Chapter 18 cook

Poor parents sent 16-year-old son Karl Rothman to America.He and the girl had a child because of the temptation of a young girl who worked as a maid. The speed of the ship had slowed down when it entered New York Harbor. Rothman had been observing the Statue of Liberty on the ship for a long time. In the brightening sunlight, her sword-armed arms seem to have recently risen toward the sky, and the free air wafts around the statue. "It's so high!" he said to himself, never thinking of getting off the boat.More and more people passed him carrying luggage, and he was slowly squeezed to the side of the ship by this group of people.

A young man with whom he had a casual acquaintance during the voyage said as he passed him, "Ah! Don't you really want to get off the ship?" "I'm ready," said Carl, for he was a strong lad, and he carried the box on his shoulders, and the acquaintance, shaking his cane lightly, left him with the others.When he looked at this acquaintance, he was surprised to find that the umbrella was forgotten in the lower cabin.He had to hasten to ask the acquaintance to look after his luggage, and the acquaintance didn't seem very happy.Carl looked around to see the way back to the umbrella, and he went looking for it.He found a shortcut, but unfortunately it was blocked at this time, which may have something to do with all the passengers hugging to disembark.In order to go back to get the umbrella, he had to go through countless small rooms, step on the stairs one after another, pass through several corridors with frequent turns, and pass through an empty room with a disused desk in it. Look for the passage leading to the place where the umbrella was dropped, a path he actually only walked once or twice with some of the passengers.Now he was completely lost.Because he didn't meet anyone along the way, he couldn't ask for directions, but he heard the footsteps of countless people above from time to time.As if he breathed a sigh of relief, he saw from a distance that the machine that had stopped working was undergoing its final operation. At this moment, he knocked on a random door without hesitation, and stopped wandering around.

"The door is open," said someone inside.Gasping and looking pitiful, Karl opened the door. "Why are you knocking like crazy?" a burly man asked, barely looking at Karl.A dim light came in from outside the cabin through the hatch above.In this poor little cabin there was a chest, a bed, an armchair, and the man, all in close proximity.Like being stored here. "I'm lost," Carl said. I didn't look closely at all when I was in the boat, but the boat was too big. "Yes, you're right," said the man with some pride, not stopping to fiddle with the lock of a small box. He was always squeezing the lock with both hands to hear the click of the mechanism. Dasheng "Come in! ’ The man continued, ‘Don’t you stand outside! ’ ‘Am I bothering you? asked Carl.

"Oh, so what?" "Are you German?" Karl wanted to confirm, because he heard from his traveling companions that the Germans, especially the Irish, threatened newcomers to the United States.The man said, "I'm German, I am." Karl still hesitated.At this time, the man suddenly grabbed the door handle, moved the door, pushed Carl in and quickly locked the door. "I can't stand people looking in the house all the time," said the man, as he continued to fiddle with his lock. It's empty now," said Carl, who felt a little cramped and uncomfortable standing next to the bed frame. "Yes, now," the man said, "the problem is now." Carl thought, "it's hard to talk to this person."

"You lie on the bed, it's more spacious." The man said.Karl, at first he tried to get in in a wave, but failed.He laughed at the futility.He finally got in smoothly.It was still hard to say that he was in bed, so he cried: "Oh my god, I forgot the box," "Where the hell is the box?" "On deck, up there, an acquaintance is watching." "What's his name?" He pulled out his passport, hidden in the lining pocket of his jacket, where his mother had put it for the trip. "His name is Buttebaum, Franz Buttebaum." "Is this little box necessary for you?" "Of course." "Why did you leave the box to a stranger?" "I forgot my umbrella down there. The box dragged, and then I lost my way." "Are you alone? Unaccompanied?" "Yes, I am alone." "I should have stopped this man," Carl was thinking, " Where can I find a better friend right away?" "And you've lost your suitcase now, so there's no need to talk about losing your umbrella." The man sat down on the sofa, and it seemed to him that Karl's business had become interesting. up. "I believe the box is not lost now." "Faith makes people happy," said the man, scratching his dark, bushy short hair vigorously. "The things on the ship find another place in the port. It's just a change of place. It's also a rule. Bottbaum may be looking after your boxes in Hamburg! Your things are most likely to have neither." "But I must go immediately Take a look," said Carl, and looked around, trying to figure out how to get out. "You stay here," the man said, and punched Karl roughly on the chest before going back to bed. "Then why?" Carl said angrily. "Because that's not very interesting," said the man. "I'll go later, too, and then we'll both go together. Either the box gets stolen, and that's no way, or the crew makes Buttebaum stand there, and the ship is empty, and we'll find him more easily." Too much. Your umbrella will also be returned to its original owner. "Are you familiar with the boat? "Carl asked in disbelief. He seemed to think that there must be something wrong with the man's statement. "I am the cook on the ship," the man said, "You are the cook on the ship?" Carl exclaimed happily, seemingly overjoyed, propping his arms and examining the man carefully. "I slept with a Slovak in front of this little room, and there was a hatch from which the machine room could be seen. ’ ‘I work there. said the cook. "I've always been interested in technology," Carl said. He was immersed in a certain thought, "If I don't have to come to the United States, I can definitely be an engineer in the future." " "Why did you come to America again?" "

"Ah, that's it!" Carl said, shaking off the whole story of coming to America with his hand.Now he looked at the cook with a smile, as if asking his pardon for omitting this story. "There must be a reason," said the cook.When he said this, Carl was not sure whether the cook wanted to tell the reason, or whether he didn't want to hear the story. "Now I can be a cook too," Carl said. "My parents don't care what I do in the future." "My work is free," said the cook, but self-consciously, with his hands in the pockets of his trousers, his legs were propped up by a pair of wrinkled leather-like trousers, iron-gray, and he swung them. On the bed, Karl had to lean closer to the wall. "Are you leaving this boat?" "Yes, I'm making my way today." "Then why? Don't you like being on a boat?" "Yes, that's the case. It's not always what you like that matters." I don't like it. By the way, I really don't like it. Maybe you haven't seriously thought about being a cook. It just so happens that being a cook is the easiest thing. I advise you not to be a cook. If you want to study in Europe, why Why don't you study here? American universities are much better than European ones." "That's possible," Carl said, "but I don't have the money. I read an article that said, somewhere, there was a man who worked at the company during the day I worked here, studied at night, and got a PhD. I thought, he could be the mayor. But it takes a lot of perseverance, doesn't it? I worry that I lack such qualities. Besides, I'm not a particularly good student, It was very easy for me to leave school. The school here may be stricter. I can barely understand English, and here there is such a prejudice against foreigners. This is my opinion." "Ah! You have understood the situation, then That's good. Then you are my man, look! We are still on a German ship, this is the Hamburg-America route, why don't we use native Germans? Why is the senior mechanic a Romanian? His name is Subar. That's incredible. This rascal is playing us Germans on a German ship. You won't believe it."—He was breathless, he gestured, hesitantly—"I know, you have no influence, Even a poor kid. But it's bad." Several times he took to the boxing table, and each time he couldn't take his eyes off the punch. "I have served on many ships," he listed the names of more than twenty ships in one breath, without leaking any details.Carl was confused. "I've done a good job and I'm popular, even the captain appreciates a workman like me."—he stood up as if this was the prime of his life. "And now sitting in this box cabin, there's no humor, and I can't use it. I'm always in the way of Subal, doing nothing, and I deserve to be kicked out. I'm paid on handouts , do you understand? I don’t understand.” “You’re not attractive, are you?” said Karl excitedly, forgetting that he was lying on the shore of an unfamiliar continent in an unsafe boat On the bed, but he has a feeling for the cook that he meets an old friend in a foreign land.

