《幸運符》是《紐約時報》暢銷書排行榜榜首作家愛情小說圣手尼古拉斯·斯帕克思的巔峰之作。

筆者：為什么要翻譯這本英文小說呢？首先這本小說是《紐約時報》的暢銷書，是一本愛情小說，但是呢沒有中文譯文版本，很久沒有看過英文，想要撿起曾經遺忘的差不多的英文，遂試圖翻譯這本小說《幸運符》，若有不足之處，煩請諒解。

尼古拉斯·斯帕克思 [著]

@一只高腰黒一只低腰白 [譯]

本譯文僅供個人研習、欣賞語言之用，謝絕任何轉載及用于任何商業用途。本譯文所涉法律后果均由本人承擔。本人同意簡書平臺在接獲有關著作權人的通知后，刪除文章。

Chapter 01: Clayton and Thibault

第一章? 克萊頓 和 蒂博

Deputy Keith Clayton hadn't heard them approach, and up close, he didn't like the looks of them any more than he had the first time he'd seen them. The dog was part of it. He wasn't fond of German shepherds, and this one, though he was standing quietly, reminded him of Panther, the police dog that rode with Deputy Kenny Moore and was quick to bite suspects in the crotch at the slightest command. Most of the time he regarded Moore as an idiot, but he was still just about the closest thing to a friend that Clayton had in the department, and he had to admit that Moore had a way of telling those crotch-biting stories that made Clayton double over in laughter. And Moore would definitely have appreciated the little skinny-dipping party Clayton had just broken up, when he'd spied a couple of coeds sunning down by the creek in all their morning glory. He hadn't been there for more than a few minutes and had snapped only a couple of pictures on the digital camera when he saw a third girl pop up from behind a hydrangea bush. After quickly ditching the camera in the bushes behind him, he'd stepped out from behind the tree, and a moment later, he and the coed were face-to-face.

? ? 警官凱斯·克萊頓沒有聽到那個陌生人和狗走過來的聲音，他們越靠近，克萊頓越不喜歡他們的長相，寧愿從來沒有見過他們。克萊頓不喜歡德國牧羊犬，就算這只牧羊犬只是很安靜的呆在一邊，但還是讓他想起了警犬“黑豹”和警官肯尼?莫爾，每當莫爾很小聲的發起命令，“黑豹”就可以迅速咬住嫌疑犯的褲襠。雖然說大多數時候，克萊頓都認為莫爾是個白癡，但是莫爾仍然是自己在警署最親密的朋友。他不得不承認莫爾很有天賦，每次講那些“撕咬褲襠”的故事時，總會讓他笑得前仰后合。但此時此刻，莫爾一定很感激克萊頓剛剛離開了，這樣他就可以獨自在這個小型裸泳派對享樂了。? 克萊頓為什么離開呢？因為他瞟見遠處沙灘上有兩個女生赤裸著在小河邊曬太陽，于是他就溜到樹林邊上偷窺，拿起數碼相機拍照片，沒拍幾張，就看到又有一個女生從他身后的灌木叢走了出來，他就快速把相機扔進了草叢中，然后若無其事的從樹后走了出來，這時兩人眼神相撞了。

Well, what have we got here?" he drawled, trying to put her on the defensive.

? ? “那...那邊有什么？”克萊頓搶先問，他本想以攻為守，但是話到嘴邊卻結巴了起來。

He hadn't liked the fact that he'd been caught, nor was he pleased with his insipid opening line. Usually he was smoother than that. A lot smoother. Thankfully, the girl was too embarrassed to notice much of anything, and she almost tripped while trying to back up. She stammered something like an answer as she tried to cover herself with her hands. It was like watching someone play a game of Twister by herself. He made no effort to avert his gaze.?

? ? 他并不想承認自己被抓住的事實，也不喜歡這個老套的開場白。但是通常來說他說話還是比較鎮靜的，起碼會順暢很多。幸運的是，這個女生當時很羞愧，并沒有注意到他的結巴，在她尷尬的試圖后退時還差點兒絆倒。當她試圖用手遮擋自己赤裸的身體的時候，一邊支支吾吾，好像說了些什么。她的窘態，在他看來就像是看一個人在自己玩扭扭樂一樣。（筆者注： 扭扭樂游戲的最終目的就是要讓大家扭成一團。游戲套裝中附有一張印有各種顏色的塑膠板及指針輪盤，由裁判負責轉動指針，對比賽者發號施令，當指針指到哪一只手、腳要壓在哪一個顏色上，參加者就必須依照指定動作做到，誰能夠堅持到底不倒下，或成為唯一一個離開游戲圈的人，就是最后的勝利者。）

Instead he smiled, pretending not to notice her body, as if he bumped into naked women in the woods all the time. He could already tell she knew nothing about the camera.

? ?但是，他并沒有移開視線，相反，他微笑著，假裝沒有注意到她赤裸的身體，就好像他經常在樹林里碰到裸體女生一樣。這個時候，他可以肯定她對剛才偷拍的事情渾然不知。

"Now calm down. What's going on?" he asked.

