LAST CHANCE
最后一次机会
‘Go away and find some news,’ says Mr Frank to Mike. ‘This is your last chance.’
“去弄点新闻回来，”弗兰克先生对迈克说，“这是你最后的机会了。”
Mike is a good cameraman but his boss at SFX News, Mr Frank, doesn’t think so.
迈克是个优秀的摄影师，但他在SFX新闻公司的老板弗兰克先生却不这么认为。
Mike has a nice life and he needs his job. What can he do?
迈克的生活原本很安逸，他需要这份工作。他该怎么办呢？
In Hawaii a volcano is erupting – a good chance for a good story.
夏威夷的一座火山正在喷发——这可是获取好新闻的绝佳机会。
Mike goes there to film the story, but it is dangerous on the volcano and he learns that some things are more important than his job, or his camera.
迈克前往那里拍摄报道，但在火山上十分危险，他也由此领悟到，有些东西比他的工作甚至摄像机更重要。
This really is his last chance…
这真的是他最后的机会了……
LAST CHANCE
最后的机会
‘Come in here!’ says Mike’s boss. He is angry – again.
“进来！”迈克的老板喊道。他又生气了。
Mike is a cameraman and he works for SFX News. His boss, Mr Frank, is angry with him. It is the second time this week.
迈克是一名摄影师，在SFX新闻公司工作。他的老板弗兰克先生正对他发火。这已经是本周第二次了。
Mike walks slowly into the office. He is in big trouble.
迈克慢吞吞地走进办公室。他麻烦大了。
‘Close the door,’ says Mr Frank. There is a video in his hand.
“把门关上，”弗兰克先生说。他手里拿着一盘录像带。
‘This is bad,’ thinks Mike. ‘He doesn’t like my work.’
“这下糟了，”迈克心想，“他不喜欢我的作品。”
Mr Frank looks at Mike. ‘Are you a news cameraman?’ he asks.
弗兰克先生看着迈克问道：“你是个新闻摄影师吗？”
‘Yes, of course,’ says Mike.
“当然是，”迈克回答。
‘Well, this isn’t news.’ He throws the video at the door. ‘It’s… it’s… I have a three-year-old son. He can do better. Go away and find some news. I want a film that hits me here.’ Mr Frank puts his hand on his heart.
“可这根本不是新闻。”他把录像带摔向门口。“这……这……我三岁的儿子拍得都比你好。去找点真正的新闻回来。我要那种能震撼我心灵的影片。”弗兰克先生把手按在心口上说道。
‘And Mike…’
“还有，迈克……”
‘Yes, Boss?’
“怎么了，老板？”
‘This is your last chance.’
“这是你最后的机会。”
Mike walks slowly out of Mr Frank’s office. His face is red.
迈克缓缓走出弗兰克先生的办公室，满脸通红。
‘He can’t talk to me like that,’ he thinks. ‘I’m a good cameraman. I’m unlucky, that’s all. But I can’t be angry with him because I need my job.’
“他怎么能那样跟我说话，”他想，“我是个优秀的摄影师，只是运气不好罢了。但我不能生他的气，因为我还需要这份工作。”
Mike sits on his chair and looks out of the window. He sees an old man sitting in his garden. He feels tired. ‘Am I too old for this job?’ thinks Mike. ‘Am I too tired?’
迈克坐在椅子上望向窗外。他看见一位老人坐在花园里。他感到一阵疲惫。“我是不是太老了，干不动这行了？”迈克心想，“我是不是太累了？”
There is a newspaper on Mike’s desk. He picks it up and reads it. There is a volcano in Hawaii. The volcano is erupting and people are leaving. Mike sees a photograph of the volcano. It looks dangerous. ‘Hmm. Maybe…’ he thinks.
迈克的桌上有一份报纸。他拿起来阅读，看到关于夏威夷火山喷发、居民撤离的报道。迈克看着火山的照片，看起来十分危险。“嗯，也许可以试试……”他想。
Mr Frank walks past. ‘Reading the newspaper?’ he says. ‘Remember – this is your last chance.’
弗兰克先生路过时说：“在看报纸？记住——这是你最后的机会。”
Mike feels very angry but he says nothing. ‘This is bad,’ he thinks. ‘I must go to Hawaii and make an exciting film.’
