购买
下载掌阅APP,畅读海量书库
立即打开
畅读海量书库
扫码下载掌阅APP

The Undefeated2

"He knows we'll be happier if we don't get too good a look at these skins,"another pic answered.

“他知道我们如果看不清这些皮包骨的东西反而会开心些。”另一个长矛手答道。

"This thing I'm on barely keeps me off the ground,"the first picador said.

“我骑的这玩意儿只能勉强让我脚不沾地。”第一个长矛手说。

"Well,they're horses."

“唉,它们总算是马呀。”

"Sure,they're horses."

“当然,它们都算是马。”

They talked,sitting their gaunt horses in the dark.

他们坐在自己瘦骨嶙峋的马上,在黑暗里交谈。

Zurito said nothing.He had the only steady horse of the lot.He had tried him,wheeling him in the corrals and he responded to the bit and the spurs.He had taken the bandage off his right eye and cut the strings where they had tied his ears tight shut at the base.He was a good,solid horse,solid on his legs.That was all he needed.He intended to ride him all through the corrida.He had already,since he had mounted,sitting in the half—dark in the big,quilted saddle,waiting for the paseo,pic—ed through the whole corrida in his mind.The other picadors went on talking on both sides of him.He did not hear them.

舒里托一言不发。他骑着这批马里唯一一匹结实的。他在畜栏里遛了遛它,好试试它怎么样;当他拉马嚼子、踢马刺的时候,它都有反应。他取下蒙在它右眼上的布带,又割断了耳根处紧紧捆住它耳朵的绳子。这是一匹强壮的好马,四肢稳健。这正是他所需要的。他打算整场斗牛都骑它。他在半明半暗的光线里爬上塞得鼓鼓的大马鞍,等待入场;从那一刻起,他就已经在脑子里设计好了整场斗牛中的扎牛动作。他两边的长矛手还在说话。他什么都没听到。

The two matadors stood together in front of their three peones,their capes furled over their left arms in the same fashion.Manuel was thinking about the three lads in back of him.They were all three Madrileeos,like Hernandez,boys about nineteen.One of them,a gypsy,serious,aloof,and dark—faced,he liked the look of.He turned.

两个主斗牛士并排站在他们的三个助手前面,他们把披风折成了相同的式样,搭在左臂上。曼努埃尔想着他背后的三个小伙子。和埃尔南德斯一样,他们都是马德里人,都是19岁上下的小伙子。其中有一个是吉卜赛人,表情严肃沉静,脸色黝黑。他喜欢这个人的模样。他转过身。

"What's your name,kid?"he asked the gypsy.

“你叫什么名字,孩子?”他问那个吉卜赛小伙子。

"Fuentes,"the gypsy said.

“富恩特斯。”吉卜赛人回答。

"That's a good name,"Manuel said.

“是个好名字。”曼努埃尔说。

The gypsy smiled,showing his teeth.

吉卜赛小伙子微笑着,牙齿露了出来。

"You take the bull and give him a little run when he comes out,"Manuel said.

“公牛一出场,你就迎上去,引着它跑一阵。”曼努埃尔说。

"All right,"the gypsy said.His face was serious.He began to think about just what he would do.

“没问题。”吉卜赛人说。他的脸很严肃。他开始想自己该怎么做了。

"Here she goes,"Manuel said to Hernandez.

“开始了。”曼努埃尔对埃尔南德斯说。

"All right.We'll go."

“好的。我们走吧。”

Heads up,swinging with the music,their right arms swinging free,they stepped out,crossing the sanded arena under the arc—lights,the cuadrillas opening out behind,the picadors riding after,behind came the bull—ring servants and the jingling mules.The crowd applauded Hernandez as they marched across the arena.Arrogant,swinging,they looked straight ahead as they marched.

他们出场了,高昂的头随着音乐摇摆,右手随意挥舞着,穿过弧形灯下铺满沙子的斗牛场。紧接着出场的是斗牛助手,再后面是骑着马的长矛手,最后是斗牛场的杂役和叮叮当当的骡子。他们穿过斗牛场时,人们都在为埃尔南德斯喝彩。他们一路上威风凛凛,大摇大摆,目不斜视地往前走着。

They bowed before the president,and the procession broke up into its component parts.The bull—fighters went over to the barrera and changed their heavy mantles for the light fighting capes.The mules went out.The picadors galloped jerkily around the ring,and two rode out the gate they had come in by.The servants swept the sand smooth.

