Child of Water and Little Blue Rock水之子与蓝色小石头

One of the most popular gemstones1 used in American IndianJewelry is turquoise2. This bluish green mineral 3 found in the southwestof the United States is considered by many tribes 4 to be sacred 5.

绿松石是美国印第安人的珠宝中最受欢迎的宝石之一遥这种发现于美国西南部的蓝绿色矿石被许多部落视为圣物。

The Apaches are a member of the Native American people living in thesouthwest of the United States and northern Mexico. Here is a legend6 of how theApaches found good luck.

阿帕奇人是一支居住在美国西南部和墨西哥北部的美洲原住民。下面是关于阿帕奇人如何找到好运的一则传说。

Once upon a time， four monsters lived on the earth. They were horriblemonsters. They loved to catch the people and eat them.

从前，地球上生活着四个怪物。他们是可怕的怪物。他们喜欢抓住人类并吃掉他们。

One night， a monster stomped7 up to the wickiup8 of Child of Water and hismother. Before his mother could stop him， Child of Water challenged the monster toa contest.

一天晚上，一个怪物踩坏了水之子和他的母亲的小屋。母亲还没来得及阻止，水之子就向怪物发出了挑战。

“Here are the rules，”said Child of Water. He carefully explained that he wouldbe on one side and the monster would be on the other. Both sides would have achance to shoot four arrows9 at each other， at the same time. Whichever killed theother first would get all the food. “Do you accept these rules and promise to followthem？”chanted Child of Water. Child of Water was only a very small boy. But heknew the chant was binding10. It was a promise that must be kept.

这是规则，”水之子说。他仔细地解释说，他会站在一边，怪物会站在另一边。双方都有机会同时向对方射出四支箭。谁先杀死对方，谁就会得到所有的食物。“你接受并承诺遵守这些规则吗？”水之子反复喊道。水之子只是一个很小的男孩。但他知道这种反复呼喊是有约束力的。这是一个必须遵守的诺言。

“I’ll play your silly game，”laughed the monster. “First I’ll shoot you full ofarrows. Then I’ll eat you， your mother， and all your food！ ”Just thinking aboutthis satisfying treat made the monster smack11 his lips hungrily.

“我会玩你那愚蠢的游戏。”怪物笑着说，“首先，我会把所有的箭射向你。然后，我会吃掉你、你母亲和你所有的食物！”一想到这令人满意的款待，怪物就饿得咂着嘴。

As both fighters took their positions， Child of Water leaned12 down andpicked up a turquoise blue rock. The rock was a gift from the gods， a thing ofprotection. But Child of Water did not know that. While he was looking at hisrock， the monster quickly shot four arrows at Child of Water. This was against therules， but the monster did not care. Much to his surprise， all the monster’s arrowsmissed Child of Water. Quickly， before the monster could do anything else againstthe rules， Child of Water shot an arrow at the monster. The arrow pierced themonster’s heart and killed him dead.

当两名战士各就各位时，水之子俯身捡起一块蓝绿色的石头。这块石头是神的礼物，是一件护身符。但水之子并不知道这一点。就在他看着自己的石头时，怪物迅速向水之子射出了四支箭。这是违反规则的，但怪物并不在乎。令怪物惊讶的是，他所有的箭都没有射中水之子。很快，在怪物还没来得及做出任何其他违反规则的事情时，水之子向怪物射出了一支箭。这一箭射中了怪物的心脏，使他一命呜呼。

By then， everyone had gathered around. What a noise they made that nightrejoicing13！

那一刻，所有人都围了过来。那天晚上他们吵吵嚷嚷，好不热闹！

The next day， Child of Water’s mother bore a hole in that lucky blue rock.She strung14 it into a necklace. Ever after， Child of Water wore the blue rockaround his neck for luck.

第二天，水之子的母亲在那块幸运的蓝色石头上钻了一个洞。她把它串成了项链。从那以后，“水之子”就把蓝色的岩石挂在脖子上，以求好运。

As time went on， and as Child of Water grew taller， each monster came tochallenge him. Each time， wearing his lucky blue rock， each monster’s arrowsmissed Child of Water. But Child of Water’s arrows killed each monster， everytime， until all the monsters were gone.

随着时间的推移，随着水之子越长越高，每个怪物都来挑战他。每次，水之子戴着幸运的蓝色石头，每个怪物的箭都射不中他。但水之子的箭每次都能杀死一个怪物，直到所有的怪物都死了。

As all Apache children know， it is a wise thing to hunt for turquoise bluerocks. If you find one， you too might find yourself some luck.

所有阿帕奇的孩子都知道，寻找蓝绿色的石头是一件明智的事情。如果你找到了一块，你可能也会发现自己运气不错。

（英语原文选自：nativeamericans.mrdonn.org）