a4 胡蠅 ê 命運 kap 老闆 ê 心適

4. Hô͘-sîn ê miā-ūn kap láu-pán ê sim-sek

Hit-sî, láu-pán chù-ì tio̍h, ū chi̍t-chiah hô͘-sîn poa̍h-lo̍h i he khoah-chhùi ê ba̍k-chúi-koàn, tng-teh piàⁿ-miā tān chin bô khùi-la̍t ê, siūⁿ boeh peh chhut-lâi. Kiù-miā! kiù-miā! kúi-ki ngiauh-tāng ê kha hoat-chhut chit-khoán ê sìn-hō. M̄-koh ba̍k-chúi-koàn ê sì-piⁿ tâm koh ku̍t, hô͘-sîn iū-koh poa̍h lo̍h-khì, khai-sí tī hia bo̍kx siû. Lāu-pán the̍h-khí chi̍t-ki pit, kā hô͘-sîn ùi ba̍k-chúi ni̍h iah chhut-lâi, khǹg tī chi̍t-tè khip-ba̍k-chóa téng-bīn. Ū chi̍t sió-tōaⁿ sî-kan, hô͘-sîn tiāmx tó tī ùi sin-khu sìm-lo̍h ê hit sió-phìⁿ o͘ jiah. 

Sòa-lo̍h, chêng-kha tín-tāng, lia̍h-tio̍h chóa, choán-chiàⁿ i he sèx, tâm kô͘x ê sin-khu, khai-sí chéng-lí ba̍k-chúi kô͘-tio̍h si̍t ê tōa khang-khòe. Téng-bīn, ē-bīn, téng-bīn, ē-bīn, chi̍t-pái chi̍t-ki kha kò͘ chi̍t-ki si̍t, chhin-chhiūⁿ kō͘ to-chio̍h bôa chháu-keh-á án-ne. Sòa-lo̍h, thêng chi̍t-ē, hô͘-sîn ká-ná sī kō͘ kha-chéng-thâu-á bóe khiā khí-lâi, chhì kā chi̍t-pêng ê si̍t tián-khui, jiân-āu koh tián-khui lēng-gōa hit-pêng. 

Chòe-āu, i sêng-kong ah, chē lo̍h-lâi, khai-sí sé-bīn, ká-ná chhiūⁿ sè-chiah niau-á án-ne. Taⁿ, lí ē-sái sióng-siōng, he sióx ê chêng-kha sio-so, sio-hôe, khin-khoài koh hoaⁿ-hí. Khó-phà ê hûi-hiám í-keng kòe-khì ah; i tô-kòe ah; i chún-pī hó boeh têng-sin bīn-tùi sèⁿ-miā ah.

M̄-koh tō tī hit sî-chūn, láu-pán ū chi̍t-ê siūⁿ-hoat. I kā pit tōng ji̍p-khì ba̍k-chúi-koàn, kō͘ i ê chho͘ chhiú-ba̍k teh tī khip-chúi-chóa téng, tī hô͘-sîn chhì boeh tián-si̍t ê sî, chi̍t tōa-tih tîm-tāng ê ba̍k-chúi tih lo̍h-lâi. Chit-siaⁿ i ē án-chóaⁿ ah? Tek-khak ū tāi-chì! Chit-chiah sió sèⁿ-miā khòaⁿ sī tōa tio̍h-kiaⁿ, gāng..khì, soah m̄-káⁿ tín-tāng ah, in-ūi m̄-chai koh-lâi ē án-chóaⁿ. M̄-koh āu-lâi, ká-ná chin thòng-khó͘, i bānx thoa-sin hiòng-chêng. Chêng-kha iô-tāng, lia̍h-tiâu chóa, jiân-āu, chit-pái koh-khah bān, khang-khòe koh-chài ùi-thâu khai-sí ah.

I sī chi̍t-ê tōa-táⁿ ê sió-kúi neh, láu-pán án-ne siūⁿ, tùi hô͘-sîn ê ióng-khì kám-kak chin-chiàⁿ khim-ho̍k. Che tō sī chhú-lí tāi-chì ê hong-hoat; che tō sī chèng-khak ê cheng-sîn. Choa̍t-tùi m̄ jīn-su; ûi-it ê būn-tê chāi-tī... M̄-koh, hô͘-sîn í-keng koh oân-sêng i sin-khó͘ ê khang-khòe, láu-pán mā tú-hó ū sî-kan kā pit-chiam ùn móa ba̍k-chúi, ún takx tī he tú chéng-lí chheng-khì ê sin-khu tih-lo̍h chi̍t-tih o͘-sek ba̍k-chúi. Chit-pái tāi-chì ē án-chóaⁿ ah? Chi̍t-tōaⁿ hō͘ lâng thòng-khó͘ ê kòa-tiàu sûi tòe-lâi. 

M̄-koh, lí khòaⁿ ah, chêng-kha iū-koh teh iô-tāng ah; láu-pán kám-kak chi̍t-chūn ê khùiⁿ-oa̍h. I àⁿ-sin tī hô͘-sîn téng-koân, jiûx tùi i kóng, "Lí chi̍t-ê chhong-bêng ê sió-k..." I sīm-chì ū chi̍t-ê bí-miāu ê siūⁿ-hoat, boeh hiòng hô͘-sîn hah-khì, hō͘ i khah kín ta. Sui-bóng án-ne, i taⁿ ê phah-piàⁿ hián-tit sió-khóa támx koh hi-jio̍k, láu-pán koat-tēng chit-pái sī siōng-bóe-pái ah, i kā pit koh chhimx chìm ji̍p-khì ba̍k-chúi-koàn.

Khak-si̍t sī siōng-bóe-pái. Chòe-āu chi̍t-tih ba̍k-chúi tih-lo̍h chìm-tâm ê khip-chúi-chóa, hit-chiah tâm-kô͘ ê hô͘-sîn tó tī lāi-bīn, bô tín-tāng. Āu-kha kô͘ tī sin-khu; chêng-kha khòaⁿ bē-tio̍h.

"Ka-iû ah," láu-pán kóng. "Khah liú-lia̍h leh!" I kō͘ pit khì kā póe -- bô-hāu. Siáⁿ to bô hoat-seng, mā bô khó-lêng hoat-seng. Hô͘-sîn sí..khì ah.

*

Láu-pán kō͘ chhâi-chóa-to ê bóe-liu kā he sí-thé ngiáu khí-lâi, tàn-lo̍h jī-chóa-láng. Tān-sī sûi ū chi̍t-chūn pi-chhám kún-ká ê kam-kak kā i lia̍h tiâux, hō͘ i kám-kak tōa kiaⁿ-hiâⁿ. I hut-leh àⁿ hiòng chêng, chhi̍h liang-á kiò Macey lâi.

