Xavi worked at a post office in a mountain town. He sorted letters every morning. He loved his job. But he loved Fridays most. On Fridays he took the mail to the high farms.
哈维在一座山间小镇的邮局工作。每天早上，他都要分拣信件。他热爱这份工作，但最爱的是星期五。星期五，他要把邮件送到高处的农场。
The road was too steep for a van. So Xavi walked. A grey mule named Cora carried the bags. She was slow, but she was strong.
那条路太陡，货车上不去，所以哈维步行。一头名叫科拉的灰骡子驮着邮袋。她走得慢，但很有力气。
On this Friday there was only one parcel left. It was small and square. The name on it said, "Lia Marsh, Top Hut."
这个星期五，只剩下最后一个包裹了。包裹小小的，方方正正。上面写着：“莉娅·马什收，山顶小屋。”
"Top Hut is far," said the clerk. "Maybe you can go on Monday."
“山顶小屋太远了，”职员说，“你可以星期一再去。”
Xavi read the card on the parcel. It said, "Happy birthday, Lia! Today you are nine."
哈维看了看包裹上的卡片。上面写着：“莉娅，生日快乐！今天你九岁了。”
"Today?" said Xavi. "No. It cannot wait."
“就是今天？”哈维说，“不行，等不得。”
He put the parcel in a bag. He called Cora. They left the post office at noon.
他把包裹放进袋子里，叫上科拉。他们中午离开了邮局。
The path went up through the trees. The air was cool. Birds sang above them. Xavi sang too, but not well. Cora flapped one ear.
小路穿过树林向上延伸。空气清凉。鸟儿在头顶唱歌。哈维也唱，但唱得不好听。科拉扇了扇一只耳朵。
After an hour they came to the river. The water was fast and white. A wooden bridge crossed it. But today one board was gone in the middle.
走了一个小时，他们来到河边。河水湍急，泛着白沫。一座木桥横跨河面。可今天，桥中间少了一块木板。
Xavi stopped. He looked at the gap. It was wide.
哈维停了下来。他看着那个缺口，很宽。
"Not good," he said. "Cora, can you jump?"
“不妙，”他说，“科拉，你能跳过去吗？”
Cora looked at him. She did not move.
科拉看着他，一动不动。
"I think not," said Xavi.
“我想不行。”哈维说。
He looked up the river. Higher up, there were big flat stones in the water. They made a path from one side to the other.
他朝河的上游望去。再往上一点，水里有一些又大又平的石头，从河的这一边连到了另一边。
"Stepping stones," he said. "We can try."
“踏脚石，”他说，“我们可以试试。”
He took off his boots. He tied them on Cora's bag. The first stone was cold and wet. He stepped on it. He held Cora's rope. She came after him, one careful foot at a time.
他脱下靴子，系在科拉的袋子上。第一块石头又冷又湿。他踩了上去，手里牵着科拉的缰绳。她跟在他后面，一次小心地迈一只脚。
Step by step they crossed. Once Xavi slipped. His foot went into the water to the knee. He laughed and stood up again. At last they reached the far side.
他们一步一步地过了河。有一次哈维滑了一下，一只脚踩进水里，水没到了膝盖。他笑了笑，重新站稳。最后，他们到了对岸。
"We did it," he said. He patted Cora's neck.
“我们成功了。”他说，拍了拍科拉的脖子。
Then the fog came. It rolled down the mountain like white smoke. Soon Xavi could not see the path. He could only see Cora's grey ears.
这时雾来了。它像白烟一样从山上滚下来。很快，哈维就看不见小路了。他只能看见科拉的灰耳朵。
"Slowly," he said. "Stay near me."
“慢慢走，”他说，“跟紧我。”
They walked and listened. After a while he heard a faint sound. It was a bell. A goat bell, high up and to the left.
他们边走边听。过了一会儿，他听到一个微弱的声音。那是铃铛声，是山羊的铃铛，在高处偏左的地方。
"A farm," said Xavi. "Come."
“有农场，”哈维说，“走吧。”
They followed the bell. The ground turned flat. A small stone wall appeared. Behind it stood a wooden house with a red door.
他们循着铃声走去。地面变平了。一堵矮矮的石墙出现在眼前。墙后是一座木屋，有一扇红色的门。
It was four o'clock. The sun was low and gold. The fog was only in the valley now.
这时是四点钟。太阳低低的，金灿灿的。雾现在只留在山谷里了。
A girl stood at the gate with her arms crossed. She was small and serious. She had a paper hat on her head.
一个女孩双臂交叉站在门口。她又小又严肃，头上戴着一顶纸帽子。
"You are the postman," she said.
“你是邮递员。”她说。
"I am," said Xavi. His socks were wet. "Are you Lia?"
“没错，”哈维说，他的袜子都湿了，“你是莉娅吗？”
"Yes. I am nine today. My uncle said that nobody comes on Fridays after noon."
“是的。我今天九岁。我叔叔说，星期五中午以后没人会来。”
Xavi took the parcel out of the bag. "Somebody does."
哈维从袋子里拿出包裹。“有人会来。”
Lia took it with both hands. She looked at Xavi. Then she looked at Cora. She did not say thank you. She ran inside and shouted for her mother.
莉娅用双手接过它。她看了看哈维，又看了看科拉。她没有说谢谢，而是跑进屋里，大声喊她妈妈。
Xavi sat down on the wall. He took off his wet socks. Cora ate the grass by the gate.
哈维在墙上坐下，脱掉了湿袜子。科拉在门边吃着草。
The red door opened again. Lia came out with a big piece of cake.
红色的门又打开了。莉娅走了出来，手里拿着一大块蛋糕。
