想必寒冷已经杀灭了蜘蛛，琼恩心想，而老鼠将是即将来临的冬日里上好的肉。“事实确实如此，王后陛下……但废墟也可以提供庇护。长城也可以为他们隔绝异鬼。”

The cold will have killed the spiders by now, thought Jon, and the rats may be a useful source of meat come winter. “All true, Your Grace … but even ruins offer some shelter. And the Wall will stand between them and the Others.”

“看来你已经慎思熟虑过了，雪诺大人。我相信史坦尼斯国王胜利归来后会很高兴的。”

“I see you have considered all this carefully, Lord Snow. I am sure King Stannis will be pleased when he returns triumphant from his battle.”

假定他还能回来。

Assuming he returns at all.

“当然，”王后继续讲，“野人必须承认史坦尼斯是他们的国王，光之王是他们的信仰。”

“Of course,” the queen went on, “the wildlings must first acknowledge Stannis as their king and R’hllor as their god.”

终究是谈到了这个互不相让的问题。“陛下，原谅我。我和他们达成的协议里没有这条。”

And here we are, face-to-face in the narrow passage. “Your Grace, forgive me. Those were not the terms that we agreed to.”

王后的表情凝滞了。“严重的疏漏。”她语气里仅有的一丝温暖一下子不见了。

The queen’s face hardened. “A grievous oversight.” What faint traces of warmth her voice had held vanished all at once.

“自由民不会屈膝，”瓦尔告诉她。

“Free folk do not kneel,” Val told her.

“他们必须下跪。”王后毫不退让。

“Then they must be knelt,” the queen declared.

“陛下，若你执意这么做，我们将不放过任何机会起来，”瓦尔信誓旦旦地说。“手里拿着刀起来。”

“Do that, Your Grace, and we will rise again at the first chance,” Val promised. “Rise with blades in hand.”

王后双唇咬紧，下巴微微一颤。“你这傲慢无礼的家伙！若是一个野人对我说这话我倒还能接受。我一定要为你找个丈夫，让他教教你什么是礼仪。”接着王后怒目瞪着琼恩。“我不同意，总司令大人。我的丈夫也不会同意。虽然我无法阻止你打开大门，但是我们都很清楚之后会发生什么，我保证我丈夫从战场回来之后会质问你。到时候也许你就会希望你曾重新考虑过。”

The queen’s lips tightened, and her chin gave a small quiver. “You are insolent. I suppose that is only to be expected of a wildling. We must find you a husband who can teach you courtesy.” The queen turned her glare on Jon. “I do not approve, Lord Commander. Nor will my lord husband. I cannot prevent you from opening your gate, as we both know full well, but I promise you that you shall answer for it when the king returns from battle. Mayhaps you might want to reconsider.”

“陛下。”琼恩再次跪地。这一次瓦尔没有这么做。“我很遗憾我的言行让你失望。我只按照我觉得最好的方式来做这些。现在我可以退下了吗？”

“Your Grace.” Jon knelt again. This time Val did not join him. “I am sorry my actions have displeased you. I did as I thought best. Do I have your leave to go?”

“滚开。立即！”

“You do. At once.”

刚离开王后的房间，瓦尔就迫不及待地发泄怒气。“她的胡子根本不像你说那样。她下巴上的毛简直比我的阴毛还多。还有她女儿……她的脸……”

Once outside and well away from the queen’s men, Val gave vent to her wroth. “You lied about her beard. That one has more hair on her chin than I have between my legs. And the daughter … her face …”

“灰鳞病。”

“Greyscale.”

“我们管它叫灰死病”

“The grey death is what we call it.”

“孩子染上它不一定致命。”

“It is not always mortal in children.”

“然而在塞外它是致命的。唯有毒芹可以‘治疗’，当然，若是用枕头或者刀刃解脱同样有效。如果我生出了这样的可怜孩子，肯定我老早就给予她慈悲的解脱了。”

“North of the Wall it is. Hemlock is a sure cure, but a pillow or a blade will work as well. If I had given birth to that poor child, I would have given her the gift of mercy long ago.”

这才是琼恩认识的瓦尔。“席琳公主是王后唯一的孩子。”

This was a Val that Jon had never seen before. “Princess Shireen is the queen’s only child.”

“我同情她俩。这孩子会传染。”

“I pity both of them. The child is not clean.”

“如果史坦尼斯赢得战争，席琳将继承铁王座。”

“If Stannis wins his war, Shireen will stand as heir to the Iron Throne.”

