Papa did not answer right away. “No…” he said finally. “I still don’t want him to know ’bout this thing. If he knows I’m not on the railroad, he’ll wanna know why not, and I don’t wanna risk that temper of his when he finds out what the Wallaces done.”
爸爸没有马上回答，过了一会儿，他说：“不…我还不想让他知道这件事。如果他知道我没有去铺铁路，那他一定会问原因。按哈默的脾气，我不想让他知道华莱士干的事情。”
“A couple of dollars, but that’s all.”
“就只剩几块钱了。”
I hopped down the steps and sat on the bottom one.
我跳下阶梯，坐在最下面。
“You think we should write Hammer and borrow some money!” Mama asked.
“我们是不是该写封信给哈默，跟他借一点钱？”
Over a week had passed since he had been injured, and this was his first morning up. He was seated by the cold fireplace, his head still bandaged, his broken leg resting on a wooden chair. His eyes were on Mama at her desk.
过了一个星期，爸爸的伤还是没有好。这是他第一次下床。他坐在冰冷的火炉旁，头上还缠着绷带，受伤的左腿搭在一张木头椅子上，眼睛望向书桌前的妈妈。
“Nothing more!”
“没有了吗？”
Mama was silent a moment before she answered him. “With Hammer’s half of the mortgage money, we’ve got enough to meet the June payment…”
妈妈沉默了一会儿：“哈默的押金能够付6月的贷款…”
Mama put down her pencil and frowned at the open ledger before her. She glanced at me absently and waited until I had closed the screen door behind me, then she said, “David, do you think we should go into this now? You’re still not well –“
妈妈放下铅笔，对着眼前的账簿皱了皱眉头，不经意地瞄了我一眼。直到我关上门后，她才说：“大卫，你觉得我们现在说这些合适吗？你还没恢复好呢——”
“I’m well enough to know there’s not much left. Now tell me.”
“我已经好得差不多了，快告诉我，我们还剩下多少东西？”
“How does it look!” asked Papa as I passed through the sitting room on my way out the side door.
“情况怎么样？”当我经过客厅时，爸爸问道。
They were both silent.
他们同时沉默了。
“I know I am,” said Papa. “Things like they are, he come down here wild and angry, he’ll get himself hung. Long as things don’t get no worse, we can make it without him. We’ll meet that June note with the money we got there.” He paused a moment, “We’ll probably have to sell a couple of the cows and their calves to make them July and August notes… maybe even that ole sow, But by the end of August we should have enough cotton to make that September payment… Course we’ll probably have to go all the way to Vicksburg to get it ginned, Can’t hardly use Harlan Granger’s gin this year.”
“要是他知道了，他肯定会大发雷霆，这样只会害得他被吊死。只要事情不再恶化，我们就别告诉他。我们可以先拿这笔钱还掉六月份的贷款。”爸爸顿了一下，“或许，我们要卖掉几头牛来付清7月和8月的贷款。到了8月底，我们就应该有足够的钱来付9月份的贷款…当然，我们还要把棉花送到维京伯格去轧，今年恐怕是不能用格兰杰的轧棉机了。”
“I told her that.”
“我跟她说了，可她听不进去。”
There was silence again, then Mama said, “David, Mama’s been talking about going into Strawberry to the market next –“
又是一阵沉默。妈妈开了口：“妈妈说可以到斯特罗贝里市场…”
“I’ll talk to her… Anything we just gotta have before the first cotton come in!”
“我来劝她吧…在第一批棉花收获前，我们还有什么要买的吗？”
“No,” Papa said, not letting her finish. “Too much bad feeling there.”
“不，”还没等妈妈说完，爸爸说，“那里太危险了。”
“Well… you picked up batteries and kerosene on that last trip… but what we’re going to need more than anything is some insecticide to spray the cotton. The bugs are getting pretty bad…”
“上次你买了电池和煤油…我们现在需要的是杀虫剂，虫害越来越严重了…”
Mama sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
妈妈叹了口气：“你说得对。”
“I know that, but still he blames himself.
“我知道，但他还是很自责。”
“No worry,” Papa muttered as both of them grew quiet, Then suddenly there was a sharp explosion as if something had been struck with an angry force. “If only this leg wasn’t busted!”
“别担心——”爸爸抱怨了句，两个人又陷入沉默。突然，他大吼了一声：“要是这条腿没断的话！”
“What ’bout food?”
“食物呢？”
“Our flour and sugar and baking powder and such are low, but we’ll make out — we don’t have to have biscuits and cornbread every day. We’re out of pepper and there’s not much salt, but we don’t just have to have those either. And the coffee’s all gone… The garden’s coming along nicely, though. There’s no worry there.”
“面粉、糖，还有发酵粉快没有了，不过还能凑合——我们用不着每天都吃面包；胡椒粉快吃完了，盐也只剩一点点，不过我们可以不用这些；咖啡也快没有了，不过院子里种了一些，很快就可以收获了。别担心。”
Papa laughed strangely. “Ain’t this something! Them Wallaces aim a gun at my head and I get my leg broke, and my boy’s blaming himself for it. Why. I feel like taking a bull- whip to all three of them Wallaces and not stopping till my arm get so tired I can’t raise it one more time.”
爸爸诡异地笑着：“为什么？华莱士他们用枪射中我的头，我的腿也断了，可我的孩子却因此自责？我真想狠狠地揍那三个家伙一顿！”
“Don’t let Stacey hear you saying that, David,” Mama cautioned softly. “You know he blames himself about your leg.”
“别让斯泰西听到了，大卫。”妈妈悄声提醒，“你知道他因为你的腿很自责。”
“I told the boy it wasn’t his fault. He just wasn’t strong enough to hold lack.”
“我跟他说了，不是他的错。他只是不够强壮，拉不住杰克。”
“Hammer’s way would get you killed and you know it, so stop talking like that. Don’t we already have enough to worry about! Besides, both Thurston and Dewberry Wallace are still laid up, so ] hear. Some folk even say that Dew- berry’s back is broken. In any case, Mr. Morrison must have hurt them pretty bad.”
“哈默的方式只会让你丢了性命，你也是知道的。别再这么说了，我们要担心的事情还有很多啊。而且，我听说华莱士的两个兄弟到现在都下不了床，莫里森先生把他们伤得很重。”
“Am I! Well, a lot of times I feel like doing things Hammer’s way. I think I’d get a powerful lot of satisfaction from whipping Kaleb Wallace and them brothers of his.”
“是吗？很多时候，我也想照着哈默的方式去做，我想应该狠狠地揍他们一顿，这样我的心里才会痛快。”
“You’re sounding like Hammer.”
