JON
瓊恩
?? The mare whickered softly as Jon Snow tightened the cinch. “Easy, sweet lady,” he said in a soft voice, quieting her with a touch. Wind whispered through the stable, a cold dead breath on his face, but Jon paid it no mind. He strapped his roll to the saddle, his scarred fingers stiff and clumsy. “Ghost,” he called softly, “to me.” And the wolf was there, eyes like embers.
恩·雪諾扎緊馬鞍上的皮帶，母馬則輕聲嘶叫。“好女孩，別怕，”他輕聲安撫它。寒風(fēng)在馬廄間細(xì)語(yǔ)，宛如迎面襲擊來(lái)的冰冷死氣，但瓊恩未加理會(huì)。他把鋪蓋捆上馬鞍，結(jié)疤的手指僵硬而笨拙?！鞍嘴`，”他輕聲呼喚，“過來(lái)。”狼立刻出現(xiàn)，雙眼如兩團(tuán)火燼。
?? “Jon, please. You must not do this.”
“瓊恩，求求你，別這樣?！?/p>
?? He mounted, the reins in his hand, and wheeled the horse around to face the night. Samwell Tarly stood in the stable door, a full moon peering over his shoulder. He threw a giant’s shadow, immense and black. “Get out of my way, Sam.”
他騎上馬，握緊韁繩，策馬轉(zhuǎn)頭，面對(duì)黑夜。山姆威爾·塔利站在馬廄門口，一輪滿月從他肩膀后照進(jìn)，灑下一道巨人般的影子，碩大而黑暗?！吧侥?，別擋道?！?/p>
?? “Jon, you can’t,” Sam said. “I won’t let you.”
“瓊恩，你不能這樣一走了之，”山姆說，“我不會(huì)放你走?！?/p>
?? “I would sooner not hurt you,” Jon told him. “Move aside, Sam, or I’ll ride you down.”
“我不想傷害你，”瓊恩告訴他，“山姆，你走開，不然我就踩過去?！?/p>
?? “You won’t. You have to listen to me. Please?.?.?.?”
“你不會(huì)的。聽我說，求求你……”
?? Jon put his spurs to horseflesh, and the mare bolted for the door. For an instant Sam stood his ground, his face as round and pale as the moon behind him, his mouth a widening O of surprise. At the last moment, when they were almost on him, he jumped aside as Jon had known he would, stumbled, and fell. The mare leapt over him, out into the night.
瓊恩雙腳一踢，母馬立即朝門飛奔而去。剎那間，山姆站在原地，臉龐如同身后那輪滿月般又圓又白，嘴巴驚訝地張成一個(gè)大圓。就在人馬即將撞上的最后一刻，他跳了開去，并如瓊恩所預(yù)料地，步履踉蹌，跌倒在地。母馬跳過他，沖進(jìn)黑夜。
?? Jon raised the hood of his heavy cloak and gave the horse her head. Castle Black was silent and still as he rode out, with Ghost racing at his side. Men watched from the Wall behind him, he knew, but their eyes were turned north, not south. No one would see him go, no one but Sam Tarly, struggling back to his feet in the dust of the old stables. He hoped Sam hadn’t hurt himself, falling like that. He was so heavy and so ungainly, it would be just like him to break a wrist or twist his ankle getting out of the way. “I warned him,” Jon said aloud. “It was nothing to do with him, anyway.” He flexed his burned hand as he rode, opening and closing the scarred fingers. They still pained him, but it felt good to have the wrappings off.
瓊恩掀起厚重斗篷的兜帽，拍拍母馬的頭。他騎馬離開靜謐的黑城堡，白靈緊隨在旁。他知道身后的長(zhǎng)城上有人值守，但他們面朝極北，而非南方。除了正從馬廄的泥地上掙扎起身的山姆·塔利，不會(huì)有人見到他離去。眼看山姆摔成那樣，瓊恩暗自希望他沒事才好。他那么肥胖，手腳又笨拙，很可能因此摔斷手腕，或扭到腳踝?！拔揖孢^他了，”瓊恩大聲說，“而且本來(lái)就不干他的事。”他一邊騎，一邊活動(dòng)自己灼傷的手，結(jié)疤的指頭開開闔闔。疼痛依舊，不過取掉繃帶后的感覺真好。
?? Moonlight silvered the hills as he followed the twisting ribbon of the kingsroad. He needed to get as far from the Wall as he could before they realized he was gone. On the morrow he would leave the road and strike out overland through field and bush and stream to throw off pursuit, but for the moment speed was more important than deception. It was not as though they would not guess where he was going.
他沿著蝴蝶結(jié)般蜿蜒的國(guó)王大道飛奔，月光將附近的丘陵灑成一片銀白。他得在計(jì)劃被人發(fā)覺前盡可能地遠(yuǎn)離長(zhǎng)城。等到明天，他將被迫離開道路，穿越田野、樹叢和溪流以擺脫追兵，但眼下速度比掩護(hù)更重要。畢竟他的目的地顯而易見。
?? The Old Bear was accustomed to rise at first light, so Jon had until dawn to put as many leagues as he could between him and the Wall?.?.?.?if Sam Tarly did not betray him. The fat boy was dutiful and easily frightened, but he loved Jon like a brother. If questioned, Sam would doubtless tell them the truth, but Jon could not imagine him braving the guards in front of the King’s Tower to wake Mormont from sleep.
熊老習(xí)慣黎明起床，所以瓊恩至少還有天亮前的時(shí)間，用來(lái)盡量拉開與長(zhǎng)城間的距離……假定山姆·塔利沒有背叛他。胖男孩雖然盡忠職守，且膽子又小，但他把瓊恩當(dāng)親兄弟看待。若是被人問起，山姆肯定會(huì)說出實(shí)情，不過瓊恩不認(rèn)為他有那個(gè)勇氣，敢大半夜去找國(guó)王塔的守衛(wèi)，把莫爾蒙吵醒。
?? When Jon did not appear to fetch the Old Bear’s breakfast from the kitchen, they’d look in his cell and find Longclaw on the bed. It had been hard to abandon it, but Jon was not so lost to honor as to take it with him. Even Jorah Mormont had not done that, when he fled in disgrace. Doubtless Lord Mormont would find someone more worthy of the blade. Jon felt bad when he thought of the old man. He knew his desertion would be salt in the still-raw wound of his son’s disgrace. That seemed a poor way to repay him for his trust, but it couldn’t be helped. No matter what he did, Jon felt as though he were betraying someone.
等到明天，發(fā)現(xiàn)瓊恩沒去廚房幫熊老端早餐，大家便會(huì)到寢室來(lái)查找，隨后看到孤零零躺在床上的長(zhǎng)爪。留下那把寶劍很不容易，但瓊恩還不至于恬不知恥地將它帶走。就連喬拉·莫爾蒙亡命天涯前，也沒有這么做。莫爾蒙司令一定能找到更適合佩帶那把劍的人。想起老人，瓊恩心里很不好受。他知道自己這樣棄營(yíng)逃跑，無(wú)異是在總司令喪子之痛上灑鹽。想到他對(duì)自己如此信任，這實(shí)在是忘恩負(fù)義的作法，但他別無(wú)選擇。不管怎么做，瓊恩都會(huì)背叛某個(gè)人。
?? Even now, he did not know if he was doing the honorable thing. The southron had it easier. They had their septons to talk to, someone to tell them the gods’ will and help sort out right from wrong. But the Starks worshiped the old gods, the nameless gods, and if the heart trees heard, they did not speak.