"I can't make any informative comments," Carl said.He even felt that he should have gone to get his case instead of making suggestions that would only be seen as stupid.The box his father gave him was given to him permanently.At that time, his father asked him jokingly, "How long can your box be kept?" Now this small box is probably really lost.The only consolation is that my father doesn't know the current situation. Even if he wants to inquire, there is no way to find out, unless he comes to America in person. What should I order?It's a pity that Karl hasn't used the things in the box.Although he has long noticed that he needs to use the things in the box, such as changing shirts.But now that he had parted ways with the suitcase in an inopportune place, he thought he should change into a clean shirt at the beginning of his journey in New York.So he'd have to wear dirty ones, otherwise the loss of the suitcase wouldn't be such a headache.Because the suit he was wearing was much better than the one in the box, which was an emergency suit that his mother had sewn for him before he left, and he remembered that there was also a piece of Italian clothes in the box. Sausages from Verona, an extra gift from his mother, wrapped in a box, but he tasted only a tiny bit, because he had no taste at all during the journey, and The soup given to him during the mid-cabin meal was enough for him to eat.But now he would like to have a piece of sausage in his hand, so that he can honor the cook, because such a person is easy to make friends with if you just give him something. Karl learned this from his father.Father used to offer cigarettes to flatter the lower-level employees with whom he had business dealings, but Karl was now penniless and had nothing to offer.If his suitcase is really lost, Karl is not willing to touch it for a little money on his body.His mind went back to the suitcase, and he couldn't understand why he'd held it so tight the whole voyage that he hadn't had a good night's sleep, and now it was so easy to take away. up.He thought of those five nights on the ship, during which time a small Slovak who slept two beds away from Karl had always been suspicious of him.He was always peeking at Karl's box and always waiting for an opportunity, and when Karl finally dozed off from fatigue, he hooked the box over with the stick he played and practiced during the day, the Slovak seemed to be doing his job during the day , but before night came, he would get up from time to time to look pitifully at Karl's box from his den.Carl knew it well.Because there is always someone lighting a small lamp here or there. Although it is forbidden to light fire according to the regulations on the ship, the immigrants on these ships feel uneasy, and they still have to light a small lamp to analyze and understand the promotional materials of the Immigration Agency.There is a light near Karl, so he can take a nap, but there is no light in the distance, so Karl has to keep his eyes open. This is very hard work for him, exhausting his body and mind. This kind of effort may be useless in the end. This Botbow Tom, if only I could meet him somewhere.

At this time, there was a small short flapping sound in the distance outside, breaking the silence here.Like the footsteps of children, the sound was getting louder and closer; like the steady steps of men, they walked over generously, and of course they walked in a narrow corridor.They were walking in a row, and they could hear something like the clink of weapons. Karl was slowly coming out of all his worries about the box and the Slovaks. He was going to sleep, and he heard the footsteps and the clink of weapons. He woke up suddenly, and he pushed the waiter to let him pay attention.It seems that the vanguard of this small team has reached the door. "This is the ship's band," said the cook. "They played on it just now, and now they are unloading. It's over now, we can go, you come!" He took Karl's hand, and finally took it from the wall. The next framed Madonna in his breast pouch left the small cabin with Carl in his case.

"Now I'm going to the office and talk to the gentlemen about my opinion. Now that there are no travelers, there are no worries." The cook repeated these words, each time in a different way.A mouse crossed the aisle while walking, and the cook stepped on the side with his feet, trying to kick the mouse into the hole, and the mouse quickly escaped into the hole in time.The cook moved slowly, and his legs were long but heavy.They passed a kitchen where some girls in dirty aprons were washing dishes in a big wooden bucket, and they deliberately splashed dishwater on the aprons.The cook called a girl named Nelly over, and he put his arm around her waist and dragged her for a while, and she always pressed his arm coquettishly. "Pay cash today, will you come with me?" he asked. "Why should I bother, I'd better bring my money here," she replied.slipped out of his arms and fled. "Where did you find this beautiful little boy?" she yelled, needing no answer.The girls can be heard laughing.They stopped working.

They went on, and they came to a door with a triangular frieze and a gilded pillar below it, with a caryatid carved as a sort of ship decoration, and the caryatid appeared Very luxurious.Carl had never been here, and it was probably reserved for first- and second-class guests when the ship was sailing, and now the usual barriers to passers-by have been removed before a major cleaning.In fact he also passed some men, their brooms resting on their shoulders, and they greeted the cooks.Carl was amazed by these activities.These are of course not visible in the lower class cabins, and there are wires running along the corridor, and one can hear a small bell ringing all the time.

