高级英语第一册 2.Hiroshima - The "Liveliest" City in J

2.Hiroshima - The "Liveliest" City in Japan

(excerpts)

Jacques Danvoir

“Hiroshima! Everybody off!” That must be what the man in the Japanese stationmaster's uniform shouted, as the fastest train in the world slipped to a stop in Hiroshima Station. I did not understand what he was saying. First of all, because he was shouting in Japanese. And secondly, because I had a lump in my throat and a lot of sad thoughts on my mind that had little to do with anything a Nippon railways official might say. The very act of stepping on this soil, in breathing this air of Hiroshima, was for me a far greater adventure than any trip or any reportorial assignment I'd previously taken. Was I not at the scene of the crime?

　　The Japanese crowd did not appear to have the same preoccupations that I had. From the sidewalk outside the station, things seemed much the same as in other Japanese cities. Little girls and elderly ladies in kimonos rubbed shoulders with teenagers and women in western dress. Serious looking men spoke to one another as if they were oblivious of the crowds about them, and bobbed up and down repeatedly in little bows, as they exchanged the ritual formula of gratitude and respect: "Tomo aligato gozayimas." Others were using little red telephones that hung on the facades of grocery stores and tobacco shops.

　　"Hi! Hi!" said the cab driver, whose door popped open at the very sight of a traveler. "Hi", or something that sounds very much like it, means "yes". "Can you take me to City Hall?" He grinned at me in the rear-view mirror and repeated "Hi!" "Hi! ’ We set off at top speed through the narrow streets of Hiroshima. The tall buildings of the martyred city flashed by as we lurched from side to side in response to the driver's sharp twists of the wheel.

　　Just as I was beginning to find the ride long, the taxi screeched to a halt, and the driver got out and went over to a policeman to ask the way. As in Tokyo, taxi drivers in Hiroshima often know little of their city, but to avoid loss of face before foreigners, will not admit their ignorance, and will accept any destination without concern for how long it may take them to find it.

　　At last this intermezzo came to an end, and I found myself in front of the gigantic City Hall. The usher bowed deeply and heaved a long, almost musical sigh, when I showed him the invitation which the mayor had sent me in response to my request for an interview. "That is not here, sir," he said in English. "The mayor expects you tonight for dinner with other foreigners on the restaurant boat. See? This is where it is.” He sketched a little map for me on the back of my invitation.

　　Thanks to his map, I was able to find a taxi driver who could take me straight to the canal embankment , where a sort of barge with a roof like one on a Japanese house was moored . The Japanese build their traditional houses on boats when land becomes too expensive. The rather arresting spectacle of little old Japan adrift amid beige concrete skyscrapers is the very symbol of the incessant struggle between the kimono and the miniskirt.

　　At the door to the restaurant, a stunning, porcelain-faced woman in traditional costume asked me to remove my shoes. This done, I entered one of the low-ceilinged rooms of the little floating house, treading cautiously on the soft matting and experiencing a twinge of embarrassment at the prospect of meeting the mayor of Hiroshima in my socks.

　　He was a tall, thin man, sad-eyed and serious. Quite unexpectedly, the strange emotion which had overwhelmed me at the station returned, and I was again crushed by the thought that I now stood on the site of the first atomic bombardment, where thousands upon thousands of people had been slain in one second, where thousands upon thousands of others had lingered on to die in slow agony .

　　The introductions were made. Most of the guests were Japanese, and it was difficult for me to ask them just why we were gathered here. The few Americans and Germans seemed just as inhibited as I was. "Gentlemen," said the mayor, "I am happy to welcome you to Hiroshima."

　　Everyone bowed, including the Westerners. After three days in Japan, the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.

　　"Gentlemen, it is a very great honor to have you here in Hiroshima."

　　There were fresh bows, and the faces grew more and more serious each time the name Hiroshima was repeated.

          "Hiroshima, as you know, is a city familiar to everyone,” continued the mayor.

　　"Yes, yes, of course,” murmured the company, more and more agitated.

　　"Seldom has a city gained such world renown, and I am proud and happy to welcome you to Hiroshima, a town known throughout the world for its--- oysters".

　　I was just about to make my little bow of assent, when the meaning of these last words sank in, jolting me out of my sad reverie .

　　"Hiroshima – oysters? What about the bomb and the misery and humanity's most heinous crime?" While the mayor went on with his speech in praise of southern Japanese sea food, I cautiously backed away and headed toward the far side of the room, where a few men were talking among themselves and paying little attention to the mayor's speech. "You look puzzled," said a small Japanese man with very large eye-glasses.

