Ⅲ 冰雨的风暴 Chapter78 山姆威尔
SAMWELL
国王很生气。山姆立刻看出来了。
The king was angry. Sam saw that at once.
史坦尼斯正在吃早餐，硬面包、咸牛肉和煮鸡蛋，当黑衣弟兄逐个走进来跪到面前时，他推开食物，冷眼打量他们。旁边的红袍女梅莉珊卓似乎觉得这一幕十分有趣。
As the black brothers entered one by one and knelt before him, Stannis shoved away his breakfast of hardbread, salt beef, and boiled eggs, and eyed them coldly. Beside him, the red woman Melisandre looked as if she found the scene amusing.
这儿没有我的位置，当她的红眼睛落到山姆身上时，他不安地想。我只是帮伊蒙师傅上楼的。别看我。我只是学士的事务官。余人都是熊老职位的竞争者，除了已退出竞选的波文·马尔锡，而他也仍是代理城主和总务长。山姆不明白梅莉珊卓为什么对他感兴趣。
I have no place here, Sam thought anxiously, when her red eyes fell upon him. Someone had to help Maester Aemon up the steps. Don’t look at me, I’m just the maester’s steward. The others were contenders for the Old Bear’s command, all but Bowen Marsh, who had withdrawn from the contest but remained castellan and Lord Steward. Sam did not understand why Melisandre should seem so interested in him.
史坦尼斯国王让黑衣弟兄们跪了很久，长得不同寻常。“起来。”最后他终于说。山姆扶着伊蒙学士，帮他站起来。
King Stannis kept the black brothers on their knees for an extraordinarily long time. “Rise,” he said at last. Sam gave Maester Aemon his shoulder to help him back up.
杰诺斯·史林特大人清清嗓子，打破紧张的沉默。“陛下，蒙您召唤，我代表大家表达喜悦之情。当我第一次从长城上看见您的旗帜，就知道王国得救了。‘这个人没有忘记自己的职责，’我对好爵士艾里沙说，‘一个坚强的人，一个真正的国王。’请允许我们祝贺您战胜野蛮人，歌手们会广为宣扬，是的——”
The sound of Lord Janos Slynt clearing his throat broke the strained silence. “Your Grace, let me say how pleased we are to be summoned here. When I saw your banners from the Wall, I knew the realm was saved. ‘There comes a man who ne’er forgets his duty,’ I said to good Ser Alliser. ‘A strong man, and a true king.’ May I congratulate you on your victory over the savages? The singers will make much of it, I know—”
“歌手们爱干什么就干什么，”史坦尼斯打断他，“少拍马屁，杰诺斯，没用。”他站起身，朝所有人皱眉头。“梅莉珊卓女士告诉我，你们到现在还没选出总司令，让我很不愉快。这件蠢事还要拖多久？”
“The singers may do as they like,” Stannis snapped. “Spare me your fawning, Janos, it will not serve you.” He rose to his feet and frowned at them all. “Lady Melisandre tells me that you have not yet chosen a Lord Commander. I am displeased. How much longer must this folly last?”
“陛下，”波文·马尔锡辩解，“没人达到三分之二的多数，况且选举也刚持续十天。”
“Sire,” said Bowen Marsh in a defensive tone, “no one has achieved two-thirds of the vote yet. It has only been ten days.”
“已经浪费了九天。我有俘虏需要处理，有国家需要统治，有战争需要进行。某些关于长城和守夜人军团的决定得尽快作出，而你们的总司令有权参与。”
“Nine days too long. I have captives to dispose of, a realm to order, a war to fight. Choices must be made, decisions that involve the Wall and the Night’s Watch. By rights your Lord Commander should have a voice in those decisions.”
“是的，没错，”杰诺斯·史林特说，“但我们的弟兄不过是些单纯的士兵。士兵，对！陛下很清楚，士兵以服从命令为天职。依我之见，若陛下不吝赐教，想必他们能从中受益。请为了王国的未来，帮大家作出明智的选择吧。”
“He should, yes,” said Janos Slynt. “But it must be said. We brothers are only simple soldiers. Soldiers, yes! And Your Grace will know that soldiers are most comfortable taking orders. They would benefit from your royal guidance, it seems to me. For the good of the realm. To help them choose wisely.”
这建议惹恼了其他人。“你要让国王给我们揩屁股吗？”卡特·派克愤怒地质问。“选择总司令的权力属于且仅属于誓言效命的黑衣弟兄。”丹尼斯·梅利斯特爵士强调。“如果他们明智的话，就不会选我了。”“忧郁的”艾迪嘀咕。伊蒙学士一如既往地平静，“陛下，自‘筑城者’布兰登修建长城以来，守夜人的领袖一直由自己选举，到杰奥·莫尔蒙为止，已有连续九百九十七任总司令，每一位都由他将要领导的人们选出，这是承继数千年之久的传统。”
The suggestion outraged some of the others. “Do you want the king to wipe our arses for us too?” said Cotter Pyke angrily. “The choice of a Lord Commander belongs to the Sworn Brothers, and to them alone,” insisted Ser Denys Mallister. “If they choose wisely they won’t be choosing me,” moaned Dolorous Edd. Maester Aemon, calm as always, said, “Your Grace, the Night’s Watch has been choosing its own leader since Brandon the Builder raised the Wall. Through Jeor Mormont we have had nine hundred and ninety-seven Lords Commander in unbroken succession, each chosen by the men he would lead, a tradition many thousands of years old.”
史坦尼斯咬紧牙关，“我无意篡夺你们的权力和传统。至于‘陛下的赐教’，杰诺斯，如果要我强迫弟兄们选你，就该大胆地说出来。”
Stannis ground his teeth. “It is not my wish to tamper with your rights and traditions. As to royal guidance, Janos, if you mean that I ought to tell your brothers to choose you, have the courage to say so.”
