杨紫琼为你读英文故事：“每个生命都享有自由的权力”

I'm Michelle Yeoh. And today I'm going to read Louts and fether written by Ji-Li Jiang, and illustrated by Julie Downing.

我是杨紫琼， 今天我要给大家朗诵《荷花和羽毛》，作者Ji-Li Jiang，插画Julie Downing。

Louts walked home from school by herself yet again these days, no one invited her to play.

这天放学后，荷花又是一个人回家，这段时间都没有小朋友跟她玩。

Ever since a winter illness had taken her voice, the other kids treated her like a strange creature. Lotus lived with her grandfather, a craftsman who made beautiful baskets out of reeds. Grandpa understood Lotus loneliness.

自从冬天病了一场，嗓子哑了，再也不能说话，其他的小朋友都把她当怪物。荷花和爷爷生活，爷爷是个手艺人，会用芦苇编很多漂亮的篮子，爷爷看穿了荷花的孤独。

He stroked her hair and invited her to go boating with him on the nearby lake. ”This lake used to be so alive. ”Grandpa said .

他摸了摸她的头发，叫她一起去附近的湖上划船。“这湖以前可热闹了。”爷爷说。

“Lotus flowers swayed in the breeze fish jumped into the boat, birds sang in the sky, and foxes watched from the shore. But now ,” he looked around the deserted landscape and sighed. It has been ruined by greedy fishermen and hunters and by ignorant people who took over land animals once lived. ”

“荷花再微风中摇曳，鱼扑通扑通跳上船，鸟儿叽叽喳喳再空中唱歌，狐狸静静的呆在岸上，注视着一切。可现在······”，爷爷环顾四周的荒凉，叹了口气，“贪婪的渔民和猎人把一切都毁了”，“无知的人们侵占了动物的家园。”

Lotus blew a whistle made out of a reed, The sound drifted around the empty lake like a wisp of sorrow.

荷花吹着芦苇做成的勺子，哨声飘扬再空荡荡的湖面，带着一丝丝淡淡的忧伤。

One morning, Lotus went to collect reeds for grandpa. She stopped in awe when she saw a big bird as white as fresh snow standing in the marsh grass. Its wide wings were edged with black feathers like lace on a dress, above the long ,curved neck. its head was crowned with a red top, like a dazzling ruby.

一天早晨，荷花出门给爷爷割芦苇，突然她看见一只大鸟，惊奇的停住了脚步，这只鸟通体雪白，站在沼泽草地上。翅膀大大的，边缘有一圈黑色的羽毛，像裙子的花边，脖子长长的，优雅的弯曲着，头顶着一团火红，活像一颗璀璨的红宝石。

A crane! Lotus shouted silently. She had heard many stories about the endangered cranes from grandpa. But she had never seen one. They had stopped coming because the wetland was disappearing.

是鹤，荷花默默的惊叹道。她听过爷爷讲过许多故事，说鹤已经濒临灭绝了。但这还是她第一次看见，湿地日益减少，鹤也不往这边来了。

BLAM! A loud gunshot startled her, Lotus turned around and saw a man with a hat made out of reeds aiming his barrel straight at the bird! Lotus couldn't utter any sound, but she crushed down and drowned metal pail with her reed cutter making a noise like thunder. The hunter fled, dropping his hat and never looking back.

砰！突然传来一声枪声，把荷花吓一跳，荷花转身看到一个猎人拿着枪正瞄着那只鹤！荷花喊不出声来，但她慢慢的蹲下身来，用割芦苇的刀，使劲的敲打脚边的铁桶，那声音像雷声。猎人吓得帽子都掉了，头也不回的逃走了。

Lotus hurriedly waded across the wetland toward the bird. When the crane spotted her it tried to run but collapsed instead, Lotus gathered up the heavy bird. Hold on, Hold on, please. She pleaded silently.

