評論
打印
20 Voting Day in San Rico
圣黎各的投票日
Initially, I balked at my editor's request that I cover the presidential elections in San Rico.
一開始主編讓我報道圣黎各舉行的總統選舉時，我猶豫不決。
San Rico was known for its bandits.
圣黎各以其土匪之多聞名。
Just one year ago, we had been banned from traveling there because of the danger.
一年前，當地政府就是因為太危險才禁止人們來圣黎各旅游的。
This year, the government promised political reforms and crime control.
今年，政府承諾進行政治改革同時打擊犯罪。
Could thing have changed so much in only one year?
僅一年的時間情況就會有所改觀嗎？
Not in my mind.
我看未必。
I imagined the worst.
我做了最壞的打算：
I anticipated burly bald man wearing bandannas, riding around on motorcycles and harassing voters.
我指望看到些戴大手帕的高大禿頂男人，他們騎著摩托車四處騷擾投票者；
I pictured a bankrupt candidate, making a banal speech to a bored crowd, and claiming that his bankruptcy would not interfere with his government duties.
我想象著一個破產的候選人的樣子，人們不耐煩的聽著他乏味的演說，他還一面聲明破產不會影響他執政；
I even expected the ballot box to be wrapped in barbed wire, with blood dripping from some of the barbs.
我甚至能看到裹著鋼絲網的投票箱，血液正從倒鉤上一滴滴落下來。
What I didn’t expect was a bandmaster and the bang of a drum!
但我萬萬沒想到會有樂隊指揮和擊鼓聲！
When our foreign press plane arrived in San Rico, we were greeted by a cheering crowd and a marching band.
當外報記者搭乘的飛機到達圣黎各時，迎接我們的是歡呼的人群和行進中的樂隊，
There was even a bald eagle.
甚至還有一直禿頭鷹。
The bandleader led us from the plane, through the throngs of smiling people, and into the packed center of the city.
樂隊指揮領著我們走下飛機，穿過面帶微笑的人們，來到人山人海的市中心。
There was big red banners hanging from every building, encouraging people to vote.
每座建筑物上都掛有鼓勵人們投票的紅色大標語。
Secure voting booths stood on every corner with people standing in long lines to cast their ballot.
每一條街道拐角處都有安全的投票亭，在那里，人們排著長隊等候投票。
I had never seen so much enthusiasm for an election.
我還從未見過對選舉這般熱衷的場面。
It was a new and exciting beginning for the people of San Rico.
對圣黎各人民而言，這是一個嶄新而又令人興奮的開端。
I reported it all in my story and faxed it back to my editor.
我全面報道了這一切，然后將稿子傳真給主編。
After attending a wonderful banquet, I found myself sitting at a bar, listening to the banter about the election.
參加完一個豐盛的晚宴后，我在一家酒吧坐了下來，聽人們戲說今天的選舉。
