Lesson 15 Aspirations Gone Astray 走入歧途的理想
Words:
ascribe vt. 把….归于
aspect n. （问题等的）方面；（事物等的）一部分
aspersion n. 诽谤，中伤
aspire vi. 渴望
aspiring adj. 有抱负的，有理想的，积极向上的
aspiration n. 雄心，抱负
assail v. （身体上）攻击，（言语上）攻击，批评
assassin n. 刺客
assassinate vt. 暗杀，行刺
assault n. (武力上的)袭击；（口头上的）攻击
assay v. 化验
assemble vt. 集合，装配； vi. 聚集
assembly n. 集会；参加集会的人们（译成：。。。大会，。。。议会）；装配，安装
assembly line 装配线，流水线
assert vt. 声称，坚持，斩钉截铁地说
assess vt. 估计，分析，评估
asset n. assests 财产，资产；优势，重要的品质；宝贵（或有益）的人（或东西）
assignment n. 任务，作业；分配
assimilate vt. 学习，吸收（知识）；吃，吸收（食品或营养）
assist vt. 援助，帮助
assistant n. 助手，助教；adj. 辅助的，助理的
I work in an assembly line in a car factory. Most days, I just assemble car parts. Occasionally, they’ll ask me to assay an unknown drugs substance. Once in a while, I’ll be asked to assist with breaking up a fight. Assault is not common here. But now and then, a frustrated worker will assail his assistant by casting aspersions on some aspect of the other’s work. I’m considered an asset in my company. But before 20 years ago, I was a different kind of asset to an entirely different type of company.
They called it “the company” but it was really a secret government group trained to assassinate political leaders. I never aspired to be an assassin. In fact, I was an aspiring chemist and a regular soldier in the army. All I really wanted was to do something great or important for my country. But sometimes, having too great an aspiration can lead you astray.
I still recall the day of the assembly. It was a small gathering of highly skills people like me. “The company” was assessing our abilities in the areas of weaponry and chemistry. I was a top chemist and a natural marksman, probably the best in my group. They ascribed my success to my steady hands and sharp eyes, the same tools I used for chemistry.
After the assembly, they gave us our assignments. I was assigned to assimilate into the mainstream society of a Latin American country. It wasn’t long before I was doing things that I will forever be ashamed to admit.
It’s been over for about 15 years. But I’ll never feel clean and I’ll never be able to assert that I have been a good man all my life.
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我在一家汽车厂的流水线上工作。大多数时候，我只是组装汽车配件。有时，他们会让我化验某种不明药物。有时，我又去帮忙劝架。这里很少有人身攻击。不过，时不时会有一名灰心丧气的工人抨击他的助手，就其工作的某方面进行诽谤。我被视为公司的宝贝。但20年前，我被另一家完全不同的公司视为另一种类型的宝贝。
他们所谓的“公司”实际上是一个受过训练、专门暗杀政界领导人的秘密政府组织。我从未渴望做个刺客。事实上，我是个有抱负的化学家，又是部队中的一名常备兵。我的全部思想就是成就大事、为国效力。但有时，理想过于远大只会将你引入歧途。
我仍记得那天的集会。那是个小集会，与会者都是些像我这样的技术精湛的人员。当时“公司”评估我们在武器和化学领域的才能。我既是最优秀的化学家，又是天生的神枪手，很可能是我们小组中最棒的。他们将我的成功归于我稳健的双手和敏锐的眼睛，这也是我搞化学时用的工具。
会后，“公司”给我们下达了任务。我的任务是渗透进入一个拉美国家的主流社会。不久，我就开始做些我永远耻于承认的事情。
这一切已经过去15年了。但我将永远感到自己的肮脏，永远无法斩钉截铁地说我做了一辈子的好人。