EDDARD
58 艾德
The straw on the
floor stank of urine. There was no window, no bed, not even a slop bucket. He
remembered walls of pale red stone festooned with patches of nitre, a grey door
of splintered wood, four inches thick and studded with iron. He had seen them,
briefly, a quick glimpse as they shoved him inside. Once the door had slammed
shut, he had seen no more. The dark was absolute. He had as well been blind.
鋪在地板的稻草充滿(mǎn)尿臊昧。這里沒(méi)有窗戶(hù)，沒(méi)有床，連個(gè)潲水桶都沒(méi)有。他依稀記得墻壁是淡紅色的，露出一片片硝石，有一扇碎木做的灰門(mén)，足有四尺厚，上面釘了鐵釘。他被推進(jìn)來(lái)時(shí)，短暫地看了屋內(nèi)幾眼，等門(mén)“轟”地一聲關(guān)上，就什么也看不清了。這里沒(méi)有一絲光線(xiàn)，他和瞎子無(wú)異。
Or dead. Buried
with his king. “Ah, Robert,” he murmured as his groping hand touched a cold
stone wall, his leg throbbing with every motion. He remembered the jest the
king had shared in the crypts of Winterfell, as the Kings of Winter looked on
with cold stone eyes. The king eats, Robert had said, and the Hand takes the
shit. How he had laughed. Yet he had gotten it wrong. The king dies, Ned Stark
thought, and the Hand is buried.
或者說(shuō)，和死人無(wú)異。他和他的國(guó)王一同被埋在地底了?！鞍?，勞勃?！彼f(shuō)，探出手去，摸到冰冷的石墻，每動(dòng)一下，受傷的腳就抽痛一次。他回憶起當(dāng)時(shí)在臨冬城的地下墓窖里，在歷代冬境之王雕像的冷冷石眼注視下，國(guó)王所說(shuō)的笑話(huà)。國(guó)王吃席，勞勃這么說(shuō)，首相拉屎。那時(shí)他笑得好不開(kāi)心哪，只可惜他弄錯(cuò)了。應(yīng)該是國(guó)王一死，奈德·史塔克心想，首相陪葬。
The dungeon was
under the Red Keep, deeper than he dared imagine. He remembered the old stories
about Maegor the Cruel, who murdered all the masons who labored on his castle,
so they might never reveal its secrets.
地牢位于紅堡之下，到底有多深，他不敢去想。他想起與“殘酷的”梅葛有關(guān)的那些故事，傳說(shuō)所有為他建筑城堡的工匠都遭他謀害，如此一來(lái)他們便永不能泄露其中秘密。
He damned them
all: Littlefinger, Janos Slynt and his gold cloaks, the queen, the Kingslayer,
Pycelle and Varys and Ser Barristan, even Lord Renly, Robert’s own blood, who
had run when he was needed most. Yet in the end he blamed himself. “Fool,” he
cried to the darkness, “thrice-damned blind fool.”
他詛咒他們每個(gè)人小指頭、杰諾·史林特和他的金袍衛(wèi)隊(duì)、王后、弒君者、派席爾、瓦里斯和巴利斯坦爵士，甚至勞勃的親弟弟藍(lán)禮公爵，因?yàn)樗谧约鹤钚枰臅r(shí)候逃之夭夭。然而到了最后，他責(zé)怪的是自己?！按啦?！”他對(duì)著黑暗大喊，“你這個(gè)天殺的蠢才！”
Cersei
Lannister’s face seemed to float before him in the darkness. Her hair was full
of sunlight, but there was mockery in her smile. “When you play the game of
thrones, you win or you die,” she whispered. Ned had played and lost, and his
men had paid the price of his folly with their life’s blood.
瑟曦·蘭尼斯特的臉龐在黑暗中浮現(xiàn)眼前。她的秀發(fā)宛若陽(yáng)光，微笑中帶著嘲弄?！霸跈?quán)力的游戲之中，你不當(dāng)贏(yíng)家，就只有死路一條?！彼穆曊f(shuō)。奈德輸了這場(chǎng)游戲，他的部屬以鮮血和生命為他的愚蠢付出了代價(jià)。
When he thought
of his daughters, he would have wept gladly, but the tears would not come. Even
now, he was a Stark of Winterfell, and his grief and his rage froze hard inside
him.
思及兩個(gè)女兒，他只想放聲痛哭一場(chǎng)，可眼淚卻硬是掉不下來(lái)?？v然到了這步田地，他依舊是個(gè)臨冬城的史塔克，他的悲傷和狂怒都凍結(jié)在體內(nèi)。
When he kept
very still, his leg did not hurt so much, so he did his best to lie unmoving.
For how long he could not say. There was no sun and no moon. He could not see
to mark the walls. Ned closed his eyes and opened them; it made no difference.
He slept and woke and slept again. He did not know which was more painful, the
waking or the sleeping. When he slept, he dreamed: dark disturbing dreams of
blood and broken promises. When he woke, there was nothing to do but think, and
his waking thoughts were worse than nightmares. The thought of Cat was as painful
as a bed of nettles. He wondered where she was, what she was doing. He wondered
whether he would ever see her again.
