The woman stood in front of the prison. The prison was a big, dirty building in the biggest town of a hot country. The woman was very hot, and she did not like the noise from all the cars in the road. She was an Englishwoman and she did not like hot countries or a lot of noise. She was tall, about fifty years old, with blue eyes and a long face. Her face was red, and she looked tired and angry.
The little window closed, but the door did not open. The woman waited in front of the door for a long time. A lot of people in the road looked at her. One or two young men laughed, but she did not move. She stood there in the hot road in front of the prison door, and waited.
After twenty minutes, the door opened. ’Come with me,’ the man said. The woman went in with him. It was dark in the prison, and at first she could not see very well. She walked for a long time, past hundreds of doors. Then the man opened one of them.
Anna Harland walked into the room and the man went in after her. He closed the door behind him. There was a table in the room, and two chairs. On one of the chairs sat her daughter, Sarah. She was a tall girl, about nineteen years old, with big blue eyes.
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"妈妈!"她喊道,"能见到你我太高兴了!"她站起来,要穿过房间,奔向她的妈妈。
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’Mother!’ she said. ’I’m very happy to see you.’ And she got up and began to run across the room to her mother.
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"萨拉!"安娜说着,伸出了双臂。但是那人很快冲了过来,站在她们的中间。
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’Sarah!’ Anna said, and put out her arms. But the man moved quickly and stood between them.
The mother and daughter sat down at the table. Anna’s hands were near Sarah’s on the table. She looked carefully at her daughter. Sarah’s dress and face were dirty. ’She’s tired, and unhappy,’ Anna thought.
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"萨拉,出了什么事?"她问,"我们可以谈10分钟,只有10分钟。来,快点告诉我。我想帮助你。"
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’Sarah, what happened?’ she said. ’We have ten minutes to talk. No more. Tell me, please, quickly. I want to help you.’
’They ... they said there were drugs in my bag. Then they took me into a room and told me to take my dress off. They looked for more drugs, but they found nothing. Then ... then they brought me here.’
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"我知道了。那么,毒品在哪儿呢?他们在哪儿发现的?"
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’I see. Where were the drugs, then? Where did they find them?’
’Oh. They didn’t tell you?’ Sarah stopped crying. She looked up, and there was a smile on her face. But it was not a happy smile. ’The drugs were in a tube of toothpaste. A toothpaste tube with drugs in it ... heroin ... not toothpaste.’
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"那你以前不知道这些吗?"
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’And you didn’t know about it?’
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33
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"当然不知道啦,妈妈。你以为我会用海洛因刷牙吗?"
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’No, mother, of course not. Do you think I clean my teeth with heroin?’
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安娜·哈兰笑了。笑得很艰难,因为她很害怕。但她还是笑了,因为她想帮助自己的女儿。
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Anna Harland smiled. It was difficult to smile, because she was afraid. But she smiled because she wanted to help her daughter.
’I know you don’t clean your teeth with heroin. You have very good teeth, Sarah. But ... what about Stephen? Did he know about the heroin? Did he put it in the toothpaste tube?’
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"斯蒂芬?不......你为什么要问起斯蒂芬,妈妈?"
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’Stephen? No ... why do you ask about Stephen, mother?’
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"喔,他也在监狱里吗?你刚才说’我们’还有’我们的包’。警察也把他抓起来了吗?"
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’Well, is he in prison too? You said "us" and "our bags". Did the police arrest him too?’
’Oh ... no,’ Sarah’s face was unhappy. ’No. I wasn’t with Stephen, mother. You see, Stephen and I ... well, we aren’t friends now. I left him about two months ago ... and then I met Hassan.’
’Yes. I was with Hassan at the airport. Stephen was on the plane too-I don’t know why-but he wasn’t with me. It’s Hassan-he was with me. Hassan’s important to me now, not Stephen.’
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安娜看着自己的女儿。"我明白了。警察也逮捕这个哈桑了吗?他在监狱里吗?"
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Anna looked at her daughter. ’I see. And did the police arrest this Hassan too? Is he in prison?’
’Yes, he is. They arrested him but I can’t see him. I asked them. I wanted to see him. But they said "no". Mother, I’m sure Hassan didn’t know about the heroin. He’s a good man ... he didn’t know, I’m sure.’
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"那海洛因怎么会在你的包里,萨拉?"
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’Then why was the heroin in your bag, Sarah?’
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"我不知道,妈妈......我不知道。"
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’I don’t know, mother ... I don’t know.’
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那人看了看房间里的时钟。"对不起,哈兰太太,"他说,"已经10分钟了。您得出去了。"
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The man looked at the clock in the room. ’I’m sorry, Mrs Harland,’ he said. ’But that’s ten minutes. It’s time to go.’
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安娜·哈兰慢慢地站了起来。"好吧,"她说,"但是,别害怕,萨拉。我明天会去法庭旁听的。"
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Anna Harland stood up slowly. ’All right,’ she said. ’But don’t be afraid, Sarah. I’m coming to the court tomorrow.’
’Yes, mother,’ Sarah said. ’Thank you. The police are bringing Hassan to court tomorrow too, I think. You can see him there. He’s a good man, mother, and ... I’m sure he didn’t know about the drugs.’
’Perhaps,’ Anna said. She walked slowly to the door, and then stood by the door and looked at her daughter again. ’Sarah ... you are telling me the truth, aren’t you?’
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萨拉又开始哭了。"是的,妈妈。我告诉你的当然是实话。你知道的,我从不撒谎。"
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Sarah began to cry again. ’Yes, mother, of course I am. I always tell you the truth, you know that.’
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50
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安娜笑了。"是的,萨拉,"她平静地说,"我相信你。"她穿过门走了出去,那个男人也跟在她后面出去了。
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Anna smiled. ’Yes, Sarah,’ she said quietly. ’Yes, I believe you.’ She went through the door and the man went out after her.
Sarah sat quietly at the table in the room, and looked at her hands. ’Yes,’ she thought. ’I told you the truth, mother. I always tell you the truth. But I didn’t tell you everything ...’ She put her head in her hands.