评论
打印
At the sound of his voice the Director started into a guilty realization of where he was;
主任听见他说话，猛然一惊，意识到了自己的处境，不安起来。
shot a glance at Bernard, and averting his eyes, blushed darkly; looked at him again with sudden suspicion and, angrily on his dignity, "Don't imagine," he said, "that I'd had any indecorous relation with the girl.
他瞥了伯纳一眼，满脸通红，回避着他的眼睛；又突然产生了疑心，瞥了他一眼；出于尊严，又再瞥了他一眼。“别胡思乱想。”他说，“别以为我跟那姑娘有什么木正当的关系。
Nothing emotional, nothing long-drawn.
我们没有感情，没有拖泥带水，
It was all perfectly healthy and normal."
完全是健康的，正常的。”
He handed Bernard the permit.
他把批准书交给了伯纳。
"I really don't know why I bored you with this trivial anecdote."
‘我真不知道为什么会拿这件琐事来让你心烦。”
Furious with himself for having given away a discreditable secret, he vented his rage on Bernard.
他因为透露了一个不光彩的秘密对自己生了气，却把怒气发泄到伯纳身上。
The look in his eyes was now frankly malignant.
现在他的眼神已带着明显的恶意。
"And I should like to take this opportunity, Mr. Marx," he went on, "of saying that I'm not at all pleased with the reports I receive of your behaviour outside working hours.
“我想利用这个机会告诉你，马克思先生，”他说了下去，“我收到了关于你的业余行为的报告，我一点也不满意。
You may say that this is not my business. But it is. I have the good name of the Centre to think of.
你可以认为这不关我的事，但是，它是我的事。我得考虑本中心的名声。
My workers must be above suspicion, particularly those of the highest castes.
我的工作人员决不能受到怀疑，特别是最高种姓的人。
Alphas are so conditioned that they do not have to be infantile in their emotional behaviour.
阿尔法的条件设置是：他们的情感行为不必一定要像婴儿，
But that is all the more reason for their making a special effort to conform.
但是，正因如此，他们就该特别努力恪守习俗。
lt is their duty to be infantile, even against their inclination.
他们的责任是要像婴儿，即使不愿意也得像。
And so, Mr. Marx, I give you fair warning."
因此，马克思先生，我给你一个公正的警告。”
The Director's voice vibrated with an indignation that had now become wholly righteous and impersonal–was the expression of the disapproval of Society itself.
主任的声音颤抖起来，他此时所表现的已是凛凛正气和无私的愤怒了——已是代表着社会本身的反对。
"If ever I hear again of any lapse from a proper standard of infantile decorum,
“如果我再听见你违背正常的、婴儿行为的规范，
I shall ask for your transference to a Sub-Centre–preferably to Iceland. Good morning."
我就要请求把你调到下级中心去——很有可能是冰岛。再见。”
And swivelling round in his chair, he picked up his pen and began to write.
他在旋椅上一转，抓起笔写了起来。
"That'll teach him," he said to himself. But he was mistaken.
“那可以给他个教训。”他对自己说。但是他错了，
For Bernard left the room with a swagger, exulting, as he banged the door behind him,
因为伯纳是大摇大摆离开屋子的，而且砰的一声关上门时心里很得意。
in the thought that he stood alone, embattled against the order of things;
他认为自己是在单枪匹马向现存的秩序挑战。
elated by the intoxicating consciousness of his individual significance and importance.
因为意识到自己的意义和重要性，很为激动，甚至兴高采烈。
Even the thought of persecution left him undismayed, was rather tonic than depressing.
即使想到要受迫害也满不在乎。他不但没有泄气，反倒是更加振作了。
He felt strong enough to meet and overcome amiction, strong enough to face even Iceland.
他觉得自己有足够的力量面对痛苦，战胜痛苦，甚至有足够的力量面对冰岛。
And this confidence was the greater for his not for a moment really believing that he would be called upon to face anything at all.
因为他从来不相信人家真会要求他面对什么，所以更有了信心。
People simply weren't transferred for things like that.
人是不会因为那样的理由而调职的。
Iceland was just a threat. A most stimulating and life-giving threat.
冰岛只不过是一种威胁，一种最刺激人、使人振奋的威胁。
Walking along the corridor, he actually whistled.
他沿着走廊走着，居然吹起了口哨。
Heroic was the account he gave that evening of his interview with the D.H.C.
他在谈起那天晚上跟主任的会见时是自命英勇的。
"Whereupon," it concluded, "I simply told him to go to the Bottomless Past and marched out of the room.
“然后，”他用这样的话下了结论，“我叫他滚回到往昔的无底深渊去，然后大步踏出了房间。
And that was that." He looked at Helmholtz Watson expectantly, awaiting his due reward of sympathy, encouragement, admiration.
事实就是这样。”他期待地望着赫姆霍尔兹·华生，等着他以同情、鼓励和钦佩作为回答。
But no word came. Helmholtz sat silent, staring at the floor.
可是赫姆霍尔兹只默默地望着地板，一言不发。
