第二十二回：環珮空歸月下魂

“Tinkling sounds on moonlit nights when her phantom returns.”

褲白見石師子父子突然走了，大為訝異，問衣紅：「衣姐，我們還沒有拜師，他怎麼就走了呢？」

Ku Bai was astonished when Shi Shizi and his son left so abruptly. He asked Yi Hong, “Yi, why did he leave before we had a chance to salute him as our master?”

衣紅笑道：「你還是拜我為師吧！他那副眼鏡裡裝了一種科學儀器，能分析任何物質的光譜。我們袋子上有污痕，可以推想一定剛去過垃圾場，去垃圾場做什麼呢？當然是找有用的東西。而最有用的，莫過於太陽能電池、維生器了。他戴上眼鏡，用分光儀分析，算哪門子的神仙！」

Yi Hong laughed and said, “You’d better salute me as your master! There was a scientific device installed on his glasses that enabled him to analyze the spectrum of any material object. The soiled spots on our bags would have enabled him to deduce that we’d been to the garbage dump earlier. Why were we there? Of course we were looking for something useful. And the most useful things are solar energy batteries and life support devices. All he had to do was put on his glasses and analyze with a spectrometer. What kind of immortal is that!”

「可是他怎麼知道我們不是千鶴莊的人呢？」

“But how did he know that we’re not from the Thousand Cranes Manor?”

「我猜是我說住在崇左的關係，再說，千鶴莊要買東西，會去垃圾場買嗎？」

“I guess that was because I said we lived in Chongzuo. Besides, if the Thousand Cranes Manor wants to buy something, would they be buying it at the garbage dump?”

「那妳說他是假神仙囉！」

“So you’re saying he was a fake immortal!”

「當然，天下哪有真神仙？這是科學時代！誰叫你不讀書？沒有知識的人，最容易迷信、輕信，經常被人騙了還不知道。」

“Of course. Where in the world is there any authentic immortal? This is the era of science! It’s you own fault that you don’t read. People lacking the power of discrimination are most liable to be superstitious and too trusting. They are often hoodwinked without realizing it.”

嘴巴是這樣說，衣紅卻有點心虛，她好像聽到有人說「實驗室」，就是這三個字才讓她想起分光儀來。可是，這也可能是她正好想到，那個念頭「響起來」，讓她以為聽到什麼。她又想起上次在蛇洞避難時，彷彿也聽到有人說「不要動」，剛好那時一個人影從洞口閃過，有可能那人有心放她一馬，也可能她聽左了。

Although this is what she said, Yi Hong felt a bit guilty. She had seemed to hear someone say, “The lab”. It was these two words that had reminded her of the spectrometer. But then again, perhaps she’d just happened to think about it and that thought “began a clamor” which made her feel that she’d heard something. She recalled again the time she’d sought refuge in the snake den, when it seemed she’d heard someone say, “Stay put”, just as a man’s form had appeared for an instant at the cave mouth. It was possible the man had purposely let her go, or else maybe she’d heard incorrectly.

只是，為什麼這麼巧兩次聲音都很相像呢？難道自己潛意識的聲音就是那樣？聽起來有如一陣風，輕輕巧巧、低低沉沉的？

But why did these two voices happen to sound so much alike? Could it be that was how the voice of her subconscious sounded? Like a breeze: light, gentle, murmuring?

希來見衣紅沈吟不語，以為她累了，便說：「時間到了，這裡環境不錯，咱們休息一下，吃點東西吧！」

Noting that Yi Hong had fallen silent Xi Lai thought she might be tired, and said to her, “It’s about time. The surroundings are quite nice. Let’s take a break and have something to eat!”

褲白正有此意，馬上摘下帽子，取出果汁機下的袋子，對著口直著脖子，三兩口就喝得涓滴不剩。喝完了，他大叫一聲：「過癮！為什麼我們以前沒有想到？」

Ku Bai was thinking the same thing. He immediately took off his hat and removed the bag from below the juicer. Tilting his head back, he drank directly from the bag. In two or three gulps, not a single drop remained. When he finished, he gave a shout. “Terrific! How come we never thought of this before?”

希來笑道：「誰叫你不讀書，沒有知識。」

Xi Lai laughed and said, “It’s your own fault that you don’t read. You don’t know anything.”

褲白又對衣紅說：「衣姐，這個果汁不好喝！妳的也給我吧！」

Ku Bai said to Yi Hong as well. “Yi. The juice didn’t taste good! Why don’t you give me yours!”

