unit7LifeofaSalesman.docx

unit7LifeofaSalesman.docx

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unit7LifeofaSalesman

Makingalivingasadoor-to-doorsalesmandemandsathickskin,bothtoprotectagainsttheweatherandagainstconstantlyhavingthedoorshutinyourface.BillPorterputsupwithallthisandmuch,muchmore.

干挨家挨户上门推销这一营生得脸皮厚,这是因为干这一行不仅要经受风吹日晒,还要承受一次又一次的闭门羹.比尔·波特忍受着这一切,以与别的种种折磨.

LifeofaSalesman

TomHallmanJr.

1Thealarmrings.It's5:

45.Hecouldlingerunderthecovers,listeningtotheradioandaweathermanwhopredictsrain.Peoplewouldunderstand.Heknowsthat.

一个推销员的生活

小汤姆·霍尔曼

闹钟响了.是清晨5：

45.他可以在被子里再躺一会儿,听听无线电广播.天气预报员预报有雨.人们会理解的.这点他清楚.

2Asurgeon'sscarcutsacrosshislowerback.Thefingersonhisrighthandaresotwistedthathecan'ttiehisshoes.Somedays,hefeelslikesurrendering.Buthisdeadmother'schallengeechoesinhissoul.So,too,dothevoicesofthosewhobelievedhimstupid,incapableoflivingindependently.Allhislifehe'sstruggledtoprovethemwrong.Hewillnotquit.

3AndsoBillPorterrises.

他的下背有一道手术疤痕.他右手的手指严重扭曲,连鞋带都没法系.有时,他真想放弃不干了.可在他内心深处,一直回响着已故老母的激励,还有那些说他蠢,说他不能独立生活的人的声音.他一生都在拚命去证明他们错了.他决不能放弃不干.

于是比尔·波特起身了.

4HetakesthefirstunsteadystepsonajourneytoPortland'sstreets,thebattlefieldwherehefightsaloneforhisindependenceanddignity.He'sadoor-to-doorsalesman.Sixty-threeyearsold.Andhisenemies--acrippledbodythatbetrayshimandachangingworldthatnolongerneedshim--aregainingonhim.

他摇摇晃晃迈出了去波特兰大街的头几步,波特兰大街是他为独立与尊严而孤身搏杀的战场.他是个挨家挨户上门推销的推销员,今年63岁.他的敌人――辜负他的残疾的身体和一个不再需要他的变化着的世界――正一步一步把他逼向绝境.

5Withtremblinghandsheassembleshisweapons:

darkslacks,blueshirtandmatchingjacket,browntie,tanraincoatandhat.Image,hebelieves,iseverything.

他用颤抖的双手收拾行装：

深色宽松裤,蓝衬衣和与之相配的茄克衫,褐色领带,土褐色雨衣和帽子.在他看来,形象就是一切.

6Hestopsintheentryway,picksuphisbriefcaseandstepsoutside.Afallwindhaskickedup.Theweathermanwasright.Hepullshisraincoattighter.

7Hetiltshishatjustso.他在门口停了一下,提起公文包,走了出去.秋风骤起,冷飕飕的.天气预报员说得没错.他将雨衣裹裹紧.

他把帽子往一侧微微一斜.

***

8Onthe7:

45busthatstopsacrossthestreet,heleaveshisbriefcasenexttothedriverandfindsaseatinthemiddleofapackofboredteenagers.

9Heleansforward,starestowardthedriver,sitsback,thenrepeatstheprocess.Hisnervousnessmakeshimlaughuncontrollably.Theteenagersstareathim.Theydon'trealizePorter'safraidsomeonewillstealhisbriefcase,withtheglasses,brochures,orderformsandclip-ontiethatheneedstosurvive.

在街对面停靠的7：

45那班公共汽车上,他把公文包放在司机身旁,在一群没精打采的十几岁的孩子当中找了个位子坐下.

他身子往前一倾,盯着司机那儿望,然后靠着椅背坐下,接着他又反复这个过程.他心情紧张,控制不住自己而笑出声来.那些孩子望着他.他们不明白,波特是担心有人偷他的包,包里有他生存不可缺少的眼镜,宣传小册子,定单,以与可用别针别上的领带.

10Portersensesthestares.Helooksatthefloor.

11Hisfacerevealsnothing.Inhisheart,though,heknowsheshouldhavebeenlikethesekids,likeeveryoneonthisbus.He'snotangry.Butheknows.Hismotherexplainedhowthedeliveryhadbeendifficult,howthedoctorhadusedaninstrumentthatcrushedasectionofhisbrainandcausedcerebralpalsy,adisorderofthenervoussystemthataffectshisspeech,handsandwalk.

波特意识到了小孩子在盯着他看.他把目光转向车厢地板.

他脸上没有流露出任何神情.但在他心里,他知道自己本该和这些孩子一样,和车上其他所有人一样.他并不生气.但他心里明白.他母亲解释说生他时难产,医生使用了某种器械,损坏了他大脑的一部分,导致了大脑性麻痹,一种影响他说话,手部活动以与行走的神经系统的紊乱.

