“Why not!” I asked angrily. “She made me apologize to that ole ugly Lillian Jean ’bout something wasn’t even my fault. She took them ole Simmses’ side without even hearing mine.”
“为什么不？”我满腔怒气，“她竟然让我跟那个臭莉莲道歉，明明就不是我的错！她站在了老西蒙那边，根本就不理会我的感受！”
The ride home was long and silent. None of us felt like talking, not even T. J. Big Ma had informed him shortly after leaving Strawberry that she did not want to hear another word out of him before we reached home. He sulked for a while with a few audible grumbles which no one paid any attention to, but finally he fell asleep and did not awaken until we had driven up the Granger road and stopped in front of the Avery house.
回家路上，沉寂而漫长，没人想说些什么。奶奶在离开斯特罗贝里后警告提杰，不要说哪怕一个字。提杰嘟嘟囔囔好一阵子后，发现根本没有人理会他，就沉沉地睡过去了。直到我们把马车停在艾弗里家门前，他才醒过来。
By the time Jack pulled into our own yard, the night was a thick blackness and smelled strongly of a coming rain. Big Ma climbed wearily down from the wagon and went into the house without a word, I stayed with Stacey to help him put the wagon inside the barn and unhitch and feed Jack. While I held the flashlight on the barn doors, Stacey slowly slid aside the plank of wood that held the doors fastened. “Cassie,” he said, in a quiet, thoughtful voice, “don’t go blaming Big Ma for what she done.”
回到家，我们把马车拉回院子，空气里弥漫着大雨将至的味道。奶奶爬下马车，一言不发地走回屋里，一副筋疲力尽的模样。我和斯泰西一起把马车拉回谷仓。我用手电筒照着谷仓门，斯泰西一边解开门闩，一边用低沉的声音对我说：“凯西，别因为这些事就责怪奶奶。”
“And I s’pose you do, huh! Ever since you went down into Louisiana to get Papa last summer you think you know so doggone much! Well, I betcha I know one thing. If that had been Papa, he wouldn’t’ve made me apologize! He would’ve listened to me!”
“你就明白了啊？自从去年夏天你把爸爸从路易斯安那找回来后，你就总以为自己什么都懂！我只知道，要是爸爸在那儿，他绝对不会让我去道歉的，他会听我解释的！”
Stacey put the plank on the ground and leaned against the barn. “There’s things you don’t understand. Cassie –“
斯泰西把拴在门上的厚木板放在地上，倚着仓门：“凯西，有些事你不明白——”
His voice trailed off as he peered into the barn. Suddenly he cried. “Cassie, give me that flashlight!” Then, before I could object. he tore the flashlight from my hand and shone it into the barn.
他盯着谷仓里头，声音渐渐低了下去，“快，把手电筒给我！”我还没反应过来，他就从我手里夺过手电筒，照向了谷仓里。
“What’s Mr. Granger’s car doing in our barn!” I exclaimed as the silver Packard was unveiled by the light. Without answering me, Stacey swiftly turned and ran toward the house. I followed closely behind. Throwing open the door to Mama’s room, we stood dumbfounded in the doorway. Instead of Mr. Granger, a tall, handsome man, nattily dressed in a gray pin-striped suit and vest, stood by the fire with his arm around Big Ma. For a moment we swayed with excitement, then as if by signal we both cried, “Uncle Hammer!” and dashed into his arms.
“格兰杰先生的车怎么会在谷仓里？”看到一辆银色轿车出现在眼前，我惊讶万分。斯泰西迅速转身跑到屋里，我紧紧跟在后头。一打开妈妈房间的门，我俩便呆住了。一个高大英俊的男子，穿着笔挺的灰条纹西装和小背心，坐在火炉边，搂着奶奶。我和斯泰西激动地叫起来：“哈默大伯！”随即跑向了他的怀抱。
“Had to do it!” I practically screamed, “She didn’t have to do nothin’! She’s grown just like that Mr. Simms and she should’ve stood up for me. I wouldn’t’ve done her that way.”
“不得已？”我几乎快大叫出来了，“她没做任何事情！可她跟西蒙先生一个样！我才不会像她那样呢。”
“Well, maybe she couldn’t help it, Cassie. Maybe she had to do it.”
“凯西，说不定奶奶只是不得已。”
Stacey sighed and swung open the barn doors.”Well. Papa… that’s different. Bur Big Ma ain’t Papa and you can’t expect…”
斯泰西叹了口气，打开谷仓门。“唉，爸爸…那不一样。你总不能期望奶奶像爸爸那样…”
“Uncle Hammer’s!” Stacey exclaimed, exchanging shocked glances with me. “No kidding!”
“哈默大伯的？”斯泰西惊讶地与我对望，“开玩笑的吧？”
Uncle Hammer smiled a strange, wry smile. “Well, not exactly like it, Mama. Mine’s a few months newer. Last year when I come down here, I was right impressed with that big ole Packard of Mr. Harlan Filmore Granger’s and I thought I’d like to own one myself. It seems that me and Harlan Granger just got the same taste.” He winked slyly at Stacey. “Don’t it, Stacey!”
哈默大伯带着有些诡谲的笑容，“嗯，也不是完全一样，我的比他的更新。去年我来到这里的时候，看到格兰杰的车，一下子被深深吸引住了，我也想拥有一辆。看来，我跟格兰杰先生有着相似的品味。”他冲斯泰西眨了眨眼，“你说是不是啊？”
“That’s your Uncle Hammer’s car,” Mama said. “Did you unhitch Jack!”
“那是你哈默大伯的车。”妈妈说。“你把杰克解开了吗？”
Uncle Hammer was two years older than Papa and, un- married, he came every winter to spend the Christmas sea- son with us. Like Papa, he had dark, red-brown skin, a square-jawed face, and high cheekbones; yet there was a great difference between them somehow. His eyes, which showed a great warmth as he hugged and kissed us now, often had a cold, distant glaze, and there was an aloofness in him which the boys and I could never quite bridge, When he let us go, Stacey and I both grew consciously shy, and we backed away. I sat down beside Christopher- John and Little Man, who were silently gazing up at Uncle Hammer, but Stacey stammered, “Wh-what’s Mr. Granger’s car doing in our barn!”
哈默大伯比爸爸大两岁，还没有结婚。每年冬天，他都会来跟我们一块儿过圣诞节。他跟爸爸长得很像，黑红的皮肤、方形的下巴以及高高的颧骨。他温暖的眼神望着我们，跟我们拥抱亲吻。平时他总是一副冷漠的样子，我和男孩们有时觉得他遥不可及。他放开我们，我和斯泰西都有些害羞，悄悄走到旁边。我在小家伙和克里斯托弗旁边坐下来，静静地看着哈默大伯。斯泰西问：“格兰杰先生的车怎么会出现在谷仓里？”
Big Ma stammered, “Hammer, you — you went and got a car like Harlan Granger’s!”
