# ■ 5 The She-Wolf

To Leonard Bilsiter the real world was not very agreeableor interesting．He preferred to live in an 'unseen world'of his imagination．Children are often very good atthis，but they are happy in their own dream worlds and do nottry to make other people believe them． Leonard Bilsiter talked about'the unseen world'to anyone who would listen to him．Nothing very strange happened to Leonard，until one year he travelled by train across Eastern Europe．He had a long conversation with a Russian passenger，who talked about mag－ic and'hidden powers'in a most interesting way．Leonard lis-tened excitedly．He came home with many stories about the strange，dark mysteries which he called Siberian Magic．His aunt，Cecilia Hoops，was deeply interested in Leonard's Siberian Magic．When she told her friends about it（'My dears，he took a garden vegetable and changed it into abird in front of my eyes！'），her friends realized that she also had a wonderful imagination．

Leonard，together with his hidden powers，was invited toMary Hampton's house－party．Several other people were alsostaying in the house，and they all had to listen to Leonardtalking about the mysteries of the unseen world．

Do please change me into a wolf，Mr Bilsiter，'said MrsHampton during lunch on the day of his arrival．

My dear Mary，'said her husband．'What a strangeidea！'

A she-wolf，of course，'continued Mrs Hampton．'I don't want to change into a man as well as an animal！'

We should not joke about the unseen world，'saidLeonard．

Oh，I'm not joking，I promise you．But don't changeme into a wolf tonight．I want to play cards，and there are on-ly eight of us in the house today．I've invited some more peo－ple to come here tomorrow．Wait until tomorrow night．'

Leonard was not amused．'Mrs Hampton，you reallymust not laugh at these dark mysteries．They can be strongerand more dangerous than we realize．'

Clovis Sangrail listened silently to this conversation，andafter lunch he spoke to Lord Pabham in the smoking－room．

Tell me，Lord Pabham，'began Clovis．'Have you got ashe－wolf in your zoo at Pabham Park？A quiet，friendly she－wolf？'

There's Louisa，'said Lord Pabham thoughtfully．'She's very quiet and gentle．Why do you ask？'

I'd like to borrow her tomorrow evening，'said Clovis lightly．'May I，please？'

Tomorrow night？'repeated Lord Pabham in surprise．

Yes．Wolves usually sleep during the day，don't they？So a night-time journey won't hurt her．Could you ask one of your men to bring Louisa here when it is dark？Then he can take her quietly into the conservatory at the same time as MrsHampton leaves the dining－room．'

Lord Pabham looked at Clovis in surprise．Then he smiled．'I understand！'he said．'You're going to try a little Siberian Magic．And has Mrs Hampton agreed to help you？''Mary has promised—if your she－wolf is quiet and gen-tle.'

Louisa won't give you any trouble，'said Lord Pabham．The next day several more guests arrived．Leonard Bil-siter enjoyed telling them all about Siberian Magic and hidden powers．He talked all through dinner．When the coffee arrivedat the end of the meal，Leonard's aunt spoke．

Dear Leonard，'she said，'please show us your powers.Change something into another shape．'She turned to the oth－er guests．'He can do it if he wants to，'she told them．'Oh，please show us，'said Mavis Pellington excitedly.'Well…'began Leonard．'If somebody will give me asmall coin…'

Oh，surely you aren't going to do stupid things withdisappearing coins？'said Clovis．'We want to see somethingreally surprising．'

That's right，'said Mary Hampton．'Why don't youchange me into a wolf？ You promised！'She got up from thetable and walked into the conservatory with a bowl of fruit forher macaws．

I have already warned you，'said Leonard seriously.'Itis dangerous to joke about these things.'

