THE CRAB THAT PLAYED WITH THE SEA

  BEFOREtheHighandFar-OffTimes,OmyBestBeloved,cametheTimeoftheVeryBeginnings;andthatwasinthedayswhentheEldestMagiwasgettingThingsready.FirsthegottheEarthready;theheSeaready;aoldalltheAnimalsthattheycouldeoutandplay.AndtheAnimalssaid,OEldestMagi,whatshallweplayat?andhesaid,Iwillshowyou.HetooktheElephant--All-the-Elephant-there-was--andsaid,PlayatbeinganElephant,andAll-the-Elephant-there-layed.HetooktheBeaver--All-the-Beaver-there-wasandsaid,PlayatbeingaBeaver,andAll-theBeaver-there-layed.

  HetooktheCow--All-theCow-there-was--andsaid,PlayatbeingaCow,andAll-the-Cow-there-layed.HetooktheTurtle--All-the-Turtlethere-wasandsaid,PlayatbeingaTurtle,andAll-the-Turtle-there-layed.Onebyoookallthebeastsandbirdsandfishesandtoldthemlayat.

  Buttowardsevening,whenpeopleandthingsgrowrestlessandtired,therecameuptheMan(Withhisownlittlegirl-daughter?)--Yes,withhisowbelovedlittlegirl-daughtersittinguponhisshoulder,andhesaid,Whatisthisplay,EldestMagi?AndtheEldestMagisaid,Ho,SonofAdam,thisistheplayoftheVeryBeginning;butyouaretoowiseforthisplay.AndtheMansalutedandsaid,Yes,Iamtoowiseforthisplay;butseethatyoumakealltheAnimalsobedienttome.

  Now,whilethetwoweretalkingtogether,PauAmmatheCrab,whowasinthegame,scuttledoffsidewaysandsteppedintothesea,sayingtohimself,Iwillplaymyplayalohedeepwaters,andIwillneverbeobedienttothissonofAdam.Nobodysawhimgoawayexceptthelittlegirl-daughterwheresheleaheMansshoulder.AndtheplaywentontilltherewerenomoreAnimalsleftwithoutorders;andtheEldestMagiwipedthefioffhishandsandwalkedabouttheworldtoseehowtheAnimalswereplaying.

  HewentNorth,BestBeloved,andhefoundAll-the-Elephant-there-wasdiggingwithhistusksandstampingwithhisfeetintheniewearththathadbeenmadereadyforhim.

  Kun?saidAll-the-Elephant-there-was,meaning,Isthisright?

  Payahkun,saidtheEldestMagi,meaning,Thatisquiteright;andhebreatheduponthegreatrodlumpsofearththatAll-the-Elephant-there-washadthrownup,andtheybecamethegreatHimalayanMountains,andyoulookthemoutonthemap.

  Hewe,andhefoundAll-the-Cowthere-wasfeedinginthefieldthathadbeenmadereadyforher,andshelickedhertongueroundawholeforestatatime,andswalloweditandsatdowntochewhercud.

  Kun?saidAll-the-Cow-there-was.

  Payahkun,saidtheEldestMagi;andhebreatheduponthebarepatchwhereshehadeaten,andupontheplacewhereshehadsatdown,andonebecamethegreatIndia,aherbecametheDesertofSahara,andyoulookthemoutonthemap.

  Hewe,andhefoundAll-the-Beaver-there-wasmakingabeaver-damacrossthemouthsofbroadriversthathadbeengotreadyforhim.

  Kun?saidAll-the-Beaver-there-was.

  Payahkun,saidtheEldestMagi;andhebreatheduponthefallentreesaillwater,andtheybecametheEvergladesinFlorida,andyoumaylookthemoutonthemap.

  TheSouthandfoundAll-the-Turtle-there-wasscratgwithhisflippersinthesandthathadbeengotreadyforhim,andthesandandtherockswhirledthroughtheairandfellfaroffintothesea.

  Kun?saidAll-the-Turtle-there-was.

