6 The report 
　  
　　John 's report took longer than he had thought．It was nearly six weeks later when he went to discuss the re-suits with David Wilson． 
　　Mr Wilson wasn't a scientist．He was a businessman．He knew how to run a business， how to make money． 
　　'Thanks for coming，John．'david Wilson came out from behind his desk and shook hands with John．They sat in two big，comfortable armchairs by the window． 
　　David Wilson's office was large，with a thick carpet and beautiful pictures on the walls． From the window，John could see the river，and the woods and fields on the other side． He felt comfortable，happy，safe． 
　　'I've read your report，'Wilson began．Then he stopped，and lit a cigarette．'Not very good，is it？' 
　　'What？'John stared at him in surprise． 
　　Wilson smiled，and moved his hand through the clouds of smoke．'No，no， don't worry—I don't mean the report is bad，of course not．You've worked very hard，and done your job well． What I mean is，I don't like the ideas at the end of the report．' 
　　'What's wrong with them？' 
　　'They're too expensive．'the two men stared at each other for a moment，and John felt cold and sick in his stomach．Wilson smiled， but it wasn't the kind of smile that John liked． 
　　'Look，John，'he said．'Your report says that we should build some new machines to clean up the waste products before they go into the river， right？And those machines will cost two million pounds！Where do you think we can find all that？Money doesn't grow on trees，you know！' 
　　'No，of course not．'John's mouth was dry．He took a drink of water，and felt his hand shaking．'But we're selling a lot of the new paint．We're making millions of pounds every month from that，aren't we？' 
　　'We're doing very well， yes，'said Wilson．'But if we spend two million pounds to build these new machines，the paint will have to cost more， and we won't sell so much．' 
　　'But—we've got to do it，'said John．'These waste prod-ucts are much more dangerous than I'd thought．Didn't you read that in my report？When I put the chemicals in rats'drinking water，some of the baby rats were born without eyes and ears． One didn't have any legs， and one had six．'He shivered．'And some were born without legs when they drank only two parts per million．We can't put those chemicals in the river．' 
　　'Of course I read that，John．I read your report very care-fully indeed．And your report also says that on most days we put less than two parts per million into the river．No，wait，listen to me for a minute！We both know that no drinking wa-ter comes out of this part of the river，don't we？ And in two kilometres the river goes out into the sea．So why is it danger-ous？Nobody is ever going to drink it，John！We don't need to build these new machines！' 
　　John thought of his children， sailing on the river in their boat．He thought of the seals，and people fishing， and little children playing on the beach and swimming．'We've got to build them！'he said． 
　　David Wilson looked at him carefully． His voice，when he spoke，was very quiet and hard．'Listen to me，John．You're a very good scientist，and we're lucky to have you in this com-pany．But you're not a businessman， and I am．Look at this．'He picked up a sheet of paper， and held it across the table for John to see．It showed how much money the compa-ny had．'We borrowed ten million pounds last year， and we employed four hundred more people．Think how much that means to a small town like this！' 
