A strange order 一条奇怪的指令

文天群

There was once a traveler who was wet and cold because he had been riding in the rain. At last he reached a small inn. The inn was so crowded with people that he could not get near the fire. So he called out to the innkeeper， “Take some fish to my horse！” The innkeeper answered， “But the horse doesn’t eat fish！”The people heard this strange order， and ran out to see the horse eat fish. Thus the traveler， having the whole room to himself at the moment， sat down beside the fire and warmed himself.

When the innkeeper came back with the crowd of the people， he said， “Your horse would not eat fish.” The traveler answered， “Never mind， put fish on the table， and when I have quite dried my clothes. I will eat myself.”

從前有一个旅行者衣服湿了很冷，因为他一直在雨中骑行。最后他来到一家小旅馆。旅馆里挤满了人，他无法靠近火炉。于是他对旅馆老板喊道：“给我的马拿些鱼来吃！” 旅馆老板回答说：“马不吃鱼啊！”人们听到这条奇怪的指令后，都纷纷跑出去看马吃鱼。于是，这个旅行者现在可以独享整个房间，并坐在炉火旁取暖了。

当旅馆老板带着一大群人回来时，他说：“你的马是不会吃鱼的。”旅行者回答说：“别担心，把鱼都放在桌子上吧，等我把衣服烤干了，我自己吃掉。”