? ? “別緊張，發生什么事情了嗎？”他問道。

?He knew full well what was going on. It happened a few times every summer, but especially in August: Coeds from Chapel Hill or NC State, heading to the beach for a long, last-chance weekend at Emerald Isle before the fall term began, often made a detour onto an old logging road that twisted and bumped for a mile or so into the national forest before reaching the point where Swan Creek made a sharp turn toward the South River. There was a rock-pebble beach there that had come to be known for nude sunbathing—how that happened, he had no idea—and Clayton often made it a point to swing by on the off chance he might get lucky. Two weeks ago, he'd seen six lovelies; today, however, there were three, and the two who'd been lying on their towels were already reaching for their shirts. Though one of them was a bit heavy, the other two—including the brunette standing in front of him—had the kind of figures that made frat boys go crazy. Deputies, too.

? ? 發生了什么事，實際上他最清楚不過。每年夏天，尤其是在八月，來自教堂山（筆者注：美國一個小鎮）和 北卡州立大學的大學生們，都會在秋季開學之前去翡翠島歡度一個漫長的周末，他們經常繞道到一條古老的伐木路，然后在國家森林顛簸大約一公里，最后抵達天鵝河即將匯入南河的地方。這里是一個有很多鵝卵石的沙灘，以裸體日光浴而聞名，雖然他對這個聞名的淵源并不清楚，但是他經常在這里游蕩，覺得自己會有好運。兩周前，他看到了六個裸體女生，而今天，他又遇到三個。剛剛躺在河邊曬太陽的兩個女生已經抓起了襯衫，其中有一個女生有點兒胖，但另外兩個（包括剛剛從他身后到灌木叢走出來的女生）就比較瘦了，那個躺在河邊曬太陽的另一個女生有著會讓很多男生瘋狂的性感身材。當然，警官也不例外。

"We didn't know anyone was out here! We thought it would be okay!

? ? “我們不知道還有別人在這里！我們以為這里沒有人管的！”

Her face held just enough innocence to make him think, Wouldn't Daddy be proud if he knew what his little girl was up to? It amused him to imagine what she might say to that, but since he was in uniform, he knew he had to say something official. Besides, he knew he was pressing his luck; if word got out that the sheriffs office was actually patrolling the area, there'd be no more coeds in the future, and that was something he didn't want to contemplate.?

? ? 她滿臉乞求的表情讓他覺得，如果她們的父親知道這件事是會很嚴重的。想到她會說些什么來取悅他就很高興，但是想著自己畢竟身著警服，應該說一些嚴肅的話。當然，他知道這都是靠他的運氣，但如果他告訴這些女生這片區域就是警察維護治安必須巡邏的地方，這里就再也不會有裸體女生出現了，然而他并不愿看到這樣的結果。

"Let's go talk to your friends."

? ? “我們過去和你的朋友談談。”

He followed her back toward the beach, watching as she tried unsuccessfully to cover her backside, enjoying the little show. By the time they stepped from the trees into the clearing by the river, her friends had pulled on their shirts. The brunette jogged and jiggled toward the others and quickly reached for a towel knocking over a couple of cans of beer in the process.?

? ? 他跟在她的后面走著，他一路上都在努力的遮住自己的臀部，而在他身后的克萊頓卻非常享受眼前的真人裸體秀。在他們從樹林中走到河邊的這段時間里，其他兩個女生都已經穿好了衣服。她蹩腳地跑到她們身邊，迅速抓起一條毛巾，卻不料打翻了幾罐啤酒。

Clayton motioned to a nearby tree."Didn't y'all see the sign?"

? ? 克萊頓指著不遠處的一棵樹，說道，“你們沒有看到那個禁令牌嗎？”

On cue, their eyes swung that way. People were sheep, waiting for the next order, he thought. The sign, small and partially hidden by the low-slung branches of an ancient live oak, had been posted by order of Judge Kendrick Clayton, who also happened to be his uncle. The idea for the signs had been Keith's; he knew that the public prohibition would only enhance the attraction of the place.

????三個女孩同時轉過去看他手指的方向，他心想人就跟狗一樣，總是在等待主人的命令。那個禁令牌很小，而且還被老槐樹低垂的枝葉遮擋住一部分。其實這個禁令牌之所以這么放是他的法官叔叔肯德里克·克萊頓的命令，也是他的意思，因為他知道越是禁止，就越會有人來這里。

"We didn't see it!" the brunette cried, swiveling back to him. "We didn't know! We just heard about this place a couple of days ago!" She continued to protest while struggling with the towel; the others were too terrified to do much of anything except try to wiggle back into their bikini bottoms.?

? ? “我們沒看到！”她突然很大聲的說，“我們真的不知道，我們只是前幾天聽到有這么個地方的。”她一邊辯護著，一邊努力用毛巾遮住自己的身體。而其他兩個女生被嚇到不知所措，只能本能地穿上自己的比基尼。

"It's the first time we've ever been here!"It came out like a whine, making her sound like a spoiled sorority sister. Which all of them probably were. They had that look.?

? ? “我們是第一次來這里！”她都快哭出來了，這聲音讓她聽起來就像是一個被寵壞的小丫頭，或者說她們三個都是，因為他們看上去都一個樣。

"Did you know that public nudity is a misdemeanor in this county?"

? ? “你們知道在公眾場合裸體是一種犯罪嗎？”

He saw their young faces grow even more pale, knowing they were imagining this little transgression on their record. Fun to watch, but he reminded himself not to let it go too far.

? ? 他看到她們的臉色變得蒼白，知道她們一定在擔心自己會不會被抓起來。看著她們出丑，克萊頓覺得有趣極了，但他還是提醒自己不要太過分了。

"What's your name?"

? ? “你叫什么名字？”

"Amy." The brunette swallowed. "Amy White."

