杰克·伦敦
JackLondon
杰克·伦敦（JackLondon，1876—1916），美国著名作家之一。出身贫困，童年以从事繁重劳动谋生，先后做过工人、水手、司炉、淘金者，甚至流浪汉。艰苦的生活使他深切体会到损贫利富的社会弊端，由此对社会问题深感兴趣，自称社会学者，从事过工人运动。他的短篇小说独树一帜，情节紧凑，人物形象栩栩如生，深受读者喜爱。代表作有《狼的儿子》《荒野的呼唤》《铁蹄》等。
JohnClaverhousewasamoon-facedman.Youknowthekind,cheek-boneswideaart,chinandforeheadmeltingintothecheekstocomletetheerfectround,andthenose,broadandudgy,equidistantfromthecircumference,fattenedagainsttheverycentreofthefacelikeadough-balluontheceiling.PerhasthatiswhyIhatedhim,fortrulyhehadbecomeanoffensetomyeyes,andIbelievedtheearthtobecumberedwithhisresence.
Bethatasitmay,IhatedJohnClaverhouse.Notthathehaddonemewhatsocietywouldconsiderawrongoranillturn.Farfromit.Theevilwasofadeeer,subtlersort；soelusive,sointangible,astodefyclear,defniteanalysisinwords.Weallexeriencesuchthingsatsomeeriodinourlives.Forthefrsttimeweseeacertainindividual,onewhotheveryinstantbeforewedidnotdreamexisted；andyet,atthefrstmomentofmeeting,wesay：“Idonotlikethatman.”Whydowenotlikehim?Ah,wedonotknowwhy；weknowonlythatwedonot.Wehavetakenadislike,thatisall.AndsoIwithJohnClaverhouse.
Whatrighthadsuchamantobehay?Yethewasanotimist.Hewasalwaysgleefulandlaughing.Allthingswerealwaysallright,cursehim！Ah！Howitgratedonmysoulthatheshouldbesohay！Othermencouldlaugh,anditdidnotbotherme.Ievenusedtolaughmyself-beforeImetJohnClaverhouse.
Buthislaugh！Itirritatedme,maddenedme,asnothingelseunderthesuncouldirritateormaddenme.Ithauntedme,griedholdofme,andwouldnotletmego.Itwasahuge,gargantuanlaugh.Wakingorsleeingitwasalwayswithme,whirringandjarringacrossmyheart-stringslikeanenormousras.Atbreakofdayitcamewhooingacrossthefeldstosoilmyleasantmorningrevery.Undertheachingnoondayglare,whenthegreenthingsdrooedandthebirdswithdrewtothedethsoftheforest,andallnaturedrowsed,hisgreat“Ha!ha！”and“Ho!ho！”roseutotheskyandchallengedthesun.Andatblackmidnight,fromthelonelycross-roadswhereheturnedfromtownintohisownlace,camehislagueycachinnationstorousemefrommysleeandmakemewritheandclenchmynailsintomyalms.
Iwentforthrivilyinthenight-time,andturnedhiscattleintohisfelds,andinthemorningheardhiswhooinglaughashedrovethembackagain.“Itisnothing，”hesaid，“theoor,dumbbeastiesarenottobeblamedforstrayingintofatterastures.”
Hehadadoghecalled“Mars，”abig,slendidbrute,artdeer-houndandartblood-hound,andresemblingboth.Marswasagreatdelighttohim,andtheywerealwaystogether.ButIbidedmytime,andoneday,whenoortunitywasrie,luredtheanimalawayandsettledforhimwithstrychnineandbeefsteak.ItmadeositivelynoimressiononJohnClaverhouse.Hislaughwasasheartyandfrequentasever,andhisfaceasmuchlikethefullmoonasitalwayshadbeen.
ThenIsetfiretohishaystacksandhisbarn.Butthenextmorning,beingSunday,hewentforthblitheandcheerful.“Whereareyougoing?”Iaskedhim,ashewentbythecross-roads.“Trout，”hesaid,andhisfacebeamedlikeafullmoon.“Ijustdoteontrout.”
