《困豹》
The Trapped Leopard
第一章 牧神的疏忽
Chapter One The negligence of Arcturus
沿着浑浊的长江，疙疤老山不知走了多少天。凭着豹子这种猫科动物特有的坚韧和别的动物望尘莫及的爆发力，它终于走到了乌江。看着清澈的江水，疙疤老山飞身奔下山岗，把一张又短又宽的脸浸在水里，一边咕嘟咕嘟地喝着，一边露在水上的两只眼睛警惕地注视着江面。现在，那个毒辣的火球已经沉在了水底。随着波浪的掀动，那些罪恶的光焰徒然地挣扎着。疙疤老山感到了一种快意。这些天来，它从迷失了方向的乱头风里，嗅到了一股原始狞野的气息，一颗血跳的心亢奋起来，踩着弹性的肉垫，一直昼夜兼程地赶路。只是悬在头顶上的那个火球，挥动长长的金鞭，抽得它头昏脑胀，连身上美丽的金钱斑，都被烤熔化似的，暗了下去，淡了下去。它抬起头来，喉头那儿的皮毛颤战着，发出一声模糊的低啸。接上晃了晃脑袋，抖落胡子上那些亮晶晶的水珠，便伸出腿来，挲开尖锐的爪钩，自得其乐地摆弄摆弄。随后，它离开长江干流，从西向转南方，沿着乌江往上走着。
Laoshan, the scarred leopard, finally reached at Wujiang River with her own tough character and unmatched explosive power. Taking a look at the clear water, she ran to the water from the hill, put her short and broad face into it, and slurped while staring at the surroundings carefully. Now, the scorching sun has already sunk into the water, and the burning hot flame is struggling in vain with the waves moving. She felt a sense of pleasure. All these days she kept running day and night without rest. And the scorching sun over her head, as if someone was holding a golden whip slashing her brutally, made her feel dizzy. The color of the fleck on her back seemed fainted because of the heat. She raised her head and the fur on her throat quivered with unclear snarl. And then shook her head to get rid of glittering water droplets on her mustache. She stretched out her leg and opened her sharp claws to clean up herself comfortably. After a while, she left the riverside and turned to south from west, running up along the Wujiang River.
有一天夜里，疙疤老山渡过了乌江。
Laoshan crossed over the Wujiang River the other night.
疙疤老山不知道那里有三道关卡。它在乌江铁桥桥头越过铁路那阵，蜷伏在一蓬刺藜后头，一动不动地等着天黑。但是，疙疤老山无论如何也搞不清楚，火车可以从大地深处拱出来。那阵，它站在路轨上，面对突然出现的撕破夜空的光柱，听着震撼大地的隆隆的吼声，一副豹子胆完全失灵了。疙疤老山放大的瞳孔里，看见一条巨龙出世，愤怒地张牙舞爪，牵连着一座山向它压下来。就在钢铁巨龙撞上身来的瞬间，一股强烈的气浪冲击着，它一下弹出了铁路。也就在这一瞬间，它看见一颗红红的流星从眼前飞逝过去，并听见啪地一声炸响。它知道这意味着什么，开始奔跑起来。沿着河岸低矮的山岗，它很快融进夜色里。突然，眼前一阵灼热，两束炽白的灯光在十来个纵步之外迎面射过来。疙疤老山一种本能的收缩，嗒嗒嗒一梭子弹，就把它爪钩跟前的草皮扒起一层。
She was confused that why a train could run through a mountain. She was standing on the track at that time, a bright beam illuminating the night sky all of a sudden. She was frightened by a roaring sound and forgot that she is a leopard. She opened her eyes wide, seeing a huge iron dragon coming to her with a mountain behind, and she was pushed out of the track by a strong force of air. Just at this moment, with a red shooting star flying past her eyes, she heard something exploded. She started running along the hills near the banks and vanished in the dark night. Unexpectedly, two bright beams shooting her in ten steps, Laoshan shrank instinctively. And a bullet shot the turf under her claws.
“老虎！……”
“It’s a tiger! ...”
