猴爪 The Monkeys Paw（第1页）

猴爪TheMonkeysPaw

。Jacobs

。Jacobs，1863—1943），英国小说家，生于伦敦，毕业于伯克拜克大学。他是一个多产的小说家，写过大量的讽刺小说和恐怖小说。其中最著名的恐怖小说是《猴爪》（1901），曾被多次改编为电影和剧本，斯蒂芬·金的小说《宠物公墓》深受其影响。

I

Without，thenightwasdwet，butinthesmallparlourofLaburnamVillatheblindsweredrawnandthefireburly。Fatherachess，theformer，whopossessedideasaboutthegameinvolvingradiges，puttinghiskingintosuchsharpandunnecessaryperilsthatitevefromthewhite-hairedoldladyknittingplacidlybythefre。

“Harkatthewind，”saidMr。White，who，havialmistakeafteritwastoolate，wasamiablydesirhissit。

“Imlistening，”saidthelatter，grimlysurveyingtheboardashestretchedouthishand。“Check。”

“Ishouldhardlythionight，”saidhisfather，withhishaheboard。

“Mate，”repliedtheson。

“Thatstheworstoflivingsofarout，”baithsuddenandunlooked-forviolence；“ofallthebeastly，slushy，out-of-the-lacestolivein，thisistheworst。Pathway‘sabog，andtheroad’satorrent。Idon‘tknolearethinkingabout。Isupposebelytwohousesontheroadarelet，theythier。”

“Nevermind，dear，”saidhiswifesoothingly；“perhapsyoullwione。”

Mr。Whitelookedupsharply，justierowiweenmotherandson。Thewordsdiedawayonhislips，andhehidaguiltygrininhisthingreybeard。

“Thereheis，”saidHerbertWhite，asthegatebaoloudlyastepscametowardthedoor。

Theoldmahhospitablehaste，ahedoor，washeardgwiththenewarrival。Thenewarrivalalsodoledwithhimself，sothatMrs。Whitesaid，“Tut，tut！”alyasherhusbaheroom，followedbyatallburlyman，beadyofeyeandrubidofvisage。

&-MajorMorris，”hesaid，introdughim。

&-majorshookhands，andtakingtheprofferedseatbythefire，wattentedlywhilehishostgotoutwhiskyaoodasmallcopperkettleonthefre。

Atthethirdglasshiseyesghter，aalk，thelittlefamilycircleregardierestthisvisitorfromdistantparts，ashesquaredhisbroadshouldersinthedspesddoughtydeeds；oflaguesandstrangepeoples。

&y-o，”saidMr。White，noddingathiswifeandsoaofayouthinthewarehouse。Nowlookathim。”

&looktohavetakenmuchharm，”saidMrs。White，politely。

“IdliketogotoIndiamyself，”saidtheoldman，“justtolookroundabit，youknow。”

&erwhereyouare，”saidthesergeant-majhishead。Heputdowyglass，andsighingsoftly，shookitagain。

“Ishouldliketoseethoseoldtemplesandfakirsandjugglers，”saidtheoldman。“Whatwasthatyoustartedtelliherdayaboutamonkeyspaworsomething，Morris?”

“Nothing，”saidthesoldierhastily。“Leastways，nothing>

“Monkeyspaw?”saidMrs。Whitecuriously。

&sjustabitofwhatyoumightcallmagic，perhaps，”saidthesergeant-majoroff-handedly。

Histhreelistenersleanedferly。Thevisitorabsehisemptyglasstohislipsadownagain。Hishostflleditforhim。

“Tolookat，”saidthesergeant-major，fumblinginhispocket，“itsjustanordinarylittlepaw，driedtoamummy。”

&ooksomethingoutofhispodprofferedit。Mrs。ithagrimace，butherson，takingit，examicuriously。

“Andwhatistherespecialaboutit?”inquiredMr。White，ashetookitfromhissonand，havi，placeditupoable。

“Ithadaspellputonitbyanoldfakir，”saidthesergeant-major，“averyholymaoshowthatfateruledpeopleslives，andthatthosewhoididsototheirsorrow。Heputaspellonitsothatthreeseparatemencouldeachhavethreewishesfromit。”

Hismannerressivethathishearersweresciousthattheirlightlaughterjarredsome>

“Well，whydontyouhavethree，sir?”saidHerbertWhitecleverly。

Thesardedhimimiddleageiswardpresumptuousyouth。“Ihave，”hesaidquietly，andhisblotchyfaed。

“Anddidyoureallyhavethethreewishesgranted?”askedMrs。White。

“Idid，”saidthesergeant-major，andhisglasstappedagainsthisstroh。

“Andhasanybodyelsewished?”iheoldlady。

&manhadhisthreewishes，yes，”ly。“Idon‘tknowwhatthefrsttwowere，butthethirdwasfordeath。That’showIgotthepaw。”

Histravethatahushfelluponthegroup。

“Ifyou‘vehadyourthreewishes，it’snogoodtoyounow，then，Morris，”saidtheoldmanatlast。“Whatdoyoukeepitfor?”