12PortercametoPortlandwhenhewas13afterhisfather,asalesman,wastransferredhere.HeattendedaschoolforthedisabledandthenLincolnHighSchool,wherehewasplacedinaclassforslowkids.

13Buthewasn'tslow.

波特13岁那年随着当推销员的父亲工作调动来到波特兰.他上了一个残疾人学校,后来就读林肯高级中学,在那儿他被编入慢班.

但他并不笨.

14Hismindwastrappedinabodythatdidn'twork.Speakingwasdifficultandtooktime.Peoplewereimpatientanddidn'tlisten.Hefeltdifferent--wasdifferent--fromthekidswhorushedaboutinthehallsandplanneddanceshewouldneverattend.

他由于身体不能正常运行而使脑子不能充分发挥其功能.他说话困难,而且慢.别人不耐烦,不听他说.他觉得自己不同于――事实上也确实不同于――那些在过道里东奔西跑的孩子,那些孩子安排的舞会他永远也不可能参加.

15Whatcouldhisfuturebe?

Porterwantedtodosomethingandhismotherwascertainthathecouldriseabovehislimitations.Withherencouragement,heappliedforajobwiththeFullerBrushCo.onlytobeturneddown.Hecouldn'tcarryaproductbriefcaseorwalkaroute,theysaid.

他将来会是个什么样子呢？

波特想做些事,母亲也相信他能冲破身体的局限.在她的鼓励之下,他向福勒牙刷公司申请一份工作,结果却遭到拒绝.他不能提样品包,也不能跑一条推销线路,他们说.

16Porterknewhewantedtobeasalesman.Hebeganreadinghelpwantedadsinthenewspaper.WhenhesawoneforWatkins,apanythatsoldhouseholdproductsdoor-to-door,hismothersetupameetingwitharepresentative.Themansaidno,butPorterwouldn'tlisten.Hejustwantedachance.ThemangaveinandofferedPorterasectionofthecitythatnosalesmanwanted.

波特知道自己想当推销员.他开始阅读报纸上的招聘广告.他看到沃特金斯,一家上门推销家用物品的公司要人,他母亲就跟其代理人安排会面.那人说不行,可波特不予理会.他就是需要一个机会.那人让步了,把城里一个其他推销员都不要的区域派给了他.

17IttookPorterfourfalsestartsbeforehefoundthecouragetoringthefirstdoorbell.Themanwhoansweredtoldhimtogoaway,apatternrepeatedthroughouttheday.

波特一开始四次都没敢敲门,第五次才鼓起勇气按了第一户人家的门铃.开门的那人让他走开,这种情形持续了一整天.

18ThatnightPorterreadthroughpanyliteratureanddiscoveredtheproductswereguaranteed.Hewouldsellthatpledge.Hejustneededpeopletolisten.

19Ifacustomerturnedhimdown,Porterkeptingbackuntiltheyheardhim.Andhesold.

当晚,波特仔细阅读了公司的宣传资料,发现产品都是保用的.他要把保用作为卖点.只要别人肯听他说话就成.

要是客户回绝波特,拒绝倾听他的介绍,他就一再上门.就这样他将产品卖了出去.

20ForseveralyearshewasWatkins'topretailsalesman.Nowheistheonlyoneofthepany's44,000salespeoplewhosellsdoor-to-door.

21ThebusstopsintheTransitMall,andPortergetsoff.

他连着几年都是沃特金斯公司的最佳零售推销员.如今他是该公司44000名推销员中惟一一个上门推销的人.

公共汽车在公交中转购物中心站停下,波特下了车.

22Hisbodyisnotmadeforwalking.Eachstepstrainshisjoints.Headachesareconstantvisitors.Hisrightarmisnearlyuseless.Hecan'tfullycontrolthelimb.Hisbodytiltsatthewaist;heseemstobeheadingintoastrong,steadywindthatkeepshimoffbalance.Attimes,helookslikeatoddlertakinghisfirststeps.

23Hewalks10milesaday.

他的身体不适合行走.每走一步关节都疼.头疼也是习以为常的事.他的右臂几乎没用.他不能完全控制这只手臂.他的身体从腰部开始前倾,看上去就像是顶着一股强劲的吹个不停的风迈步向前,风似乎要把他刮倒.有时他看上去就像是个刚刚学步的孩童.

他每天要走10英里的路程.

24Hisfirststoptoday,likeeveryday,isashoeshinestandwhereemployeestiehislaces.Twiceaweekhepaysforashine.AtanearbyhoteloneofthedoormenbuttonsPorter'stopshirtbuttonandslipsonhisclip-ontie.Hethenwalkstoanotherbusthatdropshimoffamilefromhisterritory.

25Helefthomenearlythreehoursago.

像平日一样,他今天的第一站是个擦鞋摊,这里的雇员替他系好鞋带.他每周请他们擦两次鞋.附近一家旅馆的门卫替他扣上衬衣最上面一粒纽扣,戴上用别针别上的领带.随后他步行去搭乘另一部巴士,在距离他的推销区域一英里处下车.