Wasthereeversuchanimossibleman！Hiswholeharvesthadgoneuinhishaystacksandbarn.Itwasuninsured,Iknew.Andyet,inthefaceoffamineandtherigorouswinter,hewentoutgaylyinquestofamessoftrout,forsooth,becausehe“doted”onthem！Hadgloombutrested,nomatterhowlightly,onhisbrow,orhadhisbovinecountenancegrownlongandseriousandlesslikethemoon,orhadheremovedthatsmilebutoncefromoffhisface,IamsureIcouldhaveforgivenhimforexisting.Butno,hegrewonlymorecheerfulundermisfortune.
Iinsultedhim.Helookedatmeinslowandsmilingsurrise.“Ifghtyou?Why?”heaskedslowly.Andthenhelaughed.“Youaresofunny！Ho!ho！Youllbethedeathofme！Hee!hee!hee！Oh！Ho!ho!ho！”
Whatwouldyou?Itwasastendurance.BythebloodofJudas,howIhatedhim！Thentherewasthatname-Claverhouse！Whataname！Wasntitabsurd?Claverhouse！Mercifulheaven,whyClaverhouse?AgainandagainIaskedmyselfthatquestion.IshouldnothavemindedSmith,orBrown,orJones-butClaverhouse！Ileaveittoyou.Reeatittoyourself-Claverhouse.Justlistentotheridiculoussoundofit-Claverhouse！Shouldamanlivewithsuchaname?Iaskofyou.“No，”yousay.And“No”saidI.
ButIbethoughtmeofhismortgage.Whatofhiscrosandbarndestroyed,Iknewhewouldbeunabletomeetit.SoIgotashrewd,close-mouthed,tight-fstedmoney-lendertogetthemortgagetransferredtohim.IdidnotaearbutthroughthisagentIforcedtheforeclosure,andbutfewdaysweregivenJohnClaverhousetoremovehisgoodsandchattelsfromtheremises.ThenIstrolleddowntoseehowhetookit,forhehadlivedthereuwardoftwentyyears.Buthemetmewithhissaucer-eyestwinkling,andthelightglowingandsreadinginhisfacetillitwasasafull-risenmoon.
“Ha!ha!ha！”helaughed.“Thefunniesttike,thatyoungsterofmine！Didyoueverhearthelike?Letmetellyou.Hewasdownlayingbytheedgeoftheriverwhenaieceofthebankcavedinandslashedhim.‘Oaa！’hecried；‘agreatbiguddlefewuandhitme.’”
Hestoedandwaitedformetojoinhiminhisinfernalglee.
“Idontseeanylaughinit，”Isaidshortly,andIknowmyfacewentsour.
Heregardedmewithwonderment,andthencamethedamnablelight,glowingandsreading,asIhavedescribedit,tillhisfaceshonesoftandwarm,likethesummermoon,andthenthelaugh-“Ha!ha！That‘sfunny！Youdon’tseeit,eh?Hee!hee！Ho!ho!ho！Hedoesntseeit！Why,lookhere.Youknowauddle.”
ButIturnedonmyheelandlefthim.Thatwasthelast.Icouldstanditnolonger.Thethingmustendrightthere,Ithought,cursehim！Theearthshouldbequitofhim.AndasIwentoverthehill,Icouldhearhismonstrouslaughreverberatingagainstthesky.
Now,Iridemyselfondoingthingsneatly,andwhenIresolvedtokillJohnClaverhouseIhaditinmindtodosoinsuchfashionthatIshouldnotlookbackuonitandfeelashamed.Ihatebungling,andIhatebrutality.Tomethereissomethingreugnantinmerelystrikingamanwithonesnakedfst-faugh!itissickening！So,toshoot,orstab,orclubJohnClaverhouse（oh,thatname！）didnotaealtome.AndnotonlywasIimelledtodoitneatlyandartistically,butalsoinsuchmannerthatnottheslightestossiblesusicioncouldbedirectedagainstme.
