書蟲三級下《劫機(jī)！》：第九章

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Chapter 9
第九章

Helen Sandberg stood up to welcome the American and British Ambassadors. The two men were very different. The American Ambassador was a short round man with a loud voice which Helen disliked very much. He often wore open-necked shirts, and he had a very hairy chest. She disliked that too. The British Ambassador — a tall thin Scotsman from Edinburgh — was always quiet, polite and well-dressed, but she did not always believe what he said. Once — a year ago — he had lied to her and she could never forget that.

海倫·桑德伯格起身歡迎英美兩國大使。這是兩個(gè)截然不同的人。美國大使身材矮胖，嗓門很大，這一點(diǎn)讓海倫很不喜歡。他總愛穿開領(lǐng)的襯衫，而且他長著毛茸茸的胸毛，這一點(diǎn)她也不喜歡。英國大使——一個(gè)高高瘦瘦的蘇格蘭人，來自愛丁堡——總是非常安靜，有禮貌，穿著考究，但是她不相信他說的話。有一次——在一年前——他曾經(jīng)跟她撒過謊，那件事她永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)忘記。

But most of all, she disliked them because they were both military men and their countries were much bigger than hers. They wanted military bases for their soldiers in her country and she did not want them.

但最重要的是，她不喜歡他們是因?yàn)樗麄兌际切形槌錾?，而且他們的國家又都比她的祖國大很多。他們想在她的祖國建立軍事基地，但是她不同意?/p>

So, gentlemen, what can I do for you?'

“好吧，先生們，我能為你們做些什么？”

The American spoke first. 'Well, ma'am, an American passenger is dead...'

美國大使首先開口講話：“嗯，夫人，有一名美國乘客死了……”

Yes, I know. I am very sorry about that. I hope no more will die.'

“是的，我知道。我對此非常遺憾。我希望不會(huì)再有人死去。”

I hope so too, ma'am. There are twenty-eight US passengers on that plane and my Government wants to keep them alive.'

“我也希望如此，夫人。那架飛機(jī)上共有28名美國乘客，我國政府希望保證他們的生命安全。”

There are a hundred and seven passengers on that plane, Ambassador, and my Government wants them all alive,' Helen answered quietly. But the Ambassador did not listen.

“大使，那架飛機(jī)上共有107名乘客，我國政府希望保證他們所有人的生命安全。”海倫平靜地回答。但是美國大使并沒有理會(huì)她的話。

So the US Government is going to help you, ma'am. We have fifty US Marines at the US Embassy, and they can be here in one hour from now. Then they'll just take that goddam plane apart.'

“所以美國政府打算向您提供援助，夫人。現(xiàn)在我們的大使館里有50名海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)隊(duì)員，一個(gè)小時(shí)之內(nèi)他們就能趕到這里。他們能把那架混蛋飛機(jī)大卸八塊。”

The Scotsman smiled. 'Excuse me, Ambassador, but perhaps one hour from now will be too late. One man is already dead. But, er... perhaps you don't know this, Prime Minister, but this week six SAS soldiers are visiting the British Embassy, and they're waiting outside in my car now. These men know a lot about hijacks; much more than the US Marines or, probably, your own soldiers, Prime Minister. They know exactly what to do. So...'

那個(gè)蘇格蘭人笑了。“請?jiān)?，大使，可也許一個(gè)小時(shí)就太晚了。已經(jīng)死了一個(gè)人了。不過，呃……也許您不知道，首相，這周，有六名英國特種航空隊(duì)的士兵來訪問英國使館，他們現(xiàn)在就在外面我的車?yán)锏戎?。他們有豐富的對付劫機(jī)的經(jīng)驗(yàn)；比美國海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)隊(duì)員或者，興許比貴國戰(zhàn)士的經(jīng)驗(yàn)還要豐富，首相。他們非常清楚該怎么處理這種情況。所以……”

Now just a moment!' The American interrupted. 'The US Marines are...'

“等等！”美國大使插話道，“美國海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)是……”

Gentlemen!' Helen's clear, hard voice stopped them. 'There's no time to argue. Firstly, I didn't know about the SAS soldiers in the British Embassy, and I am very surprised about it. Very surprised indeed, Ambassador. Secondly, I do not think it is a good idea to attack a plane with a hundred and seven passengers in it, and "take it apart" as you say. I want these people to live, not die. So I thank you for your ideas, but remember that this small country is ours, not yours. We will manage this problem in our own way, with our own people, thank you very much. Now you must excuse me, I am busy.'

