九　傳染病 The Epidemic

亂崗子，死屍狼藉在那裡。On the wild burial ground, corpses lay strewn everywhere.無人掩埋，野狗活躍在屍群裡。No one buried them; feral dogs prowled actively among the dead.

乱岗子，死尸狼藉在那里。无人掩埋，野狗活跃在尸群里。

太陽血一般昏紅；The sun was a murky red, like blood;從朝至暮蚊蟲混同著朦霧充塞天空。from dawn to dusk, mosquitoes and other insects, mingling with the hazy mist, filled the sky.高粱，玉米和一切菜類被人丟棄在田圃，每個家庭是病的家庭。Sorghum, corn, and every kind of vegetable had been abandoned in the fields and gardens; every household was a household of sickness.是將絕滅的家庭。A household on the verge of extinction.

太阳血一般昏红；从朝至暮蚊虫混同著朦雾充塞天空。高粱，玉米和一切菜类被人丢弃在田圃，每个家庭是病的家庭。是将绝灭的家庭。

全村靜悄了。The whole village had fallen silent.植物也沒有風搖動它們。Not even a wind stirred the plants.一切沉浸在霧中。Everything was steeped in mist.

全村静悄了。植物也没有风摇动它们。一切沉浸在雾中。

趙三坐在南地端出賣五把新鐮刀。Zhao San sat at the edge of the southern fields, trying to sell five new sickles.那是組織「鐮刀會」時剩下的。They were left over from the days when he had organized the “Sickle Society.”他正看著那傷心的遺留物，村中的老太太來問他：He was gazing at these sorrowful relics when an old woman from the village came and asked him:

赵三坐在南地端出卖五把新镰刀。那是组织「镰刀会」时剩下的。他正看著那伤心的遗留物，村中的老太太来问他：

「我說……“I say…天象，這是什麼天象？these signs in the heavens—what do they mean?要天崩地陷了。The sky is going to collapse and the earth cave in.老天爺叫人全死嗎？Does the Lord of Heaven mean for us all to die?噯……」Ai…”

「我说……天象，这是什么天象？要天崩地陷了。老天爷叫人全死吗？嗳……」

老太婆離去趙三，曲背立即消失在霧中，她的語聲也像隔遠了似的：The old woman left Zhao San; her bent back vanished at once into the mist, and her voice, too, sounded as if it came from far away:

老太婆离去赵三，曲背立即消失在雾中，她的语声也像隔远了似的：

「天要滅人呀！……“Heaven means to destroy mankind!…老天早該滅人啦！The Lord of Heaven should have destroyed us long ago!人世儘是強盜、打仗、殺害，這是人自己招的罪……」The human world is nothing but bandits, wars, and killing—this is a punishment people have brought upon themselves…”

「天要灭人呀！……老天早该灭人啦！人世尽是强盗、打仗、杀害，这是人自己招的罪……」

漸漸遠了！Gradually, her voice faded into the distance!遠處聽見一個驢子在號叫，驢子號叫在水溝嗎？In the distance a donkey could be heard braying—was it braying in the ditch?

渐渐远了！远处听见一个驴子在号叫，驴子号叫在水沟吗？

什麼也看不見，只能聽聞：那是，二里半的女人作嘎的不愉悅的聲音來近趙三。Nothing could be seen, only heard: there it was, the grating, joyless voice of the woman from Erli Ban drawing nearer to Zhao San.趙三為著鐮刀所煩惱，他坐在霧中，他用煩惱的心思在忌恨鐮刀，他想：Zhao San was troubled over the sickles; sitting in the mist, he brooded resentfully upon them, thinking:

什么也看不见，只能听闻：那是，二里半的女人作嘎的不愉悦的声音来近赵三。赵三为著镰刀所烦恼，他坐在雾中，他用烦恼的心思在忌恨镰刀，他想：

「青牛是賣掉了！“The blue ox has been sold!麥田沒能種起來。」And we never managed to sow the wheat field.”

「青牛是卖掉了！麦田没能种起来。」

那個婆子向他說話，但他沒有注意到。The old woman spoke to him, but he did not notice.那個婆子被腳下的土塊跌倒，她起來慌張著，在霧層中看不清她怎樣張皇。She tripped over a clod beneath her feet; when she got up, she floundered about in panic, though through the layers of mist one could not see exactly how wildly she flailed.她的音波織起了網狀的波紋，和老大的蚊音一般：The waves of her voice wove a net of ripples, like the droning of enormous mosquitoes:

那个婆子向他说话，但他没有注意到。那个婆子被脚下的土块跌倒，她起来慌张著，在雾层中看不清她怎样张皇。她的音波织起了网状的波纹，和老大的蚊音一般：

「三哥，還坐在這裡！“Third Brother, still sitting here!家怕是有『鬼子』來了，就連小孩子，『鬼子』也要給打針，你看我把孩子抱出來，就是孩子病死也甘心，打針可不甘心。」I fear the ‘devils’ have come to our house; they even mean to give the children injections. Look, I’ve carried my child away—even if the child dies of illness, I’ll accept it, but I won’t accept an injection.”