迈克非常生气，但一言不发。“情况不妙，”他想，“我必须去夏威夷拍一部精彩的影片。”
Mike gets in his car and quickly drives home. He has a nice car. It is fast and he loves it. It is also expensive. He needs to work.
迈克钻进车里，迅速开回家。他有辆好车，速度快，他很爱惜。但这车也很贵，所以他必须工作赚钱。
Mike stops the car next to his house. He goes in the house. ‘What do I need?’ he thinks. He puts some clothes in a bag and picks it up.
迈克把车停在屋旁，走进屋里。“我需要带什么？”他想。他把一些衣服装进包里，然后拎起来。
‘One more thing,’ he thinks. ‘My video camera.’ He picks up his camera and gives it a kiss. ‘We can do it, old friend,’ he says.
“还有一样东西，”他想，“我的摄像机。”他拿起摄像机亲了一下。“我们能行的，老伙计，”他说。
Later that day, Mike takes a plane to Hawaii. There are only seven people on the plane. He looks out of the window. ‘Hawaii is beautiful!’ he thinks. There are big waves on the sea. ‘I would like to go surfing,’ thinks Mike. ‘Perhaps another time.’
当天晚些时候，迈克乘飞机前往夏威夷。机上只有七名乘客。他望着窗外想：“夏威夷真美啊！”海上波涛汹涌。“我想去冲浪，”迈克心想，“也许下次吧。”
But as the plane gets closer, the sky is very dark.
但随着飞机越来越近，天空变得漆黑一片。
At the airport lots of people are running. Some people are crying. ‘The volcano is erupting,’ they say to Mike. ‘Why are you here?’
机场里许多人四处奔逃，有人在哭泣。“火山爆发了，”他们对迈克说，“你为什么还要来这里？”
‘I’m here because I’m a news cameraman. A good news cameraman,’ he tells them. He can see the volcano. It is a long way away. There is black smoke and red fire. ‘Is this a good idea?’ thinks Mike.
“因为我是新闻摄影师，一个优秀的新闻摄影师，”他告诉他们。他能看见远处的火山，冒着黑烟和红色的火光。“这真的是个好主意吗？”迈克心想。
Some news people are leaving Hawaii. They are getting on a plane. Mike talks to them. A girl tells him that the volcano is very dangerous.
一些新闻工作者正在撤离夏威夷，准备登机。迈克和他们交谈，一个女孩告诉他火山非常危险。
‘I think my friend Jenny is there. She wants to make a film, too. Is she alive or dead? I don’t know,’ says the girl. ‘You must come with us,’ she says, ‘You can’t go to the volcano.’
“我觉得我的朋友珍妮还在那里。她也想拍片子。她是死是活？我不知道，”女孩说，“你必须跟我们一起走，”她说，“你不能去火山那边。”
‘I want to leave the island,’ thinks Mike. ‘I don’t want to die, but…’
“我也想离开这座岛，”迈克心想，“我不想死，但是……”
‘I can’t go with you. I have work to do,’ he says.
“我不能跟你们走。我有任务在身，”他说。
‘OK,’ says the girl. ‘Look out for my friend Jenny. She has big blue eyes. Please tell her to leave the island.’
“好吧，”女孩说，“帮我留意一下我的朋友珍妮。她有一双蓝色的大眼睛。请告诉她赶紧离岛。”
‘OK,’ says Mike. He says goodbye to the girl. He watches the plane leave. ‘This really is my last chance,’ he thinks.
“好的，”迈克说。他和女孩道别，目送飞机离开。“这真的是我最后的机会了，”他想。
Just then the volcano makes a big noise. A dog runs quickly past. An old woman starts to cry. Mike looks at her. He wants to say something but he can’t. The sun is hot but suddenly he is cold. He is afraid.
就在这时，火山发出一声巨响。一只狗飞快地跑过。一位老妇人哭了起来。迈克看着她，想说点什么却说不出口。阳光炽热，他却突然感到一阵寒意。他害怕了。
‘I can’t be afraid,’ he says. He looks at his camera and says, ‘Let’s go, old friend.’
“我不能害怕，”他说。他看着摄像机说：“走吧，老伙计。”
Mike walks through the town. The sky is getting darker. The red fire over the volcano is getting bigger and bigger. Mike is feeling more afraid.
迈克穿过小镇。天色越来越暗，火山上的红光也越来越大。迈克感到更加恐惧。
In the town Mike meets a man. The man is leaving with his family. ‘How can I get to the volcano?’ Mike asks.
