Chapter 8 Across the Plateau

　　On November 21st，the Norwegians killed thirty dogs． 'They were happy，'Amundsen said．'And now tney're going to die quickly．We need three sledges，and eighteen dogs， to go to the Pole．'

　　When the dogs were dead，the other dogs ate them．The men ate them，too．They were good friends，Bjaaland wrote in his diary．And now they are good food．Two days later，the dogs were fst．Then，in a snowstorm，they began the journey again．

　　After the snowstorm，there was fog，and in the fog，they got lost on an ice river with hundreds of big holes in it．They could see nothing，and it was very dangerous．In four days they moved nine kilometres．But the ice is beautiful，Bjaaland wrote．Blue and green and white．This is a wonderful place —but I don't want to stay a long time．

　　After the ice，there were strong winds and bad snowstorms．They could see nothing in front of them．But every day，they travelled twenty-five or thirty kilometres．Then，on December 9th，the sun came out．They were at 88°23′South—175 kilo-metres from the Pole．

　　Five more long days，Bjaaland wrote．That's all now．But where is Scott？

　　* * * * *

　　For four days，Scott's men stayed in their tents near the mountains．There is a bad snowstorm outside，Oates wrote．It's too cold for the ponies，and our clothes and skis are bad，too．

　　On December 9th，Oates killed the ponies．They were tired and ill and they could not walk up to the plateau．Then Meares and his dogs went back to Cape Evans．'We can pull the sledges ourselves，'Scott said．'We can do it—we're all strong men．

　　There were two sledges and eight men．They went twenty-four kilometres a day．On December 31st，Scott said to Teddy Evans，and the men on the second sledge：'You can't ski well．Leave your skis here．'So they pulled their sledge twenty-four kilometres without skis．

　　Next day，Scott went to Teddy Evans's tent．'You are ill，Teddy，'he said．'You can't come to the Pole．Take two men and go back，tomorrow．'

　　Teddy Evans was very unhappy．'Two men，Captain？'he said．'Why not three？'

　　'Because Bowers is going to come with me，'Scott said．'He's strong—we need him．'

　　'But…you have food on your sledge for four men，notfive！'Evans said．'And Bowers has no skis！'

　　'I'm the Captain，Teddy！'Scott said．'You do what I say．Take two men and leave Bowers with me！'

　　Oates wrote to his mother：I am going to the Pole with Scott．I am pleased and I fell strong．But in his diary he wrote；My feet are very bad．They are always wet now，and they don't look good．

　　On January 4th Scott's men left Teddy Evans and went on．Scott，Oates，Wilson and Edgar Evans had skis，but Bowers did not．They were 270 kilometres from the Pole．

　　* * * * *

　　December 14th 1911 was a warm，sunny day．Five Norwegians skied over the beautiful white snow．It was very quiet．No one spoke．They were excited，and happy．

　　'Six more kilometres，'Bjaaland thought．Is there a British flag？I can't see a flag，but…

　　'Look！'Hassel said．'What's that over there？'

　　Bjaaland left his sledge and skied quickly away over the snow．'What is it？'he thought．'Is it…？No！'

　　'It's nothing！'he called．'There's nothing there… no-thing！'

　　Three kilometres，two．'Roald！'Hanssen called to Amund-sen．'Go in front of me，please．It helps my dogs．'

　　'That's not true，'Bjaaland thought．'His dogs are running well today．But Hanssen wants Amundsen to be first．The first man at the South Pole！'

　　They skied on and on，over the beautiful snow．

　　'Stop！'Amundsen said．He waited quietly for his men．'This is it，'he said．

　　Bjaaland looked at him．'But there's nothing here，'he said．

　　Amundsen smiled．'Oh yes there is，'he said．'There's something very important here，Olav．Very，very important．'

　　'What's that，Roald？'

　　'Us．We're here now．Isn't that important，Olav？'

　　The four men stood on the snow，and looked at him．Then，slowly，they all began to laugh．

　　8 穿越高原

　　11月21日，挪威人杀了30条狗。

　　“这些狗活泼欢快，”阿蒙森说，“现在，它们很快就要丧生了。我们只需要3辆雪橇、18条狗，便能到达南极。”

