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书虫4级《吉姆老爷》1.吉姆的早年生活

所属教程:书虫4级 吉姆老爷

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2022年07月21日

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1.Jim's early life

In the Eastern ports where he worked for most of his life, Jim was very popular. He was an excellent seaman, who was liked and trusted by everyone. He was tall and strongly built, with a deep voice and a confident way of talking. To his employers and the ship captains, he was just Jim, nothing more. He had a special reason for not wanting people to know his other name. But nothing remains secret for long in sea ports, and soon someone who knew about his past was certain to arrive. When this happened, Jim always left his well-paid job immediately, and moved on to another port. Over several years he was known first in Bombay, then Calcutta, then Rangoon, Penang and Jakarta, as he moved towards the rising sun. Finally, when he could no longer bear this kind of life, he ran away from sea ports and white men for ever, hiding himself in the jungle, in a distant Malaysian village, far away from anyone who knew him. The natives of the village gave him an extra name. They called him Tuan Jim, or, as we would say, Lord Jim.

Jim had spent his childhood in a comfortable, peaceful home in the southwest of England. His father was a vicar, a kind man who always did his duty, and who had no doubts about what was right or wrong. The family house was warm and welcoming, with plenty of room for Jim and his four older brothers to play in. Close to it, on a hill, was the small grey church, standing, like a rock, where it had stood for centuries. There had been vicars in Jim's family for a hunderd years, but one of his brothers had already shown an interest in the Church, so his father had to find some other work for his youngest son. When Jim spent a whole summer reading sea stories, his father was delighted, and decided that Jim would join the merchant navy at once.

He was sent to a training ship on a busy, wide river near London; there two hundred boys slept, ate and worked together, learning everything a sailor needs to know. Because he was strong, and quick, and intelligent, he learnt fast, and was generally liked. The work seemed easy to him, and he was confident of his bravery in any danger. Sometimes at night he used to forget the crowd of noisy boys around him, and escape into his own dream world of sea stories. He saw himself swimming bravely through the waves to save passengers from sinking ships, fighting natives on lonely islands, and giving orders to frightened sailors to save their lives. He was always the brave man who did his duty, just like the heroes in the stories that he had read at home.

One evening he heard a sudden shout, 'Something's happened! On deck, all of you! Hurry!' He jumped to his feet, and joined the other boys as they ran up on to the deck.

It was a dark and stormy night. The wind was blowing strongly and heavy rain was falling. Jim stood without moving, staring at the cruel black waves. Was it him that the storm wanted? What would it be like, to fall into that cold water and drown?

Send the lifeboat out!' came the order. In the darkness two small ships had crashed into each other, and there were distant voices crying for help. Boys ran past Jim, who still did not move. They jumped into the lifeboat and began to row as fast as they could towards the two damaged ships.

Row together, you young dogs!' shouted a voice from the boat, 'if you want to save any lives!'

Jim had now run to the side of the ship and was looking down. He felt a hand on his shoulder. 'Too late, young man,' said the captain. Jim looked up, disappointed. The captain smiled. 'Better luck next time,' he said. 'This will teach you to move quickly in an emergency.'

The lifeboat came dancing back through the waves, half full of water. The boys had saved two men, who now lay exhausted in the bottom of the boat. Jim no longer felt afraid of the sea. It seemed to him that he cared nothing for the storm. He would live through greater dangers than that, and would show the world how brave he was. That night he sat alone, while the boys who had saved the two men's lives told their excited friends the whole story. When they described the waves, and the cold, and the sinking ships, Jim felt angry. They were so proud of what they had done! He, too, had wanted to show his bravery. But perhaps it was better this way. He had learnt more from this experience than any of them. The next time a brave man was needed, he alone, he felt sure, would know how to fight the wind and the seas. And as the other boys talked and laughed together, Jim dreamed happily of the next adventure and his chance to prove himself.

After two years of training, he went to sea. He made many voyages on many different ships, but surprisingly there were no adventures. The sea had not yet tested him, or shown him the secret truth of his pretences. However, although he was still very young, he soon became chief mate of a fine ship. Unfortunately, he was badly hurt during a storm at sea, and when the ship reached an Eastern port, he was taken to hospital. His broken leg needed time to mend, and so he was left behind when his ship sailed away.

Time passed slowly in the hospital, where the patients played cards, and slept, and told each other stories. There were brightly coloured flowers in the gardens, and warm, soft air blew in through the open windows. The hospital was on a hill, and had an excellent view of the port, which was always busy, as it was on one of the main sea routes to the East. Jim felt wonderfully calm as he looked out every day at the ships like toys in the sea, with the endless blue of the Eastern sky above, and the smiling peace of the Eastern seas all around.

