JON

48 瓊恩

Jon was breaking

his fast on applecakes and blood sausage when Samwell Tarly plopped himself

down on the bench. “I’ve been summoned to the sept,” Sam said in an excited

whisper. “They’re passing me out of training. I’m to be made a brother with the

rest of you. Can you believe it?”

山姆威爾·塔利撲通一聲坐上長(zhǎng)凳時(shí)疗杉，瓊恩正吃著早餐的蘋果蛋糕和血香腸坛缕。“我也要去圣堂了介却，”山姆難掩興奮地悄聲說，“他們打算讓我通過測(cè)試轮洋，跟你們一起成為正式的黑衣弟兄仿畸。你敢相信嗎？”

“No, truly?”

“不相信寿弱。這是真的？”

“Truly. I’m to assist Maester Aemon with the library and the birds.

He needs someone who can read and write letters.”

“真的真的俗他。我被派去協(xié)助伊蒙師傅管理圖書室和鳥兒脖捻。他需要一個(gè)能讀會(huì)寫的幫手≌仔疲”

“You’ll do well at that,” Jon said, smiling.

“相信你一定愉快勝任地沮。”瓊恩微笑說道羡亩。

Sam glanced

about anxiously. “Is it time to go? I shouldn’t be late, they might change

their minds.” He was fairly bouncing as they crossed the weed-strewn courtyard.

The day was warm and sunny. Rivulets of water trickled down the sides of the

Wall, so the ice seemed to sparkle and shine.

山姆不安地環(huán)顧四周摩疑。“我們是不是該去了畏铆？我們最好不要遲到雷袋，免得他們改變主意。”他們走過長(zhǎng)滿雜草的庭院時(shí)楷怒，他一直蹦蹦跳跳蛋勺。天氣溫潤(rùn)而清朗，晶瑩的水滴沿著長(zhǎng)城流淌而下鸠删，冰層在陽光下閃閃發(fā)光抱完。

Inside the sept,

the great crystal caught the morning light as it streamed through the

south-facing window and spread it in a rainbow on the altar. Pyp’s mouth

dropped open when he caught sight of Sam, and Toad poked Grenn in the ribs, but

no one dared say a word. Septon Celladar was swinging a censer, filling the air

with fragrant incense that reminded Jon of Lady Stark’s little sept in

Winterfell. For once the septon seemed sober.

圣堂里，晨光從面南的窗子傾泄進(jìn)來刃泡，射進(jìn)當(dāng)中的大水晶巧娱，散出七彩虹光，映著祭壇烘贴。派普一見山姆禁添，嘴巴頓時(shí)張得老大，陶德則碰了一下葛蘭桨踪，但沒人敢說話老翘。賽勒達(dá)修士手中搖晃著一個(gè)小香爐，溢得滿室馨香馒闷，瓊恩不禁想起史塔克夫人在臨冬城的小圣堂祈禱的情景酪捡。修士這次很難得沒有喝醉。

The high

officers arrived in a body; Maester Aemon leaning on Clydas, Ser Alliser

cold-eyed and grim, Lord Commander Mormont resplendent in a black wool doublet

with silvered bearclaw fastenings. Behind them came the senior members of the

three orders: red-faced Bowen Marsh the Lord Steward, First Builder Othell

Yarwyck, and Ser Jaremy Rykker, who commanded the rangers in the absence of

Benjen Stark.

高級(jí)官員一齊抵達(dá)纳账。伊蒙師傅倚靠著克萊達(dá)斯，艾里沙爵士冷眼峻臉捺疼，莫爾蒙司令一身華服疏虫，黑羊毛外衣，銀邊熊爪扣啤呼。在他們后面是三個(gè)職業(yè)的負(fù)責(zé)人：總務(wù)長(zhǎng)波文·馬爾錫卧秘，首席工匠奧賽爾·亞威克，以及暫代班揚(yáng)·史塔克指揮游騎兵的杰瑞米·萊克爵士官扣。

Mormont stood

before the altar, the rainbow shining on his broad bald head. “You came to us

outlaws,” he began, “poachers, rapers, debtors, killers, and thieves. You came

to us children. You came to us alone, in chains, with neither friends nor

honor. You came to us rich, and you came to us poor. Some of you bear the names

of proud houses. Others have only bastards’ names, or no names at all. It makes

no matter. All that is past now. On the Wall, we are all one house.

