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CHAPTER FOUR
BETRAYALS
第四章
背叛
How can I possibly stay? I have seen my own brother die before the gates of my city, possessed by darkness.
possibly: 不管怎样 possess: 支配
我怎能留下？我亲眼看着我的兄弟在城门前死去，被黑暗所掌控。
I have seen all that I know changed beyond recognition. I must leave, for my soul is empty of all but sorrow.
recognition: 识别 soul: 灵魂 sorrow: 悲伤
我眼见一切熟知的东西变得超乎我的学识。我必须离开，因为我的灵魂已被悲痛所充斥。
—Velinon the Archmage, The Words of Horazon
archmage: 大法师 the word: 圣经
——大法师Velinon《Horazon语录》
How long he wept, Siggard could not be sure. He sat by the horrific pyramid and sobbed until his eyes were bloodshot and dry, lamenting the loss of his wife.
weep: 哭泣 horrific: 可怕的 pyramid: 金字塔 sob: 哭泣 bloodshot: 充血的 dry: 干燥的 lamenting: 哀伤的
Siggard也不知道自己哭了多久。他坐在那可怕的金字塔旁为他的亡妻哀悼，哭得眼睛又红又干。
To make matters worse, he didn’t know if his daughter was alive or dead.
to make matters worse: 更糟的是 daughter: 女儿 alive: 活着
更糟的是他甚至不知道他的女儿是死是活。
Entirely spent, he looked around weakly. The world was cast in the reddish light of the setting sun.
entirely: 完全地 weakly: 无力地 cast: 撒 reddish: 微红的 set: 落下去
过了好长时间，他无力的向四周看了看。日落时的红光洒满大地。
Sarnakyle sat on a fallen tree, regarding him with casual interest. How the wizard could remain unmoved, Siggard did not know.
fall: 倒下 regard: 关心 casual: 不经意的 wizard: 法师 remain: 保持 unmoved: 无动于衷
Sarnakyle坐在一棵倒下的大树上，关心的看着他。Siggard不知道这位法师为什么会无动于衷。
“We aren’t alone,” Sarnakyle said quietly. “There are at least three people watching us from the shadows.”
alone: 孤独的 quietly: 平静地 at least: 至少 shadow: 阴影
“我们并不孤独，”Sarnakyle平静的说，“至少有三个人站在阴影中看着我们。”
Siggard swallowed and stood unsteadily. “Demons?”
swallow: 忍住 unsteadily: 摇晃的
Siggard忍住哭泣，摇晃地站起来。“恶魔？”
“I cannot tell,” Sarnakyle said. “I have a spell ready, though.”
spell: 施法
“我说不清，”Sarnakyle说，“不过我已经准备好施法了。”
“With luck, we won’t need it,” Siggard stated. He turned and called out to the deepening shadows. “I am Siggard of Bear’s Hill! Are you friend or foe?”
state: 说 call out: 大喊 deepening: 加深 foe: 敌人
“但愿我们不必这样做，”Siggard说。他转身向着阴影处喊道： “我是Bear's Hill的Siggard，你是敌是友？”
“Siggard, is it you?” a familiar voice called. A gaunt, ragged man stepped out of the shadows, scratching his weathered face. Siggard’s eyes widened in surprise.
familiar: 熟悉的 gaunt: 憔悴的 ragged: 衣衫褴褛的 step out of: 从…走出 scratch: 搔痒 weathered: 饱经风霜的 widen: 扩大 surprise: 惊奇
“Siggard，是你吗？”一个熟悉的声音响起。一个憔悴的，衣衫褴褛的人走出阴影，手轻轻挠着饱经风霜的脸。Siggard惊奇的瞪大了眼睛。
“Tylwulf,” Siggard breathed. He turned to Sarnakyle. “There are survivors!”
breath: 呼气 survivor: 幸存者
“Tylwulf！”Siggard如释重负。他转向Sarnakyle：“这儿有幸存者。”
The wizard shook his head. “This does not feel right.”
shake: 摇动
法师摇了摇头：“这似乎有点不对劲。”
Tylwulf staggered forward, and Siggard saw dried blood caked on his face. “We heard the army was destroyed, and we feared the worst,” he stammered.
stagger: 蹒跚 dry: 干的 cake: 凝结 destroy: 击溃 fear: 恐惧 stammer: 结巴
Tylwulf蹒跚的向前挪了几步，Siggard看到他脸上还有已经干了的血痂。“我们听说军队垮了，我们做好了最坏的打算，”他结结巴巴的说。
“Then the demons came, and some of us ran, and . . .” Tylwulf broke down into tears.
