Charlotte’s Web (III)

◎E.B.White

Track 9

作为一只猪，威尔伯似乎只能接受任人宰割的命运了，但夏洛却承诺要救威尔伯。这是一场关于信任、勇气、拯救与自我拯救的对话，一起读读吧！

“Charlotte?” he said.

“Yes?” said the spider.

“Were you serious when you1)promised you would keep them from killing me?”

“I was never more serious in my life.I am not going to let you die, Wilbur.”

“How are you going to save me?” asked Wilbur, whose curiosity was very strong on this point.

“Well,” said Charlotte,2)vaguely, “I don’t really know.But I’m working on a plan.”

“That’s wonderful,” said Wilbur.“How is the plan coming, Charlotte? Have you got very far with it? Is it coming along pretty well?” Wilbur was3)trembling again,but Charlotte was cool and4)collected.

“Oh, it’s coming all right,” she said, lightly.“The plan is still in its early stages and hasn’t completely shaped up yet, but I’m working on it.”

“When do you work on it?” begged Wilbur.

“When I’m hanging head-down at the top of my web.That’s when I do my thinking, because then all the blood is in my head.”

“I’d be only too glad to help in any way I can.”

“Oh, I’ll work it out alone,” said Charlotte.“I can think better if I think alone.”

“All right,” said Wilbur.“But don’t fail to let me know if there’s anything I can do to help, no matter how5)slight.”

“Well,” replied Charlotte, “you must try to build yourself up.I want you to get plenty of sleep, and stop worrying.Never hurry and never worry!Chew your food thoroughly and eat every bit of it, except you must leave just enough for Templeton.Gain weight and stay well—that’s the way you can help.Keep fit, and don’t lose your nerve.Do you think you understand?”

“Yes, I understand,” said Wilbur.

1) promisev.承诺

2) vaguelyadv.含糊地

3) tremblev.颤抖

4) collectedadj.镇静的

5) slightadj.轻微的；不足道的

“夏洛？”他说。

“嗯？”蜘蛛说。

“你曾承诺过不让他们杀我，你是认真的吗？”

“在我一生中还从没这么认真过呢。我不会让你死的，威尔伯。”

“你打算怎么救我呢？”强烈地想知道这点的威尔伯问。

“唔，”夏洛含混地说，“我还不知道呢。但是我正在制订计划。”

“好极了，”威尔伯说，“这计划的开始是怎样的，夏洛？你已经想出很多步骤了吗？它进展得非常顺利吗？”威尔伯又打了一个冷战，可夏洛还是非常冷静。

“哦，计划就快弄好了，”她轻声地说，“这计划才刚刚开头，没有成形，不过我会弄好的。”

“你什么时候能想好？”威尔伯乞求道。

“在我倒挂在我的网上的时候吧。那时我才能想事情，因为那时全身的血才会涌到我的脑袋里。”

“我非常愿意在我力所能及的范围内帮助你。”

“哦，我将一个人解决它，”夏洛说，“我一个人时会想出更好的办法。”

“好吧，”威尔伯说，“但是如果有什么我能做的，不管是多么小的事儿，你也别忘了告诉我。”

“好的，”夏洛回答，“你必须加强你的信心。我要你保持充足的睡眠，不要再担忧了。永远也不要着急和担心！慢慢地吃光你的每一点食物，除了你剩给坦普尔曼的那些。把自己吃胖，好好活着——这就是你能帮我做的。保持健康，不要气馁。你明白了吗？”

“是的，我懂了。”威尔伯说。