他们在主席面前鞠了一躬,接着队伍散开,各就各位。斗牛士们走到围栏旁边,把沉重的披风换成轻便的斗牛披风。骡子下场了。长矛手们骑在颠簸的马背上,绕场奔驰,其中两个从刚才进来的那道门奔了出去。杂役们把沙子扫平。

Manuel drank a glass of water poured for him by one of Retana's deputies,who was acting as his manager and sword—handler.Hernandez came over from speaking with his own manager.

雷塔纳的一名代理给曼努埃尔倒了一杯水,他喝了下去;这名代理现在是他的经理人和执剑手。埃尔南德斯跟他自己的经理人说了几句话,然后走了过来。

"You got a good hand,kid,"Manuel complimented him.

“你是把好手,孩子。”曼努埃尔夸他。

"They like me,"Hernandez said happily.

“他们喜欢我。”埃尔南德斯高兴地说。

"How did the paseo go?"Manuel asked Retana's man.

“入场式还行吧?”曼努埃尔问雷纳塔的代理人。

"Like a wedding,"said the handler."Fine.You came out like Joselito and Belmonte."

“简直跟婚礼一样,”执剑人说,“很好。你们出场时活像何塞里托和贝尔蒙特。”

Zurito rode by,a bulky equestrian statue.He wheeled his horse and faced him toward the toril on the far side of the ring where the bull would come out.It was strange under the arc—light.He pic—ed in the hot afternoon sun for big money.He didn't like this arc—light business.He wished they would get started.

舒里托策马经过,仿佛一座巨大的骑马雕像。他掉转马头,让它面对着斗牛场另一头的牛栏,公牛将会从那里进场。呆在弧光灯下的感觉很怪。他都是在午后的烈日下扎牛的,这样能挣大钱。他不喜欢这种弧光灯下的活计。他希望斗牛赶紧开始。

Manuel went up to him.

曼努埃尔朝他走过来。

"Pic him,Manos,"he said."Cut him down to size for me."

“扎它,铁手,”他说,“给我煞煞它的威风。”

"I'll pic him,kid,"Zurito spat on the sand."I'll make him jump out of the ring."

“我会的,老弟,”舒里托往沙地上吐了口唾沫,“我会扎得它跳出斗牛场。”

"Lean on him,Manos,"Manuel said.

“好好镇镇它,铁手。”曼努埃尔说。

"I'll lean on him,"Zurito said."What's holding it up?"

“我会镇住它的,”舒里托说,“它怎么还不出来?”

"He's coming now,"Manuel said.

“马上就出来了。”曼努埃尔说。

Zurito sat there,his feet in the box—stirrups,his great legs in the buckskin—covered armor gripping the horse,the reins in his left hand,the long pic held in his right hand,his broad hat well down over his eyes to shade them from the lights,watching the distant door of the toril.His horse's ears quivered.Zurito patted him with his left hand.

舒里托坐在马上,脚套在盒式马镫里,绑着公鹿皮护甲的大腿紧紧夹住马身;他左手挽着缰绳,右手握着长矛,宽大的帽子压得很低,遮住耀眼的光线。他注视着远处的牛栏门。马的耳朵在颤动。舒里托用左手拍了拍马。

The red door of the toril swung back and for a moment Zurito looked into the empty passageway far across the arena.Then the bull came out in a rush,skidding on his four legs as he came out under the lights,then charging in a gallop,moving softly in a fast gallop,silent except as he woofed through wide nostrils as he charged,glad to be free after the dark Den.

牛栏那红色的门开了,隔着斗牛场,舒里托朝空空的过道看了一会儿。接着,牛就冲了出来;跑到灯下时,它四脚打了个滑,然后就开始猛冲,脚步轻捷,速度极快;除了宽大鼻孔发出的低喘,没有任何其他声音。从黑漆漆的畜栏里解放出来,它很兴奋。

In the first row of seats,slightly bored,leaning forward to write on the cement wall in front of his knees,the substitute bull—fight critic of El Heraldo scribbled:"Campagnero,Negro,42,came out at 90miles an hour with plenty of gas—"Manuel,leaning against the barrera,watching the bull,waved his hand and the gypsy ran out,trailing his cape.The bull,in full gallop,pivoted and charged the cape,his head down,his tail rising.The gypsy moved in a zigzag,and as he passed,the bull caught sight of him and abandoned the cape to charge the man.The gyp sprinted and vaulted the red fence of the barrera as the bull struck it with his horns.He tossed into it twice with his horns,banging into the wood blindly.

