Present from the shepherd 第十八回男孩的禮物

Paulo Coelho

“That baker...” he said to himself， without completing the thought.

The levanter was still getting stronger， and he felt its force on his face. That wind had brought the Moors， yes， but it had also brought the smell of the desert and of veiled women. It had brought with it the sweat and the dreams of men who had once left to search for the un?known， and for gold and adventure—and for the Pyramids.

The boy felt jealous of the freedom of the wind， and saw that he could have the same free?dom. There was nothing to hold him back except himself. The sheep， the merchants daughter， and the fields of Andalusia were only steps along the way to his personal legend.

The next day， the boy met the old man at noon. He brought six sheep with him.

“Im surprised，” the boy said. “My friend bought all the other sheep immediately. He said that he had always dreamed of being a shepherd， and that it was a good omen（兆頭）.”

“Thats the way it always is，” said the old man. “Its called the principle of favorability. When you play cards the first time， you are al?most sure to win beginners luck.”

“Why is that？”

“Because there is a force that wants you to realize your personal legend; it whets（刺激） your appetite with a taste of success.”

Then the old man began to inspect the sheep， and he saw that one was lame. The boy explained that it wasnt important， since that sheep was the most intelligent of the flock， and produced the most wool.

“Where is the treasure？” he asked.

“Its in Egypt， near the Pyramids.”

The boy was startled. The old woman had said the same thing. But she hadnt charged him anything.

Why did the boy feel jealous of the wind？