TothisendIbentmyintellect,and,afteraweekofrofoundincubation,Ihatchedthescheme.ThenIsettowork.Iboughtawatersanielbitch,fivemonthsold,anddevotedmywholeattentiontohertraining.Hadanyonesieduonme,theywouldhaveremarkedthatthistrainingconsistedentirelyofonething-retrieving.Itaughtthedog,whichIcalled“Bellona，”tofetchsticksIthrewintothewater,andnotonlytofetch,buttofetchatonce,withoutmouthingorlayingwiththem.Theointwasthatshewastostofornothing,buttodeliverthestickinallhaste.Imadearacticeofrunningawayandleavinghertochaseme,withthestickinhermouth,tillshecaughtme.Shewasabrightanimal,andtooktothegamewithsucheagernessthatIwassooncontent.
Afterthat,atthefirstcasualoortunity,IresentedBellonatoJohnClaverhouse.IknewwhatIwasabout,forIwasawareofalittleweaknessofhis,andofalittlerivatesinningofwhichhewasregularlyandinveteratelyguilty.
“No，”hesaid,whenIlacedtheendoftheroeinhishand.“No,youdontmeanit.”Andhismouthoenedwideandhegrinnedalloverhisdamnablemoon-face.
“I-Ihaveakindofthought,somehow,youdidntlikeme.”heexlained.“Wasntitfunnyformetomakesuchamistake?”Andatthethoughtheheldhissideswithlaughter.
“Whatishername?”hemanagedtoaskbetweenaroxysms.“Bellona，”Isaid.“Hee!hee！”hetittered.“Whatafunnyname.”
Igrittedmyteeth,forhismirthutthemonedge,andsnaedoutbetweenthem，“ShewasthewifeofMars,youknow.”
Thenthelightofthefullmoonbegantosuffusehisface,untilheexlodedwith：“Thatwasmyotherdog.Well,Iguessshesawidownow.Oh！Ho!ho！E！hee!hee！Ho！”hewhooedafterme,andIturnedandfedswiftlyoverthehill.
Theweekassedby,andonSaturdayeveningIsaidtohim，“YougoawayMonday,dontyou?”
Henoddedhisheadandgrinned.
“Thenyouwon‘thaveanotherchancetogetamessofthosetroutyoujust’doteon.”
Buthedidnotnoticethesneer.“Oh,Idontknow，”hechuckled.“Imgoingutomorrowtotryrettyhard.”
Thuswasassurancemadedoublysure,andIwentbacktomyhousehuggingmyselfwithrature.
EarlynextmorningIsawhimgobywithadi-netandgunnysack,andBellonatrottingathisheels.Iknewwherehewasbound,andcutoutbythebackastureandclimbedthroughtheunderbrushtothetoofthemountain.Keeingcarefullyoutofsight,Ifollowedthecrestalongforacouleofmilestoanaturalamhitheatreinthehills,wherethelittleriverraceddownoutofagorgeandstoedforbreathinalargeandlacidrock-boundool.Thatwasthesot！Isatdownonthecrouofthemountain,whereIcouldseeallthatoccurred,andlightedmyie.
Manyminuteshadassed,JohnClaverhousecameloddinguthebedofthestream.Bellonawasamblingabouthim,andtheywereinhighfeather,hershort,snaybarksminglingwithhisdeeerchest-notes.Arrivedattheool,hethrewdownthedi-netandsack,anddrewfromhishi-ocketwhatlookedlikealarge,fatcandle.ButIknewittobeastickof“giant”；forsuchwashismethodofcatchingtrout.Hedynamitedthem.Heattachedthefusebywraingthe“giant”tightlyinaieceofcotton.Thenheignitedthefuseandtossedtheexlosiveintotheool.
Likeaflash,Bellonawasintotheoolafterit.Icouldhaveshriekedaloudforjoy.Claverhouseyelledather,butwithoutavail.Heeltedherwithclodsandrocks,butsheswamsteadilyontillshegotthestickof“giant”inhermouth.Whenshewhirledaboutandheadedfortheshore,then,forthefrsttime,herealizedhisdanger,andstartedtorun.Asforeseenandlannedbyme,shemadethebankandtookoutafterhim.Oh,Itellyou,itwasgreat！
AsIhavesaid,theoollayinasortofamhitheatre.Aboveandbelow,thestreamcouldbecrossedbysteing-stones.Andaroundandaround,uanddownandacrossthestones,racedClaverhouseandBellona.Icouldneverhavebelievedthatsuchanungainlymancouldrunsofast.Butrunhedid,Bellonahot-footedafterhim,andgaining.Andthen,justasshecaughtu,heinfullstride,andsheleaingwithnoseathisknee,therewasasuddenfash,aburstofsmoke,aterrifcdetonation,andwheremananddoghadbeentheinstantbeforetherewasnothingtobeseenbutabigholeintheground.