莫爾蒙站在祭壇前翅敌，七彩虹光在他的大光頭上閃閃發(fā)亮√杼悖“你們來時(shí)為法律所不容蚯涮，”他開口，“盜獵卖陵、強(qiáng)奸遭顶、欠債、殺人泪蔫、偷搶拐騙棒旗。你們來時(shí)尚為孩童，一身孑然撩荣，身負(fù)枷鎖铣揉，既無友朋饶深，更無榮譽(yù)。你們來時(shí)或富貴榮祿逛拱，或赤貧如洗敌厘。你們來自豪門望族，或僅有私生子之名橘券，甚或藉藉無名额湘，但這些都不重要。一切皆成過去旁舰。長(zhǎng)城之上锋华，我們都是一家人〖埽”

“At evenfall, as the sun sets and we face the gathering night, you

shall take your vows. From that moment, you will be a Sworn Brother of the

Night’s Watch. Your crimes will be washed away, your debts forgiven. So too you

must wash away your former loyalties, put aside your grudges, forget old wrongs

and old loves alike. Here you begin anew.

“今日傍晚毯焕，夕陽西沉，低垂夜幕之下磺樱，你們便將宣誓纳猫。從此以后，你們就是誓言效命的守夜人弟兄竹捉。你們的罪名將被洗清芜辕，債務(wù)業(yè)已勾銷，同樣块差，你們必須抹去從前的家族忠誠(chéng)侵续，拋開舊時(shí)的仇恨，忘卻過往的情愛恩怨憨闰。你們將于茲重獲新生状蜗。”

“A man of the Night’s Watch lives his life for the realm. Not for a

king, nor a lord, nor the honor of this house or that house, neither for gold

nor glory nor a woman’s love, but for the realm, and all the people in it. A

man of the Night’s Watch takes no wife and fathers no sons. Our wife is duty.

Our mistress is honor. And you are the only sons we shall ever know.

“守夜人為王國(guó)效命鹉动。非為國(guó)王轧坎，非為貴族，亦非為豪門榮辱泽示，不論財(cái)富缸血，不論光榮，亦不論兒女情愛边琉，一切只為王國(guó)安泰及其子民平安属百。守夜人不娶妻，不生子变姨，我們以責(zé)任為妻族扰，以榮譽(yù)為妾，而你們則是我們惟一的兒子∮婧牵”

“You have learned the words of the vow. Think carefully before you

say them, for once you have taken the black, there is no turning back. The

penalty for desertion is death.” The Old Bear paused for a moment before he

said, “Are there any among you who wish to leave our company? If so, go now,

and no one shall think the less of you.”

“你們已經(jīng)聽過了誓言內(nèi)容怒竿。在發(fā)誓前請(qǐng)仔細(xì)考慮，一旦穿上黑衣扩氢，便永無退路耕驰。背離職守是惟一死刑÷疾颍”熊老暫停片刻朦肘，然后繼續(xù)，“你們之中有沒有人想離開双饥？如果有媒抠，現(xiàn)在就走，我們絕不會(huì)因此而看輕你咏花∨可”

No one moved.

無人移動(dòng)。

“Well and good,” said Mormont. “You may take your vows here at

evenfall, before Septon Celladar and the first of your order. Do any of you

keep to the old gods?”

“很好昏翰，”莫爾蒙道苍匆，“傍晚時(shí)分，你們回到這里棚菊，當(dāng)著賽勒達(dá)修士和你們所屬組織首席的面宣誓浸踩。你們中有信仰舊神的嗎？”

Jon stood. “I

do, my lord.”

瓊恩站起來统求∶裰幔“有的，大人球订。”

“I expect you will want to say your words before a heart tree, as

your uncle did,” Mormont said.

“我想你或許情愿跟你叔叔一樣瑰钮，在心樹之下宣誓冒滩。”莫爾蒙說浪谴。

“Yes, my lord,” Jon said. The gods of the sept had nothing to do with

him; the blood of the First Men flowed in the veins of the Starks.

“是的开睡，大人」冻埽”瓊恩道篇恒。圣堂的諸神與他無關(guān)。先民的血液依舊流淌在史塔克家人體內(nèi)凶杖。

He heard Grenn

whispering behind him. “There’s no godswood here. Is there? I never saw a

godswood.”

他聽見葛蘭在背后低語：“這里沒有神木林罷胁艰，對(duì)不對(duì)？我從來沒發(fā)現(xiàn)√诿矗”

“You wouldn’t see a herd of aurochs until they trampled you into the

snow,” Pyp whispered back.

“你啊奈梳，就算一群野牛迎面沖來，等它們把你踩進(jìn)雪里解虱，你也沒發(fā)現(xiàn)攘须。”派普悄聲回答殴泰。

“I would so,” Grenn insisted. “I’d see them a long way off.”

“我會(huì)啦于宙，”葛蘭堅(jiān)持，“我大老遠(yuǎn)就會(huì)看見它們悍汛±炭”

Mormont himself

confirmed Grenn’s doubts. “Castle Black has no need of a godswood. Beyond the

Wall the haunted forest stands as it stood in the Dawn Age, long before the

Andals brought the Seven across the narrow sea. You will find a grove of

weirwoods half a league from this spot, and mayhap your gods as well.”

