一只來自印度的干癟猴爪，傳說它能實現任何愿望，只是每份"禮物"都裹著帶血的包裝紙。

當懷特一家從戰場歸來的老友手中接過這件異域"紀念品"時，他們不會想到一次無心的許愿，卻帶來了心碎的結局。

老懷特抱著“沒什么損失”的心情許下了第一個愿望——獲得200磅。

誰曾想炸裂的結局是，老兩口收到了一張“200磅”的支票，卻是以兒子的生命為代價!

到底發生了什么，一起走進今天的安瀾說故事...

The next morning, sunlight came through the window and brightened the breakfast table. Mr. White laughed at his fears. The room now seemed safe and ordinary, not strange like the night before. The small, dried-up paw was on the sideboard, as if no one believed in its power.

"Old soldiers are all the same," said Mrs. White. "We really believed that silly story! How could wishes come truein this day and age? And even if they could, why would getting 200 pounds hurt you, Father?"

Come true (夢想/希望) 實現

In this day and age 今時今日

"Maybe the money would fall on his head from the sky!" joked Herbert.

"Morris said the things happened so naturally," Mr. White said, "that you might think it was just a coincidence."

"Well, don't spend the money before I come home," Herbert laughed, standing up from the table. "It might turn you into a greedy old man, and we'd have to disown you."

His mother laughed, walked with him to the door, and watched him leave. Then she returned to the table, smiling about her husband's belief in the paw. But when she heard the postman knock, she quickly went to the door. When it was just a bill from the tailor, she shook her head and muttered about old soldiers who liked to drink.

Coincidence 巧合

Disown 脫離關系

Muttered 嘟囔，喃喃自語

"Herbert will have more funny jokes when he comes home," she said at dinner.

"I'm sure he will," said Mr. White, pouring himself a beer. "But I still believe the paw moved in my hand."

"You thought it did," said Mrs. White kindly.

"No, it really did," Mr. White insisted. "I'm sure of it. I had just—What's wrong?"

Mrs. White didn't answer. She was looking at a man outside. He seemed nervous and kept looking at the house. He walked to the gate, then away again. After three times, he finally opened the gate and walked up the path. Mrs. White quickly took off her apron and hid it under a chair cushion.

The man entered the room, looking uncomfortable. Mrs. White apologized for the messy room and her husband's old coat. She waited for the man to explain why he was there, but he was quiet.

Apron 圍裙

Cushion 墊子

"I was asked to come here," he finally said, picking at a piece of cotton on his trousers. "I work for 'Maw and Meggins.'"

Mrs. White was shocked. "Is something wrong?" she asked. "Did something happen to Herbert? What is it?"

"Calm down, dear," said Mr. White. "Don't jump to conclusions. I’m sure you haven't brought bad news, sir," he said, looking at the man hopefully.

"I'm sorry—" the man began.

"Is he hurt?" Mrs. White asked, panicking.

The man nodded. "He's badly hurt," he said softly, "but he is not in pain."

"Oh, thank God!" Mrs. White said, holding her hands together. "Thank God for that! Thank—"

She stopped. She realized what the man meant, and fear filled her eyes. She turned to her husband and held his hand tightly. There was a long silence.

"He was caught in the machinery," the man finally said quietly.

"Caught in the machinery," Mr. White repeated, not understanding. "Yes."

He stared out the window and held his wife's hand like he used to when they were young.

"He was our only child," he said softly. "It's so hard."

The man cleared his throat and walked to the window. "The company sends their deepest sympathy for your loss," he said, not looking at them. "I'm just doing my job."

There was no reply. Mrs. White's face was pale, and her eyes stared blankly. Mr. White looked like a man facing battle.

"The company doesn't accept responsibility," the man continued. "But because of your son's service, they want to give you some money as compensation."

Clear one's throat 清了清嗓子

Pale 蒼白的

Accept responsibility 承擔責任

Mr. White let go of his wife's hand. He stood up and looked at the man with horror. His dry lips asked, "How much?"

"Two hundred pounds," the man replied.

Mrs. White screamed, but Mr. White gave a weak smile. He reached out his hands like a blind man, then collapsed onto the floor.

Collapse 突然倒下

老懷特堅信猴爪的魔力，但白太太卻半信半疑。

就在這時，一個神秘的男人出現帶來了令人震驚的消息：兒子在工廠中被機器卷入，不幸身亡。

男人說，公司對赫伯特的死表示同情，但不承擔責任。不過，作為補償，公司愿意支付200英鎊。

聽到這個數字，老懷特意識到這正是他曾許下的愿望，但代價卻是兒子的生命。

在震驚中，老懷特倒下了...