在镇上，迈克遇到一个正带着家人撤离的男人。“我怎么才能到火山那里？”迈克问。
‘Cars don’t go to the volcano,’ says the man. ‘The drivers are afraid. You must walk.’
“车子不去火山那边，”男人说，“司机们都怕了。你只能步行。”
‘Is it far?’ asks Mike.
“远吗？”迈克问。
‘No,’ says the man. ‘But the fire is hot. Take lots of water with you.’
“不远，”男人说，“但火势很猛。多带点水。”
There is a television in a shop window. It is not showing pictures of the volcano. ‘I am the only news person here,’ Mike thinks. ‘I have a chance to make the only film about the volcano. I must go.’
商店橱窗里的电视机并没有播放火山的画面。“我是这里唯一的新闻人了，”迈克心想，“我有机会拍出关于这场火山爆发的独家影像。我必须去。”
The road in front of him is very long. His legs feel tired but he begins to walk.
前方的路漫长无比。虽然双腿疲惫，他还是迈开了步子。
After two long hours, Mike is on the volcano. There is a lot of smoke and a lot of fire. Mike can’t see any people.
漫长的两小时后，迈克登上了火山。浓烟滚滚，烈火熊熊。迈克看不到任何人影。
‘I must be quick,’ he thinks. Mike films the smoke and the fire. A big rock nearly hits him but he films it. ‘This film is good,’ he thinks.
“我得抓紧时间，”他想。迈克拍摄着烟雾和火焰。一块巨石差点砸中他，但他依然坚持拍摄。“这 footage 不错，”他想。
He is afraid but happy. ‘How can Mr Frank be angry now?’ Mike thinks. He is taking lots of film.
他又怕又喜。“这下弗兰克先生总不会生气了吧？”迈克心想。他拍了大量素材。
Another rock almost hits him. Mike feels hot and tired. ‘It’s time to go,’ says Mike. ‘Good job!’ he says to his camera.
又一块石头险些击中他。迈克感到又热又累。“该走了，”迈克说。“干得好！”他对摄像机说。
A bigger rock goes over his head. ‘I don’t like this. I must go now,’ he says. Mike can smell the smoke. He can feel the fire.
一块更大的石头从他头顶飞过。“我不喜欢这样。必须马上离开，”他说。迈克闻到了烟味，感受到了灼热的火光。
Mike puts his camera under his arm. He starts to run. Just then the volcano makes a noise. Mike runs faster. Suddenly, he hears a different noise.
迈克把摄像机夹在腋下开始奔跑。就在这时火山发出轰鸣。迈克跑得更快了。突然，他听到了另一种声音。
‘Is that a woman?’ thinks Mike. ‘It can’t be. There is nobody here.’
“那是女人的声音吗？”迈克心想，“不可能。这里没人啊。”
He starts to run again, but then…
他再次起跑，但紧接着……
‘Help!’
“救命！”
‘It is somebody. They need me,’ he thinks. ‘Hello,’ he says. ‘Where are you?’ Mike looks everywhere, but he can’t see anybody.
“确实有人。他们需要我，”他想。“喂，”他喊道，“你在哪儿？”迈克四处张望，却看不见任何人。
‘I’m here. Please help me!’
“我在这儿。请帮帮我！”
Mike sees something behind a rock. It moves. He goes to the rock and sees a young woman there. She can’t move her leg because it is under the rock.
迈克看到岩石后面有动静。他走过去，发现一个年轻女子被困在那里。她的腿被压在石头下，动弹不得。
‘Oh, thank you. Thank you,’ she says to Mike. She begins to cry. ‘My leg. I think it’s broken.’
“哦，谢谢。谢谢你，”她对迈克说，随即哭了起来，“我的腿。好像断了。”
‘Wait a minute,’ says Mike. ‘I can help.’
“等一下，”迈克说，“我来帮你。”
He pushes the rock. It is too big. There are small rocks in front. He pushes them away then pushes the big rock again. It moves a little. He pushes harder. It moves a little more.
他用力推那块石头，但它太大了。前面还有些小石块，他先把它们挪开，然后再推大石头。石头松动了一点。他再加把劲，石头又移开了一些。
‘Aargh,’ cries the woman.
“啊——”女人痛苦地叫道。
Suddenly the rock moves down the volcano.