“Deathfromaccidentwhileengagedinillegalfishing.”Thatwastheverdictofthecoroner‘sjury；andthatiswhyIridemyselfontheneatandartisticwayinwhichIfnishedoffJohnClaverhouse.Therewasnobungling,nobrutality；nothingofwhichtobeashamedinthewholetransaction,asIamsureyouwillagree.Nomoredoeshisinfernallaughgoechoingamongthehills,andnomoredoeshisfatmoon-faceriseutovexme.Mydaysareeacefulnow,andmynight’ssleedee.
约翰·克莱沃豪斯长着一张跟十五的月亮一样的圆脸，你肯定见过这种长相的男人，宽宽的颧骨，基本看不出有下巴和前额，因为它们已经和脸不分界线地融合在一起了，这些构成了完美的圆形轮廓。鼻子又短又粗，与圆脸边缘线保持同样的距离，可以说，恰好长在脸盘的中心部位。在圆脸的衬托下，它看上去就像是黏在天花板上的一个面团。也许，正是因为约翰·克莱沃豪斯的这种长相，我才这么讨厌他。他是我的眼中钉，而且我相信，他的存在也是地球的累赘。
就像社会上的人们通常认为的那样，我这么讨厌约翰·克莱沃豪斯，不是因为他对我做过什么错事或者无礼的举止。不过，如果他真的做了错事，我现在对他的厌恶远远超过这个，更深刻、更微妙，是那样的不可理解，难以捉摸，以至于我都无法用清晰、准确的语言表达出来。我们每个人都会在人生中的某个阶段经历这样的事情：平生第一次见到某个陌生人，就是那么擦肩而过，即使在梦中也不会留下一丝印象。然而就是这么一个人，在第一眼见到他时，我们往往会说“我不喜欢那个人”。我们凭什么不喜欢人家呢？哎，其实我们自己也不知道。我们仅知道不喜欢他。不喜欢就是不喜欢，仅此而已。我对约翰·克莱沃豪斯的印象就是这样。
有着这么一副长相的男人有什么资格享受快乐和幸福呢？然而事实恰恰相反，他是一个地地道道的乐观派。他总是笑容满面，笑声不断，仿佛在这个世界上没有不顺心的事一样，真是个该被诅咒的家伙！哎，看着他总是这么高兴，这简直是对我灵魂的莫大刺激！别人可以大笑，可以快乐，这很正常，也不会令我烦恼。就连我自己过去也常常开怀大笑——当然是在我遇上约翰·克莱沃豪斯之前。
可是他的笑使我非常恼火，简直要把我逼疯了，好像除了他的笑之外，世界上其他任何事物都无法激怒我，不会使我疯狂。它总是挥之不去，围绕在我的周围，使我的心为之疯狂，让我得不到片刻的放松。那是一种洪亮的、疯狂的笑声，不论在清醒时还是在睡眠中，我都能感觉到它的存在。它就像一把巨大的锉刀，发出尖厉的声音穿刺着我的心灵。在蒙蒙亮的清晨，它呐喊着，穿过时空搅乱我的美梦；在中午炫目的烈日下，当那些繁茂的枝叶都耷拉下脑袋时，当鸟雀们都躲到森林深处去时，当自然万物都在昏昏欲睡时，他那巨大如雷的“哈哈”和“呵呵”的笑声响彻云霄，挑战着头顶的炎炎烈日。还有，在漆黑的深夜，在寂静的十字路口——那是他从城里回家的必经之路，总会传来那令人讨厌的狂笑，将我从睡梦中惊醒，接着我辗转难眠，苦恼不已，我狠狠地攥紧了拳头。
