The Giants 巨人帮

The Giants
‘But if you are so nice and friendly,’ Sophie said, ‘then why did you snatch me from my bed and
run away with me?’
‘Because you SAW me,’ the Big Friendly Giant answered. ‘If anyone is ever SEEING a giant,
he or she must be taken away hipswitch.’
‘Why?’ asked Sophie.
‘Well, first of all,’ said the BFG, ‘human beans is not really believing in giants, is they? Human
beans is not thinking we exist.’
‘I do,’ Sophie said.
‘Ah, but that is only because you has SEEN me!’ cried the BFG. ‘I cannot possibly allow
anyone, even little girls, to be SEEING me and staying at home. The first thing you would be doing,
you would be scuddling around yodelling the news that you were actually SEEING a giant, and then
a great giant-hunt, a mighty¹ giant look-see, would be starting up all over the world, with the human
beans all rummaging² for the great giant you saw and getting wildly excited. People would be coming
rushing and bushing after me with goodness knows what and they would be catching³ me and locking
me into a cage to be stared at. They would be putting me into the zoo or the bunkumhouse with all
those squiggling hippodumplings and crockadowndillies.’
Sophie knew that what the Giant said was true. If any person reported actually having seen a
giant haunting the streets of a town at night, there would most certainly be a terrific hullabaloo across
the world.
‘I will bet you,’ the BFG went on, ‘that you would have been splashing the news all over the
wonky world, wouldn’t you, if I hadn’t wiggled you away?’
‘I suppose I would,’ Sophie said.
‘And that would never do,’ said the BFG.
‘So what will happen to me now?’ Sophie asked.
‘If you do go back, you will be telling the world,’ said the BFG, ‘most likely on the telly-telly
bunkum box and the radio squeaker. So you will just have to be staying here with me for the rest of
your life.’
‘Oh no!’ cried Sophie.
‘Oh yes!’ said the BFG. ‘But I am warning you not ever to go whiffling about out of this cave
without I is with you or you will be coming to an ucky-mucky end! I is showing you now who is
going to eat you up if they is ever catching even one tiny little glimp of you.’
The Big Friendly Giant picked Sophie off the table and carried her to the cave entrance. He
rolled the huge stone to one side and said, ‘Peep out over there, little girl, and tell me what you is
seeing.’
Sophie, sitting on the BFG’s hand, peeped out of the cave.
The sun was up now and shining fiery-hot over the great yellow wasteland with its blue rocks
and dead trees.
‘Is you seeing them?’ the BFG asked.
Sophie, squinting⁴ through the glare of the sun, saw several tremendous tall figures moving
among the rocks about five hundred yards away. Three or four others were sitting quite motionless on
the rocks themselves.
‘This is Giant Country,’ the BFG said. ‘Those is all giants, every one.’
It was a brain-boggling sight. The giants were all naked except for a sort of short skirt around
their waists, and their skins were burnt brown by the sun. But it was the sheer size of each one of
them that boggled Sophie’s brain most of all. They were simply colossal⁵, far taller and wider than the
Big Friendly Giant upon whose hand she was now sitting. And oh how ugly they were! Many of
them had large bellies⁶. All of them had long arms and big feet. They were too far away for their faces
to be seen clearly, and perhaps that was a good thing.
‘What on earth are they doing?’ Sophie asked.
‘Nothing,’ said the BFG. ‘They is just moocheling and footcheling around and waiting for the
night to come. Then they will all be galloping⁷ off to places where people is living to find their
suppers.’
‘You mean to Turkey,’ Sophie said.
‘Bonecrunching Giant will be galloping to Turkey, of course,’ said the BFG. ‘But the others will
be whiffling off to all sorts of flungaway places like Wellington for the booty flavour and Panama for
the hatty taste. Every giant is having his own favourite hunting ground.’
‘Do they ever go to England?’ Sophie asked.
‘Often,’ said the BFG. ‘They say the English is tasting ever so wonderfully of crodscollop.’
‘I’m not sure I quite know what that means,’ Sophie said.
‘Meanings is not important,’ said the BFG. ‘I cannot be right all the time. Quite often I is left
instead of right.’
‘And are all those beastly giants over there really going off again tonight to eat people?’ Sophie
asked.
‘All of them is guzzling⁸ human beans every night,’ the BFG answered. ‘All of them excepting
me. That is why you will be coming to an ucky-mucky end if any of them should ever be getting his
gogglers upon you. You would be swallowed up like a piece of frumpkin pie, all in one dollop!’
‘But eating people is horrible!’ Sophie cried. ‘It’s frightful⁹! Why doesn’t someone stop them?’
‘And who please is going to be stopping them?’ asked the BFG.
‘Couldn’t you?’ said Sophie.
‘Never in a pig’s whistle!’ cried the BFG. ‘All of those man-eating giants is enormous and very
fierce! They is all at least two times my wideness and double my royal highness!’
‘Twice as high as you!’ cried Sophie.
‘Easily that,’ said the BFG. ‘You is seeing them in the distance but just wait till you get them
close up. Those giants is all at least fifty feet tall with huge muscles and cockles alive alive-o. I is the
titchy one. I is the runt. Twenty-four feet is puddlenuts in Giant Country.’
‘You mustn’t feel bad about it,’ Sophie said. ‘I think you are just great. Why even your toes
must be as big as sausages.’
‘Bigger,’ said the BFG, looking pleased. ‘They is as big as bumplehammers.’
‘How many giants are there out there?’ Sophie asked.
‘Nine altogether,’ answered the BFG.
‘That means,’ said Sophie, ‘that somewhere in the world, every single night, nine wretched
people get carried away and eaten alive.’
‘More,’ said the BFG. ‘It is all depending, you see, on how big the human beans is. Japanese
beans is very small, so a giant will need to gobble up about six Japanese before he is feeling full up.
Others like the Norway people and the Yankee-Doodles is ever so much bigger and usually two or
three of those makes a good tuck-in.’
‘But do these disgusting giants go to every single country in the world?’ Sophie asked.
‘All countries excepting Greece is getting visited some time or another,’ the BFG answered.
‘The country which a giant visits is depending on how he is feeling. If it is very warm weather and a
giant is feeling as hot as a sizzlepan, he will probably go galloping far up to the frisby north to get
himself an Esquimo or two to cool him down. A nice fat Esquimo to a giant is like a lovely ice-cream
lolly to you.’
‘I’ll take your word for it,’ Sophie said.
‘And then again, if it is a frosty night and the giant is fridging with cold, he will probably point
his nose towards the swultering hotlands to guzzle¹⁰ a few Hottentots to warm him up.’
‘How perfectly¹¹ horrible,’ Sophie said.
‘Nothing hots a cold giant up like a hot Hottentot,’ the BFG said.
‘And if you were to put me down on the ground and I was to walk out among them now,’
Sophie said, ‘would they really eat me up?’
‘Like a whiffswiddle!’ cried the BFG. ‘And what is more, you is so small they wouldn’t even
have to chew you. The first one to be seeing you would pick you up in his fingers and down you’d go
like a drop of drain-water!’
‘Let’s go back inside,’ Sophie said. ‘I hate even watching them.’

