My company sent me on my first business trip, and I was supposed to travel around the city intaxis. Having never ridden in a taxi before, I had problems from start to finish.

公司派我进行商务旅行，我原本想乘出租车环城旅行。我从未做过出租车，从头到尾我都有问题。

First, I had trouble hailing a cab. I didn’t realize that when the taxi’s light is off that thecabbie is off duty. No wonder they took no notice of me.

叫出租车时我碰到了麻烦，我没有意识到，出租车的灯已经灭了，司机已经下班了。难怪他们没有注意到我。

Then, a cab did pull over and I told him where I wanted to go. He said, though, that hewouldn’t take me because he wouldn’t be able to get a return fare!

然后，有辆出租车开到路边，我告诉他我要去的地方，但是他说他不想载我，因为他赚不到来回的路费。

I was looking around for a taxi stand when another cab pulled over, but my troubles didn’tstop there.

我四处寻找计程车停车场，这时又有辆出租车开过来，我的麻烦并未就此停止。

Cabbie: Where to?

去哪儿?

Ignacio: I’d like to go the Hamilton Building downtown. There’s a flat rate, isn’t there?

我要去市中心的Hamilton Building。有统一的价格，对吧?

Cabbie: No, we don’t have flat rates.

没有，我们没有统一的价格。

Ignacio: But a flat rate to downtown is required by law, isn’t it?

但是去市中心的统一价格是受法律约束的，不是吗?

Cabbie: Do you want to go downtown or not? I’ve already started the meter.

你到底想不想去市中心?我已经打开计算器了。

Ignacio: Where are your posted rates?

那你们约定的费用是多少?

Cabbie: We don’t have any. The first mile is $3.50 and each quarter mile is $2.00.

我们没有约定的，第一里是3.50美元，每0.25里2美元。

Ignacio: That doesn’t sound right to me. I think I’ll try another cab.

那听起来不适合我。我想我得找辆别的车。

Cabbie: Suit yourself!

随便。

I remembered what my co-worker told me. She said to steer clear of private cabs, like thisone. The cabbies don’t have licenses and some of them will really take you for a ride – andnot the kind you want!

我记得同事告诉过我。她说要避开个体的黑车，比如刚才的那辆。司机没有营业执照，有些人会欺骗你———那并不是你想找的司机。