一只被称为“灵鸽”的鸽子为什么要救老虎？
当过国王的老虎下台后快要饿死了，灵鸽却要救他，为什么呢？请看惠言童话第13集《灵鸽和老虎》。
编辑寄语
受疫情影响，自3月16日起，大纽约地区学校陆续关闭，孩子们在家，除了上网课外，各种活动受到限制。如何帮助孩子们度过这个非常时期的枯燥生活，让家长们十分操心。惠言先生在征得参与创作者和组织者同意后，主动向我们编辑部提议，把他正在筹划出版的《惠言童话》18篇绘画本稿子赠给我们网站连载，可以让孩子们在网上看到和听到这些故事，有助于提高他们的中文阅读和听力水平。
故事文稿是基于惠言先生前几年在《世界日报》上发表的故事修改的，中美两地34个孩子们参加了插画稿创作，上海五里桥文化中心张炜玮主任组织“音之魅”诵读沙龙的语言艺术家们创作了9个朗诵作品。希望这些生动有趣的故事、童趣洋溢的图画和美妙的朗诵艺术作品，能伴随孩子们度过新冠疫情这个困难时期。对此，我们向惠言先生；英文稿的校阅者Jason Kenny先生和赵蒙皓女士；上海五里桥文化中心及“音之魅”诵读沙龙语言艺术家们；参与画稿创作的孩子们及其家长表示衷心感谢！
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13.灵 鸽 和 老 虎
Smart Pigeon and Tiger
文： 惠言
画： 蒋懿楚（11岁，图1-9）；王紫玄（10岁，图10-19）
英文校阅： Jason Kenny & 赵蒙皓
中文朗诵： 小百灵
英文朗诵： Andrew Song (宋浩阳)
13.灵鸽和老虎中文朗诵
13.灵鸽和老虎英文朗诵
动物王国的国王老虎与熊猫比武输了后，所有动物不再向老虎进贡食物，王国解体了，老虎只能离开山洞皇宫,独自捕猎觅食。
When King Tiger, the leader of the entire animal kingdom was defeated by Panda in a fight, all the animals would no longer pay tribute to him. The kingdom disintegrated and King Tiger had to leave his palace and became an outcast.
由于长期过着不劳而获的生活，老虎身体肥胖，动作迟缓，很难捕获行动敏捷的动物。最糟糕的是老虎不熟悉狩猎线路，不知道去哪里寻找猎物，经常一连几天饿肚子，体型渐渐消瘦。离开国王宝座的老虎，一开始的日子过得非常艰难。
Because Tiger had always had all the animals bring food to him, he was slow and out of practice, and did not know where any of the hunting routes were, so he found it very hard to catch enough prey to feed himself. Tiger often went hungry for many days at a time, and gradually lost weight. Without the power of the throne, Tiger had a very hard time at the beginning.
这天，太阳快要下山了，老虎仍没有进食，肚子咕噜咕噜地叫。实在无计可施，它想起山下有一个村庄，村里农民养的牛羊猪鸡都很温顺，决定冒险下山碰运气，看能否抓一个填肚子，于是来到村边。
One day, as dusk cast long shadows over the woods, Tiger still had not eaten anything; his stomach was growling. Though he searched desperately, he could not find any food. Suddenly, Tiger recalled that there was a village nearby. The cows, sheep, pigs and chickens raised by the farmers in the village would probably be easy prey for him. He decided to try his luck, and go over to the village to see if he could catch something to fill his stomach.
老虎有气无力地走在进村的土路上，远远看到一群鸽子在啄食路上的玉米粒，便冲上前去。鸽群听到老虎急促的脚步声，全都飞走了。正当老虎为自己连只鸽子也抓不到而懊恼时，看到散落在地上的玉米粒，心想鸽子也许会飞回来，就躲进路边的树丛里。
As Tiger walked feebly on the dirt road that led to the village, he spied a group of pigeons in the distance, pecking at some corn kernels. In his eagerness to catch a meal, Tiger rushed forward. The pigeons immediately saw Tiger running towards them so they all flew away. Tiger was very annoyed that he could not even catch a pigeon, but then he realized the pigeons might fly back because there were still many corn kernels left on the ground. So he hid himself in the bushes by the roadside.
果然，一只被鸽群称为“灵鸽”的鸽子，在天空不见地上老虎踪影，就大胆地飞回原地啄食玉米。老虎从树丛中窜出，猛扑过去。说时迟，那时快，机敏的灵鸽展翅逃脱，飞落在路旁的树上。
Sure enough, a pigeon who was called “Smart pigeon” by other pigeons, without seeing the tiger, boldly flew back to eat some more corn. Tiger leaped out of the bush, quicker than words can tell, but Smart pigeon flew up onto a tree and Tiger ended up pouncing on empty air.
