柯利的手

George stood up.

喬治站了起來。

“We’ll do her,” he said.

「我們要做。」他說。

“We’ll fix up that little old place an’ we’ll go live there.”

「我們會把那個老地方整理好，然後住到那裡去。」

He sat down again.

他又坐下。

They all sat still, all bemused by the beauty of the thing, each mind was popped into the future when this lovely thing should come about.

他們都靜靜坐著，全被這件事的美迷住了，每個人的心思都跳進了未來，跳進這件美好的事成真的那一天。

George said wonderingly, “S’pose they was a carnival or a circus come to town, or a ball game, or any damn thing.”

喬治帶著驚奇說：「假如城裡來了嘉年華、馬戲團，或是有球賽，或隨便什麼鬼東西。」

Old Candy nodded in appreciation of the idea.

老坎迪點點頭，很欣賞這個主意。

“We’d just go to her,” George said.

「我們就去。」喬治說。

“We wouldn’t ask nobody if we could.

「不用問任何人可不可以。

Jus’ say, ‘We’ll go to her,’ an’ we would.

只要說一句『我們去吧』，我們就去。

Jus’ milk the cow and sling some grain to the chickens an’ go to her.”

擠完牛奶、撒點穀子給雞吃，就出門去。」

“An’ put some grass to the rabbits,” Lennie broke in.

「還要給兔子放點草。」雷尼插嘴。

“I wouldn’t never forget to feed them.

「我永遠不會忘記餵牠們。

When we gon’ta do it, George?”

我們什麼時候要做，喬治？」

“In one month.

「一個月後。

Right squack in one month.

不多不少就一個月。

Know what I’m gon’ta do?

知道我要做什麼嗎？

I’m gon’ta write to them old people that owns the place that we’ll take it.

我要寫信給擁有那塊地的老夫婦，說我們要買。

An’ Candy’ll send a hunderd dollars to bind her.”

坎迪會寄一百塊過去當訂金。」

“Sure will,” said Candy.

「一定寄。」坎迪說。

“They got a good stove there?”

「那裡有好爐子嗎？」

“Sure, got a nice stove, burns coal or wood.”

「有，有個好爐子，燒煤燒柴都可以。」

“I’m gonna take my pup,” said Lennie.

「我要帶我的小狗去。」雷尼說。

“I bet by Christ he likes it there, by Jesus.”

「我發誓牠一定會喜歡那裡，我發誓。」

Voices were approaching from outside.

外面有人聲接近。

George said quickly, “Don’t tell nobody about it.

喬治很快地說：「這件事對誰都別說。

Jus’ us three an’ nobody else.

就我們三個，沒有別人。

They li’ble to can us so we can’t make no stake.

他們可能會開除我們，那我們就攢不到錢了。

Jus’ go on like we was gonna buck barley the rest of our lives, then all of a sudden some day we’ll go get our pay an’ scram outa here.”

就照常做，裝作我們這輩子都要扛大麥，然後有一天突然去領工錢，溜之大吉。」

Lennie and Candy nodded, and they were grinning with delight.

雷尼和坎迪點點頭，高興得咧嘴笑。

“Don’t tell nobody,” Lennie said to himself.

「對誰都別說。」雷尼對自己說。

Candy said, “George.”

坎迪說：「喬治。」

“Huh?”

「嗯？」

“I ought to of shot that dog myself, George.

「我應該自己斃了那隻狗的，喬治。

I shouldn’t ought to of let no stranger shoot my dog.”

我不該讓一個外人斃了我的狗。」

The door opened.

門開了。

Slim came in, followed by Curley and Carlson and Whit.

斯林姆走進來，後面跟著柯利、卡爾森和惠特。

Slim’s hands were black with tar and he was scowling.

斯林姆的手沾滿焦油，黑漆漆的，臉色很難看。

Curley hung close to his elbow.

柯利緊跟在他手肘邊。

Curley said, “Well, I didn’t mean nothing, Slim.

柯利說：「我真的沒別的意思，斯林姆。

I just ast you.”

我只是問問你。」

Slim said, “Well, you been askin’ me too often.