　　"Well, I must confess that I did not expect a speech about oysters here. I thought that Hiroshima still felt the impact of the atomic cataclysm ."

　　"No one talks about it any more, and no one wants to, especially, the people who were born here or who lived through it.

"Do you feel the same way, too?"

　　"I was here, but I was not in the center of town. I tell you this because I am almost an old man. There are two different schools of thought in this city of oysters, one that would like to preserve traces of the bomb, and the other that would like to get rid of everything, even the monument that was erected at the point of impact. They would also like to demolish the atomic museum."

　　"Why would they want to do that?"

　　"Because it hurts everybody, and because time marches on. That is why." The small Japanese man smiled, his eyes nearly closed behind their thick lenses. "If you write about this city, do not forget to say that it is the gayest city in Japan, even it many of the town's people still bear hidden wounds, and burns."

Like any other, the hospital smelled of formaldehyde and ether. Stretchers and wheelchairs lined the walls of endless corridors, and nurses walked by carrying nickel-plated instruments, the very sight of which would send shivers down the spine of any healthy visitor. The so-called atomic section was located on the third floor. It consisted of 17 beds.

　　"I am a fisherman by trade. I have been here a very long time, more than twenty years, "said an old man in Japanese pajamas. “What is wrong with you?”

　　"Something inside. I was in Hiroshima when it happened. I saw the fire ball. But I had no burns on my face or body. I ran all over the city looking for missing friends and relatives. I thought somehow I had been spared. But later my hair began to fall out, and my belly turned to water. I felt sick, and ever since then they have been testing and treating me. "

The doctor at my side explained and commented upon the old man's story, "We still hare a handful of patients here who are being kept alive by constant care. The others died as a result of their injuries, or else committed suicide . "

　　"Why did they commit suicide?"

　　"It is humiliating to survive in this city. If you bear any visible scars of atomic burns, your children will encounter prejudice on the part of those who do not. No one will marry the daughter or the niece of an atomic bomb victim. People are afraid of genetic damage from the radiation." The old fisherman gazed at me politely and with interest.

　　Hanging over the patient was a big ball made of bits of brightly colored paper, folded into the shape of tiny birds. "What's that?" I asked.

　　"Those are my lucky birds. Each day that I escape death, each day of suffering that helps to free me from earthly cares, I make a new little paper bird, and add it to the others. This way I look at them and congratulate myself of the good fortune that my illness has brought me. Because, thanks to it, I have the opportunity to improve my character."

Once again, outside in the open air, I tore into little pieces a small notebook with questions that I'd prepared in advance for interviews with the patients of the atomic ward. Among them was the question: Do you really think that Hiroshima is the liveliest city in Japan? I never asked it. But I could read the answer in every eye.

(from an American radio program presented by Ed Kay)

第二课

广岛--日本“最有活力”的城市

(节 选)

雅各•丹瓦 

　　“广岛到了!大家请下车!”当世界上最快的高速列车减速驶进广岛车站并渐渐停稳时，那位身着日本火车站站长制服的男人口中喊出的一定是这样的话。我其实并没有听懂他在说些什么，一是因为他是用日语喊的，其次，则是因为我当时心情沉重，喉咙哽噎，忧思万缕，几乎顾不上去管那日本铁路官员说些什么。踏上这块土地，呼吸着广岛的空气，对我来说这行动本身已是一套令人激动的经历，其意义远远超过我以往所进行的任何一次旅行或采访活动。难道我不就是在犯罪现场吗?

　　这儿的日本人看来倒没有我这样的忧伤情绪。从车站外的人行道上看去，这儿的一切似乎都与日本其他城市没什么两样。身着和嘏的小姑娘和上了年纪的太太与西装打扮的少年和妇女摩肩接豫；神情严肃的男人们对周围的人群似乎视而不见，只顾着相互交淡，并不停地点头弯腰，互致问候：“多么阿里伽多戈扎伊马嘶。”还有人在使用杂货铺和烟草店门前挂着的小巧的红色电话通话。

　　“嗨!嗨!”出租汽车司机一看见旅客，就砰地打开车门，这样打着招呼。“嗨”，或者某个发音近似“嗨”的什么词，意思是“对”或“是”。“能送我到市政厅吗?”司机对着后视镜冲我一笑，又连声“嗨!”“嗨!”出租车穿过广岛市区狭窄的街巷全速奔驰，我们的身子随着司机手中方向盘的一次次急转而前俯后仰，东倒西歪。与此同时，这座曾惨遭劫难的城市的高楼大厦则一座座地从我们身边飞掠而过。