“那我真得同情七大王国。”

“Then I pity your Seven Kingdoms.”

“学士说灰鳞病不……”

“The maesters say greyscale is not—”

“学士只相信他们希望看到的。森林女巫才知道真相。灰死病也许看似会被治愈，但它将来会复发。这孩子是病源体！”

“The maesters may believe what they wish. Ask a woods witch if you would know the truth. The grey death sleeps, only to wake again. The child is not clean!”

“她只是个甜美的女孩。你怎么知道……”

“She seems a sweet girl. You cannot know—”

“我知道。你什么都不懂，琼恩·雪诺。”瓦尔紧抓住他的胳膊。“要把这可怕的怪物赶出去。孩子还有他的奶妈也住那。你不能把他们和这个该死的女孩放在同一坐塔里。”

“I can. You know nothing, Jon Snow.” Val seized his arm. “I want the monster out of there. Him and his wet nurses. You cannot leave them in that same tower as the dead girl.”

琼恩甩开她的手。“她还没死。”

Jon shook her hand away. “She is not dead.”

“她已经死了。只是她母亲发现不了。似乎你也是。死亡已经悄然降临。”她从他旁边走开，然后停下，转过身。“我把巨人克星托蒙德给你带来了，所以把孩子给我。”

“She is. Her mother cannot see it. Nor you, it seems. Yet death is there.” She walked away from him, stopped, turned back. “I brought you Tormund Giantsbane. Bring me my monster.”

“如果我能，我会给的。”

“If I can, I will.”

“给我，这是你欠我的，琼恩·雪诺。”

“Do. You owe me a debt, Jon Snow.”

琼恩看着她大步走开。她是错的。她一定是错的。灰鳞病并不像她所说的那样致命，至少对于孩子不那么致命。白灵又一次走开。日已西斜。这时候来一杯香料热酒正好，两杯当然更惬意。但是这些只能待会再说。他要面对敌人。最糟糕的情况：敌人正是他的兄弟。

Jon watched her stride away. She is wrong. She must be wrong. Greyscale is not so deadly as she claims, not in children.

他发现莱瑟斯在吊笼旁边等着他。于是他俩一同上去。所到越高，风力越强。五十尺之上，沉重的笼子会随着每一阵风摇晃。偶尔笼子会擦碰长城，，生成闪烁在阳光下的透明的冰雨。很快他们的高度已经超过了城堡最高的塔楼。在四百尺高时，疾风好似生有利齿，撕扯着他的黑斗篷以至斗篷猛烈拍打着笼子的铁条。在七百尺高，狂风简直要将他整个刺穿。长城还是我的，在绞盘手操纵吊笼的时候琼恩提醒自己，至少，这两天还是。

Ghost was gone again. The sun was low in the west. A cup of hot spiced wine would serve me well just now. Two cups would serve me even better. But that would have to wait. He had foes to face. Foes of the worst sort: brothers.

琼恩跳出笼子，谢过操纵绞盘的人，同时向站岗的哨兵点头致意。他们用羊毛头巾缠住脑袋，因此除了眼睛，他们脸上其他部分根本看不到。但他还是通过缠乱油腻的即背黑发认出了泰，通过填满香肠的剑鞘认出了欧文。他本可以仅通过他们站的样子就识别出他们是谁。出色的统帅需要了解他的每一个人，在临冬城他的父亲曾这样告诉罗柏。

He found Leathers waiting for him by the winch cage. The two of them rode up together. The higher they went, the stronger the wind. Fifty feet up, the heavy cage began to sway with every gust. From time to time it scraped against the Wall, starting small crystalline showers of ice that sparkled in the sunlight as they fell. They rose above the tallest towers of the castle. At four hundred feet the wind had teeth, and tore at his black cloak so it slapped noisily at the iron bars. At seven hundred it cut right through him. The Wall is mine, Jon reminded himself as the winchmen were swinging in the cage, for two more days, at least.

琼恩走到长城边缘，朝下望向曼斯·雷德大军溃败的战场。他想知道曼斯现在在哪了。我的小妹，他找到你了吗？还是说“你”只是曼斯用来逃脱的花招借口？

Jon hopped down onto the ice, thanked the men on the winch, and nodded to the spearmen standing sentry. Both wore woolen hoods pulled down over their heads, so nothing could be seen of their faces but their eyes, but he knew Ty by the tangled rope of greasy black hair falling down his back and Owen by the sausage stuffed into the scabbard at his hip. He might have known them anyway, just by the way they stood. A good lord must know his men, his father had once told him and Robb, back at Winterfell.

