Ailsa drives the last bus of the night. It leaves the station at 11:40. Her route goes past the river, the hospital and the old market. At this hour, the bus is almost empty.
艾尔萨开的是夜里的末班公交车。它十一点四十分从车站出发。她的线路经过河边、医院和老市场。这个时间，车上几乎没有人。
Tonight she stops at the market and looks in her mirror. Far down the street, an old man runs toward her. He holds a big bag of shopping in one hand.
今晚她在市场站停下来，看了看后视镜。街的远处，一位老人正朝她跑来。他一只手提着一大袋东西。
The rule says the bus must leave on time. If she is late, the next driver is late too. Ailsa looks at the clock. It is 11:40.
规定说，车必须准点开走。如果她晚了，下一班的司机也会晚。艾尔萨看了看钟。十一点四十分。
She waits. She counts slowly in her head. The man comes closer. His bag hits his leg with every step.
她等着。她在心里慢慢数数。老人越跑越近。每跑一步，他的袋子都撞在腿上。
At forty seconds, he climbs on. For a moment, he cannot speak. "Thank you," he says. "This is the last bus. I have no money for a taxi."
数到四十秒的时候，他爬上了车。他一时说不出话来。“谢谢你，”他说，“这是最后一班车了。我没钱打出租车。”
"Sit down and rest," Ailsa says.
“坐下歇一歇吧，”艾尔萨说。
She closes the doors and drives on. They pass the hospital, and then the dark river. The old man gets off near a small park. He waves from the street.
她关上车门，继续往前开。他们经过了医院，又经过了黑漆漆的河。老人在一个小公园附近下了车。他在街上朝她挥手。
The next week, he gets on the bus again, this time early. He gives her a paper bag. Inside is a warm pastry with cheese.
下一周，他又上了这趟车，这次来得很早。他递给她一个纸袋。里面是一块热乎乎的奶酪酥饼。
"Only once," he says. "The rules are the rules."
“只此一次，”他说，“规矩就是规矩。”
At the end of the line, Ailsa turns off the engine. She eats the pastry in the quiet bus.
到了终点站，艾尔萨关掉发动机。她在安静的车里吃起了那块酥饼。