他們隨身帶有乾糧，以應付肚子突然饑餓，或因事延誤用餐等狀況。因為臨時要用維生器製造是來不及的，每六十平方公分的太陽能電池，每秒鐘只能提供二十卡的熱量，製造一片麵包起碼要三分鐘，再要加個雞蛋，那就得等上一個小時。

They’d brought dry food with them to deal with sudden hunger, or situations when meals would be delayed for any reason. There wouldn’t be time to produce food from the life support devices on short notice. Every 60 square meters of solar energy battery can only provide 20 calories per second. To produce a slice of bread takes at least 3 minutes. If you wish to add an egg, you have to wait up to an hour.

衣紅一邊吃，一邊想著那個聲音。她聽過太多神仙故事了，有些神仙真可以說是庸庸碌碌的，除了腳踏浮雲，在天上亂飛以外，與她平常見到的人沒有多大分別。尤其是什麼長生不老、點石成金、飛劍傳書的本事，那今天有誰不是神仙？如果人人都是神仙，也都那麼愚昧無知，神仙有什麼值得做的？

Yi Hong was thinking about the voice while she was eating. She’d heard too many tales about immortals. Some immortals were really very mediocre. Aside from standing on a floating cloud and flying about in the sky, they weren’t much different from the people she usually encountered. As for such abilities as perpetual rejuvenation, turning stone into gold, or passing on messages by a flying sword, in this day and age who wasn’t an immortal? If every one was an immortal, all of them were stupid and ignorant, what was the use of being an immortal?

她一直認為，只有一種人可以被稱做「神仙」，就是能明白所有的道理，能知道過去及未來。而且，最重要的是，要德行高超。

She’d always thought that only one kind of person could be regarded as “immortals”. They were the ones that understood the reasons underlying all phenomena and understood both the past and future. And, most importantly, they were of superior moral character.

這種人應該是科學家，但是，她所見所知的科學家，都只知道很專門的知識，連道理都談不上。知道過去的人也有，可惜也只限於某個時代、某件事情，至於未來，那是四兩棉花－－免談。再談到德行，除了書中有「聖人」外，她根本就沒有看到過一個。

Scientists should be like this. However, the scientists she had met only understood their own fields of specialty. As for underlying principles, they were simply unqualified. There were some who knew about the past, but regretfully it was limited to a certain era or incident. As for the future, it was like trying to “fluff up 4 taels of cotton”, i.e. impossible. As for moral conduct, except for the “saints” encountered in books, she’d never come across a single example.

如果說她好玩，經常逃課，那是不能否認的。對一般人來說，好玩是生理驅使下，人類一種鍛鍊肢體的自發性行為。逃課則是因為對課業沒有興趣，與其坐著發呆，不如遠離課堂，自由自在。

There was no denying that she was fun-loving and often cut classes. For the average person, a love of fun is driven by physiology and is a spontaneous means by which people exercise the physical body. People cut classes because they’re not interested in schoolwork. Rather then just sit there, bored, it was better to get out of the classroom and be free.

但是，衣紅心底有種渴望，她想見識一下那種無所不知，超凡入聖的人。如果有，她必然會定下心來，向他學習，自己也做個明理的神仙。因為她目標明確，在一大堆毫無主見的孩子中，只有她能堅持，自然就成為娃娃頭。一旦做了頭，她自認必須有兩把刷子才能服眾，所以私底下又看了不少書，增廣了不少見識。

But there was a longing at the bottom of Yi Hong’s heart. She wanted to meet someone who knew everything; who had overcome material desires and achieved sainthood. If there were such a person, for certain she would settle down and learn from him, and she, herself, would become an understanding immortal. Because her goals were clear, Yi Hong was the only one with purpose among all the directionless kids, so she naturally became their leader. Upon becoming leader, she believed she had to be very capable in order to earn their respect. For this reason, she read many books on her own, and in this way gained a good deal of knowledge.

多年來，她一無所獲，人見得愈多，她愈是瞧人不起。現在青春期到了，學校裡教了不少性知識，也有不少同學糾纏不休，她當然動心。可是她的意識型態太鮮明了，只要一開口，就會問些令人匪夷所思的問題，結果同學們只碰到刺而摸不到玫瑰，次數一多，再也沒有人敢對她有興趣了。

For years, she had had no results. The more people she met, the more she looked down on them. Now that she’d reached puberty, school taught them a great deal about sex. Many classmates pestered her and of course she was tempted. But her views were too outspoken. Every time she spoke she would ask questions that to others seemed quite unimaginable. As a result her classmates only bumped into the thorns but never touched the rose. After this had happened several times, nobody again dared show any interest in her.

