《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》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（9）

    「Yes, I know, it is a delightful change,」 Ian said, smiling. He grimaced,
    then, and went on, 「But the Indies won』t be. Our destination, of course.」

    「The Indies!」 Amber gasped, clutching her hands even tighter. 「You

    cannot be serious! Savage heathens reside there!」

    「Savage heathens do live there, but still, I have my duty to my men,」

    Ian said grimly. 「I』m afraid my other captains are not feeling up to the job.

    If you had been with me earlier, I could have made the arrangements to

    leave you at finishing school. But unfortunately you were dropped on my

    hands just when it was most inconvenient.」

    「Indeed!」 Amber exclaimed. 「When are we to depart?」

    「After breakfast. I want to leave as soon as possible. An old sailor』s

    proverb—the sooner you leave, the sooner you return,」 Ian said, brushing

    back a few stray locks of hair.

    「I do indeed understand that,」 Amber muttered, although she was

    very unhappy. She had been hoping to leave in the late afternoon, or even

    the next day. But she knew that it was impossible.

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    Danger Ship

    My Fair Lady was indeed a pleasant change from The White Minnow. It

    had large, bright cheery rooms with clean washed decks and a large dining

    room. The crew was very kind to Amber, Edmond, and the twins,

    welcoming them aboard with a hearty 「Howdy, children!」 Even sickly

    Edmond looked better—his cheeks were starting to look red, and he

    walked around chattering amiably with the sailors. Ian was back to his

    normal self, talking with everyone and making jokes. Amber even enjoyed

    below deck, where despite the lack of windows there was a sufficient

    amount of air from the bright blue sky above. There were no further signs

    of a storm, and Ian no longer paced the deck staring at the sky with his

    brow furrowed in worry. Mary and Joanna were cared for by the ship』s

    washerwoman and cook, a jolly woman named Eva who was the wife of

    Ian』s second mate. Amber was relieved to have the two troublemakers off

    her hands and into Eva』s rough, floury ones.

    「I love these little girls, and they』re like me own chyldren,」 Eva had

    said croakily, and grinning, showed Amber her crooked yellow teeth. Mary

    and Joanna immediately warmed towards the old woman, and were often

    seen running to the galley accompanied by a relieved and leisurely

    Amber.

    「It』s a relief to have some things off of my hands,」 Ian told Amber

    and Edmond at the dinner table. Mary and Joanna had already eaten their

    fill, and were in their room listening to Eva tell a story.

    「Yes,」 Amber said, tossing back her rebellious strands of hair. 「Mary

    and Joanna can』t bother me anymore, and I』m free to do as I wish. I do

    believe that this ship is fit for Queen Victoria.」

    「No,」 Ian said, grinning. 「The royalty have luxury yachts. Edmond

    would do quite well on one.」 He turned back to the boy, who was sitting

    comfortably in a chair with many cushions. 「How are you, Edmond,

    anyhow?」

    「He』s fine,」 Amber cut in. 「I make sure that he gets plenty of fresh

    air on the deck every morning before and after breakfast.」 In truth she

    had not really bothered much with this routine, but she was eager for her

    share of attention and wished to display the fact that she was being a

    responsible lady.

    「Yes, yes,」 Ian said. 「Very good. I might just make this switch

    permanent—I』m sure that Captain Williams wouldn』t mind. After all, my

    old crew on The White Minnow seems to need an older and tougher man

    who can deal with them.」

    「Certainly!」 Amber exclaimed. 「About making the switch permanent,

    I mean. Although I certainly won』t be staying on this ship long.」

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    98

    「That』s the thing,」 Ian said thoughtfully.

    「What do you mean?」 Amber asked, quite alarmed.

    「About your staying on the ship. I would certainly welcome a new

    crewmate,」 Ian said. 「Not to do any heavy work lifting splintery ropes and

    all of that. But a cook』s companion or somebody of the sort.」

    「No! Most assuredly not! I am not going to sink to the position of a

    ship』s servant!」 Amber shouted, enraged at the very thought.

    「Just asking,」 Ian said slyly, taking another orange and spitting the

    seeds of the previous one out into the dish.

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（10）

    The next morning, Amber was still angry about Ian』s suggestion and
    pursed her lips as she dressed. She let Mary and Joanna run into Eva』s

    arms without even a single 「hello.」 Ian did not talk to her much, and

    Amber made no effort to talk back. Edmond had an ugly purple bruise

    on his knee and was taking a nap.

    「So, Amber,」 Ian finally said as they sat at the table in an

    uncomfortable silence. 「I suppose you did not seem to relish the idea of

    becoming a crewmate.」

    「I would rather not bring up that scandalous idea!」 Amber

    exclaimed shrilly.

    「As you wish,」 Ian said. 「But you may decide to change your mind.」

    「I most certainly will not. I will not serve another!」 Amber snapped

    back.

    「Perhaps you shall,」 Ian said calmly, although his smile was gone.

    「I am sure I shan』t, for it would displease Mama and Papa!」 Amber

    exclaimed.

    「Do as you wish,」 Ian said. 「But I am sure that you will at least

    consider the idea.」

    「Consider the idiotic idea, indeed!」 Amber fumed.

    Amber forgot the heated conversation later in the day, as pleasant

    breezes swept the warm deck. Eva had brought the washing up to enjoy

    the sunshine, and Mary and Joanna came with her. Amber was standing

    in a corner on the deck, breathing in the sweet air.

    「Hello, Amber!」 Eva cried out to Amber, who turned her head as the

    old woman said the words. Mary and Joanna were scampering along

    carrying two large buckets overflowing with putrid yellowish liquid.

    「Washing soap—or rather, urine,」 Eva said unblushingly.

    「Ugh! How can you wash with such despicable fluid?」 Amber

    exclaimed, jumping back as a large portion of the urine sloshed out of the

    bucket.

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    「It be collected from the crew members,」 Eva croaked. 「We have

    chamber pots with caps on 『em.」 She set down a large basket filled with

    every manner of clothing as she said this. Amber stared at it, and was

    surprised to see many torn and tattered vests, shirts, and breeches. She

    had always imagined Ian』s crew to be like a grand navy, dressed in full

    uniform that was clean and pressed thoroughly.

    「Why are all of these articles of clothing so worn?」 Amber exclaimed,

    turning to Eva.

    「Ah, the life of a seaman is hard,」 Eva said dreamily. 「Me husband

    comes back every night from work tired with his clothes all torn. I mend

    『em, but I can』t repair the fact that if you choose this life, you』re in for a

    hard life.」 Amber stared at Eva』s rough, wrinkled brown hands, which had

    taken the bucket of urine and poured it on the clothes in the basket.

    「Can I help?」 Joanna asked Eva.

    「No! Joanna, to think that you would even ask such a thing! I forbid

    it!」 Amber cried, indignant that Joanna would want to do such disgusting

    work.

    「Yes, my darling,」 Eva said as if she had not even heard Amber』s

    words.

    「I want to,」 Mary said, taking a torn shirt and examining it with

    curious eyes.

    「No!」 Amber cried again, her temper flaring. 「It would be shameful!」

    Just then Edmond came walking up to the deck.

    「Hello, Amber!」 he cried joyfully. 「Are Mary and Jo bothering you?」

    「Yes, immensely,」 Amber said, irritated despite Edmond』s

    friendliness. 「They are going on about nonsense how they want to do

    washing.」

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（11）

    「The little cherubs!」 Edmond exclaimed, cuddling Mary』s chubby
    little face in his hands. 「Aren』t you trumps? Volunteering to do the

    washing…」 Amber scowled and stormed off in a huff.

    That night at the dinner table Ian was very quiet.

    「The worst of the journey is ahead. The Indies are very stormprone,」

    he said grimly.

    「Why?」 Amber asked, alarmed.

    「The Lord wishes it to be so,」 Ian said shortly. He had not been

    talking to Amber much after their heated conversation. Amber left her

    plate and bowl at the table and stalked off.

    Ian was right. A fierce storm came just three days later. The entire

    crew rushed to the deck. As men scrambled to the rigging to tame the

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    100

    billowing sales, the great howling winds tossed some into the raging

    waters. Some unluckier men fell onto the hard wood of the deck, breaking

    every bone in their body. Others came down successfully, panting and

    sneezing. The worst was still yet to come. In the midst of the chaos, a

    grim watchman informed Ian that a ship flying the Jolly Roger had been

    seen on the distant horizon.

    「Prepare the cannon,」 Ian ordered. 「And do make haste.」

    「Yes, sir,」 the watchman said, tipping his cap. In moments a large,

    rusty cannon was wheeled out onto the deck. Amber thought that it was

    the ugliest thing that she had ever seen.

    「Don』t start shooting until the pirate ship comes in sight,」 Ian

    commanded the four men whom the watchman had brought with him. 「I

    don』t want to waste gunpowder. Our stores are low.」

    「Yes, sir,」 the watchman said again, although this time there was more

    anxiety in his voice. Ian put one hand on his pistol, and the other

    reassuringly on Amber』s shoulder.

    「Don』t worry, I don』t think they』ll make any attempts to try and board

    the ship,」 Ian said, but the tone of his voice betrayed his doubtfulness.

    Amber broke away.

    「I』m going below decks,」 she said, sniffing as she turned away. Ian

    grabbed her waist.

    「No!」 he exclaimed. 「We might need you if one of the cannon men

    falls.」 Amber scowled, but she stayed. The pirate ship neared, and could

    be seen without the help of Ian』s long telescope. Sailors pulled out any

    type of weapon they could find—pots and pans, chopping knives and

    broken saws, ancient cutlasses and rusty rifles, and broken beams of

    wood. A large pile of putrid fish was piled up near the deck to prevent the

    pirates from boarding, and the supplies were safely hidden and locked

    securely away in the storerooms. Even Eva wielded small stewpot,

    brandishing it about menacingly. Ian forced a cooking pan into Amber』s

    hand, despite her protests.

    「You might need it,」 he growled. Amber scowled again and accepted

    the tool. Other sailors grabbed hammers and sharpened screwdrivers

    from a small box that the first mate was passing around. Two men stood

    beside the pile of fish with buckets of water at the ready to stop the

    pirates from setting the ship on fire.

    Fire. The most feared word a seaman could mutter. He could swear,

    curse, and stomp his feet, but nothing could be as dangerous as the hot

    red flames on the open waters. Rags soaked in urine were hung about the

    sails, and the sails themselves were drenched in water to prevent them

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《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（12）

    from catching fire. The pirate』s ship came so near that Ian ordered the
    first shot to be fired from the cannon.

