I'm Michelle Yeoh, and today I'm going to read Lotus and Feather,

我是 Michelle‧Yeoh，今天我要為各位朗讀《蘿特絲與羽毛》，

written by Ji-li Jiang, and illustrated by Julie Downing.

作者是 Ji-li Jiang，插畫家是 Julie‧Downing。

Lotus walked home from school by herself yet again.

Lotus 再次獨自從學校走路回家。

These days no one invited her to play.

這些日子沒有人邀請她一起玩。

Ever since a winter illness had taken her voice, the other kids treated her like a strange creature.

自從冬季疾病奪走她的聲音，其他孩子就把她當作奇怪的人。

Lotus lived with her grandfather, a craftsman who made beautiful baskets out of reeds.

Lotus 跟祖父一起生活，一位用蘆葦製作精緻籃子的工匠。

Grandpa understood Lotus's loneliness.

祖父了解 Lotus 的孤獨。

He stroked her hair and invited her to go boating with him on the nearby lake.

他輕撫她的頭髮，邀請她一起去附近的湖中划船。

"This lake used to be so alive," Grandpa said.

「這個湖泊過去十分朝氣蓬勃，」祖父說道。

"Lotus flowers swayed in the breeze, fish jumped into the boat, birds sang in the sky,

「蓮花在微風中搖擺、魚兒躍過船身、鳥兒在天空吟唱，

and foxes watched from the shore.

而狐狸就在岸邊觀望。

But now"—he looked around the deserted landscape and sighed—

但現在，」 — 他環顧一眼這荒蕪的地景，並嘆了一口氣 —

"it has been ruined by greedy fishermen and hunters,

「已經被貪婪的漁夫與獵人破壞，

and by ignorant people who took over land where animals once lived."

並且被無知的人們佔據過去動物生存的土地。」

Lotus blew a whistle made out of a reed.

Lotus 吹起了用蘆葦製作的笛子。

The sound drifted around the empty lake like a wisp of sorrow.

聲音像一縷哀傷在空蕩的湖泊中迴盪。

One morning, Lotus went to collect reeds for Grandpa.

某天早晨，Lotus 前去替祖父收集蘆葦。

She stopped in awe when she saw a big bird, as white as fresh snow, standing in the marsh grass.

當她看到一隻如白雪般潔白的大鳥，站立在沼澤草叢中，她敬畏地佇立於前。

Its wide wings were edged with black feathers, like lace on a dress.

牠寬大的雙翅邊緣點綴著黑色羽毛，就像洋裝上的蕾絲花邊。

Above the long, curved neck, its head was crowned with a red top like a dazzling ruby.

在彎曲的長頸之上，牠的頭部冠有紅色頂蓋，如同閃耀的紅寶石。

A crane!

是一隻鶴！

Lotus shouted silently.

Lotus 寂靜地呼喊。

She had heard many stories about the endangered cranes from Grandpa, but she had never seen one.

她從祖父那聽到許多有關瀕臨滅絕的鶴的故事，但從沒看過一隻。

They had stopped coming because the wetland was disappearing.

牠們不再前來，因為濕地正在消失當中。

BLAM!

砰！

A loud gunshot startled her.

一聲巨大槍響驚嚇到她。

Lotus turned around and saw a man with a hat made out of reeds aiming his barrel straight at the bird!

Lotus 轉頭看見一個男人戴著蘆葦製的帽子，將他的槍管瞄準著那隻鳥。

Lotus couldn't utter any sound, but she crouched down and drummed her metal pail with her reed cutter,

Lotus 無法發出任何聲音，但她蹲下並且用剪蘆葦的剪刀咚咚地敲打她的金屬水桶

making a noise like thunder.

製造打雷般的聲響。

The hunter fled, dropping his hat and never looking back.

獵人丟下他的帽子逕直向前落荒而逃。

Lotus hurriedly waded across the wetland toward the bird.

Lotus 趕緊涉水穿過濕地前去查看鳥的傷勢。

When the crane spotted her, it tried to run but collapsed instead.

當鶴看見她，牠想要逃跑但卻只能跌落在地。

Lotus gathered up the heavy bird.

Lotus 抱起這隻沉重的鳥。

Hold on.

堅持下去。

Hold on, please, she pleaded silently.

撐住，拜託，她安靜地懇求著。

She tottered home to Grandpa, who had rescued other animals before.