突然，石头顺着火山坡滚了下去。
The woman’s face is white. She smiles slowly.
女人的脸色苍白，慢慢地露出了微笑。
‘Are you Jenny?’ Mike asks.
“你是珍妮吗？”迈克问。
‘Yes, I am!’ she says. ‘How do you know?’
“是的！”她说，“你怎么知道的？”
‘It doesn’t matter now. My name is Mike. I have to carry you, Jenny. But first…’
“这不重要了。我叫迈克。我得背你下去，珍妮。不过首先……”
Mike has a tripod. He ties it to Jenny’s leg. ‘Does that feel better?’ he asks.
迈克有个三脚架。他把它绑在珍妮的腿上固定。“这样感觉好点了吗？”他问。
Jenny smiles again. ‘Thank you, Mike,’ she says. She is very tired. ‘I’m usually very careful – but not today.’
珍妮又笑了。“谢谢你，迈克，”她说。她非常疲惫，“我平时很小心的——除了今天。”
‘Come on. We have to get off the volcano,’ says Mike.
“来吧。我们得离开火山，”迈克说。
‘Put your arm around me,’ Mike tells Jenny. He puts down his camera. Jenny gets up slowly. Her leg is very bad.
“搂住我的脖子，”迈克对珍妮说。他放下摄像机。珍妮慢慢站起来，腿伤得很重。
‘Take it easy,’ Mike says. They start to walk very slowly.
“慢慢来，”迈克说。他们开始极其缓慢地往下走。
‘It’s okay,’ he says. ‘You’re okay.’
“没事的，”他说，“你会没事的。”
Metre by metre they move down the volcano. They are almost hit by rocks. Black smoke is in their mouths. Hot fire is close behind them. But they are alive.
他们一米一米地向山下挪动。落石险些砸中他们。嘴里满是黑烟，身后就是灼热的烈火。但他们还活着。
‘Mike – wait,’ says Jenny suddenly. ‘Your camera!’ She stops walking. Her face is black with smoke. Jenny’s blue eyes look at Mike.
“迈克——等等，”珍妮突然说，“你的摄像机！”她停下脚步。脸上沾满了黑灰。珍妮那双蓝色的眼睛注视着迈克。
Mike looks back at Jenny. ‘You’re more important than my camera,’ he tells her.
迈克回头看着珍妮。“你比我的摄像机更重要，”他对她说。
‘But the volcano… I can wait here. You go back. It’s not too late.’
“可是火山……我可以在这等着。你回去拿吧。现在还来得及。”
Mike says nothing.
迈克沉默不语。
They keep walking slowly down the volcano – and away from Mike’s camera.
他们继续缓慢地向山下走去——也离迈克的摄像机越来越远。
Jenny is now very tired. Her leg is badly broken. Mike stops behind a big rock.
珍妮现在筋疲力尽。她的腿骨折严重。迈克在一块大石头后停下来休息。
‘Do you want some water?’ he asks.
“喝点水吗？”他问。
Mike has some water in his bag. Jenny and Mike are both thirsty. They drink the water.
迈克包里有水。两人都渴了，便喝了些水。
Jenny begins to go to sleep. ‘This is dangerous. Jenny must stay alive,’ Mike thinks. ‘Don’t go to sleep, Jenny. Talk to me. Where is your home? Tell me about your family. Do you like books?’
珍妮开始昏昏欲睡。“这很危险。珍妮必须保持清醒，”迈克心想。“别睡，珍妮。跟我说说话。你家在哪？聊聊你的家人。你喜欢看书吗？”
They walk and Jenny talks. When she stops talking, Mike asks another question.
他们边走边聊。每当珍妮停下来，迈克就会抛出新的问题。
They are almost off the volcano. Mike looks back. Where is his camera? Is it in the fire?
他们快要下山了。迈克回头望去。他的摄像机在哪？被大火吞噬了吗？
They are off the volcano. Mike sits down next to Jenny. He puts his head in his hands.
他们终于离开了火山。迈克在珍妮身边坐下，双手抱头。
‘What’s the matter?’ asks Jenny.
“怎么了？”珍妮问。
‘Everything,’ says Mike. ‘I have no camera and no film. Now I don’t have a job. There are no more chances.’
“全完了，”迈克说，“没了摄像机，也没了胶片。现在工作也没了。再也没有机会了。”
Jenny puts her arm around him. ‘It’s okay.’
