Chapter 5 five iron shipping co., ltd.

Mrs. Hamlin leaned back on the bench and watched lazily the passengers coming up the gangway.The ship had arrived in Singapore harbor at night and had been loading since dawn, and the winches had been rattling all day long, but she was used to their constant noise by now.After lunch at the Restaurant Europa, with nothing else to do, she took a rickshaw and drove through the cheerful and crowded streets of the city.Singapore is a mixed place.There are Malays, although they are the natives here, but their life in the city is not very comfortable, and the population is also small; There are Tamils, barefoot and noiseless, like travelers in a foreign land; there are fashionable and wealthy Bengalis who cope with their surroundings with ease and confidence; Always busy with some urgent and top-secret business; there are British people, wearing sun hats or white peaked caps, or speeding by in cars, or sitting leisurely in rickshaws, with a calm expression style.These rulers of all kinds maintain their rule with a smile and an attitude of indifference.Meanwhile, Mrs. Hamlin was feeling sleepy and hot, waiting for the ship to set sail again for her long voyage across the Indian Ocean.

When the doctor accompanied Mrs. Lindsay aboard, Mrs. Hamlin waved her big hand.She is a large woman.She had been on the ship since leaving Yokohama, and had followed with keen interest the development of the intimacy between the two men.Mr. Lindsay was a naval officer accompanying the British Embassy in Japan to Tokyo.She wondered at the naval officer's indifference to the doctor's concern for his wife.Two other men came down the gangway, both new passengers, and she tried to guess from their demeanor whether they were single or married for a bit of fun.Near her, a group of men, who she guessed from their khaki suits and wide-brimmed white hats, were planters, were sitting on wicker chairs.They directed the crew on deck to turn around.They were all drinking heavily, talking loudly, laughing almost to a romp, and it was evident that they were seeing one of them off, but Mrs. Hamlin had no way of judging who it was that would be with her on the voyage. which one.The time for sailing was approaching, and the passengers arrived one after another.Mr. Jefferson also arrived, and he stepped slowly up the gangway with a solemn expression.He's a consul, and he's back in England this time for a holiday.He had embarked in Shanghai, and Mrs. Hamlin had become friendly with Mrs. Hamlin shortly thereafter, but she was in no mood for flirting at the moment.Thinking of the reason for going home this time, she frowned.She was going to spend Christmas at sea this time, away from those who cared about her a little bit, and for a while, she felt a slight tangle in her heart.One thought, however resolutely she pushed it away, always occupied her heart for a long time, and it troubled her.

The sailing bell rang loudly, and the men sitting near her suddenly moved in unison. Well, we must hurry, or we will be taken away by the boat.one of them said. They stood up and walked towards the gangway.They shook hands, and it was only then that she saw clearly whom they were seeing off.There was nothing special about the person Mrs. Hamlin was looking at, except that she had nothing to look at, so she kept her eyes on that person for a while.He was a big man, well over six feet tall, broad-shouldered and strong, in a sloppy denim khaki suit and a battered, battered hat.His friends left him alone in the boat, then crossed the pier and turned to greet him.Mrs. Hamlin noticed that he spoke with a strong Irish accent and that his voice was full, loud, and passionate.

Mrs. Lindsay had gone down, and the doctor came and sat down beside Mrs. Hamlin.They exchanged some idle anecdotes encountered during the day.The bell rang again, and their ship pulled anchor and set sail.The Irishman waved to his friends one last time, and then strolled leisurely to sit on the edge of the chair where his newspapers and magazines lay.He nodded to the doctor. Do you know that person?asked Mrs. Hamlin. Before lunch, someone introduced us to each other at the club.His name was Gallagher, and he was a planter. After the noise on the pier and the hustle and bustle of departure, the boat was very peaceful and pleasant.The steamer sailed slowly over the moss-covered jagged cliffs (the iron line steamship company's anchor point is a beautiful and secluded cove) with the sound of its whistle, and then entered the main harbor.Ships from all countries, passenger ships, tugboats, barges, and cargo ships, are moored here; across the breakwater, you can see patches of local civilian ships, their masts gathered together, like an endless forest.In the soft light of the evening, the bustling scene is painted with a strange mystery, and you feel that the activities of all those ships have paused for a moment, as if waiting for some special event to happen.