荷花赶紧趟过湿地，朝大鸟跑去，可鹤一看见荷花就准备跑，去摔倒在地上，荷花抱起 这只种种的大鸟，“坚持住。请坚持住，”她默默的恳求道。

She tottered home to grandpa who had rescued other animals before. Carefully grandpa wrapped the bird`s wound. ”He`s lost a lot of blood, but he will survive.” he said.

她跑回家找爷爷，爷爷曾经救过很多动物，爷爷包扎着伤口，说“它失血过多，但是存活下来没问题。”

Lotus trusted grandpa. But still she was worried. The crane barely moved and didn't open his eyes. Not even when grandpa fed him rice soup, Lotus tucked the bird into the soft nest she had made for him , and gently stroked him, just like grandpa used to do when she was sick.

荷花相信爷爷的话，但是还是很担心。鹤几乎一动不动的闭着眼睛，就算爷爷喂它喝米汤，它也闭着眼睛。荷花给它做了一个软软的窝，小心翼翼的把他放进去。轻轻的抚摸着它的头，就像她生病的时候，爷爷照看她一样。

For two days, Lotus watched the bird anxiously and hardly slept. On the third day, she fell asleep by the nest. She awoke when she felt the air stir.

整整两天，荷花一直焦急的守候在大鸟的身边，几乎没有合眼。第三天，他睡着在窝旁边，当她醒来时，她感觉脸旁生风。

The crane lifted his head for the first time and looked straight at her. Gingerly, Lotus put her small finger on his head. The bird stretched its neck. and rubbed her cheek gently. Lotus`s heart pounded, and tears sprang to her eyes.

鹤抬起头直勾勾的看着他，荷花轻轻的用手指摸了摸它的头，大鸟伸长了脖子，轻轻的蹭着她的脸，荷花的心怦怦直跳，眼泪不自觉的流了出来。

“Feather” was the name, Lotus chose for her new friend. When she helped wash his wound, Feather stared at her. When she whistled with her reed Feather rubbed her cheek with his head filled with happiness. Lotus searched the rocks and climbed trees to find food for him.

荷花给她的新朋友取名为“羽毛”，荷花为它清理伤口的时候，羽毛就温柔的看着她。荷花叼着芦苇吹起口哨的时候，羽毛就用头去蹭她的脸，幸福满满，荷花在岩石间攀爬，爬上高高的树，给羽毛找吃的。

At night. She often stroked him until he fell into sleep . One day, slowly and cautiously, Feather took his first step, Lotus jumped and swirled and hugged grandpa blissfully. Soon Feather was following Lotus everywhere.

晚上。她经常抚摸他直到他睡着。有一天，羽毛慢慢地小心翼翼地迈出了第一步，荷花高兴的又蹦又跳，幸福地拥抱着爷爷，很快，羽毛就跟着荷花到处走。

Her reed whistle, like a magic wand, made him move up, down, slow and fast. Lotus loved her new friends so much that she didn't want to leave him for school, grandpa shook his head firmly， feather as if he understood what was happening, pushed her outside with his long neck.

她的芦苇哨子像一根魔杖，能告诉羽毛往上往下，慢一点，快起来。莲花非常爱她的新朋友，她不想离开他去上学，爷爷坚定地摇了摇头，羽毛好像明白发生了什么，用他的长颈把她往门外推。

Then he followed her all the way to school, Feather waited outside. Lotus`s classroom. As soon as school was over, Lotus blew her whistle, and here Feather came, when Lotus whistled short notes Feather pranced on his long, thin, legs in rhythm.

它一路跟着她去上学，荷花在教室上课，羽毛就在外头等着，一放学，荷花一吹口哨，羽毛就来到她身边，荷花吹短哨，羽毛就会欢快的蹦跶起来，又细又长的腿跳跃着。

When Lotus whistled long notes he dipped his neck and opened his wings wide, He could not yet fly, but he could dance! The astonished kids clapped and cheered. They all joined in, dancing in a circle, Lotus heart swelled with pride.

