Shouts & Murmurs

Life as a D.C. Insider, as Imagined by a D.C. Outsider

一个华盛顿局外人所想象的华盛顿局内人生活
A businessman with a briefcase runs up a flight of stairs.
Photograph from Getty

I wake to the sound of legislation being thrown at my window. I look at the legislation and angrily get on the phone. “There should be more carcinogens,” I demand.

我在立法被扔到窗户上的声音中醒来。我看了看那些立法,怒气冲冲地拨通电话。“应该有更多致癌物,”我要求道。

Breakfast is scrambled eggs and toast, prepared and hand-fed to me by Mitt Romney.

早餐是炒鸡蛋和吐司,由米特·罗姆尼亲手做好并喂到我嘴里。

I put on a different suit and tie from the ones that I slept in and walk outside. The air is crisp and refreshing. The Lincoln Memorial gives me a wink and a thumbs-up. Then a tourist approaches and it goes back to normal.

我换上一套与睡觉时不同的西装和领带,走出门去。空气清冽宜人。林肯纪念堂冲我眨了眨眼,竖了个大拇指。然后一个游客走近,它又恢复了原样。

I text my best friend, Coal Lobby, and ask if he wants to play outside. “Sorry, I have to be at the Capitol today,” he replies. He adds a sad emoji. I cry.

我给最好的朋友“煤炭说客”发短信,问他愿不愿意出来玩。“抱歉,我今天得去国会山,”他回复道。他加了一个难过的表情。我哭了。

I go for a jog. Midway through, a journalist calls me. I’m one of their anonymous sources. “The government has the flu,” I say. I finish my jog. My suit and tie are all sweaty. I keep them on.

我去慢跑。跑到一半,一个记者打电话来。我是他们的匿名消息源之一。“政府得了流感,”我说。我跑完步。西装和领带全是汗。我没脱。

I go to visit C.I.A. and ask how the spying is going. “Good,” says C.I.A. “One of the people I spy on is watching ‘Widow’s Bay.’ It’s funny, but also scary. You should watch it.” I tell C.I.A. that I’m too busy. “I get it,” C.I.A. says. “There are so many shows. It’s hard to keep up.” Talking to C.I.A. is so boring.

我去拜访中情局,问间谍活动进展如何。“不错,”中情局说。“我监视的一个人正在看《寡妇湾》。挺好笑,但也挺吓人。你应该看看。”我告诉中情局我太忙了。“我懂,”中情局说。“剧太多了,根本追不过来。”跟中情局聊天真无聊。

I’m getting hungry. I go to a diner whose only employee is Chuck Grassley. “The usual?” Chuck asks me. I say yes. We high five.

我饿了。我去了一家小餐馆,那里唯一的员工是查克·格拉斯利。“老样子?”查克问我。我说是的。我们击了个掌。

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Coal Lobby. “It turns out I’m free!” he says. “Apparently I’m supposed to be at the Capitol tomorrow. Today it’s Verizon’s turn. Want to jump rope?” We jump rope. My suit and tie are now even sweatier. I disrobe completely.

我的手机震了一下。是“煤炭说客”发来的短信。“原来我有空!”他说。“看来我应该是明天去国会山。今天轮到威瑞森了。想跳绳吗?”我们跳了绳。我的西装和领带现在更湿了。我脱了个精光。

I am thirsty. I go to a dive bar called something like Phil-a-Buster’s or Making This Dead Body Disappear Will Cost Forty Thousand Dollars. I order a Martini. The bartender notices that I am not wearing clothes and asks if I would like to put on his suit and tie. I say yes.

我渴了。我去了一家潜水酒吧,名字大概叫“费力把事拖”或者“让这具尸体消失要花四万美元”。我点了一杯马提尼。酒保注意到我没穿衣服,问我愿不愿意穿上他的西装和领带。我说好。

I glance at the television over the bar and see an important speech being given by a gun. The audience is also guns. I rise and applaud.

我瞥了一眼吧台上方的电视,看到一支枪正在发表重要演讲。观众也全是枪。我站起来鼓掌。

I leave the bar. I notice how many columns and archways this city has. “Just like ancient Rome,” I say to myself. Then I think of “Gladiator” and wonder how that movie holds up. I call Coal Lobby and ask if he wants to watch “Gladiator” with me. He says it’s rated R, so he has to ask his mom. “Forget it,” I say. “She’ll say no. Remember when we were going to wander around the woods to try and find that dead amendment and she said you couldn’t?” Coal Lobby remembers. He cries.

我离开酒吧。我注意到这座城市有多少柱子和拱门。“就像古罗马一样,”我自言自语。然后我想到了《角斗士》,琢磨那部电影现在看还行不行。我打电话给“煤炭说客”,问他愿不愿意和我一起看《角斗士》。他说那是R级片,所以他得先问问他妈妈。“算了,”我说。“她不会同意的。还记得那次我们想去树林里转悠,找那条死掉的修正案,她不让你去吗?”“煤炭说客”记得。他哭了。

Somebody walks by me. It’s Mitt Romney. I wonder why he serves me breakfast by hand every morning. It’s not something we’ve discussed.

有人从我身边走过。是米特·罗姆尼。我纳闷他为什么每天早上亲手给我端早餐。这事我们从来没聊过。

I leave the bar. A bird flies past and gives me a secret note. It says to meet at the place where all the rich people gather in masks and robes. I show up and they’re playing Scrabble. It’s kind of a letdown.

我离开酒吧。一只鸟飞过,塞给我一张秘密纸条。上面说在富人们戴着面具、穿着长袍聚集的地方见面。我到了以后,发现他们在玩拼字游戏。有点让人失望。

I go home. I put on a new suit and tie and get into bed. The journalist from before calls me. “Does government still have the flu?” they ask. I say yes. ♦

我回到家。换上一套新西装和领带,上了床。之前那个记者又打来电话。“政府还得了流感吗?”他们问。我说是的。♦

2 free previews left — register to get 30 translations a month