【时间旅行者的妻子】25

The great elephants loom¹ menacingly over me in the moonlight and I wave to them on my way to the little gift shop to the right of the main entrance. I circle the wares² and find a few promising³ items: an ornamental⁴ letter opener, a metal bookmark with the Field’s insignia, and two T-shirts that feature dinosaurs⁶. The locks on the cases are a joke; I pop them with a bobby pin I find next to the cash register, and help myself. Okay. Back up the stairs, to the third floor. This is the Field’s “attic,” where the labs are; the staff have their offices up here. I scan the names on the doors, but none of them suggests anything to me; finally I select at random⁷ and slide my bookmark along the lock until the catch pushes back and I’m in.

　The occupant of this office is one V. M. Williamson, and he’s a very untidy guy. The room is dense⁸ with papers, and coffee cups and cigarettes overflow⁹ from ashtrays¹⁰; there’s a partially¹¹ articulated snake skeleton on his desk. I quickly case the joint¹² for clothes and come up with nothing. The next office belongs to a woman, J. F. Bettley. On the third try I get lucky. D. W. Fitch has an entire suit hung neatly¹³ on his coat rack, and it pretty much fits me, though it’s a bit short in the arms and legs and wide in the lapels. I wear one of the dinosaur⁵ T-shirts under the jacket. No shoes, but I’m decent. D. W. also keeps an unopened package of Oreo cookies in his desk, bless him. I appropriate them and leave, closing the door carefully behind me.

　Where was I, when I saw me? I close my eyes and fatigue¹⁴ takes me bodily, caressing¹⁵ me with her sleepy fingers. I am almost out on my feet, but I catch myself and it comes to me: a man in silhouette¹⁶ walking toward me backlit by the museum’s front doors. I need to get back to the Great Hall.

　When I get there all is quiet and still. I walk across the middle of the floor, trying to replicate¹⁷ the view of the doors, and then I seat myself near the coat room, so as to enter stage left. I can hear blood rushing in my head, the air conditioning system humming, cars whooshing¹⁸ by on Lake Shore Drive. I eat ten Oreos, slowly, gently prying¹⁹ each one apart, scraping the filling out with my front teeth, nibbling²⁰ the chocolate halves to make them last. I have no idea what time it is, or how long I have to wait.

 

一九八八年一月二日星期六早晨4∶03/   

      　　一九六八年六月十六日星期日，   

      　　晚10∶46（亨利二十四岁，同时也是五岁）   

      　　亨利：那是个一月的早晨，四点零三分，我刚到家，天气异常寒冷。我出去跳了一夜的舞，虽然喝得只有半醉，却已筋疲力尽。在明亮的走道里找房门钥匙时，突然一阵晕眩和恶心，我不由膝盖着地，陷入一片黑暗之中，在砖铺的地面上呕吐起来。我抬头，看见一个由红色亮光打成的"出口"标志，逐渐我的眼睛适应了黑暗。我看到了老虎，看到手持长矛的穴居男人，穿着简陋的遮羞兽皮的女人，还有长得像狼一样的狗。我的心一阵狂跳，大脑已被酒精麻痹了，很长一段时间里想的都是：见鬼，竟然回到石器时代了。然后我才意识到，只有在二十世纪才会有出口标志的红灯。我爬起来，抖了抖身子，往门的方向迈进。赤裸双脚下的地砖冰凉至极，令我汗毛倒竖，一身的鸡皮疙瘩。四周死寂，空气里充斥着空调房里特有的阴湿。我到了入口处，前面是另一个展室，中间立满了玻璃橱柜，远处淡白的街灯从高大的窗户里透进来，照亮了我眼前千千万万只甲壳虫。感谢上帝啊，我这是在斐尔特自然博物馆里。我静静地站着，深深地呼吸，想要让头脑清醒些。我那被束缚的脑袋突然冒出一段模糊的记忆，我努力地想……我的确是要来做点什么的。对了，是我五岁的生日……有人刚来过这里，而我就要成为那个人了。我需要衣服，是的，急需一套衣服。 

    

      第16节：一切的第一次(3)         

      　　感谢我回到的是一个还没有诞生电影的年代，我飞奔出甲壳虫馆，来到二楼中轴的过道厅，沿着西侧的楼梯冲到底层。月光下，一头头巨象隐隐约约，仿佛正向我迎头袭来，我一边往大门右边的礼品店走去，一面回头向它们挥手致意。我围着那些礼品转了一圈，发现一些好东西：一把装饰用的裁纸刀、印有博物馆徽标的金属书签、两件恐龙图案的T恤。陈列柜的锁是骗小孩的，我随手在账台边找到一枚发夹，轻轻一撬，尽情挑选我中意的东西。一切顺利。再回到三楼，这是博物馆的"阁楼"，研究室、工作人员的办公室也都在那儿。我扫视了各个门上的姓名，没有任何启示。最后，我随便挑了一间，把金属书签插进门缝，上下左右，直到弹簧门锁舌被打开，我终于进去了。 