　　正当我开始觉得路程太长时，汽车嘎地一声停了下来，司机下车去向警察问路。就像东京的情形一样，广岛的出租车司机对他们所在的城市往往不太熟悉，但因为怕在外国人面前丢脸，却又从不肯承认这一点。无论乘客指定的目的地在哪里，他们都毫不犹豫地应承下来，根本不考虑自己要花多长时间才能找到目的地。

　　这段小插曲后来终于结束了，我也就不知不觉地突然来到了宏伟的市政厅大楼前。当我出示了市长应我的采访要求而发送的请柬后，市政厅接待人员向我深深地鞠了一躬，然后声调悠扬地长叹了一口气。

　　“不是这儿，先生，”他用英语说道。“市长邀请您今天晚上同其他外宾一起在水上餐厅赴宴。您看，就是这儿。”他边说边为我在请柬背面勾划出了一张简略的示意图。

　　幸亏有了他画的图，我才找到一辆出租车把我直接送到了运河堤岸，那儿停泊着一艘顶篷颇像一般日本房屋屋顶的大游艇。由于地价过于昂贵，日本人便把传统日本式房屋建到了船上。漂浮在水面上的旧式日本小屋夹在一座座灰黄色摩天大楼之间，这一引人注目的景观正象征着和服与超短裙之间持续不断的斗争。

　　在水上餐厅的门口，一位身着和服、面色如玉、风姿绰约的迎宾女郎告诉我要脱鞋进屋。于是我便脱下鞋子，走进这座水上小屋里的一个低矮的房间，蹑手蹑脚地踏在柔软的榻榻米地席上，因想到要这样穿着袜子去见广岛市长而感到十分困窘不安。

　　 市长是位瘦高个儿的男人，目光忧郁，神情严肃。出人意料的是，刚到广岛车站时袭扰着我的那种异样的忧伤情绪竟在这时重新袭上心头，我的心情又难受起来，因为我又一次意识到自己置身于曾遭受第一颗原子弹轰击的现场。这儿曾有成千上万的生命顷刻之间即遭毁灭，还有成千上万的人在痛苦的煎熬中慢慢死去。

　　到场的宾客们被互相介绍了一番。他们大多数都是日本人，我也不好开口去问为什么要请我们来这儿聚会。在场的少数几位美国人和德国人看来也同我一样有些局促不安。 “先生们，”市长开言道，“我很高兴欢迎你们到广岛来。”

　　大家都开始弯腰鞠躬，连在场的西方人也不例外。只要在日本呆上三天，人的脊椎骨就会变得特别地柔韧灵活。

　　“先生们，你们光临广岛是我们的极大荣幸。”

　　大家又开始鞠躬。随着广岛这一名字的一次次重复，大家的面容变得越来越严肃起来。 “广岛，大家知道，是一座大家都很熟悉的城市，”市长接着说道。

　　“对，对，当然是这样，”在场的人们低声议论着，脸上的神色越来越不安起来。

　　“难得有个城市像广岛这样闻名遐迩。我既高兴而又自豪地欢迎诸位来到广岛。令广岛如此举世闻名的乃是它的--牡蛎。”

　　我正准备点头对市长的话表示赞同，可就在这时，我突然听明白了刚才这句话末尾几个字的意义，我的头脑也就随之从忧愁伤感中清醒过来。

　　“广岛--牡蛎?怎么没提原子弹和这个城市所遭受的灾难以及人类有史以来犯下的最大的罪恶呢?”

　　市长还在继续演讲，一个劲儿赞美着日本南方的海味。我蹑手蹑脚地退到屋子的后边，那儿有几个人在开小会，没怎么理睬市长的演讲。

　　“您看上去像是心中有什么疑惑未解似的，”一个身材矮小、戴着一副特大眼镜的日本人对我说道。

　　“不错，我得承认我真的没有料到在这儿会听到一番关于牡蛎的演说。我原以为广岛仍未摆脱原子弹灾祸的阴影。”

　　“没有人再去谈它了，谁都不愿再提了，尤其是在这儿出生的或是亲身经历了那场灾难的人。”

　　“你也是这种态度吗?”

