AmericanHorror三篇英语短片小说

AmericanHorror(ThreeTerrifyingTales)byEdgarAllanPoeContentsTOC\t"标题2,1,标题3,2"\h\u12294TheBlackCat 320081ChapterOne 32140ChapterTwo 41159ChapterThree 65615TheOvalPortrait 71263ChapterOne 828538ChapterTwo 826019TheTell-taleHeart 93191ChapterOne 915358ChapterTwo 1016785ChapterThree 15TheBlackCatChapterOneIdonotthinkpeoplewillbelievemystory.ButIamnotmad,andIamnotdreaming.TomorrowIwilldieandIwanttomakeaconfession.TheeventswhichIamgoingtodescribeherehaveterrifiedme,havetorturedme,havedestroyedme.Tometheyseemedhorribleandsupernatural,butperhapssomebodywhoiscalmerandmorerationalwillfindalogicalexplanation.Thisismystory.Iwasaverykindandgentlechildwholovedanimals.AsIgrewupthisloveforanimalsbecamegreater.Thisiseasytounderstand:itisdifficulttotrustpeople,butyoucanalwaystrustafaithfuldog.ImarriedwhenIwasyoungandmywifelikedanimalstoo.Wehadbirds,gold-fish,adog,rabbits,asmallmonkey,andacat.Thiscatwasquitelarge,beautiful,completelyblackandextremelyintelligent.Infact,mywifesometimessaidthatourcatwasprobablyawitchindisguise.Shewasnotreallyseriousaboutthis,andImentionitnowonlybecausebychanceIrememberit.Pluto—thiswasthecat'sname—wasmyfavoritepetandplaymate.Hefollowedmeeverywhere.Unfortunately,Ibecameavictimofalcohol.Idrankmoreandmore.Ofcourse,mypersonalitychanged.Ibecamemoodyandirritablewithmywifeandpets.Atthebeginning,though,IrespectedPlutoandneverhurthim.ButonenightIreturnedhomeveryintoxicated.IthoughtthatPlutowasavoidingme.Iheldhimviolentlyandinhisfrightthecatbitmyhand.Ibecamefurious.Iwaspossessedbyademon.Icaughtthecatagain.ThenItookapocket-knifefrommypocket,openeditandcutouthiseye!Iblush,IburnwhileInowwritethesefacts.ThenextdayIfelthorrorformyaction,butIcontinuedtodrink,andwinemademeforgetthehorriblethingIhaddone.Thecatgotbetter.TheemptyeyesocketIwasfrightening,butthecatwasnolongerinpain.Hewentaboutthehouseasusual,but,obviously,heranawayfrommeinterror.AtfirstIwassorryaboutthis,butsoonitmademeangry.AndthencamethespiritofPERVERSENESS.Philosophydoesnottalkaboutthisspirit,butitisafundamentalpartofthehumanheart.Wehavealldonestupidorterriblethingssimplybecauseweknowthatweshouldnotdothem.This,then,isPERVERSENESS.Thisspiritofperverseness,Isay,destroyedmebecauseonedayIdecidedtokillpoorPluto.WithtearsinmyeyesandsadnessinmyheartIputanoosearoundhisneckandhangedhimfromatree.IhangedPlutoonlybecauseIknewhelovedme,onlybecausehehadneverhurtme,onlybecauseIknewthatGodwouldneverpardonmeforthecrime.ChapterTwoThenightofthiscrimetherewasafireinmyhouse.Mywife,myservantandIjustmanagedtoescape.MyentirewealthwasdestroyedinthefireandIlostallhope.Idonotwanttosaythatthereisaconnectionbetweenmycrimeandthefire.Ionlywanttorecordthefactsofmystory.ThedayafterthefireIwenttovisittheruinsofmyhouse.Onlyonewallremained,andaroundthiswallwasagroupofpeople.Theyweresayingthingslike"strange!","singular!".Iwentcloserandsawastrangebas-reliefonthewall,thefigureofagiganticcat.Theimagewasextremelyaccurate.Therewasaropeabouttheanimal'