# ■ 5 The adventure of the roadman

I sat down at the top of a hill and rested. Behind me was a road climbing out of a river valley. In front were two kilometres of flat open country. To the left and the right were green hills. A kilometre down the road behind me I could see the smoke from a small house，but otherwise there was no sign of human life. There were only the sounds of birds singing and water flowing.

It was now about seven o'clock in the morning，and as I waited，I heard the sound of an engine in the air. I realized that I was in a bad position， because I had nowhere to hide.

I sat，hopelessly，as the aeroplane came nearer. It was high at first，but then it came down very low. I could see one of the two men looking at me very carefully. Then，suddenly，it went up and disappeared.

I had to think quickly. My enemies had found me， so now，I supposed，they would put a circle of men around the hills. They had probably seen my bicycle，so they would expect me to try and escape by road. I found a small lake about a hundred metres from the road and threw the bicycle in. Then I climbed to a higher bit of ground and looked around.

There was nowhere to hide. The moor was open，but to me it was like a prison. I started to walk to the north， and as Iwalked，I saw a car about fifteen kilometres away on the road. And， in the valley below me，I could see a line of men walking slowly upwards. The north was no good. I turned，and began to run southwards. I ran hard， watching the skyline in front of me， and soon I thought I could see distant figures on the hill. I turned again and ran down to the road.

If you have enemies all around you， the best plan is to hide while they search and do not find you. But there was nothing to hide in， nothing but the moor，the heather， and the white road.

* * *

Then，in a bend in the road，I found the roadman. He had just started work mending the road， when he saw me.

I'm sorry I ever stopped farming！'he said. 'I was my own boss then. Now I have to do what the government orders， and I'm a prisoner here with aching eyes and a bad back. And my head's going to explode！'

He was about the same age as me， and wore big black glass-es. He started to work again，and then stopped.

I can't do it，'he cried. 'I'm going back to bed. '

I asked him what the problem was， although I could guess.

It was my daughter's wedding last night，so we were dancing and drinking until four o'clock in the morning. And the new Road Inspector is coming to visit today！ He'll comeand not find me，or he'll come and find me like this. Whatev-er happens， I'm finished. '

Then I had an idea. 'Does this new Inspector know you？'

No. He started last week. '

Where's your house？'He pointed to the small house I had seen before.

Well，go back to bed，'I said，'and sleep in peace. I'll do your job for the day and see the Inspector. '

He stared at me for a minute，then smiled.

You're the man for me！It's an easy job. 'He pointed to several big heaps of stones along the side of the road. 'Just put the stones down all along the edges of the road. My name's Alexander Turnbull，but my friends call me Ecky. If you speak to the Inspector politely，he'll be happy. I'll come back at five o'clock. '

I borrowed his glassed and a very dirty hat and gave him my good clothes. I also borrowed a very old pipe. My new friend walked off slowly to his bed. I hoped he would be inside his house when my enemies arrived.

I put as much dirt as possible on my face， hands and clothes， and rubbed some into my eyes to make them red. My boots did not look like a workman's boots，so I kicked them against the rocks to make them look older. The roadman had left his sandwiches and I was happy to eat some of them. There was still nothing moving on the road when I started work.

After some time I was getting hot， and I was beginning to count the hours until evening， when I heard a voice，and saw a young man in a small car looking at me.

Are you Alexander Turnbull？'he said. ' I'm the new Road Inspector. You're doing these edges well，but there's a soft place about a kilometre down the hill. Don't forget that， will you？ Good day now. '

Clearly，the Inspector thought I was the roadman. As time passed，one or two other cars came along the road，and I bought some biscuits from a travelling shop. Finally，a big car stopped and two men got out and walked towards me. I had seen them before-from the window of the hotel. The fatter of the two looked at me with sharp bright eyes.

Good morning，'he said. 'That's an easy job you've got there. '

There are worse jobs and there are btter jobs，'I said. I spoke in Alexander Turnbull's strong Scottish accent.

The other man was looking at my boots. 'You've very fine boots. Were they made near here？'

Oh no， the were made in London. I was given them by a man who was here on holiday last year. '

The fatter man spoke to the other in German. 'Let's move on. This man can't help us. '

They did ask one more question.

Did you see anyone pass early this morning？Either on a bi－cycle or on foot？'

I pretended to think carefully.

