十七　不健全的腿 The Crippled Leg

「『人民革命軍』在哪裡？」二里半突然問起趙三說。"Where is the 'People's Revolutionary Army'?" Erliban suddenly asked Zhao San.這使趙三想：「二里半當了走狗吧？」他沒對他告訴。This made Zhao San think: "Has Erliban become a running dog?" He didn't tell him.二里半又去問青山。Erliban went to ask Qingshan again.青山說：Qingshan said:

「『人民革命军』在哪里？」二里半突然问起赵三说。这使赵三想：「二里半当了走狗吧？」他没对他告诉。二里半又去问青山。青山说：

「你不要問，再等幾天跟著我走好了！」"Don't ask. Just wait a few more days and follow me!"

「你不要问，再等几天跟著我走好了！」

二里半急迫著好像他就要跑到革命軍去。Erliban was so anxious it seemed he would run off to the revolutionary army right away.青山長聲告訴他：Qingshan told him in a long, drawn-out voice:

二里半急迫著好像他就要跑到革命军去。青山长声告诉他：

「革命軍在盤石，你去得了嗎？"The revolutionary army is at Panshi—can you even get there?我看你一點膽量也沒有，殺一隻羊都不能夠。」接著他故意羞辱他似的：I can see you haven't got a shred of courage—you can't even kill a sheep." Then, as if deliberately humiliating him, he added:

「革命军在盘石，你去得了吗？我看你一点胆量也没有，杀一只羊都不能够。」接著他故意羞辱他似的：

「你的山羊還好啊？」"How's your goat doing?"

「你的山羊还好啊？」

二里半為著生氣，他的白眼球立刻多過黑眼球，他的熱情立刻在心裡結成冰。Erliban grew so angry that the whites of his eyes at once showed more than the black, and his fervor instantly froze to ice within his heart.李青山不與他再多說一句，望向窗外天邊的樹，小聲搖著頭，他唱起小調來。Li Qingshan said not another word to him, gazed at the trees on the horizon outside the window, shook his head softly, and began humming a little tune.二里半臨出門，青山的女人流汗在廚房向他說：As Erliban was about to go out the door, Qingshan's wife, sweating in the kitchen, said to him:

二里半为著生气，他的白眼球立刻多过黑眼球，他的热情立刻在心里结成冰。李青山不与他再多说一句，望向窗外天边的树，小声摇著头，他唱起小调来。二里半临出门，青山的女人流汗在厨房向他说：

「李大叔，吃了飯了吧。」"Uncle Li, have you eaten yet?"

「李大叔，吃了饭了吧。」

青山看到二里半可憐的樣子，他笑說：Seeing Erliban's pitiful look, Qingshan said with a laugh:

青山看到二里半可怜的样子，他笑说：

「回家做什麼，老婆也沒有了，吃了飯再說吧！」"What's the use of going home—you haven't even got a wife anymore. Eat first, we'll talk after!"

「回家做什么，老婆也没有了，吃了饭再说吧！」

他自己沒有了家庭，他貪戀別人的家庭。He himself no longer had a family, and so he coveted other people's families.當他拾起筷子時，很快一碗麥飯吃下去了，接連他又吃兩大碗，別人還不吃完，他已經在抽煙了！The moment he picked up his chopsticks, he quickly finished a bowl of wheat rice, then went on to eat two more big bowls—before the others had even finished, he was already smoking!他一點湯也沒喝，只吃了飯就去抽煙。He didn't drink a drop of soup; he only ate rice and then went off to smoke.

他自己没有了家庭，他贪恋别人的家庭。当他拾起筷子时，很快一碗麦饭吃下去了，接连他又吃两大碗，别人还不吃完，他已经在抽烟了！他一点汤也没喝，只吃了饭就去抽烟。

「喝些湯，白菜湯很好。」"Have some soup, the cabbage soup is good."

「喝些汤，白菜汤很好。」

「不喝，老婆死了三天，三天沒吃乾飯哩！」二里半搖著頭說。"No, I won't. My wife's been dead three days—for three days I haven't eaten solid rice!" Erliban said, shaking his head.

「不喝，老婆死了三天，三天没吃干饭哩！」二里半摇著头说。

青山忙問：「你的山羊吃了乾飯沒有？」Qingshan asked hastily, "Has your goat eaten any solid rice?"

