The Grandfather Who Vanished
他八岁那年的夏天，爷爷走出家门，再也没有回来。
He eight age that year (POSS) summer, grandpa walk-out home-door, again also not have return-come.
The summer he was eight, his grandfather walked out of the house and never came back.
起初，家里人以为爷爷出门散步，会自己回来。
Initially, home people think grandpa exit-door stroll, will self return-come.
At first, the family thought he had gone for a walk and would be back on his own.
一周过去，没有消息。
One week pass-go, not have news.
A week passed without word.
一个月过去，奶奶开始夜里偷偷流泪。
One (M) month pass-go, grandma begin night inside secretly-secretly flow-tear.
After a month, his grandmother began to weep secretly at night.
一年过去，他们终于不再等他回家吃晚饭。
One year pass-go, they finally not again wait him return-home eat evening-meal.
After a year, they stopped setting a place for him at dinner.
周明远——也就是那个八岁的孩子——长大、上学、工作、自己也做了父亲。
Zhou-Ming-Yuan — also is that (M) eight age (POSS) child — grow-big, attend-school, work, self also become (PERF) father.
Zhou Mingyuan — that eight-year-old boy — grew up, went to school, worked, became a father himself.
时间一点点把那件事推到记忆的角落里。
Time one-bit one-bit (BA) that (M) matter push-arrive memory (POSS) corner inside.
Time pushed the whole thing, slowly, into a corner of memory.
他偶尔会想起爷爷的样子：高高的，瘦瘦的，喜欢戴一顶旧帽子。
He occasionally will think-up grandpa (POSS) appearance: tall-tall (POSS), thin-thin (POSS), like wear one (M) old hat.
Now and then he remembered his grandfather: tall, thin, always in an old hat.
他从来没有恨他，也不知道该不该恨他。
He from-come not have hate him, also not know should not should hate him.
He had never hated him, and never quite known if he should.
四十五年以后，那个夏天又来了。
Forty-five year after, that (M) summer again come (PERF).
Forty-five years later, that summer came again.
他已经五十三岁，比当年爷爷离开时还要大。
He already fifty-three age, compare back-then grandpa leave time still want big.
He was fifty-three — older now than his grandfather had been when he left.
一个周日的下午，他正在家里看书。
One (M) Sunday (POSS) afternoon, he just (CONT) home inside read book.
One Sunday afternoon, he was at home reading.
外面下着小雨。门外有人敲门。
Outside fall (CONT) small rain. Door-outside have person knock door.
Outside, a light rain was falling. Someone knocked at the door.
他打开门，看见一个非常老的男人，穿着湿了的外套，提着一个旧布袋。
He open door, see one (M) very old (POSS) man, wear (CONT) wet (PERF) (POSS) coat, lift (CONT) one (M) old cloth-bag.
He opened it, and saw a very old man, his coat damp, an old cloth bag in his hand.
他不认识这个人。
He not recognize this (M) person.
He didn't recognize him.
可那个人看了他一眼，眼里慢慢出现了一种小孩才会有的怕。
But that (M) person look (PERF) him one eye, eye inside slowly appear (PERF) one (M) small-child only will have (POSS) fear.
But the old man looked at him, and a fear came into his eyes that only a small child should have.
“明远，”老人说，“是我。”
"Ming-Yuan," old-person say, "is me."
"Mingyuan," the old man said. "It's me."
周明远站在门口，半天没动。
Zhou-Ming-Yuan stand at door-opening, half-day not move.
Zhou Mingyuan stood in the doorway. For a long time he didn't move.
“你回去吧。”他听见自己说。
"You return-go (SUGG)." He hear-arrive self speak.
"You should go," he heard himself say.
可是话说出口，他又没动。门也没关上。
But word speak-out mouth, he again not move. Door also not close-up.
But the words went out, and still he did not move. He did not close the door.
老人也没动。雨打在他的肩上。
Old-person also not move. Rain hit at his (POSS) shoulder on.
The old man did not move either. The rain was striking his shoulders.