"The̍h kóa sin ê khip-ba̍k-chóa hō͘ góa," i giâm-lē kóng, "kha-chhiú khah mé-lia̍h leh."

Tī hit-ê lāu oân-kang neh-kha kiâⁿ chhut-khì ê sî, láu-pán hām-lo̍h tîm-su, hôe-siūⁿ tú-chiah i tàu-té sī teh siūⁿ siáⁿ-hòe. Sī siáⁿ-hòe ah? He sī... I gîm-chhut chhiú-kin-á, seh-ji̍p ām-niá lāi chhit. Chit sì-lâng m̄-bat chiah khùn-he̍k, i oân-choân siūⁿ bē khí-lâi.

(Soah)

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4. 胡蠅 ê 命運 kap 老闆 ê 心適

彼時, 老闆注意著, 有一隻胡蠅跋落伊 he 闊喙 ê 墨水罐, tng-teh 拚命但真無氣力ê, 想欲 peh 出來. 救命! 救命! 幾支 ngiauh 動 ê 跤發出這款 ê 信號. M̄-koh 墨水罐 ê 四邊澹 koh 滑, 胡蠅又閣跋落去, 開始 tī hia bo̍kx 泅. 老闆提起一支筆, kā 胡蠅 ùi 墨水 ni̍h 搤出來, 囥 tī 一塊吸墨紙頂面. 有一小段時間, 胡蠅 tiāmx 倒 tī ùi 身軀滲落 ê hit 小片烏跡. 

Sòa-lo̍h, 前跤振動, 掠著紙, 轉正伊 he sèx, 澹 kô͘x ê 身軀, 開始整理墨水糊著翼 ê 大工課. 頂面, 下面, 頂面, 下面, 一擺一支跤顧一支翼, 親像 kō͘ 刀石磨草鍥仔 án-ne. Sòa-lo̍h, 停一下, 胡蠅 ká-ná 是 kō͘ 跤指頭仔尾徛起來, 試 kā 一爿 ê 翼展開, 然後 koh 展開另外彼爿. 

最後, 伊成功 ah, 坐落來, 開始洗面, ká-ná 像細隻貓仔 án-ne. 今, 你會使想像, he sióx ê 前跤相挲, 相回, 輕快 koh 歡喜. 可怕 ê 危險已經過去 ah; 伊逃過 ah; 伊準備好欲重新面對性命 ah.

M̄-koh tō tī 彼時陣, 老闆有一个想法. 伊 kā 筆 tōng 入去墨水罐, kō͘ 伊 ê 粗手目硩 tī 吸水紙頂, tī 胡蠅試欲展翼 ê 時, 一大滴沉重 ê 墨水滴落來. 這聲伊會按怎 ah? 的確有代誌! Chit 隻小性命看是大著驚, 愣..去, soah 毋敢振動 ah, 因為毋知閣來會按怎. M̄-koh 後來, ká-ná 真痛苦, 伊bānx 拖身向前. 前跤搖動, 掠牢紙, 然後, 這擺閣較慢, 工課閣再 ùi 頭開始 ah.

伊是一个大膽 ê 小鬼 neh, 老闆 án-ne 想, 對胡蠅 ê 勇氣感覺真正欽服. Che tō 是處理代誌 ê 方法; che tō 是正確 ê 精神. 絕對毋認輸; 唯一 ê 問題在 tī... M̄-koh, 胡蠅已經 koh 完成伊辛苦 ê 工課, 老闆 mā 拄好有時間 kā 筆尖搵滿墨水, 穩 takx tī he 拄整理清氣 ê 身軀滴落一滴烏色墨水. 這擺代誌會按怎 ah? 一段予人痛苦 ê 掛吊隨綴來. 

M̄-koh, 你看 ah, 前跤又閣 teh 搖動 ah; 老闆感覺一陣 ê 快活. 伊 àⁿ 身 tī 胡蠅頂懸, jiûx 對伊講, "你這个聰明 ê 小 k..." 伊甚至有一个美妙 ê 想法, 欲向胡蠅哈氣, 予伊較緊焦. 雖罔 án-ne, 伊今 ê 拍拚顯得小可 támx koh 虛弱, 老闆決定這擺是上尾擺 ah, 伊 kā 筆 koh chhimx 浸入去墨水罐.

確實是上尾擺. 最後一滴墨水滴落浸澹 ê 吸水紙, 彼隻澹糊 ê 胡蠅倒 tī 內面, 無振動. 後跤糊 tī 身軀; 前跤看袂著.

"加油 ah," 老闆講. "較扭掠 leh!" 伊 kō͘ 筆去 kā 掰 -- 無效. 啥 to 無發生, mā 無可能發生. 胡蠅死..去 ah.

*

老闆 kō͘ 裁紙刀 ê 尾溜 kā he 死體 ngiáu 起來, 擲落字紙籠. 但是隨有一陣悲慘滾絞 ê 感覺 kā 伊掠 tiâux, hō͘ 伊感覺大驚惶. 伊忽 leh àⁿ 向前, chhi̍h 喨仔叫 Macey 來.

"提寡新 ê 吸墨紙 hō͘ 我," 伊嚴厲講, "跤手較猛掠 leh."

Tī 彼个老員工躡跤行出去 ê 時, 老闆陷落沉思, 回想拄才伊到底是 teh 想啥貨. 是啥貨 ah? 彼是... 伊gîm 出手巾仔, seh 入頷領內拭. 這世人 m̄-bat chiah 困惑, 伊完全想袂起來.

(煞)

=

4.

At that moment the boss noticed that a fly had fallen into his broad inkpot, and was trying feebly but desperately to clamber out again. Help ! help ! said those struggling legs. But the sides of the inkpot were wet and slippery ; it fell back again and began to swim. The boss took up a pen, picked the fly out of the ink, and shook it on to a piece of blotting-paper. For a fraction of a second it lay still on the dark patch that oozed round it. /

Then the front legs waved, took hold, and, pulling its small, sodden body up it began the immense task of cleaning the ink from its wings. Over and under, over and under, went a leg along a wing, as the stone goes over and under the scythe. Then there was a pause, while the fly, seeming to stand on the tips of its toes, tried to expand first one wing and then the other. /

It succeeded at last, and, sitting down, it began, like a minute cat, to clean its face. Now one could imagine that the little front legs rubbed against each other lightly, joyfully. The horrible danger was over ; it had escaped ; it was ready for life again.

But just then the boss had an idea. He plunged his pen back into the ink, leaned his thick wrist on the blotting paper, and as the fly tried its wings down came a great heavy blot. What would it make of that ? What indeed ! The little beggar seemed absolutely cowed, stunned, and afraid to move because of what would happen next. But then, as if painfully, it dragged itself forward. The front legs waved, caught hold, and, more slowly this time, the task began from the beginning.