青山忙问：「你的山羊吃了干饭没有？」

二里半吃飽飯，好像一切都有希望。Once Erliban had eaten his fill, it seemed as if everything held hope again.他沒生氣，照例自己笑起來。He wasn't angry; as usual, he began laughing to himself.他感到滿意離開青山家。Feeling satisfied, he left Qingshan's house.在小道不斷的抽他的煙火，天色茫茫的並不引起他悲哀，蛤蟆在小河道一聲聲的哇叫。On the narrow path he kept smoking his pipe; the hazy sky stirred no sorrow in him; frogs croaked one call after another along the little river channel.河邊的小樹隨了風在騷鬧，他踏著往日自己的菜田，他振動著往日的心波。The small trees by the river rustled restlessly in the wind; he walked across what had once been his own vegetable field, and the old waves of feeling stirred again in his heart.菜田連根菜也不生長。Not even a single root vegetable grew in the field.

二里半吃饱饭，好像一切都有希望。他没生气，照例自己笑起来。他感到满意离开青山家。在小道不断的抽他的烟火，天色茫茫的并不引起他悲哀，蛤蟆在小河道一声声的哇叫。河边的小树随了风在骚闹，他踏著往日自己的菜田，他振动著往日的心波。菜田连根菜也不生长。

那邊的人家老太太和小孩們載起暮色來在田上匍匐。Over there, an old woman and some children, wrapped in the gathering dusk, crawled about on the field.他們相遇在地端，二里半說：They met at the edge of the field, and Erliban said:

那边的人家老太太和小孩们载起暮色来在田上匍匐。他们相遇在地端，二里半说：

「你們在掘地嗎？"Are you digging in the ground?地下可有寶物？Is there treasure buried underground?若有我也蹲下掘吧！」If there is, let me crouch down and dig too!"

「你们在掘地吗？地下可有宝物？若有我也蹲下掘吧！」

一個很小的孩子發出脆聲：「拾麥穗呀！」孩子似乎是快樂，老祖母在那邊已嘆息了：A very small child called out crisply, "We're gleaning wheat ears!" The child seemed happy, but the old grandmother over there had already sighed:

一个很小的孩子发出脆声：「拾麦穗呀！」孩子似乎是快乐，老祖母在那边已叹息了：

「有寶物？……"Treasure?...我的老天爺？My old Heaven above...孩子餓得亂叫，領他們來拾幾粒麥穗，回家給他們做乾糧吃。」The children are crying with hunger, so I brought them here to pick up a few grains of wheat, to take home and make them something dry to eat."

「有宝物？……我的老天爷？孩子饿得乱叫，领他们来拾几粒麦穗，回家给他们做干粮吃。」

二里半把煙袋給老太太吸，她拿過煙袋，連擦都沒有擦，就放進嘴裡去。Erliban handed his pipe to the old woman to smoke; she took it and, without even wiping it, put it straight into her mouth.顯然她是熟習吸煙，並且十分需要。Clearly she was well used to smoking, and badly needed it.她把肩膀抬得高高，她緊合了眼睛，濃煙不住從嘴冒出，從鼻孔冒出。She raised her shoulders high, shut her eyes tight, and thick smoke poured ceaselessly from her mouth and from her nostrils.那樣很危險，好像她的鼻子快要著火。It looked quite dangerous, as if her nose were about to catch fire.

二里半把烟袋给老太太吸，她拿过烟袋，连擦都没有擦，就放进嘴里去。显然她是熟习吸烟，并且十分需要。她把肩膀抬得高高，她紧合了眼睛，浓烟不住从嘴冒出，从鼻孔冒出。那样很危险，好像她的鼻子快要著火。

「一個月也多了，沒得到摸到煙袋。」"It's been more than a month since I so much as touched a pipe."

「一个月也多了，没得到摸到烟袋。」

她像仍不願意捨棄煙袋，理智勉強了她。She seemed still unwilling to part with the pipe; only reason forced her to.二里半接過去把煙袋在地面響著。Erliban took it back and rapped it sharply against the ground.

她像仍不愿意舍弃烟袋，理智勉强了她。二里半接过去把烟袋在地面响著。

人間已是那般寂寞了！The human world had already grown so desolate!天邊的紅霞沒有鳥兒翻飛，人家的籬牆沒有狗兒吠叫。No birds wheeled through the red glow at the horizon; no dogs barked by the fences of the houses.

人间已是那般寂寞了！天边的红霞没有鸟儿翻飞，人家的篱墙没有狗儿吠叫。

老太太從腰間慢慢取出一個紙團，紙團慢慢在手下舒展開，而後摺平。The old woman slowly drew a wad of paper from her waistband; slowly, beneath her hands, it unfolded, and then she smoothed it flat.

