"What does this mean?" I demanded. "Why are you talking with snakes?" I had loosened the golden muffler that he always wore. I had moistened his temples, and had given him some water to drink. And now I did not dare ask him any more questions. He looked at me very gravely, and put his arms around my neck. I felt his heart beating like the heart of a dying bird, shot with someone's rifle...... "I am glad that you have found what was the matter with your engine, " he said. "Now you can go back home......" "How do you know about that?" I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyond anything that I had dared to hope. He made no answer to my question, but he added: "I, too, am going back home today......" Then,sadly"It is much fa rther...... It is much more difficult......" I realized clearly that something extraordinary was happening. | "这是怎么一回事?"我问道: "你为什么要跟蛇说话?" 我松开他经常围在颈上的金黄色丝巾。 并用水沾润他的太阳穴,喂他喝一些水。 却不敢向他提出更多的问题。 他严肃地看着我,并用双臂环抱着我的颈子。 我感觉到他的心跳仿佛是中枪而气若游丝的鸟儿。 "真高兴你已经检查出引擎故障的地方,"他说: "如今你能够回家了......" "你怎么会知道?" 我专程来告诉他,我的工作已经大功告成了,这事我本来不抱任何希望的。 他没有回答我的问题,却说:"我今天也要回家了......" 他感伤地继续说着:"路途更加遥远...... 更加艰难......" 我清楚意识到有不寻常的事正酝酿着。 |