He's a plucky little devil, thought the boss, and he felt a real admiration for the fly's courage. That was the way to tackle things ; that was the right spirit. Never say die ; it was only a question of ... But the fly had again finished its laborious task, and the boss had just time to refill his pen, to shake fair and square on the new-cleaned body yet another dark drop. What about it this time ? A painful moment of suspense followed. /

But behold, the front legs were again waving ; the boss felt a rush of relief. He leaned over the fly and said to it tenderly, " You artful little b . . ." And he actually had the brilliant notion of breathing on it to help the drying process. All the same, there was something timid and weak about its efforts now, and the boss decided that this time should be the last, as he dipped the pen deep into the inkpot.

It was. The last blot fell on the soaked blotting-paper, and the draggled fly lay in it and did not stir. The back legs were stuck to the body; the front legs were not to be seen.

" Come on," said the boss. " Look sharp ! " And he stirred it with his pen—in vain. Nothing happened or was likely to happen. The fly was dead.

*

The boss lifted the corpse on the end of the paper-knife and flung it into the waste-paper basket. But such a grinding feeling of wretchedness seized him that he felt positively frightened. He started forward and pressed the bell for Macey.

" Bring me some fresh blotting-paper," he said, sternly, " and look sharp about it." /

And while the old dog padded away he fell to wondering what it was he had been thinking about before. What was it ? It was... He took out his handkerchief and passed it inside his collar. For the life of him he could not remember.

=

The Fly was featured as The Short Story of the Day on Thu, Jan 08, 2026

The Fly is featured in our collection of Short Stories for High School I

https://americanliterature.com/short-stories-for-high-school/

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a3 欲哭無目屎, 心肝結規 khiû

3. Boeh khàu bô ba̍k-sái, sim-koaⁿ kat kui-khiû

Láu-pán tī hia kúx khiā chi̍t-khùn, ba̍k-chiu bângx, á hit-ê thâu-chang pòaⁿ-pe̍h ê kò͘-mn̂g..ê kimx teh khòaⁿ i, ùi i ê sió keh-keng chhutx ji̍px, chhin-chhiūⁿ káu-á kiáⁿ teh tán lâng khan chhut-khì pha. Lo̍h-bóe, láu-pán khui-chhùi: "Mecey, koh-lâi pòaⁿ tiám-cheng, góa bô boeh kìⁿ lâng. Án-ne lí chai..bô? Siáⁿ-lâng to m̄-kìⁿ."

"Sī, góa chai, sian-siⁿ."

Mn̂g koaiⁿ khí-lâi, ún-tēng tîm-tāng ê kha-pō͘ koh ta̍h-kòe bêng-liāng ê tē-thán, pûix ê sin-khu siàng lo̍h kòa keng-á ê í-á lāi, láu-pán àⁿ hiòng chêng, siang-chhiú am-bīn. I siūⁿ-boeh, i phah-sǹg, i an-pâi hó boeh tōa-khàu...

Woodifield hut-jiân kā i thê-khí in hāu-seⁿ ê bōng ê sî, he tùi i sī tōax ê chhì-kek. He bē-su thô͘ óe-khui, hō͘ i khòaⁿ-tio̍h hāu-seⁿ tó tī hia, Woodifield ê chă-kiáⁿ mǹ mā àⁿ-thâu teh khòaⁿ. Kóng mā kî-koài, sui-bóng í-keng chhiau-kòe 6 nî, láu-pán siūⁿ-khí hāu-seⁿ ê sî, náu-hái ni̍h chóng-sī i chhēng kun-ho̍k, bô kái-piàn, bô pāi-hāi, éng-oán khùn..khì ê bô͘-iūⁿ. "Koai-kiáⁿ!" láu-pán án-ne naugh. M̄-koh, iáu sī bô ba̍k-sái.

Tī kòe-khì, tī hāu-seⁿ tú sí ê thâu kúi kò-goe̍h, sīm-chì kúi-nā nî, chí-iàu kóng chhut chit nn̄g-jī, i tō hō͘ pi-siong lia̍h-tiâu, tio̍h tōax khàu chi̍t-chūn chiah ē-tit kái-thoat. I bat kā ta̍k-lâng án-ne kóng, sî-kan mā bē-tit kái-piàn. Pa̍t-lâng hoān-sè ē-tit hôe-ho̍k, ē-tit ùi sit-chhin ê thòng-khó͘ koh pêng-chēng, m̄-koh i bô hoat-tō͘. Che ná ū khó-lêng ah? In hāu-seⁿ sī ko͘-kiáⁿ. Chū-chiông i chhut-sì, láu-pán tō phah-piàⁿ ūi i kiàn-li̍p chit-ê sū-gia̍p; nā m̄-sī ūi-tio̍h chit-ê gín-á, it-chhè tō lóng bô ì-gī. Nā bô gín-á ē lâi chiap-chhiú, ē lâi thoân-sêng ê kî-thāi, chiah chē nî lâi, i ná ū khó-lêng tī sè-kan án-ne chò-gû chò-bé, án-ne thoa-bôa jím-nāi ah?

Hit-ê kî-thāi goân-pún chha chi̍t-sut-á tō boeh si̍t-hiān ah. Chiàn-cheng po̍k-hoat chêng, hāu-seⁿ í-keng tī pān-kong-sek si̍t-si̍p chi̍t-nî. Ta̍k chái-khí, in tâng-chê chhut-mn̂g, àm-sî chē kāng-pang hóe-chhia tńg-lâi. Chò-ûi gín-á ê lāu-pē, i siu-tio̍h gōa-chē ê khèng-hō chiok-hok ah! Che bô siáⁿ hi-kî, in-ūi hāu-seⁿ tùi gia̍p-bū ê se̍k-chhiú hui-siông sūn-lī. I mā kài ū oân-kang ê lâng-iân, múi chi̍t-ê lâng, kē kàu lāu Macey, lóng kā i o-ló kah ē tak-chi̍h. M̄-koh i chi̍t-sut-á to bô hông sēng-pháiⁿ. Bē, i pó-chhî chū-sin ê khai-lóng, thian-seng ê ka-tī, tùi lâng kóng-ōe tek-thé, kòa chi̍t-ê gín-á-sèng ê piáu-chêng, si̍p-koàn-tek kóng chi̍t-kù, "Ū-kàu chán lah!"

M̄-koh, it-chhè lóng kiat-sok ah, bô-iáⁿ bô-jiah ah, bē-su che m̄-bat chûn-chāi kòe. Hit-kang, Macey kau hō͘ i hit-tiuⁿ tiān-pò, hō͘ i ê sè-kài chek-sî kui-ê pang..khì. "Chin ûi-hām kā lí thong-ti..." I lī-khui pān-kong-sek ê sî, í-keng sī chi̍t-ê sim-chhùi ê lâng, i ê sèⁿ-miā sī chi̍t-phìⁿ hùi-hi.