[Note] Iron Line Steamship Company: a British steamship company established in London in 1840, and then expanded its business to Egypt, India, Singapore and Hong Kong. In 2005, it was acquired by A. P．Moller Maersk Group acquired, becoming the world's largest shipping group. Mrs. Hamlin didn't sleep long, and it was her habit to go on deck at dawn.When the last starlight faded and the sun gradually took over the sky, her troubled heart was comforted. At the earliest hour of the day, the mirror-like sea was motionless, and it seemed that all the sorrows of the earth were insignificant.The light was still dim, and there was a pleasant vibration in the air.But in the early morning of the next day, when she walked towards the stern of the upper deck as usual, she found that someone had already taken a step ahead of her.It was Mr Gallagher, looking out over the low Sumatra coastline.The sunrise is like a magician, and at its beckoning, the coastline emerges from the dark depths of the sea.She was surprised and a little annoyed. Before she could turn around, he had spotted her and nodded to her.

Get up early, he said, want a cigarette? Wearing pajamas and slippers, he took out a cigarette case from the pocket of the pajamas and handed it to her.She hesitated.She was wearing next to nothing but a dressing gown and a little frieze cap to hold back her tangled hair, and she guessed she must look bad; she was upset, of course, for other reasons. I don't think a woman of forty has the right to care about her appearance anymore, she smiled, as if he must know what vanity thoughts were entrenched in her head.She took a cigarette.You got up pretty early too. I am a farmer.I've been waking up at 5 a.m. for years and I don't know how to break the habit.

Your habit is not very popular in China! He took off his hat so she could see his face more clearly now.Although he was not handsome, he was very kind.Of course, he was a little fat, but his features, which might have been good-looking when he was young, were very thick now.His skin was red and swollen.But his dark eyes were lively, and though he looked at least forty-five, his hair was still thick and black.He comes across as strong and powerful.He was a clumsy, common scum, and Mrs Hamlin, if it hadn't been such a mess on board, would never have felt the need to strike up conversation with such a man.

Are you back home for vacation?she asked boldly. No, I will not come back when I return home. His dark eyes flickered once.He is a talkative person.At last Mrs. Hamlin had to go down to the cabin to take a bath, but he had told her a good deal about himself in a short while.He has lived in the Federal State of Malay for twenty-five years, and in the past ten years, he has been running a plantation in the south.Life there was lonely and nothing compared to so-called civilization, but he made some money, and in the rubber wave he did a good job, He invested his savings in government bonds.But as the economy began to slump, he too was preparing to retire.

Where are you from in Ireland?asked Mrs. Hamlin. galway. Mrs. Hamlin had driven through Ireland, and she had a vague recollection of a gloomy town, of rough stone warehouses, derelict and ruined, looking out onto a sinister sea.A barren, drizzle, lonely, remote, this is her feeling there.Could this be where Mr. Gallagher was going to spend the rest of his life?When he spoke of the place, there was childlike urgency in his voice.His vitality seemed so incongruous compared with that gray world, which aroused her curiosity. Does your family live there?she asked. I don't have a home.My parents are dead.There are no relatives of mine in this world.

He's got all the plans, he's spent twenty-five years doing them, and now he's happy to be able to tell people about them.For so many years, he could only talk to himself about all these things.He plans to buy a house and buy a car.He also has horses.As for hunting, he didn't take it very seriously; when he was in Malay State in the early years, he hunted many huge beasts, but now he has lost interest.He doesn't understand why people go to the jungle and shoot the beasts; he's lived in the jungle too long.However, he can hunt. Do you think I'm too fat?he asked her.