“豹子！……”
“It’s a leopard! …”
疙疤老山听见桥头堡那边一片惊惶的呼吼，两条后腿一靠，四蹄并作一束花瓣，整个躯干弯曲成一张弓，嗖地跃上桥头，美丽的斑纹在白光中绾一个疙瘩，就越过了川黔公路210国道。跳着弹性的肉垫，它跑过几幢沉睡的楼房。那种辛辣刺鼻的石灰气和水泥味，使疙疤老山立刻意识到自己处在一种困境中。透过一大串咝咝地响叫的灯影，它看见一堵雄伟的堤坝拔地而起，冷酷地切断了去路。从坝基和桥头冲过来的哨卫已经逼到跟前，冲锋枪如临大敌地扫射着，在江岸上黑糊糊的乱石堆中溅起大片火星。疙疤老山被逼到了水边。波涛翻滚的江心，一双豹子眼睛圆瞪着，浑浊中透着一种期冀，像星辰一样在那里蛊惑着，召唤着。疙疤老山没有片刻犹疑，坚定地走进江水去。
A scared scream sounded from bridgehead. Laoshan bent her body like a bow, whose beautiful fleck twined in the white light, and leapt to the bridge rapidly, then crossed Chuanqian national Highway 210. Running past a few houses which stand quietly in the night, she saw a majestic dam rise straight from the ground through the light, which cut off her road cruelly. The guards, coming from the dam and the bridge, were going to catch her. At the same time, they were strafing her with submachine guns and the sparks were spattered on the black muddy stones near the river in the dark. She was forced to the river. In the river, like stars, a pair of eyes attempted her. Looking at the billowing centre of the river, she walked into it without any hesitation.
疙疤老山被激流冲出去很远。但它最后还是挣扎着游到了对岸。
Laoshan was swept away in the torrent, but she still struggled to cross the river.
从这天起，疙疤老山背朝铁路走着。但它无法避开公路，这个世界上最庞大的工程，仍旧蛛网一样布满高原每个角落。只是这些公路一条比一条狭窄，一条比一条破烂。疙疤老山因此认定自己所要到达的目标已经不远了。
From now on, she decided to run ahead to remote regions. But she still couldn’t avoid the highways, the world’s largest project which is like a spider web covering all over the plateau.
六月的阳光下，大地上一切都依照热膨胀的规律扩张着。空气也不例外。腐殖质的腥气和叶绿素的清芳混杂着，从山那边飘来。疙疤老山扁平的鼻头翕动着，欢呼地冲上山岗，奔下山坡。在那片针阔叶混交林中，疙疤老山调整步法，开始走“Ｓ”路线。整个豹族的成员都生性孤僻、阴鸷。但和其它的动物一样，它们也需要配偶，需要繁衍。这种步法，在开始和结尾两个阶段，可以有效地嗅出刚刚走过的路上，是否有一只雄豹跟来，从而确定是前进还是等待。也许林子太小的缘故，疙疤老山在这里没有找到伴侣。
In June, the stinking smell mingled with the smell of fresh green plants drifted from the other side of the mountain. There was a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest. Laoshan rushed up the hillock and then down the hillside. She started to take a S route in the forest. Therefore, she could quickly sniff out whether there was a male leopard following her or not, so as to decide to go ahead or waiting.
但疙疤老山并不是一点收获也没有。遥远的山垭，有如一张巨大的嘴巴，把太阳往下吞噬着，大片血光在山口上洇开来。这工夫，疙疤老山走到林子边上，扭着颈项，一颗脑袋停在空中，正搜寻雄性豹子那种特有的狞野腥膻的气味。一只狐狸，迷迷糊糊地跟上来。它刚刚看清楚那个似虎非虎的脑袋，转过身去，还没有来得及跑，树盖的暗影一抖，就落下一道闪电。这只聪明一世糊涂一时的畜生，只意识到两对尖利的犬牙扎进腹腔，眼眶里一片血光，就被撕成了碎块。疙疤老山好几天没有进食，橡皮一样的胃袋贴在肚皮上，沉甸甸的，也空空的。生长在高原山地的动物格外鲜美。它大口大口地撕扯着，喉咙里发出满意的咕噜咕噜声，躯干上金亮的皮毛也禁不住快乐地颤抖……
The distant pass looked like a big mouth swallowing the sun and the blood-red clouds spread over it. Laoshan climbed on a tree, and her flat head was looking around to trace the male leopard. At that time, a fox appeared sleepily. When the fox was trying to take a look at the tiger-like thing, the tree trembled quickly and there came a lightning, and he realized that his abdomen was stabbed by the sharp teeth. It’s too late to scream. He was torn into pieces.
