LOVE OF LIFE熱愛生命（節選）

《熱愛生命》是19世紀末20世紀初美國小說家杰克·倫敦最著名的短篇小說，這部小說以雄健、粗獷的筆觸，記述了一個悲壯的故事，生動地展示了人性的偉大和堅強。小說把人物置于近乎殘忍的惡劣環境之中，讓主人公與寒冷、饑餓、傷病和野獸的抗爭中，在生與死的抉擇中，充分展現出人性深處的某些閃光的東西，生動逼真地描寫出了生命的堅韌與頑強，奏響了一曲生命的贊歌，有著震撼人心魄的力量！

"This out of all will remain -

They have lived and have tossed:

So much of the game will be gain,

Though the gold of the dice has been lost."

一切，總算剩下了這一點——

他們經歷了生活的困苦顛連；

能做到這種地步也就是勝利，

盡管他們輸掉了賭博的本錢。

THEY limped painfully down the bank, and once the foremost of the two men staggered among the rough-strewn rocks. They were tired and weak, and their faces had the drawn expression of patience which comes of hardship long endured. They were heavily burdened with blanket packs which were strapped to their shoulders. Head-straps, passing across the forehead, helped support these packs.

Each man carried a rifle. They walked in a stooped posture, the shoulders well forward, the head still farther forward, the eyes bent upon the ground.

"I wish we had just about two of them cartridges that’s layin’ in that cache of ourn," said the second man.

His voice was utterly and drearily expressionless. He spoke without enthusiasm; and the first man, limping into the milky stream that foamed over the rocks, vouchsafed no reply.

The other man followed at his heels. They did not remove their foot-gear, though the water was icy cold - so cold that their ankles ached and their feet went numb. In places the water dashed against their knees, and both men staggered for footing.

The man who followed slipped on a smooth boulder, nearly fell, but recovered himself with a violent effort, at the same time uttering a sharp exclamation of pain. He seemed faint and dizzy and put out his free hand while he reeled, as though seeking support against the air. When he had steadied himself he stepped forward, but reeled again and nearly fell. Then he stood still and looked at the other man, who had never turned his head.

The man stood still for fully a minute, as though debating with himself. Then he called out:

"I say, Bill, I’ve sprained my ankle."

Bill staggered on through the milky water. He did not look around. The man watched him go, and though his face was expressionless as ever, his eyes were like the eyes of a wounded deer.

The other man limped up the farther bank and continued straight on without looking back. The man in the stream watched him. His lips trembled a little, so that the rough thatch of brown hair which covered them was visibly agitated. His tongue even strayed out to moisten them.

"Bill!" he cried out.

他們兩個一瘸一拐地，吃力地走下河岸，有一次，走在前面的那個還在亂石中間失足搖晃了一下。他們又累又乏，因為長期忍受苦難，臉上都帶著愁眉苦臉、咬牙苦熬的表情。他們肩上捆著用毯子包起來的沉重包袱。總算那條勒在額頭上的皮帶還得力，幫著吊住了包袱。他們每人拿著一支來復槍。他們彎著腰走路，肩膀沖向前面，而腦袋沖得更前，眼睛總是瞅著地面。 “我們藏在地窖里的那些子彈，我們身邊要有兩三發就好了，”走在后面的那個人說道。

他的聲調，陰沉沉的，干巴巴的，完全沒有感情。他冷冷地說著這些話；前面的那個只顧一瘸一拐地向流過巖石、激起一片泡沫的白茫茫的小河里走去，一句話也不回答。

后面的那個緊跟著他。他們兩個都沒有脫掉鞋襪，雖然河水冰冷——冷得他們腳腕子疼痛，兩腳麻木。每逢走到河水沖擊著他們膝蓋的地方，兩個人都搖搖晃晃地站不穩跟在后面的那個在一塊光滑的圓石頭上滑了一下，差一點沒摔倒，但是，他猛力一掙，站穩了，同時痛苦地尖叫了一聲。他仿佛有點頭昏眼花，一面搖晃著，一面伸出那只閑著的手，好象打算扶著空中的什么東西。站穩之后，他再向前走去，不料又搖晃了一下，幾乎摔倒。于是，他就站著不動，瞧著前面那個一直沒有回過頭的人。

他這樣一動不動地足足站了一分鐘，好象心里在說服自己一樣。接著，他就叫了起來：“喂，比爾，我扭傷腳腕子啦。”

比爾在白茫茫的河水里一搖一晃地走著。他沒有回頭。

后面那個人瞅著他這樣走去；臉上雖然照舊沒有表情，眼睛里卻流露著跟一頭受傷的鹿一樣的神色。

前面那個人一瘸一拐，登上對面的河岸，頭也不回，只顧向前走去，河里的人眼睜睜地瞧著。他的嘴唇有點發抖，因此，他嘴上那叢亂棕似的胡子也在明顯地抖動。他甚至不知不覺地伸出舌頭來舐舐嘴唇。

“比爾！”他大聲地喊著。