器械，损坏了他大脑的一部分，导致了大脑性麻痹，一种影响他说话，手部活动以及行走的神经系统的紊乱。
12 Porter came to Portland when he was 13 after his father, a salesman, was transferred here. He attended a school for the disabled and then Lincoln High School, where he was placed in a class for slow kids.
13 But he wasn't slow.
波特13岁那年随着当推销员的父亲工作调动来到波特兰。他上了一个残疾人学校，后来就读林肯高级中学，在那儿他被编入慢班。 但他并不笨。
14 His mind was trapped in a body that didn't work. Speaking was difficult and took time. People were impatient and didn't listen. He felt different -- was different -- from the kids who rushed about in the halls and planned dances he would never attend.
他由于身体不能正常运行而使脑子不能充分发挥其功能。他说话困难，而且慢。别人不耐烦，不听他说。他觉得自己不同于――事实上也确实不同于――那些在过道里东奔西跑的孩子，那些孩子安排的舞会他永远也不可能参加。
15 What could his future be? Porter wanted to do something and his mother was certain that he could rise above his limitations. With her encouragement, he applied for a job with the Fuller Brush Co. only to be turned down. He couldn't carry a product briefcase or walk a route, they said. 他将来会是个什么样子呢？波特想做些事，母亲也相信他能冲破身体的局限。在她的鼓励之下，他向福勒牙刷公司申请一份工作，结果却遭到拒绝。他不能提样品包，也不能跑一条推销线路，他们说。
16 Porter knew he wanted to be a salesman. He began reading help wanted ads in the newspaper. When he saw one for Watkins, a company that sold household products door-to-door, his mother set up a meeting with a representative. The man said no, but Porter wouldn't listen. He just wanted a chance. The man gave in and offered Porter a section of the city that no salesman wanted.
波特知道自己想当推销员。他开始阅读报纸上的招聘广告。他看到沃特金斯，一家上门推销家用物品的公司要人，他母亲就跟其代理人安排会面。那人说不行，可波特不予理会。他就是需要一个机会。那人让步了，把城里一个其他推销员都不要的区域派给了他。
17 It took Porter four false starts before he found the courage to ring the first doorbell. The man who answered told him to go away, a pattern repeated throughout the day. 波特一开始四次都没敢敲门，第五次才鼓起勇气按了第一户人家的门铃。开门的那人让他走开，这种情形持续了一整天。
18 That night Porter read through company literature and discovered the products were guaranteed. He would sell that pledge. He just needed people to listen.
19 If a customer turned him down, Porter kept coming back until they heard him. And he sold. 当晚，波特仔细阅读了公司的宣传资料，发现产品都是保用的。他要把保用作为卖点。只要别人肯听他说话就成。
要是客户回绝波特，拒绝倾听他的介绍，他就一再上门。就这样他将产品卖了出去。
20 For several years he was Watkins' top retail salesman. Now he is the only one of the company's 44,000 salespeople who sells door-to-door.
21 The bus stops in the Transit Mall, and Porter gets off. 他连着几年都是沃特金斯公司的最佳零售推销员。如今他是该公司44000名推销员中惟一一个上门推销的人。
公共汽车在公交中转购物中心站停下，波特下了车。
22 His body is not made for walking. Each step strains his joints. Headaches are constant visitors. His right arm is nearly useless. He can't fully control the limb. His body tilts at the waist; he seems to be heading into a strong, steady wind that keeps him off balance. At times, he looks like a toddler taking his first steps. 23 He walks 10 miles a day.
他的身体不适合行走。每走一步关节都疼。头疼也是习以为常的事。他的右臂几乎没用。他不能完全控制这只手臂。他的身体从腰部开始前倾，看上去就像是顶着一股强劲的吹个不停的风迈步向前，风似乎要把他刮倒。有时他看上去就像是个刚刚学步的孩童。 他每天要走10英里的路程。
24 His first stop today, like every day, is a shoeshine stand where employees tie his laces. Twice a week he pays for a shine. At a nearby hotel one of the doormen buttons Porter's top shirt button and slips on his clip-on tie. He then walks to another bus that drops him off a mile from his territory.
