原文：张抗抗
译文：温佛佳
一直强调，下水做翻译，也是提高英文水平的一种行之有效的方法。只要坚持，就一定会见到效果。
《恐惧的平衡》是著名作家张抗抗的代表作品，挺有启发的一篇文字。今天休假，便将其翻成了英文。中文在后，英文在前，供大家参考阅读。
英译文：
Balance of Fear
This happened several years ago.
When the play was over,we walked out only to find that it was raining.Because I came to the theater not directly from home, I did not ride a bike as usual.My husband wheeled his bike over and recommened me to take a taxi home.
Very sooon, a taxi drew up.I did not want to stay in the rain ,so I pulled the door open and got in.Seated myself ,I waved goodbye to my husband.
And just at that moment did I have time to see what was around me .The instant the taxi started ,I found out that besides the young driver ,on the front seat ,there was another man—a giant of man!
The two were silent,their faces set in a sinister cast.What is more, the light inside was very dim ,all this together enhancing the threatening atmosphere.
Soaked with cold sweat,I rolled down the taxi window violently,looking backwards to find my husband in the crowds,and almost cried out “Help!”
It seemed that he himself also had noticed there were two “drivers”,and jumping on the bike hurriedly,he began to follow my taxi.
But unfortunately,because the tide of the theater crowds were too thick,he soon lost to me in the darkness.
The taxi speeded away very fast in the fast lane.Suspiciously fast,it seemed to me.
Still ,they were silent.
I was doomed this time,I thought to myself.And besides ,what was with me were my roalty payments just drawn out from the bank, and they were here in my purse!
I was on pins and needles .I wanted to stop the taxi,but I could not bring myself to say so,after all, until now they had not done anythiny to me so far.
And looking out of the window ,yes ,we were driving in the right direction .Anyway,today I will risk it,I thought.
“Garden village,right?”the driver asked ,gruffly.
With a quiver in my voice ,I said yes,my mind speedly going over the emergency measures for self-defence.
The car drove fast for a longer while ,taking several curves according to my order ,and then stopped at my familiar building!
Almost exhausted,I fell backt to my seat,heaving a sigh of relief.Composing myself ,I fumbled for the fare in my purse with shivering hands.
Opening the door ,plucking up my courage,I required “but why do you need two men to drive just one taxi?”
“Well ,you see, the times as they are ,who have the rash to drive alone in the night? If something bad such as robbery does happen ,even two are hard to cope!”he murmured his words resentfuly.
“If it were two of you , we will refuse to pick you up!”the other added ,icily.
The taxi turned aroud,just as it came ,it drove away as fast and hurrily.I stood in the light rain for a while,as if just snatched from the death’grip.
For the first time,this red-brick building looming in the rain and rain fog seemed so lovely and warm to me.
However my story does not end here .With a light heart,I went upstairs to my door only to find that I did not bring my key with me.My vice pet!
And what was worse was that, here I am,but riding his bike my husband was still on the way !
Sitting on the cement stairs,I felt very boring.All of a sudden, the watch became so lazy.Soon I lost my patience,and went downstairs.The rain had stopped already.
To my surprise,I found that the light in one of my familiar neighbours was still on.Why not pay a visit and have a chat,I thougt to myself,and in this way the time would pass more quickly.
They gave me a warm welcome and we had a very heat talk.The moment I remembered the time and stood up home ,it was 00:15.
I knocked on my apartment’ door ,and heard my husband’voice,loud and tense.The door opened slowly and cautiously.
Astonishment written all over his face,he caught me and pulled me in,saying “d-d-did they find you so quickly,the policemen!You see,I ,I have j-just called the police!”.
“What are you talking about?What policemen?”I was comfused myself too.
“Do you realize the time?After you got into the taxi,I noticed there are two men .I trid to follow you,but failed.
So I can only comfort myself that everything are gonna to be fine,but you do not show up and it is so late!
The more I think about the whole matters ,the more anxious and suspcious I become.There must be something wrong with that taxi.Well ,you see,I have just given the police station a call and they want me to recall the number……”
I do not know whether to laugh or to cry,and cut him short,“you are afraid of those two drivers,but in fact they are afraid of you.
Nowadays,it is common to find a boyguard in the taxi.Two drivers are together to defend big man just like you.They said that if you boarded,they would not take us.”
Astonished,my husband could know what to say.
The time I am writing this article,between the driver and the passenger ,there have already installed an iron railing ,the so called safty-guarding net.
For someone,they think ,in this way,the driver and passenger thus can draw a black and white line;for the others,however,this so called safty net is only useful when it comes to the gentleman,but not to the vaillian.
But whenever I take a taxi,sitting in my side of the railing , looking at the expressionless driver I always say to myself :maybe we both are honest people,but we now have been deprived of the right to trust each other.In order to guard our own safe,we are made to defend against each other,this contributing to each other’threat.