这话吓退了杰诺斯大人。他不知所措地笑笑，额头开始冒汗，但身旁的波文·马尔锡道：“有谁比曾指挥过金袍卫士的他更有资格带领黑衣军团呢，陛下？”
That took Lord Janos aback. He smiled uncertainly and began to sweat, but Bowen Marsh beside him said, “Who better to command the black cloaks than a man who once commanded the gold, sire?”
“你们中任何一个，甚至那厨子都比他强。”国王冷冷地看着史林特。“我保证，杰诺斯不是头一个受贿的金袍子，但很可能是头一个靠出卖职位和肥缺赚得盆满钵溢的司令。到最后，都城守备队里半数军官都得将自己一部分薪水交给他。是不是这样，杰诺斯？”
“Any of you, I would think. Even the cook.” The look the king gave Slynt was cold. “Janos was hardly the first gold cloak ever to take a bribe, I grant you, but he may have been the first commander to fatten his purse by selling places and promotions. By the end he must have had half the officers in the City Watch paying him part of their wages. Isn’t that so, Janos?”
史林特的脖子涨成紫色，“谎言，全是谎言！职位越高树敌越多，陛下是知道的，他们在背后悄悄造谣，全无真凭实据，没有人敢站出来……”
Slynt’s neck was purpling. “Lies, all lies! A strong man makes enemies, Your Grace knows that, they whisper lies behind your back. Naught was ever proven, not a man came forward …”
“两个准备站出来的人突然在巡逻时死了。”史坦尼斯眯起眼睛。“别把我当傻瓜，大人，我见过琼恩·艾林呈给御前会议的证据。如果我是国王，你失去的就不只是职位了，我保证，但劳勃轻易放过了你的‘小过错’。‘他们全都是小偷，’我记得他说，‘明目张胆的好歹比藏着掖着的好，下一个也许更糟呢。’哼，毫无疑问，这是培提尔伯爵用我哥哥的嘴巴在说话，小指头对金钱向来敏感，说不定他利用你贪污获得的利益不比你自己所得的少。”
“Two men who were prepared to come forward died suddenly on their rounds.” Stannis narrowed his eyes. “Do not trifle with me, my lord. I saw the proof Jon Arryn laid before the small council. If I had been king you would have lost more than your office, I promise you, but Robert shrugged away your little lapses. ‘They all steal,’ I recall him saying. ‘Better a thief we know than one we don’t, the next man might be worse.’ Lord Petyr’s words in my brother’s mouth, I’ll warrant. Littlefinger had a nose for gold, and I’m certain he arranged matters so the crown profited as much from your corruption as you did yourself.”
史林特伯爵的下巴抖个不停，他还没准备好反驳的措辞，只听伊蒙学士说：“陛下，依照律法，一个人发下誓言，成为守夜人军团的弟兄后，以前的错误与罪行便一笔勾销了。”
Lord Slynt’s jowls were quivering, but before he could frame a further protest Maester Aemon said, “Your Grace, by law a man’s past crimes and transgressions are wiped clean when he says his words and becomes a Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch.”
“这我明白。假如这位杰诺斯大人碰巧是守夜人最拿得出手的料，我也只能咬牙接受。你们选哪个与我无关，只要赶紧作出选择。我们有战争要打。”
“I am aware of that. If it happens that Lord Janos here is the best the Night’s Watch can offer, I shall grit my teeth and choke him down. It is naught to me which man of you is chosen, so long as you make a choice. We have a war to fight.”
“陛下，”丹尼斯·梅利斯特爵士谨慎而又谦恭地说，“如果您指的是野人……”
“Your Grace,” said Ser Denys Mallister, in tones of wary courtesy. “If you are speaking of the wildlings …”
“当然不是。你很清楚这一点，爵士先生。”
“I am not. And you know that, ser.”
“那么您也应该清楚，虽然我们很感激你帮忙对付曼斯·雷德，但不能为你争夺王位。守夜人从不参与七大王国的纷争，八千年来——”
“And you must know that whilst we are thankful for the aid you rendered us against Mance Rayder, we can offer you no help in your contest for the throne. The Night’s Watch takes no part in the wars of the Seven Kingdoms. For eight thousand years—”
“我了解你们的历史，丹尼斯爵士，”国王生硬地说，“我向你保证，不会要你们起兵对付那帮让我头疼不已的叛徒和篡夺者，我真心希望你们一如既往地继续保卫长城。”
“I know your history, Ser Denys,” the king said brusquely. “I give you my word, I shall not ask you to lift your swords against any of the rebels and usurpers who plague me. I do expect that you will continue to defend the Wall as you always have.”
“我们会保卫长城直到最后一人。”卡特·派克说。
“We’ll defend the Wall to the last man,” said Cotter Pyke.
“也许那就是我。”“忧郁的”艾迪听天由命地道。
“Probably me,” said Dolorous Edd, in a resigned tone.
史坦尼斯环抱双臂，“但我要些东西，也许你们不会那么轻易交出来。我要城堡和赠地。”
Stannis crossed his arms. “I shall require a few other things from you as well. Things that you may not be so quick to give. I want your castles. And I want the Gift.”
这番直言不讳犹如把一罐野火扔进了火盆，陡然在黑衣弟兄间炸开来。马尔锡、梅利斯特和派克同时试图发言，史坦尼斯国王由得他们去讲，等好容易说完后，才道：“我的人有你们三倍之多，如果愿意，尽可以强行夺取，但我更希望征求你们的同意，合法地取得。”
Those blunt words burst among the black brothers like a pot of wildfire tossed onto a brazier. Marsh, Mallister, and Pyke all tried to speak at once. King Stannis let them talk. When they were done, he said, “I have three times the men you do. I can take the lands if I wish, but I would prefer to do this legally, with your consent.”
“赠地被永久赠予守夜人，陛下。”波文·马尔锡强调。
“The Gift was given to the Night’s Watch in perpetuity, Your Grace,” Bowen Marsh insisted.