斯林姆說：「哼，你問得太多次了。

I’m gettin’ God damn sick of it.

我他媽的受夠了。

If you can’t look after your own God damn wife, what you expect me to do about it?

你連自己的老婆都看不住，你要我怎樣？

You lay offa me.”

你別來煩我。」

“I’m jus’ tryin’ to tell you I didn’t mean nothing,” said Curley.

「我只是想跟你說我沒別的意思。」柯利說。

“I jus’ thought you might of saw her.”

「我只是以為你可能看到她了。」

“Why’n’t you tell her to stay the hell home where she belongs?” said Carlson.

「你幹嘛不叫她乖乖待在家裡，那才是她該待的地方？」卡爾森說。

“You let her hang around bunk houses and pretty soon you’re gonna have som’pin on your hands and you won’t be able to do nothing about it.”

「你讓她在工寮附近晃來晃去，很快你就會惹上麻煩，到時候你什麼都沒辦法。」

Curley whirled on Carlson.

柯利猛地轉向卡爾森。

“You keep outta this les’ you wanta step outside.”

「你少管閒事，除非你想出去打一架。」

Carlson laughed.

卡爾森笑了。

“You God damn punk,” he said.

「你這個小混混。」他說。

“You tried to throw a scare into Slim, an’ you couldn’t make it stick.

「你想嚇唬斯林姆，結果嚇不倒他。

Slim throwed a scare inta you.

反而被斯林姆嚇到了。

You’re yella as a frog belly.

你膽小得像青蛙肚皮一樣黃。

I don’t care if you’re the best welter in the country.

我才不管你是不是全國最強的次中量級。

You come for me, an’ I’ll kick your God damn head off.”

你敢來找我，我就把你的頭踢下來。」

Candy joined the attack with joy.

坎迪開心地加入圍攻。

“Glove fulla vaseline,” he said disgustedly.

「手套裡裝滿凡士林。」他嫌惡地說。

Curley glared at him.

柯利怒瞪著他。

His eyes slipped on past and lighted on Lennie; and Lennie was still smiling with delight at the memory of the ranch.

他的眼光滑過坎迪，落在雷尼身上；雷尼還因為想到那塊農場而開心地笑著。

Curley stepped over to Lennie like a terrier.

柯利像一隻㹴犬一樣衝到雷尼面前。

“What the hell you laughin’ at?”

「你他媽的在笑什麼？」

Lennie looked blankly at him.

雷尼茫然地看著他。

“Huh?”

「啊？」

Then Curley’s rage exploded.

柯利的怒火爆發了。

“Come on, ya big bastard.

「來啊，你這大王八蛋。

Get up on your feet.

站起來。

No big son-of-a-bitch is gonna laugh at me.

沒有哪個大個子狗娘養的可以笑我。

I’ll show ya who’s yella.”

我讓你看看誰才是孬種。」

Lennie looked helplessly at George, and then he got up and tried to retreat.

雷尼無助地看向喬治，然後站起來想往後退。

Curley was balanced and poised.

柯利重心穩、架勢足。

He slashed at Lennie with his left, and then smashed down his nose with a right.

他用左拳往雷尼身上一劈，接著一記右拳砸在他鼻子上。

Lennie gave a cry of terror.

雷尼驚恐地叫了一聲。

Blood welled from his nose.

血從他的鼻子湧出來。

“George,” he cried.

「喬治。」他喊。

“Make ’um let me alone, George.”

「叫他不要打我，喬治。」

He backed until he was against the wall, and Curley followed, slugging him in the face.

他一直退到背靠牆壁，柯利追上去，一拳一拳往他臉上揍。

Lennie’s hands remained at his sides; he was too frightened to defend himself.

雷尼的雙手仍垂在身側；他嚇得連自衛都不會。

George was on his feet yelling, “Get him, Lennie. Don’t let him do it.”

喬治站起來大吼：「抓住他，雷尼。別讓他打你。」

Lennie covered his face with his huge paws and bleated with terror.

雷尼用他巨大的手掌摀住臉，嚇得像羊一樣哀叫。

He cried, “Make ’um stop, George.”

