Ⅲ 冰雨的风暴 Chapter10 戴佛斯

DAVOS

他来到甲板上，潮头岛在身后缩成长线，龙石岛则从前方海面升起。山顶飘荡着一缕灰白的烟，标明岛的所在。龙山今早又不安稳，戴佛斯心想，又或是梅丽珊卓在焚烧什么。

When he came up on deck, the long point of Driftmark was dwindling behind them while Dragonstone rose from the sea ahead. A pale grey wisp of smoke blew from the top of the mountain to mark where the island lay. Dragonmont is restless this morning, Davos thought, or else Melisandre is burning someone else.

“莎亚拉之舞”号穿越黑水湾，通过喉道，逆风行驶，途中一直想着梅丽珊卓。巴尔艾蒙家的尖角城位于马赛岬顶端，它的了望塔上燃烧着熊熊烈火，让人忆起红袍女喉头的大红宝石。世界日升又日落，流云的颜色跟她婆娑的丝绸长袍相一致。

Melisandre had been much in his thoughts as Shayala’s Dance made her way across Blackwater Bay and through the Gullet, tacking against perverse contrary winds. The great fire that burned atop the Sharp Point watchtower at the end of Massey’s Hook reminded him of the ruby she wore at her throat, and when the world turned red at dawn and sunset the drifting clouds turned the same color as the silks and satins of her rustling gowns.

她正在龙石岛上等他，带着所有的美丽和力量。她拥有她的神、她的影子和他的国王，而他则一无所有。迄今为止，红袍女祭司似乎一直对史坦尼斯忠心耿耿。但实际上，正是她拖垮了他，就象人拖垮一匹马。为一己迷梦，她骑着他奔向权力，还将我的孩子们送进火里。我要把她的心活生生挖出来，用火来祭奠。他摸了摸船长送的那把精良的里斯长匕首。

She would be waiting on Dragonstone as well, waiting in all her beauty and all her power, with her god and her shadows and his king. The red priestess had always seemed loyal to Stannis, until now. She has broken him, as a man breaks a horse. She would ride him to power if she could, and for that she gave my sons to the fire. I will cut the living heart from her breast and see how it burns. He touched the hilt of the fine long Lysene dirk that the captain had given him.

船长待他很好。他名叫柯连恩？萨斯芒，跟这艘船的主人萨拉多？桑恩一样，来自于里斯，里斯人常见的淡蓝眼睛长在他饱经风霜的瘦脸上。此人在七大王国间进行贸易已有许多年。当他得知从海里捞起来的就是著名的洋葱骑士，立即把自己的舱室和衣服让给戴佛斯，还为他找来一双大小差不多合适的新靴子，并坚持要前走私者享用他的美味——只是效果不妙。戴佛斯的胃受不了蜗牛、鳗鱼及柯连恩船长钟爱的其他海产，用餐之后，一整天他都上吐下泻，摇摇晃晃地趴在栏杆上度过。

The captain had been very kind to him. His name was Khorane Sathmantes, a Lyseni like Salladhor Saan, whose ship this was. He had the pale blue eyes you often saw on Lys, set in a bony weatherworn face, but he had spent many years trading in the Seven Kingdoms. When he learned that the man he had plucked from the sea was the celebrated onion knight, he gave him the use of his own cabin and his own clothes, and a pair of new boots that almost fit. He insisted that Davos share his provisions as well, though that turned out badly. His stomach could not tolerate the snails and lampreys and other rich food Captain Khorane so relished, and after his first meal at the captain’s table he spent the rest of the day with one end or the other dangling over the rail.

木桨划动，龙石岛越变越大。现在戴佛斯不仅能看出山的轮廓，也能看见拥有石像鬼和龙形塔楼的黑石巨堡。莎亚拉之舞号的青铜船首像劈开波浪，溅起的海水如张开的翅膀。他将重心靠在栏杆上，庆幸有东西支撑，之前经历的磨难使他十分虚弱，若站得太久，腿脚便会颤抖，有的时候，他无法抑制地咳嗽，甚至咳出带血的唾沫。这没关系，他告诉自己，诸神既然救我于水火之中，决不会用疾病来杀害我。

Dragonstone loomed larger with every stroke of the oars. Davos could see the shape of the mountain now, and on its side the great black citadel with its gargoyles and dragon towers. The bronze figurehead at the bow of Shayala’s Dance sent up wings of salt spray as it cut the waves. He leaned his weight against the rail, grateful for its support. His ordeal had weakened him. If he stood too long his legs shook, and sometimes he fell prey to uncontrollable fits of coughing and brought up gobs of bloody phlegm. It is nothing, he told himself. Surely the gods did not bring me safe through fire and sea only to kill me with a flux.

听着桨官沉重的鼓声，船帆的飘荡和木桨的律动吱嘎，不由得让他回到青年时代。在那许多个烟雾朦胧的清晨，同样的声音，曾激起他心中的恐惧——它们预示着老崔蒂蒙爵士麾下海上警卫队的到来，伊里斯？坦格利安二世对走私者毫不留情。

As he listened to the pounding of the oarmaster’s drum, the thrum of the sail, and the rhythmic swish and creak of the oars, he thought back to his younger days, when these same sounds woke dread in his heart on many a misty morn. They heralded the approach of old Ser Tristimun’s sea watch, and the sea watch was death to smugglers when Aerys Targaryen sat the Iron Throne.

一切都仿如隔世。一切都发生在洋葱船之前，在围攻风息堡之前，在史坦尼斯削短我的手指之前；一切都发生在战争之前，在红色彗星出现之前，在我改名席渥斯、成为骑士之前。在史坦尼斯大人提拔我之前。是他造就了我。

But that was another lifetime, he thought. That was before the onion ship, before Storm’s End, before Stannis shortened my fingers. That was before the war or the red comet, before I was a Seaworth or a knight. I was a different man in those days, before Lord Stannis raised me high.

柯连恩船长告诉他，史坦尼斯的希望已在黑水长河燃烧的当晚彻底破灭。前方是大火，兰尼斯特军则从侧面包抄，反复无常的臣属们在他最需要的时候成百上千地倒戈。“有人看见蓝礼国王的鬼魂，”船长道，“率领狮子的先锋左冲右杀，绿甲在野火映照下闪烁幽灵的光芒，他的鹿角盔上燃烧着金色的火焰。”

Captain Khorane had told him of the end of Stannis’s hopes, on the night the river burned. The Lannisters had taken him from the flank, and his fickle bannermen had abandoned him by the hundreds in the hour of his greatest need. “King Renly’s shade was seen as well,” the captain said, “slaying right and left as he led the lion lord’s van. It’s said his green armor took a ghostly glow from the wildfire, and his antlers ran with golden flames.”

