Why Anansi Has Eight Thin Legs为什么阿南西有八条细腿

杨舟

Once upon a time， a long time ago，there lived a spider named Anansi.Anansi’s wife was a very good cook. Butalways， Anansi loved to taste the food thatothers in the village made for themselvesand for their families.

One day， he stopped by Rabbit’s house.Rabbit was his good friend.

“There are greens in your pot，”criedAnansi excitedly. Anansi loved greens.

“They are not quite done，”said Rabbit.“But they will be soon. Stay and eat with me.”

“I would love to， Rabbit， but I havesome things to do，”Anansi said hurriedly. Ifhe waited at Rabbit’s house， Rabbit wouldcertainly give him jobs to do.

“I know，”said Anansi. “I’ll spin1 aweb. I’ll tie one end around my leg and oneend to your pot. When the greens are done，tug on the web， and I’ll come running！ ”

Rabbit thought that was a great idea.And so it was done.

“I smell beans，” Anansi sniffed2excitedly as he ambled3 along.“Deliciousbeans， cooking in a pot.”

“Come eat our beans with us，”criedthe monkeys.“They are almost done.”

And again， Anansi suggested he spina web， with one end tied around his leg，and one end tied to the big bean pot.

The monkeys thought that was a greatidea. And so it was done.

“I smell sweet potatoes，” Anansisniffed happily as he ambled along.“Sweetpotatoes and honey， I do believe！ ”

“Anansi，” called his friend Hog4.“My pot is full of sweet potatoes andhoney！ Come share my food with me.”

“I would love to，”said Anansi. Andagain， Anansi suggested he spin a web，with one end tied around his leg， and oneend tied to the sweet potato pot.

His friend Hog thought that was agreat idea. And so it was done.

By the time Anansi arrived at theriver， he had one web tied to each of hiseight legs.

“This was a wonderful idea，”Anansitold himself proudly. “I wonder whose potwill be ready first？”

Just then， Anansi felt a tug5 at his leg.“Ah，”said Anansi.“That isthe web string6 tied to Rabbit’s greens pot.”He felt another. Andanother. Anansi was pulled three ways at once.

“Oh dear，” said Anansias he felt the fourth webstring pull.

Just then， he felt the fifthweb string tug. And the sixth.And the seventh. And the eighth.Anansi was pulled this way andthat way， as everyone pulled onthe web strings at once. His legswere pulled thinner and thinner.Anansi rolled and tugged himselfinto the river. When all the webshad washed away， Anansi pulledhimself painfully up on shore.

“Oh my， oh my，”sighed7Anansi. “Perhaps that was notsuch a good idea after all.

To this day， Anansi theSpider has eight very thin legs.And he never got any food thatday at all.

很久很久以前，有一只蜘蛛叫阿南西。阿南西的妻子是个很好的厨师。但阿南西总是喜欢品尝村里其他人为他们自己和家人做的食物。

一天，他路过兔子的家。兔子是他的好朋友。

“你的锅里有青菜。”阿南西激动地喊道。阿南西喜欢青菜。

“它们还没有煮好。”兔子说，“但就快好了。留下来和我一起吃饭吧。”

“我很愿意，兔子，但我有一些事情要做。”阿南西急忙說道。

如果他在兔子家等着，兔子肯定会给他安排点事儿做。

“我知道。”阿南西说，“我会织一张网。我会把网的一端绑在我的腿上，另一端绑在你的锅上。当青菜做好后，你拽一下网，我就会跑过来！”

兔子认为这是个好主意。于是他们就这样做了。

“我闻到了豆子的味道。”阿南西慢吞吞地走着，兴奋地嗅了嗅，“美味的豆子，正在锅里煮着。”

“来和我们一起吃豆子吧。”猴子们喊道，“它们差不多煮好了。”

阿南西再次建议他结一张网，一端绑在他的腿上，另一端绑在煮豆子的锅上。

猴子们认为这是个好主意。于是他们就这样做了。

“我闻到了甘薯的味道。”阿南西悠闲地走着，高兴地嗅了嗅，“我相信是甘薯和蜂蜜！”

“阿南西，”他的朋友野猪喊道，“我的锅里装满了甘薯和蜂蜜！

来和我分享我的食物吧。”

“我很乐意。”阿南西说。阿南西再次提议他结一张网，一端绑在他的腿上，另一端绑在甘薯锅上。

他的朋友野猪认为这是个好主意。于是他们就这样做了。

当阿南西到达河边时，他的八条腿上各绑了一张网。

“这是个好主意。”

阿南西自豪地对自己说，“我想知道谁的锅会先准备好呢？”

就在这时，阿南西感到有人在拽他的腿。“啊。”阿南西说，“那是绑在兔子青菜锅上的网绳。”他感觉到了另一个方向的拉拽。然后又一个。

阿南西同时被拉拽向三个方向。

“哦，天呐。”当感觉到第四根网绳被拉住时，阿南西说。

就在这时，他感觉到了第五根网绳的拉扯。然后是第六根、第七根、第八根。阿南西被拽来拽去，因为每个人都同时拉着网绳。他的腿被拉得越来越细。阿南西翻滚着，把自己拖到河里。当所有的网都被冲走后，阿南西痛苦地爬上了岸。

“噢，我的天呐，噢，我的天呐。”

阿南西叹了口气，“也许这终究不是个好主意。”

时至今日，蜘蛛阿南西有八条非常细的腿。那天他一点食物都没有得到。

Notes

1. spin 吐（丝），结（网）

2. sniff 以鼻吸气；嗅，闻

3. amble 从容漫步

4. hog 猪

5. tug 猛拉，拽

6. string 线，细绳