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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
It Can't Happen Here
by Sinclair Lewis
Chapter 34
Speaking of Julian before he was arrested, probably the New Underground headquarters in Montreal found no unusual value in his reports on M.M. grafting1 and cruelty and plans for apprehending2 N.U. agitators3. Still, he had been able to warn four or five suspects to escape to Canada. He had had to assist in several floggings. He trembled so that the others laughed at him; and he made his blows suspiciously light.
He was set on being promoted to M.M. district headquarters in Hanover, and for it he studied typing and shorthand in his free time. He had a beautiful plan of going to that old family friend, Commissioner4 Francis Tasbrough, declaring that he wanted by his own noble qualities to make up to the divine government for his father's disloyalty, and of getting himself made Tasbrough's secretary. If he could just peep at Tasbrough's private files! Then there would be something juicy for Montreal!
Sissy and he discussed it exultantly5 in their leafy rendezvous6. For a whole half hour she was able to forget her father and Buck7 in prison, and what seemed to her something like madness in Mary's increasing restlessness.
Just at the end of September she saw Julian suddenly arrested.
She was watching a review of M.M.'s on the Green. She might theoretically detest8 the blue M.M. uniform as being all that Walt Trowbridge (frequently) called it, "The old-time emblem9 of heroism10 and the battle for freedom, sacrilegiously turned by Windrip and his gang into a symbol of everything that is cruel, tyrannical, and false," but it did not dampen her pride in Julian to see him trim and shiny, and officially set apart as a squad-leader commanding his minor11 army of ten.
While the company stood at rest, County Commissioner Shad Ledue dashed up in a large car, sprang up, strode to Julian, bellowed12, "This guy--this man is a traitor13!" tore the M.M. steering-wheel from Julian's collar, struck him in the face, and turned him over to his private gunmen, while Julian's mates groaned14, guffawed15, hissed16, and yelped17.
She was not allowed to see Julian at Trianon. She could learn nothing save that he had not yet been executed.
When Mary was killed, and buried as a military heroine, Philip came bumbling up from his Massachusetts judicial18 circuit. He shook his head a great deal and pursed his lips.
"I swear," he said to Emma and Sissy--though actually he did nothing so wholesome19 and natural as to swear--"I swear I'm almost tempted20 to think, sometimes, that both Father and Mary have, or shall I say had, a touch of madness in them. There must be, terrible though it is to say it, but we must face facts in these troublous days, but I honestly think, sometimes, there must be a strain of madness somewhere in our family. Thank God I have escaped it!--if I have no other virtues21, at least I am certainly sane22! even if that may have caused the Pater to think I was nothing but mediocre23! And of course you are entirely24 free from it, Mater. It's you that must watch yourself, Cecilia." (Sissy jumped slightly; not at anything so grateful as being called crazy by Philip, but at being called "Cecilia." After all, she admitted, that probably was her name.) "I hate to say it, Cecilia, but I've often thought you had a dangerous tendency to be thoughtless and selfish. Now Mater: as you know, I'm a very busy man, and I simply can't take a lot of time arguing and discussing, but it seems best to me, and I think I can almost say that it seems wise to Merilla, also, that, now that Mary has passed on, you should just close up this big house, or much better, try to rent it, as long as the poor Pater is--uh--as long as he's away. I don't pretend to have as big a place as this, but it's ever so much more modern, with gas furnace and up-to-date plumbing25 and all, and I have one of the first television sets in Rose Lane. I hope it won't hurt your feelings, and as you know, whatever people may say about me, certainly I'm one of the first to believe in keeping up the old traditions, just as poor dear old Eff Swan was, but at the same time, it seems to me that the old home here is a little on the dreary26 and old-fashioned side--of course I never could persuade the Pater to bring it up to date, but--Anyway, I want Davy and you to come live with us in Worcester, immediately. As for you, Sissy, you will of course understand that you are entirely welcome, but perhaps you would prefer to do something livelier, such as joining the Women's Corpo Auxiliary--"
He was, Sissy raged, so damned kind to everybody! She couldn't even stir herself to insult him much. She earnestly desired to, when she found that he had brought David an M.M. uniform, and when David put it on and paraded about shouting, like most of the boys he played with, "Hail Windrip!"