当荷花吹着长长的音符时，他垂下脖子，张开翅膀，他还不能飞，但他能跳舞！惊讶的孩子们鼓掌欢呼，大家围成一圈跳舞，荷花内心是慢慢的骄傲。

She blew her whistle long and high, like melody at melody at the Chinese new year celebration. Feather walked to school with Lotus every day after that, and every day the other kids danced with them. Lotus whistle was no longer sad, but full of joy.

荷花的哨音悠扬且长，就像在庆祝新年一样，羽毛每天都陪着荷花一起上学放学，和小朋友们一起欢快的跳舞。荷花的哨音不再悲伤，而是充满了喜悦。

One night, Lotus was awakened by Feather`s urgent crows， Grandpa opened the door to find their front steps underwater. A faraway earthquake had vibrated the lake and flooded the village.

一天晚上，荷花被羽毛的急迫啼叫声惊醒了，爷爷打开门，发现水已经漫到屋前的台阶上，地震震动了湖面，湖水淹没了村庄。

“We have to alert the neighbors,” said grandpa. He and Lotus jumped into the boat. Feather stood tall on the bow. “wake up! The lake has flooded!” Grandpa shouted as they poled past the dark homes. Lotus struck the metal pail with a bamboo stick, again making a noise like thunder.

“我们得提醒邻居，”爷爷说。他和荷花跳上了船。羽毛站在船头上。“醒醒！湖水泛滥了！”爷爷大声喊道，荷花用芦苇敲打着铁桶，又发出雷鸣般的响声。

Feather crowed, house by house, neighbors came out and jumped into the boats. Over 300 villagers were saved. feather was the hero, feather`s story was reported in the local newspaper and he became famous throughout the province.

羽毛不停的啼叫着，一家接一家，邻居们纷纷跑出屋子跳上船，300多名村民获救，羽毛成了英雄，羽毛的事迹被当地报纸报道，在全省范围内名声大噪。

People stopped by to see the rare bird and hear the story again. Grandpa told them how the crane had been shot. He asked for their help in keeping hunters away from the lake. Lotus always blew her whistle, and let Feather dance for the guests.

人们纷纷到访来看这只稀有的鸟，亲耳听听它的传奇故事。爷爷告诉他们鹤是怎么被射杀的。他请求大家帮忙，不要让猎人再靠近湖边。莲花总是吹着她的口哨，让羽毛舞为客人舞蹈。

March arrived, Birds began appearing in the sky, migrating back North. Feather`s wings were still too weak for flying. But he watched the flocks until they disappeared. Will Feather leave us ? Lotus asked grandpa with her hands. She was frighted by father's longing stare. That's where he's home is, Grandpa said.

三月到了，鸟儿开始出现在天空中，向北方迁徙。羽毛的翅膀还太弱，不能飞。但是他一直看着鸟群消失。羽毛会离开我们吗？荷花打着手语问爷爷。羽渴望的眼神使她惊慌不安。爷爷说，天空才是它的家啊。

Lotus looked down. She didn't want a friend to leave. But she knew she would never separate him from his home and family. Quietly, she searched more rocks and climbed more trees to find him food.

荷花低头看了看，她不想让一个朋友离开，但她知道她永远不会把他和家人分开，她悄悄地在岩石间攀爬，爬上更多的树给羽毛找食物。

At night, she stroked him longer and hugged him tighter . then one day Further spread his wings wide and leaped into the sky. He didn't go far, but Lotus could see that he was completely healed. She stroked his wing and her tears dripped onto his soft feathers.

晚上，她长时间的抚摸着羽毛，紧紧地拥抱着它。有一天，羽毛张开了翅膀，跃上了天空。他没走多远，但荷花看到他已经完全康复了。她抚摸着他的翅膀，泪水滴在他柔软的羽毛上。

She knew the time had come for him to leave ,Lotus walked slowly behind grandpa as he carried further to the lake. He held Feather high and tossed him gently into the air.