坐在第一排的《先驱报》后备斗牛评论员有点儿无聊,身子向前一倾,在膝前的水泥墙上草草写道“冈巴涅罗,黑色,42号,以每小时九十英里的速度喘着粗气出场——”曼努埃尔倚着围栏,盯着牛;他一挥手,吉卜赛人就冲了出去,长长的披风拖在身后。公牛掉转身,朝着披风狂奔过来,头压得很低,尾巴高高扬起。吉普赛人左右闪躲着;当他经过公牛身边时,它看到了他,于是撇下披风,转而向他冲去。吉普赛人飞快地奔跑,就在公牛角顶到红色围栏的一刹那,他从围栏上一跃而过。公牛的角胡乱抵了两下,卡在了围栏的木板里。

The critic of El Heraldo lit a cigarette and tossed the match at the bull,then wrote in his note—book,"large and with enough horns to satisfy the cash customers,Campagnero showed a tendency to cut into the terrain of the bull—fighters."

《先驱报》的评论员点了一支烟,把火柴朝公牛掷去,接着在他的笔记本上写道:“庞然大物,牛角粗壮,足以让买票入场的观众满意;看来,冈巴涅罗要侵入斗牛士的地盘了。”

Manuel stepped out on the hard sand as the bull banged into the fence.Out of the corner of his eye he saw Zurito sitting the white horse close to the barrera,about a quarter of the way around the ring to the left.Manuel held the cape close in front of him,a fold in each hand,and shouted at the bull."Huh!Huh!"The bull turned,seemed to brace against the fence as he charged in a scramble,driving into the cape as Manuel side—stepped,pivoted on his heels with the charge of the bull,and swung the cape just ahead of the horns.At the end of the swing he was facing the bull again and held the cape in the same position close in front of his body,and pivoted again as the bull recharged.Each time,as he swung,the crowd shouted.

公牛猛抵围栏的时候,曼努埃尔迈步来到硬沙地上。他用眼角的余光看到围栏旁骑着白马的舒里托,在他左侧大约四分之一圈的地方。曼努埃尔两手各攥着披风的一个褶儿,紧贴着身子提起披风,冲公牛大喝:“嘿!嘿!”公牛转过身,似乎借着背后的围栏发力,向披风狂冲过来。随着牛的进攻,曼努埃尔往旁边跨了一步,闪开了,披风在牛角前一挥而过。披风一挥过去,他又面对着公牛,以同样的姿势紧贴着身子提起披风;公牛再次进攻,他又再次闪开了。每次他挥动披风的时候,人群中都会爆发出一阵呼喊。

Four times he swung with the bull,lifting the cape so it billowed full,and each time bringing the bull around to charge again.Then,at the end of the fifth swing,he held the cape against his hip and pivoted,so the cape swung out like a ballet dancer's skirt and wound the bull around himself like a belt,to step clear,leaving the bull facing Zurito on the white horse,come up and planted firm,the horse facing the bull,its ears forward,its lips nervous,Zurito,his hat over his eyes,leaning forward,the long pole sticking out before and behind in a sharp angle under his right arm,held half—way down,the triangular iron point facing the bull.

他和公牛周旋了四个回合,举起的披风上下翻滚,如同滔滔巨浪;每一次,都引得公牛转过身来再度进攻。第五个回合之后,他在臀部的位置握住披风,接着一个转身,披风像芭蕾舞者的裙子一样飘舞起来,引得公牛围着他狂跑,活像一条带子环绕着他。然后,他迈步闪身,使公牛正对着白马上的舒里托。舒里托策马向前,稳稳地站定;白马面朝公牛,耳朵前伸,嘴唇不安地颤动。舒里托的帽子低低地压在眼睛上,身体前倾,右胳膊下的长矛前后伸出,前端向下倾斜,与胳膊形成一个锐角,锐角的顶点直指公牛。

El Heraldo's second—string critic,drawing on his cigarette,his eyes on the bull,wrote:"The veteran Manolo designed a series of acceptable veronicas,ending in a very Belmontistic recorte that earned applause from the regulars,and we entered the tercio of the cavalry."

《先驱报》的后备评论员叼着烟,一边注视着公牛,一边写道:“老将马诺洛设计了一连串观众喜爱的‘维罗尼卡’,贝尔蒙特式的结尾赢得了常客们的喝彩。现在我们进入骑马扎牛的环节。”

Zurito sat his horse,measuring the distance between the bull and the end of the pic.As he looked,the bull gathered himself together and charged,his eyes on the horse's chest.As he lowered his head to hook,Zurito sunk the point of the pic in the swelling hump of muscle above the bull's shoulder,leaned all his weight on the shaft,and with his left hand pulled the white horse into the air,front hoofs pawing,and swung him to the right as he pushed the bull under and through so the horns passed safely under the horse's belly and the horse came down,quivering,the bull's tail brushing his chest as he charged the cape Hernandez offered him.