即使到了現(xiàn)在，他依舊不知自己的做法是否榮譽(yù)。南方人的作派比較簡(jiǎn)單，他們有修士可供咨詢，由他們傳達(dá)諸神意旨，協(xié)助理清對(duì)錯(cuò)。然而史塔克家族信奉的是無(wú)名古神，心樹就算聽見了，也不會(huì)言語(yǔ)。
?? When the last lights of Castle Black vanished behind him, Jon slowed his mare to a walk. He had a long journey ahead and only the one horse to see him through. There were holdfasts and farming villages along the road south where he might be able to trade the mare for a fresh mount when he needed one, but not if she were injured or blown.
當(dāng)黑城堡的最后一絲燈火消失在身后，瓊恩便放慢速度，讓母馬緩步而行。眼前還有漫漫長(zhǎng)路，他卻只有這匹馬可供依憑。往南的路上，沿途都有村莊農(nóng)舍，如有必要，他可以和他們交換新的馬匹，不過若是母馬受傷或癱倒在地就不成了。
?? He would need to find new clothes soon; most like, he’d need to steal them. He was clad in black from head to heel; high leather riding boots, roughspun breeches and tunic, sleeveless leather jerkin, and heavy wool cloak. His longsword and dagger were sheathed in black moleskin, and the hauberk and coif in his saddlebag were black ringmail. Any bit of it could mean his death if he were taken. A stranger wearing black was viewed with cold suspicion in every village and holdfast north of the Neck, and men would soon be watching for him. Once Maester Aemon’s ravens took flight, Jon knew he would find no safe haven. Not even at Winterfell. Bran might want to let him in, but Maester Luwin had better sense. He would bar the gates and send Jon away, as he should. Better not to call there at all.
他得盡快找到新衣服，恐怕還只能去偷。眼下的他從頭到腳都是黑色：高統(tǒng)黑皮革馬靴，粗布黑長(zhǎng)褲黑外衣，無(wú)袖黑皮革背心，厚重的黑羊毛披風(fēng)。長(zhǎng)劍和匕首包在黑鞘里，鞍袋里則是黑環(huán)甲和頭盔。如果他被捕，這每一件都足以致他于死地。在頸澤以北，任何穿黑衣的陌生人進(jìn)了村舍莊園，都會(huì)被投以冷漠的懷疑眼光，并遭到監(jiān)視。而一旦伊蒙師傅的渡鴉送出消息，自己便再也找不到容身之所，即便臨冬城也一樣。布蘭或許會(huì)放他進(jìn)城，但魯溫師傅很清楚該怎么做，他會(huì)履行職責(zé)，關(guān)上城門，把瓊恩趕走。所以，打一開始他就沒動(dòng)臨冬城的主意。
?? Yet he saw the castle clear in his mind’s eye, as if he had left it only yesterday; the towering granite walls, the Great Hall with its smells of smoke and dog and roasting meat, his father’s solar, the turret room where he had slept. Part of him wanted nothing so much as to hear Bran laugh again, to sup on one of Gage’s beef-and-bacon pies, to listen to Old Nan tell her tales of the children of the forest and Florian the Fool.
雖然如此，在他腦海里，卻能清晰地見到城堡的影像，仿佛昨天才剛離開：高聳的大理石墻；香氣四溢、煙霧彌漫的城堡大廳，里面到處是亂跑的狗；父親的書房；自己在塔樓上的臥室。在他心底的某一部分，只想再瞧瞧布蘭的歡笑，再吃一個(gè)蓋奇做的牛肉培根派，再聽老奶媽說關(guān)于森林之子和傻瓜佛羅理安的故事。
?? But he had not left the Wall for that; he had left because he was after all his father’s son, and Robb’s brother. The gift of a sword, even a sword as fine as Longclaw, did not make him a Mormont. Nor was he Aemon Targaryen. Three times the old man had chosen, and three times he had chosen honor, but that was him. Even now, Jon could not decide whether the maester had stayed because he was weak and craven, or because he was strong and true. Yet he understood what the old man had meant, about the pain of choosing; he understood that all too well.
可是，他并非因?yàn)檫@些才離開長(zhǎng)城：他之所以離開，只因?yàn)樗歉赣H的兒子，羅柏的兄弟。他不會(huì)因?yàn)閯e人送他一把劍，即便像長(zhǎng)爪那么好的劍，就變成莫爾蒙家族的人。他也不是伊蒙·坦格利安。老人做了三次抉擇，三次都選擇了榮譽(yù)，但那是他。即便現(xiàn)在，瓊恩還是不敢確定，老學(xué)士做出那樣的選擇，究竟是因?yàn)榕橙鯚o(wú)力，還是因?yàn)樾牡貓?jiān)強(qiáng)、忠于職守。但無(wú)論如何，他了解老人的困惑，關(guān)于抉擇的痛苦，他太了解了。
?? Tyrion Lannister had claimed that most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it, but Jon was done with denials. He was who he was; Jon Snow, bastard and oathbreaker, motherless, friendless, and damned. For the rest of his life, however long that might be, he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name. Wherever he might go throughout the Seven Kingdoms, he would need to live a lie, lest every man’s hand be raised against him. But it made no matter, so long as he lived long enough to take his place by his brother’s side and help avenge his father.
提利昂·蘭尼斯特曾說：多數(shù)人寧可否認(rèn)事實(shí)，也不愿面對(duì)真相，但瓊恩已經(jīng)想透了種種磨難。他清楚地知道自己是誰(shuí)：他是瓊恩·雪諾，不但是私生子，更是背離誓約的逃兵，既無(wú)母親，亦無(wú)朋友，將遭天譴。終其一生——不論他這一生能有多長(zhǎng)——都將被迫流浪，成為陰影中沉默的孤民，不敢說出真名。無(wú)論走到七國(guó)何處，必將生活在謊言之中，否則別人會(huì)對(duì)他群起而攻之。但是，只要他能與兄弟并肩作戰(zhàn)，為父親報(bào)仇雪恨，所有這些都無(wú)足輕重。
?? He remembered Robb as he had last seen him, standing in the yard with snow melting in his auburn hair. Jon would have to come to him in secret, disguised. He tried to imagine the look on Robb’s face when he revealed himself. His brother would shake his head and smile, and he’d say?.?.?.?he’d say?.?.?.?
他記得自己最后一次見到羅柏的情景。當(dāng)時(shí)羅柏站在廣場(chǎng)上，紅褐頭發(fā)間雪花融化。如今瓊恩可能必須易容之后，才能偷偷去見他。他試著想像當(dāng)自己揭開真面目時(shí)，羅柏臉上會(huì)是什么表情。他的兄弟會(huì)搖搖頭，面露微笑，然后他說……他會(huì)說……
?? He could not see the smile. Hard as he tried, he could not see it. He found himself thinking of the deserter his father had beheaded the day they’d found the direwolves. “You said the words,” Lord Eddard had told him. “You took a vow, before your brothers, before the old gods and the new.” Desmond and Fat Tom had dragged the man to the stump. Bran’s eyes had been wide as saucers, and Jon had to remind him to keep his pony in hand. He remembered the look on Father’s face when Theon Greyjoy brought forth Ice, the spray of blood on the snow, the way Theon had kicked the head when it came rolling at his feet.
