然而，这件事传到克莱门特那里却是另外一种反应。虽然，克莱门特对老爷子的举动感到不可思议，但是，他还是想找一个私人侦探去查查虚实。当今世界，人体器官移植早已不是什么新鲜事，不过还没有听说大脑可以移植的。实际上这不大可能，单单是大脑联接身体的几百万条神经纤维，就足以让有这种想法的人们望而生畏。从另一方面来说，电影片子可以倒过来放，但是人体的生长却不能。即使你有天大的本事，可以修改所有的基因信息，你也不能让一个老年人渐渐“长”成一个受精卵。想到这儿，克莱门特耸起肩膀摇摇头。

随着时间的逝去，大伙儿渐渐习惯了，不论沃德先生再怎么说，人们也见怪不怪了。

chapter 2 Thomas Ward （B）

However, the matter spread to Clement there was another kind of reaction. Although dad's move which Clement felt incredible, he still wants to find a private detective to check the actual situation. In today's world, human organs for transplants already weren’t new thing, but had not heard the brain could be transplanted. In fact this was unlikely, just to connect the several millions of nerve fibers that connecting the body and brain were enough to make people give up the idea. On the other hand, movie can be reversed to show, but the growth of the human body cannot. Even if you had great ability, could modify all the genetic information, you couldn't also let an old man was to retrogress into a fertilized egg. Clement had thought of here, after he shrugged and shook his head.

With time passing, the everybody getting used to, no matter how much Mr Ward said, people didn't feel strange.

直到大约两天前，托马斯·沃德突然失踪了，就连沃德太太也不知情。经过查证，无论国内国外，该问的地方都问了，哪儿都没有他的踪影。于是，路易丝连忙叫女仆打电话通知了几个孩子，这使得一家大小十分着急。

克莱门特放下公司的事务带着女儿埃米莉赶到了父亲的庄园——奥特明。见过路易丝以后，他找到了老管家詹姆斯·费尔。他问道：“费尔先生，听母亲说，你知道我爸爸的去向，是这样吗？”

“不完全是这样，”费尔说，“等你们全家都到齐了，我会按照沃德先生的意思给你们一个满意的答复。”

詹姆斯·费尔自打还年轻的时候起，就开始在沃德家服务了。他了解自己的主人，主人也十分信任他。尽管克莱门特对他一向很讨厌，却也无可奈何。

Until about two days ago, Thomas Ward suddenly disappeared, also even Mrs Ward didn't know the truth. After verification, at home and abroad should look for the place looked for it all, and all the places where no sight of him. So Louise hurriedly called the maid to call several children, also it made the whole family very worried.

Clement putting down the company's affairs with daughter Emily arrived his father's luxury Villa Autumn. After they met with Louise, he found the housekeeper James Fair. He asked: ’Mr Fair, as my mother said what you know my dad where he went to, is this so?’

‘Not exactly,’ Fair said, ‘such as you and your family all here, I'll accord to of Mr Ward’s mean to give you a satisfactory answer.’

From the beginning, James Fair had serviced in the Ward home when he was young. He knew his own master, and the master also most trusted him. Although Clement had always hated to him then also helpless.

这时，站在客厅里的人们隐隐约约已经能听到喇叭的声音，不用说，这一定是琳达和文森特来了。当一家人都到齐了，费尔清清嗓子开始讲述事情的原委。

“情况是这样的，沃德老爷打算用一个月左右的时间外出旅游，由男仆史蒂文斯和护士玛丽亚小姐一同前往。在他离开之前，沃德老爷吩咐不要惊动其它任何人；至于到哪儿去，他也没有说。我试图了解他的去向，但是没有结果。除此之外，他要求我当着你们所有人的面，把这个东西交出来。”说完，费尔把一片光碟交给了克莱门特。

At this time, the people who standing in the living room had heard a faint car horns, needless to say, it must be Linda and Vincent. When the family all here, Fair cleared his throat began to tell why.

‘This is the situation of, the Ward master plans to use a month or so of time traveling, the footman Stevens and nurses fraulein Maria going together. Before Ward sir left, he commanded what didn't disturb anyone else, as to where to go, but he didn't say. I tried to understand where he would go, but no results. In addition he asked me in front of whole you to show the CD.’ Fair said and took a slice of CD to Clement.