假如他安靜不動(dòng)，傷腿便不至于痛得太厲害，于是他盡可能地躺著不動(dòng)。究竟躺了多久，他說(shuō)不準(zhǔn)。這里沒(méi)有日升月落，什么也看不見(jiàn)，連在墻上做記號(hào)都不行。睜眼還是閉眼，一切都無(wú)分別。他睡了又醒，醒了又睡，不知睡著和醒來(lái)哪一個(gè)比較痛苦。睡著的時(shí)候會(huì)做夢(mèng)，黑暗的、擾人的夢(mèng)，充斥著血光以及不能遵守的約定；醒來(lái)的時(shí)候，除了思考，無(wú)事可做，然而他心中所想?yún)s比噩夢(mèng)還可怕。想起凱特，有如躺在蕁麻編成的床上那般苦痛。他幻想著此時(shí)此刻她置身何處，正在做些什么，卻不知此生是否還能與她重逢。
Hours turned to
days, or so it seemed. He could feel a dull ache in his shattered leg, an itch
beneath the plaster. When he touched his thigh, the flesh was hot to his
fingers. The only sound was his breathing. After a time, he began to talk
aloud, just to hear a voice. He made plans to keep himself sane, built castles
of hope in the dark. Robert’s brothers were out in the world, raising armies at
Dragonstone and Storm’s End. Alyn and Harwin would return to King’s Landing
with the rest of his household guard once they had dealt with Ser Gregor.
Catelyn would raise the north when the word reached her, and the lords of river
and mountain and Vale would join her.
時(shí)間流逝，日子一天天過(guò)去，至少感覺(jué)起來(lái)是這樣。石膏下的斷腿隱隱作痛，開(kāi)始發(fā)癢。他碰碰大腿，熱得發(fā)燙。這里惟一的聲音，是他的呼吸。時(shí)間一久，他開(kāi)始大聲說(shuō)話(huà)，只為了能聽(tīng)見(jiàn)聲音。他擬訂計(jì)劃，決心保持神智清醒，在黑暗中筑起希望的城堡。勞勃的兩位弟弟安然無(wú)恙，此刻正在龍石島和風(fēng)息堡整軍待發(fā)。埃林和哈爾溫一旦解決格雷果爵士，便將率領(lǐng)他其余的衛(wèi)士返回君臨。而凱特琳一旦接獲消息，便會(huì)號(hào)召北方諸侯揭竿而起，而三河流域和艾林谷的貴族都會(huì)與她并肩作戰(zhàn)。
He found himself
thinking of Robert more and more. He saw the king as he had been in the flower
of his youth, tall and handsome, his great antlered helm on his head, his
warhammer in hand, sitting his horse like a horned god. He heard his laughter
in the dark, saw his eyes, blue and clear as mountain lakes. “Look at us, Ned,”
Robert said. “Gods, how did we come to this? You here, and me killed by a pig.
We won a throne together?.?.?.?”
他發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不斷想起勞勃，一次又一次。他看到青春年少的國(guó)王，高大英俊，頭戴鹿盔，手持戰(zhàn)錘，騎在馬上宛如長(zhǎng)角巨神。黑暗中他聽(tīng)見(jiàn)他的笑聲，望著他那對(duì)碧藍(lán)澄澈宛如山中湖泊的眼睛?！澳蔚?，你看看我們，”勞勃說(shuō)，“諸神在上，我們?cè)鯐?huì)落到這步田地？你被關(guān)在這兒，我死在一頭豬腳下。當(dāng)初我們可是一起打下江山，贏(yíng)得王位……”
I failed you,
Robert, Ned thought. He could not say the words. I lied to you, hid the truth.
I let them kill you.
勞勃，我對(duì)不起你，奈德心想，但他實(shí)在說(shuō)不出口，我欺騙了你，隱瞞了真相，讓他們害死了你。
The king heard
him. “You stiff-necked fool,” he muttered, “too proud to listen. Can you eat
pride, Stark? Will honor shield your children?” Cracks ran down his face,
fissures opening in the flesh, and he reached up and ripped the mask away. It
was not Robert at all; it was Littlefinger, grinning, mocking him. When he
opened his mouth to speak, his lies turned to pale grey moths and took wing.
但國(guó)王還是聽(tīng)到了?！澳氵@個(gè)硬脖子的蠢蛋，”他喃喃道，“心高氣傲，就是不肯聽(tīng)話(huà)。史塔克，自尊心能拿來(lái)吃嗎？榮譽(yù)感能保護(hù)你的孩子嗎？”他的臉一塊塊剝落，皮膚出現(xiàn)裂口，接著他伸手扯下面具。原來(lái)那根本不是勞勃，而是嘿嘿直笑、嘲弄著他的小指頭。他張口想說(shuō)話(huà)，但他的謊言變成灰白的蛾，拍拍翅膀飛走了。
Ned was
half-asleep when the footsteps came down the hall. At first he thought he
dreamt them; it had been so long since he had heard anything but the sound of
his own voice. Ned was feverish by then, his leg a dull agony, his lips parched
and cracked. When the heavy wooden door creaked open, the sudden light was
painful to his eyes.
腳步聲從走廊上傳來(lái)時(shí)，奈德正在半睡半醒之間，起初還以為是自己作夢(mèng)，因?yàn)槌俗匝宰哉Z(yǔ)，他已經(jīng)太久沒(méi)聽(tīng)見(jiàn)別的聲音。他發(fā)著高燒，嘴唇干裂，腿傷隱隱作痛。沉重的木門(mén)“咿呀”一聲打開(kāi)時(shí)，突如其來(lái)的光線(xiàn)刺痛了他的眼睛。
A gaoler thrust
a jug at him. The clay was cool and beaded with moisture. Ned grasped it with
both hands and gulped eagerly. Water ran from his mouth and dripped down
through his beard. He drank until he thought he would be sick. “How
long?.?.?.??” he asked weakly when he could drink no more.
