The translator
In 1939, the Anti-Japanese War.
After the ferocious Japan invade, many cities
of China such as Nanjing, Shandong and so on had been conquered by Japanese
imperial army. Chinese populaces were treated in a harsh way and had been
exploited rights. Even Eighth route army stubbornly resisted, the great
benefits of equipment, supply, and quantity hadn't given any chance to Eighth
route army to fight back. Meanwhile, Chinese imperial army was making wicket
trade with Japanese imperial army.
The swift sunshine of early morning lighted
the dozen of exquisite teacups filled with oolong (a type of Chinese tea) on the
antique wooden table in a beautiful backyard.
“ 对于这件事，我军恐怕无法满足皇军的要求.” The man in Chinese imperial army suit
sitting on a small chair said to another man in Japanese imperial army suit calmly.
“He said, in this case, we may be unable to satisfy
your request.” After listening the man’s sentence, the little guy with glasses,
standing aside, slightly whispered to the man who wore Japanese imperial army
suit.
“Mr. Feng, I am not asking, if you refuse to
sign this treaty, our great imperial army will send more troops in Naji, I mean,
Nanjing.” Taking a mouthful of tea, the Japanese officer said calmly to the man
sitting toward him who wore in Chinese imperial army suit.
“冯先生，龟田大佐说他并没有在请求你，他说如果你拒绝签署这份条约的话，皇军将会派发更多的军队来南京.” The litter man standing beside the
Japanese officer transferred to the Chinese imperial officer.
After a few conversations, the Chinese officer
signed a paper, and went out of the yard hurriedly, and then the Japanese
officer walked inside the house form the yard.
The short man was called Xiayang, skinny and
short, with a pair of golden glasses, heave eyebrows on his thin emaciated
face, being thinly clad. He had been translator for 3 years since Japanese
imperial army invaded east of China. At that time he was 16 years old, and Japanese
officers broke into his home without a sign, killing all his families by gun
harshly. With the great talent of language, he became a translator working for
Japanese imperial army in order to survival. Now, he worked for colonel Kuitann
who treated Xiayang as his own son and Xiayang regarded Kuitann as the one of only
two people he could trust as well.
Another person Xiayang believed in was Heizi,
who was the only friend Xiayang had had since he was born in the beautiful and horrible
city, Nanjing. Heizi had dark skin like coal, and didn't like Xiayang; instead,
he was strong, tall and healthy.
“矮子，我来了！（Shorty, I’m coming!）” Heizi yelled at Xiayang loudly. Shorty, was the name
he used to call Xiayang.
He vigorously
punched the other kid who had just pushed Xiayang down to the ground and kicked
toward him. The kid didn't fight back but ran away instead. Heizi pulled
Xiayang up and said:” 下次他再抢你的糖我就打爆他。（next time I will struck him with my fist if he grabbed
you candy again）.”……..However, when Heizi learnt Xiayang
became a translator and worked for Japanese, Hezi started to hate Xiayang, despising
him and having never contacted to him again since then.(for the two paragraphs
they were in childhood. I just remind you as Im not sure if I describe clearly
enough. :D)
In fact, even though Nanjing had been
conquered by Japanese troops, most citizens still could live as usual. Xiayang
was on the street beside Kuitann going on patrol.
“Report, colonel Kuitann!” as soon as the
Japanese officer rushed to the front of Kuitann, he reported loudly.
“What is going on?”
“A male teenager has been caught by our
officers because he attempted to steal one of officers’ wallets. How do we deal
with this damn thief, colonel?”
“Let’s go check it out” Kuitann said to his
accompanies.
Xiayang went with Kuitann and his
accompanies, wondering who dared to steal officers’ wallet.
As they got there, to his surprised, Xiayang immediately
recognized the guy who had been captured was Heizi.
What the hell, what the hell is going on. At
this moment, Xiayang’s mind filled with question marks.
“黑子你怎么了？（what is happening Heizi?）” Xiayang said to Heizi anxiously.
“关你屁事，汉奸。（none of your business, you traitor!” Heizi roared
toward Xiayang,
“Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to!”
Kuitann yelled at Xiayang.
Xiayang shut his mouth as soon as Kuitann
spoke.
“Ask him why he stole Japanese officer’s wallet.”
Kuitann turned his tone to calm.
Xiayang translated to Heizi what exactly Kuitann
said, for he knew how smart Kuitann was. And frankly, Kuitann was a very kind
officer compared with other officers, because Heizi would have died undoubtedly
if switched to other officers.
“你告诉这鬼子，我这不是偷东西，是把他们从我们这抢的东西抢回来!(tell the nasty devil, this is not
stealing , I just get back things from them which were robbed by them !)” Heizi
yelled. Xiayang could tell he was not afraid of dead.
“Colonel Kuitann, he is saying that he has
been starving for 3 days, therefore he was too hungry to keep sober.” Xiayang
told Kuitann slightly.
Xiayang clearly knew Kuitann would kill Heizi
immediately as soon as he told Kuitann what Heizi really said. Being best
friend of him, Xiayang could not bear to see Heizi die in front of him.
“Ask him if he knows the result of stealing
Japanese imperial soldier’s property.” Kuitann said to Xiayang.
“龟田大佐很好的，你按我的要求做，别冲动，肯定没事的，黑子,相信我！(Listen, Heizi, Colonel Kuitann is good person, you do
what I ask you to do, you will be fine ! Trust me!)” Xiayang told Heizi
excitedly.
“算了吧，我不想让卖国贼救我，亏我曾经还把你当做我最好的兄弟， 汉--奸！（No thanks, I don't want be saved by a
traitor! It’s disgusting that I had once regarded you as my best brother, you
nasty damn traitor!）” Heizi roared loudly.
“Mr. Kuitann, he just said he felt so sorry
and shamed about what he has done, and hope you can forgi..”
“Stop lying! You little Pinocchio, you think I
don't know what you are thinking?” Kuitann sneered, and then said:” I treat you
not bad, don’t I?”
“Sorry Mr. Kuitann, I just..” Xiayang said flusteredly.
“Shut your mouth! I don’t need you explain! Today
you showed the disloyalty to me, to Japanese imperial army, probably you would
plan to kill me! I need you die here!” Kuitann roared crazily and took out his
pistol, pointing at Xiayang.
It seemed Kuitann would pull the trigger
immediately, however, to everybody surprised; Heizi suddenly got rid of the two
soldiersm, charging toward Kuitann fast.
“Peng!”
the extremely loud gunshot broke the sky, marking everyone silent in the
street.
“Hezi!!!” Xiayang yelled at Heizi who had a
bloody hole on his chest and fell down to the ground.
With the great deal of anger, Xiayang
suddenly pulled out a pistol form one soldiers’ belt and pulled the trigger of
the pistol toward Kuitann.
After shooting down Kuitann, Xiayang also hit
down to the ground by other soldiers.
On the ground, Xiayang lye weltering in
blood, said to Heizi slightly:
“我不是汉奸，我只是一个翻译官.(I am not a traitor, I am a translator.”.