他拼湊不出那抹微笑，無(wú)論怎么努力，就是想不出來(lái)。他反而不自覺地想起他們找到冰原狼那天，被父親砍頭的逃兵。“你立下了誓言，”艾德公爵告訴那人，“你在你的弟兄們以及新舊諸神面前立下了誓約。”戴斯蒙和胖湯姆把逃兵拖到木樁前。布蘭的眼睛睜得像盤子，瓊恩還特意提醒他別讓小馬亂動(dòng)。他憶起當(dāng)席恩·葛雷喬伊遞上寒冰時(shí)，父親臉上的表情，隨后又想起鮮血濺落雪地，席恩揚(yáng)腿把人頭踢到他腳邊。
?? He wondered what Lord Eddard might have done if the deserter had been his brother Benjen instead of that ragged stranger. Would it have been any different? It must, surely, surely?.?.?.?and Robb would welcome him, for a certainty. He had to, or else?.?.?.?
他不禁想，假如逃兵是艾德公爵的親弟弟班揚(yáng)，而非一個(gè)衣著破爛的陌生人，他會(huì)怎么做？?jī)烧邥?huì)有差別嗎？一定會(huì)，一定會(huì)的，一定……毫無(wú)疑問，羅柏也一定會(huì)歡迎他。他怎么可能不歡迎他呢？除非……
?? It did not bear thinking about. Pain throbbed, deep in his fingers, as he clutched the reins. Jon put his heels into his horse and broke into a gallop, racing down the kingsroad, as if to outrun his doubts. Jon was not afraid of death, but he did not want to die like that, trussed and bound and beheaded like a common brigand. If he must perish, let it be with a sword in his hand, fighting his father’s killers. He was no true Stark, had never been one?.?.?.?but he could die like one. Let them say that Eddard Stark had fathered four sons, not three.
還是別多想的好。他握緊韁繩，手指隱隱作痛。瓊恩再度夾緊馬肚，順著國(guó)王大道疾馳，仿佛要驅(qū)離心中的疑惑。瓊恩不怕死，但他不要這種被五花大綁，像個(gè)尋常強(qiáng)盜般斬首示眾的死法。倘若他非死不可，他甘愿手握利劍，死在與殺父仇人的決斗中。他生來(lái)就不是真正的史塔克族人，從來(lái)不是……但他可以死得像個(gè)史塔克。就讓大家都知道艾德·史塔克膝下不只三個(gè)兒子，而是四個(gè)。
?? Ghost kept pace with them for almost half a mile, red tongue lolling from his mouth. Man and horse alike lowered their heads as he asked the mare for more speed. The wolf slowed, stopped, watching, his eyes glowing red in the moonlight. He vanished behind, but Jon knew he would follow, at his own pace.
白靈跟著他的速度跑了一里，紅紅的舌頭伸在嘴巴外懸蕩。他催馬加速，人馬低頭飛奔。冰原狼則放慢腳步，停了下來(lái)，左顧右盼，眼睛在月色中閃著紅光。不久，他消失在后方，瓊恩知道他會(huì)按自己的步調(diào)跟隨。
?? Scattered lights flickered through the trees ahead of him, on both sides of the road: Mole’s Town. A dog barked as he rode through, and he heard a mule’s raucous haw from the stable, but otherwise the village was still. Here and there the glow of hearth fires shone through shuttered windows, leaking between wooden slats, but only a few.
前方的道路兩旁，搖曳的燈火穿過樹林照過來(lái)。這里是鼴鼠村。他催馬奔過，聽到一陣狗吠，以及馬廄里傳來(lái)的驢叫，除此之外，村子悄然無(wú)聲。有幾處爐火微光從禁閉的窗戶中穿透而出，或自房舍木板間流泄出來(lái)，但寥寥無(wú)幾。
?? Mole’s Town was bigger than it seemed, but three quarters of it was under the ground, in deep warm cellars connected by a maze of tunnels. Even the whorehouse was down there, nothing on the surface but a wooden shack no bigger than a privy, with a red lantern hung over the door. On the Wall, he’d heard men call the whores “buried treasures.” He wondered whether any of his brothers in black were down there tonight, mining. That was oathbreaking too, yet no one seemed to care.
其實(shí)鼴鼠村比乍看之下要大得多，只是四分之三的部分位于地底，由一個(gè)個(gè)既深且暖的地窖組成，經(jīng)由錯(cuò)綜復(fù)雜的隧道彼此銜接。就連妓院也在地下，從地面上看，它們只是比廁所大不了多少的小木屋，門上掛了盞紅燈籠。長(zhǎng)城上守軍把妓女們叫做“地底的寶藏”，他不禁揣測(cè)今晚有多少黑衣弟兄在下面挖寶呢？這當(dāng)然也算是一種背誓，只是無(wú)人在意。
?? Not until he was well beyond the village did Jon slow again. By then both he and the mare were damp with sweat. He dismounted, shivering, his burned hand aching. A bank of melting snow lay under the trees, bright in the moonlight, water trickling off to form small shallow pools. Jon squatted and brought his hands together, cupping the runoff between his fingers. The snowmelt was icy cold. He drank, and splashed some on his face, until his cheeks tingled. His fingers were throbbing worse than they had in days, and his head was pounding too. I am doing the right thing, he told himself, so why do I feel so bad?
直到把村子遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)地拋在后面，瓊恩方才再次減速。這時(shí)，他和母馬都已經(jīng)滿身大汗。于是他跳下馬背，只覺渾身發(fā)抖，灼傷的手更是疼痛。樹叢下有大堆融雪，在月光下映射發(fā)亮，涓滴細(xì)流從中淌出，匯聚成淺淺的小池。瓊恩蹲下來(lái)，雙手合掌，捧起雪水。融雪冰冷刺骨，他喝了幾口，接著洗臉，直洗得兩頰發(fā)麻。他感覺到頭昏腦脹，手指也好幾天沒有痛得這么厲害。我做得沒錯(cuò)，他告訴自己，可我為何這么難受？
?? The horse was well lathered, so Jon took the lead and walked her for a while. The road was scarcely wide enough for two riders to pass abreast, its surface cut by tiny streams and littered with stone. That run had been truly stupid, an invitation to a broken neck. Jon wondered what had gotten into him. Was he in such a great rush to die?
馬兒仍舊氣喘吁吁，于是瓊恩牽它走了一段。道路很窄，只能勉強(qiáng)容兩人并肩而騎，表面更被細(xì)小溝渠所切割，布滿碎石。剛才那樣狂奔委實(shí)愚蠢，分明就是自找麻煩，稍不小心就會(huì)摔斷脖子。瓊恩不禁納悶，自己究竟怎么搞的？就這么急著尋死么？
?? Off in the trees, the distant scream of some frightened animal made him look up. His mare whinnied nervously. Had his wolf found some prey? He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Ghost!” he shouted. “Ghost, to me.” The only answer was a rush of wings behind him as an owl took flight.
