A Perfect Day for Bananafish Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut Just Before the War with the Eskimos The Laughing Man Down at the Dinghy For Esmé—with Love and Squalor Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes De Daumier-Smiths Blue Period Teddy
内容摘要 【文摘】 抓香蕉鱼很好的日子 ………… “西摩·格拉斯,”西比尔·卡朋特说,她和她妈妈一起住在宾馆里,“你西摩格拉斯了吗?” “咪咪宝,够了。妈咪听得都烦死了。别动,请你别动。” 卡朋特太太正给西比尔抹防晒油,沿着肩膀到后背,抹过她瘦瘦的、仿佛翅膀一样的肩胛骨。西比尔坐在一只巨大的浮水气球上,气球吹得鼓鼓的,西比尔摇摇欲坠,面对着大海。她身穿淡黄色的比基尼泳装,其实上身部分也许她要再过个九年、十年才用得着。 “那真的就是块很一般的丝手帕—你走近点就能看到,”坐在卡朋特太太旁边那张沙滩椅上的妇人说道,“我还真想知道她是怎么扎的。真是好看呢。” “听起来就不错,”卡朋特太太附和道,“西比尔,不要动,咪咪宝。” “你西摩格拉斯了吗?”西比尔说。 卡朋特太太叹了口气。“好吧,”她说,一边盖上防晒油瓶的盖子,“去吧,去玩吧,咪咪宝。妈咪要去宾馆里和哈布尔太太喝杯马蒂尼。我会给你拿橄榄的。” 妈妈刚一松手,西比尔就朝着开阔的海滩奔去,然后朝“渔夫帐篷”的方向径直走去。她只停下一次,一只脚踩进一座已经倒塌的浸湿的沙堡,很快她就走出了定制宾馆住客使用的沙滩区。 大约走了四分之一英里的路之后,她突然斜插着往沙滩面海的方向奔去。跑到一个仰面躺在沙滩上的年轻人身边,她停了下来。 “你要去水里吗,西摩·格拉斯?”她说道。 年轻人吓了一跳,他抬起右手,握住毛巾浴袍的翻领,翻了个身,脸朝下,眼睛上卷成一股的毛巾掉了下来。他眯着眼看向西比尔。 “嗨。你好,西比尔。” “你要去水里吗?” “我正在等你呢,”年轻人说,“怎么样?” “什么?” “怎么样?有什么新节目吗?” “我爸爸明天要坐一个飞机过来。”西比尔说,脚踢着沙子。 “别朝我的脸踢,宝贝儿。”年轻人说,伸手抓住西比尔的脚踝,“他是该来了,你爸爸。我时时刻刻地等着他呢。时时刻刻。” “那位女士呢?”西比尔问。 “女士?”年轻人伸手理了理稀疏的头发,抖落沙子,“这很难说,西比尔。有一千个地方是她可能去的。在理发店里,把她的头发染成深褐色;或者给穷人的孩子们做洋娃娃,在她自己房间里。”他趴着,两只手捏成拳头,一个叠在另一个上面, 下巴搁在拳头上。 “问我点别的什么吧,西比尔,”他说,“你的游泳衣很好看。要说有什么东西是我喜欢的,那就是一件蓝色的游泳衣。” 西比尔盯着他,然后低头看看自己凸出的肚子。“这是件黄色的,”她说,“这是件黄色的。” “是吗?走近点儿我看看。” 西比尔向前靠了一步。 “你一点儿没错。我真是个傻瓜。” “你要去水里吗?”西比尔问。 “我还真有这个想法呢。我正翻来覆去地琢磨着呢,西比尔,你听了准高兴。” 西比尔戳了戳年轻人不时用来垫脑袋的橡皮筏。“这个要充气了。”她说。 “你说得对。这个需要很多气,我不承认都不行。”他放下拳头,下巴磕在沙子上。“西比尔,”他说,“你很好看。见到你真好。跟我说说你自己吧。”他伸出双手,同时握住了西比尔的两只脚踝。“我是摩羯座的,”他说,“你呢?” “莎朗·利普舒兹说你让她跟你一起坐在钢琴前面。”西比尔说。 “莎朗·利普舒兹跟你说的?” 西比尔用力点点头。 年轻人松开了她的脚踝,收起两只手,脸靠在右臂上。“嗯,”他说,“这种事怎么发生你是知道的,西比尔。我坐在那里,正弹着琴,而你又不知去哪里了。然后莎朗·利普舒兹走了过来,在我旁边坐下。我又不能把她推开,你说是不是?” “你能的。” “哦,不能。不行。我不能那么做,”年轻人说道,“不过,我可以告诉你我做了什么。” “什么?” “我假装她是你。” 西比尔突然弯下腰,在沙子上挖起洞来。“我们去水里吧。”她说。 “好啊,”年轻人说,“我想我能照办不误。” “下一次,把她推开。”西比尔说。 “把谁推开?” “莎朗·利普舒兹。” “啊,莎朗·利普舒兹,”年轻人说,“又是这个名字。记忆与欲望的混杂。”他突然站起身。望向大海。“西比尔,”他说,“我有个主意。我们来看看能不能抓一条香蕉鱼。” “一条什么?” “一条香蕉鱼。”他说,然后解开浴袍上的腰带。他脱下浴袍。他的肩膀白而窄,四肢发青。他把浴袍竖直对折,再前后一折三。他展开用来盖眼睛的毛巾,铺开放在沙子上,然后把折好的浴袍放在毛巾上。他弯下腰,拿起橡皮筏,夹在右胳膊下,然后,左手拉起西比尔的手。 两人向着大海走去。 “我猜你已经见过不少香蕉鱼了吧?”年轻人说。 西比尔摇摇头。 “你没见过?那你住在哪里呢?” “我不知道。”西比尔说。 “谁说你不知道。你肯定知道。莎朗·利普舒兹知道她住在哪里,她才三岁半。” 西比尔停住脚步,用力抽出被握着的手。她随便捡起一颗贝壳,煞有介事地盯着贝壳看。她扔了贝壳。“沃利伍德,康涅狄格州。”她说,然后继续往前走,肚子挺得老高。 “沃利伍德,康涅狄格州,”年轻人说,“是说你住的地方靠近沃利伍德,康涅狄格州吗?” 西比尔看着他。“那就是我住的地方,”她不耐烦地说,“我住在沃利伍德,康涅狄格州。”她向前跑了几步,左手握住左脚,然后跳了两三下。 “你可不知道这下我有多清楚了。”年轻人说。 西比尔放下脚。