“你这样子听起来真像哈默。”
“Where is he, by the way? I haven’t seen him this morning,”
“对了，他在哪？我一整个早上都没看见他。”
“He ain’t gonna find nothing ’round here. I told him that.”
“我跟他说了，他找不到的。”
“I know.” agreed Mama. “But he says he’s got to try, David…” Mama stopped, and when she spoke again her voice had grown faint, as if she hesitated to say what was on her mind. “David. don’t you think he ought to go! I don’t want him to, but after what he did to the Wallaces, I’m afraid for him.”
“我知道，但他还是要去试一试…”妈妈欲言又止，声音变得很轻，“大卫，你不觉得他应该离开这里吗？虽然我不想让他走，可是他对华莱士他们做了那样的事，我很担心。”
There was an instant of silence before Mama answered. “Out looking for work again since dawn.”
沉默了一会儿，妈妈说：“他去找工作了。”
Before Mama finished, I spied Mr. Morrison coming west from Smellings Creek. I left the step and hurried to meet him.
妈妈还没说完，我就看到莫里森先生走了过来，我走下阶梯，急忙跑向他。
“Hey, ole Jack,” I said, patting the mule as I watched Mr. Morrison enter the side door. I thought of returning to my seat on the steps, but decided against it. Instead I remained with Jack, thoughtfully digesting all I had heard, until Mr. Morrison came from the house. He went into the barn, then reappeared with the planter, a plowlike tool with a small round container for dropping seeds attached to its middle. He put the planter into the back of the wagon.
“嘿，杰克。”我拍了拍杰克，看着莫里森先生走了进去。我本来还想回到阶梯上坐着，不过最后打消了这个念头。我站在杰克旁边，回想着爸妈刚才的对话。没过多久，莫里森先生出来了。他走到谷仓，拿着播种机出来，把它放到了车后。
“Hello, Cassie,” Mr. Morrison greeted me. “Your papa awake!”
“你好啊，凯西。你爸爸醒了吗？”
“No, Cassie, leave him be. I gotta talk to your papa then I’ll be back.”
“不用了，凯西，我跟你爸爸说几句话就走了。”
“But, David, if –“
“可是，大卫，万一…”
He stepped from the wagon and walked toward the house.
他从马车上下来，走向屋子。
“Hello, Mr. Morrison!” I shouted as Jack pulled the wagon up the drive.
“你好，莫里森先生！”我大声向他打着招呼。
“Didn’t I tell you nothin’ could keep him down!”
“我就说过，没有什么会让他倒下。”
“Yessir. He’s sitting out of bed this morning.”
“醒了，他今早下床了。”
“He knows what could happen, Mary, but he wants to stay — and, frankly, we need him here. Don’t pester him about it.”
“他知道可能会发生什么，可他还是想留下来…说实在的，我们现在需要他。”
“Mr. Morrison, you want me to unhitch Jack for ya!”
“莫里森先生，要不要我帮你把杰克的缰绳解开？”
“Yessir, you did.”
“是，你说得对！”
“Down to Mr. Wiggins’ place, I seen Mr. Wiggins this morning and he asked to use your Papa’s planter. He ain’t got no wagon so I told him I’d ask your Papa and if it was all right, I’d bring it to him.
“我去威金斯先生那儿，今天早上我碰见了他，他说要借你爸爸的播种机。他没有马车，所以我就说，我去问问你爸爸，如果可以的话，我就带给他。”
“Where you going now, Mr. Morrison!”
“莫里森先生，你要去哪？”
“Well, I’d be right pleased for your company, Cassie. But you’ll have to ask your mama.”
“好啊，很高兴有你做伴，但是要先问问你的妈妈。”
“Well, not for what he got in mind. He thought he’d plant himself some summer corn. It’ll be ready come September.”
“他要种的东西现在种还好，他想种一些夏季玉米，到九月份就可以收获了。”
“Ain’t it kinda late for seeding!”
“现在播种不会太晚吗？”
“Mr. Morrison, can I go with ya!” I asked as he climbed up on the wagon.
“莫里森先生，我能跟你一起去吗？”他爬上马车时，我问道。
I ran back to the house. The boys were now in Mama and Papa’s room, and when I asked if I could go up to Little Willie’s with Mr. Morrison, Little Man and Christopher-John, of course, wanted to go too.
我跑回屋里，男孩们都在爸爸妈妈的房间里。我问妈妈能不能跟莫里森先生一起去的时候，小家伙和克里斯托弗也嚷嚷着要去。
“Well. don’t you get in his way. Stacey, you going!” Stacey sat across from Papa looking despondently at the broken leg. “Go on, son.” said Papa gently. “There’s nothing to do here. Give you a chance to talk to Little Willie.”
“好吧！不过你们不要打扰莫里森先生工作。斯泰西，你要不要去？”斯泰西坐在爸爸对面，垂头丧气地看着爸爸受伤的腿，“去吧，孩子。这里没什么事情，你就去跟小威利聊聊天吧。”
“Mr. Morrison said it’d be all right, Mama.”
“妈妈，莫里森先生也答应了。”
“Buy why, Mr. Mor –“
“为什么，莫里森…”
“Just go and have yourself a good ride over to Little.”
“没有，去威利家好好玩吧。”
“You sure there ain’t something I can do for you. Papa!”
“爸爸，你真的没有什么事情要我帮忙吗？”
We stayed less than an hour at the Wiggins farm, then headed home again. We had just passed Great Faith and were approaching the Jefferson Davis School Road when a ragged pickup came into view. Very quietly Mr. Morrison said. “Cassie. get in back.”
我们在威金斯那里待了不到一个小时就往回返了。我们经过大信仰中小学，刚要拐进通往杰斐逊大卫学校的那条路时，看到了一辆破旧的小货车。莫里森先生立刻说：“凯西，快到后面的车厢里去。”
Since it had been my idea to ask to go, I claimed the seat Beside Mr. Morrison, and the boys climbed in back. Little Willie’s family lived on their own forty acres about two miles east of Great Faith.
我先说要跟过去的，所以我坐在莫里森先生的旁边，男孩们只能坐在后头。小威利家在大信仰中小学东边大约两英里远的地方，他们家有四十英亩地。
It was a fine morning for a ride and the six miles there sped by quickly with Mr. Morrison singing in his bassest of base voices and Christopher-John. Little Man, and me joining in wherever we could as we passed cotton fields abloom in flowers of white and red and pink. Stacey being in one of his moods did not sing and we let him be.
天气很好，莫里森先生唱起了歌。克里斯托弗、小家伙和我也跟着唱了起来。斯泰西闷闷不乐，没有加入我们。路旁的棉花田开满了白色、红色与粉色的花。
“Do quick. Cassie, like I say.” His voice was barely above a friendly whisper, but there was an urgency in it and I obeyed, scrambling over the seat to join the boys.