25 He left home nearly three hours ago.
像平日一样，他今天的第一站是个擦鞋摊，这里的雇员替他系好鞋带。他每周请他们擦两次鞋。附近一家旅馆的门卫替他扣上衬衣最上面一粒纽扣，戴上用别针别上的领带。随后他步行去搭乘另一部巴士，在距离他的推销区域一英里处下车。 他是差不多3个小时前从家里动身的。
* * *
26 The wind is cold and raindrops fall. Porter stops at the first house. This is the moment he's been preparing for since 5:45 a.m. He rings the bell. 27 A woman comes to the door.
风冷雨淋。波特在第一户人家门前停了下来。这是他从5：45分开始就为之准备的时刻。他按了门铃。
一位妇人开了门。
28 \
29 \ 30 Porter nods.
31 \ 32 \ 33 She shuts the door.
34 Porter's eyes reveal nothing. 35 He moves to the next house. 36 The door opens. 37 Then closes. “你好。”
“不，多谢了。我这就要出门。” 波特点点头。
“那我过会儿来，可以吗？”他问。 “不用了，”那妇人回答道。 她关上了门。
波特眼里没有流露丝毫神情。 他转向下一个人家。 门开了。 随即又关上。
38 He doesn't get a chance to speak. Porter's expression never changes. He stops at every home in his territory. People might not buy now. Next time. Maybe. No doesn't mean never. Some of his best customers are people who repeatedly turned him down before buying. 他连开口说话的机会都没有。波特的表情从不改变。他敲开自己推销区内的每一个家门。人们现在可能不买什么。也许下一次会买。现在不买不等于永远不买。他的一些老客户都是那些多次把他拒之门外而后来才买的人。
39 He makes his way down the street. 40 \ 41 \
42 \ 43 \
他沿着街道往前走。 “我不想试用这个产品。” “也许下次试一试。” “对不起。我在打电话。” “不要。”
44 Ninety minutes later, Porter still has not made a sale. But there is always another home. 45 He walks on.
46 He knocks on a door. A woman appears from the backyard where she's gardening. She often buys, but not today, she says, as she walks away. 47 \ 48 She pauses. 49 \
90分钟之后，波特仍没能卖出一件物品。不过，下面有的是人家。 他继续向前走。
他敲响一扇门。一位正在拾掇花园的妇女从后院走了出来。她常常买他的东西，不过今天不买，她说着走开了。
“你真的不买什么？”波特问。 她迟疑了一下。 “那么??”
50 That's all Porter needs. He walks as fast as he can, tailing her as she heads to the backyard. He sets his briefcase down and opens it. He puts on his glasses, removes his brochures and begins his sales talk, showing the woman pictures and describing each product.
波特要的就是这一迟疑。他尽可能快步上前，跟着她朝后院走去。他放下公文包，打了开来。他戴上眼镜，拿出产品介绍小册子，开始推销，给那位妇人看图片，详细介绍每一个产品。
51 Spices? 52 \ 53 Jams?
54 \
55 Porter's hearing is the one perfect thing his body does. Except when he gets a live one. Then the word \ 调料？ “不要。” 果酱？
“不要。恐怕今天不要什么，比尔。”
波特的听觉是他身上惟一没有一点毛病的功能。只有当他察觉对方有可能买他东西的时候才会发生例外。这个时候，他是听不见“不”字的。
56 Pepper? 57 \
58 Laundry soap? 59 \
60 Porter stops. He smells blood. He quickly remembers her last order.
61 \right about now.\
62 \ 胡椒粉？ “不要。” 洗衣皂？ “嗯。”
波特停了下来。他嗅到了猎物。他很快记起了她上次的订单。
“对了，你肥皂差不多用完了吧？你上次买的就是这个。现在该差不多用完了。” “没错，比尔。我买一块。” * * *
63 He arrives home, in a rainstorm, after 7 p.m. Today was not profitable. He tells himself not to worry. Four days left in the week.
64 At least he's off his feet and home.