PROLOGUE

序曲

?? “We should start back,” Gared urged as thewoods began to grow dark around them. “The wildlings are dead.”

“咱們回頭吧∮掷鳎”蓋瑞不禁催促谒撼，眼看周圍的樹林逐漸黯淡灸叼，“既然野人①已經(jīng)死了，”

?? “Do the dead frighten you?” Ser Waymar Royceasked with just the hint of a smile.

“死人嚇著你了嗎衅斩？”威瑪·羅伊斯爵士帶著輕淺的笑意問。

?? Gared did notrise to the bait. He was an old man, past fifty,and he had seen the lordlings come and go. “Dead is dead,” he said. “We have nobusiness with the dead.”

蓋瑞并未中激將之計(jì)，年過五十的他也算得上是個(gè)老人概龄，這輩子看過太多貴族子弟來來去去∷俏眨“死了就是死了私杜，”他說，“咱們何必追尋死人救欧∷ゴ猓”

?? “Are they dead?” Royce asked softly. “Whatproof have we?”

“你能確定他們真死了？”羅伊斯輕聲問笆怠，“證據(jù)何在铝耻？”

?? “Will saw them,” Gared said. “If he saysthey are dead, that’s proof enough for me.”

“威爾看到了，”蓋瑞道蹬刷，“我相信他說的話瓢捉。”

?? Will had known they would drag him into thequarrel sooner or later. He wished it had been later rather than sooner. “Mymother told me that dead men sing no songs,” he put in.

威爾料到他們早晚會把自己卷入這場爭執(zhí)办成，只是沒想到這么快泡态。“我娘說過诈火，死人沒戲可唱兽赁∽创穑”他插嘴道。

?? “My wet nurse said the same thing, Will,”Royce replied. “Never believe anything you hear at awoman’s tit. There are things to be learnedeven from the dead.” His voiceechoed, tooloudin thetwilit forest.

“威爾刀崖，我奶媽也說過這話惊科，”羅伊斯回答：“千萬別相信你在女人懷里聽到的東西。就算人是死了亮钦，也能讓我們了解很多東西馆截。”他的余音在暮色昏暝的森林里回蕩蜂莉，似乎吵鬧了點(diǎn)蜡娶。

?? “We have a long ride before us,” Garedpointed out. “Eight days, maybe nine. And night is falling.”

“回去的路還長著呢，”蓋瑞指出映穗，“少不了走個(gè)八九天窖张，況且天色漸漸暗下來了∫献蹋”

?? Ser Waymar Royceglanced atthe sky withdisinterest. “It does thatevery day about this time. Are youunmannedby the dark, Gared?”

威瑪·羅伊斯爵士意興闌珊地掃視天際宿接。“每天這時(shí)候不都如此辕录？蓋瑞睦霎，你該不會怕黑吧？”

?? Will could see thetightnessaround Gared’s mouth, the barelysuppressedanger in hiseyes under thethick black

hood of his cloak. Gared had spent forty years in the Night’s Watch, manand boy, and he was not accustomed to being made light of. Yet it was more thanthat. Under thewounded

pride, Will could sense something else in the older man. You couldtasteit; a nervoustension that came perilous close to fear.

威爾看見蓋瑞緊抿的嘴唇走诞，以及他厚重黑斗篷下強(qiáng)自遏抑的怒火副女。蓋瑞當(dāng)了四十年的守夜人②，這種資歷可不是隨便讓人尋開心的蚣旱。但蓋瑞不僅是憤怒碑幅，在他受

傷的自尊底下，威爾隱約察覺到某種潛藏的不安姻锁，一種近似于畏懼的緊張情緒枕赵。

?? Will shared his unease. He had been fouryears on the Wall. The first time he had been sent beyond, all the old storieshad come rushing back, and his bowels had turned to water. He had laughed aboutit afterward. He was a veteran of a hundred rangings by now, and the endlessdark wilderness that the southron called the haunted forest had no more terrorsfor him.

威爾深有同感。他戍守長城不過四年位隶，當(dāng)初首次越墻北進(jìn)拷窜，所有的傳說故事突然都涌上心頭，把他嚇得四肢發(fā)軟涧黄，事后想起難免莞爾篮昧。如今他已是擁有百余次巡

邏經(jīng)驗(yàn)的老手，眼前這片南方人稱作鬼影森林的廣袤黑荒笋妥，他早已無所畏懼懊昨。

?? Until tonight. Something was differenttonight. There was an edge to this darkness that made his hackles rise. Ninedays they had been riding, north and northwest and then north again, fartherand farther from the Wall, hard on the track of a band of wildling raiders.Each day had been worse than the day that had come before it. Today was theworst of all. A cold wind was blowing out of the north, and it made the treesrustle like living things. All day, Will had felt as though something werewatching him, something cold and implacable that loved him not. Gared had feltit too. Will wanted nothing so much as to ride hellbent for the safety of theWall, but that was not a feeling to share with your commander.

然而今晚是個(gè)例外，迥異往昔春宣，四方暗幕中有種莫可名狀酵颁、讓他汗毛豎立的驚悚嫉你。他們輕騎北出長城，中途轉(zhuǎn)向西北躏惋，隨即又向北幽污，九天來晝夜加急、不斷推進(jìn)簿姨，緊咬一隊(duì)土匪的足跡距误。環(huán)境日益惡化，今天已降到谷底扁位。陰森北風(fēng)吹得樹影幢幢准潭，宛如猙獰活物，威爾整天都覺得自己受到一種冰冷且對他毫無好感的莫名之物監(jiān)視域仇，蓋瑞也感覺出了刑然。此刻威爾心中只想掉轉(zhuǎn)馬頭，沒命似地逃回長城殉簸。但這卻是萬萬不能在長官面前說出的念頭闰集。

?? Especially not a commander like this one.

尤其是這樣的長官。

?? Ser Waymar Royce was the youngest son of anancient house with too many heirs. He was a handsome youth of eighteen,grey-eyed and graceful and slender as a knife. Mounted on his huge blackdestrier, the knight towered above Will and Gared on their smaller garrons. Hewore black leather boots, black woolen pants, black moleskin gloves, and a finesupple coat of gleaming black ringmail over layers of black wool and boiledleather. Ser Waymar had been a Sworn Brother of the Night’s Watch for less thanhalf a year, but no one could say he had not prepared for his vocation. Atleast insofar as his wardrobe was concerned.