Mrs. Hamlin smiled and looked him up and down. I bet you must weigh a ton.she replied. He laughed. Irish horses are the best breed in the world, and he always takes care to keep in shape.A rubber plantation is easy to walk, and he often plays tennis on weekdays.He will be able to slim down in Ireland in no time.Then he will get married.Mrs. Hamlin silently stared at the sea surface, which was gradually dyed a faint golden color by the rising sun.She sighed. Is it easy to unroot yourself?Is there no one worth remembering?I can imagine that after all these years you've been longing to go back to your hometown, and when the moment comes, you'll feel like you've been hit in the head. I'm glad to get away.I've had enough and never want to see that country, or anyone there. One or two early-rising passengers came on deck, and Mrs. Hamlin, remembering that she was still disheveled, went down to the cabin. She hardly saw Mr. Gallagher for the next two days, and Mr. Gallagher remained in the smoking room.Because of the strike, the ship did not dock in Colombo, and passengers began to enjoy this pleasant journey on the Indian Ocean.They played deck games, judged each other, and flirted.Christmas is just around the corner, which gives them a theme to pass the time, it has been suggested that a masquerade ball could be held for Christmas, and the ladies even get to work on their own costumes.The first-class passengers called a meeting to decide whether to let the second-class passengers join the dance, and although the weather was scorching hot, the discussion was lively.The ladies thought it would only upset second-class passengers.It was conceivable that on Christmas Day, they would drink too much alcohol, and some unpleasant things would happen immediately.Everyone who spoke insisted that they had no idea of ​​class distinction at all, and that no one was so snobby that there was a big difference between first and second class, but they also felt that second class should not be It is kinder to put people in the wrong place.Let them throw their own dance in second class, it will make them feel more at ease.On the other hand, everyone has no intention of hurting other people's feelings, of course, people are talking about democracy nowadays (this is in response to the wife of a Chinese missionary, she said that she has been on the steamer of the Iron Bank Company for thirty-five years, I've never heard of second class passengers being invited to a dance in the first class parlour), and even if they don't enjoy it, they'd love to.With a vote looming soon, Mr. Gallagher had to withdraw reluctantly from the poker table as the consul sought his opinion.In the second class there was a hired hand from one of his plantations, and this time he took him home with him.He lifted his bulky form from the couch. If you want my opinion, all I can say is: The guy I have with me looks after our machines with me.He's a great fellow, and he's as entitled to this ball of yours as I am.But he won't come because I'm going to get him drunk by six o'clock on Christmas night and he can't do anything but go to bed. Consul Mr. Jefferson smiled awkwardly.Because of his official role, he had been picked to chair the meeting, and he hoped to play it safe.His mantra is: Everything must be done perfectly, otherwise it will not be done. I have listened to everyone's opinions, and he said sarcastically that everyone feels that the issue we are discussing at the meeting is not a big problem. No fuss at all.said Mr. Gallagher with a twinkle in his eyes. Mrs. Hamlin laughed.It was finally contrived to invite the second-class passengers, but go to the captain privately and point out to him that he had better reserve his opinion about inviting them to the first-class ball.That night Mrs. Hamlin came on deck in evening dress and met Mr. Gallagher unexpectedly. You're just in time for a cocktail, Mrs. Hamlin.he said in a cheerful tone. I would like to have a drink.Honestly, I was just trying to have some fun. Why?he asked with a smile. His smile seemed charming to Mrs. Hamlin, but she didn't want to answer his question. I told you two mornings ago, she replied cheerfully, that I was forty. I don't know a woman who keeps bringing it up. They went into the lounge and he ordered a martini for her and a cocktail for himself.He has been in the East for too long, and he is not used to drinking other things. You are hiccupping.said Mrs. Hamlin. Yes, I've been hiccupping all afternoon, he replied nonchalantly, it's strange, I started hiccupping as soon as I lost sight of land. Dare I say, you'll stop burping after dinner. They finished their drinks, waited for the second bell