珍珠(十二) 

(A Chinese Mermaid Tale)

Written and illustrated by Linda Yi | Chinese Translations by 竻竻

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Chapter 35 – Keeping Watch

第三十五章 – 监视

Sha had been keeping a close eye on Hai.  The boy had been acting strangely for weeks: rising at dawn to collect handfuls of dew, and then pouring said water onto a strange sort of ivy.  Sha didn't know what Hai was up to... but that boy was certainly up to something. 

几周过去了，心怀不轨的沙也一直没闲着。他无时无刻不在监视着海，对他的动向了如指掌。然而，沙疑惑地发现，这小子最近这几周都有点怪怪的。不等日出就爬起来收集露珠也就算了，还把自己辛辛苦苦收集来的露水一股脑地倒在一株奇奇怪怪的藤蔓上。沙实在搞不懂这小子在忙活些什么，但他确信，这里面一定有什么不可告人的秘密。

So Sha kept watch, a quiet shadow haunting Hai’s every step. 

所以，沙一刻也不松懈地关注着海，就像一个影子一般，无声无息地跟在男孩的身后。

Chapter 36 – A Single Bud

第三十六章 – 一朵花蕾

When Hai woke the next morning, yellow sunlight had already filtered in through the window. He couldn’t believe how late he had slept! Pulling on his tunic, he hurried outside toward his vines.

第二天，当海醒来时，金色的阳光已经悠悠地从窗外洒进了房间。他不敢相信自己今天居然起得这么晚！海心里还惦记着那株还魂草，于是他草草穿上外套，就匆匆出门了。

The leaves on the soul blossom vines shone lush and green, just as they’d always done. This morning, however, a bright rim of red framed the edge of one particular leaf. Thin scarlet veins ran along the leaf’s center as well, narrowing into a thicker vein that ran towards the vine trunk. Hai leaned forward to trace that line of red with a forefinger. 

还魂草的叶片依旧绿油油的，和从前没什么不同。但是，今天早晨，一片叶子的四周长出了一圈鲜艳的红色叶脉。叶脉很细，一点点延伸到叶片的中心，再延伸到一株更粗一点的藤蔓上，朝整株植物的树干部分生长着。海伸出一只手，用指尖轻轻描摹着那条红色叶脉。

Up, 往上，

        up, 往上，

                up the vine he traced... 他的手指越来越往上。

And then he stopped.  There it was. A single bud – wrapped tightly in upon itself – precisely the size of the rose-pearl still strung around his neck…

然后他突然停了下来。就在那儿！一个还未开苞的花蕾婷婷地立着，花蕾把自己包裹地紧紧的，乍一看，和海脖子上的玫瑰色珍珠一般大小。

* 

Hai visited her that afternoon. Crossing the lake in forty-nine stone steps, he stopped in front of Mei’s marble figure. Hai told her of the strange things that had come to pass, spoke to her of his time in the realm of dreams. He told her, too, about green leaves turning red –and of a soul blossom bud waiting to bloom. Hai reached for the rose-pearl that hung about his neck. Holding it in his palm, he felt its steady beat. 

那天下午，海去看望她了。迈过四十九步，走过石桥，就来到她的身边。海望着小妹的石像，将最近发生的怪事向她娓娓道来。他提起了自己在梦境中的奇幻历险，说到还魂草的叶子突然变红，还有那个含苞待放的花蕾。海伸手取下自己脖颈间的玫瑰色珍珠，把它放进掌心，感受着那轻柔跳动的旋律。

He stayed there for many minutes more, sitting with Mei until the daylight outside faded into dusk.  

他又在那里待了很久，直到太阳下山，天色黯淡，才恋恋不舍地离去。

Chapter 37 – In Bloom

第三十七章 – 绽放

When Hai finally left Mei's side, night had already fallen.  Bright stars winked high above, lighting his path home. 

当海离开小妹的时候，天已经黑透了。闪烁的星星在天空中眨着眼睛，为他照亮回家的路。

The bud of the soul blossom was still tightly furled, yet Hai could already see the delicate white of its petals. He reached toward the bud, fingers trembling, suddenly afraid it might all be a dream. At his touch, the flower bud began to unfurl… 

还魂草的花蕾还是收地紧紧的，但是海已经能够隐隐约约地看到底下隐藏的白色花瓣。他伸出颤抖的指尖，轻轻碰了一下那含羞的花蕾。他忐忑极了，害怕这一切都是一个梦而已。。。然而，他的手指触到花蕊的那一刻，一片片花瓣开始展开。

First one petal… then a second, a third, and finally a fourth. 

