Elsa wasn’t eavesdropping. She’s not the sort of person who eavesdrops. Especially on Christmas Eve morning.
爱莎没有偷听。她不是那种会偷听的人，特别是在圣诞节早上。
She just happened to be standing there on the stairs early the next morning, and that’s when she heard Britt-Marie and Kent talking. It wasn’t on purpose — she was looking for the wurse and her Gryffindor scarf. And the door of Kent and Britt-Marie’s flat was open. After she’d stood there for a while listening she realized that if she walked past their door now they’d spot her, and it would look as if maybe she’d been standing on the stairs eavesdropping deliberately. So she just stayed put.
第二天早晨，她只是凑巧一早待在楼梯上，听见了布里特—玛丽和肯特的对话。不是故意的——她在找呜嘶和她的格兰芬多围巾，而肯特和布里特—玛丽家的门敞开着。她站在那里听了一会儿，意识到如果现在经过他们的门口，他们就会看见她，就会以为她站在楼梯上故意偷听。所以她原地没动。
“Britt-Marie!” hollered Kent from inside — judging by the echo he was in the bathroom, and judging by the volume of his shouting she was very far away.
“布里特—玛丽！”肯特在里面大喊——从回音上判断他应该在浴室，从他叫喊的音量判断布里特—玛丽应该离他挺远。
“Yes?” answered Britt-Marie, sounding as if she was standing quite close to him.
“什么事？”布里特—玛丽回答，听上去其实离他很近。
“Where is my damn electric razor?” yelled Kent without apologizing for yelling. Elsa disliked him a lot for that. Because it’s “damned,” not “damn.”
“我那该死电动剃须刀在哪里？”肯特继续吼着，并没有为他之前的大喊大嚷道歉。因为这点，爱莎很不喜欢他。应该是“该死的”，而不是“该死”。
“Second drawer,” answered Britt-Marie.
“第二个抽屉。”布里特—玛丽回答。
“Why did you put it there? It’s always in the first drawer!”
“你干吗放在那里？一直都是放在第一个抽屉里的！”
“It’s always been in the second drawer.”
“一直都是放在第二个抽屉里的。”
“So when are they coming?”
“那他们什么时候来？”
“Did you talk to David and Pernilla?” she asked pleasantly.
“你跟大卫和佩妮拉说过了吗？”她开心地问。
“Yes, yes.”
“嗯，嗯。”
A second drawer was opened; then came the sound of an electric razor. But not the slightest little sound of Kent saying “thanks.” Britt-Marie went into the flat’s foyer and leaned out the front door with Kent’s suit in her hand. Gently brushed invisible fluff from one arm. She didn’t see Elsa, or at least Elsa didn’t think she did. And because Elsa wasn’t quite sure, she realized that now she had to stay where she was and look as if she was supposed to be there. As if she was just out inspecting the quality of the railings, or something like that. Not at all as if she was eavesdropping. It got very complicated, the whole thing.
第二个抽屉被打开，然后传来了电动剃须刀的声音，但是连一声很轻的“谢谢”都没有。布里特—玛丽走到玄关，身体探出大门，手里拿着肯特的西装。她用一只手轻柔地将看不见的绒毛刷去。她没有看见爱莎，至少爱莎觉得是这样。因为不确定，爱莎意识到现在她只能站在原地，摆出一副本来就该在那儿的样子，就好像她在检查栏杆的质量或者其他类似的事，反正绝不能一副偷听的样子。也太复杂了，这整件事。
Britt-Marie disappeared back into the flat.
布里特—玛丽走回屋里。
“Let’s just eat when they come — six, or seven maybe,” Kent said dismissively.
“他们来了就吃，六点或者七点吧。”肯特不屑地说。
“But I have to plan the cooking, Kent…”
“但我得准备晚餐，肯特…”
“Damned if I know.”
“我怎么知道。”
“Did you tell them we normally eat at six?”
“你告诉过他们，我们一般在六点吃饭吗？”
“If it doesn’t make any difference, then maybe half past six is about right?”
“如果没差的话，那要不六点半，可以吗？”
“We’ve been having dinner at six since the beginning of time; they’ve probably worked that out by now,” said Kent with a sigh.
“我们每天都是在六点吃饭的。他们现在大概在工作。”肯特叹了口气。
“No, no. Let’s say six, then. If they’re not here, they’re not here,” said Kent, as if he was anyway quite sure they wouldn’t come. “I have to go now, I have a meeting with Germany,” he added, walking out of the bathroom.
“没，没。那就六点吧，他们不来就不来吧。”肯特似乎颇为肯定他们不会来，“我现在得走了，跟德国人要开个会。”他走出了浴室。
“We always eat at six.”
“我们一直在六点吃饭。”
“But you did you say that to David and Pernilla?”
“但你告诉过大卫和佩妮拉吗？”
“I’m only trying to arrange a nice Christmas for the whole family, Kent,” said Britt-Marie despondently.
“我只想为整个家庭安排一个美好的圣诞节，肯特。”布里特—玛丽消沉地说。
“If I can just know when they are coming, I can make sure the food is hot when they arrive,” said Britt-Marie.
