5. 我想, 咱著重來

5. Góa siūⁿ, lán tio̍h têng-lâi

Summars kiò i ka-tī ê miâ, tō si̍t-si̍t ta̍h ǹg-chêng, ùi siuⁿ-á nih kéng chi̍t-ki khau-á. Liáu-āu, i kiò, "Warner."

"Tē chhit-cha̍p-chhit nî góa chham-ka thiu-khau," Warner Lāu-sian kóng, ná nǹg kòe lâng-tīn. "Tē chhit-cha̍p-chhit kái oh."

"Watson." Hit-ê lò-kha siàu-liân-ke chin bô chū-chāi kiâⁿ chhut lâng-tīn. Ū-lâng kóng, "Jack, bián kín-tiuⁿ lah," á Summers Ss kóng, "Koai gín-á, khŏaⁿ-sī tō hó."

"Zanini." 

Sòa lo̍h-lâi, kú-kú chi̍t-khùn ê tiām-chēng, bô siaⁿ bô soeh, it-ti̍t kàu Summers Ss kā i ê chóa-kháu gia̍h koân, kóng, "Hiong-chhin ah, hó-sè ah." Chiok-chiok chi̍t hun-cheng kú, bô lâng tín-tāng, jiân-āu só͘-ū ê chóa-khau lóng phah-khui ah. Hut-jiân, só͘-ū ê cha-bó͘-lâng lóng khai-sí kóng-ōe, "Sī siáng ah?" "Siáng thiu tio̍h ah?" "Sī Dunbar hit ke-hóe hioh?" "Kám sī Watson in tau?" Chiām-chiām ê kóng-ōe-siaⁿ kóng, "Sī Hutchinson. Sī Bill," "Bill Hutchinson thiu tio̍h lah."

"Khì kā lín lāu-pē kóng," Dunbar Tt hoan-hù yin tōa-hàn hāu-seⁿ.

Lâng-lâng khai-sí sì-kè chhōe Hutchinson hit ke-hóe. Bill Hutchinson tiām-tiām khiā tio̍h, àⁿ-thâu khòaⁿ i chhiú nih ê chóa-khau. Hut-jiân, Tessie Hutchinson ǹg Summers Ss tōa-siaⁿ hoah, "Lí hō͘ i ê sî-kan bô kàu i kéng tio̍h i boeh ài ê chóa-khau. Góa khòaⁿ kah chin chim-chiok. Án-ne bô kong-pêng!"

"Ài tam su-iâⁿ lah, Tessie," Delacroix Tt kóng; Graves Tt mā kóng, "Ta̍k-lâng ê ki-hōe lóng kāng-khoán."

"Tiām khì, Tessie," Bill Hutchinson kóng.

"Hmh, kok-ūi hiong-chhin," Summers Ss kóng, "kàu-taⁿ chìn-tō͘ sǹg siong-tong kín, koh-lâi lán mā tio̍h kóaⁿ-kín, hó thang chún-sî kiat-sok." I lia̍h lēng-gōa chi̍t-ê miâ-toaⁿ khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē. "Bill," i kóng, "lí tāi-piáu Hutchinson ka-cho̍k thiu-khau. Lín Hutchinson ka-cho̍k iáu ū pa̍t-hō͘ bô?"

"Iáu ū Don hām Eva," Hutchinson Tt hoah-siaⁿ. "Hō͘ in mā chhì chi̍t-ē-á ūn-khì!"

"Cha-bó͘-kiáⁿ tòe ang ê ka-cho̍k thiu, Tessie," Summers Ss ûn-ûn-á kóng. "Che lí kap pa̍t-lâng lóng pêⁿ-pêⁿ chai." 

"Án-ne bô kong-pêng," Tessie kóng.

"Joe, goán bô," Bill Hutchinson bô-nāi kóng. "Goán cha-bó͘-kiáⁿ tòe yin ang ê ka-cho̍k thiu; án-ne chiah kong-pêng. Só͘-í, tî-liáu gín-á, goán ka-cho̍k bô pa̍t-hō͘ ah."

"Nā án-ne, tāi-piáu ka-cho̍k lâi thiu ê sī lí, á lí mā tāi-piáu lín chit-hō͘ lâi thiu, tio̍h bô?"

"Tio̍h," Bill Hutchinson kóng. 

"Kúi-ê gín-á, Bill?" Summers Ss chèng-sek kā mn̄g.

"Saⁿ-ê," Bill Hutchinson kóng. 

"Ū Sió Bill, hām Nancy, hām sè-hàn Dave. Iáu ū Tessie hām góa." 

"Án-ne hó," Summers Ss kóng. "Harry, lí ū kā in ê khau-á siu tńg lâi bô?"

Graves Ss tìm-thâu, kā chóa-khau the̍h koân. "Kā khǹg ji̍p siuⁿ-á nih," Summers Ss chí-sī. "Kā Bill the̍h hit-ki mā lok lo̍h-khì."

"Góa siūⁿ, lán tio̍h têng-lâi," Hutchinson Tt chīn-liōng pêng-chēng kóng. "Góa kā lí kóng, án-ne bô kong-pêng. Lí bô hō͘ i ū-kàu sî-kan thang kéng. Che ta̍k-ê lóng ū khòaⁿ tio̍h."

Graves Ss í-keng kéng gō͘-ki khau-á, koh kā khǹg ji̍p siuⁿ-á nih, chhun ê chóa-khau i lóng kā tàn tī thô͘-kha, sûi hō͘ hong kā chhoe khì.

"Ta̍k-ê chù-ì thiaⁿ," Hutchinson Tt kā yi sin-piⁿ ê lâng-lâng kóng.

"Bill, chún-pī hó bōe?" Summers Ss mn̄g, á Bill Hutchinson lia̍h in bó͘ hām gín-á khòaⁿ chi̍t-ē, tō tìm-thâu.

- -

5. 我想, 咱著重來

Summars 叫伊 ka-tī ê 名, tō 實實踏 ǹg 前, ùi 箱仔 nih 揀一支 khau 仔. 了後, 伊叫, "Warner."

"第七十七年我參加抽 khau," Warner 老先講, ná nǹg 過人陣. "第七十七改 oh."

"Watson." 彼个躼跤少年家真無自在行出人陣. 有人講, "Jack, 免緊張 lah," á Summers Ss 講, "乖囡仔, khŏaⁿ 是 tō 好."

"Zanini." 

紲落來, 久久一睏 ê 恬靜, 無聲無說, 一直到 Summers Ss kā 伊 ê 紙 khau 攑懸, 講, "鄉親 ah, 好勢 ah." 足足一分鐘久, 無人振動, 然後所有 ê 紙 khau lóng 拍開 ah. 忽然, 所有 ê 查某人 lóng 開始講話, "是 siáng ah?" "Siáng 抽著 ah?" "是 Dunbar 彼家伙 hioh?" "敢是 Watson in 兜?" 漸漸 ê 講話聲講, "是 Hutchinson. 是 Bill," "Bill Hutchinson 抽著 lah."

"去 kā 恁老爸講," Dunbar Tt 吩咐 yin 大漢後生.

人人開始四界揣 Hutchinson 彼家伙. Bill Hutchinson 恬恬徛著, àⁿ 頭看伊手 nih ê 紙 khau. 忽然, Tessie Hutchinson ǹg Summers Ss 大聲喝, "你予伊 ê 時間無夠伊揀著伊欲愛 ê 紙 khau. 我看 kah 真斟酌. Án-ne 無公平!"

"愛擔輸贏 lah, Tessie," Delacroix Tt 講; Graves Tt mā 講, "逐人 ê 機會 lóng 仝款."

"恬去, Tessie," Bill Hutchinson 講.

"Hmh, 各位鄉親," Summers Ss 講, "到今進度算相當緊, koh 來咱 mā 著趕緊, 好通準時結束." 伊掠另外一个名單看一下. "Bill," 伊講, "你代表 Hutchinson 家族抽 khau. 恁 Hutchinson 家族猶有別戶無?"

"猶有 Don 和 Eva," Hutchinson Tt 喝聲. "予 in mā 試一下仔運氣!"

"查某囝綴翁 ê 家族抽, Tessie," Summers Ss 勻勻仔講. "這你 kap 別人 lóng 平平知." 

"Án-ne 無公平," Tessie 講.

"Joe, 阮無," Bill Hutchinson 無奈講. "阮查某囝綴 yin 翁 ê 家族抽; án-ne 才公平. 所以, 除了囡仔, 阮家族無別戶 ah."

"若 án-ne, 代表家族來抽 ê 是你, á 你 mā 代表恁這戶來抽, 著無?"

"著," Bill Hutchinson 講. 

"幾个囡仔, Bill?" Summers Ss 正式 kā 問.

"三个," Bill Hutchinson 講. 

"有小 Bill, 和 Nancy, 和細漢 Dave. 猶有 Tessie 和我." 

"Án-ne 好," Summers Ss 講. "Harry, 你有 kā in ê khau 仔收轉來無?"

Graves Ss tìm 頭, kā 紙 khau 提懸. "Kā 囥入箱仔 nih," Summers Ss 指示. "Kā Bill 提彼支 mā lok 落去."

"我想, 咱著重來," Hutchinson Tt 盡量平靜講. "我 kā 你講, án-ne 無公平. 你無予伊有夠時間通揀. 這逐个 lóng 有看著."

Graves Ss 已經揀五支 khau 仔, koh kā 囥入箱仔 nih, 賰 ê 紙 khau 伊 lóng kā 擲 tī 塗跤, 隨予風 kā 吹去.

"逐个注意聽," Hutchinson Tt kā 她身邊 ê 人人講.

"Bill, 準備好未?" Summers Ss 問, á Bill Hutchinson 掠 in 某和囡仔看一下, tō tìm 頭.

- -

5.

Mr. Summers called his own name and then stepped forward precisely and selected a slip from the box. Then he called, "Warner."

"Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery," Old Man Warner said as he went through the crowd. "Seventy-seventh time."

"Watson" The tall boy came awkwardly through the crowd. Someone said, "Don't be nervous, Jack," and Mr. Summers said, "Take your time, son."

"Zanini."

After that, there was a long pause, a breathless pause, until Mr. Summers. holding his slip of paper in the air, said, "All right, fellows." For a minute, no one moved, and then all the slips of paper were opened. Suddenly, all the women began to speak at once, saving, "Who is it?," "Who's got it?," "Is it the Dunbars?," "Is it the Watsons?" Then the voices began to say, "It's Hutchinson. It's Bill," "Bill Hutchinson's got it."

"Go tell your father," Mrs. Dunbar said to her older son.

People began to look around to see the Hutchinsons. Bill Hutchinson was standing quiet, staring down at the paper in his hand. Suddenly. Tessie Hutchinson shouted to Mr. Summers. "You didn't give him time enough to take any paper he wanted. I saw you. It wasn't fair!"

"Be a good sport, Tessie." Mrs. Delacroix called, and Mrs. Graves said, "All of us took the same chance."

"Shut up, Tessie," Bill Hutchinson said.

"Well, everyone," Mr. Summers said, "that was done pretty fast, and now we've got to be hurrying a little more to get done in time." He consulted his next list. "Bill," he said, "you draw for the Hutchinson family. You got any other households in the Hutchinsons?"

"There's Don and Eva," Mrs. Hutchinson yelled. "Make them take their chance!"

"Daughters draw with their husbands' families, Tessie," Mr. Summers said gently. "You know that as well as anyone else."

"It wasn't fair," Tessie said.

"I guess not, Joe." Bill Hutchinson said regretfully. "My daughter draws with her husband's family; that's only fair. And I've got no other family except the kids."

"Then, as far as drawing for families is concerned, it's you," Mr. Summers said in explanation, "and as far as drawing for households is concerned, that's you, too. Right?"

"Right," Bill Hutchinson said.

"How many kids, Bill?" Mr. Summers asked formally.

"Three," Bill Hutchinson said.

"There's Bill, Jr., and Nancy, and little Dave. And Tessie and me."

"All right, then," Mr. Summers said. "Harry, you got their tickets back?"

Mr. Graves nodded and held up the slips of paper. "Put them in the box, then," Mr. Summers directed. "Take Bill's and put it in."

"I think we ought to start over," Mrs. Hutchinson said, as quietly as she could. "I tell you it wasn't fair. You didn't give him time enough to choose. Everybody saw that."

Mr. Graves had selected the five slips and put them in the box, and he dropped all the papers but those onto the ground. where the breeze caught them and lifted them off.

"Listen, everybody," Mrs. Hutchinson was saying to the people around her.

"Ready, Bill?" Mr. Summers asked, and Bill Hutchinson, with one quick glance around at his wife and children. nodded.

- -

4. 六月抽 khau, 好年冬在後

4. La̍k-goe̍h thiu-khau, hó nî-tang chāi āu

Chèng-lâng lóng thiu chē-chē pái ah, ta̍k-ê ū thiaⁿ ná bô thiaⁿ hiah-ê pō͘-sò͘: tōa pō͘-hūn lâng kan-ta chēng-chēng nā chhùi-tûn, bô sì-kè khòaⁿ. Sòa lo̍h, Summers Ss chi̍t-chhiú gia̍h koân, kóng, "Adams." Chi̍t-ê lâng ùi lâng-tīn chhut-lâi, kiâⁿ ǹg chêng. "Hái, Steve." Summers Ss kóng, Adams Ss mā kóng, "Hái, Joe." In hō͘-siong gi-chhùi chi̍t-ē, bô-ì bô-ì koh sió-khóa kín-tiuⁿ. Koh-lâi, Adams Ss chhun-chhiú ji̍p o͘ siuⁿ-á the̍h chhut chi̍t-ki chóa-khau-á. Oa̍t-sin ê sî, i kā khau-á tēⁿ ân-ân, tō kín kiâⁿ-tńg lâng-tīn, bô khiā-óa chhù-lāi-lâng, mā bô àⁿ-thâu khòaⁿ ka-tī ê chhiú.

"Allen." Summers Ss kóng. "Anderson... Bentham." 

"Nn̄g-kái thiu-khau tiong-kan ná-chhiūⁿ sī bô làng-phāng." Delacroix Tt oa̍t-thâu kā āu-piah ê Graves Tt kóng: "Lán téng-kái thiu ká-ná sī téng lé-pài ê tāi-chì."

"Sî-kan khak-si̍t kòe liáu chin kín." Graves Tt kóng.

"Clark... Delacroix" 

"Lûn tio̍h goán thâu-ê ah." Delacroix Tt kóng. Yin ang ǹg-chêng ê sî, yi kā khùi kìm leh.

"Dunbar," Summers Ss kóng, Dunbar Tt bān-bān kiâⁿ ǹg siuⁿ-á ê sî, ū chi̍t-ê cha-bó͘ kóng, "Janey, khah kín leh," lēng-gōa ū-lâng kóng, "Yi kàu ah lah."