    「Fire!」 he shouted. Amber jumped with surprise at the deafening

    noise of the cannon. The pirate』s ship responded with a burning brand of

    hot shot, which landed harmlessly in the water.

    「Swivel up, around the pirate ship. Fire at the back gunpowder

    magazine!」 Ian shouted to the sailors. Sailors ran to the wheel,

    immediately following Ian』s command. Within minutes the air was filled

    with hot smoke. Red flashes of fire exploded up into the air. Amber』s eyes

    watered.

    「Fight for your lives!」 Ian cried again as a pirate dived into the water

    and grabbed hold of a rope that had been forgotten in the turmoil.

    「Cut the ropes!」 Ian cried. Amber, being the nearest, suddenly

    grabbed a rusty cutlass from a nearby sailor and hacked at the thick cords.

    With a cry the pirate fell backwards into the water.

    「Yea, Amber!」 Ian cried. Amber handed the cutlass back to the sailor,

    but, grinning widely, he handed it back to her and grabbed the kitchen

    pan.

    「Ye deserved it,」 the sailor said. But there was more trouble. One of

    the sailors who had been standing around the pile of fish to prevent the

    pirates』 attempt to board had been shot down as his comrade was

    wounded, and nobody had really noticed that the two had fallen from

    their posts. When Ian finally turned to look, he saw four filthy pirates

    jumping up onto the deck, waving glinting knives.

    「Up and at them!」 Ian cried, firing his pistol at the pirates. But hearing

    his command, the pirates ducked, letting the bullet fly harmlessly

    overhead. A few sailors rushed to Ian』s defense. Amber was among them,

    slashing her cutlass left and right, forward and backward. She pleasantly

    surprised everyone that night. Her dress was torn, her hair was tangled

    and hanging over her eyes, and her hands usually so white and delicate

    were blistered and rough. She killed and wounded pirates like an

    unstoppable machine.

    While slashing madly with her cutlass, Amber kicked and bit, elbowed

    and threw. Although she tripped once, she immediately rose and attacked

    with renewed vigor. Pirates stopped to gape at her, which only gave her

    a better chance to cut them down. Ian took this opportunity to fire at the

    pirate ship』s unprotected parts, splintering their helm with another shot

    from the cannon. Finally the last pirate had been thrown into the water.

    The smoke and fire started to clear, and Ian swiveled up next to the pirate

    ship.

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    102

    Ian spent that night selecting a choice crew and captain to take control

    of the pirate ship. The galley slaves were freed and recruited as

    midshipmen on the pirate vessel. They thanked Ian heartily again and

    again, shaking his hand and muttering thanks to God. Ian』s spirits were

    lifted mightily. He thanked Amber for 「her services to the battle,」 as well

    as the other sailors for their courage. Still, there was a tiny part of

    gloominess left on the ship. The waters were bound to be teeming with

    pirates, bigger and better trained than the ones they had just faced.

    「They』ll have firearms and gunpowder, as well as numerous cannons,」

    Ian said glumly.

    「This is not a war!」 Amber cried, wringing her hands with frustration.

    「They might have more firearms than us, but it』s not like they』ll have a

    fully loaded warship! They』re not English privateers or…or ancient

    warlords!」

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（13）

    「Fine, fine, fine, but they』ll be prepared for any major battle,」 Ian said
    wearily. 「Anyways, I』ll be up in my cabin deciding the route we』re going to

    take.」 And with that he strode off, leaving his soup cold and untouched.

    Amber awoke to the sounds of crashing and shooting. There was a

    cry and then silence. Without bothering to dress herself in fitting attire,

    she leapt out of bed and raced to the scene of commotion. When she

    reached the deck she found a sailor with his head split open. The deck was

    already soaked with blood. Ian stood next to him, unable to move. The

    rest of the sailors jabbered at each other and talked excitedly, while the

    wounded sailor writhed in agony and shrieked. Amber felt queasy at the

    sight of so much blood, and yet she knew what to do. She tore off the

    lace on the low-necked collar of her nightgown and wrapped it around

    the sailor』s head to stop the flow of blood. She helped the poor man up

    and accompanied him below decks into the hold. Ian joined her as she

    stood anxiously by his bunk, watching the man snore soundly.

    「He will live, won』t he? How did he split his head?」 she asked Ian

    anxiously.

    「Yes, I』m certain he will live, with the work you did on him. As for the

    reason he split his head, he fell about ten feet from the mainmast,」 Ian

    said, smiling crookedly. Amber looked at her bloody hands, and grinned

    back.

    「Yes, I do suppose it was worthwhile,」 she said.

    From then on Amber helped with small chores around the ship,

    tending the sick or wounded, and occasionally helping with a few side

    dishes for dinner. Everybody agreed that she was very helpful now that

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    she actually had volunteered to help, and their words (which were very

    audibly spoken) made Amber』s cheeks glow with pride.

    「My girl,」 Ian said one morning as they neared the shore, 「I do

    believe that you are as good, or better, than a sailor. Your help is

    enormous. That pie you made yesterday was simply delicious. Now—I

    again ask my question. Do you want to stay aboard the ship when we land

    in Great Britain?」

    「Ye—no—yes,」 Amber stuttered, really unable to make up her mind.

    「Good!」 Ian exclaimed, obviously overjoyed. 「Why don』t we throw a

    party in honor of your decision!」 And with that he grabbed Amber』s arm

    and danced a merry jig. Amber was forced to do likewise should he step

    on her toe.

    Eva made a marvelous cake with white frosting and little white sugardoves

    on the second layer. Candles were placed along the rim of the first

    layer, letting out a marvelous light.

    「Oh—it』s simply divine,」 Amber breathed, hardly daring to talk. Ian

    stared at it, his eyes like glassy pearls. Edmond stood with his mouth

    open, gawking at the splendor of the cake. The candles let off a radiance

    which seemed to reflect on the cake, and the radiance was working its

    magic on the three spellbound people. Amber was the first to regain her

    senses, and sat down in a wooden chair with a plop. Edmond came next,

    closing his mouth as he dropped onto his cushioned seat. Ian finally

    collapsed into his chair at the head of the table, ranting on and on about

    how it was 「simply magnificent and wonderful.」

    Next Eva unmasked another surprise—bread pudding. Ian

    immediately dug into the bowl with his spoon, dumping it onto his plate

    and wolfing it down as soon as it touched the rim. Finally he wiped his

    mouth with the back of his hand and lay back in his chair.

    「Well, it looks like this eater is quite enthusiastic about his food!」 Eva

    exclaimed, laughing.

    「And why shouldn』t I be?」 Ian asked teasingly.

    「Oh, do come off it,」 said Amber impatiently. 「Let』s just eat.」

    「Hear, hear!」 Edmond cried. Amber at once took the knife and cut

    the cake into slices, sliding a slice onto everyone』s plate. Then Eva

    spooned out the bread pudding into small little dishes, and everyone took

    some. Amber retired to her room with a full stomach. Edmond stayed out

    on the deck to play a game of chess with Ian in the sunset, with the

    shadows of dusk just beginning to fall.

    「We』ll be at the island before midnight,」 Ian said happily as he was

    coming down the hall, which neighbored Amber』s room.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（14）

    「Without another pirate attack, I certainly ho—」 Amber』s hopes were
    shattered as a sailor』s cry cut through her sentence.

    「Captain! Pirate ship nearing!」

    「Oh, dear,」 Ian buried his face in his hands, but ran along. At once

    the crew was assembled and handed assorted weapons. Ian offered

    Amber a pistol, but she politely refused and took a cutlass instead. Four

    men raced to attend to the cannon, wheeling the heavy weapon onto the

    deck. The fish were again piled up on the deck to prevent the pirates from

    boarding. Three men stood ready with buckets of water.

    Just as Ian had feared, these pirates were tough and had a larger ship.

    Pirates who wore nothing but torn blue vests and ripped gray canvas

    trousers shouted and flexed their bulging muscles. Instead of brandishing

    knives, most of them wore pistols tied with cords to their sides and a huge

    variety of glinting daggers. Many wore black eye patches and red

    headbands tied on their heads, or else rags around their feet. The leader

    of them all stood in front, shabbily-dressed but still better off than the

    rest. He wore a ragged blue vest around his bare chest, which had a tuft

    of hair growing in the middle. One long scar ran down the side of his

    face, and Amber shuddered to see it. His temples throbbed, and his veins

    stuck out of his large brown hands.

    「Fight for your lives!」 Ian ordered. With a deafening blast of the

    cannon, the ship shook and rolled. The pirate ship replied with grapeshot,

    which knocked out several sailors in the front line.

    「Hurry,」 Ian whispered. 「The pirate ship is at close enough range that

    we can attempt hot shot. Just hurry!」 Sailors rushed to fulfill Ian』s

    command. Amber took their place in the front line. The pirates gnashed

    their teeth at her, waving their daggers menacingly. Ian shot a burning

    brand aimed at the pirate ship』s mainmast, which instead set the deck of

    the pirate ship on fire. Roaring angrily, the pirates attempted to stomp the

    fire out. Amber could just barely make out their captain shouting,

    「You lily-livered landlubbers! You scurvy sea dogs! Get water to put

    it out!」 Although the hot shot had not met its exact mark, it was doing

    quite a lot of damage to the pirate ship. The flames had spread, nearing

    what Ian guessed and hoped was the gunpowder magazine.

    「They』re preparing to ram us in or board the ship! Our only chance is

    to run for it!」 Ian gasped as the pirate shipped neared. He immediately

    ran to the steering wheel and swiveled away from the pirate ship. The

    sailors shot the cannon for the last time and retreated to convenient

    hiding places that would allow them to ambush the pirates when the time

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    Danger Ship

    was ripe. Amber chose a spot behind the mainmast, where she could

    easily spring out and slash at the pirates if there was need. Though Amber

    was aware that he was heavily armed, she still felt worried that Ian』s

    visibility would lead to his downfall.

    Edmond was put in a bunk below decks, and Mary and Joanna were

    sleeping next to him. Two sailors went to guard the gunpowder magazine,

    wielding long rifles and short broadswords. Slowly the dilapidated pirate

    ship drifted towards My Fair Lady, gaining speed as its decrepit sails caught

    the wind. Pirates leapt from barrels, some landing in the murky depths of

    the swirling seas, but most landed on the deck』s broad wooden railing.

