Chapter 13 passerby

When: or the evening of the day place: or a place people: The old man—about seventy years old, with white hair and black robes. Girl - about ten years old, purple hair, black eyes, black checkered gown with white ground. Passerby—About 30 to 40 years old, sleepy and stubborn, with gloomy eyes, black beard, messy hair, The black shorts are in tatters, the bare feet are worn with broken shoes, a pocket is hung under the side, and a bamboo stick of the same length is supported. In the east, there are a few miscellaneous trees and rubble; in the west, there are desolate and dilapidated burials; in between, there is a trace that looks like a road but not a road.A small earthen house opened a door to this trace; beside the door was a section of dead tree roots.

[The girl is about to help the old man sitting on the tree root. 〕 Weng - child.hello boy!Why is it not moving? Boy—[Looking east,] Someone is coming, let's take a look. Weng - don't look at him.Help me in.The sun is going down. Boy—I,—take a look. Weng—oh, you child!Seeing the sky, the earth, and the wind every day, isn’t it beautiful enough?Nothing looks better than these.Who do you want to see.What appears when the sun goes down will not do you any good. ... Let's just go in. Boy—but it's getting closer.Ah, a beggar. Weng—a beggar?Not necessarily. [The passer-by staggers out from among the mixed trees in the east, and after a moment's hesitation, he slowly approaches the old man. 〕

Guest—Old man, good evening? Weng—ah, good!TOEFL.Hello? Guest—Old man, I am really taking the liberty, I would like to ask for a glass of water from you.I was so thirsty.There is no pond or puddle in this place. Ong—well, yes, yes.Please sit down. [To the girl,] Child, bring water, and wash the cup. [The girl goes into the earthen house silently. 〕 Weng—Guest officer, please sit down.what do you call it. Guest - call? --I have no idea.For as long as I can remember, I've been alone and I don't know what my original name was.As I walked along, sometimes people called me casually, in various ways, and I can’t remember clearly, besides, I never heard the same name a second time.

Weng - ah.So, where are you from? Guest—[slightly hesitates,] I don't know.I've been walking this way for as long as I can remember. Weng - that's right.Well, may I ask where are you going? Guest - of course you can. --but I do not know.For as long as I can remember, I've been walking this way, to a place, and this place is ahead.I just remember walking a long way and coming here now.I'm going to go there next, [points west,] ahead! [The girl carefully holds out a wooden cup and hands it over. 〕 Guest—[takes cup,] Thank you, girl. [Drinks the water in two sips and returns the glass,] Thank you, girl.This is really a rare kindness.I really don't know how to thank you!

Weng - don't be so grateful.It will do you no good. Guest - yes, it does me no good.But now I have regained some strength.I am going.Old man, you have probably lived here for a long time, do you know what is in front of you? Weng - front?In front, is the tomb. Guest—[Surprised,] Tomb? Kid - no, no, no.There are many wild lilies and wild roses there. I often go to play and see them.Guest—[looks west, as if smiling,] Not bad.There are many wild lilies and wild roses in those places, and I have often visited and seen them.However, that is the tomb. [To the old man,] Old man, what about after walking through the cemetery?

Weng—after we left?Then I don't know.I haven't walked by. Guest - don't know? ! Kid - I don't know either. Weng - I only know the south; the north; the east, your origin.That is the place I am most familiar with, and perhaps the best place for you.Don't blame me for talking too much. From my point of view, you are already so tired. You might as well turn around, because you may not be able to finish your journey. Guest—maybe it might be over? ... [Contemplating, startled suddenly] That's no good!I have to go.Going back there, there is no place without names, no place without landlords, no place without evictions and cages, no place without leather-faced smiles, no place without tears outside the sockets.I loathe them and I will not return.