"Koh lâi tō sī goán ah," Graves Tt kóng. Yi khòaⁿ tio̍h Graves Ss se̍h kòe siuⁿ-á, chèng-chèng keng-keng kap Summers Ss phah chi̍t-ê chio-ho͘, koh ùi siuⁿ-á thiu chi̍t-ki chóa-khau. Kàu chit sî-chūn, tōa pō͘-hūn cha-po͘-lâng lóng í-keng tēⁿ chi̍t-ki sè-sè ê chóa-khau, koh put-sî tī chhiú nih kā lián lâi lián khì. Dunbar Tt hām nn̄g-ê hāu-seⁿ khiā chò-hóe, chóa-khau tī Dunbar Tt ê chhiú tiong. 

"Harburt... Hutchinson." 

"Kín khì, Bill," Hutchinson Tt kóng, piⁿ-á ê lâng lóng chhiò chhut-lâi.

"Jones." 

"Ū thiaⁿ-e kóng," Adams kā khiā tī i piⁿ-á ê Warner Lāu-sian kóng, "pak-pêng hit-chng tng-teh tâm-lūn chhú-siau thiu-khau ê tāi-chì."

Waner Lāu-sian hngh chi̍t-siaⁿ. "Hit-tīn khong-khám kiáⁿ," i kóng. "Thiaⁿ hiah-ê siàu-liân sió-kiáⁿ, tāi-chì ē hāi. Lí kám chai, koh-lâi in tio̍h tńg-khì tòa soaⁿ-khang, bô sit-thâu thang chò, tio̍h án-ne tō͘ ji̍t-chí. Kòe-khì ū chi̍t-ê kóng-hoat 'La̍k-goe̍h thiu-khau, hó nî-tang chāi āu.' Chin kín lí tō chai, lán lóng tio̍h chia̍h gô-tn̂g-chhài (鵝腸菜 = 䌓縷, chickweed) kap chhiūⁿ-chí (橡子, acorn). Chū-chá lán tō lóng ū teh thiu-khau ah." I khì-phut-phut koh án-ne po͘-chhiong: "Khòaⁿ Joe Summers láu-sè tī hia kap lâng gō͘-sì-saⁿ, khòaⁿ tio̍h chiâⁿ gāi-gio̍h ê."

"Ū chi̍t-kóa só͘-chāi í-keng bô teh thiu-khau ah," Adams Ss kóng.

"Án-ne kan-ta ē chhut tāi-chì," Warner Lāu-sian kian-koat kóng, "hiah-ê siàu-liân sió-kiáⁿ."

"Martin." Bobby Martin khòaⁿ in lāu-pē kiâⁿ ǹg chêng. "Overdyke... Percey."

"Góa hi-bāng in khah kín leh," Dunbar Tt kā yin tōa-hàn hāu-seⁿ kóng; "góa hi-bāng in khah kín leh."

"In tit-boeh liáu ah," yin hāu-seⁿ kóng.

"Lí chún-pī hó cháu khì kā lín lāu-pē kóng," Dunbar Tt kóng.

- -

4. 六月抽 khau, 好年冬在後

眾人 lóng 抽濟濟擺 ah, 逐个有聽 ná 無聽 hiah-ê 步數: 大部份人干焦靜靜 nā 喙唇, 無四界看. 紲落, Summers Ss 一手攑懸, 講, "Adams." 一个人 ùi 人陣出來, 行 ǹg 前. "Hái, Steve." Summers Ss 講, Adams Ss mā 講, "Hái, Joe." In 互相 gi 喙一下, 無意無意 koh 小可緊張. Koh 來, Adams Ss 伸手入烏箱仔提出一支紙 khau 仔. 越身 ê 時, 伊 kā khau 仔捏絚絚, tō 緊行轉人陣, 無徛倚厝內人, mā 無 àⁿ 頭看 ka-tī ê 手.

"Allen." Summers Ss 講. "Anderson... Bentham." 

"兩改抽 khau 中間 ná 像是無 làng 縫." Delacroix Tt 越頭 kā 後壁 ê Graves Tt 講: "咱頂改抽 ká-ná 是頂禮拜 ê 代誌."

"時間確實過了真緊." Graves Tt 講.

"Clark... Delacroix" 

"輪著阮頭 ê ah." Delacroix Tt 講. Yin 翁 ǹg 前 ê 時, yi kā 氣禁 leh.

"Dunbar," Summers Ss 講, Dunbar Tt 慢慢行 ǹg 箱仔 ê 時, 有一个查某講, "Janey, 較緊 leh," 另外有人講, "她到 ah lah."

"Koh 來 tō 是阮 ah," Graves Tt 講. 她看著 Graves Ss 踅過箱仔, 正正經經 kap Summers Ss 拍一个招呼, koh ùi 箱仔抽一支紙 khau. 到這時陣, 大部份查埔人 lóng 已經捏一支細細 ê 紙 khau, koh 不時 tī 手 nih kā 撚來撚去. Dunbar Tt 和兩个後生徛做伙, 紙 khau tī Dunbar Tt ê 手中. 

"Harburt... Hutchinson." 

"緊去, Bill," Hutchinson Tt 講, 邊仔 ê 人 lóng 笑出來.

"Jones." 

"有聽 e 講," Adams kā 徛 tī 伊邊仔 ê Warner 老先講, "北爿彼庄 tng-teh 談論取消抽 khau ê 代誌."

Waner 老先 hngh 一聲. "彼陣 khong-khám 囝," 伊講. "聽 hiah-ê 少年小囝, 代誌會害. 你敢知, koh-lâi in 著轉去蹛山空, 無穡頭通做, 著 án-ne 度日子. 過去有一个講法 '六月抽 khau, 好年冬在後.' 真緊你 tō 知, 咱 lóng 著食 gô-tn̂g-chhài (鵝腸菜 = 䌓縷, chickweed) kap chhiūⁿ-chí (橡子, acorn). 自早咱 tō lóng 有 teh 抽 khau ah." 伊氣 phut-phut koh án-ne 補充: "看 Joe Summers 老細 tī hia kap 人五四三, 看著誠礙虐 ê."

"有一寡所在已經無 teh 抽 khau ah," Adams Ss 講.

"Án-ne 干焦會出代誌," Warner 老先堅決講, "hiah-ê 少年小囝."

"Martin." Bobby Martin 看 in 老爸行 ǹg 前. "Overdyke... Percey."

"我希望 in 較緊 leh," Dunbar Tt kā yin 大漢後生講; "我希望 in 較緊 leh."

"In 得欲了 ah," yin 後生講.

"你準備好走去 kā 恁老爸講," Dunbar Tt 講.

- -

4.

The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions: most of them were quiet, wetting their lips, not looking around. Then Mr. Summers raised one hand high and said, "Adams." A man disengaged himself from the crowd and came forward. "Hi, Steve." Mr. Summers said, and Mr. Adams said, "Hi. Joe." They grinned at one another humorlessly and nervously. Then Mr. Adams reached into the black box and took out a folded paper. He held it firmly by one corner as he turned and went hastily back to his place in the crowd, where he stood a little apart from his family, not looking down at his hand.

"Allen." Mr. Summers said. "Anderson.... Bentham."

"Seems like there's no time at all between lotteries any more." Mrs. Delacroix said to Mrs. Graves in the back row.

"Seems like we got through with the last one only last week."

"Time sure goes fast.-- Mrs. Graves said.

"Clark.... Delacroix"

"There goes my old man." Mrs. Delacroix said. She held her breath while her husband went forward.

"Dunbar," Mr. Summers said, and Mrs. Dunbar went steadily to the box while one of the women said. "Go on. Janey," and another said, "There she goes."

"We're next." Mrs. Graves said. She watched while Mr. Graves came around from the side of the box, greeted Mr. Summers gravely and selected a slip of paper from the box. By now, all through the crowd there were men holding the small folded papers in their large hand, turning them over and over nervously. Mrs. Dunbar and her two sons stood together, Mrs. Dunbar holding the slip of paper.

"Harburt.... Hutchinson."

"Get up there, Bill," Mrs. Hutchinson said, and the people near her laughed.

"Jones."

"They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery."

Old Man Warner snorted. "Pack of crazy fools," he said. "Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery," he added petulantly. "Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody."

"Some places have already quit lotteries." Mrs. Adams said.

"Nothing but trouble in that," Old Man Warner said stoutly. "Pack of young fools."

"Martin." And Bobby Martin watched his father go forward. "Overdyke.... Percy."

"I wish they'd hurry," Mrs. Dunbar said to her older son. "I wish they'd hurry."

"They're almost through," her son said.

"You get ready to run tell Dad," Mrs. Dunbar said.

- -

3. 煞袂記得今仔日 ê 代誌

3. Soah bē-kì-tit kin-á-ji̍t ê tāi-chì

Summers Ss chòe-āu kóng-ōe liáu, kiâⁿ ǹg chi̍p-ha̍p tī hia ê lâng-tīn ê sî, Hutchinson Tt* chiah kóaⁿ kín-kín ùi lō͘-á lâi kàu tōa-tiâⁿ, keng-thâu moa phòng-se-saⁿ, kiâⁿ ji̍p lâng-tīn āu-bīn. "Soah bē-kì-tit kin-á-ji̍t ê tāi-chì," yi kā khiā tī yi piⁿ-á ê Delacroix Tt kóng, nn̄g-lâng tō lóng khin-khin chhiò chi̍t-ē. "Siūⁿ-kóng goán lāu-ê sī khì āu-bóe thia̍p chhâ," Hutchinson Tt kè-sio̍k kóng, "chi̍t-ē khòaⁿ gōa-kháu, gín-á mā bô tī leh, góa chiah siūⁿ tio̍h sī jī-chhit, choăn iân-lō͘ cháu lâi." Yi kō͘ ûi-su-kûn kā chhiú chhit ta, Delacroix Tt kóng, "iáu ē-hù lah. In iáu tī hia khai-káng leh." [* Tt = Thài-thài]

Hutchinson Tt kā ām-kún giú tn̂g, thàu-kòe lâng-tīn khòaⁿ tio̍h yin ang kap gín-á khiā tī óa-kīn thâu-chêng hia. Yi kha̍p chi̍t-ē Delacroix Tt ê chhiú-kut piáu-sī chài-kiàn, tō kheh kòe lâng-tīn ǹg chêng. Ta̍k-ê chin hó-lé niū yi kòe: ū nn̄g/saⁿ ê lâng kō͘ tú-hó hông thiaⁿ ē-tio̍h ê siaⁿ kóng, "Lín Hutchinson Tt lâi ah," kap "Bill, yi chóng-sǹg kàu-ūi ah." Hutchinson Tt lâi kàu yin ang hia, tng-teh tán ê Summers Ss tō chin hoaⁿ-hí kóng, "Siūⁿ-kóng, nā koh tán bô lí, góa tio̍h seng khai-sí ah, Tessie." Hutchinson Tt, chhiò hi-hi kóng, "Lí bē kiò góa kā óaⁿ-pôaⁿ phiaⁿ tī chúi-chô mài chhap lah hoⁿh, Joe?" Chi̍t-chūn chhiò-siaⁿ ùi lâng-tīn chhut-lâi, lâng-lâng lóng tī Hutchinson Tt kàu-ūi liáu khiā tńg ka-tī ê ūi.

"Hmh, chit-má," Summers Ss pêng-chēng kóng, "góa siūⁿ lán tō lâi khai-sí, kā pān hō͘ oân, ta̍k-ê thang tńg bô-êng. Ū-lâng bô lâi bô?"

"Dunbar." kúi-ā ê lâng kóng. "Dunbar. Dunbar." 

Summer Ss chhâ miâ-toaⁿ chi̍t-ē. "Cclyde Dunbar." i kóng. "Tio̍h. I ê kha siak-tn̄g khì, sī bô? Siáng thè i thiu?"

"Góa siūⁿ, sī góa," chi̍t-ê cha-bó͘-lâng kóng, Summers Ss oa̍t-kòe khòaⁿ yi. "Bó͘ thè ang thiu," Summers Ss kóng. "Lí kám bô sêng-liân ê hāu-seⁿ thang thè lí chò, Janey?" Sui-bóng Summers Ss hām chng-nih ta̍k-lâng lóng chai tap-àn, thiu-khau-koaⁿ iáu-sī tio̍h chèng-sek mn̄g chit-ê būn-tê. Summers Ss kek chi̍t-ê ū chhù-bī chai ê piáu-chêng tán Dunbar Tt hôe-tap.

"Horace iáu bōe cha̍p-la̍k hòe." Dunbar Tt bô-ì bô-ì kóng. "Góa siūⁿ, kin-nî tio̍h iû góa lâi thè goán lāu-ê thiu."

"Tio̍h." Summers Ss kóng. I tī chhiú the̍h ê miâ-toaⁿ chò chi̍t-ê kì-hō. Jiân-āu i koh mn̄g, "Watson chhù ê cha-po͘-kiáⁿ kin-nî ū lâi thiu bô?"

Chi̍t-ê loh-kha cha-po͘ gín-á tī lâng-tīn nih gia̍h-chhiú. "Tī chia," i kóng. "Góa thè goán a-bú thiu, mā ka-tī thiu." Jack kín-tiuⁿ kah ba̍k-chiu chho̍p-chho̍p-nih, thâu koh lê loeh; lâng-tīn lāi-té ká-ná ū thiaⁿ-e lâng án-ne kóng: "Jack sī hó-kiáⁿ." kap "Thè lín lāu-bú hoaⁿ-hí, ū-lâng thang tàu kha-chhiú ah."

"Hmh," Summers Ss kóng, "tāi-khài lóng ū ah. Warner Lāu-sian ū lâi bô?"

"Tī chia," ū-lâng ìn-siaⁿ, á Summers tō tìm chi̍t-ē thâu.

Summers Ss chheng nâ-âu koh khòaⁿ miâ-toaⁿ ê sî, hut-jiân lâng-tīn lóng tiām khì. "Lóng chún-pī hó ah, hoⁿh?" i chhut siaⁿ. "Chit-má góa tiám-miâ -- thōng tāi-seng sī ka-cho̍k ê cho̍k-tiúⁿ -- sûi-lâng chhut-lâi, ùi siuⁿ-á nih thiu chi̍t-ki khau-á. Khau-á tēⁿ tī chhiú nih, bōe-sī phah-khui; tán ta̍k-ê lóng thiu liáu, chiah phah-khui lâi khòaⁿ. Án-ne ū chheng-chhó bô?" 

