接受理论视角下儿童小说《博尔特白鹅》英汉翻译实践报告 106页

分类号密级UDC编号硕士专业学位研究生学位论文论文题目：AReportontheE-CTranslationofChildren’sNovelThePoltergoosefromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics接受理论视角下儿童小说《博尔特白鹅》英汉翻译实践报告学院外国语学院专业学位类别翻译硕士专业学位领域英语笔译研究生姓名潘雪雪学号1535050006导师姓名李昌银职称教授2018年1月7日 AcknowledgementsInthecompletionofmygraduatestudy,Iwouldliketoexpressmygreatgratitudetomyteachers,classmates,roommatesandfriendswhohaveinspiredmeinmystudyanddailylife.Firstly,Iextendmysincerethankstomysupervisor,ProfessorLiChangyin.Itismygreathonortobecomehisstudent.Hisattitudetoresearchandlifenotonlyinspiresmetostudyhard,butalsoinfluencesmyideasonstudyandlife.Intheprocessofwritingthisdissertation,hisvaluableadvicehelpsmealot.Butforhispatientguidance,Icouldnothavecompletedmydissertation.Secondly,Iamdeeplygratefultoalltheteacherswhohavetaughtmeduringtheperiodofmygraduatestudy.Becauseoftheirprofoundknowledgeandacademicintegrity,Ihavelearnedmoreprofessionalknowledgeandimprovedmytranslationcapability.What’smore,Iwanttothankmyfamilyandfriendsfortheirsupportandhelpinthepastthreeyears,especiallywhenI’mbusywithmystudy.Finally,IowemygreatestindebtednesstoYunnanNormalUniversityforthepreciousopportunitytopursuemyMAdegree. AbstractThethesisisatranslationreportofanexcerptfromThePoltergooseofthe“JiggyMcCue”seriesbyEnglishwriterMichelLaurence.ThethesisselectschaptersonetotwelvetotranslateintoChinese.Sofar,therehasbeennoChineseversion.TheselectedchapterstellthestoryofJiggy,whoishauntedbyadeadgoosebecauseofmovinghome,andhefindstheoriginofthedeadgooseanditsburiedplacewiththehelpofhisfriends.Accordingtothecharacteristicsofchildren’sliterature,andwiththeguidanceoftheReceptionAnesthetics,thetranslatoradoptsavarietyoftranslationmethodsinthetranslationpracticesoastoachievevividness,inlinewiththeexpectationsofreaders.Thetranslatoralwaysputsreadersinthecenter,andfollowschildren’sfeaturesofthinkingandlanguageuse,sothatthetranslationcanbeeasilyacceptedandunderstoodbychildrenreaders.ThistranslationreportisasummaryformyEnglish-Chinesetranslationpractice.Itconsistsofthefollowingfourparts:Thefirstpartisanintroductiontothetranslationtask,includingtheresearchbackground,significance,thethemeandstyleoforiginaltext;Thesecondpartintroducesthetranslationprocess,includingpreparation,translationtheoryandstrategies,translationandrevision;Thethirdpartisthecaseanalysis,andthetranslatoranalyzesthetypicalexamplesinfourcategories:words,sentences,dialoguesandfigureofspeech;Thelastpartisthesummaryofthetranslation.KeyWords:ThePoltergoose,translationreport,children’sliterature,ReceptionAestheticsi 摘要本文是一篇关于儿童文学的翻译实践报告。翻译文本选自英国作家米歇尔·劳伦斯的1儿童文学作品“蹦蹦·麦克穆”系列中的一本——《博尔特白鹅》的前十二章。该书尚未发现中文译本。所选章节主要讲述了主人公蹦蹦因为搬新家，被一只鹅的鬼魂缠住，并在朋友的帮助下，找到了鹅的来历和它被埋的地方。在此次翻译实践中，笔者运用接受美学理论，结合儿童文学的特点，采用了多种翻译方法，力求译文生动形象，符合读者的期待。笔者在翻译过程中始终以读者为中心，遵循儿童的思维方式和语言特点，从而使译文容易被儿童读者接受和理解。本翻译实践报告是对此次英译汉翻译实践做的介绍、分析和总结。报告主要包括以下四个部分：第一部分是翻译任务介绍，简要介绍了报告背景、意义及原文的主题与风格；第二部分对翻译过程进行了介绍，包括译前准备、翻译理论、策略，翻译过程等；第三部分为案例分析，笔者分别从词、句子、对话、修辞四个方面对译文中的典型例子进行分析；最后一部分是对翻译报告的总结。关键词：《博尔特白鹅》；翻译实践报告；儿童文学；接受美学1“蹦蹦·麦克穆”有人译为“平凡的麦丘”。为了体现主人公的特点，本报告将其译为“蹦蹦·麦克穆”。ii ContentsAbstract.............................................................................................................................................i摘要..................................................................................................................................................iiPartITranslation..............................................................................................................................11.1TheSourceText..................................................................................................................11.2TheTranslatedText...........................................................................................................43PartIITranslationReport..............................................................................................................802.1DescriptionoftheTranslationTask..................................................................................802.1.1BackgroundandSignificanceoftheTranslationTask...........................................802.1.2ThemeandStyleoftheSourceText.......................................................................812.2TranslationProcess...........................................................................................................812.2.1Preparations............................................................................................................822.2.2TranslationTheoryandStrategies..........................................................................822.2.3Translation,RevisionandFinalTreatment.............................................................842.3.1TranslationofWords...............................................................................................852.3.1.1Interjections..................................................................................................852.3.1.2ReduplicatedWords......................................................................................872.3.1.3Er-huaWords................................................................................................882.3.2.1CompoundSentenceandComplexSentence...............................................892.3.2.2SimpleSentence............................................................................................902.3.3TranslationofDialogues.........................................................................................912.3.3.1DialoguesbetweenParentsandChildren.....................................................912.3.3.2DialoguesbetweenChildren.........................................................................932.3.4TranslationofFigureofSpeeches..........................................................................942.3.4.1Simile............................................................................................................942.3.4.2Metaphor.......................................................................................................952.4Summary...........................................................................................................................962.4.1ExperienceandImplicationsoftheTranslationPractice........................................962.4.2LimitationsoftheReport........................................................................................96Bibliography..................................................................................................................................98Appendix........................................................................................................................................99 PartITranslation1.1TheSourceTextChapterOne1．Listen,don’tlet’swasteanytimehere.Let’sgetstraighttoit.Thisstoryisaboutadeadgoose.Adeadgoosethatcamebacktohauntme.Crazy?Youbet.ButwhatcanIsay?Ithappened.Ithappenedtome,JiggyMcMue.AndmyfriendsPeteGarrettandAngieMintwerewitnesses.2．Anunlikelycombination,youmightthink,twoboysandagirl.ButPeteandAngieandme,we’veknownoneanothersincewewerejustbumpspushingourmothers’clothingoutofshape.Bestpals,that’sus,chums,mates,budstothelastgasp.TheThreeMusketeers,wecallourselves,evenifoneofusisawoman.‘Oneforall,andallforlunch,’wealwayssay.Idon’tknowwhy.3．Nowyou’reprobablynotwonderingwhyI’mcalledJiggy,butI’lltellyouanyway.It’sbecauseIjigaboutalot.Alwayshave.Itcancomeovermeanytimeandthere’snothingIcandoaboutit.TheGoldenOldiesusedtothinktherewassomethingwrongwithmynerves.Notso,mynervesaregreat,theyjustliketomovearoundalittle.I’mprobablytheonlykidwhoseroomyoucouldgointointhemiddleofthenightandfindhimdoingtheChachainhissleep.Mostly,though,IjigaboutwhenI’mexcitedornervous,orwhenIgetagitated---likethedaymyparentstoldmeweweremovingfromBorderlineWay.4．ItwasallDad’sfault.Ifhehadn’tgoneandgothimselfajobatlastwe’dstillhavebeenintheoldplaceandIwouldn’thavegotmyselfhaunted.Myfatherhadbeenoutofjobforaboutfiveyears.Hesaiditwasbecauseheknewhisworthandwouldn’ttakejustanything.Mumsaiditwasbecausehe’suseless.5．Anyway,Dadgotthisjob(don’taskmewhat,it’stooboring)andtocelebratehewentoutandgotanewoldcartoreplacethefourteen-year-oldheapweusedtopushroundtown1 insteadofdrive.Thenewonewasonlyfiveyearsold,sortofsky-bluewithsliverbitsthathardlyrattledatall,andyoudidn’thavetokicklittleheapsofrustintotheguttereverytimeyouslammedthedoor,whichwasnice.Wefeltlikeroyaltyridingroundinthatcar.(Mumevenlookedabitlikeoneoftheroyals,butwedidn’ttellher,itwouldhavedepressedherfordays.)6．Theonlytroublewiththenewcarwasthatitlookedallwrongonthecurboutsideourcruddyoldterracehouse.Someoftheneighboursseemedtothinksotoo,andwhenDadhadreplacedthehub-capsandwindscreenwipersforthethirdtime,andsprayedover‘Richsod’inaslightlydifferentblue,heandMumstartedtalkingaboutanewhousetogowiththecarwhileitwasstillinonepiece.7．SotheyboughtahouseontheBrookFarmEstate,thehousewhereallmytroublesstarted.ChapterTwo8．TheBrookFarmEstateiscalledtheBrookFarmEstatebecauseit’sbuiltontheplacewhereBrookFarmusedtobe.Clever,eh?There’snosignofthefarmnow,it’sallbrightnewhouseswithhalf-finishedgardens,butbackwhenitwasstillafarmPeteandAngieandIusedtodooddjobsthereduringthesummerholidays---collectingeggs,rakingupcowmuck,alltheusualbarmyfarmystuff.Thefarmer,Mr.Brook,oldBrooky,hedidn’tpaymuchandhewasn’tthatkeenonkids,butwesortoflikedgoingtherebecauseitwassoopenandall,andthereweren’twheelybinsandwallswithbadwallpaperwhereveryoulooked.9．Butthenthemiserableolddevilspoiledeverything.Heretired.Soldthefarmtoabuildingfirmandthisnewestateandshoppingcenterstartedtogoup.Whenwemovedinonlyabouthalfthehouseswerebuiltandtheroadswerestillbeinglaidandnothingmuchhadbeenvandalisedyetanditfeltallwrong.Thenewhousewasapalacecomparedtotheoldone,butIdidn’tlikeitatfirst.Didn’treallywanttolikeit.PeteandAngiecameoverquiteoften,butitwasn’tliketheolddayswhentheyjustwanderedthroughthegapinthefencewhentheyfeltlikeit.Theythoughtthenewplacewascool.Enviedme,theysaid.2 10．‘Yeah,butit’snotlikehome,isit?’Isaid.11．‘That’swhat’ssogoodaboutit,’saidAngie.12．We’dbeeninthenewhouseaboutthreeweekswhenMumandDaddecideditshouldhaveaname.Iwasn’tkeen.We’dalwaysbeenabletofindourhouseonBorderlineWaywithoutcallingitsname.Imentionedthis.13．‘ThehouseonBorderlineWaywasjusttheplacewelivedin,’Mumsaid.‘Thisone’sdifferent.It’sspecial.Itdeservesaname.’14．‘Ilikethenumber,’Isaid.‘Ithinkit’saterrificnumber.’15．‘What’ssoterrificabout23?’Dadsaid.16．‘Idon’tknow,itjust...hassomething.’17．‘We’llstillkeepthenumber,’Mumsaid.‘Butanamewillgivetheplaceanidentity.Setisapartfromalltheothers.18．‘We’veeachputhalfadozeninthehat,’Dadsaid.HeshookhishorribleHelptheAgedbobblehatinmyface.‘Thoughtwe’dseewhatcameup.Letfatedecide.’19．‘Fate?’Icried.‘Fate?Haveyouanyideawhatfatecandotopeople?’20．Theyjustgrinned,andsuddenlyIwasverynervous.ThathatcouldbestuffedwiththekindofnamesI’dneverlivedown.Ileantagainstsomethingtostopmykneesshaking.IthinkitwasStallone,ourcat,becausesomethingscratchedmybehindanditwasn’tme.21．‘Tellyouwhat,’Mumsaid,‘tomakeitfairwhydon’tyouputsomenamesintoo?’22．Nowthiswasasurprise.‘You’dtrustmetonameourhouse.’23．‘Coursewewould,’Mumsaid.‘Wouldn’twe,Mel?’24．BlindpanicstampeditselfonDad’sfaceforaminute,butthenhetookadeepbreath,clearedhisthroat,said‘Coursewewould,’andreachedforMum’shandtogiveitalittlesqueeze.He’dbeendoingthatalotsincewemovedanditwasstartingtomakemetwitch.25．‘Andwhicheveronecomesoutistheoneweuse?’Isaid.‘Evenifit’smychoice?’26．‘Ofcourse!’theychortledlikeapairofhappymaniacs.27．‘Allrightthen.’Ireachedforapadandwrotedownsixnames,rightoffthetopofmyhead.Theyweregoingtoregretthis.3 28．Ifoldedmybitsofpaperanddroppedtheminthebobblehat.DadshookthemallupandMumsaid:‘Who’sgoingtochoose?’29．‘Itshouldn’tbeoneofus,’Isaid.‘Wedon’twanttogettheblame.’30．‘Wellthere’snooneelse,’Dadsaid.31．‘There’snorush.Whydon’twejustwaittillsomeoneknocksonthedoor?Theycanpickitoutforus.’32．Therewasaknockonthedoor.33．‘Bingo!’Dadyelled.34．ItwasPeteandAngie.Icouldhavekilledthem.35．WetoldthemaboutthehousenamedealandtheysaidcoolandIsaidyou’reoutofyourminds,andtheytossedforittodecidewhichofthemwasgoingtobetheonetoruinmylife.Petewon,andhegavemetheevileyeashestuckhismittintheHelptheAgedhat.36．IsupposeIshouldn’tcomplain.Atleastthenamethatcameoutwasoneofmine.ButwhenPetereaditoutIsaid,‘No,no,doitagain.Thatonewasmeantasajoke.’37．‘No,Jig,’Dadsaid.‘Wemadeanagreement.Whatevercameoutofthehatwastheonewe’duse.’HesmirkedatMum,whosmirkedback.‘TheDorksitisthen---agreed?’ChapterThree38．Myparentsarealiens.They’refromanotherplanet.Gottobe.Imeannormalpeople,humanbeingsfromplanetearth,they’dsay,‘Yeah,realscream,kid,’andchangethesubjecttilleveryoneforgotabouthousenames.Butnotthem.Ohno.TheygorightoutandpaysomebodytopaintTheDorksonabitofwoodwithflowersroundit,thenscrewittothewallbythefrontdoorforalltheworldtopointatandtelltheirfriends.Sometimes,afterthesignwentup,there’dbesomeoneonthesteptryingtosellussomethingwedidn’twant,likedustersorreligion,andyoucouldseeitwasalltheycoulddotokeepfromsinkingtotheirkneeswithahankyintheirmouth.Embarrassing?Istillgooutwithablanketovermyhead.39．Apartfromthenameitwasn’tasbadatTheDorksasIthoughtitwouldbe.Forone4 thing,thetoiletflushedeverytime.Thatmadearealchange,believeme.Andforthefirsttimeeverwehadabuilt-inelectriccookerwhichdidn’tblowallthefusesinthehousewheneveryouboiledanegg.Wehadthesameoldjunkfurniture,butatleastDadandIcouldputourmuddyfeetuponthat.40．Themostimportantroominthehouseofcoursewasmybedroom.Itwasn’tlikemycomfortableoldroomatBorderlineWay---itwasneat,itwasclean,tidy,evensmellednice,butIsoonputthatright.Itwashere,inmynewroom,thatitallstarted.41．ThefirstthingthathappenedwasRogerfallingoffhishook.Roger’smygorilla.I’vehadhimsinceIwaslittlewhenDadbroughthimhomeoneChristmas.Hewasdrunk.Dad,thatis,notRoger(Rogerdoesn’tdrink,he’satoy).Rogerhastheseverylongthinarmsandthesepalmswhichsticktogetherwhentheytouch.Whatyoudoisyouloophisarmsroundsomethingandjoinhishandssothathehangsfromwhateveritis.Likeabigplastichook.42．Wellthere’sRogerhangingfromthebigplastichookI’vegotfixedtomywallandthere’smesittingonmybeddaydreamingaboutputtingchewinggumonmymosthatedteacher’schairorsomething,andImusthavebeenvaguelylookinginRoger’sdirectionbecausewhenhishandssuddenlyflewapartandhefelltotheflowIjumpedsohighmyheadalmostcrackedtheceiling.43．‘Youstupidgorilla!’Iyelled,stormingover.‘Youalmostgavemeaheartattack!’Rogerdidn’treply.Ipickedhimup.‘Nothingtosayforyourself,eh?’Ihammeredhisheadagainstthewallafewtimes.‘Onemoretricklikethatandyou’rearug.’44．AsIwasfixinghishandstogetheragain-behindhisbackasapunishment-therewasthiscrash.IspunroundbutIwastoolatetoseeit,soIcouldonlyguesswhathappened.Myguesswasthis:mypillow,whichI’dbeenleaningonasecondbefore,hadliftedoffthebed,flownacrosstheroom,andslammedintomytoyrocking-horseshelf.45．I’lltellyouaboutmytoyrocking-horses.MumhadbeencollectingthemformesincebeforeIwasborn.SheseemedtohavegotitintoherheadthatIwantedtheentireworldsupplyofthethings.Ihadaboutsixtybythistime,allstandingtherefacingthesamewaylikeanarmyofrocking-horseimpressionistslookingforalife,allsizesfromsosmalltheycouldfitinan5 eggcuptobigenoughtoholdintwohands.Someofthemweremadeofplastic,someofchina,someofpapiermâché,someofwood.Everybirthday,everyChristmas,everyexcuse,mycollectionwasaddedto.NotonlydidIalwaysknowIwasgoingtogetanotherone(sometimesawholefamilyofthem)butIcouldtelltheywererocking-horsesevenbeforeIunwrappedthem.Itwasn’tdifficult.Wrappingpaperdoesnotadisguisemake,notforrocking-horses.46．‘Wow,thanks,Mum,’I’dsay,allbright-eyedwithsurpriseandgratitude.‘Thanks,Dad.’47．‘Don’tthankme,’Dadwouldmutter.‘LastthingI’dgiveyouisanotherbloodyrocking-horses.’48．Thiswasthelifetime’scollectionofunwantedrocking-horsesthatmypillowflewatandscatteredallbyitself.AllIcoulddowasstandtheregulpingsilently.Mymotherwasjustalongthelandingdoingsomethingwithaduster.Sheheardthecrash,stuckherheadroundthedoorjustintimetostopsilentgulpingbecomingahobby.49．‘Jiggy,whatonearthwas...?’Thenshesaw.‘Oh!’50．Shecamein,felltoherknees,staredaboutherattheGreatRocking-HorseDisaster.51．‘OhJiggy,’shesaid,and‘OhJiggy’and‘OhJiggy,Jiggy,Jiggy,’untilIfinallyrememberedmyname.52．‘Don’tblameme,’weremyfirstwordsaftermyhairstoppedstandingonend.