LessonEight

TheKindnessofStrangers

MikeMclntyre1.

OnesummerIwasdrivingfrommyhometownofTahoeCity,Calif,toNewOrleans.Inthemiddleofthedesert,Icameuponayoungmanstandingbytheroadside.Hehadhisthumboutandheldagascaninhisotherhand.Idroverightbyhim.Therewasatimeinthecountrywhenyou'dbeconsideredajerkifyoupassedbysomebodyinneed.Nowyouareafoolforhelping.Withgangs,drugaddicts,murderers,rapists,thieveslurkingeverywhere,"Idon'twanttogetinvolved"hasbecomeanationalmotto.2.

SeveralstateslaterIwasstillthinkingaboutthehitchhiker.Leavinghimstrandedinthedesertdidnotbothermesomuch.WhatbotheredmewashoweasilyIhadreachedthedecision.Ineverevenliftedmyfootofftheaccelerator.3.

Doesanyonestopanymore?Iwondered.IrecalledBlancheDuBois'sfamousline:"Ihavealwaysdependedonthekindnessofstrangers."Couldanyonerelyonthekindnessofstrangersthesedays?Onewaytotestthiswouldbeforapersontojourneyfromcoasttocoastwithoutanymoney,relyingsolelyonthegoodwillofhisfellowAmericans.WhatkindofAmericanswouldhefind?Whowouldfeedhim,shelterhim,carryhimdowntheroad?4.

Theideaintriguedme.5.

TheweekIturned37,IrealizedthatIhadnevertakenagambleinmylife.SoIdecidedtotravelfromthePacifictotheAtlanticwithoutapenny.Itwouldbeacashlessjourneythroughthelandofthealmightydollar.Iwouldonlyacceptoffersofrides,foodandaplacetorestmyhead.MyfinaldestinationwouldbeCapeFearinNorthCarolina,asymbolofallthefearsI'dhavetoconquerduringthetrip.6.

IroseearlyonSeptember6,1994,andheadedfortheGoldenGateBridgewitha50-poundpackonmybackandasigndisplayingmydestinationtopassingvehicles:"America."7.

ForsixweeksIhitched82ridesandcovered4223milesacross14states.AsItraveled,folkswerealwayswarningmeaboutsomeplaceelse.InMontanatheytoldmetowatchoutforthecowboysinWyoming,InNebraskatheysaidpeoplewouldnotbeasniceinIowa.YetIwastreatedwithkindnesseverywhereIwent.Iwasamazedbypeople'sreadinesstohelpastranger,evenwhenitseemedtoruncontrarytotheirownbestinterests.8.

OnedayinNebraskaacarpulledtotheroadshoulder.WhenIreachedthewindow,IsawtwolittleoldladiesdressedintheirSundayfinest."Iknowyou'renotsupposedtopickuphitchhikers,butit'ssofarbetweentownsouthere,youfeelbadpassingaperson,"saidthedriver,whointroducedherselfasVi.Ididn'tknowwhethertokissthemorscoldthemforstopping.Thiswomanwastellingmeshe'dratherriskherlifethanfeelbadaboutpassingastrangeronthesideoftheroad.9.

OncewhenIwashitchhikingunsuccessfullyintherain,atruckerpulledover,lockinghisbrakessohardheskiddedonthegrassshoulder.Thedrivertoldmehewasoncerobbedatknifepointbyahitchhiker."ButIhatetoseeamanstandoutintherain,"headded."Peopledon'thavenoheartanymore."10.

Ifound,however,thatpeopleweregenerallycompassionate.HearingIhadnomoneyandwouldtakenone,peopleboughtmefoodorsharedwhatevertheyhappenedtohavewiththem.Thosewhohadtheleasttogiveoftengavethemost.InOregonahousepainternamedMikenotedthechillyweatherandaskedifIhadacoat.WhenhelearnedthatIhad"alightone,"hedrovemetohishouse,andhandedmeabiggreenarmy-stylejacket.Alumber-millworkernamedTiminvitedmetoasimpledinnerwithhisfamilyintheirshabbyhouse.Thenheofferedmehistent.Irefused,knowingitwasprobablyoneofthefamily'smostvaluablepossessions.ButTimwasdeterminedthatIhaveit,andfinallyIagreedtotakeit.11.

IwasgratefultoallthepeopleImetfortheirrides,theirfood,theirshelter,andtheirgifts.ButwhatIfoundmosttouchingwasthefactthattheyalldiditasamatterofcourse.12.

OnedayIwalkedintothechamberofcommerceinJamestown,13.

Iaccepted,andwedroveouttoamagnificentcountryhouse.SuddenlyIrealizedhe'dinvitedmetospendthenightinhishome.Hiswife,Carol,aseventh-gradescienceteacher,wascookingapotroastwhenwewalkedintothekitchen.Baxterexplainedthatlocalfolkswere"mountainstay-at-homepeople"whorarelyentertainedintheirhouse."Whenwedo,"hesaid,"it'susuallykin."Thisrevelationmademynightthereallthemorespecial.14.

