Suddenly it seemed too late for Tito. The red-hot ashes blistered his skin, and the stinging vapors tore his throat. He could not go on. He staggered toward a small tree at the side of the road and fell. In a moment Bimbo was beside him. He coaxed. But there was no answer. He licked Tito's hands, his feet, his face. The boy did not stir. Then Bimbo did the last thing he could—the last thing he wanted to do. He bit his comrade, bit him deep in the arm. With a cry of pain, Tito jumped to his feet, Bimbo after him. Tito was in despair, but Bimbo was determined. He drove the boy on, snapping at his heels, worrying his way through the crowd; barking, baring his teeth, heedless of kicks or falling stones. Sick with hunger, half dead with fear and sulfur fumes, Tito pounded on, pursued by Bimbo. How long, he never knew. At last he staggered through the marine gate and felt soft sand under him. Then Tito fainted...
突然間,對于蒂托來說似乎太晚了。炙熱的火山灰把他的皮膚燙出了水泡,刺激性強烈的煙霧折磨著他的喉嚨。他走不動了,蹣跚著走到路邊的一棵小樹旁,倒了下去。賓博立刻跑到他的身邊,不停地叫著,但蒂托沒有醒來。賓博用舌頭舔蒂托的手、腳和臉,他還是一動不動。最后賓博用了它最不想用的一招,它在蒂托的手臂上狠狠地咬了一下。蒂托痛苦地叫了一聲,然后站了起來。賓博緊隨其后。蒂托感到很絕望,而賓博卻意志堅定。它咬著蒂托的腳后跟催促他往前走。由于擔心主人沒法從人群中逃生,賓博露著牙齒不停地叫著,根本無暇顧及別人無意的踢打和不斷落下的石塊。蒂托被恐懼和濃烈的硫磺煙折磨得半死,忍受著饑餓繼續前行,賓博緊跟其后。他不知道還要走多遠。最后他終于跌跌撞撞地穿過通海閘門,感到腳下踩著了松軟的沙子,接著就暈了過去……
Someone was dashing sea water over him. Someone was carrying him toward a boat.
有人在他身上潑了點海水,有人抱著他朝船上走去。
"Bimbo," he called. And then louder, "Bimbo!" But Bimbo had disappeared.
“賓博,”他叫道,接著又用更大的聲音喊了一遍,“賓博!”但是賓博不見了。
Voices jarred against each other. "Hurry—hurry!" "To the boats!" "Can't you see the child's frightened and starving!" "He keeps calling for someone!" "Poor boy, he's out of his mind." "Here, child—take this!"
喊叫聲此起彼伏:“快點!快點!”“到船上去!”“沒看到這孩子又驚又餓嗎?”“他一直在喊人!”“可憐的孩子,他頭腦不清晰了。”“來,孩子,拿著這個!”
They tucked him in among them. The oarlocks creaked; the oars splashed; the boat rode over toppling waves. Tito was safe. But he wept continually.
他們把蒂托舒舒服服地裹在中間。船槳吱吱作響,水花四濺。船在海上乘風破浪。蒂托安全了,但他卻無法停止哭泣。
"Bimbo!" he wailed. "Bimbo! Bimbo!"
“賓博!賓博!賓博!”他痛哭著喊道。
He could not be comforted.
失去賓博的傷痛無法撫平。