“快，凯西！”莫里森先生催促着我，于是我赶紧爬到后面，和男孩们坐到一起。
Kaleb Wallace gazed up at Mr. Morrison, then at the truck as if trying to comprehend the connection between the two. “That truck in your way, boy!”
华莱士盯着莫里森先生，然后又看了一眼车子，似乎不太明白：“车子挡着你了吗？”
“Y’all stay down now.”
“你们待在里面。”
“Why, I oughta gun you down right where you sit –“
“为什么，我应该开枪打死你——”
The truck braked noisily with a grating shriek of steel. We stopped. The boys and I peeped over the edge of the wagon. The truck had veered across the road, blocking us. The truck door swung open and Kaleb Wallace stepped out, pointing a long condemning finger at Mr. Morrison,
货车发出了刺耳的刹车声，我们也停了下来。男孩们和我透过马车的缝隙偷偷观望着。货车停在路中间，挡住了我们的去路。华莱士推开车门走了下来，指着莫里森先生。
He swayed unspeaking for a long, terrible moment, then sputtered, “You big black nigger, I oughta cut your heart out for what you done! My brothers laid up like they is and you still runnin’ ’round free as a white man. Downright sinful, that’s what it is!”
他一言不发，神色诡异，然后嘴里突然吐出一长串话：“你这个大黑鬼！真想把你的心肝挖出来，看看你干了些什么好事！我的兄弟现在还躺在床上，你却在这里乱晃。我真想一枪把你给射死！”
“You gonna move your truck!”
“你不把车开走吗？”
“I’ll move it all right.,. when I get good and ready –” He stopped abruptly, his eyes bulging in a terrified stare as Mr. Morrison climbed down from the wagon. Mr. Morrison’s long shadow fell over him and for a breathless second, Mr. Morrison towered dangerously near him. But as the fear grew white on Kaleb Wallace’s face, Mr. Morrison turned without a word and peered into the truck.
“我会开走的…等我准备好。”他突然停住，眼睛里充满惶恐，因为莫里森先生走下马车，高大的身影遮住了他。我们全都屏住了呼吸，华莱士的脸一下子变得刷白。莫里森先生一言不发，观察着车子里的情形。
“You gonna move it!”
“你不把车开走吗？”
“What’s he looking for?” I whispered.
“他在看什么？”我悄声问。
Mr. Morrison circled the truck, studying it closely. Then he returned to its front and, bending at the knees with his back against the grill, he positioned his large hands beneath the bumper. Slowly, his muscles flexing tightly against his thin shirt and the sweat popping off his skin like oil on water, he lifted the truck in one fluid, powerful motion until the front was several inches off the ground and slowly walked it to the left of the road, where he set it down as gently as a sleeping child. Then he moved to the rear of the truck and repeated the feat.
莫里森先生绕着卡车走了一圈，仔细研究着，然后走到车前，屈膝抵着铁架，他的大手放在车子的缓冲器上。他紧绷的肌肉上滚动着汗珠，如同油面上的水滴。慢慢地，他将车子举起，离地面几英寸，移向路面的左边，然后轻轻放下。接着他又走到车后，重复刚才的动作。
“Probably a gun,” said Stacey,
“可能是枪。”斯泰西说。
Kaleb Wallace was mute. Christopher-John, Little Man. and I stared open-mouthed, and even Stacey, who had witnessed Mr. Morrison’s phenomenal strength before, gazed in wonder.
华莱士吓呆了。克里斯托弗、小家伙和我都惊讶地张大嘴巴，就连见识过莫里森先生的大力气的斯泰西，也目不转睛地瞧着。
It took Kaleb Wallace several minutes to regain his voice. We were far down the road, almost out of hearing, when his frenzied cry of hate reached us. “One of these nights, you watch, nigger! I’m gonna come get you for what you done! You just watch! One night real soon…”
过了好几分钟，华莱士才回过神来。等我们离开后，他的咒骂声远远传来：“等着瞧吧，黑鬼！我会去找你算账的！”
Mr. Morrison looked squarely into Mama’s eyes. “Miz Logan, Kaleb Wallace is one of them folks who can’t do nothing by himself. He got to have lots of other folks backing him up plus a loaded gun… and I knew there wasn’t no gun, leastways not in the truck. I checked.”
莫里森先生望着妈妈：“洛根女士，华莱士孤身一人是不敢做什么的，他需要有人替他撑腰，需要枪…但我知道他没有，起码在车上没有，我检查过了。”
When we reached home and told Mama and Papa and Big Ma what had happened, Mama said to Mr. Morrison, “I told you before I was afraid for you. And today, Kaleb Wallace could’ve hurt you… and the children.”
回到家后，我们把路上发生的事告诉了妈妈、爸爸，还有奶奶。妈妈对莫里森先生说：“之前我就很担心，华莱士今天差点伤到你…还有孩子们。”
Mr. Morrison lowered his eyes and looked around the room until his gaze rested on the boys and me. “I ain’t never bad no children of my own. I think sometimes if I had, I’d’ve wanted a son and daughter just like you and Mr. Logan… and grandbabies like these babies of yours…”
莫里森先生垂眼环顾四周，最后眼神落在我和男孩们身上：“我没有孩子，如果有的话，我希望有你和洛根先生一样的儿女，像你们几个孩子一样的孙子…”
“Miz Logan, don’t ask me to go.”
“洛根女士，别叫我走。”
Mama reached out, laying a slender hand on Mr. Morrison’s. “Mr. Morrison, you’re a part of us now. I don’t want -you hurt because of us.”
妈妈轻轻拍了拍莫里森先生：“莫里森先生，你是我们的家人，我只是不希望你因为我们受到伤害。”
“But if you stay, he’ll get somebody and they’ll try to take you, like he said –“
“但你要是待在这儿，他就会找人来抓你，把你带走…”
“But, Mr. Morrison, the Wallaces –“
“但，莫里森先生，华莱士…”
“Mary,” said Papa quietly, “let it be.”
“玛丽，”爸爸说，“别说了。”
Mama looked at Papa, her lips still poised to speak. Then she said no more; but the worry lines remained creased upon her brow.
妈妈看着爸爸，欲言又止，脸上满是担忧。
August dawned blue and hot. The heat swooped low over the land clinging like an invisible shroud, and through it people moved slowly, lethargically, as if under water. In the ripening fields the drying cotton and corn stretched tiredly skyward awaiting the coolness of a rain that occasionally threatened but did not come, and the land took on a baked, brown look.
