魔晶仆从——第三章一场耻辱的相遇(页 1) - 文字翻译室 - 龙骑士城堡奇幻论坛奇幻文学,翻译,原创,龙与地下城,冰与火之歌

无一物 发表于 2006-3-17 14:51

魔晶仆从——第三章一场耻辱的相遇

第三章 一场耻辱的相遇本章译者：无一物 他夺回了自己原来的房间，甚至也回复了真正的姓名。路斯坎那些达官贵人们的记忆并不像他们所宣称的那样长久。 早些年，盗贼莫里克曾被控告企图谋杀英勇船只海灵号那可敬的船长杜德蒙，一位有名的海盗猎人。因为在千帆之城被指控几乎就完全等同于宣告有罪，莫里克不得不面对一种将在囚犯狂欢节的公开展示集会上被处死的可怕前景。事实上当他正处于最终的酷刑折磨之中时，是杜德蒙船长深深感到了那可怕景象的残忍恐怖，从而宽恕了他的罪行。 不管有没有被宽恕，莫里克都被永远逐出了路斯坎，对他来说这是死亡一样的痛苦。当然，不管怎么说后来他还是回来了。一开始他用伪造的身份作为伪装，但逐渐地他恢复了自己原来的服饰、真正的生活习惯、他在街道的关系网、他的房间，最后是自己的姓名和它所带来的旧有名声。那些高官也知道这些，但有太多太多的其他暴徒等着他们去折磨至死，他们看起来毫不关心这一切。 现在他已经能用一种幽默的眼光去回顾囚犯狂欢节那可怕的一天了。当有如此之多的罪行能正当地宣告自己有罪之时他却因一桩莫须有的控告而饱受折磨之苦，在莫里克看来这真是一种绝妙的讽刺。 现在一切都已经成为回忆，一段关于以沃夫加之名阴谋与危机旋风的回忆。他已经再次恢复盗贼莫里克的身份，而一切也已回到原来的轨道……至少几乎是这样。 因为眼下一个新的变数，一个诱人同时也带有极大危险的变数，进入了莫里克的生活。他小心翼翼走向自己房间的房门，同时一个劲儿向狭窄的走廊四下张望，仔细检视一处处阴影。当确信现在自己是独自一人了，他快步走近房门，把它遮蔽保护起来以避开任何魔法形式的窥视魔眼，然后开始动手沿着门柱的两侧从顶上到底下解除将近一打的致命陷阱。这一步也完成之后，他取出一串钥匙打开门锁——一重，两重，三重的锁——然后咔哒一声开了门。他又解除了另外一个陷阱——这个是爆炸性的——然后进了房间，关上门并且再次把它遮蔽起来，所有的陷阱也都恢复原状。整个过程花了他比十分钟还多的时间，但每当回家的时候他还是会按全部程序不厌其烦做一遍。黑暗精灵们毫无预警不请自来地闯进了莫里克的生活。他们向他许诺只要完成交付的任务就能得到一个国王所能拥有的财富，同时也作出了保证、向他展示了那枚诱人金币抛掷起来所显露出的另一面。 莫里克检查了一遍靠近门边的一个小小的基座。他点点头，很满意地看到广口花瓶里的小球还在原处。这器皿涂上了一层接触性毒药而且安装有一个灵敏的压力触发陷阱。他为这个特殊的小球付了一大笔钱——那笔数目庞大的金子他必须辛勤偷盗一年才能赚得回来——但以莫里克恐惧的眼光来看，这东西很能值得这个天价。它被施予了一个防止次元门在这房间里开启的强大反魔法咒文，这能防止法师们以另一种途径——一个传送法术——闯进来。 盗贼莫里克绝对不希望再被一个站在他床边并且居高临下慢慢浮现出来的黑暗精灵从睡梦里惊醒了。 所有的锁都牢牢锁上了，他的小球静躺在保护容器里，然而还是有些微妙的蛛丝马迹，一种无形的暗涌，颈后头发的些微搔痒，向莫里克暗示着有些事情不对劲。他环视四周，目光从一处阴影游移到另一处阴影，又转向他那很久以前用砖头封死的窗户上静静挂着的窗帘。他望向自己的床铺，被子铺得整整齐齐，床缘下没有挂着毯子。莫里克稍微弯下腰仔细扫视了床底。没有人藏在那里。 这时他想到了窗帘，于是迂回路线朝着那个大方向开始移动以免遭到入侵者的任何攻击。一次突然的转弯之后他一个箭步冲到窗帘前，手里紧握着匕首，然后一把拉开窗帘用力刺了下去，却只看见空气。大大松了口气的同时莫里克因自己的多疑笑出声来。当那些黑暗精灵到来之后他的世界变得多么不同啊。现在他每天都处在神经高度紧绷的边缘。他总共不过见过卓尔五次，其中还包括早已过去的那次他们最初遭遇的情形，那时沃夫加刚在城里崭露头角，而他们，因着某些莫里克至今也没完全弄明白的理由，要求他密切注意这个巨大的野蛮人。 他总是保持着非比寻常的敏锐，总是十分机警，但他提醒着自己与卓尔合作所可能带来的潜在暴利。从所能推论出的种种来看，他之所以能再次成为盗贼莫里克，其中一部分原因就和贾拉索众多党羽之一与某一位当局者的某次会面脱不开干系。 他深感安慰地叹了口气，把窗帘又拉了回去，就在那时，当一只手捂住了他的嘴而一把匕首的锐利锋刃紧紧抵上了他咽喉，他不由在惊骇之中呆若木鸡。 “那些宝石已经到手了？”一个声音在他耳边低声问道，尽管语调平淡，却依然显示出令人难以置信的力量与冷静。那只手从他的嘴滑下又向上游移到前额，迫使他的头充分后仰以提醒他他的咽喉是多么毫无防范和易受攻击。 莫里克没有作出回答，虽然他脑子里已经电光火石般闪过了许多可能——试图逃跑看起来是最不可行的，因为控制着他的那只手显示出令人恐惧的力量，而握着匕首抵住他咽喉的另一只则是异乎寻常地坚定不移。不管攻击者是谁，莫里克立刻就明白自己已经被打败了。 “我只再问一次，然后一切就都结束了。”那耳语再次响起。 “你不是卓尔。”，莫里克答道，尽可能地争取一些时间以确保这个人类——他知道这是个人类而肯定不是黑暗精灵——不会作出任何轻率的举动。 “也许我是，但处于某种法师法术的伪装之下。”攻击者说，“但那是不可能的——或者可能？——因为在这房间里没有魔法能够生效。”说完他随意一推莫里克，然后一边退后一边抓着这受惊盗贼的肩把他转过身来。 莫里克不认识这个人，但他还是明白自己处于迫在眉睫的危险之中。他垂下目光看向自己的匕首，和他对手持有的华贵而有着镶宝石把柄的武器相比它看起来真的很可怜——莫里克有些畏缩地意识到，那几乎可以说是它们各自的持有者相对力量的反映。 即使以路斯坎这个充斥着盗贼的城市而言，在街道上盗贼莫里克也算是一个出色的贼。他的名声，虽然因高明的诈骗手段而增长，却也已经在城市内部大大传扬。眼前的这个人类，也许比莫里克年长十岁以上，以一种如此冷静和安定的姿态站在他面前…… 这个人进入了他的房间并且毫不为人所察地逗留在这里，尽管莫里克努力地检查过了四周。这时莫里克注意到他的被子已经变得乱七八糟——但是刚才当他检查的时候，它不是铺得十分平整吗？ “你不是卓尔。”莫里克大着胆子重复了一次。 “并不是贾拉索所有的代理者都是黑暗精灵，不是这样吗，盗贼莫里克？”人类回答道。 莫里克点点头轻轻把匕首收回腰带上的鞘里，一个意在缓和紧张气氛的动作，这是莫里克拼命想达到的目的。 “宝石呢？”那人问。 莫里克无法掩饰脸上的惊慌神情。 “那应该是你从Telsburgher手里买进的，”人类评价说，“渠道畅通无阻，要做到这一点并不难。” “本来是畅通无阻的，”莫里克纠正道，“但有一个地方小官和我有旧仇。” 入侵者又开始了凝视，既没有耍阴谋的迹象也没有流露出怒气，莫里克根本无从得知他到底有没有兴趣听自己的任何借口。 “Telsburgher已经准备要卖给我了，”盗贼很快补充道，“以我们早就谈妥的价格。他所唯一犹豫的大概是担心那小官Jharkheld的报复。那个麻烦的家伙很记仇。他知道我回到了城里而且想把我弄回囚犯狂欢节上去，但听说因为上级的命令他做不到这一点。这还得感谢贾拉索。” “你对贾拉索表示感谢的方式应该是完美地按照命令去做。”人类回答，而莫里克紧张地把身体重心从一只脚转移到另一只脚。“他出手帮你是为了充实他的钱包，不是为了把他的心塞满那些慷慨的同情。” 莫里克点头。“我没胆量和Jharkheld斗。”他解释说，“我发动攻击而又不招致路斯坎更高层权威愤怒的代价会是多么高昂，从而最终将给贾拉索的钱包带来损失？” “Jharkheld不构成威胁。”那人回答以一种如此确定的口气以至莫里克发现自己完全对对方的话深信不疑。“去完成这桩交易。” “但是……”莫里克试着开口。 “就在今晚。”这就是答案，而人类已经转身开始走向房门。 就在莫里克眼前，那人的手以一种令人惊异的灵巧纯熟开始翻转作业，一个接一个陷阱被解除然后门锁被打开。即使是莫里克，要通过这扇门和这些他所设置的复杂陷阱也要花上好几分钟的时间，而且他还使用了钥匙来打开那三把理论上很难撬开的门锁，然而，在不过两分钟的时间里，现在门已经被大大推开了。 人类回头一瞥同时把什么东西抛到莫里克脚边的地板上。 那是一段金属丝。 “你最底下陷阱上的这玩意儿太长了，根本没用，”人类解释道，“我帮你把它修整过了。” 然后他走出去关上门，盗贼听见所有的锁和陷阱有效复原时发出了咔哒轻响和嵌板转动的声音。 莫里克谨慎地走近他的床把被子掀到一旁。床垫上被挖出了一个洞，大小正好能让入侵者藏身。盗贼无可奈何地笑起来，这一切更增长了他对贾拉索佣兵团的敬意。他甚至不必走近去检查陷阱花瓶就能知道现在那里面的小球只不过是个假货，而真的那个刚才已经出了他的房门。 当走进路斯坎下午晚些时候的阳光里时，恩崔立不禁眨了眨眼。他把手插到口袋里，触摸到他刚才从莫里克那儿带走的魔法物品。这个小球阻挠了莱基。当他试图亲自拜访莫里克的时候它使得他的法术完全无法生效，很可能就像它现在所做的一样。仅仅这个念头也让杀手感到满足不已。达耶特独立佣兵团几乎花费了一整个十日来调查莫里克突然隔绝魔法的原因，这个人到底是怎么使法师们的窥视魔眼无法达到他房间的。因此，恩崔立被派遣前来。他不认为这个指令和他的高超的盗贼技能有关，更确切地说，这只是因为黑暗精灵们不确定莫里克的抵抗力究竟怎样，只因他们不希望自己的任何同伴在这次查探中冒险。当然，贾拉索不会乐意见到莱基和金穆瑞强迫恩崔立去执行这次任务，但那对同僚很清楚杀手不会向佣兵头子透露这件事。 因此，恩崔立是为这两个强大而又可恨的黑暗精灵充当了消息传递人。 他所接到的带走小球和了结与莫里克的交易的指令十分明确。现在他应该把小球放到一旁然后用莱基交给他的魔法信号口哨通知身在千里之外卡林港的黑暗精灵们，但他一点也不急着这么做。 他知道自己应该杀了莫里克，既因为这个人试图自保的鲁莽行径也由于他没能交出必需的宝石。当然莱基和金穆瑞会要求这样的惩罚。现在他得证明自己保护莫里克的行为是正确的。 杀手十分清楚地了解路斯坎，他曾途经这座城市好几次，其中还包括就在不久之前当他独自和其他几个卓尔代理者了解到莫里克那魔法设计物品的真相时那一次长期的拜访。漫步街头，他很快就听到了囚犯狂欢节的叫喊和举杯欢庆声。他走进露天广场后方的时候某个可怜的蠢货正肚破肠流好像拖着一根长长的绳索。恩崔立几乎没有留意这公开展示的景象，转而集中注意力于那正在主持这场酷刑的面部特征鲜明、身材矮小罩着长袍的身形。 那个人对垂死挣扎的牺牲者高声叫喊，喝令对方在一切无可挽回之前供出自己的同伙、犯罪的地点和时间。“为你能有一个更加愉快的后半生着想！”官员尖叫道，他的声音正和他的怒气、他棱角分明的脸一样突出。“就是现在！在你死之前！” 囚犯只是哀号着。对恩崔立而言看起来就像是他早已经无法领会官员话语的任何含义了。 他很快就死了，然后展示结束。人们开始簇拥着走出广场，大多数人点头笑着，兴奋地谈论今天Jharkheld的精彩展示。 那就是恩崔立所需要听到的一切。 他从一片阴影游移到另一片阴影，尾随着官员走下从广场后方通向一座高塔的短短步道。那座塔里设有囚犯狂欢节相关官员的住处和办公处，同时地牢里也关着即将面对公开酷刑的那些犯人。 他沉思着自己拿到莫里克那小球的好运气，因为它能提供他某种保护以避开任何参与守卫高塔的雇佣法师。这使得他前进的路上只剩下一些岗哨和机械陷阱需要应付。 两者都不对阿提密斯·恩崔立构成丝毫威胁。 当太阳消失在西边天际的时候，他走进了塔门。                 * * * * * “他们有很多同盟。”莱基坚持着。 “他们会无声无息消失掉，”贾拉索笑容满面地回答，“仅仅只是消失了。” 莱基呻吟着摇了摇头，而金穆瑞走过房间在一张豪华的椅子上舒舒服服地坐下来，把一条腿搭到加了衬垫的扶手上，抬头望着天花板翻了个白眼。 “你们还是怀疑我？”贾拉索问，他的声调轻柔而无害，丝毫不带威胁的意味，“想一想我们已经在卡林港和跨越地表所做到的所有这些事。我们在很多主要城市设有代理人，甚至包括深水城在内。” “我们在别的城市找到了很多代理，”莱基纠正道，“所有人都在为我们好好工作，只除了一个，路斯坎的那个小贼。”他停下来扫一眼心灵异能者同伴，笑了起来。“也许是这样。” 一想到他们的第二位代理——贾拉索还不知道那个人类已经离开了卡林港——现在正在路斯坎辛勤工作，金穆瑞不由得吃吃笑出声来。 “其他人都还在起步阶段，”法师继续道，“其中一些很有前途，而另一些就不见得了，但现在还没有一个能称得上代理人这个头衔。” “那么，也快了。”贾拉索说着，径直走向他自己的舒适座椅，“非常快！他们会成为有利可图的合伙人，否则我们就另外再找一些——在贪婪的人类中这不算什么太棘手的事。而卡林港这边的情形……看看四周。难道你能怀疑我们来到这儿的高明之处？珠宝美玉正源源不断地流进我们口袋，一条卓族急欲扩张领土到魔索布莱那有限财富之外的坦途。” “如果契德·纳撒城的最高家族没有认为这是在切断他们的财路，我们就够幸运了。”来自其他卓尔城市的莱基辛辣地评价道。 对此佣兵头子只是报以嘲笑。 “我不否认卡林港的收益性。”法师副官继续说，“在我们最初计划前往地表的旅程时我们就都认同了它将带来直接而丰厚的利润。同样地我们也都达成了一致见解，这很可能只是一个短时期，而在最初的收益之后，我们应该好好认清自己的立场并且很可能撤回自己的领土，只适当留下获益最丰的贸易往来和代理。” “所以现在我们应该重新考虑，而我已经这么做了。”贾拉索说，“看起来很明显我们低估了这次地表行动的潜能。扩张！我提议，扩张。” 金穆瑞再次露出了沮丧的神情。他还是看着天花板，好像以此作为一种对佣兵头子所提建议的可怜反对方式。 “便衣们希望我们能把交易限定于这一区域。”贾拉索提醒道，“然而能提供更多奇异货物——那些很可能在魔索布莱大受欢迎的货物——的工匠都在目前我们控制的区域之外。” “那我们就和他们做一笔交易，让那些人也参与到这个他们以前没有插手、崭新而又有利可图的市场中来分一杯羹。”莱基提出了一项以达耶特独立佣兵团——一个永远想方设法把“相互受益”作为自己的商业信条、唯利是图又机会主义的团队——的历史来看绝妙而又完全合情合理的建议。 “他们不足为虑。”贾拉索回答道，同时向面前的空气中伸出拇指和食指然后把它们挤到一起仿佛正在挤去一个不必要的小小瑕疵，“他们只会简单地消失。” “这不是一项你看起来所相信那样简单的任务。”门口传来一个娇媚的声音，三个卓尔匆匆一瞥，看见夏洛塔·维斯帕正身着一件开叉很高、露出一条曲线优美大腿的长袍袅袅婷婷走进房间。“便衣们向来都因他们的组织网覆盖之深广而自傲。你无法摧毁他们所有的机构和他们所有已知的代理，甚至所有和他们那些代理有交易往来的人，总是会留下很多目击者的。” “谁又会做那种事呢？”贾拉索问，他仍是微笑着，甚至拍了拍自己的椅子示意夏洛塔过去和他坐在一起，而那个女人也的确这么做了，亲密地蜷着身子靠在他身旁。这副景象使得莱基再次扫一眼金穆瑞。他们两个都清楚贾拉索把这人类女人——和恩崔立同为旧巴萨多尼工会最强大的幸存者——作为了自己的床伴，而他们都不喜欢看到这样的事态发展。夏洛塔是一个狡猾的人，以人类而言，几乎已经狡猾得甚至能被卓尔社会所接受。她已掌握了卓尔的语言而且现在也能以黑暗精灵无声的复杂手势进行交流。莱基十分厌恶她，而金穆瑞，虽然觉得这女人很有异国情调，却也不喜欢她在贾拉索耳边偷偷提出些危险的建议。 然而在这件特殊的事上，就他们两者看来似乎夏洛塔是和他们意见一致的，所以他们并不曾像过去常常做的那样试图阻挠她。 “那些目击者会告诉每一个残存的工会，”夏洛塔解释说，“他们也将通知卡林珊的更高层权威。便衣工会的毁灭暗示着一股真正强大的势力早已经秘密入驻卡林港。” “我们的确是这样做的没错。”贾拉索说着露齿一笑。 “而这势力的强大力量是基于保持隐秘的基础之上。”女人回答说。 贾拉索把她从自己膝盖上推下椅子去，于是女人不得不急急忙忙把她那修长匀称的双腿放下地来以防止狼狈地坐倒在地。 然后惟利是图的佣兵头子也站起身来，从夏洛塔身边径自走了过去，似乎她的意见根本无关紧要，他走近对自己而言更为重要的副官们。“我曾把达耶特独立佣兵团在地表所扮演的角色定位于进出口商，”他解释道，“这一点我们已经轻易地做到了。现在我已经看清了这个由人类所支配的社会的真面目，而那也揭示出关于其弱点的真相。我们能更进一步——我们必须这么做。” “去征服？”莱基尖刻而又辛辣地问。 “和班瑞家族对秘银厅的图谋不同。”贾拉索急切地说明道，“不仅仅是吸收而已。”他脸上再次浮现出邪恶的笑容。“对于那些将要参与到这计划中的人而言。” “也包括那些不会简单消失掉的人？”莱基问，但看起来贾拉索毫不为他的讽刺所动，只是越来越开怀地笑着。 “就在前几天你自己不就杀了一个便衣间谍吗？”贾拉索问。 “保守秘密和扩张势力范围，这两者有很大的差别。”法师回答说。 “从语义的角度来说是这样没错。”佣兵头子大笑着说，“仅仅是语义。” 在他身后，夏洛塔·维斯帕轻轻咬住下唇摇了摇头，她担心自己最新找到的这个支持者将会犯下一个巨大而又极其危险的过错。                 * * * * * 在不远处的一条小巷里，恩崔立侧耳倾听着从高塔传出的呼喊和骚动。当进入塔内的时候，他首先下楼去释放了一个讨人厌的囚犯。当向那人指出位于地牢后面那条相对比较安全的开放隧道之后，他沿着楼梯回到第一楼，然后继续往上走，有意沿着火把通明的阴凉走廊安静地移动。 找到Jharkheld的房间易如反掌。 那房门甚至没有上锁。 要不是正好目睹了这官员在囚犯狂欢节上的所作所为，阿提密斯·恩崔立可能会就莫里克的事对他进行劝服。现在莫里克完成自己任务和提供出宝石的门路非常清楚了。 恩崔立想知道那个逃脱的囚犯——卑鄙的Jharkheld那显而易见的谋杀者——是不是已经在隧道的迷宫之中被发现了。那个人将面临着多么悲惨的前景。杀手脸上不知不觉浮现出一个扭曲的笑容，因为他对自己出于自身利益而利用了那个不幸的人没有感到丝毫的负疚。毕竟那个白痴本该更加有所觉悟才对。为什么会有人毫无预警而且带着很明显的个人目的地前去救他？为什么当恩崔立把他从镣铐中释放出来的时候他没有向杀手开口询问？为什么，如果他足够聪明而值得活下去的话，没有试着就势抓住杀手，把这个不请自来的无名救助者锁上镣铐顶替自己的位置去面对那些刽子手？