莫爾蒙倒是證實(shí)了葛蘭的疑慮≡蹦“黑城堡無需神木林署驻。鬼影森林早在安達(dá)爾人將七神帶過狹海前的黎明紀(jì)元便已聳立在長(zhǎng)城之外，至今依然健霹。由此向北半里格你會(huì)找到一片魚梁木旺上，或許也會(huì)找到你的神√锹瘢”

“My lord.” The voice made Jon glance back in surprise. Samwell Tarly

was on his feet. The fat boy wiped his sweaty palms against his tunic. “Might

I?.?.?.?might I go as well? To say my words at this heart tree?”

“大人宣吱，”瓊恩驚訝地回頭，看見肥胖的山姆威爾·塔利站了起來瞳别，將滿是汗水的手掌在衣服上抹了抹征候。“我能……我能不能跟他一起去祟敛？到心樹下宣誓疤坝？”

“Does House Tarly keep the old gods too?” Mormont asked.

“塔利家族莫非信奉舊神憾股？”莫爾蒙問责嚷。

“No, my lord,” Sam replied in a thin, nervous voice. The high

officers frightened him, Jon knew, the Old Bear most of all. “I was named in

the light of the Seven at the sept on Horn Hill, as my father was, and his

father, and all the Tarlys for a thousand years.”

“不是的，大人疚膊，”山姆用尖細(xì)而緊張的聲音回答埠巨。瓊恩知道官員們很叫他害怕历谍，熊老尤甚±崩荩“我在七神的榮光照耀下望侈，在角陵的圣堂里舉行了命名儀式。我父親如此勋桶，他的父親亦如此脱衙，千年來塔利家族世代如此侥猬。”

“Why would you forsake the gods of your father and your House?”

wondered Ser Jaremy Rykker.

“那么……你為何要拋棄令尊和你家族長(zhǎng)久以來信仰的諸神呢岂丘？”杰瑞米·萊克爵士很好奇陵究。

“The Night’s Watch is my House now,” Sam said. “The Seven have never

answered my prayers. Perhaps the old gods will.”

“如今我以守夜人軍團(tuán)為家，”山姆信誓旦旦地說奥帘，“七神從未回應(yīng)我的祈禱铜邮，或許舊神會(huì)呢≌＃”

“As you wish, boy,” Mormont said. Sam took his seat again, as did

Jon. “We have placed each of you in an order, as befits our need and your own

strengths and skills.” Bowen Marsh stepped forward and handed him a paper. The

Lord Commander unrolled it and began to read. “Haider, to the builders,” he

began. Haider gave a stiff nod of approval. “Grenn, to the rangers. Albett, to

the builders. Pypar, to the rangers.” Pyp looked over at Jon and wiggled his ears.

“Samwell, to the stewards.” Sam sagged with relief, mopping at his brow with,a

scrap of silk. “Matthar, to the rangers. Dareon, to the stewards. Todder, to

the rangers. Jon, to the stewards.”

“那就這樣，小子已旧〗彰纾”莫爾蒙說。山姆和瓊恩返身坐下运褪【ィ“依照我們的需求，以及你們自身的能力和技巧秸讹，你們將被分配到不同的崗位檀咙。”波文·馬爾錫前跨一步璃诀，交給他一張紙弧可。總司令攤開紙劣欢，“霍德棕诵，加入工匠，”他開始念凿将，只見霍德僵硬而激動(dòng)地點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)頭校套，“葛蘭，加入游騎兵牧抵。阿貝特搔确，加入工匠。派普爾灭忠，加入游騎兵，”派普看看瓊恩座硕，興奮地?fù)u耳朵弛作。“山姆威爾华匾，加入事務(wù)官映琳』叮”山姆如釋重負(fù)地嘆了口氣，忙掏出一塊絲巾擦干額頭萨西∮新梗“梅沙，加入游騎兵谎脯。戴利恩葱跋，加入事務(wù)官。陶德源梭，加入游騎兵娱俺。瓊恩，加入事務(wù)官废麻≤恚”

The stewards?

For a moment Jon could not believe what he had heard. Mormont must have read it

wrong. He started to rise, to open his mouth, to tell them there had been a

mistake?.?.?.?and then he saw Ser Alliser studying him, eyes shiny as two

flakes of obsidian, and he knew.

