Short Story─Reunion(短篇小说─相逢)-儿歌荟萃-万维博客-万维读者网（电脑版）

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		Short Story─Reunion(短篇小说─相逢)	2020-07-06 08:53:30

2017-12-05

【Aiden in English】

A boy sat alone in a graveyard. He was seven years old, Phillip, and he was an orphan. Visiting the gravesite of his mother and father and deep in thought, the boy did not hear a stranger sneak up behind him.

“Quiet, boy. Don’t say a word!” the stranger said, wrapping one arm around Phillip’s neck, almost choking him. “One word, and I’ll cut your throat!” He whipped out a clean blade, sparkling in the afternoon sun.

Phillip suddenly seized control, limply hanging in the man’s grip.

Surprised at the lack of resistance, the stranger was astounded. “Kid, aren't you going to do anything?”

This man, Todd Bowles, is a robber and murderer, a terrorizer of a child who wandered too far from home. Towering in height, Todd’s hands could crush Phillip’s skull with a pinch.

In total honesty, Todd was nothing more than a petty thief. A man who childishly defied society’s rules. A fraud. A man too lazy to work his way up society and simultaneously too scared to murder. Some of his friends called him a wuss. He didn’t mind. Besides, most of the time, a knife pressed to the throat usually persuaded his victims to concede.

However, the situation finally presented itself as Phillip Cruso, a seven-year-old kid. Phillip had no reason to live. While on a stroll through the park, his parents were murdered by a thief, the one who preyed on the unsuspecting, much like Todd. Phillip watched it happen helplessly.

Phillip’s life flew by, and a sorrowful newspaper tossed around in the wind. He continued to watch it fly, moment to moment, until today.

Phillip stiffened in Todd’s arms, realizing his situation and how close he was to his parents’ same fate, nearly as helpless as he was ten years ago.

Immediately, his parents emerged from the gravestone, kneeling beside him, faint outlines marking their presence. Although Phillip knew they weren’t there and this was just all a part of his imagination, he was glad their spirits were with him. His mother’s sweet perfume floated through the brisk dusk air. His stout and tall father gingerly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Phillip relaxed again, accepting his parents’ touch.

“Kid, you’re annoying me right now!” Todd, sweating in nervousness, was mustering all his energy to stop his hand from shaking. He had no experience with such a quiet response.

“Hey, ya know, this can all be ova’ if you give me some money. But if ya’ don’t…” Todd readied himself. He took long, deep breaths, but even that couldn’t stop his beating heart.

“C’mon, Todd, you’re a man,” he murmured. “This is very unprofessional.”

Phillip, still entrapped in a trance, stared into space. His parents, waving and smiling, were all he could think about. “I’m coming, ma, pap. I’m coming.”

“Well, time’s up, kid.” Todd held his breath. He leveled the knife, the edge nicking the soft tissue of Phillip’s bare neck. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He readjusted his grip on the knife, holding the handle in an iron grip. Gritting his teeth, Todd tensed.

The following day, Phillip awoke to chirping birds and shrieking crows. He was lying in front of his parents’ tombstone, covered in a fine layer of frost. He wasn’t cold.

Phillip shakily stood up. After glancing around, he turned and began to walk away. However, he stopped a few steps later, turned, and waved goodbye to his parents.

His parents waved back.

【红霞译】

小男孩独自坐在墓地，时年七岁，名叫菲利普，是个孤儿。他呆在父母坟前沉思，没有察觉身后陌生人正朝自己走来。

“安静，小子，别作声！” 陌生人说道，一只手臂卡住菲利普的脖子，差点叫他窒息。“一个字，我割断你的喉咙！”陌生人掏出干净刀片，在午后阳光下闪闪发光。

菲利普一下子抓住对方手腕，转眼之间便赢得了主动。

丝毫没有反抗迹象，陌生人甚感莫名其妙：“小鬼头，难道你不想搞点名堂出来？”

这人叫托德·鲍尔斯，是个小偷、杀人犯，并且爱吓唬离家出走的孩子。他身材高大，双手一抡足以把菲利普打个稀巴烂。

说实在的，托德顶多算个扒手，别看他玩世不恭，行窃诈骗游手好闲，但图财害命的把戏真不敢玩，难怪有些狐朋狗友叫他胆小鬼，这家伙并不在乎，何况多数情况下，只要把刀架到受害者脖子上，谁都会服软求饶。

然而，这招终于在年仅七岁的屁孩面前失灵，菲利普·克鲁索没想到能死里逃生，当年散步路过公园时，其父母惨造小偷杀害，而这个小偷很像托德专门打劫无辜的人，菲利普亲眼所见发生的一切却又无能为力。

光阴荏苒，悲伤的记忆一直随风飘落，菲利普至今历历在目。

菲利普遭遇托德双臂挟持时便意识到自己的处境，这与十年前父母经历的情景极其相像，这回他依旧束手无策。

说时迟那时快，菲利普的双亲从坟墓里走出并紧挨着他跪在一旁，身影轮廓依稀可见。尽管菲利普明白父母没在现场，所有一切只不过幻觉所致，但还是庆幸与父母心心相连，母亲的香水在暮色中散发出温馨可人的气息，魁梧高大的父亲伸出有力的手臂在他的肩膀上轻轻地拍了一下，菲利普重新镇定起来，沉浸在父母爱抚之中。