意大利童话 作者:卡尔维诺-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


The　Ship　with　Three　Decks

　　Once　there　was　a　poor　couple　who　lived　way　out　in　the　country。　A　baby　boy　was　born　to　them；　but　there　was　no　one　anywhere　around　to　be　his　godfather。　They　went　into　town；　but　they　didn't　know　a　soul　there　and　couldn't　have　the　child　baptized　without　a　godfather。　They　saw　a　man　wrapped　in　a　black　cloak　on　the　church　doorstep　and　asked；　〃Kind　sir；　would　you　please　be　this　boy's　godfather？〃　The　man　agreed；　and　the　child　was　baptized。　
　　When　they　came　out　of　the　church；　the　stranger　said；　〃I　now　must　give　my　godson　his　present。　Take　this　purse；　which　is　to　be　used　to　raise　and　educate　him。　And　give　him　this　letter　when　he　has　learned　to　read。〃　The　father　and　mother　were　thunderstruck；　but　before　they　could　find　words　of　thanks　and　ask　the　man　his　name；　he　had　disappeared。　
　　The　purse　was　full　of　gold　crowns；　which　paid　for　the　boy's　education。　Once　he　could　read；　his　parents　gave　him　the　letter；　which　said：　
　　Dear　Godson；　
　　I　am　going　back　to　repossess　my　throne　after　a　long　exile；　and　I　need　an　heir。　As　soon　as　you　read　this　letter；　set　out　on　a　journey　to　your　dear　godfather；　the　king　of　England。　
　　P。S。　Along　the　way；　beware　of　a　cross…eyed　man；　a　cripple；　and　a　mangy　character。　
　　The　youth　said；　〃Father；　Mother；　farewell。　I　must　go　to　my　godfather。〃　After　a　few　days　of　walking；　he　met　a　traveler　who　asked；　〃Where　are　you　going；　my　lad？〃　
　　〃To　England。〃　
　　〃So　am　I。　We　shall　travel　together。〃　
　　The　youth　noticed　the　man's　eyes：　one　of　them　looked　east；　and　the　other　west；　so　the　boy　realized　this　was　the　cross…eyed　man　he　must　avoid。　He　found　a　pretext　for　stopping；　then　took　another　road。　
　　He　met　another　traveler　sitting　on　a　stone。　〃Are　you　going　to　England？　We'll　therefore　travel　together；〃　said　the　stranger；　who　got　up　and　limped　along；　leaning　on　a　stick。　He's　the　cripple；　thought　the　youth；　and　changed　roads　again。　
　　He　met　a　third　traveler；　whose　eyes；　like　his　legs；　bespoke　perfect　health。　As　for　any　scalp　disease；　this　man　had　the　thickest　and　cleanest　head　of　black　hair　you　ever　saw。　As　the　stranger　was　also　on　his　way　to　England；　they　traveled　together。　They　stopped　for　the　night　at　an　inn；　where　the　youth；　wary　of　his　panion；　handed　over　his　purse　and　the　letter　for　the　king　to　the　innkeeper　for　safekeeping。　During　the　night　while　everybody　was　sleeping；　the　stranger　rose　and　went　to　the　innkeeper　for　the　purse；　letter；　and　horse。　In　the　morning　the　young　man　found　himself　alone；　penniless；　on　foot；　and　with　no　letter　for　the　king。　
　　〃Your　servant　came　to　me　in　the　night；〃　explained　the　innkeeper；　〃for　all　your　belongings。　Then　he　left。。。〃　
　　The　youth　set　out　on　foot。　At　a　bend　in　the　road　he　spied　his　horse　tethered　to　a　tree　in　a　field。　He　was　about　to　untie　it；　when　from　behind　the　tree　rushed　last　night's　panion　armed　with　a　pistol。　〃If　your　don't　want　to　die　on　the　spot；〃　he　said；　〃you　must　bee　my　servant　and　pretend　I'm　the　king　of　England's　godson。〃　As　he　spoke；　he　removed　his　black　wig；　revealing　a　scalp　pletely　covered　with　mange。　
　　They　set　out；　the　mangy　one　on　horseback；　the　youth　on　foot；　and　at　last　reached　England。　With　open　arms　the　king　weled　the　mangy　one；　taking　him　for　his　godson；　while　the　real　godson　was　assigned　to　the　stables　as　stable　boy。　But　the　mangy　one　couldn't　wait　to　get　rid　of　his　panion；　and　the　opportunity　soon　presented　itself。　The　king　one　day　said　to　the　false　godson；　〃If　you　could　free　my　daughter　from　the　spell　that　holds　her　prisoner　on　a　certain　island；　I'd　give　her　to　you　in　marriage。　The　only　difficulty　is　that　nobody　who　has　attempted　to　free　her　has　ever　e　back　alive。〃　The　mangy　one　lost　no　time　in　replying。　〃Try　sending　my　servant；　who　is　surely　capable　of　setting　her　free。〃　
