I Love Girl（Part 2）
　　Girl has a small head， so it is very strange how she fits so many things inside of it. She knows all the numbers：“six，” “eight”—you name it. But she also knows other things nobody else knows.
　　One time， I followed her down to the river. She was hunting fish in the normal way， by jabbing[戳] a stick in the water. After a long time， she caught a small flat fish[比目鱼]. I assumed she would do the normal thing （rip off the head and eat the body）， but instead she did the strangest thing I have ever seen. She put the stick—with the small fish still on it—back into the river. A short time later， she pulled the stick out. A bigger fish was on the stick. I do not understand how Girl did this. But I have thought a lot， and I have developed a theory： she is a witch[女巫] who knows magic.
　　Even though she is probably a witch， I still love her. My mother says that when you love someone， you love them despite[不管] their flaws[缺陷]. For example， my father was not so good at hunting after a monster[巨兽] ate his arms. But my mother continued to mate[交配] with him， because she loved him.


　　I decided to make my picture of a horse， because I knew that was a thing. It took a long time， for many reasons： （1） I could only work nights， because of my rock-throwing job； （2） it was my first time making Art； and （another reason） my mother was watching over my shoulder the whole time and making words. “You are bad at this，” she said. “You should stop because you are bad.”I love my mother and will always rub[摩擦] her feet， but sometimes I think she does not know how to help.
　　Finally， after many days of work， I finished my picture. I was about to add my handprint[手印] when I heard a familiar laugh.
　　I turned around； Boog was there.
　　“What a smart picture，” he said， clapping his hands.“You are really smart.”
　　I smiled. It was very nice， I thought， for Boog to say nice things about my picture.
　　“Thank you，” I said.
　　“I was being sarcastic[讽刺的]，” said Boog.
　　A long time passed. I did not know this word， but was afraid to admit it.
　　“I am glad you like my picture，” I said.
　　Boog cursed[诅咒] the Gods under his breath. “The picture is bad，” he said. “O.K.？ It stinks[糟透]. I do not like it.”
　　I sighed. I was beginning to see what he meant.
　　My plan had been to show my picture to Girl. But I started to worry that she would not like it. The reviews， so far， were not great. 　　Oog said， “It is the worst picture made yet by a human.”
　　Moog said， “It is proof that you are a stupid person.”
　　The Old Person said， “I always knew you were dumb[愚蠢的人]. It is known by everyone. But this picture makes me realize you are even dumber than it was believed.”
　　I was proud of the picture when I painted it， but people’s words had made me ashamed. I decided it was best to destroy it， before Girl found out about it.
　　“Don’t destroy it yet，” Boog said. “There is someone who wants to see it.”
　　He grabbed Girl by the arm and thrust[猛推] her in front of my picture. It was bad situation.
　　“Tell Oog what you think of it，” Boog said.
　　Girl mumbled[含糊地说] something， but it was too soft for me to hear.
　　“Tell him！” Boog ordered.
　　“I do not like it，” Girl said. “You are not smart. I love Boog and not you.”
　　I stood there in silence. Hot water came out of my eyeballs[眼球].
　　“Let’s go，” he said to Girl.
　　She started to follow him. As she was leaving， she paused to take a rock from my pile. I was afraid she would throw it at my picture， like Boog had. But instead she held it up to her face and squinted[眯眼看] at it.
　　“Let’s go！” Boog shouted.
　　She followed him into the woods， still holding the rock in her hand.
　　My mother woke me in the night.
　　“A monster is here to murder us，” she said.
　　I nodded. This is usual occurrence[发生].
　　“What kind of monster？ Wolf？”
　　She shook her head. “It is a clever monster. Listen.”
　　We were silent for a while； soon， I heard a strange sound. The monster was throwing rocks against the cave， one after the other.
　　I took my kill stick and headed outside. I saw
　　a figure[轮廓，体型] in the shadows and was about to charge it when the moon appeared suddenly between the clouds.
　　“Girl？”
　　She was standing on the edge of the forest， a black rock in her hand.
　　“Sorry if I scared you，” she said. “I came to say thank you.”
　　I was confused. “For what？”
　　“For clearing me a path.”
　　“How did you know it was me？”
　　“I took a rock from your pile and compared it with the ones on my mountain. They’re the same kind.”
