詞匯量適合初二初三學(xué)生分上中下三冊(cè)共34本2級(jí)09山怪的故事

PublishedbyarrangementwithOxfordUniversityPressforsaleinthePeople'sRepublicofonlyandnotforexporttherefrom.Thiseditionisforsaleintheofonly,excludingHongKongSAR,MacaoSARand.?OxfordUniversityPressOxfordisaregisteredtrademarkofOxfordUniversity山怪的故事：英漢對(duì)照／（英） （Johnson,P.F.）繪；周晶譯．—：外語(yǔ)教學(xué)與研究書名原文：TrollandotherstoriesISBNⅠ．①山…Ⅱ．①沃…②約…③周．①英語(yǔ)－漢語(yǔ)－對(duì)照物②中篇小說－英國(guó)－現(xiàn)代人蔡劍峰責(zé)任徐寧封面設(shè)計(jì)蔡穎外語(yǔ)教學(xué)與研究社址市西三環(huán)北路19號(hào) 址 次2014年3月第1 號(hào)ISBN978-7-5135-4070-：（010） 法律顧問：立方劉旭東中咨殷斌有人說他們不相信世上有或怪物，也不相信任何神秘。他們會(huì)哈哈大是個(gè)新派的年輕人，，他帶著給弟弟的——一個(gè)電腦游戲——回家過周末，他一輩子都不會(huì)忘記那趟旅程。亞洲的一場(chǎng)漫長(zhǎng)結(jié)束TROLLANDOTHERSomepeoplesaythattheydon'tbelieveinghosts,ormonsters,ormysterioushappeningsofanykind.Theylaugh,andsaythatthesearejuststoriesforchildren.Itiseasytolaughindaylight,withpeoplearoundyou.Butwhyaretherestoriesaboutghostsineverycountryoftheworld?Whydopeoplegoonlingghoststories?Canscienceexineverythingthathappens?AbdulisamodernyoungmaninOman,goinghomefortheweekend,withapresentofacomputergameforhislittlebrotherOmar.Hewillneverforgetthatjourneyfortherestofhislife.AndasoldierinAsiareturnshometohismotherafteralongwar,butthereissomethingnotquiteright...ButwebeginwithSonjainSweden.EverybodyhasheardstoriesaboutthemonsterscalledtrollsinSweden,butSonjaknowsthestoriesaretrue,becauseofhergrandfather...目Troll—AstoryfromAGiftforOmar—Astoryfrom給的——故TheRoadHome—AstoryfromEastACTIVITIES:AfterReadingAstoryfromInNorway,Sweden,Denmark,Finland,andIceland,peoplelmanydifferentstoriesabouttrolls.Trollsarebig,uglycreatures,wholiveinthemountains...Ortheyaresmallandhorrible,andmaketroublearoundthehouse.Somestoriessayyoucanseethem,somesayyoucanonlyfeelthatatrollisnear.ThisstorycomesfromaSwedishwomancalledSonja.Itisatruestory,shesays,anditreallyhappenedtoher.WhenIwasalittlegirl,manyyearsago,Ilivedwithmymotherandfatherandgrandfatherinmygrandfather'shouse.Itwasanoldhousewithabiggarden,whichhadalotoffruittreesinit.Mymotherandmyfatherbothworkedallday,somygrandfathertookcareofme.IlovedmygrandfatherandIfollowedhimeverywhere.Whenhewasworking,Ilikedtowatch,andIalwaystriedtohelp.OnesunnymorningafterbreakfastmygrandfatherwentoutintothegardenandIwentwithhim.Helookedatoneoftheoldappletrees,shookhishead,thenwentbackintothehouse.Ifollowedhim.Hewenttohistoolcupboardandbegantolookthroughhistools.Atthebackofthecupboardwasametalsaw,forcuttingwood.Butnowthesawwasoldandbroken.'Areyougoingtocutsomewood,Grandpa?'Isaid.'CanIhelp'No,littleSonja,'Grandpasaid.'Thisoldsawisbrokennow.Butitcanstilldoajob,andyoucanhelp.I'llneedahammerandsomenailstoo.Pleasecarrythenailsforme.I'llcarrythehammerbecauseit'sheavy.'Grandpacarriedthebrokensawandthehammerintothegarden.Ifollowedhimwiththenails.Isaidtomyself,'I'mhelGrandpa!'Inthegarden,Grandpawenttooneoftheoldappletrees.Heputthebrokensawintothetree,highup.Firsthemadealittlecutinthetree,andthenpushedthesawhardintothecut.Thenhetookthreenailsfromme,andhammeredthemintothetree,aroundtheoldsaw.Grandpaputthebrokensawintothetree,highItwasaveryoldtree,andIsawthattherewerelotsofoldnailsinGrandpafinished.'There,'hesaid.'That'sgood.Thesawwon'tfalloutofthetreenow.'Iwasonlysixyearsold,andIdidnotunderstand.'Grandpa,'Iasked.'Whydidyoudothat?''Becauseoftrolls,'Grandpasaid.Iknewthatatrollwasakindofmonster.Peoplesaidtheywereuglyandfrighteninganddangerous,andthattheydidbadthings.ButIdidnotknowwhatthings.'Trollsdon'tlikemetal,'saidGrandpa.'Ifyouputsomethingmetalinatree,likethatoldsaw,thenthetrollswillstayaway.Theywillnotcomeintoyourgardenorintoyourhousewhilethemetalisthere.'Hetouchedthetree,withtheoldnailsin'Myfatherputmetalinthesetrees,'hesaid,'andmygrandfatherdiditbeforehim,andhisfatherbeforethat.AndIdothesame.Youngpeopletodaydon'tfollowtheseways,butI'mteachingyou,littleSonja,soyou'llknow.Andthat'swhyweputthatoldsawinthistree.''Whatwillhappenifyoudon'tputsomethingmetalinatree?'I'Ifyoudon'tdoit,thenperhapsatrollwillcome,'saidGrandpa.'Ifyouarelucky,itwillnotstay.Itwilljustpassthroughthegarden,maybe.Butifyouareunlucky–veryunlucky–thetrollwillcomeintoyourhouse.Ifyouarereallyunlucky,thetrollwillstay.Itwillsitinyourkitchen.Youwon'tseeit,butyouwillknowitisthere.''Ifatrollcomesandsitsinthekitchen,whatwillitdo?'Iasked.Grandpalookedveryserious.'Atrolldoesnotneedtodoanything,'hesaid.'Justatrollsittinginyourhouse,inyourkitchen!Nothingcanberightinahouseifatrollisthere!Nothingcangorightinthefamily!Allthegoodluck,allthehappinessgoesoutofthehousewhenatrollsitsinyourkitchen.Thatisterribleenough!'Afterafewyears,mymotherandfatherandIleftmygrandfather'shouse,andmovedintoamodernhousewithalittlegardenofourown.Iforgotabouttrolls.Mymotherandfathernevertalkedabouttrolls,andnobodyputmetalinthetreesinourgarden.Thereweretwoyoungtreesinthegardenandbetweenthemtherewaswashingline.Onsunnydaysweputourwetclothesoutonthewashinglinetogetdry.Onmygrandfather'sfirstvisit,hesatinthekitchenwithmymotherandMygrandfathersatinthekitchen,drinkingcoffeeandItwasabeautifulsunnyday.Therewerewetclothesonthewashingline,buttheydidnotmovebecausetherewasnowind.Everythingwasstillinthegardenthatday.Isatinthekitchenandlistenedtomygrandfatherandmyparentsforawhile.Butthegardenlookedsobeautiful!Idecidedtogooutandy,andIwenttothegardendoortogoout.Suddenlymygrandfathersaid,'Sonja,stop!'Istopped,withmyhandonthedoor.Grandpawaslookingthroughthewindowatthegardenoutside.'Troll!'hesaid.Hisfacewaswhite.Inthegarden,thesunwasshining.Therewasnowind.Noleavesmovedonthetrees,everythingwasstill.Butthewetclothesonthewashinglineweremoving,allbyTheywereturning,andturning–thisway,andthatTheyweretyingthemselvesintouglyadj.notpleasanttolookat;theoppositeofbeautiful的toolnathingyouholdinyourhandandusetodoaspecialjob工具sawn.ametaltoolforcuttingwood鋸子hammernatoolwithaheavymetalheadusedforhittingnails錘子nailn.asmallthinpieceofmetalwithasharpend,usedtofixthingstogether釘子seriousadj.notfunny,notjokingorying嚴(yán)肅washinglinealongpieceofsticorrope,forhangingwetclothes晾衣tiev.tomakeaknotinsomethingknotn.acewheretwoendsofclothorstringaretiedtogether則說它們矮小而可怕，會(huì)攪得家宅不寧。有的故事說你能看見它們，實(shí)的故事，是親身經(jīng)歷。