? ? “艾米。”她停頓了一下，“艾米·懷特。”

Where are you from?"

? ? “從哪里來的？”

"Chapel Hill. But I'm from Charlotte originally."

? ? “北卡州立大學，但是我家在夏洛特市。”

"I see some alcohol there. Are y'all twenty-one?"?

? ? “我看到這里有酒，你們都滿21歲了嗎？”

For the first time, the others answered as well. "Yes, sir."

? ? 其他兩個一直沒有說話的女生異口同聲的說，“是的，警官。”

"Okay, Amy. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to take you at your word that you didn't see the sign and that you're of legal age to drink, so I'm not going to make a big deal out of this. I'll pretend I wasn't even here. As long as you promise not to tell my boss that I let you three off the hook." They weren't sure whether to believe him. "Really?"

? ? “好的，艾米，我知道了，現在我告訴你我要做什么。我相信你們說的話，包括你們沒有看到那個禁令牌和你們都到了飲酒的法定年齡。所以呢，我也不會小題大做，甚至我會假裝我沒有來過這里，只要你們答應我不要把我放過你們的事情告訴我的上級。”

"Really," he said. "I was in college once, too."?

? ?“真的嗎？”她們不知道該不該相信他。

He hadn't been, but he knew it sounded good. "And you might want to put your clothes on. You never know—there might be people lurking around." He flashed a smile. "Make sure you clean up all the cans, okay?"

? ? “真的。”他說，“我也曾經上過大學。”其實他并沒有上過大學，只是他覺得這么說聽起來還不錯。“另外，我想你們應該穿好衣服，因為你們不知道周圍是否有人在偷窺。”他嘴角閃過一絲狡黠的微笑，“還有就是，走之前把啤酒瓶帶走。”

"Yes, sir."

? ? “好的，警官。”

"I appreciate it." He turned to leave.?

? ? “很好。”說完，他轉身離開了。

"That's it?"

? ? “就這樣？”

Turning around, he flashed his smile again- "That's it. Y'all take care now."

? ? 他轉身，狡黠的微笑又重現在臉上。“就這樣，你們注意安全！”

Clayton pushed through the underbrush, ducking beneath the occasional branch on the way back to his cruiser, thinking he'd handled that well. Very well indeed. Amy had actually smiled at him, and as he'd turned away, he'd toyed with the idea of doubling back and asking her for her phone number. No, he decided, it was probably better to simply leave good enough alone. More than likely they'd go back and tell their friends that even though they'd been caught by the sheriff, nothing had happened to them. Word would get around that the deputies around here were cod. Still, as he wove through the woods, he hoped the pictures came out. They would make a nice addition to his little collection.

? ? 克萊頓穿過灌木叢，徑直朝著自己的巡邏車走去，心想這次處理的不錯，確實挺好的。艾米真的對他微笑了，而且在他轉身離開的時候還在猶豫要不要跟她要電話號碼。最后決定沒有要，是因為這樣簡簡單單最好了，如果要了電話，她們回去之后又把今天的經歷告訴身邊的朋友，說他們被警察逮到了，但是什么事情都沒有。這事要是傳出去了，流言蜚語滿天飛，他們肯定說這里的警察很酷，都沒有逮住他們而是放他們走。他還沒有走出樹林，就后悔沒有馬上把偷拍的照片拿回來，好給自己的收藏再添幾張。

All in all, it had been an excellent day. He was about to go back for the camera when he heard whirling. He followed the sound toward the logging road and saw the it ranger with a dog, walking slowly up the road, looking like some kind of hippie from the sixties.

? ? 總而言之，今天確實是很美好的一天。在他回去取照相機的時候，聽到了一陣口哨聲。他循聲朝著伐木路走去，看到了一個陌生人和一只狗，他們正慢悠悠的走在伐木路上，他看起來就像上世紀60年代的嬉皮士。

The stranger wasn't with the girls. Clayton was sure of it. The guy was too old to be a college student* for one thing; he had to be late twenties, at least. His long hair reminded Clayton of a rat's nest, and on the stranger's back, Clayton could see the outlines of a sleeping bag poking out from beneath a backpack. This was no day-tripper on the way to the beach; this guy had the appearance of someone who'd been hiking, maybe even camping out. No telling how long he'd been here or what he'd seen.

? ? 這個陌生人很明顯不是跟那些女生一起來的，這家伙看著少說也有30歲，絕對不是一個大學生，還有就是他的長發就像鳥窩一樣。克萊頓還發現他的背包中有個睡袋樣的東西，他心想，這一定不是過來一日游的，而且從他的外形來看，應該是一個徒步旅行者，或者說是出來露營的。但是克萊頓并不知道這個人在這里呆了多久了，是不是看到了什么。

Like Clayton taking pictures?

? ? 他有沒有看到克萊頓偷拍呢？

No way. It wasn't possible. He'd been hidden from the main road, the underbrush was thick, and he would have heard someone tramping through the woods. Right? Still, it was an odd place to be hiking. They were in the middle of nowhere out here, and the last thing he wanted was a bunch of hippie losers ruining this spot for the coeds.

? ? 不能，這不可能。克萊頓心想，自己剛剛是躲在離主干道很遠的樹林里的，如果有人路過，他一定早發現了。但是轉念一想，竟然有人會來這里徒步旅行，也是很奇怪！他可不想讓一個沒落的嬉皮士和那條狗，毀掉這片專門為女大學生們準備的沙灘。

By then, the stranger had passed him. He was nearly to the cruiser and heading toward the Jeep that the girls had driven. Clayton stepped onto the road and cleared his throat. The stranger and the dog turned at the sound.

