Unit5FourteenSteps课文翻译综合教程二

Unit 5 Fourteen StepsHal ManwaringThey say a cat has nine lives, 1 and I am inclined to think that p

Unit5FourteenSteps HalManwaring 1 Theysayacathasninelives,andIaminclinedtothinkthatpossiblesinceIamnowlivingmythirdlifeandImnoteven ' acat.Myfirstlifebeganonaclear,colddayinNovember1934,whenIarrivedasthesixthofeightchildrenofafarming family. MyfatherdiedwhenIwas15,andwehadahardstruggletomakealiving.Asthechildrengrewup,theymarried, leavingonlyonesisterandmyselftosupportandcareforMother,whobecameparalyzedinherlastyearsanddied whilestillinher60s.Mysistermarriedsoonafter,andIfollowedherexamplewithintheyear. ThiswaswhenIbegantoenjoymyfirstlife.Iwasveryhappy,inexcellenthealth,andquiteagoodathlete.MywifeandI becametheparentsoftwolovelygirls.IhadagoodjobinSanJoseandabeautifulhomeupthepeninsulainSanCarlos. Lifewasapleasantdream.Thenthedreamended.Ibecameafflictedwithaslowlyprogressivediseaseofthemotor nerves,affectingfirstmyrightarmandleg,andthenmyotherside.Thusbeganmysecondlife … InspiteofmydiseaseIstilldrovetoandfromworkeachday,withtheaidof specialequipmentinstalledinmycar.AndImanagedtokeepmyhealthandoptimism,toadegree,becauseof14 steps. Crazy?Notatall.Ourhomewasasplit-levelaffairwith14stepsleadingupfrom thegaragetothekitchendoor.Thosestepswereagaugeoflife.Theyweremyyardstick,mychallengetocontinueliving. IfeltthatifthedayarrivedwhenIwas unabletoliftonefootuponestepandthendragtheotherpainfullyafteritrepeatingtheprocess14timesuntil,utterly — spent,IwouldbethroughIcouldthen — 2 admitdefeatandliedownanddie.SoIkeptonworking,keptonclimbingthosesteps.Andtimepassed.Thegirls wenttocollegeandwerehappilymarried,andmywifeandIwerealoneinourbeautifulhomewiththe14steps. Youmightthinkthatherewalkedamanofcourageandstrength.Notso.Herehobbledabitterlydisillusionedcripple,a manwhoheldontohissanityandhiswifeandhishomeandhisjobbecauseof14miserablestepsleadinguptotheback 3 doorfromhisgarage.AsIbecameolder,Ibecamemoredisillusionedandfrustrated. ThenonadarknightinAugust,1971,Ibeganmythirdlife.ItwasrainingwhenIstartedhomethatnight;gustywindsand 4 slashingrainbeatdownonthecarasIdroveslowlydownoneoftheless-traveledroads.Suddenlythesteeringwheel jerkedinmyhandsandthecarswervedviolentlytotheright.InthesameinstantI heardthedreadedbangofablowout.Ifoughtthecartostopontherain-slick 5 shoulderoftheroadandsatthereastheenormityofthesituationsweptoverme.It wasimpossibleformetochangethattire!Utterlyimpossible!Athoughtthatapassingmotoristmightstopwas dismissedatonce.Whyshouldanyone?IknewIwouldnt!ThenIrememberedthatashortdistanceupalittleside ' roadwasahouse.Istartedtheengineandthumpedslowlyalong,keepingwelloverontheshoulderuntilIcameto