坎迪的老狗

“Sure he’s jes’ like a kid.

「他當然像個孩子。

There ain’t no more harm in him than a kid neither, except he’s so strong.

他也跟孩子一樣沒什麼壞心眼，只是力氣太大。

I bet he won’t come in here to sleep tonight.

我敢說他今晚不會進來睡。

He’d sleep right alongside that box in the barn.

他會睡在穀倉裡那個箱子旁邊。

Well—let ’im.

算了——隨他吧。

He ain’t doin’ no harm out there.”

他在那裡也不會惹什麼麻煩。」

It was almost dark outside now.

外面天差不多全黑了。

Old Candy, the swamper, came in and went to his bunk, and behind him struggled his old dog.

老坎迪，那個雜工，走進來走向自己的床，他的老狗在後面掙扎著跟上。

“Hello, Slim. Hello, George.

「嗨，斯林姆。嗨，喬治。

Didn’t neither of you play horseshoes?”

你們兩個都沒去玩馬蹄鐵？」

“I don’t like to play ever’ night,” said Slim.

「我不喜歡每天晚上都玩。」斯林姆說。

Candy went on, “Either you guys got a slug of whisky?

坎迪接著說：「你們誰有一口威士忌？

I gotta gut ache.”

我肚子痛。」

“I ain’t,” said Slim.

「我沒有。」斯林姆說。

“I’d drink it myself if I had, an’ I ain’t got a gut ache neither.”

「要是有，我自己就喝了，而且我肚子也不痛。」

“Gotta bad gut ache,” said Candy.

「肚子痛得要命。」坎迪說。

“Them God damn turnips give it to me.

「都是那些該死的蕪菁害的。

I knowed they was going to before I ever eat ’em.”

我還沒吃就知道會這樣。」

The thick-bodied Carlson came in out of the darkening yard.

身材粗壯的卡爾森從漸暗的院子走進來。

He walked to the other end of the bunk house and turned on the second shaded light.

他走到工寮另一頭，打開第二盞有燈罩的燈。

“Darker’n hell in here,” he said.

「這裡面黑得要命。」他說。

“Jesus, how that nigger can pitch shoes.”

「天啊，那個黑鬼擲馬蹄鐵真厲害。」

“He’s plenty good,” said Slim.

「他很強。」斯林姆說。

“Damn right he is,” said Carlson.

「他媽的沒錯。」卡爾森說。

“He don’t give nobody else a chance to win——”

「別人根本沒機會贏——」

He stopped and sniffed the air, and still sniffing, looked down at the old dog.

他停下來嗅了嗅空氣，一邊嗅一邊低頭看那隻老狗。

“God awmighty, that dog stinks.

「老天爺，那隻狗好臭。

Get him outa here, Candy!

把牠弄出去，坎迪！

I don’t know nothing that stinks as bad as an old dog.

我不知道還有什麼東西比老狗更臭。

You gotta get him out.”

你一定要把牠弄出去。」

Candy rolled to the edge of his bunk.

坎迪翻身到床邊。

He reached over and patted the ancient dog, and he apologized, “I been around him so much I never notice how he stinks.”

他伸手拍拍那隻老狗，抱歉地說：「我跟牠待在一起太久了，從來沒注意牠有多臭。」

“Well, I can’t stand him in here,” said Carlson.

「可是我受不了牠在這裡。」卡爾森說。

“That stink hangs around even after he’s gone.”

「牠走了以後臭味還一直在。」

He walked over with his heavy-legged stride and looked down at the dog.

他邁著沉重的步子走過去，低頭看那隻狗。

“Got no teeth,” he said.

「沒牙齒了。」他說。

“He’s all stiff with rheumatism.

「渾身風濕，硬梆梆的。

He ain’t no good to you, Candy.

牠對你一點用都沒有，坎迪。

An’ he ain’t no good to himself.

對牠自己也沒用。

Why’n’t you shoot him, Candy?”

你幹嘛不把牠斃了，坎迪？」

The old man squirmed uncomfortably.

老人不自在地扭動身子。

“Well—hell! I had him so long.

「這——唉！我養牠那麼久了。

Had him since he was a pup.

從牠是小狗就養了。

I herded sheep with him.”

我跟牠一起放過羊。」

He said proudly, “You wouldn’t think it to look at him now, but he was the best damn sheep dog I ever seen.”

他驕傲地說：「你現在看牠是想不到，可是牠是我見過最棒的牧羊犬。」

George said, “I seen a guy in Weed that had an Airedale could herd sheep.

喬治說：「我在威德看過一個人養了一隻萬能㹴，會放羊。

Learned it from the other dogs.”

