现代大学英语（第三版）精读3 课件 B3U11

ContentsUnit11Lead-inWatchthemovieclipsandtrytoanswerthequestions:1.DoyouknowanythingaboutthebookTheGreenBook(TheNegroMotoristGreen-Book)?Thisguidebookappearedyearlybetween1936and1966.Ithelpedblacktravelersnavigate“sundowntowns”whichblackpeoplehadtoleavebysunset.Sometimesitwascalled“Negrotraveler’sGreen-Book.Theguidefortravelandvacations”asshownintheHollywoodmovieGreenBook(2018)CoverofthebookTheNegroMotoristGreen-Book

(1940edition)Lead-in2.DoesTonyLip(Vallelonga)discriminateagainsttheblackpeople?Whyorwhynot?

Yes.Hethrowsawaythetwoglassesjustbecausetheyhavebeenusedbythetwoblackpeople.Lead-in3.WhyareDr.DonandTonyarrestedinMississippi?Howdotheymanagetogetout?

Thisisthediscriminationontheroad.ThetwoarearrestedinMississippiafterapoliceofficerpullsthemoverlateatnightinasundowntown,andTonypunchestheofficerafterbeinginsulted.Whiletheyareincarcerated,DonaskstocallhislawyerandinsteadusesthephonecalltoreachAttorneyGeneralRobertF.Kennedy,whopressuresthegovernorandpoliceofficerstoreleasethetwo.4.DoesTonyfinishthejob?DoeshegetDr.Dontoallhistour?

No.Theymissthelastshow.OnthenightofDon’sfinalperformanceinBirmingham,Alabama,heisrefusedentryintothewhites-onlydiningroomofthecountryclubwherehehasbeenhiredtoperform.Tonythreatenstheowner,andDonrefusestoplaysincetheyrefusetoservehimintheroomwithhisaudience.TextADrinkinthePassageAlanPaton1.Abouttheauthor2.Background

3.Structure4.GotothetextText1.AbouttheauthorThewriterofthestory,AlanStewartPaton(1903—1988),borninPietermaritzburg,SouthAfrica,wasanimportantSouthAfricannovelistandpoliticalactivist.Paton’smostfamousnovel,Cry,theBelovedCountry,publishedin1948,broughtworldwideattentiontothetragedyofapartheidandhassincebecomeaninternationalclassic.Bythetimehedied,ithadsoldover15millioncopies.PatonattendedtheUniversityofNataland,afterwards,becameaschoolteacher.Text1.AbouttheauthorInthe1930s,hefoundhimselfinterestedindelinquentyouths,andin1935becametheprincipalofamodelreformatory.ThesuccessofhisfirstbookCry,theBelovedCountryledhimtochoosetobecomeaprofessionalwriter.Meanwhilehewasactivelyinvolvedinpolitics.Fromitsfoundingin1953untilitwasoutlawedbythegovernmentin1968,PatonwasthepresidentoftheLiberalPartyofSouthAfrica,whichadvocatedtheestablishmentofamultiracialdemocracythroughconstitutional,nonviolentprocedures.Inhiswriting,Patonexplorestherelationshipbetweenwhitesandblacksinhiscountry.

TextSomeoftheworksbyPatonCry,TheBelovedCountry,1948–madeintoafilmin1951,directedbyZoltanKordawithascreenplaybyPatonhimself;in1995,directedbyDarrellRoodt;alsoamusicalandanoperaLostintheStars,

1950

–amusicalbasedontheabovework(bookandlyricsbyMaxwellAnderson,musicbyKurtWeill)TooLatethePhalarope,1953TheLandandPeopleofSouthAfrica,1955SouthAfricainTransition,1956DebbieGoHome,1960TextTalesfromaTroubledLand,1961Hofmeyr,1964SouthAfricanTragedy,1965Sponono,1965(withKrishnaShah)TheLongView,1967InstrumentofThyPeace,1968KontakionForYouDeparted,1969(also:ForYouDeparted)D.C.S.OosthuizenMemorialLecture,1970CaseHistoryofaPinky,1972ApartheidandtheArchbishop:TheLifeandTimesofGeoffreyClayton,ArchbishopofCapeTown,1973KnockingontheDoor,1975TowardstheMountain,1980Ah,butYourLandisBeautiful,1981JourneyContinued:AnAutobiography,1988SavetheBelovedCountry,1989TheHeroofCurrieRoad:TheCompleteShortPieces,2008Text2.Background