La̍k-nî chêng, í-keng la̍k-nî... Sî-kan kòe-liáu chin kín! Ná-chhiūⁿ sī cha-hng hoat-seng ê tāi-chì. Láu-pán kā chhiú ùi bīn sóa-khui; kám-kak tām-po̍h khùn-he̍k. I kám-kak ka-tī ká-ná ū tó-ūi bô-tú-hó. I kám-kak bē-tio̍h ka-tī boeh-ài ê kám-kak. I koat-tēng boeh peh khí-lâi, boeh khòaⁿ hāu-seⁿ ê siòng-phìⁿ. M̄-koh, chit-tiuⁿ m̄-sī i siōng kah-ì ê siòng-phìⁿ; siòng ni̍h ê piáu-chêng bô chū-jiân. Piáu-chêng léng-tām, sīm-chì ū kóa giâm-siok. Hāu-seⁿ it-hiòng m̄-bat ū hit-chióng piáu-chêng.

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3. 欲哭無目屎, 心肝結規 khiû

老闆 tī hia kúx 徛一睏, 目睭 bângx, á 彼个頭鬃半白 ê 顧門..ê kimx teh 看伊, ùi 伊 ê 小隔間 chhutx ji̍px, 親像狗仔囝 teh 等人牽出去拋. 落尾, 老闆開喙: "Mecey, 閣來半點鐘, 我無欲見人. Án-ne 你知..無? 啥人 to 毋見."

"是, 我知, 先生."

門關起來, 穩定沉重 ê 跤步 koh 踏過明亮 ê 地毯, pûix ê 身軀摔落掛弓仔 ê 椅仔內, 老闆 àⁿ 向前, 雙手掩面. 伊想欲, 伊拍算, 伊安排好欲大哭...

Woodifield 忽然 kā 伊提起 in 後生 ê 墓 ê 時, he 對伊是 tōax ê 刺激. He 袂輸塗挖開, 予伊看著後生倒 tī hia, Woodifield ê chă 囝 mǹ mā àⁿ 頭 teh 看. 講 mā 奇怪, 雖罔已經超過 6 年, 老闆想起後生 ê 時, 腦海 ni̍h 總是伊穿軍服, 無改變, 無敗害, 永遠睏..去 ê 模樣. "乖囝!" 老闆 án-ne naugh. M̄-koh, 猶是無目屎.

Tī 過去, tī 後生拄死 ê 頭幾個月, 甚至幾若年, 只要講出 chit 兩字, 伊 tō hō͘ 悲傷掠牢, 著 tōax 哭一陣才會得解脫. 伊 bat kā 逐人 án-ne 講, 時間 mā 袂得改變. 別人凡勢會得回復, 會得 ùi 失親 ê 痛苦 koh 平靜, m̄-koh 伊無法度. Che 那有可能 ah? In 後生是孤囝. 自從伊出世, 老闆 tō 拍拚為伊建立這个事業; 若毋是為著這个囡仔, 一切 tō lóng 無意義. 若無囡仔會來接手, 會來傳承 ê 期待, chiah 濟年來, 伊那有可能 tī 世間 án-ne 做牛做馬, án-ne 拖磨忍耐 ah?

彼个期待原本差一屑仔 tō 欲實現 ah. 戰爭爆發前, 後生已經 tī 辦公室實習一年. 逐早起, in 同齊出門, 暗時坐仝幫火車轉來. 做為囡仔 ê 老爸, 伊收著偌濟 ê 慶賀祝福 ah! Che 無啥稀奇, 因為後生對業務 ê 熟手非常順利. 伊 mā kài 有員工 ê 人緣, 每一个人, 低到老 Macey, lóng kā 伊 o-ló kah 會觸舌. M̄-koh 伊一屑仔 to 無 hông 倖歹. 袂, 伊保持自身 ê 開朗, 天生 ê ka-tī, 對人講話得體, 掛一个囡仔性 ê 表情, 習慣 tek 講一句, "有夠讚 lah!"

M̄-koh, 一切 lóng 結束 ah, 無影無跡 ah, 袂輸 che m̄-bat 存在過. 彼工, Macey 交 hō͘ 伊 hit 張電報, hō͘ 伊 ê 世界即時規个崩去. "真遺憾 kā 你通知..." 伊離開辦公室 ê 時, 已經是一个心碎 ê 人, 伊 ê 性命是一片廢墟.

六年前, 已經六年... 時間過了真緊! Ná 像是昨昏發生 ê 代誌. 老闆 kā 手 ùi 面徙開; 感覺淡薄困惑. 伊感覺 ka-tī ká-ná 有佗位無拄好. 伊感覺袂著 ka-tī 欲愛 ê 感覺. 伊決定欲 peh 起來, 欲看後生 ê 相片. M̄-koh, chit 張毋是伊上佮意 ê 相片; 相 ni̍h ê 表情無自然. 表情冷淡, 甚至有寡嚴肅. 後生一向 m̄-bat 有彼種表情.

--

3.

For a long moment the boss stayed, staring at nothing, while the grey-haired office messenger, watching him, dodged in and out of his cubby hole like a dog that expects to be taken for a run. Then : " I'll see nobody for half an hour, Macey," said the boss. " Understand ? Nobody at all."

" Very good, sir."

The door shut, the firm heavy steps recrossed the bright carpet, the fat body plumped down in the spring chair, and leaning forward, the boss covered his face with his hands. He wanted, he intended, he had arranged to weep...

It had been a terrible shock to him when old Woodifield sprang that remark upon him about the boy's grave. It was exactly as though the earth had opened and he had seen the boy lying there with Woodifield's girls staring down at him. For it was strange. Although over six years had passed away, the boss never thought of the boy except as lying unchanged, unblemished in his uniform, asleep for ever. " My son ! " groaned the boss. But no tears came yet. /

In the past, in the first months and even years after the boy's death, he had only to say those words to be overcome by such grief that nothing short of a violent fit of weeping could relieve him. Time, he had declared then, he had told everybody, could make no difference. Other men perhaps might recover, might live their loss down, but not he. How was it possible ? His boy was an only son. Ever since his birth the boss had worked at building up this business for him ; it had no other meaning if it was not for the boy. Life itself had come to have no other meaning. How on earth could he have slaved, denied himself, kept going all those years without the promise for ever before him of the boy's stepping into his shoes and carrying on where he left off ?

