Two months after completing the age reversal, Lübeck felt his body had recovered sufficiently to handle routine tasks. Yet he could not find peace after coldly dismissing Brittany, who had cared for him all along. It seemed he could not accept any woman but Ruth.
自从完成逆转年龄,两个月后,吕贝克觉得自己的身体已经恢复得差不多了,足以应付一般日常工作,只是自己冷漠地让一直以来照料他的布列塔尼离开自己,内心难以平静,可是似乎他难以接受露丝以外的其他女人.
The roster and photos had been placed on the table for him to select his companion for this Saturn orbital mission. Due to the mission's extended duration, all crew members were required to be in committed relationships, and no changes were permitted once the mission commenced.
桌上放着送来的名册和照片,供他选择这一次土星轨道任务的自己的伴侣,因为任务周期太长,所以要求所有船员必须满足伴侣关系并且任务开始后不准随意更换.
The roster had been sitting on his desk for two days, and Lübeck wasn't sure he'd find Ruth in any single book. Ring-ring, ring-ring, ring-ring—the phone rang. He picked it up, only to receive yet another call urging him to choose a partner. This place was peculiar: the phones were from the 60s, the computers from the millennium, the desks and chairs cheap Chinese imports from the 90s—a hodgepodge of elements. The same issues surfaced with the personnel: NATO members, naturally dominated by Americans.
名册已经在他的桌上放了两天,吕贝克不确定他能在一本册子里找到露丝.叮铃铃,叮铃铃,叮铃铃,电话铃声响起,他接起电话,又是催促他选择伴侣的电话.这个地方很奇怪,电话是60年代的,电脑是千禧年的,桌椅是90年代中国的便宜货,大杂烩组合而成的项目,同样的问题也出现在人员上,北约成员,当然是美国人主导.
Lübeck flipped through the roster. The first woman was a pilot—dark eyes and hair, fair skin, middle-aged and composed, likely Hispanic. The second woman was also a pilot—golden hair, thinner eyebrows and eyes, appearing gentle and mild-mannered, a typical Celtic type. The third was a Marine—light brown hair, broad forehead, deep-set eyes, and a stern countenance. The fourth was a biologist, with brown hair and a high forehead, appearing highly intelligent. The fifth was a military police officer, tall and lean with high cheekbones and a gaunt face, looking like a tough character. The sixth seemed to be a second-generation African American, a mechanic. The seventh appeared to be Latin American, lacking femininity and resembling a man, a cook. The eighth was, surprisingly, a man.
吕贝克翻开名册,第一位女士是飞行员,深色的眼睛和头发,皮肤白皙,中年沉稳,似乎是西班牙裔.第二位女士也是飞行员,金色头发,较细的眉毛和眼睛,看起来性格温和,普通的凯尔特人.第三位是海军陆战队员,淡棕色头发宽额头深眼窝,面容冷酷.第四位是生物学家,棕色头发高额头,看来是个聪明人,第五位是宪兵,身材高瘦,高颧骨面容消瘦,像是个狠角色.第六位似乎是二代非洲裔,机械师.第七位好像是拉丁裔,没有女人味儿,好像男人一样,厨师.第八位,居然是个男人.
The search for Ruth turned into a gay revelation. Lübeck snatched up the phone in a rage,
"No male homosexuals allowed on my ship. Remove every crew member with questionable sexual orientation and send them to other units."
寻找露丝之旅变成了男同启示录,吕贝克气呼呼地抓起了电话,
"我的船上不允许男性同性恋,把性取向有问题的男船员全部剔除,送给别的单位去,"
"But that's not gender equality,"
"可是这不符合性别平等,"
"I don't want them to kill anyone while carrying out orders."
"我不想他们搞出人命来,执行命令,"
"Yes."
"是."
Why wasn't Captain Brittany on the list you sent?
"上尉布列塔尼为什么没有在你送来的名单里?"
Captain, she has already been assigned to another unit.
"船长,她已经被派往其他单位报到了,"
"Oh, that's fine then."
"哦,就这样吧,"
Though he said nothing, Lü Beck felt an inexpressible sense of loss deep within. With troubled thoughts swirling in his mind, he began gathering his meager personal belongings, preparing to leave the medical facility.
虽然没说什么,吕贝克内心一丝无法言明的失落,带着烦乱的思绪,吕贝克开始收拾自己少得可怜的个人物品,准备撤离这个医疗设施.
His new assignment was as captain of the CSNL-30 San Jacinto, a light orbital space-aircraft carrier. This class of carrier was equipped with antigravity engines but lacked interstellar travel capability. It was designed solely for gravity-orbit navigation between planets within the solar system, serving as a relay point for resupplying fighter craft on missions.
