卷一第五章

nidhogg

5
A Battle: The King Proves His War-Skill
第五章  战斗：国王证明自己的实力

    YYRKOON WAS THE first to arrive, all clad in martial finery, accompanied by two massive guards, each holding one of the prince's ornate war-banners.
Yyrkoon是第一个赶到的人。他身着全副华丽盔甲，由两支规模庞大的护卫队随行，每一队都举着绘有王子纹饰的战旗。

    'My emperor!' Yyrkoon's shout was proud and disdainful. 'Would you let me command the warriors? It will relieve you of that care when, doubtless, you have many other concerns with which to occupy your time.'
“皇上！”Yyrkoon的喊声中透着骄傲与轻鄙。“允许让我来指挥部队吗？想必一定还有许多其他事务要占去你宝贵的时间，让我来为你减轻肩头重负吧。”

    Elric replied impatiently: 'You are most thoughtful, Prince Yyrkoon, but fear not for me. I shall command the armies and the navies of Melnibone, for that is the duty of the emperor.'
Elric不耐烦地回答：“你的考虑真是无微不至，Yyrkoon王子，但别替我担心。我会亲自指挥Melnibone的陆军与海军，因为那是皇帝的责任。”

    Yyrkoon glowered and stepped to one side as Dyvim Tvar, Lord of the Dragon Caves, entered. He had no guard whatsoever with him and it seemed he had dressed hastily. He carried his helmet under his arm.
Yyrkoon对他怒目，站到一边。此刻龙穴之主，Dyvim Tvar进入宫殿。他身边未带任何一名守卫，且看起来似乎着装匆忙。他将头盔夹在手肘下。

    'My emperor--I bring news of the dragons...'
“吾皇——我有龙穴的消息……”

    'I thank you, Dyvim Tvar, but wait until all my commanders are assembled and impart that news to them, too.'
“谢谢，Dyvim Tvar，但先等我所有的指挥官都到齐，你再把消息一齐告诉他们。”

    Dyvim Tvar bowed and went to stand on the opposite side of the hall to that on which Prince Yyrkoon stood.
Dyvim Tvar鞠躬，站到大厅与Yyrkoon王子相对的另一头。

    Gradually the warriors arrived until a score of great captains waited at the foot of the steps which led to the Ruby Throne where Elric sat. Elric himself still wore the clothes in which he had gone riding that morning. He had not had time to change and had until a little while before been consulting maps of the mazes-maps which only he could read and which, at normal times, were hidden by magical means from any who might attempt to find them.
战士们陆续抵达，最后Elric所坐的红宝石王座台阶前汇聚起众多英勇将领。Elric自己还穿着今天一早骑马时穿的衣服。他没有时间更衣，直到刚刚不久前，他还在翻阅只有他能查看的，通常情况下都用魔法自他人视线中隐藏起来的迷宫地图。

    'Southlanders would steal Imrryr's wealth and slay us all,' Elric began. 'They believe they have found a way through our sea-maze. A fleet of a hundred warships sails on Melnibone even now. Tomorrow it will wait below the horizon until dusk, then it will sail to the maze and enter. By midnight it expects to reach the harbour and to have taken the Dreaming City before dawn. Is that possible, I wonder?'
“那些南方人想盗取Imrryr的财富，杀光我们的族人，”Elric开始发言。“他们觉得已经握有穿越海上迷宫的办法。纵使现在，就有一百艘战舰正在向Melnibone进发。明天日落前他们就会抵达地平线以下，之后他们就会驶向港口，进入迷宫。到了午夜他们就会抵达海港，让梦之城在黎明前沦陷。这样的事可能吗，诸位？”

    'No!' Many spoke the single word.
“不！”许多人都只说了这一个字。

    'No.' Elric smiled. 'But how shall we best enjoy this little war they offer us?'
“不可能。”Elric微笑道。“但我们该如何享受他们送给我们的这场小小战斗呢？”

    Yyrkoon, as ever, was first to shout. 'Let us go to meet them now, with dragons and with battle-barges. Let us pursue them to their own land and take their war to them. Let us attack their nations and burn their cities! Let us conquer them and thus ensure our own security!'
Yyrkoon一如既往，又是第一个喊道：“我们现在就用巨龙和战舰迎战他们。把他们驱赶回自己的土地，将战火移嫁到他们身上，攻占他们的国家，烧毁他们的城市！让我们征服他们，以此确保我们自身的安全！”

    Dyvim Tvar spoke up again:
Dyvim Tvar再次开口：

    'No dragons,' he said.
“没有龙，”他说。

    'What?' Yyrkoon whirled. 'What?'
“什么？”Yyrkoon感到一整晕眩。“你说什么？”

