The soft glow of dawn filtered through the bedroom's rear window, illuminating the sleeping faces of Ruth and Clara. With the little girl nestled in her arms, Lübeck felt as though he were witnessing Ruth in her role as a mother. This sight stirred a quiet reflection within him: Was this how women truly were? Did they sleep more soundly only when nestled close? Yet he himself had barely slept a wink, constantly worried he might roll over and crush the child, or snore loudly and disturb her. In the end, he had awakened long before dawn.
晨曦的泛光隐约从卧室后窗映入,照亮了露丝和克拉拉熟睡的脸庞,小女孩搂在她的怀里,吕贝克觉得仿佛看见了露丝做妈妈的样子.这番景象也让他在心里感慨,难道女性都是这样子吗?偎依在一起才会睡得更香甜?可是自己却没怎么睡会好,既怕自己翻身会压到孩子,又怕自己会打呼噜吵到孩子,结果自己早早地就醒了.
Spring days were growing longer, and Lü Bei could only pull the quilt over his eyes while the lingering drowsiness still held. Yet the darkness before him failed to block the phantoms in his mind. It seemed like the scene of a carriage traveling through spring rain days ago—just after rounding a few bends, the deeper it ventured into the mountains, the darker the sky grew. Oh, perhaps it was the view from returning to the city a couple of days prior. Under the dim yellow glow of streetlights lining both sides, the drizzle intensified. The cracks in the cobblestone pavement were already submerged in puddles. The orange-red reflections of the streetlights rippled across the water-filled streets, constantly shattered by falling raindrops.
春季的白昼越来越长了,吕贝克只好趁着还在的沉沉睡意,拉起被子遮住眼睛,但是眼前的黑暗却并未能挡住脑海里的幻影.似乎是几天前春雨中马车行驶的情景,只是转过几个弯,似乎越是驶进山间,天色越暗.哦,或许是前两天回城区的景象.两侧路灯的昏黄灯光里,小雨越下越紧,青石路面的缝隙已经被淹没在积水中,路灯的橙红倒影荡漾在路面积水中,不断地被雨滴打碎.
A green bus with a white roof glided through the night. Its battered metal body, drenched in rain, reflected the dim streetlights, its shimmering light and shadow resembling dark green and gold. On the white roof, rainwater flowed over rust stains and rolled down the windows. The spray from the passing vehicle drenched young Lübeck. Standing on the street of an unfamiliar city in the freezing rain, he had no way home and no destination in mind.
夜色中一辆绿色白顶的公交车驶过,钣金斑驳的车身披着雨水映着昏黄街灯,光影闪烁仿佛是墨绿鎏金,白色的车顶上,雨水流过锈迹沿着玻璃窗滚落.车辆驶过溅起的水花扬了小吕贝克一身,冰雨夜里,年少的吕贝克站在陌生城市的街头,没有回家的路,也不知前往何处.
"Ruth," the cry of her name startled me awake. I opened my eyes, but Ruth was nowhere to be seen. I was lying in bed.
"露丝,"呼喊着她的名字惊醒,睁开眼睛,可是眼前并没有露丝的身影,自己躺在床上.
Lübeck pricked up his ears, listening to the voices of Ruth and Clara outside the room. Oh, it had been a dream, he sighed in relief. Staring at the bedroom ceiling, he gathered his thoughts and finally returned to reality. Silently reassuring himself, he told himself that the dream was over, that he now had a home and Ruth by his side.
吕贝克竖起耳朵,听着屋外传来了露丝和克拉拉的交谈声.哦,刚才是一个梦,吕贝克舒了一口气,看着卧室房间屋顶,整理了一下思绪,终于回到现实,默默告慰自己,梦那一切已经过去了,现在自己已经有了家,也有露丝在身旁.
Calming his emotions and breathing, Lübeck dressed and got out of bed. He glanced over at the next room—Ada was still fast asleep—then made his way to Emma's room. As he stepped through the doorway, it felt as though the cold, rainy night from his dream—that memory of his youth—still lingered behind him. Seeing this mother and child together, it seemed all the storms and hardships he had weathered were worth it.
平复一下心情与呼吸,吕贝克穿衣起床,看了一眼隔壁,艾达还在熟睡,然后来到艾玛的房间,走进房门的时候仿佛自己的身后还背着刚才那梦中追忆的年少时冰冷雨夜.看到这对母子,似乎曾经自己走过的风雨坎坷都值得了.
Emma had already woken up but was still lazing in bed, seemingly having just nursed her son, who was now sleeping in the cradle. Seeing Lübeck sneak in with his sly grin, she instantly perked up, lying there and teasing him,
"Isn't my sister Ruth enough for you?"
艾玛已经醒了,但是还懒在床上,似乎是刚给儿子喂过奶,孩子又睡在摇篮里了.看见吕贝克贱兮兮地进来,她立刻来了兴致,躺在那里取笑他说,
"怎么有我姐姐露丝还不够吗?"
