猴爪

威廉·威馬克·雅克布斯（William Wymark Jacobs ），英國小說家，寫過大量的幽默小說和恐怖小說，其中最著名的是短篇恐怖小說《猴爪》，在歐美讀者中一直盛譽(yù)不衰，是英國驚悚小說中的典范之作，曾被多次改編為電影登上銀幕。

《猴爪》講述了懷特一家從懷特老先生的朋友莫里斯上校那里得到了從印度帶回來的一個(gè)帶有魔力的猴爪，據(jù)說這個(gè)猴爪可以幫人實(shí)現(xiàn)三個(gè)愿望，但也許會(huì)產(chǎn)生恐怖的后果，懷特老先生半信半疑地許下了第一個(gè)愿望，悲劇也由此拉開序幕……

“If the tale about the monkey paw is not more truthful than those he has been telling us，” said Herbert， as the door closed behind their guest， just in time for him to catch the last train， “we shant make much out of it.”

“Did you give him anything for it？” inquired Mrs. White， regarding her husband closely. “A trifle，” said he， colouring slightly. “He didnt want it， but I made him take it. And he pressed me again to throw it away.”

“Likely，” said Herbert， with pretend horror. “Why， were going to be rich， and famous， and happy. Wish to be an emperor， father， to begin with; then you cant be henpecked.”

He darted round the table， pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar.

Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. “I dont know what to wish for，” he said slowly. “It seems to me Ive got all I want.”

“If you only cleared the house， youd be quite happy， wouldnt you？” said Herbert， with his hand on his shoulder.“Well， wish for two hundred pounds， then; thatll just do it.”

His father， smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity， held up the talisman， as his son， with a solemn face somewhat marred by a wink at his mother， sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords.

“I wish for two hundred pounds，” said the old man distinctly.

A fine crash from the piano greeted the words， interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him.

“It moved，” he cried， with a glance of disgust at the object as it lay on the floor. “As I wished， it twisted in my hands like a snake.”

“Well， I dont see the money，” said his son， as he picked it up and placed it on the table， “and I bet I never shall.”

“It must have been your fancy，” said his wife， regarding him anxiously.

He shook his head. “Never mind， though; theres no harm done， but it gave me a shock all the same.”

They sat down by the fire again while the two men finished their pipes. Outside， the wind was higher than ever， and the old man started nervously at the sound of a door banging upstairs. A silence unusual and depressing settled upon all three， which lasted until the old couple rose to retire for the night.

“I expect youll find the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of your bed，” said Herbert， as he bade them good-night， “and something horrible squatting up on top of the wardrobe watching you as you pocket your ill-gotten gains.”

He sat alone in the darkness， gazing at the dying fire， and seeing faces in it. The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that， with a little uneasy laugh， he felt on the table for a glass containing a little water to throw over it. His hand grasped the monkeys paw and， with a little shiver， he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed.

In the brightness of the wintry sun next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table Herbert laughed at his fears.

“I suppose all old soldiers are the same，” said Mrs. White. “The idea of our listening to such nonsense！ How could wishes be granted in these days？ And if they could， how could two hundred pounds hurt you， father？”

“Might drop on his head from the sky，” said the frivolous Herbert.

“Morris said the things happened so naturally，” said his father，“that you might if you so wished attribute it to coincidence.”

“Well， dont break into the money before I come back，”said Herbert， as he rose from the table.

“Im afraid itll turn you into a mean， avaricious man， and we shall have to disown you.”

His mother laughed and， following him to the door， watched him down the road， and returning to the breakfast table， was very happy at the expense of her husbands credulity.

“Herbert will have some more of his funny remarks， I expect， when he comes home，” she said， as they sat at dinner.

“I dare say，” said Mr. White， pouring himself out some beer; “but for all that， the thing moved in my hand; that Ill swear to.”

“You thought it did，” said the old lady soothingly.

“I say it did，” replied the other. “There was no thought about it; I had just—Whats the matter？”

His wife made no reply. She was watching the mysterious movements of a man outside， who， peering in an undecided fashion at the house， appeared to be trying to make up his mind to enter. In mental connection with the two hundred pounds， she noticed that the stranger was well dressed and wore a silk hat of glossy newness. Three times he paused at the gate， and then walked on again. The fourth time he stood with his hand upon it， and then with sudden resolution flung it open and walked up the path. Mrs. White at the same moment placed her hands behind her， and hurriedly unfastening the strings of her apron， put the useful article of apparel beneath the cushion of her chair.

She brought the stranger， who seemed ill at ease， into the room. He gazed at her furtively， and listened in a preoccupied fashion as the old lady apologized for the appearance of the room， and her husbands coat， a garment which he usually reserved for the garden. She then waited patiently for him to broach his business， but he was at first strangely silent.

“I—was asked to call，” he said at last， and stooped and picked a piece of cotton from his trousers. “I come from Maw and Meggins.”

