高处何所有
The Mountaintop/
by Zhang Xiaofeng
很久很久以前，在一个很远很远的地方，一位老酋长正病危。他找来村中最优秀的三个年轻人，对他们说：”这是我要离开你们的时候了，我要你们为我做最后一件事。你们三个都是身强体壮又智慧过人的好孩子，现在，请你们去攀登那座我们一向奉为神圣的大山。你们要尽其可能爬到最高、最陡峭的地方，然后，折回来告诉我你们的见闻。”
A long time ago, in a land far, far away, an old tribal leader was dying, so he gathered the three most outstanding young men in his village together and said, “My time to leave you has come, but I still have one last request. You three are all strong, healthy, intelligent, good kids. I hereby ask you to climb the great mountain that we have always revered as sacred. Try your absolute best to climb to the highest, steepest point. Then retrace your steps and come back to tell me what you saw and heard.
三天后，第一个年轻人回来了，他笑生双靥，衣履光鲜：”酋长，我到达山顶了，我看繁花夹道，流泉淙淙，鸟鸣嘤嘤，那地方真不坏啊！”
Three days later, the first young man returned. With his clothes bright and neat, smiling cheek to cheek: “Chief, I’ve been to the mountaintop. There were flowers blooming along the path, a flowing spring, and birds chirping. It’s a really sweet spot!”
老酋长笑笑说：”孩子，那条路我当年也走过，你说的鸟语花香的地方不是山顶，而是山麓。你回去吧！”
“Child, back in the day, I, too, took that path myself. The area you’re talking about with fragrant flowers and chirping birds isn’t the top; it’s only the foot of the mountain. Go back!” the chief responded with a chuckle.
一周后，第二个年轻人回来了，他神情疲倦，满脸风霜：”酋长，我到达山顶了。我看到高大肃穆的松树林，我看到秃鹰盘旋，那是个好地方！
One week later, the second young man came back. With a distressed, weathered look on his face: “Chief, I reached the mountaintop. I saw a forest of tall, solemn pine trees. It was so amazing!”
“可惜啊！孩子，那不是山顶！那是山腰，不过也难为你了。你回去吧！”
“What a shame! My child, that’s not the top! It was merely halfway up, yet it was still difficult for you. Go back!”
一个月过去了，大家都开始为第三位年轻人的安危担心，他却一步一蹭，衣不蔽体地回来了。他发枯唇燥，只剩下清炯的眼神：”酋长，我终于到达山顶。但是，我该怎么说呢？那里只有高风悲旋，蓝天四垂。”
After a month passed, everyone began worrying about the third young man’s safety, who practically had to drag himself back, step by step, adorning only rags. With dried-out hair, parched lips, and a bright gaze that remained only in his eyes: “Chief, I finally got to the top. But, how could I even describe it? There were just high mountains, swirling winds, and endless blue skies.”
“你难道在那里一无所见吗？难道连蝴蝶也没有一只吗？”
“You mean, you saw nothing else? Not even a single butterfly?”
“是的，酋长，高处一无所有。你所能看到的，只有你自己，只有个人被放在天地间的渺小感，只有想起千古英雄的悲激心情。”
“That’s right, Chief. At the highest point, there’s nothing at all. All you can see is yourself. You just feel your own insignificance between Heaven and Earth, and can only recall emotional stories of ancient heroes.
“孩子，你到的是真的山顶。按照我们的传统，天意要立你做新酋长，祝福你。”
“My child, you really did reach the top! According to our tradition, the Will of Heaven mandates that you become the tribe’s new leader. May you be blessed with good fortune!”
真英雄何所遇？
What does a true hero discover?
他遇到的是全身的伤痕，是孤单的长途，以及愈来愈真切的渺小感。
He finds wounds all over his body, a long, lonely road, and a distinct feeling of one’s own personal insignificance.
Translated & edited by ZhongwenTranslation
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