42. 尤塞瑞恩

 
“科恩中校說那筆交易依然有效，一切順利。”丹比少校笑著告訴尤塞瑞恩，既謹慎又滿意 (with a prissy and gratified smile)。
“不，不是的。”
“噢，是的，的確是的，”丹比少校關切地(benevolently)堅持道，“事實上，一切比以前好多了。你真是運氣好(stroke of luck)，差一點就被那個女人給殺了。現在，這筆交易可以順利成交了。”
“我跟科恩中校沒做任何交易。”
丹比少校興致勃勃地樂觀勁兒突然間消失的無影無蹤 (effervescent optimism vanished instantly)，他頓時冒出一身冷汗 (he broke out at once into a bubbling sweat)。“你確實跟他談過一筆交易，不是嗎？”他百思不得其解地問道 (asked in anguished puzzlement)，“你們難道沒有達成協議嗎？”
“我毀了協議。”
“可你們達成協議時是握了手的，不是嗎？你像個正人君子那樣答應了他。”
“可我改主意了。”
“哦，唉。”丹比少校歎了口氣。他用一塊折疊起來的白手帕徒勞地擦拭著他那憂鬱的眉頭。“可為什麽呢，尤塞瑞恩？他們給你的是一筆很好的交易。”
“是一筆卑鄙的交易 (a lousy deal)，丹比。一筆令人作嘔的交易 (an odious deal)。”
“哦，唉，”丹比少校煩躁地歎著氣，抬起一隻光溜溜的手，抹了一把自己金屬絲般的黑頭發。那一頭又粗又短的卷發早讓汗水給浸透了。“哦，唉。”
“丹比，你難道不認為這筆交易令人作嘔嗎？”
丹比少校思索了一下。“是的，我是覺得它令人作嘔，”他勉勉強強地承認道。那雙鼓出的圓眼睛裏流露出困惑不解的神情。“既然你不喜歡，為什麽又要做這筆交易呢？”
“我是一時軟弱，我是想救自己的命。”尤塞瑞恩陰鬱地，嘲諷地打趣道。”
“難道你現在就不想救自己的命了嗎？”
“正因為了想救自己的命，我才不讓他們派我去執行更多的飛行任務。”
“那麽，讓他們送你回國，你就不會再有任何危險了。”
“我讓他們送我回國，是因為我已經執行了五十次以上的飛行任務，”尤塞瑞恩說，“既不是因為我被那姑娘捅了一刀，也不是因為我變成了這麽個頑固不化的東西。”
戴著眼鏡的丹比少校使勁搖了搖頭，滿臉真實又苦惱的神情 (in sincere and bespectacled vexation)。
“那樣一來，他們就得把幾乎所有的人送回國去。大多數人都已經完成了五十次以上的飛行任務。卡思卡特上校不可能一下子要求增派這麽多毫無經驗的補充機組人員，那樣的話，上頭就會派人來查：他就掉進他自己設的陷阱裏去了(he caught in his own trap)。” “那就是他的問題。”
“不，不不，尤塞瑞恩，”丹比少校焦慮地(solicitously)反對道，“這是你的問題。因為；如果你不履行這筆交易，一旦你簽了出院手續，他們馬上就會對你進行軍法審判。” 尤塞瑞恩把拇指擱在鼻尖上朝丹比少校做了個蔑視的手勢，沾沾自喜，洋洋得意地哈哈一笑 (laughed with smug elation)。“叫他們見鬼去吧：別騙我啦，丹比, 他們根本不會這樣做。”
“可他們為什麽不會？”丹比少校問道,驚奇地眨著眼睛。
“因為我眼下已經把他們握在手心裏了。有份官方報告說，我是被一個前來暗殺他們的納粹刺客刺傷的。在這種情況下，他們要是再對我進行軍法審判的話，那不是出他們自己的洋相嘛。”
“可是，尤塞瑞恩！”丹比少校叫道(exclaimed)，“還有另一份官方報告說，你是在從事黑市交易時被一個單純的姑娘刺傷的, 你涉及破壞活動以及向敵方出售軍事秘密。”
尤塞瑞恩不由得大吃一驚，又是詫異又是失望，“另一份官方報告？” “尤塞瑞恩，他們想準備多少份官方報告就可以準備多少份，對於任何一種特定情況，他們需要哪份就可以選用哪份；這兒點你難道不知道嗎？”
“哦，唉，”尤塞瑞恩垂頭喪氣地嘟噥著(in heavy dejection)，麵無血色 (the blood draining from his face)。“哦，唉。”
丹比少校出於一片好意(with a look of vulturous well-meaming), 急切而又熱心地勸道(pressed forward avidly)。“尤塞瑞恩，他們叫你做什麽你就做什麽，讓他們送你回國吧，這對大家都好。”
“對卡思卡特，科恩和我有好處，並不是對大家。”

