14 一场外交游戏6(doc)
14. A Diplomatic Game The ambassador was back at four in the afternoon. To avoid press notice he had been taken into the Treasury building across the street from the White House and brought through a connecting tunnel which few knew existed. The president hoped that he had found this unsettling. Pelt hustled1 in to be there when Arbatov arrived. “ Mr. President,” Arbatov reported, standing at attention. The president had not known that he had any military experience. “ I am instructed to convey to you the regrets of my government that there has not been time to inform you of this. One of our nuclear submarines is missing and presumed2 lost. We are conducting an emergency rescue operation.” The president nodded soberly3, motioning4 the ambassador to a chair. Pelt sat next to him. “ This is somewhat embarrassing, Mr. President. You see, in our navy as in yours, duty on a nuclear submarine is a posting of the greatest importance, and consequently those selected for it are among our best educated and trusted men. Our Navy's great effort to find them is understandable, though I admit a bit undisciplined5.” Arbatov feigned6 embarrassment beautifully, speaking as though he were confiding7 a great family secret. “ I see,” the president said sympathetically8. “ That makes me feel a little better, Alex. Jeff, I think it's late enough in the day. How about you fix us all a drink. Bourbon9, Alex?” 　　“ Yes, thank you, sir.” 　　Pelt walked over to a rosewood10 cabinet against the wall.The ornate11 antique12 contained a small bar,complete with an ice bucket which was stocked every afternoon.The president often liked to have a drink or two before dinner.Dr.Pelt had had ample13 of experience playing presidential bartender14.In a few minutes he came back with three glasses in his hands. 　　“ To tell you the truth, we rather suspected this was a rescue operation,” Pelt said. 　　“ I don't know how we get our young men to do this sort of work.” The president sipped at his drink. Arbatov worked hard on his. “ We've lost a pair of nuclear boats, I believe. How many does this make for you, three, four?” 　　“ I don't know, Mr. President. I expect your information on this is better than my own.” The president noted that he had just told the truth for the first time so far. “ Certainly I can agree with you that such duty is both dangerous and demanding.” 　　“ How many men aboard, Alex?” the president asked. 　　“ I have no idea. A hundred more or less, I suppose. I've never been aboard a naval vessel.” 　　“ Mostly kids, probably, just like our crews. It is indeed a sad commentary on both our countries that our mutual suspicions must condemn15 so many of our best young men to such hazards16, when we know that some won't be coming back. But--how can it be otherwise?” The president paused, turning to look out the windows. The snow was melting on the South Lawn. It was time for his next line. 　　“ Perhaps we can help,” the president offered speculatively17. “ Yes, perhaps we can use this tragedy as an opportunity to reduce those suspicions by some small amount. Perhaps we can make something good come from this to demonstrate that our relations really have improved.” 　　Pelt turned away, fumbling18 for his pipe. In their many years of friendship he could never understand how the president got away with so much. Pelt had met him at Washington University, when he was majoring in political science, the president in prelaw. Back then the chief executive had been president of the dramatics society. Certainly amateur theatrics had helped his legal career. 　　“ Mr. Ambassador, I offer you the assistance and the resources of the United States in the search for your missing countrymen.” 　　“ That is most kind of you, Mr. President, but...” 　　