I don't like danger, but if you live through it, you feel good.
我不喜歡危險(xiǎn),但如果能夠絕處逢生,感覺會(huì)很棒。
Just now we're resting on the other side of a large lake. The wolves sound very far away and I think we're OK. I've done everything possible to make sure they can't follow us.
我們在一個(gè)大湖的另一邊休息。狼的嚎叫聲聽起來很遠(yuǎn),我想我們是安全的。我已經(jīng)竭盡所能來確保狼群追不到我們。
When I heard all those wolves howling in the dark, I touched Baby and said, 'Stand very quietly and listen.'
當(dāng)在黑暗中聽著此起彼伏的狼嚎時(shí),我碰了碰鹿寶寶說:“安安靜靜地待著,仔細(xì)聽。”
Of course Baby didn't understand, but she stopped and didn't move. I was listening for water — a river or anything. I couldn't hear water, just the wind in the trees and a wolf singing to the moon.
鹿寶寶當(dāng)然聽不懂我的話,但是它停住不動(dòng)了。我想聽到水聲——一條河或是其他什么。我沒有聽見,只聽到風(fēng)穿過樹叢和狼對月嚎叫的聲音。
So I tried smelling for water. My nose is wonderful at smelling now and, yes, I could smell something wet. When I turned round, I knew where the wet smell was coming from.
我又試著嗅水的味道。現(xiàn)在我鼻子的嗅覺很靈。是的,我聞到了潮濕的味道。當(dāng)我一轉(zhuǎn)身,我知道了那味道是從哪兒來的。
'We'll be fine, Baby,' I said. I put my hand on her head. 'But we can't stop any more until we get to the water. Can you run with that leg?'
“我們會(huì)沒事的,寶寶。”我把手放在它的頭上。“但是找到水之前我們不能停下來。你能用那條腿跑嗎?”
Baby's leg was hurting, but she ran when I ran. She was afraid of losing me. I was all she had.
鹿寶寶的腿還在疼,但是我在跑的時(shí)候,它也跑起來。它怕失去我,我是它唯一的依靠。
The wolves howled, not all the time but sometimes. I didn't know how near they were. Each howl went on for nearly a minute. Sometimes I didn't know if they were behind or in front of us.
群狼還在時(shí)不時(shí)地嚎叫著。我不能確定它們離得有多近。每一聲嚎叫都持續(xù)將近一分鐘之久。有時(shí)我分不清狼群是在后面還是在前面。
I saw light through the trees. I hurried and Baby came after me. Soon we came to open ground, and there it was — moonlight on water! Not a river, but a big lake.
我看到有光線穿透樹林。我加快速度,鹿寶寶緊緊地跟著。很快我們到了空地,就是這兒——月光倒映在水面上!不是河,而是一個(gè)大湖。
'It's a long swim, Baby,' I told her, 'but if we stay here, we'll die.'
“要游很長距離呢,寶寶。”我對它說,“但如果待在這里,我們會(huì)沒命的。”
Baby wasn't afraid of water. She followed me in and swam easily beside me. It was easier for her to swim than run with her bad leg.
鹿寶寶不怕水。它跟著我走進(jìn)湖水,在我身邊輕松地游著。對它來講,用傷腿游泳比跑路容易。
How far was it to the other side? I don't know, but it took us a long, long time. It was more difficult for me than Baby in the end. I'm a walking, climbing animal; deer are running, jumping, swimming animals. My arms and legs hurt, my body felt heavy and I swam more and more slowly. But Baby was always there beside me, touching me all the time, her legs moving quickly in the water. She was warm, while I was cold, and that helped me.