As soon as he could walk, he left the hospital and started looking for a ship to take him back to England. While waiting, he naturally spent time with other European seamen in the port. Many of them had become lazy. They were used to the easy life of a white sailor in the East, and did not want to return to the bad weather, harder conditions and more dangerous duties of the West. They talked, not of work, but of luck, and chance, and money. At first, Jim refused to listen to them. But soon he began to find these men strangely interesting. How did they make a success of their lives, with so little work and so little danger? And suddenly, he decided not to go home to England, and took a job as chief mate of the Patna.

The Patna was a local ship, as old as the hills, and in very bad condition. Her captain was a German whose home was in Australia, a very large, fat, cruel man, who felt that he owed no duty to anybody. He had arranged to take eight hundred pilgrims to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Jim watched as the native people hurried on to the ship, filling every corner like water in a container. Eight hundred men and women had come from north and south, from islands and villages, over mountains and down rivers. At the call of an idea they had left their forests, their farms, their homes—strong men, young boys, little girls, women with heads covered, and sleeping babies. 'Look at these animals,' said the German captain to his new chief mate.

The Patna left the port, and started across the Indian Ocean towards the Red Sea. The five white seamen lived separately from the pilgrims, who were packed close together on every deck and in every corner. The days were hot and heavy, and the ship moved slowly across a flat, lifeless sea. There were no clouds in the burning sky, and it was too hot to think or feel.

The nights were beautiful. A wonderful calm seemed to cover the world, and the young moon shone down on the smooth, cool sea. Jim thought that there was nothing but peace and happiness in nature, as he breathed in the soft air, while in all the dark corners around him the pilgrims slept, trusting the white men to keep them safe.

Two Malays stood silently at the wheel. Jim walked along the deck, and looked at the dark water. He did not see the shadow of what was to come. In fact, he felt that nothing could hurt him on a night like this. He had been responsible for the ship for several hours now, and he was feeling sleepy.

Anything to report?' The captain had come up noiselessly behind him. His face was red, with one eye half closed, the other staring and glassy. His fat body shook when he walked, and his clothes were dirty and unbuttoned. Jim answered his captain politely, but moved a little away from the ugly figure who had destroyed the night's peace.

The ship continued to move smoothly over the flat sea. 'You can't imagine how hot it is down below,' said a voice. It was the young second engineer, who had come up on deck for some fresh air. He did not seem able to speak clearly. 'Why I work on this old ship, I don't know,' he went on. 'We engineers work twice as hard as you sailors, and—'

Don't speak to me like that, you dog!' shouted the captain. 'Where did you get your drink?'

Not from you, captain!' laughed the engineer. 'You're too mean for that! No, the good old chief gave me some.'

The chief engineer was a well-known drinker, who normally kept his drink to himself. Tonight, however, he had given some to the second engineer, who was not used to it. The chief and the captain had worked together on many ships, and people in the Patna's home port said that they had been guilty of every crime you could think of, at one time or another.

Jim watched the captain getting angrier and angrier, and the young man shouting louder and louder. He smiled to himself. These men did not belong to the world of adventure. They had nothing to do with him. He was almost asleep on his feet.

Suddenly the engineer was thrown forward on to his face, and lay silent on the deck. Jim and the captain stared at the calm sea, and looked up at the stars. What had happened? They could still hear the engines turning. Had the earth stopped? Now the cloudless sky and the quiet sea looked less safe than before. 'What was that?' cried the engineer, holding his arm in pain. There was a noise like distant thunder, and the ship trembled. The two Malays at the wheel looked at the white men, but received no orders, so did not move. The Patna lifted a little in the water, and then continued smoothly on her way.

* * *

trust v. to feel sure that someone is good and honest; to believe in someone 信任。

jungle n. an area of land with dense forest and tangled vegetation, typically in the tropics 热带丛林。

vicar n. a priest in the Church of England who is in charge of a church in a particular area (英国国教的)教区牧师。

welcoming adj. pleasing; a place that makes you happy and relaxed (地方)令人愉悦的。

merchant navy ships (and the sailors who work on them) that carry goods from country to country 商船队。

deck n. any of the floors of a ship 甲板。

row v. to propel (a boat) with oars 划船。

emergency n. a serious, unexpected, and potentially dangerous situation requiring immediate action 紧急情况;不测事件。

live through to survive a difficult experience or period 度过(困境)。

go to sea to become a sailor 去当水手。

pretence n. an act of pretending 假装。

chief mate a ship's officer who is one rank below the captain 大副。

pilgrim n. someone who travels a long way to a place of religious importance 朝圣者。

container n. an object for holding something 容器。

glassy adj. (of a person's eyes or expression) showing no interest or animation (眼神等)无神的。