是跟別的狗學的。」

Carlson was not to be put off.

卡爾森可沒被岔開。

“Look, Candy. This ol’ dog jus’ suffers hisself all the time.

「聽著，坎迪。這隻老狗一天到晚都在受苦。

If you was to take him out and shoot him right in the back of the head—” he leaned over and pointed, “—right there, why he’d never know what hit him.”

要是你把牠帶出去，從後腦勺這裡開一槍——」他彎下腰指著，「——就這裡，牠根本不會知道是什麼打到牠。」

Candy looked about unhappily.

坎迪難過地四下張望。

“No,” he said softly.

「不。」他輕聲說。

“No, I couldn’ do that.

「不，我做不到。

I had ’im too long.”

我養牠太久了。」

“He don’t have no fun,” Carlson insisted.

「牠一點樂趣都沒有。」卡爾森堅持。

“And he stinks to beat hell.

「而且臭到不行。

Tell you what.

這樣吧。

I’ll shoot him for you.

我幫你斃了牠。

Then it won’t be you that does it.”

這樣動手的就不是你了。」

Candy threw his legs off his bunk.

坎迪把腿甩下床。

He scratched the white stubble whiskers on his cheek nervously.

他緊張地搔著臉頰上的白鬍渣。

“I’m so used to him,” he said softly.

「我太習慣牠了。」他輕聲說。

“I had him from a pup.”

「我從牠是小狗就養著。」

“Well, you ain’t bein’ kind to him keepin’ him alive,” said Carlson.

「可是讓牠活著，你對牠並不仁慈。」卡爾森說。

“Look, Slim’s bitch got a litter right now.

「你看，斯林姆的母狗剛生了一窩。

I bet Slim would give you one of them pups to raise up, wouldn’t you, Slim?”

我敢說斯林姆會給你一隻小狗養，對吧，斯林姆？」

The skinner had been studying the old dog with his calm eyes.

趕騾手一直用他平靜的眼睛端詳著那隻老狗。

“Yeah,” he said.

「嗯。」他說。

“You can have a pup if you want to.”

「你要的話，可以給你一隻。」

He seemed to shake himself free for speech.

他好像抖擻了一下，才開口說話。

“Carl’s right, Candy.

「卡爾說得對，坎迪。

That dog ain’t no good to himself.

那隻狗活著對牠自己沒好處。

I wisht somebody’d shoot me if I got old an’ a cripple.”

我要是老了、殘廢了，我也希望有人一槍斃了我。」

Candy looked helplessly at him, for Slim’s opinions were law.

坎迪無助地看著他，因為斯林姆的意見就是法律。

“Maybe it’d hurt him,” he suggested.

「說不定會痛。」他說。

“I don’t mind takin’ care of him.”

「我不介意照顧牠。」

Carlson said, “The way I’d shoot him, he wouldn’t feel nothing.

卡爾森說：「照我的方法開槍，牠什麼都感覺不到。

I’d put the gun right there.”

我會把槍抵在這裡。」

He pointed with his toe.

他用腳尖指了指。

“Right back of the head.

「就在後腦勺。

He wouldn’t even quiver.”

牠連抖都不會抖一下。」

Candy looked for help from face to face.

坎迪一張臉一張臉地看過去，想找人幫他。

It was quite dark outside by now.

這時外面已經全黑了。

A young laboring man came in.

一個年輕的工人走進來。

His sloping shoulders were bent forward and he walked heavily on his heels, as though he carried the invisible grain bag.

他下斜的肩膀往前彎，走路時重重地踩著腳跟，好像還扛著一個看不見的穀包。

He went to his bunk and put his hat on his shelf.

他走到自己床邊，把帽子放到架子上。

Then he picked a pulp magazine from his shelf and brought it to the light over the table.

然後從架上拿起一本廉價雜誌，拿到桌子上方的燈下。

“Did I show you this, Slim?” he asked.

「我給你看過這個沒，斯林姆？」他問。

“Show me what?”

「看什麼？」

The young man turned to the back of the magazine, put it down on the table and pointed with his finger.

年輕人翻到雜誌後面，放到桌上，用手指著。

“Right there, read that.”

「這裡，你讀讀看。」

Slim bent over it.

斯林姆彎身去看。

“Go on,” said the young man.

「讀啊。」年輕人說。

“Read it out loud.”

「大聲讀出來。」

“ ‘Dear Editor:’ ” Slim read slowly.

「『親愛的編輯：』」斯林姆慢慢地讀。

“ ‘I read your mag for six years and I think it is the best on the market.