威瑪·羅伊斯爵士出身貴族世家般卑，在兒孫滿堂的家里排行老幺。他是個(gè)俊美的十八歲青年爽雄，有雙灰色眸子蝠检，舉止優(yōu)雅，瘦得像把尖刀挚瘟。騎在他那匹健壯的黑色戰(zhàn)馬上叹谁，比騎著矮小犁馬的威爾和蓋瑞高出許多。他穿著黑色皮靴乘盖，黑色羊毛褲焰檩，戴著黑色鼴鼠皮手套，黑色羊毛衫外套硬皮甲订框，又罩了一件閃閃發(fā)光的黑色環(huán)甲析苫。威瑪爵士宣誓成為守夜人尚不滿半年，但他絕非空手而來穿扳，最起碼行頭一件不少衩侥。

?? His cloak was his crowning glory; sable,thick and black and soft as sin. “Bet he killed them all himself, he did,”Gared told the barracks over wine, “twisted their little heads off, our mightywarrior.” They had all shared the laugh.

而他身上最耀眼的行頭，自然便是那件既厚實(shí)矛物、又柔軟驚人的黑色貂皮斗篷茫死。“我敢打賭履羞，那堆黑貂一定是他親手殺的峦萎，”蓋瑞在軍營里喝酒時(shí)對兄弟們說：“我們偉大的戰(zhàn)士哦屡久，把它們的小頭一顆顆扭斷啦“疲”當(dāng)時(shí)便引得眾人哄笑一團(tuán)涂身。

?? It is hard to take orders from a man youlaughed at in your cups, Will reflected as he sat shivering atop his garron.Gared must have felt the same.

　假如你的長官是大伙兒飲酒作樂時(shí)的嘲笑對象，你怎么去尊敬他呢搓蚪？威爾騎在馬上蛤售，不禁如此思量。想必蓋瑞也深有同感妒潭。

?? “Mormont said as we should track them, andwe did,” Gared said. “They’re dead. They shan’t trouble us no more. There’shard riding before us. I don’t like this weather. If it snows, we could be afortnight getting back, and snow’s the best we can hope for. Ever seen an icestorm, my lord?”

“莫爾蒙叫我們追查野人行蹤悴能，我們照辦了，”蓋瑞道：“現(xiàn)在他們死去雳灾，再也不會來騷擾我們漠酿。而眼前還有好長一段路等著我們。我實(shí)在不喜歡這種天氣谎亩，要是下雪炒嘲，我們得花兩個(gè)星期才能回去。其實(shí)下雪還算不上什么匈庭，大人夫凸，您可見過冰風(fēng)暴肆虐的景象？”

?? The lordling seemed not to hear him. Hestudied the deepening twilight in that half-bored, half-distracted way he had.Will had ridden with the knight long enough to understand that it was best notto interrupt him when he looked like that. “Tell me again what you saw, Will.All the details. Leave nothing out.”

小少爺似乎沒聽見這番話阱持。他用他特有的那種缺乏興趣夭拌、漫不經(jīng)心的方式審視著漸暗的暮色。威爾跟隨他已有些時(shí)日衷咽，知道這種時(shí)候最好不要打斷他鸽扁。“威爾镶骗，再跟我說一遍你看到了些什么桶现。仔細(xì)講來，別漏掉任何細(xì)節(jié)鼎姊÷夂停”

?? Will had been a hunter before he joined theNight’s Watch. Well, a poacher in truth. Mallister freeriders had caught himred-handed in the Mallisters’ own woods, skinning one of the Mallisters’ ownbucks, and it had been a choice of putting on the black or losing a hand. Noone could move through the woods as silent as Will, and it had not taken theblack brothers long to discover his talent.

在成為守夜人以前，威爾原本靠打獵為生此蜈。說難聽點(diǎn)即横，其實(shí)就是偷獵者。當(dāng)年他在梅利斯特家族的森林里偷獵公鹿裆赵，正忙著剝鹿皮东囚，弄得一手血腥的時(shí)候，被受雇于梅利斯特家的自由騎手③逮個(gè)正著战授。他若不選擇加入黑衫軍页藻，就只有單手被砍一途桨嫁。威爾潛行的本事是一等一的，在森林里無聲潛行等閑難及份帐，黑衫軍的弟兄們果然很快也就發(fā)現(xiàn)了他的長處璃吧。

?? “The camp is two miles farther on, over thatridge, hard beside a stream,” Will said. “I got close as I dared. There’s eightof them, men and women both. No children I could see. They put up a lean-toagainst the rock. The snow’s pretty well covered it now, but I could still makeit out. No fire burning, but the firepit was still plain as day. No one moving.I watched a long time. No living man ever lay so still.”

“營地在兩里之外，翻過山脊废境，緊鄰著一條溪畜挨。”威爾答道噩凹，“我已經(jīng)靠得很近了巴元。總共有八個(gè)人驮宴，男女都有逮刨，但沒看見小孩。他們背靠著大石頭堵泽，雖然雪幾乎把營地整個(gè)蓋住修己，但我還是分辨得出來。沒有營火迎罗，只有火堆的余燼比較明顯睬愤。他們一動不動，我仔細(xì)看了好長時(shí)間佳谦，活人絕不會躺得這么安靜戴涝。”

?? “Did you see any blood?”

“你發(fā)現(xiàn)血跡了嗎钻蔑？”

?? “Well, no,” Will admitted.

“嗯，沒有奸鸯∵湫Γ”威爾坦承。

?? “Did you see any weapons?”

“你看見任何武器了嗎娄涩？”

?? “Some swords, a few bows. One man had anaxe. Heavy-looking, double-bladed, a cruel piece of iron. It was on the groundbeside him, right by his hand.”

“幾支劍窗怒、兩三把弓，還有個(gè)家伙帶了一柄斧頭蓄拣。鐵打的雙刃斧扬虚，似乎挺沉的，擺在他右手邊的地上球恤」缄牵”

?? “Did you make note of the position of thebodies?”