The cook knocked on the door respectfully, and when the inside shouted "Come in", the cook asked Karl to boldly go in with gestures.Karl went in, but stood by the door.Through the three windows in the room, he saw the waves of the ocean.He watched the waves move merrily, as if he hadn't been enjoying the ocean continuously for five days.The passages on both sides of the big ship are interlaced and connected with each other. When the big waves hit, the ship can bear it and give up a lot. If people squint their eyes, they seem to feel that the ship is shaking under the big waves. Yes, but still floating back and forth, a warship passing by in the waters not far away gave out a salute salute, the steel pipes of the salute reflected cheerful light, and seemed to be favored by safe, smooth, but not level sailing ships .From a distance, at least from the door, one watched the boats, the boats, how they entered the space between the larger ships.Behind all these ships, big and small, is New York.The ship Carl was on was as tall as a skyscraper, and the room he was standing in had hundreds of small windows through which he could see everything on the sea.Yes, in this room people will know where this is. There are three gentlemen sitting around the round table.One of them, in blue, was an officer of the ship, and the other two were officers of the customs authority, in black American uniforms.There were various documents stacked high on the table, and the officer swiped over the documents with the pen in his hand before handing them over to the other two.They read quickly, took excerpts quickly, and one of them whispered something with his teeth from time to time, dictating something to his colleague for his notes.If there is no dictation, quickly put the document in the briefcase. There was a table by the window, and beside the table sat a thin gentleman with his back to the door.He was fiddling with large books, many of which were arranged on a wooden board that was as high as a person.Next to it stood an open, empty cash box, at least at first glance.The second window was empty, and it was the most convenient for viewing from a distance. Near the third window stood two gentlemen, talking neither loudly nor softly.One of them, also in the ship's uniform, was leaning near the window, playing with the hilt of a saber.The man he was talking to was facing the window, and he swayed back and forth, exposing the medal on the chest of the other party from time to time.He was a clerk, and had a thin bamboo stick, which, because he kept his hands tight at his waist, made that stick also look like a saber. Karl didn't have time to look at the various situations in the room. A waiter immediately came to them and asked the cook what was the matter.The look in the waiter's eyes showed that he shouldn't be here. The cook was asked and replied in a low voice. He wanted to talk to the cashier in charge. The waiter seemed to refuse his request.However, standing on tiptoe and stooping, he walked around the round table to the gentleman who was flipping through a large-format book. This gentleman—it could be clearly seen that he was completely dazed by the waiter's words, but finally turned around and wanted to talk to him. The speaker, for safety's sake, shook his hand at the waiter, sternly refusing, and the waiter came up to the cook, speaking in a tone, as if revealing some truth, and said: "You go at once!" After listening to the answer, the cook looked down at Karl as if Karl was his heart, a heart with which he silently spoke of pain.Karl left the cook without hesitation, crossed the room, and even approached the officer's easy chair with ease.The waiter bent over, stretched out his big arms, and ran over, trying to throw the little rascal out like a net.But Karl gets to the cashier in charge first and stands still. Of course the whole room immediately became agitated.The officer on board immediately jumped up and looked calmly but seriously at the two officials of the customs authority.The two gentlemen at the window walked side by side. The waiter felt that the two gentlemen were interested in the situation, so they stopped participating in this matter and retreated.The cook waited anxiously at the door, and the cashier in charge finally turned to the left from his