奶奶也很惊讶：“哈默，你开着跟格兰杰一样的车回来了？”
“You like, maybe we’ll all go riding in it one day. If it’s all right with your mama.”
“要是你们喜欢，我可以带你们去兜兜风，只要你们的妈妈同意。”
Stacey grinned.
斯泰西笑了。
Since no one told me to help Stacey, I forgot all about Jack and settled back to listen to Uncle Hammer. Christopher-John and Little Man, who Big Ma had feared would be moping because they had not been allowed to go to town, seemed not at all concerned that Stacey and I had gone. They were awestruck by Uncle Hammer, and compared to his arrival a day in Strawberry was a minor matter.
没被叫去给斯泰西帮忙，我就和小家伙、克里斯托弗一块儿坐着听哈默大伯说话。他俩似乎不知道我和奶奶进城了。他们的注意力都在哈默大伯身上。好像对他们来说，哈默大伯比进城更重要呢。
“You mean it, Uncle Hammer!” I asked. “Mama, can we!”
“真的吗？”我难以置信，“妈妈，我们可以去吗？”
“We’ll see,” Mama said. “But in any case, not tonight. Stacey, go take care of Jack and draw up a bucket of water for the kitchen. We’ve done the other chores.”
“再说吧。”妈妈说，“至少今晚不行。斯泰西，去照料一下杰克，再打桶水到厨房。今天还有很多家务事要做呢。”
“Oh, boy!” cried Little Man.
“哦，太棒啦！”小家伙好激动。
For a while Uncle Hammer talked only to Mama and Big Ma, laughing from deep down inside himself like Papa, but then to my surprise he turned from them and addressed me. “I understand you had your first trip to Strawberry today, Cassie,” he said. “What did you think!”
刚开始，哈默大伯只是跟妈妈和奶奶讲话，他深沉的笑声真的很像爸爸。后来，他突然转身问我：“我听说你今天第一次去了斯特罗贝里，凯西，感觉怎么样？”
Big Ma stiffened, but I was pleased to have this opportunity to air my side of the Strawberry affair. “I didn’t like it,” I said. “Them ole Simmses –
奶奶顿时僵住了，我倒是很高兴能讲一讲这件事情：“印象不好，那个老西蒙——”
As Mama stood up, I started again. “Them ole Simmses –“
妈妈站起来，我又开始了。“西蒙一家——”
“Oh, I don’t mind,” said Mama, heading for the kitchen. “Go ahead, Cassie, and tell your uncle about Strawberry.”
“没事，让她说吧。凯西，跟伯伯讲讲在斯特罗贝里发生的事。”说完，妈妈就走向了厨房。
“Yessir,” I said softly, wondering why he was laughing.
“是啊。”我不晓得哈默大伯为什么会笑。
Uncle Hammer laughed. “You told him that i”
哈默大伯笑了：“你跟他这么说啦？”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Mama standing. “I’ll set it on the table for you.”
“是的”妈妈站起来：“我去收拾餐桌。”
“Cassie!” Big Ma exclaimed, hearing this bit of news for the first time.
“凯西！”我吓了一跳，奶奶第一次用这么严厉而大声的口气叫我。
“That ole Lillian Jean Simms made me so mad I could just spit. I admit that I bumped into her, but that was ’cause I was thinking ’bout that ole Mr. Barnett waiting on everybody else in his ole Store ‘fore he waited on us –“
“那个老西蒙简直要把我逼疯了。我的确是撞了莉莲，可是当时我是在想为什么巴尼特先生让我们排了那么久的队…”
I looked strangely at Big Ma, then up at Mama.
我疑惑地看着奶奶，又抬头看了看妈妈。
Big Ma nodded mutely, and I went on. “But I told him he shouldn’t’ve been ’round there waiting on everybody else ‘fore he got to us –“
奶奶木讷地点点头，我继续说：“我跟他说，你不应该故意让我们等着，去招呼别的客人——”
“Let Cassie get it, Mary.” said Big Ma nervously. “You must be tired.”
“让凯西去弄吧，你一定很累。”奶奶神色紧张。
“Jim Lee Barnett!” asked Uncle Hammer, “turning toward Big Ma. That ole devil still living!”
“巴尼特？”哈默大伯转向奶奶，“那老家伙还活着？”
“Mary, I feel a bit hungry,” Big Ma interrupted abruptly. “Supper still warm!”
“玛丽，我有点饿了。”奶奶突然插进来，“饭做好了吗？”
His dark eyes had narrowed to thin, angry slits. He said; “He knocked you off the sidewalk, Cassie! A grown man knocked you off the sidewalk?”
他的眼睛眯成了一条细缝，愤怒地说：“凯西，他把你推到马路上了吗？一个成人把一个小孩儿推到马路上了吗？”
“Oh, that’s great! Then what happened!”
“做得好！然后呢？”
“Stacey made me leave and Mr. Barnett told me I couldn’t come back no more and then I bumped into that confounded Lillian Jean and she tried to make me get off the sidewalk and then her daddy come along and he –“
“斯泰西让我离开，巴尼特先生说让我再也不要出现在那里。然后我走在路上，就撞到了莉莲，她想把我推到马路上，不过没成功。她爸爸来了，就把我——”
Big Ma’s eyes grew large and she whispered hoarsely, “Cassie, I don’t think –“
奶奶瞪大了眼，嘶哑着说：“凯西，我想——”
This Lillian Jean Simms, her daddy wouldn’t be Charlie Simms. would it!”
“那个莉莲的爸爸，是不是叫查理·西蒙？”
“Y-yessir.”
“是…是的。”
Uncle Hammer grasped my shoulders. “What else he do to you!”
他抓住我的肩膀：“他还对你做了什么吗？”
“– and he twisted my arm and knocked me off the side- walk!” I exclaimed, unwilling to muffle what Mr. Simms had done. I glanced triumphantly at Big Ma, but she wasn’t looking at me. Her eyes, frightened and nervous, were on Uncle Hammer. I turned and looked at him too.
“他抓住我的胳膊，把我推到马路上！”我大喊出来，不想掩盖掉西蒙先生对我做的事。我略带得意地望向奶奶，不过奶奶没有理我。她的眼神惶恐地望着哈默大伯。我转过去，眼神对着哈默大伯。
“Y-yessir.”
“是…是的。”
“N-nothin’.” I said, frightened by his eyes. “Cepting he wanted me to apologize to Lillian Jean ’cause I wouldn’t get in the road when she told me to.”
“没，没有了。”我有些害怕，“他让我跟莉莲道歉，当时我没法从地上爬起来。”
“Big Ma said I had to.”
“奶奶让我道歉了。”
“Not hurt! You look into her eyes and tell me she ain’t hurt!”
“没受伤？你看着我的眼睛，告诉我，她怎么没受伤？”
“And you did?”
“你道歉了？”
“Charlie Simms knocked Cassie off the sidewalk in Straw- berry and the child just told Hammer,” said Big Ma in one breath, still holding on to Uncle Hammer’s arm.