break down: 放声痛哭 tear: 流泪
“恶魔来了，有些人逃走了，有的 ……”Tylwulf潸然泪下。
“My daughter, Tylwulf,” Siggard demanded, taking hold of the man’s torn tunic. “What happened to my daughter?”
daughter: 女儿 demand: 询问 take hold: 抓住 tear: 眼泪 tunic: 长袍
“我的女儿，Tylwulf。”Siggard拉着他沾满泪水的衣服问道，“我的女儿怎样了？”
Tylwulf shook his head, almost as if he was fighting with himself against horrible memories.
shake: 摇动 against: 对抗 horrible: 可怕的 memory: 记忆
Tylwulf摇了摇头，似乎是在与可怕的记忆进行着抗争。
“Dead, all dead. They ate the children, and killed all the women they could. Some of the men they took with them.” He glanced at the pile of heads and immediately shied away.
glance: 一瞥 pile: 堆 immediately: 立即 shy away: 避开
“死了，全死了。它们吃了孩子，杀死了妇女，带走了一些男人。”他瞥了一眼头颅堆并立即避开眼神。
“We try not to think about it. If we’re good, they might not come back.”
might: 或许
我们试着不去想这一切。如果我们走运，它们应该不会再来了。”
“I don’t like the feeling of this,” Sarnakyle cut in.
cut in: 插嘴
“我可不喜欢这种感觉。 ”Sarnakyle打断了他们的对话。
Tylwulf looked at the wizard for a moment, his eyes widening in shock. “A Vizjerei! You travel with interesting friends, Siggard. This is one of the Spirit Clan.”
wizard: 法师 widening: 扩大 shock: 震惊 travel: 旅行
Tylwulf打量了法师一番，他惊异的瞪大了眼睛：“Vizjerei人！你一个和有趣的朋友一起旅行。他属于‘Spirit Clan’。”
“Is there a place we can stay for the night, Tylwulf?” Siggard asked. “It is getting late,
and I would prefer to be indoors this evening.”
stay for the night: 过夜 indoors: 在室内
“Tylwulf，这儿有地方能供我们借宿一晚吗？”Siggard问道，“天有些晚了，我今晚希望能找间房。”
“Camylle and I will put you up,” Tylwulf stated. “Even your friend may come. Come, my farm was untouched.”
put up: 接待 state: 说 farm: 农庄 untouched: 未受损的
“今晚我和Camylle来招待你吧，”Tylwulf说，“你的朋友也可以一起过来。我的农庄毫发未损，来吧。”
After a short walk through the shattered village to Tylwulf’s cottage,
shatter: 毁坏 cottage: 小屋
他们穿过破败的村落走了没多远就到了Tylwulf的小木屋前，
Siggard and Sarnakyle found themselves left to the tender mercies of Tylwulf’s wife, who cooked a meal and set a hospitable table.
tender: 亲切的 mercy: 善行 cook: 烹调 meal: 一餐 hospitable: 好客的
Siggard和Sarnakyle受到了Tylwulf的妻子温柔的接待，她做好了一顿饭，还支起了一个桌子。
But Siggard wished he could have been here under better circumstances.
wish: 希望 circumstance: 情况
Siggard觉得要是情况没那么糟就好了。
He watched Sarnakyle sniff a plate of roasted beef cautiously, and then began to eat slowly, as if the wizard was tasting every part of the food.
sniff: 嗅 plate: 碟 roasted: 烤好的 beef: 牛肉 cautiously: 慎重的 wizard: 法师 tasting: 品尝
他看着Sarnakyle小心的嗅着一盘烤牛肉，然后一小口一小口的吃，仿佛他在细细品味着这道菜。
Siggard shook his head and ate a couple of bites, then put the plate aside.
shake: 摇动 bite: 一口 plate: 碟 put aside: 把…放到一边
Siggard摇了摇头，吃了两口，然后就把碟子放在一边。
He was just too depressed to eat; the death of his family weighed heavily on him, a wound that might never heal.
depressed: 悲痛的 death: 死亡 weigh: 重压 wound: 伤口 heal: 痊愈
他紧张的什么也不想吃；他家人的死重压在他心头，这是一道也许永远也不会愈合的伤口。
“You should have some,” Tylwulf said, eagerly tearing at some meat. “You’ll need your strength to help us rebuild.”