ThenextmorningwhenIcamedownstairs,CarolaskedifI'dcometotheirschoolandtalktoherclassaboutmytrip.Iagreed,andbeforelonghadbeenscheduledtotalktoeveryclassintheschool.Thekidswereattentiveandkeptaskingallkindsofquestions:Wherewerepeoplethekindest?Howmanypairsofshoesdidyouhave?Didanybodytrytorunyouover?Didyoufallinlovewithsomeone?Whatwereyoumostafraidof?15.

AlthoughIhadn'tplanneditthisway,IdiscoveredthatapatriotictoneranthroughthetalksIgavethatafternoon.ItoldthestudentshowmyfaithinAmericahadbeenrenewed.ItoldthemhowproudIwastoliveinacountrywherepeoplewerestillwillingtohelp.ItoldthemthatthequestionIhadhadinmindwhenIplannedthisjourneywasnowclearlyanswered.Inspiteofeverything,youcanstilldependonthekindnessofstrangers.第八課陌生人的仁慈

1

一個夏天，我正驅車從我的家鄉加利福尼亞州的塔霍湖市前往新奧爾良。行駛到沙漠中部時，我遇到了一個正站在路邊的年輕人。他豎起拇指請求搭車，另一只手里握著一個汽油罐。我徑直從他身邊開了過去。在這個國家曾經有一個時期，如果你對一個需要幫助的人置之不理，那你就被認為是一個愚蠢的人。但現在，你幫助了別人，你就是一個愚蠢的人。由于到處隱藏著歹徒、吸毒成癮者、強奸犯和小偷，“我不想惹麻煩”就成了民族的箴言2

駛過了幾個州后，我仍然在想著那個搭便車的旅行者。把他束手無策留在沙漠并沒有讓我太煩擾。讓我煩擾的是，我是多么輕易的就下了這個決定。我甚至都沒有把腳從加速器上抬起來。3

還會有人再停下來么？我很想知道。我想起布蘭奇-杜包爾斯的著名的臺詞“我總是非常依賴陌生人的仁慈”。如今還會有人依賴陌生人的仁慈檢驗此事的一個方法就是讓一個人不帶錢，只依靠美國同胞的好心，從一個海岸到另一個海岸去旅行。他將發現什么樣的美國人呢？誰將會給他食物、提供住處、載他一路？4

這個想法激起我的好奇心。5

在我步入37歲的那周，我意識到在我的一生中還從未冒過險。因此我決定身無分文的從太平洋到大西洋旅行。在這個金錢萬能的國家，這將會是一次不花錢的旅行。我將只接受別人提供的搭車、食物以及休息場所。我最終的目的地將是被卡羅萊納周的恐怖角，這是我整個旅行要克服的所有恐懼的一個象征。6

1994年9月6日，我早早的起了床，動身前往金門橋。我背上背了507

六周的時間，我免費搭車82次，穿越了14個省4223英里。當我旅行時，人們總是提醒我關于其他地方的事情。在蒙大拿州，他們告訴我要提防懷俄明州的牛仔。在內布拉斯加州，他們說艾奧瓦州的人不像他們那么友好。然而，我所到之處受到的是善意的款待。我對于人們欣然幫助一個陌生人而感到吃驚，甚至當這些行為與他們自己的利益背道而馳的時候。8

在內布拉斯加州，一輛汽車駛向路的邊緣。當我靠近車窗戶時，我看見兩個身著節日盛裝的身材矮小的老婦人。“我知道我們不應該拉免費搭車的旅行者，但是這里距離前后兩個鎮太遠了，對人置之不理感覺挺糟糕。”司機說，她向我自我介紹叫做維。我不知道是否應該為停車而親吻她們或是責備她們。這個婦人一直告訴我說，她寧愿冒生命危險也不愿意對一個路邊的陌生人置之不理而感到不安。9

當我在雨周搭不到車時，一個卡車司機把車開到路邊，由于剎車過猛，車子在草地上打滑。這個司機告訴我，他曾經被一位搭車者持刀搶劫過。“但是我不愿意看到一個人站在雨中，”他接著說。“人們不要在冷酷無情了”。10

然而，我發現人們通常還是富有同情心的。一聽說我身無分文，卻也不會拿別人的錢，人們給我買食物，或是與他們分享他們碰巧帶著的東西。那些擁有最少的人給予最多。在俄勒岡州，一個叫麥克的建筑油漆工注意到了寒冷的天氣，并問我是否有大衣。當知道我只有“一件單薄的外套”時，他開車把我帶到他家，并遞給我一件大大的軍用夾克衫。一個名叫提姆的鋸木廠工人邀請我在他們破舊的房屋里與他的家人共進晚餐。他把他的帳篷給了我。知道這個帳篷可能是他們家中最值錢的財產之一，我拒絕了他的好意。但是提姆決心把他給我，我最終同意拿了它。11