“没错，按照律法，我不能从你们手中占领、没收或剥夺，但礼物既能赠予，自然也可再度送出。”
“Which means it cannot be lawfully seized, attained, or taken from you. But what was given once can be given again.”
“您要拿赠地做什么？”卡特·派克问。
“What will you do with the Gift?” demanded Cotter Pyke.
“善加利用。至于城堡，东海望、黑城堡和影子塔的地位不变，仍由你们安排，但为了长城防御，必须把其他的交给我，让我的人来保护。”
“Make better use of it than you have. As to the castles, Eastwatch, Castle Black, and the Shadow Tower shall remain yours. Garrison them as you always have, but I must take the others for my garrisons if we are to hold the Wall.”
“您没那么多人手。”波文·马尔锡反驳。
“You do not have the men,” objected Bowen Marsh.
“某些荒废的城堡不过是废墟。”首席工匠奥赛尔·亚威克说。
“Some of the abandoned castles are scarce more than ruins,” said Othell Yarwyck, the First Builder.
“废墟可以重建。”
“Ruins can be rebuilt.”
“重建？”亚威克道，“谁来干？”
“Rebuilt?” Yarwyck said. “But who will do the work?”
“这是我考虑的问题。我只要你们给一个清单，详细列出每座城堡目前的状况以及重建所需的材料。一年之内，我会让它们全部驻上守军，并在门前点燃夜火。”
“That is my concern. I shall require a list from you, detailing the present state of every castle and what might be required to restore it. I mean to have them all garrisoned again within the year, and nightfires burning before their gates.”
“夜火？”波文·马尔锡怀疑地看看梅莉珊卓，“点燃夜火？”
“Nightfires?” Bowen Marsh gave Melisandre an uncertain look. “We’re to light nightfires now?”
“是的。”女人在飞旋的鲜红丝袍中站起来，明亮的红铜色长发披落在肩。“长剑无法抵御黑暗，真主的光芒才能做到。千万别低估对方的实力，好爵士们，勇敢的弟兄们，我们所要进行的战争并非为土地或荣耀，而是生与死的差别。如果失败，世界将一起消亡。”
“You are.” The woman rose in a swirl of scarlet silk, her long copper-bright hair tumbling about her shoulders. “Swords alone cannot hold this darkness back. Only the light of the Lord can do that. Make no mistake, good sers and valiant brothers, the war we’ve come to fight is no petty squabble over lands and honors. Ours is a war for life itself, and should we fail the world dies with us.”
山姆看得出，官员们对这番话有些莫名其妙。波文·马尔锡和奥赛尔·亚威克交换一个怀疑的眼神，杰诺斯·史林特怒气冲冲，而“三指”哈布看起来似乎宁愿回厨房切胡萝卜。所有人听见伊蒙学士喃喃低语时都很吃惊，“你指的是黎明之战，夫人，但预言中的王子在哪里？”
The officers did not know how to take that, Sam could see. Bowen Marsh and Othell Yarwyck exchanged a doubtful look, Janos Slynt was fuming, and Three-Finger Hobb looked as though he would sooner be back chopping carrots. But all of them seemed surprised to hear Maester Aemon murmur, “It is the war for the dawn you speak of, my lady. But where is the prince that was promised?”
“他就站在你面前，”梅莉珊卓宣布，“你的眼睛却看不见。史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩就是圣焰之子、光明的战士亚梭尔·亚亥转世重生，预言在他身上应验。天空中红色的彗星宣告他的到来，而他拥有英雄之红剑‘光明使者’。”
“He stands before you,” Melisandre declared, “though you do not have the eyes to see. Stannis Baratheon is Azor Ahai come again, the warrior of fire. In him the prophecies are fulfilled. The red comet blazed across the sky to herald his coming, and he bears Lightbringer, the red sword of heroes.”
山姆发现，红袍女的话让国王很不安，史坦尼斯咬紧牙关，“你们求助，而我及时赶到，大人们，现在只能接受我，要么大家一块完蛋，好好想想。”他简单地作个手势，“够了，学士留下一会儿，还有你，塔利，其他人解散。”
Her words seemed to make the king desperately uncomfortable, Sam saw. Stannis ground his teeth, and said, “You called and I came, my lords. Now you must live with me, or die with me. Best get used to that.” He made a brusque gesture. “That’s all. Maester, stay a moment. And you, Tarly. The rest of you may go.”
我？山姆大吃一惊，他要我干什么？弟兄们躬身离开。
Me? Sam thought, stricken, as his brothers were bowing and making their way out. What does he want with me?
“你就是那个在大雪中杀死鬼怪的人。”只剩四人后，史坦尼斯开口。
“You are the one that killed the creature in the snow,” King Stannis said, when only the four of them remained.
“‘杀手’山姆。”梅莉珊卓微笑。
“Sam the Slayer.” Melisandre smiled.
山姆感到自己脸红了，“不，夫人……陛下，我的意思是，是的，我是山姆威尔·塔利，对。”
Sam felt his face turning red. “No, my lady. Your Grace. I mean, I am, yes. I’m Samwell Tarly, yes.”
“你父亲是名骁勇善战的武士，”史坦尼斯国王说，“曾在白杨滩击败我长兄，后来梅斯·提利尔得意洋洋地将荣耀归于自己，其实他还没找到战场，蓝道伯爵就已奠定了胜局。他用那柄瓦雷利亚巨剑杀死卡伏仑伯爵，并将头颅献给伊里斯。”国王以一根手指揉搓下巴。“你不像他儿子。”
“Your father is an able soldier,” King Stannis said. “He defeated my brother once, at Ashford. Mace Tyrell has been pleased to claim the honors for that victory, but Lord Randyll had decided matters before Tyrell ever found the battlefield. He slew Lord Cafferen with that great Valyrian sword of his and sent his head to Aerys.” The king rubbed his jaw with a finger. “You are not the sort of son I would expect such a man to have.”