And that promise had been so near being fulfilled. The boy had been in the office learning the ropes for a year before the war. Every morning they had started off together ; they had come back by the same train. And what congratulations he had received as the boy's father ! No wonder ; he had taken to it marvellously. As to his popularity with the staff, every man jack of them down to old Macey couldn't make enough of the boy. And he wasn't in the least spoilt. No, he was just his bright, natural self, with the right word for everybody, with that boyish look and his habit of saying, " Simply splendid ! "

But all that was over and done with as though it never had been. The day had come when Macey had handed him the telegram that brought the whole place crashing about his head. " Deeply regret to inform you ..." And he had left the office a broken man, with his life in ruins.

Six years ago, six years ... How quickly time passed ! It might have happened yesterday. The boss took his hands from his face ; he was puzzled. Something seemed to be wrong with him. He wasn't feeling as he wanted to feel. He decided to get up and have a look at the boy's photograph. But it wasn't a favourite photograph of his; the expression was unnatural. It was cold, even stern-looking. The boy had never looked like that.

--

a2 Wisky kap 墓園 ê 記持

2. Wisky kap bōng-hn̂g ê kì-tî

Lāu Woodifield khòaⁿ kah chhùi khuix. Hit-chióng tio̍h-kiaⁿ ê khoán bē-su láu-pán piàn chhut chi̍t-chiah thò͘-á lâi.

"He sī wisky, kám m̄-sī?" i kō͘ iùx, hi-jio̍k ê siaⁿ kóng.

Láu-pán kā kan-á se̍h chi̍t-ē, jia̍t-sim hō͘ i khòaⁿ téng-bīn ê phiau-thâu. He sī wisky.

"Lí kám chai," i kóng, taⁿ-thâu támx khòaⁿ láu-pán, "tī chhù-ni̍h, in put-chún góa bak chit-hō mi̍h." I ná teh kóng ê sî, bē-su kiông boeh khàu chhut-lâi.

"Ah, iáu sī lán pí cha-bó͘-lâng khah lāi-hâng lah," láu-pán tōa siaⁿ kóng. koh ná kín kha-pō͘ kiâⁿ kàu toh-á piⁿ, lia̍h khí nn̄g-ê khǹg tī chúi-pân piⁿ ê pêⁿ-té po-lê poe, tī múi chi̍t-ê poe-á lóng kā tò chiokx chi̍t chéng-thâu-á-ba̍k hiah koân ê chiú. "Kā lim lo̍h. Che tùi lí ū hó-chhù. Chhian-bān m̄-thang ke chúi. Tī chit-chióng hó mi̍h-kiāⁿ ke chúi sī tùi sîn put-kèng. Ah!" I taⁿ-thâu chi̍t-chhùi kā i hit-poe lim ta, liú chhut chhiú-kin-á, kín-sok kā téng-tûn-chhiu chhit chi̍t-ē, jiân-āu hiòng Woodifield sái chi̍t-ê ba̍k-sek, hit-sî lāu Woodifield ê chiú tú kâm kàu chhùi lāi teh liàn.

Lāu lâng kā chiú lim lo̍h, tiāmx chi̍t-khùn, jiân-āu sè-siaⁿ kóng, "Ū kóe-chí-jîn ê phang-bī!"

M̄-koh, chiú hō͘ i sio-lō khí-lâi, chiú-khì kiâⁿ kàu i he léng..khì ê thâu-náu -- taⁿ i siūⁿ khí-lâi ah.

"Sī án-ne lah," i kóng, chia̍h-la̍t ùi í-á peh khí-lâi. "Góa siūⁿ lí eng-kai ū ì-sù chai-iáⁿ. Goán chă-kiáⁿ téng lé-pài khì Belgium khòaⁿ khó-liân Reggie ê bōng, in mā tú-hó ū keng-kòe lín hau-seⁿ ê bōng. Thiaⁿ-kóng, hit nn̄g-ê bōng put-chí-á sio-óa."

Lāu Woodifield thêng chi̍t-ē, tān láu-pán bô ìn-ōe. Kan-ta ba̍k-chiu-phôe chùn chi̍t-ē, piáu-sī i ū thiaⁿ-tio̍h.

"Chă gín-á mǹ chin móa-ì hit só͘-chāi ê chéng-lí hong-sek," ùix ê lāu siaⁿ-im kóng. "Chiàu-kò͘ kah chin hó. Tō sǹg tī ka-tī chhù, mā kan-ta sī án-ne. Lí iáu bô khì..kòe hoⁿh, kám ū?"

"Bô, iáu bô!" láu-pán in-ūi chióngx lí-iû, it-ti̍t iáu-bōe khì.

"Bōng-hn̂g khoah bóngx," lāu Woodifield chùn siaⁿ kóng, "chéng-chê kah ná-chhiūⁿ hoe-hn̂g. Múi chi̍t-ê bōng lóng ū chèng hoe. Koh ū khoahx hó kiâⁿ ê lō͘." Ùi i ê siaⁿ thiaⁿ ē-chhut, i chiâⁿ kah-ì he khoahx hó-kiâⁿ ê lō͘.

Koh chi̍t-khùn ê tiām-chēng. Jiân-āu, lāu lâng ê bīn hiôngx bêng-liāng khí-lâi.

"Lí chai bô, pn̄g-tiàm kā chă gín-á siu chi̍t-koàn kóe-chí-chiùⁿ gōa-chē chîⁿ?" i iù-siaⁿ kóng. "Cha̍p franc! Góa kóng, he kin-pún sī chhiúⁿ-kiap ah. Sèx koàn-á, Gertrude án-ne kóng, bô pí pòaⁿ-crown [gîn-kak-á] khah tōa. Yi kan-ta chia̍h chi̍t thng-sî-á, in tō siu yi cha̍p franc. Gertrude kui-khì kā koàn-á chah-cháu, sió kā in kà-sī chi̍t-ē. Án-ne chò bô m̄-tio̍h; in sī teh khà-iû lán ê kám-chêng. In siūⁿ kóng, lán chi̍t-chōa-lō͘ khì hia thàm, tiāⁿ-tio̍h siáⁿ-mih to kam khai. Tāi-chì tō sī án-ne." Sòa-lo̍h, i oat-sin hiòng mn̂g-kháu.

"Chin tio̍h, chin tio̍h!" láu-pán hoah-siaⁿ, sui-bóng i kin-pún m̄-chai tàu-té sī siáⁿ chin tio̍h. I se̍h chhut pan-kong-toh, tòe he thoa-thô͘ ê kha-pō͘ kiâⁿ kàu mn̂g-kháu, sàng lāu pêng-iú chhut-mn̂g. Woodifield lī-khui ah.

--

2. Wisky kap 墓園 ê 記持

老 Woodifield 看 kah 喙 khuix. 彼種著驚 ê 款袂輸老闆變出一隻兔仔來.

"彼是 wisky, 敢毋是?" 伊 kō͘ iùx, 虛弱 ê 聲講.

老闆 kā 矸仔踅一下, 熱心予伊看頂面 ê 標頭. 彼是 wisky.