天擦黑那阵，疙疤老山来到一座断崖上。透过漫天漫地拉开来的夜网，它隐隐绰绰地看见前头不远的地方有一个村落。随着两点鬼火一样的光亮晃悠着，空气里弥漫开来一种淡淡的苦涩。疙疤老山打了一个喷嚏。转过身来，它沿着山体的断层走着。在头顶上，大团黑云在高空气流的鞭打下，急切地集结着，布下厚重的云阵。遥远的天际，一颗橙红的亮星不知疲倦地闪烁着。那是疙疤老山熟悉的大角，豹族世界的牧神。整个牧夫座都沉睡了，只有这颗星是苏醒的。在它的光辉下面，疙疤老山可以感觉到，那只在长江下游的丘陵地带里昼伏夜出的老豹子，虽然金亮的皮毛一天天地烂掉，但它仍然仰望着牧神，仍然在向牧神祷告，祈求牧神赐福美丽的疙疤老山。现在，疙疤老山仿佛一种本能，正一步一步地地向牧神走近，寻求万能的主宰的庇护。
It was just dark when Laoshan came to a cliff, and she saw a village across the cliff. The sky was overcast with dark clouds by the current. There was a bright orange star twinkling from the distance. It was the bright star Arcturus, the god of the leopards world. Except it, the Bootes has slept soundly. Laoshan could feel that the old dying leopard at the foothills of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, still worshipped their god and prayed for her.
冥冥中，它似乎意识到一场灾难就要来临……
山地的上空，黑乌乌的云阵一动不动。云阵深处，一片模糊的白光无声地扑动着，仿佛要冲破沉沉囚禁，却又量小力薄。夜气抖了抖，一声低沉的吼啸，呜呜呜的，抑郁地从断崖那边传来。疙疤老山一怔，灵醒地束紧爪钩，两只猫耳耸立起来，转过脑袋，望透黑暗地瞪大了眼睛。这阵，从村落里飘来的那种神秘的苦涩消失了。而浓重的夜气里，一种古远荒蛮的东西，不知哪阵掺杂了进来，在悄悄地流荡着。疙疤老山一下想起什么来了，是抗拒不了这种诱惑，还是使命战胜了本能，它偏离了辉煌的大角亮星，决心越过横亘在眼前的断层，去探索村落后面那片黑黢黢的天地。它突然觉得，那里就是它要寻找的森林，古藤绕树百兽欢腾的森林。
The dark clouds remained still in the sky. And at the dark place, there was a faint light trying to break through the dark. There was a gust of cold wind and brought a roaring sound from the other side. She gazed at the dark place and listened carefully. In this cold dark night, it seemed that there was an ominous thing coming quietly. She departed from the bright star Arcturus and was determined to pass through the cliff to explore the mysterious land behind the village.
顺着一条崖缝，疙疤老山开始往下滑。这对豹族成员来说，是非常艰难的事情，就跟爬树一样，上易下难。它挺硬一根尾巴平衡着身体，慢慢地倒退着。白薅薅的肚皮贴着湿漉漉的崖壁，尖硬的爪子在岩石上抓得扑扑响。而胸膛那里，那股刚刚泛滥开来的生命的欲流却越来越汹涌地掀动着，直折腾得它呼呼地喘着粗气。最后，听着汩汩水响，疙疤老山踩进一泓浅浅的溪流，终于落到了黑森森的谷底。它想尽快地翻上崖去，离开这道深渊。可是，这一边的崖壁刀砍斧切一样陡峭，简直没有一点抓握。疙疤老山再也看不见大角了。那颗亮星被半边山崖遮住了，被铺天盖地的黑云遮住了。但是，疙疤老山知道牧神在身后的天空。牧神一直用一双望穿黑暗的眼睛注视着孤独的疙疤老山。就像心在胸膛里一样，牧神也永远伴随疙疤老山。
Following a crevice, Laoshan balanced her body with her straight up tail and slipped down slowly. Her snow white belly clung to the wet cliff, and her sharp claws scratched the rocks with the noisy sound. She stepped into a stream and reached the bottom of the valley. There was a faint flow of thunder sounding over the canyon. It seemed like that someone was going to build a stage and perform a drama. They were arranging the props slowly and the performance was about to start. Laoshan jumped and ran forward with miserable feelings. The streams wriggled into one, and flowed along the groove, leaving two flat shores. She shook away the beads on her fur and started running into the canyon like a lightening.