炙热的八月到了。热气像是看不见的薄膜紧贴着地面，所有人都热得昏昏欲睡。田地里，快成熟的玉米和棉花都伸着懒腰，等待着珍贵的清凉雨水。然而雨并没有到来，大地全是被烤焦了的模样。
To escape the heat, the boys and I often ambled into the coolness of the forest after the chores were done. There, while the cows and their calves grazed nearby, we sat on the banks of the pond, our backs propped against an old hickory or pine or walnut, our feet dangling lazily in the cool water, and waited for a watermelon brought from the garden to chill. Sometimes Jeremy joined us there, making his way through the deep forest land from his own farm over a mile away, but the meetings were never planned; none of our parents would have liked that.
为了躲避酷暑，男孩们和我忙完家务后，就躲到凉爽的树林里。牛在一旁吃草，我们就坐在湖边，靠着树，双脚浸在清凉的湖水里，等着从院子里带来的西瓜变得冰凉。有时候，杰里米会走上一英里路从他们家的农场过来找我们，但我们从来没有这么约定过。
“He’s all right,” said Stacey,”‘cepting his leg’s bothering him in this heat. Itching a lot. But Mama says that’s a sign it’s getting well.”
“他很好。只是天气太热，他的伤口变得很痒，我妈妈说那表示快好了。”
“How’s your papa!” he asked one day as he plopped down beside us.
“你爸爸怎么样了？”有一天他突然找到我们。
“That’s good,” murmured Jeremy, Too bad he had to get hurt when he done so’s he couldn’t go back on the rail- road.”
“那就好。”杰里米喃喃道，“他没法回去铺铁路，真是太糟糕了。”
Stacey stirred uneasily, looked at Christopher-John, Little Man, and me, reminding us with his eyes that we were not to speak about the Wallaces’ part in Papa’s injury, and said only. “Uh-huh.”
斯泰西不自然地动了动，他用眼神提醒着我们，让我们不要说出爸爸和华莱士他们之间的事情，然后随口敷衍着杰里米。
Jeremy was silent a moment, then stuttered, “Ssome folks sayin’ they glad he got hurt. G-glad he can’t go make that railroad money.”
杰里米沉默了一会儿，然后结结巴巴地说：“有人说，很高兴你爸爸受伤了，这样你爸爸就挣不到钱了。”
“Who said that!” I cried, jumping up from the bank. “Just tell me who said it and I’ll ram –“
“谁说的？”我一下子跳了起来，“告诉我，我要去——”
Reluctantly, I did as I was told, wishing that this business about the Wallaces and Papa’s injuries Were not so complex. It seemed to me that since the Wallaces had attacked Papa and Mr. Morrison, the simplest thing to do would be to tell the sheriff and have them put in jail, but Mama said things didn’t work that way. She explained that as long as the Wallaces, embarrassed by their injuries at the hands of Mr. Morrison, did not make an official complaint about the incident, then we must remain silent also. If we did not, Mr. Morrison could be charged with attacking white men, which could possibly end in his being sentenced to the chain gang, or worse.
我坐了下来。我真希望爸爸和华莱士他们之间的事情不要那么复杂。对我来说，这件事情最简单的做法就是告诉警长，然后把华莱士他们关起来。可妈妈说这根本不管用，我们只能保持沉默。否则，莫里森先生就会因为攻击白人而被控告，这样莫里森先生会沦为囚犯，甚至更糟。
“Cassie! Sit down and be quiet,” Stacey ordered.
“凯西，坐下！”斯泰西命令我。
“I — I ain’t the one said it, Cassie,” stammered Jeremy by way of apology.
“凯西，我，不是我说的。”杰里米慌忙解释着。
“Well, whoever saying it ought not be,” I said huffily.
“我知道不是你说的。”我生气地说。
Jeremy nodded thoughtfully and changed the subject. “Y’all seen T. J. lately!”
杰里米若有所思地点点头，然后又转移了话题：“你们最近看到过提杰吗？”
Finally Stacey said, “Don’t see him much no more.”
“我没看到他。”斯泰西最终这么说。
“Too bad,” I sympathized.
“真是糟糕。”我同情地说。
Stacey frowned, considering whether or not he should answer. There had been much talk concerning T. J. and the Simms brothers, all of it bad. Moe Turner’s father had told Sapa that T, J. had stopped by with the Simmses once, and after they had left he had discovered his watch missing: the Laniers had had the same experience with a locket. “That T. J. done turned real bad,” Mr. Lanier had said, “and I don’t want nothin’ to do with no thief…, ‘specially no thief runnin’ ’round with white boys.”
斯泰西皱皱眉头，不知该不该回答。我们听说了不少关于提杰的事情，但都挺糟糕的。蒙特纳的父亲跟爸爸说，提杰去过西蒙家一次，之后西蒙家就发现表不见了。拉尼尔先生也遭遇了相同的事情，不过不见的是一个盒子。拉尼尔先生还说：“提杰学坏了，我不想跟小偷扯上任何关系，尤其是跟白人小孩一起混的小偷。”
Jeremy pulled at his lip. “I see him all the time.”
“我倒是经常看到他。”杰里米撇了撇嘴。
Stacey glanced reproachfully at me, then lay flat upon the ground, his head resting in the cushion of his hands clasped under his head. “It sure is beautiful up there.” he said, pointedly changing the subject again.
斯泰西扫了我一眼，然后躺在地上，脑袋枕着手。“真美啊。”他故意转移话题。
“I think when I grow up I’m gonna build me a house in some trees and jus’ live there all the time,” said Jeremy.
“长大之后，我要在树上盖一间房子。”杰里米说。
“How you gonna do that!” asked Little Man.
“你要怎么盖呢？”小家伙问。
Jeremy’s face brightened. “‘Cause I got my bedroom up there.”
杰里米眼睛都亮了：“我的卧室就在树上啊。”
“How come you wanna live in a tree for!” Christopher- John inquired.
“你怎么想要住在树上呢？”克里斯托弗问。
“How you know how cool it is at night!” I said.
“你怎么知道呢？”我问。
We looked at him unbelieving.
我们都难以置信地看着他。
“I-I do — really. Built it myself and I sleeps up there. Come these hot nights. I just climbs in my tree and it’s like going into another world. Why, I can see and hear things up there that I betcha only the squirrels and the birds can see and hear. Sometimes I think I can even see all the way over to y’all’s place.”
“我——我说真的。我自己盖的，而且，我就住在上面。天气热的时候，我就爬到树上，那就像是进了另一个世界。我听到的和看到的东西，大概只有松鼠和小鸟才能听到和看到吧。有时候，我都觉得，我能看到你们家的农场呢。”
“Oh, I’ll find me some real strong trees and just build. I figure I’ll have the trunk of one tree in the bedroom and the other in the kitchen.”