I wasn't up very early. You see，my daughter got married yesterday and I went to bed late. I looked out of the house at seven and there was nobody on the road. And I've seen no bicycles this morning. '

The thin man gave me a cigar，which I smelt and then put in my pocket. Then they got into the car and were soon out of sight.

I continued to work on the road， and I was right to do so. Ten minutes later they passed again， watching me carefully.

I hoped Mr Turnbull would stay in bed and I began to won－der what to do next. I couldn't mend roads for ever.

Just before five o'clock an open touring car came up the road，and stopped a few metres from me. The driver wanted to light a cigarette， and， by an extraordinary chance， I knew him. His name was Marmaduke Jopley and he was a man I disliked very much. He was only interested in people with money，and in visiting people who lived in beautiful houses in the country. I ran up to the car and took his arm.

Hallo，Jopley. '

His mouth opened wide as he looked at me. 'Who are you？'

My name's Hannay，'I said. 'You remember me. '

The murderer！'he cried.

Yes. And there'll be another murder if you don't help me. Give me your coat and hat. '

He did what I asked. He was very frightened. I put his coat and hat on，and put Mr Turnbull's hat on Jopley's head. I got in the car and started it.

Now， my friend，'I sald，'you sit quietly and be a good boy. I'm going to borrow your car for an hour or two. '

I enjoyed the drive we had that evening. As we drove through the valley， I noticed some men beside the road， but they didn't look at us. I drove on into the hills and as it start－ed to get dark， I turned up a small road and stopped in the middle of a lonely moor. I returned the hat and coat to Jopley.

Thank you very much，' I sald. 'You can be quite useful. Now you'd better go and find the police. '

As I sat on the moor and watched the car's lights disappear，I thought about my new life as a criminal. I was not a murder－er， but I had developed a habit of stealing expensive cars.

■ 5 修路人的奇遇

我坐在小山頂上休息。身後的道路從河谷爬上高原。眼前是兩公里的開闊地。左右則是青山。後面沿路一公里處，可以看到一間小屋冒出的炊煙，此外再也看不到人煙。只聽到鳥聲呢喃和流水潺潺。

現在大約是早晨七點鐘，我正在等待，突然聽到發動機的聲音。我發覺處境不妙，因為我無處藏身。

飛機越來越近，我無可奈何地坐在那兒。它開始飛得很高，後來飛低了。我可以看見兩人中有一個仔細地打量著我。後來，突然又高飛遠去了。

我要趕快想辦法。敵人已經發現了我，所以我估計他們會派人包圍這塊山地。可能他們已經發現了我的自行車，估計我會順道路拼命逃跑。距路大約一百米處有一汪小湖，我把自行車扔下去。然後又爬到一塊高地，向四周瞭望。

沒地方可躲。荒原非常開闊，但對我來說無異於監獄。我向北走，走著走著看見路上大約十五公里開外有一輛汽車。在腳下的峽谷裡可以看到一行人慢慢向山上爬來。北邊不行。我轉身開始向南。我望著前面的天邊；使勁跑著，不一會兒，我覺得可以看清山上的人影了。我再折身奔向大路。

假如敵人包圍了你，最好的辦法是在他們搜你而不可得的時候藏著別動。然而這裡卻無處藏身，除了荒原、石楠叢和白色的道路外什麼都沒有。

後來，在拐彎處我見到那個修路人。我看見他的時候，他剛開始幹活。

“我真後悔我怎麼不種地了！”他說。“那麼著我自己管自己。可現在政府叫我幹什麼就得幹什麼，搞得眼疼腰痠，整個是罪犯。我的頭快要裂了！”

他和我年紀相仿，戴著墨鏡。他幹起活來，然後又停下手。

“我幹不了，”他喊道。“回家睡覺去。”

我一猜便知，但還是問他是怎麼回事。

“昨天晚上是我女兒的婚宴，所以我們喝酒、跳舞一直到早晨四點。可今天新的道路視察員要來視察！要麼他來了找不到我，要麼來了看到我像現在這個樣子。無論如何，我算完了。”

當時我心生一計。“這個新視察員認識您嗎？”

“不認識。他上週才來的。”