sneck.WhenIfirstsawtheimageofthecatIwasterrified,butIthoughtaboutitandfoundagoodexplanation.Ihadhungthecatinthegardennexttomyhouse.Whenthefirebegan,thisgardenwasfilledupwithpeople.Somebodyprobablythrewthecatintomybedroomwindowinordertowakeme.Theotherwallsofthehousefellinandpressedthebodyofthecatagainstthiswall.Thegreatheatofthefireandachemicalreactionthenmadetheimage.AlthoughIhadalogicalexplanation,thatbas-reliefmadeagreatimpressiononmyimagination.FormonthsIcouldnotescapethephantasmofthecat.Ieventriedtofindanothercattosubstituteit.Then,onenightinabar,Isawablackobjectontopofsomehogsheadsofrum.Ilookedcloser.Itwasalargeblackcat.ItwasalmostidenticaltoPlutoexceptithadanindistinctwhiteareaonitsbreast.Icaressedthecatanditimmediatelygotupandpurred.Itwashappy.ThiswastheanimalIwaslookingfor.IaskedthebartenderifIcouldbuyit.Hesaidthatitwasnothis.IcontinuedtocaressthecatandwhenIleftthebar,thecatfollowedmehome.Mywifelikedthiscatverymuch.ButIbegantodislikeit.IhadthoughtthatIwouldbehappierwithanewcat.Instead,theaffectionofthecatonlydisgustedme.Andslowlythisdisgustbecamehatred.IavoideditbecauseIfeltsomeshameforkillingPlutoandIdidnotwanttohurtittoo.Inaddition,thiscat,justlikePluto,hadonlyoneeye.However,themoreIhatedthiscat,themoreitfollowedme.Itisdifficulttoexplainhowterriblethiswas.WhenIsatdownitwouldjumponmylegsandcovermewithhorriblecaresses.WhenIgotuptowalkitwasbetweenmylegsandIwouldalmostfall.ThismademesoangrythatIwantedtokillit,butIwasstopped-notbythememoryofmyfirstcrime-butbyabsolutedreadofthebeast.Thisdreadwasnotexactlyadreadofphysicalevil,butIdonotknowhowtodefineit.Iamalmostashamedtoadmit—asIwaithereinmyprisoncell—thatmyterrorwascausedbysomethingincrediblyinsubstantial.Mywifehadoftentalkedabouttheindistinctwhitepatchonthecat’sbreast,theonlydifferencebetweenhimandPluto.Butthisindistinctwhitepatchgraduallybecamedistinct.ItriedtoignorewhatIsaw.Isaidtomyselfthatitwasjustmyimagination.ButthisdistinctimagewastherealreasonwhyIdidnotdarehurtthebeast.ItwasanimagethatIfeared.ItwastheimageoftheGALLOWS!ThatterribleinstrumentofHorrorandofCrime—ofAgonyandofdeath!ChapterThreeOhhowIsuffered!Youcannotimagine.Ihadkilledabrutebeast,andnowanotherbrutebeastwasdestroyingme.DayornightIcouldnotrest.Duringthedaythecreatureneverleftmealone,andatnightIwokeuphourlyfromterribledreamswiththatthingonmyface.Itwasalivingnightmarealwaysthereinmyheart.Allmygoodthoughtshadgone.Evilthoughtsfilledmybrain.Ibegantohateallthingsandallmankind.Mywife,Iamsorrytosay,sufferedthemost.Onedaywehadtogodownintothecellar.Thecatwentbetweenmylegs.Ialmostfell.Ibecamefurious.Igrabbedanaxeandtriedtokilltheanimal,butmywifeblockedmyarm.ThismademeevenmorefuriousandIliftedtheaxeagainandburieditinherbrain.Shefelldeadimmediately,withoutagroan.Ihadmurderedher.NowIhadtoeliminatethebody.Thereweremanypossibilities.Icouldcutthebodyintolittlepiecesandthenburnthem,orIcouldburyit.Finally,Idecidedtoputitinsidethewallofthecellar.Therewasaprojectioninthewall.Ipulledoutthebrickswithacrowbar.IputthebodyinthereandthenIcarefullyputbackthebricks.Nobodycouldseethedifference.Itwasperfect.ThenIwenttolookforthecattokillittoo.Butthebeasthadescaped.Ididnotseeitthatnight.IwasfinallyfreeofitstormentandthatnightIslepttranquilly,evenifIhadjustkilledmywife.Thesecondandthethirddaypassed.Themonsterdidnotreturn.Myhappinesswassupreme.Thepolicecameandsearchedthehouse,but,ofcourse,theyfoundnothing.Iwouldbehappyforever!Thenonthefourthdaythepolicecameagain.Theytoldmetocomewiththemwhiletheysearchedthehouse.Theywentdownintothecellaragainandfoundnothing.IwassohappythatIwantedtosaysomething.IwantedtoshowthatIwasreallynotguilty."Gentlemen,"Ifinallysaid,"Iamgladthatyouhavenomoresuspicions.Oh,bythebye,isn'tthisawellconstructedhouse.(NowIcan'treallyrememberwhatIsaid.)Infact,Ithinkit'sanexcellentlywellconstructedhouse.Thesewalls—areyougoing,gentlemen?—arereallysolid."TheninthatmomentIhitthewallswithmycane.MayGodprotectme!Thenoiseofmycanewasansweredbyavoicefromthetomb!Atfirst,thevoicewasdifficulttohear.Itwaslikeachildcrying.Thenitbecamelouderandlouder.Onelong,loud,andcontinuousscream,completelyinhumanthatcamedirectlyfromhell!ForamomentthepoliceandIdidnotmove.Butthentheyeasilyopenedthewall.Thereinsidewasthestandingcorpse,alreadygreatlydecayedandcoveredwithblood.Onthecorpse'shead,withitsredmouthopenandoneeye,wasthebeast,thebeastthathadmadememurdermywife.Andnowthatmonsterhadgivenmetothehangman.Ihadwalledthemonsterupwithinthetomb!TheOvalPortraitChapterOneMyvaletPedroandIweretravelingthroughtheApennineMountainsinItaly.Iwasbadlyhurtandhadahighfever.Wefinallysawaverystrangeandgloomycastlethathadbeenrecentlyabandoned.Itwasthekindofcastlethatyoucanreadaboutincertainoldnovelsaboutghosts.PedroknewthatIcouldn'tremainoutsideinmycondition,sohedecidedtobreakintothecastle.Whenhehadbrokenin,hetookmetoasmallroominaturretofthecastle.Thisroomhadmanyveryoldpaintings,tapestriesandarms.Therewerealsomanyspiritedmodernpaintings.Ilookedcloselyatthemall.Theyfascinatedmegreatly,perhapsbecauseIwasdeliriousfromthefever.Ialsofoundabookthattoldthestoryofeachofthepaintingsintheroom.PedrolitthecandlesofalargecandelabrumandIbegantocontemplateeachpieceofartinthisbizarreroom.Ilayinmybedreadingandlookingatthepaintingsforalong,longtime.Then,sincePedrowasasleep,ImovedthecandelabrumsoIcouldreadmoreeasily.Thelightofthecandlesmadeiteasiertoread,butitalsoilluminatedastrangelittlepaintinginadarkniche.Itwastheportraitofalovelyadolescentgirl.Idonotknowwhy,butIclosedmyeyesforamomentandthoughtaboutit.ThenIopenedmyeyestolookatitagain.ThenIwonderedwhyIwassocharmedbythispainting.Itsframewasovalandgold.Thepaintingitselfwasdoneverywell.Itshowedtheheadandshouldersofthegirl.Thegirlherselfwasextremelybeautiful.Thepaintinghadevenstartledmebecauseforamomentitlookedlikealivingperson.Stillnoneofthesethingscouldexplainthesecretofitsmysteriouseffectonme.ThenIdiscoveredthereason:theexpressiononherfacewasalmostperfectlylifelike.Andthislifelikenesshadconfusedme,startledmeandfilledmewithhorror.Iimmediatelylookedinthebookforthestoryofthisovalportrait,andreadthefollowingstory.ChapterTwoTheStoryoftheGirlinthePortraitThegirlintheportraitwasextremelybeautifulandextremelyjoyous.Butitwasanevilhourwhenshemarriedthepainter.Hewaspassionate,austereandstudious;andhealreadyhada"wife":hisArt.Thegirlintheportraitwasashappyasafawn,andshelovedandcherishedallthings;sheonlyhatedtheArtwhichwasherrival.Shewasonlyafraidofthepalette,easelandbrushesthattookherhusbandaway.Itwasthereforeaterriblethingforherwhenherhusbandaskedhertoposeforapainting.Butshewasveryhumbleandobedient,andsheagreedtopose.Sheposedforthisportraitinacold,unhealthyroomofaturretofthecastle.Theonlylightintheroomcamefromasmallwindowintheceiling.Theartistworkedwithenergyandonlythoughtofhiswork.Hebecameobsessedwithcapturingeveryshadeandcoloroflifeonhisyoungwife'sface.Sincetheroomwhereshewassittingwascoldanddamp,shegotmoreandmoreill.Still,herhusbanddidnotnotice.Allhenoticedwashispainting.Hewasawildandmoodyman,andhewasoftenlostinhisownprivatedreamworld.Everybodyelsesawthathiswifewasgettingweakerandweaker.Still,shecontinuedsmilingandnevercomplainedbecauseshesawthathetooksuchgreatinterestinthispainting:heworkeddayandnighttopaintthewomanwholovedhimandwhowasbecomingmoreandmoreillforthislove.Someofthepeoplewhosawhimworkingsaid,"Thispaintingistrulymarvelous.Itisproofofbothhispowerasapainterandofhisloveforhiswife."Whenthepainterwasfinishingtheportrait,nobodywasallowedintheturretbecausethepainterhadbecomesopassionateabouthiswork:herarelytookhiseyesfromthecanvastolookathiswife'sface.Infact,hehadbecomesoobsessedwithhisworkthathedidnotnoticethatasheputredandpinkonthecanvas,redandpinklefthisyoungwife'scheeks.Finallyheonlyneededtoaddalittlebitofcolorforthemouthandalittlebitofcolorfortheeyes.Thelivingcolorofhiswife'sfaceshoneagainforamomentandthenwentoutlikealamp.Thepainteraddedthelastbrushstrokeandforonemomentwasentrancedinfrontofhispainting.Hethenbecamepaleandbegantotremble.Hethencriedloudly,"ThisisindeedLifeitself!"Thenhelookedsuddenlyathiswife:—Shewasdead!TheTell-taleHeartChapterOneTRUE!—nervous—very,veryterriblynervousIwasandIam.ButwhywillyousaythatIammad?Thediseasemademysensesextremelyacute.Itdidnotdestroythem.Mysenseofhearingwasverygood.Iheardallthingsinheavenandonearth.Ialsoheardthingsinhell.Why,then,amImad?ListenhowhealthilyIcantellmystory.IcannotsayhowIfirstgottheidea;butonceIhadit,thisideaneverleftmybraindayornight.Therewasnoreasonforthisidea.Therewasnopassion.Ilovedtheoldman.Hehadneverdoneanythingwrongtome.Ididnotwanthisgold.Ithinkitwashiseye!Yes,itwasthis!Oneofthemlookedlikeavulture'seye—apaleblueeye,withafilmloverit.Whenthiseyelookedatme,mybloodbecamecold.Andso,gradually—verygradually—Idecidedtokilltheoldman,andeliminatethateyeforever.Well,nowyouthinkIammad.Butmadmendon'tknowanything.Youshouldhaveseenme.Idideverythingsocarefully,sointelligently.IwasneverkindertotheoldmanthanduringthewholeweekbeforeIkilledhim