　　I walked cautiously[谨慎地] toward her.
　　“Are you a witch？” I asked.
　　She laughed. “I’m not a witch！ I just used common sense. I mean， there are thousands of black rocks piled up next to your cave.”
　　I was still confused. She put her hand on my arm and the hairs on it stood up. 　　“Thank you for clearing all the rocks，” she said， looking into my eyes. “It is a good path. You are good at clearing the rocks.”
　　For the second time that night， hot water came out of my eyeballs.
　　“I’m sorry I said those mean things about your picture，” Girl said. “Boog made me.”
　　I was shocked； that had not occurred to[想到] me. Boog had been clever.
　　“Does that mean you like my Art？” I asked.
　　She looked at my horse and hesitated[迟疑].
　　“It’s interesting，” she said. “But you know what I really like？ Your rock pile.”
　　She walked over to it. “It’s sort of like a sculpture.”
　　“What is sculpture？”
　　“Like a picture in three dimensions[三维].”
　　Much time passed in silence.
　　“Can I impregnate[使怀孕] you？” I asked.
　　“What？”
　　“I know I am not smart like Boog. I do not understand Art and I am bad with the numbers. But I will work hard to clear the rocks for you. And when you have child I will clear the rocks for the child. I will clear all the rocks for you and the child until I am eaten by a monster or…or die of the Great Disease. I will make you many paths so you can go all the places you want.”
　　I paused to catch my breath. It was the most words I had ever made at one time.
　　She smiled and kissed me on the cheek. It was like it had been in my dreams.
　　We made many words that night. Girl explained that she never really loved Boog. He just seemed like her only option[选择]. No one else had ever asked to mate with her. The other six men on earth， including me， had been too afraid.
　　I confessed[承认] that I did not understand Boog’s last picture and she laughed.
　　“No one did，” she said. “Not even Boog.”
　　The stars were out and Girl counted them out loud until I fell asleep.
　　I love Girl. Girl loves me.
　　It is good situation.


　　女孩的头很小，所以她脑袋里能装那么多东西真是非常奇怪。她知道所有的数字：“6”、“8”—只要你说得出来。然而，她还知道一些其他人不知道的事儿。
