Stellan worked the night shift at a small radio station. He played music from ten at night to six. Only a few people listened. He liked it that way.
斯泰伦在一家小广播电台上夜班。他从晚上十点播放音乐，一直播到早上六点。听的人很少。他倒喜欢这样。
The station had an old computer in the corner. It made a list of song requests. Listeners sent the requests by phone and by mail. Every night Stellan printed the list.
电台的角落里有一台旧电脑。它会生成一份点歌单。听众通过电话和信件点歌。每天夜里，斯泰伦都会把单子打印出来。
One Tuesday the printer made a strange sound. A long paper came out. Stellan read it and frowned. The date at the top was Wednesday.
一个星期二，打印机发出了奇怪的声音。一张长长的纸吐了出来。斯泰伦读着，皱起了眉头。最上面的日期是星期三。
"That is wrong," he said. "Today is Tuesday."
“这不对，”他说，“今天是星期二。”
Under the date were five song requests. Some names were new to him. One said, "For Mrs. Lind, who cannot sleep." Another said, "For the bus driver on Route Nine."
日期下面是五首点歌。有些名字他不认识。一条写着：“送给睡不着的林德太太。”另一条写着：“送给九路公交车的司机。”
Stellan put the paper on his desk. He played his usual songs. He drank his coffee. He looked at the paper again and again.
斯泰伦把那张纸放在桌上。他放着平常的歌。他喝着咖啡。他一遍又一遍地看那张纸。
At two in the morning the phone rang.
凌晨两点，电话响了。
"Hello, station," said Stellan.
“你好，电台。”斯泰伦说。
"Hello," said an old voice. "I am Mrs. Lind. I cannot sleep. Can you play a quiet song for me?"
“你好，”一个苍老的声音说，“我是林德太太。我睡不着。你能给我放一首安静的歌吗？”
Stellan held the paper in his hand. The first line said, "For Mrs. Lind, who cannot sleep." His mouth opened.
斯泰伦手里拿着那张纸。第一行写着：“送给睡不着的林德太太。”他张大了嘴。
"Yes," he said slowly. "I have a song for you."
“好的，”他慢慢地说，“我有一首歌给您。”
He played the first request on the list. It was a soft song with a piano. Mrs. Lind said thank you and hung up.
他放了单子上的第一首点歌。那是一首轻柔的钢琴曲。林德太太说了谢谢，挂了电话。
Stellan sat very still. Then he looked at the second request. "For the bus driver on Route Nine."
斯泰伦一动不动地坐着。然后他看向第二条点歌。“送给九路公交车的司机。”
At four the phone rang again. A man said, "Hi. I drive the early bus. Do you have a happy song for me?"
四点，电话又响了。一个男人说：“你好。我开早班车。你有欢快的歌给我吗？”
"I do," said Stellan. He played a fast, bright song with drums. The man laughed on the phone.
“有，”斯泰伦说。他放了一首节奏明快、有鼓点的歌。男人在电话里笑了。
Now Stellan was sure. The old computer knew the requests before the people called. It was a gift, or maybe a joke.
现在斯泰伦确信了。这台旧电脑在人们打电话之前，就知道他们要点什么。这是一份礼物，也许是一个玩笑。
He read the last request. It said, "For the night man, from the radio."
他读了最后一条点歌。上面写着：“送给夜班的人，来自电台。”
Stellan did not understand. He played the song anyway. It was a slow song about a light at night. He listened to the whole song. Nobody called. The room was quiet. Outside, the first bird began to sing.
斯泰伦不明白。他还是放了那首歌。那是一首关于夜里一盏灯的慢歌。他听完了整首歌。没有人打电话来。屋子里很安静。外面，第一只鸟开始唱歌了。
At six o'clock the morning man came in. His name was Gabe. He put a bag of bread on the desk.
早上六点，早班的男人进来了。他叫盖布。他把一袋面包放在桌上。
"You look tired," Gabe said. "Any news?"
“你看起来很累，”盖布说，“有什么新鲜事吗？”
Stellan pointed to the long paper. "The computer made a list for tomorrow. Every song was right."
斯泰伦指了指那张长纸。“电脑生成了一份明天的单子。每一首歌都对上了。”
Gabe read the paper. He laughed. "Old machines do strange things. Maybe it just guessed."
盖布读了读那张纸。他笑了。“旧机器会做些奇怪的事。也许只是猜的。”
"Maybe," Stellan said. But he did not think so.
“也许吧。”斯泰伦说。但他并不这样想。
The next night he came to work early. The printer sat quiet. At midnight the machine made a small sound. A new paper came out.
第二天夜里，他早早来上班。打印机静静地待着。午夜时，机器发出了一声轻响。一张新纸吐了出来。
Stellan picked it up. The date said Thursday. There were three requests. The first one said, "For the night man, with thanks."
斯泰伦拿起它。日期是星期四。上面有三条点歌。第一条写着：“送给夜班的人，谢谢你。”
He smiled. He pressed the button on the microphone.
他笑了。他按下了麦克风上的按钮。
"Good evening," he said. "This is your night man. Here is a song for you."
“晚上好，”他说，“我是你们的夜班人。这首歌送给你们。”