到對岸有多遠(yuǎn)?我不知道,但這花了我們很長很長時(shí)間。最后我反而比鹿寶寶更覺困難。我是擅長行走和攀緣的動(dòng)物,而鹿則擅長奔跑、跳躍和游泳。我的胳膊和腿腳很疼,身體發(fā)沉,游得越來越慢。但是鹿寶寶一直在我旁邊,不停地碰碰我,它的腿在水里飛快劃動(dòng)。我有些冷,但是鹿寶寶的身體很暖和,讓我好受了許多。
The moon went behind clouds and we swam in the dark. I was happy about that because I was afraid the wolves would see us. When my feet hit stones underneath me, I knew the water wasn't deep any more. I stood up. A minute later Baby was walking too. We walked out of the water. My legs couldn't hold me up. I half fell and lay on the ground and felt very happy. Baby lay beside me, wet but warm. I slept for a little while.
月亮隱入云朵背后,我們在黑暗中繼續(xù)往前游。這讓我覺得欣慰,因?yàn)槲遗吕侨簳?huì)看到我們。我的腳碰到了身下的石頭時(shí),我知道水已經(jīng)沒那么深了。我站了起來。很快鹿寶寶也走起來了。我們走出湖面。我的雙腿已經(jīng)撐不住了。我倒下躺在地上,心里非??煳俊3睗穸鴾嘏穆箤殞毧恐遗P下,我睡了一小會(huì)兒。
I've just woken up. We have to begin moving soon. It's still night, but we must be far away from here by morning. Some of the ground is soft. Soft ground is dangerous because the wolves can see where we have gone. We must go on the hard, stony places.
我剛醒過來,我們馬上又要開始趕路。夜晚還沒有過去,但是在早上之前,我們必須要遠(yuǎn)離這里。這兒有的地面很軟,松軟的地面很危險(xiǎn),因?yàn)槔侨簳?huì)看到我們曾從哪兒經(jīng)過。我們得在堅(jiān)硬的石頭地上行進(jìn)。
* * *
* * *
It's wonderful! We're back with Mother, Father and Brother. I wasn't really sure that I could find them.
真是太好了!我們又回到了鹿媽媽、鹿爸爸和鹿哥哥的身邊。我原來并不敢確定能不能找到它們。
When the deer family left us three days ago, I saw some hills to the north. Father always hides in the trees when there's danger, and up there on the hills there are a lot of big, dark trees. Just right for Father.
三天前,當(dāng)鹿群離開我們的時(shí)候,我看到北面有一些小山。有危險(xiǎn)時(shí)鹿爸爸總是躲進(jìn)樹林;而那邊山上有很多高高大大、黑黝黝的樹木,對鹿爸爸正合適。
I had good luck. When we got to the hills, we didn't have to look very far. I could hear the deer eating before I smelt them.
我運(yùn)氣不錯(cuò)。我們到了山上沒有找太遠(yuǎn)。在聞到氣味之前,我就聽到了鹿群吃東西的聲音。
Baby went in a funny, jumping run up to Mother. She kept one foot off the ground; it was still hurting. Mother and Baby touched heads and made noises. Father came and smelt me while Brother watched. Father doesn't usually get too near anyone in the family, but he stood nearly touching me. I think he was saying thank you, and my eyes were wet.
鹿寶寶滑稽地跳到鹿媽媽身邊,一只腳沒有著地,那兒還疼呢。鹿媽媽和鹿寶寶碰碰頭,發(fā)出聲響。鹿爸爸走過來聞聞我,鹿哥哥在一邊看著。鹿爸爸一般不和家里人走得太近,但是它這時(shí)挨著我站著。我想它是在說謝謝,我的眼睛濕潤了。
I spoke to Father. 'We must go deeper into the trees. There are wolves behind us trying to follow us.'
我對鹿爸爸說:“我們必須走進(jìn)樹林深處,后面還有狼在追我們。”
Father didn't like me talking. He moved away and began eating again. Then Brother came. He wanted to play.
鹿爸爸不喜歡我講話。它走開了,又開始吃東西。鹿哥哥走過來,想和我玩。
'I'm too tired,' I explained. 'I want to get deeper into the trees, then I want to sleep.'
“我太累了。”我解釋道,“我想到林子里去,然后睡覺。”
Nobody did what I wanted. They didn't understand about the wolves, and the leaves were sweet. Baby drank Mother's milk and Brother and Father went on eating.