mean adj. selfish in a petty way 吝啬的。

1.吉姆的早年生活

吉姆大半辈子都在东方的海岸工作,他在那里很受欢迎。他是个出色的水手,每个人都喜欢他,信任他。他个头高挑,身材魁伟,嗓音浑厚,谈吐中流露着自信。对于他的那些雇主和船长而言,他就是吉姆,仅此而已。他不希望人们知道他的姓,这是有特别原因的。但在港区,没有什么秘密能隐藏很久。很快,肯定会有某个对他知根知底的人来到这里。每到这个时候,吉姆都会立即辞去他薪水丰厚的工作,转移到另一个海港。几年里,他先后辗转于孟买、加尔各答、仰光、槟榔屿和雅加达,不断朝着太阳升起的地方迁徙。终于,他再也无法忍受这样的生活了。他永远离开了海港和白人,独自隐匿在马来西亚丛林的一个偏僻乡村中,远离所有认识他的人。当地村民给他取了一个名字,图安吉姆,翻译成我们的话就是“吉姆老爷”。

吉姆的童年是在英格兰西南部一个舒适、祥和的家庭度过的。父亲是牧师,为人和善,总是尽职尽责,明辨是非。吉姆的家很温馨,足够他和四个哥哥尽情玩耍。旁边不远处是一座小山,山上有一座灰色的小教堂,它如同一块岩石,已经矗立了好几个世纪。一百年来,吉姆的家族中一直有人从事牧师职业,但他的一个哥哥已经表现出了对教会的兴趣,因此父亲得为小儿子找点儿别的事做。因为吉姆整个夏天都在读关于航海的故事,父亲高兴地决定立即让他加入商船队。

吉姆被送到一艘训练船上,训练船在伦敦附近一条忙碌、宽阔的河上。在那里,两百个年轻人同吃同睡,一起干活儿,学习水手需要知道的所有知识。吉姆强壮而聪敏,学东西快,而且大家都喜欢他。这些活儿对他来说似乎很轻松,他也坚信自己面对任何危险都能勇往直前。有时他会在夜里忘掉身边那一群吵闹的年轻人,独自沉溺在航海故事的梦幻中。他仿佛看见自己英勇地与海浪搏斗,从正在下沉的船只中救出乘客,在孤岛上与土人搏斗,命令被吓破了胆的水手自救。他是个勇敢而尽责的人,和他在家读的故事里的主人公一样。

一天晚上,他突然听见有人喊:“出事了!所有人上甲板!快!”他跳起来,和其他年轻人一起跑向甲板。

这是一个漆黑的暴风雨夜,外面狂风肆虐,大雨倾盆。吉姆一动不动地站在那里,凝视着残酷的黑色海浪。这暴风雨是要吞噬他吗?掉进这么冰冷的水中被淹死会是什么样呢?

有人命令:“把救生艇划过去!”两艘小船在黑暗中撞在了一起,远处传来一声声求救的呼喊。小伙子们从吉姆身边跑过,但他仍然一动不动。他们跳进救生艇,以最快的速度划向两艘被毁的船只。

“一起划船,小家伙们!”救生艇上有一个声音喊着,“如果你们想救人的话!”

此时吉姆已经跑到了船的一侧向下看。他感到肩膀上有一只手。“太晚了,年轻人。”船长说。吉姆满脸沮丧地抬起头。船长微笑着说:“希望你下次好运。这件事将教你学会在紧急状况中要快速行动。”

救生艇冲过惊涛骇浪颠簸着划了回来,灌了半船的水。小伙子们救回的两个人现在筋疲力尽地躺在救生艇里。吉姆不再害怕大海了。在他看来,他似乎对风暴已毫不在乎。他会度过比这更大的危险,向世界展示他的勇气。那一夜他独自坐着,听去救了人的小伙子们向兴奋的朋友们讲述整个经过。他们描述着海浪、寒冷和沉船;吉姆觉得很气愤,他们对自己做的事如此骄傲!吉姆也想展现他的勇敢,但现在的结果可能更好。他比其他任何人从这次经历中学到的都多。他相信,下一次需要勇者出手时,只有他知道如何与风浪和大海搏斗。其他年轻人在一起说笑着,而吉姆则幸福地想象着下一次历险,下一个证实自己的机会。

两年的训练结束后,他当了水手。他在很多只船上作过多次航行,但奇怪的是一直没有什么历险。大海还没有考验他,没有揭示外表之下真实的他。虽然他年纪轻轻,却很快在一艘不错的船上当了大副。不幸的是,他在海上的一次暴风雨中受了重伤。船只驶达东方海港时,他被送到了医院。他骨折的腿需要时间恢复,所以船启航时,他被留了下来。