一名獄卒丟了個(gè)罐子給他。陶罐很涼，表面密布水珠。奈德雙手緊緊捧住，饑渴地大口吞咽。水從嘴角流下，滴進(jìn)胡子里。他一直喝到不適方才停下?！斑^(guò)了多久……？”他虛弱地問(wèn)。
The gaoler was a
scarecrow of a man with a rat’s face and frayed beard, clad in a mail shirt and
a leather half cape. “No talking,” he said as he wrenched the jug from Ned’s
hands.
獄卒瘦得像個(gè)稻草人，生著一張老鼠臉，胡子割得長(zhǎng)短不齊。他穿了一件甲衣，外罩半身皮革斗篷。“不準(zhǔn)說(shuō)話(huà)。”說(shuō)著他把水罐從奈德手里奪走。
“Please,” Ned said, “my daughters?.?.?.?” The door crashed shut. He
blinked as the light vanished, lowered his head to his chest, and curled up on
the straw. It no longer stank of urine and shit. It no longer smelled at all.
“求求你，”奈德說(shuō)，“我的女兒……”大門(mén)轟地關(guān)上，光線(xiàn)倏然消失。他眨眨眼，低下頭，蜷縮在稻草上。稻草聞起來(lái)不再有尿水和糞便的味道，聞起來(lái)一點(diǎn)味道都沒(méi)有了。
He could no
longer tell the difference between waking and sleeping. The memory came
creeping upon him in the darkness, as vivid as a dream. It was the year of
false spring, and he was eighteen again, down from the Eyrie to the tourney at
Harrenhal. He could see the deep green of the grass, and smell the pollen on
the wind. Warm days and cool nights and the sweet taste of wine. He remembered
Brandon’s laughter, and Robert’s berserk valor in the melee, the way he laughed
as he unhorsed men left and right. He remembered Jaime Lannister, a golden
youth in scaled white armor, kneeling on the grass in front of the king’s
pavilion and making his vows to protect and defend King Aerys. Afterward, Ser
Oswell Whent helped Jaime to his feet, and the White Bull himself, Lord
Commander Ser Gerold Hightower, fastened the snowy cloak of the Kingsguard
about his shoulders. All six White Swords were there to welcome their newest
brother.
他再也分不出睡著與醒來(lái)的差別。黑暗中，回憶悄然襲上心頭，栩栩如生宛如幻境。那一年是“錯(cuò)誤的春天”，他又回到了十八歲，陪著瓊恩和勞勃從鷹巢城下山，遠(yuǎn)赴赫倫堡參加比武大會(huì)。他見(jiàn)到綠草長(zhǎng)青，聞到風(fēng)中花粉。溫暖的白晝，涼爽的夜晚，甜美的酒香。他記得布蘭登的笑，記得勞勃在團(tuán)體比武中的狂暴威猛，記得他一邊左劈右砍，將對(duì)手一個(gè)個(gè)擊落馬下，一邊哈哈大笑的模樣。他也記得身穿白色鱗甲的金發(fā)少年詹姆·蘭尼斯特，跪在國(guó)王帳前的草地上，宣誓守護(hù)伊里斯國(guó)王。宣誓完畢之后，奧斯威爾·河安爵士扶詹姆起身，鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長(zhǎng)“白?！苯苈濉ずＫ柧羰坑H自為他系上御林鐵衛(wèi)的雪白披風(fēng)。六位白騎士通通到場(chǎng)，歡迎他們新加入的弟兄。
Yet when the
jousting began, the day belonged to Rhaegar Targaryen. The crown prince wore
the armor he would die in: gleaming black plate with the three-headed dragon of
his House wrought in rubies on the breast. A plume of scarlet silk streamed
behind him when he rode, and it seemed no lance could touch him. Brandon fell
to him, and Bronze Yohn Royce, and even the splendid Ser Arthur Dayne, the
Sword of the Morning.
比武會(huì)持續(xù)了十日，但在關(guān)鍵的馬上長(zhǎng)槍比武中，只有雷加·坦格利安搶盡了風(fēng)頭。當(dāng)年王太子身上所穿的盔甲與他日后戰(zhàn)死那天無(wú)異：閃閃發(fā)光的黑鎧，胸前是紅寶石鑲成的三頭龍，正是他的家徽。他騎馬奔馳，一條鮮紅絲帶在背后流動(dòng)，沒(méi)有長(zhǎng)槍能碰他分毫。布蘭登被他刺落馬下，青銅約恩·羅伊斯亦然，就連“拂曉神劍”亞瑟·戴恩爵士也不例外。
Robert had been
jesting with Jon and old Lord Hunter as the prince circled the field after
unhorsing Ser Barristan in the final tilt to claim the champion’s crown. Ned
remembered the moment when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen
urged his horse past his own wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, to lay
the queen of beauty’s laurel in Lyanna’s lap. He could see it still: a crown of
winter roses, blue as frost.
當(dāng)王太子在決勝戰(zhàn)中擊倒巴利斯坦爵士，繞場(chǎng)一周，準(zhǔn)備接下優(yōu)勝寶冠時(shí)，勞勃正與瓊恩和老杭特伯爵作最后的拼斗。奈德記得雷加·坦格利安催馬跑過(guò)自己的妻子——多恩領(lǐng)馬泰爾家族的伊莉亞公主，將愛(ài)與美的皇后的桂冠放在萊安娜膝上。全場(chǎng)觀(guān)眾笑容消失的那一刻，至今依然歷歷在目，那是一頂冬雪玫瑰編織而成的皇冠，碧藍(lán)如霜。
Ned Stark
reached out his hand to grasp the flowery crown, but beneath the pale blue
petals the thorns lay hidden. He felt them clawing at his skin, sharp and
cruel, saw the slow trickle of blood run down his fingers, and woke, trembling,
in the dark.