舒里托骑在马背上,估量着牛和矛尖之间的距离。在他凝望之时,公牛积聚全身的力量冲了过来,两只眼睛盯着马的胸膛。当它低头用角去挑的时候,舒里托压低矛尖,插进了牛背上隆起的肌肉。他把全身力量都灌注在矛柄上,左手一拉,白马一跃而起,前蹄在空中乱蹬;他一边把马往右拉,一边把牛往下顶,马毫发无损地落了地,全身颤抖。埃尔南德斯用披风逗引着公牛,公牛直冲过去,尾巴扫过马的胸膛。

Hernandez ran sideways,taking the bull out and away with the cape,toward the other picador.He fixed him with a swing of the cape,squarely facing the horse and rider,and stepped back.As the bull saw the horse he charged.The picador's lance slid along his back,and as the shock of the charge lifted the horse,the picador was already half—way out of the saddle,lifting his right leg clear as he missed with the lance and falling to the left side to keep the horse between him and the bull.The horse,lifted and gored,crashed over with the bull driving into him,the picador gave a shove with his boots against the horse and lay clear,waiting to be lifted and hauled away and put on his feet.

埃尔南德斯向一旁跑去,用披风把公牛引过来,使它奔向另一个长矛手。他挥了挥披风,使公牛站定,正对着马和骑在马上的长矛手;接着,埃尔南德斯自己退了回来。公牛一看见马,就冲了过去。长矛手的矛在牛背上打了个滑,马被进攻的公牛吓得跳了起来;长矛手一刺未中,便高高翘起右腿,倒向左侧,使马隔在自己和牛之间,他的一半身子已经滑出了马鞍。马被公牛挑了起来,受了伤,随着公牛的角抵进它的身子,马倒了下来。长矛手用靴子把马蹬开,脱出身来,躺在地上,等着别人把他抬下场、扶他起身。

Manuel let the bull drive into the fallen horse;he was in no hurry,the picador was safe;besides,it did a picador like that good to worry.He'd stay on longer next time.Lousy pics!He looked across the sand at Zurito a little way out from the barrera,his horse rigid,waiting.

曼努埃尔任凭公牛去抵倒下的那匹马;他不着急,因为长矛手并未受伤;何况,让那种水平的长矛手着着急也是好事。这样他下次可能会多坚持一会儿。差劲的长矛手!他看着沙地那边的舒里托;舒里托正在围栏附近等着,胯下的马四腿僵直。

"Huh!"he called to the bull,"Tomar!"holding the cape in both hands so it would catch his eye.The bull detached himself from the horse and charged the cape,and Manuel,running sideways and holding the cape spread wide,stopped,swung on his heels,and brought the bull sharply around facing Zurito.

“嘿!”他朝公牛喝道,“来啊!”一边用双手提起披风,以引起它的注意。公牛撇下马,朝披风冲了过去;曼努埃尔握着展开的披风,向一旁跑去,接着停下,转身;公牛也跟着急转身,这样一来正对着舒里托。

"Campagnero accepted a pair of varas for the death of one rosinante,with Hernandez and Manolo at the quires,"El Heraldo's critic wrote."He pressed on the iron and clearly showed he was no horse—lover.The veteran Zurito resurrected some of his old stuff with the pike—pole,notably the suerte—""Ole!ole!"the man sitting beside him shouted.The shout was lost in the roar of the crowd,and he slapped the critic on the back.The critic looked up to see Zurito,directly below him,leaning far out over his horse,the length of the pic rising in a sharp angle under his armpit,holding the pic almost by the point,bearing down with all his weight,holding the bull off,the bull pushing and driving to get at the horse,and Zurito,far out,on top of him,holding him,holding him,and slowly pivoting the horse against the pressure,so that at last he was clear.Zurito felt the moment when the horse was clear and the bull could come past,and relaxed the absolute steel lock of his resistance,and the triangular steel point of the pic ripped in the bull's hump of shoulder muscle as he tore loose to find Hernandez's cape before his muzzle.He charged blindly into the cape and the boy took him out into the open arena.