- -

3. 煞袂記得今仔日 ê 代誌

Summers Ss 最後講話了, 行 ǹg 集合 tī hia ê 人陣 ê 時, Hutchinson Tt* 才趕緊緊 ùi 路仔來到大埕, 肩頭幔膨紗衫, 行入人陣後面. "煞袂記得今仔日 ê 代誌," 她 kā 徛 tī 她邊仔 ê Delacroix Tt 講, 兩人 tō lóng 輕輕笑一下. "想講阮老 ê 是去後尾 thia̍p 柴," Hutchinson Tt 繼續講, "一下看外口, 囡仔 mā 無 tī leh, 我才想著是二七, choăn 沿路走來." 她 kō͘ 圍軀裙 kā 手拭焦, Delacroix Tt 講, "猶會赴 lah. In 猶 tī hia 開講 leh." [* Tt = Thài-thài]

Hutchinson Tt kā 頷頸搝長, 透過人陣看著 yin 翁 kap 囡仔徛 tī 倚近頭前 hia. 她磕一下 Delacroix Tt ê 手骨表示再見, tō kheh 過人陣 ǹg 前. 逐个真好禮讓她過: 有兩三个人 kō͘ 拄好 hông 聽會著 ê 聲講, "恁 Hutchinson Tt 來 ah," kap "Bill, 她總算到位 ah." Hutchinson Tt 來到 yin 翁 hia, tng-teh 等 ê Summers Ss tō 真歡喜講, "想講, 若 koh 等無你, 我著先開始 ah, Tessie." Hutchinson Tt, 笑 hi-hi 講, "你袂叫我 kā 碗盤抨 tī 水槽莫 chhap lah hoⁿh, Joe?" 一陣笑聲 ùi 人陣出來, 人人 lóng tī Hutchinson Tt 到位了徛轉 ka-tī ê 位.

"Hmh, chit-má," Summers Ss 平靜講, "我想咱 tō 來開始, kā 辦予完, 逐个通轉無閒. 有人無來無?"

"Dunbar." 幾 ā 个人講. "Dunbar. Dunbar." 

Summer Ss 查名單一下. "Clyde Dunbar." 伊講. "著. 伊 ê 跤摔斷去, 是無? Siáng 替伊抽?"

"我想, 是我," 一个查某人講, Summers Ss 越過看她. "某替翁抽," Summers Ss 講. "你敢無成年 ê 後生通替你做, Janey?" 雖罔 Summers Ss 和庄 nih 逐人 lóng 知答案, 抽 khau 官猶是著正式問這个問題. Summers Ss 激一个有趣味知 ê 表情等 Dunbar Tt 回答.

"Horace 猶未十六歲." Dunbar Tt 無意無意講. "我想, 今年著由我來替阮老 ê 抽."

"著." Summers Ss 講. 伊 tī 手提 ê 名單做一个記號. 然後伊 koh 問, "Watson 厝 ê 查埔囝今年有來抽無?"

一个躼跤查埔囡仔 tī 人陣 nih 攑手. "Tī chia," 伊講. "我替阮阿母抽, mā ka-tī 抽." Jack 緊張 kah 目睭 chho̍p-chho̍p nih, 頭 koh 犁 loeh; 人陣內底 ká-ná 有聽 e 人 án-ne 講: "Jack 是好囝." kap "替恁老母歡喜, 有人通鬥跤手 ah."

"Hmh," Summers Ss 講, "大概 lóng 有 ah. Warner 老先有來無?"

"Tī chia," 有人應聲, á Summers tō tìm 一下頭.

Summers Ss 清嚨喉 koh 看名單 ê 時, 忽然人陣 lóng 恬去. "Lóng 準備好 ah, hoⁿh?" 伊出聲. "Chit-má 我點名 -- thōng 代先是家族 ê 族長 -- 隨人出來, ùi 箱仔 nih 抽一支 khau 仔. Khau 仔捏 tī 手 nih, 未是拍開; 等逐个 lóng 抽了, 才拍開來看. Án-ne 有清楚無?" 

- -

3.

Just as Mr. Summers finally left off talking and turned to the assembled villagers, Mrs. Hutchinson came hurriedly along the path to the square, her sweater thrown over her shoulders, and slid into place in the back of the crowd. "Clean forgot what day it was," she said to Mrs. Delacroix, who stood next to her, and they both laughed softly. "Thought my old man was out back stacking wood," Mrs. Hutchinson went on. "and then I looked out the window and the kids was gone, and then I remembered it was the twentyseventh and came a-running." She dried her hands on her apron, and Mrs. Delacroix said, "You're in time, though. They're still talking away up there."

Mrs. Hutchinson craned her neck to see through the crowd and found her husband and children standing near the front. She tapped Mrs. Delacroix on the arm as a farewell and began to make her way through the crowd. The people separated good-humoredly to let her through: two or three people said. in voices just loud enough to be heard across the crowd, "Here comes your, Missus, Hutchinson," and "Bill, she made it after all." Mrs. Hutchinson reached her husband, and Mr. Summers, who had been waiting, said cheerfully, "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie." Mrs. Hutchinson said. grinning, "Wouldn't have me leave m'dishes in the sink, now, would you. Joe?," and soft laughter ran through the crowd as the people stirred back into position after Mrs. Hutchinson's arrival.

"Well, now." Mr. Summers said soberly, "guess we better get started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work. Anybody ain't here?"

"Dunbar." several people said. "Dunbar. Dunbar."

Mr. Summers consulted his list. "Clyde Dunbar." he said. "That's right. He's broke his leg, hasn't he? Who's drawing for him?"

"Me. I guess," a woman said, and Mr. Summers turned to look at her. "Wife draws for her husband." Mr. Summers said. "Don't you have a grown boy to do it for you, Janey?" Although Mr. Summers and everyone else in the village knew the answer perfectly well, it was the business of the official of the lottery to ask such questions formally. Mr. Summers waited with an expression of polite interest while Mrs. Dunbar answered. 

"Horace's not but sixteen yet." Mrs. Dunbar said regretfully. "Guess I gotta fill in for the old man this year." 

"Right." Sr. Summers said. He made a note on the list he was holding. Then he asked, "Watson boy drawing this year?"

A tall boy in the crowd raised his hand. "Here," he said. "I'm drawing for my mother and me." He blinked his eyes nervously and ducked his head as several voices in the crowd said things like "Good fellow, Jack." and "Glad to see your mother's got a man to do it."

"Well," Mr. Summers said, "guess that's everyone. Old Man Warner make it?"

"Here," a voice said, and Mr. Summers nodded.

A sudden hush fell on the crowd as Mr. Summers cleared his throat and looked at the list. "All ready?" he called. "Now, I'll read the names--heads of families first--and the men come up and take a paper out of the box. Keep the paper folded in your hand without looking at it until everyone has had a turn. Everything clear?"

- -

2. 抽 khau ê 家私已經失傳真久

2. Thiu-khau ê ke-si í-keng sit-thoân chin kú

Thōng goân-thâu thiu-khau ê ke-si í-keng sit-thoân chin kú ah, taⁿ khǹg tī í-thâu téng hit-kha o͘ siuⁿ-á, tī chng nih Marner Lāu-sian chhut-sì chìn-chêng tō í-keng teh iōng ah. Summers Ss tiāⁿ-tiāⁿ kā chhun-bîn thê-khí chò chi̍t-kha sin siuⁿ-á ê tāi-chì, m̄-koh, bô-lâng siūⁿ-boeh thui-hoan o͘ siuⁿ-á só͘ tāi-piáu ê chit-ê thoân-thóng. Thiaⁿ-kóng, chit-má chit-kha siuⁿ-á, ū tàu chi̍t-kóa chìn-chêng hit-kha ê chhâ-phìⁿ, á chìn-chêng hit-kha, sī siōng-chá lâi chia kiàn chhun ê sian-bîn só͘ chè-chō ê. Ta̍k-tang thiu-khau liáu-āu, Summers Ss tō koh thê-chhut chò sin siuⁿ-á ê tāi-chì, m̄-koh ta̍k-tang siáⁿ to bô chò, chit-ê gī-tê tō soah-soah khi ah. O͘ siuⁿ-á chi̍t-nî chi̍t-nî phòa-sàm: kàu taⁿ i í-keng m̄-sī chiâu o͘ ê, ū chi̍t-bīn liah kah khòaⁿ ē-tio̍h goân-pún chhâ ê sek, kî-thaⁿ só͘-chāi m̄-sī thè-sek, tō sī tèng-tiám.

Martin Ss hām in tōa-hāu-seⁿ Baxter kā siuⁿ-á hōaⁿ ân tī í-thâu téng, it-ti̍t kàu Summers Ss kō͘ chhiú kā chóa-khau kiáu chiâu-ûn. In-ūi bē-chió gî-sek í-keng m̄-sī bē-kì-tit tō sī pàng tiāu ah, Summers Ss chiah ē-tit kō͘ chóa-khau lâi thè-ōaⁿ í-keng iōng kúi-ā tāi ê chhâ-khau. Summers Ss ê lūn-tiám jīn-ûi, chng-thâu sè ê sî kō͘ chhâ-khau sī chin hó, m̄-koh taⁿ chng-nih ū saⁿ-pah-gōa lâng koh khó-lêng iáu ē cheng-ka, ū su-iàu sú-iōng khah hó khǹg ji̍p o͘ siuⁿ-á ê mi̍h-kiāⁿ. Thiu-khau chìn-chêng hit-mê, Summers Ss hām Graves Ss chò hó chóa-khau-á, koh kā khǹg ji̍p siuⁿ-á, jiân-āu kā só tī Sammers Ss ê thô͘-thòaⁿ kong-si ê pó-hiám-kūi nih, it-ti̍t kàu tē-jī kang chá-khí Summers chún-pī hó-sè, chiah kā poaⁿ khì tōa-tiâⁿ. Kui-tang tiong-kan ê kî-thaⁿ sî-kan, siuⁿ-á sì-kè khǹg, ū-sî khǹg chia, ū-sî pa̍t-ūi; bat ū chi̍t-nî khǹg tī Graves Ss ê chhek-chhng, koh bat chi̍t-nî khǹg tī iû-kio̍k ê thô͘-kha, á ū-sî i mā bat hông the̍h khì Martin kám-á-tiàm ê hòe-kè téng koh kā lâu tī hia. 

Summers Ss soan-pò͘ thiu-khau khai-sí chìn-chêng, ū chin chē ta̍p-ta̍p tih-tih ài chò. Tio̍h chò miâ-chheh -- ka-cho̍k cho̍k-tiúⁿ, koh ka-cho̍k kok-hō͘ ê hō͘-tiúⁿ, kok ka-cho̍k kok-hō͘ ê sêng-oân. Summers Ss tio̍h tī iû-kio̍k kio̍k-tiúⁿ ê chú-chhî hā, chèng-sek soan-sè tam-jīm thiu-khau-koaⁿ. Ū-ê lâng ē-kì-tit, ū sî-chūn thiu-khau-koaⁿ tio̍h liām bó͘-chióng tâi-sû, he put-kò sī ta̍k-nî chiàu liām, chò khoán, m̄-chiâⁿ siaⁿ-tiāu ê gîm-chhiùⁿ. Koh ū chi̍t-kóa lâng siong-sìn, thiu-khau-koaⁿ kòe-khì kan-ta khiā tio̍h liām a̍h chhiùⁿ, mā ū-lâng siong-sìn i tio̍h ná liām ná tī bîn-chiòng tiong-kan kiâⁿ lâi kiâⁿ khì, m̄-koh chē-chē nî chêng, chit pō͘-hūn ê gî-sek í-keng chok-hùi ah. Kòe-khì mā bat ū chi̍t-ê kiâⁿ-lé ê gî-sek, tī múi-lâng lâi kàu siuⁿ-á boeh thiu ê sî, thiu-khau-koaⁿ tō iōng he kap i chio-ho͘. M̄-koh, che mā tòe sî-kan piàn ah, taⁿ ê kám-kak sī, thiu-khau-koaⁿ kan-ta hām kiâⁿ óa ê lâng kóng-ōe tō ē-sái ah. Só͘-ū chiah-ê Summers Ss lóng chiok gâu ê; i chhēng pe̍h siatchuh kap nâ phah-thih-á khò͘, chi̍t-chhiú sûi-ì khǹg tī o͘ siuⁿ-á téng, ná hām Graves Ss kap Martin pē-á-kiáⁿ teh kau-tâm, khòaⁿ tio̍h chiâⁿ sek-ha̍p koh tōa-pān.

- -

2. 抽 khau ê 家私已經失傳真久

Thōng 源頭抽 khau ê 家私已經失傳真久 ah, 今囥 tī 椅頭頂彼跤烏箱仔, tī 庄 nih Marner 老先出世進前 tō 已經 teh 用 ah. Summers Ss 定定 kā 村民提起做一跤新箱仔 ê 代誌, m̄-koh, 無人想欲推翻烏箱仔所代表 ê 這个傳統. 聽講, chit-má 這跤箱仔, 有鬥一寡進前彼跤 ê 柴片, á 進前彼跤, 是上早來 chia 建村 ê 先民所製造 ê. 逐冬抽 khau 了後, Summers Ss tō koh 提出做新箱仔 ê 代誌, m̄-koh 逐冬啥 to 無做, 這个議題 tō 煞煞去 ah. 烏箱仔一年一年破鬖: 到今伊已經毋是齊烏 ê, 有一面 liah kah 看會著原本柴 ê 色, 其他所在毋是退色, tō 是釘點.

Martin Ss 和 in 大後生 Baxter kā 箱仔扞絚 tī 椅頭頂, 一直到 Summers Ss kō͘ 手 kā 紙 khau 攪齊勻. 因為袂少儀式已經毋是袂記得 tō 是放掉 ah, Summers Ss 才會得 kō͘ 紙 khau 來替換已經用幾 ā 代 ê 柴 khau. Summers Ss ê 論點認為, 庄頭細 ê 時 kō͘ 柴 khau 是真好, m̄-koh 今庄 nih 有三百外人 koh 可能猶會增加, 有需要使用較好囥入烏箱仔 ê 物件. 抽 khau 進前彼暝, Summers Ss 和 Graves Ss 做好紙 khau 仔, koh kā 囥入箱仔, 然後 kā 鎖 tī Sammers Ss ê 塗炭公司 ê 保險櫃 nih, 一直到第二工早起 Summers 準備好勢, 才 kā 搬去大埕. 規冬中間 ê 其他時間, 箱仔四界囥, 有時囥 chia, 有時別位; bat 有一年囥 tī Graves Ss ê 粟倉, koh bat 一年囥 tī 郵局 ê 塗跤, á 有時伊 mā bat hông 提去 Martin kám 仔店 ê 貨架頂 koh kā 留 tī hia. 

Summers Ss 宣布抽 khau 開始進前, 有真濟沓沓滴滴愛做. 著做名冊 -- 家族族長, koh 家族各戶 ê 戶長, 各家族各戶 ê 成員. Summers Ss 著 tī 郵局局長 ê 主持下, 正式宣誓擔任抽 khau 官. 有 ê 人會記得, 有時陣抽 khau 官著念某種台詞, 彼不過是逐年照念, 做款, 毋成聲調 ê 吟唱. Koh 有一寡人相信, 抽 khau 官過去干焦徛著念 a̍h 唱, mā 有人相信伊著 ná 念 ná tī 民眾中間行來行去, m̄-koh 濟濟年前, 這部份 ê 儀式已經作廢 ah. 過去 mā bat 有一个行禮 ê 儀式, tī 每人來到箱仔欲抽 ê 時, 抽 khau 官 tō 用 he kap 伊招呼. M̄-koh, 這 mā 綴時間變 ah, 今 ê 感覺是, 抽 khau 官干焦和行倚 ê 人講話 tō 會使 ah. 所有 chiah-ê Summers Ss lóng 足 gâu ê; 伊穿白 siatchuh kap 藍拍鐵仔褲, 一手隨意囥 tī 烏箱仔頂, ná 和 Graves Ss kap Martin 爸仔囝 teh 交談, 看著誠適合 koh 大範.