easy chair with a back, and the situation turned for the better.Carl didn't care that these people were looking at him. He dug out his passport from his secret pocket, opened it and put it on the table without introducing himself.The cashier in charge seemed to think the passport was a trivial matter, for he flicked it to Karl's side with two fingers, and Karl put it back in his pocket as if the procedure had been successfully completed. "I venture to say," and he began, "that I thought the steward was being treated unfairly. There was a man here called Subal who cheated the steward. The steward worked very well on many ships. , he himself can give you all the names of all these ships one by one, he is diligent and outstanding, that is to say in terms of work; but his merits have not been seen, just like cargo ships, the work on this ship is not Why is he so uncomfortable on this boat? This can only be caused by slander. This kind of slander hinders his future and prevents him from being recognized, otherwise he will not be sad. I just gave a general situation, He himself will tell you about his special suffering." Karl said this to the gentlemen, because in fact everyone was listening, and there was probably a just man among them, and this just man It should be the cashier in charge.Furthermore, for reasons of tact, Karl did not say that he and the cook had just met.It was only now that Karl saw the gentleman with the cane, and saw that the gentleman was flushed, which confused Karl, who would have said this speech much better otherwise. "Everything just said is true," said the cook, whose haste would have been a great mistake if the man with the medal hadn't stopped him, and now Karl realized that the man with the medal was in any case a Captain, he has decided to listen to the steward.Then he stretched out his hand and called to the cook: "Come here," and he said it with such a voice that it seemed to be the sound of a hammer.Because of the cook's business, its plausibility does not involve suspicious Karl. After all, the steward was experienced in the world. At this moment, he unhurriedly took out a roll of documents and a notebook from the small box, completely ignoring the cashier in charge, but walked towards the captain, as if it was a matter of course, he took his The proof materials of the staff are spread out on the window sill, and the cashier in charge is fine.He seemed to be busy with his work, "This man is a famous whiner." But he explained, "He spends more time in the counting room than in the machine room, and Subal is a calm man. , he is very suspicious of Subal, they all know that." Then facing the clerk he said, "Your nonsense has gone too far, people have kicked you out of the cashier's room many times, and you deserve it! Your original proposal The request is unprecedented and unreasonable. You often come to the cashier's office, and you are kindly told that Subal is your immediate superior. As a subordinate, you should obey him, and now you come here again, captain. Here, you are ashamed to trouble him. As the director of this ridiculous play, you brought this kid without even opening your eyes. He, this is the first time I have seen him on the boat!" Cal struggled not to jump out, but the captain had already spoken. "We've heard of this man. For a long time, Subal has given the impression that he's an independent man. I can't say anything in your favour." The last sentence was aimed at the cook, of course. , it is impossible for him to support him immediately.But everything seems to be going on normally.The cook began to explain, at first, controlling himself, referring to Subal as sir, and how happy Karl was at the lonely desk in charge of the cashier!Being very happy, he repeatedly pressed the letter folder on the table. The cook mainly talked about——Mr. Subal fawned on foreigners, and Mr. Subal reprimanded the cook out of the machine room, asking him to do things that the cook did not do, and asking him to clean up Toilet; Subal seemed capable enough that at one point was called into question.Speaking of this, Karl concentrated on staring at the captain, and showed affection, as if he was a colleague of the cook, so as to eliminate the negative influence caused by the cook's unskilled expression.The cook talked a lot, but