自他上次见到艾丽娅已经很久。她现在长什么样？他还认得出来吗？艾丽娅总是光着脚。脸上也总是脏的。她还带着那把他请密肯为她铸的那把小剑吗？用尖的那头刺，他曾对她说。如果他听闻的有关拉姆斯·雪诺的劣迹有一半是真的，那么在她婚礼之时把他劫走真是明智。带她回来，曼斯。我从梅丽珊卓手上救走了你的儿子，现在，我将要拯救你那四千自由民。而我只需要你带回来一个小女孩。

Jon walked to the edge of the Wall and gazed down upon the killing ground where Mance Rayder’s host had died. He wondered where Mance was now. Did he ever find you, little sister? Or were you just a ploy he used so I would set him free?

鬼影森林位于北面，下午的阴影悄然渗进树林。西边的天空有如一团鲜红烈火，而东边第一颗星星正窥视着大地。琼恩·雪诺弯动握剑的手指，回忆着他所失去的。山姆，你这蠢猪，你让我当上总司令真是个残酷的玩笑。总司令大人没有朋友。

It had been so long since he had last seen Arya. What would she look like now? Would he even know her? Arya Underfoot. Her face was always dirty. Would she still have that little sword he’d had Mikken forge for her? Stick them with the pointy end, he’d told her. Wisdom for her wedding night if half of what he heard of Ramsay Snow was true. Bring her home, Mance. I saved your son from Melisandre, and now I am about to save four thousand of your free folk. You owe me this one little girl.

“雪诺大人？”莱瑟斯说。“笼子升上来了。”

In the haunted forest to the north, the shadows of the afternoon crept through the trees. The western sky was a blaze of red, but to the east the first stars were peeking out. Jon Snow flexed the fingers of his sword hand, remembering all he’d lost. Sam, you sweet fat fool, you played me a cruel jape when you made me lord commander. A lord commander has no friends.

“我听到了。”琼恩从长城边缘走回来。

“Lord Snow?” said Leathers. “The cage is coming up.”

最先上来的是菲林特氏族和诺瑞氏族的首领，披覆毛皮和铁器。诺瑞看上去就像一只老狐狸——皱褶的皮肤，轻盈的身材，眼神狡猾，行动轻快。托根·菲林特比前者矮半个头但却有前者两倍重……强壮沙哑，饱经风霜，长着红色指节的手大如火腿，在冰上蹒跚挪移时，他拄着一根黑刺李树干。波文·马尔锡紧随其后，他有如裹在一层熊皮里。奥赛尔·亚威克接着抵达。然后赛勒达修士也到了，帽子半歪。

“I hear it.” Jon moved back from the edge.

“随我来，”琼恩对他们说。他们沿着长城向西走，沿着撒满砾石的路朝落日走去。从洒下的阳光中走出大约五十码，他说，“你们知道我为何召集你们。三天之后的拂晓，大门将会开启，托蒙德会带着他的人穿越长城。我们将有很多准备工作要做。”

First to make the ascent were the clan chiefs Flint and Norrey, clad in fur and iron. The Norrey looked like some old fox—wrinkled and slight of build, but sly-eyed and spry. Torghen Flint was half a head shorter but must weigh twice as much—a stout gruff man with gnarled, red-knuckled hands as big as hams, leaning heavily on a blackthorn cane as he limped across the ice. Bowen Marsh came next, bundled up in a bearskin. After him Othell Yarwyck. Then Septon Cellador, half in his cups.

寂静是对他所述的唯一回答。之后奥赛尔·亚威克大人说，“总司令大人，他们有几千……”

“Walk with me,” Jon told them. They walked west along the Wall, down gravel-strewn paths toward the setting sun. When they had come fifty yards from the warming shed, he said, “You know why I’ve summoned you. Three days hence at dawn the gate will open, to allow Tormund and his people through the Wall. There is much we need to do in preparation.”

“皮包骨头的野人，疲惫不堪，饥饿无比，背井离乡。”琼恩指向他们营火的微光。

Silence greeted his pronouncement. Then Othell Yarwyck said, “Lord Commander, there are thousands of—”

“他们就在那。托蒙德说有四千人。”

“—scrawny wildlings, bone weary, hungry, far from home.” Jon pointed at the lights of their campfires. “There they are. Four thousand, Tormund claims.”