遠(yuǎn)方的樹林里傳來(lái)動(dòng)物的受驚尖叫，他立刻抬頭，母馬也不安地哼著。是他的狼找到獵物了？他把手環(huán)在嘴邊，“白靈！”他叫道，“白靈！到我這兒來(lái)！”但惟一的回應(yīng)只是身后某只貓頭鷹振翅高飛的聲響。
?? Frowning, Jon continued on his way. He led the mare for half an hour, until she was dry. Ghost did not appear. Jon wanted to mount up and ride again, but he was concerned about his missing wolf. “Ghost,” he called again. “Where are you? To me! Ghost!” Nothing in these woods could trouble a direwolf, even a half-grown direwolf, unless?.?.?.?no, Ghost was too smart to attack a bear, and if there was a wolf pack anywhere close Jon would have surely heard them howling.
瓊恩皺起眉頭，繼續(xù)上路。他牽馬走了半小時(shí)，直到它身上干透為止。但白靈始終沒有出現(xiàn)。瓊恩想上馬趕路，卻又擔(dān)心不知去向的狼?！鞍嘴`，”他再度叫喊，“你在哪里？快過來(lái)！白靈！”這片林子里應(yīng)該沒什么能威脅到冰原狼——就算這只冰原狼尚未發(fā)育完全也罷，除非……不，白靈絕不會(huì)蠢到去攻擊熊，而假使這附近有狼群，瓊恩也一定能聽見它們的嚎叫。
?? He should eat, he decided. Food would settle his stomach and give Ghost the chance to catch up. There was no danger yet; Castle Black still slept. In his saddlebag, he found a biscuit, a piece of cheese, and a small withered brown apple. He’d brought salt beef as well, and a rasher of bacon he’d filched from the kitchens, but he would save the meat for the morrow. After it was gone he’d need to hunt, and that would slow him.
最后他決定先吃點(diǎn)東西再說。食物可以稍微安撫脾胃，更能多給白靈一點(diǎn)時(shí)間跟上。此時(shí)尚無(wú)危險(xiǎn)，黑城堡依然在沉睡中。于是他從鞍袋里找出一塊餅干，一小片乳酪和一個(gè)干癟的褐色蘋果。他還帶了腌牛肉，以及從廚房偷來(lái)的一片培根，但他想把肉留到明天。因?yàn)榈仁澄餂]了，他就得自己打獵，而那一定會(huì)拖延他的行程。
?? Jon sat under the trees and ate his biscuit and cheese while his mare grazed along the kingsroad. He kept the apple for last. It had gone a little soft, but the flesh was still tart and juicy. He was down to the core when he heard the sounds: horses, and from the north. Quickly Jon leapt up and strode to his mare. Could he outrun them? No, they were too close, they’d hear him for a certainty, and if they were from Castle Black?.?.?.?
瓊恩坐在樹下，吃著餅干和乳酪，任母馬沿著國(guó)王大道吃草。他把蘋果留到最后，雖然摸起來(lái)有些軟，果肉仍然酸甜多汁。聽到聲音時(shí)，他正在啃果核：是蹄聲，從北方來(lái)。瓊恩一躍而起，奔向母馬。跑得掉嗎？不，距離太近，一定會(huì)暴露聲音，何況假如他們從黑城堡來(lái)……
?? He led the mare off the road, behind a thick stand of grey-green sentinels. “Ouiet now,” he said in a hushed voice, crouching down to peer through the branches. If the gods were kind, the riders would pass by. Likely as not, they were only smallfolk from Mole’s Town, farmers on their way to their fields, although what they were doing out in the middle of the night?.?.?.?
于是他牽著母馬離開大路，走到一叢濃密的灰青色哨兵樹后?！皠e出聲喔?！彼穆曊f，一邊蹲伏下來(lái)，透過樹枝縫隙向外窺視。倘若諸神保佑，對(duì)方就會(huì)不經(jīng)意地騎馬跑過。八成鼴鼠村的農(nóng)民，正返回自己的田地，可他們干嘛大半夜的走呢？……
?? He listened to the sound of hooves growing steadily louder as they trotted briskly down the kingsroad. From the sound, there were five or six of them at the least. Their voices drifted through the trees.
他靜靜呤聽，蹄聲沿著國(guó)王大道急速而來(lái)，步伐堅(jiān)定，逐漸增大。依聲音判斷，大概有五六個(gè)人。對(duì)方的話音在林木間穿梭。
?? “?.?.?.?certain he came this way?”
“……確定他走這邊？”
?? “We can’t be certain.”
“當(dāng)然不確定?！?/p>
?? “He could have ridden east, for all you know. Or left the road to cut through the woods. That’s what I’d do.”
“搞不好他朝東去了?；蚴请x開道路，穿越樹林。換了我就會(huì)這么做?！?/p>
?? “In the dark? Stupid. If you didn’t fall off your horse and break your neck, you’d get lost and wind up back at the Wall when the sun came up.”
“在這一團(tuán)漆黑的晚上？你別傻了。就算沒摔下馬來(lái)，折了脖子，辨不清路亂走，等太陽(yáng)升起大概也繞回長(zhǎng)城了?！?/p>
?? “I would not.” Grenn sounded peeved. “I’d just ride south, you can tell south by the stars.”
“我才不會(huì)，”葛蘭聽起來(lái)很氣憤?！拔視?huì)往南騎，看星星就知道哪邊是南方?！?/p>
?? “What if the sky was cloudy?” Pyp asked.
“要是被云遮住呢？”派普問。
?? “Then I wouldn’t go.”
“那我就不走?！?/p>
?? Another voice broke in. “You know where I’d be if it was me? I’d be in Mole’s Town, digging for buried treasure.” Toad’s shrill laughter boomed through the trees. Jon’s mare snorted.
又一個(gè)聲音插進(jìn)來(lái)?！皳Q作是我，你們知道我會(huì)怎么做？我會(huì)直接去鼴鼠村挖寶。”陶德尖銳的笑聲在林間回響，瓊恩的母馬哼了一聲。
?? “Keep quiet, all of you,” Haider said. “I thought I heard something.”
“你們通通給我閉嘴，”霍德說，“我好像聽到了什么?！?/p>
?? “Where? I didn’t hear anything.” The horses stopped.
“在哪兒？我啥都沒聽見?！碧懵曂Ｖ埂?/p>
?? “You can’t hear yourself fart.”
“你連自己放屁都聽不見?！?/p>
?? “I can too,” Grenn insisted.
?“我聽得見啦?！备鹛m堅(jiān)持。
?? “Quiet!”
“閉嘴！”
?? They all fell silent, listening. Jon found himself holding his breath. Sam, he thought. He hadn’t gone to the Old Bear, but he hadn’t gone to bed either, he’d woken the other boys. Damn them all. Come dawn, if they were not in their beds, they’d be named deserters too. What did they think they were doing?
