Nick drove to the nearest police station. He waited for half an hour, then a tired young policeman took him into a small room. Nick told his story, and the policeman wrote it all down.
尼克开车去了最近的一个警察局。他等了半个小时,接着一个看上去很疲倦的年轻警察把他领到一个小房间里。尼克讲了刚才的事情,警察做了记录。
'So what are you going to do?' asked Nick.
“你们准备怎么处理此事?”尼克问道。
'Nothing,' said the policeman.
“没什么可处理的。”警察说。
'Nothing!' said Nick. 'But somebody shot at me, and-'
“没什么可处理的!”尼克说道,“可有人开枪打我呀,还有——”
'Mr Lortz,' the policeman said tiredly. 'How many people are there in this town with guns?'
“洛茨先生,”警察懒懒地说,“这个城镇里有多少人有枪?”
'I don't know,' said Nick. 'But ...'
“我不知道,”尼克回答,“可……”
'You didn't see the gunman. Was it a man, a boy, a woman? Colour of eyes? Long hair, short hair? You don't know, because you didn't see anybody. Maybe it was an old girlfriend. Maybe somebody doesn't like your travel books, Mr Lortz.'
“你没有看见那个持枪者呀。那个人是男是女还是小孩子?眼睛是什么颜色的?长发还是短发?你不知道,因为你谁也没有看到。或许是你原来的女朋友,或许是一些不喜欢你写的旅游书的人,洛茨先生。”
'But what about the man with white hair in Whistler?' said Nick. 'The girl, Meg Hutson, called me Mr Hollywood in the café, and this man heard her. And now I get a letter to Mr Hollywood on my car. Who is this Mr Hollywood?'
“可你觉得惠斯勒的那个白发男子是怎么回事?”尼克说道,“那个叫梅格·赫特森的女孩儿在咖啡馆里管我叫好莱坞先生,那个人听到了。还有这会儿我在我的车上收到一封给好莱坞先生的信。这个好莱坞先生究竟是谁呢?”
'We all want answers to our questions, Mr Lortz,' the policeman said, 'but we don't always get them.'
“我们都希望找到问题的答案,洛茨先生,”警察说,“可我们不是总能找得到的。”
Questions. But no answers.
问题一个接一个。可都没有答案。
Nick walked out of the police station and drove to his hotel. He was angry, and afraid.
尼克从警察局出来,开车回酒店。他又生气又害怕。
'How did the man with white hair find me in Vancouver?' he thought. 'Did he follow me from Whistler? Is he following me now? Maybe he's staying at my hotel, too. In the next room. With his gun.'
“那个白发男子怎么能在温哥华找到我呢?”他想,“他是从惠斯勒跟踪我来到这里的吗?他现在还在跟踪我吗?也许他也住在我住的那家酒店,可能就在隔壁房间里,还带着枪。”