「『我看你們的雜誌看了六年，我覺得它是市面上最好的。

I like stories by Peter Rand.

我喜歡彼得．蘭德寫的故事。

I think he is a whing-ding.

我覺得他超讚的。

Give us more like the Dark Rider.

多登一些像〈黑騎士〉那樣的故事吧。

I don’t write many letters.

我不常寫信。

Just thought I would tell you I think your mag is the best dime’s worth I ever spent.’ ”

只是想跟你們說，你們的雜誌是我花過最值得的一毛錢。』」

Slim looked up questioningly.

斯林姆疑惑地抬起頭。

“What you want me to read that for?”

「你幹嘛要我讀這個？」

Whit said, “Go on. Read the name at the bottom.”

惠特說：「繼續。讀底下的名字。」

Slim read, “ ‘Yours for success, William Tenner.’ ”

斯林姆讀：「『祝你們成功，威廉．坦納。』」

He glanced up at Whit again.

他又抬頭看了惠特一眼。

“What you want me to read that for?”

「你幹嘛要我讀這個？」

Whit closed the magazine impressively.

惠特鄭重其事地合上雜誌。

“Don’t you remember Bill Tenner?

「你不記得比爾．坦納嗎？

Worked here about three months ago?”

大概三個月前在這裡做過？」

Slim thought. . . .

斯林姆想了想……

“Little guy?” he asked.

「小個子？」他問。

“Drove a cultivator?”

「開中耕機的？」

“That’s him,” Whit cried.

「就是他！」惠特大叫。

“That’s the guy!”

「就是那傢伙！」

“You think he’s the guy wrote this letter?”

「你覺得這封信是他寫的？」

“I know it.

「我知道是他。

Bill and me was in here one day.

有一天我跟比爾在這裡。

Bill had one of them books that just come.

比爾手上有一本剛到的雜誌。

He was lookin’ in it and he says, ‘I wrote a letter. Wonder if they put it in the book!’

他一邊翻一邊說：『我寫了一封信。不知道他們有沒有登出來！』

But it wasn’t there.

可是沒有登。

Bill says, ‘Maybe they’re savin’ it for later.’

比爾說：『說不定他們留到以後再登。』

An’ that’s just what they done.

結果他們真的這樣做了。

There it is.”

就在這裡。」

“Guess you’re right,” said Slim.

「看來你說得對。」斯林姆說。

“Got it right in the book.”

「真的登在雜誌上了。」

George held out his hand for the magazine.

喬治伸手要那本雜誌。

“Let’s look at it?”

「給我看看？」

Whit found the place again, but he did not surrender his hold on it.

惠特又翻到那一頁，可是沒有放手。

He pointed out the letter with his forefinger.

他用食指指出那封信。

And then he went to his box shelf and laid the magazine carefully in.

然後他走到自己的箱子架前，小心地把雜誌放進去。

“I wonder if Bill seen it,” he said.

「不知道比爾看到沒。」他說。

“Bill and me worked in that patch of field peas.

「我跟比爾一起在那片豌豆田做過。

Run cultivators, both of us.

我們兩個都開中耕機。

Bill was a hell of a nice fella.”

比爾人好得沒話說。」

During the conversation Carlson had refused to be drawn in.

他們說話的時候，卡爾森一直不肯加入。

He continued to look down at the old dog.

他繼續低頭看著那隻老狗。

Candy watched him uneasily.

坎迪不安地看著他。

At last Carlson said, “If you want me to, I’ll put the old devil out of his misery right now and get it over with.

最後卡爾森說：「你要的話，我現在就讓這老傢伙解脫，一了百了。

Ain’t nothing left for him.

牠已經什麼都不剩了。

Can’t eat, can’t see, can’t even walk without hurtin’.”

不能吃、看不見，連走路都會痛。」

Candy said hopefully, “You ain’t got no gun.”

坎迪抱著希望說：「你又沒有槍。」

“The hell I ain’t.

「誰說我沒有。

Got a Luger.

我有一把魯格。

It won’t hurt him none at all.”

牠一點都不會痛。」

Candy said, “Maybe tomorra.

坎迪說：「也許明天吧。

Le’s wait till tomorra.”

我們等到明天。」

“I don’t see no reason for it,” said Carlson.

「我看不出有什麼理由要等。」卡爾森說。

He went to his bunk, pulled his bag from underneath it and took out a Luger pistol.

他走到自己床邊，從床底下拉出袋子，拿出一把魯格手槍。

“Let’s get it over with,” he said.

「早點了結吧。」他說。

“We can’t sleep with him stinkin’ around in here.”