    「Hiyah!」 they shouted, waving burning torches and throwing them

    onto the ground. Amber jumped out from behind her hiding place, with

    the rest of the sailors. A few sailors poured water on the hot flames, while

    Amber slashed wildly at the pirates. The ones who had fallen into the

    water were climbing up the sides of My Fair Lady, and their captain (who

    was still on the pirate ship) was bringing it even closer towards My Fair

    Lady. Amber gasped with horror and amazement. The two ships were

    almost colliding! Ian gave a turn of the steering wheel, and they went off

    at a much faster pace.

    「They』re getting away!」 the pirate captain roared, smashing his pistol

    against the pirate ship. 「Get them!」

    「Go away to where you belong—the hanging noose!」 Amber

    shouted, thrusting her cutlass down on the shoulder of another pirate. He

    collapsed groaning and cursing with pain, blood running from the wound.

    With a powerful kick, Amber bashed the pirate against the wooden railing

    and into the deep water. There he could be seen floating on the surface,

    a grotesque bloody figure. As she spun around to face another, Amber

    saw one large burly pirate barreling towards her. He had two knives in his

    hands, and he looked dangerous. He barred his teeth threateningly, his

    eyes burning with hatred and enmity.

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
接下來會發生什麼？（15）

    「Go away!」 Amber cried, slashing at the pirate』s hip. The
    unsuspecting pirate jumped away with blood trickling down his thigh.

    「Damned girl,」 he muttered, collapsing onto the ground with a groan.

    Amber quickly finished him off with a flick of the cutlass.

    「Good going, Amber!」 Ian shouted from the steering wheel. 「That

    was the captain you just got right there!」 The few remaining pirates spun

    around with surprise. Seeing that Amber had sliced their captain』s

    cartilage into finely chopped white powder, they shrieked hysterically

    and jumped overboard.

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    106

    「Well, that takes care of them,」 Ian said, wringing his hands, 「but

    much of our crew has been killed or wounded. Take them to the

    forecastle. I』ll attach this pirate ship onto the other one so that we』ll have

    a whole fleet.」

    More were killed than wounded, and those who were wounded had

    only minor injuries. Amber quickly washed their scabs and cuts, and then

    put them off to bed with a dose of grog to help them sleep. When she

    was done, she went off to her own room, where she was horrified to find

    the window panes shattered. Shards of glass lay about in her bed and on

    the floor. Amber called for Ian, who dashed in at once.

    「Oh,」 Ian said, looking around. 「It hasn』t happened in my cabin. I』m

    sorry, Amber, but right now I can』t repair it. You』ll have to sleep below

    decks with Edmond and Mary and Joanna.」

    「Fine,」 Amber sighed, and staggered wearily off to join Edmond. In

    a few hours』 time, Ian woke them excitedly.

    「See, that』s the island where my men are stranded!」 he exclaimed,

    pointing to a small blob of land in the distance. 「I』ve doubled the speed,

    so why don』t you just stay up on the deck to watch?」 Chairs were brought

    out, and soon most of the crew was squinting towards the island. Finally

    a few palm trees came into view, then some grass, and finally a group of

    haggard men. Some were naked—others were dressed in dirt-filled rags

    and loincloths. Their hair and beards were filled with grime and mud.

    Their hairy arms were covered in grass and scraps of bark. Their lips were

    chapped from weeks of dehydration.

    「Hi! Our savior is here!」 the men cried, jumping up. Ian waved to

    them and brought My Fair Lady to an angle at the island. A few sailors

    threw the anchor out, and then they all stepped onto the island. As the

    light of dawn began to show its colors, Amber noticed specks of water

    shining in the green grass. The palm trees towered above their heads,

    giving them shade. Ian was already deep in conversation with the tallest of

    the men.

    「So we were attacked by pirates twice,」 Ian was explaining, 「and we

    captured both of their ships. Amber was just killing those pirates like a

    maniac, having no mind of the danger around her.」 The other men

    started to grumble at having to wait so long, and Ian immediately brought

    them onto the ship for refreshment and clothing. When they had been

    clothed in a more presentable way, he shooed them off to the pirate ships

    for nightly slumber.

    The next morning Ian started them all off with some breakfast, and then steered My Fair Lady away from the other two ships. He gave a signal

    to the captains of the other ships to follow him, and so soon they were

    cruising speedily along. When Amber and Ian were alone in Ian』s cabin,

    Amber said solemnly,

    「Uncle, I need to tell you something.」

    「What is it?」 Ian asked, taking a biscuit and popping it into his mouth.

    「I don』t want to stay aboard the ship,」 Amber said hurriedly. 「I want

    to go to finishing school to become a schoolteacher. I…want to be

    more…independent. Not a grand lady who has to entertain stuffy old

    guests. I used to want to be a lady, but I think it would be far

    too…too…boring, after…this experience. Teaching would be like a

    whole new adventure to me. If I just was a grand lady with some big

    manor house it wouldn』t be exciting enough.」

    「I was actually going to tell you that if you didn』t want to stay aboard

    the ship anymore, I wouldn』t really need you,」 Ian said, smiling. 「So I

    suppose it all works out.」

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
參考譯文

    forecastle – raised section of deck at the front of the ship　（前甲板）
    accustomed - familiar, used to（通常的）

    collided – crashed into（碰撞　衝突）

    hoisted – lifted up（提升起）

    lurched – moved violently and unsteadily（突然傾斜）

    seething – a pent-up quality, usually applied to anger or resentment（被壓抑的情緒，　常指氣憤或怨恨）

    commotion – hubbub, ruckus, noisy disturbance（騷動）

    vagabond – homeless wanderer（流浪漢）

    cringe –  flinch or shy away in embarrassment or fear（畏縮）

    sufficient – enough, adequate（足夠的）

    relish – savor, enjoy（意味，享受）

    menacingly – threateningly（險惡的，脅迫的）

    gnash – to grind one』s teeth in anger（咬牙切齒）

    traversing –  moving up, down, over, or across（穿過）

    scurrilous – insulting（說話粗鄙惡劣的）

    Kirtle – a long dress or skirt popular from the Middle Ages through the 17th C.　（中世紀到１７　世紀的一種長裙）

    mutiny – sailors』 rebellion（叛變）

    flamboyant – showy, flashy or colorful（華麗的）

    scalawags – troublemakers（無賴漢）

    brig – ship』s prison （船上的監牢）

    malady – illness（疾病）

    furrowed – forehead wrinkle, groove, plow trench（耕）

    galley – a boat』s kitchen（船上的廚房）

    scandalous – disgraceful or shameful（可恥的）

    indignant – angry at unfairness（氣憤地）

    cherub – a chubby faced child angel（小天使）

    trump – in a card game the suit that has a higher value than others, slang for an outstanding person（王牌，　俗語里指傑出的人）

    rigging –  the ropes that attach to masts and sails on a boat　（船上的索具）

    vigor – strength, vitality （活力）

    cartilage – the substance that our noses and ears are made of （軟骨）

    hysterically – uncontrollably（歇斯底里的）

    grog – a mix of rum, hot water, sugar, and lemon juice　（羅姆酒，熱水，糖和檸檬汁混在一起的飲料）

    dehydration – loss of bodily fluids（脫水）

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
危險之旅（1）

    「琥珀！」一個老水手沙啞的叫聲驚動了琥珀，她轉過身，卻被身後的一團繩子絆倒了。　
    「別急，別急，　」水手向碼頭走來。「你要是把衣服弄髒了，你叔叔會不高興的。來，」正說著， 伊恩也已經向他們走過來。 看到琥珀滿是沙子的頭髮，他加快了步伐。

    「琥珀，快去叫你的妹妹。　埃德蒙和我在一起，　我們很快就要走了。伊恩不耐煩地說。

    「來了，等一下，」 琥珀最後吸了一口倫敦的空氣， 然後走到船上去。

    小白魚是他們的船。它遲遲沒有出港。伊恩叔叔先要去酒館里把水手都找齊。 琥珀想象著西服革履的伊恩叔叔在倫敦最臟最亂的酒館里出現。

    終於所有的水手都到齊了。這艘飽經風雨的船要起航了。

    琥珀和埃德蒙在一起。埃德蒙是琥珀有病的哥哥，他住在叔叔的船艙里， 坐在他窄窄的床上。

    「我們為什麼非要坐上這艘破船呀？ 」埃德蒙用被子蒙住了臉，呻吟道。

    「埃德蒙，　叔叔是我們最後的親戚了。　你要是不想住在破房子里，你就別嘟噥了。」正在這時，叔叔開門進來了，　一臉疲倦的神情。

    「琥珀，我費了好大力氣才把你的妹妹喬婭娜從前甲板那拉回來。」　琥珀不知道什麼是前甲板，　但她不想顯得那麼無知，就沒有問。床上的埃德蒙又呻吟了一陣，叔叔看了看他，說，

    「你怎麼樣，愛德蒙？　」　

    琥珀站起來，問，　「哪有女衛生間呢？　」　

    叔叔問，「什麼？　哎呀，我將來會讓他們蓋一個。但是，你現在能不能在這湊合湊合？　」伊恩拿出一個木桶來。琥珀叫了起來，　

    「琥珀！」　叔叔說。

    「我不用這個髒兮兮的桶！我要回自己的房間了！　」琥珀看到桶上蠕動的蛆，差點吐了出來。

    琥珀的船艙與叔叔的船艙相隔不遠。 琥珀彎腰才能進去。 房樑上掛了一個小燈籠， 隨著船的擺動搖來搖去。屋裡很暗，有股發霉的味道。

    琥珀發怒了，「這個房間怎麼這麼破？我拒絕住在這！」

    帶她來的水手說，「夠好的了！我們所有的人都住在這樣一間屋裡，睡在吊床上。　」

    「我不管！ 我要見我叔叔。」 琥珀說。

    「你叔叔下令了，除了他的侄子別人不見。」水手擋住門說。他的侄子！琥珀多麼希望她阻止了那輛馬車。 啊！ 那場決鬥，所有的事情，要是都沒發生該多好！ 她就不用到這艘破船上來了！

    「好吧，給我點吃的東西， 」琥珀雙手叉腰，高傲的說。

    「你自己找吧。我還有別的事情呢。」水手說完，關門出去了， 剩下琥珀在這個漆黑的房間里。

    第二天早上，琥珀發現自己腰酸背痛。 整個晚上，船都在顛簸的海面上航行，她也被顛暈了。有一次差點和一隻老鼠撞在一起。船上的人都忙忙碌碌的。 更糟糕的是，叔叔還讓她看著雙胞胎妹妹喬亞娜和瑪麗。