許多年前，當(dāng)我還是個(gè)小的時(shí)候，我跟父母和一起住在我父母整天都要工作，所以是照顧我。我很愛，他走到哪一天早上，陽(yáng)光很好，早飯后我跟著來(lái)到花園里。他看了看其中一株老蘋果樹，搖了搖頭，又回到了屋子里。我跟在后面，只見那是一株很老的樹，我看到樹上有很多舊釘子。釘好了釘子?！?，”我問，“你為什么要這樣做？”“為了防山怪?！睜敗吧焦植幌矚g金屬?！闭f，“如果你把金屬的東西放在樹上，件，”他說，“在他之前，我也這么做，再往前我的父親也這這個(gè)教給你，小，好讓你知道。這就是我們把舊鋸子放到樹上的“如果你不這么做，那山怪就可能會(huì)來(lái)。”說，“要是你走走運(yùn)——那山怪就會(huì)進(jìn)入你的房子。如果你倒霉透頂，那山怪就會(huì)留你的廚房里坐著一只山怪的時(shí)候，所有的好運(yùn)和快樂都會(huì)從家中。幾年后，我隨父母離開家，搬進(jìn)了一座現(xiàn)代的房子里，有了一風(fēng)，所以衣服一動(dòng)不動(dòng)。那天花園里的一切都是靜止的。亮！我決定到外面去玩，于是通往花園的門。上了。正透過窗子看向花園。AGiftforAstoryfromAllovertheworldtherearestoriesaboutmeetingstrangetravellersinlonelyces.Whoarethey?Wherehavetheycomefrom?Wherearetheygoing?Thisisoneofthosestories.IthappensinOman,onRoute21,thelongroadthatrunsacrossthelonelyhillsbehindthegreatAlHajarmountains.Omanisabigcountry,andtheroadsinOmanareverylong.'Longandempty,'thoughtAbdul.Hewasstandingnexttohiscar,bythesideofRoute21,thelongroadthatrunsfromBuraimitoNizwa.Hewaswaitingforacartopassby,buttheroadwasempty.Therewerenohousesandnotraffic.Abdulwasangrywithhiscar,becauseitdidnotgoanymore.Hewasangrywithhimself,becausehedidnotcheckthecarbeforeheleftBuraimi.Andhewasangrywithhis phonetoo,becausetherewasnosignal.Hecouldn'tuseittophoneforhelp.EveryWednesdayevening,AbduldrovefromhisofficeinBuraimitohisfamilyhomeinNizwa.Helikedtospendtheweekend,whichinOmanisThursdayandFriday,athomewithhisfamily.Heputhishandinhispocketandtouchedahard,flatbox.Itwasacomputergame–agift,apresentforhisyoungestbrother,Omar.Omarwaseightyearsoldandlovedcomputergames.Thiswasanewgame,theverynewestgame.OnlyoneofthecomputershopsinBuraimihadit,andAbdulwasthe tobuy'Omarwillbesoexcited!'hethought.'He'llhavethisgamebeforeanyofhisfriendshaveit.'Heboughtthegame,leftBuraimi,andstarteddrivingtoNizwa.HewantedtogethomebeforeOmarwasasleep.SohedidnotwaittocheckhiscarbeforeheleftBuraimi,whichwasamistake.Abigmistake.Nowhewasstandingbythesideoftheroad,withadeadcar,inthemiddleofnowhere.'HowlongwillIhavetowaitbeforeanothercarcomesalong?'hethought.'It'sgettingdark.'Helookedupatthesky.Thesunwasdownbehindthemountains,andthestarswerebeginningtocomeout.Ahotdrywindwasblowing.Therewasnomoon.Atthatmomenthesawcar'It'smyluckynightafterall,'hethought.Thecarwascomingveryfastoverthehills.Itslightslookedunusual–veryyellow,liketheeyesofacat…ora'That'sstrange,'thoughtAbdul.Thenhesawthatthecarwouldbepasthiminasecond.Hemovedintotheroad,putbothhisarmsabovehishead,andwaved.Thecarmadeanoiselikeascreamandstoppedrightinfrontofhim.Itwasalong,blackcar.Abduldidnotknowwhatkindofcaritwas,butitlookedThedooropenedandthedriverlookedoutatAbdul.Hewaswearingdarkglassesandhadabigs–averybigs.Abdulstartedtosaysomethingabouthiscar,aboutgoingtoNizwa.Thedriverdidnotsayanything,buthewavedhishandattheseatnexttohim.Abdulgotinandclosedthedoor.ThecarscreamedagainanddrovequicklyThedriverwaswearingdarkglassesandhadabig Insidethecaritwasdarkandquiet.Theonlylightwasakindofredor'Where'sthatlightcomingfrom?'thoughtAbdul.Hespoketothedriver,linghimagainthathewasgoingtoNizwa.Thedriverdidnotanswer.Hejusts dhisbigs andlookedattheroad.Hisglasseswereverydark.'Ican'tseehiseyesbehindthoseglasses,butIthinkhe'slookingattheroad,'thoughtAbdul.'Ihopeheis.He'sdrivingsofast!'Thedriverwaswearingatraditionallongrobe,whichhidhislegs