- -

2.

The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born. Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box. There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here. Every year, after the lottery, Mr. Summers began talking again about a new box, but every year the subject was allowed to fade off without anything's being done. The black box grew shabbier each year: by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.

Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, held the black box securely on the stool until Mr. Summers had stirred the papers thoroughly with his hand. Because so much of the ritual had been forgotten or discarded, Mr. Summers had been successful in having slips of paper substituted for the chips of wood that had been used for generations. Chips of wood, Mr. Summers had argued, had been all very well when the village was tiny, but now that the population was more than three hundred and likely to keep on growing, it was necessary to use something that would fit more easily into the black box. The night before the lottery, Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves made up the slips of paper and put them in the box, and it was then taken to the safe of Mr. Summers' coal company and locked up until Mr. Summers was ready to take it to the square next morning. The rest of the year, the box was put way, sometimes one place, sometimes another; it had spent one year in Mr. Graves's barn and another year underfoot in the post office, and sometimes it was set on a shelf in the Martin grocery and left there.

There was a great deal of fussing to be done before Mr. Summers declared the lottery open. There were the lists to make up--of heads of families, heads of households in each family, members of each household in each family. There was the proper swearing-in of Mr. Summers by the postmaster, as the official of the lottery; at one time, some people remembered, there had been a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery, a perfunctory, tuneless chant that had been rattled off duly each year; some people believed that the official of the lottery used to stand just so when he said or sang it, others believed that he was supposed to walk among the people, but years and years ago this part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse. There had been, also, a ritual salute, which the official of the lottery had had to use in addressing each person who came up to draw from the box, but this also had changed with time, until now it was felt necessary only for the official to speak to each person approaching. Mr. Summers was very good at all this; in his clean white shirt and blue jeans, with one hand resting carelessly on the black box, he seemed very proper and important as he talked interminably to Mr. Graves and the Martins.

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G. Thiu-khau | 抽鬮 - 1. 主持人是 Summers Ss

The Lottery /by Shirley Jackson (1948)

https://www.cusd200.org/cms/lib/IL01001538/Centricity/Domain/361/jackson_lottery.pdf

Thiu-khau | 抽鬮

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1. Chú-chhî-jîn sī Summers Ss

La̍k-goe̍h 27 hit chá-khí, thiⁿ chheng, ji̍t iām, chhiong-móa joa̍h-thiⁿ ê chheng-sin un-loán; hoe kiau-iām, chháu chheⁿ-chheⁿ. Cha̍p-tiám chó-iū, chng-nih ê lâng khai-sí chi̍p-ha̍p tī iû-kio̍k kap gîn-hâng tiong-kan ê tōa-tiâⁿ. Ū-ê tìn, in-ūi lâng siuⁿ chē, thiu-khau su-iàu nn̄g-kang, só͘-í tio̍h ùi la̍k-goe̍h 26 tō khai-sí. M̄-koh, chit-ê chng, kan-ta ū saⁿ-pah thóng lâng, thiu-khau ê sî-kan pút-kò nn̄g tiám-cheng, só͘-í ē-tàng tī chá-khí 10 tiám khai-sí, soah liáu chng-nih ê lâng iáu ē-hù tńg-chhù chia̍h-tàu.

Tong-jiân, gín-á seng chi̍p-ha̍p khí-lâi. Ha̍k-hāu tú-chiah pàng-joa̍h, kám-kak chū-iû, hō͘ in tōa-pō͘-hūn chē bē-tiâu; it-poaⁿ in ē seng chi̍p chò-hóe tiām-chēng chi̍t-khùn, koh lâi tō khai-sí chhá-nāu chò-sńg, á in kóng ê ōe iáu sī iú-koan kàu-sek kap lāu-su, iú-koan khò-pún kap kà-sī.

Bobby Martin ê lak-tē-á í-keng chio̍h-thâu tē pá-pá, kî-thaⁿ ê cha-po͘ gín-á sûi tō o̍h i ê iūⁿ, teh khioh siōng-îⁿ, siōng-ku̍t-liu ê chio̍h-thâu-á; Bobby kap Harry Jones kap Dickie Delacroix -- pún-chng kā sèⁿ liām chò "Telakroi" -- chòe-āu tī tōa-tiâⁿ ê chi̍t-ê kak-lo̍h kok chi̍t tōa-tui chio̍h-thâu, koh kā kò͘ tiâu-tiâu, bián-tit hō͘ kî-thaⁿ ê cha-po͘ gín-á kiap khì. Chă-gín-á khiā tī piⁿ-á, ná teh ka-tī khai-káng koh ná ùi keng-thâu oa̍t kòe khòaⁿ cha-po͘ gín-á, á hiah-ê siōng sè-hàn ê gín-á, nā m̄-sī tī thô͘-hún nih pha tō sī ân-ân khan tio̍h in hiaⁿ-ché ê chhiú.

Kòe bô-kú, cha-po͘-lâng mā óa lâi ah, ná khòaⁿ in ê gín-á teh chhòng-siáⁿ, koh ná khai-káng chèng-choh kap hō͘-chúi, thih-gû-á kap la̍p-sòe tt* ê tāi-chì. In khiā chò-hóe tī lī hit-tui chio̍h-thâu hn̄g-hn̄g ê só͘-chāi, in ê chhiò-ōe chin pêng-tām, in kan-ta bún-chhiò, bô tōa chhiò. Cha-bó͘-lâng, chhēng thè-sek ê chhù-lāi-saⁿ kap phòng-se-saⁿ, bô-gōa-kú mā tòe chhù-thâu-ke kòe lâi ah. Kiâⁿ khì thâu-ke hia chìn-chêng, yin mā hō͘-siong phah chio-ho͘, koh kau-ōaⁿ chi̍t-kóa êng-á-ōe. [* tt = téng-téng]

Chi̍t-ē-á liáu, khiā tī ang-sài piⁿ-á ê cha-bó͘-lâng khai-sí hiàm in-ê gín-á, á gín-á tio̍h hông hiàm sì/gō͘-kái chiah m̄-kam m̄-goān kiâⁿ óa lâi. Bobby Martin ùi in lāu-bú lia̍h tio̍h ê chhiú siám-khui, ná chhiò ná cháu-tńg hit-tui chio̍h-thâu. In lāu-pē tōa siaⁿ kā hoah, Bobby chiah kín koh lâi, khiā tī in lāu-pē kap siōng tōa-hàn ê sió-tī tiong-kan.

Thiu-khau ê chú-chhî-jîn sī Summers Ss* -- tōa-tiâⁿ bú, chheng-siàu-liân klub, Halowin tt ê chiat-bo̍k mā lóng sī i -- i ū sî-kan koh ū khùi-la̍t thang kòng-hiàn kong-bîn oa̍h-tāng. I sī chi̍t-ê bīn îⁿ-îⁿ, hó chhiò-khoe ê lâng, keng-êng thô͘-thòaⁿ seng-lí, lâng-lâng ūi i khek-khui, in-ūi i bô sī-sè, in bó͘ koh chiok cha̍p-liām. I kōaⁿ hit-kha o͘ chhâ-siuⁿ lâi kàu tōa-tiâⁿ ê sî, chng-nih ê lâng kóng-ōe kóng kah ōng-ōng kiò, á i ná ia̍t-chhiú ná kóng, "Ū khah òaⁿ tām-po̍h ah, hiong-chhin ah." Iû-piān kio̍k-tiúⁿ Graves Ss tòe i, chah chi̍t-ê saⁿ-kha í-thâu, kā í-thâu chhāi tī tōa-tiâⁿ tiong-ng, Summers Ss tō kā o͘-siuⁿ-á khǹg tī téng-bīn. Chng-nih ê lâng pó-chhî chi̍t-ê kī-lī, in lóng hām hit-tè í-thâu keh khui-khui; āu-lâi, Summers Ss kóng, "Lín ū-lâng ē-sái kòe-lâi tàu-kha-chhiú chi̍t-ē bô?" ū nn̄g-ê cha-po͘-lâng sió iû-gî chi̍t-ē. Martin Ss hām in tōa-hāu-seⁿ Baxter hiòng-chêng kā siuⁿ-á hōaⁿ tiâu tī í-thâu téng, hō͘ Summers Ss thang kā lāi-té ê chóa-khau-á lā-lā leh. [* Ss = Sian-siⁿ]

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1. 主持人是 Summers Ss

六月 27 彼早起, 天清, 日炎, 充滿熱天 ê 清新溫暖; 花嬌艷, 草青青. 十點左右, 庄 nih ê 人開始集合 tī 郵局 kap 銀行中間 ê 大埕. 有 ê 鎮, 因為人 siuⁿ 濟, 抽 khau 需要兩工, 所以著 ùi 六月 26 tō 開始. M̄-koh, 這个庄, 干焦有三百捅人, 抽 khau ê 時間不過兩點鐘, 所以會當 tī 早起 10 點開始, 煞了庄 nih ê 人猶會赴轉厝食晝.

當然, 囡仔先集合起來. 學校拄才放熱, 感覺自由, 予 in 大部份坐袂牢; 一般 in 會先集做伙恬靜一睏, koh 來 tō 開始吵鬧做耍, á in 講 ê 話猶是有關教室 kap 老師, 有關課本 kap 教示.

Bobby Martin ê lak 袋仔已經石頭袋飽飽, 其他 ê 查埔囡仔隨 tō 學伊 ê 樣, teh 抾上圓, 上滑溜 ê 石頭仔; Bobby kap Harry Jones kap Dickie Delacroix -- 本庄 kā 姓念做 "Telakroi" -- 最後 tī 大埕 ê 一个角落 kok 一大堆石頭, koh kā 顧牢牢, 免得予其他 ê 查埔囡仔劫去. Chă 囡仔徛 tī 邊仔, ná teh ka-tī 開講 koh ná ùi 肩頭越過看查埔囡仔, á hiah-ê 上細漢 ê 囡仔, 若毋是 tī 塗粉 nih 拋 tō 是絚絚牽著 in 兄姊 ê 手.

過無久, 查埔人 mā 倚來 ah, ná 看 in ê 囡仔 teh 創啥, koh ná 開講種作 kap 雨水, 鐵牛仔 kap 納稅 tt* ê 代誌. In 徛做伙 tī 離彼堆石頭遠遠 ê 所在, in ê 笑話真平淡, in 干焦吻笑, 無大笑. 查某人, 穿退色 ê 厝內衫 kap 膨紗衫, 無偌久 mā 綴厝頭家過來 ah. 行去頭家 hia 進前, yin mā 互相拍招呼, koh 交換一寡閒仔話.  [* tt = téng-téng]

一下仔了, 徛 tī 翁婿邊仔 ê 查某人開始喊 in-ê 囡仔, á 囡仔著 hông 喊四五改才毋甘毋願行倚來. Bobby Martin ùi in 老母掠著 ê 手閃開, ná 笑 ná 走轉彼堆石頭. In 老爸大聲 kā 喝, Bobby 才緊 koh 來, 徛 tī in 老爸 kap 上大漢 ê 小弟中間.

抽 khau ê 主持人是 Summers Ss* -- 大埕舞, 青少年 klub, Halowin tt ê 節目 mā lóng 是伊 -- 伊有時間 koh 有氣力通貢獻公民活動. 伊是一个面圓圓, hó 笑詼 ê 人, 經營塗炭生理, 人人為伊克虧, 因為伊無序細, in 某 koh 足雜唸. 伊捾彼跤烏柴箱來到大埕 ê 時, 庄 nih ê 人講話講 kah ōng-ōng 叫, á 伊 ná 擛手 ná 講, "有較晏淡薄 ah, 鄉親 ah." 郵便局長 Graves Ss 綴伊, 扎一个三跤椅頭, kā 椅頭 chhāi tī 大埕中央, Summers Ss tō kā 烏箱仔囥 tī 頂面. 庄 nih ê 人保持一个距離, in lóng 和彼塊椅頭隔開開; 後來, Summers Ss 講, "恁有人會使過來鬥跤手一下無?" 有兩个查埔人小猶疑一下. Martin Ss 和 in 大後生 Baxter 向前 kā 箱仔扞牢 tī 椅頭頂, 予 Summers Ss 通 kā 內底 ê 紙 khau 仔 抐抐 leh. [* Ss = Sian-siⁿ]

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1.

The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o'clock; in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 26th. But in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.

The children assembled first, of course. School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them; they tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play, and their talk was still of the classroom and the teacher, of books and reprimands.

Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix-- the villagers pronounced this name "Dellacroy"--eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys. The girls stood aside, talking among themselves, looking over their shoulders at the boys, and the very small children rolled in the dust or clung to the hands of their older brothers or sisters. 

Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes. They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed. The women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk. They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their husbands.

Soon the women, standing by their husbands, began to call to their children, and the children came reluctantly, having to be called four or five times. Bobby Martin ducked under his mother's grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones. His father spoke up sharply, and Bobby came quickly and took his place between his father and his oldest brother.

The lottery was conducted--as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program--by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities. He was a round-faced, jovial man and he ran the coal business, and people were sorry for him. because he had no children and his wife was a scold. When he arrived in the square, carrying the black wooden box, there was a murmur of conversation among the villagers, and he waved and called, "Little late today, folks." The postmaster, Mr. Graves, followed him, carrying a three-legged stool, and the stool was put in the center of the square and Mr. Summers set the black box down on it. The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool, and when Mr. Summers said, "Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?" there was a hesitation before two men. Mr. Martin and his oldest son, Baxter, came forward to hold the box steady on the stool while Mr. Summers stirred up the papers inside it. 

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7. 身軀 tī 橋下面幌來幌去

7. Sin-khu tī kiô ē-bīn hàiⁿ lâi hàiⁿ khì

Koân-koân tī i thâu-khak téng chhiū-oe tiong-kan, pô-tô-tôaⁿ ê hiu-hiu kap gok-gok ê siaⁿ kā i ùi bāng tiong kiò chhéⁿ. Pìⁿ bô-pō͘ ê phàu-chhiú kō͘ ô͘-loān-tōaⁿ kap i kò-piat. I thiàu khí-lâi, peh chiūⁿ bîn-bîn ê hōaⁿ-phiâⁿ, chông ji̍p chhiū-nâ.

Kui-kang i lóng teh kiâⁿ, tòe ji̍t-thâu kiâⁿ leh se̍h. Chit-ê chhiū-nâ ná-chhiūⁿ bô chīn-pōng; i chhōe bô khang-khiah, sīm-chì mā bô chhò-chhâ-lâng ê sió-lō͘. I m̄-chai ka-tī tòa tī chiah pha-hng ê só͘-chāi. Chit-chióng hoat-hiān ū tiám-á lî-kî.