ThestoryissetagainstthebackgroundofApartheidSouthAfrica.SouthAfricahadalonghistoryofbeingcolonized.TheDutcharrivedinthe17thcenturyandtheBritishcameinthelate18thcentury.ThediscoveryofdiamondsinthecountryledtoaBritishinvasionwhichresultedintheSecondBoerWar(1899–1902).TheDutchdescendantsinSouthAfricawereknownasBoersorAfrikaners,speakingaDutchdialectknownasAfrikaans.FollowingindependencefromBritain,therewasaperiodofuneasypower-sharingbetweenthetwogroupsuntilthe1940s,whentheAfrikanerNationalPartywasabletogainastrongmajority.TextStrategistsintheNationalPartyinventedapartheidasameanstostrengthentheircontrolovertheeconomicandsocialsystem.Theaim,inreality,wastomaintainwhitedominationwhileextendingracialseparation.Racelawstouchedeveryaspectofsociallife,includingaprohibitionofmarriagebetweennon-whitesandwhites,andthesanctionof“white-only”jobs.In1950,thePopulationRegistrationActrequiredthatallSouthAfricansberaciallyclassifiedintooneofthreecategories:white,black(African),orcolored(ofmixeddescent).Non-compliancewiththeracelawswasdealtwithharshly.TextTowardtheendofthe1980s,amidincreasingracialtensionandcriticismfromtheoutsideworld,NationalistPresidentF.W.deKlerkstartedaseriousreform.HeremovedthebanontheAfricanNationalCongress,theprincipalanti-apartheidorganization,andreleasedNelsonMandela,theANCdeputypresident,after27yearsofimprisonment.NegotiationsbetweenthegovernmentandtheANCcommenced.InJune1991,theParliamentstartedscrappingthecountry’sapartheidlaws.WithMandela’selectionasPresidentin1994,apartheidwasformallybroughttoanend.TextLondonbusin1989carryingthe"BoycottApartheid"message.Inthisstory,awell-educatedblackfindshimselfcordiallyinvitedtosplitabottlewithawhitemaninthelatter’sapartmentbuilding.Theblackmanisadmiredandpraisedbyagroupoffriendlywhitepeople,buthehastodrinkinthepassage.Throughoutthestoryonecanseethatthetwosidesarebothanxioustoreachouttoeachother,buttheydonotknowhow.Obviouslythereexistsaninvisiblewallbetweenthemwhichhamperstheirfreecommunicationandfullunderstanding,notjustawallimposedbyapartheidlaws,butawalldeepintheirhearts.ItisworthmentioningthattheproblemsAlanPatondepictsinhisstoriesarenotconfinedtoSouthAfrica.Theseareproblemsthatwehaveallhad.Racismhasbeenaseriousproblemthroughouthumanhistory.Infact,itisstillthecasetoday.Racismofcourseisbasedonprejudice,andprejudicecanleadtotremendoushumansuffering,beitracial,religiousorpolitical.Moreover,racismoranyotherformofprejudicedoesnotonlyinvolvegovernmentandpoliticians.TextText3.StructureI.Theaward(paras.1–6)1.WhatawardSimelanegot(para.1)2.Howhisworkenteredthecompetition(para.2)3.Whyhedidn’tgototheaward-givingceremony(para.3)4.Howhecametotellthenarratorabouthisfirstcognac(paras.4–6)II.Theencounter(paras.7–66)1.HowSimelanemetvanRensburg,awhiteman(paras.7–14)2.WhattheytalkedaboutbeforetheyreachedvanRensburg’sflat(paras.15–33)3.HowSimelanewasreceivedinthepassageofthebuilding(paras.34–66)III.Farewell(paras.67–76)1.HowvanRensburgtriedtoknowSimelanebetterbutfailed(paras.67–74)2.WhyvanRensburgcouldn’treallyunderstandSimelane(paras.75–76)ADrinkinthePassageAlanPaton1

Intheyear1960theUnionofSouthAfricacelebrateditsGoldenJubilee,andtherewasanationwidesensationwhentheone-thousand-poundprizeforthefinestpieceofsculpturewaswonbyablackman,EdwardSimelane.Hiswork,AfricanMotherandChild,notonlyexcitedtheadmiration,buttouchedtheconscienceorheartorwhateveritwasthatresponded,ofwhiteSouthAfrica,andseemedlikelytomakehimfamousinothercountries.Text2