“你記得他們躺著的相對位置嗎？”

?? Will shrugged. “A couple are sitting upagainst the rock. Most of them on the ground. Fallen, like.”

威爾聳聳肩咽斧】爸茫“兩三個(gè)靠著石頭躬存，大部分躺在地上，像是被打死的舀锨×胫蓿”

?? “Or sleeping,” Royce suggested.

“也可能在睡覺】材洌”羅伊斯提出異議盾剩。

?? “Fallen,” Will insisted. “There’s one womanup an ironwood, half-hid in the branches. A far-eyes.” He smiled thinly. “Itook care she never saw me. When I got closer, I saw that she wasn’t movingneither.” Despite himself, he shivered.

“肯定是被打死的，”威爾堅(jiān)持己見替蔬，“因?yàn)橛袀€(gè)女的爬在鐵樹上告私，藏在枝頭，應(yīng)該是個(gè)斥候进栽〉抡酰”他淺淺一笑】烀“我很小心格嗅，沒讓她見著。但等我靠近唠帝，卻發(fā)現(xiàn)她根本毫無動靜屯掖。”說到這兒他不禁一陣顫抖襟衰。

?? “You have a chill?” Royce asked.

“你受寒了贴铜？”羅伊斯問。

?? “Some,” Will muttered. “The wind, m’lord.”

“有點(diǎn)罷瀑晒，”威爾喃喃道绍坝，“大人，是風(fēng)的關(guān)系啊苔悦⌒郑”

?? The young knight turned back to his grizzledman-at-arms. Frostfallen leaves whispered past them, and Royce’s destrier movedrestlessly. “What do you think might have killed these men, Gared?” Ser Waymarasked casually. He adjusted the drape of his long sable cloak.

年輕騎士轉(zhuǎn)頭面對灰發(fā)老兵。結(jié)霜的落葉在他們耳邊低語飄零玖详，羅伊斯的戰(zhàn)馬局促不安把介。“蓋瑞蟋座，你覺得是誰殺了這些人拗踢？”威瑪爵士隨口問，順手整了整貂皮長袍的褶裥向臀。

?? “It was the cold,” Gared said with ironcertainty. “I saw men freeze last winter, and the one before, when I was half aboy. Everyone talks about snows forty foot deep, and how the ice wind comeshowling out of the north, but the real enemy is the cold. It steals up on youquieter than Will, and at first you shiver and your teeth chatter and you stampyour feet and dream of mulled wine and nice hot fires. It burns, it does.Nothing burns like the cold. But only for a while. Then it gets inside you andstarts to fill you up, and after a while you don’t have the strength to fightit. It’s easier just to sit down or go to sleep. They say you don’t feel anypain toward the end. First you go weak and drowsy, and everything starts tofade, and then it’s like sinking into a sea of warm milk. Peaceful, like.”

“是這該死的天氣巢墅，”蓋瑞斬釘截鐵地說，“上個(gè)嚴(yán)冬④，我親眼見人活活凍死砂缩，再之前那次也看過作谚，當(dāng)時(shí)我還是個(gè)孩子始赎。人人都說當(dāng)時(shí)積雪深達(dá)四十尺于购，北風(fēng)冷得跟玄冰似的，但真正要命的卻是低溫野哭。它會無聲無息地逮住你双吆，比威爾還安靜眨唬，起初你會發(fā)抖、牙齒打顫好乐、兩腿一伸匾竿，夢見滾燙的酒，溫暖的營火蔚万。很燙人岭妖，是的，再也沒什么像寒冷那樣燙人了反璃。但只消一會兒昵慌，它便會鉆進(jìn)你體內(nèi)，填滿你的身體淮蜈，過不了多久你就沒力氣抵抗斋攀，渴望坐下休息或小睡片刻，據(jù)說到最后完全不覺痛苦梧田。你只是渾身無力淳蔼，昏昏欲睡，然后一切漸漸消逝裁眯，最后鹉梨，就像淹沒在熱牛奶里一樣，安詳而恬靜穿稳「┗”

?? “Such eloquence, Gared,” Ser Waymarobserved. “I never suspected you had it in you.”

“我看你蠻有詩意嘛，”威瑪爵士下了評論司草，“沒想到你還有這方面的天分∨菡蹋”

?? “I’ve had the cold in me too, lordling.”Gared pulled back his hood, giving Ser Waymar a good long look at the stumpswhere his ears had been. “Two ears, three toes, and the little finger off myleft hand. I got off light. We found my brother frozen at his watch, with asmile on his face.”

“大人埋虹，我親身體驗(yàn)過嚴(yán)寒的威力，”蓋瑞往后拉開他的兜帽娩怎，好讓威瑪爵士看清楚他耳朵凍掉之后剩下的肉團(tuán)搔课。“兩只耳朵截亦，三根腳趾爬泥，還有左手的小指柬讨，我這算是輕傷了。我大哥當(dāng)年就是站崗的時(shí)候活活凍死的袍啡，等我們找到他踩官，他臉上還掛著笑容【呈洌”

?? Ser Waymar shrugged. “You ought dress morewarmly, Gared.”

威瑪爵士聳聳肩道：“我說蓋瑞蔗牡，你該多穿兩件衣服⌒崞剩”

?? Gared glared at the lordling, the scarsaround his ear holes flushed red with anger where Maester Aemon had cut theears away. “We’ll see how warm you can dress when the winter comes.” He pulledup his hood and hunched over his garron, silent and sullen.

蓋瑞怒視著他的年輕長官辩越，氣得耳根發(fā)紅。當(dāng)年伊蒙學(xué)士⑤把他壞死的耳朵割去信粮，如今耳洞旁還留著傷疤黔攒。“等冬天真正來臨時(shí)强缘，看你能穿得多暖督惰。”他拉起兜帽欺旧，縮著身子騎上馬姑丑，陰沉地不再吭聲。

?? “If Gared said it was the cold?.?.?.?” Willbegan.

“既然蓋瑞都說是天氣的關(guān)系了……”威爾正要開口辞友。

?? “Have you drawn any watches this past week,Will?”

“威爾栅哀，上周你有沒有站崗？”

?? “Yes, m’lord.” There never was a week whenhe did not draw a dozen bloody watches. What was the man driving at?