“找一棵粗壮的大树就可以盖了。一个树干做卧室，另一个做厨房。”
Several feet away the persistent sun made amber roads of shimmering sunlight upon the pond. A stillness hovered in the high air, soft, quiet, peaceful.
阳光洒落在湖面上，熠熠发亮。宁静与安详在空气里弥漫着。
The rest of us lay back too. Overhead, the branches of the walnut and hickory trees met like long green fans sheltering us.
我们也躺了下来。头顶上，枝连着枝，叶连着叶，连成一把巨大的绿色扇子，轻轻晃动着。
“It’s so peaceful up there… and quiet. Cool, too,” answered Jeremy. “‘Specially at night.”
“上面很宁静…很凉快，特别是晚上。”
“No,” said Stacey quietly, his eyes still on the trees overhead.
“不了。”斯泰西依然盯着头顶上的树枝。
Jeremy’s face dropped. “Well.,, maybe I can’t see it, but that don’t keep me from pretending I do.” He was silent a second, then hopped up suddenly, his face bright again. “Hey, why don’t y’all come on over and see it! My pa’s gonna be gone all day and it’d be lots of fun and I could show y’all –“
杰里米的脸耷拉下来，“好吧…或许我看不到，但我可以假装我看到了。”沉默了一会儿，他又高兴了起来，“嘿，你们不想跟我去看看吗？我爸爸今天一天都不在，而且，你们一定会觉得很有意思的…”
“Ah, shoot, boy, you’re a story,” I said. “Your place too far away and you know it.”
“怎么可能？你在说笑吧？你知道你家离我们有多远吗？”
Jeremy sat back down, deflated. “J-jus’ wanted y’all to see it, that’s all…” For a while he looked hurt by Stacey’s cold refusal: then, seeming to accept it as part of the things that were, he again took up his position and volunteered good- naturedly. “If y’all ever get a chance to build y’all-selves a tree house, just let me know and I’ll help ya. It’s just as cool…”
杰里米一副垂头丧气的模样：“我，我只是想带你们去看看…”他似乎因斯泰西的拒绝而受伤了。过了一会儿，他似乎接受了这个现实，努力变得开心起来：“如果，如果你们也想在树上盖房子，一定要告诉我，我会帮你们的…”
Papa sat on a bench in the barn, his broken leg stretched awkwardly before him, mending one of Jack’s harnesses. He had been there since early morning, a frown line carved deep into his forehead, quietly mending those things which needed mending. Mama told us not to bother him and we stayed away from the barn as long as we could, but by late afternoon we drifted naturally to it and began our chores. Papa had disappeared within himself and he took no notice of us at first, but shortly afterward he looked up, watching us closely.
爸爸坐在谷仓的长板凳上修补着杰克的马具，左腿笨拙地伸着。他一大早就在谷仓里忙活着，妈妈叫我们别去谷仓打扰他。午后，我们回到谷仓，开始忙活自己的活儿。爸爸起初没有注意到我们，过了一会儿，他才抬起头，端详着我们。
When the chores were almost finished, Mr. Morrison arrived from Strawberry, where he had gone to make the August mortgage payment. He entered the barn slowly and handed Papa an envelope. Papa glanced up questioningly, then ripped it open. As he read the letter, his jaw set tightly, and when he finished he smashed his fist so hard against the bench that the boys and I stopped what we were doing, aware that something was terribly wrong.
大家手头的工作差不多快做完后，莫里森先生从斯特罗贝里回来了。他去那里是为了支付押金。他慢慢走向爸爸，递给他一个信封。爸爸疑惑地看了一眼，接过来打开。爸爸读信时，下巴发紧，然后攥紧拳头砸了凳子一下。我和男孩们停下了工作，猜想着，有什么坏事发生了。
“Then hitch Lady to it,” he said motioning to the mare. He turned then and went to the house. The boys and I followed, not quite sure of what was happening. Papa entered the kitchen; we stayed on the porch peering through the screen.
“那就骑着‘小姐’去吧。”爸爸说完转身回到屋里，我和男孩们跟在后面，不知道发生了什么。爸爸走进厨房，我们在门口偷偷往里望。
“They tell you!” he asked of Mr. Morrison, his voice curt, angry.
“他们跟你说的吗？”爸爸的声音充满愤怒。
Mr. Morrison nodded. “I tried to get them to wait till after cotton picking, but they told me it was due and payable immediately. Them’s they words.”
莫里森先生点点头。“我对他们说至少得等到棉花收获以后，可他们说期限已经到了，必须马上付。”
“Harlan Granger,” said Papa quietly. He reached for his cane and stood up. “You feel up to going back to Straw- berry…, tonight!”
“格兰杰啊。”爸爸平静地说，他拿着拐杖起身，“今晚…你能再去一趟斯特罗贝里吗？”
“I can make it, but r don’t know if this ole mule can.”
“我是可以，只是不知道这匹老马受不受得了。”
“David, something the matter, son!”
“孩子，发生什么事了？”奶奶问。
“Mary, don’t you understand they’re trying to take the land!” Papa said, his voice rising too so that we heard.
“玛丽，你难道不知道他们想拿走这块土地吗？”爸爸也抬高了声音。
“Now,” he said, leaving the kitchen for their room.
“对。”他说，离开厨房去他们的房间。
Mama’s voice trailed him. “David, it’s too late. The bank’s closed by now. You can’t see anyone until morning…”
妈妈说：“大卫，现在太晚了，银行已经关门了，明天你才能见到他们…”
“The bank called up the note. I’m going to Strawberry.”
“银行要我们交钱。我要去一趟斯特罗贝里。”
Mama stared at Papa, fear in her eyes. “You going now!”
妈妈担心地看着爸爸：“你要现在去吗？”
“Called up the note!” echoed Big Ma, “Oh, Lord, not that too.”
“交钱？天哪，怎么会这样？”
We could not hear Papa’s reply, but Mama’s voice rose sharply. “You want to be out on that road again in the middle of the night after what happened! You want us worried to death about you!”
我们听不到爸爸的回答，妈妈抬高了声音：“大卫，发生了那件事，你还想半夜出去吗？你想让我们担惊受怕吗？”
“Don’t you understand I don’t want you dead!”
“你不懂吗！我们不想失去你啊！”
The next day Papa and Mr. Morrison were gone before I arose. When they returned in the late afternoon, Papa sat wearily down at the kitchen table with Mr. Morrison beside him. Rubbing his hand over his thick hair, he said, “I called Hammer.”