“你读过《小黑人桑布》吗?”她问。 “你这个问题真好玩,”他说,“我刚好昨天晚上才读完。”他又伸手握住了西比尔的手。“你觉得这个故事怎么样?”他问她。 “那些老虎都围着那棵树转了吗?” “我觉得它们永远不会停下来。我从来没见过这么多老虎。” “只有六只。”西比尔说。 “只有六只!”年轻人说,“你管那叫‘只有’?” “你喜欢蜡吗?”西比尔问。 “我喜欢什么?”年轻人问。 “蜡。” “很喜欢。你也喜欢吧?” 西比尔点点头。“你喜欢橄榄吗?”她问。 “橄榄——是的。橄榄和蜡。我到哪儿都得带着这两样。” “你喜欢莎朗·利普舒兹吗?”西比尔问。 “是的。是的,我喜欢,”年轻人说,“我尤其喜欢她的一点是她从来不欺负宾馆大厅里的小狗。比如那个加拿大女士的小巴儿狗。你可能不相信,但有些小女孩喜欢用气球柄去戳那条小狗。莎朗不会这么做。她从来不起坏心眼儿。所以我才那么喜欢她。” 西比尔一声不吭。 “我喜欢嚼蜡烛。”她终于又开口了。 “谁不喜欢嚼蜡烛呢?”年轻人说,脚踩进水里。“哇!真冷!”他把橡皮筏扔进水里,“别,再等一会儿,西比尔。等我们再往外一点儿。” 他们继续蹚水向前,直到水没到西比尔的腰间。然后年轻人抱起西比尔,让她趴在橡皮筏上。 “你从来不戴游泳帽什么的吗?”他问道。 “别松手,”西比尔下命令道,“你抓住我,马上。” “卡朋特小姐,别担心。我知道自己在干吗,”年轻人说, “你只管睁大眼睛看有没有香蕉鱼。今天是抓香蕉鱼的好日子。” “我一条也没看见。”西比尔说。 “这也不奇怪。他们的习惯很特别。很好特别。”他继续推着橡皮筏。水还不到他的胸口。“他们的生活很悲惨,”他说,“你知道他们做什么吗,西比尔?” 她摇摇头。 “嗯,他们游进一个全是香蕉的洞里。他们游进去的时候看起来是很普通的鱼,但是一进洞,他们就变得像猪一样。你还别说,我就知道一条香蕉鱼游进一个香蕉洞里,吃了足足有七十八根香蕉。”他一点点向前推着橡皮筏和上面的女孩,离地平线又近了一英尺,“很自然,等他们变得那么胖,他们就再也出不了洞了。洞口太小了。” “别再往前了,”西比尔说,“他们后来怎么了?” “谁后来怎么了?” “那些香蕉鱼。” “哦,你是说他们吃了那么多香蕉,出不了香蕉洞会怎么样?” “是的。”西比尔说。 “嗯,我不想告诉你,西比尔。他们就死了。” “为什么?”西比尔问。 “嗯,他们得了香蕉热。那是很可怕的一种病。” “浪头来了。”西比尔紧张地说。 “我们别管它。我们不理它,”年轻人说,“两个‘狗不理’。”他抓住西比尔的脚踝往下一按,再往前一推。橡皮筏从浪尖上划了过去。水浸湿了西比尔金色的头发,但是她的尖叫充满了欢乐。 橡皮筏平稳后,她伸手撩开搭在眼睛上的一缕湿湿的头发,然后报告说:“我刚看到了一条。” “看到了什么,亲爱的?” “一条香蕉鱼。” “我的天,不会吧!”年轻人说,“他嘴里有没有衔着香蕉?” “有的,”西比尔说,“有六根。” 年轻人突然抓起西比尔垂在橡皮筏边上的湿漉漉的脚,亲了亲她的足弓。 “嗨!”脚的主人转过身。 “嗨,你!我们回去了。你玩够了吗?” “没有!” “对不起。”他说,然后把橡皮筏往岸边推去,直到西比尔跳下来。然后他就一路拿着橡皮筏。 “再见。”西比尔说完,毫无遗憾地往宾馆方向奔去。 年轻人穿上浴袍,裹紧翻领,把毛巾塞进口袋里。他捡起黏湿又碍事的橡皮筏,夹在胳膊下面,一个人踩着软绵绵、热乎乎的沙子朝宾馆走去。 他在宾馆给游泳客人专用的旁厅里搭乘电梯,一个鼻子上涂着防晒软膏的女人和他一起进了电梯。 “我看到你盯着我的脚。”电梯启动的当儿他对女人说。 “抱歉你再说一遍?”女人说。 “我说我看到你盯着我的脚。” “真抱了歉了。我只是碰巧看着地板。”女人说,脸对着电梯的门。 “如果你想看我的脚,你就直说,”年轻人说,“别他妈偷偷摸摸的。” “请让我出去。”女人飞快地对操纵电梯的女孩说。 电梯门打开,女人走了出去,没有回头。 “我有两只正常的脚,真搞不明白他为什么有人要盯着它们看,”年轻人说,“请上五楼。”他从口袋里拿出房间钥匙。 他在五楼下了电梯,沿着大厅往前走,进了五〇七房间。房间里有新小牛皮行李箱和指甲油洗甲水的味道。 他瞥了一眼睡在一张单人床上的女孩。然后他走到一只行李箱边上,打开箱子,在一堆短裤和汗衫底下拿出一把7.65口径的奥其斯自动手枪。他推开弹盒,看了看,又插上。扳起扳机。然后走到那张空着的单人床边上,坐下,看着女孩,用手枪瞄准,对着自己的右太阳穴开了一枪。 A Perfect Day for Bananafish … “See more glass,” said Sybil Carpenter, who was staying at the hotel with her mother. “Did you see more glass?” “Pussycat, stop saying that. It’s driving Mommy absolutely crazy. Hold still, please.” Mrs. Carpenter was putting sun-tan oil on Sybil’s shoulders, spreading it down over the delicate, winglike blades of her back. Sybil was sitting insecurely on a huge, inflated beach ball, facing the ocean. She was wearing a canary-yellow two-piece bathing suit, one piece of