Face To Face With Hurricane Camille 迎战卡米尔号飓风

约瑟夫 . 布兰克

1 John Koshak, Jr., knew Hurricane Camille would be bad. Radio and television warnings had sounded throughout that Sunday. Last August 17, as Camille lashed northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico. It was certain to pummel Gulfport, Miss., where the Koshaks lived. Along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, nearly 150,000 people fled inland to safer ground. But like thousands of others in the coastal communities, John was reluctant to abandon his home unless the family—his wife, Janis and their seven children, aged 3 to 11—was clearly endangered.

小约翰。柯夏克已料到，卡米尔号飓风来势定然凶猛。就在去年8月17日那个星 期天，当卡米尔号飓风越过墨西哥湾向西北进袭之时，收音机和电视里整天不 断地播放着飓风警报。柯夏克一家居住的地方一—密西西比州的高尔夫港——肯定 会遭到这场飓风的猛烈袭击。路易斯安那、密西西比和亚拉巴马三州沿海一带 的居民已有将近15万人逃往内陆安全地带。但约翰就像沿海村落中其他成千上 万的人一样，不愿舍弃家园，要他下决心弃家外逃，除非等到他的一家人一—妻 子詹妮丝以及他们那七个年龄从三岁到十一岁的孩子一一眼看着就要灾祸临 头。

lash (v.): move quickly or violently 猛烈冲击；拍打

pummel (n.): beat or hit with repeated blows ， esp ． with the fist( 尤指用拳头 ) 连 续地打

2 Trying to reason out the best course of action, he talked with his father and mother, who had moved into the ten-room house with the Koshaks a month earlier from California. He also consulted Charles Hill, a longtime friend, who had driven from Las Vegas for a visit.

为了找出应付这场风灾的最佳对策，他与父母商量过。两位老人是早在一个月 前就从加利福尼亚迁到这里来，住进柯夏克一家所住的那幢十个房间的屋子 里。他还就此征求过从拉斯韦加斯开车来访的老朋友查理希尔的意见。

course (n.): a way of behaving ； mode 0f conduct 行为；品行；做法

reason out : to find out an explanation or solution to a problem ， by thinking of all the possibilities 寻找解决途径

例： Let's reason this out instead of quarrelling ．让我们不要争吵，商量出事情的解 决方案

3 John, 37—whose business was right there in his home (he designed and developed educational toys and supplies, and all of Magna Products’ correspondence, engineering drawings and art work were there on the first floor)—was familiar with the power of a hurricane. Four years earlier Hurricane Betsy had demolished his former home a few miles west of Gulfport (Koshak had moved his family to a motel for the night). But that house had stood only a few feet above sea level. “We’re elevated 23 feet,” he told his father, “and we’re a good 250 yards from the sea. The place has been here since 1915, and no hurricane has ever bothered it. We’ll probably

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be as safe here as anyplace else.” 约翰的全部产业就在自己家里(他开办的玛格纳制造公司是设计、研制各种教育 玩具和教育用品的。公司的一切往来函件、设计图纸和工艺模具全都放在一 楼)。37岁的他对飓风的威力是深有体会的。四年前，他原先拥有的位于高尔夫 港以西几英里外的那个家就曾毁于贝翠号飓风(那场风灾前夕柯夏克已将全家搬 到一家汽车旅馆过夜)。不过，当时那幢房子所处的地势偏低，高出海平面仅几 英尺。“我们现在住的这幢房子高了23英尺，’他对父亲说，“而且距离海边足有 250码远。这幢房子是1915年建造的。至今还从未受到过飓风的袭击。我们呆在 这儿恐怕是再安全不过了。”

a good : at least ， full 至少，最少

例： They waited a good eight hours 他们等了至少 8 个小时。

demolish (v.): pull down ． tear down ， or smash to pieces (a building ， etc ． ) ， destroy ： ruin 拉倒；打碎；拆毁；破坏；毁灭

motel (n.):a hotel intended primarily for those traveling by car, usually with direct access from each room to an area for cars 汽车游客旅馆

4 The elder Koshak, a gruff, warmhearted expert machinist of 67 agreed. “We can batten down and ride it out,” he said. “If we see signs of danger, we can get out before dark.”

