评论
打印
She takes down the phone book and skims down the Cs until she finds it, the only Chen in Middlewood: L Chen 105 4th St #3A. A telephone number.
她取下电话簿，飞快地查了一遍，直到她找到了，米德尔伍德唯一姓陈的：L陈105号4街3A号。一个电话号码。
She nearly reaches for the receiver, but what would she say? Hello, do you know where my husband is?
她几乎伸手去拿话筒，但她会说什么呢？你好，你知道我丈夫在哪里吗？
Without shutting the phone book, she grabs her keys from the counter. "Stay here," she says. "Both of you. I'll be back in half an hour."
没有合上电话本，她从柜台上拿起钥匙。她说：“你们两个呆在这里。我半小时后回来。”
Fourth Street is near the college, a student-heavy area of town, and even as she turns down it, squinting at building numbers, Marilyn has no plan.
第四街就在学院附近，这是一个以学生为主的城区，即使在她拒绝它的时候，眯着眼睛看大楼号码，玛丽琳也没有计划。
Maybe, she thinks, Nath is all wrong, maybe she is making a fool of herself. She feels like an overtuned violin, strung too tight, so that even the slightest vibration sets her humming.
她想，也许纳全错了，也许她在愚弄自己。她觉得自己就像一把调得太过的小提琴，弦拉得太紧，即使是最轻微的振动都会让她嗡嗡作响。
Then, in front of number 97, she sees James's car, parked beneath a scrubby maple. Four stray leaves dot its windshield. Now she feels strangely calm.
然后，在97号门前，她看到了詹姆斯的车，停在一棵灌木丛生的枫树下。挡风玻璃上点缀着四片落叶。现在她感到异常平静。
She parks the car, lets herself into 105, and climbs the steps to the third floor, where with one steady fist she raps at 3A.
她把车停好，进了105栋，上了三楼，她稳稳地敲了3A房间的门。
It is nearly eleven, and when the door opens, just wide enough to reveal Louisa still in a pale blue robe, Marilyn smiles.
快十一点了，门开时，刚好可以看到路易莎还穿着一件淡蓝色的长袍，玛丽琳面带微笑。
"Hello," she says. "It's Louisa, isn't it? Louisa Chen? I'm Marilyn Lee." When Louisa does not respond, she adds, "James Lee's wife."
她说：“你好，是路易莎吗？路易莎·陈？我是玛丽琳·李。”路易莎没有回应时，她补充道，“我是詹姆斯·李的妻子。”
"Oh, yes," Louisa says. Her eyes flick away from Marilyn's. "I'm sorry. I'm not dressed yet—"
“哦，是的，”路易莎说。她的眼睛从玛丽琳的眼睛上移开。“我很抱歉。我还没穿好衣服——”
"I can see that." Marilyn sets her hand on the door, holding it open with one palm. "I'll just take a moment of your time. You see, I'm looking for my husband. He didn't come home last night."
“我看得出来。”玛丽琳把手放在门上，用一只手掌把门打开。“我想占用你一点时间。我在找我的丈夫。他昨晚没回家。”
"Oh?" Louisa swallows hard, and Marilyn pretends not to notice. "How terrible. You must be very worried." "I am. Very worried." She keeps her eyes trained on Louisa's face.
“哦？”路易莎使劲咽了口唾沫，玛丽琳假装没看见。“真可怕。你一定很担心。”“我非常担心。”她的眼睛一直盯着路易莎的脸。
They have met only twice before, in passing at the college Christmas party and then at the funeral, and Marilyn studies her carefully now.
他们以前只见过两次面，一次是在大学的圣诞晚会上，另一次是在葬礼上。
Long ink-colored hair, long lashes over downturned eyes, small mouth, like a doll's. A shy little thing. As far from me, she thinks with a twinge, as a girl could be.
长长的墨色头发，长长的睫毛垂在眼睛上，小小的嘴巴，像个洋娃娃。一个害羞的小女孩。离我很远，她像一个女孩一样冥思苦想。
"Do you have any idea where he might be?" Louisa blushes bright pink, and Marilyn feels almost sorry for her, she is so transparent. "Why would I know?"
“你知道他可能在哪儿吗？”路易莎脸涨得通红，玛丽琳几乎为她感到难过，她是那么容易识破。“我怎么会知道？”
"You're his assistant, aren't you? You work together every day." She pauses. "He speaks of you so often at home."
“你是他的助手，对吗？”你们每天都在一起工作。”玛丽琳停顿了一下。“他经常在家里提起你。”
"He does?" Confusion and pleasure and surprise mingle in Louisa's face, and Marilyn can see exactly what is running through her mind.
”真的吗？”路易莎的脸上混杂着困惑、快乐和惊讶，而玛丽琳能清楚地看到她脑子里在想什么。
That Louisa—she's so smart. So talented. So beautiful. She thinks, Oh Louisa. How young you are. "Well," Louisa says at last. "Have you checked his office?"
路易莎很聪明，有才华，又漂亮。她想，路易莎，你真年轻。“好吧，”路易莎最后说。“你查过他的办公室吗？”
"He wasn't there earlier," Marilyn says. "Perhaps he's there now." She sets her hand on the doorknob. "Could I use your telephone?"
“他之前不在那里，”玛丽琳说。“也许他现在就在那儿。”她把手放在门把手上。“我能用一下你的电话吗？”
Louisa's smile vanishes. "I'm sorry," she says. "My phone's actually not working right now." She looks desperately at Marilyn, as if wishing she would just give up and go away.
路易莎的笑容消失了。“对不起，”她说。“我的手机现在不能用了。”她绝望地看着玛丽琳，好像希望她能放弃，然后走开。
Marilyn waits, letting Louisa fidget. Her hands have stopped shaking. Inside she feels a quiet smoldering rage. "Thank you anyway," she says. "You've been very helpful."
玛丽琳等待着，让路易莎坐立不安。她的手停止了颤抖。她内心感到一种压抑的怒火。“不管怎样，还是要谢谢你，”她说。“你帮了我很大的忙。”
She lets her eyes drift past Louisa, to the tiny sliver of living room she can see through the doorway, and Louisa glances back over her shoulder nervously, as if James might have wandered out of the bedroom unawares.
她的目光从路易莎身边飘过，透过门口，她看到了起居室的那一小片银白色，路易莎不安地回头看了一眼，仿佛詹姆斯可能不知不觉地溜出了卧室。
"If you see him," Marilyn adds, raising her voice, "tell my husband that I'll see him at home." Louisa swallows again. "I will," she says, and at last Marilyn lets her shut the door.
“如果你看到他，”玛丽琳提高声音补充道，“告诉我丈夫我会在家里见到他。”路易莎咽了一口口水。“我会的，”她说，最后玛丽琳让她关上门。