　　The　king　summoned　the　youth　at　once　and　asked；　〃Can　you　set　my　daughter　free？〃　
　　〃Your　daughter？　Tell　me　where　she　is；　Majesty！〃　
　　The　king　would　only　say；　〃I　warn　you　that　you'll　lose　your　head　if　you　e　back　to　me　without　her。〃　
　　The　youth　went　to　the　pier　and　watched　the　ships　sail　away。　He　had　no　idea　how　to　reach　the　princess's　island。　An　old　sailor　with　a　beard　down　to　his　knees　approached　him　and　said；　〃Ask　for　a　ship　with　three　decks。〃　
　　The　youth　went　to　the　king　and　had　a　ship　with　three　decks　rigged。　When　it　was　in　port　and　ready　to　weigh　anchor；　the　old　sailor　reappeared。　〃Now　have　one　deck　loaded　with　cheese　rinds；　another　with　bread　crumbs；　and　the　third　with　stinking　carrion。〃　
　　The　youth　had　the　three　decks　loaded。　
　　〃Now；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃when　the　king　says；　'Choose　all　the　sailors　you　want；'　you　will　reply；　'I　need　only　one；'　and　select　me。〃　That　he　did；　and　the　whole　town　turned　out　to　watch　the　ship　sail　off　with　that　strange　cargo　and　a　crew　of　one；　who　also　happened　to　be　on　his　last　legs。　
　　They　sailed　for　three　months　straight；　at　the　end　of　which　time　they　spied　a　lighthouse　in　the　night　and　entered　a　port。　All　they　could　make　out　on　shore　were　low；　low　houses　and　stealthy　movement。　At　last　a　voice　asked；　〃What　cargo　do　you　carry？〃　
　　〃Cheese　rinds；〃　replied　the　old　sailor。　
　　〃Fine；〃　they　said　on　shore。　〃That's　what　we　need。〃　
　　It　was　the　Island　of　Rats；　where　all　the　inhabitants　were　rats；　who　said；　〃We'll　buy　the　entire　cargo；　but　we　have　no　money　with　which　to　pay　you。　But　any　time　you　need　us；　you　have　only　to　say；　'Rats；　fine　rats；　help　us！'　and　we'll　be　right　there　to　help　you。〃　
　　The　youth　and　the　sailor　dropped　the　gangplank；　and　the　rats　came　aboard　and　unloaded　the　cheese　rinds　in　a　flash。　
　　From　there　the　men　sailed　to　another　island。　It　was　also　night　and　they　could　make　out　nothing　at　all　in　port。　It　was　worse　than　the　other　place；　with　not　a　house　or　a　tree　anywhere　in　sight。　〃What　cargo　do　you　bring？〃　asked　voices　in　the　dark。　
　　〃Bread　crumbs；〃　replied　the　sailor。　
　　〃Fine！　That's　just　what　we　need！〃　
　　It　was　the　Island　of　Ants；　where　all　the　inhabitants　were　ants。　Nor　did　they　have　any　money　either；　but　they　said；　〃Whenever　you　need　us；　you　have　only　to　say；　'Ants；　fine　ants；　help　us！'　and　we'll　be　right　there；　no　matter　where　you　are。〃　
　　The　ants　carried　all　the　bread　crumbs　down　the　fore　and　aft　moorings；　and　the　ship　cast　off　again。　
　　It　came　to　an　island　of　rocky　cliffs　that　dropped　straight　down　to　port。　〃What　cargo　do　you　bring？〃　cried　voices　from　above。　
　　〃Stinking　carrion！〃　
　　〃Excellent！　That's　just　what　we　need；〃　and　huge　shadows　swooped　down　on　the　ship。　
　　It　was　the　Island　of　Vultures；　inhabited　entirely　by　those　greedy　birds。　They　flew　off　with　every　ounce　of　carrion；　promising　in　return　to　help　the　men　whenever　they　called；　〃Vultures；　fine　vultures；　help　us！〃　
　　After　several　more　months　of　sailing；　they　landed　on　the　island　where　the　king　of　England's　daughter　was　a　prisoner。　They　disembarked；　walked　through　a　long　cave；　and　emerged　before　a　palace　in　a　garden。　A　dwarf　walked　out　to　meet　them。　〃Is　the　king　of　England's　daughter　here？〃　asked　the　youth。　
　　〃e　in　and　ask　Fairy　Sibiana；〃　replied　the　dwarf；　showing　them　into　the　palace；　which　had　gold　floors　and　crystal　walls。　Fairy　Sibiana　sat　on　a　throne　of　crystal　and　gold。　
　　〃Kings　and　princes　have　brought　entire　armies　to　free　the　princess；〃　said　the　fairy；　〃and　every　last　one　of　them　died。〃　
　　〃All　I　have　are　my　will　and　my　courage；〃　said　the　youth。　
　　〃Well；　then；　you　must　undergo　three　trials。　If　you　fail；　you'll　not　get　away　from　here　alive。　Do　you　see　that　mountain　shutting　out　the　sun　from　my　view？　You　must　level　it　by　tomorrow　morning。　When　I　wake　up　I　want　the　sunlight　streaming　into　my　room。〃　