I don't believe you can do it！'laughed Mary from theconservatory.As she spoke，she disappeared behind a largegreen plant．

Mrs Hampton—'began Leonard seriously．Then anicy wind seemed to fill the dining-room，and at the same timeMrs Hampton's macaws began to scream．

What's wrong with those stupid birds，Mary？'askedher husband.Just then，a big grey wolf stepped out from be-hind the large green plant．

Leonard's aunt saw it first．'Leonard！'she screamed．'Bring Mrs Hampton back at once！We don't want a danger－ous wild animal in here！'

I—I don't know how to bring her back，'said Leonardin a small，frightened voice．

Rubbish！'shouted Mr Hampton．'You changed my dear wife into a wolf. Now you must bring her back again！'

Please believe me，'said Leonard．'I didn't change your wife into a wolf．'

Then where is she，and how did that animal get into the conservatory？'asked Mr Hampton angrily．

Of course，we must believe you when you say that you didn't change Mrs Hampton into a wolf，'said Clovis politely．'But you must agree that it all looks very strange．'

How can you stand there arguing，'cried Mavis Pelling－ton，'with a wild animal in the house？'

Lord Pabham，'began Mr Hampton，'you know a lotabout wild animals…'

I buy all my animals，'said Lord Pabham．'I have nev-er found one in a conservatory before．But this is a wolf，I amsure of that．I think it's probably a North American she－wolf_'

Oh，who cares where it came from！'screamed Mavis，as the wolf came a few steps further into the room．'Can't you offer it some food，and take it away safely somewhere be－fore it bites somebody？'

If this animal is really Mrs Hampton，'said Clovis，'she's just had an excellent dinner. She won't be interested infood．'

Oh，Leonard，'cried his aunt，'can't you use your wonderful powers to change this terrible animal into something small and gentle，like a rabbit？'

I don't think Mr Hampton would like that，'said Clovis．

You're right！'shouted Mr Hampton．'I forbid it！'

All my wolves love sugar，'said Lord Pabham．'If youlike，I'll offer this one a piece．'He took a piece of sugar fromthe table and pushed it along the floor towards Louisa．She ateit quickly and then，clearly hoping for more sugar，she fol－lowed Lord Pabham out of the room．

The guests left the table thankfully and hurried into the conservatory．It was empty．Mrs Hampton had disappeared．

The door to the garden is locked on the inside！'saidClovis．（He had quickly turned the key while he was pretend－ing to try the lock．）

Everyone turned towards Leonard Bilsiter．

If you have not changed my wife into a wolf，'said MrHampton，'will you please explain where she has gone？ Clear-ly she could not go out through a locked door—so where isshe？'

I tell you，I had nothing to do with it！'repeatedLeonard again and again．But nobody believed him．

I'm leaving，'said Mavis Pellington．'I refuse to stayanother hour in this house．'

Just then Mary Hampton entered the room．

What happened？'she asked crossly．'Someone has beenplaying a stupid game with me．I found myself in the kitchen，eating sugar from Lord Pabham's hand．I hate stupid games，and my doctor has forbidden me to eat sugar．'

Well，my dear…'began Mr Hampton．Mrs Hamptonlistened excitedly as he explained．

So you really did change me into a wolf，Mr Bilsiter？'cried Mrs Hampton．

No，no，'said Leonard．'It's all a mistake．' 'Actually，I did it，'said Clovis．'You see，I spent two years in Russia，and I know a little about Siberian Magic．Of course，I don't like to talk about it．But when other people talk a lot of rubbish about hidden powers，I like to show what Siberian Magic can really do… May I please have a drink？Ifeel a little tired now．'

Leonard Bilsiter looked at Clovis with hate in his eyes．At that moment he wished strongly that he could change Clovisin to some small helpless animal，and then step on him very hard．

■ 母狼

對倫納德·比爾斯特來說現實世界不很愜意或有趣，他喜歡生活在想像中的“神祕世界”裡。孩子們經常擅於這樣，他們在自己的夢幻世界裡非常快樂，並不想讓別人相信他們。可倫納德·比爾斯特對任何願意聽的人都大談“神祕世界”。