　　有一次，我跟着她来到河边。她正在用平常的方式捕鱼，拿棍子往水里猛戳。过了很久，她抓到了一条小小的比目鱼。我猜想她会摘掉鱼头，吃掉鱼身，这是常规的吃法。但她没有，她做了我见过最奇怪的事。她将那根棍子—前端还插着小鱼—放回水里。不一会儿，她将棍子拿了出来。棍子上有一条更大的鱼。我不知道女孩是怎么做到的。但我想了很久，得出一个结论：她是一个会巫术的女巫。
　　即便她很可能是一个女巫，我依然爱她。我母亲说，当你喜欢一个人的时候，你会忽视他的缺点。例如，我父亲在被一只猛兽吃掉双臂后就不那么能打猎了。但我母亲依然和他交配，因为她爱他。
　　我决定要画一匹马，因为我知道那是很重要的东西。这花了我很长的时间，原因有很多：（1）我只能在夜晚作画，因为我白天要扔石头；（2）这是我第一次搞艺术；并且（另一个原因是）我的母亲全程都在背后看我作画，还说个不停。“你不擅长干这个，”她说。“你应该停止作画了，因为你画得很烂。”我爱我的母亲，也会永远为她磨脚，但有时候我觉得她不知道该怎么帮我。
　　终于，在许多天的作画后，我完成了我的作品。在我正要印上手印时，我听到了一阵熟悉的笑声。 　　我转过身；布戈站在那里。
　　“多么机智的一幅画啊，”他拍着手说。“你真机智。”
　　我笑了。这很好，我想，因为布戈夸了我的画。
　　“谢谢，”我说。
　　“我是在讽刺你，”布戈说。
　　过了好一会儿。我并不知道这个词的意思，但又不敢承认。
　　“很高兴你能喜欢我的画，”我说。
　　布戈小声地咒骂着。“这画很差，”他说。“好吗？糟透了。我不喜欢。”
　　我叹了口气。我开始知道他是什么意思了。
　　我本来计划把画拿给女孩看。但我开始担心她会不喜欢。到目前为止，看过画的人反应都不好。
　　奥戈说：“这是人类画过最差的画。”
　　莫戈说：“这证明了你是个傻瓜。”
　　老人说：“我一直都知道你是个笨蛋。这人尽皆知。但这张画让我意识到你比我想的还要笨。”
　　在画画的时候，我为它感到自豪，但大家的话让我感到羞愧。我决定，在女孩看到它之前，最好把它毁了。
　　“先别毁了它，”布戈说。“还有个人想看看呢。”
　　他抓着女孩的胳膊，把她推到我的画作前。这是个坏情况。
　　“告诉奥戈你是怎么想的，”布戈说。
　　女孩含糊地说了些什么，但声音太轻柔了，我听不到。
　　“告诉他！”布戈命令道。
　　“我不喜欢它，”女孩说。“你不聪明。我爱布戈，不爱你。”
　　我沉默地站在那里。热水从眼球里流了出来。
　　“咱们走，”他对女孩说。
　　她开始跟着他走。在她离开时，她停在我的石头堆前，拿起了一块石头。我害怕她会向我的画扔石头，就像布戈那样。但她没有，她将石头举到自己面前，眯眼看着它。
　　“走吧！”布戈喊道。
　　她跟着他走进树林，手里还抓着那块石头。
　　母亲夜里把我叫醒。
　　“有个猛兽要来杀我们，”她说。
　　我点头。这是常有的事儿。
　　“什么样的猛兽？狼？”
　　她摇头。“这是一头很聪明的猛兽。你听。”
　　我们沉默了一会儿；不久，我听到了一个奇怪的声音。那头猛兽正往洞里扔石头，一块接一块。
　　我拿着长矛来到洞外。这时，月亮突然从云间跑出来，我看到阴暗处有一个身影正准备扔石头。
　　“女孩？”
　　她正站在森林的边缘，手里拿着一块黑石头。
　　“如果我吓到你了，很抱歉，”她说。“我是来向你道谢的。”
　　我很困惑。“谢我什么？”
　　“谢谢你为我清出了一条道路。”
　　“你怎么知道那是我做的？”
　　“我从你的石头堆里拿了一块石头，跟我山上的那些石头做了对比。他们是一样的。”
　　我小心地走向她。
　　“你是巫女吗？”我问道。
　　她笑了。“我不是巫女！我只是运用常识思考而已。我的意思是，你的洞边堆了成千上万块黑石头。”
　　我仍然感到很困惑。她把手放到我的手臂上，那上面的汗毛全都立了起来。
　　“谢谢你为我清除所有这些石头，”她说，直视我的双眼。“那条路很好。你很善于清理石头。”
　　那晚，热水再次从我的眼球里流了出来。
　　“很抱歉对你的画说了那些刻薄的话，”女孩说。“布戈让我说的。”
　　我很震惊；我都没想到。布戈是很聪明。
　　“那么说你喜欢我的艺术？”我问道。
　　她看着我的马，有些迟疑。
　　“它很有趣，”她说。“但你知道我真正喜欢的是什么吗？是你的石头堆。”
　　她走向石头堆。“它就像是个雕塑一样。”
　　“什么是雕塑？”
　　“就像是一幅三维立体的画。”
　　沉默中过了很久。
　　“我能让你怀孕吗？”我问道。
　　“什么？”
　　“我知道我不像布戈一样聪明。我不懂艺术，也不大会数数。但我会努力为你清除石头的。等你有了孩子，我会为孩子清除石头。我会为你和孩子清除掉所有石头，直到我被猛兽吃掉或者死于致命的疾病。我会为你清理出许多条路，让你们可以去所有想去的地方。”
　　我停下来喘口气。我头一次一口气说出这么多话。
　　她微笑着吻了吻我的脸颊。那感觉像是做梦一样。
　　那晚我们说了很多话。女孩解释说她从没真正爱过布戈。他只是她唯一的选择。没有其他人要求过和她交配。地球上另外六个男人，包括我，都太胆小了。
　　我承认我看不懂布戈的上一幅画，她笑了。
　　“没有人看得懂，”女孩说。“甚至连布戈也不懂。”
　　星星出来了，女孩大声地数着，直到我睡着。
　　我爱女孩。女孩爱我。
　　这是好情况。