　　The　dwarf　came　out　with　a　pickax　and　led　the　youth　to　the　foot　of　the　mountain。　The　young　man　brought　the　pickax　down　once；　and　the　blade　snapped　in　two。　〃Now　how　am　I　going　to　dig？〃　he　wondered；　then　remembered　the　rats　on　the　other　island。　〃Rats；　fine　rats；　help　me！〃　
　　He'd　not　got　the　words　out　of　his　mouth　before　the　mountain　was　swarming　with　rats　from　top　to　bottom。　They　dug　and　gnawed　and　clawed；　while　the　mountain　dwindled　and　dwindled　and　dwindled。。。　
　　Next　morning　Fairy　Sibiana　was　awakened　by　the　first　rays　of　sun　streaming　into　her　room。　〃congratulations！〃　she　said　to　the　youth；　〃but　you're　not　done　yet。〃　She　led　him　to　the　palace's　underground　vaults；　in　the　center　of　which　was　a　room　with　a　ceiling　as　high　as　a　church's　and　containing　one　big　heap　of　peas　and　lentils　that　reached　the　ceiling。　〃You　have　this　whole　night　to　separate　the　peas　from　the　lentils　into　two　distinct　piles。　Heaven　help　you　if　you　leave　one　single　lentil　in　the　pea　pile；　or　one　single　pea　in　the　lentil　pile。〃　
　　The　dwarf　left　him　a　candle　wick　and　went　off　with　the　fairy。　As　the　wick　burned　down　to　nothing；　the　youth　continued　to　stare　at　the　huge　pile；　wondering　how　any　human　could　ever　acplish　so　intricate　a　task。　Then　he　remembered　the　ants　on　the　other　island。　〃Ants；　fine　ants；〃　he　called；　〃help　me！〃　
　　No　sooner　had　he　said　those　words　than　the　entire　cellar　teemed　with　those　tiny　insects。　They　converged　on　the　heap　and；　with　order　and　patience；　made　two　separate　piles；　one　team　of　ants　carrying　peas　and　the　other　lentils。　
　　〃I'm　still　not　defeated；〃　said　the　fairy　when　she　saw　the　task　pleted。　〃A　far　more　difficult　trial　now　awaits　you。　You　have　from　now　till　dawn　to　fetch　me　a　barrel　of　the　water　of　long　life。〃　
　　The　spring　of　long　life　was　at　the　top　of　a　steep　mountain　infested　with　savage　beasts。　Scaling　the　mountain　was　out　of　the　question；　much　less　while　carrying　a　barrel。　But　the　youth　called；　〃Vultures；　fine　vultures；　help　me！〃　and　the　sky　darkened　with　vultures　circling　down　to　earth。　The　youth　attached　a　phial　to　the　neck　of　each；　and　the　vultures　soared　in　a　grand　formation　straight　to　the　spring　on　the　mountaintop；　filled　their　phials；　and　flew　back　with　them　to　the　youth；　who　poured　the　water　into　the　barrel　he　had　waiting。　
　　When　the　barrel　was　full；　hoofbeats　were　heard　retreating。　Fairy　Sibiana　was　fleeing　for　dear　life；　followed　by　her　dwarfs；　while　out　of　the　palace　ran　the　king　of　England's　daughter；　cheering：　〃I'm　safe　at　last！　You　set　me　free！〃　
　　With　the　king's　daughter　and　the　water　of　long　life；　the　youth　returned　to　his　ship；　where　the　old　sailor　was　all　ready　to　weigh　anchor。　
　　The　king　of　England　scanned　the　sea　every　day　through　his　telescope。　Seeing　a　ship　approach　that　was　flying　the　English　flag；　he　ran　to　port　overjoyed。　When　the　mangy　one　beheld　the　youth　safe　and　sound　and　escorting　the　king's　daughter；　he　was　fit　to　be　tied　and　resolved　to　have　him　killed。　
　　While　the　king　was　celebrating　his　daughter's　return　with　a　grand　banquet；　two　grim…looking　fellows　came　to　get　the　youth；　saying　it　was　a　matter　of　life　and　death。　Puzzled；　he　followed　them。　When　they　got　to　the　woods；　the　two　fellows；　who　were　assassins　hired　by　the　mangy　one；　drew　their　knives　and　cut　the　youth's　throat。　
　　Meanwhile　at　the　banquet；　the　king's　daughter　was　more　and　more　worried；　since　the　youth　had　gone　off　with　that　sinister　pair　and　not　returned。　She　went　out　looking　for　him　and；　reaching　the　woods；　found　his　body　covered　with　wounds。　But　the　old　sailor　had　brought　along　the　barrel　containing　the　water　of　long　life；　in　which　he　immersed　the　youth's　body；　only　to　see　him　jump　right