"Unputdownable"
(HIM magazine on DEATH'S HEAD)
"A fine example of this genre"
(Gay Times on FORTUNES OF WAR)
"A powerful futuristic thriller"
(Capital Gay on DEATH'S HEAD)
"...the MASTER of gay thrillers ... Mel Keegan's
name is a byword for thrilling gay adventure in the
past, present and future"
(Millivres on AQUAMARINE)
"This rip-roaring and colourful new gay thriller
zooms along with a breathless enthusiasm that
never flags"
(Time Out on ICE, WIND AND FIRE)
"Gripping"
(Scotsgay on STORM TIDE)

© 2003 by Mel Keegan
© 2003 梅尔·基根 版权所有
All rights Reserved  保留所有权利

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity between real persons or other characters, alive or dead, is strictly coincidental.
本书为虚构作品。书中人物与现实中的人物或角色（无论生死）如有雷同，纯属巧合。

First published in August 2003 by DreamCraft Multimedia.
初版于 2003 年 8 月由 DreamCraft Multimedia 出版。

ISBN: 0-9750884-2-4  国际标准书号：0-9750884-2-4

No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to lending, uploading and copying, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
未经出版商事先书面许可，不得以任何形式复制或使用本出版物内容，包括但不限于借阅、上传及复制。

DreamCraft Multimedia Box 270, Brighton 5048, South Australia
DreamCraft Multimedia 信箱 270，布赖顿 5048，南澳大利亚

See MEL KEEGAN ONLINE for everything Keegan: http://www.melkeegan.com
访问 MEL KEEGAN 官网获取所有基根作品：http://www.melkeegan.com

This edition printed and bound in the United States.
本版由美国印刷装订

The Kilpatrick Hills were bleak in the grudging sun of late afternoon, veiled by a thin pall of river mist and the ever-present smoke of a thousand chimneys and factories too numerous to count. Crowded rooftops huddled along the north bank of the river, which had begun to widen out fast on its way west to Greenock and Helensburgh. The whole course of the Clyde was sullied now, by the burgeoning of industry. Shipyards and factories brought in labor; the population on these shores was growing every year, which in turn meant more homes, and children, and then more jobs. Would the Celts and Romans who had known this river as the Kluta, the wide, wild passage from the Firth itself, even recognize it today? Bill Ryan thought not.
基尔帕特里克山在午后吝啬的阳光下显得格外荒凉，薄雾般的河雾与无数烟囱工厂的浓烟交织成纱。拥挤的屋顶沿着北岸河堤挤作一团，河水在此处急速变宽，向西流向格里诺克与海伦斯堡。整条克莱德河如今已被工业的蓬勃所玷污。船坞与工厂吸纳着劳动力，河岸人口逐年增长，这意味着更多房屋、孩童，继而催生更多工作岗位。那些曾将此河称作"克鲁塔"——福斯湾外宽阔狂野水道的凯尔特人与罗马人，今日还能认出它吗？比尔·瑞安觉得不能。

Not so many years ago these riverlands were almost virgin wilderness, but since boyhood Ryan had watched the clamor for work transform the Clyde into a maze of competing shipyards, which in places had begun to shoulder for space and business, even for survival. The big yards in Dumbarton and Greenock gave birth to the China clippers themselves; and cheek-by-jowl with the great ladies of sail were the steamers - even now the old world and the new found a way to exist side by side, in a kind of uneasy truce.
不过数年前，这片河域还近乎原始荒野，但瑞安自少年时代便目睹着就业热潮将克莱德河改造成船坞林立的迷宫。在邓巴顿与格里诺克，大船坞孕育了中国飞剪船；而那些帆船贵妇们的身旁，蒸汽船正摩肩接踵——新旧世界至今仍以某种不安的休战状态并存着。

Commercial ambition and steam engines aside, sail continued to rule most of the world’s seas, and the old romantics swore it always would. But Ryan was sure the stubborn belief was no more than a fantasy. Hands in pockets, the collar of his black greatcoat turned up against the persistent mist and drizzle, a black woolen cap pulled firmly down around his ears, he stood on the riverbank and frowned into the jungle of industry just west of the town of Dumbarton.
抛开商业野心与蒸汽机不谈，帆船仍统治着世界大部分海域，怀旧者们坚信永远如此。但瑞安确信这固执信念不过是幻想。他将手插在口袋里，黑色厚呢大衣的领子竖起抵御连绵雾雨，羊毛帽严实地压住耳朵，站在河岸皱眉望向邓巴顿镇以西那片工业丛林。

A steam screw had launched just hours before. She was arrestingly ugly, still little more than a raw hull with dormant boilers and the fearsome engines of a locomotive. The dead weight of her steel body made her ride low in the water, as if she were laden with cargo. In fact, she
数小时前刚下水的蒸汽明轮船丑陋得惊人，此刻仍只是个裸露的船体，装着休眠的锅炉与机车般骇人的引擎。钢铁躯壳的重量使她吃水颇深，恍若满载货物。实际上她
carried no superstructure. The fitters would labor for weeks or months more before she was seaworthy.
尚未安装上层建筑。装配工们还需劳作数周乃至数月，这艘船才能具备适航条件。

Bill Ryan disliked steamers intensely. Even as he stood glaring at this new eyesore, which wallowed like an iron hog in the gray, murky river waters, a packet was inbound from some foreign port, most likely Scandinavian, in which case it was probably loaded with timber. Its single squat funnel belched the dragon’s breath of black coal smoke while its engines drummed with a ceaseless, savage beat, setting a man’s teeth on edge.
比尔·瑞安对蒸汽船深恶痛绝。当他怒视着这艘在灰暗浑浊的河水中如铁猪般笨拙前行的新怪物时，恰有艘来自外国港口——很可能是斯堪的纳维亚——的货船进港，想必载满了木材。它低矮的烟囱喷吐着黑龙般的煤烟，引擎发出无休无止的野蛮轰鸣，令人牙根发酸。

Yet it was more than twenty years since these vessels had begun to compete for business in the freight trade, and almost as long since they had taken to racing their rivals under sail. One day, Ryan thought bitterly as he watched the inbound steamer come lumbering up the Clyde as if it had declared war upon the ocean - one day the sky would be black with smoke and the sea just a constant din of engines. Gone forever would be the pavane of man, sail and wind, the elegant, pagan dance of wood and water, sweat and sinew. That day, Ryan would mourn. Few generations in history were ever compelled to bear witness to the end of an era; fewer people yet had the wits to recognize what they were seeing.
然而这些钢铁怪物在货运业展开竞争已逾二十载，与帆船竞速的历史也几乎同样久远。瑞安望着那艘蒸汽船像向海洋宣战似的沿克莱德河蹒跚而上，苦涩地想：终有一日，天空将被浓烟遮蔽，海面将永驻引擎的喧嚣。人类、帆篷与风共演的优雅帕凡舞，木船与水波、汗水与力量交织的异教之舞，将永远消逝。到那时，瑞安必将哀悼。历史上鲜有世代被迫见证一个时代的终结，而能真正洞悉眼前巨变的人更是凤毛麟角。

He turned, hands thrust deeply into his pockets as the wind got up, strong, sharp and cold. Tenacious enough to survive in the jungle of iron, hawsers, cable and chain, herring gulls squabbled along the waterfront. The iron rasp and the bell-like chime of tools, steel on steel, clattered through the thickening sea mist. The heavy air smelt of brine, rust, old wet wood, and the tainted river.
他转身将双手深深插进口袋，寒风骤起，凛冽刺骨。几只顽强存活于铁器丛林、缆绳与锚链间的银鸥，正在码头争吵不休。工具的钢铁刮擦声与钟铃般的敲击声穿透渐浓的海雾，金属相击的铿锵不绝于耳。凝重的空气里混杂着咸腥、铁锈、潮湿朽木与污浊河水的腐败气息。

The weather had begun to deteriorate in the late morning and worsened steadily through the afternoon, when Ryan arrived in Dumbarton. The Linwood and Clough shipyard lay more than a mile from the train, but his luck held. The drizzle did not begin in earnest until he was in Duncan Linwood’s office, with his coat draped over the hatstand and a glass of malt whisky in his hand.
临近正午时天气开始转坏，到下午瑞安抵达邓巴顿时愈发阴沉。林伍德与克拉夫造船厂距火车站有一英里多路，但他还算走运。直到他走进邓肯·林伍德的办公室，将外套搭在衣帽架上，手里端着杯麦芽威士忌时，细雨才真正落下来。

The old man always made Ryan think of a clan chieftain. He was well turned sixty, with fierce silver whiskers and a capacious belly. The Hebridean accent was still so thick, after forty years away from the islands, a knife could have sliced it like cheese. Ryan had always liked him for his honesty and forthright speech - qualities which seldom endeared Linwood to his business associates.
这位老人总让瑞安联想到氏族酋长。他年逾六旬，银白的络腮胡威风凛凛，肚腩浑圆。即便离开群岛四十年，那赫布里底口音仍浓重得能用刀子像切奶酪般剖开。瑞安向来欣赏他的诚实与直言不讳——这些品质却鲜少让林伍德赢得生意伙伴的欢心。

But then, Bill Ryan was not a businessman, and he had no desire to be. Left to himself, he would not have been found within ten miles
不过比尔·瑞安本就不是生意人，也毫无此意。若依着他自己，方圆十英里内都寻不见他的踪影
of a shipyard fitting out steam packets. He and old Duncan Linwood were separated by a thousand differences, not merely age and heritage. And then, Ryan thought with a crooked smile, they were united by one great common-ground: the kinship of the sea.
更遑论在装配蒸汽邮轮的造船厂里。他与老邓肯·林伍德之间横亘着千百种差异，远不止年龄与出身。但瑞安歪嘴一笑，想到他们终究被一个伟大的共同点联结：对海洋的血脉亲情。

For three decades now, Linwood had built ships; for fifteen years, since his beginnings as a midshipman, Ryan had sailed in them. The tradition and continuity of sail were a brotherhood - a fraternity, Ryan thought grimly, which the coming of steam was sure to undermine. Linwood certainly agreed with the sentiment, but he was businessman enough not to be blinded by his love for sail. The coming of steam, he said, was the natural order of things. The days of the sail packet trade, from the great China clippers right down to the modest coastal smacks and schooners, were numbered.
三十年来，林伍德一直在建造船只；而瑞安自从十五年前以见习水手身份开始航海生涯起，就一直驾驶着这些船只航行。帆船的传统与传承就像兄弟会——瑞安阴沉地想，这种兄弟情谊必将被蒸汽时代的到来所瓦解。林伍德固然认同这种情怀，但作为商人，他还不至于被对帆船的热爱蒙蔽双眼。他说，蒸汽时代的到来是自然规律。从宏伟的中国飞剪船到普通沿海单桅帆船和纵帆船，帆船邮运的时代已经时日无多。

Without a doubt, he was right - but a lot of men were going to be hard to convince. Jonathan Hale was of Linwood’s generation, but no matter how long they lived, the two would never see eye to eye. It was often amusing to listen to their arguments, but Bill Ryan was sure Linwood had seen the way of the future, while Jon Hale was simply hiding his head in the sand. Like so many old men, he clung to yesteryear as if with the loss of the past, he would lose himself also. The future which Linwood and Ryan could see fast approaching would roll over Jonathan Hale like a steam locomotive, leaving wreckage in its wake. Hale’s business, the Eastcoast Packet Company, would be reduced to dust.
毫无疑问他是对的——但要让许多人接受这个事实可不容易。乔纳森·黑尔与林伍德同属一代人，但无论他们活多久，两人永远无法达成共识。听他们争论常常很有趣，不过比尔·瑞安确信林伍德已经看清了未来趋势，而乔恩·黑尔只是在自欺欺人。像许多老人一样，他固执地 clinging to 往昔，仿佛失去过去就会失去自我。林伍德和瑞安眼中飞速逼近的未来，会像蒸汽机车般碾过乔纳森·黑尔，留下满目疮痍。黑尔的企业——东海岸邮船公司——终将化为尘土。

Even now Eastcoast Packet struggled to survive, half-dead already and flailing its arms like a drowning swimmer. And Hale was mortgaging every stick and stone he possessed to build the vessel Linwood had dubbed ‘Hale’s Folly.’
即便现在，东海岸邮船公司也挣扎求生，半死不活地像溺水者般挥舞双臂。而黑尔正抵押所有财产来建造那艘被林伍德称为"黑尔的愚行"的船只。

Yet old Jon was right in his own way. The new ship was a beautiful hull, long, slender and filled with the grace of a Viking raider. One of the schooner’s masts was up already, showing proudly over the shingled rooftop of Linwood’s site office. In another week the riggers would be working on her tackle. She would launch in a matter of months, perhaps the last of her kind to come out of Linwood’s yard. And what would become of her, Bill Ryan could not begin to guess. She was a butterfly, gorgeous and lighter than air in a world of steam-puffing iron warthogs. Ryan breathed a sigh.
不过老乔恩也有他的道理。新船的船体确实优美修长，带着维京战船般的优雅气质。纵帆船的一根桅杆已经竖起，骄傲地耸立在林伍德工地办公室的木瓦屋顶上方。再过一周，索具工人就要开始装配帆缆。不出数月它就会下水，或许将成为林伍德船坞诞生的最后一艘同类船只。至于它的命运如何，比尔·瑞安完全无法预料。在这个喷吐蒸汽的铁甲野猪横行的世界里，它就像一只轻盈绝美的蝴蝶。瑞安叹了口气。

If Eastcoast Packet were a horse, the animal would have been shot a year ago. The company was sick unto death, and this beautiful, redundant folly of a hull was only partially responsible for the state of affairs. The Spindrift was a lady, a duchess, a queen of the sea. Beside
倘若东海岸邮船公司是匹马，这畜生早在一年前就该被枪毙了。这家公司病入膏肓，而这艘华而不实的冗余船体不过是导致现状的部分原因。浪花号是位淑女，是位公爵夫人，是海上的女王。相形之下
her the steamers looked and sounded like tawdry old tarts, dirty, lumbering and foul. Ryan did not wonder at Jonathan Hale’s determination to build the finest, fastest schooner in the merchant trade, but even as he watched the Spindrift take shape, her first mast already towering over the nearby sheds and workshops of Linwood’s yards, he could only wonder how much of a company would be left for young Jim to inherit when Jonathan passed away.
那些蒸汽船活像俗艳的老妓女，肮脏、笨拙又下流。瑞安对乔纳森·黑尔决心打造商船贸易中最精良、最快速的纵帆船并不感到惊讶，但当他看着浪花号的轮廓逐渐成形——她的第一根桅杆已然高耸过林伍德船厂附近的工棚与车间时，他只能暗自思忖：待乔纳森离世后，还能给年轻的吉姆留下多少家业。

In these last months Jonathan was failing so badly, even a blind man could see it. Jim was painfully aware of his father’s pallor and frailty, the blue of his lips, the charcoal smudges circling his eyes. For six months and more the doctors had warned him, his heart was fragile and his lungs were poor. They cautioned him to rest, keep warm, stay out of the wet sea air and not exert himself either with travel or business.
最近几个月乔纳森的健康急转直下，连瞎子都看得出来。吉姆痛苦地注意到父亲苍白的脸色和虚弱的体态，发青的嘴唇，以及眼周如炭灰般的阴影。半年来医生们不断警告他心脏脆弱、肺部衰竭，叮嘱他要静养保暖，远离潮湿的海风，避免因旅行或商务活动而劳累。

All of which brought Bill Ryan to Dumbarton on a misty, cold and steel-gray April afternoon. Old salts swore they could smell a northeast gale coming in from Scandinavia, and with a glance at the wind-torn skies in that direction, Ryan was inclined to agree. The clouds were tattered, driven hard ahead of some goblin in the air, and the only good thing to be said for the gale was, it would blow the sea fog west and scour the coal smoke away from Dumbarton.
正因如此，比尔·瑞安才会在这个雾气弥漫、寒冷阴郁的四月下午来到邓巴顿。老水手们信誓旦旦地说能嗅到从斯堪的纳维亚袭来的东北风暴，瑞安朝那个方向瞥了眼被狂风撕碎的天空，不由得表示赞同。乌云支离破碎，仿佛被空中的妖魔驱赶着狂奔，这场风暴唯一的好处就是将把海雾吹向西边，顺便涤净笼罩邓巴顿的煤烟。

He had traveled up from Scarborough overnight on the North Star, and caught the early train across from Edinburgh. Jim would certainly have shared the journey with him, but his father was confined to bed on doctor’s orders, coddled by his nurse, and young Jim Hale was effectively manacled to the business.
他连夜乘坐北极星号从斯卡伯勒赶来，又搭上了爱丁堡发出的早班火车。吉姆本该与他同行，但老黑尔遵医嘱卧病在床，由护士精心照料着，年轻的吉姆·黑尔只得被生意牢牢拴住。

Linwood was not at all surprised to see Ryan’s face at his door. He knew the Adelaide was docked for repairs, he knew the elder Hale was similarly docked, and he was well aware that Jim must be tied down. Since Ryan’s own ship was off the water for a week at least, the captain might as well be employed on Eastcoast Packet business as kicking his heels in Scarborough.
林伍德对瑞安登门造访毫不意外。他早知道阿德莱德号正在坞修，也清楚老黑尔同样"搁浅"在床，更明白吉姆必定分身乏术。既然瑞安自己的船至少一周不能出海，这位船长与其在斯卡伯勒闲逛，倒不如为东海岸邮船公司办事。

Kicking his heels? The thought made Ryan smile as he stood at the corner of Linwood’s site office and watched the tradesmen and laborers at work on the Spindrift. Skill and strength, steel, hemp, wood and water, fused into something which was almost alive.
闲逛？这个念头让瑞安露出微笑。他站在林伍德工地办公室的拐角处，望着工匠和工人们在浪花号上忙碌。技艺与力量、钢铁、麻绳、木材与水交融在一起，几乎孕育出生命。

Time spent with Jim was never a waste, Ryan thought with a selfmocking smile. How could it be? Since the Adelaide was the last genuinely competitive hull Eastcoast possessed, Ryan spent a great deal of his time at sea. He found all too little opportunity to enjoy Jim’s compa-
和吉姆共度的时光从不虚度，瑞安带着自嘲的笑意想。怎么可能虚度呢？自从阿德莱德号成为东海岸邮船公司最后一艘真正具有竞争力的船体后，瑞安大部分时间都在海上漂泊。他难得有机会享受吉姆的陪伴——
ny. Any hour they could find together was a treasure. If they could wrangle a way to be alone, such an hour was the nearest thing to heaven Ryan knew, even if it must be snatched before the dawn tide, and in privacy amounting to paranoid secrecy.
他们能共处的每一刻都弥足珍贵。只要能设法独处，即便是赶在黎明潮汐前偷来的时光，即便要像患了妄想症般严防死守，这样的时刻对瑞安而言也近乎天堂。

A door banged with the sharp sound of mallet on plank and he turned to watch Duncan Linwood wrapping a vast tartan muffler about his neck as he stepped out of the white pine office building into the wind and rain. Linwood turned up his collar against the striking cold, and his boots splashed through the sheet of muddy water under the timber steps.
门板被锤子猛击般砰然作响，他转身看见邓肯·林伍德正将一条巨大的格子呢围巾裹在脖子上，从白松木办公楼踏入风雨中。林伍德竖起衣领抵御刺骨寒意，靴子溅起台阶下泥水滩里的浊浪。

As frail as old Jon Hale had become at almost the same age, Linwood was robust. He still had the working man’s big shoulders and tool-scarred hands, and Ryan wondered if the man’s taste for whisky had pickled him in his youth, rendering him impervious to the ravages of time. He was pulling on a pair of green leather gloves as he joined Ryan, and he led the way down to the slip where the Spindrift lay cradled. With an audible sigh, Linwood cast a glance at the beautiful hull.
尽管年岁相仿的老乔恩·黑尔已衰弱不堪，林伍德却依然健壮。他仍保持着劳动者的宽厚肩膀和工具疤痕遍布的双手，瑞安不禁怀疑此人嗜饮威士忌的习惯是否像腌渍青春般让他免受岁月侵蚀。他边走向瑞安边戴上一副绿色皮手套，领着路朝浪花号停泊的船坞走去。随着一声清晰可闻的叹息，林伍德向那美丽的船体投去一瞥。
“Your payment is already in the bank,” Ryan said with rueful humor. “You’ve no cause for concern, Mr. Linwood.” Yet, he added, though he did not say it aloud. He knew Linwood must have some inkling of the state of Eastcoast Packet’s financial health, since he and Jonathan Hale had been friends since they were young men who shared one love. Not a woman; not such dark, rich, heady pleasures as Ryan shared with young Jim Hale, but a love nonetheless.
"您的酬金早已存入银行，"瑞安带着苦涩的幽默说道，"您无需担忧，林伍德先生。"不过他在心里补充道。他清楚林伍德必定对东海岸邮船公司的财务状况有所察觉——毕竟这位老人与乔纳森·黑尔自青年时代便是挚友，曾共享过某种热爱。不是女人，也不是瑞安与年轻的吉姆·黑尔之间那种浓烈醉人的欢愉，但终究是一份深情。

The sea was a harsh and unforgiving mistress. A man either loved or hated her, no middle-ground could exist. Even Bill Ryan, who counted himself the realist, the pragmatist, could not shake off the conviction that wood and canvas and hemp wooed the sea goddess, while iron hulls, belching funnels and pounding steam engines battered her, even raped her.
大海是位严苛无情的情人。人们要么爱她，要么恨她，绝无中间立场。就连自诩现实主义者、实用主义者的比尔·瑞安，也始终坚信木料、帆布和麻绳是在向海神献殷勤，而铁制船体、喷吐浓烟的烟囱和轰鸣的蒸汽机则是在粗暴地蹂躏她，甚至强暴她。

It was a sentiment Duncan Linwood would have understood, although he might pretend to be amused. He shared Ryan’s revulsion for steam, though he would have denied it to the end. His eyes rested on the Spindrift, his mouth softened, and a tiny shake of his head both acknowledged the new ship’s beauty and her doom.
这种情绪邓肯·林伍德想必能理解，尽管他可能会装作觉得好笑。他与瑞安同样厌恶蒸汽船，只是至死都不会承认。他的目光停留在浪花号上，嘴角变得柔和，微微摇头的动作既承认了这艘新船的美，也预示了她的厄运。

So Linwood built her, breathed life into her - almost the last of her kind, obsolete before her timbers tasted the salt of the water. Was he gulled by Jon Hale’s positive talking? Or did Duncan nurse the secret hope that his old friend might be right? Could the Spindrift out-race, out-earn and outlive her ugly, steam-driven siblings? Ryan was never
于是林伍德建造了她，赋予她生命——她几乎是同类中最后的绝响，还未等木材尝到海水的咸涩就已过时。他是被乔恩·黑尔乐观的言辞蒙蔽了吗？还是邓肯心底暗自期盼老友或许是对的？浪花号能否在速度、收益和寿命上都胜过那些丑陋的蒸汽动力姊妹船？瑞安始终
sure what was in the man’s mind, but Linwood gave him a shrewd sidelong look as they fell into step, walking away from the yard office and the new hull.
无法确定那人心里究竟想什么，但当他们并肩离开船厂办公室和新船体时，林伍德向他投来一个精明的侧目。
“I’m not concerned about the pennies, Captain,” Linwood was saying in his dry tones, rich with thick Hebridean vowels. “Not when I’ve a legal contract to hold over Jon Hale’s foolish head!” He puffed out his cheeks as they walked up to the employees’ gate onto the street. “But I know he’s in a good deal more strife than any man of his age and health should be, and yon bonny ship is only half of his worries.”
“我可不在乎那几个小钱，船长。”林伍德用他那带着浓重赫布里底口音的干涩腔调说道，“尤其当我手里还攥着能扣在乔恩·黑尔那个蠢货头上的合法合同时！”他们走向通往街道的员工通道时，他鼓起了腮帮子。“但我清楚他现在的麻烦远超他这个年纪和健康状况该承受的，而那艘漂亮帆船不过是他烦心事的一半。”
“Rather less than half,” Ryan corrected. “Mr. Hale has two other wolves snapping at his heels, either of which could spell ruin for the Spindrift almost before you launch her, along with every other sailing vessel on the coast. The only good thing you can say for those two wolves is, between 'em they’re likely to put the steam packets themselves out of commission before Christmas!”
“连一半都不到。”瑞安纠正道，“黑尔先生还有两头饿狼在背后紧追不舍，随便哪头都能在浪花号下水前就让它破产——连带沿岸所有帆船都遭殃。这两头狼唯一的好处就是，估计圣诞节前它们自己就会把那些蒸汽邮轮也搞垮！”
“Aye, and good riddance to them,” Linwood said bluffly with a glare at the river, and the ugly hull of the just-launched steam screw. It wallowed in the water like a dead thing. Then he turned his back on the gray murk of the river and the orderly chaos of the shipyard, and Ryan had to step out briskly to catch up with him.
“可不是嘛，早该让它们见鬼去。”林伍德粗声说着，朝河里那艘刚下水的丑陋蒸汽螺旋桨船瞪了一眼。那船像具死尸似的在水里晃荡。他转身背对着灰蒙蒙的河面与秩序混乱的船坞，瑞安不得不加快脚步才能跟上。

They turned out of the employees’ gate and headed east along the maze of yards, factories, sheds and warehouses toward the outskirts of the town. The Linwoods lived in the big house at the far end of the high street, and Duncan was headed for home, but in a tiny street fifty yards closer to the river was a public house.
他们走出员工通道，向东穿过错综复杂的堆场、工厂、工棚和仓库，朝城镇外围走去。林伍德家住在主街尽头的大宅里，邓肯正往家走，但在离河岸五十码的小巷里有家小酒馆。

It flew both the flag of Scotland and a white ensign over a door whose lintel was so low, a tall man ducked to enter or was laid flat. The Lord of the Isles served the working men from the yards and factories near at hand and was usually packed to the doors, but at four in the afternoon the pub was almost empty. Upstairs were four bedrooms, and Ryan had left his baggage in the largest of them, over the bar. The room fronted onto the street and from the windows he could almost see the Spindrift, and could certainly see the top of her first standing mast.
这家挂着苏格兰旗帜和白色燕尾旗的酒馆门楣低矮，高个子进门都得弯腰，否则就会撞得人仰马翻。"岛主酒馆"主要招待附近船厂和工厂的工人，通常总是挤得水泄不通，但下午四点时分却几乎空无一人。楼上四间客房中，瑞安将行李搁在了酒吧上方最大的那间。房间临街而立，从窗口几乎能望见"浪花号"，至少能清楚地看见她第一根立桅的顶端。
“Aye, I’d be glad to see Jon Hale’s wolves run amok,” Linwood said dryly as he stepped into the sudden, humid warmth of the bar.
"是啊，我巴不得看乔恩·黑尔手下的狼崽子们闹翻天呢。"林伍德边说边踏进突然扑面而来的湿热酒馆，语气干巴巴的。
“You would?” Ryan followed him inside. “I meant,” he said acerbically, “steam and sail alike will soon be done for, at least as far as the coastal freight trade is concerned.”
"当真？"瑞安跟着他走进来，尖刻地补充道："我是说，蒸汽船和帆船都快完蛋了，至少沿海货运这行当是这样。"
“I know exactly what you meant.” Linwood hung his greatcoat up on the rack by the door and tugged down the sleeves of a black jacket.
"我当然明白你的意思。"林伍德将厚大衣挂在门边衣帽架上，拽了拽黑色外套的袖口。
“Then, what does it matter if old Jon Hale, bless him, wants to build a floating folly, a man’s last eccentricity?” Ryan asked. “It’s doomed, and you and I both know it, but -”
"‘那么，老乔恩·黑尔——愿上帝保佑他——想造艘华而不实的船又有什么关系呢？不过是个老人最后的任性罢了。’瑞安问道，‘这注定失败，你我心知肚明，可是——’"
“I know a good deal more than I care to about the demise of sail and steam on these coasts, Captain,” Linwood snorted. “The damned railway. Mark my words, laddie, and remember them. In ten years there’ll not be one tenth of the shipping on these coasts as there is today, and what do you think that means for the likes of me? I don’t have the resources to build clipper ships. I’m not out of the same mold as your Walter Hood and your Robert Steel.” He looked darkly at Ryan. “They’ll feel the pinch. And me?” He shook his head. “I’ll not survive, Captain Ryan … and if I had a son to fret over, I’d be a worried man indeed.”
"‘我对沿海地区帆船与蒸汽船的衰亡了解得够多了，船长，’林伍德嗤之以鼻，‘该死的铁路。记住我的话，小子，十年后这条海岸线上的船只连现在的十分之一都不会有。你觉得像我这样的人会怎样？我可没本事造快速帆船，不像你的沃尔特·胡德和罗伯特·斯蒂尔那样家大业大。’他阴沉地盯着瑞安，‘他们迟早也要吃苦头。而我？’他摇摇头，‘我撑不下去的，瑞安船长……要是我还有个儿子要操心，那才真叫愁死人。’"

But Linwood had four daughters, all of them married and three of them gone from Scotland. One was in London, one in Canada. The future of Linwood and Clough was purely Duncan’s concern since Gordon Clough and his wife died, childless, in the wreck of the Artemis back in '45. The shipyard was willed to Linwood.
但林伍德有四个女儿，全都出嫁了，其中三个已离开苏格兰——一个在伦敦，一个在加拿大。自从戈登·克拉夫夫妇在 45 年阿尔忒弥斯号海难中双双遇难（他们无嗣）后，林伍德与克拉夫造船厂的未来就全系于邓肯一人。船厂按遗嘱归了林伍德。
“It’ll be privation and hunger,” the old man was saying bitterly. “You’ll soon not set foot in any port in England or Scotland without seeing gangs of ragged men standing on street corners for want of work, and barefoot, unfed children.”
"‘等着挨饿受穷吧，’老人愤恨地说，‘要不了多久，你踏进英格兰或苏格兰任何港口，都会看见成群衣衫褴褛的闲汉站在街角找不到活计，还有光着脚丫、饿着肚皮的孩子。’"
“I’ve heard that,” Ryan agreed quietly. “It was in the Telegraph, if I remember correctly. They’re saying the same in King’s Lynn. Forty-five thousand seamen will soon be out of work, when the railway has snatched their trade right out from under them.”
"‘我也听说了，’瑞安轻声附和道，‘如果没记错的话，《电讯报》登过这消息。金斯林那边也传着同样的话。等铁路把他们的生意全抢走，四万五千名海员很快就要失业了。’"

The Lord of the Isles was quiet, warm, with a mound of coal blazing in the black-lead hearth. The tapbar smelt of beeswax; jars of pickles, onions and eggs stood ranked along the back, while from the kitchen came the aroma of baking bread and from the cellar, the pungent smell of hops. Ryan’s insides gave a growl of hunger, reminding him of how long it was since he eaten, but for the moment he was content to stand aside and let Linwood buy him a glass of the best malt in the house.
岛主酒馆里安静而温暖，包铅壁炉里煤块烧得正旺。吧台散发着蜂蜡的气味，后排架子上整齐排列着泡菜、洋葱和鸡蛋的罐子，厨房飘来烤面包的香气，地窖则渗出啤酒花的浓烈气味。瑞安的肚子饿得咕咕作响，提醒他已经很久没吃东西了，但他此刻更愿意站在一旁，等着林伍德给他买一杯店里最好的麦芽威士忌。
“Ye’ll be returning to Scarborough today,” Linwood guessed. His eyes were foxy, bright in the light of fire and gaslamps. He frowned thoughtfully at Ryan as he searched a pocket for coins.
"‘你今天要回斯卡伯勒吧，’林伍德猜测道。他的眼睛像狐狸般机敏，在炉火与煤气灯的映照下闪闪发亮。他一边在口袋里找硬币，一边若有所思地对着瑞安皱起眉头。"
“I’ll be on the night train back to Edinburgh,” Ryan said easily, following Linwood to the bar. A little terrier of a man was polishing glasses there, and knew exactly what Linwood would want without
"‘我会坐夜班火车回爱丁堡，’瑞安轻松地说着，跟着林伍德走向吧台。一个矮个子男人正在那里擦玻璃杯，还没等林伍德开口就知道他要什么。"

Duncan saying a word. Ryan accepted a glass, tried the contents and went on, voice a little hoarse with the strong spirit, “The Mascot ships out on the morning tide, headed south … have you a message for Mr. Hale?”
邓肯说了句话。瑞安接过酒杯，尝了尝里面的烈酒，声音因酒劲而略显嘶哑："吉祥物号明早涨潮时启航南下...您有口信要捎给黑尔先生吗？"
“Junior or Senior?” Linwood said aridly.
"老黑尔还是小黑尔？"林伍德干巴巴地问。
“Either one.” Ryan took another sip. “Sadly, I think you’ll be doing business with young Jim before much longer.”
"都行。"瑞安又抿了一口酒，"可惜啊，我看要不了多久您就得跟年轻的吉姆打交道了。"
“So I hear, and the world will be poorer for the loss of Jon Hale.” Linwood drained his glass in one quick swig, which was an insult to so fine a whisky. “Well, tell him the Spindrift will launch in August, not a day past the contract, and if you’ll take the responsibility upon yourself to approve of the hawsers, Captain Ryan, we’ll have her rigged by July at latest.”
"我也听说了，乔恩·黑尔的离世会是这个世界的损失。"林伍德将杯中威士忌一饮而尽，这般牛饮实在糟蹋了上等佳酿。"好吧，转告他浪花号八月准时下水，绝不延误合约期限。瑞安船长，若您肯亲自负责缆绳验收，我们最迟七月就能完成索具装配。"

The hawsers were of Scandinavian manufacture rather than English, and Linwood adhered strictly to the contract he was so fond of quoting. The new cables from Trondheim were probably superior to those originally promised, but an Eastcoast Packet officer must see them with his own eyes and approve their use, though they came recommended by Linwood and Clough. Ryan did not take the responsibility lightly; those damned hawsers were the reason for his being here.
这些缆绳产自斯堪的纳维亚而非英格兰，林伍德严格遵循着他总爱挂在嘴边的合同条款。特隆赫姆运来的新缆绳或许比原先承诺的更为优质，但东海岸邮船公司的官员必须亲自验看才能批准使用——尽管它们是由林伍德与克拉夫造船厂担保推荐的。瑞安不敢轻忽这份责任；正是这些该死的缆绳让他专程跑这一趟。
“You’ve already had my signature on the matter, Mr. Linwood,” he said affably. “And as to your payment … well, I don’t think you need to be concerned.”
"您已经拿到我的签名了，林伍德先生，"他和气地说道，"至于您的款项……我想不必多虑。"
“Not yet,” Linwood added pointedly. His eyes looked piercingly into Ryan’s, needling for more. “Och, don’t try to pretend. I know Jon’s having his troubles. He’s got the damned railway on the one hand and the wreckers on the other. You think I’m blind? I read the same newspapers.”
"还没完呢，"林伍德尖锐地补充道，目光如锥子般刺向瑞安，试图榨出更多信息。"得了，别装糊涂。我知道乔恩最近焦头烂额——铁路公司像头饿狼，拆船工又像条疯狗。你以为我眼瞎？大家看的都是同一份报纸。"
“No, sir, not at all.” Ryan permitted a faint smile. “The wreckers are the second of the two wolves I mentioned, snapping at Hale’s heels.” His brows knitted into a deep frown. “I think the east coast wreckers are also nearing the end of their time. See it from their perspective for a moment. When the railway wreaks doom on the coastal trade, the wreckers will be out of business too, they’ll go the way of the smugglers fifty years ago. This is their last hurrah, and by God, they’ll make the most of it.”
"不，先生，绝无此意。"瑞安露出浅笑，"拆船工正是我提到的两头恶狼之一，正死死咬着黑尔的脚后跟。"他眉头拧成深结，"要我说，东海岸那些拆船工也快走到头了。试着站在他们的角度想想——等铁路彻底摧毁沿海贸易那天，他们就会像五十年前的走私犯那样销声匿迹。眼下不过是回光返照罢了，老天作证，他们定会拼个鱼死网破。"
“All of which may come down to the only decent word to be said for the railway.” Linwood took a brimmed glass to the window and looked through tiny glass panes toward the yard where he had built hulls since he came in from the islands. Ryan knew his story, had learn-
“这一切或许都归结为对铁路唯一能说的好话。”林伍德端着满溢的酒杯走到窗前，透过小块玻璃窗格望向那个自他从群岛归来后就开始建造船体的院子。瑞安知道他的故事，是从认识林伍德二十多年、对他心怀敬重的人们那里辗转听来的。
ed it at second- and third-hand from men who had known Linwood for twenty years and more, and respected him. Linwood’s lifetime business partner, Gordon Clough, had died more than fifteen years before, when the threat which steam held over sail still seemed negligible, harmless as a squall down over the horizon.
林伍德的终身商业伙伴戈登·克拉夫已在十五年前去世，那时蒸汽机对帆船的威胁还显得微不足道，就像远在地平线外的一场小风暴。但很快，从靠中国飞剪船发家的大公司，到规模小得多的林伍德与克拉夫造船厂，每家船厂都不得不添置设备来安装锅炉和螺旋桨，否则就会被无情的进步浪潮淘汰。即便如此，沿海货运贸易仍被铁路逼上了绝路。

But soon every shipyard from the big companies whose fortunes were built on the China clippers right down to the much more modest Linwood and Clough must tool-up to install boilers and screws, else succumb to the merciless march of progress, and even then the coastal freight trade was doomed by the railway. Ryan doubted if Linwood had the resources, much less the inclination, to build steel and steam monsters, leviathans for the North Atlantic, the New York run. Little ships like the Spindrift were his life and had long been his fortune. The time was at hand, Ryan thought, when retreat was the better part of valor.
瑞安怀疑林伍德既没有资源，更缺乏意愿去建造那些钢铁与蒸汽的庞然大物——那些驰骋北大西洋、往返纽约的巨轮。像"浪花号"这样的小船才是他的生命，也长久以来是他的财富所在。瑞安心想，现在到了急流勇退更为明智的时刻。

And what could possible be in store for the packet companies, cen-tury-old, family-owned freight-shipping businesses like Eastcoast? For a moment Ryan considered Jim Hale’s uncertain inheritance, and he sighed. Linwood heard the small expression of regret and looked up at him, eyes shrewd now. Ryan answered with an eloquent shrug.
而那些有着百年历史的家族货运公司，比如东海岸航运，又将面临怎样的命运？瑞安短暂地思索起吉姆·黑尔那未卜的继承权，不由得叹了口气。林伍德听到这声轻叹，抬起那双此刻显得格外精明的眼睛望向他。瑞安用一个意味深长的耸肩作为回应。
“I’m just thinking of young Jim Hale,” he admitted. “The lad has ten years of his life invested in Eastcoast, and I doubt he’ll be fairly compensated for his efforts. I wouldn’t give a snap of the fingers for Eastcoast in the next five years, but it’s all Jim has. The freight trade, and the Spindrift, for what she’s worth.”
"我是在想年轻的吉姆·黑尔，"他坦言道。"那小伙子在东海岸邮船公司耗费了十年光阴，我怀疑他的付出能否得到公平回报。要我说，未来五年东海岸根本不值一提——但这就是吉姆的全部了。货运生意，还有那艘浪花号，就它现在那点价值。"
“Well, don’t be too sure now,” Duncan Linwood said wisely. “You of all men should know there’s a deal more to the trade than running grain and coal from Norwich to King’s Lynn. Do you know, has Jim looked into the trade in wine, butter and timber from the Continent?” Bushy silver brows arched, creasing Linwood’s forehead. “Aye, tell him from me to look to overseas business if he wants to keep Eastcoast Packet on the water. The steam screws burn a deal too much coal to make the long runs profitable. Mark my words, there’ll be tea-clippers on the China run ten years after I’m in the ground, Captain Ryan. It’s not all steam, not yet, by a long chalk.”
"哎，话别说得太满，"邓肯·林伍德睿智地说道。"在所有人里，你最该明白这行当远不止是从诺里奇往金斯林运谷物煤炭。我问你，吉姆可曾考察过从欧洲大陆进口葡萄酒、黄油和木材的生意？"他浓密的银白色眉毛高高扬起，在额头上挤出几道皱纹。"听着，替我转告他，要想让东海岸邮船公司继续航行，就得把目光投向海外贸易。那些蒸汽明轮船烧煤太凶，跑长途根本不划算。记住我的话，瑞安船长，等我入土十年后，中国航线上照样会有运茶快船。蒸汽时代还没完全到来，还早着呢。"

Surprised, Ryan tilted his head at Linwood. “That’s sound advice, sir, and thank you. I’ll tell him everything you’ve said. I don’t know where Jim’s ambitions lie, but he’s far from dull or foolish.”
瑞安惊讶地朝林伍德侧了侧头。"这是金玉良言，先生，多谢您。我会把您的话原原本本转告他。虽然不清楚吉姆的志向所在，但他绝不是个愚钝之人。"
“You’ve a fondness for the lad,” Linwood observed thoughtfully.
"你倒是很疼惜这小伙子，"林伍德若有所思地评价道。
An odd prickle crept down Ryan’s spine, like an ice-cold spider.
一阵异样的刺痛顺着瑞安的脊背爬下，像只冰凉的蜘蛛。

What did Linwood know, what had he heard? Nothing! They had been careful to the point of paranoia. Scarborough was an old-fashioned town, not the place where two men wanted to get caught in an intimate scene. Ryan’s face felt like a wooden mask as he said, “Jim Hale’s a good lad and I’ve believed for some time, he deserves better than he’s getting. I’ve a fondness for him. I served with scores like him in the Navy. Salt of the earth, Mr. Linwood.” Then he held his breath and waited.
林伍德知道什么，又听到了什么？什么都没有！他们谨慎得近乎偏执。斯卡伯勒是个守旧的小镇，绝不是两个男人愿意被人撞见亲密场景的地方。瑞安的脸像戴了木面具般僵硬，他说道："吉姆·黑尔是个好小伙，我早就觉得他该得到更好的对待。我很喜欢他。在海军服役时我遇到过不少他这样的好兵，都是些淳朴实在的人，林伍德先生。"说完他屏住呼吸等待着。

He need not have been concerned. “As you say. And tell him what I said of the Continental trade. It’s sound advice, if he’s a mind to make a last-ditch stand,” Linwood said sourly. “Yon schooner’ll take on the North Atlantic for him. The Spindrift is the finest hull out of my yard in thirty years, and there’s the pity of it. There’s a lifetime of knowing invested in every curve and plane of her, every board and timber. If she’d been built back in the '30’s …” He shook his head. “Progress, devil take it. And devil take the steam screws, the ‘tin scows’ as they call 'em, and railway alike.” He emptied the glass in one swig and color bloomed in his cheeks.
他的担心实属多余。"如你所言。记得把我关于大陆贸易的建议转告他。若他打算背水一战，这可是金玉良言。"林伍德酸溜溜地说，"那艘纵帆船能帮他对抗北大西洋。浪花号是我船坞三十年来最出色的船体，可惜生不逢时啊。她每道曲线、每块甲板都凝聚着我毕生所学。要是这船造在三十年代......"他摇摇头，"去他妈的进步。让那些蒸汽螺旋桨见鬼去吧，还有他们所谓的'铁皮驳船'，连铁路也该下地狱。"他将杯中酒一饮而尽，脸颊顿时泛起红晕。

Ryan lifted his own glass. “Well said. I believe I’ll drink on that, Mr. Linwood.”
瑞安举起自己的酒杯："说得好。林伍德先生，我想为这句话干一杯。"
“I thought ye might.” Linwood touched the rim of Ryan’s glass with his own, though it was empty now. “Well, I must away home, Captain. Doubtless we’ll meet again, since old Jon’s taken to his bed and the boy is bound to the mast of the sinking ship and doesn’t dare turn his back on it!”
“我猜你会的。”林伍德将自己的空杯沿与瑞安的酒杯轻轻相碰。“该回家了，船长。咱们肯定还会再见——老乔恩已经卧床不起，那小子又把自己绑在沉船的桅杆上不敢转身！”
“You believe Eastcoast is in such straits already?” Ryan was taken aback. “Forgive me. I’ve command of an Eastcoast vessel but Jon Hale doesn’t show me his account books.”
“你觉得东海岸已经到这步田地了？”瑞安显得很吃惊。“恕我直言，我虽指挥东海岸的船，可乔恩·黑尔从没让我看过账本。”

The empty glass slapped down on the polished tapbar and Linwood angled a glare at Ryan that might have been a warning. “The truth, Captain? I believe Jon’s as good as dead in the water right now, as much as it pains me to say it, and if he had the sense he was born with, he’d know it himself. He’d sell up and get out, while he still owns the roof he lives under.”
空酒杯砰地砸在锃亮的吧台上，林伍德斜睨着瑞安的眼神里带着警告。“实话吗，船长？要我说句难听的，乔恩现在就跟搁浅的船没两样。他要是还有半点天生的理智，就该趁房产还在自己名下赶紧变卖家当脱身。”
“A harsh judgment,” Ryan observed.
“这话说得刻薄。”瑞安评价道。
“And accurate.” Linwood leaned back on the bar and frowned deeply at Ryan. “Jon’s old, he can afford to indulge an old man’s fantasy, but you’re still young, Captain. If you haven’t woken up to the truth, it’s time you did. Steam already commands the Atlantic. The Great Britain, the Leviathan and a dozen others took her surrender dec-
"而且准确无误。"林伍德向后靠在吧台上，对着瑞安深深皱起眉头。"乔恩老了，他可以沉溺于老人的幻想，但你还年轻，船长。如果你还没认清现实，现在该清醒了。蒸汽船早已主宰了大西洋。大不列颠号、利维坦号还有其他十几艘船，早在几十年前就迫使帆船俯首称臣——"
ades ago. The coastal freight trade is one of the only places ships under sail still prosper - and the tea routes, where it’ll be decades yet before steamers get to be so profitable, even the China clippers’ll have to be retired.”
沿海货运贸易是仅存几处帆船还能兴旺的领域——还有茶叶航线，蒸汽船要再过几十年才能在那里盈利，就连中国飞剪船也终将退役。

He waggled a bony finger under Ryan’s nose. “Now, I know full well, Bill Ryan, you once held a Naval commission. You had command of your own vessel. I also know you’ve come down so low in the world, you’re skippering a merchant schooner, though it’s no business of mine how you came to grief, and I’ll not pry into your affairs.” He paused, eyes twinkling with an almost reluctant humor. “Still, if the scuttlebutt I hear is any more than idle bilgewater, you were damned lucky to get a merchant command, and you doubtless feel indebted to old Hale for putting you back on a deck, any deck.” His silver head shook minutely, warning or regret. “But don’t you go down with Eastcoast, Captain. When Eastcoast Packet runs aground with all the rest of them, look to yourself. It’s no more than the same sound advice I’d give to any lad on the coast this year.”
他将瘦骨嶙峋的手指在瑞安鼻子底下晃了晃。"比尔·瑞安，我清楚得很，你曾经拥有海军委任状，指挥过自己的军舰。我也知道你如今落魄到在商船队当纵帆船船长的地步——虽然你遭遇了什么不关我的事，我也不想打探。"他顿了顿，眼中闪烁着近乎不情愿的幽默光芒。"不过，要是我听到的闲话不全是无稽之谈，你能当上商船船长真是走了狗屎运，肯定对黑尔老头感恩戴德，毕竟他让你重新踏上了甲板——随便什么船的甲板都行。"他微微摇晃着银白的脑袋，不知是警告还是惋惜。"但别跟着东海岸邮船公司一起沉没，船长。等东海岸和其他公司一样搁浅时，多为自己想想。这不过是我今年给沿岸每个小伙子同样的忠告。"
“Well taken, sir,” Ryan said reasonably, impressed by Linwood’s plain speaking, though the old man’s words held nothing of surprise. “I’ll bid you good day,” he offered as Linwood bustled to the door and shrugged back into his coat. He handed the old man his muffler. “They say there’s a storm coming, but you should get home before it breaks. Which is more than I can say for myself.”
"谨记教诲，先生。"瑞安通情达理地说，虽然老人这番话毫无新意，但他直率的言辞还是令人印象深刻。当林伍德匆匆走向门口重新披上外套时，他致意道："祝您日安。"他递给老人围巾。"听说暴风雨要来了，但您还能在天气变坏前赶回家。这点我可比不上您。"

On the threshold, collar up, muffler tight around his chin, hands buried in pockets, Linwood turned back with a grim expression. “A storm? It’s wreckers’ weather. Mind yourself, Bill Ryan.”
林伍德立在门槛处，衣领竖起，围巾紧裹下巴，双手深插在口袋里，阴沉着脸回头道："暴风雨？这可是拆船贼的好天气。自己当心点，比尔·瑞安。"

He was gone with that, leaving Ryan on the pub’s doorstep in the sharp, wet river wind, frowning as he mulled over the advice. Linwood had a lifetime of experience, not merely in ships, the sea and shipbuilding, but in business and the ways of men; and he was rarely wrong about any of those.
他说完便离开了，将瑞安独自留在酒馆门口，任湿冷的河风扑面而来。瑞安皱眉思索着这番忠告。林伍德毕生阅历丰富，不仅精通船舶、航海与造船，更深谙商道与人情世故；而他对这些事的判断鲜有差错。

The railway did indeed spell the end of coastal shipping just as the fleets of steamers being launched every year now sounded the death knell for sail; and both those forces of progress rendered the Spindrift just an old man’s dream. Soon enough the wreckers who lived on the struggling freight companies like fleas on a harness horse would also be finished.
铁路确实预示着沿海航运的终结，正如如今每年下水的蒸汽船队正为帆船敲响丧钟；这两股进步的力量使得"浪花号"不过成了老水手的痴梦。很快，那些像虱子般依附在艰难求生的货运公司上的拆船贼们，也将走到尽头。

Little wonder, Ryan thought bitterly, they were busier now than ever, making what hay they could while the sun shone through this last season. The terrier-like little man who tended the bar drifted closer
难怪他们现在比以往更忙碌，瑞安苦涩地想，趁着这最后时节的阳光抓紧敛财。那个像猎犬般精瘦的酒保正悄悄凑近
with a bottle, and Ryan held out his glass. A rising wind began to batter at the window and the hearth beckoned him.
瑞安举起酒杯时，窗外渐起的风开始拍打玻璃，壁炉的火光正召唤着他。

He settled in a leather chair in the corner, listening to the first sounds of a gale in the chimney. The clock on the mantelpiece read a quarter before five and he began to seriously consider staying overnight. His bag was upstairs in a comfortable room and he could watch the storm break over Dumbarton and fly on, headed for the Irish ports. But he was expected back in Scarborough aboard the Mascot, and his absence would only cause Jim to fret. He might be the Mascot’s only reason for stopping in Scarborough; without him, she could sail by, and Jim would fret all the more.
他在角落的皮椅里坐下，听着烟囱里传来暴风的第一声呜咽。壁炉架上的时钟指向四点三刻，他开始认真考虑在此过夜。行李就放在楼上舒适的房间，他可以看着风暴席卷邓巴顿后继续前行，驶向爱尔兰港口。但吉祥物号上的吉姆还在斯卡伯勒等着他回去，他的缺席只会让那老实人坐立不安。或许他正是吉祥物号停靠斯卡伯勒的唯一理由——若没有他，船会径直驶过，吉姆更要急得团团转了。

Sporadic rain flurried against the window glass and Ryan gritted his teeth. At least he had time to get a decent meal before he made his way back to the station … the train back into Glasgow, the late express to Edinburgh and a cab to the docks. And he could not keep the thought out of his mind: it was a shame the trains did not turn south, and run all the way through to York on the same ‘line,’ the same ‘gauge.’ If the train had run through to York, Bill Ryan would have been on it, and be damned to catching a ride on the Mascot.
零星的雨点急促地敲打着窗玻璃，瑞安咬紧牙关。至少赶回车站前还能吃顿像样的饭……乘火车返回格拉斯哥，搭末班快车去爱丁堡，再雇辆马车到码头。有个念头始终挥之不去：可惜铁路不向南延伸，不能用同一条轨道、同一种轨距直达约克。若真有这样的列车，比尔·瑞安定会跳上去，谁还管什么吉祥物号。

He was just sixteen years old when the Great Western Railway became the fascination of the whole country. Prince Albert had traveled by train from London to Bristol, and the newspapers reported speeds of 65 mph between Paddington and Slough. The event set a milestone and if the lore could be believed, Isambard Kingdom Brunel himself, the great engineer, was on the footplate for the whole journey. The reminiscence made Ryan smile. When he read the news in a letter from his father, he was in the Canary Islands, already six months at sea; the year was 1845.
大西方铁路成为举国焦点那年，他才十六岁。阿尔伯特亲王乘火车从伦敦前往布里斯托，报纸报道帕丁顿到斯劳区间时速达六十五英里。这场盛事树立了里程碑，传说那位伟大的工程师伊桑巴德·金德姆·布鲁内尔全程都站在机车踏板上。回忆让瑞安露出微笑。1845 年，当他在金丝雀群岛收到父亲来信读到这则新闻时，已在海上漂泊了六个月。

Fifteen years sped by in Ryan’s life like as many months and now the network of railways connected almost everywhere to almost everywhere. As soon as the lines were finished - and the day was not far in the future - Bill Ryan, for one, would not be on a coastal packet, butting his way through the treacherous North Sea from Glasgow to Scarborough. Freight and passengers would be safer aboard the trains, they would travel faster and enjoy infinitely more comfort.
十五载光阴在瑞安的生命里飞逝如十五个月，如今铁路网络已将几乎每个角落彼此相连。只要铁路全线贯通——这日子已为期不远——像比尔·瑞安这样的人就再不必乘坐沿海邮轮，在险恶的北海中从格拉斯哥颠簸至斯卡伯勒。货物与乘客在火车上会更安全，行程更迅捷，舒适度更是天壤之别。

If the likes of himself and Jonathan Hale dreamed on about the ‘romance of sail,’ it was because they chose to forget the danger, the inconvenience and the damned discomfort. Ryan was not the kind of man to fool himself. He first went to sea soon after his fifteenth birthday and he was still at sea as he contemplated the approach of his thirty-third.
若说他与乔纳森·黑尔这类人仍对"帆船的浪漫"心存幻想，那不过是他们刻意忽略了其中的危险、不便与该死的煎熬。瑞安不是自欺欺人那类。他十五岁生日后不久便初次出海，如今临近三十三岁仍漂泊在海上。

Ships were what he knew; the sea was his trade, his livelihood, and he was caught in the same snare as the tens of thousands of the country’s other seamen. The vast probability was, he would soon be unemployed with half his life ahead of him, and like most of the merchant seamen in Scarborough and King’s Lynn and Norwich, he could turn his hand to no other trade. The future seemed bleak, if he allowed himself to look that way. Ryan rarely permitted himself the luxury of pessimism.
船只就是他的全部；海洋是他的行当，他的生计，他与国内数万水手同样陷在这张罗网中。极有可能他很快就会失业，而人生还有半程未走。像斯卡伯勒、金斯林和诺里奇大多数商船水手一样，他别无长技可谋生路。若放任自己这般思量，前景实在黯淡。但瑞安极少纵容自己沉溺于悲观情绪。

The bell over the door jingled and a draught of cold, rain-wet air blustered into the pub around the coattails of another patron. Ryan did not look up from the hearth until he heard his name, and recognized the man’s voice.
门楣铜铃叮当作响，裹挟着雨水的冷风随着另一位顾客的衣摆灌进酒馆。瑞安直到听见有人唤他名字，认出那声音，才从炉火前抬起头来。
“Captain - damn, Billy Ryan, I knew it was you! I saw you in the street, saw you come in here. I had an errand to run, then I came straight here. What brings you up to Scotland, old son?”
"船长——见鬼，比利·瑞安，我就知道是你！我在街上看见你了，看着你走进这里。我刚办完事就立刻赶过来了。什么风把你吹到苏格兰来了，老伙计？"

Joel Tremayne? Ryan hardly believed his ears. He set down his glass and turned from the hearth, still disbelieving as he saw the man. A hand’s-span taller than Ryan, as yellow-blond as Ryan was dark, Tremayne was three years older, wind-tanned and sun-creased, with the tough hands and wide shoulders of a man who had worked hard all his life.
乔尔·特里梅因？瑞安几乎不敢相信自己的耳朵。他放下酒杯从壁炉边转过身，看到那人时仍觉得难以置信。特里梅因比瑞安高出半掌，金发如麦浪与瑞安的黑发形成鲜明对比，年长三岁的他皮肤被海风磨砺出古铜色，阳光在他眼角刻下细纹，那双粗糙的大手和宽阔的肩膀诉说着终生劳作的痕迹。
“What the hell brings you to Scotland? Damn! Joel, you’re looking good, but you’re the last man in the world I’d think to see here!” Ryan was out of the chair as he spoke, and took Tremayne’s cold hands.
"你他妈的怎么跑来苏格兰了？该死！乔尔，你气色不错，可我做梦都没想到会在这儿见到你！"瑞安边说边从椅子上跳起来，握住了特里梅因冰凉的双手。
“Business brings me here.” Tremayne dragged him into a bearhug and slapped his back painfully before he would let Ryan go. “I’ve got a sloop out of the water in McBride’s yard for a thorough refit.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of Linwood and Clough, and beyond.
"生意上的事。"特里梅因一把将他拽进熊抱，在他背上重重拍了几下才松开，"我有艘单桅帆船在麦克布赖德造船厂大修。"他翘起拇指朝肩后林伍德与克拉夫造船厂的方向指了指，"就在那边。"

No such vessel was on the slips in the yards of Linwood’s neighbors, but five other modest facilities separated L&C from the much bigger big yard where a China clipper was being rigged in preparation for launch. “Who’re you sailing for these days?” Ryan wanted to know as Tremayne fronted up to the bar and gestured for a pint of the house bitter.
林伍德家附近的船坞里并没有这样一艘船在建，但五家规模不大的造船厂将 L&C 公司与那个正在为中国快速帆船装配索具准备下水的大型船场隔开。"你最近在为谁跑船？"瑞安问道，这时特里梅因走到吧台前，示意要一品脱本店特酿苦啤酒。

The man had not bothered to take off his coat and was obviously staying only a moment. “I sail for myself, sailing master and owner, and it’s a good feeling.” Tremayne angled a glance at Ryan. “And you? I did worry for you,” he added quietly, “but I lost track of you after Southampton.”
那人连外套都没脱，显然只是短暂停留。"我为自己跑船，既是船长又是船主，这感觉不错。"特里梅因斜睨了瑞安一眼。"你呢？我确实担心过你，"他轻声补充道，"但自从南安普顿之后就没了你的消息。"

Ryan nodded roughly southeast. “I did all right, Joel. I found a berth with Eastcoast Packet. I’ve got the Adelaide this year. She’s a schooner, an old one but a good one.”
瑞安朝东南方向粗鲁地点了点头。"我混得还行，乔尔。在东海岸邮船公司找了个差事。今年我管阿德莱德号。是艘纵帆船，老家伙了但很可靠。"
“Eastcoast … coastal freight, is it?” Tremayne wondered with a disquieting shrewdness as he sampled the house’s dark ale.
"东海岸...跑沿海货运的？"特里梅因啜饮着店里的黑啤酒，带着令人不安的精明问道。
“Not always. Scandinavia, the islands, Scotland, Ireland and home,” Ryan said with a spurious indifference. “It’s … a challenge.”
“也不总是。斯堪的纳维亚、群岛、苏格兰、爱尔兰，还有家乡，”瑞安故作漫不经心地说，“这……是个挑战。”
“Hunting down your own cargoes as you go and tying up in your home port when luck permits, I imagine it is.” Tremayne set down the tankard and blotted froth from his upper lip. He regarded Ryan thoughtfully. “How long’s it been, Billy?”
“一边航行一边追查自己的货物，运气好的时候还能在母港停靠，我猜确实不容易。”特里梅因放下啤酒杯，抹去上唇的泡沫。他若有所思地打量着瑞安，“多久了，比利？”
“Two years, is it?” Ryan said easily. In fact, it was six months longer. Time had a tendency to race like a full Atlantic gale when a man was fighting to survive.
“两年了吧？”瑞安轻描淡写地说。实际上还要再多六个月。当一个人挣扎求生时，时间就像大西洋的狂风般飞逝。

He leaned one elbow on the bar and looked up into Joel Tremayne’s sun-browned face. Too handsome for his own good, was Joel. And he knew it. Squinting against the sun had tanned-in a set of white lines like fans of permanent creases around his pale blue eyes, and the effect only improved his looks. He was still in fighting trim, if Ryan was any judge; the wounds in his right shoulder would have healed away to thin, silvery lines. Tremayne looked better out of the uniform - and he knew that, too. He was well-dressed, with a heavy gold pocket watch and three thick gold rings among his fingers; Ryan thought he detected the faint aroma of money, like a fine cologne.
他将手肘支在吧台上，抬头望向乔尔·特里梅因那张晒成古铜色的脸。乔尔长得太过俊俏，他自己也心知肚明。常年眯眼抵挡阳光的习性，在他浅蓝色眼睛周围烙下了扇形白色细纹，反倒更添魅力。以瑞安的眼光来看，他仍保持着战斗体型——右肩的伤口想必已愈合成几道银亮的细痕。不穿制服的特里梅因更显风采，这点他也清楚。他衣着考究，戴着沉甸甸的金怀表，指间套着三枚粗金戒指；瑞安仿佛嗅到了若有似无的金钱气息，如同上等古龙水般萦绕。

They had been regarding one another in silence for almost a minute, while the barman polished glasses and sorted bottles, when Tremayne said quietly, “You’re too good for this shit, Billy.”
他们沉默地对视了近一分钟，酒保擦拭着玻璃杯整理酒瓶的当口，特里梅因轻声说道："比利，你值得更好的。"

Ryan looked away. “Easy to say it, Joel. Now let’s see you convince an owner.” He felt the old anger rise, hot and clenched in his middle, and choked it down. “I was lucky to get any command. Jonathan Hale took a gamble on me, and I’ll not forget it.”
瑞安别过脸去。"说得轻巧，乔尔。有本事你去说服船东试试。"他感到那股熟悉的怒火又在胸中翻腾，便强压了下去。"能当上船长已是万幸。乔纳森·黑尔在我身上押了注，这份情我不会忘。"
“Hale?” Tremayne echoed musingly. “I should know that name, now. I’ve heard it, and recently.”
"黑尔？"特里梅因若有所思地重复道，"这名字我该知道的。最近就听人提起过。"
“Probably around here.” Ryan nodded in the direction of Linwood and Clough. “You might have heard the words ‘Hale’s Folly.’ Which is a damned cruel name for a ‘bonny wee ship,’ as Duncan Linwood calls her.”
"八成是在这附近。"瑞安朝林伍德与克拉夫造船厂的方向扬了扬下巴，"你可能听过'黑尔的蠢货'这种混账话——虽然邓肯·林伍德管那艘船叫'漂亮的小美人儿'。"
“The schooner with one mast up -?” Tremayne was impressed. “Yes, I’ve heard the name. I’ve also heard men saying the Spindrift will be the fastest schooner on the water. True?”
“那艘竖起一根桅杆的纵帆船——？”特里梅因露出赞叹的神色，“没错，我听过这名字。还听人说浪花号会是海上最快的纵帆船。当真？”

Ryan pushed away from the bar. “Finish your ale, come and judge for yourself. I’m here on Eastcoast’s business, as it happens.”
瑞安从吧台边直起身子。“喝完你的啤酒，亲自去评判吧。正巧，我这次来是为东海岸公司办事。”

He lifted his coat from the rack as Tremayne drained his glass. A few pennies rattled on the bar, and Ryan was ahead of him as they stepped out of the pub. The rain had stopped and the wind was gusting powerfully now. It caught at Ryan’s coat, tugged at him, and if he looked into the northeast he saw the leading edge of something big and dark, poised in the sky like an avenging angel. Though the day was gray as the side of a battleship, the air smelt cleaner and the river mist was gone.
当特里梅因饮尽杯中酒时，瑞安已从衣帽架上取下外套。几枚便士叮当落在吧台上，待他们走出酒馆时，瑞安已领先半步。雨停了，此刻狂风大作，掀动着瑞安的外套拉扯着他。若向东北方望去，能看到天际悬着大片黑压压的云团，犹如复仇天使般蓄势待发。尽管天色灰暗如战舰侧舷，空气却清新了许多，河上的雾气也已消散。
“What are you going to do?” Tremayne wanted to know as they swung down the narrow street toward the river.
“你打算做什么？”当他们拐进通往河边的狭窄街道时，特里梅因问道。
"When …? Ryan prompted, hands deep in pockets, eyes still on the sky.
"什么时候...？瑞安追问道，双手深深插在口袋里，眼睛仍望着天空。"
“When the schooner Adelaide is sold off for firewood, and like every other merchant seaman in port you’re counting the farthings left in your pocket and wondering if you can afford a pint of beer and still eat tonight,” Tremayne said bluntly. “Christ, Billy! What’s it going to be? Are you going to sell your soul to the Army? Get out there to Egypt, get a spade in your hand and help dig a bloody great ditch through the desert at Suez? Or will you get a job on the railway, laying tracks and digging tunnels?”
"‘等到纵帆船阿德莱德号被当柴火卖掉，你和港口其他商船水手一样数着口袋里剩下的几个铜板，琢磨今晚能不能既喝杯啤酒又不饿肚子的时候，’特里梅因直截了当地说，‘老天，比利！你到底要怎样？要把灵魂卖给陆军吗？去埃及抡铁锹，帮着在苏伊士沙漠里挖那条见鬼的大运河？还是去铁路上干活，铺铁轨挖隧道？’"
“I’ve thought about it,” Ryan admitted between clenched teeth. “And I’ve thought about the Army. Every man has this year. They’ll shove any fit, strong body into a uniform. In the last decade our troops have fought on almost every continent in the world. India, China, Africa. We’re enjoying a few years of peace now only because the British Army is stationed en masse in - how many countries? Jesus God! How many fronts does this government think we can fight on, all at once? You can only ask yourself where the next war will break out, and who we’ll be fighting.”
"‘我考虑过，’瑞安咬着牙承认，‘也考虑过参军。今年谁没想过？但凡身强力壮的都被他们塞进军装。过去十年咱们的军队几乎打遍全世界——印度、中国、非洲。现在能过几年太平日子，不过是因为英国陆军正大规模驻扎在——多少个国家来着？天杀的！政府以为我们能同时在多少条战线开战？你只能自问下一场战争会在哪儿爆发，我们又该去打谁。’"

Tremayne angled a glance at him. “That’s how you build an empire, and hold onto it. Read a few pages of Caesar. It was no damned different twenty centuries ago.” He paused, brow creasing slightly. “A shilling a day, Billy, is that it? Spill your own blood, wade in your friends’ guts, come home maimed. Is this all you think you’re worth?”
特里梅因斜睨他一眼。‘帝国就是这么打下来又攥住的。去读几页凯撒传，两千年前根本没两样。’他顿了顿，眉头微蹙，‘一天一先令，比利，就为这个？流自己的血，踩着战友的肠子，缺胳膊少腿地回来。你就这点出息？’
“Do you want to say what you mean?” Ryan heard the edge in his own voice, felt his lips compress. The anger was too close to the surface and he struggled to smother it. “There isn’t a seaman in England who hasn’t thought about taking the Queen’s shilling or tunnel-digging for
"你难道就不能有话直说？"瑞安听出自己声音里的锋芒，感觉到双唇紧抿。怒火几乎要喷薄而出，他竭力将其压制。"英格兰没有哪个水手不曾动过为女王效力的念头，或是去铁路上挖隧道——"
the railway - a lot of them have already done it, and don’t imagine the decision doesn’t take courage! More courage than I’ve been able to find.” He gave Tremayne a hard look. “Make your point, Joel, or drop it. I’ll buy you a whisky and we can talk over better times.”
他们中不少人已经这么干了，别以为做这个决定不需要勇气！比我能鼓起的勇气还要多。"他冷冷地瞥了特里梅因一眼。"乔尔，有话直说，要么就到此为止。我请你喝威士忌，咱们聊聊往日的好时光。

They were on the street above the river now, listening to the dis-tance-muffled rasp and clatter of tools from Linwood and Clough. The wind caught at Tremayne’s shock of yellow hair as he turned toward Ryan and looked him up and down as if he were a commodity at market.
此刻他们站在临河的街道上，远处林伍德与克拉夫造船厂传来的工具摩擦声与敲打声被距离模糊了。当特里梅因转向瑞安时，河风掀起他那一头凌乱的金发，他上下打量着瑞安，就像在审视集市上的商品。
“All right, Bill.” Tremayne was serious now, shrewd as a horse trader. “I walked a deck with you, and I know you were good. I’d be gambling you still are. And the sea is where you belong.”
"好吧，比尔。"特里梅因此刻神色认真，精明得像马贩子。"我曾与你同船共事，知道你当年是把好手。我敢赌你现在依然是。大海才是你的归宿。"
“I have a command,” Ryan said tersely. The wind snatched his words away.
“我有任务在身。”瑞安简短地说道，话音未落就被风吹散了。
“A merchantman, tramping around the ports of Europe looking for a paying cargo to get you home, because if you come back under ballast your boss will take pleasure in skinning you alive.” Tremayne snorted. “What are they paying you? You deserve better.”
“一艘商船，在欧洲各港口间辗转，就为了找份能让你回家的有偿货物——要是你空载而归，你们老板准会活剥了你的皮取乐。”特里梅因嗤之以鼻，“他们给你多少报酬？你值得更好的待遇。”

Suddenly tired, Ryan stepped out across the street toward the employees’ gate in Linwood and Cough’s high brick wall. “Are you trying to make me an offer? Then just make it, Joel. I’m not going to fence with you.”
瑞安突然感到一阵疲惫，迈步穿过街道走向林伍德与考夫公司高砖墙上的员工通道。“你是想给我开条件？那就直说吧，乔尔。我没闲心跟你兜圈子。”
“I’m coming to it,” Tremayne said easily, falling into step with him. “I have a sloop in the McBride yard, refitting.”
“正要说到重点，”特里梅因从容地跟上他的步伐，“我在麦克布莱德船坞有艘正在改装的单桅帆船。”
“So you said.” The gate creaked on rusting hinges as Ryan swung it open and held it for Tremayne. A few faces turned toward them as they appeared, but Ryan was known here, and welcome on Eastcoast business. His belly tightened once more, he heard the thud of his pulse in his ears as he guessed what Joel was going to say.
"‘你确实这么说过。’生锈的门铰链发出刺耳的声响，瑞安推开门为特里梅因撑着。他们出现时引来几张面孔的侧目，但瑞安在此地颇有名望，东海岸生意往来使他备受欢迎。他腹部再次绷紧，耳中传来自己急促的心跳声，已然猜到乔尔要说什么。"
“The Mercury needs a skipper,” Tremayne said into the wind as the gate latched. “She’s a fast hull. I’ve a good crew, they’ve been with me for three voyages, and … the money’s good, Billy.” His fair brows rose. The wind tossed his straw-colored hair into his eyes and he raked it back. “The money,” he added deliberately, “is more than you’ll have seen in years. Possibly ever.”
"‘墨丘利号缺个船长，’门闩咔嗒合上时，特里梅因迎着风说道，‘这艘船体轻快。我有批好船员，跟着我跑了三趟航程，而且……报酬丰厚，比利。’他淡色的眉毛扬了扬。风吹乱他麦秆色的头发遮住眼睛，他随手将头发拨开。‘这报酬，’他刻意补充道，‘比你这些年见过的都要多。说不定这辈子都没见过。’"
“Which means,” Ryan said in an acid tone, “whatever you’re carrying as cargo wouldn’t pass inspection if I get boarded, and the next thing I know, I’ll be looking at the wrong side of the prison gate. What is it, Joel, brandy and spirits out of France? Rum coming in from Jamaica?”
"‘也就是说，’瑞安尖刻地指出，‘你要运的货根本经不起检查，万一我被登船搜查，下一秒就得在监狱铁栅栏里看风景了。到底是什么，乔尔？法国走私的白兰地？还是牙买加来的朗姆酒？’"
“Nothing coming in.” Tremayne’s voice dropped and he stepped closer. His eyes glittered. “Going out.”
"‘不是运进来。’特里梅因压低声音凑近一步，眼里闪着光，‘是运出去。’"
“Of England?” Ryan’s curiosity was piqued in spite of his better judgment. He looked up into Tremayne’s brown face, seeing the angular cheekbones, the winter-pale blue eyes, the white teeth framed in Joel’s sudden and disarming grin.
"英格兰人？"尽管理智告诉瑞安不该多问，好奇心却占了上风。他抬头望向特里梅因那张棕褐色的脸庞，注意到对方棱角分明的颧骨，冬日般苍白的蓝眼睛，以及乔尔突然露出的那排白牙——那笑容带着令人卸下防备的魔力。
“Or Scotland or Ireland,” Tremayne said easily.
"也可能是苏格兰或爱尔兰人。"特里梅因漫不经心地答道。
“Then, what the hell is your cargo, and where’s it going?” Ryan demanded in a harsh undertone. What could Joel be smuggling? None of it made sense.
"那你到底运的是什么货？要送去哪儿？"瑞安压低声音厉声质问。乔尔究竟在走私什么？这一切都说不通。

They were walking again, into the teeth of the wind, toward the site office and around the corner, to the slip where the Spindrift still lay under construction. Tremayne visually measured the length and beam of her, the height of the mast, and whistled. She had the dimensions of a racing hull. Ryan fell in behind him as he worked his way closer, among the bales and stacks of construction materials and tools, and at last climbed up onto a mound of crates to see over the sheer strake. He was counting the hanging knees and half beams, the solid formers which buttressed her sides, and he whistled again as he hopped down.
他们继续迎着凛冽寒风前行，绕过工地办公室的拐角，来到仍在建造中的"浪花号"停泊的船台。特里梅因目测着船身长度、横梁宽度和桅杆高度，不禁吹了声口哨——这分明是赛艇的规格。瑞安跟着他穿过成堆的建材与工具，最后爬上一摞木箱俯瞰船舷上缘。特里梅因数着悬挂的肘材与半梁，那些支撑船侧的坚固骨架，跳下木箱时又吹了声赞叹的口哨。
“She’s built to run before a full Atlantic gale,” Ryan affirmed, “and she’s got the keel to carry a full rig plus a jackyard topsail. And she’ll hold it longer than you’d think, especially under cargo.”
“她生来就是要在大西洋狂风前航行的，”瑞安断言道，“船龙骨能承受全套帆装外加顶桅帆。而且比你想的更持久，特别是载货时。”
“She launches soon,” Tremayne guessed.
“快下水了吧？”特里梅因猜测道。
“August.” Ryan tugged up the collar of his greatcoat as the wind whipped across the river with renewed vigor.
“八月。”瑞安拽起厚外套的领子，河面上刮来的风突然变得更猛烈了。
“She’ll be yours to command, then.”
“到时候就由你来指挥她了。”
“I’d expect her to come to me.” Ryan cocked his head at Tremayne. “I’m not Eastcoast’s only captain, but I am the best. She was built for the Skagerak run, Joel. I won’t take her out and run contraband for you, have this pretty little thing impounded, put myself in jail and ruin the old man who built her. If that’s what you’re thinking -”
“我原以为她会来找我。”瑞安朝特里梅因歪了歪头，“我不是东海岸唯一的船长，但我是最出色的。乔尔，她可是为穿越斯卡格拉克海峡而造的。我不会为了替你走私就把这漂亮的小家伙开出去，让她被扣押，把自己送进监狱，还毁了建造她的老船主。如果你打的是这个主意——”
“Not contraband,” Tremayne said quickly, and came closer, his voice soft under the wind. “I already told you, Billy, my cargoes head out of this country, not in.” His eyes were hard, hawkish. “There’s a war being fought.”
“不是走私，”特里梅因急忙说道，他凑近了些，声音在风中显得轻柔，“比利，我早告诉过你，我的货都是运出这个国家，不是运进来。”他的眼神锐利如鹰，“现在正打着仗呢。”

Ryan tipped back his head and closed his eyes against the gray overcast. “There’s ten wars being fought, there’s not a continent at peace. Which one are you talking about?”
瑞安仰头闭眼，避开灰蒙蒙的阴云。“眼下有十场战争在打，没有哪个大陆是太平的。你说的是哪一场？”

And yet again Tremayne surprised him. “America.” His brows quirked. "Don’t you take a look at the newspaper over breakfast?
特里梅因又一次让他意外了。“美国。”他眉毛一挑，“你吃早饭时不看报纸吗？”

Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Gettysberg."
钱瑟勒斯维尔、维克斯堡、奇克莫加、葛底斯堡。
“Sometimes I don’t see an English newspaper for a month,” Ryan said tersely. “I try to catch up when I’m home, but I’m rarely in port for long. The Adelaide is either on the water or she’s losing money, and there are times when she’s all Eastcoast has, as a bulwark against the receiver.”
"有时我整整一个月都看不到英文报纸，"瑞安简短地说，"回家时我尽量补看，但我在港口很少久留。'阿德莱德号'要么在海上航行，要么就在亏钱，有时候它甚至是东岸公司抵御'接收者'的唯一屏障。"

