饮星河 第438章 人生半日间
half a day
人生半日间
Naguib mahfouz
I proceeded alongside my father， clutg his right hand， running to keep up with the long strides he was taking. All my clothes were he black shoes， the green school uniform， and the red tarboosh. my delight in my new clothes， however， was not altogether unmarred， for this was day but the day on which I was to be cast into school for the first time.
my mother stood at the window watg our progress， and I would turn toward her from time to time， as though appealing for help. we walked along a street lined with gardens; on both sides were extensive fields planted with crops， prickly pears， henna trees， and a fealms.
“why school?“ I challenged my father openly.“I shall never do anything to annoy you.“
“I''m not punishing you，“ he said， laughing.“School''s not a punishment. It''s the factory that makes useful men out of boys. don''t you want to be like your father and brothers?“
I was not vinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from the intimay home and throwio this building that stood at the end of the road like some huge， high-walled fortress， exceedingly stem and grim.
when we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard， vast and crammed full of boys and girls.“Go in by yourself，“ said my father，“and join them. put a smile on your fad be a good example to others.“
I hesitated and g to his hand， but he gently pushed me from him.“be a man，“ he said.“today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it''s time to leave.“
I took a few steps， then stopped and looked but saw nothing. then the faces of boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them， and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. but glances of curiosity were directed toward me， and one boy approached and asked，“whht you?“
“my father，“ I whispered.
“my father''s dead，“ he said quite simply.
I did not know what to say. the gate was closed， letting out a pitiable screech. Some of the children burst into tears. the bell rang. A lady came along， followed by a group of men. the men began s us into ranks. we were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded on three sides by high buildings of several floors; from each floor we were overlooked by a long baly roofed in wood.
“this is your new home，“ said the womaoo there are mothers and fathers. here there is everything that is enjoyable and beneficial to knowledge and religion. dry your tears and face life joyfully.“
we submitted to the facts， and this submissiht a sort of te Living beings were drawn to other living beings， and from the first moments my heart made friends with such boys as were to be my friends and fell in love with such girls， as I was to be in love with， so that it seemed my
misgivings had had no basis. I had never imagined school would have this rich variety. we played all sorts of different games: swings， the vaulting horse， ball games. In the musi we ted our first songs. we also had our first introdu to language. we saw a globe of the Earth， which revolved and showed the various tis and tries. we started learning the numbers. the story of the creator of the universe was read to us， we were told of his present world and of his hereafter， and we heard examples of what he said. we ate delicious food， took a little nap， and woke up to go on with friendship and love， play and learning.
As our path revealed itself to us， however， we did not find it as totally sweet and unclouded as resumed. dust-laden winds and ued acts came about suddenly， so we had to be watchful， at the ready， and very patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred ive rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile， she would often scowl and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.
In addition， the time for ging one''s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion， struggle， and perseverahose who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happihat presehemselves amid the worries.
the bell rang announg the passing of the day and the end of work. the throngs of children rushed toward the gate， which ened again. I bade farewell to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I peered around but found no tray father， who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. when I had waited for a long time without avail， I decided to return home on my own. After I had taken a few steps， a middle-aged man passed by， and I realized at ohat I knew him. he came toward me， smiling， and shook me by the hand， saying，“It''s a long time since we last met— how are you?“
with a nod of my head， I agreed with him and in turn asked，“And you， how are you?““As you see， not all that good， the Almighty be praised!“
Again he shook me by the hand a off. I proceeded a few steps， then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! where was the street lined with gardens? where had it disappeared to? when did all these vehicles i? And when did all these hordes of humanity e to rest upon its surface? how did these hills of refuse e to cover its sides? And where were the fields that bordered it? high buildings had takehe street surged with children， and disturbing noises shook the air. At various points stood jurers showing off their tricks and making snakes appear from baskets. then there was a band announg the opening of a circus， with s a lifters walking in front. A line of trucks carryiral security troops crawled majestically by. the siren of a fire engine shrieked， and it was not clear how the vehicle would cleave its way to reach the blazing fire. A battle raged between a ''taxi driver and his passenger， while the passenger''s wife called out for help and no one answered. Good God! I was in a daze. my head spun. I almost went crazy. how could all this have happened in half a day， between early m and su? I would find the a home with my father. but where was my home? I could see only tall buildings and hordes of people. I hastened on to the crossroads between the burdens and Abu Khoda. I had to cross Abu Khoda to reach my house， but the stream of cars would not let up. the fire engine''s siren was shrieking at full pitch as it moved at a snail’s pace， and I said to myself，“Let the fire take its pleasure in what it es.” Extremely irritated， I wondered when I would be able to cross. I stood there a long time， until the young lad employed at the ironing shop on the er came up to me. he stretched out his arm and said gallantly，“Grandpa， let me take you across.“
人生半日间
Naguib mahfouz
I proceeded alongside my father， clutg his right hand， running to keep up with the long strides he was taking. All my clothes were he black shoes， the green school uniform， and the red tarboosh. my delight in my new clothes， however， was not altogether unmarred， for this was day but the day on which I was to be cast into school for the first time.
my mother stood at the window watg our progress， and I would turn toward her from time to time， as though appealing for help. we walked along a street lined with gardens; on both sides were extensive fields planted with crops， prickly pears， henna trees， and a fealms.