“您家在哪兒？”他指了指我剛才看到的那所小房子。

“好了，回家安心睡覺去吧。”我說，“今天我替您幹活，替您見視察員。”他盯了我一會兒，然後笑了。

“您可救了我了！這個活不難幹。”他指了指沿路邊的幾堆石頭。“把這些石頭都順著路邊倒下去就行了。我叫亞歷山大·特恩布爾，朋友們都叫我艾可。您說話要是客客氣氣，視察員會高興的。五點鐘我回來。”

我把他的眼鏡和髒衣服借來，把我的好衣服給他。又把舊菸斗借來。我這位新朋友慢慢騰騰地離開，回家睡覺去了。但願我的敵人來的時候他在家裡別出來。

我往臉上、手上、衣服上使勁抹土，並且把土揉進眼裡使眼睛發紅。我的靴子看著不像工人的，因此我使勁往石頭上踢，以便變舊一點。修路工把他的三明治留下了，我很高興地吃了點。開始工作了，路上仍然沒有什麼動靜。

過了一會兒，我覺得越來越熱，開始一小時一小時地數時間，直到傍晚，這時突然聽到聲音，看到小汽車裡坐著個年輕人正在看著我。

“您是亞歷山大·特恩布爾嗎？”他問我。“我是道路視察員。這些路沿，您修得很好，不過山下大約一公里處有個地方泛鬆。別忘了修一修，好不好？再見吧。”

顯而易見，這位視察員把我當作那個修路工了。時間一點點過著，一兩輛汽車在路上駛過，我又從流動商店裡買了點餅乾。最後一輛大卡車停下來，跳下兩個人向我走來。以前我見過他們——從旅店的窗戶裡。那個胖點的瞪著一雙犀利而明亮的眼睛望著我。

“早晨好，”他說。“您在這兒找了份兒輕閒差事啊。”

“有些事差點，有些事好點，”我回答。我說話帶著亞歷山大·特恩布爾的濃重蘇格蘭口音。

另外一個人則看著我的靴子。“您的靴子可不錯。是附近做的嗎？”

“啊，不是，是倫敦做的。這是去年有個人在這裡度假，他給我的。”

胖點的用德語和另一個交談。“我們走吧。這個人沒用。”

他們又問了一個問題。

“今天早晨您看見什麼人在這兒經過嗎？或者騎車或者步行？”

我裝作認真思考的樣子。

“我今天起得不太早。您不知道，我女兒昨天結婚，我睡遲了。七點鐘時我朝外邊看了看，路上沒人。整個上午也沒見到自行車。”

那個瘦點的給了我一枝雪茄，我聞了聞就放進口袋。後來他們跳上汽車，很快就沒影了。

我接著修路，這算是做對了。十分鐘後他們又回來，仔細打量著我。

但願特恩布爾先生還睡著，同時我開始思考下一步該怎麼辦。不能總是修路啊。

五點差一點兒，一輛敞篷旅遊車開過來，停在離我幾米的地方。司機想吸菸，巧得很，我認識他。他叫馬默杜克·喬普利，這個人我非常討厭。他的心思都用在有錢人身上，用在拜訪住在鄉間明屋廣廈的主兒身上了。我跑向汽車，拉住他的胳膊。

“你好，喬普利。”

他張著嘴，看著我。“您是誰呀？”

“我叫哈內，”我說。“您記得吧？”

“殺人犯！”他叫了起來。

“不錯。要是您不幫忙，還會有另一起謀殺。把您的外衣和帽子給我。”

他遵命了。他給嚇壞了。我穿上他的外衣，戴上他的帽子，再把特恩布爾的帽子戴在喬普利頭上。我跳上汽車，打著了火。

“聽著，朋友，”我說，“您坐在這兒別出聲，表現好點。把車借給我一兩個小時。”

那天晚上我開著車，覺得很美。我們開車通過峽谷時，我發現路邊有幾個人，但他們沒留意我們。我一直開到山裡，天剛黑的時候，拐上一條小路，車停在荒涼的原野中央。我把帽子和外衣還給了喬普利。

“非常感謝，”我說。“想不到你也能派上大用場。你最好快走去找警察吧。”

我坐在荒原上，望著車燈光逐漸消逝，想著當罪犯的嶄新生涯。我本不是殺人犯，可是已經養成了偷好車的習慣。