老太太从腰间慢慢取出一个纸团，纸团慢慢在手下舒展开，而后折平。

「你回家去看看吧！"Go home and take a look!老婆、孩子都死了！Your wife and children are all dead!誰能救你，你回家去看看吧！No one can save you—go home and take a look!看看就明白啦！」Once you look, you'll understand!"

「你回家去看看吧！老婆、孩子都死了！谁能救你，你回家去看看吧！看看就明白啦！」

她指點那張紙，好似指點符咒似的。She pointed at the paper as though pointing at a talisman.

她指点那张纸，好似指点符咒似的。

天更黑了！The sky grew darker still!黑得和帳幕緊逼住人臉。So dark it pressed against people's faces like a curtain.最小的孩子，走幾步，就抱住祖母的大腿，他不住的嚷著：The smallest child, after walking a few steps, clung to his grandmother's thigh, crying out over and over:

天更黑了！黑得和帐幕紧逼住人脸。最小的孩子，走几步，就抱住祖母的大腿，他不住的嚷著：

「奶奶，我的筐滿了，我提不動呀！」"Grandma, my basket is full, I can't carry it!"

「奶奶，我的筐满了，我提不动呀！」

祖母為他提筐，拉著他。The grandmother carried the basket for him and pulled him along.那幾個大一些的孩子衛隊似的跑在前面。The few older children ran ahead like an honor guard.到家，祖母點燈看時，滿筐蒿草，蒿草從筐沿要流出來，而沒有麥穗，祖母打著孩子的頭笑了：When they got home, the grandmother lit a lamp to look, and found the basket full of wormwood, spilling over the rim—there wasn't a single wheat ear. The grandmother tapped the child's head and laughed:

祖母为他提筐，拉著他。那几个大一些的孩子卫队似的跑在前面。到家，祖母点灯看时，满筐蒿草，蒿草从筐沿要流出来，而没有麦穗，祖母打著孩子的头笑了：

「這都是你拾的麥穗嗎？」祖母把笑臉轉換哀傷的臉，她想：「孩子還不能認識麥穗，難為了孩子！」"Is this all the wheat you gleaned?" The grandmother's smile turned to a sorrowful look; she thought: "The child still can't tell wheat ears apart—poor child!"

「这都是你拾的麦穗吗？」祖母把笑脸转换哀伤的脸，她想：「孩子还不能认识麦穗，难为了孩子！」

※※※※※※

五月節，雖然是夏天，卻像吹起秋風來。On the Fifth-Month Festival, though it was summer, the wind blew as if autumn had come.二里半熄了燈，凶壯著從屋簷出現，他提起切菜刀，在牆角，在羊棚，就是院在白樹下，他也搜遍。Erliban put out the lamp and came out from under the eaves looking fierce and strong; he picked up a vegetable knife and searched everywhere—the corner of the wall, the sheep pen, even under the white tree in the yard, he searched it all.他要使自己無牽無掛，好像非立刻殺死老羊不可。He wanted to free himself of every attachment, as though he had no choice but to kill the old goat at once.

五月节，虽然是夏天，却像吹起秋风来。二里半熄了灯，凶壮著从屋簷出现，他提起切菜刀，在墙角，在羊棚，就是院在白树下，他也搜遍。他要使自己无牵无挂，好像非立刻杀死老羊不可。

這是二里半臨行的前夜：This was the night before Erliban's departure:

这是二里半临行的前夜：

老羊鳴叫著回來，鬍子間掛了野草，在欄棚處擦得欄柵響。The old goat came bleating back, wild grass caught in its beard, rubbing against the pen so that the rails rattled.二里半手中的刀，舉得比頭還高，他朝向欄杆走去。The knife in Erliban's hand was raised higher than his head as he walked toward the rails.

老羊鸣叫著回来，胡子间挂了野草，在栏棚处擦得栏栅响。二里半手中的刀，举得比头还高，他朝向栏杆走去。

菜刀飛出去，喳啦的砍倒了小樹。The knife flew from his hand and, with a crack, chopped down a small tree.

菜刀飞出去，喳啦的砍倒了小树。

老羊走過來，在他的腿間搔癢。The old goat came over and rubbed itself against his legs to scratch an itch.二里半許久許久的摸撫羊頭，他十分羞愧，好像耶穌教徒一般向羊禱告。For a long, long while Erliban stroked the goat's head; he felt deeply ashamed, and, like a Christian, prayed to the goat.