Itwasbyanoversightthathisworkwasaccepted,foritwasthepolicyofthegovernmentthatallthecelebrationsandcompetitionsshouldbestrictlysegregated.Thecommitteeofthesculpturesectionreceivedaprivatereprimandforhavingbeensocarelessastoomitthewords“forwhitesonly”fromtheconditions,butwastold,byaveryhighpersonage,itissaid,thatifSimelane’swork“wasindisputablythebest,”itshouldreceivetheaward.Thecommitteethendecidedthatthisprizemustbegivenalongwiththeothers,atthepublicceremonywhichwouldbringthisparticularpartofthecelebrationstoaclose.3

Forthisdecisionitreceivedasurprisingamountofsupportfromthewhitepublic;butincertainpowerfulquarters,therewasanoutcryagainstanydeparturefromthe“traditionalpolicies”ofthecountry,andathreatthatmanywhiteprize-winnerswouldrenouncetheirprizes.However,acrisiswasaverted,becausethesculptorwas“unfortunatelyunabletoattendtheceremony.”Text4

“Iwasn’tfeelinguptoit,”Simelanesaidmischievouslytome.“Myparents,andmywife’sparents,andourpriest,decidedthatIwasn’tfeelinguptoit.AndfinallyIdecidedsotoo.OfcourseMajosiandSolaandtheotherswantedmetogoandgetmyprizepersonally,butIsaid,‘boys,I’masculptor,notademonstrator.’”5

“Thiscognaciswonderful,”hesaid,“especiallyinthesebigglasses.It’sthefirsttimeI’vehadsuchaglass.It’salsothefirsttimeI’vedrunkabrandysoslowly.InOrlandoyoudevelopathroatofiron,andyoujustputbackyourheadandputitdown,incasethepoliceshouldarrive.”Text6

Hesaidtome,“ThisisthesecondcognacI’vehadinmylife.WouldyouliketohearthestoryofhowIhadmyfirst?”7

YouknowtheAlabasterBookshopinVonBrandisStreet?Well,afterthecompetitiontheyaskedmeiftheycouldexhibitmyAfricanMotherandChild.Theygaveawholewindowtoit,withawhitevelvetbackdrop,ifthereisanythingcalledwhitevelvet,andsomecomplimentarywords.8

WellsomehowIcouldnevergoandlookinthatwindow.OnmywayfromthestationtotheHeraldoffice,Isometimeswentpastthere,andIfeltgoodwhenIsawallthepeoplestandingthere;butIwouldonlysquintatitoutofthecornerofmyeye.Text9

ThenonenightIwasworkinglateattheHerald,andwhenIcameouttherewashardlyanyoneinthestreets,soIthoughtI’dgoandseethewindow,andindulgecertainpleasurablehumanfeelings.Imusthavegotalittlelostinthecontemplationofmyowngenius,becausesuddenlytherewasayoungwhitemanstandingnexttome.10

Hesaidtome,“Whatdoyouthinkofthat,mate?”Andyouknow,onedoesn’tgetcalled“mate”everyday.11

“I’mlookingatit,”Isaid.12

“Icomeandlookatitnearlyeverynight,”hesaid.“Youknowit’sbyoneofyourownboys,don’tyou?”Text13

“Yea,Iknow.”14

“It’sbeautiful,”hesaid.“Lookatthatmother’shead.She’slovingthatchild,butshe’ssomehowwatchingtoo.Likesomeoneguarding.Sheknowsitwon’tbeaneasylife.”15

Thenhesaidconfidentially,“Mate,wouldyoulikeadrink?”16

WellhonestlyIdidn’tfeellikeadrinkatthattimeofnight,withawhitestrangerandall,andatrainstilltocatchtoOrlando.17

“Youknowweblackpeoplemustbeoutofthecitybyeleven,”Isaid.18

“Itwon’ttakelong.Myflat’sjustroundthecorner.DoyouspeakAfrikaans?”19

“SinceIwasachild,”IsaidinAfrikaans.20

“We’llspeakAfrikaansthen.MyEnglishisn’ttoowonderful.I’mvanRensburg.Andyou?”Text21

Icouldn’thavetoldhimmyname.IsaidIwasVakalisa,livinginOrlando.22

Bythistimehehadstartedoff,andIwasfollowing,butnotwillingly.Wedidn’texactlywalkabreast,buthedidn’texactlywalkinfrontofme.Hedidn’tlookconstrained.Hewasn’tlookingroundtoseeifanyonemightbewatching.23

Hesaidtome,“DoyouknowwhatIwantedtodo?”24

“No,”Isaid.25

“Iwantedabookshop,likethatonethere.Ialwayswantedthat,eversinceIcanremember.ButIhadbadluck.MyparentsdiedbeforeIcouldfinishschool.”26