Abdullookedoutofthewindow.Thecarwasmovingveryfast.'That'sgood,'Abdultoldhimself.'Fastisgood.I'llgethometoNizwaquickly,drivinglikethis.I'llseemyfamilyandgiveOmarhisgift,hiscomputergame.Thisdriver'sabitstrange–Ireallydon'tlikethats!–butitdoesn'tmatter.Theimportantthingistogethome.'Itwasnightnow.Thedarkroad,passingquickly,lookeddifferentfrom'Wherearewe?'thoughtAbdul,lookingoutofthewindowagain.'Iknowthisroadverywell–Idrivealongittwiceaweek.WhydoesitlookdifferentInsidethecar,theredandorangelightlookedalittle'Where'sthatlightcomingfrom?'thoughtAbdul.'Whatisit?It'smovingallthetime.Itlookslike...itlookslikefire.Butitcan'tbe.Therecan'tbeafireinhere,insidethiscar.'Helookedatthedriverandquicklylookedawayagain.Theswasevenbiggerthanbefore.'Thatsishorrible,'hethought.'Idon'twanttolookatit.I'msureheknowsI'mlookingathim.Buthowcanheseethroughthosedarkglasses?Don'tthinkaboutit!Theimportantthingistogethome.'AbdulthoughtaboutthebigfamilyhouseinNizwa,withitsbigwoodenfrontdoor.Itwassafethere.Thethoughtofhomemadehimfeelbetter.'EverythingwillbefinewhenIgethome.I'llopenthedoorandwalkin.Itwillbelate,andeveryonewillbeasleep,butI'llseethemallinthemorning,andI'llgiveOmarhisgiftthen.'Heputhishandintohispocketandtouchedthehardflatboxofthecomputergame,thegiftforhislittlebrother.'Thereitis,'hethought.'Omar'sgift.Ihopehelikesit.''Yes,'saidthedriver.'Hewillenjoyyourgift.'Abdulwasverysurprised–andafraid.'What'shappening?'hethought.'Ididn'tspeak!Iwasthinking,notspeaking,butthedriveransweredmythought.HeknowswhatI'mthinking!Hecanhearmythoughts.'Helookedatthedriver.Thedriverwaslookingattheroadinfrontofhim,andhewasstillsmilingthatbig,horribles.Thelightinthecarwasbrighter,moreredandAndthenAbdulunderstood.Thestrangelightwascomingfromthedriver–frombehindhisdarkglasses.'Hiseyes!'Abdulthought.'HiseyesaremadeofItwasonlyathought.ButAbdulknewnowthatthedrivercouldhearhim.Hefeltcoldwithfear.Hetriedtostopthinkingabouteyesoffire,abouttheroadwhichlookeddifferent,andaboutthecarwhichscreamedlikeananimal.Hethoughtabouthisfamily,aboutrainfallingonthetreesinNizwa,aboutyingfootballwithOmar.Thedriver'ssgotbigger.HeturnedtolookatAbdul,andputhishanduptohisdarkglasses.'Ohno!'thoughtAbdul.'He'sgoingtotakehisglassesAbdulforgotaboutgettinghome.Heforgotaboutseeinghisfamily.HeevenforgotabouthislittlebrotherOmar,andthegiftforhiminhispocket.Hethoughtaboutonlyonething.Hedidnotwanttoseethedriver'sAbdulputhishandonthecardoornexttoThedrivertookoffhisdarkglasses.Abdullookeddown,awayfromthedriver'sface.Thelightinsidethecarsuddenlygotbrighter.Itwasamovinglight,redandorange,likefire.Bythestrangelight,Abdulsawthedriver'sfootunderhislongrobe.Bythestrangelight,Abdulsawthedriver'sfootunderhislongItwasthefootofanThecardooropenedsuddenly.AbdulfellWhenAbdulopenedhiseyes,hewaslyingonHegotupcarefully.Nothingwasbroken,buthehurtallover.Hisfacefeltdirtyandtherewerelittlestonesinhishair.Helookedaroundquickly.Hecouldnotseethelongblackcar,buthestillfeltafraid.'Perhapsthedriverwillcomebackandfindme,'hethought.'Ifhecomesback...WhatdoIdothen?'Helookedaroundagain,andforthefirsttimethatnight,heknewtheroad.HewasnearacecalledTanuf,whichwasnotfarfromNizwa.HecouldcallataxioutfromNizwatotakehimhome.Home!Abdulstoppedfeelingafraid.Hewouldsoonbehome.Heputhishandintohispocketandfoundhis