医院里的时间过得很慢。病人们玩牌,睡觉,彼此讲故事。花园里开着艳丽的花,和煦的轻风透过敞开的窗户吹进来。医院坐落在一座小山上,可以清楚地看到港口。因为处于通往东方的主航线上,这个港口总是很忙碌。每天,吉姆看着海面上玩具一样的船只,上面是东方无边无际的蓝色天空,四周弥漫着东方海域祥和、宁静的氛围。每到这时,吉姆就感到格外的平静。

他刚能下床走路,就马上离开医院,想找一艘船带他回英格兰。在等船的时候,他自然同港口其他的欧洲海员待在一起。他们当中有许多人已经变得懒惰起来。他们习惯了白人海员在东方的安逸生活,不想回到气候恶劣、条件更艰苦、职责更危险的西方。他们谈论的不是工作,而是运气、机会和金钱。起初,吉姆不愿意听他们的谈话,但很快他开始发现这些人有趣得很。他们没干多少活儿,没有担多大的风险,但却很成功。他们是如何做到的呢?突然,他决定不回英格兰老家了,他做起了帕特纳号船的大副。

帕特纳号是一艘本地船,已经破旧不堪了。船长是一个德国人,家在澳大利亚,长得又高又壮,是个心狠手辣的人,觉得自己对任何人都没有责任。他已经安排运送八百个朝圣者去沙特阿拉伯的麦加。

吉姆看到许多本地人匆忙上船,填满了每个角落,就像往容器里注满水。这八百个男男女女从南北各地的小岛或村庄翻山涉水而来。在信仰的召唤之下,他们离开了森林、农场和家园。他们当中有身强力壮的男子,年幼的孩子,裹着头巾的女人,还有熟睡的婴儿。“瞧瞧这些畜牲们。”德国船长向新来的大副说。

帕特纳号离开港口,穿越印度洋驶向红海。朝圣者挤满了每层甲板的各个角落,而五个白人水手睡在别的地方。天又闷又热,船缓慢地行驶在死气沉沉的海面上。炽热的天空中没有一片云,天热得让人无法思考,没有知觉。

夜色很美。一种惬意的宁静似乎笼罩着这个世界,上弦月照在平静、清凉的海上。吉姆呼吸着柔和的空气,觉得大自然中只剩下安宁和幸福。朝圣者在他周围每一个黑暗的角落里熟睡着,满心相信白人会保证他们的安全。

两个马来人静静地站在舵轮旁。吉姆沿着甲板漫步,望向黑暗的海水。他没有看到即将到来的阴影。事实上,他觉得在这样的一个夜晚没有什么能伤害他。此时他值班已经有好几个小时了,他感到几分睡意。

“有什么事要报告吗?”船长从他后面悄无声息地走过来。他的脸很红,一只眼皮耷拉着,另一只眼无神地大睁着。他走路时身上的肥肉一颤一颤的。他的衣服脏兮兮的,扣子也没系。吉姆彬彬有礼地回话,但却退开几步。这个丑陋的人破坏了夜的平静。

船继续在平静的海上航行。“你们想象不出下面有多热!”一个声音说道,是年轻的大管轮。他上甲板来呼吸新鲜空气。他的口齿不太清楚。“我真不知道自己为什么要在这艘旧船上工作,”他继续说,“我们轮机员的工作比你们船员加倍辛苦,而且……”

“别那样跟我说话,你这家伙!”船长吼道,“你的酒从哪儿弄来的?”

“我没喝你的酒,船长!”轮机员笑着说,“你那么吝啬,怎么会给我酒喝呢!不是你的,是好心的老轮机长给的。”

轮机长是出了名的酒鬼,通常都是有酒自己喝的。但今晚他也给了大管轮一些,大管轮喝了不太适应。轮机长和船长曾在很多船上一起共事,据帕特纳号船籍港的人说,这两个人无恶不作,一直没老实过。

吉姆看着船长的火气越来越大,年轻人的声音也越来越高。吉姆暗自笑了笑。这些人不属于历险的世界。他们与他毫无关系。他站着都快睡着了。

突然,轮机员向前栽了下去,然后便倒在甲板上没了动静。吉姆和船长盯着平静的海面,又抬头看了看星星。这是怎么回事?他们仍然能听见发动机在运转。是地球停止了转动吗?此时,无云的天空和平静的海面似乎不像刚才那样安全了。“怎么回事?”轮机员喊道,痛苦地捂着自己的胳膊。远处仿佛有雷鸣传来,船在颤抖。舵轮旁的两个马来人看着白人上司,但没有接到命令,所以没有动。帕特纳号在水中升高了一点儿,然后继续平稳地前进。

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