The old lady started. “Is anything the matter？” she asked breathlessly. “Has anything happened to Herbert？ What is it？ What is it？”

Her husband interposed. “There， there， mother，” he said hastily. “Sit down， and dont jump to conclusions. Youve not brought bad news， Im sure， sir，” and he eyed the other wistfully.

“Im sorry—” began the visitor.

“Is he hurt？” demanded the mother.

The visitor bowed in assent. “Badly hurt，” he said quietly， “but he is not in any pain.”

“Oh， thank God！” said the old woman， clasping her hands. “Thank God for that！ Thank—”

She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the others averted face. She caught her breath， and turning to her slower-witted husband， laid her trembling old hand upon his. There was a long silence.

“He was caught in the machinery，” said the visitor at length， in a low voice.

“Caught in the machinery，” repeated Mr. White， in a dazed fashion， “yes.”

He sat staring blankly out at the window， and taking his wifes hand between his own.

“He was the only one left to us，” he said， turning gently to the visitor. “It is hard.”

The other coughed， and rising， walked slowly to the window. “The firm wished me to convey their sincere sympathy with you in your great loss，”he said， without looking round. “I beg that you will understand I am only their servant and merely obeying orders.”

“I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility，” continued the other. “They admit no liability at all， but in consideration of your sons services they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation.”

Mr. White dropped his wifes hand， and rising to his feet， gazed with a look of horror at the visitor. His dry lips shaped the words， “How much？”

“Two hundred pounds，” was the answer.

大門關(guān)上了，送走了他們的客人，他剛好趕得上最后一班火車。這時(shí)，赫伯特說道：“如果這個(gè)猴爪的故事不比他平時(shí)講的那些要可信的話，我們還是別太相信這玩意兒?！?/p>

“你花錢向他買下了這東西？”懷特太太問道，緊緊地盯著她的丈夫?！耙稽c(diǎn)兒，”他說道，臉色微紅?！八緛聿幌肽玫模易屗障铝?。然后他又再次讓我把它扔掉?！?/p>

“可能是真的，”赫伯特邊說邊裝出一副恐懼的樣子?！鞍パ?，我們將會(huì)名利雙收，過上幸福的生活。爸爸，先許愿做一個(gè)皇帝，這樣你就不用怕老婆了?！?/p>

惱羞成怒的懷特太太拿著一張椅套追著他打，他繞著桌子?xùn)|閃西躲。

懷特先生從口袋里掏出猴爪，半信半疑地盯著看?！拔也恢酪S什么愿，”他慢慢說道?！拔宜坪跻呀?jīng)擁有了想要的一切?！?/p>

“如果你還清了房貸，你會(huì)很開心的，不是嗎？”赫伯特邊說邊把一只手放在他的肩膀上?！班?，許愿要兩百英鎊，這樣就夠了。”

他父親為自己的輕信而露出羞愧的笑容，舉起了那個(gè)有魔力的猴爪。兒子頂著一張嚴(yán)肅的臉坐在鋼琴旁邊，他向媽媽眨眨眼，泄露了他的真實(shí)心情，他接著彈奏起幾段震撼有力的旋律。

“我希望得到兩百英鎊，”老先生斬釘截鐵地說道。

鋼琴傳出的美妙樂聲應(yīng)和著這些話語，老先生突然發(fā)出一聲驚叫，樂聲旋即中斷，他的妻子和兒子向他跑了過去。

“它動(dòng)了，”他大叫道，厭惡地看著躺在地上的東西?！霸谖以S愿的時(shí)候，它像一條蛇一樣在我手中扭動(dòng)?！?/p>

“嗯，可是我沒看到錢，”他兒子說道，把猴爪撿了起來，放在桌上，“我敢說以后也不會(huì)看到的?！?/p>

“那一定是你的幻覺，”他的妻子說道，緊張地看著他。

他搖搖頭?！安灰o，我沒受傷，但我還是覺得很震驚?！?/p>

父子倆重回壁爐旁坐下，把煙抽完。外面，狂風(fēng)大作，樓上的門砰砰作響，老先生被這聲音弄得一驚一乍的。異乎尋常的沉默與壓抑的氣氛縈繞在三人之間，直到這對老夫婦起身回房休息。

“我猜你會(huì)在床中間發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)裝著現(xiàn)金的大袋子，”赫伯特向他們道晚安時(shí)如此說道?！岸?dāng)你把這筆不義之財(cái)占為己有時(shí)，衣柜上的怪物會(huì)蹲在那里盯著你。”

他獨(dú)自坐在黑暗中，凝視著漸漸熄滅的火焰，在火焰中，他看到了許多張臉，最后一張非?？植溃c猿猴極為相似，他大吃一驚?；鹬械挠跋袷直普?，他不自在地笑了笑，伸手摸向桌子，想用杯子的水澆熄火焰。他抓到了猴爪，帶著顫抖，他在外套上擦了擦手，然后上樓睡覺。

