2010骞?鏃ョ殑娌℃湁鍚?湁27鍙风殑.

　　Now,theVOASpecialEnglishProgram,AMERICANSTORIES.

　　(MUSIC)

　　Ourstorytodayiscalled"TheLawofLife."ItwaswrittenbyJackLondon.HereisShepO'Nealwiththestory.

　　SHEPO'NEAL:TheoldIndianwassittingonthesnow.ItwasKoskoosh,formerchiefofhistribe.Now,allhecoulddowassitandlistentotheothers.Hiseyeswereold.Hecouldnotsee,buthisearswerewideopentoeverysound.

　　"Aha."Thatwasthesoundofhisdaughter,Sit-cum-to-ha.Shewasbeatingthedogs,tryingtomakethemstandinfrontofthesnowsleds.Hewasforgottenbyher,andbytheothers,too.Theyhadtolookfornewhuntinggrounds.Thelong,snowyridewaited.Thedaysofthenorthlandsweregrowingshort.Thetribecouldnotwaitfordeath.Koskooshwasdying.

　　Thestiff,cracklingnoisesoffrozenanimalskinstoldhimthatthechief'stentwasbeingtorndown.Thechiefwasamightyhunter.Hewashisson,thesonofKoskoosh.Koskooshwasbeinglefttodie.

　　Asthewomenworked,oldKoskooshcouldhearhisson'svoicedrivethemtoworkfaster.Helistenedharder.Itwasthelasttimehewouldhearthatvoice.Achildcried,andawomansangsoftlytoquietit.ThechildwasKoo-tee,theoldmanthought,asicklychild.Itwoulddiesoon,andtheywouldburnaholeinthefrozengroundtoburyit.Theywouldcoveritssmallbodywithstonestokeepthewolvesaway.

　　"Well,whatofit?Afewyears,andintheend,death.Deathwaitedeverhungry.Deathhadthehungrieststomachofall."

　　Koskooshlistenedtoothersoundshewouldhearnomore:thementyingstrongleatherropearoundthesledstoholdtheirbelongings;thesharpsoundsofleatherwhips,orderingthedogstomoveandpullthesleds.

　　"Listentothedogscry.Howtheyhatedthework."

　　Theywereoff.Sledaftersledmovedslowlyawayintothesilence.Theyhadpassedoutofhislife.Hemustmeethislasthouralone.

　　"Butwhatwasthat?"Thesnowpackeddownhardundersomeone'sshoes.Amanstoodbesidehim,andplacedahandgentlyonhisoldhead.Hissonwasgoodtodothis.Herememberedotheroldmenwhosesonshadnotdonethis,whohadleftwithoutagoodbye.

　　Hismindtraveledintothepastuntilhisson'svoicebroughthimback."Itiswellwithyou?"hissonasked.Andtheoldmananswered,"Itiswell."

　　"Thereiswoodnexttoyouandthefireburnsbright,"thesonsaid."Themorningisgrayandthecoldishere.Itwillsnowsoon.Evennowitissnowing.Ahh,evennowitissnowing.

　　"Thetribesmenhurry.Theirloadsareheavyandtheirstomachsflatfromlittlefood.Thewayislongandtheytravelfast.Igonow.Alliswell?"

　　"Itiswell.Iamaslastyear'sleafthatstickstothetree.Thefirstbreaththatblowswillknockmetotheground.Myvoiceislikeanoldwoman's.Myeyesnolongershowmethewaymyfeetgo.Iamtiredandalliswell."

　　Heloweredhisheadtohischestandlistenedtothesnowashissonrodeaway.Hefeltthesticksofwoodnexttohimagain.Onebyone,thefirewouldeatthem.Andstepbystep,deathwouldcoverhim.Whenthelaststickwasgone,thecoldwouldcome.First,hisfeetwouldfreeze.Then,hishands.Thecoldwouldtravelslowlyfromtheoutsidetotheinsideofhim,andhewouldrest.Itwaseasy...allmenmustdie.

　　Hefeltsorrow,buthedidnotthinkofhissorrow.Itwasthewayoflife.Hehadlivedclosetotheearth,andthelawwasnotnewtohim.Itwasthelawofthebody.Naturew