她蹣跚地回家找祖父，祖父之前也曾救過其他動物。

Carefully, Grandpa wrapped the bird's wound.

祖父小心地為鳥的傷勢進行包紮。

"He's lost a lot of blood, but he will survive," he said.

「牠流太多血了，但牠會活下來的。」祖父說

Lotus trusted Grandpa, but still she was worried.

Lotus 相信祖父，但她還是很擔心。

The crane barely moved and didn't open his eyes, not even when Grandpa fed him rice soup.

這隻鶴幾乎沒辦法移動，而且沒辦法張開牠的雙眼，甚至祖父在餵牠吃粥時也無法睜眼。

Lotus tucked the bird into the soft nest she had made for him and gently stroked him,

Lotus 將鳥放入為牠製作的柔軟的巢中，並溫柔地輕撫牠，

just like Grandpa used to do when she was sick.

就像過去她生病時，祖父為她做的一樣。

For two days Lotus watched the bird anxiously and hardly slept.

接下來兩天 Lotus 焦急地照看著鳥兒，幾乎沒有闔眼過。

On the third day, she fell asleep by the nest.

到了第三天，她在巢邊睡著了。

She awoke when she felt the air stir.

然後她感覺到空氣擾動，所以她醒來了。

The crane lifted his head for the first time and looked straight at her.

鶴第一次抬起牠的頭，並直盯盯地看著她。

Gingerly, Lotus put her small fingers on his head.

Lotus 小心翼翼地將她的小手放在牠的頭上。

The bird stretched his neck, and rubbed her cheek gently.

鳥兒伸長牠的脖子並輕輕地磨蹭她的臉頰。

Lotus's heart pounded, and tears sprang to her eyes.

Lotus 的心猛然一動，眼淚從眼眶湧出。

"Feather" was the name Lotus chose for her new friend.

「羽毛」是 Lotus 為她的新朋友選的名字。

When she helped wash his wound, Feather stared at her.

當她替牠清洗傷口時，羽毛看著她。

When she whistled with her reed, Feather rubbed her cheek with his head.

當她吹起蘆葦製的笛子時，羽毛會用頭磨蹭她的臉頰。

Filled with happiness, Lotus searched the rocks and climbed trees to find food for him.

Lotus 覺得快樂無比，並且為了牠到了岩縫中、樹木上找尋食物。

At night she often stroked him until he fell into sleep.

晚上，她經常輕撫著牠直到牠入眠。

One day, slowly and cautiously, Feather took his first step.

某一天，羽毛慢慢地、謹慎地踏出了第一步。

Lotus jumped and swirled and hugged Grandpa blissfully.

Lotus 滿心歡喜地旋轉、跳躍，並抱著祖父。

Soon Feather was following Lotus everywhere.

羽毛很快就能跟著 Lotus 到處跑。

Her reed whistle, like a magic wand, made him move up, down, slow, and fast.

她的蘆葦笛子就像魔杖一樣，指揮牠上、下、快、慢地移動。

Lotus loved her new friend so much that she didn't want to leave him for school.

Lotus 好愛她的新朋友，她不想離開牠去上學。

Grandpa shook his head firmly.

祖父堅定地搖了搖頭。

Feather, as if he understood what was happening, pushed her outside with his long neck.

羽毛好像了解到發生甚麼事，用長頸將她推出門。

Then he followed her all the way to school.

然後牠一路跟著她去學校。

Feather waited outside Lotus's classroom.

羽毛就在 Lotus 的教室外等她。

As soon as school was over, Lotus blew her whistle, and here Feather came.

當課堂一結束，Lotus 吹了聲笛子，羽毛立刻就來了。

When Lotus whistled short notes, Feather pranced on his long, thin, legs in rhythm.

當 Lotus 吹起短音，羽毛便用牠細長的雙腳隨著節奏跳躍。

When Lotus whistled long notes, he dipped his neck and opened his wings wide.

當 Lotus 吹起長音，牠會低下頭並展開牠的雙翅。

He could not yet fly, but he could dance!

牠還沒辦法飛，但牠可以跳舞！

The astonished kids clapped and cheered.

這些震驚的孩子們鼓掌、歡呼。

They all joined in, dancing in a circle.

他們全都加入並圍著圈跳舞。

Lotus's heart swelled with pride.

Lotus 心裡感到自豪。

She blew her whistle long and high, like the melody at the Chinese New Year celebration.

