无灵之体
无灵之体 (第3/3页)
crawlingoverhercheekuntilsheawakened.Thenheremovedthetinyantleg,andthekingsdaughtersuddentlybeheldahandsomeyouthatherside.
"Dontbeafraid,"hesaid,signalingsilence."Ivecometofreeyou.Youmustgetthesorcerertotellyouwhatcouldkillhim."
Whenthesorcererreturned,Jackedchangedbackintoanant.Thekingsdaughtermadeabigto-dooverBody-without-Soul,seatinghimatherfeetanddrawninghisheadontoherlap.Thenshebegan:"Mydarlingsorcerer,Iknowyoureabodywithoutasoulandthereforeincapableofdying.ButIliveinconstantfearofsomeonefindingyoursoulandputtingyoutodeath."
"Icantellyouthesecret,"repliedthesorcerer,"sinceyoureimprisonedhereandcantpossiblybetrayme.Toslaymewouldrequirealionmightyenoughtokilltheblacklionintheforest.Outofthebellyofthedeadlionwouldleapablackdogsoswiftthatonlythefastestdogonearthcouldcatchit.Outofthebellyofthedeadblackdogwouldflyablackeaglethatcouldwithstandeveryeagleunderthesun.Butifbychancethateaglewereslain,ablackeggwouldhavetobetakenoutofitscrawandcrackedovermybrowformysoultoflyawayandleavemedead.Doesallthatseemeasy?Doyouhaveanyrealgroundsforworry?"
Withhistinyantears,Jacktookineveryword,thencrawledbackunderthewindowtotheledge,whereheagainturnedintoaneagleandsoaredintotheforest.Therehechangedintoalionandstalkedtheunderbrushuntilhecamefacetofacewiththeblacklion.Theblacklionjumpedhim,butJack,beingthestrongestlionintheworld,toreittobits.(Backatthecastle,thesorcererfelthisheadspin.)Thelionsbellywasslitopen,andoutboltedaswift-footedblackdog,butJackturnedintothefastestdogonearth,caughthim,andtheyrolledtogetherinaball,bitingeachotheruntiltheblackdoglaydead.(Backatthecastle,thesorcererhadtotaketohisbed.)Thedogsbellywasslitopenandoutflewablackeagle,butJackbecamethemostpowerfuleagleunderthesunandtheysoaredthroughtheskypeckingandclawingeachotheruntiltheblackeaglefoldeditswingsandfelltoearth.(Atthecastle,thesorcererranahighfeverandcurledupunderthebedclothes.)
Jackchangedbackintoaman,openedtheeaglescraw,andremovedtheblackegg.Hereturnedtothecastleandgaveittothekingsdaughter,whowasoverjoyed.
"Howonearthdidyoudoit?"sheasked.
"Nothingtoit,"repliedJack."Therestisnowuptoyou."
Thekingsdaughterenteredthesorcerersbedchamber,asking,"Howdoyoufeel?"
"Woesme!Ivebeenbetrayed"
"Ibroughtyouacupofbroth.Drinksome."
Thesorcerersatupinhisbedandbentovertodrinkthebroth.
"Here,letmebreakaneggintoitandgiveitmorebody."Atthat,thekingsdaughterbroketheblackeggoverhisbrowandBody-without-Souldiedonthespot.
Jacktookthekingsdaughterhometoherfather.Everyonewasoverjoyed,andtheyoungcouplewasmarriedforthwith.
(Rivieraligurediponente)
NOTES:
"Body-without-Soul"(Corpo-senza-lanima)fromAndrews,46,Rivieraligure.
ThisLigurianJackdiffersfromfellowheroesandliberatorsofprincessesbyhissystematiccautiousnessborderingondistrust(heisoneofthefewwho,theminutehereceivesamagicgift,musttestitbeforeheisabletobelieveinit).Inthatrespecthetakesafterhismother,whowillnotlethimgooutintotheworlduntilhehasgivenproofofperseverancebyfellingthetreewithhiskicks.Ihavebeenfaithfultotheoriginalversionwhileaimingtoendowitwithaparticularrhythm.
Copyright:ItalianFolktalesSelectedandRetoldbyItaloCalvino,
translatedbyGeorgeMartin,
PantheonBooks,NewYork1980
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