    'No dragons, prince. They will not be awakened. The dragons sleep in their caverns, exhausted by their last engagement on your behalf.'
“没有龙，王子。无法唤醒他们。龙在你的上一场交战中都已耗尽精力，现在它们都在洞穴中沉睡。”

    'Mine?'
“我的交战？”

    'You would use them in our conflict with the Vilmirian pirates. I told you that I would prefer to save them for a larger engagement. But you flew them against the pirates and you burned their little boats and now the dragons sleep.'
“你执意要在与Vilmir海盗的交战中用上它们。我告诉过你，最好把龙留到更重要的场合上去。但是你却用龙火对付海盗，焚烧他们小小的木船，所以现在龙都沉睡了。”

    Yyrkoon glowered. He looked up at Elric. 'I did not expect...'
Yyrkoon目射怒火。他抬头望向Elric。“我没有料到……”

    Elric raised his hand. 'We need not use our dragons until such a time as we really need them. This attack from the southlander fleet is nothing. But we will conserve our strength if we bide our time. Let them think we are unready. Let them enter the maze. Once the whole hundred are through, we close in, blocking off all routes in or out of the maze. Trapped, they will be crushed by us.'
Elric抬起一只手。“没有动用龙的必要，还不到迫不得已的时候。这场南方人的袭击算不上什么。但是我们要先保存战力，等待时机。就让他们以为我们会措手不及。让他们驶入迷宫。一旦整支舰队进入之后，我们就关上闸门，切断所有进出迷宫的通路。他们会陷入圈套，被我们彻底粉碎。”

    Yyrkoon looked pettishly at his feet, evidently wishing he could think of some flaw in the plan. Tall, old Admiral Magum Colim in his sea-green armour stepped forward and bowed. 'The golden battle-barges of Imrryr are ready to defend their city, my liege. It will take time, however, to manoeuvre them into position. It is doubtful if all will fit into the maze at once.'
Yyrkoon看上去恼怒不已，显然恨不得自己马上挑出这个计划的瑕疵。身着蓝绿色盔甲的高大海军老上将Magum Colim上前一步并行礼。“Imrryr的黄金驳舰已经准备好守卫都市，陛下，尽管要调遣它们入位，需要不少时间。不可能将它们同时安排进迷宫。”

    'Then sail some of them out now and hide them around the coast, so that they can wait for any survivors that may escape our attack,' Elric instructed him.
“那么现在就先派遣几艘隐藏在靠岸处，让他们等待逃脱战场的幸存者。”Elric如此指示他。

    'A useful plan, my liege.' Magum Colim bowed and sank back into the crowd of his peers.
“实用的计划，陛下。”Magum Colim鞠躬，并退入同辈的行列中。

    The debate continued for some time and then they were ready and about to leave. But then Prince Yyrkoon bellowed once more:
讨论又持续了一段时间，接着他们才终于做好准备，可以离场。但Yyrkoon王子却再次喝道：

    'I repeat my offer to the emperor. His person is too valuable to risk in battle. My person--it is worthless. Let me command the warriors of both land and sea while the emperor may remain at the palace, untroubled by the battle, confident that it will be won and the southlanders trounced--perhaps there is a book he wishes to finish?'
“我想再向皇上提一次先前的建议。亲自参战对陛下而言过于危险。而我个人的安危——无足轻重。就让我来指挥两军吧，这样吾皇就能留在宫殿中，既有必胜的把握，又远离战场的危险——或许他还有本尚未读完的书要看？”

    Elric smiled. 'Again I thank you for your concern, Prince Yyrkoon. But an emperor must exercise his body as well as his mind. I will command the warriors tomorrow.'
Elric微笑道：“再次感谢你的诚意，Yyrkoon王子。但皇帝不但要历练他的头脑，还要锻炼他的体魄。明天我会亲自指挥。”

    When Elric arrived back at his apartments it was to discover that Tanglebones had already laid out his heavy, black wargear. Here was the armour which had served a hundred Melnibonean emperors; an armour which was forged by sorcery to give it a strength unequalled on the Realm of Earth, which could, so rumour went, even withstand the bite of the mythical runeblades, Stormbringer and Mournblade, which had been wielded by the wickedest of Melnibone's many wicked rulers before being seized by the Lords of the Higher Worlds and hidden forever in a realm where even those Lords might rarely venture.
Elric回到他的房间后，发现缠骨已经将他那沉重的黑色战甲摆放出来。这是一套已服侍了上百名Melnibone君王的战甲；这套由巫术打造的盔甲，拥有这个世界上无可匹敌的力量，而这力量，据说甚至能抵挡传说中的妖剑“风暴使者”与“哀伤之刃”的劈砍——这两把符文剑，唯有Melnibone为数众多的凶残统治者中的最邪恶者才使用它们，而今它们被上界君主收服，藏在连这些君主都很少前往的异域。