eagerly: 急切的 tear: 撕开 strength: 活力 rebuild: 重建
“多吃点，”Tylwulf说着，急切的切开肉，“你需要补充精力来帮我们重建家园。”
“I fear it will be an eternity before I have an appetite again,” Siggard said. “I have lost too much, and seen such carnage . . .” He shook his head.
fear: 恐怕 eternity: 永远 appetite: 食欲 carnage: 大屠杀 shake: 摇动
“我这辈子恐怕永远也不会有食欲了。”Siggard说，“我失去了太多，还看到了这样的大屠杀……”他摇了摇头。
“What happened at Blackmarch?” Camylle asked, tousling her auburn hair.
tousle: 弄乱 auburn: 赭色的
“Blackmarch发生了什么？”Camylle问道，用手指卷着她赭红色的头发。
“I don’t remember,” Siggard admitted sadly. “I remember the shield wall, and then the demons attacked, and something was happening in the forest.
admit: 承认 sadly: 悲伤的 shield wall: 盾墙 demon: 恶魔 attack: 攻击
“我记不清了，”Siggard沮丧的说，“我记得盾墙，恶魔攻了上来，然后在森林中又发生了什么。
But then I must have blacked out and been carried off. I woke up alone in a forest in Aranoch two days later on the Night of Souls.” He blinked. “At least, I think I was in Aranoch.”
black out: 晕过去 carry off: 带走 wake up: 醒来 alone: 单独的 Night of Souls: 灵魂之夜 blink: 眨眼 at least: 至少
不过之后我肯定失去了知觉，被拖走了。我醒来时只身一人在Aranoch的森林中，那是在灵魂之夜的前两天。”他眨了眨眼，“至少我认为是在Aranoch。”
“And that is where you met the Spirit Mage?”
mage: 法师
“你在那里遇到了这个魔法师？”
Siggard nodded, sipping some ale.
nod: 点头 sip: 啜饮 ale: 麦酒
Siggard点点头，抿了一口麦酒。
“A strange tale,” Tylwulf muttered.
strange: 奇怪的 tale: 故事 mutter: 咕哝
“奇怪的经历。”Tylwulf小声嘀咕着。
“How many survived here?” Siggard asked.
survive: 生还
“有多少人幸存下来？”Siggard问。
“Ten,” Tylwulf replied. “We were able to hide while they did their work. They killed all of our animals, so at least we have meat.”
reply: 回答 hide: 躲藏 animal: 家畜 at least: 至少
“十个，”Tylwulf答道，“它们进行屠杀的时候我们躲了起来。它们杀了所有牲口，不过这样我们至少有了肉吃。”
“Have you sent warning to Brennor?”
sent: 送 warning: 警告
“你向Brennor发出警报了吗？”
Tylwulf shook his head distractedly and muttered something about not having time, and then excused himself.
shake: 摇动 distractedly: 困惑地 mutter: 出怨言 excuse: 试图开脱
Tylwulf不安的摇了摇头，轻声抱怨着没有时间，为自己开脱。
Oddly, Camylle gave Siggard a come-hither look, and then left for one of the bedrooms, her tattered dress falling around her legs.
oddly: 奇怪地 come-hither: 诱惑的 bedroom: 卧室 tattered: 破烂的 dress: 套裙 leg:腿
很奇怪，Camylle向Siggard抛了个媚眼，然后就走进了一间卧室，她破烂的裙摆在腿四周飘动。
Sarnakyle leaned over. “Something is very wrong here.”
lean over: 倾身
Sarnakyle靠过来：“有点不对劲。”
“What was your first hint?” Siggard snapped. “The pyramid of heads? Or how about the burning buildings?”
hint: 暗示 snap: 抢白 pyramid: 金字塔 burning: 燃烧的
“你第一次的暗示是什么意思？”Siggard猛地打断他的话，“人头金字塔吗？还是燃烧的房屋？”
“I understand that you are grieving,” Sarnakyle said quietly. “I respect that. However, please look around and see what there is to see.”
grieve: 悲痛 quietly: 平静的 respect: 尊重 look around: 环顾四周
“我理解你的悲伤，”Sarnakyle平静的说，“我对此表示尊重。不过请你仔细观察一下周围这一切。”
Siggard scowled and looked at the plates of food, wishing he was sitting at Emilye’s table and holding his child.