珍妮揽住他的肩膀。“没事的。”
Two hours later, they walk into the town. People come out to see them.
两小时后，他们走进了小镇。人们涌出来看望他们。
‘Are you all right?’ they ask Jenny.
“你还好吗？”大家问珍妮。
‘I have a broken leg, but I am alive,’ she says, and looks at Mike. ‘Thank you, Mike.’ He smiles.
“腿断了，但我还活着，”她说着看向迈克，“谢谢你，迈克。”他微笑着回应。
‘There is a helicopter waiting for you,’ says a man in a suit. ‘It is leaving the island. You must get on quickly.’ The man helps them into the helicopter.
“有架直升机在等你们，”一位西装革履的男人说，“马上就要离岛了。快上去。”那人扶着他们上了直升机。
In the helicopter, a man says to Mike, ‘Do you need anything?’
在直升机上，有人问迈克：“你需要什么吗？”
‘My camera,’ he says. ‘But it is on the volcano. My camera is my best friend and oldest friend.’ Mike closes his eyes and goes to sleep.
“我的摄像机，”他说，“但它还在火山上。它是我最好、最久的朋友。”迈克闭上眼睛睡着了。
Mike is now at home. He does not want to see his boss, Mr Frank. Then one morning he hears the telephone. ‘Hello?’ he says.
迈克回到了家。他不想见老板弗兰克先生。直到某天早上电话响了。“喂？”他说。
‘This is Mr Frank. You must come to work tomorrow. I need to talk to you. Goodbye.’
“我是弗兰克。明天必须来上班。我有话跟你说。再见。”
The next day, Mike goes to work. His friends are happy to see him. ‘Well done, Mike,’ they say.
第二天，迈克去上班了。同事们见到他都很高兴。“干得好，迈克，”他们说。
‘Thanks,’ says Mike. He is happy to see his friends, but he is afraid of Mr Frank.
“谢谢，”迈克说。见到朋友很开心，但他还是怕见弗兰克先生。
His boss sees him. ‘You, get in here.’
老板看见了他。“你，进来。”
‘This is it,’ thinks Mike.
“完了，”迈克心想。
In the office Mr Frank looks at Mike. He has something in his hands. ‘Do you remember the people in the helicopter?’ he asks.
在办公室里，弗兰克先生看着迈克。他手里拿着什么东西。“还记得直升机上的人吗？”他问。
‘Yes,’ says Mike.
“记得，”迈克说。
‘They remember you. I think you need to thank them.’ He moves his hands. There is Mike’s camera.
“他们也记得你。我觉得你得谢谢他们。”他移开双手。迈克的摄像机赫然出现。
‘My camera!’ says Mike.
“我的摄像机！”迈克惊呼。
‘The camera is broken,’ says Mr Frank. ‘But we have the film and it’s very good.’ He smiles.
“机器坏了，”弗兰克先生说，“但我们拿到了胶片，而且拍得非常棒。”他笑了。
‘My old friend,’ says Mike to his camera. He gives it a kiss.
“老伙计，”迈克对着摄像机说，并亲了它一下。
‘Let’s watch your video,’ Mr Frank says.
“来看看你的片子吧，”弗兰克先生说。
They watch the film on the TV. They can see Mike and Jenny. Mike moves the big rock. He helps Jenny to walk. Big rocks are falling out of the sky. The volcano makes a noise. The fire is red and the smoke is black. It is very exciting.
他们在电视上观看了这段影像。画面里是迈克和珍妮。迈克推开巨石，搀扶珍妮前行。天上落下大块岩石，火山轰鸣作响。红火黑烟交织，场面惊心动魄。
‘Next time, remember to turn it off. Or maybe not!’ says Mr Frank. ‘This video hits me… right here!’
“下次记得关机。或者干脆别关！”弗兰克先生说，“这段视频震撼到了我……直击心灵！”
Then Mr Frank says, ‘Oh, and Mike – we have a new news person.’
接着弗兰克先生说：“哦对了，迈克——我们来了位新同事。”
Jenny comes into the room. She isn’t black with smoke now. She smiles at Mike. ‘She’s beautiful,’ Mike thinks. ‘She hits me… right here!’
珍妮走进房间。她脸上不再有黑灰。她对着迈克微笑。“她真美，”迈克心想，“她也震撼到了我……直击心灵！”
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