Perhaps Tremayne should have been surprised but no flicker of expression crossed his face. “All of which means Eastcoast are pinning all their hopes on this little lady.” He gave the Spindrift a thoughtful look. “And unless I miss my guess, Billy, the building of her is bleeding them white. I’m looking at quality, and quality never comes cheap.”
也许特里梅因本该感到惊讶，但他脸上没有流露出一丝异样。"这意味着东岸公司把全部希望都寄托在这位小女士身上了。"他若有所思地打量着"浪花号"，"如果我没猜错的话，比利，造这艘船正让他们倾家荡产。我眼前看到的都是精品，而精品从来都不便宜。"
“You’re right, of course.” Ryan swore softly and turned his back on the graceful, gorgeous hull. “You want the truth, Joel? I’m not even sure Eastcoast will survive in business long enough for me to get my feet on the deck of the Spindrift. She could be auctioned off for a coal barge as soon as she hits the water.”
"你说得对。"瑞安低声咒骂着，转身背对着那优美华丽的船体。"想听实话吗，乔尔？我甚至不确定东岸公司能否撑到让我踏上'浪花号'甲板的那天。这艘船可能刚下水就会被当作运煤驳船拍卖掉。"
“Which is certainly a sin and should be a crime.” Tremayne’s teeth closed on his lip and he studied Ryan almost rudely. “There’s a command waiting for you. Take out the Mercury. My sloop’ll be back on the water in ten days and she has a cargo waiting to load. She’s yours, if you want to take her out.”
"这当然是种罪过，也该被定为罪行。"特里梅因咬着嘴唇，近乎无礼地打量着瑞安。"有个指挥职位在等你。去接管墨丘利号吧。我的单桅帆船十天后就能重新下水，货舱里还等着装批货物。只要你愿意出海，这船就归你指挥。"
“To America?” Ryan asked while a sliver of dreadful fascination wormed through his insides. Tremayne nodded, waiting. “Carrying what, exactly?” Ryan insisted. “What’s this rich cargo of yours, and what’s to become of a sailing master apprehended as a smuggler?”
"去美洲？"瑞安问道，一丝可怕的兴奋感在他体内蠕动。特里梅因点点头，静候下文。"具体运什么货？"瑞安追问道，"你这批值钱的货物到底是什么？要是航海长被当成走私犯抓了怎么办？"
“Ah, now … there’s the trick.” Tremayne was plucking at his ear and wearing a crooked smile, like a schoolboy caught doing the forbidden. “Can’t you guess?” The crooked smile broke into a grin. “It’s guns and ammunition, Billy. What else could it be? You’d be taking a heavy load of rifle shells and as many guns as we can pack into the empty spaces, and running them through to … oh, somewhere in the south, should I say. Warm waters, if nothing else.”
"啊，这个嘛...关键就在这里。"特里梅因揪着耳朵，露出狡黠的笑容，活像个干了坏事被逮住的学生。"你猜不到吗？"那歪斜的笑容突然绽开成咧嘴大笑。"是枪支弹药啊，比利。还能是什么？你要运的是整船的步枪子弹，还有所有能塞进空隙的枪支，然后穿过...哦，就说运往南方某处吧。至少是片温暖水域。"
“Then you’re supporting the Confederacy,” Ryan whispered.
"那么你是在支持南方邦联。"瑞安低声说。
But Tremayne only shrugged. "On the last trip we carried ammunition to the Union. It’s a foreign war and I don’t know enough about it to pick sides, so the only decent thing is to supply both sides evenly and not tip the scales one way or the other. The truth is, the conflict makes no sense to me. They all speak the same language, wear the same clothes, kneel in the same church, eat the same food. If I’m any judge and obviously I’m not! - they should be at a table, talking up a truce.
但特里梅因只是耸了耸肩。"上次航行我们给北方军运送弹药。这是场外国战争，我不够了解情况所以不选边站，唯一体面的做法就是均衡供应双方，不偏不倚。说实话，这场冲突在我看来毫无意义。他们说着同样的语言，穿着同样的衣服，跪在同一座教堂里，吃着同样的食物。要我说——显然我说了不算！——他们本该坐在谈判桌前商讨停战。"

If I even halfway understood the stories in the Telegraph, the war is about the abolition of slavery. For my money, the sooner human bondage is abolished the better, but there’s a lot of generals and politicians who’d rather send their own people’s sons to die by the thousand than give up the right to own the sons of another people, body and soul. The logic mystifies me, which probably means I’m missing half the story which in turn is reason enough for not tipping the scales in a foreign war. But my dear, departed da had a favorite saying. ‘Great wars,’ he said, ‘are the way God shapes the world through the hands of men.’ His logic, I can see! I’ll not pick sides in someone else’s war, Billy. If I’m going to supply one side, I’ll supply both, leave it to the Almighty to sort saints from sinners, and sleep easy." He paused. “And the money -”
要是我对《电讯报》的报道能理解个大概，这场战争是为了废除奴隶制。依我看，越快废除奴役制度越好。可那些将军政客们宁愿让成千上万自己人的儿子去送死，也不愿放弃奴役他人子嗣身心的权利。这种逻辑令我费解，可能说明我只知其一不知其二，所以更不该插手外国战争。但我那已故的老爹有句口头禅，他说：‘上帝借凡人之手重塑世界，靠的就是大战。’这种逻辑我倒能明白！比利，别人的战争我不站队。既然要给一方供货，我就两边都供，让上帝去分辨善恶，我也能睡个安稳觉。"他顿了顿，"至于钱——
“Had better be good,” Ryan said acidly, “because the Mercury will be heading to sea like a powderkeg. She could blow the insides out of herself. We’ve seen it happen to a ship. You were there, you were right beside me.”
"最好够多，"瑞安尖刻地说，"因为墨丘利号出海时就像个火药桶。它可能把自己炸得粉身碎骨。我们见过这种事。当时你就在场，就站在我旁边。"

The accident was dire, the explosion monstrous. When the smoke cleared only smashed bits of driftwood remained of the Percival Gantry, nothing much larger than an oar. Nothing to suggest the presence, the fiery death, of a cutter doing service as a powder hulk. Ryan would always remember the rush of heat boiling over him, scorching his face and lungs - diving swiftly onto the deck as the air filled with a thousand projectiles, the screams of men who did not get down in time, the sudden, bright blaze of spot fires as sails and rigging caught alight just overhead, touched off by cartwheeling shards of burning debris from the Percival Gantry -
那场事故惨不忍睹，爆炸威力骇人。当硝烟散尽时，珀西瓦尔·甘特里号只剩下些比船桨大不了多少的碎木片漂浮在海面上，完全看不出这里曾有一艘作为火药库的缉私船存在过，更遑论其船员经历的烈焰焚身之痛。瑞安永远记得热浪扑面而来的瞬间，灼烧着他的脸庞和肺部——他迅速扑倒在甲板上，而空气中充斥着无数飞射的碎片，那些来不及卧倒者的惨叫，以及头顶上方船帆和索具被珀西瓦尔·甘特里号燃烧的残片引燃时，突然爆发的耀眼火光——
“We’ve made the run three times, and not a care in the world,” Tremayne was saying. “Afraid, are you, Billy?” He frowned deeply. “You were never afraid before, not a day in your life. You once told me, a man who has nothing to lose doesn’t feel fear.”
"‘我们跑了三趟船，从来都是无忧无虑的，’特里梅因说道，‘比利，你害怕了？’他深深皱起眉头，‘你以前可从不害怕，这辈子都没怕过。你曾对我说过，一无所有的人不会感到恐惧。’"
“And a man who has something to lose?” Ryan challenged.
"‘那要是有牵挂的人呢？’瑞安反问道。"
Tremayne’s eyes widened. “Command of an old merchant schooner, tramping around Europe, hunting for a decent paying cargo to get you home? You can do better. Come on, Ryan! What’s stopping you? There’s nothing to keep you here.”
特里梅因瞪大了眼睛，‘就为了指挥一艘老旧的商船纵帆船，在欧洲各地奔波，寻找能让你回家的像样货单？你能有更好的选择。来吧，瑞安！还有什么可犹豫的？这儿没什么值得你留恋的。’
“I’ve a deal of unfinished business,” Ryan said thickly.
"‘我还有好些未了的事。’瑞安含糊地说。"
“In Glasgow?”  "在格拉斯哥？"
“In Scarborough.” Ryan took a breath. “I can’t just walk away, Joel, not on a job with this kind of risk, no matter how much money you’re paying.”
"在斯卡伯勒。"瑞安深吸一口气，"我不能就这么退出，乔尔，这种风险的活儿给再多钱也不行。"

A moment of dense silence, in which the wind lashed across the river, and then some sixth sense made Tremayne say, “You’ve got someone. Haven’t you? A lover, Billy?”
一阵凝重的沉默中，河风呼啸而过，某种直觉让特里梅因开口道："你有牵挂的人了，对吧？相好的，比利？"

For the first time in an hour Ryan smiled. He gave Tremayne a mocking look. “What, you don’t believe it? The old salt finally found a berth, a place to hang his hat and put up his feet?”
瑞安一小时内头次露出笑容，他嘲弄地看向特里梅因："怎么，不信？老水手终于找到港湾了，有个能挂帽子翘脚的地方？"
“I’ll be damned,” Tremayne said softly, eyes dancing.
“真是活见鬼，”特里梅因轻声说道，眼里闪着光。
“Very probably,” Ryan said in dry tones.
“很有可能，”瑞安干巴巴地回应。
“Well, I’m glad for you.” Tremayne looked genuinely delighted. “What’s his name?”
“好吧，我真为你高兴。”特里梅因看起来由衷地欣喜，“他叫什么名字？”
“Jim.” It felt so odd, talking about the relationship for the first time. Ryan could never utter a word about his feelings to any soul in Scarborough. In a town of almost twenty thousand people, he knew four or five men who shared the ‘inclinations,’ and none of them could be trusted to keep a secret. A few jars of rum, and the news would be out. It would be all over Scarborough by morning, and Jim Hale and Captain Bill Ryan might never live it down. Speaking openly about his feelings seemed almost like making words in a foreign language, but Ryan said quietly, “He’s Jim Hale.”
“吉姆。”第一次谈起这段关系感觉如此怪异。在斯卡伯勒这个近两万人的小镇上，瑞安从未向任何人吐露过自己的感情。他认识四五个有相同“倾向”的男人，但没一个能保守秘密。几杯朗姆酒下肚，消息就会传开。第二天早上整个斯卡伯勒都会知道，吉姆·黑尔和比尔·瑞安船长可能永远都抬不起头来。公开谈论自己的感受就像在用外语说话，但瑞安还是轻声说道：“他是吉姆·黑尔。”
“Hale?” Tremayne’s brows arched and he jerked a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of Scarborough, down the east coast.
“黑尔？”特里梅因挑起眉毛，用拇指朝身后斯卡伯勒的方向——东海岸那边——猛地一指。
“Only son of the Jon Hale who owns Eastcoast Packet and is building this pretty little ship,” Ryan affirmed with a sigh.
“就是那个拥有东海岸邮船公司、正在造这艘漂亮小船的老乔恩·黑尔的独子，”瑞安叹着气确认道。

For a moment Tremayne blinked, then threw back his head and laughed. “And you’re bedding the owner’s son? Good God, Billy Ryan, you never do anything by halves, do you? You never did. Couldn’t you have found yourself a pretty lad in the darkest tavern, possibly in another town?”
特里梅因愣了片刻，随即仰头大笑。“所以你睡了船东的儿子？老天，比利·瑞安，你做事从来都不懂适可而止是吧？从来都是。你就不能在哪个最暗的酒馆里找个漂亮小伙儿？说不定还得换个镇子找？”
“Affairs of the heart don’t work like that, as well you know,” Ryan scoffed.
“感情的事又不是能这样随便将就的，你明明知道，”瑞安嗤笑道。
“As well I know.” Tremayne’s eyes were warm on him now, amused and overtly affectionate. “Well, damn. You know, I was going to invite you along to my hotel for dinner and a shot or two of malt and … so forth. But I suppose now you’re about to tell me it’s true love and you intend to remain faithful.”
“我当然知道。”特里梅因此刻注视他的目光温暖而戏谑，毫不掩饰亲昵之情，“见鬼。我本想邀你去我住的酒店共进晚餐，喝两杯麦芽威士忌，再……诸如此类。不过现在你大概要告诉我这是真爱，你打算忠贞不渝了。”
“It’s true love and I intend to remain faithful,” Ryan intoned dutifully. “But I appreciate the offer,” he added, “and I haven’t forgotten, Joel. I never will. Those were good times.”
“这是真爱，我打算忠贞不渝。”瑞安一本正经地复述道，又补充说，“但我很感激你的邀请。乔尔，我从未忘记——也永远不会忘记。那段时光很美好。”
“Good times,” Tremayne echoed. “We should have stuck together. Going separate ways was a mistake.”
“很美好。”特里梅因轻声应和，“我们本该继续并肩同行。分道扬镳是个错误。”
“No. We were … under suspicion,” Ryan said regretfully. “You can’t be too careful, especially when you’re trying to claw your way back up from perdition.” He lifted a brow at Tremayne. “And if I may say so, you appear to have clawed your way back in style. You own the Mercury?”
“不。当时我们……被怀疑盯上了。”瑞安遗憾地说，“再怎么小心都不为过，尤其当你正试图从深渊里爬回来的时候。”他冲特里梅因挑了挑眉，“恕我直言，你东山再起得相当体面。墨丘利号现在是你的了？”
“By a stroke of luck.” Tremayne made dismissive gestures. “The cards could have gone against me just as easily, but I won the hull, the right to carry the existing cargo and the services of a damned good crew.”
"全凭运气罢了。"特里梅因做了个不以为然的手势，"纸牌本可以轻易让我输个精光，但我赢得了那艘船，获得了现有货物的运输权，还得到了一群该死的好船员。"
“You always did have the luck.” Ryan cast an eye at the overcast. “It’ll be raining soon. Do you want that whisky?”
"你总是这么走运。"瑞安瞥了眼阴沉的天空，"快下雨了。要来杯威士忌吗？"

But Tremayne pulled out the gold pocket watch, took a look at the time and shook his head. “I’ve a meeting. Later, perhaps.”
但特里梅因掏出那块金怀表，看了看时间后摇头道："我还有个会议。改天吧。"
“I’m on the night train to Edinburgh,” Ryan warned.
"我要坐夜班火车去爱丁堡，"瑞安提醒道。
“Then, much later. I know where to find you now.” Tremayne gestured at the Spindrift as they strode back toward the gate into the street. “And I’ll make you a firm offer, Billy. When Eastcoast goes under and notice I said when - I’ll come looking for you. I’ve made three trips out to America on the Mercury and I was hoping to avoid making a fourth. I’m not so desperate for money anymore.”
“那么，很久以后吧。我现在知道去哪儿找你了。”当他们大步走回通往街道的院门时，特里梅因朝浪花号比划着。“我会给你个实价，比利。等东海岸公司垮台时——注意我说的是‘当’不是‘如果’——我会来找你。我已经坐墨丘利号去过三次美洲，本希望不用再去第四次。如今我倒不那么缺钱了。”
“An ammunition ship,” Ryan said doubtfully.
“一艘军火船。”瑞安将信将疑地说。
“Maybe, and maybe not.” Tremayne’s expression darkened. “Last time out there, I was appalled … war has always been a filthy business, and the war in America is one of the worst I’ve seen. The numbers of dead and injured dizzy a man’s brain, Billy, and they’ve no medical supplies. It’s getting worse than the Crimea, the longer it goes on. Next trip out, we should be headed for America loaded to the gunwales under opium, carbolic, bandages and catgut.” He stepped back to let Ryan swing open the gate. “I know where to find you now. I’ll see you in Scarborough, Billy-boy.”
“也许是，也许不是。”特里梅因脸色阴沉下来。“上次去那儿时，我被吓坏了……战争从来都是肮脏勾当，而美国这场仗是我见过最惨烈的。伤亡数字多到让人头晕，比利，他们连医疗物资都没有。拖得越久，比克里米亚战争还糟糕。下次出航，我们本该装满鸦片、石炭酸、绷带和肠线去美洲的。”他后退一步让瑞安推开院门。“我现在知道去哪儿找你了。斯卡伯勒见，比利小子。”
“I look forward to it,” Ryan said honestly, “but I’ll tell you the truth, Joel. I’m serious about Jim Hale. His father’s dying fast, about as fast as Eastcoast is going down. I’ll not run out on Jim, not when he’s in trouble.”
“我期待着，”瑞安诚恳地说，“但实话告诉你，乔尔。我对吉姆·黑尔是认真的。他父亲快不行了，就跟东海岸公司垮台一样快。我不会抛下吉姆，尤其在他落难的时候。”
“Then bring him along,” Tremayne offered affably. “He’s a ship owner’s son? Then he knows ships, he knows the sea.”
"那就带他一起来吧，"特里梅因和善地提议，"他是船主的儿子？那一定精通船舶，熟悉大海。"
“But Jim won’t leave his father when the old man’s on his deathbed,” Ryan added.
"可吉姆不会在父亲临终时离开老人家的，"瑞安补充道。

Tremayne puffed out his cheeks as they waited at the side of the street for a cart to rumble by. “Then we’re all waiting on God’s plea-
特里梅因鼓起腮帮子，他们站在街边等待一辆马车隆隆驶过。"那我们都是在等候上帝的旨——"
sure, are we? Waiting for a sick old man to pass away and stop complicating the issue.”
意了，是吗？等着个病弱老人咽气，好让事情不再这么棘手。
“That’s a cruel way of putting it, but you’re far from wrong,” Ryan affirmed. “And then …?”
"这么说未免残忍，但你也并非全无道理，"瑞安肯定道，"然后呢？"
“When it happens,” Tremayne said expansively, “you and your Jim should be free to leave Scarborough. And I sure as hell don’t want to take the Mercury to America again. I told you, Billy, she’s yours. Five or six voyages out as her sailing master, and you can get well out of this game - right out, and in style, as you put it.”
"等事情办妥，"特里梅因爽快地说，"你和你的吉姆就可以离开斯卡伯勒了。我他妈再也不想开着墨丘利号去美洲了。早跟你说过，比利，这船归你了。当五六趟航行船长，你就能体面地金盆洗手——就像你说的，彻底脱身，风风光光。"

The offer was sorely tempting but Ryan was hesitant. “My head wants to call it a deal, but my heart tells me to wait.”
这提议实在诱人，但瑞安仍犹豫不决。"理智叫我立刻答应，可心里却让我再等等。"

The other man almost recoiled. “You mean the owner’s son is too namby-pamby to walk a deck with you? That was never the kind of lad who caught your eye.”
对方几乎要往后缩："你是说船主的儿子娇气到不能跟你一起甲板行走？这可不是你向来中意的那种小伙子。"
“Namby -?” Ryan actually laughed. “Quite the contrary, Joel, and that’s the problem. I’ll give you short odds, Jim Hale will want to see if he can take the bull by the horns, give it a good kick in the arse, light a fire under Eastcoast and make a going concern of it. He can’t do a thing, nor make a decision, while his father is on this earth, but after we’ve done the graveside duty it’ll be Jim Hale, not Jonathan, calling Eastcoast’s shots, tendering for cargoes, hiring crew. And remember, he’ll have the Spindrift to work with.”
"‘软骨头？’瑞安竟笑出声来，‘恰恰相反，乔尔，这才是问题所在。我敢跟你打赌，吉姆·黑尔准想试试能不能抓住牛角，狠狠踹它屁股，给东海岸公司点把火让它起死回生。只要他父亲在世，他就什么都做不了主。等我们尽完送葬的本分，接管东海岸公司发号施令、竞标货单、招募水手的就会是吉姆·黑尔，而不是乔纳森。别忘了，他手里还有浪花号这张牌。’"
“August,” Tremayne mused, and tapped his lips with one long forefinger. “Tell me, Bill, is he too squeamish to run ammunition?”
"‘奥古斯特，’特里梅因沉吟道，用修长的食指轻点嘴唇，‘告诉我，比尔，他会不会太讲究道德，不肯运军火？’"
“Too intelligent, I’d say,” Ryan retorted. “When it comes down to the wire, the Spindrift may be all Eastcoast has left. He’d be a fool or a madman to take that gamble when there’s good, legal cargoes to be run.”
"‘要我说是太聪明，’瑞安反驳道，‘真到了紧要关头，浪花号可能是东海岸仅剩的资产。放着合法好买卖不做，去冒这种险，除非他是疯子或傻子。’"
“Medical supplies, then,” Tremayne amended. “You’re not skippering a floating bomb if you’re loaded down with carbolic and catgut.”
"‘那就改运医疗物资，’特里梅因修正道，‘载满石炭酸和肠线的船，总不算漂在水上的炸弹。’"
“Legal cargo?” Ryan was pressing hard now.
"合法货物？"瑞安此刻紧追不舍。
“Depends which perspective you look at it from. It can all depend on where you land, in the company of friends or foes, when you’re always going to be supplying aid and succor to someone’s enemy.” Tremayne’s face was rueful. “I’ll tell you honestly, now. It’s blockade running. Slither through in the night, tie up in a friendly port, and you’re heroes and saviors.”
"这取决于你从哪个角度看。全看你最终停泊在何处——是在友方还是敌方的港湾，毕竟你永远都在为某些人的敌人提供援助和补给。"特里梅因脸上带着苦涩，"老实告诉你吧，这是突破封锁的勾当。趁着夜色溜过去，在友好港口靠岸，你们就成了英雄和救世主。"
“Get caught by the blockade and you’re a stinking criminal, mercenary scum looking at twenty-five years in a hellhole prison,” Ryan added. He frowned at Joel Tremayne as the wind swirled like a live
"要是被封锁舰队逮住，你们就是臭名昭著的罪犯，唯利是图的渣滓，得在暗无天日的监狱里蹲上二十五年，"瑞安补充道。当狂风如活物般盘旋，东北方划过一道闪电——那是远方风暴的第一道征兆，虽然雷声尚未传来——他对着乔尔·特里梅因皱起眉头。
thing and a flicker of lightning licked through the northeast, the first signature of the storm out there, though the thunder could not yet be heard. The truth had hit him like a body blow. “You must have been desperate, Joel, to get into this ‘game,’ as you call it.”
真相如重拳击中他的胸口。"你当时一定走投无路了，乔尔，才会参与你所谓的这场'游戏'。"

The façade of cheer slipped from Tremayne’s features and for a moment Ryan saw the truth etched into the man’s face, raw as fresh blood. “It was … interesting. I took what I could get. Second mate on a filthy steamer, and a more wretched existence I cannot imagine,” he said quietly. “It was either the tramp steamer or sign aboard a whaler out of Whitby. Two years in the Arctic, wading in blood and whaleguts and hoping the ship doesn’t freeze herself in and crush like an eggshell.” He closed his eyes. "Six months on the damned tin scow put a few quid back in my pocket, and I was glad to get out of there.
特里梅因脸上强装的欢快面具骤然脱落，刹那间瑞安看清了刻在那张脸上的真相——鲜红刺目得如同新涌的血液。"那段日子...很有意思。我只能抓住能得到的。在一艘肮脏的蒸汽船上当二副，再没有比这更糟的活法了，"他轻声说道，"要么选择那艘破烂蒸汽船，要么签约登上惠特比出航的捕鲸船。在北极待上两年，整天泡在血水和鲸鱼内脏里，还得祈祷船别被冻住像蛋壳般压碎。"他闭上眼睛，"在那该死的铁皮驳船上熬了六个月，总算攒了几个子儿，我巴不得赶紧离开那鬼地方。"
“I told you, the cards fell my way. If they hadn’t, I could be taking the Queen’s shilling or digging railway tunnels.” He lifted his chin, pulled back his shoulders and looked Ryan in the eye. “Instead, I own the Mercury and I’m past ready to put a sailing master aboard. I’ve had enough of the sea to last me a lifetime.” He set a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “You’ve got to know, I’ll not put any skipper on the Mercury. There’s maybe five men in Scotland and England I’d entrust her to, but none’s available to take her from me, and of the whole lot of them, Captain Bill Ryan’s the one I’d want the most, standing in my place on my deck.”
"我说过，是牌运帮了我。要不是这样，我现在可能正领着女王给的微薄军饷，或是在挖铁路隧道。"他扬起下巴，挺直肩膀直视瑞安的眼睛，"但现在，我拥有墨丘利号，而且早该给它配位船长了。我这辈子受够了海上生活。"他将手搭在瑞安肩上，"你得明白，我不会随便让人接管墨丘利号。整个苏格兰和英格兰，我能托付的人不超过五个，可惜现在都没法接手。而所有人里——"他顿了顿，"比尔·瑞安船长才是我最希望站在甲板上代替我的人。"

Flattered, surprised, even chastened, Ryan took a breath of the cold, wet air and held it. "All right, Joel. I’ll talk to Jim Hale about it. That’s the best I can do for you right now. The Adelaide is equal to the task of running medical supplies to America, and she might just run a blockade for you. Beyond that, I’m not free to speak.
瑞安既感到受宠若惊，又有些惶惑不安。他深吸一口潮湿寒冷的空气，屏住呼吸说道："好吧，乔尔。我会和吉姆·黑尔商量这事。眼下我只能帮你这么多。阿德莱德号完全有能力向美洲运送医疗物资，或许还能为你突破封锁线。除此之外，我不便多言。"
“Sure to heaven, the Spindrift would run it.” Tremayne’s brows rose.
"老天作证，浪花号肯定能办到。"特里梅因扬起眉毛。
“She’s not mine to sign away. She’s not even paid for! If old Hale can’t keep up the payments, Duncan Linwood will sell the hull at auction to recover his costs.” Ryan paused. “I told you, I’ll talk to Jim for you.”
"她不是我能签字转让的。她甚至还没付清款项！要是老黑尔付不起后续款项，邓肯·林伍德就会拍卖船体来收回成本。"瑞安顿了顿，"我跟你说过，我会替你找吉姆谈谈。"
“Good enough.” Tremayne thrust out his hand.
"行吧。"特里梅因伸出手来。
Ryan took it firmly, shook it, and for just a moment remembered the hard, hot, solidarity of Joel Tremayne’s body against him, the cradle sensation of a hull moving under them, the sound of the wind in the lines, the creak of timbers in the night. Those days were not so long ago, and the memories would haunt him forever.
瑞安用力握住那只手，摇晃间突然想起乔尔·特里梅因结实滚烫的身体紧贴着自己的感觉，船体在身下晃动的摇篮感，绳索间的风声，深夜里船板的吱呀声。那些日子仿佛就在昨天，而这些记忆将永远萦绕着他。
“I’ll find you in Scarborough,” Tremayne promised.
"我会在斯卡伯勒找你。"特里梅因承诺道。
“When?” Ryan withdrew his hand and took a step away, back toward the Lord of the Isles.
“什么时候？”瑞安抽回手后退了一步，朝岛主酒馆方向退去。
“Later.” Tremayne said, deliberately inspecific, and shrugged. “Looks like I’ll be taking the Mercury out myself again, and afterward I can wait for fair weather for the cruise home, loaded with tobacco or bourbon.”
“晚些时候。”特里梅因故意含糊其辞地答道，耸了耸肩，“看来这次又得亲自驾驶墨丘利号出海了，等返航时正好能赶上好天气，满载烟草或波本威士忌回来。”
“It’ll be summer when you get back.” Ryan gave the incoming storm a glare. “I’ll look out for you.”
“等你回来就该是夏天了。”瑞安瞪着逼近的暴风雨说道，“我会留意你的消息。”
“I’ll be there.” One pale blue eye winked, and Joel Tremayne turned away, striding fast along the street toward the yards where the China clipper was being rigged in the Scott and Linton yard.
“我会准时出现。”那只淡蓝色的眼睛眨了眨，乔尔·特里梅因转身快步沿街走去，朝着斯科特与林顿造船厂的方向——那艘中国快速帆船正在那里装配索具。

The last Ryan saw of him, he was waving to a man in a tall stovepipe hat, and they marched away together, toward the yard when the sloop lay under repairs. For some moments Ryan stood on the side of the road, glaring at the clipper’s mastheads, his brain a whirl of possibilities.
瑞安最后看见他时，那人正朝一位戴着高顶礼帽的男子挥手，随后两人便并肩朝船坞方向走去——那艘单桅帆船正在那里维修。瑞安在路边伫立良久，死死盯着快速帆船的桅顶，脑海中翻腾着各种可能性。

The offer was almost too good to turn down, and Tremayne was genuinely surprised. Only the fact of Ryan’s unfinished personal business in Scarborough convinced Joel of the truth and persuaded him to back off, give Ryan time to work things out. No one was going to hurry Jon Hale out of the world. A year ago his doctors had given him two months to live, but enough life remained in the old dog even now for him to frustrate any attempt Jim made to do business. The fact was, Jon Hale did not trust his son, and Ryan had pondered the mystery for some time.
这个提议好得几乎让人无法拒绝，特里梅因着实吃了一惊。若非瑞安在斯卡伯勒还有未了的私事，乔尔也不会相信这番说辞并选择退让，给他时间处理。没人能催促乔纳森·黑尔离开人世。一年前医生断言他只剩两个月寿命，可这老家伙至今仍顽强地破坏着吉姆经手的每笔生意。事实是，老黑尔根本不信任自己的儿子，这个谜团让瑞安思忖了许久。

The possibility was, Ryan thought as he turned back toward the Lord of the Isles, old Hale sensed something ‘different’ about Jim, though Jim had never given his father any clue as to where his heart lay, Ryan was sure. If Hale glimpsed even a tenth part of the truth that Jim was the kind of lad who had an eye for a handsome man, much less that he was embroiled in an affair - the papers would be signed in an hour, cutting Jim out of the will. No, whatever Jon Hale perceived about his son was not so clear-cut; but Jonathan was uneasy enough to breathe down his neck at business and leave Jim no margin to be his own man, make his own decisions, take any responsibility for Eastcoast’s future.
瑞安转身走向岛主酒馆时想到，或许老黑尔隐约察觉了吉姆的"异常"——尽管吉姆从未向父亲透露过自己的心思，这点瑞安很确定。倘若老黑尔知晓儿子是个会为俊俏男人动心的家伙，更别提还卷入了风流韵事，不出一个钟头遗嘱就会改写，将吉姆除名。不，乔纳森对儿子的猜疑还没到这般地步；但他已警惕到在生意上步步紧逼，不给吉姆任何自主决策的余地，更遑论让这个儿子为东海岸的未来担责。

And the future itself was like a swirling storm. Ryan pictured it as a maelstrom whirling, dervish-like, around a malevolent eye which sucked in sloops and schooners, even clipper ships, while the steam-
而未来本身就像一场盘旋的暴风雨。瑞安将其想象成围绕着恶意的风眼旋转的漩涡，如同狂舞的托钵僧，吞噬着单桅帆船与双桅纵帆船，就连快速帆船也难逃厄运，而蒸汽...
ships battered and pounded on the edge of the whirlpool, staying out of the eye of hell through sheer brute force.
几艘船在漩涡边缘遭受着猛烈冲击，全靠蛮力才勉强避开了那地狱之眼。

The nightmare vision was uncannily accurate. Ryan was still a child, almost too young to understand the news, when the Great Western shipped out of Bristol in the April of '38. She was Brunel’s pride and joy at the time; she was also the harbinger of change, and when seven-year-old Billy Ryan sat on his father’s shoulder to watch her leave port, to his young ears her steam horn had the sound of doom. The bellowing horn made him shudder with dread, though he could not have said why.
这噩梦般的景象诡异得精准。当大西方号于 38 年四月驶离布里斯托尔时，瑞安还是个几乎听不懂新闻的孩童。这艘船当时是布鲁内尔的骄傲，却也预示着变革的到来。七岁的小比利·瑞安骑在父亲肩头目送它离港时，那汽笛声在他稚嫩的耳中宛如末日号角。尽管说不清缘由，但那震耳欲聋的鸣响让他恐惧得浑身发抖。

That day the Great Western was bound for New York on her maiden Atlantic voyage. Coal smoke rose like dragon’s breath from her funnels, the drumbeat of her engines could be heard when she was more than a mile out at sea … and she arrived in America fifteen days after leaving Bristol, with 200 tons of coal left in the bunkers. By the time Bill Ryan was fifteen, the monster had crossed the Atlantic sixty-seven times and the future of sail seemed over.
那天大西方号正启程前往纽约，开启它的首次跨大西洋航行。煤烟如龙息般从烟囱喷涌，引擎的轰鸣在一海里外都清晰可闻......而它仅用十五天就从布里斯托尔抵达美洲，煤舱里还剩余两百吨煤。待到比尔·瑞安十五岁时，这头钢铁巨兽已横渡大西洋六十七次，帆船时代似乎就此终结。

And then Dame Fortune seemed to take a hand. Five years later, the same shipping company built the Great Britain, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel himself oversaw construction. She came out of the same yard as the Great Western, with a sixteen-foot iron propeller; she was over thirty yards longer than the next biggest ship on the water … and she ran herself aground in Ireland the year after she was launched. The monstrous engines that might have made her the most profitable ship at sea were ruined, and save for Brunel’s quick thinking she would surely have gone to the breaker. Refloating her almost ruined the owners, and she was sold; Gibbs Bright & Co. were running her now, but she was not the ship she had once been.
而后命运女神似乎插手干预。五年后，同一家航运公司建造了大不列颠号，由伊桑巴德·金德姆·布鲁内尔亲自监工。它与大西方号出自同一船坞，配备十六英尺铁制螺旋桨，比当时最大的船只还要长出三十多码......却在首航次年搁浅爱尔兰海岸。那台本可让它成为海上最赚钱船舶的巨型引擎彻底损毁，若非布鲁内尔急中生智，它必然已被拆解。打捞工程几乎让船主破产，最终只得转售；如今由吉布斯·布莱特公司运营，但早已不复当年英姿。

Would Brunel even have recognized her? Low in the water, the ship designed to be the queen of all steam screws was subjected to the ultimate indignity. Gibbs Bright refitted her as a three-masted square rigger, for the run out to Australia, where the gold rush raged through the '50s. She was rebuilt a third time, remasted again, and chartered to the Government for the Crimea run, the India run.
布鲁内尔还能认出她吗？这艘本该成为所有蒸汽明轮之王的船只，如今低低地吃水航行，遭受着终极的屈辱。吉布斯·布莱特公司将她改装成三桅横帆船，用于澳大利亚航线——五十年代那里正掀起淘金热。她经历了第三次重建，再次更换桅杆，被政府租用执行克里米亚航线、印度航线。

As Bill Ryan hurried back to the Lord of the Isles, through swirling wind and a pattering of rain, the Great Britain was on her way back from Australia again. Last year she carried the first cricket team ever to tour in Australia … and she was under sail. Her engines spent more time shut down than running, and there was talk of taking them out, converting her to a windjammer, using the weight and space of engines
当比尔·瑞安冒着盘旋的风和淅沥的雨匆匆赶回岛主酒馆时，大不列颠号正再次从澳大利亚返航。去年她运载了首支赴澳大利亚巡回比赛的板球队……而此刻她正扬帆航行。她的引擎停转的时间比运转更长，有人提议拆除引擎，将她改造成帆船，利用引擎和煤炭所占的重量与空间来装载货物。
and coal for cargo. Her hull was superb, she would convert so easily. And Brunel, Ryan decided, must be spinning in his grave.
她的船体堪称完美，改造将轻而易举。瑞安断定，布鲁内尔若泉下有知，定会气得在坟墓里翻身。

Full circle. Ryan smiled faintly as he stepped into the pub and slammed the door on the wind and rain. Brunel was almost three years dead now, and the ship which had embodied the dream of steam was under sail. Jonathan Hale loved to tell this story; he savored it, relished every syllable. The days of sail were not quite over yet. The tea and wool clippers would surely keep alive the dream, especially for the China and Australia runs, at least until the ‘bloody great ditch in Suez,’ as Joel called it, was finished. The canal would not be open for years yet; but when it did open, when the ‘tin scows,’ the steamers, no longer had to head south around Africa and buck through the Roaring Forties … that day, the businessmen who dreamed of the power and wealth of Steam would celebrate.
轮回。瑞安推开酒馆门将风雨关在身后时，嘴角泛起一丝苦笑。布鲁内尔已去世近三年，而这艘曾承载蒸汽梦想的巨舰却扬起了风帆。乔纳森·黑尔最爱讲述这个故事；他细细品味，沉醉于每个音节。帆船时代尚未完全终结。茶叶与羊毛快船必定会延续这个梦想，尤其在中国与澳大利亚航线上——至少直到乔尔口中那个"该死的苏伊士大沟渠"竣工之前。运河还要多年才能通航；但当它开通之日，当那些"铁皮驳船"般的蒸汽船不再需要南下绕行非洲、迎战咆哮西风带时……那些梦想着蒸汽力量与财富的商人们将会举杯庆祝。

The pub was still quiet, and Ryan was hungry. The little man at the bar offered him a glass, and Ryan took a rum before he ordered a quick meal. The wind was howling as he climbed the narrow, steep shipstairs to his room, and there he threw back the heavy, soot-dusty drapes. The fire was unlit, the room very cold.
酒馆里依然安静，瑞安饥肠辘辘。吧台边的小个子男人递给他一杯酒，他接过朗姆酒一饮而尽，随即点了份简餐。当他攀上通往房间的陡峭舷梯时，狂风怒号。他扯开厚重积灰的窗帘，壁炉没有生火，屋里冷得像冰窖。

He opened the window a crack, breathed the chill, salt wind and smelled the taint of the industry on the river. His eyes dwelt on the first masthead of the Spindrift, which thrust tenaciously above the rooftops. Where was she going, what would become of her? And in the stiff wind of change, what would be left for Jim Hale? Ryan had the answer to neither question, and he set them both aside as a knock at his door announced a boy from the kitchen.
他将窗户推开一条缝，呼吸着凛冽咸腥的河风，工业废料的气味隐约可闻。目光久久停留在浪花号的第一根桅杆上——那桅杆倔强地刺破天际线。这艘船将驶向何方？等待它的会是什么命运？在这变革的疾风中，吉姆·黑尔又将何去何从？瑞安对这两个问题都毫无头绪，正待深想时，厨房小伙计的敲门声打断了他的思绪。

He made the decision as he sat down to eat. If he made a run for the Dumbarton railway station, he could be on the train back into Glasgow in time for the late express to Edinburgh, and be in Scarborough tomorrow night. Scarborough would always lure him back with the special welcome of a lover, the dark eyes, the warm arms, the kisses for which Bill Ryan had come to long when he was far from home. It was a dangerous love, filled with peril even behind the closed doors of home, but he had told Tremayne the truth: he was serious about Jim Hale.
落座用餐时他已拿定主意。若直奔邓巴顿火车站，便能赶上返回格拉斯哥的列车，再接夜间快车去爱丁堡，明晚就能抵达斯卡伯勒。那座海滨小城总像情人般诱惑着他归来——深情的眼眸、温暖的臂弯、那些令离家的比尔·瑞安魂牵梦萦的亲吻。这是段危险的感情，即便躲在家中仍危机四伏，但他向特里梅因坦白过：对吉姆·黑尔，他是认真的。

He was not about to run out on the lad, and one could never guess, never plan, where or when affairs of the heart would happen. They chose their own times and places, and a man went along with the flow.
他绝不会辜负那个年轻人。况且谁又能预料或安排心动的时机？它们自会选定时间地点，男人只需随波逐流。

Wreckers’ weather.  劫船者的好天气。
The gale was a northeaster, typical around the equinoxes and in winter, and before the assault of the wind and pounding waves a ship on these shores had no safe anchorage save Harwich, and even that had become a deathtrap since the growth of Landguard Point, thirty years before.
这场东北风是春秋分时节和冬季常见的风暴，在狂风巨浪的肆虐下，这片海岸线上除了哈里奇港外再没有安全的锚地，而三十年前兰德加德角形成后，连那里也变成了死亡陷阱。

Scenes of shipwreck were too commonplace to merit even a mention in a regional newspaper. For a century and more, salvage crews had grown rich on the spoils of ‘mercy dashes,’ as they raced one another to take passengers and crew off stricken vessels. But when the caprices of wind and weather were not enough, who had not heard the whispered prayer, ‘Please God, send a ship ashore before morning.’
船只失事的场景太过常见，甚至不值得在地方报纸上提上一笔。一个多世纪以来，打捞队靠着"慈悲冲刺"——争先恐后地从遇难船只上救出乘客和船员——大发横财。而当变幻莫测的风浪还不够猛烈时，谁没听过那句低声的祈祷："求求上帝，天亮前让艘船搁浅吧。"

Like a dragon in the sky, the northeasterly gale howled over the cliffs of Scarborough, rattled the window panes, tested the roofing and shouted in the chimneys. Jim Hale threw down his pen and knuckled his eyes, which had grown tired after hours of book work. Manifests, charts and logs had never been his interest.
东北风如天际游龙般呼啸着掠过斯卡伯勒的悬崖，震得窗棂格格作响，考验着屋顶的耐力，在烟囱里发出尖啸。吉姆·黑尔扔下钢笔，揉了揉因长时间伏案工作而酸胀的双眼。货单、海图和航海日志从来不是他的兴趣所在。

He would have preferred to be out and doing, up and moving, but since the little Scotch smack, Eliza, had foundered off Blackhall Rocks where she had stood at anchor, waiting to load a cargo from the colliery, Eastcoast Packet had only three hulls left in the water … two insurance claims pending, and no capital to be ‘squandered’ on the services of a clerk. Jim was quite able to do the work, so Jim would do it, and no argument.
他宁愿外出活动筋骨，但自从苏格兰小帆船伊莱扎号在黑岩礁锚地等待装运煤矿时沉没后，东海岸邮船公司仅剩三艘船在运营......两笔保险索赔悬而未决，公司再"浪费"不起钱雇佣文员了。吉姆完全能胜任这工作，所以他就得干，没得商量。

The wind grew more violent with the hour. The wreckers need hardly trouble themselves tonight, yet somewhere men would be out, showing false lights to lure a vessel inshore. Desperate and foolhardy skippers would be rushing for what cover they could get. How many times had a deceiver’s light lured prey onto the very rocks where the ‘salvage crew’ lay waiting?
狂风随着时间推移愈发暴烈。今晚盗船者本可高枕无忧，但总有人会出海，用虚假的灯火引诱船只靠岸。那些走投无路又鲁莽的船长们正拼命寻找避风港。多少次欺骗者的灯光将猎物引向礁石，而"打捞队"早已守株待兔？

The grandmother clock in the hall struck six as Jim threw down his pen. Daylight had dwindled, the sky was thickly overcast, dim with a deep, steel-blue twilight of boiling clouds and flying spray. Jim was working by the illumination of a lamp, though it should still have been daylight. Rain lashed the window glass, and he set aside the paperwork for moment to watch the splendor of the storm. Lightning sheeted out
当吉姆掷下钢笔时，门厅的老式座钟敲响了六下。白昼将尽，天空阴云密布，翻腾的云团与飞溅的浪沫将暮色染成暗沉的钢蓝色。虽然本该还是白天，吉姆却已点起油灯工作。雨水鞭笞着窗玻璃，他暂时搁下文件，凝视着暴风雨的壮丽景象。闪电划破长空
the sky and forked in the north, and his view offered him an entire panorama.
北方的天空电光如叉，他眼前的景象展现出一幅完整的全景。

Marrick Hall perched on the cliff south of Scarborough, well out of the town. From the north windows one could see the great hunched shape of the castle, like a giant on the headland, looming over the south bay where the town huddled. Lightning forked, northeast to southwest, and for a split second he could see rooftops, pick out the line of the headland, the shape of the castle’s keep. It seemed a battle was being fought on the horizon, and Scarborough was lit up, deafened, by unseen artillery.
马里克庄园矗立在斯卡伯勒城南的悬崖上，远离城镇。从北窗望去，可以看见城堡巨大的轮廓，如同岬角上的巨人，俯瞰着城镇蜷缩其中的南湾。闪电自东北向西南劈开天际，刹那间他看清了成片的屋顶，辨认出岬角的轮廓线，以及城堡主楼的形状。地平线上仿佛正进行着一场战役，斯卡伯勒被无形的炮火照亮，震耳欲聋。

The town’s buildings seemed to shrink together for comfort under the onslaught of Nature. Narrow streets led steeply down to the waterfront, cottages seemed sometimes to physically cling to the cliffs, sitting one atop the other, and below it all Scarborough’s bay and harbor threshed and heaved.
镇上的建筑仿佛在自然的狂暴中瑟缩着相互依偎。狭窄的街道陡峭地向下延伸至水滨，村舍像是紧紧攀附在悬崖上，层层叠叠，而在这一切之下，斯卡伯勒的海湾与港口正剧烈翻腾着。

A few fishing boats remained tied up, jostling dangerously at their moorings; several smacks and the coast guard cutter were even then trying to make it in to safety, and the ugly little steam tug Good Intent stood by them. Most of the fishing fleet was at sea, and Jim had received word not an hour ago, a large number of boats had run for Whitby while others headed south with the storm winds behind them, hoping to make it to shelter on the Humber.
几艘渔船仍系在泊位上，危险地相互碰撞；几艘单桅帆船与海岸警卫队的快艇正试图驶向安全区域，而那艘丑陋的小蒸汽拖船"善意号"守候在旁。大部分渔船仍在海上，吉姆一小时前刚收到消息——许多船只已逃往惠特比，另一些则顺风暴南下，希望能抵达亨伯河的避风港。

An hour ago the lighthouse had begun to flash out its warning to shipping as daylight prematurely failed. If mist rolled in on the gale the foghorn would soon begin to bellow like an enraged bull and all Scarborough would get no sleep.
一小时前，灯塔已开始向航船发出警告信号，因为白昼过早地消逝了。倘若雾气随着狂风翻涌而来，雾角很快就会像暴怒的公牛般嘶吼，整个斯卡伯勒都将彻夜难眠。

Pushing aside the books, Jim went to the window, rested his flat palms against the cold glass and watched the lighthouse. He counted the rhythmic pulses, so familiar to anyone who had lived in this place even a year.
吉姆推开书本走到窗前，将手掌平贴在冰凉的玻璃上，凝望着那座灯塔。他默数着有节奏的光束闪烁——这种韵律对于在此地住过哪怕一年的人都再熟悉不过。

April had begun as the proverbial lamb, a mild month - far too clement for the fair weather to last. Good weather so early in the year, said the old folks, would turn into busy nights for the salvage crews. Jim sighed, eyes half closed against the flicker of lightning. Mick Hutton would be at the old boathouse, north of Castle Hill. It would be sweet black coffee, salt-beef sandwiches, oilskins, and the telescope with which he kept vigil as surely as the other salvage crews, and the wreckers.
四月的开端温顺如谚语中的羔羊，是个和煦的月份——这般晴好天气注定难以持久。老人们说，年初出现这样的好天气，意味着打捞队很快就会迎来忙碌的夜晚。吉姆半阖着眼帘抵挡闪电的眩光，轻轻叹了口气。米克·赫顿此刻肯定在城堡山北面的旧船屋里，喝着浓黑咖啡，嚼着咸牛肉三明治，穿着油布雨衣，像其他打捞队和沉船贩子那样，用望远镜彻夜守望。

No ship was safe in an east or northeast gale; some skippers had better sense than to put out into weather which could drive them up on a shore with no chance of shelter, but others surrendered to pressure from foolhardy passengers to whom money was a god.
没有船只能在东风或东北风的狂澜中确保安全。有些船长还算明智，不会冒险驶入可能将他们逼上无处避难的浅滩的天气，但另一些则屈服于鲁莽乘客的施压——对这些将金钱奉若神明的人来说。

And the Mascot? Jim cast a glance at his desk. A silver tea tray and several cups commanded a corner; a carelessly uncapped inkwell stood beside the open ledger, under it, a newspaper, and a cable dated the
那艘吉祥物号呢？吉姆朝自己的办公桌瞥了一眼。银质茶盘和几只茶杯占据着角落；一个没盖好的墨水瓶摆在摊开的账簿旁，下面压着份报纸，还有一封日期显示为
day before. 17th April, 1862: ‘Business done. Sailing in Mascot if weather holds. Ryan.’
前天的电报。1862 年 4 月 17 日：‘交易完成。若天气允许将乘吉祥物号启航。瑞安。’

The Mascot should have tied up in Scarborough at five, unless her skipper had decided to take refuge up on the Tees - or else not to put out of Edinburgh at all. Jim might have prayed Captain Rob Butterwick had stayed in port, but he knew Butterwick too well. The man was reckless, he owned the hulls he captained and he would do anything to keep a promised schedule since most of his competitors were running steamers. And Robert E. Butterwick was well insured.
吉祥物号本该在五点抵达斯卡伯勒，除非船长决定在提斯河避难——或者压根没从爱丁堡出港。吉姆或许祈祷过罗伯特·巴特威克船长留在港口，但他太了解巴特威克了。这人行事鲁莽，他既是船主又是船长，为了守住航期什么都干得出来——毕竟他的竞争对手大多都开蒸汽船了。何况罗伯特·E·巴特威克可是买了全额保险的。

So the Mascot had surely sailed, and damn the weather. Ryan would certainly have cabled again if they had dallied in Edinburgh, and Jim had received no further message; he took this as his guarantee. Heaven help her, the Mascot was at sea.
所以吉祥物号肯定出海了，管他什么鬼天气。要是他们在爱丁堡耽搁了，瑞安肯定会再发电报，而吉姆没收到任何消息；他将其视为保证。愿上帝保佑，吉祥物号此刻正在海上。

So, in the name of any sailor’s god, where was she? Rain sluiced across the window glass and, the better to see, Jim opened it. The ozone tang of the sea was heavy, overpowering on the air; thunder pealed like cannon on the other side of the castle, and the ocean was the color of lead.
看在所有水手之神的份上，她究竟在哪儿？雨水冲刷着窗玻璃，吉姆索性推开窗户想看得更清楚些。海风裹挟着浓重的臭氧味扑面而来；城堡另一侧雷声轰鸣如炮，铅灰色的海面翻涌不息。

It was hard to believe, but this was a spring night, just a fortnight short of the old pagan festival of Beltane. Daylight was almost gone. Peering, Jim saw no sign of a ship in the offing, though the smacks and cutter had battled their way into harbor by now. Scarborough was battened down, her people content to wait out the storm as they had done for centuries.
难以置信这竟是春夜，离古老的贝尔坦节只剩两周。暮色渐沉，吉姆极目远眺，近海处仍不见船只踪影，尽管那些小渔船和快艇早已奋力驶入港口。斯卡伯勒城门窗紧闭，居民们像过去几百年那样安然等待着风暴平息。

The old fishermen swore it would blow till morning - and they had predicted this weather for two days, with some fey alchemy Jim actually envied. He believed he possessed half a notion of how to read the tide, waves and water, but only a lifetime lived on, and even in, the ocean would teach a man how to read the sea like a book.
老渔夫们赌咒说这风要刮到天亮——他们两天前就预见了这般天气，那种吉姆暗自艳羡的神秘预知力。他自诩略懂潮汐水纹，但要像翻阅书页般读懂大海，非得将半生乃至整个人生都交付给这片汪洋不可。

Bill Ryan was far more adept at this particular skill than Jim ever expected to be; but then, Ryan had spent half his life in ships - a dozen different vessels, first as a lowly midshipman, more lately with the commission of a lieutenant in command of a twenty-two gun Naval sloop, until the day of his fall from grace. Now Ryan was simply the skipper of a twelve-year-old gaff-rigged schooner, plying between Scotland and Ireland, the ports of France, Holland, Scandinavia and the rich markets on the Thames. And against the odds, he seemed content with the Adelaide.
比尔·瑞安在这门技艺上远比吉姆所能企及的更为精通；不过话说回来，瑞安半辈子都在船上度过——从卑微的海军候补生，到后来指挥二十二门炮海军单桅帆船的中尉，直到失势那天。如今他不过是艘十二年船龄的纵帆船船长，往返于苏格兰与爱尔兰之间，穿梭于法国、荷兰、斯堪的纳维亚的港口与泰晤士河畔的富庶市场。出人意料的是，他似乎对阿德莱德号心满意足。

What Jim knew of Ryan’s life was little, for Ryan seemed reluctant to offer more than one terse word about his Naval service. Long ago, Jim had learned when not to harass him with unwanted questions. Ryan’s face would become a blank mask, as surely as if he had put up storm shutters. His mouth would compress and intelligent conversation was at an end for an hour at least, until he forgave the invasion of his privacy.
吉姆对瑞安的过往知之甚少，这位船长谈起海军服役经历时总吝于多言。吉姆早已学会何时该收起不合时宜的好奇——每当此时，瑞安的面容就会像落下防风暴窗板般骤然冷峻，双唇紧抿，至少一小时之内再难进行有意义的对话，直到他原谅这种对隐私的冒犯。

Yet Ryan seemed more than satisfied to skipper the Adelaide from Rotteredam or Skagerak to King’s Lynn and then home to Scarborough. She was well-maintained, a fast, agile little ship, as responsive to knowing, careful hands as a lover. Under Ryan’s captaincy she had, in just two voyages, become Eastcoast Packet’s main earner; and for months now she had been the final bastion between Jonathan Hale and the bank.
但瑞安显然对指挥阿德莱德号心满意足，无论是从鹿特丹或斯卡格拉克海峡驶往金斯林，还是返回斯卡伯勒的归途。这艘保养得当的灵巧快船，在行家手中温顺得如同情人。在瑞安掌舵下，她仅用两次航程就成为东海岸邮船公司的摇钱树，数月来更是乔纳森·黑尔抵挡银行催债的最后堡垒。

The Adelaide was under repairs but the damage was minor - a broken block-and-tackle, fallen rigging, a weakened foremast. She would be on the water again in a week for the cost of a chandler’s account, but her survival was to Ryan’s credit. The damage could have been much worse.
阿德莱德号正在维修，不过损伤轻微——滑轮组断裂、索具脱落、前桅杆强度受损。付清船具商的账单后，一周内她就能重返大海，这全赖瑞安的化险为夷，否则后果不堪设想。

Until the Spindrift launched in August, the Adelaide was the only ship Eastcoast possessed which could safely undertake the run to the Scandinavian timber and dairy ports. This knowledge brought Jim a small but uncomfortable pang of anxiety.
在八月浪花号下水前，阿德莱德号是东海岸公司唯一能安全往返斯堪的纳维亚木材与乳制品港口的船只。这个认知让吉姆心底泛起一丝不安的刺痛。

He stood back from the window as the wind whipped toward him, and slammed it shut as the gale burst into the room, sending papers fluttering to the floor. His reflection gazed back from the glass: a head of unruly brown hair, direct eyes with the power to arrest, and at this exact moment, a worried expression betraying the turmoil in the pit of his belly. He felt an unpleasant tingling, like a half-felt shiver, as if a chill wind blew on sweated bare skin, while in fact he stood in a closed room where a fire burned brightly, a pendulum clock ticked softly on the mantle and the lamp hissed like a snake over his desk.
他后退着离开窗户，狂风迎面扑来，他猛地关上窗扇，疾风灌进房间，纸张纷纷扬扬飘落在地。玻璃上映出他的倒影：一头蓬乱的棕发，目光锐利得能攫住人心，而此刻眉宇间流露的忧虑却出卖了他腹中的翻腾。他感到一阵不适的刺痛，像是未竟的战栗，仿佛冷汗涔涔的肌肤掠过阴风，实则他身处紧闭的屋内，炉火正旺，壁炉架上的摆钟轻声滴答，书桌上的油灯嘶嘶作响如蛇吐信。

The unease in his gut was premonition, and he knew it. He recognized the sensation, had felt it too many times before. After ten years’ vigil, watching the moods and humors of the sea, a man attained a kind of feyness which to some perhaps appeared like the second sight. Jim Hale knew better.
他心知肚明，腹中的不安是种预兆。这感觉他再熟悉不过，已历经太多次。十年守望海潮起落，观测风云变幻，人会养出近乎预知的灵觉，在旁人看来或许如同天眼。吉姆·黑尔却清楚其中真谛。

With a bare half of his mind he returned to the paperwork while he waited. His eyes skimmed figures, his pen scrawled numbers, tallied this and that. And sure enough, within half an hour, he heard the creak of a floorboard on the stairs, the slow, heavy tread he would have recognized anywhere.
他只用半分心思继续处理文书，边等边写。目光扫过数字，钢笔潦草地记下数目，核对各项条目。果然不出半小时，楼梯传来地板吱呀声，那迟缓沉重的脚步声他闭着眼都能认出。

Knuckles gave a discreet knock at his door and Mosswell’s shining bald head appeared.
指节在他门上谨慎地叩响，莫斯韦尔锃亮的光头探了进来。
“Beggin’ pardon,” the butler said in what passed for gentility in the northcountry, “Captain 'utton just come for thee. It’s that kind of weather, should’ve expected it.”
"‘恕我冒昧，’管家用北方乡绅特有的腔调说道，‘赫顿上尉刚到府上找您。这种天气本该料到的。’"

Jim’s insides gave a peculiar flip-flop. He closed the ledger on the company accounts and threw down his pen. “I’ve only been waiting, Mosswell. Where is Captain Hutton now?”
吉姆的胃里突然翻腾了一下。他合上公司账本，掷下钢笔。‘我早就在等了，莫斯韦尔。赫顿上尉现在何处？’
“In t’parlour, ‘olding’ is feet agin t’fire.” Mosswell stepped into the office. “Will I be gettin’ out thy gear, sir?”
"‘在客厅烤火呢。’莫斯韦尔踏进办公室，‘需要我给您准备行装吗，先生？’"
“I think so.” Jim lifted his jacket from the back of the chair and
"‘我想是的。’吉姆从椅背上拎起外套"
shrugged quickly into it. “Did he tell you the news?”
迅速套上外套。"他告诉你那个消息了吗？"
“No, just said to fetch thee down, and be quick about it.” Mosswell was at the window, drapes held aside as he peered out into the night. He was a tall old man who had been with Jonathan Hale since they were both younger than Jim was now. Mosswell was still lean, filled with bony angles and cable-like sinews, still strong despite the white of his hair and the twists and knobs of his fingers. “‘Tis black as ${\mathrm{t}}^{\prime }$${\mathrm{t}}^{\prime }$t^(')\mathrm{t}^{\prime} pit out there. Can’t see nothin’.”
"没，只说让我赶紧把你叫下去。"莫斯韦尔正站在窗边，撩起窗帘窥视着夜色。这个高瘦的老头从他和乔纳森·黑尔都比现在的吉姆年轻时就在一起了。莫斯韦尔依然精瘦，浑身嶙峋的骨节和缆绳般的肌腱，尽管白发苍苍、手指关节扭曲变形，却仍很硬朗。"外头黑得像 ${\mathrm{t}}^{\prime }$${\mathrm{t}}^{\prime }$t^(')\mathrm{t}^{\prime} 煤窑似的。啥都瞅不见。"
“I think you’d best get my gear now,” Jim said tersely, on his way through the door. “I have a feeling this is going to be one of those nights.”
"我看你最好现在就把我的装备拿来，"吉姆简短地说着往门外走，"我有预感今晚会是个不寻常的夜晚。"

Mick Hutton was a skipper without a ship. It was his collier, the old Eliza, that sank on Blackhall Rocks, and Mick was waiting now, hoping for another vessel. Without question he hoped to get the Spindrift. Perhaps only Jim knew the truth. Hutton did not have a prayer; the Spindrift already belonged to Ryan … so long as Eastcoast Packet was still in business when ‘Hale’s Folly’ was launched. Jim was not the only man entertaining well-founded doubts.
米克·赫顿是个没有船的船长。他那艘老旧的运煤船伊莱扎号在黑礁岩沉没了，如今米克只能等待，盼着能接手另一艘船。毫无疑问他觊觎着浪花号。或许只有吉姆知道实情——赫顿根本毫无希望，浪花号早已属于瑞安...只要东海岸邮船公司在"黑尔的愚行"启航时还没倒闭。心存合理怀疑的远不止吉姆一人。

He took the stairs two at a time, sparing a glance for the clock in the hall and a nod for the maids who fretted there. Annie and Mary were half-sisters, one big and brawny as a man, the other like a pixie, more child than woman even though she was the elder by a year, but they shared one thing in common. Both had an eye for Captain Bill Ryan. From the apprehensive looks of them, they knew he was on the Mascot - which meant they had seen the cable when the boy brought it up from the telegraph office.
他两步并作一步奔上楼梯，匆匆瞥了眼门厅里的挂钟，又朝那些忧心忡忡的女仆们点头致意。安妮和玛丽这对同父异母的姐妹，一个壮实得像男人，另一个则精灵般娇小，尽管年长一岁却仍像个孩子。但她们有个共同点——都爱慕比尔·瑞安船长。从她们惴惴不安的神情来看，显然已知道他在吉祥物号上，想必是看见了电报局小伙计送来的那封电报。

Tugging his collar straight, Jim frowned at himself in the hall’s brass-bound mirror. He was framed there between the antlered head of a red stag and a pair of cameo portraits by the local artist, Thaddeus Pemby. In one palm-sized painting was a young and smiling Jonathan Hale. In the other, a young and very beautiful woman. A male version of her face seemed to look out of the mirror tonight. The tiny portrait haunted Jim as always, but he could only spare it a moment before be passed by into the parlor.
吉姆扯正衣领，对着门厅镶黄铜边的镜子皱起眉头。镜框两侧分别是红鹿的犄角标本和本地画家萨迪厄斯·彭比绘制的两幅浮雕肖像。掌心大小的画作里，一幅是年轻含笑的乔纳森·黑尔，另一幅则是位绝色佳人。今夜镜中映出的，俨然是那女子性转后的面容。这幅小像总让吉姆心神不宁，但他只能匆匆一瞥，便穿过门厅走进客厅。

A big man, thickset and powerful, was Mick Hutton, with a chest like a barrel, wide shoulders and the coloring of a Swede, yellow hair and pale skin tanned to deep gold by sun and wind. His cheeks had flushed as he warmed himself by the fire after the sprint through the chill and rain.
米克·赫顿是个魁梧壮实的汉子，胸膛如酒桶般厚实，肩膀宽阔，有着瑞典人特有的淡金色头发。经年风吹日晒将他苍白的皮肤镀成了深金色。方才冒着冷雨疾奔而来，此刻他在炉火旁取暖，脸颊还泛着红晕。

He was on his feet as Jim appeared, and gestured at the tantalus on the sideboard with the glass in his right hand. “Hope you don’t mind. I helped myself. The wind’s cold enough to freeze the nose off a Scowegian.” He spoke with the vague remains of a south London accent. Twenty-one years in the Navy had done much to smooth it out, but Hutton would never be able to cultivate the ‘correct’ accent, the
见吉姆进来，他立即起身，右手举着酒杯指向餐具柜上的酒架。"希望你别介意，我自己动手了。这鬼风冷得能把挪威人的鼻子冻掉。"他说话时带着淡薄的伦敦南部口音。二十一年的海军生涯虽磨平了不少乡音，但赫顿这辈子都学不会那种"体面"腔调。
voice which would win him entry to influential circles. He was forty now, fifteen years Jim’s senior, and an old friend.
那副能让他跻身上流社会的嗓音。如今他已四十岁，比吉姆年长十五岁，是位老友了。
“Help yourself to another, Mick,” Jim invited with a wave at the tantalus, which was filled with a reasonable brandy.
"再来一杯吧，米克，"吉姆朝装满上等白兰地的酒柜挥了挥手邀请道。
“We haven’t time.” Hutton finished the spirit fast and set down the glass, upturned, on the salver. “There’s a coaster on rocks at Scalby Ness. She must have been trying to make the harbor and the current took her in, not a mile from the lighthouse. If you want the salvage fee we’ll have to move our arses, Jim. Give the Kerr brothers another half hour and they’ll know she’s aground. They might know already. They’ll be glad to snatch her right out of our hands.”
"我们没时间了。"赫顿快速喝完那杯烈酒，将玻璃杯倒扣在托盘上。"有艘沿海货轮在斯卡尔比岬触礁了。她准是想进港，结果被洋流推到了离灯塔不到一英里的礁石上。要是想拿打捞费，咱们得赶紧行动，吉姆。再给克尔兄弟半小时，他们就会知道船搁浅了。说不定已经知道了。他们巴不得从我们手里抢走这单生意呢。"
“How long since she struck?” Jim was on his way to the door. “Mosswell! Is my gear ready?”
"船搁浅多久了？"吉姆边问边朝门口走去。"莫斯韦尔！我的装备准备好了吗？"

A disembodied and irreverent Yorkshire voiced floated back: “Aye, all ready, like I told thee!”
一个飘忽不羁的约克郡口音从远处传来："哎，都准备好了，就像我告诉你的那样！"
“She went on about a quarter hour ago. I saw here strike and then came here as fast as old Blondin can run,” Hutton called as Jim went up the stairs at a run.
"她大约一刻钟前就出发了。我看见她扬帆后就立刻赶过来，老布朗丁跑得有多快我就跑多快，"赫顿在吉姆飞奔上楼时喊道。
“What ship is it, could you tell?” Jim shouted down as he hurried into his room. His oilskins were laid out on the bed, the heavy rubber boots standing incongruously beside his slippers.
"是什么船，你能看出来吗？"吉姆一边匆匆跑进房间一边朝楼下喊道。他的油布雨衣摊在床上，厚重的橡胶靴子滑稽地摆在拖鞋旁边。

Hutton bellowed up from the foot of the stairs. “No way to tell, Jim, not in this dark, but she’s a coaster, and you can bet she’s carrying passengers. In a storm, they always are.”
赫顿在楼梯底下大声回应："看不出来，吉姆，天太黑了。但那是艘沿海船，我敢打赌上面载着乘客。暴风雨天总是这样。"

They were the worst kind of salvage. The kind where an hour’s delay did not merely mean salt-ruined grain or silk or butter, but drowned women and children, grief all around, services for the dead in churches from Scarborough to Whitby and beyond.
这是最糟糕的打捞任务。那种耽搁一小时不仅意味着粮食、丝绸或黄油被海水毁坏，更会导致妇女儿童溺亡，四处弥漫着哀恸，从斯卡伯勒到惠特比乃至更远的教堂都将举行葬礼。

Jim rushed out of his shirt and trousers, struggled fast into dungarees, two pairs of thick stockings and a sweater, and fought the oilskins on over the top of them. With his feet thrust into the Wellington boots, he had the sou’wester in his hand and headed for the stairs again. “Mosswell!”
吉姆匆忙脱下衬衫和长裤，手忙脚乱地套上工装裤、两双厚袜子和毛衣，又费力地将油布雨衣裹在最外层。他双脚蹬进威灵顿长靴，手里抓着防水帽再次冲向楼梯。"莫斯韦尔！"

The butler’s face looked out of a bedchamber on the landing.
管家从楼梯平台处的卧房门里探出脸来。
“Tell my father where I’ve gone,” Jim said in passing. “I want the salvage fee, we need the money. And if we give the Kerr brothers half a chance the buggers’ll be in there in front of us!”
"告诉我父亲我去哪儿了，"吉姆匆匆说道，"我要拿打捞费，咱们缺钱。要是给克尔兄弟半点机会，那群混蛋准会抢在我们前头！"

In the hall, hand already on the brass front door knob, Hutton looked worriedly up at him as he swung down the stairs. “The lads should have the first boats in the water by now, Jim, but it’s going to be damned dangerous. The sea’s running like a maelstrom. I don’t think you should be out on the boats.”
赫顿站在马里克庄园的门厅里，手已搭在黄铜门把上，忧心忡忡地望着正从楼梯疾步而下的吉姆。"伙计们这会儿该把第一批船放下水了，可这鬼天气太危险。海浪跟漩涡似的翻腾。我看您不该跟船出海。"

Jim just gave him a glare and made no verbal comment. There were times when being the owner’s only son and heir could be an advantage. This was not one of them. A moment later he was out in the
吉姆只是狠狠瞪了他一眼，一言不发。作为庄园主独子兼继承人，身份偶尔能带来特权——此刻却适得其反。转眼间他已冲进
wind-lashed dark, watching Hutton’s horse snatch at his tether while young Walter struggled around the corner of the house with the stable’s new gelding, Duke. He was an ex-Army nag, twelve years old and either deaf as a post or as impervious to the crash and bang of the storm as to a battlefield, while Blondin was half-wild.
狂风肆虐的夜色中，看着赫顿的马匹不断扯动缰绳。年轻的沃尔特正费力拽着马厩新来的骟马"公爵"绕过屋角。这匹十二岁的老军马要么聋得像块木头，要么就是对风暴的轰鸣如同对战场炮火般无动于衷，而布朗丹却已躁动不安。

The surf pounded on the rocks below Marrick Hall, and the lights of Scarborough beckoned from the houses below. It was a town of almost twenty thousand souls now, and still the forces of nature seemed to hold it to ransom, castle and all. Five times, the castle had withstood sieges; for more than seven centuries the headland had been fortified, yet the fury of the storm seemed to dwarf the ramparts and overpower the greatest works of mortals.
怒涛拍打着马里克庄园下方的礁石，斯卡伯勒的万家灯火在山下闪烁。这座两万人口的城镇连同城堡，在自然伟力面前仍显得不堪一击。城堡曾五次抵御围攻，海岬要塞屹立七百余载，可暴风雨的威势却令城墙黯然失色，凡人伟业在此面前尽失颜色。

As he caught Duke’s bridle and swung carefully into the saddle, Jim Hale felt his mortality keenly. Fighting Blondin every foot of the way, cursing the animal, Hutton scrambled back into the saddle. Jim turned Duke’s nose to the north and touched him with his heels. Lightning sheeted out the whole sky again as the horses took off, and Jim caught his breath.
当吉姆·黑尔抓住杜克的缰绳，小心翼翼地翻身上马时，他深切地感受到了生命的脆弱。赫顿一路与布隆丁搏斗着，咒骂着这匹烈马，狼狈地重新爬回马鞍。吉姆调转杜克的马头向北，用脚跟轻触马腹。当马匹疾驰而出时，闪电再次划破整个天空，吉姆不由得屏住了呼吸。

The town was on their right, in the south bay, below. The wind carried up strange snatches of sound - voices bellowed, he heard the music of a French accordion and the raucous sound of drunken singing from a tavern. As yet no one down there knew the plight of the crippled coaster. Soon enough the word would get about: a ship was on the rocks. Volunteers would appear from all quarters. Were they eager to help save life and limb, Jim wondered, or just eager for a cut of the salvage price?
小镇就在他们右侧下方的南湾处。风送来断断续续的古怪声响——有人在高声喊叫，他听见法国手风琴的乐声，还有酒馆里醉汉嘶哑的歌唱。此刻下面还没人知道那艘遇险的沿岸贸易船的困境。但消息很快就会传开：有艘船触礁了。志愿者会从四面八方涌来。吉姆暗自思忖，他们是真心想救人于危难，还是只为了分一杯打捞费的羹？

The boathouse was on the north bay, on the last stretch of the beach before the rocks began, the last stretch of sandy beach before Whitby, twenty miles away. The battered timber building housed four boats - longboats taken from a Whitby whaler eight years before and kept here as insurance against nights like this.
船屋坐落在北湾，位于礁石区开始前的最后一段海滩上，那是距离二十英里外的惠特比之前的最后一片沙滩。这座饱经风霜的木结构建筑里停着四艘船——八年前从惠特比捕鲸船上卸下的长艇，留在这里就是为了应对今夜这样的险情。

The horses scrambled down the trail toward the beach, and Jim thanked any sailor’s god who might be watching: the boathouse was open, the crews swinging lanterns, while the sea threshed and churned. He swallowed hard as he saw the height of the waves, the white water breaking on the rocks while foam seemed to float on the air. Duke skittered to a halt in the lee of the boathouse and a boy hurried up to take his bridle.
马匹沿着小径跌跌撞撞地冲向海滩，吉姆向可能正在注视这一切的水手之神默默致谢：船屋大门敞开着，船员们正挥舞着提灯，而海面在剧烈翻腾。看到那滔天巨浪，白沫拍击礁石，浪花仿佛悬浮在空中时，他艰难地咽了口唾沫。杜克在船屋背风处突然停住，一个少年匆忙跑来接过缰绳。

The stone slipway angled steeply into the water, which tonight broke high, flinging spume around the roof of the boathouse. Jim’s oilskins were running wet in moments and a trickle of water found its way under his collar. He saw at once, two of the four boats were already in the water; a third had just launched as he and Mick Hutton handed over the horses, and they hurried into the cold, flying spray and the mad whirl of the gale. The fourth boat was still on its slip,
石砌的滑道陡峭地斜插入水中，今夜浪涛汹涌，飞溅的浪花拍打着船房屋顶。吉姆的油布衣瞬间就被打湿，一道细流顺着他的衣领渗了进去。他立刻注意到，四艘船中已有两艘下水；第三艘刚在他和米克·赫顿交接马匹时离岸，他们匆忙冲进寒冷飞溅的浪花与狂风的漩涡中。而第四艘船仍停在滑道上，
waiting for several crew members who were very late.
等候着几位迟到的船员。
If he cast a glance back along the cliff, Jim could see the castle and a few lights of houses on the north bay, but the town and Marrick Hall were out of sight around the headland. Still, he knew where his father would be. It was the same, always. The old man would have hoisted his ailing body out of the bed. He would be at his window with a telescope, still trying to share in the excitement when his body had long ago decided enough was enough.
如果吉姆回头望向悬崖方向，还能看见城堡和北湾几处房屋的灯火，但小镇和马里克庄园都被海岬挡住了。不过他知道父亲会在哪儿。总是如此。老人总会拖着病躯从床上爬起来，拿着望远镜站在窗前，当他的身体早已不堪重负时，仍试图分享这份激动。

Unease and resentment tightened Jim’s mouth. Jon Hale would surely command Eastcoast for many more years, yet he was a creature of the past, unable to adjust to the reality of the present. To him the age of the machine was unknowable, unthinkable. Eastcoast was on the rocks as surely as the ship which had just been driven in by this storm, but still the old man’s every hope and aspiration remained pinned on the Spindrift. He would mortgage the last stick and stone the family possessed to finish her.
不安与怨愤让吉姆绷紧了嘴角。乔恩·黑尔肯定还能执掌东海岸公司许多年，但他属于过去，无法适应现实的变迁。对他而言，机器时代是不可知、不可想的。东海岸公司就像被这场风暴逼上岸的船一样注定触礁，可老人仍把全部希望寄托在浪花号上。他宁愿抵押家族最后一砖一瓦也要完成这艘船。

And what would become of them, Jim wondered, when the steamers, or the wreckers, or the railway threw Eastcoast onto the mercy of a Manchester bank and the bailiff was at the gate? He gritted his teeth as the fourth boat was made ready to launch into the churning water.
当蒸汽船、打捞队或是铁路将东海岸的命运交到曼彻斯特银行手中，当法警堵在门口时，他们该怎么办？吉姆咬紧牙关，看着第四艘救生艇被放入翻腾的海水中。

Hand cupped to his mouth, Hutton yelled, “Jim! Jim! We’re almost away!”
赫顿用手拢着嘴喊道："吉姆！吉姆！我们马上就能脱险了！"

Breath held jealously in his chest, Jim Hale jumped over onto the pitching deck and caught the high end of an oar to steady himself before the first pounding wave tossed him like a rag doll over the side. Hutton was in the bow, and as Jim took the tiller the seamen who stood this duty for bonus pay threw their backs into the work.
吉姆·黑尔屏住呼吸，纵身跃上颠簸的甲板，抓住一支船桨的高端稳住身形，免得第一个巨浪像抛布娃娃似的把他掀下船去。赫顿站在船头，当吉姆掌舵时，那些为额外报酬值勤的水手们正奋力划桨。

Ashore, their wives were also busy: hot food, blankets and bandages were being assembled at the hospital, and lookouts were in the lighthouse. Little more could be done for travelers caught between the wind and cliffs; if they got out of the wreck with their lives, they would consider themselves the luckiest folk alive tonight.
岸上，他们的妻子同样忙碌：医院里正在准备热食、毛毯和绷带，灯塔上也安排了瞭望员。对于被困在狂风与悬崖之间的旅人，能做的实在有限；若他们能活着离开失事船只，定会觉得自己是今夜最幸运的人。

Strong backs took the boats out, and Jim fought the tiller as the sea tried to tear it out of his hands with a fury which defied his understanding. They rowed north from the boathouse toward the Scalby Ness Rocks, and thanked heaven it was not a long pull. On a fine day it was an easy trip - a man could swim it for pleasure without even getting out of breath. Tonight the same small voyage was a nightmare. Soaked, winded, pummeled by waves that continually smashed down over the boats, Jim was half blinded by the salt spray. But in moments he had seen the crippled coaster, and the lights - two sets of lights. He swore lividly.
壮实的汉子们将船只推出海面，吉姆奋力掌着舵柄，大海以他无法理解的狂暴试图将舵柄从他手中夺走。他们从船屋向北划向斯卡尔比岬礁石群，庆幸这段航程并不算长。晴朗日子里这不过是段轻松旅程——甚至有人能悠闲地游完全程而不带喘息。今夜同样的短途航行却成了噩梦。浑身湿透、气喘吁吁的吉姆被接二连三砸向船身的浪头打得东倒西歪，咸涩的浪沫糊得他几乎睁不开眼。但在瞬息间，他还是看清了那艘遇难的沿岸货轮，以及两组灯光。他恶狠狠地咒骂起来。

The figure of a man stood on the angled foredeck of the stricken vessel and was swinging a lantern in wide arcs. Out to sea a second light showed, another lantern in the bow of in incoming boat. The Kerr
倾斜的遇难船首甲板上立着个人影，正大幅度挥舞着提灯。海面上另有一处灯光显现，是艘驶近小船的船头挂着第二盏灯。克尔
brothers were even quicker off the mark than usual. Their boats were housed a quarter of a mile north, toward Cromer Point, and they kept their own clifftop lookout. Still, they were so quick to the kill, Jim was astonished.
兄弟的动作比往常更为迅捷。他们的船停泊在北方四分之一英里处靠近克罗默角的地方，还专门在崖顶设了瞭望点。饶是如此，他们这次来得如此之快，连吉姆都感到震惊。