　　“我当时就在这个城市，不过没在市中心。我之所以对您讲起这些，是因为我已差不多步入老年了。在这个以牡蛎闻名的城市里有两种截然不同的意见，一种主张保存原子弹爆炸留下的痕迹，另一种则主张销毁一切痕迹，甚至要拆除立于爆炸中心的纪念碑。这一派人还要求拆掉原子博物馆。”

　　“你们为什么要这样做呢?”

　　“因为那些东西使人伤感，因为时代毕竟在前进。”小个子日本人面带微笑，一双眼睛在厚厚的镜片后面眯成了一条缝。“假如您要描写这座城市的话，千万别忘记告诉人们这是日本最快乐的城市，尽管这里的市民许多人身上还带着暗伤和明显的灼伤。”※ 和其他任何一家医院一样，这家医院里也弥漫着甲醛和乙醚的气味。长得看不到尽头的走廊墙边排列着无数的担架和轮椅，穿廊而过的护士手中都端着镀镍的医疗器械，使得来这儿的健康人一看便脊背发凉。所谓原子病区设在三楼，共有十七个病床。

　　“我是以打鱼为生的，在这儿已呆了好久了，二十多年了。”一个身穿日本式睡衣的老人这样对我说。

　　“你是受的什么伤?”

　　“内伤。那场灾难降临时我正在广岛。我看到了原子弹爆炸时的火球，但无论脸上身上都没有灼伤。我当时满街奔跑着寻找失踪的亲友。我以为自己总算是幸免于难了，但到后来，我的头发开始脱落，腹内开始出水，并感觉恶心呕吐。打那时起，他们就一直不断地对我进行体检和治疗。”

　　站在我身边的大夫对老人的话作了补充说明：“我们这儿还有一些病人是靠不断的护理医治才得以维持生命的。另有一些病人因伤重不治而死，还有一些自杀身亡。”

　　“他们干吗要自杀呢?”

　　“因为在这座城市里苟延残喘是一种耻辱。假如你身上有着明显的原子伤痕，你的孩子就会受到那些没有伤痕的人的歧视。男人们谁也不愿娶一个原子弹受害者的女儿或侄女为妻。他们害怕核辐射会造成遗传基因病变。”

　　那位老渔民彬彬有礼、兴致勃勃地定睛望着我。

　　他的病床上方悬挂着一个由许多叠成小鸟形状的五颜六色的纸片结成的大纸团。 “那是什么?”我问道。

　　“那是我的吉祥鸟。每当我从死神那儿挣脱出来的那一天，每当病痛将我从尘世烦恼中解放出来的那一天，我都要叠一只新的小纸鸟，加到原有的纸鸟群里去。我就这样看着这些纸鸟，庆幸病痛给自己带来的好运。因为正是我的病痛使我有了怡养性情的机会。”

　　从医院出来，我又一次地撕碎了一个小笔记本，那上面记着我预先想好准备在采访原子病区的病人时提问的一些问题，其中有一个问题就是：你是否真的认为广岛是日本最充满活力的城市?我一直没问这问题，但我已能从每个人的眼神中体会出这个问题的答案。

(选自埃德•凯编播的美国广播节目)

词汇(Vocabulary)

reportorial ( adj.) :reporting报道的，报告的

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kimono ( n.) :a loose out garment with short，wide sleeve and a sash。part of the traditional costume of Japanese men and women和服

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preoccupation ( n.) :a matter which takes up an one's attention令人全神贯注的事物

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oblivious ( adj.) :forgetful or unmindful(usually with of or to)忘却的；健忘的(常与of或to连用)

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bob ( v．) :move or act in a bobbing manner，move suddenly or jerkily；to curtsy quickly上下跳动，晃动；行屈膝礼

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ritual ( adj.) : of or having the nature of，or done as a rite or rites仪式的，典礼的

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facade ( n.) :the front of a building；part of a building facing a street，courtyard，etc．(房屋)正面，门面

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lurch ( v．) :roll，pitch，or sway suddenly forward or to one side突然向前(或向侧面)倾斜

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intermezzo ( n.) :a short piece of music played alone．or one which connects longer pieces插曲；间奏曲

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gigantic ( adj.) :very big；huge；colossal；immense巨大的，庞大的，其大无比的

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usher ( n.) :an official doorkeeper门房；传达员

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heave (v．) :utter(a sign，groan，etc．)with great effort or pain(费劲或痛苦地)发出(叹息、呻吟声等)