.Andeverynight,aboutmidnight,Iopenedhisdoorslowly,very,veryslowly.Iopenedjustenoughformyhead.ThenIputinalanternallclosed,closedsothatnolightcameout,andthenIputinmyhead.ItwasreallyfantastichowIdidthis.YouwouldhavelaughedtoseehowslowlyandintelligentlyIputmyheadinhisroomsothatIwouldnotwakehim.Ittookmeawholehourtoputmyheadintohisroom.Couldamadmanbesocareful?Whenmyheadwasinhisroom,Iopenedthelanternanditslightfellonhisvultureeye.Ididthissamethingforsevennights,buteachnighthiseyewasclosed,soIcouldnotdomywork.Theoldmandidnotbotherme.Hisevileyebotheredme.ChapterTwoEverymorningIwalkedhappilyintohisroom.Iaskedhimifhehadsleptwell.Italkedtohimlikeafriend.Soyoucanseethathehadtobeaverywisemantosuspectthateverynight,justattwelve,Ilookedathimwhileheslept.TheeighthnightIwasmorecarefulthanusualwhenIopenedthedoor.Awatch'sminutehandmovesmorequicklythanmyhandmoved.ThatnightIwasstrongerandmoreintelligentthanIhadeverbeen.Ilaughedquietlyandperhapstheoldmanheardmebecausehemoved.YouprobablythinkthatIpulledmyheadback—butno.HisroomwascompletelydarkandIknewthathecouldnotseeme.Ikeptpushingmyheadin.Ihadmyheadinandwasabouttoopenthelanternwhenthemanjumpedupandshouted,"Who'sthere?"Ididnotmoveandsaidnothing.ForawholehourIdidnotmoveamuscleandIdidnothearhimliedownagain.Hewaslistening.ThenIheardhimgroan,andIknewitwasthegroanofmortalterror.Itwasnotagroanofsadnessorpain—ohno!—itcomesfromahorriblefeelingatthebottomofyoursoul.Iknewthatfeelingwell.IhadthatsamefeelingeverynightaroundmidnightwhenIlookedattheoldmansleeping.Ifeltsorryforhim,butIhadtolaughtoo.Hisfearwasgrowingbigger.Hetriedtoconvincehimselfthatthenoisecamefromhisimagination.Hesaidtohimself,"Itisjustthewind—itisonlyamouserunningacrossthefloor."Yes,hetriedtocomforthimself,buthefounditallinvain.Allinvain,becauseDeath'sshadowalreadycoveredtheoldman.AnditwasDeath'sinvisibleshadowthatmadehimfeelthepresenceofmyheadintheroom.AfterIhadwaitedforalongtime,Idecidedtoopenthelanternalittletinybit.So,Iopenedit—youcannotimaginehowcarefully—untilasinglerayoflight,likethethreadofaspider,shotoutfromthelanternandontothevultureeye.Hiseyewasopen—wide,wideopen—andIbecamefuriousasIlookedatit.Isawitperfectly,allpaleblueandwiththedisgustingfilmoveritthatmademybonescold;butIcouldseenothingelseoftheoldman'sfaceorbody.Ihad,byinstinct,directedthelightrightonthathorriblespot.NowIcouldhearalowsoundlikethesoundofawatchenvelopedincotton.ItoldyoubeforeIwasnotmad,butmysenseswereveryacute.Iknewthatsoundwelltoo.Itwasthebeatingoftheoldman'sheart.Itmadememorefuriousjustlikethebeatingofadrumthatstimulatesasoldier'scourage.ButIdidnotmove.Ihardlybreathed.Iheldthelightontheeye.Andthebeatingoftheheartincreased.Itbecamequickerandquicker,andlouderandlouder.Theoldman'sterrormusthavebeenextreme.Itgrewlouder,Isay,loudereverymoment!