老柯夏克67岁．是个语粗心慈的熟练机械师。他对儿子的意见表示赞 同。“我们是可以严加防卫。度过难关的，”他说?“一但发现危险信号，我们还 可以赶在天黑之前撤出去。”

gruff (adj.): rough or surly in manner or speech ； harsh and throaty ； hoarse 粗暴的，粗鲁的；粗哑的。嘶哑的

batten (n.): fasten with battens 用压条钉住 ( 或固定 )

5 The men methodically prepared for the hurricane. Since water mains might be damaged, they filled bathtubs and pails. A power failure was likely, so they checked out batteries for the portable radio and flashlights, and fuel for the lantern. John’s father moved a small generator into the downstairs hallway, wired several light bulbs to it and prepared a connection to the refrigerator.

为了对付这场飓风，几个男子汉有条不紊地做起准备工作来。自米水管道可能 遭到破坏，他们把浴盆和提俑都盛满水。飓风也可能造成断电，所以他们检查 手提式收音机和手电筒里的电池以及提灯里的燃料油。约翰的父亲将一台小发 电机搬到楼下门厅里．接上几个灯泡。并做好把发电机与电冰箱接通的准备。

methodically (adv.): orderly ， systematically 有秩序地；有条理地

main (n.): a principal pipe, or line in a distributing system for water, gas, electricity, etc( 自来水，煤气，电等的 ) 总管

bathtub (n.): a tub ， now usually a bathroom fixture ， in which to take a bath 浴盆，浴缸

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generator (n.): a machine for changing mechanical energy into electrical energy ； dynamo 发电机，发动机

6 Rain fell steadily that afternoon; gray clouds scudded in from the Gulf on the rising wind. The family had an early supper. A neighbor, whose husband was in Vietnam, asked if she and her two children could sit out the storm with the Koshaks. Another neighbor came by on his way inland—would the Koshaks mind taking care of his dog?

那天下午，雨一直下个不停．乌云随着越来越猛的暴风从海湾上空席卷而来。 全家早早地用晚餐。邻居中一个丈夫去了越南的妇女跑过来。问她和她的两个 孩子是否能搬进柯夏克家躲避风灾：另一个准备向内陆带转移的邻居也跑来问 柯夏克家能否替他照看一下他的狗。

sit out : stay until the end of 坐到结束

例： We forced ourselves to sit the play out ．我们强迫自己坐到演出结束 scud (v.): run or move swiftly ； glide or skim along easily 疾行，飞驰；掠过

7 It grew dark before 7 o’clock. Wind and rain now whipped the house. John sent his oldest son and daughter upstairs to bring down mattresses and pillows for the young children. He wanted to keep the group together on one floor. “Stay away from the windows,” he warned, concerned about glass flying from storm-shattered pane. As the wind mounted to a roar, the house began leaking—the rain seemingly driven right through the walls. With mops, towels, pots and buckets the Koshaks began a struggle against the rapidly spreading water. At 8:30, power failed, and Koshak turned on the generator.

不到七点钟，天就黑了．，狂风暴雨拍打着屋子。约翰让大儿子和大女儿上楼 去取来被褥和枕头给几个小一点的孩子。他想把全家人都集中在同一层楼 上。“不要靠近窗户!”他警告说，担心在飓风巾震破的玻璃碎片会飞来伤人。风 凶猛地咆哮起来?屋子开始漏雨了……那雨水好像能穿墙透壁，往屋里直灌。一 家人都操起拖把、毛巾、盆罐和水桶，展开了一场排水战。到八点半钟，电没 有了。柯夏克老爹便启动了小发电机。

pane (n.):a single division of a window ， etc. ， consisting of a sheet of glass in a frame ； such a sheet of glass 窗格；窗格玻璃

mattress (n.): a casing of strong cloth or other fabric filled with cotton ， hair ， foam rubber ， etc ．床垫；褥子

8 The roar of the hurricane now was overwhelming. The house shook, and the ceiling in the living room was falling pieces by pieces. The French doors in an upstairs room blew in with an explosive sound, and the group heard gun-like reports as other upstairs windows disintegrated. Water rose above their ankles.

飓风的咆哮声压倒了一切。房子摇晃着，起居室的天花板一块块掉下来。楼上 一个房问的法兰西式两用门砰地一声被风吹开了。楼下的人还听到楼上其他玻 璃窗破碎时发出的劈劈啪啪的响声。积水已经漫到脚踝上了。

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disintegrate (v.): separate into parts or fragments; break up ； disunite 分裂， 分解，裂成碎块

9 Then the front door started to break away from its frame. John and Charlie put their shoulders against it, but a blast of water hit the house, flinging open the door and shoving them down the hall. The generator was doused, and the lights went out. Charlie licked his lips and shouted to John. “I think we’re in real trouble. That water tasted salty.” The sea had reached the house, and the water was rising by the minute.