He put the tiller hard over, held it with his knee and cupped both hands to his mouth. “Ahoy! Ahoy on the coaster! Throw us a line! Are you carrying passengers?”
他猛打舵柄，用膝盖抵住，双手拢在嘴边喊道："喂！货轮上的人！扔条绳子过来！船上有乘客吗？"

The man with the lantern heard him somehow above the roar of the sea, and turned toward him. His words were almost ripped away by the wind. “Nine! Nine passengers! She’s taking water fast! Can you take us off?”
提灯那人竟在怒海咆哮声中听见了他的呼喊，转身朝他喊道。话音几乎被狂风撕碎："九个！九名乘客！船进水很快！能接我们走吗？"

The line Jim had asked for came flying out from the darkened ship and smacked into the water not five yards from Jim’s boat. Oars thrashed to hold the longboat steady as he lashed the tiller with a loop of hemp hawser, and struggled a boathook over the side to snare it. The line ran quickly through a brass ring and two men left the oars to heave on it.
吉姆要的粗缆绳从漆黑船身飞掷而出，在距他小船不足五码处拍击水面。长艇上的桨手们奋力稳住船身，他用麻绳圈固定舵柄，又挣扎着探出船钩去够那缆绳。绳索迅速穿过铜环，两名桨手放下船桨开始收缆。

The ship towered over the longboats. Masts and hull groaned like a creature in agony, and white faces peered over the side, half-seen, more like wraiths than men as lightning licked along the northern horizon once more. Jim’s own face was filled with salt spray and he reached up blindly; a hand caught him by the forearm, hoisted him up onto the steeply-canted and still shuddering deck. The footing was difficult, the planks oily, slick, and he swore as he crashed heavily against the side with his hip.
商船如巨兽般俯视着救生艇。桅杆与船体发出痛苦呻吟，惨白面孔在船舷时隐时现，当北方天际再度划过闪电时，那些身影更像幽魂而非活人。吉姆满脸盐沫，盲目向上伸手；一只手腕抓住他前臂，将他拽上仍在震颤的倾斜甲板。立足处油腻湿滑，他重重撞上船舷时髀骨生疼，不禁咒骂出声。
“Watch your step, Jim - careful, now. You’re supposed to be out here to rescue us!”
"当心脚下，吉姆——现在可得留神。你可是来救我们的！"
“Bill!” Astonishment exploded into shock. Jim righted himself and spun, fingers clenching into the drenched sleeves of a black greatcoat he recognized. Ryan’s face was pale in a flicker of lightning but he seemed unharmed. “My God, then this is the Mascot after all. I thought it might be.”
“比尔！”震惊瞬间化为骇然。吉姆稳住身形转身，手指攥紧了那件熟悉的黑色厚呢大衣湿透的袖管。闪电忽明忽暗间，瑞安的脸显得苍白，但似乎安然无恙。“天啊，这果然是吉祥物号。我早该想到的。”
“We limped our way through, God alone knows how,” Ryan said tersely over the banshee voice of the wind. “Half the crew and most of the passengers are sick below decks. They’ll need help, Jim. There’s five women, and two are just children. Robbie Butterwick’s running with seven crew. Can you take us all off at once?”
“我们勉强撑过来了，只有老天知道怎么做到的，”瑞安在呼啸的风声中简短地说。“半数船员和大部分乘客都在下层舱室病倒了。他们需要帮助，吉姆。有五名女性，其中两个还是孩子。罗比·巴特威克带着七名船员在忙活。能一次把我们全接走吗？”
“We’ll have to. She’s not going to give us any second chances,” Jim shouted. “Feel her wallowing, Bill. She’s already full of water, she won’t last much longer.”
“必须如此。她不会给我们第二次机会，”吉姆喊道。“感受她摇晃的样子，比尔。已经灌满水了，撑不了多久。”
“She tore a gash in herself, down by the keel.” Ryan turned his back to the wind and lent his hands to Hutton, who had just appeared at the rail. “We struck with one hell of a blow.” He hauled Hutton over onto the deck. “A nice night for a jaunt, Mick!”
“她在船龙骨附近划开了一道口子。”瑞安背对着风，伸手扶住刚出现在栏杆边的赫顿。“我们遭到了重创。”他将赫顿拽上甲板。“真是夜游的好天气啊，米克！”
“Is that Billy Ryan I can hear?” Hutton peered out from beneath
“我听到的是比利·瑞安的声音吗？”赫顿从他那蜡染帽檐下探出头来。
the waxed brim of his sou’wester. “Where’s Butterwick, that bloodydamned fool?”
“巴特威克那个该死的蠢货去哪儿了？”
“Below, getting his papers into order.” Ryan gestured over his shoulder with one thumb. “I’ll see if I can get the women together. They were ill even before we struck. It stinks to high heaven below decks.”
“在下面整理文件。”瑞安用拇指朝肩后指了指，“我去看看能不能把女人们集合起来。船还没颠簸她们就晕船了。底舱臭气熏天。”

A massive wave hit and the ship gave a dizzying, heaving twist. Jim swallowed hard, as if he were choking down his heart. “Don’t be long,” he yelled after Ryan, but his voice was torn away by the wind. He lost sight of Ryan as the hatch opened, howled in the wind like the neck of an empty winejar, and slammed shut behind him.
一个巨浪打来，船身剧烈倾斜，令人眩晕。吉姆强咽下一口唾沫，仿佛要把跳到嗓子眼的心吞回去。“别耽搁太久！”他冲着瑞安的背影喊道，但声音立刻被狂风撕碎。舱门打开的瞬间，他失去了瑞安的踪影，那门在风中发出空酒瓶颈般的呜咽，随即在瑞安身后重重关上。

He turned to watch the yellow lantern swinging against the darkness as the Kerr brothers’ three boats came in. He saw them now, a trio of half-decked, clinker-hulled longboats, each manned by four burly, weatherbeaten seamen. In the bow of the first boat was Nathan Kerr himself, the elder of the siblings, and in the weird, shifting lanternlight he wore a murderous face.
他转身望去，只见克尔兄弟的三条船正驶入港湾，黄色灯笼在黑暗中摇晃。此刻他看清了——三条半甲板结构的鱼鳞壳长艇，每条船上都有四名魁梧饱经风霜的水手。为首船只的船头站着内森·克尔本人，他是兄弟中的长子，在诡异摇曳的灯笼光下，他脸上带着杀气腾腾的神情。
“Too late this time, Nathan,” Jim yelled into the gale. “This one’s ours!”
"这次来晚了，内森，"吉姆在狂风中喊道，"这条船归我们了！"

Kerr bellowed in reply, his words just making it through the crazy jostle of wind and wave. “We’ll stand by you, Hale! We can take a few of the passengers off!”
克尔吼着回应，他的话语勉强穿透狂风巨浪的喧嚣："我们会守着你们，黑尔！可以帮你们接走几个乘客！"

The offer had nothing to do with any milk of human kindness, and Jim swore silently. Let just one of the Kerr brothers or their lieutenants set foot on the deck of the Mascot, and it would be a free-for-all. They would claim they had reached the stricken ship ahead of the Hale boats, and the whole question of salvage rights would be in the hands of sea lawyers for months before a penny was paid.
这番提议与人类善意毫无瓜葛，吉姆暗自咒骂。只要克尔兄弟或他们的副手踏上吉祥物号的甲板，局面就会失控。他们会声称比黑尔的船队先抵达遇难船只，而关于打捞权的争议将交由海事律师扯皮数月，休想拿到半个子儿。
“We can manage!” Jim shouted, waving them off with sharp, angry movements. “Get your lads in to safety, Nathan!”
“我们能应付！”吉姆厉声喊道，用激烈愤怒的动作挥手示意他们离开，“带着你的人去安全的地方，内森！”

Nathan Kerr’s bearded face was taut with anger, but even as Jim refused his offer of help, four of the Mascot’s crew appeared on deck. With independent witnesses, the pirate’s case weakened. Nathan Kerr waved one leather-gloved hand, and an oar punted the longboat away from the side of the stricken coaster.
内森·克尔蓄着胡须的面容因愤怒而紧绷，但就在吉姆拒绝他援助的同时，吉祥物号的四名船员出现在甲板上。有了独立目击者，海盗的说辞便站不住脚了。内森·克尔戴着皮手套的手一挥，长艇的船桨便将小艇撑离了遇难海岸船的侧舷。

His withdrawal might have been a signal for the death throes of the Mascot to begin. The spars above Jim’s head began to split away and tumbled about him into a chaos of tangled blocks, tackle and splintered wood.
他的撤退或许正是吉祥物号开始垂死挣扎的信号。吉姆头顶的帆桁开始断裂，缠绕的滑轮组、索具和碎木块在他周围轰然倒塌，陷入一片狼藉。
“Look out, for Christ’s sake!” Hutton yelled, and hands like manacles closed about Jim’s arms. They tugged him out of the mess just as he bunched his muscles to dive.
“小心，看在上帝份上！”赫顿大喊，钳子般的手掌猛地钳住吉姆的双臂。就在他绷紧肌肉准备跳水时，众人将他从混乱中拽了出来。

He came up hard against Hutton, who was pressed against the side. “That’s one I’ll be owing you,” Jim panted. “Where the hell is Butterwick? Bill said he was trying to get his papers together - how long could it take?”
他猛地撞上紧贴船舷的赫顿。"这笔账我记下了，"吉姆气喘吁吁地说，"巴特威克那家伙到底在哪？比尔说他正在整理文件——这能花多少时间？"

As he spoke the hatch slammed open, and the forlorn shape of a young woman appeared, clambering out with difficulty, huddled in skirts and shawls. In a second she was drenched by the rain and surf, gasping with cold. Behind her was another woman with a small boy clutched in her arms. Jim viewed them all as Butterwick’s victims. The man should be tried and convicted, he thought, for the criminal irresponsibility of putting to sea when the weather was like a vision from the Inferno.
话音未落，舱门砰然洞开。一个年轻女子狼狈地爬出来，裹着湿透的裙裾和披肩，顷刻间便被雨水与浪花浇得透湿，冻得直哆嗦。她身后还有个抱着小男孩的妇人。吉姆将她们都视作巴特威克造孽的见证。这混蛋就该被审判定罪——他想——竟敢在这种地狱般的天气里出海，简直丧尽天良。
“This way, ma’am,” he shouted. “Come this way - step carefully, now. Mick! Mick, get a line on her! Four in the boat before we shove off, not a man less!”
"这边，女士，"他高声喊道，"往这儿走——小心脚下。米克！米克，给她系上安全绳！开船前必须凑够四个人，少一个都不行！"

The passengers appeared frozen with fear. Many had to be manhandled to get them to the rails below which the salvage boats bobbed like corks in a bathtub. A woman looked over into the black, threshing water and screamed, shrill as a banshee. The panic was catching. An older woman fainted and a child too young to stand began to wail to the bottom of its lungs.
乘客们吓得呆若木鸡。许多人不得不被强行拖到栏杆边，下方打捞船像浴缸里的软木塞般颠簸起伏。有个女人望着漆黑翻腾的海水，发出女妖般的尖啸。恐慌迅速蔓延。一位老妇人昏厥过去，连站都站不稳的幼童扯着嗓子嚎啕大哭。

When panic began it as impossible to speak sensibly to people, and Jim did not even try. He had seen too any of these scenes - had seen disaster overtake a straightforward salvage. He and Hutton labored without a word to get the safety lines onto the survivors and lower them over like so much cargo. The Mascot’s crew held the first boat tight against the side of the ship by ropes at bow and stern, and despite the terrifying pitch and yaw the only real danger came from the ship itself. The Mascot was breaking up, and when she went under she would take a boat gaffed alongside down with her.
恐慌初起时，人们已无法理性交谈，吉姆甚至懒得尝试。这般场景他见得太多——眼睁睁看着一场原本顺利的打捞行动演变成灾难。他与赫顿沉默着将安全绳系在幸存者身上，像装卸货物般将他们吊放下去。吉祥物号的船员用首尾缆绳将第一艘救生艇紧贴船舷固定，尽管船身剧烈颠簸摇摆，真正的威胁却来自船体本身。吉祥物号正在解体，当它沉没时，会连带将钩挂在侧的救生艇一同拖入深渊。

With four women and the child aboard, the first boat was released. Jim watched grimly as the crewmen once more threw their backs into the punishing work of pulling it away from the rocks and south to the ramp below the boathouse.
待四名妇女和那个孩子登艇后，第一艘救生艇被释放。吉姆阴沉着脸注视船员们再次弓身投入艰苦作业，将救生艇拖离礁石区，向南划向船坞下方的斜坡。

Beneath his feet the Mascot shuddered like a dying beast and he felt the solid rumble and impact as her cargo broke loose. Barrels and crates began to careen across the hold as the deck tilted further, and slam into the low side. The danger of shifting cargo made the pulse hammer in his Jim’s ears - a loose, sliding load had been known to sink a ship much larger than this one, with the sudden redistribution of weight. Jim’s heart was in his mouth.
脚下的吉祥物号如垂死巨兽般震颤，货舱松动发出的沉闷轰鸣透过甲板传来。随着船体倾斜加剧，木桶与板条箱在货舱里横冲直撞，最终重重撞向低侧。移动货物的危险让吉姆太阳穴突突直跳——众所周知，突然的重量转移曾让比这大得多的船只因货物滑动而倾覆。他紧张得喉头发紧。

The second boat was alongside, the passengers and crew huddled miserably together, eager to get off the hulk. “We don’t have very long,” Hutton panted hoarsely as he worked with the Mascot men to secure the longboat. “Right! You and you, over the side!”
第二艘救生艇靠泊时，乘客与船员瑟缩成团，迫不及待要离开这具残骸。"时间不多了，"赫顿边与吉祥物号船员固定长艇边嘶哑喘息，"快！你和你，翻过船舷！"

Two men slithered over, and Jim’s teeth drew blood on his lip as he cast about for the fifth woman. Where in the name of God was she? Ryan has sworn they had five women aboard, and the rule of the sea insisted the women and children were taken off, somehow, anyhow,
两个男人匍匐着爬过来，吉姆的牙齿咬破了自己的嘴唇，他正拼命寻找第五个女人。老天爷，她到底在哪儿？瑞安明明发誓说船上有五个女人，而海上惯例要求无论如何都要优先转移妇女和儿童。
before the men. He saw no woman, and caught Hutton’s sleeve to get his attention.
男人们必须最后撤离。可他没看见那个女人，便一把抓住赫顿的袖子引起他注意。
“I’m going below,” he yelled over the crash of a massive wave against the stern quarter of the Mascot. The whole ship seemed to shudder in agony and the deck under his feet tilted through another degree. “Somebody’s missing!”
"我要下船舱！"一个巨浪拍打在吉祥物号的船尾，整艘船痛苦地颤抖着，甲板在他脚下又倾斜了几度，他在这片轰鸣中喊道，"还有人没上来！"

Hutton spun toward him. “Are you crazy? Jim, she’s breaking up. Goddamn it, you heard the cargo move - it could tear the side out of her any second!”
赫顿猛地转向他："你疯了吗？吉姆，船要解体了。该死的，你听到货舱在移动——随时都可能把船身撕开！"

He was right, but Jim only shouldered him aside. “Ryan’s down there, Mick. He went below to get the women moving. There should have been five women, we’ve only taken four off. Keep this lot moving while I find our missing lady - and Bill.”
他说得没错，但吉姆只是用肩膀把他挤开。"瑞安在下面，米克。他下去催促那些女人了。本该有五个女人，我们只救上来四个。你带着这群人继续前进，我去找失踪的女士——还有比尔。"

With a rumbling slam underfoot, the cargo shifted again just as he entered the hatch. The whole ship seemed to stagger and through the soles of his feet, the palms of his hands, Jim felt the changing weight alter the wreck’s precarious balance on the rocks. At any moment she could split wide, as Mick warned. Anyone below decks when she tore herself to pieces would not stand a chance.
当他钻进舱口时，伴随着脚下轰隆的撞击声，货物再次移位。整艘船似乎都在摇晃，吉姆通过脚底和手掌感受到重量的变化正破坏着船体在礁石上岌岌可危的平衡。正如米克警告的那样，船身随时可能裂开。若有人在甲板下遭遇船体解体，绝无生还可能。
“Ryan! Captain Ryan - Bill!” Jim’s voice was a hoarse bellow. “Bill Ryan, for godsakes where are you, man? There’s no time! Did you find the woman? Ryan!”
"瑞安！瑞安船长——比尔！"吉姆的喊声嘶哑如雷。"比尔·瑞安，看在上帝份上你在哪儿？没时间了！找到那个女人了吗？瑞安！"

No answer. Cursing fluently, Jim flung himself into the wombdark and foul-smelling interior. The passengers had been sick since the Mascot put out of Edinburgh and below decks the air was vile. Only a lamp here and there remained alight, barely enough to show him the way. Spilled baggage and fixtures lay underfoot like snares and he slithered along any surface he could follow. The deck was at a crazy angle and his heart beat like a drum.
没有回应。吉姆流利地咒骂着，纵身跃入那散发着恶臭、黑暗如子宫的船舱。自吉祥物号驶离爱丁堡起，乘客们就一直在呕吐，下层甲板的空气令人作呕。仅存的几盏灯勉强为他照路，散落的行李和固定装置像陷阱般横亘脚下。他沿着能触及的任何表面滑行，倾斜的甲板让他的心跳如擂鼓。

A whimper alerted him and he looked into a lightless corner. The woman was very young, no more than fourteen years, and too frozen with terror to move. Fear had the power to paralyze, the way the rabbit froze before the cobra. Jim had seen it before, and he wasted no time trying to talk to her. Instead, he took her hands, hoisted her swiftly over his shoulders and hurried back the way he had come.
一声呜咽引起了他的注意，他朝黑暗的角落望去。那是个不超过十四岁的少女，恐惧使她浑身僵硬无法动弹。恐惧具有令人麻痹的力量，就像兔子面对眼镜蛇时会僵住那样。吉姆见过这种情形，他没有浪费时间试图与她交谈，而是抓住她的双手，迅速将她扛在肩上，沿着来路疾奔回去。

An avalanche of freezing surf broke over the deck as he reached the hatch. Hutton was still aboard, waiting for him, and Jim handed the girl’s inert body up to his friend. “Third boat’s well away?”
当他冲到舱口时，冰冷的浪花如雪崩般砸向甲板。赫顿仍在船上等候，吉姆将女孩瘫软的身体递给他朋友。"第三艘救生艇已经开走了？"
“A second ago,” Hutton shouted. “We’re just waiting for you, Jim. Where in the name of good Christ is Ryan?”
"刚开走，"赫顿喊道，"我们就在等你，吉姆。瑞安那家伙到底在哪儿？"
“I don’t know.” Jim dragged his hands across his eyes to clear his vision. “Get this little one into the boat. Give me two minutes. Then, don’t wait.”
"不知道。"吉姆用手抹了把脸好让视线清晰些，"先送这小家伙上船。给我两分钟。到时就别等了。"
“But Jim, can’t you hear - she’s started to break her back,” Hutton began.
“可是吉姆，你难道没听见——她的脊梁骨开始断裂了，”赫顿开口道。

Jim had heard the squeals of twisting, wrenching timbers moments before. There was a special sound as a keel twisted, deformed itself under unimaginable pressures and stresses. As it bent in directions never intended, the carlins, chines, garboard stakes, everything tore out of its socket. Just as a man would scream his life away on the rack, so a ship screamed in her death throes. And the Mascot had begun to die.
吉姆早前就听见了木材扭曲断裂的刺耳声响。当船龙骨在难以想象的压力下扭曲变形时，会发出一种特殊的声音。当它朝着从未设计过的方向弯曲时，肋骨、舭部、龙骨板，所有构件都从接榫处撕裂开来。就像人在刑架上会发出垂死的惨叫，一艘船在临终剧痛中也会嘶鸣。而吉祥物号已开始走向死亡。

Every instinct told Jim to get out, get off the deck even if he had to pitch himself into the dark maelstrom of the water. Instead, he flung himself back into the dank, fetid interior. Loose cargo rumbled again and he wondered what she was carrying. Not grain or coal, surely, but something bagged and barreled. Wool, perhaps, pitch, or beer or hardware, which had begun to roll around free, with every jarring surge of the sea.
每个本能都在催促吉姆逃离，哪怕要跳进幽暗的漩涡里也得离开甲板。可他却反身冲回潮湿腐臭的船舱。散落的货物再次隆隆滚动，他猜想着船上运载的究竟是什么。肯定不是谷物或煤炭，而是些袋装桶装的东西。或许是羊毛、沥青、啤酒或五金器具，此刻正随着海浪的每次颠簸四处翻滚。

And low down, beneath the rumbles and thuds of loose cargo were the groans and shrieks of the keel. How long could she hold together, Jim wondered. Minutes, surely no more. If the Mascot broke up too suddenly and the longboat was still gaffed alongside -
在货物滚动的闷响之下，低处传来船龙骨的呻吟与尖啸。吉姆思忖着它还能支撑多久。几分钟吧，肯定撑不久了。要是吉祥物号突然解体，而救生艇还挂在船舷的话——

He swallowed his heart and pushed on into crannies he had not searched before.
他强压下心头恐惧，继续深入那些未曾搜寻过的缝隙。

And there was Bill Ryan, tumbled like a sack of wheat, lying on his face in the angle between deck and bulkhead, in the midst of a tangle of broken furniture and scattered, abandoned baggage. He must have taken a blow when the cargo shifted violently, Jim guessed. He was wet, ice-cold, pale as a wraith. When a slap for each cheek did not even begin to bring him to, Jim wasted no more time. They had scant seconds, and he was already stretching their luck.
比尔·瑞安像袋麦子般瘫倒在甲板与舱壁的夹角处，脸朝下趴在一堆破碎家具和散落的行李中间。吉姆猜想，准是货物剧烈移位时给了他重重一击。他浑身湿透，冰冷如尸，面色惨白得像幽灵。当几记耳光都没能让他苏醒时，吉姆不再浪费时间。他们只剩几秒钟了，而他已经是在赌运气。

Lifting Ryan was not as easy as hoisting the girl, but he knew the knack. Sailors and firemen soon learned how to handle people much larger than themselves, but trick or not, the effort was considerable. Sweat broke from Jim’s pores as he took Ryan’s inert body over his left shoulder. The short journey back to the rage of wind and stinging surf was a labored exodus which taxed his heart and lungs to the utmost. He could only pray Hutton would still be waiting with the last boat.
扛起瑞安可不比抱起那个姑娘轻松，但吉姆懂得窍门。水手和消防员都擅长搬运比自己高大的人，可即便有技巧，这仍是项艰巨任务。当他把瑞安瘫软的身体扛上左肩时，汗珠从毛孔里涌了出来。这段返回狂风怒号、浪花飞溅处的短暂路途，成了耗尽心肺之力的艰难跋涉。他只能祈祷赫顿还守着最后那条救生艇。

He was. Mick Hutton was a good man, and Jim made a mental note. If Eastcoast survived long enough to get the Spindrift into commission, when Ryan took out the new ship, who would be better than Hutton to command the Adelaide?
赫顿确实还在。米克·赫顿是个好人，吉姆在心里记了一笔。要是东海岸公司能撑到让"浪花号"服役，等瑞安接手新船时，还有谁比赫顿更适合指挥"阿德莱德号"呢？

If Eastcoast survived? If any of them survived till morning. Again, the cargo moved as Hutton slid his hands under Ryan’s arms and lifted him up through the hatch, and with a shriek of ripping timbers and stays the Mascot rolled, portside down. The longboat was gaffed there and, even as Jim watched, for the sake of the boat’s own crew and the passengers already aboard, the lines were cut away with an ax. Hutton swore passionately at the men, but Jim would have done the same.
倘若东岸号能幸存？倘若他们中有人能活到黎明。随着赫顿将双手滑入瑞安腋下，拖着他穿过舱口，货物再次移动，吉祥物号发出木材与支索撕裂的尖啸侧翻过来，左舷朝下。长艇就悬挂在那儿——即便吉姆亲眼目睹，为了艇上船员和已登船乘客的安危，缆绳还是被斧头砍断了。赫顿激烈地咒骂着那些人，但吉姆明白换作自己也会这么做。

They were at the rail seconds later, looking down into ten watchful
几秒后他们冲到船舷边，俯视着十双警惕的
faces. The men had not abandoned the hulk, but were standing off at a safe distance.
眼睛。那些人并未弃船，只是退到安全距离外观望。
“Jump for it, Mick!” Jim took Ryan’s dead weight against him and gave Hutton a push. “Jump, will you? I’ll let Bill down after you. Grab him and pull him to the boat, or we’re all done for!”
"快跳啊，米克！"吉姆将瑞安瘫软的身体抵在身前，推了赫顿一把。"快跳行不行？你下去后我再把比尔放下来！接住他拖到船上，否则我们都得完蛋！"

Without wasting breath in argument, Mick jumped. Half blind in a storm of salt spray, Jim watched him hit the churning surface and submerge; long seconds later he reappeared, his head bobbing in the froth as a line was thrown from the boat. He struggled to tie it about his waist, and Jim sweated out the endless seconds as the Mascot shifted, shuddered.
米克没有浪费口舌争辩，纵身跃入海中。在咸涩的浪沫中几乎睁不开眼的吉姆，看着他砸进翻腾的海面又沉了下去；漫长的几秒钟后他重新浮出水面，脑袋在泡沫中起伏，这时船上抛来一条绳索。他挣扎着将绳子系在腰间，而随着吉祥物号不断移位、震颤，吉姆熬过了那度秒如年的时刻。

Then Hutton had both hands free and waved up at him. “Let’s have him, Jim! I’m tied on, they’ve got me safe!”
这时赫顿腾出双手朝他挥舞："快把他递过来，吉姆！我已经系好安全绳，他们把我固定住了！"

Four men had a grip on his line, and as Jim released his desperate hold on Ryan, letting him fall into the churning water, Hutton dove toward him. Jim was a second behind, plunging from the crazy cant of the deck -
四个汉子拽紧了救生索，当吉姆松开紧抓着瑞安的双手任其坠入怒海时，赫顿一个猛子扎向他。吉姆迟了一秒才从倾斜得厉害的甲板跃下——

Down, down, a lifetime-long moment suspended in the freezing air, and then swift engulfment. Icy-cold, pitch blackness, the sting of salt water in nose and eyes and mouth … down again, down deep as another massive wave smashed into the ship - panic, as he felt the womb of the sea swallow him up, as if she meant to suck him down forever and his lungs began to burn. Then up again, thank God, like a cork toy in a pond.
下坠，不断下坠，仿佛永生般漫长的瞬间凝滞在刺骨寒风里，随后是迅疾的吞没。冰冷刺骨，漆黑如墨，咸涩的海水灌进鼻腔、眼眶和口腔...再次下沉，在又一道巨浪拍向船身时直坠深渊——恐慌攫住了他，当感受到大海的子宫要将他永远吞没时，他的肺叶开始灼烧。谢天谢地，他又像池塘里的软木玩具般浮了上来。

Whooping for air, he broke the surface a dozen yards from the boat and struck out blindly toward the yellow glow of a lantern. They would throw him a line or hold out a boathook or an oar, he need only get within reach. He caught a glimpse of Hutton and Ryan, Mick clinging desperately to the side, Ryan still dead to the world, being inelegantly hoisted aboard. In this trade, grace won no extra marks.
他喘着粗气冲出水面，在距离小船十几码处浮出，盲目地朝着那盏泛着黄光的提灯游去。他们总会抛来绳索，或是伸出船钩和桨板，他只需够到就行。他瞥见赫顿和瑞安，米克正拼命扒着船舷，瑞安仍昏迷不醒，正被笨拙地拖上船。干这行当，优雅可换不来加分。

The butt of an oar grazed Jim’s face and he took it gratefully in both frozen hands. The sodden weight of his clothes had begun to drag him down like an anchor. The lads pulled him in like a fish, big hands hauled him headfirst into the reeking well of the longboat, and before Jim could cough the water from his throat or get his bearings once more he heard a shriek of rending timbers.
桨柄擦过吉姆的脸颊，他感激地用冻僵的双手抓住。浸透的衣物像锚链般拖着他下沉。伙计们像拖鱼似的把他拽回来，几双大手将他头朝下拖进长艇散发着腥臭的船舱。还没等吉姆咳出喉咙里的海水，或是重新辨明方向，就听见一阵木材断裂的尖啸。

This time the scream went on and on, howling over the gale, the crash of storm and water. She was going. Jim scrambled to the side, battered by the impact of a wave which half-flooded the longboat, and in the constant flickers of sheet lightning he actually saw the Mascot tear herself in half. Baled cargo, long past any hope of being salvaged dry, cascaded from the ruptured hold, then the masts came down, slamming into the sea like fallen trees, and only the stern of the ship remained above water, caught on the dragon’s teeth rocks. Scalby Ness had claimed another victim.
这次尖啸声持续不断，在狂风暴雨中嘶吼。她撑不住了。吉姆踉跄着扑向船舷，被浪头打得东倒西歪，长艇里顿时灌进半舱海水。在连绵的片状闪电中，他亲眼看见吉祥物号断成两截。早已无法抢救的压舱货从破裂的货舱倾泻而出，接着桅杆轰然倒下，如同被砍伐的树木砸进海里。只有船尾还浮在水面上，卡在犬牙交错的礁石间。斯卡尔比岬又添了个冤魂。
“Sweet Jesus.” The voice was hushed, whisky-hoarse, and Jim recognized it. He peered through the dense veil of rain and spume as the longboat turned south, butting through the waves after its three companions, and half-saw a face in the gloom beside him in the boat. So Robert Butterwick had made it off. He was alive, and he was just damned lucky no lives were lost tonight. Still, Jim felt a surge of fury and bit back the questions -
"仁慈的耶稣啊。"那声音压得极低，带着威士忌灼烧过的嘶哑，吉姆认出了它。当长艇转向南边，在浪涛中追赶另外三艘同伴时，他透过厚重的雨幕和浪沫望去，隐约看见船里昏暗处有张脸。原来罗伯特·巴特威克也逃出来了。他还活着，今晚没闹出人命真是走运。可吉姆仍感到一阵怒火上涌，硬生生咽下了质问——

Why the hell did you stand out of Edinburgh into this? What were you thinking? Were you trying to get yourself killed, and your passengers with you?
你究竟为什么要离开爱丁堡来这种地方？你当时在想什么？是打算害死自己，还要连累船上所有乘客吗？

With an effort Jim swallowed the bitter fury. They were all good questions, and in due course they would be asked, but not by him. A solicitor, the owner of the cargo, the company which insured the hull, even a priest, if one of the passengers were to die tonight of cold, injury and hardship. Jim Hale could only bellow these questions out of outrage and sheer anger, and of a sudden he was too tired.
吉姆强压下满腔怒火。这些问题都切中要害，迟早会有人来盘问，但轮不到他来发难。货主会派律师来，承保船体的保险公司会来人，要是今晚有乘客因严寒、伤痛和磨难死去，说不定还会来个神父。吉姆·黑尔此刻咆哮着这些问题，纯粹出于愤慨与盛怒，但突然间，他连发火的力气都没有了。

The pull back to the boat ramp was not so arduous, for the men were rowing with the tide now. The other three boats were already secured and lamps beckoned from the boathouse. Jim sat back, cold right through to the bone marrow and exhausted past his years. His hands curved about the tiller as if he were shackled to it, and he watched the still-unconscious Bill Ryan lifted out like a side of beef and passed up into waiting hands.
返回船台的航程没那么艰难，因为此刻众人正顺着潮水划桨。另外三艘船早已停稳，船坞里的灯火明灭可见。吉姆瘫坐着，寒意渗入骨髓，疲惫感让他显得格外苍老。他双手紧握舵柄，仿佛被镣铐锁在上面，眼睁睁看着仍昏迷不醒的比尔·瑞安像半扇牛肉似的被抬起来，递到等候的人群手中。

Five carts had come around Castle Hill. Draught horses stood with their heads down in the wind and drivers were shouting to one another; lanterns stuttered and wavered, marking them out in the dense blue darkness. Four wagons had already made their way back to the road, and as Jim watched, the last survivors of the Mascot were bundled into the fifth.
五辆马车已绕城堡山而来。挽马在风中垂首而立，车夫们互相吆喝着；提灯的光晕在浓重的靛蓝夜色中摇曳明灭，勾勒出他们的轮廓。四辆货车已折返大路，当吉姆抬眼望去时，吉祥物号最后的幸存者正被塞进第五辆马车。

Someone was praying; a child began to wail. Jim wiped the sluicing rain out of his face and glared up at Butterwick, who was already safely in the wagon. The captain’s jaw was set. Jim knew that look of stubborn denial. Butterwick would brazen it out now, go up against the lawyers and throw out argument for argument. The whole process was foolish, empty, and the exhaustion which rushed over Jim’s head like the tide banished the will to bandy words.
有人在祈祷；一个孩子开始嚎啕大哭。吉姆抹去脸上倾泻的雨水，怒视着已经安全登上马车的巴特威克。船长紧咬牙关。吉姆熟悉那种固执否认的表情。巴特威克现在会厚着脸皮硬撑，与律师们针锋相对，逐条反驳。整个过程愚蠢又空洞，如潮水般袭来的疲惫感淹没了吉姆争辩的意志。

Numb with cold and fatigue, he plodded behind the cart, beside Hutton, up the cliffside trail to the shack where the horses had been tethered for shelter. Duke was as imperturbable as ever but Blondin was so skittish, Hutton did not even try to mount. The animal would only bolt, and more than likely take off over the nearest cliff. Jim looped Duke’s reins over his arm, and they followed the wagons.
寒冷与疲惫使他浑身麻木，他跟在马车后面，与赫顿并肩沿着悬崖小径蹒跚而行，走向拴马避风的小屋。杜克依旧镇定自若，但布朗丁却焦躁不安，赫顿甚至不敢尝试骑乘。那匹马只会狂奔，十有八九会冲下最近的悬崖。吉姆将杜克的缰绳挽在臂弯，跟着马车继续前行。

The lighthouse kept up its mesmeric rhythm, but surely nothing else could be at sea tonight. What kind of madman would be caught out in this? Captain Rob Butterwick was stone-faced, deliberately avoiding
灯塔保持着催眠般的节奏闪烁，但今晚海上肯定不会有其他船只。什么样的疯子会在这种天气出海？罗伯·巴特威克船长面色铁青，刻意避开
the eyes of anyone who looked in his direction. His time to speak would come later, but Jim wondered if the man was aware of the fury of his passengers.
所有投向他的目光。他发言的时机尚未到来，但吉姆怀疑这人是否意识到乘客们的滔天怒火。

As a convoy, the brewer’s drays and chandler’s carts pulled up to the tiny hospital on the road to the North Sands. It was a charitable institute under the auspices of the Trinity House, and its doors were wide open on this of all nights. Whole families sought asylum here, and the house was supported by a levy from Scarborough’s many ships. Each vessel paid six pennies per month for every soul aboard, for so long as the ship was at sea. The hospital normally offered comfort for ‘worn out and disabled seamen,’ and when the storms blew in a ship, the doors opened to welcome all.
酿酒厂的运货马车和杂货商的推车组成车队，停在通往北海滩小路上的那所微型医院前。这座由三一学院赞助的慈善机构，在这个特别的夜晚门户大开。整户整户的人家在此寻求庇护，医院的运营资金来自斯卡伯勒众多船只征收的税款——每艘船在海上期间，每月要为船上每个灵魂缴纳六便士。这家医院通常为"疲惫伤残的水手"提供休养之所，每当暴风雨导致船只遇险，大门就会向所有人敞开。

Humid warmth issued from within, but from the green-painted door Jim glimpsed an overcrowded room, the sickened, stunned and bleeding lying on makeshift beds and blankets on the floor, and he caught Hutton’s sleeve.
潮湿的暖流从室内涌出，吉姆从漆成绿色的门缝里瞥见拥挤不堪的病房，伤病交加、神志恍惚或血流不止的人们躺在临时搭建的床铺和铺地的毯子上，他急忙拽住赫顿的衣袖。
“There’s no need to leave Bill here. Fetch him home. I’ll put him to bed there. They’ve no room left here.”
"没必要把比尔留在这儿。带他回家吧。我来安顿他睡觉。这里已经挤不下了。"
“The doctor should take a look at him,” Hutton warned. “He’s got a keggie on his skull the size of a hen’s egg.”
"该让医生看看他，"赫顿警告道，"他后脑勺鼓起的包有鸡蛋那么大。"
“Bill is notorious for his hard head,” Jim said ruefully, “but by all means ask Doctor Moran to come up.” He paused, seeing a couple of men from their longboat. Both were volunteers on the rescue boats, and both belonged to Eastcoast, more specifically, to the schooner Adelaide. “Hoi, Jack, Henry, give us a hand here! I want to get your skipper up the hill!”
"‘比尔那硬脑壳可是出了名的，’吉姆懊恼地说，‘不过还是务必请莫兰医生上来一趟。’他顿了顿，看见他们长艇上的两个水手。这两人都是救援船的志愿者，都来自东海岸，更确切地说，是纵帆船阿德莱德号的船员。‘喂，杰克，亨利，过来搭把手！我得把你们船长弄上山去！’"

With a swift word to Phineas Cranmer, the chandler, the smallest of the carts was borrowed, and moments later Mick Hutton was hitching Blondin and Duke to its tail. Ryan had not even begun to stir. He knew nothing as he was lifted up into the wagon bed and an oilskin pulled over him.
菲尼亚斯·克兰默是船具商，跟他匆匆说了几句后，我们借来了最小的一辆马车。没过多久，米克·赫顿就把布隆丹和杜克两匹马套在了车尾。瑞安依然纹丝不动。当人们把他抬上马车、往他身上盖油布时，他完全人事不省。

As they rolled by the lights and chimneys of Scarborough, which huddled dejectedly in the shelter of its bay under the castle, Ryan seemed locked into a fathoms-deep slumber, and even when they had labored up to Marrick Hall and shut out the fury of the night, the captain of the Adelaide was still out cold.
马车驶过斯卡伯勒的灯火与烟囱——这座小城正瑟缩在海湾的怀抱里，上方矗立着城堡。瑞安仿佛陷入了万丈深渊般的沉睡，即便当众人费力抵达马里克庄园、将暴风雨关在门外时，这位阿德莱德号的船长仍昏迷不醒。

Despite Ryan’s infamously hard head, Jim had begun to worry as they set him flat on the stone floor by the kitchen door. Mossman and Mrs. Bradshaw, the cook, had hurried away for blankets, and Jim stripped off his oilskins, leaving puddles the length of the scullery. He knelt beside Ryan then, peered into his colorless face and hoped Mick Hutton would hurry with the doctor.
尽管瑞安以铁打的脑袋著称，当吉姆把他平放在厨房门边的石地板上时，还是开始担忧起来。莫斯曼和厨娘布拉德肖太太匆忙去找毯子，吉姆脱下油布雨衣，在洗碗间留下一路水洼。他跪在瑞安身旁，凝视着那张惨白的脸，心里盼着米克·赫顿能快点把医生带来。

The only visible sign of injury was the blow to Ryan’s head which had knocked him cleanly unconscious, and Jim sighed as he felt it out with his fingers. He explored Ryan’s neck, searching for swelling or
唯一可见的伤势是瑞安头上遭受的重击，这一击让他彻底昏了过去。吉姆用手指探查时不禁叹了口气。他检查着瑞安的颈部，寻找肿胀或
blood, but found nothing. Without a doubt, he would wake with a headache like a dozen brandy hangovers at once, but little real harm seemed to be done. All things considered, and as usual, Bill Ryan was lucky.
血迹，却一无所获。毫无疑问，他醒来时会头痛欲裂，就像同时经历十二次白兰地宿醉，但似乎并未造成实质性伤害。综合来看，和往常一样，比尔·瑞安还算幸运。

Jim settled himself to wait and courted patience. This was not quite the homecoming he and Ryan had planned. As he thought back to the evening they had intended, Jim could only mock them both with silent, rueful humor. Wine, music and sensuality would just have to wait.
吉姆安顿下来耐心等待。这完全不是他和瑞安计划中的归家场景。回想起他们原本设想的夜晚，吉姆只能用沉默的苦笑嘲讽两人。美酒、音乐与缠绵都只得暂且搁置。

The smell of bacon frying greeted Bill Ryan as he swam back up to consciousness, but food was the last thing he wanted to know about. Long before he opened his eyes he was aware of the slicing pain in his skull, yet he found no loss of memory. Everything was intact, down to the last moment when darkness swamped him in the stinking belowdecks of a sinking ship.
比尔·瑞安在恢复意识时闻到了煎培根的香气，但食物此刻是他最不愿想起的东西。早在睁开双眼之前，他就已察觉到颅骨间刀割般的疼痛，所幸记忆并未缺失。所有细节都清晰可辨，直到最后一刻——在沉船恶臭的底舱里，黑暗彻底吞噬了他。

He stirred carefully, flexing his neck. His muscles were stiff and the lump on the back of his skull hurt, even against the softness of a down pillow. He felt the soft caress of cotton sheets, heard the stutter of a fire in the hearth, the roar of wind in the chimney and the omnipresent rush of the sea.
他谨慎地动了动身子，活动颈部。肌肉僵硬得厉害，后脑勺的肿块即使枕着柔软的羽绒枕也疼痛不已。棉质床单轻柔地摩挲皮肤，壁炉里柴火噼啪作响，烟囱外狂风怒号，永不停息的海浪声始终萦绕耳畔。

Very carefully, mindful of the delicate condition of his stomach, he opened his eyes to slits and saw just what he had expected. The sight was so familiar, he might have smiled, had he been able. His companion was beard-shadowed and yawning, sitting on the broad fender by the fire, dressed in his shirt sleeves, rolled-up trousers and bare feet while he tended the bacon and watched over the coffee pot, both of which were on the hob over the fire.
他强忍着胃部不适，小心翼翼地将眼睛睁开一条缝，所见景象果然不出所料。这画面熟悉得几乎要让他露出微笑——如果他能做到的话。他的同伴胡子拉碴地打着哈欠，正坐在壁炉宽大的围栏上。那人卷着衬衫袖管，裤腿高高挽起，赤脚照看炉火上的培根和咖啡壶。

Once, Ryan would have called it an eccentric indulgence for a man of Jim Hale’s means to keep skillet, kettle and coffee pot in his room, but in fact it was good sense. The kitchen was at the furthest point in the house and his breakfast invariably arrived stone-cold at least an hour after he had sent down for it.
若在从前，瑞安定会认为像吉姆·黑尔这样身份的人，在卧室里备着煎锅、水壶和咖啡壶是种古怪的癖好。但实际上这再合理不过——厨房位于宅子最远端，每次差人送来的早餐，等抵达时早已冰凉，且至少要耽搁个把钟头。

Movement brought nausea and pain, and Ryan groaned softly. He squeezed his eyes shut, heard the clatter of the skillet being set down in the hearth, and a second later the mattress dipped beside him. A cool, wet cloth swabbed his clammy face.
稍一动弹就引发恶心与疼痛，瑞安轻声呻吟着。他紧闭双眼，听见煎锅被搁在壁炉边的哐当声，紧接着身侧的床垫陷了下去。一块冰凉湿润的布擦拭着他汗涔涔的脸。
“You’ve been out of your wits,” Jim’s voice said quietly in the hot, red darkness beyond Ryan’s sealed eyelids. “That was a hefty knock on
"你刚才神志不清了，"吉姆的声音在瑞安紧闭的眼睑外那片炽热的红色黑暗中轻轻响起，"你脑袋挨的那下可不轻。"
the head you took! Doctor Moran looked at it, a little before midnight … we couldn’t wake you and he said someone had to stay with you in case -”
莫兰医生午夜前来检查过...我们怎么都叫不醒你，他说必须有人守着以防——

He couldn’t quite say it, but Ryan knew what he meant. In case the sleeper drifted away into oblivion, and died. Not that Ryan had the slightest intention of drifting anywhere.
吉姆没能说完整句话，但瑞安明白他的意思。以防沉睡者就此坠入虚无，再也不会醒来。不过瑞安可丝毫没有长眠的打算。
“It looks,” Jim added, brightening, “like you’re not about to expire on me after all, Bill.”
“看来，”吉姆精神一振，补充道，“你终究不会死在我面前了，比尔。”
“Am I not?” The truth was, Ryan felt in danger of imminent death. “Jesus God, I feel like I was at a bawdy house, where I drank a quart of rum, followed by at least pint of brandy.”
“是吗？”事实上，瑞安觉得自己随时可能咽气。“老天爷啊，我感觉像是刚从窑子里出来，灌了一夸脱朗姆酒，又喝了至少一品脱白兰地。”
“I imagine you do. Will you have a dose of salts and a little laudanum?” Jim offered. “Moran left them for you, knowing how you’d feel when you woke. Oh, come on, Bill! Where’s the point in trying to play the hero? We both know you’re ill, and besides, you’re three shades of green, right up to the gills.”
“我想也是。要不要来点泻盐和鸦片酊？”吉姆提议道，“莫兰特意给你留的，他知道你醒来会难受。得了比尔！装什么英雄好汉？咱俩都清楚你病得不轻，再说你脸色发青，都快青到腮帮子了。”

Ryan cracked open his eyes and looked up into Jim Hale’s tired, stubbled face. “Salts and laudanum?”
瑞安勉强睁开眼，望向吉姆·黑尔那张胡子拉碴的倦容。“泻盐和鸦片酊？”
“A glass of one and a drop of t’other,” Jim promised in a mockScarborough accent. “You need it.” He produced bottle and glass as he spoke, and was not about to accept an argument, even if Ryan had offered one. “What possessed Butterwick to put out of the Firth into that weather? It was a maniac’s jaunt!”
“一杯这个，再加一滴那个，”吉姆模仿着斯卡伯勒口音承诺道，“你需要这个。”他边说边拿出酒瓶和酒杯，根本不容瑞安争辩。“巴特威克到底中了什么邪，非要选这种天气出海？简直是疯子才会干的蠢事！”
“He had businessmen aboard,” Ryan said weakly. His own voice sounded like a cannonade in his ears. “They had to be in London by a certain time, so they claimed. They were furious … swore they’d never touch a coaster again. Railways,” he added groggily.
“船上有几个商人，”瑞安虚弱地说。他自己的声音在耳中轰鸣如炮。“他们非说必须准时赶到伦敦。那些人暴跳如雷……发誓再也不坐沿海货船了。铁路，”他晕乎乎地补充道。

Jim brought the glass to his lips. “It’s a story we’ve all heard before, and if I’d been Robbie Butterwick I’d have thrown them off my ship, bag and baggage. Business is not a good enough reason for standing out into a storm and getting the whole lot of you drowned. Here, drink this and try to rest now. You need it.”
吉姆把酒杯递到他唇边。“这种故事我们都听腻了，要是换作我是罗比·巴特威克，早把他们连人带行李扔下船了。生意再重要，也不值得顶着风暴出海，让整船人送命。来，把这个喝了，试着休息会儿。你需要这个。”

The salts were the only thing that would settle his stomach, and Ryan swallowed them with a grunt of displeasure. His head spun like a top and he took the laudanum without complaint. Satisfied, relieved, Jim swabbed his face once more, gentle as a father with his child.
只有嗅盐能镇住瑞安翻腾的胃，他不情愿地咕哝着吞了下去。脑袋像陀螺般眩晕，他乖乖服下了鸦片酊。吉姆满意地松了口气，像父亲对待孩子般轻柔地再次擦拭他的脸。
“Welcome back to the land of the living,” he said huskily. “Now sleep. Moran’s coming back when he can. Noon, so he said.” Jim was yawning around his own words. “I’m going to eat and then catch up on a little sleep myself.” He arranged the blankets about Ryan’s limp body, pressed a kiss to his forehead and stepped back. “You’ll be a hundred percent better when your head eases. Moran said you were damned lucky this time. You could have broken your neck. But there’s no damage done, and…”
“欢迎回到活人的世界，”他声音沙哑地说，“现在继续睡吧。莫兰能回来的时候就会回来。他说是中午。”吉姆边说边打着哈欠，“我要去吃点东西，然后自己也补个觉。”他将毯子盖在瑞安瘫软的身体上，在他额头印下一吻后向后退去。“等你头疼缓解就会好多了。莫兰说你这次真是走运。你本可能摔断脖子的。不过好在没有受伤，而且...”

His voice faded as the laudanum hit Ryan hard, knocking him out
他的话音渐弱，因为鸦片酊的效力猛烈袭来，使瑞安彻底昏睡过去
as surely as the blow. He surrendered to natural sleep with gratitude, spun down into vague, disjointed dreams, and let go conscious thought without a struggle.
就像那记重击般干脆。他心怀感激地沉入自然睡眠，坠入模糊而支离破碎的梦境，毫不挣扎地放弃了清醒的思绪。

The wind had fallen when he woke again. In the afternoons this room was dim since it faced east, and though the shutters and drapes were wide the sky was gray as pig iron. Jim was gone, but a pile of blankets and cushions by the fire suggested where he had slept, and he could not have left long before.
他再次醒来时风已停息。这间朝东的屋子在午后总是昏暗，尽管百叶窗和窗帘都大敞着，天空却呈现出铸铁般的灰暗。吉姆已经离开，但壁炉旁那堆毯子和靠枕显示了他曾睡卧的位置，想必他刚走不久。

Moving with exaggerated caution, Ryan sat up and was pleased to discover his senses in place, his skull throbbing only a little, though he was still as muzzy as if he had swallowed a quart of brandy. He peered at the clock on the mantelpiece and saw, not to his surprise, it was just past four.
瑞安以夸张的小心翼翼动作坐起身，欣慰地发现神志尚在，颅骨仅隐隐作痛，只是头脑仍昏沉得像是灌了一夸脱白兰地。他眯眼望向壁炉架上的时钟，毫不意外地发现刚过四点。

The lump on the back of his head was scabbed, hard as a carbuncle and painful. He winced as he explored it with blunt fingertips, and resolved to leave it alone. He swung his legs off the bed and tugged at the voluminous nightshirt he wore. It was hardly the most comfortable - or flattering - of garments. His reflection in the angled mirror over the dresser showed a blue-jawed, puffy-eyed and smudged face, and he regarded himself with a glare.
他后脑勺的肿块已结痂，硬如痈疽且疼痛难忍。当钝钝的指尖触碰伤处时，他疼得龇牙咧嘴，决心不再碰它。他将双腿甩下床沿，扯了扯身上宽大的睡袍——这实在算不得舒适体面的衣着。梳妆台斜角镜中映出张胡子拉碴、眼圈浮肿的脏脸，他对着镜中人怒目而视。
“A face only its mother could love,” he decided, and, grasping the opportunity of privacy, rummaged for razor, strop and soap. He knew exactly where Jim kept his things, and the kettle was still hot on the hob.
"这张脸只有亲娘才爱得起来。"他暗自断定，趁着独处的机会翻找起剃刀、磨刀皮带和肥皂。他清楚记得吉姆把这些物件收在何处，炉床上的水壶还冒着热气。

Was there anything in the world, he thought twenty minutes later, like a hot-water shave with a freshly stropped razor, and a cup of hot, sweet tea, for snatching a man back from the Pearly Gates themselves. His hair was damp after the hasty, careful washing to rid it of crusted sea salt, and he combed it gingerly into place as he surveyed himself in the mirror once more.
二十分钟后，他边想边用新磨的剃刀享受热水刮脸的滋味，啜饮着滚烫的甜茶——世上还有什么比这更能把男人从鬼门关拽回来呢？仓促而仔细的洗濯冲掉了发间板结的海盐，湿发被他小心翼翼地梳顺。当他再次端详镜中的自己时，水珠正顺着鬓角滑落。

A human being looked back rather than the day-old corpse: a strong face with a straight nose, wide-set blue eyes, dark brows and a wide mouth above a determined chin. He had the look of all the Ryan men, and though he himself saw nothing particularly attractive in the mirror, Jim liked his looks. Bill Ryan was satisfied.
镜中回望的并非一具陈尸，而是个活生生的人——挺直的鼻梁，间距略宽的蓝眼睛，浓黑的眉毛，坚毅下巴上方是张阔嘴。他继承了瑞安家男人特有的样貌，虽然自己从不觉得镜中人有何特别魅力，吉姆却颇为欣赏这副长相。比尔·瑞安对此很满意。

Much more at peace with the world, he poured a second cup of tea, cast off the nightshirt he hated, girdled Jim’s red brocade robe about himself and sat in the leather wing chair with his feet on the fender, watching clouds scud in the east. The storm which had come in like a sea dragon while he looked at hawsers in Dumbarton, signed papers and concluded business with Duncan Linwood had gone; little sting remained in its tail, and the overcast was thinning.
他心境平和许多，又斟了第二杯茶，甩开那件厌恶的睡袍，裹上吉姆的红锦缎晨衣，将双脚搭在壁炉围栏上，深陷皮翼椅中眺望东方流云。先前在邓巴顿验看缆绳、与邓肯·林伍德签文件谈生意时，那海龙般汹涌而来的暴风雨已然消散，只剩些许余威，阴云正逐渐稀薄。

The creak of the stairs announced company but Ryan knew that tread and did not move a muscle. The door behind him opened, closed once more, and a heavy tray landed with a muffled thump on the foot of the bed.
楼梯吱呀声宣告来客，但瑞安熟悉这脚步声，纹丝未动。身后房门开合间，沉甸甸的托盘闷声落在床尾。
“The dead have decided to walk!” Jim came about the chair and lowered his rump onto the fender. Elbows on his knees, he looked Ryan over slowly, from damp hair to bare feet and back again. His brows rose, almost a question. “You’re better?”
"死人决定起来散步啦！"吉姆绕到椅子前，一屁股坐在壁炉围栏上。他双肘支膝，将瑞安从湿发到赤脚细细打量个来回，挑眉的神情近乎诘问："好些了？"
“Hungry,” Ryan added. “The last morsel I ate was luncheon yesterday. Salt-beef on a bun, and a slab of something I’d swear was Christmas cake, if this wasn’t April, and knowing Rob Butterwick for the penny-pincher he is, I’d still believe it. After luncheon, everyone aboard was so sick - well, you can imagine.” His nostrils quivered as he glanced at the tray. “That wouldn’t be food…?”
“饿坏了，”瑞安补充道，“昨天午餐后我就没再吃过东西。面包夹咸牛肉，还有一块硬得像圣诞蛋糕的东西——虽然现在才四月，但以罗伯·巴特威克那吝啬劲儿，我敢打赌那就是去年的存货。吃完那顿午饭，全船人都吐得昏天黑地——你懂的。”他抽动着鼻翼瞥向餐盘，“那该不会是吃的吧…？”
“It might be. I hoped you’d be awake, and I hoped you’d be famished.” Jim levered to his feet, hands on Ryan’s knees. Before straightening, he leaned over and dropped a light but deliberate kiss on the corner on Ryan’s mouth. “You were lucky. We all were. We got out of the hulk a few seconds before she broke up. Ask Mick - she tore herself in two, we had to jump for it.”
“可能是。我就盼着你醒来，盼着你饥肠辘辘。”吉姆双手撑在瑞安膝头站起身，俯身时故意在他嘴角落下一个轻吻。“你够走运。我们都算幸运。船体断裂前几秒逃出来的——不信问米克，那船断成两截时我们差点没跳出来。”

Before Jim could busy himself with the food, Ryan caught his hands, looked up into the wide, blue-gray eyes and pulled Jim down to kiss properly. The opportunity was all too rare and he savored the intimacy. Jim had rubbed oil into his lips to heal the night’s chapping, and they were soft, pliant; his tongue flickered warmly, issuing a welcome of its own.
趁吉姆去拿食物前，瑞安抓住他的双手，仰望着那双灰蓝色的大眼睛，将他拉下来深深吻住。这样的机会实在难得，他细细品味着这份亲昵。吉姆为治疗夜间干裂涂过润唇油，双唇柔软温润；舌尖带着暖意游移，自成一番欢迎仪式。

At last they separated and Ryan said self-mockingly, “I was out for the count when she broke up. I presume you dragged me out?”
分开时瑞安自嘲道：“船解体时我完全昏死过去了。是你把我拖出来的吧？”
“Carried you out,” Jim corrected as he straightened and pressed a hand to his back. “And I believe I’ve done myself a permanent injury. You were on your face, Bill, dead to the world. You’d told me there was a fifth woman - I was counting as we took them off - and when she didn’t appear and neither did you, I went in for the both of you. God help us, we were the last off the Mascot.”
"‘是把你背出来的，’吉姆直起腰，用手按着后背纠正道，‘我怕是落下终身残疾了。你当时脸朝下趴着，比尔，完全昏死过去。你跟我说过还有第五个女人——我们往外救人时我一直在数——结果她没出现，你也不见了，我就冲进去找你们俩。老天保佑，我们可是最后离开吉祥物号的人。’"

As he spoke he fetched the tray, set it in Ryan’s lap, whipped off the cover and displayed a mound of scrambled eggs, a finger-thick slice of gammon, a wedge of bread and one set of silverware.
他边说边取来餐盘，搁在瑞安膝头，掀开盖子露出小山似的炒鸡蛋、一指厚的火腿切片、一块楔形面包和一副银餐具。
“Go on, Bill, eat if you can. I ate earlier.” Jim sat on the fender again to attend to the black iron kettle. “Mind, you were lucky past all praying,” he added as Ryan began to demolish the food. “I hung back, waiting for you to bring out the last of the women, and I almost waited too long. I suppose you hadn’t found her before some fittings broke away, almost knocked the head off your shoulders.”
"‘吃吧比尔，能吃得下就吃。我先前用过了。’吉姆又坐回挡泥板上照看那只黑铁壶，‘不过你真是走运得离谱，’见瑞安开始狼吞虎咽，他又补充道，‘我特意等着你去带最后那个女人出来，差点就等过头了。估计是船具突然崩裂砸中你之前，你还没找到她吧？那玩意儿差点把你脑袋削下来。’"

Ryan swallowed a mouth full of eggs and gave Jim a cynical look. “Not fittings. Nothing so damned innocent as a lantern or a barrel. It’s the imprint of the blue butt of a . 31 caliber Baby Dragoon Colt revolver I’m carrying on my skull today.”
瑞安咽下满嘴鸡蛋，朝吉姆投去讥诮的一瞥："不是船具。才不是什么见鬼的灯笼或木桶那种无害玩意。今天老子脑门上顶着的是点 31 口径小马驹左轮枪的蓝色枪托印子。"

For a full second Jim was astonished into silence, then the kettle clattered onto the hob as he almost dropped it. His eyes widened in
吉姆震惊得说不出话来，足足呆了一秒钟，随后水壶哐当一声砸在炉架上——他差点失手摔了它。他的眼睛瞪得
near disbelief. “You mean - someone koshed you, left you to die in the hulk? In Christ’s name, why?”
老大，几乎不敢相信。"你是说——有人把你打昏，丢在废船里等死？看在基督份上，为什么？"

Lavish amounts of butter slathered onto the bread, which was so soft and yeasty, it could only have been this morning’s bake. Intent not only on the food but on his memories, Ryan did not look up. “Do you know a man, name of Moses Wallach?”
瑞安往面包上抹了厚厚一层黄油，那面包松软得带着酵母香，准是今早刚出炉的。他专注地对付食物，又沉浸在回忆里，头也不抬地问道："你认识一个叫摩西·沃拉赫的人吗？"

The name meant less than nothing to Jim. He shook his head slowly. “A stranger in Scarborough? Strangers pass through by the thousands, Bill. They’ve been coming through like a tide that never stops, all my life. Just seamen looking for a ship. I know a lot of the regular seamen and fishing crews - when I was a lad we owned four herring boats and half a dozen colliers.”
这名字对吉姆来说毫无意义。他缓缓摇头："斯卡伯勒的陌生人？比尔，每天都有成千上万的过客。我这辈子见过的人流就像永不退潮的海水——不过是些找船的水手罢了。我认识不少常驻水手和捕鱼队的人，小时候我家还有四条鲱鱼船和六艘运煤船呢。"
“Moses Wallach would almost certainly be a stranger in Scarborough,” Ryan mused as he watched the younger Hale pour dark, strong tea and stir in several spoons of brown sugar. “But I knew him at once. Recognized the bastard at a glance.”
"‘摩西·沃拉赫在斯卡伯勒几乎肯定是个陌生人，’瑞安注视着年轻的黑尔斟着浓黑的茶，往里搅入几勺黄糖时沉思道，‘但我一眼就认出了他。立刻认出了那个混蛋。’"
“The bastard, you call him?” Jim frowned curiously at Ryan, put a cup onto his tray and left his hand resting on Ryan’s knee. “Bill, what the hell is all this about? You’re not going to tell me to take my beak out of your private business again, are you?”
"‘你管他叫混蛋？’吉姆好奇地皱眉看着瑞安，把杯子放到托盘上，手仍搁在瑞安膝头，‘比尔，这到底是怎么回事？你该不会又要叫我别插手你的私事吧？’"
“And keep my secrets?” Ryan’s brows arched and his mind raced back over the years to times and places he did not often recall. “Wallach’s no secret, Jim. He was aboard the Canary.” He heard his own soft, reflective tone, and would not look Jim in the eyes.
"‘还要我保守秘密？’瑞安扬起眉毛，思绪飞速回溯那些他鲜少忆起的岁月与地方，‘沃拉赫不是什么秘密，吉姆。他当时在金丝雀号上。’他听见自己轻柔的、带着回忆的语气，却不愿直视吉姆的眼睛。"

But Jim leapt at the name. “That was your ship, wasn’t it? The Canary was your command, when you wore the uniform.” His fingers tightened on Ryan’s knee, almost bruising. “Then, if you’re sure this character, this Moses Wallach, koshed you … and if he was aboard your ship … I’d guess he had an old score to settle.”
但吉姆听到这个名字立刻激动起来：‘那是你的船，对吧？金丝雀号是你穿制服时指挥的船。’他的手指在瑞安膝盖上收紧，几乎要掐出淤青，‘那么，如果你确定这个叫摩西·沃拉赫的家伙袭击过你……如果他当时在你的船上……我猜他是来算旧账的。’
“Maybe.” Ryan sighed, a hiss through his teeth, and looked into Jim’s face now. “In fact, more than likely. I suppose you’re due a part of the story.”
“也许吧。”瑞安叹了口气，从牙缝里嘶嘶吐着气，此刻直视着吉姆的脸庞，“事实上，十有八九是这样。我想你有权知道部分真相。”
“As your lover, I’d say I was due the whole lot,” Jim admonished. “And since I risked my life to pull you out of the wreck,” he added tartly, “I’m going to demand a good deal of it!”
“作为你的情人，我应该说有权知道全部。”吉姆嗔怪道，“更何况我冒着生命危险把你从沉船里救出来，”他尖刻地补充，“我要求知道的可不止一星半点！”
“My lover,” Ryan repeated, arrested by simple words encompassing a universe of meaning. He set one light fingertip on Jim’s nose. “Allow me to keep a few of my secrets. The whole truth is not for your ears, Jim, nor anyone’s, come to that! But yes, Wallach was on my ship. In those days he was serving as a gun captain. The Canary was an old hull, a ninety-foot sloop - big for a sloop, but not a big ship, by any means - with twenty-two guns. We were out in the Mid-Atlantic at the time, trawling for pirates.”
“我的情人。”瑞安重复道，这简单的称谓里蕴含的深意让他一时失神。他将指尖轻轻点在吉姆鼻尖上，“容我保留些秘密。完整的真相不该让你听见，吉姆，说真的，谁都不该听！不过没错，沃拉赫当时在我的船上。那时他担任炮长。金丝雀号是艘老船体，九十英尺长的单桅帆船——对单桅船来说算大的，但绝对称不上大船——配备二十二门炮。当时我们在大西洋中部游弋，追捕海盗。”
“Pirates in this day and age?” Jim almost scoffed. “You’re not joshing me? Shades of Captain Kidd!”
“这年头还有海盗？”吉姆几乎要嗤笑出声，“你没糊弄我吧？简直像基德船长的传说！”
“Pirates, I swear to God.” Ryan chuckled at the look on the younger man’s face. He still had the ability to astonish and amuse Jim, and he cherished it. “We were hunting for American and Dutch privateer crews who’d been poaching on shipping between the Azores and the Caribbean.” He settled back into the chair, eating as he finished the food and handed the tray back to Jim.
“海盗，我向天发誓。”瑞安看着年轻人脸上的表情笑了起来。他依然拥有让吉姆惊讶和开心的能力，这让他倍感珍惜。“我们当时在追捕那些在亚速尔群岛和加勒比海之间劫掠商船的美国及荷兰私掠船船员。”他重新靠回椅背，吃完最后一口食物后将餐盘递还给吉姆。

It clattered onto the floor, and as Ryan took his tea in one hand he invited Jim into the warmth of his lap. Jim took a moment to throw the bolt on the door, and curled up in the vast leather chair with him, long legs draped over the arm, while Ryan’s mind strayed years into the past.
餐盘哐当一声掉在地上。瑞安单手端着茶杯，将吉姆揽入自己温暖的膝头。吉姆花片刻时间锁好门，随后蜷缩进那张宽大的皮椅与他依偎在一起，修长的双腿悬垂在扶手上。瑞安的思绪则飘回了多年前的往事里。
“Wallach was a drunkard,” he said thoughtfully. “When he had been drinking - which was any time he could get his hands on the grog - he was just careless in his work. He was a gun captain only because he’d been seventeen years in the Queen’s Navy. And he managed to get a whole gun crew killed when the gun blew itself to smithereens.”
“沃拉赫是个酒鬼，”他若有所思地说，“每当他喝醉时——其实就是只要能搞到烈酒的时候——干活就特别马虎。他能当上炮长全因为在皇家海军混了十七年。结果有次火炮炸膛，他把整个炮组都害死了。”
“Christ,” Jim whispered. “Like a rifle splitting its barrel?”
“天啊，”吉姆低声惊呼，“就像步枪炸膛那样？”
“Something like that. Not enough of the gun was left for the investigating officers to properly ascertain what had happened, but guns don’t blow themselves up, Jim. It’s far from unknown, but when it does happen, it’s invariably about sheer negligence. And it’s the responsibility of the senior man in the gun crew.”
“差不多是这样。调查人员没能从火炮残骸中找出确切原因，但火炮不会自己炸膛，吉姆。这种事虽不常见，可一旦发生，必定是极端疏忽所致。而炮组负责人的罪责难逃。”
“Which meant Moses Wallach was punished for the event. I won’t say ‘accident’.” Jim took a sip from his mug and rested against Ryan’s shoulder. The fire crackled; a wind tossed against the window glass and whispered in the chimney. Ryan’s eyes were fixed on the flames as the past seemed, for a moment, so much more real than the present. Jim would not let him withdraw behind a mask again and said softly, “I assume you took disciplinary action against Wallach?”
“这意味着摩西·沃拉赫要为这事受罚——我可不说这是‘意外’。”吉姆啜饮杯中之物，倚在瑞安肩头。炉火噼啪作响，风扑打着窗玻璃，在烟囱里呜咽。瑞安凝视火焰，往昔在此刻恍若比现实更真切。吉姆不让他再度躲进面具之后，轻声道：“我猜你给沃拉赫处分了？”
“I put him in irons.” Ryan stirred and took a swig of tea. “He swore, in my First Officer’s hearing, he’d kill me at his first opportunity. I was going to hold Wallach in irons pending an investigation. We were damaged and heading back to port, as fast as we could maneuver. Wallach swore on a pile of Bibles, the episode with the gun was an accident, but I could smell rum on his breath. I didn’t believe him, how could I? He was probably still drunk when he stood up in Joel Tremayne’s hearing and said he’d kill me, first chance he got.” Ryan closed his eyes. “Not for the ‘accident’ with the gun, Jim, but for the threat against the ship’s captain, my First Officer had no choice but to offer Wallach seventy-five lashes, and there’s no way sentence can be carried out without blood.”
“我给他上了镣铐。”瑞安动了动身子，灌了口茶。“他当着大副的面发誓，说一有机会就要我的命。我本打算先羁押沃拉赫等候调查。当时我们受损返航，正全速驶向港口。沃拉赫对着一摞圣经起誓，说火炮事件纯属意外，可我闻到他呼吸间的朗姆酒气。我怎能信他？他在乔尔·特里梅因面前扬言要杀我时，八成还醉着。”瑞安闭上眼，“不是为了火炮‘意外’，吉姆，而是因他威胁舰长，大副不得不判他七十五鞭——这种刑罚不见血是执行不了的。”

Jim gave an involuntary shudder. “And since the judgment had been made, the punishment threatened, you’d have no option but to honor the word of your officer.”
吉姆不自觉地战栗。“既然判决已下，刑罚已定，你除了维护下属的威信别无选择。”
“No option at all. Besides which, if a man threatens to murder the
"根本没有选择的余地。更何况，若有人威胁要谋杀船长，"
ship’s captain it’s not a question of letting him get away with a reprimand. Mutiny is a hanging offense, Jim. What d’you think the Navy would have done, if they’d laid their hands on him?” Ryan put his head back carefully against the chair and closed his eyes. “Before I was twenty, I watched a man flogged to death. Some port in Africa, I can’t even remember where. Beside that sorry spectacle, my bosun dealt Wallach a mere tickle with the cat, but it was bad enough. Do you know what they call it in the Navy? ‘Goose with gravy,’ they call it. Odd, don’t you think?”
这可不是训斥几句就能了事的问题。兵变是死罪，吉姆。你觉得海军要是抓到他，会怎么处置？"瑞安将头小心地靠在椅背上，闭上眼睛。"不到二十岁时，我曾目睹一个人被鞭刑致死。在非洲某个港口，具体是哪儿我都记不清了。比起那惨状，我的水手长对沃拉赫施行的鞭刑简直像挠痒痒，但也够他受的。知道海军管这叫什么吗？'蘸酱鹅'，他们这么称呼。奇怪，是不是？
“To liken blood to gravy?”
"把鲜血比作肉汁？"
“To make wit out of bloodletting.” Ryan finished his tea in one swallow and set the cup down on the fender. He closed his arms around Jim and set his cheek against the soft brown hair. “Moses Wallach has hated me every day since. He had friends aboard the Canary, of course. Someone came to his aid after the flogging. He was over the side and gone before the Navy could take him into custody.” He paused and his brow creased in thought. “When I went aboard the Mascot in Edinburgh I knew him at once, of course. A glance was enough, just as he knew me too.”
"是把放血当作玩笑。"瑞安一口饮尽茶水，将杯子搁在壁炉围栏上。他环抱住吉姆，脸颊贴着那柔软的棕发。"摩西·沃拉赫从那以后每天都恨我入骨。当然，他在金丝雀号上有同伙。鞭刑后有人帮了他。还没等海军拘押，他就跳船逃走了。"他停顿片刻，眉头紧锁。"当我在爱丁堡登上吉祥物号时，立刻就认出了他。只需一眼，就像他也认出了我一样。"
“Passenger or crew?” Jim asked quietly.
“乘客还是船员？”吉姆轻声问道。
“Crew. It’s the only trade the bugger knows.”
“船员。这混蛋就只会干这行当。”
“And he couldn’t wait to take a crack at you.” Jim touched Ryan’s smooth-shaven face. “You were luckier than I thought. Wallach’s old rancor has been festering for a long time.”
“他迫不及待想找你麻烦。”吉姆抚过瑞安刮得光洁的脸庞，“你比我想象的幸运。沃拉赫积怨已久。”
“Or is it some new ill? I wonder.” Ryan’s lips closed about the lobe of Jim’s left ear, his voice was a breathy whisper. “Five times in three years, that I’ve heard of, Moses Wallach has served aboard ships that fetched up on the rocks. Accident, Jim, or intent?”
“还是新结的梁子？我很好奇。”瑞安含住吉姆的左耳垂，气息化作呢喃，“三年来五次——据我所知——摩西·沃拉赫服役的船都触了礁。是意外呢，吉姆，还是蓄意？”

It took some moments for the sense of what he had said to dawn on Jim. Ryan was patient; a warm, wet tongue plundering one’s ear was not conducive to thought, but at last Jim drew away and looked at Ryan out of dark eyes.
吉姆花了好一会儿才明白他话里的含义。瑞安很有耐心；毕竟一只湿热舌头在耳畔攻城略地时实在难以思考，但最终吉姆还是抽身后退，用那双幽深的眼睛望向瑞安。
“Are you saying Wallach may be working for the wreckers? That’s a very serious allegation, and if you’ve any cause to think so - damn! It’s the constable you should be telling, not me.”
"你是说沃拉赫可能为沉船党做事？这指控可太严重了，如果你有任何依据——该死！你该去告诉治安官，而不是我。"

But Ryan only shrugged. “Five ships in three years. If you want to wreck a ship, there’s any number of ways to do it. Open the sea cocks and flood her … on a tall ship, break away her mizzen back stay, which is a simple job with an ax in the dark.” He paused, and his voice was a harsh whisper. “And Butterwick’s poor ship? Sign aboard as the steersman and guide her onto the rocks deliberately.”
但瑞安只是耸了耸肩。"三年五艘船。想弄沉一艘船，法子可多了。打开通海阀让她进水……至于高桅船，趁黑用斧头砍断后桅支索就行。"他顿了顿，声音变得嘶哑，"巴特威克那艘可怜的船呢？当个舵手混上船，故意把她往礁石上引就是了。"
“Then …” Jim bit his lip. “Wallach would likely have taken fright when he saw you among the passengers, if he’s aware you know a thing or two about him.”
"那么……"吉姆咬着嘴唇，"如果沃拉赫知道你掌握他的底细，看见你在乘客当中准会吓破胆。"
“Oh, he’s aware of it,” Ryan said tartly. “Last I heard of the bastard,
"哦，他心知肚明，"瑞安尖刻地说，"我最后一次听说那混蛋的消息时，
he was working for Matt Donnegan. Do you know the name? Yes, the same Matthew Donnegan who’s wrecked more good ships than he can recall, off the coasts by Penzance.”
他在为马特·唐纳根干活。你听说过这名字吗？没错，就是那个在彭赞斯海岸附近弄沉的好船多得自己都记不清的马修·唐纳根。
“And now this Wallach is on our coast,” Jim said slowly. He puffed out his cheeks and shook his head. “Hutton was on watch in the boathouse, and he’s quick on his feet. He was here in minutes after you struck, and we were on the water like that.” He snapped his fingers. “Nathan Kerr was a minute behind us. If he’d been a minute before, we’d have lost that salvage. It was almost as if -”
“现在这个沃拉赫又出现在我们海岸了，”吉姆缓缓说道。他鼓起腮帮子摇了摇头。“赫顿当时正在船屋值班，他动作很快。你撞船后没几分钟他就赶到了，我们就像这样立刻下了水。”他打了个响指。“内森·克尔比我们晚到一分钟。要是他早到一分钟，那批打捞物我们就保不住了。简直就像是——”
“As if the Kerrs had a head start on you? As if they were waiting for her to strike?” Ryan finished. “Nathan Kerr’s whole company is full of scum and scoundrels.” He knuckled his eyes and stretched his spine till the crackles were audible. “If Nathan had made the salvage and shut you out, I’ve no doubt I’d be under Scalby Ness, shaking hands with fish by now. Wallach koshed me with a pistol, sure as hell, and Kerr’s company would never have dragged me out.”
“好像克尔家的人比你抢先一步？好像他们早就在等她动手似的？”瑞安说完，“内森·克尔的整个公司里尽是些卑鄙无耻之徒。”他用指节揉了揉眼睛，伸展脊椎直到发出咔咔的响声。“要是内森抢先打捞成功把你排除在外，我敢肯定我现在早就躺在斯卡尔比岬的海底跟鱼儿握手了。沃拉赫用枪托砸晕了我，千真万确，而克尔的公司绝不会把我拖出来。”

An enormous shiver coursed through Jim, head to foot. His arms went about Ryan in a punishing embrace, testing the bigger man’s ribs. Ryan returned it and tousled the soft hair he loved. “What’s this all about?”
吉姆浑身剧烈颤抖，从头到脚。他用近乎惩罚的力度紧紧抱住瑞安，勒得这个大个子肋骨生疼。瑞安也回抱住他，揉弄着那片他钟爱的柔软发丝。"这是怎么了？"
“Perhaps I just properly realized,” Jim said, hoarse with emotion, “how close I came to losing you. Good Christ, Bill, I’d never have known you were left behind in the hulk. If Nathan Kerr had beaten us to the Mascot, we’d have been waved off, same as I waved him off. We’d have turned back, let the Kerrs have her - it’s the law. I’d have been looking for you in the boats, in the hospital, and by morning I’d have learned you were dead, drowned, because I turned back and let him have the damned salvage fee.”
"也许我终于真正意识到，"吉姆声音哽咽，"差点就永远失去你了。老天爷啊比尔，要不是及时发现你被困在沉船里，等内森·克尔抢先登上吉祥物号，我们就得像他之前那样被迫返航——这是打捞业的规矩。我本该在救生艇和医院里找你，等到天亮才得知你早已溺亡，就因为我掉头离开，让那混蛋领了该死的打捞费。"