She telephoned to Lorinda Pike at Beecher Falls and was able to tell Philip that she was going to help Lorinda in the tea room. Emma and David went off to Worcester--at the last moment, at the station, Emma decided28 to be pretty teary about it, though David begged her to remember that they had Uncle Philip's word for it that Worcester was just the same as Boston, London, Hollywood, and a Wild West Ranch29 put together. Sissy stayed to get the house rented. Mrs. Candy, who was going to open her bakery now and who never did inform the impractical30 Sissy whether or no she was being paid for these last weeks, made for Sissy all the foreign dishes that only Sissy and Doremus cared for, and they not uncheerfully dined together, in the kitchen.
He came blusteringly calling on her, in November. Never had she hated him quite so much, yet never so much feared him, because of what he might do to her father and Julian and Buck and the others in concentration camps.
He grunted32, "Well, your boy-friend Jule, that thought he was so cute, the poor heel, we got all the dope on his double-crossing us, all right! He'll never bother you again!"
"He's not so bad. Let's forget him. . . . Shall I play you something on the piano?"
"Sure. Shoot. I always did like high-class music," said the refined Commissioner, lolling on a couch, putting his heels up on a damask chair, in the room where once he had cleaned the fireplace. If it was his serious purpose to discourage Sissy in regard to that anti-Corpo institution, the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, he was succeeding even better than Judge Philip Jessup. Sir William Gilbert would have said of Shad that he was so very, very prolet-ari-an.
She had played for but five minutes when he forgot that he was now refined, and bawled33, "Oh, cut out the highbrow stuff and come on and sit down!"
She stayed on the piano stool. Just what would she do if Shad became violent? There was no Julian to appear melodramatically at the nickoftime and rescue her. Then she remembered Mrs. Candy, in the kitchen, and was content.
"What the heck you snickerin' at?" said Shad.
"Oh--oh I was just thinking about that story you told me about how Mr. Falck bleated34 when you arrested him!"
"Yeh, that was comical. Old Reverend certainly blatted like a goat!"
(Could she kill him? Would it be wise to kill him? Had Mary meant to kill Swan? Would They be harder on Julian and her father if she killed Shad? Incidentally, did it hurt much to get hanged?)
He was yawning, "Well, Sis, ole kid, how about you and me taking a little trip to New York in a couple weeks? See some high life. I'll get you the best soot35 in the best hotel in town, and we'll take in some shows--I hear this Callin' Stalin is a hot number--real Corpo art--and I'll buy you some honest-to-God champagne36 wine! And then if we find we like each other enough, I'm willing for us, if you are, to get hitched37!"
"But, Shad! We could never live on your salary. I mean--I mean of course the Corpos ought to pay you better--mean, even better than they do."
"Listen, baby! I ain't going to have to get along on any miserable38 county commissioner's salary the rest of my life! Believe me, I'm going to be a millionaire before very long!"
Then he told her: told her precisely39 the sort of discreditable secret for which she had so long fished in vain. Perhaps it was because he was sober. Shad, when drunk, reversed all the rules and became more peasant-like and cautious with each drink.
He had a plan. That plan was as brutal40 and as infeasible as any plan of Shad Ledue for making large money would be. Its essence was that he should avoid manual labor41 and should make as many persons miserable as possible. It was like his plan, when he was still a hired man, to become wealthy by breeding dogs--first stealing the dogs and, preferably, the kennels42.
As County Commissioner he had not merely, as was the Corpo custom, been bribed43 by the shopkeepers and professional men for protection against the M.M.'s. He had actually gone into partnership44 with them, promising45 them larger M.M. orders, and, he boasted, he had secret contracts with these merchants all written down and signed and tucked away in his office safe.
