牛津書蟲系列 世界上最冷的地方 08 Across the plateau

　　Chapter 8 Across the Plateau

　　On November 21st，the Norwegians killed thirty dogs. 'They were happy，'Amundsen said.'And now tney're going to die quickly.We need three sledges，and eighteen dogs， to go to the Pole.'

　　When the dogs were dead，the other dogs ate them.The men ate them，too.They were good friends，Bjaaland wrote in his diary.And now they are good food.Two days later，the dogs were fst.Then，in a snowstorm，they began the journey again.

　　After the snowstorm，there was fog，and in the fog，they got lost on an ice river with hundreds of big holes in it.They could see nothing，and it was very dangerous.In four days they moved nine kilometres.But the ice is beautiful，Bjaaland wrote.Blue and green and white.This is a wonderful place —but I don't want to stay a long time.

　　After the ice，there were strong winds and bad snowstorms.They could see nothing in front of them.But every day，they travelled twenty-five or thirty kilometres.Then，on December 9th，the sun came out.They were at 88°23′South—175 kilo-metres from the Pole.

　　Five more long days，Bjaaland wrote.That's all now.But where is Scott?

　　* * * * *

　　For four days，Scott's men stayed in their tents near the mountains.There is a bad snowstorm outside，Oates wrote.It's too cold for the ponies，and our clothes and skis are bad，too.

　　On December 9th，Oates killed the ponies.They were tired and ill and they could not walk up to the plateau.Then Meares and his dogs went back to Cape Evans.'We can pull the sledges ourselves，'Scott said.'We can do it—we're all strong men.

　　There were two sledges and eight men.They went twenty-four kilometres a day.On December 31st，Scott said to Teddy Evans，and the men on the second sledge：'You can't ski well.Leave your skis here.'So they pulled their sledge twenty-four kilometres without skis.

　　Next day，Scott went to Teddy Evans's tent.'You are ill，Teddy，'he said.'You can't come to the Pole.Take two men and go back，tomorrow.'

　　Teddy Evans was very unhappy.'Two men，Captain?'he said.'Why not three?'

　　'Because Bowers is going to come with me，'Scott said.'He's strong—we need him.'

　　'But…you have food on your sledge for four men，notfive!'Evans said.'And Bowers has no skis!'

　　'I'm the Captain，Teddy!'Scott said.'You do what I say.Take two men and leave Bowers with me!'

　　Oates wrote to his mother：I am going to the Pole with Scott.I am pleased and I fell strong.But in his diary he wrote;My feet are very bad.They are always wet now，and they don't look good.

　　On January 4th Scott's men left Teddy Evans and went on.Scott，Oates，Wilson and Edgar Evans had skis，but Bowers did not.They were 270 kilometres from the Pole.

　　* * * * *

　　December 14th 1911 was a warm，sunny day.Five Norwegians skied over the beautiful white snow.It was very quiet.No one spoke.They were excited，and happy.

　　'Six more kilometres，'Bjaaland thought.Is there a British flag?I can't see a flag，but…

　　'Look!'Hassel said.'What's that over there?'

　　Bjaaland left his sledge and skied quickly away over the snow.'What is it?'he thought.'Is it…?No!'

　　'It's nothing!'he called.'There's nothing there… no-thing!'

　　Three kilometres，two.'Roald!'Hanssen called to Amund-sen.'Go in front of me，please.It helps my dogs.'

　　'That's not true，'Bjaaland thought.'His dogs are running well today.But Hanssen wants Amundsen to be first.The first man at the South Pole!'

　　They skied on and on，over the beautiful snow.

　　'Stop!'Amundsen said.He waited quietly for his men.'This is it，'he said.

　　Bjaaland looked at him.'But there's nothing here，'he said.

　　Amundsen smiled.'Oh yes there is，'he said.'There's something very important here，Olav.Very，very important.'

　　'What's that，Roald?'

　　'Us.We're here now.Isn't that important，Olav?'

　　The four men stood on the snow，and looked at him.Then，slowly，they all began to laugh.