Yet it was the law of the salvage trade, and even such as Nathan Kerr had to respect it. Ryan held Jim at arm’s length to look at him. “Then you just be bloody glad Mick Hutton has good eyes and a fast horse,” he advised, “and you’ve strong backs on your boats.” He glanced at the ceiling. “Someone up there had an eye on me.”
但这确实是打捞业的铁律，即便是内森·克尔之流也不得不遵守。瑞安按住吉姆的肩膀打量他："那你真该感谢米克·赫顿眼力好马又快，"他顿了顿，"还有你船上那些壮实的水手。"抬眼望向天花板："看来天上有人眷顾着我。"
“And I thank whoever it was,” Jim breathed. His face had whitened by shades and when he got to his feet, arms wrapped about himself, he was shaking.
"不管是谁我都感激涕零。"吉姆气息微弱地说道。他脸色白得吓人，起身时双臂紧抱自己，整个人都在发抖。

Ryan followed him up and set both hands on his back. Jim wore a light linen shirt and gray waistcoat, gray trousers and blue carpet slippers. He was thin and hard-boned - warm but tense, and Ryan massaged his shoulders coaxingly. “You know me. I’ve the devil’s own luck, always have had. Don’t fret for me. If I had one bit less good fortune, or if my guardian angel was lazy, I’d have been killed a hundred times over by now … and I’d never have met you.” He stooped and kissed Jim’s neck. “Surely to God, you know the truth of that.”
瑞安跟着他上楼，双手搭在他背上。吉姆穿着亚麻薄衬衫和灰色马甲，灰色长裤配蓝色绒布拖鞋。他身形瘦削骨骼分明——体温温热却肌肉紧绷，瑞安抚弄着他的肩膀柔声哄道："你了解我的。我总有魔鬼般的好运气，向来如此。别为我担心。要是少那么一丁点儿好运，或是我的守护天使偷个懒，我早该死过上百回了...也就不会遇见你。"他俯身亲吻吉姆的后颈，"老天作证，你心里明白的。"
“I know it.” Jim sat on the arm of Ryan’s chair and pressed his face
"我明白。"吉姆坐在瑞安椅子的扶手上，将脸埋进
to his companion’s breast. “I bless the day you walked into the office. I think I’d have been mad by now, without you.”
同伴的胸膛。"感谢那天你走进事务所。要是没有你，我大概早就疯了。"
“Bilgewater,” Ryan scoffed. “But you’d certainly have been lonely, and perhaps too embittered even to recognize love if it swam up and took a bite out of your arse.” He tipped up Jim’s chin and looked into wide, expressive eyes which could so easily darken with irresistible desire.
"胡说八道，"瑞安嗤笑道，"不过你肯定会很孤独，说不定还会愤世嫉俗到连爱情游过来咬你屁股都认不出来。"他抬起吉姆的下巴，望进那双极易因难以抗拒的欲望而变得幽深的灵动眼眸。

The cold, blustery and drizzly March day when a down-on-his luck ex-Naval officer walked into the harborside office of Eastcoast Packet was a little more than a year before. Was it fourteen months? Those days were all beginning to blur, and Ryan sifted deliberately through his memory.
那是十四个月前——或许更久些？那些日子已开始模糊——一个寒风凛冽、细雨霏霏的三月天，一位落魄的前海军军官走进了东海岸邮船公司的港口办公室。瑞安正刻意在记忆中搜寻着确切日期。

The day he arrived, he would have sworn his luck was at its lowest ebb. His pockets were as empty as his belly and his options were few indeed. William Xavier Ryan arrived in Scarborough with few credentials - and lips which remained stubbornly sealed about his past. No matter the prying and cajoling, Jim could never winkle much out of him. Only one fact was sure: Ryan had not come to Scarborough by chance.
初抵斯卡伯勒那天，他本以为自己已倒霉透顶。口袋与肚腹同样空空如也，选择更是少得可怜。威廉·泽维尔·瑞安带着寥寥可数的资历证书来到此地，对过往始终三缄其口。任凭吉姆如何旁敲侧击，也撬不开他的嘴。唯有一点确凿无疑：瑞安来到斯卡伯勒绝非偶然。

Fourteen months ago, Jonathan Hale was still in complete control of the ebbing tides of his business. It was he who hired Ryan and put a deck under his feet. Even today Ryan felt the weight of a debt he owed, though Jim insisted the fancied debt was repaid many times over, in services rendered, and the sheer profitability of the Adelaide.
十四个月前，乔纳森·黑尔尚能完全掌控他那日渐衰落的生意。正是他雇用了瑞安，给了这个年轻人立足之地。即便如今，瑞安仍觉亏欠良多，尽管吉姆坚称这份人情债早已通过实际效劳——以及阿德莱德号带来的可观收益——加倍偿还了。

Fourteen months ago Bill Ryan’s luck could not have completely ebbed away: old Jon Hale remembered. When the young man showed his bruised, troubled face in the tiny, dark-wood office by the harbor, and when he said his name, held his breath and mentioned his father, Henry X. Ryan, Jonathan Hale remembered. Dropping his father’s name had seemed the ultimate gamble, the last chance Bill Ryan possessed. But how often had he heard Henry speak fondly of Jon Hale?
十四个月前，比尔·瑞安的运气尚未彻底耗尽：老乔恩·黑尔还记得。当这个鼻青脸肿、神色阴郁的年轻人出现在港口那间黑檀木小办公室，当他报出姓名、屏住呼吸提及父亲亨利·泽维尔·瑞安时，乔纳森·黑尔想起来了。打出父亲这张底牌看似孤注一掷，却是比尔·瑞安仅存的希望。可他曾多少次听亨利满怀温情地提起乔恩·黑尔呢？

It seemed Henry had worked with Jim’s father many years before - this much, Jim had always known, since he had heard every one of Jonathan’s tall-tales about ‘Hal Ryan.’ Stories of the misadventures of two harebrained young men and a creaky old hull, a smack forever remembered as ‘the Dolly Devonshire, bless her.’
看来亨利多年前曾与吉姆的父亲共事过——这一点吉姆一直都知道，因为他听乔纳森讲过无数关于"哈尔·瑞安"的夸张故事。那些关于两个莽撞青年和一艘吱呀作响的老船的故事，那艘永远被唤作"多莉·德文郡号，愿上帝保佑她"的小帆船。

The Dolly ran aground and broke up on Seal Sands at the mouth of the Tees, in the tremendous winter gales of '22. Hal and Jon worked together for only a single summer, but those were their ‘golden days’ and never to be forgotten. The next summer Henry X. Ryan followed the family tradition into the Navy, while Jonathan Hale took his share of their unlikely profits and bought two Scotch smacks and a sloop, all of them old but sound. Eastcoast Packet was born. Hale knew ships, he knew the sea, and he possessed a business-head for which he was respected until the world itself began to change under a pall of steam
"多莉号"在 22 年那场猛烈的冬季风暴中，于蒂斯河口的西尔沙滩搁浅解体。哈尔和乔纳森只共事了一个夏天，但那却是他们"黄金般的日子"，永远难忘。次年夏天，亨利·X·瑞安遵循家族传统加入了海军，而乔纳森·黑尔则用他们意外获得的利润份额买下了两艘苏格兰渔船和一艘单桅帆船——这些船虽老旧却结实可靠。东海岸邮船公司就此诞生。黑尔深谙船舶与海洋之道，更拥有令人敬重的商业头脑，直到蒸汽时代的阴云开始改变整个世界。
and coal smoke, and simply left him behind.
煤烟弥漫，就这样把他抛在了身后。
But the Ryan family’s Naval tradition was sullied when their only son departed the service without proper discharge papers, and the energetic Scarborough gossip whispered about disgrace. Bill Ryan’s lips remained sealed on the subject - even Jim could never coax a syllable out of him. Though Jonathan frowned shrewdly at Ryan, he never asked, more than likely out of respect for the friend of his youth. Hal Ryan died while his son was six months away, in the South Atlantic, and though Bill would always mourn his father, always regret the missed opportunities, even the chance to say goodbye, he was glad Henry Xavier Ryan passed away before he had to listen to the whispers of disgrace.
但瑞安家族的海军传统在他们独子未经正式退伍便离开部队时蒙上了污点，斯卡伯勒那些精力旺盛的闲言碎语都在窃窃私语着这件丑事。比尔·瑞安对此始终三缄其口——就连吉姆也从未能从他嘴里套出一个字。虽然乔纳森精明地对着瑞安皱起眉头，但他从未开口询问，多半是出于对年少时这位朋友的尊重。哈尔·瑞安在儿子远赴南大西洋六个月后去世，尽管比尔将永远哀悼父亲，永远为错过的机会——甚至告别——而遗憾，但他庆幸亨利·泽维尔·瑞安在不得不听到那些关于耻辱的窃窃私语前就离开了人世。

Several times Jim had muttered curses of frustration at Ryan’s recalcitrance, yet he was not about to pass judgment on a man without information - and no information was on offer. The whole issue regarding the Navy was over, and Ryan had closed the door on it so firmly, even his dreams were at peace.
吉姆曾多次因瑞安的固执低声咒骂，但在缺乏确凿信息的情况下，他并不愿贸然评判一个人——而对方显然无意透露任何内情。关于海军的那桩旧事早已翻篇，瑞安将那段过往彻底封存，连梦境都归于平静。

The first Eastcoast deck under his feet was just a dirty little collier. For six months, until his promotion was due, Ryan endured, persevered, with a wry smile. The George of Hardwycke was a big comedown. Quite a fall from grace - from command of a ninety-foot, twenty-two gun Naval sloop to a collier hugging the east coast, never out of sight of land.
他脚下东海岸公司的第一块甲板不过是艘肮脏的小运煤船。瑞安带着苦笑忍耐了六个月，直到晋升令如期而至。"哈德威克乔治号"堪称一落千丈——从指挥二十二门火炮的九十英尺海军单桅帆船，沦落到这艘贴着东海岸航行、始终望得见陆地的运煤船，着实是颜面扫地。

How often had Ryan said, he had only one way to go from that lowly command: up. Yet in the end Jim was responsible for his fast promotion in the company. Command of the Adelaide should probably have gone to another officer with better credentials, but strings were pulled and papers shuffled, while Jon Hale was with his physicians in London. Mick Hutton was an ambitious man, but he was also a realist. He had been with Eastcoast for four years, but he had never taken a laden vessel into the mountainous seas one expected on the Scandinavian run. Did he possess those skills? Mick himself was far from sure, and with good graces he accepted Ryan’s promotion to command of the Adelaide.
瑞安常说，从那卑微的职位出发只有一条路可走：向上。但最终促成他在公司快速晋升的却是吉姆。按常理，"阿德莱德号"的指挥权本该交给资历更佳的军官，但在乔恩·黑尔赴伦敦就医期间，有人暗中运作，调换了任命文件。米克·赫顿虽野心勃勃，却也是个现实主义者。他在东海岸公司服役四年，却从未驾驶满载货船穿越斯堪的纳维亚航线预期的惊涛骇浪。他是否具备这等能耐？米克自己都毫无把握，于是欣然接受了瑞安晋升为"阿德莱德号"指挥官的决定。

If Hutton had wanted to be a sonofabitch, he could have fought Jim’s decision tooth and nail, waited for Jon Hale to come back up from London and demanded the promotion be overturned. Ryan was ruefully grateful. Mick could have made a bad scene, but it seemed he was keenly aware of Ryan’s greater experience. The Adelaide would be safer, and far more profitable, under his command.
倘若赫顿存心作梗，大可以拼命反对吉姆的决定，等乔恩·黑尔从伦敦回来要求撤销任命。瑞安对此心怀苦涩的感激。米克本可能大闹一场，但他似乎清醒地认识到瑞安更为丰富的航海经验。由瑞安执掌"阿德莱德号"，不仅航行更安全，收益也将更为可观。

Fourteen months raced by like a gale off the Azores. Of that time, Ryan had spent a matter of weeks ashore. The days, the nights he shared with Jim were treasured indeed.
十四个月如亚速尔群岛的狂风般飞逝而过。那段时光里，瑞安在岸上只待了几周。与吉姆共度的日日夜夜，确实弥足珍贵。

Jim had been quiet for some time now, waiting for him to shake off the veil of memory, and as the shades drifted back into their dusty cor-
吉姆已静默多时，等待着他从记忆的薄纱中挣脱。当那些阴影逐渐退回它们尘封的角——
ners Ryan seemed to blink awake. “Welcome back,” Jim said with a hint of gentle mockery. “Daydreams?”
落时，瑞安仿佛突然惊醒般眨了眨眼。"欢迎回来，"吉姆带着一丝温和的揶揄说道，"做白日梦呢？"
“Just thinking.” Ryan gestured vaguely over his shoulder in the general direction of the past.
"只是在想事情。"瑞安含糊地朝肩后挥了挥手，指向那段已成过往的岁月。
“About…?” Jim reached up with both arms and laced his fingers at Ryan’s nape.
“关于什么……？”吉姆抬起双臂，十指交叠搭在瑞安的后颈上。
“Everything. Nothing.” Ryan shrugged, stooped the few inches’ difference in their height and dropped a kiss on the bridge of Jim’s nose. “I suppose I’m thinking like the husband of a seawife.”
“所有事。又或者无事。”瑞安耸耸肩，俯身凑近那几英寸的身高差，在吉姆的鼻梁上落下一个吻。“我想我正像个海员的丈夫那样思考。”
“A - what?” Jim almost recoiled, and then paused to think about it and his brow creased. “A seawife, am I? Well, I could be. I gaze at the horizon and wonder when in the name of God you’ll be home, and if I sleep beside you one night in three weeks I think myself lucky. The rest of the time I listen to the wind, watch for letters from abroad and wonder where you are.”
“什——什么？”吉姆几乎要往后缩，但随即停下来思索，眉头皱了起来。“海员的丈夫，是我吗？好吧，倒也可能。我凝望地平线，想着老天爷你何时能归家；要是三周里能有一晚睡在你身旁，便觉得自己幸运极了。其余时候，我听着风声，等着海外来信，揣测你身在何处。”

Enchanted, Ryan watched a pageant of expressions chase one another across Jim’s expressive face, from self-mockery to genuine concern. He framed the words carefully before he said, “We do have alternatives, you know.”
瑞安着迷地看着种种情绪如游行车队般掠过吉姆生动的面庞，从自嘲到真切的忧虑。他字斟句酌地说道：“我们确实有其他选择，你知道的。”

Hands splayed across his back, rubbing him there. “If they exist, I can’t see them,” Jim said darkly, intent on the massage, and on the angles and planes of Ryan’s back.
吉姆双手摊开按在他背上揉搓着。"就算真有那些东西，我也看不见，"他阴沉地说，全神贯注地按摩着，指尖描摹着瑞安背部的线条轮廓。

The massage was distracting and for the moment Ryan caught his hands to stop him. He tugged Jim to the foot of the bed and they sat, knees colliding. Jim’s brows were up; he was waiting, knowing some bee was buzzing in Ryan’s head.
按摩让人分神，瑞安暂时捉住他的手制止动作。他把吉姆拽到床尾坐下，两人膝盖相抵。吉姆扬起眉毛等待着，知道瑞安脑子里正嗡嗡作响转着什么念头。

The bee was Joel Tremayne, and Ryan said carefully, “I met an old friend in Dumbarton. He has a sloop in some yard, refitting for a voyage to America.”
这念头关乎乔尔·特里梅因。瑞安谨慎地开口："我在邓巴顿遇见个老朋友。他有艘单桅帆船停在船坞，正为远航美洲做整修。"
“Do I know him, or know of him?” Jim wondered.
"我认识这人吗？或者听说过？"吉姆疑惑道。
“Probably. Have you heard me mention a Joel Tremayne?”
"很可能。你听我提起过乔尔·特里梅因这个人吗？"
“Tremayne. Yes.” Jim seemed surprised. “You’ve mentioned him several times, though you never elaborated. Someone you served with in the Navy? I think you said he was on the Canary.”
"特里梅因。是的。"吉姆显得有些惊讶，"你提到过好几次，但从未细说。是你在海军服役时的战友？我记得你说过他在金丝雀号上。"
“That’s him.” Ryan blinked away a rush of memories, not all of which were welcome. “He was my First Officer, in fact, and a … a very good friend, if you take my meaning.”
"就是他。"瑞安眨了眨眼，试图驱散那些涌上心头的记忆——并非所有都令人愉快。"他其实是我的大副，而且...是个非常要好的朋友，你明白我的意思。"

Now Jim’s eyes widened. “He was your lover?”
吉姆此时瞪大了眼睛："他是你的情人？"
“For some time.” Ryan paused. “I’ve never said much about him because I was never sure how you’d take the news.”
“有段时间了。”瑞安停顿了一下，“我很少提起他，因为一直不确定你听到这个消息会作何反应。”
“That you’d had a lover before me?” Jim smothered a laugh. “You think I labored under some impression about your virginity? Good Christ, Bill, you were the consummate lover on our first night. You had to learn the skills somewhere.”
“在我之前你还有过情人？”吉姆憋住笑声，“你以为我会天真到以为你是处子之身？老天，比尔，我们共度第一晚时你就像个情场老手。这些技巧总得有个来处。”
“Fair enough.” Ryan gave him a smile, and with his thumb and
“说得在理。”瑞安冲他笑了笑，用拇指和
forefingers massaged his throbbing temples as he said, “Joel’s done well for himself since we parted company. Got himself a ship. A sloop big enough to run a decent cargo, robust enough to make the voyage out to America. He’s skippered her out there three times himself, got fat on the profits. And he offered her to me, Jim.” Ryan looked Jim Hale levelly in the eyes, not surprised to see a lot of old Jon Hale’s native shrewdness there. “I turned him down.”
食指揉着突突跳动的太阳穴说道，“乔尔和我分开后混得不错。弄了艘船——是艘能运像样货物、经得起远航美国的单桅帆船。他亲自掌舵跑了三趟美洲，赚得盆满钵满。”瑞安直视吉姆·黑尔的眼睛，毫不意外在那双眼里看到了老乔恩·黑尔与生俱来的精明，“但我拒绝了他。”

For some moments Jim was silent, thinking it over, before he asked the simplest of all questions. “Why?”
吉姆沉默了片刻，仔细思量后才问出那个最简单的问题："为什么？"
“Why did I turn him down?”
"为什么我要拒绝他？"
“I assume you had a good reason. The run out to America isn’t as dangerous as the Skagerak run, not by a long chalk, and any cargo you’d carry, out and back, would have to be worth a hell of a lot more. This sloop of Tremayne’s would show a healthier profit than the Adelaide, and the captain’s pay wouldn’t have to be stripped to the bone to keep the owner solvent! You’d certainly come home with a hold full of tobacco. But I can’t imagine what you’d carry on the way out. The big steamers tied up the American marketplace a good ten years ago.”
"我想你自有道理。跑美洲航线虽不如斯卡格拉克海峡那般凶险，但往返运送的货物价值必须高得多。特里梅因那艘单桅帆船的利润肯定比阿德莱德号可观，船长薪酬也不必压榨到见骨来维持船主周转！你返航时货舱定能装满烟草。但我实在想不出你们出航时能运什么——那些大蒸汽船早在十年前就垄断了美洲市场。"

His eyes glittered with challenge. He had already almost thought it through, and Jon Hale’s business acumen, his knowledge of markets and trade routes, barely outstripped his son’s. Ryan had never underestimated Jim.
他眼中闪烁着挑战的光芒。这事他早已想透七八分，而乔恩·黑尔在商业嗅觉与贸易路线方面的见识，也不过比他儿子略胜一筹罢了。瑞安从未低估过吉姆。
“Three times, the Mercury has shipped out.” Ryan paused. “With a load of carbine ammunition. That’s her cargo on the current voyage,” he said evenly, “and I told Joel I wouldn’t give up everything I have here to skipper a powder hulk, and I didn’t care what he was paying.”
"‘墨丘利号已经出航三次了。’瑞安停顿了一下，‘每次都装载着卡宾枪弹药。这就是她本次航行的货物，’他平静地说，‘我告诉乔尔，我不会放弃这里的一切去当一艘火药船的船长，不管他出多少钱。’"
“Well said.” Jim sat back to look at him, though he kept his grip on Ryan’s left hand. “There isn’t a seaman on these coasts who hasn’t watched a powder hulk blow itself to hell and back, or a coal barge burn to the waterline.” But his face was shrewd indeed. “But Tremayne is taking her out again?” Ryan nodded. “Four times with that load.” Ryan nodded again. The pink tip of Jim’s tongue moistened his lips. “The pay -”
"‘说得好。’吉姆向后靠了靠打量着他，但依然紧握着瑞安的左手。‘在这片海域，没有哪个水手没见过火药船把自己炸上天，或是运煤船烧到吃水线的。’但他脸上露出精明的神色，‘可特里梅因又要派她出航了？’瑞安点点头。‘第四次运那种货物了。’瑞安又点了点头。吉姆粉红的舌尖润了润嘴唇。‘报酬——’"
“Is probably so rich, it’s obscene,” Ryan guessed. “So long as you can get her home in one piece, not get caught in some blockade, not get picked up by the wrong army and slammed into a hole in the ground for the next twenty years.” He shook his head slowly, and regarded Jim with a rueful smile. “I’ve got too much to lose, Jim. Which is exactly what I told Joel.”
"‘大概丰厚得离谱，’瑞安猜测道，‘只要你能把她完好无损地带回来，不被封锁线截住，不被敌军抓获，然后在地洞里关上二十年。’他缓缓摇头，带着苦涩的微笑看着吉姆，‘我输不起啊，吉姆。这正是我对乔尔说的话。’"
“Too much to lose,” Jim echoed. “Meaning me.”
"‘输不起，’吉姆重复道，‘指的是我。’"
“Meaning you.” Ryan reached up with one hand, stroking a caress about Jim’s face, charting the lines of his nose, cheek, jaw, long-familiar territory which invited Ryan’s fingers yet again. “But,” he added as Jim’s eyes darkened and his eyes closed, “this could be the last time the Mercury ships out under a load of ammunition. Joel’s so rich now, he
“意思是你。”瑞安抬起一只手，轻抚着吉姆的脸庞，指尖勾勒着他鼻梁、脸颊与下颌的轮廓——这片早已熟稔的疆域又一次召唤着他的触碰。“但是，”他补充道，此时吉姆的瞳色转深，眼帘低垂，“这可能是墨丘利号最后一次满载弹药出航了。乔尔现在富得流油，他”
just wants to get dry land under his feet, and the hell with the sea. He never had any love of the sea, Jim. He joined the Navy because all the men in his family join the Navy -”
“只渴望脚踏实地，让大海见鬼去吧。他从来不爱大海，吉姆。他加入海军只是因为家族里所有男人都这么干——”
“Like your family,” Jim added.
“就像你家那样。”吉姆插话道。
“Five generations of us, God help me.” Ryan took a breath. “And I’m the last.” He forced a smile. “I thought I loved the sea, but this is where she’s brought me! I’ve found the one lad in a million, and I’m never at home long enough to warm up his bed sheets.”
“整整五代人，老天爷开恩吧。”瑞安深吸一口气，“而我是最后一代。”他挤出一个笑容，“原以为我深爱大海，可她竟把我带到这般境地！我找到了百万里挑一的好小伙，却从没在家待够时间把他的床铺焐热。”
“I wouldn’t say never,” Jim argued. His cheeks flushed slightly. “And besides, the sea’s where you work. I don’t have any right to complain.”
"‘我可不敢说永远不，’吉姆争辩道，脸颊微微泛红，‘再说了，大海是你的工作场所。我哪有资格抱怨。’"
“You’ve every right to,” Ryan said dryly. “I told Joel I wasn’t about to take out any damned ammunition carrier, but the Mercury should be loaded with medical supplies next time. That’s different, though she’ll still be running a blockade and it’s easy to find yourself on the wrong side.” He lifted one brow at Jim. “I told him I’d talk to you about it, because - and don’t disregard the offer too soon! - Joel offered to take you aboard too.”
"‘你完全有资格抱怨，’瑞安干巴巴地说，‘我告诉乔尔我绝不会接任何该死的军火运输任务，但下次墨丘利号应该会装载医疗物资。这虽然不同，可她还是要突破封锁线，很容易站错队。’他朝吉姆挑了挑眉，‘我答应他会和你谈谈这事，因为——别急着拒绝这个提议！——乔尔主动提出也让你上船。’"
“Me?” Jim was taken aback. “He doesn’t even know me!”
"‘我？’吉姆愣住了，‘他根本不认识我！’"
“No, but $I$$I$II know you, and he’s happy to accept my judgment if I vouch for you. Which I did,” Ryan added. He took both of Jim’s hands, drew his thumbs across the backs, and watched Jim’s face become deeply thoughtful. “Think about it. The Mercury has already made the voyage three times safely, which means she’s a sturdy hull, well designed for ducking and dodging. And if you can’t trust me to slither through a blockade -”
"‘是不认识，但 $I$$I$II 认识你，而且他很乐意接受我的担保——我确实为你作了担保。’瑞安补充道。他握住吉姆的双手，拇指轻轻摩挲他的手背，看着吉姆陷入沉思，‘考虑考虑吧。墨丘利号已经安全完成了三次航行，说明她船体坚固，设计精良，擅长闪避。要是你连我突破封锁线的本事都信不过——’"
“Who would I ever trust?” Jim finished. “Christ, Bill. When?”
“我还能相信谁？”吉姆说完，“天啊，比尔。什么时候？”
“I don’t know. July, August,” Ryan guessed. “Joel will come looking for me, for us, when he gets back.”
“我不知道。七月，八月吧，”瑞安猜测道，“乔尔回来后会来找我，找我们的。”
“If he gets back,” Jim said pointedly. “This could be the voyage where she blows herself sky-high, or else the next we hear of the bold Joel Tremayne is a begging letter from a prison cell in - Damn! Which side of the war does he run ammunition for?”
“要是他能回来的话，”吉姆尖锐地指出，“这次航行说不定会让她自己炸上天，要么下次我们听到勇敢的乔尔·特里梅因的消息，就是他从某个监狱牢房里寄来的乞求信——该死！他到底给战争的哪一边运送军火？”

Ryan laughed, deep and husky. “Both, though not at the same time. He says it’s the only way that’s fair, and I can see his warped kind of logic.”
瑞安低沉沙哑地笑了，“两边都运，不过不是同时。他说这样才公平，我能理解他那种扭曲的逻辑。”
“Logic?” Jim puffed out his cheeks. “He’s either going to be rich as a king or dead as a haddock, there won’t be any middle ground.”
"逻辑？"吉姆鼓起腮帮子，"他要不是富得流油，就是死得像条鳕鱼，绝不会有中间路可走。"

He was right, Ryan thought. He lifted Jim’s right hand, turned it over and kissed the callused open palm. “Think about it. We’ll say no more of it till Tremayne turns up here in Scarborough, if he ever does. You don’t have to make any decisions now.”
瑞安觉得他说得对。他抬起吉姆的右手，翻转过来亲吻着那长满老茧的掌心。"考虑考虑吧。在特里梅因现身斯卡伯勒之前——如果真能等到他的话——咱们先别提这事了。你现在不必做任何决定。"
“I’ll think about it,” Jim promised carefully. “But you know I can’t leave Eastcoast. Not … now.”
"我会考虑的，"吉姆谨慎地承诺道，"但你知道我不能离开东海岸。至少...现在不行。"

Not while his father was so sick, not while trade was poor, while
父亲病得这么重，生意又这么惨淡，眼下
‘Hale’s Folly’ was bleeding the family and the business white. Ryan knew Jim far too well to ask him to make any such decision, and instead put aside the whole question of Joel Tremayne, the sloop Mercury and the war in America. They would all keep, and if Joel’s face never appeared in Scarborough, if a begging letter from some stinking prison arrived instead -
‘黑尔的愚蠢’正让家族和生意都濒临破产。瑞安太了解吉姆了，根本不会要求他做这种决定，索性将乔尔·特里梅因、单桅帆船墨丘利号以及美国战事这些烦心事统统搁置。这些都可以等待——倘若乔尔的面孔永远不再出现在斯卡伯勒，倘若取而代之的是一封来自肮脏监狱的乞怜信——

They sprawled backward onto the bed, tangled in an embrace, kissing languidly for a long time, and Ryan stretched out his body, explored the stiff muscles in his neck, the tenderness in his skull. He was already halfway recovered from the blow on the head, he was sure, and no part of him wanted to waste this hour, not when the Adelaide would be back at sea so soon.
他们相拥着跌进床榻，慵懒地长久亲吻。瑞安舒展身躯，抚触着自己颈间僵硬的肌肉和颅内的隐痛。他确信头部遭受的击打已好了大半，此刻他半分都不愿虚度——尤其当阿德莱德号不久后又要启航时。

He growled, a tiger-purr, as Jim’s hands opened his robe, laid him bare from breast to thighs and stroked him. Ryan’s own fingers loosened Jim’s shirt, brushed the cotton away and reveled in the luxury of velvet bare skin. The younger Hale tugged a pillow under his head and surrendered with the impish grin Ryan had loved since the first moment he saw it.
当吉姆的双手解开他的睡袍，让他从胸膛到大腿都袒露无遗并开始爱抚时，瑞安发出猛虎般的低吼。他自己的手指也解开了吉姆的衬衣，拨开棉布，沉醉在天鹅绒般裸露肌肤的奢靡触感中。年轻的黑尔将一个枕头垫在脑后，带着瑞安初见时就钟爱的顽皮笑容彻底投降。
“You’re a wanton,” he teased, flicking open the buttons of the elegant trousers and searching the warm linen for the shaft within.
"‘你真是放荡，’他调笑着弹开考究长裤的纽扣，在温暖的亚麻布料间探寻那根昂扬的炽热。"
“If I’m a wanton, I’m only what you made me,” Jim informed him with complete accuracy. “I was perfectly chaste before you arrived, and you know it, Captain Ryan. Well, more or less chaste, anyway.”
"‘若说我放荡，那也都是拜你所赐，’吉姆带着十足的准确度告诉他，‘在你出现之前，我可是清清白白的——这点你心知肚明，瑞安上尉。好吧，至少大体上是清白的。’"
“Chaste only through a complete lack of opportunity,” Ryan added, also with unerring accuracy. “What would it be? A fleeting affair with a lad off one of the cobbles, whose hands were rough as sandpaper and smelt of herrings? Or a quick romp with your school master between arithmetic and spelling lessons?”
"‘不过是苦于没有机会才保持清白，’瑞安同样精准地补充道，‘能是什么好事？和鹅卵石街上某个满手鲱鱼腥味、粗糙得像砂纸的小伙子来段露水姻缘？还是趁着算术课和拼写课之间的空档，跟你的校长先生速战速决？’"
“That was it, more or less, God help us all.” Jim lifted up his hips to let Ryan slide the trousers and linen off his long, slender legs. “Check the bolt on that door, will you, Bill?” he whispered. “You know we’re not completely safe at this time of day. Mossman and the maids are around, and half the time they don’t even think of knocking because they assume the bedrooms are empty.”
"‘差不多就是这么回事，愿上帝宽恕我们。’吉姆抬起臀部，让瑞安把裤子和亚麻衬裤从他修长的双腿褪下。‘比尔，去检查下门闩好吗？’他低声说，‘你知道这个钟点并不完全安全。莫斯曼和女仆们都在附近转悠，她们十有八九想不起敲门——总觉得卧室里没人。’"

Again, he was right. Ryan threw the red brocade robe over the back of the chair by the hearth. The bolt was sound, but he rattled it in its latch, assuring Jim of their privacy before he returned to the bedside. He stood there, poised, fists on his hips, deliberately showing off a body he was proud of. The big, thick cock, lance-like with excitement, had once daunted Jim and now inspired him.
他又说对了。瑞安将猩红色织锦睡袍甩在壁炉边的椅背上。门闩很牢固，但他还是故意晃了晃插销，向吉姆确保隐私无虞后才回到床边。他站在那里，双拳叉腰，蓄意炫耀着自己引以为傲的身躯。那根因兴奋而挺立如长矛的粗壮阳物，曾经让吉姆畏怯，如今却成了催情的利器。

Clad in a loose, open shirt and a sultry smile, Jim stretched like a cat until his joints limbered. He shuffled over on the bed and held out his hand in invitation. Ryan took it and knelt astride him on the rumpled quilt.
吉姆套着件松垮敞开的衬衫，带着慵懒的笑容，像猫儿般舒展身体直到关节变得柔韧。他在凌乱的床单上挪了挪身子，伸手发出邀请。瑞安握住那只手，跨跪在他身上。
“We should take measures,” Jim said, part groan, part sigh as Ryan
"我们该采取些措施，"吉姆半是呻吟半是叹息地说道，这时瑞安
settled on him and began to hump with a delicious languor.
压在他身上，开始带着令人沉醉的慵懒节奏律动。
“Measures?” One big, knowing hand slipped down between their bellies and found Jim’s cock, golden, more slender than his own, and hard as steel in a velvet sheath. He dealt it a squeeze.
"措施？"一只宽大老练的手滑入两人腹部之间，寻到吉姆那根金褐色、比自己纤细却如钢刃裹丝绒般坚挺的阴茎。他轻轻捏了一下。
“Not about that!” Jim barked a husky laugh. “About Moses Wallach.”
"才不是那回事！"吉姆沙哑地笑了一声。"是关于摩西·沃拉赫的事。"
“The hell with Wallach. Not now. Later.” Ryan smothered the suggestion with a kiss. “For now, I have my thanks to make … it’s not every day I owe my life to a beautiful young man, and have the opportunity to thank him in the proper way.”
"去他的沃拉赫。现在别提这个，以后再说。"瑞安用一个吻堵住了这个提议。"眼下，我得好好表达谢意...毕竟不是每天都能欠一位漂亮小伙子救命之恩，还有机会用恰当方式报答他。"
“In the proper way?” Jim’s eyes widened with teasing humor. “Then by rights you should be on your back instead of me!”
"恰当方式？"吉姆睁大眼睛，带着戏谑的笑意。"那按规矩该是你躺下而不是我！"

Ryan chuckled richly. “Well now, if it’s what you’d like -”
瑞安低沉地轻笑。"好啊，如果你想要的话——"
“I might.” Jim pretended to consider. “But not now. Not even today. Later, when you’re well and strong.”
“也许吧。”吉姆假装考虑了一下。“但不是现在。今天也不行。等你身体好了再说。”
“When I’m -?” Ryan echoed, and crushed Jim against him with a full-bodied embrace. It stole the breath clean out of his lungs. “How ill and weak does that feel?”
“等我——？”瑞安重复道，用全身力气将吉姆紧紧搂住。这一抱几乎让他喘不过气来。“你觉得我现在病得有多重、有多虚弱？”
“You make a good point, Captain.” Jim struggled up to kiss and then flopped down flat on the mattress. “Oh, just get on and make love to me. But not out of gratitude, Bill. I pulled you out of that wreck, but -”
“你说得很有道理，上尉。”吉姆挣扎着起身吻了他一下，又重重倒回床垫上。“噢，干脆直接和我做爱吧。但别因为感激，比尔。我是把你从残骸里拖出来没错，可——”
“Let it be, don’t spoil it.” Ryan devoured his ear with biting kisses. “Don’t say you’d have dragged anyone out of there, even your enemy, and you did nothing for me that you wouldn’t have done for Nathan Kerr.”
“别说了，别破坏气氛。”瑞安用带着啃咬的吻吞噬着他的耳垂。“别说什么就算是敌人你也会救，也别说什么你对我和对内森·克尔毫无区别。”

The mention of Kerr’s name aroused a frown. “Something must be done about them. The Kerrs and Wallach both.”
克尔这个名字一被提及就让人皱起眉头。"必须采取些措施了。克尔家和沃拉赫家都是。"
“Measures,” Ryan growled against his ear. “Later!”
"行动，"瑞安在他耳边低吼。"等会儿！"
“Later,” Jim echoed as his long legs spread, wrapped about Ryan’s broader hips and pulled him down.
"等会儿，"吉姆应声道，同时他修长的双腿分开，环住瑞安更宽厚的臀部，将他拉了下来。

For Ryan, it was never a conquest or a surrender but a flight into wonder, like a gull riding the air streams over a cliff face, perhaps a cloud floating free against the face of heaven. He had forgotten most of the men he had ‘known’ in the Biblical sense; only a few faces haunted him across the years or filled his dreams with half-unwanted memories. A Chinese lad in Hong Kong, a slender youth in Shanghai. Sometimes he remembered only the physique … a smooth, seductive body in Alexandria, a round, uplifted arse in Malta. Each lover was cherished, with transitory affection, the camaraderie shared by men who loved men and guarded the terrible secret jealously. But none of those men had reached down inside Bill Ryan, found the beating heart of him, touched it, grasped it tight, as Jim Hale had.
对瑞安而言，这从来不是征服或屈服，而是一场飞向奇迹的旅程，就像海鸥乘着气流掠过悬崖，又或许像一朵云自由飘荡在天际。他早已忘记那些与他有过"亲密关系"的大多数男人；只有少数面容在岁月中萦绕着他，或让他的梦境充满半是抗拒的回忆。香港的一个中国少年，上海的一个纤细青年。有时他只记得身体......亚历山大城那具光滑诱人的躯体，马耳他那个圆润翘起的臀部。每个情人都被珍视过，带着转瞬即逝的柔情，那是爱着男人又嫉妒地守护着可怕秘密的男人们之间的情谊。但那些男人中没有一个能像吉姆·黑尔那样，深入比尔·瑞安的内心，找到他那颗跳动的心，触碰它，紧紧握住它。

He lifted his head to look into the flushed face, with its lush mouth and the fans of black eyelashes. In any century Jim would have been
他抬起头，望向那张涨红的脸庞——丰润的嘴唇，扇形的黑色睫毛。无论在哪个世纪，吉姆都注定
renowned for his beauty, and at this age he was at the very height of his young allure. Even as an older man, twenty and thirty years in the future, he would still be seductively handsome, but before time got her claws into him, wreaked her havoc, he was astonishing.
以美貌闻名，而此刻正是他青春魅力的巅峰。即便二十年后、三十年后，他仍会是那种令人心动的英俊，但在时光尚未侵蚀他、尚未施展其破坏力之前，他简直摄人心魄。

He was just twenty-five - old enough to be very definitely a man, though boyishness would always make him seem younger than his years. Ryan’s taste had never been for the young boys. With them, he would have felt like a predator, as if the older man was a scavenger and afterward should offer money or gifts. Perhaps he was wrong - he had never invested much time or thought in the question - but of one thing he was sure. In the arms of a young man he could find his pleasure and then lie at peace as an equal.
他刚满二十五岁——已然是个十足的男人，但眉宇间的少年气总让他看起来比实际年龄年轻。瑞安向来对少年郎没有兴趣。与那些孩子在一起，他会觉得自己像个掠食者，仿佛年长者是个拾荒客，事后该付钱或送礼似的。或许他想错了——他从未在这问题上花费太多心思——但有一点他很确定。在一个年轻男子的臂弯里，他既能寻得欢愉，事后又能平等相待地安卧。

The throb in the back of his skull reminded him of the night’s adventures but he worked his neck around, listened to the crackling of bone and sinew, and then banished the Mascot and all else from his mind. He was so intent on Jim, he did not hear the wind in the chimney, the gulls on the cliff outside, the stable lads shouting in the yard at the side of the house. Jim might have been the whole world as Ryan’s hands stroked slowly over him, learning his curves and hollows yet again, seeking the places where he was sensitive or even ticklish. He accepted Jim’s sighs and gasps as rewards and cues, and his lips feathered, his tongue followed, where his hands had broken the long-known trail.
后脑的抽痛提醒着他昨夜的荒唐，但他转动脖颈，听着筋骨咯吱作响，随即将吉祥物号与其他杂念都抛诸脑后。他全神贯注于吉姆，竟未听见烟囱里的风声、悬崖外海鸥的鸣叫，也未曾留意屋侧马厩里马童们的喧嚷。当瑞安的手缓缓抚过他的身体，重新探索那些熟悉的曲线与凹陷，寻找那些敏感甚至怕痒的部位时，吉姆仿佛成了他的整个世界。他将吉姆的轻喘与呻吟视为奖赏与指引，双唇如羽毛般轻触，舌尖紧随手指开辟的熟稔路径。

Where the sun never touched him he was pale and his skin was smooth, the hair on his chest and legs like gold silk. His limbs were lean, the muscles hard and round with youth. Ryan loved every part of him, from the angel’s-wing sweep of the wide shoulders to the rosegold root of him, proud, hard and blood-hot between slender thighs where muscles roped and flexed with effort.
阳光未曾触及之处，他的肌肤如瓷器般苍白细腻，胸腿间的毛发宛若金丝。四肢修长，青春的肌肉结实饱满。瑞安爱他每一寸——从天使羽翼般舒展的宽肩，到玫瑰金般的根部，那骄傲灼热的所在在紧绷的大腿间脉动，肌理随着动作起伏如绞绳。

Climax tingled in Ryan’s nerve endings, a knot of pleasurable tension gathered in his belly and he felt his swollen balls draw up. Jim’s mouth was open to pant and groan as he writhed and humped with growing fervor. Ryan tongued across his lips, dipped deeply into the hot cavern, and Jim whimpered unashamedly. He was close; his musk was like new-cut hay - similar to Ryan’s own, yet so different, he could tell them apart even when they were tangled and furious.
快感在瑞安神经末梢炸开，愉悦的紧绷感在腹部聚成硬结，他感到肿胀的囊袋开始收缩。吉姆张着嘴喘息呻吟，扭动的身躯带着愈发狂热的节奏。瑞安的舌扫过他的唇，深深探入湿热口腔，换来对方毫不掩饰的呜咽。临近高潮时，吉姆的气息像新割的牧草——与瑞安相似却截然不同，纵使在激烈交缠中也能清晰分辨。

A buck, like a young colt, and Jim froze in the second before he must come. Blood-hot semen gushed high onto Ryan’s breast, prickling his skin, and Jim’s teeth bared as he held his breath, squeezed shut his eyes to savor the brief delight. Ryan was just a moment behind him a few vital seconds which he sometimes purposely delayed so as to watch Jim’s face as he came. He was never more beautiful than in the instant of coming, his face tortured with pleasure, brow creased, cheeks flushed.
吉姆如小马驹般猛然弓背，在爆发前瞬间凝滞。滚烫精液高高溅上瑞安的胸膛，激起细密刺痛。他屏住呼吸龇着牙，紧闭双眼品味这短暂欢愉。瑞安故意延迟片刻，只为观赏吉姆高潮时的面容——那是他最美的时刻，眉头紧蹙，脸颊潮红，整张脸因极乐而扭曲。

But Ryan could never wait long, and as Jim began to gasp in long
但瑞安从来无法久候，当吉姆开始长
breaths Ryan’s own rush began. Jim’s hands held tight to his shoulders but the slender legs were lax now. Ryan thrust into the silky wetness on Jim’s belly, buried his face in the thick brown hair and growled as the coming shattered through him at last. A few moments’ delay always made it more keen, and if he closed his eyes tight he saw sparkles, ribbons of color.
瑞安自己的冲动开始急促起来。吉姆的双手紧紧抓着他的肩膀，但那双修长的腿此刻已放松下来。瑞安挺进吉姆腹部丝滑的湿润中，将脸埋进浓密的棕色毛发里，当高潮最终席卷全身时，他发出低吼。短暂的延迟总是让快感更加强烈，若是紧闭双眼，他还能看见闪烁的光点和彩带。

The fall to earth was slow, even tranquil. Ryan rolled over, yawned and rubbed his back on the quilt. He blinked his vision clear to see Jim swabbing chest and belly with a kerchief, clumsy with the delicious fatigue that followed good loving. Ryan smiled. For himself, he felt mended, as if the whole episode aboard the Mascot had never happened. Sex was the best medicine he knew, though he doubted many physicians would agree.
坠回地面的过程缓慢而平静。瑞安翻过身，打着哈欠在棉被上蹭了蹭后背。他眨眨眼睛恢复清晰视线，看见吉姆正用方巾擦拭胸膛和腹部，动作笨拙——这是酣畅淋漓的欢爱后甜蜜的疲惫所致。瑞安笑了。对他而言，自己仿佛被治愈了，好像吉祥物号上那整段插曲从未发生过。性爱是他所知的最佳良药，尽管他怀疑没几个医生会赞同这点。

With an enormous sigh Jim stretched from fingertips to toes and reluctantly returned to reality. It would have been wonderful to linger, to lie together in the aftermath, stroking and whispering like lovers anywhere, but the servants were busy not far away. Clatters and bangs traced them to the rooms down the hall, and Jim slid away.
吉姆长叹一声，从指尖到脚趾舒展身体，不情愿地回到现实。若能多停留片刻该多好，像所有爱侣那样在余韵中相拥，轻抚低语，但仆人们正在不远处忙碌。走廊那头的房间传来叮当声响暴露了他们的行踪，吉姆只得滑下床去。

With a murmured apology he reached for his clothes. His eyes were clear once more when he had finished dressing, and he looked down at the still-prone Ryan with a frown. “I’ll go to the constable. I’ll have Moses Wallach arrested tonight.”
他低声致歉，伸手去拿衣服。穿戴整齐后，他的眼神已恢复清明，低头看着仍躺着的瑞安皱起眉头。"我去找警长。今晚就让摩西·沃拉赫锒铛入狱。"
“I wouldn’t.” At last, grumbling, Ryan sat. He reached for the robe and belted it loosely about his hips. “There’s not one shred of evidence I can bring to bear on him or the Kerrs. It’s just their word against mine, and an accusation won’t stand up in court. Wallach koshed me and left me to die in the wreck. I know that. But proving it’s another matter.”
“我才不会。”瑞安终于嘟囔着坐下，伸手抓过睡袍松松地系在腰间。“我拿不出半点能指控他或克尔家的证据。这纯粹是各执一词，光靠指控在法庭上站不住脚。沃拉赫打昏我，把我丢在沉船里等死——我心里清楚。但要证明又是另一回事了。”
“Anyone in this town, or a dozen others, would accept your word,” Jim said sharply. “People know you here. They respect you. You’re the skipper of the Adelaide, and what’s Wallach? Third Mate of an old smack out of Edinburgh. The Mascot was thirty years old and rotten, Bill. She’s rotting at the feet of Scalby Ness now, but she should have been sold off for a coal barge years ago. At least Robbie Butterwick was well insured.”
“这镇上随便谁——哪怕换十个镇子——都会相信你的话，”吉姆厉声道，“这儿的人都认识你，敬重你。你是阿德莱德号的船长，他沃拉赫算什么？爱丁堡那艘破旧小帆船上的三副。吉祥物号都三十年了，比尔，早就烂透了。现在它正在斯卡尔比岬脚底下烂着，其实早该当运煤船卖掉。至少罗比·巴特威克的保险买得够足。”
“Well insured,” Ryan echoed darkly. He opened the window a few inches to let in the fresh, salt wind. It would clear the air of the telltale, dangerous odor of lovemaking. They had long ago learned to be careful. He angled a thoughtful look at Jim, who was fussing with the fire, raking embers and adding coal. “Insurance is a sword with two edges, don’t you think?”
“保险够足。”瑞安阴沉地重复道。他将窗户推开几寸，让带着咸味的新鲜海风涌进来，吹散那些泄露情事的危险气息。他们早学会了谨慎行事。他若有所思地瞥了眼正在拨弄炉火的吉姆——对方正耙着余烬添煤块。“保险是把双刃剑，你不觉得吗？”

Jim blinked at him as he put away the fire iron. Then he caught Ryan’s meaning and his fists clenched. “You think Butterwick took on Wallach to drive his own ship on the rocks?”
吉姆收火钳时冲他眨了眨眼，随即会意地攥紧拳头。“你觉得是巴特威克雇沃拉赫故意把船撞上礁石的？”
“I didn’t say it.” Ryan shook his head. "Allegations like that’ve got men killed before now, and I’ve not a shred of proof! But good old Rob
"‘我可没说过这话。’瑞安摇着头，‘这种指控以前就害死过人，而我手头连半点证据都没有！但咱们的好罗伯——"

Butterwick hired the bold Moses Wallach, and sure to God, Wallach wouldn’t hesitate to put a ship on the rocks. And Nathan Kerr was out there at Scalby Ness so fast, he must have hired a bloody fortune teller, never mind a lookout!"
巴特威克雇了那个胆大包天的摩西·沃拉赫，老天作证，沃拉赫绝对干得出让船只触礁的事。内森·克尔在斯卡尔比岬出现得那么快，准是雇了个该死的算命先生，哪还需要什么瞭望员！
“Damn,” Jim said softly as he drew the bolt. “If your man Wallach is working for the Kerr brothers -”
"‘该死，’吉姆边拉枪栓边低声说，‘要是你那个沃拉赫在给克尔兄弟卖命——’"
“If Wallach’s working for the Kerrs,” Ryan echoed, “and for the moment this is something I can only surmise, Jim! - then we’d best take care in what we say. One wrong word, and Nathan Kerr would fetch a fancy sea lawyer up from London. By the end of the day I’ll be shown up for a fool or a drunkard who dreamed the whole incident after being hit on the head by a chunk of falling wreckage, then slandered an innocent man.”
"‘如果沃拉赫真在为克尔家效力，’瑞安重复道，‘目前这只是我的推测，吉姆！——那咱们说话可得当心。只要说错半句，内森·克尔准会从伦敦请来个油嘴滑舌的海事律师。不出一天，我就会被打成个挨了块船板砸脑袋的醉鬼，把幻觉当成真事还污蔑好人。’"

Jim opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again. “All right. Then what do you propose to do about Wallach, and the Kerrs?”
吉姆张了张嘴想反驳，又闭上了。"好吧。那你打算怎么处理沃拉赫和克尔兄弟的事？"
“Nothing,” Ryan said promptly. “Without solid, watertight proof, all we have is slander. And I don’t believe I need to point out, Eastcoast Packet can’t afford the fees of a firm of lawyers to take on a convocation of the best legal buzzards the Kerr brothers could send up against you!”
"什么都不做，"瑞安立刻回答，"没有确凿的铁证，我们只会构成诽谤。而且我想不用我提醒，东海岸邮船公司可付不起聘请律师团队的费用，去对抗克尔兄弟能召集到的最厉害的法律秃鹫们！"
“Damn. Then the Mascot is on the bottom, it was only luck no one was killed, and no one will answer for it,” Jim mused.
"该死。这么说吉祥物号沉了，没人遇害纯属侥幸，却没人为此负责，"吉姆沉思道。
“Not yet, perhaps. But one day.” Ryan drew a comb through his hair and winced as it caught the lump on the back of his head.
"也许现在还没有。但总有一天会的。"瑞安用梳子梳过头发，碰到后脑勺的肿块时疼得缩了一下。
“Here, let me see to it.” At once Jim was behind him, and Ryan bent to let him see the injury. Gentle fingers parted his hair and explored it thoroughly before Jim was satisfied. “You’ve got a lump like an egg back here. You’ll live, Captain, but it’s a good thing you have a hard head!”
“来，让我看看。”吉姆立刻绕到他身后，瑞安俯身让他检查伤势。温柔的手指拨开他的头发仔细探查，直到吉姆确认完毕。“你后脑勺肿得像个鸡蛋。死不了的，船长，幸好你长了颗硬脑袋！”
“A very good thing, as I’ve learned on countless occasions in almost every port from Shanghai to Dublin and back.” Ryan gave him a wink and gestured at the door. “I hear your servants outside. They’ll want to be in to change the bed linen. Head them off while I get some clothes on my back, will you? Then … I want to talk to your father.”
“确实是万幸，从上海到都柏林往返的每个港口里，我经历过无数次这样的幸运。”瑞安冲他眨眨眼，朝门口比了个手势。“听见你的仆人在外面了。他们肯定要进来换床单。帮我挡一下，等我穿好衣服行吗？然后……我得和你父亲谈谈。”
“My father?” Jim was genuinely surprised. “Was there trouble in Dumbarton? From your cable I believed everything was -”
“我父亲？”吉姆真心实意地惊讶起来，“邓巴顿出事了？看你电报里说一切都——”
“No, there’s no trouble at the shipyard. Linwood isn’t pressing for advance payment, the work is going ahead without hindrance and the Spindrift will launch on time, his word on it.” Ryan leaned over and kissed his companion’s ear in passing. “But I do want to talk to your father about Wallach and the Kerrs. He has a right to know what mischief is going on, along a coast where he still owns a number of working ships.”
“不，船厂没出乱子。林伍德没催预付款，工程进展顺利，浪花号保证能按时下水。”瑞安俯身顺势亲了亲同伴的耳垂。“但沃拉赫和克尔家的事必须告诉你父亲。作为仍拥有众多商船在沿岸航行的船主，他有权知道这些阴谋勾当。”
“And the small matter of proof?” Jim collected the tray of crockery and paused at the door. “You’ve an idea. Haven’t you?”
“那证据这种小事呢？”吉姆收拾起那叠瓷器托盘，在门口停下脚步。“你已经有主意了。是不是？”
“I have.” Ryan opened the door for him. The maids were right out-
“没错。”瑞安替他拉开门。女仆们正好端着成堆的亚麻布制品——
side, arms loaded with linen. Little tow-haired Annie from the nearby village of Scalby blushed rosily as she saw him, giggled and fled. Ryan glanced after her and dropped a hand on Jim’s shoulder. “Give me ten minutes to get dressed and drag my scattered my wits together. Tell your dear ol’ da I want to talk to him, and send for me when it’s convenient. I’ll tell you then what’s on my mind, Jim. I’m still thinking it through.”
走到门外。来自附近斯卡伯里村、浅黄头发的安妮看见他时涨红了脸，咯咯笑着跑开了。瑞安望着她的背影，将手搭在吉姆肩上。“给我十分钟穿好衣服，把乱糟糟的思绪理一理。告诉你亲爱的老爹我想和他谈谈，方便时派人来叫我。到时候我会告诉你我的想法，吉姆。我还在考虑。”
“All right.” Jim balanced the tray between his hands as he stepped out and turned to the balcony. “You have my curiosity piqued.”
“好吧。”吉姆双手稳稳端着托盘迈出门，转身走向阳台。“你可勾起我的好奇心了。”

Ryan turned away from Jim’s room and strode toward his own, which was along the landing. How often, in the very early hours of the morning, did he or Jim make this small pilgrimage? Not every night when he was ashore, but much more often than not. The rooms separating them were unoccupied; the servants were housed two floors down and the old man was on the floor below.
瑞安转身离开吉姆的房间，大步走向自己位于楼梯平台的卧室。在这凌晨时分，他们中有多少人曾进行过这样的小小朝圣？并非每次上岸都会如此，但绝大多数夜晚都是这样。隔开他们的房间空无一人；仆人们住在两层楼下，而老人则在更下一层。

They must always be discreet but they were safer in this house than any other Ryan could imagine, and certainly far safer than trying to find a moment for closeness in the confines of a ship at sea. Ryan had seen men punished viciously for the so-called sin. The Navy, he thought darkly, could be a harsh, unforgiving mistress.
他们必须时刻谨慎行事，但在这栋宅邸里比瑞安能想象的任何地方都安全，当然远比在狭窄的船舱里寻找亲近时刻要安全得多。瑞安曾目睹有人因这所谓的罪行遭受残酷惩罚。海军，他阴沉地想，有时就像个严苛无情的女主人。

The old man’s bedchamber lay on Marrick Hall’s south side, arguably the most sheltered. His sitting room faced the walled garden, and beyond, the cliffs. At the window was a nautical telescope set up on a sturdy tripod, and the curtains were wide open, day and night alike. Beside the hearth was a globe of the world; pigeonholes along the wall held a set of navigational charts; in a wide glass case beside them stood meticulous and beautifully-detailed scale models of the ships in the little Eastcoast fleet, flanked by a polished brass sextant, the bell of a long-sunk vessel, a few battered doubloons and a Spanish wheel-lock pistol of the reign of Philip II.
老人的卧室位于马里克庄园南侧，堪称最隐蔽的所在。他的起居室朝向围墙花园，远处可见悬崖。窗边架着一台坚固三脚支撑的航海望远镜，窗帘昼夜敞开着。壁炉旁摆放着地球仪；墙面的鸽笼式文件格里收纳着整套航海图；旁边的玻璃陈列柜里陈列着东海岸小舰队各艘船只精美绝伦的比例模型，两侧分别摆放着抛光的黄铜六分仪、某艘沉船的打捞钟、几枚磨损的西班牙金币，以及一把腓力二世时期的西班牙轮锁手枪。

The hearth burned brightly and Jonathan Hale was up and dressed after a sojourn in bed which had irked him. He must, Ryan thought, have been near forty when Jim was born, for Jim was his only son and still so young, while Jonathan had grown very old in these last fourteen months. His hair was wiry, silver and strong, still his best feature, but his skin betrayed the years with blue veins and a papery texture. The strongest thing about him was his eyes.
炉火正旺，乔纳森·黑尔已经起床更衣——先前被迫卧床休养的日子让他颇为烦躁。瑞安暗自思忖，吉姆出生时他准有四十来岁了，毕竟这是他唯一的儿子且年纪尚轻，而过去十四个月里乔纳森却衰老得厉害。他那钢丝般银白坚硬的头发仍是五官中最出色的部分，但皮肤上密布的青色血管与纸般的质地却暴露了年岁。最摄人的是他的眼睛。

As bright and arresting as Jim’s, those eyes fixed a man like a cobra, skewered him to the spot and demanded respect. Ryan had often heard his own father speak of Jon Hale. He was a stern judge, if Henry X. Ryan was to be trusted, a shrewd businessman, daunting in an argument, and yet a fair master.
那双眼与吉姆的一般明亮夺目，却能像眼镜蛇般钉住一个人，将其钉在原地并迫人敬畏。瑞安常听自己父亲提起乔恩·黑尔。若亨利·X·瑞安所言不虚，这位严苛的法官还是个精明的商人，辩论时令人畏惧，却也算得上公正的东家。

How, Bill Ryan wondered, had this taciturn, uncompromising sire produced such a sensual and compassionate son?
比尔·瑞安不禁疑惑，这个沉默寡言、毫不妥协的父亲，怎会养出如此感性又富有同情心的儿子？

Thin hands clasped behind his back, the elder Hale paced between the fireplace and the writing desk, which was a litter of account books. Jim was standing silently at the window, hands thrust deep into pockets, a frown on his face. In a moment he had noticed what his father had been doing: Jon was going over ever ledger, checking the work Jim had done the previous afternoon. Jim’s expressive mouth was compressed with anger but he had better sense than to speak. One day, doubtless, his father would learn to trust him - for the truth was obvious, at least to Ryan. Trust was absent.
年长的黑尔背着手在壁炉与写字台间踱步，台面上凌乱堆着账本。吉姆静立窗边，双手深插口袋，眉头紧锁。片刻后他发现了父亲的举动：乔恩正在逐本核查他昨天下午做的账目。吉姆那惯于表意的嘴唇因愤怒紧抿着，但他明智地保持了沉默。瑞安看得分明——终有一日这位父亲会学会信任儿子，但眼下显然缺乏这份信任。
“And you’d know your man, this Moses Wallach, on sight, Captain?” Hale asked at last as he paused by the fire. The shifting flickers of red-gold light from fresh coals softened the lines and creases of weatherbeaten features.
"‘船长，您能一眼认出您要找的那个人——这个摩西·沃拉赫吗？’黑尔终于开口问道，他在炉火旁停下脚步。新添煤块跃动的金红色火光，柔和了他那张饱经风霜的脸上的皱纹与沟壑。"
“He’s not my man. But I admit, he once served under me,” Ryan said cautiously.
"‘他不是我的人。不过我承认，他确实在我手下干过。’瑞安谨慎地回答。"
“On the Naval vessel?” Hale cocked his head at Ryan. His hair was not white but steel gray, like a dappled horse.
"‘在海军舰艇上？’黑尔歪头看向瑞安。他的头发并非雪白，而是像斑驳的马匹般呈现钢灰色。"
“Aboard the Canary,” Ryan affirmed. “And I’d know Wallach anywhere. He threatened to kill me. He looked me in the eye and threatened to crush the life out of me with his own hands … which tends to brand a face into your memory.” Ryan glanced across at Jim, who was listening intently, eyes wide and unblinking. “For the threat, Wallach earned himself punishment.”
"‘在金丝雀号上。’瑞安肯定地说，‘我走到哪儿都能认出沃拉赫。他曾威胁要杀了我，直视着我的眼睛说要亲手掐断我的呼吸……这种威胁往往能让一张脸深深刻进你的记忆。’瑞安瞥了眼正全神贯注听着的吉姆，后者睁大着眼睛一眨不眨，‘就为这句威胁，沃拉赫受到了惩罚。’"
“A flogging?” Hale asked shrewdly.
"‘鞭刑？’黑尔精明地问道。"
“A fair flogging with the lightest of the cats,” Ryan told him with obvious distaste. “I instructed my bosun to deal seventy-five blows without malice, and I made sure he did no more. Wallach was cut about but not maimed. I’ve seen the cat kill a man, sir, or turn his mind - oh, a long time ago. I saw a lad fastened up sane and cut down raving. It would never happen on any ship of mine.”
"‘用最轻的九尾鞭执行公正的鞭刑，’瑞安带着明显的厌恶告诉他，‘我命令水手长不带恶意地抽七十五下，并确保他绝不多打。沃拉赫受了些皮肉伤但没致残。先生，我见过九尾鞭打死人，或是把人打疯——哦，那是很久以前的事了。我见过一个神志清醒的小伙子被绑上桅杆，解下来时已经胡言乱语。这种事绝不会在我的船上发生。’"
“Yet you flogged Wallach,” Hale mused. “Tell me, Captain, why did Wallach threaten to kill you? A personal matter, I imagine.” Hale did not demand the truth, but simply waited now, expecting it.
"‘可你还是鞭打了沃拉赫，’黑尔沉吟道，‘告诉我，船长，为什么沃拉赫威胁要杀你？我猜是私人恩怨吧。’黑尔没有要求对方必须说实话，只是静静等待着，知道真相自会浮出水面。"

With a sigh, Ryan told the story for the second time. Jim had heard it an hour before, and listened now with a thunderous look. Jon Hale harrumphed as Ryan fell silent at last.
瑞安叹了口气，第二次讲述这件事。吉姆一小时前就听过，此刻阴沉着脸听着。当瑞安终于沉默时，乔恩·黑尔发出了一声轻咳。
“You could have hanged the man,” he said bleakly, “and not even waited to return to port and hand him to the Navy. Christ! A threat
"你本可以绞死那个人，"他阴郁地说，"甚至不必等到返港交给海军。天啊！在海上威胁船长性命这一条就足够——不，是绰绰有余——判他绞刑了。"
issued upon the life of the captain of a ship at sea is enough, more than enough, to warrant hanging. It’s mutiny, and you have the law of the service and the sea on your side. The captain’s word is the law, and Wallach knew it. His threat of murder should have put a rope around his neck.” He eyed Ryan critically. “It might have been better for you - and us all - if you’d hung him.”
这是兵变，你有海上军规撑腰。船长的话就是法律，沃拉赫心知肚明。他扬言要谋杀，就该被套上绞索。"他审视着瑞安，"要是你当时绞死他，对你——对我们所有人——或许都更好。

The thought had occurred to Ryan. “Perhaps.” He thrust away the ancient, unwanted memories with a conscious effort, and held his hands to the fire as a draught skittered through the room and chilled his bones. “But bygones are bygones. It’s three years since Wallach was under my command. Both of us have traveled a long way since the Canary. For myself, I’ve put the Navy behind me. I met Wallach again in Cornwall, briefly, eighteen months ago.”
瑞安不是没动过这个念头。"也许吧。"他刻意驱散那些陈年累月的 unwanted memories，将手伸向炉火。一阵穿堂风掠过房间，寒意沁入骨髓。"但往事已矣。沃拉赫在我手下做事都是三年前了。自从离开金丝雀号，我们各自都走了很长的路。至于我，早已把海军生涯抛在脑后。十八个月前在康沃尔又见过沃拉赫一面，很短暂。"
“You’d left the Navy by then,” Jim mused.
"那时你已经离开海军了，"吉姆若有所思地说。
“Oh, yes.” Ryan bit his lip and looked into the younger Hale’s intent face. The firelight and lamplight made Jim look very young; or was it his father’s forbidding presence, the unavoidable comparison between youth and age?
"哦，是的。"瑞安咬着嘴唇，凝视着年轻的黑尔专注的面容。火光与灯光让吉姆显得格外年轻；抑或是他父亲威严的存在，使得青春与衰老的对比如此鲜明？

An unbidden but welcome flicker of lust took Ryan by surprise and aroused a smile. “I’d left the service and the tattling tongues were busy. Wallach and his cronies were drunk at a tavern called The Raven. I was … looking for a position.” Why was it so hard to make the confession?
一阵突如其来的欲望让瑞安猝不及防，却令他不由自主地露出微笑。"我离开海军后，那些搬弄是非的舌头可没闲着。沃拉赫和他那群狐朋狗友在'渡鸦'酒馆喝得烂醉。我当时...正在寻找一份差事。"为何这番坦白如此艰难？
“Your luck had expired,” old Hale added.
"你的好运已经用完了。"老黑尔补充道。
“Not quite, though I believed so at the time. But my misfortune in Cornwall eventually led me here.” Ryan lifted a brow at Jim, implying so much the old man could not possibly guess. Jim’s only response was the faintest of smiles. Ryan thrust his hands into the pockets of his coat, which was a blue so dark, it still had the Navy look about it. “Yes, I was looking for a ship. But I didn’t want to sign on as a common seaman. I wanted a command, and I wasn’t too proud to take out a smack, so long as she sailed under my orders.”
"倒也不尽然，虽然当时我确实这么想。但康沃尔郡的厄运最终把我带到了这里。"瑞安冲吉姆挑了挑眉，暗示着老人绝对猜不透的深意。吉姆只是报以极浅的微笑作为回应。瑞安将双手插进外套口袋——那件深蓝得近乎海军制服的厚呢外套。"没错，我当时在找船。但我不愿以普通水手身份签约。我要的是指挥权，而且毫不介意领航一艘小帆船，只要她能听从我的号令。"
“You found one?” Jim asked.
“你找到一个了？”吉姆问道。
Ryan had never spoken of any of this, never allowed himself to be drawn into an expression of the frustrations and disappointments of those months. He looked almost reproachfully into Jim’s sharp eyes, and sighed. In fact, Jim had the right to know.
瑞安从未提起过这些事，始终克制着自己不去表露那几个月里的沮丧与失望。他带着近乎责备的目光望向吉姆锐利的眼睛，叹了口气。事实上，吉姆有权知道真相。
“I … almost found a command,” he said warily. A glance at the elder Hale showed him just as rapt, and just as impatient for details. Ryan cleared his throat. “At The Raven I was told to talk to a man called Matthew Donnegan.”
“我……差点当上船长，”他谨慎地说道。瞥了一眼年长的黑尔，发现对方同样全神贯注，同样急切地等待细节。瑞安清了清嗓子。“在乌鸦酒馆时，有人让我去找个叫马修·唐纳甘的人。”
“I know the name. Matt Donnegan, the wrecker!” Hale exploded, fists clenching.
“我听过这名字。马特·唐纳甘，那个沉船打捞者！”黑尔突然暴怒，拳头攥得咯咯响。
“Father, for God’s sake,” Jim remonstrated, “remember your health. Think about your heart, calm down.”
"‘看在上帝份上，父亲，’吉姆劝说道，‘注意您的身体。想想您的心脏，冷静些。’"

To Ryan’s astonishment, Jon Hale swung on him. “You’ll not blaspheme under this roof, boy.”
令瑞安震惊的是，乔恩·黑尔突然转向他：‘小子，在这屋檐下不许亵渎神明。’
“I apologize,” Jim said tersely, and with no iota of sincerity. “And blasphemy or no, you still have to consider your health.”
"‘我道歉，’吉姆干巴巴地说，毫无诚意，‘不管是不是亵渎神明，您还是得注意身体。’"
“Aye, I suppose so.” Hale relented and lowered his body into the chair by the hearth. One gnarled hand clenched on his knee, he glared at Ryan. “You worked for Donnegan, wrecking ships off the Cornish rocks?”
"‘唉，我想也是。’黑尔态度软化了，缓缓坐回壁炉边的椅子上。他那只粗糙的手紧抓着膝盖，瞪着瑞安：‘你以前为唐纳根做事？在康沃尔礁石附近弄沉船只？’"
“I - what? No, sir, I most certainly did not.” Ryan actually laughed. "I said I wanted to command a ship, not sink it. But at the time I had no idea who Donnegan was. I’d asked around in a couple of Cornish ports, dropped any names I could think of, asking if anyone needed a skipper. I’d already made plans to move on when I was told to go to a particular tavern and meet a man, name of Matt Donnegan. Moses Wallach was there with him.
"我——什么？不，先生，我绝对没有。"瑞安竟然笑出了声，"我说过想当船长，可没说要当沉船的船长。但当时我根本不知道唐纳根是谁。我在几个康沃尔港口四处打听，把所有能想到的名字都报了一遍，问有没有人需要船长。本来都打算离开了，却有人叫我去某家酒馆见个叫马特·唐纳根的人。摩西·沃拉赫当时和他在一起。"
“Oh, Wallach knew me, of course. He and his mates at The Raven had three sheets in the wind before I arrived. Wallach was drunk enough to be damned dangerous. Boisterous, loud, rude, obnoxious. I learned the truth of Donnegan’s antics soon enough - tavern gossip is better than a newspaper. Faster, at any rate. All you have to do it keep your ears open.” He fixed Jon Hale with a hard look. “I swear, I’d have been glad to walk out of the tavern, and good riddance to the lot of them, but Wallach was waiting for me.”
"噢，沃拉赫当然认识我。我和他那些乌鸦酒馆的伙计们赶到时，他们已经醉得东倒西歪了。沃拉赫醉得能要人命——吵吵嚷嚷、粗鲁无礼、令人作呕。我很快就从酒馆闲话里听说了唐纳根的勾当——这可比报纸快多了。只要竖起耳朵就行。"他冷冷地盯着乔恩·黑尔，"我发誓，当时巴不得立刻离开酒馆，和那群人渣永不相见。可沃拉赫正等着我呢。"

Jim took a step forward. “He made a move on you, Bill, with witnesses?” He sounded both outraged and disbelieving.
吉姆上前一步："他当着证人的面对你动手了，比尔？"声音里混杂着愤怒与难以置信。
“Better,” Ryan said dryly, “he waited till I left. He jumped me in company with his cronies, dashed the brains half out of my skull in the dark and dumped me on the back doorstep of a brothel where the merchant press masters make regular daily collections! I came this close -” a snap of his fingers " - to being sent right back to sea, an ordinary jack on a whaler. Two years’ voyage to hell."
"更妙的是，"瑞安冷冷道，"他专挑我落单时下手。带着他那帮狐朋狗友偷袭我，在黑巷子里差点把我脑浆打出来，最后把我扔在妓院后门——那可是商船捕手们每天定点抓壮丁的地方！"他打了个响指，"就差这么点儿，我就要被塞回捕鲸船当苦力了。那可是通往地狱的两年航程。"
“Pressing is far from common these days,” old Hale muttered shrewdly.
"如今强征船员早就不常见了，"老黑尔精明地咕哝道。
“The navy doesn’t ‘crimp’ its crews any longer,” Ryan agreed. “But it’s still quite usual for an unscrupulous captain or owner to shanghai a crew for a voyage no one wants to take, in a ship no one will sail in.” He shrugged. “Then, there are ports where you’re safe and others where you don’t walk the harbor streets after dark. Whaling is stinking work, up to your neck in blood and gore in a wilderness of ice floes, with a two-year haul to get home to freedom, if you survive at all. A lot of men don’t. And yes, they’ll shanghai crew for a whaler if they can’t get enough men who’ve made it a career.”
"海军早就不搞'强征'那一套了，"瑞安附和道，"但碰上没人愿接的航程，或是没人肯上的破船，缺德的船长或船东还是会干些绑架船员凑数的勾当。"他耸耸肩，"再说，有些港口还算安全，有些地方天黑后连码头区都不敢去。捕鲸更是肮脏活计，在浮冰荒原里泡在血污中，熬上两年才能活着回家——要是能活下来的话。很多人就死在那儿。没错，要是招不够自愿的，他们照样会绑人去捕鲸船。"
“You got away from them,” Jim whispered.
"你从他们手里逃出来了，"吉姆低声说。
“I came to just as they approached, and made a run for it.” Even now the memories raised a prickle the length of Ryan’s spine. “I charg-
"他们逼近时我刚醒过来，拔腿就跑。"即便现在回忆起来，瑞安仍觉得脊背发凉，"我冲——"
ed into the first house I could find with an unlocked door and begged the good woman to take my last shilling for a few minutes’ sanctuary, because the pressmen were right behind me.” He could smile now, but the scene had been desperate. “My head was split wide open, my coat was bloody. I might have been an escaped criminal, but thank God the woman knew the pressman’s nasty face. Seems her father had been crimped for a warship when she was no more than a girl. She kept the door shut and gave me breakfast, and she told me what she knew about Wallach and Donnegan. As Fate will work her magic, this woman’s husband had been killed some years ago, in a steamer Donnegan wrecked off The Lizard. She would have been glad to see the two of them face-down, drowned in their own blood.”
我冲进第一扇没上锁的屋门，求那位好心的妇人收下我最后一先令，只求能躲上几分钟，因为那些记者就紧追在我身后。"此刻他还能笑得出来，但当时情形实在狼狈。"我头破血流，外套沾满血迹。本可能被当作逃犯，感谢上帝那位妇人认得记者那张丑恶嘴脸。原来她少女时代，父亲曾被强征入伍。她关紧房门给我端来早餐，还告诉我她所知道的关于沃拉赫和唐纳根的事。命运总是如此奇妙——这妇人的丈夫多年前死于一场海难，正是唐纳根在蜥蜴角附近弄沉的那艘蒸汽船。她巴不得亲眼看见那两人面朝下栽倒，溺毙在自己的血泊里。

All this, Hale digested thoroughly. His eyes never left Ryan’s face. “Was there no proof?”
黑尔将这些信息细细消化，目光始终未离开瑞安的脸庞。"难道没有证据吗？"

Ryan shook his head. “Nothing you could trust to hold together in court under the broadside of a merchant marine barrister.”
瑞安摇摇头："没有能在法庭上经得起商船律师全力轰击的铁证。"
“Counter charges,” Jim added.
"反诉。"吉姆补充道。
“Would pauper a man, aye, I know.” Hale clasped his hands between his knees and looked into the fire. “Then what have you in mind, Captain? If Wallach has found his way here to Scarborough it’s more than likely he played a part in sinking the Mascot for the Kerr brothers. They’re notorious, but you’ll not be proving any part of their business.” He cracked his knuckles noisily. “Sea lawyers! But I’ve already lost one vessel this year and I can ill afford to lose another, least of all to wreckers.” He looked up at Ryan, head cocked. “Jim said you’ve a scheme.”
"‘会让一个人倾家荡产，没错，我明白。’黑尔双手交握抵在膝间，凝视着炉火。‘那么您有什么打算，船长？如果沃拉赫已经找到斯卡伯勒来，十有八九和吉祥物号沉没事脱不了干系——准是为克尔兄弟干的。他们臭名昭著，可您永远抓不到他们买卖的把柄。’他把指节掰得咔咔响。‘这帮海事讼棍！但我今年已经折了一条船，再经不起损失了，尤其不能栽在拆船党手里。’他歪头看向瑞安，‘吉姆说您有个计划。’"
“A scheme,” Ryan echoed. His teeth closed on his lip and he gave Jim a frown. “If it’s proof we want of what the Kerr brothers are up to, none of us can get it. Our faces are known, we could never get near enough to the truth to be given even a glimpse of it. But consider a spy, a stranger to Scarborough, who could work with the Kerrs and their men, watch and listen.”
"‘计划，’瑞安重复道。他咬着下唇，朝吉姆皱了皱眉。‘要想拿到克尔兄弟的罪证，咱们谁都办不到。熟面孔根本接近不了真相，连边都摸不着。但若派个生面孔去斯卡伯勒当眼线，混进克尔那伙人里暗中观察......’"
“And report to us,” Jim finished. “You have someone in mind?”
"‘再向我们汇报，’吉姆接过话头，‘您有人选了？’"
“I met a man up in Dumbarton while I was doing business with Duncan Linwood. An old associate,” Ryan mused. “He was on the Canary also - and yes, Moses Wallach would know him as soon as he’d know me! But my associate is running a crew of his own now. I don’t know who’s with him, but he’s bound to have a lad he trusts, perhaps someone who came aboard the Canary after Wallach was in irons and confined under hatches. We need a man we trust who could never have come face to face with Wallach and, sure to God, we can’t hire our man in Scarborough, not now. Wallach’s like the plague, he travels fast and touches down in every bawdy house. He’ll know half the seamen in the harbor by now.”
"‘在邓巴顿和邓肯·林伍德谈生意时遇见过一位故交，’瑞安沉吟道，‘他当年也在金丝雀号上——没错，摩西·沃拉赫肯定认得他！不过这位老兄现在自组船队了。虽不知他带着哪些人手，但总该有个心腹，说不定是沃拉赫被铐进底舱后才上金丝雀号的新人。我们需要个绝对没和沃拉赫打过照面的可靠人选，老天在上，眼下绝不能在斯卡伯勒雇人。沃拉赫就像瘟疫，流窜得快着呢，每家妓院都有他的踪迹，这会儿怕是认识港口半数水手了。’"