“是對大家。”丹比少校堅持道，“這樣做問題全都解決了。”
“對飛行組裏那些繼續執行更多飛行任務的人也有好處嗎？” 丹比少校抽動了一下(flinched)，不舒服地把臉轉了一下，答道：“尤塞瑞恩，”“如果你逼得卡思卡特上校對你進行軍法審判，並證明你犯有所指控的所有罪行的話，那對任何人都沒有好處，你會長期坐牢，你的一生就給毀了。”
尤塞瑞恩越聽心裏越著急(with a growing feeling of concern)。“他們會指控我犯了什麽罪呢？”
“在弗拉拉上空作戰無能；不聽指揮，拒絕執行與敵方交火的命令，以及開小差。”
尤塞瑞恩嚴肅地吸了吸兩頰(sucked his cheeks in soberly)，“他們能指控我所有這些罪狀嗎？弗拉拉空戰後，他們發給我一枚勳章。現在他們又怎麽能夠指控我作戰無能呢？” “阿費將宣誓作證，說你和麥克沃特在給上級的報告中說了假話。” “我敢打賭，那個雜種準會這麽幹的。” “他們還將證明你犯有下列罪行，”丹比少校一件一件地列舉著，“強奸，參與範圍廣泛的黑市交易，從事破壞活動，以及向敵方出售軍事秘密等等。” “他們如何證明這些呢？這些事情我一樣也沒幹過。” “可是他們手裏的證人會作證說你幹過。隻需說服那些人，除掉你對國家有好處，就可以找到他們所需要的全部人證。從某一方麵說，除掉你對國家會有好處。” “從哪方麵呢？”尤塞瑞恩追問道(demanded)。他一隻胳膊肘撐著慢慢抬起身, 強壓心頭的敵意(with bridling hostility). 丹比少校身子往後縮了縮，擦了擦額頭來。“唉，尤塞瑞恩，”他結結巴巴地爭辯道(with an apologetic stammer)，“眼下，把卡思卡特上校和科恩中校搞得聲名狼藉 (bring ... into disrepute)，對作戰是沒有好處。讓我們麵對現實，尤塞瑞恩, 不管怎麽說，大隊的記錄確實很好。如果對你進行了軍法審判而最後又證實了你無罪，其他人很可能也會拒絕執行更多的飛行任務，卡思卡特上校就會當眾丟臉，部隊的作戰能力也許就會被毀掉。所以，從那一方麵講，證明你有罪並把你關進監獄，對國家是會有好處的，即使你無罪。” “你說得多麽動聽啊(what a sweet way you have putting things)！”尤塞瑞恩厲聲道(snapped), 怨恨裏帶著刻薄 (with caustic resentment)。 丹比少校的臉紅了。不敢正眼看尤塞瑞恩，他的身子局促不安地扭動著(squirmed and squinted uneasily)。“請不要怪我，”他帶著焦慮而誠懇的神情懇求道，“你也知道這不是我的過錯。我現在所做的這一切，隻不過是試圖客觀地看待問題，為一個極其困難的局麵解套。”
“這個局麵不是我造成的。”
“可你能夠解決它。你還能幹些什麽呢？你又不願意執行更多的飛行任務。”
“我可以逃走。”
“逃走？”
“開小差，溜之大吉。我可以甩開眼前這個烏七八糟的局麵，開溜(start running)。”
丹比少校大吃一驚。“往哪兒跑？你能去哪兒呢？”
“我可以輕而易舉地跑到羅馬去，在那兒藏起來。”
“每一分鍾都生活在他們隨時會找到你的危險中？不，不，不，不，尤塞瑞恩。那樣做是卑鄙可恥的(ignoble)，災難性的。 逃避問題是永遠解決不了問題的。請相信我，我是在盡力幫你的。”
“那個好心的偵探把拇指戳進我的傷口之前就是這麽說的，”尤塞瑞恩嘲諷地反駁道。 “我不是偵探，”丹比少校回答道， 帶著憤怒，雙頰又漲紅了。
“我是個大學教授，我具有極強的是非感，我決不會欺騙你，也決不會對任何人撒謊。” “要是大隊裏有誰向你問起我們的這次談話，那你怎麽辦？”
“那我就對他撒個謊。”
尤塞瑞恩大笑起來，帶著嘲諷。盡管丹比少校麵紅耳赤，渾身不自在，此時卻也鬆了一口氣，靠坐到椅子上。他似乎希望看見尤塞瑞恩情緒的這種預示著短暫的緩和的變化。尤塞瑞恩凝視著丹比少校，神情中既流露出有所保留的伶憫又帶著輕蔑(a mixture of reserved pity and contempt) 。他背靠著床頭坐了起來，點燃一支香煙，微笑著，露出一副苦中取樂的神情，懷著一種奇特的同情，盯著丹比少校的臉。這是一張鮮活的，極度驚恐的臉。自從轟炸阿維尼翁的那天，德裏德爾將軍下令把丹比少校拖出去槍斃時起，那種驚恐便永遠地烙在了這張臉上。那些被驚嚇出來的皺紋永久地留在了這張臉上，像深深的黑色傷疤。尤塞瑞恩為這位文雅正派的中年理想主義者感到難過就正像他總為許多有著這樣或那樣的小毛病，遇到這種或那種小麻煩的人感到難過的那樣。
他故作親熱地說：“丹比，你怎麽能夠跟卡思卡特和科恩這樣的人一塊共事呢？這難道不使你倒胃口嗎？” 尤塞瑞恩大的這個問題似乎使丹比少校感到驚奇。“跟他們共事是為了幫助我的祖國，”他回答說，似乎這個回答是顯而易見的。
“卡思卡特上校和科恩中校是我的上級，執行他們的命令是我能對我們所進行的這場戰爭作出的唯一貢獻。我和他們共事，是因為這是我的職責，而且，”他垂下眼睛，壓低嗓門補充說，也因為我不是個富於進取心的人。”
“你的祖國已經不再需要你的幫助了，” 尤塞瑞恩大心平氣和地開導他說，“所以你現在所做的一切隻是在幫他們。”
“我盡量不這麽考慮問題，”丹比少校坦率地承認道，“我隻著眼於取得的大的成果上，同時忘掉他們也在獲得成功這一事實。我極力騙自己說，他們微不足道。”