scowl: 皱眉头 plate: 碟
Siggard盯着盘子里的食物，皱了皱眉，他多希望他现在正坐在Emilye的桌边抱着他的孩子。
But that would never be. He began to sob again, only barely aware of Sarnakyle standing and keeping a watchful eye on the door.
sob: 啜泣 aware: 意识到 watchful: 警惕的
但这一切已经不可能了。他又开始啜泣，根本没注意Sarnakyle警惕的站着盯着那扇门。
Tylwulf came through the wooden hallway bearing a torch. “Your lodgings are ready. I trust you are willing to share a room; we only have one to spare.”
wooden: 木头的 hallway: 走廊 bear: 撑住 torch: 火把 lodging: 房间 willing: 愿意的 share: 共享 spare: 多余的
Tylwulf举着火把走过木制的走廊。“你的房间准备好了。我相信你们俩愿意共住一间屋；我们只有一间空房。”
“That will be fine,” Sarnakyle answered quickly.
“那太好了。”Sarnakyle很快答道。
Tylwulf led them down the hall to a small chamber with a large bed.
lead: 引导 hall: 大厅 chamber: 房间
Tylwulf领着他们沿走廊到了一间有大床的小卧室中。
To the side was a round table with a bright candle slowly burning down. Siggard thanked him and sat down on the bed.
round: 圆的 bright: 明亮的 candle: 蜡烛 burn down: 渐渐烧光
一旁有一张圆桌，桌上蜡烛正在慢慢的燃烧，发出明亮的光。Siggard谢过他，坐在了床上。
“If you need anything, my wife and I are in the next room,” Tylwulf said, closing the door.
“有什么需要就到隔壁的房间找我或我的妻子。”Tylwulf说着，关上了门。
“Prepare for battle,” Sarnakyle said quietly. “There will be treachery tonight.”
prepare: 准备 battle: 战斗 quietly: 平静的 treachery: 背叛
“战斗准备，”Sarnakyle平静的说道，“今晚会出现背叛者。”
Siggard shook his head. “How could you possibly tell that?”
shake: 摇动
Siggard摇头道：“你怎么能这样说？”
Sarnakyle sighed. “I know it is difficult, but you must see clearly. You are not asking the questions you should be. How did they survive when barely anybody else did?”
sigh: 叹气 survive: 生还 barely: 几乎
Sarnakyle叹了口气：“我知道你很难硬下心来这样做，但你必须明白。你在问一个不该问的问题。他们怎么可能在其他人几乎都死了的情况下生还？”
“How did I survive Blackmarch?” Siggard retorted. “There is such a thing as good luck.”
survive: 生还 retort: 反驳
“那我怎么能在Blackmarch幸存下来？”Siggard反驳道，“不过是运气好而已。”
“Next question,” Sarnakyle began. “How did they know I was a Vizjerei? And why did he call me a ‘Spirit Mage’?
“下一个问题，”Sarnakyle说道，“他们怎么会知道我是Vizjerei人？为什么他们会把我称作‘Spirit Mage’？
Through your journeys with your father, you are well traveled, and you didn’t know until I told you. Has this farmer honestly seen as much as yourself? Has he visited the east?”
journey: 旅行 farmer: 农夫 honestly: 真正 visit: 游览
尽管你和你的父亲周游四方，但直到我告诉你，你才知道了这些。这个农夫真的见过的比你还多吗？他去过东方旅行吗？”
Siggard shrugged.
shrug: 耸肩
Siggard耸了耸肩。
“The words ‘Spirit Mage’ are only used by two groups of people, my friend. The first is by the other Mage Clans. The second is by the demonic forces themselves.
group: 类 Mage Clans: 魔法部族 demonic: 恶魔的 force: 强迫
“我的朋友，仅有两类人会用‘Spirit Mage’这个词。第一类人是其他Mage Clans的人，第二类是被恶魔操控的人类。
Add this question: where are the graves? Have you seen a single fresh burial or body?”
add: 附加 grave: 坟墓 fresh: 新的 burial: 埋葬
再问一个问题：这里哪儿有坟墓？你看到尸体或是任何新下葬的痕迹了吗？”
A chill went down Siggard’s spine. “What do you suggest we do?”
chill: 寒意 go down: 下降 spine: 背脊 suggest: 建议
Siggard后背发凉。“那你说我们该怎么办？”
“Put out the candle and wait. And refrain from killing the one that attacks us.”