Ryan took a breath as liftetime-old memories welled up once more, stingingly sharp. “Let me send a cable to Dumbarton. My associate is
瑞安深吸一口气，那些尘封已久的记忆又一次涌上心头，刺痛般鲜明。"让我给邓巴顿发封电报。我的搭档是"
still there. Name of Joel Tremayne, owner and skipper of the sloop Mercury, which is still refitting in McBride’s shipyard. She doesn’t ship out for some time yet.” His brows rose, challenging Hale to argue the plan. “We could have a man in the Kerr brothers’ employment in a week, and the evidence to hand the whole company over to the constable in a month or two.”
乔尔·特里梅因，单桅帆船墨丘利号的船主兼船长，那艘船还在麦克布莱德的船厂改装。她一时半会儿还出不了海。"他扬起眉毛，挑衅地看着黑尔，看他敢不敢反驳这个计划。"一周内我们就能在克尔兄弟手下安插个人手，一两个月内就能掌握足够证据，把整个团伙交给警长处置。"
“You’re sure of your man, Tremayne?” Hale insisted.
“你确定你的人可靠吗，特里梅因？”黑尔追问道。
“Intimately sure of him,” Ryan swore, with a quick, rueful glance at Jim. “He was my First Officer, and he left the Navy when I did.” He paused. “Under a cloud … a storm cloud, it’s true. But if you trust me, Mr. Hale, then trust Captain Tremayne.”
“我对他再了解不过了，”瑞安信誓旦旦地说，同时朝吉姆投去一个快速而懊悔的眼神。“他曾是我的大副，和我同时离开了海军。”他顿了顿，“确实......是在不太光彩的情况下离开的。但黑尔先生，如果你信任我，就请也信任特里梅因船长。”

For a long, elastic moment Jonathan Hale frowned at Ryan, and Ryan felt the flesh flayed off his bones before Hale grunted an affirmative. “Fetch him here if you can, Captain.” He lifted his chin. “This is Eastcoast business and I’ll make it worth his while.”
乔纳森·黑尔皱着眉头盯了瑞安许久，那审视的目光让瑞安觉得自己的皮肉都要被剐下来。直到黑尔终于哼了一声表示同意。"要是能找得到他，就带他过来吧，上尉。"他扬起下巴，"这是东海岸的买卖，报酬包他满意。"
“Then let me write a cable at once,” Ryan said quickly. “Jim, will you send for a boy to take it to the office?”
"那我这就去拟电报稿，"瑞安连忙说道，"吉姆，能差个伙计送去电报局吗？"
“I’d trust Walter to run down and not even stop for breath.” Jim stepped aside to watch as Ryan pulled the chair out from Hale’s writing desk, which was tucked into the corner of the room.
"沃尔特那小子准能一口气跑着去，连气都不带喘的。"吉姆侧身让开，看着瑞安从黑尔那张摆在屋角的写字台前拖出椅子。

Ryan inked a pen and pulled a sheet of paper toward him. He paused to think for only a moment and then wrote swiftly. The message was short, terse, concise, just a request for Tremayne to come not to Scarborough but to Whitby, at the earliest he could manage the journey - and to telegraph when he arrived. It was Eastcoast business, Ryan assured him, and the money was good. Now, that would arouse Joel’s fascination.
瑞安蘸了墨水，拉过一张信纸。他略作思索便飞快写起来。电文简短精炼，只请特里梅因尽快改道来惠特比而非斯卡伯勒——抵达后即刻发电报通知。瑞安向他保证这是东海岸的生意，酬金丰厚。这下准能勾起乔尔的兴趣。
“Joel Tremayne will have a lad we can trust.” Ryan folded the paper and turned in the chair to look at Jim and Jonathan Hale. The two were so different, no one would have taken them for father and son. Only the eyes were similar, the same blue-gray, piercing eyes with the power to nail a man to the spot and demand the truth.
“乔尔·特里梅因手下有个靠得住的小伙子。”瑞安折起文件，从椅子里转过身来看着吉姆和乔纳森·黑尔。这两人截然不同，任谁都不会认为他们是父子。唯有那双眼睛如出一辙——同样灰蓝锐利的眼神，仿佛能将人钉在原地逼问真相。
“And we are to send him into the Kerrs’ camp as a spy.” Hale’s silver head nodded. “It could work, Captain.”
“我们要派他潜入克尔家族当间谍。”黑尔银白的头颅点了点，“这计划可行，上尉。”
“It will,” Jim said, taking up the paper. He gave Ryan a crooked grin his father did not see. “I’ll spirit this on its way.”
“必然成功。”吉姆说着接过文件，冲瑞安露出个父亲没察觉的促狭笑容，“我这就让它神不知鬼不觉地送出去。”

With that he was gone, and Ryan stood, hands on the back of the chair, regarding Hale thoughtfully. The old man seemed deeply preoccupied, and after a moment Ryan prompted, “Mr. Hale?”
话音未落他便离开了。瑞安双手搭着椅背起身，若有所思地注视着黑尔。老人似乎心事重重，片刻后瑞安轻声提醒：“黑尔先生？”
“Oh, nothing, really, Captain. But forgive me if I’m given to wild speculations, since you won’t say a word of why you left the service, you and this Tremayne.”
"哦，没什么，真的，上尉。但请原谅我胡思乱想，既然您和这位特里梅因对离开海军的原因只字不提。"
“There’s nothing I care to say.” Ryan looked into the fire, where coal glowed a dull, cherry red. “The Navy doesn’t want any part of me, and I don’t want any part of them.”
"我无话可说。"瑞安凝视着炉火，煤块泛着暗樱桃般的红光。"海军不想要我，我也不想和他们有任何瓜葛。"
“And Tremayne?”  "那特里梅因呢？"
“The same. It was … a thunder cloud, as I’ve already said, and it’s all I intend to say.”
"也一样。就像我说过的...那是场雷暴，我只能说这么多。"
“You’re stubborn and prideful,” Hale observed. The chair shifted and creaked under his weight as he sat back.
"‘你又固执又骄傲，’黑尔评价道。椅子在他沉重的身躯下吱呀作响，他向后靠去。"
“Stubborn, certainly,” Ryan allowed. “And ambitious.” He gave Hale a faint smile. “I took Tremayne to Linwood’s, showed him the Spindrift. He was impressed. Linwood has the first of her masts up. She’ll be a beauty. And as for the hawsers -”
"‘固执是肯定的，’瑞安承认道，‘而且野心勃勃。’他朝黑尔淡淡一笑。‘我带特里梅因去了林伍德的船厂，给他看了浪花号。他印象深刻。林伍德已经立起了第一根桅杆。她会是个美人儿。至于那些缆绳——’"

News of his schooner diverted Hale neatly, as Ryan had intended. The old man’s eyes brightened, his voice warmed, and Ryan steered the conversation to hawsers and timber, Linwood’s concerns, the few documents Ryan had signed on behalf of Eastcoast. Hale trusted him, which made Ryan wonder yet again at the man’s refusal to trust his own son. Ledgers and accounts were stacked on the desk, and soon after Ryan stepped out Hale would return to his work, double-checking everything Jim had done.
关于纵帆船的消息果然如瑞安所料，成功转移了黑尔的注意力。老人的眼睛亮了起来，声音也变得热切。瑞安顺势将话题引向缆绳、木材、林伍德的顾虑，以及他代表东海岸公司签署的几份文件。黑尔信任他，这又让瑞安不禁疑惑：为何老人始终不愿信任自己的儿子吉姆。账本在书桌上堆得老高，等瑞安前脚刚离开，黑尔后脚就会重新投入工作，把吉姆经手的事务全部复核一遍。

But for the moment Jon Hale was intent on their scheme. The notion of a spy amused him. Ryan was satisfied, and rubbed his hands together in anticipation of events to come. “I think,” he said as Jim stepped back into the room, minutes later, “we might see the Kerr brothers behind bars very soon, and Wallach with them.” He gave the old man a polite nod. “Good night to you, sir. This is one task you can entrust to me. I’ve an old score to settle with Wallach.” He palmed the back of his head, which was hot and sore. “And a new one.”
不过此刻，乔恩·黑尔的心思全在他们的计划上。间谍这个主意让他觉得有趣。瑞安很满意，搓着双手期待即将到来的好戏。‘要我说，’当吉姆几分钟后回到房间时，他开口道，‘克尔兄弟很快就会锒铛入狱，沃拉赫也跑不了。’他向老人礼貌地点点头。‘祝您晚安，先生。这件事您大可交给我。我和沃拉赫还有笔旧账要算。’他摸了摸后脑勺，那里又热又痛。‘现在又添了新仇。’
“Good night to you, Captain.” Hale settled back deeply into the chair and opened a small, slender volume, a red-leather bound copy of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám of Naishápúr, in his lap. “Be sure to keep me informed.”
"晚安，船长。"黑尔深深陷进椅子里，在膝头摊开一本红色皮面精装的细长小书——内沙布尔的欧玛尔·海亚姆所著《鲁拜集》。"有任何进展务必通知我。"
“I will.” The door clicked shut behind Ryan.
"我会的。"门在瑞安身后咔嗒一声关上了。
In the draughty second-floor hallway Jim thrust his hands into his pockets for warmth. “When you get Tremaye’s reply I’ll come with you to Whitby. I must get away from this place before you see me gibbering and drooling like a creature from bedlam. Did you see what the old sod’s doing?”
在二楼穿堂风的走廊里，吉姆把手插进口袋取暖。"等收到特雷梅的回信，我跟你一起去惠特比。我得在你看我像个疯人院的病人那样胡言乱语流口水之前离开这地方。你看见那老混蛋在搞什么把戏了吗？"
“I saw.” Ryan set a hand on Jim’s arm. “Don’t let him get under your skin.”
"看见了。"瑞安把手搭在吉姆胳膊上，"别让他影响你的情绪。"
“But he does! All the work I did yesterday, he’s doing again, as if he can’t believe I even know how to add up!” Jim was incensed. “If that’s what he’s going to do, now he’s managed to haul spine off mattress, he can do the paperwork himself. And meanwhile, I -”
"但他确实这么做了！我昨天完成的所有工作，他都要重新核对一遍，好像不相信我连加法都不会算似的！"吉姆愤愤不平地说，"既然他非要这样，现在他既然有力气从床上爬起来，这些文书工作就让他自己处理吧。至于我——"
“Need a breath of air to clear the cobwebs out of your head.” Ryan swatted his companion’s shapely backside and gave him a push toward the stairs. “Dinner must be ready by now, and I’m starved. Will we take the horses up to Whitby? If the weather’s fair I’d enjoy the ride.”
"你需要出去透透气，让脑子清醒清醒。"瑞安拍了拍同伴匀称的臀部，推着他往楼梯走去，"晚餐应该准备好了，我都饿坏了。我们要骑马去惠特比吗？如果天气好的话，我倒很享受这段骑行。"
“Why not? I don’t ride enough these days.” Jim led him downstairs and swung open the polished walnut doors into the dining room. The table was laid for dinner and Mick Hutton was already at the table, going over the day’s newspaper while they waited for Mosswell and the kitchen maids.
"有何不可？我最近骑马的机会太少了。"吉姆领着他下楼，推开光亮的胡桃木门走进餐厅。餐桌已摆好晚餐餐具，米克·赫顿正坐在桌边翻阅当天的报纸，等候莫斯韦尔和厨房女佣们。

Hutton saluted Ryan with a brandy glass. “I wouldn’t have put money on your appearance tonight. You must have a skull carved out of solid teak, old man.”
赫顿举着白兰地酒杯向瑞安致意。"我本来打赌你今晚不会出现的。老伙计，你这脑袋准是铁木雕的吧。"
“Which is half the reason I’ve survived this long,” Ryan said tartly as he helped himself to brandy and offered a balloon to Jim. Jim took it and slid in at the head of the table, his usual position when his father was not dining with them. Ryan raised his glass to his lover, and then to Mick. “Your health.” They drank, and Ryan turned toward Hutton. “Do you know a man called Wallach?”
"‘这就是我能活到现在的一半原因，’瑞安尖刻地说着，给自己倒了杯白兰地，又递给吉姆一个气球杯。吉姆接过杯子，滑进餐桌首位——那是他父亲不与他们共进晚餐时他惯常的位置。瑞安向他的爱人举杯致意，接着又转向米克。‘祝你们健康。’他们饮尽杯中酒，瑞安转向赫顿问道：‘你认识一个叫沃拉赫的人吗？’"

But Hutton only shook his head. He spoke softly as Mosswell appeared with the first of several laden trays. “Should I know him?”
但赫顿只是摇了摇头。当莫斯韦尔端着第一盘丰盛的菜肴出现时，他轻声说道："我该认识他吗？"
“If he was a Scarborough regular, you would,” Ryan said thoughtfully. “There’s not so many seamen in the harbor these days. The town of Scarborough’s growing fast because of the Spa while the fleet dwindles a little more every year, which makes the harbor community closeknit.”
"‘如果他常去斯卡伯勒，你就该认识，’瑞安若有所思地说，‘如今港区的水手不多了。斯卡伯勒镇因为温泉疗养地发展得很快，而舰队规模却逐年缩小，这让港口社区变得格外紧密。’"
“The town?” Hutton snorted. “It’s two thousand rich old fogeys who come here to take the waters, and fifteen thousand high-class butlers and ladies’ maids to look after them, with their snoots stuck in the air, and a handful of the rest of us, the real people,” Mick was scathing, as if the gentry and their servants were too despicable to be endured.
"‘小镇？’赫顿嗤之以鼻，‘这里有两千个来泡温泉的阔佬，一万五千个鼻孔朝天的上等管家和女仆伺候他们，再加上我们这几个真正的老百姓。’米克的语气充满轻蔑，仿佛那些上流人士和他们的仆从卑劣得令人难以忍受。"
“Scarborough’s changed a lot since I was a child,” Jim agreed. "It’s getting to be suffocating, strangulating, in the summer, when the lords and ladies come in for the Spa. I could almost wish for another storm, like the blow of ‘36.’’
"‘斯卡伯勒和我小时候相比变化太大了，’吉姆附和道，‘夏天那些老爷太太们来泡温泉时，简直让人透不过气。我几乎要盼望再来场风暴，就像 36 年那场大风。’"
“That storm was before you were born,” Hutton said pointedly.
"‘那场风暴发生时你还没出生呢，’赫顿尖锐地指出。"
“What happened in '36?” Ryan was blank. In 1836 he was a little child, still playing with toy boats in a pond where ducks usually sank them.
"‘36 年发生了什么？’瑞安一脸茫然。1836 年他还是个孩子，整天在池塘边玩玩具船，鸭子们总把船弄沉。"
“One hell of a storm,” Jim told him in rich tones. “Ask Mosswell, he was here at the time. The Spaw House and the Spa were broken up for tinder. It happened back in '08, as well. We need another storm, big enough to sweep the whole lot, and the Cliff Bridge, right into the sea, and then the lordships and their lackeys will leave Scarborough to the people who belong here.”
"‘一场要命的风暴，’吉姆用夸张的语气告诉他，‘去问莫斯韦尔，他当时就在这儿。温泉疗养所和温泉都被刮得七零八落。08 年也发生过同样的事。我们需要再来场风暴，最好大得能把整片地方连同悬崖大桥都卷进海里，这样那些贵族老爷和他们的狗腿子就会把斯卡伯勒还给本该住在这儿的人了。’"
“Aye, well said,” Mosswell applauded, though no one had asked him. He thumped down a heavy dish of mashed potatoes.
“说得好，”莫斯韦尔喝彩道，尽管没人问他意见。他重重放下满满一盘土豆泥。
“So who’s this Wallach?” Hutton wanted to know. He was helping himself to slices of pickled pork.
“那个沃拉赫是什么来头？”赫顿边问边给自己夹了几片腌猪肉。
“Another lackey,” Jim told him, "who may be working for Nathan
“又是个走狗，”吉姆告诉他，“可能在内森手下干活

Kerr." He sampled the brandy. “And the last time he was on the water, he was on Rob Butterwick’s crew. The Mascot.”
克尔那儿。”他抿了口白兰地。“上次出海时，他还在罗伯·巴特威克的船上。吉祥物号那艘。”
“Christ,” Hutton said quietly. “Robbie Butterwick couldn’t have any notion who he’d hired.”
“天啊，”赫顿轻声说道，“罗比·巴特威克根本不知道他雇了什么人。”
“I wonder,” Ryan said darkly, still fingering the egg-sized lump on his skull.
“我怀疑，”瑞安阴沉地说，手指仍摩挲着头上鸡蛋大小的肿块。
“I’ll try to get a word with Butterwick tomorrow,” Hutton offered. “Let me find out where he hired the man, and how long ago.”
“我明天试着找巴特威克谈谈，”赫顿提议道，“让我查查他从哪儿雇的这人，又是多久之前的事。”
“If you like,” Ryan agreed doubtfully.
“随你便，”瑞安半信半疑地应道。
“That cable will be delivered late tonight,” Jim mused, talking almost to himself.
"那封电报今晚深夜才能送到，"吉姆若有所思地说，几乎像是在自言自语。
“What cable?” Hutton took the covers off boiled potatoes, carrots, turnips and minted peas.
"什么电报？"赫顿揭开盖着水煮土豆、胡萝卜、芜菁和薄荷豌豆的餐盘盖子。
“Personal business,” Ryan said quickly, offhand and evasive. His eyes flashed a swift warning to Jim. “How about a bottle of wine, Mr. Mosswell?”
"私事，"瑞安迅速回答，语气随意而闪烁其词。他的眼睛向吉姆投去一个警告的眼神。"来瓶葡萄酒如何，莫斯韦尔先生？"

The butler turned a dusty bottle toward him to display the French label. “Aye, this’n were smuggled more’n likely, but they all go down t’same way.”
管家将一瓶积着灰尘的酒瓶转向他，露出上面的法文标签。"是啊，这瓶八成是走私货，不过喝起来都一个味儿。"

The cork had already been pulled, and Jim sampled the contents. “Now, there’s an impudent bottling … Smuggler’s Fancy, you say?” Mosswell brimmed his glass and left the bottle, and Jim turned his attention back to Hutton. “Mick, can you mind the fort for me for a couple of days? If I don’t get out of this house soon I shall go stark, raving mad. He -” a glance at the ceiling in the direction of his father’s room " - would drive a saint to drink, and I’m no saint. I’m dangerously close to the end of my tether."
软木塞早已拔出，吉姆啜饮着瓶中之物。"这装瓶方式可真够厚颜无耻的...你说这叫'走私客的珍藏'？"莫斯韦尔给他斟满酒杯留下酒瓶，吉姆的注意力又转回赫顿。"米克，能替我照看几天铺子吗？要是再不离开这屋子，我准会彻底发疯。他——"目光朝天花板父亲房间的方向瞥去，"连圣人都能被逼得借酒浇愁，何况我本非圣徒。我的忍耐已经快到极限了。"
“Forgive me, Jim, but I’ve noticed.” Hutton was serving up mounds of vegetables. “I’ll watch the shop. Where are you going, if you don’t mind me asking?”
"请原谅我直言，吉姆，但我早注意到了。"赫顿正往盘里堆着蔬菜山。"铺子交给我照看。你要去哪儿？若不介意我问的话。"
“Just a ride up to Whitby, since Ryan is headed there in a day or two. We’re waiting for a message. A friend is getting into port,” Jim said almost indifferently, aware of Ryan’s warning glances. “It’s too long since I sat my backside on a saddle.”
"只是骑马去趟惠特比，反正瑞安过一两天也要往那儿去。我们在等个消息，有朋友要进港。"吉姆说得漫不经心，却留意到瑞安警告的眼神。"太久没挨马鞍了。"

The conversation was desultory and dislocated by late evening. When a deck of cards and a tantalus of brandy failed to entertain, Hutton bade them good night with a wink. He had a girl in town, Ryan remembered. Mick would be well bedded within the hour and not seen again until midmorning.
夜深时分，谈话变得散漫零落。当纸牌和白兰地酒架都提不起兴致时，赫顿眨眨眼道了晚安。瑞安想起他在镇上有个相好。不出一个钟头，米克就会在温柔乡里安顿下来，次日晌午前都别想见着他。

Similar thoughts rambled about his own mind as he watched Jim stoke the fire, absently stirring embers with a black iron poker. Polished brass lamps hissed, shadows wreathed the green wallpaper and the dining room’s dark portraits glared malignantly at Ryan, as if the men and women framed inside them knew exactly what delicious sin was in his thoughts.
同样的思绪在他脑海中盘旋，他看着吉姆拨弄炉火，心不在焉地用黑色铁火钳搅动余烬。擦亮的黄铜油灯嘶嘶作响，阴影缠绕着绿色壁纸，餐厅里那些深色肖像画中的男男女女恶狠狠地瞪着瑞安，仿佛画框中的人物完全洞悉他脑海中那些旖旎的邪念。
“You should be resting,” Jim said a moment later, surprising him.
“你该休息了。”片刻后吉姆突然开口，把他吓了一跳。
“Well, I dare say I ought to be in bed,” Ryan allowed, and waggled a suggestive eyebrow.
“唔，我确实该上床了。”瑞安说着，意味深长地挑了挑眉毛。
“Not tonight,” Jim murmured. “You look done-in, Bill, whether you realize it or not. What you need is eight hours of sleep, not a night like the last. You couldn’t see yourself … times were, I thought you were dead. It wasn’t a natural sleep, and I feared for your life.” The room was empty; the servants had retired and Hutton was gone. Since he had the moment’s freedom, Jim touched Ryan’s mouth with one fingertip. “We’ll have nights without number, soon enough, to make merry. For now, you look smudged and tired and unwell. I’d sooner know you were sleeping sound and healing the egg on your head, than keeping you awake with my tossing and turning. You know I don’t sleep soundly when we’re together.”
“今晚不行。”吉姆低语道，“比尔，你看上去累坏了，不管你自己有没有意识到。你需要八小时睡眠，而不是像昨晚那样折腾。你没看见自己当时的样子……有几次我都以为你死了。那不是正常的睡眠，我真怕你醒不过来。”房间里空无一人；仆人们都退下了，赫顿也不在。趁着这片刻的自由，吉姆用指尖轻触瑞安的嘴唇。“我们以后有的是快活日子。但现在，你看起来憔悴疲惫，气色很差。我宁愿看着你安稳入睡，养好头上的肿包，也不愿让你陪着我辗转反侧。你知道的，我们在一起时我总是睡不安稳。”
“I know.” Ryan sighed deeply and drained a last glass of port wine. He inspected his pocket watch and gave a grunt of dismay. “It’s eleven, I’ll have you know! Captain Hutton has lately departed for a lady’s bed and I - I’m banished to a lonely mattress.”
“我知道。”瑞安深深叹了口气，将最后一杯波特酒一饮而尽。他掏出怀表看了一眼，沮丧地哼了一声。“都十一点了，你听好！赫顿上校刚去陪某位女士就寝，而我——我只能孤零零地睡冷被窝。”
“Poor wee lamb,” Jim mocked, and took another small risk. He leaned over to kiss, and laughed as Ryan’s eyes momentarily crossed at his proximity. “Don’t mistake me, Captain. Other nights, I’ll lie down with you eagerly … but not tonight.”
“可怜的小羊羔，”吉姆嘲弄道，又冒险凑近了些。他倾身吻上去，当瑞安因他的靠近而瞬间对眼时笑出了声。“别误会，上校。改天晚上，我会迫不及待陪你睡……但今晚不行。”

Charmed, defeated, Ryan held up his hands as if at gunpoint. “Then I’ll retire.” If he told the truth, he was weary and the wine and spirits in which he had indulged, during dinner and after, had crept up on him. His head throbbed persistently now and he stifled a third yawn in four minutes.
瑞安既觉有趣又感挫败，像被枪指着似的举起双手。“那我去睡了。”说实话他确实累了，晚餐时和之后放纵饮用的葡萄酒与烈酒后劲渐渐袭来。太阳穴突突直跳，四分钟里他第三次强忍住哈欠。

He cast a wistful glance at Jim’s slender body, in the jacket and gray trousers he had chosen, since his father liked to see him dress formally in the evening, right down to a starched collar and tie. What a pleasure it was to strip him out of such proper clothes, peel him down to pale bare skin as if a man could strip away the Nineteenth Century and return to perfect freedom.
他恋恋不舍地瞥了眼吉姆裹在正装里的修长身躯——那件外套与灰色长裤是他父亲要求晚间正式着装的标准配置，连浆硬的领结都一丝不苟。多想亲手剥开这体面的包装啊，让苍白的肌肤一寸寸显露，仿佛这样就能挣脱十九世纪的枷锁，重获纯粹的自由。

Ryan’s tastes were seldom fanciful. Jim Hale was equally as alluring clad in elegant evening clothes or denim and leather, for five minutes later he would be a naked, tousled angel, and in his eyes glittered a teasing love-light Ryan had once never thought to see for himself.
瑞安的品味向来务实。无论吉姆·黑尔身着考究的晚礼服还是粗布皮衣都同样迷人——因为不出五分钟，他就会变成个赤身裸体、头发蓬乱的堕落天使，那双眼睛里闪烁的顽皮爱意，是瑞安从未奢望能为自己绽放的光芒。

Yet Jim was right: it was rest he needed tonight. Sound, natural sleep in which to heal. He left his companion to the brandy and cards, and as Jim began to set out the old, familiar pattern of a game of clock patience, Ryan climbed back up to his room on the third floor, where the view out over town and harbor was incomparable.
但吉姆说得对：今夜他需要休息。需要安稳自然的睡眠来疗愈。他将同伴留在白兰地与纸牌之间，当吉姆开始摆弄那套老旧的时钟接龙牌时，瑞安回到了三楼卧室——从那里俯瞰城镇与港口的景致堪称绝妙。

The hearth was alight, the lamps were on, his bed had been turned down. The housekeeper had been in, or one of the maids. As yet no one suspected any sort of emotional entanglement between himself and
壁炉燃着火，灯盏亮着光，床铺已被掀开被角。管家或某个女仆来过。至今还没人怀疑他与

Jim, and Ryan knew he was growing complacent.
吉姆之间存在任何情感纠葛，而瑞安清楚自己正变得懈怠。
Living ashore had its drawbacks as well as its benefits, and in a town of twenty thousand souls it was not as easy to hide as in the city - London, Liverpool or Glasgow. Bill Ryan had learned very early how to be discreet, as careful as if he were bedding the Admiral’s virgin daughter. But if he told the truth, he had begun to find it more than a little tiresome.
岸上生活利弊参半，在这座两万人的小镇里，隐藏行踪可不如在伦敦、利物浦或格拉斯哥那样容易。比尔·瑞安很早就学会了谨小慎微，那谨慎程度活像在勾引海军上将的掌上明珠。但平心而论，他已开始觉得这种日子叫人腻烦透顶。

Tahiti. Now, there was the place to be, for a man like himself. He had fond daydreams of whisking Jim into that world, where sensuality and freedom were one and the same, and many a gorgeous young woman would be revealed, on closer inspection, to be a young man instead.
大溪地。那才该是他这般人物该去的地方。他常做着白日梦，要把吉姆拐进那个情欲与自由浑然天成的世界——在那里，许多窈窕少女凑近了瞧，竟都是俊俏少年郎。

It was a dream. Tahiti might have been as distant as the moon, and in reality Ryan’s sights were set much closer to home. A ride to Whitby with Jim would be a rare pleasure. In the year he and Jim had been lovers they had spent too little time alone together. Too little time together at all. Jim had never shipped out aboard the Adelaide with him, for cabin conditions were cramped and discovery was almost guaranteed; and Ryan spent a great deal of time at sea.
终究是痴想。大溪地远如天上月，实际上瑞安的目光始终落在近处。能与吉姆同赴惠特比，便是难得的乐事。相恋这一年光景，他俩独处的时光少得可怜。吉姆从未随他登上阿德莱德号，因船舱逼仄难免败露行迹；而瑞安又常年漂泊海上。

Often they were apart for weeks at a stretch, while Ryan plied Eastcoast’s trade between the Hebrides, the Faroes, Stavanger, and back down the east coast of England as far as the Thames. And then, when he was sleepless, restless, tense with needing - home to Scarborough where a berth awaited both the schooner and himself. Jim would be just as restless, just as taut with desires he had denied for too long. Homecomings were well worth the wait.
他们常一连数周不得相见——当瑞安驾船穿梭于赫布里底群岛、法罗群岛、斯塔万格之间，再沿英格兰东岸南下至泰晤士河时。待到夜不能寐、焦躁难耐的相思时刻，便驶回斯卡伯勒，那里有留给纵帆船和他的泊位。吉姆同样会躁动不安，同样被压抑太久的欲望折磨得浑身紧绷。久别重逢的滋味，值得所有等待。

Ryan mocked himself as he undressed, put on the nightshirt he disliked and slipped into bed. A book waited on his pillow but he was too tired to even glance at it. He turned down the lamp and pulled up the bedding. Just one thought assailed him as he set his head on the pillow and the lump on the back of his skull protested.
瑞安一边脱衣服一边自嘲，套上那件不喜欢的睡衣钻进被窝。枕头上搁着本书，可他累得连瞥一眼的力气都没有。他捻暗油灯，拉高被褥。当他把头搁在枕头上时，后脑勺的肿块隐隐作痛，只有一个念头困扰着他。

Moses Wallach was in the town, and where Wallach went trouble was sure to follow.
摩西·沃拉赫正在镇上，而沃拉赫所到之处必有祸端。

Eastcoast Packet sent and received telegraphs by the bushel every day. They were delivered to every corner of England and many European ports, and a cable from as far afield as New York was not unknown.
东海岸邮船公司每天收发成堆的电报。这些电报被送往英格兰每个角落和众多欧洲港口，就连从纽约那么远发来的电缆也并非稀罕事。

Most mornings and some afternoons too, Jim strolled down the
吉姆大多在清晨、偶尔也在午后，沿着
cliff street from Marrick Hall and through the bustle of town, following his nose to the waterfront. In his pocket or in a satchel over his shoulder was the day’s outgoing business, and his father would be waiting eagerly for messages just arrived. A quotation for repairs, a bid for a cargo, news of a vessel stranded on the Thames waiting for a load. The telegraph service had made Eastcoast’s business possible; nothing would make it easy in the face of the weather and the inexorable coming of steam.
悬崖街从马里克庄园漫步而下，穿过熙攘的市镇，循着海风的气息走向码头。他口袋里或肩挎的皮包中总装着当日待发的商务函件，而他父亲总会热切期盼着新到的消息。一份维修报价单，一纸货运投标书，或是某艘搁浅在泰晤士河等待装货的船只讯息。电报业务让东海岸商行得以运转；但面对恶劣天气和蒸汽船势不可挡的崛起，没有什么能让这差事变得轻松。

The telegraph office was attached to the harbor master’s office. From there Eastcoast’s arrivals, departures and shipping schedules were sent between Scotland and London, loads were secured, repairs approved, passengers taken on. Jim was impatient today, Ryan thought. He was watching the younger man as Jim stood at the cherry wood counter, waiting behind a short line of sailing masters and owners.
电报局就设在海事办公室隔壁。苏格兰与伦敦之间的船舶到离港时刻、货运安排皆经此处传递，货物在此确认，维修申请在此批复，旅客名单在此登记。瑞安觉得今日的吉姆显得格外焦躁。他望着这个年轻人站在樱桃木柜台前，排在几位船长和船主身后等候的身影。

Ryan himself was on tenterhooks. He knew Joel Tremayne well enough to know the man could not resist the lure. Joel also had no time to waste, since the Mercury was due to ship out soon, and Ryan would have put money on the fact he was in Whitby. He had to be, Joel being Joel. The man’s curiosity was as notorious as any cat’s; and if Ryan was any judge he had at least three lives left.
瑞安自己也是如坐针毡。他太了解乔尔·特里梅因的秉性——这人绝抗拒不了诱惑的召唤。何况乔尔也耗不起时间，毕竟墨丘利号即将启航，瑞安敢打赌他此刻必在惠特比。以乔尔那出了名的性子，他非在那儿不可。这人的好奇心堪比九命猫妖；依瑞安看来，他至少还剩三条命可挥霍。

From the office’s wide windows, Jim was looking out across the melee of herring trawlers and freighters, all boxed-in on the landward side of the pier. Scarborough had not been designed with big ships, let alone steam ships, in mind. The quay was six centuries old and good enough, but the piers were another story.
吉姆从办公室宽敞的窗户望出去，目光越过拥挤的鲱鱼拖网船和货轮——它们全都挤在码头靠陆地的一侧。斯卡伯勒当初建造时根本没考虑过大船，更不用说蒸汽船了。这座码头已有六百年历史，虽然还算坚固，但那些突堤就另当别论了。

Still, Ryan liked Scarborough and always had. He liked the freedom of the moors and the wolds, liked the cliffs which seemed to guard the town like ramparts, even liked the climate, cool in summer and oddly warm in winter, with its west winds right from summer through to spring. He smiled at the quay, watching fishwives go by in the blustery morning air, laden with baskets of kippers for the market, while a cobble made fast. 54 degrees, 17 and one half minutes North latitude, he thought with a chuckle, 22 minutes West longitude. The numbers spelt ‘home.’
尽管如此，瑞安一直很喜欢斯卡伯勒。他喜欢荒原与丘陵的自由，喜欢如城墙般守护着小镇的悬崖，甚至喜欢这里的气候——夏日凉爽而冬季反常温暖，从夏到春都吹着西风。他对着码头微笑，看着鱼贩妇人们在晨风中挎着成筐的腌鲱鱼赶往市场，同时有条小渔船正忙着系缆。北纬 54 度 17 分半，他轻笑着想，西经 22 分。这些数字拼出了"家"。

The chuckle caught Jim’s attention and one brow was raised at Ryan in question. He shook his head and was rescued by the telegraph officer. Bertie Buxton was a pink-faced rabbit of a man with white whiskers and ears like jug handles. His voice was a high-pitched squeak, and when he was annoyed or excited he was shrill as a girl. The sailing master of the steam tug Good Intentions was sending a cable today; he was either three words too long or three farthings short of the fee, and he seemed about to come to blows with Buxton over the question of credit.
这声轻笑引起了吉姆的注意，他挑起眉毛向瑞安投去询问的目光。瑞安摇摇头，这时电报员伯特·巴克斯顿解救了他。这个白胡子男人长着兔子般的粉红脸蛋和壶把似的招风耳，嗓音尖细得像小姑娘，每当生气或激动时更是尖锐刺耳。蒸汽拖船"善意号"的船长今天来发电报，要么超了三个词要么差三法寻费用，眼看就要为赊账问题和巴克斯顿打起来了。

Out in the harbor, boats plied about their business. Two of the
港外的船只正忙碌作业。其中两艘
freighters were steamers and the pall of their black coal smoke sullied the clean morning air. A third ‘tin scow’ was well out to sea, leaving behind it a trail of smoke by which it could be followed until it was almost over the horizon.
货轮都是蒸汽船，它们喷吐的黑煤烟玷污了清晨洁净的空气。第三艘"铁皮驳船"已驶向远海，在身后拖出一道烟痕，循着这道轨迹望去，直到它几乎消失在地平线上。

Save for smoke, the sky was high and clear today, the wind mild, and this morning Ryan felt well. Even Jim was satisfied of his health: the proof of it had been waiting for him at seven, when Jim woke his companion with a breakfast tray taken from the hands of an overattentive maid. Young Annie had eyes for Ryan, Jim was sure. Pity the poor girl: Ryan was the last man to notice her attentions.
今日天高云淡，唯有几缕轻烟点缀，微风和煦，瑞安觉得神清气爽。就连吉姆也对他的健康状况表示满意：证据就是今早七点，当吉姆从过分殷勤的女仆手中接过早餐托盘唤醒同伴时。吉姆确信年轻的安妮对瑞安暗送秋波。可怜这姑娘：瑞安是世上最迟钝的男人，根本注意不到她的殷勤。

He had been waiting for Jim for some time when Jim fended off the maid and brought in the tray. At a growled invitation to enter, Jim closed the door to find Ryan’s nightshirt wadded up and lobbed at him like a ball. Ryan’s foot hooked the bedding and lifted it down to display a body that was, Jim had admitted, a most inspiring sight when sporting a prodigious morning erection.
当吉姆打发走女仆端着托盘进来时，瑞安已等候多时。听到一声低沉的邀请，吉姆关上门，迎面飞来的是瑞安团成球状的睡袍。瑞安用脚勾起被褥掀开，露出那具连吉姆都不得不承认令人血脉偾张的身体——尤其是晨间那傲然挺立的部位。

A bolted door, an open window, and breakfast was forgotten until it was cold and congealed. Memories of the next hour commanded Jim Hale so thoroughly, the telegraph operator had spoken to him for the second time before he even heard his name. He stirred with a guilty smile. “I’m sorry, Buxie, my mind was miles away. And I know - I shouldn’t let it wander, it’s too small to go out alone.”
闩紧的房门，敞开的窗户，早餐被遗忘直至冷却凝固。接下来那小时的记忆完全占据了吉姆·黑尔的思绪，电报员第二次呼唤时他才听见自己的名字。他带着心虚的笑意回过神来："抱歉，巴克斯，我走神了。我知道——不该让思绪乱跑，它太小了还不能独自出门。"

The joke was one of Buxton’s favorites, and Ryan watched him deflate as Jim beat him to it. He was a rabbit in gray tweeds, and those white whiskers actually seemed to twitch as he read through Eastcoast’s messages and calculated the cost. “That lot’s going to be not one farthing under two shillings, Mr. Hale,” he told Jim almost apologetically.
这个笑话本是巴克斯顿的最爱，瑞安看着他像只泄气的皮球般萎靡下来——当吉姆抢先说出时。这个穿着灰色粗花呢的兔子般男人，那些白色胡须在他翻阅东海岸电报计算费用时似乎真的在颤动。"那批货至少要两先令，黑尔先生，"他几乎带着歉意对吉姆说。

An assortment of coins rattled onto the counter and Jim gazed through the window once more as Buxton counted them. He was watching the steamer smoke, listening with half his attention as the telegraph rattled out some incoming message. As it finished he asked, “Do you know if Captain Butterwick is still in port? I can’t seem to find him.”
一堆硬币哗啦落在柜台上，吉姆透过窗户再次凝望，巴克斯顿正清点着钱币。他注视着蒸汽船冒出的烟，心不在焉地听着电报机咔嗒作响接收信息。当声响停止时，他问道："你知道巴特威克船长是否还在港口吗？我似乎找不到他。"
“Oh no, he’s gone, sir,” Buxton reported, sweeping the coins into his cash box. “Said he had urgent business in London, Mr. Hale, summat about yon lawyers and the poor ship as just sank.”
"噢不，他已经离开了，先生，"巴克斯顿边回答边将硬币扫进钱箱，"他说有急事要去伦敦处理，黑尔先生，好像是关于那些律师和刚沉没的可怜船只的事。"
“I see.” Jim gave Ryan a glance. So much for that line of inquiry Moses Wallach would remain a mystery a little longer. “Then, do you have messages for me today?”
"明白了。"吉姆瞥了瑞安一眼。这条调查线索就此中断，摩西·沃拉赫的秘密还得继续埋藏。"那么，今天有我的电报吗？"
“For thee, Mr. Hale, we always do. And one for Captain Ryan, an’ all, so it’s a good job he come down with thee.”
"黑尔先生，我们向来为您效劳。瑞安船长那份也备好了，幸好他跟您一道来了。"

A sheaf of cream-colored papers was handed over the counter, and Ryan was right behind as Jim stepped out of the office with a smile for the pink little rabbit. There on the doorstep, Ryan unfolded the paper,
一叠乳白色文件从柜台那头递了过来，当吉姆抱着粉红小兔笑容满面地走出办公室时，瑞安正紧跟在后。站在门阶上，瑞安展开那张纸，
read the two lines and snorted with laughter.
读完那两行字后噗嗤笑出了声。
“He’s in Whitby, then?” Jim guessed.
"那他现在是在惠特比？"吉姆猜测道。
“Of course he is. He shipped in late last night,” Ryan said with rich satisfaction. “Now, he’s probably wondering if the Eastcoast business we promised him is something to do with his gunrunning activities, and be warned, Jim, he’ll try to convince you to throw in with him. Joel Tremayne is one of the most persuasive men I’ve ever known.”
“他当然在。昨晚深夜才到的船。”瑞安带着心满意足的语气说道，“这会儿他八成在琢磨，我们承诺的东海岸生意是否与他那些军火走私勾当有关。吉姆，你可得当心——他会千方百计拉你入伙。乔尔·特里梅因可是我见过最会蛊惑人心的人物。”
“I’ll consider myself warned,” Jim said aridly. “Everything in its own good time, Bill. I’ll not let Tremayne persuade me to stupidity. Trust me. I’ve fenced and sparred with my father for long enough to be quite a persuasive talker myself, with a hide like a crocodile.”
“多谢提醒。”吉姆干巴巴地回应，“凡事都有时机，比尔。我不会被特里梅因忽悠着干蠢事。相信我，这些年跟我父亲斗智斗勇下来，我这张鳄鱼皮厚的嘴皮子也不是白练的。”
“Like a crocodile?” Ryan looked him up and down with heavy-lidded, sultry eyes. “I wouldn’t say that.”
“鳄鱼皮？”瑞安半眯着氤氲的眼睛上下打量他，“我倒不这么觉得。”

With a gust of healthy laughter, Jim pocketed the sheaf of messages and turned toward home. The sea air was lively, bracing without being cold. It was still just a few minutes before nine, and his body thrummed with the lingering pleasures of Ryan’s loving as they walked back up from the harbor.
吉姆爆发出一阵爽朗的大笑，将那叠电报塞进口袋转身往家走去。海风清爽宜人，带着凉意却不刺骨。此刻还不到九点，他们从码头往回走时，他周身仍萦绕着与瑞安缠绵后的慵懒欢愉。

At the top of an almost vertical cliffside street was a chandler’s and sailmaker’s shop, and there Ryan paused. The Adelaide was being rerigged, and much of her new sailcloth was supplied by the merchant, Phineas Cranmer. Cranmer’s shop was a crossroads for sailing masters and those with ships at anchor.
在近乎垂直的悬崖街道顶端，有家经营绳索帆布的店铺，瑞安在此驻足。阿德莱德号正在更换索具，其新帆布多由商人菲尼亚斯·克兰默供应。克兰默的店铺是航海长们与停泊船主们的聚集地。

Seemingly on a whim, Ryan ducked in under the low lintel and Jim followed. The bell rang to announce a customer, and as his eyes grew accustomed to the sudden dimness Jim saw Cranmer himself, working in the back, measuring and bailing twine.
瑞安似乎一时兴起，低头钻过低矮的门楣，吉姆紧随其后。门铃叮当作响宣告顾客光临，当眼睛适应了突如其来的昏暗后，吉姆看见克兰默本人正在后间工作，丈量并捆扎麻绳。

The chandler’s workshop was a mass of flotsam, the odds and ends which, piece by piece, came together to fit and stock a ship, from the nails to repair her timbers to the sails that drove her, pitch, tar, fish glue and creosote, oakum and chine. A hundred smells assailed the senses at once, blending together into one uncommon odor which Jim would have known anywhere.
船具作坊里堆满零碎杂物，这些零零总总的物件最终将装配整艘船只——从修补船骨的铁钉到驱动航行的帆布，沥青、焦油、鱼胶与木馏油，麻絮与船肋填料。上百种气味同时刺激着感官，混合成一种吉姆在任何地方都能辨认出的独特气息。
“Oh, it’s you. Good day, Mr. Hale, and to you, Captain Ryan.” Cranmer was a retired Navy man, old now, wrinkled as a prune, with a friendly, ugly-pleasant face. An ex-Naval man like Ryan? Jim did not think so. As a young boy, the chandler had served in the great warships, in the last days of the conflict with Napoleon. His face was pitted and blue-scarred, where gunpowder had worked its way beneath the skin and mottled him for life like an ugly tattoo. He had spent his whole Naval career working the big guns, first as a powder monkey, later as a master gunner … like the bold Moses Wallach himself, Jim supposed, save that Cranmer was sober as few priests ever were, and meticulous in his work.
"啊，是你们。日安，黑尔先生，还有您，瑞安船长。"克兰默是个退役海军，如今已老态龙钟，皱纹如梅干般深刻，生着张友善却丑陋讨喜的脸。像瑞安那样的前海军军官？吉姆觉得并非如此。这老船具商年轻时曾在拿破仑战争末期服役于巨型战舰，脸上布满坑洼的蓝黑色疤痕——那是渗入皮下的火药留下的终身印记，如同丑陋的刺青。他整个海军生涯都在操纵重炮，起初当火药搬运童，后来成为炮长...吉姆猜想，简直像骁勇的摩西·沃拉赫本人，只不过克兰默清醒得连牧师都难及，且做事一丝不苟。
“The new sails for the Adelaide, Mr. Cranmer,” Jim began.
“阿德莱德号的新帆，克兰默先生，”吉姆开口道。
“Aye, sir, they’ll be delivered to t’dock tomorrow morning,” Cranmer assured him, “just like I promised thee.”
“是，先生，明天一早就会送到码头，”克兰默向他保证，“就像我答应您的那样。”
“My father will be glad to hear it,” Jim said dutifully, though he felt no real gratitude. Any delay would have kept Ryan at the house a little longer. Cranmer’s punctuality and efficiency merely sent Ryan back to sea a day or three sooner, and with Bill’s absence Marrick Hall would become the icy mausoleum once again. Jim gave Ryan a glance, and Ryan only shrugged. What a man could not cure, he endured, and that was the end of it.
“我父亲听到这消息会很高兴，”吉姆尽责地说道，尽管内心并无真正的感激。任何延误都能让瑞安在宅子里多留些时日。克兰默的守时高效只会让瑞安提前一两天回到海上，而随着比尔的离开，马里克庄园又将变回那座冰冷的陵墓。吉姆瞥了瑞安一眼，后者只是耸了耸肩。无法改变的事，人只能忍受，仅此而已。

With a sigh Jim watched the retired seaman tie up a roll of catgut and stack it on the wide shelves. “Tell me, Phineas, have you heard what became of the men off Robbie Butterwick’s Mascot? Her crew.”
吉姆叹了口气，看着这位退休水手捆好一卷肠线，堆放在宽架子上。“告诉我，菲尼亚斯，你听说过罗比·巴特威克的吉祥物号船员后来怎样了吗？那艘船的船员。”
“They’ll be looking for a ship, I don’t doubt,” Cranmer said bluffly as he continued to work "And they’ll not find one ‘round here, Mr. Hale. Not unless Eastcoast Packet’s floated another hull since the last time I looked.’
"‘他们准在找船，这点我毫不怀疑，’克兰默一边继续干活，一边直率地说，‘但黑尔先生，这附近可找不着。除非东海岸邮船公司又新造了艘船——反正我上回看的时候还没有。’"
“You know well enough, Phineas,” Ryan chided, “the Spindrift will hit the water in August, not one day before.” He watched the chandler’s deft hands for a moment in silence and then said, prompting in a thoughtful tone, “Then, the crew of the Mascot won’t have stayed on in Scarborough.”
"‘你心里清楚得很，菲尼亚斯，’瑞安略带责备地说，‘浪花号八月才能下水，一天都不会提前。’他沉默地注视着杂货商灵巧的双手片刻，又用若有所思的语气提示道：‘这么说来，吉祥物号的船员应该不会继续留在斯卡伯勒了。’"

Cranmer paused in his work, blue-stained brow creased. “Now I come to think on it, I heard some of 'em signed on a pretty little French thing, a schooner, I think, just last night. She stopped 'ere for just one tide on her way up north.” He put the shears through a length of twine.
克兰默停下手中的活计，染着蓝渍的眉头皱了起来。‘现在想起来，昨晚我听说他们有些人上了艘漂亮的法国小船，好像是艘纵帆船，只在北上的路上趁着一次潮水在这儿停靠过。’他说着用剪刀剪断一截麻绳。
“And would you know about a man called Moses Wallach?” Ryan asked pointedly.
"‘那你知道有个叫摩西·沃拉赫的人吗？’瑞安尖锐地问道。"

Again Cranmer paused, head cocked curiously at Ryan and Jim. “Aye, now I heard that name just yesterday. He’s still in Scarborough. Least, he didn’t sail with t’French crew, and there’s been no other vessel takin’ on men.”
克兰默再次停下，歪着头好奇地打量着瑞安和吉姆。"哎，我昨天刚听过这名字。他还在斯卡伯勒。至少没跟那帮法国船员出海，也没见其他船在招人。"
“Would you know where I might find him?” Ryan wondered.
"你知道去哪儿能找到他吗？"瑞安问道。
It was a mere whim, and Jim realized the folly of pursuing the man. He gave Bill a warning look. Ryan was about to risk the safety of an associate by sending him into the Kerr brothers’ camp as a spy, and the man they hired would hardly be delighted if Wallach were tracked down and tipped off, set on his guard, for the sake of impatience and anger. That was not the way they were going to slam the prison gate on the Kerr brothers and perhaps put a noose around Wallach’s neck.
这不过是一时冲动，吉姆意识到追查此人的愚蠢。他警告性地瞪了比尔一眼。瑞安正要为了一时急躁和愤怒，将同伴置于险境——派他去克尔兄弟的营地当眼线。若因此导致沃拉赫被追踪并警觉起来，他们雇来的人可不会高兴。这绝非他们想要的方式——既能将克尔兄弟关进监狱，或许还能给沃拉赫套上绞索。

The old anger came boiling back to the surface and of a sudden Jim was furious. The sheer nerve of the Mascot episode left him so speechless, he would have paid good money to know how Wallach had sabotaged her. How priceless the opportunity must have seemed - to do a job of work for the wreckers and be rid of Ryan at the same stroke.
旧日的怒火突然翻涌而上，吉姆顿时暴怒不已。吉祥物号事件的无耻行径让他震惊得说不出话，他宁愿花大价钱弄清沃拉赫是如何破坏那艘船的。对破坏者而言，这机会必定珍贵得难以估量——既能完成差事，又能一举除掉瑞安。
“I can’t say as I’ve seen Wallach around today,” Cranmer said in-
"我可说不上今天见过沃拉赫，"克兰默漫不经心地说，
differently. “But thee might try t’Black Bull. S’where I’d start looking, if the bastard owed me money.”
不过你可以去黑公牛酒馆找找。要是那混蛋欠我钱，我准会先去那儿寻人。
“We’ll do that, Phineas,” Jim said before Ryan could pursue the question, and stepped out of the shop. He stood for some time in the blustery wind, looking out over the red-shingle rooftops and the faintly oily, blue-green harbor waters. Gulls called against the rush of the sea, and he smelt the salt-rotten stink of wrack which had washed in with the storm and now lay on the sands of both bays, reeking in mounds along the high-water mark. Sea birds pecked among it for crabs and shellfish, and a few women and children were out, picking over the flotsam and jetsam from the Mascot.
"我们会去的，菲尼亚斯，"吉姆抢在瑞安继续追问前说道，随即迈出店铺。他在呼啸的寒风中伫立良久，眺望着红瓦铺就的屋顶和泛着油光的蓝绿色海港。海鸥的鸣叫与潮声交织，他嗅到被风暴冲上岸的海藻正散发着咸腥的腐臭，成堆地淤积在两处海湾的沙滩上，在高水位线处散发着刺鼻气味。海鸟在其中啄食螃蟹与贝类，几个妇孺正在翻检吉祥物号漂来的残骸杂物。
“Jim?” Ryan prompted when he had not spoken in some time.
"吉姆？"见他许久不语，瑞安出声催促道。
“Whitby,” Jim said in a decisive tone, and turned left, on up the street which climbed toward the clifftop.
"‘惠特比，’吉姆用斩钉截铁的语气说道，随即向左转，沿着那条通往悬崖顶端的街道向上走去。"

It was steep enough to test his legs and set his heart beating hard. It was a good climb up, out of the town to the freedom of the cliffs above the bay, with their horizon-wide view, and Jim paused for a moment to catch his breath and admire it. His eyes swept around, taking in the castle, the Spaw, the harbor and piers, the old town nestled down below in the shelter of the south bay, and the new houses - big houses, the homes of the gentry who were flocking into Scarborough as soon as they discovered it, at least for the summer.
陡峭的坡度足以考验他的腿力，让心脏剧烈跳动。这是一段不错的攀登，从城镇一直延伸到海湾上方自由的悬崖，视野开阔得能望见整个地平线。吉姆停下来喘口气，欣赏着眼前的景色。他的目光扫过城堡、温泉疗养所、港口与码头、蜷缩在南湾避风处的老城区，还有那些新盖的大宅子——都是蜂拥而至斯卡伯勒的乡绅们的府邸，至少他们会在这里度过整个夏天。

The town was changing fast, growing visibly. Just before Jim’s fourteenth birthday, the Mayor had announced with a fat smile, the exact figure of 12,915 people lived in Scarborough, which was many more than the census a decade before. Only a year ago, the parish census was published and Jim was far from astonished to read the numbers: 18,377 souls now lived in Scarborough. The difference in the town was, to Jim’s mind, monstrous. People of means came in for the Spa, the bathing, the clement climate, and Scarborough molded itself, reformed itself, to entertain them. Hotels, salons, concert halls, theaters, orchestras, gardens, all bloomed and flourished while Scarborough’s aged citizens looked on bemusedly, trying to remember the old port with its fishing fleet and smugglers, tall ships of the East India Service and the swarm of the coastal trade.
这座城镇正以惊人的速度改变着，肉眼可见地扩张。就在吉姆十四岁生日前夕，市长曾带着志得意满的笑容宣布，斯卡伯勒的常住人口精确达到了 12,915 人——比十年前的人口普查结果多出不少。而仅仅一年前，教区普查数据公布时，吉姆对 18,377 这个数字丝毫不感到惊讶。在他看来，城镇的变化堪称骇人。富人们为了温泉浴场、海水浴和温和气候而来，斯卡伯勒也随之重塑自身以取悦他们。酒店、沙龙、音乐厅、剧院、管弦乐队、花园如雨后春笋般涌现，而当地的老居民只能困惑地旁观，努力回忆着那个拥有渔船队与走私者、东印度公司高桅帆船和沿海贸易往来的古老港口。

From the clifftop one could see across the whole south bay. The new houses were everywhere, and every second person you met in the street was not a fisherman, a merchant seaman, a sailmaker or chandler or wharfman, but a servant. A footman, butler, abigail, housekeeper or coachman. The gentry were usually absent from October through to May, but most of the staff stayed on. Once, the harborside had thronged and bustled with seamen while ships arrived and departed to and from every place on the globe; now, one was more likely to stand aside on the quay to make way for an earl and his lady making a stately progress along the waterfront like a royal couple out slumming.
从悬崖顶端可以俯瞰整个南湾。新宅邸遍地开花，如今在街上每遇到两个人，就有一个不是渔民、商船水手、帆匠、杂货商或码头工人，而是仆人——脚夫、管家、侍女、女管家或马车夫。乡绅们通常从十月到次年五月都不在此居住，但大部分仆从会留守此地。曾几何时，码头边挤满了来来往往的水手，船只驶向全球各地；而现在，人们更可能在码头上避让，为像微服出巡的皇室夫妇般沿着海滨庄严漫步的伯爵及其夫人让路。

Jon Hale loved to tell the old stories from his father’s and grandfather’s day. In the last decade of the last century Scarborough Harbor had bustled with fifteen hundred seamen, a third of whom sailed for the East India Service. The Naval press gang hit the town in '90- and all this, Jim thought ruefully as he looked down on the clutter of tightpacked houses, all this for a town with a population of not even eight thousand souls.
乔恩·黑尔总爱讲述父辈与祖父辈的旧事。上世纪最后十年间，斯卡伯勒港曾聚集着一千五百名水手，其中三分之一为东印度公司效力。1790 年海军强征队横扫小镇——吉姆望着下方鳞次栉比的房屋不禁苦笑，这一切繁华竟属于人口不足八千的小镇。

Things were changing fast. The air was almost always smoky with chimneys now, and the sky over the sea was often sullied with plumes of coal smoke from ‘tin scows,’ though this was also due to change soon, and forever. The local railway line from Scarborough to York opened when Jim was eight years old, and at the time business in the harbor actually grew, since nearby tradesmen realized they could now ship their goods out by rail to the great ports of Europe, India and America. But now the north-south railway, linking London and the south with Glasgow, Edinburgh and the north was almost finished, and when it opened the whole coast would change overnight.
时代变迁迅疾如风。如今烟囱终日喷吐浓烟，海面上空常被"铁壳驳船"的煤烟染污，不过这种景象也将很快永远消失。斯卡伯勒至约克的本地铁路在吉姆八岁那年通车，当时港口贸易反而增长——周边商人发现现在能通过铁路将货物运往欧洲、印度和美洲的大港口。但眼下这条贯通南北、连接伦敦与南部至格拉斯哥、爱丁堡及北方的铁路即将竣工，一旦通车，整个海岸线将在一夜之间改头换面。

The coastal packet trade would be as dead as the passenger coach business. Freight, mail, livestock and passengers would be sped on rails, over viaducts, through tunnels and across the moors and wolds at speeds the skipper of a steam screw could only dream about. The railway was the future, no one had argued the fact since the Liverpool and Manchester Railway became a roaring success, years before Jim was born.
沿海邮船贸易将如客运马车般消亡。货物、邮件、牲畜与乘客将在铁轨上飞驰，穿越高架桥、隧道与荒原，其速度令蒸汽轮船的船长望尘莫及。自利物浦-曼彻斯特铁路在吉姆出生前多年大获成功以来，无人再质疑铁路就是未来这个事实。

The rail-laying boom was actually over; the tracks already went to virtually every town and city, and the one problem preventing the monopoly of steam trains was the old argument about gauge. In a matter of months, the last lines would be laid down, the last tunnels dug, and a week after the north-south line opened, a coaster like the beautiful Westcountryman ketch Mary Ann wouldn’t bring as much at auction as the salvage value of her timbers.
铁路铺设热潮其实已近尾声，轨道几乎延伸至所有城镇。阻碍蒸汽火车垄断运输的唯一障碍，仍是关于轨距的老问题。不出数月，最后一段铁轨将铺设完毕，最后一条隧道也将贯通。南北干线通车一周后，像漂亮的"西郡人"双桅帆船玛丽·安这样的沿岸货船，在拍卖会上的价格恐怕还抵不上其木料的打捞价值。

Like his father, Jim mourned the passing of an era. Unlike his father, he could not stop himself looking ahead into a bleak, uncertain future, where Eastcoast Packet was a fossil and tens of thousands of seamen like Bill Ryan were out of work. The Army loomed before him like a thunderhead; the Suez Canal Company was still sucking up Englishmen, educated ‘white faces’ to oversee the work of digging out the world’s biggest, longest, deepest ditch. Neither prospect appealed to Jim.
和父亲一样，吉姆为时代的逝去而哀伤。但与父亲不同的是，他无法阻止自己望向那个黯淡无光的未来——在那里，东海岸邮船公司成了历史遗迹，数以万计像比尔·瑞安这样的水手都失了业。陆军像雷暴云般笼罩在他眼前；苏伊士运河公司仍在吸纳英国人，那些受过教育的"白面孔"们去监督挖掘这条世界最长最深的沟渠。这两种前景都让吉姆提不起兴致。

He had talked for hours to men returning from Australia, where the gold rush ran riot through the '50s. Emigration swiftly became an industry and the steam-and-sail ship Great Britain made the run three times a year, loaded with hopefuls trying to escape the slums and pessimism of England’s cities. But every opportunity in the Australian gold fields seemed to have been soaked up. Gone was the chance for a man
他曾与从澳大利亚归来的人们长谈数小时，那里在五十年代掀起了疯狂的淘金热。移民迅速成为产业，蒸汽帆船大不列颠号每年往返三次，满载着试图逃离英格兰城市贫民窟与悲观情绪的人们。但澳大利亚金矿的每个机会似乎都已被榨干。一个人再难有机会
to stake a claim of his own; Australia was simply another place to get dirty, working long and hard in a mine to make the owners rich.
为自己圈定矿脉；澳大利亚不过是另一个让人浑身污垢的地方，在矿井里长时间辛苦劳作，只为让矿主们发财。

The familiar, nagging worry snapped at Jim’s heels like a terrier. He and Ryan paused to catch their breath above the town, and his thoughts turned to Joel Tremayne as they must. Gun running through the blockades into America’s southern states. Jim remained deeply ambivalent about the proposition. The lure of quick money was dreadful; the seduction of the adventure of the voyage was even worse.
熟悉的焦虑像只梗犬般紧咬着吉姆不放。他和瑞安在小镇高处停下喘口气时，思绪便如注定般转向了乔尔·特里梅因。穿越封锁线向美国南方各州走私军火。这个提议始终让吉姆矛盾至极。快速致富的诱惑令人不安；而航程中冒险的吸引力则更为致命。

All his life he had been trapped in this town, watching it grow while the gentry came in, watching the coastal trade dwindle and the sky darken with smoke. All his life he had shared vicariously in the adventures of the men who moved through the harbor on their way to China or India, or back from Canada and Jamaica. Their stories were richer, darker, bloodier than the novels lining his shelves, and the men themselves were often scarred, disillusioned, even crippled. In the same moment, Jim Hale was beguiled by the romance of adventure and appalled by the consequences.
他一生都被困在这个小镇上，眼睁睁看着乡绅们涌入，看着沿海贸易日渐萧条，天空被烟雾染黑。那些途经港口前往中国或印度，或是从加拿大、牙买加归来的冒险者们，他们的故事比他书架上那些小说更丰富、更阴暗、更血腥。这些人身上常带着伤疤，幻灭，甚至残疾。吉姆·黑尔既被冒险的浪漫所迷惑，又对其后果感到恐惧。

The result was indecision, and while he had no idea which way to turn it was easiest to stay with Eastcoast Packet, though it meant burying himself in Scarborough while the world turned about him and left him behind.
优柔寡断成了他的宿命。虽然不知该何去何从，但留在东海岸邮船公司总是最容易的选择——尽管这意味着将自己埋没在斯卡伯勒，眼睁睁看着世界转动，将他抛在身后。

On the windy heights of the cliff, south of the town by the length of a brisk walk, stood the house where he had lived since he was just four months old. Marrick Hall was built by the gentleman smuggler George Marrick in 1806, and when the local hero was caught at last and hanged in York it stood empty until it was derelict almost past the point of repair. The local artist Artemus Wendell bought it for the morning light which flooded every east-facing room, and for the views, which he painted many times. Shortly before Wendell died, he sold the hall to pay London quacks who promised him impossible cures for liver disease, stripped him of every shilling and left him in the charity ward at Guy’s.
在镇南步行可达的悬崖高处，矗立着他四个月大起就居住的宅邸。马里克庄园由走私绅士乔治·马里克于 1806 年建造，当这位地方英雄最终在约克被绞死后，宅邸荒废得几乎无法修缮。当地画家阿特姆斯·温德尔买下它，只因晨光能洒满每个朝东的房间，还有那些被他反复描绘的风景。温德尔临终前将宅邸变卖给伦敦江湖郎中，那些人承诺能治愈他的肝病，却榨干他所有钱财，让他在盖伊医院的慈善病房里咽了气。

Jon Hale was very young when he bought Marrick Hall, and without a doubt he would end his days there. Through the decades the house had rambled, as if the builders had started with one set of plans, grew bored and changed to a second set. The gray stone, the dark climbing creepers and lead-light windows could look grim indeed on a stormy day, but when the sun shone Jim thought he had never seen a more beautiful house. The roof had only recently been renovated with the red shingles from France which were so common on this part of the coast, and inside the high, dry-stone garden walls, sheltered from the sea wind, nestled many rare and delicate plants, most of which would have perished ten yards away.
乔恩·黑尔买下马里克庄园时还很年轻，毫无疑问将在此终老。几十年来，这栋建筑不断扩建，仿佛工匠们起初按一套图纸施工，中途又换了主意。灰暗的石墙、深色攀缘植物和铅框玻璃窗在暴风雨天确实显得阴郁，但阳光照耀时，吉姆认为再没有比这更美的宅邸。最近才用法国红瓦翻新的屋顶在这段海岸很常见，高耸的干砌石花园墙内避开了海风，培育着许多珍稀娇弱的植物——其中大多数在十码外就会枯萎。

On the north side of the gardens were stables and coach house, accommodating the hall’s five horses. Two were harness horses, three
花园北侧是马厩与马车房，容纳着庄园里的五匹马。其中两匹是挽马，三匹
were hacks. The matched bays and carriage seldom went out these days, and Jim rode less and less as business consumed his time. He longed for the freedom to get out, let the sea wind blow the anxiety and anger from his mind, but Jon Hale was a hard taskmaster.
是骑乘马。那对枣红马和马车近来很少外出，吉姆也因公务缠身越来越少骑马。他渴望能自由出行，让海风驱散心中的焦虑与愤怒，但乔恩·黑尔是个严厉的监工。

Along with Duke and Blondin, both geldings, the stable housed a high-spirited black mare called Bess. As Jim and Ryan made their way up from the town, the three horses were tethered by the stables while the farrier checked their shoes. The groom was a young man with mut-ton-chop whiskers and deep-creased eyes. He had seen Jim coming along the cliff path with Ryan on his heels, and he laughed rudely as they approached.
马厩里除了两匹阉马杜克和布朗丁，还有一匹名叫贝斯的活泼黑母马。当吉姆和瑞安从镇上回来时，三匹马正拴在马厩旁让蹄铁匠检查蹄铁。马夫是个蓄着络腮胡、眼尾深纹的年轻人，他看见吉姆沿着崖边小路走来，瑞安紧随其后，便在他们走近时粗鲁地笑了起来。
“Thee’s out of breath,” Malcolm chuckled.
"“瞧你上气不接下气的。”马尔科姆咯咯笑道。"
Jim made a show of mopping his face with a kerchief. He might have rebuked the groom, but it was too difficult to be brusque with a man when you had had rolled in the hay with him ten years before. Even today, when the merciless social order of grown men separated them, the little familiarities were permitted, even treasured. Ryan had soon noticed Malcolm’s careless liberties, and laughed rudely at them.
吉姆做作地用手帕擦了擦脸。他本可以训斥那马夫，但要对一个十年前曾与自己有过肌肤之亲的男人疾言厉色，终究太难。即便如今成人世界的森严等级将他们隔开，那些亲昵的小动作仍被默许，甚至珍视。瑞安很快就注意到马尔科姆随意的越界举动，并对此粗鲁地大笑起来。
“I’m out of condition,” Jim confessed mildly. “And you tell me, I challenge you, what’s to be done about it when I’m shackled hand and foot to a desk.”
“我身子骨不行了，”吉姆温和地承认道，“你倒说说看，我敢打赌，当我被捆在办公桌前动弹不得时，还能有什么办法。”

The groom turned up his nose. “Thee could always run away to sea,” he suggested glibly as the farrier’s tools clattered to the ground. “And what can I do young Master Jim for today?” Only Jim saw him wink as he spoke.
马夫不屑地哼了一声。“您大可以逃去当水手，”他油嘴滑舌地建议道，这时蹄铁匠的工具哐当掉在地上。“今天有什么能为您效劳的，年轻的吉姆少爷？”只有吉姆看见他说这话时眨了眨眼。
“You can get a couple of saddles onto Blondin and Bess, Malcolm, soon as the farrier’s satisfied, and bring them 'round to the back gate.” Jim shaded his eyes and looked along the windy cliff, north, toward Whitby. “We’ll fetch them home in a day or so.”
“等蹄铁匠完事后，给布朗丁和贝斯备好鞍具，牵到后门来，马尔科姆。”吉姆手搭凉棚，顺着多风的悬崖向北眺望惠特比方向。“过一两天我们就把它们接回来。”
“Thee and Captain Ryan?” Malcolm hazarded.
"你和瑞安船长？"马尔科姆试探着问道。
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Jim said dryly, “yes, me and Captain Ryan!”
"虽然这不关你的事，"吉姆干巴巴地说，"没错，就是我和瑞安船长！"
“The Adelaide is still docked but I have business in Whitby,” Ryan said easily. He stirred and patted the long, bony nose of the black mare he usually rode, when he had any opportunity to get his feet on dry land and his backside on saddle. Bess had a spirit which would not have failed her on the racetrack.
"阿德莱德号还停泊在港口，但我要去惠特比办点事，"瑞安轻松地说道。他动了动身子，拍了拍常骑的那匹黑母马修长的鼻子。只要有机会踏上陆地，他总爱跨上马鞍。这匹名叫贝斯的马儿精力充沛，就算上赛道也毫不逊色。
“Young Master Jim and Captain Ryan,” Malcolm echoed in rich, round, teasing tones which spoke eloquently of secrets shared, truths unspoken.
"小吉姆少爷和瑞安船长，"马尔科姆用圆润而揶揄的腔调重复道，话里话外都透着心照不宣的默契与未尽之言。

Jim gave him a sidelong look and glanced pointedly at the farrier, but the blacksmith was whistling tunelessly as he hammered down nails, and was oblivious.
吉姆斜睨了他一眼，又刻意朝蹄铁匠那边瞥去，但那位铁匠正心不在焉地吹着跑调的口哨敲打钉子。
"Aye, all right, I’ll fetch ‘em ‘round,’’ Malcolm promised, and winked one blue eye at his old playmate.
"哎，好吧，我这就去把他们带过来，"马尔科姆应承着，朝儿时玩伴调皮地眨了眨蓝眼睛。

It was fine to have friends, Jim decided as they turned back into the cool, blustery cliff air along the garden walls. Ryan was right behind him, hands in pockets, watching the gulls as if he had no care in the world and was glad to be here; but Scarborough had been a prison throughout most of Jim’s boyhood, and when he threshed through adolescence the sense of imprisonment only became worse.
当他们沿着花园围墙走回阴凉多风的悬崖边时，吉姆觉得有朋友真好。瑞安双手插兜紧跟在后，望着海鸥的模样仿佛无忧无虑，满心欢喜；可斯卡伯勒在吉姆童年大部分时光里都如同牢笼，待到青春躁动时，这种禁锢感愈发强烈。

As a very young boy he had logically assumed all boys dreamed of making love with other lads. Since the delicate subject of sex was never discussed in his father’s house, he had learned no better - his mother might easily have fainted at the mention of any kind of sex, much less male loving. But before Jim’s twelfth birthday he knew the truth. Only a few lads dared confess the secret: they found their own kind exciting, inspiring. And the few who did confess only whispered in the dark. Jim was almost entirely alone and the strange, endless, limbo years of adolescence were difficult.
年幼时他曾理所当然地以为，所有男孩都梦想着与同性少年亲热。由于父亲家中从不谈论性这个敏感话题，他一直未能纠正这个认知——他母亲光是听到"性"这个字眼就几乎要晕厥，更遑论男性之爱。但未满十二岁，吉姆就明白了真相。敢吐露这个秘密的少年寥寥无几：他们发现自己对同类怀有悸动与憧憬。而那几个坦白的少年，也只敢在黑暗中窃窃私语。吉姆几乎完全孤立无援，那段怪异而漫长的青春迷惘期格外难熬。

He knew a lad from one of the herring boats, a boy called Albert who always smelt of fish, but whose hands were gentle and knowing. For a while Jim enjoyed the services of a tutor in English, history, arithmetic and geography. The man was very gentle, very shy, not nearly as knowing or passionate as young Albert. And a year later Malcolm was hired for the stable. The three were Jim’s only companions, unless he cared to explore the opportunities presented by the seamen who arrived daily from Yarm, up on the Tees, headed for points south in search of work. They were nameless, faceless strangers, and he learned his lesson in one night on that score.
他认识一个来自鲱鱼船的小伙子，名叫阿尔伯特，身上总带着鱼腥味，但双手却温柔而灵巧。有段时间，吉姆享受着一位家庭教师提供的英语、历史、算术和地理课程。那人温文尔雅，腼腆内向，远不及年轻的阿尔伯特那般机敏热情。一年后，马尔科姆被雇来照看马厩。这三人是吉姆仅有的伙伴，除非他愿意去结识那些每日从蒂斯河畔的雅姆镇南下谋生的水手。那些无名无姓的陌生人，让他在一夜之间就领教了教训。

A young Dutchman, big and handsome, with pale blue eyes, pink cheeks and skin like a girl, looked at him across the taproom of The Black Bull, and the fifteen year old Jim felt an undeniable and inescapable tug of desire. He might have expected care and gentleness, since he was very young and had been told several times by now, he was also ‘very lovely.’ The words were most often used to describe girls, but Jim was far from insulted.
在"黑公牛酒馆"的酒吧间里，一个高大英俊的荷兰青年用淡蓝色眼睛望向十五岁的吉姆——那人面若桃花，肌肤如少女般细腻。吉姆感到一阵无法否认也难以抗拒的欲望拉扯。他本期待得到怜惜与温柔，毕竟他还很年轻，而且不止一次听人说他"生得极俊"。这词通常用来形容姑娘家，但吉姆丝毫不觉得被冒犯。

The young Dutchman was not much older than himself. He was also eager, and much stronger than Jim; and he was careless. A torn button, a ripped seam, and Jim’s trousers were about his knees. His legs were cold as he was bent over a barrel in an alley smelling of stale beer and ripe fish. When he heard the young man hawk and spit into his palm he understood what was about to happen, and tried to escape. It was too late, and struggles only seemed to the man like encouragement, squeals sounded like excitement.
那个荷兰青年比他大不了几岁，却更加急切，力气也大得多，而且动作粗鲁。随着纽扣崩开、线缝撕裂，吉姆的裤子滑落到膝盖。当他在弥漫着馊啤酒与腥鱼味的小巷里被按在酒桶上时，双腿冻得发僵。听到对方朝掌心吐唾沫的声音，他突然明白即将发生什么，试图挣脱却为时已晚。挣扎反被当作鼓励，呜咽被误解成兴奋。

Could the act be called rape? Jim had never been sure what to call it, and he had certainly never mentioned it to a soul. He was not a virgin that night, and he had issued the invitation and then gone willingly outside with the man. Nevertheless, he was sore and angry enough to lash out when he strode home an hour later. He knew his linen was
这能算强奸吗？吉姆始终不确定该如何定义那晚的事，也从未向任何人提起。那夜之前他早已不是处子，是他主动发出邀请，又心甘情愿跟着对方走到外面。然而一小时后跛着回家时，下体的疼痛与愤怒仍让他忍不住踹翻了路边的水桶。他知道自己的亚麻衬衣上......
bloody and his flanks and buttocks were bruised, but he would dispose of the ruined clothes and attend to his bruises himself, as if he had fallen off his horse.
他浑身血迹斑斑，两肋与臀部布满淤青，却只是自行处理了破损的衣物，照料着那些伤痕，仿佛不过是从马背上摔下来似的。

He burned the linen in his own hearth, bathed and salved himself, took a half-pint of gin to bed and slept till noon. It was the last time he even bothered to notice the seamen in the tavern. From that night on he trusted few men indeed, and he went with none, other than Malcolm or Albert.
他在自家壁炉里烧掉了亚麻衣物，沐浴后给自己抹上药膏，带着半品脱杜松子酒上床，一觉睡到正午。自那以后，他连酒馆里的水手都懒得再多看一眼。从那个夜晚起，他几乎不再信任任何人——除了马尔科姆和阿尔伯特，他再未与旁人有过深交。

Until Bill Ryan arrived in Eastcoast Packet’s harborside office.
直到比尔·瑞安踏进东海岸邮船公司的港口办事处。
The day Ryan’s face appeared in Scarborough, Jim would cherish forever. How often did he draw on memories of it when Ryan was at sea, days or weeks away, and the old gremlins returned to bedevil him? More than once he had thought of himself as a ‘seawife,’ and mocked himself with quiet laughter. It was not much less than the truth, and until things changed at Eastcoast … or until the impending railway sank them without trace … Jim Hale would probably remain a seawife.
吉姆将永远铭记瑞安出现在斯卡伯勒那天的面容。当瑞安出海数日或数周未归，那些陈年的心魔又来折磨他时，他有多少次靠着这段回忆撑过来？他不止一次自嘲为"守船人"，想着想着便轻声苦笑。这称呼虽带调侃，却与事实相去不远。除非东海岸出现转机……或是即将建成的铁路让他们彻底消失……吉姆·黑尔恐怕会永远当他的"守船人"。

A light rain was falling when Ryan first stepped into the office. His hair and shoulders were beaded with droplets as Jim looked up to see who had come in. The bell over the door rang, interrupting his work. He was busy with the log of the Adelaide, poring over times, dates, places and the figures on a manifest. His father was deeper in the office, sorting charts and accounting sheets by the light of a pair of hissing brass lamps. A pair of boots strode toward the desk and into Jim’s line of sight. Jim had just looked up, and his heart had given a peculiar skip, his voice was frozen in his throat as Jonathan Hale’s own terse voice barked out of the back shop, “Good day to you, sir. Why, I … I seem to know you.”
细雨霏霏中，瑞安第一次踏进事务所。当吉姆抬头看向来人时，他的发梢和肩头还缀着雨珠。门铃叮当作响，打断了他的工作。他正忙着核对阿德莱德号的航行日志，仔细查对着时间、日期、地点和货单上的数字。他父亲在办公室更深处，借着两盏嘶嘶作响的黄铜灯整理海图和账目。一双靴子大步走向办公桌，闯入吉姆的视线。吉姆刚抬起头，心脏就莫名漏跳一拍，喉咙像被冻住般发不出声——这时乔纳森·黑尔生硬的声音从里间传来："日安，先生。哎呀，我...我好像认识您。"
“It’s my father you know, Mr. Hale. We’re very much alike. My name is Bill Ryan.” A pause. “William Xavier Ryan.”
"您认识的是家父，黑尔先生。我们长得极像。我叫比尔·瑞安。"停顿片刻，"威廉·泽维尔·瑞安。"