“你知道，我的麻煩也就在這裏，”尤塞瑞恩抱攏雙臂，擺出一副沉思的模樣說道，“在我和我的全部理想之間，我總是發現許多個沙伊斯科普夫、佩克姆、科恩、卡思卡特那樣的人，而這種人又多多少少改變了我的理想。”
“你應當盡量不去想他們，”丹比少校口氣肯定地勸告說，“你決不能讓他們改變你的行為準則。理想是美好的，但人有時卻不是那麽美好、你應當盡量抬起頭來看大局。”
尤塞瑞恩懷疑地搖了搖頭，拒絕了丹比。“當我抬起頭來時，我看到的是人們都在設法賺錢。我看不見天堂，看不見聖人，也看不見天使。我隻看見人們利用每一次正當的衝動和每一場人類的悲劇，大把大把地撈錢。”
“可你應當盡量不去想這類事情。”丹比少校堅持道，“你應當盡量別讓這類事情搞得你心煩意亂。” “噢，我倒也沒有真的心煩意亂過。不過，叫我心煩意亂的是，他們把我當成了傻瓜。他們以為自己很聰明，而我們其餘的人都很笨，你知道，丹比，我剛才突然頭一回冒出這麽個念頭，也許他們是對的。” “可你也應當盡量別去想這種事。”丹比少校爭辯道，“你應當隻考慮國家的利益和人類的尊嚴。”
“是啊，”尤塞瑞恩說。
“我真的是這個意思，尤塞瑞恩。這不是第一次世界大戰。你千萬不要忘了，我們現在是在跟侵略者作戰。如果他們打贏了，他們不會讓我們兩個中的任何人活下去。” “這我知道，”尤塞瑞恩硬邦邦地回答道。他突然惱怒地板起了臉。“哼，丹比，無論他們發給我那枚勳章的理由是什麽，那勳章反正是我自己掙來的。我已經執行了七十次該死的飛行任務，別再對我講那些為拯救祖國而戰鬥的廢話。我一直在為拯救祖國而戰鬥，現在我要為救我自己而戰。祖國已經沒有什麽危險了，而我卻正處在危險之中。”
“戰爭還沒有結束呢。德國人正朝安特衛普推進。”
“幾個月之內，德國人就會被打敗。再過幾個月，日本人也會被打敗。如果我現在戰死了，那就不是為國捐軀，而是替卡思卡特和科恩送死。所以，在此期間，我要交回我的轟炸瞄準器。從現在起，我隻考慮我自己。”
丹比少校高傲地笑笑，頗為寬容地反問道，“可是，尤塞瑞恩，要是每個人都這麽想呢？”
“要真是那樣，我不這麽想，我不就成了個頭號傻瓜了嗎？”尤塞瑞恩露出一副嘲諷的表情，身體坐得更直了。“你知道嗎？我有一種奇怪的感覺，好像我以前也和什麽人進行過一次跟這次一模一樣的談話。這跟牧師的感覺一樣，他覺得每件事他都經曆過兩次。”
“牧師希望你讓他們把你送回國去。”
“牧師希望什麽，我才不在乎呢。”
“哦，唉。”丹比少校歎了口氣，遺憾而失望地搖了搖頭，“他擔心自己可能影響了你。”
“他沒有影響我。你知道我可能會幹什麽嗎？我可能會一直呆在醫院的這張病床上，像植物那樣活著。我在這兒可以舒舒服服地過植物般的生活，讓別人去拿主意吧。” “你必須自己拿主意，”丹比少校反駁道，“一個人不能活得像植物那樣。” “為什麽不能？” 丹比少校眼中出現了一絲淡淡的熱情。“像一株植物那樣生活必定是很愉快的，”他若有所思地承認道。 “是糟糕透頂的，”尤塞瑞恩說。 “不，擺脫了所有這些疑慮和壓力的生活必定是非常舒適的，”丹比少校堅持道，“我覺得我很願意活得像株植物，那樣就不必為大事情操心拿主意了。”
“什麽樣的植物呢，丹比？”
“黃瓜，或者胡蘿卜。” “什麽樣的黃瓜？是好黃瓜還是壞黃瓜？”
“噢，當然是好黃瓜咯。” “那麽，你隻要一成熟，他們就會把你摘下來，切成片做色拉。” 丹比少校沉下臉來。“那隻能是壞黃瓜啦。”
“那麽，他們會讓你腐爛掉，把你拿去給好黃瓜當肥料，好讓它們快些成熟。”
“要是那樣的話，恐怕我不會願意活得像株植物，”丹比少校無可奈何地微微一笑，傷感地說。
“丹比，我真的必須讓他們送我回國嗎？”生活嚴肅地問他。
丹比少校聳了聳肩。“這是救你自己的一種方法。” “這是毀掉我自己的一種方法，丹比。這個道理你應該明白的。”
“你可以得到許多你想要的東西。”
“沒有多少我想要的東西，”生活回答道。他內心突然湧起一股憤怒和失望，舉起拳頭狠狠地捶著床墊。“真他媽的，丹比！我的不少朋友在這場戰爭中送了命。這筆交易我不能做。讓那個妓女捅了一刀，這算是我所經曆過的最好的事情了。”
“那你甘願進監獄嗎？”
“你會願意讓他們送你回國嗎？”
“我當然願意！”丹比少校斬釘截鐵地說，“我肯定願意。”過了一會，他又用不那麽肯定的口氣加上了一句。“不錯，要是我處在你的地位，我想我會讓他們送我回國的。”他憂慮不安地思索了片刻之後，很不自在地拿定了主意。接著，他流露出極為痛苦的神情，厭惡地猛然把臉扭向一邊，脫口叫道，“噢，是的，當然啦，我會讓他們送我回國的！可我是個最最膽小的人，我根本不可能處在你的位置上。”
“可假如你不是個膽小的人呢？”尤塞瑞恩目不轉睛地打量著他問道，“假如你的確有勇氣跟某個人作對呢？”
“要真是那樣，我是不會讓他們送我回國的，”丹比少校斷然發誓說。他的聲音強勁有力，歡快熱情。“可我肯定不會讓他們對我進行軍法審判。”
“你願意執行更多的飛行任務嗎？”
“不，當然不願意。那樣做無異於全麵投降。再說，我可能會送命的。”
“那你會逃走嗎？” 丹比少校露出高傲的神色，剛要反駁，又突然停住了，他那半張開的嘴巴也默默地閉上了。他厭煩地噘起了嘴唇。“我想，我根本就沒有什麽希望，不是嗎？”
不一會，他的前額和凸出的眼球又顯出了緊張不安。他把兩隻軟綿綿的手腕交叉著放在膝蓋上，坐在那兒，屏住呼吸，垂下眼睛盯著地板，默默地承認了自己的失敗。陡斜的暗影從窗外映了進來。尤塞瑞恩神情嚴肅地看著他。一輛疾駛而來的汽車在外麵猛然刹住，發出一陣嘎的聲響。隨後，傳來了什麽人匆匆跑進大樓的咯咯腳步聲。可是他們倆誰也沒有動一動。
“不，你還有希望。”尤塞瑞恩愣了好一會，才想出一個主意來。

