The Company of Wolves-1
Oandonlyonehowlsinthewoodsbynight.
Thewolfisivoreinateandhesasingasheisferocious;onceheshadatasteoffleshthennothingelsewilldo.
Atnight,theeyesofwolvesshinelikedleflames,yellowish,reddish,butthatisbecausethepupilsoftheireyesfattenondarknessandcatchthelightfromyourlaoflashitbacktoyou--redfer;ifawolfseyesrefleoonlight,thentheygleamacoldandunnaturalgreen,amineral,apiergcolour.Ifthebenightedtravellerspiesthoseluminous,terriblesequinsstitchedsuddenlyontheblackthickets,thenheknowshemustrun,iffearhasnotstruckhimstock-still.
Butthoseeyesareallyouwillbeabletoglimpseoftheforestassassinsastheyclusterinvisiblyroundyoursmellofmeatasyoughthewoodunwiselylate.Theywillbelikeshadows,theywillbelikewraiths,greymembersofagregationofnightmare;hark!hislong,waveringhowl...anariaoffearmadeaudible.
Thewolfsongisthesoundoftherendingyouwillsuffer,initselfamurdering.
Itiswinterandcoldweather.Inthisregionofmountainandforest,thereisnownothingforthewolvestoeat.Goatsandsheeparelockedupinthebyre,thedeerdepartedfortheremainingpasturageohernslopes--wolvesgrowleanandfamished.Thereissolittlefleshohatyoucouldtthestarvelingribsthroughtheirpelts,iftheygaveyoutimebeforetheypouhoseslaveringjaws;thelollingtoherimeofsalivaonthegrizzledchops--ofalltheteemingperilsofthenightandtheforest,ghosts,hobgoblins,ogresthatgrillbabiesupongridirons,witchesthatfattentheircaptivesincagesforibaltables,thewolfisworstforheotlistentoreason.
Youarealwaysindaheforest,wherenopeopleare.Stepbetweealsofthegreatpineswheretheshaggybraangleaboutyou,trappingtheunwarytravellerisasifthevegetationitselfwereinaplotwiththewolveswholivethere,asthoughthewickedtreesgofishingonbehalfoftheirfriends--stepbetweeepostsoftheforestwiththegreatesttrepidationandinfiniteprecautions,forifyoustrayfromthepathforoant,thewolveswilleatyou.Theyaregreyasfamiheyareasunkindasplague.
Thegrave-eyedchildrenofthesparsevillagesalwayscarrykhthemwheoteleflocksofgoatsthatprovidethehomesteadswithacridmilkandrank,maggotycheese.Theirknivesarehalfasbigastheyare,thebladesaresharpeneddaily.
Butthewolveshavewaysofarrivingatyourowhside.Wetryandtrybutsometimesweotkeepthemout.Thereisnowintersnightthecottagerdoesoseealean,grey,famishedsnoutquestinguhedoor,andtherewasawomaeninherownkitasshewasstrainingthemai.
Fearahewolf;for,worstofall,thewolfmaybemorethanheseems.
Therewasahunteronearhere,thattrappedawolfinapit.Thiswolfhadmassacredthesheepandgoats;eatenupamadoldmanwhousedtolivebyhimselfinahuthalfthemountainandsingtoJesusallday;pounagirllookingafterthesheep,butshemadesuotionthatmehriflesandscaredhimawayandtriedtotrackhimtotheforestbuthewasingandeasilygavethemtheslip.Sothishunterdugapitandputaduit,forbait,allalive--oh;andhecoveredthepitwithstrawsmearedwithwolfdung.Quack,quack!wentthedudawolfcameslinkingoutoftheforest,abigone,aheavyone,heweighedasmuchasagrownmanarawgavewaybehhim--intothepithetumbled.Thehunterjumpeddownafterhim,slithisthroat,cutoffallhispawsforatrophy.
Andthennowolfatalllayinfrontofthehuthebloodytrunkofaman,headless,footless,dying,dead.
Awitupthevalleyournedaireweddingpartyintowolvesbecausethegroomhadsettledonanirl.Sheusetoorderthemtovisither,atnight,fromspite,andtheywouldsitandhowlaroutageforher,serenadihtheirmisery.
