《無法控制的魔力》: 美國7歲神童 作者: [美]鄒奇奇

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
THE JOY OF WRITING（1）

    14
    「He has a reason for it, milady.」

    「What do you mean, Fortindo?」

    「Your mother, bless her dear soul, has recently died at the nunnery

    and your father Sir Richard had not a chance to say his last farewells,」

    Fortindo explained.

    Rotrind did not care at all. Her mother had never been a part of her

    life. 「But marrying Castello is the worst!」 Rotrind cried, 「He is so

    unattractive and he has the worst table manners…」

    「If I may ask, milady, who do you really love?」

    「I…I』m not really sure,」 Rotrind admitted after pondering it for a

    moment.

    「If you permit me to, I will try to find another rich nobleman who is

    looking for a wife…I am sure that there is another person of your rank

    or higher, and unmarried. I believe a new noble just arrived yesterday. I

    could easily find him, if you wish.」

    「Actually, just stay, please,」 Rotrind said. 「I want you to escort me to

    my room.」

    「As you wish, milady,」 Fortindo said, taking Rotrind』s hand and

    leading her across the dewy field that separated Sir Richard』s chambers

    from Rotrind』s room.

    「Thank you, Fortindo,」 Rotrind said, closing the door after him. After

    Rotrind was sure that he was gone, she tiptoed out and went downstairs

    to the kitchens. Rotrind was about to step in when a boy who looked to

    be about two years older than her blocked her way.

    「What』s your name?」 the boy asked, his blue eyes twinkling.

    「Lady Rotrind. I am the daughter of Sir Richard, who is the son of

    the Duke of Cornwall and Aragon,」 Rotrind said coldly.

    「You may pass, then. And I am sorry for any delay I might have

    caused you. My name is Philip, son of Mark the court cook.」

    Rotrind, who felt a liking to Philip』s friendly blue eyes and his

    amiable way of speaking, asked kindly, 「Does your father work on a

    wedding cake?」

    「Ah, yes. It shall be grand! There are to be little castles of brown sugar

    on the cake and little white sugar swans on the top layer of the cake, for

    there will be four layers, the bottom layer the biggest and the top layer the

    smallest,」 Philip said.

    「Who is invited?」 Rotrind asked.

    「I am not sure,」 Phil admitted.

    「And do you know who this cake is made for?」

    The Triumph of Love

    15

    「For Lady Rotrind and that aged puppet Ferdinand Castello,」 Philip

    said, laughing.

    「That is correct. It is not my wish to marry Castello, however. It is for

    the good of my family,」 Rotrind said, staring up at the beautifully painted

    ceiling.

    「I thought that. Why in God』s name are you visiting the kitchens?」

    Phil asked.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
THE JOY OF WRITING（2）

    「I wish to inquire about the food that will be served at my wedding.」
    「Actually you will choose most of that, and your father, since he is the

    man who is giving you away to old Castello,」 Philip said.

    「Good. Now bring me to your father so that I can tell him what I

    want served,」 Rotrind commanded.

    「Yes, milady,」 he said, leading Rotrind inside the kitchen. A stout man

    wearing a stained apron was squatting by a fire, watching a stew cauldron

    intently.

    「Hello, Father. This is her ladyship Rotrind. She wishes to tell you

    what she desires to be served on her wedding day,」 Philip said.

    「Ah, yes. Well, milady, just tell me and it shall be prepared exactly as

    you like,」 Mark said, bowing.

    「I want a salmon dish, with the salmon done just right and sprinkled

    with herbs, spices, rosewater, and cilantro. Also a chicken roasted to

    perfection and surrounded by lettuce and cherry tomatoes arranged in an

    artistic way. Also make sure that there are small cakes that can be put next

    to the grand wedding cake. The flavors I want for these side cakes are

    lemon, almond, and vanilla. That is all I wish,」 Rotrind finished off.

    「It shall be made, milady,」 Mark said, standing up and bowing.

    「I will go now,」 Rotrind said. She walked out of the kitchens to the

    spiral staircase and went back upstairs to her room.

    When she was at her room looking at the grand clock that was across

    from her window she realized it was already time for luncheon. She rang

    the bell for Marie and said, 「Marie, set up the chair and the table in the

    luncheon position. I want a bowl of hot pumpkin soup and a salad. Also

    bring me some bread with oil and vinegar.」

    「Yes, milady,」 Marie said, hastening away.

    About thirty minutes later Rotrind was sitting down in her chair taking

    dainty spoonfuls of pumpkin soup with cilantro when she heard a cry, a

    bang, and yelling from all sides.

    「IT WAS YOUR FAULT! YOU OLD—」

    「NO, IT WAS YOUR FAULT! YOU PACK OF LIES, I—」

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    16

    「IT WAS HIS FAULT!」

    「DASTARD, AS LONG AS I』M ALIVE I』LL NEVER STOP IN

    MY ATTEMPTS TO GIVE YOU A LESSON ONCE AND FOR

    ALL!」

    Rotrind raced downstairs to see what the trouble was. Ferdinand

    Castello and some other noblemen who had been shouting with him

    immediately became silent as Rotrind entered.

    「What is the meaning of this unseemly shouting?」 Rotrind asked,

    dangerously advancing closer.

    「I had nothing to do with it,」 Castello said, immediately puffing out

    his chest and looking at the rest of the noblemen with contempt.

    「He is a liar and is a danger to all of us, my ladyship,」 one nobleman

    said.

    「A danger to all of us! He』s a danger to all of us!」 Castello mimicked in a

    high, screechy voice. Rotrind had to bite her lip to keep from laughing and

    put her hand on the hilt of her sharp knife, which was hidden beneath the

    folds of her crimson kirtle.

    「Just tell me what you have been shouting about,」 Rotrind said,

    struggling to keep her voice stern as she loosed the blade in its sheath.

    「Oh, it』s like this, lady,」 one nobleman said, 「Castello stole something

    from the castle storerooms—we don』t know what the thing he stole is—

    but whatever he stole, he denied it. He accused us of stealing the object,

    which of course we haven』t.」

    「Turn your pockets out,」 Rotrind commanded haughtily. Castello

    grinned and turned his pockets out. A beautiful porcelain doll fell out and

    shattered on the hard ground.

    「Who was this doll supposed to be for?」 Rotrind asked sternly,

    placing her hands on her hips.

    「My niece.」

    Rotrind grabbed onto Castello』s leg so that he could not get away.

    「I will tell my father about this,」 Rotrind said, 「and you are coming

    with me.」 Castello did not seem the least bit afraid. He took her hand and

    allowed himself to be led to Sir Richard』s chambers.

    「You are sure that Castello stole this?」 Sir Richard asked severely.

    Rotrind pointed to her father』s ornate antechamber.

    「I have evidence to prove that lout stole from the castle stores,」 she

    said coldly, holding up broken pieces of porcelain. 「Is this not the fair

    make of Anuslin the craftsman? Are these golden locks not the curls of

    the wigmaker』s client?」

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
THE JOY OF WRITING（3）

    The Triumph of Love
    17

    「I agree with you, Rotrind,」 he said wearily. 「But nothing can be

    done.」

    「Why can you not take action?」 Rotrind demanded angrily.

    「You are betrothed to him, Rotrind,」 Sir Richard said wearily, running

    his hand through his thinning hair. 「It would simply not do for you to be

    married in the oubliette. After you are peacefully married I will warn him

    that he is not to do such a thing again.」

    「I refuse to marry such an oaf!」 Rotrind shouted, stomping her foot.

    「Is my consent not the most important part of a prosperous marriage?

    You will receive no money from Castello if he feels that I am not being a

    loving wife!」 Richard raised his hand for silence.

    「Two days only do I grant to you to find a better nobleman,」 he said

    slowly. 「But if you have not succeeded in your quest by then, you will

    have to marry Castello.」

    「Two!」 Rotrind fumed with rage, gritting her teeth. 「Two is

    unreasonable.」

    「Three days only can you search,」 Sir Richard said. And even without

    her father』s word, Rotrind knew she was dismissed.

    One day passed and still Rotrind had not found a suitable nobleman.

    She canceled all her lessons and spent most of her time searching around

    the court. She even went so far as to ask the King himself, who merely

    replied that Ferdinand Castello was a brave and honorable man. On the

    second day, Rotrind journeyed with her father to the fiefdom of Sir

    Arthur the Valiant, only to receive a betrothal suggestion about his one

    year-old son, William.

    「That』s no good!」 Rotrind exclaimed. 「My father says I must be

    married within three days!」 Arthur』s ambassador shrugged.

    「You』re actually fortunate to have been asked, your ladyship,」 he said,

    tying a few papers into a stack. 「I must excuse myself.」 Rotrind swore

    under her breath and left the room. Sir Richard awaited her outside the

    door.

    「No luck?」 he asked, staring at the dark room. 「I didn』t think so.

    There is no choice but to marry Castello.」

    「There is still one more day!」 Rotrind cried desperately.

    「Yes, and that day will be spent in riding. We must get back to the

    castle in time for the grand wedding.」

    「Are there not any other dukedoms?」 Rotrind persisted.

    「Lord Elbert of Ainsworth rules a large portion of this land,」

    Richard said doubtfully. 「But he is old and ailed with leprosy.」

    「That is the only other place?」 Rotrind asked hopelessly.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    18

    「No, I believe the Earl of Wylle has a son,」 Richard said, turning to

    Rotrind. 「But enough of this. We must make our leave.」 Rotrind sighed

    and followed her father.

    「Grant me just one more day,」 she pleaded. 「Surely I will be able to

    find a man then.」

    「One more day then!」 Richard was never that good at opposing his

    daughter. 「But no more!」

    As Rotrind mounted her small brown mare, she happened to look

    back and glimpse a party of horsemen approaching near.

    「Father!」 she cried, halting. 「There are men behind us!」 Richard

    turned sharply and stared at the men.

    「They are naught but attendants, my bonnie Rotrind,」 he said gently,

    taking her hand. 「Let us wait for them on our horses.」 Rotrind looked at

    the party again.

    「They are approaching now,」 she pleaded. 「Why cannot we just ride

    on?」

    「They are to serve us, Rotrind,」 Richard said impatiently. 「Sir Arthur

    has given them to us, or so is my guess.」

    「What if they be in return for me?」 Rotrind asked, suddenly afraid.