事務(wù)官？一時(shí)之間瓊恩簡(jiǎn)直不敢相信自己的耳朵烛愧。莫爾蒙一定是念錯(cuò)了油宜。他正準(zhǔn)備站起來申訴，告訴他們弄錯(cuò)了……卻看見艾里沙爵士正審視著自己怜姿，雙眼閃亮猶如黑曜石塊慎冤，他頓時(shí)恍然大悟。

The Old Bear

rolled up the paper. “Your firsts will instruct you in your duties. May all the

gods preserve you, brothers.” The Lord Commander favored them with a half bow,

and took his leave. Ser Alliser went with him, a thin smile on his face. Jon

had never seen the master-at-arms took quite so happy.

熊老卷起紙社牲》嘌Γ“你們各自的首席長(zhǎng)官會(huì)介紹你們的職責(zé)所在。弟兄們搏恤，愿天上諸神眷顧你們违寿。”總司令向他們微微頷首致意熟空，便即離開藤巢。艾里沙爵士跟他一道，臉上掛著一抹淺淺的微笑息罗。瓊恩從沒見教頭這么開心過掂咒。

“Rangers with me,” Ser Jaremy Rykker called when they were gone. Pyp

was staring at Jon as he got slowly to his feet. His ears were red. Grenn,

grinning broadly, did not seem to realize that anything was amiss. Matt and

Toad fell in beside them, and they followed Ser Jaremy from the sept.

“游騎兵跟我來÷鹾恚”等他們走后绍刮，杰瑞米·萊克爵士喊。派普慢慢站立挨摸，眼睛卻盯著瓊恩孩革，雙耳通紅。葛蘭開心地嘻笑得运，絲毫未察覺有何不對(duì)膝蜈。梅沙和陶德走到他們旁邊锅移，跟隨杰瑞米爵士離開圣堂。

“Builders,” announced lantern-jawed Othell Yarwyck. Haider and Albett

trailed out after him.

“工匠饱搏》翘辏”生著燈籠下巴的奧賽爾·亞威克隨即宣布，然后霍德和阿貝特也跟他走了推沸。

Jon looked

around him in sick disbelief. Maester Aemon’s blind eyes were raised toward the

light he could not see. The septon was arranging crystals on the altar. Only

Sam and Darcon remained on the benches; a fat boy, a singer?.?.?.?and him.

瓊恩滿心嫌惡地環(huán)顧四周备绽。只見伊蒙學(xué)士的盲眼正朝他看不見的光源望去，修士正在那里整理祭壇的水晶坤学。山姆和戴利恩還坐在板凳上疯坤，一個(gè)胖子，一個(gè)歌手……還有他深浮。

Lord Steward

Bowen Marsh rubbed his plump hands together. “Samwell, you will assist Maester

Aemon in the rookery and library. Chett is going to the kennels, to help with

the hounds. You shall have his cell, so as to be close to the maester night and

day. I trust you will take good care of him. He is very old and very precious

to us.

總務(wù)長(zhǎng)波文·馬爾錫搓搓他的胖手压怠。“山姆威爾飞苇，你去幫伊蒙學(xué)士管理鳥籠和圖書室菌瘫。齊特已被調(diào)去犬欄照顧獵狗，你就住他那間屋布卡，以便隨時(shí)照顧學(xué)士的起居雨让。希望你好好工作，他老人家年事已高忿等，對(duì)我們更是彌足珍貴栖忠。”

“Dareon, I am told that you sang at many a high lord’s table and

shared their meat and mead. We are sending you to Eastwatch. It may be your

palate will be some help to Cotter Pyke when merchant galleys come trading. We

are paying too dear for salt beef and pickled fish, and the quality of the

olive oil we’re getting has been frightful, Present yourself to Borcas when you

arrive, he will keep you busy between ships.”

“戴利恩贸街，我聽說你在不少高官老爺面前表演過庵寞，也見過一點(diǎn)世面，所以我們派你去東海望協(xié)助卡特·派克薛匪。等商船前來交易時(shí)捐川，你的本領(lǐng)或許能派上用場(chǎng)。近來腌牛肉和咸魚的價(jià)格高得驚人逸尖，橄欖油的品質(zhì)則是爛得嚇人古沥。你到了之后先找波卡斯，他會(huì)交代你如何與商船交涉娇跟⊙页荩”

Marsh turned his

smile on Jon. “Lord Commander Mormont has requested you for his personal

steward, Jon. You’ll sleep in a cell beneath his chambers, in the Lord

Commander’s tower.”

馬爾錫微笑著轉(zhuǎn)頭望向瓊恩““瓊恩纯衍，莫爾蒙司令特別要你當(dāng)他的私人事務(wù)官。你將睡在他臥室樓下的那間房里苗胀，住在司令塔里面襟诸。”

“And what will my duties be?” Jon asked sharply. “Will I serve the

Lord Commander’s meals, help him fasten his clothes, fetch hot water for his

bath?”