everyone still couldn't figure out his main purpose. Although the captain was still looking ahead, his eyes showed that he was determined to listen to the speech; but the other gentlemen became impatient.The cook's voice soon lost control of what was going on in the room, and that's what some gentlemen feared would happen. The gentlemen here and there looked in his direction, of course.The two officials of the customs authority were obviously busy getting the documents again and began to read them. Although their thoughts were somewhat affected, the officers on the ship approached the table again.As for the derisive exclamation from the cashier in charge who had directed the drama and thought it was a surefire win, it seemed that the waiter had reservations about these general disturbances of scattered themes in the room, and that he was still sympathetic to the poor folk beneath the big ones. Sympathetically, he nodded gravely at Carl, who seemed about to say something. Outside the window, harbor life went on as it was, with barrels on a flat-bottomed cargo ship, piled up as high as a mountain, and stacked in such a way that they wouldn't roll into the sea.The room was almost darkened as the cargo ship passed by.The small motorboat was flying, and there was a person standing upright beside the rudder, and the motorboat moved forward in a streamlined manner according to this person's gestures.If Carl had the time, he would definitely appreciate this spectacle.Characteristic buoys are here and there, rising and falling independently in the restless waters, and people look at these flotsam with wonder, and the small boats of nautical liners are rowed by vigorous sailors.Passengers were herded onto the ship and waited quietly.They change their sight according to the changing scenery of the route.A perpetual movement, a clamor, from the moving elements to the helpless human beings to their work.But everything demands haste, clarity, and detailed explanation.What is our man doing?He was covered in sweat as he spoke, his trembling hands could not hold the documents on the window sill for a long time, and he counted his complaints against Subal from various aspects.In his opinion, any one of those many misdeeds could bury Subal.But what he narrated to the captain was just a mess of twine, sad and unable to make sense of it. The gentleman with the bamboo stick had already started whistling to the ceiling.Customs officials deadpanned the officer and told him to stop working again, the captain calmly listened to the cook's complaints, and the cashier in charge restrained himself in the face of the captain's intervention.The waiter stood upright, waiting for the captain's orders to the cook all the time. Carl couldn't just sit around, he walked slowly towards the crowd, planning quickly as he went about how to deal with the matter as tactfully as possible.There is not much time left, and the critical moment has come for a smooth and swift exit from the house.It should be said that the captain is a good man.Besides, it was precisely now that Karl seemed to feel that, as a fair superior, it was time to take a stand.However, after all, he is not a musical instrument that can be played, and now he wants to enlighten the cook, his heart is full of anger, and he is finally about to explode. So Karl said to the cook: "You should speak plainly; you speak in such a mess that Mr. Captain can't tell. Does he know the names, even Christian names, of all the masters and those errand boys? You can tell them, and he can tell." Do you know who it is immediately? Sort out your troubles, pick up the most important ones first, and then talk about others. Maybe most of them don’t need to be talked about at all. This is what you have always told me clearly!” Carl himself Thinking wryly, if one can steal boxes in America, one can cheat around too. How great it would be to help!Is it too late?The cook immediately stopped complaining, and when the cook heard this familiar voice, he didn't even know Karl very well.His eyes were full of tears, tears of a man's dignity wounded, tears of unbearable memories, the most painful outpouring of the moment, and now there was silence, and Karl silently realized that he must immediately change his way of speaking, Because he seemed to feel that