蓝礼的鬼魂。戴佛斯不知儿子们会不会也变成鬼魂回来。在海上讨生活见过太多诡异事情，鬼魂又有什么奇怪呢？“就无人尽忠职守啰？”他问。

Renly’s shade. Davos wondered if his sons would return as shades as well. He had seen too many queer things on the sea to say that ghosts did not exist. “Did none keep faith?” he asked.

“未变节的是少数，”船长说，“其中后党人士居多。我们把许多鲜花狐狸纹章的人载上船，当然，更多的人只得留在岸上。眼下，佛罗伦大人是御前首相。”

“Some few,” the captain said. “The queen’s kin, them in chief. We took off many who wore the fox-and-flowers, though many more were left ashore, with all manner of badges. Lord Florent is the King’s Hand on Dragonstone now.”

山越来越高，围绕着苍白的烟雾。船帆在歌唱，鼓点继续敲打，木桨则平滑划动，过了一阵，港口出现在面前。好空旷啊，戴佛斯心想，记得出发以前，每个码头都挤满了船，停泊在防波堤边摇曳。如今最好的泊位由萨拉多？桑恩的旗舰瓦雷利亚人号占据——那儿原先是怒火号与她的姐妹舰的地盘。该船周围也都是船身彩绘的里斯舰艇。他徒劳地寻找着玛瑞亚夫人号和海灵号的踪迹。

The mountain grew taller, crowned all in pale smoke. The sail sang, the drum beat, the oars pulled smoothly, and before very long the mouth of the harbor opened before them. So empty, Davos thought, remembering how it had been before, with the ships crowding every quay and rocking at anchor off the breakwater. He could see Salladhor Saan’s flagship Valyrian moored at the quay where Fury and her sisters had once tied up. The ships on either side of her had striped Lysene hulls as well. In vain he looked for any sign of Lady Marya or Wraith.

进港之前他们收了帆，仅凭划桨行进。系缆绳时，船长走向戴佛斯，“请你去会会我家亲王。”

They pulled down the sail as they entered the harbor, to dock on oars alone. The captain came to Davos as they were tying up. “My prince will wish to see you at once.”

戴佛斯试图回答，爆发出的却是一阵咳嗽，他赶紧抓住栏杆，朝外啐了一口。“国王，”他喘息着说，“我得去见国王。”找到国王，就能找到梅丽珊卓。

A fit of coughing seized Davos as he tried to answer. He clutched the rail for support and spat over the side. “The king,” he wheezed. “I must go to the king.” For where the king is, I will find Melisandre.

“没人能见国王，”柯连恩？萨斯芒坚定地说，“萨拉多？桑恩会向你解释。来，先去见他吧。”

“No one goes to the king,” Khorane Sathmantes replied firmly. “Salladhor Saan will tell you. Him first.”

戴佛斯实在太虚弱，无力表示异议。他只能点点头。

Davos was too weak to defy him. He could only nod.

萨拉多？桑恩不在瓦雷利亚人号上。他们在四分之一里外的另一个码头上找到了他，他正带着两个太监在一艘大肚子潘托斯货船“丰收”号的货舱里清点货物。两个太监一人提灯，一人拿蜡板和铁笔。“三十七，三十八，三十九，”当戴佛斯和船长走下舱室时，老海盗数得聚精会神，今天他穿一件酒红色外衣，漂白高筒皮靴上嵌着银色蔓叶纹。他拔掉一个罐子的木塞，嗅了嗅，打个喷嚏，然后说，“粗颗粒，二流品质，我的鼻子不说慌。还有啊，清单上白纸黑字写着四十三罐，其他的跑哪儿去啦？这些潘托斯佬，当我不会数数吗？”他回头看见戴佛斯，骤然停顿下来，“噢，噢，等等，是胡椒还是泪水，使我双眼模糊？站在我面前的是洋葱骑士？不，这不可能，我亲爱的好朋友戴佛斯死在那条燃烧的河流里，大家都这么说。为何，为何他的鬼魂要来纠缠我？”

Salladhor Saan was not aboard his Valyrian. They found him at another quay a quarter mile distant, down in the hold of a big-bellied Pentoshi cog named Bountiful Harvest, counting cargo with two eunuchs. One held a lantern, the other a wax tablet and stylus. “Thirty-seven, thirty-eight, thirty-nine,” the old rogue was saying when Davos and the captain came down the hatch. Today he wore a wine-colored tunic and high boots of bleached white leather inlaid with silver scrollwork. Pulling the stopper from a jar, he sniffed, sneezed, and said, “A coarse grind, and of the second quality, my nose declares. The bill of lading is saying forty-three jars. Where have the others gotten to, I am wondering? These Pentoshi, do they think I am not counting?” When he saw Davos he stopped suddenly. “Is it pepper stinging my eyes, or tears? Is this the knight of the onions who stands before me? No, how can it be, my dear friend Davos died on the burning river, all agree. Why has he come to haunt me?”

“我不是鬼魂，萨拉。”

“I am no ghost, Salla.”

“不是鬼魂？我的洋葱骑士从不像你这样瘦、这样苍白。”萨拉多？桑恩从香料罐和布匹中挤过来，热烈地拥抱戴佛斯，在他双颊各吻一下，然后又吻了额头。“很温热，很温热，亲爱的爵士先生，你的心脏还在跳动。这是真的吗？大海把你吞进去，却又吐了出来？”

“What else? My onion knight was never so thin or so pale as you.” Salladhor Saan threaded his way between the jars of spice and bolts of cloth that filled the hold of the merchanter, wrapped Davos in a fierce embrace, then kissed him once on each cheek and a third time on his forehead. “You are still warm, ser, and I feel your heart thumpety-thumping. Can it be true? The sea that swallowed you has spit you up again.”

