雪孩

文/安吉拉·卡特 繪/不歸肉

雪孩

文/安吉拉·卡特 繪/不歸肉

The Snow Child

Midwinter—invincible，immaculate①immaculate英 ［?'m?kj?l?t］ 美 ［?'m?kj?l?t］ adj. 完美的；潔凈的；無瑕疵的You are rediscovering this ecstasy of Immaculate Love in your meditations， for a transitional expansion is occurring in this new energy.你們在你們的冥想中將重新發現這《完美的愛》帶來的極樂，因為在此新能量中過渡性的擴展正在進行。. The Count and his wife go riding， he on a grey mare and she on a black one， she wrapped in the glittering pelts of black foxes； and she wore high，black， shining boots with scarlet heels， and spurs. Fresh snow fell on snow already fallen； when it ceased， the whole world was white. "I wish I had a girl as white as snow，" says the Count. They ride on. They come to a hole in the snow； this hole is filled with blood. He says， "I wish I had a girl as red as blood." So they ride on again； here is a raven，perched on a bare bough②bough 英 ［ba?］ 美 ［ba?］ n. 大樹枝. "I wish I had a girl as black as that bird's feathers."

A s s o o n a s h e completed her description③description英 ［d?'skr?p?（?）n］ 美 ［d?'skr?p??n］ n. 描述，描寫；類型；說明書，there she stood， beside the road，white skin， red mouth， black hair and stark naked； she was the child of his desire and the Countess hated her. The Count lifted her up and sat her in front of him on his saddle but the Countess had only one thought: how can I be rid of her？

The Countess dropped her glove in the snow and told the girl to get down to look for it； she meant to gallop④gallop英 ［'ɡ?l?p］ 美 ［'ɡ?l?p］ n. 疾馳；飛奔vi. 飛馳；急速進行；急急忙忙地說vt. 使飛跑；迅速運輸off and leave her there but the Count said: "I'll buy you new gloves." At that， the furs sprang off the Countess's shoulders and twined round the naked girl. Then the Countess threw her diamond brooch⑤brooch英 ［br??t?］ 美 ［brot?］ n. （女用的）胸針，領針through the ice of a frozen pond，"Dive in and fetch it for me，" she said； she t h o u g h t t h e g i r l would drown. But the Count said，"Is she a fish to swim in such cold weather？" Then her boots leapt off the Countess's feet and on to the girl's legs. Now the Countess was bare as a bone and the girl furred and booted；the Count felt sorry for his wife. They came to a bush of roses， all in flower. "Pick me one，" said the Countess to the girl. "I can't deny you that，" said the Count.

So the girl picks a rose； pricks her finger on the thorn； bleeds；screams； falls.

The Countess reined in her stamping mare and watched narrowly.

Then the girl began to melt. Soon there was nothing left of her but a feather a bird might havedropped； a blood stain， like the trace of a fox's kill on the snow； and the rose she had pulled off the bush. Now the Countess had all her clothes on again. With her long hand， she stroked her furs. The Count picked up the rose， bowed and handed it to his wife； when she touched it，she dropped it.

"It bites！" she said.

隆冬——所向無敵，潔白無瑕。伯爵偕妻子出門，他騎一匹灰牝馬，她騎黑馬，身裹亮黑狐皮，足蹬光亮的高跟黑靴，靴跟猩紅，還帶著刺。新雪落在已落下的雪上，雪停之際，世界盡白。“我真希望有個女兒，白得像雪。”接著兩人繼續前行，發現雪中有個洞，洞中注滿鮮血。我希望我能有個女兒，鮮紅如血。然后他們繼續前行，看見一只渡鴉棲息在光禿樹枝上。“我真希望有個女兒，黑得像那鳥的羽毛。”

話才說完，女孩就站在路旁，白膚，紅唇，黑發，赤身裸體；她是他欲望的孩子，伯爵夫人恨她。伯爵抱起女孩，讓她坐在自己身前鞍上，但伯爵夫人只有一個念頭：我該怎么擺脫她？

伯爵夫人把手套掉在雪地里，叫女孩下馬去撿，想隨即策馬狂奔，把女孩丟在那里，但伯爵說：“我再給你買新手套。”話一出口，伯爵夫人肩上的狐皮應聲飛起，包住女孩赤裸的身體。然后伯爵夫人將鉆石胸針拋進結冰的池塘：“下水去幫我撈回來。”她說，想借此讓女孩溺斃。但伯爵說“她又不是魚，天氣這么冷，怎能游泳？”這時伯爵夫人光裸入骨，女孩則身披毛皮腳穿長靴，伯爵為妻子感到難過。而后他們遇上一叢滿樹盛開的玫瑰。“給我摘一朵。”伯爵夫人對女孩說。“這我總不能拒絕你。”伯爵說。

于是女孩摘下一朵玫瑰，刺傷手指，流血，尖叫，倒地。

伯爵夫人勒住踏步的馬，瞇起眼睛。

女孩開始融化，不一會兒便消失無蹤，只剩一根羽毛，可能是哪只鳥脫落的；一攤血，像狐貍在雪地獵殺的痕跡；以及她摘下的那朵玫瑰。現在衣物又回到伯爵夫人身上，她修長的手輕撫毛皮。伯爵拾起玫瑰，鞠個躬，遞給妻子；她手一碰到花就猛然縮回，任它落地。

“它咬我！”她說。