奈德·史塔克伸手去抓那項(xiàng)花冠，但淺藍(lán)色的花瓣底下卻暗藏著剌。尖利殘酷的刺撕扯皮膚，他看著鮮血緩緩流下手指。驟然驚醒，四周一片黑暗。
Promise me, Ned,
his sister had whispered from her bed of blood. She had loved the scent of
winter roses.
奈德，答應(yīng)我，躺臥血床的妹妹朝他低語(yǔ)。她生前最?lèi)?ài)冬雪玫瑰的芳香。
“Gods save me,” Ned wept. “I am going mad.”
“諸神救我，”奈德泣不成聲?！拔乙偭?。”
The gods did not
deign to answer.
天上諸神沒(méi)有回應(yīng)。
Each time the
turnkey brought him water, he told himself another day had passed. At first he
would beg the man for some word of his daughters and the world beyond his cell.
Grunts and kicks were his only replies. Later, when the stomach cramps began,
he begged for food instead. It made no matter; he was not fed. Perhaps the
Lannisters meant for him to starve to death. “No,” he told himself. If Cersei
had wanted him dead, he would have been cut down in the throne room with his
men. She wanted him alive. Weak, desperate, yet alive. Catelyn held her
brother; she dare not kill him or the Imp’s life would be forfeit as well.
每當(dāng)獄卒帶水給他喝，他就告訴自己又過(guò)了一天。起初他還拜托來(lái)人，請(qǐng)他說(shuō)說(shuō)女兒的消息，以及外面發(fā)生了什么，但咕噥和腳踢是惟一的回答。幾“天”后，他肚子抽筋，便改向獄卒求懇食物，結(jié)果還是相同，他依然沒(méi)東西吃?；蛟S蘭尼斯特家打算把他生生餓死。“不對(duì)。”他對(duì)自己說(shuō)。倘若瑟曦要置他于死地，他早就和部下一起被砍倒在王座廳了。她要他活著，不論如何虛弱，如何絕望，都要留下他一條命。凱特琳手上還握有她的弟弟；她若是殺他，那么小惡魔也會(huì)沒(méi)命。
From outside his
cell came the rattle of iron chains. As the door creaked open, Ned put a hand
to the damp wall and pushed himself toward the light. The glare of a torch made
him squint. “Food,” he croaked.
囚室外傳來(lái)鐵鏈碰撞的聲音。門(mén)突然打開(kāi)，奈德伸手撐住潮濕的墻壁，往光明的地方爬去?；鹁娴膹?qiáng)光刺得他瞇起眼睛?！笆澄?，”他啞著嗓子說(shuō)。
“Wine,” a voice answered. It was not the rat-faced man; this gaoler
was stouter, shorter, though he wore the same leather half cape and spiked
steel cap. “Drink, Lord Eddard.” He thrust a wineskin into Ned’s hands.
“我?guī)Я司苼?lái)，”一個(gè)聲音應(yīng)道。不是那個(gè)老鼠臉；這次的獄卒比較矮胖，但同樣穿著半身皮斗篷，戴了有刺鋼盔?！鞍麓笕?，您快喝吧?！彼麑⒁粋€(gè)酒袋塞進(jìn)奈德手里。
The voice was
strangely familiar, yet it took Ned Stark a moment to place it. “Varys?” he
said groggily when it came. He touched the man’s face. “I’m not?.?.?.?not
dreaming this. You’re here.” The eunuch’s plump cheeks were covered with a dark
stubble of beard. Ned felt the coarse hair with his fingers. Varys had
transformed himself into a grizzled turnkey, reeking of sweat and sour wine.
“How did you?.?.?.?what sort of magician are you?”
這聲音出奇地熟悉，但奈德·史塔克過(guò)了一陣子才想起來(lái)?！巴呃锼梗俊彼撊醪豢暗卣f(shuō)，伸手摸摸對(duì)方的臉?！拔摇也皇窃谧鲏?mèng)。真的是你?！碧O(jiān)肥胖的臉頰上覆蓋著粗短的黑胡茬，奈德的手指感覺(jué)到它們的粗糙。瓦里斯把自己變成了大胡子獄卒，渾身上下散發(fā)著汗臭和劣酒的氣味。“你是怎么……你到底是個(gè)什么樣的魔術(shù)師？”
“A thirsty one,” Varys said. “Drink, my lord.”
“口很渴的魔術(shù)師?！蓖呃锼沟溃按笕耍旌劝??！?/p>
Ned’s hands
fumbled at the skin. “Is this the same poison they gave Robert?”
奈德的手慌亂地捧著酒袋?！八麄兘o勞勃喝的，就是這種毒藥么？”
“You wrong me,” Varys said sadly. “Truly, no one loves a eunuch. Give
me the skin.” He drank, a trickle of red leaking from the corner of his plump
mouth. “Not the equal of the vintage you offered me the night of the tourney,
but no more poisonous than most,” he concluded, wiping his lips. “Here.”
“您錯(cuò)怪我了，”瓦里斯哀傷地說(shuō)，“果真是沒(méi)人喜歡太監(jiān)啊。酒袋給我?！彼攘藥卓?，紅色的酒液從他肥厚的嘴角流淌下來(lái)。“這雖然不能和比武大會(huì)當(dāng)晚您請(qǐng)我喝的酒相提并論，但也絕非毒藥。”他抹抹嘴下了結(jié)論。“來(lái)。”
Ned tried a
swallow. “Dregs.” He felt as though he were about to bring the wine back up.