戴佛斯想起补丁脸，希琳公主的弱智弄臣。他也曾沉入大海，回到岸上便疯了。我也疯了吗？他用戴手套的手遮住嘴巴咳嗽，“我从铁索下游过，被冲到人鱼王之矛上。若不是莎亚拉之舞号碰巧路过，只怕就得死在那儿了。”

Davos was reminded of Patchface, Princess Shireen’s lackwit fool. He had gone into the sea as well, and when he came out he was mad. Am I mad as well? He coughed into a gloved hand and said, “I swam beneath the chain and washed ashore on a spear of the merling king. I would have died there, if Shayala’s Dance had not come upon me.”

萨拉多？桑恩单臂搂住船长的肩膀，“干得好，柯连恩，你会得到丰厚的奖赏。梅佐？马赫，好太监，把我的老友戴佛斯带去船长室，给他取些掺丁香的热葡萄酒，我可不喜欢他的咳嗽声。记得往里面挤酸柑汁，再拿白干酪和一碗我们刚清点过的裂口绿橄榄！戴佛斯，我处理完这位好船长就来找你，你能原谅我的吧？记住，别把橄榄吃光啰，我会生气的哟！”

Salladhor Saan threw an arm around the captain’s shoulders. “This was well done, Khorane. You will be having a fine reward, I am thinking. Meizo Mahr, be a good eunuch and take my friend Davos to the owner’s cabin. Fetch him some hot wine with cloves, I am misliking the sound of that cough. Squeeze some lime in it as well. And bring white cheese and a bowl of those cracked green olives we counted earlier! Davos, I will join you soon, once I have bespoken our good captain. You will be forgiving me, I know. Do not eat all the olives, or I must be cross with you!”

两个太监中的长者将戴佛斯领进船中间一件宽大而奢华的舱室，里面地毯厚实，窗户镶嵌彩色玻璃，巨大的皮椅子能让三个戴佛斯舒舒服服地坐。干酪和橄榄很快送上，外加一杯冒热气的红葡萄酒。他双手捧住，满心感激地啜了一口，暖意在胸膛扩散，令人欣慰。

Davos let the elder of the two eunuchs escort him to a large and lavishly furnished cabin at the stern of the ship. The carpets were deep, the windows stained glass, and any of the great leather chairs would have seated three of Davos quite comfortably. The cheese and olives arrived shortly, and a cup of steaming hot red wine. He held it between his hands and sipped it gratefully. The warmth felt soothing as it spread through his chest.

萨拉多？桑恩很快赶到，“酒你可得包涵点啰，我的老友，这帮不识货的潘托斯佬，就算把水染成紫色，他们也会信以为真。”

Salladhor Saan appeared not long after. “You must be forgiving me for the wine, my friend. These Pentoshi would drink their own water if it were purple.”

“好歹能暖暖胸口，”戴佛斯道，“我母亲常说，热酒比敷药管用。”

“It will help my chest,” said Davos. “Hot wine is better than a compress, my mother used to say.”

“依我之见，你还是敷点药吧。在一颗岩石上呆这么久，噢，我的天哪！对啦，你觉得这把漂亮椅子怎么样？瞧，他的屁股可真肥哟！”

“You shall be needing compresses as well, I am thinking. Sitting on a spear all this long time, oh my. How are you finding that excellent chair? He has fat cheeks, does he not?”

“谁？”戴佛斯边饮热酒边问。

“Who?” asked Davos, between sips of hot wine.

“伊利里欧？莫帕提斯，告诉你，他就象一条长胡子的鲸鱼，这些椅子正是按他的身材做的，尽管他很少离开潘托斯。其实啊，依我之见，胖子坐什么都舒服，因为他自个儿就带着垫子咧。”

“Illyrio Mopatis. A whale with whiskers, I am telling you truly. These chairs were built to his measure, though he is seldom bestirring himself from Pentos to sit in them. A fat man always sits comfortably, I am thinking, for he takes his pillow with him wherever he goes.”

“你搞到潘托斯船？”戴佛斯质问，“又做海盗啦，我的亲王？”他将空杯子放到一边。

“How is it you come by a Pentoshi ship?” asked Davos. “Have you gone pirate again, my lord?” He set his empty cup aside.

“哎哟，回来就不说好话。干海盗有什么好？萨拉多？桑恩吃的苦头还不够呀？错啦错啦，我只是讨债而已。噢，理论上我已经发财了，没错，可实际上呢？哎，萨拉是个讲道理的人，他没要金币，只要了一张上等羊皮纸，薄薄地，上面有御前首相艾利斯特？佛罗伦爵爷的亲笔签名和国王的印章。嘿，我当上黑水湾总督了咧，未经我的恩准，谁也不能穿越属于我的领海，是的，不行！不法之徒甭想黑夜里悄悄溜过去，逃避合法的税收和检查，你瞧，这条船就算是走私啦，因此我完全有权将其没收，”老海盗嘻嘻笑道，“我啊，人就是好，可没砍别人的指头哦，嘎，几根指头管什么用？船只和货物才值钱嘛，人呢，人可以付赎金，不过分吧？”他锐利地瞥了戴佛斯一眼。“你身体不大好，我亲爱的朋友。你在咳嗽……人也瘦了，透过皮肤直能看见骨头咧。而且啊，你装指骨的小袋子……”

“Vile calumny. Who has suffered more from pirates than Salladhor Saan? I ask only what is due me. Much gold is owed, oh yes, but I am not without reason, so in place of coin I have taken a handsome parchment, very crisp. It bears the name and seal of Lord Alester Florent, the Hand of the King. I am made Lord of Blackwater Bay, and no vessel may be crossing my lordly waters without my lordly leave, no. And when these outlaws are trying to steal past me in the night to avoid my lawful duties and customs, why, they are no better than smugglers, so I am well within my rights to seize them.” The old pirate laughed. “I cut off no man’s fingers, though. What good are bits of fingers? The ships I am taking, the cargoes, a few ransoms, nothing unreasonable.” He gave Davos a sharp look. “You are unwell, my friend. That cough … and so thin, I am seeing your bones through your skin. And yet I am not seeing your little bag of fingerbones …”

戴佛斯习惯性去摸那不复存在的皮袋子。“我在河里把它弄丢了。”我的幸运符。

Old habit made Davos reach for the leather pouch that was no longer there. “I lost it in the river.” My luck.

“河上的战斗真可怕，”萨拉多？桑恩严肃起来，“即使在海湾内，看过去都直发怵。”

“The river was terrible,” Salladhor Saan said solemnly. “Even from the bay, I was seeing, and shuddering.”

