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       初秋的一天，我们的医疗服务队来到一家“孤儿户”，在斯威士兰，这样的“孤儿户”有一万五千多个。在破旧的小屋里，我们看到了一个漂亮的小姑娘，她名叫坦兹勒，长着一双大大的棕色眼睛。我立即从包里拿了颗糖果给她，她用当地的语言对我说了些什么。我听不懂，身边的护士为我当起了翻译：
       “她还想要一颗，医生，给她的妹妹。”
       “当然可以。”我说，于是又给她拿了一颗。
       为村里的一个肺结核病人做完治疗，返回时我们又路过坦兹勒的小屋，于是走进去与她道别。令我们大吃一惊的是，这小姑娘似乎一直都捏着我后来给她的那颗糖果。
       经过护士的询问，我们才知晓她的遭遇。
       坦兹勒只有7岁，两年前，她的父母被无情的艾滋病魔夺走了生命。在这片土地上，艾滋病是人类生命的第一杀手。就在父母双双撒手人寰的时候，她又被迫与三岁的小妹妹分开了。自那以后，每当有人给她什么东西，不是两份，她决不会要。萝卜，两个；玩具，两个；糖，两颗——一份给她自己，一份留给她的妹妹（很可能她已不在人世了）。就在她住的那间破泥屋里，我们还看到了好几件她为妹妹留的旧东西。她期盼着有一天她们俩姐妹能够重逢，那样她就可以亲手把这些东西送给她在这个世界上惟一的亲人。
       我仍然清楚地记得，那天护士还以为能劝服坦兹勒。“如果有人给你吃的东西，坦兹勒，你必须得拿着，即使不是两份，是一份，为了你的健康和安全，你一定要拿着！”看着她顽固地摇头，我们眼眶里的泪水再也忍不住了。是的，她很穷，除了爱与希望，她一无所有，但这些不是比任何东西都更重要吗？
       我突然想起老鹰乐队的一首老歌：“当我们挨饿的时候，爱会支撑我们活下去。”就借这一句歌词，我用最虔诚的心为坦兹勒祈祷……
       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 Tanzile’s house to say goodbye. To our surprise she seemed to be holding on to that extra sweet I had given her.
       We’ve got her experiences after the nurse’s 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 didn’t 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 we’re hungry, love will keep us alive.” I pray for Tanzile...