The Moon And Sixpence 55.9

月亮与六便士【中英字幕】

" Maisnon, mon cher monsieur, men are always the same. Fear makes them cruel. . . . Idecided to see Strickland, and when I had finished with the chiefess asked fora boy to show me the way. But none would accompany me, and I was forced to findit alone. "

When Dr.Coutras arrived at the plantation he was seized with a feeling of uneasiness.Though he was hot from walking, he shivered. There was something hostile in theair which made him hesitate, and he felt that invisible forces barred his way.Unseen hands seemed to draw him back. No one would go near now to gather thecocoa-nuts, and they lay rotting on the ground. Everywhere was desolation. Thebush was encroaching, and it looked as though very soon the primeval forestwould regain possession of that strip of land which had been snatched from itat the cost of so much labour. He had the sensation that here was the abode ofpain. As he approached the house he was struck by the unearthly silence, and atfirst he thought it was deserted. Then he saw Ata. She was sitting on herhaunches in the lean-to that served her as kitchen, watching some mess cookingin a pot. Near her a small boy was playing silently in the dirt. She did notsmile when she saw him.

"I havecome to see Strickland, " he said.

"I will goand tell him. "

She went to thehouse, ascended the few steps that led to the verandah, and entered. Dr.Coutras followed her, but waited outside in obedience to her gesture. As sheopened the door he smelt the sickly sweet smell which makes the neighbourhoodof the leper nauseous. He heard her speak, and then he heard Strickland'sanswer, but he did not recognise the voice. It had become hoarse and indistinct.Dr. Coutras raised his eyebrows. He judged that the disease had alreadyattacked the vocal chords. Then Ata came out again.

“别这么说，我亲爱的先生①，人们都是这样的。恐惧使人们变得残酷无情……我决定去看看思特里克兰德。当我给女酋长看好病以后，我想找一个男孩子给我带路，但是没有一个人肯陪我去，最后还是我一个人摸索着去了。”

①原文为法语。

库特拉斯医生一走进那个椰子园，就有一种忐忑不安的感觉。虽然走路走得浑身燥热，却不由得打了个寒战。空气中似乎有什么敌视他的东西，叫他望而却步；他觉得有一种看不见的势力阻拦着他，许多只看不见的手往后拉他。没有人再到这里来采摘椰子，椰果全都腐烂在地上，到处是一片荒凉破败的景象。低矮的树丛从四面八方侵入这个种植园，看来人们花费了无数血汗开发出的这块土地不久就又要被原始森林重新夺回去了。库特拉斯医生有一种感觉，仿佛这是痛苦的居留地。他越走近这所房子，越感到这里寂静得令人心神不安。开始他还以为房子里没有人了呢，但是后来他看见了爱塔。她正蹲在一间当厨房用的小棚子里，用锅子煮东西，身旁有一个小男孩，一声不出地在泥土地上玩儿。爱塔看见医生的时候，脸上并没有笑容。

“我是来看思特里克兰德的。”他说。

“我去告诉他。”

爱塔向屋子走去，登上几层台阶，走上阳台，然后进了屋子。库特拉斯医生跟在她身后，但是走到门口的时候却听从她的手势在外边站住。爱塔打开房门以后，他闻到一股腥甜气味；在麻风病患者居住的地方总是有这种令人作呕的气味。他听见爱塔说了句什么，以后他听见思特里克兰德的语声，但是他却一点儿也听不出这是思特里克兰德的声音。这声音变得非常沙哑、模糊不清。库特拉斯医生扬了一下眉毛。他估计病菌已经侵袭了病人的声带了。过了一会儿，爱塔从屋子里走出来。