Small Footprints

“Do not be afraid,” said Sophie Price to the shepherds.

“不要害怕,”Sophie Price对牧羊人说。

“Do not be afraid,” she said to the kings, at the door.

“不要害怕,”她在门口对国王们说。

“Do not be afraid,” she said to Ruth’s piano, and to the kitchen, and to a small sheep who was not afraid at all until then.

“不要害怕,”她对Ruth的钢琴说,对厨房说,也对一只小羊说。那只小羊本来一点也不怕,听了才怕起来。

It was Tuesday, the first of December. Since a quarter to four Sophie said the big line about thirty times. Every time it was very good. I wanted to put her in the crib with the straw.

那天是12月1日,星期二。从三点四十五分起,Sophie说了大概三十次那句最重要的话。每次都说得很好。我真想把她放进有草的马槽里。

The sheep could see, at least. Somebody had cut bigger holes in all six sheep heads, very neatly. Under my note, in big square letters, somebody wrote: “Big enough?” I kept the note. I don’t know why.

至少羊现在看得见了。有人把六个羊头的眼睛都剪大了,剪得很整齐。在我的条子下面,有人用大大的方方的字写了:“够大吗?”我留下了那张条子。我不知道为什么。

Inês stood next to her the whole rehearsal. She didn’t say anything back. At half past four the children ran for their coats, and in the noise Inês was suddenly at the door, first of everyone. Her eyes were red, and she held her school bag tight against her chest, with both arms. I called goodbye. She didn’t answer.

整个排练,Inês都站在她旁边。她什么也没有回答。四点半,孩子们跑去拿外套,在吵闹中,Inês一下子就到了门口,是所有人里第一个。她的眼睛是红的,两只手臂紧紧抱着书包。我对她说再见。她没有回答。

At seven I came back to the hall. Marco was there with his key, alone, under the big light. He wasn’t building. He sat on a box with a small knife and a piece of wood, and wood shavings lay round his boots. In his hand was a little donkey, no bigger than my thumb.

七点我回到礼堂。Marco一个人在那里,他有钥匙,坐在大灯下面。他没有在做东西。他坐在一个箱子上,手里拿着一把小刀和一块木头,木屑落在他的靴子旁边。他手里有一只小驴,没有我的大拇指大。

“For the crib?” I asked.

“是给马槽的吗?”我问。

“No. Not for the crib.” He put it in his pocket, fast. “It’s for the nights, when I can’t sleep.”

“不是。不是给马槽的。”他很快地把它放进口袋。“是给晚上用的,我睡不着的时候。”

In the middle of the room stood a wooden frame as tall as a door. It smelled of new wood.

房间中间有一个木头架子,有门那么高。它闻起来是新木头的味道。

“Mr Russo. Can I ask you something?”

“Russo先生,我可以问您一件事吗?”

“You can ask.” He picked up his hammer and went back to the frame.

“您问吧。”他拿起锤子,走回架子那里。

“On Thursday night, after the rehearsal. Mr Doyle says your van was here until ten.”

“星期四晚上,排练以后。Doyle先生说您的货车在这里,一直到十点。”

He put down his hammer.

他放下了锤子。