The voice was like warm velvet and Jim was transfixed as a magician’s rabbit. He blinked, his face open and foolishly unguarded. Ryan was tired, a little smudged and road-muddied, and his jaw and right cheekbone were bruised. He had been traveling for some time; if Jim was any judge, he had not been eating well, and he had almost certainly been in a fight, and recently. His luck had expired and his pockets were bare. Probably too bare even for a ticket to London aboard a coaster, where he might try to sign aboard a ship with whatever rank he could connive.
那嗓音如同温暖的丝绒，吉姆像被魔术师定住的兔子般僵在原地。他眨了眨眼，脸上带着毫无防备的傻气。瑞安看起来很疲惫，身上沾着些许污渍和泥浆，下颌与右颧骨带着淤青。显然已奔波多时——以吉姆的判断，他近来饮食不周，肯定还与人打过架。好运已然耗尽，口袋里空空如也。恐怕连搭乘沿岸轮船去伦敦的船票都买不起，更遑论在船上谋个差事了。

Seamanship was the only trade Ryan knew, but it was difficult for a man who had been master of his own vessel to ever take orders from another. The story - what parts of it Ryan cared to offer - came out in fits and starts over days and weeks, but Jon Hale did not seem bothered about Ryan’s stubborn recalcitrance.
航海是瑞安唯一的手艺，但要让当过船长的人听从他人调遣谈何容易。那些支离破碎的往事——瑞安愿意吐露的部分——断断续续讲了数日，不过乔纳森·黑尔似乎并不在意他倔强的抗拒。
“I’ll be damned,” the old man chuckled. "Hal Ryan’s lad! What brings you here, Mr. Ryan - or, Lieutenant Ryan, I should rightly say!
"“真是活见鬼，”老人咯咯笑着。“哈尔·瑞安家的小子！什么风把你吹来了，瑞安先生——哦，我该称呼您瑞安中尉才对！"

At last I heard from your pater, God rest his soul, you were skippering a Naval sloop, a twenty-two gunner."
上次听你父亲说起——愿上帝安息他的灵魂——你正在指挥一艘海军单桅帆船，二十二门炮的那种。”
“Not any longer.” Bill Ryan pulled back his shoulders and looked about the office: the posture was not quite arrogant, not quite defiant, not quite battered, but something between the three. “I’m not associated with the Navy any longer, sir. A while ago it and I took separate roads and were glad to see the back of each other.” He paused and wet his lips. “In fact, I’m looking for a ship.”
"“那都是过去的事了。”比尔·瑞安挺直腰板环视着办公室：那姿态既不算傲慢，也不算挑衅，更不显得颓唐，而是介于三者之间。“我和海军已经没关系了，先生。前阵子我们分道扬镳，彼此都乐得摆脱对方。”他顿了顿，舔了舔嘴唇。“事实上，我正在找船。”"
“A command,” Hale said shrewdly.
"“想当船长，”黑尔精明地指出。"
“A command,” Ryan agreed, and Jim thought he held his breath, waiting for some ax to fall.
"‘是道命令，’瑞安表示同意，吉姆觉得他屏住了呼吸，等待着某种厄运降临。"
"Well, I’ve a ship,’ Hale mused, pulling at his whiskers, “but you’ll not be wanting to take out a collier.”
"‘嗯，我有艘船，’黑尔捻着胡须沉吟道，‘不过你肯定不想开运煤船出海。’"

Ryan’s shrewd eyes had been quartering the office and had discovered Jim now, and Jim would always swear electricity arced like lightning as they studied one another. Ryan cleared his throat. Though he spoke to Jonathan his eyes never left Jim’s expressive face. “I’m not fussy, Mr. Hale! The truth is, I’m far past the point where I can afford to be. You’ve got a collier? Then, a collier it is, sir, and you’ve my gratitude.”
瑞安精明的目光扫视着办公室，此刻发现了吉姆。吉姆后来总坚称两人对视时，有闪电般的电流划过。瑞安清了清嗓子。虽然话是对乔纳森说的，但他的目光始终没离开吉姆表情丰富的脸庞。‘我不挑剔，黑尔先生！老实说，我早就没资格挑三拣四了。您有运煤船？那就运煤船吧，先生，我感激不尽。’

The old man looked Bill Ryan up and down shrewdly. He knew at once, Ryan had said less than a hundredth part of what might be told. He was bruised, shabby, muddy, hungry. “Aye, well, I knew your father,” Jon Hale said at last, “and a better man never lived. If Hal Ryan’s boy is out of the Navy and free on the street, and if he’ll take out a collier -”
老人精明地上下打量着比尔·瑞安。他立刻明白，瑞安说的话还不到真相的百分之一。这人满身淤青，衣衫褴褛，泥泞不堪，饥肠辘辘。‘好吧，我认识你父亲，’乔纳·黑尔最终说道，‘世上再没比他更好的人了。要是哈尔·瑞安的儿子离开海军流落街头，还愿意开运煤船的话——’

Ryan stayed at Marrick Hall that night. Across the dining table his eyes lingered on Jim, dark with challenge, silently interrogating, then teasing, asking. May I? Will I be accepted or rejected if I speak? The questions were clear, honest. Will it be pleasure or trouble?
瑞安那晚留宿在马里克庄园。餐桌对面，他的目光久久停留在吉姆身上，带着挑衅的暗色，无声地审问着，继而转为撩拨与试探。可以吗？若我开口，会被接纳还是拒绝？这些问题直白而坦诚。这将是欢愉还是麻烦？

A courtship took place - a damned strange kind of courtship, Jim thought, one of wind and water, flat ale, cheese and onion sandwiches, fishing rods and muddy boots … a very masculine wooing, he decided. But a courtship it was, and it ended where all wooings should.
一场求爱仪式就此展开——吉姆心想，这真是种见鬼的古怪求爱，带着风与水的气息，掺着淡啤酒、奶酪洋葱三明治、钓竿和泥泞靴子的味道……他断定这是种极富阳刚之气的追求。但终究是场求爱，并且如所有追求应有的结局那般收场。

For the first time love was made in his own bed, and Jim was not without a thrill of genuine fear. They had kissed several times already, fondled one another surreptitiously in the privacy of Marrick Hall’s high-walled garden, and in the well of a boat off the coast, but Jim was still unsure of Ryan. If Bill had become rough and careless like the Dutch seaman, as soon as the prey was landed, Jim would have spurned him in a moment.
这是他们第一次在他自己的床上缠绵，吉姆并非没有感到真实的恐惧带来的战栗。他们已亲吻数次，在马里克庄园高墙环绕的私密花园里偷偷爱抚，也在近海小船的舱底温存过，但吉姆仍摸不透瑞安。倘若比尔像那个荷兰水手般粗暴急躁，一旦得手就原形毕露，吉姆会立刻将他踢下床去。

But carelessness was not Ryan’s way, and minutes after the door was bolted and coats cast aside, Jim Hale was in no doubts. By morning he was complacent enough to tease Ryan at the breakfast table, when Ryan was heavy eyed, still exhausted after his efforts. The truth flared
但粗枝大叶绝非瑞安的作风，门闩落下、外套褪去几分钟后，吉姆·黑尔便再无疑虑。待到清晨，他已然从容自得，甚至在早餐桌上揶揄起眼圈发青、因昨夜辛劳仍显倦怠的瑞安。真相如火焰般
between them: Jim was in love, and he never tried to mask the emotion.
他们之间：吉姆陷入了爱情，他从不掩饰这种感情。
The memories were all good, Jim decided, the first genuinely happy memories he had gathered since the death of his mother, eleven years before. Overnight, Marrick Hall had become an austere place of business, loveless and empty. Jonathan Hale was never the same man after Ellen Mary passed away, and her loss was a bitter blow to Jim. Those memories were still filled with pain, no matter the years which had sped by. Bill Ryan changed everything.
吉姆认定这些回忆都是美好的，是自他母亲十一年前去世后，他第一次真正拥有的快乐记忆。一夜之间，马里克庄园变成了一个严肃的商业场所，冷漠而空洞。埃伦·玛丽去世后，乔纳森·黑尔完全变了一个人，而她的离去对吉姆来说是个沉重的打击。无论岁月如何飞逝，那些回忆依然充满痛苦。比尔·瑞安改变了一切。

By his pocket watch it was ten minutes before ten when he stepped through the back gate, out of the wind and into a sheltered world of potted plants, early cucumbers in glass frames, honeysuckle trellis and mossy marble. Here, his mother would sit for hours with a book in her lap; and in this same place he had tasted Ryan’s mouth for the first time.
他掏出怀表看了看，差十分十点。当他穿过后门时，狂风被挡在门外，眼前是个被盆栽植物、玻璃罩里的早熟黄瓜、金银花藤架和长满青苔的大理石环绕的避风小天地。他母亲曾经常在这里捧书独坐数小时；也是在这个地方，他第一次尝到了瑞安的唇。

The thought made him smile, and when he glanced back and up at Ryan he saw the same expression. They ambled on into the house and saw Mosswell, polishing silver in the kitchen.
这个念头让他露出微笑，当他回望上方的瑞安时，发现对方脸上挂着同样的表情。他们缓步走进宅邸，看见莫斯韦尔正在厨房里擦拭银器。
“Is Captain Hutton around?” Jim wanted to know.
"‘赫顿船长在吗？’吉姆询问道。"
“Nay,” Mosswell told him. “Gone down to t’harbor, so he said.”
"‘不在，’莫斯韦尔告诉他，‘说是去码头了。’"
“At this time of day,” Jim mused, “he’s with that fancy woman of his? Damn.” He bit his lip, watching the butler’s gnarled but still deft hands. “Did he leave a message?”
"‘这个点儿，’吉姆若有所思，‘他准是去找那个花枝招展的相好了？该死。’他咬着嘴唇，望着管家那双粗糙却依然灵巧的手。‘他留话了吗？’"
"Aye, ‘e should be back before luncheon’s on t’table, ‘e said, and thee’s not to go traipsin’ after ‘im.’’
"‘留了，说午饭前准回来，还叫你别跟在后头瞎转悠。’"

Jim’s brows rose. “Not that he phrased it in quite those words!”
吉姆扬起眉毛。"他倒没用这么直白的话说！"
The butler looked sidelong at him. “Mebbe 'e didn’t, aye, but thee knows what’e meant.”
管家斜眼瞥着他。"兴许他没明说，可你晓得他话里的意思。"
“He meant,” Ryan chuckled, “he’s organized a tryst.” He caught Mosswell’s eye, winked and tapped the side of his nose. “She’s about five-foot-four, with fiery red hair, skin like milk, freckles, and … I imagine, all the virtues a man could ask for in any woman.”
"他的意思是，"瑞安笑着道，"他安排了场幽会。"他朝莫斯韦尔使了个眼色，轻点自己鼻翼。"那姑娘约莫五尺四寸高，火红头发，肌肤如雪，带着雀斑，而且......我猜，具备男人对女人所求的一切优点。"

The butler cackled like an old crone. “That’d be Mick 'utton, right enough, out with a lass.”
管家发出老巫婆般的尖笑。"那准是米克·赫顿没错，正跟姑娘约会呢。"
“He’ll be back,” Ryan said easily to Jim. “Why don’t you pack and organize us some luncheon? We’ll be eating on the roadside.” He looked over at the butler. “Business in Whitby Mr. Mosswell. We’re hoping Captain Hutton will guard the fort, since Jim’s planning on riding along for exercise. We don’t expect to be back before morning.”
“他会回来的，”瑞安轻松地对吉姆说，“你何不收拾些午餐？我们得在路上吃。”他看向管家，“莫斯韦尔先生，我们要去惠特比办点事。希望赫顿上尉能留守宅邸，毕竟吉姆打算骑马同行锻炼身体。我们估计明早才能回来。”
“Do thee a power of good to git out o’ t’house,” Mosswell said wisely, studying Jim as if he were still ten years old. “I’ll get Annie in 'ere, about luncheon for thee.”
“出去透透气对你大有好处，”莫斯韦尔睿智地说道，打量吉姆的眼神仿佛他还是个十岁孩童，“我这就叫安妮来给你准备午餐。”
“And I,” Ryan said quickly, before Jim could protest, “have an errand to run.”
“而我，”瑞安抢在吉姆反对前迅速说道，“还有些差事要办。”
“You’re going out?” Jim was surprised.
“你要出门？”吉姆很是惊讶。
“Briefly. I’ll be back,” Ryan promised, “before the horses are ready.” While Mosswell’s back was turned he touched Jim’s face with
“很快。我会回来的，”瑞安承诺道，“在马匹备好之前。”趁莫斯韦尔转身之际，他用手轻抚了吉姆的脸颊
a brief caress, and just as the lovelorn Annie appeared he was out through the door, leaving Jim annoyed, with no way to vent the aggravation.
短暂爱抚后，正当为情所困的安妮出现时，他已夺门而出，留下吉姆满心恼火却无处发泄。

The Black Bull.  黑公牛酒馆。
Phineas Cranmer had known exactly where Moses Wallach could be found. Jim’s fists tightened in anger and his feet itched to take off in Ryan’s wake, but if Ryan wanted to confront the man alone, he doubtlessly had his reasons, and knowing Bill they would be good ones. To be sure, Wallach would expect to be tracked down and confronted any day now. Perhaps Ryan could rein in his temper for long enough to turn the confrontation to his advantage. Jim suspected his own anger would get the better of him if he came face to face with the man who had deliberately attempted to murder Ryan.
菲尼亚斯·克兰默早就清楚摩西·沃拉赫的藏身之处。吉姆愤怒地攥紧拳头，双脚发痒想追随瑞安而去，但若瑞安想独自面对那人，必然有其道理——以比尔的作风来看，这些理由肯定站得住脚。沃拉赫想必也预料到近日会有人找上门来算账。或许瑞安能暂时按捺住脾气，将这场对峙转化为优势。吉姆暗自怀疑，若真面对那个蓄意谋杀瑞安的家伙，自己的怒火恐怕会彻底失控。

Still fuming, he took the stairs two at a time. From his window he could see the roof of The Black Bull, where a finger of wood smoke curled southwest from the chimney and the red shingles were still ravaged by the storm and in need of repairs.
他仍怒气冲冲，一步两阶地奔上楼梯。从窗口能望见黑公牛酒馆的屋顶，一缕木柴炊烟从烟囱向西南方袅袅飘去，那些红色木瓦仍被暴风雨摧残得支离破碎，亟待修缮。

Someone was drunk already - or, more likely given the early hour, still overcome after revels in the small hours of the morning. The shutters were cracked open and the chimney issued fresh smoke. Two voices were bawling an old shanty as Ryan swung down the narrow street to the door. He stopped under the swinging sign, with its painting of the head of a bull with magnificent horns, to listen:
有人已经喝得烂醉——更可能的是，考虑到天色尚早，应是彻夜狂欢后仍未清醒。百叶窗半开着，烟囱冒着新生的炊烟。当瑞安拐进这条窄街走向酒馆大门时，两个粗犷的嗓音正吼着首古老的水手歌谣。他在那块绘有雄壮犄角公牛头的摇晃招牌下驻足倾听：
'There once was a young farmer, in Gloucester did dwell,
"曾有个年轻农夫，住在格洛斯特郡
'To be a-way-ay-way-ay-o!
走嘞——走嘞——走嘞——哦！
'He had a young wife and he wished her in hell,
他有个年轻妻子，却盼她下地狱，
'Oh-ho, a long time ago-ho!
噢嗬，那是很久以前的事啰——嗬！
‘Oh, she led the horse while he steered the plow -’
‘噢，她牵着马儿他扶犁——’
Ryan ducked in under the tavern’s sign and waited till his eyes grew accustomed to a sudden dimness smelling of hops and baking pastry and the acrid tang of wood smoke. Toby Deering, the stout, redfaced landlord of The Black Bull, was stoking the hearth in the taproom for the benefit of a group of Flemish sailors who had just sat down to eat. He nodded good day to Ryan, but Ryan was intent on the patrons.
瑞安弯腰躲过酒馆招牌走进门内，等待双眼逐渐适应这突如其来的昏暗——空气中飘荡着啤酒花、烘焙点心的香气，还夹杂着木柴燃烧的刺鼻烟味。黑公牛酒馆那位面色红润的胖老板托比·迪林正在为刚入座用餐的一群佛兰芒水手拨弄壁炉里的炭火。他向瑞安点头问好，但瑞安的目光始终紧盯着店里的顾客们。

The raucous singing had stopped as he entered, and two fishermen subsided in an untidy heap by the hearth. The Flemish seamen peered curiously at the newcomer, looked him over and promptly dismissed
他进门时喧闹的歌声戛然而止，两名渔夫歪歪斜斜地瘫在壁炉旁。佛兰芒水手们好奇地打量着这位新来者，上下扫视几眼后便断定他不过是个本地人，很快失去了兴趣。
him as just another local. For some moments Ryan stood motionless, framed in the doorway, nostrils filled with the rich scents of beer, steak and kidney pie, stewing apples and the fresh mussels boiling in an iron pot on the side of the hearth.
瑞安在门框里静静伫立了片刻，鼻腔里充斥着啤酒、牛排腰子派、炖苹果的浓郁香气，还有壁炉边铁锅里正煮着的青口贝散发出的鲜味。

And there, right across the bar in the dim, smoky chimney corner, hands folded about a tankard, Moses Wallach had either not yet seen him, or was trying to pretend he had not. Ryan watched the man for some moments, missing nothing about him. Wallach looked older, he thought with a faint surprise; but then, time was passing for them all. The ‘Canary incident’ was years in the past now. Moses still wore the gold earrings; his nose was broken, squashed over to the right after a fist fight on a wharf in Trondheim, if Ryan’s memory could be trusted. Today he wore a brown coat with too-short sleeves, trousers with patches in the knees, seaman’s boots, a cloth cap, and his lank hair could not have been barbered in six months. Wallach did not cut a very appealing figure, Ryan decided. And the closer one came, the more his nose would confirm the impression.
而在烟雾缭绕的昏暗壁炉角落，摩西·沃拉赫正双手捧着啤酒杯坐在吧台对面——要么是还没看见他，要么就是在假装没看见。瑞安仔细观察着这个男人，没有漏掉任何细节。他略带惊讶地发现沃拉赫看起来苍老了许多，不过转念一想，时间对他们所有人都一样无情。"金丝雀号事件"已是多年前的旧事了。摩西仍戴着那对金耳环；他的鼻梁歪向右侧——如果瑞安记忆没错的话，那是在特隆赫姆码头一场斗殴中留下的伤。此刻他穿着袖长过短的棕色外套、膝盖打着补丁的裤子、水手靴，戴着布帽，枯黄的头发看起来至少有半年没修剪过。瑞安断定沃拉赫这副尊容实在谈不上体面，而越靠近他，那股气味就越发证实这个判断。

Silent on his feet as always, Ryan stepped into the taproom. Still Wallach did not look up, and now Ryan knew the man was being deliberately evasive. Not even when Ryan strode right up to his chair in the corner did Wallach lift his head. Nor did he take a drink, though a full tankard was poised halfway to his mouth
瑞安像往常一样悄无声息地踏进酒馆。沃拉赫依然没有抬头，此刻瑞安确信对方是存心躲避。即便当瑞安径直走到角落他那把椅子跟前，沃拉赫也没有抬起脸来。他甚至连酒都没喝一口，虽然满满一锡杯酒就悬在他嘴边
“We meet again, Moses,” Ryan said quietly. “I’m surprised to find you here. You’ll be wanting a ship, won’t you?”
"我们又见面了，摩西，"瑞安轻声说道，"真意外在这儿遇见你。你想要艘船，是不是？"

Wallach fidgeted. “I got nothin’ to say to you, Captain God-almighty Will Ryan. You’re not in the Queen’s Navy no more, and you got no right to tell me what to do and when. Sod off, and be damned to you.”
沃拉赫坐立不安。"我跟你没啥好说的，万能上帝威廉·瑞安船长。你现在不是女王的海军了，没权对我指手画脚。滚远点，见你的鬼去吧。"

Ryan pulled up a three-legged stool. “I might have a few words to say to you. I believe I owe you a lump on the head.” He fingered his skull gingerly. “That makes three times.”
瑞安拖过一张三脚凳。"我倒是有几句话要跟你说。我想我该在你脑袋上留个包。"他小心翼翼地摸了摸自己的头骨，"这都第三回了。"
“Three times what?” Wallach’s blue eyes flickered nervously.
“三倍什么？”沃拉赫的蓝眼睛紧张地闪动着。
“That you’ve either threatened to do me physical harm, or tried to deliver on the promise,” Ryan said conversationally. “Take a friendly word of warning, Moses. You won’t be so lucky a fourth time. My word on it.”
“要么你威胁要伤害我，要么你试图兑现这个威胁，”瑞安用闲聊般的语气说道，“听句忠告吧，摩西。第四次你可没这么走运了。我说话算话。”
“Lucky?” Wallach swallowed a draught of ale. It seemed to go down the wrong pipe and he coughed harshly. “Like I were lucky the first time? Fuck you, Ryan, I swore I’d see you in hell.”
“走运？”沃拉赫灌下一口啤酒，似乎呛到了气管，剧烈咳嗽起来。“就像我第一次走运那样？去你的，瑞安，我发誓要在地狱里见到你。”
“You were in irons,” Ryan said icily. “Men died when your gun blew up, and you were responsible. You were captain of that gun, and God help you, you were drunk!”
“当时你戴着镣铐，”瑞安冷冰冰地说，“你的枪炸膛时死了人，你要负责。你是那支枪的队长，老天作证，你当时喝醉了！”
“I were sober as any bloody judge,” Wallach snarled. “The gun were broke, like I said on the day. It were none of my fault.” He hunched over in the chair, working his shoulders about. “Seventy-five
"‘我当时清醒得跟法官老爷没两样，’沃拉赫咆哮道，‘那枪本来就是坏的，我那天就说过了。根本不是我的错。’他在椅子上弓着背，肩膀不停耸动，‘七十五"
lashes. Jesus Christ!” His voice rose to a shout. “You think a man’s ever going to forget?”
鞭。老天爷啊！’他突然提高嗓门吼起来，‘你觉得一个人能忘得了这种事？’
“I think a man might be wiser to remember, and remind himself it could have been a rope,” Ryan said acidly. “In the hearing of others you threatened to kill me.”
"‘我倒觉得记住教训对聪明人更有好处，’瑞安尖刻地说，‘最好时刻提醒自己，没被绞死已经算走运。你当着别人的面威胁要杀我。’"
“Others?” Wallach spat onto the floor. “Joel Tremayne.”
"‘别人？’沃拉赫朝地上啐了一口，‘乔尔·特里梅因算哪门子证人。’"
“Tremayne.” Ryan stood abruptly and looked down at the top of Wallach’s threadbare cap. “He was a commissioned officer, he had his duty, and he did it. No more, no less. And on the Mascot you tried your hand again.”
"‘特里梅因。’瑞安突然站起身，俯视着沃拉赫那顶磨破的帽子顶。‘他是受委任的军官，恪尽职守，仅此而已。在吉祥物号上你又故技重施。’"
“I dunno what you’re on about, sod you,” Wallach muttered.
"‘不知道你在胡扯什么，去你的。’沃拉赫嘟囔道。"
Ryan laughed, a sound devoid of humor. “You think I didn’t see you? What, am I blind? Oh, I saw you, Moses. With a crew comprised of animals like yourself, every officer learns to grow eyes in the back of his head. It’s the only way to stay alive. The Canary was full of men just like you.” He took a breath, sizing the man up, and decided to force his hand. “Since when are you working for Nathan Kerr?”
瑞安发出毫无笑意的干笑。‘你以为我没看见？怎么，我眼瞎吗？噢，我可瞧见你了，摩西。带着你们这群畜生组成的船员，每个军官后脑勺都得长眼睛。这是保命的唯一法子。金丝雀号上全是你们这号人。’他深吸一口气打量着对方，决定逼他摊牌。‘你从什么时候开始替内森·克尔卖命了？’

Not a flicker crossed Wallach’s disagreeable face; the man just glared at him. “What’s it to you, Ryan, who I work for? It’s not your business.”
沃拉赫那张讨人嫌的脸上纹丝不动，只是恶狠狠地瞪着他。‘我为谁干活关你屁事，瑞安？轮不到你管。’

There it was: not a denial. Ryan’s heart double-thudded. He stepped away, turned back and fixed Wallach with a piercing glare. “You know, you’re right. Work for whomever you like. But think about this. I know you, Moses. I know where you are, and I know what you are. Listen, now. I’m going to make it so simple, even you can grasp the order. Stay out of my way. Understand?”
事实摆在眼前：这不是否认。瑞安的心重重跳了两下。他后退一步，又转回身来，用锐利的目光盯住沃拉赫。"听着，你说得对。爱给谁卖命随你便。但好好想想——我了解你，摩西。我知道你在哪，更清楚你的底细。现在给我听好了，我会把命令说得简单到连你都能听懂：别挡我的路。明白吗？"
“Well now, you can just nip off and fuck yourself,” Wallach told him genially. “I don’t take no orders from you, Ryan. Not no more.”
"哟呵，那你赶紧滚蛋自个儿快活去吧，"沃拉赫和和气气地回道，"老子可不听你使唤了，瑞安。早他妈不是当年啦。"

But the truth was in his eyes: something wary, something smoldering, like a banked-down fire. Ryan cursed silently but fluently as he stepped back from the man. In many ways Wallach would be more dangerous this way, yet Ryan possessed no scrap of evidence he could take to a constable, and without proof, even if it was only proof of common assault aboard the ship, he was wasting his time. Oh, Wallach understood. Though he was saying no more now, mutiny was written all over his face. It would come to trouble, Ryan thought. As his father had liked to say, God rest him, ‘It’ll get worse before it gets better.’
但他眼底藏着真相：警惕闪烁，暗火翻涌，像被压制的炭火。瑞安边后退边在心里流畅地咒骂。这样的沃拉赫反而更危险，可他又拿不出能交给警长的证据。没有实证——哪怕只是船上普通斗殴的证明——都是在白费功夫。沃拉赫当然心知肚明。此刻虽闭口不言，兵变二字却明明白白写在脸上。准要出乱子，瑞安想。正如父亲生前爱说的那句话——愿他安息——"好转之前总会先恶化"。

Landlord Toby Deering was watching, listening, and he was never far from the bar. Every drinking man in the harbor knew that behind the counter he kept an old blunderbuss, more than a century old but still capable of blowing the legs off a man. Toby had known Ryan for a year and more, and would grant him the benefit of the doubt, but the scene could come to blood in a second, and Ryan caught his temper in a tight grip.
房东托比·迪林正冷眼旁观，他向来不离吧台太远。码头每个酒客都知道柜台后藏着把老式大口径短枪，虽已百岁高龄，仍能轰断人腿。托比认识瑞安一年多，尚愿给他留些情面，但场面瞬息就能见血。瑞安死死攥住了自己的暴脾气。

He gave the landlord a nod, raised a hand, palm-out, and Deering
他向酒馆老板点头致意，抬起手掌向外摊开，迪林
visibly relaxed. As Wallach buried his nose in his tankard Ryan left The Black Bull and turned back up the steep street. Halfway up, feeling the stress of hard work in his legs, he paused and looked back. The bright April sun glittered on the harbor waters, almost blinding him, but he saw the unmistakable shape of Moses Wallach standing at the corner of the public house. His tankard was in one big fist while the other hand was in his pocket. Ryan wondered fleetingly if Wallach’s favorite revolver - he was famous for the weapon in Cornwall, he flaunted it was in the pocket, and his spine prickled.
明显放松下来。当沃拉赫把脸埋进啤酒杯时，瑞安离开了黑公牛酒馆，转身走上陡峭的街道。行至半途，他感到双腿因繁重劳作而酸痛，便停下脚步回望。四月的艳阳在海港水面上闪烁，几乎晃花了他的眼睛，但他仍清晰辨认出摩西·沃拉赫站在酒馆拐角的身影。那人一只大手握着酒杯，另一只手插在口袋里。瑞安突然闪过一个念头——沃拉赫最爱的左轮手枪（这人在康沃尔郡以炫耀此枪闻名）是否正藏在那只口袋里，这个想法让他脊背发凉。

In the last minutes of the Mascot’s life, only the presence of other passengers, who would certainly have heard a gun shot, prevented Wallach from putting a bullet in him. Jim would have pulled a dead body out of the wreck. How many people had Wallach murdered, either deliberately or indirectly? Passengers and crew often died when a ship ran aground. On the east coast wreckers were scourge enough; in the westcountry they were a plague.
在吉祥物号沉没前的最后时刻，若非有其他乘客在场（枪声必定会被听见），沃拉赫早已将子弹射进他的身体。吉姆本会从残骸中拖出一具尸体。沃拉赫究竟直接或间接害死了多少人？船只失事时，乘客与船员往往难逃一死。东海岸的沉船掠夺者已够猖獗，而在西部乡村，他们简直如同瘟疫。

Even now Wallach was watching him, but Ryan was not alone on the street. A gaggle of ladies’ maids were headed down to the harbor and two fishwives were making their way up with covered baskets which smelt of herrings.
即便此刻，沃拉赫仍在监视着他，但瑞安并非孤身一人。一群侍女正朝港口方向走去，两名鱼妇挎着散发鲱鱼腥味的盖篮往坡上爬。

Skin still crawling, Ryan turned his back on the Black Bull and strode on, up to the clifftop path. He turned left toward Marrick Hall but deliberately did not hurry. If Wallach wanted to catch up, Ryan would be quite content to have it out, have it all finished in broad daylight. But no footsteps gained on him and Ryan made his way with a quick, heavy tread betraying his mood.
瑞安仍觉皮肤发麻，他背对黑公牛酒馆大步前行，沿着悬崖小径向上走去。他左转朝马里克庄园方向行进，却刻意不加快步伐。若沃拉赫想追上来，他倒很乐意在光天化日下做个了断。但身后始终没有脚步声逼近，瑞安迈着沉重急促的步伐，每一步都泄露着他此刻的心绪。

The curtains twitched aside at a third floor window as he opened the gate, and Jim’s face appeared. Ryan lifted his hand to wave, but an instant he later glimpsed another face at another window on the floor below. The old man missed little. Ryan nodded to Jon Hale and was in the house a moment later.
当他推开铁门时，三楼某扇窗的窗帘倏然掀动，吉姆的脸出现在窗口。瑞安抬手正要打招呼，却瞥见下方楼层另一扇窗前闪过另一张面孔。那老人向来明察秋毫。瑞安朝乔恩·黑尔点头致意，随即闪身进入宅邸。

It was a quarter before eleven and Mosswell had apparently been asked to put brunch on the table. Salmon, eggs, cheese and scones were already set out as Ryan took the stairs. Jim’s door stood open and Ryan looked in to find him already dressed, in a jacket and loose trousers that favored a saddle between the knees.
十点三刻的光景，莫斯韦尔显然已奉命将早午餐摆上餐桌。瑞安上楼时，鲑鱼、鸡蛋、奶酪和司康饼早已备好。吉姆的房门敞开着，瑞安探头望去，见他已穿戴整齐——那件外套和宽松马裤的装束，分明是为骑马准备的。

His expression was dark, unsmiling, and Ryan’s words of greeting died on his lips. “You went to find Wallach,” Jim said quietly, without preamble, as he stuffed a change of underwear and stockings into a calico bag.
对方面色阴沉，毫无笑意，瑞安到嘴边的问候又咽了回去。"你去找沃拉赫了。"吉姆突然开口，声音很轻，手上正把换洗衣袜塞进印花棉布袋里。

Ryan closed the door discreetly and leaned both shoulders on it. “Of course I did. If I hadn’t, Wallach would only be more suspicious.”
瑞安轻手轻脚地关上门，将双肩抵在门板上。"我当然这么做了。要是不这样，沃拉赫只会更加起疑。"
“I … know.” Jim shoved a shirt into the bag, followed it with his shaving tackle and a couple of clean collars. “But, goddamn it, Bill, the man is armed. He has a revolver.”
"我...知道。"吉姆把一件衬衫塞进包里，又塞进剃须用具和几件干净领饰。"可是天杀的，比尔，那人带着枪。他有把左轮手枪。"
“He’s also not likely to take a potshot at me in a public street,” Ryan scoffed. “Wallach has no desire to dance to a hangman’s tune, sweetheart. He’s a wrecker and a murderer, not a madman.”
"他也不太可能在大街上对我放冷枪，"瑞安嗤笑道。"亲爱的，沃拉赫可不想跟绞刑架打交道。他是个沉船打捞者兼杀人犯，但不是疯子。"
“I know that too.” Jim sighed, closed the bag and dropped it to the floor at his feet. “Permit me the small liberty of worrying about you. If I didn’t love you, perhaps I’d care a lot less about what became of you.”
"这我也知道。"吉姆叹了口气，合上提包扔在脚边。"就让我稍微担心下你吧。如果我不爱你，或许根本不会在意你的死活。"

He sounded so thoroughly disgruntled, Ryan had to smile. He stepped forward, caught Jim’s smooth face between his hands and brushed the full mouth with the pads of his thumbs. “You love me?” Eyelashes lowered. “Don’t be ashamed of loving me, and certainly not of admitting it,” Ryan said quietly. “A time will come, I swear to you - perhaps not in our lifetimes, but it will come! - when men will be able to confess their feelings without fear. Perhaps even marry and own property together.”
瑞安被他那副气鼓鼓的模样逗笑了。他上前捧住吉姆光滑的脸庞，用拇指指腹轻抚过那饱满的唇瓣。"你爱我吗？"吉姆垂落眼睫。"别为爱我感到羞耻，更不必羞于承认，"瑞安轻声说，"我向你发誓，终有一天——也许不在我们活着的时候，但那天终会到来！——人们将能毫无畏惧地倾诉衷肠。说不定还能结婚，共同拥有财产。"
“You believe all that?” Jim’s arms wound loosely about Ryan’s waist, and he sounded doubtful.
"你真信这些？"吉姆的手臂松松环住瑞安的腰，语气里透着怀疑。
“I do. I know it sounds like twaddle. Bilgewater. But times change, Jim. They do change.” Ryan leaned forward and kissed him lightly. “It’ll not come to pass in your lifetime or mine, I should think, but I’m certain it will happen.”
"我信。我知道这听起来像痴人说梦。但时代在变，吉姆，真的在变。"瑞安倾身轻吻他，"我想你我此生是等不到了，但我确信那天终会来临。"

Jim’s lips parted, his tongue flickered and the kiss was deeper, harder. The ring of a gong in the hall below separated them, and Jim sucked ruefully at lips which were a little swollen.
吉姆的唇瓣微启，舌尖轻探，这个吻变得更深更重。楼下大厅突然响起的锣声分开了他们，吉姆懊恼地吮了吮有些红肿的嘴唇。
“I asked Mosswell for brunch before we fled,” he said huskily. “And you’re not dressed yet.”
“我们逃跑前我约了莫斯韦尔吃早午餐，”他声音沙哑地说，“可你到现在还没换好衣服。”
“Oh, I’m quite naked,” Ryan agreed with a fatuous glance at his clothes.
“噢，我可是一丝不挂呢，”瑞安傻笑着瞥了眼自己的衣服表示赞同。
“Dressed for riding, Bill Ryan, you know exactly what I mean,” Jim corrected patiently. “I also asked Malcolm to fetch the horses.”
“比尔·瑞安，我说的是骑装，你心知肚明，”吉姆耐心地纠正道，“我还让马尔科姆去牵马了。”
“I haven’t forgotten. Then, let me change into more suitable uniform … after we eat.” Ryan palmed Jim’s buttocks, dealt them a companionable squeeze and then gave him a solid shove through the door.
“我没忘。那么，让我先换上更合适的制服……等吃完再说。”瑞安用手掌抚过吉姆的臀部，熟稔地捏了一把，然后用力把他推出了门。

He found himself looking forward to the ride. Whitby lay twenty miles north, past the rocks at Scalby Ness where the Mascot had gone down, and on past Ravenscar and Robin Hood’s Bay. The path followed the cliffs and was pleasant, cool, with the sea wind in a man’s face every mile. The sandy beaches which graced Scarborough’s two bays ran into the ramparts of those cliffs, and the next beach was on the north side of Whitby. The moors were strangely, eerily beautiful at any time of year, but in April they were a green ocean, dark with the deep troughs of valleys and dales. With the noise and bustle of Scarborough and Scalby left behind, the world was silent save for gulls and the sea, the way Ryan liked it.
他发现自己竟期待着这段旅程。惠特比位于北方二十英里处，要经过吉祥物号沉没的斯卡尔比岬礁石群，再越过雷文斯卡尔与罗宾汉湾。小道沿着悬崖蜿蜒，海风扑面，清凉宜人。斯卡伯勒两处海湾的细沙滩与悬崖峭壁相接，下一处海滩则在惠特比北侧。这片荒原无论何时都透着诡异的凄美，而四月的荒原则像一片绿色海洋，幽深的山谷沟壑使其显得格外暗沉。将斯卡伯勒与斯卡尔比的喧嚣抛在身后，天地间只剩海鸥鸣叫与海浪声——这正是瑞安钟爱的宁静。

Fourteen months ago he had tried his luck in Whitby before coming to Scarborough, and his memories of the place were not so fond.
十四个月前他在来到斯卡伯勒前曾去惠特比碰过运气，对那儿的回忆并不愉快。

People and boats had seemed to huddle in a cold, gray drizzle through which the long-ruined Norman Abbey looked down on the old whaling town. The great days of the whaling fleet were a century in the past, but the trade still went on. Ryan regarded it as the arse-end of the mariner’s world, butchery under sail. The work was hardly honorable for a seaman. One might as well labor in the pig market. Yet Whitby was one of the east coast’s oldest ports, and it was beautiful when the whalers were at sea and the wind had scoured away the stink of rendering, or ‘trying.’
记忆中，船只与人群瑟缩在阴冷的蒙蒙细雨里，早已倾颓的诺曼修道院俯瞰着这座古老的捕鲸小镇。捕鲸船队的辉煌时代已过去百年，但这行当仍在继续。瑞安视其为航海世界的肮脏勾当——风帆下的屠宰场。对水手而言这绝非体面活计，倒不如去生猪市场干活。不过惠特比毕竟是东海岸最古老的港口之一，当捕鲸船出海、海风涤净熬鲸油的腥臭时，倒也显出几分美丽。

It was months since Jim had been given a chance to escape from his work. Winter was long and harsh but the storms and mountainous seas at least delayed and canceled many voyages, keeping Ryan in port more often than he could hope to be at home in summer. With a private smile, Ryan raised a glass of wine in silent toast across the table as Jim help- ed himself to cheese and scones. Glass chinked as rims touched but nothing was said: the servants were just outside the door. The danger of discovery was very real.
吉姆已有数月未得闲逃离工作了。冬季漫长严酷，但暴风雨与滔天巨浪至少延误或取消了许多航程，让瑞安比夏日里更常待在港口——这比他指望能回家的次数还多。瑞安嘴角噙着私密的微笑，举杯向餐桌对面的吉姆无声致意，后者正自顾切着奶酪与司康饼。杯沿相碰发出轻响，但无人言语——仆人们就在门外。被发现的危险真实存在。

A few minutes after eleven, when Ryan and Mosswell were carrying down the bags hastily packed for a night away, the bell at the gate rang to announce Malcolm with the horses. Ryan saw Jim’s shape disappearing through the scullery, and with a smile indulged himself in reminiscence. The high walls broke the ruthless sea wind and the corner by the gate, under the trellis, made a perfect arbor. Someone had built a kind of folly - a trysting place, he supposed. Few men would have thought of it, and only a woman would have actually built it. The arbor was hidden from the house windows by the cucumber frames and the pear tree, concealed from the gate by the toolshed, and it was both sheltered from the wind year-round, and trapped the sun in winter.
十一点刚过几分，当瑞安和莫斯韦尔正匆忙提着收拾好的过夜行李下楼时，门铃响起，宣告马尔科姆带着马匹到了。瑞安看见吉姆的身影穿过备餐室消失不见，不禁微笑着陷入回忆。高墙阻隔了凛冽的海风，大门旁葡萄架下的角落形成个完美的凉亭。有人在此建了座颇具情趣的建筑——想必是个幽会之所。鲜少有人会想到这个主意，而真正付诸实践的恐怕只有女子。这凉亭被黄瓜架和梨树遮挡着从宅邸窗户看不见，又被工具棚掩蔽着从大门望不着，不仅全年避风，冬日里还能留住阳光。

The folly was the work of Ellen Mary Hale, and though Bill Ryan knew little else about the woman he felt a debt of gratitude. No one else in this loveless, lightless house could have been responsible for nurturing in Jim the qualities Ryan had seen in an instant, and begun to love in a day. Surely Jonathan would have preferred to choke the spirit out of him and leave behind a husk.
这座情趣建筑出自埃伦·玛丽·黑尔之手，尽管比尔·瑞安对这女子知之甚少，却心怀感激。在这座没有温情、不见天日的宅邸里，再没有别人能培育出吉姆身上那些让瑞安一眼就察觉、一日便倾心的品质。若是乔纳森当家，定会扼杀他的灵性，只留具空壳。
“Bill, I have the horses!” Jim’s voice yelled up from the gate.
"比尔，马备好了！"吉姆的声音从大门口传来。
Dutifully, Ryan picked up a bag in either hand and nodded good day to the butler. “Thee’ll be back tomorrow?” Mosswell asked as he returned to his work.
瑞安顺从地两手各提起一件行李，向管家点头道别。"您明天回来吧？"莫斯韦尔边问边继续忙活手头的活儿。
“In the afternoon, unless the weather breaks,” Ryan called back over his shoulder. “A little later, if we decide to sit out the rain and come home dry. There’s an Eastcoast ship in Whitby tomorrow. If we’ll be late, we’ll send a message.”
"‘下午就回，除非天气突变，’瑞安扭头喊道，‘要是遇雨耽搁，就晚些回来，好歹能保个干爽身子。明天惠特比港有艘东海岸的船要来。若我们迟归，会捎个信儿。’"

The smack Rosalynd would make it into Whitby on the morning slack tide, as Jim had known without even a glance at the shipping
正如吉姆不用看航运表也知道的那样，"罗莎琳德"号小帆船将趁着早潮驶入惠特比港。
schedule. A cable had arrived from Aberdeen; she was heavy under a cargo of hardware, and carrying mail from the Orkneys.
阿伯丁发来的电报说，这艘船满载五金货物，还捎带着奥克尼群岛的邮件。

The horses were saddled, hitched by the gate, and their noses were in the long grass at the foot of the wall. Ryan had ridden the black mare only once, and since Jim was already in the saddle of the long-legged dun called Blondin, he was left no particular choice. Bess was the more spirited of the two, and also the stronger; Blondin was simply bad tempered and headstrong, the kind of animal who would bite if he could get away with it, and needed a firm hand. Hutton hated him, but Jim had an odd respect for Blondin. The gelding was rebellious, defiant, and Jim recognized a kindred spirit.
马匹已备好鞍辔，拴在门边，正低头啃食墙根下的长草。瑞安只骑过那匹黑母马一次，既然吉姆已经跨上了那匹名叫布隆丹的长腿灰马，他自然别无选择。贝丝是两匹马中更活泼强壮的那匹；布隆丹则纯粹脾气暴躁又任性，是那种逮着机会就会咬人、需要严加管束的畜生。赫顿讨厌它，但吉姆对布隆丹却怀有种奇特的敬意。这匹阉马桀骜不驯，吉姆在它身上看到了同类的气息。

With his bag tied up aft of Bess’s saddle, Ryan put boot to stirrup and hauled himself aboard with all the grace of one who rode once a year at most. He found his balance as he gathered the reins, and Bess shifted under him. Malcolm was sauntering along the cliff trail toward town, and Jim had already wrestled Blondin around toward the north trail.
瑞安将行囊系在贝丝马鞍后部，踩着马镫翻身上马，那笨拙姿态活像一年顶多骑一次马的人。他拽紧缰绳稳住身形，身下的贝丝不安地挪动着。马尔科姆正沿着悬崖小道朝镇子方向闲逛，吉姆则已拽着布隆丁转向北边的小道。

A quick glance around the horizon showed a sky clear of gray, though dense white masses, like a mountain range, were coming in. If Ryan knew anything about the sky and ocean, the gray would be hanging on the coattails of the white.
瑞安环顾天际，只见晴空万里不见灰云，但如山脉般厚重的白色云团正压境而来。若说他对海天气象还有几分了解，那些灰云定会紧随着白云接踵而至。

Jim was looking at the same clouds. “We’ll get to Whitby dry at least,” he was saying. “But I think we’ll ride home in the rain. And your man, Tremayne, will be back in Glasgow tomorrow, I’d say.” He paused. “You’re putting a lot of faith in him.”
吉姆望着同样的云团说道："至少咱们能赶在雨前抵达惠特比。不过我看回程得淋雨了。"他顿了顿，"你那位特里梅因先生——我估摸明天就能回到格拉斯哥。你对他倒是信任得很。"
“You won’t find a better man if you search the crews of every vessel between here and Boston.”
"就算你把这儿到波士顿所有船上的水手都搜罗个遍，也找不出比他更靠谱的人了。"
“You’re very sure.” Jim was not arguing, merely stating the observation. He turned his face to the sun. “You served with him a long time?”
"你倒是很确定。"吉姆并非争辩，只是陈述这个观察。他将脸转向阳光。"你和他共事很久了？"
“It’s not the time, it’s the danger shared,” Ryan said cryptically, and as Jim opened his mouth to question, he waggled one long forefinger to stop him. “I’ll say no more, Jim. You know me well enough by now.”
"重要的不是时间长短，而是共同经历的危险，"瑞安语带玄机地说道。当吉姆张嘴想要追问时，他竖起修长的食指制止了他。"别多问了，吉姆。到现在你该了解我的脾气。"
“I do,” Jim said ruefully. “Damn you, Ryan, you do love to keep your secrets. You’d better be right. If Tremayne’s wrong in the man he sends us -”
"确实了解，"吉姆懊恼地说。"见鬼，瑞安，你就爱守着那些秘密。你最好是对的。要是特里梅因派来的人选有问题——"
“He won’t be.”  "不会的。"
“- we could be looking down the business end of Moses Wallach’s pistol,” Jim finished.
"‘——我们可能正对着摩西·沃拉赫的枪口呢，’吉姆说完。"
“Trust me, if you can’t trust Tremayne,” Ryan said in affable tones. “I’ve served with him. I know him. Leave it at that.”
"‘相信我，要是连特里梅因都信不过，’瑞安用亲切的口吻说道，‘我和他共事过。我了解他。就说到这儿吧。’"
“He was your lover,” Jim mused.
"‘他曾是你的情人，’吉姆若有所思地说。"
“For a while.” Ryan looked sidelong at him, eyes narrowed against the glare of the noon sun. “It was years ago. Do I trouble you, do I even ask you, who warmed your sheets before me?”
"‘有过那么一段。’瑞安斜睨着他，正午的阳光下眯起了眼睛，‘那是多年前的事了。我可没让你烦心，甚至都没问过，在我之前是谁躺在你床上？’"
“No,” Jim admitted. “And I’m not asking about him,” he added quickly. “It’s just …”
“不，”吉姆承认道。“我也不是在问他，”他急忙补充，“只是……”

He said no more, but Ryan puzzled it out a moment later and laughed out loud. “You’re not thinking about me and Joel, are you? You’re thinking about an old seawolf laying hot, lascivious eyes on you, and dragging you off to a bedchamber.” He threw back his head and laughed.
他没再往下说，但瑞安稍加思索便恍然大悟，放声大笑起来。“你该不会是在想我和乔尔的事吧？你是在担心某个老海狼用饥渴的眼神盯着你，把你拖进卧房。”他仰头大笑。

Jim’s face darkened. “Is it so funny? You think it’s so amusing, that another man might find me attractive?”
吉姆脸色一沉。“这很好笑吗？你觉得别的男人对我有非分之想很滑稽？”

Ryan wiped the smile off his face and shook his head. “Not at all. What’s amusing is that you think I’d let him do it, and not give him a black eye and a bloody nose.”
瑞安敛起笑容摇了摇头。“完全不是。好笑的是你以为我会放任他那么做，而不是揍得他鼻青脸肿。”
“I - oh.” Jim had the grace to flush a little, and turned his face away. “Is he still …?”
“我——哦。”吉姆有些窘迫地红了脸，别过脸去。“他还...？”
“A man with an eye for a good-looking lad?” Ryan nodded. “When you get the taste for lads, it’s not likely to change. Though,” he added thoughtfully, “there’s a lot of men fancy both.”
“一个懂得欣赏俊俏小伙的男人？”瑞安点点头。“一旦尝过小伙子的滋味，这口味可不容易改。不过，”他若有所思地补充道，“也有不少男人两者都爱。”
“You?” Jim turned a frown toward him.
“你呢？”吉姆皱眉看向他。
“I’ve had a few women,” Ryan told him honesty. It was unusual for them to be able to speak openly, without the worry of being overheard. They were passing by the town now, the south bay. Scarborough Castle loomed on the headland, dark and forbidding against the sky. “I’ve had more than a few lads,” Ryan added, “and of the two … I think I’ll stick to my own.”
“我也交往过几个女人，”瑞安坦诚相告。能这样毫无顾忌地畅谈实属难得，此刻他们正经过小镇南湾，斯卡伯勒城堡在岬角上投下森然黑影，衬着天际显得格外阴郁。“但更多是小伙子，”瑞安接着说，“若要二选一...我想我还是更中意同性。”

The answer seemed to satisfy Jim for the moment, and they let the horses pick up their pace in the shifting early-afternoon air. Blondin wanted to run and Bess was not a length behind him. Jim gave the dun his head as they saw the village of Scalby, which nestled against the green backdrop of the moor. Blondin snatched at the bit and tried to bolt, and Jim wrestled him back, an old challenge the two seemed to relish. Ryan gathered the reins as he felt the black mare beginning to grow restless.
这个回答暂时让吉姆感到满意，他们便任由马匹在午后变幻的空气中加快步伐。布隆丁想要奔跑，贝丝紧随其后。当他们看见紧贴着荒野绿色背景的斯卡比村时，吉姆放松了缰绳让那匹灰马自由前行。布隆丁突然咬住马嚼子试图狂奔，吉姆又将它拉回，这场老把戏似乎让两者都乐在其中。瑞安感觉到黑色母马开始躁动，便收紧了缰绳。
“Come on, Jim, let’s give these old nags a run. They must have been cooped up in the stable as long as you’ve been a prisoner at home. I’ll race you up to Cromer Point.”
“来吧吉姆，让这些老家伙跑一跑。它们被关在马厩里的时间，肯定和你被软禁在家一样久了。我们比赛跑到克罗默角。”
“And the stakes?” Jim demanded as Blondin seemed to catch the scent of a chase and plunged, bucking.
“赌注呢？”吉姆问道，此时布隆丁似乎嗅到了追逐的气息，猛然跃起尥蹶子。
“My arse,” Ryan said earthily with a chuckle. “Or yours!”
“我的屁股，”瑞安粗俗地笑着，“或者你的！”
They were off then, and the horses were eager to run. From the cliffhead by the rocks on which the Mascot had torn herself to pieces to Cromer Point was half a mile, and Jim must have known the black mare would beat Blondin. The gelding was probably faster, but he wasted time fighting, bucking and trying to head off in his own direction. Forward motion was a battle of wills between man and horse, and Blondin would never admit defeat.
他们随即出发，马儿都跃跃欲试。从吉祥物号撞得粉身碎骨的礁石崖头到克罗默角有半英里远，吉姆肯定知道那匹黑母马会胜过布隆丹。那匹阉马或许更快些，但它总把时间浪费在反抗、尥蹶子和试图自行其是上。前进成了人马意志的较量，而布隆丹永远不会认输。

Ryan was laughing as they reined back to a walk. The wind whispered in the coarse sea grasses and for the moment they were alone. The town of Scalby lay a mile behind now and the tiny village of Burniston was half a mile inland. Black-faced sheep grazed the slopes; patches of woods darkened the landscape between the village and, to the north, Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar.
瑞安在他们勒马缓行时笑了起来。海风拂过粗糙的滨草沙沙作响，此刻天地间仿佛只剩他们二人。斯卡伯里镇已在一英里开外，伯尼斯顿小村则位于半英里外的内陆。黑面羊群在山坡上吃草；片片树林的暗影点缀在村落与北边的罗宾汉湾及雷文斯卡尔之间。
“That’s one you owe me,” Ryan decided with a fat chuckle.
“这回你欠我的，”瑞安带着浑厚的笑声断言道。
“I do indeed.” Jim turned his face to the sun. “I’ll pay you full measure, Captain, don’t fret about accounts.”
“确实如此。”吉姆将脸转向阳光，“我会连本带利还你的，船长，不必担心账目问题。”

Ryan cocked his head at his companion. “I never fret on your account, Jim. You’ve never given me reason to.” He reached over, offering his hand, and for a moment Jim took it in the full of the April sun.
瑞安歪头看向同伴。"我从不为你操心，吉姆。你从没给过我理由。"他伸出手，吉姆在四月的艳阳下握住了那只手，片刻温存。

The cliffs reared high above the sea as they ambled along the fringe of Wykeham High Moor and toward the deep, crescent-moon incurvation of Robin Hood’s Bay. Legends of the famous outlaw surrounded the whole area. Ravenscar lay just to the south, while the surf crashed on boulders, dizzyingly far below. Four miles further, blued by distance, were the two Whitby lighthouses, one by St. Mary’s and the other at Saltwick Nab, with the old whalers’ church and the abbey ruins between.
悬崖高耸于海面之上，他们沿着威克汉姆高沼边缘漫步，走向罗宾汉湾那深邃的新月形凹口。关于那位著名侠盗的传说笼罩着整片地区。雷文斯卡尔就在正南方，浪涛拍打着下方令人眩晕的礁石。四英里外，惠特比的两座灯塔在远处泛着蓝光，一座靠近圣玛丽教堂，另一座位于索尔特威克岬角，中间夹着古老的捕鲸人教堂和修道院废墟。

The bleached, exoskeletal remains of former glory always made a man shiver, Ryan thought. Sometimes the ruin reminded him of the eons on which the present was built, and it whispered of future ages, where each passing day was built upon this present - this now, which he and Jim thought of as all the world - and a man’s bones were forgotten in the earth.
瑞安想着，这些苍白如骨骼的昔日荣光遗迹总让人不寒而栗。有时废墟会让他想起构筑当下的亘古岁月，也低语着未来世代——每个流逝的日子都建立在当下之上，这个他与吉姆视为全世界的此刻，而人的骸骨终将被大地遗忘。

Gold and white against the cloudy sky, the abbey ruin was a haven only for gulls now, wind-swept, lonely, slumbering and haunted. Below, the town barely seemed aware of the past which slept fitfully on the rampart of the cliff. The houses clustered about the bay into which emptied the River Esk, and a sense of permanence, even of peace, pervaded this hollow in the seaward hills. In a century, little would change in Whitby.
阴云密布的天空下，金白相间的修道院废墟如今只是海鸥的栖息地，饱经风霜，孤寂沉睡，鬼影幢幢。山崖下的城镇似乎浑然不觉那段在城垛上辗转难眠的往昔。房屋簇拥在埃斯克河入海口周围，这片面海山丘中的洼地弥漫着恒久甚至宁静的气息。再过百年，惠特比也不会有什么改变。

Gray stone and red roofs, flat harbor water with the oily sheen of a starling’s wing, the screams of herring gulls, a waft of sweet smoke from the cliff, where the smokehouse was busy in the quiet of afternoon, making kippers … Ryan studied Whitby in musing silence, watching a ketch make its way out while three cobbles came in, all of them fishing boats headed for their own berths. The crews were gutting fish as they came home, and the boats were mobbed by a wheeling cloud of gulls.
灰石红瓦的房屋，港口平静的水面泛着椋鸟羽翼般的油光，鲱鸥的尖叫声不绝于耳，悬崖方向飘来熏鱼作坊的甜腻烟味——午后静谧时分，熏制工坊正忙着制作腌鲱鱼干……瑞安若有所思地凝视着惠特比港，看着一艘双桅帆船驶出港口，三艘小渔船正陆续归航，各自驶向停泊处。归途中的渔民们忙着清理鱼获，船身周围盘旋着密集的海鸥群。

To the south of the old stone quay was the Wheeldale Inn, and in the cobbled recess of the stableyard there Jim handed the horses to a groom. Ryan swung down out of the saddle, reluctant to admit how stiff he had become. Twenty miles was not a long ride, but it was a con-
古老的石砌码头南侧矗立着惠尔代尔客栈，吉姆在马厩院落的卵石空地上将马匹交给马夫。瑞安翻身下马，不愿承认自己浑身僵硬。二十英里本不算长途骑行，但自上次长时间骑马已时隔——
siderable time since he had straddled a horse for so long, and the muscles for it seemed to have withered. Jim also had a hand pressed to his back.
久远，相关肌肉似乎都已萎缩。吉姆也正用手揉着后腰。
“We,” Ryan said, mocking them both as they ducked in under the creaking signboard, “are like a pair of middle-aged spinsters! Too much soft living, not enough hard work, that’s our trouble.”
"我们啊，"当两人低头穿过吱呀作响的招牌时，瑞安揶揄道，"活像两个中年老姑娘！日子过得太安逸，活儿干得太少——这就是症结所在。"
“There’s some truth to that,” Jim agreed as he led the way into the taproom and caught the landlady’s eye. “Are you hungry, Bill? I know it’s not so long since brunch, but -”
“这话倒有几分道理，”吉姆附和着，领路走进酒馆大厅时朝老板娘使了个眼色。“饿了吗，比尔？虽说早午餐才用过不久，不过——”
“But honest exercise inspires an appetite,” Ryan added. “I could eat a horse.” His nostrils flared as he scented the air. “And if I’m not mistaken … shepherd’s pie?”
“但诚实的运动总能勾起食欲，”瑞安接话道，“我现在能吞下一匹马。”他翕动鼻翼嗅着空气，“如果我没闻错……是牧羊人派？”
“Excellent shepherd’s pie,” Joel Tremayne’s voice said from the parlor, “and an equally excellent jam pudding.”
“上好的牧羊人派，”乔尔·特里梅因的声音从客厅传来，“还有同样出色的果酱布丁。”
“Joel!” Ryan turned toward the voice, surprised and delighted to see Tremayne framed in the doorway, tall, blond, wide-shouldered, with the parlor behind him and the bar on his left. He was nursing a pint of ale and wearing a curious smile; and he was not looking at Bill Ryan.
“乔尔！”瑞安循声转头，惊喜地看见特里梅因高大的身影嵌在门框里——金发宽肩，身后映着客厅的灯光，左侧是吧台。他正慢啜着一品脱啤酒，嘴角挂着耐人寻味的微笑；而他的目光并未落在比尔·瑞安身上。
“So this is Jim Hale,” he said as Jim shouldered his own bag and Ryan’s.
"‘这位就是吉姆·黑尔了，’他说道，看着吉姆扛起自己和瑞安的行李。"
“Captain Tremayne?” Jim offered his hand.
"‘特里梅因上尉？’吉姆伸出手。"
“I’ve heard almost nothing about you,” Tremayne said, amused, “but I couldn’t winkle Billy Ryan out of Scarborough, not with a sharp stick and promises of good money.”
"‘我对你几乎一无所知，’特里梅因饶有兴致地说，‘但我用尖棍子外加丰厚报酬的承诺，都没能把比利·瑞安从斯卡伯勒撬出来。’"
“I’m gratified,” Jim said evenly, shaking the man’s hand firmly. “I’ve heard snippets about you, Captain. Mostly about how I should trust you first and God second.”
"‘深感荣幸，’吉姆沉稳地说着，用力握了握对方的手。‘上尉，我倒是听过些关于您的只言片语。多半是说您比上帝更值得我信任。’"
“Trust -?” Tremayne blinked and laughed out loud. “Well now, thank you, Billy. I appreciate it.” He gestured with his glass. “Will you have a jar? The ale’s not too bad in this house, and the rum’s actually quite good.” He waved at the landlady. “Mrs. Penketh, if you’d do the honors.” He dropped his voice. “Then you can tell me what all this is about, Billy. Eastcoast business, you said, and it’d be well worth my while to embroil myself.” His brows rose and he looked from Ryan to Jim and back again.
"‘信任？’特里梅因眨了眨眼，放声大笑起来。‘哎呀，多谢了比利。我领情。’他举了举酒杯示意，‘来一杯吗？这家的麦酒还不赖，朗姆酒更是相当不错。’他朝女店主挥挥手，‘彭凯斯太太，麻烦您了。’随即压低声音，‘现在你可以告诉我这究竟是怎么回事了，比利。你说这是东海岸的买卖，值得我插一脚。’他扬起眉毛，目光在瑞安和吉姆之间来回游移。"

Tremayne looked bigger when you saw him inside of four walls, Ryan observed, in surroundings designed for ordinary people. He was too tall, too broad, to be confined to these spaces, and a parlor seemed ill-fitting. His brown face creased with a smile; his pale blue eyes followed Jim, and behind Jim’s back he gave Ryan a nod of appreciation.
瑞安注意到，在四面墙壁的普通房间里见到特里梅因时，他显得更加魁梧。这人身量太高，肩膀太宽，与这些狭小空间格格不入，坐在客厅里总显得局促。他那张棕色的脸庞绽开笑容，淡蓝色眼睛追随着吉姆的身影，又在吉姆背后朝瑞安赞许地点了点头。

They sat inside a bowed-glass window overlooking the harbor and talked in quiet tones as they waited for the food. At the mention of Moses Wallach’s name, Tremayne’s eyes widened and his mouth compressed. Briefly, tersely, Ryan told the story of the Mascot. Jim went on,
他们坐在凸窗旁俯瞰港口，低声交谈着等待上菜。一听到摩西·沃拉赫的名字，特里梅因顿时瞪大眼睛，嘴唇紧抿。瑞安简短扼要地讲述了吉祥物号的事，吉姆接着——
outlining the situation with the Kerr Brothers, and Joel was not slow reaching the obvious conclusion.
详细说明了与克尔兄弟相关的情况，而乔尔很快就得出了那个显而易见的结论。
“You’re sure, Billy, dead-sure, Wallach works for the Kerrs?” Tremayne nailed Ryan with a hard look.
"你确定吗，比利，百分之百确定沃拉赫在为克尔家做事？"特里梅因用锐利的目光逼视着瑞安。
“I am.” Ryan angled an apologetic glance at Jim. “I tracked him down at his alehouse just this morning. It’s always handy knowing where a man drinks. I asked him, pointblank, about working for Nathan Kerr.”
"我确定。"瑞安朝吉姆投去一个带着歉意的眼神。"今早我刚在他常去的酒馆堵到他。摸清一个人的喝酒地点总归有用。我直截了当问他是不是在为内森·克尔工作。"
“Damn,” Jim whispered, though he said no more.
"该死。"吉姆低声咒骂，但没再多说什么。
“So what do you want me to do?” Tremayne leaned back in a leather armchair which seemed too small for him. Long legs were crossed before him and he wore a frown. “I assume this is the business you brought me here for.”
"那你想让我怎么做？"特里梅因向后靠在那张对他来说显得太小的皮扶手椅上。他长腿交叠，眉头紧锁。"我猜这就是你把我叫来要谈的正事。"
“It is.” Ryan licked his lips, leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and said quietly, “We need a man we can trust, Joel, to work for the Kerr brothers, see what he can see, come out and report to us.”
“确实如此。”瑞安舔了舔嘴唇，身体前倾，手肘撑在膝盖上，低声说道：“我们需要一个信得过的人，乔尔，去为克尔兄弟工作，看看他能发现什么，然后回来向我们汇报。”
“You want a spy in the enemy camp.” Tremayne did not seem in any way perturbed.
“你是想在敌方阵营安插眼线。”特里梅因看起来丝毫不为所动。
“Someone who won’t betray us,” Jim added. “Who won’t turn coat for money, and has the brains not to get himself caught.”
"‘一个不会背叛我们的人，’吉姆补充道，‘不会为钱倒戈，而且有脑子不让自己被抓。’"
“And someone,” Ryan added as their food arrived, “with a face that won’t be recognized in Scarborough as soon as it shows itself.” He lifted a brow at his old companion. “Someone who didn’t serve on the Canary with Wallach! I was wondering if you’ve a man in your company you could let us have.”
"‘还要找个人，’当食物上桌时瑞安补充道，‘得是张在斯卡伯勒一露面就不会被认出来的脸。’他冲老搭档挑了挑眉，‘得是个没在金丝雀号上和沃拉赫共事过的！我正琢磨你手下有没有合适的人选能借我们用用。’"
“I’ve several,” Tremayne said thoughtfully. “You must remember Geoffrey Pyke.”
"‘我倒是有几个，’特里梅因沉吟道，‘你们总该记得杰弗里·派克吧。’"

Oh, Ryan remembered. He would never forget Pyke - how could he? A sound man, no longer young but built like a bull, courageous and trustworthy to the last. Ryan had sailed with Pyke twice before the day the new bosun came aboard the Canary; it was warm greetings all around when Pyke joined the sloop, less than a week after Moses Wallach disappeared. Pyke was as much a friend as the Navy would permit when men were separated by rank, and Ryan had learned early to respect him.
噢，瑞安当然记得。他永远忘不了派克——怎么可能忘记？那是个可靠的老手，虽不再年轻却壮实如公牛，勇敢忠诚到最后一刻。在金丝雀号新水手长登船前，瑞安曾与派克两度同航；当派克在摩西·沃拉赫失踪不到一周后加入这艘单桅帆船时，甲板上尽是热烈的欢迎。在海军等级森严的制度下，派克已是军规允许范围内最亲近的朋友，瑞安早早学会了敬重他。

If not for Pyke, many more would have died on the terrible afternoon in the Azores when a twenty-two gun sloop burned to the waterline. Her officers barely had time to realize what was happening before their ears were full of the screams of men dying in agony. The memory brought back the old shudder, the sickness in the pit of the belly, swimming senses, dizziness as he smelt a phantom reek of burn- ing across years he only wanted to forget.
若非派克，在那可怕的亚速尔群岛午后，当那艘二十二门炮的单桅帆船烧至吃水线时，会有更多人丧命。军官们几乎来不及意识到发生了什么，耳边便已充斥着垂死者的痛苦哀嚎。这段记忆唤起了那种熟悉的战栗——腹底翻涌的恶心感，眩晕的知觉，以及跨越多年仍萦绕不散的焦灼幻臭，那些他只想遗忘的岁月。

He dragged in a breath and pushed the memories away hard. He had no wish to recall even a second of that day, and when the dreams came, waking him in a cold sweat, he reached for the nearest bottle.
他深吸一口气，用力驱散这些记忆。他连那天的片刻都不愿回想，而当噩梦袭来，让他冷汗涔涔地惊醒时，他总会伸手去抓最近的酒瓶。

Rum was not the cure for anguish, but it was a swift solution when nothing more was to be done.
朗姆酒并非痛苦的解药，但在无计可施时，它是最快的解脱。
“Bill? Bill!” Jim’s voice seemed to come to him from the far end of a long tunnel, and Ryan shook himself awake.
"“比尔？比尔！”吉姆的声音仿佛从漫长隧道的另一端传来，瑞安猛地一激灵，清醒过来。"
“I’m all right,” Ryan said thickly. He reached for the food to cover the moment of blackout. “I’m all right, Jim. We both were.”
"‘我没事，’瑞安含糊地说。他伸手去拿食物，以掩饰片刻的晕眩。‘我没事，吉姆。我们俩都没事。’"
“You and Tremayne?” Jim asked quietly.
"‘你和特里梅因？’吉姆轻声问道。"
“He never told you?” Tremayne sounded surprised.
"‘他从未告诉过你？’特里梅因听起来很惊讶。"
“Not a word,” Jim affirmed. “I’ve never tried to force the story out of him and I won’t wheedle now. When he wants to tell it, he’ll tell it, but … Jesus God, Captain Tremayne, I’ve never known such a man for secrets.”
"‘只字未提，’吉姆肯定地说，‘我从未试图逼他说出那段往事，现在也不会哄骗他。等他想说的时候自然会说的，但是……老天在上，特里梅因上尉，我从没见过像他这样守口如瓶的人。’"
“They’d scarcely be secrets if they weren’t well kept,” Ryan retorted while Tremayne chuckled. “And yes, I remember Geoffrey Pyke, and he’s just the man I’d have chosen, if I’d known where to find him. He’s with you now, Joel?”
"‘若守得不够严实，那也称不上什么秘密了，’瑞安反驳道，特里梅因在一旁轻笑。‘没错，我记得杰弗里·派克，要是我知道上哪儿找他，他正是我会选的人。他现在跟你在一起吗，乔尔？’"
“He found me,” Tremayne said thoughtfully, still studying Jim. “I was looking for a crew for my second voyage out to America. I knew him as soon as I saw that ugly mug coming through the door. It’s been years, but you couldn’t forget his face.”
"‘是他找上我的，’特里梅因若有所思地说，目光仍停留在吉姆身上。‘当时我正在为第二次美洲航行招募船员。那张丑脸刚踏进门，我就认出他了。这么多年过去，可他那张脸叫人忘不了。’"
“So ugly?” Jim asked, forking pie into his mouth.
"‘真有那么丑？’吉姆边问边往嘴里送馅饼。"
“In a way,” Ryan said quietly. His appetite had gone and he forced down the food. “A word, Jim. When you see Pyke, don’t notice his scars. He was touchy about them, when we last met.”
"‘某种程度来说是的，’瑞安低声说。他食欲全无，却仍强迫自己咽下食物。‘听着，吉姆。见到派克时，别盯着他的疤看。我们上次见面时，他对这个还很敏感。’"
“He still is,” Tremayne said darkly.
“他现在还是这样，”特里梅因阴沉地说。
“Scars?” Jim’s face clouded. “The scars of a fight?”
“伤疤？”吉姆的脸色阴沉下来，“打架留下的伤疤？”
“No. He was burned, his face and neck,” Ryan said so quietly, Jim struggled to hear. He could not have known how his own face lost color for the second time in minutes. His eyes appeared hollowed out, like caverns in which a man’s worst dreams might hide.
“不。他是被烧伤的，脸和脖子，”瑞安说得那么轻，吉姆几乎听不见。他不可能意识到自己的脸色在几分钟内第二次变得惨白。他的眼睛凹陷下去，像是藏着一个人最可怕的噩梦的洞穴。

For him the daylight dimmed, the sky became red as burgundy or blood and he heard the crackle of flame. Dimly, as if from a great distance, he heard Tremayne’s voice now, cutting through it all like a knife -
对他来说，白昼的光线暗淡下来，天空变得像勃艮第酒或鲜血一样红，他听到了火焰的噼啪声。恍惚间，仿佛从很远的地方，他听到了特里梅因的声音，像一把刀划破这一切——
“Billy-boy, come on, now. Billy, let it go now. Ryan!”
“比利小子，快过来。比利，现在放手吧。瑞安！”
And Jim, fretted with worry: “Bill, for God’s sake, what is it?”
吉姆忧心忡忡地催促道：“比尔，看在上帝份上，到底怎么了？”
For the second time he shook himself hard. “It’s nothing.”
他第二次用力甩了甩头。“没什么。”
“Like hell, it’s nothing,” Tremayne snorted.
“鬼才信没什么，”特里梅因嗤之以鼻。
“All right, Joel.” Ryan drew both hands across his face and gave Tremayne a warning look. “Just … Jim, do as I ask you, and pretend you don’t notice the scars when you meet Pyke. They mark the price of life for several men, and he suffered a good deal to earn them.”
“好吧，乔尔。”瑞安用双手抹了把脸，朝特里梅因投去警告的眼神。“只是……吉姆，照我说的做，见到派克时假装没注意到那些伤疤。那是几条人命换来的印记，他为此吃了不少苦头。”
“Then I’ll be blind,” Jim said mildly. He looked over at Tremayne, who was silent now, frowning and wary. “And one day, perhaps you’ll trust me as much as you trust Pyke, and confide in me.”
“那我就当个瞎子好了。”吉姆温和地说。他看向此刻沉默不语、眉头紧锁的特里梅因。“也许有一天，你会像信任派克那样信任我，对我敞开心扉。”
“Listen to the lad, Billy,” Tremayne said wisely.
“听听这小伙子说的，比利。”特里梅因语重心长地说。
Ryan sighed deeply. “Trust has nothing to do with it, Jim. Some sleeping dogs are simply better left to lie.”
瑞安深深叹了口气。“这与信任无关，吉姆。有些往事最好永远不要提起。”
“Then tell me about Pyke,” Jim said levelly, returning to his meal.
“那就跟我说说派克吧，”吉姆平静地说道，继续吃着他的饭。
“He was a master mariner,” Ryan said simply.
“他是个老练的航海家，”瑞安简短地说。
“He still is,” Tremayne added. “He’s still a topman, best I ever saw, like a monkey in the rigging no matter the weather. He’s still a seaman, though he left the Navy at the same time Billy and I did.”
“他现在依然是，”特里梅因补充道。“他仍是个顶尖的水手，我见过的最棒的，不管天气如何，他在索具上灵活得像只猴子。虽然他和比利还有我同时离开了海军，但他依然是个出色的海员。”
“He’s in Glasgow?” Ryan asked.
“他在格拉斯哥？”瑞安问道。
“Waiting for the refit of the Mercury, with the rest of us.” Joel drained his beer to the dregs. “But I’ll explain what we want of him, and I’ll offer him a good fee, Jim, on your behalf. He’ll take it. Pyke’s been trying to get away from the sea for years. He’s stashing money for something, probably a pub, knowing him.” He gave Jim a hard look. “You make it worth his while, he’ll lay his life on the line for you.”
“和其他人一样，等着墨丘利号改装完毕。”乔尔将啤酒一饮而尽。“不过我会跟他说明我们的需求，还会替你开个好价钱，吉姆。他肯定会接受的。派克这些年一直想离开海上生活。他攒钱肯定有打算，我猜八成是想开间酒馆。”他严肃地看向吉姆，“只要你给够好处，他连命都能卖给你。”
“With luck, Captain -”
“走运的话，船长——”
“Joel.”  “叫乔尔。”
" - it won’t come to that. I don’t want anyone risking his life over this," Jim said levelly. “Eastcoast will pay handsomely for Mr. Pyke’s services.”
“——不至于到那地步。我不想任何人为此赌上性命，”吉姆平静地说，“东海岸公司会为派克先生的服务支付丰厚报酬。”
“Then I’ll send a cable this evening,” Tremayne mused. “The weather should hold, so he can join you without delay. Is it safe for him to ship into Scarborough directly? You don’t want him to come into Whitby instead?”
“那我今晚就发电报，”特里梅因沉吟道，“天气应该能持续晴好，他可以立即与你们会合。让他直接乘船到斯卡伯勒安全吗？你们不想让他改道惠特比？”
“Scarborough’s a big town, ships coming and going twenty times a day,” Jim mused. “The Kerrs are always buried in their favorite grog shop or at their boathouse. They don’t know what we’re up to, so won’t be watching. Your man is safe to ship into Scarborough.”
“斯卡伯勒是个大港口，每天进出二十趟船，”吉姆思忖着，“克尔家的人不是泡在酒馆就是在船屋，根本不知道我们的计划，不会盯梢的。让你的人放心在斯卡伯勒上岸。”
“In fact,” Ryan added pointedly, “for Jim and me to ride twice to Whitby in the same few days would draw a lot more unwanted attention. Get the Kerrs suspicious and they’ll be on their toes.” He paused, a frown between his brows. “There’s a coaster out of Edinburgh on the ebb tide tomorrow, unless I’m mistaken,” Ryan offered.
“其实，”瑞安尖锐地补充，“我和吉姆短短几天内两次往返惠特比，反而会惹人注意。要是引起克尔家疑心，他们就会警觉起来。”他眉头紧锁顿了顿，“如果我没记错，明天退潮时有班爱丁堡来的沿岸商船。”
“The Mary Kathleen,” Jim affirmed, as if he knew the shipping schedules from the Orkneys to Kings Lynn by heart. Perhaps he did, Ryan thought wryly. “And then, Captain … Joel,” Jim was saying, “you can set your own price for your help today. As Bill told you, Eastcoast will make it worth your while. The wreckers could ruin us. We don’t have enough hulls left on the water to survive easily, if we lose even one more.”
“玛丽·凯瑟琳号，”吉姆笃定地说，仿佛对奥克尼群岛至金斯林的船期表烂熟于心——瑞安暗自苦笑，或许确实如此。“至于报酬……乔尔船长，”吉姆继续道，“今天的协助您尽管开价。比尔说过，东海岸公司不会亏待您。那些沉船掠夺者会毁了我们，现在水面上剩下的船已经经不起任何损失了。”
“And you’re building the Spindrift, which is bleeding you white. I know. I saw her,” Tremayne told him. “And a more beautiful thing, I’ve never seen.”
“你正在建造那艘让你倾家荡产的‘浪花号’。我知道。我见过她，”特里梅因对他说，“我这辈子还没见过比她更美的东西。”
“Your price, then,” Jim invited.
"那就说说你的价码吧，"吉姆提议道。
But Tremayne only shook his head. “This is the job, putting a noose
但特里梅因只是摇了摇头。"这就是工作，套上绞索
'round the neck of Moses Wallach, and closing down a nest of ship wreckers? Good Christ, I’d be ashamed to take your money.” His eyes brightened and deep wrinkles fanned about his eyes as he smiled. "But I’ll make you a deal. Once day you’ll have the wheel in your own hands, and you’ll have the Spindrift. When that day comes, Jim … and please God, your dear old father should enjoy every day that’s still due to him, mind! … when the day comes around, you throw in with me. You and Billy.
"摩西·沃拉赫脖子上套着绞索，端掉一窝沉船劫匪的时候？老天在上，要你的钱我都觉得害臊。"他咧嘴笑起来，眼角漾开深深的皱纹，"不过咱们做个约定。等哪天你自己掌舵，接手'浪花号'的时候——吉姆啊，愿仁慈的上帝保佑你老爹活够他该有的岁数！——等那天到了，你就带着比利来入伙。"
“Now, I’ve told Bill, there’s no man in England or Scotland I’d trust my ship to before him, and then there’s your new schooner.” Tremayne’s fair brows rose, crinkling his forehead. “Two ships running in convoy. Three, if you want to commit the old Adelaide to the venture. Billy told me what he’s skippering, and where he takes her. Three ships in convoy, running the blockades. Now, just how rich do you want to be, Jim Hale, and how fast. Answer me that!”
“听着，我跟比尔说过，整个英格兰和苏格兰都找不出第二个能让我放心托付船只的人——除了他。再加上你那艘新纵帆船。”特里梅因淡色的眉毛扬了起来，额头上挤出几道皱纹。“两艘船结伴航行。要是你愿意把老阿德莱德号也押上这趟买卖，那就是三艘。比利跟我说过他掌舵的船，还有航线。三艘船结伴突破封锁线。现在，吉姆·黑尔，你只管告诉我——你想发多大的财，又想多快发财！”

