火车是一个封闭的世界。每个包厢都像一个小房间,有门有窗。不过火车行驶时,你不能出去。外面的世界很遥远,你可以不去想你的家庭、工作和朋友。在火车上,你和陌生人坐在一起。你对他们一无所知,但却要和他们在同一个小房间里,在他们旁边坐上几个小时,或许几天。你无法摆脱他们。 随着车轮滚滚向前,这些故事向我们展现了三个不同的人物。一个年轻漂亮的妻子——和她的新婚丈夫穿过英格兰的绿色山丘去度假。一个逍遥自在的年轻人——穿越南斯拉夫的山脉去找工作。一个明达事理的中年人——穿过芬兰的森林湖泊北上,期盼有个安静的旅程。 三段不同的旅行,三个不同的人物——都关在火车这个封闭的世界里——一个什么事情都可能发生的地方。 A train is a closed world. Each carriage is like a small room, with windows and doors, but you can't get out when the train is moving. The world outside is far away, and you can forget your home, your work, your friends. On a train you sit with strangers. You don't know anything about them, but you sit next to them for hours, or perhaps days, in the same small room. You can't get away from them. As the wheels of the train turn, these stories show us three different people. A beautiful young wife – going on holiday with her new husband, through the green hills of England. A carefree young man – travelling across the mountains of Yugoslavia, looking for work. A sensible middle-aged man – travelling north through the forests and lakes of Finland, hoping for a quiet journey. Three different journeys, three different people – all locked in the closed world of the train... where anything can happen.
Mr Harris liked trains. He was afraid of aeroplanes, and didn’t like buses. But trains – they were big and noisy and exciting. When he was a boy of ten, he liked trains. Now he was a man of fifty, and he still liked trains.
1
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
So he was a happy man on the night of the 14th of September. He was on the night train from Helsinki to Oulu in Finland, and he had ten hours in front of him.
2
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
I’ve got a book and my newspaper,’ he thought. ’And there’s a good restaurant on the train. And then I’ve got two weeks’ holiday with my Finnish friends in Oulu.’
3
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
There weren’t many people on the train, and nobody came into Mr Harris’s carriage. He was happy about that. Most people on the train slept through the night, but Mr Harris liked to look out of the window, and to read and think.
4
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
After dinner in the restaurant Mr Harris came back to his carriage, and sat in his seat next to the window. For an hour or two he watched the trees and lakes of Finland out of the window. Then it began to get dark, so he opened his book and began to read.
5
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
At midnight the train stopped at the small station of Otava. Mr Harris looked out of the window, but he saw nobody. The train moved away from the station, into the black night again. Then the door of Mr Harris’s carriage opened, and two people came in. A young man and a young woman.
6
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The young woman was angry. She closed the door and shouted at the man: ’Carl! You can’t do this to me!’ The young man laughed loudly and sat down.
7
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The young man laughed loudly and sat down.
8
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris was a small, quiet man. He wore quiet clothes, and he had a quiet voice. He did not like noisy people and loud voices. So he was not pleased. ’Young people are always noisy,’ he thought. ’Why can’t they talk quietly?’
9
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
He put his book down and closed his eyes. But he could not sleep because the two young people didn’t stop talking.
10
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The young woman sat down and said in a quieter voice: ’Carl, you’re my brother and I love you, but please listen to me. You can’t take my diamond necklace. Give it back to me now. Please!’
11
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Carl smiled. ’No, Elena,’ he said. ’I’m going back to Russia soon, and I’m taking your diamonds with me.’ He took off his hat and put it on the seat. ’Elena, listen. You have a rich husband, but I – I have no money. I have nothing! How can I live without money? You can’t give me money, so I need your diamonds, little sister.’
12
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris looked at the young woman. She was small, with black hair and dark eyes. Her face was white and afraid. Mr Harris began to feel sorry for Elena. She and her brother didn’t look at him once. ’Can’t they see me?’ he thought.
13
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Carl,’ Elena said. Her voice was very quiet now, and Mr Harris listened carefully. ’You came to dinner at our house tonight, and you went to my room and took my diamond necklace. How could you do that to me? My husband gave the diamonds to me. They were his mother’s diamonds before that. He’s going to be very, very angry – and I’m afraid of him.’
14
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Her brother laughed. He put his hand in his pocket, then took it out again and opened it slowly. The diamond necklace in his hand was very beautiful. Mr Harris stared at it. For a minute or two nobody moved and it was quiet in the carriage. There was only the noise of the train, and it went quickly on through the dark cold night.
15
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The diamond necklace in Carl’s hand was very beautiful.
16
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris opened his book again, but he didn’t read it. He watched Carl’s face, with its hungry eyes and its cold smile.
17
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
What beautiful, beautiful diamonds!’ Carl said. ’I can get a lot of money for these.’
18
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Give them back to me, Carl,’ Elena whispered. ’My husband’s going to kill me. You’re my brother... Please help me. Please!’
19
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Carl laughed again, and Mr Harris wanted to hit him. ’Go home, little sister,’ Carl said. ’I’m not going to give the diamonds back to you. Go home to your angry husband.’