他哭喊：「叫他停下來，喬治。」

Then Curley attacked his stomach and cut off his wind.

柯利接著攻他的肚子，打得他喘不過氣。

Slim jumped up.

斯林姆跳起來。

“The dirty little rat,” he cried, “I’ll get ’um myself.”

「這骯髒的小老鼠，」他大喊，「我自己來收拾他。」

George put out his hand and grabbed Slim.

喬治伸手抓住斯林姆。

“Wait a minute,” he shouted.

「等一下。」他大喊。

He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Get ’im, Lennie!”

他雙手圈在嘴邊吼：「抓住他，雷尼！」

Lennie took his hands away from his face and looked about for George, and Curley slashed at his eyes.

雷尼把手從臉上移開，四處找喬治，柯利一拳劈向他的眼睛。

The big face was covered with blood.

那張大臉滿是鮮血。

George yelled again, “I said get him.”

喬治又吼：「我叫你抓住他！」

Curley’s fist was swinging when Lennie reached for it.

柯利的拳頭正揮過來，雷尼伸手一抓。

The next minute Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie’s big hand.

下一刻，柯利就像釣線上的魚一樣撲騰，他握緊的拳頭整個消失在雷尼的大手裡。

George ran down the room.

喬治跑過房間。

“Leggo of him, Lennie. Let go.”

「放開他，雷尼。放手。」

But Lennie watched in terror the flopping little man whom he held.

可是雷尼驚恐地看著被他抓著、不停撲騰的小個子。

Blood ran down Lennie’s face, one of his eyes was cut and closed.

血從雷尼臉上流下來，他一隻眼睛被打破、腫得睜不開。

George slapped him in the face again and again, and still Lennie held on to the closed fist.

喬治一巴掌又一巴掌打他的臉，雷尼還是抓著那隻拳頭不放。

Curley was white and shrunken by now, and his struggling had become weak.

這時柯利臉色慘白，整個人縮成一團，掙扎也變得無力。

He stood crying, his fist lost in Lennie’s paw.

他站著哭，拳頭還陷在雷尼的大手裡。

George shouted over and over, “Leggo his hand, Lennie. Leggo.

喬治一遍又一遍地喊：「放開他的手，雷尼。放開。

Slim, come help me while the guy got any hand left.”

斯林姆，快來幫我，趁這傢伙還剩一點手。」

Suddenly Lennie let go his hold.

雷尼突然鬆開了手。

He crouched cowering against the wall.

他畏縮地蹲在牆邊。

“You tol’ me to, George,” he said miserably.

「是你叫我做的，喬治。」他可憐地說。

Curley sat down on the floor, looking in wonder at his crushed hand.

柯利坐到地上，難以置信地看著自己被捏碎的手。

Slim and Carlson bent over him.

斯林姆和卡爾森彎身看他。

Then Slim straightened up and regarded Lennie with horror.

然後斯林姆直起身，驚駭地看著雷尼。

“We got to get him in to a doctor,” he said.

「得帶他去看醫生。」他說。

“Looks to me like ever’ bone in his han’ is bust.”

「我看他手上每一根骨頭都碎了。」

“I didn’t wanta,” Lennie cried.

「我不是故意的。」雷尼哭著說。

“I didn’t wanta hurt him.”

「我不想傷害他。」

Slim said, “Carlson, you get the candy wagon hitched up.

斯林姆說：「卡爾森，你去把輕便馬車套好。

We’ll take ’um into Soledad an’ get ’um fixed up.”

我們帶他去索萊達治療。」

Carlson hurried out.

卡爾森匆匆出去。

Slim turned to the whimpering Lennie.

斯林姆轉向嗚咽的雷尼。

“It ain’t your fault,” he said.

「不是你的錯。」他說。

“This punk sure had it comin’ to him.

「這小混混是自作自受。

But—Jesus! He ain’t hardly got no han’ left.”

可是——天啊！他的手幾乎沒了。」

Slim hurried out, and in a moment returned with a tin cup of water.

斯林姆匆匆出去，一會兒拿著一個裝了水的錫杯回來。

He held it to Curley’s lips.

