第十章（第7/34页）

She lay quite still, in a sort of sleep, in a sort of dream. Then she quivered as she felt his hand groping softly, yet with queer thwarted clumsiness, among her clothing. Yet the hand knew, too, how to unclothe her where it wanted. He drew down the thin silk sheath, slowly, carefully, right down and over her feet. Then with a quiver of exquisite pleasure he touched the warm soft body, and touched her navel for a moment in a kiss. And he had to come in to her at once, to enter the peace on earth of her soft, quiescent body. It was the moment of pure peace for him, the entry into the body of the woman.

她静静地躺着，像已沉沉睡去，像已坠入梦中。然后，他的手继续温情款款地摸索着，探入她的衣衫，左右游走，动作略显笨拙，而她的身躯则随之扭动起来。不过，这只笨拙的手却懂得用在恰当的地方，把衣衫解开。他将她那单薄的丝绸衣裙褪到脚踝处，动作缓慢而谨慎。然后，他的全身因狂喜而颤抖着，他的手爱抚着她温软的娇躯，双唇停留在她的肚脐，轻吻着。他渴望立即插入，与她合二为一，深入她那柔软安静的身体里的平和之处。插进她身体的瞬间，对他而言是品尝平和极致的体验。

She lay still, in a kind of sleep, always in a kind of sleep. The activity, the orgasm was his, all his; she could strive for herself no more. Even the tightness of his arms round her, even the intense movement of his body, and the springing of his seed in her, was a kind of sleep, from which she did not begin to rouse till he had finished and lay softly panting against her breast.

她静静地躺着，像已沉沉睡去，久久不愿醒来。所有的动作，最终的高潮都属于他，也只属于他，她不再主动，只是顺从。虽然他的双臂紧紧拥着她，虽然他的身体剧烈地抽动，甚至他的精液在她的体内喷射而出，都没将她从睡梦中唤醒。直到他彻底满足，依偎在她胸前轻喘，她才醒来。

Then she wondered, just dimly wondered, why? Why was this necessary? Why had it lifted a great cloud from her and given her peace? Was it real? Was it real? Her tormented modern-woman's brain still had no rest. Was it real? And she knew, if she gave herself to the man, it was real. But if she kept herself for herself it was nothing. She was old; millions of years old, she felt. And at last, she could bear the burden of herself no more. She was to be had for the taking. To be had for the taking.

此刻，她心生疑问，于朦胧中心生疑问，究竟为什么？为什么要这样？为什么这样做能拨散缠绕已久的巨大阴霾，让她重获宁静？这是真的吗？这是真的吗？她那现代女性的大脑曾饱经折磨，即使现在仍不愿停歇。这是真的吗？她明白，如果自愿献身给眼前的男人，一切就都是真实的。但如果她仍不愿对他敞开胸怀，一切都是白费。她感觉自己已经衰老，甚至足有百万岁。她终于无法继续承受所有的重担。她随时做好奉献自己的准备。任他自由攫取。

The man lay in a mysterious stillness. What was he feeling? What was he thinking? She did not know. He was a strange man to her, she did not know him. She must only wait, for she did not dare to break his mysterious stillness. He lay there with his arms round her, his body on hers, his wet body touching hers, so close. And completely unknown. Yet not unpeaceful. His very stillness was peaceful.

依偎在身旁的男人陷入神秘的静默。他此刻有怎样的感受？他此刻在想些什么？她不得而知。他对她而言十分陌生，她对他知之甚少。她只能耐心等待，不敢随意打破他那神秘的静默。他的双臂搂着她，压在她的身上，汗淋淋的身体紧贴着她。那完全陌生的身体。莫名的平静。此刻陷入沉默的他是那样的平静。

She knew that, when at last he roused and drew away from her. It was like an abandonment. He drew her dress in the darkness down over her knees and stood a few moments, apparently adjusting his own clothing. Then he quietly opened the door and went out.

她终于感觉到他苏醒过来，抽身站起。像是要将她遗弃。黑暗中，他拉起她的衣裙，遮到膝部，矗立片刻，显然是在整理自己的衣服。然后，他悄无声息地敞开门，走了出去。

She saw a very brilliant little moon shining above the afterglow over the oaks. Quickly she got up and arranged herself she was tidy. Then she went to the door of the hut.

在晚霞的掩映下，一弯明月爬上橡树梢头，倾泻下柔和的银光。她连忙起身，匆匆整理好衣装。接着向屋门口走去。

All the lower wood was in shadow, almost darkness. Yet the sky overhead was crystal. But it shed hardly any light. He came through the lower shadow towards her, his face lifted like a pale blotch.

低矮的树丛都被阴影掩盖，几乎完全陷入黑暗之中。头顶的天空却如水晶般透明。但却无法将大地照亮。他穿过那低矮的阴影，向她走来，远远看去，那扬起的脸庞像个灰点。