which she would not actually be needing for another nine or ten years. “It was really just an ordinary silk handkerchief—you could see when you got up close,” said the woman in the beach chair beside Mrs. Carpenter’s. “I wish I knew how she tied it. It was really darling.” “It sounds darling,” Mrs. Carpenter agreed. “Sybil, hold still, pussy.” “Did you see more glass?” said Sybil. Mrs. Carpenter sighed. “All right,” she said. She replaced the cap on the sun-tan oil bottle. “Now run and play, pussy. Mommy’s going up to the hotel and have a Martini with Mrs. Hubbel. I’ll bring you the olive.” Set loose, Sybil immediately ran down to the flat part of the beach and began to walk in the direction of Fisherman’s Pavilion. Stopping only to sink a foot in a soggy, collapsed castle, she was soon out of the area reserved for guests of the hotel. She walked for about a quarter of a mile and then suddenly broke into an oblique run up the soft part of the beach. She stopped short when she reached the place where a young man was lying on his back. “Are you going in the water, see more glass?” she said. The young man started, his right hand going to the lapels of his terry-cloth robe. He turned over on his stomach, letting a sausaged towel fall away from his eyes, and squinted up at Sybil. “Hey. Hello, Sybil.” “Are you going in the water?” “I was waiting for you,” said the young man. “What’s new?” “What?” said Sybil. “What’s new? What’s on the program?” “My daddy’s coming tomorrow on a nairiplane,” Sybil said, kicking sand. “Not in my face, baby,” the young man said, putting his hand on Sybil’s ankle. “Well, it’s about time he got here, your daddy. I’ve been expecting him hourly. Hourly.” “Where’s the lady?” Sybil said. “The lady?” The young man brushed some sand out of his thin hair. “That’s hard to say, Sybil. She may be in any one of a thousand places. At the hairdresser’s. Having her hair dyed mink. Or making dolls for poor children, in her room.” Lying prone now, he made two fists, set one on top of the other, and rested his chin on the top one. “Ask me something else, Sybil,” he said. “That’s a fine bathing suit you have on. If there’s one thing I like, it’s a blue bathing suit.” Sybil stared at him, then looked down at her protruding stomach. “This is a yellow,” she said. “This is a yellow.” “It is? Come a little closer.” Sybil