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As the summer of 1994passed, Smith's French improved, and Luis learned to say hello, goodbye, jeep, ship, and ice cream, even though their conversations stayed pretty concise.
1994年的夏天过去了，史密斯的法语水平有所提高，而路易也学会了用英语说“你好”，“再见”，“吉普车”，“轮船”和“冰淇淋”，尽管他们的谈话内容仍然很简练。
In mid-October, when Smith received orders to leave France, he drove to the local authorities to make some inquiries. He ascertained that Luis had been abandoned at birth and had no living relatives. But when he petitioned to adopt him and become his legal guardian, the answer was straightforward and firm: no.
十月中旬，史密斯接到了命令要离开法国，他开车到地方当局做了一些咨询。他查明了路易在出生时就被遗弃了，没有亲人在世。但当他申请收养路易，成为他的法定监护人时，得到的答案直接而明确：不行。
Notwithstanding the regulations, Smith enclosed Luis in a hug and promised to return for him later. The two had grown so close amongst the trials of war, and Smith knew he would never forget the boy. What Smith could never have imagined was that he would never see Luis again.
虽然有规定，史密斯还是紧紧地把路易抱在怀里，答应以后一定会回来找他。在战争的磨难中两人变得愈发亲近，史密斯知道自己是永远不会忘记这个男孩的，但是史密斯绝对没有想到的是他再也见不到路易了。
After the war ended, Smith took a multitude of trips returning to France looking for Luis. But try as he might, the familiar landmarks were gone. France was a country torn apart by the bombs of the war and then pieced back together again. Each day Smith would grieve. Yet, he remained dogged in his search for Luis. Smith knew in his heart that Luis was still alive and waiting, but he simply could not find any remnant of the boy he had come to love like a son. He combed through phone books and even hired a private investigator. His repeated failures haunted him as he repeatedly asked himself punishing questions: Why have I failed Luis? What could I have done differently?
战争结束后，史密斯曾多次返回法国寻找路易。尽管他竭尽全力，熟悉的标志却都消失了。法国被战争的炮火撕碎，然后又被重新拼凑起来。史密斯每天都十分悲痛。然而，他仍坚持不懈地在寻找路易。史密斯心里坚信路易还活着，还在等他，但是他就是找不到这个他曾经当亲生儿子对待的男孩的一点点踪迹。他翻遍了电话簿，甚至雇了一个私家侦探。他一次次地失败，他不停地问一直在折磨着自己的问题：为什么我会让路易失望呢？我当时如果做了不同的选择又会怎样？
As he grew older, Smith's pain increased. Finally, old age forced him to stop traveling, but Smith dwelled more and more on his one broken promise and lifelong regret.
随着史密斯的老去，他的痛苦在逐渐加重。最终，他因为年龄太大无法再长途旅行了，但是他越来越纠结于自己这个无法实现的诺言和终生的遗憾。
In his final will, Smith instructed his children to continue where he had left off, pleading with them to find Luis.
在他的遗愿中，史密斯让他的孩子们继续他没完成的事情，恳求他们找到路易。