"你敢知," 伊講, taⁿ 頭 támx 看老闆, "tī 厝 ni̍h, in 不准我 bak 這號物." 伊 ná teh 講 ê 時, 袂輸強欲哭出來.

"Ah, 猶是咱比查某人較內行 lah," 老闆大聲講. koh ná 緊跤步行到桌仔邊, 掠起兩个囥 tī 水瓶邊 ê 平底玻璃杯, tī 每一个杯仔 lóng kā 倒 chiokx 一指頭仔目 hiah 懸 ê 酒. "Kā 啉落. Che 對你有好處. 千萬毋通加水. Tī 這種好物件加水是對神不敬. Ah!" 伊 taⁿ 頭 一喙 kā 伊 hit 杯啉焦, 扭出手巾仔, 緊速 kā 頂唇鬚拭一下, 然後向 Woodifield 使一个目色, 彼時老 Woodifield ê 酒 tú 含到喙內 teh 輾.

老人 kā 酒啉落, tiāmx 一睏, 然後細聲講, "有果子仁 ê 芳味!"

M̄-koh, 酒予伊燒烙起來, 酒氣行到伊 he 冷..去 ê 頭腦 -- 今伊想起來 ah.

"是 án-ne lah," 伊講, 食力 ùi 椅仔 peh 起來. "我想你應該有意思知影. 阮 cha̋ 囝頂禮拜去 Belgium 看可憐 Reggie ê 墓, in mā 拄好有經過恁後生 ê 墓. 聽講, hit 兩个墓不止仔相倚."

老 Woodifield 停一下, 但老闆無應話. 干焦目睭皮顫一下, 表示伊有聽著.

"Cha̋ 囡仔 mǹ 真滿意彼所在 ê 整理方式," ùix ê 老聲音講. "照顧 kah 真好. Tō 算 tī ka-tī 厝, mā 干焦是 án-ne. 你猶無去..過 hoⁿh, 敢有?"

"無, 猶無!" 老闆因為 chióngx 理由, 一直猶未去.

"墓園闊 bóngx," 老 Woodifield 顫聲講, "整齊 kah ná 像花園. 每一个墓 lóng 有種花. Koh 有 khoahx 好行 ê 路." Ùi 伊 ê 聲聽會出, 伊誠佮意 he khoahx 好行 ê 路.

Koh 一睏 ê 恬靜. 然後, 老人 ê 面 hiôngx 明亮起來.

"你知無, 飯店 kā chă 囡仔收一罐果子醬偌濟錢?" 伊幼聲講. "十 franc! 我講, he 根本是搶劫 ah. sèx 罐仔, Gertrude án-ne 講, 無比半 crown [銀角仔] 較大. 她干焦食一湯匙仔, in tō 收她十 franc. Gertrude 規氣 kā 罐仔扎走, 小 kā in 教示一下. Án-ne 做無毋著; in 是 teh 敲油咱 ê 感情. In 想講, 咱一逝路去 hia 探, 定著啥物 to 甘開. 代誌 tō 是 án-ne." Sòa-lo̍h, 伊斡身向門口.

"真著, 真著!" 老闆喝聲, 雖罔伊根本毋知到底是啥真著. 伊踅出辦公桌, 綴 he 拖塗 ê 跤步行到門口, 送老朋友出門. Woodifield 離開 ah.

--

2.

Old Woodifield's mouth fell open at the sight. He couldn't have looked more surprised if the boss had produced a rabbit.

" It's whisky, ain't it ? " he piped, feebly.

The boss turned the bottle and lovingly showed him the label. Whisky it was.

" D'you know," said he, peering up at the boss wonderingly, " they won't let me touch it at home." And he looked as though he was going to cry.

" Ah, that's where we know a bit more than the ladies," cried the boss, swooping across for two tumblers that stood on the table with the water-bottle, and pouring a generous finger into each. " Drink it down. It'll do you good. And don't put any water with it. It's sacrilege to tamper with stuff like this. Ah ! " He tossed off his, pulled out his handkerchief, hastily wiped his moustaches, and cocked an eye at old Woodifield, who was rolling his in his chaps.

The old man swallowed, was silent a moment, and then said faintly, " It's nutty ! "

But it warmed him ; it crept into his chill old brain—he remembered.

" That was it," he said, heaving himself out of his chair. " I thought you'd like to know. The girls were in Belgium last week having a look at poor Reggie's grave, and they happened to come across your boy's. They're quite near each other, it seems."

Old Woodifield paused, but the boss made no reply. Only a quiver in his eyelids showed that he heard.

" The girls were delighted with the way the place is kept," piped the old voice. " Beautifully looked after. Couldn't be better if they were at home. You've not been across, have yer ? "

" No, no ! " For various reasons the boss had not been across.

" There's miles of it," quavered old Woodifield, " and it's all as neat as a garden. Flowers growing on all the graves. Nice broad paths." It was plain from his voice how much he liked a nice broad path.

The pause came again. Then the old man brightened wonderfully.

" D'you know what the hotel made the girls pay for a pot of jam ? " he piped. " Ten - francs! Robbery, I call it. It was a little pot, so Gertrude says, no bigger than a half-crown. And she hadn't taken more than a spoonful when they charged her ten francs. Gertrude brought the pot away with her to teach 'em a lesson. Quite right, too ; it's trading on our feelings. They think because we're over there having a look round we're ready to pay anything. That's what it is." And he turned towards the door.

" Quite right, quite right! " cried the boss, though what was quite right he hadn't the least idea. He came round by his desk, followed the shuffling footsteps to the door, and saw the old fellow out. Woodifield was gone.

--

A. Hô͘-sîn | 胡蠅/ a1 四序 ê 辦公室 kap 幻影 ê 相

The Fly

/ by Katherine Mansfield

https://americanliterature.com/author/katherine-mansfield/short-story/the-fly

Hô͘-sîn | 胡蠅

--

"Hô͘-sîn" hoat-piáu tī 1922 nî, it-poaⁿ jīn-ûi che sī Katherine Mansfield siá liáu siōng hó ê té-phiⁿ kò͘-sū chi-it. M̄-koh, nā bô jīn-chin tha̍k, sī tha̍k bē-chhut chu-bī! Lí tha̍k chit-phiⁿ kò͘-sū ê hiáng-siū, chāi tī lí ū jīn-chin tha̍k a̍h bô. Só͘-tì, chhiáⁿ bānx*-á lâi, iōng-sim hóx*-á tha̍k. Tho̍k-chiá tio̍h su-khó hô͘-sîn ê siōng-teng ì-gī, chù-ì tī kò͘-sū kiat-bóe ū hôe-èng Woodfield tī kò͘-sū khí-thâu hū-kīn só͘ thê-chhut ê chi̍t-ê būn-tê. Chit-phiⁿ kò͘-sū sio̍k-tī goán só͘ siu-chi̍p ê "It-chhù Sè-kài Tāi-chiàn Bûn-ha̍k." [* x sī thia̍p-im hû-hō: bānx = bān-bān, hóx = hó-hó]