“有啊称龙，大人留拾。”他哪星期沒抽到站崗的簽鲫尊，這家伙究竟想說什么痴柔？

?? “And how did you find the Wall?”

“長城的情形如何？”

?? “Weeping,” Will said, frowning. He saw itclear enough, now that the lordling had pointed it out. “They couldn’t havefroze. Not if the Wall was weeping. It wasn’t cold enough.”

“在‘哭泣’啊疫向，”威爾皺著眉頭說咳蔚。這下他明白了∩ν眨“所以他們不是凍死的谈火，假如城墻會滴水，表示天氣還不夠冷舌涨∨此＃”

?? Royce nodded. “Bright lad. We’ve had a fewlight frosts this past week, and a quick flurry of snow now and then, butsurely no cold fierce enough to kill eight grown men. Men clad in fur andleather, let me remind you, with shelter near at hand, and the means of makingfire.” The knight’s smile was cocksure. “Will, lead us there. I would see thesedead men for myself.”

羅伊斯點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭。“聰明温技。過去這周結(jié)了點(diǎn)霜革为，偶爾還下點(diǎn)雪，但絕對沒有冷到凍死八個(gè)人的地步舵鳞。更何況他們穿著保暖的毛皮御寒震檩，所處地形足以遮擋風(fēng)雪，還有充足的生火材料系任】叶祝”騎士露出充滿自信的笑容×├模“威爾嘉蕾，帶路罷，我要親眼看看這些死人霜旧〈沓溃”

?? And then there was nothing to be done forit. The order had been given, and honor bound them to obey.

事情至此，他們別無選擇挂据。既然命令已下以清，也只有照辦的份兒。

?? Will went in front, his shaggy little garronpicking the way carefully through the undergrowth. A light snow had fallen thenight before, and there were stones and roots and hidden sinks lying just underits crust, waiting for the careless and the unwary. Ser Waymar Royce came next,his great black destrier snorting impatiently. The warhorse was the wrong mountfor ranging, but try and tell that to the lordling. Gared brought up the rear.The old man-at-arms muttered to himself as he rode.

威爾打前鋒崎逃，騎著他那匹長毛的馬掷倔，在矮樹叢里小小心翼翼地探路。昨夜下了一場小雪个绍，這會兒樹叢底下有許多石塊勒葱、樹根和水洼，一不小心就會摔倒巴柿。威瑪·羅伊斯爵士跟在后面凛虽，他那匹高壯駿馬不耐煩地吐著氣。巡邏任務(wù)最不適合騎戰(zhàn)馬广恢，但貴族子弟哪聽得進(jìn)去凯旋？老兵蓋瑞殿后，一路低聲喃喃自語钉迷。

?? Twilight deepened. The cloudless sky turneda deep purple, the color of an old bruise, then faded to black. The stars beganto come out. A half-moon rose. Will was grateful for the light.

暮色漸沉至非，無云的天空轉(zhuǎn)為淤青般的深紫，然后沒入黑幕糠聪。星星出來了睡蟋，新月也升起。威爾暗自感謝星月的光輝枷颊。

?? “We can make a better pace than this,surely,” Royce said when the moon was full risen.

“我們應(yīng)該可以再走快點(diǎn)。”羅伊斯說夭苗。這時(shí)月亮已快升上天頂信卡。

? ?“Notwith this horse,” Will said. Fear had made him insolent. “Perhaps my lord wouldcare to take the lead?”

“你的馬沒這能耐，”威爾道题造，恐懼使他無禮起來傍菇。“少爺您走前面試試界赔？”

?? Ser Waymar Royce did not deign to reply.

威瑪·羅伊斯爵士顯然不屑回答丢习。

?? Somewhere off in the wood a wolf howled.

樹林深處傳來一聲狼嗥。

?? Will pulled his garron over beneath anancient gnarled ironwood and dismounted.

威爾在一棵長滿樹瘤的老鐵樹旁停住淮悼，下了馬咐低。

?? “Why are you stopping?” Ser Waymar asked.

“為何停下？”威瑪爵士問袜腥。

?? “Best go the rest of the way on foot,m’lord. It’s just over that ridge.”

“大人见擦，后面的路步行比較好，翻過那道山脊就到羹令±鹇牛”

?? Royce paused a moment, staring off into thedistance, his face reflective. A cold wind whispered through the trees. Hisgreat sable cloak stirred behind like something half-alive.

羅伊斯也停下來凝神遠(yuǎn)望，一臉?biāo)妓鞯谋砬楦３蕖ｊ囮嚴(yán)滹L(fēng)颯颯響徹林間酒来，他的貂皮大衣在背后抖了抖，仿佛有了生命肪凛。

?? “There’s something wrong here,” Garedmuttered.

“這兒不太對勁堰汉。”蓋瑞喃喃地說显拜。

?? The young knight gave him a disdainfulsmile. “Is there?”

年輕騎士對他輕蔑地一笑衡奥。“是嗎远荠？”

?? “Can’t you feel it?” Gared asked. “Listen tothe darkness.”

“你難道沒感覺矮固？”蓋瑞質(zhì)問，“仔細(xì)聽聽暗處的聲音譬淳〉抵罚”

?? Will could feel it. Four years in theNight’s Watch, and he had never been so afraid. What was it?

威爾也感覺到了。在守夜人服役這四年來邻梆，他從未如此恐懼守伸。究竟是什么東西在作怪？

?? “Wind. Trees rustling. A wolf. Which soundis it that unmans you so, Gared?” When Gared did not answer, Royce slidgracefully from his saddle. He tied the destrier securely to a low-hanginglimb, well away from the other horses, and drew his longsword from its sheath.Jewels glittered in its hilt, and the moonlight ran down the shining steel. Itwas a splendid weapon, castle-forged, and new-made from the look of it. Willdoubted it had ever been swung in anger.

