牡蛎男孩的忧郁之死 The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy 他在沙漠中求婚， He proposed in the dunes, 他们在海边结婚， they were wed by the sea, 他们九天的蜜月在意大利卡普里岛渡过。 Their nine-day-long honeymoon was on the isle of Capri. 晚餐是丰盛的沸腾海鲜炖锅。 当他尽情享受肉汤时， 他的新娘在心中许了一个愿。 For their supper they had one specatular dish- a simmering stew of mollusks and fish. And while he savored the broth, her bride's heart made a wish. 这个愿望实现了——她生了一个孩子。 但是这个小人 嗯，也许算是吧。 That wish came true-she gave birth to a baby. But was this little one human Well, maybe. 十个手指，十个脚趾， 他拥有味觉也有视觉， 他可以听，他可以感觉， 但他算正常吗？ 并不是非常。 Ten fingers, ten toes, he had plumbing and sight. He could hear, he could feel, but normal? Not quite. 这不自然的降生，如同溃烂病，如同枯萎症， 是他们这次婚姻的开始和结束和全部内容。 This unnatural birth, this canker, this blight, was the start and the end and the sum of their plight. 她向医生抱怨： “他不可能是我的孩子。 他闻起来像海洋一样，带有海草和盐水的味道。” She railed at the doctor: "He cannot be mine. He smells of the ocean, of seaweed and brine." “你已经算幸运了，就在上周， 我接收了一个有三只耳朵并长着鸟嘴的女孩。 而且你的儿子是半牡蛎人， 这你也不能怪我。 ……你有没有考虑过，也许， 在海边建一座小房子？” "You should count yourself lucky, for only last week, I treated a girl with three ears and a beak. That your son is half oyster you cannot blame me. ... have you ever considered, by chance, a small home by the sea?" 因为不知道该怎么给他命名， 他们只是叫他山姆， 或者有的时候， “那个看起来像蛤的东西”。 Not knowing what to name him, they just called him Sam, or sometimes, "that thing that looks like a clam" 每一个人都想知道，但是没有人能说清楚， 年轻的牡蛎（沉默的）男孩什么时候会开始与人交往？ Everyone wondered, but no one could tell, When would young Oyster Boy come out of his shell? 有一天当汤普森家的四胞胎看见他的时候， 他们管他叫贝类动物然后飞快地跑开。 When the Thompson quadruplets espied him one day, they called him a bivalve and ran quickly away. 一个春天的午后， 山姆被遗弃在雨中。 在海景大道和主干道相交的西南角， 他注视着雨打着漩涡 流下排水沟。 One spring afternoon, Sam was left in the rain. At the southwestern corner of Seaview and Main, he watched the rain water as it swirled down the drain. 他的妈妈在高速公路上 在紧急停车道上 对着仪表盘发呆—— 她不能自制 不断涌起的悲伤，挫败感和痛苦。 His mom on the freeway in the breakdown lane was pouding the dashboard- she couldn't contain the ever-rising grief, frustration, and pain. “真的，亲爱的，”她说 “我不是在开玩笑， 但有点可疑 我觉得他是我们的儿子。 我不想这样说，但总要说出来， 你在把我们在床上的过错责怪在我们的儿子身上。” "Really, sweetheart," she said "I don't mean to make fun, but something smells fishy and I think it's our son. I don't like to say this, but it must be said, you're blaming our son for your problems in bed." 他试过用药膏，他试过用油膏 那些东西可以使一切都变红充血。 他试过内服药和外服药 还有含铅的酊剂。 他痛他痒他抽搐他流血。 He tried salves, he tried ointments that turned everything red. He tried potions and lotions and tincture of lead. He ached and he itched and he twitched and he bled. 医生诊断说， “我不能非常肯定， 但是导致问题的原因也许就是治疗它的方法。 他们说牡蛎可以增进你的性能力。 也许吃掉你的儿子 可以让你做上几小时！” The doctor diagnosed, "I can't quite be sure, but the cause of the problem may also be the cure. They say oysters improve your sexual powers. Perhaps eating your son would help you do it for hours!" 他踮着脚尖来了， 他悄悄摸摸来了， 他额头上冒着汗， 而他的嘴上——说着谎。 He came on tiptoe, he came on the sly, sweat on his forehead, and on his lips-a lie. “儿子，你快乐吗？我不是想探查什么， 但是你梦想天堂吗？ 你曾想过要死吗？ "Son, are you happy? I don't mean to pry, but do you dream of Heaven? Have you ever wanted to die? 山姆眨了两下眼睛。 但是什么也没说。 爸爸拿着刀子又松开了领带。 Sam blinked his eye twice. but made no reply. Dad fingered his knife and loosened his tie. 当他举起他的儿子时， 山姆滴在他的外套上。 As he picked up his son, Sam dripped on his coat. 当壳碰到他的嘴唇时， 山姆滑下了他的喉咙。 With the shell to his lips, Sam slipped down his throat. 他们草草地把他埋在海边的沙子里—— 做了祈祷，流了眼泪—— 然后他们三点钟回到家里。 They burried him quickly in the sand by the sea -sighed a prayer, wept a tear- and they were back home by three. 一个灰色浮木做成的十字架标出牡蛎男孩坟的所在地。 沙滩上写着 上帝保佑的词句。 A cross of gray driftwood marked Oyster Boy's grave. Words writ in the sand promised Jesus would save. 但是他的记忆随着一个大浪消失了。 But his memory was lost with one high-tide wave.