“如果我知道他们什么时候来，就可以让他们一来立刻吃上热菜了。”布里特—玛丽说。
“Well which, Kent?” asked Britt-Marie, sounding worried. “Six or seven?”
“到底几点，肯特？”布里特—玛丽很困扰，“六点还是七点？”
“Fine, whatever.”
“行，随便。”
“Jesus Christ, Britt-Marie, it doesn’t make any damn difference.”
“天啊，布里特—玛丽，这到底有什么不同？”
“I see. Is there something wrong with that now, all of a sudden?”
“我明白。现在有什么不妥吗，突然之间？”
“Can’t we just bloody heat up the food when they come?!”
“我们就不能等他们来了再热一下吃吗？！”
“Aren’t they usually in the first?”
“不是一直放在第一个抽屉吗？”
“Where are my damn cuff links?” asked Kent, and started tottering around the flat with his half-knotted tie trailing behind him.
“该死的袖扣去哪儿了？”肯特开始在公寓里到处晃荡，打了一半的领带挂在身后。
“Damn, Britt-Marie! I don’t know! You know what they’re like — they could come at six or they could come at half past eight!”
“见鬼的，布里特—玛丽！我不知道！你知道他们的——他们可能会六点来也可能会八点半来！”
Elsa just stands there. Not eavesdropping, obviously. But there’s a big mirror hanging in the foyer just inside the front door, and when Elsa stands on the stairs she can see Kent’s reflection in it. Britt-Marie is neatly turning down his shirt collar over the tie and gently brushing the lapel of his suit jacket.
爱莎一动不敢动。当然不是在偷听，只是他们大门后的厅里正好挂着一面很大的镜子，爱莎站在楼梯上可以看见镜中的肯特。布里特—玛丽灵巧地整理好他的衬衫领子和领带，温柔地掸了掸他西装外套的翻领。
“They’ve always been in the second…”
“一直放在第二个…”
“We can’t have Christmas dinner at half past eight, Kent.”
“我们不能在八点半吃圣诞晚餐，肯特。”
“I know that! So the kids will just have to eat when they damn well get here, won’t they!”
“我知道！所以孩子们只能他妈的到了再吃，行了吧！”
“And when will everyone be here, then?”
“那大家什么时候到呢？”
“Let’s just eat when everyone is here, if it’s so bloody important.”
“就等大家都到了再吃吧，如果这破事这么重要的话！”
“In the second drawer in the chest,” Britt-Marie replied.
“在柜子第二个抽屉。”布里特—玛丽回答。
Britt-Marie stood in silence for a few grim seconds. Then she took a deep breath and tried to stabilize her voice as you do when not wanting it to be obvious that you’re yelling inside.
布里特—玛丽低落地沉默了几秒钟。只见她深吸了一口气，试着让自己的声音平静下来，不想让人发现她的内心正在尖叫。
“There’s no need to get short,” said Britt-Marie, sounding a bit short.
“没必要发脾气。”布里特—玛丽听上去像是在发脾气。
“When are you coming home?” she asks in a low voice.
“你什么时候回家？”她小声问。
“I don’t bloody know, you know how the Germans are, don’t wait up for me,” Kent answers evasively, extricating himself and heading for the door.
“我他妈不知道，你知道那群德国人的。别等我。”肯特含糊其词，甩开布里特—玛丽，朝门口走去。
“Put the shirt directly in the washing machine when you come in, please,” says Britt-Marie, and comes padding after him to brush something from his trouser leg.
“你回家时，拜托把衬衫直接放进洗衣机。”布里特—玛丽边说边跟在他身后，把什么东西掸下他的裤腿。
Kent looks at his watch the way men with very expensive watches do when they look at them. Elsa knows that because Kent told Elsa’s mum that his watch cost more than Kia.
肯特显摆地看看他昂贵的手表。爱莎知道那很贵，因为肯特曾告诉爱莎的妈妈，他的手表比起亚还贵。
Elsa doesn’t answer. Because she doesn’t talk like that. Kent’s telephone rings. It’s a new telephone, Elsa notices. Kent looks as if he’d like to tell her what it cost.
爱莎没有回答，因为她不是这么说话的。肯特的手机响了，是个新手机，爱莎注意到。肯特好像正打算告诉她这手机多少钱。
“Yo!” he says with a grin, in that way grown men say “yo’ to children because they think that’s how children talk.
“哟！”他笑着打招呼。成年男人自以为孩子们都是这么说话的。
Kent steps onto the landing without answering. He catches sight of Elsa. He doesn’t seem to think she’s been eavesdropping at all, but on the other hand he doesn’t look very pleased to see her.
肯特没有回答，迈出了房门。他看见了爱莎，似乎并不觉得她是在偷听，但看起来也不怎么乐意见到她。
“In the washing machine, please, Kent! Directly, as soon as you come home!” Britt-Marie calls out.
“放进洗衣机里，拜托了，肯特！直接放进去，一到家！”布里特—玛丽大声说。
Britt-Marie straightens the coats on the hangers in the hall and carefully brushes the back of her hand over all of Kent’s overcoats and jackets. Elsa shoves the tips of her fingers into the pockets of her jeans and mumbles: “Thanks.”