Thenhesaidtome,“Areyoueducated?”27

Isaidunwillingly,“Yes.”ThenIthoughttomyself,howstupid,forleavingthequestionopen.28

Andsureenoughheasked,“Far?”Text29

Andagainunwillingly,Isaid,“Far.”30

Hetookabigleap.“Degree?”31

“Yes.”32

“Literature?”33

“Yes.”34

Heexpelledhisbreath,andgavealong“ah.”Wehadreachedhisbuilding,MajorcaMansions,notoneofthoseluxuriousplaces.Iwasgladtoseethattheentrancelobbywasdeserted.Iwasn’tatmyease.Theliftwasatgroundlevel,markedWhitesOnly.VanRensburgopenedthedoorandwavedmein.WhileIwaswaitingforhimtopressthebutton,sothatwecouldgetmovingandawayfromthatgroundfloor,hestoodwithhisfingersuspendedoverit,andlookedatmewithakindofhonest,unselfishenvy.Text35

“Youwerelucky,”hesaid.“Literature,that’swhatIwantedtodo.”36

Heshookhisheadandpressedthebutton,andhedidn’tspeakagainuntilwestoppedhighup.Butbeforewegotouthesaidsuddenly,“IfIhadhadabookshop,I’dhavegiventhatboyawindowtoo.”37

Wegotoutandwalkedalongoneofthosepolishedconcrete

passageways.Ontheonesidewasawall,andplentyoffreshair,andfardownbelowVonBrandisStreet.Ontheothersidewerethedoors,impersonaldoors.VanRensburgstoppedatoneofthedoors,andsaidtome,“Iwon’tbeaminute.”Thenhewentin,leavingthedooropen,andinsideIcouldhearvoices.Thenafteraminuteorso,hecamebacktothedoor,holdingtwoglassesofredwine.Hewaswarmandsmiling.Text38

“Sorrythere’snobrandy,”hesaid.“Onlywine.Here’shappiness.”39

NowIcertainlyhadnotexpectedthatIwouldhavemydrinkinthepassage.Iwasn’tonlyfeelingwhatyoumaybethinking;Iwasthinkingthatoneoftheimpersonaldoorsmightopenatanymoment,andsomeonemightseemeina“white”building,andseemeandvanRensburgbreakingtheliquorlawsofthecountry.Angercouldhavesavedmefromthewholeembarrassingsituation,butyouknowIcan’teasilybeangry.EvenifIcouldhavebeen,Imighthavefoundithardtobeangrywiththisparticularman.ButIwantedtogetawayfromthere,andIcouldn’t.40

VanRensburgsaidtome,“Don’tyouknowthisfellowSimelane?”41

“I’veheardofhim,”Isaid.Text42

“I’dliketomeethim,”hesaid.“I’dliketotalktohim.”Headdedinexplanation,“Youknow,talkoutmyhearttohim.”43

Awomanofaboutfiftyyearsofagecamefromtheroombeyond,bringingaplateofbiscuits.Shesmiledandbowedtome.Itookoneofthebiscuits,butnotforallthemoneyintheworldcouldIhavesaidtoherdankie,mynooiorthatdisgustingdankie,misses,nordidIwanttospeaktoherinEnglishbecauseherlanguagewasAfrikaans,soItooktheriskofitandusedthewordmevrou,forthepolitenessofwhichsomeAfrikanerswouldknockablackmandown,andIsaid,inhighAfrikaans,withasmileandabowtoo,“Ekisudankbaar,Mevrou.”44

Butnobodyknockedmedown.Thewomansmiledandbowed,andvanRensburg,inastrainedvoicethatsuddenlycameoutofnowhere,said,“Ourlandisbeautiful.Butitbreaksmyheart.”Text45

Thewomanputherhandonhisarm,andsaid,“Jannie,Jannie.”46

Thenanotherwomanandaman,allaboutthesameage,cameupandstoodbehindvanRensburg.47

“He’saB.A.,”vanRensburgtoldthem.48

Thefirstwomansmiledandbowedtomeagain,andvanRensburgsaid,asthoughitwereamatterforgrief,“Iwantedtogivehimbrandy,butthere’sonlywine.”49

Thesecondwomansaid,“Iremember,Jannie.Comewithme.”50

Shewentbackintotheroom,andhefollowedher.Thefirstwomansaidtome,“Jannie’sagoodman.Strange,butgood.”Text51