他被指派的新岗位是一艘空天母舰的舰长,CSNL-30圣哈辛托号,属于轻型轨道空天母舰,这一型号的空天母舰配备反重力引擎,但是不具备跨星际航行的能力,它只是被设计作为太阳系内行星之间的重力轨道航行,为执行任务的战斗机提供中继补给.
Taking the rail transit to his space carrier base, he tidied his quarters before visiting each office to familiarize himself with the other senior officers he would be working alongside. They then shared lunch, exchanging polite pleasantries over the table. Lübeck disliked such socializing, but there was no better way to build rapport for future collaboration.
乘坐轨道交通来到自己的空天舰驻地,收拾完自己的房间,到各个办公室,熟悉自己将来要共事的其他高级军衔军官,然后在共进午餐,在餐桌上说着一些冠冕堂皇的说辞.吕贝克不喜欢这样的社交,但是要和他们熟悉以便将来共事,也没有别的更好办法.
After a hasty lunch, he stepped out of the officers' mess hall. Just as he turned to leave for his quarters, he suddenly noticed a familiar figure pacing before the observation window in the corridor outside the dining room.
潦草地吃过午饭,走出军官餐厅,他刚想要转身离去回到自己的房间,突然发现餐厅外走廊的景观窗口前有一个熟悉的身影,在徘徊.
Lübeck could scarcely believe his eyes. His feet seemed to have taken on a life of their own, carrying him step by step toward that figure until he stood directly behind her.
吕贝克有些不敢相信自己的眼睛,自己的脚步仿佛已经有了独立的主张,一步步朝着那个身影走了过去,一步步走到她的身后.
And just as she turned to walk back, Brittany—it was her.
而正当她踱步转回身的时候,布列塔尼,是她,
"Ah, what a coincidence, Captain Lübeck," she exclaimed, seeming startled, a mix of delight and surprise evident. Her gaze darted between meeting Lübeck's eyes and averting them, her hair swaying dramatically with the twists of her head. Her arms seemed poised to express some gesture, only to halt abruptly, tugging at her shoulders.
"啊,这么巧,吕贝克舰长,"她似乎被吓了一跳,有些惊喜又有些意外,眼光时而对视吕贝克的眼睛时而又移开,她的头发在随着她头部的扭动大幅摆动,她的手臂似乎想要表达什么肢体语言却又终止,扯动她的双肩,
"Lieutenant Brittany, it's good to see you again," said Lübeck, extending his hand to shake hers.
"布列塔尼少尉,又见面了,"说着,吕贝克伸出手和她握手,
"Ah, yes," Brittany extended her hand as well, glancing at Lübeck as they shook hands before lowering her gaze again, seemingly unsure what to say next. Just as she tried to withdraw her hand, she realized the other person had no intention of letting go.
"啊,是啊,"布列塔尼也伸出了她的手,握手的同时看了一眼吕贝克,然后又低下了头,好像不知道接下来该说些什么,当她想要撤回自己的手的时候才发现,对方并没有松手的意思,
Brittany slowly raised her head again, looking toward Lübeck. She opened her mouth as if to speak, yet found herself at a loss for words.
布列塔尼又缓缓抬起头,望向吕贝克,张嘴想要说什么,却不知道要首先说什么,
"What are you doing here?" Lübeck spoke first, taking another step toward her, his hand still clasped around hers.
"你怎么会在这里?"吕贝克先开口了,说着又向她迈进了一步,握着的手依然没有放开,
"Ah, I—" Brittany lifted her head, brushing aside the hair that partially covered her face with her other hand, then continued,
"I think... I think I might have expected to meet you here," her eyes flickering with timidity and shyness. After speaking, she lowered her head once more.
"啊,我,"布列塔尼用另一只手捋了一下遮住半边脸的头发抬起头,又接着说,
"我想,我想,我也许会在这里遇到你,"眼里闪烁着怯懦与羞涩,说完又低下了头,
Do you come here often?
"你经常到这里来吗?"
"Ah, yes,"
"啊,是啊,"
"What about your lunch break?"
"那你的午饭时间怎么办?"
"Ah, it's okay, I'm on a diet."
"啊,没关系,我在减肥,"
Hearing her say this, Lübeck couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the girl. She had sacrificed her lunch break to come here searching for him, so he asked,
"Would you like to join me for a simple lunch today?"
听她这么说,吕贝克不由得心里开始心疼这个姑娘,她牺牲了自己的午餐时间,来到这里,为了找寻自己,于是便问,
"那今天我可以邀请你简单吃个午饭吗?"