奈德試著啜下一口。“這是酒糟。”他覺(jué)得自己快吐出來(lái)了。
“All men must swallow the sour with the sweet. High lords and eunuchs
alike. Your hour has come, my lord.”
“是啊，不管你是王公貴族還是太監(jiān)走卒，酸的甜的都得學(xué)著吞。大人，您的時(shí)辰近了?！?/p>
“My daughters?.?.?.?”
“我女兒們……”
“The younger girl escaped Ser Meryn and fled,” Varys told him. “I
have not been able to find her. Nor have the Lannisters. A kindness, there. Our
new king loves her not. Your older girl is still betrothed to Joffrey. Cersei
keeps her close. She came to court a few days ago to plead that you be spared.
A pity you couldn’t have been there, you would have been touched.” He leaned
forward intently. “I trust you realize that you are a dead man, Lord Eddard?”
“您的小女兒從馬林爵士手邊逃脫了，”瓦里斯告訴他，“我到現(xiàn)在都沒(méi)能找到她，蘭尼斯特的人也找不到，這多少算是諸神慈悲罷，因?yàn)槲覀兊男聡?guó)王并不愛(ài)她。您的大女兒依然是喬佛里的未婚妻，瑟曦把她留在身邊，她幾天前剛上朝為您求情。只可惜您不在場(chǎng)，否則一定會(huì)大受感動(dòng)?！彼鈭D昭昭地往前靠?！鞍麓笕耍氡啬雷约涸诮匐y逃吧？”
“The queen will not kill me,” Ned said. His head swam; the wine was
strong, and it had been too long since he’d eaten. “Cat?.?.?.?Cat holds her
brother?.?.?.?”
“王后不會(huì)殺我，”奈德說(shuō)。他開(kāi)始頭暈?zāi)垦?；這酒太烈，他又太久沒(méi)有進(jìn)食?！皠P特……凱特手里有她弟弟……”
“The wrong brother,” Varys sighed. “And lost to her, in any case. She
let the Imp slip through her fingers. I expect he is dead by now, somewhere in
the Mountains of the Moon.”
“但不是她愛(ài)的弟弟，”瓦里斯嘆道，“而且這會(huì)兒也跑了。顯然是她讓小惡魔從手里鉆了出去。我看他現(xiàn)在多半已經(jīng)死在明月山脈里某個(gè)不知名的地方了吧?！?/p>
“If that is true, slit my throat and have done with it.” He was dizzy
from the wine, tired and heartsick.
“倘若真是這樣，那快快割了我喉嚨，做個(gè)了結(jié)?！本苿派嫌浚硇木闫?，頭腦昏沉。
“Your blood is the last thing I desire.”
“我對(duì)您的血一點(diǎn)興趣都沒(méi)有?！?/p>
Ned frowned.
“When they slaughtered my guard, you stood beside the queen and watched, and said
not a word.”
奈德皺眉：“當(dāng)他們屠殺我的手下時(shí)，你可是站在王后身邊袖手旁觀(guān)，一聲不吭?！?/p>
“And would again. I seem to recall that I was unarmed, unarmored, and
surrounded by Lannister swords.” The eunuch looked at him curiously, tilting
his head. “When I was a young boy, before I was cut, I traveled with a troupe
of mummers through the Free Cities. They taught me that each man has a role to
play, in life as well as mummery. So it is at court. The King’s Justice must be
fearsome, the master of coin must be frugal, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard
must be valiant?.?.?.?and the master of whisperers must be sly and obsequious
and without scruple. A courageous informer would be as useless as a cowardly
knight.” He took the wineskin back and drank.
“換做是現(xiàn)在，我還是會(huì)那么做。我記得自己當(dāng)時(shí)不但手無(wú)寸鐵，沒(méi)盔沒(méi)甲，還被蘭尼斯特的武士團(tuán)團(tuán)圍住?！碧O(jiān)歪著頭，好奇地打量他?！拔倚r(shí)候，還沒(méi)被割之前，曾跟戲班子在自由貿(mào)易城邦巡回演出。他們教會(huì)我一件事，那就是每個(gè)人都有自己該扮演的角色，戲里戲外都一樣。朝廷里也是如此，所以御前執(zhí)法官必須模樣兇神惡煞，財(cái)政大臣要勤儉成性，御林鐵衛(wèi)隊(duì)長(zhǎng)則需勇武過(guò)人……而情報(bào)總管呢，當(dāng)然應(yīng)該詭計(jì)多端、擅長(zhǎng)逢迎拍捧、行事無(wú)孔不入。而一個(gè)勇氣十足的情報(bào)頭子，就和一個(gè)懦弱膽小的騎士一樣沒(méi)用。”
Ned studied the
eunuch’s face, searching for truth beneath the mummer’s scars and false
stubble. He tried some more wine. This time it went down easier. “Can you free
me from this pit?”
奈德審視著太監(jiān)的臉，搜尋他的假疤痕和假胡子下的真相。他又試著喝了點(diǎn)酒，這回順口多了?！澳隳馨盐覐倪@地穴救出去嗎？”
“I could?.?.?.?but will I? No. Questions would be asked, and the
answers would lead back to me.”
“我能……但我要不要這么做呢？當(dāng)然不。到時(shí)候一定有人展開(kāi)調(diào)查，而所有的線(xiàn)索都會(huì)指向我?！?/p>
Ned had expected
no more. “You are blunt.”
奈德原本也不期望他答應(yīng)?！澳氵€真是實(shí)話(huà)實(shí)說(shuō)。”
“A eunuch has no honor, and a spider does not enjoy the luxury of
scruples, my lord.”