“我……我不是他想要的儿子，陛下。”
“I … I am not the sort of son he wanted, sire.”
“假如你没穿上黑衣，倒是有用的人质。”史坦尼斯沉思。
“If you had not taken the black, you would make a useful hostage,” Stannis mused.
“他已经穿上了黑衣，陛下。”伊蒙学士指出。
“He has taken the black, sire,” Maester Aemon pointed out.
“我很清楚，”国王说，“比你想象的更清楚，伊蒙·坦格利安。”
“I am well aware of that,” the king said. “I am aware of more than you know, Aemon Targaryen.”
老人低头。“我只是伊蒙，陛下，学士立下誓言，戴起颈链之时，便须放弃原有的家族姓氏。”
The old man inclined his head. “I am only Aemon, sire. We give up our House names when we forge our maester’s chains.”
国王略略点头，仿佛表示他明白但不在乎。“听说你用一把黑曜石匕首杀了那怪物。”他对山姆道。
The king gave that a curt nod, as if to say he knew and did not care. “You slew this creature with an obsidian dagger, I am told,” he said to Sam.
“是、是的，陛下。是琼恩·雪诺送的匕首。”
“Y-yes, Your Grace. Jon Snow gave it to me.”
“龙晶，”红袍女的笑声犹如音乐，“在古瓦雷利亚语里被称为‘冰冻火’，难怪它对这帮冰冷的异神之子而言是致命的武器。”
“Dragonglass.” The red woman’s laugh was music. “Frozen fire, in the tongue of old Valyria. Small wonder it is anathema to these cold children of the Other.”
“在龙石岛，就是我原来的居城，火山底古老的坑道里埋藏有许多黑曜石，”国王告诉山姆，“一块一块，形成矿层。记得大部分是黑色，但也有绿色、红色，甚至紫色。我已传话给代理城主罗兰德爵士，要他着手开采。龙石岛恐怕守不长，希望在城堡陷落之前，光之王赐予我们足够多的‘冰冻火’，好让大家武装起来，对抗这些怪物。”
“On Dragonstone, where I had my seat, there is much of this obsidian to be seen in the old tunnels beneath the mountain,” the king told Sam. “Chunks of it, boulders, ledges. The great part of it was black, as I recall, but there was some green as well, some red, even purple. I have sent word to Ser Rolland my castellan to begin mining it. I will not hold Dragonstone for very much longer, I fear, but perhaps the Lord of Light shall grant us enough frozen fire to arm ourselves against these creatures, before the castle falls.”
山姆清清嗓子，“陛、陛下。那匕首……我用来刺尸鬼时，它却碎了。”
Sam cleared his throat. “S-sire. The dagger … the dragonglass only shattered when I tried to stab a wight.”
梅莉珊卓露出微笑，“这些尸鬼被亡灵邪术所激活，本身只是已死的血肉。钢铁与火焰足以对付，而你们称为‘异鬼’的生物可怕得多。”
Melisandre smiled. “Necromancy animates these wights, yet they are still only dead flesh. Steel and fire will serve for them. The ones you call the Others are something more.”
“它是冰雪与寒冷的恶魔，”史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩道，“古老的宿敌，真正的对手。”他又转向山姆。“听说你跟那女野人从长城底下通过，穿越了一道魔法门。”
“Demons made of snow and ice and cold,” said Stannis Baratheon. “The ancient enemy. The only enemy that matters.” He considered Sam again. “I am told that you and this wildling girl passed beneath the Wall, through some magic gate.”
“黑、黑门，”山姆结结巴巴地说，“在长夜堡下。”
“The B-black Gate,” Sam stammered. “Below the Nightfort.”
“长夜堡是长城沿线最庞大也最古老的城堡，”国王说，“进行这场战争时，我打算以此为居城。到时候，你得说出门的所在。”
“The Nightfort is the largest and oldest of the castles on the Wall,” the king said. “That is where I intend to make my seat, whilst I fight this war. You will show me this gate.”
“我，”山姆说，“我会、会的，假如……”假如它仍在那里。假如它会对不穿黑衣的人开放。假如……”
“I,” said Sam, “I w-will, if …” If it is still there. If it will open for a man not of the black. If …
“你会的，”史坦尼斯打断他，“而我会告诉你什么时候说。”
“You will,” snapped Stannis. “I shall tell you when.”
伊蒙学士微微一笑。“陛下，”他道，“我想，在我们离开之前，能否给予一份极大的荣幸，让我们看看那柄神奇的魔剑。关于他，大家都听过无数传说。”
Maester Aemon smiled. “Your Grace,” he said, “before we go, I wonder if you would do us the great honor of showing us this wondrous blade we have all heard so very much of.”
“你要看‘光明使者’？你不是瞎了吗？”
“You want to see Lightbringer? A blind man?”
“山姆是我的眼睛。”
“Sam shall be my eyes.”
国王皱起眉头，“其他人都能看，凭什么不给盲人看？”他的剑带和剑鞘挂在壁炉边的勾子上。他下来，抽出长剑。只听钢铁摩擦木头和皮革，然后书房里充满光芒：金、橙与红色的线条闪烁变换，跳跃的色彩如火焰一般明亮。
The king frowned. “Everyone else has seen the thing, why not a blind man?” His swordbelt and scabbard hung from a peg near the hearth. He took the belt down and drew the longsword out. Steel scraped against wood and leather, and radiance filled the solar; shimmering, shifting, a dance of gold and orange and red light, all the bright colors of fire.
“说，山姆威尔。”伊蒙学士触碰他的手臂。
“Tell me, Samwell.” Maester Aemon touched his arm.
“它自我发光，”山姆压低声音，“好似一把没有焰苗的火炬。钢铁的颜色是黄、红和橙，不停闪耀放射，比水面上的阳光更漂亮。真希望你能看见它，师傅。”
“It glows,” said Sam, in a hushed voice. “As if it were on fire. There are no flames, but the steel is yellow and red and orange, all flashing and glimmering, like sunshine on water, but prettier. I wish you could see it, Maester.”
