He'd recently traversed the region just a few weeks ago, and most of the villagers had already seen his supply.

他幾個禮拜前才剛穿越過了這個地區，而大多數的村民都已經看過他有什麼貨了。

So he wandered the outskirts of the town in the hopes of finding some new customers.

於是他只好在城鎮的外圍徘徊，希望能找到一些新的客人。

Unfortunately, the road was largely deserted, and the salesman was about to turn back when he heard a high-pitched yelp coming from the edge of the forest.

可惜的是，這條路大部分都被荒廢了，而正當商人準備回頭時，他聽到森林的邊緣處傳來了一聲高亢的叫聲。

Following the screams to their source, he discovered a trapped tanuki.

循著尖叫聲的來源，他發現了一隻受困的狸貓。

While these raccoon-like creatures were known for their wily ways, this one appeared terrified and powerless.

雖然這種類似浣熊的生物以狡猾著稱，但這隻狸貓卻顯得驚恐而無力。

The salesman freed the struggling creature, but before he could tend to its wounds, it bolted into the undergrowth.

商人解救了這隻苦苦掙扎著的生物，但還來不及處理牠的傷口，狸貓便一溜煙地衝進了灌木叢中。

The next day, he set off on his usual route.

隔天，他再次踏上了往常的行商路線。

As he trudged along, he spotted a discarded tea kettle.

就在他蹣跚向前時，他在路旁發現了一個被丟棄的茶壺。

It was rusty and old—but perhaps he could sell it to the local monks.

它又鏽又舊，但或許他可以把它賣給當地的僧人。

The salesman polished it until it sparkled and shone.

商人開始擦起了茶壺，直到它變得閃閃發光。

He carried the kettle to Morin-ji Temple and presented it to the solemn monks.

他提著茶壺來到了茂林寺，向肅穆的僧人展示了一番。

His timing was perfect. They were in need of a large kettle for an important service and purchased his pot for a handsome price.

而他其實來得正好。僧人們急需一個用來舉辦一個重要儀式的大茶壺，因此便以豐厚的價格購買了茶壺。

To open the ceremony, they began to pour cups of tea for each monk, but the kettle cooled too quickly.

他們為每位僧人各倒了杯茶作為儀式的開始，但茶壺卻一下子就冷了。

It had to be reheated often throughout the long service, and when it was hot, it seemed to squirm in the pourer's hand.

在漫長的儀式中茶壺得不斷地重新加熱，而且當它被燒熱時，竟然彷彿在倒茶人的手上扭動著一般。

By the end of the ceremony, the monks felt cheated by their purchase and called for the salesman to return and explain himself.

在儀式結束後，僧人們都覺得受騙上當了，於是要求商人退貨並解釋這究竟是怎麼回事。

The following morning, the salesman examined the pot, but he couldn't find anything unusual about it.

第二天早上，商人仔細檢查了這個鍋子，卻沒找不到任何異常的地方。

Hoping a cup of tea would help them think, they set the kettle on the fire.

思索著或許泡杯茶能幫助思考，他們於是將茶壺放到了爐火上。

Within moments, the metal began to sweat.

沒過多久，金屬表面便開始冒汗。

Suddenly, it sprouted a scrubby tail, furry paws, and pointed nose.

突然，它長出了一條雜亂的尾巴、毛茸茸的爪子和尖尖的鼻子。

With a yelp, the salesman recognized the tanuki he'd freed.

隨著一聲驚叫，商人認出了那就是他救的狸貓。

The salesman was shocked.

商人大吃一驚。

He'd heard tales of shape-shifting tanuki who transformed by pulling on their testicles.

他聽說過狸貓會透過拉扯自己睪丸來變身的故事。

But they were usually troublesome tricksters, who played embarrassing pranks on travelers, or made it rain money that later dissolved into leaves.

但牠們通常都是給人添麻煩的騙徒，不是對路過的旅行者做些令人尷尬的惡作劇，就是在天空中揮灑過沒多久就會變回葉子的金錢。

Some people even placed tanuki statues outside their homes and businesses to trick potential pranksters into taking their antics elsewhere.

有些人甚至會在自家或做生意的地方門口放上一尊狸貓雕像，來誘騙這些潛在的騙徒去別的地方惡作劇。

However, this tanuki only smiled sweetly.

然而，這隻狸貓只是甜甜地笑了笑。

Why had he chosen this unsuspecting form?

他為什麼要變身成這種不設防的樣子呢？

The tanuki explained that he wanted to repay the salesman's kindness.

狸貓解釋到他只是想要回報商人的恩情。

However, he'd grown too hot as a tea kettle, and didn't like being burned, scrubbed, or polished.

然而，變身成茶壺後實在太熱，而他並不喜歡被燒烤、擦拭或打磨的感覺。

The monk and salesman laughed, both impressed by this honorable trickster.

僧人和商人都笑了出來，對這個可敬的騙徒感到佩服。

From that day on, the tanuki became an esteemed guest of the temple.

從那天起，這隻狸貓便成為了寺院裡尊貴的客人。

He could frequently be found telling tales and performing tricks that amused even the most serious monks.

他經常講故事和表演戲法，就算是最嚴肅的修士也會不禁莞爾。

Villagers came from far away to see the temple tanuki, and the salesman visited often to share tea made from an entirely normal kettle.

村民們遠道而來就為了見寺院裡的狸貓一面，而商人則經常拜訪，並和他一起品嘗用普通的茶壺所泡出來的茶。

For tales of a trickster, you're less likely to want to cuddle, let's talk about Loki, Thor's annoying little brother, who can't keep out of trouble.

讓我們來說說一個你不會想要摟摟抱抱的騙徒故事。他就是洛基，也就是索爾那煩人，總是陷入麻煩的弟弟。