“請(qǐng)問我的職責(zé)又是什么基协？”瓊恩尖銳地問歌亲，“是不是要幫總司令打理三餐，伺候他更衣澜驮，為他打熱水洗澡陷揪？”

“Certainly.” Marsh frowned at Jon’s tone. “And you will run his

messages, keep a fire burning in his chambers, change his sheets and blankets

daily, and do all else that the Lord Commander might require of you.”

“沒有錯(cuò)≡忧睿”馬爾錫聽了瓊恩的口氣悍缠，皺起眉頭∧土浚“除此之外飞蚓，你還要替他跑腿，為他房間生火廊蜒，每天換洗床單和毛毯趴拧，以及承擔(dān)總司令要你做的其他事情∩蕉＃”

“Do you take me for a servant?”

“你當(dāng)我是下人么著榴？”

“No,” Maester Aemon said, from the back of the sept. Clydas helped

him stand. “We took you for a man of the Night’s Watch?.?.?.?but perhaps we

were wrong in that.”

“不，”圣堂后方的伊蒙學(xué)士說屁倔∧杂郑克萊達(dá)斯扶他站起來∪窠瑁“我們當(dāng)你是守夜人的漢子……不過或許我們錯(cuò)看了你问麸。”

It was all Jon

could do to stop himself from walking out. Was he supposed to churn butter and

sew doublets like a girl for the rest of his days? “May I go?” he asked

stiffly.

瓊恩竭盡所能地克制自己瞎饲，方才沒有掉頭離去口叙。難道他就要像女孩子家一樣整天切奶油，縫衣服度過一生嗅战？“我可以離開嗎妄田？”他僵硬地問。

“As you wish,” Bowen Marsh responded.

“去罷驮捍∨蹦牛”波文·馬爾錫回答。

Dareon and Sam

left with him. They descended to the yard in silence. Outside, Jon looked up at

the Wall shining in the sun, the melting ice creeping down its side in a

hundred thin fingers. Jon’s rage was such that he would have smashed it all in

an instant, and the world be damned.

戴利恩和山姆與他一道離去东且。他們默默地走回廣場(chǎng)启具，瓊恩抬頭看著陽光下閃耀的長(zhǎng)城，融化的冰水仿如千百根纖細(xì)的手指向下流淌珊泳。他惱怒至極鲁冯，恨不得立刻就把整座長(zhǎng)城敲個(gè)粉碎拷沸，管他世界死活。

“Jon,” Samwell Tarly said excitedly. “Wait. Don’t you see what

they’re doing?”

“瓊恩薯演，”山姆威爾·塔利興奮地說撞芍，“等等我們，你看不出他們的用意嗎跨扮？”

Jon turned on

him in a fury. “I see Ser Alliser’s bloody hand, that’s all I see. He wanted to

shame me, and he has.”

瓊恩大怒轉(zhuǎn)頭序无。“我只看出這是艾里沙爵士搞的鬼衡创。他想羞辱我帝嗡，這下他可遂心愿了×猓”

Dareon gave him

a look. “The stewards are fine for the likes of you and me, Sam, but not for

Lord Snow.”

戴利恩看了他一眼哟玷。“山姆拔莱，叫你我這種人當(dāng)當(dāng)總務(wù)不成問題碗降，但雪諾大人厲害著呢√燎兀”

“I’m a better swordsman and a better rider than any of you,” Jon

blazed back. “It’s not fair!”

“廢話讼渊，不論使劍、騎馬我都比你們行尊剔，”瓊恩火冒三丈地反擊爪幻，“這太不公平了！”

“Fair?” Dareon sneered. “The girl was waiting for me, naked as the

day she was born. She pulled me through the window, and you talk to me of

fair?” He walked off.

“公平须误？”戴利恩嗤之以鼻挨稿。“當(dāng)年那小妞脫得精光京痢，活像剛打娘胎里出生一般等著我奶甘，還是她把我從窗戶里拉進(jìn)去的。你倒是告訴我什么叫做公平祭椰？”

“There is no shame in being a steward,” Sam said.

“當(dāng)個(gè)事務(wù)官?zèng)]什么可恥的臭家。”山姆說方淤。

“Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life washing an old

man’s smallclothes?”

“你要我洗一輩子老頭的內(nèi)衣褲嗎钉赁？”

“The old man is Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch,” Sam reminded

him. “You’ll be with him day and night. Yes, you’ll pour his wine and see that

his bed linen is fresh, but you’ll also take his letters, attend him at

meetings, squire for him in battle. You’ll be as close to him as his shadow.

You’ll know everything, be a part of everything?.?.?.?and the Lord Steward said

Mormont asked for you himself!