AndIthoughtthewholethingwasmad,andgettingbeyondme,withmeablackstrangerbeingshownatestimonialforthesonofthehouse,withthesewhitestrangersstandingandlookingatmeinthepassage,asthoughtheywantedforGod’ssaketotouchmesomewhereanddidn’tknowhow,butIsawtheearnestnessofthewomanwhohadsmiledandbowedtome,andIsaidtoher,“Icanseethat,Mevrou.”52

“Hegoesdowneverynighttolookatthestatue,”shesaid.“HesaysonlyGodcouldmakesomethingsobeautiful,thereforeGodmustbeinthemanwhomadeit,andhewantstomeethimandtalkouthishearttohim.”53

Shelookedbackattheroom,andthenshedroppedhervoicealittle,andsaidtome,“Can’tyousee,it’ssomehowbecauseit’sablackwomanandablackchild?”Text54

AndIsaidtoher,“Icanseethat,Mevrou.”55

Sheturnedtothemanandsaidofme,“He’sagoodboy.”56

ThentheotherwomanreturnedwithvanRensburg,andvanRensburghadabottleofbrandy.Hewassmilingandpleased,andhesaidtome,“Thisisn’tordinarybrandy.It’sFrench.”57

Heshowedmethebottle,andI,wantingtogetthehelloutofthatplace,lookedatitandsawitwascognac.Heturnedtothemanandsaid,“Uncle,youremember?Themanatthebottle-storesaidthiswasthebestbrandyintheworld.”58

“Imustgo,”Isaid.“Imustcatchthattrain.”59

“I’lltakeyoutothestation,”hesaid.“Don’tyouworryaboutthat.”60

Hepouredmeadrinkandoneforhimself.61

“Uncle,”hesaid,“whataboutoneforyourself?”Text62

Theoldermansaid,“Idon’tmindifIdo,”andhewentinsidetogethimselfaglass.63

TheVanRensburgsaid,“Happiness,”andliftedhisglasstome.Itwasgoodbrandy,thebestI’veevertasted.ButIwantedtogetthehelloutofthere.ThenUnclecamebackwithhisglass,andvanRensburgpouredhimabrandy,andUncleraisedhisglasstometoo.Allofuswerefullofgoodwill,butIwaswaitingfortheopeningofoneofthoseimpersonaldoors.Perhapstheyweretoo,Idon’tknow.Perhapswhenyouwantsobadlytotouchsomeone,youdon’tcare.IwasdrinkingmybrandyalmostasfastasIwouldhavedrunkitinOrlando.64

“Imustgo,”Isaid.65

TheVanRensburgsaid,“I’lltakeyoutothestation.”Hefinishedhisbrandy,andIfinishedminetoo.WehandedtheglassestoUncle,whosaidtome,“Goodnight,myboy.”Thefirstwomansaid,“MayGodblessyou,”andtheotherwomanbowedandsmiled.ThenvanRensburgandIwentdowninthelifttothebasement,andgotintohiscar.Text66

“ItoldyouI’dtakeyoutothestation,”hesaid.“I’dtakeyouhome,butI’mfrightenedofOrlandoatnight.”67

WedroveupEloffStreet,andhesaid,“DidyouknowwhatImeant?”Iwantedtoanswerhim,butIcouldn’t,becauseIdidn’tknowwhatthatsomethingwas.Hecouldn’tbetalkingaboutbeingfrightenedofOrlandoatnight,becausewhatmorecouldonemeanthanjustthat?68

“Bywhat?”Iasked.69

“Youknow,”hesaid,“aboutourlandbeingbeautiful?”70

Yes,Iknewwhathemeant,andIknewthatforGod’ssakehewantedtotouchmetooandhecouldn’t;forhiseyeshadbeenblindedbyyearsinthedark.AndIthoughtitwasapityhewasblind,forifmennevertoucheachother,they’llhurteachotheroneday.Anditwasapityhewasblind,andcouldn’ttouchme,forblackmendon’ttouchwhitemenanymore;onlybyaccident,whentheymakesomethinglikeMotherandChild.Text71

Hesaidtome,“Whatareyouthinking?”72

Isaid,“Manythings,”andmyinarticulatenessdistressedme,forIknewhewantedsomethingfromme.Ifelthimfallback,angry,hurt,desiring,Ididn’tknow.Hestoppedatthemainentrancetothestation,butIdidn’ttellhimIcouldn’tgointhere.Igotoutandsaidtohim,“Thankyouforthesociableevening.”73