于是他們都安靜下來(lái)，凝神傾聽。瓊恩不自覺地屏住呼吸。一定是山姆，他心想。他既沒去找熊老，也沒上床睡覺，而是叫醒了其他幾個(gè)男孩。真要命，若是天亮前他們還未歸營(yíng)，也會(huì)被當(dāng)成逃兵處理。他們到底在想什么呀？
?? The hushed silence seemed to stretch on and on. From where Jon crouched, he could see the legs of their horses through the branches. Finally Pyp spoke up. “What did you hear?”
寂靜無(wú)限延伸。從瓊恩蹲的地方，透過樹叢，可以看到他們坐騎的腳。最后派普開口道：“你剛才到底聽到什么？”
?? “I don’t know,” Haider admitted. “A sound, I thought it might have been a horse but?.?.?.?”
“我也不知道。”霍德承認(rèn)，“但的確有什么聲音，我認(rèn)為是馬叫，可……”
?? “There’s nothing here.”
“這兒什么聲音都沒有啊。”
?? Out of the corner of his eye, Jon glimpsed a pale shape moving through the trees. Leaves rustled, and Ghost came bounding out of the shadows, so suddenly that Jon’s mare started and gave a whinny. “There!” Halder shouted.
瓊恩的眼角余光瞥見一個(gè)白色影子在林間竄動(dòng)。樹葉窸窣抖動(dòng)，白靈從陰影中跑了出來(lái)，由于來(lái)得突然，瓊恩的母馬不禁輕聲驚叫?！霸谀抢?！”霍德大叫。
?? “I heard it too!”
“我也聽到了！”
?? “Traitor,” Jon told the direwolf as he swung up into the saddle. He turned the mare’s head to slide off through the trees, but they were on him before he had gone ten feet.
“我被你害死了。”瓊恩一邊翻身上馬，一邊對(duì)冰原狼說。他調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)馬頭，往森林走去，但不出十尺，他們便追了上來(lái)。
?? “Jon!” Pyp shouted after him.
“瓊恩！”派普在身后喊。
?? “Pull up,” Grenn said. “You can’t outrun us all.”
“停下來(lái)，”葛蘭說，“你跑不掉的?！?/p>
?? Jon wheeled around to face them, drawing his sword. “Get back. I don’t wish to hurt you, but I will if I have to.”
瓊恩抽出佩劍，策馬旋身?！巴ㄍㄍ撕蟆Ｎ也幌雮δ銈?，但如果情非得已，我會(huì)動(dòng)手的。”
?? “One against seven?” Halder gave a signal. The boys spread out, surrounding him.
“你想以一對(duì)七？”霍德?lián)]手，男孩們一擁而上，將他團(tuán)團(tuán)圍住。
?? “What do you want with me?” Jon demanded.
“你們要拿我怎樣？”瓊恩質(zhì)問。
?? “We want to take you back where you belong,” Pyp said.
“我們要把你帶回屬于你的地方?！迸善照f。
?? “I belong with my brother.”
“我屬于我的兄弟。”
?? “We’re your brothers now,” Grenn said.
“我們就是你的兄弟?！备鹛m說。
?? “They’ll cut off your head if they catch you, you know,” Toad put in with a nervous laugh. “This is so stupid, it’s like something the Aurochs would do.”
“他們逮到你，你會(huì)被砍頭的，知道嗎？”陶德緊張地笑笑，“這么笨的事，只有笨牛才做得出來(lái)?！?/p>
?? “I would not,” Grenn said. “I’m no oathbreaker. I said the words and I meant them.”
我才不會(huì)呢。”葛蘭道：“我不會(huì)違背誓言，我發(fā)過誓，說話算話的。”
?? “So did I,” Jon told them. “Don’t you understand? They murdered my father. It’s war, my brother Robb is fighting in the riverlands...”
“我也一樣，”瓊恩告訴他們，“可你們難道不懂么？他們謀害了我父親！這是一場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)，我兄弟羅柏正在河間地作戰(zhàn)——”
?? “We know,” said Pyp solemnly. “Sam told us everything.”
“我們都知道，”派普嚴(yán)肅地說，“山姆跟我們說了?！?/p>
?? “We’re sorry about your father,” Grenn said, “but it doesn’t matter. Once you say the words, you can’t leave, no matter what.”
“你父親的事我們很遺憾，”葛蘭說，“但那與你無(wú)關(guān)。一旦發(fā)了誓，你就不能離開，不管怎樣都不行?！?/p>
?? “I have to,” Jon said fervently.
“我非走不可。”瓊恩激動(dòng)地說。
?? “You said the words,” Pyp reminded him. “Now my watch begins, you said it. It shall not end until my death.”
“你發(fā)過誓了?！迸善仗嵝阉?，“我從今開始守望，至死方休，你是不是這么說的？”
?? “I shall live and die at my post,” Grenn added, nodding.
“我將盡忠職守，生死于斯。”葛蘭點(diǎn)頭附和。
?? “You don’t have to tell me the words, I know them as well as you do.” He was angry now. Why couldn’t they let him go in peace? They were only making it harder.
“用不著你們告訴我，我跟你們背得一樣熟。”這下他真的生氣了。他們?yōu)楹尾荒芨纱嘁稽c(diǎn)，放他走呢？這樣子大家都不好過。
?? “I am the sword in the darkness,” Halder intoned.
“我是黑暗中的利劍?！被舻抡b道。
?? “The watcher on the walls,” piped Toad.
“長(zhǎng)城上的守衛(wèi)?！卑]蛤蟆跟著念。
?? Jon cursed them all to their faces. They took no notice. Pyp spurred his horse closer, reciting, “I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men.”
瓊恩開始一個(gè)一個(gè)咒罵他們，但他們置之不理。派普催馬上前，繼續(xù)背誦：“抵御寒冷的烈焰，破曉時(shí)分的光線，喚醒眠者的號(hào)角，守護(hù)王國(guó)的堅(jiān)盾。”
?? “Stay back,” Jon warned him, brandishing his sword. “I mean it, Pyp.” They weren’t even wearing armor, he could cut them to pieces if he had to.
“別過來(lái)，”瓊恩揮劍警告他，“派普，我是說真的?！彼麄冞B護(hù)甲都沒穿，假如真的動(dòng)手，他可以把他們統(tǒng)統(tǒng)砍成碎片。
?? Matthar had circled behind him. He joined the chorus. “I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch.”
梅沙繞到他身后，加入了念誦：“我將生命與榮耀獻(xiàn)給守夜人。”
?? Jon kicked his mare, spinning her in a circle. The boys were all around him now, closing from every side.
瓊恩雙腳一踢，調(diào)轉(zhuǎn)馬頭。然而男孩們已將他徹底包圍，步步逼近。
?? “For this night?.?.?.?” Halder trotted in from the left.
“今夜如此……”霍德堵住了左邊的缺口。
?? “?.?.?.?and all the nights to come,” finished Pyp. He reached over for Jon’s reins. “So here are your choices. Kill me, or come back with me.”
“……夜夜皆然?！迸善照f完最后一句，伸手抓住瓊恩的韁繩。“你有兩個(gè)選擇：要么殺了我，要么跟我回去?！?/p>
?? Jon lifted his sword?.?.?.?and lowered it, helpless. “Damn you,” he said. “Damn you all.”
