Lesson 57 Back in the old country

His roots and mine bad become too firmly embedded in the new land.

因為他與我一樣已經把根深深地扎在異國的土地上。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

But he wanted to see the old folk again and to visit my mother's grave.

但是，他想看一看家鄉父老鄉親，為我的母親掃墓。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

He became mortally ill a few months before we had planned to go and,

就在他計劃回國的前幾個月，他突然身患絕癥。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

when he knew that he was dying, he made me promise to go on my own.

他知道自己已奄奄一息，于是他要我答應一定單獨回故鄉一趟。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I hired a car the day after landing and bought a comprehensive book of maps,

我下飛機后租了一輛車，并買了一本詳盡的地圖冊。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

which I found most helpful on the cross-country journey, but which I did not think I should need on the last stage.

在鄉間行車途中，我覺得它非常有用，但快到家了，我倒覺得它沒什么用了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

It was not that I actually remembered anything at all.

這倒并非是我背熟了地圖，

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

But my father had described over and over again what we should see at every milestone, after leaving the nearest town,

而是父親曾詳細給我講了，在過了離故鄉最近的那個小鎮后，在每一個路標處可見到些什么。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

so that I was positive I should recognize it as familiar territory.

因此，我相信這段路對我來說會是很熟悉的。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

Well, I had been wrong, for I was now lost.

唉，實際我錯了，我現在迷路了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I looked at the map and then at the millimeter.

我看了看地圖，又查了一下里程表。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I had come ten miles since leaving the town,

從小鎮出來，我走了10英里。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

and at this point, according to my father, I should be looking at farms and cottages in a valley, with the spire of the church of our village showing in the far distance.

照父親的說法，我面前應是一個山谷，有農場與村舍，還可遠遠望見老家村子里的教堂的尖頂。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I could see no valley, no farms, no cottages and no church spire -- only a lake.

可現在我卻看不出山谷，看不見農舍，也看見教學尖頂，看見只是一片湖泊。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I decided that I must have taken a wrong turning somewhere.

我想一定是什么地方拐錯了彎兒。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

So I drove back to the town and began to retrace the route, taking frequent glances at the map.

于是我駕車返回小鎮，重新按路線行駛。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I landed up at the same corner.

結果又來到剛才那個拐彎處。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

The curious thing was that the lake was not marked on the map.

奇怪的是那個湖沒有在地圖上標出。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I felt as if I had stumbled into a nightmare country, as you sometimes do in dreams.

我感到自己就像平時作夢那樣迷迷糊糊地闖進了惡夢境地。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

And, as in a nightmare, there was nobody in sight to help me.

就像在惡夢里一樣，見不到一個人可以幫助我。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

Fortunately for me, as I was wondering what to do next, there appeared on the horizon a man on horseback, riding in my direction.

不過，我是幸運的，正當我走投無路之時，從天邊出現一個騎馬的人向我騎來。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I waited till he came near, then I asked him the way to our old village.

等他走近了，問他去老家的路。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

He said that there was now no village.

他說那村子已經沒有了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

I thought he must have misunderstood me, so I repeated its name.

我想他一定誤解了我的意思，于是又說一遍村莊的名字。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

This time he pointed to the lake.

這次他用手指了一下那個湖。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

The village no longer existed because it had been submerged, and all the valley too.

村莊已不復存在，因為已經為水所淹，山谷也被水淹沒了。

Lesson 57 Back in the old country

The lake was not a natural one, but a man-made reservoir.

這不是一個天然湖泊，是一座人工修建的水庫。

Lesson 58 A spot of bother

The old lady was glad to be back at the block of flats where she lived.

老婦人回到了她居住的公寓樓，心里很高興。

Lesson 58 A spot of bother

Her shopping had tired her and her basket ad grown heavier with every step of the way home.

去商店買東西把她搞得筋疲力盡；在回家的路上，她每走一步，就感到手里的籃子又重了一點。

Lesson 58 A spot of bother

In the life her thoughts were on lunch and a good rest;

她乘上電梯后，只想著午餐和好好休息一下。