“凯西刚刚说，在斯特罗贝里，西蒙先生把她推倒在马路上了。”奶奶解释道，依然抓着哈默大伯的胳膊。
Uncle Hammer released me and sat very still. No one said a word. Then he stood slowly, his eyes icing into that cold distant way they could, and he started toward the door, limping slightly on his left leg. Christopher-John. Little Man, and I stared after him wonderingly, but Big Ma jumped up from her chair, knocking it over in her haste, and dashed after him. She grabbed his arm. “Let it be, son!” she cried. “That child ain’t hurt!”
哈默大伯放开我，直直地坐在那儿。房间里，一片寂静。他慢慢起身，眼神又恢复到冷漠的样子。然后他走向门外，左腿一拐一瘸。我和男孩们好奇地跟着他，奶奶立即从椅子上跳起，拦住我们，自己追了上去。她抓住哈默大伯的胳膊，“儿子，随他去吧，”她近乎哀求，“孩子也没受什么伤！”
Mama came back from the kitchen with Stacey behind her. “What is it!” she asked, looking from Big Ma to Uncle Hammer.
妈妈和斯泰西从厨房里出来。“怎么了？”她疑惑地看着哈默大伯和奶奶。
“Oh, Lord,” Mama groaned. “Stacey, get Mr. Morrison. Quick, now!” As Stacey sped from the room, Mama’s eyes darted to the shotgun over the bed, and she edged between it and Uncle Hammer. Uncle Hammer was watching her and he said quietly, “Don’t worry. I ain’t gotta use David’s gun… I got my own.”
“天啊！斯泰西，赶快叫莫里森先生来一趟！”斯泰西冲出房间时，妈妈瞥了一眼墙上挂着的枪，然后挪动着身子，挡在枪和大伯之间。大伯看到妈妈奇怪的举动，语气平静：“别担心，我不会拿大卫的枪的…我自己有。”
Little Man, Christopher-John, and I dashed to the door as Big Ma and Mama ran after him. “Get back inside,” Mama called over her shoulder, but she was too busy trying to grab Uncle Hammer to see to it that we obeyed, and we did not move. “Hammer, Cassie’s all right,” she cried. “Don’t go making unnecessary trouble!”
小家伙、克里斯托弗和我赶紧跑到门口，妈妈和奶奶追了上去。“快回屋里！”妈妈回头冲我们说，不过我们并没有挪动。妈妈边走边说，“凯西已经没事了！哈默，别惹不必要的麻烦！”
Suddenly Mama lunged to the side door, blocking it with her slender body. “Hammer, now you listen to me –“
妈妈冲到门边，用细长的身躯挡着门：“哈默，你听我说——”
Mama and Big Ma could not keep him from reaching the car. But just as the Packard roared to life, a huge figure loomed from the darkness and jumped into the other side, and the car zoomed angrily down the drive into the black- ness of the Mississippi night.
妈妈和奶奶没法阻止他去开车。就在车子发动的一刹那，黑暗中突然蹿出一个巨大的身影，跳进车子另一边。“轰隆隆——”车子愤怒地消失在夜幕中。
But Uncle Hammer gently but firmly pushed her to one side and, brushing Big Ma from his arm, opened the door and bounded down the steps into the light rain.
但哈默大伯温柔而坚定地推开妈妈，甩开奶奶的手，打开门，头也不回地走向绵绵细雨中。
“Unnecessary trouble! You think my brother died and I got my leg half blown off in their German war to have some red-neck knock Cassie around anytime it suits him! If I’d’ve knocked his girl down, you know what’d’ve happened to me! Yeah, you know all right. Right now I’d be hanging from that oak over yonder. Let go of me, Mary.”
“不必要的麻烦？你以为我的弟弟死了，我的腿在德国战争中瘸了，就可以任由那些白人欺负凯西吗？如果撞了那女孩的人是我，我的下场会怎么样？你可能很清楚，我可能就被吊死在大橡树上了。玛丽，别拦着我。”
“He’s not going anywhere,” Mama said, stepping aside and waiting until both Big Ma and Stacey were inside; then she locked the door.
“他哪儿也不去。”她站在房间门口，等斯泰西和奶奶都进了屋，她关上门。
“If he don’t,” said Little Man ominously, “I betcha Uncle Hammer’ll teach that ole Mr. Simms a thing or two. ‘Round here hitting on Cassie,”
“要是带不回来呢？”小家伙一脸担心，“哈默大伯肯定会狠狠地教训一下西蒙先生的，他那么欺负凯西。”
“Mr. Morrison’ll bring him back,” said Christopher-John confidently, although he looked somewhat bewildered by all that had happened.
克里斯托弗也不知道哪来的自信：“莫里森先生会把大伯带回来的。”
“Where’d he gel” I asked as Mama slowly climbed the steps. Her face under the glow of the lamp was tired, drained. “He went up to the Simmses”, didn’t he! Didn’t he, Mama?”
“大伯要去哪？”我忍不住问妈妈。她的脸在灯光下看起来疲惫无比。“他是不是去找西蒙先生了？是不是，妈妈？”
“I hope he knocks his block off,” I said.
“真希望大伯敲掉老西蒙的脑袋。”我说。
“No, ma’am, Mama, we ain’t –“
“不，妈妈——”
Mama’s gaze blazed down upon us. “I think little mouths that have so much to say must be very tired.”
妈妈冷冷地扫了我们一眼：“说这么多，不累吗？”
“Go to bed.”
“快去睡觉！”
“Mama, it ain’t but –” Mama’s face hardened, and I knew that it would not be in my best interest to argue further; I turned and did as I was told. Christopher-John and Little Man did the same. When I got to my door, I asked, “Ain’t Stacey coming!”
“可是，妈妈…”妈妈的脸“唰”地阴了下来，我知道这时候不适合跟妈妈争论什么，就转身回房了。克里斯托弗和小家伙也是。当我走到自己的房间门口时，我问道：“为什么斯泰西不用回房间？”
“There’s no maybe to it.”
“没什么也许。”
“No’m,” I muttered and went into my room. After a few minutes Mama came in. Without a word of reprimand, she picked up my clothes from where I had tossed them at the foot of the bed, and absently draping them over the back of a chair, she said, “Stacey tells me you blame Big Ma for what happened today. Is that right?”
“是的。”我嘟哝着，回到自己房间。过了一会儿，妈妈进来了，默默地把我丢在床脚的衣服捡起来，放到椅背上，说：“斯泰西说，你在为今天发生的事埋怨奶奶，是吗？”
Mama glanced down at Stacey sitting by the fire. “I don’t recall his mouth working so hard, do you!”