“大人，太監(jiān)沒(méi)有榮譽(yù)，蜘蛛也沒(méi)有行事顧及自尊的福分。”
“Would you at least consent to carry a message out for me?”
“那你可否至少替我送封信？”
“That would depend on the message. I will gladly provide you with
paper and ink, if you like. And when you have written what you will, I will
take the letter and read it, and deliver it or not, as best serves my own
ends.”
“得視信的內(nèi)容而定。您要的話(huà)，我很樂(lè)意提供紙筆。等你寫(xiě)好之后，我會(huì)把信拿來(lái)讀一遍，至于要不要送出去，則要看信是否合乎我個(gè)人目的了。”
“Your own ends. What ends are those, Lord Varys?”
“你的目的？瓦里斯大人，敢問(wèn)您的目的又是什么？”
“Peace,” Varys replied without hesitation. “If there was one soul in
King’s Landing who was truly desperate to keep Robert Baratheon alive, it was
me.” He sighed. “For fifteen years I protected him from his enemies, but I
could not protect him from his friends. What strange fit of madness led you to
tell the queen that you had learned the truth of Joffrey’s birth?”
“和平。”瓦里斯毫不遲疑地回答，“假如說(shuō)君臨城里有哪個(gè)靈魂真心誠(chéng)意想保住勞勃·拜拉席恩的性命，那便是我。”他嘆了口氣?！笆迥陙?lái)，我盡心竭力保護(hù)他免遭敵人傷害，到頭來(lái)卻免不了他為朋友所害。您腦筋里究竟是有些什么瘋狂念頭，讓您跑去告訴太后，說(shuō)您知道喬佛里的真實(shí)身份？”
“The madness of mercy,” Ned admitted.
“仁慈的瘋狂念頭?！蹦蔚绿钩?。
“Ah,” said Varys. “To be sure. You are an honest and honorable man,
Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life.” He
glanced around the cell. “When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I
understand why.”
“啊，”瓦里斯道，“可不是么？艾德大人，您是個(gè)正直磊落的人，我常常忘記這點(diǎn)，因?yàn)槲疫@輩子很少遇見(jiàn)您這樣的人。”他環(huán)顧囚室四周。“當(dāng)我見(jiàn)到誠(chéng)實(shí)和榮譽(yù)給您帶來(lái)何種下場(chǎng)之后，我終于明白這是為什么了?！?/p>
Ned Stark laid
his head back against the damp stone wall and closed his eyes. His leg was
throbbing. “The king’s wine?.?.?.?did you question Lancel?”
奈德·史塔克低頭枕在潮濕的石墻上，閉上了眼睛。他的傷腿隱隱作痛?！皣?guó)王喝的酒……你查問(wèn)過(guò)藍(lán)賽爾嗎？”
“Oh, indeed. Cersei gave him the wineskins, and told him it was
Robert’s favorite vintage.” The eunuch shrugged. “A hunter lives a perilous
life. If the boar had not done for Robert, it would have been a fall from a
horse, the bite of a wood adder, an arrow gone astray?.?.?.?the forest is the
abbatoir of the gods. It was not wine that killed the king. It was your mercy.”
“當(dāng)然問(wèn)了。酒袋是瑟曦給他的，還告訴他那是勞勃最喜歡的佳釀?！碧O(jiān)聳聳肩。“打獵本來(lái)就危險(xiǎn)，縱使那頭豬沒(méi)殺死勞勃，他也會(huì)摔下馬來(lái)，被毒蛇咬，或者是一枝射偏的箭……森林是天上諸神的屠宰場(chǎng)。但是，殺死國(guó)王的不是藥酒，而是您的‘仁慈’。”
Ned had feared
as much. “Gods forgive me.”
奈德就怕這個(gè)。“諸神饒恕我?！?/p>
“If there are gods,” Varys said, “I expect they will. The queen would
not have waited long in any case. Robert was becoming unruly, and she needed to
be rid of him to free her hands to deal with his brothers. They are quite a
pair, Stannis and Renly. The iron gauntlet and the silk glove.” He wiped his
mouth with the back of his hand. “You have been foolish, my lord. You ought to
have heeded Littlefinger when he urged you to support Joffrey’s succession.”
“假如世間真有神靈存在，”瓦里斯道，“我想他們不會(huì)苛責(zé)您的。反正瑟曦也不會(huì)等太久。勞勃越來(lái)越難駕馭，她必須先除掉他，才能放手對(duì)付他兩個(gè)弟弟。史坦尼斯和藍(lán)禮兩個(gè)還真是一對(duì)，一個(gè)鐵甲拳，一個(gè)絲手套?！彼檬直衬ㄗ臁！按笕耍懒?，當(dāng)初您應(yīng)該聽(tīng)從小指頭的建議，擁護(hù)喬佛里登基?！?/p>
“How?.?.?.?how could you know of that?”
“你……你怎么知道？”
Varys smiled. “I
know, that’s all that need concern you. I also know that on the morrow the queen
will pay you a visit.”
瓦里斯微微一笑?！澳灰牢抑肋@件事就夠了。我還知道太后明天會(huì)來(lái)拜訪(fǎng)您?！?/p>
Slowly Ned
raised his eyes. “Why?”
奈德緩緩抬眼?！盀槭裁矗俊?/p>
“Cersei is frightened of you, my lord?.?.?.?but she has other enemies
she fears even more. Her beloved Jaime is fighting the river lords even now.
Lysa Arryn sits in the Eyrie, ringed in stone and steel, and there is no love
lost between her and the queen. In Dorne, the Martells still brood on the
murder of Princess Elia and her babes. And now your son marches down the Neck
with a northern host at his back.”
