黑暗中的声音

“一支蜡烛,”Kaplan先生说。“今天晚上是第一个晚上。”

“One candle,” says Mr Kaplan. “Tonight is the first night.”

今天是星期五,12月4日,九点十五分,在车站。Kaplan先生又老又小,戴着一顶大帽子。每天晚上他坐我的车去养老院。他的妻子在那里。今天晚上他有一个小盒子,里面是蜡烛。

It is Friday, 4 December, 9:15, at the station. Mr Kaplan is old and small, with a big hat. Every evening he takes my bus to the care home. His wife is there. Tonight he has a small box of candles.

“什么的第一个晚上?”我问。

“The first night of what?” I ask.

“光明节。八个晚上,八支蜡烛。每个晚上多一支。我妻子喜欢蜡烛。”他笑了。“您不是什么都知道,Rosa。”

“Hanukkah. Eight nights, eight candles. One more every night. My wife likes the candles.” He smiles. “You don’t know everything, Rosa.”

“是,不知道。可是我问啊!”

“No. But I ask!”

Jonas跟在他后面上车。晚上好,第一排的座位,箱子放在腿上。今天晚上我有新闻要告诉他。

Jonas gets on behind him. Good evening, the first seat, the case on his knees. Tonight I have news for him.

“Dev今天又问我,”我说。“‘Rosa,他是谁?有新男人吗?’我什么都不说。什么都不说!您看到了吗?我会保守秘密。”

“Dev asks me again today,” I say. “Who is he, Rosa? Is there a new man? And I say nothing. Nothing! See? I can keep a secret.”

在镜子里我看见了。那差不多是一个笑。

In the mirror I see it. It is nearly a smile.

“谢谢您,”他说。

“Thank you,” he says.

到了最后一站,他下车了。我不看他。只看一点点。

At the last stop he gets off. I don’t watch him. Only a little.

十一点五十分,我最后一次在广场上。我的车是空的。发动机关了。我喜欢这两分钟。广场很安静。Hamid的店里有一盏灯。药店上面的一个窗户里有一支蜡烛。旁边有一个牌子:“钢琴课。请按铃。”光明节,我想。第一个晚上。

At 11:50 I am on the square for the last time. My bus is empty. The engine is off. I like these two minutes. The square is quiet. There is one light at Hamid’s shop. And in a window over the chemist there is one candle. Next to it there is a sign: “Piano lessons. Please ring.” Hanukkah, I think. The first night.

然后我听见了。

Then I hear it.

声音从教堂里来。又长又低。

A sound from the church. Long and low.

然后什么都没有。

Then nothing.