我感謝所有我遇到的人，感謝他們的搭載、他們的食物、他們提供的住處和他們送的禮物。但是我發現最另我感動的是他們做這些事時都認為是理所當然的。12

我走進田納西州詹姆斯頓的商會去查一下露營的地方。該商會的執行理事59歲的巴克斯特-威爾遜，遞給我一本有關當地露營場所的小冊子。考慮到他要花費12美圓，我回答說，“不用了。我在試試其他辦法。”然后他看到了我的背包。“如果你愿意的話，這兒附近的大多數人都會讓你在他們的土地上搭帳篷。”他說到。我認為他的話有理。“有具體的方向么？”我問道。“聽我說，距離這兒往南十英里處我有一個大的農場。如果你五點半在這兒的話，你可以搭我的車。”13

我接受了他的好意，我們開車來到了一所豪華的鄉村房屋。我突然明白他是在邀請我在他家過夜。當我走進廚房的時候，他的妻子卡羅爾，一為七年級的理科教師，正在做燉肉。巴克斯特解釋說當地人是“山區居家人”，他們很少在他們家里招待客人。“當我們在家里招待客人時”，他說，“那通常是親屬。”這個意外的發現讓我呆在那兒的整個晚上更加特別。14

第二天早上當我下樓的時候，卡羅爾問是否我愿意去她們的學校，并和她班上的學生談談關于我旅行的事情。我同意了，而且不久之后我就被安排和學校每個班級的學生談話。孩子們很專心，而且還一直問各種各樣的問題：哪兒的人最友善？你有多少雙鞋？有人試圖撞你么？你戀愛了么？你最擔心的是什么？15

盡管我沒有做過這樣的準備，我發現一種愛國氣氛貫穿著那天下午的談話。我告訴學生們我對美國的信任是如何恢復的。我告訴他們生活在這樣一個人們仍然愿意幫助別人的國家我是多么的自豪。我告訴他們當我計劃這次旅行時心中的疑問現在被清楚的解答了。不管發生什么事情，你仍然可以依靠陌生人的仁慈。LessonNine

AfterTwentyYears

O.Henry1.

Thepolicemanonthebeatmoveduptheavenueimpressively.Theimpressivenesswasnormalandnotforshow,forspectatorswerefew.Thetimewasbarelyteno'clockatnight,butchillygustsofwindwithatasteofraininthemhadalmostemptiedthestreets.2.

Tryingdoorsashewent,swinginghisclubwithmanyclevermovements,turningnowandthentocasthiswatchfuleyedownthepeacefulstreet,theofficer,withhisstronglybuiltformandslightairofsuperiority,madeafinepictureofaguardianofthepeace.Theareawasonethatkeptearlyhours.Nowandthenyoumightseethelightsofacigarstoreorofanall-nightlunchcounter;butthemajorityofthedoorsbelongedtobusinessplacesthathadlongsincebeenclosed.3.

Whenaboutmidwayofacertainblock,thepolicemansuddenlyslowedhiswalk.Inthedoorwayofadarkenedhardwarestoreamanleaned,withanunlightedcigarinhismouth.Asthepolicemanwalkeduptohim,themanspokeupquickly.4.

"It'sallright,officer,"hesaid,confidently."I'mjustwaitingforafriend.It'sanappointmentmadetwentyyearsago.Soundsalittlefunnytoyou,doesn'tit?Well,I'llexplainifyou'dliketomakecertainit'sallstraight.Aboutthatlongagothereusedtobearestaurantwherethisstorestands—'BigJoe'Brady'srestaurant."5.

"Untilfiveyearsago,"saidthepoliceman."Itwastorndownthen."6.

Themaninthedoorwaystruckamatchandlithiscigar.Thelightshowedapale,square-jawedfacewithkeeneyes,andalittlewhitescarnearhisrighteyebrow.Histiepinwasalargediamond,oddlyset.7.

"Twentyyearsagotonight,"saidtheman,"Idinedhereat'BigJoe'Brady'swithJimmyWells,mybestfriend,andthefinestmanintheworld.HeandIwerebroughtuphereinNewYork,justliketwobrothers,together.IwaseighteenandJimmywastwenty.ThenextmorningIwastostartfortheWesttomakemyfortune.Youcouldn'thavedraggedJimmyoutofNewYork;hethoughtitwastheonlyplaceonearth.Well,weagreedthatnightthatwewouldmeethereagainexactlytwentyyearsfromthatdateandtime,nomatterwhatourconditionsmightbeorfromwhatdistancewemighthavetocome.Wefiguredthatintwentyyearseachofusoughttohaveourfateworkedoutandourfortunesmade,whatevertheyweregoingtobe."8.

