第三卷:昨日的世界 Volume Three: The World of Yesterday ————
“We who have been hunted through the rapids of life, torn from our former roots, always driven to the end and obliged to begin again, victims and yet also the willing servants of unknown mysterious powers, we for whom comfort has become an old legend and security, a childish dream, have felt tension from pole to pole of our being, the terror of something always new in every fibre. Every hour of our years was linked to the fate of the world. In sorrow and in joy we have lived through time and history far beyond our own small lives, while they knew nothing beyond themselves. Every one of us, therefore, even the least of the human race, knows a thousand times more about reality today than the wisest of our forebears. But nothing was given to us freely; we paid the price in full.” ——The World of Yesterday ————
1998年 1998年7月1日,布鲁斯走进厨房,看到安雅背对着他,正在泡茶。 “早上好。”他走到她旁边,给自己泡了杯速溶咖啡,“你几岁了?” “30岁又11月。” 他点点头,拿起咖啡杯,准备回书房。转过中岛时,他不经意地一瞥,看到她左手无名指上戴着一枚戒指,十分惊讶,脱口而出:“Are you married?” 她慢慢放下茶壶,转过身,左手张开,用右手拨弄着那枚戒指。 “Are you asking?”她靠在中岛上,抬眼看他。 他没有立刻回答,她便低下头,继续拨弄戒指。 戒指是银色的,上面只嵌了一颗小到可怜的蓝色宝石。既不像传统的结婚戒指,用黄金做素戒,又不像主流的订婚戒指,追求大颗的钻石,或是女性长辈用过的传家宝。他感到迷惑,不知道这枚戒指是不是他给她的,但他还没有开始追求她,这枚戒指也不是他的风格。而且,他之前见过的,年纪更大的她,也没有佩戴戒指。 见他迟迟不说话,她再次开口:“If you ask, I will answer(如果你问,我会回答/如果你有所要求,我会回应).” “Answer what?”他似乎听懂了她的双关,谨慎问道。 “Answer yes.”她打太极道。 “Yes for what?”他明知故问。 “Yes for your question.”她又把皮球踢了回来。 他很久没和人暧昧过了,和她这样模棱两可地推拉,感到有些不适应,便主动退了一步:“I just asked if you were married.” 她看着他,慢慢说道:“It’s an abnormal relationship.” “发生了什么?”他问。 “我不忠于他。” 预料之外,但也说得通。或许她即将遭遇婚变。 于是他问:“他对你好吗?” “他伤了我的心。” 他若有所思,对此事给出自己的意见:“I think it’s a fair relationship.” 她注视着他,仿佛他的意见对她很重要。 过了一会儿,她再次开口,语出惊人:“Do you want to join in?” 他怀疑他听错了,她是在发出偷情邀约吗?便确认道:“Join in the relationship?” 她神态不变:“Yes.” 或许,她只是在和他调情,她并没有这样一个丈夫。如果他拒绝,他就土鳖了。 他想了一分钟,理智地评估了一下他了解到的所有信息和潜在的道德风险,迅速回忆起他见识过的所有调情技巧,调整了一下面部表情,笑着回应:“I do.” 她也笑了,很难说,这笑容里没有藏着一些什么。 然后她向他伸出手,那只戴着戒指的手,像是展示戒指,又像是邀请他加入。 “Then, take me on a date.”她说。 他盯着她的戒指看了一会儿,发现指环呈莫比乌斯环的形状。 然后他握住了她的手。