“我明白了，山姆，一把充满阳光的剑，可爱而悦目。”老人僵硬地颔首，“陛下。夫人。非常感谢您们的慷慨。”
“I see it now, Sam. A sword full of sunlight. So lovely to behold.” The old man bowed stiffly. “Your Grace. My lady. This was most kind of you.”
等史坦尼斯国王收剑入鞘，房间似乎变得十分黑暗，尽管阳光仍旧从窗户流泻而进。“很好，你既然看过了，就回去履行职责吧。记住我的话，你的弟兄们必须在今晚选出总司令，否则我会让他们后悔的。”
When King Stannis sheathed the shining sword, the room seemed to grow very dark, despite the sunlight streaming through the window. “Very well, you’ve seen it. You may return to your duties now. And remember what I said. Your brothers will choose a Lord Commander tonight, or I shall make them wish they had.”
山姆扶伊蒙学士走下狭窄的楼梯时，对方完全迷失在思绪中，直到穿越庭院期间，才突然道，“我没感觉到热量，你呢，山姆？”
Maester Aemon was lost in thought as Sam helped him down the narrow turnpike stair. But as they were crossing the yard, he said, “I felt no heat. Did you, Sam?”
“热量？从那柄剑上？”他努力回想，“它周围的空气跟着变换发光，似乎位于滚烫的火盆边，感应到四射的热力。”
“Heat? From the sword?” He thought back. “The air around it was shimmering, the way it does above a hot brazier.”
“然而你却没感觉到热量，对不对？这把剑的剑鞘是木头和皮革做的，对吗？陛下拔剑时我听见声音。皮革有没有焦灼的痕迹，山姆？木头有没有焚烧或变黑？”
“Yet you felt no heat, did you? And the scabbard that held this sword, it is wood and leather, yes? I heard the sound when His Grace drew out the blade. Was the leather scorched, Sam? Did the wood seem burnt or blackened?”
“没，”山姆承认，“我没看到。”
“No,” Sam admitted. “Not that I could see.”
伊蒙学士点点头。回房之后，他让山姆生火，并扶自己坐到炉边椅子上。“变这么老真是辛苦，”他一边叹气一边坐上垫子，“眼睛瞎了就更辛苦。我想念太阳、书籍。对，我最想念书籍。”伊蒙摆摆手。“投票之前，你可以休息了。”
Maester Aemon nodded. Back in his own chambers, he asked Sam to set a fire and help him to his chair beside the hearth. “It is hard to be so old,” he sighed as he settled onto the cushion. “And harder still to be so blind. I miss the sun. And books. I miss books most of all.” Aemon waved a hand. “I shall have no more need of you till the choosing.”
“投票……师傅，你难道没什么可做的吗？国王说，杰诺斯大人是……”
“The choosing … Maester, isn’t there something you could do? What the king said of Lord Janos …”
“我明白，”伊蒙学士道，“可山姆你别忘了，我作为学士，戴起颈链，发下誓言。我的职责是给总司令提供谏言，不管他是谁，此时此刻，我要是显出偏向性，那就太不合适了。”
“I recall,” Maester Aemon said, “but Sam, I am a maester, chained and sworn. My duty is to counsel the Lord Commander, whoever he might be. It would not be proper for me to be seen to favor one contender over another.”
“我不是学士，”山姆说，“我能做什么？”
“I’m not a maester,” said Sam. “Could I do something?”
伊蒙抬起白色盲眼，转向山姆的脸，淡淡地微笑，“噢，我不知道，山姆威尔。你能做什么？”
Aemon turned his blind white eyes toward Sam’s face, and smiled softy. “Why, I don’t know, Samwell. Could you?”
我能做，山姆心想，我必须做。而且得马上行动，若犹豫不决，就会失去勇气。我是守夜人的汉子，他一边提醒自己一边快步穿过庭院。我是守夜人的汉子，我能做。从前，只要面对莫尔蒙大人，他就会颤抖尖叫，但那是过去的山姆，在先民拳峰和卡斯特的堡垒之前，在尸鬼和“冷手”之前，在骑死马的异鬼出现之前。他现在更勇敢。吉莉让我更勇敢，他告诉过琼恩。那是事实。那是事实。
I could, Sam thought. I have to. He had to do it right away, too. If he hesitated he was certain to lose his courage. I am a man of the Night’s Watch, he reminded himself as he hurried across the yard. I am. I can do this. There had been a time when he had quaked and squeaked if Lord Mormont so much as looked at him, but that was the old Sam, before the Fist of the First Men and Craster’s Keep, before the wights and Coldhands and the Other on his dead horse. He was braver now. Gilly made me braver, he’d told Jon. It was true. It had to be true.
卡特·派克是两名指挥官中较可怕的一个，因此山姆趁自己的勇气仍然热切，决定先去他那边。他在古老的盾牌厅里找到了他，正跟三个东海望的人赌骰子，还有一个从龙石岛来追随史坦尼斯的红发士官。
Cotter Pyke was the scarier of the two commanders, so Sam went to him first, while his courage was still hot. He found him in the old Shieldhall, dicing with three of his Eastwatch men and a red-headed sergeant who had come from Dragonstone with Stannis.
当山姆请求说话，派克一声喝令，其他人便收起骰子和硬币离开。
When Sam begged leave to speak with him, though, Pyke barked an order, and the others took the dice and coins and left them.
卡特·派克穿着镶钉软甲和粗布马裤，身体精瘦结实而强硬，但丝毫谈不上英俊。他的小眼睛靠得太近，鼻子断裂，额头细得像长矛尖。麻疹完全毁了他的脸，为了掩盖所蓄起的胡子则稀疏零乱。
No man would ever call Cotter Pyke handsome, though the body under his studded brigantine and roughspun breeches was lean and hard and wiry strong. His eyes were small and close-set, his nose broken, his widow’s peak as sharply pointed as the head of a spear. The pox had ravaged his face badly, and the beard he’d grown to hide the scars was thin and scraggly.