Notsoverylongago,ayoungwomaninourvillagemarriedamanwhovanishedawayonherweddingnight.Thebedwasmadewithnewsheetsandthebridelaydowninit;thegroomsaid,hewasgoingouttorelievehimself,insistedonit,forthesakeofdedshedrewthecoverletuptoherandlaythere.Aedaedandtheedagain--surelyhesbeengonealongtime?Untilshejumpsupinbedandshriekstohearahowling,ingonthewindfromtheforest.
Thatlong-drawn,waveringhowlhas,forallitsfearfulresonaneisadnessinit,asifthebeastswouldlovetobelessbeastlyifonlytheyknewhowandneverceasetomourntheirowndition.Thereisavastmelancholyiiclesofthewolves,melancholyinfiheforest,endlessastheselongnightsofwinterahatghastlysadhatmfortheirown,irremediableappetites,evermovetheheartfornotonephraseinithintsatthepossibilityofredemption;gracecouldnotetothewolffromitsowndespair,onlythroughsomeexteror,sothat,sometimes,thebeastwilllookasifhehalfwelesthekdispatcheshim.
Theyoungwomansbrotherssearchedtheouthousesandthehaystacksbutneverfoundanyremainssothesensiblegirldriedhereyesandfoundherselfanotherhusbandnottooshytopissintoapotwhospentthenightsindoors.Shegavehimapairofbonnybabiesandallwentrightasatrivetuntil,onefreezingnight,thenightofthesolstice,thehiheyearwhenthingsdonotfittogetheraswellastheyshould,thelonight,herfirstgoodmancamehomeagain.
Agreatthumponthedoorannouncedhimasshewasstirringthesoupforthefatherofherchildrenandsheknewhimthemomeedthelatalthoughitwasyearssinceshedwornblaandnowhewasinragsandhishairhungdownhisbadneversawab,alivewithlice.
"HereIamagain,missus,"hesaid."Getmemybowlofcabbageandbequickaboutit."
Thenhersedhusbandcameinwithwoodforthefireahefirstonesawshedsleptwithanothermanand,worse,clappedhisredeyesotlechildrenwhodcreptintothekittoseewhatallthedinwasabout,heshouted:"IwishIwereawolfagain,toteachthiswhorealesson!"Soawolfheinstantlybecameandtoreofftheeldestboysleftfootbeforehewaschoppedbythehatchettheyusedforchoppinglogs.Butwhenthewolflaybleedingandgaspingitslast,thepeltpeeledoffagainandhewasjustashehadbeen,yearsago,whenheranawayfromhismarriagebed,sothatsheweptandhersedhusbaher.
TheysaytheresanoiheDevilgivesyouthatturnsyouintoawolftheminuteyourubiton.Or,thathewasborfirstandhadawolfforhisfatherandhistorsoisamansbuthislegsaalsareawolfs.Andhehasawolfsheart.
Sevenyearsisawerewolfsnaturalspanbutifyouburnhishumanclothesyounhimtowolfishnessfortherestofhislife,sooldwiveshereaboutsthinkitsomeprotetothrowahatoranapronatthewerewolf,asifclothesmadethemaheeyes,thosephosphoresteyes,youknowhiminallhisshapes;theeyesaloneungedbymetamorphosis.
Beforehebeeawolf,thelythropestripsstarknaked.Ifyouspyanakedmanamongthepines,youmustrunasiftheDevilwereafteryou.
Itismidwinterandtherobin,thefriendofman,sitsonthehahegardenersspadeandsings.Itistheworsttimeinalltheyearforwolvesbutthisstrong-mindedchildinsistsshewillgooffthroughthewood.Sheisquitesurethewildbeastsotharmheralthough,well-warned,shelaysacarvingkhebaskethermotherhaspackedwithcheeses.Thereisabottleofharshliquordistilledfrombrambles;abatchofflatoatcakesbakedohstone;apotortwoofjam.Thegirlwilltakethesedeliciousgiftstoareclusivegrandmothersooldtheburdenofheryearsiscrushiodeath.Grannylivestwohourstrudgethroughthewinterwoods;thechildsherselfupihickshawl,drawsitoverherhead.Shestepsioutwoodenshoes;sheisdressedandreadyanditisChristmasEve.Themaligndoorofthesolsticestillswingsuponitshishehasbeentoomuchlovedevertofeelscared.