　　'I know，'said John．'But…' 
　　'Just a minute．Listen to me．If we build these cleaning machines of yours，people will lose their jobs—a lot of people！This company can't afford to borrow any more money，John．We just can't do it！' 
　　John stood up．'And what happens if people get ill because of this？ Have you thought of that？What will the newspapers say then？' 
　　'No one will get ill，because no one drinks that water，John．The newspapers will never know about it．' 
　　'They will if I tell them．' 
　　There was a long silence．Then David Wilson stood up． He walked past John Duncan，without looking at him， and sat down behind his desk．When he looked up，his eyes were cold and grey，like stones from the beach． 
　　'If you do that， John， I shall say you're a liar．You'll lose your job．You'll have to sell your house， and go back to living in a nasty little flat． You'll never get another job， and you'll never have a house or any money again． You'll just be an old man， walking the streets without friends or money． Is that what you want？' 
　　John didn't answer．He stood for a long time， and stared at David Wilson， and didn't say a word．After nearly two min-utes，Wilson smiled—a thin quiet smile． 
　　'But if you stay with us，you will be paid twice as much next year．And no one will ever be hurt， because no one will ever drink that water．' 
　　He got up from his desk， came round to the front，and held out his hand． John stood still for a long moment． Then he shook hands． 
　　'Think about it，John，'said David Wilson． 
　　John Duncan turned，and walked slowly towards the door．  
　 
6 报 告 
　  
　　约翰的报告花的时间比他想像的要长。将近六个星期以后他才去找大卫·威尔逊讨论实验的结果。 
　　威尔逊先生不是一个科学家。他是一个商人。他懂得怎样管理生意，怎样赚钱。 
　　“谢谢你的到来，约翰。”大卫·威尔逊从他的桌子后面走出来与约翰握手。他们坐在靠窗户的两张非常舒适的大沙发里。 
　　大卫·威尔逊的办公室很大，铺着厚厚的地毯，墙上有许多漂亮的画。从窗户望去，约翰可以看见河以及河对面的树林和田野。他感到舒适、愉快、安全。 
　　“我已经读了你的报告，”威尔逊开口道。然后他止住，点燃一支雪茄。“不太好，是吧？” 
　　“什么？”约翰吃惊地盯着他。 
　　威尔逊笑着，在烟雾中挥动着他的手。“不，不，别担心——我不是说报告不好，当然不是，我的意思是我不喜欢报告结尾的那些意见。” 
　　“它们有什么不妥？” 
　　“它们太花钱了。”两个人相互凝视了一会儿，约翰感到胃部又凉又难受。威尔逊笑了笑，但那不是约翰喜欢的那种笑。 
　　“你瞧，约翰，”他说，“你的报告说我们应该制造一些新机器，在将废料倒到河里以前将它们净化，对吧？而那些机器将花费两百万英镑！你想我们能从哪儿搞到所有这些钱？你知道钱不会从天上掉下来！” 
　　“对，当然不会。”约翰的嘴开始发干。他喝了一口水，他感觉他的手在颤抖。“但是我们正在卖大量的新油漆。我们每月都从中挣上几百万英镑，不是吗？” 
　　“是的，我们干得非常好，”威尔逊说。“但是如果我们花两百万英镑去造这些新机器，油漆价格就会贵些，我们就卖不了那么多。” 
　　“但是——我们必须这样做，”约翰说，“这些废料比我以前想像的还要危险。你难道没在我的报告里读到吗？我在老鼠的饮用水里放入化学品，生出来的一些幼鼠没有眼睛和耳朵。有一只没有腿，还有一只有6条腿。”他战栗着。“有些只喝了百万分之二，生出来就没有腿。我们不能将那些化学品放入河里。” 
　　“我当然读到，约翰。我的确很认真地读了你的报告。你的报告也说到大部分日子里我们放入河里的是少于百万分之二。不，请等一下，听我说一会儿！我们俩都知道饮用水不是来自河的这一方，不是吗？再流两公里，河水就进入大海。所以怎么会有危险呢？从没有人会去喝它，约翰！我们不需要制造新机器！” 
　　约翰想到他的孩子们，乘他们的船行驶在这条河上。他想到海豹，想到人们钓鱼，想到小孩们在河滩上玩耍，在河里游泳。他说：“我们不得不造机器！” 
　　大卫·威尔逊仔细地看着他。他说话时的声音非常平静而且坚定。“听我说，约翰。你是一个很出色的科学家，我们有幸雇你在这个公司干活。但是你不是一个商人，而我是。你瞧。”他拿起一张纸，从桌子对面递过来给约翰看。它显示出公司有多少钱。“去年我们借了1000万英镑，并且又雇用了400人。想想对这样一个小镇来说这意味着多少？” 
　　“我知道，”约翰说。“但是……” 
　　“等等。听我说。如果我们制造你建议的这些净化机器，人们将会丢失他们的工作——很多人！这个公司担负不起借更多的钱，约翰。我们真是不能那样做。” 
　　约翰站了起来。“那么如果人们因此而得病怎么办？你想过没有？到那时报纸会怎么说？” 
　　“没人会得病，因为没人喝那种水，约翰。报纸永远不会知道此事。” 
　　“如果我告诉他们，他们就会知道。” 
　　长时间的沉默后，大卫·威尔逊站了起来，他从约翰·邓肯身旁走过，没看他，在他的桌子后面坐下。当他抬头时，他的目光冷酷而暗淡，如同沙滩上的石头。 
　　“如果你那样做，约翰，我会说你是一个骗子。你将失去你的工作。你将不得不卖掉你的房子，回去住那龌龊的小公寓。你将永远找不到另一份工作，你再也不会有房子和任何钱了。你将只是一个走在街上没有朋友没有钱的老头，这难道是你所想要的吗？” 
　　约翰没有回答。他站了许久，盯着大卫·威尔逊，没有说任何话。大约两分钟过后，威尔逊露出微笑——非常勉强的轻轻一笑。 
　　“但是如果你跟我们在一起，明年你的收入将增加一倍，并且没人会受到伤害，因为没人会去喝那水。” 
　　他从桌子旁站起来，绕到前面，伸出他的手。约翰一动不动地站了很长时间，然后他与威尔逊握了手。 
　　“考虑考虑，约翰，”大卫·威尔逊说。 
　　约翰·邓肯转身慢慢地向门口走去。 
　　　    


 