“那些营火旁边的人有三千，我数过。”波文·马尔锡毕生献于数数和测量。“据说人数比起和森林女巫前往艰难堡的人数多出两倍。此外丹尼斯爵士寄信说影子塔之外的群山上也有一大片营地。”

“Three thousand, I make them, by the fires.” Bowen Marsh lived for counts and measures. “More than twice that number at Hardhome with the woods witch, we are told. And Ser Denys writes of great camps in the mountains beyond the Shadow Tower …”

琼恩没有否认。“托蒙德说哭泣者打算再度尝试通过头骨桥。”

Jon did not deny it. “Tormund says the Weeper means to try the Bridge of Skulls again.”

石榴老摸摸头上的伤疤。那是他在头骨桥之战中留下的，那场战斗守夜人阻止了企图通过头骨桥的哭泣者。“显然总司令大人不会让他得逞，不会让那种恶棍也通过长城吧？”

The Old Pomegranate touched his scar. He had gotten it defending the Bridge of Skulls the last time the Weeping Man had tried to cut his way across the Gorge. “Surely the lord commander cannot mean to allow that … that demon through as well?”

“虽然事实很不令人高兴。”琼恩不会忘记哭泣者留给他的人头，眼睛所在的地方只剩下血淋淋的空洞。黑杰克布尔威，“毛人”哈尔，“灰羽”加尔斯。我不能替他们复仇，但我不会忘记他们的名字。“但是，是的，大人，他也要通过长城。我们无法从自由民中挑选，让这个人通过，拒绝那个人。和平是对所有人的和平。”

“Not gladly.” Jon had not forgotten the heads the Weeping Man had left him, with bloody holes where their eyes had been. Black Jack Bulwer, Hairy Hal, Garth Greyfeather. I cannot avenge them, but I will not forget their names. “But yes, my lord, him as well. We cannot pick and choose amongst the free folk, saying this one may pass, this one may not. Peace means peace for all.”

诺瑞清清嗓子然后唾了一口。“我们还得给予狼和秃鹫和平么？”

The Norrey hawked and spat. “As well make peace with wolves and carrion crows.”

“我的地牢里充满和平，”老菲林特抱怨道。“把哭泣者留给我处置。”

“It’s peaceful in my dungeons,” grumbled Old Flint. “Give the Weeping Man to me.”

“多少游骑兵被哭泣者残忍的杀害？”奥赛尔·亚威克质问。“多少女人被他强奸、杀害或是掳走？”

“How many rangers has the Weeper killed?” asked Othell Yarwyck. “How many women has he raped or killed or stolen?”

“我家就有三个，”老菲林特回答。“他还把剩下的女孩都弄瞎。”

“Three of mine own ilk,” said Old Flint. “And he blinds the girls he does not take.”

“当一个人披上黑衣，他之前的一切罪行都会被宽恕。”琼恩提醒他们。“如果我们想要自由民与我们并肩作战，我们就必须原谅他们之前的罪行，正如我们原谅我们自己的一样。”

“When a man takes the black, his crimes are forgiven,” Jon reminded them. “If we want the free folk to fight beside us, we must pardon their past crimes as we would for our own.”

“哭泣者不会发誓，”亚威克强调。“他绝不会穿上黑衣。就连其他掠袭者也不信任他。”

“The Weeper will not say the words,” insisted Yarwyck. “He will not wear the cloak. Even other raiders do not trust him.”

“利用一个人不一定非要新任他。”否则我怎么会用你们？“我们需要哭泣者，以及像他那样的人。谁会比一个野人更了解塞外野地？谁会比一个曾经与我们的敌人战斗过的人更了解我们的敌人？”

“You need not trust a man to use him.” Else how could I make use of all of you? “We need the Weeper, and others like him. Who knows the wild better than a wildling? Who knows our foes better than a man who has fought them?”

“哭泣者只了解强奸和杀害，”亚威克说。

“All the Weeper knows is rape and murder,” said Yarwyck.

“一旦通过长城，野人比我们的队伍大三倍，”波文·马尔锡说。“而那还仅仅是托蒙德的队伍。加上哭泣者的人还有艰难堡的人，他们有能力在一夜之间消灭守夜人的所有力量。”

“Once past the Wall, the wildlings will have thrice our numbers,” said Bowen Marsh. “And that is only Tormund’s band. Add the Weeper’s men and those at Hardhome, and they will have the strength to end the Night’s Watch in a single night.”

“仅仅靠数量不能赢得战争。你还没有见过他们。半数人奄奄一息行将就木。”

“Numbers alone do not win a war. You have not seen them. Half of them are dead on their feet.”