Parhaps this is fair.The fear is balanced temporarily.But because this kind of balance is achieved by accumulation of many fears which can not be balanced,we may still ofen experience terror and live in fear.
原文：
《恐惧的平衡》
这是几年前经历的一件小事。
散了戏，走出剧场发现正在下雨。我因从别处赶来看戏，没像通常那样骑车。丈夫推着自行车过来，说那你就自己“打的”回家吧。
一会儿就驶来了一辆“的士”。我不想在雨里呆得太久，拉开车门就往里钻。等坐定了，抬手向车窗外的丈夫招招手。等招完了手，才有工夫来看车子里的情形。车轮已经启动，就在那一瞬，我才发现：车的前排座位上，除了一个年轻司机，竟然还有一个膀大腰圆的壮汉。
那两个人都板着脸一声不吭，感觉十分阴险。而且，车里的灯 很暗，有一种我很陌生的杀气腾腾之感。
我出了一头冷汗。猛地打开车窗，回过头去人群中寻找我的那位保护者，差点就没喊出声来你快救救我。我觉得他好像也察觉了车里有两个 “司机”，他急急地跳上自行车尾随着这辆“的士”追了上来。但不幸的是，散戏的人流如潮涌来，只一会儿工夫，他就淹没在黑暗之中了。
车速很快。走的是快车道。快得确实令人生疑。
那两人仍是一句话也不说。
我想这回完了。随身的包里还有刚从银行取出来的一笔稿费呢。
我忐忑不安、心慌意乱。我想对他们说停车停车我要下去，可话到嘴边却张不开口。毕竟，他们还没把你怎么着；再揉眼看看窗外，行车的路线也对头啊。看来，今儿我只好豁出去，听天由命了！
“是花园村吗？”那司机没好气地问。
我用颤抖的声音说是。脑子里用最快的速度演习着应急的招数。我差不多已不会说是了，然而车又飞快地跑了一阵，按照我说的路线拐了几个弯，竟然停在我熟悉的那幢楼底下了。
我软软地靠在座位上，长长地松了口气。定定神，用还在哆嗦的手掏出钱包付车费。拉开车门，壮着胆问了一句：“嗳！你们怎么两个人开车啊？”
“哼，这年月，晚上出车，一个人谁敢哪？要是有劫道的，两个人都架不住！”开车的那个气呼呼地嘟哝。
“你要是两个人，我还不拉你了呢！”冷冷地，另一个甩过来这么一句。
车掉了头，像来时一样，急匆匆地走了。我在门前淅沥的小雨中静静站了一会，恍然大悟。便如同一个死里逃生的人，头一回觉得这幢隐没在夜幕和雨雾中的红砖楼房，非常非常的可爱和温柔。
然而事情却没有就此了结。我心情愉快地走上楼梯欲进家门时，发现自己根本没带钥匙。
出门忘带钥匙是我常犯的一个错。糟糕的是，此刻我的丈夫还骑着自行车在路上。
我坐在水泥的楼梯上，百无聊赖。表的指针突然变得懒洋洋的。我一会儿就失去了耐心，便跑到楼下去等。雨已停了，我意外地发现有一位熟悉的邻居家还亮着灯，我想我何不进去同他们聊会儿天呢，这样时间就会过得快些。
他们很友好地接待我，我们谈得很热烈。等我想起来该回家的时候，时针已指着十二点一刻。
我咚咚敲门。门里有大声嚷嚷的声音，过一会门才开。他愣了愣，一把拽住我，莫名其妙地说：“警察，这么快就、就找到你了？我，正在、在报警呢！”
“你说什么呀？报什么警呀？”我也糊涂了。
“几点了你不看看？刚才你上车的时候，我看见了车里有两个男的，没追上，只好安慰自己不会有事。可你一直没到家，我越想越可疑，越想越不对头，肯定是那辆车的问题。这不，我刚打完电话，警察还让我回忆车号呢……”
我哭笑不得地打断他说，“嗨，你怕那两个司机，人家还怕乘客呢。如今一到晚上，‘的士’里都带着保镖，是两个司机‘联防’，防的就是像你这样的大个儿。人家说了，要是你上车，他们还不敢拉呢，懂不懂？”
他张着嘴一句话也说不出来。
不过到我写这篇文章时，“的士”里的驾驶座和乘客席之间，早已装上了防盗安全网。有人说这样就井水不犯河水了。也有人说，这是防君子不防小人的。
可每次我“打的”，坐在被铁栏隔开的座位上，望着神色茫然的司机，我总会想：也许我们都是守法之人，然而我们无权彼此信任。我们相互构成了对方的暴力威胁。为了我们双方的生命安全，我们必须互相戒备互相防范。
也许这样很公平。
恐惧虽然暂时平衡。但由于这种平衡，是因许多次不能平衡的恐怖事件造成的，所以我们或许还将经常地经历恐惧。