“他可不像你们那么多话。”妈妈看了一眼坐在火炉旁的斯泰西。
I thought over her question and answered, “Not for all of it. Just for making me apologize to that ole dumb Lillian Jean Simms. She oughtn’t’ve done that, Mama. Papa wouldn’t’ve –“
我想了一会儿，说：“也不算是。只是，奶奶让我跟那个莉莲道歉，她本来可以不那么做的，妈妈。要是爸爸在的话，就不会——”
“I don’t want to hear what Papa wouldn’t have done!” Mama snapped. “Or what Mr. Morrison wouldn’t have done or Uncle Hammer! You were with Big Ma and she did what she had to do and believe me, young lady, she didn’t like doing it one bit more than you did.”
“我不想听到什么‘如果爸爸在的话会怎样’，或者是‘莫里森先生和哈默大伯在的话会怎样’这样的话！”妈妈怒斥我，“你和奶奶在一起，她只是做了不得不做的事情。相信我，大小姐，她跟你一样，心里有一万个不愿意。”
“Well,” I muttered, “maybe so, but…?”
“也许吧，但是…”
“Yes’m,” I said softly, deciding that it was better to study the patchwork pattern on the quilt until the anger left Mama’s eyes and I could talk to her again. After a moment she sat beside me on the bed and raised my chin with the tip of her forefinger. “Big Ma didn’t want you to be hurt,” she said. “That was the only thing on her mind… making sure Mr. Simms didn’t hurt you.”
“好吧，妈妈。”我盯着被子上的图案，决定等她怒气消下去再跟她说话。过了一会儿，妈妈走过来，坐在我的床上，用她的食指抬起我的下巴：“奶奶是不想让你受伤。她觉得最紧要的事情，就是保护你，不让你受伤害。”
The way of what things?” I asked warily.
“是怎样的呢？”我小心翼翼地问。
Mama’s voice grew hard. “Because that’s the way of things, Cassie.”
妈妈语气变得生硬：“事情就是这样。”
“Yes’m,” I murmured, then flared, “But, Mama, that Lillian Jean ain’t got the brains of a flea! How come I gotta go ’round calling her ‘Miz’ like she grown or something!”
“知道了。”但我还是有点生气，“可是，那个莉莲一点脑子都没有！我为什么要叫她小姐，好像她就是一样。”
“But, Mama, it ain’t fair. I didn’t do nothin’ to that con- founded Lillian Jean. How come Mr. Simms went and pushed me like he did?”
“但是，这不公平啊。我又没有对那个讨人厌的莉莲做什么，西蒙先生为什么还要推我呢？”
Mama’s eyes looked deeply into mine, locked into them, and she said in a tight, clear voice, “Because he thinks Lillian Jean is better than you are, Cassie, and when you –“
妈妈认真地看着我的眼睛，清晰而有力地说：“因为他觉得，莉莲比你好。”
“Baby, you had to grow up a little today. I wish… well, no matter what I wish. It happened and you have to accept the fact that in the world outside this house, things are not always as we would have them to be.”
“宝贝，今天你也应该懂得这些事了。在这房子之外的世界，有些事情发生了，你得去接受它，它并不是照着我们的意愿发生的。”
“That ole scrawny, chicken-legged, snaggle-toothed, cross –“
“就那个干巴巴、小短腿、大龅牙——”
“Cassie.” Mama did not raise her voice, but the quiet force of my name silenced me. “Now,” she said, folding my hand in hers, “I didn’t say that Lillian Jean is better than you. I said Mr. Simms only thinks she is. In fact, he thinks she’s better than Stacey or Little Man or Christopher-John –“
“凯西。”妈妈并没有提高音量，但她平缓的声音使我镇静了下来，她握着我的手，“我并没有觉得，莉莲比你好。我是说，西蒙先生是这么想的。而且，他也觉得，莉莲比小家伙、克里斯托弗，还有斯泰西好…”
“No, baby, because she’s white.”
“不，因为她是白人。”
“Just ’cause she’s his daughter!” I asked, beginning to think Mr. Simms was a bit touched in the head.
“就因为她是他的女儿？”我问道，开始觉得西姆斯先生有点受了伤。
Mama’s hold tightened on mine, but I exclaimed, “Ah, shoot! White ain’t nothin’!”
妈妈紧紧握住我的手，我叫了起来：“白人？白人算什么？”
Mama’s grip did not lessen. “It is something, Cassie. White is something just like black is something. Everybody born on this earth is something and nobody, no matter what color, is better than anybody else.”
妈妈并没有松开我的手：“凯西，白人是人，黑人也是，世界上的每个人，无论何种肤色，都是平等的。”
“Like Big Ma’s papa and mama!”
“像奶奶的爸爸妈妈一样？”
“Because he’s one of those people who has to believe that white people are better than black people to make himself feel big.” I stared questioningly at Mama, not really under- standing. Mama squeezed my hand and explained further. “You see, Cassie, many years ago when our people were first brought from Africa in chains to work as slaves in this country –“
“因为他觉得白人比黑人好，这样能让他显得高贵。”我疑惑地看着妈妈，没有太理解她的话。妈妈接着解释：“你知道吗？凯西，很多年前，我们的祖先从非洲来到这里，过着像奴隶一样的生活——”
“Then how come Mr. Simms don’t know that?”
“那为什么西蒙先生不懂这个道理呢？”
Mama nodded. “Yes, baby, like Papa Luke and Mama Rachel, except they were born right here in Mississippi. But their grandparents were born in Africa, and when they came there were some white people who thought that it was wrong for any people to be slaves; so the people who needed slaves to work in their fields and the people who were making money bringing slaves from Africa preached that black people weren’t really people like white people were, so slavery was all right.”
妈妈点点头：“是的。像你曾祖父曾祖母一样。但不同的是，他们出生在密西西比河附近。而他们的祖先是出生在非洲的。有些白人觉得不应该有奴隶制度，于是那些需要奴隶来给他们干活和那些靠着贩卖奴隶赚钱的人，就大肆宣扬，黑人跟白人不一样，奴隶制度没什么错。”
“They also said that slavery was good for us because it taught us to be good Christians — like the white people.” She sighed deeply, her voice fading into a distant whisper. “But they didn’t teach us Christianity to save our souls, but to teach us obedience. They were afraid of slave revolts and they wanted us to learn the Bible’s teaching about slaves being loyal to their masters. But even teaching us Christianity didn’t make us stop wanting to be free, and many slaves ran away –“
“他们还说，奴隶制度对我们很好，可以让我们变成基督教徒——像白人一样。”妈妈深深叹了口气，声音有气无力，“但他们并没有教我们用基督教义来救赎灵魂，只是让我们一味地服从。他们害怕奴隶反抗，就叫他们学习《圣经》里关于效忠主人的教义。即使这样，他们也无法阻止我们追求自由，很多奴隶都跑了——”
Mama nodded again. “That’s right, honey. He was hiding in a cave when freedom came, so I understand.” She was silent a moment, then went on. “Well, after a while. slavery became so profitable to people who had slaves and even to those who didn’t that most folks decided to believe that black people really weren’t people like everybody else. And when the Civil War was fought and Mama Rachel and Papa Luke and all the other slaves were freed, people continued to think that way. Even the Northerners who fought the war didn’t really see us equal to white people. So now, even though seventy years have passed since slavery, most white people still think of us as they did then — that we’re not as good as they are — and people like Mr. Simms hold on to that belief harder than some other folks because they have little else to hold on to. For him to believe that he is better than we are makes him think that he’s important, simply because he’s white.”