to ring, and walked into the restaurant. You don't play bridge?He asked her before breaking up. don't play. Mrs. Hamlin did not realize that she had not seen Mr. Gallagher for two or three days.She is full of thoughts.They lingered when she sewed; when she tried to distract herself by reading a novel, they lay before her eyes and prevented her from reading a word.She had hoped that the torment of her heart would be relieved by sailing away from the sad place, but on the contrary, as the distance came closer and closer to England, her anxiety increased every day.She was troubled by the thought of the dreary, empty life that lay ahead of her; and her thoughts about the future which daunted her were turned to the one which she had tried so many times before, but had never done. A situation from which there was no escape. She has been married for twenty years.Twenty years is a long time. Of course, she can't expect her husband to still love her as madly as when she first got married. Besides, she didn't love him madly.They are good friends who know each other now.Their marriage, as far as marriage goes, was superficially successful.Only one day suddenly, she found out that he was in love.If it's an occasional flirting or something, she doesn't object, he's had it before, and she even jokes about it, and he doesn't mind it, taking it as a compliment.Sometimes they laugh together at tendencies that are neither deep nor serious.But this time it was different, he threw himself into it like an eighteen-year-old boy, and he was fifty-two, which was ridiculous.It's disrespectful.He loved irrationally and carelessly, and this scandal is now raging among the foreigners in Yokohama.She was shocked and angry at first, because there is no other person in the world who would do such a stupid thing, but after losing her temper, she also tried to talk herself into understanding.If he could fall in love with a girl, so be it.Middle-aged men are always confused by those frivolous girls, and the result is embarrassing.Having stayed in the Far East for twenty years, she has long understood that fifty is a dangerous age.But he has no such excuse.He fell in love with a woman who was eight years older than her.It was so unbelievable that it made her, his wife, the butt of jokes.Dorothy.Ragon is approaching fifty.She was, like Mr. Hamlin, a silk merchant in Yokohama, so he had known her for eighteen years.They saw each other three or four times a week, year after year, and once they ran into each other in England, where they once lived together in a house by the sea.But nothing happened!Even a year ago, they were just joking friends.It's incredible.Dorothy was, of course, a pretty woman, well built, maybe a little too plump, but not unattractively fat; she had frank dark eyes, red lips, fine hair, but that was a few years ago , now she is forty-eight years old.Forty-eight! Mrs. Hamlin confronted her husband decisively.At first he swore there was no such thing, that it was all nonsense, but she had the proof, and his face fell, and finally, unable to deny it, he had to admit it obediently.Then he said something shocking. Why should you care?he asked her. The words drove her mad, and she returned him angrily and mockingly.She became eloquent, she searched for all kinds of hurtful words in the anguish of her heart, and he just listened quietly. We've been married for twenty years, so I'm not such a bad husband.Yes, for a long time, we were just friends.But I have a deep affection for you and it hasn't diminished in the slightest over time.Nothing I have given Dorothy has been taken from you. Is there anything I can make you complain about? No.Nobody can have a better wife than you. You treat me so cruelly, how can you still say such a thing? I never thought of being cruel to you, it's just that I can't control my heart. But what was it that made you fall in love with her? how could I know?You don't necessarily think I did it on purpose, do you? Can't you resist? I tried.I think I tried both with her. You say this as if you were only twenty years old.You know, you are all middle-aged.She is eight years older than me.This thing makes me look like a complete idiot. He didn't say anything more, and she didn't know what kind of emotion was rolling in her heart.Was jealousy at her throat?Still angry?Maybe it's just a wounded pride? I will not let it go.If it was just you and her, then I could divorce you, but now her husband and children are involved.Gosh, did it ever occur to you that if they were girls instead of boys, she might be a grandma by now? That's right. Thank God we don't have kids! He reached out affectionately as if to touch her, but she