everything he said was not in the slightest approval; on the other hand, he said nothing; Followers chime in and teach not to be so wordy that it makes everything go away.If I hadn't been looking out the window, Carl thought, I'd have asked about it sooner.He rested his hands on the seams of his trousers, expressing that all hope was lost.But the cook misunderstood. He noticed that Karl's words concealed his own blame. Out of good intentions, he wanted to dissuade Karl from interfering. To be on the safe side, he started to discuss with Karl.By this time the gentlemen around the round table had long since resented the idle noise which interfered with their work.The cashier in charge felt that the captain's patience was incomprehensible and was on the verge of a fit; the waiter, who was completely on the side of the masters, sized up the cook with savage eyes, and the captain looked at him with friendly eyes from time to time, holding a bamboo stick. The cane-maker was completely indifferent to the cook, and to Karl's distaste he produced a little notebook, which was evidently related to something else entirely, and his eyes darted back and forth between Karl and the notebook. . "I know, I know." Carl said, he is now trying to resist the huge waves that the cook is attacking him. However, through the debate with the cook, Carl still has a friendly smile on his mouth. "You're right, you're right, I have no doubts about it." Carl's hands were shaking, but he was also trying to prevent him from fearing that the cook might throw a punch at him.He even pulled the cook to the corner of the room and whispered a few comforting words; but the cook is out of control now, and what Carl is beginning to feel comforted in his mind is that the strength of the cook's desperation can help him in such a helpless situation. The next possible subjugation of the seven men present.A simple push of a hostile hand on a circuit board with many switches on it would turn the ship and all its passages upside down. At this time, the gentleman who was not interested in the matter came towards Karl with a bamboo walking stick and asked, "What's your name?" The voice was not particularly loud, but it was obviously louder than the cook's yelling.At this time, it seemed that someone was waiting behind the door for the captain to speak.There is a knock on the door.The waiter looked at the captain, the captain nodded, and the waiter went to open the door.There was a man standing outside the door, wearing old-fashioned palace clothes, of medium height. From the outside, this man was not suitable for working in the machine room, but he was Subal.Subal had such a complacent look that even the captain had to look at him.Karl identified him as Subal, and that was a basis.Besides, Karl was amazed by the cook's expression at this time, his arms were so tight that he clenched his fists.As if the fist was the most important thing to him, he had sacrificed everything in his life, and now he was going to use all his strength, all the strength he needed to survive.Karl thought that the man was Subal, and the cook's expression was also based on that. It was this opponent, in festive attire, unrestrained and exuberant, with papers under his arm, among them perhaps paychecks and certificates of employment for the cook.He was not afraid of the stage, first of all he determined everyone's emotions, and looked at everyone's eyes one by one. The seven people in the room were all his friends, although the captain had accused him before, or it was just an excuse.The cook told him about it, but after weighing it, it seemed that none of this would damage a single hair of his Subal.A guy like a cook doesn't have to be taken seriously at all, and if Subal is to be blamed for anything, it means he hasn't made the cook nice before.So much so that he dared to sue the captain today. Perhaps it might be assumed that the conflict between Subal and the cook had been brought to light before the captain, and made public, which had an effect on both of them; for although Subal could resist, he had to endure it all the way.What Karl was worried about was that if Subal had an evil thought and made up his mind, he would pretend to clarify the facts in front of the gentlemen and deliberately turn black and white.He probably still