‘Itwasmypillow,itjustsortof...knockedthemdown.’53．Mumglaredupatme.‘Oh.Isee.Yourpillow.Andyoudidn’thappentobeswingingitroundtheroomatthetime,Isuppose.’54．Nowthisgottome.ImeanIcouldseethewayitlooked,butIdon’tlikebeingaccusedofthingsIhaven’tdone.55．‘Ifyoumustknow,’Isaid,‘IwasovertherebangingRoger’sheadagainstthewall.Ifthatmakesthewallsvibrateandsendspillowsandrocking-horsesflying,wellallIcansayisit’saprettyfeebleexcuseforahousewehavehere.’56．‘Ohlook,’shesaid,obviouslynothangingoneveryword,‘twoofthemostdelicateonesare...’Shereachedforacoupleofglasstwins.Ex-glasstwins.Nowtherewereglassquads.6 ‘Theseweremyfavourites,’Shewailed.‘Jiggy,howcouldyou,howcouldyou?’57．Ifeltmyselfgohotunderthecollar.Whatdoyouhavetodotogetthroughtosomepeople?58．‘I’llsayitagain,’Isaid.‘Ididnotdothis.Doyouwantsubtitlesforthehardofhearing?DoIhavetogetsomeonetostandatthesideoftheroomspeakinginsignlanguage?Look.Readmylips.I---am---not---guilty!’59．Badmove.Theoldgirlwentredintheface.Bug-eyed.60．‘Don’tyoudaretalktomelikethat,youngman!’61．ButIwasupandrunningnow.Mouthopenandflapping.62．‘Imean,yeah,right,sometimesIwanttojumponrocking-horsestilltheyrocknomore.SomemorningsIhavethisfiercedesiretothrowthewholelotoutofthewindowandwatchtrafficdriveoverthemtilllunchtime.ButIamnottheBrookFarmRocking-horseKiller!’63．Somewhereinallthisabigchangecameoverher.Shewentallsortofsaggyandsad.Herforeheadbecameonebigcreaseandhermouthwentdownatthecorners.Suddenlymy37-year-oldmotherwasahundredandfive.64．‘Ithoughtyoulikedthem,’shesaidinthisquietlittledisappointedvoicethatgrabsyourheartandwringsitoutlikeawetsock.‘Ireallythoughtyoulikethem.’65．Thenshejumpedupandranoutoftheroomwithherknucklesinhermouth.66．Ifeltbad.SobadIforgottobemiffedthatshedidn’tbelieveme.Itmusthavehurt,hearingmyrealfeelingsabouttherocking-horsesafterallthistime.Ishouldhavetoldheryearsago.Gotitalloutofthewayrightoff.Myfirstwordsshouldn’thavebeen‘Mum-mum,Dad-dad.’Theyshouldhavebeen‘Nolousyrocking-horses!’Thenthere’dhavebeennoneofthis.ChapterFour67．WhenIgothomefromschoolnextdayalltherocking-horseshaddisappeared.Intheirplacewasthisbowlofwhiteplasticflowersthatahandgrenadecouldn’tdestroy.Thatmademefeelevenworse.Whathadshedonewiththerocking-horses?Icouldn’task.Andyouknow,I7 sortofmissedthemnowtheyweren’tthereanymore.I’dgrownupwiththemafterall,they’drockedwithmefromthecradle,alwaysbeentherewhetherIwantedthemornot.68．Itwasthreedaysaftertherocking-horseincidentthatthenextthinghappened.69．Iwasinbedreadingahorrorstoryundertheduvetbytorchlight(theonlywaytoreadthem)Whensuddenly...70．Picturethescene.I’djustgottothebitwherethetwokids---SamandRoddy---arepushingbackthehugefrontdoorofthisdarkoldhouseonthehill.They’retherelookingfortheirmysteriouslymissingfriendsandofcoursethere’sthisstormgoingliketheclappers---thunder,lightning,highwinds,theworks.WellSamandRoddypushopenthecreakingdoorandtheretheyareinthismassiveolddarkoldhall,whichisvery,very,veryeerie.Suddenlythedoorslamsbehindthemandtheboltsaredrawnacrossbythisinvisiblehand,andthere’sthisterrifyingwailingsound,andthen...71．Andthentheduvetliftsoffme,floatsuptotheceiling,andwindsitselfroundtheChinesepaperlampshade.72．‘AAAAAARRRRRGGGH!’Isaid,orsomethingquitelikeit.73．Whilethiswasstillbouncingroundthewallscollectinganecho,IheardMumandDadcomingattherunfromdifferentdirections,Dadtakingthestairsfouratatime,Mumshootingoutofthebathroom.Theywerestillontheirwaywhentheduvetyankedatthelampshadelikeithadalifeofitsown---yankedsohardtherewasaflashandthelightcamedown,shade,bulb,thelot.Istaredatthetwitching,sparkingwiresintheceilingandtheburstduvetfloatingcarpetwardaccompaniedbyashowerofwhitefeathers.TheduvetcametorestonthefloorasplitsecondbeforetheGoldenOldiesfellin,allwild-eyedandvocal.74．Naturally,thefirstthingtheydidwasflickthelightswitchupanddownafewthousandtimes,click-click,click-click,click-click,beforerealisingitwaskaput.Silhouetteddramaticallyinthelandinglight,theytookinthedanglingwires.Fromthedanglingwirestheylookedatmewiththepillowinmyteeth.Thenbackattheceiling.Thenbackatme.Apassingstrangerwouldhavethoughttheywereintoverticaltennis.75．Ijumpedoffthebedandrantothem.Therearetimesinakid’slifewhenhehasto8 makeuseofhisparentsortheymightaswellnotbethere.MyheadwasalreadydeepinMum’schestbeforeIrealiseditwasnotonlywetbutmostlynudeasshe’djustjumpedoutofthebathandpulledherdressing-gownontogettomewithoutdelay.Ishuddered,pushedbothbitsofwetchestaway,andthrewmyselfatDadinstead.Andyouknowwhathedid?Hepushedmeaway,heldmeatarm’slengthbytheshoulders,sayingheavymanfulthingslike:‘Jiggy,whatisallthis?and‘Whathaveyoubeenuptohere?’and‘Whathappenedtothelight?’Questions,questions,whenallIwantedwasadecenthugandsomeonetosay‘There,there,son,it’sallright,youputyourthumbinyourmouthandI’llmakeyousomehotchocolateandreadyoutheNoddybookI’vebeensavingforemergencieslikethis.’76．OnceI’dcalmeddownIexplainedwhathadhappened,butIneedn’thavebothered.TheythoughtI’dyankedthelightdownmyself.Andwhentheysawmyhorrornoveltheylookedatoneanother,sighedknowingly,andconfiscatedit.Thentheyleft,mutteringstuffaboutnotknowingwhathadgotintomelately.Andme?Didtheygiveanythoughttome?DiditsomuchastiptoeacrosstheirtinymindsthatImightbeabitupsetaboutsomething?Whatdoyouthink?Iwasleftsittingthereallaloneonthesideofthebedshakingandwet(partsweat,partMum’schest),waitingfortheduvetonthefloortomoveagain.Itdidn’t,andeventuallyIfeltsafeenoughtocrawlunderthebedandattemptaspotofshut-eye,cuddlingmyslippers.77．Ididn’tmakeittodreamland.Asortofhissjerkedmyeyelidsback.Ipeeredoutfromunderthebed.Thedoorwasstillopenandthelandinglightwasstillon,whichmeantIcouldjustmakeoutthefeathersfromtheduvetdoingalittledanceinmid-air.ThistimeIdidn’tyell.Iwasalloutofyell.Ishotoutfromunderthebed,threwmyselfacrosstheroomandalongthelanding,straightintoMumandDad’sroom.DadwasjustgettingintohispyjamasandIgavehimsuchashockthathefellonthebedwithhisbarebottintheair.78．‘Dad!You’vegottoseethis!’79．‘Oh,giveitarest,Jiggy!’hesaid,tryingtosorthimselfoutandrecoverhisdignity.80．‘Gobacktobed,darling,’Mumsaid.‘Enough’senoughnow.’81．Andthatwasit.Iknowthemwhenthey’reinthatsortofmood.Nothingwillmakethemlisten.SoIgaveup.Wentdownstairs.Spenttherestofthenightscruncheduponthecouch,9 shivering.Ikeptthelighton.Didn’tsleepawink.ChapterFive82．Ihadn’ttoldPeteandAngieabouttheGreatRocking-HorseMassacre.Ithoughttheymighthaveabitofaproblemwithit.‘Hey,youtwo,guesswhathappenedtomelastnight,thereIamsittinginmyroommindingmyownbusinessandmypillowthrowsitselfatmyrocking-horses,whaddayasaytothat?’Whatthey’dhavesaidtothatwas‘YeahJig,fascinating,outofthisworld,comewithus,theysaythenewdocdownatthemedcentre’sawhizwithravinglunatics.’83．Butnowtoomuchwashappeningtokeepitalltomyself.Ihadtoshareitwithsomeone,andtheyweremybestfriends,soItoldthem---abouttherocking-horses,theduvetsnatchingthelight,thedancingfeathers---andofcoursetheycoveredtheirmouthsandskeweredtheirfingersattheirheads,soIsaid‘OK,cometomyhouse,I’llshowyou,’whichwasn’tverybrightseeingastheredidn’tseemtobeapatterntoanyofthis.Imean,like,whyshouldsomethinghappenjustbecauseI’dorganisedseatingarrangements?84．MumandDadwerebothstilloutatworkwhenwegottomyplaceafterschool,butPeteandAngierangtheirfolkstoletthemknowwheretheywere.Thiswasaonecalloperation.Ishouldmentionthatalthoughallthreeofushappentobefromonechildfamilies,PeteandAngiewerealsofromoneparentfamiliesthesedays.Iwon’tgointowhathappenedtoherfatherandhismotherorwe’llbehereallday,butthethingisthatPeteandhisdadOliverhadjustmovedinwithAngieandherMumAudrey.Tosaveonthegasbills,Oliversaid.Theymustthinkwe’restupid.85．Upinmyroomwewaitedforthebestpartofanhourforsomethingtohappen.ThenPetesaid:‘Ithinkyoudreamedit.’86．‘IfI’ddreamedit,’Isnapped,‘MumandDadwouldn’thavebeensouptight,andI’dstillhavefloor-to-ceilingrocking-horsesandalight.’87．Angielookedupatthenakedwires.‘Isyourdadgoingtofixthat?’10 88．‘Idoubtit,’Isaid.‘Hedoesn’tlikemessingwithelectricity.Doesn’tevenchangebulbsifhecangetsomeoneelsetodoit.’89．‘Sowhathappensexactly?’Petesaid.90．‘Mumdoesit.OrIdo.’91．‘No,Imeanwiththisstuffflyingabout.’92．Islappedmyforehead.HowmanytimesdidIhavetogooverthis?‘HowmanytimesdoIhavetogooverthis?’Isaid.93．‘Yeah,well,itseemsprettyfunnythatitonlyhappenswhenthere’snobodyaroundbutyou.’94．‘Ican’thelpthat,I’mjusttheunhappyvictim.’95．‘Hmm,’andAngieMint.96．Webothlookedather.Hereyeswereallscrewedupandshewasstrokingthebeardshedidn’thave.97．‘Hmmwhat?’Isaid.98．‘Ifyoudidn’tdreamitorimagineit,ifitallreallyhappenedthewayyousayitdid,itsoundslikeyou’vegotyourselfapoltergeist.’99．Petesmirked.‘Poltergeist?Asinghost?’100．‘Asinmischievousghost.Onethatchucksthingsaboutandmakesageneralnuisanceofitself.’101．‘Soundslikemeaccordingtomydad,’Isaid.102．‘Therewasthisprogrammeontellyaboutthemtheothernight,’Angiesaid.103．‘Ididn’tseeit,’saidPete.104．‘YouwereplayingyourRoadRagecomputergame.’105．‘Whatsortofthingsdotheydo?’Iaskedher.106．‘Oh,sillylittlethings.Childishthings,like...’ShelookedaroundforanexampleandfixedontheframedposterofsomedolphinsthatMumhadhungabovemybedbecauseshelikesdolphins.‘Likemakingpicturesfalloffwalls.’107．Thepicturefelloffthewall.11 108．IpeeredthroughthedustkickedupbyfourMusketeerheelsgallopingacrosstheroomanddownthestairs.Thefrontdoorwasstillrockingonitshingesasitbecameclearthatthiswasonlythebeginning;that‘it’hadjustbeenwaitingtogetmealone,andnowthatwewere...109．ForstartersitwhippeduptheduvetandthrewitovermesoIhadtofighttogetoutofit,whichwasn’tveryeasy.Ifyouwanttoknowthetruth,itwaslikebeingheldinthegripofa...well,aduvet.ButwhenIwasfreeImadearunforit,likePeteandAngiebeforeme,thoughIdidn’tmakeitoutofthehouseliketheydid.FurthestIgotwasthelanding,thentherewasthishiss,followedbythisflappingsound,andnextthingIknowmylegsarebeingattackedbysomethingsharpandpointyandunfriendly.Iranintothebathroom,slammedthedoorbehindme,turnedthekey.Iwassafe.Terrified,speechless,linedancingwiththeloofah---butsafe.110．OrsoIthought.111．Itwasintherewithme!Inthebathroom,jabbingatthetoiletseatofallthings,liftingitup,lettingitfall,liftingitup,lettingit---well,yougettheidea.Ireachedbehindmeforthedoorkey.Myfingersdidn’tseemtowanttoworkandthekeydroppedtothefloor.Islithereddownthedoor,fumblingaboutforthekey.WhileIwasdoingthis,thehissingflappinginvisiblethingfoundmydad’stalcumpowder.Talcumpowderwhich,asusual,Dadhadn’tclosedproperlytoblockoffthelittleholesontop.Andnow,becauseofmyfather’scarelessness,itwassuddenlysnowingtalcthatsmeltof‘woodspicewithextractofbirchwood,’whateverthatis.Insecondsthebathroomwascoveredinthestuff.SowasI.Icouldhardlyseeforextractofbirchwood,letalonewoodspice.MyonlyconsolationwasthatIsmeltgorgeous.112．Halfblind,halfdelirious,halfwettingmyself,Isnatchedupthekey,foundthekeyhole,turnedthekey,flungbackthedoor,and---113．Thelastofthesewasmegoingdownthebanisterone-handed,nofeet,hissedatandflappedatandpeckedatfrombehind.AllthismighthavebeeneasiertohandleifIcouldhaveseenwhatwaspeckingonme,butIcouldn’t.Notthen.Ididn’tgettoseeittillImadeittothelivingroom.I’djustjumpedonthecouchandwasabouttoplungemyheadinoneofMum’sbigcushions,whenthetalcumpowdersnowstormthathadfollowedmeintookonashape.12 114．Theshapeofagoose.Abiggoose.Abigangrygoose.115．Andthenthetalcwasshootingoffinalldirectionsandthegoosewastryingtogetatmethroughthecushion,andinajiffthestuffingwasontheoutsideandI’mstandingtherewithanemptycover.Ithrewitaway,divedunderthecoffeetable---anddiscoveredthatitalreadyhadaresident,Stallonethecat,scaredoutofhisfurbythethingthatwasafterme.SothereIwaswithmyheadunderacoffeetablewhileaninvisiblegooseremodelledmyback-endasateastrainerandadementedcattriedtoscratchmyeyesout.Letmetellyou,itwasnotagoodpositiontobein.116．Then,withoutwarning,allthisgratuitousviolencestopped.Theroomwentquiet,thegoosestoppedpeckingme,andStalloneslippedawaytodowhathedoesbest,whichislicklikeamadmanbetweenhishindlegs.117．Mymotherhadcomehome.118．SheenteredtheroomjustasIwasbackingoutofthecoffeetable.Isawherjawhitthecarpetasshetookinaroomthathadnotpreviouslybeencoveredinwoodspicewithextractofbirchwood.119．‘JiggyMcCue!’Sheshrieked.‘Whathaveyoubeendoingnow!?’ChapterSix120．Mymotherabsolutelyrefusedtobelieveitwasn’tmethathadcoveredthehousewithtalcumpowderandshreddedthecushion-notevenwhenItoldherIwasbeinghauntedbyagoose.Hernosewasstillabitintheairnextmorningwhenshehandedmethebigsoftparceltiedupwithstringthatarrivedjustbeforeschool,thoughshehungabouttoseewhatitwas.ItwassomethingI’dhavegivenoneofmydad’sarmsnottoreceive.Ahandknittedsweaterfrommygran.121．‘It’snotmybirthday,’Isaid,gapingatitindisbelief.122．Mum’seyeshadahardtimestayingintheirsocketstoo.Shetriedtofocusonthescratchylittlenotethatcamewithit.13 123．‘Itsaysherethateventhoughsheneverseesyouandshemaynotlastmuchlongerseeingasnobodycaresabouther,shewantsyoutoknowthatshe’sthinkingofyou.’Shelookedatthesweateragain,andflinched.‘Youmustwriteand...thankher.’124．Shehelditagainstmychest.Itwasbrightbluewithmynameonthefront.Thesweater,notthechest.Theletterswereluminousorangeandasbigasahouse.Mynamejusthungthere,stretchingfromarmpittoarmpitlikeanaxemurderer’sgrin.125．‘Thankher?’Isaid.‘I’mthinkingofsendingherhatemail.’126．WhenIwentuptocleanmyteethIkickedthesweaterundermybedtofadequietlyfromlivingmemory.ThenIdecidedtohaveastabatgettingDadonmysideaboutthegooseandtalcumpowderthing.YouneverknowwithDad.Sometimesyoucangetthroughtohim.Notoften,becausehedoesn’tusuallylisten,butsometimes.127．He’dgonedownthegardentolookathisRodadoodahbush.OurbackgardenissortofL-shaped,andthebottompartishiddenfromthehousebyahighfence.Dad’spatchisroundhere,outofsight.Hehatesgardeningmorethananythingexceptcleaningwindowsandcar,buthe’dbeengoingdowntheretocheckouttheRodadoodahonthehoureversincethebigtriptothegardencentretheSundaybefore.They’dgonetheretogetthingsforthisrockeryMumhadbeenplanning.SheboughtalotofotherstuffbesidesandplantedmostofitherselfwhileDad,wornoutfromdrivingtenminuteseachwayandcarryingplantsin,gotabeeroutofthefridgeandreadthepaper.Butshedeliberatelyleftacoupleofthingsforhim.‘It’syourgardentoo,Mel,’Shesaid.‘Perhapsyou’dcaretodosomethingtowardsit...?’Whichmeantthathe’dbetterifheknewwhatwasgoodforhim.128．SoDadreadtheinstructionstiedtothelegoftheRodadoodahbush,dugaholeoutofsightofthehouse,anddroppeditin.Buthere’sthething:thefollowingmorningitwasstillalive!Hecouldn’tbelieveit.Everythinghe’deverplantedhadimmediatelycommittedsuicide,andherewasthisRodadoodahinbloomalready.Allright,ithadbeenlikethatwhentheyboughtit,butthatisn’tthepoint.Thepointisthatthedinkylittlepinkflowersstuckalloverithadn’tfallenoffwhenheplanteditandtheyhadn’tfallenoffthenextday,andheretheywere,stillinplacethreedayslater.Itlookedlikeallhehadtodonowwasprayforrainoccasionally.14 129．‘HeyJig!AmIagardeneroramIagardener?’130．‘Youwanttobecareful,’Iwarnedhim,‘Getitrightonceandshe’llhaveyououthereallthetime---evenSaturdayafternoons.’131．Isawhimgopale.Saturdayafternoonsweresacredtohim.Theywerefootball-on-tellytimes,jump-about-on-the-couch-and-punch-the-airtimes.‘Youmighthavesomethingthere,’hesaid,afrowndashingacrosshisbrowdribblingaballofsweat.132．‘Don’tworry.IfitcomestoitI’llsneakoutonenightandkillitforyou.133．Helookedrelieved.‘Thanks,son.’134．‘Dad?’Isaid.‘WhatwouldyousayifIsaidIwasbeinghauntedbyagoose?’135．‘Isthisariddle?’136．‘No,straightquestion.’137．‘I’dprobablysayyou’requackers.’138．‘That’sducks,’Isaid.‘Thisisagoose.’139．‘Oh,’hesaid,andhiseyesglazedover.I’dlosthim.ChapterSeven140．BeforetheGoldenOldiesbundledmeoutofBorderlineWayagainstmywill,Pete,AngieandIalwayswalkedtoschooltogether,butnowthatIliveontheBrookFarmEstateIhavetocomefromadifferentdirection,soourpathsdon’tcross.ThewayIgotakesmethroughthenewshoppingcentre.Thatmorning,likeeverymorning,kidswereswarmingacrossthesquare,yelling,kickingsquashedcansabout,crackingoneanotherroundtheheadwiththeirbags,alltheusual.141．Thereweresomemeninthesquareputtingupvideocameras,fourcameras,oneoneachside.There’dbeensomuchvandalismintheshoppingcentresinceitwasfinishedsixmonthsagothatitwasalreadystartingtolooklikeithadbeenbroughtoverbytheRomans.TherewasthisbigcampaigngoingontocatchtheBrookFarmVandals,asthelocalpapercalledthem.Somepeoplewantedthembehindbars,otherswantedthemsentbungy-jumpingwithouta15 bitofelastic.Thecamerasthemanwereputtingupwerebigjobs,thekindyoucan’tmissblindfoldedonadarknight.Dadsaysthey’ddecidedoncameraslikethatinsteadofneatlittleitty-bittyspythingstuckedoutofsightbecausenooneinhisrightmindwouldvandalisethingsifheknewhewasbeingwatched.142．