名著精讀:《悉達多》 船伕(7)

On one of these days, when so many went on a pilgrimage to the dying Buddha, Kamala also went to him, who used to be the most beautiful of the courtesans. A long time ago, she had retired from her previous life, had given her garden to the monks of Gotama as a gift, had taken her refuge in the teachings, was among the friends and benefactors of the pilgrims. Together with Siddhartha the boy, her son, she had gone on her way due to the news of the near death of Gotama, in simple clothes, on foot. With her little son, she was travelling by the river; but the boy had soon grown tired, desired to go back home, desired to rest, desired to eat, became disobedient and started whining.
Kamala often had to take a rest with him, he was accustomed to having his way against her, she had to feed him, had to comfort him, had to scold him. He did not comprehend why he had to to go on this exhausting and sad pilgrimage with his mother, to an unknown place, to a stranger, who was holy and about to die. So what if he died, how did this concern the boy?
The pilgrims were getting close to Vasudeva's ferry, when little Siddhartha once again forced his mother to rest. She, Kamala herself, had also become tired, and while the boy was chewing a banana, she crouched down on the ground, closed her eyes a bit, and rested. But suddenly, she uttered a wailing scream, the boy looked at her in fear and saw her face having grown pale from horror; and from under her dress, a small, black snake fled, by which Kamala had been bitten.
Hurriedly, they now both ran along the path, in order to reach people, and got near to the ferry, there Kamala collapsed, and was not able to go any further. But the boy started crying miserably, only interrupting it to kiss and hug his mother, and she also joined his loud screams for help, until the sound reached Vasudeva's ears, who stood at the ferry. Quickly, he came walking, took the woman on his arms, carried her into the boat, the boy ran along, and soon they all reached the hut, were Siddhartha stood by the stove and was just lighting the fire. He looked up and first saw the boy's face, which wondrously reminded him of something, like a warning to remember something he had forgotten. Then he saw Kamala, whom he instantly recognised, though she lay unconscious in the ferryman's arms, and now he knew that it was his own son, whose face had been such a warning reminder to him, and the heart stirred in his chest.
Kamala's wound was washed, but had already turned black and her body was swollen, she was made to drink a healing potion. Her consciousness returned, she lay on Siddhartha's bed in the hut and bent over her stood Siddhartha, who used to love her so much. It seemed like a dream to her; with a smile, she looked at her friend's face; just slowly she, realized her situation, remembered the bite, called timidly for the boy.
"He's with you, don't worry," said Siddhartha.

就在許許多多的人都去朝拜活佛的時候，一天，卡瑪拉，當年那個美麗的名妓，也會朝拜活佛了。她早已擺脫了以往的生活，把她的花園送給了戈塔馬的弟子們，信奉了戈塔馬的學說，成了那些朝聖者的朋友和施主。一聽說戈塔馬病危的消息，她就和她的兒子小席特哈爾塔一起上了路，身穿簡樸的衣服步行前往朝拜。餘中，她帶着兒子來到了這條河邊。兒子累了，要回家，要休息，要吃飯，又哭又鬧。

卡瑪拉只好跟他頻頻地休息，孩子已經習慣了不聽她的話而固執己見，她不得不喂他吃東西，哄他，呵斥他。孩子不明白乾嗎要跟隨母親踏上這艱苦和不幸的朝拜路，到一個陌生的地方去探望一個聖潔而垂危的陌生人。索性讓他死掉好了，這跟孩子有什麼相干呢？
這兩個朝拜者已來到離瓦蘇代瓦的渡船不遠的地方，小席特哈爾塔又一次要求媽媽歇一歇。卡瑪拉自己也累了，於是就讓孩子吃香蕉，自己坐在地上，閉上眼歇一會兒。突然，她發出一聲哀叫，孩子驚慌失措地瞧她，看見她臉色嚇得慘白，從她的衣裙下鑽了一條小黑蛇，逃走了，卡瑪拉被它咬了。
他們倆趕緊往前跑，想找人求助，剛跑到渡船附近，卡瑪拉就倒下了，再也跑不動了。孩子發出悽慘的叫喊，手忙腳知己地親吻和擁抱母親，而她也跟着大聲呼救，聲音傳到了正站在渡船旁的瓦蘇代瓦耳中。他迅速趕過來，抱起卡瑪拉，放到船裏，孩子也跟着上了船。過了一會兒，他們來到茅屋裏，席特哈爾塔正在爐竈邊生火。他擡起眼，先看到男孩的臉，這張臉使他驚訝地想起已經淡忘的往事。接着，他又看見了卡瑪拉，而且馬上就認出了她，儘管此記得她正不省人事地躺在船伕的臂彎裏。他明白了，這男孩就是他的親生兒子，孩子的臉貌提醒了他，他的心在胸中怦怦直跳。

卡瑪拉的傷口被洗淨了，但是已經發黑，身子也腫脹起來，於是，連忙給她灌藥。好恢復了知覺，躺在茅屋裏席特哈爾塔的牀鋪上，她深愛過的席特哈爾塔俯身看着她。她覺得這就像是一場夢，含笑望着這個昔日戀人的臉，慢慢才意識到自己眼前的處境，想起是被蛇咬了，便驚恐地呼喚孩子。
“他就在你身邊，別擔心。”席特哈爾塔說。