第二天早上，冬日的太陽明媚燦爛，陽光傾瀉在早餐桌上，赫伯特嘲笑起他的恐懼。

“我想所有的老兵都一樣?！睉烟靥f道?！拔覀冊趺磿?huì)聽信這種無稽之談！都什么年代了，我們怎么還相信愿望成真這種事？如果真能愿望成真，兩百英鎊又能怎樣傷到你，孩子他爸？”

“也許會(huì)從天而降，砸到他頭上，”語氣輕佻的赫伯特說道。

“莫里斯說過，事情會(huì)自然而然地發(fā)生，如果你許愿了，你也許會(huì)把這歸結(jié)為巧合?！?/p>

“我害怕這筆錢會(huì)把你變成一個(gè)小氣、貪婪的人，而我們將不得不離開你?！?/p>

他母親大笑，把他送出門，看著他出發(fā)了，才又回到了餐桌旁，以丈夫輕信他人這事取笑為樂。

“我想，等赫伯特回家后，他還會(huì)再說一些好玩的話的。”當(dāng)他們在用午餐時(shí)，她如此說道。

“我敢說，”懷特先生說道，邊給自己倒了一些啤酒，“我敢發(fā)誓，我手里那玩意兒真的動(dòng)了?！?/p>

“你以為它動(dòng)了，”老太太安慰他。

“我說它真的動(dòng)了，”老先生回應(yīng)道?！安皇俏摇詾椋艺娴摹趺戳?？”

他妻子沒有回答他。她在觀察門外的一個(gè)男人。他的行徑神神秘秘的，猶豫躑躅地朝房子里窺視，像是在下決心要進(jìn)來。聯(lián)想到那兩百英鎊，她注意到這個(gè)陌生人穿得很體面，頭上戴著一頂嶄新的光面絲質(zhì)帽子。他在門口停了三次，又都走開了。第四次，他終于停了下來，把手放在門上，然后下定決心把門推開，邁出步子走進(jìn)了庭院的小徑。同時(shí)，懷特太太把手放在身后，急急忙忙地解開圍裙帶子，把這件實(shí)用的衣物放在了她的椅墊下。

她把那位陌生人帶進(jìn)了客廳，他看起來十分不自在。他偷偷地注視著這位老太太，當(dāng)她為客廳的臟亂以及她丈夫的外套（他通常在打理花草時(shí)才穿的衣服）道歉時(shí)，他也一樣全神貫注地聆聽著。然后，她耐心地等他說明來意，但他一開始表現(xiàn)得異乎尋常地沉默。

“我——是受命來通知，”他最后終于說了出來，并彎腰拾起褲子上的一塊棉花。“我是莫與梅金斯公司的員工。”

老太太嚇了一跳?！鞍l(fā)生了什么事嗎？”她屏息問道?！笆呛詹爻隽耸裁词聠?？是什么事？什么事？”

她的丈夫打斷了她?！袄潇o點(diǎn)，冷靜點(diǎn)，孩子他媽，”他急忙說道。“坐下來，不要妄下定論。我肯定，先生，你帶來的是好消息，”他熱切地看著那名男子。

“我很抱歉——”來訪者開口道。

“他受傷了嗎？”母親急切地問道。

來訪者贊同地點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭?！皞煤車?yán)重，”他輕聲說道，“但他現(xiàn)在感受不到一絲痛楚了?！?/p>

“噢，感謝上帝！”老太太說道，并緊緊地握著雙手?！案兄x上帝！感謝——她突然停了下來，想到這句話隱含著的另一層不詳?shù)囊馑?。她看向來訪者，來訪者轉(zhuǎn)開了他的臉，她的恐懼得到了證實(shí)。她深深地吸了一口氣，走到她那不怎么聰明的丈夫身邊，把她那顫抖著的、皺巴巴的手放到他手上。然后，便是一陣久久的沉默。

“他被絞進(jìn)了機(jī)器里，”來訪者終于低聲說道。

“被絞進(jìn)了機(jī)器里，”懷特先生茫然地重復(fù)道，“是的?！?/p>

他神色空洞地看向窗外，與妻子的手十指相扣。

“他是我們唯一的孩子，”他對來訪者輕聲說道。“這太痛苦了?！?/p>

來訪者咳嗽一聲，站了起來，慢慢地走到窗邊。“公司讓我向你們轉(zhuǎn)達(dá)，他們對于你們所蒙受的巨大損失深感同情，”他說道，沒有東張西望?！拔覒┣竽銈兡芾斫?，我只是他們的員工，只是在執(zhí)行他們的命令?！?/p>

“我要說的是莫與梅金斯公司拒絕承擔(dān)一切責(zé)任，”來訪者繼續(xù)說道?！八麄儾怀姓J(rèn)任何責(zé)任，但是考慮到你們兒子所付出的辛勞，他們想給你們一筆錢作為補(bǔ)償?！?/p>

懷特先生放開了他妻子的手，站了起來，神色恐懼地盯著客人。他干燥的雙唇動(dòng)了動(dòng)，“多少？”

“兩百英鎊，”來訪者回答道。