“why school?“ I challenged my father openly.“I shall never do anything to annoy you.“
“I''m not punishing you，“ he said， laughing.“School''s not a punishment. It''s the factory that makes useful men out of boys. don''t you want to be like your father and brothers?“
I was not vinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from the intimay home and throwio this building that stood at the end of the road like some huge， high-walled fortress， exceedingly stem and grim.
when we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard， vast and crammed full of boys and girls.“Go in by yourself，“ said my father，“and join them. put a smile on your fad be a good example to others.“
I hesitated and g to his hand， but he gently pushed me from him.“be a man，“ he said.“today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it''s time to leave.“
I took a few steps， then stopped and looked but saw nothing. then the faces of boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them， and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. but glances of curiosity were directed toward me， and one boy approached and asked，“whht you?“
“my father，“ I whispered.
“my father''s dead，“ he said quite simply.
I did not know what to say. the gate was closed， letting out a pitiable screech. Some of the children burst into tears. the bell rang. A lady came along， followed by a group of men. the men began s us into ranks. we were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded on three sides by high buildings of several floors; from each floor we were overlooked by a long baly roofed in wood.
“this is your new home，“ said the womaoo there are mothers and fathers. here there is everything that is enjoyable and beneficial to knowledge and religion. dry your tears and face life joyfully.“
we submitted to the facts， and this submissiht a sort of te Living beings were drawn to other living beings， and from the first moments my heart made friends with such boys as were to be my friends and fell in love with such girls， as I was to be in love with， so that it seemed my
misgivings had had no basis. I had never imagined school would have this rich variety. we played all sorts of different games: swings， the vaulting horse， ball games. In the musi we ted our first songs. we also had our first introdu to language. we saw a globe of the Earth， which revolved and showed the various tis and tries. we started learning the numbers. the story of the creator of the universe was read to us， we were told of his present world and of his hereafter， and we heard examples of what he said. we ate delicious food， took a little nap， and woke up to go on with friendship and love， play and learning.
As our path revealed itself to us， however， we did not find it as totally sweet and unclouded as resumed. dust-laden winds and ued acts came about suddenly， so we had to be watchful， at the ready， and very patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred ive rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile， she would often scowl and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.
In addition， the time for ging one''s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion， struggle， and perseverahose who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happihat presehemselves amid the worries.
the bell rang announg the passing of the day and the end of work. the throngs of children rushed toward the gate， which ened again. I bade farewell to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I peered around but found no tray father， who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. when I had waited for a long time without avail， I decided to return home on my own. After I had taken a few steps， a middle-aged man passed by， and I realized at ohat I knew him. he came toward me， smiling， and shook me by the hand， saying，“It''s a long time since we last met— how are you?“
with a nod of my head， I agreed with him and in turn asked，“And you， how are you?““As you see， not all that good， the Almighty be praised!“
Again he shook me by the hand a off. I proceeded a few steps， then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! where was the street lined with gardens? where had it disappeared to? when did all these vehicles i? And when did all these hordes of humanity e to rest upon its surface? how did these hills of refuse e to cover its sides? And where were the fields that bordered it? high buildings had takehe street surged with children， and disturbing noises shook the air. At various points stood jurers showing off their tricks and making snakes appear from baskets. then there was a band announg the opening of a circus， with s a lifters walking in front. A line of trucks carryiral security troops crawled majestically by. the siren of a fire engine shrieked， and it was not clear how the vehicle would cleave its way to reach the blazing fire. A battle raged between a ''taxi driver and his passenger， while the passenger''s wife called out for help and no one answered. Good God! I was in a daze. my head spun. I almost went crazy. how could all this have happened in half a day， between early m and su? I would find the a home with my father. but where was my home? I could see only tall buildings and hordes of people. I hastened on to the crossroads between the burdens and Abu Khoda. I had to cross Abu Khoda to reach my house， but the stream of cars would not let up. the fire engine''s siren was shrieking at full pitch as it moved at a snail’s pace， and I said to myself，“Let the fire take its pleasure in what it es.” Extremely irritated， I wondered when I would be able to cross. I stood there a long time， until the young lad employed at the ironing shop on the er came up to me. he stretched out his arm and said gallantly，“Grandpa， let me take you across.“