The president held his hand up. “ No buts, Alex. If we cannot cooperate in something like this, how can we hope to cooperate in more serious matters? If memory serves, last year when one of our navy patrol aircraft crashed off the Aleutians, one of your fishing vessels”--it had been an intelligence trawler--“ picked up the crew, saved their lives. Alex, we owe you a debt for that, a debt of honor, and the United States will not be said to be ungrateful.” he paused for effect. “ They're probably all dead, you know, I don't suppose there's more chance of surviving a sub accident than of surviving a plane crash. But at least the crew's families will know. Jeff, don't we have some specialized submarine rescue equipment?” 　　“ With all the money we give the navy? We damned well ought to. I'll call Foster about it.” 　　“ Good,” the president said. “ Alex, it is too much to expect that our mutual suspicions will be allayed by something so small as this. Your history and ours conspire19 against us. But let's make a small beginning with this. If we can shake hands in space or over a conference table in Vienna, maybe we can do it here also. I will give the necessary instructions to my commanders as soon as we're finished here.” 　　“ Thank you, Mr. President.” Arbatov concealed his uneasiness. 　　“ And please convey my sympathy for the families of your missing men. I appreciate your effort in getting this information to us.” 　　“ Yes. Mr. President.” Arbatov rose. He left after shaking hands. What were the Americans really up to? He'd warned his superiors: call it a rescue mission and they'd demand to help. It was their stupid Christmas season, and Americans were addicted to happy endings.It was madness not to call it something else--to hell with the protocol. 一场我交游戏 下午4点，某国大使又来到白宫。为了避开新闻界的注意，他被带进白宫对面的财政 部大楼，然后经由一条鲜为人知的地道进入白宫。总统希望这样做能让他感到忐忑不安 。阿尔巴托夫来到，佩尔特也匆匆赶到了。 　　“总统先生，”阿尔巴托夫立正报告说。总统这才知道他曾从过军。“我奉命前来向你 转达我国政府的歉意，由于时间急迫，未能及时通知你，我们的一艘核潜艇失踪了，可 能是迷航了。我们正采取紧急救援行动。” 　　总统沉着地点了点头，作了个手势请大使坐下。佩尔特坐在他旁边。 　　“这件事真叫人有点为难啊，总统先生。你知道，在我国的海军中同贵国海军一样， 核潜艇上的职务是极为重要的，因此，那些被选任上艇的人员都是属于受过最好的教育 和最受信任的官兵。我国海军作出巨大努力来寻找他们，这是可以理解的，但是我也得 承认，这总归是有些无纪律吧。”阿尔巴托夫显出一副尴尬相，装得很到家，像是在吐露 家里的一桩大秘事。 “我明白了，”总统同情地说。“这就让我感到放心一点儿，阿列克谢。杰夫，我想今 天够晚的了。给我们大家弄点儿喝的怎么样？来点波旁威士忌好吗，阿列克谢？” 　　“好，谢谢，先生。” 　　佩尔特向墙边的红木酒柜走去。这个酒柜是件考究的古董，里面是个小酒吧，还有 一个冰桶，这是每天下午都要准备在那里的。总统常常喜欢在晚饭前喝上一两杯。佩尔 特博士充任总统的酒吧侍者已是老手了。没过几分钟，他端着3杯酒过来了。 　　“跟你说实话，我们也非常怀疑这是一次救援行动，”佩尔特说。 　　“我不知道我们该怎么让我们的年轻人来干这种工作。”总统呷了一口酒。阿尔巴托 夫则大口地喝着。“我想，我们已经丢失了两艘核潜艇了。你们丢失了几艘，3艘，4艘？ ” 　　“我不知道，总统先生。我想，这方面的情报你比我灵。”总统注意到，这是他今天 头一次讲实话。“我当然能同意你的看法，这种任务既危险，要求又严格。” 　　“艇上有多少人，阿列克谢?”总统问。 “不清楚。估计100来个吧。我从来没有在军舰上呆过。” 　　“可能大多数都是年轻人，就像我们的水兵一样。由于我们之间的相互猜疑就得让我 们这么多的优秀青年去冒如此大险，而且我们知道，他们之中有些人是回不来的，这对 我们两国来说确实是非常遗憾的。可是——不这样有什么办法呢？”总统停顿了一下，转身 向窗外望去。南草坪上的白雪正在融化。该走下一步棋了。 　　“也许我们能提供些帮助，”总统试探着提议道。“是啊，也许我们能利用这一不幸事 件多少减少一些相互之间的猜疑。也许我们能把它变成好事，显示一下我们的关系确实 得到了改善。” 　　佩尔特转过身去摸找他的烟斗。在他们多年的交情中，他总也无法理解总统怎么能 老是侥幸成功。佩尔特是在华盛顿大学与总统结识的，当时他在那里主修政治学，而总 统则是法科预科学生。当时这位行政首脑曾是戏剧协会的主席。业余的戏剧表演艺术确 实有助于他的法律职业。 　　“大使先生，我愿意向你们提供美国的援助和各种资源来搜寻你们失踪的同胞。” 　　“那太感谢你了，总统先生，但是——” 　　总统举起一只手。“哪有这么多但是，阿列克谢。要是这样的事情我们都不能合作， 我们还能希望在更重要的事情上进行合作吗？要是我没有记错的话，去年，我们的一架 海军巡逻飞机在阿留申群岛外出了事，你们的一艘渔轮”——那是一艘搜集情报的拖网渔船 ——“打捞起了机上的人员，救了他们的命。阿列克谢，我们欠了你们一笔债，一笔人情债 ，而美国不愿意让人说成是忘恩负义的。”他停顿了一下，以增强说话的效果。“你知道 ，他们可能全都死了。我想，一次潜艇事故中的幸存机会，恐怕同一次飞机失事差不多 。可至少水兵们的家属将会知道。杰夫，我们有没有什么专门的潜艇救援设备？” 　　“凭着我们给海军的全部经费，完全应当有。我给福斯特打个电话问问。” 　　“好。”总统说。“阿列克谢，要是期望通过像这样的小事就能减轻我们之间的相互猜 疑，那是过奢了。我们两国在历史上一直是作对的。还是让我们以此来作为一个小小的 开端吧。如果我们能在太空中和维也纳的会议桌上握手，那或许我们也可以在这里握手 。我们在这儿一谈妥，我就马上向我的指挥官下达必要的指示。” 　　“谢谢，总统先生。”阿尔巴托夫掩饰着他的心神不安。” 　　“请向贵国失踪人员的家属致以慰问。我感谢你把这一消息通知我们。” 　　“好，总统先生，”阿尔巴托夫站了起来，握手告别后离去了。美国人到底居心何在 ？他已经警告过他的上司，将此称为救援行动，他们就会要求提供帮助。现在正是他们 愚蠢的圣诞节期间，而美国人都一心向往有个愉快的年终。给这一行动起个什么别的名 称不行，偏要叫这个，也真是——让那套外交礼仪见鬼去吧！(完) 1.hustle [5ηΘσλ]vi.急速行进，奔忙，赶紧 2.presumed[πρι5ζφυ:μ]adj.推测的，做定的 3.soberly[5σΕυβΕ]adv.严肃地，持重地 4.motion[5μΕυΦΕν]vt.向…做手势，向…点头示意 5.undisciplined[Θν5δισιπλινδ]adj.不遵守纪律的 6.feign[φειν]vt.假装，佯作，捏造 7.confide[κΕν5φαιδ]vt.吐露(秘密等) 8.sympathetically[7σιμπΕ5Ωετικ]adv.同情地 9.Bourbon[5βυΕβΕν]n.(美)波旁威士忌酒(一种主要用玉米酿制的美国威士忌酒) 10.rosewood[5ρΕθζωθδ]n.红木(指黑檀、紫檀等) 11.ornate[Χ:5νειτ]adj.装饰华丽的 12.antique[“...
14 一场外交游戏6(doc)