flinched back in disgust. You made me the butt of jokes among my friends.For the sake of all of us, I prefer to remain silent, but only if it all ends, now, immediately, and forever. With his head down, he fingered a Japanese ornament on the table thoughtfully. I'll tell Dorothy what you said.This is his final answer. Without saying a word, she bowed slightly to him, walked past him, and left the room.She was so angry that she didn't even realize that she was acting slightly artificial. She waited for him and Dorothy.The result of Ragon's discussion, but he never mentioned it again.He was quiet, polite, and reticent; finally she had to speak up. You haven't forgotten what I told you two days ago, have you?she asked coldly. No, I spoke to Dorothy, and she wanted me to tell you how sorry she was for the hurt she caused you.She would have liked to come and see you, but was worried that doing so would offend you. How do you decide? He hesitated.He was calm, but his voice still trembled a little. It probably does no one any good to make promises and not keep them. This can be regarded as a conclusion.she replied. I think I can tell you that if you file for divorce, we can only respond.You will find that you will find no useful evidence at all, and you will lose the case. It never occurred to me to do this.I'm going back to England to consult a lawyer.It's easy to do this kind of thing now, I hope you can hold your hands high.I think you can set me free without taking Dorothy.Ragon dragged in too. He sighed. It's such a mess, isn't it?I don't want to divorce you, but of course, I will do everything I can to accommodate your wishes. What exactly do you want me to do?She cried, and the anger flared up again.You just want me to do nothing and just be an idiot? I'm really sorry for making you suffer so much.He looked at her with worry in his eyes.I know very well that she and I didn't intend to fall in love.We all know how old we are.Dorothy, as you say, is old enough to be a grandmother, and I'm a fat, bald man of fifty-two.When you fell in love at twenty, you thought it would be eternal, but when you were fifty, you saw life and love through, and you knew it was just a fleeting thing.His voice was low and full of regret.It seemed that before his eyes there was the sorrow of autumn and the falling dead leaves.He looked at her seriously. Also at this age, you know that you can no longer squander this opportunity sent by capricious fate.In five years, maybe six months, this will all be over.Life is monotonous and gray, and happiness is rare and rare.Our death is long. Mrs. Hamlin felt a sting in her heart when she heard her husband's words. This man, who had always been practical and matter-of-fact, was now adopting a tone which was new to her.In him suddenly grew a passionate and tragic character with which she was completely unfamiliar.Twenty years of living together did not leave any traces on him, and she was helpless in the face of his determination.She had no choice but to walk away.Now, full of resentment, she decides to divorce, just as she threatened him, and embarks on a journey back to England. The sun shines on the smooth surface of the sea, and the surface of the sea is shining like a mirror, empty and indifferent, just like the life she faces, there is no place for her to stand there.For three whole days, no other ship on the sea broke the vast silence.Occasionally, the smooth surface of the sea shimmers for a moment because of the rapid swimming of flying fish.The weather was so hot that even the most active passengers gave up their deck games, as now (it was just after lunch) they didn't sleep in the cabins, but sprawled out on chairs.Lindsay paced towards her and sat down. Where is Mrs. Lindsay?asked Mrs. Hamlin. Oh, I don't know.Just around the corner. His indifference angered her.How could he not see that his wife and the doctor were having a hot fight?Otherwise, he should have started to care a long time ago.Their marriage was also romantic.They had been engaged when Mrs. Lindsay was in high school, when he was only an older boy.They must have been a lovable and lovely couple, and their love story must have been very touching.But now, in such a short period of time, they're tired of each other.It's heartbreaking.And what did her husband say? I guess, after you go back, you plan to settle down in London, right?Lindsay asked lazily, obviously looking for something to say. I think so.said Mrs. Hamlin. In fact, she will have nowhere to go after returning, and no one will care about where she lives. Thinking of all this, it is difficult for her to calm down.Some tangled thoughts reminded her of Gallagher.She was