  Payahkun,saidtheEldestMagi;andhebreatheduponthesandandtherocks,wheretheyhadfalleninthesea,andtheybecamethemostbeautifulislandsofBorneo,Celebes,Sumatra,Java,aoftheMalayArchipelago,andyoulookthemoutonthemap!

  ByandbytheEldestMagimettheManonthebanksofthe

  Perakriver,andsaid,Ho!SonofAdam,arealltheAnimals

  obedienttoyou?

  Yes,saidtheMan.

  IsalltheEarthobedienttoyou?

  Yes,saidtheMan.

  IsalltheSeaobedienttoyou?

  No,saidtheMan.OnceadayandonighttheSearunsupthePerakriveranddrivesthesweet-waterbatotheforest,sothatmyhouseismadewet;onceadayandonightitrunsdowntheriveranddrawsallthewaterafterit,sothatthereisnothibutmud,andmyoeisupset.Isthattheplayyoutoldittoplay?

  No,saidtheEldestMagi.Thatisanelay.

  Look!saidtheMan,andashespokethegreatSeacameupthemouthofthePerakriver,drivingtheriverbackwardstillitoverflowedallthedarkforestsformilesandmiles,andfloodedtheManshouse.

  Thisiswrong.LaunchyouroeandwewillfindoutwhoisplayingwiththeSea,saidtheEldestMagi.Theysteppedintotheoe;thelittlegirl-daughtercamewiththem;aookhiskris--acurving,wavydaggerwithabladelikeaflame,--andtheypushedoutonthePerakriver.ThentheseabegantorunbadbadtheoewassuckedoutofthemouthofthePerakriver,pastSelangor,pastMalacca,pastSingapore,outandouttotheIslandofBingtang,asthoughithadbeenpulledbyastring.

  ThentheEldestMagistoodupandshouted,Ho!beasts,birds,andfishes,thatItookbetweenmyhandsattheVeryBeginningandtaughttheplaythatyoushouldplay,whieofyouisplayingwiththeSea?

  Thenallthebeasts,birds,andfishessaidtogether,EldestMagi,weplaytheplaysthatyoutaughtustoplay--weandourchildrenschildren.ButnotoneofusplayswiththeSea.

  ThentheMoonrosebigandfulloverthewater,andtheEldestMagisaidtothehunchbaanwhositsintheMoonspinningafishing-lihwhichhehopesoocatchtheworld,Ho!FisheroftheMoon,areyouplayingwiththeSea?

  No,saidtheFisherman,IamspinningalihwhichIshallsomedaycatchtheworld;butIdonotplaywiththeSea.

  Aonspinninghisline.

  NowthereisalsoaRatupintheMoonwhoalwaysbitestheoldFishermanslineasfastasitismade,andtheEldestMagisaidtohim,Ho!RatoftheMoon,areyouplayingwiththeSea?

  Asaid,IamtoobusybitingthroughthelithisoldFishermanisspinning.IdonotplaywiththeSea.Aonbitingtheline.

  Thelegirl-daughterputupherlittlesoftbrownarmswiththebeautifulwhiteshellbraceletsandsaid,OEldestMagi!whenmyfatherheretalkedtoyouattheVeryBeginning,andIleaneduponhisshoulderwhilethebeastswerebeingtaughttheirplays,owentawaynaughtilyintotheSeabeforeyouhadtaughthimhisplay.

  AndtheEldestMagisaid,Howwisearelittlechildrenwhoseeandaresilent!Whatwasthebeastlike?

  Alegirl-daughtersaid,Hewasroundandhewasflat;andhiseyesgrewuponstalks;andhewalkedsidewayslikethis;andhewascoveredwithstrongarmouruponhisback.

  AndtheEldestMagisaid,Howwisearelittlechildrenwhospeaktruth!NowIknowwherePauAmmawent.Givemethepaddle!