Boeh-àm ê sî, i thiám ah, kha-té thiàⁿ, pak-tó͘ iau. Siūⁿ tio̍h bó͘-kiáⁿ, hō͘ i kè-sio̍k kiâⁿ lo̍h-khì. Lo̍h-bóe, i chhōe tio̍h chi̍t-tiâu lō͘, lō͘ ê hong-hiòng i chai sī chèng-khak ê. Lō͘ khoah koh ti̍t, ná-chhiūⁿ to͘-chhī ê ke-lō͘, m̄-koh ká-ná bô-lâng kiâⁿ kòe. Nn̄g pêng bô chhân-hn̂g, bô khiā-ke chhù. Mā bô hō͘ lâng chai-iáⁿ ū-lâng tòa ê káu-pūi-siaⁿ. O͘-àm ê chhiū-châng chiâⁿ-chò lō͘ siang-pêng ê chhiûⁿ, ti̍t-ti̍t thong kàu tē-pêng-sòaⁿ sio-tú, ná-chhiūⁿ tī thàu-sī khò-têng ōe ê tô͘. I ùi chhiū-nâ tiong ê chit-ê khang-khiah gia̍h-thâu khòaⁿ thiⁿ-téng, teh siám-sih ê sī ná hoe-hn̂g kòa ê tōa-lia̍p chheⁿ, khòaⁿ tio̍h chheⁿ-hūn koh kiat-ha̍p chò kî-koài ê chheⁿ-chō. I khak-sìn, in ê an-pâi ū bó͘-chióng kui-chek, he ū pì-bi̍t koh ok-to̍k ê ì-gī. Nn̄g-pêng ê chhiū-nâ chhiong-móa kok-chióng koài siaⁿ, kî-tiong -- chi̍t-kái, nn̄g-kái, koh-ū -- ū i thiaⁿ kah chheng-chheng chhó-chhó, m̄-chai siáⁿ-mih gí-giân ê sè-siaⁿ-ōe.

I ê ām-kún thiàⁿ, gia̍h chhiú bong, chiah chai chéng kah chin lī-hāi. I chai, hō͘ soh-á sok gêng-hoeh ê ūi ū chi̍t-khian o͘ hûn. I kám-kak ba̍k-chiu tiùⁿ, í-keng kheh bē loeh. I ê chi̍h chhùi-ta teh chéng, i kā chi̍h thó͘ chhut chhùi-khí gōa, kō͘ léng khong-khì lâi kàng-kē jia̍t-tō͘. Bô-lâng kiâⁿ kòe ê lō͘ téng ê chháu sī chiâⁿ hó ê tē-thán -- i bô koh kám-kak tio̍h kha ē-bīn ê lō͘ ah.

Bô-m̄-tio̍h, sui-jiân kan-khó͘, i ná kiâⁿ soah khùn khì, in-ūi taⁿ i khòaⁿ tio̍h pa̍t-ê kéng-tì -- hoān-sè i put-kò sī ùi pa̍t-ê chhò-loān chhéⁿ khí-lâi. I khiā tī ka-tī chhù-tiâⁿ ê mn̂g chêng. It-chhè kap i lī-khui ê sî kāng-khoán, tī chá-khí ê ji̍t-thâu ē, lóng kong-bêng koh bí-lē. I it-tēng sī kiâⁿ kui-mê ah. I sak khui mn̂g, kiâⁿ chiūⁿ khoan-khoah ê pe̍h lō͘ ê sî, i khòaⁿ tio̍h cha-bó͘-lâng saⁿ ê iô-tāng; in bó͘, chheng-sin, léng-chēng koh tiⁿ-bi̍t, ùi lō͘-tâi kiâⁿ lo̍h-lâi gêng-chiap i. Yi khiā tī khàm-á kha tán i, kòa chi̍t-ê kóng-bē-chhut hoaⁿ-hí ê chhiò-bīn, chu-thài iu-ngá, toan-chong, bô-tè thang pí. Ah, yi sī gōa-nī-á súi ah! I siang-chhiú peh khui, chông ǹg chêng. Tú boeh lám yi ê sî, i kám-kak ām-kún āu-piah hông tōa-la̍t kòng chi̍t-ē; chi̍t-tō chha̍k-ba̍k ê pe̍h-kng chhiō tī i ê chiu-ûi, koh ū chi̍t-ê ná tōa-phàu teh hiáng ê siaⁿ -- koh lâi, it-chhè lóng o͘-àm koh tiām-chēng.

Peyton Farquhar sí khì ah; i ê sin-khu, ām-kún àu-tn̄g, tī Niau-thâu-chiáu Khe kiô ê chhâ-kho͘ ē-bīn khin-khin hàiⁿ lâi hàiⁿ khì. 

[Soah]

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7. 身軀 tī 橋下面幌來幌去

懸懸 tī 伊頭殼頂樹椏中間, pô-tô 彈 ê hiu-hiu kap gok-gok ê 聲 kā 伊 ùi 夢中叫醒. Pìⁿ 無步 ê 砲手 kō͘ 胡亂彈 kap 伊告別. 伊跳起來, peh 上 bîn-bîn ê 岸坪, 傱入樹林.

規工伊 lóng teh 行, 綴日頭行 leh 踅. 這个樹林 ná 像無盡磅; 伊揣無空隙, 甚至 mā 無剉柴人 ê 小路. 伊毋知 ka-tī 蹛 tī chiah 拋荒 ê 所在. 這種發現有點仔離奇.

欲暗 ê 時, 伊忝 ah, 跤底疼, 腹肚枵. 想著某囝, 予伊繼續行落去. 落尾, 伊揣著一條路, 路 ê 方向伊知是正確 ê. 路闊 koh 直, ná 像都市 ê 街路, m̄-koh ká-ná 無人行過. 兩爿無田園, 無徛家厝. Mā 無予人知影有人蹛 ê 狗吠聲. 烏暗 ê 樹叢成做路雙爿 ê 牆, 直直通到地平線相拄, ná 像 tī 透視課程畫 ê 圖. 伊 ùi 樹林中 ê 這个空隙攑頭看天頂, teh 閃爍 ê 是 ná 花園掛 ê 大粒星, 看著生份 koh 結合做奇怪 ê 星座. 伊確信, in ê 安排有某種規則, 彼有祕密 koh 惡毒 ê 意義. 兩爿 ê 樹林充滿各種怪聲, 其中 -- 一改, 兩改, koh 有 -- 有伊聽 kah 清清楚楚, 毋知啥 mih 語言 ê 細聲話.

伊 ê 頷頸疼, 攑手摸, 才知腫 kah 真厲害. 伊知, 予索仔束凝血 ê 位有一圈烏痕. 伊感覺目睭脹, 已經瞌袂 loeh. 伊 ê 舌喙焦 teh 腫, 伊 kā 舌吐出喙齒外, kō͘ 冷空氣來降低熱度. 無人行過 ê 路頂 ê 草是誠好 ê 地毯 -- 伊無 koh 感覺著跤下面 ê 路 ah.

無毋著, 雖然艱苦, 伊 ná 行煞睏去, 因為今伊看著別个景致 -- 凡勢伊不過是 ùi 別个錯亂醒起來. 伊徛 tī ka-tī 厝埕 ê 門前. 一切 kap 伊離開 ê 時仝款, tī 早起 ê 日頭下, lóng 光明 koh 美麗. 伊一定是行規暝 ah. 伊捒開門, 行上寬闊 ê 白路 ê 時, 伊看著查某人衫 ê 搖動; in 某, 清新, 冷靜 koh 甜蜜, ùi 露台行落來迎接伊. 她徛 tī 坎仔跤等伊, 掛一个講袂出歡喜 ê 笑面, 姿態優雅, 端莊, 無塊通比. Ah, 她是 gōa-nī-á 媠 ah! 伊雙手 peh 開, 傱 ǹg 前. 拄欲攬她 ê 時, 伊感覺頷頸後壁 hông 大力摃一下; 一道鑿目 ê 白光炤 tī 伊 ê 周圍, koh 有一个 ná 大砲 teh 響 ê 聲 -- koh 來, 一切 lóng 烏暗 koh 恬靜.

Peyton Farquhar 死去 ah; 伊 ê 身軀, 頷頸拗斷, tī 貓頭鳥溪橋 ê 柴箍下面輕輕幌來幌去. 

[煞]

--

7.

A whiz and rattle of grapeshot among the branches high above his head roused him from his dream. The baffled cannoneer had fired him a random farewell. He sprang to his feet, rushed up the sloping bank, and plunged into the forest.

All that day he traveled, laying his course by the rounding sun. The forest seemed interminable; nowhere did he discover a break in it, not even a woodman's road. He had not known that he lived in so wild a region. There was something uncanny in the revelation.

By nightfall he was fatigued, footsore, famishing. The thought of his wife and children urged him on. At last he found a road which led him in what he knew to be the right direction. It was as wide and straight as a city street, yet it seemed untraveled. No fields bordered it, no dwelling anywhere. Not so much as the barking of a dog suggested human habitation. The black bodies of the trees formed a straight wall on both sides, terminating on the horizon in a point, like a diagram in a lesson in perspective. Overhead, as he looked up through this rift in the wood, shone great garden stars looking unfamiliar and grouped in strange constellations. He was sure they were arranged in some order which had a secret and malign significance. The wood on either side was full of singular noises, among which--once, twice, and again--he distinctly heard whispers in an unknown tongue.

His neck was in pain and lifting his hand to it found it horribly swollen. He knew that it had a circle of black where the rope had bruised it. His eyes felt congested; he could no longer close them. His tongue was swollen with thirst; he relieved its fever by thrusting it forward from between his teeth into the cold air. How softly the turf had carpeted the untraveled avenue--he could no longer feel the roadway beneath his feet!

Doubtless, despite his suffering, he had fallen asleep while walking, for now he sees another scene--perhaps he has merely recovered from a delirium. He stands at the gate of his own home. All is as he left it, and all bright and beautiful in the morning sunshine. He must have traveled the entire night. As he pushes open the gate and passes up the wide white walk, he sees a flutter of female garments; his wife, looking fresh and cool and sweet, steps down from the veranda to meet him. At the bottom of the steps she stands waiting, with a smile of ineffable joy, an attitude of matchless grace and dignity. Ah, how beautiful she is! He springs forward with extended arms. As he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck; a blinding white light blazes all about him with a sound like the shock of a cannon--then all is darkness and silence!

Peyton Farquhar was dead; his body, with a broken neck, swung gently from side to side beneath the timbers of the Owl Creek bridge.

--

6. 大砲已經參加戰局

6. Tōa-phàu í-keng chham-ka chiàn-kio̍k

Farquhar chhàng ji̍p chúi tiong -- chīn-liōng chhàng chhim-chhim. Khe-chúi tī i ê hīⁿ-khang piⁿ ná-chhiūⁿ Niagara chúi-chhiâng kōng-kōng kiò, m̄-koh i thiaⁿ tio̍h tâng-chê siā-kek ná khà-lûi ê chhèng siaⁿ, i boeh koh phû khì chúi-bīn, tú tio̍h siam-sih ê kim-sio̍k iù-phìⁿ, píⁿ-píⁿ, bān-bān iô-tāng ǹg ē-bīn khì. Ū-ê kha̍p tio̍h i ê bīn kap chhiú, tō lak khui, kè-sio̍k lak ǹg ē-bīn. Ū chi̍t-tè khā tī i ê ām-niá kap ām-kún tiong-kan; sio kah hō͘ lâng bē sóng-khoài, i tō kā sa hiat-tiāu.

Tán phû chhut chúi-bīn, tōa-la̍t chhoán-khùi ê sî, i hoat-hiān i í-keng tī chúi nih chin kú ah; chin bêng-hián, i í-keng lâi-kàu khah ē-lâu, khah óa an-choân ê só͘-chāi ah. Sū-peng chha-put-to í-keng koh ji̍p hó chhèng-chí; kim-sio̍k ê tōng-tiâu ùi chhèng-kóng thiu chhut-lâi ê sî, tâng-chê tī ji̍t-kng-ē sih chi̍t-ē, tī khong-tiong se̍h chi̍t-ē, koh chhah ji̍p chhèng-thò nih. Hit nn̄g-ê sàu-peng koh phah chhèng, kò-pia̍t phah, mā bô hāu-lu̍t.

Pī tui-pó͘ ê lâng oa̍t-thâu ùi keng-kah-thâu khòaⁿ tio̍h só͘-ū chiah-ê; taⁿ i tòe chúi-lâu piàⁿ-miā siû. i ê thâu-náu kap kha-chhiú pêⁿ ū oa̍h-le̍k; i su-khó ê sok-tō͘ bē-su sih-nah.

"Hit-ê kun-koaⁿ," i thui-lūn, "eng-tong bē koh hoān giâm-keh iau-kiû ê chhò-gō͘ ah. Siám kui-pâi ê chhèng-chí kap siám chi̍t-lia̍p pêⁿ kán-tan. I khó-lêng í-keng hā-lēng kiò in sûi-ì khui-chhèng. Thiⁿ-kong-peh ah, góa bô khó-lêng lóng siám ē-kòe!"

Lī i nn̄g-bí ê só͘-chāi giâ chi̍t-ê kiaⁿ-lâng ê chúi-hoe, sòa chi̍t-ê tōa koh hiáng ê siaⁿ,  piàn sè, koh ká-ná thàng kòe khong-khì tńg kàu iâⁿ-khu, tī chhim-chhim kiáu tāng khe-chúi ê po̍k-chah tiong, he siaⁿ chiah tiām-khì.  

Chi̍t-phìⁿ khiā khí ê chúi-bō͘ khàm kàu i ê téng-koân, lâm tī i ê sin-khu, hō͘ i ba̍k-chiu khòaⁿ bô, koh chhoán bô khùi! Tōa-phàu í-keng chham-ka chiàn-kio̍k ah. Kā thâu ùi siū chhiong-kek ê chúi nih hàiⁿ chhut-lâi ê sî, i thiaⁿ tio̍h siā oai-khì ê phàu-tôaⁿ tī i thâu-chêng ê khong-tiong hiⁿ-hiⁿ kiò, chi̍t-ē-á tō kā chhiū-nâ nih ê chhiū-oe phah kah li-li lak-lak.

"In bē koh án-ne chò ah," i siūⁿ; "koh lâi in ē kō͘ pô-tô-tōaⁿ (grape). Góa tio̍h chù-ì khòaⁿ phàu-kóng; ian ē pò góa chai -- phòng siaⁿ siuⁿ bān kàu; siaⁿ-im pí phàu-tôaⁿ khah bān. Hit-mn̂g phàu bē bái."