put out: 熄灭 candle: 蜡烛 refrain: 避免 attack: 攻击
“熄了蜡烛等待。不要杀掉攻击我们的人。”
Siggard nodded, and they silently stuffed their pillows under the blankets. As quietly as he could, Siggard drew his sword and snuffed the candle.
nod: 点头 silently: 安静的 stuff: 塞满 pillow: 枕头 blanket: 毛毯 quietly: 安静地 draw: 拔出 sword:剑 snuff: 掐灭 candle: 蜡烛
SIggard点点头，他们悄无声息的把枕头塞到毛毯下。Siggard悄悄抽出他的剑，熄灭了蜡烛。
He took position at one side of the door, while Sarnakyle stood at the other.
position: 位置
他蹑手蹑脚的走到门旁，Sarnakyle站到了门的另一边。
As they waited in the darkness, Siggard’s mind spun with both hope and fear. Perhaps Sarnakyle was wrong, and the carnage in the town square had unbalanced him.
spun: 旋转 fear: 恐惧 carnage: 大屠杀 square: 广场 unbalanced: 精神失常的
他们在黑暗中等待着，Siggard脑海中希望与恐惧纠缠在一起。也许Sarnakyle是错的，也许是村广场上的大屠杀使他精神错乱。
Yet, at the same time, the wizard’s concerns could not be dismissed. Siggard had known Tylwulf for years; they had even been friendly rivals for Emilye’s hand.
wizard: 法师 concern: 担心 dismiss: 忽视 friendly: 亲密的 rival: 竞争者
但是，此时法师的担心不能被忽视。Siggard很了解Tylwulf；他们甚至为谁与Emilye结婚而发生过争执。
The only time the man had ever left the village was to go into Brennor for supplies.
village: 村庄 supplies: 日常用品
他仅有一次离开村庄到Brennor去买东西。
Sarnakyle began to snore. Siggard started and looked over at the other side of the door, to see the wizard’s eyes open and alert.
snore: 打鼾 start: 吃惊 look over: 查看 wizard: 法师 alert: 警觉的
Sarnakyle打起了呼噜。Siggard吃了一惊，他向门的那一边看去，只见法师警醒的瞪大眼睛。
He nodded and began to make a snoring sound himself. The ruse was worth a try.
nod: 点头 snore: 打鼾 ruse: 策略 worth: 值得…的
他点了点头也发出了鼾声。这是个值得一试的计谋。
So quietly that he nearly didn’t notice it, the door began to open. Siggard watched as both Tylwulf and Camylle crept towards the bed.
notice: 注意 creep: 慢慢移动
Siggard几乎都没注意到门静静的开了。他看到Tylwulf和Camylle悄悄向床走去。
The two farmers took positions on opposite sides of the bed and raised their hands.
farmer: 农夫 position: 位置 opposite: 相对的 raise: 举起
两个人站在床的两侧，举起了手。
There was a flash of steel, and Tylwulf brought a dagger down onto one of the forms under the covers, right where the heart would be.
flash: 闪光 steel: 钢铁 dagger: 匕首 form: 轮廓
寒光一闪，Tylwulf的匕首向着毛毯下心脏可能在的位置刺去。
With a shout of anger, Siggard leapt forward, followed by Sarnakyle. Tylwulf gasped in shock and dropped his blade as Siggard’s sword came to meet his throat.
shout: 呼喊 anger: 愤怒 leap: 猛冲 gasp: 喘息 shock: 震惊 drop: 扔 throat: 喉咙
Siggard一声怒吼向前冲去，Sarnakyle紧随其后。Tylwulf惊呆了，当Siggard的剑刺在他的喉咙上时他的匕首掉在了地上。
There was a startled cry from Camylle, and Siggard looked to see Sarnakyle holding her tightly by the waist, a dagger of his own at her neck.
startle: 惊吓 tightly: 紧紧地 waist: 腰部 dagger: 匕首 neck: 脖子
Camylle被吓得哭了出来。Siggard看到Sarnakyle紧紧的抱住她的腰，匕首架在她的脖子上。
“Talk,” Siggard demanded.
demand: 强令
“说吧。”Siggard命令着。
“They’ll kill me,” Tylwulf said.
“它们会杀了我。”Tylwulf说。
“So will I.”
“我也会。”
“They came to free us,” Tylwulf began.