戴佛斯咳出几口痰，紧接着又咳。“黑贝丝号和怒火号首先起火，”他终于嘶哑地说出来，“难道所有的船都完了？”还抱有一点点希望。

Davos coughed, spat, and coughed again. “I saw Black Betha burning, and Fury as well,” he finally managed, hoarsely. “Did none of our ships escape the fire?” Part of him still hoped.

“有些是没烧着啦，比如史蒂芬公爵号、珍娜号、快剑号和欢笑君王号等等，她们在上游，避开了炼金术士的屎尿。但链子升起来，照样跑不脱呀。最后嘛，有几条投降，大多数逆黑水河而上，脱离战场，然后被船员们自行凿沉，以免落入兰尼斯特之手。听说珍娜号和欢笑君王号还在河上做起了强盗，吓，谁说得准呢？”

“Lord Steffon, Ragged Jenna, Swift Sword, Laughing Lord, and some others were upstream of the pyromancers’ pissing, yes. They did not burn, but with the chain raised, neither could they be flying. Some few were surrendering. Most rowed far up the Blackwater, away from the battling, and then were sunk by their crews so they would not be falling into Lannister hands. Ragged Jenna and Laughing Lord are still playing pirate on the river, I have heard, but who can say if it is so?”

“玛瑞亚夫人号呢？”戴佛斯忙问，“海灵号呢？”

“Lady Marya?” Davos asked. “Wraith?”

萨拉多？桑恩伸手搭在戴佛斯前臂上，捏了一把，“不，不，很遗憾，我的朋友，戴尔和阿拉德，他们都是好汉子……有一件事可以让你欣慰——你的小戴冯被我们救走了。勇敢的孩子啊，都说他怎么也不肯离开国王身边。”

Salladhor Saan put a hand on Davos’s forearm and gave a squeeze. “No. Of them, no. I am sorry, my friend. They were good men, your Dale and Allard. But this comfort I can give you—your young Devan was among those we took off at the end. The brave boy never once left the king’s side, or so they say.”

他感到晕眩，长出了一口气。之前一直不敢问起戴冯。“圣母慈悲，我必须去见他，萨拉，必须去见他！”

For a moment he felt almost dizzy, his relief was so palpable. He had been afraid to ask about Devan. “The Mother is merciful. I must go to him, Salla. I must see him.”

“是的，”萨拉多？桑恩说，“依我之见，你也该航往风怒角，去见见老婆和两个小家伙才对。总而言之，你得有艘新船。”

“Yes,” said Salladhor Saan. “And you will be wanting to sail to Cape Wrath, I know, to see your wife and your two little ones. You must be having a new ship, I am thinking.”

“陛下会给我船，”戴佛斯道。

“His Grace will give me a ship,” said Davos.

里斯人摇摇头。“船，陛下半艘都没有，而萨拉多？桑恩多的是。国王的船都在河上烧光啦，而我却一艘都没损失哟。你会有新船的，我的老友，你也会替我航海，对吧？只需在漆黑的夜里悄悄摸进布拉佛斯、密尔或瓦兰提斯，神不知鬼不觉，再悄悄载着丝绸与香料出来。瞧，咱们都会发财的。”

The Lyseni shook his head. “Of ships, His Grace has none, and Salladhor Saan has many. The king’s ships burned up on the river, but not mine. You shall have one, old friend. You will sail for me, yes? You will dance into Braavos and Myr and Volantis in the black of night, all unseen, and dance out again with silks and spices. We will be having fat purses, yes.”

“你对我很好，萨拉，但我效忠的对象乃是当今王上，不是你的钱包。战争还在继续，根据七大王国的律法，史坦尼斯仍旧是铁王座的法定继承人。”

“You are kind, Salla, but my duty’s to my king, not your purse. The war will go on. Stannis is still the rightful heir by all the laws of the Seven Kingdoms.”

“依我之见，既然船都烧光咧，那就什么律法都谈不上啰。再说，你那国王呢，嗯……恐怕你会发现他变了。惨败之后，他避不见人，自个儿窝在石鼓楼里。目前朝政由赛丽丝王后和她伯父艾利斯特伯爵共同打理，她把国王的印章交给伯父，这位爵爷便据此自封为首相，一天到晚迷上了盖章，瞧，我那张漂亮羊皮纸也在内哟！唉，表面是很堂皇啦，可说到底这只是一个小王国，潦倒又荒凉，最最关键的是，没钱，没钱！嘿嘿，连付给老实忠诚的萨拉多？桑恩一点点应得的报酬都做不到。咱们的王国还得靠我搭救出来的几位落汤鸡骑士和我手下勇敢的船员来保卫，好让人伤心哟。”

“All the laws are not helping when all the ships burn up, I am thinking. And your king, well, you will be finding him changed, I am fearing. Since the battle, he sees no one, but broods in his Stone Drum. Queen Selyse keeps court for him with her uncle the Lord Alester, who is naming himself the Hand. The king’s seal she has given to this uncle, to fix to the letters he writes, even to my pretty parchment. But it is a little kingdom they are ruling, poor and rocky, yes. There is no gold, not even a little bit to pay faithful Salladhor Saan what is owed him, and only those knights that we took off at the end, and no ships but my little brave few.”

一阵痛苦的咳嗽迫使戴佛斯弯下腰来。萨拉多？桑恩上前帮忙，却被他挥手制止，过了好一会儿，他才恢复。“不见人？”他喘着气说，“什么意思，陛下他从不见人？”即使在自己耳中，声音也显得又粘又浊，舱室在周围旋转，令人晕眩。

A sudden racking cough bent Davos over. Salladhor Saan moved to help him, but he waved him off, and after a moment he recovered. “No one?” he wheezed. “What do you mean, he sees no one?” His voice sounded wet and thick, even in his own ears, and for a moment the cabin swam dizzily around him.

“除了她之外，”萨拉多？桑恩说，戴佛斯不用问也知道他指的是谁。“我的朋友，你太难为自己了。我看哪，你现在需要的是床，不是萨拉多？桑恩。对，一张床，一堆毯子，一贴用在胸口的热敷药，以及更多的香料热酒。”

“No one but her,” said Salladhor Saan, and Davos did not have to ask who he meant. “My friend, you tire yourself. It is a bed you are needing, not Salladhor Saan. A bed and many blankets, with a hot compress for your chest and more wine and cloves.”