过了很久，周明远侧了侧身，让出路。
Pass (PERF) very long, Zhou-Ming-Yuan side (PERF) side body, let-out road.
After a long while, Zhou Mingyuan stepped aside to let him in.
“进来。”
"Enter-come."
"Come in."
客厅里，他给老人倒了一杯热水，自己坐在另一边的椅子上。
Guest-hall inside, he for old-person pour (PERF) one cup hot water, self sit at another-side (POSS) chair on.
In the living room, he poured the old man a cup of hot water and sat across from him.
他没叫他爷爷。他也不知道现在能叫他什么。
He not call him grandpa. He also not know now can call him what.
He didn't call him Grandfather. He didn't know what he could call him now.
老人看着自己的手，手在抖。
Old-person look (CONT) self (POSS) hand, hand at tremble.
The old man stared at his hands. They were trembling.
“你想说什么？”周明远问，声音平平的。
"You want speak what?" Zhou-Ming-Yuan ask, voice flat-flat (POSS).
"What do you want to say?" Zhou Mingyuan asked, his voice level.
老人开了几次口，又闭上。最后他说：
Old-person open (PERF) several time mouth, again close-up. Last he say:
The old man opened his mouth several times and closed it again. Finally he spoke.
“那年夏天，我去看一位老朋友。我走到火车站，没回头。”
"That year summer, I go see one (M) old friend. I walk-arrive fire-cart-station, not return-head."
"That summer, I went to see an old friend. I walked to the train station, and I did not turn back."
“为什么？”
"For what?"
"Why?"
“我也不太说得清。”
"I also not too speak (DE) clear."
"I cannot quite say."
“你试试。”
"You try-try."
"Try."
老人沉默了一会儿。
Old-person silent (PERF) one while.
The old man was silent for a while.
“那时候我四十多岁。每天醒过来，我都觉得，自己快要变成一块石头。”
"That time I forty more age. Every day wake-pass-come, I all feel, self soon want change-become one (M) stone."
"I was in my forties then. Each morning I woke up feeling I was turning into stone."
“一上车，我就告诉自己：只走一天。”
"Once board-cart, I just tell self: only walk one day."
"On the train, I told myself: just one day away."
“一天到了第二天，第二天到了第三天。”
"One day arrive (PERF) second day, second day arrive (PERF) third day."
"One day became two. Two became three."
“等我想回的时候，我已经不敢了。”
"Wait I want return (POSS) time, I already not dare (PERF)."
"By the time I wanted to come back, I no longer dared."
周明远没说话。
Zhou-Ming-Yuan not speak.
Zhou Mingyuan did not speak.
“那以后我去过南方，在工地上干过活。”
"That after I go (EXP) south, at construction-site on do (EXP) work."
"After that I went south, worked on construction sites."
“后来又到海边的城里，开了一间小修车铺。”
"Later again arrive sea-side (POSS) city inside, open (PERF) one (M) small fix-cart shop."
"Then I went to a city by the sea, and opened a small repair shop."
“我没结过婚，没有别的孩子。”
"I not marry (EXP), not have other (POSS) child."
"I never remarried. There are no other children."
“奶奶呢？”
"Grandma (Q)?"
"And Grandmother?"
老人低下了头。
Old-person low-down (PERF) head.
The old man bowed his head.
“前几年我才打听到。我知道她哪一年走的，哪一年。”
"Front several year I only inquire-arrive. I know she which one year leave (POSS), which one year."
"A few years ago I finally learned. I know which year she died. The very year."
“我那一天什么都没做，只是在屋子里走来走去。”
"I that one day what all not do, only is at room inside walk-come walk-go."
"That day I did nothing but pace around my room."
“你为什么不回来？”周明远的声音终于不那么平了。
"You for what not return-come?" Zhou-Ming-Yuan (POSS) voice finally not so flat (PERF).
"Why didn't you come back?" Zhou Mingyuan's voice was no longer level.
“那时候，你已经长大。”
"That time, you already grow-big."
"By then, you had grown up."