“米洛也許會幫助你。他比卡思卡特上校有來頭，他還欠我幾樁人情呢。”
丹比搖了搖頭，語調平淡地回答道：“米洛和卡思卡特上校現在是夥伴啦。他讓卡思卡特上校當上了副總裁，還答應他戰爭結束後給他安排一個重要的職務。”
“那麽，前一等兵溫特格林會幫助我們的，”尤塞瑞恩叫道。
“他恨他們兩個，這件事準會把他惹火的。”
丹比少校又一次悲哀地搖了搖頭。“米洛和前一等兵溫特格林上個星期合夥了，他們現在全都是MM辛迪加聯合體的合夥人了。”
“這麽說我們沒有希望了，是嗎？”
“沒有希望了。” “沒有一點希望了，是嗎？”
“沒有，沒有一點希望了，”丹比少校承認道。過了一會，他抬起臉，說出一個尚未成熟的想法來。“如果他們能夠像使其他人失蹤那樣讓我們失蹤，使我們擺脫這些沉重的負擔，那不是件好事情嗎？” 尤塞瑞恩認為那不是件好事。丹比少校憂鬱地點點頭，表示同意，隨後便又垂下了眼睛。兩個人全都覺得毫無希望了。突然，走廊裏傳來一陣很響的腳步聲，牧師可著嗓門嚷嚷著衝進門來。他帶來了一個令人振奮的消息，是關於奧爾的。他又高興又激動、有那麽一兩分鍾連話都說不成句了。他的眼睛裏閃動著喜悅的淚花、當尤塞瑞恩終於聽明白牧師的話時，他不敢相信地大叫一聲，抬腿從床上跳了下來。
“瑞典？”他大聲問。
“奧爾！”牧師大聲說。
“奧爾？”尤塞瑞恩大聲問。
“瑞典！”牧師叫道。他興高采烈地不住地點著頭，開心地、興奮地咧嘴笑著，得意洋洋地滿屋子走個不停。“我告訴你，這是個奇跡！奇跡，我又信仰上帝啦！真的。在海上漂了這麽多個星期，最後竟被衝到瑞典海岸上去啦！這是個奇跡！”
“衝到岸上去的？見鬼！”尤塞瑞恩大聲說，他在屋裏蹦來蹦去，欣喜若狂地衝著牆壁、衝著天花板、衝著牧師和丹比少校吼叫著。
“他不是被衝到瑞典海岸上去的。他是劃到那兒去的。他是劃到那兒去的，牧師，他是劃到那兒去的。”
“劃到那兒去的？”
“他預先就這麽計劃好的！他是存心去瑞典的。”
“噢，這我不管。”牧師依舊熱情洋溢地回答說，“這仍然是個奇跡，這是人類智慧和忍耐力所創造的奇跡；瞧瞧，他幹出了什麽事情來！”牧師伸出雙手捂往腦
袋，笑得彎下了腰，“你們難道想象不出來他的樣子嗎？”他驚奇地叫道，“你們難道想象不出來他的樣子？坐在黃色的救生艇裏，握著那把小小的藍色船槳，趁著黑夜劃過直布羅陀海峽”
“身後拖著那根釣魚線，一路上吃著生鱈魚劃到瑞典，每天下午還給自己泡茶喝。”
“我甚至能看見他的樣子！”牧師大叫道，他停了一下，趁機喘了口氣，接著又讚歎下去。“我告訴你們，這是人類不屈不撓的毅力所創造的奇跡；這也正是我從現在起要做的事情。我也要不屈不撓，是的，我要不屈不撓。”
“奧爾自始至終都知道自己在幹什麽！”尤塞瑞恩欣喜若狂地叫道；他得意洋洋地高高舉起兩個拳頭，似乎想從拳頭裏麵擠壓出什麽啟示來。他猛地轉過身麵對著丹比少校。“丹比，你這個笨蛋，到底還是有希望的、你難道沒看出來嗎？甚至克萊文傑也可能還活在那片雲彩裏麵呢，他就藏在那裏麵的一個什麽地方，要一直等到安全了才出來。”
“你們在說些什麽呀？”丹比少校困惑地問，“你們兩個在說些什麽呀？”
“給我弄些酸蘋果來，丹比，還有堅果。快去呀，丹比，快去呀。
趁著這會兒還來得及，給我弄些酸蘋果和七葉樹堅果來，給你自己也弄一些。”
“七葉樹堅果？酸蘋果？要這些做什麽？”
“當然是塞到我們的腮幫子裏去咯。”尤塞瑞恩自責而又絕望地高高揚起兩隻手臂。“唉，我為什麽不聽他的呢？我為什麽就沒有信心呢？”
“你瘋了嗎？”丹比少校驚恐而困惑地問道，“尤塞瑞恩，請你告訴我你們在講些什麽，好嗎？”