第二天早晨，我还没起床，他们就出发了。傍晚他们回来了，爸爸疲倦地坐在餐桌前，莫里森先生坐在一旁。爸爸抓着头发，然后说：“我打电话给哈默了。”
We could hear nothing else. But a few minutes later Papa came out and told Mr. Morrison to unhitch Lady. They would go to Strawberry in the morning.
我们再没听到任何声音。然后，爸爸出来了，让莫里森先生解开“小姐”。他们决定明天去斯特罗贝里。
“Baby, you know he’s got a need,” Papa said, pulling her to him. “He’s got a need to show us where we stand in the scheme of things. He’s got a powerful need to do that. Be- sides, he still wants this place.”
“亲爱的，他是故意的，他是想让我们知道我们的处境，他是想让我们知道他的能力，他想抢走我们的土地。”
“But son, that mortgage gives us four more years.”
“可是，契约上还有四年啊。”奶奶说。
“What did you tell him!” Mama asked.
“你怎么说的？”
“We aren’t even hurting the Wallaces now,” Mama said with acid anger. “Harlan Granger’s got no need –“
“我们现在并没有真正威胁到华莱士他们，格兰杰没有必要这样…”妈妈生气地说。
“And Mr. Higgins at the bank, David,” said Big Ma. “What he have to say!”
“希金斯先生在银行，大卫。他是怎么说的？”奶奶问。
“Said bur credit’s no good anymore.”
“他说我们信用不好。”
“He didn’t say and i didn’t ask. lust said he’d get it.”
“他没说，我也没问。”
“Just that the note’s been called. He said he’d get the money.
“我只说银行要我们交钱，他说他会想办法的。”
“How!”
“什么办法？”
Papa laughed dryly. “Mama, you want me to take it to court!”
爸爸干笑着：“妈妈，你是想让我上法庭吗？”
Papa did nor look at her, but at Mr. Morrison instead. “Don’t worry, Mama. We ain’t gonna lose the land… Trust me.”
爸爸转向莫里森先生：“别担心，相信我，我们不会失去这块土地的。”
Big Ma sighed and placed her hand on Papa’s. “What if Hammer can’t get the money!”
奶奶叹了口气：“如果筹不到钱怎么办？”
On the third Sunday of August the annual revival began. Revivals were always very serious, yet gay and long- planned-for, affairs which brought pots and pans from out- of-the-way shelves, mothball-packed dresses and creased pants from hidden chests, and all the people from the community and the neighboring communities up the winding red school road to Great Faith Church. The revival ran for seven days and it was an occasion everyone looked forward to, for it was more than just church services; it was the year’s only planned social event, disrupting the humdrum of everyday country life. Teenagers courted openly, adults met with relatives and friends they had not seen since the previous year’s “big meeting,” and children ran almost free.
八月的第三个星期天，是一年一度的社区宗教节。本是严肃的节日，却充满了欢乐与喜庆。大家早早就开始筹划，拿出了橱柜里的餐具、包着樟脑的衣服，还有压在箱底的裤子。我们社区，还有邻近社区的人们行进在通往大信仰教堂的红土路上。节日一共持续七天，大家都怀着期待的心情，因为这不仅仅是一个宗教节日，也是一年里唯一一个有计划的社区节日。在这个节日里，人们可以驱散平日的百无聊赖，青年们可以积极求爱，大人们可以走亲访友，小孩子们也可以自在玩耍。
As far as I was concerned, the best part of the revival was the very first day. After the first of three services was dismissed, the mass of humanity which had squished its way into the sweltering interior of the small church poured onto the school grounds, and the women proudly set out their dinners in the backs of wagons and on the long fables circling the church. Then it was a feast to remember.
我觉得宗教节日里最精彩的是第一天。礼拜结束后，聚集在教堂里的人涌向学校操场。在那里，妇女们精心准备好的晚餐摆满了长桌。那真是难忘的盛宴。
Brimming bowls of turnip greens and black-eyed peas with ham hocks, thick slices of last winter’s sugar-cured ham and strips of broiled ribs, crisply fried chicken and morsels of golden squirrel and rabbit, flaky buttermilk biscuits and crusty cornbread, fat slabs of sweet-potato pie and butter pound cakes, and so much more were all for the taking. No matter how low the pantry supplies, each family always managed to contribute something, and as the churchgoers made the rounds from table to table, hard times were forgotten at least for the day.
碗里盛满了甘蓝、熏制豌豆、去年冬天用糖腌制的火腿、烤里脊、喷香的炸鸡、松鼠肉、兔肉、黄油牛奶脆饼、玉米面包、甜土豆派和奶油蛋糕，还有很多好吃的。不管家里还剩多少粮食，大家还是尽量贡献一些食物出来。教堂的唱诗班绕着桌子歌唱，大家都忘却了艰苦的日子。
The boys and I had just loaded our plates for the first time and taken seats under an old walnut when Stacey put down his plate and stood up again. “What’s the matter!” I asked, stuffing my mouth with cornbread.
男孩们和我装满了盘子，在一棵胡桃树下坐着。斯泰西放下盘子，又站了起来。“怎么了？”我的嘴里还嚼着玉米面包。
“Borrowed some of it, sold a few things,” he said with a shrug. Then he nodded towards Papa’s leg. “How’d you do that!”
“卖了些东西，还借了些。”大伯看了一眼爸爸的腿，“怎么回事？”
“He looks like,., Uncle Hammer!” he cried and dashed away. I hesitated, watching him, reluctant to leave my plate unless it really was Uncle Hammer. When Stacey reached the man and hugged him, I put the plate down and ran across the lawn to the road. Christopher-John, with his plate still in hand, and Little Man ran after me.
“他看起来…像…哈默大伯！”他叫了一声，向前跑去。我愣了一下，要是他不是哈默大伯，我才不会离开我的盘子呢。等看到那个人和斯泰西拥抱在一起，我才放下盘子，穿过草地，跑到路上。小家伙和克里斯托弗手里拿着盘子，跟在后头。
“How’d you get it!”
“你怎么筹到钱的？”
“Sold it,” he said.
“卖了。”他说。
As we neared the church, Papa met us and embraced Uncle Hammer. “I wasn’t expecting you to come all the way down here.”
快到教堂时，我们遇见了爸爸，爸爸拥抱了大伯：“真没想到你亲自来了。”
Stacey frowned into the sun. “That man walking up the road…
斯泰西眯起眼睛：“走过去的那个人…”
I took a moment to look up, then picked up my drumstick. “So?”
我停了下来，然后拿起叉子：“怎么了？”
“B-but why?” asked Stacey.
“为，为什么啊？”斯泰西问。
“Could’ve wired it.”
“汇过来就好了啊。”
“Sold it?” we cried in unison.
“卖了？”我们齐声喊道。
“Needed the money,” Uncle Hammer said flatly.