戴佛斯摇摇头。“我没事。告诉我，萨拉，这件事我必须了解。难道陛下除了梅丽珊卓，不见任何人？”

Davos shook his head. “I will be fine. Tell me, Salla, I must know. No one but Melisandre?”

里斯人怀疑地盯了他许久，才不情不愿地说下去，“是的，卫兵会拦住所有人，甚至包括王后和他的小女儿，仆人们送去的食物也从未动过。”他倾身向前，压低声音。“我听到一些奇怪的说法，你瞧，山里面有熊熊大火，而史坦尼斯和那红袍女结伴走下去看，据说有井道和秘密楼梯通往山的内部，在那个炽热的地方，只有她能安然无恙。嗨，这些恐怖事情一天到晚都有人讲，我老喽，听了过后饭都吃不下。”

The Lyseni gave him a long doubtful look, and continued reluctantly. “The guards keep all others away, even his queen and his little daughter. Servants bring meals that no one eats.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Queer talking I have heard, of hungry fires within the mountain, and how Stannis and the red woman go down together to watch the flames. There are shafts, they say, and secret stairs down into the mountain’s heart, into hot places where only she may walk unburned. It is enough and more to give an old man such terrors that sometimes he can scarcely find the strength to eat.”

好个梅丽珊卓。戴佛斯不禁浑身颤抖。“一切都是红袍女的阴谋，”他说，“她用烈火吞噬我们，以惩罚史坦尼斯抛弃她的举动；她企图使国王以为，没有她的巫术就不能获得天下。”

Melisandre. Davos shivered. “The red woman did this to him,” he said. “She sent the fire to consume us, to punish Stannis for setting her aside, to teach him that he could not hope to win without her sorceries.”

里斯人从碗里挑了一颗饱满的橄榄。“这都是老生常谈啰，我的朋友，最近常有人这么说。如果我是你，决不会讲得这么大声，龙石岛上到处都是后党人士哦，噢，没错，他们耳朵尖，刀子更尖哟。”他将橄榄送入嘴里。

The Lyseni chose a plump olive from the bowl between them. “You are not the first to be saying this, my friend. But if I am you, I am not saying it so loudly. Dragonstone crawls with these queen’s men, oh yes, and they have sharp ears and sharper knives.” He popped the olive into his mouth.

“我也有刀子，柯连恩船长送的礼物。”他拔出匕首，放在他们中间的桌子上。“我要用它剖出梅丽珊卓的心脏——如果她有心的话。”

“I have a knife myself. Captain Khorane made me a gift of it.” He pulled out the dirk and laid it on the table between them. “A knife to cut out Melisandre’s heart. If she has one.”

萨拉多？桑恩一口吐出橄榄核。“戴佛斯，噢，好戴佛斯，这玩笑可开不得。”

Salladhor Saan spit out an olive pit. “Davos, good Davos, you must not be saying such things, even in jest.”

“我没开玩笑。我就是要杀她。”但愿寻常武器能将她杀死。对此戴佛斯并不确定，他曾亲眼看见克礼森老师傅将毒药偷放入酒里，两人都喝了，结果学士一命呜呼，红袍女却安然无恙。然而匕首插入心脏……歌手们不是说，恶魔也能被冷兵器击杀吗？

“No jest. I mean to kill her.” If she can be killed by mortal weapons. Davos was not certain that she could. He had seen old Maester Cressen slip poison into her wine, with his own eyes he had seen it, but when they both drank from the poisoned cup it was the maester who died, not the red priestess. A knife in the heart, though … even demons can be killed by cold iron, the singers say.

“你简直不着边际，朋友。”萨拉多？桑恩警告他，“海里面待久喽，我瞧你还没康复吧，发烧把脑子也烧坏了。好啦，好啦，到床上多休息一段时间，等身子好些了再说。”

“These are dangerous talkings, my friend,” Salladhor Saan warned him. “I am thinking you are still sick from the sea. The fever has cooked your wits, yes. Best you are taking to your bed for a long resting, until you are stronger.”

等决心削弱了再说？戴佛斯站起身来，的确有些发烧和晕眩，但没关系。“你是个反复无常的老滑头，萨拉多？桑恩，但另一方面，你也是我的好朋友。”

Until my resolve weakens, you mean. Davos got to his feet. He did feel feverish and a little dizzy, but it did not matter. “You are a treacherous old rogue, Salladhor Saan, but a good friend all the same.”

里斯人摸摸银白的尖胡子，“也就是说，你会陪着好朋友，对吗？”

The Lyseni stroked his pointed silver beard. “So with this great friend you will be staying, yes?”

“不，我要走。”他边咳边道。

“No, I will be going.” He coughed.

“走？上哪儿去？你给我好好瞧瞧自己！又是咳嗽，又是发抖，弱不禁风的样子，上哪儿去啊？”

“Go? Look at you! You cough, you tremble, you are thin and weak. Where will you be going?”

“回城堡。回我自己的房间。去见我儿子。”

“To the castle. My bed is there, and my son.”

“去见红袍女的吧？”萨拉多？桑恩满腹狐疑地说，“她也在城堡里。”

“And the red woman,” Salladhor Saan said suspiciously. “She is in the castle also.”

“对，还有她。”戴佛斯将匕首收回鞘中。

“Her too.” Davos slid the dirk back into its sheath.

“你个买洋葱的走私贩，倒干起刺客来啦？生病，你在生病，连匕首都握不住，还逞什么强！知道被抓的话，会有什么后果吗？我告诉你，你们在河上被敌人烧，叛徒在岛上被王后烧。她称他们为‘暗之仆’，真可怜哪，火刑架前，红袍女却高唱赞歌。”

“You are an onion smuggler, what do you know of skulkings and stabbings? And you are ill, you cannot even hold the dirk. Do you know what will be happening to you, if you are caught? While we were burning on the river, the queen was burning traitors. Servants of the dark, she named them, poor men, and the red woman sang as the fires were lit.”

戴佛斯并不惊奇。我知道，他心想，他不说我也知道。“桑格拉斯大人，”他说，“赫柏？蓝布顿爵士的两个儿子。”

Davos was unsurprised. I knew, he thought, I knew before he told me. “She took Lord Sunglass from the dungeons,” he guessed, “and Hubard Rambton’s sons.”

