Wise Owl1聪明的猫头鹰

Lin Donn

There is an old saying， “wise as anowl”. People are always saying that， but thetruth is， owls were not always wise.

Once upon a time， a long time ago， theEverything-Maker was busy making all theanimals and all the plants and all the rocksand caverns2 and everything else thatcovered the earth.

Owl had not yet been made. He hadbeen given a voice. And two eyes. And ahead and a body and strong wings. Owl waswaiting his turn to be formed. “I want along neck like Swan，” Owl told theEverything-Maker.“I want red feathers likeCardinal3 and a beak4 like Hawk5.”

“Yes， yes，”the Everything-Maker said.“Whatever you want. But you must waityour turn.”The Everything -Maker lookedsharply6 at Owl. “Your eyes are openagain. You know that no one is allowed towatch me work. Turn around and close youreyes. I have no time for you now. I am busycreating Rabbit.”

The Everything-Maker turned hisattention back to Rabbit who was shakingwith nervousness.“And what do you want，little rabbit？”the Everything-Maker askedencouragingly.

“Long legs and ears，”Rabbit spokesoftly. “And fangs7. Could I possibly havea fang or two？ And claws. I would dearlylove to have claws8！ ”

The Everything-Maker smiled.“I thinkwe could manage some claws and fangs.”Hesmoothed9 Rabbits long legs and ears.

“Silly Rabbit！ ” Owl laughed atRabbit loudly. “Why dont you ask forsomething useful， like wisdom？”

“This is your last warning， Owl. Bequiet and wait your turn.”

Owl turned around and glared10 at theEverything-Maker.“You have to do it，”hehooted11. “You have to give us what weask. I demand12 wisdom！ ”

“I warned you， Owl！ ”shouted theEverything-Maker. He shoved13 Owlshead down into his body， which madeOwls neck disappear. He gave Owl ashake， which made Owls eyes widen infright. He pulled Owls ears until theystuck out from his head.

The Everything-Maker snapped hisfingers14. “I have made your ears big， thebetter to listen. I have made your eyes big，the better to see. I have made your neckshort， the better to hold up your head. Ihave packed your head with wisdom， asyou have asked. Now， use your wisdomand fly away before you lose what I havegiven.”

Owl was no longer a fool. He flewquickly away， pouting15 and hooting.

The Everything-Maker turned back toRabbit， smiling gently. “Claws，” hereminded himself. But Rabbit was gone.Rabbit had hopped hurriedly away， tooafraid of the Everything-Maker to stay forhis fangs and claws.

As for Owl， Owl knew if he angeredthe Everything-Maker again， he would loseall that he had gained. Even today， Owlonly comes out at night， when theEverything -Maker is fast asleep. As forRabbit， his claws and fangs are waiting.Perhaps someday...

有句老话说，“像猫头鹰一样聪明”。人们总是这么说，但事实是，猫头鹰并不是一直聪明的。

很久以前，造物主忙着造出所有的动物、植物、岩石、洞穴以及地面上的其他一切东西。

当时猫头鹰还没有被造出来。他被赋予了声音，两只眼睛，还有一个脑袋，一个躯干和强壮的翅膀。猫头鹰正等着轮到他被造出来。“我想要天鹅一样的长脖子。”猫头鹰告诉造物主，“我想要红衣凤头鸟那样的红色羽毛和鹰一样的喙。”

“好的，好的。”造物说，“不管你想要什么。但你必须等着轮到你。”造物主用锐利的眼神看着猫头鹰。“你的眼睛又睁开了。

你知道任何人不得看着我工作。

转过身去，闭上你的眼睛。我现在没有时间管你了。我正忙着创造兔子。”

造物主把注意力转向了紧张得发抖的兔子。“你想要什么，小兔子？”造物主鼓励地问。

“长腿和长耳朵。”兔子轻声说道，“还有獠牙。我能有一两颗獠牙吗？还有爪子。我很想有爪子！”

造物主笑了。“我想我们可以安排上爪子和獠牙。”他捋了捋兔子的长腿和长耳朵。

“傻兔子！”猫头鹰大声嘲笑兔子说，“你为什么不要求一些有用的东西，比如智慧？”

“猫头鹰，这是对你的最后一次警告。安静点，等着轮到你。”

猫头鹰转过身来，怒视着造物主。“你必须这样做。”他大声叫嚣道，“你必须满足我们的要求。我需要智慧！”

“我警告过你了，猫头鹰！”造物主大声说。他把猫头鹰的头胡乱塞进他的躯干，这让猫头鹰没有了脖子。他摇了一下猫头鹰，吓得猫头鹰瞪大了眼睛。他拉扯着猫头鹰的耳朵，直到它们从他的头上伸出来。

造物主打了个响指。“我把你的耳朵变大了，让你听得更清楚。

我把你的眼睛变大了，让你看得更清楚。我把你的脖子变短了，以便你更好地支撑你的头。正如你所要求的那样，我把你的脑袋里填满了智慧。现在，用你的智慧，在你失去我给予的东西之前飞走吧。”

猫头鹰不再是傻瓜了。他撅着嘴叫嚣着，很快飞走了。

造物主转向兔子，温柔地微笑着。“爪子。”他提醒自己。但兔子走了。兔子太害怕造物主，于是匆忙地跳走了，不敢再留下来等着他的尖牙和爪子。

至于猫头鹰，猫头鹰知道，如果他再次激怒造物主，他将失去他所获得的一切。即使是今天，猫头鹰也只在晚上，即造物主熟睡时出来。至于兔子，他的爪子和獠牙还在等着他。也许有一天……

Notes

1. owl 猫头鹰

2. cavern 洞穴

3. cardinal 红衣凤头鸟

4. beak 鸟嘴；喙

5. hawk 鹰；隼

6. sharply 严厉地；尖锐地

7. fang 尖牙

8. claw  爪；爪子

9. smooth 光滑的；平坦的

10. glare 怒视；瞪眼

11. hoot 大声叫嚣

12. demand 强烈要求；需要

13. shove 猛推；亂挤；随便放置

14. snap one's fingers 打响指