“大人，瑟曦雖然怕你……但她更怕別人。她親愛(ài)的詹姆此刻正與河間貴族作戰(zhàn)，萊莎·艾林高據(jù)鷹巢城，占有天險(xiǎn)，兵力雄厚，而她和太后向來(lái)不睦。多恩領(lǐng)方面，馬泰爾家族至今依舊對(duì)伊莉亞公主和她小嬰兒的死懷恨在心。更何況這會(huì)兒令公子又帶著北方諸侯大軍越過(guò)頸澤往南來(lái)了。”
“Robb is only a boy,” Ned said, aghast.
“羅柏只是個(gè)孩子。”奈德大驚失色。
“A boy with an army,” Varys said. “Yet only a boy, as you say. The
king’s brothers are the ones giving Cersei sleepless nights?.?.?.?Lord Stannis
in particular. His claim is the true one, he is known for his prowess as a
battle commander, and he is utterly without mercy. There is no creature on
earth half so terrifying as a truly just man. No one knows what Stannis has
been doing on Dragonstone, but I will wager you that he’s gathered more swords
than seashells. So here is Cersei’s nightmare: while her father and brother
spend their power battling Starks and Tullys, Lord Stannis will land, proclaim
himself king, and lop off her son’s curly blond head?.?.?.?and her own in the
bargain, though I truly believe she cares more about the boy.”
“是個(gè)握有大軍的孩子?！蓖呃锼沟溃安贿^(guò)如您所說(shuō)，他畢竟只是個(gè)孩子。真正令瑟曦寢食難安的是國(guó)王的兩個(gè)弟弟?！绕涫鞘诽鼓崴勾笕恕Ｋ睦^承權(quán)名正言順，本人又能征善戰(zhàn)，而且絕不心軟。這世上再?zèng)]有誰(shuí)比一個(gè)絕對(duì)剛正不阿的人更可怕。這段時(shí)間史坦尼斯在龍石島做些什么，沒(méi)有人知道，可我敢打賭，他是在招聚兵馬，決非收集貝殼。所以啰，瑟曦怕的就是：當(dāng)她的父親和弟弟對(duì)付史塔克家和徒利家的時(shí)候，史坦尼斯趁機(jī)登陸，自立為王，并砍掉她兒子那個(gè)生了漂亮卷發(fā)的頭……當(dāng)然，她自己也難保性命，雖說(shuō)我真的相信她比較在乎孩子?！?/p>
“Stannis Baratheon is Robert’s true heir,” Ned said. “The throne is
his by rights. I would welcome his ascent.”
“史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩是勞勃真正的繼承人，”奈德說(shuō)，“王位本歸他所有，我歡迎他登基為王。”
Varys tsked.
“Cersei will not want to hear that, I promise you. Stannis may win the throne,
but only your rotting head will remain to cheer unless you guard that tongue of
yours. Sansa begged so sweetly, it would be a shame if you threw it all away.
You are being given your life back, if you’ll take it. Cersei is no fool. She
knows a tame wolf is of more use than a dead one.”
瓦里斯啐了一聲?！拔腋ＷC，瑟曦可不想聽(tīng)到這句。史坦尼斯雖有可能奪得王位，但您要是不多管管自己的舌頭，到時(shí)候恐怕就只剩一顆爛掉的頭歡迎他了。珊莎那么努力地為您求情，若是不把握機(jī)會(huì)，實(shí)在太可惜。老實(shí)說(shuō)，眼下只要您愿意，可以逃過(guò)一劫。瑟曦不笨，她知道馴服的狼比一條死狼有用得多。”
“You want me to serve the woman who murdered my king, butchered my
men, and crippled my son?” Ned’s voice was thick with disbelief.
“這女人謀害我的國(guó)王，屠殺我的部下，還把我兒子摔成殘廢，你竟然要我為她效力？”奈德難以置信。
“I want you to serve the realm,” Varys said. “Tell the queen that you
will confess your vile treason, command your son to lay down his sword, and
proclaim Joffrey as the true heir. Offer to denounce Stannis and Renly as
faithless usurpers. Our green-eyed lioness knows you are a man of honor. If you
will give her the peace she needs and the time to deal with Stannis, and pledge
to carry her secret to your grave, I believe she will allow you to take the
black and live out the rest of your days on the Wall, with your brother and
that baseborn son of yours.”
“我要你為國(guó)家效力，”瓦里斯道，“您只需對(duì)太后承諾愿意坦白邪惡的叛國(guó)罪行，命令你兒子放下武器，尊喬佛里為真正的國(guó)王，并指稱(chēng)史坦尼斯和藍(lán)禮是忘恩負(fù)義的叛逆，這樣就行了。我們的碧眼母獅子知道您是個(gè)言行一致的人，只要您給她時(shí)間和力氣對(duì)付史坦尼斯，并保證死也不說(shuō)出她的秘密，那么我相信她會(huì)同意您穿上黑衣，在長(zhǎng)城和您弟弟，還有您那私生子一起度過(guò)余生?！?/p>
The thought of
Jon filled Ned with a sense of shame, and a sorrow too deep for words. If only
he could see the boy again, sit and talk with him?.?.?.?pain shot through his
broken leg, beneath the filthy grey plaster of his cast. He winced, his fingers
opening and closing helplessly. “Is this your own scheme,” he gasped out at
Varys, “or are you in league with Littlefinger?”