Sissy got rid of him that evening by being difficult, while letting him assume that the conquest of her would not take more than three or four more days. She cried furiously after he had gone--in the comforting presence of Mrs. Candy, who first put away a butcher knife with which, Sissy suspected, she had been standing46 ready all evening.
Next morning Sissy drove to Hanover and shamelessly tattled to Francis Tasbrough about the interesting documents Shad had in his safe. She did not ever see Shad Ledue again.
She was very sick about his being killed. She was very sick about all killing47. She found no heroism but only barbaric bestiality in having to kill so that one might so far live as to be halfway48 honest and kind and secure. But she knew that she would be willing to do it again.
The Jessup house was magniloquently rented by that noble Roman, that political belch49, Ex-Governor Isham Hubbard, who, being tired of again trying to make a living by peddling50 real estate and criminal law, was pleased to accept the appointment as successor to Shad Ledue.
Sissy hastened to Beecher Falls and to Lorinda Pike.
Father Perefixe took charge of the N.U. cell, merely saying, as he had said daily since Buzz Windrip had been inaugurated, that he was fed-up with the whole business and was immediately going back to Canada. In fact, on his desk he had a Canadian time-table.
It was now two years old.
Sissy was in too snappish a state to stand being mothered, being fattened51 and sobbed52 over and brightly sent to bed. Mrs. Candy had done only too much of that. And Philip had given her all the parental53 advice she could endure for a while. It was a relief when Lorinda received her as an adult, as one too sensible to insult by pity--received her, in fact, with as much respect as if she were an enemy and not a friend.
After dinner, in Lorinda's new tea room, in an aged27 house which was now empty of guests for the winter except for the constant infestation54 of whimpering refugees, Lorinda, knitting, made her first mention of the dead Mary.
"I suppose your sister did intend to kill Swan, eh?"
"I don't know. The Corpos didn't seem to think so. They gave her a big military funeral."
"Well, of course, they don't much care to have assassinations55 talked about and maybe sort of become a general habit. I agree with your father. I think that, in many cases, assassinations are really rather unfortunate--a mistake in tactics. No. Not good. Oh, by the way, Sissy, I think I'm going to get your father out of concentration camp."
"What?"
Lorinda had none of the matrimonial moans of Emma; she was as business-like as ordering eggs.
"Yes. I tried everything. I went to see Tasbrough, and that educational fellow, Peaseley. Nothing doing. They want to keep Doremus in. But that rat, Aras Dilley, is at Trianon as guard now. I'm bribing56 him to help your father escape. We'll have the man here for Christmas, only kind of late, and sneak57 him into Canada."
"Oh!" said Sissy.
A few days afterward58, reading a coded New Underground telegram which apparently59 dealt with the delivery of furniture, Lorinda shrieked60, "Sissy! All you-know-what has busted61 loose! In Washington! Lee Sarason has deposed62 Buzz Windrip and grabbed the dictatorship!"
"Oh!" said Sissy.
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1
grafting
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| 嫁接法，移植法 | |
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apprehending
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
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agitators
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| n.（尤指政治变革的）鼓动者( agitator的名词复数 )；煽动者；搅拌器；搅拌机 | |
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commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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12
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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13
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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guffawed
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| v.大笑，狂笑( guffaw的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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yelped
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| v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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mediocre
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| adj.平常的，普通的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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25
plumbing
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| n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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impractical
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| adj.不现实的，不实用的，不切实际的 | |
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swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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33
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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bleated
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| v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的过去式和过去分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说 | |
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soot
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| n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟 | |
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champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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37
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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38
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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41
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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42
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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43
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
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44
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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45
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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46
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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47
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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48
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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49
belch
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| v.打嗝，喷出 | |
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50
peddling
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| 忙于琐事的，无关紧要的 | |
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51
fattened
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| v.喂肥( fatten的过去式和过去分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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52
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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53
parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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54
infestation
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| n.侵扰，蔓延 | |
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assassinations
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| n.暗杀( assassination的名词复数 ) | |
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56
bribing
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| 贿赂 | |
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57
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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58
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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60
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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62
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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