The Sparrow & the Hawk麻雀與老鷹

I glide gracefully， looking down at the world below me. I swoop1） over the trees， adjusting my wing to catch the breeze. I feel the strong winds blow over me， calming my thoughts. I am a sparrow， I think to myself. I am me. As I think this， I get a bad feeling. I look up. Up， high in the sky， regarding2） me with beady3） eyes： a hawk. I don't take time to recognize what kind. Knowing I've noticed him， he dives4） at me， screaming. Knowing it will be easier to escape， I dive， too. Down， down towards the trees. Though I am already lower， the hawk is faster. It is a race for safety. We both fly to live. I fly to escape the hawk， a predator5）. He flies to catch prey， to eat. One of us must lose. The hawk is too close. He stretches his talons6）， ready to catch me and fly away before he crashes into the tall trees. I realize quickly that speed is not the answer to survival. I am a sparrow. I am agile7）. The question lies in the unknown， though. He may be intimidating， but is he any match for me？ There is no time to think. He rakes8） his talons forward， hoping to win the contest of survival， but I am not ready to give myself up.

I flap my wings and flit9） to the right. He is not ready for that move. He puts on the brakes10）， which gives me time to escape and plan my next move because I know that he will not give up until he has caught me.

I may not be able to escape completely， but I can put death off until I have reached the bottom of the hill of life. I have already climbed to the peak， and I am climbing down， wishing there was not a bottom waiting for me.

The hawk flies a sharp turn around， and as he streaks11） at me， I feint12） to the right and dive down again. Swooping and diving， he chases me where I hoped he would： down into the trees， where there is an obstacle course of branches as an arena. As I pass under the treetops， I am surprised by the sudden dimness13）. I can't see him for a second， but then he is there right behind me. We dodge14） branch after branch， but I can't seem to get him off my tail. My wings are sore， and I am getting tired， and yet， I still fight for my life. Suddenly， I see him putting on an extra burst of speed， and I feel his sharp talons finally closing around me. I tuck15） my wings into my body， knowing he will carry me away. The claws cut into me， causing pain throughout my entire body. The talons pierce further into my body. The hawk flaps his wings， lifting us higher， up past the treetops into the bright light of the sun. I twist my head to look up at him. In the glare16） of the sun， I make out his eyes staring straight ahead of him. They seem to tell me， \"That's just the way it is.\" And I know that it is true. The race has ended， and I have lost. I close my eyes.

我一邊在空中優雅地滑翔，一邊俯瞰下面的世界，然后調整羽翼，借著微風兀地俯沖直下，飛到樹林上方。我感到強勁的風吹過我的身體，撫平了我的思緒。我是一只麻雀，我暗自想。我就是我。想到這里，我突然有種不好的預感。抬頭看去，高高的天空中，一只老鷹正用它那又圓又亮的眼睛注視著我。我沒有浪費時間去弄清它是什么來頭。老鷹意識到我發現了它，尖嘯著向我俯沖下來。我知道逃跑會更容易些，于是也俯沖直下，一直飛向下方的樹林。盡管我已經下降了很多，但老鷹的速度卻比我更快。這是一場生死競賽，為了生存，我們都拼命地飛。我飛是為了逃脫捕食者老鷹，而它飛則是為了把我這個獵物抓住用以果腹。我們當中必定有一方會輸。老鷹越來越近。它張開利爪，準備在撞到參天大樹之前把我抓住并飛離這里。我很快意識到，要想活命，跟它拼速度是無濟于事的。我是一只麻雀，身體敏捷靈活。但究竟孰勝孰敗還是個未知數。那只老鷹或許很嚇人，不過，它是我的對手嗎？沒有時間再想了。老鷹向前伸出利爪想抓住我，希望在這場生存角逐中獲勝，不過，我可不愿意就這樣放棄自己。

我拍動翅膀，輕盈地飛到右邊。老鷹對我這一動作毫無準備，猛地停了下來，讓我爭取到了逃跑以及計劃下一步行動的時間——因為我知道，如果沒有抓到我，它是不會放棄的。

我也許無法徹底擺脫它，但卻可以延緩死亡的到來，直至我抵達生命這座大山的最低谷。我已經爬到了頂峰，現在正在往下走，希望前方等待我的不是生命的盡頭。

老鷹突然來了個急轉彎，當它急速向我沖來時，我向右虛晃了一下，接著再次俯沖而下。它也疾馳而下，追著我來到了樹林里——我之前就希望它追到這里。在這里，由樹枝搭建的障礙賽跑道成了一個競技場。當我飛過樹梢下方，林中突如其來的昏暗讓我很是意外。有那么一瞬間，我竟看不到它了；可接下來，它又出現在我的正后方。我們繞過一根又一根樹枝，但它一直緊隨在我身后，我似乎無法將它甩開。我的翅膀變得酸疼，身體也越來越累，但我仍在為自身性命而奮力抗爭。忽然之間，我看見它猛地提速，也感到它的利爪最終向我逼近。我知道它將要把我帶走，便收起了雙翼。它的利爪刺進我的身體，令我渾身上下疼痛不已，接著又刺向我身體更深處。老鷹拍動著翅膀，帶著我飛向高處，飛過樹梢，向著燦爛的陽光飛去。我扭過頭來，抬眼看向它。在刺眼的陽光下，我依稀看到它的眼睛正直直地望向前方。它們似乎在告訴我，“事情就應該是這樣的。”而我也知道，確實如此。這場競賽已經結束，我輸了。我閉上了雙眼。

I carried the sparrow away from the forest. I could sense him looking up at me， and I looked straight ahead. I would not give any mercy. I did not look down as， slowly， his breathing stopped. I carried him towards my nest to feed him to my babies. I tried not to respect the brave little bird that was now lifelessly clutched in my talons. I did not like thinking those thoughts because hawks should be fearless. I had to kill him to keep my precious youngsters alive. I flew towards the sun with my strong wings pumping17） at a steady beat.

我把那只麻雀帶出了樹林。我可以感覺到它在抬頭看我，而我則看著正前方。我不會施舍半點同情。它的呼吸在漸漸停止，但我并沒有向下看。我把它帶回家去喂我的寶寶們。我雙爪緊抓的這只勇敢的小鳥此刻已經斷了氣，我努力使自己不向它表達敬意。我不喜歡去想那些東西，因為老鷹就應該無所畏懼。為了讓我的小鷹寶貝們活下去，我必須獵殺它。我以平穩的節奏快速地拍動著強健的雙翼，朝著太陽飛去。