倫納德沒碰到過什麼奇特的事情，直到有一年他乘火車穿越東歐旅行。他同一個俄國乘客談了很長時間，這個人用很有趣的方式大談魔法和“隱祕的力量”。他帶回家很多關於奇怪、隱晦的魔法的故事，並把它們稱作“西伯利亞魔法”。

他的姑媽，塞西莉亞·霍普斯，對倫納德的魔法很著迷。她告訴朋友“天哪，他在我眼前把花園裡的一棵菜變成了一隻鳥！”朋友們認為她的想像力也真夠豐富的。

倫納德帶著他神祕的力量應邀參加瑪麗·漢普頓的家庭聚會。屋裡還有其他幾個人，都在聽倫納德講述神祕世界裡的離奇故事。

“請你一定把我變成一隻狼，比爾斯特先生，”漢普頓夫人在他來那天的午餐時說。

“親愛的瑪麗，”她丈夫說，“你這念頭真奇怪！”

“當然是一隻母狼，”漢普頓夫人繼續說，“我不想變成一個男人或一頭牲畜！”

“我們不能拿神祕世界開玩笑，”倫納德說。

“哦，我不是在開玩笑，我向你保證。但是今晚別把我變成狼，我想玩牌，今天屋裡只有我們8個人。我已經邀請了更多的人明天來這兒，等到明天晚上。”

倫納德沒有覺得好笑。“漢普頓夫人，你真的不能嘲笑這些隱祕的離奇故事，它們比我們想像的更強大、更危險。”

克洛維斯·桑格瑞爾不出聲地聽著。午餐後他在吸菸室對帕布漢姆勳爵說起此事。

“告訴我，帕布漢姆勳爵，”克洛維斯說。“帕布漢姆公園你的動物園裡有母狼嗎？一隻安靜友好的母狼？”

“有，叫路易莎，”帕布漢姆勳爵思索著說。“她很安靜溫順。你為什麼問這個？”

“我明晚想借用她，”克洛維斯輕輕地說。“可以嗎？”

“明天晚上？”帕布漢姆驚奇地重複。

“是的，狼通常白天睡覺，不是嗎？因此白天的旅行不會傷害她。你能讓你的一個人在天黑後把她帶到這兒嗎？然後他可以在漢普頓夫人離開餐廳的時候悄悄把她帶進暖房。”

帕布漢姆勳爵吃驚地看著克洛維斯，然後一笑。“我懂！”他說。“你要表演一個西伯利亞小魔法。漢普頓夫人同意幫你了嗎？”

“瑪麗保證過——如果你的母狼安靜溫順。”

“路易莎不會給你們什麼麻煩，”帕布漢姆勳爵說。

第二天又來了幾個客人。倫納德津津樂道地給他們講西伯利亞魔法和神祕的力量。他整個晚餐都在講這些事。晚餐最後喝咖啡時，倫納德的姑媽開口了。

“親愛的倫納德，”她說，“請給我們表演你的力量，把某件東西變成另外的形狀。”她轉向其他客人。“如果他願意他會做到的。”她告訴他們。

“哦，請表演給我們看，”梅維斯·佩林頓激動地說。

“這個……”倫納德開始說，“如果誰給我一枚小硬幣……”

“哦，你當然不會用消失的硬幣做傻事吧？”克洛維斯說。“我們想看真正令人吃驚的事情。”

“對，”瑪麗·漢普頓說。“你為什麼不把我變成一隻狼？你保證過！”她從桌旁站起身，端著喂她的鸚鵡的一碗水果走進了暖房。

“我已經警告過你，”倫納德嚴肅地說，“開這些事情的玩笑是危險的。”

“我不信你會做這事！”瑪麗從暖房笑著說。說著話，她在一顆高大的綠色植物後面消失了。

“漢普頓夫人——”倫納德開始嚴肅起來。過後一陣寒風吹進餐室，同時漢普頓夫人的鸚鵡尖叫起來。

“那些笨鳥怎麼回事，瑪麗？”她丈夫問。就在這時，一隻大灰狼從高大的綠色植物後面走出來。

倫納德的姑媽最先看見。“倫納德！”她尖叫著。“立刻把漢普頓夫人變回來！我們不想有一隻危險的野獸在這兒！”