“我害怕。我害怕你的眼睛。”
"I afraid. I afraid your (POSS) eye."
"I was afraid. Afraid of your eyes."
“你现在不害怕了？”
"You now not afraid (PERF)?"
"And now you aren't?"
“现在害怕。可是医生说我活不了多久。”
"Now afraid. But doctor say I live not (PERF) much-long."
"Now I am. But the doctor says I haven't long left."
“我不想躲到最后一天。”
"I not want hide-arrive last one day."
"I didn't want to hide until the last day."
外面雨变大了，打在窗上很响。
Outside rain change-big (PERF), hit at window on very loud.
Outside, the rain had grown louder against the windows.
周明远坐在那里，心里有什么东西在动。
Zhou-Ming-Yuan sit at there, heart inside have what thing at move.
Zhou Mingyuan sat there with something turning inside him.
不是原谅，不是恨。
Not is forgive, not is hate.
It was not forgiveness. It was not hate.
是一种说不出来的、又重又凉的感觉。
Is one (M) speak not out-come (POSS), again heavy again cool (POSS) feeling.
It was a heavy, cool feeling he could not name.
他想起小时候，爷爷在院子里教他认天上的星星。
He think-up small time, grandpa at courtyard inside teach him recognize sky on (POSS) star-star.
He remembered, as a child, his grandfather teaching him the names of the stars.
“你还记得那些星星吗？”他忽然问。
"You still remember those star-star (Q)?" He suddenly ask.
"Do you still remember those stars?" he asked suddenly.
老人抬起头，眼睛慢慢亮起来。
Old-person lift-up head, eye slowly bright-up.
The old man looked up, his eyes slowly brightening.
“记得。我每天晚上都看。”
"Remember. I every day evening all look."
"I remember. I look at them every night."
“我每次想起你，都是从星星开始的。”
"I every time think-up you, all is from star-star begin (POSS)."
"Every time I thought of you, it began with the stars."
周明远低下头，长长地呼出一口气。
Zhou-Ming-Yuan low-down head, long-long exhale-out one (M) breath.
Zhou Mingyuan lowered his head and let out a long breath.
他没说原谅，也没说什么别的。
He not say forgive, also not say what other (POSS).
He did not say "I forgive you," or anything else.
他只是站起来，到厨房里去。
He only is stand-up come, arrive kitchen inside-go.
He simply stood and went into the kitchen.
他煮了一碗很简单的面，放了一点油和盐。
He boil (PERF) one bowl very simple (POSS) noodle, put (PERF) one-bit oil and salt.
He cooked a simple bowl of noodles, with a little oil and salt.
他端到桌上：“你吃。”
He carry-arrive table on: "You eat."
He set it down on the table. "Eat."
“你呢？”老人问。
"You (Q)?" Old-person ask.
"And you?" the old man asked.
他又去煮了一碗。回来的时候，老人还没动筷子。
He again go boil (PERF) one bowl. Return-come (POSS) time, old-person still not move chopstick.
He went and cooked another bowl. When he came back, the old man still hadn't lifted his chopsticks.
“吃吧。”周明远说。
"Eat (SUGG)." Zhou-Ming-Yuan say.
"Eat," Zhou Mingyuan said.
他们就坐在那里，一人一碗，慢慢吃。
They just sit at there, one person one bowl, slowly eat.
And so they sat there, each with a bowl, eating slowly.
屋子里只有筷子碰着碗的声音，还有外面的雨。
Room inside only have chopstick touch (CONT) bowl (POSS) sound, also have outside (POSS) rain.
There was only the sound of chopsticks against bowls, and the rain outside.
他没让老人走，也没说让他留下。
He not let old-person leave, also not say let him stay-down.
He did not send the old man away. Nor did he say he could stay.
他们只是吃完了那两碗面。
They only is eat-finish (PERF) those two bowl noodle.
They only finished those two bowls of noodles.
天还没黑，可是屋里已经显得有点暗。
Sky still not black, but room inside already appear have-bit dark.
It was not yet dark outside, but the room had grown dim.