黑莓酱的故事

 　　"....and the weekend promises sunshine and southerly breezes. Make the most of it!"

　　“……周末预计会阳光明媚，并刮起徐徐的南风。尽情享受吧。”

　　the weatherman's cheery voice came from the TV, precariously¹ perched on a pile of books, the only way she'd yet found for its cable to reach the socket². Piles of books, papers, magazines had always been a feature of Maggie's lived-in kitchen and they had grown in the dark days since January. But recent weeks had found her more able to cope with her situation and a measure of organization had returned to her life.

　　气象员愉悦的播报声从电视机中传来，只见这台电视放在一堆书上，摇摇欲坠，这样放是因为唯有如此她才能将电视插销接到插座上。玛吉的厨房就没有闲置 过，它有一个特色，那就是永远堆满了成叠的书、报纸和杂志，而从一月开始，这些东西在那些暗无天光的日子里越积越多。可最近几个礼拜，她可以更好地适应自 己的处境了，生活又恢复了一些条理。

　　But, like the TV, it was a delicate balance. To the outside world, she seemed cool and collected; inside she felt deeply vulnerable. Strategies had been adopted for coping, new routines found, places that would stir painful memories strictly³ avoided.

　　不过，就像放电视机一样，这是一种微妙的平衡。在别人看来，她似乎是淡漠而又镇静的；可内心当中，她却感到极其脆弱。她想方设法来适应，培养了一些新习惯，对那些引发伤感回忆的地方是坚决避而不去的。

　　However, this was a small town and some places could not be ignored. Like the moor⁴ which looked down on her every time she opened her front door. Over the years, she and Mike had spent many hours walking on it, marking the changing seasons, content in each other's company.

　　可是，这是一个小镇，有些地方是回避不了的。就好比她每次打开前门都会看到高耸的高沼地。很多年来，她和迈克一年四季都会在高沼地上花上很多时间来散步，两个人相互陪伴很是惬意。

　　Late summer had always been a busy time as they followed in the footsteps of countless⁵ couples before them and gathered in the harvest for jam.

　　昔日的晚夏时节总是一个忙碌的季节，他们会跟随着无数夫妇的脚步，在丰收来临之时前去采摘，为制作果酱做准备。

　　the forecast helped Maggie to make up her mind. Despite misgivings⁶, the attraction of the moor in the late summer sun was too strong. It had to be faced one day on her own; it was too beautiful to stay away forever. The time had come to lay this ghost to rest and picking a few berries would keep her mind occupied. Decision made, Maggie turned off the TV and went to help with homework.

　　天气预报帮玛吉下定了决心。尽管有顾虑，但在晚夏阳光的照耀下，高沼地的诱惑太大了。早晚有一天她需要独自面对；那儿太美了，不可能永远将其置于身外。是时候来做个了断了，而且采摘浆果可以使她忘却一切。下定了决心的玛吉关上电视，辅导孩子做功课去了。

　　Saturday dawned bright and clear. Resisting the desire to turn back, Maggie drove along the familiar lanes that lead to the parking bay at the foot of the hill. The walk to the top seemed longer, steeper. She was out of breath, her legs ached and her heart pounded.

　　星期六的黎明，天空晴朗而又明亮。抑制住返回去的冲动，玛吉开着车，沿着熟悉的小路一直行驶到山脚的停车场。通向山顶的路似乎变得更长、更陡。她上气不接下气，腿部作痛，心砰砰直跳。

　　But at last the path emerged from the trees and stretched away in the sun. On either side, the brambles clambered over heather and gorse, laden⁷ with clusters of fruit, ripe for picking; a riot of black and Green, purple and yellow.

　　但是，路终于从树林中显露出来，笔直向前，直至消失在阳光中。路的两边，树莓攀附在石南花和金雀花之上，挂满了串串果实，果子已经熟透，就待采摘了；黑色和绿色，紫色和黄色，编织成一片缤纷色彩。

　　She need not have worried. the moor seemed to welcome her back like a long-lost friend and her spirits rose. Taking a deep breath of the clear air, Maggie deftly⁸ took a bag from her pocket and started to pick, stopping every now and then to straighten her back and enjoy the familiar view. With stained fingers and scratched hands to show for her efforts, the bag slowly filled with the dark, plump fruit.

　　她本不需要担心的。高沼地似乎就像对待一位久未谋面的老朋友一样欢迎她的归来，而她的情绪也高涨起来。玛吉先是在清新的空气中深深地吸了一口气，然 后熟练地从口袋里掏出一个袋子，开始采摘，她时不时地会停一下，挺挺腰，欣赏一番这熟悉的景致。她的努力有了结果——手指变得污迹斑斑、双手出现了划痕， 而袋子也渐渐放满了这种色黑肉厚的果子。

　　Horse riders and walkers exchanged Greetings as they passed. After a while, a solitary⁹ figure appeared on the path behind her, pausing and stooping occasionally, yet catching¹⁰ up quickly.

　　骑马者和路人在相遇后互致着问候。过了一会儿，一个孤单的身影出现在她身后的小道上，时而驻足，时而弯腰，可是又总能快速地跟上来。

1 precariously   

adv.不安全地；危险地；碰机会地；不稳定地

参考例句：

• The hotel was perched precariously on a steep hillside. 旅馆危险地坐落在陡峭的山坡上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The phone was perched precariously on the window ledge. 电话放在窗台上，摇摇欲坠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 socket   

n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口

参考例句：

• He put the electric plug into the socket.他把电插头插入插座。
• The battery charger plugs into any mains socket.这个电池充电器可以插入任何类型的电源插座。

3 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

4 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。

5 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

6 misgivings   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧

参考例句：

• I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
• Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

8 deftly   

adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He deftly folded the typed sheets and replaced them in the envelope. 他灵巧地将打有字的纸折好重新放回信封。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• At last he had a clew to her interest, and followed it deftly. 这一下终于让他发现了她的兴趣所在，于是他熟练地继续谈这个话题。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

10 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。