“冈巴涅罗被刺了两次,挑死了一匹劣马,埃尔南德斯和马诺洛将它引开。”《先驱报》的评论员写道,“它使劲去抵马鞍,很明显它对马没什么感情。老将舒里托手持长矛,重振当年雄威,尤其是那一招——”“好!好!”坐在他旁边的男人大声叫道。叫声淹没在一片喝彩声中。这男人往评论员的背上拍了一掌。评论员抬起头来,看到舒里托就在他正下方,骑在马上,身子向外伸出老远,腋下的长矛高高抬起,与他的胳膊形成一个锐角;舒里托的手几乎已经握到了矛尖,使出全身的力气向下一扎,让公牛无法靠近。公牛奋力往前一顶,朝着马直冲过去;舒里托努力将身子前倾,在牛上方用长矛顶住它,顶住它,并借着这股压力的反冲力,慢慢地将马掉过头,最后,马终于摆脱了公牛的进攻。舒里托觉得马可以脱身了,公牛可以从旁边冲过去了,便松开了他刚才死死抵住的钢矛。公牛挣脱时,三角形的矛尖撕裂了它背上隆起的肌肉;就在这时,它发现埃尔南德斯的披风就在它鼻子底下。它盲目地向披风冲去,小伙子把它引到了空旷的场地上。

Zurito sat patting his horse and looking at the bull charging the cape that Hernandez swung for him out under the bright light while the crowd shouted.

舒里托坐着,一边轻轻地拍着他的马,一边看着强光下的公牛冲向埃尔南德斯挥舞的披风;此时,观众都叫喊起来。

"You see that one?"he said to Manuel.

“看到那头牛了吗?”他对曼努埃尔说。

"It was a wonder,"Manuel said.

“它还真不一般。”曼努埃尔说。

"I got him that time,"Zurito said."Look at him now."

“我那一下扎中它了,”舒里托说,“看看它现在的样子。”

At the conclusion of a closely turned pass of the cape the bull slid to his knees.He was up at once,but far out across the sand Manuel and Zurito saw the shine of the pumping flow of blood,smooth against the black of the bull's shoulder.

披风紧贴着公牛擦了过去;这时,公牛腿一滑,跪了下来。它立刻站起身来;然而,沙地那边的曼努埃尔和舒里托远远地看到了公牛身上的血光,喷涌而出的血流到那黑色的肩胛上,显得滑溜溜的。

"I got him that time,"Zurito said.

“我那一下扎中它了。”舒里托说。

"He's a good bull,"Manuel said.

“它是头好牛。”曼努埃尔说。

"If they gave me another shot at him,I'd kill him,"Zurito said.

“如果让我再给它一下,就能把它扎死了。”舒里托说。

"They'll change the thirds on us,"Manuel said.

“那我们下一场就要换头牛了。”曼努埃尔说。

"Look at him now,"Zurito said.

“看它现在的样子。”舒里托说。

"I got to go over there,"Manuel said,and started on a run for the other side of the ring,where the monos were leading a horse out by the bridle toward the bull,whacking him on the legs with rods and all,in a procession,trying to get him toward the bull,who stood,dropping his head,pawing,unable to make up his mind to charge.

“我得过去了。”曼努埃尔边说边朝场地另一端跑去。长矛手的几个助手正拽着一匹马的缰绳,把它往公牛那边拉去;他们不停用棍棒之类的家伙抽打马腿,想把它赶到牛那边去。公牛站在那里,低头用蹄子刨着地,看来还没下定决心发起进攻。

Zurito,sitting his horse,walking him toward the scene,not missing any detail,scowled.

舒里托骑着马朝那群人走去;他双眉紧锁,目不转睛地看着,不放过任何细节。

Finally the bull charged,the horse leaders ran for the barrera,the picador hit too far back,and the bull got under the horse,lifted him,threw him onto his back.

最后,公牛冲过来了,牵马人朝围栏跑去。长矛手扎得太靠后,公牛钻到了马的下面,将它顶了起来,甩到自己背上。

Zurito watched.The monos,in their red shirts,running out to drag the picador clear.The picador,now on his feet,swearing and flopping his arms.Manuel and Hernandez standing ready with their capes.And the bull,the great,black bull,with a horse on his back,hooves dangling,the bridle caught in the horns.Black bull with a horse on his back,staggering short—legged,then arching his neck and lifting,thrusting,charging to slide the horse off,horse sliding down.Then the bull into a lunging charge at the cape Manuel spread for him.

舒里托看着这一切。身着红衫的长矛手助手们跑过来,将长矛手拖离危险区。长矛手现在站了起来,甩着两条胳膊,咒骂着。曼努埃尔和埃尔南德斯手持披风,准备就绪。而那头公牛,那头魁梧的黑色公牛,背上驮着一匹马,马蹄垂下来,缰绳缠在了牛角上。黑牛驮着马,四只短腿摇摇晃晃;接着,它拱起脖子,猛地用力一顶,想把马甩掉。马滑了下来。于是,牛朝着曼努埃尔展开的披风猛扑过去。

The bull was slower now,Manuel felt.He was bleeding badly.There was a sheen of blood all down his flank.

