? ? ?One Thursday evening, the traditional night for guest nights, I found?myself being led to the podium by the commander through a large?assembly hall, where the whole ship's company was waiting. I was?feeling nervous and saw with apprehension the moment approaching?when he would finish?his short introduction and I would have to?launch forth on my talk. Fortunately I had prepared my opening?sentences. By the time I was through these most of my nervousness?had gone. The lecture was a success and I was rewarded with loud?applause.

【一個星期四的晚上，這是傳統(tǒng)的聚會之夜，指揮官把我領到講臺上，穿過一個大會議廳，全艦的人都在那里等著我。我感到很緊張，擔心地看到他即將完成簡短的介紹，我要開始我的演講了。慶幸的是，我的開場白準備好了。當我演講的時候，我的緊張情緒已經(jīng)消失了。演講很成功，我得到了熱烈的掌聲?！?/span>

? ? ?For the last part of the course we were transferred to yet another?establishment, HMS King Alfred, in nearby Hove. In contrast to?Lancing, all Gothic and pseudo-medieval, King Alfred was all glass?and steel and very modern. It had been a Lido before the war with?restaurants and swimming pools, now used as drill halls and lecture?rooms. It was here that we had to sit our final examination before?being commissioned.

【在培訓的最后一部分，我們被轉(zhuǎn)移到另一個“公司”，阿爾弗雷德。與所有哥特式和偽中世紀的地方不同，阿爾弗雷德全身都是由玻璃和鋼鐵構(gòu)成，非?，F(xiàn)代化。戰(zhàn)前這里是一個麗都，有餐館和游泳池，現(xiàn)在用作演習和演講室。就是在這里，我們參加正式入伍前的最終考核?！?/span>

? ? ?The tension never let up. Indeed, it seemed to be considered an?essential part of this course. It was sustained by an elaborate system of?examinations and weekly tests, which in the event of failure, resulted in?immediate dismissal from the course. Now with the passing-out?exam just a few weeks ahead the tension mounted to an almost?unbearable pitch.

【緊張氛圍從未緩和。事實上，它似乎被認為是本考核的一個重要部分。它是由一個精心設計的考試和每周測試系統(tǒng)維持的，如果有一次不及格，就會被立即開除?，F(xiàn)在離最終考核只有幾周了，緊張的氛圍幾乎到了無法忍受的地步?！?/span>

? ? ?When the lists with the results were put up, I found myself among?the lucky ones and was able to go to collect my uniform.

【當成績單出來的時候，我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己是名列前茅，能夠去領取我的制服?！?/span>

? ? ?The commissioning ceremony the next day was performed by an?old admiral, recalled from retirement for this sort of thing, and was accompanied?by a complicated and confusing piece of drill. One had?to walk up to the admiral, stand to attention, salute, take off one's cap,?put it under one's arm, accept the commission, put it with the cap,?shake hands with the admiral, put on one's cap, without dropping the?commission, salute again and turn smartly away. We rehearsed this?procedure several times beforehand, but even so I remained worried?that in the excitement of the moment I would put the commission on?my head and hand my cap to the admiral.

【第二天的服役儀式是由一位退役的老海軍上將主持的，他是為了這類事情而被召回來的，服役儀式同時還進行了一項復雜而令人困惑的演習。人們必須向海軍上將走去，立正，敬禮，脫下帽子，夾在腋下，接受委任，把帽子和帽子連在一起，同海軍上將握手，戴上帽子，行個禮，瀟灑地轉(zhuǎn)身離開。這個過程我們事先排練了好幾次，但即便如此，我還是擔心，在那激動而緊張的時刻，我會不小心把勛章戴在頭上，把帽子遞給上將?！?/span>

? ? ?However, all passed off well and that evening I, together with many other?happy and at last carefree young officers, crowded into the first?class compartments of the London train on our way home to show?ourselves off for a few days to proud parents, sisters and girl friends.

【然而，一切都進行得很順利。那天晚上，我和其他快樂的、不再有憂慮的年輕軍官擠在倫敦火車的頭等車廂里，準備在自豪的父母、姐妹和女朋友面前炫耀幾天。】

? ? ?At the end of our leave we had to return for a further fortnight's post-graduate training to King Alfred. It was during this period that a?man came down from the Admiralty to lecture to us on the various?branches of naval service open to us. Starting with a short description?of life on battleships, the lecturer worked his way through cruisers,?destroyers and submarines down to MTBs, minesweepers and?landing-craft. Right at the end of his talk he added, 'There is one other?branch, which I should mention. It is called "Special Service" and I?cannot tell you very much about it because it is secret and, as far as we?are concerned, the people who join it vanish.'