ImetPeteandAngieinourusualcorneroftheschoolplaygroundandtoldthemmynews.143．‘Aghostgoose?’Petesaid.‘You’repullingmybeak.’144．‘It’strue,everyword.WouldIlietoyou?’145．Hepulledopenhissleeveandlaugheddownit.Isighed,andturnedtoAngie,expectingmoreofthesame.Butno,shewaslookingquiteserious-andoverhershoulder.146．‘Ibelieveyou,’shesaid.‘AfteryesterdayI’dbelieveyouifyousaiditwasaghostrhinoceros.’147．‘Angie,apicturegotfedupofhangingaroundonawall,’Petesaid.‘Bigdeal.’148．‘Bigenoughtosendyouflyingdownthestairsheadfirst,’Iremindedhim.149．‘Iover-reacted.’HeeyedAngie.‘Webothdid.’150．ButAngiewasn’thavingthis.‘Youweresickwithterror.Youcouldn’teatyourtea,wouldn’ttalktoanymore,wenttobedearlywithahotwaterbottleeventhoughitwasawarmnight.MumandOliverwonderedifyouwerecomingdownwithsomething.’151．‘WhatIwascomingdownwithwascommonsense,’Petesaid,allsuperior.152．‘Ha!’saidAngie.153．‘Youdon’treallybelieveallthisstuff.Youcan’t.Jiggy’sputtinguson,hastobe.’154．Helookedasruffledasabadhaircut.Idon’tthinkheexpectedAngietotakemyside.Allourlivesweneverwentinforside-taking.We’dalwaysbeenlikethat---youknow---usagainsttheworld,oneforallandallforlunch.Butnowthatsideswerecomingupforgrabs,PeteobviouslythoughtAngiewouldbeonhis.155．‘IfJiggysaysthere’saghostgooseinhishouse,’Angiesaid,‘there’saghostgooseinhishouse.’156．Itellyou,ifshehadn’tbeenoneofmybestmatesI’dhavethrownmyarmsroundher16 andkissedher.157．‘Youmustbegoingsoft,’Petesaidtoher.‘Goingallgirlyonusallofasudden.’158．Angiestiffened.Narrowedhereyes.Sheputhernoseagainsthis.Grabbedhisshirt.‘Whatdidyousay?’159．Peteknewhe’dmadeamistake.Angiehasbeenatoughcookiefromthedayshegaveuprusks.Heshuffledhisfeetliketwoplayingcardswho’vebeenkickedoutofthepackforcheating.160．‘Justafigureofspeech,Ange.Mindtheshirt,huh?’161．Sheputhimdown.Isaidtoher(justher,Petecoulddowhatheliked),Isaid:‘AndIhadtheweirdestfeelingcomingtoschool.LikeIwasbeingfollowed.’162．‘Don’ttellme.’Pete’ssmirkwasbackinplace,anditwasawfullyhighonthePunchMescale.‘Byadeadgoose.’163．‘Wellyes,actually,’Ireplied.164．‘Heeeeey,isthatthetime?’Heraisedhiswristandlookedatthewatchhewasn’twearing.‘Gottarun.UrgentbusinessinSaneLand.’165．Andheranoffacrosstheplaygroundtokickaballaboutwithabunchoflowheadshewouldnormallyswimriverstoavoid.166．‘Don’tmindhim,’Angiesaid.167．‘Whataboutyou?HowdoIknowyou’renotjustsettingmeupforthebigput-down?’168．Angelookedoffended.‘JiggyMcCue,howlonghaveweknownoneanother?’169．‘Sincewewereno-high,’Isaid.170．‘SodomethecourtesyofbelievingmewhenIsayIbelieveyou,allright?Now.Tellmeeverything.’171．Itoldhereverything.Abouttheduvetthrowingitselfoverme,aboutbeingchasedalongthelandinganddownthestairs,aboutseeingagoose’soutlineinwoodspicewithextractofbirchwood,aboutMumthinkingeventhatmesswasdowntome.172．‘Andyouthinkitfollowedyoutoschool?’17 173．‘Imighthaveimaginedthat.Itmightjustbegettingtome.IkeptthinkingIheardthissortof...hiss.’174．‘Hiss?’175．‘Geesedothat.RememberoldBrooky’sgoose?Chasedusformilesjustforsettingfootintheyardonce.’176．Angienodded.‘Scaryoldbird.Brookycalledithisguardgoose.Didn’tneedadogwithheraround,hesaid.’177．Wejumpedthreemetresintheair,clutchingatoneanother.‘Wheredidthatcomefrom?!’Angieraspedaswecamedown.178．Someofthenearestkidswerelookingatus.BryanRyanshoutedover.‘McCuebotheringyou,Minty?’179．‘Getlost,Bry-Ry!’Angieshoutedback.180．‘Yeah,getlost,Bry-Ry,’Irepeated.Ryanshruggedandturnedaway.181．Angiereachedoutandpattedtheairnervously.‘Can’tfeelanything.’182．‘Youwouldn’t,it’saghost.’183．‘Yousaidyoufeltitwhenitchasedyou.Yourlegs,yourbum.’184．‘That’strue.’Istartedpattingtheairtoo.185．‘Lookitthemtwo,’EejitAtkinssaidalittlewayoff.‘Whachadoin’,pr’tendin’t’beblindorsumfin’?’186．‘No,’Isaid,‘we’repretendingtobestupid.We’redoingEejitAtkinsimpressions.’187．‘Youwannawatchit,McCue.Lessyouwannafump.’188．Andhewalkedoffwithhisidiotbuds,allrollingtheirshoulders,knucklesdraggingthetarmac.189．Thebellrang.Thebellrangandtherewasthisstartledflurryingnoisecloseby.190．‘Whatwasthat?’Angiesaid.191．‘Thebell,’Isaid.192．‘No,thesoundlikeflappingwings.’193．‘Wingsflapping,’Isaid.18 194．‘Whatsaywegotouttahere?’195．‘Isayterrific,’Isaidasmyfeethittheplaygroundatspeed.196．Angiewasatmysideaswepushedthroughotherslesskeentogettoclassthanus.197．‘Oi!’198．‘Watch’ooyerpushin’!’199．‘Wossupwi’themtwoanyaah?’200．Andthentherewereothershouts,panickysortofshouts,waybehindusaswemadeittothemainbuilding.201．Thegoose,theghostgoose,flappingandhissingitswaythroughthecrowd,wascomingafterus.ChapterEight202．Face-AcheDakin,ourformtutor,isn’texactlywhatyou’dcallpopular.Hepicksonyoufornothingandisneverhappierthanwhenhe’shandingoutdetentionsandstuff.Oneofthekidswhogetstheworsttreatmentfromhimishisownson,Milo.IsupposehepicksonMiloforthesakeofitsoasnottoshowfavouritism,butonagooddayMilogivesasgoodashegets,whichalwaysgoesdownwellwiththeclass.HedidevenbetterthanusualthemorningAngieandIshookofftheghostgooseintheplayground.Itwasjustaftertheregistration,andweweregettingourthingsoutforoneofFace-Ache’sboring,boring,boringmathslessons.203．‘You,boy,stoptalking,’growlsDakin.204．‘Iwasn’ttalking,Dad,’repliesMilo,thengrinsallround.‘Sorry,ImeanSir.’205．‘Onehundredlinesbytomorrowmorning!’206．‘Whatfor?’saysMilo.207．‘Foransweringback.’208．‘Oh,Ithoughtitwasforlying-whichIwasn’t,asyouknow.’209．‘Careful,laddie,orit’llbetwohundred.’210．‘Sorry,can’tdoanylinestonight,’Milosays.‘Busy-busy.’19 211．‘What?What’sthatyousay?’212．‘Myturnforcookingandwashing-upduty.’Heturnstotheclass.‘Sincemymumranoffwithajogger,wetakethingsinturns.’HeflipsbacktoDaddy.‘BeansandchipsOKtonight,Pop?’213．‘Standup!’screamshisdotingfatherinthisstrangledvoice,214．‘Righto.’Milogetsup,handsinpockets.215．‘Andtakeyourhandsoutofyourpockets!’216．Milotakeshishandsoutofhispockets---andgetstoworkonhisnose.Imeanreallygetstowork.Idon’tknowhowhedoesit,probablyabitofstringfromhispocket,buthetugsthisstuffoutofoneofhisnostrils,tugsandtugsuntilit’saboutthelengthofhisarm,likesupersnot.Evencurlshistongueuptolickitasitgoesby.217．Theclassishavingahardtimecontrollingitsjoybythistime,butFace-Acheisnotsohappy.HestormsuptoMilo’sdeskandleansoverhim,neckoutlikeaspring.218．‘Youngman,youwillseemeafterschool.’219．Hesaysthisinsuchawaythatyouknow,youjustknow,thathe’sforgottenforaminutethatthiskidishisownfreshandblood.220．Milohasn’t.‘Iwillanyway,’hechirps.‘You’redrivingmehome.Aswellasupthewall,’headds,justloudenoughforthewholeclasstocatch.Bynowit’sallwecandonottorollintheaisleswithourlegsintheair.221．‘Sitdown!Iwilldealwithyoulater!’222．Milosits.There’sahalooverhishead.Hisfatherreturnstohisdeskandleansonitwithhisfistsclenched,gloweringroundatus,daringustosomuchastitterbehindourhands.Hetakesseveraldeepslowbreaths,thensnapssuddenlytoattention.223．‘Ishallreturninoneminute!AndIdon’twanttohearasoundinthisroomwhileI’mgone!Notamurmur,d’youhearme?’224．Heattacksthedoor,flingsitbacksoharditbounces,thenslamsitafterhim,rattlingtheroof.It’smyguesshehastogoanddosomeseriousdamagetothebikesheds,butwhateverthereason,hisabsencegivestheclasstimetocollapseingratefulhysteriaandgiveMiloa20 standingovationandoffersofmoneytoteachushowtodothatandgetawaywithit.225．ItwaswhileFace-Achewasawaytryingtokeephisheadfromdetonatingthatanevenmorememorablekindofhellbrokeloose.226．Itstartedwithahiss.227．Thefirsthisswasquieterthanthenoiseofeveryonegettingoutoftheirskulls,andAngieandIweretheonlyonestohearit,probablybecausewewerehalfexpectingit.EvenPetedidn’thearit,thoughheactuallysitsnearertomethanAngie,rightnexttomeinfact.Inanycase,Petewasn’tsittingnow,hewasstandingonhisdeskmakingrudesignsatthedooroldFace-Achehadjustgonethrough.Buthesurefeltitwhenhegotbeaked.Anotherwordforthatmightbegoosed,ofcourse,whichmeansthatPetegoteitherbeakedbyagooseorgoosedbyabeak,dependinghowyoulookatit.228．Anyway,hegaveayellandfelloffhisdesk,andwhenhegotuphewasclutchinghisbacksideandglaringatme.229．‘Didyoudothat?’230．Ihadnointentionofansweringthis.Also,therewereotherthingstothinkaboutthanPete’srearend.Liketheshoutsofterrorfromacrosstheroomassixorsevenkidsstartedrunningroundincirclesfollowedbythisgreatflappingnoiseastheinvisibleghostgoosechasedthem,hissingandpecking,peckingandhissing.231．Fearspreadthroughtheclasslikewildfire.Before,therewasjustthecheerfulnoiseofaroomfulofkidscelebratingthetemporarydepartureofateachertheydidn’tlike.Nowitwasthepanicofaroomfulofkidsbeingattackedbysomethingbigandangrythattheycouldn’tsee.InoticedthatPete’smouthhadfallenopen.Itwastryingtofindwords.Itfoundtwo.Theywere:‘It’strue!’232．NowinanoddsortofwayIfeltresponsibleforallthis.Forsomereasontheghostgoosehaddecidedtohauntme,andbecauseitwashauntingmeithadfollowedmetoschoolitwasnowattackingmyclassmates.WhetherIwanteditornotitwasmyghostandIcouldn’tjuststandthereandwatchitgoaftertheotherkids.233．Itoreacurtaindownfromoneofthewindows.Thecurtainwasorange,butthat’s21 probablynotimportant.Istalkedtheemptyspacewherethegooseseemedtobe.Tossedthecurtain.Itfelltotheground,empty.Thegoosehadmovedon.Nowitwasterrorisinganotherbatch.234．Ichangeddirection.RoundandroundtheroomIwent,curtainheldoutbeforeme,notevensureifyoucancaptureaghostwithacurtain,evenanorangeone.EverytimeIthoughtIwascloseenoughtorunatestonthisthegooseswervedandleftmewithacurtainfullofair.Itwas’thardtotellwhereitwasbecausethatwaswherethingswereflyingaroundandkidswerereelingandyellingandtreadingononeanother’sfaces.Therewashardlyadeskleftstandingnow.Ourbelovedclassroomwasrapidlylosingpopularityasaplacetobe.Kidswerefightingoneanothertogetoutthedoor.235．SomewhereinallthisIheardAngie’svoice.‘I’llgoandfindFace-Ache!’ThenPete’s.’ThenPete’s.‘I’llcomewithyou!Hangoninthere,Jig!’236．AndsuddenlythedoorwasclosedandthegooseandIwerealone.237．Iclimbedoveracoupleofwreckeddesksandseveralchairs,slowly,cautiously.Thegoose-stillhissingandflappinginvisibly,butlessfranticallynow-movedaheadofme.Itwasoverbythedoornow.Igotcloser.Closer,closer,curtainattheready.238．Thedooropened,239．‘Ohnoyoudon’t!’Icried,andleaptintoaction.Ithrewthecurtain,thenjumpedafterit,broughtitcrashingtothegroundandputallmyweightonit.Itwasmovingundermebutitwasn’tgettingawaynow.240．I’ddoneit!I’dgotit!Youcouldcatchaghost!241．Therewasamuffledvoice.Amuffledangryvoice.Notagoose’svoice,whichwasabitofapuzzleasitwascomingfrominsidethecurtainIwassittingon.Itwassayingsomethingoddtoo.Somethingthatsoundedawfullylike:‘McCue,I’mgoingtohaveyourgutsforgartersforthis!’242．Igotoffthecurtain.Lookedunderit.Face-AcheDakinglaredupatmewitheyeslikeburningcoals.243．‘Sir,’Isaid.‘Listen,Icanexplaineverything...’22 ChapterNine244．Thatnight,whileDadhungaboutonthelandingpretendinghewasn’tthere,Mumsatmedownquietlyonmybedandtoldmethatshewastakingmetoabehaviouralpsychologist.‘Abehaviouralpsychologist,’shetoldme,‘issomeonewhotriestoworkoutwhyapersondoesthethingshedoes.’245．Isaid:‘Sowhydon’tyoutakeDadtoone?’246．‘Hey,don’tbringmeintothis,’Dadsaidfromthelanding,blowinghiscoverwithoutanytrouble.247．‘WhywouldItakeyourfathertoabehaviouralpsychologist?’248．‘Thewayhecarriesonwhenhe’swatchingfootball?’249．‘Wedon’tneedtotakeyourfatheranywheretoknowwhyhebehaveslikethat.Hebehaveslikethatbecausehe’snevergrownup.250．‘WellneitherhaveI,’Isaid.‘AndIhaveanexcuse.’251．ButtherewasnothingIcouldsay.They’dmadeuptheirminds.Myparentsweretakingmetoashrink.Theyweregoingtohavemeshrink-wrapped.252．MumkeptmeoffschoolthedayoftheappointmentandwetookthebustotownandwalkedtothisoldbuildingfullofofficeswhereSeriousPeopleworked.ThenameonthedoorweendedupathadthenameDrEdwardPickettonit,withallthesecapitallettersafteritthatdidn’tmakeanysense.253．We’dbeensittinginthewaitingroomforaboutfifteenminuteswhenthistallthingentappeared,said‘Goodmorning!’inanunnaturallyheartyvoice,andheldopenhisofficedoor.Itookthehintandwentin.AsthedoorclosedbehindmeIknewthatMumwasalreadyreachingforthefirstHello!magazine.254．Itwasn’taveryinterestingoffice.Ithadsomeshelveswithsomefatbookson,andasmallneatdeskoverinonecornerwithacomputer,andthereweresomefilingcabinetsandtworedleatherarmchairsfacingoneanother.Thewallswerecoveredwiththesebigpointless23 paintings,allblobsandbitsofcolourthatlookedlikethey’dbeenslappedonwithamoporlobbedwithaspoon.255．ThetallthingentintroducedhimselfasDrPickett(surprise,surprise)andpointedtooneoftheredleatherarmchairs.Thischairwasinthemiddleoftheroom,whiletheonehebaggedforhimselfhaditsbacktothewall,rightunderthebiggest,mostpointlesspaintingofall.WebothsatdownandItriednottostareathishair,whichbelievemewasn’teasy.Thedoc’shairseemedtoendjustabovehisears,butononesidehehadgrownitsolongthatitwouldhavetouchedhisshoulderifhe’djustletitfallnaturally.Instead,hesweptitupacrosshishairlessroof,upandover,tillitjoinedtheothersadlittlebatchcringingroundtheoppositeear.Hemusthaveoiledthislonghairorsomethingbecauseitjustlaythereontopofhisskull,glistening.Iwantedtoaskhisaquestion.Iwantedtosay:‘Hey,Pickett,explaintomewhyanexpertinthewaypeoplebehavetriestoconusheisn’tasbaldasaboiledegg.’Ididn’t,ofcourse.256．‘Makeyourselfcomfortable,er...Jiggy,’hesaid,glancingatsomenotesonasmalltablebesidehischair.Imademyselfcomfortable.‘NowIwantyoutounderstandthatthere’snothingtoworryabouthere.We’rejustgoingtohavealittlechataboutthings.There’snothingtobeconcernedabout.’257．‘I’mnotconcerned,’Isaid.Ididn’ttellhimthatIwasmoreannoyedthananything.AnnoyedthatnoonebelievedmewhenIsaidIdidn’tdothings.258．‘Forsomeonewho’snotconcerned,’thedocsaid,‘youseemtobehavingsomedifficultykeepingstill.’259．‘Oh,that’sjustme.Ialwaysjigabout.Alwayshave.That’swhyI’mcalledJiggy.’260．‘Ah.’261．Heraisedhishandtohisfaceandspokeintoit,soquietlyIcouldn’thearwhathewassaying.IfeltIshouldn’tbelisteninganyway.Thiswasapersonalconversationbetweenhimandhishand.Whilehewastalkingtohishandmyeyesdriftedtothepictureoverhishead.Itwasoneofthosepicturesyoucouldn’tignoreifyouwantedto.Pickettcaughtmelookingatthisandgotkindofexcited.Itallbegantomakesense.Hesatthereunderthatpictureandyousatoppositehim,andeverytimeyoulookedatitbecauseyoucouldn’tignoreithetoldhishand24 aboutit,andlaterheplayedthehandbackanddecidedtherewasdefinitelysomethingwrongwithyoubecauseyoukeptlookingatthispointlesspictureallthetime.Thisbehaviouralpsychogame,easymoneyorwhat?262．‘Now,Jiggy,’hesaid,removinghishandfromhismouth,‘Iwantyoutotellmeabitaboutyourself.Let’sstartwithschool,shallwe?Whatdoyouthinkaboutschool?’263．Ididn’twanttothinkanythingaboutschool.Schoolandmedidn’tseeeyetoeyerightnow.NotsinceFace-AcheDakinhauledmeintothehead’sofficeforsingle-handedlydestroyinghisclassroom.Funny,butwhenitcametoitnobodycouldrememberbeingchasedbysomethingnoisy,violentandinvisible.Alltheycouldrememberwasmetearingacurtaindownandgoingmad,jumpingoverdesksandshoutingandstuff.EvenwhenPeteandAngietriedtocometomyrescueitdidn’tdoanygood.Partofthereasonforthiswasthattheycouldn’tquitebringthemselvestosaythatitwasn’tmethathadmadeallthemessintheclassroomandterrifiedthekids,butadeadgoose.Youcanseetheirpoint.264．DrEdwardPickettsattheresmilingpolitelywhileItriedtodecidewhattotellhimaboutschool.Thesunshinewasslopingthroughthewindowreallybrightlyandhittingthepictureoverhisheadsoharditglowed.265．‘WhatdoIthinkaboutschool...?’Isaidthoughtfully.266．‘Inyourownwords,’SaidPickett.267．Iwasgladhesaidthat.Ifhehadn’tImighthaverushedoutintothestreetandaskedacompletestrangerwhathethoughtofschoolandrushedrightbackwiththenews.268．‘It’s...OK,’Isaid.269．Heleanedforward,obviouslyfascinatedbymyopiniononthissubject.‘OK?’270．Ishrugged.‘Yeah.OK.’271．‘Youdon’tmindschool?’272．Ishruggedagain.Itlookedlikebeingashruggysortofconversation.‘SometimesIcanthinkofotherplacesI’dratherbe.’273．‘Suchas?’274．‘Suchasthebottomofacoalminelookingforcanaries,’Isaid.‘Suchasonthesole25 ofatramp’sshoewhenhe’sjustwalkedinsomethingahorsedropped.Suchasathome,inbed.’275．‘Soyoudon’tthinkmuchofschool?’276．‘Ididn’tsaythat.IsaiditwasOK.’277．‘Soyoudid.’Hespokebrieflytohishandagain.‘Wemightcomebacktoschool,’hesaysthen,‘butlet’smoveonnow.Tellmeabouthome.Yourhomelife.Forinstance,howdoyougetonwithyourparents?’278．Igaveshrugthree.‘Wegetonallright.’279．‘Justallright?’280．‘Whatdoyouwant,violinsandsunsets?They’remyparents.’281．‘WhatIwant,Jiggy,’Pickettsaid,likehewastryingtotalkhiscatdownfromatree,‘isforyoutofeelfreetotalkaboutthemanywayyouplease,inyourownwords.’282．