斯坦福德时报：从中国到英国的艰辛之路！

shaoboss

【原文标题】From China to England in 'Bad Traffic'
【中文标题】从中国到英国的艰辛之路！
【登载媒体】斯坦福德时报
【来源地址】http://thestamfordtimes.com/story/463567
【翻译】shaoboss
【原文】

"Bad Traffic" by Simon Lewis; Scribner ($25)


The lives of two Chinese men converge in the exotic country of England in travel writer Simon Lewis' excellent mystery debut.

"Bad Traffic" works as the mystery equivalent of "The Odyssey" as both men strive to get home; out of their comfort zones they are strangers in a strange land. "Bad Traffic" explores cultural differences, racism, classism and immigration. Throw in a plot line about human trafficking and you have a rip-roaring action tale.

Chinese Police Inspector Ma Jian is cynical, tough cop who's not above taking. Admittedly, he's a poor father who is glad his daughter Wei Wei, with whom he is not close, is studying at Leeds University in England as it makes it easier for him to keep a young mistress. But when Wei Wei makes a late-night distress call before being disconnected, he doesn't think twice. He books the next flight to England, even though he doesn't speak English, knows no one there and isn't even sure where his daughter lives.

Ding Ming, 19, and his new bride, Little Ye, traveled from China to England "inside a sealed box in a container truck" for three months. They paid dearly to come to the United Kingdom where he could improve his English, perhaps get a job as a teacher and make a better life for themselves. It doesn't dawn on him until he is on English soil and separated from his wife by the men who organized the travel ordeal that he has just bought himself a life of slavery and that his wife may be forced into prostitution.

When the jaded Ma Jian and the innocent Ding Ming meet, it's not an easy union. Both are suspicious of the other yet each needs the other. Ma Jian knows how to get things done and isn't above using violence; Ding Ming speaks English.

Lewis doesn't miss a beat as he allows these two characters to mature as men and to discover skills they didn't know they had.

Lewis, who has written several Rough Guides and the backpacking novel "Go," shows England through the eyes of scared outsiders.

To these two Chinese nationals, England is a complex, frightening and odd country with unimaginable danger around every corner.

【中文】

      最近旅行作家西蒙.刘易斯刚出版了一部最新小说，名字叫《艰辛之路》。

      同著名的古希腊小说《奥德赛 》情节类似，《艰辛之路》讲述了两个中国人背井离乡，来到陌生国度的历险故事。在从中国来到英国的旅途中，主人公分别经历了文化差异，种族主义，阶层歧视和移民问题。小说通过对人口贩卖的介绍，给读者讲述了一个曲折复杂的故事。

     主人公之一马健是一个愤世嫉俗的派出所所长。他是一个十足的恶棍，包养着一个小情妇。但他同时一个可怜的父亲。因为他与女儿的关系并不融洽。女儿薇薇就读于英国利兹大学。突然有一天，薇薇深夜从英国打来电话，说自己处于危险之中。马健二话不说就定了最近的航班飞往英国。但他一句英文也不会说，从没去过英国，甚至不知道女儿住在哪。

     主人公之二丁明今年19岁。他与新婚妻子小叶躲藏在集装箱内经过三个月的颠簸偷渡到英国。为来到英国，他们支付了高额的费用。他们的目标是提高英语能力，成为一名老师以过上幸福的生活。但现实并不是他们想象的那样。丁明过着奴隶般的生活。妻子也被蛇头拉走，可能被迫成为jinv。

     当精疲力尽的马健与单纯的丁明走到一起时，他们发生了许多摩擦。两个人互相都不信任，但他们却不能不相互依靠。马健处理问题经验老到，常常能以非暴力的方式解决面临的风险。而丁明会讲英语。

     随着主人公的慢慢成熟，他们掌握了许多以前不知道的技巧。在这个过程中，作者刘易斯向我们描绘了一幕幕惊心动魄的场景。

    作者刘易斯出版过几本旅游指南和旅行小说。通过外国人的冒险经历向我们描述了英国在他们心中的印象。

    对这两个中国人而言，英国是一个繁杂的，可怕的古怪国家，到处充满风险。