    The face of the tangled man was full of joy as he touched each piece of armour, each finely balanced weapon, with his long, gnarled fingers. His seamed face looked up to regard Elric's care-ravaged features. 'Oh, my lord! Oh, my king! Soon you will know the joy of the fight!'
这个四肢结节的人脸上充满着喜悦。他用长长的、长着粗节的手指碰触每一片盔甲、每一件有着精确平衡的武器。他抬起那布满皱痕的脸，急切地注视Elric忧虑不已面容。“哦，陛下！哦，吾皇！很快您就能体验那战斗的愉悦了！”

    'Aye, Tanglebones--and let us hope it will be a joy.'
“对，缠骨——但愿明天会是个令人愉悦的日子。”

    'I taught you all the skills--the art of the sword and the poignard--the art of the bow--the art of the spear, both mounted and on foot. And you learned well, for all they say you are weak. Save one, there's no better swordsman in Melnibone.'
“我已经把所有的技艺都传授给您——长剑与锐刃的技巧，弓矢与长矛的技艺，无论骑式还是步式，都已教给您。而您学得很好，虽然别人都说您很软弱。除了一个人之外，Melnibone已经没有比您更好的剑士了。”

    'Prince Yyrkoon could be better than me,' Elric said reflectively. 'Could he not?'
“Yyrkoon王子或许比我更好，”Elric沉思着说道。“不是吗？”

    'I said "save one", my lord.'
“我说‘除了一个人’，陛下。”

    'And Yyrkoon is that one. Well, one day perhaps we'll be able to test the matter. I'll bathe before I don all that metal.'
“Yyrkoon就是那个人。或许我们有朝一日会一比高下吧？我想在披挂上那堆金属前先洗澡。”

    'Best make speed, master. From what I hear, there is much to do.'
“最好快一点，主人。因为我听说，还有很多事要准备呢。”

    'And I'll sleep after I've bathed.' Elric smiled at his old friend's consternation. 'It will be better thus, for I cannot personally direct the barges into position. I am needed to command the fray--and that I will do better when I've rested.'
“洗完澡后我要睡觉。”Elric微笑着回应他老友的惊愕。“最好让我睡一会儿，否则我没法亲自指挥战舰进入位置。那样的混乱场合需要我，而我需要休息过后才能应付自如。”

    'If you think it good, lord king, then it is good.'
“您觉得好的计划，一定是最好的，吾皇。”

    'And you are astonished. You are too eager, Tanglebones, to get me into all that stuff and see me strut about in it as if I were Arioch himself...'
“你好像很吃惊的样子。你太迫不及待要把我塞进那套东西里了，缠骨，好像马上就想看到我像Arioch一样昂首阔步的样子……”

    Tanglebones's hand flew to his mouth as if he had spoken the words, not his master, and he was trying to block them. His eyes widened.
缠骨连忙将手挡在嘴前，双眼大睁。就好像那句话不是出自他主人之口，而是他自己说的一样，企图把它挡在嘴里。

    Elric laughed. 'You think I speak bold heresies, eh? Well, I've spoken worse without any ill befalling me. On Melnibone, Tanglebones, the emperors control the demons, not the reverse.'
Elric笑道：“你觉得我在讲大胆的异端邪说，嗯？我还说过更糟的话呢，至今没有任何厄运降临到我头上。缠骨，在Melnibone，是皇帝控制魔鬼，而不是魔鬼控制皇帝。”

    'So you say, my liege.'
“您说得是，陛下。”

    'It is the truth.' Elric swept from the room, calling for his slaves. The war-fever filled him and he was jubilant.
“这是事实。”Elric转身出房间，招呼他的奴隶。对战斗的渴望令他雀跃不已。
   
xxx

    Now he was in all his black gear: the massive breastplate, the padded jerkin, the long greaves, the mail gauntlets. At his side was a five-foot broadsword which, it was said, had belonged to a human hero called Aubec. Resting on the deck against the golden rail of the bridge was the great round warboard, his shield, bearing the sign of the swooping dragon. And a helm was on his head; a black helm, with a dragon's head craning over the peak, and dragon's wings flaring backward above it, and a dragon's tail curling down the back. All the helm was black, but within the helm there was a white shadow from which glared two crimson orbs, and from the sides of the helm strayed wisps of milk-white hair, almost like smoke escaping from a burning building. And, as the helm turned in what little light came from the lantern hanging at the base of the mainmast, the white shadow sharpened to reveal features--fine, handsome features--a straight nose, curved lips, up-slanting eyes. The face Of Emperor Elric of Melnibone peered into the gloom of the maze as he listened for the first sounds of the sea-raider's approach.
厚重的胸甲、垫布衬衣、长护胫、锁甲护手，现在他已将全副黑色铠甲披挂在身。一把五尺长的阔剑悬在身侧，据说它曾属于一个名叫Aubec的人类英雄所有。斜靠在舰桥的金色栏杆之上的，是他的大型圆盾，盾牌上绘着一头俯冲巨龙的图案。在他的头上，戴着一顶黑色战盔，盔顶的龙头昂起，龙翼向后方展开，龙尾蜿蜒至后脑。整个头盔都是黑色的，但藏在头盔中的却是一道白色阴影，这苍白的幽影中闪烁着一双绯红色的眼眸；几缕乳白色的长发自头盔两侧披散而出，仿佛从一栋燃烧的建筑中逃逸的白烟。随着头盔在主桅底部的提灯那昏暗的灯火下转动，苍白的阴影中逐渐浮现出轮廓——清秀、俊丽的轮廓——挺直的鼻梁、弯曲的嘴唇、上倾的双眼。Melnibone皇帝Elric向着迷宫的昏暗深处凝视，等待海上侵略者接近时的第一道声响。

