遠離邪惡的山裏人（上）

 

作家按語：《傳教士和他的女兒》（原書名：裸拜）！故事敘述富有的喜歡生物硏究的英國青年亨利，32年走進神奇的貴州山區，他宣揚真愛，拯救生命、製止血腥與殘殺…在邊遠的貴州山區建立了基督教堂，傳播主的福音，他的美德和仁愛精神，使他受到眾多山裏基督徒的裸拜和崇敬！

作品引領喜歡旅遊和民族風情的歐洲人、美國人進入美麗的貴州山區，去領略那裏與世無爭的寧靜和鮮為人知的民族風情……中國解放後，當共產黨人要驅逐亨利牧師時，桀驁的雙溪坪教徒爆發了反抗……許多撲朔迷離的山村故事，皆在此書中！

 

The Missionaryand His Daughter

傳教士和他的女兒

Zongming Zhang

張宗銘 著

Translated by Tangjin Xiao

肖唐金 譯

Henry had studied biology in London University, and was especially interested in botany. He came to Guizhou for two reasons. First, he would like to preach God’s love and care to the people here. Second, there were many unknown species of fauna and flora here. These species were even absent in the British Museum.

But Henry was a layman to the medical effects of Chinese herbs. The moment he saw Ah Cai catch the crisp snake, he began to have a strong curiosity in Chinese herbs. Also, it seemed strange to him that the villagers would accommodate him rather than the pregnant Ah Cai. He was amazed that Ah Cai could get a special type of ointment by mixing up the crisp snake and some herbs. The ointment did anaesthetize the wounded, but would it cure him of the wound? Henry wanted to know why and how.

Cen Linshan and Dry Stick were both from Shuangxiping. Why didn’t he go there for a visit? Why didn’t he take care of Dry Stick there? Henry decided to go to Shuangxiping with the two men.

To preach gospel, you must have the courage to face the hardships ahead and take fame and fortune light. And you couldn’t stay away from evils and bad luck around you. As a missionary, you must shoulder the cross, sacrificing selflessly for Him. To you, money, sex and power meant less than care and love.

Henry felt himself purified in his mental communication with God. He was thankful to God for His guide to him in the mountains where truth and chaos as well as purity and puzzlement existed side by side.

Ah Cai put the musk into her own herbal bag as Henry fixed the bandages with tree branches over Dry Stick’s wound. She drank the salty soup and ate the meat tastefully. Henry finished the leftovers in the pot. Ah Cai was now moved by Henry. She wondered why Henry came to the mountains. He had salt, and salt meant wealth. Why did he come to the mountains then? He didn’t look like a peddler collecting furs, musk, gutta-percha and other herbs. What did he do then?

Then, Ah Cai saw Cen Linshan give a big piece of roe-deer meat to Henry and invite him to Shuangxiping for a visit. She thought: Henry would be a distinguished guest from now on in the mountains.

Henry was about to lie down for a rest like the hunters when Ah Cai went up to him with a bag in her left hand and a basket on her back. She asked:

“Henry the British Christian, would you please accompany me for the trip?”

Henry pointed at the dark mountains, answering, “Now?”

“Yes!”

Henry pointed at the mountains and woods ahead, asking, “Why don’t you leave at daybreak?”

The hunters looked up at Ah Cai with a sign of contempt. Ah Cai realized that she was inferior now. Yet she had nobody but Henry to turn to for help. She was aware of her notoriety. Probably others would consider her request as a means of seducing a foreigner. And now it was dark. That kind of understanding was normal, wasn’t it? Wasn’t she looking for trouble by herself?

Henry looked much different from the hunters. He was blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Would he do anything bad to her if she went out with her? Would he turn into a monster in the dark?

Ah Cai was worried and nervous. She lit up a torch and went on her trip. It was dark and the yells of wolves could be heard in the distance.