“‘杀手’山姆！”他以自己的方式打招呼，“你肯定自己刺的是异鬼，不是孩子的雪骑士？”
“Sam the Slayer!” he said, by way of greeting. “Are you sure you stabbed an Other, and not some child’s snow knight?”
开局不妙。“是龙晶杀死它的，大人。”山姆无力地解释。
This isn’t starting well. “It was the dragonglass that killed it, my lord,” Sam explained feebly.
“啊，毫无疑问。好啦，快说吧，杀手。学士派你来的吗？”
“Aye, no doubt. Well, out with it, Slayer. Did the maester send you to me?”
“学士？”山姆咽口口水，“我……我刚从他那儿离开，大人。”这不是谎言，派克选择错误的解读是他自己的事，这样他会更愿意听下去。山姆深吸一口气，说出计划。
“The maester?” Sam swallowed. “I … I just left him, my lord.” That wasn’t truly a lie, but if Pyke chose to read it wrong, it might make him more inclined to listen. Sam took a deep breath and launched into his plea.
不料才说不到二十个字，便被派克打断。“你要我跪下来亲吻梅利斯特那件漂亮斗篷的褶边，是吗？我早该猜到，你们这帮贵族老爷会像绵羊一样聚拢。很好，告诉伊蒙，他在浪费你我的时间。如果有人退出，应该是梅利斯特。妈的，那家伙坐这个位置实在太老了，你去对他说，如果我们选他，很可能不到一年工夫，就又要回来重新选人。”
Pyke cut him off before he’d said twenty words. “You want me to kneel down and kiss the hem of Mallister’s pretty cloak, is that it? I might have known. You lordlings all flock like sheep. Well, tell Aemon that he’s wasted your breath and my time. If anyone withdraws it should be Mallister. The man’s too bloody old for the job, maybe you ought to go tell him that. We choose him, and we’re like to be back here in a year, choosing someone else.”
“他老是老，”山姆承认，“但经验丰富。”
“He’s old,” Sam agreed, “but he’s well ex-experienced.”
“坐在塔楼里翻地图的经验？当了总司令，他打算怎么做？给尸鬼们写信吗？他是个好骑士，不折不扣，但并非战士，我他妈才不在乎五十年前他在哪个愚蠢的比武会里把谁撞下了马，瞎眼老头都知道，仗全是‘断掌’替他打的。现在有这该死的国王骑在头上，我们比以往更需要战士的领导。今天索要废墟和空地，不折不扣，谁知道明天陛下想要什么？你以为梅利斯特有胆子站起来反对史坦尼斯·拜拉席恩和那红袍婊子吗？”他哈哈大笑。“我不这么想。”
“At sitting in his tower and fussing over maps, maybe. What does he plan to do, write letters to the wights? He’s a knight, well and good, but he’s not a fighter, and I don’t give a kettle of piss who he unhorsed in some fool tourney fifty years ago. The Halfhand fought all his battles, even an old blind man should see that. And we need a fighter more than ever with this bloody king on top of us. Today it’s ruins and empty fields, well and good, but what will His Grace want come the morrow? You think Mallister has the belly to stand up to Stannis Baratheon and that red bitch?” He laughed. “I don’t.”
“你不会支持他？”山姆沮丧地总结。
“You won’t support him, then?” said Sam, dismayed.
“你是‘杀手’山姆还是‘聋子’迪克？不，我当然不会支持他。”派克拿一根手指点着脸。“搞清楚，小子，我不想要这该死的职位，从没想过。我习惯踩着甲板战斗，不想骑马，而黑城堡离海太远了。但我宁愿用火红滚烫的剑操屁眼也不愿把守夜人军团交给影子塔那只爱打扮的鹰，老人家问起的话，只管这么说。”他站起身。“赶快从我眼前消失。”
“Are you Sam the Slayer or Deaf Dick? No, I won’t support him.” Pyke jabbed a finger at his face. “Understand this, boy. I don’t want the bloody job, and never did. I fight best with a deck beneath me, not a horse, and Castle Black is too far from the sea. But I’ll be buggered with a red-hot sword before I turn the Night’s Watch over to that preening eagle from the Shadow Tower. And you can run back to the old man and tell him I said so, if he asks.” He stood. “Get out of my sight.”
山姆鼓起所有剩余的勇气，“如、如果是别人呢？你能支、支持别人吗？”
It took all the courage Sam had left in him to say, “W-what if there was someone else? Could you s-support someone else?”
“别人？谁？波文·马尔锡？这只会数勺子的家伙？奥赛尔习惯服从，别人要他干什么他就干什么，虽然干得出色，但仅此而已。史林特……嗯，他那伙人喜欢他，这我承认，我还真想把他塞进国王胃里，看看史坦尼斯会不会打嗝……但是不行，那家伙浑身都有君临的味道，妈的，癞蛤蟆长翅膀就以为自己是龙了吗？”派克哈哈大笑。“还剩下谁？哈布？我们可以选他，不过到时候谁来给你煮羊肉呢，杀手？妈的，你这样子应该喜欢他该死的羊肉。”
“Who? Bowen Marsh? The man counts spoons. Othell’s a follower, does what he’s told and does it well, but no more’n that. Slynt … well, his men like him, I’ll grant you, and it would almost be worth it to stick him down the royal craw and see if Stannis gagged, but no. There’s too much of King’s Landing in that one. A toad grows wings and thinks he’s a bloody dragon.” Pyke laughed. “Who does that leave, Hobb? We could pick him, I suppose, only then who’s going to boil your mutton, Slayer? You look like a man who likes his bloody mutton.”