这一行人转而走进了沃德先生的书房，琳达和埃米莉扶着沃德太太走在后面。书房宽大而整洁，半透明的薄纱遮去了窗外的强光，恰到好处。宽大的书桌上放着一台电脑，克莱门特打开电源，把光碟塞进机器，调试片刻之后，二十一英寸的彩色显示器上露出了托马斯·沃德先生的身影。

This line who they turned into the study of Mr Ward, Linda and Emily holding Mrs Ward walked behind. Study was wide and clean, and translucent gauze shortened the light of outside window, just right. There was a computer on the wide desk, Clement turned on the power, giving the disc into the machine, debugging after a few moments, the 21 inches color display showed the figure of Mr Thomas Ward.

“亲爱的路易丝，”这个影子开始说话了，“原谅我不辞而别；我主要是怕你担心，怕你阻拦，我想以后你会理解的。

“亲爱的路易丝和孩子们，我等待已久的时刻到了，从两个月以前我就盼望着这一天的到来。事情的原由是这样的：

‘Dear Louise,’ the shadow started to speak, ‘forgive me to take the French leave, I am afraid of you worry, afraid you intercept, I think you will understand later.

‘Dear Louise and the kids, The moment that I've been waiting for a long time is to arrive, from two months ago I was looking forward to this day. What reason is this?

“七年前，我的朋友马尔科姆先生有一天突然问我，一个人活一辈子够不够？我说，不够，不够。可不够又能怎么样呢？随后他又问我，是不是还想再活一辈子？我当时以为他在开玩笑。然而他说，你听说过中国古代神话，嫦娥奔月的故事吗？嫦娥偷吃了羿的仙药，独自一人飞往月宫，过着仙人般的生活。地球上的人类飞往月球，这在过去是可望不可及的事，而今，美国阿波罗载人太空船登上了月球，神话已经变成了现实。人类科学技术的发展日新月异，许多过去办不到的事，今天都已变成了现实。

‘Seven years ago, one day my friend Mr Malcolm suddenly asked me what the time of a lifetime for people to live, is it enough? I said that it was not enough. But not enough, what can you do? Then he asked me again, do you want to start all over again? I thought he was joking. However, he said, have you ever heard of the Chinese ancient myth, the story of Chang E? The goddess of the moon secretly ate as the elixir of Yi and alone flew to the moon palace living a life of fairy. Humans who on earth flew to the moon, it could not reach in the past, but now, the U.S. Apollo manned spacecraft had got up on the moon, the myth had become a reality. The development of human science and technology changed with each passing day, many impossible things in the past, had become a reality today.

“于是，我又问他，你的意思是说可以长生不死了？

“他告诉我，这不是不可能的。他向我讲述了一个从事生物研究的试验室，以及他们关于人类大脑及神经系统的最新研究成果。那些研究显示，他们已经找到了长生不老的途径，并且正在向前摸索。

“我答应，一旦他们的研究趋于成熟、完善、可以面向市场时，我将在第一时间里购买他们的产品。

‘So I asked him again：Do you mean of living forever?

‘He told me that it's not impossible. He told me about an engaged in biological research laboratories, and on latest research achievements of the human brain and nervous system. The research shows that they have found ways to live forever is groping forward.

‘I promise what once their research tending to be more mature and perfect, can be satisfied by the needs of the market, I will buy their products in the first time.

“近些年来，我的手脚越来越不灵便，不用手杖几乎难以行动；消化不好，肚子里的食物总是下不去；心脏也有问题，节律性越来越差；肾脏更糟糕，每过一段时间就得去‘洗肾’。而且我的私人医生向我暗示，在不长的时间里我可能还要罹患呆老症。我感到我的路怕是走到头了。我甚至没有时间继续等待下去。

"In recent years, my hands and feet more and more ineffective, hard action without a cane, digestion is not good, the food in the stomach always stagnation and doesn't leave, the heart also has a problem of the rhythm getting worse, kidney much worse, every after in a while must have a kidney filtration. And my personal doctor suggested to me that I maybe in no long time falling alzheimer's. I feel my way even to end. I even have no time to wait.

“正当我无可奈何地面对未来时，就在两个月前 ,马尔科姆先生给我带来了一个好消息，那个生物试验室在这个研究项目中获得了成功，这使我重新振作起来。

“几天前，马尔科姆先生通知我到他那里去。于是，我悄悄地安排了这次旅行。请你们不要责怪詹姆斯，是我让他保守秘密的。也许你们会责怪我，临走之前为什么不打个招呼？这是因为，我不愿意让那种生离死别的场面破坏我的情绪。我坚信，我一定会重新回到你们身边。

‘When I was helpless to face the future, just two months ago, Mr Malcolm brings me a good news, the biological laboratory succeeded in this research project, which made me cheer up.

‘A few days ago, Mr Malcolm told me to go to him. Then I quietly arranged the trip. Please don't blame James. I asked him to keep a secret. Maybe you will blame me, before leaving why not say hello? This is on account of that I don't want to let the scene of part for ever to destroy my mood. I firmly believe that I will back to your side.

“亲爱的路易丝，请不要为我担心。正如前面说过的那样，我的身体已经使用了八十五年，几乎所有的另件均已老旧不堪，现在有一条捷径可以一劳永逸，我为什么不去试试呢？因此，我认为我没有理由在高科技面前畏缩不前。况且，我已经为此预付了一笔数目不小的订金。

‘Please don't worry about me, dear Louise. As said earlier, the body of mine has been used for eighty-five years, almost all the parts have been old, now there is a shortcut that can once and for all, why don't I try? Therefore, I think I have no reason to cringe on front of high-tech. Besides, I have prepaid a lot of deposits.

“当你们看到这段录相时，我，作为你们熟悉的老托马斯·沃德，已经走上了一条不归路，但是这不是永别，我将以另外一种形象回到你们身边。说实在的，我现在和你们大家一样讨厌这个走路摇摇晃晃，说话颠三倒四的老家伙，早就想和他说拜拜了。”

‘When you see this video, I, as you are familiar of old Thomas Ward, have been on a road of no return, but that is not farewell, I will take another image back to you. To be honest, now I like all of you hate the old guy who walking wobbles, and talking upsets, had long wanted saying goodbye with him.’

看到这儿，所有的观众都目瞪口呆了。这大约是他们第一次看到威严的沃德先生当众说自己的坏话，要不是亲眼所见，谁也不会相信有这样的事。只有路易丝一个人流着眼泪说：“亲爱的，别这么说，我爱你！”当然，这句话托马斯·沃德没听见，他继续在显示器里用他的大舌头发表着演说。

“根据马尔科姆先生的承诺，我将变成一个六岁的男童回到你们中间，完全与我幼年时一样，并在这个基础上慢慢长大。这一点使我很感兴趣，于是，我收集了我在四岁到二十岁之间拍摄的各种生活照片。你们可以在书桌上看到这本彩色封面的相册。

To see there, all the audience were dumbfounded. This was about the first time what they saw the majesty of Mr Ward spoke ill of himself in public, if they weren't to see, nobody would believe there was such a thing. Only Louise streamed tears and said: ‘Don't say so my dear, I love you!’ Of course Thomas Ward didn't hear the words, so he went on display in the speech with his lisper of big tongue.

‘According to Mr Malcolm's promise, I will become a six-year-old boy back in among you, same to when I was young, and it will slowly grow up on this basis. It makes me very interested, so I have collected pictures that I take of all kinds of life what between four and twenty years old. You can see the album that covers in the color is on the desk.

“我将于一个月后，也就是下个月的二十二日正午十二点以前赶回奥特明。万一，二十二日这天我赶不回来，又没有任何电话说明，那么，我可能就回不来了。如果是这样，亲爱的，你们也不必难过，存放于银行保险柜里的遗嘱将开始执行。

愿上帝保佑我们大家。

再见”

电脑显示器上的影子渐渐消失了，转而传出了优美的旋律。郁郁葱葱的山林，河谷，平原，慢慢地推向人们的眼前。

‘I will be after a month, that is next month back to Autumn before twelve o'clock noon on twenty second. If the day of twenty second I won't come back, and not any phone, so I might not come back. If so, my dear, you also need not sad, the testament that it deposited in the safe of the bank will start to execute.

May God bless us all.

Goodbye."

