5. The Crab 螃蟹-鲁迅

The Crab    螃蟹   by 鲁迅

An old crab grew restless. Finding himself stiff all over, he knew it was time for him to moult his shell. He dashed here and there in search of a cave to hide. He was going to block up the mouth of cave so that he could moult in secret. He knew it would be very dangerous to shed his shell in the open because, with his new shell still being soft, he might be eaten up by other crabs. This fear was notgroundless for he himself had really seen it happen to other moulting crabs.The old crab kept moving about in a hurry. 

老螃蟹觉得不安了，觉得全身太硬了。自己知道要蜕壳了。他跑来跑去的寻。他想寻一个窟穴，躲了身子，将石子堵了穴口，隐隐的蜕壳。他知道外面蜕壳是危险的。身子还软，要被别的螃蟹吃去的。这并非空害怕，他实在亲眼见过。他慌慌张张的走。

A nearby crabasked, “Hey, brother, what’s the rush?” 

旁边的螃蟹问他说，“老兄，你何以这般慌？”

“I am going to moult,” answered the old crab. 

他说，“我要蜕壳了。”

“Wouldn’t it be all right to moult right here? I could help you out with it.” 

“就在这里蜕不很好么？我还要帮你呢。”

“How horrible that would be!” 

那可太怕人了。”

“You mean while you’ll not scared of other things in the cave you’re scared of your ownkind?” 

“你不怕窟穴里的别的东西，却怕我们同种么？”

“No, I’m not scared of my own kind.” 

“我不是怕同种。”

“Then what are you scared of?” 

那还怕什么呢？”

“Nothing but being eaten up by you.”

“就怕你要吃掉我。”