    He stood on the high bridge of the great golden battle-barge which, like all its kind, resembled a floating ziggurat equipped with masts and sails and oars and catapults. The ship was called The Son of the Pyaray and it was the flagship of the fleet. The Grand Admiral Magum Colim stood beside Elric. Like Dyvim Tvar, the admiral was one of Elric's few close friends. He had known Elric all his life and had encouraged him to learn all he could concerning the running of fighting ships and fighting fleets. Privately Magum Colim might fear that Elric was too scholarly and introspective to rule Melnibone, but he accepted Elric's right to rule and was made angry and impatient by the talk of the likes of Yyrkoon. Prince Yyrkoon was also aboard the flagship, though at this moment he was below, inspecting the war-engines.
他站在庞大的黄金驳舰那高高的舰桥上。就像所有同类舰一样，它的舰身仿佛一座漂浮海上的阶梯金字塔，只是这座金字塔装备着桅杆与风帆，船桨与投石器。这艘是舰队中的旗舰，名为Pyaray之子。海军上将Magum Colim站在Elric身旁。就像Dyvim Tvar一样，上将是Elric极少数的几个朋友之一，他看着Elric长大，并不断激励他学习一切与各种规模海战相关的知识。私下里，Magum Colim或许担心Elric太书卷气、太内省的性格不适合统治Melnibone，但他接受Elric的合法继承权，而涉及Yyrkoon之流的流言蜚语令他既不悦，又愤恨。Yyrkoon王子也同样在旗舰上，尽管此刻，他正在舰桥下检阅武装设施。

    The Son of the Pyaray lay at anchor in a huge grotto, one of hundreds built into the walls of the maze when the maze itself was built, and designed for just this purpose--to hide a battle-barge. There was just enough height for the masts and enough width for the oars to move freely. Each of the golden battle-barges was equipped with banks of oars, each bank containing between twenty and thirty oars on either side. The banks were four, five or six decks high and, as in the case of The Son of the Pyaray, might have three independent steering systems, fore and aft. Being armoured all in gold, the ships were virtually indestructible, and, for all their massive size, they could move swiftly and manoeuvre delicately when occasion demanded. It was not the first time they had waited for their enemies in these grottoes. It would not be the last (though when next they waited it would be in greatly different circumstances).
Pyaray之子停泊在一个嵌入迷宫石壁的巨大岩洞中，这样的岩洞在迷宫内数以百计，在设计之初就已被建造。它们的作用只有一个——那就是隐藏驳舰。岩穴的高度恰好能容入桅杆，而宽度亦恰好能允许船桨自如划动。每一艘黄金驳舰上都有数排船桨，每一侧的单排船桨为二十至三十支，共有四、五或六层船桨排列在船身两侧，而至于Pyaray之子，则可能有三套单独的导航系统分别控制前进或后退。战舰周身全部被黄金护甲所覆盖，几乎坚不可摧，同时，尽管体型庞大，却可以在需要时快速灵活地移动。这不是他们第一次隐藏在这岩穴中埋伏敌人，也不会是他们的最后一次（尽管下一次伏击，情况将大为不同）。

    The battle-barges of Melnibone were rarely seen on the open seas these days, but once they had sailed the oceans of the world like fearsome floating mountains of gold and they had brought terror whenever they were sighted. The fleet had been larger then, comprising hundreds of craft. Now there were less than forty ships. But forty would suffice. Now, in damp darkness, they awaited their enemies.
现在在外海上，已经很少见到Melnibone的金色战舰了，但过去他们却像恐怖的海上金山般周游在世界诸大洋，所经之处皆给人留下恐惧。彼时的舰队规模更为庞大，舰只可达数百。现在则已经不足四十艘。但四十艘足矣。眼下，在这湿气浓重的黑暗中，他们等待着敌人的到来。