“Theylikedhavingyou,”hesaid.“Didyouseethat?”74

Isaid,“Yes,Isawthat.”Text75

Hesatslumpedinhisseat,likeamanwithaburdenofincomprehensible,insolublegrief.Iwantedtotouchhim,butIwasthinkingaboutthetrain.HesaidgoodnightandIsaidittoo.Weeachsalutedtheother.Whathewasthinking,Godknows,butIwasthinkinghewaslikeamantryingtorunaraceinironshoes,andnotunderstandingwhyhecannotmove.76

WhenIgotbacktoOrlando,Itoldmywifethestory,andshewept.(2,356words)Text楼道里的祝酒艾伦·佩顿1

1960年，南非联邦举行五十周年庆典，当奖金为一千英镑的最佳雕塑奖被一位名叫爱德华·西梅拉内的黑人夺得时，举国轰动。他的作品《非洲母子》不仅为他赢得了赞誉，还激起了南非白人社会的良知，或同情心，或是其他某种反应；而且看来很可能会使他享誉海外。Text2

他的作品能获得参赛资格完全是由于一时的疏忽，因为在所有的庆典和竞赛中，政府都严格规定白人和黑人分别参与不同的活动。雕塑委员会因粗心大意，在参赛条件中遗漏了“只限白人”几个字，而私下里受到批评。不过据说，一位高层要人告诉委员会，如果西梅拉内的作品的确“无可争议是最佳的”，该作品就应获得此奖。因此，委员会决定该奖项必须在公开的颁奖仪式上与其他奖项一并颁发，以便给庆典活动中出现的这个特殊事件画上句号。3这一决定在白人民众中获得了出人意料的广泛支持，但在某些有权势的白人阶层中，这一背离国家“传统政策”的做法遭到了强烈抗议，当时许多白人获奖者威胁将放弃他们所得的奖项。然而一场危机最终得以避免，因为这位雕塑家“很遗憾，不能参加颁奖仪式”。Text4

“我当时身体不适，不能参加，”西梅拉内调皮地对我说。“我父母、我妻子的父母，还有我们的牧师，一致决定我因身体不适，不能参加。最后我也决定我不去领奖了。当然毛约希、索拉及其他人都要我亲自去领奖，但我说，‘朋友们，我只是一个雕塑家，不是一个街头示威者。’”5“这干邑白兰地真棒，”他说，“特别是盛在这些大杯子里喝的时候。这是我第一次用这样的玻璃杯喝白兰地，也是我第一次能这样慢慢品尝。在奥兰多，你练就了铁打一样的喉咙来饮白兰地，仰起头，一饮而尽，以防警察来了看见。”

Text6

他对我说，“这是我这辈子第二次喝干邑白兰地。你想听我第一次喝这种酒的故事吗？”7你知道冯布兰迪斯大街的阿拉巴斯特书店吧？那次竞赛结束后，他们问我是否能够在书店展出我的《非洲母子》。他们给我的雕塑一整个橱窗，以白天鹅绒为背景，如果真的有白天鹅绒这种东西的话，还配上了一些赞美之词。8可是不知为什么，我却不能去看那扇橱窗。在从火车站到我们《先驱报》报社的路上，我有时经过那儿。看到那么多人都站在那儿，我感觉很不错。但是我只能用余光瞅它一眼。

Text9

有一天晚上，我在报社工作到很晚。出来的时候，街上几乎没什么人了。于是我想这会儿我可以去看看那个橱窗，享受点乐趣了。在欣赏自己颇显才华的作品时，我定是有些忘乎所以了，因为我突然发现身边站着一个白人青年。10他对我说，“你觉得这雕塑怎么样，伙计？”你知道，我们不是每天都能被人称作“伙计”的。11“我在看呢，”我说。12“我几乎每晚都来看，”他说。“你知道这是你们的人雕刻的吧？”

Text13

“没错，我知道。”14“太美了，”他说。“你看那母亲的头，她深爱着那个孩子，但同时她好像在留神四周，守护着自己的孩子。她知道这孩子的一生不会一帆风顺。”15他接着悄悄对我说，“伙计，想喝一杯吗？”16说实话，我真不想那么晚了还去喝酒，而且是和一个素不相识的白人一起喝，有可能会引起种种麻烦；再者我还要赶晚班火车回奥兰多呢。17

“你知道我们黑人必须在十一点之前离开城区，”我说。18“用不了很长时间。我的公寓就在附近。你会说南非荷兰语吗？”19“我从小就会说，”我用南非荷兰语答道。20“那就说南非荷兰语，我的英语不怎么样。我叫范伦斯堡，你呢？”Text21