took a step forward. “You’re absolutely right. What a fool I am.” “Are you going in the water?” Sybil said. “I’m seriously considering it. I’m giving it plenty of thought, Sybil, you’ll be glad to know.” Sybil prodded the rubber float that the young man sometimes used as a head-rest. “It needs air,” she said. “You’re right. It needs more air than I’m willing to admit.” He took away his fists and let his chin rest on the sand. “Sybil,” he said, “you’re looking fine. It’s good to see you. Tell me about yourself.” He reached in front of him and took both of Sybil’s ankles in his hands. “I’m Capricorn,” he said. “What are you?” “Sharon Lipschutz said you let her sit on the piano seat with you,” Sybil said. “Sharon Lipschutz said that?” Sybil nodded vigorously. He let go of her ankles, drew in his hands, and laid the side of his face on his right forearm. “Well,” he said, “you know how those things happen, Sybil. I was sitting there, playing. And you were nowhere in sight. And Sharon Lipschutz came over and sat down next to me. I couldn’t push her off, could I?” “Yes.” “Oh, no. No. I couldn’t do that,” said the young man. “I’ll tell you what I did do, though.” “What?” “I pretended she was you.” Sybil immediately stooped and began to dig in the sand. “Let’s go in the water,” she said. “All right,” said the young man. “I think I can work it in.” “Next time, push her off,” Sybil said. “Push who off?” “Sharon Lipschutz.” “Ah, Sharon Lipschutz,” said the young man. “How that name comes up. Mixing memory and desire.” He suddenly got to his feet. He looked at the ocean. “Sybil,” he said, “I’ll tell you what we’ll do. We’ll see if we can catch a banana-fish.” “A what?” “A bananafish,” he said, and undid the belt of his robe. He took off the robe. His shoulders were white and narrow, and his trunks were royal blue. He folded the robe, first lengthwise, then in thirds. He unrolled the towel he had used over his eyes, spread it out on the sand, and then laid the folded robe on top of it. He bent over, picked up the float, and secured it under his right arm. Then, with his left hand, he took Sybil’s hand. The two started to walk down to the ocean. “I imagine you’ve seen quite a few bananafish in your day,” the young man said. Sybil shook her head. “You haven’t? Where do you live, anyway?” “I don’t know,” said Sybil. “Su
以下为对购买帮助不大的评价