衣紅正在胡思亂想，忽然聽到遠處傳來轟隆轟隆聲，緊接著土起塵揚，一條灰龍飛馳而至。原來是一部拼裝的氣墊車，上面有五個男女，各穿著白黑黃紅綠五種顏色的衣裳。氣墊車嘩然停在三人面前，五人一起跳下車來。

Just as Yi Hong’s mind was wandering, a rumbling sound suddenly reached them from afar, followed by a swirl of dust as a gray dragon sped up to them. It was a souped-up hovercraft. 5 men and women were aboard, each dressed in a single color: white, black, yellow, red, and green. The hovercraft abruptly stopped in front of them and all 5 people jumped down.

那身著白衣的先把三人打量了一番，叱道：「娃娃們，給我報上名來！」

The one dressed in white first looked the 3 of them over and then commanded, “Children, tell me your names!”

「你們是誰？」衣紅很不服氣。

“Who are you?” Yi Hong wasn’t impressed.

「我們人多，該你們先講！」

“There’s more of us. You must speak first!”

「我們人少，該你們先講！」

“We’re fewer. You’re the one who should speak first!”

那五個人一聽，一下子糊塗了，咭咭呱呱地商量了半天。衣紅不耐煩，向希來和褲白使了個眼色，三人便收拾東西，準備上路。

Upon hearing this, the 5 of them were confused. They whispered to one another for quite awhile. Yi Hong was getting impatient and she gave a knowing look to Xi Lai and Ku Bai. The 3 of them began to pack their belongings and prepared to leave.

那為首的見衣紅三人要走了，反而急起來，對衣紅說：「沒道理！我們人多反而吃虧！我們是五行大士，叫金木水火土統統大。」

When their leader saw that Yi Hong and her companions were going to leave, he became anxious and said to Yi Hong, “It doesn’t make sense! We outnumber you, but we’re at a disadvantage! We’re the Five Element Mahasattva (Note 1). We are known as the ‘Greatest of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth’.”

「這成什麼名字？誰是金木水火土統統大？」

“What kind of name is that? Who is this ‘Greatest of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth’?”

那五人異口同聲道：「我們！」

The 5 people spoke in unison. “We are!”

衣紅倒懂了，她對為首的白衣人說：「嗄！你應該是金大了？」

Yi Hong understood. She said to the leader dressed in white, “Ah! You must be ‘Greatest Metal’?”

金大說：「沒錯。」

Greatest Metal said, “That’s right.”

衣紅搖頭說：「你們是無知無識，還是不知不識？」這句話是她從書裡背下來的。

Yi Hong shook her head and said, “Are you ignorant and unaware, or just uninformed and without knowledge?” She’d memorized this from her reading.

金大說：「什麼無知無識不知不識？繞口令嗎？」

Greatest Metal said, “What do you mean, ignorant and unaware, or uninformed and without knowledge? Is that a tongue twister?”

衣紅說：「名字是讓別人分辨的，越清楚越好！是吧？」

Yi Hong said, “Names make it possible to distinguish people from one another, and the clearer they are, the better! Right?”

金大說：「有理！」

Greatest Metal said, “It makes sense!”

衣紅說：「那麼，你是無知無識！」

Yi Hong said, “So you’re ignorant and unaware!”

金大說：「無理！」

Greatest Metal said, “You’re not making sense!”

衣紅說：「你想想看，如果你明明知道名字的作用，還取這種名字，就是不知不識了。如果你不想讓人分得清楚，就是無知無識！」

Yi Hong said, “Think about it. If you understood the usage of names and still choose this kind of name, you’re uninformed and without knowledge. If you don’t want allow others to make clear distinctions, then you’re ignorant and unaware!”

一位身著黑衣的女士說：「我是水大，應該是妳無知無識。」

A woman dressed in black said, “I’m Greatest Water. You’re the one who is ignorant and unaware.”

衣紅說：「我已經知道他是金大，當然是有知有識。」

Yi Hong said, “I already knew he was Greatest Metal. Of course I am well-informed and perceptive.”

另一位身穿綠衣的女士說：「妳只是後知後識。」

Another woman in green said, “You’re only well-informed and perceptive after the fact.”

衣紅說：「如果我猜出三位的名字，是否可以稱做先知先識呢？」

Yi Hong said, “If I can guess the names of the 3 of you, couldn’t this be considered someone who knows things in advance?”

木大說：「只要妳猜對了！」

Greatest Wood said, “Only if you guess them right!”

