The chaser/追擊者 John Collier(1901-1980)
前情提要
The short stories of John Collier, who was born and educated in England, were regularly published in leading American magazines from the 1930s through the 1950s.
短篇小說作家 John Collier，出生地和接受教育的地方是在英國，在1930~1950年間一直定期的在美國領先的雜誌上發佈文章。
During that time, Collier also worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood.(He wrote the first draft for the script of The African Queen, which starred Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.)
在這期間，Collier還在好萊塢擔任過編劇。（他寫出的第一部劇本是非洲女王，主演是Humphrey Bogart和Katharine Hepburn。）
Collier’s stories have been collected in several books (including Fancies and Goodnights, 1951, and The Best of John Collier, 1975) and they continue to appear in short-story anthologies in English and in translation.
A comprehensive study of his life and work appears in John Collier by Betty Richardson(1981.)
Collier的故事已經收錄在很多本書中（包括幻想和晚安，1951年以及最好的John Collier，1975年），他們將繼續出現在英語和翻譯短篇小說選集。
貝蒂•理查森（1981）曾經出過一本關於John Collier生活和工作的全面性研究。
As novelist Anthony Burgess notes in his introduction to The Best of John Collier, both the film scripts and short stories show Collier’s skill in writing dialogue and his gift for sharp observation.
Burgess also remarks that Collier markes literature out of the intrusion of fantasy, or quiet horror, into a real world closely observed,” often marking fun of both the Hollywood films and the popular fiction of his day, particularly their portrayal of romantic love.
正如小說家Anthony Burgess在他的最好的John Collier書中備註到，無論是電影劇本和短篇小說都顯示出Collier的寫作對白的技能和他敏銳的觀察力。
Burgess也表示，Collier “Markes表現出來幻想文學可以看到一個現實世界，或安靜恐怖的，他每天的樂趣呈現了好萊塢電影和通俗小說，尤其是其中的浪漫愛情寫照情節
In “The Chaser,” a young man adores a woman who doesn’t return his affection.
Though he is “as nervous as a kitten,” the young man goes in search of a way to win the young woman’s love.(Like many of Collier’s light-hearted heroines, she is named Diana, after the Roman goddess of the hunt.Diana was also the goddess of the moon, which was believed to affect emotions.)
What do you suppose the fantasy element in this story will be?
A “chaser” is a mild beverage drunk after a stronger one, such as beer used to “chase”whiskry.
What do you think the first drink will be in this story? And the chaser?
在“追擊者”，一個年輕的男人喚不回他愛慕的女人的感情。
雖然他是“緊張的像個小貓，”這個年輕人去找尋方法來以贏得年輕女人的愛。（像很多Collier輕鬆愉快的女主人公一樣，她被命名為戴安娜，狩獵的羅馬女神。戴安娜是月亮女神，它被認為是影響情緒。）
你想在這個故事中的幻想元素是什麼？
一個“追擊者”是一種溫和但後勁很強可能會導致酒醉的飲料，像是啤酒使用後”追上”威士忌。
你認為在這故事中第一種飲料是甚麼？以及”追擊者”又是甚麼？
This is a story filled with irony- an intended or unintended contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant. For example, the young man wants to change the young woman without considering all the possible effects of the changes.As you read, look for other examples.
這是一個充滿諷刺意味的故事，有意或無意的期望和實際發生事件的對比，或是某一句對話實際上的意思。例如，一個年輕男人要改變一個年輕女子，而沒有考慮到所有的變化可能產生的影響。當你閱讀，看看其他的例子。
Story
Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighbourhood of Pell Street, and peered about for a long time on the dim landing before he found the name he wanted written obscurely on one of the doors.
Alan Austen，是一個神經質而像隻小貓的人，爬上了佩爾街附近某個黑暗和咯吱作響的樓梯，且凝視著很長一段時間，且在黑暗完全降臨之前他發現一個他過去寫上想隱晦的名字，而那個名字在一扇門上。
He pushed open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himself in a tiny room, which contained no furniture but a plain kitchen table, a rocking-chair, and an ordinary chair. On one of the dirty buff-coloured walls were a couple of shelves, containing in all perhaps a dozen bottles and jars. An old man sat in the rocking-chair, reading a newspaper. Alan, without a word, handed him the card he had been given.
他推開這扇門，因為他已被告知這樣做，發現自己在一個小房間，其中包含沒有家具，但一個普通的廚房的桌子，一個搖椅，一個普通的椅子。在一個髒的淺黃色牆壁的貨架上是一對夫婦，包含在所有或許有十幾個瓶瓶罐罐。一位老人坐在搖椅，讀報紙。艾倫，沒有一個字，遞上名片給了他。
"Sit down, Mr. Austen," said the old man very politely.