"Hmm, that's great,"
"嗯,那好啊,"
Before she could finish, Lübeck took her hand and led her forward, then placed his left hand on her lower back as they walked back toward the dining room. He didn't release her hand until he opened the door for her. This time, Lübeck accompanied her throughout the entire process of serving herself food. Even after they sat down, he didn't take his usual seat across from her. Instead, he sat beside her, his left arm still wrapped around her waist. He sat quietly by her side, accompanying her until she finished her lunch.
吕贝克没等她说完,就用手拉着她走在前面,然后又用左手扶着她的后腰,走回餐厅方向,直到为她开门的时候,才放开握着她的手.这一次吕贝克陪伴了她整个盛取饭菜的过程,直到落座,吕贝克也没有像以前一样坐在她的对面,而是坐在了她的身边,搂着她的腰的左手依然没有放下,静静地坐在她的身边陪伴她吃完午饭.
As they walked side by side out of the restaurant, Brittany stopped, turned to face Lübeck, looked him in the eyes, and said,
"I have to..."
当两人并排走出餐厅,布列塔尼停下脚步,转身面向吕贝克,望着他的眼睛说,
"我得..."
"Follow me," Lübeck cut her off.
"I'm transferring you to my unit immediately. As a medic, there's a machine waiting for you to fix—one that isn't smoking."
"跟我走,"吕贝克打断了她,
"现在就把你调到我的单位,你是医务兵,那没有冒烟的机器等着你马上回去修理,"
Brittany smiled. She said nothing, but simply looked at Lübeck and smiled.
布列塔尼笑了,她没有说什么,只是望着吕贝克露出了笑容,
Lübeck instinctively pulled her into his arms, his mind racing through every day of the past month as he recalled her devoted care for him.
吕贝克顺势把她搂进了自己的怀里,脑海中飞速回放着一个月之前的每一天里,她对自己的悉心照料,
The bustling crowd in the hallway seemed to pass by silently around them. These two embracing souls existed in a world of their own—peaceful, serene, free from the constant turmoil and unease of life. Here, wandering spirits found their harbor, no longer adrift, finally anchored.
走廊里熙攘的人流,在他们的身边仿佛是无声地走过,这两个拥抱的人仿佛存在于仅属于他们自己的世界,平和,宁静,再也没有了生命中每时每刻的纷扰与不安,让流浪的灵魂不再漂流,可以找到自己的港湾,系泊.
Of course, there were also those who couldn't resist a good spectacle. Among the passing crowd, a few always stopped to gawk. Slowly, whispers began to stir on the sidelines. Who? Who is it?
当然也有好事之徒,走过的人流中总有那么几个停下脚步围观,慢慢地,有人开始在一边低声议论,谁,?是谁?
Some people were taking photos and immediately sharing them with friends to spark discussions. It just so happened to be lunchtime, and rumors spread faster than bullets. Soon, more people followed the rumors and gathered here.
也有人在拍照,然后立刻发给朋友们展开讨论,恰巧赶上午休时间,流言比子弹飞的快,然后更多的人追逐着流言来到这里,
The captain fell in love with the medic.
"舰长爱上了医务兵,"
Oh, she walked into me.
"哦,她走进了我的,"
Is this the kind of love you only experience once in a lifetime?
"这是一生只有一次那种爱吗?"
Oh, we're all just passing through. They've already reached the shore, ha ha.
"哦,我们都是过客,他们已经到岸了,哈哈,"
Only then did Lübeck and Brittany awaken from their own worlds, smiling as they scanned the gathered crowd, then saw themselves reflected in each other's eyes.
这时吕贝克和布列塔尼才从自己的世界中醒来,笑着环视围观的人群,然后再在彼此眼中看见自己,
Someone in the crowd behind recognized Lübeck, unable to push through, shouted from the outer perimeter.
后面的人群中有人认出了吕贝克,挤不进来,在外围大喊,
Hey, Lübeck, Lübeck fell for the medic. Who's that medic?
"嘿,吕贝克,吕贝克爱上了医务兵,那个医务兵是谁?"
Lübeck glanced back and said to those around him,
吕贝克回头看了看,对周围的人说,
"He is my life," she said, gazing sweetly at Brittany.
"他是我的生命,"说完,甜蜜地看着布列塔尼,
Hahaha, the onlookers burst into laughter.
哈哈哈哈,围观的人哄堂大笑,
Kiss her.
"吻她,"
"Yes, kiss her."
"对,吻她,"
"Yeah, go on, kiss her already."
"是啊,还不快吻她,"
"Yes,"
"是的,"
"Yes, that's right."
"对,没错,"
"Nice work."
"干得漂亮,"
"Yeah, kiss her, ha ha ha ha,"
"对,吻她,哈哈哈哈,"
...