"Itsoundsprettyinteresting,"saidthepoliceman."Ratheralongtimebetweenmeetings,though,itseemstome.Haven'tyouheardfromyourfriendsinceyouleft?"9.

"Well,yes,foratimewewrote,"saidtheother."Butafterayearortwowelosttrackofeachother.Yousee,theWestisaprettybigplace,andIkeptrunningaroundoveritprettylively.ButIknowJimmywillmeetmehereifhe'salive,forhealwayswasthetruest,bestoldfriendintheworld.He'llneverforget.Icameathousandmilestostandinthisdoortonight,andit'sworthitifmyoldpartnerturnsup."10.

Thewaitingmanpulledoutahandsomewatch,thelidsofitsetwithsmalldiamonds.11.

"Threeminutestoten,"heannounced."Itwasexactlyteno'clockwhenwepartedhereattherestaurantdoor."12.

"DidprettywelloutWest,didn'tyou?"askedthepoliceman.13.

"You'reright!IhopeJimmyhasdonehalfaswell.Hewasakindofslowman,though,goodfellowashewas.I'vehadtocompetewithsomeofthesharpestbrainsgoingtogetmymoney.AmangetsstuckinNewYork.IttakestheWesttomakeamanreallykeen."14.

Thepolicemanswunghisclubandtookasteportwo.15.

"I'llbeonmyway.Hopeyourfriendcomesaroundallright.Areyougoingtoleaveimmediately?"16.

"Ishouldsaynot!"saidtheother."I'llgivehimhalfanhouratleast.IfJimmyisaliveonearthhe'llbeherebythattime.Solong,officer."17.

"Goodnight,sir,"saidthepoliceman,passingonalonghisbeat.18.

Therewasnowafine,coldrainfalling,andthewindhadrisentoasteadyblow.Thefewfootpassengersinthatquarterhurrieddismallyandsilentlyalongwithcoatcollarsturnedhighandpocketedhands.Andinthedoorofthehardwarestorethemanwhohadcomeathousandmilestofillanappointment,withthefriendofhisyouth,smokedhiscigarandwaited.19.

Abouttwentyminuteshewaited,andthenatallmaninalongovercoat,withcollarturneduptohisears,hurriedacrossfromtheoppositesideofthestreet.Hewentdirectlytothewaitingman.20.

"Isthatyou,Bob?"heasked,doubtfully.21.

"Isthatyou,JimmyWells?"criedthemaninthedoor.iwaiyu22.

"Blessmyheart!"exclaimedthenewarrival,graspingboththeother'shandswithhisown."It'sBob,sureasfate.IwascertainI'dfindyouhereifyouwerestillinexistence.Well,well,well!—twentyyearsisalongtime.Theoldrestaurant'sgone,Bob;Iwishithadlasted,sowecouldhavehadanotherdinnerthere.HowhastheWesttreatedyou,oldman?"23.

"IthasgivenmeeverythingIaskeditfor.You'vechangedlot,Jimmy.Ineverthoughtyouwouldgetsotall."24.

"Oh,IgrewabitafterIwastwenty."25.

"DoingwellinNewYork,Jimmy?"26.

"Moderately.Ihaveapositioninoneofthecitydepartments.Comeon,Bob;we'llgoaroundtoaplaceIknowof,andhaveagoodlongtalkaboutoldtimes."27.

Thetwomenstartedupthestreet,arminarm.ThemanfromtheWest,fullofprideathissuccess,wasbeginningtooutlinethehistoryofhiscareer.Theother,hiddeninhisovercoat,listenedwithinterest.28.

Atthecornerstoodachemist's,brilliantwithelectriclights.Whentheycameintothisbrightnesseachofthemturnedsimultaneouslytogazeupontheother'sface.29.

ThemanfromtheWeststoppedsuddenlyandreleasedhisarm.30.

"You'renotJimmyWells,"hesaidsharply."Twentyyearsisalongtime,butnotlongenoughtochangethesizeofaman'snose."31.

"Itsometimeschangesagoodmanintoabadone,"saidthetallman."You'vebeenunderarrestfortenminutes,'Silky'Bob.Chicagothinksyoumayhavecomeoverourwayandtelegraphsusshewantstohaveachatwithyou.Goingquietly,areyou?That'ssensible.Now,beforewegoontothestationhere'sanoteIwasaskedtohandtoyou.Youmayreadithereatthewindow.It'sfromPolicemanWells."32.

ThemanfromtheWestunfoldedthelittlepieceofpaperhandedtohim.Hishandwassteadywhenhebegantoread,butittrembledalittlebythetimehehadfinished.Thenotewasshort.33.