    「What if this is to be only a betrothal gift from that empty-headed clod

    Arthur?」

    「Do not speak in such a way of the Valiant One!」 Richard exclaimed,

    turning to face his daughter. 「If you are caught on his lands, you will be

    questioned and imprisoned!」

    「I only speak the truth,」 Rotrind said sullenly, holding up her skirts.

    「But look, the attendants are approaching.」 Indeed the men had drawn

    near, and now Rotrind could see that the party was also composed up of

    four laundresses and two maidservants.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
THE JOY OF WRITING（4）

    「Halt, good sir, and let this company ride with you,」 the man in the
    front said, coming to a stop.

    「As you can see, I have already halted,」 Richard said, a twinkle in his

    eyes. 「And who may you be?」

    「I am the Seneschal of the House of Arthur,」 the steward said

    proudly, drawing himself up. 「I have been sent with a party of twelve

    squires to attend to you and your daughter. Four laundresses also have you

    been granted, with two maidservants to accompany your fair daughter.」

    「I thank you for this enormous gift,」 Richard said, bowing as well as

    one could do on a horse. 「Are you to ride with us?」

    「No, I must return to Sir Arthur,」 the seneschal said. 「But you may

    take these servants.」

    「Really, sir, we aren』t servants,」 a squire broke out, making a face.

    The Triumph of Love

    19

    Rotrind stared at him shyly. 「The steward just likes to call us that because

    he doesn』t like to bring out the fact that we』re of nobler birth than him!」

    Richard threw back his head and roared with laughter.

    「Of nobler birth! Why, my dear squires, in the elder days of mirth and

    merriment the steward of a high house would often have been of nobler

    birth than the squires!」 he exclaimed, riding towards the squires. 「Pages,

    squires, knights—when you reached the position of knight, you could

    only then be slightly higher than the seneschal.」

    「The steward does not even allow us to bear arms!」 the squire

    complained. 「How our fathers would protest!」

    「You have not yet learned the art of the lance?」 Richard asked, raising

    his eyebrows.

    Rotrind frowned. 「Yes, we are studying it, but through boring

    textbooks.」

    「There is no practice with the quintain?」 Richard inquired, setting

    off at a trot.

    「No,」 the squire said, following Richard and Rotrind. 「If you wish to

    know, I am called Walter.」

    「And the steward is Wendell,」 another squire chimed in.

    「I hate having a name that is like the steward』s,」 Walter said, making

    a face. 「But when are we leaving?」

    「Right now,」 Richard said. Rotrind jerked back to attention and the

    party set off.

    By mid-afternoon the party had reached Darren』s Point. It was a flat,

    empty space with nothing but loose stones and boulders around its rocky

    cliffs. There was a great ledge jutting out from the cliff wall, on which one

    could stand and look out onto the crashing waterfall that flowed into the

    river known as Darfin. Rotrind was awed by it all.

    「It』s grand, isn』t it?」 A voice behind Rotrind startled her. She

    immediately spun around. Walter stood behind her, staring at the great

    waves.

    「Y-yes,」 Rotrind said, stunned. She looked back at the turquoise-blue

    waters, then at Walter.

    「Why are you looking at me like that?」 Walter demanded.

    「Errr…I wasn』t aware that I was looking at you strangely,」 Rotrind

    said, shifting nervously. 「Sorry.」 Walter rolled his eyes and threw a small

    pebble across the waterfall.

    「What are you doing?」 Rotrind asked with interest, bending down to

    examine an identical pebble. 「If you』re trying to skip stones, I would

    advise you not to get to close to the cliff edge.」

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    20

    「I know, I know!」 Walter sighed. 「Once in my second year as a page

    my uncle, Lord Elbert of Ainsworth, took us all adventuring here at

    Darren』s Point. One squi—no, sorry, page, accidentally tripped on a loose

    rock and fell into the Darfin. He wasn』t ever found, and so we never came

    to Darren's Point again. Except for now, of course,」 he added hastily.

    「Isn』t your uncle—Lord Elbert—diseased with leprosy?」 Rotrind

    inquired.

    「Yes—how』d you know?」 Walter asked, turning to Rotrind. 「He really

    tries to keep it a secret from his countrymen.」

    「My father told me,」 Rotrind said proudly, tossing a rock into the

    unclear depths of Darfin.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
THE JOY OF WRITING（5）

    「He—my uncle, that is—just singed his eyebrows yesterday,」 Walter
    said flatly. 「Mother—Lady Juliet—went to the apothecary for the fifth

    time this morning. All they could recommend was a visit to the barber

    shop for the necessary surgery.」

    「Rotrind! Walter!」 A loud holler rang out from the camp.

    「That』ll be Wesley,」 Walter said grimly, grabbing Rotrind』s hand. 「He

    thinks it』s his duty as a senior squire to swat the 『minor』 squires with

    Griselda』s kitchen ladle as they enter buildings or whatever.」 Rotrind

    stifled a giggle.

    「It』s not funny!」 Walter said, irritated. Rotrind bit her lip and said

    nothing as she followed Walter down back to the camp.

    Rotrind felt that dinner was the greasiest meal ever served. Her

    scrambled eggs were drenched in olive oil, as were her fried chicken and

    green beans.

    「This food is disgusting,」 she commented to Walter, who was sitting

    next to her. 「Ugh—I rather wish I could throw these eggs under the

    table.」

    「Don』t,」 Walter said earnestly. 「We usually don』t get much food to eat

    while we』re traveling.」 Rotrind rolled her eyes and took another tiny

    nibble out of her green bean.

    「I could eat the rest of your stuff for you, if you like,」 Walter offered,

    pushing his empty bowl aside. 「That is, of course, if you』re not hungry.」

    「Thank you,」 Rotrind sighed, dumping the contents of her bowl onto

    Walter』s plate. 「I』m overstuffed.」 Walter laughed at her feeble joke and

    quickly devoured the food. Rotrind stayed at the table and watched him

    with interest. Every bite he took seemed to spark a tingling in her veins.

    Richard had glanced across the table and was watching his daughter

    nervously, as if expecting something to happen.

    「Father,」 Rotrind said quietly, leaning forward. 「I need to talk with

    The Triumph of Love

    21

    you…privately.」 Walter quickly slipped Rotrind a note and went back to

    eating. Richard nodded, wiped his mouth with his napkin, and followed

    Rotrind outside.

    「I think I』ve found someone I want to marry,」 she whispered as soon

    as they were out of earshot. 「Walter.」

    「What!」 Richard exclaimed. Although he had expected something like

    this, he had not expected it so soon.

    「I love him, Father!」 Rotrind cried. 「Whether he be of high birth or

    low birth I do not care!」

    「You may love him, Rotrind,」 Richard said gently. 「But you may not

    marry him.」

    「Why ever not?」 Rotrind demanded.

    「He is a low-ranking squire,」 Richard sighed. 「If it were not so, he

    would be a worthy husband.」

    「His uncle is Lord Elbert of Ainsworth!」 Rotrind exclaimed. 「Surely

    you could not turn away the nephew of Lord Elbert?」

    「Walter is the youngest son of the youngest son of Lord Alburn the

    First,」 Richard sighed wearily. 「He has no lands, money, or inheritance.」

    「But, Father, surely you cannot turn me against my own true love!」

    「Would I ever think to do so?」 Richard asked, kissing Rotrind lightly

    on the cheek. 「You may still have long, beautiful romantic dreams. But

    Ferdinand Castello is to be your husband.」 Rotrind wept and retired to

    her tent.

    As she lay down to read a page or two from Romeo and Juliet, Rotrind

    suddenly remembered the note Walter had given her. What did it say? It

    might have a comforting word or two. She unfolded the crackled paper

    and scanned its contents. The note read 「Meet me at Darfin at the stroke

    of midnight. Love Walter.」 Rotrind could barely contain herself. Walter

    had written 「Love」! She quickly dressed in a crimson kirtle and hurried to

    Darren』s Point. Darfin』s waters shone with the reflection of the

    moonlight, the most romantic thing Rotrind had ever seen.

    「Rotrind,」 a voice whispered. Rotrind immediately knew it to be

    Walter』s.

    「I got your note,」 she said, feeling somewhat frightened for no

    particular reason.

    「Good,」 Walter said, coming out from the bushes. 「Come closer.」

    Rotrind did as she was told. Walter kissed her gently on the lips.

    「I love you,」 Rotrind breathed.

    「As do I,」 said Walter. Leaving a brief note for Sir Richard,Walter and

    Rotrind stole away to a remote forest by the swift waters of the Darfin.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
THE JOY OF WRITING（6）

    So they lived there for the rest of their lives, bearing a long race of
    seemingly noble, healthy children and living in peace and pleasure.