Hut-jiân-kan, i kám-kak ka-tī lin-long-se̍h -- ná-chhiūⁿ kan-lo̍k án-ne se̍h. Khe-chúi, khe-hōaⁿ, chhiū-nâ, taⁿ í-keng hn̄g-hn̄g ê kiô, iâⁿ-khu kap lâng -- só͘-ū ê lóng lām chò-hóe, khòaⁿ bē-chheng. Mi̍h-kiāⁿ kan-ta chhun sek -- khoân-hêng ê chúi-pêng sòaⁿ-tiâu ê sek -- i khòaⁿ ē-tio̍h ê tō sī án-ne. I lak tī chi̍t-ê kńg-lê-á sim, í chi̍t-chióng ná chìn ná gô ê sok-tō͘ teh se̍h, hō͘ i kám-kak hîn koh boeh-thò͘. Kòe chi̍t-ē-á, i khì hō͘ hàiⁿ kàu tò-pêng khe-hōaⁿ piⁿ ê chhùi-chio̍h-á téng -- lâm-bīn hōaⁿ -- tī chi̍t-ê tu̍t-chhut tiám ê āu-bīn, tī chia te̍k-jîn khòaⁿ bē-tio̍h i. Tōng-chok hut-jiân thêng-chí, chi̍t-ki chhiú chhè tio̍h chio̍h-thâu-á, án-ne hō͘ i khoe-ho̍k kòe-lâi, hō͘ i hoaⁿ-hí kah lâu ba̍k-sái. I kā chhiú chhah ji̍p soa-á, chi̍t-me chi̍t-me kā iā tī ka-tī sin-khu, koh chhut siaⁿ chiok-hok. He khòaⁿ tio̍h ná soān-chio̍h, ná âng-pó-chio̍h, ná le̍k-pó-chio̍h; i siūⁿ bē-chhut he kap siáⁿ-mih súi mi̍h-kiāⁿ bô chhin-chhiūⁿ. Hōaⁿ-piⁿ ê chhiū-á sī hoe-hn̂g ê tōa-châng chhiū; i chù-ì tio̍h, in ê an-pâi ū bêng-khak ê sūn-sī, i phīⁿ tio̍h in ê hoe ê phang-bī. Chi̍t-chióng kî-koài, mûi-kùi-sek ê kng chhiō tī chhiū-châng ê phāng, hong tī chhiū-ki chàu chhut olian khiā-khîm ê im-ga̍k. I bô ì-goān oân-sêng i ê tô-thoat -- boán-chiok lâu tī hit-ê bê-lâng ê só͘-chāi, it-ti̍t kàu koh hông lia̍h tio̍h.

--

6. 大砲已經參加戰局

Farquhar 藏入水中 -- 盡量藏深深. 溪水 tī 伊 ê 耳空邊 ná 像 Niagara 水沖 kōng-kōng 叫, m̄-koh 伊聽著同齊射擊 ná 敲雷 ê 銃聲, 伊欲 koh 浮去水面, 拄著閃爍 ê 金屬幼片, 扁扁, 慢慢搖動 ǹg 下面去. 有 ê 磕著伊 ê 面 kap 手, tō lak 開, 繼續 lak ǹg 下面. 有一塊 khā tī 伊 ê 頷領 kap 頷頸中間; 燒 kah 予人袂爽快, 伊 tō kā 捎㧒掉.

等浮出水面, 大力喘氣 ê 時, 伊發現伊已經 tī 水 nih 真久 ah; 真明顯, 伊已經來到較 ē-lâu, 較倚安全 ê 所在 ah. 士兵差不多已經 koh 入好銃子; 金屬 ê tōng 條 ùi 銃管抽出來 ê 時, 同齊 tī 日光下 sih 一下, tī 空中踅一下, koh 插入銃套 nih. 彼兩个哨兵 koh 拍銃, 個別拍, mā 無效率.

被追捕 ê 人越頭 ùi 肩胛頭看著所有 chiah-ê; 今伊綴水流拚命泅. 伊 ê 頭腦 kap 跤手平有活力; 伊思考 ê 速度袂輸 sih-nah.

"彼个軍官," 伊推論, "應當袂 koh 犯嚴格要求 ê 錯誤 ah. 閃規排 ê 銃子 kap 閃一粒平簡單. 伊可能已經下令叫 in 隨意開銃. 天公伯 ah, 我無可能 lóng 閃會過!"

離伊兩米 ê 所在夯一个驚人 ê 水花, 紲一个大 koh 響 ê 聲,  變細, koh ká-ná 迵過空氣轉到營區, tī 深深攪動溪水 ê 爆炸中, he 聲才恬去.  

一片徛起 ê 水幕崁到伊 ê 頂懸, 淋 tī 伊 ê 身軀, 予伊目睭看無, koh 喘無氣! 大砲已經參加戰局 ah. Kā 頭 ùi 受衝擊 ê 水 nih 幌出來 ê 時, 伊聽著射歪去 ê 炮彈 tī 伊頭前 ê 空中 hiⁿ-hiⁿ 叫, 一下仔 tō kā 樹林 nih ê 樹椏拍 kah li-li lak-lak.

"In 袂 koh án-ne 做 ah," 伊想; "koh 來 in 會 kō͘ pô-tô 彈 (grape). 我著注意看砲管; 煙會報我知 -- phòng 聲 siuⁿ 慢到; 聲音比炮彈較慢. 彼門砲袂䆀."

忽然間, 伊感覺 ka-tī lin-long 踅 -- ná 像 kan-lo̍k án-ne 踅. 溪水, 溪岸, 樹林, 今已經遠遠 ê 橋, 營區 kap 人 -- 所有 ê lóng 濫做伙, 看袂清. 物件干焦賰色 -- 環形 ê 水平線條 ê 色 -- 伊看會著 ê tō 是 án-ne. 伊 lak tī 一个卷螺仔心, 以一種 ná 進 ná gô ê 速度 teh 踅, 予伊感覺眩 koh 欲吐. 過一下仔, 伊去予幌到倒爿溪岸邊 ê 碎石仔頂 -- 南面岸 -- tī 一个突出點 ê 後面, tī chia 敵人看袂著伊. 動作忽然停止, 一支手 chhè 著石頭仔, án-ne 予伊恢復過來, 予伊歡喜 kah 流目屎. 伊 kā 手插入沙仔, 一 me 一 me kā 掖 tī ka-tī 身軀, koh 出聲祝福. 彼看著 ná 璇石, ná 紅寶石, ná 綠寶石; 伊想袂出 he kap 啥 mih 媠物件無親像. 岸邊 ê 樹仔是花園 ê 大叢樹; 伊注意著, in ê 安排有明確 ê 順序, 伊鼻著 in ê 花 ê 芳味. 一種奇怪, 玫瑰色 ê 光炤 tī 樹叢 ê 縫, 風 tī 樹枝奏出 olian 徛琴 ê 音樂. 伊無意願完成伊 ê 逃脫 -- 滿足留 tī 彼个迷人 ê 所在, 一直到 koh hông 掠著.

--

6.

Farquhar dived--dived as deeply as he could. The water roared in his ears like the voice of Niagara, yet he heard the dulled thunder of the volley and, rising again toward the surface, met shining bits of metal, singularly flattened, oscillating slowly downward. Some of them touched him on the face and hands, then fell away, continuing their descent. One lodged between his collar and neck; it was uncomfortably warm and he snatched it out.

As he rose to the surface, gasping for breath, he saw that he had been a long time under water; he was perceptibly farther down stream nearer to safety. The soldiers had almost finished reloading; the metal ramrods flashed all at once in the sunshine as they were drawn from the barrels, turned in the air, and thrust into their sockets. The two sentinels fired again, independently and ineffectually.

The hunted man saw all this over his shoulder; he was now swimming vigorously with the current. His brain was as energetic as his arms and legs; he thought with the rapidity of lightning.

"The officer," he reasoned, "will not make that martinet's error a second time. It is as easy to dodge a volley as a single shot. He has probably already given the command to fire at will. God help me, I cannot dodge them all!"

An appalling splash within two yards of him was followed by a loud, rushing sound, diminuendo, which seemed to travel back through the air to the fort and died in an explosion which stirred the very river to its deeps!

A rising sheet of water curved over him, fell down upon him, blinded him, strangled him! The cannon had taken a hand in the game. As he shook his head free from the commotion of the smitten water he heard the deflected shot humming through the air ahead, and in an instant it was cracking and smashing the branches in the forest beyond.

"They will not do that again," he thought; "the next time they will use a charge of grape. I must keep my eye upon the gun; the smoke will apprise me--the report arrives too late; it lags behind the missile. That is a good gun."

Suddenly he felt himself whirled round and round--spinning like a top. The water, the banks, the forests, the now distant bridge, fort and men--all were commingled and blurred. Objects were represented by their colors only; circular horizontal streaks of color--that was all he saw. He had been caught in a vortex and was being whirled on with a velocity of advance and gyration that made him giddy and sick. In a few moments he was flung upon the gravel at the foot of the left bank of the stream--the southern bank--and behind a projecting point which concealed him from his enemies. The sudden arrest of his motion, the abrasion of one of his hands on the gravel, restored him, and he wept with delight. He dug his fingers into the sand, threw it over himself in handfuls and audibly blessed it. It looked like diamonds, rubies, emeralds; he could think of nothing beautiful which it did not resemble. The trees upon the bank were giant garden plants; he noted a definite order in their arrangement, inhaled the fragrance of their blooms. A strange, roseate light shone through the spaces among their trunks and the wind made in their branches the music of olian harps. He had no wish to perfect his escape--was content to remain in that enchanting spot until retaken.

--

5. 會當感受過去感受袂著 ê 物

5. Ē-tàng kám-siū kòe-khì kám-siū bē-tio̍h ê mi̍h

I taⁿ oân-choân chiang-ak ka-tī ê sin-thé kám-koan. In khak-si̍t lóng put-chí-á lêng-bín koh kéng-kak. Tī i ê koan-lêng hē-thóng siū tio̍h ê khó-phà kan-jiáu tiong-kan, ū bó͘-chióng mi̍h tian-tò the̍h-koân koh kái-liông chiah-ê koan-lêng, hō͘ in ē-tàng kám-siū kòe-khì kám-siū bē-tio̍h ê mi̍h. I kám-kak tio̍h bīn-phôe ê chúi-éng, thiaⁿ tio̍h in sio-lòng hoat-chhut ê bô-kāng siaⁿ-im. I khòaⁿ khe-hōaⁿ téng ê chhiū-nâ, khòaⁿ tio̍h kò-pia̍t ê chhiū-á, hio̍h-á, kap hio̍h-á ê bûn-lō͘ -- khòaⁿ tio̍h téng-bīn ê thâng-thōa: chháu-meh-á, kim-sîn, phú ti-tu tī chhiū-ki tiong-kan keⁿ-bāng. I chù-ì tio̍h chhian-chhian bān-bān chháu-hio̍h téng lō͘-chúi ê kong-chhái. Tī kńg-lê-á khe-chúi téng poe-tāng ê báng-á ê ng-ng siaⁿ, chhân-eⁿ teh ia̍t-si̍t, chúi ti-tu teh that-kha, ná-chhiūⁿ kò-chûn ê chiúⁿ -- só͘-ū chiah-ê lóng sī thiaⁿ ē-tio̍h ê im-ga̍k. Chi̍t-bóe hî-á tī i ê ba̍k-chiu chêng liu kòe, i thiaⁿ tio̍h i ê hî-sin kín-sok kā chúi chiⁿ-khui ê siaⁿ.

I í-keng phû kàu ǹg ē-lâu ê chúi-bīn; chi̍t-ē-á, khòaⁿ tio̍h ê sè-kài ká-ná bān-bān teh se̍h kho͘-á, i sī kho͘-á ê tiong-sim, i khòaⁿ tio̍h kiô, iâⁿ-khu, kiô-téng ê sū-peng, siōng-ùi, tiong-sū, nn̄g-ê chhiong-oân-á, kā i hêng-hêng ê lâng. In ê hêng-iáⁿ hiàn tī nâ-sek thian-khong ē-bīn. In ná hoah-hiu, ná pí chhiú, ná kí ǹg i. Siōng-ùi í-keng thiu-chhut chhiú-chhèng, m̄-koh bô khui-chhèng; kî-thaⁿ ê lâng bô bú-khì. In ê tōng-chok koài-kî koh khó-phà, in ê hêng-thé kài tōa.

Hut-jiân i thiaⁿ tio̍h phok chi̍t-ê chiam-siaⁿ, ū chi̍t-ê mi̍h tī lī i thâu-khak kúi chhùn ê só͘-chāi khak-khak si̍t-si̍t kiat tio̍h chúi-bīn, chúi-hoe phùn kah i kui-bīn. I koh thiaⁿ tio̍h tē-jī ê phok siaⁿ, khòaⁿ tio̍h kî-tiong chi̍t-ê sàu-peng giâ chhèng tī keng-thâu, chi̍t-khian khin-khin ê nâ-sek ê ian ùi chhèng-kóng-bóe bū chhut-lâi. Chúi nih ê lâng khòaⁿ tio̍h kiô-téng lâng ê ba̍k-chiu thàng kòe pō͘-chhèng ê biâu-chún-khì teh siòng i. I chù-ì tio̍h he sī phú-sek ê ba̍k-chiu, á i ē-kì-tit bat tha̍k tio̍h, phú-sek ba̍k-chiu siōng lāi, só͘-ū chhut-miâ ê siā-kek-chhiú lóng sī án-ne. Ka-chài, chit-ê lâng phah bô tio̍h.

Chi̍t-ê tò-se̍h ê kńg-lê-á kā Farquhar se̍h pòaⁿ liàn; i koh khòaⁿ tio̍h iâⁿ-khu tùi-bīn hit-hōaⁿ ê chhiū-nâ. Chit-sî, chi̍t-ê chheng koh koân ê tan-tiāu koa-siaⁿ tī i ê āu-bīn hiáng-khí, thàng kòe chúi, chheng-chheng chhó-chhó chǹg kòe koh ah-chè só͘-ū kî-thaⁿ ê siaⁿ-im, sīm-chì i hīⁿ-khang lāi ê chúi-éng siaⁿ. Sui-jiân m̄-sī kun-jîn, i keng-siông chhut-ji̍p kun-iâⁿ, chai-iáⁿ hit-chióng tiāⁿ-tio̍h, bān-sok, koh ū-tháu-khùi ê siaⁿ-tiāu ê khó-phà ì-gī; hōaⁿ-téng ê tiong-ùi tng-teh ka-ji̍p chá-khí ê kang-chok. Kō͘ chi̍t-chióng chiâu-ûn, léng-chēng ê siaⁿ-tiāu, ī-kò, koh pek-sú ta̍k-lâng tio̍h tìn-chēng, hiah-nī léng-khok, hiah-nī bô-chêng, tī chún-chún ê kan-keh tiong-kan, hoat-chhut chiah-ê chân-khok ê bēng-lēng:

"Choân-tūi chù-ì! ... Chhêng chiūⁿ keng-thâu! ... Chún-pī! ... Biâu-chún! ... Khui-chhèng!"