地牢里有这么多的囚犯进进出出以致于看守很可能根本就不会注意到这小小的改变。 所以，他完全是罪有应得，而且在恩崔立看来，这命运也归咎于那些他自己所曾做过的。当然，这个凶手会声称有其他某人帮助了他出逃然后妥善安排这所有一切使得那桩谋杀看起来像是他所做的。囚犯狂欢节根本不关心这样的申辩。阿提密斯·恩崔立也不。 他把这一切念头挥出脑海，机警地环视四周以确保现在自己是独自一人，然后把魔法反法术小球放到小巷的一侧。他走到巷子对侧然后吹响了魔法口哨。这时杀手很好奇于这玩意儿到底能怎么起作用。当然，要让他回到卡林港魔法终究是必需的，但如果他不得不带着那小球上路的话这一切该怎么生效呢？它所附的咒文只会简单地解除传送吗？ 一道蓝色的光幕浮现在他身旁。那是一扇魔法门，不是由莱基所造而是出自金穆瑞之手。所以这就是答案，他沉思着。也许这小球无法与心灵异能相抗衡。 或者也许它可以，当走过去拣起这东西时这个念头使得向来坚定不移的杀手感到深深的不安。如果这小球由于某种未知的原因能够影响到金穆瑞的次元扭曲，结果会变成怎样？也许他会被传送到错误的地点——甚至是真实存在的其他位面？ 恩崔立摇头把这个想法也赶出脑海。不管有没有和卓尔或是魔法球扯上关系，生活总是伴随着危机。他小心地把小球秘密藏到口袋里，这样的话任何窥视魔眼都得花上相当一段时间才能看清暗巷里的情形。然后他大步流星快速走向入口，一次简单的深呼吸之后，他穿过了门。 杀手头晕目眩地重新出现在千里之外卡林港工会建筑的秘密魔法大厅里，竭力保持着平衡。 金穆瑞和莱基站在那儿，严酷地注视着他。 “宝石呢？”莱基用恩崔立勉强能懂的卓尔语问。 “很快就到。”杀手用他那并不太流畅的地底卓族语言回答，“曾经出过些问题。” 两个黑暗精灵都惊奇地扬起了白色眉毛。 “只是曾经。”恩崔立强调，“莫里克不久就会买到那些宝石了。” “这么说莫里克还活着。”金穆瑞尖锐地指出，“他想要躲开我们的愚蠢尝试该怎么处置？” “那尝试更多是出于地方官员们想要把他对外界势力封锁起来。”恩崔立说了谎，“某一个地方官员。”他很快纠正说，同时看见对方脸上变得怒气冲冲。“我已经对事件结局作出补救了。” 看起来两个卓尔都没因这番话而变得高兴些，但也没人公然地出言抱怨。 “而这个地方官用魔法把莫里克的房间对外界窥视魔眼封锁了起来？”莱基问。 “还有所有的其他魔法。”恩崔立答道，“这个问题已经解决了。” “用那个球？”金穆瑞追问。 “莫里克持有那小球。”莱基眯着眼评论道。 “很显然他并不清楚自己买了什么。”杀手面无惧色地冷静说，因为他意识到自己的策略已经生效了。 当然法师和心灵异能者会怀疑这一切都是莫里克在捣鬼而并非任何小官的杰作。他们会猜想恩崔立扭曲了事实以满足他的私欲，但杀手明白自己并没有给他们留下什么足够明显以使其得以采取行动的把柄——至少，在不增加贾拉索的愤怒这一前提下没有。 再一次地，恩崔立意识到他的安全几乎完全是维系在这惟利是图的佣兵头子身上，这个认知并不令他感到愉快。他不喜欢变得依赖，视这个词等同于软弱。 他必须改变这处境。 “你持有那小球。”莱基伸出一只修长的手说，那手看起来有一种欺骗性的病弱感。 “它留在我这儿比交给你更好。”杀手大着胆子回答，这番声明使得两个黑暗精灵都后退了一步。 然而就在他话音刚落的时候，恩崔立感觉到了口袋里传来的麻刺感。他伸手摸上小球，敏感的手指感觉到一种细微的振动从这魔法物品内部深处传出。杀手凝视的目光定在金穆瑞身上。卓尔正闭眼静立着，处于一种深沉的集中状态。 于是他明白了。这球的附魔根本无法对抗心灵异能者那可怕的精神力量，而且杀手以前曾经看过这样的心灵异能把戏。金穆瑞正在把精神力延伸入小球内部的潜在能量然后将它激发到爆炸性的程度。 恩崔立半真半假地想着他可以耐心等待直到最后一刻然后把球对着金穆瑞的脸狠狠扔过去。这卑劣的卓尔尝到自己众多把戏之一的苦头，这景象将会多么令人满足！ 心灵异能者挥手打开了一个次元入口从这房间通往外面几近荒废满是灰尘的街道。它的开口对小球来说足够大了，但却没法让杀手通过。 杀手感觉到那能量正在增强，不断地增强……那振动早已不再那么轻微了。他仍然克制着，注视着金穆瑞——只是注视和等待着，告诉卓尔自己毫不畏惧。 这实在算不上是意志的较量。恩崔立口袋里正在酝酿着一场不断增长的爆炸，而金穆瑞站得足够远因此除了杀手喷溅的鲜血之外他只会受到很轻微的波及。杀手再次开始考虑把球扔向心灵异能者的脸，但再一次地，他意识到这种行为的徒劳。 金穆瑞将单单只是停止激发球里的潜在能量，完全中止这场爆炸正如把一个火把浸到水里熄灭那燃烧的火焰。而恩崔立将给予法师和心灵异能者他们所需要以彻底毁灭他的所有正当借口。贾拉索可能会发怒，但他不能也不会否认他们自卫的权利。 阿提密斯·恩崔立还没有准备好这样的一场战斗。 不是现在。 他把小球掷出那洞开的门然后观望着，片刻之后一声爆炸传来，它爆裂开来化为尘土。 魔法门消失了。 “你在玩火。”莱基评价道。 “是你的卓尔朋友引发了这场爆炸。”恩崔立漫不经心地回答。 “我说的不是这个。”法师反驳说，“在你们人类之中有一句俗话，‘派一个小孩去做大人的工作是有勇无谋’。我们也有一种相似的说法，‘派一个人类去做卓尔的工作是有勇无谋’。” 恩崔立严酷地注视他，沉默不语。整个情形感觉起来开始有点像是那些他被抓去魔索布莱的日子，那时他明白，在一个有着两万黑暗精灵的城市，不管他变得有多出色，不管他的技艺是多么完美，他永远也不会被认为在那两万零一中拥有任何稍高的社会地位。 莱基和金穆瑞引用了一些他们的习语，极尽羞辱之能事，那些粗鲁，那些阴险，全都是针对恩崔立。 他把这一切忍受下来，一字一句每一个细节，而没有说任何话，因为他无法说任何话。他持续考虑着有关Dallabad绿洲和一把特殊的长剑及其配套的防护手套的事。 他接受了他们那些污蔑的话，因为他不得不如此。 现在不得不如此。 [此章完] 漫长的一章，翻译过来近一万字~ 如果说前1/3看得很兴奋，那么后1/3就是怒了…… 不多说什么了，阿恩，去拿卡隆之爪！拿了它，然后揭了那两张臭黑皮！！= =|||||| 以下为原文： Chapter 3             A HUMBLING ENCOUNTER   He had his old room back. He even had his name back. The memories of the authorities in Luskan were not as long as they claimed.   The previous year, Morik the Rogue had been accused of attempting to murder the honorable Captain Deudermont of the good ship Sea Sprite, a famous pirate hunter. Since in Luskan accusation and conviction were pretty much the same thing, Morik had faced the prospect of a horrible death in the public spectacle of Prisoner's Carnival. He had actually been in the process of realizing that ultimate torture when Captain Deudermont, horrified by the gruesome scene, had offered a pardon.   Pardoned or not, Morik had been forever banned from Luskan on pain of death. He had returned anyway, of course, the following year. At first he'd taken on an assumed identity, but gradually he had regained his old trappings, his true mannerisms, his connections on the streets, his apartment, and, finally, his name and the reputation it carried. The authorities knew it too, but having plenty of other thugs to torture to death, they didn't seem to care.   Morik could look back on that awful day at Prisoner's Carnival with a sense of humor now. He thought it perfectly ironic that he had been tortured for a crime that he hadn't even committed when there were so many crimes of which he could be rightly convicted.   It was all a memory now, the memory of a whirlwind of intrigue and danger by the name of Wulfgar. He was Morik the Rogue once more, and all was as it had once been ... almost.   For now there was another element, an intriguing and also terrifying element, that had come into Morik's life. He walked up to the door of his room cautiously, glancing all about the narrow hallway, studying the shadows. When he was confident that he was alone, he walked up tight to the door, shielding it from any magically prying eyes, and began the process of undoing nearly a dozen deadly traps, top to bottom along both sides of the jamb. That done, he took out a ring of keys and undid the locks-one, two, three-then he clicked open the door. He disarmed yet another trap-this one explosive-then entered, closing and securing the door and resetting all the traps. The complete process took him more than ten minutes, yet he performed this ritual every time he came home. The dark elves had come into Morik's life, unannounced and uninvited. While they had promised him the treasure of a king if he performed their tasks, they had also promised him and had shown him the flip side of that golden coin as well.   Morik checked the small pedestal at the side of the door next. He nodded, satisfied to see that the orb was still in place in the wide vase. The vessel was coated with contact poison and maintained a sensitive pressure release trap. He had paid dearly for that particular orb- an enormous amount of gold that would take him a year of hard thievery to retrieve-but in Morik's fearful eyes, the item was well worth the price. It was enchanted with a powerful anti-magic dweomer that would prevent dimensional doors from opening in his room, that would prevent wizards from strolling in on the other side of a teleportation spell.   Never again did Morik the Rogue wish to be awakened by a dark elf standing at the side of his bed, looming over him.   All of his locks were in place, his orb rested in its protected vessel, and yet some subtle signal, an intangible breeze, a tickling on the hairs at the back of his neck, told Morik that something was out of place. He glanced all around, from shadow to shadow, to the drapes that still hung over the window he had long ago bricked up. He looked to his bed, to the tightly tucked sheets, with no blankets hanging below the edge. Bending just a bit, Morik saw right through the bottom of the bed. There was no one hiding under there.   The drapes, then, he thought, and he moved in that general direction but took a circuitous route so that he wouldn't force any action from the intruder. A sudden shift and quick-step brought him there, dagger revealed, and he pulled the drapes aside and struck hard, catching only air. Morik laughed in relief and at his own paranoia. How different his world had become since the arrival of the dark elves. Always now he was on the edge of his nerves. He had seen the drow a total of only five times, including their initial encounter way back when Wulfgar was new to the city and they, for some reason that Morik still did not completely understand, wanted him to keep an eye on the huge barbarian.   He was always on his edge, always wary, but he reminded himself of the potential gains his alliance with the drow would bring. Part of the reason that he was Morik the Rogue again, from what he had been able to deduce, had to do with a visit to a particular authority by one of Jarlaxle's henchmen.   He gave a sigh of relief and let the drapes swing back, then froze in surprise and fear as a hand clamped over his mouth and the fine edge of a dagger came tight against his throat.   "You have the jewels?" a voice whispered in his ear, a voice showing incredible strength and calm despite its quiet tone. The hand slipped off of his mouth and up to his forehead, forcing his head back just enough to remind him of how vulnerable and open his throat was.   Morik didn't answer, his mind racing through many possibilities-the least likely of which seeming to be his potential escape, for that hand holding him revealed frightening strength and the hand holding the dagger at his throat was too, too steady. Whoever his attacker might be, Morik understood immediately that he was overmatched.   "I ask one more time; then I end my frustration," came the whisper.   "You are not drow," Morik replied, as much to buy some time as to ensure that this man-and he knew that it was a man and certainly no dark elf-would not act rashly.   "Perhaps I am, though under the guise of a wizard's spell," the assailant replied. "But that could not be-or could it?-since no magic will work in this room." As he finished, he roughly pushed Morik away, then grabbed his shoulder to spin the frightened rogue around as he fell back.   Morik didn't recognize the man, though he still understood that he was in imminent danger. He glanced down at his own dagger, and it seemed a pitiful thing indeed against the magnificent, jewel-handled blade his opponent carried-almost a reflection of the relative strengths of their wielders, Morik recognized with a wince.   Morik the Rogue was as good a thief as roamed the streets of Luskan, a city full of thieves. His reputation, though bloated by bluff, had been well-earned across the bowels of the city. This man before him, older than Morik by a decade, perhaps, and standing so calm and so balanced . . .   This man had gotten into his apartment and had remained there unobserved despite Morik's attempted scrutiny. Morik noted then that the bed sheets were rumpled-but hadn't he just looked at them, to see them perfectly smooth?   "You are not drow," Morik dared to say again.   "Not all of Jarlaxle's agents are dark elves, are they, Morik the Rogue?" the man replied.   Morik nodded and slipped his dagger into its sheath at his belt, a move designed to alleviate the tension, something that Morik desperately wanted to do.   "The jewels?" the man asked.   Morik could not hide the panic from his face.   "You should have purchased them from Telsburgher," the man remarked. "The way was clear and the assignment was not difficult."   "The way would have been clear," Morik corrected, "but for a minor magistrate who holds old grudges."   The intruder continued to stare, showing neither intrigue nor anger, telling Morik nothing at all about whether or not he was even interested in any excuses.   "Telsburgher is ready to sell them to me," Morik quickly added, "at the agreed price. His hesitation is only a matter of his fear that there will be retribution from Magistrate Jharkheld. The evil man holds an old grudge. He knows that I am back in town and wishes to drag me back to his Prisoner's Carnival, but he cannot, by word of his superiors, I am told. Thank Jarlaxle for me."   "You thank Jarlaxle by performing as instructed," the man replied, and Morik nervously shifted from foot to foot. "He helps you to fill his purse, not to fill his heart with good feelings."   Morik nodded. "I fear to go after Jharkheld," he explained. "How high might I strike without incurring the wrath of the greater powers of Luskan, thus ultimately wounding Jarlaxle's purse?"   "Jharkheld is not a concern," the man answered with a tone so assured that Morik found that he believed every word. "Complete the transaction."   "But..." Morik started to reply.   "This night," came the answer, and the man turned away and started for the door.   His hands worked in amazing circles right before Morik's eyes as trap after trap after lock fell open. It had taken Morik several minutes to get through that door, and that with an intricate knowledge of every trap-which he had set- and with the keys for the three supposedly difficult locks, and yet, within the span of two minutes, the door now swung open wide.   The man glanced back and tossed something to the floor at Morik's feet.   A wire.   "The one on your bottom trap had stretched beyond usefulness," the man explained. "I repaired it for you."   He went out then and closed the door, and Morik heard the clicks and sliding panels as all the locks and traps were efficiently reset.   Morik went to his bed cautiously and pulled the bed sheets aside. A hole had been cut into his mattress, perfectly sized to hold the intruder. Morik gave a helpless laugh, his respect for Jarlaxle's band multiplying. He didn't even have to go over to his trapped vase to know that the orb now within it was a fake and that the real one had just walked out his door.   Entreri blinked as he walked out into the late afternoon Luskan sun. He dropped a hand into his pocket, to feel the enchanted device he had just taken from Morik. This small orb had frustrated Rai-guy. It defeated his magic when he'd tried to visit Morik himself, as it was likely doing now. That thought alone pleased Entreri greatly. It had taken Bregan D'aerthe nearly a ten day to discern the source of Morik's sudden distance, how the man had made his room inaccessible to the prying eyes of the wizards. Thus, Entreri had been sent. He held no illusions that his trip had to do with his thieving prowess, but rather, it was simply because the dark elves weren't certain of how resistant Morik might be and simply hadn't wished to risk any of their brethren in the exploration. Certainly Jarlaxle wouldn't have been pleased to learn that Rai-guy and Kimmuriel had forced Entreri to go, but the pair knew that Entreri wouldn't go to Jarlaxle with the information.   So Entreri had played message boy for the two formidable, hated dark elves.   His instructions upon taking the orb and finishing his business with Morik had been explicit and precise. He was to place the orb aside and use the magical signal whistle Rai- guy had given him to call to the dark elves in faraway Calimport, but he wasn't in any hurry.   He knew that he should have killed Morik, both for the man's impertinence in trying to shield himself and for failing to produce the required jewels. Rai-guy and Kimmuriel would demand such punishment, of course. Now he'd have to justify his actions, to protect Morik somewhat.   He knew Luskan fairly well, having been through the city several times, including an extended visit only a few days before, when he, along with several other drow agents, had learned the truth of Morik's magic-blocking device. Wandering the streets, he soon heard the shouts and cheers of the vicious Prisoner's Carnival. He entered the back of the open square just as some poor fool was having his intestines pulled out like a great length of rope. Entreri hardly noticed the spectacle, concentrating instead on the sharp-featured, diminutive, robed figure presiding over the torture.   The man screamed at the writhing victim, telling him to surrender his associates, there and then, before it was too late. "Secure a chance for a more pleasant afterlife!" the magistrate screeched, his voice as sharp as his angry, angular features. "Now! Before you die!"   The man only wailed. It seemed to Entreri as if he was far beyond any point of even comprehending the magistrate's words.   He died soon enough and the show was over. The people began filtering out of the square, most nodding their heads and smiling, speaking excitedly of Jharkheld's fine show this day.   That was all Entreri needed to hear.   