那個年紀大的男人非常和氣地對著Alan 說著：做下吧，Mr. Austen。
"I am glad to make your acquaintance."
我很高興認識你。
"Is it true," asked Alan, "that you have a certain mixture that has-er-quite extraordinary effects?"
“這是真的，”艾倫問，“你擁有了一種混合物，有很了不起的效果？”
"My dear sir," replied the old man, "my stock in trade is not very large-I don't deal in laxatives and teething mixtures-but such as it is, it is varied. I think nothing I sell has effects which could be precisely described as ordinary."
我親愛的先生，“老人回答，”我的股票貿易不是非常大的，我不處理的瀉藥和牙混合物，但因為它是，它是多種多樣的。我覺得我賣的沒有什麼效果，可以準確地敘述為普通。“
"Well, the fact is. . ." began Alan.
“好了，其實是......”艾倫開始說。
"Here, for example," interrupted the old man, reaching for a bottle from the shelf. "Here is a liquid as colourless as water, almost tasteless, quite imperceptible in coffee, wine, or any other beverage. It is also quite imperceptible to any known method of autopsy."
“說到這裡，例如，老頭中斷他的話，伸手從貨架上拿了一個瓶子。
“這是一瓶像水的無色的液體，幾乎”沒有無味，在咖啡，酒，或任何其他飲料裡是難以被察覺的，它甚至於解剖屍體後也相當不易被察覺的。”
"Do you mean it is a poison?" cried Alan, very much horrified.
“你的意思是毒藥？”艾倫哭了，非常驚恐。
"Call it a glove-cleaner if you like," said the old man indifferently. "Maybe it will clean gloves. I have never tried. One might call it a life-cleaner. Lives need cleaning sometimes."
“如果你喜歡稱呼他為乾淨手套，老人冷淡地說：也許這將會清潔手套。但我從來沒有嘗試過。也可以稱之為生命清潔。生命有時候也會需要清洗。”
"I want nothing of that sort," said Alan.
亞倫說：我想要不是這種類型的
"Probably it is just as well," said the old man. "Do you know the price of this? For one teaspoonful, which is sufficient, I ask five thousand dollars. Never less. Not a penny less."
“也許這是一樣好的，”老人說。“你知不知道這個價格？一茶匙，這是足夠的，5000美元。絲毫不減。不少一分錢。”
"I hope all your mixtures are not as expensive," said Alan apprehensively.
“我希望所有你的都不是這麼昂貴” 亞倫惶惑的說。
"Oh dear, no," said the old man. "It would be no good charging that sort of price for a love potion, for example. Young people who need a love potion very seldom have five thousand dollars. Otherwise they would not need a love potion."
“哦，親愛的，不，”老人說。 “這將是沒有的愛情藥水的價格，例如，年輕人的愛情藥水需要少於5000美元，否則他們就不再需要一個愛情藥水。”
"I am glad to hear that," said Alan.
“我很高興聽到這個消息，” 亞倫說。
"I look at it like this," said the old man. "Please a customer with one article, and he will come back when he needs another. Even if it is more costly. He will save up for it, if necessary."
“我看它這樣，”老人說。““請顧客簽核一個條文，他回來的時候，他需要另一個。即使是較昂貴的，他會存起來，如果有必要。”
"So," said Alan, "you really do sell love potions?"
“所以，” 亞倫說，“你真的有在賣愛情的魔藥嗎？”
"If I did not sell love potions," said the old man, reaching for another bottle, "I should not have mentioned the other matter to you. It is only when one is in a position to oblige that one can afford to be so confidential."
“如果我沒有販賣愛情的魔藥”老人說著一邊伸手到其他的瓶子邊，我應該沒有辦法其他事項給你。這是只有當一個人有能力迫使人能買得起是機密。“
"And these potions," said Alan. "They are not just-just-er-"
“這些藥水，” 亞倫說。 “他們不只是… ”
"Oh, no," said the old man. "Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casual impulse. But they include it. Oh, yes they include it. Bountifully, insistently. Everlastingly."
“哦，不，”老人說。““他們的效果是永久性的，而且遠遠超出了單純的隨便一個神經衝動，但他們有它。哦，是的，他們包括它。慷慨地，持續不斷地，永恆地。”
"Dear me!" said Alan, attempting a look of scientific detachment. "How very interesting!"
“親愛的我！”亞倫說，嘗試看看脫離科學。 “是非常有趣的！”
"But consider the spiritual side," said the old man.
但考慮到精神層面，“老人說。”
"I do, indeed," said Alan.
“事實上我是這樣說”亞倫說
"For indifference," said the old man, they substitute devotion. For scorn, adoration. Give one tiny measure of this to the young lady-its flavour is imperceptible in orange juice, soup, or cocktails-and however gay and giddy she is, she will change altogether. She will want nothing but solitude and you."