? ? 這時，陌生人從克萊頓身邊經過，朝著三個女大學生開的吉普車走去。克萊頓走到伐木路上，故意咳嗽了幾聲，陌生人和狗便轉身看到了克萊頓。

From a distance, Clayton continued to evaluate them. The stranger seemed unfazed by Clayton's sudden appearance, as did the dog, and there was something in the stranger's gaze that unsettled him. Like he'd almost expected Clayton to show up. Same thing with the German shepherd. The dog's expression was aloof and wary at the same time—intelligent, almost—which was the same way Panther often appeared before Moore set him loose. His stomach did a quick flip-flop. He had to force himself not to cover his privates.

? ? 從遠處打量著他們，但陌生人卻對克萊頓的出現不以為然，那條狗也是一樣的反應。陌生人冷冷到看著他，這讓他很不安，就好像陌生人知道他會出現一樣。那只德國牧羊犬到眼神一樣冷漠，同時也很警惕，很聰明，簡直跟莫爾放開“黑豹”時的眼神一模一樣。克萊頓想到這里，不禁打了個冷顫，但他還是盡量讓自己不要用手護住襠部。

For a long minute, they continued to stare at each other. Clay-ton had learned a long time ago that his uniform intimidated most people. Everyone, even innocent people, got nervous around the law, and he figured this guy was no exception. It was one of the reasons he loved being a deputy.

? ? 陌生人和克萊頓對視良久，在他看來，他的警服還是頗具威嚴的。因為世界上的所有人，包括沒有罪的人看到警察都會緊張不安的，其實，這個也是他成為警察的一個原因。

"You got a leash for your dog?" he said, making it sound more like a command than a question.

? ? “你沒有給自己的狗準備狗鏈嗎？”克萊頓問到，但是他到口氣更像是命令。

"In my backpack."

? ? “在我的包里。”陌生人回答道。

Clayton could hear no accent at all. "Johnny Carson English," as his mother used to describe it. "Put it on."

? ? 克萊頓從他的回答中沒有聽到任何外地口音。“約翰尼·卡森式英語，”他母親就是這么形容如此純正的英語的。“那就給他戴上”。

"Don't worry. He won't move unless I tell him to."

? ? “別擔心，要是沒有我的命令，他動都不會動一下的。”

"Put it on anyway."

? ? “我才不管這么多，給他戴上。”

The stranger lowered his backpack and fished around; Clayton craned his neck, hoping for a glimpse of anything that could be construed as drugs or weapons. A moment later, the leash was attached to the dog's collar and the stranger faced him with an expression that seemed to say, Now what??

? ? 陌生人從肩上卸下背包，在包里摸索著狗鏈。克萊頓探過頭想看看包里還有什么東西，他特別希望在包里看到毒品或者槍支類的東西。沒一會兒，陌生人就給這只德國牧羊犬套上了狗鏈，然后用一種無語的眼神看向他，好像是在問克萊頓，這樣可以了吧。

"What are you doing out here?" Clayton asked.

? ? “你來這里干什么？”克萊頓問道。

"Hiking."

? ? “徒步旅行。”

"That's quite a pack you've got for a hike."

? ? “嗯，看的出來，你背著一個適合徒步的包。”

The stranger said nothing.

? ? 陌生人沒有說話。

"Or maybe you were sneaking around, trying to see the sights.”

? ? “我看你在這里鬼鬼祟祟的，是想要偷窺沙灘上那陽光下的風景嗎？”

"Is that what people do when they're here?"

? ? “我想凡是來這里的人，不都是為了那個嗎？”

Clayton didn't like his tone, or the implication. "I'd like to see some identification."

? ? 克萊頓不喜歡他說話的腔調，聽上去意有所指。“身份證拿給我看一下。”

The stranger bent over his backpack again and fished out his passport. He held an open palm to the dog, making the dog stay, then took a step toward Clayton and handed it over.

? ? 陌生人又彎腰在背包中摸索了一會兒，拿出了自己的護照，還給牧羊犬打了個手勢，示意它不要動，然后把護照拿給了克萊頓。

"No driver's license?"

? ? “你沒有駕駛證嗎？”

"I don't have one."

? ? “沒有。”

Clayton studied the name, his lips moving slightly. "Logan Thibault"

? ? 克萊頓審視著護照上的名字，輕聲念了出來，“洛根·蒂博？”

The stranger nodded.?

? ? 陌生人點了點頭。

"Where you from？"

? ? “你從哪里來的？”

"Colorado."

? ? “科羅拉多州。”

"Long Trip"

? ? “那可真是夠遠的。”

The stranger said nothing.

? ? 陌生人什么都沒有說。

"You going anywhere in particular?"

? ? “那你要去哪里？”

"I'm on my way to Arden."

? ? “阿爾丁鎮。”

"Whats in Arden?"

? ? “阿爾丁有什么？”

"I couldn't say. I haven't been there yet."

? ? “我不知道，我還沒有去過呢。”

Clayton frowned at the answer. Too?slick. Too . . . challenging? Too something. Whatever. All at once, he knew he didn’t like this guy. “Wait here,”he said. “You don’t mind if I check this out, do you?”