    Listening to the hollow slap of the water against the sides of the ship, Elric wished that he had been able to conceive a better plan than this. He was sure that this one would work, but he regretted the waste of lives, both Melnibonean and barbarian. It would have been better if some way could have been devised of frightening the barbarians away rather than trapping them in the sea-maze. The southlander fleet was not the first to have been attracted by Imrryr's fabulous wealth. The southlander crews were not the first to entertain the belief that the Melniboneans, because they never now ventured far from the Dreaming City, had become decadent and unable to defend their treasures. And so the southlanders must be destroyed in order to make the lesson clear. Melnibone was still strong. She was strong enough, in Yyrkoon's view, to resume her former dominance of the world--strong in sorcery if not in soldiery.
Elric听着海水拍打船身的空洞回响，后悔自己没能想出另一个更好的计划。他知道现在的计划可行，但却会造成许多不必要的牺牲——不仅包括Melnibone人，也包括那些野蛮人。如果能有将敌人吓退的办法，而不是将他们困入陷阱，就能避免不必要的伤亡。这样的南方舰队不是第一批受到Imrryr传说中的财富吸引的人。那些南方人也不是第一批误以为如今已不再远离梦之城的Melnibone人，已经颓败到失去自我保护力。因此这支舰队必须被消灭，以杀一儆百。Melnibone依然强盛。在Yyrkoon看来，Melnibone依然强大到足以重新统治世界——即便不以军力，也依然有强大的法术。

    'Hist!' Admiral Magum Colim craned forward.
“嘘！”Magum Colim上将探身向前。

    'Was that the sound of an oar?'
“那是划桨的声音吗？”

    Elric nodded. 'I think so.'
Elric点头。“我想是的。”

    Now they heard regular splashes, as of rows of oars dipping in and out of the water, and they heard the creak of timbers. The southlanders were coming. The Son of the Pyaray was the ship nearest to the entrance and it would be the first to move out, but only when the last of the southlanders' ships had passed them. Admiral Magum Colim bent and extinguished the lantern, then, quickly, quietly, he descended to inform his crew of the raiders' coming.
规律的溅水声渐渐清晰可闻，好像一排排船桨抬起又落向水面的声音，接着他们听到木板的咯嗒声。那些南方人来了。Pyaray之子是最靠近入口，也是将第一个驶出岩穴的船只，但必须先等南方人的舰队全部驶过跟前才能进行包抄。Magum Colim上将弯腰将提灯熄灭，然后非常轻声地，下到甲板下，通知船员入侵者的到来。

    Not long before, Yyrkoon had used his sorcery to summon a peculiar mist, which hid the golden barges from view, but through which those on the Melnibonean ships could peer. Now Elric saw torches burning in the channel ahead as carefully the reavers negotiated the maze. Within the space of a few minutes ten of the galleys had passed the grotto. Admiral Magum Colim rejoined Elric on the bridge and now Prince Yyrkoon was with him. Yyrkoon, too, wore a dragon helm, though less magnificent than Elric's, for Elric was chief of the few surviving Dragon Princes of Melnibone. Yyrkoon was grinning through the gloom and his eyes gleamed in anticipation of the bloodletting to come. Elric wished that Prince Yyrkoon had chosen another ship than this, but it was Yyrkoon's right to be aboard the flagship and he could not deny it.
不久之前，Yyrkoon刚用他的法术召唤特殊的迷雾，既将黄金舰队隐藏在其中，同时又令船上的Melnibone人能够透过迷雾看清外界。现在Elric已经可以看到前方的水道中亮起火炬的光芒，那些掠夺者小心翼翼地避让着穿行在迷宫中。几分钟之内，已经有十艘桨帆船从岩洞前通过。Magum Colim上将重新回到甲板与Elric站在一起，这次Yyrkoon王子也和他一起上来。Yyrkoon也戴着一顶龙盔，只是相对于Elric的而言较为简约，因为在这所剩无几的Melnibone龙君中Elric是居于首位。Yyrkoon在阴影中露齿而笑，眼中闪烁着对杀戮的期盼。Elric希望Yyrkoon当初登的是另一艘船，但他无法否认，登上旗舰同样也是Yyrkoon的权利。

    Now half the hundred vessels had gone past.
现在一百艘船的舰队已经通过了半数。

    Yyrkoon's armour creaked as, impatiently, he waited, pacing the bridge, his gauntletted hand on the hilt of his broadsword. 'Soon' he kept saying to himself. 'Soon.'
Yyrkoon急切地等待着，在舰桥上来回踱步，盔甲随之发出碰擦声，带着铁护手的手按在阔剑的剑柄上。“快了，”他一遍遍对自己说。“快了。”

    And then their anchor was groaning upwards and their oars were plunging into the water as the last southland ship went by and they shot from the grotto into the channel ramming the enemy galley amidships and smashing it in two.
接着他们的舰中传出起锚的沉重闷响，船桨入水，最后一艘南方船只已通过，战舰自岩洞中冲入水道，将那艘敌船自中段一劈为二。

    A great yell went up from the barbarian crew. Men were flung in all directions. Torches danced erratically on the remains of the deck as men tried to save themselves from slipping into the dark, chill waters of the channel. A few brave spears rattled against the sides of the Melnibonean flag-galley as it began to turn amongst the debris it had created. But Imrryrian archers returned the shots and the few survivors went down.
巨大的呼喊声从野蛮人的水手中爆发出来。那些船员被抛向各个方向。火炬的光芒在残余的甲板上忽明忽暗，而船员们则极力不让自己滑向昏暗而冰冷的海水。几个勇敢的人将长矛抛向Melnibone旗舰，但此时旗舰已转身碾过残骸，Imrryr弓箭手将所剩无几的幸存者全部射死。

    The sound of this swift conflict was the signal to the other battle-barges. In perfect order they came from both sides of the high rock walls and it must have seemed to the astonished barbarians that the great golden ships had actually emerged from solid stone--ghost ships filled with demons who rained spears, arrows and brands upon them. Now the whole of the twisting channel was confusion and a medley of war-shouts echoed and boomed and the clash of steel upon steel was like the savage hissing of some monstrous snake, and the raiding fleet itself resembled a snake which had been broken into a hundred pieces by the tall, implacable golden ships of Melnibone. These ships seemed almost serene as they moved against their enemies, their grappling irons flashing out to catch wooden decks and rails and draw the galleys nearer so that they might be destroyed.
这场短暂交战的声响，就是向其他战舰发出的战号。他们以完美的秩序分别自高耸的岩墙两面突入，震惊的野蛮人显然以为这些金色战舰，是从岩石中浮现的鬼船，船上载满恶魔，以火雨伴着长矛与箭矢袭向他们。蜿蜒复杂的水道此刻已完全陷入混乱，嘈杂的战斗呼号声回响在石壁与石壁间，爆炸声，金属的碰撞声仿佛一条魔蛇发出的疯狂嘶叫，而掠夺者的舰队就似这条蛇，正被高大的、坚无不摧的Melnibone金色战舰切成无数片。它们徐徐驶向那些南方船只，对着他们的木甲板投出铁钩，将它们拉近，直至最终将它们摧毁——而这一切动作，几乎透着宁静。

    But the southlanders were brave and they kept their heads after their initial astonishment. Three of their galleys headed directly for The Son of the Pyaray, recognising it as the flagship. Fire arrows sailed high and dropped down into the decks which were wooden and not protected by the golden armour, starting fires wherever they fell, or else bringing blazing death to the men they struck.
但那些南方人英勇无比，最初的震惊并没有令他们低下头。三艘桨帆船发现Pyaray之子就是旗舰，便径直朝它冲去。燃火的箭矢高高射向天空，落在没有被黄金护甲保护的木甲板上。所落之处皆窜起火苗，被火箭击中的人被活活烧死。

    Elric raised his shield above his head and two arrows struck it, bouncing, still flaring, to a lower deck. He leapt over the rail, following the arrows, jumping down to the widest and most exposed deck where his warriors were grouping, ready to deal with the attacking galleys. Catapults thudded and balls of blue fire swished through the blackness, narrowly missing all three galleys. Another volley followed and one mass of flame struck the far galley's mast and then burst upon the deck, scattering huge flames wherever it touched. Grapples snaked out and seized the first galley, dragging it close and Elric was amongst the first to leap down onto the deck, rushing forward to where he saw the southland captain, dressed all in crude, chequered armour, a chequered surcoat over that, a big sword in both his huge hands, bellowing at his men to resist the Melnibonean dogs.
Elric将盾牌举过头顶，两支箭击中盾牌，被弹开，燃烧着落向下层甲板。他翻越栏杆，跟着箭矢落到最宽也是最无遮挡的一层甲板上，他的士兵正在那里集结，准备迎战进攻的敌船。投石器轰射出蓝色的火球，它划破黑暗的夜色，从所有三艘战船旁擦身而过。另一发紧随而至，一大团火球击中最远处那艘战船的桅杆，火焰碎溅到下方甲板，所有被它们碰到的东西均燃起大火。抓钩伸向第一艘战船，将其拖向驳舰，Elric与第一批战士一起跃下甲板，他向着敌舰船长所在的地方冲去。那个南方船长身着粗糙的格子图案甲胄，一件格子花纹外套披在盔甲外，他那巨大的双手紧握一把重剑，呼吼着指挥他的船员抵御Melnibone的战犬。

