琼·克雷格黑德·乔治

Blue Sky rode on Charlies shoulder as far as the border of Singing Birds property， where he fluttered to the ground. After flipping a beetle on its back， the young bird strutted proudly between the two friends right up to the door of the teepee.

查理和歌唱鸟行走时，蓝天一直待在查理的肩头。等他们来到歌唱鸟的地盘，他才飞到地上。蓝天把背上的一只甲壳虫甩掉，然后昂首阔步地走在两个好朋友中间，直奔圆锥形帐篷的大门而去。

Singing Brids father， Flying Cloud， had erected the teepee not far from his ranch house. The native home was both a museum and an office. Singing Birds parents were authorities on American Indian dances， teepees， artifacts， and customs. They made their living performing Teton Sioux dances for tourists at the Yellowstone Lodge twenty-five miles north. They were also writing a book on the three Sioux Nations， the Tetons， Lakotas， and Dakotas.

歌唱鸟的父亲叫飞云，把圆锥形帐篷支在牧场大屋的不远处。这一处印第安人之家既是博物馆也是办公室。歌唱鸟的父母是美洲印第安人舞蹈、圆锥形帐篷、手工艺品和习俗方面的权威专家。他们谋生的手段是在北边相距25英里远的黄石酒店为游客表演提顿苏族舞蹈。他们也正在撰写一部著作，有关苏族的三大族群——提顿人、拉科塔人和达科塔人的著作。

Every detail of the teepee was traditional. Soaring Swallow， Singing Birds mother， had painted the brown and black bison on the outside. Flying Cloud had made the inside furnishings， beds， willow rod backrests， bows and arrows. The home was a national treasure and a sacred place to the people of the first nations. Flying Cloud and Soaring Swallows American names were Jim and Elaine Kenton， but they rarely used them， preferring their Teton Sioux names.

圆锥形帐篷的每一个细节都符合原汁原味的印第安人传统。歌唱鸟的母亲叫翔燕，在帐篷外侧画上了棕色和黑色的野牛。而帐篷内的各种布置都由飞云制作完成：床铺、柳条靠背椅，还有弓和箭。这一处印第安人之家，对那些美洲原初部族而言，是民族宝藏和神圣的地方。飞云和翔燕也都有自己的英語名字，即吉姆和伊莱恩·肯顿。但他们很少使用英语名字，更愿意使用他们的提顿苏族名字。

Singing Bird paused at the round door in the canvas teepee.

歌唱鸟在帆布帐篷的圆门的门口停下了脚步。

“You cant bring Blue Sky in，” she said. “He might mess， and Dad would have a fit. Leave him at the door. Hell stay where you leave him. Little birds obey their moms.” Charlie hesitated.

“你不能把蓝天带到帐篷里。”她说。“他会随地大便，爸爸可能生气。把他留在门口吧。他会待在原地不动。小鸟儿会听妈妈的话。”查理有点犹豫。

“Its okay，” Singsing Bird said. “Hell wait.”

“没问题。”歌唱鸟说。“他会等你的。”

“Well， if you say so.” Charlie put Blue Sky by the teepee door where the bird could see him and not wander away looking for his “Mom.”

“好吧，既然你这样说。”查理把蓝天放在帐篷门口，在那里鸟儿能看到查理，就不会乱走去找“妈妈”。……