妈妈点点头，接着说：“是的，宝贝。他最后逃到了一个洞穴里，躲了起来。”她顿了一会儿：“奴隶制度盛行时，很多人都认为，白人比黑人优越。南北战争后，奴隶被解放出来了，可很多人的想法并没有改变，甚至连那些北方佬也没有真正平等地看待黑人。所以，虽然奴隶制度已经被废止了七十多年，但大多数白人还是认为黑人不如他们。就像西蒙先生一样，他那么固执，因为他也没有什么东西可以用来维持自己的尊严了。他觉得自己比黑人优越，仅仅是因为他是白人。”
“Papa Luke ran away,” I reminded her, thinking of the story of how Great-Grandpa had run away three times. He had been caught and punished for his disobedience, but his owners had not tried to break him, for he had had a knowledge of herbs and cures. He had tended both the slaves and the animals of the plantation, and it was from him that Big Ma had learned medicines.
“卢克曾祖父就逃跑过。”我想起了曾祖父曾经逃跑过三次的故事。逃跑后，他被抓了回去，还被重重地惩罚了。他的主人不想失去他，因为曾祖父精通草药与医术，他可以照料奴隶和动植物。奶奶的医术还是曾祖父教的呢。
“Of course they aren’t,” Mama said. “White people may demand our respect, but what we give them is not respect but fear. What we give to our own people is far more important because it’s given freely. Now you may have to call Lillian Jean ‘Miss’ because the white people say so, but you’ll also call our own young ladies at church ‘Miss’ be-cause you really do respect them.
“是的，他们不比我们优越。”妈妈说，“白人想让我们尊重他们，结果只换来恐惧。你称莉莲为‘小姐’，那是白人逼迫的。而你称教堂里的修女们为‘小姐’，那是因为你真的尊重她们。”
Mama relaxed her grip. I knew that she was waiting for me to speak. There was a sinking feeling in my stomach and I felt as if the world had turned itself upside down with me in it. Then I thought of Lillian Jean and a surging anger gurgled upward and I retaliated, “Well, they ain’t!” But I leaned closer to Mama, anxiously hoping that she would agree with me.
妈妈松开了我的手，等着我说话。我觉得我的胃很是沉重，好像有什么东西在上下翻腾。我又想到了莉莲，怒火“噌”的一下再次上来了。“他们哪里比我们优越！”我凑向妈妈，希望她能同意我的想法。
“Baby, we have no choice of what color we’re born or who our parents are or whether we’re rich or poor. What we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we’re here.” Mama cupped my face in her hands. “And I pray to God you’ll make the best of yours.” She hugged me warmly then and motioned me under the covers.
“孩子，我们没法选择自己的肤色，没法选择我们的出身。我们唯有选择努力生活。”妈妈捧着我的脸，“我向上帝祈祷，希望你能做出最好的选择。”她温柔地环抱着我，然后帮我盖好被子。
Mama had been right about Uncle Hammer.
妈妈说的没错。
As she turned the lamp down low, I asked, “Mama. Uncle Hammer. If Mr. Morrison can’t stop him, what’ll happen!”
当她要关上台灯离开时，我问道：“妈妈，要是莫里森先生没有阻止哈默大伯，会怎样？”
“Mr. Morrison will bring him back.”
“莫里森先生会把大伯带回来的。”
“But just what if he can’t and Uncle Hammer gets to Mr. Simms!”
“要是不能呢？大伯会去找西蒙先生吗？”
A shadowy fear fleeted across her face, but disappeared with the dimming light. “I think… I think you’ve done enough growing up for one day, Cassie,” she said without answering my question, “Uncle Hammer’ll be all right. Now go to sleep.”
她的脸庞出现一丝恐惧，在微弱的灯光下转瞬即逝。她没直接回答我，而是说：“凯西…我想你今天已经长大许多了。哈默大伯会没事的。早点睡吧。”
When I awoke the next morning and followed the smell of frying ham and baking biscuits into the kitchen, there he sat at the table drinking coffee with Mr. Morrison. He was unshaven and looked a bit bleary-eyed, but he was all right: I wondered if Mr. Simms looked so good. I didn’t get a chance to ask, because as soon as I had said good morning Mama called me into her room, where a tub of hot water was waiting by the fireplace.
当我醒来时，一阵熏火腿和烤饼干的香味扑面而来。哈默大伯和莫里森先生在餐桌前，喝着咖啡。他没刮胡子，睡眼惺忪，不过看起来没出什么事。我在想西蒙先生会不会也没事。我刚跟他们打了招呼，连问的机会都没有，就被妈妈叫到了房间里。火炉旁边摆了一盆热水。
Mama’s brow furrowed. “Well, I just don’t know. He did say something about hitching up Jack…”
妈妈皱了皱眉，说道：“这个啊，哈默大伯已经给杰克套上缰绳了。”
“Hurry up,” she said. “Uncle Hammer’s going to take us to church.”
“赶紧洗漱一下。”妈妈说，“哈默大伯要带我们去教堂。”
“In his car!”
“坐他的车？”
“No’m, I want you to fix me my grown-up hairdo.”
“没有，我想让你给我梳一个成熟的发型。”
My smile faded, but then I caught the teasing glint in her eyes, and she began to laugh, “Ah, Mama!” I laughed, and splashed into the water.
我的表情一下子暗了下去。不过我注意到妈妈的眼神值得玩味，果然，妈妈哈哈大笑起来。“啊，妈妈，你骗我！”我也笑了。
Mama began buttoning the top of her dress with long, flying fingers as I slowly fastened the lower buttons. I loved to help Mama dress. She always smelled of sunshine and soap.
妈妈开始扣裙子上面的扣子，我负责下面的。我喜欢给妈妈穿衣服，因为她身上有阳光和肥皂的香味。
After my bath I went into my room to dress. When I rejoined Mama she was combing her hair, which fanned her head like an enormous black halo. As I watched, she shaped the long thickness into a large chignon at the nape of her neck and stuck six sturdy hairpins into it. Then, giving the chignon a pat, she reached for her pale-blue cotton dress sprinkled with tiny yellow-and-white flowers and polished white buttons running from top to bottom along its front. She glanced down at me. “You didn’t comb your hair.”
等我洗完热水澡后，回到房间换衣服。换完后，我走到妈妈房间，妈妈正在盘头发。她把黑直的头发挽成发髻，搭在她的后颈上，然后用发夹固定住。然后，她拿出了一件水蓝色的黄白碎花裙子，上面有一排雪白的扣子。妈妈看了我一眼：“你没梳头。”
When the last button had slipped into place, she buckled a dark-blue patent-leather belt around her tiny waist and stood ready except for her shoes. She looked very pretty.
