书虫三级下《劫机！》：第五章
Chapter 5
第五章
The black car stopped outside the airport building and a police officer opened the door. Helen Sandberg got out and went quickly inside. Upstairs, in the control room, the Chief of Airport Police, Inspector Holm, was waiting with a soldier. Helen's secretary, Michael, was there too.
黑色轿车在机场大楼外面停了下来，一个警官打开了车门。海伦·桑德伯格从车上下来，匆匆走进机场大楼。在楼上的机场控制室里，机场警察局局长，巡查官霍尔姆正在等她，一同在等她的还有一个军人。海伦的秘书迈克尔也在场。
Good evening, Prime Minister,' said Inspector Holm. 'This is Colonel Carter, of the Special Commando Section.'
“晚上好，首相，”巡查官霍尔姆说，“这位是来自特种突击队的卡特上校。”
Good evening, Colonel.' Helen shook hands with the soldier and looked at him. He was a thin, tough-looking man, about forty years old, with a brown face. His hand was hard and strong. 'I hope you know your job, 'she thought. 'I may need you.'
“晚上好，上校。”海伦一边和那军人握手，一边上下打量着他。他身材瘦削，古铜色的面庞中透着坚毅，40岁上下的年纪。他的手坚定有力。“我希望你能胜任你的工作，”她想，“我可能会需要你。”
She looked out of the window. There was a large plane on the tarmac about two hundred metres away. All its lights were on. 'Is that the plane?' she asked.
她向窗外望去。一架巨大的飞机停在大约200米开外的飞机跑道上。机上所有的灯都亮着。“就是那架飞机吗？”她问。
That's it, Prime Minister.'
“是的，首相。”
Right, give me the facts. How many people are on it?'
“好，给我讲讲详细情况。飞机上有多少人？”
Inspector Holm answered. 'One hundred and eight passengers, five crew.'
巡查官霍尔姆回答：“108名乘客，五名机组人员。”
What nationalities are they?'
“他们都是哪国人？”
There are twenty-nine Americans, fifteen British, two Brazilians, two Indians, and one Chinese. The others are from this country.'
“有29个美国人，15个英国人，两个巴西人，两个印度人，还有一个中国人。剩下的都是本国人。”
I see. There are a lot of Americans and British, then,' said Helen quietly. 'That means trouble.'
“我知道了。那么，有很多美国人和英国人，”海伦轻轻说，“这可麻烦了。”
Yes, Prime Minister,' answered Michael. 'I'm afraid their Ambassadors are on their way here now.'
“是的，首相，”迈克尔回答，“恐怕这两国的大使正在往这里赶。”
Helen smiled at him quickly. He was a good secretary; he usually knew what she was thinking. Both the American Ambassador and the British Ambassador were difficult people.
海伦马上对他笑了笑。他真是个好秘书，总能猜透她的心思。美国大使和英国大使都是难对付的人。
She turned back to Inspector Holm. 'Tell me about the hijackers. What do they want?'
她转过身问巡查官霍尔姆：“跟我谈谈劫机者的情况。他们想要什么？”
We don't know how many hijackers there are, Prime Minister. But they have guns, we know that. And they want three things.' Inspector Holm paused and looked down at her. He was a very tall man and he looked very important in his uniform. Helen didn't like him much.
“我们还不清楚有几名劫机犯，首相。但我们知道，他们有枪。他们一共要求三件事情。”巡查官霍尔姆停顿了一下，低头看了看她。他个子很高，穿上制服颇有气派。海伦不怎么喜欢他。
Yes, well. What three things?' she asked quickly.
“嗯，好。是哪三件事情呢？”她追问。
Firstly, they say we must set free their two brothers from prison. You remember, Prime Minister—two men tried to put a bomb on a plane last year. They are in prison near here.'
“第一，他们说我们必须释放他们的两个兄弟。你还记得吗，首相——去年有两个人企图往飞机上装炸弹。他们现在被关在这附近的监狱里。”
I remember,' Helen answered softly. 'They're in prison for thirty years, aren't they?'