“冷漠，”老人說，他們取代奉獻。鄙視，崇拜。一個微小的措施，這個年輕的淑女的味道是橙汁，湯，或雞尾酒，但不過她是同性戀和頭暈不知不覺中，她將改變完全。她想要什麼，但獨處和你。
"I can hardly believe it," said Alan. "She is so fond of parties."
“亞倫說：”我簡直不能相信它。 “她是如此喜歡的人。”
"She will not like them any more," said the old man. "She will be afraid of the pretty girls you may meet."
“她不會喜歡他們了，”老人說。 “她會怕你可能會遇到更漂亮的女孩。”
"She will actually be jealous?" cried Alan in a rapture. "Of me?"
“實際上，她會吃醋嗎？”艾倫狂喜的哭了。 “因為我？”
"Yes, she will want to be everything to you."
“是的，她將會想成為你的一切。”
"She is, already. Only she doesn't care about it."
“她是…..已經.只有她不在意關於它。
"She will, when she has taken this. She will care intensely. You will be her sole interest in life."
“她將會，當她採取這個，她會關心激烈。在生活中，您將是她唯一的興趣。”
"Wonderful!" cried Alan.
“好極了！”艾倫哭了。
"She will want to know all you do," said the old man. "All that has happened to you during the day. Every word of it. She will want to know what you are thinking about, why you smile suddenly, why you are looking sad."
她會想知道所有你要做的，“老人說。”“所有這一切都發生在你身上，在白天進行。它的每一個字，她會想知道你是怎麼想的，為什麼你的笑容，為什麼你正在難過。”
"That is love!" cried Alan.
“那是愛！”亞倫哭了
"Yes," said the old man. "How carefully she will look after you! She will never allow you to be tired, to sit in a draught, to neglect your food. If you are an hour late, she will be terrified. She will think you are killed, or that some siren has caught you."
“是的”老人說著。” “她會小心照顧你！她永遠不會讓你累了，坐在草案中的，忽略你的食物。如果你是遲到了一個小時，她將會被嚇壞了，她會認為你被殺，或因你引起的警笛。
"I can hardly imagine Diana like that!" cried Alan, overwhelmed with joy.
“我很難想像戴安娜會那樣的！”艾倫哭了，不堪重負的喜悅。
"You will not have to use your imagination," said the old man. "And, by the way, since there are always sirens, if by any chance you should, later on, slip a little, you need not worry. She will forgive you, in the end. She will be terribly hurt, of course, but she will forgive you-in the end."
“你沒有使用你的想像力，”老人說。“而且，順便說一下，因為總有警報器，如果你的任何機會，後來，晚了一會，你不用擔心。她會原諒你的，到最後，她將是可怕的傷害，當然，但她會原諒你到底。“
"That will not happen," said Alan fervently.
這不可能發生的；艾倫熱切地說著
"Of course not," said the old man. "But, if it did, you need not worry. She would never divorce you. Oh, no! And, of course, she will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for-uneasiness."
“當然不會，”老人說。“但是，如果那樣，你不必擔心。她絕不會跟你離婚。哦，不！，當然，她將會從來沒有給您以最少的，最起碼，為不安_理由。”
"And how much," said Alan, "is this wonderful mixture?"
“多少，”亞倫說，“這個美好的混合液？”
"It is not as dear," said the old man, "as the glove-cleaner, or life-cleaner, as I sometimes call it. No. That is five thousand dollars, never a penny less. One has to be older than you are, to indulge in that sort of thing. One has to save up for it."
“這是不是如同親愛的，”老人說，“作為清潔手套，或生命清潔，有時我稱呼它。編號是5000美元，從來沒有少過一分錢。年齡大於你，沉迷在這之類的事情。保存它。“
"But the love potion?" said Alan.
“但愛情魔藥？”亞倫說。
"Oh, that," said the old man, opening the drawer in the kitchen table, and taking out a tiny, rather dirty-looking phial. "That is just a dollar."
老人說“哦，那個，”在廚房的桌子，打開抽屜，取出一個很小的，而不是骯髒的前瞻性藥瓶。“那個只有一塊錢。”
"I can't tell you how grateful I am," said Alan, watching him fill it.
“我不能告訴你我是多麼感激你，”亞倫充滿感激地看著老人說。
"I like to oblige," said the old man. "Then customers come back, later in life, when they are better off, and want more expensive things. Here you are. You will find it very effective."
“我喜歡成人之美，”老人說。“客戶回來，以後的生活中，當他們的生活更好後，會更希望更昂貴的東西，你也是，你會發現它非常有效。”
"Thank you again," said Alan. "Good-bye."
“再次謝謝你”亞倫說”再見”
"Au revoir," said the man.
“再見”老人說著。