沒有誰按我想的去做。它們都不懂得狼的習(xí)性,而樹葉是如此美味。鹿寶寶在喝媽媽的奶,鹿哥哥和鹿爸爸還在吃。
So I slept where I was.
所以我就地睡下了。
It's afternoon now. We're still here. It's warm and bright and there's a blue sky. I'm not afraid any more. I was just tired. The wolves have lost us and we're OK.
現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)是下午。我們還在這兒。天氣溫暖、睛朗,天色湛藍(lán)。我不再害怕了,我只是累了。狼群沒有找到我們,我們安全了。
* * *
* * *
I was wrong. The wolves followed us. I could hear many wolves howling. They were far away, but coming.
我錯(cuò)了,狼群跟了上來。我可以聽見很多的狼在嚎叫。它們還在遠(yuǎn)處,但正在逼近。
I was angry with myself. How did the wolves find us? Baby and I tried so hard — we ran, we swam across water, and we stayed away from soft ground, but it didn't help.
我生自己的氣。狼群怎么會(huì)找到我們呢?小鹿和我已經(jīng)盡全力了——我們逃跑,游過湖水,繞過松軟的土地,卻都沒用。
Then I saw something which explained it. There were flies walking around a drop of blood on the ground. The cut on Baby's leg was open again, and the wolves were following the strong smell of blood.
然后我找到了原因。一群蒼蠅圍著地上的一滴血亂轉(zhuǎn)。鹿寶寶腿上的傷口又裂開了。狼群沿著強(qiáng)烈的血腥味在追蹤我們。
It was too late to go deep into the trees now. The wolves would find us. I looked at the four deer — my family — and I knew I couldn't let them die. There was an answer. It was dangerous, but I had to do it.
現(xiàn)在想要進(jìn)入樹林深處已經(jīng)太遲了。狼群會(huì)找到我們。我看著四只鹿——那是我的家人——我知道我不能讓它們死。有一個(gè)辦法,很危險(xiǎn),但我不得不去做。
First I cleaned Baby's cut again and put leaves on it to stop the blood. Then I cut myself — a small cut on the leg, with a sharp stone.
我先清洗了鹿寶寶的傷口,把樹葉敷在上面止住血。然后我割傷了自己——用鋒利的石塊在腿上劃了一個(gè)小口子。
'You go up there,' I said to Father, 'up into the trees and I'll go along open ground, over there. The wolves will follow my blood. If the wolves don't catch me, I'll wait for a few days and then I'll find you again. Do you understand?'
“你到那兒去。”我對鹿爸爸說,“到樹林里去,我去另一邊的空地。狼群會(huì)跟著我的血來找我。如果狼群沒有追到我,我會(huì)等上幾天,然后再來找你們。明白嗎?”
Of course he didn't, but he understood the danger that was coming. Brother wanted to come with me. This time Father got angry with him and pushed him up the hill. No goodbyes, of course.
它當(dāng)然不明白,但是它明白正在逼近的危險(xiǎn)。鹿哥哥想和我一起走。但這次鹿爸爸對它發(fā)了脾氣,把它趕上了山。當(dāng)然了,沒有道別。
I began running down the hill where there were no trees. I looked back and I couldn't see the deer.
我開始跑下山,到了沒有樹的地方。我回頭看去,已經(jīng)看不到鹿群了。
I was stronger after my sleep and I ran fast. I knew where I was going. There was a high, rocky hill about two miles away — I could climb it, but wolves couldn't. But could I get there before the wolves found me?
睡過之后,我更有勁兒了,我跑得很快。我知道要去哪兒。兩英里外有一座高聳的石頭山——我可以爬上去,但是狼不行。但在狼群找到我之前,我能到達(dá)那里嗎?
I ran and didn't look back. After ten minutes I wanted to stop and rest, but then I heard the howls. I looked back and the wolves were running behind me.