“丹比，奧爾預先就這麽計劃好的。你難道不明白嗎？他從一開始就是這麽打算的。他甚至演習過如何讓自己的飛機被擊落下來。每次執行飛行任務時，他都要演習一遍。可我竟然不願意跟他一起飛！唉，我為什麽不聽他的呢？他叫我跟他一起飛，可我竟然不願意！丹比，再給我弄些齙牙來，還有裝牙的牙套。隻要裝成一副愚蠢無知的傻瓜模樣，就沒有人會懷疑你其實是個機靈鬼。所有這些東西我都需要。唉，我為什麽不聽他的話呢？現在我明白他一直想跟我說什麽了，我甚至明白了那個姑娘為什麽拿鞋砸他的腦袋。”
“為什麽？”牧師追問道。 尤塞瑞恩猛地轉過身，一把抓住牧師襯衣的前襟，懇求道：“牧師，幫幫我吧！請幫幫我。把我的衣服找來。趕快去找，行嗎？我現在就需要它們。”
牧師抬起腿就往外走。“好吧，尤塞瑞恩，我去找。可你的衣服在哪兒呢？我怎麽才能拿到它們呢？”
“誰要是攔住你不讓拿，你就嚇唬他們，對他們吹胡子瞪眼睛。
牧師，給我把製服拿來！我的衣服肯定在這醫院裏的某個地方。你這輩子就這麽一次，幹成件事情吧。”
牧師堅定地挺了挺肩膀，又咬了咬牙。“別著急，尤塞瑞恩。我會給你把製服拿來的。可那個姑娘為什麽拿她的鞋砸奧爾的腦袋呢？ 求你告訴我吧。”
“因為是他出錢叫她幹的，就為這個！可她打得還不夠狠，所以他隻好劃到瑞典去了。牧師，給我把製服找來，我好離開這個地方。
問問達克特護士吧，她會幫你找到的。隻要能甩開我，她什麽都願意幹的。”
“你要去哪兒呀？”牧師衝出房間後，丹比少校擔心地問道，“你打算幹什麽呀？”
“我打算逃走，”尤塞瑞恩用歡快而清晰的嗓音宣布道。他已經拉開了睡衣領口處的扣子。 “噢，不。”丹比少校歎息了一聲，用兩隻手掌來來口口地輕輕拍著自己那張汗淋淋的臉。“你不能逃走。你能逃到哪兒去？你能到哪兒去呢？”
“去瑞典。”
“去瑞典？”丹比少校驚奇地叫道，“你要跑到瑞典去？你瘋了嗎？”
“奧爾已經去了。”
“噢，不不，不不，不，”丹比少校懇求道，“不，尤塞瑞恩，你永遠也到不了那兒。你不能跑到瑞典去。你連船都不會劃。”
“可是，隻要你離開這兒後，閉上嘴不吭氣，找個機會讓我搭上一架飛機，我就可以到羅馬去。”
“可他們會找到你的，”丹比少校固執地爭辯道，“會把你抓回來，會更加嚴厲地懲罰你的。”
“這一回，他們要想抓住我可得使出吃奶的力氣來。”
“他們會使出吃奶的力氣來的。就算他們找不到你，你過的將會是一種什麽樣的日子呀？你永遠隻能孤零零地一個人呆著，沒有任何人會跟你在一起，而且，你隨時隨地可能會被人出賣。”
“我現在就是過的這種日子。”
“可你不能就這麽背棄你的職責一走了之，”丹比堅持道，“這是一種十分消極的行為，是逃避現實。”
尤塞瑞恩輕快而蔑視地哈哈一笑，又搖了搖頭。“我並沒有逃離我的職責，我正衝著它跑過去呢，為了救自己的性命而逃走，這根本算不上消極。你當然知道是誰在逃避現實，丹比，對嗎？不是我，也不是奧爾。”
“牧師，請你跟他談談，好嗎？他要開小差，他想逃到瑞典去。”
“太棒了！”牧師歡呼起來。他得意地把一個裝滿尤塞瑞恩衣服的枕套扔到床上。“逃到瑞典去吧，尤塞瑞恩。我要留在這兒，不屈不撓地堅持下去，是的，我要不屈不撓地堅持下去。每次我遇到卡思卡特上校和科恩中校時，我都要找他們的碴兒，跟他們胡攪蠻纏。我不怕他們，就連椎鬥將軍我也敢找他鬧事。”
“德裏德爾將軍調走了。”尤塞瑞恩一邊提醒他，一邊套上褲子； 匆匆忙忙地把襯衣下擺塞進褲腰裏。“現在是佩克姆將軍當指揮官了。”
牧師依舊信心十足地嘮叨著，“那麽，我就找佩克姆將軍鬧事，甚至找沙伊斯科普夫將軍鬧事。你知道我還要於什麽嗎？我下回見到布萊克上尉時要朝他的鼻子狠揍一拳。是的，我要朝他的鼻子狠揍一拳。我要找個周圍有許多人的時候揍他，這樣他就沒有機會還手了。”
“你們兩個都瘋了嗎？”丹比少校抗議道。他內心充滿了痛苦、敬畏和惱怒，兩隻突出的眼球楞睜著。“你們兩個是不是都失去理智了？尤塞瑞恩，聽著”