巨人帮
“你要是这么好，这么好心眼儿，”索菲说，“那为什么把我从床上抓起来，带着我跑掉
呢？”
“因为你看见了我。”好心眼儿巨人回答说，“如果什么人看见了巨人，他或者她非给赶紧
带走不可。”
“为什么？”索菲问道。
“这个吗，首先，”好心眼儿巨人说，“人豆子不相信有巨人，对吗？人豆子并不认为真有
我们巨人。”
“可我相信。”索菲说。
“啊，那是因为你看见我了！”好心眼儿巨人说，“我绝不能允许任何人，即使是个小女
孩，看见了我以后还留在家里。要不，你会做的第一件事情就是到处跑，说你真正看见一个
巨人了。然后人豆子们就要开始大规模狩猎，拼命地寻找巨人。这一来就要惊动全世界，所
有人豆子都要寻找你看见过的这个巨人，兴奋得发狂。人豆子们就要蜂拥而来。天知道他们
会用什么来刨地三尺地找我，把我抓起来，锁到笼子里，拿我来展览。他们会把我放在动物
园或者什么鬼地方，跟那些肉丸子河马和爬虫鳄鱼关在一起。”
索菲知道，巨人说的话一点儿也不假。如果有人说出去，夜里真看见一个巨人在城里的
街道上出没，毫无疑问，全世界都会可怕地骚乱起来。
“我可以跟你打赌，”好心眼儿巨人说，“如果我不把你抓走，你会把这个消息散布到整个
乱糟糟的世界，对不对？”
“我想我会的。”索菲说。
“那可绝对不行。”好心眼儿巨人说。
“那么现在把我怎么样呢？”索菲问道。
“如果放你回去，你会告诉全世界，”好心眼儿巨人说，“最可能是在叽里呱啦胡说八道的
盒子里和对着电台话筒说。因此，你只好在这里和我一起度过你的余生了。”
“噢，不要这样！”索菲大叫起来。
“噢，是要这样！”好心眼儿巨人说，“不过我警告你，没有我和你在一起，你千万不要糊
里糊涂地走出这个山洞，要不然，你就不会有好下场！现在我来让你看看到底谁会把你吃
掉，万一你让他们看到哪怕一眼的话。”
好心眼儿巨人把索菲从桌子上抓起来，带她到山洞口。他把那块大石头转到一边，说
道：“小妞，你朝那边看看，告诉我你看到了什么。”
索菲坐在好心眼儿巨人的手上，朝山洞外面看去。
这会儿太阳已经出来，把有蓝色大石头和枯树的一大片不毛之地晒得火烫。
“你看到他们没有？”好心眼儿巨人问道。
索菲眯起眼睛在太阳光中望过去，在大约五百码远的地方，大石头中间有几个其大无比
的人正在走来走去。另外有那么三四个，各自坐在石头上一动不动。
“这里是巨人国。”好心眼儿巨人说，“那些全都是巨人，每一个都是。”
这真是个让脑子变成糨糊的景象。那些巨人全都光着上身，只在腰间围着一条短裙似的
布，他们的皮肤就这样被太阳烤着。可是最让索菲糊涂的却是每个巨人的奇怪个头儿，他们
真正是巨而又大，比手上这会儿正坐着索菲的这个好心眼儿巨人还要高得多、胖得多。天
哪，他们多么丑啊！其中有好多个都是大肚子。他们个个长着长胳膊大脚板。由于离得太
远，他们的脸看不清楚，不过这也许是件好事。
“他们在干什么啊？”索菲问道。
“什么也不干，”好心眼儿巨人说，“他们只是荡来荡去，转来转去，就等着天黑。天一黑
他们就全都飞也似的跑到住着人豆子的地方去找晚饭吃。”
“你是说到土耳其？”索菲说。