Lübeck gave a wry smile as he made his way over to Emma.
"Don't even get me started. Last night, while chatting with Ruth about adopting Clara and Ida, I mentioned how we'll need to build an orphanage or boarding school someday for children like them. After all, I can't adopt every child. Honestly, they're adorable, but I'm not entirely used to having so many people in the house."
吕贝克无奈撇嘴一笑,一边凑合到艾玛身边,一边说,
"别提了,昨晚我和露丝闲谈收养克拉拉和艾达的时候,我就谈到了将来需要建设孤儿院或者寄宿学校,给像她们这样的孩子,毕竟我不能收养所有的孩子,说实话,她们很可爱,但是我也不是很习惯家里多了人."
Oh, so it's affecting you? Then are you going to send them away in the future?
"哦,影响到你了是吗?那你要将来把她们送走吗?"
"Last night, when we were discussing this very matter, Clara overheard us at the door," Lübeck paused.
"昨晚就是谈到这个事情的时候,克拉拉在门口听到了,"吕贝克停顿了一下,
Emma hurriedly asked,
"Was she eavesdropping on your conversation?"
艾玛急忙问,
"她偷听你们说话?"
"Ah, you can't blame her. She's still just a child. After finally making it to our home, it's understandable she'd fear another setback," Lü Beck said, only now realizing that perhaps this child was the type to dwell on things. Last night, he hadn't thought that far ahead.
"唉,也不能怪她,还是个孩子,好不容易到了我们家,怕再有变故也能理解,"说着,吕贝克这时才意识到这个孩子莫非是心思比较重的那种?昨晚真没想那么多,
"Hmm, then what happened?" Emma asked curiously.
"嗯,那后来呢?"艾玛好奇地问,
Later, I became her dad, and Ruth became her mom. We held her close between us as we slept.
"后来就我给她当爸爸,露丝给她当妈妈,我俩把她搂在中间睡了."
Hearing him say this, Emma stopped asking questions. She just smiled at him without saying a word, as if deliberately trying to get under his skin.
听他说到这,艾玛不问了,笑眯眯地看着他不说话,好像在故意气他,
"What are you laughing at?" Lü Beck said, shaking her shoulders playfully as he joined in the fun.
Emma swayed with the motion, her body, neck, and flowing hair moving in rhythm. She remained silent, only smiling as she gazed at Lü Beck with her large eyes.
"你笑什么?"一边说着,吕贝克也一边双手摇晃着她的肩膀,和她一起闹,
艾玛被摇晃得身子,头颈还有秀发都随着这样的韵律在晃动,她就是不出声,只是笑着用她那双大眼睛看着吕贝克.
"Breakfast is ready," Ruth said, knocking on the door from outside.
"早饭好了,"露丝敲着房门在门外说,
Just as Lübeck turned to look toward the door, Emma leapt out of bed like a child, darted past him, and walked right through his line of sight, smiling as she did so. With a hint of mockery in her voice, she called out,
"Breakfast's ready!"
就在吕贝克回头望向房门的一瞬间,艾玛像个孩子一样一下自己跳下床绕过吕贝克,笑着看着他的眼睛从他身边走过,嘴里还有些嘲讽地放风说,
"吃早饭喽,"
For a moment, Lübeck froze, standing there replaying the scene of Emma just passing before his eyes—as if he'd never seen her like this before. Only when Emma's giggles reached him from behind, mingled with Ruth and Emma's low greetings, did Lübeck snap back to the present.
一时间吕贝克竟然愣住了,愣在那里回想着艾玛刚才掠过自己眼前的一幕,仿佛从没见过这样的艾玛,直到身后传来艾玛咯咯咯的笑声和露丝与艾玛的低声寒暄,吕贝克才从刚才那一刻中回过神来.
After breakfast, he arrived at City Hall. Life had become much more leisurely since dealing with the interest groups. Civil disputes had vanished, and the area cultivated by the same number of people had increased. Life in the Sanctuary had grown considerably more peaceful. Yet Lübeck could not indulge in this tranquility. Armed with prepared documents and long-held convictions, he made his way to the home of Michael Krause, the former Chief Magistrate. Krause had been placed on leave following a series of incidents due to his perceived leniency in managing the sanctuary's security.
吃过早饭来到市政厅,解决的利益团伙的之后的日子真的清闲了很多,民间纠纷没有了,同样的人力耕种面积增加了,庇护之地的日子安宁了很多.但是吕贝克并不能享受他的安逸,于是带着准备的资料和自己由来已久的想法赶往了米迦勒· 克劳泽的家,他是原最高治安官,但是因为掌管庇护之地的治安管理手腕较软,在发生了一系列变故之后在休假.
Lübeck arrived by carriage at Michael's residence, but no one was home. Strolling along country lanes in spring was always a delight—streams gurgled by the roadside, their rippling waters glistening in the sunlight. White ash trees rooted directly in the brooks, their branches the first to shake off winter's chill and burst into fresh green attire in the spring breeze.