“因为我们需要钱。”哈默叔叔直截了当地说。
“You expecting me to send that much money by mail!”
“你放心我寄那么多钱过来？”
“Uncle Hammer, where’s your car!” Little Man asked after we all had hugged him.
“哈默大伯，你的车呢？”我们与他拥抱过后，小家伙问道。
“Don’t trust that either.
“我可不放心。”
Papa’s smile faded. “I didn’t mean for that to happen, Hammer.”
爸爸的笑容消失了：“我并不希望这样，哈默。”
“Papa.” I said, “Uncle Hammer sold the Packard.”
“爸爸，大伯把车卖了。”我说。
“Uh-huh.”
“噢。”
Papa’s eyes met Uncle Hammer’s and he smiled faintly. “I was sort of hoping you wouldn’t ask that.”
爸爸与大伯四目相接，微微笑了笑：“你还是别问了。”
Uncle Hammer put his arm around Papa. “What good’s a car! It can’t grow cotton. You can’t build a home on it. And you can’t raise four fine babies in it.”
哈默大伯手搭着爸爸的肩：“车子有什么用？又不能种棉花、盖房子，也不能养四个可爱的孩子。”
Papa nodded, understanding. “Now, you gonna tell me ’bout that leg!”
爸爸点了点头。“告诉我吧，你的腿是怎么回事？”
Papa stared at the milling throng of people around the dinner tables. “Let’s get you something to eat first,” he said, “then I’ll tell you. Maybe it’ll set better with some of this good food in your stomach.”
爸爸看了看餐桌前的人群：“先吃点东西，待会儿我再跟你细说。”
Because Uncle Hammer was leaving early Monday morning. the boys and I were allowed to stay up much later than usual to be with him. Long hours after we should have been in bed, we sat on the front porch lit only by the whiteness of the full moon and listened to the comforting sounds of Papa’s and Uncle Hammer’s voices mingling once again.
因为哈默大伯星期一一早就要走了，所以我们被允许可以跟哈默大伯多待一会儿。我们坐在前廊，在月光的照耀下，静静地听着爸爸和哈默大伯的对话。
“We’ll go up to Strawberry and make the payment first thing tomorrow.” said Papa. “I don’t think I’d better go all the way to Vicksburg with this leg, but Mr. Morrison’ll take you there — see you to the train.”
“我们明早先去斯特罗贝里交钱。”爸爸说，“我的腿恐怕没法去维京伯格，莫里森先生会送你去，然后再送你上火车。”
“The cotton looks good.” said Papa. “We do well on it, we’ll make out all right.”
“棉花看起来不错。”爸爸说我们做得很好，我们会相处得很好的。”
Uncle Hammer was quiet a moment before he observed, “Just tightening the belt some mole, huh!”
哈默大伯问：“你想勒紧腰带多攒些钱？”
“No,” said Papa adamantly, “You do better in Chicago.”
“不，你回芝加哥比较好。”爸爸拒绝了。
There was nothing to say to how he felt, and no one tried.
没有人说话。
Uncle Hammer said, “Maybe I better stay.”
“或许我应该留下来。”哈默大伯说。
“He don’t have to do that,” replied Uncle Hammer. “I can make it to Vicksburg all right.”
“他不必那么做，”哈默叔叔回答说。“我可以去维克斯堡。”
When Papa did not answer.
爸爸没说话。
“What you plan to do for money!” Uncle Hammer asked after a while.
“今年棉花收成不错，我们应该可以凑够钱。”
“But I’d rest easier if I knew you was on that train headed due north… not off getting yourself ready to do something foolish.”
“但我要确信你上了火车…我不想看你去做傻事。”
Uncle Hammer grunted. “There ain’t a thing foolish to what I’d like to do to them Wallaces… Harlan Granger either.
哈默叔叔咕哝了一声。“跟华莱士…格兰杰他们对抗，才不是什么傻事。”
“May do better but I worry a lot.” He paused, pulling at his ear. Come through Strawberry with a fellow from up in Vicksburg. “Things seemed worse than usual up there. It gets hot like this and folks get dissatisfied with life, they start looking ’round for somebody to take it out on… I don’t want it to be you.”
“好吧，但我很担心。”大伯拽了拽耳朵，和维克斯堡的一个家伙一起穿过草莓镇。“情况越来越糟糕了，那帮白人完全把愤怒发泄到黑人身上…我希望不是你。
“I don’t think it will be…” said Papa,”… unless you stay.”
“不会的，只要你别留下来，就没事。”爸爸说。
“It’s better he went,” said Mama.
“他还是离开比较好。”妈妈说。
In the morning after the men had gone, Big Ma said to Mama, “I sure wish Hammer could’ve stayed longer.”
早晨，他们上路后，奶奶对妈妈说：“真希望哈默能多待些日子。”
Big Ma nodded. “I know. Things like they is, it don’t take but a little of nothin’ to set things off, and Hammer with that temper he got could do it. Still,” she murmured wistfully, “I she’ wish he could’ve stayed…”
奶奶点点头：“我知道，以哈默那样的脾气。可我还是希望…他能留下来。”
“What do you think, David!” Mama asked as she and Papa stood on the front porch looking at the sky. “You think we should go!”
“大卫，你怎么看？我们该不该去？”妈妈看着天空。
Papa leaned against his cane. “It’s gonna storm all right… but it may not come till late on over in the night.”
爸爸拄着拐杖：“可能要下暴雨了…但可能晚点才下。”
On the last night of the revival the sky took on a strange yellowish cast. The air felt close, suffocating, and no wind stirred.
节日的最后一个晚上，天空是诡异的橘红色，空气很闷，没有一丝风。
They decided we would go. Most other families had come to the same decision, for the church grounds were crowded with wagons when we arrived. “Brother Logan,” one of the deacons called as Papa stepped awkwardly down from the wagon, “Reverend Gabson wants us to get the meeting started soon as we can so we can dismiss early and get on home ‘fore this storm hits.”
我们还是去了。教堂广场挤满了马车。“洛根兄弟，”教堂里的一位执事叫住爸爸，“盖布森牧师要我们赶快聚会，早一点散会，好让大家在下雨前赶回家。”
“Where!” asked Stacey.
“在哪？”斯泰西问。
“All right,” Papa said, directing us toward the church. But as we neared the building, we were stopped by the Laniers. As the grown-ups talked, Little Willie Wiggins and Moe Turner, standing with several other boys, motioned to Stacey from the road.
“好的。”爸爸示意我们往教堂走，可在半路上我们却被拉尼尔先生拦住了。大人们在说话，小威利、蒙特纳，还有其他几个大男孩站在路旁。
All eyes followed the direction of Little Willie’s finger. Through the settling dusk three figures ambled with assurance across the wide lawn, the two Simmses on the outside, T. J. in the middle.