He moved shadow to shadow, following the magistrate down the short walk from the back of the square to the tower that housed the quarters of the officials of Prisoner's Carnival as well as the dungeons holding those who would soon face the public tortures.   He mused at his own good fortune in carrying Morik's orb, for it gave him some measure of protection from any wizard hired to further secure the tower. That left only sentries and mechanical traps in his way.   Artemis Entreri feared neither.   He went into the tower as the sun disappeared in the west.                 * * * * *   "They have too many allies," Rai-guy insisted.   "They would be gone without a trace," Jarlaxle replied with a wide smile. "Simply gone."   Rai-guy groaned and shook his head, and Kimmuriel, across the room and sitting comfortably in a plush chair, one leg thrown over the cushioning arm, looked up at the ceiling and rolled his eyes.   "You continue to doubt me?" Jarlaxle asked, his tone light and innocent, not threatening. "Consider all that we have already accomplished here in Calimport and across the surface. We have agents in several major cities, including Waterdeep."   "We are exploring agents in other cities," Rai-guy corrected. "We have but one currently working, the little rogue in Luskan." He paused and glanced over at his psionicist counterpart and smiled. "Perhaps."   Kimmuriel chuckled as he considered their second agent now working in Luskan, the one Jarlaxle did not know had left Calimport.   The others are preliminary," Rai-guy went on. "Some are promising, others not so, but none are worthy of the title of agent at this time."   "Soon, then," said Jarlaxle, coming forward in his own comfortable chair. "Soon! They will become profitable partners or we will find others-not so difficult a thing to do among the greedy humans. The situation here in Calimport... look around you. Can you doubt our wisdom in coming here? The gems and jewels are flowing fast, a direct line to a drow population eager to expand their possessions beyond the limited wealth of Menzoberranzan."   "Fortunate are we if the houses of Ched Nasad determine that we are undercutting their economy," Rai-guy, who hailed from that other drow city, remarked sarcastically.   Jarlaxle scoffed at the notion.   "I cannot deny the profitability of Calimport," the wizard lieutenant went on, "yet when we first planned our journey to the surface, we all agreed that it would show immediate and strong returns. As we all agreed it would likely be a short tenure, and that, after the initial profits, we would do well to reconsider our position and perhaps retreat to our own land, leaving only the best of the trading connections and agents in place."   "So we should reconsider, and so I have," said Jarlaxle. "It seems obvious to me that we underestimated the potential of our surface operations. Expand! Expand, I say."   Again came the disheartened expressions. Kimmuriel was still staring at the ceiling, as if in abject denial of what Jarlaxle was proposing.   "The Rakers desire that we limit our trade to this one section," Jarlaxle reminded, "yet many of the craftsmen of the more exotic goods-merchandise that would likely prove most attractive in Menzoberranzan-are outside of that region."   "Then we cut a deal with the Rakers, let them in on the take for this new and profitable market to which they have no access," said Rai-guy, a perfectly reasonable suggestion in light of the history of Bregan D'aerthe, a mercenary and opportunistic band that always tried to use the words "mutually beneficial" as their business credo.   "They are pimples," Jarlaxle replied, extending his thumb and index finger in the air before him and pressing them together as if he was squeezing away an unwanted blemish. "They will simply disappear."   "Not as easy a task as you seem to believe," came a feminine voice from the doorway, and the three glanced over to see Sharlotta Vespers gliding into the room, dressed in a long gown slit high enough to reveal one very shapely leg. "The Rakers pride themselves on spreading their organizational lines far and wide. You could destroy all of their houses and all of their known agents, even all of the people dealing with all of their agents, and still leave many witnesses."   "Who would do what?" Jarlaxle asked, but he was still smiling, even patting his chair for Sharlotta to go over and sit with him, which she did, curling about him familiarly. The sight of it made Rai-guy glance again at Kimmuriel. Both knew that Jarlaxle was bedding the human woman, the most powerful remnant-along with Entreri- of the old Basadoni Guild, and neither of them liked the idea. Sharlotta was a sly one, as humans go, almost sly enough to be accepted among the society of drow. She had even mastered the language of the drow and was now working on the intricate hand signals of the dark elven silent code. Rai-guy found her perfectly repulsive, and Kimmuriel, though seeing her as exotic, did not like the idea of having her whispering dangerous suggestions into Jarlaxle's ear.   In this particular matter, though, it seemed to both of them that Sharlotta was on their side, so they didn't try to interrupt her as they usually did.   "Witnesses who would tell every remaining guild," Sharlotta explained, "and who would inform the greater powers of Calimshan. The destruction of the Rakers Guild would imply that a truly great power had secretly come to Calimport."   "One has," Jarlaxle said with a grin.   "One whose greatest strength lies in remaining secret," Sharlotta replied.   Jarlaxle pushed her from his lap, right off the chair, so that she had to move quickly to get her shapely legs under her in time to prevent falling unceremoniously on her rump.   The mercenary leader then rose as well, pushing right past Sharlotta as if her opinion mattered not at all, and moving closer to his more important lieutenants. "I once envisioned Bregan D'aerthe's role on the surface as that of importer and exporter," he explained. "This we have easily achieved. Now I see the truth of the human dominated societies, and that is a truth of weakness. We can go further- we must go further."   "Conquest?" Rai-guy asked sourly, sarcastically.   "Not as Baenre attempted with Mithral Hall," Jarlaxle eagerly explained. "More a matter of absorption." Again came that wicked smile. "For those who will play."   "And those who will not simply disappear?" Rai-guy asked, but his sarcasm seemed lost on Jarlaxle, who only smiled all the wider.   "Did you not execute a Raker spy only the other day?" Jarlaxle asked.   "There is a profound difference in defending our privacy and trying to expand our borders," the wizard replied.   "Semantics," Jarlaxle said with a laugh. "Simply semantics."   Behind him, Sharlotta Vespers bit her lip and shook her head, fearing that her newfound benefactors might be about to make a tremendous and very dangerous blunder.                 * * * * *   From an alley not so far away, Entreri listened to the shouts and confusion coming from the tower. When he had entered, he'd gone downstairs first, to find a particularly unpleasant prisoner to free. Once he had ushered the man to relative safety, to the open tunnels at the back of the dungeons, he had gone upstairs to the first floor, then up again, moving quietly and deliberately along the shadowy, torch-lit corridors.   Finding Jharkheld's room proved easy enough.   The door hadn't even been locked.   Had he not just witnessed the magistrate's work at Prisoner's Carnival, Artemis Entreri might have reasoned with him concerning Morik. Now the way was clear for Morik to complete his task and proffer the jewels.   