*

1. Sù-sī ê pān-kong-sek kap hoàn-iáⁿ ê siòng

"Lí chia chiâⁿ sù-sī neh," Woodifield lāu sian-siⁿ iù-siaⁿ án-ne kóng. I chē tī in pêng-iú (its [iā-tō-sī] láu-pán) toh-á piⁿ hit-tè chheⁿ-sek tōa-tè phôe kau-í, ùi hia thàm-thâu chhut-lâi, bē-su âng-eⁿ-á ùi gín-á chhia thàm-thâu chhut-lâi khòaⁿ kāng-khoán. I í-keng khai-káng soah, tio̍h lī-khui ah. M̄-koh, i iáu bô siūⁿ boeh cháu. Chū i thè-hiu liáu-āu, chū-chiông i... tiòng-hong, in bó͘ kap cha-bó͘-kiáⁿ mǹ [們] tō chha-put-to ta̍k-kang kā i koaiⁿ tī chhù-lāi, kan-ta pài-jī chiah ē pàng i chhut-lâi. Tī pài-jī, in tō kā i se-thâu koh chhēng chéng-chê, pàng i khì Chhī-lāi chi̍t-kang. 

M̄-koh, i khì hia chhòng-siáⁿ, in bó͘ kap cha-bó͘-kiáⁿ mā lóng m̄-chai. Tāi-khài sī khì kiáu-jiáu pêng-iú lah, in án-ne siūⁿ... Ai-ah, hoān-sè tō sī án-ne. Lóng mā kāng-khoán, lán-lâng lóng ē lia̍h-tiâu chòe-āu ê lo̍k-thiòng, tō ná chhiū-á lia̍h-tiâu chòe-āu ê chhiū-hio̍h. Chū án-ne, Woodifield chē tī hia, ná pok chi̍t-ki cigar /si.gá/ ná kimx siòng láu-pán. Láu-pán iôx sìmx chē tī pan-kong-í, tōa-kho͘-pé, âng-ko-chhiah-chhi̍h, ke i 5-hòe, iáu chin ióng-kiāⁿ, iáu teh hōaⁿ chhiú-thâu. Khòaⁿ tio̍h i, hō͘ lâng an-sim. Iā kî-thāi, iā him-siān, hit-ê lāu siaⁿ-im koh kóng: "Chiū góa lâi kóng, chia si̍t-chāi chiâⁿ sù-sī neh!"

"Sī ah, sǹg sī chin sù-sī," láu-pán ìn-siaⁿ, ná kō͘ chi̍t-ki chhâi-chóa-to hian "Financial Times (Kim-iông Sî-pò)." Kóng si̍t-chāi, i tùi ka-tī ê pan-kong-sek chin tek-ì, kah-ì lâng him-siān, iû-kî sī lāu Woodifield. Ē-tit chē tī pan-kong-sek tiong-ng, hō͘ hit-ê pau ûi-kin ê hi-jio̍k lāu-lâng siòng, hō͘ i kám-kak chi̍t-chióng chhimx, kian-si̍t ê boán-chiok.

"Chòe-kīn góa chiah koh chéng-lí kòe," i kái-soeh, kòe-khì kúi lé-pài i í-keng án-ne kóng bē-chió pái ah. "Sin tē-thán," i kí he ū pe̍h-sek tōa îⁿ-khian-á ê âng tē-thán. "Sin ka-kū," i àⁿ-thâu hiòng hit-chō tōa chheh-tû kap hit-tè kha tńg-chūn kah ná kha-chhia-tîn ê toh-á. "Tiān hang-lô͘!" i koh hoaⁿ-thâu hí-bīn pí hiòng an tī siâ tâng-pôaⁿ ni̍h hit 5-ki jiûx hoat-kng, ná ian-chhiâng ê thàu-bêng chin-chu teng-kóng.

M̄-koh i bô kā Woodifield thê-khí toh-á téng hit-tiuⁿ siòng-phìⁿ, he sī chi̍t-ê piáu-chêng giâm-siok, chhēng kun-ho̍k ê siàu-liân-ke, i khiā tī hip-siòng-koán he ná hoàn-iáⁿ ê pò͘-kéng kong-hn̂g, āu-bīn sī hong-thai hûn ê pōe-kéng. Chit-tiuⁿ siòng m̄-sī sin hip ê, í-keng khǹg tī hia 6 nî gōa ah.

"Ū chi̍t-ê tāi-chì góa boeh kā lí kóng," lāu Woodifield kóng, i ê ba̍k-chiu buix teh siūⁿ kòe-khì. "Taⁿ, he sī siáⁿ ah? Chá-khí chhut-lâi ê sî, bêngx iáu kì kah chin chheng-chhó." I ê chhiú khai-sí teh chùn, chhùi-chhiu téng-bīn hia chhut-hiān kúi-ūi ê âng-jiah.

Khó-liân ê lāu hiaⁿ, i chhun ê ji̍t-chí bô chē ah, láu-pán án-ne siūⁿ. Jiân-āu, i hó-ì hiòng lāu lâng sái chi̍t-ê ba̍k-sek, kún-chhiò kóng, "Góa kā lí kóng, góa chia ū chi̍t-sut-á mi̍h-kiāⁿ, tī lí koh ta̍h-ji̍p hân-léng chìn-chêng, lim che tùi lí ū hó-chhù. Che sī hó mi̍h-kiāⁿ. Gín-á lim mā bô pāi-hāi." I ùi pió-á liān kéng chi̍t-ki só-sî, phah-khui toh-á ē-bīn ê kūi-á, the̍h-chhut chi̍t-ê chhim-sek, é-tùn ê kan-á. "Che sī io̍h-á," i kóng. "Hō͘ góa che ê lâng thaux kă kóng, che sī ùi Windsor Siâⁿ-pó tē-hā chiú-khò͘ lâi ê."