“這老頭可是堂堂守夜人軍團(tuán)總司令，”山姆提醒他携茂，“而你則會(huì)日夜跟他相處你踩。沒錯(cuò)，你是得幫他倒酒，換洗被單带膜，但你也會(huì)替他送信吩谦，隨他參加會(huì)議，打仗的時(shí)候當(dāng)他的侍從膝藕。你會(huì)跟他形影不離逮京，大小事務(wù)你都會(huì)知情，甚至能施加影響……更何況總務(wù)長(zhǎng)說是莫爾蒙特別指定要你的束莫！”

“When I was little, my father used to insist that I attend him in the

audience chamber whenever he held court. When he rode to Highgarden to bend his

knee to Lord Tyrell, he made me come. Later, though, he started to take Dickon

and leave me at home, and he no longer cared whether I sat through his

audiences, so long as Dickon was there. He wanted his heir at his side, don’t

you see? To watch and listen and learn from all he did. I’ll wager that’s why

Lord Mormont requested you, Jon. What else could it be? He wants to groom you

for command!”

“我小時(shí)候，每當(dāng)父親開庭理事草描，總是堅(jiān)持要我參加览绿；每次他去高庭提利爾大人輸誠(chéng)，也一定帶我去穗慕。直到后來他改帶狄肯饿敲，把我丟在家里。只要狄肯跟著他逛绵，他便懶得管我是否出席會(huì)議怀各。他的目的是把自己的‘繼承人’帶在身邊，你懂嗎术浪？讓他察言觀色從中學(xué)習(xí)瓢对。瓊恩，我敢打賭莫爾蒙司令也是這個(gè)意思胰苏。不然他干嘛這么做硕蛹？他想訓(xùn)練你作總司令接班人哪！”

Jon was taken aback.

It was true, Lord Eddard had often made Robb part of his councils back at

Winterfell. Could Sam be right? Even a bastard could rise high in the Night’s

Watch, they said. “I never asked for this,” he said stubbornly.

瓊恩完全愣住了硕并。的確法焰，以前在臨冬城的時(shí)候，艾德公爵便常要羅柏出席各種會(huì)議倔毙。難道山姆說的是真的埃仪？人家總說在守夜人部隊(duì)里，即便私生子也可升至高位陕赃÷羊龋“我又不想這樣】”他嘴硬地說毙玻。

“None of us are here for asking,” Sam reminded him.

“我們沒有人想來這里±壬ⅲ”山姆又提醒他桑滩。

And suddenly Jon

Snow was ashamed.

突然間瓊恩·雪諾覺得羞愧交加。

Craven or not,

Samwell Tarly had found the courage to accept his fate like a man. On the Wall,

a man gets only what he earns, Benjen Stark had said the last night Jon had

seen him alive. You’re no ranger, Jon, only a green boy with the smell of

summer still on you. He’d heard it said that bastards grow up faster than other

children; on the Wall, you grew up or you died.

無論他算不算懦夫，山姆威爾·塔利都像個(gè)男子漢一樣有了接受命運(yùn)的勇氣运准。在長(zhǎng)城守軍里幌氮，想得到什么樣的待遇，就得證明自己有什么樣的本事胁澳，瓊恩最后一次見到活生生的班揚(yáng)·史塔克的那天夜里该互，他曾這么說，你還不是游騎兵韭畸，你只是個(gè)稚氣未脫宇智，身上還殘留著夏天氣味的小鬼。據(jù)說私生子成長(zhǎng)得比別人都快胰丁，在長(zhǎng)城上随橘，你若不快快成長(zhǎng)，就只有死路一條锦庸。

Jon let out a

deep sigh. “You have the right of it. I was acting the boy.”

瓊恩一聲長(zhǎng)嘆机蔗。“你說得沒錯(cuò)甘萧。是我太孩子氣了萝嘁。”

“Then you’ll stay and say your words with me?”

“那你會(huì)留下來跟我一起宣誓啰扬卷？”

“The old gods will be expecting us.” He made himself smile.

“舊神正在等著我們哪牙言。”他逼自己擠出一絲微笑邀泉。

They set out

late that afternoon. The Wall had no gates as such, neither here at Castle

Black nor anywhere along its three hundred miles. They led their horses down a

narrow tunnel cut through the ice, cold dark walls pressing in around them as

the passage twisted and turned. Three times their way was blocked by iron bars,

and they had to stop while Bowen Marsh drew out his keys and unlocked the

massive chains that secured them. Jon could sense the vast weight pressing down

on him as he waited behind the Lord Steward. The air was colder than a tomb,

and more still. He felt a strange relief when they reemerged into the afternoon

light on the north side of the Wall.