    「別和我鬧！」琥珀禁止瑪麗拽她的胳臂。叔叔嘆了口氣，走開了。船上亂鬨哄的。 琥珀想研究一下這艘船，可是喬亞娜和瑪麗絕不肯老老實實的。她只好背著她們。

    琥珀本不想到甲板下面去，但是所有的人都讓她們躲開。叔叔也只關心愛德蒙。 琥珀下了吱吱作響的樓梯， 手裡的燈籠搖來晃去， 瑪麗害怕得尖叫起來。 琥珀抓住木扶手， 船又晃了一下，琥珀沒站穩，摔倒了。她骨碌一下摔到了甲板下。

    琥珀醒來時發現叔叔在自己身邊。

    「出了什麼事？」她帶著氣問。

    「你摔了一跤，　你能不能走路穩點？」叔叔吹著口哨說。

    「在這艘破船上，我走不穩。」琥珀的自尊受了傷。

    「好吧，還有一天我們就會到下一個港口，會有新鮮的供給，　也會有人照顧你了。」叔叔說。琥珀把被子掀開，小心地站了起來。

    「　我要我的行李，還有我的東西。」　琥珀不耐煩地說。

    「你的箱子在甲板底下呢。」　叔叔並沒有動。

    「水手不能去拿一下嗎？」琥珀問。

    「什麼？你得自己去拿。」

    因此，琥珀氣鼓鼓地離開了。她已經掉下去過一次了。　這次倒是有個個子矮小的水手陪她。琥珀對他一點信心都沒有。

    琥珀的箱子在一個黑乎乎的船艙里。她把箱子提出來，塞到小個子水手的手裡。

    「扛著，」她冷冷地說。

    「不。」水手冷靜地說。他把箱子又放到琥珀腳下。

    「不？　你膽敢違背一位小姐的命令？我是劍橋伯爵之女！」

    「你才不是什麼小姐呢！　看看你自己吧！　」水手笑著說。琥珀吃驚的發現自己的確衣履襤衫。 她的衣服被海水打濕了，頭髮全散開了， 濕漉漉地披在肩上。 沒人會認為她是個高貴典雅的小姐的。琥珀非常傷心，她已經從倫敦最知名的女士學校畢業， 卻還是這幅邋遢樣子。

    「你再不走，我可走了。」水手對她說。她咬了咬牙，自己提著箱子上去了。

    琥珀拿出了自己最喜歡的一件裙子，又在耳後點上香水。 她換了衣服，將散亂的頭髮梳成兩個辮子，洗過臉， 才從自己的房間里出來。晚餐的內容很簡單，只是一些餅乾和豆子。 叔叔警告大家暴風雨馬上會來臨， 他在甲板上踱來踱去。

    「暴風雨要來了，」叔叔回到廚房，關上門說。「今晚會有雷雨。沒辦法」， 叔叔疲憊地說。 他把桌上的菜收到一個大桶里，無可奈何地說，「也許到了夏天，天氣才會好點。」

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
危險之旅（2）

    又是幾天過去了。琥珀已經沒有時間概念了。愛德蒙的病情不見好轉。 儘管吃了很多葯，卻並不奏效。颳了幾場暴風雨， 船上又來了一批黑奴。
    一個格外溫暖的一天，琥珀站在甲板上，凝望著無邊的水際，任思緒漂流。直到一個水手過來，她才回過神來。

    他來該嘛？ 我正在想象我穿上那條漂亮的長裙的樣子，長發編成兩個長長的辮子，很多傭人在服侍我。。。

    「小姐，你得去照顧甲－甲板下面的黑－黑奴。」那個水手結巴地說。

    「那些奴隸們！」　琥珀叫道。她馬上恢復了高貴的儀態，輕輕地問，「這是誰的命令呀？」

    「你－你叔叔的。」這個小水手顯然怕她。

    「好吧。」琥珀跟著她到下面的船艙里去。　她剛進去就被人襲擊了，雙眼也被蒙了起來。

    琥珀睜開眼，　四周一片漆黑。她試圖站起來，卻發現自己被粗繩子拴住了。一個身材魁梧的水手向她走來。

    「你終於醒了。」水手粗聲粗氣地說。他給她鬆了綁。　又過來幾個水手，　直愣愣地瞪著她。

    「好了，現在咱們該去抓那個小子了。」大個子水手說。一個水手開始向樓梯走去。　給琥珀鬆綁的那個水手抓住另外一個人的胳臂，把他拽了回來。

    「你幹什麼呢？你找死嗎？ 如果你上去的話，伊恩這個老東西會讓你下來找人，如果被他看見，他會把咱們全殺了的！」

    「湯姆，你別發火，」那個水手說。琥珀尖叫了起來， 她受夠了。 顯然，水手們叛變了。 應該馬上通知叔叔，可是水手們守著樓梯，怎麼才能上去呢？

    「小丫頭，你幹嘛呢？　」湯姆生氣地說。

    「快，把她藏起來！」別的水手看見伊恩走過來，馬上把琥珀拽到一個黑暗的角落。

    「誰在嚷？」伊恩一邊整理他花哨的上衣，一邊問。

    「沒人在嚷。」湯姆說。伊恩的眉毛挑了起來，湯姆馬上又說，「可能是那個小水手。　他踩到玻璃上了。」

    「救命！」琥珀狠狠地咬了一下看守她的那個水手，（她很高興都出血了）拚命擺脫了他們。

    「琥珀！ 你在這幹嘛？」伊恩馬上把手扣倒了扳機上。

    「水手們綁架了我！他們叛變了！　」　琥珀迅速地說。

    「兄弟們，　抄傢伙，　拼了！　」湯姆從衣服里拔出一隻手槍開了火。緊接著是一場混戰。　伊恩憑著好運氣一直沒受傷。　水手們則是一死兩傷。　終於，　叛亂結束了。湯姆腿部中彈，倒在了地上。　琥珀跑到叔叔身邊。

    「真懸！」伊恩吹著口哨，把搶掖回去。

    「我們上去吧。」琥珀說。　

    「先得把這些壞蛋們扔到地牢里去。」伊恩踢著一個水手，說。

    「我上去了。」琥珀跳上了台階。

    又過去了很多天，終於到了琥珀的１５歲生日。叔叔抱歉地告訴她，船上不能做一個蛋糕，　但是廚師給她做了一個餅。他們圍著桌子坐下，一起品嘗這個生日餅。

    「真好吃，　是什麼做的呢？　」琥珀大口大口地吃著。

    「還是不告訴你的好。　你可能會不高興。」　叔叔說。愛德蒙呻吟了一下。

    「噢，」琥珀有點失望。 她看了看愛德蒙，愛德蒙象是病了。

    「愛德蒙，怎麼了？」琥珀問。

    「我的胃不舒服」。

    「你行嗎？咱們回房間吧！」 叔叔說。

    「好的。」愛德蒙呻吟著說。

    周六是卸黑奴的日子，船上一片亂鬨哄的。在路易斯安娜溫暖的岸邊，黑奴們被交到了奴隸販子的手裡。伊恩與一個農場主還有別的事情，他就在附近的酒店裡租了一間屋子。

    「我們很快又起航了。」 他對琥珀說。琥珀並不在意，她巴不得在城裡多呆幾天呢。

    「我們再呆一周行嗎？」琥珀問。「這是我離開英國以後到的第一個城市。」

    「不行！我們還要去別的地方做生意呢。　暴風雨也要來了！」伊恩暴躁地說。琥珀不說話了。　

    「對不起，」伊恩說，「這麼多事情，　我真的沒有耐心了。叛變，生意，我都快瘋了。」

    「好吧。」　琥珀嘆了口氣，走開了。

    然而，他們還是耽擱了。那個農場主答應辦一個晚會歡送他們。

    「可能你們會喜歡。」農場主拿起一根棍子，笑著說。琥珀看見他剛才還拿這根棍子打奴隸，嫌惡地閃開了。晚會將由農場主的妻子，德波拉主辦。

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
危險之旅（3）

    「我可不想跟這麼個女人結婚，」伊恩叔叔偷偷地跟愛德蒙和琥珀說。　
    「我都不想認識這樣的人。」琥珀也說。她數著破桌布上有幾處污漬。

    「你怎麼樣了？」伊恩叔叔大聲地問愛德蒙。

    「不-太-好」， 愛德蒙一字一頓地說。

    「嘿，小夥子，　你是不是起痘了？」農場主阿力克斯喊道。如果他也這麼喊他的奴隸們，他們都會跑掉的。琥珀同情地看著愛德蒙。

    「不，他沒起痘，」　叔叔把一勺子土豆放在他的盤子上。

    「痘是什麼？」琥珀很好奇地問。

    「你沒聽說過天花嗎？」叔叔問琥珀。

    「當然聽說過。　我只是剛才沒有聽清楚。」

    「天花是整個世界最可怕的疾病，得了天花必死無疑，　而且，它高度傳染。」

     「你是不是也得檢查檢查，　姑娘？」阿力克斯隔著桌子喊道。

    「不用―――我向你們保證，琥珀非常健康。她能吃能喝，當然，她的腰被勒的太緊了，　氣就喘不過來了。」叔叔紅著臉說。琥珀摸了摸自己腰帶和纖細的腰。

    「我同意。　」農場主放心了，　「德波拉就不帶這勞什子。」

    「也許我應該帶一個，這樣你就不會在別人面前公然評論我了。」德波拉說。

    「女人，你在想什麼呢？」農場主用拳頭重重地錘了一下桌子。

    「咱們別吵架」， 伊恩說。琥珀也點了點頭。

    「好吧，」農場主同意了。

    當琥珀醒來的時候已是清晨了。　她梳洗過，　穿了一件墨綠色的長袍，　把辮子編好，然後跳下樓去。　伊恩坐在火爐邊，神情非常嚴峻。他鬍子拉碴，　頭髮也亂亂的。

    「出什麼事了？」，　琥珀悄悄地問愛德蒙。　

    「叔叔的另外一艘船―――快樂水域―――被海盜襲擊了。　」　愛德蒙的小臉上全是恐懼。

    「全完了，」伊恩站了起來。　琥珀不禁打了個寒顫。　

    「還有呢，」愛德蒙接著說，「我們還要去營救他們呢！　咱們！」

    「琥珀，我不想讓你失望，但是，我們必須走另外一條路線---」琥珀連忙說，「我知道，」她盡量裝的冷靜，可是聲音還是有些顫抖。

    「你已經知道了海盜的事？ 」叔叔問。

    「都知道了。　我們是不是還要去營救他們然後坐他們的破船？」

    「關於這個，我還有一艘叫窈窕淑女的船，船上很豪華，更適合你這樣的小姐坐。這艘船已經到岸了。咱們要換到窈窕淑女上去。　」琥珀高興得都不知道說什麼好了。她只是看著叔叔。