     

    參考譯文

    solace – a source of comfort （安慰）

    petticoats – under dresses  (襯裙)

    kirtle – a long dress worn from the Middle Ages until the 17th C. （中世紀到17世紀時的女裝長裙）

    spherical – rounded like a ball （球形的）

    oubliette – a dungeon that can only be accessed through a trap door in the roof （只在牢頂有出口的地牢）

    virginal – in this case, a small legless harpsichord （小的無腿的大鍵琴）

    feigned – pretended or faked （假裝）

    duchy – the territory ruled by a duke or duchess （公爵領地）

    amiable – friendly, easygoing （友善的）

    intently – with fixed attention （專心的）

    hastening – hurrying （急匆匆的）

    haughtily – with air of being superior （高傲的）

    ornate – highly decorated （裝飾的）

    antechamber – lobby or waiting room near the entrance （接待室）

    consent – permission （許可）

    quintain – a medieval knight』s target for jousting practice （刺劍靶)

    devoured – eaten or consumed (狼吞虎咽)

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
愛的勝利（1）

    羅金嘆了口氣，揉揉眼睛，又慢慢地念起了十誡。 她夢見自己和她最喜歡的赫斯頓老師在一起。
    「羅金！醒一醒 ！ 你應該背柏拉圖那段！」她的另外一個老師，法利克一邊喊，一邊扶了扶眼鏡。

    「好的，法利克老師，」 羅金還在做夢似地說。

    「現在我們開始背柏拉圖那段， 好不好？」 法利克老師問道。其實，他簡直就是在下命令嘛。

    「是的，法利克老師，」羅金很聽話，儘管她其實都沒聽到法利克老師說的話。

    「好，開始。。」 法利克老師一口氣從頭背到尾，看到羅金全會背他才滿意。

    「記著，你的作業是背這句話，寫一篇關於迦拉哈德爵士的作文，再寫一篇關於蘭斯洛特爵士的作文，學習亞理斯多德的理論。 記住，以後上課不許打盹。」 還沒等法利克老師說完，羅金已經跑了。

    羅金回到自己的房間，跪在高大的落地窗前，向聖人比德， 學者的守護聖人祈禱。 她用手摸了摸脖子上的金十字架，祈求自己博智強識。幾分鐘以後，她聽到敲門的聲音。一對侍女站在門口。

    「您的祖母斯特靈夫人請您更衣就餐，」 高高的麗地亞說。

    「現在就餐太早了吧？」羅金問。

    「是的。但是斯特靈夫人這樣要求的。」

    「那好吧。麗地亞， 你們都進來吧。」

    首先，羅金要用迷迭香水沐浴。 然後，侍女們要把她紅褐色的長發刷一百次，卷好，在頭頂盤成一個很緊的髮髻。 她還要穿上三層漿的硬硬的襯裙，套上綠天鵝絨的長裙。麗地亞用力地勒著她的緊身衣，羅金都快喘不過氣來了。白色長襪也僵硬地裹在她的腿上。最後，她的雙腳被塞到了一雙絲質的拖鞋裡。

    「您可真美呀!」 麗地亞驚嘆道。

    「帶我去宴會廳吧」羅金下令了。

    「是，小姐 」 麗地亞輕聲答應著。她和另外一位侍女攙著羅金下樓到宴會廳去。樓下已經有很多人，男爵，子爵，公爵們（羅金的爸爸就是公爵）， 貴婦人，騎士， 小丑，侏儒們正在聊天。坐在長桌的首位的正是國王，他眼睛看著喧鬧的人群， 嘴裡嚼著一大塊咸牛肉。 與國王遙遙相對的是公主愛麗諾， 她是今天晚宴的女主人。

    「羅金小姐， 理查德爵士之女，克沃爾及阿拉貢公爵之孫女駕到！」號角聲起，羅金走進宴會 廳，面頰有點發熱。貴夫人們趕快讓開， 她坐在了木椅上。

    「你聽說了嗎？斯特靈夫人又要結婚了， 這可是第四次了吧？」 流言總是傳的很快。羅金豎起耳朵聽著。

    「斯特靈夫人怎麼了？」 另外一位貴婦人問。

    「她又要結婚了！ 這次嫁給托馬斯 費茨羅德公爵！」 第一位貴婦人說道。

    「斯特靈夫人又要和托馬斯 費茨羅德公爵結婚了？」 羅金驚奇地問。

    「對！費茨羅德那個怪老頭會讓斯特靈夫人打扮的漂漂亮亮的---儘管斯特靈夫人也漂亮不到哪去了。」 她突然意識到羅金的身份，又馬上說，

    「我的意思是，哦，　斯特靈夫人很美－」　羅金打斷了她，　激動地宣布，

    「我要把這件事告訴我父親，理查德爵士！＂那位貴婦人慌張的說，「親愛的，　就當我沒說好嗎？」

    「你不用再徒勞的討好我了，」羅金冷冷的說。貴婦人尷尬地不再說話。羅金吃了一份豆子，麵包和國王的漁夫們逮來的三文魚就回屋了。她將長發隨意垂下，鬆開緊身衣，　把襯裙扔到洗衣筐里，換上了一件低領鑲黑花邊的白色睡袍。　在睡袍外又套上了帶帽子的黑色長袍。她走到城堡的另一端父親的房間。羅金四下看了看，　確認沒有別人，　趕快敲了三次門。　門開了。羅金把帽子摘掉。

    「父親，我有事告訴您」，羅金急急地說。

    「來，　羅金，小美人，」　里查德爵士還穿著盔甲，顯然剛和好友勞倫斯公爵練劍。　

    「羅金，　你好。」坐在椅子上的勞倫斯公爵向她致意。　羅金回了禮，卻沒有說話。她不喜歡勞倫斯公爵尖尖的鼻子和粗粗的眉毛。　也不喜歡他的短髮。

    「你要告訴我什麼事？我們可以單獨待一會嗎，勞倫斯？」

    「勞倫斯公爵可以留下，」羅金說，「但他可能會對我們的談話不感興趣」。

    「好吧，羅金。我還是留在這吧。　你的故事沒準有趣呢。」勞倫斯公爵用他那冷冷的聲音說道。羅金不管他了，對父親說，

    「坐在我的旁邊的一位貴婦人污辱祖母斯特靈夫人。」

    「誰這麼大的膽子？」里查德爵士跳了起來，揮著劍喊道，「我要把這個女人趕的遠遠的，不然我就把她的頭砍了！」

    「我能幫你，」 勞倫斯公爵一字一頓地說，「我的多次婚姻使我對宮中的貴婦有很深的了解。羅金要是能告訴我她長什麼樣，我馬上就能把她找出來。」

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
愛的勝利（2）

    「謝謝你，我的朋友。羅金，她長的什麼樣？」里查德爵士問。
    「她象個球，　戴著撲了厚粉的假髮。　濃妝艷抹，穿件黑色的晚裝。」

    「啊，我知道了。她是阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人，她就愛打聽小道消息，搬弄是非。」

    「馬上叫她來見我，」里查德爵士說，「她侮辱了我的母親。 我不能容忍這樣的女人還待在宮裡。」

    「好的，朋友。」勞倫斯公爵說。不一會，他就帶著面有懼色的伯爵夫人回來了。

    「你會後悔的！」伯爵夫人尖叫咒罵著。

    「阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人， 你將被貶到西方去」 理查德爵士嚴厲地說。

    「不！」 阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人害怕地嚷道。理查德爵士想了一會，又說，

    「看在你丈夫的份上，你會被送到離這不遠的一個修道院去。但是你的衣物珠寶都要留下。」 阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人驚叫了一聲，「您不會這麼殘忍吧！ 世界上再沒有比您更慘忍的公爵了。」

    「親愛的夫人，」　勞倫斯公爵沒有表情的說，「再沒有比理查德公爵更公正的了。要不是他，您的頭恐怕早就落地了。」

    「可能吧。但是－＂阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人還要說話。

    「出去！」里查德爵士突然爆發了。　阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人趕忙向外逃，兩個騎士為了討賞，忙追了上去。　

    「你們要是保證把這個女人帶到聖　維羅尼卡修道院，她所有的珠寶首飾就歸你們倆個啦，　」里查德爵士說。兩位騎士不一會就回來了。

    別的人都走了。只剩下父女倆。 理查德爵士說，「謝謝你，羅金，告訴了我阿爾曼尼伯爵夫人侮辱你的祖母， 「不用謝。父親。」　理查德爵士看了看暗下去的天色，說，「你得回房間了。我送你回去吧。」

    「謝謝，父親。」羅金握著父親的手，走出他的房間，　站在滿是露水的草坪上。突然，理查德爵士說，「羅金，那是什麼？　」

    「什麼？　」羅金問。

    「那個人」，理查德爵士說。　在他們前面，　出現了一個黑乎乎的身影。理查德爵士拔劍出鞘，對羅金說，「快跑到城堡里去通知國王和騎士們。 給他們看我的字條。」　理查德爵士從口袋裡掏出一張紙，潦草地寫道，

    速來－陌生人入侵。警備。

    羅金跑回到城堡通知了國王和騎士們。國王誇她是個小天使。騎士們穿盔帶甲。　魚貫而出。

    「停下，陌生人！」 國王命令他。

    「我只是個可憐的朝聖人，我的身上除了一把用來切麵包和乳酪的刀外沒有別的武器。你們想拿我怎麼樣呢？」那個人哀訴道。

    「出來」, 國王命令他。 誰知這人將帽子一甩，拔出一把匕首，大叫一聲向國王撲過來。騎士們早有準備。 理查德爵士狠狠地刺傷了刺客的腿部。他大聲喊道，

    「我的子孫們會報這一劍之仇的！你們就等著吧」

    國王命手下把刺客帶到地牢，擇日處決。

    「你這個惡棍，叫什麼名字？」國王問道。

    「我什麼都不會告訴你的」， 刺客不屑的說。

    幾周后的一天，羅金正在和赫斯頓老師學習，突然有人大聲砸門。他們嚇了一跳。羅金父親的兩名侍衛押著羅金的音樂老師麥桐站在門口。

    「你們什麼意思？」 赫斯頓老師氣憤地說，他不由自主地放了個大屁。

    「你們膽敢在羅金小姐， 理查德爵士之女，克沃爾和阿拉貢之孫的面前無理」？ 羅金咬著牙說。她手握著匕首的把，向侍衛們逼過去。

    「先生，小姐」 侍衛施了吻手禮， 「我們逮捕了這個陰謀毒害羅金小姐的惡棍， 今晚他們一夥要在您的酒里下毒。希望您原諒我們的魯莽，但是我們必須通知您」。

    「我父親知道這件事嗎？」羅金心裡已經很清楚。

    「還沒有。我們想先通知您和， 哦，這位。。。」

    「赫斯頓老師」，赫斯頓老師熱情地握著武士們的手說。

    「對，赫斯頓老師」。

    羅金問，「你們確認他有罪嗎？ 你們確認有人陰謀害我嗎？說這些話有什麼證據嗎？

    「哦，正直的勞倫斯公爵告訴我們的。他目睹了麥桐給一位信使報信。」侍衛比德說。

    羅金冷冷的回答，「勞倫斯公爵的話並不可信。」

    兩名侍衛都不敢相信自己的耳朵了。

    「我警告您們不要相信勞倫斯公爵的話。」羅金重複道。赫斯頓老師也很驚訝， 說道，

    「羅金，你不是這個意思吧。勞倫斯公爵可是你父親的好朋友，他不會撒謊的。 」

    「是的，小姐，請您三思」。兩名侍衛齊聲說道。

    「勞倫斯公爵討厭麥桐老師！ 他會想出一切辦法陷害他。我懷疑是勞倫斯公爵自己寫的紙條。這件事你們不要告訴我父親。現在，你們可以走了。赫斯頓老師， 您也可以走了。哦，等一下，你們得發誓不告訴任何人，特別是我的父親」。