他是差不多3个小时前从家里动身的.

***

26Thewindiscoldandraindropsfall.Porterstopsatthefirsthouse.Thisisthemomenthe'sbeenpreparingforsince5:

45a.m.Heringsthebell.

27Awomanestothedoor.

风冷雨淋.波特在第一户人家门前停了下来.这是他从5：

45分开始就为之准备的时刻.他按了门铃.

一位妇人开了门.

28"Hello."

29"No,thankyou,I'mjustpreparingtoleave."

30Porternods.

31"MayIebacklater?

"heasks.

32"No,"saysthewoman.

33Sheshutsthedoor.

34Porter'seyesrevealnothing.

35Hemovestothenexthouse.

36Thedooropens.

37Thencloses.

"你好."

"不,多谢了.我这就要出门."

波特点点头.

"那我过会儿来,可以吗？

"他问.

"不用了,"那妇人回答道.

她关上了门.

波特眼里没有流露丝毫神情.

他转向下一个人家.

门开了.

随即又关上.

38Hedoesn'tgetachancetospeak.Porter'sexpressionneverchanges.Hestopsateveryhomeinhisterritory.Peoplemightnotbuynow.Nexttime.Maybe.Nodoesn'tmeannever.Someofhisbestcustomersarepeoplewhorepeatedlyturnedhimdownbeforebuying.

他连开口说话的机会都没有.波特的表情从不改变.他敲开自己推销区内的每一个家门.人们现在可能不买什么.也许下一次会买.现在不买不等于永远不买.他的一些老客户都是那些多次把他拒之门外而后来才买的人.

39Hemakeshiswaydownthestreet.

40"Idon'twanttotryit."

41"Maybenexttime."

42"I'msorry.I'monthephonerightnow."

43"No."

他沿着街道往前走.

"我不想试用这个产品."

"也许下次试一试."

"对不起.我在打."

"不要."

44Ninetyminuteslater,Porterstillhasnotmadeasale.Butthereisalwaysanotherhome.

45Hewalkson.

46Heknocksonadoor.Awomanappearsfromthebackyardwhereshe'sgardening.Sheoftenbuys,butnottoday,shesays,asshewalksaway.

47"Areyousure?

"Porterasks.

48Shepauses.

49"Well..."

90分钟之后,波特仍没能卖出一件物品.不过,下面有的是人家.

他继续向前走.

他敲响一扇门.一位正在拾掇花园的妇女从后院走了出来.她常常买他的东西,不过今天不买,她说着走开了.

"你真的不买什么？

"波特问.

她迟疑了一下.

"那么……"

50That'sallPorterneeds.Hewalksasfastashecan,tailingherassheheadstothebackyard.Hesetshisbriefcasedownandopensit.Heputsonhisglasses,removeshisbrochuresandbeginshissalestalk,showingthewomanpicturesanddescribingeachproduct.

波特要的就是这一迟疑.他尽可能快步上前,跟着她朝后院走去.他放下公文包,打了开来.他戴上眼镜,拿出产品介绍小册子,开始推销,给那位妇人看图片,详细介绍每一个产品.

51Spices?

52"No."

53Jams?

54"No.Maybenothingtoday,Bill."

55Porter'shearingistheoneperfectthinghisbodydoes.Exceptwhenhegetsaliveone.Thentheword"no"doesnotregister.

调料？

"不要."

果酱？

"不要.恐怕今天不要什么,比尔."

波特的听觉是他身上惟一没有一点毛病的功能.只有当他察觉对方有可能买他东西的时候才会发生例外.这个时候,他是听不见"不"字的.

56Pepper?

57"No."

58Laundrysoap?

59"Hmm."

60Porterstops.Hesmellsblood.Hequicklyremembersherlastorder.

61"Say,aren'tyouaboutoutofsoap?

That'swhatyouboughtlasttime.Yououghttobeoutrightaboutnow."

62"You'reright,Bill.I'lltakeone."

胡椒粉？

"不要."

洗衣皂？

"嗯."

波特停了下来.他嗅到了猎物.他很快记起了她上次的订单.

"对了,你肥皂差不多用完了吧？

你上次买的就是这个.现在该差不多用完了."

"没错,比尔.我买一块."

***

63Hearriveshome,inarainstorm,after7p.m.Todaywasnotprofitable.Hetellshimselfnottoworry.Fourdaysleftintheweek.

64Atleasthe'soffhisfeetandhome.

65Inside,aneraispreserved.Thetelephoneisaheavy,rotarymodel.ThereisnoVCR,nocable.

66Hisistheonlyhouseintheneighborhoodwithatelevisionantennaontheroof.

晚上7点过后,他在暴风雨中回到了家.今天没赚钱.他跟自己说别着急.这个星期还有4天呢.

至少他回到了家,不用再站立了.

屋内,俨然是保存完好的一个旧时代.是笨重的拨盘式的那种.没有录像放映机,没有有线电视.

他家是附近惟一一家屋顶上支着电视接收天线的人家.

67Heleadsasolitarylife.Mostofhishumancontacteson