苗人很相信五行說，衣紅早知道五行有五種代表顏色，她指著穿紅衣的男士說：「你是火大吧？但願我沒有得罪你！」

The Miaos believe in the theory of the Five Elements. Yi Hong had known that each of the Five Elements had its own representative color. She pointed to a man wearing red, saying, “You must be Greatest Fire (Note 2)? I hope I’m not offending you!”

火大高興地說：「我這麼有名？妳怎麼知道的？」

Greatest Fire said happily, “Am I that famous? How did you know?”

衣紅對穿黃衣的人說：「當然妳就是土大了。」土大連連點頭，衣紅又對綠衣女說：「剩下一個木大，妳能否認嗎？」

Addressing the person dressed in yellow Yi Hong said, “Of course you’re Greatest Earth.” Greatest Earth nodded several times. Yi Hong said to the lady dressed in green, “There only remains Greatest Wood. Can you deny it?”

金大說：「這不算稀奇，我也能猜，告訴我妳的名字。」

Greatest Metal said, “This is nothing. I can do it, too. Tell me your name.”

衣紅說：「我叫衣紅。」

Yi Hong said, “I’m Yi Hong.”

金大得意地指著褲白說：「那位叫衣白。」又指著希來說：「那位叫衣花。」

Greatest Metal pointed at Ku Bai and exultantly said, “He’s Yi Bai (Note 3).” And then pointed at Xi Lai said, “He’s Yi Hua (Note 4).”

褲白委屈地說：「拜託，我只是褲子白，你真是無知無識！」

Ku Bai’s feelings were hurt and he said, “Please. Only my pants are white. You really are ignorant and without knowledge!”

火大說：「別怪他，他是不穿褲子的！」

Greatest Fire said, “Don’t blame him. He never wears pants!”

水大搶嘴道：「你幹嘛？你罵他不等於罵你自己嗎？」

Greatest Water cut in and said, “What are you doing? By scolding him, aren’t you scolding yourself?”

土大則說：「妳就少說兩句吧！明明沒妳的事！」

Greatest Earth said, “Just quit talking so much! It’s none of your business at all!”

木大說：「這又與妳何干？」

Greatest Wood said, “So what has it got to do with you?”

金大大聲說：「夠了，要吵私下吵，別讓無知無識的人看笑話！」

Greatest Metal shouted, “Enough. If we want to argue, we should do it in private. Don’t make fools of ourselves in front of people who are ignorant and without knowledge!”

衣紅說：「你記性太差了，先知先識我不敢當，有知有識是不會錯的！」

Yi Hong said, “You have a bad memory. I can’t accept the honor of being someone who knows things in advance. But there’s no mistaking that I’m well-informed and perceptive.”

金大說：「妳有什麼知，有什麼識？」

Greatest Metal said, “What are you well-informed about and how are you perceptive?”

衣紅說：「我知道五行生剋，你們既然代表五行，一個幫一個，一個剋一個，本是自然的道理。」

Yi Hong said, “I understand the dynamics of the Five Elements. Since you represent the Five Elements, one will strengthen another, while still others will have a diminishing effect. It’s the law of nature.”

水大說：「看妳小小年紀，怎麼知道這麼多？」

Greatest Water said, “It looks like you’re very young. How do you know so much?”

衣紅說：「放心，我沒有易容，我是從鬼谷子那裡學來的。」

Yi Hong said, “Relax. I didn’t change my looks. I learned all these from Guigu Zi (Note 5).”

木大洩氣地說：「我們還以為這是天下獨步的本領，怎麼鬼谷子都會？」

In a disappointed voice Greatest Wood said, “We thought we were the only people in the world who had this unique talent. How come Guigu Zi knows about it?”

金大說：「木大長他人志氣！我們縱橫一世，這次被她猜到，不稀奇！」

Greatest Metal said, “Greatest Wood is giving encouragement to the enemy! We’ve always been invincible. This time she happened to figure it out. Nothing great about that!”

火大則說：「被她猜到？你還沒猜出那兩個人的名字哩！」

Greatest Fire said otherwise. “She figured it out? There’re still two other names you haven’t guessed!”

水大搶著說：「不公平，他們沒有開口，叫金大怎麼猜？」

Greatest Water interrupted and said, “That’s not fair. They haven’t spoken. How do you expect Greatest Metal to figure them out?”

土大說：「猜就是要靠本事，什麼公平不公平？」

Greatest Earth said, “Reasoning things out depends on one’s ability. What’s fairness got to do with it?”