    「我知道，你願意換船。可是，咱們不能換航線，還得去西印度島。」

    「印度島？」琥珀驚叫起來，「您開玩笑吧！　那是野人魔鬼住的地方！　」

    「就算是野人魔鬼住的地方，我也得去。我要對我的船員們負責任。別的人不能代替我。我要是早點當你的監護人， 我就會把你送到淑女學校里去， 可是現在是我最困難的時候， 你只好跟著我了。」

    「那我們什麼時候動身呢？ 」琥珀說。

    「吃過早餐就走。 俗話說：速去速回。」叔叔用手掠了掠頭髮。

    「我明白了，」　琥珀小聲說。她還設想下午才走，或是明天。她的聲音里充滿了失望。

    窈窕淑女果然是一艘好船。　房間寬敞明亮，　甲板洗得一塵不染，餐廳燈火輝煌。水手們對琥珀和別的小孩子都很客氣，在甲板上列隊歡迎他們。愛德蒙看上去也好了許多―――雙頰甚至有了紅色。叔叔也不是那麼著急了，　他和大家有說有笑的。就連甲板底下也很舒服。　暴風雨沒有襲擊他們，叔叔再也不走來走去，緊皺著眉頭了。船上的洗衣女工和廚娘照顧瑪麗和喬婭娜，琥珀非常高興不用再管這兩個搗蛋鬼了。

    「我愛這兩個小傢伙，她們象我自己的孩子，」廚娘伊娃笑著說。她這一笑，露出了她黃黃的牙。 瑪麗和喬亞娜也喜歡她。 她們喜歡跑到廚房去。琥珀終於輕鬆了。

    「真高興不用再管這兩個小東西了。」吃晚飯的時候，叔叔說。 瑪麗和喬婭娜已經吃過飯，在屋裡聽伊娃講故事呢。

    「是呀，」琥珀說。她把前額的一縷頭髮向後甩去。　「這艘船簡直是給女王坐的。」

    「王室成員們有更豪華的專用遊艇。 愛德蒙， 你怎麼樣？」叔叔問。愛德蒙舒舒服服地坐在墊了許多墊子的椅子上，。　

    「他很好。每天早上他都能呼吸很多的新鮮空氣。」其實琥珀沒怎麼注意過愛德蒙，但是她想顯得更象個負責任的姐姐。

    「那好。我就把這艘船換過來吧。　反正威廉船長不會在意的。再說，我的那艘船上的水手們也需要一個厲害的船長管管他們。」

    「當然，換過來吧。不過，我不會在船上呆太久。」 琥珀說。

    「是啊。」叔叔若有所思的說。

    「什麼意思？」琥珀問。

    「你在船上的時候能不能幹點活。我們需要一個人幫助廚娘。 你不用做重活。」「絕對不行！　我可不當傭人！」琥珀激烈地說。

    「我就問問，」叔叔說。他又吃了一瓣橘子，把核吐在了盤子上。

    第二天一早，琥珀想起叔叔的話還生氣呢。她看見伊娃時都沒打招呼。 叔叔也沒怎麼和她說話。 愛德蒙的膝蓋受了傷，現在正在睡覺。

    「琥珀，」叔叔在一片寂靜中開了口，「你不想在船上幫工是不是？」

    「我不想談這個荒謬的話題！」

    「隨你便，」叔叔說，「但是你最好再想一想。」

    「沒什麼可想的。我不會伺候別人！」

    「也許你必須呢。」伊恩冷靜的說。他的笑容已經消失了。

    「不會！ 我的爸爸媽媽不會讓我做這樣的事！」琥珀說。

    「好吧。但是，請你考慮考慮。」

    「考慮？哼！」琥珀從鼻子里噴出氣來。

    琥珀很快忘了這件事。她站在甲板上，任溫暖的海風吹拂著她。　伊娃提著一大桶衣服來曬。　瑪麗和喬婭娜跟著她。琥珀站在甲板一角，也在曬太陽。

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
危險之旅（4）

    「琥珀，你好！」伊娃向她致意。瑪麗和喬婭娜也提著兩隻大桶，　裡面滿滿地盛著黃色的液體。
    「洗衣液―――，其實是，尿」伊娃若無其事地說。

    「噢！你怎們能用尿洗衣服呢？」琥珀看到桶里的尿就要晃出來， 趕快躲到一邊去。

    「我們用尿桶把水手們的尿收集起來。」 伊娃說著，放下一個大籃子， 裡面是各式各樣的破衣服。琥珀吃驚的發現水手們的衣服如此破爛。她原以為叔叔的船員們都穿著整齊乾淨的制服呢。

    「他們的衣服為什麼這麼破？ 」琥珀問。

    「哎，水手過的是苦日子呀。 我丈夫每天回來時，衣服都破了。我總要給他補。誰要是當上了水手，就別想舒服。」琥珀看著伊娃粗糙的雙手， 看著她把尿倒到衣服上去。

    「我能幫忙嗎？」喬婭娜問伊娃。

    「不行！喬婭娜， 你不能做這樣的事！ 」琥珀喊道，她真生氣妹妹怎麼想做這樣的事。

    「可以， 寶貝。」伊娃好像沒有聽見琥珀的話一樣。

    「我也想幫忙。」　瑪麗拿起一件滿是漏洞的襯衫說。

    「別動！你們太丟人了！」琥珀發火了。正在這時，愛德蒙走了過來。

    「琥珀，你好！瑪麗和喬婭娜又惹你生氣了？」

    「是的。她們居然說想洗衣服。」琥珀氣沖沖地說。

    「小天使們！ 真棒！你們還要洗衣服！」愛德蒙撫摸著她們胖胖的小臉說。琥珀只好走了。

    那天吃晚飯時，叔叔說話不多。

    「前面的路很不好走，　會有很多的暴風雨。」　他最終皺著眉說。

    「為什麼？」琥珀問道。

    「老天的安排。」叔叔最近不大和琥珀說話。琥珀吃過飯就走了。

    伊恩說的沒錯， 三天後就下起了暴風雨。全體船員們都涌到甲板上。人們試圖爬到桅杆上去把帆扯下來，  有的人被狂嘯的海風卷到了大海里。有的人重重地跌到了甲板上。 有的人成功地回到了甲板上。忙亂之中，有人還發現了一艘海盜船。

    「準備大炮，」　伊恩下令道。

    「是」， 不一會，船員們把生了銹的大炮推到了甲板上。 琥珀覺得大炮可真難看。

    「看到他們再開炮， 」伊恩命令四個炮手。 「別浪費炮彈。咱們炮彈不多了。」

    「是的。　」船員著急的答道。　伊恩把手放在手槍上，又撫慰的拍了拍琥珀的肩膀。

    「別急，他們不會搶這艘船的。」伊恩說著。可是他自己似乎都不相信這句話。

    「我到甲板下面去了。」琥珀說。可是叔叔抓住了她。

    「別去。我們可能會需要你。」琥珀不情願地留下了。海盜船越靠越近，　肉眼也能看見了。水手們找出各式各樣的武器―――鍋碗瓢盆，　菜刀，鋸子，老獵槍，　木棍。　船上還堆了一大堆臭魚來薰海盜們。　他們的食品藏了起來。　連伊娃也掄著一個小鍋。　叔叔往琥珀手裡也塞了一個鍋。　

    「你可能用的著，」琥珀板著臉拿住了。 別的船員們正在分發鎚子和改錐。 臭魚旁邊還有兩個人提著水，以防海盜們放火燒船。

    放火。這可是船員們最怕的事了。他們最怕茫茫大海上點一把火。用尿泡過的破布掛在濕漉漉的帆上，以防著火。海盜們的船逼近了。伊恩下令開火。

    「開火！」 琥珀被大炮的響聲嚇了一跳。 海盜們回擊了。 可是他們的炮火併沒有擊中目標。

    「轉過去， 打他們的彈藥庫！」伊恩喊道。水手們趕快推著大炮又是一發。 空氣里全是嗆人的火藥味。 琥珀的眼睛被嗆的都睜不開了。

    　 「拼了！」 伊恩看到一個海盜游到水裡抓住了船上的一條繩子， 便趕快喊，「把繩子砍了!」琥珀離繩子最近，她抄起一把小刀就把繩子截斷。那個海盜大叫一聲，掉到了水裡。

    「琥珀，幹得好！」叔叔叫道。 琥珀把刀還給身邊的一位水手。可是他笑著又把刀給她了。

    「你用刀吧。」水手拿起了一隻鍋。可是麻煩更大了。站在臭魚旁邊的兩個水手都被擊倒了。 沒有人注意到已經有四個海盜爬到了船上來。

    「打呀！」 伊恩用手槍向那四個海盜開火， 可是被他們躲開了。別的船員也來幫伊恩。 琥珀也跑過來，揮舞著手裡的刀。 大家看到她這麼勇敢都很吃驚。 她的衣服被撕破了，頭髮也全亂了。 她像一陣旋風一樣狂擊海盜們。

    琥珀揮著刀，又踢又咬， 拳打腳踢。 她摔了一次， 但是馬上又爬了起來。 海盜們都恐懼地看著她。 伊恩趁機打死了好幾個海盜， 又用大炮轟了他們的船。最後，所有的海盜都被扔到了海里。 硝煙也慢慢地散開了。

    伊恩整夜都在挑選船員去管理海盜船。囚犯和苦工們也獲得了釋放，可以作為海盜船的船員。 他們再三地感謝伊恩。 伊恩非常高興。 他表揚了琥珀的勇敢。 可是，大家心情還是有點抑鬱，這片水域上還有很多海盜，他們比這夥人厲害多了！