Entreri wondered if the escaped prisoner, the obvious murderer of poor Jharkheld, had been found in the maze of tunnels yet. What misery the man would face. A wry grin found its way onto Entreri's face, for he hardly felt any guilt about using the wretch for his own gain. The idiot should have known better, after all. Why would someone come in unannounced and at obvious great personal risk to save him? Why hadn't he even questioned Entreri while the assassin was releasing him from the shackles? Why, if he was smart enough to deserve his life, hadn't he tried to capture Entreri in his place, to put this unasked-for and unknown savior up in the shackles in his stead, to face the executioner? So many prisoners came through these dungeons that the gaolers likely wouldn't even have been aware of the change.   So, his fate was the thug's own to accept, and in Entreri's thinking, of his own doing. Of course, the thug would claim that someone else had helped him to escape, had set it all up to make it look like it was his doing. Prisoner's Carnival hardly cared for such excuses. Nor did Artemis Entreri.   He dismissed all thoughts of those problems, glanced around to ensure that he was alone, and placed the magic dispelling orb along the side of the alley. He walked across the way and blew his whistle. He wondered then how this might work. Magic would be needed, after all, to get him back to Calimport, but how might that work if he had to take the orb along? Wouldn't the orb's dweomer simply dispel the attempted teleportation?   A blue screen of light appeared beside him. It was a magical doorway, he knew, and not one of Rai-guy's, but rather the doing of Kimmuriel Oblodra. So that was it, he mused. Perhaps the orb wouldn't work against psionics.   Or perhaps it would, and that thought unsettled the normally unshakable Entreri profoundly as he moved to collect the item. What would happen if the orb somehow did affect Kimmuriel's dimension warp? Might he wind up in the wrong place-even in another plane of existence, perhaps?   Entreri shook that thought away as well. Life was risky when dealing with drow, magical orbs or not. He took care to pocket the orb slyly, so that any prying eyes would have a difficult time making out the movement in the dark alley, then strode quickly up to the portal, and with a single deep breath, stepped through.   He came out di, fighting hard to hold his balance, in the guild hall's private sorcery chambers back in Calimport, hundreds and hundreds of miles away.   There stood Kimmuriel and Rai-guy, staring at him hard.   "The jewels?" Rai-guy asked in the drow language, which Entreri understood, though not well.   "Soon," the assassin replied in his shaky command of Deep Drow. "There was a problem,"   Both dark elves lifted their white eyebrows in surprise.   "Was," Entreri emphasized. "Morik will have the jewels presently."   "Then Morik lives," Kimmuriel remarked pointedly. "What of his attempts to hide from us?"   "More the attempts of local magistrates to seal him off from any outside influences," Entreri lied. "One local magistrate," he quickly corrected, seeing their faces sour. "The issue has been remedied."   Neither drow seemed pleased, but neither openly complained.   "And this local magistrate had magically sealed off Morik's room from outside, prying eyes?" Rai-guy asked.   "And all other magic," Entreri answered. "It has been corrected."   "With the orb?" Kimmuriel added.   "Morik proffered the orb," Rai-guy remarked, narrowing his eyes.   "He apparently did not know what he was buying," Entreri said calmly, not getting alarmed, for he recognized that his ploys had worked.   Rai-guy and Kimmuriel would hold their suspicions that it had been Morik's work, and not that of any minor official, of course. They would suspect that Entreri had bent the truth to suit his own needs, but the assassin knew that he hadn't given them anything overt enough for them to act upon-at least, not without raising the ire of Jarlaxle.   Again, the realization that his security was almost wholly based on the mercenary leader did not sit well with Entreri. He didn't like being dependent, equating the word with weakness.   He had to turn the situation around.   "You have the orb," Rai-guy remarked, holding out his slender, deceivingly delicate hand.   "Better for me than for you," the assassin dared to reply, and that declaration set the two dark elves back on their heels.   Even as he finished speaking, though, Entreri felt the tingling in his pocket. He dropped a hand to the orb, and his sensitive fingers felt a subtle vibration coming from deep within the enchanted item. Entreri's gaze focused on Kimmuriel. The drow was standing with his eyes closed, deep in concentration.   Then he understood. The orb's enchantment would do nothing against any of Kimmuriel's formidable mind powers, and Entreri had seen this psionic trick before. Kimmuriel was reaching into the latent energy within the orb and was exciting that energy to explosive levels.   Entreri toyed with the idea of waiting until the last moment then throwing the orb into Kimmuriel's face. How he would enjoy the sight of that wretched drow caught in one of his own tricks!   With a wave of his hand, Kimmuriel opened a dimensional portal, from the room to the nearly deserted dusty street outside. It was a portal large enough for the orb, but that would not allow Entreri to step through.   Entreri felt the energy building, building ... the vibrations were not so subtle any longer. Still he held back, staring at Kimmuriel-just staring and waiting, letting the drow know that he was not afraid.   In truth this was no contest of wills. Entreri had a mounting explosion in his pocket, and Kimmuriel was far enough away so that he would feel little effect from it other than the splattering of Entreri's blood. Again the assassin considered throwing the orb into Kimmuriel's face, but again he realized the futility of such a course.   Kimmuriel would simply stop exciting the latent energy within the orb, would shut off the explosion as completely as dipping a torch into water snuffed out its flame. Entreri would have given Rai-guy and Kimmuriel all the justification they needed to utterly destroy him. Jarlaxle might be angry, but he couldn't and wouldn't deny them their right to defend themselves.   Artemis Entreri wasn't ready for such a fight.   Not yet.   He tossed the orb out through the open door and watched, a split second later, as it exploded into dust.   The magical door went away.   "You play dangerous games," Rai-guy remarked.   "Your drow friend is the one who brought on the explosion," Entreri casually replied.   "I speak not of that," the wizard retorted. "There is a common saying among your people that it is foolhardy to send a child to do a man's work. We have a similar saying, that it is foolhardy to send a human to do a drow's work."   Entreri stared at him hard, having no response. This whole situation was starting to feel like those days when he had been trapped down in Menzoberranzan, when he had known that, in a city of twenty thousand dark elves, no matter how good he got, no matter how perfect his craft, he would never be considered any higher in society's rankings than twenty thousand and one.   Rai-guy and Kimmuriel tossed out a few phrases between themselves, insults mostly, some crude, some subtle, all aimed at Entreri.   He took them, every one, and said nothing, because he could say nothing. He kept thinking of Dallabad Oasis and a particular sword and gauntlet combination.   He accepted their demeaning words, because he had to.   For now.