phone.Therewasagoodsignal,andhecalledanumberinNizwaandaskedforataxitotakehimhome.Itwaslate,aftermidnight.'They'llallbeasleepnow,'hethought.'Iwon'twakethemup.I'lljustgoinquietly,andseethemallinthemorning.'Abdulputhishandinhispocketagain.Itwasempty.Thegame,hisgiftforOmar,wasnotAbdullookedforthecomputergame,walkingupanddowntheroad.Hemovedstonesandlookedunderneaththem,buthecouldnotfinditanywhere.HewasstilllookingforOmar'sgiftwhenthetaxiarrived.Abdullookedforthecomputergame,walkingupanddowntheInthetaxi,Abdulstartedtofeelbetter.Hedidnotwanttothinkaboutthedriver,withhishorribles andhiseyesoffire.Hethoughtaboutbeingsafe.'Thegoodthing,'hethought,'isthathe...it...thatdriver,didnottakemeallthewayhome.HeknowsthatIliveinNizwa,butthat'sall.Hedoesn'tknowwhichstreet,andhedoesn'tknowmyname.Hecan'tfindme,ormyfamily.SoIdon'tneedtoworry.'Abdulfeltsorryabouthisbrother'spresent.ButOmarwassafe.Hisfamilywassafe.Hedidn'thaveagiftforOmarnow,butitwasnotimportant.'Icanbuyanothercomputergamenextweek,'hethought.'ThisweekendIhaven'tgotagiftforhim,butitdoesn'tmatter.We'llhaveagoodtime.Maybewe'llyfootballtomorrow.Andthatthing...thatcreature,withthoseeyes...hecan'thurtus.Hecan'tfindus.'ItwasalongtimeaftermidnightwhenthetaxistoppedoutsideAbdul'shomeinNizwa.Abdulpaidthedriverandwalkedtothedoorofhishouse.ThenheOutsidethedoorlayaflat,thinbox.Abdulknewwhatitwas.Itwasthecomputergame,hisgiftforOmar.checkv.tolookatsomethingtoseethatitisright,good,orsafe檢查signaln.theradiowavesthatmake phoneswork（）信號(hào)gamen.anactivitythatyoudotohavefun游戲tigern.alargewildcat,withyellowfurandblackstripeswavevtomoveyourhandfromsidetosideintheairtraditionaladj.ofsomethingthatpeopleinacertaincehavedoneforalongtime傳統(tǒng)的roben.alongloosepieceofclothing長(zhǎng)袍horribleadjbadorunpleasant可怕的，嚇人的thoughtn.thinking;anidea想法；念頭fearnthefeelingthatyouhavewhenyouareafraid恐懼underneathprepdirectlyunderanotherobject在……下面safeadj.fromdanger安全的creaturen.anylivingthingthatisnotant（非植物的）生給的21號(hào)公路邊。他正等著有車經(jīng)過，但空空蕩蕩。這里既沒有人家，為他在離開布賴米前沒有檢查一下車子。另外他還生他的氣，因?yàn)檫@里沒有信號(hào)，他沒法打求援。他買了游戲，離開布賴米，開車朝奈茲瓦駛?cè)?。他想在睡覺誤，一個(gè)很大的錯(cuò)誤。他抬頭看了看天。已經(jīng)落到了山后面，星星開始鉆出來(lái)。四下?！茳S，就像是貓眼……或者的眼睛。經(jīng)過了。他跑到，高舉雙臂揮舞起來(lái)?！爝值煤芸鋸?。開始解釋說，他要去奈茲瓦，但是車拋錨了。那沒說話，只是伸手朝身旁的座位比劃了一下。上了光是從哪里來(lái)的？”想。他再次對(duì)說，他要去奈茲瓦。望他是在看路。他開車可真夠快的！”穿著一件傳統(tǒng)的長(zhǎng)袍，遮住了腿和腳。望向窗外。車子開得飛快?！巴?，”心想，“開得快好。按這種車速，我很快就能回到奈茲瓦的家里。我可以見到家人，給他的，那個(gè)電腦游戲。這個(gè)有點(diǎn)古怪——不喜歡他的那種笑容！不過沒關(guān)系，要“我們到哪里了？”想著，又望了望窗外，“我對(duì)這條路能。車?yán)锊豢赡苡谢稹！彼┝艘谎郏诛w快地移開了視線。那笑門。那里很安全。想到家讓他感覺好了一些?！盎氐郊乙磺芯土恕Ｒ姷剿麄?，那時(shí)我再把的給他。”弟的?！霸谶@兒呢，”他想，“給的。我希望他會(huì)喜歡?！薄皶?huì)的，”說，“他會(huì)喜歡你的?！笨谡f話?。≡谙?，沒說出來(lái)，但居然回答了的事情。他知樣想。但知道能讀他的心。他嚇得渾身發(fā)冷。他試圖不去想著自己的家人，想著雨水落在的樹上，想著跟一起踢足“哦，不！”