    As Elric approached the bridge three barbarians armed with curved swords and small, oblong shields ran at him. Their faces were full of fear, but there was determination there as well, as if they knew they must die but planned to wreak as much destruction as they could before their souls were taken.
Elric接近舰桥时，三个手执弯刀与小型椭圆盾的野蛮人跑向他。他们的表情充满恐惧，但同时也充满着决心，就好像知道自己死期将至，但依然想在被击倒前造成最大程度的破坏。

    Shifting his war-board onto his arm, Elric took his own broadsword in both hands and Charged the sailors, knocking one off his feet with the lip of the-shield and smashing the collar-bone of another. The remaining barbarian skipped aside and thrust his curved sword at Elric's face. Elric barely escaped the thrust and the sharp edge of the sword grazed his cheek, bringing out a drop or two of blood. Elric swung the broadsword like a scythe and it bit deep into the barbarian's waist, almost cutting him in two. He struggled for a moment, unable to believe that he was dead but then, as Elric yanked the sword free, he closed his eyes and dropped. The man who had been struck by Elric's shield was staggering to his feet as Elric whirled, saw him, and smashed the broadsword into his skull. Now the way was clear to the bridge. Elric began to climb the ladder, noting that the captain had seen him and was waiting for him at the top.
Elric将他的盾牌勾入手臂，也用两手握住阔剑，向那些海员发起进攻。其中一个人被他盾牌的边缘击得失去平衡，另一个的锁骨被盾牌击碎。剩下的野蛮人跃到一边，用他的弯刀刺向Elric的脸。Elric差点没有避开这一击，弯刀锐利的边缘划破他的脸颊，鲜血从伤口中流出。犹如挥舞镰刀一般，Elric挥动阔剑，剑刃砍入野蛮人的腰际，几乎将他劈成两半。他挣扎片刻，不敢相信自己已经死了，但接着Elric抽出剑，他终于闭上眼睛倒下。那个被Elric用盾牌击倒的人勉强爬了起来，Elric回转身，正好看见他，顺势将阔剑劈进他的头颅。现在通向舰桥的路被清空了。Elric开始攀上楼梯，同时留意已经注意到他的船长正在上方等待。

    Elric raised his shield to take the captain's first blow. Through all the noise he thought he heard the man shouting at him.
Elric举起盾挡下船长的第一击。在嘈杂的背景声中，Elric隐约听见船长对他的吼声。

    'Die, you white-faced demon! Die! You have no place in this earth any longer!'
“死吧，你这白脸的恶魔！死吧！这个世界上已经没有你们容身之地了！”

    Elric was almost diverted from defending himself by these words. They rang true to him. Perhaps he really had no place on the earth, perhaps that was why Melnibone was slowly collapsing, why fewer children were born every year, why the dragons themselves were no longer breeding. He let the captain strike another blow at the shield, then he reached under it and swung at the man's legs. But the captain had anticipated the move and jumped backwards. This, however, gave Elric time to run up the few remaining steps and stand on the deck, facing the captain.
Elric几乎因这句话分散了防守的注意力。这番话对他而言显得那么真切。或许这个世界真的已经没有他的容身之地，或许这就是为什么Melnibone在渐渐地分崩离析，这就是为什么新生的孩子每年都在减少，这就是为什么连那些巨龙都已经不再产子。他用盾迎下船长的又一击，然后他俯身劈向对方的腿。但船长料到他的这一击，于是跃向后方。但这让Elric有了奔上最后几级扶梯的时间。现在他站在甲板上，与船长面对面。

    The man's face was almost as pale as Elric's. He was sweating and he was panting and his eyes had misery in them as well as a wild fear.
那个人的脸几乎与Elric的一样苍白。他大汗淋漓，惊慌失措，他的眼中充满绝望，以及身不由己的恐惧。

    'You should leave us alone,' Elric heard himself saying. 'We offer you no harm, barbarian. When did Melnibone last sail against the Young Kingdoms?'
“你们大可不必理睬我们，”Elric听见自己说道。“我们没有威胁到你们，野蛮人。Melnibone上一次出海攻击幼国已经是什么时候的事？”

    'You offer us harm by your very presence, Whiteface. There is your sorcery. There are your customs. And there is your arrogance.'
“你们的存在本身就是对我们的威胁，白脸。你们的巫术，你们的作风。还有你们的自大傲慢。”

    'Is that why you came here? Was your attack motivated by disgust for us? Or would you help yourselves to our wealth? Admit it, captain--greed brought you to Melnibone.'
“这就是你们此行的原因吗？你们是出于对我们的厌恶才攻击我们？还是垂涎于我们的财富？承认吧，船长——是你们的贪婪把你们引到Melnibone的。”