它的腿脚没那么快了,曼努埃尔心想。它流了很多血。它一侧身子上都是血,闪闪发亮。

Manuel offered him the cape again.There he came,eyes open,ugly,watching the cape.Manuel stepped to the side and raised his arms,tightening the cape ahead of the bull for the verenica.

曼努埃尔再次朝它挥动披风。它冲了过来,眼睛瞪着披风,面目狰狞。曼努埃尔向旁边一闪,举起双臂,在公牛面前绷紧了披风,准备做“维罗尼卡”。

Now he was facing the bull.Yes,his head was going down a little.He was carrying it lower.That was Zurito.

现在,他正对着公牛。没错,它的头垂下了一点点。它的头比开始低了。是舒里托的功劳。

Manuel flopped the cape;there he comes;he side—stepped and swung in another veronica.He's shooting awfully accurately,he thought.He's had enough fight,so he's watching now.He's hunting now.Got his eye on me.But I always give him the cape.

曼努埃尔啪啪地抖着披风;公牛冲了过来;他往旁边一闪,抖了一下披风,又来了一个“维罗尼卡”。它的进攻太准了,他想。它已经斗得够多了,所以现在它在观察。现在,他在找寻目标。它的眼睛盯上我了。但我要一直用披风来逗引它。

He shook the cape at the bull;there he comes;he side—stepped.Awful close that time.I don't want to work that close to him.The edge of the cape was wet with blood where it had swept along the bull's back as he went by.All right,here's the last one.

他朝公牛抖动披风;它冲过来了;他往旁边跨了一步。这一次太近了。我可不想离它这么近。公牛冲过去时,披风扫过它的背,下缘已经被血濡湿了。好了,最后一下。

Manuel,facing the bull,having turned with him each charge,offered the cape with his two hands.The bull looked at him.Eyes watching,horns straight forward,the bull looked at him,watching."Huh!"Manuel said,"Toro!"and leaning back,swung the cape forward.

公牛每进攻一次,曼努埃尔都会跟着转过身来,始终正对着公牛,用双手朝公牛抖动披风。公牛看着他。公牛的眼睛盯着他,角直直地伸向前方。它看着他,观望着。“嘿!”曼努埃尔叫道,“公牛!”他身子往后仰着,向前挥动着披风。

Here he comes.He side—stepped,swung the cape in back of him,and pivoted,so the bull followed a swirl of cape and then was left with nothing,fixed by the pass,dominated by the cape.Manuel swung the cape under his muzzle with one hand,to show the bull was fixed,and walked away.

公牛冲过来了。他往旁边一闪,在背后挥动披风,接着一转身;于是公牛变得手足无措了,只得跟着披风打转。它被这招镇住了,被披风牵制了。曼努埃尔单手拎起披风,在它鼻子底下晃了晃,向观众表示牛已经被制服;然后,他走开了。

There was no applause.

没人喝彩。

Manuel walked across the sand toward the barrera,while Zurito rode out of the ring.The trumpet had blown to change the act to the planting of the banderillas while Manuel had been working with the bull.He had not consciously noticed it.The monos were spreading canvas over the two dead horses and sprinkling sawdust around them.

曼努埃尔穿过沙地,向围栏走去,这时舒里托骑马离开了场地。在曼努埃尔斗牛的时候,小号就已经吹过了,该短枪手上场了。他并没有察觉。长矛手的助手们用帆布将两匹死马盖上,在它们周围撒上锯末。

Manuel came up to the barrera for a drink of water.Retana's man handed him the heavy porous jug.

曼努埃尔走到围栏边喝水。雷塔纳的代理人递给他一只沉甸甸的、滴着水的大口壶。

Fuentes,the tall gypsy,was standing holding a pair of banderillas,holding them together,slim,red sticks,fish—hook points out.He looked at Manuel.

高个儿吉普赛人富恩特斯站在那里,手里拿着一对并在一起的短枪;细长的枪杆是红色的,鱼钩般的枪头露在外面。他看着曼努埃尔。

"Go on out there,"Manuel said.

“去吧。”曼努埃尔说。

The gypsy trotted out.Manuel set down the jug and watched.He wiped his face with his handkerchief.

吉普赛人小跑着上场了。曼努埃尔放下壶看着。他用手帕擦着脸。

The critic of El Heraldo reached for the bottle of warm champagne that stood between his feet,took a drink,and finished his paragraph.

《先驱报》的评论员伸手去取放在双脚间的热香槟瓶,喝了一杯,接着写完了这一段。

“—the aged Manolo rated no applause for a vulgar series of lances with the cape and we entered the third of the palings.”

