The introductions were made. Most of the guests were Japanese, and it was difficult for me to ask them just why we were gathered here. The few Americans and Germans seemed just as inhibited as I was. "Gentlemen," said the mayor, "I am happy to welcome you to Hiroshima."
到场的宾客们被互相介绍了一番。他们大多数都是日本人，我也不好开口去问为什么要请我们来这儿聚会。在场的少数几位美国人和德国人看来也同我一样有些局促不安。“先生们，”市长开言道，“我很高兴欢迎你们到广岛来。”
Everyone bowed, including the Westerners. After three days in Japan, the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.
大家都开始弯腰鞠躬，连在场的西方人也不例外。只要在日本呆上三天，人的脊椎骨就会变得特别地柔韧灵活。
"Gentlemen, it is a very great honor to have you here in Hiroshima."
“先生们，你们光临广岛是我们的极大荣幸。”
There were fresh bows, and the faces grew more and more serious each time the name Hiroshima was repeated.
大家又开始鞠躬。随着广岛这一名字的一次次重复，大家的面容变得越来越严肃起来。
"Hiroshima, as you know, is a city familiar to everyone,” continued the mayor.
“广岛，大家知道，是一座大家都很熟悉的城市，”市长接着说道。
"Yes, yes, of course,” murmured the company, more and more agitated.
“对，对，当然是这样，”在场的人们低声议论着，脸上的神色越来越不安起来。
"Seldom has a city gained such world renown, and I am proud and happy to welcome you to Hiroshima, a town known throughout the world for its-oysters".
“难得有个城市像广岛这样闻名遐迩。我既高兴而又自豪地欢迎诸位来到广岛。令广岛如此举世闻名的乃是它的--牡蛎。”
I was just about to make my little bow of assent, when the meaning of these last words sank in, jolting me out of my sad reverie .
我正准备点头对市长的话表示赞同，可就在这时，我突然听明白了刚才这句话末尾几个字的意义，我的头脑也就随之从忧愁伤感中清醒过来。
"Hiroshima-oysters? What about the bomb and the misery and humanity's most heinous crime?"
“广岛--牡蛎?怎么没提原子弹和这个城市所遭受的灾难以及人类有史以来犯下的最大的罪恶呢?”
While the mayor went on with his speech in praise of southern Japanese sea food, I cautiously backed away and headed toward the far side of the room, where a few men were talking among themselves and paying little attention to the mayor's speech.
市长还在继续演讲，一个劲儿赞美着日本南方的海味。我蹑手蹑脚地退到屋子的后边，那儿有几个人在开小会，没怎么理睬市长的演讲。
"You look puzzled," said a small Japanese man with very large eye-glasses.
“您看上去像是心中有什么疑惑未解似的，”一个身材矮小、戴着一副特大眼镜的日本人对我说道。
"Well, I must confess that I did not expect a speech about oysters here. I thought that Hiroshima still felt the impact of the atomic cataclysm ."
“不错，我得承认我真的没有料到在这儿会听到一番关于牡蛎的演说。我原以为广岛仍未摆脱原子弹灾祸的阴影。”