锁王/刘玉行(赵金基译）

程思良

锁王/刘玉行
　　
　　枣红马把风流倜傥的锁王甩到财主赵歪嘴家的大门时，正夕阳西下。
　　好气派的一处深宅大院！
　　家人把锁王引至库房前，赵歪嘴拱手相迎：“有劳先生开锁。”
　　两条铁丝插进锁孔，再用一根钢针一番拨弄，铜锁“嘎嘣”一声，开了。
　　“好手艺！”环佩叮咚，一妙龄女子轻移莲步款款走来。
　　赵歪嘴嗔怪道：“你来做什么？”
　　女子轻启朱唇：“孩儿丢了箱锁钥匙，烦请锁王开启。”
　　赵歪嘴脸上现出一片乌云：“锁王能开启所有的锁吗？”
　　“唯对顶梅花芯锁不能。”
　　小姐绣楼内馨香扑鼻。一把小巧玲珑的银锁拴在一个精致的匣箱上。
　　小姐把开启的银锁递给锁王：“送你啦。反正已没了钥匙。”掩面一笑，一团火焰罩住锁王。
　　是夜三更，锁王踅到赵歪嘴家后门，早有一把对顶梅花芯大锁把守。
　　锁王闭门谢客，潜心研磨开启对顶梅花芯锁技法。
　　一个月后，锁王潜入赵家小姐内室，然已人去楼空。窗下桌几上，一把银光闪闪的钥匙在月色下泛着白光。
　　锁王大病了一场。病愈之后，开锁技艺全失。
　　
　　Lock King
　　
　　By Liu Yuxing
　　
　　The sun was setting when Lock King, a handsome young man, got off his purplish red horse at Master Zhao’s house.
　　What a stylish mansion!
　　One servant ushered Lock King up to a warehouse. Master Zhao saluted with a bow, "Can you unlock it? Please!"
　　Two wires were fixed in the lock's hole. A steel needle was being poked inside. After a while, the giant bronze lock echoed with a slight click.
　　“Bingo!” With a rustling of jades and gems, a lady of tender age, moving as softly as a lotus, came near.
　　“What are you here for?” Master Zhao scolded.
　　The lady gently opened her rosy lips, “Daddy, the key to my chest has got lost, so I’d like Lock King to unlock it.”
　　A cloud was emerging upon Master Zhao’s face, “Lock King reigns over all locks?”
　　“Yes, all but twin-core plum blossom locks in the shape of heart.”
　　Perfumes were overflowing the lady’s bedroom. A small exquisite silver lock was attached to an elaborate chest.
　　The silver lock was handed over, “It’s yours, since the key is gone.” Accompanied by a smile, a flame wrapped up Lock King.
　　Late into that very night, Lock King secretly approached Master Zhao’s back door, only to meet with a big twin-core plum blossom lock.
　　Then Lock King shut himself indoors, focusing on the crafts of handling twin-core plum blossom locks.
　　One month later, Lock King slipped into Lady Zhao’s bedroom, where there was nobody but a silvery key on the desk, shining in the moonlight.
　　Lock King fell badly ill. After his recovery, Lock King lost all his skills.

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