司申請一份工作，結果卻遭到拒絕。他不能提樣品包，也不能跑一條推銷線路，他們說。
16.Porter knew he wanted to be a salesman. He began reading help wanted ads in the newspaper. When he saw one for Watkins, a company that sold household products door-to-door, his mother set up a meeting with a representative. The man said no, but Porter wouldn't listen. He just wanted a chance. The man gave in and offered Porter a section of the city that no salesman wanted.
波特知道自己想當推銷員。他開始閱讀報紙上的招聘廣告。他看到沃特金斯，一家上門推銷家用物品的公司要人，他母親就跟其代理人安排會面。那人說不行，可波特不予理會。他就是需要一個機會。那人讓步了，把城里一個其他推銷員都不要的區域派給了他。
17.It took Porter four false starts before he found the courage to ring the first doorbell. The man who answered told him to go away, a pattern repeated throughout the day.
波特一開始四次都沒敢敲門，第五次才鼓起勇氣按了第一戶人家的門鈴。開門的那人讓他走開，這種情形持續了一整天。
18.That night Porter read through company literature and discovered the products were guaranteed. He would sell that pledge. He just needed people to listen.
當晚，波特仔細閱讀了公司的宣傳資料，發現產品都是保用的。他要把保用作為賣點。只要別人肯聽他說話就成。
19.If a customer turned him down, Porter kept coming back until they heard him. And he sold.
要是客戶回絕波特，拒絕傾聽他的介紹，他就一再上門。就這樣他將產品賣了出去。
20.For several years he was Watkins' top retail salesman. Now he is the only one of the company's 44,000 salespeople who sells door-to-door.
他連著幾年都是沃特金斯公司的最佳零售推銷員。如今他是該公司44000名推銷員中惟一一個上門推銷的人。
21.The bus stops in the Transit Mall, and Porter gets off.
公共汽車在公交中轉購物中心站停下，波特下了車。
22.His body is not made for walking. Each step strains his joints. Headaches are constant visitors. His right arm is nearly useless. He can't fully control the limb. His body tilts at the waist; he seems to be heading into a strong, steady wind that keeps him off balance. At times, he looks like a toddler taking his first steps.
他的身體不適合行走。每走一步關節都疼。頭疼也是習以為常的事。他的右臂幾乎沒用。他不能完全控制這只手臂。他的身體從腰部開始前傾，看上去就像是頂著一股強勁的吹個不停的風邁步向前，風似乎要把他刮倒。有時他看上去就像是個剛剛學步的孩童。
23.He walks 10 miles a day.
他每天要走10英里的路程。
24.His first stop today, like every day, is a shoeshine stand where employees tie his laces. Twice a week he pays for a shine. At a nearby hotel one of the doormen buttons Porter's top shirt button and slips on his clip-on tie. He then walks to another bus that drops him off a mile from his territory.
像平日一樣，他今天的第一站是個擦鞋攤，這里的雇員替他系好鞋帶。他每周請他們擦兩次鞋。附近一家旅館的門衛替他扣上襯衣最上面一粒紐扣，戴上用別針別上的領帶。隨后他步行去搭乘另一部巴士，在距離他的推銷區域一英里處下車。
25.He left home nearly three hours ago.
他是差不多3個小時前從家里動身的。
26.The wind is cold and raindrops fall. Porter stops at the first house. This is the moment he's been preparing for since 5:45 a.m. He rings the bell.
風冷雨淋。波特在第一戶人家門前停了下來。這是他從5：45分開始就為之準備的時刻。他按了門鈴。
27.A woman comes to the door.
一位婦人開了門。
28."Hello."
“你好。”
29."No, thank you, I'm just preparing to leave."
“不，多謝了。我這就要出門。”
30.Porter nods.
波特點點頭。
31."May I come back later?" he asks.
“那我過會兒來，可以嗎？”他問。
32. "No," says the woman.
“不用了，”那婦人回答道。
33.She shuts the door.
她關上了門。
34.Porter's eyes reveal nothing.
波特眼里沒有流露絲毫神情。
35.He moves to the next house.
他轉向下一個人家。
36.The door opens.
門開了。
37.Then closes.
隨即又關上。
38.He doesn't get a chance to speak. Porter's expression never changes. He stops at every home in his territory. People might not buy now. Next time. Maybe. No doesn't mean never. Some of his best customers are people who repeatedly turned him down before buying.
他連開口說話的機會都沒有。波特的表情從不改變。他敲開自己推銷區內的每一個家門。人們現在可能不買什么。也許下一次會買。現在不買不等于永遠不買。他的一些老客戶都是那些多次把他拒之門外而后來才買的人。
39.He makes his way down the street.
他沿著街道往前走。
40."I don't want to try it."
“我不想試用這個產品。”
41. "Maybe next time."
“也許下次試一試。”
42."I'm sorry. I'm on the phone right now."
“對不起。我在打電話。”
43. "No."
“不要。”
44.Ninety minutes later, Porter still has not made a sale. But there is always another home.
90分鐘之后，波特仍沒能賣出一件物品。不過，下面有的是人家。
45.He walks on.
他繼續向前走。
46.He knocks on a door. A woman appears from the backyard where she's gardening. She often buys, but not today, she says, as she walks away.