--

5. 會當感受過去感受袂著 ê 物

伊今完全掌握 ka-tī ê 身體感官. In 確實 lóng 不止仔靈敏 koh 警覺. Tī 伊 ê 官能系統受著 ê 可怕干擾中間, 有某種物顛倒提懸 koh 改良 chiah-ê 官能, 予 in 會當感受過去感受袂著 ê 物. 伊感覺著面皮 ê 水湧, 聽著 in 相挵發出 ê 無仝聲音. 伊看溪岸頂 ê 樹林, 看著個別 ê 樹仔, 葉仔, kap 葉仔 ê 紋路 -- 看著頂面 ê 蟲豸: 草蜢仔, 金蠅, 殕蜘蛛 tī 樹枝中間 keⁿ 網. 伊注意著千千萬萬草葉頂露水 ê 光彩. Tī 卷螺仔溪水頂飛動 ê 蠓仔 ê ng-ng 聲, 田嬰 teh 擛翼, 水蜘蛛 teh 踢跤, ná 像划船 ê 槳 -- 所有 chiah-ê lóng 是聽會著 ê 音樂. 一尾魚仔 tī 伊 ê 目睭前溜過, 伊聽著伊 ê 魚身緊速 kā 水 chiⁿ 開 ê 聲.

伊已經浮到 ǹg 下流 ê 水面; 一下仔, 看著 ê 世界 ká-ná 慢慢 teh 踅箍仔, 伊是箍仔 ê 中心, 伊看著橋, 營區, 橋頂 ê 士兵, 上尉, 中士, 兩个充員仔, kā 伊行刑 ê 人. In ê 形影現 tī 藍色天空下面. In ná 喝咻, ná 比手, ná 指 ǹg 伊. 上尉已經抽出手銃, m̄-koh 無開銃; 其他 ê 人無武器. In ê 動作怪奇 koh 可怕, in ê 形體蓋大.

忽然伊聽著 phok 一个尖聲, 有一个物 tī 離伊頭殼幾寸 ê 所在確確實實 kiat 著水面, 水花噴 kah 伊規面. 伊 koh 聽著第二个 phok 聲, 看著其中一个哨兵夯銃 tī 肩頭, 一圈輕輕 ê 藍色 ê 煙 ùi 銃管尾霧出來. 水 nih ê 人看著橋頂人 ê 目睭迵過步銃 ê 瞄準器 teh 相伊. 伊注意著彼是殕色 ê 目睭, á 伊會記得 bat 讀著, 殕色目睭上利, 所有出名 ê 射擊手 lóng 是 án-ne. 佳哉, 這个人拍無著.

一个倒踅 ê 卷螺仔 kā Farquhar 踅半輾; 伊 koh 看著營區對面彼岸 ê 樹林. 這時, 一个清 koh 懸 ê 單調歌聲 tī 伊 ê 後面響起, 迵過水, 清清楚楚鑽過 koh 壓制所有其他 ê 聲音, 甚至伊耳空內 ê 水湧聲. 雖然毋是軍人, 伊經常出入軍營, 知影彼種定著, 慢速, koh 有敨氣 ê 聲調 ê 可怕意義; 岸頂 ê 中尉 tng-teh 加入早起 ê 工作. Kō͘ 一種齊勻, 冷靜 ê 聲調, 預告, koh 迫使逐人著鎮靜, hiah-nī 冷酷, hiah-nī 無情, tī 準準 ê 間隔中間, 發出 chiah-ê 殘酷 ê 命令:

"全隊注意! ... 銃上肩頭! ... 準備! ... 瞄準! ... 開銃!"

--

5.

He was now in full possession of his physical senses. They were, indeed, preternaturally keen and alert. Something in the awful disturbance of his organic system had so exalted and refined them that they made record of things never before perceived. He felt the ripples upon his face and heard their separate sounds as they struck. He looked at the forest on the bank of the stream, saw the individual trees, the leaves and the veining of each leaf--saw the very insects upon them: the locusts, the brilliant-bodied flies, the grey spiders stretching their webs from twig to twig. He noted the prismatic colors in all the dewdrops upon a million blades of grass. The humming of the gnats that danced above the eddies of the stream, the beating of the dragon flies' wings, the strokes of the water-spiders' legs, like oars which had lifted their boat--all these made audible music. A fish slid along beneath his eyes and he heard the rush of its body parting the water.

He had come to the surface facing down the stream; in a moment the visible world seemed to wheel slowly round, himself the pivotal point, and he saw the bridge, the fort, the soldiers upon the bridge, the captain, the sergeant, the two privates, his executioners. They were in silhouette against the blue sky. They shouted and gesticulated, pointing at him. The captain had drawn his pistol, but did not fire; the others were unarmed. Their movements were grotesque and horrible, their forms gigantic.

Suddenly he heard a sharp report and something struck the water smartly within a few inches of his head, spattering his face with spray. He heard a second report, and saw one of the sentinels with his rifle at his shoulder, a light cloud of blue smoke rising from the muzzle. The man in the water saw the eye of the man on the bridge gazing into his own through the sights of the rifle. He observed that it was a grey eye and remembered having read that grey eyes were keenest, and that all famous marksmen had them. Nevertheless, this one had missed.

A counter-swirl had caught Farquhar and turned him half round; he was again looking into the forest on the bank opposite the fort. The sound of a clear, high voice in a monotonous singsong now rang out behind him and came across the water with a distinctness that pierced and subdued all other sounds, even the beating of the ripples in his ears. Although no soldier, he had frequented camps enough to know the dread significance of that deliberate, drawling, aspirated chant; the lieutenant on shore was taking a part in the morning's work. How coldly and pitilessly--with what an even, calm intonation, presaging, and enforcing tranquillity in the men--with what accurately measured intervals fell those cruel words:

"Attention, company! . . Shoulder arms! . . . Ready! . . . Aim! . . . Fire!"

--

4. 伊知影, 索仔斷去

4. I chai-iáⁿ, soh-á tn̄g khì

(III)

Peyton Farquhar thàng kòe kiô-bīn ti̍t-ti̍t ǹg ē lak lo̍h ê sî, i í-keng sit khì ì-sek, ná-chhiūⁿ chi̍t-kho͘ sí-lâng. Ùi chit-chióng chōng-thài chhéⁿ lâi -- ká-ná kòe kúi-ā sè-kí ah -- i kám-kak tio̍h nâ-âu sok-ân ê thiàⁿ, sòa loeh koh chhoán bô khùi. Kek-lia̍t chhim-khek ê thòng-khó͘ ùi i ê ām-kún ǹg ē-bīn hoat-siā, koàn-chhoan choan-sin kap sù-ki ê múi chi̍t-tiâu sîn-keng. Chiah-ê thiàⁿ-thàng ká-ná iân tio̍h bêng-khak ê bāng-lō͘ teh sih, kō͘ chi̍t-ê kám-kak bē-chhut ê khoài-sok chiu-kî-sèng teh thiàu-tāng. In ná-chhiūⁿ chi̍t-chūn chi̍t-chūn lâu-tāng ê hóe, kā i ka-jia̍t kàu jím bē-tiâu ê un-tō͘. Á nā i ê thâu-khak, i lóng bô ì-sek tio̍h siáⁿ, kan-ta kám-kak tiùⁿ -- tiùⁿ-hoeh ê kám-kak. Chiah-ê kám-kak bô ín-khí su-khó. I pún-sèng ê lí-tì hit pō͘-hūn í-keng bô--khì; i kan-ta chhun kám-kak ê lêng-le̍k, á kám-kak sī khó͘-chhó͘. I mā tùi tín-tāng ū ì-sek. Pī pau-ûi tī chi̍t-ê hoat-kng ê hûn nih, taⁿ i kan-ta sī che hûn sio-kún-kún ê sim, bô bu̍t-chit, i tī siūⁿ-bē-kàu ê chhian-chhiu hàiⁿ-tāng, ná-chhiūⁿ chi̍t-ê tōa hàiⁿ-thûi (幌錘). Koh-lâi chi̍t-ē-á, khó-phà ê hut-jiân-kan, i sì-chiu-ûi ê kng siā ǹg téng-koân, tòe chi̍t-ê tōa-tōa ê phùn-chúi siaⁿ; i ê hīⁿ-khang ū khó-phà kōng-kōng-kiò ê siaⁿ, it-chhè lóng piàn léng, piàn àm. Su-khó ê lêng-le̍k khoe-ho̍k ah; i chai-iáⁿ, soh-á tn̄g khì ah, á i lak lo̍h-lâi khe nih ah. Bô cheng-ka ê kún-ká; i ām-kún ê soh-á-khian í-keng hō͘ i chhoán bô-khùi, chúi mā chìn bē kàu i ê hì. Hông tiàu-tāu soah sí tī khe-té! -- chit-ê siūⁿ-hoat, chāi i khòaⁿ, ū-kàu hó-chhiò. O͘-àm tiong, i peh khui ba̍k-chiu, khòaⁿ tio̍h téng-koân ū chi̍t-sok kng, m̄-koh tī chiâⁿ hn̄g, bē-tit kàu! I iáu teh tîm, in-ūi he kng lú lâi lú àm, kan-ta chhun chi̍t-sut-á kng. Āu-lâi, kng iū piàn tōa, piàn kiông, i tō chai, taⁿ i teh phû ǹg chúi-bīn -- bô siáⁿ chêng-goān chai che, in-ūi chit-sî i kui-sin sóng-khoài. "Hông tiàu soah im-sí," i siūⁿ? "án-ne mā bē-bái; m̄-koh góa bô ài hông chhèng-sat. M̄; góa m̄ hông chhèng-sat; he bô kong-pêng."

I bô ì-sek tio̍h ka-tī ê chi̍t-ê tōng-chok, m̄-koh chhiú-ba̍k ê chha̍k-thiàⁿ chiah hō͘ i chai, i tng-teh liù-khui i ê siang-chhiú. I kā chù-ì-le̍k khǹg tī chit-ê tāi-chì, ná-chhiūⁿ khòaⁿ lâng piàn-pá-hì, kiat-kó án-nóa m̄-sī tiōng-tiám. Chiâⁿ chán ê ló͘-le̍k! -- chiâⁿ súi-khùi, chiâⁿ lī-hāi! Ah, he sī iù-lō͘ ê kang-hu! Súi lah! Soh-á lut-khui ah; i ê siang-chhiú mā hun-khui, phû ǹg téng-koân, siang-pêng ê chhiú tī cheng-kiông ê kng-liōng nih chiām-chiām khòaⁿ ē-tio̍h ah. I kō͘ sin ê chhù-bī khòaⁿ he chhiú, thōng seng sī chi̍t-ki, koh lâi iáu chi̍t-ki mā phok ǹg i ām-kún ê soh-á thò. In kā tháu-khui, koh tōa-la̍t kā hiat tī piⁿ-á khì; soh-á ê phû-tîm ná-chhiūⁿ chi̍t-bóe chúi-chôa. "Tàu tò-tńg, koh kā tàu tò-tńg!" I siūⁿ, i ū án-ne hoah i ê chhiú, in-ūi tháu-khui soh-á-thò chō-sêng m̄-bat ū ê thiàⁿ. I ê ām-kún thiàⁿ kah boeh sí; i ê thâu-náu hóe teh to̍h; i he pún-chiâⁿ khin thiàu ê sim-chōng tōa-la̍t tiô khí-lâi, ká-ná boeh chông chhut i ê chhùi. I kui-sin-khu lóng hō͘ bô-hoat-tō͘ jím-siū ê thòng-khó͘ teh chiat-bôa. M̄-koh, i he bô thiaⁿ-ōe ê siang-chhiú bô chhap hit-ê bēng-lēng. In koh tōa-la̍t ǹg ē phah chúi, pek i phû kàu chúi-bīn. I kám-kak thâu-khak phû chhut-lâi; ba̍k-chiu hō͘ ji̍t-kng chha̍k kah khòaⁿ bô; i ê heng-khám tiùⁿ kah bán-me̍h, tòe tio̍h ke̍k-tōa koh bû-pí ê thòng-khó͘, i ê hì suh-ji̍p tāi-liōng ê khong-khì, i sûi koh tōa kiò kā he thò͘ chhut-lâi.

--

4. 伊知影, 索仔斷去

(III)

Peyton Farquhar 迵過橋面直直 ǹg 下 lak 落 ê 時, 伊已經失去意識, ná 像一箍死人. Ùi 這種狀態醒來 -- ká-ná 過幾 ā 世紀 ah -- 伊感覺著嚨喉束絚 ê 疼, 紲 loeh koh 喘無氣. 激烈深刻 ê 痛苦 ùi 伊 ê 頷頸 ǹg 下面發射, 貫穿全身 kap 四肢 ê 每一條神經. Chiah-ê 疼痛 ká-ná 沿著明確 ê 網路 teh sih, kō͘ 一个感覺袂出 ê 快速週期性 teh 跳動. In ná 像一陣一陣流動 ê 火, kā 伊加熱到忍袂牢 ê 溫度. Á 若伊 ê 頭殼, 伊 lóng 無意識著啥, 干焦感覺脹 -- 脹血 ê 感覺. Chiah-ê 感覺無引起思考. 伊本性 ê 理智彼部份已經無去; 伊干焦賰感覺 ê 能力, á 感覺是苦楚. 伊 mā 對振動有意識. 被包圍 tī 一个發光 ê 雲 nih, 今伊干焦是 che 雲燒滾滾 ê 心, 無物質, 伊 tī 想袂到 ê 韆鞦幌動, ná 像一个大 hàiⁿ-thûi (幌錘). Koh 來一下仔, 可怕 ê 忽然間, 伊四周圍 ê 光射 ǹg 頂懸, 綴一个大大 ê 噴水聲; 伊 ê 耳空有可怕 kōng-kōng 叫 ê 聲, 一切 lóng 變冷, 變暗. 思考 ê 能力恢復 ah; 伊知影, 索仔斷去 ah, á 伊 lak 落來溪 nih ah. 無增加 ê 滾絞; 伊頷頸 ê 索仔圈已經予伊喘無氣, 水 mā 進袂到伊 ê 肺. Hông 吊脰煞死 tī 溪底! -- 這个想法, 在伊看, 有夠好笑. 烏暗中, 伊擘開目睭, 看著頂懸有一束光, m̄-koh tī 誠遠, 袂得到! 伊猶 teh 沉, 因為 he 光 lú 來 lú 暗, 干焦賰一屑仔光. 後來, 光又變大, 變強, 伊 tō 知, 今伊 teh 浮 ǹg 水面 -- 無啥情願知這, 因為這時伊規身爽快. "Hông 吊煞淹死," 伊想? "án-ne mā 袂䆀; m̄-koh 我無愛 hông 銃殺. M̄; 我 m̄ hông 銃殺; he 無公平."