jealous and moved by his eagerness to return home, and amused by his glowing descriptions of the house he was planning, and the wife he was planning to marry.Her friends in Yokohama, after secretly learning of her decision to divorce her husband, were convinced that she would remarry.She was not so eager to remarry, after all, that marriage had disappointed her so much.Besides, most men would hesitate before proposing to a forty-year-old woman.Mr. Gallagher was looking for a plump, round young woman. Where's Mr. Gallagher?she asked the unassuming Lindsay, whom I hadn't seen for two days. do not you know?he is sick. Poor man.What's up with him? He keeps hiccupping. Mrs. Hamlin laughed. How can hiccups make people sick? The doctor was also confused.He tried everything, but it didn't work. really weird. She hadn't given it much thought after that, but next morning, when she chanced upon the doctor, she asked about Mr. Gallagher.She was astonished to see the gloomy, bewildered look on his boyish, cheerful face. I'm afraid it's bad, poor fellow. Because of hiccups?she said out loud, puzzled. It's just a physiological disorder, and no one thinks it's a big deal. Well, he couldn't swallow.He couldn't sleep.He is exhausted.Tried everything I could think of.He hesitated for a moment, and unless I stopped his hiccups quickly, I didn't know what was going to happen. Mrs. Hamlin was shocked. But he is strong.He seems to have a lot of energy. I wish you could go and see what he looks like now. Will he ask me to see him? bring it on. Gallagher had been transferred from the cabin to the ship's hospital. When they approached the hospital, they heard violent hiccups.That voice, it might be reminiscent of excessive drinking, so it sounds a bit ridiculous.But Gallagher's appearance shocked Mrs. Hamlin.He had lost a lot of flesh, the skin on his neck was loose and drooping, and even in the sun his face was ashen.His eyes, which had always been smiling and happy, were sunken with torment.His muscular body shook with the hiccup, which by this time was no longer ridiculous; and to Mrs. Hamlin, for some unknown reason, it sounded eerie and terrible.He smiled at her as she walked into the room. Seeing you like this makes me really sad.she says. I'm not going to die, you know, he gasped, and I'll be back safe and sound on the green beaches of Ireland. There was a man sitting next to him, and he stood up when they entered. This is Mr. Price, said the doctor, who is in charge of the machinery on Mr. Gallagher's plantation. Mrs. Hamlin nodded to him.He was the second-class passenger Gallagher had mentioned the other day when discussing the Christmas party.He was very short in stature, but stocky, with an air of gaiety and insolence, full of self-confidence. Are you happy to be home?Mrs. Hamlin asked him. That goes without saying, madam.he replied. From the tone of these few words, Mrs. Hamlin could tell that he was a Cockney, and of that sort of optimistic, sensitive, good-natured sort, which struck her as somewhat genial. You are not Irish, are you?she asked with a smile. I am not, miss.My home is in London and I would love to go back, kid you not. Mrs. Hamlin never took offense at being called Miss. Well, sir, I'm leaving.he said to Gallagher, making a gesture as if to raise his hand to touch his hat, though he was not wearing it. Mrs. Hamlin asked the patient if there was anything she could do for her, and in a minute or two she left with the doctor.The little Londoner was waiting outside the door. Can I have a few minutes with you, miss?he asked. sure. The hospital cabin was at the stern, and they leaned against the rail and looked down at the sunken deck below, where off-duty sailors and stewards were loitering on the hatch covers. I don't know how it happened, said Price, muffled, with a serious expression that changed his lively, wrinkled face in a strange way.I worked with Mr. Gallagher for four years and he was a rare good man. He hesitated for another moment. I don't like it much, but it's true. What don't you like so much? Well, since you asked me, I'll tell you, he's hopeless.Even the doctors don't believe it.I told him, but he didn't listen to me. Don't be so depressed, Mr. Price.The doctor is very young, but I don't think he is stupid. Hiccups are not fatal, and you know that.I daresay Mr. Gallagher will be all right in two days. Do you know when this happened?Just when we left the shore.She said that he would never make it home. Mrs. Hamlin turned to face him.She stood up straight, a full three inches taller than him. What did you say? I'm sure it was some kind of magic that worked on him, and I don't know if you understand what I'm