随后，前门开始从门框上脱落。约翰和查理用肩膀抵住¨，但一股水浪冲击过 来。撞开了大门，把两人都掀倒在地板上。发电机泡在水里，电灯熄灭了。查 理舔了舔嘴唇，对着约翰大喊道：“这回可真是大难临头了。这水是咸的。”海 水已经漫到屋子跟前,积水仍不断上涨。

by the minute : every minute ， minute by minute 一分钟一分钟地

例： I'm feeling better by the minute ．我每分钟都感觉好多了。

blast (n.): a strong rush of(air or wind) 一股 ( 气流 ) ；一阵 ( 风 )

douse (n.): plunge or thrust suddenly into liquid ； drench; pour liquid over 把 … 浸入液体里；使浸透；泼液体在 … 上

10 “Everybody out the back door to the car!” John yelled. “We’ll pass the children along between us. Count them! Nine!”

“都从后门到汽车上去!”约翰提高嗓门大叫道。“我们把孩子2们一个个递过去， 数一数!一共九个!”

11 The children went from adult to adult like buckets in a fire brigade. But the cars wouldn’t start: the electrical systems had been killed by water. The wind was too strong and the water too deep to flee on foot. “Back to the house!” John yelled. “Count the children! Count Nine!”

孩子们从大人手上像救火队的水桶一样被递了过去。可是汽车不能发动了?它的 点火系统被水泡坏了。水深风急。又不可能靠两只脚逃命。“回屋里去!．'约翰 高声喊道。“数一数孩子们。一共九个!”

brigade (n.): a group of people organized to function 。。 "unit in some work( 组织起来执行某种任务的 ) 队

12 As they scrambled back, John ordered, “Everybody on the stairs!” Frightened, breathless and wet, the group settled on the stairs, which were protected by two interior walls. The children put the cat, spooky, and a box with her four kittens on the landing. She peered nervously at her litter. The neighbor’s dog curled up and went to sleep.

等他们爬着回到屋里后。约翰又命令道：“都到楼梯上去!，，于是大家都跑到 靠两堵内墙保护的楼梯上歇着。个个吓得要命，气喘吁吁，浑身湿透。孩子们 把取名为斯普琪的一只猫和一个装着四只小猫仔的盒子放在楼梯平台上。斯普 琪心神不定地打量着自己的幼仔，邻人的那条狗已蜷起身子睡着了。

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scramble (v.): climb ， crawl ， or clamber hurriedly 爬行；攀 ( 登 ) litter (n.): the young borne at one time by a dog ， cat or other animal which normally bears several young at a delivery( 狗、猫等多产动物 ) 一胎生下的小动物

13 The wind sounded like the roar of a train passing a few yards away. The house shuddered and shifted on its foundations. Water inched its way up the steps as firstfloor outside walls collapsed. No one spoke. Everyone knew there was no escape; they would live or die in the house.

狂风就像在身边呼啸而过的列车一样发出震耳的响声，房屋在地基上晃动移 位。一楼的外墙坍塌了，海水渐渐地漫上了楼梯。大家沉默无语?谁都明白现在 已是无路可逃．死活都只好留在崖子里了。

shudder (n.): shake or tremble suddenly and violently ， as in horror or extreme disgust 震颤，战栗

14 Charlie Hill had more or less taken responsibility for the neighbor and her two children. The mother on the verge of panic. She clutched his arm and kept repeating, “I can’t swim, I can’t swim.”

查理。希尔对邻家的妇女和她那两个孩子多少尽了一点责任。那妇女简直吓昏 了头。她紧紧地抓住他的胳膊连声叫道：“我不会游泳，我可不会游泳啊

15 “You won’t have to,” he told her, with outward calm. “It’s bound to end soon.” “不会游泳也不要紧?”他强作镇定地安慰她道，．．一会儿便什么都过去了。”

16 Grandmother Koshak reached an arm around husband’s shoulder and put her mouth close to his ear. “Pop,” she said, “I love you.” He turned his head and answered, “I love you”—and his voice lacked its usual gruffness. 柯夏克老奶奶伸出胳臂挽住丈夫的肩膀。把嘴凑到他的耳边说，“老爷子，我爱 你。”柯老爹扭过头来也回了一句“我爱你，，一一…说话声已不像平日那样粗 声粗气的厂。

17 John watched the water lap at the steps, and felt a crushing guilt. He had underestimated the ferocity of Camille. He had assumed that what had never happened could not happen. He held his head between his hands, and silently prayed: “Get us through this mess, will You?”