衣紅手一舉，止住了他們的七嘴八舌。說：「不論如何，我很佩服你們，怎能把生剋關係記得那樣清楚？」

Yi Hong raised an arm to stop their blathering and said, “No matter what, I take my hat off to you. How could you remember so clearly the relationship between strengthen and diminish?”

金大說：「我們從小就這樣，習慣成自然了。」

Greatest Metal said, “We’ve been like this since we were kids. Do something often enough and it becomes natural.”

衣紅說：「難道不傷感情嗎？」

Yi Hong said, “You mean there’s no hard feelings?”

水大說：「怎麼傷法？我們是循環相生的。」

Greatest Water said, “How? We’re strengthening one another.”

土大說：「應該說是循環相剋！」

Greatest Earth said, “Cyclic diminishing would be a better way of putting it.”

衣紅說：「難道你們一直在一起嗎？」

Yi Hong said, “Are you saying you’ve always been together?”

火大說：「沒錯，除了拉屎撒尿，分不開的。」

Greatest Fire said, “That’s right. Aside from moving bowels and urinating, we’re inseparable.”

衣紅說：「你們是一家人？」

Yi Hong said, “Are you a family?”

土大說：「不，我們是師兄弟姐妹。」

Greatest Earth said, “No. We are brothers and sisters serving the same master.”

衣紅說：「那你們的師父是誰？」

Yi Hong said, “Then who’s your master?”

金大說：「石師子！」

Greatest Metal said, “Shi Shizi!”

衣紅幾乎笑了出來：「哈！是他？」

Yi Hong almost laughed out loud. “Ha! Him?”

水大說：「我師父哪點不好？」

Greatest Water said, “What’s wrong with my master?”

衣紅說：「他叫你們來報仇？」

Yi Hong said, “He told you to come and get revenge?”

木大說：「答對了！」

Greatest Wood said, “That’s right!”

衣紅說：「我看，我還是改稱先知先識的好！」

Yi Hong said, “If you ask me, I think my name should be changed to well-informed and perceptive before the fact!”

火大說：「管妳是什麼，我們要來教訓妳！」

Greatest Fire said, “No matter. We’re here to teach you a lesson!”

衣紅說：「你們的師父為什麼不出面？」

Yi Hong said, “Why didn’t your master come in person?”

土大說：「對付三個娃娃，哪裡用得著我師父出面？」

Greatest Earth said, “There was no need for my master to come in person just to handle 3 little kids.”

衣紅說：「說得有理，怪不得他剛才逃得飛快！」

Yi Hong said, “Sounds reasonable. No wonder he ran off so quickly just now!”

金大說：「混帳！妳敢罵我們的師父？」

Greatest Metal said, “You little bitch! How dare you insult our master?”

衣紅說：「當然，我是當他的面把他罵走的！」

Yi Hong said, “Of course. I insulted him to his face and he fled!”

水大說：「不可能！我們師父才是先知先識！」

Greatest Water said, “Impossible! Our master is the one who knows things in advance.

衣紅說：「不正確！你們師父是假知假識，只能騙你們這些不知不識！」

Yi Hong said, “Wrong! Your master is a false prophet and can only trick people who are ignorant and unaware, like yourselves!”

木大作手勢，說：「大夥上，先教訓他們一頓再說。」

Greatest Wood gestured with his hand and said, “Get ‘em. We’ll first teach them a good lesson and then decide what to do.”

衣紅不動聲色，她知道這時一慌亂就完了，說：「來吧！反正都是些傻蛋！」

Yi Hong didn’t bat an eyelash. She knew if she panicked now she’d be finished. She said, “Come on! Anyway, you’re nothing but fools!”

火大說：「你憑什麼說我們是傻蛋？」

Greatest Fire said, “Who are you to say that we are fools?”

衣紅說：「傻蛋是不用大腦的人，同意吧？」

Yi Hong said, “Fools are people who don’t use their brains, do you agree?”

土大說：「同意，但是我們會用大腦。」

Greatest Earth said, “Agreed. But we use our brains.”

衣紅說：「用大腦的人是不容易被騙的，同意吧？」

Yi Hong said, “People who use their brain are not easily deceived, do you agree?”

金大說：「同意，誰也騙不倒我們。」

Greatest Metal said, “Agreed. Nobody can trick us.”

衣紅說：「好，我們來賭一賭，如果我騙倒你們，就證明你們是傻蛋，怎麼樣？」

Yi Hong said, “O.k. Let’s make a bet. If I can trick you, it’ll prove that you’re fools. What do you say?”

