評論
打印
An asteroid
一顆小行星
When the aspiring young man tried to assert his opinion
當這位有抱負的年輕人 試著宣布他的觀點
that an asteroid was going to destroy Earth the following year.
一顆小行星將在來年 摧毀地球時.
he was astonished to be kicked out of his association.
他被協會掃地出門了. 這著實讓他大吃一驚.
He thought he had assessed the situation clearly.
他認為自己對情況做 了很清晰的評估.
but he had been wrong to think that the assorted gentlemen would believe his core assumptions.
但是認為各位先生會相 信他的核心假設卻是個 錯誤.
He tried to give assurances of their accuracy.
他試圖讓人們對他的 理論的準確性充滿信 心.
but the verbal assault on his theory made him feel
可是對他的理論的語言 攻擊讓他覺得
as if he had been assassinated.
好像他已經被暗殺了.
As he walked out of the building he saw that his most valuable asset.
走出大樓時.他發現他 最寶貴的財產-
his car. had been stolen.
-汽車被盜了.
With his aspirations crushed even further
抱負被進一步扼殺之后
he walked home to assemble what was left of his life.
他只好回家去收拾殘局
He just couldn't stop thinking
他不禁想.
that those men to whom he had ascribed such wisdom
那些他認為那么有智慧 的人
were unable to assume an open mind to consider other ideas.
怎么就不能在考慮其他 問題時采取開明的態度 呢?
He had aspired so much for their respect.
他曾經如此渴望獲得 他們的尊重.
to become assimilated with them.
如此想被他們同化.
The aspect of this experience that would stay with him the most.however.
然而.這段經歷最讓他 刻骨銘心的方面
was the humiliation.
是他所受的屈辱.
But the day was not over yet.
但是這倒霉的一天還 沒有結束.
As he turned the corner to his home he began to see the ash in the air.
在他拐彎回家時.他開 始發現空氣中有灰末.
When he looked up he saw that his house had been burned down.He was numb.
他抬起頭.發現到他家 的房子已經被燒毀. 他驚呆了.
Luckily the neighbors came over.
幸好鄰居們走過來.
put their arms around him
他們伸出手來抓住
and assisted him to a nearby home to rest.
并扶著他到一個附近的 人家體息.
When the assessor came in to tell him that he didn't have fire insurance.
當估價員過來告訴他說 他沒有辦理火災險時.
the young man went white.
他的臉色唰地一 下就變白了.
When he was found dead the next morning.
第二天早上人們發 現他死了.
the neighbors pooled together money to pay for his funeral.
鄰居們湊錢為他舉行 了葬禮.
The association promptly forgot him.
協會里那幫家伙很快就 把他拋在了腦后.
They only remembered him 10 months later
十個月后.他們才又想 起了這個年輕人.
when the whole world saw with their own eyes
因為這時候全世界都 目睹了
that an asteroid was heading straight for earth.
一顆小行星徑直朝 地球撞來.