—doyouunderstand?ItoldyouIamnervousandIreallyam.Thatnightthatstrangenoisemademedosomethingterrible.Thebeatinggrewlouder,louder!Ithoughthisheartwouldexplode.ThenIthought,"Maybetheneighborswillhearit!"Itwastheoldman'smoment.Withashout,Iopenedupthelanterncompletelyandjumpedintotheroom.Hescreamedonce—onceonly.InaninstantIpulledhimtothefloorandpulledtheheavybedoverhim.IthensmiledhappilybecauseIhaddonesomuch.But,formanyminutes,theheartcontinuedtobeatunderthemattress.This,however,didnotbotherme:thenoisecouldnotbeheardthroughthewall.Finally,itstopped.Theoldmanwasdead.Iremovedthebedandexaminedthebody.Yes,hewasstone,stonedead.Iplacedmyhandonhisheartandheldittheremanyminutes.Therewasnomorebeating.Hewasstonedead.Hiseyewouldtroublemenomore.ChapterThreeIfyoustillthinkthatIammad,listenhowcarefullyIhidthebody.ThenightwasendingandIworkedcarefullyandquietly.First,Icutofftheheadandthearmsandthelegs.Ithenremovedsomeoftheboardsfromthefloorandplacedthepiecesofhisbodyunderneath.ThenIputbacktheboardssocarefullythatnohumaneye—notevenhis—couldhavenoticedanythingwrong.Therewasnobloodtoclean—noneatall—becauseIhadbeenverycareful.Atubhadcaughtalltheblood—ha!ha!ha!WhenIfinishedmyworkitwasfouro'clockanditwasstilldark.Asthebelloftheclockrangfourtimes,someoneknockedatthedoor.Iwenttoopenitwithoutanyfearorworry.Ihadnothingtobeafraidof.Threemencamein.Theyintroducedthemselves.Theywerepolicemen.Aneighborhadheardsomebodyscreamandhadthoughtsomethingterriblehadhappened,sotheycalledthepolice.Ismiled,—whatdidIhavetofear?Itoldthepolicementocomein.ItoldthemthatIhadscreamedbecauseofabaddream.Theoldman,Isaid,wasawayinthecountry.Itoldthemtolookaround,tolookeverywhere.Itookthemtohisroom.Ishowedthemhisgold.ThenIbroughtsomechairsintotheroomandputthemdownoverthespotwherethebodyofthevictimlay.Itoldthepolicementositdownandrestamoment.Thepolicemenweresatisfied.Ihadconvincedthem.TheysatandItalkedhappily.But,inafewmoments,IfeltmyselfgettingpaleandIwantedthemtogo.MyheadachedandIheardaringinginmyears.Buttheycontinuedtotalk.TheringingbecamemoredistinctItalkedmoreandmoretotrytoeliminatethefeeling.ThenIdiscoveredthatthenoisewasnotinmyears.IbecameverypaleandItalkedlouderandlouder.Butthesoundincreased—andwhatcouldIdo?Itwasalowsound—verymuchlikeawatchenvelopedincotton.Icouldhardlybreathe,butthepolicemencouldnothearthesound.Italkedmorequickly.Italkedmoreloudly,butthenoiseincreased.Istoodupandbegantoargueaboutstupidthings.Ishouted,Imovedmyarmsabout.Whydidn'tthosepolicemenleave?Iwalkedaroundtheroomquickly—butthenoisestillincreased.OhGod!WhatcouldIdo?Iscreamed,Ishouted!Ipulledthechairovertheplacewherethenoisecamefrom,butthenoisewasstilllouder,louder—louder!Andstillthementalkedhappilyandsmiled.Didn'ttheyhear?OhGod!No,no!Theyheard!—theysuspected!—theyknew!—theyweremakingfunofmyhorror!ThisIthoughtandthisIthink.Butanythingwasbetterthanthisagony,thantheirmakingfunofme!Icouldnotbeartheirhypocriticalsmilesanymore.IfeltthatImustscreamordie!—andnowagain!—Listen!Louder!Louder!Louder!Louder!—"Villains!"Iscreamed,"donotpretendanymore!IadmitwhatIdid!—Pulluptheboards!—Here!Here!Itisthebeatingofhishideousheart!"TheBlackCatChapterOneconfession忏悔tortured折磨supernatura