    「聽您的」，赫斯頓老師和侍衛們急匆匆的離開了。 羅金拉鈴叫來了自己的貼身侍女瑪麗。

    「您想要什麼？ 小姐？」瑪麗問道。

    「給我拿點茶來。要熱的。告訴馬夫給我準備一匹馬。」

    「是，小姐」。 不一會， 羅金的熱茶上來了。瑪麗在茶杯外邊墊了布，以防燙著羅金。

    「馬準備好了嗎？」羅金問。

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
愛的勝利（3）

    「是的。 就等您了。」
    「讓聞納老師到我的房間來，我們現在上騎術課」。

    「是的， 小姐，」瑪麗離開了。羅金喝了口茶的功夫聞納老師就到了。 他身材頎長， 緊身衣上又加了一件馬甲。 看上去非常嚴肅。 但是羅金和他在一起卻很放鬆。

    「您好，聞納老師， 您請坐」。聞納老師面對羅金，坐在赫斯頓老師剛才坐的椅子上。

    「您的侍女瑪麗小姐說今天我們的騎術課提前了，」 聞納老師問道。

    「是的，希望沒有給您添麻煩」， 羅金說。

    「沒有，我只是覺得有些好奇而已」，聞納老師說。

    「我想騎馬了，咱們走吧」。羅金將杯中的茶一飲而盡。

    「好的，小姐」，聞納老師起身向外走。跑馬場上，已經有一匹帶斑點的母馬高聲嘶叫了。

    聞納老師解釋道，「這匹母馬不是最理想的， 但也湊合。」

    「我會讓馬夫再準備一匹馬，」羅金說。

    「啊，不用了。不用麻煩您了。」

    「好吧。」羅金說。她敏捷地蹬鞍上馬。

    「坐直。好！ 抓緊韁繩！」羅金用馬刺抽了一下，母馬奮蹄疾奔起來。

    「繞著快跑兩圈」　聞納老師說。羅金很快就跑回來了。

    「小步跑跑三圈」　聞納老師吩咐。　羅金照辦了。然後老師講了講不同的馬鞍，　騎術課就結束了。從現在起到午飯還有一個小時。　羅金回屋坐在床上想看會書。這時有人敲門，是父親的信使弗亭度。　

    「您的父親召見您，小姐」 弗亭度鞠了個躬。

    「好的。」羅金跟著弗亭度來到父親的房間。　弗亭度告退了。　

    「父親，　您有什麼吩咐？　」羅金問。　

    「我決定你已經到了結婚的年紀了」，理查德爵士說。

    「和誰呢？」羅金警覺地問。

    「貴族弗蒂南德卡斯特羅。　你以前見過他。我已經想了好幾天了。」儘管理查德爵士心裡很內疚，他還是不能告訴女兒真正的原因。

    「卡斯特羅？　不！　」羅金叫道。　弗蒂南德又矮又胖，　渾身是毛，眼睛非常小， 他鬍子拉碴，　嘴裡噴出一股酒氣。他比羅金足足大上二十歲。每次宴會時他的吃相和毫不掩飾的臭屁使人對他敬而遠之。但是他非常富有，　還是國王的寵臣。

    「是的。卡斯特羅」，理查德爵士硬下心腸對女兒說。

    「但是他的吃相最差，他最難看，他。。。」沒等羅金說完，　理查德爵士說，

    「你要考慮你的家庭。我不會讓你和一個窮小子在一起的。卡斯特羅有錢有勢。　你也許不會一下子喜歡他。　但是結婚並不是為了愛情。他馬上要升為攝政王了！」　里查德爵士自己都驚訝於他語調的冷酷了。羅金忍住眼淚，顫抖著嘴唇說，

    「父親，您難道不能考慮其他的貴族嗎。。。除了卡斯特羅，　別人不行么」？

    「別人沒有向你求婚呀。你又不能一輩子不結婚。 我可不允許我的女兒不結婚。 你是女公爵，羅金。咱們的領地都靠著你呢。你也要考慮咱們的家族。現在你不會這樣認為，但是這確實是最好的安排。我已經安排好了。 國王的御用裁縫將給你縫製嫁衣， 宮裡最好的廚師親自動手做你的結婚蛋糕。 再說，婚後你也不會經常見到卡斯特羅， 他還要忙著在宮裡開會呢」。看到羅金眼裡滿是恐怖，理查德爵士不禁慶幸沒有更早告訴她。

    「父親，您這是在懲罰我！」羅金的眼淚在眼睛里打轉。

    「也許吧。聽說你不用功學習，」理查德爵士冷冷地說。羅金哀求道，

    「您怎麼能這麼說呢？ 您以前不是這樣的。」

    「反正你得嫁給卡斯特羅！」里查德爵士吼了起來，「現在出去！」羅金哭著跑了出去。 她聽到弗亭度的聲音，

    「小姐， 出什麼事了嗎？」

    「哎，弗亭度」，羅金用袖子擦乾了眼淚。

    「給」，弗亭度遞給她一塊緞子手帕。羅金用他的手帕擦了眼淚，把手帕還給了他。

    「謝謝，」羅金說。

    「小姐，出什麼事了嗎？」 弗亭度接著問。

    「我的父親命令我嫁給弗蒂南德卡斯特羅， 他還兇巴巴地批評我。 他再也不愛我了。」

    「他不得已才這樣做的， 小姐。」

    「你什麼意思？」

    「您的母親最近去世了。而您的父親沒能見上她的最後一面。」 弗亭度解釋道。

    羅金並不在乎她的媽媽。「可是嫁給卡斯特羅太糟了！他那麼難看，一點風度都沒有」 羅金哭著說。

    「那麼，小姐，您愛誰呢？」

    「我，我不清楚」，羅金遲疑了一會，承認道。

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
愛的勝利（4）

    「要是您允許的話，我來試著找到一位與您身份相當的未婚貴族。 聽說有位貴族昨天才到。我這就去找他。」
    「算了，你陪我回房間吧」。羅金說。

    「好的。小姐」，弗亭度牽著羅金的手，穿過滿是露水的草地，回到了羅金的房間。

    「謝謝，弗亭度」。羅金關上了門。她確認弗亭度走了以後，便溜到樓下的廚房去。一個比羅金稍大的男孩擋住了她的去路。

    「你叫什麼名字？」 男孩問，他的藍眼睛閃閃發亮。

    「我是羅金小姐。理查德爵士之女，克沃爾和阿爾貢之孫」。 羅金冷冷的說。

    「你可以過去了。 抱歉我擋了你的路。我叫菲利浦， 宮廷廚師馬克的兒子。」羅金喜歡友好的菲利普，便問他，

    「你爸爸是不是在做結婚蛋糕」？

    「是。那個蛋糕好漂亮！ 上面有紅糖做的小城堡，白糖做的天鵝。蛋糕一共有四層，下面的那層最大， 上面的那層最小。」　菲利普說。

    「都邀請了誰呢？」羅金問。

    「這我可不知道」。菲利普說。

    「那你知道這個蛋糕是為誰做的嗎？」

    「為羅金小姐和弗蒂南德卡斯特羅老頭」，菲利普笑著說。

    「是呀。我可不想嫁給卡斯特羅。　可是我的家族希望我這樣做」。羅金說。

    「我估計是這樣。那麼你為什麼要來廚房呢？」

    「我想知道婚宴上什麼菜。」

    「其實你和你的父親可以選菜。」菲利普說。

    「那好。　我要告訴你的父親我想吃什麼。」

    「是的。小姐」，菲利普帶著羅金走進廚房。菲利浦的父親身材敦實，帶了一條圍裙，蹲在火邊，正看著燉鍋呢。

    「爸爸，羅金小姐在這。　她要告訴您婚禮準備什麼菜。」

    「好的。您請說」，馬克向羅金鞠了個躬。

    「我要一道三文魚，撒上香料，玫瑰，和芫荽。　一隻做的恰好的雞，周圍鋪上生菜和小番茄。除了結婚蛋糕，　還要準備檸檬味的，杏仁味的和香草味的小蛋糕。　就這麼多。」　羅金一口氣說完了。

    「沒問題，小姐，」馬克起身向她又鞠了個躬。

    「我走了，」羅金走出廚房，回到自己的房間。她看了看窗子對面的鐘，啊，已經到吃午飯的時間了。她搖鈴叫來了瑪麗。

    「瑪麗， 把桌椅擺好。我要吃南瓜湯和沙拉。再拿點麵包，醋和橄欖油」。

    「是，小姐」，瑪麗急匆匆地走了。

    三十分鐘后，羅金正在用湯，樓下傳來了一陣吵鬧。

    「是你不好！你這個老東西-」

    「是你不好！ 你這個騙子！」

    「是他不好！」

    「膽小鬼，只要我還有一口氣，我一定要給你點顏色看看！」

    羅金跑到樓下去，看到弗蒂南德卡斯特羅和其他一些貴族正在吵架。但是他們一看到羅金就不說話了。

    「你們在吵什麼呢？」羅金向他們逼近。

    「和我沒關係」。弗蒂南德卡斯特羅輕蔑地看著貴族們。

    「他是個騙子，是匹害群之馬， 小姐」， 一個貴族嚷道。

    「害群之馬」，　弗蒂南德卡斯特羅用他尖利的聲音重複著。　羅金憋住不笑，把手放在藏在裙子下面的刀柄上。

    「到底怎麼回事，」羅金的刀眼看就要出鞘了。

    「是這樣的。　卡斯特羅從城堡的儲藏室里偷東西－我們不知道他偷了什麼－但是他不但不承認，還賴我們。」

    「把你的兜翻出來，」羅金高傲地命令道。從卡斯特羅的兜里掉出一個精美的瓷娃娃，　在地上摔碎了。

    「你拿這個要給誰？」羅金兩手叉腰，嚴厲地問。

    「我的侄女。」

    羅金抓住卡斯特羅的腿，這樣他就跑不了了。

    「跟我去見父親。」 卡斯特羅並不害怕。他跟著羅金來到了理查德爵士的房間。

    「你確認是卡斯特羅偷的嗎？」里查德爵士問。羅金指了指父親裝潢精美的接待廳。

    「我有足夠的證據證明，」，羅金拿出瓷娃娃的一個碎片，「這不是阿努斯林的作品嗎？娃娃的金髮不也是證明嗎？　」

    「我同意。但是，那又能怎麼樣呢？　」

    「您難道不能採取行動嗎？」羅金憤怒地問父親。

    「你已經和他定親了，我總不能讓你在地牢里生活吧。我會警告他不讓他再做這樣的事了。」

    「我不要嫁給一個小偷！ 」羅金髮火了，使勁跺著腳。 「您難道一點也不考慮我的意願嗎？如果卡斯特羅知道了我一點也不愛他，他是不會給您錢的！」

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
愛的勝利（5）

    理查德爵士示意她住嘴，「我限你在兩天之內找到一個比卡斯特羅更好的貴族，如果你找不到，那就只好嫁給卡斯特羅了。」
    「兩天？」羅金咬著牙，氣的快要爆炸了，「兩天根本不可能嘛」。