伊無意識著 ka-tī ê 一个動作, m̄-koh 手目 ê 鑿疼才予伊知, 伊 tng-teh liù 開伊 ê 雙手. 伊 kā 注意力囥 tī 這个代誌, ná 像看人變把戲, 結果 án-nóa 毋是重點. 誠讚 ê 努力! -- 誠媠氣, 誠厲害! Ah, 彼是幼路 ê 工夫! 媠 lah! 索仔 lut 開 ah; 伊 ê 雙手 mā 分開, 浮 ǹg 頂懸, 雙爿 ê 手 tī 增強 ê 光量 nih 漸漸看會著 ah. 伊 kō͘ 新 ê 趣味看 he 手, thōng 先是一支, koh 來猶一支 mā 撲 ǹg 伊頷頸 ê 索仔套. In kā 敨開, koh 大力 kā 㧒 tī 邊仔去; 索仔 ê 浮沉 ná 像一尾水蛇. "鬥倒轉, koh kā 鬥倒轉!" 伊想, 伊有 án-ne 喝伊 ê 手, 因為敨開索仔套造成 m̄-bat 有 ê 疼. 伊 ê 頷頸疼 kah 欲死; 伊 ê 頭腦火 teh to̍h; 伊 he 本成輕跳 ê 心臟大力趒起來, ká-ná 欲傱出伊 ê 喙. 伊規身軀 lóng 予無法度忍受 ê 痛苦 teh 折磨. M̄-koh, 伊 he 無聽話 ê 雙手無 chhap 彼个命令. In koh 大力 ǹg 下拍水, 迫伊浮到水面. 伊感覺頭殼浮出來; 目睭予日光鑿 kah 看無; 伊 ê 胸坎脹 kah 挽脈, 綴著極大 koh 無比 ê 痛苦, 伊 ê 肺欶入大量 ê 空氣, 伊隨 koh 大叫 kā he 吐出來.

--

4.

III

As Peyton Farquhar fell straight downward through the bridge he lost consciousness and was as one already dead. From this state he was awakened--ages later, it seemed to him--by the pain of a sharp pressure upon his throat, followed by a sense of suffocation. Keen, poignant agonies seemed to shoot from his neck downward through every fiber of his body and limbs. These pains appeared to flash along well-defined lines of ramification and to beat with an inconceivably rapid periodicity. They seemed like streams of pulsating fire heating him to an intolerable temperature. As to his head, he was conscious of nothing but a feeling of fulness--of congestion. These sensations were unaccompanied by thought. The intellectual part of his nature was already effaced; he had power only to feel, and feeling was torment. He was conscious of motion. Encompassed in a luminous cloud, of which he was now merely the fiery heart, without material substance, he swung through unthinkable arcs of oscillation, like a vast pendulum. Then all at once, with terrible suddenness, the light about him shot upward with the noise of a loud splash; a frightful roaring was in his ears, and all was cold and dark. The power of thought was restored; he knew that the rope had broken and he had fallen into the stream. There was no additional strangulation; the noose about his neck was already suffocating him and kept the water from his lungs. To die of hanging at the bottom of a river!--the idea seemed to him ludicrous. He opened his eyes in the darkness and saw above him a gleam of light, but how distant, how inaccessible! He was still sinking, for the light became fainter and fainter until it was a mere glimmer. Then it began to grow and brighten, and he knew that he was rising toward the surface--knew it with reluctance, for he was now very comfortable. "To be hanged and drowned," he thought? "that is not so bad; but I do not wish to be shot. No; I will not be shot; that is not fair."

He was not conscious of an effort, but a sharp pain in his wrist apprised him that he was trying to free his hands. He gave the struggle his attention, as an idler might observe the feat of a juggler, without interest in the outcome. What splendid effort!--what magnificent, what superhuman strength! Ah, that was a fine endeavor! Bravo! The cord fell away; his arms parted and floated upward, the hands dimly seen on each side in the growing light. He watched them with a new interest as first one and then the other pounced upon the noose at his neck. They tore it away and thrust it fiercely aside, its undulations resembling those of a water snake. "Put it back, put it back!" He thought he shouted these words to his hands, for the undoing of the noose had been succeeded by the direst pang that he had yet experienced. His neck ached horribly; his brain was on fire; his heart, which had been fluttering faintly, gave a great leap, trying to force itself out at his mouth. His whole body was racked and wrenched with an insupportable anguish! But his disobedient hands gave no heed to the command. They beat the water vigorously with quick, downward strokes, forcing him to the surface. He felt his head emerge; his eyes were blinded by the sunlight; his chest expanded convulsively, and with a supreme and crowning agony his lungs engulfed a great draught of air, which instantly he expelled in a shriek!

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3. 愛情, 戰爭, 人人公平

3. Ài-chêng, chiàn-cheng, lâng-lâng kong-pêng

(III)

Peyton Farquhar /pe.ton fa.kóa/ sī chi̍t-ê chèng-choh ê lâng, chhut-sin tī lāu-sek, chin siū chun-kèng ê Alabama khùiⁿ-oa̍h ê ka-têng. In-ūi chhī lô͘-lē, i hām kî-thaⁿ lô͘-lē-chú kāng-khoán mā sī chèng-tī-ka, i thian-seng tō chú-tiuⁿ hun-lia̍t chú-gī, jî-chhiáⁿ choan-sim hōng-hiān Lâm-hong ê lí-sióng. Ūi-tio̍h kò-sèng kiông-sè ê chióng-chióng in-toaⁿ, tī chia lán m̄-bián kóng-phòa, hō͘ i bē-tit ka-ji̍p eng-ióng ê kun-tūi, pī-bián liáu kiat-kó sit-khì Corinth ê hiah-ê pi-chhám ê chiàn-tàu; i oàn-chheh chit-chióng bô kong-chhái ê hān-chè, ǹg-bāng hoat-hui ka-tī ê lêng-le̍k, pí chò-peng kòng-hiàn khah chē, hō͘ i ū ki-hōe li̍p-kong. 

I chai-iáⁿ, ki-hōe chóng-sī ē lâi, chiàn-cheng kî-kan, lâng-lâng lóng ū ki-hōe. Chit tong-sî, i mā chīn i ê lêng-le̍k teh chò. Tùi Lâm-hong ū pang-chān ê ho̍k-bū, lóng bē hō͘ i kám-kak siuⁿ pi-bî, bô siaⁿ-mih mō͘-hiám tùi i sī siuⁿ hûi-hiám, chí-iàu hû-ha̍p i chî-ê ū kun-jîn sim ê pêng-bîn te̍k-sèng, i sêng-sim sêng-ì, sui-bóng chu-keh bô chin ha̍h, siōng-bô i sió-khóa tông-ì hit-kù chiâⁿ pháiⁿ ê kóng-hoat: ài-chêng kap chiàn-cheng, lâng-lâng lóng kong-pêng.

Chi̍t-kang boeh-àm, Farquhar hām in bó͘ chē tī óa lông-tiûⁿ ji̍p-kháu ê chi̍t-tè seⁿ-sian ê tn̂g-í, chi̍t-ê chhēng phú-sek ê sū-peng khiâ-bé kàu mn̂g-kháu, lâi pun chúi lim. Farquhar Tt chin hoaⁿ-hí chhin-chhiú thè i ho̍k-bū. Tī in bó͘ ji̍p-khì the̍h chúi ê sî, i kiâⁿ óa kui-sin thô͘-hún ê khiâ-sū, jia̍t-sim kā thàm-thiaⁿ chiân-sòaⁿ ê siau-sit.

"Pak-kun teh siu-chéng thih-lō͘," sū-peng kóng, "í-keng chún-pī sin ê chìn-kong. In í-keng kàu Niau-thâu-chiáu Khe (Owl Creek) kiô, kā siu-chéng hó-sè, koh tī pak-hōaⁿ kiàn-li̍p ûi-cha̍h. Chí-hui-koaⁿ í-keng hā-lēng, mā tah kah móa sì-kè, soan-pò͘ kóng, jīm-hô lâng nā kan-jiáu thih-lō͘, thih-lō͘ kiô, pōng-khang, a̍h hóe-chhia, lia̍h tio̍h ē sûi kā tiàu-sí. Góa ū khòaⁿ tio̍h hit-ê bēng-lēng."

"Chia kàu Niau-thâu-chiáu Khe kiô gōa hn̄g?" Farquhar mn̄g.

"Tāi-khài 30 mai."

"Khe-hōaⁿ chit-pêng kám ū phài peng?"

"Kan-ta siat chi̍t-ê kéng-kài sàu-só͘ tī pòaⁿ mai chìn chêng ê thih-lō͘, koh tī kiô ê chit-thâu khiā chi̍t-ê sàu-peng."

"Ká-sú kóng ū chi̍t-ê lâng -- chi̍t-ê pêng-bîn koh ū gián-kiù ká-hêng -- nā phiah kòe kéng-kài sàu-só͘, koh khó-lêng phah iâⁿ sàu-peng," Farquhar chhiò-chhiò kóng, "i ē-tàng chhòng siáⁿ?"

Sū-peng siūⁿ chi̍t-ē. "Chi̍t-kò-goe̍h chêng góa bat khì hia." I ìn. "Góa khòaⁿ tio̍h, kū-nî kôaⁿ-thiⁿ ê tōa-chúi ū chek chin chē tōa-chúi-chhâ tī chit-thâu ê kiô-tun, taⁿ lóng taⁿ lo͘-lo͘ ah, ná-chhiūⁿ môa-chháu hiah hó to̍h."

Chit-sî in bó͘ phâng chúi chhut-lâi, sū-peng kā lim liáu. I chin ū lé-sò͘ kā soeh-siā, ǹg Farquhar àⁿ-io kiâⁿ-lé, tō khiâ-bé lī-khui. Chi̍t-tiám-cheng liáu-āu, iā tō sī thiⁿ-àm liáu-āu, i koh keng-kòe chhân-hn̂g, ǹg pak óng i tú-chiah lâi ê hong-hiòng. Goân-lâi i sī chi̍t-ê Pak-kun ê cheng-chhat-peng.

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3. 愛情, 戰爭, 人人公平

(II)

Peyton Farquhar /pe.ton fa.kóa/ 是一个種作 ê 人, 出身 tī 老式, 真受尊敬 ê Alabama 快活 ê 家庭. 因為飼奴隸, 伊和其他奴隸主仝款 mā 是政治家, 伊天生 tō 主張分裂主義, 而且專心奉獻南方 ê 理想. 為著個性強勢 ê 種種因端, tī chia 咱毋免講破, 予伊袂得加入英勇 ê 軍隊, 避免了結果失去 Corinth ê hiah-ê 悲慘 ê 戰鬥; 伊怨慼這種無光彩 ê 限制, ǹg 望發揮 ka-tī ê 能力, 比做兵貢獻較濟, 予伊有機會立功. 

伊知影, 機會總是會來, 戰爭期間, 人人 lóng 有機會. 這當時, 伊 mā 盡伊 ê 能力 teh 做. 對南方有幫贊 ê 服務, lóng 袂予伊感覺 siuⁿ 卑微, 無啥 mih 冒險對伊是 siuⁿ 危險, 只要符合伊這个有軍人心 ê 平民特性, 伊誠心誠意, 雖罔資格無真合, 上無伊小可同意彼句誠歹 ê 講法: 愛情 kap 戰爭, 人人 lóng 公平.

一工欲暗, Farquhar 和 in 某坐 tī 倚農場入口 ê 一塊生鉎 ê 長椅, 一个穿殕色 ê 士兵騎馬到門口, 來分水啉. Farquhar Tt 真歡喜親手替伊服務. Tī in 某入去提水 ê 時, 伊行倚規身塗粉 ê 騎士, 熱心 kā 探聽前線 ê 消息.

"北軍 teh 修整鐵路," 士兵講, "已經準備新 ê 進攻. In 已經到貓頭鳥溪 (Owl Creek) 橋, kā 修整好勢, koh tī 北岸建立圍閘. 指揮官已經下令, mā 貼 kah 滿四界, 宣布講, 任何人若干擾鐵路, 鐵路橋, 磅空, a̍h 火車, 掠著會隨 kā 吊死. 我有看著彼个命令."

"Chia 到貓頭鳥溪橋偌遠?" Farquhar 問.

"大概 30 mai."

"溪岸這爿敢有派兵?"

"干焦設一个警戒哨所 tī 半 mai 進前 ê 鐵路, koh tī 橋 ê 這頭徛一个哨兵."

"假使講有一个人 -- 一个平民 koh 有研究絞刑 -- 若避過警戒哨所, koh 可能拍贏哨兵," Farquhar 笑笑講, "伊會當創啥?"

士兵想一下. "一個月前我 bat 去 hia." 伊應. "我看著, 舊年寒天 ê 大水有積真濟大水柴 tī 這頭 ê 橋墩, 今 lóng 焦 lo͘-lo͘ ah, ná 像麻草 hiah 好 to̍h."

這時 in 某捀水出來, 士兵 kā 啉了. 伊真有禮數 kā 說謝, ǹg Farquhar àⁿ 腰行禮, tō 騎馬離開. 一點鐘了後, 也 tō 是天暗了後, 伊 koh 經過田園, ǹg 北往伊拄才來 ê 方向. 原來伊是一个北軍 ê 偵察兵.

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3.

II

Peyton Farquhar was a well-to-do planter, of an old and highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner and like other slave owners a politician he was naturally an original secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern cause. Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking service with the gallant army that had fought the disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth, and he chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the opportunity for distinction. 

That opportunity, he felt, would come, as it comes to all in war time. Meanwhile he did what he could. No service was too humble for him to perform in aid of the South, no adventure too perilous for him to undertake if consistent with the character of a civilian who was at heart a soldier, and who in good faith and without too much qualification assented to at least a part of the frankly villainous dictum that all is fair in love and war.

One evening while Farquhar and his wife were sitting on a rustic bench near the entrance to his grounds, a gray-clad soldier rode up to the gate and asked for a drink of water. Mrs. Farquhar was only too happy to serve him with her own white hands. While she was fetching the water her husband approached the dusty horseman and inquired eagerly for news from the front.

"The Yanks are repairing the railroads," said the man, "and are getting ready for another advance. They have reached the Owl Creek bridge, put it in order and built a stockade on the north bank. The commandant has issued an order, which is posted everywhere, declaring that any civilian caught interfering with the railroad, its bridges, tunnels or trains will be summarily hanged. I saw the order."

"How far is it to the Owl Creek bridge?" Farquhar asked.

"About thirty miles."

"Is there no force on this side the creek?"

"Only a picket post half a mile out, on the railroad, and a single sentinel at this end of the bridge."

"Suppose a man--a civilian and student of hanging--should elude the picket post and perhaps get the better of the sentinel," said Farquhar, smiling, "what could he accomplish?"

The soldier reflected. "I was there a month ago," he replied. "I observed that the flood of last winter had lodged a great quantity of driftwood against the wooden pier at this end of the bridge. It is now dry and would burn like tow."

The lady had now brought the water, which the soldier drank. He thanked her ceremoniously, bowed to her husband and rode away. An hour later, after nightfall, he repassed the plantation, going northward in the direction from which he had come. He was a Federal scout.

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