老羊走过来，在他的腿间搔痒。二里半许久许久的摸抚羊头，他十分羞愧，好像耶稣教徒一般向羊祷告。

清早他像對羊說話，在羊棚喃喃了一陣，關好手欄，羊在欄中吃草。Early in the morning he seemed to speak to the goat, murmuring for a while in the pen, then closed the gate carefully; the goat ate grass inside the pen.

清早他像对羊说话，在羊棚喃喃了一阵，关好手栏，羊在栏中吃草。

五月節，晴朗的青空。On the Fifth-Month Festival, the sky was clear blue.老趙三看這不像個五月節樣；Old Zhao San felt this didn't seem like the Fifth-Month Festival at all;麥子沒長起來，嗅不到麥香，家家門前沒掛紙葫蘆。the wheat had not grown up, no scent of wheat hung in the air, and no house had paper gourds hanging at its door.他想這一切是變了！He thought: all of this had changed!變得這樣速！Changed so quickly!去年的五月節，清清朗朗的，就在眼前似的，孩子們不是捕蝴蝶嗎？Last year's Fifth-Month Festival, so clear and bright, seemed right before his eyes—weren't the children out catching butterflies?他不是喝酒嗎？Wasn't he drinking wine?

五月节，晴朗的青空。老赵三看这不像个五月节样；麦子没长起来，嗅不到麦香，家家门前没挂纸葫芦。他想这一切是变了！变得这样速！去年的五月节，清清朗朗的，就在眼前似的，孩子们不是捕蝴蝶吗？他不是喝酒吗？

他坐在門前一棵倒折的樹幹上，憑弔這已失去的一切。He sat on a fallen, broken tree trunk in front of his door, mourning all that was now lost.

他坐在门前一棵倒折的树干上，凭吊这已失去的一切。

李青山的身子經過他，他扮成「小工」模樣，赤足捲起褲口，他說給趙三：Li Qingshan's figure passed by him, got up like a common laborer, barefoot with his trouser cuffs rolled up; he said to Zhao San:

李青山的身子经过他，他扮成「小工」模样，赤足卷起裤口，他说给赵三：

「我走了！"I'm off now!城裡有人候著，我就要去……」There's someone waiting for me in the city, I must go..."

「我走了！城里有人候著，我就要去……」

青山沒提到五月節。Qingshan made no mention of the Fifth-Month Festival.

青山没提到五月节。

二里半遠遠跛腳奔來，他青色馬一樣的臉孔，好像帶著笑容。From afar Erliban came limping and running, his sallow, horse-like face seeming to carry a smile.他說：He said:

二里半远远跛脚奔来，他青色马一样的脸孔，好像带著笑容。他说：

「你在這裡坐著，我看你快要，在這根木頭上，……」"You're sitting here—I see you're about to, on this log, ..."

「你在这里坐著，我看你快要，在这根木头上，……」

二里半回頭看時，被關在欄中的老羊，居然隨在身後，立刻他的臉更拖長起來：When Erliban turned to look, the old goat shut in the pen had somehow followed along behind him; at once his face grew even longer:

二里半回头看时，被关在栏中的老羊，居然随在身后，立刻他的脸更拖长起来：

「這條老羊……"This old goat...替我養著吧！keep it for me!趙三哥！Brother Zhao San!你活一天替我養一天吧！……」As long as you live, keep it for me!..."

「这条老羊……替我养著吧！赵三哥！你活一天替我养一天吧！……」

二里半的手，在羊毛上惜別，他流淚的手，最後一刻摸著羊毛。Erliban's hand lingered on the goat's wool in parting; with tears, his hand stroked the wool one last time.

二里半的手，在羊毛上惜别，他流泪的手，最后一刻摸著羊毛。

他快走，跟上前面李青山去。He hurried off, to catch up with Li Qingshan ahead.身後老羊不住哀叫，羊的鬍子慢慢在擺動……Behind him the old goat cried out mournfully without stopping, its beard swaying slowly...

他快走，跟上前面李青山去。身后老羊不住哀叫，羊的胡子慢慢在摆动……

二里半不健全的腿顛跌著顛跌著，遠了！Erliban's crippled leg stumbled on and on, growing distant!模糊了！Growing blurred!山崗和樹林，漸去漸遠。The hills and the woods receded further and further away.羊聲在遙遠處伴著老趙三茫然的嘶鳴。From far off, the goat's cries accompanied old Zhao San's own dazed, hoarse sobbing.

二里半不健全的腿颠跌著颠跌著，远了！模糊了！山岗和树林，渐去渐远。羊声在遥远处伴著老赵三茫然的嘶鸣。