Chapter 9
Helen Sandberg stood up to welcome the American and British Ambassadors. The two men were very different. The American Ambassador was a short round man with a loud voice which Helen disliked very much. He often wore open-necked shirts, and he had a very hairy chest. She disliked that too. The British Ambassador - a tall thin Scotsman from Edinburgh - was always quiet, polite and well-dressed, but she did not always believe what he said. Once - a year ago - he had lied to her and she could never forget that. But most of all, she disliked them because they were both military men and their countries were much bigger than hers. They wanted military bases for their soldiers in her country and she did not want them.
‘So, gentlemen, what can I do for you?’
The American spoke first. ‘Well, ma’am, an American passenger is dead...’
‘Yes, I know. I am very sorry about that. I hope no more will die.’
‘I hope so too, ma’am. There are twenty-eight US passengers on that plane and my
Government wants to keep them alive.’
‘There are a hundred and seven passengers on that plane, Ambassador, and my
Government wants them all alive,’ Helen answered quietly. But the Ambassador did not listen.
‘So the US government is going to help you, ma’am. We have fifty US Marines at the US Embassy, and they can be here in one hour from now. Then they’ll just take that goddam plane apart.’
The Scotsman smiled. ‘Excuse me, Ambassador, but perhaps one hour from now will be too late. One man is already dead. But, er... perhaps you don’t know this, Prime Minister, but this week six SAS soldiers are visiting the British Embassy, and they’re waiting outside in my car now. These men know a lot about hijacks, much more than the US Marines, or probably than your own soldiers, Prime Minister. They know exactly what to do. So...’
‘Now just a moment!’ The American interrupted. ‘The US Marines are...’
‘Gentlemen!’ Helen’s clear, hard voice stopped them. ‘There’s no time to argue. Firstly, I didn’t know about the SAS soldiers in the British Embassy, and I am very surprised about it. Very surprised indeed, Ambassador. Secondly, I do not think it is a good idea to attack
a plane with a hundred and seven passengers in it, and “take it apart” as you say. I want these people to live, not die. So I thank you for ideas, but remember that this small country is ours, not yours. We will manage this problem in our own way, with our own people, thank you very much. Now you must excuse me, I am busy.’
At the door, the Scotsman turned back. ‘Prime Minister, I know you want to save lives,’ he said. ‘I understand that. But these hijackers must not go free. My Government does not want that. No Government in the world wants that.’
‘I know that, Ambassador,’ Helen answered quietly. ‘ I know that very well.’
As they went out, the phone rang. Michael picked it up. Helen sat down at the table and watched him. His face was very serious. He wrote on a piece of paper and then put the phone down. For a moment he did not look at her.
‘What is it, Michael? Tell me.’
‘It was a radio message from the plane, Prime Minister.’
‘Well? What did they say? Didn’t they want to talk to me?’
‘No, Prime Minister. Just the message. It says: “We love our brothers. We hope the Prime
Minister loves her husband. He is on the plane, just behind the door.”
บทที่ 9แซนด์เบิร์ก Helen ลุกขึ้นยืนต้อนรับอเมริกันและทูตอังกฤษ ชายสองคนแตกต่างกันมาก เอกอัครราชทูตอเมริกันถูกคนรอบสั้นเสียงดังซึ่งเฮเลนก่อนไม่ชอบมาก เขามักจะสวมเสื้อคอเปิด และเขามีหน้าอกมีขนดกมาก เธอก่อนไม่ชอบที่มากเกินไป เอกอัครราชทูตอังกฤษ -ที่สูงบาง Scotsman จากเอดินบะระ - เสมอเงียบ สุภาพ และแต่งตัวดี แต่เธอไม่เสมอเชื่อสิ่งที่เขากล่าวว่า การ กัน - มา - เขาได้โกหกเธอ และเธออาจไม่เคยลืม แต่ทั้งหมด เธอก่อนไม่ชอบพวกเขาเพราะทั้งทหารชายและประเทศของตนมากใหญ่กว่าเธอ พวกเขาต้องการฐานทหารสำหรับทหารของพวกเขาในประเทศของเธอ และเธอไม่ต้องให้'ดังนั้น สุภาพบุรุษ อะไรได้บ้างสำหรับคุณ'อเมริกันที่พูดก่อน ' ดี ma'am ผู้โดยสารอเมริกันจะตาย...'' ใช่ ฉันรู้ว่า ผมเสียใจมากที่ หวังว่าจะตายไม่ '' ฉันหวังดังเกินไป ma'am มียี่สิบแปดสหรัฐผู้โดยสารบนเครื่องบิน และของฉันรัฐบาลต้องการให้พวกเขามีชีวิตอยู่ '' มีร้อย และเจ็ดผู้โดยสารบนเครื่องบิน แอมบาสเดอร์ และของฉันรัฐบาลต้องการให้พวกเขายังมีชีวิตอยู่ เฮเลนตอบอย่างเงียบ ๆ เอกอัครราชทูตได้ฟังไม่ได้' ดังนั้นรัฐบาลจะช่วยให้คุณ ma'am เรามีห้าสิบเรานาวิกโยธินที่สถานทูต และพวกเขาสามารถได้ที่นี่ในหนึ่งชั่วโมงจากนี้ แล้วพวกเขาก็จะใช้เครื่องบินที่ goddam ออกจากกัน 'The Scotsman smiled. ‘Excuse me, Ambassador, but perhaps one hour from now will be too late. One man is already dead. But, er... perhaps you don’t know this, Prime Minister, but this week six SAS soldiers are visiting the British Embassy, and they’re waiting outside in my car now. These men know a lot about hijacks, much more than the US Marines, or probably than your own soldiers, Prime Minister. They know exactly what to do. So...’‘Now just a moment!’ The American interrupted. ‘The US Marines are...’‘Gentlemen!’ Helen’s clear, hard voice stopped them. ‘There’s no time to argue. Firstly, I didn’t know about the SAS soldiers in the British Embassy, and I am very surprised about it. Very surprised indeed, Ambassador. Secondly, I do not think it is a good idea to attacka plane with a hundred and seven passengers in it, and “take it apart” as you say. I want these people to live, not die. So I thank you for ideas, but remember that this small country is ours, not yours. We will manage this problem in our own way, with our own people, thank you very much. Now you must excuse me, I am busy.’At the door, the Scotsman turned back. ‘Prime Minister, I know you want to save lives,’ he said. ‘I understand that. But these hijackers must not go free. My Government does not want that. No Government in the world wants that.’‘I know that, Ambassador,’ Helen answered quietly. ‘ I know that very well.’As they went out, the phone rang. Michael picked it up. Helen sat down at the table and watched him. His face was very serious. He wrote on a piece of paper and then put the phone down. For a moment he did not look at her.‘What is it, Michael? Tell me.’‘It was a radio message from the plane, Prime Minister.’‘Well? What did they say? Didn’t they want to talk to me?’‘No, Prime Minister. Just the message. It says: “We love our brothers. We hope the PrimeMinister loves her husband. He is on the plane, just behind the door.”
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