“就是这样，他们都被烧死了，你也会被烧死。杀得了她，将遭后党的人报复而烧死；杀不了她，则会被她亲自烧死。她会一边高声歌咏，一边看着你惨叫而亡。醒醒吧，你才刚死里逃生咧！”

“Just so, and burned them, as she will burn you. If you kill the red woman, they will burn you for revenge, and if you fail to kill her, they will burn you for the trying. She will sing and you will scream, and then you will die. And you have only just come back to life!”

“这正是我一刻也不能逗留的原因，”戴佛斯说，“我要立即终结亚夏的梅丽珊卓和她的一切作为。大海为何把我吐出来？萨拉，你跟我一样了解黑水湾，任何有理智的船长都不会冒着沉船的危险，来穿越人鱼王之矛的暗礁。莎亚拉之舞号本不该在那里。”

“And this is why,” said Davos. “To do this thing. To make an end of Melisandre of Asshai and all her works. Why else would the sea have spit me out? You know Blackwater Bay as well as I do, Salla. No sensible captain would ever take his ship through the spears of the merling king and risk ripping out his bottom. Shayala’s Dance should never have come near me.”

“是风的关系，”萨拉多？桑恩大声坚持，“一阵逆风，仅此而已。一阵逆风把她吹到了南面。”

“A wind,” insisted Salladhor Saan loudly, “an ill wind, is all. A wind drove her too far to the south.”

“那是谁刮的风？萨拉，咳……母在对我说话。”

“And who sent the wind? Salla, the Mother spoke to me.”

老里斯人眨眨眼，“你母亲已经死了……”

The old Lyseni blinked at him. “Your mother is dead …”

“是圣母！她给了我七个儿子，我却任她被他们焚烧，什么也没做。她在对我说话，她说：‘是我们招来火焰’。不，我还召来影子。在那个漆黑的夜晚，是我替梅丽珊卓划船，载她潜进风息堡，放出阴影。”它依旧时时在噩梦中出现，用枯瘦的黑手攫住血流不止的大腿，扭动着爬出鼓胀的肚子。“她杀死克礼森师傅和蓝礼大人，杀死勇敢的科塔奈·庞洛斯爵士，还有我的儿子们。该有人去找她算帐了。”

“The Mother. She blessed me with seven sons, and yet I let them burn her. She spoke to me. We called the fire, she said. We called the shadows too. I rowed Melisandre into the bowels of Storm’s End and watched her birth a horror.” He saw it still in his nightmares, the gaunt black hands pushing against her thighs as it wriggled free of her swollen womb. “She killed Cressen and Lord Renly and a brave man named Cortnay Penrose, and she killed my sons as well. Now it is time someone killed her.”

“有人会去，”萨拉多？桑恩说，“是的，就是这样，有人会去，但不是你。你虚弱得跟孩子似的，怎能打斗？留下来吧，我求求你了，来，咱哥俩聊几句家常，多吃点东西喽，然后咧，然后或许我们航向布拉佛斯，雇一个无面者来干，怎么样？但凭你呀，不行，不行，你必须坐下来吃东西。”

“Someone,” said Salladhor Saan. “Yes, just so, someone. But not you. You are weak as a child, and no warrior. Stay, I beg you, we will talk more and you will eat, and perhaps we will sail to Braavos and hire a Faceless Man to do this thing, yes? But you, no, you must sit and eat.”

他怎么能这样？他让我好难办，戴佛斯疲惫地想，这件事本身就已经很难办了。“我的腹中盛满复仇的欲望，萨拉，无法再容纳别的东西。让我走吧，为了我们的友情，祝我好运，让我走。”

He is making this much harder, thought Davos wearily, and it was perishingly hard to begin with. “I have vengeance in my belly, Salla. It leaves no room for food. Let me go now. For our friendship, wish me luck and let me go.”

萨拉多？桑恩霍地起身，“依我之见，你不是我真正的朋友。你想想，当你死后，谁会把骨灰带给你老婆，并告诉她，她已经失去了老公和四个儿子？只有伤心的老萨拉多？桑恩！但是，你想怎样就怎样吧，勇敢的骑士先生，冲向你的坟墓吧！让我来收集你的遗骨，交给你剩下的孩子，好让他们放进小口袋，系在脖子上！”他气鼓鼓地挥舞着戴满戒指的手。“走，走，走，走，走。”

Salladhor Saan pushed himself to his feet. “You are no true friend, I am thinking. When you are dead, who will be bringing your ashes and bones back to your lady wife and telling her that she has lost a husband and four sons? Only sad old Salladhor Saan. But so be it, brave ser knight, go rushing to your grave. I will gather your bones in a sack and give them to the sons you leave behind, to wear in little bags around their necks.” He waved an angry hand, with rings on every finger. “Go, go, go, go, go.”

戴佛斯不想就这样离开。“萨拉——”

Davos did not want to leave like this. “Salla—”

“走。或者留下。留下更好，但你想走就走吧，走。”

“GO. Or stay, better, but if you are going, go.”

他走了。

He went.

丰收号通往城堡大门的路漫长而孤独。码头边的街道以前挤满士兵、水手和平民，如今一片空旷萧索；以前从嗷嗷叫的猪群和赤裸身体的孩子们中间穿过，如今只有窜来窜去的老鼠。腿象布丁一样绵软，咳嗽第三次把他折磨得弯腰，不得不停下来歇息。没人伸出援手，甚至没人在窗户后窥视。所有门窗统统紧闭，超过一半的屋子在致哀。啊，十人出征一人回，戴佛斯心想，牺牲的不止我儿子。愿圣母怜悯所有人。

His walk up from the Bountiful Harvest to the gates of Dragonstone was long and lonely. The dockside streets where soldiers and sailors and smallfolk had thronged were empty and deserted. Where once he had stepped around squealing pigs and naked children, rats scurried. His legs felt like pudding beneath him, and thrice the coughing racked him so badly that he had to stop and rest. No one came to help him, nor even peered through a window to see what was the matter. The windows were shuttered, the doors barred, and more than half the houses displayed some mark of mourning. Thousands sailed up the Blackwater Rush, and hundreds came back, Davos reflected. My sons did not die alone. May the Mother have mercy on them all.

城堡大门也紧紧关闭。戴佛斯用拳头敲打镶铁钉的木门。无人作答。他改用脚踢，一次又一次。终于，一个十字弓手出现在上方的堡楼，从两个高大的石像鬼间望下来，“谁？”

When he reached the castle gates, he found them shut as well. Davos pounded on the iron-studded wood with his fist. When there was no answer, he kicked at it, again and again. Finally a crossbowman appeared atop the barbican, peering down between two towering gargoyles. “Who goes there?”