“嘎吱嘎吱嚼骨头巨人要去土耳其，这不用说。”好心眼儿巨人说，“不过其他那些各去各
的地方，爱靴子味道的去惠灵顿，爱草帽味道的去巴拿马。每个巨人有自己喜欢的吃人地
方。”
“他们也去英国吗？”索菲问道。
“常去，”好心眼儿巨人说，“他们说英国人豆子吃起来有呱呱叫的鹦哥味。”
“我不明白那是什么意思。”索菲说。
“意思是不重要的，”好心眼儿巨人说，“我不可能一直都说得清清楚楚。既然说不清楚，
我常常糊里糊涂。”
“这儿所有的野蛮巨人今天晚上真的又要去吃人吗？”索菲问道。
“他们每天晚上都要吃人豆子，”好心眼儿巨人回答说，“所有的巨人都这样，只是除了
我。这就是他们不管哪一个一看见你，你就没有好下场的缘故。你就要像一块南瓜饼似的被
吞下去，就只一口！”
“不过吃人太可怕了！”索菲叫道，“太吓人了！为什么没有人阻止他们这样做呢？”
“请问谁来阻止他们呢？”好心眼儿巨人问道。
“你不能阻止他们吗？”索菲说。
“谈也不要谈！”好心眼儿巨人叫道，“那些巨人又大又凶！他们全都至少比我壮一倍、高
一倍！”
“有你两个那么高！”索菲叫道。
“这很容易看出来。”好心眼儿巨人说，“你现在看他们离得太远了，可等到他们走近啊，
就会发现那些巨人全都至少有五十英尺高，肌肉发达得不得了。我只是个小不点儿。我只是
个小小不然的东西。在巨人国里，二十四英尺高算不了什么。”
“你绝不要为这个难过，”索菲说，“我认为你是个不折不扣的巨人。就说这一点吧，你那
些脚趾粗得跟粗香肠准一个样。”
“比香肠倒还要粗一点儿。”好心眼儿巨人说，看上去高兴一些了，“可他们的脚趾粗得像
下水道的粗水管。”
“外面的巨人有多少个？”索菲问道。
“一共九个。”好心眼儿巨人回答。
“这就是说，”索菲说道，“每天夜里，世界上什么地方就有九个不幸的人给抓走，被活活
吃掉。”
“还要多，”好心眼儿巨人说，“你知道，这要看人豆子个头有多大。日本人豆子个头小，
因此一个巨人要吃下六个日本人豆子才能饱。至于其他人豆子，像挪威人豆子和美国人豆子
个头大得多，通常两三个就吃饱了。”
“这些该死的巨人，世界各国都去吗？”索菲问道。
“除了希腊，世界各国，都要被不时光顾。”好心眼儿巨人说，“一个巨人去哪一个国家，
这要看他当时感觉如何。如果天热，他热得像一口吱吱响的平板锅，他大概就会跑到北极去
找一两个因纽特人豆子吃下去来让自己凉快凉快。一个肥美的因纽特人豆子对于巨人来说，
就像一根奶油冰棍对于你们一样。”
“我要记住你的话。”索菲说。
“话又说回来，如果是个寒冷的夜晚，巨人冻坏了，他大概就把鼻子直指热带，去吃几个
非洲霍屯督人豆子来让自己暖和暖和。”
“真是可怕极了。”索菲说。
“再也没有像热带的霍屯督人更能让冷得要命的巨人暖和起来的。”好心眼儿巨人说。
“如果你把我放到地上，我现在走到他们当中，”索菲说，“他们真会把我吃下去吗？”
“就像吃一颗糖果！”好心眼儿巨人叫道，“不仅如此，你实在太小了，他们把你吞下去连
嚼也不用嚼。第一个看见你的巨人会用指头把你夹起来，你就像水管里的一滴水那样咕嘟嘟
落下去！”
“让我们回到山洞里去吧，”索菲说，“他们让我连看都不想看。”