【假期結(jié)束時，我們必須返回阿爾弗雷德那里接受為期兩周的研究培訓。就在這段時間，一個人從海軍部來到我們面前，給我們講解海軍服役的各個部門。從簡短地描述戰(zhàn)艦上的生活開始，講師從巡洋艦、驅(qū)逐艦、潛艇，一直到艦炮、掃雷艦和登陸艇。在介紹結(jié)束時，他補充說:“還有一個分支，我應該提一下。它叫‘特別行動’，我不能告訴你太多關于它的情況，因為它是不對外公開的，而且就我所知，加入它的人都會再無音訊?！薄?/span>

? ? ?I at once pricked up my ears. This sounded exactly what I wanted.?Special Service, secret, people not heard of again. It must be?intelligence work, the landing of agents on the enemy coast. That?same day I put my name down for Special Service, with destroyers?as second choice. I suppose the reason was simply a hunger for?adventure. I wanted to be a real member of the Dutch underground.?I wanted to be dropped into Holland to do secret, important work?and I thought Special Service would provide this opportunity.

【我立刻豎起耳朵。這正是我想要的。特種部隊，秘密部隊，銷聲匿跡的人。這一定是情報工作，特工在敵人海岸登陸進行工作。就在同一天，我申請了特種部隊，驅(qū)逐艦是第二志愿。我想原因僅僅是對冒險的渴望。我想成為一名真正的荷蘭地下組織成員。我想被派到荷蘭去做一些秘密的、重要的工作，我想特勤處會給我這個機會?！?/span>

? ? ?I had done well in navigation and, before getting a final?appointment, I was sent with a few others to the Royal Naval College?in Greenwich, on a three-week navigation course. It was an?appointment which had many advantages. The course itself was not?arduous, compared to what we had been through, and every evening?we were free to go up to town.

【我的水上成績很好，在得到最后的通知之前，我和其他幾個人被送到位于格林威治的皇家海軍學院，參加為期三周的航海課程。這是一個有許多好處的訓練。與我們所經(jīng)歷的相比，這條路并不難走，每天晚上我們都可以自由地到城里去。】

? ? ?At the end of my navigation course, I was given a short leave. While?I was home I received a letter instructing me to report to HMS?Dolphin, the Submarine Headquarters in Portsmouth for Special?Service. I was much dismayed when I read this. The last thing I had?thought of was submarines to which I did not feel particularly?attracted. When the lecturer had enumerated the various possibilities,?he had given no indication that Special Service was in any way?connected with this weapon. I had signed on, however, for whatever it?was; there was no going back now. I had made a blind date and I had?to keep it.

【在我的航海課程結(jié)束時，我得到了一個短暫的假期。在我回家的時候，我收到一封信，要我到位于樸次茅斯的海豚號潛艇司令部報到。當我讀到這篇文章時，我非常沮喪。我的最后一個志愿是潛水艇，我覺得它對我沒有特別的吸引力。當講師列舉各種可能性時，他沒有指出“特別行動”與這種武器有任何關系。不管怎樣，我還是簽了約;現(xiàn)在沒有回頭路了。我安排了一次“相親”，我必須遵守?！?/span>

? ? ?HMS Dolphin was located in a large fort built by French prisoners?of war in Napoleonic times. It guards the western bank of the?entrance to Portsmouth harbour. On arrival, I was informed that I?was to be a member of a small mixed group of officers and other ranks?who were to be trained as divers for midget submarines.

【海豚號位于拿破侖時代法國戰(zhàn)俘建造的一個大型堡壘內(nèi)。它守衛(wèi)著樸茨茅斯港入口的西岸。抵達后，我被告知，我將成為一個由軍官和其他軍官組成的混合小組的一員，他們將接受訓練，成為小型潛艇的潛水員。】

? ? ?Our training group, which was small and consisted of some twelve?men only, had two unusual features. It was mixed. That is to say?officers and other ranks trained together, with no distinction between?them during working hours; and it was commanded by a medical?officer. The reason was that in the initial period the training was more?a question of endurance than of acquisition of special skills.?Continuous medical supervision was required to find out how the?trainees were reacting to long periods under water.

【我們的訓練隊很小，只有十二個人，有兩個與平常訓練不同的地方。軍官和其他職級的人在一起接受訓練，在工作時間內(nèi)沒有區(qū)別;而且由醫(yī)官指揮，原因是，在最初階段，訓練更多的是一個耐力問題，而不是學習什么特殊技能。需要進行持續(xù)的醫(yī)療監(jiān)督，以了解學員長時間在水下的反應?！?/span>

? ? ?After a few weeks' training in the deep tank that towers above HMS?Dolphin, and in a lonely creek nearby, we were to be transferred to a?base on one of the islands off the west coast of Scotland, to start?training on actual midget submarines. Before this there was one?hurdle to pass. Below a certain depth the pressure of the water is such?that it affects the oxygen in the containers and slightly alters its?substance. Certain people are allergic to this altered oxygen and if they?breathe it they lose consciousness.