一阵隐隐的雷声在峡谷上空响起来，仿佛唱大戏的扎起台子，就要拉开幕布，正磕磕碰碰地布置着导具。疙疤老山耸立猫耳听了听，就跳跃着，禁不住有些凄惶地往前跑着。峡谷开始变得开阔，溪水也扭成一股在沟底里流淌，空出来两爿平坦的岸，顺山崖走势渐渐地展开。疙疤老山抖抖溅在皮毛上的水珠，尾尻一蹶一坐，闪电掉落峡谷一样奔腾起来。突然，一根亮铮铮的金属棒探进峡谷猛地一搅，两列墩实绵长的山岩崩垮似的，哗啦地一声炸响。疙疤老山纵到半空，那胆气也被震散一样，劲软地落下来，在地上滚了滚，就惊呆地蜷卧起来。没有闹台锣鼓，也没有走过场，那神秘的幕布一下被掀开，亮出惊险的场景，声势赫然地逼近高潮。整个天盖仿佛翻倒过去，那片先前模模糊糊的白光，这阵冲破云阵，张牙舞爪地挥动利剑，戳一个窟窿，砍一道裂缝，瞬间工夫，一根一根直直的水柱，就在天地间悉悉刷刷立起来。一阵湿热的风吹来，大雨连成一片，在火闪中亮晃晃地倾泻。疙疤老山瞪大眼睛，看着峡谷里的溪流，越来越浑浊，越来越汹涌。它立刻醒悟地蹦起来，贴着崖根山脚飞跑着。出去不远，透过漫天漫地的水帘，它看见几列屋架，没有遮盖，没有壁板，仿佛刚刚立起来的，灿亮地座落在溪岸高高的石坎上。靠近水边，掘着几个窑眼一样的坑，呈一溜摆开来。后头是一个山槽，从那里哗哗啦啦灌下来的山水，把几个坑都淹得满满荡荡的。这关头，万能的大角牧神闪光了。就在山槽旁边，疙疤老山发现了一条小路。小路曲曲折折，却一直通到崖顶。疙疤老山振奋精神，一气冲上山去。
Suddenly, the lightening, like a glistening metal stick, poked into the canyon and made a loud crash, as if the two continuous mountains were broken. Laoshan flew in the air and tumbled. Frightened by the big bang, she dropped to the ground. The bright light she saw before had broken through the dark clouds. Like a sharp sword, it poked a big hole and chopped a deep crack, and the numerous waterspouts erected straight from the ground. The streams were turbid and became more and more onrushing. Laoshan jumped quickly and ran fast along the root of the cliff. At the moment, Arcturus gleamed, and she found a winding path near the mountain trough which led to the summit of the cliff. So she rushed up without a break.
它像一个倔强的精灵，直直地往村庄那边走着。那些黑不溜秋的屋瓦，那些歪歪斜斜的吊脚楼的屁股，那些在地坝边上堆码得方方正正的柴垛，在雷雨的轰击之下，都猥琐地战栗着，发出阵阵痛苦的呻唤。它本来要绕开这个村庄，从长江下游那片灌木丛出发以来，已经遇上无数个村庄，都这么绕开的。可现在，它仿佛是疲倦了，也仿佛是知道目的地已经不远了，就那么大模大样，这个村庄的主宰似的，穿过泥泞的村路，准备直奔村庄后头的山坡。它已经看清楚那是一片森林，一片郁郁葱葱的森林。
Laoshan ran up to the village. She saw those pitch-black tiles, disorder foundations of hanging houses and the wood stacks which were placed orderly near the dam all trembling tremulously under the attack of the thunderstorm. She passed through the muddy country road and rushed to the hillside behind the village. And there was a forest.