  Sohetookthepaddle;buttherewasopaddle,forthewaterflowedsteadilypastalltheislandstilltheycametotheplacecalledPusatTasek--theHeartoftheSea--wherethegreathollowisthatleadsdowntotheheartoftheworld,andinthathollowgrowstheWonderfulTree,PauhJanggi,thatbearsthemaginuts.ThentheEldestMagislidhisarmuptotheshoulderthroughthedeepwarmwater,anduherootsoftheWonderfulTreehetouchedthebroadbackofPauAmmatheCrab.AndPauAmmasettleddownatthetoudalltheSearoseupaswaterrisesinabasinwhenyouputyourhandintoit.

  Ah!saidtheEldestMagi.NowIknowwhohasbeenplayingwiththeSea;andhecalledout,Whatareyoudoing,PauAmma?

  AndPauAmma,deepdownbelow,answered,OnceadayandonightIgoouttolookformyfood.OnceadayandonightIreturn.Leavemealone.

  ThentheEldestMagisaid,Listen,PauAmma.WhenyougooutfromyourcavethewatersoftheSeapourdownintoPusatTasek,andallthebeachesofalltheislandsareleftbare,alefishdie,andRajaMoyangKaban,theKingoftheElephants,hislegsaremademuddy.WhenyouebadsitinPusatTasek,thewatersoftheSearise,andhalfthelittleislandsaredrowned,andtheManshouseisflooded,andRajaAbdullah,theKingoftheCrocodiles,hismouthisfilledwiththesaltwater.

  ThenPauAmma,deepdownbelow,laughedandsaid,IdidnotknowIwassoimportant.HenceforwardIwillgooutseventimesaday,aersshallneverbestill.

  AndtheEldestMagisaid,Iakeyouplaytheplayyouweremeanttoplay,PauAmma,becauseyouescapedmeattheVeryBeginning;butifyouarenotafraid,eupandwewilltalkaboutit.

  Iamnotafraid,saidPauAmma,andherosetothetopoftheseainthemoonlight.TherewasnobodyintheworldsobigasPauAmma--forhewastheKingCrabofallCrabs.NotaonCrab,butaKingCrab.OnesideofhisgreatshelltouchedthebeachatSarawak;theothertouchedthebeachatPahang;aallerthanthesmokeofthreevoloes!AsheroseupthroughthebraheWonderfulTreehetoreoffohegreattwinfruits--themagicdoublekersthatmakepeopleyoung,--alegirl-daughtersawitbobbingalongsidetheoe,andpulleditinaopickoutthesofteyesofitwithherlittlegoldenscissors.

  Now,saidtheMagi,makeaMagic,PauAmma,toshowthatyouarereallyimportant.

  PauAmmarolledhiseyesandwavedhislegs,buthecouldonlystiruptheSea,because,thoughhewasaKingCrab,hewasnothingmorethanaCrab,andtheEldestMagilaughed.

  Youarenotsoimportantafterall,PauAmma,hesaid.Now,letmetry,andhemadeaMagicwithhislefthand--withjustthelittlefingerofhislefthand--and--loandbehold,BestBeloved,PauAmmashard,blue-green-blackshellfelloffhimasahuskfallsoffacout,andPauAmmawasleftallsoft--softasthelittlecrabsthatyousometimesfindonthebeach,BestBeloved.

  Indeed,youareveryimportant,saidtheEldestMagi.

  ShallIasktheMaocutyouwithkris?ShallIsendforRajaMoyangKaban,theKingoftheElephants,topierceyouwithhistusks,orshallIcallRajaAbdullah,theKingoftheCrocodiles,tobiteyou?

  AndPauAmmasaid,Iamashamed!GivemebackmyhardshellamegobacktoPusatTasek,andIwillonlystiroutonceadayandonighttogetmyfood.

  AndtheEldestMagisaid,No,PauAmma,Iwillnotgiveyoubackyourshell,foryouwillgrowbiggerandprouderandstronger,andperhapsyouwillfetyourpromise,andyouwillplaywiththeSeaoncemore.