他們于當(dāng)日下午出發(fā)嬉挡。長(zhǎng)城沿線三百里沒有一座城門，他們得牽馬走進(jìn)穿透冰層的狹窄隧道汇恤。路徑曲折蜿蜒庞钢，黑暗而冰冷的冰墻無時(shí)無刻不向他們逼近。他們經(jīng)過三道攔路鐵欄因谎，每次都得停下腳步基括，讓波文·馬爾錫取出大串鑰匙，打開鎖住柵欄的厚重鐵鏈财岔。等候總務(wù)長(zhǎng)開門時(shí)风皿，瓊恩感到無比龐然的重量朝他壓來。這里的空氣陰冷賽過墓穴匠璧，且更為凝滯桐款。等他們終于抵達(dá)長(zhǎng)城以北，重見午后的陽光夷恍，頓時(shí)感覺到一股奇異的舒暢魔眨。

Sam blinked at

the sudden glare and looked around apprehensively. “The wildlings?.?.?.?they

wouldn’t?.?.?.?they’d never dare come this close to the Wall. Would they?”

面對(duì)突如其來的強(qiáng)光，山姆眨眨眼，擔(dān)憂地環(huán)顧四周遏暴≈豆簦“野人……他們不會(huì)……他們不敢跑到離長(zhǎng)城這么近的地方來，是不是朋凉？”

“They never have.” Jon climbed into his saddle. When Bowen Marsh and

their ranger escort had mounted, Jon put two fingers in his mouth and whistled.

Ghost came loping out of the tunnel.

“從來不敢州丹。”瓊恩翻身上馬杂彭。等波文·馬爾錫和護(hù)送他們的游騎兵都上了馬墓毒，瓊恩把兩根手指伸進(jìn)嘴巴，吹聲口哨亲怠，白靈從地道里應(yīng)聲奔出蚁鳖。

The Lord

Steward’s garron whickered and backed away from the direwolf. “Do you mean to

take that beast?”

總務(wù)長(zhǎng)的坐騎嘶叫著退開×扪祝“你要帶這野獸一起去？”

“Yes, my lord,” Jon said. Ghost’s head lifted. He seemed to taste the

air. In the blink of an eye he was off, racing across the broad, weed-choked

field to vanish in the trees.

“是的钾腺，大人徙垫。”瓊恩說放棒。白靈抬起頭姻报，似乎在體驗(yàn)塞外的空氣。然后间螟，只一眨眼功夫他便沖了出去吴旋，馳騁過野草蔓生的廣闊平原，轉(zhuǎn)瞬間消失在遠(yuǎn)方的樹林里厢破。

Once they had

entered the forest, they were in a different world. Jon had often hunted with

his father and Jory and his brother Robb. He knew the wolfswood around

Winterfell as well as any man. The haunted forest was much the same, and yet

the feel of it was very different.

一進(jìn)森林荣瑟，他們就恍如置身另一世界。從前瓊恩常跟父親摩泪、喬里和羅柏一道外出打獵笆焰。對(duì)臨冬城外的狼林了若指掌。鬼影森林在樣貌上大致相同见坑，但卻有種極端殊異的氛圍嚷掠。

Perhaps it was

all in the knowing. They had ridden past the end of the world; somehow that

changed everything. Every shadow seemed darker, every sound more ominous. The

trees pressed close and shut out the light of the setting sun. A thin crust of

snow cracked beneath the hooves of their horses, with a sound like breaking

bones. When the wind set the leaves to rustling, it was like a chilly finger

tracing a path up Jon’s spine. The Wall was at their backs, and only the gods

knew what lay ahead.

這或許就是一種感覺罷。想到已經(jīng)越過世界的盡頭荞驴，一切便都不一樣了不皆。同樣的影子，此地更顯陰暗熊楼，同樣的聲音霹娄，此地更覺不祥。樹與樹之間靠得很近，遮蔽了漸落的斜射陽光项棠。地表的薄雪在馬蹄下碎裂悲雳，聲音脆如斷骨。朔風(fēng)吹拂香追，落葉沙沙作響合瓢，像有無數(shù)根冰涼手指沿著背脊緩緩而上。長(zhǎng)城已在后方透典，前路一片迷離晴楔，諸神才知通往何方。

The sun was

sinking below the trees when they reached their destination, a small clearing

in the deep of the wood where nine weirwoods grew in a rough circle. Jon drew

in a breath, and he saw Sam Tarly staring. Even in the wolfswood, you never

found more than two or three of the white trees growing together; a grove of

nine was unheard of. The forest floor was carpeted with fallen leaves, bloodred

on top, black rot beneath. The wide smooth trunks were bone pale, and nine

faces stared inward. The dried sap that crusted in the eyes was red and hard as

ruby. Bowen Marsh commanded them to leave their horses outside the circle.

“This is a sacred place, we will not defile it.”