想到瓊恩，奈德滿(mǎn)懷羞恥，以及一種言詞難以形容的深深哀慟。如果能再看看那孩子，坐下來(lái)和他好好談心就好了……劇痛從斷腿臟污的灰色石膏底下傳來(lái)，他皺緊眉頭，手指無(wú)助地又張又闔?！斑@是你的主意，”他喘著氣對(duì)瓦里斯說(shuō)，“還是你和小指頭一起想出來(lái)的？”
That seemed to
amuse the eunuch. “I would sooner wed the Black Goat of Qohor. Littlefinger is
the second most devious man in the Seven Kingdoms. Oh, I feed him choice
whispers, sufficient so that he thinks I am his?.?.?.?just as I allow Cersei to
believe I am hers.”
這話(huà)似乎令太監(jiān)甚覺(jué)有趣?！耙腋?，那我寧可娶一只科霍爾的黑羊。小指頭是七國(guó)上下第二狡猾的人。哎，我是會(huì)給他挑一些有用的消息，剛好足以讓他‘以為’我是他的人……就好像我讓瑟曦也如此相信。”
“And just as you let me believe that you were mine. Tell me, Lord
Varys, who do you truly serve?”
“就好像你讓我也如此相信。瓦里斯大人，請(qǐng)您告訴我，您到底為誰(shuí)效力？”
Varys smiled
thinly. “Why, the realm, my good lord, how ever could you doubt that? I swear
it by my lost manhood. I serve the realm, and the realm needs peace.” He
finished the last swallow of wine, and tossed the empty skin aside. “So what is
your answer, Lord Eddard? Give me your word that you’ll tell the queen what she
wants to hear when she comes calling.”
瓦里斯淺淺一笑?！鞍?，大人，這還用說(shuō)嗎？我當(dāng)然是為國(guó)效力了。我以我失去的命根子發(fā)誓，我為國(guó)家效命，而國(guó)家需要的正是和平?！彼韧曜詈笠豢诰?，把空酒袋丟到一邊?！八詥?，艾德大人，您的回答是什么？請(qǐng)您向我保證，等太后到來(lái)時(shí)，您會(huì)說(shuō)出她想聽(tīng)的話(huà)。”
“If I did, my word would be as hollow as an empty suit of armor. My
life is not so precious to me as that.”
“如果我作這種保證，那我的誓言與沒(méi)人穿的空洞鎧甲何異？我的命不至于珍貴到那種地步?！?/p>
“Pity.” The eunuch stood. “And your daughter’s life, my lord? How
precious is that?”
“可惜?！碧O(jiān)起身?！澳敲创笕?，您女兒的性命呢？那又有多珍貴？”
A chill pierced
Ned’s heart. “My daughter?.?.?.?”
一股寒意襲上奈德心頭。“我女兒……”
“Surely you did not think I’d forgotten about your sweet innocent, my
lord? The queen most certainly has not.”
“大人，您總不會(huì)以為我忘記了您純真的乖女兒呢？太后她可是絕對(duì)不會(huì)忘記?！?/p>
“No,” Ned pleaded, his voice cracking. “Varys, gods have mercy, do as
you like with me, but leave my daughter out of your schemes. Sansa’s no more
than a child.”
“不要，”奈德啞著嗓子哀求?！巴呃锼?，諸神慈悲，要?dú)⒁獎(jiǎng)幬胰文闾幹?，但別把我女兒牽扯進(jìn)來(lái)。珊莎不過(guò)是個(gè)孩子?！?/p>
“Rhaenys was a child too. Prince Rhaegar’s daughter. A precious
little thing, younger than your girls. She had a small black kitten she called
Balerion, did you know? I always wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys liked
to pretend he was the true Balerion, the Black Dread of old, but I imagine the
Lannisters taught her the difference between a kitten and a dragon quick
enough, the day they broke down her door.” Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh
of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders.
“The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that’s true,
Lord Eddard, tell me?.?.?.?why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when
you high lords play your game of thrones? Ponder it, if you would, while you
wait upon the queen. And spare a thought for this as well: The next visitor who
calls on you could bring you bread and cheese and the milk of the poppy for
your pain?.?.?.?or he could bring you Sansa’s head.
“雷加王子的女兒雷妮絲公主不也是個(gè)孩子？她是個(gè)討人喜歡的小寶貝，年紀(jì)比您兩個(gè)女兒都要小。您可知道，她養(yǎng)了一只小黑貓，名叫貝勒里恩？到現(xiàn)在我始終不知道那只貓的下落。雷妮絲老愛(ài)把它當(dāng)作真正的黑死神貝勒里恩。不過(guò)呢，我想在蘭尼斯特軍撞開(kāi)她房門(mén)那天，他們很快就讓她知道小貓和飛龍之間的差異了罷?！蓖呃锼蛊＞氲匾宦曢L(zhǎng)嘆，仿佛肩負(fù)著全世界的哀傷?！翱傊鹘檀笕嗽鴮?duì)我說(shuō)，因?yàn)槲覀冇凶?，所以我們受苦。假如這是真的，艾德大人，請(qǐng)告訴我……為何在你們這些王公貴族的權(quán)力游戲里面，永遠(yuǎn)是無(wú)辜的人受苦最多？您愿意的話(huà)，就在王后到來(lái)之前，好好想一想罷。除此之外，更請(qǐng)您想清楚：下一個(gè)來(lái)探訪(fǎng)您的人可能帶著面包乳酪，以及減輕痛苦的罌粟花奶……卻也可能帶著珊莎的項(xiàng)上人頭?！?/p>
“The choice, my dear lord Hand, is entirely yours.”
“要選哪一種呢，親愛(ài)的首相大人，完完全全看您的決定了?！?/p>