她用笛子吹了又高又長的音律，就像中國歡慶新年的旋律一樣。

Feather walked to school with Lotus every day after that.

在那之後，羽毛天天都跟 Lotus 一起上學。

And every day the other kids danced with them.

而其他孩子也天天與她們一起跳舞。

Lotus's whistle was no longer sad, but full of joy.

Lotus 的哨音不再悲傷，而是充滿喜悅。

One night, Lotus was awakened by Feather's urgent crows.

某天晚上，Lotus 被羽毛急迫的啼叫聲吵醒了。

Grandpa opened the door to find their front steps underwater.

祖父打開大門發現前門的第一個階梯已被淹入水中。

A faraway earthquake had vibrated the lake and flooded the village.

遠方的地震震動了湖泊，湖泊淹沒了村莊。

"We have to alert the neighbors," said Grandpa.

「我們必須警告鄰居們」祖父這麼說。

He and Lotus jumped into their boat.

祖父與 Lotus 跳上小舟。

Feather stood tall on the bow.

羽毛直直地站在船頭。

"Wake up!

「快起來！」

The lake has flooded!"

「湖泊氾濫了！」

Grandpa shouted as they poled past the dark homes.

當他們用篙撐過黑暗的房屋時，祖父大喊著。

Lotus struck the metal pail with a bamboo stick, again making a noise like thunder.

Lotus 用竹棒敲打著金屬水桶，再次製造雷般的聲響。

Feather crowed.

羽毛大聲啼叫。

House by house, neighbors came out and jumped into their boats.

家家戶戶聽到後紛紛跑出來，跳上他們的小船。

Over three hundred villagers were saved.

超過三百名村民因此得救。

Feather was the hero.

羽毛就是他們的英雄。

Feather's story was reported in the local newspaper, and he became famous throughout the province.

羽毛的故事被報導在當地報紙上，並且名聲傳遍整個省分。

People stopped by to see the rare bird and hear the story again.

人們駐足欣賞這隻罕見的鳥兒，並且再聽一次牠的故事。

Grandpa told them how the crane had been shot.

祖父對他們述說，這隻鶴曾被射擊過。

He asked for their help in keeping hunters away from the lake.

他請求他們一起幫忙讓獵人遠離湖泊。

Lotus always blew her whistle and let Feather dance for the guests.

Lotus 常常吹著她的笛子，讓羽毛跳舞給客人看。

March arrived.

三月來臨。

Birds began appearing in the sky, migrating back north.

候鳥紛紛出現在天空中，從北方遷移回到南方。

Feather's wings were still too weak for flying, but he watched the flocks until they disappeared.

羽毛的翅膀還是相當虛弱，無法飛翔，但他看著那群候鳥直到牠們消失。

Will Feather leave us?

羽毛會離開我們嗎？

Lotus asked Grandpa with her hands.

Lotus 用手語問了祖父。

She was frightened by Feather's longing stare.

羽毛渴望的凝視讓她感到恐懼。

"That's where his home is," Grandpa said.

「那是牠的家啊」祖父說。

Lotus looked down.

Lotus 低下了頭。

She didn't want her friend to leave, but she knew she would never separate him from his home and family.

她不想要她的朋友離開，但她知道她不能讓牠與家人分隔兩地。

Quietly, she searched more rocks and climbed more trees to find him food;

她靜靜地搜索更多的石縫，爬上更多的樹木，為牠找更多的食物；

at night she stroked him longer and hugged him tighter.

晚上，她輕撫牠的時間更久、抱得牠更緊。

Then, one day, Feather spread his wings wide and leaped into the sky.

然後，到了那天，羽毛展開牠的雙翅，躍向天空。

He didn't go far, but Lotus could see that he was completely healed.

牠沒有飛得太遠，但 Lotus 看得出來牠已經完全痊癒了。

She stroked his wing, and her tears dripped onto his soft feathers.

她輕撫牠的翅膀，她的眼淚湧出、落在牠柔軟的羽毛上。

She knew the time had come for him to leave.

她知道牠離開的時間到了。

Lotus walked slowly behind Grandpa as he carried Feather to the lake.

當祖父帶著羽毛來到湖邊，Lotus 慢慢地跟在身後。

He held Feather high and tossed him gently into the air.