當(dāng)他們抵達(dá)目的地時(shí)峭咒，夕陽已沒入樹梢税弃。這是森林深處的一小塊空地，九棵魚梁木長(zhǎng)在一起凑队，粗略組成一個(gè)圓则果。瓊恩深吸一口氣，抬頭發(fā)現(xiàn)山姆也睜大了眼睛漩氨。即便在北方西壮，即便在狼林，你也找不到這種白色的樹會(huì)兩三棵長(zhǎng)在一起叫惊，九棵簡(jiǎn)直聞所未聞款青。林地鋪滿落葉，上層血紅霍狰，下面則是腐朽的黑色抡草。寬而平滑的樹干如枯骨般蒼白，九張臉向圓心凝視蔗坯，眼睛部位干涸的樹汁紅硬宛如寶石康震。波文·馬爾錫命令他們將馬匹留在圓圈之外”霰簦“這是神圣之地签杈，我們不可褻瀆《κ蓿”

When they

entered the grove, Samwell Tarly turned slowly looking at each face in turn. No

two were quite alike. “They’re watching us,” he whispered. “The old gods.”

走進(jìn)樹叢后答姥，山姆威爾·塔利慢慢地轉(zhuǎn)頭審視每一張臉。它們?nèi)疾灰粯友枰А鹦付！斑h(yuǎn)古諸神，”他悄聲說择卦，“他們正看著我們呢敲长±杉蓿”

“Yes.” Jon knelt, and Sam knelt beside him.

“對(duì)啊∑碓耄”瓊恩單膝跪下泽铛，山姆也跪在他身邊。

They said the

words together, as the last light faded in the west and grey day became black

night.

在最后一線日光沉落西天辑鲤，灰暗的白晝轉(zhuǎn)為黑夜的時(shí)刻盔腔，他們齊聲念出誓言。

“Hear my words, and bear witness to my vow,” they recited, their

voices filling the twilit grove. “Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It

shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no

children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my

post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. 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. I pledge my life

and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”

“傾聽我的誓言月褥，做我的見證弛随。”他們的朗誦充斥暮色中的樹林宁赤，“長(zhǎng)夜將至舀透，我從今開始守望，至死方休决左。我將不娶妻愕够，不封地，不生子佛猛。我將不戴寶冠链烈，不爭(zhēng)榮寵。我將盡忠職守挚躯，生死于斯。我是黑暗中的利劍擦秽，長(zhǎng)城上的守衛(wèi)码荔，抵御寒冷的烈焰，破曉時(shí)分的光線感挥，喚醒眠者的號(hào)角缩搅，守護(hù)王國(guó)的堅(jiān)盾。我將生命與榮耀獻(xiàn)給守夜人触幼，今夜如此硼瓣，夜夜皆然≈们”

The woods fell

silent. “You knelt as boys,” Bowen Marsh intoned solemnly. “Rise now as men of

the Night’s Watch.”

森林一片寂然堂鲤。“你們跪下時(shí)尚為孩童媒峡，”波文·馬爾錫肅穆地吟誦瘟栖，“起來吧，守夜人的漢子谅阿“胗矗”

Jon held out a

hand to pull Sam back to his feet. The rangers gathered round to offer smiles

and congratulations, all but the gnarled old forester Dywen. “Best we be

starting back, m’lord,” he said to Bowen Marsh. “Dark’s falling, and there’s

something in the smell o’ the night that I mislike.”

瓊恩伸手拉山姆起身酬滤。隨行的游騎兵湊過來微笑恭喜，惟獨(dú)滿臉皺紋的老林務(wù)官戴文例外寓涨《⒋“大人，咱們最好趕緊上路戒良，”他對(duì)波文·馬爾錫說体捏，“天黑了，這兒有些味道我不喜歡蔬墩∫氪颍”

And suddenly

Ghost was back, stalking softly between two weirwoods. White fur and red eyes,

Jon realized, disquieted. Like the trees?.?.?.?

突然，白靈輕步穿過兩棵魚梁木跑了回來拇颅。白毛紅眼奏司，瓊恩不安地想，就像這些樹……

The wolf had

something in his jaws. Something black. “What’s he got there?” asked Bowen

Marsh, frowning.

狼嘴里叼了東西樟插，黑黑的韵洋。“他咬了什么黄锤？”波文·馬爾錫皺眉問搪缨。

“To me, Ghost.” Jon knelt. “Bring it here.”

“白靈，來我這兒鸵熟「北啵”瓊恩單膝跪下×髑浚“把東西帶過來痹届。”

The direwolf

trotted to him. Jon heard Samwell Tarly’s sharp intake of breath.

冰原狼快步跑到他身邊打月。瓊恩聽見山姆威爾·塔利猛抽一口冷氣队腐。

“Gods be good,” Dywen muttered. “That’s a hand.”

“諸神慈悲，”戴文喃喃地說奏篙，“一只手柴淘。”