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...

有句老話(huà)說(shuō)，“像貓頭鷹一樣聰明”。人們總是這么說(shuō)，但事實(shí)是，貓頭鷹并不是一直聰明的。

很久以前，造物主忙著造出所有的動(dòng)物、植物、巖石、洞穴以及地面上的其他一切東西。

當(dāng)時(shí)貓頭鷹還沒(méi)有被造出來(lái)。他被賦予了聲音，兩只眼睛，還有一個(gè)腦袋，一個(gè)軀干和強(qiáng)壯的翅膀。貓頭鷹正等著輪到他被造出來(lái)?！拔蚁胍禊Z一樣的長(zhǎng)脖子?！必堫^鷹告訴造物主，“我想要紅衣鳳頭鳥(niǎo)那樣的紅色羽毛和鷹一樣的喙。”

“好的，好的?！痹煳镎f(shuō)，“不管你想要什么。但你必須等著輪到你?！痹煳镏饔娩J利的眼神看著貓頭鷹?！澳愕难劬τ直犻_(kāi)了。

你知道任何人不得看著我工作。

轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身去，閉上你的眼睛。我現(xiàn)在沒(méi)有時(shí)間管你了。我正忙著創(chuàng)造兔子。”

造物主把注意力轉(zhuǎn)向了緊張得發(fā)抖的兔子?！澳阆胍裁?，小兔子？”造物主鼓勵(lì)地問(wèn)。

“長(zhǎng)腿和長(zhǎng)耳朵。”兔子輕聲說(shuō)道，“還有獠牙。我能有一兩顆獠牙嗎？還有爪子。我很想有爪子！”

造物主笑了?！拔蚁胛覀兛梢园才派献ψ雍外惭馈！彼哿宿弁米拥拈L(zhǎng)腿和長(zhǎng)耳朵。

“傻兔子！”貓頭鷹大聲嘲笑兔子說(shuō)，“你為什么不要求一些有用的東西，比如智慧？”

“貓頭鷹，這是對(duì)你的最后一次警告。安靜點(diǎn)，等著輪到你?！?/p>

貓頭鷹轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身來(lái)，怒視著造物主?！澳惚仨氝@樣做?！彼舐暯袊痰溃澳惚仨殱M(mǎn)足我們的要求。我需要智慧！”

“我警告過(guò)你了，貓頭鷹！”造物主大聲說(shuō)。他把貓頭鷹的頭胡亂塞進(jìn)他的軀干，這讓貓頭鷹沒(méi)有了脖子。他搖了一下貓頭鷹，嚇得貓頭鷹瞪大了眼睛。他拉扯著貓頭鷹的耳朵，直到它們從他的頭上伸出來(lái)。

造物主打了個(gè)響指?！拔野涯愕亩渥兇罅耍屇懵?tīng)得更清楚。

我把你的眼睛變大了，讓你看得更清楚。我把你的脖子變短了，以便你更好地支撐你的頭。正如你所要求的那樣，我把你的腦袋里填滿(mǎn)了智慧?，F(xiàn)在，用你的智慧，在你失去我給予的東西之前飛走吧?！?/p>

貓頭鷹不再是傻瓜了。他撅著嘴叫囂著，很快飛走了。

造物主轉(zhuǎn)向兔子，溫柔地微笑著?！白ψ?。”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，不敢再留下來(lái)等著他的尖牙和爪子。

至于貓頭鷹，貓頭鷹知道，如果他再次激怒造物主，他將失去他所獲得的一切。即使是今天，貓頭鷹也只在晚上，即造物主熟睡時(shí)出來(lái)。至于兔子，他的爪子和獠牙還在等著他。也許有一天……

Notes

1. owl 貓頭鷹

2. cavern 洞穴

3. cardinal 紅衣鳳頭鳥(niǎo)

4. beak 鳥(niǎo)嘴；喙

5. hawk 鷹；隼

6. sharply 嚴(yán)厲地；尖銳地

7. fang 尖牙

8. claw? 爪；爪子

9. smooth 光滑的；平坦的

10. glare 怒視；瞪眼

11. hoot 大聲叫囂

12. demand 強(qiáng)烈要求；需要

13. shove 猛推；亂擠；隨便放置

14. snap one's fingers 打響指