saying.Medication didn't work for him.You don't understand those Malay women, I understand them. Mrs. Hamlin was shocked, so shocked she shrugged and laughed. Oh, Mr. Price, that is nonsense. When I told the doctor, he said the same.But mark my words, he'll die before he sees land. Mrs. Hamlin felt vaguely ominous about the man's seriousness, and she couldn't help but take it seriously. Why would anyone cast a spell on Mr. Gallagher?she asked. Well, it's a little embarrassing to tell the lady. please tell me. Price was so embarrassed that, on another occasion, Mrs. Hamlin might have struggled to suppress her curiosity. Mr. Gallagher has lived in the interior for a long time, you can understand this, a man is very lonely, man, you also understand, miss. I have been married for twenty years.she replied with a smile. Please forgive me, madam.In fact, he once lived with a Malay girl.I don't know how long it was, but I think it should be ten or twelve years.The girl didn't say a word when he decided to go home and never come back.She just sat there by herself.He thought she would sit there the whole time, but no.He took care of her well, of course, and left her a little house, in good repair, and made sure she was getting about the same monthly income; and he wasn't mean, I gotta say.She has always been very clear that one day he will return to his hometown.She didn't cry at all.She sat and watched as he packed all the belongings and shipped them away.She didn't say a word until he sold all the furniture to the local Chinese.Everything she wanted, he left her.When he was about to set off to catch the boat, she was still sitting, sitting on the steps in front of the Bengal-style bungalow, staring blankly, without saying a word.He wanted to say goodbye to her like normal people do, can you believe it?She didn't even move.don't you want to say goodbye to meThere was a very funny look on her face.You know what she said?you go.She said; those locals speak differently from us, it's funny, you go, she said, but I tell you, you will never get home.When the land sinks into the sea, death will come upon you, and before the land can be seen again, death will take you away, just as the land sinks.The words scared the hell out of me. What did Mr. Gallagher say?asked Mrs. Hamlin. Well, you know what kind of man he is.He just laughed.You have to be happy.He said to her and jumped into the car and off we went. Mrs. Hamlin could see the sunny road through the solitary plantation, through the neatly trimmed and evenly spaced green trees, and then winding up the hill and down through the dense woods.The driver was a Malay man, and there were two white men in the car.The car sped forward, past the houses of Malays retreating quietly in the coconut groves away from the road, through the busy countryside, and the market was full of short, dark people in bright sarongs.In the evening, the car finally arrived at the clean, modern town with its clubs, golf course, clean inns, white people who settled there, and the railway station from which the two men would take the train to Singapore.And the woman sitting on the front steps of the Bengali bungalow, waiting for a new owner to move in, watching the road where the car engine chugs, watching the car go away, watching it until it disappears into the In the darkness. what does she look likeasked Mrs. Hamlin. Well, the way I see it, those Malay women all look the same, you know, Mr. Price replied, and of course she's not that young anymore, you know the locals, they can get terribly fat. fat? This outlandish idea dismayed Mrs. Hamlin. Mr. Gallagher is a man who never treats himself badly, you know what I mean? At the thought of being fat, Mrs. Hamlin immediately reverted to the ordinary view.一時間，她似乎有點兒接受這個矮個子倫敦人的看法，這使她對自己都有點兒討厭了。 這真是荒唐，普賴斯先生。肥胖的女人怎麼可能在千里之外對一個男人施魔法呢！事實上，肥胖的女人自己生活都很不容易。 你儘管笑話吧，小姐，但是除非我們做點什麼，否則你就聽著我這句話，我的主人沒救了。而且藥對他不管用，反正白人的藥沒用。 說點正經的吧，普賴斯先生。那個肥胖的女士應該不會對加拉格爾先生懷有什麼深仇大恨的。按照東方人的辦事方式，他算對她不錯的啦。她何必要傷害他呢？ 我們不了解他們的想法。即使一個男人在那裡和一個本地女人過上二十年，你就以為他懂得那個女人陰暗的心裡到底在想些什麼啦？至少他不懂！ 對於他那些誇張的言詞，她笑不出來，因為他的緊張情緒是感人的。她知道，男人，不管他們的膚色是黃色的、白色的還是棕色的，他們的心都是難以捉摸的。 但是，就算她感到憤怒，就算她恨他，想殺了他，她能怎麼樣呢？奇怪，哈姆林太太提這些問題時，下意識裡已經開始相信這是真的了。世界上哪有什麼毒藥可以在六七天後再起作用的呀。 我可沒說過是毒藥。 對不起，普賴斯先生，她笑道，但我可不願相信什麼巫術，你知道。 你可是在東方生活過的人呀！ 斷斷續續差不多二十年吧！ 就是啊，你知道他們能做什麼，不能做什麼，反正我是做不到的。他突然憤怒地攥緊拳頭，猛地一拳打在欄杆上。我真受夠了那個該死的國家。一想起來我就生氣，那個鬼地方。我們沒辦法跟他們走到一塊兒，我們是白人，事實就是這樣。請原諒，我得去喝幾杯，我心裡直打鼓。 他朝她硬生生地點了點頭，離開了。哈姆林太太注視著他，這個敦實矮小的男人，穿著破舊的卡其布衣服，拖著腳跟，跌跌撞撞地走下升降口，來到船腰，低著頭穿過去，然後消失在二等艙的大廳裡。不知道為什麼，他使她感到一陣隱隱的不安。她無法從腦海裡去掉這幅場景那個矮小的女人，已經不再年輕了，穿著紗籠和斑斕的上衣，戴著黃金首飾，坐在一座孟加拉式平房前的臺階上，望著空蕩蕩的路面。她的胖臉上施了脂粉，但是那雙沒有眼淚的大眼睛裡，沒有任何表情。開車離去的男人們活像回家度假的學生。加拉格爾舒了一口長氣。這天清晨，在明麗的天空下，他的精神異常活躍。未來就像一條灑滿陽光的道路，蜿蜒穿過一望無際、樹木繁茂的大平原。