水大說：「我同意，但是，我們要商量一下，否則一定會有人不同意。」

Greatest Water said, “I agree. But we’ll have to discuss it first. Otherwise, for sure someone is certain to disagree.”

五個人又開始七嘴八舌，爭個不休。衣紅想妥了對策，便大喝一聲：「別吵！我們沒時間跟你們鬼混！如果不同意，我們就走了！」

The 5 of them began to talk all at once, bickering endlessly. When Yi Hong had thought of a good countermeasure, she shouted, “Be quiet! We don’t have time to play games with you! If you don’t agree, we’re going to leave!”

五個人立刻異口同聲說：「我們同意！但是要我們統統同意才算同意！」

Immediately the 5 of them said in unison, “We agree! But it’ll have to be a joint agreement among the 5 of us!”

衣紅說：「你師父是大大的好人！」

Yi Hong said, “Your master is really a great guy!”

五個人又異口同聲道：「同意！」

Again speaking in unison, the 5 of them said, “Agreed!”

衣紅說：「這不證明我騙倒你們了嗎？」

Yi Hong said, “Doesn’t this prove that I’ve tricked you?”

金大說：「胡說！他真的是大好人呀！」

Greatest Metal said, “Nonsense! He IS a great guy!”

衣紅說：「他是個騙子，剛才就是想騙我們被拆穿了，才逃走的！」

Yi Hong said, “He’s a liar. Just now he tried to trick us but we saw through him. That was why he fled!”

水大說：「我不信！」

Greatest Water said, “I don’t believe it!”

木大也說：「我也不信！」

Greatest Wood also said, “I don’t believe it, either!”

火大也說：「我也不信！」

Greatest Fire too, said, “I don’t believe it, either!”

土大也說：「我也不信！」

Greatest Earth too, said, “I don’t believe it, either!”

衣紅說：「好吧！既然你們笨到這個地步，我就騙死你們！」

Yi Hong said, “All right, then! Since you’re all so stupid, I’ll trick you as I please!”

五個人口徑一致地說：「絕不可能！」

The 5 of them said in unison, “Impossible!”

衣紅說：「規矩是這樣的，我們說話要算話，否則算不上是人！」

Yi Hong said, “Here’s the rule. We have to keep our promises, or we’re no better than animals!”

五個人一起說：「同意！」

The 5 of theme said in unison, “Agreed!”

衣紅在地上畫了一條線，說：「你們如果能走到這裡，就證明你們有腦……」

那五個人不等衣紅把話說完，就一起跑了過來。衣紅大喝：「犯規！」

Yi Hong drew a line on the ground and said, “If you can walk up to here, it’ll prove you have a bra…” The 5 of them didn’t wait for Yi Hong to finish speaking and they rushed up together. Yi Hong shouted, “Violating the rules.”

金大問：「犯什麼規？」

Greatest asked, “Violating what rule?”

衣紅說：「我話還沒說完呀！」

Yi Hong said, “I haven’t finished speaking!”

金大說：「那犯了什麼規？」

Greatest Metal said, “So what rule did we violate?”

衣紅說：「規矩是說話要算話，是吧？」

Yi Hong said, “The rule is that one has to keep one’s promise, right?”

五個人異口同聲地說：「是的！」

The 5 people said in unison, “Yes!”

衣紅說：「我的話還沒說完，那能算話嗎？」

Yi Hong said, “I haven’t finished speaking. Is that keeping a promise?”

五個人面面相覷，大家望著金大，金大只好硬著頭皮說：「好！這次不算，我們還沒有準備好！」

The 5 of them looked at one another in astonishment. Everyone was looking at Greatest Metal who stubbornly said, “O.k.! This time doesn’t count. We weren’t ready!”

衣紅說：「你們怎麼會笨到這個地步？」

Yi Hong said, “How could you be so stupid?”

五個人同聲說：「師父也說我們很笨。」

The 5 replied in unison, “Our master says we’re stupid, too.”

衣紅說：「聽我的話，你們就不會笨了。」那五個人聽了，乖乖站著不動。衣紅這才說：「你們就站在這裡好了，我叫開始才能開始。」

Yi Hong said, “Do as I say and you won’t be stupid.” When they heard this, the 5 of them obediently stood still. Then Yi Hong said, “Just stand where you are. No starting until I give the signal.”

金大得意地說：「我知道了，妳永遠不叫開始，我們就永遠不能動了？」

Greatest Metal said with immense satisfaction, “I get it. If you never give us the signal, we’ll never be able to move.”