瓊恩舉起長(zhǎng)劍……最后還是無(wú)助地放了下來(lái)?！叭ツ愕模彼f，“你們通通該死?！?/p>
?? “Do we have to bind your hands, or will you give us your word you’ll ride back peaceful?” asked Halder.
“我們?cè)摬辉摪涯愕氖纸壠饋?lái)？你愿不愿乖乖回去呢？”霍德問。
?? “I won’t run, if that’s what you mean.” Ghost moved out from under the trees and Jon glared at him. “Small help you were,” he said. The deep red eyes looked at him knowingly.
“我不跑便是?！边@時(shí)白靈從樹下跑出來(lái)，瓊恩瞪著他，“你可真會(huì)幫倒忙?！彼f，但那雙深沉的紅眼卻仿若洞悉一切地看著他。
?? “We had best hurry,” Pyp said. “If we’re not back before first light, the Old Bear will have all our heads.”
“我們最好趕快，”派普道，“假如天亮前回不去，只怕熊老會(huì)把我們的頭通通砍了?！?/p>
?? Of the ride back, Jon Snow remembered little. It seemed shorter than the journey south, perhaps because his mind was elsewhere. Pyp set the pace, galloping, walking, trotting, and then breaking into another gallop. Mole’s Town came and went, the red lantern over the brothel long extinguished. They made good time. Dawn was still an hour off when Jon glimpsed the towers of Castle Black ahead of them, dark against the pale immensity of the Wall. It did not seem like home this time.
回程途中發(fā)生過什么，瓊恩·雪諾記得不多，只覺這趟路似乎比南行短暫得多，或許是他心不在焉的緣故罷。派普帶隊(duì)，不時(shí)飛奔，慢走，小跑，接著又恢復(fù)奔馳。鼴鼠村來(lái)了又去，妓院門口懸著的紅燈早已熄滅。派普把時(shí)間掌握得很好，距離天亮剛好還有一個(gè)小時(shí)，瓊恩見到黑城堡的黑塔樓出現(xiàn)在前方，襯著背后碩大無(wú)朋的蒼白長(zhǎng)城。只是這回，城堡再也沒了家的感覺。
?? They could take him back, Jon told himself, but they could not make him stay. The war would not end on the morrow, or the day after, and his friends could not watch him day and night. He would bide his time, make them think he was content to remain here?.?.?.?and then, when they had grown lax, he would be off again. Next time he would avoid the kingsroad. He could follow the Wall east, perhaps all the way to the sea, a longer route but a safer one. Or even west, to the mountains, and then south over the high passes. That was the wildling’s way, hard and perilous, but at least no one wouid follow him. He wouldn’t stray within a hundred leagues of Winterfell or the kingsroad.
他們可以抓他回去，瓊恩告訴自己，但他們無(wú)法留住他。南方的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)不是一兩天就能解決的事，而他的朋友不可能日夜都守著他。他只需耐心等待時(shí)機(jī)，讓他們放松警惕，以為他心甘情愿留下來(lái)……然后就再度逃走。下一次，他不走國(guó)王大道，而是沿著長(zhǎng)城東行，或許就這么一直走到海邊，然后往南翻越崇山峻嶺。那是野人們常走的路，崎嶇難行，危機(jī)四伏，卻足以擺脫追兵。從始至終，他與國(guó)王大道和臨冬城都將保持一百里格以上的距離。
?? Samwell Tarly awaited them in the old stables, slumped on the ground against a bale of hay, too anxious to sleep. He rose and brushed himself off. “I?.?.?.?I’m glad they found you, Jon.”
老舊的馬房里，山姆威爾·塔利正等著他們。他坐在泥地上，靠著一堆稻草，緊張得睡不著。一見他們，他立刻起身，拍拍塵土道：“瓊恩，我……我很高興他們找到你了?！?/p>
?? “I’m not,” Jon said, dismounting.
“我可不高興?！杯偠髡f著下馬。
?? Pyp hopped off his horse and looked at the lightening sky with disgust. “Give us a hand bedding down the horses, Sam,” the small boy said. “We have a long day before us, and no sleep to face it on, thanks to Lord Snow.”
派普也跳下坐騎，一臉嫌惡地望著逐漸泛白的天空?！吧侥?，幫個(gè)忙，把馬兒安頓好?！卑珎€(gè)男孩說，“這一天還長(zhǎng)著呢，可咱們半點(diǎn)覺都沒睡成，這都得感謝雪諾大人?！?/p>
?? When day broke, Jon walked to the kitchens as he did every dawn. Three-Finger Hobb said nothing as he gave him the Old Bear’s breakfast. Today it was three brown eggs boiled hard, with fried bread and ham steak and a bowl of wrinkled plums. Jon carried the food back to the King’s Tower. He found Mormont at the window seat, writing. His raven was walking back and forth across his shoulders, muttering, “Corn, corn, corn.” The bird shrieked when Jon entered. “Put the food on the table,” the Old Bear said, glancing up. “I’ll have some beer.”
天亮之后，瓊恩像往常一樣走進(jìn)廚房。三指哈布把熊老的早餐交給他，什么也沒說。今天的早餐包括三顆褐色的白煮蛋，油炸面包，火腿肉片以及一碗有些皺的李子。瓊恩端著東西回到國(guó)王塔，發(fā)現(xiàn)莫爾蒙正坐在窗邊寫東西。烏鴉在他肩膀上來(lái)回踱步，邊走邊念：“玉米！玉米！玉米！”瓊恩一進(jìn)房間，烏鴉便提聲尖叫?！鞍言绮头抛郎??！毙芾咸ь^道，“我還想喝點(diǎn)啤酒?！?/p>
?? Jon opened a shuttered window, took the flagon of beer off the outside ledge, and filled a horn. Hobb had given him a lemon, still cold from the Wall. Jon crushed it in his fist. The juice trickled through his fingers. Mormont drank lemon in his beer every day, and claimed that was why he still had his own teeth.
瓊恩打開一扇緊閉的窗戶，從外面的窗臺(tái)上拿了啤酒瓶，倒?jié)M一角杯。之前哈布給了他一個(gè)剛從長(zhǎng)城儲(chǔ)藏室里拿出來(lái)的檸檬，現(xiàn)下還是冰的。瓊恩用拳頭捏破它，果汁從指縫間滴下。莫爾蒙每天都喝摻檸檬的啤酒，宣稱這是他依舊一口好牙的原因。
?? “Doubtless you loved your father,” Mormont said when Jon brought him his horn. “The things we love destroy us every time, lad. Remember when I told you that?”
“你一定很愛你父親，”瓊恩將角杯端給他時(shí)，莫爾蒙開口：“孩子，我們愛什么，到頭來(lái)就會(huì)毀在什么上面，你還記不記得我跟你說過這話？”
?? “I remember,” Jon said sullenly. He did not care to talk of his father’s death, not even to Mormont.
“記得。”瓊恩面帶慍色地說。他不想談父親遇害的事，即便對(duì)莫爾蒙也不行。
?? “See that you never forget it. The hard truths are the ones to hold tight. Fetch me my plate. Is it ham again? So be it. You look weary. Was your moonlight ride so tiring?”