    「別的海盜們還會有很多大炮，和精良的武器。」伊恩說。

    「他們也許比我們的武器多，可是他們的船不會是世界上最了不起的戰船。」

    「是的。 但是他們的準備比我們充分。 反正我現在要去我的房間考慮航線的問題。」說完，他碰都沒碰他的湯，走了。

    琥珀醒來時聽到了幾聲巨響。 有人大喊了一聲， 然後又沒聲了。琥珀趕快從床上跳下來，連衣服都沒來得及穿好。甲板上一個水手頭裂了大口， 染了一地的血。 伊恩站在他的旁邊，一步都不能動。 那個受傷的水手痛苦地呻吟著。 琥珀看到這樣血腥的場景有點噁心。 她把睡衣領子上的蕾絲花邊扯了下來， 纏在那個水手的頭上。她攙著他走到甲板下面去。 伊恩和琥珀看著他睡著了才走。

    「他能活下去嗎？ 他的頭怎麼破了？」琥珀問伊恩。

    「沒問題。 你已經護理他了。他從主桅杆上掉了下來，所以頭破了。」伊恩笑著說。 琥珀看著自己血污的雙手， 也笑了。

    從那以後，琥珀也幫助船員們做一些力所能及的事，　照顧傷病的水手，準備晚餐的配菜等等。大家都喜歡她了，他們的讚揚令琥珀都有點不好意思了。

    「琥珀，我認為你比一個水手的貢獻都大。　你昨天做的餅非常的好吃。　我再次問你這個問題，　我們快要回到英國了，你還想在船上呆下去嗎？」

    「是　，不，　」　琥珀不知該說什麼好了。

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
危險之旅（5）

    「好吧！」伊恩非常高興。「我們開個晚會慶祝你留下吧！」他抓住琥珀的胳臂就要跳舞。
    伊娃做了一個美味的蛋糕，上面還有糖做的白色小鴿子。蛋糕上點燃了蠟燭，發出美麗的光。

    「哦，太棒了。」琥珀都說不出話來了。伊恩的眼睛被蠟燭照的亮晶晶的。愛德蒙也張大了嘴，獃獃地看著蛋糕。蠟燭的光似乎有種神奇的作用，三個人都著迷了。琥珀第一個恢復了理智，她坐到了椅子上。 愛德蒙也坐下了。 伊恩最終坐在首位， 一個勁地說這個蛋糕多麼美妙。

    伊娃又給大家帶來了一個驚喜--- 麵包布丁。 伊恩三下兩下就把布丁吞了下去。 他用手背抹了抹嘴， 然後靠在椅子上。

    「看來你對今天的飯很欣賞！」伊娃笑著說。

    「沒錯！」

    「咱們吃吧！」琥珀說。

    「好！」愛德蒙叫道。琥珀用刀把蛋糕切成幾塊，分到每個人的盤子里。伊娃把麵包布丁也分到小碟里。琥珀吃的肚子鼓鼓的，晚飯後，愛德蒙與伊恩在夕陽下下了盤象棋。

    「我們午夜前會到達陸地， 」伊恩高興地說。

    「希望不要再有海盜了」 琥珀還沒說完，一個水手慌慌張張地跑了過來。

    「船長，海盜船！」

    「天啊！」伊恩把臉埋在手裡說。 很快，全體船員彙集在甲板上。 大家都分發了武器。 伊恩給了琥珀一把手槍， 但是她更願意要一把刀。 四個水手負責開炮。 船上又堆起了魚， 以防止海盜上船。 三個水手拿著水桶，防止海盜們放火。

    正如伊恩所說，這些海盜們武器更精良。 他們穿著藍色的破背心和灰色帆布的褲子， 露著肌肉發達的胳臂。 他們的身上都別著手槍， 腰裡掛著匕首。 海盜們還帶著黑色的眼罩， 纏著紅色的頭巾。 海盜頭目穿得稍微好一些。他裸露胸膛，露出黑色的胸毛。 臉上有一道長長的刀疤。 琥珀注意到他青筋暴露， 雙手巨大。

    「拼啊！」 伊恩喊道。 大炮一聲巨響， 向海盜們開火。海盜們則以葡萄彈回擊，擊中了幾個水手。

    「快，繼續射擊！ 」水手們忙著向海盜們開火。琥珀站在了前面。海盜們兇猛地揮舞著腰刀。 伊恩沖海盜們的主桅杆開了炮，使他們的甲板也著了火. 琥珀依稀聽到他們的頭喊道，

    「你們這些短命鬼！快把火撲滅！」火在海盜船上蔓延著，快到了裝火藥的地方。

    「他們要撞船，或者就是強攻！咱們得趕緊跑！」海盜船已經向他們靠近了。伊恩轉舵換了航向，水手們放了最後一炮就各自隱藏起來了。琥珀藏在主桅杆後面，如果海盜們上了船，她可以突襲他們。伊恩站在非常顯眼的地方，琥珀不禁擔心起叔叔的安全來。

    愛德蒙在甲板底下，瑪麗和喬婭娜和他在一起。兩個配著長槍和短劍的水手守著彈藥庫。漸漸的，海盜船向窈窕淑女靠近了。海盜們跳上來。

    「嗨！」海盜們揮舞著火把，喊著。琥珀從藏身之地跳了出來。有人澆了水把火熄了。有的海盜掉到了水裡，現在正要爬上船來。海盜頭子指揮他們的船靠的更近了。琥珀驚恐得看著他們靠過來，眼看就要撞上了！伊恩調轉船頭，加速前進。

    「他們想跑！ 」海盜頭喊道， 「別放跑一個！」

    「回老家吧你！」琥珀一邊喊，一邊用刀向一個海盜砍去。他掙扎著倒下了，血流了一地。琥珀使勁把他踢到了水裡。轉過頭來，她看到另外一個海盜正向她這個方向來。他手持雙刀，雙眼圓瞪。

    「滾開！」琥珀喊道，手持尖刀砍到海盜的臀部。頓時，鮮血流了下來。

    「臭丫頭，」他在甲板上呻吟著。琥珀幾刀把他結果了。

    「乾的好， 琥珀」， 伊恩喊道。「你把他們的頭給殺了！」 看到琥珀把海盜頭的骨頭都快剁碎了，海盜們叫著逃走了。

    「好了。他們罪有應得，可是咱們的人也死了很多。帶他們去水手艙吧，再加上這艘海盜船，我們有一列船隊了。」

    琥珀照顧船上受傷的水手，為他們清潔傷口，給他們喝酒鎮痛。然後，她去了自己的房間。可是窗戶玻璃碎得到處都是。琥珀叫來了伊恩。

    「哎呀，真抱謙，我現在不能給你修。你去和弟弟妹妹們一起住吧。」

    「好的。」過了一會，伊恩來找他們，激動地說，

    「我們到了！ 」 他指著遠處一個小圓點， 「我們的船正在加速，你們去甲板上看看吧。」甲板上已經有很多水手朝那個小島指指點點。 慢慢的，可以看見島上的棕櫚樹， 草地和一幫衣衫襤褸的人。 有幾個人甚至一絲不掛。 他們的頭髮鬍子髒兮兮的， 渾身沾著樹皮和小草。 嘴唇皸裂， 明顯的缺水的樣子。

    「我們被倆伙海盜們襲擊過，」伊恩說，「所以我們繳獲了兩艘船。琥珀非常勇敢能幹，殺了很多海盜。」島上的人嘀咕著，說他們等了好久。伊恩馬上帶他們上船，更衣，休息。晚上，伊恩讓他們睡在海盜的船上。

    第二天清晨，伊恩和他們共進早餐。然後，三艘船開始航行。琥珀鄭重地對伊恩說，

    「叔叔，我要告訴你一件事情。」

    「什麼事？」伊恩一邊吃餅乾一邊問。

    「我不想總呆在船上， 我想上學， 以後當一名老師。 我想變得更獨立， 而不是僅僅當一名「夫人」。我以前想當一個什麼都不用做的夫人，但是我現在覺得這樣太沒意思了。教書會是一個全新的經歷，比住在大房子里有趣多了。「

    「我正要告訴你，船上已經不需要你了。所以， 我們皆大歡喜。」

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
誰是故事中的主人公？

    角色塑造
    角色/人物：書、電影或電視節目中描寫的一個人物、動物或物品；讓某物或某人與眾不同的一系列特點。

    孩子憑直覺就能知道人物是所有故事的基本組成部分。然而，如果你讓他們描寫說明一下自己的人物，他們就往往不是很清楚了。因為他們年紀小，經歷少，兒童作者接觸的人的範圍自然比成人作者接觸的範圍小很多。閱讀有助於發展移情，拓寬視野，但是一味模仿其他小說中的人物可能會再次限制故事的發展。對於小作者來說，一開始結合小說的影響和現實生活的影響至關重要。幫助孩子在他們認識的人和主角的概念之間建立聯繫無疑既能豐富他們對生活的觀察又能充實他們的寫作。沒有人自始至終完美無缺，沒有人什麼都擅長。你的主人公也不必如此。這不會妨礙他們受人喜愛。另外，為了幫助孩子創造出更加真實可信的人物，你可以提問一些問題，引導他們思考如何將自己的角色和整個故事聯繫起來。

    奇奇創作人物的方法很大程度上依賴她讀過的大量書籍和她在家庭學校——學習的萌芽——關係密切的玩伴。為了創造她需要的人物，她會不斷挑選，融合匹配真實生活和小說的影響。最初，她會關注一個方面，如外貌特徵而忽視其他方面，如思想和情感。她完全沉浸在創作過程的喜悅中，不會有意識的注意包括那些塑造人物所必不可少的重要成分。隨著她在故事中創造的人物越來越多，我們慢慢開始引導她思考不同人物之間的關係。我們會象忠實而興緻昂然的讀者那樣問她一些問題，我喜歡這個人物，能不能多告訴我點兒有關他的事情？哦，這樣說來他是那樣一個人嘍。他總是那樣嗎？

    人物塑造可以成為一個層層深入、不斷發展的遊戲。間諜、私人偵探、作家有些什麼共同特徵？ 他們的工作就是觀察，讓有教養的人猜測他們周圍的人 ，之後在他們的工作中利用這些信息。奇奇和我一起散步的時候，我們會玩一個遊戲。看那座房子！根據院子及房子的外觀提供的線索，你覺得會是誰住在那裡？是青年還是老者？崇尚自由還是保守 ？他們今天晚飯會吃什麼？我提醒她，許多偉大的作家都能夠利用服裝或場所的小小細節向讀者展現出極為完整的人物形象。回到家后，我們倆會坐下來，描寫一座房子，讓對方猜誰住在裡面。

    下面的人物設計方案表有助於幫助孩子思考哪些方面使他們的各個人物既與眾不同又引人入勝。向孩子說明一下，沒有必要在一個故事中包含表中的所有信息；但是深入了解一個人物是描寫他/她如何各種新情況作出反應的重要部分。