    「那就三天」。理查德爵士再也不說話了。

    一天過去了。羅金什麼人都沒有找到。她連課都不上了。 她甚至去問了國王有什麼合適的貴族嗎。可是國王卻告訴她，卡斯特羅是個勇敢誠實的人。第二天，羅金與父親去了亞瑟王的領地。 亞瑟王倒是樂意讓兒子與她訂婚，可是他的兒子威廉才一歲。

    「那不行」，羅金說，「我父親說我必須在三天內結婚」！

    「你應該感到榮幸能嫁給卡斯特羅，」亞瑟王的大使把文件放好。　「失陪了」。羅金只好出去了。

    理查德爵士在門外等著。他問羅金，「怎麼樣？沒有別的辦法，你必須嫁給卡斯特羅。」

    「父親，三天還沒有過完呢！＂　羅金激動地說。

    「可是我們回到城堡就要花一天的時間呢。婚禮就要舉行了。」

    羅金問，「還有別的公國嗎？」

    「沒有了。威爾伯爵有個兒子。但是我找夠了。　現在我們回去吧。」羅金嘆了口氣，跟在父親後面。

    「再給我一天行嗎？　我一定會找到一個人的。」

    「好吧。最後一天了。」里查德爵士還是被女兒說服了。

    羅金騎在馬上，注意到後面跟了一隊騎馬的人。

    「父親，後面有人！」羅金停了下來。理查德向後看了看。　

    「他們都是侍衛。小羅金」，他握著羅金的手，說，「咱們等他們過來吧」。

    「他們過來了。　我們接著走吧。」羅金說道。

    「他們來服侍我們。我猜這是亞瑟王的主意。」里查德爵士不耐煩地說。

    「也許他們來是因為我。也許是愚蠢的亞瑟送給我的訂婚禮」。

    「羅金，不能這樣說亞瑟王」，　理查德看著女兒，「要是亞瑟王聽見，他會把你抓起來，好好審問的！」

    「我在說實話嘛！看，他們過來了。」　羅金看到那隊人里還有四個洗衣女工和兩名侍女。

    「停下，先生，帶上這隊人再走吧」，為首的那個人說。

    「我們在等您呢。請問閣下是哪位呢？ 」

    「我是亞瑟王府的管家。」為首的那個人驕傲的說。「我帶來了十二位侍從， 四位女工和兩位侍女來服飾您和您美麗的女兒」。

    「謝謝您的好意」，理查德在馬上深深地鞠了個躬。 「您也和我們一起走嗎？」

    「不了。我要趕回到亞瑟王身邊。您可以帶上這些侍從走。」

    「先生，我們可不是什麼侍從，」一個傢伙做了個鬼臉說。羅金不好意思地看著他。「管家這樣說是因為他不願承認我們比他的出身高貴多了！」聽他這樣說，理查德爵士不禁大笑了起來。

    「你們的出身高貴！　按規矩，管家可比侍衛的出身高貴。隨從，侍衛，騎士――騎士的出身也只比管家高貴一點。＂

    「管家甚至不讓我們帶武器！」這個侍衛說，「我們的父親知道了該多生氣呀！」

    「你們沒學過劍術嗎」？ 理查德皺起了眉， 羅金也有些納悶。

    「我們在學，但是先得看書。」

    「不用刺靶練嗎？」里查德問道。

    「不用。對了，我叫沃爾特。」

    「那個管家叫溫德爾」，另外一個侍衛插嘴道。

    「我不願叫這個名字，聽上去象個管家。咱們什麼時候出發呀？ 」 沃爾特一邊說，一邊又做了個鬼臉。

    「現在就走」，理查德爵士說。羅金回過神來，大隊人馬開拔了。

    中午的時候，他們到達了大潤角. 大潤角是一片懸崖峭壁，到處都是嶙峋怪石。 山頂上伸出一塊巨石， 站在上面可以俯瞰奔流的達爾芬河。羅金被如此壯觀的景色深深地打動了。

    「真美呀，是不是？」羅金被身後的聲音嚇了一跳。沃爾特站在她的後面說。

    「是。」羅金有些恍惚。 她凝視著碧藍的水波，又看了看沃爾特。

    「你為什麼這樣看著我？」 沃爾特問道。

    「 哦，是嗎？ 我沒注意。對不起「，不知怎麼，羅金有些緊張。沃爾特往水裡扔了塊小石頭。

    「你在做什麼？」羅金饒有興趣的看著他。「我覺得在這打水漂很危險。」

    「我知道！　我知道！我當侍衛第二年時，我的叔叔阿爾伯特爵士帶我們到這裡來探險。一個侍衛當時就從這裡掉了下去，連屍體都找不到了。我們再也不到大潤角來了。」 沃爾特激動地說。

    「你的叔叔，阿爾伯特爵士不是得了麻風病嗎」？羅金問。

    「是呀―――你怎麼知道的？　這可是他的秘密。」 沃爾特看著羅金。

    「我父親告訴我的。」羅金驕傲的說，同時也向達爾芬河裡扔了一塊石頭。

    「我的叔叔昨天又把眉毛燒了。　我的媽媽――朱麗亞夫人―――已經是第五次去藥房了。但是藥房的人建議讓他去理髮店把眉毛都颳了算了。」

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
愛的勝利（6）

    「羅金，沃爾特！」有人在喊他們。
    「這肯定是魏斯理。　他比我們乾的年頭長，總拿勺子敲我們。」 沃爾特捉住羅金的手說。　羅金忍住沒有笑。

    「這並不可笑！」 沃爾特有些生氣。羅金咬住下唇，什麼都沒說，和沃爾特一起回去了。

    羅金不喜歡晚餐。她覺得太油了。炒雞蛋都泡在油里，炸雞和綠豆也很油。

    「今天的飯真噁心。我真想把這些雞蛋都吐到桌子底下去。」 羅金和沃爾特說。

    「別那樣，我們有時都吃不上飯呢。」可是羅金還是咽不下去綠豆。

    「你要是願意我幫你把飯吃掉吧。」 沃爾特已經把自己的飯吃光了。

    「謝謝。」羅金把她的飯全倒在沃爾特的盤子上。「我快撐死了」， 羅金說。沃爾特笑了笑，把她的飯都給吞了下去。羅金看著他，心裡漾起一種異樣的感覺。理查德緊張地看著羅金，彷彿知道要發生什麼事一樣。

    「父親，我想和您單獨談談。」羅金說。沃爾特往她的手裡塞了一張紙條，接著悶頭吃飯。理查德有餐巾拭了拭嘴，和羅金一起走了出來。

    「我找到了要嫁的人。就是沃爾特。」一走出房間，羅金就低聲說。

    「什麼！ 」理查德吃了一驚。 他其實預料到這件事，只是沒有想到會這麼快。

    「我愛他。父親！我不管他的出身高貴還是低賤。」

    「羅金，你可以愛他，但是你不能嫁給他。」理查德輕輕地說。

    「為什麼？」

    「他只是個侍衛，不然的話，他倒是個不錯的丈夫。」

    「他是阿爾伯特爵士的侄子。 你不能拒絕他的叔叔吧？」

    「他是阿爾伯恩爵士末子的末子。他沒有田產，沒有錢，也不會繼承任何東西。」

    「可是，父親，我真的愛他！」

    「哎，我真不願意傷你的心。羅金，你可以接著做你浪漫的夢，但是你必須嫁給費爾南德卡斯特羅。」羅金哭著回到她的帳篷。

    羅金躺在床上，剛讀了幾頁《羅密歐與朱麗葉》， 她記起來沃爾特給她的紙條。 她趕忙打開看。裡面寫道，「午夜鐘聲響起時，達爾芬河相見。愛你的沃爾特。羅金激動地不能自已。 沃爾特愛她！ 羅金趕快換上一件粉色的長裙，來到大潤角。達爾芬河反射著明亮的月光，一切都很浪漫。

    「羅金」，一個聲音悄悄地叫她。 羅金不用看就知道是沃爾特。

    「我看到了你的紙條。」羅金突然有些緊張。

    「過來。」沃爾特從灌木中走出來。輕輕地吻了羅金的唇。

    「我愛你」，羅金說。

    「我也是。」沃爾特回答。他們給理查德爵士留了個紙條后，便一起去了達爾芬河邊的密林里。在那裡他們度過了快樂的一生，生了很多健康美麗的寶寶。

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（1）

    在故事中展開對話
    對話： 兩個或兩個以上人物間的交談。對話應該有存在的原因；對話應該向我們傳達一些有關人物、情節、主題或背景方面的信息。

    留意一下孩子們早期寫的東西，你會發現，故事中要不缺少對話，要不就用「他說」和「她說」這種最基本單調的形式引出對話。編寫用途多樣的複雜對話非常重要，甚至可以營造一種背景，展示故事情節、表達觀點、塑造性格或者闡釋主題思想。

    儘管奇奇現在十分明白這種必要性，但是在她早些時候的作品中，對話即不夠普遍也不夠精緻完善。後來她開始慢慢添加一些對話，但是這些對話意義不大；然而，她早期作品中的一些對話讀起來非常有意思。