先是一片花瓣、然后是两片、三片，最后第四片也完全绽开了。

The soul blossom glowed, as if lit from within. Its delicate fragrance filled the air. Hai reached for it – but before he could pluck the flower, a voice behind him spoke:

还魂草通体闪着亮晶晶的光芒。它的清香瞬时散发出来，清丽芬芳，令人迷醉。海迫不及待地伸手想要把它摘下来，但就在这时，一个声音从他的身后传来：

"So, it has bloomed at last… yet before your harvest, heed these words:”

“所以还魂草还是开花了。不过，在你摘下它之前，听我说几句话。“

The Earth Mother – once more in the form of Nai Nai – hobbled towards Hai, speaking with each measured step. 

说话的人是土地母亲。这回，她再一次以奶奶的模样出现在海的身前。奶奶摇摇晃晃地朝海走去，边走边说道：

“What lies before you is a treasure among treasures. One petal on your beloved’s lips will bring her back to you. Another petal to return the sea’s daughter to her immortal realm. One petal for you, dear boy, should you wish to join her there… and the fourth and final petal you may gift to whomever you choose. For each petal of the soul blossom grants life. Life to those recently passed, and everlasting life to those already living."

“在你面前摆着的可是珍宝中的珍宝啊！只要把一片花瓣放在你所爱之人的唇边，她就会回到你的身边。另一片花瓣能帮助海之女回到她的家园，而另一瓣是给你的，如果你愿意跟随她一起走的话，而最后一片花瓣。。你可以将它赠与任何一个人。要知道，还魂草的每一片花瓣都能赋予生命。它能挽回刚刚逝去的生命，也可以给人永生。”

Her last words spoken, the Earth Mother melted back into the ground, vanishing with a smile.

说完这最后一句话后，土地母亲消失在了泥土中，她走的时候，唇边还带着一丝微笑。

Hai knelt with both palms in the soil and touched his forehead to the earth in thanks.  Then he rose and carefully plucked a single petal from the soul blossom. Petal in hand, Hai hurried toward the seashore, hastening toward the cave where Mei stood waiting.

海跪在地上，朝着土地母亲消失的方向拜了一拜，嘴里念着感谢的话。随后，他站起身，小心地摘下了一片花瓣，握在手中，然后便一刻也不停地朝海边的山洞奔去。山洞里，小妹还在默默地等着他呢。

Chapter 38 – Sha’s reward

                                                  第三十八章 – 沙的报应

Out from a shadowy corner slinked Sha, a foul smile spreading like oil across his face. He had heard it all – every single word that pestilential old hag had said to the boy. Sha could not believe his good fortune: the fool had left three whole petals of that magic flower behind! Sha snatched at the soul blossom with greedy fingers, bruising its white petals in his haste.  

可是，海前脚刚走，沙便蹑手蹑脚地从一片摇曳的树影里钻了出来。他都听到了，那个讨厌的疯婆子对海说的每一句话，他都听到了！想到这，沙的脸上浮现出一抹油光发亮的笑容。他万万没想到，今天自己的运气居然这么好！那个傻小子竟然直接走了，把这株神奇的植物就这样丢在这里不管！沙兴奋至极，根本来不及细想，迫不及待地伸出那双贪婪的双手，把整个还魂草捏了下来。

Without a moment’s pause, he crammed all three petals into his mouth, his mind whirling with fantasies of glory. Everlasting life. Immortality! If one petal could grant everlasting life, just imagine what three would do!  By the gods, he would be king among men.  No, even better! He would be a god himself!

他一刻也不耽搁，飞快地拽下三片花瓣，把它们往自己嘴里塞。他仰起头，内心早已做起了千千万万个美梦。永生！长身不老！一片花瓣就这么厉害了，更何况是三片？有了它们的加持，他随时能称霸天下！不，这算什么？他这下便要成为掌管万物之灵，凌驾众生之上，纵横天地之间，享尽繁华，睥睨众神！

Giddily, Sha made to move, ready to make a triumphant return to the wretched village. Who were the villagers to him now? Nothing but wretched ants! Ha! Sha would crush them under his heel… 

想到这，沙早就被兴奋的心情吞没了。他喜滋滋地迈开腿，想往村子的方向走去。哼， 那些村民对他来说算什么？不过一群蝼蚁罢了！他随时可以一脚把他们踩死！

… but wait. Why wasn’t he moving? 

