【英】《柳林风声》第12集：A Familiar Face

As Toad walked on, he saw a dot in the distance. The dot turned into a blob. Then the blob turned into something that made Toad’s heart thump. It was a motorcar coming down the road!

Maybe with luck I’ll end up driving back to Toad Hall! he thought.

Toad stepped out in the middle of the street to hail the motorcar. As it approached, Toad’s heart sank. For the approaching motorcar was the exact one that he had stolen at the pub that fateful day! And the people in it were the same people who he had stolen it from!

Toad crumpled down to the ground. It’s all over now, he thought. Chains and policeman again. Prison again! Dry bread and water again. What a fool I’ve been! Here I am thinking I’ve been so clever and now this! I am a sorry Toad. An ill-fated animal. A stupid, stupid, dim-witted Toad.

The motorcar stopped. Two men got out. They walked over to the crumpled heap in the middle of the street.

“Oh, dear,”said one man.“You poor washerwoman. You’ve fainted in the middle of the road.”He looked at the driver.“Perhaps she was overcome by heat. Let’s lift her into the car and take her to the nearest village. Surely she has many friends who can take care of her there.”

They gently lifted Toad into the motorcar and went on their way. When Toad heard them speaking so kindly, he knew they didn’t recognize him. His courage rose. His mood improved a great deal. Cautiously, he opened one eye and looked around. Then, he opened the other.

“Look,”said the driver.“She is feeling better already, I think. Don’t try to talk. Keep still and quiet.”

“Thank you,”said Toad in a feeble voice. He sat up straight.“I am feeling a great deal better. Maybe if I sit up front and get some fresh air, I’ll feel even stronger.”

“What a sensible woman,”said the gentleman.“Of course! Of course you shall sit up here.”They carefully helped Toad to the seat next to the driver. They continued once more.

Toad was almost himself again by now. He looked about and tried to beat down the yearning to drive once again. It’s fate, he thought. Why struggle? Why fight it?

“Please, sir,”he said.“I wish to drive. I’ve been watching you carefully. I’d like to tell my friends that I have driven a motorcar. I promise to be careful. Very careful.”

The driver laughed. The other man thought for a moment before answering.“I like your spirit. I think we should let you have a try. What harm can it do?”The driver made room for Toad.

Toad eagerly scrambled into the seat, took the steering wheel, and set the car in motion. At first, he drove slowly and carefully and pretended to listen to the directions that were being offered. Then Toad picked up speed. He went faster and faster and faster and faster.

The driver shouted out,“Be careful, washerwoman! Slow down. You are going too fast!”

This annoyed Toad and he began to drive even faster.

The driver tried to interfere, but Toad pinned him down with one elbow and drove at an even greater speed.

“Washerwoman, indeed,”he shouted recklessly. “I am Toad. The motorcar snatcher, the prison-breaker. The clever Toad who always escapes. Sit still and you shall know what driving really is. For you are in the hands of the famous, the skillful, the entirely fearless Toad of the grand Toad Hall.”

With a cry of horror, the gentlemen flung themselves on Toad.“Seize this wicked animal who stole our motorcar!”they cried.“Bind him. Chain him. Drag him to the nearest police station. Down with the dangerous Toad!”

With all that ruckus, Toad turned the wheel and sent the car crashing through a low hedge that ran along the roadside. Toad found himself flying through the air. He felt like a Toad Bird as he landed on his back with a thump.

Sitting up, he could see the motorcar in the pond nearly submerged. The gentleman and the driver were floundering in the water and screaming at Toad.

Toad didn’t wait to hear what they had to say. He picked himself up and started running as fast as he could. He scrambled through hedges, jumped ditches, and pounded across every field until he was breathless.

When he recovered his breath, he began to giggle. Immediately, he forgot his troubles. Toad again. Comes out on top. Who was it that got them to give him a lift? Who managed to get in the front seat for the sake of fresh air? Who persuaded them to let me drive? Who landed them all in a pond but escaped? Why Toad of course! Clever, great Toad!

Suddenly, he heard a scuffle behind him. It was two policemen chasing him! He picked himself up and ran as fast as his short legs could take him. Not looking where he was going, he soon landed in water. Deep water. The river!

“Oh my!”he gasped and he started to sink. If I ever steal a motorcar again! If I ever think so highly of myself again! Then down under the water he went. He caught hold of the bank and pulled himself up out of the water just in time.

The policemen were nowhere in sight. Toad sat a minute to catch his breath. To the left, he noticed a dark hole. When he looked in, he saw two eyes staring back at him. Two small eyes. The face was brown and small with whiskers.

Toad looked closer.

My goodness! he thought. It couldn’t be! It is!

It was Rat!