Anansi and the Talking Watermelon

Anansi and the Talking Watermelon, retold by Kitty Higgins. Illustrated by Patrick Girard.

《安南西和会说话的西瓜》，基蒂·希金斯改写。 帕特里克·吉拉尔绘图。

Early one morning, Anansi the spider awoke to the sound of possum hoeing his watermelon patch. Anansi peered down from the peach tree where he lived to watch possum's slow progress. Anansi salivated at the thought of a meal of watermelon, his favorite juicy red fruit. When possum set his hoe aside at midday to take a nap, Anansi snuck down his tree for a snack.

一天清早，蜘蛛安南西被负鼠锄西瓜地的声音吵醒了。 安南西从自己住的桃树上探出头，看着负鼠慢悠悠忙活。 一想到能吃到自己最爱的多汁红西瓜，安南西就直流口水。 中午负鼠放下锄头去午睡时，安南西偷偷溜下树想去解馋。

While Possum snored, Anansi shimmied down his fine silk web to the ripest watermelon in the garden. He picked up a small sharp stone to chip away the melon's rind. He made a hole that he could just squeeze into. He gorged himself as the juices slid down his eight spider legs.

负鼠呼呼大睡时，安南西顺着纤细的蛛丝滑到菜园里最熟的那个西瓜旁。 他捡起一块尖尖的小石子，一点点削掉西瓜皮。 削出了一个刚好能容他钻进去的洞。 他放开肚皮大吃，西瓜汁顺着他的八条蜘蛛腿往下流。

Just when Anansi about had his fill, he heard Possum stir. Possum will punish me if I am discovered, Anansi said to himself. He waddled to the hole in the rind, and one leg at a time he tried to pull himself out. He was so slippery he couldn't keep his footing. He braced himself against the edge of the hole,

安南西快要吃饱的时候，忽然听见负鼠动了。 要是被发现，负鼠一定会惩罚我的，安南西暗自想道。 他摇摇晃晃挪到洞口，想一条腿一条腿把自己拉出去。 可他浑身太滑了，根本站不稳脚。 他撑着身子抵在洞口边缘，

Anansi laid his head upon a watermelon seed in an attempt to sleep. He tossed and turned restlessly. This is so boring! What should I do while I wait? As he pondered his next plot, he heard Possum at the far end of the row. I know! I will trick Possum into thinking that his melon talks!

安南西把脑袋靠在一粒西瓜籽上，想要先睡一会儿。 他翻来覆去，根本睡不着。 这太无聊啦！ 我等着的时候该做些什么呢？ 就在他琢磨接下来怎么办时，听见负鼠走到了菜地那头。 有办法了！ 我要骗负鼠，让他以为他的西瓜会说话！

Possum came scratching with his hoe, and as he neared Anansi's melon, he heard a sound quiet as a mouse. Who is that? He asked. It is I, the Watermelon! Anansi now yelled. How absurd. Watermelons can't talk, Possum said as he cradled the melon to his ear. Possum, you have never been a good listener.

负鼠拿着锄头松土，走到安南西待的西瓜旁时，听到了像老鼠一样轻的声音。 谁在那里？ 他问道。 是我，西瓜呀！ 安南西大声喊道。 真荒唐。 西瓜根本不会说话，负鼠一边说一边把西瓜抱到耳边。 负鼠啊，你从来都不会好好听。