「牠在這裡臭成這樣，我們沒辦法睡。」

He put the pistol in his hip pocket.

他把手槍插進後褲袋。

Candy looked a long time at Slim to try to find some reversal.

坎迪久久地看著斯林姆，想找到一絲轉圜。

And Slim gave him none.

斯林姆一點都沒給他。

At last Candy said softly and hopelessly, “Awright—take ’im.”

最後坎迪輕聲、絕望地說：「好吧——帶牠走。」

He did not look down at the dog at all.

他完全沒有低頭看那隻狗。

He lay back on his bunk and crossed his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling.

他躺回床上，雙臂交叉枕在腦後，盯著天花板。

From his pocket Carlson took a little leather thong.

卡爾森從口袋掏出一條小皮繩。

He stooped over and tied it around the old dog’s neck.

他彎下腰，把皮繩綁在老狗的脖子上。

All the men except Candy watched him.

除了坎迪，所有人都看著他。

“Come boy. Come on, boy,” he said gently.

「來，乖。來吧，乖。」他溫柔地說。

And he said apologetically to Candy, “He won’t even feel it.”

他又抱歉地對坎迪說：「牠什麼都不會感覺到的。」

Candy did not move nor answer him.

坎迪一動不動，也沒回答他。

He twitched the thong.

他扯了扯皮繩。

“Come on, boy.”

「來吧，乖。」

The old dog got slowly and stiffly to his feet and followed the gently pulling leash.

老狗慢慢地、僵硬地站起來，跟著那條輕輕拉著的皮繩走了。

Slim said, “Carlson.”

斯林姆說：「卡爾森。」

“Yeah?”

「嗯？」

“You know what to do.”

「你知道該怎麼做。」

“What ya mean, Slim?”

「什麼意思，斯林姆？」

“Take a shovel,” said Slim shortly.

「帶把鏟子。」斯林姆簡短地說。

“Oh, sure! I get you.”

「喔，對！我懂了。」

He led the dog out into the darkness.

他牽著狗走進黑暗裡。

George followed to the door and shut the door and set the latch gently in its place.

喬治跟到門口，關上門，輕輕把門閂放回原位。

Candy lay rigidly on his bed staring at the ceiling.

坎迪僵直地躺在床上，盯著天花板。

Slim said loudly, “One of my lead mules got a bad hoof.

斯林姆大聲說：「我有一頭領頭騾蹄子壞了。

Got to get some tar on it.”

得幫牠塗點焦油。」

His voice trailed off.

他的聲音漸漸低下去。

It was silent outside.

外面一片寂靜。

Carlson’s footsteps died away.

卡爾森的腳步聲消失了。

The silence came into the room.

寂靜走進了房間。

And the silence lasted.

寂靜一直持續著。

George chuckled, “I bet Lennie’s right out there in the barn with his pup.

喬治乾笑一聲：「我打賭雷尼就在穀倉裡陪他的小狗。

He won’t want to come in here no more now he’s got a pup.”

他有了小狗，就再也不想進來了。」

Slim said, “Candy, you can have any one of them pups you want.”

斯林姆說：「坎迪，那些小狗你要哪一隻都可以。」

Candy did not answer.

坎迪沒有回答。

The silence fell on the room again.

寂靜又落回房間裡。

It came out of the night and invaded the room.

它從夜裡走出來，侵入了房間。

George said, “Anybody like to play a little euchre?”

喬治說：「有人想玩幾把尤克牌嗎？」

“I’ll play out a few with you,” said Whit.

「我陪你玩幾把。」惠特說。

They took places opposite each other at the table under the light, but George did not shuffle the cards.

他們在燈下的桌子兩邊對坐，可是喬治沒有洗牌。

He rippled the edge of the deck nervously, and the little snapping noise drew the eyes of all the men in the room, so that he stopped doing it.

他緊張地用手指撥著那疊牌的邊緣，那細小的劈啪聲引得屋裡所有人都看向他，他只好停手。

The silence fell on the room again.

寂靜又落回房間裡。

A minute passed, and another minute.

一分鐘過去了，又一分鐘。

Candy lay still, staring at the ceiling.

坎迪靜靜躺著，盯著天花板。

Slim gazed at him for a moment and then looked down at his hands; he subdued one hand with the other, and held it down.

斯林姆看了他一會兒，然後低頭看自己的手；他用一隻手壓住另一隻手，按著不動。

There came a little gnawing sound from under the floor and all the men looked down toward it gratefully.

地板底下傳來一陣細小的啃咬聲，所有人都感激地往下看。

Only Candy continued to stare at the ceiling.

只有坎迪還盯著天花板。