无灵之体
无灵之体 (第2/3页)
intheair.Jackranandgothismotherwho,surveyingthefelledtree,said,"Youmaynowgowhereveryouwish,myson."Jackbidherfarewellandsetout.
AfterwalkingfordaysanddayshecametoacitywhosekinghadahorsenamedRondellothatnoonehadeverbeenabletoride.Peopleconstantlytried,butwerethrownjustwhenitappearedtheywouldsucceed.Lookingon,Jacksoonrealizedthatthehorsewasafraidofitsownshadow,sohevolunteeredtobreakRondellohimself.Hebeganbygoinguptothehorseinthestable,talkingtoitandpattingit;thenhesuddenlyjumpedintothesaddleandrodetheanimaloutsidestraightintothesun.Thatwayitcouldntseeanyshadowtofrightenit.Jacktookasteadyholdofthereins,pressedhiskneestothehorse,andgallopedoff.AquarterofanhourlaterRondellowasasdocileasalamb,butletnooneridehimafterthatbutJack.
Fromthenon,Jackservedtheking,whowassofondofhimthattheotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedtogetridofhim.
NowthekinghadadaughterwhohadbeenkidnappedinherinfancybythesorcererBody-without-Soul,andnoonehadheardofhersince.TheservantswenttothekingclaimingJackhadboastedtoeverybodyhewouldfreeher.Thekingsentforhim.Jackwasamazedandsaidthiswasthefirsthehadevenheardofthekingsdaughter.Butthefactthatanyonehaddaredmakelightoftheepisodeconcerninghisdaughtersoinfuriatedthekingthathesaid,"Eitheryoufreeher,orIllhaveyoubeheaded."
Sincetherewasnocalmingthekingnow,Jackaskedforarustyswordtheykepthangingonthewall,saddledRondello,androdeoff.Crossingaforest,hesawalionmotioninghimtostop.Althoughabituneasy,Jackdislikedtheideaofrunningaway,sohedismountedandaskedwhatthelionwanted.
"Jack,"saidthelion,"asyoucansee,therearefourofushere:myself,adog,aneagle,andanant.Wehaveadeaddonkeytoparcelamongus.Sinceyouhaveasword,carvetheanimalandgiveuseachaportion."Jackcutoffthedonkeysheadandgaveittotheant."Hereyouare.Thiswillmakeyouanicehomeandsupplyyouwithallthefoodyoulleverwant."Nexthecutoffthehoofsandgavethemtothedog."Heressomethingtognawonaslongasyoulike."Hecutouttheentrailsandgavethemtotheeagle."Thisisyourfood,whichyoucancarrytothetreetopswhereyouperch."Alltheresthegavetothelion,whichasthebiggestofthefourdeservedthelargestportion.Hegotbackonhishorseandstartedoff,onlytohearhisnamecalled."Dearme,"hethought,"Imusthavemadesomemistakeindividingtheparts."Butthelionsaidtohim,"Youdidusabigfavorandyouwereveryfair.Asonegooddeeddeservesanother,Imgivingyouoneofmyclawswhichwillturnyouintothefiercestlionintheworldwhenyouwearit."Thedogsaid,"Hereisoneofmywhiskers,whichwillturnyouintothefastestdogonearth,wheneveryouplaceitunderyournose."Theeaglesaid,"Hereisafeatherfrommywingswhichcanchangeyouintothebiggestandstrongesteagleinthesky."Theantsaid,"Imgivingyouoneofmytinylegs.Putitonandyouwillbecomeanantsosmallthatnoonecanseeyou,evenwithamagnifyingglass."
Jacktookhispresents,thankedthefouranimals,anddeparted.Ashewasuncertainwhetherthegiftsweremagicornot,thinkingtheanimalsmighthaveplayedajokeonhim,hestoppedassoonashewasoutofsighttotestthem.Hebecamelion,dog,eagle,andant;nextant,eagle,dog,andlion;theneagle,ant,lion,anddog;finallydog,lion,ant,andeagle.Yes,everythingworkedlikeacharm!Allsmiles,hemovedonward.
Beyondtheforestwasalake,onwhoseshorestoodthecastleofBody-without-Soul.Jackchangedintoaneagleandflewstraighttotheedgeofaclosedwindow.Thenhechangedintoanantandcrawledintotheroom.Itwasabeautifulbedchamberwhere,beneathacanopy,laythekingsdaughterasleep.Stillanant,Jackwent
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