英文短故事：The Unfaithful Friend

There was a large berry tree on the bank of a river. On this tree lived a monkey called Rhesa. He was a clever and good hearted monkey. He offered berries to all the animals and birds who came to the river to quench¹ their thirst. In the river, there lived a crocodile named Magar. He lived with his wife in a cave at the bottom of the river. 

 

One day Magar the crocodile came to the river bank to catch his prey². It was a hot and sunny day and Magar had not caught any thing the whole day. Tired and hot, he dragged himself to the shade of the berry tree for some rest. He had hardly closed his eyes when he heard somebody calling out to him. “Hello friend. I am up here." 

 

Magar looked up to find Rhesa the monkey smiling down at him. The monkey plucked³ a handful of juicy berries and threw them down to Magar. 

 

“Eat these. They will quench your thirst." 

 

“Thank you," said Magar and ate the delicious berries. 

 

From then on, everyday, Magar would come to the river’s bank and eat the berries dropped by Rhesa. Both of them became good friends. 

 

One day Magar took some berries home to his wife. She found them delicious. “Mmm... If the berries are so tasty, how delicious would the monkey’s heart be that ate these berries," she said. “I want to eat the heart of this monkey." 

 

“How can I do that?" replied Magar. 

 

“He is my friend. How can I kill him?" But his wife would not accept no for an answer. “If you don’t bring me his heart, I will starve myself to death,’’she cried. 

 

So Magar went to meet Rhesa the monkey. “My wife liked the berries you sent her very much. She wants to meet you. She has invited you home for dinner,"said Magar to Rhesa. 

 

“I would surely come," said Rhesa, “but I cannot swim and you live in the river." 

 

“Do not worry," said Magar, “I will carry you on my back." 

 

Rhesa readily⁴ jumped on to Magar’s back. Magar began to swim away from the bank. On reaching the middle of the river, the crocodile began to dive under water. 

 

“Hey! What are you doing?" panicked Rhesa. “I told you I cannot swim." 

 

“Sorry my friend," replied Magar. “My wife wants to eat your heart. So I have to kill you," said Magar. 

 

Rhesa realised that he was in grave danger. “Is it my heart you want?" he asked in an undisturbed voice. “Why did you not say so before? I would have gladly given it to you. We will have to go back because I usually leave my heart back at home when I go out." 

 

The foolish crocodile immediately turned around and swam back towards the bank. 

 

Rhesa immediately jumped down from Magar’s back and bounced up the berry tree. “You are a fool Magar. How could I be alive if I left my heart behind? You have been an unfaithful friend. Our friendship is over," said Rhesa.  

1 quench   

vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制

参考例句：

• The firemen were unable to quench the fire.消防人员无法扑灭这场大火。
• Having a bottle of soft drink is not enough to quench my thirst.喝一瓶汽水不够解渴。

2 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

3 plucked   

采( pluck的过去式和过去分词 )； 拔掉； 解救； 弹

参考例句：

• The actress was only 17 when she was plucked from obscurity and made a star. 这个演员受到提携从无名少女一跃成为明星时年仅17岁。
• She plucked out a grey hair. 她拔掉了一根灰白头发。

4 readily   

adv.欣然地，容易地，很快地，立即

参考例句：

• I promise all costs will be readily returned.我保证所有的费用会迅速偿还。
• Most plastics do not readily conduct heat or electricity.大多数塑料不易传热或导电。