想做熊的孩子

Story: A Boy who Wanted to be a Bear

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There was once a little seal, who so wanted to be a big, strong whale in the open sea. The seal went to the spirit of the sea and said, “I don’t want to be a seal. I’m really an enchanted whale.” The spirit replied, “if you are a whale, you can accomplish the three whale challenges.“

從前有一只小海豹，它特別想成為一只又大又強壯的鯨魚生活在開闊的海域里。那只海豹找到海之靈，說：“我不想當海豹。我其實是一只受到詛咒的鯨魚。” 海之靈答道：“如果你真的是一只鯨魚，你就能完成鯨魚的三項挑戰。”

***

There was once a little boy, who wanted to be a bear. He went to the spirit of the mountain. To the spirit of the mountain, man and beast are one. The boy said, “I’m no human. I’m an enchanted bear.” The spirit laughed and said, “What I see before me is just a human.” The boy said, “But I want to be a bear. I’m already a bear.”

從前有一個小男孩，他想成為一只熊。他去找山之靈。山之靈對人與動物一視同仁。男孩說：“我不是人類。我其實是一只受到詛咒的熊。” 山之靈哈哈大笑，說：“在我看來，站在我面前的就是一個人。” 男孩說：“但我想成為一只熊。我已經是一只熊了。”

The spirit replied, “If you really are an enchanted bear, you’ll be able to accomplish the three bear challenges. You must swim across the stretch of water between the two highest mountains. It will require the strength of a bear. If you survive the challenge, you will have to face the chill of North wind for three days and three nights. To do that also requires the endurance of a bear. If you manage to survive after meeting the North wind, you’ll have to set forth and encounter terrible solitude.”

山之靈答道：“如果你真的是一只受到詛咒的熊，你就能完成熊的三項考驗。你必須橫渡最高的兩座山峰之間的大海。那將需要有熊的體力。如果你能夠在挑戰中存活，你就要面對北風的寒冷長達三日三夜。要完成它，需要有熊的意志。如果你能夠在遭遇過北風之后依然存活，你就要去經受可怕的孤獨。”

***

The boy went to the sea between the two highest mountains. “I must swim across.” He thought, and jumped into the icy waves. “So, you’ve decided to pit your strength against me, little man?” The sea growled. “Yes!” The boy said. “Very well, we’ll soon see which of us is stronger.” The sea soon built up a wave that was higher than a mountain. The boy was overwhelmed and sank into the water. Just then, a whale swam over, “Sea, you are mean! Ancient law says that whales ought to help brave humans who are in need.” It pushed the boy ashore.

男孩來到最高的兩座山峰之間的大海。“我必須游過去。” 他想，然后跳進冰冷的海浪里。“這么說，渺小的人類，你決定用你的力量與我抗衡？” 大海咆哮道。“是的！” 男孩說。 “那好吧，我們很快就會知道我們之間誰更強壯。” 大海很快就造出了一個比山還高的大浪。男孩被吞沒并沉入水中。就在這時，一只鯨魚游過來：“大海，你真刻薄！古老的法律說鯨魚應該幫助那些勇敢的人類，在他們需要幫助的時候。” 它把男孩推向岸邊。

“I did it. I swam right across the frozen sea, so I am a bear,” claimed the boy. But then, a voice spoke to him, “Don’t resist, little human! In a few seconds I can blow you back to your camp.” “Is that the North wind speaking?” Asked the boy. “Yes, I am the terrible North wind who chills the blood of every creature on this earth,” answered the North wind. But the boy said, “I’m not scared of you. I’m stronger than you.” “Then you ask for it.” The North wind puffed himself up and made a storm so big that the it flung the boy to the ground.

“我做到了。我已經橫渡冰冷的大海，所以我是一只熊。” 男孩宣稱道。但這時，一個聲音對他說：“不要抵抗，渺小的人類！我只需幾秒就能把你吹回到你的營地。” “是北風在說話嗎？” 男孩問。“是的，我是那可怕的北方，讓地球上所有生物的血液都變得寒冷。” 北風答道。但是男孩說：“我不怕你。我比你更強壯。” “那這是你自找的。” 北風吸了一大口氣，制造出一陣巨大的風暴把男孩摔倒在地。

A herd of musk oxen saw the boy and said, “He will die.” But a raven flew over them and said, “He think he’s a bear. And he determined to prove it.” “What’s impossible is impossible,” said the oxen, “Ancient law says that we musk oxen can help any creature brave enough to dare the impossible.” They gathered around the boy to shield him from the storm, for three days and three nights.