    起初，我們允許她隨意寫一些無聊、古怪的東西；看到她在自己的作品中加上新內容的高興勁兒，我們都很興奮。只是在不久以前，確切地說是在幾個月前我們才開始讓她思考為什麼要包括一段對話，或者為什麼不包括一段對話的問題。奇奇對寫對話懷有極大的興趣，但是因為（和大多數孩子一樣）她渴望提高自己的優勢，她現在很願意接受一定的指導。我們盡量將直接影響她的寫作風格的各種因素減到最小。相反，我們問她一些問題，引導她更深入地獨立思考。「如果別人那樣對你說，你會有什麼感受？」「你會如何回敬？」「你覺得自己的性格會作出不同的反映嗎？」

    兒童的對話有兩種不同的靈感源泉：真實生活或者書籍、電影和電視。利用真實生活作為靈感的源泉在某種程度上更為可取；針對兒童的娛樂節目常常是一些千篇一律的對話。不幸的是，真實的對話常常充斥著許多毫無意義、單調乏味的細節，不能把這些內容也記錄下來。下面的例子很好地說明了如何將真實對話轉成書面文字。

    試一試：

    尋找替代「他說，她說」的說法，讓有關角色或背景的細節自然而然包含其中。傻笑著說、吼道、吞吞吐吐地說，這些既使我們避免千篇一律地使用「說」字，又向我們傳達出了一個栩栩如生的人物形象。

    因此，問問你的孩子：「你故事中的人物是用什麼樣的語調說出這番話的？是喊出來的還是咆哮著吼出來的？」

    大多數孩子對此很感興趣，可以使故事更有趣或更有力。另外還要鼓勵學生在寫對話時使用副詞。「他說」可以改成「他冷嘲熱諷地說」或「她尖叫著說」。因為這些短語能夠塑造出更加生動的形象，能夠引起孩子無限的想象。

    例如，在今年上半年奇奇可能會這樣寫：

    「呃，怎麼不坐下？」 邁爾斯問。   

    「你也許不記得我了，」他說，「我是你的老朋友舍溫。我給你帶來的消息十萬火急。」

    「舍溫！」 邁爾斯說。

    「是的，是我，」 舍溫說。

    「你是怎麼搞到那塊漂亮的表的，」邁爾斯問道。

    現在她會這樣寫：

    「呃，怎麼不坐下？」 邁爾斯有些尷尬地說。   

    「你也許不記得我了，」來人嘆了口氣，茫然地捋了捋他那稀稀拉拉的頭髮，「我是你的老朋友舍溫。我給你帶來的消息十萬火急。」

    「舍溫！」 邁爾斯跳著喊了起來，撞掉了桌子上的陶杯。

    「是的，是我，」 舍溫說，笑容有些牽強。

    「你是怎麼搞到那塊漂亮的表的，」邁爾斯問道，滿腹狐疑地盯著表袋。

     

    看到這些小小的技巧、微妙的細節能夠馬上令孩子的作品熠熠生輝實在是令人驚喜萬分。儘管對話是最難掌握的技巧，但是它也是學習、講授起來最有意思的部分。設計對話是增加課堂互動的決佳機會。

    奇奇訪談

    鄒燦： 你在寫對話的時候會在腦海中和角色交談嗎？

    奇奇：首先我的腦海中會出現一幅圖景，有人在交談，但是我無法確切地聽清他們在說什麼，然後對話就自然而然地產生了。

    鄒燦： 你怎樣讓自己寫的對話如此真實、有趣、好玩？

    奇奇：信手拈來。試著在腦海中想象。

    鄒燦： 我注意到，你沒有使用「他說」、「她說」，而是用了複雜得多的形式。例如在凱瑟琳中，你寫道：『「會好起來的，」比賽的贏家胡姆向她保證說。』 或者，你在此寫道 『「哎呀，凱瑟琳！」胡姆憤怒地喊道』。

    奇奇：如果你只是說，「他這麼說」「她那麼說」 ，就無法真正想象出她是怎麼說，是大喊？是尖叫？還是輕聲耳語？這是個好機會，可以告訴讀者一些有關角色的信息。例如，如果你用「她冷嘲熱諷地說」，就可以向讀者傳達一些有關角色的信息，這個人很勢力。

    鄒燦： 插入對話的恰當時機是什麼時候？

    奇奇：需要的時候，不是嗎？對話會使故事更精彩，有時會製造一個很好的停頓。對話會使故事更加生動有趣，因為它有助於表現人物的個性特徵。

    鄒燦： 你寫的對話有什麼作用？

    奇奇：我希望對話足夠真實。對話也是推動故事情節發展的手段，可以告訴讀者故事中的人物打算下一步作什麼？

    鄒燦： 你的故事中為什麼包含這麼多對話？

    奇奇：在真實世界中，人們彼此交談很多。不像我們沉默不語。

    給家長和教師的提示:

    讓孩子玩「偵察」遊戲，把「偷聽」到的內容記在筆記本或電腦上。通讀這些談話。很快就會發現，真實的對話聽起來與電影、書籍和電視中的對話截然不同。真實的對話是些漫無目的的閑聊，可能會戛然而止，有時會被一些毫無意義的插入而打斷。

    然後，讓孩子檢查一下記下的對話，劃掉看來無聊的部分，在問題中不要告訴我們任何有關人物的新內容，也不要隨意發揮。剩下的部分會保留真實對話的味道，更具備人們期待的小說中的那種緊湊。寫對話就是要抓住對話的本質。

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（2）

    問學生下列問題；
    1. 你曾經說過你的人物很善良；你覺得他們說的話真是這樣嗎？

     

    2. 場景是 ————。對話與該場景有怎樣的聯繫？

     

    3. 你會讓這個人物說些什麼，而不是讓我們再考慮一遍故事大意？

     

    4. 如果有人對你那樣說，你會有什麼反應？

    5. 如果你對這種情況很惱火，你會讓大家知道，還是設法掩飾？

    對高級學生的提示：

    1. 一旦確定了對話中的人物，就沒有必要總是加上「他說」或「她吼道」這樣的字眼兒。例如，在描寫只有兩個人交談的場景時，可以跳過這條規則，直到你覺得需要指明否則會使讀者迷惑不解。

    2. 有時一個類似『邁爾斯站在門口』的句子可以替代更為常見的『邁爾斯說』。其優點是前者給你機會讓讀者對場景有一個清楚的印象。

      

    趁熱打鐵：

    1. 幫助你的孩子和另一個學生或朋友設計一個簡單劇本的分場景情節大綱。讓兩個孩子創造他們想扮演的角色形象，要求他們儘可能深入挖掘。在你記錄他們創造的對話的過程中，讓孩子即興表演這些場面。如果看起來有些僵硬或過於戲劇化或者不切合實際，就讓孩子停下來，問他們幾個問題（見上文）。這個練習讓孩在創作活靈活現的對話之餘與思維過程建立內在的聯繫。

    2. 角色轉換遊戲：讓孩子與你互換角色。你的言行要像孩子一樣，孩子的言行像你。你模仿孩子，模仿他/她說話做事的方式，他/她模仿你。這個遊戲非常有趣，讓孩子有機會觀察、表現你的特點，同時折射出他/她自己的個性。遊戲結束后，你可以讓孩子根據這次活動寫一個對話。

     

    The Realm of Possibilities

    Prologue

    The Mirror of Zeda

    The Duke Raxere of Skere stared at

    the Mirror of Zeda. His black slit-eyes

    glowed.

    「It is done,」 he said to his awaiting

    servant. 「Now you must go.」 Guliset

    nodded quickly.

    「My master, I obey,」 the old man said.

    「And one thing, Guliset. There is a

    young girl in this mirror. It seems that she

    will be a threat to you and I. But no mind,」

    Raxere brushed the girl from his mind.

    Guliset left the room.

    Gwen quickly pulled her green gown

    over her head. It wouldn』t do for Lord

    Esper to catch her in her undergarments!

    She tied the golden ribbon around her

    slender waist and tossed back her long

    mane of brown hair. Her sandals could

    wait until she went outside to the gardens.

    It felt good to walk around on the cool

    marble floors barefoot.

    「Gwen, daughter! Are you finished

    dressing yet?」 Lord Esper waited outside

    the door impatiently.

    「I』m coming!」 Gwen cried, smoothing

    her hair one last time.

    Esper took his daughter』s hand.

    「I』ve an important affair with some

    ambassadors from Bronsel, so you just

    stay in the nursery or play outside until

    then. I don』t want you wandering near the

    rest of the village; there』s been a brawl

    over on the outskirts. I don』t want to be

    bothered until twelve o』 clock,」 Esper said.

    「Yes, Father,」 Gwen said meekly.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（3）

    oubliette - a dungeon one
    can only enter or exit

    through a trap door in the

    ceiling

    acquire - to obtain, to

    come by, to get hold of

    hastening - hurrying

    encounter - to meet or

    come across something or

    someone either

    unexpectedly or with

    aggression

    dilemma - problem,

    situation in which someone

    is forced to choose between

    two unsatisfactory choices

    louts - thugs, hoodlums

    eerily - creepy, unnerving

    manner

    intentions - aims,

    objectives

    trellis - A wooden structure

    used to train a plant to

    grow a certain way

    emerged - came out

    mock - fake, pretend. To

    mock someone is to mimic

    someone or to make them

    appear silly or ridiculous.

    impassively - without any

    display of emotion

    barbaric - uncivilized,

    cruel

    drab - dull in color

    flounder - to move with

    serious difficulty, almost

    sinking

    sinister - threatening, evil

    seeming

    dignity - poise, self-respect

    wroth - wrathful (an

    archaic or literary version of

    the word, not in general

    usage)

    VOCABULARY LIST

    Although she would have protested in another case, this time it was

    different. Big men, drunken too, made Gwen nervous.

    「And I』m free for the rest of the day, unless an unexpected

    appointment comes up,」 Esper said, checking his gold pocket watch.

    Breakfast was the usual—porridge and meatballs. Gwen picked at her

    food. Porridge was never her favorite, and the meatballs were hard and

    tough.

    「Are ye done, ma』m?」 It was Stella』s voice.