他將羽毛抱高，並輕輕地將牠拋向空中。

Feather flew up, circled a few times, but landed back at Lotus's feet.

羽毛往上飛，盤旋了幾圈後，但仍舊回到 Lotus 的腳邊。

Grandpa tried again. Again Feather returned.

祖父又試了一次。羽毛又再次返回。

"He is waiting for you," Grandpa said, handing Feather to Lotus.

「牠在等妳」祖父說，並將羽毛交給 Lotus。

Lotus buried her head in Feather's warm body for a long time.

Lotus 將她的頭埋入羽毛溫暖的身軀好長一段時間。

When she heard another flock of birds passing overhead, she hugged Feather one more time,

當她聽到其他鳥群在頭上經過，她再次擁抱羽毛，

and then threw him into the sky.

然後將牠拋向天空。

Feather hovered and circled, circled and hovered.

羽毛徘迴、盤旋，猶豫不決。

Lotus waved good-bye, holding her tears back.

Lotus 將眼淚收回去，向牠揮手道別。

With a long crow, Feather flapped his big wings and soared north, disappearing into the horizon.

在一聲長啼後，羽毛拍動翅膀向北方飛翔，消失在地平線上。

Lotus missed Feather.

Lotus 失去羽毛。

So did her schoolmates.

她的同學們也是。

When Lotus climbed up the hill that faced north, her friends followed.

當 Lotus 爬上山丘，望向北方，她的朋友們也跟隨其後。

They sat around her and listened to her whistle.

他們圍繞著她席地而坐，聽著她的笛聲。

Her notes, filled with love and yearning, floated into the sky.

她的音符充滿愛與切盼，飄向空中。

They all believed Feather could hear them, wherever he was.

他們全都相信不論羽毛在哪都可以聽到。

One early morning in autumn, Lotus heard a crow outside.

某個秋天的早晨，Lotus 聽到外頭傳來啼聲。

She jumped off her bed, ran to the door, and pushed it open...

她從床上跳起，跑向大門，推開門板 ...

Feather, as white as snow, stood on the doorstep.

潔白如雪的羽毛就站在門外階梯上。

Behind him was a beautiful red-beaked female, and a chick.

在牠身後的是有著紅色鳥喙的雌鳥，還有一隻雛鳥。

Feather's family!

羽毛的家人！

Moving slowly, so as not to frighten the birds, Lotus held out her hand.

緩慢地移動，就像是為了不驚嚇到鳥兒們，Lotus 伸出她的手。

Feather stretched his neck over and rubbed her palm.

羽毛伸長牠的脖子、磨蹭她的手掌。

Then, Lotus heard a commotion. She looked up and gasped.

然後 Lotus 聽到了一陣騷動。她看向上方，驚訝地深吸一口氣。

She tugged on Grandpa's arm and they ran to the lake.

她用力拉著祖父的手，一起跑到湖泊。

The sky turned white as it was filled by hundreds of cranes.

天空被千百隻鶴給染成了白色。

They were circling and diving, singing and dancing around them.

牠們在她們的身邊盤旋、踏水、歌唱、舞蹈。

"Feather has brought his entire flock! Another miracle!" Grandpa said.

「羽毛將整個鶴群都帶來了！又是一個奇蹟！」祖父說。

"The lake will not be lonely this year."

「這個湖泊今年不會再孤單了。」

Lotus grinned. She twirled and pranced with Feather and his friends.

Lotus 露齒而笑。她跟羽毛和牠的朋友們一同旋轉、騰躍。

Her whistle, accompanied by the birds' singing, echoed far, far away in the golden sky.

她的笛聲伴隨著鳥群的歌唱，在金黃的天空中不斷迴盪至遠方。

I think my favorite part of the book was when Lotus realized that she had to let Feather go back to join his family;

我覺得這本書我最喜歡的部分是，當 Lotus 了解到她必須讓羽毛回到家族中時；

and we always have to remember they are wild creatures and they deserve to be free as we all do.

我們都要記得牠們是野生動物，牠們也值得擁有跟我們一樣的自由。

So for me, for a young child to come to understanding with that, um, was very special.

所以對我、對年輕的孩子來說，了解這點，嗯，非常特別。

Thank you for watching Storyline Online.

感謝你收看 Storyline Online。

Make sure to check out all of our stories.

記得去看看其他的故事。

Keep watching, and keep reading.

繼續收看，保持閱讀。