他把手拢在嘴边，仰头喊道：“戴佛斯？席渥斯爵士求见国王陛下。”

He craned his head back and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Ser Davos Seaworth, to see His Grace.”

“喝醉了吗？走开，别烦了。”

“Are you drunk? Go away and stop that pounding.”

萨拉多？桑恩警告过他。于是戴佛斯改变策略，“那么，请让我儿子出来。他名叫戴冯，是国王的侍从。”

Salladhor Saan had warned him. Davos tried a different tack. “Send for my son, then. Devan, the king’s squire.”

守卫皱了皱眉。“你刚才说你是谁？”

The guard frowned. “Who did you say you were?”

“戴佛斯，”他喊，“洋葱骑士。”

“Davos,” he shouted. “The onion knight.”

那个脑袋消失了一会儿，然后又回来。“走开。洋葱骑士在河上阵亡，他的船被烧了。”

The head vanished, to return a moment later. “Be off with you. The onion knight died on the river. His ship burned.”

“他的船被烧了，”戴佛斯表示同意，“但人没死，就站在这里。城门守卫队长是杰特吗？”

“His ship burned,” Davos agreed, “but he lived, and here he stands. Is Jate still captain of the gate?”

“谁？”

“Who?”

“杰特？布莱伯利。我跟他很熟。”

“Jate Blackberry. He knows me well enough.”

“我没听过这个名字。很可能他已经没命了。”

“I never heard of him. Most like he’s dead.”

“那么，齐特林大人呢？”

“Lord Chyttering, then.”

“这我倒知道，他在黑水河上给烧死了。”

“That one I know. He burned on the Blackwater.”

“钩疤脸威尔呢？公猪哈尔呢？”

“Hookface Will? Hal the Hog?”

“死了，都死了，”十字弓手说，脸上突然浮现出怀疑。“等在这里，”说完他又一次消失。

“Dead and dead,” the crossbowman said, but his face betrayed a sudden doubt. “You wait there.” He vanished again.

戴佛斯耐心等待。死了，都死了，他郁闷地想，还记得哈尔油腻的上衣下白胖胖的肚皮，记得鱼钩在威尔脸上留下的长长疤痕，记得杰特向女士脱帽的姿势——不管面对五位还是五十位，不管出身高贵或者低贱，他都那样彬彬有礼地致敬。他们有的被淹死，有的被烧死，跟我的儿子们和成千上万其他人一起，到地狱里去守护国王了。

Davos waited. Gone, all gone, he thought dully, remembering how fat Hal’s white belly always showed beneath his grease-stained doublet, the long scar the fish hook had left across Will’s face, the way Jate always doffed his cap at the women, be they five or fifty, highborn or low. Drowned or burned, with my sons and a thousand others, gone to make a king in hell.

他正出神，弩兵突然回来，“绕到突击口去，我们放你进来。”

Suddenly the crossbowman was back. “Go round to the sally port and they’ll admit you.”

戴佛斯依令而行。领他的卫兵他都不认识，只见他们扛着长矛，胸前绣有佛罗伦家族的鲜花狐狸徽章。出乎意料地，他们没有送他到石鼓楼，却经由拱形的龙尾门，下到伊耿花园。“等在这儿，”他们的头目告诉他。

Davos did as he was bid. The guards who ushered him inside were strangers to him. They carried spears, and on their breasts they wore the fox-and-flowers sigil of House Florent. They escorted him not to the Stone Drum, as he’d expected, but under the arch of the Dragon’s Tail and down to Aegon’s Garden. “Wait here,” their sergeant told him.

“陛下知道我回来的消息吗？”戴佛斯问。

“Does His Grace know that I’ve returned?” asked Davos.

“我怎知道？我讲了，等着。”说罢，那人带着他的长矛兵离开。

“Bugger all if I know. Wait, I said.” The man left, taking his spearmen with him.

伊耿花园里充溢着愉悦的松木清香，高大的黑树从四周拔地而起。这里还有野玫瑰和耸立的刺棘丛，淤泥地中生长蔓越橘。

Aegon’s Garden had a pleasant piney smell to it, and tall dark trees rose on every side. There were wild roses as well, and towering thorny hedges, and a boggy spot where cranberries grew.

他们为何带我来这儿？戴佛斯不明白。

Why have they brought me here? Davos wondered.

附近传来铃铛轻响和孩子的欢笑，弄臣补丁脸从灌木丛中跳将出来，摇摇晃晃，古怪横行，希琳公主则风风火火地紧跟在后。“站住，”她对他大喊，“阿丁，你给我站住。”

Then he heard a faint ringing of bells, and a child’s giggle, and suddenly the fool Patchface popped from the bushes, shambling along as fast as he could go with the Princess Shireen hot on his heels. “You come back now,” she was shouting after him. “Patches, you come back.”

弄臣看见戴佛斯，竟真的猛然站住。他单脚跳来跳去，锡桶鹿角盔上的铃铛响个不停，叮，叮，他唱道：“弄臣血，国王血，处女大腿也流血，链子拴宾客啊，大人，链子拴新郎啊，我知道，我知道，噢噢噢！”希琳差点就赶上他了，但他唱完却立刻跳过蕨丛，消失在树林里，公主拔腿就追。此情此景，让戴佛斯不由得笑了。

When the fool saw Davos, he jerked to a sudden halt, the bells on his antlered tin helmet going ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling. Hopping from one foot to the other, he sang, “Fool’s blood, king’s blood, blood on the maiden’s thigh, but chains for the guests and chains for the bridegroom, aye aye aye.” Shireen almost caught him then, but at the last instant he hopped over a patch of bracken and vanished among the trees. The princess was right behind him. The sight of them made Davos smile.

他用手套遮着咳嗽，不料另一个小形体也从灌木丛中冲出来，正好撞在他身上，把他撞倒在地。

He had turned to cough into his gloved hand when another small shape crashed out of the hedge and bowled right into him, knocking him off his feet.

男孩也同时跌倒，但立刻翻身而起。“你在这儿干嘛？”他边拍尘土边问，这孩子漆黑的头发坠至领口，眼睛则蓝得令人吃惊，“我跑的时候，你不该挡道。”

The boy went down as well, but he was up again almost at once. “What are you doing here?” he demanded as he brushed himself off. Jet-black hair fell to his collar, and his eyes were a startling blue. “You shouldn’t get in my way when I’m running.”