Myownwordsagain.Ilookedathishair.Thensoasnottoseemrude,Ilookedatthepointlesspictureaboveit.Thesuncomingthroughthewindowwasgettingbrighterbytheminuteandthepicturewassodazzlingnowthatthecolourslookedasiftheyweremoving.Iwasstartingtohallucinate.283．‘Myparentsaregreat.Mostofthetime.’284．Ihadtofeedhimthatlastbit.Heneededit,Icouldtell.Hehadtohavesomethingtolatchonto.285．‘Mostofthetime?Not...allthetimethen?’286．‘Doyougetonwithyourparentsallthetime?’Iaskedhim.287．Thisthrewhimforasecond.‘We’renottalkingaboutmyparents,Jiggy.’288．‘Welllookatitfrommypointofview,’Isaid.‘Imeanwe’resittinghereacrossfromoneanother,andyou,whoInevermetinmylifebefore,startaskingmeaboutmyparents.ImeanwhyshouldItellyoujustbecausemymumbroughtmehere?I’mnotbeingdifficultoranything,it’sjustthatIthinkthisshouldbeatwo-waysortofthing,that’sall.’289．Hethoughtaboutthis,thennodded.‘Faircomment.Butthere’snothingIcantellyou,myparentsaredead.’290．IwishedhehadabiggoldfishbowlsoIcouldstickmyheadinitanddrown.‘Hey,’I26 said,‘Sorrytohearthat.Ididn’tknoworIwouldn’thaveasked.Youmissthem?’291．‘Missthem?Wellyes.Ofcourse.Sometimes.Onedoes.’292．‘Doesone?’Isaid.293．‘Certainly.One’sparents,youknow.’294．‘Didyougetonwiththem?’295．‘We’reheretotalkaboutyou,Jiggy.’296．‘AllI’maskingisdidyougetonwithyourparents,likeyou’reaskingme,nothingheavy.’297．Hegavethissomethoughttoo.Hewasdoinghisbesttobefair.Fair,ormaybehethoughthe’dgetmoreoutofmeifhespilledacoupleofbeanstoo.298．‘Asamatterofinterest,’hesaid,avoidingmyquestion,‘mymotherpaintedthepicturesinthisroom.’299．Ilookedroundtheoffice.‘Yeah?Really?’Nowhehadmefeelingsorryforhim.‘Includingtheonebehindyou?’Thesunwassobrightonthebigpicturenowitlookedasifitwasvibrating.Atrickofthelight,butitmademenervous.300．Pickettglancedup,thenbackatme.‘That’smyfavourite.’HemusthaveseenthepityonmyfaceatthatbecausehislipstwitchedinthiswaythatsaysIknowaboutthesethingsandyouobviouslydon’t.‘Irealisetheymaynotbetoeveryone’staste.Artissuchapersonalthing.’301．‘Youcansaythatagain.’Fortunatelyhedidn’tbother.302．‘Nowtellmeaboutyourrelationshipwithyourparents,’hesaidinstead,withaveryslightshoveonthesecond‘your’.303．‘They’lldo,’Isaid.‘ImeanIwouldn’tnecessarilygototheParentShopandpickthemoutasthepairImostwanttospendmychildhoodwith,buttheycouldbeworse.’304．PickettflippedhishandtohismouthandwhilehetolditaboutmyparentsIwatchedthesunleakoutofthebigpictureandfanoutacrossthetopofhishead.ItwasthenthatInoticedsomething.Somethingsoattention-grabbingthatIdidn’thearawordofwhathesaidtomenext.Ihadn’tbeenimaginingthatthepictureoverhisheadwasmoving.Itreallywas,allofit,notjustthepaintingbuttheframetoo.Itwascomingawayfromthewall.Falling.Inafewsecondsit27 wouldbeoffthewallandonPickett.305．Andthen,aboutthreesecondsafterIrealisedthepicturewasgoingtosquashPickett,thesuncastashadowacrossthepainting.306．Theshadowofalongthinneckwithasmallbeakedheadontop.307．Ijumpedup.Ranacrossthespacebetweenthedocandmeyellingsomethinglike‘Hey,watchout,watchout!’308．Ireachedup,grabbedthepicturebytheframe,onehandoneachside---butitwastooheavyandIwastoolate!Evenwithmeholdingit,itcontinuedondown,andtherewasthistearingsound,andnextthingIknewIwasstandingtherewiththeframeinmyhandslookingdownatthetopofPickett’shead,whichwasnowpokingupthroughthepicture.Hesattherestaringupatmefromthebackofhisdeadmother’spainting,hisfavouritepointlesspicture.Thelongstrandsofhairthathe’dsocarefullyoiledontohisdomehadcomeaway.Therewerehangingdownpasthisear,pasthisjaw,hisneck,theshinybrownendstrailingacrossthebackofthecanvasrestingonhisshoulders.Andhelookedterrified.Ofme.309．Thenhewasgettingupoutofhischair,shovingitaway.Stumblingaboutallovertheplaceashetriedtowriggleoutofthepainting,andshoutingstuffaboutmebeingadelinquentandavandal,andahopelesscaseanda...310．NeedIgoon?ChapterTen311．Thetimehadcometotakemybrainoutofitsboxontopofthewardrobe,blowthedustoff,andputittowork.ItoldPeteandAngietobringtheirbrainboxestoo,andtogetherwesatdownonthefloorinmyroomtothinkthisthingout.312．‘Something’sgottobedone,’Isaid.‘Somethinghasgottobedone.’313．‘Yeah,butwhat?’SaidPete.314．‘Whatweneed,’saidAngie,‘istobelogicalaboutthis.’315．‘Easytosaywhenyou’retalkingaboutbeinghauntedbyadeadgoose,’Ichippedin.28 ‘Imeanthere’slogicandlogic.’316．‘Anddeadgeeseanddeadgeese,’saidPete.317．‘Andthis,’saidAngie,‘isnoordinarydeadgoose.It’sadeadgoosethatbreaksthingsandchasespeopleandpecksthemwhereithurts.Apoltergoose.’318．Inodded.‘That’swhatwe’retalkingabouthere,isn’tit?Apoltergoose.’319．‘Right,’saidAngie.320．‘Right,’saidPete.321．‘Questionis,’Isaid,‘whatarewegonnadoaboutit?’322．‘Yeah,’saidoneofthem,orperhapsboth.‘That’sthequestion.’323．Weputourbrainsbackintheboxes.Theyhadn’tworked.324．Silencefell.AndstayedfallenforsometimeuntilPetesuddenlysaid:‘Ow!’Thenhesaiditagain,withechoes---‘Ow-ow-ow-wow-wow-wow!’-andadded‘Cramp!’Hejumpedup,butimmediatelyfellagainandlaywrithingonthefloor,onelegdancingintheair.‘Ow-ow-ow-wow-wow-wow!’325．‘Igetthatsometimes,’Angiesaid.‘Usuallyfirstthinginthemorning,rightafterIwakeup.Itisnofun.’326．‘Idon’tthinkIeverhadcramp,’Isaid.327．‘You’relucky.’328．‘Ow-ow-ow-wow-wow-wow!’saidPete.329．‘Igetstitchesthough.’330．‘Inyourside?’Angiesaid.331．‘Yeah.AndIdon’thavetoberunningoranything.’332．‘Knowwhatyoumean.Igetthemjusttryingtokeepupwithmymuminthestreet.Talkaboutpainful.’333．‘Ow-ow-ow-wow-wow-wow!’334．‘Andpinsandneedles,’Isaid.‘That’salmostworse.’335．Angieagreed.‘Right.Pinsandneedles.FirsttimeIhadthemwewerevisitingthissortofcousinofMum’s,anditwasso...boring-knowwhatImean?29 336．‘DoI?!Oldrelatives.Thethingstheytalkabouttooneanother.Imeanwhatkeepsthemawake,that’swhatIwanttoknow.’337．‘Ow-ow-ow-wow-wow-wow!’saidPete.338．‘Thiswasoneofthosereallybrain-deadChristmasvisits,’Angiewenton,‘andthere’sthispianothatthesortofcousinisplayingsongsfrom1066on,andtherewasnothingelsetodobutleanonit.Thepiano.’339．‘Though,’Isaid.340．‘Owwwwwwwwwww,’saidPete.341．‘AndI’mleaningthereandIgetthisweirdfeelinginmyelbowthatspreadsthroughmywholearm,andIstartdancingaroundyelling“I’vebrokenmyarm,I’vebrokenmyarm!”,andeverybodylaughsfittoburst,whichdidn’thelpatall.ImeanIdidn’tknowitwasn’tfatal,didI?Adults!’342．Petestoppedshakinghisleg.‘Whew,’hesaid.‘NexttimethathappensI’msawingitoff.’343．Igotup.Walkedacrosstheroomtoputsomemusicon.IwasflippingthroughmytapesandCDswhenAngiesaid:‘Ohveryfunny,Jig.I’mkillingmyselfhere.’344．‘Whassat?’Isaid,withoutturningaround.‘Ireallymustgetsomenewstuff.There’snothinghereunderthreeweeksold.’345．‘Howdoyoudothatanyway?’Peteasked.‘Clever.Speciallyaswecan’tseeyourhands.’346．‘Myhands?’347．‘You’vebeenpractising,haven’tyou?’348．‘Whatareyouonabout?’Iturnedround.‘Practisingwhat?’349．Theyweresittingthereonthefloorgazingatthisstretchofwallthathadbeenblankandwouldstillbeblankifitwasn’tfortheshadowonit.Mysalivaturnedtodust.350．‘That’snothingtodowithme,’Isaid.351．PeteandAngieturnedtolookatme.‘Youcan’tfoolus.’352．Iwatchedthegooseshadow’seye-holecloseslowly,thenopenagain.Iheldmyhands30 outsotheycouldseethem.Theylookedfrommebacktothewall.Theshadowwasstillthere.Thebeakopened.353．‘You’re...notdoingthat?’Angiesaid.354．SheandPetegotup.Slowly.Backedawayfromtheshadowwall.Slowly.Whentheyreachedmewestoodasclosetogetheraswecouldwithoutactuallyclimbingintooneanother’sclothes.355．‘What’snow?’oneofussaid.356．‘Run?’saidanother.357．‘Right,’saidwhoever’sturnitwasnext.358．Wecouldhavetoo.Exceptthataswesetoffatafasttiptoeroundtheedgeoftheroom,eachtryingtoputsomeoneelseinfrontandsomeoneelsebehind,thegooseshadowturneditsheadtofollowus.359．Butthenthesunwentbehindacloudandthegoosefadedtonothing.Wegaveabiggaspofrelief.Threegasps.Angiesteppedawayfromtherestofustoinvestigatethesuddenshortageofgooseshadow.Andlivedtoregretit.360．‘YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!’shesaidassheflewacrosstheroom.361．AngieMintlayinacrumpledheaponthefloorjustbelowthewallshe’dalmosthit.Itcouldhavebeennasty.Shemighthavegonejustthatbitfurtherandruinedthewallpaper.362．‘Youallright?’IsaidfromwhereIwas.363．‘DoyoumindifIdon’tanswerthat?’thecrumpledheapreplied.364．‘Coolwithme,Ange,’Isaid.365．Angiecamebackacrossthecarpet,onherend,abitatatimelikeshewashalfexpectingtobepickedupandthrownagain.Whenshemadeitbacktouswestoodwaitingforsomethingelsetohappen.Nothingdid.Eventhesunstayedbehinditscloud.366．‘Ithinkweoughttomakeamove,’Petewhispered.367．‘Ijustdidandlookwhathappened,’Angiesaid.368．‘WellI’mnotstickingroundheretobethrownatwalls.’369．‘Seeyouthen,’Isaid.31 370．‘Seeyou,’Petereplied.Hedidn’tmove.371．‘Wellgoonifyou’regoing,’Angiesaid.372．‘Iwill,Iwill,WhenI’mready.’373．Therewasalongpause.Petestayedput374．‘Whenareyougoingtobeready?’Iaskedhim.375．‘WhenI’mreadyalready,allright?’376．‘Right.’377．Anevenlongerpause.Then,veryquietly,‘OK,’andhewasoff,headingforthedoor.Running.378．Butwhatarun.ArunlikenootherIeversawinreallife.Notafast-as-lighteningget-me-outta-heretyperun.No,thiswasinslowmotionlikeinanactionfilm,andtherewasnothinghecoulddoaboutit.AZimmerframecouldhavepassedhim.379．WhenPetewashalfwayacrosstheroom,runningforallhewasworthatahundredmetresamonth,thedooropened.Byitself.Petelookedhappieraboutthatthanhedidaboutrunningslowly.Dooropen,thatmeanthecouldgo.Hewouldbeoutthereonthelandinganydaynow.380．Andhewouldhavebeentooifnotforonesmalldetail.Theonesmalldetailwasthatjustashewasabouthalfanarmshortofit,thedoorclosedagain.ThedoorclosedbutstillPetewenton.Hecouldn’tstop.Hewasgoingsofastnowhecouldalmostpassawoundedsnail.Hereachedforthedoorhandle.Heturnedit.Pulledatit.Thedoorwouldn’tbudge.381．Peteyelled,clutchedthefrontofhisjeanswherehe’djustbeenpecked,andbouncedbackintotheroomatsuddenlynormalspeed.382．Someminuteslater,whenwewereonceagainsittingonthefloor,backstothewall,Angiesaid:‘YouknowwhatIthink?Ithinkthegoosedoesn’tactuallymeanusanyharm.’383．Petegapedatherindisbelief.‘Doesn’tmeanusanyharm?Afterwhatitjustdidtome?’384．‘Thatdidn’treallyhurt.Itjustgaveyoualittleniporyouwouldn’thaveanycolourinyourcheeks.’32 385．‘Youknow,’Isaid,‘Angemighthavesomethingthere.Thegoosecouldhaveslammedheragainstthewallbutitdroppedhershort.Andyouknowinclass?Itonlyscaredthekids,nothingelse.Andwhenitpeckedmedownthestairsitdidn’treallydoanydamage,justsortof...rattledme.’386．‘That’sright,’Angiesaid.‘Ithinkit’ssimplytryingtomakeusnoticeit.’387．‘Itsucceeded,’saidPete.388．HONK!389．Ourheadshitthewallbehindus.390．‘It’sstillhere,’Isaid,incasenobodyelsehadrealised.391．‘Andhonking,’saidAngie.392．‘OldBrooky’sgooseusedtohonklikethat.’393．‘Allgeesedothat,’Petesaid.394．‘Youdon’tthinkitcouldbeoldBrooky’sgoose?’ThiswasAngie.395．‘Nah.Evengeesehavetobedeadbeforetheycanhauntpeople.’396．‘HasanyoneseenBrooky’sgooseaboutlately?’397．‘Wellofcoursewehaven’t,’Isaid.‘Thefarmisn’thereanymore.’398．‘Probablyliveswithhiminthatnewbungalowofhis,’saidPete.399．HONK!400．‘Ithinkwe’dbettergoandfindoutforsure.’saidAngie.401．HONK!HONK!HONK!402．‘Definitely,’Isaid.403．Weslidupthewall,very,veryslowly.Therewasalowhissfromacrosstheroom.404．‘It’sallright,goosey.’Angiewavedherhandsatnothinginacalmingsortofway.‘We’reonyourside.We’rethegoodguys.’405．‘Weare?’Petesaid.‘Ithoughtweweretryingtogetridofit.’406．HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!407．Wemadearunforit.Thistimethegoosedidn’tdoanyhauntysortoftrickslikemakeusgoinslow-mo,oropenandclosethedoorjustaswegottoit,orthrowusacrossthe33 room.Maybeitknewithadgotthroughtous.Maybewewereontosomethinghere.Wethrewourselvesdownthestairsandoutintothestreet.ChapterEleven408．ThebungalowthatLinusBrookhadboughtwiththedoshhegotforhiscruddyoldfarmwasaboutwherehiscowshedusedtobe.Likemybrainlessparents,Brookyhadgivenhisnewhomeaname.Thenamehegavehisbungalowwaspaintedonabitofblackslatebesidetheplasticbellpush.LASTSTAND409．WepressedtheplasticbellandwaitedtillthenationalanthemfinishedsooldBrookycouldstopstandingtoattentionontheothersideoftheglassdoorandopenit.410．‘Hi,MrBrook,’Isaid.411．Therewerehugebagsunderhiseyesandhehadn’tshavedforaweek.Therewasnocollaronhisshirtandnotmanybuttonseither.Therewasdirtbeneathhisnails,enoughhairinhisearstothatchapoodle,andhisteethwereyellow,black,oratthedentist’swithouthim.412．‘Shoveoff,’hesnarled.SamelovableoldBrooky.413．‘It’sus,’Isaid.‘Jiggy,PeteandAngiefromBorderlineWay.’414．‘Angie,PeteandJiggy,’saidAngie.415．‘Pete,Angieandhim,’saidPete.416．‘Never’eardofyou,’saidBrooky,andslammedthedoor.417．Welookedatoneanother.Somethinghadgonewrongsomewhere.Angiepressedthebellagain.Tenminuteslaterwhenthenationalanthemhaddiedoncemore,Brookyrippedthedoorback.418．‘Yourememberus,’Angiesaidbrightlybeforehecouldgetawordout.‘Weusedtohelpoutonthefarmintheholidays.’419．‘Forpeanuts,’Petemuttered.HeneverdidcareforoldBrook.420．‘Alotofkidshelpedonthefarm.Ifyoucancallitup.Noreasontocomebothering34 mehere,I’mretired.’421．Heslammedthedoor.Westoodlookingatit,andathimstandingbehindtheglasslikeastatue,eitherwaitingforustogoortryagain.422．‘Thisisridiculous,’Isaid.423．‘Yep,’saidAngie.424．‘Leaveittome,’saidPete,andsteppedforward.Hedidn’tbotherwiththebell.Heusedhisfist.425．Thedooropened.426．‘Is’poseyouthinkyoucangetafreecupofteaouttame,’MrBrooksaid.427．‘Onlyifyou’remakingsome,’AngiesaidoverPete’sshoulder.428．‘Makingsomewhat?’429．‘Er---tea?’430．‘WhywouldImaketea?’hegrowled.‘Ihatetea.Ialwayshatedtea.Teaismymosthatedthingonearth.Afterkids,thatis.’431．Heslammedthedoor.Onceagainwestoodlookingatit.Itwasaniceenoughdoor,butnotsonicewewantedtospendourlivesinfrontofit.432．‘Washealwayslikethis?’Isaid.433．‘Likewhat?’saidPete.434．Ipunchedhimontheshoulder.Hepunchedmeback.Thedoorflewopen.OldBrookgrabbedusbythepunchedshoulders.435．‘Oi!Iwon’thaveyouyounglayaboutsfightingonmydoorstep!’Andhebangedourheadstogether.‘Nowclearorfa’foreIbuysadogandsetsitonyou.’436．WhilePeteandIstaggeredaboutgroaningandholdingourheadsAngiesteppedbetweenusandputafootinthedoorthatoldBrookywasabouttoslamforthefourthtime.Beinginpain,Iwasn’tpayingmuchattentionbutwhenAngesaidtheword‘goose’IsawBrookypassahandoverhiseyesandhischestcavein.437．‘Thereusedtobeoneroundthefarmhouseallthetime,’Angiewassaying.‘Rememberher?’35 438．Suddenly,BrookyletoutthistremendouswailandfellfacedownontheWelcomemat,sobbing.439．Angiedroppedtoherkneesbesidehim.‘MrBrook...?’440．OldBrookytwistedhisheadfromthenecktolookupather.Hisfacewasallwet.441．‘Whatabird,’hesaid.442．‘Hey,that’sourmate!’saidPete.443．‘Ithinkhemeansthegoose,’Isaid,stillreelingabit.444．‘AuntHetty,’saidBrooky,andstuckhisnosebackinthemat.‘Sob,sob,sob.Sob,sob,sob,sob,sob,sob,sob!’445．‘AuntHetty,’Angiesaidoverthesobs.‘Isthatthenameofyourgoose?’446．‘Was,’hesaidtothemat.‘Wa-a-a-a-a-a-as.’447．‘Was!’Angiesatbackintriumphandbeamedupatus.‘Sosheisdead!Goodnews!’448．‘EEEERRRRAAAAAGGGHHH!’wailedLinusBrook,miserableoldfarmerturnedmiserableoldretiredbungalow-dweller.449．‘Whydon’twegethimoffthemat?’Isuggested.450．Thepoundinginourheadseasingoffatleast,PeteandIgotunderBrooky’sarmpitsandhauledhimtohisfeet.Thenwehalfcarried,halfdraggedhimintohislivingroom.WewerejustabouttodrophiminachairfacingacoldradiatorwhenAngiesaid:‘Lookatthis.’451．She’dgoneonaheadandwasstandingbythemantelpiece.Wejointedher,cartingBrookyalongwithus.Shewaslookingataframedphotoofthegoosethathadbeenbetterthanaguarddog.452．‘Hetty.’Brookyreachedbetweenusandgrabbedthegoosephoto.Agreatfattearsqueezedoutofhiseye,ploppedontotheglass.Hesmeareditawaywithathumb.453．Then,bitbybit,wegotthestory.Brookytoldusthathiswifehadnevercaredforhisfavouritegoose,AuntHetty,butwhenMrsBrookydiedhetookHettyin,gavehertheguestroom.HecalledittheGuestGooseRoomanddecorateditspecially,gooseywallpaper,gooseycurtains,goosefeatherpillows,theworks.454．‘Realcompanyshewas.SomeoneIcouldreallytalkto.Nevercouldtalktothewife.36 Allsheeverdidwassitthereknittingandwatchingtelly.ButHetty,shewasn’tkeenonthetelly.Didn’tseemtoseeanypointinit.Andasforknitting...’455．‘Whathappenedtoher?’Angieasked,allsoftanddewy-eyed.456．Brookywasnowsittinginachair,thephotoofthegooseonhislap.‘Ikilledher,’hesaid.457．Angie’sfaceturnedtostone.Hereyeswentashardasboiledsweets.Hervoicebecameafoghorn.458．‘YOUKILLEDHER?YOUKILLEDYOURFRIEND?’459．Brookyshooksohardhislastfewteethalmostpoppedout.Heshrankdeepintohiscardigan.460．‘Imeaninamannerofspeaking.Ididn’tactuallykillher.Notpersonally.Iwouldn’tdoathinglikethat.IfshewasstillaliveI’dhaveherherewithmeatLastStand.I...Ilovedthatgoose.’461．Angieunclenchedherfistsandtookseveraldeepcalmingbreathsandtriedtolooksympatheticagain.‘Sowhathappened?’462．‘I’djustsoldtheland,’Brookyanswered,twitchinginonedampeye.