The game they played is a popular one with boys and girls; it's called tag. The man with the gun was trying to tag King Solomon; the warden was bent on tagging the man with the gun. And I liked to see them at their game.
他们玩的是一种在孩子当中很受欢迎的捉人游戏。带枪的人在设法捕捉所罗门王,猎区管理员决心要捉住带枪的人。而我喜欢看他们玩这个游戏。
The rest of that summer and all during the next two summers I mentioned King Solomon's name to all I chanced to meet. They all knew of him, and had stories to tell about him, but no one was able to tell me just where and when he might be found. So I never met King Solomon till quite recently, and then it was through Dee Thompson, a boy of twelve.
那年夏天余下的日子,以及接下来的两个夏季,我向我遇见的每一个人提及所罗门王的名字。他们都知道他,而且都能讲一些有关他的故事,但是没有一个人能告诉我在什么时间什么地点能找到他。所以我一直没见过所罗门王,直到最近通过一个叫迪·汤普森的十二岁男孩我才见到了他。
I had met Dee a few times. He was no different from the other mountain boys, lean and taciturn, hard to talk to. I probably never would have got to know him well if I had not mentioned King Solomon. He was a different boy then.
我见过迪好几次。他和其他的山区孩子没什么两样,身体很瘦,沉默寡言,很难说上话。要是我没提到所罗门王,我也许永远不会了解他。一提到所罗门王,他像完全变了个人。
Have you seen him? he asked.
“你见过他吗?”他问。
No. I've just heard about him. But I guess you have, I suggested.
“没有,我只是听说过他。但我猜你见过,”我说道。
I saw him once, he answered. "He had broken my line after I had lifted him out of the water. But," he added with a quavering voice. "I'm going to get him some day."
“我见过一次他回答说,“我把他拖出水面时,他挣断线跑了。不过,”他补充说,声音带着一丝颤抖,“总有一天我会捉住他。”
I asked him when he hoped to accomplish it.
我问他想什么时候实现这个愿望。
When the signs are right again, he told me.
“等时机成熟时,”他告诉我。
When do you reckon that will be?
“你认为那会是什么时候?”
Dee looked me steadily in the eye, and then asked, "Do you want to go with me?"
迪紧紧地盯着我的眼晴,然后问道:“你想和我一起去吗?”
I sure do.
“我当然想。”
I'll let you know when I'm going after him again, Dee promised and left me to wonder when that would be.
“我再去抓他的时候会告诉你的,”迪许诺道,而他走后我仍然思索着,什么时候才会有这个机会。
Three days later, while I was having a second cup of coffee, Dee walked into my camp.
三天后,正当我喝第二杯咖啡时,迪走进了我露营的帐篷。
I'm going, he announced.
“我要去了,”他宣布说。
And may I trail along? I asked hopefully.
“我能和你一起去吗?”我满怀希望地问道。
That's what I said the other day, he replied
“那天我就是这么说的,”他回答道。