“——上了年纪的马诺洛一组庸俗的长矛和披风表演未能赢得喝彩。现在,我们把目光转向第三区。”

Alone in the center of the ring the bull stood,still fixed.Fuentes,tall,flat—backed,walking toward him arrogantly,his arms spread out,the two slim,red sticks,one in each hand,held by the fingers,points straight forward.Fuentes walked forward.Back of him and to one side was a peon with a cape.The bull looked at him and was no longer fixed.

公牛孤零零地呆立在场地正中。高个子富恩特斯挺直腰板,架子十足地朝公牛走去。他双臂伸出,一手握着一支细长的红色短枪,枪头笔直地向前伸着。富恩特斯走上前去。他背后是一个斗牛助手,拿着披风站在一旁。公牛看着他,开始有了反应。

His eyes watched Fuentes,now standing still.Now he leaned back,calling to him.Fuentes twitched the two banderillas and the light on the steel points caught the bull's eye.

它静静地站在那里,盯着富恩特斯。这时,富恩特斯身子向后一仰,朝公牛吆喝着。富恩特斯抖动着两根短枪,钢制枪头反射的光吸引了公牛的注意。

His tail went up and he charged.

牛竖起尾巴开始进攻。

He came straight,his eyes on the man.Fuentes stood still,leaning back,the banderillas pointing forward.As the bull lowered his head to hook,Fuentes leaned backward,his arms came together and rose,his two hands touching,the banderillas two descending red lines,and leaning forward drove the points into the bull's shoulder,leaning far in over the bull's horns and pivoting on the two upright sticks,his legs tight together,his body curving to one side to let the bull pass.

它盯着富恩特斯,笔直地冲过来。富恩特斯静静地站着,身体后仰,短枪朝前伸着。当牛低头去抵他的时候,他往后一仰,抬起并拢的胳膊,两手并在一起,短枪成了两条下垂的红线;接着俯身向前,把枪头插入牛的肩膀;他的身子探到牛角上方,以两根笔直的短枪为支点,双腿紧紧并拢,身子转向一旁,让公牛过去。

"Ole!"from the crowd.

“好!”人们叫道。

The bull was hooking wildly,jumping like a trout,all four feet off the ground.The red shaft of the banderillas tossed as he jumped.Manuel,standing at the barrera,noticed that he hooked always to the right."Tell him to drop the next pair on the right,"he said to the kid who started to run out to Fuentes with the new banderillas.

牛疯狂地四下乱挑,像鳟鱼一样跳着,四蹄都离了地。红色枪杆随着它的跳动颠簸着。曼努埃尔站在围栏旁,注意到牛总是往右挑。“告诉他把下一对枪扎在右侧。”他告诉准备跑去把新的短枪交给富恩特斯的小伙子。

A heavy hand fell on his shoulder.It was Zurito.

一只手重重地落在他肩上。是舒里托。

"How do you feel,kid?"he asked.

“感觉怎么样,伙计?”他问道。

Manuel was watching the bull.

曼努埃尔看着公牛。

Zurito leaned forward on the barrera,leaning the weight of his body on his arms.Manuel turned to him.

舒里托从围栏上探过身子,用胳膊支撑着全身的重量。曼努埃尔朝他转过身。

"You're going good,"Zurito said.

“你会干得很漂亮的。”舒里托说。

Manuel shook his head.He had nothing to do now until the next third.The gypsy was very good with the banderillas.The bull would come to him in the next third in good shape.He was a good bull.It had all been easy up to now.The final stuff with the sword was all he worried over.He did not really worry.He did not even think about it.But standing there he had a heavy sense of apprehension.He looked out at the bull,planning his faena,his work with the red cloth that was to reduce the bull,to make him manageable.The gypsy was walking out toward the bull again,walking heel—and—toe,insultingly,like a ballroom dancer,the red shafts of the banderillas twitching with his walk.The bull watched him,not fixed now,hunting him,but waiting to get close enough so he could be sure of getting him,getting the horns into him.

曼努埃尔摇摇头。下一场开始之前他无事可做。吉普赛人短枪使得很棒。下一场,公牛将会以很好的状态朝他冲过来。它是头好牛。到目前为止,一切都还很轻松。他所担心的只有最后那一剑。他倒也不是真的担心。他甚至都没有想过。但是站在那里,他感到一阵沉重的焦虑。他望着远处的牛,计划着最后几个回合,怎样用红巾消耗公牛的体力,将它制服。吉普赛人再次向公牛走去,前脚跟着地后脚尖才离地,用个不敬的比喻,活像在舞厅跳舞一样。红色的短枪杆随着他的步伐抖动。公牛看着他,不再呆立着,而是准备向他发动袭击;但是,它在等着他靠近,近到它能一击得手,直接用角挑中他。

As Fuentes walked forward the bull charged.Fuentes ran across the quarter of a circle as the bull charged and,as he passed running backward,stopped,swung forward,rose on his toes,arms straight out,and sunk the banderillas straight down into the tight of the big shoulder muscles as the bull missed him.