Weng - that's not the case.You will also meet the tears from the bottom of your heart, for your sorrow. Guest - no.I don't want to see the tears in their hearts, and don't want them to mourn for me. Weng—then, you, [shaking your head,] you have to go. Guest—yes, I have to go.What's more, there are still voices in front of me constantly urging me and calling me, making me unable to rest.The hateful thing is that my foot has been broken long ago, and there are many injuries and a lot of blood. [Holding up a foot to show the old man,] Therefore, my blood is not enough; I want to drink some blood.But where is the blood?But I don't want to drink anyone's blood either.

I had to drink some water to replenish my blood.There is always water along the way, and I don't feel any shortage.It's just that my strength is too thin, and there is too much water in the blood.I didn't even meet a small puddle today, that's because I walked less. Weng - that's not necessarily the case.As the sun went down, I thought, I might as well rest for a while, like me. Guest—but the voice in front told me to go. Weng - I know. Guest - you know?Do you know that sound? Weng - yes.He seems to have called me once. Guest—is that the voice calling me now? Ong—then I don't know.He just barked a few times, and I ignored him, and he stopped barking, and I can't remember clearly.

Guest - alas, ignore him.... [Thinking, suddenly startled, listening,] No way!I'm still good to go.I can't rest.It's a shame that my feet are already broken. [Ready to walk. 〕 Boy - here you are! [Handing a piece of cloth,] Wrap your wounds and go. Guest—Thank you, [take,] girl.It's really...This is a very rare kindness.This allows me to walk more. [He sits down on a broken brick and wants to wrap the cloth around his ankles,] But, no! [struggles to stand up,] Girl, I'll pay you back, but I still can't wrap it up.Besides, it's too much kindness for me to appreciate.

Weng—don't be so grateful, it won't do you any good. Guest - yes, it does me no good.But for me, this giving is the most supreme thing.You see, I have this all over my body. Weng—don't take it seriously. Guest - yes.But I can't.I am afraid that I will be like this: If I get alms from someone, I will wander around like a vulture seeing a dead body, wishing her demise to be seen by me; or cursing the demise of everything but her, even Myself, because I deserve to be cursed.But I have not yet such strength; Even with the power, I wouldn't want her to be in such a situation, because they probably don't want to be in such a situation.I think this is the safest. [To the girl,] Girl, this cloth piece of yours is very good, but it is too small, so I will return it to you.

Kid—[frightened, backs off,] I don't want it!you take away! Guest—[smiling,] Oh, oh...because I took it? Kid—[nods, points to the pocket,] put it there and go play. Guest—[Backing away dejectedly,] But how can I walk with my back on my back? ... Weng - if you can't rest, you won't be able to carry it. — Rest for a while, and there will be nothing. Guest—yes, rest.... [But wakes up suddenly, listens. 〕No, I can not!I'd better go. Weng—are you always unwilling to rest? Guest - I would like to rest. Weng—then, you can rest for a while. guest—but, I can't... Weng—do you still think it’s okay to go? Guest - yes.It's better to go. Weng—then, you'd better go. Guest—[stretches waist,] OK, I say goodbye.I appreciate you all. [to the girl,] girl, This is yours, please take it back. [The girl is terrified, holds back her hands, and wants to hide in the earthen house. 〕 Weng—you can take it with you.If it is too heavy, it can be thrown into the cemetery at any time. Boy—[steps forward,] Ah, that won't work! Guest—Ah, that won’t work. Weng—then you hang on the wild lily and wild rose. Kid—[claps hands,] Haha!it is good! Weng - oh oh... [For a moment, silence. 〕 Ong—then, goodbye.I wish you peace. [Stands up and faces the girl,] Son, help me in.You see, the sun has already set. [Turns to the door. 〕 Guest - thank you very much.I wish you peace. [wandering, pensive, suddenly startled,] But I can't!I have to go.I'd better go.... [immediately raises his head, and walks westward vigorously. 〕 [The girl helps the old man into the earthen house, then closes the door.The traveler staggers into the field, and the night follows him. 〕 March 2, 1925