“我记得，”海伦轻声答道，“他们被判入狱30年，对吧？”
I think so. Something like that.' The man paused. 'Secondly, they say we must refuel the plane because they want to fly to another country. Thirdly, they say we must put this in all our newspapers. It says they are fighting for freedom for their people. They are freedom fighters. They want to liberate their people.'
“我想是的。差不多是这样。”他停顿了一下，“第二，他们说我们必须给飞机补充燃油，因为他们要飞往另外一个国家。第三，他们说我们必须在我们所有的报纸上刊登这些内容，说他们是为了他们人民的自由而战，他们是自由斗士，他们要解放他们的人民。”
He gave her a sheet of paper. Helen put it on the table. She did not read it. 'And what about the passengers?' she asked. 'When will the hijackers set them free?'
他递给她一张纸。海伦把纸放在桌上，她并没有看这张纸。“乘客们怎么样？”她问，“劫机者什么时候释放乘客？”
They say they will set most of the passengers free when their brothers are on the plane. But they want ten passengers to fly away with them. They will set them free when they arrive.'
“他们说一旦他们的兄弟上了飞机，他们就释放绝大多数的乘客。但他们还要扣押十名乘客跟他们一起飞走，到达目的地以后再放了他们。”
I see.'
“我明白了。”
There's one other thing, Prime Minister,' Colonel Carter spoke for the first time. His voice was very quiet, almost gentle. 'They say we must bring the prisoners to the airport in two hours. If not, they will kill a passenger. They said this one hour ago.'
“首相，还有一件事情，”这是卡特上校第一次开口说话。他的声音非常平静，甚至是温柔的，“他们说我们必须在两个小时之内把那些罪犯带到机场。不然的话，他们就会杀掉一名乘客。他们是在一个小时之前说的这话。”
So we have one hour left?'
“那么我们只剩一个小时的时间了？”
That's right, Prime Minister. Just one hour. Then they will kill the first passenger.'
“是的，首相。只剩一个小时了。然后，他们就会杀掉第一名乘客。”
I see.' Helen walked slowly to the window and stared out at the plane. It was still raining and a strong wind was blowing. She turned round. 'Thank you, gentlemen. I will have to talk to them. But first I need a few minutes to think. Colonel Carter, Inspector, please go to the other room. Tell the hijackers I will talk to them in five minutes. Michael, stay here.'
“我明白了。”海伦慢慢地踱到窗前，盯着窗外的飞机。外面仍然下着雨，狂风呼啸。她转过身。“谢谢你们，先生们。我必须跟他们谈谈。但首先我需要几分钟来整理一下思路。卡特上校，巡查官，请到另一个房间去。告诉劫机犯，我将在五分钟之后跟他们对话。迈克尔，你留下。”
But... yes, madam.' Inspector Holm looked unhappy, but he went out, slowly, with the Colonel. Michael sat quietly, looking at her. He knew what she was thinking.
“但是……好吧，夫人。”巡查官霍尔姆看上去有些不乐意，但他还是磨磨蹭蹭地和上校一起出去了。迈克尔静静地坐在那里，看着她。他知道她在想什么。
Have you got the passenger list, Michael?'
“迈克尔，你有乘客的名单吗？”
Yes, Prime Minister. Here you are.'
“有，首相。给您。”
She picked up the list of names and looked at it carefully. 'Oh my God!' His name was near the beginning. She dropped the list, sat down at the table, and ran her hands through her hair. For a long minute she said nothing. Then she looked up.
她接过名单，仔细看着。“哦天啊！”他的名字非常靠前。她把名单扔到一边，跌坐在桌子旁，用手拢着头发。好一会儿，她一句话也没说。然后她抬起头。
This is going to be very difficult, isn't it, Michael?'
“这下恐怕很麻烦了，对吗，迈克尔？”
I'm afraid so, Prime Minister. Very difficult indeed.'
“恐怕是这样，首相。确实非常麻烦。”
Helen stood up and walked to the window, thinking hard. Outside in the rain, the American Ambassador's car stopped by the door.
海伦站起身，来到窗户旁边，苦思冥想。窗外，雨中，美国大使的车停在了门口。
