# 20 Androcles and the Lion
This happened in the first century A.D. Androcles was a slave to a cruel master. The master's ship stopped for water on the west coast of Africa. Androcles escaped. He crawled into a small cave. He hid there. Suddenly the cave entrance darkened. It was a large lion. The lion did not rush. Instead, it limped slowly. The lion's head was low. Its eyes were dull. Its fur looked matted. Exhausted, the lion stretched out beside Androcles. Androcles saw the swollen paw. The chewed end of a huge thorn stuck out. The lion must have been in pain for many days.
Androcles knew the African thorn was barbed. The barb was like that of a fishhook. If it was pulled, flesh would tear too. The pain would be great. Androcles leaned over the lion. He stroked its mane. The lion licked Androcles' hand. It seemed to understand. There would be pain.
Androcles sat down. He put his feet against the lion's body for leverage. He grasped the thorn tightly with both hands. Then he jerked quickly and powerfully. The barb was clutched in his hands. Yes, some flesh hung off the barb. He quickly looked. A stream of bad blood and yellow infection spurred out of the paw. The infection had gone up the lion's leg.
Androcles gently squeezed the leg to drain it. The lion lay as if dead. Androcles seized a broken coconut shell. He filled the shell in a stream. He carried the water back to the lion. The lion lifted its head. It first licked Androcles' hand. Then it lapped all the water.
Androcles ran for a refill. He never came back. As he bent for more water, hands suddenly gripped him. The ship's crew tied him up. They dragged him away. He was a slave again.
# 20 安德魯克里斯與獅子
這事發生在西元一世紀。安德魯克里斯是一個殘酷主人的奴隸。主人的船在非洲西海岸停下來取水。安德魯克里斯逃跑了。他爬進一個小洞穴。他躲在那裡。突然洞穴入口暗了下來。是一頭大獅子。獅子沒有衝過來。相反地，牠緩慢地跛行著。獅子的頭低垂著。牠的眼睛無神。皮毛看起來糾結在一起。筋疲力盡的獅子在安德魯克里斯身邊伸展身體。安德魯克里斯看到了腫脹的爪子。一根大刺被咬過的一端露在外面。這頭獅子一定已經痛苦了很多天。
安德魯克里斯知道非洲的刺是有倒鉤的。倒鉤就像魚鉤一樣。如果把它拔出來，肉也會被撕裂。疼痛會很劇烈。安德魯克里斯俯身靠近獅子。他撫摸牠的鬃毛。獅子舔了舔安德魯克里斯的手。牠似乎明白。將會很痛。
安德魯克里斯坐下來。他把腳頂在獅子身上作為支點。他用雙手緊緊抓住那根刺。然後他迅速而有力地猛拉。倒鉤被他抓在手中。是的，有些肉還掛在倒鉤上。他迅速查看。一股壞血和黃色膿液從爪子裡噴湧而出。感染已經蔓延到獅子的腿上。
安德魯克里斯輕輕擠壓那條腿以排出膿液。獅子躺著一動不動，彷彿死了一般。安德魯克里斯抓起一個破損的椰子殼。他在溪流中裝滿了水。他把水帶回給獅子。獅子抬起頭。牠先舔了舔安德魯克里斯的手。然後牠舔光了所有的水。
安德魯克里斯跑去再裝水。他再也沒有回來。當他彎腰取更多水時，幾隻手突然抓住了他。船員們把他綁起來。他們把他拖走了。他又成了奴隸。