The shadow gradually disappeared on the computer monitor, turned to a beautiful melody. The lush mountain forests, river valleys, plains, slowly into people's eyes.

一段时间的沉默之后，有人开始说话了。

“这太荒唐了！”克莱门特大声地嚷着，“怎么也不和我们商量商量。”

“他说他要变成一个六岁的孩子，这可能吗？”文森特忧心忡忡地说。

琳达皱着眉头没说话。

After a period of silence, people began to speak.

‘This is ridiculous!’ Clement loudly shouts, ‘Why doesn't consult with us.’

‘He said that he would become a six-year-old child, is that possible?’ Vincent said and laden with anxiety.

Linda didn't speak with a frown.

路易丝感到头很痛，她正使劲掐着自己的太阳穴。

“我很担心，他是不是被坏人骗了？”克莱门特说。

琳达问道：“你觉得问题严重吗？”

“很难说，”克莱门特说，“从表面上来看，他是完全自愿地安排了一切，但是，这个世界上丑恶的东西实在太多了，不排除有人诱拐了他。”

“这一点是否成立还是个问号，到现在为止，我们还没有接到任何勒索电话。”文森特说。

Louise felt head very paining, and clenched her temples.

‘I'm worried about, whether or not he was misled by evildoer?’ Clement said.

Linda asked: ‘What do you think the problem seriously?’

‘It is hard to say,’ Clement said, ‘on the face of it, he is entirely voluntarily arranged everything, however, there are too many ugly things in the world, does not exclude out someone kidnapped him.’

"This is still a question mark, up to now, we haven't received any blackmail phone.’ Vincent said.

“他不是说，他将以一个六岁的男孩儿回来吗？是不是存在这样的可能：有人把他绑架以后，逼他说出许多内情，然后找一个与他幼年时相象的男孩子，并且训练这个冒牌货来欺骗社会和我们全家，他们的目的当然只有一个——抢劫我们家族的财产。”

‘He said that he will come back as a six-year-old boy, isn’t it? If there are possible what after someone kidnapped him to make him say some things of inside, and then find a young boy very alike, and training the shamer to deceive the society and our family, their purpose there is only one that to rob our family's property.’

“我怎么劝他都不听，固执己见非要一条道走到黑，现在可怎么办呢？”路易丝抽泣起来。

“看来我们得报警了。”克莱门特说。

“报警？”文森特摇摇头说，“说他被绑架吗？没有任何证据支持这种猜想，警察看了这段录象会怎么说。”

‘He was regardless how I persuade him would not listen to me, opinionated a road walk to black, now can I do?’ Louise said with crying.

‘It seems that we have to call the police.’ Clement said.

‘Call the police?’ Vincent shook his head and said, ‘Said of was he kidnapped? There is no evidence to support this hypothesis, what the police will say after saw the video.’

“我只是担心，报警会不会对爸爸的安全造成危害。”琳达说。

“奶奶，别哭了。”克莱门特的女儿埃米莉也在一旁安慰道，“这件事没那么简单，爷爷不是说下个月二十二号回来吗？再说他的身边还有史蒂文斯和玛丽亚呢！我觉得还是等到那天看看情况再说。”

“我同意这个看法。”琳达附和说。

‘I just worry that to call police what if it would harm father’s safety.’ Linda said.

‘Don't cry, Grandma.’ Clement's daughter Emily comforted, ‘It's not simple, grandpa said he will come back again on the day of twenty second next month, isn’t it? Besides, his side and Stevens and Maria! I feel that or to wait to see what thing will happen on that day.’

‘I approve of this view.’ Linda said.

“无论如何，二十二号走进奥特明庄园的如果是个孩子，那就决不是我们的父亲。”克莱门特加重语气说道。

“我想这事不可能发生，别杞人忧天了，”文森特说，“一个孩子怎么可能做我们这些大人的父亲呢？”

对此，大家没有不同意见。看来，有些事情光着急是不能解决问题的，还是需要时间来等待。

‘Anyway, on the day of twenty second who enters the Villa Autumn if it is a child, He must not our father.’ Clement said firmly.

‘I think that it can't happen, don't be alarmist,’ Vincent said, ‘how can a child to bear our father?’

To this, people didn't have different opinions. It could not solve the problem that just in a hurry, or it still needed time to wait.