我不能告诉他我的真名。我说我叫瓦卡利萨，住在奥兰多。22这时他已经动身。我不太情愿地跟在他身后。他既不和我并排走，也没有走在我前面。他没有显得不自然，也没有四下张望看是否有人注视我们。23他问我，“你知道我从前想做什么吗？”24“不知道，”我说。25“我想开一家书店，就跟刚才我们见到的那家一样。从我记事起，我就一直想开书店。可是我运气不好，还没有上完学，父母就去世了。”26接着他问我，“你受过教育吗？”27我不情愿地答道，“受过。”随后我心里想：这么回答真蠢，肯定要引起更多的问题。28不出所料，他又问道，“学历高吗？”Text29

我还是很不情愿地说，“是的。”30他向前迈了一大步。“得了学位？”31“是的。”32“文学？”33“是的。”34他吐了一口气，长长地“啊”了一声。这时，我们已经走到他住的地方——马约尔卡公寓，不是那种豪华公寓。我很高兴门厅里没有人。我感觉不自在。电梯在一层，上面写着“只限白人”几个字。范伦斯堡开了门，挥手示意我进去。我等着他按按钮，以便尽快离开一层。他却站在那儿，手指迟迟没有落到按钮上，用一种真诚的、羡慕的目光看着我。

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“你真幸运，”他说。“文学，那正是我一直想读的。”36他摇了摇头，终于按下按钮，而后就没再说话，直到电梯在高层停了下来。在我们走出电梯之前，他突然说，“要是我有一个书店，我也会给那年轻人一扇橱窗。”37我们出了电梯，沿着其中一条磨光的水泥楼道走。楼道里有充足的新鲜空气，下面就是冯布兰迪斯大街。楼道的一边是墙，另一边是门，一排冷冰冰的门。范伦斯堡在其中一扇门前停了下来，对我说，“我马上回来。”然后他走进了房间，门敞着，我能听到里面的说话声。大约一分钟以后，他回到门口，举着两杯红葡萄酒，热情地微笑着。Text38

“不好意思，没有白兰地，”他说。“只有葡萄酒。来，为幸福干杯。”39我根本没有想到我会在楼道里喝酒。我当时的感觉你可能也猜得到，不过我还想到在那些冷冰冰的门当中，不知道哪一扇会突然打开，出来一个人，看到我在一栋“白人的”楼里，和范伦斯堡一起违反这个国家有关烈性酒的法令。我可以表示愤怒而离开，从而把自己从这极为尴尬的情况中解脱出来。可你知道，我不会轻易发怒。即使我会，也很难对面前这个人发火。我想离开那个地方，可是我又不能这么做。40范伦斯堡问我，“你不认识那位西梅拉内吗？”41“我听说过他，”我说。

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“我真想见见他，”他说。“真想和他谈谈。”又补充道，“嗯，跟他说说我的心里话。”43这时一位五十来岁的妇人，从远处一间屋子里走出来，端来一盘饼干。她微笑着向我弯腰致意。我拿起一块饼干，但无论如何我都不可能用南非荷兰语对她说，“谢谢，女士”或是那令人讨厌的“谢谢，太太”。我也不能跟她说英语，因为她说的是南非荷兰语，于是我冒险用了“夫人”这个词，在南非荷兰语中这是一个极其文雅的词，黑人如果使用它，很可能会被白人打翻在地。我用上流社会的南非荷兰语说，“非常感谢，夫人。”同时也微笑弯腰致意。

44没有人把我打翻在地。那妇人又微笑着弯腰致意，此刻，范伦斯堡的声音不知从哪里冒出来，他用不自然的声音说，“我们的祖国是美丽的，可她又使我心碎。”Text45

那妇人把手搭在他的胳膊上，说，“贾尼，贾尼。”46之后，又走过来另外一位妇人和一位男士，年龄都差不多，站在范伦斯堡身后。47“他是位文科学士，”范伦斯堡告诉他们。48第一位妇人微笑着又向我弯腰致意，范伦斯堡好像有些难过地说，“我想请他喝点白兰地，可我们只有葡萄酒。”49第二位妇人说，“我想起来了，贾尼，跟我来。”50她回到屋里，他跟在她身后。第一位妇人对我说，“贾尼是个好人，脾气有点怪，但人不错。”