【在“海豚號”上方的深水池里進行了幾周的訓練后，我們將被轉(zhuǎn)移到蘇格蘭西海岸的一個島嶼上的一個基地，開始訓練真正的潛艇。在此之前，還有一個障礙需要跨越。在一定深度以下，水的壓力就會影響容器中的氧氣，并輕微地改變氧氣的物質(zhì)。某些人對這種改變的氧氣過敏，如果他們呼吸它，他們會失去意識?！?/span>

? ? ?It was essential therefore that we should be tested in this respect?before being sent on the next part of the course. I have never quite?understood why this test could not be carried out in artificial?conditions at the beginning of the training period and why it was?necessary to wait till the trainee had acquired sufficient practice to be?able to dive to such a depth. Be that as it may, the outcome of the test as?far as I was concerned was negative. When I descended to the?required depth I lost consciousness and was quickly hauled back to the?surface.

【因此，在我們開始下一部分課程之前，我們必須在這方面接受測試。我一直不太明白，為什么不能在訓練初期就在人工條件下進行這項測試，為什么必須等到受訓人有了足夠的練習才能潛到這樣的深度。如此，我所關心的測試結(jié)果是不合格。當我潛到要求的深度時，我失去了知覺，很快就被拉回了水面?！?/span>

? ? ?Removed from the course, I was given the job of officer of the watch?on HMS Dolphin, pending a new appointment. I now spent my hours?of duty walking up and down the landing stage with a long telescope?under my arm and exchanging pleasantries with the attractive Wrens?who manned the motor launches linking the various Naval establishments and ships in the harbour. I had to see to it that the flag was?hoisted and lowered at the right time, that bugles were sounded when it?was required, and the bosun's whistle blown when officers in command?of ships arrived at or left the landing stage. One day the?captain of HMS Dolphin called me into his office and asked me if?I would be interested in fast boats and plenty of action. This was just?the sort of thing that appealed to me. I was therefore told I was to go?to London early the next day and report to an address in Palace Street,?just off Victoria Street.

【我被從課程中除名后，被任命為皇家海軍海豚號的值班軍官，等待新的任命?，F(xiàn)在，我花了幾個小時的時間在登陸臺上走來走去，胳膊下夾著一架長長的望遠鏡，與那些漂亮的鷦鷯們寒暄寒暄。鷦鷯們操縱著連接港口內(nèi)各種海軍設施和船只的汽艇。我必須確保旗幟在適當?shù)臅r間升起和降下，必要時吹響號角，指揮船只的軍官們到達或離開登陸場時吹響水手長的哨子。有一天，英國皇家海軍海豚號的艦長把我叫進他的辦公室，問我是否對快艇和大量的冒險感興趣。這正是吸引我的東西。因此，我被告知第二天一早要去倫敦，到王宮街的一個地址報到，就在維多利亞街旁邊。】

? ? ?When I got there, the doorkeeper gave me a pass to fill in and took?me to the first floor, where a young lieutenant RNVR showed me into?a room. At a large desk near the window sat a captain RN. He was?small and slender with a sallow complexion and dark, thinning hair.?He spoke abruptly but his manner was friendly enough.

【當我到達那里時，門衛(wèi)給了我一張通行證，讓我去一層，一個年輕的中尉帶我進了一個房間。窗邊的一張大桌子上坐著一位皇家海軍上尉。他身材瘦小，面色蠟黃，頭發(fā)又黑又稀疏。他說話很唐突，但態(tài)度很友好?！?/span>

? ? ?He asked many questions about my background, my escape from?Holland and my schooling. He then told me to write my biography in?considerable detail. When I had finished I handed it in and was asked?to come back after lunch.

【他問了我許多關于我的背景、我逃離荷蘭的經(jīng)歷和我的學校教育的問題。然后他讓我詳細地寫我的經(jīng)歷。我寫完后就交上去了，他讓我午飯后回來。】

? ? ?When I returned the captain put his cap on, picked up a black?ebony stick with silver knob and asked me to accompany him. We?walked to a tall, narrow building, just opposite the entrance to St?James's tube station.

【我回來的時候，海軍上尉戴上帽子，拿起一根有銀柄的黑檀木手杖，要我陪他走。我們走到一座又高又窄的建筑前，就在圣詹姆斯地鐵站入口的對面?！?/span>

? ? ?Here again I had to fill in a pass, and the captain took me to a small?room on the top floor. It had an attic window and was almost filled by?two large desks placed against each other. At one of these sat a major?in his shirt-sleeves, a handsome man with very thick, glossy blond?hair. Without his uniform jacket on I could not tell his regiment so I?took him to be a Royal Marine. After all, I was being interviewed for?service in fast boats, so I presumed that this must be a branch of the?Admiralty.

【在這里我又得填一張通行證，上尉把我?guī)У巾攲拥囊粋€小房間。房間里有一扇閣樓窗戶，兩張大桌子靠在一起，幾乎塞滿了房間。在其中一所桌子旁坐著一個穿著襯衫的少校，他是一個長得很帥的男人，一頭濃密而光滑的金發(fā)。沒有穿制服，我無法說出他所在的軍隊，所以我認為他是一名皇家海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊員。畢竟，我被分配到在快艇上服役，所以我猜想這一定是海軍部的一個分支?！?/span>