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Dịch từ nguyên tác Anh văn, “Dog”, trong Tales of the Chinese Zodiac,
của Jenn Reese.
Dog
Because it was the Year of the Dog, and because Hsien had grown tired
of his ancient body, he went down to Meat Swap on Sunday and bought
himself the body of a forty-pound mutt.
The operation was a simple one. Hsien's consciousness was extracted
and sealed in a small lacquer box with two chopsticks sticking out. The
chopsticks slid into the back of the dog's neck like a plug. A little woven
collar—Hsien chose a manly and youthful green—protected the box and the
dog's neck.
Hsien trotted out in the cool spring air on four strong legs. He received
more attention instantly. Beautiful women patted his head and dragged
their manicured fingernails along his back. Two sweet ladies even touched
his rump! It had been decades since a woman—even an ugly one—had
wanted to feel the sag of his old body's ass in her hand.
Of course, he missed the colors. And now kneecaps filled his vision
instead of faces. He could smell the garbage on the street, and it made his
stomach growl. But his back didn't hurt. His claws chattered on the
sidewalk and he let his mouth hang open, his tongue loll out.
"Yes," Hsien thought. "This feels right. I should never have waited so
long to switch bodies."