O.Tank 发表于 2006-3-22 21:31

由于一些不可避免的原因，魔晶仆从前面的几章跟小无的翻译还是撞车了。。不过在这里还是把ddy翻译的另一个版本贴出来： 第三章可耻的遭遇 本章译者：ddy 他拿回了自己的老房子。他甚至拿回了自己的名字。看来，路斯坎那些大人物的记性并不像他们所声称的那么好。 去年，盗贼莫里克曾被指控试图谋杀海灵号的船长，著名的海盗猎人——可敬的杜德蒙船长。在路斯坎被指控跟被定罪差不多就是一回事，莫里克所面临的惩罚就是在囚徒狂欢节上，众目睽睽之下痛苦地死去。然而，就在他最终的刑罚执行的过程中，杜德蒙船长被眼前可怕的场景给吓坏了，他动了恻隐之心，原谅了莫里克。 无论被原谅与否，莫里克都永远地被路斯坎拒之门外，这让他痛不欲生。不过不管怎么说，他还是回来了，就在一年之后。他首先给自己弄了个假身份，然后逐渐拿回了自己原有的东西，他那些怪异的癖好，街巷之间的人脉，自己的公寓，还有，最后是自己的名字以及它自身的声誉。大人物们当然也知道这些，但既然还有那么多的暴徒等着被拷打至死，他们也就懒得去管这事了。 莫里克现在总带着幽默感来回忆起囚徒狂欢节那个可怕的日子。自己犯下了那么多可被判刑的罪行都没受到惩罚，最后却因一桩自己根本没有犯下的罪行而被倍受折磨，这让他觉得十分的讽刺。 现在，由沃夫加这个名字所带来的那场席卷着阴谋与危险的旋风已经成了回忆。现在他又是盗贼莫里克了，并且所有的一切都和过去一样……差不多可以说是一样。 现在，莫里克的生活里又有了新的因素，一个虽然可怕但仍迷人的因素。他谨慎地走上房间的阶梯，前后环顾了一圈狭窄的门廊，仔细观察了一下脚下的影子。当确认确实是单独一人后，他紧贴着门走了进去，以便挡住所有的窥视魔眼，接着解开两旁门柱上面自上而下将近一打的陷阱。做完这些后，他掏出一串钥匙开始开锁——一把，两把，三把——接着咔哒一声，他推开大门。接着解除了另一个陷阱——一个炸弹——之后他才踏入门内，关上门并且再次确认了门的安全，重新设置好所有的陷阱。尽管这一整套过程花了他十来分钟的时间，但是每次回家他都要完成这个仪式一般的过程。黑暗精灵闯进了莫里克的生活，没有打一声招呼，不请自来。他们对他许诺，如果他完成了他们指派的任务就给他像国王那么多的财宝，但同时他们也让他明白钱也不是那么有用的。 莫里克检查了一下跟大门连在一起的小机关。他点点头，很满意的看到宝球仍然躺在宽口花瓶中。花瓶的表面涂了一层毒药，里面还藏着一个压敏陷阱。这个特殊的宝球让他花了大价钱——辛苦一年偷窃的成果换来的金子——但在莫里克充满恐惧的双眼中，这东西值这个价。它被施了一个反魔法的咒文，可以防止空间转换门出现在他的房间里，也就不担心法师在另一端所下的心灵传输咒文了。 无赖莫里克可再也不想被一个站在自己床边，俯视着自己的黑暗精灵给弄醒了。 所有的锁都归了位，他的宝球也躺在保护瓶中，但有一些微妙的信号，一阵无形的微风，吹得他脖子后面的汗毛直竖。莫里克觉得有一些东西不太对劲。他环顾四周，从一个阴影到另一个，一直到挂在那扇早就被他用砖头堵住的窗户上的窗帘。他盯着自己的床，被褥有些微皱，床边没有任何遮掩。莫里克稍微弯了下身，从床底看了过去，并没有什么东西藏在那里。 随即，他想到了窗帘，并迂回地朝那个方向走去，以免被闯入者所压制。他快速移动到了那里,匕首出鞘,拉开窗帘用力刺了下去,但是刺到的只有空气。莫里克大笑起来，这都是自己的臆想啊。自从黑暗精灵来过以后，他的世界改变得实在太多了。他总是紧张得处于崩溃边缘。算上沃夫加刚来这个城市不久后的首次邂逅，他跟卓尔们一共才见过五次，出于某种莫里克始终无法完全理解的原因，卓尔们要求他好好盯着那个大个头的野蛮人。 他总是风声鹤唳，总是紧张兮兮，但是他提醒自己在与卓尔们的合作中还有许多潜在的好处。部分原因就是他又是盗贼莫里克了，他能推断出来，这肯定与贾拉索的一个手下跟某个权威人士的一次会面有关。 他松了一口气，合上了窗帘，然而惊讶跟恐惧让他的全身突然冻结了起来，因为此时，一只手紧紧地钳住了他的嘴巴，一柄匕首锋利的刀刃正紧贴着他的喉咙。 “你拿到宝石了吗？”一个声音在他耳边低语，尽管语气从容，却透着难以置信的力量与沉着。手掌从他的嘴上移开滑到了他的额头上，迫使他的头向后仰去以提醒他他的喉管是多么的容易被切开。 莫里克没有回答，他的脑袋里闪过许多的可能性――然而要找到让自己可以脱身的方案实在太难了，因为抓着自己的手显示出令人恐惧的力量，那只握着匕首架在他的脖子上的手也一样，都太稳了。攻击自己的人会是谁？莫里克一下子明白过来自己已经被打败了。 “我再问一遍；我可没什么耐心。”那个声音再次响起。 “你不是卓尔，”莫里克回答说，好争取更多的时间来确定这个人的身份。他知道这是一个人类而不是卓尔，所以对方不会轻率行动。 “也许我就是呢，不过是有个法师对我施了伪装魔法。”杀手回答道。“但是那不可能——好像是这样吧？因为在这个房间里没有任何魔法能起作用。”他的话一结束，就重重的把莫里克推了出去，抓住他的肩膀把吓坏了的盗贼转了个身。 莫里克并不认识这个人，但他明白自己仍然置身于即将到来的危险之中。他瞥了一眼自己的匕首，跟那个入侵者所携带的那把饰以宝石的华丽匕首比起来，自己的这个就显得太没用了——它们就是各自主人力量的体现，莫里克认识到这点，不由得畏缩了一下。 在路斯坎这个满是盗贼的城市里，盗贼莫里克算的上是盗贼中的好手。他的名声，尽管是因为夸大和哄骗才膨胀起来，在这个城市的内部也让他得益不少。而站在面前的这个人，大概比莫里克大上二十岁吧，却如此镇定且平静地站着…… 尽管莫里克已经仔细检查过，这个男人还是进入了这间屋子且未被发觉。莫里克随即就注意到床上的被褥被弄得乱七八糟——但是他刚才不还是见它们整整齐齐的么？ “你不是卓尔，”莫里克壮着胆子又说了一遍。 “贾拉索的属下不都是黑暗精灵，我说的没错吧，盗贼莫里克？”那个人回答道。 莫里克边点头边把匕首滑进系在皮带上的刀鞘，一个用来缓和紧张气氛的动作，而这正是莫里克当前极其需要的。 “宝石呢？”那个人问道。 莫里克无法掩饰脸上的恐惧。 “你应该是从泰尔斯伯格那里买了过来，”那个人指出。“路子很明确，这件事也不难。” “路子曾经很明确，”莫里克纠正道，“但却跑出来一个心怀宿怨的下级官员横加干涉。” 闯入者继续盯着他，脸上既看不出阴谋也看不出气恼，莫里克一点也看不出来他对这些借口是否有兴趣。 “泰尔斯伯格已经打算把它们卖给我了，”莫里克马上补充道，“我们已经谈好了价钱。唯一让他犹豫的就是他害怕来自地方官贾柯海德的报复。那个恶魔一般的男人一直对我抱有怨恨。他知道我已经回到这里了，所以一心想把我拉回他的囚犯狂欢节，但是他做不到，因为他的上级跟他吩咐过，这些事我都知道。都是多亏了贾拉索。” “而你用为贾拉索效劳来作为对他的感谢，”那个人答道，莫里克不安地在两脚间来回转移重心。“他帮助你是为了充实他的钱包，可不是为了在他的心里塞满好心情。” 莫里克点点头。“我很害怕跟在贾拉索后面。”他解释着。“如果我不能惹毛那些路斯坎的大人物，我又能打拼到多高的位置？这样最后肯定会让贾拉索破产吧？” “不用顾虑什么贾柯海德，”那个人强调着，以确定莫里克相信每一个他所说的字。“交货吧。” “但是……”莫里克试图争论。 “今晚，”嘴里说着答案，那人转身向大门走去。 在莫里克面前，那人的手表演着令人惊异的动作，机关一个接一个的被解开了。