在一个黑暗的夜晚，我偷偷摸到他的家，把他的牛放到他的地里。但次日清晨，我听见他又大笑着把牛赶回家了，说：“其实没什么，我不应该因为它走进更肥美的牧场而责备这个不会说话的可怜畜生。”
他养了一条狗名叫火星。这条狗体形庞大，性情凶猛，有点像猎狗，也有点像警犬，可以说兼两者的特征。火星给他带来了无穷的快乐，他俩总是形影不离。我一直在等待时机。这一天终于来了，机会简直是从天而降。我想办法引出那条狗，然后用加了士的宁毒药的牛排打发它。但火星的死竟然对约翰·克莱沃豪斯没有造成丝毫影响，他那发自内心的笑声和往常一样频繁，而那张脸也和往日一样，圆如中天满月。
后来，我干脆放火烧了他的草垛和谷仓。可是，第二天早上，正好是星期天，他还是像往常一样无忧无虑地欢快地出了门。当他经过十字路口的时候，我赶上去问他：“你要去哪里？”“去捕鲑鱼，”他回应着，笑容满面，脸蛋圆得像十五的月亮，“我酷爱捕鲑鱼。”
天哪！世界上怎么会有这样不可思议的人！他一年的收成都贮藏在谷仓和草垛里，而且据我所知，他的这些财产也没有上保险。然而，面对突然而至的灾难和即将来临的寒冬，他竟然还能高高兴兴地出去捕鲑鱼。当然了，人家不是说了嘛，因为人家“酷爱”捕鲑鱼！如果忧愁曾在他的眉毛上停留，哪怕片刻也可以，如果他那张脸能表现出哪怕是一丁点的惊慌或严肃，起码不要再像那轮满月，如果他的面颊上在某个时候不再有笑容的影子，哪怕只有一次，我相信自己一定早原谅他了。但是事实告诉我，他没有，在祸不单行的不幸面前，他反而越来越快乐了。
我辱骂他，他虽然表现得惊讶，但望着我的时候，迟钝的脸上仍保持着微笑！“要我跟你打架？为什么？”他慢吞吞地问道。而后，他又大笑，“你真是太有趣了！哈哈哈！你简直要笑死我了！嘻！嘻！嘻！啊！哈！哈！哈！”
面对这么一个人，你还能做什么呢？这简直是挑战我的忍耐极限！我恨死他了，这种憎恶之情简直无法形容。还有他的那个名字——克莱沃豪斯（“屠刀”和“房子”的合音）！这是个什么名字啊？简直是荒谬至极！克莱沃豪斯！仁慈的上帝啊，为什么会给他起名叫克莱沃豪斯？我一遍又一遍地问着自己。我不会对史密斯、布朗、琼斯之类的名字介意，除了克莱沃豪斯！大家都来听听这个名字，自己念一遍“克莱沃豪斯”，只要听听这个可笑的发音就行了——克莱沃豪斯！我想问问你们，这难道是人类应该有的名字吗？我想你一定会说“不”。没错，我也会有同样的回答——“不是人类的名字！”
我一定要击败他！于是，我又想到了他的抵押品——房子。既然他的庄稼和粮食都已经被毁掉了，那么他就失去了还债的能力。因此，我找到一个精明、吝啬且守口如瓶的放高利贷者，把那抵押品转让给了他。关于这件事情，我始终没有露面，而是通过这个放高利贷的中间人迫使克莱沃豪斯丧失了抵押品的赎回权，只留给他几天的时间把那些乱七八糟的东西从房子里搬出去。之后，我装作若无其事地过去看他，看他面对这样的事情到底怎么做。因为我知道，至今为止，他在那里已经居住了二十年了，对这样的事情他会怎样呢？但是，他那椭圆形的眼珠忽闪忽闪的，脸上仍然洋溢着快乐，那张圆脸依旧宛如一轮满月。
“哈！哈！哈！”他大笑起来，“那个最调皮的孩子，就是我最小的那个，你没听说过吧？那我就告诉你。有一天他正在河边玩，突然，一段河堤坍塌了，于是把他卷进河水中。他在水里哭着喊我，‘噢爸爸！一个大旋涡打过来，把我卷住啦。’”
他停了下来，等着我和他一起分享那种可恶的快乐。
“我看不出这件事情到底有什么好笑的。”我直截了当地对他说，脸上带着几分恼火。