　　8 穿越高原

　　11月21日，挪威人殺了30條狗。

　　“這些狗活潑歡快，”阿蒙森說，“現(xiàn)在，它們很快就要喪生了。我們只需要3輛雪橇、18條狗，便能到達南極。”

　　這些狗處死后，活著的狗吃它們的肉，大家也都吃。它們是我們的好朋友，比阿蘭德在日記里這樣寫道，現(xiàn)在又成為好食物。兩天之后，群狗都養(yǎng)胖了。隨后，他們冒著暴風雪再度踏上旅程。

　　暴風雪過后，濃霧彌漫。在隱有無數(shù)大冰洞的冰河上，他們完全被裹在茫茫濃霧之中，什么也看不見。這太危險了。4天內，他們僅前行了9公里。但是這些冰層非常美麗，比阿蘭德這樣寫道，藍、綠、白三色。這是個迷人的地方，然而我不愿久留。

　　走過冰河之后，又遇到凜冽的寒風和可怕的暴風雪。他們眼前一派茫茫，什么也看不見。但是每天，他們仍舊要走25至30公里。當時，也就是12月9日，太陽出來了。他們到達南緯88°23′的地區(qū)，距南極175公里。

　　再過5個漫長的日子，比阿蘭德這樣寫，一切便完成了?？墒撬箍铺卦谀膬耗?

　　* * * * *

　　4天來，斯科特的人一直留在大山附近的帳篷內。外面下著可怕的暴風雪，奧茨這樣寫道，這太冷啦，令小馬不堪忍受。我們的衣服與滑雪板也都壞了。

　　12月9日，奧茨殺了幾匹小馬。這些馬又累又病，不可能登上高原。這時，米爾斯與他的狗群返回開普埃文斯。“我們可以自己拖雪橇，”斯科特說，“我們能夠做到：我們個個都是身強力壯。”

　　兩輛雪橇與8個人，每天走24公里。12月31日，斯科特對特迪·埃文斯以及那些拖著第二輛雪橇的人說：“既然你們不太會滑雪，不如將滑雪板丟在這兒。”于是，他們沒穿滑雪板拉雪橇走了24公里。

　　第二天，斯科特來到特迪·埃文斯的帳篷內。“你病了，特迪，”他說，“你去不了南極了。明天帶著兩個人回去吧。”

　　特迪·埃文斯非常不滿。“兩個人，隊長?”他說，“為什么不是3個人呢?”

　　“因為鮑爾斯將同我一道前進，”斯科特說，“他身體很棒，我們需要他。”

　　“但是……你們雪橇上裝的食物是供4人食用的，而不是5人!”埃文斯說，“再說鮑爾斯的滑雪板也扔了!”

　　“我是隊長，特迪!”斯科特說，“你照我的話去做。帶兩個人走，將鮑爾斯留給我!”

　　奧茨給他的母親寫信說：我正跟隨著斯科特向南極進發(fā)。我感到欣喜，而且感到精力旺盛。但是他在日記里卻是這樣寫的：我的腳已經非常糟糕了，現(xiàn)在總是濕漉漉的，看來狀況不妙。

　　1月4日，斯科特一行離開了特迪，繼續(xù)上路了。斯科特、奧茨、威爾遜、埃德加·埃文斯都有滑雪板，然而鮑爾斯沒有。他們距南極還有270公里。

　　* * * * *

　　1911年12月14日，天氣暖和，陽光明媚。5個挪威人在美麗的白雪上滑行著，四周非常安靜，沒人講話。他們感到興奮、欣喜。

　　“再走6公里，”比阿蘭德心想。英國國旗到達那兒了嗎?我一面旗幟也沒見到，但是……

　　“瞧!”哈塞爾說，“那兒是什么?”

　　比阿蘭德丟下他的雪橇，在雪地上飛快滑行趕去看。“這是什么?”他心想，“難道是……?不!”

　　“沒東西!”他高聲叫著說，“什么東西也沒有……啥也沒有!”

　　還有3公里，還有2公里。“羅阿爾!”漢森高聲呼喚著阿蒙森，“請你走在我前頭，這對我的狗群有幫助。”

　　“不是這回事兒，”比阿蘭德心想，“他的狗今天表現(xiàn)不錯。漢森是想讓阿蒙森成為第一人，第一個到達南極的人!”

　　他們繼續(xù)向前滑行，在這美麗的雪原上滑行。

　　“停下!”阿蒙森說。他靜靜地等著他的屬員。“就是這兒，”他說。

　　比阿蘭德看著他。“可是這兒沒有任何東西，”他說。

　　阿蒙森笑了笑。“啊，不對，有東西，”他說，“這兒有樣非常重要的東西，奧拉夫。非常非常重要。”

　　“什么東西，羅阿爾?”

　　“我們這些人!我們現(xiàn)在站在這兒，難道還不重要，奧拉夫?”

　　4個人站在雪地里，看著他。漸漸地，大家開始大笑起來。