    奇奇訪談

    鄒燦： 你從哪裡找到自己故事中的人物？他們就在你的腦海中嗎？

    奇奇：有時我是受其他書中的人物的啟發。但是，現在越來越多的人物是我根據自己的想象創造出來的，因為我已經漸漸成熟了。

    鄒燦： 你最喜歡寫哪種類型的人物？為什麼喜歡？

    奇奇：我覺得刻畫大壞蛋非常有趣，因為我相信相對於一般人物、司空見慣的人物來說，我描寫大壞蛋更有話說。

    鄒燦： 你喜歡賦予主人公什麼樣的性格特徵？反面人物呢？

    奇奇：我賦予主人公的最典型的特點常常是這樣：聰明、獨立、喜歡冒險。對於反面人物，我常常把他們置於一條極為邪惡的道路上，但是有些時候他們只是稍微有點壞而已。   

    鄒燦： 你用什麼辦法將想象中的人物與現實生活中的人物融合起來？

    奇奇：通常我的創造的整個人物主要是根據我的想象，然後添加一些現實生活中人物具有的特點。   

    鄒燦： 你把自己置於創作的人物之中嗎？

    奇奇：偶爾會在主角中。   

    鄒燦： 對於那些為自己的故事想不出人物的孩子，你想對他們說點什麼？

    奇奇：想一想現實生活中的人，想一想曾經讀過的人物。坐下來，想象。

    鄒燦： 為什麼你覺得在故事中創造這麼多人物很有趣？有沒有最喜歡的？為什麼？

    奇奇：對我來說創造人物很有意思，因為這樣使我有機會充分發揮自己的想象力，思考他們是什麼樣的人，他們做些什麼，他們長得什麼樣。我最喜歡的人物往往是主角和反面角色。有些次要人物也有特殊的地位，但是我最關心的還是主角和反面角色，因為他們在故事中非常重要。

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
給家長和教師的提示（1）

    讓孩子回想一個他們在現實生活中感興趣的人或寵物。這個人/寵物為什麼有趣？他/它們 友好嗎？他/它們總是很容易就猜得透，還是有時讓人感到意外？鼓勵孩子根據這個人/寵物創造一個虛擬的角色。儘管主人公要討人喜歡很重要，但是盡善盡美的很少有趣。提醒孩子有時主角可以存在弱點。如果這些角色沒有任何需要克服的個人障礙，故事就會進展得過於順利。人無完人，每個人都有害怕的時候，每 個人都有弱點，讀者會覺得支持他們認同的人物更容易一些。你可以提問下列問題讓學生思考：你最喜歡的小說中的角色是誰？你會怎樣描寫他們的外貌特徵？英俊還是醜陋？高還是矮，胖還是瘦？他們臉上有什麼突出的特徵嗎 ？他們怎樣說話？清楚洪亮嗎？身形臃腫嗎？脾氣暴躁嗎？這個人物總是很出色嗎？這個人物什麼都會嗎？這個人物有哪些個性特徵？你是怎麼知道的？
    趁熱打鐵：

    1.列出清單是釋放想象力的好方法，不具有任何威脅；而且還提供了現成的細節添加到故事中。讓學生列出自己的性格特點。真的很神奇，一條信息就可以引出另一條信息，一個清單就可以刻畫出一個清晰的人物輪廓。

    2.設計下列情景：想象在一個房間里有你認識的三個人。突然一隻熊挪動著笨重的身軀走了進來。這幾個人各自的反應有何不同？利用更多的日常活動來玩這個遊戲，如車胎漏氣或者頭髮剪得很難看。然後將同樣情節運用在三個虛構的人物身上。

    人物介紹表

    人物姓名：年齡：

    外貌特徵（眼睛的顏色，形狀等）：

    角色的樣子給他/她的日常生活帶來了怎樣的影響？

    角色特徵檢查框

    你的角色具有下列特點嗎？

    高興

    樂觀

    友好

    開朗

    急躁

    有趣

    勢力

    諷刺

    脾氣暴躁

    吹毛求疵

    懶惰

    冷亂

    嫉妒

    他/她早餐吃什麼？

    你的主人公與你認識的某個人類似嗎？如果是，是誰？

    你的主人公哪些方面和此人類似？

    你的主人公在哪些方面與此人不同？

    你的主人公是喜歡貓還是喜歡狗？

    說出過去發生在你的人物身上對他/她有重大影響的事件：

    這件事對你的人物的行為方式產生了怎樣的影響？

    什麼事情讓你的主人公開心？

    你的主人公害怕什麼？

    你的主人公最大的優勢是什麼？

    你的主人公最喜歡哪部電影？

    你的主人公為什麼喜歡這部電影？

    你的主人公最大的弱點是什麼？

    你的主人公需要什麼？

    為什麼你的主人公還沒有得到這個東西？

    你的主人公怎樣才能克服這個障礙？

    你的主人公怎樣才能克服他/她的弱點？

    你的主人公為了得到幸福必須獲勝嗎？

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
給家長和教師的提示（2）

    Agymah and the Amulet
    「Agymah!」 It was Lapis』s shrill voice

    again. Why did she waste her time

    interrupting Agymah』s privacy?

    Trying to ignore Lapis, Agymah rolled

    over to one side.

    「Agymah!」 This time Lapis』s voice was

    pleading. 「Father is troubled, and he wishes

    for you.」 Agymah immediately jumped up.

    Although Abubakar was not his real father,

    Agymah loved him deeply, and of course he

    knew that Abubakar was dying.

    「You will come?」 Lapis asked hopefully.

    「Yes,」 said Agymah, running.

    Khepri, the eldest of Abubakar』s

    daughters, awaited Agymah at the gate.

    「Does Father wish to see you?」 Khepri

    asked with a hint of contempt in her voice.

    She took pride in being the eldest and the

    favorite of Abubakar』s four daughters, and

    she did not look upon the others kindly.

    Agymah ignored her, much to Khepri』s

    dissatisfaction.

    「Be sure to pay your respects to

    Father!」 she hissed in Agymah』s ear.

    After the long mummification process

    was over, Abubakar』s mummy, in a

    magnificent coffin decked in precious

    jewels and amulets to keep away bad spirits,

    was carried away by four of the pharaoh』s

    strongest men to the tomb which awaited

    him.

    Abubakar』s daughters were married off to powerful officers in the

    pharaoh』s court, but Agymah was taken as a slave because he was not

    really related to Abubakar.

    Autumn passed and winter set on all of Egypt. Agymah hardly

    noticed—winter in Egypt was only slightly colder than autumn. His job

    as a slave was easier, since many of the markets which he was sent to buy

    contempt – disgust or

    hatred

    mummification – process

    of drying and treating

    bodies to avoid decay

    gangly – long limbed

    solemnly – very seriously

    muse – to speak

    thoughtfully

    tarry – waste time

    sulkily - resentfully

    hastily – hurriedly

    hallucination – a vision

    of something that is not

    really there, altered

    perception

    flinched – reacted

    protectively in response to

    sudden movement or

    sound

    barbarian – uncivilized

    person

    oblivious – completely

    unaware

    asp – a type of poisonous

    snake

    tourniquet – a tight band

    applied to stop bleeding

    prompting – urging into

    action

    vividly – clearly, intensely

    sinister – suggesting evil

    or malevolence

    Spartan – simple and

    plain

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
給家長和教師的提示（3）

    bewildered – confused
    VOCABULARY LIST

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    114

    food from were closed, giving him more time to spend in leisure, eating

    his meager slices of bread.

    It was just about sunset and Agymah was sitting on his hard reed

    sleeping mat when one of the messengers came into the slave quarters,

    and said,

    「The pharaoh wishes to go on a hunt, and must have five slaves to

    attend to him. I was given the task of choosing the honored few.」

    Agymah』s heart leapt. A hunt? He had never been on a hunt before—he

    had only heard about them. But his hopes were shattered quickly. The

    messenger won』t choose me, obviously, he thought. He didn』t have much muscle.

    He was tall and gangly and bound to be clumsy. The messenger ignored

    him, and was about to say something to the boy next to Agymah when a

    vase that had been wobbling on the shelf fell. Agymah easily caught it

    with his long arms. The messenger gave Agymah a searching look.

    「I think I will take you, boy,」 he said.

    The pharaoh seemed pleased with most of the messenger』s choices,

    but when he came to Agymah, he said,

    「Where did you get this one? Why did you not get Nizam, or

    Nassor?」

    「I am sorry, O supreme son of the great gods.」

    The messenger kissed the hem of the pharaoh』s linen kilt.

    「It can be forgiven,」 the pharaoh said, mounting his camel. Agymah

    and the other slaves walked behind the pharaoh, swift and silent. Two

    archers whom Agymah had never seen before stood beside the pharaoh,

    also silent.

    「We hunt today the crocodile,」 the pharaoh said solemnly, 「and my

    wife, Chione, has already said the blessing so that we will not run into

    danger. I, of course, also have the amulet which will protect me from all

    dangers.」

    The Nile River was full of crocodiles at sunset, giving the pharaoh』s

    men a good opportunity. The men tried to kill the fierce crocodiles with

    their long sharp spears. The archers shot at them repeatedly, trying to

    pierce their skin, but their hard, tough scales sent the arrows flying

    harmlessly into the river. Having nothing better to do, Agymah sat down

    on the grassy bank

    「You!」 The pharaoh turned around, and slapped Agymah with the

    back of his hand. 「You! Get up, idle boy!」

    Agymah had no idea what to do. The other slaves giggled.

    「Boy! You again!」 the pharaoh shouted. Just then, the pharaoh

    115

    Agymah and the Amulet

    slipped on a loose rock, into the fast-flowing river full of crocodiles!

    「Help!」 the pharaoh shouted, kicking wildly. Obviously he didn』t

    know how to swim. The other men looked on with horror. Ignoring the

    crocodiles, Agymah dove into the water, grabbed the pharaoh』s hand, and

    pulled him to safety on the bank.

    「I thank you…what is your name?」 the pharaoh asked, water dripping

    from his beard.

    「Agymah,」 Agymah said, kneeling down to dry the pharaoh』s feet.

    「Agymah? The adoptive son of my loyal officer Abubakar?」 the

    pharaoh asked.

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
給家長和教師的提示（4）

    「Yes,」 Agymah said.
    「You must be given a promotion,」 the pharaoh mused. Finally he

    said, 「I will make you the head of all the slaves. You must be given new

    quarters, of course.」

    One of the pharaoh』s archers frowned and whispered something to

    his companion.