1 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

2 rummaging   

翻找，搜寻( rummage的现在分词 )； 海关检查

参考例句：

• She was rummaging around in her bag for her keys. 她在自己的包里翻来翻去找钥匙。
• Who's been rummaging through my papers? 谁乱翻我的文件来着？

3 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

4 squinting   

斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看

参考例句：

• "More company," he said, squinting in the sun. "那边来人了，"他在阳光中眨巴着眼睛说。
• Squinting against the morning sun, Faulcon examined the boy carefully. 对着早晨的太阳斜起眼睛，富尔康仔细地打量着那个年轻人。

5 colossal   

adj.异常的，庞大的

参考例句：

• There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。
• Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。

6 bellies   

n.肚子( belly的名词复数 )；腹部；（物体的）圆形或凸起部份；腹部…形的

参考例句：

• They crawled along on their bellies. 他们匍匐前进。
• starving children with huge distended bellies 鼓着浮肿肚子的挨饿儿童

7 galloping   

adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下，它就奔驰起来了。
• Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速，日新月异。

8 guzzling   

v.狂吃暴饮，大吃大喝( guzzle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The kids seem to be guzzling soft drinks all day. 孩子们似乎整天都在猛喝汽水。
• He's been guzzling beer all evening. 整个晚上他都在狂饮啤酒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

10 guzzle   

v.狂饮，暴食

参考例句：

• Melissa had guzzled gin and tonics like they were lemonade.梅利莎像喝柠檬汽水一样大口地喝着加奎宁水的杜松子酒。
• Pigs guzzle their food.猪总是狼吞虎咽地吃东西。

11 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。