布里特—玛丽把玄关衣架上的外套摆正，仔细地用手背抚过肯特的上衣和夹克。爱莎把手指尖插在牛仔裤口袋里，小声说：“谢谢。”
Elsa takes a few steps towards the stairs, but stops in the doorway. In the hall mirror she sees the bathroom. Britt-Marie is standing in there, carefully rolling up the cord of Ken’s electric shaver before putting it in the third drawer.
爱莎朝楼梯走了几步，但在门前停下脚步。从门口的镜子里，她看见了他们的浴室。布里特—玛丽站在里头，小心翼翼地卷起肯特电动剃须刀的电线，然后把它放进了第三个抽屉里。
“That’s Germany calling!” he says to Elsa, and looks as if he’s only just remembering that she was very much implicated in the cellar-stairs-related incident yesterday that resulted in his last phone being put out of action.
“德国人打来的！”他对爱莎说，似乎刚想起来，昨天那个害他旧手机报废的“地下室楼梯事故”有爱莎的份儿。
He looks as if he remembers the poison as well, and what it cost. Elsa shrugs, as if she’s challenging him to a fight. Kent starts yelling “Yez Klaus!” into his new phone as he disappears down the stairs.
他似乎也想起毒药和它们的价格来了。爱莎耸了耸肩，像在邀他单挑。肯特边走下楼边冲着他的新手机用德语开始大喊：“呀（好的），克鲁兹！”
She comes out into the hall. Catches sight of Elsa. Folds her hands over her stomach.
她走到玄关，看见了爱莎，双手交叠在腹部。
“I wasn’t eavesdropping!” says Elsa at once.
“我没偷听！”爱莎立刻说。
“Oh, I see, I see…” she starts.
“哦，是这样啊，这样…”她说。
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, even though Elsa very well sees that she does.
“我不知道你在说什么。”她这么回答，即使爱莎很清楚地看见了她的举动。
Britt-Marie brushes, brushes, brushes her skirt. Folds her hands.
布里特—玛丽不断掸着她的裙子，然后交叠起双手。
“Not until it bites someone.”
“难道要等它咬人吗？”
“I said thanks. For not saying anything to the police about –” she says, stopping herself before she says “the wurse.”
“我说，谢谢。因为你没跟警察说——”她在说出“呜嘶”两字前住口了。
“Why did you put the razor in the wrong drawer?” she asks.
“你为什么把剃须刀放在错的抽屉里？”她问。
Britt-Marie looks as if she’s about to say something. But she leaves it. Because she knows it’s true. And Elsa is going to say something, but she also leaves it. Because she knows that Britt-Marie actually returned the favor.
布里特—玛丽似乎想说些什么，但她没有，因为她知道爱莎说的是事实。爱莎本也想说些什么，但也没有，因为她知道布里特—玛丽其实已经给予了回报。
“Pardon me?”
“你说什么？”
“It never will bite anyone! And it saved you from Sam!” growls Elsa.
“它绝对不会咬人的！它还从山姆手下救了你！”爱莎咆哮道。
Britt-Marie turns around, surprised.
布里特—玛丽惊讶地转过身。
She looks into the flat through the mirror.
她通过镜子看着公寓。
“It’s not a horrible creature.”
“它不是可怕的动物。”
“You should have informed me about that horrible creature, young lady.”
“你应该告诉我，有这么一只可怕的动物，小姑娘。”
Elsa groans like you do when you’re almost eight and have to say thanks twice.
爱莎呻吟了一声。如果你也即将八岁，还不得不说两遍“谢谢”的话，也会是这个反应。
Britt-Marie seems to understand.
布里特—玛丽似乎明白了。
“Kent said it was always in the first drawer. But you said it was always in the second drawer. And then after he’d gone, you put it in the third drawer,” says Elsa.
“肯特说它一直是放在第一个抽屉里的。但你说是第二个抽屉。然后等他走了，你又放进了第三个抽屉。”爱莎说。
And then there’s a silence for an eternity of fairy-tale silences. And then Britt-Marie whispers, as if she’s forgotten that Elsa is standing there in front of her: “Because I like it when he shouts my name.”
接着是一个“童话永恒”那么长的沉默。布里特—玛丽自言自语，仿佛忘记了爱莎站在她面前：“因为我喜欢他大喊我的名字。”
Elsa tilts her head.
爱莎歪着脑袋。
And Elsa stands outside and tries to dislike her. It doesn’t go all that well.
爱莎站在门外，想讨厌她，但没成功。
And then Britt-Marie looks distracted for just a few moments. Then something else. Alone, perhaps. And then she mumbles: “Yes, yes, maybe I did. Maybe I did.”
布里特—玛丽看上去一阵心烦意乱，但还有别的什么。孤单，大概吧。她咕哝说：“是的，是的，也许我那么做了，也许我那么做了。”
“Why?”
“为什么？”
And then Britt-Marie closes the door.
之后，布里特—玛丽关上了门。
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