    「Abasi! Adofo!」 the pharaoh turned to the archers. Abasi quickly

    tucked something into his kilt and said,

    「Yes, O supreme son of the gods?」

    「Try to shoot arrows into the crocodiles』 mouths. That should stun

    them,」 the pharaoh said.

    「Yes, O supreme son of the gods.」

    When Agymah returned to the palace, he was immediately shown to

    his new quarters. He was not surprised at the splendor of the suite, mostly

    because when he lived with Abubakar, he had been accustomed to fine

    rooms like this. A messenger soon came to Agymah and said,

    「The supreme son of the gods, the pharaoh, wishes for your

    presence. He and his queen are watching the strongmen.」

    The slave helped him into a clean wrap-around kilt of white linen,

    similar to that of the pharaoh』s except simpler.

    When he was dressed, he went to the richly ornamented courtyard

    where the pharaoh was watching the strongmen. The pharaoh noticed

    Agymah and walked over, his wife following.

    「Chione,」 the pharaoh said to his wife, 「this is Agymah, the boy who

    saved me from the hungry crocodiles.」 Chione smiled, her beautiful red

    lips shining. Agymah breathed in the sweet smells escaping from her long

    black hair, which had been soaked in bear fat to look attractive and smell

    better.

    「I thank you,」 Chione said, her beautiful brown eyes resting on

    Agymah.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    116

    「We must not tarry,」 the pharaoh said, glancing at the strongmen

    anxiously, 「or we shall miss the performance.」 Just as the pharaoh

    finished speaking, twin boys ran through the gateway. The grabbed at the

    pharaoh』s legs, whimpering.

    「Be quiet, Ata, Atsu!」 the pharaoh exclaimed, impatiently shaking the

    boys off his kilt.

    「I am sorry, O supreme son of the gods.」 Ata and Atsu』s nurse came

    in, her hair disheveled. 「But…could I be so brave as to ask you to if I

    could watch Kesi, perhaps?」

    Chione opened her mouth to speak, but the pharaoh raised his hand

    for silence.

    「No, Kesi already has a suitable nurse. I need you to watch Ata and

    Atsu.」

    「Yes, O supreme son of the gods,」 the nurse said sulkily.

    「But, do find Kesi and tell her to come here. I want them to meet

    someone,」 the pharaoh said.

    「Yes, O supreme son of the gods,」 the nurse said, running off.

    Kesi was tall and slender. She looked beautiful in her sheath-like wraparound

    dress, and Agymah could not help staring at her. Kesi returned the

    stare with her long and narrow hazel-colored eyes.

    「I wish you good, Father,」 Kesi said in a rather cool tone of voice,

    touching her head to the floor and kissing the air before the pharaoh.

    「Ah, Kesi! My good daughter! Be introduced to Agymah, the head of

    the slaves in the palace,」 the pharaoh said. Undoubtedly Kesi was his

    favorite daughter like Khepri had been Abubakar』s. Agymah bowed

    awkwardly.

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
給家長和教師的提示（5）

    「You must kiss the air around the princess,」 the nurse whispered to
    Agymah, her forehead creasing in worry. Agymah hastily kissed the air in

    front of Kesi.

    「Agymah,」 Kesi said, staring at Agymah without blinking. Her tone of

    voice was still quite cool. Agymah found this staring so uncomfortable

    that he took a step back. Kesi turned to her mother, who took her

    daughter into her arms.

    「Agymah,」 the pharaoh said, 「you must consider this very carefully,

    although it is not altogether a difficult question. Would you like to be a

    playmate to my children, and perhaps watch over them somewhat?」

    「Of course!」 Agymah exclaimed. What could be better?

    「Kesi,」 the pharaoh said, 「Agymah will be your new playmate, as well

    as Ata and Atsu』s. He will have the rooms next to yours, eat our meals

    with us, and have every single extended courtesy.」

    117

    Agymah and the Amulet

    「Yes, Father,」 Kesi said, glaring at Agymah when her father turned

    around.

    The next morning, Agymah moved into the room next to Kesi, Ata,

    and Atsu』s. He actually was rather in the middle of Ata and Atsu, with

    Kesi in the room behind his.

    That night, he was awakened by a sharp pain in his head. He opened

    his eyes and found that he was repeatedly slamming his head against the

    heavy oak door.

    「What is it?」 Kesi came running into Agymah』s room, anxiously

    looking around.

    「Oh…it』s you,」 she said coldly, glaring at Agymah.

    「I bumped my head.」

    He was red with embarrassment and reflected that it was lucky Kesi

    could not see him in the dimness.

    「Funny. I did too, but I thought it was a ghost,」 Kesi said. From Ata

    and Atsu』s rooms, a great wailing arose.

    「I need to see what』s up with those brothers of mine!」 Kesi

    exclaimed, running off. It turned out that Ata and Atsu had woken up to

    find themselves slamming their heads into their doors as well.

    「What is wrong with us?! Why are we all bumping our heads?」 Kesi

    moaned, shaking her fist.

    「Perhaps someone』s put something into our food, some sort of

    poison that causes hallucinations,」 Agymah said shakily.

    「Impossible!」 Kesi snapped. 「Nobody』s dared try that since my greatgreat-

    grandfather was pharaoh!」

    Agymah flinched. He thought his idea was rather a likely one, but

    Kesi had dashed his hopes.

    「The barbarian spell-casters who live on the border of Egypt

    perhaps did it,」 Kesi mused. Now it was Agymah』s turn to scoff.

    「Spell-casters? All children』s legends,」 he said, although he really was

    unsure himself.

    「There still are some, you know!」 Kesi nearly shrieked.

    「As if,」 Agymah muttered under his breath.

    The pharaoh stood in the doorway.

    「Kesi,」 he said solemnly, 「did you bump your head? Ata and Atsu tell

    me you did, but I want your words.」

    「Yes,」 Kesi said excitedly, 「Agymah too.」

    「Chione and I have too,」 the pharaoh said.

    「Perhaps it is food poisoning?」 Agymah asked.

    THE JOY OF WRITING

    118

    「Great gods, no! My testers could detect no trace of poison.」

    「Perhaps they were struck dumb by the poison,」 Agymah said,

    although this time he was doubtful of his own idea.

    「No, no, no! More likely those spell-casters on the border!」 the

    pharaoh exclaimed. Kesi sent Agymah an I-told-you look, and held her

    head up high.

《無法控制的魔力》　第三部分
給家長和教師的提示（6）

    「But—」 Agymah began. It was too late. The pharaoh had already left
    the room.

    The next day, the pharaoh went on another hunt, taking Chione,

    Agymah, his children, and a few choice slaves with him. They were to

    hunt snakes. A servant fanned Chione, who sat under a palm tree.

    Agymah was given a sharp hunting knife, and Ata and Atsu held mock

    battles fighting with sticks. Kesi lay down in the sun to watch.

    Suddenly, it happened. A snake glided along swiftly, carefully

    concealing itself in the sand. Two more followed it. Chione rested against

    the palm tree with her eyes closed, oblivious to the danger.

    「Oh! Oh! An asp!」 Chione』s servant dropped her fan and raced off.

    Frozen with fear, Chione was an easy target for the snake. Agymah seized

    his spear, hurled it, and hit the snake dead on.

    It was too late. The snake had already delivered its deadly bite. Blood

    streamed from the wound on Chione』s leg, and Agymah knew that the

    poison was probably already spreading through her body, poisoning her

    heart. The pharaoh was beside himself. Only Kesi and Agymah did not

    panic.

    「Ata! Atsu! Find the nearest doctor and bring him here!」 Kesi shouted

    to her brothers. With one fearful glance at Chione, Ata and Atsu tottered

    off as fast as their short legs could carry them. Kesi ripped up parts of

    her dress.

    「Quickly! Squeeze out all the bad blood, and I will put this

    tourniquet on her!」 Kesi shouted. Despite Agymah and Kesi』s frenzied

    efforts, Chione』s breathing became more and more labored. Her eyes

    rolled back in her head, and she shivered in the intense afternoon heat.

    Within moments she was dead.

    The pharaoh was beside himself with grief. He remained confined to

    his rooms for the next few days, and then composed himself. A gaunt

    man dressed in black stepped out of his quarters. Agymah hardly

    recognized him as the pharaoh. His matted hair stuck out in places, his

    high cheekbones jutted out of his face, and his hands were thin and bony.

    Agymah turned fourteen on the fifteenth of October. Nobody really

    celebrated it, but Kesi shyly presented him a band of gold necklaces and

    119

    Agymah and the Amulet

    some sandals which she had made herself. Ata and Atsu (with Kesi』s

    prompting, of course) gave Agymah a beautiful platter on which they

    had painted Agymah』s name in very messy handwriting.

    The pharaoh soon took a new wife, Akila. Akila was intelligent if not

    particularly beautiful. The pharaoh was distracted from his mourning

    when Akila gave birth to a baby girl, whom they named Jamila.

    Several months later, Agymah was out playing with Kesi, Ata, Atsu,

    and Jamila when, suddenly, a giant cloud of sand flew at the small group.

    「Run!」 Kesi shrieked, dropping Jamila. Agymah picked the little girl

    up before she was buried in the sand. Ata and Atsu grabbed onto

    Agymah』s kilt in fear, crying. The sand flew even faster, getting into

    Agymah』s eyes and into his nostrils. When the sand stopped flying,

    Agymah collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.

    「That has not happened since the pharaoh Adeben』s time!」 Kesi

    cried.

    「What has not happened since Adeben』s time?」 Agymah asked rather

    stupidly.

    「A sand storm, of course!」 Kesi shouted impatiently.

    「Oh, right,」 Agymah said awkwardly. His and Kesi』s eyes met.

    Agymah hastily turned away.

    「Perhaps we should…be getting back now,」 Kesi said, staring at her

    feet.

    「All right,」 Agymah said. Kesi scooped Jamila up in her arms, much

    to the discomfort of the squirming and drooling baby.

    When they arrived at the palace the pharaoh was awaiting them,

    leaning on his scepter, his forehead creased with worry.

    「Thank goodness you』re alive!」 he exclaimed. 「Egypt has not seen a

    sand storm for centuries!」

    「The sand storm stopped almost as soon as it came,」 Kesi informed

    the pharaoh. 「We were lucky.」

    「Hmm,」 the pharaoh said. 「I am getting suspicious of those spellcasters.

    But no mind. I must inform Akila.」