衣紅說：「你還有點腦筋嘛！放心，我不會這麼卑鄙的！」

Yi Hong said, “You’ve still got a little bit of sense! Don’t worry. I wouldn’t pull a trick like that!”

火大說：「這不算有腦筋，連我都知道這是陰謀！」

Greatest Fire said, “This isn’t having ‘a little sense’. Even I knew it was a plot!”

水大說：「你這個喥頭，有本事為什麼不先說？」

Greatest Water said, “You moron. If you’re so smart why didn’t you say so earlier?”

土大說：「不能通敵！你這是敵我不分！」

Greatest Earth said, “No secret contact with the enemy! You have to know who is our enemy who is our ally.”

衣紅煩不勝煩，又在面前畫了一條與剛才那條相平行的直線，大叫一聲：「不許吵，好好聽著！在你們和我之間，有兩條線，是不是？」

Yi Hong was really getting impatient. She drew another line parallel to the first straight line and shouted, “No more quarreling. Listen! Between you and me there are two lines, right?”

五個人同聲說：「同意！」

The 5 of them replied in unison, “Agreed!”

衣紅說：「你們先在這兩條線之間，一半的位置上，再畫一條平行線，會不會？」

Yi Hong said, “Between these two lines, draw another parallel line right in the middle. Can you do that?”

五個人又說：「同意！」

The 5 again said: “Agreed!”

衣紅說：「你們要到我面前這條線之前，一定要先過中間那條線，是不是？」

Yi Hong said, “Before you reach the line in front of me, you’ll have to pass the line in the middle, right?”

五個人還是說：「同意！」

The 5 still said, “Agreed!”

衣紅說：「過了中線，再畫一條和底線平行的中線，每次都要先過中線。也就是說，要先走完中線，再劃中線，才能繼續向前走，聽懂沒有？」

Yi Hong said, “When you pass the line in the middle, then draw another line parallel to the starting line. Every time, you’ll have to first cross the middle line. In other words, you must first cross the middle line, then draw another one, before moving on. Got it?”

五個人一起說：「同意！」

Speaking in unison, the five of them said, “Agreed!”

衣紅說：「只要你們能走完這些中線，走到我這邊來，你們就不是笨蛋，我們就任你們處置！好不好？」

Yi Hong said, “Just so you finish crossing all these lines in the middle and reach me, you’re not fools. Then we’ll do whatever you want! Agreed?”

五個人相顧微笑，得意地大聲地說：「同意！」

The 5 people looked at each other, smiling. They shouted in triumph, “Agreed!”

衣紅退到線後，然後下令：「開始！」

Yi Hong withdrew behind the line and then commanded: “Go!”

五個人一想，這太簡單了，立刻畫好一條中線，大家都站在中線後面，再向前畫一條中線，依序往前行進。這五個人果真五心齊一，配合無間。

The 5 of them thought for a moment. It was really simple. They immediately drew a line in the middle and stood behind it. Then they moved forward and drew another line, advancing in this fashion. The 5 of them were really of a single mind, and they worked together perfectly.

褲白站在衣紅旁邊，眼看他們一次比一次接近底線，緊張得要命，悄悄對衣紅說：「衣姐，這次妳上當了，他們快過來了！」

Ku Bai was standing next to Yi Hong. Seeing that each time they were getting closer and closer to the base line, he became worried. He whispered to Yi Hong, “Yi, you’ve been tricked. They’ll soon be here!”

衣紅說：「反正我跑得比你快，他們只抓得到你！」

Yi Hong said, “Anyway, I can run faster than you. You’ll be the only one they catch!”

褲白嚇得臉色發白：「衣姐，快想想辦法嘛！」

Ku Bai turned pale with fear. “Yi, quick, do something!”

衣紅說：「為什麼你自己不想辦法？」

Yi Hong said, “Why don’t you think of something?”

褲白說：「我跟著妳，就是靠妳想辦法的！」

Ku Bai said, “I’m your follower, so you’ll have to think of something!”

那五個人本來進展神速，想不到距離越來越短，那中線也越畫越頻繁。眼看衣紅就在前面兩步，偏偏中線已經畫得很細了，還是沒完沒了。

At first, the 5 of them advanced swiftly. They hadn’t anticipated that as the distance narrowed, the intervening lines became more and more numerous. There was Yi Hong, only two steps away from them. The middle lines were drawn closer and closer together, but they still couldn’t do it.

金大說：「奇怪！這小丫頭會法術！怎麼畫不過去？」

Greatest Metal said, “Strange! This young girl knows witchcraft! How come we can’t get to her?”

