死亡约会 Part I Chapter 12（4）

（单词翻译）

It was about a quarter-past three when Sarah strolled down to the marquee.

Lady Westholme was sitting on a chair. Despite the heat of the day she was still wearing herserviceable Harris tweed skirt. On her lap was the report of a Royal Commission. Dr Gerard wastalking to Miss Pierce, who was standing¹ by her tent holding a book entitled The Love Quest anddescribed on its wrapper as a thrilling tale of passion and misunderstanding.

‘I don’t think it’s wise to lie down too soon after lunch,’ explained Miss Pierce. ‘One’sdigestion, you know. Quite cool and pleasant in the shadow of the marquee. Oh dear, do you thinkthat old lady is wise to sit in the sun up there?’

They all looked at the ridge² in front of them. Mrs Boynton was sitting as she had sat last night, amotionless Buddha³ in the door of her cave. There was no other human creature in sight. All thecamp personnel were asleep. A short distance away, following the line of the valley, a little groupof people walked together.

‘For once,’ said Dr Gerard, ‘the good Mamma permits them to enjoy themselves without her. Anew devilment on her part, perhaps?’

‘Do you know,’ said Sarah, ‘that’s just what I thought.’

‘What suspicious minds we have. Come, let us join the truants⁴.’

Leaving Miss Pierce to her exciting reading, they set off. Once round the bend of the valley,they caught up the other party who were walking slowly. For once, the Boyntons looked happyand carefree.

Lennox and Nadine, Carol and Raymond, Mr Cope with a broad smile on his face and the lastarrivals, Gerard and Sarah, were soon all laughing and talking together.

A sudden wild hilarity⁵ was born. In everyone’s mind was the feeling that this was a snatchedpleasure—a stolen joy to enjoy to the full. Sarah and Raymond did not draw apart. Instead, Sarahwalked with Carol and Lennox. Dr Gerard chatted to Raymond close behind them. Nadine andJefferson Cope walked a little apart.

It was the Frenchman who broke up the party. His words had been coming spasmodically forsome time. Suddenly he stopped.

‘A thousand excuses. I fear I must go back.’

Sarah looked at him. ‘Anything the matter?’

He nodded. ‘Yes, fever. It’s been coming on ever since lunch.’

Sarah scrutinized⁶ him. ‘Malaria?’

‘Yes. I’ll go back and take quinine. Hope this won’t be a bad attack. It is a legacy⁷ from a visit tothe Congo.’

‘Shall I come with you?’ asked Sarah.

‘No, no. I have my case of drugs with me. A confounded nuisance. Go on, all of you.’

He walked quickly back in the direction of the camp.

Sarah looked undecidedly after him for a minute, then she met Raymond’s eyes, smiled at him,and the Frenchman was forgotten.

For a time the six of them, Carol, herself, Lennox, Mr Cope, Nadine and Raymond, kepttogether.

Then, somehow or other, she and Raymond had drifted apart. They walked on, climbing uprocks, turning ledges⁸, and rested at last in a shady spot.

There was a silence—then Raymond said:

‘What’s your name? It’s King, I know. But your other name.’

‘Sarah.’

‘Sarah. May I call you that?’

‘Of course.’

‘Sarah, will you tell me something about yourself?’

Leaning back against the rocks, she talked, telling him of her life at home in Yorkshire, of herdogs and the aunt who had brought her up.

Then, in his turn, Raymond told her a little, disjointedly, of his own life.

After that there was a long silence. Their hands strayed together. They sat, like children, hand inhand, strangely content.

Then, as the sun grew lower, Raymond stirred.