没什么好多说的了。山姆被彻底挫败，他结结巴巴地道谢，然后离开。在丹尼斯爵士那边我能做得更好，穿过城堡时，他试图宽慰自己。丹尼斯爵士是骑士，出身高贵，谈吐斯文，当初他在路上发现山姆和吉莉，待他们谦恭有礼。丹尼斯爵士会听我的话，一定会的。
There was nothing more to say. Defeated, Sam could only stammer out his thanks and take his leave. I will do better with Ser Denys, he tried to tell himself as he walked through the castle. Ser Denys was a knight, highborn and well-spoken, and he had treated Sam most courteously when he’d found him and Gilly on the road. Ser Denys will listen to me, he has to.
影子塔的指挥官出生于海疆城的洪钟塔下，是个彻头彻尾的梅利斯特。他那黑天鹅绒上衣的领子和袖口都镶貂皮，披风被一只银鹰的爪子扣住。他胡须雪白，头发大部分脱落，脸上刻着深深的皱纹，但行动仍然敏捷，嘴里还有牙齿，年月并未暗淡其蓝灰色的眼睛，也未减损他高贵的气质。
The commander of the Shadow Tower had been born beneath the Booming Tower of Seagard, and looked every inch a Mallister. Sable trimmed his collar and accented the sleeves of his black velvet doublet. A silver eagle fastened its claws in the gathered folds of his cloak. His beard was white as snow, his hair was largely gone, and his face was deeply lined, it was true. Yet he still had grace in his movements and teeth in his mouth, and the years had dimmed neither his blue-grey eyes nor his courtesy.
“塔利大人，”当他的事务官将山姆带进影子塔的人所居住的长枪塔，他立刻招呼道，“很高兴看到你身体康复。要不要杯葡萄酒？我记得，你母亲大人出自佛罗伦家，什么时候咱们可以聊聊，我曾在同一场比武大会上将你祖父和外公打落下马。但不是今天，我知道我们有更紧迫的事情。你一定是从伊蒙师傅那儿来的，他有什么谏言给我吗？”
“My lord of Tarly,” he said, when his steward brought Sam to him in the Lance, where the Shadow Tower men were staying. “I am pleased to see that you’ve recovered from your ordeal. Might I offer you a cup of wine? Your lady mother is a Florent, I recall. One day I must tell you about the time I unhorsed both of your grandfathers in the same tourney. Not today, though, I know we have more pressing concerns. You come from Maester Aemon, to be sure. Does he have counsel to offer me?”
山姆啜了口酒，小心地斟酌词句，“学士戴起颈链，发下誓言……此时此刻，他要是显出偏向性，那就太不合适了……”
Sam took a sip of wine, and chose his words with care. “A maester chained and sworn … it would not be proper for him to be seen as having influenced the choice of Lord Commander …”
老爵士微微一笑，“是的，所以他不能亲自前来，我理解，山姆威尔。伊蒙和我都是老人，在这种事上会考虑周到。就请你说出此行目的吧。”
The old knight smiled. “Which is why he has not come to me himself. Yes, I quite understand, Samwell. Aemon and I are both old men, and wise in such matters. Say what you came to say.”
酒液甜美，而丹尼斯爵士跟卡特·派克不同，他严肃认真地听完山姆的计划，但最后仍摇摇头。“我承认，假如让国王来指定总司令，那将是守夜人历史上黑暗的一天。尤其是这个国王，他不可能长久地保住王冠。但是真的，山姆威尔，退出的应该是派克。我的票数比他多，而且比他更合适。”
The wine was sweet, and Ser Denys listened to Sam’s plea with grave courtesy, unlike Cotter Pyke. But when he was done, the old knight shook his head. “I agree that it would be a dark day in our history if a king were to name our Lord Commander. This king especially. He is not like to keep his crown for long. But truly, Samwell, it ought to be Pyke who withdraws. I have more support than he does, and I am better suited to the office.”
“没错，”山姆承认，“但卡特·派克或许勉强能胜任。据说他常在战斗中证明自己。”他不想因赞扬对手而冒犯丹尼斯爵士，可除此之外还能怎么说呢？
“You are,” Sam agreed, “but Cotter Pyke might serve. It’s said he has oft proved himself in battle.” He did not mean to offend Ser Denys by praising his rival, but how else could he convince him to withdraw?
“许多弟兄在战斗中证明了自己，那是不够的，有些事无法靠斧头解决，伊蒙师傅了解，但卡特·派克不明白。守夜人军团的总司令必须是领袖，必须具备跟其他贵族……以及国王打交道的能力。他必须赢得别人尊重。”丹尼斯爵士倾身向前。“你我都是诸侯的子嗣，我们都清楚出身、血统以及早期教育的重要性，那是练武所无法替代的。我十二岁成为侍从，十八岁当上骑士，二十二岁赢得比武大会的冠军，而指挥影子塔业已三十三年。血统、出身和教育使我具备跟国王打交道的能力。派克……唉，你记得今天早晨他说的话吗，‘你要让国王给我们揩屁股吗’？山姆威尔，非议弟兄并非我的习惯，但让我们坦白说吧……铁民是海盗与窃贼的民族，卡特·派克从小干的就是奸淫杀戮之事，多年以来，连读写信件都全部交由哈慕恩师傅负责。不，虽然不想让伊蒙师傅失望，但我无法说服自己为东海望的派克让路。”
“Many of my brothers have proved themselves in battle. It is not enough. Some matters cannot be settled with a battleaxe. Maester Aemon will understand that, though Cotter Pyke does not. The Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch is a lord, first and foremost. He must be able to treat with other lords … and with kings as well. He must be a man worthy of respect.” Ser Denys leaned forward. “We are the sons of great lords, you and I. We know the importance of birth, blood, and that early training that can ne’er be replaced. I was a squire at twelve, a knight at eighteen, a champion at two-and-twenty. I have been the commander at the Shadow Tower for thirty-three years. Blood, birth, and training have fitted me to deal with kings. Pyke … well, did you hear him this morning, asking if His Grace would wipe his bottom? Samwell, it is not my habit to speak unkindly of my brothers, but let us be frank … the ironborn are a race of pirates and thieves, and Cotter Pyke was raping and murdering when he was still half a boy. Maester Harmune reads and writes his letters, and has for years. No, loath as I am to disappoint Maester Aemon, I could not in honor stand aside for Pyke of Eastwatch.”