‘ThebuilderswerelayingthefoundationsofthenewhousesandoldHetdidn’tlikeallthosestrangersabouttheplacewiththeirthumpinggreatvehicles,theirradios,sandwichesandall.Thoughttheywastrespassing.Ihadtokeepherinwhenthebuilderswereabout.’463．‘And?’Angiesaid,justmanagingnottotapherfoot.464．‘Well,myhousewasthelastthingtogo.TheyhadtobuildthisplaceformebeforeI’dlet’emknockthehousedown.ButonedayHettygotout.Idon’tknowhow.I’dgoneintotownformypension.WhenIgotbackshewaslyingthere,squashedflat.Deadasadoornail.Oneofthebuildershadrunoverherwithhisbulldozer.’465．‘Goosedozer,’Petemuttered.466．‘Theysaiditwasanaccident,’MrBrookwenton,‘andmaybeitwas,butIalwayshadthissuspicionthatshehadagoatthemandtheydidherin.Saddestdayofmylife,thatwas,seeingpoorHettylyingtherelikethat.Nomorehonking,nomorehissing,nomoreknockingthe37 ornamentsoverwhenthenationalanthemstartedup.’467．Ileanedclosertohim.Ihadapersonalinterestinthis.‘Whathappenedtothebody,MrBrook?’468．‘Thebody?’Helookedupatmeandgaveanotherofhispatheticlittlesobs.‘ItwasallIcoulddotodigthegrave.Allmyfault,see.That’swhatImeant.IasgoodaskilledherwhenIsoldthefarm.IfIhadn’tsoldupshe’dstillbeheretoday,withme.’469．‘Yes.Butwheredidyouburyher?’470．‘Rightwhereshefell,’hesaid.‘Rightwhereshefell.Icouldn’thavecartedherofftosomeplaceelse,Iwastooupset.’471．‘Yeah,’Isaid,‘butwherewasthat?’472．‘Where?’Hegavethissomeseriousthought.‘Idon’tknow,’hesaidatlast.‘Oneofthenewgardenstheywerelayingout,Ithink.’473．‘Idon’tsupposeit’sanygoodaskingyou...whichgarden?’474．Heshookhishead.‘Alllookedthesametome.Stilldo.’Heliftedthegoosephotoandstaredatit,thetearswellingupagain.‘Feltbadaboutthatlateron,buryingherjustanywhere,butitwastoolatebythen,thehousesweresold.Allprivatepropertyandnoneofitmine.’Hegaveanenormoussigh.‘ShouldhavegivenoldHetadecentburial.Thewifehadone,andIlikedHettybetter.’475．WhenweleftBrooky’stherewasonebigquestioninourminds:IfthepoltergoosewasAuntHetty’srestlessspiritandherbodywasburiedinoneofthenewgardensandthegardenhappenedtobemine,whichpartofthegardenwasshein?ItwouldhavehelpedquitealotifMrBrookhadleftagravestoneorsomething.Mumcouldalwayshavegrownsomethingagainstit.476．‘Yeah,butevenifwedidfindHetty’sbody,’Petesaidaswestrolledbacktomyplace,‘itwouldn’tmeanshe’sthepoltergoose,wouldit?Necessarily.’477．‘Bitofacoincidenceifshewasn’t,’Angiesaid.478．‘Maybe.Butifwefounditanditwasthepoltergoose’s...’479．‘Yes?’Isaid.38 480．‘Well,whatwouldwedowithit?’481．‘We’dmoveit.Buryitsomewhereelse.Ifshe’ssomewhereelseshemightstophauntingme.’482．‘Thenshemighthauntsomeoneelse.’483．‘Theirproblem.Me,I’llbeoutcelebrating.’484．‘MaybeHetty’shauntingyoubecauseshewantsyoutomoveher,’Angiesaid.485．‘What,tosomeoneelse’sgarden?’486．‘No,notsomeoneelse’sgarden.Perhapsshewantsadecentburial,likeoldBrooky’swife.’487．‘Idon’tthinktheyholdfuneralservicesfordeadgeese,’Isaid.488．‘Idon’tmeananactualservice.ButfromwhatBrookysaidhetreatedherasalmosthuman.SoperhapsAuntHettythoughtofherselfashuman.Ifshedid,naturallyshe’dwanttobelaidtorestinahumansortofway.’489．‘Youdon’tmeaninacoffin?!’Petesaid.490．‘No,Imeanjust...justsomethingbetterthanbeingdroppedinaholenearwhereshehissedherlast.’491．‘Likewhat?’Isaid.‘Likewhere?’492．‘IfIwasher,’Angiesaid,‘I’dwanttobeputinaplacewhereI’dbeenhappy.Likethefarmhouse.Ibetsheloveditthere.Yeah,burryherwherethehouseusedtobeandherspiritmightfindpeaceandstopbuggingpeople.’493．‘Snag,’Petesaid.494．‘There’salwaysasnagwithyou,isn’tthere?’Isaidtohim.‘Whatnow?’495．‘YouknowwhattheybuiltwhereBrooky’shousewas?’496．‘What?’497．‘Thenewshoppingcentre.’ChapterTwelve39 498．BackhomeMumwasoutinthegardenworkingonherrockery.‘Nicerockery,Peg,’saidPete,thecrawler.499．Mumlookedpleased.‘Wellthanks,Pete.’500．Itreallywascomingonatreatthough.She’dplantedhalftheplanetinitbythistimeandwasasproudofitasDadwasoftheRodadoodahbushstillbeingalive.501．‘Areyougoingtobeoutherelong?’Iaskedher.502．‘Why,doyouwantcompanywhileyoumowthegrassforme?’503．‘Nochance.Gardening’sforwimps.Justasking.’504．‘AsamatteroffactI’mgoingtotheshopsinaminute.Isthereanythingyouwant---apartfromcrisps,chocolate,fizzydrinks,andeverythingelsethatdoesyounogoodatall?’505．‘No,justthose.’506．Wewentuptomyroom.And---507．Thegoose’sshadowwaswaitingforusonthewall.Petebackedintome.‘Let’sgo,’hesaid.508．‘No,’Angiesaid.‘Wehavetosortthisthingoutonceandforall.Anddidyounoticeanythingabouthiss?Itwasalmostgentle.Asifit’sgladtoseeus.’509．Shewasright.Gentle.Definitelygentle.Angiesteppedfurtherintotheroom.510．‘Goose,’Shesaidboldlytotheshadowonthewall.‘Goose,areyouAuntHetty?’511．Andyouknowwhatthegoose-shadowdid?Itwinked.TrueasIstandhere.Thendippeditsneckacoupleoftimeslikeitwassaying‘Yougotitgal.’512．‘Yes!’Isaid,punchingair.513．‘I’vegotanidea.’Angieheldherarmoutsothesuncastashadowofitonthewall,thenopenedherhandsoitsshadowwasofferingapalmtothegoose-shadow.514．AndAuntHetty’sshadowdippeditsbeakandtouchedtheshadowofAngie’shand---verygently.515．‘Hey,’Petesaid,impressed.516．‘Youfeelanything,Ange?’Isaid.517．‘Sortofatickle.Ithinkshewantstobefriends.’40 518．‘Askherifshe’sburiedinmygarden.’519．‘Shemightnotliketothinkaboutwhereshe’sburied.Shemightthrowmeattheceilingorsomething.’520．‘We’vegottochanceit.’521．‘YoumeanIhave.’Butshesquareduptothegoose-shadowandclearedherthroat.‘AuntHetty,areyouburiedinJiggy’sgarden?’522．‘Soundslikeayes,’saidPete.523．‘Askherifshecanshowuswhereexactly,’Isaid.524．‘Hetty,canyoushowusexactlywhereyou’reburied?’525．Thegoose-shadownodded.526．‘Askherifshe’dlikeustodigherupandburyhersomewhereelse,’Isaid.527．‘Wouldyoulikeustodigyouupandburyyousomewhereelse?’528．‘AskherifshewantstobeburiedwhereMrBrook’soldhousewas.’529．Angieturnedonme.Sheseemedpeeved.‘WhyamIdoingalltheasking?Yourmouthseizedupallofasudden?’530．‘You’redoingsuchagreatjob,’Itoldher.531．‘Huh!’Butsheasked.‘Hetty,doyouwanttobeburiedwheretheoldfarmhouseusedtobe?’532．‘Thatisonecleverdeadgoose,’Isaidadmiringly.533．‘Notnecessarily,’saidKilljoyPete.‘Maybe“SSSsssss”istheonlywordshecansay.’534．Therewasasuddenknockonthedoor.Haveyounoticedhowknocksonthedoorarealwayssudden?Notonlyinbookseither.535．‘CanIcomein,kids?’536．Silentpanic.IfMumcameinshe’dseethe...537．Weneedn’thaveworried.Theshadowofthegoosevanishedwhileweblinked.538．Iopenedthedoor.539．‘I’moffnow.Willyoubeallrighthereforhalfanhour?’540．‘Sure,’Isaid.‘Great.Takelongerifyouwant.Takeallday.Infact---’41 541．‘Thankyou,Jiggy,halfanhourshoulddoit.I’mjustgettingafewthingsinforthehouse-warmingdinner.’542．‘Thewhat?Ohyeah,that.Ithoughtitwastomorrow.’543．‘Itistomorrow,butIhavesomethingstoprepareandIwanttobereallyspecial.’544．IglancedatPeteandAngie.Theyglancedback.Allourfacessaid,Saaaaaaad.House-warmingdinner.ThethingsGoldenOldiesgetupto,breaksyourheart.545．Thepooroldparentwasabouttoleaveusinpeacewhensherememberedsomething.‘Jiggy,I’vebeenmeaningtoask.Wheredidyouputthatsweateryourgransentyou?’546．‘Sweater?’547．‘Theoneshewenttosuchtroubletoknitforyouwithherownhands?Theonewithyournameon?’548．‘Ohthatthing.Istuckitunderthebed.’549．‘Wellwouldyoukindlyunstickitandputitinyoursweaterdrawer?’Sheturnedaway.Istartedtoclosethedoor.‘OhandJiggy.’550．AngieandPeteandIlookedattheceiling.‘Yes,Mother?’551．‘TrynottoturnthehousetorubblewhileI’mgone---please?’552．Itwasn’ttillweheardthefrontdoorclosethatAuntHetty’sshadowcameback.ThenIsaid:‘Ready,Musketeers?’553．PeteandAngienodded.SodidHetty.554．‘Oneforallandallforlunch,’threeofussaid.Hettyjusthissed.555．Wewentdownstairs.OnthewaydownwecouldseeHetty’sshadowalongwiththeourswherepatchesofsunlightfellonthewall,butoncewewereoutinthegardenwecouldn’tseeheratall.Itwasverybrightoutthere.556．‘AuntHetty?’Isaid.557．SSSSSSsssssSSSSSSSSSsssss558．WhichaseverybodyknowsisGoosefor‘Yep!Here!’559．‘Showuswhereyou’reburied,Het.’560．Therewasapause.Alongpause.42 561．‘Perhapsshedoesn’tknow,’saidPete.562．‘Itmaynotbeeasyfindingyourownbody,’Ipointedout.563．‘Ineverhaveanytrouble,’hesaid.564．HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!HONK!565．‘Ithinkshe’sfoundherself,’Angiesaid.566．Theexcitedhonkinghadcomefromthefarendofthegarden,theoutofsightpartoftheL-shape.WejumpedoverMum’sterrificnewrockery,brushingtheflowersandstuffwithourheels,andranroundthecorner.Iwasgettingthissinkingfeeling.567．‘Sayagain,oldgoose,’Petesaid.‘We’renotpsychic.’568．HONK!569．Thesinkingfeelinghitmytrainers.Myfeettwitched.ALatin-Americanrhythmstartedtojerkthroughme.Isniffedoneoftheperfectlittlepinkflowers,dancing.Hereofallplaces.AuntHetty’sbodywassittingrightundertheonlythingmydadeverplantedthatlived.Hisprideandjoy.TheRodadooahbush.1.2TheTranslatedText第一章1．认真听着，我们别在这里浪费时间。我就开门见山吧！这个故事讲的是一只死鹅。死了又回来缠着我。不可思议吧？那还用说。但是我能说什么呢？事情发生了。发生在我蹦蹦·麦克穆身上。我的朋友皮特·嘉利特和安吉·敏特都是目击证人。2．不可能凑在一起啊，你大概会觉得，两个男孩和一个女孩。但是皮特、安吉和我，我们还在娘肚子里就已经互相认识了。最好的朋友，就是我们，好兄弟，好伙伴，一生一世的哥们。我们自称“三个火枪手”，尽管我们中间有个女孩。我们常说，“我为人人，人人为午餐”。我也不知道为什么。3．可能你不想知道为什么我叫蹦蹦，不过我还是告诉你。因为我总是蹦来蹦去的。任何时候我都有可能会突然蹦起来，但我毫无办法。老两口曾经认为我神经有毛病。哪有呢，我的神经棒极了，就是比较活跃一点儿罢了。半夜时候睡着了都还在跳恰恰舞的，除43 了我，你找不到第二个。不过，通常我是在兴奋、紧张或激动时才蹦来蹦去。就像那天，爸妈说我们要从波德兰大街搬走。4．这都怪爸爸。如果他没给自己弄到一份工作，我们就会依然住在老地方，我也不会被一只鹅缠着。我爸爸已经五年没有工作了。他说这是因为他知道自己的用处，不会啥工作都急着去做。但妈妈说这是因为爸爸没用。5．无论如何，爸爸有了个新工作。不要问我是啥工作，太没意思了。为了庆祝，爸爸买了一辆新车，换掉了那个用了十四年的破车。那辆破车简直没法儿开，我们过去进城的时候都得推着它。这辆新车也就用了仅仅五年吧。天蓝色，带些银灰色的斑点，行驶中没有什么声响。使劲儿关门时也没有铁锈掉在地上。我们坐在车里觉得自己好像是皇室的人。（妈妈甚至看起来有点像皇室的人，但我们没有告诉她，这会让她很沮丧。）6．这辆新车的唯一的问题是，它和我们那破旧房子外面的停车位看起来完全不搭。一些邻居似乎也是这么想的。当爸爸第三次更换了轮毂盖和挡风玻璃的雨刷时，他重新喷了漆，还是蓝色，只是和原先稍有不同。趁着这辆车还没散架，爸妈开始商量着买个新房子，让房子配得上它。7．因此,他们在布鲁克农场小区买了新房子，这也就是我麻烦的开始。第二章8．布鲁克农场小区之所以叫做布鲁克农场小区，因为它是过去布鲁克农场所在的地方。聪明吧？现在这里已经没有任何农场的样子了，只有漂亮的新房子和未完工的花园。以前农场还在的时候，我和皮特还有安吉暑假经常去那里捡鸡蛋，扒牛粪，在那里干一些傻呵呵的杂活儿。以前的农场主布鲁克，老布鲁克1先生，他给的钱不多，也不太喜欢孩子。但是我们有点儿喜欢去那里，因为那里很大，无论在哪儿看，都没有带轮子的大型垃圾箱和贴着破墙纸的墙壁。9．但是那个可恶的老家伙却把这一切毁了。他退休了，把农场卖给了一家建筑公司，新住宅区和购物中心开始建起来了。我们搬进来的时候，房子只建了一半，路还没铺好，没有破坏什么东西，但感觉不大对劲儿。和老房子相比，这个新房子就像一座宫殿一样，1布鲁基是布鲁克的别名，为了避免模糊不清，文中出现的所有布鲁基都译为布鲁克。44 但是一开始我并不喜欢。是真的不想喜欢它。皮特和安吉经常来玩，但是不像以前那样了。他们高兴就从栅栏的缝隙里钻进钻出的。他们觉得新房子很酷，说羡慕我。10．我说：“是很酷，但不像家，对吧？”11．安吉说：“这就是它好的地方呀。”12．我们已经在这个新家住了大约三个星期，这时爸爸妈妈决定给这个新家起个名字。我没有那么热衷地想要个名字。不用叫名字，我们也能在波德兰大街找到自己的房子。我提到这一点。13．“波德兰大街的房子仅仅是个住的地方。”妈妈说，“但这幢房子不同，非常特别，值得有一个名字。”14．我说：“我喜欢这个门牌号，我认为这个数字超级棒。”15．爸爸问：“为什么23这个数字这么棒？”16．“我也不知道。可能有特殊的意思呢。”17．“我们先保留这个门牌号。”妈妈说，“但是名字能体现身份，并且能和其他人的家分开。”18．“我们每个人都在帽子里放六个名字。”爸爸摇了下那顶上面印着“关爱老人”的令人讨厌的毛绒帽，说：“我觉得还是看能摇出什么吧。就让老天爷来决定吧。”19．“老天爷？”我大喊道，“老天爷？你知道老天爷是怎么捉弄人的吗？”20．他们只是咧嘴笑了笑，我突然变得紧张了。可能是里面塞满了令人尴尬一辈子的名字吧。我靠在某个东西上面让膝盖不再抖。我觉得我靠在史泰龙身上了，就是我们的猫。因为有东西在后面挠我，我自己又没挠自己。21．“告诉你吧，”妈妈说，“公平起见，你为什么不也放几个名字在里面呢？”22．这真是让人喜出望外。“你会相信我来给这房子起名儿？”23．“我们当然相信了。”妈妈说。“是吧，梅尔？”24．爸爸脸上露出了片刻莫名的恐慌，但紧接着深深地吸了口气，清了清嗓子，说：“当然相信了”，然后捏了捏妈妈的手。自从我们搬了家，他就总是这么做。这让我开始发抖了。25．“无论是出来哪一个，我们都用？”我说。“即使是我写的？”26．“当然！”他们咯咯的笑，就像一对快乐的疯子。45 27．“那好，”我伸手拿了一沓纸，不假思索地写下了六个名字。他们会后悔的。28．我把纸折了下扔进帽子里。爸爸摇了摇帽子里的纸，妈妈说：“谁来选啊？”29．“我们谁也不要选，”我说，“我们都不想受到指责吧。”30．“好吧。但是没有其他人啊，”爸爸说。31．“不用急。我们为什么不等到有人敲门呢？他们可以帮我们选。”32．这时有人敲门了。33．“成了！”爸爸喊道。34．是皮特和安吉。我都想杀了他俩。35．我们告诉他们关于给房子起名字的事。他们觉得很酷，我说你们疯了啊。他们通过抛硬币决定让谁来毁掉我的生活。皮特赢了。当他把手伸进那顶印有“关爱老年人”的帽子时，他邪恶的看了我一眼。36．我觉得我不该抱怨。至少挑出来的名字里有我写的。但当皮特读出来时，我说，“不，不，再选一次吧。那个是闹着玩儿的。”37．“不，蹦蹦，”爸爸说。“我们达成了协议。无论出来的是什么我们都会用的。”他得意地冲着妈妈笑，妈妈也笑了。“就叫呆子，同意吧？”第三章38．我爸妈都是外星人，他们来自另一个星球。一定是这样。我的意思是如果他们是正常人，都是来自地球的人，他们会说，“没错，确实可笑，小子”，然后他们就换个话题，直到每个人都忘了房子的名字。但他们不会忘。噢，不。他们马上找人把“呆子”喷在周围有花的木板上，然后钉在前门的墙上，让全世界的人都指手划脚的，并告诉他们的朋友。弄了这个标记以后，有时有人在门口推销给我们一些我们不想要的东西，像抹布或者宗教之类。看得出来，他们只有这样才不至于用手帕捂着嘴笑趴在地上。尴尬吧？我出门的时候还在头上顶个毯子。39．除了“呆子”这个名字外，其他的没有我想象的那么糟。一方面来说，马桶每次都能冲水。这是一个真正的变化。相信我。这是我们第一次有一个内置的电炉，当你煮鸡蛋的时候，不会烧断房子里的保险丝。我们还用同样的破旧家具，但至少爸爸和我可以把46 我们沾了泥的脚放上面。40．当然，整个房子最重要的就是我的卧室了。它和我在波德兰大街那间舒适的旧房间不一样。我现在的房间很整洁，干净，整齐，甚至闻起来不错，但我很快就把这些弄乱了。于是在这里，在我的新房间，问题就开始了。41．在这儿发生的头一件事就是罗杰从钩子上掉下来了。罗杰是我的大猩猩。在我很小的时候，爸爸在圣诞节的时候把它带回来给我的。他喝醉了。爸爸喝醉了，不是罗杰（罗杰不喝酒，它就是个玩具）。罗杰长着非常细长的手臂和手掌，当它们碰到一起的时候就会粘在一块儿。你要做的是让它手臂抱住一样东西，再让它的手黏在一起，它就能挂在上面。比如说一个大塑料钩。42．我把罗杰挂在墙上的大塑料挂钩上，或者什么的。我坐在床上做白日梦，想着把口香糖放在我最讨厌的老师的椅子上。我可能一直都模糊地看着罗杰的方向，因为在他的手突然松开，掉下来的一刹那，我跳了起来，头几乎把天花板撞坏了。43．“你这只笨猩猩！”我大喊着，冲过去。“你快把我吓出心脏病了！”罗杰啥也没说。我把它捡起来，说“你不想说点什么，呃？’我把它的头在墙上撞了几次，说“再耍这样的把戏，就把你弄成地毯。”44．当我把它的双手重新合在背后，就当作惩罚它时，我听见一声巨响。我转过身来，但我什么都没看到，所以我只能猜发生了什么事。我猜是这样的:我的枕头，我刚才靠在上面的那个，已经从床上爬起来，飞过房间，撞到我的玩具摇摆木马架上了。45．我给你讲讲我的玩具摇摆木马吧。妈妈在我出生之前就收集了好多个。她似乎觉得我想要全世界上的木马。我现在大概有六十个了。所有的木马都站在那里，面对同样的方向，像木马印象派主义者军队一样寻找生命。它们大小不一。小的可以装到一个蛋杯里，大的要双手才握得住。有些是塑料做的，有些是瓷器的，有些是纸做的，还有些是木材做的。每次生日，每次的圣诞节，每一个理由，都使我收藏增多。我不仅知道我何时又会得到新木马（有时是一套木马），我甚至在打开包装纸前就知道是摇摆木马。这太简单了。摇摆木马的包装纸一点儿也不伪装，一看便知。46．“哇，谢谢妈妈。”我满眼里都是惊喜和感激地说，“谢谢爸爸。”47．“别谢我，”爸爸嘟囔着。“我才不想给你买该死的的木马呢。”48．我的枕头飞过去，打散的是我不请自来的所有木马。我所能做的只是静静地站在47 那里目瞪口呆。我妈妈正在打扫卫生。她听到撞击声，伸头进来看是怎么回事，这才阻止了目瞪口呆发展成为我的业余爱好。49．“蹦蹦，咋啦？”然后她明白了。“哦！”50．她走了进来，蹲下来，盯着这场巨大的木马灾难。51．“哦，蹦蹦，”她说，“哦，蹦蹦，哦，蹦蹦，蹦蹦，蹦蹦。”就这样一直叫我，直到我终于想起我自己的名字。52．“不关我的事，”在我的头发最终耷拉下来后，这是我说的第一句话。“是我的枕头，是它把木马撞下来的。”53．妈妈瞪了我一眼。“哦。我明白了。你的枕头。我想当时你碰巧没在房间里乱扔枕头吧。”54．这让我很烦。我意思是我也看到房间有多乱，但我不喜欢别人指责我没有做过的事情。55．“如果你必须知道的话，”我说，“我就在那儿，把罗杰的头往墙上撞。如果这让墙壁动，并使枕头和木马飞起来，那么我只能说我们住的这个房子太差劲了。”56．“哦，你看，”她说，显然没有听我说什么，“这两个木马最精致了……”她伸手去拿一对玻璃做的姊妹木马。以前是一对，现在成了玻璃四姐妹了。“这些是我最喜欢的木马了。”她哀嚎道，“蹦蹦，你怎么能这么做呢？怎么可以这样？”57．我怒火中烧。和这些人怎么才能交流呀？58．“我再说一遍，”我说，“我没做。你是听力有困难想要我写下来吗？我需要找个人站在这里用哑语跟你说吗？看我的口型。我——没——做！”59．糟糕。老太太气的脸都红了，眼珠子快要瞪出来了。60．“臭小子，不要和我那样说话！”61．我拔腿就跑，喘着粗气，衣服都飞了起来。62．“我的意思是，对，对，有时我想跳到木马上，直到他们再也不晃了。有时在早晨，我有个强烈的想法，就是把它们全部从窗户里扔出去，看着车从它们身上轧过去，一直到吃午饭的时候。但我绝不是布鲁克农场的木马杀手！”63．这时她突然发生了很大的转变。她垂下头来，额头紧蹙，嘴角下落，非常伤心。我妈妈突然从37岁的女人成了一个105岁的老太太。48 64．“我以为你喜欢它们。”她用一种安静而又失望的声音小声说，这种声音像是抓住你的心并像拧湿袜子一样把它拽出来。“我真的以为你喜欢它们。”65．然后她跳起来，咬着嘴唇跑出房间。66．我很难受。非常难受，我忘了是因为她不相信我。一定是伤害了她，毕竟这次她知道了我对木马的真实情感。我本应该以前就告诉她。当机立断地解决木马问题。我的第一句话不应该是“妈妈，爸爸”，应该是“不要再买讨厌的木马！”那么就不会发生这样的事了。第四章67．第二天，我放学回家时，所有的木马都不见了。以前放木马的地方成了连手榴弹也毁不了的一大盆白色塑料花。我觉得更难受了。她究竟把木马怎么了？我不能问。你懂的，它们不在了，我现在有点儿想它们。毕竟我和它们一起长大。从我在摇篮儿的时候，它们就陪着我。不管我是否想要，它们都一直在那儿。68．在木马事件发生后的第三天，又发生了一件事。69．我在床上躲在被子里面用手电筒（看小说的唯一方式）看恐怖小说，忽然之间就发生了。70．想象一个场景。我刚刚读到一个情节：两个孩子，山姆和罗迪。使劲推开山上那个黑暗的旧房子的大门。他们在那儿寻找神秘失踪的朋友，当然有场风暴迅速到来，同时伴随着雷、闪电、大风，一切的一切。山姆和罗迪推开吱吱作响的门，他们就到了这个巨大的黑暗的旧旧的大厅里，这非常，非常，非常可怕的。突然，身后的门砰地关上了，门闩也被一只看不见的手拉上了。这时还有可怕的哀号声……71．突然，被子从我身上离开，漂到天花板上，缠在了中国纸灯罩上。72．“啊啊啊啊啊啊啊！”我喊道，或着就是类似的叫喊声。73．当我的喊声还在墙上回响时，我听到妈妈和爸爸从不同的方向跑过来，爸爸三步并作两步，妈妈从浴室里冲了出来。他们还没过来时，被子猛地拽了下灯罩，像是有它自己的生命一样，很用力地拽了一下，灯闪了闪，灯，灯罩，灯泡，全部都掉下来了。我盯着天花板发抖，天花板上的电线闪着火花，破了的被子掉下了白白的羽毛。被子落在地板49 上的那一刻，他们进来了，惊得目瞪口呆，大喊大叫。74．当然，他们做的第一件事就是反复地按开关，然后才发现它坏了。掉在地上的灯很明显，他们看见了耷拉下来的电线。顺着那条电线，他们看见我正用牙咬着枕头。然后他们回头看了看天花板，又看了看我。一个路过的陌生人可能会以为他们在玩立式网球。75．我从床上跳下来跑到他们身边。有时候，在一个孩子的生活中，他不得不利用他的父母，否则他们还是不在那里的好。我的头已经深深的埋在妈妈的怀里了，我意识到妈妈不仅身上是湿的，而且也没什么遮挡。因为她刚从浴缸里跳出来，披上睡衣，迅速地来到我身边。我打了个寒颤，推开妈妈，跑向爸爸怀里。你知道他做了什么吗？他把我推开，抓住我的胳膊，说着一些严肃的、有男子汉气概的话，“蹦蹦，怎么回事？你到底在搞什么鬼？那灯怎么回事？”连珠炮似的问题，这时我想要的是一个温暖的拥抱，需要有人说“好了，好了，儿子，没关系，你用嘴含着手指头，我会给你一些热巧克力，给你读我一直在为这样的紧急情况留着的傻瓜书。”76．当我冷静下来，我解释了刚才发生的事，但我本不需要心烦。他们认为是我把灯拽下来的。当他们看到我的恐怖小说时，他俩互相看了看，故意叹了口气，并没收了它。然后他们走了，嘟囔着说不知道我最近怎么了。而我呢？他们想过我吗？他们想过没有，我难道不会有点儿心烦吗？你认为呢？我独自一人儿坐在床边上,浑身发抖,身上湿透了(一部分是汗水,一部分妈妈身上的水),我等着被子从地板上动。但它没有，最终我觉得足够安全了，我就爬到床底下，抱着我的拖鞋，试着睡一会儿。77．我还没有睡着，一种嘶嘶声就把我弄醒了。我从床底下观察着。门仍然开着，地上的灯也还亮着，这意味着我能清楚地看到从被子中掉出的羽毛在半空中跳舞。这次我没吼，也没大喊大叫。我从床下面出来，跑出房间，沿着楼梯，直奔妈妈和爸爸的房间。爸爸正在穿睡衣，被我吓了一跳，摔倒了，露出了光屁股。78．“爸爸！你得看看这个！”79．“哦，别闹了，蹦蹦！”他说，并试图整理下自己，恢复他的尊严。80．“回去睡觉吧，亲爱的，”妈妈说。“够了，够了。”81．就是这样。我知道他们的那种心情。他们什么也听不进去。所以我放弃了，直接下楼了。我蜷缩在沙发上发抖，艰难地熬过了下半夜。一直开着灯，没敢合眼。50 第五章82．我没有告诉皮特和安吉关于摇摆木马大屠杀的事。我想他们可能不太相信。“嘿，你俩，猜猜我昨儿晚发生了什么事，我在自个儿屋里坐着，正想着自己的事，我的枕头突然扑向了摇摆木马。你们如何看待这件事？”他们会说“哇，蹦蹦。太离奇了，精彩绝伦，跟我们来，听说医院里新来的医生是一个专治精神病的天才。83．但是，现在我身上发生了好多事。我不得不和别人讲一讲，他们是我最好的朋友，所以我就告诉他们关于木马，拽灯的被子，跳舞的羽毛的事情。当然，他们捂着嘴，手指往头上指。因此我说“好吧，来我家，我会给你们看的。”在家并不能很明确的看到，因为好像没有什么规律可循。我的意思是，什么事情的发生与我房间里陈设其实并无多大关系。84．当我们放学到家的时候,爸爸妈妈还在外面工作，而皮特和安吉打电话给他们爸妈让他们知道在我家。我应该提一下，虽然我们三个都是独生子女,但皮特和安吉都是单亲家庭。我不会去详谈安吉的爸爸和皮特的妈妈怎样，否则我们会在这儿呆一整天,但事实上是皮特和他的父亲奥利弗刚刚与安吉和她的妈妈奥黛丽搬到一起。为了节省煤气费,奥利弗说。他们一定认为我们笨，连这个道理都不明白。85．在我房间里，为了看到我之前发生的事，我们等了将近一小时。皮特说：“我觉得你是在做梦。”86．“如果是我做梦的话”我说，“爸爸妈妈不可能那么紧张，我的木马和灯就还在。”87．安吉抬头看着露出来的电线说：“你爸爸会修好吗？”88．“我很怀疑。”我说，“他不喜欢拨弄电器，就连换开关，他都得找别人。”89．“怎么会这样呢？”皮特问。90．“妈妈会做，要不就是我。”91．“不，我指的是你说的这些东西飞来飞去的事。”92．我拍了拍额头。到底要我说多少次？“我一定要讲很多次吗？”我说。93．“是啊，看起来很有趣儿，这事儿只发生你身边没人的时候。”94．“我也没办法，我只是个不幸的受害者。”95．“嗯。”安吉·敏特说。51 96．我们都看着安吉。她眯起眼睛，摸着她那根本不存在的胡须。97．“嗯什么？”我说。98．“如果你没有做梦或幻想的话，如果这一切真的像你说的那样发生了，那你就遇到了一个恶作剧的鬼。”99．皮特笑了。“鬼？就像幽灵一样吗？”100．“是一个恶作剧的鬼啊。到处乱丢东西，制造了很多麻烦。”101．“听起来就像我爸在说我。”我说。102．“那天晚上，电视上有关于这个的节目。”安吉说。103．“我没看。”皮特说。104．“你在玩《路怒症》电脑游戏啊。”105．“这些鬼都干些什么呢？”我问安吉。106．“哦，干了一些愚蠢的小事。很幼稚，是像...”她环顾四周，找了个例子，盯着一些带边框的海豚海报。这是妈妈挂我床上的，她喜欢海豚。“比如让照片从墙上掉下来。”107．照片就从墙上掉下来了。108．四只火枪手的高跟鞋迅速冲出我的房间，奔下楼梯，我只看到了尘土飞扬。前门的链子还在摇晃，很明显这只是个开始，“它”一直在等我一个人呆着的时候，而现在我们是……109．首先，它掀起了被子，扔过来盖住我。我使劲儿摆脱,这并不是很容易。如果你想知道真实情景是什么样的，那就像是被紧紧抓住一样……被被子抓住。但当我一挣脱，我就像皮特和安吉一样跑了。可我却没有像他们那样从房子里跑出去。我只跑到了楼梯平台处，然后有个嘶嘶的声音，接着是拍打声，接下来我的腿被一种尖锐的、不友好的东西攻击了。我跑进卫生间，砰地关上了门，并锁上。我安全了。我被吓坏了,一句话也说不出来，与丝瓜络共舞（擦澡用的）。