可是。。诶， 等一下，为什么他动不了了？

 Try as he might, Sha couldn’t take a single step. It was as if he was rooted to the ground.  Then, he looked down... and to his horror, this is what he saw:

不管他怎么用力，自己的脚就是不听话，挪一步也不肯。他感觉自己仿佛是被什么东西死死地钉在了地上。他顿时有一种不好的预感，于是赶忙往地上看，而映入眼帘的一切让他的心瞬间凉了半截。

He was indeed rooted to the ground – for Sha’s legs had transfigured into knotted and twisting bark. His feet had disappeared into the ground, their roots sinking deep into rich fertile soil. Sha’s torso, too, had begun to harden. He made as if to touch his chest –  his face! But as soon as Sha raised his arms, they became frozen in place.  His arms and fingers grew into branches, stretching and arching over the stately trunk below.

没错，他确实是被钉在了地上—更确切的应该是，他长在了地上。他的双腿变成了一块长满树皮的树桩，他的脚被深深地埋在了土地里。他的身体更是开始变硬，变长。沙惊慌失措地想要伸手摸一摸自己的胸口和自己的脸，可是他一抬手，那一双手臂便僵住了，然后迅速地变成一个个枝桠，不断地往前生长着。

 From the place where Sha’s head had been, more branches sprouted – on which burst forth a profusion of fat green leaves. Amidst these leaves bloomed dozens of delicately scented flowers in various shades of red and plum. 

而在沙的头部，更多的枝桠开始生长起来，与此同时，一片片树叶从交缠的枝头间冒出来。在这些叶片中间，十几朵缤纷而清香的花儿也在争先恐后地绽放着。

At the center of each blossom was a pale, yellow heart.

在每一朵花的中间，都有一颗浅浅的、淡黄色的花心。

Chapter 39 – Going Home

第三十九章 – 回家

Hai reached Mei’s side, holding the soul blossom petal with gentle hands. He untied the rose-pearl from his own neck and placed it around Mei’s instead. The pearl glowed softly, resting over the spot where Mei’s heart would have been. Hai placed his single petal between her marble lips.

海来到了小妹的身边，手里轻轻地握着还魂草。他解开自己脖子上系的玫瑰色珍珠，把它戴在小妹的脖子上。珍珠落在了小妹的心脏处，静静地闪着光。海把还魂草放在了石像的唇边。

 He shut his eyes and he prayed. 

He prayed to the dragons and he prayed to the sea –

he prayed to gods in whom he once never believed.

随后他闭上了眼睛，默默祈祷。

他向龙王祈祷，向大海祈祷。

他求遍那些自己曾经嗤之以鼻的神明…

And as Hai prayed, he imagined Mei’s hands – fingers nimble and flushed pink with life – once again weaving their magic with needle and thread. He pictured her dark hair, plaited and dancing in the hot summer breeze... 

海一边祈祷，一边想象着小妹的手—她的指尖灵动，泛着健康的粉色，在针线之间穿梭。他想象着她的黑发，扎起来编成一条可爱的麻花辫的样子，活泼地在夏日的风中舞动。

He prayed

He saw

He believed...

他认真祈祷着。

他真的看见了。

他发自内心地相信了…

A tear traced down Hai’s face, cooling against his skin. A soft hand brushed the tear away. Hai opened his eyes and found himself looking into Mei's. Although they sparkled with a familiar warmth, her eyes were no longer the color of a storm swept sea. They were now a deep, rich brown – warm and steady. 

一滴泪从他的脸庞悄然滑落，落在他的皮肤上，凉丝丝的。突然，海感觉到一双柔软的手将那滴泪抹去。他睁开眼，发现自己正深深地望着小妹的眼睛。她的眼睛依然闪动着温柔的光芒，但现在，她的双眸不再是暴风雨过后的海蓝色，而是土地一般深邃的棕色，温暖而坚定。

Mei took Hai’s hand. Together, they walked back across the lake, back through the cave, back along the shore...

小妹牵起海的手，两人一起，跨过石桥，穿过山洞，沿着海滩。。。

They were going home.

回家。

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