  ThenPauAmmasaid,WhatshallIdo?IamsobigthatIlyhideinPusatTasek,andifIgoanywhereelse,allsoftasIamnow,thesharksandthedogfishwilleatme.AndifIgotoPusatTasek,allsoftasIamnow,thoughImaybesafe,Ieverstirouttogetmyfood,andsoIshalldie.Thenhewavedhislegsandlamented.

  Listen,PauAmma,saidtheEldestMagi.Iakeyouplaytheplayyouweremeanttoplay,becauseyouescapedmeattheVeryBeginning;butifyouchoose,ImakeeverystoneandeveryholeandeverybunchofweedinalltheseasasafePusatTasekforyouandyourchildrenforalways.

  ThenPauAmmasaid,Thatisgood,butIdonotchooseyet.Look!

  thereisthatManwhotalkedtoyouattheVeryBeginning.IfhehadnottakenupyourattentionIshouldnothavegrowntiredofwaitingandrunaway,andallthiswouldneverhavehappened.

  Whatwillhedoforme?

  AndtheMansaid,Ifyouchoose,IwillmakeaMagic,sothatboththedeepwaterandthedrygroundwillbeahomeforyouandyourchildren--sothatyoushallbeabletohidebothonthelandandinthesea.

  AndPauAmmasaid,Idonotchooseyet.Look!thereisthatgirlwhosawmerunningawayattheVeryBeginning.IfshehadspokeheEldestMagiwouldhavecalledmebadallthiswouldneverhavehappened.Whatwillshedoforme?

  Alegirl-daughtersaid,ThisisagoodnutthatIameating.Ifyouchoose,IwillmakeaMagidIwillgiveyouthispairofscissors,verysharpandstrong,sothatyouandyourchildrecoutslikethisalldaylongwhenyoueupfromtheSeatotheland;oryoudigaPusatTasekforyourselfwiththescissorsthatbelongtoyouwhenthereisnostoneorholenearby;aheearthistoohard,bythehelpofthesesamescissorsyourunupatree.

  AndPauAmmasaid,Idonotchooseyet,for,allsoftasIam,thesegiftswouldnothelpme.Givemebackmyshell,OEldestMagi,andthenIwillplayyourplay.

  AndtheEldestMagisaid,Iwillgiveitback,PauAmma,forelevenmonthsoftheyear;butowelfthmonthofeveryyearitshallgrowsoftagain,toremindyouandallyourchildrenthatImakemagidtokeepyouhumble,PauAmma;forIseethatifyourunbothuhewaterandonland,youwillgrowtoobold;andifyouclimbtreesandcrautsanddigholeswithyourscissors,youwillgrowtoogreedy,PauAmma.

  ThenPauAmmathoughtalittleandsaid,Ihavemademychoice.

  Iwilltakeallthegifts.

  ThentheEldestMagimadeaMagicwiththerighthand,withallfivefingersofhisrighthand,andloandbehold,BestBeloved,PauAmmagrewsmallerandsmallerandsmaller,tillatlasttherewasonlyalittlegreencrabswimmingieralongsidetheinaverysmallvoice,Givemethescissors!

  Andthegirl-daughterpickedhimuponthepalmofherlittlebrownhand,andsathimiomoftheoeandgavehimherscissors,andhewavedtheminhislittlearms,ahemandshutthemandshem,andsaid,Ieatnuts.Icrackshells.Idigholes.Iclimbtrees.Ibreatheinthedryair,andIfindasafePusatTasekundereverystone.IdidnotknowIwassoimportant.Kun?(Isthisright?)

  Payah-kun,saidtheEldestMagi,andhelaughedandgavehimhisblessing;andlittlePauAmmascuttledoverthesideoftheoeintothewater;andhewassotinythathecouldhavehiddeheshadowofadryleafonlandorofadeadshellatthebottomofthesea.

  Wasthatwelldone?saidtheEldestMagi.

  Yes,saidtheMan.ButgobacktoPerak,andthatisawearyaddle.IfwehadwaitedtillPauAmmahadgoofPusatTasekandehome,thewaterwouldhavecarriedustherebyitself.