约翰望着海水漫过一级一级的台阶，心里感到一阵强烈的内疚。都怪他低估了 卡米尔号飓风的危险性，一直认为未曾发生过的事情决不会发生。他两手抱着 头，默默地祈祷着：“啊．上帝，保佑我们度过这～难关吧!”

ferocity (n.): wild force or cruelty ； ferociousness 凶猛；凶恶，残忍；暴行

18 A moment later, the hurricane, in one mighty swipe, lifted the entire roof off the house and skimmed it 40 feet through the air. The bottom steps of the staircase broke apart. One wall began crumbling on the maroon

不一会儿，?阵强风掠过，将整个屋顶卷入空中，抛向4()英尺以外。楼梯底

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层的几级台阶断裂开来。有一堵墙眼看着就要倒向这群陷入进退维谷境地的男 女老少。

swipe (n.):a hard ， sweeping blow[ 口 ] 猛击，重击 maroon (av.): leave abandoned ， isolated ， or helpless 使处于孤立无援的处境

19 Dr. Robert H. Simpson, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., graded Hurricane Camille as “the greatest recorded storm ever to hit a populated area in the Western Hemisphere.” In its concentrated breadth of some 70 miles it shot out winds of nearly 200 mph and raised tides as high as 30 feet. Along the Gulf Coast it devastated everything in its swath: 19,467 homes and 709 small businesses were demolished or severely damaged. It seized a 600,000-gallon Gulfport oil tank and dumped it 3.5 miles away. It tore three large cargo ships from their moorings and beached them. Telephone poles and 20-inch-thick pines cracked like guns as the winds snapped them.

设在弗罗里达州迈阿密的国家飓风中心主任罗伯特．H．辛普森博士将卡米尔 号飓风列为“有过记载的袭击西半球有人居住地区的最猛烈的一场飓风”。在飓 风中心纵横约70英里的范围内，其风速接近每小时200英里，掀起的浪头高达30 英尺。海湾沿岸风过之处，所有东西都被一扫而光。19 467户人家和709家小商 号不是完全被毁，便是遭到严重破坏。高尔夫港一个60万加仑的油罐被狂风刮 起，摔到3．5英里以外。三艘大型货轮被刮离泊位，推上岸滩。电线杆和20英 寸粗的松树一遇狂风袭击便像连珠炮似的根根断裂。

devastate (nv.): destroy ； lay waste ； make desolate 毁坏 , 摧毁；使荒芜 swath (n.): the space or width covered with one cut of a scythe or other mowing device 刈幅 ( 挥动镰刀所及的面积 )

20 To the west of the Gulfport the town of Pass Christian was virtually wiped out. Several vacationers at the luxurious Richelieu Apartments there held a hurricane party to watch the storm from their spectacular vantage point. Richelieu Apartments were smashed apart as if by a gigantic fist, and 26 people perished.

位于高尔夫港以西的帕斯克里斯琴镇几乎被夷为平地。住在该镇那座豪华的黎 赛留公寓度假的几位旅客组织了一次聚会，从他们所居的有利地位观赏飓风的 壮观景象，结果像是有一个其大无比的拳头把公寓打得粉碎，26人因此丧生。

21 Seconds after the roof blew off the Koshak house, John yelled, “Up the stairs— into our bedroom! Count the kids!” The children huddled in the slashing rain within the circle of adults. Grandmother Koshak implored, “Children, let’s sing!” The children were too frightened to respond. She carried on alone for a few bars; then her voice trailed away.

柯夏克家的屋顶一被掀走，约翰就高喊道：“快上楼一一到卧室里去!数数孩 子。”在倾盆大雨中，大人们围成一圈，让孩子们紧紧地挤在中间。柯夏克老奶 奶哀声切切地说道：“孩子们，咱们大家来唱支歌吧!”孩子们都吓呆了，根本没 一点反应。老奶奶独个儿唱了几句，然后她的声音就完全消失了。

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