“我——我不知道怎麼把她變回來，”倫納德小聲害怕地說。

“胡說！”漢普頓先生叫嚷道。“你把我親愛的妻子變成了狼，現在你必須將她再變回來！”

“請相信我，”倫納德說，“我沒有把你的妻子變成狼。”

“那麼她在哪兒？那隻動物怎麼進暖房的？”漢普頓先生氣憤地問。

“當你說你沒有將漢普頓夫人變成狼時，我們當然相信你，”克洛維斯禮貌地說，“但是你必須承認這太奇怪了。”

“房子裡還有一隻野獸，你們怎麼還能站在那裡爭來爭去？”梅維斯·佩林頓喊道。

“帕布漢姆勳爵，”漢普頓先生說，“你對動物瞭解很多……”

“我的動物都是買的，”帕布漢姆勳爵說。“我以前從沒在暖房見過。可這是一隻狼，我敢肯定。我想它可能是一隻北美母狼—”

“哦，誰管她是哪兒來的！”梅維斯尖叫著，這時狼又走進房屋幾步。“你難道不能給它些食物，趁它還沒咬誰時把它帶到某個安全的地方嗎？”

“如果這隻動物真的是漢普頓夫人，”克洛維斯說，“她剛吃過豐盛的晚餐，不會對食物感興趣。”

“哦，倫納德，”姑媽嚷著，“你難道不能用你神奇的力量把這隻可怕的動物變成某個小巧溫順的動物嗎？比如說一隻兔子？”

“我想漢普頓先生不會喜歡，”克洛維斯說。

“對！”漢普頓先生叫嚷道。“我不準這樣做！”

“我所有的狼都喜歡糖，”帕布漢姆勳爵說。“如果你不反對的話，我會給這隻狼一塊。”他從桌上拿起一塊糖，順著地板推給路易莎。她很快就吃完了，然後就跟著帕布漢姆勳爵出了屋，很明顯還想要糖。

客人們非常感謝地離開桌子，急忙走進暖房。暖房是空的，漢普頓夫人不見了。

“通往花園的門是從裡面鎖著的！”克洛維斯說。（他假裝試著開鎖時迅速轉動了鑰匙。）

每個人都轉身對著倫納德·比爾斯特。

“如果你沒有把我妻子變成狼，”漢普頓先生說，“那麼你能解釋她去哪兒了嗎？很明顯她不會從一扇鎖著的門出去——所以她在哪兒？”

“我告訴你，我與此事無關！”倫納德一遍又一遍地重複著說，但是沒人相信他。

“我要走了，”梅維斯·佩林頓說。“我再不願在這房子裡多呆一小時。”

這時瑪麗·漢普頓走了進來。

“怎麼搞的？”她生氣地問。“有人在和我玩愚蠢的遊戲。我發現自己在廚房裡，吃帕布漢姆勳爵手上的糖。我恨這愚蠢的遊戲，醫生不准我吃糖。”

“好吧，親愛的……”漢普頓先生開始說。當他解釋時，漢普頓夫人激動地聽著。

“那麼你真的把我變成了一隻狼，比爾斯特先生？”漢普頓夫人喊道。

“不，沒有，”倫納德說。“那只是個誤會。”

“事實上，這是我做的，”克洛維斯說。“你知道，我在俄國呆了兩年，知道一些西伯利亞魔法。當然我不喜歡談論它。可當人們說一大堆關於神祕力量的廢話時，我願意顯示西伯利亞魔法倒底能做些什麼……我可以來一杯嗎？我現在覺得有點累了。”

倫納德·比爾斯特用憤恨的眼神看著克洛維斯。就在這時他強烈地希望他能把克洛維斯變成某個矮小無助的動物，然後狠狠地踩上幾腳。