Their eyes met again.
他们的目光又相遇了。
Slowly, very slowly, Vera Claythorne and Philip Lombard lifted their heads and looked into each other’s eyes
慢慢地、非常缓慢地,维拉·克莱索恩和菲利普抬起了头,互相凝视着对方的眼睛……
Vera said: “How was it worked — that trick with the marble bear?”
维拉说:“那个石头熊的把戏……到底是怎么演的?”
Vera said quietly: “I understand…” She stared out to sea.
维拉平静地说:“我明白……”她凝望着大海。
No, it was only a minute or so…
不,这只不过一、两分钟而已。
Lombard said, and his voice was a snarl-dangerous-menacing: “This is the end, you understand. We’ve come to the truth now. And it’s the end…”
隆巴德——他的声音类似嚎叫,听着让人毛骨悚然——说道:“可以收场了。你该明白,现在一切都已真相大白,这就是结局……”
Her voice was a whisper — nothing more.
她的声音低得像是耳语——刚刚能够听见。
Aeons passed… worlds spun and whirled… Time was motionless… It stood still — it passed through a thousand ages.
亿万年过去了……地球不停地转动……时间静止着,原地不动……千万个世纪已流逝过去……
Vera said: “There’s no one on the island — no one at all — except us two…”
维拉说:“岛上没有一个人——连一个人都没有——除去我们俩……”
Lombard laughed. He said: “So that’s it, is it, Vera?”
隆巴德笑了。他说:“原来如此。是吗,维拉?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “A conjuring trick, my dear — a very good one…”
隆巴德耸耸肩膀。“魔术,亲爱的……非常出色的魔术。”
Vera thought: “Why did I never see his face properly before. A wolf — that’s what it is — a wolf’s face… Those horrible teeth…”
维拉想:“为什么以前我从没好好看看他的脸,一只狼,一点不假——一只狼的脸……那些可怕的牙齿……”
Two people were standing looking down on a dead man…
两个人正站着低头俯视一个死去的人……
Lombard said: “Precisely. So we know where we are, don’t we?”
隆巴德说:“一点儿不错。那么我们现在很清楚我们的处境了,是吗?”
They managed it, however, drawing the body clear of high water mark. Lombard said as he straightened up: “Satisfied?”
最后,他们总算把尸体拖到潮水冲刷不到的地方。隆巴德直起身来说:“满意了吧?”
She pulled and tugged with all her might.
她用尽全身的力气又拉又拽。
Lombard sneered. He said: “What’s this? Womanly pity?”
隆巴德讥讽地说:“这是什么意思?女人的怜悯心吗?”
Lombard panted: “Not such an easy job.”
隆巴德气喘吁吁地说:“这活儿可不轻松。”
Vera said: “Why not? Haven’t you any pity?”
维拉说:“为什么不呢?你没有怜悯心吗?”
Lombard laughed. He said: “If you like.” He bent — tugging at the body. Vera leaned against him, helping him.
隆巴德笑着说:“随你的便。”他弯下腰,开始往上拉尸体。维拉紧依在他身边帮助他。
Vera said: “At any rate, let’s get him out of reach of the sea.”
维拉说:“不管怎么说,咱们还是把他弄到海水冲不到的地方吧。”
Vera looked down again at the body. She said: “We must move him. Carry him up to the house.”
维拉又低头望望尸体,说道:“我们怎么也得把他捞上来。把他弄到屋里去吧。”
“To join the other victims, I suppose? All neat and tidy. As far as I’m concerned he can stay where he is.”
“让他也参加那些牺牲者的行列,是吗?收拾得干干净净。依我看,他就呆在这儿满好。”
She looked down at the dead man. She said: “Poor Dr. Armstrong…”
她望着那死去的人说道:“可怜的阿姆斯特朗医生……”
General Macartbur had stared out to seawhenonly yesterday? Or was it the day before? He too had said, “This is the end…” He had said it with acceptance — almost with welcome.
麦克阿瑟将军昨天——也许是前天——还在眺望着大海,他也说过:“这是结局了……”他说这话是用顺从,几乎可以说是欢迎的口吻。
He said: “I’ve no pity for you. Don’t expect it!”
他说:“我对你不存在丝毫怜悯。你也休想得到!”
But to Vera the words — the thought — brought rebellion. No, it should not be the end.
但是对于维拉,这些话和这种想法激起了反感。不,这不会是结局!
Lombard said: “So that’s the reason for your womanly solicitude! You wanted to pick my pocket.”
隆巴德说:“原来这就是你对死尸也要施恩的原因,你为的是掏我的兜。”
Vera said: “Quite.”
维拉说:“非常满意。”
She nodded. She held it steadily and unwaveringly.
她点点头,牢牢地、毫不动摇地举着枪。
He said authoritatively: “Give that revolver to me.”
他命令道:“把手枪交给我!”
Automatically Vera pressed the trigger
维拉机械地扳动了枪机……
And then he sprang. Quick as a panther — as any other feline creature…
就在这时他一跃而起,敏捷得像一只豹子,或者其他任何一种猫科动物一样……
Lombard’s leaping body stayed poised in mid-spring, then crashed heavily to the ground.