“風(fēng)聲浦妄，樹葉沙沙響尼摹，還有狼嚎见芹。蓋瑞，是哪一種把你嚇破膽啦蠢涝？”羅伊斯見蓋瑞沒接腔玄呛，便優(yōu)雅地翻身下馬。他把戰(zhàn)馬牢牢地綁在一根低垂的枝干上和二，跟其他兩匹離得遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)的徘铝，然后抽出長劍。這是把城里打造的好劍惯吕，劍柄鑲著珠寶惕它，熠熠發(fā)亮，月光在明晃晃的鋼劍身上反射出璀璨光芒废登，無疑是新打造的淹魄。威爾很懷疑它有沒有沾過血。

?? “The trees press close here,” Will warned.“That sword will tangle you up, m’lord. Better a knife.”

“大人钳宪，這兒樹長得很密揭北，”威爾警告，“可能會纏住您的劍吏颖，還是用短刀罷搔体。”

?? “If I need instruction, I will ask for it,”the young lord said. “Gared, stay here. Guard the horses.”

“我需要指導(dǎo)的時(shí)候自然會開口半醉【尉悖”年輕貴族道，“蓋瑞缩多，你守在這里呆奕，看好馬匹〕倪海”

?? Gared dismounted. “We need a fire. I’ll seeto it.”

蓋瑞下馬梁钾。“我來生個(gè)火逊抡∧沸海”

?? “How big a fool are you, old man? If thereare enemies in this wood, a fire is the last thing we want.”

“老頭子，愚蠢也有個(gè)限度冒嫡。若這林子里有敵人拇勃，我們難道要生火引他們過來么？”

?? “There’s some enemies a fire will keepaway,” Gared said. “Bears and direwolves and?.?.?.?and other things?.?.?.?”

“有些東西就只怕火孝凌，”蓋瑞道方咆，“比如熊、冰原狼蟀架、還有……還有好些東西瓣赂∮苌В”

?? Ser Waymar’s mouth became a hard line. “Nofire.”

威瑪爵士緊抿嘴唇」呈觯“我說不準(zhǔn)就是不準(zhǔn)寨躁。”

?? Gared’s hood shadowed his face, but Willcould see the hard glitter in his eyes as he stared at the knight. For a momenthe was afraid the older man would go for his sword. It was a short, ugly thing,its grip discolored by sweat, its edge nicked from hard use, but Will would nothave given an iron bob for the lordling’s life if Gared pulled it from itsscabbard.

蓋瑞的斗篷遮住了他的臉牙勘，但威爾還是看得到他瞪騎士時(shí)的眼神。他一度害怕這老頭會沖動地拔劍動粗所禀。老頭的劍雖然又短又丑方面，劍柄早被汗?jié)n浸得沒了顏色，劍刃也因長期使用而布滿缺口色徘，但若蓋瑞真的拔劍恭金，威爾知道那貴族公子哥兒必死無疑。

?? Finally Gared looked down. “No fire,” hemuttered, low under his breath.

最后蓋瑞低下頭褂策『嵬龋“那就算了”。他訕訕地說斤寂。

?? Royce took it for acquiescence and turnedaway. “Lead on,” he said to Will.

羅伊斯于是妥協(xié)耿焊，“帶路罷”。他對威爾說遍搞。

?? Will threaded their way through a thicket,then started up the slope to the low ridge where he had found his vantage pointunder a sentinel tree. Under the thin crust of snow, the ground was damp andmuddy, slick footing, with rocks and hidden roots to trip you up. Will made nosound as he climbed. Behind him, he heard the soft metallic slither of thelordling’s ringmail, the rustle of leaves, and muttered curses as reachingbranches grabbed at his longsword and tugged on his splendid sable cloak.

威爾領(lǐng)他穿越濃密樹叢罗侯，爬上低緩斜坡，朝山脊走去溪猿，他先前便是在那兒的一棵樹下找到藏身處所钩杰。薄薄的積雪底，地面潮濕而泥濘诊县，極易滑倒讲弄，石塊和暗藏的樹根也能絆人一跤。威爾爬坡時(shí)沒有發(fā)出任何聲響依痊，身后卻不時(shí)傳來公子哥環(huán)甲的金屬碰撞避除，葉子摩擦，以及分叉枝干絆住他的長劍抗悍，勾住他漂亮貂皮斗篷時(shí)所發(fā)出的咒罵聲驹饺。

?? The great sentinel was right there at thetop of the ridge, where Will had known it would be, its lowest branches a barefoot off the ground. Will slid in underneath, flat on his belly in the snow andthe mud, and looked down on the empty clearing below.

威爾知道那棵大哨兵樹位于山脊最高處，底部枝干離地僅有一尺缴渊。于是他爬進(jìn)矮樹叢赏壹，平趴在殘雪和泥濘里，往下方空曠的平地望去衔沼。

?? His heart stopped in his chest. For a momenthe dared not breathe. Moonlight shone down on the clearing, the ashes of thefirepit, the snow-covered lean-to, the great rock, the little half-frozenstream. Everything was just as it had been a few hours ago.

他的心臟停止了跳動蝌借，好一陣不敢呼吸昔瞧。月光灑落在空地上，映照出營火余燼菩佑，白雪覆蓋的巖石自晰，半結(jié)冰的小溪，全都和數(shù)小時(shí)前所見一模一樣稍坯。

?? They were gone. All the bodies were gone.

惟一的差別是酬荞，所有的人都不見了。

?? “Gods!” he heard behind him. A sword slashedat a branch as Ser Waymar Royce gained the ridge. He stood there beside thesentinel, longsword in hand, his cloak billowing behind him as the wind cameup, outlined nobly against the stars for all to see.

“諸神保佑瞧哟！”他聽見背后傳來的聲音混巧。威瑪·羅伊斯爵士揮劍劈砍樹枝，總算上了坡頂勤揩。他站在哨兵樹旁咧党，手握寶劍，披風(fēng)被吹得噼啪作響陨亡，明亮的星光清楚地勾勒出他高貴的身影傍衡。

?? “Get down!” Will whispered urgently.“Something’s wrong.”

“快趴下來！”威爾焦急地低聲說：“出怪事了负蠕⊥芄。”

?? Royce did not move. He looked down at theempty clearing and laughed. “Your dead men seem to have moved camp, Will.”

