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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Brave New World
by Aldous Huxley
Chapter Eighteen - continued
The whip was hanging on a nail by the door, ready to hand against the arrival of reporters. In a frenzy1 the Savage2 ran back to the house, seized it, whirled it. The knotted cords bit into his flesh.
"Strumpet! Strumpet!" he shouted at every blow as though it were Lenina (and how frantically4, without knowing it, he wished it were), white, warm, scented5, infamous6 Lenina that he was dogging thus. "Strumpet!" And then, in a voice of despair, "Oh, Linda, forgive me. Forgive me, God. I'm bad. I'm wicked. I'm ... No, no, you strumpet, you strumpet!"
From his carefully constructed hide in the wood three hundred metres away, Darwin Bonaparte, the Feely Corporation's most expert big game photographer had watched the whole proceedings7. Patience and skill had been rewarded. He had spent three days sitting inside the bole of an artificial oak tree, three nights crawling on his belly8 through the heather, hiding microphones in gorse bushes, burying wires in the soft grey sand. Seventy-two hours of profound discomfort9. But now me great moment had come-the greatest, Darwin Bonaparte had time to reflect, as he moved among his instruments, the greatest since his taking of the famous all-howling stereoscopic feely of the gorillas10' wedding. "Splendid," he said to himself, as the Savage started his astonishing performance. "Splendid!" He kept his telescopic cameras carefully aimed-glued to their moving objective; clapped on a higher power to get a close-up of the frantic3 and distorted face (admirable!); switched over, for half a minute, to slow motion (an exquisitely11 comical effect, he promised himself); listened in, meanwhile, to the blows, the groans12, the wild and raving13 words that were being recorded on the sound-track at the edge of his film, tried the effect of a little amplification14 (yes, that was decidedly better); was delighted to hear, in a momentary15 lull16, the shrill17 singing of a lark18; wished the Savage would turn round so that he could get a good close-up of the blood on his back-and almost instantly (what astonishing luck!) the accommodating fellow did turn round, and he was able to take a perfect close-up.
"Well, that was grand!" he said to himself when it was all over. "Really grand!" He mopped his face. When they had put in the feely effects at the studio, it would be a wonderful film. Almost as good, thought Darwin Bonaparte, as the Sperm19 Whale's Love-Life-and that, by Ford20, was saying a good deal!
Twelve days later The Savage of Surrey had been released and could be seen, heard and felt in every first-class feely-palace in Western Europe.
The effect of Darwin Bonaparte's film was immediate21 and enormous. On the afternoon which followed the evening of its release John's rustic22 solitude23 was suddenly broken by the arrival overhead of a great swarm24 of helicopters.
He was digging in his garden-digging, too, in his own mind, laboriously25 turning up the substance of his thought. Death-and he drove in his spade once, and again, and yet again. And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. A convincing thunder rumbled26 through the words. He lifted another spadeful of earth. Why had Linda died? Why had she been allowed to become gradually less than human and at last ... He shuddered27. A good kissing carrion28. He planted his foot on his spade and stamped it fiercely into the tough ground. As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods; they kill us for their sport. Thunder again; words that proclaimed themselves true-truer somehow than truth itself. And yet that same Gloucester had called them ever-gentle gods. Besides, thy best of rest is sleep and that thou oft provok'st; yet grossly fear'st thy death which is no more. No more than sleep. Sleep. Perchance to dream. His spade struck against a stone; he stooped to pick it up. For in that sleep of death, what dreams? ...
A humming overhead had become a roar; and suddenly he was in shadow, there was something between the sun and him. He looked up, startled, from his digging, from his thoughts; looked up in a dazzled bewilderment, his mind still wandering in that other world of truer-than-truth, still focused on the immensities of death and deity29; looked up and saw, close above him, the swarm of hovering30 machines. Like locusts31 they came, hung poised32, descended33 all around him on the heather. And from out of the bellies34 of these giant grasshoppers35 stepped men in white viscose-flannels, women (for the weather was hot) in acetate-shantung pyjamas36 or velveteen shorts and sleeveless, half-unzippered singlets-one couple from each. In a few minutes there were dozens of them, standing37 in a wide circle round the lighthouse, staring, laughing, clicking their cameras, throwing (as to an ape) peanuts, packets of sex-hormone chewing-gum, pan-glandular petite beurres. And every moment-for across the Hog's Back the stream of traffic now flowed unceasingly-their numbers increased. As in a nightmare, the dozens became scores, the scores hundreds.