“我告訴你，這是個奇跡，”牧師宣布道，他一手抓住丹比少校的手腕，拉起胳膊，拖著他轉著圈子跳起華爾茲舞來。“一個真正的奇跡。如果奧爾能劃到瑞典去，那我就要不屈不撓地堅持下去，定能戰勝卡思卡特上校和科恩中校。”
“牧師，請你住嘴好嗎？”丹比少校一邊有禮貌地懇求著，一邊從牧師手裏掙脫出來，焦慮不安地輕輕拍了幾下自己那汗淋淋的前額。隨後，他俯下身去對正在伸手拿鞋子的尤塞瑞恩說，“可上校那裏”
“他那兒怎麽樣我才不管呢。”
“但這實際上可能會”
“叫他們兩人全都見鬼去吧！”
“但這實際上可能會幫他們的忙，”丹比少校固執地堅持道，“你想過這一點沒有？”
“讓這兩個雜種升官發財去吧，我才不管呢。既然我沒有辦法阻止他們，我就隻能靠開小差來給他們搗搗亂了。現在我有我自己的職責，丹比、我一定要到瑞典去。”
“你絕不會成功的，這是不可能的。從這兒跑到瑞典，單從地理上講，就幾乎是不可能的。”
“見鬼，這我知道，丹比。可我至少得試一試。在羅馬有個小女孩，要是我能找到她、我想把她救出來。要是我能找到她，我就把她帶到瑞典去。所以、這並不完全是為了我自己，不是嗎？”
“你絕對是瘋了。你的良心將使你永遠不得安寧。”
“上帝保佑我的良心吧。”尤塞瑞恩哈哈大笑。“我要是沒有什麽擔驚受怕的事情就覺得活不下去了。對嗎，牧師？” “我下回見到布萊克上尉時要朝他的鼻子狠揍一拳，”牧師得意地說。他先伸出左臂往空中打了兩拳，又像翻曬幹草一樣笨拙地揮了揮右臂。“就像這樣。” “可這不是丟臉的事情嗎？” “什麽丟臉的事情？我現在這個樣子才更丟人現眼呢。”尤塞瑞恩把第二根鞋帶結結實實地係好後，一下子跳了起來。“喂，丹比，我準備走啦。你看怎麽樣？請你閉上嘴不吭氣，讓我搭上一架飛機好嗎？”
丹比少校默默地打量著尤塞瑞恩，他的臉上浮現出一絲奇怪而淒慘的微笑。他已經不再出汗了，顯得十分鎮定。“要是我真的阻攔你，你會怎麽辦？”他用悲哀的嘲弄口吻問道，“狠狠揍我一頓嗎？” 聽到這句問話，尤塞瑞恩吃了一驚，覺得自尊心受到了傷害。
“不，當然不。你為什麽這樣說呢？”
“我要狠狠揍你一頓，”牧師誇耀地說。他一步跳到丹比少校跟前，擺出揮拳格鬥的架勢。“我要狠狠地揍你和布萊克上尉一頓，可能還要揍惠特科姆中士一頓。如果我發現我再也不必害怕惠特科姆中士了，那不是太妙了嗎？”
“你打算阻攔我嗎？”尤塞瑞恩緊緊盯住丹比少校問。
丹比少校從牧師麵前跳到一旁，猶豫了片刻之後脫口說道： “不，當然不！”他突然急切而有力地朝著門口的方向揮了揮兩隻手臂。“我當然不會阻攔你。走吧，看在上帝的分上，趕快走吧！你需要錢嗎？”
“我有點錢。”
“喏，我這兒也有些錢，”丹比少校掏出厚厚一疊意大利鈔票塞給尤塞瑞恩，熱情洋溢，激動萬分。他又用雙手緊緊握住尤塞瑞恩的手，既是給他鼓勁，也是為了使自己的手指不再顫抖。 “這個時候住在瑞典一定是很愜意的，”他羨慕地說，“那兒的姑娘非常可愛，那兒的人們非常開明。”
“再見，尤塞瑞恩，”牧師告別說，“祝你好運。我要在這兒不屈不撓地堅持下去，戰爭結束後我們會再見的。”
“再見，牧師。謝謝你，丹比。”
“你覺得怎麽樣，尤塞瑞恩？”
“很好，不，我很害怕。”
“這就對了，”丹比少校說，“那是你還活著，因為那不會是什麽好玩的事。”
尤塞瑞恩往外走去。“不，是挺好玩的。”
“我說的是實話，尤塞瑞恩。你每一天，每分鍾都要保持警惕。他們會布下天羅地網抓你的。”
“我時時刻刻都會保待警惕的。”
“你得趕快跑。”
“我是要跑的。”
“趕快跑吧！”丹比少校叫道。
尤塞瑞恩跑了出去。內特利的妓女藏在門外，舉刀砍了下去，差一點砍到他。他跑掉了。