Childrendonotstayyoungfinthissavagetry.Therearenotoysforthemtoplaywithsotheyworkhardandgrowwisebutthisone,soprettyandtheyouofherfamily,alittlelate-er,hadbeenindulgedbyhermotherandthegrandmotherwhodknittedhertheredshawlthat,today,hastheominousifbrilliantlookofbloodonsnow.Herbreastshavejustbeguntoswell;herhairislikelint,sofairithardlymakesashadowonherpaleforehead;hercheeksareanemblematicscarletandwhiteandshehasjuststartedherwomansbleeding,theclosideherthatwillstrike,henceforward,onceamonth.
Shestandsandmoveswithintheinvisiblepentacleofherownvirginity.Sheisanunbrokenegg;sheisasealedvessel;shehasinsideheramagicspacetheentraowhichisshuttightlugofmembrane;sheisaclosedsystem;shedoesnotknowhowtoshiver.Shehasherknifeandsheisafraidofnothing.
Herfathermightforbidher,ifhewerehome,butheisawayintheforest,gatheringwood,aherotdenyher.
Theforestcloseduponherlikeapairofjaws.
Thereisalwayssomethingtolookatintheforest,eveninthemiddleofwihehuddledmoundsofbirds,succumbedtothelethargyoftheseason,heapedonthecreakingboughsandtooforlorntosing;thebrightfrillsofthewinterfungiochedtrunksofthetrees;theeiformslotsofrabbitsaheherringboracksofthebirds,ahareasleanasarasherofbastreakingacrossthepathwherethethinsunlightdapplestherussetbrakesoflastyearsbra.
Whensheheardthefreezinghowlofadistantwolf,herpractisedhandsprangtothehandleofherkshesawnosignofawolfatall,norofanakedmaher,butthensheheardaclatteringamongthebrushwoodandtheresprangontothepathafullyclothedone,averyhandsomeyouhegreencoatandwideawakehatofahunter,ladenwithcarcassesofgamebirds.Shehadherhandonherkhefirstrustleoftwigsbuthelaughedwithaflashofwhiteteethwhenhesawherandmadeheraicyetflatteringlittlebow;shedneverseensuchafinefellowbefore,notamoicsofhernativevillage.Soontheywent,throughthethiinglightoftheafternoon.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
Thewolfisivoreinateandhesasingasheisferocious;onceheshadatasteoffleshthennothingelsewilldo.
Atnight,theeyesofwolvesshinelikedleflames,yellowish,reddish,butthatisbecausethepupilsoftheireyesfattenondarknessandcatchthelightfromyourlaoflashitbacktoyou--redfer;ifawolfseyesrefleoonlight,thentheygleamacoldandunnaturalgreen,amineral,apiergcolour.Ifthebenightedtravellerspiesthoseluminous,terriblesequinsstitchedsuddenlyontheblackthickets,thenheknowshemustrun,iffearhasnotstruckhimstock-still.
Butthoseeyesareallyouwillbeabletoglimpseoftheforestassassinsastheyclusterinvisiblyroundyoursmellofmeatasyoughthewoodunwiselylate.Theywillbelikeshadows,theywillbelikewraiths,greymembersofagregationofnightmare;hark!hislong,waveringhowl...anariaoffearmadeaudible.
Thewolfsongisthesoundoftherendingyouwillsuffer,initselfamurdering.
Itiswinterandcoldweather.Inthisregionofmountainandforest,thereisnownothingforthewolvestoeat.Goatsandsheeparelockedupinthebyre,thedeerdepartedfortheremainingpasturageohernslopes--wolvesgrowleanandfamished.Thereissolittlefleshohatyoucouldtthestarvelingribsthroughtheirpelts,iftheygaveyoutimebeforetheypouhoseslaveringjaws;thelollingtoherimeofsalivaonthegrizzledchops--ofalltheteemingperilsofthenightandtheforest,ghosts,hobgoblins,ogresthatgrillbabiesupongridirons,witchesthatfattentheircaptivesincagesforibaltables,thewolfisworstforheotlistentoreason.
Youarealwaysindaheforest,wherenopeopleare.Stepbetweealsofthegreatpineswheretheshaggybraangleaboutyou,trappingtheunwarytravellerisasifthevegetationitselfwereinaplotwiththewolveswholivethere,asthoughthewickedtreesgofishingonbehalfoftheirfriends--stepbetweeepostsoftheforestwiththegreatesttrepidationandinfiniteprecautions,forifyoustrayfromthepathforoant,thewolveswilleatyou.Theyaregreyasfamiheyareasunkindasplague.
