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Long ago,the sharks were the rulers of the islands thatmake up Fiji in the Pacific Ocean.Each island had its ownparticular shark who lived beside the reef entrance of theisland.These sharks patrolled the waters of their territory,challenging anyone who dared to come near. They allowedfriends in,but fought with hostile sharks until they paid atribute.
Dakuwaca thought himself the greatest of all the sharks.He was big and fierce and enjoyed nothing better than a fightwith another shark.He had never lost a fight and he wasquite sure he never would.He cared nothing for the terriblestorms which his fights caused, whipping up the waters sothat the islanders were tossed about in their boats. Oftenisland houses were swept away by massive waves from the ocean.
Dakuwaca was patrolling his reef one day when he cameacross a shark called Masilica. Masilica was the mischiefmaker among the sharks.He did not fight much himself
but,with his wily ways, he had caused more fights than mostsharks had fought!
"Good day,Dacuwaca," he said."I suppose you're off foranother fight.It's amazing,the way you always beat the othersharks.I wish I were as good a fighter as you."
"No other shark is as good a fighter as I am,"
saidDakuwaca."Hardly anyone bothers to challenge me
any
more.They all know that I am so much stronger than them.In fact,it's getting very dull around here."
"Perhaps if you really want a good fight you should
goover to Kandavu Island.I hear there's a creature well worthfighting there,a mighty monster which guards the reef sothat it is impossible to go near it.But no －one ever goesthere because they are much too afraid," said Masilica, witha sly glint in his eye."Of course,I'm not suggesting thatyou're frightened,you're much too brave.And I'm sure none ofthe other sharks think that you're afraid either." Dakuwacathrashed his tail through the water. Of course he wasn'tafraid,what a suggestion! But if the other sharks thought hewas afraid,he had better do something at once.Almost beforeMasilica had finished speaking, Dakuwaca set
off towardsKandavu,determined to challenge the fearsome monster.
As Dakuwaca approached Kandavu,he heard a deep, powerfulvoice calling from the shore. Dakuwaca had never heardanything like it before and he found himself trembling alittle."How foolish," he told himself."Nothing on the shorecan harm me." And he swam on.
"Stop!" commanded the voice."I am Tui Vesi,the guardianof Kandavu.How dare you approach my precious island so boldly."
Dakuwaca was rather frightened,but was determined not toshow it."And I am Dakuwaca,the greatest of all sharks. Comeout and fight to defend your island."
"I am a land guardian and so cannot come into the waterto fight you," said Tui Vesi."I shall send one of my servantsto fight you instead.But be warned!
It is a great andterrible monster,and it would be much better if you left now." "No－one is braver or stronger than I," said Dakuwaca. "Iam not afraid of anything.I will fight your servant." Heswam around the mouth of the reef,watching and waiting forhis opponent.His body was strong and quick and his teethwere sharp.
Suddenly a giant arm appeared from the reef and grabbedhim.A giant octopus! This wasn't what Dakuwaca was expectingat all!
He thrashed and twisted to rid himself of the arm. Hissharp teeth were quite useless because he could not bend hisbody to bite at the arm.The arm loosened as he twisted and,for a moment,Dakawaca thought he was free.
But no,two more arms whipped round so that he could nolonger move at all.And the arms began to squeeze, tighterand tighter until Dakuwaca could bear it no longer.
"Have mercy," he gasped."Forgive my terrible presumption,Tui Vesi."The arms of the octopus loosened slightly, and TuiVesi's mighty voice boomed out into the waters once more.
"I will release you,Dakuwaca,providing that you promiseto guard the people of my island from sharks which mightattack them when they go out in their canoes."
"Yes,yes! Of course I will," Dakuwaca agreed. At oncethe octopus released Dakuwaca and he sank to the sea bedexhausted.When he had recovered,he set off back to his ownterritory.He kept his promise and protected the island ofKandavu from other sharks.In spite of his fears, the othersharks believed his claim that he had made friends with themighty guardian of Kandavu and feared him just as much asbefore.All except Masilica,that is,who would occasionallydrop the word "octopus" into conversation and dash away asDakuwaca snapped at him. And that is why, while otherfishermen of the Fiji islands fear for their lives because ofthe sharks,the men of Kandavu ride happily in their canoes.
摘自《走近自然》北京：外语教学与研究出版社
英国：Two－can出版公司
2000.3
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