想，“他要摘掉墨鏡！”睛！抓住了身旁的車門。摘掉了墨鏡。低下眼睛，避開的臉。車?yán)锏墓馔焕湛吹搅碎L(zhǎng)袍下的腳。那是一只動(dòng)物的腳。車門突然開了。他地站起身。沒有哪里骨折，但是他全身都疼。他感覺臉上很方附近，離已經(jīng)不遠(yuǎn)了。他可以從叫一輛出租車來(lái)接他回出了。這里信號(hào)良好，他撥了一個(gè)的號(hào)碼，叫了一輛出租車又把手伸進(jìn)口袋里，里面是空的。他要送給的那個(gè)電腦游戲不見了。在走來(lái)走去找那個(gè)電腦游戲。他連石頭都翻開看了，可還是到處都找不到。出租車到的時(shí)候他還在找給的怕笑容、火樣眼睛的。他只想著自己現(xiàn)在安全了。“幸好，”他想，“他……它……那個(gè)，沒把我直接送到家。他知道我住在，但僅此而已。他不知道我住哪條街，也不知道我很遺憾弄丟了給弟弟的。但是安全的。他的家人是安全的。他現(xiàn)在雖然沒有送給，但那并不重要。踢。那個(gè)東西……那個(gè)有火樣眼睛的生物……他不會(huì)到我們。杜勒付了車費(fèi)，他家的大門。突然，他停住了。門外放著一個(gè)扁平的盒子。知道那是什么。是那個(gè)電腦游戲，他要送給奧馬爾的。TheRoadAstoryfromEastTherehavebeensomanywars,ineverycountryoftheworld.Whenthewarsfinish,thesoldiershavetoreturnhome.Buttheyaredifferentmen,andtheyreturntoadifferentworld.Warchangespeople.ThisstoryisaboutasoldierfromEastAsia.Warhaschangedhimgreatly.Itisasadstory,butinastrangeway,alsoahappyone.Thelongwarwasover,andthesoldierwasgoinghome.Hisroadhomewaslongandhard.Inthebeginning,thesoldierwasnotaloneontheroad.Manyothersoldiersweregoinghometoo,andforalongtimetheywalkedtogether,notspeaking,justthinkingabouttheirhomesattheendofthelongroad.Theywalkedacrossricefields,pastbananafarms,alongemptyroads,throughsilentvillages.Nolightsshowedinthewindowsofthedarkhouses.Nothingmoved,onlythesoldiersandthewindinthetrees.Afterawhile,eachmantookhisownroadhome.Oneturnedrightandwentupintothemountains.Anotherturnedleft,downtotheseaandthefishingboats.Somesoldiersfollowedtheroadtofarcities;othersfollowedthesmallroadsintothehills.Onebyone,theywenttheirdifferentways.Onebyone,theywenttheirdifferentThesoldierwalkedonalone,takinghisownroadhome.Hedidnotthinkabouttheothersoldiers,oraboutthewar.Hethoughtonlyaboutthelongroadbacktohishome.'Home,'thoughtthesoldier.'Iknowmyhomeisattheendofthisroad.Ijustneedtogoonwalking.'Theroadfelthardunderhisboots,andtheonlysoundwasthenoiseofhisbootsontheroad–tramp,tramp,tramp.Hewastiredandthirsty,andhismouthwasdryasdust.'There'snowater,'hethought.'Justdust.Dustinmymouth.DustTramp,tramp,trampwenthis'Don'tstopwalking,'hetoldhimself.'Ican'tstop.Imustn'tstop.I'llrestwhenIgethome.Motherwillmaketea,andthenIcanrest.'Hetriedtowalkfaster,buthefeltsotired,sotired.Hisfeetfeltheavierandheavier,andhewalkedmoreandmoreslowly.Hewantedtoliedownbythesideoftheroad,inthedark,andstaythere.'IfIliedown,'hethought,'I'llnevergetupSohewentonwalking,onefootinfrontoftheother,tramp,tramp,tramp.'Thewarisfinished,'hetoldhimself.'Forgetthewar.Justthinkabouthome.Imustgethome.ITheroadbegantogoupintothehills.Thereweretreesoneachside,andtheirdarkleavesinthenightmadetheroaddarktoo.Theroadclimbedupandupintothehills.Heknewhishomewassomewhereontheothersideofthe'Icanseeitnow,'hethought.'Ourlittlehouse,sosmall,butalwayscleanandquiet.Icanseethelamponthetable...IcanseeMother,withherlongblackhair.She'ssittinginherchair,singingmylittlesistertosleep.Mylittlesister...ShewasjustababywhenIleft.Howoldisshenow?Three?Four?Canshetalkyet?'Hefeltsad,becausehecouldnotrememberhislittlesister's'ButIrememberMotheratthedoorwhenIwentawaytothewar,'hethought.'Irememberherwords,everyoneofthem.Gosafely,andbesuretocomebacktome.AndIpromisedher.Iwillcomehome.Thoseweremywords,andImustkeepmypromisetoher.'Nowtheroadbegantoturndownhill,andthelandbesidetheroadfellawayintofieldsandwoods.'Iknowthosefieldsdownthere,'hethought.'Iknowthesewoods.Ican'tremembertheirnames,butIknowmyvillageisdowninthisvalley.Mother'swaiting,downthere,athome.'Thesoldierwalkedon,alongthedarkroadunderthetrees.Hewassotired.Hisfeetfeltsoheavyandhismouthwassodry.Hewantedtoliedowninthedarkandnevermoveagain.Buthisbootswentonhittingtheroad–tramp,tramp,tramp.Thesoldierwalkedon,alongthedarkroadunderthe'IfIstopnow,'hetoldhimself,'I'llneverseeMotheragain.AndIpromisedher,soImustgoonwalking.Rest.WhenIgethome,Icanrest.Motherwillmaketea.We'llsitinherquietroomanddrinkteatogether,andthenmymouthwillnotbesodry.'Thesoldier'svillagelookeddifferentinthedark.Therewerefewertreesandgardens.Thereweremorehouses,andtheylookedbiggerthanheremembered.Butthesoldierknewthatthiswashisvillageatlast,attheendofhisroad.Hewasnearlyhome,andhomeishome.Thesoldierwentthroughhisvillagelikethewind.Innotimeatall,hestoodoutsidehismother'slittlehouse.Itwasthesmallesthouseinthevillage,andtheonlyonethatstilllookedthesame.Butthesoldierdidnotcareabouttheotherhouses.Hestoodoutsidehismother'sdoor.Hetouchedthedoorwithhishand,anditopened.Insidehesawthelittlecleanroom,thetable,thelamp...Acrosstheroomhismotherwaslyinginherbed.'Ofcourse,'hethought,'It'sthemiddleofthenight.She'sslee,ofcourse.Sheworkssohard.Sheneedstorest,likeme.'Then,forasecond,thesoldierthoughthewasinthewronghouse,becausethebodylyinginthebedwasanold,oldwomanwithwhitehair.Butatthatmoment,thebodymoved.Hismother'seyesopened,andshelookedathimandsd.Shegotupandcameacrosstheroomtotheopendoor,andtookhishand.Somethingwasstilllyinginthebedbehindher,butthesoldierlookedonlyathismother.Stillyoung,withherlongdarkhairfallingaroundherface.'Iknewyouwouldcomeback,'shesaid,'Iwaitedfor'IcameasfastasIcould,'saidthesoldier,'butitwasalongroadhome.''Yes,'saidhismother,'I'vewaitedalongtime.Butyouarehomenow,atlast.Sitdownandrest.IwillmakeThesoldiersatdown.Hismotherlitthelampandmadetea,movingquietlyaroundtheroom.Thesoldierforgotaboutthewar,andthelongroadhome.Hefeltquietandpeaceful.Hismotherputtheteaonthetable,andtheybothdrank.Thesoldierfinishedhistea.Hesaid,'I'msorryittooksolongtocome'Theimportantthingisthatyouhavecome,'saidhismother.'I'vewaitedalongtimeforyou.Solong!ButIknewyouwouldcomebackintheend.''IpromisedyouthatIwouldcomehome,'he'Yes,'saidhismother.'Iknewyouwouldkeepyourpromise,andsoIwaitedforyou.Nowyouhavecome,wecanleavetogether.'Theystoodup.Thesoldierdidnotfeeltiredanymore.Hefeltlight,likeabird,likeadropofrain.Helookedaroundhismother'sroomforthelasttime,thentookhismother'shand.Behindthem,ontheothersideoftheroom,therewassomethinglyinginthebed.Itwasthebodyofanold,oldwoman,lyingverystill.Butthesoldierdidnotlookatit.Hesawonlythekindandlovingfaceofhismother,withherlongdarkhairfallingaroundherShecameacrosstheroomtotheopendoor,andtookhisThesoldierandhismothermovedquicklytothedoor,holdingTheywentoutsideintothebrightstarlight,andwereThesoldier'slittlesistervisitedhermothereveryday.Thesisterwasnowawomanofsixty-eightyears,withthreeadultchildrenofherown,andfiveThesisterlivedinanew,modernhousejustoutsidethecity.Shewantedheroldmothertocomeandlivewithher,inhercomfortablemodernhouse,butthemotheralwayssaidno,shewouldnotleaveherlittleoldhouse.Shewantedtostayinherownhome.'Whywon'tshecomeandlivewithus,Grandma?'askedthesister's'It'sbecauseofmybrother,'saidthesister.'Yearsago,whenIwasonlyababy,therewasawar.Mybrotherwasasoldier.Hewentawaytothewar,andhenevercamehomeagain.''Whathappenedtohim?'askedthegranddaughter.'Didhe'Idon'tknow,'saidthesister.'Mymotherneverheardwhathappenedtohim.Ican'trememberhimatall,butmymotherhasneverforgottenhim.Idon'tthinkthatadaygoespastwhenshedoesn'tthinkabouthim.'Somanyyoungmenwentawaytothatwar.Somanydidnotcomeback.Theoneswhodidcomebackwerenowoldmen,butthesoldier'smotherwentonwaiting.Shewouldnotmovetoanewhouse.Evennow,whenshewassooldherself,shewouldnotleave.Forthelastfewyears,shecouldnotgetoutofbed.Shewasnotill,butshewasverytired,andshecouldnotwalk.Sothesistercameeverydaytovisithermotherandtositwithherinthelittlehouse.Anursecameeverydaytoo,becausethemotherwassoold.Today,thesisterwastakinghergranddaughterwithher.'It'llbegoodforyou,'shetoldhergranddaughter,'tospendsometimewithmymother.''Whatwillwehavetodoforher,Grandma?'askedthegranddaughter.'We'llhelphersitupinbed,'saidthesister.'We'llwashherfaceandtidyherhair.Andwe'llmaketeaforher.Whenthenursecomes,wecanTheyweredrivingtothemother'shousealongthenewroad.Thiswasafastroadthatwentfromthecityaroundthehillstothevillagesinthevalleyontheotherside.Theoldroadwentoverthehills.'Youneverusetheoldroad,doyou,Grandma?'thegranddaughtersaid.'No,ittakestoolongthatway,'saidthesister.'Good,'saidthegranddaughter.'Idon'tlikethatroad.Therearelotsoftreesalongit,andtheymaketheroadverydark.Girlsatschoolsaythatifyouwalkthereatnight,youcanhearaghost.''Theysaythatifyouwalkthereatnight,youcanhearaThesisterlaughed.'Aghost!'she'It'strue,Grandma!'saidthegranddaughter.'That'swhattheysay.Noone'severseentheghost,butpeoplehaveheardit.It'ssomeoneinheavybootswalkingalongtheroad–tramp,tramp,tramp.''Ahyes,Iremembernow,'saidthesister.'Thereisastoryabouttheroadoverthehills.WhenIwasagirlatschool,yearsago,peoplewerelingthesamestoryeventhen.Someghoststoriesgoonforever,don'tthey?'Whentheyarrivedinthevillage,thesisterstoppedthecaroutsidehermother'slittlehouse.Sheopenedthefrontdoorandlookedinside.Shewasnotsurprisedbywhatshesaw.'Waitoutside,'shetoldhergranddaughterquickly.'Usephonetocallanambulance.Thenwaitinthecar.'Shedidnotsaythatadoctorwasnolongernecessary.Thesistershutthedoorandsatdownnexttohermother'sbed.Sheheldhermother'scoldhand.Hermotherlookedpeaceful,thesisterthought.Shelookedhappy.Therewasonlyonethingthatthesisterdidnotunderstand.Onthelittletable,ontheothersideoftheroom,thereweretwoemptyteacups.warn.fightingbetweencountriesorbetweengroupsofpeoplesadadjunhappytrampn.thesoundofheavywalking沉重的腳步聲thirstyadjfeelingthatyouwantorneedadrink口渴的dustn.drydirtthatislikepowder塵土；灰塵valleyn.thelowlandbetweenmountains山谷peace