  Youarelazy,saidtheEldestMagi.Soyourchildrenshallbelazy.Theyshallbethelaziestpeopleintheworld.TheyshallbecalledtheMalazy--thelazypeople;andhehelduphisfiheMoonandsaid,OFisherman,hereistheMantoolazytorowhome.Pullhisewithyourline,Fisherman.

  No,saidtheMan.IfIamtobelazyallmydays,lettheSeaworkformetwiceadayforever.Thatwillsavepaddling.

  AndtheEldestMagilaughedandsaid,Payahkun(Thatisright).

  AoftheMoonstoppedbitingtheline;andtheFishermahislinedowntillittouchedtheSea,andhepulledthewholedeepSeaalong,pasttheIslandofBintang,pastSingapore,pastMalacca,pastSelangor,tilltheoewhirledintothemouthofthePerakRiveragain.Kun?saidtheFishermanoftheMoon.

  Payahkun,saidtheEldestMagi.SeenowthatyoupulltheSeatwiceadayandtwiightforever,sothattheMalazyfishermenmaybesavedpaddling.Butbecarefulnottodoittoohard,orIshallmakeamagiyouasIdidtoPauAmma.

  ThentheyallwentupthePerakRiveraobed,BestBeloved.

  Nowlistenandattend!

  FromthatdaytothistheMoonhasalulledtheseaupanddownandmadewhatwecallthetides.SometimestheFisheroftheSeapullsalittletoohard,andthespringtides;andsometimeshepullsalittletoosoftly,andthewhatarecalledides;butnearlyalwaysheiscareful,becauseoftheEldestMagi.

  AndPauAmma?Youseewhenyougotothebeach,hoauAmmasbabiesmakelittlePusatTaseksforthemselvesundereverystoneandbunchofweedonthesands;youseethemwavingtheirlittlescissors;andisoftheworldtheytrulyliveonthedrylandandrunupthepalmtreesacouts,exactlyasthegirl-daughterpromised.ButonceayearallPauAmmasmustshakeofftheirhardarmoura-toremindthemofwhattheEldestMagicoulddo.AndsoitisntfairtokillorhuntPauAmmasbabiesjustbecauseoldPauAmmawasstupidlyrudeaverylongtimeago.

  Ohyes!AndPauAmmasbabieshatebeingtakenoutoftheirlittlePusatTaseksandbroughthomeinpickle-bottles.Thatiswhytheynipyouwiththeirscissors,anditservesyht!

  A-GOINGPsandOs

  PassPauAmmasplaygroundclose,

  AndhisPusatTaseklies

  hetraostB.I.s.

  U.Y.K.andN.D.L.

  KnowPauAmmashomeaswell

  AsthefisheroftheSeaknows

  Bens,M.M.s,andRubattinos.

  But(andthisisratherqueer)

  A.T.L.sehere;

  O.andO.andD.O.A.

  Mustgoroundanotherway.

  Orient,Anchor,Bibby,Hall,

  hatwayatall.

  U.C.S.wouldhaveafit

  Ifitfounditselfonit.

  AndifBeaverstooktheircargoes

  ToPenanginsteadofLagos,

  OrafatShaw-Savillbore

  PasseoSingapore,

  OraWhiteStarweretotrya

  LittletriptoSourabaya,

  OraB.S.A.wenton

  PastNataltoCheribon,

  TheMr.Lloydswoulde

  Withawireanddragthemhome!

  Youllknowwhatmyriddlemeans

  Whenyouveeatenmangosteens.

  Orifyoutwaittillthen,askthemtoletyouhavetheoutsidepageoftheTimes;turopage2whereitismarkedShippingooplefthand;theheAtlas(andthatisthefipicture-bookintheworld)aheheplacesthatthesteamersgotofitintotheheplathemap.Anysteamer-kiddyoughttobeabletodothat;butifyoutread,asksomeooshowityou.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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