这回山姆作好了准备，“您会不会支持其他人？某个更合适的人？”
This time Sam was ready. “Might you for someone else? If it was someone more suitable?”
丹尼斯考虑片刻，“我从不贪图荣耀。上次选举，当莫尔蒙大人的名字被提出来，我心悦诚服地放弃，在此之前，也曾为科格尔大人让路。只要守夜人军团操在可靠的人手中，我就心满意足。但波文·马尔锡和奥赛尔·亚威克都不是那样的人，而这所谓的赫伦堡伯爵乃屠夫之子，兰尼斯特家提拔的跳梁小丑，难怪如此堕落腐化。”
Ser Denys considered a moment. “I have never desired the honor for its own sake. At the last choosing, I stepped aside gratefully when Lord Mormont’s name was offered, just as I had for Lord Qorgyle at the choosing before that. So long as the Night’s Watch remains in good hands, I am content. But Bowen Marsh is not equal to the task, no more than Othell Yarwyck. And this so-called Lord of Harrenhal is a butcher’s whelp unjumped by the Lannisters. Small wonder he is venal and corrupt.”
“还有一个人，”山姆脱口而出，“莫尔蒙总司令信任他，唐纳·诺伊和‘断掌’科林也信任他。尽管他身份不若你高贵，却也有古老的血统。他在城堡里出生，在城堡里长大，他跟骑士学习剑术与长枪，向学士讨教文字和知识。他的父亲是公爵，他的兄弟乃是国王。”
“There’s another man,” Sam blurted out. “Lord Commander Mormont trusted him. So did Donal Noye and Qhorin Halfhand. Though he’s not as highly born as you, he comes from old blood. He was castle-born and castle-raised, and he learned sword and lance from a knight and letters from a maester of the Citadel. His father was a lord, and his brother a king.”
丹尼斯爵士抚摸长长的白胡子。“也许，”过了许久，他道，“他很年轻，但……也许，也许可以胜任，我承认。然而毫无疑问，我更合适，我是更明智的选择。”
Ser Denys stroked his long white beard. “Mayhaps,” he said, after a long moment. “He is very young, but … mayhaps. He might serve, I grant you, though I would be more suitable. I have no doubt of that. I would be the wiser choice.”
琼恩说，谎言能否不失荣誉，取决于内容与目的。于是山姆道，“如果我们今晚不选出一个总司令，史坦尼斯国王打算指定卡特·派克。他今天早上跟伊蒙学士这么说的，在你们离开之后。”
Jon said there could be honor in a lie, if it were told for the right reason. Sam said, “If we do not choose a Lord Commander tonight, King Stannis means to name Cotter Pyke. He said as much to Maester Aemon this morning, after all of you had left.”
“我明白了，明白了，”丹尼斯爵士站起身，“我考虑一下。谢谢你，山姆威尔，请向伊蒙师傅表达我的谢意。”
“I see.” Ser Denys rose. “I must think on this. Thank you, Samwell. And give my thanks to Maester Aemon as well.”
山姆离开长枪塔时，浑身颤抖。我干了什么？他心想，我说了什么？如果被他们发现，会……怎样？送我上长城站岗？掏出我的肠子？把我变成尸鬼？突然之间，一切显得如此荒唐，见过乌鸦啄食小保罗的脸的他，还怕什么卡特·派克和丹尼斯·梅利斯特爵士呢？
Sam was trembling by the time he left the Lance. What have I done? he thought. What have I said? If they caught him in his lie, they would … what? Send me to the Wall? Rip my entrails out? Turn me into a wight? Suddenly it all seemed absurd. How could he be so frightened of Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys Mallister, when he had seen a raven eating Small Paul’s face?
派克见他回来很不高兴。“又是你？有屁快放，别把我惹火了。”
Pyke was not pleased by his return. “You again? Make it quick, you are starting to annoy me.”
“只占用一点点时间，”山姆承诺，“你说自己不愿为丹尼斯爵士退出，也许会为别人。”
“I only need a moment more,” Sam promised. “You won’t withdraw for Ser Denys, you said, but you might for someone else.”
“这次是谁，杀手？你自己吗？”
“Who is it this time, Slayer? You?”
“不。一个真正的战士。当野人来袭时，唐纳·诺伊将长城交给他，他还是熊老的侍从。唯一的问题是，他是个私生子。”
“No. A fighter. Donal Noye gave him the Wall when the wildlings came, and he was the Old Bear’s squire. The only thing is, he’s bastard-born.”
卡特·派克哈哈大笑，“七层地狱，真他妈该死，就像往梅利斯特的屁眼里捅进一根长矛一样，不是吗？仅仅为这个，也许就值得做，那男孩还能坏到哪里去？”他哼了一声。“但我比他更好，我才是需要的人，哪个笨蛋都看得出来。”
Cotter Pyke laughed. “Bloody hell. That would shove a spear up Mallister’s arse, wouldn’t it? Might be worth it just for that. How bad could the boy be?” He snorted. “I’d be better, though. I’m what’s needed, any fool can see that.”
“哪个笨蛋，”山姆赞同，“包括我。但是……好吧，有些话本来不该讲，但……但假如今晚选不出一个人来，史坦尼斯国王打算强迫我们接受丹尼斯爵士。他今天早上跟伊蒙学士这么说的，在你们离开之后。”
“Any fool,” Sam agreed, “even me. But … well, I shouldn’t be telling you, but … King Stannis means to force Ser Denys on us, if we do not choose a man tonight. I heard him tell Maester Aemon that, after the rest of you were sent away.”