富恩特斯往前走着,公牛发起了进攻。公牛冲过来,富恩特斯沿着场地跑了四分之一个圆周;就在公牛往回经过他身边时,富恩特斯停了下来,身子向前转,双臂笔直地伸出;公牛用角抵他,没有抵中,就在这当口儿,他把短枪直直地插进公牛宽阔肩胛上坚实的肌肉里。

The crowd were wild about it.

看了这一招,观众沸腾了。

"That kid won't stay in this flight stuff long,"Retana's man said to Zurito.

“这小伙子不会在夜场干多久的。”雷塔纳的代理人对舒里托说。

"He's good,"Zurito said.

“他很不错。”舒里托回答。

"Watch him now."

“快看他。”

They watched.

他们看着场上。

Fuentes was standing with his back against the barrera.Two of the cuadrilla were back of him,with their capes ready to flop over the fence to distract the bull.The bull,with his tongue out,his barrel heaving,was watching the gypsy.He thought he had him now.Back against the red planks.Only a short charge away.The bull watched him.

富恩特斯背靠围栏站着。两个斗牛助手站在他身后,手持披风,准备将其举过围栏挥舞,以分散公牛的注意力。牛伸着舌头,看着吉普赛人,铁桶般的躯干一起一伏。它觉得这下肯定能挑中他了。它要把他抵在红色木板上。只冲一小段就够了。牛看着他。

The gypsy bent back,drew back his arms,the banderillas pointing at the bull.He called to the bull,stamped one foot.The bull was suspicious.He wanted the man.No more barbs in the shoulder.

吉普赛人身子向后一仰,收回双臂,短枪直指公牛。他一边朝公牛吆喝着,一边跺了一下脚。公牛拿不准了。它想抵这个人。但它又不想再次被戳中肩膀。

Fuentes walked a little closer to the bull.Bent back.Called again.Somebody in the crowd shouted a warning.

富恩特斯朝公牛走近了一点点。他身子向后仰。他再次呼唤着公牛。观众席上有人喊了句“当心”。

"He's too damn close,"Zurito said.

“该死的,他离得太近了。”舒里托说。

"Watch him,"Retana's man said.

“看着他。”雷塔纳的代理人说。

Leaning back,inciting the bull with the banderillas,Fuentes jumped,both feet off the ground.As he jumped the bull's tail rose and he charged.Fuentes came down on his toes,arms straight out,whole body arching forward,and drove the shafts straight down as he swung his body clear of the right horn.The bull crashed into the barrera where the flopping capes had attracted his eye as he lost the man.

富恩特斯跳了起来,双脚腾空,身子后仰,用手中的短枪逗引着公牛。就在他跳起来的时候,公牛翘起尾巴冲了过来。富恩特斯脚尖着地,双臂前伸,整个身体向前弯着,一边转身避开牛的右角,一边把短枪直插下去。公牛没能抵到富恩特斯,却被围栏边舞动的披风吸引了;它一头撞进了围栏。

The gypsy came running along the barrera toward Manuel,taking the applause of the crowd.His vest was ripped where he had not quite cleared the point of the horn.He was happy about it,showing it to the spectators.He made the tour of the ring.Zurito saw him go by,smiling,pointing at his vest.He smiled.

吉普赛人沿着围栏朝曼努埃尔跑来,接受着观众的喝彩。刚才他一不留神,背心被牛角撕开了一个口子。他对此感到开心,并把口子指给观众看。他绕场跑了一圈。他微笑着,手指着背心从舒里托眼前经过。舒里托笑了。

Somebody else was planting the last pair of banderillas.Nobody was paying any attention.

另一位短枪手正在插最后一对短枪。没人注意他。

Retana's man tucked a baton inside the red cloth of a muleta,folded the cloth over it,and handed it over the barrera to Manuel.He reached in the leather sword—case,took out a sword,and holding it by its leather scabbard,reached it over the fence to Manuel.Manuel pulled the blade out by the red hilt and the scabbard fell limp. pAkxveArC/xc1E+2hfN0qnnTBSZbRMw3xrIamTtF6C75GsZXTLXfACRkhMzuPjR8

点击中间区域
呼出菜单
上一章
目录
下一章
×