“它们放了我，”Tylwulf说。
“They gave us power, but we had to give them everybody pledged to the light. We told them that the demons would show them mercy, and they surrendered.
power: 力量 pledge: 誓言 demon: 恶魔 mercy: 仁慈 surrender: 投降
“它们给了我们力量，但要求我们交出那些发誓效忠光明的人。我们告诉他们恶魔以宽大为怀，于是他们就投降了。
They didn’t even fight when the demons started killing them. They just stood there in disbelief.”
fight: 对抗 disbelief: 怀疑
当恶魔开始杀戮的时候他们甚至都没有反抗。他们仅仅是不信任的站在那里。”
Tylwulf leaned forward against the blade, drawing a drop of blood. He spoke again, a mad glare in his eyes.
lean: 屈身 against: 对抗 blade: 剑锋 draw: 渗出 a drop of: 一滴 mad: 疯狂的 glare: 怒视
Tylwulf向前靠去，抵住了剑尖，几滴血滴了下来。他的眼神充满了愤怒。
“I especially liked watching them kill Emilye. You never did deserve her. Then they let us have some of their spirit, and we got to share in the children.
especially: 尤其 deserve: 应得 spirit: 精神 share: 分享
“我最喜欢看它们杀Emilye。你根本就配不上她。然后它们赋予了我们些许它们的法力，然后我们分享了孩子们。
A freshly born babe is a taste to die for, you know, and we didn’t waste a single cut of meat.
freshly: 新鲜的 born: 出生 babe: 小孩 to die for: 极好的 waste: 浪费
你知道，新鲜的新生儿真是美味，我们连一点肉渣都没有浪费。
Of course, they had to kill the livestock so that we could eat. After all, there aren’t always people around to feast on . . .”
livestock: 家畜 feast on: 享受美食
当然了，它们杀死了家畜，这样我们就有了食物。毕竟，这儿没有多少人可吃……”
Siggard gasped in horror as he listened. As the traitor spoke, a reeking vileness seemed to clutch him. With an angry blow, Siggard struck Tylwulf’s head off.
gasp: 透不过气 horror: 震惊 traitor: 叛徒 reek: 充满 vileness: 污秽的 clutch: 紧握 angry: 愤怒的 blow: 打击 strike: 砍掉
Siggard被叛徒所说的事震惊的透不过气，充满污秽的感觉紧围着他，他愤怒的砍掉了Tylwulf的头。
Then the rage took control. Screaming for vengeance, he pulled Camylle away from Sarnakyle and plunged his blade into her breast again and again.
rage: 愤怒 screaming: 吼声 vengeance: 复仇 plunge: 使刺进 blade: 剑锋 breast: 胸膛 again and again: 反复地
他怒火中烧，发出了复仇的吼声。他一把从Sarnakyle那里拉过Camylle，不断的用剑刺穿她的胸膛。
Then, once he finished watching her die, he roared in fury, stalking out of the house.
roar: 吼 fury: 愤怒 stalk: 大步走
他看着她死去，他咆哮着，大步走出房子。
Eight people stood outside, all holding farm implements, and in each eye there was a dark madness. Siggard growled and attacked, not caring that he had once called them friends.
farm implement: 农具 madness: 疯狂 growl: 咆哮 attack: 攻击
八个人站在门外，手里拿着农具，每个人眼中都充满了黑暗的疯狂。Siggard吼叫着攻上前去，全然不顾他曾把他们称作朋友。
The first one he slew was an old farmer from the western end of the village, who barely had time to raise his hoe.
slay: 杀死 farmer: 农夫 barely: 仅仅 raise: 举起 hoe: 锄头
他首先杀死的是还没来得及举起锄头的住在村西头的老农。
Siggard killed him with a slice to the throat, leaving him gurgling as the blood sprayed from his neck.
slice: 切开 throat: 喉咙 gurgling: 咕噜声 spray: 喷溅 neck: 脖子
老农被Siggard一剑砍在咽喉上，他喉头咕哝着，血从颈部喷出。
He then turned on a woman with a cooking knife, spilling her intestines with a single stroke.
cooking knife: 餐刀 spill: 使溅出 intestine: 肠 stroke: 击中
Siggard转向一个拿着餐刀的女人，挥剑划破了她的肚子。
“Vengeance!” he screamed, sidestepping as the third one, the village leather worker, attacked.
vengeance: 复仇 scream: 叫喊 sidestep: 侧步避开 leather: 皮革 leather worker: 制革匠
“复仇！”他叫着，向旁边一闪躲过了制革匠的攻击。
Siggard cut the hoe in half with his sword, then with his free hand snatched up the broken wood, driving the stake into the man’s face. He growled in satisfaction as brains hit the earth.