“我巴不得埋葬他们全部，”亚威克说。“如果可以取悦大人。”

“I would sooner have them dead in the ground,” said Yarwyck. “If it please my lord.”

“这不会令我高兴。”琼恩的嗓音冷若拍打着他们斗篷的寒风。“他们的营地里有孩子，几百，甚至几千。还有女人。”

“It does not please me.” Jon’s voice was as cold as the wind snapping at their cloaks. “There are children in that camp, hundreds of them, thousands. Women as well.”

“是矛妇。”

“Spearwives.”

“一些是矛妇。但此外还有母亲和祖母，寡妇和女仆……你是要把他们都判以死刑么，大人？”

“Some. Along with mothers and grandmothers, widows and maids … would you condemn them all to die, my lord?”

“兄弟之间不应争吵，”赛勒达修士说。“让我们跪下并向老妪祈祷，祈求她用智慧照亮我们的道路。”

“Brothers should not squabble,” Septon Cellador said. “Let us kneel and pray to the Crone to light our way to wisdom.”

“雪诺大人，”诺瑞说，“你想把野人安置在哪？我可不希望是我那儿。”

“Lord Snow,” said The Norrey, “where do you mean to put these wildlings o’ yours? Not on my lands, I hope.”

“是啊，”老菲林特说。“你希望他们住在赠地，但那只是你的傻念头，保证他们别乱跑，否则我只能把他们的脑袋送回来。寒冬将临，我不想哺养更多的人。”

“Aye,” declared Old Flint. “You want them in the Gift, that’s your folly, but see they don’t wander off or I’ll send you back their heads. Winter is nigh, I want no more mouths to feed.”

“野人会待在长城上，”琼恩向他们保证。“大部分人会居住在一个我们现在荒废的城堡里。”守夜人现在在冰痕城，长车楼，黑貂厅，灰卫堡，深湖居驻有守军，但还有十座城堡至今空余。“包括带着小孩和妻子的人，所有十岁以下的孤儿，老妇，寡妇母亲，任何不想战斗的女性。至于其他，我们会把矛妇送去长车楼和那里的女性**，单身男性被送去我们已经重新使用的堡垒。选择穿上黑衣的人将留在这里或是被送去东海望或影子塔。托蒙德将驻防橡木盾，这样他将触手可及。”

“The wildlings will remain upon the Wall,” Jon assured them. “Most will be housed in one of our abandoned castles.” The Watch now had garrisons at Icemark, Long Barrow, Sable Hall, Greyguard, and Deep Lake, all badly undermanned, but ten castles still stood empty and abandoned. “Men with wives and children, all orphan girls and any orphan boys below the age of ten, old women, widowed mothers, any woman who does not care to fight. The spearwives we’ll send to Long Barrow to join their sisters, single men to the other forts we’ve reopened. Those who take the black will remain here, or be posted to Eastwatch or the Shadow Tower. Tormund will take Oakenshield as his seat, to keep him close at hand.”

波文·马尔锡轻声叹息。“若他们拒绝和我们并肩作战，而仅仅是消耗我们的补给。若如此，总司令大人如何养活托蒙德和他们那几千人？”

Bowen Marsh sighed. “If they do not slay us with their swords, they will do so with their mouths. Pray, how does the lord commander propose to feed Tormund and his thousands?”

琼恩早料到了这个问题。“通过东海望。我们通过船只运来食物，要多少送来多少。从河间地、风暴地和艾林谷，从多恩和河湾地，从狭海对岸的自由贸易城邦。”

Jon had anticipated that question. “Through Eastwatch. We will bring in food by ship, as much as might be required. From the riverlands and the stormlands and the Vale of Arryn, from Dorne and the Reach, across the narrow sea from the Free Cities.”

“天下没有免费的午餐……我们该如何支付这些食物，如果不介意我知道的话？”

“And this food will be paid for … how, if I may ask?”

用从布拉弗斯铁金库借来的黄金，琼恩也许该这么答。然而他却说，“我同意自由民留下兽皮毛羽。当寒冬来临，他们需要这些保暖。他们务必上交除此之外的所有财产。金、银、琥珀、宝石、雕塑，任何有价值的东西。我们将把这些运往狭海对岸的自由城邦卖掉。”

With gold, from the Iron Bank of Braavos, Jon might have replied. Instead he said, “I have agreed that the free folk may keep their furs and pelts. They will need those for warmth when winter comes. All other wealth they must surrender. Gold and silver, amber, gemstones, carvings, anything of value. We will ship it all across the narrow sea to be sold in the Free Cities.”

