Although the first American troops had arrived in Britain early in 1942, it was the stream of war materials, tanks and aircraft in particular, that alone could make the reconquest of western Europe conceivable.
虽然第一批美国部队在1942年初就已经到达英国，包括物资，坦克，特别是飞机，但这些仅够维持西欧战场。
That stream had to face the Atlantic U-boat fleet, which by October amounted to 196 in number.
他们现在要面对的是大西洋的U型潜艇，其数量已经在10月时增长到196艘了，
Since 1940 the numbers had trebled, and the sinkings had trebled too.
这是1940年的3倍，相应地，造成的损失也变成了3倍。
the U-boats were now accounting for over half the merchant fleet required to supply Britain within a year.
U型潜艇使英国在一年内损失了超过一半的商船。
The revived American shipyards were turning out new vessels at top speed, only to have each sunk after three or so ocean voyages.
尽管美国正在以全速制造新的舰船，但是基本上每艘出航三次左右就会被击沉，
But now the United States had its own pressing demands in the Pacific.
而且美国现在还要顾及自己在太平洋的需求。
The total Allied stock of shipping was actually declining, while the number of U-boats was increasing: there would be 212 at the end of 1942, with another 181 on trial.
同盟国的船只储量实际上在减少，而德国的潜艇却在增加，到1942年底增加到212艘，另外还有181艘在试航。
Fast approaching was the crisis of the western war.
西部战线的危机迅速蔓延，
Though more diffuse a crisis than that of the air war of September 1940, it likewise stood to see a make-or-break resolution.
虽然这比1940年9月的空战更难熬，但同样存在着孤注一掷的解决方案。
Ten years earlier, Alan had conceived a model of action: 'We have a will which is able to determine the actions of the atoms probably in a small portion of the brain... The rest of the body acts so as to amplify this.'
十年前，艾伦曾经设想："我们有意识，意识能够决定大脑中一部分原子的行动……身体的其它部分，则是增强这种行动。"
Now he was one of the clustered nerve-cells, and around him a colossal system which had translated his ideas into concrete form:
现在，他就是英国大脑的一个细胞，他有一个巨大的身驱，可以把他的想法，落实到实际的行动中。
a British brain, an electric brain of relays clicking through the contradictions, perhaps the most complex logical system ever devised.
英国的大脑，就是这些由继电器组成的电子大脑，这也许是人类历史上最复杂的逻辑系统。
Meanwhile the two years of the reprieve had rendered the rest of the body more prepared and coordinated to use its intelligence.
与此同时，两年的短暂休息，已经使身体的其它部分做好了更充分的准备来运用智力。
In the Middle East it was amplifying the dim Morse signals into the sinking of Rommel's army.
在中东，它通过微弱的摩尔斯信号，使隆美尔的军队慢慢软弱。
But the Atlantic was different; here Eisenhower and Marshall might be cut off on a far greater scale than Rommel unless the brain could awaken into life again.
但是大西洋战场不一样，艾森豪威尔和马歇尔在这里遇到的挫折，比隆美尔还要严重，除非英国的大脑能够再次苏醒。