Bob:Iwasattheappointedplaceontime.Whenyoustruckthematchtolightyourcigar,IsawitwasthefaceofthemanwantedinChicago.SomehowIcouldn'tdoitmyself,soIwentaroundandgotaplainclothesmantodothejob.第九課二十年后

1

正在巡邏的警察精神抖擻的沿著大街走著。他這樣引人注目并不奇怪，并不是為了招搖，因為此時大街上根本沒有什么觀眾。時間還不到晚上十點鐘，但夾帶著雨意的冷風幾乎清空了整個街道。2

警察邊走邊檢查門是否關好了，他十分靈巧的不停轉動著警棍，眼光還不時投向平靜的街道。他那魁梧的身材，配上卓越不凡的氣勢，就是一副治安維持者的形象。那個地區的人晚上休息的很早。你偶爾還能看到一家雪茄店或是晝夜營業的飯店還亮著燈，但是絕大多數店鋪都已經關門了。3

在一個街區的半路上，警察忽然放慢了腳步。在一家已經關門的五金商店的門廊里，一個男子倚在那里，嘴里叼著一只未點燃的雪茄。當警察朝他走去時，男人趕忙毫不猶豫的說。4

“沒事的，長官，”他坦然的說。“我只是在等一個朋友，這是二十年前就定好的約會。聽起來有點荒唐，是吧？哦，如果你想弄明白事情的真相，我就說給你聽。大約二十年前，在這家五金商店所在的位置曾經是一家餐館----‘大喬’布雷迪餐館。”5

“那家餐館五年前還在，”警察說道。“后來就被拆除了。”6

門廊里的人劃著火柴，點著了煙。火光映出了一張蒼白的、方正下巴的臉，一雙銳利的眼睛，右邊眉毛附近還有一小道泛白的疤痕。他的領帶夾上鑲著一顆大鉆石，鑲的十分奇怪。7

“二十年前的這個晚上，”男子說，“我和吉米-威爾斯在大喬布雷迪餐館共進晚餐，他是我最好的朋友，也是世界上最好的人。我和他一起在紐約長大，親如手足，當年，我18歲，吉米20歲。第二天早晨，我就要動身去西部賺錢去了。吉米是無論如何也不會離開紐約的。他認為這是世界上最好的地方。那天晚上我們定好，就在20年后的同一天，同一時間，我們都要在這里碰面，不管我們的情況如何，也不管我們相隔多遠。我們覺得不管怎樣，20年后我們的命運也該有一個好結果了，該發財的也已經發財了。”8

“聽起來有點意思，”警察說道。“盡管在我看來，你們兩次見面的時間間隔太長了點。自從你離開后，你和你的朋友還有聯系么？”9

“哦，有的，有一段時間我們相互通信，”那男子說。“可是一兩年后我們就失去了聯系。你知道，西部是個大地方，而我又忙著東奔西跑。不過我知道，如果吉米還活著，他就會來這兒和我見面的。因為他一直是世界上最忠誠、最好的老朋友。他絕不會忘記的。今晚我千里迢迢來到這個門前等他，只要我的老伙計露面，所有這一切都是值得的。”10

這位等人男子掏出一塊漂亮的懷表，表蓋上鑲嵌著許多小鉆石。11

“差3分鐘十點，”他說。“我們當時在餐館的門口分開時正好是十但鐘。”12

“在西部游蕩的不錯，是吧？”警察問道。13

“那是當然了！我希望吉米的情況能趕上我的一半就好了。雖然他是個好人，但他是個遲鈍的人。為了賺錢，我不得不和那些頭腦最機靈的人較量。在紐約，人不免墨守成規。但在西部，確實會讓人變得機靈。”14

警察轉了轉警棍，走了一兩步。15

“我要接著巡邏了。希望你的朋友如約而至。你要馬上走么？”16

“不會的！”那個男子說。“我至少會再等他半個小時。如果吉米還活在世上，到那時他一定會來的。再見，長官。”17

“晚安，先生，”警察說道，沿著他要巡邏的街道走去。18

此時天上下起了冰冷的細雨，刮起陣陣寒風。街道上寥寥無幾的行人豎起高高的領子，雙手插進衣帶，陰沉著臉默默趕路。從前里之外趕來與年輕時的朋友見面的那個男子仍然站在五金商店門廊里，抽著雪茄等候著。19

他大約等了20分鐘，這時一個身著長大衣，衣領豎到耳朵的高大男人，匆匆的從街道對面走來。他徑直朝那個等候的男子走去。20

“是你么，鮑勃？”他遲疑的問道。21

“是你么，吉米-威爾斯？”門廊里的人叫道。22

“我的天啊！”來的人驚叫著，抓住了對方的手。“沒錯，你是鮑勃。我就知道如果你還活著，我就會在這里見到你的。哎呀，20年可不短。這個老餐館已經沒了，鮑勃。真希望它還在，那么我們就又可以在這里吃晚餐了。老朋友，你在西部過的怎么樣？”23