　　这些狗处死后，活着的狗吃它们的肉，大家也都吃。它们是我们的好朋友，比阿兰德在日记里这样写道，现在又成为好食物。两天之后，群狗都养胖了。随后，他们冒着暴风雪再度踏上旅程。

　　暴风雪过后，浓雾弥漫。在隐有无数大冰洞的冰河上，他们完全被裹在茫茫浓雾之中，什么也看不见。这太危险了。4天内，他们仅前行了9公里。但是这些冰层非常美丽，比阿兰德这样写道，蓝、绿、白三色。这是个迷人的地方，然而我不愿久留。

　　走过冰河之后，又遇到凛冽的寒风和可怕的暴风雪。他们眼前一派茫茫，什么也看不见。但是每天，他们仍旧要走25至30公里。当时，也就是12月9日，太阳出来了。他们到达南纬88°23′的地区，距南极175公里。

　　再过5个漫长的日子，比阿兰德这样写，一切便完成了。可是斯科特在哪儿呢？

　　* * * * *

　　4天来，斯科特的人一直留在大山附近的帐篷内。外面下着可怕的暴风雪，奥茨这样写道，这太冷啦，令小马不堪忍受。我们的衣服与滑雪板也都坏了。

　　12月9日，奥茨杀了几匹小马。这些马又累又病，不可能登上高原。这时，米尔斯与他的狗群返回开普埃文斯。“我们可以自己拖雪橇，”斯科特说，“我们能够做到：我们个个都是身强力壮。”

　　两辆雪橇与8个人，每天走24公里。12月31日，斯科特对特迪·埃文斯以及那些拖着第二辆雪橇的人说：“既然你们不太会滑雪，不如将滑雪板丢在这儿。”于是，他们没穿滑雪板拉雪橇走了24公里。

　　第二天，斯科特来到特迪·埃文斯的帐篷内。“你病了，特迪，”他说，“你去不了南极了。明天带着两个人回去吧。”

　　特迪·埃文斯非常不满。“两个人，队长？”他说，“为什么不是3个人呢？”

　　“因为鲍尔斯将同我一道前进，”斯科特说，“他身体很棒，我们需要他。”

　　“但是……你们雪橇上装的食物是供4人食用的，而不是5人！”埃文斯说，“再说鲍尔斯的滑雪板也扔了！”

　　“我是队长，特迪！”斯科特说，“你照我的话去做。带两个人走，将鲍尔斯留给我！”

　　奥茨给他的母亲写信说：我正跟随着斯科特向南极进发。我感到欣喜，而且感到精力旺盛。但是他在日记里却是这样写的：我的脚已经非常糟糕了，现在总是湿漉漉的，看来状况不妙。

　　1月4日，斯科特一行离开了特迪，继续上路了。斯科特、奥茨、威尔逊、埃德加·埃文斯都有滑雪板，然而鲍尔斯没有。他们距南极还有270公里。

　　* * * * *

　　1911年12月14日，天气暖和，阳光明媚。5个挪威人在美丽的白雪上滑行着，四周非常安静，没人讲话。他们感到兴奋、欣喜。

　　“再走6公里，”比阿兰德心想。英国国旗到达那儿了吗？我一面旗帜也没见到，但是……

　　“瞧！”哈塞尔说，“那儿是什么？”

　　比阿兰德丢下他的雪橇，在雪地上飞快滑行赶去看。“这是什么？”他心想，“难道是……？不！”

　　“没东西！”他高声叫着说，“什么东西也没有……啥也没有！”

　　还有3公里，还有2公里。“罗阿尔！”汉森高声呼唤着阿蒙森，“请你走在我前头，这对我的狗群有帮助。”

　　“不是这回事儿，”比阿兰德心想，“他的狗今天表现不错。汉森是想让阿蒙森成为第一人，第一个到达南极的人！”

　　他们继续向前滑行，在这美丽的雪原上滑行。

　　“停下！”阿蒙森说。他静静地等着他的属员。“就是这儿，”他说。

　　比阿兰德看着他。“可是这儿没有任何东西，”他说。

　　阿蒙森笑了笑。“啊，不对，有东西，”他说，“这儿有样非常重要的东西，奥拉夫。非常非常重要。”

　　“什么东西，罗阿尔？”

　　“我们这些人！我们现在站在这儿，难道还不重要，奥拉夫？”