Module3Literature【导读】《三十九级台阶》被改编成电影,于1935年在美国上映。讲述了加拿大人汉纳意外被卷入间谍战,他不得不一次次的躲避追踪和暗杀,并要在有限的时间里找出真相。Isatdowninanarmchairandfeltverysick.AfteraboutfiveminutesIstartedshaking.Thepoorwhitefacewithitsstaringeyeswastoomuchforme,soIgotatableclothandcoveredit.ThenItookthewhiskybottleanddrankseveralmouthfuls.Ihadseenmendieviolentlybefore.IhadkilledafewmyselfintheMatabeleWar;butthiswasdifferent.AfterafewmoreminutesImanagedtocalmmyselfdownalittle.Ilookedatmywatchandsawthatitwashalfpastten.Isearchedtheflatcarefully,buttherewasnobodythere.ThenIlockedthedoorsandwindows.BythistimeIwasbeginningtothinkmoreclearly.Itlookedbadforme—thatwasclear.ItwasnowcertainthatScudder'sstorywastrue—theproofwaslyingunderthetablecloth.Hisenemieshadfoundhimandmadesureofhissilence.Buthehadbeeninmyflatforfourdays,andtheymustthinkhehadtoldhisstorytome.SoIwouldbethenexttodie.Itmightbethatnight,orthenextday,orthedayafter,butitwassuretohappen.ThenIthoughtofanotherproblem.Icouldcallthepolicenow,orgotobedandwaitforPaddocktodiscoverthebodyandcalltheminthemorning.Butwhatwouldthepolicethink?WhatstorywouldItellthemaboutScudder?IhadliedtoPaddockabouthim,andmystorywouldbehardtobelieve.Theywouldarrestmeformurder,andIhadnorealfriendsinEnglandtohelpme.Perhapsthatwaspartoftheplan.AnEnglishprisonwouldbeasafeplaceformeuntilthe15thofJune.Evenifthepolicedidbelievemystory,IwouldstillbehelpingScudder'senemies.Karolideswouldstayathome,whichwaswhattheywanted.Scudder'sdeathhadmademecertainthathisstorywastrue;nowIfeltresponsibleforcontinuinghiswork.Ihatedtoseeagoodmanbeaten,andifIcarriedoninScudder'splace,themurderersmightnotwin.IdecidedImustdisappear,andremainhiddenuntiljustbeforethe15thofJune.ThenImustcontactsomegovernmentpeopleandtellthemScudder'sstory.Iwishedhehadtoldmemore,andthatIhadlistenedmorecarefullytowhathehadtoldme.Therewasariskthatthegovernmentwouldnotbelieveme,butitwasmybestchance.Perhapsmoreevidencewouldappearwhichwouldhelpmetomakemystorybelievable.Itwasnowthe24thofMay,soIhadtwentydaysofhiding.Twogroupsofpeoplewouldbelookingforme—Scudder'senemies,whowouldwanttokillme,andthepolice,whowouldwantmeforScudder'smurder.Therewasgoingtobeachase,and,surprisingly,Iwasalmosthappyaboutthis.Ididnotwanttositinoneplaceandwait.IfIcouldmove,thesituationdidnotseemsobad.我坐在扶手椅上,感到很恶心。五分钟后开始颤栗。我受不了那张可怜的、惨白的脸和直瞪瞪的眼睛,因此,拿了一块桌布把它盖起来。然后抄起威士忌酒瓶喝了几口。以前我见过暴死的,在麦特比尔战争中也亲手杀过几个人;但这次却有所不同。又过了几分钟我才使自己稍微平静一点。看了看表,是十点半。我仔细地把寓所搜查了一遍,没发现什么人。然后就把门窗都锁起来了。直到此刻我才开始比较清晰地思考。情况对我不利——这很显然。斯卡德尔所言肯定不虚——证据就在桌布下面躺着。他的敌人找到了他,使他彻底沉默了。然而他在我寓所待了四天,他们肯定认为他把事情告诉了我。所以下一个大概就轮到我死了。可能在今天晚上,可能在明天,也可能在后天,但我是死定了。接着我考虑了另一个问题。我可以现在就报警,或者上床睡觉,等帕多克早晨来发现了尸体再报警。可是警察会怎么想呢?我该如何向警察讲斯卡德尔的事呢?关于斯卡德尔的事我已经对帕多克撒了谎,因此我的话很难令人相信。他们会以谋杀的罪名逮捕我,在英格兰我又没有好朋友帮忙。也许这正是他们计划的一部分。在英国监狱待到六月十五日对我来说倒是最安全的。即使警察相信我的话,我仍然是帮了斯卡德尔敌人...