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The Werewolf

  Itisanortherntry;theyhavecoldweather,theyhavecoldhearts.

  Cold;tempest;wildbeastsintheforest.Itisahardlife.Theirhousesarebuiltoflogs,darkandsmokywithin.Therewillbeacrudeiofthevirginbehindagutteringdle,thelegofapighunguptocure,astringmushrooms.Abed,astool,atable.Harsh,brief,poorlives.

  Totheseuplandwoodsmen,theDevilisasrealasyouorI.Moreso;theyhavenotseenusnorevenknowthatweexist,buttheDeviltheyglimpseofteninthegraveyards,thosebleakandtougtownshipsofthedeadwherethegravesaremarkedwithportraitsofthedeceasedinthena?fstyleandtherearenoflowerstoputinfrontofthem,noflrowthere,sotheyputoutsmall,votives,littleloaves,sometimesacakethatthebearselumberingfromthemarginsoftheforesttosnatchaway.Atmidnightespeciallyonurgisnacht,theDevilholdspiithegraveyardsandihewitches;thentheydigupfreshcorpses,ahem.Anyonewilltellyouthat.

  Wreathsofgarlithedoorskeepoutthevampires.Ablue-eyedchildborfirstonthenightofStJohnsEvewillhavesedsight.Whentheydiscoverawitch--someoldwomanwhosecheesesripenwhenherneighboursdonot,anotheroldwomanwhoseblackcat,oh,sinister!followsheraboutallthetime,theystripthee,searchherformarks,forthesupernumarynippleherfamiliarsucks.Theysoonfindit.Theoodeath.

  Winterandcoldweather.

  Goandvisitgrandmother,whohasbeensick.TakehertheoatcakesIvebakedforheronthehearthstoneandalittlepotofbutter.

  Thegoodchilddoesashermotherbids--fivemilestrudgethroughtheforest;dohepathbecauseofthebears,thewildboar,thestarvingwolves.Here,takeyourfathershuntingknife;youknowhowtouseit.

  Thechildhadascabbycoatofsheepskintokeepoutthecold,shekheforesttoowelltofearitbutshemustalwaysbeuard.Whensheheardthatfreezinghowlofawolf,shedroppedhergifts,seizedherkurhebeast.

  Itwasahugeohredeyesandrunning,grizzledchops;anybutamountaineerschildwouldhavediedhtatthesightofit.Itwentforherthroat,aswolvesdo,butshemadeagreatswipeatitwithherfathersknifeandslashedoffitsrightforepaw.

  Thewolfletoutagulp,almostasob,whenshesawwhathadhappeoit;wolvesarelessbravethantheyseem.Itwentlollopingoffdissolatelybetweereesaswellasitcouldonthreelegs,leavingatrailofbloodbehindit.Thechildwipedthebladeofherknifeonherapron,edupthewolfspawihinwhichhermotherhadpackedtheoatcakesaontowardshergrandmothershouse.Soonitcameontosnowsothicklythatthepathandanyfootsteps,trackorspoorthatmighthavebeenuponitwereobscured.

  Shefoundhergrandmotherwassosickshehadtakentoherbedandfallenintoafretfulsleep,moaningandshakingsothatthechildguessedshehadafever.Shefelttheforehead,itburned.Sheshookouttheclothfromherbasket,touseittomaketheoldwomanacoldpress,andthewolfspawfelltothefloor.

  Butitwasnolongerawolfspaw.Itwasahand,choppedoffatthewrist,ahandtoughehworkandfreckledwithage.Therewasaweddingringohirdfingerandawartontheindexfinger.Bythewart,shekfrandmothershand.

  Shepulledbackthesheetbuttheoldwomanwokeup,atthat,ale,squawking,andshriekinglikeathingpossessed.Butthechildwasstrong,andarmedwithherfathershuntingknife;shemaoholdhergrandmotherdownlongenoughtoseethecauseofherfever.Therewasabloodystumpwhereherrighthandshouldhavebeeeringalready.

  Thechildcrossedherselfandcriedoutsoloudtheneighboursheardherandcamerushingin.Theykhewartonthehandatonceforawitipple;theydrovetheoldwoman,inhershiftasshewas,outintothesnowwithsticks,beatingheroldcarcassasfarastheedgeoftheforest,aedherwithstoilshefelldowndead.

  Nowthechildlivedinhergrandmothershouse;sheprospered.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读