The game they played is a popular one with boys and girls; it's called tag. The man with the gun was trying to tag King Solomon; the warden was bent on tagging the man with the gun. And I liked to see them at their game.
他們玩的是一種在孩子當中很受歡迎的捉人游戲。帶槍的人在設法捕捉所羅門王,獵區管理員決心要捉住帶槍的人。而我喜歡看他們玩這個游戲。
The rest of that summer and all during the next two summers I mentioned King Solomon's name to all I chanced to meet. They all knew of him, and had stories to tell about him, but no one was able to tell me just where and when he might be found. So I never met King Solomon till quite recently, and then it was through Dee Thompson, a boy of twelve.
那年夏天余下的日子,以及接下來的兩個夏季,我向我遇見的每一個人提及所羅門王的名字。他們都知道他,而且都能講一些有關他的故事,但是沒有一個人能告訴我在什么時間什么地點能找到他。所以我一直沒見過所羅門王,直到最近通過一個叫迪·湯普森的十二歲男孩我才見到了他。
I had met Dee a few times. He was no different from the other mountain boys, lean and taciturn, hard to talk to. I probably never would have got to know him well if I had not mentioned King Solomon. He was a different boy then.
我見過迪好幾次。他和其他的山區孩子沒什么兩樣,身體很瘦,沉默寡言,很難說上話。要是我沒提到所羅門王,我也許永遠不會了解他。一提到所羅門王,他像完全變了個人。
Have you seen him? he asked.
“你見過他嗎?”他問。
No. I've just heard about him. But I guess you have, I suggested.
“沒有,我只是聽說過他。但我猜你見過,”我說道。
I saw him once, he answered. "He had broken my line after I had lifted him out of the water. But," he added with a quavering voice. "I'm going to get him some day."
“我見過一次他回答說,“我把他拖出水面時,他掙斷線跑了。不過,”他補充說,聲音帶著一絲顫抖,“總有一天我會捉住他。”
I asked him when he hoped to accomplish it.
我問他想什么時候實現這個愿望。
When the signs are right again, he told me.
“等時機成熟時,”他告訴我。
When do you reckon that will be?
“你認為那會是什么時候?”
Dee looked me steadily in the eye, and then asked, "Do you want to go with me?"
迪緊緊地盯著我的眼晴,然后問道:“你想和我一起去嗎?”
I sure do.
“我當然想。”
I'll let you know when I'm going after him again, Dee promised and left me to wonder when that would be.
“我再去抓他的時候會告訴你的,”迪許諾道,而他走后我仍然思索著,什么時候才會有這個機會。
Three days later, while I was having a second cup of coffee, Dee walked into my camp.
三天后,正當我喝第二杯咖啡時,迪走進了我露營的帳篷。
I'm going, he announced.
“我要去了,”他宣布說。
And may I trail along? I asked hopefully.
“我能和你一起去嗎?”我滿懷希望地問道。
That's what I said the other day, he replied
“那天我就是這么說的,”他回答道。