    「Mmmhmm,」 Gwen mumbled. Stella took Gwen』s plate and added it

    to her enormous pile. After breakfast, Esper went to meet with the

    ambassadors from Bronsel, and Gwen went outside to the royal gardens.

    The gardens were nice and smelled very good, but they were dull and no

    place for a child. Next she went into the nursery. Gwen felt she had

    outgrown it long ago, but it was fun to play with all of the toys and laugh

    over her four and five year old drawings. Plus, the thick glass floor allowed

    her to spy on everyone around the castle. Lord Esper was with the

    ambassadors in his meeting room. She moved down to the other end of

    the nursery. In the kitchens, the servants were exchanging gossip as usual.

    「Me Amalia』s gonna get married off to some garden boy,」 Gwen

    could just make out. What garden boy? Ion? Duru? Fells? Oh well. She

    would see soon enough. Outside, the soldiers were having their daily

    drills. Boring, Gwen thought, rolling her eyes and moving away to look at

    the prisoners in the castle oubliette. There were only three men. They

    were unkempt and filthy, their hands dark and covered with dirt. Although

    she pitied them, Gwen knew that they were law-breakers and had to be

    punished.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（4）

    There was nothing else to see. Nothing else to do, in other words.
    Gwen lay her head back onto the babyish bed she had slept in when she

    was younger. She was roused by the sound of wagon wheels. She

    scrambled downstairs. Outside, a tall man was displaying objects to an

    interested crowd.

    「Stand aside. Make room for me, Gwen, daughter of Lord Esper,」

    Gwen said. The crowd parted to let Gwen pass.

    「Merchant,」 Gwen said, 「by whose license do you wander the lands

    of my father Lord Esper?」

    「Forgive me if I was trespassing,」 the merchant said, 「but know this,

    young maiden, I am Guliset, and I have traveled from faraway, and I have

    seen many sights, and I have acquired many things. It would please me

    greatly if you could take a look.」

    The Realm of Possibilities

    29

    「Bring your items,」 Gwen commanded. Guliset bowed and waved

    another man over.

    「Show her the objects, and be quick with it,」 Guliset said to the man.

    「Yes, sir,」 the man said, hastening away. Gwen, thinking she should

    follow the man, walked after him. A long tablecloth was laid across on the

    grass, with many items waiting on it.

    「I have knives, which you most certainly would have no interest in,

    brooms for elderly spinsters, embroidered and perfumed handkerchiefs.

    Perhaps you would like one?」 Guliset said.

    「What other things can be purchased?」 Gwen asked, pursing her lips.

    「Ah, I see you already want to see more of my fine wares! There are

    crystal vases, fine china, all kinds of cheeses, fancy gowns, ribbons,

    everything,」 Guliset said.

    「Show me the gowns,」 Gwen said. Guliset took a number of

    packages from the wagon. He carefully unwrapped the packages.

    「My colors are green, blue, yellow, brown, and white,」 Guliset said.

    All of the gowns were so stunning Gwen could not decide which color to

    choose.

    「I think I will have all of them,」 Gwen said finally.

    「And that will be thirty silver coins,」 Guliset said.

    Gwen dug in her pouch to find the coins. Finally she scraped the coins

    up and handed them to Guliset. After carefully wrapping the gowns again,

    Guliset handed them to Gwen.

    「Thank you for having a look,」 he said.

    「Oh and one more thing,」 Gwen said.

    「What?」

    「I want a knife.」

    「But you are a girl!」 the surprise on Guliset』s face was obvious.

    「And so? I want a knife with a long and sharp blade,」 Gwen said.

    Before Guliset could say anything, Gwen took the best knife, pressed

    some coins into Guliest』s hands, and ran off to the castle.

    That night, at supper with Lord Esper, Gwen told her father about

    the encounter with Guliset.

    「Hmm, I wish to see this merchant. He has a variety of things, you

    say, daughter?」 Esper asked.

    「Yes, Father. He has everything!」 Gwen cried.

    「Very well. On the morrow, then, we shall go out together, and you

    must show me the things,」 Esper said, delicately tasting a bit of the

    perfectly-cooked salmon.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    30

    After dinner that night, as usual, Gwen retired to her room, brushed

    her teeth, undressed for bed, and continued to read Hannibal: A History.

    When she had finished reading, she turned the lights out.

    Early the next morning, Gwen awoke, quickly dressed, and ate a hasty

    breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast. At the Grand Archway Esper was

    waiting to escort her.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（5）

    「Take me to this merchant Guliset,」 Esper commanded. Guliset was
    found at the same place he had been when meeting Gwen. This time,

    however, he seemed to have a dilemma on his hands.

    「Stupid! Stupid! Blasted idiots! Oh, I』ll take the livers out of you

    morons!」 Guliset was running, shouting, and spitting at the men who

    stayed behind. Some saliva missed Gwen』s dress by an inch.

    「Stop, in the name of Lord Esper of Lien! I command you!」 Esper

    was enraged. The entire area fell silent.

    「I beg your pardon, yer lordship,」 Guliset said gruffly, 「but these

    stupid louts just knocked o』er a barrel of me best whiskey.」 Some of the

    other men twitched nervously.

    「Are you aware of the rule which clearly states that any harmful

    alcohol is forbidden?」 Esper』s stare bored into Guliset』s face.

    「Er, no, yer lordship,」 Guliset said.

    Esper raised his bushy eyebrows.

    「Er, yes,」 Guliset said, fidgeting and twisting his hands nervously.

    「Gwen, bring some parchment, an inkstand, and my quill,」 Esper

    commanded.

    「Yes, Father,」 Gwen said, running off to do as she was bidden.

    Within moments, she returned with the parchment and the quill.

    「What』s it for, Father?」 Gwen asked breathlessly.

    「Never mind that,」 Esper said sharply. Turning to Guliset, he said,

    「What is your full name?」

    「Guliset Zeby,」 Guliset said.

    「Occupation?」 Esper began writing.

    「He』s a merchant,」 Gwen interrupted before Guliset could say

    anything.

    「Gwen, it is not for you to say. Guliset, follow me,」 Esper said.

    Guliset remained standing.

    「Follow my father,」 Gwen said. Guliset simply stood.

    「Follow me!」 Esper sputtered.

    「No,」 Guliset simply said.

    「Guards, take this unlawful man!」 Esper shouted.

    The Realm of Possibilities

    31

    Guliset held his ground and did not even step back. When the guards

    had hold of his shoulders, he said, 「I see no reason why whiskey should

    be forbidden.」

    「It is unhealthy and stunts your growth,」 Esper said.

    「Does it?」 the look on Guliset』s face was bored, uninterested.

    「If you were a literary man, you would most certainly know that,」

    Esper smirked, 「but I suppose that you have little education.」

    「I will not hear you insult the noble name of the Zeby!」 Guliset

    lunged at Esper.

    「Zeby, eh? Hmm, perhaps because of your grand name, I should give

    you the grand position of feeding the pigs,」 Esper said, laughing.

    「I - WILL - HAVE - REVENGE!」 Guliset roared each word slowly

    and clearly.

    「Guards, take him to the oubliette to clear his head a bit,」 Esper said.

    「No!」 Guliset cried.

    As he was dragged away to the oubliette, Gwen and Esper went back

    to the castle.

    「Well, er, you know, the ambassadors from Bronsel would like to meet

    you,」 Esper said to Gwen.

    「Do I have to?」 Gwen asked.

    「Yes, you have to,」 Esper said firmly.

    The ambassadors from Bronsel were short, fat men with fuzzy beards

    that looked like caterpillars. They were all almost bald, but they had

    enormous amounts of hair growing out of their ears. Privately, when

    talking to her maid, Gwen would later refer to them as 「thick lips.」

    One of the ambassadors, by the name of Count Cedilion, seemed to

    be interested in marrying Gwen off to his master, Sir Kenkye of Bronsel.

    Esper dismissed that idea with a wave of his hand.

    「My daughter is too young, your master too old. And Kenkye lives far,

    far away in lands where I would not be able to wander,」 Esper said.

    「Your niece, er, Lady Lindsay, er, perhaps could wed Sir Kenkye,」 an

    ambassador named Baron Brockhimer suggested.

    「My niece is an orphan, and, as strange as it may seem to you, it is up

    to her maternal grandfather to decide whom she marries,」 Esper said

    impatiently.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（6）

    「I must warn you, Sir Kenkye is not used to having his requests
    refused,」 Cedilion said.

    「And I must tell you, Count, that I am not used to people like you

    questioning what I have clearly stated!」 Esper shouted impatiently.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    32

    「Yes, well, beg your pardon, friend, no more of that matter,」 Cedilion

    said.

    「What about what you were saying about that trade of men…」 Soon

    the ambassadors and Esper were lost in a boring conversation, so Gwen

    took her chance and quietly slipped away.

    Raxere looked in the Mirror of Zeda. He saw himself, white hair

    flowing down past his shoulders. The image faded, and Raxere saw a girl.

    This time she was holding a knife, and she was killing—who was it?—

    Guliset! The girl faded away, and Raxere again took the place of the girl.

    This time he was at the head of a large army.

    「So I shall be victorious,」 Raxere whispered to himself, his thin

    fingers wrapping eerily around each other.

    After she had escaped from the room, Gwen breathed a sigh of relief

    and looked around.Where was she to go? The nursery was at the moment

    being cleaned by the maids, and it was raining heavily outside. Gwen was

    too old to beg cookies from Cook as she used to, and the rest of the castle

    was out-of-bounds to her.

    「Why is it out of bounds?」 she thought to herself suddenly. It

    wouldn』t hurt to have a peek! There was a series of spiral steps that led

    up to a small wooden door. Gwen entered. Once inside, she sniffed

    around. The air smelled damp and musty. It was cold, too. Shivering, she

    took a peek behind a plain gray curtain that hung from one of the rafters.

    She was extremely surprised to see Guliset and some other people.

    「And now, the main thing is to keep that Esper from discovering our

    intentions,」 Guliset said. Gwen stuck her head in further, interested.

    「Hey! Whaddya be doing here?」 One man lunged at Gwen. She ran

    past the door all the way downstairs, where Lord Esper was waiting.

    「Gwen.」 His voice was harsh. 「You were in the out-of-bounds area.」

    「Yes, Father,」 Gwen said, bowing her head.