For a moment Jim hesitated and then said deliberately, “I don’t have the white-water skills to take the Spindrift across the Atlantic.”
吉姆迟疑片刻，而后字斟句酌地说：“我的急流航行技术还不足以驾驭浪花号横渡大西洋。”
“Not now, you don’t, that’s true,” Tremayne agreed. He laced his fingers at his middle and studied Jim almost rudely. “But a year or so as the sorcerer’s apprentice changes everything.”
“现在确实不行，这点我同意。”特里梅因十指交叠抵在腹部，近乎无礼地打量着吉姆。“但当上一年魔法师的学徒后，一切都会不同。”
“The sorcerer?” Jim echoed.
“魔法师？”吉姆重复道。
Tremayne nodded at Ryan. “I’ve seen Billy do things you’d swear were impossible. He’d have been burned at the stake for the sheer witchcraft of it, Jim, a couple of hundred years ago.”
特里梅因朝瑞安点了点头。"我见过比利做出些你打死都不信的事。要是在两百年前，吉姆，光凭那些巫术般的把戏就够他被绑在火刑柱上烧死了。"
“I know he’s good,” Jim said, not quite taken aback.
"我知道他很厉害，"吉姆说，倒也没太吃惊。
“It’s just experience,” Ryan told him. “I’ve been at sea, one way or another, since I was nine years old. First on my father’s boats, ketches, a yawl, cobbles … and then with the Navy.”
"不过是经验之谈，"瑞安告诉他。"我九岁起就以各种方式在海上讨生活了。先是在我父亲的船上——双桅帆船、小艇、平底渔船...后来加入了海军。"
“He signed up when he was fifteen, like all the Ryan men,” Tremayne said ruefully. His pale eyes danced with amusement and no little affection. “Truth is, he’s in love with the sea, Jim, did you know that? You’ll have to share him, and there’s no pretty lad or lady of shady virtue whose eye you can black to get your own back.”
"他十五岁就入伍了，瑞安家的男人都这样，"特里梅因苦笑着说。他那双浅色的眼睛里跳动着戏谑的光芒，还带着几分温情。"说实话，他爱大海爱得发狂，吉姆，你知道吗？你得学会和他分享这份爱，可没有哪个漂亮小伙或是风尘女子能让你揍上一拳出气。"
“Joel,” Ryan remonstrated.
"乔尔，"瑞安劝诫道。
“I’ve seen him at sea,” Tremayne went on, undaunted. “Me? I signed up when I was twenty-one because I had bugger-all else to do, no trade to my name and empty pockets. I did all right. Came to be First Officer on a twenty-two gunner. And I was lucky. My skipper was a good friend. A very good friend, if you take my meaning.”
"我在海上见过他，"特里梅因毫不畏惧地继续道，"我呢？二十一岁就签了卖身契，因为实在无事可做，既没手艺又囊空如洗。后来混得不错，在二十二门炮的船上当了大副。算我走运，遇上个好船长。是位至交好友，你懂我的意思吧。"
“The Canary,” Jim whispered.
"金丝雀号，"吉姆低语道。
“God bless her. But the magic wasn’t in the ship.” Tremayne had turned his near-rude scrutiny on Ryan. “I’ve seen Bill Ryan woo the sea, Jim. Seen him tickle his way 'round a storm. Listen to the ship, listen to the rig and the timbers, and they’d tell him what sail to hoist and what to drop, which way to steer and when, and why.”
"愿上帝保佑她。但魔力不在船上。"特里梅因用近乎冒犯的目光审视着瑞安，"我见过比尔·瑞安如何取悦大海，吉姆。看他轻巧地绕开风暴。他能听懂船的絮语，听出索具和木料的动静，它们会告诉他该升哪面帆，该收哪张篷，何时转向，为何转向。"
“You learn these things,” Ryan said reasonably, “if you spend long enough at sea.”
"‘这些事你自然会懂，’瑞安用讲道理的口气说，‘只要在海上待得够久。’"
“And if you shut up and listen to the ship, the wind and the water,” Tremayne added. “Ah, what the hell? Forget it, Jim. Those days are almost over. You ever shipped out on a tin scow?”
"‘还得闭上嘴，仔细听船、风和水的动静，’特里梅因补充道，‘唉，见鬼！别提了，吉姆。那种日子快到头了。你上过那种铁皮驳船吗？’"
“You couldn’t pay me enough to get me to sign aboard a steam screw,” Ryan said darkly, “besides which, Joel, what do I know about steam engines? I couldn’t skipper a steamer without two or three trips out as second or third officer, and you can stow that load of bilge.” He angled a hard look at Tremayne. “You took a cruise aboard a tin scow.”
"‘给我多少钱我都不愿签那种蒸汽螺旋桨船的合同，’瑞安阴沉地说，‘再说了，乔尔，我对蒸汽机一窍不通。没当过两三趟二副三副，我哪能当蒸汽船船长？你少在那儿胡说八道。’他狠狠瞪了特里梅因一眼，‘你倒是坐过那种铁皮驳船。’"
“I did.” Tremayne’s shudder did not seem feigned. “You can’t get the stink of oil out of your nose, Jim. You can hear the engines, day and night. You can’t get away from the drumbeat. The muck, coal dust and oil, gets into your skin, you can’t wash it out. And the kind of men who don’t notice this horse shit, the kind who sign on for years, don’t make for pleasant company.” He sighed noisily and sat up straight in the chair, fingers beating a tattoo on the arm. “I told myself, Billy, when I walked off that bucket. Never again. In fact, I swore I’d never set foot on a deck again! Then three weeks later I won the Mercury, her cargo and the contracts of her crew, and where was I?” He laughed.
"‘坐过。’特里梅因打了个寒战，不像是装的，‘那股机油味会钻进你鼻子里，吉姆，怎么都甩不掉。没日没夜听着机器响，那动静就跟打鼓似的。煤灰和油污会渗进皮肤，洗都洗不掉。至于那些对此毫不在乎的家伙——那些一签就是好几年合同的——可都不是什么好相处的货色。’他大声叹气，在椅子里坐直身子，手指在扶手上敲着鼓点，‘我走下那破船时就对自己说，比利，这辈子再也不干了。说实话，我发誓再也不踏上甲板了！结果三周后我就赢了墨丘利号，连船带货还有船员合同都归了我，你说我这是图什么？’他说着笑了起来。"
“Right back on a deck,” Jim said, sharing the rueful humor. “But you walked aboard as both owner and sailing master of a Merchant Navy sailing vessel already heavy under a pay-load. Which made a world of difference, I’d guess.”
"‘又回到甲板上了，’吉姆说道，带着苦涩的幽默感。‘但你上船时既是船主又是商船船长，船上已经满载货物。这可有天壤之别，我猜。’"
“It made a difference,” Tremayne agreed, “though I’ll tell you the truth, Jim. I don’t love the sea. She’s a bitch. A beautiful, cruel, capricious, treacherous bitch who’ll kill you on a whim. She’ll freeze the blood in your veins or drown you if you give her a second’s chance, and she’s full of monsters who’ll rend you, limb from limb, if you dare leave your deck and invade her virginal waters.”
"‘确实有区别，’特里梅因表示同意，‘不过实话告诉你，吉姆，我并不爱大海。她是个婊子。一个美丽、残忍、善变、奸诈的婊子，随时可能心血来潮要了你的命。只要给她一秒钟机会，她就会让你血液凝固或把你淹死。海里还满是怪物，只要你敢离开甲板踏入她处女般的海域，它们就会把你撕成碎片。’"

Jim chuckled. “You learned to hate the sea, didn’t you?”
吉姆轻声笑了。‘你学会恨大海了，是吧？’
“Not to hate her,” Tremayne argued mildly, “but she certainly didn’t teach me to love her.” He leaned forward, closer to Jim and Ryan, and dropped his voice. “I’m looking forward to better things. I want to get right away from shipping, get into something where I can keep my feet on dry land and not worry for weeks on end about my investment going to the bottom. But it takes money, and a lot of it, or the captains of industry won’t let you get a foot through the door.” He glanced at Ryan, and back at Jim. “All being well, Mr. Hale, you’ll get rich right alongside me. If you stay away from the cards, the dice and the roulette wheel, you should never again worry about where the next quid’s coming from - and you’ll forget how to read a shipping schedule.”
"‘不是恨，’特里梅因温和地反驳，‘但她肯定没教会我爱她。’他向前倾身，靠近吉姆和瑞安，压低声音说：‘我期待着更好的生活。我想彻底远离航运业，找个能脚踏实地的工作，不用连续几周担心投资打水漂。但这需要钱，很多钱，否则那些工业巨头连门都不会让你进。’他瞥了眼瑞安，又看向吉姆：‘黑尔先生，一切顺利的话，你会和我一起发财。只要远离牌桌、骰子和轮盘赌，你就再也不用为下一顿饭发愁——还会忘记怎么看航运时刻表。’"
“Joel,” Ryan said in pained tones, “what in God’s name are you talking about?”
"‘乔尔，’瑞安痛苦地说道，‘你到底在说什么鬼话？’"
“A business venture,” Jim guessed. "Something more or less legal. High stakes … probably high risk, too. Joel?
"‘一桩生意，’吉姆猜测道，‘多少算合法的买卖。高风险高回报……估计也够悬的。乔尔？’"

The pale blue eyes were sparkling. Tremayne ran both hands back through the yellow hair which was always unruly, as if a wind had recently tousled it. “Five voyages out, Jim. The Mercury, the Spindrift and the Adelaide. We run the blockade to America.”
那双浅蓝色眼睛闪闪发亮。特里梅因用双手将那头总是不听话的金发向后捋去，仿佛刚被风吹乱似的。‘跑了五趟船，吉姆。墨丘利号、浪花号还有阿德莱德号。我们突破封锁线去美国。’
“Carrying …?” Jim prompted.
"‘运的是……？’吉姆追问道。"
“Be careful, Jim,” Ryan warned. “Know the risks before you sign any contracts with the devil.”
“当心点，吉姆，”瑞安警告道，“和魔鬼签合同前，先搞清楚风险。”
“The devil?” Tremayne laughed quietly. “Well, now, that’s not a name I’ve been called before.”
“魔鬼？”特里梅因轻声笑了，“呵，这倒是个新鲜称呼。”
“The cargo,” Jim insisted.
“那批货，”吉姆坚持道。
“The first voyage, more than likely it’ll be medical supplies. Opiates and drugs, bandages, catgut, carbolic soap, all the things a hospital runs out of in the first week of a year-long struggle.” Tremayne frowned deeply. “Last time I was out there, I saw it with my own eyes. It was worse than the Crimea, which is saying a lot. We could load the Adelaide with medical supplies next week, make a fortune on an American dock, load up with bourbon and tobacco and make another fortune on a London dock.” He looked at Jim. “You’ve got to be interested.”
“首航多半会运医疗物资。鸦片制剂、药品、绷带、肠线、石炭酸皂，都是医院在全年苦战第一周就会耗尽的东西。”特里梅因眉头紧锁，“上次我在前线亲眼所见，比克里米亚还惨——这话分量可不轻。我们下周就能给阿德莱德号装满医疗物资，在美国码头大赚一笔，再装上波本威士忌和烟草到伦敦码头再发笔横财。”他盯着吉姆，“你不可能不心动。”
“I am,” Jim said candidly. “But Bill’s right. There’s a blockade between us and the American ports.”
"确实如此，"吉姆坦率地说，"但比尔说得对。我们和美国港口之间隔着封锁线。"
“No risk, no gain.” Tremayne shrugged. “You want the big money, you take the gamble.” He paused. “Are you a gambling man, Jim?”
"不入虎穴，焉得虎子。"特里梅因耸了耸肩，"想要赚大钱，就得敢冒险。"他顿了顿，"你是个赌徒吗，吉姆？"
“Not really,” Jim admitted. “I’ve been known to play cards and lose a few shillings on the horses, but …” He took a long, deep breath. “I’d be gambling with men’s lives, and with my own. And on the next voyage out, it wouldn’t be medical supplies, would it?”
"算不上，"吉姆承认道，"我偶尔会打打牌，在赛马上输过几个先令，但......"他深深吸了口气，"这次赌的可是人命，包括我自己的。而且下次出航运的就不会是医疗物资了，对吧？"
“It might be,” Tremayne allowed, “but I couldn’t guarantee it, More likely it’d be carbine shells, rifles, gunpowder.”
"也可能是，"特里梅因让步道，"但我不能保证。更可能是卡宾枪弹、步枪和火药。"

Ryan stood up abruptly, turned away from his company and walked to the big windows overlooking the harbor. He could not listen to any more. He had no ability, and no right, to influence Jim’s thinking, and Joel was a persuasive sonofabitch. Jim had been well warned; the actual decision was his own business.
瑞安猛地站起身，背对着同伴走向那扇俯瞰港口的大窗。他再也听不下去了。他既没有能力，也没有权利去影响吉姆的决定，更何况乔尔那家伙巧舌如簧。该警告的都已警告过，最终决定权在吉姆自己手里。

They were speaking in low tones but their voices carried. Ryan tried to close his ears but could not. “I’d not risk the Spindrift, not on any voyage carrying gunpowder,” Jim was saying cautiously.
他们压低了声音交谈，但话音还是清晰地传来。瑞安试图充耳不闻却做不到。"我不会拿浪花号冒险，尤其是运载火药的航程，"吉姆谨慎地说道。
“I’ve been out there three times, and no worry in the world,” Joel reminded him.
"那条航线我跑过三趟，从没出过岔子，"乔尔提醒他。
“Maybe you were lucky. I don’t have that luck.” Jim sounded thoughtful, full of reservations. “I might offer you the Adelaide, but you’d have to put a good captain aboard. I wouldn’t want Bill on any voyage where the ship itself was at risk.”
"或许是你运气好。我可没这份运气。"吉姆的语气透着深思熟虑后的保留，"阿德莱德号倒是可以借你，但你必须找个靠谱的船长。我可不想让比尔去冒可能沉船的风险。"
“You make a good point.” Tremayne paused. “There’s one other
"你说得有道理。"特里梅因停顿了一下，"还有一样"
cargo we might carry. No danger in it. Well, not unless we get boarded. The ultimate contraband, Jim.” He chuckled richly. “Documents.”
货物我们可以运送。没什么危险。当然，除非我们被登船检查。终极违禁品，吉姆。"他低沉地笑了笑，"文件。
“You mean, secret papers?” Jim was surprised. He had not even considered the very serious business of espionage.
"你是说，秘密文件？"吉姆很惊讶。他压根没考虑过间谍活动这种严肃的事情。
“Of course.” Tremayne was enjoying himself. “Once we’re through the blockade we can run from the Caribbean to Canada and back, if we’re clever enough, on legitimate business. There’s no law against it. Show me the law that says a free-trade schooner can’t run between Cuba or Jamaica and Boston and Halifax.”
"当然。"特里梅因自得其乐地说，"只要我们突破封锁线，就能以合法生意为掩护，在加勒比海和加拿大之间来回穿梭——只要我们够机灵。这又不犯法。你倒是找条法律出来，说自由贸易的纵帆船不能在古巴、牙买加与波士顿、哈利法克斯之间航行啊。"
“I - well, I suppose,” Jim said windedly.
“我——呃，我想是吧，”吉姆上气不接下气地说。
Ryan’s whole spine stiffened, as if he were waiting for some ax to fall. He felt Jim’s eyes on his back, but he was not about to embroil himself in the discussion. Neither the Adelaide nor the Spindrift belonged to him. After Jon Hale’s passing, they were Jim’s to dispose of as he wished. And whether he signed aboard as sailing master or not depended on so many things, Ryan could not sort through them in his own mind without time to think long and hard on the offer.
瑞安全身的脊背都绷紧了，仿佛在等待某种厄运降临。他能感觉到吉姆的目光落在自己背上，但他并不打算卷入这场讨论。无论是阿德莱德号还是浪花号都不属于他。乔恩·黑尔去世后，这些船都由吉姆全权处置。而他是否以航海长的身份签约上船，取决于太多因素——瑞安需要长时间深思熟虑才能理清头绪。

Perhaps he and Jim had enjoyed each other’s company for so long, they were growing together in their thinking too. Ryan felt his spine relax knot by knot as Jim said, “Let me think about it, Joel. Let me look at the risks, talk to Bill, look into a few things. I’m just not sure - I’m not a gambling man! Even if I were, I’d have to work out the odds, see what’s rattling, spare, in my pocket, and then take a long, hard look at the horse, before I put the bet down.”
或许他和吉姆相处太久，连思维方式都逐渐趋同。当吉姆说道"让我考虑考虑，乔尔。让我评估风险，和比尔谈谈，再调查些事情。我只是不确定——我可不是赌徒！就算要赌，也得先算清赔率，看看口袋里还剩几个子儿，再好好端详那匹赛马，才能下注"时，瑞安感到自己的脊背一节节松弛下来。

To his credit, Tremayne did not skip a beat. “Well said. You think it through, let Billy say his piece. There’s no hurry, I’m both glad and sad to say. The war in America isn’t going to end this year or next. I was talking to newspaper men from both sides. In Boston, as a matter of fact. The feeling is, it’ll get much worse long, long before it gets any better.” He shook his head. “Don’t ask me to explain - I can’t, because I understand none of it. But I can tell you this, Jim: if I’m going to run guns and medical supplies to one side, I’ll run 'em to both sides, because I don’t understand. And I’ve nothing against getting rich along the way.”
值得称赞的是，特里梅因接话接得滴水不漏。"说得好。你仔细考虑，也让比利发表意见。不必着急——说来既欣慰又遗憾，美洲的战争今年明年都结束不了。我其实在波士顿和双方报社的人都谈过，普遍感觉局势在好转前会恶化很久很久。"他摇摇头，"别让我解释——我也解释不清，因为我完全搞不懂。但我要告诉你，吉姆：如果我要给一方运送枪支和医疗物资，我就会两边都运，既然搞不懂立场。顺便发笔横财又何乐不为呢？"

At last Ryan turned back from the window, where his eyes had been blind to the harbor, the fishing boats, the swirls of gulls. “You said you were looking for quick money, Joel, and a lot of it, to get away from shipping. What bug’s bitten you this time?”
瑞安终于从窗边转过身来，他的目光对港口、渔船和盘旋的海鸥视而不见。"你说你在找快钱，乔尔，而且要一大笔，好摆脱航运业。这次又是什么让你鬼迷心窍了？"
“Not a bug.” Tremayne stood and stretched. Ryan actually heard his shoulders pop, and Joel pointed vaguely inland, in any direction save seaward. “Cargo is the safest bet you can make in business. I’ve seen that already.”
"不是鬼迷心窍。"特里梅因站起来伸了个懒腰。瑞安甚至能听见他肩膀关节的响声。乔尔随意地朝内陆方向指了指，就是不往海边看。"货运是生意场上最稳妥的赌注。这点我已经看明白了。"
“The railway,” Jim said sharply. “You’re going to invest in the damned railway!”
"铁路，"吉姆尖锐地指出，"你要投资那该死的铁路！"
“I’ve made no secret of it,” Tremayne said bluffly. “But not in this
"我从没隐瞒这点，"特里梅因直率地说，"但不是在这个"
country, Jim. It’s all sewn up here, there’s no space to get in, no fortunes to be made, not now.” He rubbed his hands together. “But America, now … America’s a different proposition. D’you know, Bill, there’s already more than thirty thousand miles of tracks, or rails, as they say over there, and in Boston I saw a Chicago newspaper. There’s plans to get the whole country connected with rails. The Central Pacific and the Union Pacific are talking about having the lines meet in Utah. If,” he added darkly, “they can ever get to the end of this war.”
这个国家已经没机会了，吉姆。这里的一切都被垄断了，没有立足之地，现在根本发不了财。"他搓着双手，"但美国就不同了...美国完全是另一回事。你知道吗，比尔，那边已经有超过三万英里的铁轨——他们管这个叫'rails'。在波士顿时我还看到过芝加哥的报纸。他们计划用铁路把整个国家连起来。中央太平洋和联合太平洋铁路公司正商量在犹他州接轨呢。"他阴沉地补充道，"当然，得等这场战争结束才行。
“Christ,” Ryan breathed. “You’ve got the bit between your teeth, Joel.”
"老天，"瑞安低声说，"你可真是咬住不放啊，乔尔。"
“Not yet, Billy. Not by a long chalk.” Tremayne shoved his hands into the pockets of his gray trousers. “But at least I know where the bit is, and I’ve got very strong teeth.” He shrugged and joined Ryan at the window. His eyes followed the fishing boats without expression; his thoughts were elsewhere. “It takes more money to get into it than an honest man can earn in a lifetime, and since honesty won’t get you through the door you’ve got to get in by other means.”
"还差得远呢，比利。差得可不是一星半点。"特里梅因把双手插进灰色长裤口袋，"不过至少我知道该咬哪儿，而且牙口够好。"他耸耸肩走到瑞安身旁的窗前，目光毫无波澜地追随着渔船，思绪却飘向别处。"这行当需要的本钱，老实人一辈子都攒不够。既然诚实连门都进不去，那就得另辟蹊径。"
“You’re gambling, then,” Jim said. He did not join them at the window, but sat back, long legs crossed at the knee. “You’re wagering your skills as a seaman, plus the sloop you won in a card game, against the American blockade.”
"这么说你在赌博，"吉姆说。他没有加入窗边的两人，而是向后靠坐，修长的双腿交叠着。"你押上了当水手的本事，加上牌局赢来的那艘单桅帆船，就为突破美国人的封锁线。"
“You’re right.” Tremayne smiled grimly, though he did not turn back from the harbor view. “I’ve already done it, Jim, and won. The Mercury’s a good ship with a fine crew, and if you’ve enough oldfashioned nous, it’s no more difficult ducking and dodging your way through a blockade than it was playing cat-and-mouse with pirates.” He gave Jim a grin. “And Billy and I did that, on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, for several years.” He nudged Ryan with an elbow. “Didn’t we, Bill?”
"你说得对。"特里梅因露出阴郁的笑容，却仍没有从港口景色中转回身来。"我已经这么干过了，吉姆，而且赢了。墨丘利号是艘好船，船员也很出色。只要你还保留着老派的水手直觉，突破封锁线的迂回躲闪，和当年跟海盗玩猫捉老鼠的把戏没什么两样。"他朝吉姆咧嘴一笑，"而且我和比利代表维多利亚女王陛下干这行当有好些年头了。"他用胳膊肘碰了碰瑞安，"是不是啊，比尔？"
“We did,” Ryan said in a bleak tone. He lifted both hands as if Tremayne had him at gunpoint. “Enough now, Joel. Let him decide for himself. You’re just going to cloud the issue with more talk. And don’t forget, all this is pending an old man’s passing away, which doesn’t sound healthy to me.” He pinned Joel with a dark, probing look. “You were always the superstitious one, not me.”
"确实如此，"瑞安语气阴郁地回答。他举起双手，仿佛特里梅因正用枪指着他。"适可而止吧，乔尔。让他自己拿主意。你再说下去只会把事情搅得更浑。别忘了，这一切都得等个老头子咽气，听起来可不太吉利。"他用阴沉探究的目光盯着乔尔，"迷信的人向来是你，不是我。"
“My mother’s Irish Catholic,” Tremayne explained to Jim.
"我母亲是爱尔兰天主教徒，"特里梅因向吉姆解释道。
“I sometimes hear it in your voice,” Jim told him. “Not in your accent, but in the things you say, and how you say them.”
"有时候能从你说话的方式听出来，"吉姆告诉他，"倒不是口音，而是你说话的内容和腔调。"
“Oh?” Tremayne was surprised but not insulted. “Bill’s right, anyway. You think on it, Jim. You think long and hard. Because I’ve already proved the trick can be taken. The Mercury’s no faster, no more sound a ship than the Adelaide, and she’ll not hold a candle to the Spindrift. If you don’t want Billy to take out the Adelaide - fine, I can see your reasoning and I’ll put a sailing master aboard. But with three ships in convoy -”
“哦？”特里梅因有些惊讶但并未感到被冒犯。“不过比尔说得对。你好好想想，吉姆。仔仔细细地考虑清楚。因为我已经证明这个把戏能成功。墨丘利号不比阿德莱德号快，船体也不比它更坚固，更没法跟浪花号相提并论。如果你不想让比利开走阿德莱德号——行，我能理解你的顾虑，我会派个航海长上船。但要是三艘船组成护航队——”
“Joel, enough.” Ryan dropped a hand on Tremayne’s arm.
“乔尔，够了。”瑞安将手搭在特里梅因的胳膊上。
“And this is the reimbursement you want for your help in the matter of Wallach and the rest?” Jim’s brows rose. “You’re just asking for my consideration of the deal?”
“这就是你帮我们处理沃拉赫那档子事要的报酬？”吉姆挑起眉毛，“你只是要我考虑这笔交易？”
“Give it some sober, thorough consideration,” Tremayne affirmed with a grin. “It’s just a favor I’m doing for you today. Pay Geoffrey Pyke a good whack, he’ll be happy. He’ll be one step closer to his pub on the Dorset coast. And do me a favor in return. Think on what I’ve said.”
“认真仔细地考虑考虑，”特里梅因咧嘴笑着强调，“今天我纯粹是卖你个人情。给杰弗里·派克一笔可观的酬劳，他会很高兴的。这样他离多塞特海岸的小酒馆又近了一步。作为回报也帮我个忙——好好想想我说的话。”
“I will.” Jim was quiet, more than likely consumed by the whole proposition. “Bill told me you’re taking the Mercury over again, since he turned you down.”
“我会的。”吉姆沉默着，多半是被整个提议占据了心神。“比尔告诉我你要重新接管墨丘利号，因为他拒绝了你。”
“Jilted me, left me standing at the altar in Dumbarton.” Tremayne held one hand over his heart and gave Jim a wink. “She’ll sail in a week and I’ll be back in July, fair winds depending.”
“他抛弃了我，让我在邓巴顿的圣坛前干等。”特里梅因一手按着心口，朝吉姆眨了眨眼。“一周后她就启航，如果顺风的话，我七月就能回来。”

July, Ryan thought. Summer. The best time to make a voyage to the Americas. “We’ll look for you in Scarborough,” he promised. “And we’ll have an answer for you by then, one way or another.”
七月，瑞安想着。夏季。正是远航美洲的最佳时节。“我们会在斯卡伯勒等你，”他承诺道，“到时候无论如何都会给你一个答复。”

Tremayne had lifted out his pocket watch. “Do you lads have plans for the evening?”
特里梅因掏出怀表。“小伙子们今晚有什么安排吗？”
“Nothing specific,” Jim began. “If the weather holds we might even ride back home tonight.”
“没什么特别的，”吉姆开口道，“要是天气一直这么好，我们今晚说不定还能骑马回家。”
“Why hurry?” Ryan argued. “For once we’re out of sight and sound of the mausoleum, yet your father still knows where we are and what business we’re on, so he’ll not be suspicious if we don’t show our faces again before tomorrow.”
“何必着急？”瑞安反驳道，“难得我们既看不见也听不见那座阴森宅邸了，可你父亲照样知道我们在哪儿、在干什么，所以就算明天之前不露面，他也不会起疑心。”
“Suspicious?” Tremayne echoed, and his eyes widened. “You mean - ?”
“起疑心？”特里梅因重复道，眼睛瞪大了，“你是说——？”
“He means you have to be careful if you live under the same roof with your father and a bundle of nosy servants,” Jim said flatly.
“他的意思是，如果你和你父亲还有一群爱管闲事的仆人同住一个屋檐下，就得处处小心。”吉姆直截了当地说。
“Then tonight’s a gift from the gods,” Joel observed. “Take it, Billy. By the looks of you, you’ve earned it.” He paused. “I heard about the Mascot. The wreck was worth a line in the newspaper only because of the insurer’s report. You were on it, you said?”
"‘那今晚就是诸神赐予的礼物了，’乔尔说道，‘收下吧，比利。看你这副模样，确实受之无愧。’他顿了顿，‘我听说吉祥物号的事了。要不是保险公司的报告，那场海难连报纸上的一行字都不值。你说你当时在船上？’"

Memory of the wreck was hazy, but for a moment Ryan felt an icespider scurry down his spine. “I was aboard. I was supposed to die on her.” He nodded as Joel’s brows flew up, and palmed the back of his skull. “Moses Wallach laid one on me, hard enough to knock me into the middle of next week. If Jim hadn’t come looking for me when she’d already started to break her back on the rocks, I swear, Joel, I’d be feed for the crabs.”
关于海难的记忆已经模糊，但瑞安突然感到一阵寒意顺着脊背爬下。‘我当时在船上。本该和她一起沉没的。’看到乔尔惊讶地扬起眉毛，他点点头，用手掌摩挲着后脑勺，‘摩西·沃拉赫给我来了一下狠的，差点把我打到下辈子去。要不是船身已经开始在礁石上断裂时吉姆来找我，我发誓，乔尔，我现在早成了螃蟹的饵料。’
“God’s holy trousers,” Tremayne whispered. His eyes were very sober, shades darker, as he looked at Jim again, perhaps even reevaluating what he saw. “Then I owe you a bigger favor than any I’ve done for Eastcoast Packet today. Consider us even, Jim. The deal’s already
"‘老天爷啊，’特里梅因低声说。当他再次看向吉姆时，眼神变得异常凝重，瞳孔似乎都暗了几分，仿佛在重新审视眼前这个人，‘那我今天欠你的人情可比为东海岸邮船公司做的任何事都大。咱们两清了，吉姆。交易已经"
done. Feel free to forget every word I ever said about America and the rest. If I’d known about Wallach’s shit aboard the Mascot, I’d have held my peace.”
达成。你就当我从来没说过关于美国和其他地方的任何话。要是我早知道沃拉赫在吉祥物号上干的那些勾当，我绝不会多嘴。’
“Still, I’ll take your proposition under consideration,” Jim said affably. “You’ve got me interested. I just have to work out the odds and decide if I like them.”
“不过，我会考虑你的提议，”吉姆和善地说道，“你确实引起了我的兴趣。我只需要权衡一下利弊，看看是否合我心意。”
“All right.” Tremayne smiled sidelong at Ryan. “I’ve got a cable to send, while there’s still time for it to be in Pyke’s hand by tonight. Then, I think I’ll give you two a wide berth, let you make the most of the time you’ve got left before it’s back to the … what did you call it? The mausoleum?”
“好吧。”特里梅因侧身对瑞安笑了笑，“我还得发封电报，赶在今晚之前送到派克手里。然后，我想我还是离你们俩远点儿，让你们好好享受剩下的时光——在回到那个……你怎么称呼它来着？陵墓之前？”

At last Ryan allowed himself a quiet chuckle. “An exaggeration, though not by much.” He gave Tremayne his hand. “We could have dinner, play cards.”
瑞安终于轻声笑了出来。“虽然夸张，但也差不了多少。”他向特里梅因伸出手，“我们可以一起吃个晚饭，打打牌。”

Tremayne gave him a look of bald reproach. “That’d be a sheer waste of good knocking time, and you don’t get enough of it to waste. I’ve bought my way into a game at Roxby House, halfway to Stainacre. I can be on a coaster for Edinburgh in the morning, if I don’t let them feed me too much whisky tonight. And that,” he added with a snort of laughter, “depends on how much I’m winning.”
特里梅因直白地瞪了他一眼，带着责备的意味。“那纯粹是浪费寻欢作乐的好时机，而你能挥霍的时间本就不多。我已经花钱加入了罗克斯比庄园的牌局，那儿离斯坦纳克只有半程路。要是今晚没被他们灌太多威士忌，明早我就能搭上去爱丁堡的沿海轮船。”他嗤笑一声补充道，“当然，这得看我赢了多少。”

He was incorrigible, Ryan thought. Always the charming rascal, big, handsome, captivating, and downright dangerous. Joel Tremayne was no different from the day he walked aboard the Canary for the first time. Ryan could not imagine time or fortune changing him. Luck did not always smile on Joel, but he had a way of falling face-down in a pile of manure and coming up smelling of roses.
瑞安觉得他简直无可救药。永远是那个迷人的无赖，高大英俊，摄人心魄，却又危险至极。乔尔·特里梅因和初次登上金丝雀号那天毫无二致。瑞安无法想象时光或际遇能改变他。好运并不总是眷顾乔尔，但他总有本事摔进粪堆还能沾着玫瑰香爬起来。
“Good luck, then,” Ryan said. “Write, before you ship out.”
"那就祝你好运，"瑞安说，"出海前记得写信。"
“I’ll bring you a trinket from … somewhere rather warmer than Whitby and Scarborough. And no, I’ll not tell you the port. Information like that can sink a man in deep water.” Tremayne took a step away, then returned and folded Ryan in an embrace. His voice was very quiet as he said, close to Ryan’s ear, “I like him, Billy. He’s a good lad, bright, and a beauty. You keep him close.”
"我会给你带件小玩意儿...从比惠特比和斯卡伯勒暖和得多的地方。不过具体是哪个港口我可不说，这种消息会让人在深水里沉底的。"特里梅因退后一步，又折回来紧紧抱住瑞安。他在瑞安耳边轻声说："我喜欢那小子，比利。是个好小伙，机灵又漂亮。你得把他看紧了。"
“I’ll try,” Ryan said wryly, “but the Adelaide will be at sea in a few days, and me with her.”
"我尽量，"瑞安苦笑道，"可阿德莱德号过几天就要出海，我也得跟着走。"

Tremayne stepped back and gave his hand to Jim. “Nice to have met you, Mr. Hale.” He smiled, his brown face crinkling. “I’ll be in touch.”
特里梅因后退一步，向吉姆伸出手。"很高兴认识您，黑尔先生。"他微笑着，棕色的脸庞泛起皱纹。"我会再联系您。"

With a rueful smile Ryan watched his old friend stride out of the parlor, too big, too broad, to be confined inside of walls. They would see no more of him, not when he had bought into a game. “What do you think of him?”
瑞安带着苦涩的微笑，看着他这位身材魁梧的老友大步走出客厅——那宽阔的肩膀实在不适合被四壁所困。既然他已投身这场博弈，他们恐怕再难相见了。"你觉得他这人如何？"
“He’s persuasive,” Jim said carefully. "If I hadn’t inherited a lot of my father’s business nous, I think I’d already be part of his hare-brained schemes. Nous and all, I’ll be lying awake nights, thinking it over!
"他很会蛊惑人心，"吉姆谨慎地说，"要不是继承了我父亲大半的商业头脑，我恐怕早就参与他那异想天开的计划了。可即便有这份头脑，我夜里躺床上翻来覆去琢磨这事呢！"

Good God, Bill, blockade running next year and American railroads the year after? It could work. Tremayne’s quite the character, isn’t he?" Jim studied Ryan thoughtfully.
"老天，比尔，明年搞突破封锁，后年经营美国铁路？这计划说不定真能成。特里梅因真是个奇人，对吧？"吉姆若有所思地端详着瑞安。
“Quite.” Ryan dropped his voice to a murmur as other patrons stepped inside the inn. “Joel never had an eye for the ladies, though he could have had any woman he wanted, for a smile.” He took a breath and changed tack. “You know, I’m hungry.”
“确实。”瑞安将声音压得极低，随着其他客人陆续走进酒馆。“乔尔向来对女人没兴趣，尽管他只要笑一笑就能得到任何女人。”他深吸一口气，话锋一转。“知道吗，我饿了。”
“You didn’t seem to have an appetite, when the pie arrived.”
“馅饼端上来时，你倒显得毫无胃口。”
“And now I could eat dessert for half a dozen,” Ryan informed him. “Let me scare up the landlady and see if Joel left any of the jam pudding that’s supposed to be so excellent.”
“现在我能吃下六人份的甜点，”瑞安告诉他。“让我去把老板娘叫来，看看乔尔有没有留下那种据说美味无比的果酱布丁。”

They ate in companionable silence, each busy with his own thoughts, saying nothing, though Ryan watched Jim for some time. He could almost hear the click and whir of cogs and gears as Jim chewed through Tremayne’s proposition. Even now, Joel could take Ryan by surprise. This interest in industry, the railroad, was something he had not heard before - probably an inspiration right out of an American newspaper.
他们默契地沉默进食，各自沉浸于思绪中。瑞安却久久注视着吉姆——几乎能听见对方咀嚼特里梅因提案时，脑中齿轮转动的咔嗒声。时至今日，乔尔仍能让他惊讶。这种对工业、铁路的兴趣，是他从未听闻的，八成是从某份美国报纸上得来的灵感。

A long time later Ryan checked his pocket watch as he leaned back in his chair, comfortably full and for the moment relaxed. The sun had angled down; late afternoon shadows wreathed the quay and the clouds which had been gathering since morning had begun to pile up like a mountain range on the horizon.
许久之后，瑞安靠在椅背上查看怀表，酒足饭饱间难得放松。日影西斜，码头上暮色渐浓，自清晨便积聚的云层此刻在天际堆叠如山峦。
“I’ll be at sea again in a few days,” Ryan said quietly. Jim merely nodded. He knew the schedule as well as Ryan. “The Orkneys, Montrose, Dunbar and home.”
"过几日我又要出海了，"瑞安轻声说。吉姆只是点头。他和瑞安一样清楚航程。"先去奥克尼群岛，再到蒙特罗斯、邓巴，最后返航。"
“And then the Skagerak run, Trondheim …” Jim gave a sigh. “Sometimes I do envy you.”
"接着是斯卡格拉克海峡航线，特隆赫姆......"吉姆叹了口气，"有时真羡慕你。"

Because he was a prisoner at Marrick Hall, and the only escape was to turn his back on his responsibility to family and business, which would certainly make old Jonathan cut the turncoat son right out of his will. In fact, Jim could walk away tomorrow, Ryan thought, but he was not ready. He still nursed the old ambition. He wanted Eastcoast for his own, and the Spindrift. And after listening to Joel for an hour, the desire to decide the future the new schooner would be consuming. “Your father can’t hang on forever,” Ryan said pointedly, for Jim’s ears alone.
因为他被困在马里克庄园，若要逃离就只能背弃对家族事业的责任——这势必会让老乔纳森把逆子从遗嘱里除名。其实吉姆明天就能走，瑞安暗想，但他还没准备好。那份野心仍在心底燃烧：他想独占东海岸航线，还有那艘"浪花号"。听完乔尔一小时的长篇大论后，这欲望更强烈了——那艘新纵帆船将吞噬的未来。"你父亲不可能永远掌权，"瑞安意味深长地低语，这话只说给吉姆听。

Jim looked up at him out of troubled eyes. “He’ll hang on long enough to see the business in a shambles, and hand me the wreckage. It’s not much of an inheritance, Bill, and I’ve worked my whole life for it.”
吉姆抬起那双忧心忡忡的眼睛望着他。"他会硬撑到看着家业垮掉，再把烂摊子丢给我。这算不上什么遗产，比尔，我可是为它拼了一辈子。"
“You’ll still own the Adelaide,” Ryan said thoughtfully. “And Duncan Linwood swears there’s no finer, faster schooner in the water than the Spindrift.”
"你至少还拥有阿德莱德号，"瑞安若有所思地说，"而且邓肯·林伍德发誓说，浪花号是海上最出色、最迅捷的纵帆船。"
“Schooner,” Jim echoed. “Steam, Bill. Damn it all, steam is where the future lies.”
"纵帆船，"吉姆重复道，"蒸汽船，比尔。见鬼，未来属于蒸汽时代。"

Ryan could scarcely believe his ears. “Don’t tell me you’d sell both decent hulls you possess and put the money they raised at auction into tin scows? Jesus God, I don’t believe what I’m hearing!”
瑞安几乎不敢相信自己的耳朵。"别告诉我你要卖掉手头两艘像样的船，再把拍卖所得投进那些铁皮驳船？老天爷，我简直不敢相信自己的耳朵！"
“I said nothing of the sort.” Jim gave him a glare. He scraped back his chair, took his mug of coffee and stepped out of the inn’s low door for a breath of air. Ryan followed, hands in pockets, a faint sense of foreboding on his mind.
“我可没说过这种话。”吉姆狠狠瞪了他一眼，拖着椅子往后一撤，端起咖啡杯走出酒馆低矮的门口透气。瑞安双手插兜跟了出来，心头隐约浮起一丝不祥的预感。

The sea wind carried in the smell of the harbor and the hoarse cries of a thousand herring gulls. “Jim?” Ryan prompted minutes later, when Jim seemed lost in thought.
海风裹挟着港口的气息和千百只鲱鱼鸥沙哑的鸣叫扑面而来。“吉姆？”几分钟后，见对方陷入沉思，瑞安轻声唤道。

He stirred with a visible effort. “The past is the past. The old ways are vanishing, Bill. In a hundred years, even in fifty, nothing will be the same. There’ll be no place for the likes of you and me.”
他明显费了些力气才回过神来。“过去的事就让它过去吧，比尔。老规矩正在消失，再过一百年——甚至五十年——一切都会面目全非。像你我这样的人，将再无立足之地。”
“I’m listening.” Ryan frowned at Jim’s profile, absently admiring the curve of his cheek, the long lashes and the stubborn, determined set of his mouth.
“我在听。”瑞安望着吉姆的侧影皱起眉头，目光不经意间掠过他脸颊的弧度、纤长的睫毛，以及那张透着倔强与坚毅的嘴。

It was past four o’clock; deep blue shadows marched along the quay now. An old woman hawked shrimps, mussels and winkles from baskets suspended from a yoke over her shoulder; a girl pushed along a hand barrow, taking filleted fish up to the smoking sheds. And on the horizon was a finger of black smoke, a smudge against the incoming clouds, marking the passage of a steam packet, eastbound for the Continent. Jim pointed it out with a wry smile. “You see? Dirt and noise and rush. There’s the future, Bill, right in front of you, if you care to see it.”
时已过四点，深蓝色的阴影在码头上蔓延。一个老妇人用扁担挑着两篮小虾、贻贝和玉黍螺沿街叫卖；姑娘推着手推车，把剖好的鱼送往熏制工棚。地平线上腾起一缕黑烟，在渐近的云层间晕染开来，那是艘东行欧陆的蒸汽邮轮留下的航迹。吉姆苦笑着指向那里："瞧见没？肮脏、嘈杂又匆忙。这就是未来，比尔，明明白白摆在你眼前。"
“You paint a grim picture,” Ryan said quietly.
"你描绘得可真阴郁。"瑞安轻声说。
“Did Duncan Linwood say anything different?” Jim stepped back into the inn to set down his empty mug.
"邓肯·林伍德说过不同的话吗？"吉姆退回客栈放下空酒杯。

Ryan waited for him at the door and he was back in a moment. “Linwood is like us, and your father,” he said, following as Jim stepped out along the quay. “Steam may be where the future of commerce and industry lie, but give him a hull like the Spindrift and he’s the master of his world.”
瑞安在门边等候，他很快折返。"林伍德和我们，还有你父亲是一类人，"他边说边跟着吉姆沿码头走去，"蒸汽或许是商业和工业的未来，但只要给他像'浪花号'这样的船体，他就能主宰自己的世界。"

They strolled along the waterfront away from their inn, watching and listening as the fishing fleet tied up. They had been making their way in by twos and threes, during the last hour. Twenty Yorkshire cobbles were systematically secured fore and aft, three abreast, along the quay, and the catch was shouldered ashore in baskets.
他们沿着码头远离客栈漫步，看着渔船陆续靠岸。过去一小时里，这些船只三三两两地驶入港湾。二十艘约克郡小渔船被有序地系泊在码头，三艘并排，前后固定，渔获盛在篮子里被扛上岸。

Offshore, a smack butted southward, probably with a load of coal for Norwich, or wool for King’s Lynn. Jim’s eyes followed it but his feet were restless. A moment later he was moving again and Ryan followed. If they climbed the steep path up the cliff, the sun was still bright up above the town while the harbor was deeply shadowed and would soon be chilly.
离岸不远处，一艘小帆船正朝南驶去，大概载着运往诺维奇的煤炭，或是送往金斯林的羊毛。吉姆的目光追随着船影，脚步却躁动不安。片刻后他又迈开步子，瑞安紧随其后。若他们爬上陡峭的崖壁小径，此刻镇上方的阳光依然灿烂，而海港已陷入浓重的阴影，很快就要凉意袭人。

For the moment, if you could only find the sun, the afternoon was
此刻若能寻得阳光，这个下午还算
warm and mild. It was one of those rare times - never lasting a day through - when the wind stilled and the sea air seemed hardly to move. For miles in every direction nothing stirred but the gulls, which swirled around them as they climbed the old stone steps, counting each of the hundred-and-ninety-nine of them, up to the clifftop, with its fortress-like church and the lighthouse.
温暖宜人。这是难得的好天气——虽然从不会持续一整天——风平浪静，连海风都几乎凝滞。方圆数里唯有海鸥在盘旋，当他们数着那一百九十九级古老的石阶向崖顶攀登时，这些鸟儿便围绕着他们飞舞。崖顶矗立着堡垒般的教堂和灯塔。

The climb was long enough, steep enough, to set Ryan’s heart pounding a tattoo. He paused at the top to catch his breath and take in the view of red-roofed houses and blue-green sea, and the River Esk, which ran home to the ocean at Whitby.
这段攀登漫长而陡峭，让瑞安的心跳如擂鼓。他在山顶停下脚步喘息，眺望红顶房屋与蓝绿色海洋交织的景色，还有那条最终在惠特比汇入大海的埃斯克河。

A thousand years ago the Vikings raided down this coast, and some settled here; before them, Romans built signal stations on the seaward crags and drove roads through the moors. And millennia before Mankind’s ancestors walked the earth, this very place was busy with strange creatures almost beyond Ryan’s imagination, animals who left their shells and bones in these cliffs right under his and Jim’s feet.
千年前维京人曾劫掠这片海岸，部分人就此定居；更早之前，罗马人在临海峭壁建造烽火台，在荒原开辟道路。而在人类祖先尚未直立行走的万古之前，这片土地早已栖息着超乎瑞安想象的奇异生物，它们的贝壳与骨骼至今仍深埋在脚下这些悬崖中，就在他和吉姆踩着的岩层里。

The past shimmered, he thought, just on the verge of sight or in the very corner of a man’s eye; if he turned too quickly the will-o’-the-wisp vanished, but the shades of other ages surely lingered on. Ryan thought he could feel the past as they ambled along the cliff, by the dark stone walls of the old church and into the stone embrace of the ruined abbey.
瑞安觉得往昔的微光总在视线边缘游移，稍一转头就会像磷火般消散，但那些逝去时代的幽影确实徘徊不散。当他们沿着悬崖漫步，经过古老教堂的黑色石墙，踏入修道院废墟的石砌怀抱时，他仿佛能触摸到历史的脉动。

Local legend had the site haunted and Ryan could easily believe it. According to the stories, the fossils which seemed to fill the nearby hills and cliffs had once been serpents, great snakes beheaded by St. Hilda and turned to stone; and the ghost of the saint still embraced the abbey. It was sometimes seen, even in sunlight, shimmering with a pale, weird light among the ruins. Old Whitby folk swore they had seen birds coming in from the sea drop their wings as they passed over the abbey, paying homage, and it often appeared that the holy St. Hilda was less venerated than worshipped.
当地传说这里闹鬼，瑞安对此深信不疑。据传附近山丘与悬崖中遍布的化石，实则是被圣希尔达斩首后石化的巨蛇；而这位圣徒的幽灵至今仍守护着修道院废墟。人们偶尔能在日光下看见它——泛着苍白异光在断壁残垣间闪烁。老惠特比居民信誓旦旦地说，目睹过海鸟飞越修道院时收敛羽翼以示敬意，仿佛对圣希尔达的崇拜已超越了单纯的尊崇。

For himself, Ryan had seen and heard nothing strange in the abbey surrounds, but he felt much he could never describe. Ages ago a deep calm had settled over the ruins, and no matter the storms, these stone bones would be peace until the wind and rain weathered them to nothing. The roof was gone but two walls endured, and the triforium soared, still graceful and beautiful, with the traceried window in the gable.
瑞安自己并未在修道院周围看见或听见任何异样，却感受到许多难以言喻的情绪。古老的废墟上沉淀着永恒的宁静，任凭风雨肆虐，这些石砌的骨架始终保持着安详，直到被岁月侵蚀殆尽。屋顶早已坍塌，唯余两堵残墙，三层拱廊依然巍然耸立，优雅如初，山墙上的花格窗棂依旧美丽。

There, Jim sat down on the close-cropped turf to catch his breath and let the blood run back into his muscles after the taxing climb. Ryan sat beside him, warm against him, and was gratified when Jim leaned heavily on his shoulder. One arm hung about the more slender body to hold him, and Jim let himself fall backward to lie in the grass. Ryan held his weight propped on his hands, one on either side of the windtangled hair. Dark eyes looked up at him, at once filled with misgivings yet dark with affection.
吉姆在修剪整齐的草皮上坐下喘息，让血液重新流回因艰难攀爬而僵硬的肌肉里。瑞安挨着他坐下，体温透过衣衫传来，当吉姆重重靠上他肩头时，他心头涌起满足。他伸臂环住对方较瘦削的身躯，吉姆顺势仰倒在草地上。瑞安双手撑在他两侧，指尖陷入被风吹乱的发丝间。那双仰望着他的黑眼睛既盛满犹疑，又翻涌着深情。
“I love you,” Ryan said unexpectedly against the rush of the sea.
"我爱你。"瑞安突然说道，声音淹没在海浪的喧嚣里。
“No matter what becomes of us, no one can ever rob us of that.”
"无论我们结局如何，谁都不能夺走这份感情。"
Jim’s arm hooked about Ryan’s neck and pulled his head down to kiss. Ryan let himself go down, covered Jim and let him carry the considerable weight of his body while they kissed. Then, on a whim, he lifted Jim, rolled them both and took his lover on his chest.
吉姆的手臂环住瑞安的脖颈，将他拉下来亲吻。瑞安顺势俯身，覆在吉姆身上，任对方承受着自己沉甸甸的体重。一时兴起，他突然托起吉姆翻身，让爱人躺在了自己胸膛上。

The tousled head lifted at last and Jim’s breath was heavy as he looked into Ryan’s face. Ryan teased a strand of grass out of his hair, thumbed his lips and tugged the lobe of his ear.
乱发蓬松的脑袋终于抬起，吉姆喘着粗气凝视瑞安的脸。瑞安从他发间拈出一根草茎，拇指抚过他的嘴唇，又轻轻扯了扯他的耳垂。
“I won that race. Have you forgotten?”
"那场比赛是我赢了。你忘了？"
“Of course I remember. And the stakes -”
"当然记得。还有赌注——"
“Your arse,” Ryan finished. “We’ve a tavern roof over us and a soft bed under, for the night. I’ll take my due when it pleases me.” The lofty tone was undermined by a chuckle which mocked himself. He struggled up onto both elbows and kissed Jim soundly.
"‘你的屁股，’瑞安把话说完，‘今晚我们有酒馆的屋顶遮头，有软床垫在身下。等我高兴了自会讨要我的那份。’这番傲慢的腔调被自嘲的轻笑戳破了。他支起双肘，结结实实地吻了吉姆。"

Jim only laughed. “When it pleases the both of us, rather.” He stretched and yawned in Ryan’s face. “I always thought this is one of the most beautiful places in the country.”
吉姆只是大笑：‘得等我们俩都高兴的时候才行。’他在瑞安面前伸着懒腰打哈欠：‘我一直觉得这里是全国最美的地方之一。’
“In the world,” Ryan corrected. “Trust me. I’ve seen enough of the world to know. I always thought, it’s a crime this place is a ruin.”
"‘是全世界最美，’瑞安纠正道，‘相信我，我见过的世面够多了。我一直觉得，这地方沦为废墟真是罪过。’"
“It fell to pieces when King Henry took the lead off the roof, the glass out of the windows and the gold out of their treasury.” Jim settled comfortably on him. “Everyone here knows the stories and legends about this place. I was born in Whitby, did you know? All the Hales are Whitby folk, but Scarborough got big and fancy, and my father thought we ought to go where the gentry are, when we started to get well-heeled. Eastcoast was a damned good business.”
"‘自从亨利国王拆走屋顶的铅皮、撬掉窗上的玻璃、掏空金库之后，这里就破败了。’吉姆舒舒服服地靠在他身上，‘这里的传说故事人人都知道。我是在惠特比出生的，知道吗？所有黑尔家都是惠特比人。但斯卡伯勒发展得又大又时髦，我家开始发达后，父亲觉得该搬去上流人住的地方。东海岸的生意真是该死的红火。’"
“Jim, don’t fret yourself,” Ryan began.
“吉姆，别自寻烦恼了。”瑞安开口道。
“I’m not.” Jim propped himself on his forearms on Ryan’s chest, rested his chin on his hands, and considered the abbey ruin. “Did you know, King Henry also took the abbey’s bells?”
“我没有。”吉姆将前臂撑在瑞安胸膛上，双手托着下巴，凝望着修道院废墟。“你知道吗，亨利国王连修道院的钟都搬走了？”
“I haven’t heard that story.” Ryan pillowed his head on one forearm and with his free hand stroked Jim’s hair. “My family are from ‘down south’ - three or four different towns while I was growing up. The Medway, the Thames.”
“这故事我倒没听过。”瑞安单臂枕着头，另一只手轻抚着吉姆的发丝。“我家祖籍在‘南方’——我小时候住过三四个不同的小镇。梅德韦河畔，泰晤士河畔。”
“I remember.” Jim was still intent on the ruins. “The story goes, the bells were looted and loaded on a ship in the harbor. It tried to put out to sea, and they’d had a decent nor’east sailing breeze off the Esk estuary. They were trying to leave on the evening tide, bells and all, but the wind died. The sea was a pond, the ship was completely becalmed, she just sat there while the sun set … then she sank. No one knows why. She never sailed out of sight of the abbey, and the wreck’s there, bells and all, somewhere over towards Black Nab.”
“我记得。”吉姆仍目不转睛地望着废墟。“传说那些钟被洗劫一空，装进了港口的货船。船试图出海时，埃斯克河口还刮着像样的东北向航行风。他们本想趁着晚潮启航，连钟带船一起走，可风突然停了。海面平静如池塘，船完全动弹不得，就这么在夕阳里停泊着……后来沉没了。没人知道原因。那船始终没驶出修道院的视野范围，如今残骸还带着那些钟，埋在黑岬角附近的某处海底。”
“Someone opened up her sea cocks and flooded her,” Ryan guessed. "She had to be scuttled by someone who’d thought it a sin to loot an abbey’s bells, and maybe he’d caught a glimpse of St. Hilda up here.
“有人打开了她的海底阀把她灌沉了，”瑞安推测道，“准是哪个觉得劫掠修道院钟铃罪孽深重的人凿沉了她，说不定那人还瞥见了圣希尔达在这上头呢。”

Maybe," he added, “they believed St. Hilda had stopped the wind to keep the ship, and the bells, here.” He stroked Jim’s hair thoughtfully. “There’s no mystery in how and why the ship sank, but the evening wind off a river estuary, dying just then - there’s your mystery.”
“也许，”他补充道，“他们相信是圣希尔达止住了风，把船和钟铃都留在了这里。”他若有所思地抚摸着吉姆的头发，“船怎么沉的、为何沉的都不算谜，可河口吹来的晚风偏偏在那时停了——这才是真正的谜。”
“So I always thought.” Jim took a breath, seemed to blink himself back to the present, and gave Ryan a smile. “I thought you’d be the skeptic, make fun of the whole thing.”
“我一直都这么想。”吉姆深吸一口气，仿佛眨了眨眼才回过神来，对瑞安露出微笑，“我还以为你会是个怀疑论者，把整件事当笑话看呢。”
“I’ve been at sea long enough to see a lot of things I can’t hope to explain,” Ryan said easily. “One stormy night when you’d enjoy scaring yourself white, I’ll tell you about them.”
“我在海上待得够久，见过太多没法解释的事，”瑞安轻松地说，“等哪天暴风雨夜你想听点吓破胆的故事，我再讲给你听。”
“One night,” Jim agreed. And then he gave a start. “Do you -” Movement out of the corner of his eye had caught his attention and he moved swiftly away from Ryan. “What was that?”
“就一晚。”吉姆表示同意。接着他突然一惊。“你看见——”他眼角瞥见的动静引起了他的注意，迅速从瑞安身边退开。“那是什么？”
“What was what?” Ryan sat up quickly and brushed dry grass from his coat.
“什么是什么？”瑞安猛地坐起身，拍掉外套上沾的枯草。
“I’d swear someone was there.” Jim pointed at the skeletal remains of the Cistercian Abbey. “A bit of white, a flash of blue, like a flag. Damn! Someone was watching us, Bill.”
“我敢发誓刚才有人在那儿。”吉姆指着西多会修道院的废墟残骸，“一抹白色，还有蓝色闪过，像面旗子。见鬼！刚才有人在监视我们，比尔。”
“You’re sure?” Ryan stood, both hands shading his eyes, and took a long, deliberate look around in every direction before he glanced down at Jim and made scornful noises. “There’s not a human being within a mile, dear heart. Nothing white, nothing blue. Just the gulls, and they don’t care. You know, it’d be easy to take discretion to the point of madness. It’s living in your father’s house that’s making you see spies behind every bush. Not your fault, Jim - I know, living with old Jonathan would drive an angel mad, and you’re no angel to begin with.”
“你确定？”瑞安站起来，双手搭在眉骨上遮光，刻意地朝每个方向仔细环视了一圈，才低头看着吉姆发出轻蔑的哼声。“方圆一英里内连个人影都没有，亲爱的。既没有白色，也没有蓝色。只有海鸥，它们可不在乎这些。要我说啊，过分谨慎和疯癫只有一线之隔。住在你父亲家里让你看什么都像藏着间谍。这不是你的错，吉姆——我知道和老乔纳森住在一起连天使都会发疯，而你本来就不是什么天使。”
“You’re quite sure?” Jim sat up, eyes creased against the late afternoon sun as he searched the bleached abbey ruin. The stone bones looked as if a dragon had died here, been buried in the earth and now the skeleton was weathering out, the way the great sea serpents of some age before the Flood often appeared in the cliffs, worn out by wind and water.
“你确定吗？”吉姆直起身子，眯起眼睛抵挡着午后斜阳，扫视那片泛白的修道院废墟。那些石质残骸仿佛曾有巨龙在此死去，被埋葬于地下，如今骸骨正风化显现——就像大洪水时代之前某些巨型海蛇的遗骸，经年累月被风霜侵蚀后裸露在悬崖上的模样。
“I’m quite sure.” Ryan shook his head over Jim in a moment’s exasperation. “You’ll be better, far better, when you’re master of your own establishment.”
“我非常确定。”瑞安低头看着吉姆，一时有些恼火。“等你有了自己的产业，情况会好得多——好得不止一星半点。”

Not even a blade of grass was moving, now he was alert, and Jim subsided. “I suppose you’re right. Living under my father’s eye is not quite what I had in mind for us.”
此刻连草叶都纹丝不动，警觉起来的吉姆渐渐平静。“我想你说得对。在我父亲眼皮底下生活，终究不是我们想要的。”
“We’ll have our turn,” Ryan said easily. “All things in their own good time. You can only play the game the way the dice let you.”
“总会有我们出头之日，”瑞安轻松地说，“万事各有其时。骰子怎么转，你就得怎么玩这场游戏。”
“I imagine Joel Tremayne would agree with that!” With a quick twist Jim was on his feet, brushing down his coat and trousers. “It’s getting cold, anyway. The sun’s already down and we’ve a good walk back. A mug of something hot, a game of skittles…?”
"我想乔尔·特里梅因也会同意这点！"吉姆利落地站起身，掸了掸外套和裤子上的灰尘。"天开始冷了，太阳已经下山，我们还得走好一段路回去。来杯热饮，玩场九柱戏如何？"
“And a soft bed,” Ryan added with undisguised and unashamed glee. “I’m due a prize, if I recall correctly.”
"再加张软床，"瑞安毫不掩饰地欢快补充道，"如果我没记错的话，我该得个奖赏。"

When they stepped back inside, they found The Wheeldale Inn busy with fisherfolk and the crew of a Dutch merchantman which had dropped anchor in the afternoon. A fire roared halfway up the chimney and the skittle alley was rattling, noisy. Ryan plucked a handful of darts out of the board by the door and settled for them instead as Jim scavenged for scalding Turkish coffee and a slab of pound cake surviving from Christmas. The cake was so soaked in rum or brandy - any leftover spirit the cook could get - a man would soon be tipsy on it alone.
他们回到惠尔代尔客栈时，发现这里挤满了渔民和下午刚靠岸的荷兰商船水手。壁炉里的火焰蹿得老高，九柱戏球道哗啦作响，喧闹非常。瑞安从门边的镖靶上拔下一把飞镖决定改玩这个，而吉姆则找来滚烫的土耳其咖啡和一块圣诞节剩下的磅蛋糕。蛋糕浸透了朗姆或白兰地——总之是厨师能找到的剩酒——单吃这个很快就能让人微醺。

The bar was in full song at ten, when they climbed the perilously steep ship-stairs to rooms with a view of the dark harbor where a scattering of lights bobbed to the undulation of the tide. The candles were lit in Ryan’s room, and the hearth was alight. A few cinders smoldered, waiting for kindling and coal, but Ryan merely disturbed his bedding, blew out of candles and swiftly, quietly joined Jim in the tiny room across the narrow passageway.
十点钟酒吧歌声正酣时，他们爬上陡峭如船梯的楼梯，来到能望见漆黑港口的房间，零星的灯火随着潮水起伏摇曳。瑞安房里的蜡烛亮着，壁炉燃着火。几块余烬闷烧着等待新添柴煤，但瑞安只是弄乱被褥，吹灭蜡烛，迅速而安静地穿过狭窄走廊，溜进对面吉姆的小房间。

It was always wise to shave before making love after a long day. Nothing betrayed the errant lover faster than whisker burns. Raw cheeks were dire enough on a woman, but disastrous on a man. A freshly-stropped razor and a mug of frothed soap provided the cure. Ryan indulged himself in a whim. He drew the blade over Jim’s face and throat with the deftness of a professional barber, then sat back to allow Jim to do the same.
经过漫长一天后，行房事前刮净胡须总是明智之举。没有什么比胡茬擦痕更能迅速暴露偷情者的行径。女人脸上泛红的刮痕已够糟糕，若出现在男人脸上更是灾难。一把刚磨好的剃刀与满杯泡沫肥皂水便是解药。瑞安纵容自己突发奇想，他以专业理发师般的娴熟手法为吉姆刮净面颊与喉部，而后靠坐回去，让吉姆也如法炮制。

From the bag in which he kept his shaving tackle, Ryan took a green glass jar of thick, viscous oil. This, he placed right beside the pillow and turned his attention to his companion. Jim laid him bare with deft hands, stroked his shoulders, kissed his chest, lightly bit into both his nipples, and Ryan groaned as he was straddled. Jim was humping gently to rub his cock over Ryan’s hipbone, and excitement gathered like a storm out at sea.
瑞安从装剃须工具的布袋里取出一个绿色玻璃罐，里面盛着浓稠油膏。他将罐子放在枕边，转而专注于他的伴侣。吉姆用灵巧的双手剥开他的衣衫，抚过他的肩膀，亲吻他的胸膛，轻咬他两侧乳头。当吉姆跨坐上来时，瑞安发出呻吟。吉姆轻轻摆动身体，让性器摩擦着瑞安的髋骨，情欲如海上风暴般积聚翻涌。

Candlelight gleamed on them both and their breath was short, panting. At last Ryan caught Jim by the shoulders to stop him, and Jim lifted his head. His eyes were dark, looking almost blind in the soft glow of the four fluttering candles. Mute, beyond words, Jim seemed content to just breathe, and when Ryan reached for the glass jar he turned belly-down on the rumpled bed and canted his hips.
烛光在两人身上流淌，他们的呼吸短促而炽热。最终瑞安抓住吉姆的肩膀制止他，吉姆抬起头。在四支摇曳烛光的柔晕中，他的眼眸幽深得近乎失明。沉默超越了言语，吉姆似乎满足于单纯呼吸。当瑞安伸手去拿玻璃罐时，他翻身趴在凌乱的床铺上，微微抬起臀部。

Ryan slipped a folded shirt under him to save the counterpane and sat back to pry open the stoppered jar. A faint scent of sweet herbs teased his nose; he held his breath, gritted his teeth, as he slathered on the oil. He stooped, kissed down Jim’s spine and kissed the mounds of his buttocks too. He branded the left with a bite, and slipped his fingers between. Jim’s skin was hot, musky, and he gave a little wild sound as Ryan made him ready.
瑞安将叠好的衬衫垫在他身下以免弄脏床罩，坐回去撬开塞紧的罐子。甜草药的气息轻挠他的鼻腔；他屏住呼吸咬紧牙关，将油膏厚厚涂抹。他俯身沿着吉姆的脊椎亲吻，也吻过那两瓣臀丘。他在左侧留下齿痕，随后将手指探入其间。吉姆的皮肤发烫，带着麝香般的气息，当瑞安为他做准备时，他发出小兽般的呜咽。

He was tight as a clenched fist - this luxury came all too rarely and Ryan’s possession was slow, steady. Jim’s face clenched, his lips compressed, while Ryan felt the surge of feverish excitement churn like a millrace in his blood. “Jim?” His voice was hoarse, a mere whisper. Jim was far past coherence. He shifted to brace himself, spread his legs and tilted his hips. His hands gripped into the sheet as Ryan knelt between the slender thighs and took a deep, steadying breath.
他浑身紧绷如握紧的拳头——这般奢侈的欢愉实在难得，瑞安的占有缓慢而稳健。吉姆面容扭曲，双唇紧抿，而瑞安则感到那股狂热的兴奋如磨坊水车般在血液中翻涌。"吉姆？"他的声音嘶哑，近乎耳语。吉姆早已神志不清。他调整姿势支撑自己，分开双腿，微微抬起臀部。当瑞安跪在那双修长大腿之间深深吸气时，吉姆的十指深深陷进床单。

Fresh sweat shone in the candlelight over every inch of Jim’s fair skin. He pressed his face into the pillow, panted and groaned, but pain was dwindling away and pleasure was not far in its wake. Ryan was so slow, so careful, and at last the taut lines of Jim’s face relaxed. His eyes opened a crack and a pink tongue-tip moistened his lips.
新沁的汗珠在烛光下闪烁，遍布吉姆白皙肌肤的每一寸。他把脸埋进枕头，喘息呻吟，但痛楚正逐渐消退，快感接踵而至。瑞安如此缓慢，如此谨慎，终于吉姆紧绷的面容松弛下来。他微微睁开眼，粉红的舌尖润湿了嘴唇。

He was ready now, open and inviting, while Ryan was listening to the drumbeat of his own heart, loud in his ears. So many years of experience, of longing and disappointment, hastily grasped pleasures and bitter frustrations, stormed through him as he began to move, deep and slow. Excitement flickered like summer lightning in every nerve. A hundred other nights mocked him; a hundred half-forgotten faces. Then they were all gone, banished like phantoms as Jim whispered his name.
此刻他已完全舒展，敞开着迎接对方，而瑞安正听着自己震耳欲聋的心跳。多年来的渴望与失望，仓促攫取的欢愉与苦涩的挫败，都在他开始深沉缓慢的动作时席卷全身。兴奋如夏日闪电在每根神经末梢闪烁。无数个夜晚嘲弄着他；无数张半遗忘的面孔。然后它们全都消散了，当吉姆轻唤他名字时，所有幻影都被驱逐殆尽。

Beneath him, Jim was moving too and Ryan paused, blinked his vision clear and watched the clench and flex of the beautiful, slender body. Jim came up onto hands and knees, pleasuring himself now, and almost finishing Ryan in the same wanton moment. Ryan flung back his head and let the storm carry him away.
身下的吉姆也开始动作，瑞安暂停片刻，眨去眼前雾气，注视着这具美丽修长身躯的收缩与舒展。吉姆用手膝支撑起身子，此刻正自我取悦着，几乎在同一放纵瞬间就将瑞安推向巅峰。瑞安猛地仰头，任凭风暴将自己席卷而去。

A long time later, still languid in the aftermath - nerves still shimmering with the last shivers of the climax that had devastated him, and thoroughly tempered by affection, Jim murmured, “Master of my own establishment, you said.” The words were slurred. He wriggled closer, pressed against Ryan’s side. Thought had begun to weave itself back into coherence. “Good Christ, Bill, you don’t know how long I’ve dreamed about it.”
许久之后，高潮的余韵仍令他浑身酥软——神经末梢还颤动着最后几丝震颤，整个人都被柔情浸透。吉姆呢喃道："你说要当自己宅邸的主人。"他口齿含糊地往瑞安身侧又蹭近了些，思绪正逐渐恢复条理。"老天，比尔，你都不知道我梦想这事多久了。"
“I can imagine.” Ryan’s arms tightened about him. His eyes were closed but he was still wide awake, his thoughts a disorganized jumble. “You must be jaded with creeping around, living a life of deception, yet if your father were to discover the truth he’d certainly find a nephew or a cousin to replace you in his will.”
"我能想象。"瑞安收紧环抱他的手臂。他闭着眼睛却毫无睡意，思绪纷乱如麻。"你肯定厌倦了躲躲藏藏、活在谎言里的日子。可要是令尊发现真相，准会找个侄子或堂兄弟来取代你在遗嘱里的位置。"
“In retribution for a lifetime of - of boyish pranks.” Jim chuckled, but it was not a sound of humor. “I’m not a boy anymore, nor do I wish to be treated as one. As for pranks -” He lifted his head for a moment and looked at Ryan’s half-seen face. “What you just did to me no prank.”
"就为报复我这辈子——孩子气的恶作剧。"吉姆轻笑一声，却毫无欢愉之意。"我不再是孩子了，也不想被当成孩子对待。至于恶作剧——"他微微抬头，望向瑞安半明半暗的面容。"你方才对我做的，可不是什么恶作剧。"
“I’d black the eye of anyone who called it that,” Ryan agreed, wondering what was on Jim’s mind now.
"谁敢这么说，我非揍得他眼圈发青不可。"瑞安表示赞同，暗自揣测着吉姆此刻的心思。
“I want you beside me,” Jim told him, “even if we have to head for
“我要你陪在我身边，”吉姆对他说，“哪怕我们得去
the island you told me about. The one where you find out the prettiest girls are really boys, and no one cares or even notices if two men live together and lie down together.”
你告诉过我的那座岛。就是那种地方——你会发现最漂亮的姑娘其实是男孩，两个男人同居同寝也没人在意甚至注意。”
“Tahiti,” Ryan yawned. “Wait a little longer, Jim. A year or three. Jonathan’s old and sick, and I can’t see why a man like Jon Hale would want to cling onto life when it’s nothing but a round of doctors and dosing and bedpans and pain.”
“塔希提岛，”瑞安打着哈欠说，“再等一两年吧，吉姆。乔纳森又老又病，像乔恩·黑尔这样的人，整天除了看医生、吃药、用便盆和忍疼痛之外什么都没有，我真不明白他为什么还要硬撑着活下去。”
“But will I be sane in a year or three?” Jim wondered. “There’s times when I think he’ll outlive me! Oh, I’m sorry, Bill, if I sound callous, but you know full well, since my mother died there’s been little affection between Jon Hale and me. I respect him, but sometimes I don’t like him very much, and there’s been times when he actually seemed to want to make me hate him, make me get out of the house, out of his sight. Times,” he added quietly, “when I almost did. I don’t suppose any of this makes sense to anyone but me.”
“可一两年后我还能保持清醒吗？”吉姆喃喃道，“有时候我觉得他会活得比我更久！唉，对不起，比尔，这话听着冷酷，但你很清楚——自从我母亲去世后，我和乔恩·黑尔之间就没什么亲情可言了。我敬重他，但有时候实在不太喜欢他。甚至有些时候，他好像存心要让我恨他，逼我离开这个家，从他眼前消失。”他轻声补充道，“有几次，我差点就这么做了。这些话大概除了我，没人能理解吧。”

Ryan rolled over, nuzzled Jim’s nape, kissed him there, and Jim made amused sounds. “How I’d like to make off with you,” Ryan told him. “Kidnap you, steal the Adelaide and just run away to sea.”
瑞安翻过身，用鼻子轻蹭吉姆的后颈，在那里落下一个吻，吉姆发出愉悦的轻笑。"真想把你拐走，"瑞安对他说，"劫走你，偷走阿德莱德号，就这么逃到海上去。"
“I’d be your cabin boy? Aye, sir, aboard a pirate galleon,” Jim decided, warming to the ridiculous fantasy. “And I’d wear a thick gold ring in my ear, and a silk kerchief on my head.”
"那我当你的船舱侍从？好啊先生，就做海盗船上的小水手，"吉姆沉浸在这个荒唐的幻想里，兴致渐浓，"我还要在耳朵上戴个沉甸甸的金环，头上系条丝巾。"
“Would you?” Ryan nibbled his ear. “Very fetching, that would be! Your father would have a seizure.”
"当真？"瑞安轻咬他的耳垂，"那可太迷人了！你父亲准会气得昏过去。"

Jim lifted himself on one elbow and looked down at Ryan’s face in the candle shadows. It was never easy to read Jim’s emotions, much less his thoughts, and with the shadows masking his eyes and clinging to his bones in bizarre patterns, those thoughts and feelings were more masked than ever. Jim said nothing, and at last Ryan was disturbed enough to prompt, “What? Tell me.”
吉姆用胳膊肘支起身子，在烛光摇曳的阴影里俯视瑞安的脸。要读懂吉姆的情绪从来都不容易，更别提看透他的心思。此刻阴影覆住他的双眼，在他嶙峋的轮廓上投下怪诞的斑纹，那些思绪与情感比往日隐藏得更深。吉姆沉默不语，最终瑞安不安地催促道："怎么了？告诉我。"
“I’m being foolish,” Jim confessed. “Sometimes I feel much older than my years, Bill, and other times I feel like a boy. Just ignore me.”
“我太幼稚了，”吉姆坦白道，“有时候我觉得自己比实际年龄老成许多，比尔，可有时候又像个毛头小子。别理我就好。”

Ignore him? Ryan gazed down the length of the slender body beside him, and any words he could find would only have been trite. Jim rubbed his smooth cheek over the point of Ryan’s shoulder, and Ryan gathered him up. A boy? No boy was this, but a man, hard and lean, hot and like velvet, and if Jim was bedevilled by selfdoubts, it was his father’s doing. Ryan had mounted him tonight with the same tender attention with which he had approached him the first time. On that first night Jim was so skittish, Ryan knew the truth without asking. Jim had been badly used by some man, at some time. No questions were asked, no secrets offered, but Ryan had known then as knew now, Jim Hale was a man. No man was his master, no matter what Jonathan might think.
别理他？瑞安垂眸望着身旁这具修长的身躯，任何言语都显得苍白。吉姆用光滑的脸颊蹭着瑞安的肩膀，瑞安便将他揽入怀中。毛头小子？不，这分明是个男人，精瘦结实的身躯像天鹅绒般发烫。若吉姆正被自我怀疑折磨，那都是他父亲的过错。今夜瑞安像初遇时那样温柔地占有他——那晚吉姆惊惶如幼鹿的模样，让瑞安不问便知真相：某个男人曾粗暴地伤害过他。没有追问，没有坦白，但瑞安始终清楚，吉姆·黑尔是个真正的男人。没人能主宰他，无论乔纳森怎么想。
“Damn your father,” Ryan said with deceptive blandness, for he meant every word.
“去他爹的，”瑞安语气平淡得像在谈论天气，却字字诛心。
“My father,” Jim groaned. And then, with uncharacteristic passion, “Shit! I don’t want to think about my father. In fact, why don’t you make me forget all about him for an hour?”
“我父亲...”吉姆痛苦地呻吟，随即罕见地激动起来，“见鬼！我根本不愿想起他。不如...你让我彻底忘记他一个小时？”