“先生們！”海倫清晰果斷的聲音打斷了他們的爭論，“我們沒有時(shí)間來爭論了。首先，我不知道在英國大使館里有英國特種航空隊(duì)士兵，對此我感到非常吃驚。大使先生，確實(shí)是非常吃驚。其次，飛機(jī)上有107名乘客，我不認(rèn)為強(qiáng)攻是個(gè)好主意，或者像你說的那樣，‘將其大卸八塊’。我要讓這些人活著，而不是死去。所以我感謝你們的意見，但請記住，這個(gè)小國是我們的，而不是你們的。我們將以自己的人力，按照自己的方式來解決這個(gè)問題，十分感謝?，F(xiàn)在，請?jiān)?，我很忙?rdquo;

At the door, the Scotsman turned back. 'Prime Minister, I know you want to save lives,' he said. 'I understand that. But these hijackers must not go free. My Government does not want that. No Government in the world wants that.'

走到門口，那蘇格蘭人又轉(zhuǎn)過身。“首相，我知道您想保護(hù)這些乘客的生命安全，”他說，“對此，我理解。但是，不能放走這些劫機(jī)犯。我國政府不希望放走他們，世界上任何一個(gè)政府都不希望這樣。”

I know that, Ambassador,' Helen answered quietly. 'I know that very well.'

“我明白，大使，”海倫平靜地回答，“我非常清楚這一點(diǎn)。'

As they went out, the phone rang. Michael picked it up. Helen sat down at the table and watched him. His face was very serious. He wrote on a piece of paper and then put the phone down. For a moment, he did not look at her.

就在他們出去的時(shí)候，電話響了。邁克爾抓起話筒，海倫坐在桌邊注視著他。他的臉色非常嚴(yán)肅，在一張紙上記了些什么，然后放下了聽筒。有那么一會(huì)兒，他沒有看她。

What is it, Michael? Tell me.'

“怎么了，邁克爾？告訴我。”

It was a radio message from the plane, Prime Minister.'

“是飛機(jī)上發(fā)來的一個(gè)無線電信息，首相。”

Well? What did they say? Didn't they want to talk to me?'

“怎么了？他們說什么？他們不想和我對話嗎？”

No, Prime Minister. Just the message. It says: "We love our brothers. We hope the Prime Minister loves her husband. He is on the plane, just behind the door."'

“是的，首相。只有一個(gè)口信，他們說：‘我們愛我們的弟兄。我們希望首相也愛她的丈夫。他在飛機(jī)上，就在門后。’”

For a long moment she stared at Michael, but she did not speak. A picture of the American passenger appeared in her head. She saw him jumping out of the door and the girl shooting him. Shooting him for ten, maybe fifteen long seconds.

好長一段時(shí)間，她愣愣地看著邁克爾，一言不發(fā)。發(fā)生在那個(gè)美國乘客身上的一幕在她的腦海中浮現(xiàn)出來。她目睹了他從門口跳出，那個(gè)姑娘對他開槍射擊的情景，時(shí)間長達(dá)十秒鐘，甚至有15秒鐘。

I'm sorry, Prime Minister,' said Michael softly.

“我感到很遺憾，首相。”邁克爾輕輕地說。

What? Yes, so am I. I thought perhaps... perhaps the hijackers didn't know Carl was my husband. But now they do know.'

“什么？是的，我也很遺憾。我原以為也許……也許劫機(jī)犯不知道卡爾是我的丈夫。但現(xiàn)在他們知道了。”

She ran her hand through her hair and then looked at her watch. But her hand was shaking so much that she could not tell the time.

她用手?jǐn)n了攏頭發(fā)，隨后看了看手表。可是她的手顫抖得太厲害了，根本看不清時(shí)間。

The phone rang again. Michael picked it up.

電話又響了。邁克爾接聽。

Colonel Carter is outside, Prime Minister.' He watched her, waiting for an answer. 'I'll tell him to wait, shall I?'

“首相，卡特上校在外面。”他注視著她，等著她的回答，“我讓他等等，好嗎？”

She put her hands flat on the table and stood up. 'Yes. Yes, Michael. Tell him to wait two minutes, that's all.' She walked to the window and stared out at the plane. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass and for two minutes she did not move. Then she turned round and smiled at Michael.

她雙手撐著桌子站了起來。“是的。是的，邁克爾。告訴他等兩分鐘，就這樣。”她走到窗邊，凝視著窗外的飛機(jī)。她把額頭貼在冰涼的玻璃上，足足有兩分鐘，她一動(dòng)沒動(dòng)。然后她轉(zhuǎn)過身，微笑著看著邁克爾。

Let's just hope Colonel Carter's plan is a good one, shall we? Show him in.'

“但愿卡特上校已經(jīng)想出了一個(gè)好計(jì)劃，對嗎？讓他進(jìn)來。”