第四十二章 Chapter 42
CHAPTER 42: YOSSARIAN
Summary

Yossarian tells Major Danby that he is breaking his deal with Cathcart and Korn. Danby is surprised and tells Yossarian that Cathcart will initiate court-martial proceedings against him if Yossarian does not accept. They will probably charge Yossarian with incompetence, insubordination, refusal to engage the enemy, and desertion. He tells Danby that he will probably run away.

The chaplain runs in excitedly, carrying news that Orr is safe in Sweden. Orr has rowed all the way; Yossarian realizes that Orr had planned his escape all along and that crashing into the sea was part of a clever plan. Yossarian regrets that he had refused to fly with Orr, when Orr had asked him. Danby tries to dissuade Yossarian from running away, but he has made up his mind to follow Orrós lead. The chaplain is ecstatic and helps Yossarian get ready for the journey . Yossarian decides to go to Rome, pick up the prostituteós sister, and leave for Sweden. Yossarian boards a plane and jumps out with a parachute. Natelyós prostitute is waiting by the plane door and tries to stab Yossarian as he jumps. The knife misses him by inches, and he survives.

Notes

Yossarian finally does the honorable thing. In his case escape is more honorable than accepting Colonel Kornós deal. Yossarian is willing to risk everything for the sake of his ideals. His actions becomes a source of inspiration for Danby, just like Orrós. Yossarianós escape route is somewhat uncertain. At the novelós end the reader does not know for sure whether Yossarian will reach Sweden. The novel ends on a note of hope, which is a sharp contrast to the pessimism and despair that runs through most of the novel.

整體分析 Overall Analyses
角色分析 Character Analysis
OVERALL ANALYSES

CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Colonel Cathcart

The squadron commander who aims to be promoted to general. He constantly raises the number of missions that the men must fly and thereby helps glorify himself. He volunteers his squadron for the most difficult missions. He is willing to use anything, even religion, to get publicity for himself. He asks the chaplain to conduct prayer meetings before each mission, so that he can get his name into The Saturday Evening Post. He is unscrupulous and lies when he appears as a witness during the interrogation of the chaplain.

Doc Daneeka

Serves as chief medical officer for the squadron. He has the authority to send Yossarian home, but he turns down Yossarianós pleas by citing "Catch 22." He tells Yossarian: "We live in an age of distrust and deteriorating spiritual values." He is afraid of flying and has his name forged onto different flight manifests in order for him to collect enough flight time each month. This leads the air force bureaucracy to believe that he is killed in the plane crash along with McWatt. Doc Daneekaós life is determined by bureaucracy and official records.

Hungry Joe

Is sex-crazy and war-crazy. He takes nude photos of young prostitutes which never come out. He has flown more combat tours than any other in the Air Force. He suffers from nightmares whenever he is off-duty, and settles down into "a normal state of terror" when back on duty. He dies in his sleep. Unlike Yossarian, Joe eagerly awaits each new mission.

McWatt

Yossarian describes McWatt as "the craziest combat man of them all, probably because he was perfectly sane as still did not mind the war." McWatt loves flying his plane as low as possible . He takes frightful risks which lead to the deaths of Kid Sampson and himself.

Major Major

Due to a computer error he is promoted to major. Though successful in his career, he is shunned by all the soldiers in the squadron and becomes a recluse. Major Major avoids meeting anyone in his office by jumping out of the window.

Milo Minderbinder

The mess sergeant who runs a huge black market operation. He even accepts money from the Nazis to bomb his own squadron and comes through unscathed when he proves to the senate investigation committee that this operation profits the capitalist side. He is an entrepreneurial genius and regards war as a mere mercenary business. The scale of his operation is mind boggling. He even sells shares in his company to the airman at Pianosa.

Heller satirizes the vast American potential for individual entrepreneurship in a capitalistic market through the amazing commercial adventures of Milo. Heller also ridicules Miloós pretentious patriotism when he describes how Milo names the planes he uses for his black-marketing operations "Courage," "Truth," "Justice," "Liberty," "Love," "Honor," and "Patriotism." Other airmen are made to fly missions which are put on Miloós record. Milo is not averse to removing parachutes and life saving devices from combat aircraft. He leaves behind messages like "Whatós good for M&M Enterprises is good for the country." This is a parallel to President Eisenhowerós Defense Secretary Charles Wilsonós statement, "Whatós good for general Motors is good for the country and vice-versa."

Chaplain A. T. Tappman

The shy and unsure group chaplain. He understands the plight of Yossarian and his fellow airmen and tries to help them by speaking on their behalf to the commanding officers. However, he is not successful since Major Major refuses to see him and Colonel Cathcart intimidates him. He is falsely accused of being "Washington lrving." He remains faithful to Yossarian and even helps him escape. He is a sensitive person who realizes that there is too much unhappiness in the world. In the end, the chaplain asserts himself and is even willing to punch Major Danby should he try to stop Yossarian from escaping.

Captain John Yossarian

The antithesis of a conventional hero; but he is not an anti-hero since he is not petty, ignominious, ineffectual, or passive . He is an individual fighting for survival in a system that wishes to annihilate him. Yossarian believes that he is likely to die for the glory of the commanding officers; he tries to escape death by feigning illness and even insanity. He is only partially successful and he has to return to duty after a few days in hospital .