羅伊斯沒動，他俯瞰著下面空蕩蕩的平地笑道：“威爾虐急，看來你說的那些死人轉(zhuǎn)移陣地啰箱残。”

?? Will’s voice abandoned him. He groped forwords that did not come. It was not possible. His eyes swept back and forthover the abandoned campsite, stopped on the axe. A huge double-bladedbattle-axe, still lying where he had seen it last, untouched. A valuableweapon?.?.?.?

威爾仿佛突然間喪失了說話能力止吁，他竭力尋找合適的字眼被辑，卻徒勞無功。怎么會有這種事敬惦，他的視線在荒廢的營地中來回掃視盼理，最后停留在那柄斧頭上。這么一把巨大的雙刃戰(zhàn)斧俄删，竟會留在原地紋絲不動宏怔。照說這么值錢的家伙……

?? “On your feet, Will,” Ser Waymar commanded.“There’s no one here. I won’t have you hiding under a bush.”

“威爾，起來罷畴椰‰铮”威瑪爵士命令道，“這里沒人斜脂，躲躲藏藏的抓艳，成何體統(tǒng)！”

?? Reluctantly, Will obeyed.

威爾很不情愿地照辦帚戳。

?? Ser Waymar looked him over with opendisapproval. “I am not going back to Castle Black a failure on my firstranging. We will find these men.” He glanced around. “Up the tree. Be quick aboutit. Look for a fire.”

威瑪爵士不滿地上下打量他玷或±苁祝“我可不想第一次巡邏就鎩羽而歸。我們一定要找到這些家伙偏友∈呖瑁”他環(huán)顧四周∥凰“爬到樹上去看看氛濒，動作快，注意附近有沒有火光鹅髓∑瞄伲”

?? Will turned away, wordless. There was no useto argue. The wind was moving. It cut right through him. He went to the tree, avaulting grey-green sentinel, and began to climb. Soon his hands were stickywith sap, and he was lost among the needles. Fear filled his gut like a meal hecould not digest. He whispered a prayer to the nameless gods of the wood, andslipped his dirk free of its sheath. He put it between his teeth to keep bothhands free for climbing. The taste of cold iron in his mouth gave him comfort.

威爾無言地轉(zhuǎn)身，知道辯解無益迈勋。風(fēng)勢轉(zhuǎn)強(qiáng)，有如刀割醋粟。他走到高聳筆直的青灰色哨兵樹旁開始往上爬靡菇。很快他便消失在無邊松針里撵枢，雙手沾滿樹汁宅倒「妥啵恐懼像肚里一頓難以消化的飯菜鸡岗，他只能向不知名的森林之神默禱中跌，一邊抽出匕首慢逾，用牙咬住晋渺，空出雙手攀爬窄驹。嘴里冰冷的兵器讓他稍微安了點(diǎn)心违柏。

?? Down below, the lordling called outsuddenly, “Who goes there?” Will heard uncertainty in the challenge. He stoppedclimbing; he listened; he watched.

下方突然傳來年輕貴族的喊叫博烂。“誰在那里漱竖？”威爾在他的恫嚇中聽出了不安禽篱，便停止爬行，凝神諦聽馍惹，仔細(xì)觀察躺率。

?? The woods gave answer: the rustle of leaves,the icy rush of the stream, a distant hoot of a snow owl.

森林給了他答案：樹葉沙沙作響，寒溪潺潺脈動万矾，遠(yuǎn)方傳來雪梟的吶喊悼吱。

?? The Others made no sound.

異鬼無聲無息地出現(xiàn)。

?? Will saw movement from the corner of hiseye. Pale shapes gliding through the wood. He turned his head, glimpsed a whiteshadow in the darkness. Then it was gone. Branches stirred gently in the wind,scratching at one another with wooden fingers. Will opened his mouth to calldown a warning, and the words seemed to freeze in his throat. Perhaps he waswrong. Perhaps it had only been a bird, a reflection on the snow, some trick ofthe moonlight. What had he seen, after all?

威爾的眼角余光瞄到白色身影穿過樹林良狈。他轉(zhuǎn)過頭后添，看見黑暗中一道白影，隨即又消失不見们颜。樹枝在風(fēng)中微微悸動吕朵，伸出木指彼此搔抓猎醇。威爾張口想出聲警告，言語卻凍結(jié)在他的喉頭努溃×蛩唬或許是看錯了，或許那不過是只鳥梧税，或是雪地上的反光沦疾，更或許是月光造成的錯覺。他到底看到了什么第队？

?? “Will, where are you?” Ser Waymar called up.“Can you see anything?” He was turning in a slow circle, suddenly wary, hissword in hand. He must have felt them, as Will felt them. There was nothing tosee. “Answer me! Why is it so cold?”

“威爾哮塞，你在哪里？”威瑪爵士朝上方喊凳谦，“你看到什么了嗎忆畅？”他突然提高警覺，手中持劍緩緩轉(zhuǎn)圈尸执。他一定也和威爾一樣感覺到了家凯。然而四周卻空無一人∪缡В“快回答我绊诲！這里為什么這么冷？”

?? It was cold. Shivering, Will clung moretightly to his perch. His face pressed hard against the trunk of the sentinel.He could feel the sweet, sticky sap on his cheek.

這里真的非常冷褪贵。威爾顫抖著抱緊樹干掂之，面頰貼住哨兵樹的樹皮。黏稠而甜膩的樹汁流到他臉上脆丁。

?? A shadow emerged from the dark of the wood.It stood in front of Royce. Tall, it was, and gaunt and hard as old bones, withflesh pale as milk. Its armor seemed to change color as it moved; here it waswhite as new-fallen snow, there black as shadow, everywhere dappled with thedeep grey-green of the trees. The patterns ran like moonlight on water withevery step it took.

一道陰影突然自樹林暗處冒出世舰，站到羅伊斯面前。它的體型十分高大偎快，憔悴堅(jiān)毅渾似枯骨冯乘，膚色蒼白如同乳汁。它的盔甲似乎會隨著移動而改變顏色晒夹，一會兒白如新雪裆馒，一會兒黑如暗影，處處點(diǎn)綴著森林的深奧灰綠丐怯。它每走一步喷好，其上的圖案便似水面上的粼粼月光般不斷改變。

?? Will heard the breath go out of Ser WaymarRoyce in a long hiss. “Come no farther,” the lordling warned. His voice crackedlike a boy’s. He threw the long sable cloak back over his shoulders, to freehis arms for battle, and took his sword in both hands. The wind had stopped. Itwas very cold.