他敲響一扇門。一位正在拾掇花園的婦女從后院走了出來。她常常買他的東西，不過今天不買，她說著走開了。
47."Are you sure?" Porter asks.
“你真的不買什么？”波特問。
48.She pauses.
她遲疑了一下。
49."Well..."
“那么……”
50.That's all Porter needs. He walks as fast as he can, tailing her as she heads to the backyard. He sets his briefcase down and opens it. He puts on his glasses, removes his brochures and begins his sales talk, showing the woman pictures and describing each product.
波特要的就是這一遲疑。他盡可能快步上前，跟著她朝后院走去。他放下公文包，打了開來。他戴上眼鏡，拿出產品介紹小冊子，開始推銷，給那位婦人看圖片，詳細介紹每一個產品。
51.Spices?
調料？
52. "No."
“不要。”
53.Jams?
果醬？
54. "No. Maybe nothing today, Bill."
“不要。恐怕今天不要什么，比爾。”
55.Porter's hearing is the one perfect thing his body does. Except when he gets a live one. Then the word "no" does not register.
波特的聽覺是他身上惟一沒有一點毛病的功能。只有當他察覺對方有可能買他東西的時候才會發生例外。這個時候，他是聽不見“不”字的。
56.Pepper?
胡椒粉？
57."No."
“不要。”
58.Laundry soap?
洗衣皂？
59."Hmm."
“嗯。”
60.Porter stops. He smells blood. He quickly remembers her last order.
波特停了下來。他嗅到了獵物。他很快記起了她上次的訂單。
61."Say, aren't you about out of soap? That's what you bought last time. You ought to be out right about now."
“對了，你肥皂差不多用完了吧？你上次買的就是這個。現在該差不多用完了。”
62."You're right, Bill. I'll take one."
“沒錯，比爾。我買一塊。”
63.He arrives home, in a rainstorm, after 7 p.m. Today was not profitable. He tells himself not to worry. Four days left in the week.
晚上7點過后，他在暴風雨中回到了家。今天沒賺錢。他跟自己說別著急。這個星期還有4天呢。
64.At least he's off his feet and home.
至少他回到了家，不用再站立了。
65.Inside, an era is preserved. The telephone is a heavy, rotary model. There is no VCR, no cable.
屋內，儼然是保存完好的一個舊時代。電話是笨重的撥盤式的那種。沒有錄像放映機，沒有有線電視。
66.His is the only house in the neighborhood with a television antenna on the roof.
他家是附近惟一一家屋頂上支著電視接收天線的人家。
67.He leads a solitary life. Most of his human contact comes on the job. Now, he heats the oven and slips in a frozen dinner because it's easy to fix.
他過著離群索居的生活。他跟別人的來往大都限于工作上。他打開了烤爐，放了一盒冷藏食品進去，因為這樣做飯方便。
68.The job usually takes him 10 hours.
他的工作通常要花去他10個小時。
69.He's a weary man who knows his days -- no matter what his intentions -- are numbered.
他身心疲憊，知道來日無多了――不管他愿不愿意。
70.He works on straight commission. He gets no paid holidays, vacations or raises. Yes, some months are lean.
他的收入完全依靠傭金。他沒有帶薪假期，沒有度假，也沒有加薪。的確，有些月份收入相當微薄。
71.In 1993, he needed back surgery to relieve pain caused from decades of walking. He was laid up for five months and couldn't work. He was forced to sell his house. The new owners, familiar with his situation, froze his rent and agreed to let him live there until he dies.
1993年，他需要作背部手術，以減輕數十年行走引起的疼痛。他臥床五個月，無法工作。他被迫出售房子。房子的新主人了解他的處境，凍結了他的房租，并答應讓他在有生之年繼續住在那里。
72.He doesn't feel sorry for himself.
他并不因此自悲自憐。
73.The house is only a building. A place to live, nothing more.
房子只不過是個建筑物。一個住的地方。僅此而已。
74.His dinner is ready. He eats at the kitchen table and listens to the radio. The afternoon mail brought bills that he will deal with later this week. The checkbook is upstairs in the bedroom.
晚飯好了。他在廚房的桌子旁吃飯，邊吃邊聽著收音機。下午的郵差送來了他的賬單，這些賬單他將在這個星期后幾天支付。支票簿在樓上臥室里。
75.His checkbook.
他的私人支票簿。
76.He types in the recipient's name and signs his name.
他用打字機打上收款人的名字，隨后簽上名。
77.The signature is small and scrawled.
簽名小小的，字跡潦草。
78.Unreadable.
難以辨認。
79.But he knows.
可他認得出來。
80.Bill Porter.
比爾·波特。
81.Bill Porter, salesman.
推銷員比爾·波特。
82.From his easy chair he hears the wind lash his house and the rain pound the street outside his home. He must dress warmly tomorrow. He's sleepy. With great care he climbs the stairs to his bedroom.
他坐在安樂椅上，只聽得呼嘯的大風猛烈地沖擊著他的屋子，大雨擊打著屋外的街面。明天他得穿得暖和些。他覺得睏了，他小心翼翼地爬上樓就寢。
83.In time, the lights go off.
沒過一會兒，燈就滅了。
84.Morning will be here soon.
早晨很快就會來臨。