? ? 克萊頓皺了皺眉，顯然陌生人的回答不能讓他滿意，太滑頭，太能胡扯，太...太能瞎掰了。但無論如何，他知道一點，就是他不喜歡這個陌生人。“站這兒別動，“克萊爾說道，”你不介意我去查查你的身份吧。”

“Help yourself.”

? ? “不介意。”

As Clayton headed back to the car, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Thibault reach into his backpack and pull out a small bowl before proceeding to empty a bottle of water into it. Like he didn’t have a care in the world.

? ? 克萊頓轉身朝著巡邏車走去，時不時還回頭瞥一眼，他看到那個陌生人從背包里拿出一只小碗，然后倒了點兒水，好像無論發生什么都和他無關一樣。

We'll find out, won't we? In the cruiser, Clayton radioed in the name and spelling before being interrupted by the dispatcher. "It's Thibault, like T-bow, not Thigh-bolt. It's French."

我一定會查出點兒什么的，一定會。克萊頓拿著巡邏車里的無線電通報了那個名字，當他在向無線電那邊的人解釋蒂博怎么寫的時候被打斷了。

"It's Thibault, like T-bow, not Thigh-bolt. It's French."

? ? “他叫洛根·蒂博，是草字頭的蒂，不是皇帝的帝...像是個法文名”

"Why should I care how it's pronounced?"

? ? “我管他是哪個蒂。”

"I was just saying—Whatever, Marge. Just check it out, will you?"

? ? “我只是想說...算了，瑪吉，你直接查吧，查到了嗎？”

"Does he look French?"

? ? “他長得像法國人嗎？”? ?

"How the hell would I know what a Frenchman looks like?"

? ? “你在搞笑嗎？我怎么知道法國人長什么樣子？”

"I'm just curious. Don't get so huffy about it. I'm a little busy here."

? ? “我只是好奇，別生氣，我這兒有點兒忙。“

Yeah, real busy, Clayton thought. Eating doughnuts, most likely. Marge scarfed down at least a dozen Krispy Kremes a day. She must have weighed at lease three hundred pounds.

? ? 克萊頓心想，是啊，你可真忙，忙著吃你的甜甜圈。這點他可以肯定，因為瑪吉每天都要吃掉是個以上的甜甜圈，她現在至少有三百磅重了。

Through the window he could see the stranger squatting beside the dog and whispering to it as it lapped up the water. He shook his head. Talking to animals. Freak. Like the dog could understand anything other than most basic of commands. His ex-wife used to do that, too. That woman treated dogs like people, which should have warned him to stay away from her in the first place.

? ? 透過車窗，克萊頓看到那個陌生人正蹲著與牧羊犬說話，而那只狗只顧喝著碗里的水。他搖了搖頭，心想，“傻子，竟然跟狗說話，好像它聽得懂一樣。”這讓他想起了他的前妻，她也是這樣，對待狗跟對待人一樣，應該先警告他別碰她。

"I can't find anything," he heard Marge say. She sounded like she was chewing something. "No outstanding warrants that I can see."

? ? ”我什么都沒查到。“無線電上傳來了瑪吉的聲音，嘴里似乎還在嚼著什么，”沒犯過什么罪。“

"You sure?"

? ? ”你確定？“

"Yeah, I'm sure. I do know how to do my job."

? ? ”肯定了，我確定。我每天都在做這些事情。“

As though he'd been listening in on the conversation, the stranger retrieved the bowl and slipped it back into his backpack, then slung his backpack over his shoulder.

? ? 陌生人好像在遠處聽到了他們之間的談話一樣，開始收起碗塞進背包，然后背好包準備離開。

"Have there been any other unusual calls? People loitering around, things like that?"

? ? ”那你今天早上有沒有接到過流浪漢在誰家門口徘徊之類的電話？或者有沒有類似的報警電話？“

"No. It's been quiet this morning. And where are you, by the way? Your dad's been trying to find you."

? ? ”沒有，今天早上沒接幾個報警電話，話說回來，你在哪兒呢，你爸爸到處找你呢。“

Clayton's dad was the county sheriff.

? ? 克萊頓的父親是漢普頓縣警署的警長。

"Tell him I'll be back in a little while."

? ? ”那你跟我爸說，我很快就回去了。“

"He seems mad."

? ? ”他看起來挺生氣的。“

"Just tell him I've been on patrol, okay?"

? ? ”你就直接告訴他我在巡邏呢，好吧？“

So he'll know I've been working, he didn't bother to add.

? ? 克萊頓知道如果他爸知道他在工作的話就不會煩他了。

"Will do."

? ? ”好的，我知道了。“

That's better.

? ? 這樣最好了，克萊頓心里想著。

"I gotta go."

? ? ”我要掛線了。“

He put the radio handset back in place and sat without moving, feeling the slightest trace of disappointment. It would have been fun to see how the guy handled lockup, what with that girly hair and all. The Landry brothers would have had a field day with him. They were regulars in lockup on Saturday nights: drunk and disorderly, disturbing the peace, fighting, almost always with each other. Except when they were in lockup. Then they'd pick on someone else.

? ? 克萊頓把無線電掛回原處，一動不動的坐在那里，只覺得沒有查到些什么讓他有些失望。他本想著如果能給那個陌生人戴上手銬，然后把它關進派出所，那家伙有著女生一樣的頭發，派出所里的那些地痞流氓們一定會好好陪他玩上一天的。每周六晚，他們都會因為醉酒、妨礙治安、打架斗毆等等原因被關在一起，雖然說他們平時在外面六親不認，但是在拘留所就不一樣了，他們總是專門合伙欺負新來的。

He fiddled with the handle of his car door. And what was his dad mad about this time? Dude got on his nerves. Do this. Do that. You serve those papers yet? Why are you late? Where've you been? Half the time he wanted to tell the old guy to mind his own damn business. Old guy still thought he ran things around here.

