3 Rich man 
　  
　　John Duncan started work on Monday，and Mary Carter showed him round the factory．The most important thing that the company produced was a new paint for cars．It was a very strong，hard paint，which nothing could damage．Mary and her chemists had developed it，and they had tested it all over the world．Neither acid nor salt water could damage it，and cars came back from both the Arctic and the Sahara looking like new． 
　　The company was beginning to make a lot of money from this paint，and it had brought four hundred new jobs to the town． 
　　One day，when he was working with the paint，John spilt some of the waste products on his leg．He cleaned it off quickly，but it left a red，painful place on his skin，which would not go away．It kept him awake at night．He told his doctor what he had spilt on it，and the doctor looked at him strangely． 
　　'So these chemicals had something to do with the new paint，did they？'the doctor asked carefully． 
　　'Yes，I told you．It was a bottle of the waste products．I was looking at them in my office．' 
　　'I see．'the doctor looked out of the window thoughtfully．His fingers moved quietly on his desk．'And your company is producing a lot of these waste products now，I suppose．' 
　　'Yes，of course．'John was in a hurry． He had to meet someone important in ten minutes．'Look，can you give me something to put on it，or not？' 
　　'Oh yes．'the doctor began to write something on a piece of paper．'Put this on night and morning，and the pain will go in a day or two．But I'm afraid the skin there will stay red for a year or two．They're nasty chemicals，Mr Duncan，you know．' 
　　'Yes，I know．'John smiled at him．'But don't worry，Doctor，we're very careful with them in the factory．No one can go near them without special safe clothing．You can come and see if you like．' 
　　'I'm very pleased to hear it，'said the doctor．He gave the piece of paper to John． 
　　'Thank you，'said John．He went towards the door． 
　　'Mr Duncan？' 
　　'Yes？'John looked back，surprised． 
　　'Where do these waste products go，when the factory has finished with them？Into the river？' 
　　'Well，yes，of course，'said John．'But it's all right，you know，'he added quickly．'It's very carefully checked，all the time．It's a big river，and we only produce a few hundred litres of the waste products a day．And we're only two kilo-metres from the sea，after all．' 
　　'Good，'said the doctor．'I wouldn't want anyone to drink those waste products，that's all．' 
　　'They won't，doctor，'said John．'All the drinking water comes out of the river five kilometres upstream，you know that．Who's going to drink salt water from the river mouth，for heaven's sake？Chemists from London have checked it，too，you know，and our company lawyers know all about it．So it's not dangerous and we're not doing anything wrong．Don't worry about it．' 
　　He went out of the door， and after half an hour he had for-gotten the conversation． 
　　He was a very busy man now．All day he had to test differ-ent types of paints，and make sure they were safe．He was also busy buying a big， comfortable house for his family， with a large field beside it，where Christine could keep a horse．The house was half a kilometre from the sea，and its gardens went down to the river．There was an empty boathouse there． 
　　'Can we have a boat， Dad？'Andrew asked．'I mean，not now，of course，but one day—when you've finished paying for the house， perhaps？' 
　　John laughed．His children had been poor for so long．But now he could buy them anything they wanted． 
　　'You can have a boat now，if you want，my son，'he said happily．'If I can afford a big house like this，I can certainly afford a small boat．We'll go fishing every week，shall we？And I'll teach you both to sail in the evenings．I've always wanted to do that，you know．' 
　　He could not believe how lucky he was．He had a good job at last，a fine home， and his children had everything they wanted．He only wished his wife，Rachel，was alive to enjoy it with him．There was only one thing that he could not give his children now．He could not give them back their mother．  
　 
3富人 
　  
　　约翰·邓肯星期一开始工作，玛丽·卡特带他参观了工厂。公司最重要的产品是一种新的汽车油漆，它是一种附着力很强的坚固油漆，任何东西都不易损坏它。玛丽和她的化学师们研制出它，并在全世界测试。它抗含酸或含盐的水，上过这种油漆的汽车从北极和撒哈拉沙漠回来如同新车一样。 
　　公司开始从这种油漆上赚很多钱，同时也给小镇带来400个新的就业机会。 
　　一天，当约翰正在使用油漆时，一些油漆废料溅在他腿上。他很快把它擦拭掉，但漆料在他皮肤上留下了一块红色、发疼的地方，总不消退。这使他夜间睡不了觉。他告诉他的医生他洒在腿上的是什么，医生很奇怪地看着他。 
　　医生小心地问：“这么说，这些化学制品与新研制的油漆有关，对吧？” 
　　“是的，我说过，那是一瓶产品废料。当时我在办公室正观察着它们。” 
　　“我明白了。”医生望着窗外沉思着。他的手指轻轻地在桌上移动着。“我想，你们公司现在正在生产大量的这种废料。” 
　　“是的，当然。”约翰有急事。他要在10分钟后见一个重要人物。“我说，你能否给我一些涂抹的药？” 
　　“噢，可以。”医生开始在一张纸上写着什么。“早晚上药，疼痛一两天就会消失。但是那块皮肤上的红肿恐怕要持续一两年。它们是讨厌的化学制品，这你是知道的，邓肯先生。” 
　　“是的，我知道。”约翰对他笑笑。“别担心，医生，我们在工厂里会非常小心地处理它们。不穿特别安全服，任何人也不能靠近它们。如果你愿意，可以来看看。” 
　　医生说：“你这么说我非常高兴。”他把纸递给约翰。 
　　“谢谢，”约翰说道。他向门口走去。 
　　“邓肯先生？” 
　　“啊？”约翰吃惊地回头望去。 
　　“工厂用完这些废料，往哪里倾倒？是往河里倒吗？” 
　　“那当然，”约翰说。“但没关系，你知道，”他很快接着说，“废料随时都经过认真检验。河大得很，而我们每天只生产出几百公升废料。再说，我们毕竟离大海只有两公里。” 
　　“这就好，我只不过不想让任何人喝带有废料的水，”医生说。 
　　“他们不会的，医生，”约翰说，“所有饮用水来自5公里以外的上游，这你是知道的。天啊，谁又会去喝河口处的咸水？伦敦的化学家们也检测过水质，你知道，我们公司的律师知道这一切。所以这并不危险，我们也没做什么错事，你不用为此担心。” 
　　他走出门，半小时后他忘却了这段谈话。 
　　他现在是一个大忙人。整天他都要测试不同类型的油漆，以确保它们的安全性。他还正忙着为他的家庭购置一所宽敞舒适的房子，在它旁边有一片宽阔的田野，在那里克里斯汀可以养一匹马。房子距离大海半公里远，它的花园延伸至小河。那里有一间空船屋。 
　　“爸爸，我们能有一艘小船吗？”安德鲁问，“我的意思当然不是指现在，而是将来某一天——也许是你支付完购买房子的钱后？” 
　　约翰笑了。他的孩子们受了这么长时间的穷。但是现在他可以满足他们了。 
　　“如果你想要，现在就可以买一艘，儿子，”他高兴地说。“我既然能买得起这么大一所房子，我当然也买得起一艘小船。我们将每星期都去钓鱼，怎么样？晚上我教你们俩驾船。你们知道我一直都想这样做。” 
　　他简直不敢相信他有多么幸运。他终于有了一份好工作，一个像样的家，他的孩子想要什么就有什么。他真希望他的妻子雷切尔还活着与他共享这一切。现在只有一样他给不了他的孩子们。他不能把他们的母亲还给他们。 
　　　    


 