“它給了我所想要的一切。你變了很多啊，吉米。我沒想到你長這么高了。”24

“哦，20歲后我長高了一點。”25

“在紐約過的還不錯吧，吉米？”26

“馬馬虎虎，我在市政部門謀了個職位。來吧，鮑勃，我知道個地方，我們可以去那兒敘敘舊。”27

兩個人手挽手朝街上走去。西部來的男子充滿了成功的驕傲，開始描述自己的創業史。另一個人縮在大衣里，饒有興趣的聽著。28

街角處有家藥店，燈火通明。當他們來到亮處時，兩個人不約而同的盯著對方的臉。29

西部來的男人突然停下腳步，抽出自己的手臂。30

“你不是吉米-威爾斯，”他厲聲說道。“20年的時間不短，但也不足以改變一個人的鼻子的大小。”31

“但有時他卻能把一個好人變成壞人，”高個子男人說。“你十分鐘前已經被捕了，‘滑頭’鮑勃。芝加哥警方已經察覺到你可能到我們這里了，發電報告訴我們說想和你談談。乖乖和我走吧。這才是明智的。現在，在我們去警察局之前，有人讓我給你捎張字條。可以站在窗邊看。這是威爾斯警官寫給你的。”32

西部來的男人打開了交給他的那張字條。當他開始讀時，他的手還拿的穩，但是當他讀完時，他的手微微顫抖。紙條內容很短。33

鮑勃，我準時到了約定的地點。當時你劃著火柴點著雪茄的時候，我看到那正是芝加哥警方通緝的那張臉。不管怎么樣，我自己下不了手，所以我找了個便衣來完成這個任務。10Mandela'sGarden NelsonMandela

1.

Inearly1977,theauthoritiesannouncedtheendofmanuallaborandarrangedsometypeofworkforustodointhecourtyard,sowecouldspendourdaysinoursection.Theendofmanuallaborwasliberating.Icouldnowspendthedayreading,writingletters,discussingissueswithmycomrades,orpreparinglegaldocuments.ThefreetimealsoallowedmetopursuewhatbecametwoofmyfavoritehobbiesonRobben2.

Tosurviveinprison,onemustdevelopwaystotakesatisfactioninone'sdailylife.Onecanfeelfulfilledbywashingone'sclothessothattheyareparticularlyclean,bysweepingahallwaysothatitisemptyofdust,byorganizingone'scelltosaveasmuchspaceaspossible.Justasonetakesprideinimportanttasksoutsideofprison,onecanfindthesameprideindoingsmallthingsinsideprison.3.

"AlmostfromthebeginningofmysentenceonRobben4.

Thesoilinthecourtyardwasdryandrocky.Thecourtyardhadbeenconstructedoveragarbagedump,andinordertostartmygarden,Ihadtoremoveagreatmanyrockstoallowtheplantsroomtogrow.Atthetime,someofmycomradesjokedthatIwasamineratheart,forIspentmydaysinawastelandandmyfreetimedigginginthecourtyard.5.

Theauthoritiessuppliedmewithseeds.Iatfirstplantedtomatoes,chilies,andonions—hardyplantsthatdidnotrequirerichearthorconstantcare.Theearlyharvestswerepoor,buttheysoonimproved.Theauthoritiesdidnotregretgivingpermission,foroncethegardenbegantoflourish,Ioftenprovidedthewarderswithsomeofmybesttomatoesandonions.6.

WhileIhavealwaysenjoyedgardening,itwasnotuntilIwasbehindbarsthatIwasabletotendmyowngarden.MyfirstexperienceinthegardenwasatFortHarewhere,aspartoftheuniversity'smanuallaborrequirement,Iworkedinoneofmyprofessors'gardensandenjoyedthecontactwiththesoilasanalternativetomyintellectuallabors.OnceIwasin7.

Ibegantoorderbooksongardening.Istudieddifferentgardeningtechniquesandtypesoffertilizers.Ididnothavemanyofthematerialsthatthebooksdiscussed,butIlearnedthroughtrialanderror.Foratime,Iattemptedtogrowpeanuts,anduseddifferentsoilsandfertilizers,butfinallyIgaveup.Itwasoneofmyfewfailures.8.

Agardenwasoneofthefewthingsinprisonthatonecouldcontrol.Toplantaseed,watchitgrow,totenditandthenharvestit,offeredasimplebutenduringsatisfaction.Thesenseofbeingtheownerofthesmallpatchofearthofferedasmalltasteoffreedom.9.

Insomeways,Isawthegardenasametaphorforcertainaspectsofmylife.Leadersmustalsolookaftertheirgardens;they,too,plantseeds,andthenwatch,cultivate,andharvesttheresults.Likegardeners,leadersmusttakeresponsibilityforwhattheycultivate;theymustmindtheirwork,trytodrivebackenemies,savewhatcanbesaved,andeliminatewhatcannotsucceed.10.