隆巴德跳起来的身躯在半空中静止了瞬间,之后沉重地摔在地上。
Vera laughed.
维拉笑了。
He spoke slowly, argumentatively. “Now look here, my dear girl, you just listen –“
他一字一板、用讲道理的口气说:“听着,亲爱的姑娘,听我说!”
Her tone warned him. He spun round. Even as he clapped his hand to his pocket he knew that he would find it empty. She had moved a yard or two away and was facing him, revolver in hand.
她的语气使他一下警觉起来。他转回身,把手放进口袋里,他一下全明白了,口袋已经空了。这时她已经站在离他几码远的地方,面对着他,手里举着手枪。
His quick brain was working. Which way — which method — talk her over — lull her into security — or a swift dash —
敏捷的大脑开始迅速地活动起来。怎么办——用什么方法——说服她——稳住她,使她安心——或者快速一击——
Death was very near to Philip Lombard now. It had never, he knew, been nearer. Nevertheless he was not beaten yet.
死神现在逼近了隆巴德,他明白他从来没离死神这么近过。虽然如此,他还没被打倒。
Lombard said: “Come on, hand it over.”
隆巴德说:“听见了吗?递给我手枪!”
All his life Lombard had taken the risky way. He took it now.
他隆巴德在全部生活中一直是采用冒险的手段。他现在又这样干了。
She sat there — exquisitelyhappy — exquisitelyat peace.
坐在那儿——极度幸福——极度安宁……
She was alone on the island…
她一个人在岛上——独自
No more fear…
没有恐惧。
She got to her feet and glanced up at the house.
她站起身来,望了那座别墅一眼。
She realized now that she was hungry and sleepy. Principally sleepy. She wanted to throw herself on her bed and sleep and sleep and sleep…
现在她意识到饥饿和困倦了,主要是困倦,她想扑到床上睡一大觉,睡个足兴……
There was no more fear — nomore steeling of her nerves…
再没有恐怖了——再不会有神经绷紧到马上就要断裂的时刻……
Philip Lombard was dead — shot through the heart.
菲利普·隆巴德被击穿了心脏,已经断了气了……
But what did that matter? She was alive…
这到底是怎么回事?她居然活着……
Nothing to be afraid of any longer! No terrors waiting for her! Just — an ordinary well — built modern house. And yet, a little earlier in the day, she had not been able to look at it without shivering…
没有什么再令人害怕了!没有恐饰在等待她。在她眼中那个建筑物重又成为一座时髦、华丽的别墅,同别的建筑物没有什么不同了。可是不久以前,她只要看一眼那所房子还止不住发抖呢。
Oh! blessed, blessed peace.
哦!幸福,幸福的安宁……
Alone with nine dead bodies…
一人,此外就是九具尸体了……
Relief possessed Vera — enormous exquisite relief. At last it was over.
维拉长舒了一口气。一切都过去了,她从来没有过这种松懈的感觉。
The sun was setting when Vera moved at last. Sheer reaction had kept her immobile. There had been no room in her for anything but the glorious sense of safety.
直到太阳沉入大海的时候,维拉才想到要活动一下。自从刚才发生的这一件事后,她一直瘫软地坐在那里,一动也不想动。她心中除去幸福和安全感之外,再也容纳不下别的东西了。
Tomorrow, perhaps, they would come and rescue her — but she didn’t really mind. She didn’t mind staying here. Not now that she was alone…
也许明天他们会来援救她……不过这也无所谓,待在这儿她也不在乎。如今岛上只剩下她一个人,她什么也不在乎了……
Vera came warily forward, the revolver ready in her hand. But there was no need of caution.
维拉警惕地走上前去,手里的枪随时准备放第二下。但是完全没有这个必要了。
She began to walk up towards the house.
她向别墅走去。
She paused by the dining-room door. There were still three little china figures in the middle of the table.
她在餐厅门口站住,桌子当中还有三个小瓷人。
She smiled to herself.
她脸上浮现出一丝笑容。
sleep… sleep… To sleep safely since she was alone on the island. One little Indian boy left all alone.
睡觉,睡觉,她只想睡觉……既然岛上只剩下她一个人,她真的可以高枕无忧了。只留下一个印第安小人了。
She went in at the front door. The house, too, felt strangely peaceful. Vera thought: “Ordinarily one wouldn’t care to sleep where there’s a dead body in practically every bedroom!”
她走进前门,房里也充满了奇特的宁静。维拉想:“照常理一个人是不愿意在一所每间房里都停着一个死人的房子里睡觉的。”
The sun was setting, the sky to the west was streaked with red and orange. It was beautiful and peaceful.
太阳正在落下,西边天际上现出一条条澄红色的光道……一切都那么美丽、那么宁静……
Well, it was over now. She had conquered — had triumphed over the most deadly peril. By her own quick-wittedness and adroitness she had turned the tables on her would — be destroyer.