水大說：「別急，再畫幾次就過去了。」

Greatest Water said, “Don’t be in such a hurry. A few more lines and we’ll be there.”

土大說：「不對！這樣細，怎麼畫一半？」

Greatest Earth said, “It’s not right! They’re so close together, how can we draw another line in the middle?”

木大說：「再細也要畫！」

Greatest Wood said, “No matter how close they might be, we must draw one!”

火大真的火大了，大叫：「你們看線都連起來了，一半在哪裡？」

Greatest Fire was really burning with anger. He called out, “Look, the lines have merged together. Where’s the middle?”

衣紅說：「一半不能超過底線，同意吧？」

Yi Hong said, “The middle line can’t extend beyond the base line, agreed?”

五個人想了想，同聲說：「同意！」

The 5 of them thought for a moment and in unison replied, “Agreed!”

衣紅說：「那你們用用腦筋，有什麼方法能過來？」

Yi Hong said, “Then use your brains. Is there any way that you can cross over?”

五個人想了又想，五臉茫然。衣紅得意地說：「現在，你們應該有勇氣承認，你們已經被我騙了！」

The 5 of them pondered this for some time, five bewildered faces. Yi Hong triumphantly said, “Now, you ought have the courage to admit your mistake. You’ve been tricked by me!”

五個人又聚在一起商量，又是吵得不可開交，只是想比吵的時間漸漸多了起來。

The 5 of them again huddled together to talk things over, and once again quarreled loudly. But gradually they spent more time thinking than quarreling.

褲白也想不通，說：「衣姐，連我也被騙倒了！」

Ku Bai couldn’t figure it out, either. He said, “Yi, even I was fooled!”

衣紅笑說：「小傻子，你早就被我騙了！」

Yi Hong laughed and said, “You little fool. You were tricked by me a long time ago!”

希來也問：「妳是怎麼想到的？」

Xi Lai asked, “How did you think of it?”

衣紅說：「我哪裡想得到，是書上看來的，前人把智慧寫在書上，現代人不看書，所以變笨了。」

Yi Hong said, “I didn’t think it. I’d read it in a book. The ancients wrote down their wisdom in books. People today no longer read so they’ve become stupid.”

那五個人垂頭喪氣，最後由金大出面，向衣紅說：「我們承認是笨蛋，的確沒有腦筋可用，能不能麻煩妳告訴我們，妳是怎麼騙我們的？」

The 5 of them were downcast in spirit. At last Greatest Metal, acting as spokesman, said to Yi Hong, “We admit we’re fools and indeed we have no brains. Could you please tell us how you tricked us?”

衣紅說：「這叫作繭自縛，一定要你們先同意遵守規則，否則騙不倒人。這規則有個機關，叫做移花接木，就是說把花接到木頭上。」

Yi Hong said, “This is called ‘The silk worm binds itself with its own cocoon’. It was important that you first agree to observe the rule. Otherwise, the scheme wouldn’t work. There was a catch in the rule, known as ‘to graft and transplant’. In other words, to substitute something false for the real thing.”

金大問：「怎麼把花接到木頭上？」

Greatest Metal asked, “How do you substitute something false?”

衣紅說：「這就是主題轉移的騙術，我是從書上學到的，理論上，兩條線之間是永遠分割不盡的。我叫你們去畫分不盡的線，你們就忘了要過來抓我的目的。等到你們發現了，卻又被規則限死了。」

Yi Hong said, “The trick is to redirect the main subject. I learned this from a book. In theory, the lines separating the space between two lines are infinite. I told you to draw these endless separation lines, so you would forget your purpose was to cross over and catch me. When you realized it, you were already bound by the rule.”

五個人佩服得五體投地，立刻跪下來要拜師父。衣紅反而慌了，忙把他們拉起來，說：「快起來，快起來！我怎麼能做你們的師父？」

The 5 were overwhelmed and so impressed they immediately knelt down to honor Yi Hong as their master. Yi Hong was considerably alarmed. She hurriedly pulled them to their feet and said, “Get up, get up! How could I possibly be your master?”

金大說：「怎麼不可以？石師子什麼都不懂，也做過我們的師父！」

Greatest Metal said, “Why not? Shi Shizi didn’t understand anything and he was our master!”

水大說：「石師子只說，要我們先挑三年水才教！現在還不到一個月。」

Greatest Water said, “All Shi Shizi said was that I had to first carry water for him for 3 years before he would teach me! It hasn’t even been a month yet.”

木大說：「我是要砍三年木頭！」

Greatest Wood said, “I’m supposed to cut wood for 3 years!”