The Savage had retreated towards cover, and now, in the posture38 of an animal at bay, stood with his back to the wall of the lighthouse, staring from face to face in speechless horror, like a man out of his senses.
From this stupor39 he was aroused to a more immediate sense of reality by the impact on his cheek of a well-aimed packet of chewing-gum. A shock of startling pain-and he was broad awake, awake and fiercely angry.
"Go away!" he shouted.
The ape had spoken; there was a burst of laughter and hand-clapping. "Good old Savage! Hurrah41, hurrah!" And through the babel he heard cries of: "Whip, whip, the whip!"
Acting42 on the word's suggestion, he seized the bunch of knotted cords from its nail behind the door and shook it at his tormentors.
Menacingly he advanced towards them. A woman cried out in fear. The line wavered at its most immediately threatened point, then stiffened44 again, stood firm. The consciousness of being in overwhelming force had given these sightseers a courage which the Savage had not expected of them. Taken aback, he halted and looked round.
"Have a few magnesium46-salted almonds!" said the man who, if the Savage were to advance, would be the first to be attacked. He held out a packet. "They're really very good, you know," he added, with a rather nervous smile of propitiation. "And the magnesium salts will help to keep you young."
The Savage ignored his offer. "What do you want with me?" he asked, turning from one grinning face to another. "What do you want with me?"
"The whip," answered a hundred voices confusedly. "Do the whipping stunt47. Let's see the whipping stunt."
Then, in unison48 and on a slow, heavy rhythm, "We-want-the whip," shouted a group at the end of the line. "We-want-the whip."
Others at once took up the cry, and the phrase was repeated, parrot-fashion, again and again, with an ever-growing volume of sound, until, by the seventh or eighth reiteration49, no other word was being spoken. "We-want-the whip."
They were all crying together; and, intoxicated50 by the noise, the unanimity51, the sense of rhythmical52 atonement, they might, it seemed, have gone on for hours-almost indefinitely. But at about the twenty-fifth repetition the proceedings were startlingly interrupted. Yet another helicopter had arrived from across the Hog's Back, hung poised above the crowd, then dropped within a few yards of where the Savage was standing, in the open space between the line of sightseers and the lighthouse. The roar of the air screws momentarily drowned the shouting; then, as the machine touched the ground and the engines were turned off: "We-want-the whip; we-want-the whip," broke out again in the same loud, insistent53 monotone.
The door of the helicopter opened, and out stepped, first a fair and ruddy-faced young man, then, in green velveteen shorts, white shirt, and jockey cap, a young woman.
The young woman stood, smiling at him-an uncertain, imploring55, almost abject56 smile. The seconds passed. Her lips moved, she was saying something; but the sound of her voice was covered by the loud reiterated57 refrain of the sightseers.
"We-want-the whip! We-want-the whip!"
The young woman pressed both hands to her left side, and on that peach-bright, doll-beautiful face of hers appeared a strangely incongruous expression of yearning58 distress59. Her blue eyes seemed to grow larger, brighter; and suddenly two tears rolled down her cheeks. Inau-dibly, she spoke40 again; then, with a quick, impassioned gesture stretched out her arms towards the Savage, stepped forward.
"We-want-the whip! We-want ..."
And all of a sudden they had what they wanted.
"Strumpet!" The Savage had rushed at her like a madman. "Fitchew!" Like a madman, he was slashing60 at her with his whip of small cords.