吕贝克乘坐马车到达米迦勒的住所,家里并没有人.在春季沿着乡间小路游走总是惬意的,路边溪水哗啦啦地在阳光里闪着盈盈波光流淌,白蜡树把根系扎入溪水,最先在春风里抖擞出满身的嫩绿新装.
As he approached Michael's fields from afar, he could see the entire family indeed busy with sowing. Upon reaching the field's edge, his daughter and daughter-in-law were cooking barley porridge over a pot by the roadside. They both recognized Lübeck and, upon seeing him come to visit, wanted to call their father working in the field back.
远远地就要到达米迦勒家的田地里,可以看到他一家人果然都在忙着播种.来到田地路边,他的女儿和儿媳妇正在路边架着锅烧着大麦粥.她们都认识吕贝克,见到他前来拜访,想要叫地里的父亲回来,
Lübeck hurriedly waved his hands and said,
"Don't call him. I'll wait a bit; there's no rush."
Then he immediately asked his daughter,
"How are you adjusting to having your dad home on leave these days?"
吕贝克急忙摆手说,
"别叫他,我等一会儿,不着急,"然后紧接着问他的女儿,
"你的爸爸这些天在家里休假还习惯吗?"
His daughter was polite, curtsying before she answered,
"It's fine—much quieter now. Farming doesn't need him anyway."
他的女儿很礼貌,屈膝礼,然后才回答
"还好,清闲了许多,本来种地不用他也行的,"
Does he ever sit still?
"他闲不住吗?"
"Yes, it's either repairing farm tools or patching up the house."
"是啊,不是修理农具就是修补房屋,"
"Well, it's still the same old story," Lübeck couldn't help but recall the years he and Michael had shared together, then tentatively asked,
"When your brothers have children, wouldn't it be nice for him to retire early and enjoy family life?"
"嗯,还是老样子,"不由得吕贝克也想起曾经的自己与米迦勒共同的岁月,然后试着询问,
"等你哥哥们有了孩子,他提前退休享受天伦之乐不是也很好,"
"Hmm," she agreed, though Lübeck could see from her expression that she had left some words unsaid.
Lübeck continued,
"I've had some free time lately, so I came to visit my old friend."
"嗯,"虽然答应着,吕贝克似乎可以从她的脸上看出她有些话并没有说出口,
吕贝克接着说,
"我也是最近清闲了,来看看我这个老朋友,"
Oh, that's wonderful. Dad often talks about the old days when he sailed with you.
"哦,好啊,爸爸在家的时候经常说起从前和你一起出航的故事,"
"Is that so?" Lübeck asked with a smile.
"是吗?"吕贝克笑着问,
Yes, he always gets so happy when he talks about those old times. Even though he's told some of them over and over, seeing how happy he is, we never interrupt him.
"是啊,他讲起那些往事总是很开心,虽然有的都讲过好几遍了,看他那开心的样子,我们都不打断他,"
"Well then, as long as he's happy," Lübeck paused,
"But I still need his help. Would he be willing to give up his comfortable life now?"
"那好啊,他生活得开心就好,"说着,吕贝克停顿了一下,
"只是,我还想请他帮忙,他还愿意放下现在的安逸生活吗?"
He should be willing, he always talks about you.
"他应该愿意吧,他总是提到你,"
"But then he wouldn't be able to stay with you."
"只是那样他就不能陪在你们身边了,"
Before Michael's daughter could answer, a familiar voice sounded beside her ear,
"Lübeck,"
还没等米迦勒的女儿回答,只听耳边一个熟悉的声音,
"吕贝克,"
The two turned to see Michael had overheard their conversation and approached unnoticed. Lübeck turned to face him, but before he could speak, Michael saluted first.
"Captain,"
二人扭头一看,原来是米迦勒听到了他们交谈的声音,不知道什么时候走了过来,吕贝克转身面向米迦勒,还没等开口,米迦勒首先敬了一个军礼,
"船长,"
Lübeck hurriedly returned the greeting, shaking his hand and saying,
"Michael, it's been ages."
吕贝克急忙回礼,和他握手说,
"米迦勒,好久没见了,"
"Yeah, you're a busy person too."
"是啊,你也是忙人,"
Have you had enough rest? Michael, I want to establish a Natural Resources Department. Would you be willing to lead it? Find some resources and wealth for our children so they can live better lives. I believe only you can bring the boys back safely. As he spoke, Lübeck glanced at his children standing nearby.
"休假够了吗?米迦勒,我想成立一个自然资源部门,请你带队好吗?给咱们的孩子们找点资源财富,让他们生活的更好.我觉得只有你能把小伙子们安全地带回来."说着,吕贝克看了一眼一边的他的孩子们,
"I'll follow your lead, Captain." With that, he clasped Lübeck's hand tightly.
"听你的,船长."说着,紧握住吕贝克的手.