“你要仔細(xì)記好，別忘記。殘酷的事實(shí)是最應(yīng)該牢牢記住的。把我的盤子端過來(lái)。又是火腿？算了，我認(rèn)了。你沒什么精神。怎么，昨晚騎馬就這么累啊？”
?? Jon’s throat was dry. “You know?”
瓊恩喉嚨一干，“您知道？”
?? “Know,” the raven echoed from Mormont’s shoulder. “Know.”
“知道！”莫爾蒙肩頭的烏鴉應(yīng)和，“知道！”
?? The Old Bear snorted. “Do you think they chose me Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch because I’m dumb as a stump, Snow? Aemon told me you’d go. I told him you’d be back. I know my men?.?.?.?and my boys too. Honor set you on the kingsroad?.?.?.?and honor brought you back.”
熊老哼了一聲?！把┲Z，他們選我當(dāng)守夜人軍團(tuán)總司令，莫非因?yàn)槲沂莻€(gè)呆頭鵝？伊蒙說你一定會(huì)走，我則告訴他你一定會(huì)回來(lái)。我了解我的部下……也了解我的孩子們。榮譽(yù)心驅(qū)使你踏上國(guó)王大道……榮譽(yù)心也將你鞭策回來(lái)。”
?? “My friends brought me back,” Jon said.
“帶我回來(lái)的是我朋友們。”瓊恩說。
?? “Did I say it was your honor?” Mormont inspected his plate.
“我指的就是‘你的’榮譽(yù)心么？”莫爾蒙檢視著眼前的餐盤。
?? “They killed my father. Did you expect me to do nothing?”
“他們殺害了我父親，難道我應(yīng)該置之不理？”
?? “If truth be told, we expected you to do just as you did.” Mormont tried a plum, spit out the pit. “I ordered a watch kept over you., You were seen leaving. If your brothers had not fetched you back, you would have been taken along the way, and not by friends. Unless you have a horse with wings like a raven. Do you?”
“說真的，你的行為不出我們所料。”莫爾蒙咬了口李子，吐出果核?！拔覍Ｅ闪艘粋€(gè)人看守你，知道你何時(shí)離開。即便你的弟兄們沒把你追回來(lái)，你也會(huì)在途中被逮住。到時(shí)候，抓你的可就不是朋友了。哼，除非你的馬像烏鴉，生了翅膀。你有這樣的馬嗎？”
?? “No.” Jon felt like a fool.
“沒有。”瓊恩覺得自己像傻瓜。
?? “Pity, we could use a horse like that.”
“真可惜。我們倒急需那樣的馬?！?/p>
?? Jon stood tall. He told himself that he would die well; that much he could do, at the least. “I know the penalty for desertion, my lord. I’m not afraid to die.”
瓊恩挺直身子。他已經(jīng)對(duì)自己說過，要死得有尊嚴(yán)，至少，他能做到這點(diǎn)?！按笕耍抑捞訝I(yíng)的懲罰。我不怕死?！?/p>
?? “Die!” the raven cried.
“死！”烏鴉叫道。
?? “Nor live, I hope,” Mormont said, cutting his ham with a dagger and feeding a bite to the bird. “You have not deserted, yet. Here you stand. If we beheaded every boy who rode to Mole’s Town in the night, only ghosts would guard the Wall. Yet maybe you mean to flee again on the morrow, or a fortnight from now. Is that it? Is that your hope, boy?”
“我希望你也別怕繼續(xù)活下去?！蹦獱柮蛇呎f邊用匕首切開火腿，還拿一小塊喂烏鴉?！澳悴凰闾颖?yàn)槟銢]走成。眼下你不就好端端站在這里？要是我把每個(gè)半夜溜到鼴鼠村的孩子都抓來(lái)砍頭，那防守長(zhǎng)城的就只剩鬼魂了。不過呢，或許你打算明天再跑，或許再隔兩個(gè)星期。是不是？小子，你有沒有這樣想？”
?? Jon kept silent.
瓊恩默不作聲。
?? “I thought so.” Mormont peeled the shell off a boiled egg. “Your father is dead, lad. Do you think you can bring him back?”
“我就知道?！蹦獱柮蓜冮_白煮蛋的殼，“小子，你父親死了，你有辦法讓他起死回生嗎？”
?? “No,” he answered, sullen.
“沒有?！彼麗瀽灢粯返鼗卮?。
?? “Good,” Mormont said. “We’ve seen the dead come back, you and me, and it’s not something I care to see again.” He ate the egg in two bites and flicked a bit of shell out from between his teeth. “Your brother is in the field with all the power of the north behind him. Any one of his lords bannermen commands more swords than you’ll find in all the Night’s Watch. Why do you imagine that they need your help? Are you such a mighty warrior, or do you carry a grumkin in your pocket to magic up your sword?”
“那敢情好。”莫爾蒙道，“你我都見識(shí)過死人復(fù)活是什么樣，我可不想再碰上那種事。”他兩大口吞下煮蛋，從齒縫間吐出幾片蛋殼?！澳愕男值茈m然上了戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)，但他身后有全北境的軍力，隨便他哪一個(gè)封臣手下的士兵都比整個(gè)守夜人軍團(tuán)的人加起來(lái)還多，你覺得他們會(huì)需要你的幫助？難道說你真那么厲害，還是說你隨身帶著古靈精怪，幫你的劍附加魔法？”
?? Jon had no answer for him. The raven was pecking at an egg, breaking the shell. Pushing his beak through the hole, he pulled out morsels of white and yoke.
瓊恩無(wú)話可說。烏鴉啄著一顆蛋，穿破蛋殼，將長(zhǎng)長(zhǎng)的喙伸進(jìn)去，拉出絲絲蛋白和蛋黃。
?? The Old Bear sighed. “You are not the only one touched by this war. Like as not, my sister is marching in your brother’s host, her and those daughters of hers, dressed in men’s mail. Maege is a hoary old snark, stubborn, short-tempered, and willful. Truth be told, I can hardly stand to be around the wretched woman, but that does not mean my love for her is any less than the love you bear your half sisters.” Frowning, Mormont took his last egg and squeezed it in his fist until the shell crunched. “Or perhaps it does. Be that as it may, I’d still grieve if she were slain, yet you don’t see me running off. I said the words, just as you did. My place is here?.?.?.?where is yours, boy?”
熊老嘆道：“你也不是惟一被戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)波及的人。依我看，我妹妹此刻也應(yīng)該帶著她那群女兒，穿著男人的盔甲，加入你兄弟的軍隊(duì)去了南方。梅格是個(gè)上了年紀(jì)的老怪物，個(gè)性固執(zhí)，脾氣又差，說實(shí)話，我根本受不了那糟女人，但這并不代表我對(duì)她的感情不如你愛你的異母妹妹?！蹦獱柮砂欀碱^拾起最后一顆蛋，用力握住，直到外殼碎裂。“或許不如你。但總之，她若在戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)上被殺，我一定很難過，可你瞧，我并沒打算逃跑。因?yàn)槲液湍阋粯佣及l(fā)過誓，我的職責(zé)所在是這里……你呢，孩子？”
?? I have no place, Jon wanted to say, I’m a bastard, I have no rights, no name, no mother, and now not even a father. The words would not come. “I don’t know.”