但我安全了。110．或者说是我自以为安全了。111．它跟着我进来了！它一直不停地啄马桶，反复地把盖子掀开，又合上，——好，你明白了吧。我伸手到背后去找钥匙。手似乎也不听使唤了，钥匙掉到了地上。我靠着门往下蹲，摸索着找钥匙。在我找钥匙时,这种发出嘶嘶声、拍打声的看不见的东西出现在我爸爸的爽身粉上。像往常一样,爸爸没盖对盖子。他没把上面的小孔给堵住。而现在,由52 于我父亲的粗心,爽身粉像雪花一样落下来，还夹杂着桦木味。几秒钟后卫生间就铺了一层爽身粉。我几乎什么都看不见。我也全身都是爽身粉。我唯一感到安慰的是味道还不错。112．看着半盲、半昏迷、半湿润的自己，我拿起钥匙，找到钥匙孔，转动钥匙，把门推开。113．最后,我一只手扶着楼梯下来，脚都站不住了。嘶嘶声和拍打声紧跟在后面，还有东西在啄我。如果我能看到是什么在啄我,这一切可能更容易处理,但我看不见。当时确实看不见。直到我到了客厅才能看到它。我刚跳到沙发上,正要把头埋在妈妈的一个大垫子里,这时,跟着我过来的像暴风雪一样的爽身粉有了具体的形状。114．一只鹅的形状。一只大鹅。一只愤怒的大鹅。115．然后,爽身粉从各个方向洒向我，鹅试图穿过垫子报复我。也就一瞬间的事，垫子里的东西全出来了。我拿着个垫子皮站在那里。我把它扔掉，躲在咖啡桌下。但我发现下面已经有人了，是猫咪史泰龙，它被我身后的东西吓了一跳。于是，我把头埋在咖啡桌下。然而那只看不见的鹅把我的屁股啄成了筛子。这只发狂的猫试图把我的眼睛挖出来。我告诉你吧,这不是一个躲藏的好地方。116．然后，毫无预兆的，所有的无端的暴力行为都不见了。房间里静悄悄的，那只鹅也不再啄我。史泰龙溜到一边去做它最擅长的事情，像疯子一样狂舔它的腿。117．这时，妈妈回来了。118．她进来的时候，我正从下面爬出来。我看到她惊呆了。她看见房间里到处都是爽身粉。119．“蹦蹦·麦克穆！”她尖叫着。“你又在玩什么花样了！？”第六章120．我妈妈坚决不相信，不是我把爽身粉撒的到处都是，不是我撕碎的垫子，更不相信我说的被一只鹅骚扰了。第二天早晨，妈妈仍在生气。我去上学之前，她把一个刚刚送到的又大又软的包递给我，上面还帮着绳子。不过她没有立刻走开，想看看包里是什么东西。这是我爸爸不要的东西，我奶奶织的毛衣。121．“今天不是我生日。”我说，并怀疑地盯着这个包。53 122．妈妈的眼睛差点从眼眶里蹦了出来，她试着把注意力放在那张随包而来的粗糙的小纸条上。123．“上面写着：即使她从来没有见过你，而且她来日无多，因为没有人在乎她，但她希望你知道她关心你，”妈妈再次看着毛衣，颤抖了一下，说：“你一定要写信……谢谢她。”124．她把毛衣放在我胸前。这个毛衣有着明亮的蓝色，前面印着我的名字。是毛衣上，而不是胸上。这些字母是用鲜艳的橙色缝上去的，像房子上的名字那样大。毛衣上绣的是我的名字，刚好在胸前，从左边到右边，就像一个斧头杀人犯咧着嘴笑一样。125．“谢谢她？”我说。“我正想写信告诉她，我很讨厌她。”126．我去刷牙时，把毛衣踢到了床底下，就让它悄悄地从我的记忆中消失吧。然后我决定试着让爸爸在鹅和爽身粉的事情上站在我这边。爸爸的事很难说。有时，你可以联系上他。但不是经常，因为他从来不听电话，但有时会听。127．他去花园里看他的罗达都达小树。我们的后花园有点儿“L”形，最下面被房子外面的栅栏遮住了。爸爸的小树就在这儿附近，不好找。除了擦窗户和汽车以外，爸爸最讨厌园艺。但是他自打星期天去了园艺中心以后，就每小时正点去花园看他的小树。他们去园艺中心是为了给妈妈一直计划的花园买材料。她还买了许多其他的东西，并且大部分都自己种，而爸爸呢，开车来回二十分钟，把树苗扛进院子里，就累坏了，他从冰箱里拿出一罐啤酒，读着报纸。但妈妈故意留下了一些事给他做。“这也是你的花园，梅尔，”她说。“也许你想做点儿什么？”这意味着他最好做点什么，如果他知趣点的话。128．于是爸爸看了绑在罗达都达小树根部的说明，在房子外面挖了一个洞,然后把它扔了进去。但关键是：第二天早晨它还活着！爸爸简直不敢相信。因为他种什么死什么，但这棵树却活了。好吧，可能他们买的时候就是这样，但那不是重点。重点是，他种的时候开满枝头的小粉花儿居然也没有谢。第二天，它们也没有凋落。它们依然在那里，在三天之后还是。看起来他现在要做的就是偶尔祈祷下点儿雨。129．“嗨，蹦！我是花匠吗？我是花匠吗？”130．“你还是小心点儿吧。”我提醒他，“如果这次把它养活，妈妈会一直让你来这儿，即使是周六下午。”131．我看到他脸刷的一下就白了。星期六下午对他而言是神圣的（雷打不动）。周54 六下午是电视上的足球时间，是清遥自在的时间。“你的话有道理。”他说，他皱着眉头，直冒汗。132．“别担心。如果真是那样，我会偷偷溜出去，把树弄死。”133．他看上去如释重负。“谢谢你，儿子。”134．“爸爸？”我说。“如果我说我被一只鹅缠上了，你怎么看？”135．“这是个谜语吗？”136．“不，是个直白的问题”137．“我可能认为你是个鸭子。”138．“鸭子。”我说。“我指的是鹅。”139．“哦。”他说,看上去目光呆滞。我没能争取到他的支持。第七章140．在老两口强迫我，匆忙带我从波德兰大街搬走之前，皮特、安吉和我一块儿走着去上学，但现在我住在布鲁克农场小区，和他们方向不同，路上也遇不到。我走的路经过新的购物中心。那天早上，像每天早上一样，孩子们一窝蜂似的穿过广场，大声叫喊着，踢着压扁的罐子，互相用包打闹，一切如往常一样。141．广场上有几个人在装摄像头，四个摄像头，一边各一个。自从六个月前完工后，购物中心就发生了很多破坏行为，现在看起来像是古罗马时期的遗迹。就像当地报纸所写的那样，有场大规模的活动正在进行，这个活动就是为了抓住布鲁克农场小区的破坏者。有些人想把破坏者关在铁窗里，有的人想让破坏者在没有绳子的情况下蹦极。那个人正在安装的摄像头都是大家伙，即使在黑夜蒙上眼睛也能被看到。爸爸说，他们决定用大摄像头代替那种极小的隐藏的监视器。因为这样的话，如果破坏者知道自己被监视了，就不会去破坏东西。142．我在我们经常去的学校操场的角落里遇到了皮特和安吉，并给他们讲了我的事。143．“一只幽灵鹅？”皮特说，“你在胡说八道吧。”144．“这是真的，每一个字都是。我怎么会骗你？145．他拉开袖子，笑了起来。我叹了口气，看向安吉，以为安吉也会像他一样。但55 并没有，她看起来很严肃地把头看向背后。146．“我信你。”她说。“经过昨天的事情之后，你说是犀牛的鬼魂，我也信你。”147．“安吉，一幅画在墙上挂烦了。”皮特说，“天大的事啊”。148．“大到足够让你从楼梯上飞奔下去。”我提醒皮特。149．“我反应过头了。”他看向安吉，“我们都一样吧。”150．但安吉并不这么认为。“你吓得不轻。不敢喝茶，不和别人说话。即使是温暖的夜晚，你也带着一个热水瓶早点上床睡觉。妈妈和奥利弗都想知道你是不是有什么事。151．“我的反应都是情理之中的。”皮特傲气地说。152．“哈哈！”安吉说。153．“你不会真的相信这些东西吧。你不能相信。蹦蹦在捉弄我们，肯定是的。”154．他相当生气。我觉得他没有想到安吉会站在我这边。我们三个从来没发生过倒向一边的事。我们一直都是这样的——你知道——我们一致反对这个世界，我为人人，人人为午餐。但现在我们开始选边占了，皮特显然以为安吉会在他这边。155．“如果蹦蹦说他家有一只幽灵鹅，”安吉说，“那么他家真的有幽灵鹅。”156．我告诉你，如果她不是我最好的哥们，我可能会抱着她，亲她。157．“你一定是心软了”皮特对她说。“突然像个娘们。”158．安吉变得很严厉，眼睛眯起来。她对他怒目而视，一把抓住他的衬衫。“你说什么？”159．皮特知道他犯了个错误。安吉从小就是一个女汉子。他双脚乱蹬，就像两张刚打出的牌，由于作弊被人们踢出来了一样。160．“只是个比喻而已，安吉。当心衣服，嗯？”161．她把他放下来。我对她说（只是对她，皮特爱干嘛干嘛），我说：“我来学校的路上有种诡异的感觉，好像有东西跟踪我似的。”162．“不要让我知道。”皮特又开始洋洋得意了，狠狠地嘲弄了我。“是死鹅在跟踪你。”163．“嗯，是的，没错。”我回答。164．“嘿，时间到了吗？”他抬起手腕，假装看表，其实根本没有。“我得赶快去塞恩兰办点急事。”56 165．他穿过操场和一群平时他避之唯恐不及的蠢货踢球。166．“别理他。”安吉说。167．“那么你呢？我怎么知道你不是在捉弄我呢？”168．安吉看起来很生气。“蹦蹦·麦克穆，我们认识多久了？”169．“在我们很小的时候就认识了。”我说。170．“所以当我说“我相信你”时，请相信我，好吗？现在，把一切都告诉我吧。”171．我把一切都告诉她了，包括被子扔在我身上，我被追着下楼，我在爽身粉上看到了一个鹅的轮廓，还有妈妈认为这些是我弄乱的。172．“你认为它跟着你到了学校？”173．“我想可能是的。它可能只是在接近我。我一直觉得我听到一种嘶嘶声……”174．“嘶嘶声？”175．“鹅一般都是这样的。记得老布鲁克的鹅吗？就因为我们有次进院子里了，竟然追着我们走了几英里。”176．安吉点了点头。“可怕的老鸟。布鲁克称它为他的警卫鹅。有她在身边，他根本不需要一只狗，他说。”177．我们在空中跳了三米高,都想抓住对方的手。“是什么鬼让我们跳这么高？”我们落下来的时候安吉尖叫着。178．旁边的孩子看着我们。布莱恩·瑞恩大声喊道。“迈克在烦你了，敏特？”179．“走开，布莱瑞！”安吉喊道。180．“是啊，走开，布莱瑞。”我重复道。瑞恩耸耸肩，转身走开了。181．安吉伸出手,紧张地拍打着空气。“我感觉不到任何东西呀。”182．“你感觉不到的，它是个鬼魂。”183．“你说它追你的时候你能感觉到。你的腿，你的屁股都能感觉到。”184．“是的。”我也开始拍打着空气。185．“看他们俩，”艾叶特·阿特金斯在那边说。“你们在干什么，假装是瞎子或者别动什么吗？”186．“不，”我说，“我们在装傻。我们正在模仿艾叶特·阿特金斯。”187．“你得小心，麦克穆，不要跟他们厮混”57 188．他和他那伙白痴朋友走开了，个个弓着腰，像爬行似的。189．铃响了。周围一阵骚动。190．“那是什么？”安吉问。191．“铃声”我说。192．“不，像是拍打翅膀的声音。”193．“是拍打翅膀。”我说。194．“离开这里吧？”195．“我觉得太可怕了。”说着拔腿就跑。196．安吉在我身边，我们一起穿过那些比我们还不愿上课的人。197．“喂！”198．“看着路，不要推”199．“他俩这是怎么了？”200．然后还有其他的喊声，那种惊慌的喊声远远被我们甩在后面，我们到了主楼。201．那只鹅，那只幽灵鹅，在人群中挥舞着，嘶嘶地叫着，跟在我们后面。第八章202．费思-艾克·戴金，是我们的年级辅导员，不大受欢迎。他毫无理由地挑你们的刺，他最开心的就是宣布对学生实行留堂惩罚。从他那里受到最坏待遇的孩子之一就是他自己的儿子米洛。可能是为了不偏袒他吧，所以无缘无故地选了米洛，但有时候，米洛以牙还牙，同学们都觉得过瘾。那天早晨，我和安吉在操场上摆脱幽灵鹅时，他甚至比往常做的还要精彩。在报到后，我们准备上费思-艾克无比枯燥的的数学课。203．“你，小子，别说话了。”戴金咆哮着说。204．“我没说话，爸爸。”米洛回答，然后咧嘴一笑。“对不起，我是说，老师。”205．“明天早上一百行！”206．“为什么？”米洛说。207．“因为顶嘴。”208．“哦，我以为是因为撒谎。你知道的，我从不撒谎。”58 209．“小心点，小子，否则就二百。”210．“对不起，今晚一行也写不了。”米洛说，“太忙了，太忙了。”211．“什么？你说什么？”212．“到我做饭和洗碗了。他面向全班说，“自从我妈妈跟着一个慢跑者走了，我们就轮流做家务。”他回过来看向他爸。“今晚豆子和薯条好吗，爸爸？”213．“站起来！”最爱他的父亲用窒息的声音吼叫道。214．“好的。”米洛起身，双手插在口袋里。215．“把你的手从口袋里拿出来。！”216．米洛把手从口袋里掏出来，又开始玩耍自己的鼻子。我的意思是真的开始玩鼻子。我不知道他是怎样做的，可能是从口袋里拿出一条绳子，但他是从他的鼻孔里用力拉出来，直到和他的手臂一样长，像超级鼻涕一样。绳子慢慢伸出来时，他把舌头卷起来舔舔。217．这个时候,全班同学都情不自禁地狂喜，但是费思-艾克·戴金却不高兴了。他走到米洛的桌子前，居高临下地瞪着他，脖子像弹簧一样伸得老长。218．“小子，放学后来找我。”219．从他说话的语气，你知道，你就知道，他那一分钟忘了这个孩子是他自己的骨肉。220．米洛都没忘记。“反正放学后我都要见你的。”他轻松地说。“你要开车带我回家。而且是气急败坏。”他又加了一句，声音小的刚好能让全班听见。现在,我们可以做的就是不在过道里闹腾。221．“坐下！我过会儿再处置你！”222．米洛坐下了。他的头上有个光环。他的父亲回到讲台，身体前倾，紧握拳头，怒视着我们，看谁敢偷笑。他慢慢地吸了几口气，然后突然停了下来。223．“我一分钟后回来！我不想在我离开的时候听到这间教室的任何声音！鸦雀无声，你们听到了吗？”224．他使劲拽开门，又猛地关上了，门弹了回来。他又猛地关上了门，连屋顶都震响了。我猜他肯定去做一些严重的破坏自行车棚的事了，但不管什么原因，他离开教室后，我们课堂瞬间炸开了，我们歇斯底里地感激米洛。我们给他起立鼓掌，并给他钱让他教我59 们如何做到这一点而又安然无恙。225．就在费思-艾克试图阻止他的脑袋爆炸时，一种更令人难忘如同地狱一样的事情爆发了。226．开始是嘶嘶声。227．第一声嘶嘶声特别轻，而我和安吉是唯一能听到的人，也许是因为我们都期待着它。就连皮特也没听到，但他却坐在比安吉更靠近我的地方，事实上他就坐在我旁边。不管怎样，皮特现在已经不是坐着的了。他站在桌子上，向着费思-艾克刚才出去的门做着粗鲁的手势。但他肯定感觉到他被鸟嘴啄了。换句话说是被鹅啄了。这意味着皮特被一只鹅啄了，或者是被一只鸟的嘴啄了，这取决于你如何看待这件事情。228．不管怎样，他大叫了一声，从桌子上摔了下来，当他站起来的时候，他紧紧地捏着自己的屁股，瞪着我。229．“你干的？”230．我不想回答这个问题。而且，还有比皮特的屁股更要考虑的事情。六七个同学在教室里发出恐怖的叫喊声，他们在教室一圈圈地跑来跑去，并伴随着巨大的拍打声。是那只看不见的幽灵鹅正在在追赶他们，发出嘶嘶声，一边啄着，一边发出嘶嘶声。231．恐惧像野火一样在课堂上蔓延开来。刚刚，还是欢快的声音，一屋子的同学庆祝他们不喜欢的老师暂时离开。现在是恐慌，一屋子的同学被一个大的、愤怒的、他们看不见东西攻击着。我注意到皮特的嘴已经张开了。他试图说话，他说了两个字。“真的！”232．现在我有种奇怪的感觉，我觉得我有责任。出于某种原因，幽灵鹅决定缠着我，因为它缠着我，它一直跟着我来到了学校，现在它正在攻击我的同学。不管我愿不愿意，这都是跟着我来的，我不能站在那里看着它去攻击其他同学。233．我从窗户上扯下窗帘。窗帘是橘黄色的，但那可能不重要。我偷偷走到个空荡荡的地方，那只鹅似乎在那里。我撒开窗帘。窗帘飘落到地上，什么都没有。那只鹅向前移动了。现在又去吓其他人。234．我转变了方向。我走了一圈又一圈，手里拿着展开的窗帘，我甚至不确定能否用窗帘抓住一个幽灵，还是一块橘黄色的窗帘。每一次我以为我足够接近它时，就跑向它，这只鹅突然转弯，最后只剩下个空帘子。我很难发现它在哪，因为那里到处都是东西，同学们在到处跑，大喊大叫，相互踩踏。现在几乎没有一张立着的桌子了。我们心爱的教室60 很快不受欢迎，同学们为了逃出教室而大打出手。235．我在某个地方听到安吉的声音。她说：“我出去找费思-艾克”然后是皮特的声音。“我和你一起去！坚持住，蹦蹦！”236．突然门关上了，剩下我和幽灵鹅。237．我慢慢地、小心翼翼地爬过几张破桌子和几把椅子。那只看不见的鹅依然发出嘶嘶声，拍打着翅膀，但现在不那么疯狂了——它在我前面移动。它已经在门口了。我接近它，更近了，准备好了窗帘。238．门开了。239．“哦，不，你不要跑！”我喊道，迅速行动。我撒开窗帘，跳上去，用我全身的力量将其压向地面，紧紧按住。它在我的下面移动，但没有逃脱。240．我做到了！我做到了！我抓住鬼了！241．有一种低沉的声音。低沉而愤怒的声音出现了。不是鹅的声音，有点儿奇怪，因为它是从下面发出的，而我就坐在窗帘上面。它说了些奇怪的话，像是“麦克穆，我要将你碎尸万段！”242．我站起来，看着窗帘下面。费思-艾克·戴金怒视着我，眼睛通红，像燃烧的火。243．“老师。”我说，“我可以给你解释这一切……”第九章244．那天晚上，爸爸在楼梯边来回走动，假装不在，妈妈静静地让我在床上坐好，告诉我她要带我去看一个行为心理学家。她告诉我说，“一个行为心理学家会努力弄清楚一个人为什么要做他所做的事情。”245．我说：“那你为什么不带爸爸去呢？”246．“嘿，别把我扯进来。”爸爸从楼梯上说，毫不费劲地暴露了自己。247．“为什么我要带你爸爸去看行为心理学家呢？”248．“他在看足球比赛时的样子？”249．“我们不需要带你爸爸到任何地方去了解他为什么那样做。他那样做是因为他从来没有长大。”61 250．“那好，我也是这样。”我说，“并且我是有原因的。”251．但我说什么也没用了。他们已经下定决心了。我爸妈要带我去看心理医生。他们会让心理医生对我进行盘问。252．到了那天，妈妈不让我去上学，我们坐公共汽车去镇上，走到了这个老办公室楼，那里有很多严肃的人在工作。我们最终在门上的牌子上找到有爱德华·皮克特医生的名字，上面写着这些大写字母，不知道说的是什么。253．我们一直坐在候诊室里等了大约十五分钟，这时一个高高瘦瘦的男人出现了，他打开办公室的门，用一种过分友好的声音说：“早上好！”。我一下就明白了，走了进去。我身后的门关上了，我知道妈妈已经在伸手拿《你好》杂志了。254．这不是一个很有趣的办公室。里面有书架，书架上有一些厚书，在一个角落里有一个整洁的小桌子，上面有一台电脑，还有一些文件柜和两个对着的红色的皮扶手椅。墙壁上是一些大的无意义的画，所有的斑点和颜色看起来像用拖把拖出来的或勺子浇出来的一样。255．这位高大瘦削的男人自称是皮克特医生（惊喜，惊喜），他指着其中一把红色的扶手椅。这把椅子在房间的中间，而他自己坐的那把椅子靠着墙，恰好在那幅最大最没有意思的画下面。我们俩都坐了下来，我尽量不去盯着他的头发，相信我，这对我来说并不容易。这个医生的头发似乎在耳朵以上就没有了，但另一边长了那么长。如果让头发自然垂下的话，就到肩膀了。但他没有这样做，而是直到与另外一边耳朵上面那可怜的一小撮头发汇合，让头发从头顶上越过。他一定是在这撮长发上面抹了油或其他什么东西，因为那撮长发就在头上面，闪闪发光。我想问他一个问题。我想说：“嘿，皮克特，给我解释一下，为什么一个专家用这种行为来欺骗我们，让我们觉得他并不像一个煮熟的鸡蛋那么秃。”当然，我没问。256．“放轻松，呃……蹦蹦，”他说，看了看椅子旁边小桌子的一些笔记。我自己放松了。“现在我想让你明白，什么都不用担心。我们只是随便聊聊。没什么好担心的。”257．“我一点儿也不担心。”我说。但我没有告诉他我非常生气。生气没有人相信我说我没做过那些事。258．“就一个不担心的人而言，”医生说，“看起来你似乎很难保持安静。”259．“哦，那就是我。我总是在蹦来蹦去，一直都这样。这就是为什么我叫蹦蹦。”62 260．“啊。”261．他把手举到嘴边，对着它说话，声音特小，我听不见他在说什么。我觉得我本来也不应该听。这是他和手之间的一次私人谈话。当他在和他的手说话时，我的目光飘到他头上的画上面。这幅画你不想看都不可能。（因为正好在他的对面）皮克特看见我在看那幅画，变得兴奋了。一切开始变得有意思了。他坐在那幅画下面，你坐在他对面。每一次你因为无法避开而看那幅画时，他就和他的手讲话，后来他把手放下，确定你有什么不对劲，因为你一直在看那幅毫无意义的画。这种行为心理游戏，是为了轻松赚钱还是什么？262．“现在，蹦蹦。”他说，把手从他嘴上拿开。“我想让你讲讲你自己。我们就从学校讲起吧，可以吗？你认为学校怎么样呢？”263．我不想去想任何关于学校的事情。现在学校和我的看法不一样。至少自从费思-艾克·戴金由于我破坏教室而亲自把我拖进校长办公室之后是这样。有趣的是，这件事发生的时候，没有人记得曾被一种嘈杂、暴力和无形的东西追赶。他们所能记得的就是我扯着窗帘，发疯了，跳到桌子上大喊大叫。即使皮特和安吉帮我开脱，也没什么用。部分原因是，他们不说不是我把教室搞得一团糟，吓坏了同学们，而是一只死鹅。你知道他们的想法了吧。264．当我考虑告诉他关于学校的什么事情时，爱德华·皮克特医生礼貌地坐在那里，微笑着。明亮的阳光斜着透过窗户，照在了他头上的画上，发出刺眼的光。265．“我对学校有什么想法……？”我若有所思地说。266．“用你自己的话说就行。”皮克特说。267．我很高兴他能这样说。如果他没有这样，我可能会冲到街上，问一个陌生人，他对学校是怎样看的，然后立即回来告诉他。268．“还好吧。”我说。269．他俯身向前,显然对于我关于这个问题的看法深深吸引了。“还好？”270．我耸了耸肩。“是。还好。”271．“你不介意上学吗？”272．我又耸了耸肩。这看起来像是一个耸肩类的谈话。“有时候我可能会想我更愿意去其他地方。”273．“比如呢？”63 274．“比如去一个煤矿下面寻找金丝雀。”我说，“比如在流浪汉的鞋底上，当当他正走在马粪上时。比如在家里，在床上。”275．“所以你不怎么喜欢学校？”276．“我不是这样说的。我说的是还好。”277．“你是这样说的。”他又简短地对他的手说了一次。“我们可能还会回到学校这个话题。”他接着说，“但我们现在继续吧。告诉我关于家里的事。你在家里的生活。比如，你和父母相处得怎么样？”278．我又耸了耸肩。“我们相安无事。”279．“仅仅是相安无事？”280．“你想要什么，小提琴和日落？他们是我的父母。”281．“我想要的，蹦蹦，”皮克特说，好像在试图说服他的猫从树上下来，“我想要的是你用自己的话随意谈论你的父母。”282．又用我自己的话。我看了看他的头发。为了让我看起来没那么粗鲁，我又看了看他头上的画。那时，透过窗户的阳光越来越亮，画面变得很耀眼，以至于颜色看起来像是在移动。我开始产生幻觉。283．“我爸妈特别好。大部分时间是这样的。”284．我不得不讲最后一点。他需要，我可以告诉他。他需要话题。285．“大部分时间？不是一直都好？”286．“你和你爸妈一直相处得很好吗？”我问他。287．他愣了一下。“我们不是在讨论我爸妈，蹦蹦。”288．“从我的角度来看。”我说。“我的意思是我们面对面坐着，而你，我以前从未见过，你开始问我关于我爸妈的事。我为什么要告诉你，难道只是因为我妈妈带我来这里？我不是故意刁难，只是我认为这应该是一种互相的事情，仅此而已吧。”289．他想了一下，然后点点头。“公平。但关于我父母，我什么也说不了，他们已经不在了。”290．我真希望他有一个大金鱼缸，这样我就可以把头伸进去淹死了。“嘿，”我说，“听到这个消息我很难过。我不知道，否则我就不会问了。你想他们吗？”291．“想他们？嗯是的。当然。有时。会想。”64 292．“是吗？”我问。293．“当然。自己的爸妈，你懂的。”294．“你和他们相处怎样？”295．“我们在这儿是讨论你的，蹦蹦。”296．“我想问的是你和你父母相处得怎么样，就像你问我一样，没什么大不了的。”297．他也考虑了一下。他正在尽自己的努力公平对待我。公平，也许这样的话他认为他会了解的更多，如果他也说一些他的事。298．“事实上，”他说，避开我的问题，“房间的这些画出自我母亲之手。”299．我四处看了一下办公室。“是吗？真的？”现在他让我为他感到难过。“包括你后面的那张吗？”太阳在这幅巨大的画上如此明亮，看起来像是在振动。这是光的作用，但让我有点紧张。300．皮克特瞥了一眼画，然后回头看了我一眼。“那是我最喜欢的。”他一定是看到我脸上的同情，因为他的嘴唇抽动着，意思是我懂这些事情，你显然不懂。“我意识到他们可能不符合所有人的口味。艺术这个东西，见仁见智。”301．“你说的太对了。”幸亏他没在意。302．“现在告诉我关于你和你父母的关系吧。”他说，并在第二个“你的”有一种非常轻微的紧凑感。303．“他们还可以吧，”我说。“我的意思是，我没有必要去“父母商店”里挑选我最想共度童年的那一对父母，有可能比现在的还差。”304．皮克特把手放在嘴边，当他把我父母的情况告诉他的手时，我看到阳光离开了那副巨大的画，然后从他的头顶上掠过。就在那时，我注意到了一个情况，让我彻底分心，他的话，我完全没听到。我没想到他头顶上的那幅画在动。它真的是，所有的，不仅仅是画，包括画框。它从墙上消失了。掉下来。也就是几秒钟，墙上的画就会掉到皮克特头上。305．然后，大约在我意识到这幅画将会压扁皮克特的两三秒钟后，太阳照在画上投下了一个影子。306．这个影子有着细长的脖子，脖子上有一个小小的喙。307．我跳了起来。跑向医生，大喊“嘿，当心，当心！”308．我伸手抓住了画，一只手抓住一边，但是太重了，我行动太晚了！就在我拿着65 它的时候，它继续往下掉，还有撕裂的声音，接下来我知道我站在那里，手里拿着一个画框，俯视着皮克特的头顶，现在他正从这幅画中探出头来。他坐在那里盯着我，从他死去母亲的画作后面，他最喜欢的毫无意义的画后面。他小心翼翼地抹了油的头发已经从他头顶上掉了。有些头发垂过他的耳朵，越过他的下巴、他的脖子，闪亮的棕色发尾落在他的肩膀后面的衣服上。他看起来吓坏了。被我吓坏了。309．然后他站起来，把椅子推开。他跌跌撞撞，满屋子跑，试图从画中挣脱出来。大声嚷嚷着我是一个罪犯，破坏者，一个绝症患者和一个……310．我需要继续吗？第十章311．这么长时间不动脑子，都锈住了。现在是时候该动脑子好好想想怎么办了。我告诉皮特和安吉也动动脑子，我们一起坐在地上想这事儿。312．“必须要做点什么了。”我说，“必须要做点什么了。”313．“是啊，但做什么呢？”皮特问。314．“我们需要做的事，”安吉说，“就是把这件事情讲清楚。”315．“当你谈论被一只死鹅缠着的时候,说起来容易。”我插话，“我的意思是原因多种多样。”316．“死鹅也多种多样。”皮特说。317．“这，”安吉说，“这不是普通的死鹅。这只死鹅会打碎东西，追人，啄人。这是一只博尔特白鹅。”318．我点了点头。“这就是我们在这里谈论的，不是吗？一只博尔特白鹅。”319．“是的，”安吉说。320．“是的，”皮特说。321．“问题是，”我说，“我们该怎么办？”322．“是的，”其中一个说，也许两个都这样说。“这就是问题所在。”323．我们不再想该咋办了，因为脑子不好使。324．一片寂静之后，皮特突然“哎哟！”了一声，然后紧接着没玩没了的“哎吆”66 起来，还带着回声，原来是抽筋了，他跳了起来，但随即又跌倒了，躺在地板上，一条腿在空中蹦跶。“哎哟，哟哟哟哟哟”地叫个不停。325．“我有时也这样。”安吉说。“通常是早上醒来后的第一件事。一点都不好玩。”326．“我想我从来没有抽筋过，”我说。327．“你太幸运了。”328．“哎哟，哟哟哟哟哟！”皮特叫着。329．“可是我会岔气。”330．“肚子岔气？”安吉说。331．“是啊。不跑也会岔气。”332．“我明白你的意思。我在街上拼命跟上我妈妈时就岔气了。说起来也是蛮痛苦的。”333．“哎哟，哟哟哟哟哟！”334．“还有发麻，”我说，“那就更糟了。”335．安吉表示同意。“对。发麻。”我第一次发麻是我们正去看望妈妈的表弟时。那种走亲戚真的很无聊——懂我的意思吧？336．“我吗？！老亲戚。他们互相谈论的话题。我的意思是他们怎么不打瞌，这才是我想知道的。”337．“哎哟，哟哟哟哟哟！”皮特叫。338．“那是一次非常脑残的圣诞节走亲访友。”安吉继续说，“还有那架钢琴，上面弹奏的歌是从1066年开始的。你除了趴在上面就无事可做。趴在钢琴上面。”339．“不过，”我说。340．“哎哟，哟哟哟哟哟！”皮特一直叫着。341．“我靠在钢琴上，我的胳膊肘有一种奇怪的感觉，这种感觉蔓延我的整个手臂，我开始手舞足蹈，大喊：“我的胳膊断了，手臂骨折了！”每个人都大笑，但笑却于事无补。我意思是我不知道麻木不是致命的，对不？这些大人啊！”342．皮特不再晃腿了。“唉，”他说。“下次再发生这种事，我就把它锯掉。”343．我站起来。走过去放些音乐。我在翻我的磁带和光盘时，安吉说：“哦，很好笑，蹦蹦。好玩得要命。”67 344．“什么？”我说，没有转过身来。“我真的必须买些新唱片。这些都是三个星期以前的。”345．“你怎么做到的呢？”皮特问道。“聪明，尤其是我们看不到你的手。”346．“我的手？”347．“你不是一直在练习吗？”348．“你在说什么？”我转过身来。“练习什么？”349．他们坐在地板上，凝视着墙上空白的地方，如果不是因为影子，那里仍然是空白的。我吐了一口唾沫。350．“我什么也没做啊，”我说。351．皮特和安吉转身看着我。“你不能骗我们。”352．我看见墙上的鹅影的眼慢慢地闭上，然后又睁开了。我把手伸出来让他们知道不是我弄的。他们看看我，又看看影子。影子还在那里。鸟嘴张开了。353．“你……不是你弄得吗？”安吉说。354．她和皮特站了起来。慢慢地。远离有影子的那面墙。慢慢地。当他们来到我身边时，我们尽可能地靠近彼此，并不是挤成一团儿。355．“现在怎么办？”我们中的一个人说。356．“跑？”另一个人问。357．“对。”下一个说。358．我们本来可以跑的。当我们踮着脚尖快速走到墙边时，每个人都想让其他人在前面和后面，自己走在中间，鹅的影子却转过头来跟着我们。359．但后来太阳躲在了云层后面，这只鹅就看不见了。我们松了一口气。不停地大喘气。安吉从我们身边走开，去看鹅突然消失的影子。她后悔了。360．“呀呀呀呀呀呀呀呀！”她飞一样地冲过去。361．安吉·敏特躺在地上，蜷缩着，就在她几乎要撞到的墙的下面。这很危险。她如果再飞远一点点，就会毁了墙纸。362．“你没事吧？”我问，但我没有站起来。363．“如果我不回答你，你介意吗？”安吉蜷缩在那里回复道。364．“我无所谓，安吉。”我说。68 365．安吉坐在地毯上一点点地朝我们移动，好像担心会再次被抓起来扔出去似的。当她回到我们身边时，我们站在那里等着别的事情发生。什么都没发生。太阳也躲到云后面去了。366．“我想我们应该做点什么。”皮特低声说。367．“我刚才不是做了点什么吗？发生的事情你们也看到了。”安吉说。368．“我不想在这儿被扔到墙上。”369．“再见。”我说。370．“再见。”皮特回答道，但他没有动。371．“你想走就走啊。”安吉说。372．“我当然会走，我会的，等我准备好了。”373．过了一会儿。皮特还在那儿。374．“你什么时候准备好呢？”我问他。375．“等我准备好了，好吗？”376．“好。”377．又过了一会儿。皮特小声地说：“好了。”他走了，向门口走去。跑着。378．但跑得太奇特了。在现实生活中我从未见过这么跑的。不是快如闪电逃命的那种跑。而是像动作电影的慢动作，他没办法跑快。残疾人都比他跑得快。379．皮特跑的慢得像是一个月才能跑一百米，当他跑到房间中间时，门开了。自己开的。皮特看上去比他慢跑还高兴。门开着，这意味着他可以走了。现在他可以随时出去了。380．如果不是因为接下来的一件小事，他的确可以出去。紧接着，就在他离门只有半臂长的距离时，门又关上了。门关上了，但皮特仍然继续跑。他停不下来。他跑得太快了，几乎可以超过受伤的蜗牛。他伸手去抓住把手，又转又拉，却打不开。381．皮特大叫着，紧紧抓住他那条刚被啄过的牛仔裤的前面，然后突然以正常的速度弹回到房间里。382．几分钟后，我们再次坐在地板上，背对着墙，安吉说：“你知道我在想什么吗？我认为这只鹅对我们并没有恶意。”383．皮特目瞪口呆地看着她。“意味着不会伤害我们吗？刚才他明明对我下了狠手，69 你还这样认为？”384．“那并没有造成真正的伤害。它只是啄了你一小下，否则你就会吓得脸色苍白。”385．“你知道，”我说，“也许安吉说的有道理。这只鹅本来可以把她重重地摔在墙上，但它却没有这样做。你知道在课堂上吗？只会吓吓同学们，别的什么也没有做。当它在楼梯上啄我的时候，它并没有伤害我，只是有点……让我很慌乱。”386．“没错，”安吉说。“我认为这只鹅只是想让我们注意到它。”387．“它成功了。”皮特说。388．鶂鶂!389．我们的头撞在身后的墙上。390．“它还在这里，”我提醒大家。391．“而且在鶂鶂地叫着。”安吉说。392．“老布鲁克先生的鹅以前就是那么叫的。”393．“所有的鹅都那么叫。”皮特说。394．“你认为这不是老布鲁克先生的鹅？”安吉问。395．“不。即使是鹅也必须死了才能变成缠人的鬼。”396．“有人最近看到过布鲁克先生的鹅吗？”397．“我们当然没见过。”我说。“农场都不在这里了。”398．“可能和他一起住在他的新房子里。”皮特说。399．鶂鶂！400．“我想我们最好去确认一下。”安吉说。401．鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！402．“当然，”我说。403．我们慢慢地向墙边移过去。房间里发出嘶嘶声。404．“没关系，鹅。”安吉向空气挥着手。“我们和你是一伙的，我们是好人。”405．“我们和它是一伙的？”皮特说。“我认为我们在拼命摆脱它。”406．鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！407．我们撒腿就跑。鹅没有做任何缠着我们的事，比如让我们走的慢或当我们快到门口的时候打开或者关上门，或把我们扔出老远。也许它知道我们已经理解了它。也许我70 们从这里学到了经验。我们自己从楼梯上跑到了街上。第十一章408．莱纳斯·布鲁克买房子的钱是他从老农场得来的，那里曾经是他的牛棚。就像我没脑子的爸妈一样，布鲁克也给他的新家起了个名字。他把小屋的名字画在塑料钟旁边的一块黑色石板上。背水一战409．我们按了门铃，一直等到国歌结束，老布鲁克先生才不再肃立，打开了门。410．“你好，布鲁克先生。”我说。411．他眼袋很大，一个星期没刮胡子了。他穿了一件没有领子的衬衫，纽扣也不多。指甲下面有污垢，耳朵毛发很多，像狮子狗的卷毛。他的牙齿有黄色的，黑色的，也许他从来不去看牙医。412．“走开，”他大叫道。还是那个可爱的老布鲁克先生。413．“是我们。”我说。“从波德兰大街来的蹦蹦，皮特和安吉。”414．“安吉，皮特和蹦蹦。”安吉说。415．“皮特，安吉和他。”皮特说。416．“从没听过。”布鲁克说，然后砰地关上了门。417．我们互相看了看。可能某个地方出了问题。安吉又按了门铃。十分钟后，当国歌不再响了，布鲁克打开了门。418．“你还记得我们，”安吉在老先生说话前聪明地率先开了口。“我们假期的时候曾经在农场上帮忙。”419．“帮忙收花生，”皮特喃喃地说。他从不关心老布鲁克先生。420．“许多孩子在我农场上帮忙。如果你回忆得起的话，这不能成为来打扰我的理由，我已经退休了。”421．他再一次砰地关上了门。我们站在那里看着他，他像雕像一样站在玻璃后面，可能是等着我们离开，也可能是等我们再试一次。422．“太荒谬了。”我说。71 423．“嗯。”安吉说。424．“瞧我的。”皮特说，走上前去。他没有理会门铃，用起了拳头。425．门开了。426．“我想你认为可以免费从我这里得到一杯茶。”布鲁克先生说。427．“还得你愿意泡。”安吉接过话头说。428．“泡什么？”429．“茶啊？”430．“为什么我要泡茶？”他咆哮着。“我讨厌茶，我很讨厌茶。茶是我在这世界上最讨厌的东西。仅次于孩子。”431．他砰的一下关上了门。我们又一次站在那里看着。这是一个足够漂亮的门，但再漂亮也不至于让我们在这里站一辈子吧。432．“他总是这样吗？”我说。433．“什么样？”皮特说。434．我锤了皮克的肩膀。他还了我一拳。门突然打开了。布鲁克抓住了我们的肩膀。435．“喂！我不会让你们这些游手好闲的人在我家门口打架！”他把我们的头撞在一起。“现在赶快滚，否则我买狗来咬你们。”436．皮特和我摇晃着走来走去，抱着头呻吟。安吉从我们中间穿过，当老布鲁克即将第四次关上门的时候，她一只脚放到了门内。由于我太疼了，当安吉提到鹅的时候，我没有怎么注意到，只是看见了布鲁克用手遮住了他的眼睛，低下了头。437．“曾经这儿的农舍周围有一只，”安吉说，“记得她吗？”438．突然，布鲁克发出巨大的哀号声，脸朝下摔在垫子上，哭了。439．安吉在他身旁蹲下。“布鲁克先生……？”440．老布鲁克扭过头，伸着脖子看着她。脸上全是泪水。441．“多么可爱的鹅啊。”他说。442．“嘿，是我们的朋友！”皮特说。443．“我想他是指那只鹅。”我说，仍然有点儿晕。444．“海蒂大婶。”布鲁克说，说着又一头埋进垫子里。“呜呜呜呜呜呜呜呜呜呜……”445．“海蒂大婶。”安吉抽泣着说：“这是你鹅的名字吗？”72 446．“是的，”他对着垫子说。“哇哇哇哇哇哇哇哇。”447．“是！”安吉摆出胜利的样子，冲我们笑。“所以她死了！好消息！”448．“呃呃呃呃哇哇哇哇哇哇哇哇！”莱纳斯·布鲁克依然哭着。可怜的老农民变成悲惨的退休平房老头儿。449．“我们为什么不把他从垫子上弄下来？”我建议道。450．我们头上的疼痛减轻了，皮特和我扶着他的胳膊，把他拖了起来。然后我们半抬着，半拖着他进了客厅。我们正要把他放在椅子上，对面是一个冰冷的散热器。这时安吉说：“看看这个。”451．她走在前面，站在壁炉前。我们和布鲁克跟着她。她正看着一张比看门狗还要尽职尽责的鹅的带框照片。452．“海蒂。”布鲁克从我们中间伸过手去抓住了鹅的照片。一大颗眼泪从他眼里掉出来，滴在玻璃上。他用手指把它抹掉了。453．然后，一点一点地，我们了解了这个故事。布鲁克告诉我们，他的妻子从来没有关心过他最喜欢的鹅，海蒂大婶。但当他妻子去世后，他带着海蒂一起生活，并给她安排了房间。他称之为贵宾鹅客房，并特别地给它装饰了下。包括鹅的壁纸，窗帘，枕头，全套设施。454．“她真的是个好伴侣。我真的可以和她说话。我永远不能和妻子说话。她就只会坐在那里织东西、看电视。但是海蒂，她不是很喜欢电视。似乎也看不懂。至于织东西……”455．“她怎么了？”安吉温柔地问，眼睛里含着泪水。456．布鲁克现在坐在椅子上，他的膝盖上是鹅的照片。“我杀了她。”他说。457．安吉的脸僵硬地像石头一样。她的眼睛和糖果一样硬。她的声音变得响而尖。458．