2024年4月23日发(作者：)

A Horseman in the Sky

By Ambrose Bierce

简介：《空中骑士》(A Horseman in the Sky) 是美国南北战争时期，士兵、新闻记者

出身的小说家安布罗斯•比尔斯(Ambrose Bierce)（1842-1914？）最著名的短篇小说之一，

也是美国许多大学英文系教材的经典保留篇目。

小说的梗概：

美国南北战争时期，弗吉尼亚州一名出身种植园主的青年卡特·德鲁斯和他的父亲分别

加入了南军和北军，父子刀枪相向，面临你死我活：北军五个团潜伏到离德鲁斯家仅三公里

的一个四面悬崖绝壁的山谷，谷口只有一条小路。一旦被南军堵住谷口，北军将全军覆没。

德鲁斯被委以保卫全军的重任，守卫在谷口；被南军派来做骑探的父亲，从悬崖上对潜伏的

北军一览无余。德鲁斯知道必须杀死南军探子。但他突然发现：枪口下的敌人竟是自己的父

亲！德鲁斯“脸色苍白，四肢颤抖”“几乎昏了过去”。在痛苦的思想斗争中，父亲的临别

赠言“无论发生什么事，做你认为应该做的事。”鼓励他坚定地扣动了扳机，一枪把父亲连

人带马打下悬崖……

1. Carter Druse was born in Virginia. He loved his parents, his home and the

south. But he loved his country, too. And in the autumn of eighteen sixty-one, when

the United States was divided by a terrible civil war, Carter Druse, a southerner,

decided to join the Union Army of the north.

2. He told his father about his decision one morning at breakfast.

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3. The older man looked at his only son for a moment, too shocked to speak.

Then he said, "As of this moment you are a traitor to the south. Please don't tell

your mother about your decision. She is sick, and we both know she has only a few

weeks to live."

4. Carter's father paused, again looking deep into his son's eyes. "Carter," he

said, "No matter what happens -- be sure you always do what you think is your

duty."

5. Both Carter Druse and his father left the table that morning with broken

hearts. And Carter soon left his home, and everyone he loved to wear the blue

uniform of the Union soldier.

6. One sunny afternoon, a few weeks later, Carter Druse lay with his face in the

dirt by the side of a road. He was on his stomach, his arms still holding his gun.

Carter would not receive a medal for his actions. In fact, if his commanding officer

were to see him, he would order Carter shot immediately.

7. For Carter was not dead or wounded. He was sleeping while on duty.

Fortunately, no one could see him. He was hidden by some bushes, growing by the

side of the road.

8. The road Carter Druse had been sent to guard was only a few miles from his

father's house.

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