The Sparrow & the Hawk麻雀与老鹰

I glide gracefully， looking down at the world below me. I swoop1） over the trees， adjusting my wing to catch the breeze. I feel the strong winds blow over me， calming my thoughts. I am a sparrow， I think to myself. I am me. As I think this， I get a bad feeling. I look up. Up， high in the sky， regarding2） me with beady3） eyes： a hawk. I don't take time to recognize what kind. Knowing I've noticed him， he dives4） at me， screaming. Knowing it will be easier to escape， I dive， too. Down， down towards the trees. Though I am already lower， the hawk is faster. It is a race for safety. We both fly to live. I fly to escape the hawk， a predator5）. He flies to catch prey， to eat. One of us must lose. The hawk is too close. He stretches his talons6）， ready to catch me and fly away before he crashes into the tall trees. I realize quickly that speed is not the answer to survival. I am a sparrow. I am agile7）. The question lies in the unknown， though. He may be intimidating， but is he any match for me？ There is no time to think. He rakes8） his talons forward， hoping to win the contest of survival， but I am not ready to give myself up.

I flap my wings and flit9） to the right. He is not ready for that move. He puts on the brakes10）， which gives me time to escape and plan my next move because I know that he will not give up until he has caught me.

I may not be able to escape completely， but I can put death off until I have reached the bottom of the hill of life. I have already climbed to the peak， and I am climbing down， wishing there was not a bottom waiting for me.

The hawk flies a sharp turn around， and as he streaks11） at me， I feint12） to the right and dive down again. Swooping and diving， he chases me where I hoped he would： down into the trees， where there is an obstacle course of branches as an arena. As I pass under the treetops， I am surprised by the sudden dimness13）. I can't see him for a second， but then he is there right behind me. We dodge14） branch after branch， but I can't seem to get him off my tail. My wings are sore， and I am getting tired， and yet， I still fight for my life. Suddenly， I see him putting on an extra burst of speed， and I feel his sharp talons finally closing around me. I tuck15） my wings into my body， knowing he will carry me away. The claws cut into me， causing pain throughout my entire body. The talons pierce further into my body. The hawk flaps his wings， lifting us higher， up past the treetops into the bright light of the sun. I twist my head to look up at him. In the glare16） of the sun， I make out his eyes staring straight ahead of him. They seem to tell me， "That's just the way it is." And I know that it is true. The race has ended， and I have lost. I close my eyes.

我一边在空中优雅地滑翔，一边俯瞰下面的世界，然后调整羽翼，借着微风兀地俯冲直下，飞到树林上方。我感到强劲的风吹过我的身体，抚平了我的思绪。我是一只麻雀，我暗自想。我就是我。想到这里，我突然有种不好的预感。抬头看去，高高的天空中，一只老鹰正用它那又圆又亮的眼睛注视着我。我没有浪费时间去弄清它是什么来头。老鹰意识到我发现了它，尖啸着向我俯冲下来。我知道逃跑会更容易些，于是也俯冲直下，一直飞向下方的树林。尽管我已经下降了很多，但老鹰的速度却比我更快。这是一场生死竞赛，为了生存，我们都拼命地飞。我飞是为了逃脱捕食者老鹰，而它飞则是为了把我这个猎物抓住用以果腹。我们当中必定有一方会输。老鹰越来越近。它张开利爪，准备在撞到参天大树之前把我抓住并飞离这里。我很快意识到，要想活命，跟它拼速度是无济于事的。我是一只麻雀，身体敏捷灵活。但究竟孰胜孰败还是个未知数。那只老鹰或许很吓人，不过，它是我的对手吗？没有时间再想了。老鹰向前伸出利爪想抓住我，希望在这场生存角逐中获胜，不过，我可不愿意就这样放弃自己。

我拍动翅膀，轻盈地飞到右边。老鹰对我这一动作毫无准备，猛地停了下来，让我争取到了逃跑以及计划下一步行动的时间――因为我知道，如果没有抓到我，它是不会放弃的。

我也许无法彻底摆脱它，但却可以延缓死亡的到来，直至我抵达生命这座大山的最低谷。我已经爬到了顶峰，现在正在往下走，希望前方等待我的不是生命的尽头。

老鹰突然来了个急转弯，当它急速向我冲来时，我向右虚晃了一下，接着再次俯冲而下。它也疾驰而下，追着我来到了树林里――我之前就希望它追到这里。在这里，由树枝搭建的障碍赛跑道成了一个竞技场。当我飞过树梢下方，林中突如其来的昏暗让我很是意外。有那么一瞬间，我竟看不到它了；可接下来，它又出现在我的正后方。我们绕过一根又一根树枝，但它一直紧随在我身后，我似乎无法将它甩开。我的翅膀变得酸疼，身体也越来越累，但我仍在为自身性命而奋力抗争。忽然之间，我看见它猛地提速，也感到它的利爪最终向我逼近。我知道它将要把我带走，便收起了双翼。它的利爪刺进我的身体，令我浑身上下疼痛不已，接着又刺向我身体更深处。老鹰拍动着翅膀，带着我飞向高处，飞过树梢，向着灿烂的阳光飞去。我扭过头来，抬眼看向它。在刺眼的阳光下，我依稀看到它的眼睛正直直地望向前方。它们似乎在告诉我，“事情就应该是这样的。”而我也知道，确实如此。这场竞赛已经结束，我输了。我闭上了双眼。

I carried the sparrow away from the forest. I could sense him looking up at me， and I looked straight ahead. I would not give any mercy. I did not look down as， slowly， his breathing stopped. I carried him towards my nest to feed him to my babies. I tried not to respect the brave little bird that was now lifelessly clutched in my talons. I did not like thinking those thoughts because hawks should be fearless. I had to kill him to keep my precious youngsters alive. I flew towards the sun with my strong wings pumping17） at a steady beat.

我把那只麻雀带出了树林。我可以感觉到它在抬头看我，而我则看着正前方。我不会施舍半点同情。它的呼吸在渐渐停止，但我并没有向下看。我把它带回家去喂我的宝宝们。我双爪紧抓的这只勇敢的小鸟此刻已经断了气，我努力使自己不向它表达敬意。我不喜欢去想那些东西，因为老鹰就应该无所畏惧。为了让我的小鹰宝贝们活下去，我必须猎杀它。我以平稳的节奏快速地拍动着强健的双翼，朝着太阳飞去。