“野人的所有财产，”诺瑞咬文嚼字。“大概够你买一蒲式耳的麦粒，或许是两蒲式耳。”

“All the wealth o’ the wildlings,” said The Norrey. “That should buy you a bushel o’ barleycorn. Two bushels, might be.”

“总司令大人，为什么不要求野人们也上交武器呢？”克莱达斯问。

“Lord Commander, why not demand that the wildlings give up their arms as well?” asked Clydas.

莱瑟斯（曾是野人）对此报以嘲笑。“你若是想让我们自由民和你并肩作战，没有武器怎么行？你是想要我们朝古灵精怪掷雪球吗？还是给我们棍棒来打他们？”

Leathers laughed at that. “You want the free folk to fight beside you against the common foe. How are we to do that without arms? Would you have us throw snowballs at the wights? Or will you give us sticks to hit them with?”

大部分野人的武器还不如棍棒，琼恩想。木棒，石斧，大木槌，尖端淬过火的矛，骨刀、石刀和龙晶刀，藤条盾，骨甲，煮过的兽皮。瑟恩人能冶炼青铜，哭泣者那样的掠袭者带着从尸体上劫掠来的钢剑铁剑……况且这些武器常常古老久远，长年的使用使它们已经锈迹斑斑。

The arms most wildlings carry are little more than sticks, thought Jon. Wooden clubs, stone axes, mauls, spears with fire-hardened points, knives of bone and stone and dragonglass, wicker shields, bone armor, boiled leather. The Thenns worked bronze, and raiders like the Weeper carried stolen steel and iron swords looted off some corpse … but even those were oft of ancient vintage, dinted from years of hard use and spotted with rust.

“巨人克星托蒙德绝不会愿意解除他的人的武装，”琼恩说。“他不是哭泣者，但他也绝不是一个懦夫。要是我向他提出这个要求，流血和杀戮将取代和平。”

“Tormund Giantsbane will never willingly disarm his people,” Jon said. “He is not the Weeping Man, but he is no craven either. If I had asked that of him, it would have come to blood.”

诺瑞捋捋胡子。“你确实可以把这些野人安排在废弃的城堡里，雪诺大人，但是你怎么确保他们能留在那里？你要如何阻止他们前往南方舒适温暖的土地？”

The Norrey fingered his beard. “You may put your wildlings in these ruined forts, Lord Snow, but how will you make them stay? What is there to stop them moving south to fairer, warmer lands?”

“我们的土地。”老菲林特补充。

“Our lands,” said Old Flint.

“托蒙德向我发誓。他只会和我们待到春天。哭泣者和其他首领也要如此发誓，否则我们将不予他们通过。”

“Tormund has given me his oath. He will serve with us until the spring. The Weeper and their other captains will swear the same or we will not let them pass.”

老菲林特摇摇头。“他们会背叛我们。”

Old Flint shook his head. “They will betray us.”

“而且哭泣者的誓言毫无价值。”奥赛尔·亚威克说。

“The Weeper’s word is worthless,” said Othell Yarwyck.

“他们是不信神的野蛮人，”赛勒达修士说。“就算是在南方，人们也深知野人背信弃义。”

“These are godless savages,” said Septon Cellador. “Even in the south the treachery of wildlings is renowned.”

莱瑟斯交叉双臂。“记得么？当初曼斯进攻长城的时候，我在野人那方。而现在我穿上了黑衣并训练新来的孩子格斗。有些人会说我是变色龙。也许我确实是这样……但是我并不比你们乌鸦更野蛮。我们也有神明，和临冬城的神一样。”

Leathers crossed his arms. “That battle down below? I was on t’other side, remember? Now I wear your blacks and train your boys to kill. Some might call me turncloak. Might be so … but I am no more savage than you crows. We have gods too. The same gods they keep in Winterfell.”

“北境之神，在长城建造之前就已存在，”琼恩说。“托蒙德向这些神发誓。他会遵守他的誓言。我了解他，就像我了解曼斯·雷德那样。我曾和他们一同行军，你们也许会想起。”

“The gods of the North, since before this Wall was raised,” said Jon. “Those are the gods that Tormund swore by. He will keep his word. I know him, as I knew Mance Rayder. I marched with them for a time, you may recall.”

“我们不曾忘记，”总务长大人说。

“I had not forgotten,” said the Lord Steward.

不，琼恩想，我不觉得你们会忘记。

No, thought Jon, I did not think you had.