Thegrave-eyedchildrenofthesparsevillagesalwayscarrykhthemwheoteleflocksofgoatsthatprovidethehomesteadswithacridmilkandrank,maggotycheese.Theirknivesarehalfasbigastheyare,thebladesaresharpeneddaily.
Butthewolveshavewaysofarrivingatyourowhside.Wetryandtrybutsometimesweotkeepthemout.Thereisnowintersnightthecottagerdoesoseealean,grey,famishedsnoutquestinguhedoor,andtherewasawomaeninherownkitasshewasstrainingthemai.
Fearahewolf;for,worstofall,thewolfmaybemorethanheseems.
Therewasahunteronearhere,thattrappedawolfinapit.Thiswolfhadmassacredthesheepandgoats;eatenupamadoldmanwhousedtolivebyhimselfinahuthalfthemountainandsingtoJesusallday;pounagirllookingafterthesheep,butshemadesuotionthatmehriflesandscaredhimawayandtriedtotrackhimtotheforestbuthewasingandeasilygavethemtheslip.Sothishunterdugapitandputaduit,forbait,allalive--oh;andhecoveredthepitwithstrawsmearedwithwolfdung.Quack,quack!wentthedudawolfcameslinkingoutoftheforest,abigone,aheavyone,heweighedasmuchasagrownmanarawgavewaybehhim--intothepithetumbled.Thehunterjumpeddownafterhim,slithisthroat,cutoffallhispawsforatrophy.
Andthennowolfatalllayinfrontofthehuthebloodytrunkofaman,headless,footless,dying,dead.
Awitupthevalleyournedaireweddingpartyintowolvesbecausethegroomhadsettledonanirl.Sheusetoorderthemtovisither,atnight,fromspite,andtheywouldsitandhowlaroutageforher,serenadihtheirmisery.
Notsoverylongago,ayoungwomaninourvillagemarriedamanwhovanishedawayonherweddingnight.Thebedwasmadewithnewsheetsandthebridelaydowninit;thegroomsaid,hewasgoingouttorelievehimself,insistedonit,forthesakeofdedshedrewthecoverletuptoherandlaythere.Aedaedandtheedagain--surelyhesbeengonealongtime?Untilshejumpsupinbedandshriekstohearahowling,ingonthewindfromtheforest.
Thatlong-drawn,waveringhowlhas,forallitsfearfulresonaneisadnessinit,asifthebeastswouldlovetobelessbeastlyifonlytheyknewhowandneverceasetomourntheirowndition.Thereisavastmelancholyiiclesofthewolves,melancholyinfiheforest,endlessastheselongnightsofwinterahatghastlysadhatmfortheirown,irremediableappetites,evermovetheheartfornotonephraseinithintsatthepossibilityofredemption;gracecouldnotetothewolffromitsowndespair,onlythroughsomeexteror,sothat,sometimes,thebeastwilllookasifhehalfwelesthekdispatcheshim.
Theyoungwomansbrotherssearchedtheouthousesandthehaystacksbutneverfoundanyremainssothesensiblegirldriedhereyesandfoundherselfanotherhusbandnottooshytopissintoapotwhospentthenightsindoors.Shegavehimapairofbonnybabiesandallwentrightasatrivetuntil,onefreezingnight,thenightofthesolstice,thehiheyearwhenthingsdonotfittogetheraswellastheyshould,thelonight,herfirstgoodmancamehomeagain.
Agreatthumponthedoorannouncedhimasshewasstirringthesoupforthefatherofherchildrenandsheknewhimthemomeedthelatalthoughitwasyearssinceshedwornblaandnowhewasinragsandhishairhungdownhisbadneversawab,alivewithlice.
"HereIamagain,missus,"hesaid."Getmemybowlofcabbageandbequickaboutit."
Thenhersedhusbandcameinwithwoodforthefireahefirstonesawshedsleptwithanothermanand,worse,clappedhisredeyesotlechildrenwhodcreptintothekittoseewhatallthedinwasabout,heshouted:"IwishIwereawolfagain,toteachthiswhorealesson!"Soawolfheinstantlybecameandtoreofftheeldestboysleftfootbeforehewaschoppedbythehatchettheyusedforchoppinglogs.Butwhenthewolflaybleedingandgaspingitslast,thepeltpeeledoffagainandhewasjustashehadbeen,yearsago,whenheranawayfromhismarriagebed,sothatsheweptandhersedhusbaher.