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barge ( n.) :a large boat，usually flat-bottomed，for carrying heavy freight on rivers，canals，etc．；a large pleasure boat，esp. one used for state ceremonies，pageants，etc．大驳船；(尤指用于庆典的)大型游艇

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moor ( v．) :hold(a ship，etc．)in place by cables or chains to the shore，or by anchors，etc．系泊；锚泊

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arresting (adj.) :attracting attention；interesting；striking引人注目的；有趣的

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beige ( adj.) :grayish-tan米黄色；浅灰黄色的

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tatami ( n.) :[Jap．]a floor mat woven of rice straw，used traditionally in Japanese homes for sitting on，as when eating[日]日本人家里铺在地板上的稻草垫，榻榻米

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stunning ( adj.) :[colloq．]remarkably attractive，excellent[口]极其漂亮的；极其出色的

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twinge ( n.) :a sudden，brief，darting pain or pang；a sudden．brief feeling of remorse，shame，etc．刺痛，剧痛；痛心，懊悔，悔恨，内疚

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slay ( v.) :(slew或slayed, slain，slaying)kill or destroy in a violent way杀害；毁掉

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linger ( v．) :continue to live or exist although very close to death or the end苟延；历久犹存

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agony ( n.) :very great mental or physical pain(精神上或肉体上的)极度痛苦

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inhibit ( v．) :hold back or keep from some action，feeling，etc 抑制(感情等)；约束(行动等)

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spinal ( adj. ) :of or having to do with the spine or spinal cord脊背的；脊柱的；脊髓的

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agitated ( adj.) :shaken；perturbed；excited颤抖的；不安的，焦虑的；激动的

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reverie ( n.) :a dreamy，fanciful，or visionary notion or daydream梦想；幻想；白日梦

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heinous (adj.) :outrageously evil or wicked；abominable 极可恨的，极可恶的，极坏的

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cataclysm ( n.) :a violent and sudden change or event．esp. a serious flood or earthquake灾变(尤指洪水、地震等)

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demolish ( v．) :pull down，tear down，or smash to pieces拆毁，拆除；破坏，毁坏

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formaldehyde ( n.) :[chem.]a colorless，pungent gas，HCHO， used in solution as a strong disinfectant and preservation，and in the manufacture of synthetic resins，dyes. etc．[化]甲醛

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ether ( n.) :[chem.]a light colorless liquid made from alcohol，which burns and is easily changed into a gas(used in industry and as an anaesthetic to put people to sleep before an operation)[化]醚；乙醚

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humiliate ( v．) :hurt the pride or dignity of by causing to be or seem foolish or contemptible使受辱，使丢脸

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genetic (adj.) :of or having to do with genetics遗传的

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短语 (Expressions)

have a lump in one’s throat:   a feeling of pressure in one’s throat (cause by repressed emotion as love，sadness，etc．)如哽在喉，哽咽(因压制激动的情绪所致，如爱、悲伤等)

       例： Many British people had a lump in their throat on hearing the death of Dianna．许多英国人在听到黛安娜王妃的死讯时如哽在喉。

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on one’s mind:   occupying one’s thoughts(esp．as a source of wor- ry，)占领某人的思绪，一直在想的(尤指忧虑的来源)

       例： The thought that is always on my mind is whether to go broad or not．我一直在思考的一个问题是究竟要不要出国。

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rub shoulders with:   (infml)meet and mix with(people)与(人们)联系，交往

       例： The foreign visitors said that they would like to rub shoulders with ordinary Chinese people．那些外国游客们说他们愿意与中国老百姓有来往。

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set off:   start(a journey，race，etc．)开始(旅行，赛跑等)

       例： If you want to catch that train we’better set off for the station immediately．你要是想赶上那班火车，咱们就最好马上动身去火车站。

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flash by／alorig／past／through:   move very quickly in the specified direction急速向某方向运动

       例： The train flashed by at high speed火车疾驰而过。

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sink in:   (of liquids)go down into another substance；be absorbed (指液体)渗入，被吸收(fig．)(of words，etc．)be fully absorbed or un- derstood：penetrate esp．gradually(指话语等)完全理解

       例： Rub the cream on your skin and let it sink in．把这种软膏搽在皮肤上，让它渗进去。 The scale of the tragedy gradually sank in．这一悲惨事件涉及的范围已逐渐完全清楚了。

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by trade:   way of making a living，esp．a job that involves making sth．；occupation以…为谋生之道(尤指以制造某物为业)

       例： be a butcher，carpenter，tailor，etc．by trade做肉商、木匠、裁缝等