老虎失望地抬头看看树上的灵鸽，转身准备离开时，灵鸽开口了：“老虎，别走。我认识你，你不是从前的国王吗？怎么落魄到这个地步？以前大家进贡最好的肉，你还挑肥拣瘦，现在居然连一个小小的鸽子也不放过！”
Tiger looked up into the tree, disappointed that he had not managed to catch the pigeon. Tiger turned to leave, but before he could do so, Smart pigeon called from high up in the tree, “Don’t go yet! I know you, aren’t you Tiger, the former king? How did you come to be so thin? We always used to pay tribute to you with the best meat! You always used to be so picky, but now you are fine with eating pigeon meat!”
老虎听了有点脸红，坦白地告诉灵鸽：“我不知道猎物在哪里，几天没有进食，快要饿死了。” 灵鸽说：“难怪如此。” 灵鸽若有所思，接着关心地问道：“看你怪可怜的，我可不想看着你饿死。这样吧，我带你去一个地方，那里野猪多得成灾，但比较远，你去不去？”
Tiger blushed in embarrassment and confessed to the pigeon, “I don’t know where the prey is. I haven’t eaten for several days, and I’m going to starve to death.” “No wonder ,” acknowledged Smart pigeon. Smart pigeon thought about it, and then asked, “Well I don’t want to see you starve to death. I can take you to a place overrun by wild boars, but I’m afraid it’s very far away. Do you want to go?”
老虎尴尬地回答：“当然想去，我最喜欢吃野猪肉。可是我现在饿得跑不动，更谈不上和野猪博斗。” 灵鸽说：“这倒也是，让我想想。”老虎哀求灵鸽：“你飞得高看得远，能不能先帮我找个动物充饥？哪怕死的也行。那样明天我有力气跟你走远路。” 灵鸽答应了。
“Of course, I want to go.” Tiger replied awkwardly. ” Wild boar meat was my favorite. But I’m too hungry to run now, let alone fight wild boars. ” Smart pigeon replied, “That’s true. Let me think about it.” The tiger pleaded with the pigeon, ” You can fly high and see far. Can you help me find an animal to quell my hunger first? Even if it’s a dead one. Then I’ll have the strength to travel a long way with you tomorrow.” Smart pigeon agreed.
灵鸽飞到鹿群喝水经常出没的小河边，发现有几只狼正撕扯一头刚被咬死的小鹿，灵鸽本来对狼就没好感，于是赶快引领老虎前往。
As Smart pigeon was flying around looking for food that Tiger could eat, he saw a pack of wolves feasting on a dead deer near the river bank. Smart pigeon didn’t like wolves, so he brought tiger over.
狼群看到老虎来了，纷纷避让，老虎独占了这头死鹿。灵鸽告诉老虎：“你慢慢享用，我回家了，明天一早在这里等我。”灵鸽走后，老虎狼吞虎咽，这是它不当国王后，第一次吃了顿饱饭。
When the wolves saw Tiger coming, they all ran away in fright, leaving the dead deer behind. Smart pigeon told the tiger, ” Enjoy your meal. I’m going home. Meet me here early tomorrow morning.” Tiger wolfed down the dead deer. It was his first satisfying meal after becoming an outcast.
灵鸽飞回鸽巢，对鸽群的亲友们讲了后来发生的事，大家齐声责备它：“你怎么给老虎带路，那不是为虎作伥吗？” 灵鸽谈了与众不同的想法：“我觉得世界万物，物竞天择，各有其用。老虎快要饿死，但是它不该死，北山森林里需要老虎。”大家疑惑地问：“为什么？”
Smart pigeon flew back to the pigeon nest and told his relatives and friends about all the events that had just happened. All the other pigeons were outraged at smart pigeon’s actions; “How could you help a tiger?! Don’t hold a candle to the devil!” In his defense, Smart pigeon reasoned, “I think all lives in the world, due to natural selection, have their own purposes. Tiger is dying of hunger, but he shouldn’t die. Tiger is needed in the forest.” “Why?” The rest of the pigeons all asked in confusion.
灵鸽接着说：“你们看，北山森林里现在野猪泛滥成灾。野猪喜欢啃树皮磨牙，树死了。野猪翻掘草地找食，青草枯黄了。小动物都怕野猪，连狼都不敢碰野猪。只有强健的老虎能杀灭野猪，保持我们居住的森林草地生态平衡啊！” 大家听完这席有见地的话，纷纷点头称是。
“The wild boar are flooding the Beishan forest.” Smart pigeon explained. “The wild boars like to bite off the bark and grind their teeth on the trees, making the trees die. The wild boars dig up the grass in the meadows for food, and the grass dies. Almost all the animals are afraid of the boars, even wolves are afraid to challenge them. Only a strong animal like Tiger can kill the wild boars and maintain the ecological balance of the forest.” After hearing this insightful speech, everyone nodded and agreed with Smart pigeon.