噼啪！一条火蛇闪着血红的信子，在村头绕过两圈，一颗大树抽筋似的晃动着，就向疙疤老山倒下来。那一瞬间，疙疤老山仿佛听见雷雨中一支嘹呖的长笛吹奏着，本能地跳跃起来，白薅薅的肚皮亮了亮，就被大篷树盖扑倒在地上。好一阵，它才从那些枝枝桠桠的包裹中挣扎出来。仿佛被那浓重湿腻的叶绿呛懵了，疙疤老山竖着金针一样的项毛，愤怒地向着这个神秘的村庄，阴沉凶险地嚎叫着，就闯进村去。立刻，整个村庄响起来一片狗吠。汪汪的吼震，连着风雨雷电的咆哮，似乎要把这片山地翻过来。这之中，疙疤老山听见有只狗的叫声，它和别的狗的叫声完全不同，完全不是那种因为恐怖而颤抖发出的啸声。而是又凶悍又宏亮，仿佛钢铁撞击发出的回声。疙疤老山没有和这群狗计较。只是快要走出村子那阵，它玩笑似地顿住脚步，扭过头来，那些狗就吓得夹起尾巴，哑声哑气地跑散了。但一只又高又大的黑狗却一动不动地站在那里，仿佛识破疙疤老山的恶作剧，依旧勇敢无畏地叫着，号角一样充满进攻的力量。这只过路猛兽看了看黑狗，就在雷雨的轰闹中往山坡上跑去。
“Cracking”! Like a snake, the spark stuck out its bloody tongue and circled the village twice. A tall tree shivered like cramping and fell down towards Laoshan. She jumped instinctively. But when she was ready to do it, the tree was faster and crushed her. She struggled to climb out of it. Her fur bristled like metal needles and she howled angrily. At the moment, the whole village was full of dog barking, which mingled with the roaring sounds of the thunderstorm, as if to turn this land upside down. Laoshan halted contemptuously when she nearly ran out of the village and turned around to those dogs. However, they tuck their tails and escaped far away. But a tall and big black dog stood still in there, shouting without any fear. Laoshan took a look at the black dog and ran up to the hillside in the thunderstorm.
天空依然黑压压的。火闪徒劳地搏动着，刚刚照亮一片，很快又被乌云吞没了。从低谷向山上吹动的短风，使坡地的雨势格外猛烈。疙疤老山低着头，额际护着两只眼睛，避开劲扎的雨簇。但从眉梢上漫下来的雨水，仍旧模糊着视线。它挤眨着眼睛，走到半坡，遇上一个洞，鼻子嗅了嗅，又继续往上走。但碰上下一个洞，它就禁不住好奇地进去蹲了下来。洞里有一种人特有的气息弥散着。它知道不是久留之地，歇过两口气，又斗着风雨上路了。大雨泼洒到这阵，仿佛把整个坡地都泡散了，到处都有水响，到处都有泥土崩塌的声音。一些地方，水流已经淘尽泥土，冲刷出了白花花的石头。疙疤老山响了响冰凉的鼻头，莫名地感到有一种沮丧。如果这一股一股的水流是血，那么这一面坡地早晚一天会死的。但是，疙疤老山越过一条泥泞的马路，这工夫，它听见了一种奇妙的回声，哗哗啦啦的大雨被化解，丝丝缕缕悬挂起来，接上又遭到阻挠，散作零珠碎玉，紧紧密密地跳落在地上，滴嗒嘀嗒的，叮咚叮咚的，那样激烈，而又那样和谐。
Laoshan kept her head down and protected her eyes with forehead to avoid the heavy rain clusters. But her eyes were still blinded by the raindrops from her eye brows. The lands on the slope were destroyed by the heavy rain, and the sounds of water and collapsing soil were everywhere. And in some places, the water had already washed away the dirt and left the rocks here. She heard a kind of wonderful echo when she ran across a muddy road. The raging rain was defused and was hanging in the air like the bead curtains. Then it seemed to be cut out and the raindrops scattered on the ground like the beads and broken jade, leaving the ticking and Ding-dong sound. The scene looked so intense but harmonious.
疙疤老山又激情地跳跃起来。
Laoshan jumped passionately again.