等到最后一个扣子扣上后，妈妈在她纤细的腰身上，系了一根深蓝色的皮腰带。她看上去美极了。
“Right here,” I said, picking up the brush from where I had laid it on the chair.
“在这儿。”我把梳子递给妈妈。
When Mama finished, I ran to the mirror, then turned, facing her with a grin. She grinned back and shook her head at my vanity.
头发一梳好，我就急忙跑到镜子前欣赏，还转身冲着妈妈傻笑。
Mama sat down in Papa’s rocker and I sat on the deerskin rug in front of her. Mama divided my hair from ear to ear into two sections and braided the front section to one side and the back section right in the center. Then she wound each braid into a flat chignon against my head. My hair was too thick and long for me to do it well myself, but Mama could do it perfectly. I figured I looked my very best that way.
妈妈坐在摇椅上，我坐在她前面的地毯上。妈妈把我的头发分成两股，分别编成辫子，然后将它们缠成一个发髻。我的头发又厚又长，但妈妈总能把它编得很好看。
“Where’s your brush?”
“你的梳子呢？”
“One day, Mama, you gonna fix my hair like yours!”
“妈妈，有一天，你能帮我把头发梳成像你那样吗？”
“That’ll be a few years yet,” she answered, readjusting the cardboard lining she had placed in her shoes to protect her feet from the dirt and gravel which could easily seep through the large holes in the soles. She set the shoes on the floor and stepped into them. Now, with the soles facing downward and Mama’s feet in them, no one could tell what the shiny exteriors hid; yet I felt uncomfortable for Mama and wished that we had enough money for her to have her shoes fixed or, better still, buy new ones.
“还要等好久呢！”她弯下腰，调整着她垫在鞋里的硬纸垫，那纸垫是用来保护脚的，以免沙子和尘土磨伤脚。没有人知道，那光鲜的鞋面底下是怎样的。我觉得很难过，希望能有足够的钱，这样妈妈就能拥有一双穿起来舒服的鞋子了。
“Y-you don’t mean Mr. Simms whipped Uncle Hammer!” stammered an unbelieving Christopher-John.
“难不成，是西蒙先生打了哈默大伯？”克里斯托弗难以置信地问。
“But something must’ve happened,” I said. “I mean Uncle Hammer and Mr. Morrison look like they haven’t even been to bed. How come they look like that if nothin’ happened!”
“应该是发生了什么的呀。”我说，“我的意思是，哈默大伯和莫里森先生看起来一夜没睡的样子，怎么可能什么事情都没有发生？”
“Nothin’.”
“没有。”
“Mama said so. I asked her straight out this morning.”
“妈妈说了。我昨天晚上问了她。”
“No.” said Stacey quietly.
“没有。”斯泰西语气平静。
“Mama said Mr. Morrison talked all night to Uncle Ham- mer. Talked him tired and wouldn’t let him go up to the Simmses’.”
“妈妈说，昨天晚上，莫里森先生和哈默大伯聊了一夜，劝了好久，才让他放弃找西蒙先生的。”
“How you know!” asked Little Man suspiciously.
“你怎么知道？”小家伙好奇地问。
“Nothin’!” I repeated, disappointed.
“没有事情发生？”我失望极了。
“Oh,” replied Little Man, resigned.
“哦，这样啊。”小家伙有些失望。
“Nothin’ happened.” said Stacey in explanation as he tugged irritably at his collar.
“什么也没发生。”斯泰西拽了拽衣领。
“No!” cried Little Man.
“没有？”小家伙大叫起来。
After breakfast Stacey, Christopher-John, Little Man, and I sat impatiently by the dying morning fire waiting for Mama, Big Ma, and Uncle Hammer. Uncle Hammer was dressing in the boys’ room and Mama was in with Big Ma. I checked to make sure none of them was about to appear, then leaned toward Stacey and whispered, “You think Uncle Hammer whipped Mr. Simms!”
吃完早餐后，我和男孩们坐在火炉旁，心不在焉地等着大人们。哈默大伯在男孩们的房间里换衣服，妈妈跟奶奶待在房间里。我凑近斯泰西，悄声问他：“你说，哈默大伯教训西蒙先生了吗？”
“It ain’t fair.” Christopher-John sympathized, patting me lightly with his pudgy hand.
“太不公平了。”克里斯托弗同情地说，用他那胖乎乎的手拍了拍我的肩膀。
“Ah, shoot!” I exclaimed, my dream of revenge against the Simmses vanishing as Stacey talked. I propped my elbows on my knees, then settled my head in my upraised hands and stared into the glowing embers. A burning knot formed in my throat and I felt as if my body was not large enough to hold the frustration I felt, nor deep enough to drown the rising anger.
“噢，天哪！”我那报仇的愿望一下子成了泡影。我把手肘靠着膝盖，托着脑袋，静静地看着炉火一闪一灭。我的喉咙里仿佛卡着一块灼烧的炭火，内心的愤怒仿佛岩浆一般快要喷涌出来。
“She’ aint,” agreed Little Man.
“是啊。”小家伙也这么想。
“Cassie.” Stacey said softly. At first I didn’t look at him, thinking he would go ahead and say what he had to say. But when he didn’t, I turned toward him. He leaned forward secretively and automatically Christopher-John and Little Man did the same.
“凯西。”斯泰西柔声说。起初我没有看着他，觉得他会继续说下去，但他并没有。我按捺不住，转向他。他神秘兮兮地靠向我，小家伙和克里斯托弗也凑了过来。
“Y’all better be glad nothin’ happened,” he said in a whisper. “‘Cause I heard Big Ma tell Mama last night that if Mr. Morrison didn’t stop Uncle Hammer, Uncle Hammer might get killed.”
“你最好庆幸什么也没有发生。”斯泰西压低声音，“我听见奶奶跟妈妈说，要是莫里森先生没有阻止哈默大伯的话，大伯会被杀死的。”
“Who’d do that!” I cried. “Not one of them puny Simmses!”
“谁会这么做？”我大叫，“西蒙一家那么胆小怕事！”
“Killed!” we echoed as the fire sputtered and died.
“被杀死？”我和克里斯托弗、小家伙异口同声。
When Uncle Hammer joined us, freshly shaven and in another suit, the boys and I put on our coats and headed for the door;
哈默大伯走出房间，下巴干净，衣着笔挺，变得帅气了很多。我和男孩们穿上自己的外套，走向门外。
Uncle Hammer stopped us. “Stacey, that the only coat you got, son!” he asked.
哈默大伯拦住我们：“斯泰西，你只有这一件外套吗？”
Stacey looked down at his faded cotton jacket. Everyone else did too. The jacket was too small for him, that was obvious, and compared to Little Man’s and Christopher-John’s and mine, it was admittedly in sadder shape. Yet we were all surprised that Uncle Hammer would ask about it, for he knew as well as anyone that Mama had to buy our clothes in shifts, which meant that we each had to wait our turn for new clothes. Stacey looked up at Mama, then back at Uncle Hammer. “Y-yessir,” he answered.