莫里克要花好几分钟才能通过那扇门，打开每一个陷阱都需要复杂的知识——而且那些陷阱还是他本人设置的——还需要打开那三个想起来都复杂无比的锁的钥匙，而现在，仅仅只有两分钟，大门打开了。 那人回身看了一眼，丢了个东西到莫里克脚前的地板上。 一根铁丝。 “你最下面的机关里的这个铁丝早就坏了，”那人解释道。“我帮你修好了。” 他走出去带上了门，莫里克听到滴答声跟嵌板的声音，这说明所有的锁和陷阱又重新就位了。 莫里克小心的走到床边，把床上的被褥推到一旁。床垫上被割了一个大洞，大小正好可以藏住那名闯入者。莫里克无助地笑了起来，带着他对贾拉索正在壮大的队伍的敬畏。他不用去检查那个加了陷阱的花瓶就知道，现在躺在里面的宝球是个赝品，而真的那个早就走出了大门。 走进路斯坎的夕阳中，恩崔立眨起眼睛。他的一只手揣在口袋里，来好好感受刚从莫里克那里拿来的魔法宝球。这个小球曾经就让莱基扑了个空。当他想去拜访莫里克的时候就是这个小球挡住了他的魔法，很可能现在就在起作用呢。这种想法让恩崔立很高兴。达耶特花了差不多十天的功夫才弄清楚与莫里克之间突然出现的障碍是怎么来的，以及他是如何令巫师的窥视魔眼无法接近自己的房间。因此，恩崔立就被派来了。他事前并没有想到这次行动要动用自己的盗贼手段，但是实际上，这是理所当然的，因为黑暗精灵们并不确定莫里克的抵抗能力，自然也不会让自己的同胞们去冒这个险。当然如果贾拉索知道恩崔立被莱基跟金穆瑞强迫着做这个，他是不会高兴的，不过那对搭档知道恩崔立不会把这事告诉贾拉索。 所以恩崔立扮演了为那两个可怕又可恨的黑暗精灵送信的小角色。 给他的指示就是拿到那个小球，并且结束跟莫里克的交易，现在精确且明确的完成了。他现在应该把宝球放在一边，并且用莱基给他的魔法哨子通知远在卡林港的黑暗精灵们，但是他现在并不着急做这些。 他知道应该干掉莫里克，作为对他试图保护自己的无礼行为以及没有交出需要的宝石的惩罚。莱基和金穆瑞当然也要求了这样的惩罚。现在他需要证明自己的行动是正当的，好稍微保护一下莫里克。 他非常了解路斯坎，曾经遍游过整个城市数次，就在几天前还参加过一次大规模的寻访，他当时和另外几个卓尔一起了解到了关于莫里克那个魔法设备的事情。漫步在街道上，他很快听到了来自罪恶的囚犯狂欢节上的喊叫和欢呼声。他走到了广场的后身，正好有一些可怜的傻子被拉出了肠子，就好像是在拉一条长绳。恩崔立根本没去注视这等场景，他的注意力集中在正主持这场拷打的那个身形瘦小，身穿长袍，外形很显眼的家伙身上。 那个男人冲着在地上翻滚的受害人尖叫，要他交代出自己的同伙们，在还不算太迟之前。“都是为了你能有一个更好的来生！”官员尖声叫道，他的声音如同他的愤怒一般，形容尖锐。“现在！在你死之前！” 被审问的人只是悲号。在恩崔立看来，他根本一点都不理解那个官员说的话。 很快他就死了，这场表演随之结束。人群开始从广场中散开，大多数都点头微笑，兴奋的谈论着今天贾柯海德的绝妙表演。 这就是恩崔立所要听的全部。 他在阴影中移动，跟踪着那个官员从广场后面到了住着囚犯狂欢节相关官员的塔，那里的地牢中正关押着那些即将在公众面前遭到拷打的人们。 他沉思着自己拿着莫里克的宝球是多么的幸运，因为它可以保护自己躲过所有受雇来保护这座塔的巫师。那么挡在他前进的路上的就只剩下岗哨跟机械陷阱了。 阿提密斯•恩崔立并不担心它们。 他走进塔中的时候，太阳正缓缓地落入西方的地平线之下。 ××× “他们的盟友太多了。”莱基坚持道。 “他们会不留痕迹地消失。”贾拉索微笑着回答。“简简单单地消失。” 莱基边叹气边摇头，金穆瑞则舒服地坐在房间另一边一把豪华的椅子上，一条腿搭在把手上，盯着天花板，眼珠转个不停。 “你还在怀疑我么？”贾拉索问，他语调明快无辜，没有一点威胁的语气。“想想我们现在在卡林港还有地表都已经很适应了。在几个主要的城市里都有我们的代理人，包括深水城。” “我们正在其它城市搜寻代理人，”莱基纠正他，“不过只有一个正在工作，路斯坎的那个小盗贼。”他暂停了一下，盯着自己的心灵异能者伙伴微笑起来，“或许吧。” 想到他们的第二个代理人正在路斯坎活动，并且贾拉索并不知道他已经离开了卡林港，金穆瑞轻声笑了起来。 “其它人都只是预备的，”莱基继续说，“有一些还算有前途，其它的没什么用，但是在这个时候没有一个人可以配得上代理人的名头。” “很快，嗯，”贾拉索说着，走向自己舒适的椅子，“很快，他们就会变成我们有益的伙伴，或者我们也可以去找其他人————在贪婪的人类中，这不是什么难事。看看你身边，看看在卡林港的情势。你还会怀疑我们来到这里有多明智么？珠宝跟宝石正源源不断的流向卓尔，他们正希望摆脱魔索布莱城的有限资源来扩充财产。 “要是契德•纳撒城发现我们在切断他们的财源我们就交大运了。”来自另外一个卓尔城市的莱基讽刺地回应。 贾拉索对他的话不屑一顾。 “我无法否认来自卡林港的利益。”巫师副官继续说，“当我们策划第一次来地表的时候，一致同意这里可以带来迅速且丰厚的回报。同时也一致同意它的保质期很短，因此，在首次得益以后，我们应该重新考虑我们的情况，并且重新对待自己的领地，只留下最好的贸易线和代理在这里。” “所以我们应该重新考虑，我也考虑过了，”贾拉索说，“很明显的，我们低估了地表行动的潜力。扩张！扩张，我说。” 还是令人沮丧的气氛。金穆瑞仍然盯着天花板，似乎是对贾拉索的建议的小小否定。 “探索者公会要求我们限制在这个地区的贸易，”贾拉索提醒说，“而且，大部分能够制造更加有异国风味、更能吸引魔索布莱城注意的货物的工匠并不在这个地区。” “因此我们应该跟探索者公会做生意，让他们进入这个全新又有利可图的市场，当然他们自身没有途径进入，我们就趁机敲上一笔，”莱基说，一个符合达耶特独立佣兵团传统完美又合理的建议，这个惟利是图的机会主义团队总是尽力用“互利”来作为自己的交易准则。 “他们都是废物，”贾拉索回答，在眼前的空气里伸展着拇指跟食指并且把它们压在一起，似乎想把讨厌的污物给压榨出去。“他们很快就会消失的。” “这可不是个你所相信的那么简单的任务，”从门口传来一个娇媚的声音，三双眼睛都盯着夏洛塔•维斯帕走进房间，她穿着一件长袍，正好可以露出一条美腿。“探索者公会深为他们广泛的贸易网而感到骄傲，你可以毁掉他们所有的房屋和所有他们已知的代理，甚至所有跟他们代理做交易的人们，但是仍然会留下很多的目击证人。” “谁会那么做呢？”贾拉索问，但他仍保持微笑，甚至轻拍自己椅子的示意夏洛塔过来跟他坐在一起，她也照做了，并且还亲昵地搂着他。这场景让莱基又瞥了一眼金穆瑞。他们都知道贾拉索跟这个人类女人上过床，她是最有实力的工具——和恩崔立一样——属于老巴沙多尼的公会，他们两个都不赞成这件事。夏洛塔是个狡猾的家伙，狡猾到身为一个人类也可以被卓尔社会所容纳。她甚至已经掌握了卓尔的语言，并且可以使用黑暗精灵们错综复杂的手语。莱基对她强烈排斥，而金穆瑞，虽然把她当作一个有异国情调的玩物，但是也不喜欢让她那些危险的建议传到贾拉索的耳朵里。 尽管如此，但是在这件特别的事情上，在他们两个看来夏洛塔是跟他们同一战线的，所以没有像往常那样去打断她。 “目击证人会去告诉其他的公会，”夏洛塔解释道，“他们也会去通知卡林杉的高层。探索者公会的毁灭会引来一个真正强大的力量秘密地来到卡林港。” “已经来了一个了，”贾拉索咧嘴笑道。 “最强大的力量仍然是个秘密，”夏洛塔回答。 贾拉索把她推下大腿，推出椅子，所以她很快及时的把大腿放下好不让自己的臀部走光。 这个贪得无厌的领袖随后也站了起来，从夏洛塔身边走过去——好像她的建议一点都没有用一样。他朝他更加重要的副官走近了一些。