When Nian heard and saw all that the villagers were doing, he immediately turned away from the village and headed out into the quiet darkness of the countryside. The villagers, thinking that they had frightened the monster and won their safety, rejoiced with exceeding great Joy. Actually, however, the truth was not so joyful. Could you have seen the monster's face as he turned, you would have discovered a most cruelly devilish grin. “Fireworks! Red banners! Bonfires! Ha!” the monster said, chuckling to himself. “How they must fear me! I have them right where I want them; they're mine! I can have them whenever I want. Why not save them for later, when I'm exhausted from the night's work and need an easy meal?”
As he turned to head on his way to the next village, however, he noticed, standing right in front of him, a small boy. This little child stood all alone. He was looking straight at Nian, and he didn't seem one bit afraid.
“Little fellow!” growled Nian., “you had better run as fast as those little legs will carry you, or 1 will eat you up!” “You dare not eat me, Nian,” said the boy, still looking straight into the monster's eyes and still not the least afraid, “I know who you are, and I know your power. I am older than you and stronger. Even though you swallow me, you cannot hold me. I will be the end of you and your reign of fear.”
The boy's boldness infuriated the monster; he shook with anger. His rage deafened him to the child's warnings. With one ferocious gulp, he swallowed the child whole. And he smiled. Only then did he realize the enormity of his mistake. His belly could not hold this strange child. He felt himself weaken as his pain grew stronger and stronger. He could no longer endure it. “My end has certainly come!” he thought. Pain pierced him through, as if a lightening bolt had passed clean through that monstrous belly of his.
The next thing he knew, the child was standing in front of him again. The mighty beast's head quivered as the boy gently stroked him. “Dear Nian,” he said in his ever-gentle voice, “how it hurts to make new and to be made new! Now that you know you are mine, will you serve me? There is something I want you to do.”
Is there any greater proof of forgiveness than a commission? A new sort of smile appeared on Nian's face as this wondrous child mounted the monster's back. Nian felt as if he really had been made new, and—little wonder—for, when he passed a pool of water and saw his reflection, he saw that he had been. What had before been hideous and horrifying was now noble and awe-inspiring. Nor was Nian the only one to notice the change. As he passed village after village with the child still riding on his back, he was greeted with cheers and rejoicing.
Year after year, the banners still wave, and fireworks burst with joy. In some places, bonfires still warm the hands and hearts of those who keep vigil, awaiting his passing. For the “Passing of Nian” now brings back thoughts of the child who mastered time and is bringing all things into the glory of his new day, his eternal spring.
Here my story ends. I am just a storyteller. If there is some deeper meaning to what you have heard, some profound truth to the tale of the monster and the child, I have no doubt that there are those among you, wiser than I, who can help you discover it. My work is finished, except to say “Congratulations! Happy New Year! Life abundant and life eternal is yours!” | .. | 字彙
1. growl 咆嘯
2. infuriate 激怒
3. ferocious 凶惡的
4. quiver 顫抖
當年獸聽到看到村民所做的一切，牠馬上離開村莊，走向鄉野寧靜的黑暗中。村民們認為他們嚇走了怪獸，贏得了安全，歡欣雀躍。然而實情卻沒有那麼令人喜悅。如果你看見怪獸轉身時的面目，你會發現最殘酷猙獰，魔鬼般的輕蔑。「煙火！紅色！火堆！哼！」怪獸暗自發笑。「他們必定怕死我了！他們完全在我掌握之中；他們是我的了！我隨時就可以要他們的命。何不先把他們留著，等我晚上工作得精疲力盡，需要吃頓毫不費力的晚餐時再說？」
然而當年獸轉向另一村莊時，牠注意到，就在牠面前，站著一個小男孩。他孤伶伶一個人，直直望著年，看來一點也不害怕。
「小傢伙！」年咆嘯著，「你那兩條小腿最好跑快點兒，不然我就把你吃了！」
「你不敢吃我的，年，」小男孩仍然直直望著年的眼睛，仍然一點不害怕。「我知道你是誰，我知道你的力量。我比你大，比你強。就算你吞了我，你也不能掌控我。我是你和你那個恐怖權勢的終結者。」
男孩的大膽激怒了怪獸；牠氣得發抖。狂怒使牠聽不見小孩的警告。牠狂暴地一口吞下整個小孩，然後牠笑了。可是那時候牠才意識到自己犯的錯有多大。牠的肚子容不住這個奇怪的小孩。牠覺得越來越痛，也越來越虛弱。牠沒辦法忍受了，牠想：「我死定了！」牠渾身刺痛，腹中好像有閃電經過。
接下去牠意識到的就是，那小孩再次站在牠面前。男孩輕輕撫摩著這巨大怪獸，牠的頭哆嗦起來。「親愛的年，」他用最溫柔的聲音說，「創新和被更新都是多痛苦的事啊！現在你知道你屬於我，你會服事我嗎？我有些事要你做。」
還有什麼比被交付任務更能證明被赦免呢？當這個奇妙的小孩爬到年的背上，年的臉上出現一種新的笑容。年覺得牠真的被更新了，並且--有一點奇怪—因為，當牠經過一處水塘，看見自己的倒影，牠看見以前牠是什麼樣子。以前嚇人的恐怖樣子，現在成為尊貴，令人敬畏的樣子。不是只有年自己注意到這個改變。當孩子仍然騎在牠背上，一個村莊一個村莊地走過，人人以歡呼來迎接牠。
一年一年，紅色的裝飾仍然飛舞，煙火爆出喜悅的聲音。有些地方，火堆仍然溫暖了那些等候年獸經過，守夜人的手和心。因為現在「過年」使人想起那掌管時間的小孩，他將萬物帶入新日子，在永恆春天的榮耀中。
我的故事結束了。我只是個說故事的人。如果這怪獸和孩子的故事中，有什麼更深的意義，有什麼真理，我一點不懷疑各位當中有人比我更有智慧，可以幫你發現這個真理。我的工作結束了，最後要說，「恭喜恭喜！新年快樂！年年有餘！長命百歲！」
思考與應用
1. 萬象更新，也包括我們的心被更新嗎？
2. 把這個故事講給別人聽。 |
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