“你杀了她？你杀了你的朋友？”459．布鲁克颤抖起来，他最后的几颗牙都要蹦出来了，蜷缩成一团。460．“我的意思是从某种意义上说。我并没有真正杀了她。不是亲手杀的。我不会做那样的事。如果她还活着，我会让她陪我到最后。我……我喜欢那只鹅。”461．安吉松开拳头，做了几个深呼吸，平静下来，试图寻找同情。“那发生了什么事？”73 462．“我只是卖了土地。”布鲁克边说边抽搐着，眼睛都湿润了。“工人正在建新房子，海蒂不喜欢那些陌生人，还有庞大的车辆，收音机、三明治和所有东西。她认为他们是非法闯入。当工人们来的时候，我不得不把她留在家里。”463．“还有呢？”安吉说，尽力让脚不敲地板。464．“嗯，我的房子是最后拆的。在我让他们把房子推倒之前，他们必须为我建这个住处。但是有一天，海蒂出去了。我不知道发生了什么。我进城办养老金了。我回来时她躺在那里，被压扁了。像一个大头钉子钉在那里一样。有一个工人用推土机碾了她。”465．“推鹅机。”皮特喃喃地说。466．“他们说这是个意外。”布鲁克先生接着说，“也许是吧，但我总是对他们有这种怀疑。海蒂可能攻击他们了，他们就杀了她。这是我一生中最难过的一天，可怜的海蒂，就这样躺着。不再鶂鶂地叫了，也不再发出嘶嘶声，在奏国歌时也不再把饰品弄翻。”467．我靠近他。我对这个很感兴趣，“尸体怎么处理的，布鲁克先生？”468．“尸体？”他抬头看了我一眼，又抽泣了一声。“我唯一能做的就是挖个洞。都是我的错，你明白吗？这就是我的意思。我卖掉农场就等于害死了她。如果我没有卖掉农场，她今天还会和我在一起。”469．“嗯。但是你把她埋到哪儿了？”470．“就在她死的地方，”他说。“就在她死的地方。我不可能把她带去别的地方，我太难过了。”471．“嗯。”我说，“但是在哪儿呢？”472．“在哪儿？”他认真思考了一下。“我不知道，”他最后说。“我想应该是他们正在建的新花园中的一个吧。”473．“我认为问你没什么用……哪个花园？”474．他摇了摇头。“对我来说个个都一样。他举起了那张鹅的照片，盯着它，眼泪又涌了出来。“后来觉得很不好，那样随便埋在一个地方，但是太晚了，房子都卖了。全是别人的私有财产，没有我的。”他长叹了一声。“应该给她一个体面的葬礼。我妻子的葬礼倒是体面，但我更喜欢海蒂。”475．离开布鲁克家的时候,我们心中有一个大疑问：如果博尔特白鹅就是海蒂大婶的那个不安分的鬼魂，她的尸体被埋在一个新的花园里,花园碰巧是我家的，那么她在花园74 的哪个地方呢？如果布鲁克先生留下了墓碑之类的东西,那将会有很大的帮助。妈妈会在碑旁边种点什么。476．“是的，但即使我们找到了海蒂的尸体，”当我们回我家的时候，皮特说，“这并不意味着她是博尔特白鹅，是吗？应该是。”477．“如果她不是，那就有点儿巧合了。”安吉说。478．“也许。但是，如果我们发现它是博尔特白鹅的……”479．“是吗？”我说。480．“那，我们该怎么办呢？”481．“我们应该把它转移。把它埋在别的地方。如果她在别的地方，她也许不会再缠着我了。”482．“那么她就会缠着其他人了。”483．“那就是他们的事了。我，我会出去庆祝的。”484．“也许海蒂缠着你是因为她想让你给她换个地方。”安吉说。485．“什么，去别人的花园吗？”486．“不，不是别人的花园。也许她想要一个体面的葬礼，就像布鲁克的妻子那样的葬礼。”487．“我认为他们不会给一只死鹅举办葬礼的。”我说。488．“我指的不是现实的葬礼。但通过布鲁克所说的，他几乎就像对待人一样对她。也许海蒂认为自己是人类。如果她这样想，她自然会希望以一种人类的方式被安葬。”489．“你不会指的是安葬在棺材里吧？！”皮特问。490．“不，我的意思只是……比在她死去的地方乱挖个洞丢进去更好一点就行。”491．“比如说？”我问。“埋在哪里？”492．“如果我是她，”安吉说，“我想要埋在一个幸福的地方，像农舍。我敢打赌她一定喜欢那里。是的，把她埋在她过去的房子那里，她的鬼魂可能会找到慰藉，不再去打扰人们。”493．“突发奇想。”皮特说。494．“你总是出难题，不是吗？”我对他说。“现在又怎么了？”495．“你知道他们在布鲁克房子的原址上建了什么吗？”75 496．“什么？”497．“新的购物中心。”第十二章498．回家的时候,妈妈正在花园里忙着弄假山。“假山真漂亮，佩格”皮特说，这个马屁精。499．妈妈看上去很高兴。“谢谢你，皮特。”500．不过真的打理的很好。这段时间她把半个院子都种满了而且感到骄傲，而爸爸也很自豪，他种的树还活着。501．“你要在这里呆很久吗？”我问妈妈。502．“你在帮我割草的时候需要陪着？”503．“不可能。园艺就是懦夫做的活。我只是问问而已。”504．“事实上，我马上就要去商店了。你想要什么，除了薯片，巧克力，汽水，这些对你没好处的以外？”505．“不，就要这些。”506．我们上楼到我的房间，507．那只鹅的影子在墙上等着我们。皮特往后退。“我们走吧。”他说。508．“不，”安吉说。“我们必须彻底解决这个问题。你注意到嘶嘶声了吗？它几乎是很温和的。好像见到我们很高兴。”509．她说得对。温柔。绝对的温柔。安吉走进房间。510．“鹅，”她大胆地对着墙上的影子说。“鹅，你就是海蒂大婶吗？”511．你知道鹅的影子做了什么吗？它眨了眨眼。千真万确。鹅伸了伸脖子，像是在说“你说对了，小姑娘。”512．“太好了！”我对着空气说。513．“我有个主意。”安吉伸出她的手臂，阳光在墙上投下影子，然后打开手，像鹅的影子伸出手掌。514．海蒂用它的喙触摸到安吉的手影，轻轻的。515．“嘿。”皮特感动地说。76 516．“你感觉到什么，安吉？我说。517．“有点痒。我觉得她想成为我们的朋友。”518．“问她是不是埋在我家花园了。”519．“她可能不愿意提起她被埋在什么地方。她可能会把我扔到天花板上什么的。”520．“我们得碰碰运气。”521．“你的意思是我来试试。”她勇敢地对着鹅的影子，清了清嗓子。“海蒂大婶，你埋在蹦蹦的花园吗？”522．“听起来好像在说是。”皮特说。523．“问她是否能给我们指一下确切的地方。”我说。524．“海蒂，你能给我们指一下你到底埋在了哪里吗？”525．鹅的影子点了点头。526．“问她愿不愿意让我们把她挖出来埋在别的地方。”我说。527．“你想让我们把你挖出来埋在别的地方吗？”528．“问她是否愿意葬在布鲁克先生的老房子里。”529．安吉突然对我恶语相向。她似乎不高兴。“为什么我来问呢？你的嘴突然卡住了？”530．“你在做一件伟大的事情。”我告诉她。531．“哼！”但她问了。“海蒂，你想被埋的旧农舍曾经在哪里？”532．“这是一只非常聪明的死鹅。”我赞赏地说。533．“不一定，”扫兴的皮特说。“也许‘嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶’是她唯一能说的话。”534．突然有人敲门。你有没有注意到敲门声总是突然的？而且不仅是在书中。535．“我能进来吗，孩子们？”536．我们吓得不敢出声。如果妈妈进来的话，她看见……537．我们根本就不需要担心。当我们眨眼的时候，鹅的影子就消失了。538．我打开门。539．“我现在出去了。你能在这里呆半个小时吗？"540．“当然可以。”我说。“太好了。如果你想花更长的时间。一整天也行。事实上——”77 541．“谢谢你，蹦蹦，半个小时就够了。我只是去买点东西来准备乔迁聚会。”542．“什么？哦，是的，那个。我以为是明天。”543．“就是明天，但我现在要做些准备，我想搞得与众不同。”544．我瞥了一眼皮特和安吉。他们也瞥了我一眼。我们脸上都在说，好难过，乔迁聚会。老两口准备的东西，让你心碎。545．可怜的老妈刚要出门又突然想起了什么。“蹦蹦，我一直想问。你把你奶奶送给你的那件毛衣放哪儿了？"546．“毛衣？”547．“那个她费了很大劲儿亲手给你织的!带你名字的那个!”548．“哦，那个啊。我把它放床底下了。”549．“难道你不能好好地把它拿出来放到你放毛衣的柜子里吗？”她转身走开了。我开始关门。“哦，蹦蹦。”550．安吉、皮特和我看着天花板。“什么事，妈妈？”551．“不要在我离开的时候把房子变成废墟，知道吗？”552．直到我们听到前门关了，海蒂的影子才回来。然后我说：“准备好了吗，火枪手们？”553．皮特和安吉点点头。海蒂也是。554．“我为人人，人人为午餐。”我们三个一起说。海蒂只是发出嘶嘶声。555．我们下楼了。在出门之前，我们可以看到海蒂的影子和我们一起,因为那里的阳光照在墙上，但是一旦我们到了花园里,就看不见她了。外面很亮。556．“海蒂大婶？”我喊道。557．嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶嘶……558．大家都知道这是鹅在说：“是，我在这里！”559．“告诉我你埋在哪儿了，海蒂。”560．她停顿了一下。停顿了很长时间。561．“也许她不知道。”皮特说。562．“找到自己的尸体可能并不容易。”我指出。563．“我从来没有觉得难。”他说。78 564．鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！鶂鶂！565．“我觉得她找到了自己。”安吉说。566．那种兴奋的叫声来自花园的尽头，就是L型花园被挡住了的那个部分。我们跳到妈妈那个漂亮的新假山上，踩着花和其他东西，跑到角落里。我有一种沉重的感觉。567．“再说一遍，老鹅。”皮特说，“我们不是通灵者。”568．鶂鶂！569．我的鞋也感觉沉重了。我的脚颤抖起来。一段拉美的音乐节奏开始传遍我的全身。我嗅着一朵完美的粉红色小花，翩翩起舞。这就是我们要找的地方。海蒂大婶的尸体正好埋在我爸爸种树的地方。他的骄傲和快乐。这棵罗达都达小树。79 PartIITranslationReport2.1DescriptionoftheTranslationTaskThepurposeoftheprojectistotranslatepartofThePoltergooseandtogiveabriefanalysisofthetranslationundertheguidanceofReceptionAesthetics.Thetranslationpracticeincludeschaptersonetotwelveofthebook.ThetranslatorhopesthatherreportcanbebeneficialtoChinesetranslationofchildren’sliteratureasausefulexample.2.1.1BackgroundandSignificanceoftheTranslationTaskNowadays,moreandmoreexpertsandscholarspayattentiontochildren’sliterature.Childhoodisacriticalperiodinchildren’slifewhichcaninfluencetheirmoralsandvalues.Excellentchildren’sworkscanplayapositiveroleintheirgrowth.Comparedwithadultreaders,theyhavegreatdifferencesinmanyaspects,suchasage,psychologicalcognition,socialexperience,knowledgelevel,readingabilityandsoon.Children’sliteratureismarkedbyvividandplainlanguage,positiveandinterestingcontent.Itiseasytounderstandtheirlanguageandmeaning,whileit’sdifficulttoconveybecauseofitsowncharacteristics.TherearesomanychildreninChinareadingforeignchildren’sliterature.However,translatedworksareuneveninqualityonthemarketbecausethestudyofchildren’sliteratureisusuallyinthemarginalpositioninliteraryresearch.Inrecentyears,thechildren’sliteraturehasdevelopedalot,buttheliteratureresearchstillhasalongwaytogo.Tobeginwith,fromtheperspectiveoftopicselection,thenovelisverypopularwithchildrenaccordingtoreaders’review,butithasnoChineseversion.Itconveysagreatmanygoodqualities,suchasindependence,braveness,perseveranceandfriendship.Meanwhile,itcanbroadenchildren’shorizonwithitsculturalbackground.Thenovelisofgreatimportancefortheworldviewandfriendshipofchildren.Besides,fromtheperspectiveofthetranslator,sheshouldpayattentiontotheresearchoftranslationtheoryandpractice.Throughthereport,thetranslatornotonlycanknowaboutthe80 featuresandcultureofforeignliterature,butimprovehertranslationskillsandaccumulatemoreexperience.2.1.2ThemeandStyleoftheSourceTextThesourcetextisanexcerptfromThePoltergoose,whoseauthorisMichaelLawrence.HeisanEnglishwriterforchildrenandyoungadults.HeisbestknownastheauthoroftheWithernRisetrilogy(knownasTheAldousLexiconoutsidetheUnitedStates)andthesixteenbooksoftheJiggyMcCueseries.Hehaspublishedoverfortybooks.Severalofhisbookswonawardsorwereshortlisted,andtheyarelovedbykidsofallages.Thisbookisquitedifferentfromothernovelswithasenseofhumourofitsown.Itwaspublishedin1999.Afteritwaspublished,itbecamepopularamongchildren.Itisrecommendedforages11to14,whilesomereaderssuggest9to12.Ittellsthestoryofthreefriendsandtheiradventureswithagoose.ThegoosepestersJiggyfirst.Itmakesmuchtroubleforhim.JiggycallshisbestpalsPeteandAngietotryandsolvethemysteryofthePoltergoose.Finally,theylearnthatthePoltergoosewasunfortunatetobesquashedbyadigger.Sotheywanttohelpitfindpeaceandputitbackwhereitbelongs.Actually,itisaghost.Maybethebookisalittlescaring.Butthat"sperhapswhyitissopopularwithchildren.Themaincharacter,Jiggy,isveryhumorous,andhehashisownideas.Withrespecttochildren’sliterature,thestoryisveryclear,thecontentofthebookisrichandcolorful,anditscharactersarelivelyandinteresting.Itiswrittenininformalstyle.Therearemanydescriptionsofchildren’sactivitieswithshortexpressionsanddialogues,whichhavesomeeducationalsignificance.Thelanguageofthenovelisquitesimpleandeasytounderstand.What’smore,therearesomeobscurewordsorexpressionswithculturalbackground,whichisdifficulttounderstand.Intheprocessoftranslation,thetranslatorputschildreninthecentre,andadoptsthestrategyoffreetranslationtomakethetranslatedtextcomprehensible.2.2TranslationProcess81 2.2.1PreparationsBeforetranslation,thetranslatorreadstheoriginaltexttogetthegeneralmeaningofthenovelandreferstodifferentkindsofdictionaries.Sincethetranslatorknowsverylittleaboutchildren’sliterature,shereadssomechildren’sliteratureworksbothathomeandabroad,includingfamousworksandMichaelLawrence’sothernovels,whichhelpshertounderstandthefeaturesofhisnovelsandprovideseffectiveinformationforthepracticebeforetranslation.Mostreadersofchildren’sliteraturearechildren,soshemusttakechildrenintoconsiderationwhentranslating.What’smore,sheresearchessometranslationtheoriesaboutchildren’sliterature.Aftercarefulconsideration,sheadoptsReceptionAestheticsastheguidanceoftheorytomakesurethequalityoftranslation.Then,shemakesfurtherstudyofthetheorytohaveabetterunderstandingofit.Thepreparationhasanimportantinfluenceonthetranslation.Onlyifthetranslatorhasunderstoodthemeaningofthesourcetext,canshetranslateitpreciselyandfaithfully.2.2.2TranslationTheoryandStrategiesDuringthetranslationpractice,translationtheoryisindispensable.Asuitableonecandothetranslatoragreatfavorwhoencounterssomedifficulties.Thetargetreadersofchildren’sliteraturearechildren.Therefore,whentranslatingthenovel,theauthorsolvesproblemsundertheguidanceofReceptionAesthetics.ItwasproposedinGermanyinthe1960swiththerepresentativefiguresHanJaussandWolfgangIser.ReceptionAestheticsputstherelationshipbetweentheworksandthereadersintheprimarypositionofliteraryresearch,andfullyacknowledgesthereaders’creativeroleinthemeaningandaestheticoftheworks.(ZhangLongxi,1986:202)Ittakesreaders’acceptanceasthestartingandendpoint,readersastheprimaryfactoroftranslationworks,andpaysattentiontothedevelopmentofreaders’subjectiveinitiative.Considerationofthestatusandroleofreadersintheprocessoftranslationisnecessary.Thehorizonofexpectationsisthepreconditionthatreaderscanunderstandtheworks.It82 referstoakindofthinkingorientationformedbyreadersbeforereadingliteraryworks,namely,readers’subjectiveinitiative.ReceptionAestheticsholdsthatthetextisonlyanobjectiveexistencebeforethereaders’reading.Onlythereaders’participationcanmakethetexthaveaestheticvalue.FusionofHorizonsisanimportantprincipleofReceptionAesthetics.Itmeansthereader’svisionshouldfusewiththetextintheprocessofunderstanding.AccordingtoJauss,“Itisnotuntilthefusionofthereader’shorizonofexpectationsandthetextualhorizonthatthereader’sinterpretationandreceptionofatextiscompleted”(Jauss,1983:21).Inaddition,italsocontainsindeterminacyofthetextandvacancyofthemeaning.Thesignificanceofthetextliesinthereader’sparticipation.Ontheonehand,theindeterminacyandvacancyofthetextgivethereaderenoughimaginationtomakethereaderreallyparticipateinthetranslation.Ontheotherhand,thetranslatorcanbegivensubjectiveinitiativetofillthegapsinmeaning.Intheprocessoftranslation,thetranslatorappliesthetheorytoit.Thetargetreadersofchildren’sliteraturearechildren,sotheacceptabilityandreadingcharacteristicsofchildrenshouldbeconsideredasanimportantfactorintranslation.ReceptionAestheticslaysemphasisonthecenterofthereader,takingreadersastheprimaryconcern.Onlyifthereadercanacceptthetext,canithaveanestheticvalue.Therefore,whenReceptionAestheticsisappliedtothetranslationofchildren’sliterature,thetranslatorbecomesthereaderofthesourcetext.Thetranslator,whoisalsoareader,needstoberesponsibleforboththeoriginalauthorandthetargetreader.Children,asthetargetreaders,donothavearichlifeexperience.Somecomplicatedwords,longsentences,difficultsentences,andrhetoricaldevicesaredifficultforthemtounderstand.Asaspecialreadinggroup,childrenwillencountermanyobstacleswhenreading.Sothetranslatorshouldadheretotheprincipleofreadercenter,andconsiderchildrenreaders’characteristicsinage,psychology,thinkingandemotionandtrytomeettheir“Horizonofexpectation”,inordertocreateexcellenttranslationforchildrentoread.Duringthetranslation,basicstrategyisofessenceintheapplicationofReceptionAesthetics.Thetranslatormainlyadoptsfreetranslationordomesticationtomakeiteasyfor83 childrentounderstand.What’smore,assomewordsorexpressionscannotcorrespondtothecontentoftargetlanguage,thetranslatorchoosesforeignizationsothatchildrencangainmoreinformationandenhancetheirhorizons.Sothetranslatoradoptstheprincipleofdomesticationasthemainstrategyandforeignizationastheauxiliarymeans.2.2.3Translation,RevisionandFinalTreatmentTobeginwith,thetranslatorreadsthenovelcarefullyandunderstandsthemeaningofthewholenovelcompletely.Inordertoeliminateculturalobstacles,thetranslatortriestotranslateitwiththechildren’spsychology.Secondly,thetranslatortranslatesthenovelundertheguidanceoftranslationtools.Whensheencounterssomedifficultiesorsomethinguncertain,shealwaysmakesamark.Afterfinishingthetranslationtext,shewillresearchtheseexpressionsmarkedcarefully.Lastbutnotleast,thetranslatorreadsthetranslationtextandproofreadsittofinderrors,includingomission,misinterpretation,andwronglywrittenormispronouncedwords.Afterself-checking,thetranslatoralsoasksherclassmatesandteacherstocheckitoverandaccepttheadvicefromthem.Meanwhile,shewillcorrecterrorspointedoutbyotherpeople.Then,readingthetranslationoverandoveragain,shemakesfurtherchangesaboutthestylewhichisnotsuitableforsourcetext.What’smore,thetranslatorlaysemphasisontheexpression,especiallywhetheritconformstothechildrenlanguageornot.Intheprocess,ProfessorLigivesmemanyvaluablesuggestionsforrevision.Thetranslatorgivesfullconsiderationtochildren’sreadingabilityandneed,makeseffortstomaintainthetranslationtextvividandinteresting,andtriestousesimplewordstoconveythemeaningoftheoriginaltext.2.3CaseStudiesInthetranslationofchildren’sliterature,thefactorssuchasage,cognitiveability,languageandpsychologymustbeconsideredsoastomakethetranslatedtextacceptabletochildren.Thischapterillustrateshowshedoesitbymakingcasestudiesfromdifferentperspectivesincludingwords,sentences,dialoguesanddevicesundertheguidanceofReceptionAesthetics.84 2.3.1TranslationofWordsInthetranslationofchildren’sliterature,thetranslatorusuallyusesinterjections,onomatopoeia,reduplicatedander-huawordsinordertocomplywiththechildrenreaders’languagehabitsandrequirements.Inthisway,itcanmakethetargetlanguagelively,conformingtothesenseofmusicandrhythmofchildren’sliterature.2.3.1.1InterjectionsInterjectionsarewordsthatexpressthespeaker’sfeelings.Itdoesnothaveanydenotativemeaning,butsimplyexpressesemotion.TherearemanyinterjectionsinEnglish,suchasoh,well,er,yesandsoon.Theyarefrequentlyusedinchildren’sliterature.Thesameinterjectionscanexpressdifferentemotions,soitisdifficultforthetranslatortofigureitout,asitrequirestheprofoundunderstandingoftheoriginaltext.Inthisnovel,theauthorusesmanyinterjections,includingoh,yeah,heyandhmm.Throughtheseinterjections,children’sinterestiseasilyattracted.Therefore,thetranslatorshouldpaygreatattentiontointerjections,soastomakethetextvivid.Example1:‘Jiggy,whatonearthwas...?’Thenshesaw.‘Oh!’“蹦蹦，咋啦？”然后她明白了。“哦！”‘OhJiggy,’shesaid,and‘OhJiggy’and‘OhJiggy,Jiggy,Jiggy,’untilIfinallyrememberedmyname.“哦，蹦蹦，”她说，“哦，蹦蹦，哦，蹦蹦，蹦蹦，蹦蹦。”就这样一直叫我，直到我终于想起我自己的名字。Mumglaredupatme.‘Oh.Isee.Yourpillow.Andyoudidn’thappentobeswingingitroundtheroomatthetime,Isuppose.’妈妈瞪了我一眼。“哦。我明白了。你的枕头。我想当时你碰巧没在房间里乱扔枕头吧。”(Paragraphs51-53)Analysis:85 “Oh”canexpressdifferentemotions.Inchildren’sliterature,theusageofitnotonlyconveysemotions,butalsostressesthepersonalityofthecharacters.Inthefirstsentence,the“Oh”expressessurprise.Inthesecondsentence,Jiggy’smotherusesitthreetimes,whichmeansshewantstowakeupJiggy.Therepeated“oh”expressesastrongfeelingofanger.Inthethirdsentence,the‘Oh’containsasenseofsarcasm,becausehismotherdoesn’tbelievehim.AccordingtoReceptionAesthetics,thesignificanceofthetextliesinthereader’sparticipation.Theindeterminacyandvacancyofthetextgivethereaderenoughimaginationtomakethereaderreallyparticipateinthetranslation,whichexpectsreaderstofillgapsintheprocessofreading.Therefore,thetranslatoradoptsliteraltranslation,andtranslates‘Oh’into‘哦’despiteitsdifferentmeanings.Childrenreaderscanimagineorthinkthemeaningintheprocessofreading,whichattractstheirreadinginterest.Example2:‘Yeah,well,itseemsprettyfunnythatitonlyhappenswhenthere’snobodyaroundbutyou.’“是啊，看起来很有趣儿，这事儿只发生你身边没人的时候。”‘Ican’thelpthat,I’mjusttheunhappyvictim.’“我也没办法，我只是个不幸的受害者。”‘Hmm,’andAngieMint.“嗯。”安吉·敏特说。Webothlookedather.Hereyeswereallscrewedupandshewasstrokingthebeardshedidn’thave.我们都看着安吉。她眯起眼睛，摸着她那根本不存在的胡须。‘Hmmwhat?’Isaid.(Paragraphs93-97)“嗯什么？”我说。