我無(wú)家可歸，瓊恩想說，我是個(gè)私生子，沒有權(quán)利、沒有姓氏、沒有母親，現(xiàn)在連父親都沒了。可他說不出口?！拔也恢??！?/p>
?? “I do,” said Lord Commander Mormont. “The cold winds are rising, Snow. Beyond the Wall, the shadows lengthen. Cotter Pyke writes of vast herds of elk, streaming south and east toward the sea, and mammoths as well. He says one of his men discovered huge, misshapen footprints not three leagues from Eastwatch. Rangers from the Shadow Tower have found whole villages abandoned, and at night Ser Denys says they see fires in the mountains, huge blazes that burn from dusk till dawn. Quorin Halfhand took a captive in the depths of the Gorge, and the man swears that Mance Rayder is massing all his people in some new, secret stronghold he’s found, to what end the gods only know. Do you think your uncle Benjen was the only ranger we’ve lost this past year?”
“可我知道，”莫爾蒙總司令說，“雪諾，冷風(fēng)正要吹起，長(zhǎng)城之外，陰影日長(zhǎng)?？ㄌ亍づ煽说膩?lái)信中提到大群麇鹿向東南沿海遷徙，之外還有長(zhǎng)毛象。他還說，他有個(gè)部下在距離東海望僅三里格的地方發(fā)現(xiàn)了巨大的畸形腳印。影子塔的游騎兵則回報(bào)，長(zhǎng)城外有好些村落完全被遺棄，到了晚上，丹尼斯爵士說能看到群山中的火光，大把大把的烈焰，從黃昏直燒到天亮?！?dāng)嗾啤屏衷诖髰{谷抓到了一個(gè)野人，對(duì)方發(fā)誓說曼斯·雷德正躲在一個(gè)新的秘密要塞里，召集屬下所有臣民，至于他的目的為何，我看只有天上諸神知道。你以為你叔叔班揚(yáng)是這幾年來(lái)我們惟一失去的游騎兵么？”
?? “Ben Jen,” the raven squawked, bobbing its head, bits of egg dribbling from its beak. “Ben Jen. Ben Jen.”
“班揚(yáng)！”烏鴉歪頭嘎嘎怪叫，蛋白從嘴角流下?！鞍鄵P(yáng)！班揚(yáng)！”
?? “No,” Jon said. There had been others. Too many.
“不?！杯偠髡f。除了他還有其他人，太多人。
?? “Do you think your brother’s war is more important than ours?” the old man barked.
“你覺得你兄弟的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)比我們這場(chǎng)戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)更重要？”老人喝道。
?? Jon chewed his lip. The raven flapped its wings at him. “War, war, war, war,” it sang.
瓊恩噘起嘴唇。烏鴉朝他拍拍翅膀，“戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)！戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)！戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)！戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)！”它唱道。
?? “It’s not,” Mormont told him. “Gods save us, boy, you’re not blind and you’re not stupid. When dead men come hunting in the night, do you think it matters who sits the Iron Throne?”
?“我看不然?！蹦獱柮筛嬖V他，“諸神保佑，孩子，你眼睛沒瞎，人也不笨。等哪天死人在黑夜里大舉入侵，你覺得誰(shuí)坐在鐵王座上還有差別么？”
?? “No.” Jon had not thought of it that way.
“沒有?！杯偠鳑]想到這層。
?? “Your lord father sent you to us, Jon. Why, who can say?”
“瓊恩，你父親大人把你送來(lái)這里，你可知為什么？”
?? “Why? Why? Why?” the raven called.
“為什么？為什么？為什么？”烏鴉又叫道。
?? “All I know is that the blood of the First Men flows in the veins of the Starks. The First Men built the Wall, and it’s said they remember things otherwise forgotten. And that beast of yours?.?.?.?he led us to the wights, warned you of the dead man on the steps. Ser Jaremy would doubtless call that happenstance, yet Ser Jaremy is dead and I’m not.” Lord Mormont stabbed a chunk of ham with the point of his dagger. “I think you were meant to be here, and I want you and that wolf of yours with us when we go beyond the Wall.”
“我知道你們史塔克家人體內(nèi)依舊流淌著先民的血液，而長(zhǎng)城正是先民所建筑，據(jù)說他們還記得早已被人遺忘的事情。至于你那頭小狼……引領(lǐng)我們找到尸鬼的是他，警告你樓上有死人的也是他。杰瑞米爵士多半會(huì)說一切純屬巧合，但他死了，我還好端端地活著?！蹦獱柮伤玖钣秘笆状唐鹨粔K火腿?！拔艺J(rèn)為你是命中注定要來(lái)這里的。等我們?cè)綁Ρ边M(jìn)時(shí)，我希望你和你那頭狼與我們同在。”
?? His words sent a chill of excitement down Jon’s back. “Beyond the Wall?”
他的這番話使瓊恩的背脊為之一顫?！霸綁Ρ边M(jìn)？”
?? “You heard me. I mean to find Ben Stark, alive or dead.” He chewed and swallowed. “I will not sit here meekly and wait for the snows and the ice winds. We must know what is happening. This time the Night’s Watch will ride in force, against the King-beyond-the-Wall, the Others, and anything else that may be out there. I mean to command them myself.” He pointed his dagger at Jon’s chest. “By custom, the Lord Commander’s steward is his squire as well?.?.?.?but I do not care to wake every dawn wondering if you’ve run off again. So I will have an answer from you, Lord Snow, and I will have it now. Are you a brother of the Night’s Watch?.?.?.?or only a bastard boy who wants to play at war?”
“不錯(cuò)。我打算把班·史塔克找回來(lái)，不論是死是活。”他嚼了幾口，吞下火腿?！拔也粫?huì)在這里坐等風(fēng)雪來(lái)臨，我們一定要知道究竟發(fā)生了什么。這次守夜人軍團(tuán)將大舉出動(dòng)，與塞外之王、異鬼，以及其他什么的東西作戰(zhàn)。我將親自領(lǐng)軍?！彼秘笆字钢偠鞯男靥??！耙缿T例，總司令的事務(wù)官就是他的侍從……但我可不想每天早上醒來(lái)，都還要擔(dān)心你是不是又逃了。所以呢，雪諾大人，你現(xiàn)在就給我個(gè)答案：你究竟是守夜人的弟兄……還是個(gè)只愛玩騎馬打仗的私生小毛頭？”
?? Jon Snow straightened himself and took a long deep breath. Forgive me, Father. Robb, Arya, Bran?.?.?.?forgive me, I cannot help you. He has the truth of it. This is my place. “I am?.?.?.?yours, my lord. Your man. I swear it. I will not run again.”
瓊恩·雪諾站直身子，深吸一口氣。父親、羅柏、艾莉亞、布蘭……請(qǐng)你們?cè)徫遥徫也荒軒椭銈?。他說得沒錯(cuò)，我屬于這里?！拔摇S時(shí)聽候您差遣，大人。我鄭重發(fā)誓，絕不再逃跑了?！?/p>
?? The Old Bear snorted. “Good. Now go put on your sword.”
熊老哼了一聲?！澳歉仪楹?。還不快把劍佩上？”
