為我妹妹留一個

侯　松

初秋的一天，我們的醫療服務隊來到一家“孤兒戶”，在斯威士蘭，這樣的“孤兒戶”有一萬五千多個。在破舊的小屋里，我們看到了一個漂亮的小姑娘，她名叫坦茲勒，長著一雙大大的棕色眼睛。我立即從包里拿了顆糖果給她，她用當地的語言對我說了些什么。我聽不懂，身邊的護士為我當起了翻譯：

“她還想要一顆，醫生，給她的妹妹。”

“當然可以。”我說，于是又給她拿了一顆。

為村里的一個肺結核病人做完治療，返回時我們又路過坦茲勒的小屋，于是走進去與她道別。令我們大吃一驚的是，這小姑娘似乎一直都捏著我后來給她的那顆糖果。

經過護士的詢問，我們才知曉她的遭遇。

坦茲勒只有7歲，兩年前，她的父母被無情的艾滋病魔奪走了生命。在這片土地上，艾滋病是人類生命的第一殺手。就在父母雙雙撒手人寰的時候，她又被迫與三歲的小妹妹分開了。自那以后，每當有人給她什么東西，不是兩份，她決不會要。蘿卜，兩個；玩具，兩個；糖，兩顆——一份給她自己，一份留給她的妹妹（很可能她已不在人世了）。就在她住的那間破泥屋里，我們還看到了好幾件她為妹妹留的舊東西。她期盼著有一天她們倆姐妹能夠重逢，那樣她就可以親手把這些東西送給她在這個世界上惟一的親人。

我仍然清楚地記得，那天護士還以為能勸服坦茲勒。“如果有人給你吃的東西，坦茲勒，你必須得拿著，即使不是兩份，是一份，為了你的健康和安全，你一定要拿著！”看著她頑固地搖頭，我們眼眶里的淚水再也忍不住了。是的，她很窮，除了愛與希望，她一無所有，但這些不是比任何東西都更重要嗎？

我突然想起老鷹樂隊的一首老歌：“當我們挨餓的時候，愛會支撐我們活下去。”就借這一句歌詞，我用最虔誠的心為坦茲勒祈禱……

One day in the early autumn, we stopped at one of the 15, 000 orphan-led households in Swaziland. Inside the hut we found a beautiful little girl with huge brown eyes. Her name was Tanzile. I gave her a sweet from my bag and she said something back to me in Si-swati, the native language, which the nurse next to me translated:

“She wants another one , doctor-to give to her little sister.”

I said “of course” and gave her another.

After we had tended to a man with tuberculosis a bit further down the road, we passed by Tanziles house to say goodbye. To our surprise she seemed to be holding on to that extra sweet I had given her.

Weve got her experiences after the nurses inquiry.

Tanzile is 7 now. Two years ago when she was five her mom and dad both died of AIDS like so many have in this country. At the time of her parents tragic death, she was separated from her baby sister who was three at the time. But ever since that time, whenever Tanzile receives anything from anyone, including food,-she refuses to accept it, unless they give her two. Two carrots, two toys, two sweets - one for her and one for her baby sister (who in all likelihood didnt survive.) In fact, in the little mud hut where she lives, we found a pile of old things which she has been collecting to give to her sister one day.

I can still remember the nurse trying to convince her that “if someone gives you food Tanzile, you must accept it - even if it is only one piece and not two - for your own health and safety.” And it was so hard for us to keep the tears from our eyes as she shook her head defiantly. Her hope and her love was all that she had. It mattered more than anything else.

I think of that old Eagles song : “When were hungry, love will keep us alive.” I pray for Tanzile...