于是巫师回答她说:“对你我不保密,反正你被关在这里不可能出卖我。要想杀我首先需要有一只非常凶猛的狮子去杀死森林中的一只黑狮子;杀死这只黑狮子之后,会从它的肚子里钻出一只黑色的狗,它跑得非常快,只有世界上最快的狗才能追上它。杀死这只黑狗以后,会从狗的肚子里飞出一只黑鹰,我不知道天空中还有什么别的鹰能跟上它。不过即使这只黑鹰被杀了,还需要从它肚子里取出一只黑蛋,在我的额头上打破这只黑蛋,我的灵魂就会飞走,我就会死去。你觉得容易吗?你觉得会有机会让你痛苦吗?”
朱瓦宁用他那对小小的蚂蚁耳朵,听到了一切,他又小步跑着从窗户缝中爬了出去,回到窗台上。在那里,他重新变回一只鹰,飞到森林中。到森林后,他又变成一只狮子,在树林中四处巡游,终于碰到了那只黑狮子。黑狮子向他猛扑过来,可朱瓦宁是世界上最凶猛的狮子,很快就撕碎了它。(巫师在城堡里觉得一阵头晕。)朱瓦宁打开黑狮子的肚子,从里面冲出一只跑得极快的黑狗,但朱瓦宁变成了世界上最快的狗,追上去,与黑狗滚咬在一起,不一会,黑狗就倒在地上死了。(巫师在城堡里疼得不得不倒在床上。)朱瓦宁又打开黑狗的肚子,从里面飞出一只黑鹰,朱瓦宁立即变成世界上最大的鹰,跟随着黑鹰在天空中盘旋,不停地冲向黑鹰,用嘴啄他、用爪攻击它,黑鹰很快就收起了翅膀,摔到地上。(巫师在城堡里发起了高烧,在棉被里缩成一团,瑟瑟发抖。)
朱瓦宁变回人形,打开黑鹰的肚子,从里面掏出一只黑蛋,然后来到城堡,把它交给了满心欢喜的国王的女儿。
国王的女儿问他:“你怎么做到的?”
朱瓦宁说:“这不算什么,现在该你了。”
国王的女儿走进巫师的房间,问:“你好点了吗?”
“啊,我真倒楣,有人背叛了我……”
“我给你做了一碗汤,快喝了吧。”
巫师直起身,坐在床上,低下头正要喝汤。
“等一下,让我往汤里打一个鸡蛋,这样,更有营养。”国王的女儿边说边在他的额头上打碎了那只黑蛋。无灵之体巫师当即就死了。
朱瓦宁把公主带回到国王身边,父女重聚,高兴极了,国王马上就把女儿嫁给了朱瓦宁。
(利古里亚西海岸)
Body-without-Soul
TherewasawidowwithasonnamedJack,whoatthirteenwantedtoleavehometoseekhisfortune.Hismothersaidtohim,"Whatdoyouexpecttodooutintheworld?Dontyouknowyourestillalittleboy?Whenyoureabletofellthatpinetreebehindourhousewithonekick,thenyoucango."
Everydayafterthat,assoonasheroseinthemorning,Jackwouldgetarunningstartandjumpagainstthetrunkofthetreewithbothfeet,butthepineneverbudgedaninchandhefellflatonhisback.Hewouldgetupagain,shakethedirtoff,andgobackinside.
Atlastonefinemorninghejumpedwithallhismight,andthetreegavewayandtoppledtotheground,hisrootsintheair.Jackranandgothismotherwho,surveyingthefelledtree,said,"Youmaynowgowhereveryouwish,myson."Jackbidherfarewellandsetout.
AfterwalkingfordaysanddayshecametoacitywhosekinghadahorsenamedRondellothatnoonehadeverbeenabletoride.Peopleconstantlytried,butwerethrownjustwhenitappearedtheywouldsucceed.Lookingon,Jacksoonrealizedthatthehorsewasafraidofitsownshadow,sohevolunteeredtobreakRondellohimself.Hebeganbygoinguptothehorseinthestable,talkingtoitandpattingit;thenhesuddenlyjumpedintothesaddleandrodetheanimaloutsidestraightintothesun.Thatwayitcouldntseeanyshadowtofrightenit.Jacktookasteadyholdofthereins,pressedhiskneestothehorse,andgallopedoff.AquarterofanhourlaterRondellowasasdocileasalamb,butletnooneridehimafterthatbutJack.
Fromthenon,Jackservedtheking,whowassofondofhimthattheotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedtogetridofhim.
NowthekinghadadaughterwhohadbeenkidnappedinherinfancybythesorcererBody-without-Soul,andnoonehadheardofhersince.TheservantswenttothekingclaimingJackhadboastedtoeverybodyhewouldfreeher.Thekingsentforhim.Jackwasamazedandsaidthiswasthefirsthehadevenheardofthekingsdaughter.Butthefactthatanyonehaddaredmakelightoftheepisodeconcerninghisdaughtersoinfuriatedthekingthathesaid,"Eitheryoufreeher,orIllhaveyoubeheaded."
Sincetherewasnocalmingthekingnow,Jackaskedforarustyswordtheykepthangingonthewall,saddledRondello,androdeoff.Crossingaforest,hesawalionmotioninghimtostop.Althoughabituneasy,Jackdislikedtheideaofrunningaway,sohedismountedandaskedwhatthelionwanted.
耽美书斋推荐浏览: 伊塔罗·卡尔维诺