Button, Button
按钮,按钮
Richard Matheson
理查德·麦特森
The package was lying by the front door—a cube-shaped carton sealed with tape. Norma picked it up, unlocked the door, and went into the apartment. It was just getting dark.
包裹就放在前门旁边——一个用胶带封好的方形包装箱。诺玛把它捡起来,打开门锁,走进屋子。天色渐渐暗了下来。
After she put the lamb chops in the broiler, she sat down to open the package.
把羊排放入烤箱后,诺玛坐下来打开盒子。
Inside the carton was a push-button unit fastened to a small wooden box. A glass dome covered the button. Norma tried to lift it off, but it was locked in place. She turned the unit over and saw a piece of paper taped to the bottom of the box: "Mr. Steward will call on you at 8:00 p.m."
包装箱里装着一个固定在小木盒上的按钮装置。按钮上罩着一层圆玻璃。诺玛想把玻璃盖子打开,但它被牢牢地锁住了。她把装置翻了过来,看见粘在盒底的一张小纸条:“斯图沃德先生将在今晚8点登门拜访。”
Norma put the button unit on the couch, and went back into the kitchen to make the salad.
诺玛把按钮装置放在沙发上,然后回到厨房去做沙拉。
The doorbell rang at eight o'clock. "I'll get it," Norma called from the kitchen. Arthur was in the living room, reading.
晚上8点,门铃准时响了。“我去开门,”诺玛在厨房喊道。阿瑟此时正在起居室里看书。
A small man. He removed his hat as Norma opened the door.
进来的是一个矮个子男人。当诺玛打开门时他摘下了帽子。
"Mrs. Lewis?" he inquired politely.
“请问您是刘易斯太太吗?”他礼貌地询问道。
"Yes?"
“你是……?”
"I'm Mr. Steward."
“我是斯图沃德先生。”
"Oh, yes." Norma repressed a smile. She was sure now that it was a sales pitch.
“哦,想起来了。”诺玛忍住没有笑。她现在确定此人是在玩花招推销什么东西。
"May I come in?" asked Mr. Steward.
“我可以进来吗?”斯图沃德先生问道。
"I'm rather busy," Norma said. "I'll get your whatchamacallit, though." She started to turn.
“我现在很忙,”诺玛说,“我马上去把那不知是什么玩意儿的东西给你拿来。”她转身要走。
"Don't you want to know what it is?"
“您难道不想知道那是什么吗?”
Norma turned back. "No, I don't think so."
诺玛转过身来:“不,我不想知道。”