啊,它现在消失了。她胜利了,不仅凭借着她的机敏和果断,逃出了鬼门关,而且把危及自己生命的人置于死地。
Vera thought: “The whole thing might be a dream. How tired she was — terribly tired. Her limbs ached, her eyelids were drooping. Not to be afraid any more.”
维拉想:“这一切也许只是一场梦……她多么疲倦——简直是精疲力竭。她的四肢痛疼,眼皮也直往下沉。再不用担惊受怕了……”
Fear — what a strange thing fear was…
恐惧——恐惧是一种多么古怪的东西……
She hesitated a moment, then decided against it. She was really too tired.
她犹疑了一会儿,决定还是不吃了。她太累了……
Should she go to the kitchen and get herself something to eat?
是不是该到厨房去吃点什么?
Vera laughed. She said: “You’re behind the times, my dears.”
维拉笑了,她说:“亲爱的,你们过时了。”
The hall was dim in the dying light… To sleep. Sleep…
大厅在暮色中变得昏暗起来,
The third little figure she picked up and held in her hand. She said: “You can come with me. We’ve won, my dear! We’ve won!”
她抓起第三个握在手里,说道:“你可以跟我来,我们胜利了,亲爱的,我们胜利了!”
She picked up two of them and tossed them out through the window. She heard them crash on the stone of the terrace.
她抓起两个从窗口扔了出去,听见小瓷人在石阶上摔碎的声音。
Vera, the little Indian clasped in her hand, began to mount the stairs. Slowly, because her legs were suddenly very tired. “One little Indian boy left all alone. How did it end? Oh, yes! He got married and then there were none.”
维拉捏着小瓷人开始上楼。因为两条腿一点儿力气也没有,她走得很慢。“小印第安孩子只剩下一个,形影孤单。结尾是什么来着?哦,对了!“他结了婚,结局非常圆满。”
Married… Funny, how she suddenly got the feeling again that Hugo was in the house…
结婚……多奇怪,她怎么会又感到雨果就在她房间里……
Very strong. Yes, Hugo was upstairs waiting for her.
这种感觉非常强烈。是的,雨果就在楼上等着她。
Vera said to herself: “Don’t be a fool. You’re so tired that you’re imagining the most fantastic things…”
维拉自言自语地说:“别犯傻,你太累了,所以才出现这种幻觉……”
At the top of them something fell from her hand, making hardly any noise on the soft pile carpet. She did not notice that she had dropped the revolver. She was only conscious of clasping a little china figure.
在楼梯的尽头,一件东西从她手上落到柔软的地毯上,几乎没有发出任何声响。她没有注意到手枪从她手中滑脱了,她意识到自己紧紧握住一个小瓷人。
Slowly up the stairs.
她慢慢登上楼梯……
She gave a gasp…
倒抽了一口凉气……
She opened the door…
她打开门……
She had come now to the door of her room. Hugo was waiting for her inside she was quite sure of it.
她走到自己房间门前,雨果在里面等着她……这一点她确信无疑。
“You can go to the rock, Cyril…”
“你能游到那块礁石去,西里尔……”
“One little Indian boy left all alone.” What was the last line again? Something about being married — or was it something else?
“小印第安孩子只剩下一个,形影孤单。”最后一句是什么?是写关于结婚的事吗?……还是别的什么?
She kicked away the chair…
她踢开了椅子……
That was what murder was — aseasy as that!
这是谋杀——多么简单的谋杀。
The little china figure fell from her hand. It rolled unheeded and broke against the fender.
小瓷人从她手里掉下,它滚动了几下,撞碎在壁炉边。
“He went and hanged himself and then there were none.”
“一个也上吊,十个小印第安孩子全都命归西天……”
What was that — hanging from the hook in the ceiling? A rope with a noose all ready? And a chair to stand upon — a chair that could be kicked away…
那是什么悬挂在天花板的钩子上?一条结好了活扣的绳套?还有一把椅子摆在下面,一把能一脚踢开的椅子……
Like an automaton Vera moved forward. This was the end — here where the cold wet hand (Cyril’s hand, of course) had touched her throat…
维拉机械地向前走去。这才是结局——这就是那只冰冷的湿手(当然是西里尔的手)曾经触到她喉咙的地方……
But afterwards you went on remembering…
可是以后你永远也忘记不了……
And of course that was the last line of the rhyme.
当然也是那首诗的最后一行。
That was what Hugo wanted.
这就是雨果要她做的……
She climbed up on the chair, her eyes staring in front of her like a sleepwalker’s… She adjusted the noose round her neck.
她登上椅子,眼睛像梦游者似地茫然凝视着前方……她把绳套套在自己脖子上。
How very quiet the house was. And yet — it didn’t seem like an empty house… Hugo, upstairs, waiting for her…
房子里多么寂静!可是……这仍然不像是一所空房子……雨果在楼上等她……
Hugo was there to see she did what she had to do.
雨果在那里注视着她,看着她走上这条她命中注定的道路。
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