【明報專訊】The birds would not miss the chance of fulfilling the ancient prophecy. They think they have to capture Balloon Boy so that they can destroy his balloon, thereby freeing him from the pain of living as an outcast (棄兒). Now Balloon Boy and Shelley are fleeing bird troops.
They fly above rivers and plateaus (高原) to the other side of a mountain. They stay in a cave for a respite (暫時休息), thinking the bird troops cannot find them.
Shelley﹕Where do you want to go?
Balloon Boy﹕I have no idea. I belong to nowhere.
Shelley﹕No way. There must be a Balloon people city, where you live among people like you.
Balloon Boy﹕Really? But Mum never told me anything about that.
Shelley﹕Trust me.
Still, Balloon Boy doesn't feel like looking for a Balloon people city. He just wants to live by himself. He is not worried. He is certain that, if he does the world some good, the world will feed him.
Shelley﹕So what are you going to do?
Balloon Boy﹕I don't know exactly. I just want to make the world a better place to live in.
Suddenly the bird troops close in and spot them. As the Hawk is about to order the troops to shoot the Balloon Boy with arrows, the Dove troops come and stop him.
Dove﹕You mustn't be so selfish and aggressive, Hawk!
Hawk﹕What? Have you forgotten what we've waited a long time for?
Dove﹕I never believe that prophecy. It's a fallacy (謬論).
Hawk﹕You are a traitor (叛國者)!
When they fight, Balloon Boy and Shelley escape. They don't know where they are heading, but they feel freer than ever. They are now free of any identity. They say they belong to nowhere.
Balloon Boy﹕Oh! I know what I can do now. I can join a circus (馬戲團) and perform what will make people happy!
Balloon Boy and a Bird (4 of 4)
Shelley﹕Right! Do so!
Text: Ashley Ley
Illustration: Iris Tsoi