「三哥，还坐在这里！家怕是有『鬼子』来了，就连小孩子，『鬼子』也要给打针，你看我把孩子抱出来，就是孩子病死也甘心，打针可不甘心。」

麻面婆離開趙三去了！The pockmarked woman left Zhao San!抱著她未死的，連哭也不會哭的孩子沉沒在霧中。Clutching her child, not yet dead but no longer even able to cry, she sank into the mist.

麻面婆离开赵三去了！抱著她未死的，连哭也不会哭的孩子沉没在雾中。

太陽變成暗紅色的放大而無光的圓輪，當在人頭。The sun became a magnified, dark-red disk without light, hanging directly over their heads.昏茫的村莊埋著天然災難的種子，漸漸種子在滋生。The dim, boundless village harbored the seeds of natural disaster, and gradually those seeds began to grow.

太阳变成暗红色的放大而无光的圆轮，当在人头。昏茫的村庄埋著天然灾难的种子，渐渐种子在滋生。

傳染病和放大的太陽一般勃發起來，茂盛起來！The epidemic burst forth and flourished, like the swollen sun!

传染病和放大的太阳一般勃发起来，茂盛起来！

趙三踏著死蛤蟆走路；Zhao San walked along, treading on dead toads;人們抬著棺材在他身邊暫時現露而滑過去！men carrying a coffin appeared briefly beside him, then glided away!一個歪斜面孔的小腳女人跟在後面，她小小的聲音哭著。A bound-footed woman with a crooked face followed behind, weeping in a tiny voice.又聽到驢子叫，不一會驢子閃過去，背上馱著一個重病的老人。Again a donkey brayed; presently it flashed past, bearing a gravely ill old man on its back.

赵三踏著死蛤蟆走路；人们抬著棺材在他身边暂时现露而滑过去！一个歪斜面孔的小脚女人跟在后面，她小小的声音哭著。又听到驴子叫，不一会驴子闪过去，背上驮著一个重病的老人。

西洋人，人們叫他「洋鬼子」，身穿白外套，第二天霧退時，白衣女人來到趙三的窗外，她嘴上掛著白囊，說起難懂的中國話：The Westerners, whom the people called “foreign devils,” wore white coats; the next day, when the mist had lifted, a white-clad woman came to Zhao San’s window, a white mask hanging over her mouth, and spoke in difficult-to-understand Chinese:

西洋人，人们叫他「洋鬼子」，身穿白外套，第二天雾退时，白衣女人来到赵三的窗外，她嘴上挂著白囊，说起难懂的中国话：

「你的，病人的有？“You, have sick person?我的治病好，來。I cure sickness good—come.快快的。」Quick, quick.”

「你的，病人的有？我的治病好，来。快快的。」

那個老的胖一些的，動一動鬍子，眼睛胖得和豬一般，把頭探著窗子望。The older, fatter one twitched his mustache; his eyes were as fat as a pig’s as he thrust his head toward the window and peered inside.

那个老的胖一些的，动一动胡子，眼睛胖得和猪一般，把头探著窗子望。

趙三慌說沒有病人，可是終於給平兒打針了！Zhao San hurriedly said there was no sick person, but in the end Ping’er was given an injection!

赵三慌说没有病人，可是终于给平儿打针了！

「老鬼子」向那個「小鬼子」說話，嘴上的白囊一動一動的。The “old devil” spoke to the “young devil,” the white mask over his mouth fluttering as he talked.管子，藥瓶和亮刀從提包傾出，趙三去井邊提一壺冷水。Tubes, medicine bottles, and gleaming knives spilled out of the bag, while Zhao San went to the well to fetch a kettle of cold water.那個「鬼子」開始擦他通孔的玻璃管。The “devil” began wiping a hollow glass tube.

「老鬼子」向那个「小鬼子」说话，嘴上的白囊一动一动的。管子，药瓶和亮刀从提包倾出，赵三去井边提一壶冷水。那个「鬼子」开始擦他通孔的玻璃管。

平兒被停在窗前的一塊板上，用白布給他蒙住眼睛。Ping’er was laid on a board before the window, and a white cloth was placed over his eyes.隔院的人們都來看著，因為要曉得鬼子怎樣治病，「鬼子」治病究竟怎樣可怕。People from the neighboring courtyards all came to watch, for they wanted to learn how the devils treated illness—just how terrifying the “devils’” treatment really was.