hoe: 锄头 sword: 剑 snatch: 夺取 snatch up: 抓起 drive: 迫使 stake: 木杆 growl: 咆哮 satisfaction: 满意 brains: 脑浆
他举剑将锄头斩成了两段，用没握剑的那只手一把抓住那半截木棍，向那人脸刺去。当那人脑浆溅到地上时，他发出了快意的吼声。
He felt a piercing pain in his back, and turned to see a slight woman, the blacksmith’s daughter. She was a girl no older than nineteen, still blossoming into womanhood.
piercing: 刺穿的 pain: 疼痛 slight: 瘦小的 blacksmith: 铁匠 daughter: 女儿 blossoming: 开花 womanhood: 女人
他感到背部像被刺穿了一样的痛，转过身发现那是铁匠瘦小的女儿。她年龄不过十九岁，正是个花季少女。
She held a long bloody knife in one hand, and her face bore a demonic smile. He thrust his sword into her heart, killing her with one blow.
knife: 刀 bear: 使保持某种状态 demonic: 邪恶的 thrust: 刺 blow: 打击
她一只手拿着一把沾满血的长刀，邪恶的微笑着。他一剑刺中她的心脏，一击致命。
The last four tried to run, and he screamed in fury as he cut them down. The last one turned and tried to fight, a fat man whose face was oily with sweat.
scream: 叫喊 fury: 愤怒 oily: 油腻的 sweat: 汗
剩下的四个人四散跑开，他在愤怒中高叫着，砍倒了三个人。最后那个胖子油腻的脸上沾满了汗水，转身试图反击。
When he struck the man’s head off, his sword broke in half, as though it could take no more.
strike: 砍掉 sword: 剑
当他砍下那人的头时，手中的剑断成了两截，再也不能用了。
He found himself once again in the village square, his hands and clothes covered in blood and gore.
once again: 再次 square: 广场 cover: 覆盖 gore: 污血
他发现自己又回到了广场上，衣服和手上满是斑斑血迹。
Then the rage left him, and he felt a combination of horror and disgust. He collapsed to the ground, throwing up everything he had eaten in the last two days.
rage: 愤怒 combination: 结合体 horror: 恐惧 disgust: 厌恶 collapse: 倒下 throw up:呕吐
他的狂怒消失了，只感到厌恶与恐惧。他瘫在地上，将这几天吃的东西吐了个净。
Even when he had nothing more to vomit, he still retched, and finally he sat up, trying to spit the horrible taste out of his mouth.
vomit: 呕吐 retch: 干呕 spit: 吐出 horrible: 可怕的 taste: 味道
尽管已无物可吐，可他还是在干呕着。最后他坐起来，试图吐尽嘴里那股恶心的味道。
“When you get angry, you don’t do it by half measures, do you?” Sarnakyle said. Siggard turned to see the wizard sitting on the overturned tree again, watching him.
angry: 愤怒的 measure: 分寸 wizard: 法师 overturned: 倾覆的
“你愤怒时，便会失去理智，不是吗？”Sarnakyle说。Siggard转过身，看到法师又坐在那棵折断的大树上，望着他。
“I’ve done something monstrous, haven’t I?” Siggard asked weakly.
monstrous: 骇人听闻的 weakly: 无力的
“我做了件荒诞的事，不是吗？”Siggard无力的问道。
Sarnakyle shook his head.
shake: 摇动
Sarnakyle摇了摇头。
“Although this won’t make you feel any better, you did what had to be done. I have never seen a demonic possession ended without the death of the host.”
although: 虽然 demonic: 恶魔的 possession: 支配 death: 死亡 host: 宿主
“尽管你所作的这一切并没有使你感觉好些，但这是必须做的。我从没见过不通过死亡就摆脱了恶魔控制的事情。”
“I feel so hollow,” Siggard mumbled.
hollow: 空虚的 mumble: 喃喃地说
“我觉得很空虚。”Siggard喃喃地说。
“This kind of killing does that,” the wizard said. “You were not in the middle of battle, you were slaughtering those you might consider defenseless.
killing: 杀戮 wizard: 法师 slaughtering: 屠杀 consider: 认为 defenseless: 手无寸铁的
“这种杀戮就是这样，”法师说道，“你不是在战场上，你觉得你杀死了手无寸铁的人。
But they were clutched by evil, and could not turn back. You probably did their souls a favor.