“没错，”戴佛斯表示同意，“我不该挡道。”他挣扎着起身，不料又爆发出一阵咳嗽。

“No,” Davos agreed. “I shouldn’t.” Another fit of coughing seized him as he struggled to his knees.

“不舒服？”男孩扶住他的手，将他拉起来，“要叫学士吗？”

“Are you unwell?” The boy took him by the arm and pulled him to his feet. “Should I summon the maester?”

戴佛斯摇摇头，“咳嗽而已，一会就好。”

Davos shook his head. “A cough. It will pass.”

男孩信了。“我们在玩美女与怪兽，”他解释，“我当怪兽。这是个幼稚的游戏，但我表妹喜欢。你叫什么名字？”

The boy took him at his word. “We were playing monsters and maidens,” he explained. “I was the monster. It’s a childish game but my cousin likes it. Do you have a name?”

“戴佛斯？席渥斯爵士。”

“Ser Davos Seaworth.”

男孩怀疑地上下打量，“没骗人吧？你看上去可不象骑士。”

The boy looked him up and down dubiously. “Are you certain? You don’t look very knightly.”

“我是洋葱骑士呢，大人。”

“I am the knight of the onions, my lord.”

蓝眼睛眨了眨，“驾驶黑船的？”

The blue eyes blinked. “The one with the black ship?”

“你知道这个故事？”

“You know that tale?”

“在我出生以前，你把鱼和洋葱送到风息堡给我史坦尼斯叔叔，缓解了提利尔公爵的围困。是的，我知道。”男孩挺直身子。“我是艾德瑞克？风暴，”他宣布，“劳勃国王之子。”

“You brought my uncle Stannis fish to eat before I was born, when Lord Tyrell had him under siege.” The boy drew himself up tall. “I am Edric Storm,” he announced. “King Robert’s son.”

“是的，您当然是，”戴佛斯料到了。这孩子虽有佛罗伦家族著名的招风耳，但头发、眼睛、下颚和颊骨无一不打着拜拉席恩的印记。

“Of course you are.” Davos had known that almost at once. The lad had the prominent ears of a Florent, but the hair, the eyes, the jaw, the cheekbones, those were all Baratheon.

“你认得我父亲？”艾德瑞克？风暴问。

“Did you know my father?” Edric Storm demanded.

“我入宫拜访您叔叔时见过他许多次，但没有对话。”

“I saw him many a time while calling on your uncle at court, but we never spoke.”

“父亲教我打仗，”男孩骄傲地说，“差不多每年都来看我，跟我一起比武。去年命名日，他送的礼物是一把战锤，跟他自己的一模一样喔！只是小一号，可惜他们不让我把它从风息堡带来。我史坦尼斯叔叔真的砍断了你的手指？”

“My father taught me to fight,” the boy said proudly. “He came to see me almost every year, and sometimes we trained together. On my last name day he sent me a warhammer just like his, only smaller. They made me leave it at Storm’s End, though. Is it true my uncle Stannis cut off your fingers?”

“只有最后一个指节。手指还在，短一点罢了。”

“Only the last joint. I still have fingers, only shorter.”

“给我看。”

“Show me.”

戴佛斯摘下手套，男孩仔细端详。“他没削掉你的大拇指？”

Davos peeled his glove off. The boy studied his hand carefully. “He did not shorten your thumb?”

“没有。”戴佛斯边咳边说。“没有，他把大拇指留给了我。”

“No.” Davos coughed. “No, he left me that.”

“他不该削掉你任何一根手指，”男孩评判，“这是很糟糕的行为。”

“He should not have chopped any of your fingers,” the lad decided. “That was ill done.”

“我是个走私者。”

“I was a smuggler.”

“是的，但没有你为他走私鱼和洋葱，他活不下来。”

“Yes, but you smuggled him fish and onions.”

“史坦尼斯大人为了洋葱而授予我骑士称号，为了走私而削掉我的手指。”他把手套重新戴上。

“Lord Stannis knighted me for the onions, and took my fingers for the smuggling.” He pulled his glove back on.

“我父亲不会削掉你的手指。”

“My father would not have chopped your fingers.”

“您说得没错，王子殿下。”是的，劳勃跟史坦尼斯不同，这孩子像他，也像蓝礼。想到这里，他焦虑起来。

“As you say, my lord.” Robert was a different man than Stannis, true enough. The boy is like him. Aye, and like Renly as well. That thought made him anxious.

男孩刚要开口，突然传来脚步声。戴佛斯转身，只见亚赛尔？佛罗伦爵士带着十来个卫兵，沿着花园小径走来。卫兵们穿着加垫上衣，胸口绣有光之王的烈焰红心。后党人士，戴佛斯心想，突然又开始咳嗽。

The boy was about to say something more when they heard steps. Davos turned. Ser Axell Florent was coming down the garden path with a dozen guards in quilted jerkins. On their breasts they wore the fiery heart of the Lord of Light. Queen’s men, Davos thought. A cough came on him suddenly.

亚赛尔爵士矮胖结实，酒桶一样的胸膛，双臂粗壮，腿脚弯曲，耳毛密集，身为王后的伯伯，担任龙石岛代理城主已有十年之久。他知戴佛斯深受史坦尼斯信赖，故而对他颇为礼遇，但这回开口时，语调却冰冷而无礼，“戴佛斯爵士，你竟没淹死，真是奇迹。”

Ser Axell was short and muscular, with a barrel chest, thick arms, bandy legs, and hair growing from his ears. The queen’s uncle, he had served as castellan of Dragonstone for a decade, and had always treated Davos courteously, knowing he enjoyed the favor of Lord Stannis. But there was neither courtesy nor warmth in his tone as he said, “Ser Davos, and undrowned. How can that be?”

“洋葱会浮起来的，爵士先生，请问您是来带我觐见国王的吗？”

“Onions float, ser. Have you come to take me to the king?”

“我是来带你去黑牢的。”亚赛尔爵士挥手示意他的人上前。“抓住他，取走匕首，他想刺杀我们尊贵的女士。”

“I have come to take you to the dungeon.” Ser Axell waved his men forward. “Seize him, and take his dirk. He means to use it on our lady.”