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The first anyone heard about the creature in the attic was after one of the children went up there to look for an old book.Everything was dark, but between the shadows, the boy could clearly see two eyes watching him intently from above, with a horrific expression on its face.They were big eyes, about a metre apart, giving some idea of the size of that terrible being's head.The boy yelled with every bit of air in his lungs, ran out, and locked the door, leaving the monster in the attic, growling to himself.
For the next two days the people in that village were living in terror. The growls from the attic and the beating on the attic door continued, and the news of the blighter's cruel nature spread across the land.The disgraceful behaviour only got worse, but no one was brave enough to go up to that attic and confront the beast.
Before long, a Norwegian fisherman passed by. Some days earlier his whaling ship had sunk, and this fellow seemed like a formidable old sea dog；a hard character indeed.Some men in the village asked him to help them confront the awful creature.The Norwegian did not hesitate to help, in return for a little money, but when he approached the attic and heard the growls of the monster, his expression changed and he went downstairs to ask for a lot more money.He also asked for some tools, a big net, and a cart.If he was to triumph against the beast, he wanted to take it away, as a trophy.
All the village folk were gathered around, and watched as the Norwegian opened the attic door, and went inside, to be met by deep, shuddering growls. After the fisherman had been inside for a short while the noises stopped.
Never again would the villagers see the Norwegian, or hear the sounds of the beast. Neither did anyone ever dare to go up to the attic again.
Do you want to know what happened behind that door?Are you sure?
Well, when the Norwegian opened the door, he could see the eye of Olaf, his enormous and fierce helmsman. The eye was also reflected in a mirror, giving the impression of both belonging to the same head.Olaf's other eye had been covered by a patch for years.Both men continued talking in cries, in their own language, as the whaler told his imprisoned friend that the nervous villagers had given him so much money that they would be able to return and take another ship to carry on fishing.
Together they managed to find a way to escape the attic, get to the cart, and disappear forever.
And so it was, that fear, and fear alone, impoverished that whole village and enabled the fishermen to recover.
And so it happens to this very day. Senseless fear drives us to foolishness, and often allows others to take advantage of us.
人们第一次听说阁楼里的怪物是在一个男孩去阁楼找一本旧书之后。那里一片漆黑，可是就在阴影中间，男孩清楚地看到两只眼睛正从上面紧紧地盯着他，脸上带着令人恐怖的表情。那两只眼睛非常大，眼睛之间约有一米的间距，可想而知，这个可怕的东西该有个多大的脑袋。男孩用尽全身力气惊叫着跑了出去，锁上了门，把怪物关在了里面，留下他自己咆哮着。
接下来的两天，村子里的人都被恐惧笼罩着。阁楼里一直传出咆哮声和敲门声，这整片地方遍布着关于这个坏家伙的残酷本性的消息。情形变得越来越糟，可是没有一个人敢到阁楼去看一看那怪物。
不久，一个挪威的渔夫从这里经过。他的捕鲸船在前几天刚刚沉没，这家伙看起来是个了不起的老水手，是个很厉害的角色。村子里的一些人要他帮忙去对付那个可怕的怪物。
挪威人一点都没有犹豫就答应了，只要了很少的钱作为报酬。可是当他到了阁楼听到那个怪物的咆哮声后，他的神情变了，他下楼要了更多的钱。他还要了一些工具、一张大网和一辆车。如果他战胜了那怪兽，他要把它作为战利品带走。
所有村民都聚在阁楼周围，看着挪威人打开阁楼门走了进去，迎接他的是低沉、颤抖的咆哮声。渔夫走进去之后不久那声音便停了下来。
村民们再也没看见挪威人，再没听见怪物的叫声。也没有人敢去阁楼瞧一瞧。
想知道那扇门后发生了什么吗？你确定？
当挪威人打开门后，他看到了他凶暴的舵手奥拉夫的独眼。这只眼睛经过镜子反射，让人看起来就像长在一个头上的两只眼睛。奥拉夫的另一只眼睛带眼罩很多年了。两个人继续大声用他们本国的语言交流着。这个捕鲸手告诉他被困的朋友，紧张胆小的村民给了他很多的钱，他们可以用这些钱回国，再买一艘船，继续捕鲸。
他们一起找到一条出路逃出阁楼，上到那辆车上，永远消失了。
就这样，恐惧，仅仅是恐惧，把整个村庄掠夺一空，也让这两个渔夫重新操起了旧业。
直至今天同样的事情还在上演。无谓的恐惧使我们做出愚蠢的事情，也常常让其他人趁机占了我们的便宜。
Moral of the Story：
We are imprisoned by many irrational fears, which drive us to foolish acts.
故事寓意：
我们被许多不理智的恐惧禁锢着，从而做出许多愚蠢的事。
词海拾贝：
irrational[ɪˈræʃ（ə）n（ə）l]adj.不合理的；无理性的；荒谬的
imprison[ɪmˈprɪz（ə）n]vt.监禁；关押；使……下狱
growl[graʊl]vi.咆哮着说
terror[ˈterə]n.恐怖；恐怖行动
beast[biːst]n.野兽；畜生，人面兽心的人
formidable[ˈfɔːmɪdəb（ə）l]adj.强大的；可怕的；令人敬畏的；艰难的
triumph[ˈtraɪʌmf]n.胜利，凯旋；欢欣 vi.获得胜利，成功
trophy[ˈtrəʊfɪ]n.奖品；战利品；纪念品
shudder[ˈʃʌdə]n.发抖；战栗；震动 vi.发抖；战栗
helmsman[ˈhelmzmən]n.舵手
patch[pætʃ]n.眼罩；斑点
impoverish[ɪmˈpɒv（ə）rɪʃ]vt.使贫穷；使枯竭
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