我们全都望向斯泰西的外套，斯泰西也低下头，看着他那褪了色的棉外套。那件外套对他来说实在太小了，而且，跟我们的外套比起来，他的外套的确显得更加寒酸。但我们很惊讶哈默大伯这么问，因为他也知道，妈妈是轮流给我们买衣服的。斯泰西看了一眼妈妈，又看向大伯，回答道：“是的。”
Uncle Hammer stared at him, then waving his hand ordered. “Take it off.” Before Stacey could question why, Uncle Hammer disappeared into the boys’ room.
大伯看着他，然后说了句“脱掉它吧”，便走进了男孩们的房间里。
Again Stacey looked at Mama. “You’d better do like he says.” she said.
斯泰西把疑惑的目光投向妈妈。“照哈默大伯说的做吧。”妈妈说。
Uncle Hammer returned with a long box, store wrapped in shiny red Christmas paper and a fancy green ribbon. He handed the package to Stacey. “It was supposed to be your Christmas present, but I think I’d better give it to you now. It’s cold out there.”
大伯从房间里出来，手里拿着一个长长的盒子，盒子外包装着红色闪亮的圣诞彩纸，上面还系了一条绿色缎带。他把盒子递给斯泰西：“本来打算把它当作圣诞节礼物送给你的。不过我觉得现在给你更合适一些，现在天也冷了。”
Stacey started to speak, but then Mama and Big Ma entered, and he cautioned us into silence.
斯泰西打算继续说下去时，妈妈和奶奶从房间里走了出来，他示意我们别说话。
Gingerly, Stacey took the box and opened it.
斯泰西小心翼翼地接过盒子，打开了它。
“Come on, we’d better go.” said Mama.
“走吧，没时间了。”妈妈说。
“A coat!” cried Little Man joyously, clapping his hands.
“是件外套呀！”小家伙激动地拍着手。
“Wool.” Mama said reverently. “Go ahead, Stacey. Try it on.”
“还是羊毛的呢。”妈妈说，“快，斯泰西，穿上试试。”
The morning was gray as we stepped outside, but the rain had stopped. We followed the path of bedded rocks that led to the barn, careful not to slip into the mud, and got into the Packard. shining clean and bright from the washing Uncle Hammer and Mr. Morrison had given it after break- fast. Inside the Packard, the world was a wine-colored luxury. The boys and I, in the back, ran our hands over the rich felt seats, tenderly fingered the fancy door handles and window knobs, and peered down amazed at the pillow and carpet peeping out on either side of the rubber mats.
屋外灰蒙蒙的一片，好在雨停了。我们沿着石块铺出的小路走到谷仓，尽量不让自己踩到泥坑里。由于大伯跟莫里森先生早饭后才洗过车，车子看起来格外干净闪亮。车子里头是高贵的酒红色。我和男孩们坐在车后座，用手抚摸着柔软舒适的座椅，扳动着精致的车门把，摇动着车窗玻璃的把手。
Stacey eagerly slipped on the coat; it was much too big for him, but Mama said that she could take up the sleeves and that he would grow into it in another year. Stacey beamed down at the coat, then up at Uncle Hammer. A year ago he would have shot into Uncle Hammer’s arms and hugged his thanks, but now at the manly age of twelve he held out his hand, and Uncle Hammer shook it.
斯泰西急切地套上外套。外套对他来说太大了，不过妈妈说再过一年就合身了。斯泰西仔细瞧着身上的外套，眼睛发亮。要是在一年前，他肯定会冲上去给哈默大伯一个拥抱。不过现在的他，已经十二岁了，应该表现得成熟些。他握了握哈默大伯的手，致了谢。
Mr. Morrison, who was not a churchgoing man, waved good-bye from the barn and we sped away.
因为莫里森先生从来不去教堂，所以我们跟他道别后，便驱车离开了。
As we drove onto the school grounds and parked, the people milling in front of the church turned, staring at the Packard.
当我们把车停到学校操场的时候，教堂前的人们都望了过来，盯着那辆车子。
Then Uncle Hammer stepped from the car and someone cried, “Well, I’ll be doggone! It’s our Hammer! Hammer Logan!” And in a body, the crowd engulfed us.
当哈默大伯从车里出来时，有人大叫：“嘿，竟然没认出来，是我们的哈默呀！”很快，我们就被人群淹没了。
T. J. ran up with Moe Turner and Little Willie Wiggins to admire the car. “It’s Uncle Hammer’s,” said Stacey proudly. But before the boys could sufficiently admire the car, Mama and Big Ma shooed us toward the church for the service. it was then that T. J. noticed Stacey’s new coat.
提杰、蒙特纳，还有小威利无比歆羡地瞧个不停。“那是哈默大伯的车。”斯泰西无比自豪。他们还没欣赏过瘾，奶奶和妈妈就催促我们到教堂里做礼拜。这时，提杰注意到了斯泰西的新外套。
“Uncle Hammer gave it to him,” I said. “Ain’t it something?”
“那是哈默大伯送的外套。”我说，“是不是很棒？”
“All right!” I cried, indignant at his casual reaction to the coat. “Boy, that’s the finest coat you ever did lay eyes on and you know it!”
“够了！”我真不喜欢提杰这种满不在乎的态度，“这可是你见过的最好的衣服了吧？”
T. J. ran his long fingers over the lapels, and shrugged. “It’s all right, I guess, if you like that sort of thing.”
提杰用细长的手指摸了摸斯泰西的衣领：“还不错吧，要是你喜欢这种衣服的话。”
T. J. sighed. “Like I said, it’s all right… if you like lookin’ like a fat preacher.” Then he and Little Willie and Moe laughed, and went on ahead.
提杰叹了口气：“就是还不错…而已啊，要是你想让自己看起来像个胖牧师一样。”说完，他和蒙特纳、小威利哈哈大笑，然后走向了教堂。
As we slid into the pew in front of T. J., T. J. whispered, “Here comes the preacher.” then leaned forward and said snidely. “How do you do, Reverend Logan!”
当我们走进教堂，坐在位置上时，坐在后头的提杰开始窃窃私语：“看，胖牧师来了。”然后他又靠向前面，对斯泰西说：“感觉怎么样啊？”
After church, as T. J. and the others looked longingly at the car, Mama said. “Stacey, maybe T. J. wants to ride.”
礼拜结束后，提杰和其他人还在眼巴巴地盯着那辆车。妈妈说：“提杰或许想坐一坐这辆车吧。”
Stacey turned on T. J… but I poked him hard. “Mama’s looking.” I whispered, and he turned back around.
斯泰西转过身，我戳了他好几下：“妈妈看着呢。”斯泰西作罢，又回过身来。
Before Stacey could reply, I spoke up hurriedly. “No, ma’am, Mama, he got something else he gotta do.” Then under my breath so that I would not be guilty of a lie, I added, “He gotta walk home like he always do.”