Yossarian is haunted by memories of his fellow airmen who have died on earlier missions. The deaths of Kraft, Mudd, and Snowden have affected him adversely. Throughout the novel, Yossarian appears to be on edge. He loses his nerve on the mission to Bologna and orders that the plane turn back. After Snowdenós death, he refuses to wear his uniform, since Snowden has bled to death in his arms. Yossarian desperately searches for a female companion, but most of his endeavors end in Roman brothels . His relationships with women are brief and unsatisfactory. Toward the end of the novel, Yossarian accepts Kornós deal, but soon changes his mind and stands up for what is right. He needs to escape to keep his sanity. He is already a war hero, having flown over seventy missions, risking his life for his country.

構思分析 Plot Analysis (Structure)

When Heller began his writing career in the late 1940s, he turned his back on traditional methods of story-telling. He seemed to resent the "realism" of the conventional mode of fiction with its rational structure, its assumptions of continuity in plot, situation, and character, and its neat attempts to draw well-defined resolutions. His own experience as an airman in World War II caused him to distrust the cause-and effect relation of surface reality as something merely superficial which captured only outer reality. So in his fiction, Heller developed a structure and style that suited the absurdities in public and private life that he observed around him.

The dislocation of episodic continuity serves a dual purpose. Some of the events are juxtaposed not on the basis of chronology but randomly so as to highlight their inter-relationship and to emphasize certain ironic contrasts.

Besides, the episodes of the novel are so structured as to create a gradually increasing tension through the sinister events represented in them. Heller gives us several accounts, scattered over various chapters, of the catastrophic events in Yossarianós plane leading up to a death. Each attempt at narrating the gory details serves to intensify the traumatic impact it has on the morale and psyche of Yossarian.

The overall time structure of the novel does acquire some chronological continuity through the intermittent repetition of certain crucial incidents. Recurrent references include the monumental growth of Minderbinderós black-market operations, the death of Snowden, Cathcartós raising of the number of missions, and Orrós repeated ditching of his planes at sea.

主題分析 Themes Analysis

THEME ANALYSIS

Catch-22 depicts the absurdities and excesses of life in war time conditions; on the other hand , it castigates the insanity and inhumanity of bureaucratic systems both in wartime and in peace. It is not surprising, then that the postwar generation of the 1950s and 1960s identified closely with the attempt to expose the vicious strengths and flaws of any bureaucracy. They saw the book as a tirade against the hatreds of the cold war ethos, the suspicions and persecution of the McCarthy era, and the mindless military and industrial expansion.

An example of Hellerós technique of parodying the contemporary post-World War II scenarios is evident in the portrayal of Milo Minderbinderós black-market operations. Miloós syndicate becomes a symbol for the a moral tactics employed by entrepreneurs in a free market.

Though Catch-22 deals with many contemporary issues of the 1950s and early ū60s, its central concern is with Yossarianós search for a strategy of survival amid the horrors and absurdities of war. The novel is a bitter and savage attack on the illogical and inhumane regulations enshrined by the military bureaucracy in the form of the Catch-22. Yossarian and the men are reduced to a state of near impotence which drives them to varying depths of psychological despair.

Heller's novel depicts not just manós struggles with life, but also his all-pervasive fear of death. All through the novel Yossarian is preoccupied with death. He remarks at one stage: "The enemy is anyone whoós going to get you killed, no matter which side heós on." His own commanders keep irrationally raising the required number of missions. In his desperate bid for life, Yossarian asserts: "Ióve been fighting all along to save my country. Now Ióm going to fight a little to save myself." His desire for self- preservation stems immediately from his fear of death, and his growing awareness that his impending death will serve no worthwhile purpose except to boost his superiors. He becomes painfully aware that his military bosses are bent on sending him to his death; their objective is not at all different from the enemy's.

In the final analysis, Catch-22 may be read as a sort of "bildungsroman." This leads him on to a newer consciousness which forces him to react against the death-principle inherent in war by embracing the all-important principles of life and love.

問題 Questions

學習題目 Study Questions

STUDY QUESTIONS/ESSAY TOPICS

How does Heller employ time as a structural as well as a thematic device in Catch-22?

What functions do the hospital in Pianosa and the officerós apartments in Rome serve in the novel?

Discuss the importance of Hellerós novel as more than just an anti-war protest? Describe how Heller mingles humor and terror, comedy and tragedy to produce dazzling yet realistic effects in his novel.

Examine, in some detail, the growth of Yossarian as a character who moves from escapism to hope, courage and a sense of responsibility?

What effect does the proliferation of Milo Minderbinder's black- market operations have on the lives of the men in the squadron? What is Heller's intention in depicting the Crazy undertaking of M&M Enterprises?

Examine how Heller satirizes both the military bureaucracy and capitalistic enterprise in Catch-22.

Discuss the role played by the chaplain in the novel. Can he be considered a success in his profession and as a person?

Explain how Heller presents different perspectives on life and death through some of the major characters he depicts in his novel.

Examine Yossarian as an anti-hero or victim-hero in the novel.

Discuss in detail the central dramatic issue in the novel- Yossarianós search for a strategy for survival.

Other books: Catch As Catch Can; Good As Good; God Knows; Closing Time; No Laughing Matter; Picture This; Portrait of An Artist, As An Old Man; Something Happended