TheysaytheresanoiheDevilgivesyouthatturnsyouintoawolftheminuteyourubiton.Or,thathewasborfirstandhadawolfforhisfatherandhistorsoisamansbuthislegsaalsareawolfs.Andhehasawolfsheart.
Sevenyearsisawerewolfsnaturalspanbutifyouburnhishumanclothesyounhimtowolfishnessfortherestofhislife,sooldwiveshereaboutsthinkitsomeprotetothrowahatoranapronatthewerewolf,asifclothesmadethemaheeyes,thosephosphoresteyes,youknowhiminallhisshapes;theeyesaloneungedbymetamorphosis.
Beforehebeeawolf,thelythropestripsstarknaked.Ifyouspyanakedmanamongthepines,youmustrunasiftheDevilwereafteryou.
Itismidwinterandtherobin,thefriendofman,sitsonthehahegardenersspadeandsings.Itistheworsttimeinalltheyearforwolvesbutthisstrong-mindedchildinsistsshewillgooffthroughthewood.Sheisquitesurethewildbeastsotharmheralthough,well-warned,shelaysacarvingkhebaskethermotherhaspackedwithcheeses.Thereisabottleofharshliquordistilledfrombrambles;abatchofflatoatcakesbakedohstone;apotortwoofjam.Thegirlwilltakethesedeliciousgiftstoareclusivegrandmothersooldtheburdenofheryearsiscrushiodeath.Grannylivestwohourstrudgethroughthewinterwoods;thechildsherselfupihickshawl,drawsitoverherhead.Shestepsioutwoodenshoes;sheisdressedandreadyanditisChristmasEve.Themaligndoorofthesolsticestillswingsuponitshishehasbeentoomuchlovedevertofeelscared.
Childrendonotstayyoungfinthissavagetry.Therearenotoysforthemtoplaywithsotheyworkhardandgrowwisebutthisone,soprettyandtheyouofherfamily,alittlelate-er,hadbeenindulgedbyhermotherandthegrandmotherwhodknittedhertheredshawlthat,today,hastheominousifbrilliantlookofbloodonsnow.Herbreastshavejustbeguntoswell;herhairislikelint,sofairithardlymakesashadowonherpaleforehead;hercheeksareanemblematicscarletandwhiteandshehasjuststartedherwomansbleeding,theclosideherthatwillstrike,henceforward,onceamonth.
Shestandsandmoveswithintheinvisiblepentacleofherownvirginity.Sheisanunbrokenegg;sheisasealedvessel;shehasinsideheramagicspacetheentraowhichisshuttightlugofmembrane;sheisaclosedsystem;shedoesnotknowhowtoshiver.Shehasherknifeandsheisafraidofnothing.
Herfathermightforbidher,ifhewerehome,butheisawayintheforest,gatheringwood,aherotdenyher.
Theforestcloseduponherlikeapairofjaws.
Thereisalwayssomethingtolookatintheforest,eveninthemiddleofwihehuddledmoundsofbirds,succumbedtothelethargyoftheseason,heapedonthecreakingboughsandtooforlorntosing;thebrightfrillsofthewinterfungiochedtrunksofthetrees;theeiformslotsofrabbitsaheherringboracksofthebirds,ahareasleanasarasherofbastreakingacrossthepathwherethethinsunlightdapplestherussetbrakesoflastyearsbra.
Whensheheardthefreezinghowlofadistantwolf,herpractisedhandsprangtothehandleofherkshesawnosignofawolfatall,norofanakedmaher,butthensheheardaclatteringamongthebrushwoodandtheresprangontothepathafullyclothedone,averyhandsomeyouhegreencoatandwideawakehatofahunter,ladenwithcarcassesofgamebirds.Shehadherhandonherkhefirstrustleoftwigsbuthelaughedwithaflashofwhiteteethwhenhesawherandmadeheraicyetflatteringlittlebow;shedneverseensuchafinefellowbefore,notamoicsofhernativevillage.Soontheywent,throughthethiinglightoftheafternoon.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
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并不代表本站立场!本站亦无法严格审:The Bloody chamber And Other Stories最新章节其版权归属。如您对The Bloody chamber And Other StoriesTXT下载持有版权方面的异议，请联系本站客服。我们将于72小时内处理。
Copyright (C) 2019 All Rights Reserved 版权所有：松语文学