knew the gentlemen's tact, weaknesses, and moods well.Under this kind of thinking, he felt that the time had come to an end. It would be great if the place where the cook was standing was in a favorable position!But he seems to be very effective at the moment.If only someone had made Subal wait at the door, no wonder the guy didn't smash his head flat with his old punches!The cook hated him to the bone.But at this moment he could not walk towards Subal, not even a few steps. Subal finally came, not from personal motives, but was called by the captain.Why didn't Karl foresee something so easily foreseeable? Why hadn't Carl discussed a detailed plan of struggle with the cook on the way here?They actually came here unprepared, which is too bad!其实伙夫还是有机会说话的，他可以说“对”或“不对”，就像在交叉审问中所作的那样，当然要在有利情况下答辩。这种审问即将来临，但那必要吗？伙夫站在那里两腿并立，膝盖不稳，头部略为昂扬，嘴里出着粗气，好像他的气都被消耗掉了。 卡尔这时倒觉得浑身是劲，理解方面也体现了在家时所不曾有过的智商，要是父母能看到他们的儿子卡尔在外国，在体面人物面前维护正义，那该多好啊！虽然他还未酿成战争，但终究是稳操胜券的啊！他们会改变对儿子的看法吗？是阻止儿子还是夸奖儿子呢？要亲眼看一次儿子吗？哪怕是一次啊！可现在不是时候，不宜向儿子提出这种不肯定的问题。 这时，苏巴尔说了如下的话：“我来到这里，是因为我认为伙夫通过某些不实之词来加害于我。厨房里的一个姑娘告诉我，伙夫正向这里来时，半路上姑娘看见了他。船长先生，您以及我的各位先生，对伙夫的每条指责我将通过文字答辩。必要时，我将通过没有偏见、没有利害关系的证人反驳，这些证人就站在门外。”这是一个男人的明确的讲话。根据听话人的表情变化，有理由相信经过伙夫长时间唠叨之后，他们能第一次听到合乎情理的声音，先生们当然不会注意到，就是苏巴尔这段漂亮的开场白里也存在着漏洞。卡尔想起来了，苏巴尔说的第一句话里就提到“不实之词”，为什么？没有苏巴尔的民族偏见，会有对苏巴尔的指责么？厨房里的一个姑娘看见伙夫到办公室，苏巴尔立刻就理解了伙夫的意图，这不正说明他作贼心虚吗？他这么快地就将证人带来了，还声称他们都是无偏见的，没有利害关系的人，这是一种欺骗、舍此无它！先生们能容忍并认可这种欺骗是一种合理行为吗？从厨房里的姑娘向苏巴尔报告，到苏氏本人来到办公室，这期间冷了很长时间，为什么呢？没有别的，就是让伙夫把先生们弄得精疲力尽，以致失去明确的判断能力，明确的判断能力，这正是苏巴尔最担心的。苏巴尔肯定在门外已站了很久，但他一直静候不动，直到他希望的时刻到来，也就是一位先生提到了一个附带的问题，正在这个时候，他敲门了，这时伙夫也讲完了，他为什么要正在这个时候才敲门呢？ 一切都很明显，苏巴尔在表演，他不得不如此。他要较清楚地向先生们表明与伙夫针锋相对的另外的意见。所有这一切启发了卡尔，所以卡尔现在至少要充分地利用时间，至少在让人们到来之前；否则，他们将淹没一切。但就在这时，船长示意苏巴尔结束谈话，因为他的事似乎是要往后推移一些时候，苏巴尔立刻让到一边和侍者搭上了话，他们开始了小声的交谈，谈话中苏巴尔不时地偷看着伙夫和卡尔以及那些令人信服的手势。苏巴尔似乎在酝酿着第二次伟大的演说。 “您要对这位年青人问点什么吗？雅各布先生！”船长平静的向手持竹杖的先生说。 “当然，”这位先生说，他略微躬着身子，对船长的重视表示感谢，并再次询问卡尔： “您到底叫什么名字？” 卡尔觉得，这位顽固的提问者，节外生枝的弄出来的插曲，如果能很快地得到解决，那将对主要事件是有利的，所以他一反往常的习惯，将护照递过去，并简短地回答：“卡尔·罗斯曼。” 这位号称雅各布的问话者，却令人难以置信地微笑着，后退一步，并且说：“不过。” 这时船长、主管出纳、轮船军官、甚至侍者，对卡尔的姓名都显出了极大的惊讶。只有海关当局的先生们和苏巴尔表示冷漠。 “不过，”雅各布先生重复说，并且以僵硬的步子朝卡尔走来，“如果这样，那我就是你的舅父雅各布了。而您则是我的亲爱的外甥。”“刚才整个时间我都在想这个问题，”他对船长说，然后他默默地拥抱和亲吻卡尔。 卡尔感到雅各布先生松开以后，他便非常客气地但并不感动地问道，“您叫什么名字？”卡尔正在认真地观察这种后果，即这一新的情况给伙夫可能产生的后果，暂时还没有什么迹象表明苏巴尔会加以利用。 “您可得理解您的幸福，年轻人！”船长说。他认为卡尔的提问有损于雅各布先生个人的尊严。雅各布此时站在窗口，很明显，正用手帕轻轻地擦着他那激动的脸颊，不想让其他人看见。 “这就是议员爱德华·雅各布，他作为您的舅父已经认识您了。也许完全出乎您的意料，从现在起您就有了一个光辉的前程，您试着看看，从一开始，情况就会美好起来，您得礼貌一些！”船长接着说。 “我在美国是有一个雅各布舅父，”卡尔对着船长说，“不过，如果我没有理解错的话，雅各布只是议员先生的姓。” “原来如此，”船长充满期待地说。 “我舅舅雅各布，也就是我母亲的兄弟，他的教名是雅各布，至于他的姓，当然和我母亲一样，母亲原姓本德迈尔。”原来在窗口养神的议员，现在活跃起来了，他走回来，对卡尔的解释大叫一声：“先生们！”这时，除海关官员外，在场的人都大笑起来，有的人似乎受了感动，有的人则表现得讳莫如深。 “这么可笑，我说的就这么可笑！？不可能！”卡尔想着。 “我的先生们！”议员重复说道，“大家违心地参加了一场小小的家庭姓氏的争论，这也不是我所情愿的，但我不得不向各位解释一下。这里，我认为，只有船长先生”——他这么一说，大家都有点莫名其妙——“最了解。” “我必须认真注意每个字。”卡尔心想。当他朝侧面望过去时，他注意到伙夫全身又开始恢复了活力，卡尔感到很高兴。“在美国逗留期间，我长年以来独自生活着。——我在这里说'逗留'二字，对美国公民来说，不大合适，我是一个全心全意的美国公民——长年以来，我和欧洲的亲戚分开生活，这是有某些原因的。第一个原因我在这里不便谈，第二个原因，说来话长，也颇为伤神，我想，这个时候，我还得被迫地给我亲爱的外甥说说，要说得坦率，就难免要涉及他的父母和他父母的亲眷。” “那是我舅父，毫无疑问。”卡尔心里想，一边静听着。 “也许他已改了名字。” “我的亲爱的外甥，现在被他的父母，我用'父母'一词，实际上反映了事情的真实。可以说是被他父母凉起来了，像有人发愁时，将猫扔到门外一样。我完全不想对我外甥所作的事进行粉饰。他受到了惩罚，但他的错误不过如此，他的名字就包含了宽恕。” “这倒值得一听，”卡尔想，“不过我可不愿意他当着大家的面说这些事，此外，他也不可能知道这么多，这些事他到底是从哪儿知道的？” 此时的舅父支撑在他前面的那根定了位的手杖上，身子向前微倾，事实上他也是真话真说，并未进行美化。他说：“卡尔被一个名叫约翰娜·布落梅的女仆勾引上了。这个女仆大约35岁，是勾引，我用'勾引'这个词，完全没有伤害我的外甥，但很难找出一个同样合适的其它词来了。”卡尔正走向他的舅父，距离已经相当近了，这时他转过身来，以便看看各位先生听了以上叙述后脸上的表情，然而大家都在耐心、严肃地听着，没有人笑，直到最后也没有人笑话议员的外甥，哪怕笑料出现了，也没有人笑。然而可以这样说，卡尔不久前却笑过，他微笑地看着伙夫，一来他觉得伙夫是新生活的代表，他高兴，所以笑了；二来伙夫和他卡尔争论，这错误是可以谅解的，所以当时伙夫气势汹汹，而卡尔嘴上却挂着友好的微笑，当时伙夫在小船舱里对卡尔所发的牢骚，现在大家都知道了，卡尔卷进了伙夫的事，伙夫要对舱房里的这段经历作特殊的保密。 “这个布落梅，”这位舅父继续说道，“她和我外甥生了一个小男孩，很健康，他的教名就是雅各布，毫无疑问，这是对我本人的怀念。刚才我谈到了我的外甥，现在我必须谈谈这个女仆，给大家留个深刻的印象。亏得我说出来。卡尔的父母，为了避免支付抚养费和其它麻烦，以及避免丑闻的传开——我必须强调指出，我既不了解当地的法律，也不知道他父母的情况——他们为了避免支付抚养费和担心丑闻传播开来，他们就让他们的儿子，也就是我的亲爱的外甥来到美国，像各位所看到的一样，他行装简薄，没有迹象表明他具有在美国生活的能力，这样的男孩，靠自己独立谋生，他很快就会在纽约的某个小胡同里变坏。这个女仆给我写了一封信，几经周折，昨天才到我手里。这封信叙述了事情的全部经过，并且对我外甥进行了描述，信中还考虑周详地提到了轮船的名字。各位先生，如果要和盘托出的话，我可以将信中的几段在这里读一下。”他从口袋中掏出两张大的，写得很密的信纸，并且将信纸摇了摇。议员继续说道：“这信肯定要产生效果，因为信里充满了善意的机警和对孩子的父母的热爱。然而我既不想聊天，也尽可能地不想伤害我外甥的感情，我可不能用这种办法接待我的外甥。我只想作些必要的说明。我的外甥可以在接待他的房间里读读这封信，以吸取教训。” 然而卡尔当时对任何女孩都没有兴趣，回忆起当时的情况，女仆总是坐在厨房里碗柜的旁边，她总是将双肘支撑在木板上，每当卡尔到厨房里来为他父亲取一杯水或传达他母亲的意图时，女仆便盯着他，有时她在厨房旁歪着身子写信，就从卡尔的脸上寻找灵感。有时她用手捂着眼睛，然后不招呼便向卡尔冲过去，有时她跪在厨房旁边的小房间里，向着木制的十字架祈祷；卡尔在经过她厨房时从略微开着的门缝里羞怯地看着她，或者当卡尔挡着她的道时，她便在厨房里赶来赶去，像女巫一样大笑，然后退回去。