我頭也不回地跑。十分鐘后,我想停下來歇一歇,可這時(shí)我聽到了狼嚎。我轉(zhuǎn)過頭一看,群狼在我的身后追來。
So I didn't rest. I ran and they ran. I was afraid, really afraid. I couldn't feel my legs. 'Don't fall, keep going,' I said to myself.
于是我沒有休息。我跑,它們也跑。我很害怕,真的害怕。我已經(jīng)感覺不到我的雙腿了。“不要倒下,繼續(xù)跑。”我告訴自己。
I ran to save my life. When I came to the rocks, I didn't stop; I climbed up faster than a wild cat. One wolf hit another wolf just below me and fell over. Their angry howls rang in my ears. I went up and up until I came to a place where I could rest. I sat with my back to the rock and looked down. Wolves everywhere...
我要逃命,當(dāng)跑到石頭山時(shí),我沒有停下;我爬了上去,比野貓還快。就在我的下面,一只狼撞到了另外一只身上,摔了下去。它們憤怒的嚎叫響徹我的耳際,我越爬越高,直到一個(gè)可以休息的地方。我坐下來背靠巖石住下看。群狼遍地……
I'm here and they can't get me now. When I've rested, I'll climb up to the top and I'll be OK.
我在這里,它們現(xiàn)在捉不到我。等我休息好了,我就會(huì)繼續(xù)爬到山頂,那樣我就安全了。
No, wait — perhaps I'll stay here until morning. I need to sleep. I'll feel better after a good sleep. I don't feel very well. I can't remember the last time I ate something. Listen to those wolves! They're hungry too, of course. I'm an animal just like them.
不,等等——也許我要在這里一直待到早上。我需要睡覺。酣睡之后,我會(huì)覺得更有力氣。我覺得不太舒服。我記不起上一次吃東西是什么時(shí)候。聽聽這些狼嚎!它們當(dāng)然也餓了。我和他們一樣,也是動(dòng)物。
RICHARD'S FATHER SPEAKS:
理查德爸爸的話:
What happened? We don't know.
到底發(fā)生了什么?我們不知道。
When Richard's Year of Sharing finished, I went to bring him home. I followed the radio call of his recorder. I found the recorder at the bottom of the hill where he tried to escape from the wolves. The recorder was there, but not Richard.
當(dāng)理查德的“分享年”結(jié)束后,我去接他回家。我跟著他的錄音機(jī)的無線電信號去找。我在山腳下發(fā)現(xiàn)了錄音機(jī),在那兒他曾試圖擺脫狼群。錄音機(jī)還在,但理查德不在了。
Did he fall while he was sleeping? Did the accident happen next morning while he was climbing to the top? I don't know.
他是睡著的時(shí)候跌下山的嗎,還是第二天早上爬向山頂時(shí)出的意外?我不知道。
I am very unhappy. The village says we can now have another child. But I don't want one. I cannot say more.
我非常難過。村里人說我們可以再生一個(gè)孩子,但是我不想,我講不下去了。
RICHARD'S MOTHER SPEAKS:
理查德媽媽的話:
Richard was a difficult boy. He was angry and he wanted to bring back the old world, the world where people took everything and animals had nothing. But in the end he learnt to share. He learnt that people are animals too, and that the world belongs not just to people, but to all animals. It is a hard lesson to learn, but we must all learn it. Now my son is dead. But the people of this village, and their children, and their children's children, will never forget him.
理查德是個(gè)倔強(qiáng)的孩子。他心中充滿憤怒,想找回過去的世界。在過去的世界里,人類擁有一切,而動(dòng)物一無所有。但是最后,他學(xué)會(huì)了如何“分享”,懂得了人也是動(dòng)物的一分子,而世界不僅僅屬于人類,也屬于所有的動(dòng)物。學(xué)習(xí)這一課并不容易,但卻是我們所有人的必修課?,F(xiàn)在我的兒子死了,而村里所有的人,還有他們的孩子們,他們孩子的孩子們,將永遠(yuǎn)銘記他。