? ? 克萊頓擺弄著車門把手，心想他父親為什么生氣呢？他是個花花公子，動不動就惹他父親生氣。你去做這個！做那個！這些文件處理完了嗎？怎么又遲到？昨晚去哪兒了？大多數時候克萊頓都想告訴那個老家伙管好自己就好了。很顯然，他爸爸又以為他又去哪里干壞事了。

No matter. He supposed he'd find out sooner or later. Now it was time to get the hippie loser out of here, before the girls came out. Place was supposed to be private, right? Hippie freaks could ruin the place.

? ? 沒關系，老家伙遲早會明白。現在要緊的事是，在女大學生過來這里之前，把這個沒落的嬉皮士和他的那條狗趕出去，這里需要隱私保護，這個嬉皮士會把這些都搞砸的。

Clayton got out of the car, closing the door behind him. The dog cocked its head to the side as Clayton approached. He handed the passport back. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Thibault." This time, he mangled the pronunciation on purpose. "Just doing my job. Unless, of course, you've got some drugs or guns in your pack."

? ? 克萊頓下車，關好車門，朝著陌生人走去，當他走進時，那只德國牧羊犬把頭側向另一邊，他把護照還了回去。”蒂博先生，給您帶來的不便敬請諒解。“這一次，他故意用很重的音調說了”蒂博先生“，”我也是例行公事，當然，除非說你攜帶了毒品或者槍支等違禁品。“

"I don't."

? ? ”我沒有。“

"You care to let me see for myself?"

? ? ”那我能親自檢查一下你的包嗎？“

"Not really. Fourth Amendment and all."

? ? "當然不能，憲法第四條修正案禁止無理由搜身。"

"I see your sleeping bag there. You been camping ?"

? ? ”我看你背包里面有睡袋，你是打算露營嗎？“

"I was in Burke County last night."

? ? ”我昨晚住在伯克縣。“

Clayton studied the guy, thinking about the answer.

? ? 克萊頓一直審視著眼前這個家伙，試圖從他的回答中找出破綻。

"There aren't any campgrounds around here."

? ? ”但是在漢普頓縣沒有適合扎營的地方。“

The guy said nothing.

? ? 這個陌生人沒有說話。

It was Clayton who looked away. "You might want to keep that dog on the leash."

? ? 克萊頓終于從陌生人身上移開視線，警告道，”你最好一直拴著你的狗。“

"I didn't think there was a leash law in this county."

? ? ”我不知道在荒郊野外，國家還限制了必須拴狗。“

"There isn't. It's for your dog's safety. Lot of cars out by the main road."

? ? ”國家沒有這樣的法案，我是為了它的安全照相，畢竟車來車往的。“

"I'll keep that in mind."

? ? ”我會注意的。“

"Okay, then." Clayton turned away before pausing once more. "If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been out here?"

? ? ”好的，那...“克萊頓轉身準備離開，卻又停下來問道，”冒昧問一句，你在這兒多久了？“

"I just walked up. Why ?"

? ? ”我只是剛剛路過這里，怎么了？“

Something in the way he answered made Clayton wonder, and he hesitated before reminding himself again that there was no way the guy could know what he'd been up to. "No reason."

? ? 他的回答反倒讓克萊頓更加疑心重重，他猶豫了一下，提醒自己他是不知道自己剛剛偷拍裸體女生的事情的，”沒什么。“

"Can I go?"

? ? ”我可以走了嗎？“

"Yeah. Okay."

? ? ”嗯嗯，可以了。“

Clayton watched the stranger and his dog start up the logging road before veering onto a small trail that led into the woods. Once he vanished, Clayton went back to his original vantage point to search for the camera. He poked his arm into the bushes, kicked at the pine straw, and retraced his steps a couple of times to make sure he was in the right place. Eventually, he dropped to his knees, panic beginning to settle in. The camera belonged to the sheriffs department. He'd only borrowed it for these special outings, and there'd be a lot of questions from his dad if it turned out to be lost. Worse, discovered with a card full of nudie pictures. His dad was a stickler for protocol and responsibility.

? ? 陌生人帶著他的狗沿著伐木路走了，然后他們轉向一條林中小路，克萊頓一直看著他們，知道身影消失在他的視線里，他才回到樹林里找自己的數碼相機，他不停地撥開頭頂的樹枝，踢開地上的松稻草，跟著剛才的腳印，以保證自己走的路是對的。最后，他開始蹲下來尋找，因為這個相機是警署里面的東西，他當時說要巡邏才借出來的，如果丟了的話，他爸爸一定會一大堆問題，再嚴重一些，如果他爸發現存儲卡里都是一些爐體的女生，那他就吃不了兜著走了。

By then, a few minutes had passed. In the distance, he heard the throaty roar of an engine fire up. He assumed the coeds were leaving; only briefly did he consider what they might be thinking when they noticed his cruiser was still there. He had other issues on his mind. The camera was gone.