平儿被停在窗前的一块板上，用白布给他蒙住眼睛。隔院的人们都来看著，因为要晓得鬼子怎样治病，「鬼子」治病究竟怎样可怕。

玻璃管從肚臍一寸的地方插下，五寸長的玻璃管只有半段在肚皮外閃光。The glass tube was inserted an inch below the navel; of its five-inch length, only half remained outside the belly, gleaming.於是人們捉緊孩子，使他仰臥不得搖動。「鬼子」開始一個人提起冷水壺，另一個對準那個長長的橡皮管頂端的漏水器。Then the people held the child fast, keeping him on his back and preventing him from moving. The “devils” began: one lifted the kettle of cold water, while the other aimed it at the funnel atop the long rubber tube.看起來「鬼子」像修理一架機器。The “devils” looked as if they were repairing a machine.四面圍觀的人好像有嘆氣的，好像大家一起在縮肩膀。Among the onlookers crowding all around, some seemed to sigh, and all seemed to hunch their shoulders at once.孩子只是作出「呀！The child uttered only a short cry of “Ah!呀」的短叫，很快一壺水灌完了！Ah!” and very soon the whole kettleful of water had been poured in!最後在滾漲的肚子上擦一點黃色藥水，用小剪子剪一塊白綿貼在破口。At last they rubbed a little yellow medicine onto the swollen, bulging belly, then used small scissors to cut a piece of white cotton and pressed it over the opening.就這樣白衣「鬼子」提了提包輕便的走了！And just like that, the white-clad “devils” picked up their bag and walked lightly away!又到別人家去。On to someone else’s house.

玻璃管从肚脐一寸的地方插下，五寸长的玻璃管只有半段在肚皮外闪光。于是人们捉紧孩子，使他仰卧不得摇动。「鬼子」开始一个人提起冷水壶，另一个对准那个长长的橡皮管顶端的漏水器。看起来「鬼子」像修理一架机器。四面围观的人好像有叹气的，好像大家一起在缩肩膀。孩子只是作出「呀！呀」的短叫，很快一壶水灌完了！最后在滚涨的肚子上擦一点黄色药水，用小剪子剪一块白绵贴在破口。就这样白衣「鬼子」提了提包轻便的走了！又到别人家去。

又是一天晴朗的日子，傳染病患到絕頂的時候！Another clear day came, with the epidemic at its very height!女人們抱著半死的小孩子，女人們始終懼怕打針，懼怕白衣的「鬼子」用水壺向小孩子肚裡灌水。The women clutched their half-dead children; they remained terrified of injections, terrified that the white-clad “devils” would use a kettle to pour water into their children’s bellies.她們不忍看那腫漲起來奇怪的肚子。They could not bear to look at those strangely swollen bellies.

又是一天晴朗的日子，传染病患到绝顶的时候！女人们抱著半死的小孩子，女人们始终惧怕打针，惧怕白衣的「鬼子」用水壶向小孩子肚里灌水。她们不忍看那肿涨起来奇怪的肚子。

惡劣的傳聞遍佈著。Dreadful rumors spread everywhere.

恶劣的传闻遍布著。

「李家的全家死了！」「城裡派人來檢查，有病象的都用車子拉進城去，老太婆也拉進城去，孩子也拉，拉去打藥針。」“The whole Li family is dead!” “The city has sent people to inspect us; anyone showing signs of illness is hauled into the city by cart. Old women are hauled into the city, children too—hauled away to be injected with medicine.”

「李家的全家死了！」「城里派人来检查，有病象的都用车子拉进城去，老太婆也拉进城去，孩子也拉，拉去打药针。」

人死了聽不見哭聲，靜悄地抬著草捆或是棺材向著亂墳崗子走去，接接連連的，不斷……When people died, no weeping could be heard; in silence they were carried away, wrapped in straw bundles or laid in coffins, toward the wild burial ground—one after another, without end…

人死了听不见哭声，静悄地抬著草捆或是棺材向著乱坟岗子走去，接接连连的，不断……

過午二里半的婆子把小孩送到亂墳崗子去！That afternoon, the woman from Erli Ban took her child to the wild burial ground!她看到別的幾個小孩有的頭髮蒙住白臉，有的被野狗拖斷了四肢，也有幾個好好的睡在那裡。She saw several other children there: some had hair covering their white faces, some had had their limbs torn off by feral dogs, and a few lay there as though peacefully asleep.

过午二里半的婆子把小孩送到乱坟岗子去！她看到别的几个小孩有的头发蒙住白脸，有的被野狗拖断了四肢，也有几个好好的睡在那里。

野狗在遠的地方安然的嚼著碎骨發響。In the distance, feral dogs calmly crunched splintered bones.狗感到滿足，狗不再為著追求食物而瘋狂，也不再獵取活人。The dogs were satisfied; they no longer went mad in pursuit of food, nor did they hunt the living.

野狗在远的地方安然的嚼著碎骨发响。狗感到满足，狗不再为著追求食物而疯狂，也不再猎取活人。

平兒整夜嘔著黃色的水，綠色的水，白眼珠滿織著紅色的絲紋。All night Ping’er vomited yellow water, then green water, while the whites of his eyes became densely threaded with red veins.

平儿整夜呕著黄色的水，绿色的水，白眼珠满织著红色的丝纹。

趙三喃喃著走出家門，雖然全村的人死了不少，雖然莊稼在那裡衰敗，鐮刀他卻總想出賣，鐮刀放在家裡永久刺著他的心。Zhao San walked out of his house muttering to himself; though many in the village had died, though the crops stood withering in the fields, he still kept thinking of selling the sickles—for as long as they remained in the house, they would forever stab at his heart.

赵三喃喃著走出家门，虽然全村的人死了不少，虽然庄稼在那里衰败，镰刀他却总想出卖，镰刀放在家里永久刺著他的心。