威爾只聽威瑪·羅伊斯爵士倒抽一口冷氣读跷」＝粒“不要過來！”貴族少爺警告對方，聲音卻小得像個(gè)孩童无切。他將那件長長的貂皮大衣翻到背后荡短，空出活動空間，雙手持劍哆键。風(fēng)已停掘托，寒徹骨。

?? The Other slid forward on silent feet. Inits hand was a longsword like none that Will had ever seen. No human metal hadgone into the forging of that blade. It was alive with moonlight, translucent,a shard of crystal so thin that it seemed almost to vanish when seen edge-on.There was a faint blue shimmer to the thing, a ghost-light that played aroundits edges, and somehow Will knew it was sharper than any razor.

異鬼安靜地向前滑行籍嘹，手中握著長劍闪盔，威爾從沒見過類似的武器。那是把半透明的劍辱士，材質(zhì)完全不是人類所使用的金屬泪掀，更像是一片極薄的水晶碎片，倘若平放刃面颂碘，幾乎無從發(fā)現(xiàn)异赫。它與月光相互輝映，劍身周圍有股淡淡而詭異的藍(lán)光头岔。不知怎地祝辣，威爾明白這柄劍比任何剃刀都要鋒利。

?? Ser Waymar met him bravely. “Dance with methen.” He lifted his sword high over his head, defiant. His hands trembled fromthe weight of it, or perhaps from the cold. Yet in that moment, Will thought,he was a boy no longer, but a man of the Night’s Watch.

威瑪爵士勇敢地迎上前去切油。“既然如此名惩，我們就來較量較量罷澎胡。”他舉劍過頭娩鹉，語帶挑釁攻谁。雖然他的手不知因?yàn)橹亓炕蚴强岷澏叮枀s覺得在那一刻弯予，他已經(jīng)不再是個(gè)軟弱怯懦的少年戚宦，而成了真正的守夜人男子漢。

? ?TheOther halted. Will saw its eyes; blue, deeper and bluer than any human eyes, ablue that burned like ice. They fixed on the longsword trembling on high,watched the moonlight running cold along the metal. For a heartbeat he dared tohope.

異鬼停住腳步锈嫩。威爾看到了它的眼睛受楼，那是一種比任何人眼都要湛藍(lán)深邃的顏色，如玄冰一般冷冷燃燒呼寸。它把視線停留在對方高舉的顫抖著的劍上艳汽，凝視著冷冷月光在金屬劍緣流動。那一剎那对雪，威爾覺得事情還有轉(zhuǎn)機(jī)河狐。

?? They emerged silently from the shadows,twins to the first. Three of them?.?.?.?four?.?.?.?five?.?.?.?Ser Waymar mayhave felt the cold that came with them, but he never saw them, never heardthem. Will had to call out. It was his duty. And his death, if he did. Heshivered, and hugged the tree, and kept the silence.

此時(shí)它們靜悄悄地從陰影里冒出來，與第一個(gè)異鬼長得一模一樣，三個(gè)……四個(gè)……五個(gè)……馋艺，威瑪爵士或許能感覺伴隨他們而來的寒意栅干，但他既沒看到它們、也沒聽見它們的聲音捐祠。威爾應(yīng)該警告他碱鳞，畢竟那是他職責(zé)所在。然而一旦出聲雏赦，他便必死無疑劫笙。于是他顫抖著緊抱樹干，不敢作聲星岗。

?? The pale sword came shivering through theair.

慘白的長劍厲聲破空填大。

?? Ser Waymar met it with steel. When theblades met, there was no ring of metal on metal; only a high, thin sound at theedge of hearing, like an animal screaming in pain. Royce checked a second blow,and a third, then fell back a step. Another flurry of blows, and he fell backagain.

威瑪爵士舉起鋼劍迎敵。當(dāng)兩劍交擊俏橘，發(fā)出的卻非金屬碰撞允华，而是一種位于人類聽覺極限邊緣，又高又細(xì)寥掐，像是動物痛苦哀嚎的聲音靴寂。羅伊斯擋住第二道攻擊，接著是第三道召耘，然后退了一步百炬。又一陣刀光劍影之后，他再度后退污它。

?? Behind him, to right, to left, all aroundhim, the watchers stood patient, faceless, silent, the shifting patterns oftheir delicate armor making them all but invisible in the wood. Yet they madeno move to interfere.

在他左右兩側(cè)剖踊，前后周圍，其余異鬼耐心地佇立旁觀衫贬。它們一聲不吭德澈，面無表情，盔甲上不斷變化的細(xì)致圖案在樹林中格外顯眼固惯。它們遲遲未出手干預(yù)梆造。

?? Again and again the swords met, until Willwanted to cover his ears against the strange anguished keening of their clash.Ser Waymar was panting from the effort now, his breath steaming in themoonlight. His blade was white with frost; the Other’s danced with pale bluelight.

兩人不斷交手，直到威爾想要捂住耳朵葬毫，再也無法忍受武器碰撞時(shí)刺耳的詭異聲響镇辉。威瑪爵士的呼吸開始急促，呼出的氣在月光下蒸騰如煙贴捡。他的長劍已結(jié)滿白霜摊聋，異鬼的劍則依舊閃耀著蒼藍(lán)光芒。

?? Then Royce’s parry came a beat too late. Thepale sword bit through the ringmail beneath his arm. The young lord cried outin pain. Blood welled between the rings. It steamed in the cold, and thedroplets seemed red as fire where they touched the snow. Ser Waymar’s fingersbrushed his side. His moleskin glove came away soaked with red.

這時(shí)羅伊斯一記擋格慢了一拍栈暇，慘白色的劍頓時(shí)咬穿他腋下環(huán)甲麻裁。年輕貴族痛苦地喊了一聲，鮮血流淌在鐵環(huán)間，熾熱的血液在冷空氣中蒸汽朦朦煎源，滴到雪地的血泊色迂，紅得像火。威瑪爵士伸手按住傷口手销，鼴鼠皮手套整個(gè)浸成鮮紅歇僧。

?? The Other said something in a language thatWill did not know; his voice was like the cracking of ice on a winter lake, andthe words were mocking.