20
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Suddenly there was a knife in the young woman’s hand. A long, bright knife. Mr Harris watched with his mouth open. He couldn’t speak or move.
21
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Give the diamonds back to me!’ Elena cried. ’Or I’m going to kill you!’ Her hand on the knife was white.
22
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Carl laughed and laughed. ’What a sister!’ he said. ’What a kind, sweet sister! No, they’re my diamonds now. Put your knife away, little sister.’
23
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
But the knife in the white hand moved quickly: up, then down. There was a long, terrible cry, and Carl’s body fell slowly on to the seat. The colour of the seat began to change to red, and the diamond necklace fell from Carl’s hand on to the floor.
24
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
There was a long, terrible cry, and Carl’s body fell slowly on to the seat.
25
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Elena’s face was white. ’Oh no!’ she whispered. ’Carl! Come back... come back! I didn’t want to kill you!’ But Carl didn’t answer, and the red blood ran slowly over the floor. Elena put her head in her hands, and again in the carriage there was a long, terrible cry.
26
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris’s face was white too. He opened his mouth, but he couldn’t speak. He stood up, and carefully moved to the door. The young woman was quiet now. She didn’t move or look up at Mr Harris.
27
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
In the corridor, Mr Harris ran. The guard was at the back of the train and Mr Harris got there in half a minute.
28
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Quickly!’ Mr Harris said. ’Come quickly! An accident... a young woman... oh dear! Her brother is... is dead!’
29
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The guard ran with Mr Harris back to the carriage. Mr Harris opened the door and they went inside.
30
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The guard ran with Mr Harris back to the carriage.
31
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
There was no dead body of a young man. There was no young woman... no blood, no knife, no diamond necklace. Only Mr Harris’s bags and his hat and coat.
32
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The guard looked at Mr Harris, and Mr Harris looked at him.
33
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
But... ’ Mr Harris began. ’But they were here! I saw them! She... the young woman... She had a knife and she... she killed her brother.’
34
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
A knife, you say?’ the guard asked.
35
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes,’ Mr Harris said quickly. ’A long knife, and her brother took her diamonds, so she—’
36
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Ah! Diamonds!’ the guard said. ’Was the young woman’s name Elena?’ he asked.
37
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes, it was!’ Mr Harris said. ’How do you know that? Do you... Do you know her?’
38
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes – and no,’ the guard said slowly. He thought for a minute, then looked at Mr Harris. ’Elena di Saronelli,’ he said. ’She had dark eyes and black hair. Very beautiful. She was half-Italian, half-Finnish. He brother was a half-brother. They had the same father, but his mother was Russian, I think.’
39
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Was? Had?’ Mr Harris stared at the guard. ’But she... Elena... she’s alive! And where is she?’
40
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Oh no,’ said the guard. ’Elena di Saronelli died about eighty years ago. After she killed her brother with a knife, she jumped off the train, and died at once. It was near here, I think.’ He looked out of the window, into the night.
41
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris’s face was very white again. ’Eighty years ago!’ he whispered. ’What are you saying? Were she and her brother... But I saw them!’
42
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes, that’s right,’ the guard said. ’You saw them, but they’re not alive. They’re ghosts. They often come on the night train at this time in September. I never see them, but somebody saw them last year. A man and his wife. They were very unhappy about it. But what can I do? I can’t stop Elena and Carl coming on the train.’
43
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The guard looked at Mr Harris’s white face. ’You need a drink,’ he said. ’Come and have a vodka with me.’
44
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris didn’t usually drink vodka, but he felt afraid. When he closed his eyes, he could see again Elena’s long knife and could hear her terrible cry. So he went with the guard to the back of the train.
45
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
After the vodka, Mr Harris felt better. He didn’t want to sleep, and the guard was happy to talk. So Mr Harris stayed with the guard and didn’t go back to his carriage.
46
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes,’ the guard said, ’it’s a famous story. I don’t remember it all. It happened a long time ago, of course. Elena’s father was a famous man here in Finland. He was very rich once, but he had three or four wives and about eight children. And he liked the good things of life. So there wasn’t much money for the children. Carl, the oldest son, was a bad man, people say. He wanted an easy life, and money in his hand all the time.’
47
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes,’ the guard said, ’it’s a famous story.’
48
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
The train hurried on to Oulu through the black night, and the guard drank some more vodka. ’Now, Elena,’ he said.’She didn’t have an easy life with those three difficult men – her father, her brother, her husband. One year she visited her mother’s family in Italy, and there she met her husband, di Saronelli. He was rich, but he wasn’t a kind man. They came back to Finland, and Carl often visited their house. He wanted money from his sister’s rich husband. Elena loved her brother, and gave him some money. But di Saronelli didn’t like Carl and was angry with Elena. He stopped giving her money, and after that... well, you know the story now.’
49
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Yes,’ Mr Harris said. ’Poor, unhappy Elena.’
50
读书笔记
是否公开
我的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
网友的读书笔记
仅对会员开放
-
Mr Harris stayed with his friends in Oulu for two weeks. They were quiet weeks, and Mr Harris had a good holiday. But he took the bus back to Helsinki. The bus was slow, and there were a lot of people on it, but Mr Harris was very happy. He didn’t want to take the night train across Finland again.