她知道他该走了，荷花慢慢地跟在爷爷后面，他把羽毛举得高高的，轻轻地抛向空中。

Feather flew up, circled a few times, but landed back at Lotus feet. Grandpa tried again again Feather returned. “He is waiting for you, grandpa said, handing feather to Lotus . Lotus buried head in Feather`s warm body for a long time, when she heard another flock of birds passing overhead, she hugged Feather one more time and then threw him into the sky.

羽毛飞了起来，绕了几圈，又落在荷花身边。爷爷又试了一次，羽毛又飞回来了。“他在等你呢，”爷爷说着，把羽毛交给了荷花。荷花把头埋在羽毛温暖的身体里很长一段时间，这时她听到另一只鸟从头顶飞过，她又一次抱住羽毛，然后把它扔向天空。

Feather hovered and circled, circled and hovered. Lotus waved Goodbye, holding the tears back. With the long crow. Feather flapped his big wings and soared North, disappearing into the horizon. Lotus missed Feather.

羽毛盘旋着，盘旋着，盘旋着。荷花挥手道别，忍住眼泪。随着长长的啼鸣。羽毛拍打着他的大翅膀，向北飞去，消失在地平线上。荷花失去了羽毛。

So did her schoolmates. When Lotus climbed up the hill that faced north, her friends followed .They sat around her and listened to her whistle. Her notes, filled with love and yearning, floated into the sky.

她的同学们也一样，当莲花爬上朝北的小山时，她的朋友们也跟着去了，他们围坐在她身边，听着她的哨声，她的音符充满了爱和向往，飘向天空。

They all believed Feather could hear them, wherever he was. One early morning in autumn, Lotus heard a crow outside. She jumped off her bed, ran to the door, and pushed it open. Feather, as white as snow stood on the doorstep.

他们都相信，无论羽毛在哪里，他都能听到他们的声音。秋天的一个清晨，荷花听到外面有一声鸟鸣。她从床上跳下来，跑到门前，推开门，羽毛像雪一样白，站在门阶上。

Behind him was a beautiful red-beaked female, and a chick, feather's family, moving slowly. So as not to frighten the birds, Lotus held out her hand. Feather stretched his nack over and rubbed her palm. Then, Lotus heard a commotion. She looked up and gasped. She tugged on grandpa's arm and they ran to the lake.

他身后是一只美丽的红喙母鸟，一只小鹤，羽毛的家人。慢慢地移动着，为了不吓到鸟儿，荷花伸出她的手。羽毛伸长它的脖子，在荷花的手心撒娇般的蹭着。这时，荷花听到一阵骚动。她抬起头来，喘了口气。她拉着爷爷的胳膊，就往湖边跑。

The sky turned white as it was filled by hundreds of cranes, they were circling circling and diving, Singing and dancing around them. Feather has brought his entire flock. Another miracle! Grandpa said, the lake will not be lonely this year. Lotus grinned. She twirled and pranced with Feather and his friends. Her whistle, accompanied by the bird`s singing. Echoed far, far away in the golden sky.

天空变白了，纳里聚集了成百上千只鹤，他们围着荷花和爷爷盘旋，一会又钻进湖里，一会又围绕着他们又唱又跳。羽毛带来了他的全部族群。这又是一个奇迹！爷爷说，今年湖里又热闹了。荷花咧嘴笑了。她带着羽毛和他的朋友们转来转去。她的口哨，伴随着鸟儿的歌唱，在金色天的天空中回荡。

I think my favorite part of the book was when Lotus realized that she had to let feather go back to join his family. And we always have to remember they are wild creatures and they deserve to be Free as we all do. So for me, for a young child to come to understanding with that was very special. Thank you for watching Storyline Online.

我想我最喜欢的部分是当荷花意识到她必须让羽毛回到他的家庭。我们必须永远记住它们是野生动物，它们应该像我们一样自由。所以对我来说，或者对于一个小孩子来说，有着非常重要的意义。谢谢你们在网上收看今天的故事汇。