? ? 他找了好久，還沒有找到。與此同時，他聽到一陣引擎發動的聲音，他知道她們一定是準備走了，他不知道如果那些女孩看到巡邏車還在那里的時候回怎么想。但是現在，他已經顧不得那些了，最要命的事情發生了，數碼相機不見了！

Not lost. Gone. And the damn thing sure as hell didn't walk off on its own. No way the girls had found it, either. Which meant Thigh-bolt had been playing him all along. Thigh-bolt. Playing. Him. Unbelievable. He knew the guy had been acting too slick, too "I Know What You Did Last Summer.

? ? 不是找不見，而是被人拿走了。但是他知道，相機沒有腿，不會自己不見的，而且她們也肯定不會發現這個相機的，如果這樣的話，肯定是剛才那個嬉皮士蒂博在捉弄他。他簡直不敢相信是他，他知道那個家伙很狡猾，他覺得蒂博肯定知道他去年夏天都干了些什么。

No way was he getting away with that. No grimy, hippie, dog-talking freak was ever going to show up Keith Clayton. Not in this life, anyway.

? ?你可別讓我克萊頓抓住你的小辮子，那個穿著長筒靴、骯臟沒落的嬉皮士、和狗說話的怪胎，竟然敢拿走我的相機。你完了，再別讓我見到你，這輩子都不要，否則，你死定了。

He pushed through branches heading back to the road, figuring he'd catch up to Logan Thigh-bolt and have a little look-see. And that was just for starters. More than that would follow; that much was certain. Guy plays him? That just wasn't done. Not in this town, anyway. He didn't give a damn about the dog, either. Dog gets upset? Bye, bye, doggie. Simple as that. German shepherds were weapons—there wasn't a court in the land where that wouldn't stand up.

? ? 他撥開樹枝來到大路上，心想一定要追上洛根·蒂博，他要給那個家伙點兒顏色看看。而這只是一個小小的開始，更加厲害的還在后頭！那家伙竟敢玩弄他！這一切還沒有結束，至少在漢普頓縣，克萊頓還是有呼風喚雨的本事，至于那條狗，他則完全不在意！那只牧羊犬會覺得難過？那再見，再見吧！小狗！人們都說德國牧羊犬更像是一種武器，但是這片土地上，是沒有可以讓它呆的地方。

First things first, though. Find Thibault. Get the camera. Then figure out the next step.

? ? 話雖如此，但是當務之急是先追上蒂博，拿到相機，然后在想著怎么處置他。

It was only then, while approaching his cruiser, that he realized both his rear tires were flat.

? ? 克萊頓氣沖沖地走到巡邏車旁，準備開車追趕，卻發現兩個車胎都爆了。

?

?

"What did you say your name was?"

?? ”你剛剛說你叫什么名字來著？“

Thibault leaned across the front seat of the Jeep a few minutes later, talking over the roar of the wind. "Logan Thibault." He thumbed over his shoulder. "And this is Zeus."

? ? 幾分鐘后，蒂博坐在吉普車的前座上，迎著風介紹，”洛根·蒂博“，然后又指了指身后的牧羊犬，”它是宙斯。“

Zeus was in the back of the Jeep, tongue out, nose lifted to the wind as the Jeep sped toward the highway.

? ? 吉普車沿著伐木路一路疾馳，宙斯蹲坐在吉普車的最后面，吐著舌頭，享受著風。

"Beautiful dog. I'm Amy. And this is Jennifer and Lori."

? ? ”你的狗真漂亮。我叫艾米，然后呢，她們是詹妮弗和；羅莉“

Thibault glanced over his shoulder. "Hi."

? ? 蒂博轉過身向他們打了聲招呼，”你們好！“

"Hey."

? ? ”你好！“

They seemed distracted. Not surprising, Thibault thought, considering what they'd been through. "I appreciate the ride."

? ? 她們看起來還是心不在焉的，但是想起她們剛剛的經歷，就覺得一點兒都不奇怪。”謝謝你們愿意捎我一程。“

"No big deal. And you said you're going to Hampton?"

? ? ”沒什么的，別客氣，你說你要去漢普頓？“

"If it's not too far."

? ? ”如果不是很遠的話，希望可以捎我一段。“

"It's right on the way."

? ? ”我們正好要去那里。“

After leaving the logging road and taking care of a couple of things, Thibault had edged back to the road just as the girls were pulling out. He'd held out his thumb, thankful that Zeus was with him, and they'd pulled over almost immediately.

? ? 在離開伐木路之前，他又繞回樹林里扎爆了巡邏車的輪胎。然后，他沿著林中小路回到了伐木路上，這時，她們正好開車過來，蒂博就豎起大拇指，示意宙斯小心車，沒想到他們卻把車停到了路邊。

Sometimes things work out just like they're supposed to.

? ? 有的時候，好運來了，擋都擋不住。

Though he pretended otherwise, he'd actually seen the three of them earlier that morning as they'd come in—he'd camped just over the ridge from the beach—but had given them the privacy they deserved as soon as they'd started to disrobe. To his mind, what they were doing fell into the "no harm, no foul" category; aside from him, they were completely alone out here, and he had no intention of hanging around to stare. Who cared if they took their clothes off or, for that matter, dressed up in chicken costumes? It wasn't any of his business, and he'd intended to keep it that way—until he saw the deputy driving up the road in a Hampton County Sheriffs Department car.