有时候，当卡尔进厨房时，她就把厨房门关上，长时间按住门的插口，直到卡尔要求，才放他出去。有时她拿着东西硬是塞给卡尔，并且默默地吻着他的手，有一次她说，“卡尔，”接着便把他带到她的房间去，并且将房门关上，卡尔对她这种出人意料的要求感到惊奇，皱着眉头叹着气。她用劲地搂着卡尔的脖子，使他喘不过气来。当她要卡尔替她脱衣时，她也真的替卡尔脱了衣，好像卡尔现在就是她的了。她抚摸着卡尔，侍候他的全身。她叫着：“卡尔，啊！我的卡尔？！”好像她看着卡尔，证明了她是卡尔的占有物，而卡尔一点也不看，在那么厚的燥热的被盖下，感到不舒服，这是她给卡尔盖的。她向他靠拢，想知道他的隐私之处，但他不告诉她，她生气了，既讽刺，也认真，摇晃着他，将耳朵贴在他胸口听着，接着又是胸贴胸的动作。然而这也不能动摇卡尔，于是她用光溜溜的小腹靠着他的身子，又用手来寻找，使人大为反感。卡尔从被盖中伸出头颈，她的手伸向他大腿之间，然后在他小腹上顶了好几次，卡尔觉得她就是自己身上的一部分，也许正因为这样，他这时急需帮助。在女方多次要求重新见面之后，卡尔终于回到了自己的床上。当然这一切都已成为过去。这位舅父却善于从中构思出一篇伟大的小说来，而这个厨娘也想念卡尔，并且把卡尔来美国的事告诉了议员。她这事干得还真漂亮，议员或许会一再地感谢她的。“而现在，”议员大声说道，“我倒要问问你，我到底是不是你的舅父？” “你是我的舅父，”卡尔说着吻了他舅父的手，而议员又吻了他外甥的额头。卡尔接着说，“我很高兴见到你，如果你认为我的父母只说你的坏处，那你就误会了。除此以外，你刚才的叙述中有些不准确的地方，也就是说，我认为，事实上，发生的事情并不都如你所讲的那样。另外，你从自己的观点出发，对此事的评价的确不怎么好。我还认为，各位先生知道了事情的细节，即或有些叙述不大合乎实情，也没有什么特别的了不起，因为他们并不多么重视这些。” “说得差不多了，”议员说着将卡尔引向明显地参与了此事的船长并且问道：“我是不是有一个很出色的外甥？” 船长以训练有素的军人风度鞠了一躬，说道：“我很荣幸地结识您的外甥，议员先生，能够在这里聚会也是我们轮船的光荣。不过这次航行，您外甥屈居下等舱的确是很不好受的事情，可谁又知道会出现这种事情呢？我们也曾经作过一切努力，想使下等舱的旅客能尽可能的方便一些，例如我们就曾经想使德——美这条海上航线的旅行成为一种享受，但我们一直尚未作到。” “不要紧。”卡尔说。 “他不要紧，”议员重复卡尔的话，哈哈大笑起来。 “我只担心我的箱子丢了。”卡尔说着，回忆起丢失箱子的全过程和他所采取的补救措施以及后来误入伙夫船舱等等一系列情况，他环顾四周和在场的先生们，这些人出于重视和惊奇，沉默地坐在原来的座位上，他们都在看着卡尔。听说箱子丢了，大家又都看着海关官员和放在他们面前的一只怀表。海关官员严肃自满的脸上露出了一些可惜之情，不过，这种表情来得并不是时候。至于那只表，也许比起目前发生的和尚待发生的事情更为重要。 在船长表示关怀之后，第一个讲话的是伙夫，这倒是令人注目的事，“我衷心地祝贺您，”他说着便握了握卡尔的手，正当他要向议员表示同样祝贺的时候，他往后退了几步，好像他的告状要移交了，要撤诉了，于是苏巴尔也向卡尔祝贺，卡尔也接受了并且表示感谢，房间里重新恢复平静。这时，卡尔向海关官员走去，并且跟他们说了几句英语，使人觉得顶滑稽的。 议员现在的心情完全是在品味认出卡尔的这种乐趣，在这剩下的，不怎么重要的时刻，他重新提起刚才的情况，使大家不但顺水推舟而且乐于听取。他着重说道，女仆在信中提到卡尔的外貌标志，他在笔记本里已尽可能地作了必要的记录。当伙夫正在唠唠叨叨使人难以忍受时，议员转过身去掏出笔记本。当然，厨娘的观察并不怎么准确，议员此时就试图根据厨娘的描述来印证卡尔的外貌，以此当作玩儿，“于是找到了我的外甥！”议员就这样结束了他的讲话，他说话的声音，使人觉得，好像还希望有人再次向他祝贺似的。 “那伙夫的事怎么办？”卡尔在他舅父讲完最后一句话时问道，他认为以他目前新的地位，他是能敢想敢说的。 “伙夫的事该怎么样就怎么样吧。”议员说。“船长认为怎样办好就怎样办，我觉得，伙夫够了，够够的了。我相信，在坐的各位都会同意我的看法。”“问题不在这里，应该主持公道。”卡尔站在舅父和船长之间，他想，以他的地位施加影响，掌握决定权。 尽管如此，伙夫似乎不再希望什么，他把双手一半插在裤腰带里，由于这一动作太重，裤带和衬衫的破烂之外都露出来了。可伙夫一点也不在乎，他已将全部苦恼倒出来了。何妨再看看他褴褛的衣裳呢。卡尔想，苏巴尔和侍者在这里，地位是最低的，他们也应该向伙夫表示一下最后的善意。苏巴尔安然无事，像主管出纳表示的神情一样，不再失望。船长本来就可以让罗马尼亚人担任职务，现在到处都在谈论罗马尼亚人。罗马尼亚人任职，也许情况真的会好起来，伙夫也不会再到总会计室胡闹，他刚才的一阵唠叨给大家留下了美好的回忆，因为这事情如议员明确解释的那样，间接提供了认识议员外甥的机会，而这位外甥原先也试图一再为伙夫辩护，作为报答伙夫，卡尔做的已绰绰有余。伙夫也想不起再向他提什么要求，说不定他也想作议员的外甥呢，要当船长还得很长的时间。但是船长的嘴里最后可能会吐出不吉利的话。——出于这种考虑，伙夫也不朝卡尔望去，可惜在他的眼里，上司们的这个房间，不是一片净土。“不要误解了此事，”议员对卡尔说，“既要主持公道，也要维护纪律，两者，主要是后者要由船长来评价。” “是这样，”伙夫嘟哝着，谁要注意并听懂了伙夫的话，他就会惊奇地笑起来。 “此外，船进纽约港，船长的公务令人难以置信地繁忙，我们已经干扰了他的公务，是该离开轮船的时候了。我们完全没有必要介入两个师傅之间的微不足道的争吵之中，把这当作一回事情，过多的影响船长。顺便说一句，亲爱的外甥，我完全理解你的心情和作为，正因为这样，我有权领你立刻离开此地。” 舅父的话体现了一种谦谦君子的风度，使卡尔感到惊奇的是，船长对舅父的话并未提出丝毫异议，他说：“我让人立刻为您准备快艇。”主管出纳立刻匆忙地走向写字台，向快艇领班挂电话，传达了船长的命令。 卡尔心里想：“我不整一下这些人，我就不走。舅父花了很大的力气才找到我，我现在不能离开他。船长固然很客气，但仅此而已，在纪律上他就不客气了。我不想给苏巴尔说话，令人遗憾的是我还和他握过手呢，至于其他那些人都不算什么东西。” 卡尔就这样想着，慢慢走向伙夫，从腰带上抽出伙夫的右手，并将它放在自己手里玩着，“你居然不说话了，为什么？” 他问，“为什么你对一切都喜欢？” 伙夫只是皱着眉头，好像他正在寻找表达的词汇，他也看着卡尔的额头并朝下看着他的手。 “船上还没有一个人受到像你一样如此不平公的待遇，这我很清楚。”卡尔的手指在伙夫手指之间移来移去。伙夫明亮的眼睛向四周扫去，好像他异常地兴奋。而这种兴奋，别人是不会给他的。 “你必须保卫自己，说行或者不行，否则人家不知道真情实况，你必须答应跟我保持联系，我有很多理由担心我今后一点也不能再帮助你。”当卡尔吻着伙夫的手时，他哭了。他拉着伙夫的巨大的、苍白无力的手，如同拿着一件宝物，而别人是不会拉这只手的。卡尔将伙夫的手压着自己的额头。——这时议员舅父站在旁边，拉着卡尔，虽然那强迫性是很小的，但他还是要拽着卡尔走的。 “伙夫把你给迷住了。”议员说，他心领神会的眼光越过卡尔的头朝船长望过去。“你曾经感到孤独，于是找到了伙夫，直到现在不感谢他，这表现实在值得赞赏，我很喜欢。但是不宜走得过远，要善于理解你的地位。” 房门外人声鼎沸，可以听到叫喊声，甚至好像有人被挤，而且猛烈撞击着门。一个海员进来了，带点野气，系着一条女人的围裙。“外面有人！”他叫着，晃动着胳膊，好像他仍然处于拥挤之中。终于他若有所思，他要向船长敬礼，这时他意识到自己系着一条女围巾，他便将围裙扯下来，扔在地上，并且叫道：“这的确很讨厌，他们给我系上一条女围裙。” 把脚后跟拍地并拢，敬了一个礼。有人想笑，但船长严厉地说： “我把这称之为'心情愉快'，外面到底是些什么人？” “外面是我的证人，”苏巴尔上前一步说。“他们表现不好，我诚恳地请求谅解。这些人航行达港以后，有时候就像发疯一样。” “立刻叫他们进来！”船长命令道，并且转向议员，亲切但快速地说：“尊敬的议员先生，请您和令甥一起跟着这个海员，他会把您带到快艇上去。也许可以这样说，结识您议员先生对我来说极为愉快，也是一种莫大的荣幸，我希望很快能有机会和您，议员先生继续我们这次中断了的、关于美国舰队情况的谈话，然后，也许将像今天一样的愉快。” “目前，我的这样一个外甥对我来说已经满足了。”舅舅大声笑着说，“对船长的盛情，我表示衷心的感谢，祝您生活愉快。我们在下次的欧洲旅行时说不定还能有段较长的时间在一起呢！”说着他将卡尔诚挚地拉向他自己。 “那将使我高兴。”船长说。于是两位先生握手道别，卡尔也只好默默地、敷衍地将手伸向船长。因为船长现在忙于接待大约15个所谓的证人。在苏巴尔率领下，这些人固然有的吃惊，但进来时响动很大。那位海员请议员先行，然后为他和卡尔开道，他们就在这些躬身致敬的人群中走过。好像这些人怀着愉快的心情把苏巴尔和伙夫之间的纠葛当成一种游戏。甚至在船长跟前他们仍然面带微笑。在这些人中，卡尔也发现了厨娘妮丽，她向卡尔高兴地眨眨眼睛。她系着海员扔下的围裙，因为那是她的。 议员和卡尔正跟着海员离开办公室，接着便拐入一个小的过道，经由过道再走几步就到了一张小门，再从小门往下是一张小梯直达快艇。 快艇已经为他们准备好了，快艇领班跳上快艇，艇上的海员起立致敬。当卡尔在梯子第一级大哭起来时，议员提醒卡尔下来时要小心。议员的右手端着卡尔的下巴，拉着他紧紧地靠着自己，用左手轻轻地抚摩着他。他们就这样慢慢地一个阶梯一个阶梯往下走，紧挨着走到艇上。在艇上议员为卡尔在自己的对面找到一个好位置。根据议员的示意，海员们将快艇撑离轮船后便开始全力划艇，艇离轮船不过几米远，卡尔意外地发现小艇就在轮船的那一边朝着轮船总出纳室的窗口前进。所有三个窗口全是站的苏巴尔的证人。这些人向小艇致敬并且眨眼睛，甚至舅舅也表示感谢，小艇在继续匀速前进，一个海员用手向上面窗口的人群发出一个飞吻，这是他的一个杰作。窗口上那些人中好像已经没有伙夫了，这是真的。卡尔拉着舅父，他们两人的膝盖几乎碰到一起了。看在眼里，记在心里，卡尔心里升起了一股疑虑，这个领他们上快艇的海员是否已经取代了伙夫，舅父也回避他的目光。只看着海上的波浪，波浪使小艇左右摇摆。