Analysis:Theword“Yeah”suggeststhatAngieissuspiciousofJiggy’sword.Likewise,theword“Hmm”indicatesthatAngieMintjusthitsuponanidea.AccordingtotheReceptionAnesthetics,ifthereadercanparticipateinthenovel,thenovelwillhaveaestheticvalue.Therefore,the86 translatoradoptsliteraltranslationinsteadofshowingthetruemeaningsothattheChinesereadercanimmerseinthenovelbyusingthecontextandtheirownimagination.2.3.1.2ReduplicatedWordsInthechildren’sliterature,reduplicatedwordsareusedfrequently.Thesewordscanbringasenseofbeauty,andaddtochildren’sinterest,whichconformstothehabitofchildren’slanguageandmakesthetranslatedtextreadable.Therefore,translatorsshouldskillfullyadoptreduplicatedwordsinthetranslationofchildren"sliteratureconsideringthechildren’sacceptance.Example3：Nowyou’reprobablynotwonderingwhyI’mcalledJiggy,butI’lltellyouanyway.It’sbecauseIjigaboutalot.Alwayshave.Itcancomeovermeanytimeandthere’snothingIcandoaboutit.（Paragraph3,Lines1-3）可能你不想知道为什么我叫蹦蹦，不过我还是告诉你。因为我总是蹦来蹦去的。任何时候我都有可能会突然蹦起来，但我毫无办法。Mostly,though,IjigaboutwhenI’mexcitedornervous,orwhenIgetagitated---likethedaymyparentstoldmeweweremovingfromBorderlineWay.（Paragraph3,Lines6-8）不过，通常我是在兴奋、紧张或激动时才蹦来蹦去。就像那天，爸妈说我们要从波德兰大街搬走。Analysis:Inthisexample,thetranslatorputs“Jiggy’sname”into“蹦蹦”insteadoftransliteration,“jig”into“蹦来蹦去”,whichvividlydescribesJiggy’sbehaviourandcloselyreflectsJiggy’scharacter.Thenovelcanleaveadeepimpressiononchildrenreaders.AccordingtoReceptionAesthetics,thetranslatorshouldputthereaderintheprimaryposition,sothetranslatedtextshouldsuitchildren’sneedsandtaste.Thesewordsarevividandfunny,whichcanmeetthereaders’horizonofexpectations.Example4：BlindpanicstampeditselfonDad’sfaceforaminute,butthenhetookadeepbreath,87 clearedhisthroat,said‘Coursewewould,’andreachedforMum’shandtogiveitalittlesqueeze.(Paragraph24,Lines1-3)爸爸脸上露出了片刻莫名的恐慌，但紧接着深深地吸了口气，清了清嗓子，说：“当然相信了”，然后捏了捏妈妈的手。Analysis:Inthisexample,thetranslatorputs“deep”into“深深地”withatranslationskillofconversion.“Deep”isanadjective,whileinthetranslatedtext,it’sanadverb.“清了清”and“捏了捏arereduplicatedwords.Theusageof“深深地”,“清了清”“捏了捏”vividlydescribessomedetailedmovementofJiggy’sfather,whichshowsthemetricalsenseoflanguage,formingavividimageinchildrenreader’smindandmakingthetextlively.2.3.1.3Er-huaWordsEr-huawordsareauniquelanguagephenomenoninChinese.Theycanmakethetranslationtextpersonalized,interesting,conformingtofeaturesofchildren’sliterature.Example5：Andyouknow,Isortofmissedthemnowtheyweren’tthereanymore.I’dgrownupwiththemafterall,they’drockedwithmefromthecradle,alwaysbeentherewhetherIwantedthemornot.（Paragraph67,Lines4-6）你懂的，它们不在了，我现在有点儿想它们。毕竟我和它们一起长大。从我在摇篮儿的时候，它们就陪着我。不管我是否想要，它们都一直在那儿。‘Yeah,well,itseemsprettyfunnythatitonlyhappenswhenthere’snobodyaroundbutyou.’（Paragraph93）“是啊，看起来很有趣儿，这事儿只发生你身边没人的时候。”‘Youwanttobecareful,’Iwarnedhim,‘Getitrightonceandshe’llhaveyououthereallthetime----evenSaturdayafternoons.’（Paragraph130）“你还是小心点儿吧。”我提醒他，“如果这次把它养活，妈妈会一直让你来这儿，即使是周六下午。”Analysis:88 Intheseexamples,thetranslatorputsthemintor-soundwordssuchas有点儿,摇篮儿,那儿,有趣儿,事儿,小心点儿and这儿.Thisstrategyconformstothetoneofchildrenreadersandtheirphysicalandmentalcharacteristics,keepingthemfeelasenseofkindnessandfunny.Meanwhile,italsomobilizestheirenthusiasmforreading,andenhancestherhythmofthetext,whichmeetschildren’shorizonofexpectations,soastobringbetterexperienceofreading.Thetargetreadersofchildren’sliteraturearechildren,sothetranslatorshouldpayattentiontotheiracceptabilityandchoosesimpleandinterestingwords,sothatchildrencanunderstandeasilyandbewillingtoread.2.3.2TranslationofSentencesOneofthemoststrikingfeaturesofchildren’sliteratureistheextensiveuseofsimplesentencesduetotheirlimitedreceptive,cognitiveandaestheticability.AccordingtoReceptionAesthetics,thetranslatedtextshouldbesuitableforreader’sacceptabilityandlanguagefeatures.Therefore,thesentencepatternshouldbesimpletounderstand.2.3.2.1CompoundSentenceandComplexSentenceAlthoughthereaderofThePoltergooseischildren,thenovelstillhasmanylonganddifficultsentences,ofwhichmostsentencesarecompoundsentencesandcomplexsentences.Englishshowsthecharacteristicsofhypotaxis,whosesentencestructurecanbeconnectedwithvariousmeansofextensionandcombination,formingcomplexsentences;whileChineseemphasizesparataxiswithfewerconnectedwords,sotheparagraphislooselystructured,butthesemanticstructureisdistinct.(LianShuneng,1993:69)Thereforeintheprocessoftranslation,thetranslatormainlyadoptstranslationstrategiesofcutting,splitting-offandrecastingtoputthemintosimpleandunderstandablesentences,sothatthetranslatedtextcanachievechildren’sfusionofhorizons.Example6：Mymotherabsolutelyrefusedtobelieveitwasn’tmethathadcoveredthehousewithtalcumpowderandshreddedthecushion-notevenwhenItoldherIwasbeinghauntedbyagoose.（Paragraph120,Lines1-3）89 我妈妈坚决不相信，不是我把爽身粉撒的到处都是，不是我撕碎的垫子，更不相信我说的被一只鹅骚扰了。Analysis:Inthisexample,thetranslatorfirstlyadoptsthenegation,putting“absolutelyrefusedtobelieve”into“坚决不相信”insteadof“坚决拒绝相信”tohelpchildrenunderstand.Thissentenceisacomplexsentence,andtheauthorchoosescutting,anddividethemintothreeparts.Throughthecutting,thesentenceiseasytounderstand,andstronglyshowthefeelingofmisunderstood.Example7：Hernosewasstillabitintheairnextmorningwhenshehandedmethebigsoftparceltiedupwithstringthatarrivedjustbeforeschool,thoughshehungabouttoseewhatitwas.（Paragraph120,Lines3-5）第二天早晨，妈妈仍在生气。我去上学之前，她把一个刚刚送到的又大又软的包递给我，上面还帮着绳子。不过她没有立刻走开，想看看包里是什么东西。Analysis：Theoriginalsentenceisacompoundsentence.Forthesakeofchildrenreader’sreadability,thetranslatoradjuststhestructureandorderofthesentencetomakeitsimple.Shecutsthelongsentenceshort,puts“nextmorning,beforeschool”inthefront,withthestrategiesofcuttingandrecasting,makingsentencesimpleandclearandtakingchildrenreadersintoconsideration.2.3.2.2SimpleSentenceIntheoriginaltext,therearemanysimplesentences,buttheyaretooredundanttobetranslatedcompletely.Forchildrenreaders,theymayfeelboringaboutthis.Inordertoachievetheeffectoftranslation,thetranslatoradoptsthestrategyofcombination.ItiscommonlyusedinthetranslationofsimplesentencesofEnglish.Example8:It’sbecauseIjigaboutalot.Alwayshave.(Paragraph3,Line2)因为我总是蹦来蹦去的。90 Shewentallsortofsaggyandsad.Herforeheadbecameonebigcreaseandhermouthwentdownatthecorners.(Paragraph63,Lines1-2)她垂下头来，额头紧蹙，嘴角下落，非常伤心。Analysis:Thefirstexamplehastwosimplesentences.Thetranslatorputsthemintoonesentence,makingitfluentandcompact.Meanwhile,itreflectsthecolloquialfeaturesofchildren’slanguage.Inthesecondexample,thetranslatoradjuststheorderandcombinesthemsothatthetranslatedtextcanbecoherent,conformingtochildren’sneeds.AlthoughitisveryvividtodescribethefeelingsofJiggy’smotherthroughsaggyandsad,onebigcreaseandatthecorners,Chinesereaderscannotunderstandthenovelwithliteraltranslation.Therefore,thetranslatoradoptsfreetranslationtoavoiddifficultiesinunderstanding.2.3.3TranslationofDialoguesDialoguesplayanimportantroleinchildren’sliterature.Theycanreflectthepersonalityofthecharacters,pushingforwardtheplotdevelopment.Therefore,dialoguetranslationinchildren’sliteratureisworthstudying.Dialoguesshouldbetranslatedaccurately,appropriatelyandemotionally,takingageandpsychologicalcharacteristicsofchildrenreadersintoconsiderationinthelightofReceptionAesthetics.2.3.3.1DialoguesbetweenParentsandChildrenTherearemanydialoguesbetweenparentsandchildrenintheoriginaltext.Eachcharacterplaysadifferentroleindifferenthumanrelationship.InAmerica,therelationshipbetweenparentsandchildrenismorerelaxed,whichisdifferentfromChina.ThetranslatorconsidersthatthereadersareChinesechildren,sosheshouldpaymoreattentiontotherelationshipbetweenChineseparentsandchildren,puttingreadersintheprimaryposition.Example9:Thepooroldparentwasabouttoleaveusinpeacewhensherememberedsomething.‘Jiggy,I’vebeenmeaningtoask.Wheredidyouputthatsweateryourgransentyou?’91 ‘Sweater?’‘Theoneshewenttosuchtroubletoknitforyouwithherownhands?Theonewithyournameon?’‘Ohthatthing.Istuckitunderthebed.’‘Wellwouldyoukindlyunstickitandputitinyoursweaterdrawer?’Sheturnedaway.Istartedtoclosethedoor.‘OhandJiggy.’AngieandPeteandIlookedattheceiling.‘Yes,Mother?’‘TrynottoturnthehousetorubblewhileI’mgone---please?’（Paragraphs545-551）可怜的老妈刚要出门又突然想起了什么。“蹦蹦，我一直想问。你把你奶奶送给你的那件毛衣放哪儿了？"“毛衣？”“那个她费了很大劲儿亲手给你织的!带你名字的那个!”“哦，那个啊。我把它放床底下了。”“难道你不能好好地把它拿出来放到你放毛衣的柜子里吗？”她转身走开了。我开始关门。“哦，蹦蹦。”安吉、皮特和我看着天花板。“什么事，妈妈？”“不要在我离开的时候把房子变成废墟，知道吗？”Analysis:ThesearedialoguesbetweenJiggyandhismother.Intheoriginaltext,theirconversationisrelaxing,butinChina,parentsarestrictwiththeirchildrenwithaleader-memberrelation.AccordingtoReceptionAnesthetics,thetranslatorshouldtakereader’sreceptiveabilityintoconsiderationwhentranslating.Sosheadoptsthestrategyofdomestication.Inthethirdparagraph,thetranslatorusesexclamationmarkinsteadofquestionmarktoexpressJiggy’smother’sstateliness.Inthefourthparagraph,thetranslatoradds“啊”toexpressJiggy’schildishnature.Thelastparagraphintheoriginaltextisanegativeimperative,andthetranslatedtextisrenderedinamandatorytone,conformingtoheridentity.Thetranslatoradds“知道吗?”toreflecthismother’sconcernandherstrictness.92 2.3.3.2DialoguesbetweenChildrenInchildren’sliterature,shortsentencesindialoguesarefrequentlyusedwhichshowsthecharacteristicsofcolloquialdialogues,sothatchildrencanbetteracceptinformationandhaveaninterestinreading.AccordingtoReceptionAesthetics,thetranslatorshouldtrytodescribethingssimplyandputchildreninthecenter,soastoobtainthehorizonofexpectationsonchildren’sreaders.Example10:‘Aghostgoose?’Petesaid.‘You’repullingmybeak.’‘It’strue,everyword.WouldIlietoyou?’Hepulledopenhissleeveandlaugheddownit.Isighed,andturnedtoAngie,expectingmoreofthesame.Butno,shewaslookingquiteserious-andoverhershoulder.‘Ibelieveyou,’shesaid.‘AfteryesterdayI’dbelieveyouifyousaiditwasaghostrhinoceros.’‘Angie,apicturegotfedupofhangingaroundonawall,’Petesaid.‘Bigdeal.’‘Bigenoughtosendyouflyingdownthestairsheadfirst,’Iremindedhim.‘Iover-reacted.’HeeyedAngie.‘Webothdid.’（Paragraphs143-149）“一只幽灵鹅？”皮特说，“你在胡说八道吧。”“这是真的，每一个字都是。我怎么会骗你？他拉开袖子，笑了起来。我叹了口气，看向安吉，以为安吉也会像他一样。但并没有，她看起来很严肃地把头看向背后。“我信你。”她说。“经过昨天的事情之后，你说是犀牛的鬼魂，我也信你。”“安吉，一幅画在墙上挂烦了。”皮特说，“天大的事啊”。“大到足够让你从楼梯上飞奔下去。”我提醒皮特。“我反应过头了。”他看向安吉，“我们都一样吧。”Analysis：Intheseexamples,thetranslatorusesmanymodalparticles,suchas“吧”“啊”and“了”,meetingfeaturesofchildren’slanguageandavoidingvapidity.‘You’repullingmybeak.’is93 translatedinto“你在胡说八道吧。”reflectingtheirclosefriendship.“WouldIlietoyou?”isageneralquestion,thetranslatorusesarhetoricalquestion,stronglyreflectingJiggy’sdoubt.Thetranslationofdialoguescanbesolvedthroughaddingmodalparticles,interjections,colloquialwords,usingexaggerationandfreetranslation,whichsatisfieschildrenreaders’expectations,showingthebestcontextualeffect.Intheprocessoftranslation,thetranslatorshouldalwaysconsiderthereceptiveabilityofchildrenreadersundertheguidanceofReceptionAesthetics.2.3.4TranslationofFiguresofSpeechChildren’sthinkingisintheperiodofdevelopmentandgrowthatthisstage,anditstillhasagreatdealof“specificvividness”.(ZhuZhixian,1981:344)Therefore,children’sliteraturecommonlyusesfiguresofspeechtoaddvitalityandvividnessoflanguage.TherearemanymetaphorsandsimilesintheThePoltergoose,whichcanenhancetheappealofthenovel.2.3.4.1SimileExample11:Mynamejusthungthere,stretchingfromarmpittoarmpitlikeanaxemurderer’sgrin.(Paragraph124,Lines3-4)毛衣上绣的是我的名字，刚好在胸前，从左边到右边，就像一个斧头杀人犯咧着嘴笑一样。Analysis:Inthesourcetext,theauthorusessimilewithametaphoricword"like",whichvividlyexpressesJiggy’sdisgustforthesweater.Thetranslatoradoptsliteraltranslation,expressingthefeelingoftheoriginaltext,whichisfaithfultooriginaltext.OnthebasisofReceptionAesthetics,theindeterminacyandvacancyofthetextcangivethereaderenoughimaginationtomakethereaderreallyparticipateinthetranslation.Therefore,thetranslatorleavesmuchimaginationforchildrenreaders.Throughthis,thechildrenreaderscanparticipateinthetextontheirowninitiative,soastoachievefusionofhorizon.Example12:94 Fearspreadthroughtheclasslikewildfire.(Paragraph231,Line1)恐惧像野火一样在课堂上蔓延开来。Analysis:Inthesourcetext,theauthorcompares“fear”to“wildfire”withametaphoricword“like”,whichdrawschildren’sattentioninsomedegreewithasenseoftension.Sothetranslatorkeepsthesamefeelingforchildren,takingchildren’spsychologyintoconsideration.Thissentencehasaverystrongsenseofpictures,whichcanattractchildrenalotbyconformingtochildren’shorizonofexpectation.2.3.4.2MetaphorExample13:Thetimehadcometotakemybrainoutofitsboxontopofthewardrobe,blowthedustoff,andputittowork.(Paragraph311,Lines1-2）这么长时间不动脑子，都锈住了。现在是时候该动脑子好好想想怎么办了。Weputourbrainsbackintheboxes.Theyhadn’tworked.(Paragraph323)我们不再想该咋办了，因为脑子不好使。Analysis:Thefigureofspeechisametaphorinthisexample.Theauthorcompares“brain”to“box”,whichmeansJiggyseldomworkswithhisbrain.Thetranslatoradoptsfreetranslationinsteadofwordforword.Sheignorestherhetoricaldeviceoftheoriginaltext,usinginterestinglanguagewithpersonification.Ifthetranslatorputs“takemybrainoutofitsboxontopofthewardrobe”into“把脑子从衣柜顶上的盒子里拿出来”,Chinesechildrenwouldhavedifficultyinunderstandingit.AccordingtoReceptionAesthetics,itisnecessaryforthetranslatortoconsiderchildrenreadersreceptiveability.Onlyinthisway,canchildrenhaveabetterunderstandingofthetext.FromtheperspectiveofReceptionAesthetics,thetranslatorshouldadheretotreatingchildrenreadersasthecenter.Onlybybeingread,acceptedandappreciatedbythereader,canthesignificanceandvalueofthetextberealized.Therefore,itisveryimportanttochoose95 appropriatetranslationmethodstotranslatethenovelforchildrenreadersbyconsideringthepsychologicalcharacteristicsofchildren’suniquewayofthinkingandlanguage.2.4SummaryThroughthetranslationofThePoltergoose,thetranslatornotonlyhasadeeperunderstandingoftheoverallcontentofthenovel,butalsoknowsmoreabouthowtousethemethodsandtechniquesintranslationpracticeundertheguidanceofReceptionAesthetics.Thetranslatorhopesherownexperiencesandknowledgecanprovidesomepracticalexperienceandadviceforthetranslationofchildren’sliterature.2.4.1ExperienceandImplicationsoftheTranslationPracticeThroughthistranslationpractice,thetranslatorrealizestheimportanceoftheoreticalguidance,andknowsaboutthepracticalsignificanceofReceptionAesthetics.Thereareafewthingsthetranslatorwouldliketosharewithhisreaders.Firstly,makefullpreparation.Beforetranslation,thetranslatorshouldnotonlylearnthelanguagefeaturesoftheoriginaltext,butthetranslationtheory.Meanwhile,heshouldreadthetextrepeatedly,sothathecanunderstanditinalldirectionsandtransmitittoreadersappropriately.Secondly,attachimportancetothereader.Forexample,thereadersofchildren’sliteraturearechildren.So,intheprocessoftranslation,thetranslatortooktheirfeaturesintoconsiderationbyusingavarietyoftranslationmethodsundertheguidanceofReceptionAesthetics,sothatthetranslationcouldbesuitablefortheinterestofchildren’sliterature.What’smore,theproofreadingoftranslationisveryimportant.Agoodtranslationcanberealizedusuallybyproofreading.Aftertranslatingatext,thetranslatorshouldcheckitcarefullytoavoiderrorsandomissions,andmakesurethequalityoftranslatedtext.Agoodtranslatorshouldberesponsibleforhiswork.Nomatterthetranslationofwords,sentences,dialoguesorstyle,thetranslatormusttreatthemseriously.Meanwhile,thetranslatorshouldexpandhisknowledgeandhorizon,improvehimselfinpracticeandtheory.2.4.2LimitationsoftheReport96 Althoughthetranslatorhasaccomplishedthetaskoftranslationandgainedsometranslationexperience,sheisalsoawareofthelimitationsthatneedtobesolvedfurther.Firstly,itisimpossibletoanalyzeallcharacteristicsofchildren’sliterature.Meanwhile,duetothelimitationofthetranslator’slackofknowledge,thereportisnotexcellentenough.Theexamplesareselectedfromthepracticaltranslationofthetranslator,whichmaybeincorrect.Secondly,theReceptionAestheticshasitsownlimitations,notallthetranslationcanbesolvedbythetheory.Forexample,theauthoroftheoriginaltextadoptsspellingmistakesdeliberatelyinthenovel,butitishardtofindasuitablemethodtotranslateitintoChinese.Thirdly,intheprocessoftranslation,thetranslatortriestomeetchildren’shorizonofexpectationandhelpthemunderstandthesourcetext,butsheignorestheexpressionandtransmissionofforeignculture.Althoughmanyexpertsandscholarspaymuchattentiontothetranslationofchildren’sliteratureandresearch,itstillhasalongwaytogo.Thetranslatorhopesthatherreportcouldgivesomehelptothosewhowillparticipateinthetranslationofchildren’sliterature,andcontributestocreatingbetterworksforchildren.97 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AppendixAcademicpaperspublishedduringthethreeyearsofgraduatestudy:潘雪雪.宋词典故英译分析——以辛弃疾的《永遇乐·京口北固亭怀古》为例[J].科教文汇旬刊,2017(2):185-186.潘雪雪.从翻译美学视角浅析《天净沙·秋思》的三个英译本[C].荆楚学术2016年第三期.2016.99