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我当时想这里发生的一切简直不可思议，让我一时不能理解，我一个黑人，又是一个陌生人，他们却在我面前称赞公寓里的一个年轻住户；还有这些陌生的白人，站在楼道里看着我，似乎他们的的确确想了解我，却又不知如何去做。但我看到了刚向我微笑并弯腰致意的那位妇人的真诚，于是我对她说，“我明白，夫人。”52“他每天晚上都去那儿看那个雕塑，”她说。“他说只有上帝才能创造出这么美的东西来，上帝肯定在那位雕塑家的心里，他想见见他，和他说说心里话。”53她回头向屋里看去，然后稍压低嗓门对我说，“可能是因为那对母子是黑人吧，你看不出吗？”Text54我说，“我看得出来，夫人。”

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她转向那位男士，说起我来，“这孩子不错。”56这时第二位妇人和范伦斯堡一起回来了，范伦斯堡拿着一瓶白兰地，笑容满面，很是高兴，他对我说，“这不是一般的白兰地，是法国的。”57他让我看那瓶子，而我此刻正想着赶紧离开那个地方，看了一眼，是一瓶干邑白兰地。他朝着那男士说，“叔叔，你记得吗？酒铺的那个人说这是世界上最好的白兰地。”58“我得走了，”我说。“我必须赶那趟火车。”59“我会送你去车站的，”他说。“你不用担心。”60他给我斟了一杯酒，也给自己斟了一杯。61“叔叔，”他说，“你也来一杯，怎么样？”Text62

那年龄稍长的男士说，“来一杯也好。”他进屋给自己拿了一个杯子。63

范伦斯堡说，“祝你幸福。”然后向我举起了杯子。那白兰地不错，我从未尝过这么好的白兰地，但我只想马上离开这儿。这时叔叔拿着杯子回来了，范伦斯堡给他斟了一杯白兰地，叔叔也向我举起了杯子。大家都很友善，但我却惴惴不安，担心那些冷漠的门会打开一扇，或许他们也是如此，我不知道。或许当你急于了解他人时，你并不在乎这些。我喝得很快，几乎跟我在奥兰多喝白兰地时一样快。64“我得走了，”我说。65范伦斯堡说，“我送你去车站。”他干了白兰地，我也干了。我们把杯子递给叔叔，叔叔对我说，“晚安，孩子。”第一位妇人说，“上帝保佑你。”另一位妇人笑着弯腰致意。我和范伦斯堡乘电梯到了地下室，上了他的车。Text66

“我刚才说要送你去车站的，”他说。“我真想把你送回家，但我害怕晚上去奥兰多。”67

车开到了埃洛夫街，他说，“你懂我的意思吗？”我想回答他，可又不能，因为我不知道他指的是什么，他不可能是说害怕晚上去奥兰多，因为那句话很明白，哪还会有什么别的意思呢？68“你指什么？”我问。69“噢，”他说，“我们的国家很美吧？”70是的，我懂他的意思，而且我知道他真的很想了解我却又不能，因为多年来的黑暗蒙蔽了他的双眼。我觉得很遗憾他被蒙蔽了双眼，因为如果人与人互不了解，总有一天他们就会相互伤害。很不幸，他受了蒙蔽，无法了解我，因为黑人不能再接近白人，除非他们创造出了像《非洲母子》这样的东西，而不经意地触动了白人。Text71

他问我，“你在想什么？”72

我说，“很多事情。”可我不善表达，这使我很沮丧，因为我知道他想从我这儿听到些什么。我感觉他的身体向后靠了靠，是生气，痛心，还是渴望，我不知道。他在车站的正门停了车，但我没有告诉他我不能从那儿进站。我下了车，对他说，“谢谢今晚的聚会。”73“他们都喜欢你来，”他说。“你看出来了吗？”74我说，“是的，我看出来了。”Text75

他颓然跌坐在座位上，如同一个人背负着过多难以理解而又无从解决的伤痛。我想触摸他，可我又想着要去赶火车。我们互道晚安，挥手告别。他在想什么，天知道。但我在想，他像一个试图穿着铁靴跑步却不知为何动弹不了的人。76

回到奥兰多时，我把这件事讲给了我妻子听，她泣不成声。

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Intheyear1960theUnionofSouthAfricacelebrateditsGoldenJubilee,andtherewasanationwide

sensationwhentheone-thousand-poundprizeforthefinestpieceofsculpturewaswonbyablackman,EdwardSimelane.In1960,theUnionofSouthAfricacelebratedits50thanniversary,andthewholecountrywasgreatlysurprisedwhen