“我曾期望达耶特在地表的角色就是个进出口商，”他解释。“这个目标我们已经很轻易地达到了。现在我已经看到了人类这个受支配的社会的真正面目，这就是他们的真正弱点。我们可以走得更远——我们也必须走得更远。” “征服？”莱基坏心眼地问道，讽刺味儿十足。 “并不像班瑞家族对秘银大厅那种做法。”贾拉索急切地解释道。“更类似于吞并。”他邪恶地笑起来。“为了那些准备玩这个游戏的人们。” “所以那些人不会随便地消失掉？”莱基问，但似乎他不再挖苦贾拉索了，贾拉索笑得更开心了。 “你前几天不是刚刚处死了一个探索者公会的间谍？”贾拉索问。 “保护我们自己的秘密跟扩张领土是有深刻的区别的，”巫师回答。 “咬文嚼字，”贾拉索大笑着说。“只是说法的不同。” 在他身后，夏洛塔•维斯帕抿着嘴唇摇头，恐怕她新找到的靠山正在犯下一个巨大且十分危险的错误。 ×××××× 穿过附近的一条小巷，恩崔立聆听着从塔里传来的嚎叫声。当他进去以后，他会先下楼，去释放一个令人厌恶的囚犯。他会把他带到比较安全的地带，就是地牢背面的开阔隧道中，然后他就会上到一楼，继续向上，在点着火把的走廊阴影中静谧潜行。 找到贾柯海德的房间容易至极。 甚至门都没有上锁。 如果刚才没有看到官员在囚徒狂欢节上的所作所为，阿提密斯•恩崔立可能会去跟他谈谈莫里克的事情。现在对莫里克来说他要做的很清楚，就是完成任务并且提供珠宝。 恩崔立想知道如果这个逃跑的囚犯，很明显谋杀了可怜的贾柯海德的杀手，被发现在隧道迷宫里，这个人要面对多大的苦难。恩崔立露出一个扭曲的笑容，因为他对利用无辜者来达到自己的目标并没有任何的罪恶感。毕竟，那个蠢货应该更好地理解这一点。为什么会有人潜进来并且很明显的冒着个人安危来救他？为什么他在杀手给他解开手铐的时候都没有问他？如果他的聪明程度足以保住自己的小命，为什么他没有当场抓住恩崔立，好让这个既不是他找来的，也根本不认识他的拯救者来替代他带上手铐，去面对刽子手？有这么多囚犯进出地牢，地牢看守是不会发现换了人的。 所以，那个暴徒的命运正是他自找的，恩崔立想道。当然，那个暴徒会说是别人帮助他逃跑的，把这一切都归罪于他。囚徒狂欢节是不会理会这种借口的。当然阿提密斯•恩崔立也不会。 他甩开这些问题，环顾四周确定只有他一个人，便把魔法解除宝石放在小巷的一边。他走开并吹响了哨子。他想知道待会这个东西要怎么起作用。毕竟魔法是必需的，这能让他回到卡林港，但是如果他带着宝球魔法又怎么能起作用呢？宝球上的咒文难道不会轻易地解除心灵传输术？ 一片蓝色光墙出现在他身旁。这是一个魔法门，他知道，这个不是莱基的，而更像是金穆瑞•欧布罗扎所为。事实上正是如此，他认为。也许这个宝球对心灵异能者不起作用。 或许它也能，在恩崔立搜集情报时这种想法令平时深为坚定的他动摇起来。万一这个宝球对金穆瑞的时空扭曲发生左右，那会发生什么？或许他会被卷到一个错误的地方——甚至成为另外一个域面的生物，会这样么？ 恩崔立甩开这个念头。跟卓尔、魔法宝球打交道就是冒险，或许不是。他仔细地把宝球藏好，在这个昏暗的小巷里，任何窥视魔眼都很难辨认出这个隐秘的动作，接着他大步走向魔法门，深吸一口气，走了进去。 不再晕眩后，他努力保持住自己的平衡，他已经回到了公会大厅中的法师私用房间，回到了数百里以外的卡林港。 金穆瑞和莱基站在那里，死死地盯着他。 “宝石呢？”莱基用卓尔语问道，恩崔立懂，但不是很精通。 “别急，”杀手用他不熟练的深渊卓尔语回答。“曾经有一个问题。” 两个黑暗精灵不约而同地扬起白色的眉毛表示惊讶。 “不过已经解决了，”恩崔立强调。“莫里克很快就会拿到宝石。” “这么说莫里克还活着，”金穆瑞尖锐地指出。“他试图阻断我们跟他的联系是因为什么？” “实际上，可以说是地方官员们试图隔绝他与外界的来往，”恩崔立撒了个谎。“一个地方官员，”看见他们的脸变了色，他迅速纠正道。“事情已经被拉入正轨了。” 卓尔们都不高兴，但也没有公开的抱怨。 “这个地方官员有能力把莫里克与外界，与窥视魔眼隔离开来？”莱基问。 “用那个宝球？”金穆瑞补充道。 “莫里克购买了那个宝球，”莱基眯起了眼睛，说。 “很显然他不知道他买了什么东西，”恩崔立平静地说，心情十分放松，因为他意识到自己的策略生效了。 当然，莱基和金穆瑞还是会怀疑这是莫里克干的，而不是什么地方官员。他们怀疑恩崔立更倾向于对他自己有利的事实，但是杀手知道他没有给他们足够的证据来进一步行动——至少，要是行动的话他们会惹火贾拉索的。 也就是说，恩崔立的安全再次完全取决于这个跟他相处不佳的贪婪雇佣兵头子了。恩崔立不喜欢依靠别人，这就等同于软弱。 “你拿了那个宝球，”莱基说，伸出他瘦长，精致的手。 “这对我来说可比你更有利。”杀手大胆地说，这句话让两个黑暗精灵无言以对。 一说完，恩崔立就感觉他的口袋在叮当作响。他伸手去碰宝球，敏感的手指感觉到隐隐有一股颤动从魔法物品深处传来。恩崔立紧紧盯着金穆瑞。这个卓尔站在那里，双目紧闭，精神高度集中。 于是他明白了。宝石的魔力对金穆瑞强大到可怕的精神力量起不到任何作用，恩崔立曾见识过这个心灵异能者的计策。金穆瑞正在搜寻宝石的潜藏能力，并且在激发它的能量至爆炸。 恩崔立很想就这么等着，直到最后把宝球砸在金穆瑞的脸上，他觉得这点子有趣极了。倘若让他看到这个肮脏的卓尔最终作茧自缚的场景时，恩崔立该有多么的享受！ 手掌一挥，金穆瑞打开了一个空间传送门，连接着这个房间和那个近乎荒芜而肮脏的小巷。这个入口大小足够宝球进出，但是不够恩崔立穿过。 恩崔立感觉到能量在聚集，聚集……震动已经不再是隐隐的了。他踌躇起来，注视着金穆瑞——只是盯着并且等待，让这个卓尔知道他并不害怕。 实际上这并不是意志上的战斗。恩崔立的口袋里揣着个不定时炸弹，而金穆瑞却站的足够远，所以比起恩崔立将要到来的鲜血四溅，他几乎不会受到任何伤害。再一次，杀手想把宝球砸向金穆瑞的脸，但再一次他意识到这样做根本没有意义。 金穆瑞可以轻易就解除宝石的能量激发，就像把火把扔到水里来熄灭它一样简单。但这样恩崔立就给了他们一个他们可以完全毁灭他的理由。贾拉索可能会发怒，但是他不会也不愿否定他们保护自己的权利。 阿提密斯•恩崔立没有准备好进行这场战斗。 还没有。 他把宝球从那个门扔了过去，注视着，几秒钟以后，它在灰尘中爆炸了。 魔法门随即消失。 “你在玩一个危险的游戏。”莱基评论道。 “这场爆炸是你的卓尔朋友制造的。”恩崔立随意地回答。 “我不是在说那个，”巫师反击。“你们人类中有句俗语：让孩子做成人的工作是愚蠢的。我们也有个类似的说法，就是：让人类做卓尔的工作是愚蠢的。” 恩崔立死死地看着他，没有回答。这情况开始感觉像他被困在魔索布莱城的那些日子了，当时他已经意识到，在一个有着两万黑暗精灵的城市，不管他做得多好，不管他的技术有多完美，他在这个城市的排名绝不会高于两万零一。 莱基和金穆瑞互相嘀咕了一些俗语，大部分都是侮辱性的，一些很粗鲁，一些很含蓄，但所有的都直指恩崔立。 他记下了它们，每一个词。他没有说话，因为他无言以对。他一直在想达拉巴德绿洲，还有一套长剑和护手的组合。 他接受了他们的贬谪之言，因为他不得不。 目前如此。

xiang0987 发表于 2006-9-27 09:34

忍辱负重，恩崔立好样的！

感谢翻译者！贴文章者也辛苦了

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魔晶仆从——第三章 一场耻辱的相遇

魔晶仆从——第三章一场耻辱的相遇