The Angel of the Odd 離奇天使(英文版)
TheAngeloftheOddisasatiricalshortstorybyEdgarAllanPoe,firstpublishedinColumbianMagazinein1844.Thestoryfollowsanarratorwhoreadsastoryaboutamanwhodiedbecauseaneedlesuckeddownhisthroataccidentally.Heragesatthegullibilityofhumanityforbelievingahoaxlikesuchoddstories.Justthen,astrange-lookingcreaturemadeofakegandwinebottlesappears.ThecreatureannouncesthatheistheAngeloftheOddandthatheisresponsibleforthestrangeevents.Theman,unconvinced,drivestheangelawayandtakesanalcohol-inducednap.Twohourslaterwhenhewakesup,Hehasmissedanappointmenttorenewhisfireinsurance.Ironically,hishousehascaughtfireandheescapesoutawindowusingaladderthecrowdbelowhasprovidedforhim.ThestoryisespeciallyinterestingasitwaspublishedonlysixmonthsafterPoe'sowngreathoax,"TheBalloon-Hoax",whichmanybelievedtobetruedespiteitselementsoftheodd.
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