Terrified, she had turned to flee, had tripped and fallen in the heather. "Henry, Henry!" she shouted. But her ruddy-faced companion had bolted out of harm's way behind the helicopter.
With a whoop61 of delighted excitement the line broke; there was a convergent62 stampede towards that magnetic centre of attraction. Pain was a fascinating horror.
Hungrily they gathered round, pushing and scrambling66 like swine about the trough.
"Oh, the flesh!" The Savage ground his teeth. This time it was on his shoulders that the whip descended. "Kill it, kill it!"
Drawn67 by the fascination68 of the horror of pain and, from within, impelled69 by that habit of cooperation, that desire for unanimity and atonement, which their conditioning had so ineradicably implanted in them, they began to mime70 the frenzy of his gestures, striking at one another as the Savage struck at his own rebellious71 flesh, or at that plump incarnation of turpitude72 writhing73 in the heather at his feet.
"Kill it, kill it, kill it ..." The Savage went on shouting.
Then suddenly somebody started singing "Orgy-porgy" and, in a moment, they had all caught up the refrain and, singing, had begun to dance. Orgy-porgy, round and round and round, beating one another in six-eight time. Orgy-porgy ...
It was after midnight when the last of the helicopters took its flight. Stupefied by soma, and exhausted74 by a long-drawn frenzy of sensuality, the Savage lay sleeping in the heather. The sun was already high when he awoke. He lay for a moment, blinking in owlish incomprehension at the light; then suddenly remembered-everything.
"Oh, my God, my God!" He covered his eyes with his hand.
That evening the swarm of helicopters that came buzzing across the Hog's Back was a dark cloud ten kilometres long. The description of last night's orgy of atonement had been in all the papers.
"Savage!" called the first arrivals, as they alighted from their machine. "Mr. Savage!"
There was no answer.
The door of the lighthouse was ajar. They pushed it open and walked into a shuttered twilight75. Through an archway on the further side of the room they could see the bottom of the staircase that led up to the higher floors. Just under the crown of the arch dangled76 a pair of feet.
"Mr. Savage!"
Slowly, very slowly, like two unhurried compass needles, the feet turned towards the right; north, north-east, east, south-east, south, south-south-west; then paused, and, after a few seconds, turned as unhurriedly back towards the left. South-south-west, south, southeast, east. ...
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1
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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gorillas
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| n.大猩猩( gorilla的名词复数 )；暴徒，打手 | |
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exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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12
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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13
raving
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| adj.说胡话的；疯狂的，怒吼的；非常漂亮的；令人醉心[痴心]的v.胡言乱语(rave的现在分词)n.胡话；疯话adv.胡言乱语地；疯狂地 | |
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14
amplification
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| n.扩大，发挥 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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lull
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| v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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sperm
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| n.精子，精液 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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21
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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23
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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24
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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25
laboriously
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| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
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26
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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27
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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28
carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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29
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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30
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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31
locusts
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| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
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poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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34
bellies
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| n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的 | |
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35
grasshoppers
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| n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的 | |
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36
pyjamas
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| n.（宽大的）睡衣裤 | |
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37
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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38
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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39
stupor
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| v.昏迷；不省人事 | |
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40
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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41
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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42
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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43
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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44
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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45
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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magnesium
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| n.镁 | |
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47
stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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48
unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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49
reiteration
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| n. 重覆, 反覆, 重说 | |
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50
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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51
unanimity
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| n.全体一致，一致同意 | |
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52
rhythmical
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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53
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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54
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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55
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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56
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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59
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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60
slashing
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| adj.尖锐的；苛刻的；鲜明的；乱砍的v.挥砍( slash的现在分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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61
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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62
convergent
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| adj.会聚的 | |
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63
lechery
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| n.好色；淫荡 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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65
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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66
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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67
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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68
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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69
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
mime
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| n.指手画脚，做手势，哑剧演员，哑剧；vi./vt.指手画脚的表演，用哑剧的形式表演 | |
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71
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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72
turpitude
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| n.可耻；邪恶 | |
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73
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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74
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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75
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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76
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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