clutch: 控制 evil: 恶魔 turn back: 阻止 soul: 灵魂 favor: 好意
但他们已经被恶魔所掌控，这一切是不可逆转的。你其实使他们的灵魂得到了解脱。
“When I was back in Viz-jun, I was called upon to investigate a possession.
call upon: 约请 investigate: 调查 possession: 附身
“我有一次回到Viz-jun，受命调查一个傀儡。
A small child, no more than two years old, had killed his parents. Even in the heart of Kehjistan, there was nothing that could be done.
parents: 双亲 nothing could be done: 无能为力
一个不过两岁的小孩杀死了他的父母。即使是在Kehjistan的首都我们也无能为力。
Finally, I had to kill the child to banish the demon. My reaction afterwards was almost identical to yours.”
have to: 不得不 banish: 驱逐 demon: 恶魔 reaction: 反应 afterwards: 后来 identical:相同的
最终，我不得不杀了这个孩子以使他从恶魔手中解脱出来。之后我的反应与你一样。”
Sarnakyle leaned forward. “Had you not reacted this way, I would have wondered if you were still human.”
lean: 屈身 react: 反应 wonder: 对…感到怀疑
Sarnakyle向前靠去。“如果你的反应不是这样，我倒怀疑你已经不是人类了。”
“I have killed the traitors,” Siggard said. “Why don’t I feel as though I am revenged? Is vengeance truly this hollow?”
traitor: 叛徒 revenge: 复仇 vengeance: 复仇 hollow: 空虚的
“我杀了叛徒，”Siggard说，“为什么我感觉不到复仇的快感？难道复仇真的是个令人感到空虚的行为吗？”
“Sometimes,” Sarnakyle said. “In your case, I think you have not destroyed what you needed to destroy.”
case: 情形 destroy: 摧毁
“有时是的，”Sarnakyle说，“像你这样，我觉得你还没有将你该摧毁的东西毁灭。”
“What do you mean?”
“什么意思？”
The wizard pointed to one of the bodies around them, his orange-red robes billowing in the breeze.
wizard: 法师 point: 指 orange-red: 橘红 robe: 长袍 billow: 扬起 breeze: 微风
法师指着一具尸体，他橙红色的长袍在微风中摆动。
“These were victims themselves. These are the effects of the illness, but the ailment still lives. Their crime was to be weak-willed in the face of darkness.
victim: 受害者 effect: 效果 illness: 病 ailment: 病痛 crime: 罪行 weak-willed: 意志薄弱的 face: 面对
“他们是受害者。病征已除，但病根还在。他们的罪过在于面对黑暗时意志不够坚定。
The death of your family, and all of this horror, has been ordered by the archdemon leading the demonic army. It is he who must die.”
horror: 恐怖 order: 命令 archdemon: 大恶魔 demonic: 恶魔的
你家人的死，还有所有恐怖的一切，都是由领导恶魔军团的大恶魔造成的。它必须被杀死。”
“How do you know there is an archdemon?” Siggard asked.
archdemon: 大恶魔
“你怎么会知道恶魔们有头目呢？”Siggard问。
Sarnakyle smiled. “Armies like this are led by a baron of Hell. The lesser demons will not follow one of their own kind. Some greater power must lead them.”
baron: 男爵 hell: 地狱 lesser: 低级的 lead: 率领
Sarnakyle笑了。“像这种军队都受地狱男爵的控制。低等的恶魔是不会服从同级者的领导的，要率领他们必须有更强大的力量。”
“I see,” Siggard said. He stood up, his resolve giving him strength. “I swear, by the blood of my family, and the lives I have taken today, that I will find this archdemon and destroy it.”
stand up: 站起 resolve: 决心 strength: 力量 swear: 发誓 archdemon: 大恶魔 destroy: 杀死
“我懂了。”Siggard站起来，他的决心给了他力量。“我以我的家人及今夜这些被害者之血发誓：我一定要找到并击败大恶魔。”
Sarnakyle nodded grimly. “That is a worthy goal, my friend.
nod: 点头 grimly: 严肃的 worthy: 有价值的 goal: 目标
Sarnakyle严肃的点点头：“我的朋友，这是个值得努力的目标。
Come now; we should rest for the morning, but first I should tend to you, and make certain that none of this blood on you is yours.”
rest: 休息 tend: 护理 certain:确定的
来吧，我们要为明早的行动休息一下，我还要确认一下你受没受伤。”
作者：Robert B. Marks 翻译：生物学教授
解析：Wayne 编辑：Wayne
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