? ? 蒂博假裝對她們早上的遭遇渾然不知，其實他一大早上就看到了她們開車來到這里，因為他昨晚就露宿在離這兒不遠的山坡上。而在他們開始脫衣服的時候，他也給了他們隱秘的空間，在他看來，不知者無罪嘛。雖然說他就在附近，但是卻從沒想過去偷看她們。話說回來，誰又在乎他們是不是沒有穿衣服，還是打扮成火雞一樣去參加化裝舞會呢？這和他沒有半毛錢關系，他原本想完全置身事外的，沒想到他看到一個警察開著巡邏車朝這里駛來。

He got a good look at the deputy through the windshield, and there was something wrong about the guy's expression. Hard to say what it was, exactly, and he didn't pause to analyze it. He turned around, cutting through the forest, and arrived in time to see the deputy checking the disk in his camera before quietly shutting the door of his cruiser. He watched him slink off toward the ridge. Thibault knew full well that the deputy could have been working officially, but he looked the way Zeus did when he was waiting for a piece of beef jerky. A little too excited about the whole thing.

? ? 他隔著擋風玻璃看的一清二楚，那個警察的表情很奇怪，但他說不上來哪里奇怪，也沒有去細想，而是轉身穿過樹林跟了上去，剛好看到那個警察在檢查數碼相機的存儲卡。后來，那個警察小心地關上了車門，非常謹慎的朝著沙灘的方向走去，他以為那個警察有什么抓捕行動，但是那家伙的樣子就像是想吃肉的宙斯一樣，越觀察越覺得好奇。

Thibault had Zeus stay where he was, kept enough distance so the deputy wouldn't hear him, and the rest of the plan had come together spontaneously after that. He knew that direct confrontation was out—the deputy would have claimed he was collecting evidence, and the strength of his word against a stranger's would have been unassailable. Anything physical was out of the question, mostly because it would have caused more problems than it was worth, though he would have loved to go toe-to-toe with the guy. Luckily—or unluckily, he supposed, depending on the perspective—the girl had appeared, the deputy had panicked, and Thibault had seen where the camera had landed. Once the deputy and the girl headed back toward her friends, Thibault retrieved the camera. He could have simply left at that point, but the guy needed to be taught a lesson. Not a big lesson, just a lesson that would keep the girls' honor intact, allow Thibault to be on his way, and ruin the deputy's day. Which was why he'd doubled back to flatten the deputy's tires.

? ? 蒂博示意宙斯待在原地不要動，他尾隨在那個警察身后，并保持一定的距離以免被發現，然后，接下來的事情就自然而然了。他知道，如果他魯莽上前，當面質問肯定不行，那個警察肯定會謊稱自己在搜索證據，而一個警察對一個陌生人給出這樣的解釋確實是無法質疑的。那么，如果動手解決呢？那更不行了，盡管他很想用拳頭解決那個家伙，但是想著這會給自己帶來很多麻煩，想想沒有必要，還是算了。幸運的是，（或者說不幸的是，全看是站在誰的角度了）那個女生突然出現了，那個警察不知所措，而蒂博剛好看到了他扔下相機的位置。當那個女生和警察向她的朋友走去時，他拿到了那個相機，他本可以拿了相機就走，但是還是想著要讓那個家伙吃點兒苦頭才好，只有破壞掉那家伙美好的一天才能彌補她們的尊嚴受到的侵犯。說到教訓那家伙，蒂博有自己的一套，這也就是他為什么要繞回去扎爆巡邏車的兩個輪胎。

"Oh, that reminds me," Thibault volunteered. "I found your camera in the woods."

? ? ”哦，我突然想起來，“蒂博突然說道，”我剛剛在樹林里好像撿到了你們的相機。“

"It's not mine. Lori or Jen—did either of you lose a camera?"??

? ”那可不是我的，詹妮弗，羅莉，是你們的嗎？“

Both of them shook their heads.

? ? 他們都搖頭表示不是自己的。

"Keep it anyway," Thibault said, putting it on the seat, "and thanks for the ride. I've already got one."

? ? ”算了，別管是誰的了，你們拿著吧，“蒂博把相機放在車座上，接著說，”我要謝謝你們載我一程，反正我已經有了一個相機了，也用不著。“

"You sure? It's probably expensive."

? ? ”你確定要給我們嗎？相機很貴的。“

"Positive."

? ? ”我非常確定。“

"Thanks."

? ? ”那太謝謝了。“

Thibault noted the shadows playing on her features, that she was attractive in a big-city kind of way, with sharp features, olive skin, and brown eyes flecked with hazel. He could imagine staring at her for hours.

? ? 斑駁的樹影不時的落進車窗，從艾米的臉上飄過。他看著艾米的臉，那是一張城市女生特有的迷人的臉，橄欖色的皮膚，有淡褐色斑點的棕色眼睛，他甚至覺得自己一連看幾個小時都不會厭煩。

"Hey … you doing anything this weekend?" Amy asked him "We're all going out to the beach."

? ? ”嗯...你這周末有空嗎？“艾米問道，”這個周末，我們還準備來沙灘這邊。“

"I appreciate the offer, but I can't."

? ? ”謝謝你的邀請，但我恐怕不會去了。“

"I'll bet you're going to see your girlfriend, aren't you."

? ? ”你一定是急著去漢普頓看你的女朋友吧？“

"What makes you say that?"

? ? ”你為什么這么覺得？“

"You have that way about you."

? ? ”你的表情看起來像是很著急要見到某個人。“

He forced himself to turn away. "Something like that."

? ? 蒂博轉過頭看向窗外，”算是吧。“