異鬼開口用一種威爾聽不懂的語言說了幾句話，聲音如冰湖碎裂锋拖，腔調(diào)充滿嘲弄诈悍。

?? Ser Waymar Royce found his fury. “ForRobert!” he shouted, and he came up snarling, lifting the frost-coveredlongsword with both hands and swinging it around in a flat sidearm slash withall his weight behind it. The Other’s parry was almost lazy.

威瑪·羅伊斯爵士找回了勇氣∈薨＃“勞勃國王萬歲侥钳！”他高聲怒吼，雙手緊緊握住覆滿白霜的長劍柄错，使盡全身力氣瘋狂揮舞舷夺。異鬼泰然自若。

?? When the blades touched, the steelshattered.

兩劍相擊售貌，鋼劍應(yīng)聲碎裂给猾。

?? A scream echoed through the forest night,and the longsword shivered into a hundred brittle pieces, the shards scatteringlike a rain of needles. Royce went to his knees, shrieking, and covered hiseyes. Blood welled between his fingers.

尖叫聲回蕩在深夜的林里，羅伊斯的長劍裂成千千碎片颂跨，如同一陣針雨四散甩落敢伸。羅伊斯慘叫著跪下，伸手捂住雙眼恒削，鮮血從他指縫間汩汩流下详拙。

?? The watchers moved forward together, as ifsome signal had been given. Swords rose and fell, all in a deathly silence. Itwas cold butchery. The pale blades sliced through ringmail as if it were silk.Will closed his eyes. Far beneath him, he heard their voices and laughter sharpas icicles.

旁觀的異鬼仿佛接收到什么訊號，這時(shí)一涌向前蔓同。一片死寂之中，劍雨紛飛蹲诀，這是場冷酷的屠殺斑粱。慘白的劍刃砍絲般切進(jìn)環(huán)甲。威爾閉上眼睛脯爪。他聽見地面上遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)傳來它們的談笑聲则北，尖利一如冰針。

?? When he found the courage to look again, along time had passed, and the ridge below was empty.

良久痕慢，他終于鼓起勇氣睜開眼睛尚揣。樹下的山脊空無一人。

?? He stayed in the tree, scarce daring tobreathe, while the moon crept slowly across the black sky. Finally, his musclescramping and his fingers numb with cold, he climbed down.

月亮緩緩爬過漆黑的天幕掖举，但他依舊留在樹上快骗，嚇得大氣也不敢出。最后，他驅(qū)動抽筋的肌肉和凍僵的手指方篮，爬回樹下名秀。

?? Royce’s body lay facedown in the snow, onearm outflung. The thick sable cloak had been slashed in a dozen places. Lyingdead like that, you saw how young he was. A boy.

羅伊斯的尸體面朝下倒臥在雪地里，一只手臂朝外伸出藕溅，厚重的貂皮披風(fēng)被砍得慘不忍睹匕得。見他命喪于此，才發(fā)現(xiàn)他原來有多年輕巾表，不過是個(gè)大孩子罷了汁掠。

?? He found what was left of the sword a fewfeet away, the end splintered and twisted like a tree struck by lightning. Willknelt, looked around warily, and snatched it up. The broken sword would be hisproof. Gared would know what to make of it, and if not him, then surely thatold bear Mormont or Maester Aemon. Would Gared still be waiting with thehorses? He had to hurry.

他在幾尺外找到斷劍的殘骸，劍身像遭雷擊的樹頂支離破碎集币。威爾彎下腰考阱，小心翼翼地環(huán)顧四周之后才把劍撿起來。他要拿這柄斷劍當(dāng)證物惠猿，蓋瑞會知道該怎么做羔砾。就算他不知道，“熊老”莫爾蒙或伊蒙學(xué)士也一定有辦法偶妖。蓋瑞還守著馬匹等他回去么姜凄？最好加快腳步。

?? Will rose. Ser Waymar Royce stood over him.

威爾起身趾访。威瑪·羅伊斯爵士站在他面前态秧。

?? His fine clothes were a tatter, his face aruin. A shard from his sword transfixed the blind white pupil of his left eye.

他的華裳盡碎，容貌全毀扼鞋，斷劍的裂片反映出他左眼瞳孔的一片茫然申鱼。

?? The right eye was open. The pupil burnedblue. It saw.

他的右眼卻是張開的，瞳孔中燒著藍(lán)火云头，看著活人捐友。

?? The broken sword fell from nervelessfingers. Will closed his eyes to pray. Long, elegant hands brushed his cheek,then tightened around his throat. They were gloved in the finest moleskin andsticky with blood, yet the touch was icy cold.

斷劍從威爾無力的手中落下，他閉眼默禱溃槐。優(yōu)雅修長的雙手拂過他的兩頰匣砖，掐住他的咽喉。這雙手雖然包裹在最上等的鼴鼠皮手套里昏滴，且滿是黏稠血塊猴鲫，卻冰冷無比。

※※※※※※

　∫ナ狻①野人：指居住在絕境長城以北拂共，不在王國法律統(tǒng)治之下的人。他們的首領(lǐng)是曼斯·雷德姻几，號稱“塞外之王”宜狐。

　∈聘妗②守夜人：一支駐守王國最北絕境長城的部隊(duì)，因身著黑衣肌厨，以對付長城外的各種威脅為職責(zé)而得名培慌。

　　③自由騎手：雇傭兵的一種柑爸，擁有馬匹吵护，但并無騎士身份。

　”眵ⅰ④在冰與火之歌的世界里馅而，四季的持續(xù)時(shí)間與地球不同，四季均可逾年譬圣，甚至長達(dá)數(shù)年瓮恭。一個(gè)人一生能夠經(jīng)歷的冬季和夏季次數(shù)相當(dāng)少。

　±迨臁⑤學(xué)士為一身兼學(xué)者屯蹦、醫(yī)生、教師绳姨、顧問之職業(yè)登澜。有時(shí)亦翻作“師傅”，作為較口語飘庄、較親昵之用法脑蠕。在國王的御前會議中擁有席位的大學(xué)士亦稱作“國師”。