他把杯子湊到柯利嘴邊。

George said, “Slim, will we get canned now?

喬治說：「斯林姆，我們現在會被開除嗎？

We need the stake.

我們需要那筆錢。

Will Curley’s old man can us now?”

柯利的老爸現在會開除我們嗎？」

Slim smiled wryly.

斯林姆苦笑了一下。

He knelt down beside Curley.

他跪在柯利旁邊。

“You got your senses in hand enough to listen?” he asked.

「你還清醒到能聽我說話嗎？」他問。

Curley nodded.

柯利點點頭。

“Well, then listen,” Slim went on.

「那就聽好，」斯林姆接著說。

“I think you got your han’ caught in a machine.

「我想，你的手是被機器夾到的。

If you don’t tell nobody what happened, we ain’t going to.

只要你不跟任何人說發生了什麼事，我們也不會說。

But you jus’ tell an’ try to get this guy canned and we’ll tell ever’body, an’ then will you get the laugh.”

可是你要是說出去，想讓這傢伙被開除，我們就告訴所有人，到時候看大家怎麼笑你。」

“I won’t tell,” said Curley.

「我不會說。」柯利說。

He avoided looking at Lennie.

他避開不看雷尼。

Buggy wheels sounded outside.

外面傳來馬車輪子的聲音。

Slim helped Curley up.

斯林姆扶柯利站起來。

“Come on now. Carlson’s gonna take you to a doctor.”

「走吧。卡爾森會帶你去看醫生。」

He helped Curley out the door.

他扶著柯利走出門。

The sound of wheels drew away.

車輪聲漸漸遠去。

In a moment Slim came back into the bunk house.

一會兒，斯林姆回到工寮。

He looked at Lennie, still crouched fearfully against the wall.

他看著雷尼，雷尼還害怕地蹲在牆邊。

“Le’s see your hands,” he asked.

「讓我看看你的手。」他說。

Lennie stuck out his hands.

雷尼伸出雙手。

“Christ awmighty, I hate to have you mad at me,” Slim said.

「老天爺，我可真不想惹你生氣。」斯林姆說。

George broke in, “Lennie was jus’ scairt,” he explained.

喬治插嘴：「雷尼只是嚇壞了。」他解釋。

“He didn’t know what to do.

「他不知道該怎麼辦。

I told you nobody ought never to fight him.

我跟你說過，誰都不該跟他打架。

No, I guess it was Candy I told.”

不對，我想我是跟坎迪說的。」

Candy nodded solemnly.

坎迪嚴肅地點點頭。

“That’s jus’ what you done,” he said.

「你確實這樣說過。」他說。

“Right this morning when Curley first lit intil your fren’, you says, ‘He better not fool with Lennie if he knows what’s good for ’um.’

「就今天早上柯利第一次找你朋友麻煩的時候，你說：『他要是識相，最好別招惹雷尼。』

That’s jus’ what you says to me.”

你就是這樣跟我說的。」

George turned to Lennie.

喬治轉向雷尼。

“It ain’t your fault,” he said.

「不是你的錯。」他說。

“You don’t need to be scairt no more.

「你不用再怕了。

You done jus’ what I tol’ you to.

你只是照我說的做。

Maybe you better go in the wash room an’ clean up your face.

你最好去洗澡間把臉洗一洗。

You look like hell.”

你看起來慘透了。」

Lennie smiled with his bruised mouth.

雷尼用他腫起來的嘴笑了笑。

“I didn’t want no trouble,” he said.

「我不想惹麻煩。」他說。

He walked toward the door, but just before he came to it, he turned back.

他走向門口，快到門口時又轉過身來。

“George?”

「喬治？」

“What you want?”

「幹嘛？」

“I can still tend the rabbits, George?”

「我還可以照顧兔子嗎，喬治？」

“Sure. You ain’t done nothing wrong.”

「當然。你沒做錯什麼。」

“I di’n’t mean no harm, George.”

「我沒有惡意，喬治。」

“Well, get the hell out and wash your face.”

「好啦，快滾出去洗你的臉。」