大家都朝小威利指的方向看去，三个身影穿过草地，缓缓走来，提杰在最中间。
Stacey wandered away to speak to them and Christopher-John, Little Man, and I went too.
他们跟斯泰西打了招呼，斯泰西走过去跟他们说话，我和弟弟们也跟了过去。
“Guess who we seen!” said Little Willie as Stacey walked up. But before Stacey could venture a guess, Little Willie answered his own question. “T. J. and them Simms brothers.”
“你猜我们看到谁了？提杰，还有罗文和马文。”小威利说。”T. J。和他们是西姆斯兄弟。”
“Over there,” Little Willie pointed. “They parked by the classrooms. Look, here they come.”
小威利指了指：“他们在教堂那边，他们过来了。”
“How come he bringin’ them here!” asked Moe Turner angrily.
“他怎么带了这两个人？”蒙特纳很生气。
Stacey shrugged. “Dunno, but I guess we’ll find out.”
“不知道，不过我们会知道的。”斯泰西耸耸肩。
“He looks different.” I remarked when I could see T. J. more distinctly. He was dressed in a pair of long, unpatched trousers and, as sticky hot as it was, he wore a suit coat and a tie, and a hat cocked jauntily to one side.
“他看起来不一样了。”我说。提杰穿着一条没有补丁的长裤，虽然天气很热，但他还是打着领带，披着外套，头顶上斜斜地挂着一顶帽子。
“Well, well, well! What we got here!” exclaimed T. I. loudly as he approached. “Y’all gonna welcome us to y’all’s revival services!”
“哇，你们是在欢迎我们参加你们的节日吗？”提杰大声说。
“I s’pose he do look different.” murmured Moe bitterly. “I’d look different too, if I’d been busy stealin’ other folkses’ stuff.”
“的确不一样。要是我成天偷别人东西，我也会不一样。”蒙特纳愤恨地说。
“What you doing here, T. J.!” Stacey asked.
“你来这里干吗？”斯泰西说。
I slapped his hand away. “Don’t you come messing with me, T. J.!” I warned.
我甩开他：“别碰我，提杰！”我警告他。
T. J. laughed. “I got a right to come to my own church, ain’t I! See all my old friends!” His eyes wandered over the group, but no one showed signs of being glad to see him. His wide grin shrank a little, then spying me he patted my face with his moist hand. “Hey, Cassie girl, how you doin’!”
提杰笑了：“我上我的教堂，不可以吗？我看看我的老朋友，不可以吗？”他看着我们，可我们没有谁乐意看见他。他看到我时，用湿热的手碰了碰我的脸：“嘿，凯西，过得好吗？”
Again he laughed, then said soberly, “Well, this is a fine how-do-you-do. I come all the way over here to introduce my friends, R. W. and Melvin, to y’all and y’all actin’ like y’all ain’t got no manners at all. Yeah, ole R. W. and Melvin,” he said, rolling the Simmses’ names slowly off his tongue to bring to our attention that he had not bothered to place a “Mister” before either, “they been mighty fine friends to me. Better than any of y’all. Look, see here what they give me.” Proudly he tugged at the suit coat. “Pretty nice stuff, eh! Everything I want they give me ’cause they really likes me. I’m they best friend.”
他笑了笑，故作难过：“哈，你就这样问候我啊？我大老远跑来给你们介绍我的朋友——罗文和马文，你们却这么不友好。嘿，这是罗文和马文…”他大声说着，想引起我们的注意，“他们是我的好朋友，比你们还要好。看，这是他们送我的。”他骄傲地扯了扯外套，“很棒吧？我要什么他们都会给我，因为我是他们最好的朋友。”
He turned to the Simmses. “Ain’t that right, R. W. and Melvin!”
提杰转向他们：“我说得没错吧？”
Melvin nodded, a condescending smirk on his face which was lost on T. J.
马文点点头，脸上挂着虚伪的假笑。
Was he really such a fool!
他真的是个傻瓜！
T. J. grinned widely. Stacey turned away in disgust. “Come on,” he said, “service is ’bout to start.”
提杰大笑起来，斯泰西转身离开：“走吧，礼拜要开始了。”
“Anything — just anything at all I want — they’ll get it for me, including” He hesitated as if he were unsure whether or not he was going too far, then plunged on. “Including that pearl-handled pistol in Barnett’s Mercantile.”
“无论什么——只要我想要的——他们都会给我，包括…”他顿了一下，不太确定自己是否说得太过夸张了，然后继续说，“包括那把有着珍珠手柄的手枪。”
R. W. stepped forward and slapped a reassuring hand on T. J.’s shoulder. “That’s right, T. J. You name it and you’ve got it.”
罗文走过来，拍了拍提杰的肩膀：“是的，提杰。你要什么，我们就能给你弄来什么。”
“Hey, what’s the matter with y’all!” T. J. yelled as the group turned en masse and headed for the church. I glanced back at him.
“喂，你们都怎么了？”我们转身走向教堂时，提杰大叫着。我回过头去。
“What!” said R. W. “You comin’, ain’t you! You still want that pearl-handled pistol, don’t you!”
“你去不去？你还想不想要那把珍珠手柄手枪？”
“All right, T. J.,” said Melvin as we walked away, “we come down here like you asked. Now you come on into Strawberry with us like you promised.”
“提杰，你叫我们来这里，我们来了。现在你应该按照约定跟我们去斯特罗贝里了吧？”马文说。
“It — it didn’t even make no difference,” muttered T. J.
“这——根本没什么区别，”提杰支支吾吾。
When I reached the church steps, I looked back again. T. J. was still there, an indistinct blur blending into the gathering dusk, and I began to think that perhaps he would not go with the Simmses. But then the rude squawk of the truck’s horn blasted the quiet evening, and T. J. turned his back on us and fled across the field.
走到教堂阶梯时，我回头看了一眼，提杰还在原地。我猜想，或许他不会跟马文他们走吧？但卡车尖锐的喇叭声打碎了平静，提杰转身，穿过了草地。
“Yeah, but –“
“要啊，可是…”
But T. J. did not follow immediately. He remained standing in the middle of the compound, his face puzzled and undecided. I had never seen him look more desolately alone, and for a fleeting second I felt almost sorry for him.
提杰并没有很快跟过去，他站在原地，一脸困惑，不知所措。我从未见过他如此孤独。有一瞬间，我甚至为他感到难过。
“Then come on.” he ordered, turning with Melvin and heading for the pickup.
“那就走啊。”罗文命令道，他们兄弟俩走向了车子。
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