“曼斯·雷德也发过誓，”马尔锡继续说。“他发誓说他将不戴宝冠，不娶妻，不生子。而后他却违背誓言，把这些都做了，还带着一支可怕的大军攻打王国。现在守候在墙那头的正是这支大军的残部。”

“Mance Rayder swore an oath as well,” Marsh went on. “He vowed to wear no crowns, take no wife, father no sons. Then he turned his cloak, did all those things, and led a fearsome host against the realm. It is the remnants of that host that waits beyond the Wall.”

“支离破碎的残部。”

“Broken remnants.”

“支离破碎的残剑可以重铸。支离破碎的残剑以足矣致命。”

“A broken sword can be reforged. A broken sword can kill.”

“自由民既无法律亦无君王，”琼恩说，“但他们爱他们自己的子女。这点你承认吗？”

“The free folk have neither laws nor lords,” Jon said, “but they love their children. Will you admit that much?”

“使我们担忧的不是他们的孩子。我们害怕那些父亲，并非儿子。”

“It is not their children who concern us. We fear the fathers, not the sons.”

“我也是。所以我坚持要他们提供人质。”我不是你所认为那样的什么都信的傻瓜……也不是半个野人，不管你信不信。“100个八岁到十六岁的男孩。其中每个首领提供一个孩子，剩下的则抽签选取。男孩将担任侍从，把我们的人从这些事务中解脱出来。更妙的是，也许有一部分人甚至会在未来选择穿上黑衣。而剩下的人则将继续作人质以换取他们父辈的忠诚。”

“As do I. So I insisted upon hostages.” I am not the trusting fool you take me for … nor am I half wildling, no matter what you believe. “One hundred boys between the ages of eight and sixteen. A son from each of their chiefs and captains, the rest chosen by lot. The boys will serve as pages and squires, freeing our own men for other duties. Some may choose to take the black one day. Queerer things have happened. The rest will stand hostage for the loyalty of their sires.”

北镜相互一瞥。“人质，”诺瑞若有所思。“托蒙德会同意？”

The northmen glanced at one another. “Hostages,” mused The Norrey. “Tormund has agreed to this?”

必须这样，否则只能坐视他的人等死。“他称其为割肉般的代价，”琼恩·雪诺说，“但他还是会接受。”

It was that, or watch his people die. “My blood price, he called it,” said Jon Snow, “but he will pay.”

“是啊，为什么不呢？”老菲林特用手杖跺跺冰。“收养，我们总是这样叫它。临冬城向我们索要男孩，他们就成了养子人质，并没有什么损失。”

“Aye, and why not?” Old Flint stomped his cane against the ice. “Wards, we always called them, when Winterfell demanded boys of us, but they were hostages, and none the worse for it.”

“除了那些对北境之王不满的父亲的男孩，”诺瑞说。“这些男孩被送回去时往往会少个头。所以，孩子，告诉我……若是你的那些野人朋友不像你所说那样，你下的去手吗？”

“None but them whose sires displeased the Kings o’ Winter,” said The Norrey. “Those came home shorter by a head. So you tell me, boy … if these wildling friends o’ yours prove false, do you have the belly to do what needs be done?”

问问杰诺斯·史林特吧。“巨人克星托蒙德知道最好不要试图挑战我的限度。也许在你眼中我还是个青涩的男孩，诺瑞大人，但我却是艾德·史塔克之子。”

Ask Janos Slynt. “Tormund Giantsbane knows better than to try me. I may seem a green boy in your eyes, Lord Norrey, but I am still a son of Eddard Stark.”

但这依然无法说动总务长大人。“你说那些男孩将作为侍从。显然大人不是指那种需要学习【使用武器】的侍从吧。”

Yet even that did not appease his Lord Steward. “You say these boys will serve as squires. Surely the lord commander does not mean they will be trained at arms?”

琼恩的怒火被点燃了。“不，大人，我打算安排他们缝纫带花边的短裤！他们当然需要学习使用武器。他们也要学习拌黄油，砍柴，倒便壶和送信……在此之间，他们学习矛术、剑术以及弓术。”

Jon’s anger flared. “No, my lord, I mean to set them to sewing lacy smallclothes. Of course they shall be trained at arms. They shall also churn butter, hew firewood, muck stables, empty chamber pots, and run messages … and in between they will be drilled with spear and sword and longbow.”