IwroteWinnietwolettersaboutaparticularlybeautifultomatoplant,howImadeitgrowfromatenderseedlingtoastrongplantthatproduceddeepredfruit.Butthen,eitherthroughsomemistakeorlackofcare,theplantbegantowitheranddecline,andnothingIdidwouldbringitbacktohealth.Whenitfinallydied,Iremovedtherootsfromthesoil,washedthem,andburiedtheminacornerofthegarden.11.

Itoldherthissmallstoryatgreatlength.Idonotknowwhatshereadintothatletter,butwhenIwroteitIhadamixtureoffeelings:Ididnotwantourrelationshiptogothewayofthatplant,andyetIfeltthatIhadbeenunabletonourishmanyofthemostimportantrelationshipsinmylife.Sometimesthereisnothingonecandotosavesomethingthatmustdie.第十課曼德拉的菜園

1

1977年初，當局宣布解除集體勞動，給我們安排了一些院內的工作，因此我們可以在自己的這片區域里打發時間了。結束了體力勞動就像解放了一樣。現在我每天可以讀書、謝辛和我的獄友討論問題，或者準備法律文件。時間上的自由還得以讓我繼續從事在羅本島上培養起來的兩大愛好：園藝和網球。2

為了在獄中生存，你必須使自己在日常生活中得到滿足。你可以通過把衣服洗的特別干凈，把門前過道打掃得一塵不染，或把自己的牢房整理出盡可能大的空間這些方法使自己感到充實。同一個在監獄外的人為自己完成重要任務而感到驕傲一樣，監獄的人也可以完成未完成一件小事而同樣感到自豪。3

幾乎剛在羅本島被判刑時起，我就向當局提出申請，我在院子里開墾一塊菜園。多年來，他們沒有給出任何原因，卻一直拒絕我的請求。但最終他們讓步了，這樣我們能夠在遠處墻根下一塊狹長的地面上劃出小片面積的地方做菜園。4

院子里的土壤很干，而且石頭很多。這個院子在建起來之前是個垃圾場，因此為了開辟這個園子，我的清除掉大量的石頭，給植物留出生長的空間。當時，一些獄友開玩笑說我骨子里是個礦工，整天呆在一片荒地里，把自己的空閑時間都花費在挖院子里的地了。5

獄方給我提供了種子。開始時，我種了番茄、辣椒和洋蔥——都是些不需要肥沃的土壤或經常照料的生命力很強的植物。早期的收成不好，但很快狀況就有了改善。獄方不會后悔允許我開辟菜園種菜的，因為菜園的蔬菜長的好起來后，我就經常給看守們一些最好的番茄和洋蔥。6

雖然我一直喜愛園藝，但直到入獄后我才得到一片屬于自己的菜園。在園藝方面的第一次經歷是在海爾堡，那是大學時作為體力勞動要求的一部分，我在一位教授家的院子里干活，在那里我享受著腦力勞動之余和土地之間的接觸。但自從我到約翰內斯堡學習并工作以后，就在沒有時間和沒有地方種菜了。7

我開始訂閱一些關于園藝方面的書籍。從中學習了不同的園藝技術和不同種類的肥料。書中提及的許多材料我都沒有，但經歷了嘗試和失敗以后，我學到了很多東西。我曾用不同的土壤和化肥來試著種花生，但最終都失敗了。這是我很少的幾次失敗之中的一次。8

菜園是一個人在監獄中所能控制的僅有的幾件事情之一。播下種子，看著它生長，照料它，然后收獲果實，這一過程是人得到一種簡單卻持久的滿足感。作為一小片土地的主人是我感到一絲的自由。9

在某些方面，我把這個菜園當作自己一些側面生活的暗喻。領袖人物也必須照料他們的菜園；我們也一樣要播種，然后看管、培育、收獲果實。像園丁一樣，領袖人物也必須為他們培育的一切負有責任；他們必須致力于自己的工作，努力擊退敵人，挽救所能挽救的一切，并去除不能獲得成功的事情。10

在寫給溫妮的兩封信中我講述了一株非常美麗的番茄，告訴她我是怎樣把它從一顆嬌嫩的幼苗培育成杰出深紅色果實的強壯的植物。但是后來，也許是因為出了什莫錯，也許是因為缺少養料，這棵番茄開始枯萎、凋謝，而我不論做什莫都無法挽回它了。當它最終死去的時候，我把它的根從土中挖了出來，洗干凈后埋在菜園的一角。我用了很長的篇幅給她講這樣的一個小故事。至于她從信中體會到了什莫言外之意，我不得而知，但我當時是懷著非常復雜的心情來寫這封信的：我不希望我們的關系向那株植物一樣結束，然而我感覺到我已不能維持我生活中許多最為重要的關系，有時，一個注定要死去的東西任憑你如何去設法挽救都是徒勞的。LessonTwenlve

ChristmasDayintheMorning

PearlS.Buck1.

