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...