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"胡蠅" 發表 tī 1922 年, 一般認為 che 是 Katherine Mansfield 寫了上好 ê 短篇故事之一. M̄-koh, 若無認真讀, 是讀袂出滋味! 你讀這篇故事 ê 享受, 在 tī 你有認真讀 a̍h 無. 所致, 請 bānx*-á 來, 用心 hóx*-á 讀. 讀者著思考胡蠅 ê 象徵意義, 注意 tī 故事結尾有回應 Woodfield tī 故事起頭附近所提出 ê 一个問題. 這篇故事屬 tī 阮所收集 ê "一次世界大戰文學." [* x 是疊音符號: bānx = bān-bān, hóx = hó-hó]

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1. 四序 ê 辦公室 kap 幻影 ê 相

"你 chia 誠四序 neh," Woodifield 老先生幼聲 án-ne 講. 伊坐 tī in 朋友 (its [iā-tō-sī] 老闆) 桌仔邊彼塊青色大塊皮交椅, ùi hia 探頭出來, 袂輸紅嬰仔 ùi 囡仔車探頭出來看仝款. 伊已經開講煞, 著離開 ah. M̄-koh, 伊猶無想欲走. 自伊退休了後, 自從伊... 中風, in 某 kap 查某囝 mǹ [們] tō 差不多逐工 kā 伊關 tī 厝內, 干焦拜二才會放伊出來. Tī 拜二, in tō kā 伊梳頭 koh 穿整齊, 放伊去市內一工.

M̄-koh, 伊去 hia 創啥, in 某 kap 查某囝 mā lóng 毋知. 大概是去攪擾朋友 lah, in án-ne 想... Ai-ah, 凡勢 tō 是 án-ne. Lóng mā 仝款, 咱人 lóng 會掠牢最後 ê 樂暢, tō ná 樹仔掠牢最後 ê 樹葉. 自 án-ne, Woodifield 坐 tī hia, ná 噗一支 cigar /si.gá/ ná kimx 相老闆. 老闆 iôx sìmx 坐 tī 辦公椅, 大箍把, 紅膏赤蠘, 加伊 5 歲, 猶真勇健, 猶 teh 扞手頭. 看著伊, 予人安心. 也期待, 也欣羨, 彼个老聲音 koh 講: "就我來講, chia 實在誠四序 neh!"

"是 ah, 算是真四序," 老闆應聲, ná kō͘ 一支裁紙刀掀 "Financial Times (金融時報)." 講實在, 伊對 ka-tī ê 辦公室真得意, 佮意人欣羨, 尤其是老 Woodifield. 會得坐 tī 辦公室中央, hō͘ 彼个包圍巾 ê 虛弱老人相, 予伊感覺一種 chhimx, 堅實 ê 滿足.

"最近我才 koh 整理過," 伊解說, 過去幾禮拜伊已經 án-ne 講袂少擺 ah. "新地毯," 伊 kí he 有白色大圓圈仔 ê 紅地毯. "新家具," 伊 àⁿ 頭向 hit 座大冊櫥 kap hit 塊跤轉捘 kah ná 跤車藤 ê 桌仔. "電烘爐!" 伊 koh 歡頭喜面比向安 tī 斜銅盤 ni̍h hit 5 支 jiûx 發光, ná 煙腸 ê 透明真珠燈管.

M̄-koh 伊無 kā Woodifield 提起桌仔頂彼張相片, he 是一个表情嚴肅, 穿軍服 ê 少年家, 伊徛 tī 翕相館 he ná 幻影 ê 布景公園, 後面是風颱雲 ê 背景. 這張相毋是新翕 ê, 已經囥 tī hia 6 年外 ah.

"有一个代誌我欲 kā 你講," 老 Woodifield 講, 伊 ê 目睭 buix teh 想過去. "今, he 是啥 ah? 早起出來 ê 時, bêngx 猶記 kah 真清楚." 伊 ê 手開始 teh 顫, 喙鬚頂面 hia 出現幾位 ê 紅跡.

可憐 ê 老兄, 伊賰 ê 日子無濟 ah, 老闆 án-ne 想. 然後, 伊好意向老人使一个目色, 滾笑講, "我 kā 你講, 我 chia 有一屑仔物件, tī 你 koh 踏入寒冷進前, 啉這對你有好處. 這是好物件. 囡仔啉 mā 無敗害." 伊 ùi 錶仔鍊揀一支鎖匙, 拍開桌仔下面 ê 櫃仔, 提出一个深色, 矮頓 ê 矸仔. "這是藥仔," 伊講. "Hō͘ 我 che ê 人 thaux kă  講, 這是 ùi Windsor 城堡地下酒庫來 ê."

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Published in 1922, The Fly is often heralded as one of Katherine Mansfield's finest short stories. But it does not reward lazy readers! Your enjoyment of this story depends on how well you read the story. So please take your time and read it with careful attention. Readers will wish to contemplate the symbolism of the fly, and notice that the ending of the story plays on one of Woodfield's problems mentioned near the story's beginning. This story is featured in our collection of World War One Literature.

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1.

" Y'ARE very snug in here," piped old Mr. Woodifield, and he peered out of the great, green leather armchair by his friend the boss's desk as a baby peers out of its pram. His talk was over; it was time for him to be off. But he did not want to go. Since he had retired, since his... stroke, the wife and the girls kept him boxed up in the house every day of the week except Tuesday. On Tuesday he was dressed and brushed and allowed to cut back to the City for the day. /

Though what he did there the wife and girls couldn't imagine. Made a nuisance of himself to his friends, they supposed ... Well, perhaps so. All the same, we cling to our last pleasures as the tree clings to its last leaves. So there sat old Woodifield, smoking a cigar and staring almost greedily at the boss, who rolled in his office chair, stout, rosy, five years older than he, and still going strong, still at the helm. It did one good to see him. Wistfully, admiringly, the old voice added, " It's snug in here, upon my word ! "

" Yes, it's comfortable enough," agreed the boss, and he flipped the Financial Times with a paper-knife. As a matter of fact he was proud of his room ; he liked to have it admired, especially by old Woodifield. It gave him a feeling of deep, solid satisfaction to be planted there in the midst of it in full view of that frail old figure in the muffler.

" I've had it done up lately," he explained, as he had explained for the past—how many ?— weeks. " New carpet," and he pointed to the bright red carpet with a pattern of large white rings. " New furniture," and he nodded towards the massive bookcase and the table with legs like twisted treacle. " Electric heating ! " He waved almost exultantly towards the five transparent, pearly sausages glowing so softly in the tilted copper pan.

But he did not draw old Woodifield's attention to the photograph over the table of a grave-looking boy in uniform standing in one of those spectral photographers' parks with photographers' storm-clouds behind him. It was not new. It had been there for over six years.

" There was something I wanted to tell you," said old Woodifield, and his eyes grew dim remembering. " Now what was it ? I had it in my mind when I started out this morning." His hands began to tremble, and patches of red showed above his beard.

Poor old chap, he's on his last pins, thought the boss. And, feeling kindly, he winked at the old man, and said jokingly, " I tell you what. I've got a little drop of something here that'll do you good before you go out into the cold again. It's beautiful stuff. It wouldn't hurt a child." He took a key off his watch-chain, unlocked a cupboard below his desk, and drew forth a dark, squat bottle. " That's the medicine," said he. " And the man from whom I got it told me on the strict Q.T. it came from the cellars at Windsor Cassel."

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