Hewokesuddenlyandcompletely.Itwasfouro'clock,thehouratwhichhisfatherhadalwayscalledhimtogetupandhelpwiththemilking.Strangehowthehabitsofhisyouthclungtohimstill!Hisfatherhadbeendeadforthirtyyears,andyethestillwokeatfouro'clockinthemorning.Butthismorning,becauseitwasChristmas,hedidnottrytosleepagain.2.

YetwhatwasthemagicofChristmasnow?Hischildhoodandyouthwerelongpast,andhisownchildrenhadgrownupandgone.3.

Yesterdayhiswifehadsaid,"Itisn'tworthwhile,perhaps—"4.

Andhehadsaid,"Yes,Alice,evenifthereareonlythetwoofus,let'shaveaChristmasofourown."5.

Thenshehadsaid,"Let'snottrimthetreeuntiltomorrow,Robert.I'mtired."6.

Hehadagreed,andthetreewasstilloutbythebackdoor.7.

Helayinhisbedinhisroom.8.

Whydidhefeelsoawaketonight?Foritwasstillnight,aclearandstarrynight.Nomoon,ofcourse,butthestarswereextraordinary!Nowthathethoughtofit,thestarsseemedalwayslargeandclearbeforethedawnofChristmasDay.9.

Heslippedbackintime,ashedidsoeasilynowadays.Hewasfifteenyearsoldandstillonhisfather'sfarm.Helovedhisfather.HehadnotknownituntilonedayafewdaysbeforeChristmas,whenhehadoverheardwhathisfatherwassayingtohismother.10.

"Mary,IhatetocallRobinthemornings.He'sgrowingsofast,andheneedshissleep.IwishIcouldmanagealone."11.

"Well,youcan't,Adam."Hismother'svoicewasbrisk,"Besides,heisn'tachildanymore.It'stimehetookhisturn."12.

"Yes,"hisfathersaidslowly,"ButIsuredohatetowakehim."13.

Whenheheardthesewords,somethinginhimwoke:hisfatherlovedhim!Hehadneverthoughtofitbefore,takingforgrantedthetieoftheirblood.Nowthatheknewhisfatherlovedhim,therewouldbenomoreloiteringinthemorningsandhavingtobecalledagain.Hegotup,stumblingblindwithsleep,andpulledonhisclothes.14.

AndthenonthenightbeforeChristmas,helaythinkingaboutthenextday.Theywerepoor,andmostoftheexcitementwasintheturkeytheyhadraisedthemselvesandinthemincepieshismothermade.Hissisterssewedpresents,andhismotherandfatheralwaysboughtsomethingheneeded,awarmjacket,maybe,orabook.Andhealwayssavedandboughtthemeachsomething,too.15.

Hewished,thatChristmashewasfifteen,hehadabetterpresentforhisfatherinsteadoftheusualtiefromtheten-centstore.Helayonhissideandlookedoutofhisatticwindow.16.

"Dad,"hehadonceaskedwhenhewasalittleboy,"Whatisastable?"17.

"It'sjustabarn,"hisfatherhadreplied,"likeours."18.

ThenJesushadbeenborninabarn,andtoabarntheshepherdsandtheWiseMenhadcome,bringingtheirChristmasgifts!19.

Athoughtstruckhimlikeasilverdagger.Whyshouldhenotgivehisfatheraspecialgift,outthereinthebarn?Hecouldgetupearlier,creepintothebarnandgetallthemilkingdone.Andthenwhenhisfatherwentintostartthemilking,he'dseeitalldone.20.

Helaughedtohimselfashegazedatthestars.Itwaswhathewoulddo,andhemustn'tsleeptoosoundly.21.

Hemusthavewakedtwentytimes,strikingamatcheachtimetolookathisoldwatch.22.

Ataquartertothree,hegotupandcreptdownstairs,carefulofthecreakyboards,andlethimselfout.Abigstarhunglowovertheroof,areddishgold.Thecowslookedathim,sleepyandsurprised.Itwasearlyforthem,too.23.

Buttheyacceptedhimcalmlyandhebroughtsomehayforeachcowandthengotthemilkingpailandthebigmilkcans.24.

Hehadnevermilkedallalonebefore,butitseemedalmosteasy.Hesmiledandmilkedsteadily,twostrongstreamsrushingintothepail,frothingandfragrant.Thecowswerebehavingwell,asthoughtheyknewitwasChristmas.25.

Thetaskwentmoreeasilythanhehadeverknownittobefore.Milkingforoncewasnotachore.Itwasagifttohisfather.Hefinished,thetwomilkcanswerefull,andhecoveredthemandclosedthemilk-housedoorcarefully,makingsureofthelatch.Heputthestoolinitsplacebythedoorandhungupthecleanmilkpail.Thenhewentoutofthebarnandbarredthedoorbehindhim.26.

Backinhisroomhehadonlyaminutetopulloffhisclothesandjumpintobed,