鹦鹉
鹦鹉 (第2/3页)
oldmanwhosoldhimoneforasong.Hetookthebirdtohisdaughter,andaftermuchlast-minuteadvicetoher,hesetoutonhistrip.
Nosoonerwasthemerchantoutofsightthanthekingbegandevisingawaytojointhemaiden.Heenlistedanoldwomaninhisschemeandsenthertothegirlwithaletter.
Inthemeantimethemaidengotintoconversationwiththeparrot."Talktome,parrot."
"Ieuponatimetherewasakingwhohadadaughter.Shewasanonlychild,witdidshehaveanyplaymates.Sotheymadeheradollthesamesizeasherself,withafaceandclothesexactlylikeherown.Everywhereshewentthedollwenttoo,andnoodayasking,daughter,anddolldrovethroughthewoodsintheircarriage,theywereattackedbyenemieswhokilledthekingandcarriedoffhisdaughter,leavingthedollbehindintheabandonedcarriage.Themaidenscreamedandcriedso,theenemieslethergo,andshewanderedoffintothewoodsbyherself.Sheeventuallyreachedthecourtofacertainqueenandbecameaservant.Shewassuchaclevergirlthatthequeenlikedherbetterallthetime.Theotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedherdownfall.Youareaware,ofcourse,theysaid,thatthequeenlikesyouverymuchandtellsyoueverything.Butthereshingwhichweknowandyoudont.Shehadasonwhodied.Atthat,themaidenwenttothequeenandasked,Majesty,isittruethatyouhadasonwhodied?Uponhearingthosewords,thequeenalmostfainted.Heavenhelpanyonewhorecalledthatfact!Thepenaltyformentioningthatdeadsonwasnolessthandeath.Themaidentoowascondemnedtodie,butthequeentookpityonherandhadhershutupinadungeoninstead.Therethefusingallfoodandpassinghernightsweeping.Atmidnight,asshesatthereweeping,sheheardthedoorboltsslideback,andinwalkedfivemen:fourofthemweresorcerersandthefifthwasthequeensson,theirprisoner,whomtheyweretakingoutforexercise."
Atthatmoment,theparrotwasinterruptedbyaservantbearingaletterforthemerchantsdaughter.Itwasfromtheking,whohadfinallymanagedtogetittoher.Butthegirlwaseagertohearwhathappenednextinthetale,whichhadreachedthemostexcitingpart,soshesaid,"Iwillreceivenolettersuntilmyfatherreturnsnwithyourstory."
Theservanttooktheletteraway,andtheparrotcontinued."Inthemorningthejailersnoticedtheprisonerhadnoteatenathingandtheytoldthequeen.Thequeensentforher,andthemaidentoldherthathersonwasaliveandinthedungeonaprisoneroffoursorcerers,whotookhimouteverynightatmidnightforexercise.Thequeendispatchedtwelvesoldiersarmedwithcrowbars,whokilledthesorcerersandfreedherson.Thenshegavehimasahusbandtothemaidenwhohadsavedhim."
Theserantknockedagain,insistingthattheyoungladyreadthekingsletter."wthatthestoryisover,Icanreadtheletter,"saidthemerchantsdaughter.
"Butitsnotfinishedyet,theresstillsomemoretocome,"theparrothastenedtosay."Justlistentothis:themaidenwasnotinterestedinmarryingthequeensson.Shesettledforapurseofmoneyandamansoutfitandmovedontoanothercity.Thesonofthiscityskingwasill,andnodoctorknewhowtocurehim.Frommidnighttodawnheravedlikeonepossessed.Themaidenshowedupinmansattire,claimingtobeaforeigndoctorandaskingtobeleftwiththeyouthforonenight.Thefirstthingshedidwaslookunderthebedandfindatrapdoor.Sheopeneditandwentdownintoalongcorridor,attheendofwhichalampwasburning."
Atthatmomenttheservantknockedandannouncedtherewasanoldwomantoseetheyounglady,whoseauntsheclaimedtobe.(Itwasnotanaunt,buttheoldwomansentbytheking.)Butthemerchantsdaughterwasdyingtoknowtheoutcomeofthetale,soshesaidshewasreceivingnoone."Goonnwithyourstory."
Thustheparrotcontinued."Themaidenwalkeddowntothatlightandfoundanoldwomanboi
(本章未完,请点击下一页继续阅读)