    'At least greed is an honest quality, an understandable one. But you creatures are not human. Worse--you are not gods, though you behave as if you were. Your day is over and you must be wiped out, your city destroyed, your sorceries forgotten.'
“至少贪婪是一种诚实的品性，至少贪婪可以让人理解。但你们甚至连人都不是。而且更糟的是，你们根本就不是神，却表现得好像神一样。你们的时代已经结束了，你们必须被杀光，你们的城市必须被毁掉，你们的巫术要被人遗忘。”

    Elric nodded. 'Perhaps you are right, captain.'
Elric点头。“或许你说得没错，船长。”

    'I am right. Our holy men say so. Our seers predict your downfall. The Chaos Lords whom you serve will themselves bring about that downfall.'
“我就是对的。我们的圣人就是这样说的。我们的先知预言过你们的败落。你们服侍的混沌之主会亲自带给你们毁灭。”

    'The Chaos Lords no longer have any interest in the affairs of Melnibone. They took away their power nearly a thousand years since.' Elric watched the captain carefully, judging the distance between them. 'Perhaps that is why our own power waned. Or perhaps we merely became tired of power.'
“混沌之主已经对Melnibone的事没有兴趣了。他们早在一千年前就将他们的力量收回了。”Elric小心地观察着船长，判断他们俩之间的距离。“或许这就是我们的力量衰落的原因。或许我们只是对力量感到厌倦了。”

    'Be that as it may,' the captain said, wiping his sweating brow, 'your time is over. You must be destroyed once and for all.' And then he groaned, for Elric's broadsword had come under his chequered breastplate and gone up through his stomach and into his lungs.
“随你怎么说吧，”船长擦拭额头的汗水，说道，“你们的日子尽了。你们必须被从此全部消灭光。”接着他发出一声哀号，因为Elric的阔剑已经刺入他的格子花胸甲底下，深深刺穿腹部，捅入他的肺脏。

    One knee bent, one leg stretched behind him, Elric began to withdraw the long sword, looking up into the barbarian's face which had now assumed an expression of reconciliation. 'That was unfair, Whiteface. We had barely begun to talk and you cut the conversation short. You are most skillful. May you writhe forever in the Higher Hell. Farewell.'
Elric曲下一条腿，另一条向后伸展，开始拔剑。他望着野蛮人那似乎如今表达着和好的面容。“不公平啊，白脸。我们谈话才刚开始，你就让对话提前结束了。你真的是技艺精湛。愿你永远在最深的地狱中挣扎吧。永别了。”

    Elric hardly knew why, after the captain had fallen face down on the deck, he hacked twice at the neck until the head rolled off the body, rolled to the side of the bridge and was then kicked over the side so that it sank into the cold, deep water.
纵然自己也不明白为什么，在船长面朝着甲板倒下之后，Elric对着他的脖子砍了两次，直到他的头颅从身体上滚落，滚到舰桥的另一侧，跌落船舷，沉入深邃、冰冷的海水中。

    And then Yyrkoon came up behind Elric and he was still grinning.
而后，Yyrkoon自Elric身后走上前来，脸上堆满笑容。

    'You fight fiercely and well, my lord emperor. That dead man was right.'
“你战斗得凶猛又出色啊，我的陛下。那个死人说得对。”

    'Right?' Elric glared at his cousin. 'Right?'
“说得对？”Elric瞪着他表兄。“什么对？”

    'Aye--in his assessment of your prowess.' And, chuckling, Yyrkoon went to supervise his men who were finishing off the few remaining raiders.
“就是他对你精湛技艺的那句评论。”接着Yyrkoon呵呵笑着，重新回去监督自己的部队清理那些残存的幸存者。

    Elric did not know why he had refused to hate Yyrkoon before. But now he did hate Yyrkoon. At that moment he would gladly have slain him. It was as if Yyrkoon had looked deeply into Elric's soul and expressed contempt for what he had seen there.
Elric不明白自己为什么之前一直不肯恨Yyrkoon。但是现在他恨透了Yyrkoon。此刻如果能杀了Yyrkoon，他会高兴得不得了。就好像Yyrkoon在刚才看透了他的灵魂，并对其中的东西轻蔑地嘲笑。

    Suddenly Elric was overwhelmed by an angry misery and he wished with all his heart that he was not a Melnibonean, that he was not an emperor and that Yyrkoon had never been born.
突如其然地，完全的愤恨与悲哀将Elric浸没。他全心全意地希望自己不是Melnibone人，自己也不是皇帝，而Yyrkoon则从来没在这个世上诞生过。

——第五章完——
——第六章——

——返回第一卷第一章——

所谓eternal champion……

再次感觉自己真的取名无力。另外军事知识比较匮乏，感觉这章有点困难，可能错不少。再顺便剧透一下，yyrkoon从这里开始一路一发不可收拾地二到最后，作为反派比elric还衰真是太惨了。