第二天一早，吃饱睡足的老虎精神抖擞，跟着灵鸽来到北山。远远看去，山上有一大片失去树皮的树木，枯萎而死，横七竖八地倾倒在枯黄的草地上，四周一片狼藉。近处青葱的树林里，一群野猪正在用长长的獠牙翻掘草地，啃咬树皮，满地撒野。
Early the next morning, Tiger, who was now well rested, followed Smart Pigeon to the Beishan forest. All that could be seen around them was mostly either dead trees with torn bark, or land that looked like churned up dirt that once was grassy. Suddenly, Tiger noticed a small group of boars nearby. The boars were busy chewing tree bark and tearing up one of the few small patches of remaining grassland.
老虎看到野猪群，立即兴奋起来，朝天大吼一声。野猪听到老虎的吼声，大吃一惊，他们已经很久没有听过虎啸声，一时之间有些发懵，迈不开步子。
When Tiger saw the boars, he let out an earth-shattering roar. The wild boars were shocked to hear Tiger’s roar. They had not heard a tiger’s roar for a very long time, and were paralyzed with fear.
老虎迅速一连几个虎跳，把一头野猪扑翻在地，其他野猪见状四散逃窜。
Tiger quickly leaped at one of the boars, and with one blow from his paw, he struck the boar down. The rest of the boars fled in terror, and Tiger was left with his dinner.
老虎一口气吞下小半头野猪，随后在附近找了一个狭小山洞，把剩下的半头野猪拖进洞里。
Tiger wolfed down part of the boar, and then he set out in search of a den. When he had found a suitable cave, he hid the remainder of the boar into the cave.
看老虎有了安身处，灵鸽与老虎告别，同时告诫老虎：“这地方野猪虽多，可别吃光了。”老虎哈哈大笑：“这个我懂，我会留它们繁衍生息，否则又要挨饿。”
Happy that Tiger found suitable shelter, Smart pigeon bid farewell to him and warned him not to eat all the boars up at once. “Don’t worry.” Tiger replied. “I won’t. If I do, I will go hungry again after they’re all gone.”
灵鸽飞回鸽巢，告诉亲友们这个结果，大家夸奖灵鸽做了一件大好事。没有多久，北山的野猪数量明显减少，山林里经常传出令人生畏的虎啸声，那片毁坏的森林和草地也渐渐恢复了生机。
Smart pigeon flew back to the nest and told his family and friends the result. Everyone praised Smart pigeon for having done a great thing. Soon, the number of wild boars in Beishan was significantly reduced, and the destroyed forest and grassland were gradually restored to life.
灵鸽和老虎 王紫玄（10岁）
作者简介
惠言（实名：诸惠昌）
退休水处理专业工程师，退休后撰写《惠言童话故事》和生活杂记。1946年生于中国浙江省慈溪市，1950年后在上海完成小学和中学。1968年9月毕业于北京清华大学土建系给排水专业。1994年3月在美国犹他州立大学获土木和环境工程硕士学位。长期从事水处理领域科学研究、工程设计和项目管理。
赵蒙皓
资深跨国教育及文化咨询师。曾在纽约市举世闻名的K-12年制道尔顿学校(The Dalton School)任教多年，并曾任美国名校纽约大学（NYU）的客座教授。上海外国语学院，对外汉语系肄业；美国明德大学（Middlebury College），经济学及日本文学文学双学士；美国马里兰大学商学院（University of Maryland）工商管理硕士。
蒋懿楚
蒋懿楚,女，时年11岁，就读于浙江慈溪市观海卫镇中心小学四年（3）班。学画画六年，获得了很多荣誉：2015年PHE国际青少年书画大会三等奖；2016年PHE国际青少年书画大会三等奖；2017年PHE国际青少年书画大会二等奖；2017年慈溪市小学生食品安全绘画大赛中三等奖；2018年慈溪市中小学生艺术节绘画大赛三等奖。
王紫玄
王紫玄，女，时年10岁，就读于上海杨浦区五角场小学四年级（1）班。作品曾在第八届国际少儿书画大赛中荣获特别金奖；获上海市学生绘画书法作品展二等奖；获杨浦区第三十届学生艺术节“阳光下成长”艺术作品展绘画一等奖；获上海市学生绘画艺术作品展杨浦区活动绘画类小学组一等奖。
小百灵
上海五里桥音之魅诵读艺术团团员。
宋浩阳
英文名：Andrew Song，今年10岁，在西域的Franklin小学读4年级。喜欢骑车、读书、打游戏和邻居小朋友玩。