还没等斯泰西开口，我赶紧说：“才不呢，他有好多事情要做。”我喘了口气，希望让自己的话听起来不那么像在扯谎：“他想像平时一样走路回家。”
“I know it.” snapped Stacey sourly.
“我知道。”斯泰西有些失落。
The sun was out now and Uncle Hammer suggested that we take a real ride before going home. He drove us the full twenty-two miles up to Strawberry by way of the Jackson Road, one of two roads leading to the town. But Mama and Big Ma objected so much to going through Strawberry that he turned the big car around and headed back toward home, taking the old Soldiers Road.
太阳出来了，哈默大伯提议回家前去好好地兜兜风。他沿着杰森路开往斯特罗贝里，整整开了二十二英里。奶奶和妈妈不同意哈默大伯把车开到市区里去，于是我们就掉头走军人路回家。
Stacey looked down at the coat with its long sleeves and wide shoulders. His smile faded. “He don’t know what he’s talking ’bout.” I said. “He’s just jealous, that’s all.”
斯泰西看了一眼他的外套，长长的衣袖，宽宽的衣肩，挂在他嘴角的笑容一下子消散了。我说：“别听提杰瞎说，他只是嫉妒而已。”
“Yeah.” agreed Christopher-John, but Stacey sulked by the window and said nothing.
“说得对。”克里斯托弗也应和道。斯泰西望着车窗外，不言语。
“That’ll teach him.” whispered Little Man.
“总算给他一点教训了。”小家伙小声跟我说。
The road was hilly and curving, and as we sped over it scattered road stones hit sharply against the car’s underbelly and the dust swelled up in rolls of billowing clouds behind us. Little Man, Christopher-John, and I shrieked with delight each time the car climbed a hill and dropped suddenly downward, fluttering our stomachs.
军人路坡度大，还很曲折。每当车子驶过，都会扬起阵阵尘土，路上的碎石还不断硌着车底盘，车子总会一上一下地颠簸。遇到这种情况，我、小家伙，还有克里斯托弗都会兴奋地大叫，好像坐上了云霄飞车一样。
“Me and John Henry and David grew up together. And John Henry and me even fought in their war together. What good was it! A black man’s life ain’t worth the life of a cowfly down here.”
“我和亨利，还有大卫在这个地方长大。亨利和我还参了战，又有什么用呢？在他们眼里，黑人还不如一只牛蝇！”
Eventually, the road intersected with the Jefferson Davis School Road. Uncle Hammer stopped the car at the intersection and, leaning his right arm heavily over the steering wheel, motioned languidly at the Wallace Store. “Got me a good mind to burn that place out,” he said.
车子开到了杰斐逊大卫学校前，哈默大伯把车子停在了岔路口，右臂重重地搭在方向盘上，没精打采地望向华莱士商店，他这样说：“真想烧了那间店啊。”
Supposedly, Rebel soldiers had once marched up the road and across Soldiers Bridge to keep the town from falling into the hands of the Yankee Army, but I had my doubts about that. After all, who in his right mind would want to capture Strawberry… or defend it either for that matter!
据说，有一次，叛军士兵曾沿着大路，穿过士兵桥，以防止这个城镇落入北方军手中，但我对此有疑虑。毕竟，有谁在他头脑正常的情况下会想夺取草莓…或者为之辩护呢！
“Hammer, hush that kind of talk!” ordered Big Ma, her eyes growing wide.
“哈默，别说这种话。”奶奶瞪大了眼。
Uncle Hammer looked glassy-eyed at the store, then sighed and eased the Packard across the road toward Soldiers Bridge.
哈默大伯望着华莱士商店，叹了口气，随即将车子驶向军人桥。
Soldiers Bridge was built before the Civil War. It was spindly and wooden, and each time I had to cross it I held my breath until I was safely on the other side. Only one vehicle could cross at a time, and whoever was on the bridge first was supposed to have the right of way, although it didn’t always work that way. More than once when I had been in the wagon with Mama or Big Ma, we had had to back off the bridge when a white family started across after we were already on it.
军人桥是内战前建的狭长木桥。我每次过桥，都会屏住呼吸，直到安全过桥才松口气。桥上一次只能允许一辆车子通过。每次我跟妈妈，还有奶奶驾车要过桥时，只要有一辆白人的车子出现，我们就得退出来，让他们先过去。
We were taking the long way home.
我们要走很远的路回家。
“I know that, son, but that kinda talk get you hung and you know it.”
“儿子，我知道，但别再说这些吓人的话了。”
Mama touched Uncle Hammer’s arm. “There might be another way, Hammer… like I told you. Now don’t go do something foolish. Wait for David — talk to him.”
妈妈搭上哈默大伯的胳膊：“哈默，会有其他办法的…记得我跟你说的吗？别做傻事。等大卫回来，跟他好好商量——”
As the bridge came into view the other side of the river was clearly visible, and it was obvious to everyone that an old Model-T truck, overflowing with redheaded children, had reached the bridge first and was about to cross, but suddenly Uncle Hammer gassed the Packard and sped onto the creaking structure. The driver of the truck stopped, and for no more than a second hesitated on the bridge, then without a single honk of protest backed off so that we could pass.
我们还没上桥，就看到前面有一辆老旧的卡车，载着一堆红头发的小孩，准备过桥。大伯突然猛踩油门，加速冲向晃晃悠悠的木桥，那辆卡车的司机竟然没说什么，就默默退了回去，让我们先过去。
“But one day we’ll have to pay for it. Believe me,” she said, “one day we’ll pay.”
“但总有一天，我们会为此付出代价的。相信我，我们会因此付出代价的。”
As we came off the bridge, we could see the Wallaces, all three of them — Dewberry, Thurston, and Kaleb — touch their hats respectfully, then immediately freeze as they saw who we were. Uncle Hammer, straight-faced and totally calm, touched the brim of his own hat in polite response and without a backward glance sped away, leaving the Wallaces gaping silently after us.
过了桥，我们看到华莱士一家人毕恭毕敬地摸着帽子。发现是我们后，他们全愣住了。哈默大伯镇定地摸了摸帽檐，礼貌地回了礼，然后头也不回，加速离开，留下惊愕的华莱士一家。
“Well, now, won’t they be surprised when we reach the other side,” said Uncle Hammer.
“等我们到了对岸，他们会大吃一惊的。”
“Hammer!” Big Ma cried. “They think you’re Mr. Granger.”
“哈默！”奶奶惊呼，“他们一定是把你当成格兰杰先生了。”
Stacey, Christopher-John, Little Man, and I laughed, but Mama’s cold glance made us stop. “You shouldn’t have done that, Hammer,” she said quietly.
我和男孩们都忍俊不禁，妈妈冷冷地瞪了我们一眼，对哈默大伯说：“哈默，你不应该这么做的。”
“The opportunity, dear sister, was too much to resist.”
“我怎么能放过这么好的机会呢？哈哈。”
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