09 The Hermit

Chapter 9, The Hermit. Ka and Ko smoothed the man's hair with their little paws and patted his cheeks gently. The man smiled and whispered to the lungers. His eyes stayed closed. Teddy walked up to the man and licked his hands. The man still didn't open his eyes, but he stroked Teddy's fur. Knock, knock, Annie said softly. Is someone there? The man asked.

第九章 隐士 卡和科用小爪子捋顺男人的头发，还 轻轻拍了拍他的脸颊。 男人笑了笑，对着叶猴们轻声说话。 他的眼睛一直闭着。 泰迪走到男人身边，舔了舔他的手。 男人还是没睁开眼睛，但他摸了摸泰迪的毛。 咚咚咚，安妮轻声说。 有人在吗？ 男人问道。

He turned his face toward Jack and Annie. Now his eyes were open, but he did not seem to see them. Jack realized that the man was blind. Hi, I'm Annie, said Annie, and I'm Jack, said Jack. The blind man smiled. Good, he said nodding. Would you like to visit with me? Sure, said Annie. She and Jack sat down next to the man. Do you live in this forest? Annie asked. Yes, he said. Are you a hermit? Jack asked. Yes, the blind man said. What's a hermit? said Annie. Hermits live far away from other people, said the blind man. We like to be alone.

他把脸转向杰克和安妮。现在他的眼睛睁开了，但好像看不见他们。 杰克反应过来，这个男人是盲人。 ‘嗨，我是安妮。’安妮说。‘我是杰克。’杰克说。盲人笑了。 ‘真好。’他点点头说，‘你们愿意陪我聊会儿吗？’ ‘当然啦。’安妮说。 她和杰克在男人身边坐了下来。 ‘你住在这片森林里吗？’安妮问。‘是的。’他说。‘你是隐士吗？’杰克问。 ‘是的。’盲人说。‘隐士是什么呀？’安妮问。 ‘隐士都住得离其他人很远，’盲人说，‘我们喜欢独处。’

to think. I live in the forest so I can learn from nature. How do you learn? asked Jack. I listen, said the blind man. Listen to what? asked Jack. To the chatter of the monkeys. The rumble of the elephant. The roar of the tiger, said the man. I have listened for so long they have all begun to sound like one voice. The one great voice of the forest. Did the voice tell you that a tiger got caught in a trap last night? asked Annie. Yes, the hermit said. Did it tell you that after we saved him he tried to attack us? Said Jack. The blind man smiled. Please bring me one of the white flowers floating on the stream, he said.

用来思考。我住在森林里，这样就能向大自然学习。 ‘你怎么学习呀？’杰克问。‘我用耳朵听。’盲人说。 ‘听什么呢？’杰克问。‘听猴子叽叽喳喳的叫声。’ ‘听大象低沉的吼声，听老虎的呼啸。’男人说。 我听了太久，这些声音渐渐都融合成了同一种声音。 就是森林宏大的心声。‘那这个声音有没有告诉你，昨晚有只老虎’ 掉进陷阱里了？’安妮问。‘有的。’隐士说。 ‘那它有没有告诉你，我们救了他之后，他还想袭击我们？’ 杰克问道。盲人笑了。 ‘请帮我摘一朵漂在小溪上的白花吧。’他说。

Jack wondered why the hermit was changing the subject, but Annie jumped up and hurried to the stream. She pulled at one of the large flowers. It came up muddy root and all. She took it to the blind man.

杰克好奇隐士为什么要转移话题，但安妮已经跳起来，急匆匆跑向小溪了。 她拽住一朵大花，把它连根带泥拔了出来，然后拿给盲人。

you

你

Thank you, he said. The man touched the flower's large white petals and its dirty root. This perfect lotus blossom grows from dark thick mud, he said. Its beauty cannot live without its ugliness. Do you understand? Yes, said Jack and Annie. When you saved the tiger, you saved all of him, said the blind man. You saved his graceful beauty and his fierce, savage nature. You cannot have one without the other. Right, said Jack. Take this lotus as a thank you gift from all the forest for saving our fierce friend, said the blind man. Our world would not be complete without him.

‘谢谢你。’他说。 男人摸了摸花朵大大的白色花瓣，还有它脏兮兮的根。 ‘这朵完美的莲花，是从又黑又厚的泥里长出来的。’他说。 没有丑陋的泥，就开不出这么美的花。 你们懂了吗？ ‘懂啦。’杰克和安妮齐声说。 ‘你们救老虎的时候，是救了他的全部。’盲人说。 你们既救了他优雅美丽的一面，也救了他凶猛野蛮的天性。 二者是缺一不可的。 ‘对哦。’杰克说。 这朵莲花就当是整个森林送给你们的谢礼，谢谢你们 救了我们凶猛的朋友。’盲人说。 少了他，我们的世界就不完整了。