A Test from God

The sheep couldn’t see.

羊看不见。

There were six of them, the smallest children in the play, in white wool costumes with sheep heads. Somebody’s grandmother made the heads last year. They are beautiful heads. They have tiny holes for eyes.

一共有六只,是戏里最小的孩子,穿着白色的羊毛服,戴着羊头。去年有一位奶奶做了这些头。它们很漂亮。可是眼睛只有很小的洞。

“Sheep, walk to the stable, please,” I said. “Slowly.”

“羊,请走到马厩去,”我说。“慢慢走。”

The six sheep walked slowly, straight into the piano.

六只羊慢慢地走,一直撞到钢琴上。

Ruth went on playing. One sheep sat down on the floor and began to cry. Another sheep walked the other way, out of the door and into the yard. I ran after it into the dark. It was a boy called Danny, and he wanted to go home.

Ruth继续弹琴。一只羊坐在地上哭了起来。另一只羊往别的方向走,走出门,走到院子里。我跑到黑暗里去追它。他是一个叫Danny的男孩,他想回家。

“Danny, the stable is this way.”

“Danny,马厩在这边。”

“I can’t see the stable, Miss. I can’t see anything. I can see my feet.”

“我看不见马厩,老师。我什么都看不见。我只看见我的脚。”

I brought him back. Ruth stopped playing at last and looked at the six sheep, now all on the floor.

我把他带回来。Ruth终于不弹了,她看着那六只羊,现在它们都在地上。

“In 2024 we had a real one,” she said. “It was easier.”

“2024年我们有一只真的羊,”她说。“那更容易。”

It was Thursday, the first real rehearsal, and it went like that until half past four. The kings forgot their gifts. Mary laughed every time Joseph looked at her. Sophie Price said “Do not be afraid” beautifully, four times, and Inês stood next to her as the second angel and said nothing at all. She didn’t look at me once.

那天是星期四,是第一次真正的排练,一直这样到四点半。国王们忘了他们的礼物。每次约瑟看马利亚,马利亚都笑。Sophie Price把“不要害怕”说得很好听,说了四次。Inês站在她旁边做第二个天使,什么也没说。她一次也没有看我。

While the children drank their juice, I wrote a note for Marco and put it on his box of tools: “Bigger eyes for the sheep, please. C. Novak.” I put the six sheep heads next to it.

孩子们喝果汁的时候,我给Marco写了一张条子,放在他的工具箱上:“请给羊做大一点的眼睛。C. Novak。”我把六个羊头放在旁边。

At twenty past four Efua came to the door, and Amara went with her, quick and quiet. At half past I sent everyone home, and I locked the hall door myself. I checked it twice. I always check things twice.

四点二十分,Efua来到门口,Amara跟她走了,又快又安静。四点半我让大家回家,我自己锁了礼堂的门。我检查了两次。我总是检查两次。

On Friday morning, at twenty past eight, Mr Doyle came to my classroom. He is about fifty, with grey hair and a grey coat, and he has been the caretaker of St Nicholas for thirty years. He stood very straight in the door.

星期五早上八点二十分,Doyle先生来到我的教室。他五十岁左右,头发是灰的,外套也是灰的。他在圣尼古拉教堂做了三十年的管理员。他站在门口,站得很直。

“Miss Novak. The baby is gone.”

“Novak老师。婴儿不见了。”