八哥/唐光源(赵金基译）

程思良

八哥/唐光源
　　
　　贾二从鸟市买回一只八哥。八哥在笼中跳来跳去，望着蓝天。贾二明白，八哥想自由。
　　贾二说，八哥啊八哥，我花钱把你买来，你要对得起我，我才能还你自由。
　　八哥歪着脑壳，明亮的眼睛看着贾二，似乎在认真地听。贾二就认定，这是一只有灵性的八哥。于是，一有空贾二就教八哥说人话。八哥很快就学会了说恭喜发财，红包拿来，请进。
　　贾二官不大，但有实权，登门拜访的客人来来往往。
　　很让贾二高兴的，八哥成了他收红包的得力帮手。只要客人进门，八哥就会说恭喜发财，红包拿来。客人对八哥苦笑，赶紧拿出红包。贾二边接红包，边说，别和鸟儿一般见识。
　　一日，来了几个警察，八哥照例喊恭喜发财，红包拿来。
　　警察看着八哥。
　　贾二赶忙开了鸟笼门。八哥扑棱棱飞出。
　　警察说，多机灵的鸟儿，怎么放了。
　　贾二尴尬地笑，它说它要自由。
　　警察要带走贾二，开了车门。
　　这时，八哥在院内树枝上大声说，请进，请进。
　　
　　Mr. Jia’s Parrot
　　
　　By Tang Guangyuan
　　
　　Mr. Jia purchased a parrot at a Birds Fair. The parrot treaded about in the cage, looking up to the blue sky. The bird wanted freedom. Mr. Jia knew that.
　　Mr. Jia said to the parrot, “Hey, buddie, I paid for you. Only if you live up to me can you get the freedom.”
　　The bird wagged its head, its bright eyes fixed on its master, as if listening in great earnest. Mr. Jia decided that this parrot was intelligent enough, so that he began to teach the bird to talk whenever possible. Soon the parrot learned to say “gong xi fa cai hong bao na lai” (“For a good fortune, bring a red packet”.) and “qing jin” (“Come in”.)
　　Though not high-ranking, Mr. Jia was in real power, and his residence was frequented by a constant flow of visitors.
　　To Mr. Jia’s much delight, the parrot contributed a lot to his collecting red packets. Once the visitor stepped in, the bird would say “gong xi fa cai hong bao na lai”. With a bitter smile, the visitor speedily handed over the red packet. Mr. Jia took the packet immediately as he was saying, “Don’t take it serious!”
　　One day, several policemen stepped in. As usual, the parrot uttered “gong xi fa cai hong bao na lai”.
　　The policemen stared at the bird.
　　At that point, Mr. Jia opened the cage and the parrot fluttered out.
　　“What a cute bird! Why set it free?” One policeman asked.
　　“He says he wants freedom.” replied Mr. Jia, with an embarrassed smile.
　　The door of the police car was opening to Mr. Jia when the parrot alighted on the bough of a tree in the court, crying aloud, “qing jin! qing jin!”
　　

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