    「I told you not to go there,」 Esper said.

    「Father! I heard Guliset, and he was saying things like 『and now the

    main thing is to keep that Esper from discovering our intentions!』」 Gwen

    blurted.

    「Gwen, you speak foolish nonsense. You will be locked in your room

    for two weeks for going where I told you not to,」 Esper said. Before

    Gwen could say anything, he had shouted, 「Martha Lucille! Take Gwen

    to her room.」 Martha Lucille, a middle-aged, sour-faced maid, took

    Gwen』s hand, and led her upstairs to her room.

    「Misbehavin』 again, eh?」 Martha Lucille asked, raising her eyebrows.

    The Realm of Possibilities

    33

    Gwen turned around and did not answer. She shut the door in Martha

    Lucille』s face and collapsed into her chair.

    「It』s been a very long day,」 Gwen thought to herself. Luckily, Gwen

    had her own private library, which was a great source of entertainment.

    She dragged a stool over to one of the shelves to see if she could find a

    book she hadn』t read in a while. Most of the books were ones that Gwen

    had already read, like The Death of a Hag Lord or Foreign Princess. However,

    as she neared the top of the shelf, Gwen noticed a rather crooked and

    worn old book with some pages sticking out.

    「It』s quite a tattered old thing,」 Gwen said to herself, pulling the book

    down from the shelf. Opening the book, Gwen spied a yellowed

    parchment that folded carefully and stuck between the pages. When she

    unfolded it, she gasped. The village of Lien was in a far Eastern corner,

    a mere dot on the gigantic map. Squanee, which was fifteen miles away

    and the closest trading village, was shown next to Lien. Yugz, yet another

    trading village, was shown slightly farther away and above Lien. Bronsel

    lay far to the west, and Skere was far north from Bronsel. Suddenly, the

    map extended in Gwen』s hands.

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（7）

    「Whoa!」 she gasped again. Now the map went into more detail, like
    Stenfot Forest, the Trail of the Realm, the Elea Mountains, the Liness

    Palace, the River of the Realm, the Rilite River, Tosna Fort, The Meadows

    of Paradise, and Zeda. 「The Realm of Possibility」 was printed on the

    bottom of the map. A gush of air blew through the open window. Gwen

    looked out. She had spent so much time looking at the map, she didn』t

    even realize the sun was already setting! Just then, she noticed the trellis

    that lined the walls below her windows.

    「Why don』t I just go for a little walk outside and around the village?」

    she asked herself. Taking a deep breath, she stuck her foot out onto the

    trellis. This isn』t so hard, she thought. The next trellis was rather wobbly,

    but it held Gwen. Five more to go, Gwen thought. When she was safely

    down, Gwen crossed the soldier』s field and climbed over the gates. The

    villagers paid no attention to Gwen, as they were used to seeing her

    wander around. When it started to darken, Gwen tried to head back, but

    found herself hopelessly lost and turning around in circles. The streets

    were dark, and everybody was inside of their hovels, warm and snug.

    Lights were shining through the windows.

    「I can find my way back by myself, anyways, if I try,」 Gwen told

    herself. Thinking that the thicket of trees a few feet away was the one that

    separated the village from the castle, Gwen wandered even further.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    34

    Unfortunately, a few minutes later, she realized she had wandered too far.

    「Stenfot Forest!」 Gwen whispered with horror. She didn』t even dare

    look around. All she wanted was to be back home safely, tucked in her

    own bed, without having to worry about the vicious beasts that roamed

    Stenfot Forest.

    「It』s useless to try to find my way in the dark,」 Gwen said out loud,

    「so I might as well just climb up a tree for the night.」 Gwen soon found

    that climbing trees in the dark and with a long gown on was very difficult,

    but she made it to a spot halfway up that had many spreading branches,

    without any injuries except for a small scrape on her arm.

    「And now here』s where I』ll sleep for the night,」 Gwen said, yawning

    and reclining on the thickest branch.

    Early the next morning, Gwen carefully climbed out of the tree and

    found herself face to face with the largest species of wolf she had ever

    seen. Gwen felt like screaming, but quickly calmed herself. The wolf might

    attack if I scare it, Gwen thought. She felt around her gown for her knife

    and, relieved, touched the blade. The wolf 』s yellow eyes glinted at her,

    even though it was broad daylight.

    「What do you want? Begone!」 Gwen shouted. The wolf continued

    staring at her.

    「Wait a second…」 Gwen suddenly had an idea. Her life would

    probably depend on whether it worked or not, but Gwen was ready for

    the adventure.

    「C』mere, c』mere,」 Gwen said, gesturing with her hands. The wolf

    neared closer to her. Taking a deep breath, she jumped onto the wolf 』s

    back. Springing forward, the wolf began to run at an extreme speed,

    covering the fifteen miles through Stenfot Forest, all the way to Squanee.

    The villagers turned to stare as Gwen, on the wolf 』s back, passed

    through.

    「Wolf-girl,」 one fat little man said, stepping forward, 「I congratulate

    you. Are you aware that wolf has been the terror of our village for many

    days? Our village braves, full-grown men, attempted to tame the animal.

    Alas, it was an attempt, and they were unsuccessful. Now you, merely a

    girl, have tamed the wolf, and your name will be a legend on the

    Sq』uanak』s tongues after your own time.」

    A great cheer arose. Gwen was about to pet the wolf when she

    realized it wasn』t there anymore. She remembered what her grandmother

    had told her about forest-demons who took the form of other animals,

    but she quickly dismissed that idea. If it had been a forest-demon, why,

    The Realm of Possibilities

    35

    then, she wouldn』t even be alive! Perhaps it was a good spirit, sent to

    protect her. Yes, Gwen thought, that』s more like it.

    「Anyways, we don』t even know your name yet,」 a man said.

    「Oh,」 Gwen said, blushing. 「I』m Gwen.」

    「Well, anyways, come here,」 the fat little man who had talked with

    Gwen earlier stepped forward and took her hand, 「and I』m Quincy.」

    「Great suns! By the moon, you』ll be tripping all over on that gown!」

    a tall, thin woman wearing a man』s tunic stepped out of the place Quincy

    was leading Gwen to. Gwen looked at her in astonishment.

    「We women and girls all wear men and boys』 tunics,」 the woman

    explained. 「Oh, and, I』m Ivy.」

《無法控制的魔力》　第二部分
人們不是啞巴，他們互相交談（8）

    「Here, we have a spare,」 Quincy said, taking another wool tunic out,
    complete with a thick leather belt and black wooden shoes that were only

    slightly too big for Gwen.

    「Ah, I see you』ve got a knife! It』s very important to have weapons

    around here. You never know when you may need to defend yourself!」

    Quincy exclaimed, noticing Gwen』s knife. Gwen changed into her new

    boy』s tunic in a different room. She liked the freedom of her new clothes,

    but the tunic was hot and itchy. Gwen strapped the belt around her waist,

    buckling her knife on also. When she emerged from the room in the

    tunic, Quincy clapped.

    「Ah, bravo, bravo!」 he said, laughing so much tears ran down his

    cheeks.

    Ivy looked her up and down with approval.

    「You』ll do,」 she said. Quincy invited Gwen to stay for a day before

    returning back to Lien, and Gwen readily accepted. After having lunch,

    playing and talking with Quincy and Ivy, she had dinner and flopped onto

    the large, soft bed.

    The next morning, Gwen arose, washed her hair and her face in the

    basin of water Ivy brought her. Quincy took Gwen』s hand and led her to

    the breakfast nook.

    「We』ve scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon,」 Quincy said, 「I hope you

    find it suitable.」

    The eggs were very well-cooked with not one bit of runny yolk and

    the bacon was crisp and crunchy.

    「This is delicious!」 Gwen exclaimed between mouthfuls of eggs.

    「Thank you,」 Quincy said, beaming, 「Ivy cooks just so, so excellent,

    doesn』t she?」

    「Mmmhmm,」 Gwen nodded.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    36

    「I』ve told you, Quincy, my mother taught me a few cooking things,」

    Ivy said, rolling her eyes with mock annoyance.

    「Not a few, quite a lot!」 Quincy cried, chuckling.

    「I smell somethin』 good, if it ain』t by the moon Ivy』s good ole bacon!」

    A tall man walked in.

    「You shan』t get one piece, Rollan Yord!」 Ivy cried, laughing.

    「I reckon that there』s gonna be some payment I』ll have to scrape up?」

    the man called Rollan asked, raising his eyebrows with mock surprise.

    「Aye that』s it, if you』ll be wanting your meal!」 Ivy cried.

    「How』s grooming the horses?」 Rollan asked. Ivy wrinkled her nose.

    「Those tender babes, why, they were cowing in their stalls for eight

    suns after ye did your torture on 』em!」

    Rollan chuckled. 「Not to worry, me girl, I』ll just milk your mooncursed

    cow,」 he said.

    「Moon cursed indeed! As if you doubt the noble Sun laid his blessing

    on our Rana! Oh well, here』s the milking bowl!」 Ivy tossed a small

    wooden bowl to Rollan, who promptly caught it.

    「I』ll be back sooner than you expect!」 Rollan promised.

    After Rollan had gone, Gwen asked, 「Who』s Rollan?」

    「Oh, he just does odd chores 』round here, I can always trust him to

    milk the cow,」 Ivy said, scraping the last of the eggs onto a plate, along

    with a fresh piece of toast and some bacon.

    「He』s a good』un, we took him in when he was but a lad, and a clumsy

    orphan too, and now he』s repaying the favor,」 Quincy explained.

    「He』s rather like a giant,」 Gwen said doubtfully. Quincy shrugged.

    「He』s got big bones, ye know, it comes in the noblest breeds,」 Quincy

    said.

    「He』s a great one for milking,」 Ivy said as Rollan returned.

    「Here』s your bowl o』 milk,」 Rollan said, 「now where』s me breakfast?」

    「Right here,」 Ivy said, pushing the plate over.

    「Thanky,」 Rollan said, wolfing the food down.

    「Er, I should be going now,」 Gwen said, biting her fingernails.

    「You know, Ivy』s a fortune teller. Perhaps you』d want to get your

    fortune before you leave?」 Quincy whispered into Gwen』s ear.

    「Sure,」 Gwen said.