        

      　　这间办公室的主人叫V.M.威廉逊，是个邋遢的家伙，房间里堆满了报纸，咖啡杯摆得到处都是，烟灰缸里的烟蒂都快漫了出来，桌子上还有一架异常精致的蛇骨标本。我迅速地翻箱倒柜，企图找到些衣服，却一无所获。另一间是位女士的办公室，J.F.贝特里。第三次尝试，运气终于来了。D.W.费奇先生的办公室衣架上，挂着他全套整洁的西装，除了袖子裤脚稍短、翻领稍宽之外，他的尺码和我的基本一样。西装外套里，我穿了一件恐龙T恤，即使没有鞋子，我看上去还是挺体面的。D.W.先生的写字台上有包未开封的奥里奥饼干，上帝会祝福他的。征用了他的零食，我离开屋子，随手轻轻带上了门。 

        

      　　我在哪里？我会在什么时候遇见我呢？我闭上眼睛，听任倦意占据我的身体，它用催眠般的手指抚摸我，在我就要倒下去的时候，我刹那间都回忆起来了：映衬博物馆大门的光影，曾有个男人的侧面朝自己移来。是的，我必须回到大厅里去。 

        

      　　一切都是平静宁谧的，我穿过大厅正中，想要再看看那扇门里的一切。接着，我在衣帽间附近坐了下来，准备一会从左侧口上展厅的主台。我听见大脑里的血液突突上涌的声音，空调"嗡嗡"地低鸣，一辆辆汽车在湖滨大道上飞速驶过。我吃了十块奥里奥，慢慢地、轻巧地挑开上下两层巧克力饼干，用门牙刮掉里面的奶油夹心，再细细咀嚼，让好滋味尽可能长久地停留在嘴里。我不知道确切的时间，也不知道还要等多久

1 loom   

n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近

参考例句：

• The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
• The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。

2 wares   

n. 货物, 商品

参考例句：

• They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。
• The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。

3 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

4 ornamental   

adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物

参考例句：

• The stream was dammed up to form ornamental lakes.溪流用水坝拦挡起来,形成了装饰性的湖泊。
• The ornamental ironwork lends a touch of elegance to the house.铁艺饰件为房子略添雅致。

5 dinosaur   

n.恐龙

参考例句：

• Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告诉我大卫被一支恐龙所攻击？
• He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝视著精确的恐龙缩小模型。

6 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

8 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

9 overflow   

v.(使)外溢，(使)溢出；溢出，流出，漫出

参考例句：

• The overflow from the bath ran on to the floor.浴缸里的水溢到了地板上。
• After a long period of rain,the river may overflow its banks.长时间的下雨天后，河水可能溢出岸来。

10 ashtrays   

烟灰缸( ashtray的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A simple question: why are there ashtrays in a no-smoking restaurant? 问题是：一个禁止吸烟的餐厅为什么会有烟灰缸呢？
• Avoid temptation by throwing away all cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays. 把所有的香烟，打火机，和烟灰缸扔掉以避免引诱。

11 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

12 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

13 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

14 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

15 caressing   

爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的

参考例句：

• The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。
• He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里，不断抚摸着鞑靼，它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。

16 silhouette   

n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓

参考例句：

• I could see its black silhouette against the evening sky.我能看到夜幕下它黑色的轮廓。
• I could see the silhouette of the woman in the pickup.我可以见到小卡车的女人黑色半身侧面影。

17 replicate   

v.折叠，复制，模写；n.同样的样品；adj.转折的

参考例句：

• The DNA of chromatin must replicate before cell division.染色质DNA在细胞分裂之前必须复制。
• It is also easy to replicate,as the next subsection explains.就像下一个小节详细说明的那样，它还可以被轻易的复制。

18 whooshing   

v.（使）飞快移动( whoosh的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by. 我喜欢最后期待。我尤其喜欢它们飞驰而过时发出的嗖嗖声。 来自互联网
• The constant whooshing of the wind across the roof wouldn't fade into the background. 不断跑车疾速的风雨整个屋顶不会褪色的背景。 来自互联网

19 prying   

adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开

参考例句：

• I'm sick of you prying into my personal life! 我讨厌你刺探我的私生活！
• She is always prying into other people's affairs. 她总是打听别人的私事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 nibbling   

v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬

参考例句：

• We sat drinking wine and nibbling olives. 我们坐在那儿，喝着葡萄酒嚼着橄榄。
• He was nibbling on the apple. 他在啃苹果。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》