諾貝爾文學經典:《寵兒》第6章Part 1

Baby Suggs came in and laughed at them, telling Sethe how strong the baby girl was, how smart,already crawling. Then she stooped to gather up the ball of rags that had been Sethe's clothes.
"Nothing worth saving in here," she said.
Sethe liked her eyes. "Wait," she called. "Look and see if there's something still knotted up in thepetticoat."
Baby Suggs inched the spoiled fabric through her fingers and came upon what felt like held them out toward Sethe. "Going away present?"
"Wedding present."
"Be nice if there was a groom to go with it." She gazed into her hand. "What you think happenedto him?"
"I don't know," said Sethe. "He wasn't where he said to meet him at. I had to get out. Had to."Sethe watched the drowsy eyes of the sucking girl for a moment then looked at Baby Suggs' face."He'll make it. If I made it, Halle sure can."
"Well, put these on. Maybe they'll light his way." Convinced her son was dead, she handed thestones to Sethe.
"I need holes in my ears."
"I'll do it," said Baby Suggs. "Soon's you up to it."
Sethe jingled the earrings for the pleasure of the crawling-already? girl, who reached for them overand over again.

貝比·薩格斯一進來就笑她們，她對塞絲說，她的寶貝女兒多壯實，多機靈，都會爬了。然後她彎腰收拾起曾經是塞絲的衣服的那團爛布。
"沒什麼值得留的東西。"她說。
塞絲擡起眼睛。"等等，"她叫道，"翻一翻，看內衣裏還系沒繫着什麼東西。"
貝比·薩格斯用手指將煮過的衣裳一點點摸了一遍，碰到石子樣的東西。她把它們遞給塞絲。"告別禮物？"
"結婚禮物。"
"要是有個新郎一道來就更好了。"她盯着塞絲手裏的東西，"你覺得他怎麼樣了？"
"我不知道。"塞絲答道，"說好了在那兒碰頭的，可他不在。我只好逃出來。非逃不可。"塞絲看了一會兒那吃奶孩子的睡眼，然後盯着貝比·薩格斯的臉。"他會成功的。要是我能，黑爾當然也能。"
"好吧，戴上耳環吧。也許它們能照亮他的道路。"她把寶石遞給塞絲，同時確信她的兒子已經死了。
"我得在耳朵上穿洞。"
"我來吧，"貝比·薩格斯說，"一會兒就好。"
塞絲把耳環晃得叮叮作響，逗弄那個"都會爬了？"的女兒，讓她一次次地去夠它們。