一群麝牛看到男孩，說：“他死定了。” 但是一只烏鴉飛過它們的頭頂，說：“他認為他是一只熊。而且他決定證明這一點。” “不可能的事就是不可能的，” 麝牛們說：“古老的法律說我們麝牛可以幫助任何有足夠的勇氣去嘗試不可能之事的生物。” 他們聚集在男孩身邊，連續三日三夜為他阻擋風雪。

“I did it. The wind has stopped. I’m a real bear,” exclaimed the boy. He laughed and danced with joy, but the world was silent. “Who’s there? Are you the one called solitude? I’m not afraid of you.” But he heard no answers. For many days and nights, the boy was all alone, trudging through the snow. Then, he sensed that he was not alone. There was a wolf coming at him! “Help me!” The boy shouted, but no one helped him this time. So, he braced himself to take it. Surprisingly, he was able to fight the wolf off.

“我做到了。風已經停了。我是一只真正的熊。” 男孩歡呼道。他因喜悅而大笑和舞蹈，但世界一片寂靜。“誰在那里？你就是傳說中的孤獨嗎？我不怕你。” 但是他聽不到回應。連續幾日幾夜，男孩獨自一人，在雪中跋涉。然后，他感覺到他不是獨自一人。一只狼直沖他撲過來！“救命啊！” 男孩大聲呼喊，但這一次沒有人來幫助他了。于是，他鼓起勇氣去應對。令人驚訝的是，他能夠將狼擊退。

At last, the boy walked across the land and reached the sea. When he looked into the water, he saw no boy but the reflection of a big, strong polar bear.

最后，男孩穿過整片陸地來到海邊。當他看向水面，他看到的不是男孩，而是一只又大又強壯的北極熊的倒影。

***

The boy accomplished the three bear challenges. He indeed became a bear. But then, he was caught by his human father who was a hunter with a spear, and turned into a human form again.

男孩完成了熊的三項挑戰。他的確變成了一只熊。但緊接著，他就被他那身為獵人的人類父親用一支長矛捉住，并再次變成了人形。

The boy was still alive, but his father took him home and chained him to a post. “I’m sorry,” said his father, “but we have no choice.” “He’s no longer human,” pleaded his mother, “we can’t keep him. What will become of him?” But his father said, “he’ll get over it. He must become human again in time.”

男孩還活著，但他的父親把他帶回家里，用鐵鏈拴在柱子上。“對不起，” 他的父親說：“但我們不得不這么做。” “他已經不是人類了，” 他的母親懇求道：“我們不能把他困住。那樣他會變成什么樣啊？” 但是他的父親說：“他會想開的。假以時日，他一定能重新變回人類。”

That night, they heard a female bear roaring outside of their cottage. “She’s so sad,” said the boy’s mother. The boy’s father said nothing. He looked at his son. The boy was also sad. The boy’s father unchained the boy and said, “Go, son.”

那天夜里，他們聽到一只母熊在他們的小屋外吼叫。“她多么難過。” 男孩的母親說。男孩的父親什么也沒說。他看了看他的兒子。男孩也很難過。男孩的父親把男孩的鐵鏈解開，說：“去吧，兒子。”

The boy ran outside. He followed the female bear all the way to the edge of the sea. He hesitated. The raven flew over him and said, “Well, then? What are you waiting for? Didn’t you accomplish the three bear challenges? Aren’t you a bear?” The boy jumped into the water. He was a bear again in no time.

男孩跑了出去。他跟著那只母熊一路來到了海的邊緣。他猶豫了。烏鴉飛過他的頭頂，說道：“怎么了？你還在等什么？你不是完成了熊的三項挑戰嗎？你難道不是一只熊嗎？” 男孩跳進了水里。他馬上就變回了一只熊。