中英文本

I work in an assembly line in a car factory.
我在一家汽车厂的流水线上工作。
Most days, I just assemble car parts.
大多数时候，我只是组装汽车配件。
Occasionally, they’ll ask me to assay an unknown drugs substance.
有时，他们会让我化验某种不明药物。
Once in a while, I’ll be asked to assist with breaking up a fight.
有时，我又去帮忙劝架。
Assault is not common here.
这里很少有人身攻击。
But now and then, a frustrated worker will assail his assistant by casting aspersions on some aspect of the other’s work.
不过，时不时会有一名灰心丧气的工人抨击他的助手，就其工作的某方面进行诽谤。
I’m considered an asset in my company.
我被视为公司的宝贝。
But before 20 years ago, I was a different kind of asset to an entirely different type of company.
但20年前，我被另一家完全不同的公司视为另一种类型的宝贝。
They called it “the company” but it was really a secret government group trained to assassinate political leaders.
他们所谓的“公司”实际上是一个受过训练、专门暗杀政界领导人的秘密政府组织。
I never aspired to be an assassin.
我从未渴望做个刺客。
In fact, I was an aspiring chemist and a regular soldier in the army.
事实上，我是个有抱负的化学家，又是部队中的一名常备兵。
All I really wanted was to do something great or important for my country.
我的全部思想就是成就大事、为国效力。
But sometimes, having too great an aspiration can lead you astray.
但有时，理想过于远大只会将你引入歧途。
I still recall the day of the assembly.
我仍记得那天的集会。
It was a small gathering of highly skills people like me.
那是个小集会，与会者都是些像我这样的技术精湛的人员。
“The company” was assessing our abilities in the areas of weaponry and chemistry.
当时“公司”评估我们在武器和化学领域的才能。
I was a top chemist and a natural marksman, probably the best in my group.
我既是最优秀的化学家，又是天生的神枪手，很可能是我们小组中最棒的。
They ascribed my success to my steady hands and sharp eyes, the same tools I used for chemistry.
他们将我的成功归于我稳健的双手和敏锐的眼睛，这也是我搞化学时用的工具。
After the assembly, they gave us our assignments.
会后，“公司”给我们下达了任务。
I was assigned to assimilate into the mainstream society of a Latin American country.
我的任务是渗透进入一个拉美国家的主流社会。
It wasn’t long before I was doing things that I will forever be ashamed to admit.
不久，我就开始做些我永远耻于承认的事情。
It’s been over for about 15 years.
这一切已经过去15年了。
But I’ll never feel clean and I’ll never be able to assert that I have been a good man all my life.
但我将永远感到自己的肮脏，永远无法斩钉截铁地说我做了一辈子的好人。
词语解释

ascribe vt. 把….归于

aspect n.（问题等的）方面；（事物等的）一部分

aspersion n.诽谤，中伤

aspire vi.渴望

aspiring adj.有抱负的，有理想的，积极向上的

aspiration n.雄心，抱负

assail v.（身体上）攻击，（言语上）攻击，批评

assassin n.刺客

assassinate vt.暗杀，行刺

assault n.(武力上的)袭击；（口头上的）攻击

assay v.化验

assemble vt.集合，装配；vi.聚集

assembly n.集会；参加集会的人们（译成：。。。大会，。。。议会）；装配，安装

assembly line装配线，流水线

assert vt.声称，坚持，斩钉截铁地说

assess vt.估计，分析，评估

asset n. assests财产，资产；优势，重要的品质；宝贵（或有益）的人（或东西）

assignment n.任务，作业；分配

assimilate vt.学习，吸收（知识）；吃，吸收（食品或营养）

assist vt.援助，帮助

assistant n.助手，助教；adj.辅助的，助理的