马尔锡的脸上刷得变成深红。“请总司令大人原谅我的直截了当，我不知道如何委婉地表达我要说的话。我认为你的所做简直就是叛国罪。八千年来，守夜人守卫长城对抗野人。而你现在竟打算让他们通过长城，用我们的城堡为他们提供庇护，供养他们，给他们衣物，教他们如何战斗。雪诺大人，要不要我提醒你？你立过誓！”

Marsh flushed a deeper shade of red. “The lord commander must pardon my bluntness, but I have no softer way to say this. What you propose is nothing less than treason. For eight thousand years the men of the Night’s Watch have stood upon the Wall and fought these wildlings. Now you mean to let them pass, to shelter them in our castles, to feed them and clothe them and teach them how to fight. Lord Snow, must I remind you? You swore an oath.”

“我知道我发过什么誓。”琼恩复述誓言。“我是黑暗中的利剑，长城上的守卫。我是抵御寒冷的烈焰，破晓时分的光线，唤醒眠者的号角，守护王国的坚盾。这和你发誓的时候说的一样么？”

“I know what I swore.” Jon said the words. “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. Were those the same words you said when you took your vows?”

“正如总司令大人所知，我确实说的这些。”

“They were. As the lord commander knows.”

“你知不知道我不曾遗忘过一丝一毫？关于国王和律法的内容。还有，我们该怎么守住每一寸土地，不放弃每一个已经成为废墟的城堡？这些如何实现？”琼恩等待着回答。但是唯有沉默。“我是守护王国的坚盾。誓言的确如此。那么，告诉我，大人……如果这些野人成为尸鬼而非人类我们该怎么办？”

“Are you certain that I have not forgotten some? The ones about the king and his laws, and how we must defend every foot of his land and cling to each ruined castle? How does that part go?” Jon waited for an answer. None came. “I am the shield that guards the realms of men. Those are the words. So tell me, my lord—what are these wildlings, if not men?”

波文·马尔锡长开嘴但说不出话。红晕爬上他的脖颈。

Bowen Marsh opened his mouth. No words came out. A flush crept up his neck.

琼恩·雪诺转过身。最后一丝光线消退了。他注视着长城上的裂痕从红转灰，由灰及黑，从烈火的闪光到玄冰的河流。长城之下，梅丽珊卓正升起夜火祈祷，光之王，守护我等，因为长夜黑暗，处处险恶。

Jon Snow turned away. The last light of the sun had begun to fade. He watched the cracks along the Wall go from red to grey to black, from streaks of fire to rivers of black ice. Down below, Lady Melisandre would be lighting her nightfire and chanting, Lord of Light, defend us, for the night is dark and full of terrors.

“凛冬将至，”最后琼恩说，打破了尴尬的寂静，“白鬼将随之而来。我们要在长城阻止他们。当初建造长城就是为了阻止他们……而长城需要人来守护。今天的讨论就到这里。在大门打开之前我们要做的还有很多。托蒙德和他的人需要食物、衣物、住宿。一些病人还需要医治。这一重任将交给你，克莱达斯。尽你所能拯救更多的人。”

“Winter is coming,” Jon said at last, breaking the awkward silence, “and with it the white walkers. The Wall is where we stop them. The Wall was made to stop them … but the Wall must be manned. This discussion is at an end. We have much to do before the gate is opened. Tormund and his people will need to be fed and clothed and housed. Some are sick and will need nursing. Those will fall to you, Clydas. Save as many as you can.”

克莱达斯眨眨他暗粉色的眼。“我会尽我所能，琼恩。我是说，大人。”

Clydas blinked his dim pink eyes. “I will do my best, Jon. My lord, I mean.”

“我们需要准备好所有马车牛车以运送自由民带新的定居点。奥塞尔，你须确保此事。”

“We will need every cart and wagon made ready to transport the free folk to their new homes. Othell, you shall see to that.”

亚威克面带愁容。“是的，总司令大人。”

Yarwyck grimaced. “Aye, Lord Commander.”

“波文大人，你负责收集财产。金银琥珀、项链臂章。把它们分好类，清点清楚，确保它们安全送达东海望。”

“Lord Bowen, you shall collect the tolls. The gold and silver, the amber, the torques and armbands and necklaces. Sort it all, count it, see that it reaches Eastwatch safely.”

“遵命，雪诺大人，”波文·马尔锡说。

“Yes, Lord Snow,” said Bowen Marsh.

琼恩想，“冰”梅丽珊卓说，“黑暗中的匕首。冻结的殷红鲜血，还有出鞘出的钢铁。非常冷。”

And Jon thought, “Ice,” she said, “and daggers in the dark. Blood frozen red and hard, and naked steel.”

他执剑的手弯了弯。起风了。

His sword hand flexed. The wind was rising.