但就在疙疤老山落地的瞬间，大角牧神疏忽了。只听见镗然一声弹击，这个雷雨的夜晚在霎那功夫凝固。一切都静悄悄的，只有森林里逗留着恐怖的回响。疙疤老山懵了。直到疼痛钻心地从腿拐上传来，四脚四掌蹦不开，它才发现自己被一副钢嘴铁牙咬住了。可它不会立刻就接受这个现实，好像事情不过是一场恶梦，终究要醒来。它奋力地挣扎着，拽着一条铁链钉钉铛铛响。那铁链拴在一棵树上。疙疤老山强健的躯干扭动起来，牵连那树也阵阵地摇晃。枝桠戳着枝桠，整个森林都仿佛颤抖起来。最后，它停止挣扎。透过大雨滂沱的夜空，它痛苦地抬起头来，悲哀地啸叫着。恍惚中，它似乎又看见橙红的大角在天际闪闪烁烁，就越发凄厉的嚎着。直到东山抹开一道白线，它才绝望地终止了这种呼号。但在黎明的白线底下，疙疤老山看见了老豹子那双瞪圆的眼睛，浑浊中透着悲愤的眼睛。霎那工夫，那种使命的意识又回到疙疤老山身上，胀满疙疤老山根根血管。它本能地弯曲起来，一张拉满的弓似的，狠命地弹射出去。美丽的金钱斑在从树隙里透下来的火闪中滚了滚，就重重地跌到森林边上的马路上。等到从泥泞中站起来，它发现自己拉断铁链，从困境中解脱出来哪。但没有来得及庆幸，它发现一副钢嘴铁牙，却依旧咬在腿拐上。
“Clang”! The thunderstorm night froze for a moment, and Laoshan became unconscious for a moment until the sharp pain from her leg woke her up. She found that she was caught by a catcher. She struggled and dragged the chain which was tied to a tree, making it tinkling. Her strong body was writhing in pain, the tree swayed intensely, and it seemed that the whole forest trembled together. She stopped struggling ,raised her head, and cried woefully. Through the night sky with heavy raindrops, she seemed to see Arcturus shining in the sky, and then she howled more miserably. She ceased to roar until there was a white light coming out behind the Eastern Mountain. It’s almost dawn. However, in the dim light of the sky, she seemed to see the round eyes of the old leopard, which lit up her sense of mission again. She bent instinctively and shot out like a full bow. Her beautiful fleck was rolling in the air and fell heavily on the road near the forest. She stood from the muddy road and found that she broke the chain. Unfortunately, she didn’t get rid of the catcher. It was Arcturus’ negligence.
那一瞬间，一道火闪从疙疤老山头上掠过，把马路和树林照得惨白。就在这片光亮中，疙疤老山看见距离几步之遥，一堵土坎下面，战战兢兢地拥挤着一堆人，三个姑娘和一个男人。几乎没有一点犹疑，一种复仇的心理，就驱赶它愤怒地腾空而起。但那副啃在脚上的镣铐，使疙疤老山的身体又沉重又笨拙，它只纵出去两步远，并且由于把握不住平衡，就斜劈到一边去了。它很快调整身体，准备重新发起进攻。它清楚地看见那男人留着一撮小胡子，手握一把明晃晃的匕首，拿在眼前，惊恐地划动着。疙疤老山挲开两只前掌的爪钩，就要猛扑过去，痛快地抓烂那张有些抽搐的嘴脸……
A light flashed by, illuminating the road and the forest clearly. Laoshan saw three girls and a man huddled up trembling under a soil step. She jumped with rage without any hesitation. However, the catcher on her leg made her became heavy, and she only jumped a short distance and lost balance, rushing to the edge of the road. She saw the man who grew a moustache holding a stagger acting out to stab her. Laoshan was going to open her sharp claws and pouncing on the man to tear his convulsive face.
就在这工夫，疙疤老山感到脚下一震，整个坡地打摆子一样地颤抖起来。接着，一阵深沉而又持久的轰响，从迷茫的雨空中传来。
Suddenly, there was a shock under her feet, and the whole land was shaking. A rumble constantly came from the heavy rain.
灾难降临了。
The disaster was coming.
花豹疙疤老山撇下一男三女，拖着钉钉铛铛的镣铐，越过烂蛇一样的马路，很快消逝在森林里。
Dragging the chain, She left them, ran across the road, and disappeared in the forest.