Ryan rose to the challenge once more with great pleasure as the rain which had been gathering all afternoon unleashed itself over Whitby with a lash of angry, stormy air against the window.
瑞安再次欣然接受了挑战，此时酝酿了整个下午的雨水终于倾泻而下，愤怒的暴风裹挟着雨点抽打在惠特比的窗棂上。

The Constance was an aged smack out of Aberdeen. Broad-waisted, deep-draughted, on her way to ports in the south, she did not tie up in Scarborough harbor but put a dory over the side. Waiting on the quay in a brisk, late morning wind, Ryan and Jim watched a couple of seamen row the single debarking passenger into the harbor.
康斯坦斯号是艘来自阿伯丁的老旧小帆船。这艘船身宽大、吃水颇深，正驶往南方诸港，并未在斯卡伯勒港停靠，只放下一艘小平底船。瑞安和吉姆站在清晨凛冽的码头风中，看着两名水手划船将唯一的登岸乘客送进港湾。

He was a big man, red haired but silvering about the forehead and temples, and he still dressed like a Naval man though he was obviously no longer in the service of the Queen. A bearded face looked up as the longboat jostled the quay, and Ryan reached down to take the duffle bag from Geoffrey Pyke.
那是个红发壮汉，额角已泛起银丝，虽显然不再为女王效力，仍保持着海军人员的装束。当长艇擦碰码头时，那张蓄须的面孔仰了起来，瑞安俯身接过杰弗里·派克递来的帆布行李袋。

Everything the man possessed was in it, and the bag was set safely on the cobblestones before Ryan reached over to help his old shipmate ashore. Standing back, Jim was content to watch and listen. He heard a Cornish burr before Pyke’s silver-red head appeared up the stone steps, and at once he saw the scars.
那人的全部家当都装在这只行囊里。当瑞安俯身搀扶这位老船员上岸时，行囊已稳妥地搁在鹅卵石地上。吉姆站在稍远处，心满意足地观望着。他先是听见带着康沃尔腔调的声音，接着派克那泛着银红的脑袋便从石阶上冒了出来——那些伤疤立刻映入眼帘。

The bushy, salt-and-pepper beard hid them to a degree, but they were visible along the side of Pyke’s face, and down the right side of his neck, between beard-line and collar, a solid wedge of leathery hide, less like human skin than the rind of an orange. But the man’s eyes were bright, clear and intelligent, and he was smiling as he clasped Ryan’s hand. Ryan greeted him warmly, they slapped backs, and then Pyke slapped a paper into Ryan’s palm: the message he had received from Tremayne.
浓密的灰白胡须多少遮掩了疤痕，但它们仍清晰可见：沿着派克脸颊的侧面，顺着脖颈右侧，在胡须边缘与衣领之间，楔形皮革般的皮肤不似人类肌肤，倒像风干的橙皮。但这双眼睛明亮锐利，透着机敏。他握住瑞安的手时笑容满面。两人热络地寒暄，互相拍打后背，随后派克将一张对折的纸条拍进瑞安掌心——那是特里梅因传来的讯息。

Ryan unfolded it, read it swiftly and passed it to Jim. To Geoffrey Pyke, clo Landlord, Lochgilpead Inn, Glasgow. Need you promptly. Good employ. Take first coaster Scarborough. Meet Ryan. Tremayne.
瑞安展开纸条快速浏览，转手递给吉姆。致杰弗里·派克，格拉斯哥洛吉普黑德旅馆店主。急需用人。优职虚位以待。速乘首班沿岸船至斯卡伯勒。与瑞安会合。特里梅因。
“So I’s here, and right fast! What’s so urgent, Skipper?” He asked in the rich Cornish accent. “I was signed on with the Mercury, killing time till they get done. This better be important.”
"所以我这不就赶来了，够快吧？到底什么急事，船长？"他用浓重的康沃尔口音问道，"我本来签了墨丘利号的约，正等着他们完工呢。这事儿最好值得。"

The warning was friendly but serious. Ryan took it in the spirit it was delivered, and passed Pyke’s seabag back to him. “Come and have
这警告虽带着善意却十分严肃。瑞安领会了其中意味，将派克的海员包递还给他。"过来喝
a jar, Geoffrey. We’ll tell you the whole sorry story. D’you recall the Mascot?”
一杯吧，杰弗里。我们会告诉你整个糟心事儿。还记得吉祥物号吗？"
“I do.” Pyke’s brow creased. “What of her?”
"记得。"派克眉头紧锁。"她怎么了？"
“She went down last week. It was hardly worth a mention in the Glasgow paper, so you may not have heard the news. I was aboard.” Ryan nodded at Jim. “This is Mr. Jim Hale of the Eastcoast Packet company, who led the salvage. He pulled me out of the wreck.”
"上周沉了。格拉斯哥报纸都没怎么提，你可能没听说。我当时在船上。"瑞安朝吉姆点头示意，"这位是东海岸邮船公司的吉姆·黑尔先生，负责打捞工作。是他把我从残骸里救出来的。"
“Then I owes thee a debt of gratitude,” Pyke said generously, offering his hand to Jim. “The skipper’s too good a man to drown in an old hulk on English rocks.”
"那我可欠你一份人情了，"派克大方地说着，向吉姆伸出手。"船长这样的好人，不该在英国礁石旁的破船里淹死。"
“I quite agree,” Jim said mildly, shaking the Pyke’s hand. “I believe you and he have served together?”
"我完全同意，"吉姆温和地说，握了握派克的手。"听说你和他曾共事过？"
“On the poor old Canary,” Pyke said readily. And his hand stole to his neck, reflexively, palming the scars, though he said no more.
"在那可怜的老金丝雀号上，"派克不假思索地回答。他的手不自觉地摸向脖颈，掌心覆着那些伤疤，却再没多说。

Perhaps Jim itched to ask questions but Ryan would not allow him the time. Before Jim could utter another word he launched into the story of Moses Wallach, and the wrecker, Matthew Donnegan - whom Pyke actually knew personally; they were both Cornishmen in the maritime trades - and the local privateers, the Kerr brothers. Pyke’s face darkened as he heard Ryan out. They had settled in the quiet chimney corner in The Mermaid, and Jim had finished a second rum before the story was fully told and embellished.
吉姆或许满腹疑问，但瑞安没给他开口的机会。不等吉姆再说什么，瑞安就滔滔不绝讲起摩西·沃拉赫、沉船打捞者马修·唐尼根——这人派克确实认识，他们都是康沃尔郡吃海上饭的——以及当地私掠船主克尔兄弟的故事。派克听着听着脸色阴沉下来。他们在美人鱼酒馆安静的壁炉角落落座，等故事讲完并添油加醋一番时，吉姆已经喝完了第二杯朗姆酒。

Pyke mulled the job over thoughtfully. “I’ll use the brains God gave me and make a guess at thy meaning, Skipper. Thee wants me to sign on with the Kerr crew.” His brows rose, creasing his forehead. “To snoop about.”
派克若有所思地琢磨着这份差事。"我会用上帝赐予的脑子猜猜你的意思，船长。你是想让我加入克尔那帮人。"他扬起眉毛，额头上挤出几道皱纹。"去暗中打探。"
“And then tell us what you’ve heard and seen,” Jim added. “They belong behind bars, Mr. Pyke, before they kill someone, just as Wallach almost murdered Captain Ryan. My company has just three hulls left on the water. Ryan commands the best, a schooner fitted out for the runs between the Scandinavian ports and Ireland. We have a new ship still on the slips in Dumbarton, but I’ll be honest with you. She’s only half paid-for.”
"然后把你的所见所闻告诉我们，"吉姆补充道，"他们该被关进大牢，派克先生，趁他们还没杀人——就像沃拉赫差点害死瑞安船长那样。我们公司现在只剩三艘船在航。瑞安指挥着最好的一艘，那是艘专门跑斯堪的纳维亚港口和爱尔兰航线的纵帆船。邓巴顿船坞里还有艘新船，但老实说，我们只付了一半船款。"
“And if them Kerr bastards drive thy ships ashore,” Pyke finished, “thee’ll never get her paid for.” He arched his brows at Jim, and then at Ryan. He had never been not a handsome man and the burns had marred him for life, but his face was clean-lined and surprisingly intelligent, since Pyke seemed poorly educated.
"要是克尔那群混蛋把你们的船逼上岸，"派克接过话头，"你们就永远付不清尾款了。"他先后朝吉姆和瑞安挑了挑眉毛。这个男人曾经相貌堂堂，虽然烧伤毁了他一辈子，但轮廓分明的脸上仍透着出人意料的机灵劲儿——尽管派克看起来没受过什么教育。
“You’re a stranger to Scarborough, you see,” Ryan said, for the second time. “We cabled Tremayne because we need a man who’s not local, not known to Wallach or the Kerrs. If you’ll have the job, I happen to know the Kerrs are always hiring.”
"要知道，你在斯卡伯勒人生地不熟，"瑞安第二次说道，"我们给特里梅因发电报，就是因为需要个本地生面孔，既不被沃拉赫也不被克尔家族认识的人。如果你愿意接这活儿——我恰好知道克尔那边一直在招人。"
“Aye, I’ll take it.” Pyke poured a third small rum from the thick brown glass bottle and sipped it thoughtfully. “If thee’s right, and they’ll hire the likes of me.”
"好，我接这活儿。"派克从棕褐色厚玻璃瓶里倒出第三小杯朗姆酒，若有所思地抿了一口。"若你说得没错，他们真会雇我这种人。"
“They’ll hire on anyone with a back like yours, and shoulders like an ox,” Jim told him. “Their business is salvage, not shipping. They need all the muscle they can get, and no questions asked. I can tell you, the wages they’ll pay are good, and there should be bonuses … they’ll always pay a good price for silence.”
"就凭你这副虎背熊腰的身板，他们准会要你。"吉姆告诉他，"他们做的是打捞生意，不是航运。需要能扛能抬的壮劳力，还不过问底细。实话跟你说，工钱给得大方，还有奖金...他们向来重金买人守口如瓶。"
“Ship wrecking.” Pyke’s face set into bitter lines. He looked from Jim to Ryan and back again. “Thee’s got to realize, they’ll ask me to do filthy work if I sign aboard with 'em. What happens to me when thy lawyers give the Kerrs a full broadside?”
"沉船勾当。"派克脸色阴沉下来，目光在吉姆和瑞安之间来回扫视。"你们得明白，要是我签了卖身契，他们准让我干些见不得人的勾当。等你们的律师把克尔家族一网打尽时，我怎么办？"
“I imagine you’ll be quite the hero,” Ryan said dryly. “It’ll be your evidence that slams the prison gate on the whole company, and you’ll be a known employee of Eastcoast Packet, though it’ll have to remain secret until the time is right.”
"我想你会成为大英雄。"瑞安干巴巴地说，"你的证词会让整个公司锒铛入狱，而你会是东海岸邮船公司的在册员工——虽然这事得等到合适时机才能公开。"
“Well, now, I’ll be the hero or I’ll be fish bait!” The Cornishman sat gazing into his glass as if the future might be divined there. His left hand rubbed the burn scars. Jim wondered if they still hurt, or if the skin was simply numb. At last Pyke nodded. He looked at Ryan over the rim of the glass. “I’ll look the bastards up tomorrow. Where’ll thee be, Skipper, if I needs thee fast?”
"好吧，现在我要么当英雄，要么就当鱼饵！"那个康沃尔人坐着凝视酒杯，仿佛能从里面预知未来。他的左手揉搓着烧伤疤痕。吉姆想知道那些伤疤是否还在作痛，或者皮肤早已麻木。最后派克点了点头，他隔着玻璃杯边缘看向瑞安。"我明天就去会会那些混蛋。要是急需帮忙的话，船长，该上哪儿找你？"
“At sea, I’m afraid,” Ryan told him. “I’ve been docked for repairs after we lost some rigging and sailcloth in heavy weather off the Swedish coast two weeks ago, but it was minor damage. She’ll be back in trade in a couple of days.” Before Pyke could protest he went on, “If you need help in a hurry, head up to Marrick Hall, the Hale residence. Call at any hour and ask for Mr. Hale the younger. Trust him as you trust me, Geoffrey.”
"恐怕那时我已在海上，"瑞安告诉他，"两周前在瑞典海岸遭遇恶劣天气损失了些索具和帆布，我们停泊维修过，但都是小损伤。再过几天就能重新出航。"没等派克反对，他继续说道："若急需援助，就去马里克庄园的黑尔宅邸。随时去敲门找小黑尔先生。信任他就如同信任我，杰弗里。"

Pyke looked Jim over critically and frowned at Ryan. “Thee’d be positive sure, Skipper?”
派克挑剔地打量着吉姆，对瑞安皱起眉头："船长，你当真确定？"
“I’d be dead certain,” Ryan said without hesitation. “He’s already saved my life, at appalling risk to his own.”
"我敢以性命担保，"瑞安毫不犹豫地说，"他早已救过我的命，当时他自己也冒着极大的危险。"
“Then, there’s a piece of good work we share in common, Mr. Hale,” Pyke said wryly. “Aye, sir, we do indeed.”
"‘看来我们有件共同的得意之作呢，黑尔先生，’派克语带讥讽地说。‘是啊先生，确实如此。’"

Bursting with questions though Jim was, he held his silence until he and Ryan had stepped out of The Mermaid and were walking, shoulder to shoulder, north along the quay with Castle Hill looming like a rampart before them. Ryan still said nothing but he knew the questions must be asked, or Jim would erupt.
吉姆满腹疑问，却始终沉默不语，直到和瑞安走出美人鱼酒馆，肩并肩沿着码头向北走去。前方城堡山如壁垒般巍然耸立。瑞安依旧不发一言，但他知道这些问题迟早要面对——否则吉姆迟早会爆发。

They began as a steam horn called brazenly from the long pier, and this time Jim refused to take ‘no’ for an answer. Ryan seemed to grit his teeth, brace himself to weather the storm.
当长堤上传来刺耳的汽笛声时，吉姆终于开口了，这次他决意要问个明白。瑞安似乎咬紧了牙关，准备迎接这场暴风雨般的追问。
“He saved your life, Bill? He served with you? Good God, he still calls you ‘skipper!’ Where did he get those burns? Why does he say, ‘the poor old Canary?’ What in the name of Christ happened? Tremayne had something to do with it, I’d swear it. At least tell me where Pyke was burned, and how!”
"‘他救过你的命，比尔？还和你共事过？老天，他现在还叫你‘船长’！那些烧伤是怎么来的？为什么总说‘可怜的老金丝雀号’？看在基督份上到底发生了什么？我敢发誓这事准和特里梅因有关。至少告诉我派克是在哪儿烧伤的，怎么伤的！’"
“He got himself badly burning saving my life,” Ryan said with obviously spurious indifference.
"‘他为了救我把自个儿烧得够呛，’瑞安说着，装出一副满不在乎的样子。"

A sharp intake of breath, and Jim stopped dead. He spun toward Ryan with an immovable face, as if he would never budge another inch until he had all the answers. Ryan sighed, passed a hand before his eyes and glared at him.
吉姆猛地倒吸一口气，突然站定。他转向瑞安时面色铁青，仿佛不得到答案就绝不挪动半步。瑞安叹了口气，用手抹了把脸，怒目瞪着他。
“It is none of your business, Jim Hale!”
"‘这不关你的事，吉姆·黑尔！’"
“The hell it’s not,” Jim swore. “It’s every bit my business, since you’re the man I love. God help me, you’re the man I risked my neck for. So that’s what Pyke meant.” He managed quite a credible Cornish accent: “Then, there’s a piece of good work we share in common, Mr. Hale.” His brows arched and his fists clenched. “I can stand here all day waiting for answers.”
"‘放屁，’吉姆咒骂道，‘这当然关我的事，因为我爱的是你这个人。老天作证，我可是为你拼过命的。所以派克原来是这个意思。’他学了一口地道的康沃尔腔调：‘那么黑尔先生，咱们可算同病相怜了。’他眉头高挑，拳头紧握。‘我可以在这儿站一整天等你的答复。’"
“And I can walk straight back up to the house,” Ryan snapped more harshly than he had intended.
“我完全可以径直走回大宅去。”瑞安厉声说道，语气比他本意要尖锐得多。

The wind tossed Jim’s hair into his face and he raked it back with a sharp, angry gesture. “Why must you always be so damned secretive? I don’t see the sense or reason, Bill. In fact, it’s starting to sound suspicious! You’ve got something to hide? What, you and Tremayne sank the ship between you? Ah, so now you look angry! Try and see it from my perspective for half a second. No sense, Bill, no sense or reason, is all I can see.”
风把吉姆的头发吹到脸上，他恼怒地一把将头发捋到脑后。“你非得这么神神秘秘不可吗？我实在看不出这有什么道理，比尔。说真的，这开始显得可疑了！你有什么要隐瞒的？怎么，难道你和特里梅因合伙把船弄沉了？哈，现在你倒摆出生气的样子了！试着站在我的角度想想。毫无道理，比尔，我看到的只有毫无道理。”
“You would, if you knew.” Ryan swallowed the sudden, lava-hot upwelling of something close to anger, but what he saw in Jim’s face was not bloody-minded curiosity. It was puzzlement and concern. He sighed again and tipped his face up to the sun. “God, give me strength!” Then he glared at Jim again and said bluntly, “All right, since you must know - know it all and make what you like of it! I was dishonorably discharged from Her Majesty’s Navy. There, are you satisfied now? It was following the fire that burned my ship to the waterline in the Azores, and I should have been dead, not court-martialed, if Geoffrey Pyke hadn’t flung himself back into an inferno to haul me out.”
“你要是知道原委，就不会这么说了。”瑞安强咽下突然涌上喉头、近乎愤怒的灼热情绪，但他在吉姆脸上看到的并非固执的好奇，而是困惑与关切。他又叹了口气，仰面迎着阳光。“上帝啊，赐予我力量吧！”接着他再次瞪着吉姆，直截了当地说，“好吧，既然你非要知道——知道全部真相然后随你怎么想！我是被女王陛下海军不光彩地革除军籍的。这下你满意了吧？事情发生在亚速尔群岛那场把我们的船烧到吃水线的大火之后，要不是杰弗里·派克冲回火海把我拖出来，我本该葬身火海，而不是上军事法庭。”

With that he turned his back on Jim and strode toward the steep little streets without pausing to look over his shoulder. He had always known it would be impossible to keep the secret forever, but for years now he had guarded it jealously. The last man in the world he had wanted to know was Jim, and Jim’s demands for the deep-buried facts hurt like a fresh bruise.
说完这话，他转身背对吉姆，大步走向陡峭的街巷，头也不回。他早知道这个秘密不可能永远保守，但多年来始终严防死守。全世界他最不愿知情的人就是吉姆，而吉姆对深埋真相的追索，像新添的瘀伤般隐隐作痛。

Humiliation and wounded pride warred with resentment and downright anger as he turned into the street, and he started up fast, punishing his muscles. It was some time before he became aware of determined footsteps and heavy breathing behind him, and knew Jim was catching him up.
羞耻与受伤的自尊在他拐进街道时与怨恨和纯粹的愤怒交战着，他加快脚步，折磨着自己的肌肉。过了好一会儿他才意识到身后坚定的脚步声和沉重的喘息，知道吉姆正在追赶他。

By the window of a dressmaker’s shop where window dummies were undressed waiting for new skirts, drawing a crowd of curious
在一家裁缝铺的橱窗前，那里的人体模特正裸露着等待新裙子，吸引了一群好奇的小男孩围观，瑞安停下了脚步。
small boys, Ryan came to a halt. He was as breathless as an old nag, and his eyes stung, close to watering. He looked defiantly into Jim’s face, in that moment damning him for the beauty that made him so difficult to defy, impossible to hate. Heaven only knew how evil Jim Hale would have to be, before a man could learn how to hate him.
瑞安喘得像个老马驹，眼睛刺痛得几乎要流泪。他挑衅地盯着吉姆的脸，那一刻诅咒着对方那令人难以抗拒、无法憎恨的俊美。天知道吉姆·黑尔得坏到什么程度，才能让人学会恨他。
“You’ve had the truth out of me,” Ryan muttered angrily. “It’s what you wanted to know. Joel and I, the bloody pair of us, were courtmartialed and dismissed the service. Is this what you wanted to hear? Now let the subject lie, goddamn it!”
"你已经从我这里逼出了真相，"瑞安愤怒地嘟囔道，"这不正是你想知道的吗？乔尔和我，我们这两个倒霉蛋，被军事法庭审判并革除了军职。这就是你想听的吗？现在让这个话题见鬼去吧！"

Jim leaned his weight on his thighs on both palms as he caught his breath, and looked up ruefully at Ryan. “I’ve heard a part of the story, Bill,” he countered with a gentle tone Ryan had not anticipated. Like music it soothed, lulled him until he had the heart to listen. Jim nodded, back over his shoulder toward The Mermaid. “Geoffrey Pyke almost worships you. You think I’m blind?”
吉姆双手撑在大腿上喘着气，懊恼地抬头看向瑞安。"我听说过部分故事，比尔，"他用瑞安没料到的温和语气反驳道。那声音如同音乐般抚慰人心，让他平静下来愿意倾听。吉姆点点头，朝身后的美人鱼酒馆示意。"杰弗里·派克简直把你当神崇拜。你以为我眼瞎吗？"
“He was my bosun,” Ryan said grudgingly. “And a better man never shipped out of England.”
"他曾是我的水手长，"瑞安不情愿地说，"英格兰出海的水手里没有比他更好的了。"
“Aboard the Canary,” Jim added quietly. “The poor old Canary. She burned?”
"在金丝雀号上，"吉姆轻声补充，"可怜的老金丝雀号。她烧毁了？"
“She went up like a torch,” Ryan growled.
"她像火把一样烧起来了，"瑞安低吼道。
“What was on your manifest?” Like any man who had spent a lifetime in the sea trades, Jim knew what to ask. “Not nitrates, not ammunition or gunpowder. She’d have just exploded, not burned.”
"‘你的货单上写着什么？’像所有在海上贸易行当里摸爬滚打了一辈子的人那样，吉姆知道该问什么。‘不是硝酸盐，不是弹药或火药。否则船早就炸了，不会只是烧起来。’"

The group of small boys who had gathered to watch the window dummies undressed had begun to pay attention, and Ryan beckoned Jim away. He started back up the incline at an easier pace and Jim was pleased to follow.
那群聚在橱窗前看假人脱衣的小男孩开始注意到他们，瑞安示意吉姆离开。他放慢脚步往坡上走，吉姆也乐得跟着。
“We were carrying gun cotton, fuel oil and brass cartridge cases, on our way to supply a warship.” Ryan averted his eyes. “Is this inquisition really necessary?”
"‘我们运的是火棉、燃料油和黄铜弹壳，正要去给军舰补给。’瑞安移开视线，‘这种盘问真的有必要吗？’"

But Jim was relentless, though his tone remained gentle. “Your cargo would burn like a haystack. Why were you held accountable?”
但吉姆穷追不舍，尽管语气依然温和：‘你的货会像干草堆一样烧起来。为什么你要担这个责任？’

Suddenly tired of it all, wearied of the secrecy, Ryan rubbed the back of his neck where his muscles cramped with fatigue. “The captain is always accountable when a ship’s lost or damaged, no matter how it happens. I stood up in an Admiralty court alongside Joel. We told the story, and our part in it. Three old men retired to consider our plea, and our sin was called negligence. Dereliction of duty. The greater part of the responsibility rested on my shoulders simply because I was the senior officer.”
瑞安突然对这一切感到厌倦，厌倦了遮遮掩掩，他揉着后颈因疲惫而僵硬的肌肉。"无论船只失事或损毁的原因如何，船长永远难辞其咎。我曾与乔尔一同站在海军法庭上陈述经过，坦白我们的所作所为。三位年长的审判官退庭商议后，裁定我们的罪名为玩忽职守——渎职。由于我身为高级军官，大部分责任都落在我肩上。"

He sighed, and surrendered to Jim’s gentle curiosity. “No one ever knew for sure what began the fire, but it was judged to be a man, or men, smoking between watches. I’d instructed the crew verbally: smoking was prohibited. I’d posted notices for the benefit of anyone who could actually read, but when I caught a few of the lads breaching
他叹了口气，向吉姆温和的探询妥协。"没人能确定火灾的起因，但最终判定是值更间隙有人吸烟所致。我口头警告过全体船员：严禁吸烟。还为识字的人张贴了告示，可当我抓到几个小伙子违反规定时——"
the rule I only fined them. My duty was to flog them. The crime … smoking a pipe, for Christ’s sake … hardly seemed worth the punishment. Regulations insisted I give a young boy forty lashes with right and left cat. For lighting a pipe.” He swallowed hard and tried to shrug away memories which rushed in on him, fresh and sharp, despite the years.
"——仅仅罚了他们些钱。按职责我该鞭笞他们。可这罪行...老天，不过抽个烟斗...实在罪不至此。军规却要求我必须用九尾鞭左右开弓，抽那孩子四十下。就因为他点了烟斗。"他艰难地咽了咽口水，试图摆脱那些汹涌而来的记忆——尽管时隔多年，依旧鲜明而刺痛。
“Bill?” Jim set a hand on his arm and Ryan returned to the present to discover he had stopped again, near the top a street where the narrow canyon of houses opened out into the cool sea wind.
"比尔？"吉姆将手搭在他臂膀上，瑞安这才惊觉自己又停在半途。他们已走到街道高处，两侧逼仄的房屋忽然豁开，带着咸味的海风迎面拂来。
“Apparently,” Ryan said in a harder tone, “I allowed discipline aboard my ship to deteriorate. My leniency was deemed culpable irresponsibility, and Tremayne was also charged with letting both me and the Canary go to hell without registering a complaint either to me or the Admiralty.”
"‘显然，’瑞安用更生硬的语气说道，‘我放任自己船上的纪律涣散。我的宽容被认定是罪责难逃的失职，而特里梅因也因纵容我和金丝雀号走向毁灭——既未向我抗议，也未向海军部申诉——受到指控。’"
“Damn.” Jim studied Ryan’s pale, taut profile. “How many died in the fire?”
"‘该死。’吉姆凝视着瑞安苍白紧绷的侧脸，‘火灾里死了多少人？’"
“Six.” Ryan closed his eyes, struggling to keep the memories tightcapped. “And I was almost one of them. Sometimes, in the dead of night, Jim, I’ve wish to God I had been.”
"‘六个。’瑞安闭上双眼，竭力压制那些翻涌的记忆，‘我差点成为第七个。吉姆，有些深夜里，我真恨不得自己当时就葬身火海。’"

Jim gave Ryan’s arm a companionable squeeze. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? More than one night, you’ve threshed and shouted in your sleep till I was terrified you would wake my father or the servants! I’ve always known there’s a goblin on your back. I knew it must be something like this, but how could I guess?”
吉姆安抚地捏了捏瑞安的手臂，‘为什么不早告诉我？多少个夜晚你在睡梦里挣扎嘶喊，吓得我生怕你会惊醒父亲或仆人们！我早知道你心里藏着恶鬼，也猜到多半是这类事——可我怎能料想得到？’

Drawing a deep, painful breath, Ryan forced open his eyes and leveled his voice. “Court-martial and dishonorable discharge are not something a man likes to confess. Rather like … like confessing to having been molested in an alley one dark night.”
瑞安深深吸了口气，那呼吸带着痛楚。他强迫自己睁开双眼，声音平稳地说道："被送上军事法庭、遭到不光彩除名，可不是一个男人愿意承认的事。这就像……就像承认自己曾在某个漆黑的夜晚在小巷里遭人侵犯一样。"

To his astonishment Jim physically recoiled; every muscle gave an involuntary jerk. In a moment he was back in command and a wry, bitter little twist of a smile replaced the sudden expression of distress. “Odd you should say that, Bill. Very odd indeed.”
令瑞安震惊的是，吉姆整个人都往后一缩，每块肌肉都不由自主地抽搐了一下。但转瞬间他就恢复了自制，嘴角扭曲出一个苦涩的浅笑，取代了方才突然流露的痛苦表情。"真奇怪你会这么说，比尔。确实奇怪得很。"

He turned away, hurrying his pace up the incline. At the top he turned left for home, while Ryan stood like a statue, gazing at his back for several stunned moments before outrage and a good measure of fury galvanized him. He dove up the street, caught up with Jim where the sea wind whistled through the rank grasses, and snatched at his elbow to stop him.
他转身离去，加快脚步爬上斜坡。在坡顶左转走向家的方向时，瑞安仍如雕像般呆立原地，震惊地注视着他的背影好一会儿，直到愤怒与狂怒突然驱使他行动起来。他冲上街道，在海风呼啸穿过丛生杂草的地方追上吉姆，一把抓住他的胳膊拦住了他。
“What in God’s name did you mean by that remark? Jim? Answer me!”
"你这话到底什么意思？吉姆？回答我！"
“It’s just as you said.” Jim’s eyes were dark and glittering, while his cheeks had flushed brightly. “Some things, a man hardly likes to confess,” he said awkwardly. “I wish to heaven I’d not said a word. Left you to your secrets.”
“正如你所说。”吉姆的眼睛幽深发亮，脸颊却涨得通红。“有些事，男人实在羞于启齿，”他局促地说道，“我真希望自己什么都没说。让你守着你的秘密。”

Ryan felt as if he had been punched. “You were -” It was difficult
瑞安感觉像是挨了一记重击。“你当时——”这话实在难以
to find words that would not poison his own mouth. “Ill used?” He cleared his throat and his lips compressed into a line, shutting in a tide of rage. “Tell me the man.”
说出口，那些字眼仿佛会玷污他的唇舌。“受了委屈？”他清了清嗓子，嘴唇抿成一条线，压抑着汹涌的怒火。“告诉我那人是谁。”
“Bill -”  “比尔——”
“Tell me the man!” Ryan’s voice rose over the wind. “Give me his name. I’ll thrash it out of his hide! Who was it? Do I know him?”
“告诉我那人是谁！”瑞安的声音压过了风声。“把他的名字说出来。我要揍得他皮开肉绽！到底是谁？我认识他吗？”
“Oh, Christ.” Jim tipped back his head and closed his eyes against the brilliance of the sky. “I was a boy, it was ten years ago, closer to eleven, and he was a stranger. Just a sailor, a Dutchman off a ship in the bay. I have no idea who he was. And I asked for it.”
“噢，天哪。”吉姆仰起头，闭眼躲避刺目的阳光。“那时我还是个孩子，十年前的事了，快十一年了，他是个陌生人。不过是个水手，海湾里荷兰船上的。我根本不知道他是谁。而且是我自找的。”
“Asked to be ill used?” Ryan snorted. “No one asks for that.”
“自找罪受？”瑞安嗤之以鼻。“没人会这么要求。”
“I gave him the come-hither eyes, invited him to be intimate with me, and nobody made me go outside with him.” Jim blushed hotly. “What was it, tell me, if not an invitation to just take what was brazenly offered?”
“我朝他抛媚眼，邀他与我亲热，没人逼我跟他出去。”吉姆涨红了脸。“你说说看，这难道不是明目张胆的邀请，让人随意拿取吗？”
“An invitation to pleasure, rather.” Ryan grasped him by both upper arms. “The Dutchman could have taken you outside and been a gentleman. He might have traded you kisses, sucked you - he might have fucked you, if he’d done it with finesse and care.” Ryan took a breath. “He forced you?”
“倒不如说是享乐的邀约。”瑞安抓住他的上臂，“那个荷兰人本可以带你出去，做个绅士。他本可以与你交换亲吻，吮吸你——他本可以与你交欢，只要他足够温柔体贴。”瑞安深吸一口气，“他强迫你了？”
“Let me say, I had no choice about it.” Jim was astonished to discover himself shaking. In ten years he had never dared admit any of this to a soul. His father would have flayed the hide off him. He looked into Ryan’s eyes, saw the anger and realized, Ryan was not furious with him for the brazenness, but with the man who had treated him badly. At last Jim discovered a smile, and touched Ryan’s cheek with his knuckles. “Thank you, Bill.”
“这么说吧，我当时别无选择。”吉姆惊讶地发现自己声音发颤。十年来他从未敢向任何人吐露这些事。父亲若是知道定会剥了他的皮。他望进瑞安的眼睛，看到那愤怒后突然明白——瑞安并非因他的放浪形骸而暴怒，而是为那个伤害他的人。终于，吉姆挤出一丝微笑，用指节轻触瑞安的面颊。“谢谢你，比尔。”
“For what?” Ryan demanded bluffly. “I can’t even go out and break the bastard’s legs for you.”
“谢什么？”瑞安直率地追问，“我又不能冲出去替你打断那混蛋的腿。”
“I’m a grown man now,” Jim reminded him. “If I wanted the Dutchman’s legs broken, I’d do it myself.”
“我现在是个成年人了，”吉姆提醒他，“若真想打断荷兰人的腿，我自己会动手。”
“And you don’t?” Ryan turned back onto the path toward Marrick Hall and fell into step beside Jim. “If it were me, I’d want blood. I’d want the bastard tied down over a barrel with his trousers at halfmast, and what happened next might depend on how loudly and sincerely he begged and apologized.”
"你难道不想吗？"瑞安转身回到通往马里克庄园的小径，与吉姆并肩而行。"换作是我，我定要他以血偿还。我要把那混蛋捆在酒桶上，扒下他的裤子，至于接下来会发生什么——就看他求饶道歉的诚意了。"

He said no more, for the gremlins of memory were quick to pop out of the mind’s deep cabinets. Once, it had almost been himself. The older midshipmen were foiled with a minute to spare, by the grace of an officer’s timely arrival, but Midshipman Ryan was bare from waist to knees and held down over a barrel, with a slather of whale oil between his buttocks. The price for the crime was three thrashed backsides, since Captain Purcell was a churchman, God-fearing and strict. Forty strokes of the heavy cane for Jackson, Wilmer and Oaks. The Navy called it a boy’s punishment, ‘kissing the gunner’s daughter.’ A
他没再往下说，记忆中的小鬼总爱从脑海深处的柜橱里窜出来。曾几何时，他自己也险些遭此厄运。那年若非军官及时赶到，年长的见习生们差一分钟就得逞了——见习水手瑞安当时被按在酒桶上，腰际以下的衣物全被剥去，臀缝间还抹着厚厚的鲸油。由于珀塞尔舰长是位敬畏上帝的严苛神职人员，这桩恶行的代价是三副挨打的屁股。杰克逊、威尔默和奥克斯各领了四十下重藤条。海军管这叫"亲吻炮手之女"的少年刑罚——
boy was tied over the barrel of a deck gun and his bare haunches were beaten bloody. After his sixteenth birthday it would be the flogger, and a Navy cat instead.
受罚者被绑在甲板炮的炮管上，光裸的臀部会被抽打得血肉模糊。等过了十六岁生日，就该换成九尾鞭伺候了。
“Bill? What is it?”
"比尔？怎么了？"
It took some moments for Jim’s voice to filter into the dense mist of Ryan’s thoughts. He was marching along toward the house, arms and legs moving on their own, oblivious to anything Jim had been saying, for the last minute. Ryan forced in a breath and was pleased to return the past to its proper place, a dusty loft which could be closed, locked and forgotten. He forced a smile and brushed a strand of hair from Jim’s forehead.
吉姆的声音过了好一会儿才穿透瑞安浓雾般的思绪。他正机械地朝房子走去，手脚自顾自地摆动着，对吉姆方才说的话充耳不闻。瑞安深吸一口气，欣慰地将往事重新封存在它该在的地方——那个可以关上、锁死、遗忘的积尘阁楼。他挤出一个微笑，替吉姆拂开额前一绺碎发。
“Nothing for you to fret for, Jim. The goblins can be hard to shake off, that’s all there is to it.”
“没什么好担心的，吉姆。地精确实很难摆脱，仅此而已。”
“But none of it, the Canary incident, was your fault,” Jim said quickly. “The fire could have been anything from an act of God to deliberate sabotage.”
“但金丝雀号的事故绝不是你的错，”吉姆急切地说，“那场火可能是天灾，也可能是蓄意破坏。”
“It might have been.” Ryan shrugged eloquently. “The Navy sent officers to investigate but too little of the ship could be salvaged. The most the investigating officers could do was question the survivors. In the end the findings were vague. Sabotage? Who’d want to burn her, what would he gain from it? Even Joel and I believed it far more likely the fire started with lads smoking between watches. Why shouldn’t they smoke? They certainly had no fear of Lieutenant Ryan’s shoddy discipline.”
“或许吧。”瑞安意味深长地耸耸肩，“海军派了调查官，但能打捞的船体残骸太少。调查官最多只能盘问幸存者。最终结论含糊其辞——蓄意破坏？谁想烧毁她？又能得到什么？就连我和乔尔都觉得，更可能是值更间隙抽烟的水手引发了火灾。他们凭什么不能抽烟？反正没人把瑞安中尉松散的管理当回事。”

Jim snorted derisively. “The Navy makes my belly sour. It’s the only place I know where mercy and forbearance can be twisted into guilt and culpability.”
吉姆轻蔑地哼了一声。"海军让我反胃。这是我唯一知道能把仁慈与宽容扭曲成罪恶与罪责的地方。"

Delight and amusement banished a squadron of Ryan’s ghosts. “Then maybe you’d do me a small service.”
喜悦与欢愉驱散了瑞安心头的一群阴霾。"那或许你能帮我个小忙。"
“What service?” Jim’s eyes were on the black-faced gulls, which rode the wind just over the edge of the cliff.
"什么忙？"吉姆的目光落在那些黑脸海鸥身上，它们正乘着风在悬崖边缘盘旋。
“Keep my secret.” Ryan sighed. “Not everyone’s as forgiving as you. Wharfside tattletales and fishwives are more likely to make a villain of me.”
"替我保守秘密。"瑞安叹了口气，"不是所有人都像你这么宽容。码头那些长舌妇和卖鱼婆更可能把我描述成恶棍。"
“All right.” Jim lifted his chin. “As for secrets, you can also keep mine. The same tattletales would take great pleasure in making Jezebel of me, and that was never true. I simply made a bad mistake, and paid for it. Dearly.”
“好吧。”吉姆扬起下巴，“至于秘密，你也可以替我保守。那些爱搬弄是非的人最乐意把我抹黑成荡妇，可那从来不是事实。我只是犯了个大错，并为此付出了代价。惨痛的代价。”
“You were lonely, desperate and too damned young,” Ryan said generously.
“你那时孤独、绝望，又年轻得过分。”瑞安宽厚地说道。
“I was daft as a loon,” Jim added, still angry with himself over halfforgotten scenes.
“我当时蠢得像只呆头鹅。”吉姆补充道，仍对那些半遗忘的往事耿耿于怀。
“Young folks tend to be,” Ryan said in a tone forgiving of all ills.
“年轻人往往如此。”瑞安用一种宽恕所有过错的语气说道。
“Are they?” Jim sounded less than sure. “One thing you’ve still not told me, Bill. Couldn’t your family have done something to help at the
"是吗？"吉姆听起来不太确定，"有件事你还没告诉我，比尔。难道你们家就不能做点什么来帮忙吗？"
court-martial? My father knew yours so well, he seemed to know your face as soon as you walked through our door! Did your father not speak out on your behalf?”
"军事法庭？我父亲和你父亲交情那么深，你一踏进我们家门，他就好像认出了你的脸！难道你父亲没为你说句话吗？"

Ryan sighed. “My father had died a good while before the old Canary burned. My mother and uncles, the rest of those crows-on-a-fence, grandparents and all, were mortified. Old Naval families, Jim. The tradition’s in their veins along with the blood. Their doors weren’t just slammed in my face, they were bolted and barred! I spoke to my grandfather just once after the Canary. He retired with the rank of commander and I swear, if he could have had me taken out for keelhauling, the old bugger would’ve watched and applauded.” He gave Jim a sidelong, conspiratorial look. “There, you see? You’re not the only lad on this coast whose father’s a bastard.”
瑞安叹了口气。"我父亲早在老金丝雀号被烧毁前就去世了。我母亲和舅舅们，还有那些像篱笆上的乌鸦般爱管闲事的亲戚们，祖父母他们全都羞愧难当。都是海军世家啊，吉姆。传统就像血液一样流淌在他们血管里。他们不仅当着我的面摔门，还上了门闩！金丝雀号事件后，我只跟祖父说过一次话。他是以指挥官军衔退休的，我敢发誓，要是能把我拖去船底拖刑，那老混蛋准会在一旁鼓掌叫好。"他朝吉姆使了个心照不宣的眼色。"瞧见没？在这片海岸上，你可不是唯一有个混蛋父亲的小伙子。"
“I’m sorry for what happened.” Jim was glaring at the sea, in that moment seeming to despise it. Perhaps he was thinking of Tremayne’s description of her as a beautiful but cruel, vindictive, even murderous bitch. “I pray we’ll both stumble over the opportunity to mend our fortunes.”
“我为发生的事感到抱歉。”吉姆怒视着大海，那一刻似乎对它充满憎恶。也许他想起了特里梅因对她的描述——一个美丽却残忍、充满报复心甚至杀人成性的恶毒女人。“但愿我们都能抓住机会重振家业。”
“Amen to that,” Ryan approved. “Amen, indeed.” He watched Jim deliberately turn his back on the sea, cold-shouldering it. Jim gave him a wry, thoughtful smile before they turned toward Marrick Hall at a more leisurely pace.
“诚心所愿，”瑞安赞同道，“确实诚心所愿。”他看着吉姆故意转身背对大海，显出冷淡疏离的模样。吉姆朝他露出一个若有所思的苦笑，随后两人便以更为悠闲的步调转向马里克庄园走去。

The late afternoon was overcast and the wind was swiftly growing chill as they came up on the garden walls. Ryan stopped there with his face turned to the sky. “I want to walk, Jim. Clear my head. Forgive me, but the old ghosts are too close. Let me stretch my legs for an hour. I’ll meet you for dinner.”
暮色四合，阴云密布，当他们走近花园围墙时，寒风正迅速变得凛冽。瑞安驻足仰望天空。“我想走走，吉姆。让头脑清醒些。原谅我，但往日的幽灵离得太近了。让我散步一小时。晚餐时再见。”
“Take you time, Bill.” Jim’s hand was on the gate. “You’ve got plenty of it.”
“慢慢来，比尔。”吉姆的手搭在门闩上，“你有的是时间。”
“At least until the Adelaide’s loaded,” Ryan reminded him, and then waved before he swung on, along the clifftop path.
“至少在阿德莱德号装完货之前，”瑞安提醒他，随后挥了挥手，沿着悬崖小径大步离去。

The bell at the back gate rang as Jim entered, alerting the whole house to his arrival, and Mosswell’s face peered around the old pear tree. He was watering the potted herbs outside the back door with a battered, retired silver teapot. The basil, sage, rosemary and thyme flourished where the high walls shut out the wind and trapped the sun. The garden air was always fragrant. Jim might have savored the sudden warmth and heady scents as he shut the gate, but one glance at Mosswell’s face banished any such innocent pleasures.
后门的门铃在吉姆进来时响起，向整栋房子宣告他的到来，莫斯韦尔的脸从老梨树后探了出来。他正用一把破旧的退役银茶壶给后门外的盆栽香草浇水。高墙挡住了风，留住了阳光，罗勒、鼠尾草、迷迭香和百里香长得郁郁葱葱。花园里的空气总是芬芳四溢。吉姆关上大门时，本可以享受这突如其来的温暖和醉人香气，但瞥见莫斯韦尔的表情后，所有这般单纯的愉悦都烟消云散了。
“I know that look. There’s trouble,” he said tersely, without a word of preamble.
“我认得这表情。出事了。”他开门见山地说道，没有半句寒暄。
“Aye, there’s trouble, an’ t’master wants to see thee,” Mosswell said cryptically. “He’s in a God-almighty rage this time, he is.”
“是啊，出事了，老爷要见你。”莫斯韦尔神秘兮兮地说，“这回他可真是大发雷霆了。”
“Is he, now?” Jim glanced up at the side of the house, where Jonathan’s bedroom and sitting room overlooked the sea. “What seems to
“是吗？”吉姆抬头望向房子侧面，乔纳森的卧室和客厅正对着大海。“到底怎么——”
be aggravating him this time? Are my sums faulty again?”
这次又惹恼他了？难道我的账目又出错了？
“It were not for me to ask, an’ I’ad a sight better sense,” Mosswell said stiffly as he finished with the plants and held open the back door. “But’e tells me, send thee up as soon as thee shows thy face.”
"‘本不该由我多嘴，我该更识相些，’莫斯韦尔摆弄完花草，僵硬地撑着后门说道，‘但他吩咐了，叫你一露脸就立刻上去。’"
“Has he received a letter?” Jim sobered, at a loss to know what the trouble could be. “Has a courier been with papers? Christ, not another wreck!”
"‘他收到信了？’吉姆顿时严肃起来，想不出会出什么岔子，‘有信使送文件来了？老天，可别再是沉船事故！’"
“Not that I’eard - and that news, I’d 'ave 'eard.” Mosswell clattered the teapot down in the scullery sink. “But a young lass come callin’, and what she 'ad to say put t’cat among t’pigeons.”
"‘没听说这事——要是那种消息，我早该知道了。’莫斯韦尔把茶壶哐当扔进洗碗池，‘但来了个年轻姑娘拜访，她说的话可掀起了轩然大波。’"
“A girl?” Jim was surprised. “You didn’t recognize her?”
"一个姑娘？"吉姆很惊讶，"你没认出她来？"
“Didn’t see nothin’ of 'er. Young Annie let t’lass in.” Mosswell sorted rags from silver polish, strapped a leather apron about his clothes and turned his attention to his work.
"啥也没瞅见。是小安妮放那丫头进来的。"莫斯韦尔把抹布和银器抛光剂分开，系上皮质围裙，转身忙起手头的活计。

Waiting and wondering was a more exquisite torture than confronting the old man. Jim took the stairs two at a time, stood at the mirror on the second floor landing to straighten his hair and collar, and shrugged imaginary creases from his jacket before he rapped his knuckles smartly on his father’s door.
等待与猜疑比直面那位老人更令人煎熬。吉姆两步并作一步冲上楼梯，在二楼平台的镜子前理了理头发和衣领，又掸了掸本不存在的夹克皱褶，这才用指节利落地叩响父亲的房门。
“Come!” Jonathan Hale’s voice barked. He must have seen Jim and Ryan at the gate, he knew well enough who it was.
"进来！"乔纳森·黑尔的声音厉声响起。他准是早看见了吉姆和瑞安在门口，心里清楚来者何人。

At the steel in his father’s voice, Jim took a breath. He was twentyfive years old and should have been impervious, but his palms were damp. Teeth clenched, annoyed with himself, he stepped inside.
听到父亲声音里的冷硬，吉姆深吸了一口气。他二十五岁了，本该无动于衷，掌心却渗出汗水。他咬紧牙关，对自己感到恼火，迈步走了进去。
“Mosswell said you wanted to see me. Something is amiss.”
"莫斯韦尔说您要见我。出什么事了？"
The hearth was smoldering low, the window was open and the room seemed chill, gray, even dank. Jim felt a shiver and thrust hands into pockets. His father was up and dressed in black trousers, red waistcoat, as if he had every intention of going out though his doctors had forbidden it. Jim might have protested, cautioned him about the chaotic disorder of his health, but the expression on the old man’s face stilled his tongue.
壁炉里的火闷烧着，窗户敞开着，房间显得阴冷灰暗，甚至有些潮湿。吉姆打了个寒颤，把手插进口袋。父亲已经起身，穿着黑裤子和红马甲，仿佛执意要出门，尽管医生明令禁止。吉姆本想劝阻，提醒他混乱的健康状况，但老人脸上的表情让他噤了声。

Never one to mince words, Hale skewered his son with ice-green eyes and said, “Miss Maggie Kerr was here this morning. Rang the bell and asked to see me. Asked for me my name, bold as brass. Walked right into the parlor, sat down and looked me square in the eye.”
黑尔向来直言不讳，他用冰绿色的眼睛盯着儿子说道："玛吉·克尔小姐今早来过。她按门铃要求见我，还直呼我的名字，胆大包天。径直走进客厅坐下，直勾勾地盯着我的眼睛。"

Surprise took Jim aback. “Nathan Kerr’s sister, calling on us? What in the world did she want? Not to betray her brothers, I imagine. Unless she thought you’d pay her a few pounds to hand her clan to the law!”
吉姆惊讶得后退了一步。"内森·克尔的姐姐来拜访我们？她究竟想要什么？总不可能是来出卖自己兄弟的吧。除非她觉得你会付几英镑让她把族人交给官府！"

For a moment Jonathan said nothing. He seemed like a carving in pale marble, and then the flat of his hand slammed down on the leather surface of the desk. “I won’t have it, boy! I won’t have it in my house.”
乔纳森沉默了片刻。他苍白得像一尊大理石雕像，随后突然一掌拍在书桌的皮革桌面上。"我绝不允许，小子！绝不允许这种事发生在我家里。"

Jim’s blood chilled by degrees and his throat was of a sudden desert dry. “I don’t follow you, father. Say what you mean.”
吉姆的血液渐渐变冷，喉咙突然干得像沙漠。"我不明白您的意思，父亲。请您明说。"
“You were seen.” The bald words permitted no denial. Jonathan’s
"有人看见你了。"这句直白的话不容否认。乔纳森的
face was white as a ghost, cheekbones sharp under paper-thin skin. Only his eyes were alive, and they blazed with fury. His knuckles were bone-white as his fists clenched. Had he been twenty years younger and in better health, he would certainly have lunged at his son. “You were seen on the cliff at Whitby, at the abbey. The Kerr girl was there. They have family strung out between Whitby and Filey. Good Christ, boy, you were with that bastard. That - that sod, Ryan.”
他的脸色惨白如鬼，纸般单薄的皮肤下颧骨嶙峋。唯有那双眼睛还透着生气，此刻正燃烧着怒火。他攥紧的拳头指节发白，若再年轻二十岁且身体硬朗些，定会扑向自己的儿子。"有人看见你在惠特比悬崖边的修道院，和克尔家的姑娘在一起。他们家族势力遍布惠特比到法利一带。天杀的，小子，你竟跟那个杂种——那个下流胚瑞安混在一起。"

A thread of some reaction suspended midway between dread and fury wormed dangerously through Jim’s breast as his father’s wrath changed direction. It was one thing to weather the storm himself. He had ridden it out countless times for countless reasons. But it was not so easy when the broadside began to lash Ryan.
当父亲的怒火转移目标时，一种介于恐惧与暴怒之间的情绪如毒虫般啃噬着吉姆的胸膛。独自承受狂风暴雨于他本是家常便饭，这些年来早已历尽百般责难。可当炮火开始轰向瑞安时，事情便没那么简单了。
“I was at the abbey, and I was with Ryan.” He squared his shoulders. “What of it? What does this baggage Maggie Kerr say?”
"我是去了修道院，也确实和瑞安在一起。"他挺直腰板，"那又怎样？玛吉·克尔那个长舌妇说了什么？"
“You were fornicating.” Hale’s fists were clenched so tightly, the knuckles cracked, a dry-bones sound. “You were down in the grass with him, she saw you, clenched in a carnal embrace, fornicating like -” He stopped to wrench in a breath and held his left arm tight across his chest. Every inhalation came with a fish-breathing gasp as he distressed himself with his own rage.
"你们在行苟且之事。"黑尔的拳头攥得咯咯作响，指关节发出枯骨般的脆响。"她看见你们滚在草丛里，肢体交缠，像发情的野兽般——"他猛然顿住倒抽一口气，左手紧紧按住胸口。每呼吸一次都伴随着鱼鳃般的抽气声，愤怒正折磨着他自己。

Turmoil burned like acid through Jim’s mind. “You were quick to believe the girl,” he whispered. “It never entered your thoughts, did it, to give your own son the benefit of the doubt!”
愤怒如同酸液般灼烧着吉姆的思绪。"你倒是轻易就相信了那姑娘，"他低声道，"你从没想过——哪怕一次——给自己的亲生儿子留点怀疑的余地！"
“You? Doubt? What doubt would that be? Jesus God!” Hale hunched against the desk as he began to hurt keenly. How often had his physicians warned him to remain calm, rest, let nothing upset him. Even now his eyes were fierce. “You, the little nancy-boy, who never looked at a girl, never had a sweetheart in town, nor teased the doxies in the shiprats’ brothel! God help me, I thought you were chaste and innocent at first. Then even I had to wonder.”
"你？怀疑？有什么可怀疑的？老天爷啊！"黑尔佝偻着抵住书桌，尖锐的痛楚开始蔓延。医生多少次告诫他要保持平静、多休息、别动怒。可此刻他的眼神仍如鹰隼般凌厉。"你这个小娘娘腔，从不多看姑娘一眼，在镇上没个相好，连水手窑子里的妓女都不去招惹！上帝作证，我原以为你纯洁无瑕。可后来连我都忍不住起疑。"
“I never gave you any reason to vilify me,” Jim said evenly but without much conviction, and he was conscious of a ridiculously wounded sensation.
"我从未给过你诋毁我的理由，"吉姆语气平稳却底气不足，同时荒谬地意识到自己正像个受伤的可怜虫。

The worst of it was, every word his father said was true. Jim had never given the old man any cause to suspect him, until in the end the very chasteness he had pretended was the cause of suspicion. It should have been funny. Or had Jonathan noticed Jim watching the young fishermen, who worked stripped to the waist when the weather was warm, and whose round, muscular limbs grew brown as hazelnuts? Or talking quietly with the Swedes and Hollanders who dropped anchor to deliver butter, timber and passengers?
最糟的是，父亲说的每个字都是事实。吉姆从未给过老父亲任何怀疑的借口，直到最后，他伪装的纯洁本身反而成了疑点。这本该是个笑话。还是说乔纳森早就注意到——吉姆总盯着那些年轻渔夫瞧？他们在天气暖和时总赤着上身干活，圆润的肌肉晒得像榛子般褐亮。或者发现他与那些停泊送货的瑞典人、荷兰人低声交谈？他们运来黄油、木材和旅客。
“I’ll have none of it in my house,” Hale wheezed. “I’ve wondered about you since you were a lad, but I never would have believed it of you … not under my own roof.” He slumped into the chair by the desk and doubled up, hugging his spasming chest.
"‘这种事绝不许在我家里发生，’黑尔喘着粗气说，‘从你小时候我就觉得你不对劲，但我万万没想到你竟会...竟会在我眼皮底下干出这种事。’他跌坐在书桌旁的椅子里，佝偻着身子，双手紧按住痉挛的胸口。"

His complexion was mauve now, and Jim took a half step toward him. “You look terrible. You’d better lie down.” He reached out as if even now he might help.
此刻他脸色已呈紫灰，吉姆向前迈了半步。‘你气色糟透了，最好躺下歇歇。’他伸出手，仿佛此刻仍想帮忙。
“Take your hands off me!” Hale flinched away before he could be touched. “Take your filthy hands off me, boy. And you’ll get out of this house. Do you hear me? You’ll get out of my house and you’ll never show your face to me again.”
"‘别碰我！’不等对方触碰到，黑尔就猛地躲开，‘把你那脏手拿开，小子。你给我滚出这栋房子。听见没有？立刻滚出我家，永远别让我再看见你那张脸。’"

Cold right through to the bone marrow, Jim swallowed hard and was silent. With a surreal sense of detachment, he was a mere spectator at his father’s harangue. He heard no more than a rush of sound without sense or words, until at last Jonathan Hale seemed to crumple like a paper bag and tumble onto the Bengali rug at his feet.
吉姆感到刺骨的寒意，他艰难地咽了咽口水，沉默不语。带着某种超现实的抽离感，他仿佛只是个旁观者，看着父亲大发雷霆。那些咆哮在他耳中渐渐化作无意义的嘈杂声响，直到最后，乔纳森·黑尔像只皱缩的纸袋般，瘫倒在他脚下的孟加拉地毯上。

He lay there writhing, tearing feebly at his collar, and Jim was frozen in place, blinking at him. He stooped closer, wondering if he would be allowed to touch, since Jonathan’s face was blue now, his lips purple, or if the sodomite’s hands would be spurned even in the struggle to cling onto life, when those hands were the only help God saw fit to provide. If a life-lesson was buried in this scene, the allegory was double-edged and Jim was too dazed to untangle it.
他躺在那里痛苦地扭动着，虚弱地撕扯着自己的衣领，吉姆却僵在原地，怔怔地望着他。他俯身凑近，犹豫着是否该伸手触碰——此刻乔纳森的脸色已呈青紫，嘴唇发乌——不知这个遭人唾弃的罪人是否连垂死挣扎时都拒绝被触碰，尽管此刻这双手是上帝恩赐的唯一救赎。若这场景中暗藏人生训诫，那这寓言也带着双刃的讽刺，而头晕目眩的吉姆根本无力参透。

This must be the fit Jonathan’s doctors had warned him of for two years and more, and the fool had brought it on himself. Jim swore softly and knelt beside him, felt his skin. The old man was shockingly cold. Jim could find no hint of a pulse, and he smelt the odor of urine as his father threshed. The acrid smell more than anything galvanized Jim. He was at the door a moment later.
这定是两年来医生们反复警告乔纳森要当心的急症，而这蠢货竟自己招来了灾祸。吉姆低声咒骂着跪在他身旁，触碰他的皮肤。老人体温低得骇人。吉姆探不到丝毫脉搏，而父亲痉挛时散发的尿骚味更让他心惊。正是这股刺鼻气味让吉姆猛然清醒。片刻后他已冲到了门边。
“Mosswell! Mr. Mosswell! Get Doctor Moran, fetch him here as fast as you can! Danny? Danny MacKay, get up here and help me! Mosswell!”
"莫斯韦尔！莫斯韦尔先生！快请莫兰医生，用最快的速度把他找来！丹尼？丹尼·麦凯，上来帮忙！莫斯韦尔！"

The butler was already on the stairs, looking up, his whole face a question. “The master’s ‘avin’ another one of 'is turns?”
管家早已站在楼梯上仰头张望，整张脸都写着困惑。"老爷又犯病了？"
“Worse than I’ve ever seen,” Jim panted. “This one could be the end of him. Get the doctor and tell him to hurry.” He glanced back into the room. “And you’d better send for Father Pat.”
"‘比我见过的任何情况都糟，’吉姆气喘吁吁地说，‘这次可能会要了他的命。快去请医生，叫他赶紧来。’他回头瞥了眼房间，‘你最好把帕特神父也请来。’"

Mosswell’s mouth dropped open, and he crossed himself. “Aye, lad, leave it to me, now.”
莫斯韦尔张大了嘴，在胸前画了个十字，‘好的，孩子，现在交给我吧。’

The youth who did the rough work about the house, Danny MacKay, came racing up as Mosswell hurried down. He was a tall, rangy lad with black curly hair and skin the color of milk. His parents were Irish, fled from the troubles of the last couple of decades, but Danny was born in England. His eyes were the same shade of blue as Ryan’s, and Jim might have found the youth intriguing if he’d had time to notice him, or anyone else, since Ryan’s arrival.
当莫斯韦尔匆忙下楼时，负责宅邸粗活的年轻帮工丹尼·麦凯正飞奔上楼。这个瘦高的小伙子长着黑色卷发，皮肤如牛奶般白皙。他的父母是爱尔兰人，为躲避过去二十年的动乱逃难至此，但丹尼出生在英格兰。他的眼睛和瑞安一样是湛蓝色——若不是瑞安到来后吉姆无暇他顾，这个年轻人或许会引起他的兴趣。

He beckoned Danny up fast and flung open the door to his father’s room. “Help me get him washed and into bed.”
他急促地招手示意丹尼上前，猛地推开父亲卧室的门，‘帮我给他擦洗身子，扶到床上去。’

The boy’s nose wrinkled. “He’s wet 'isself.”
男孩皱了皱鼻子。"他尿裤子了。"
“Yes, I know. It can happen during great pain.” Jim knelt on the rug, loosened Jonathan’s collar and felt for a pulse in his throat. He found it at last, faint, rapid, erratic. “Captain Ryan went walking. Has he returned yet?”
"是的，我知道。剧痛时会发生这种情况。"吉姆跪在地毯上，松开乔纳森的衣领，探了探他颈间的脉搏。终于摸到了，微弱、急促、紊乱。"瑞安上尉出去散步了。他回来了吗？"
“No, sir.” Danny slopped water from ewer into basin and stood fidgeting as Jim unbuttoned the smart dress trousers and peeled them and the underlinen away. Jonathan had lost consciousness now; his breathing was shallow and at every moment Jim expected to see the last frail heave of his chest.
"还没，先生。"丹尼把水罐里的水哗啦倒进盆里，局促不安地站着看吉姆解开那条考究的礼服长裤，连着衬裤一起剥下来。乔纳森此刻已失去意识；呼吸浅促，吉姆时刻担心会看到他胸膛最后一次微弱的起伏。

It was odd, unnerving, to bathe his father, struggle him into the folds of a voluminous nightshirt and lift him into the bed with Danny’s awkward help. His bladder was empty now, the bed was safe. Danny bundled up the soiled clothing and dumped it into the wicker basket before plunging his hands into the bowl of cold water.
为父亲擦洗身体，费劲地给他套上宽大的睡袍，又在丹尼笨手笨脚的协助下将他抬上床——这一切都古怪得令人不安。现在膀胱排空了，床铺安全了。丹尼把弄脏的衣物卷成一团扔进柳条筐，随即把双手浸入那盆冷水里。

Jim opened the window for fresh air and threw the drapes wide to let in daylight. He stood at the bedside, looking down into a face he knew so well, but which had become almost the face of a stranger since he himself became a man. “Run and find Captain Ryan,” he said softly as Danny began to loiter. “He should be on the cliff somewhere. He was walking to clear his head, so he said, and I saw him head south. Tell him what’s happened. Then see if you can track down that damned doctor … and the priest.”
吉姆推开窗户让新鲜空气进来，又将窗帘完全拉开让阳光照进房间。他站在床边，低头凝视那张他再熟悉不过的面孔——自从他自己长大成人后，这张脸却变得几乎像个陌生人。"快去找瑞安上尉，"当丹尼开始磨蹭时，他轻声说道，"他应该就在悬崖某处。他说要散步清醒头脑，我看见他往南边去了。把发生的事告诉他。然后想办法找到那个该死的医生...还有神父。"

Danny fidgeted at the door. “Will 'e … is ‘e goin’ to die, sir?”
丹尼在门口局促不安地挪动着脚步。"他会...他是不是要死了，先生？"
“He might.” Jim shivered. He should have been ready for this event. The sound of Danny’s words should have come as no surprise, yet in this moment he felt like a boy himself again. Like the boy who ran away and hid for days when his mother was killed. That day, light and love seemed to go out of this house, as if a candle had been extinguished.
"有可能。"吉姆打了个寒颤。他本该为这一刻做好准备。丹尼的话本不该让他感到意外，可此刻他却觉得自己又变回了那个小男孩。就像当年母亲遇害时，那个逃跑躲藏了好几天的小男孩。那天，光明与爱似乎都从这个屋子里消失了，就像被吹灭的蜡烛。

Footsteps thundered away down the stairs as Danny MacKay ran. A doctor, a priest. The undertaker was more likely the man they should be calling. A sense of bitter helplessness assailed Jim, yet a strange, icecold anger tempered it. Jon Hale had done this to himself, as surely as if he had put a pistol to his chest and pulled the trigger. Rage, prejudice and bloody-minded stupidity were often costly, and it seemed the old man would pay the greatest price.
随着丹尼·麦凯跑下楼，脚步声如雷般远去。医生，神父。或许他们真正该叫的是殡葬师。一种苦涩的无助感侵袭着吉姆，但一种奇特的、冰冷的愤怒又将其冲淡。乔恩·黑尔是自作自受，就像亲手把枪抵在胸口扣下扳机一样确定无疑。愤怒、偏见和顽固的愚蠢往往代价高昂，而这位老人似乎要付出最惨痛的代价。

The room had a strange smell. Jim checked the bed, but it was clean. It took some minutes for him to realize the truth. It was the smell of lingering death. Animals were aware of the odor long before humans ever sensed it; it made them nervous and unsettled. Jim swallowed hard on the lump in his throat and stood by the window, where the sea wind blew cold in his face, until he heard voices shouting on the cliffside street.
房间里弥漫着一种古怪的气味。吉姆检查了床铺，却未见异常。过了好几分钟，他才恍然明白——那是挥之不去的死亡气息。动物们总比人类更早察觉这种气味，它会令它们焦躁不安。吉姆艰难地咽下喉间的硬块，伫立窗前，任凭冰冷的海风拍打面庞，直到悬崖边的街道传来人声喧哗。

He would have known Godfrey Moran’s voice anywhere, and the man answering in a thick Dublin accent could only be Father O’Roark.
无论在哪里，他都能认出戈弗雷·莫兰的声音，而那个用浓重都柏林口音应答的，只可能是奥罗克神父。

The locals called him Young Father Pat: he was twenty-eight years old, fresh faced and far too inexperienced to understand most of the problems besetting his parishioners. Jim liked him, perhaps because he had never asked much of the priest. Certainly, Jim never sought an impossible absolution for the sin of loving a man.
当地人都唤他小帕特神父：他年方二十八，面容稚嫩，对于教区居民面临的种种困境，实在缺乏经验。吉姆喜欢他，或许正因为从未对他有过什么期许。当然，吉姆也从未奢求这位神父能赦免他爱上一个男人这般"不可饶恕"的罪孽。

Doors banged, feet hurried noisily on the stairs. Jim stepped out onto the balcony to wait. Moran was middle aged, with a shape like a suet dumpling stuffed into a too-tight waistcoat; his hat was twenty years out of date and he bustled along with the aid of a notched old walking stick. Behind him, Pat O’Roark was a tall, skinny boy in voluminous black skirts, and they presented a strangely comic pair.
门砰砰作响，楼梯上传来急促的脚步声。吉姆走到阳台上等候。莫兰已届中年，身材活像裹在过紧马甲里的板油布丁；他那顶帽子落后了二十年时尚，拄着根刻痕累累的旧手杖匆匆前行。身后的帕特·奥罗克是个瘦高个儿，黑色长袍下摆飘飘荡荡，两人凑成一副古怪滑稽的景象。
“He’s still …” Jim began, and could say no more. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me, Doctor, Father Pat.”
"他还......"吉姆刚开口便哽住了。"需要我的话我就在楼下，医生，帕特神父。"

Moran paused to touch Jim’s arm in a moment of genuine sympathy before he entered the room. O’Roark paused long enough to nod good day and was on the doctor’s heels. The door closed behind them. Jim lingered, wondering if he should stay, knowing that what he needed now was a double brandy, swallowed fast. He headed for the parlor.
莫兰驻足拍了拍吉姆的手臂，流露出真挚的同情，随后走进房间。奥罗克稍作停留点头致意，紧跟着医生进了屋。门在他们身后关上。吉姆踌躇着，思忖是否该留下，此刻他只想灌下一杯双份白兰地。他转身朝客厅走去。

The first gulp burned the nerves off his gullet; the second was kinder and he actually tasted the spirit. He closed his eyes, held the glass to his nose and breathed the rich, intoxicating fumes.
第一口灼烧着食道神经，第二口温和许多，他终于尝出酒香。他闭眼将酒杯凑近鼻尖，深深吸入那浓郁醉人的芬芳。

Soft footsteps fell behind him; the click of the door. He knew it was Ryan without turning or asking. The room was quiet. The loudest sound was the heavy tick of the pendulum clock on the mantelpiece. Ryan’s hands fell on his shoulders and Jim leaned back into the larger, stronger body.
轻柔的脚步声在他身后响起；门锁咔哒一响。不用转身或询问，他就知道是瑞安。房间里很安静。最响的声音是壁炉架上那座沉重钟摆的滴答声。瑞安的双手落在他肩上，吉姆便向后靠进那个更高大强壮的怀抱里。
“Danny told me,” Ryan began.
“丹尼告诉我了，”瑞安开口道。
“Bill, he knows.”  “比尔，他知道了。”
“He - what?” Ryan stepped into his field of vision. “The old man knows about us?”
“他——什么？”瑞安跨进他的视线范围，“老头子知道我们的事了？”

Jim nodded. “Seems he’s suspected me for years, so he told me not an hour ago. I never knew, can you believe it? Damn, what a fool I’ve been! I never chased women, you see. Never got blind-drunk and took doxies to bed. I thought I was being a well behaved young paragon of well-mannered virtue! Seems I’ve been too good for my own good.”
吉姆点点头。"看来他怀疑我多年了，不到一小时前才告诉我。我竟毫不知情，你能相信吗？该死，我真是个傻瓜！要知道，我从不追逐女人。从没喝得烂醉带娼妓上床。还以为自己是个品行端正的模范青年呢！看来我规矩得过头了。"
“Even so,” Ryan remonstrated, “there’s not been one thing to make him suspect us.”
"即便如此，"瑞安反驳道，"也没有任何迹象让他怀疑到我们头上。"

But Jim shook his head slowly. “We were seen. Do you remember the other day, at Whitby abbey? I was sure I’d seen someone, you said it was my imagination.”
但吉姆缓缓摇头。"我们被看见了。记得前几天在惠特比修道院吗？我确信看见了什么人，你说是我的幻觉。"
“I looked and saw nothing. Someone …?” The lines of Ryan’s face tensed.
"我看了，什么都没发现。有人...？"瑞安的面部线条绷紧了。
“Maggie Kerr. Nathan’s sister. She ran straight back here, soon as she got back to Scarborough. Rang the doorbell, invited herself in and told my poor, dear father everything.” Jim’s fists clenched tight. “What
“玛吉·克尔。内森的妹妹。她一回到斯卡伯勒就直奔这里，按响门铃，不请自来地闯进去，把一切都告诉了我那可怜的老父亲。”吉姆的拳头攥得紧紧的。“
hurts me the most, Bill, what flays the flesh off my bones is, the old bastard believed every word out of her mouth without even looking me in the eye like a man, and asking me for my side of it, the truth of it!”
最让我痛心的是，比尔，简直像剥皮抽筋般折磨我的是——那老混蛋居然连看都不看我一眼，像个男人那样问问我的说法，听听真相，就对她说的每句话都深信不疑！”
“What could she tell him?” Ryan scoffed. “She caught a glimpse of us at the abbey?”
“她能告诉他什么？”瑞安嗤笑道，“说她在修道院瞥见了我们？”
“She saw us kissing, clenched in a - a carnal embrace,” Jim said painfully. “Makes it all seem so tawdry, doesn’t it? Oh, Christ.” He closed his eyes and dragged both hands across his face, which wore an unhealthy sheen of sweat.
“她看见我们接吻，看见我们——肉体交缠，”吉姆痛苦地说，“把一切都说得那么不堪，不是吗？哦，天啊。”他闭上眼睛，双手抹过布满病态汗水的脸庞。

Ryan’s hands closed on his shoulders, fingers digging in, and shook him lightly. “Danny said he collapsed.”
瑞安的双手钳住他的肩膀，手指深深掐进肉里，轻轻摇晃着他。"丹尼说他晕倒了。"
“He got into a rage, he’s given himself some kind of fit. He may die this time.” Jim’s teeth bared in a snarl. “And if he does, God forgive me, I’ll be the cause of it.”
"他勃然大怒，把自己气得抽搐起来。这次恐怕要送命了。"吉姆龇着牙，面目狰狞。"要是真死了，愿上帝宽恕我，这都是我造成的。"
“Guilt, Jim?” Ryan chided.
"内疚了，吉姆？"瑞安讥讽道。
“Fiendish guilt, which I’ll probably carry for the rest of my life,” Jim admitted. Reluctantly, he fended Ryan off. “We don’t dare take risks.”
"恶魔般的内疚，怕是要背负终身了，"吉姆坦言。他勉强推开瑞安。"我们不敢冒险。"
“Jim, if he’s going to pass away,” Ryan said very gently, and with great care, “he’ll take the secret to the grave with him, since no one else but us knows what’s between us.”
"‘吉姆，倘若他真要离世，’瑞安说得极轻，字斟句酌，‘他会带着那个秘密进坟墓的，毕竟除了我们没人知道我们之间的事。’"
“You forget about Mistress Maggie Kerr!” Jim looked up with glittering eyes, full of anger and grief. “You think she won’t have told her brothers? It’ll be all over Scarborough by morning!”
"‘你忘了玛吉·克尔夫人！’吉姆抬起闪着泪光的眼睛，盛怒与悲痛交织，‘你以为她不会告诉她兄弟？天亮前整个斯卡伯勒都会知道！’"
“And who are people going to believe, a trollop who’s hoisted her skirts for more men than she can hope to remember, or a gentleman who’s done business with the tradesmen of this port since he was no more than a boy?”
"‘人们会相信谁？一个撩起裙子接待过无数男人的荡妇，还是从小就和港口商贩打交道的体面绅士？’"
“A man who’s never spent a night in the brothel, never winked at a woman, never troubled a seawife while her man was away,” Jim added sourly. “There’s no smoke without a fire, Ryan. And mud sticks. Old clichés. Wise ones.”
"‘一个从不在妓院过夜，从不冲女人挤眉弄眼，从不在水手出海时骚扰他老婆的男人，’吉姆尖酸地补充，‘无风不起浪，瑞安。流言如泥，沾上就掉不了。老话虽俗，却透着真知。’"

There was no more to say, and Ryan nursed a brooding silence. Minutes passed before he said, “The Adelaide is being rigged this evening. I’ll be gone on the ebbtide tomorrow night. I’ve got a contract to pick up a cargo of timber in Tonsberg, bound for Belfast. I’ll pick up a cargo there … stay out of the way.”
无话可说了，瑞安陷入阴郁的沉默。过了几分钟他才开口："阿德莱德号今晚就要装配完毕。明晚退潮时我就启程。我接了份合同，要去滕斯贝格运木材到贝尔法斯特。到那儿再揽些货......避避风头。"
“Leaving me to face down this fracas alone?”
"留我一个人应付这场乱子？"
“No. Keeping my face out of Scarborough until the gossip settles.” Ryan’s hands tightened on Jim’s upper arms. “Think! We can’t live under the same roof in this town now. If we do, fingers will point. We’re inviting ruin.”
"不。是让我的脸暂时别在斯卡伯勒出现，等闲话平息。"瑞安双手紧握住吉姆的上臂，"想想看！我们现在不能同住一个屋檐下了。要是那么做，指指点点的人会更多。我们这是在自取灭亡。"
“I know.” Jim tipped back his head. “You can’t stay at sea forever. Where will you go?”
"我知道。"吉姆仰起头，"你总不能永远漂在海上。以后去哪儿？"

Ryan sighed heavily. “Send my bags to the Adelaide. I’ll sleep
瑞安重重地叹了口气。"把我的行李送到阿德莱德号上。今晚我要在船上过夜，可能几周都不会回来。"
aboard tonight, and I may not be back for weeks.” He paused and bit his lip. “The worst will be over by the time we have to be seen together in the street again. I wish I could be here when you’ve need of me, but it’s not wise.”
他顿了顿，咬着嘴唇。"等我们不得不在街上再次碰面时，最糟糕的情况应该已经过去了。我真希望能在你需要时陪在身边，但这不明智。"
“No.” Jim rubbed his face hard. “The gossip will settle. There was a stink a few years ago, about the skipper of one of the trawlers and a boy off a Russian boat. The tattlers made a noise for a few weeks and then it just died out.” He looked up at Ryan out of shadowed eyes. “And where will you hang your hat when you’re back in port?”
"不会的。"吉姆用力搓了搓脸。"闲言碎语总会平息。几年前就闹过一场风波，是关于一艘拖网渔船的船长和一个俄罗斯船上的男孩。那些长舌妇们嚷嚷了几周，后来就不了了之。"他抬起阴影中的眼睛看向瑞安。"等你回港时，打算在哪儿落脚？"
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll get a cottage, though a house would be a stupid investment, because I’d never be there.” Ryan thrust his hands into his pockets. “There’s always the boathouse on the cliff. That’s habitable, and it’s Eastcoast property.”
"不知道。或许会租间村舍，不过买房子就是愚蠢的投资了，因为我根本不会住。"瑞安把手插进口袋。"悬崖上那个船屋一直空着。那里能住人，而且是东海岸的产业。"
“Perhaps,” Jim said doubtfully. “But Mick says the roof leaks every time it drizzles, and you’ll chase the rats out with a broom.”
“也许吧，”吉姆将信将疑地说，“但米克说每逢细雨屋顶就漏水，你还得用扫帚赶老鼠。”
“Then I’ll hammer down the shingles and get a cat,” Ryan decided. “A big ginger tomcat, a mouser of renown.” He sighed. “Jim, it’s either a place ashore, or else I’ll stay aboard the Adelaide on the few occasions when she actually ties up here, and if I do that we’ll never have a chance to be together.”
“那我就把屋瓦钉牢，再养只猫，”瑞安下定决心道，“要只威风凛凛的姜黄色公猫，捕鼠好手。”他叹了口气，“吉姆，要么在岸上安个家，要么我就继续住在阿德莱德号上——虽然它难得在这儿停泊。要真这样，我们就永远没机会在一起了。”
“I know.” Jim took a steadying breath. “I’ll get the boathouse repaired. And I’ll send your bags aboard tonight. Do you think -”
“我明白。”吉姆深吸一口气稳住情绪，“我会把船屋修好。今晚就把你的行李送上船。你觉得——”

A knock interrupted, and Mosswell’s grim old face appeared. “T’doctor’s calling for thee.”
敲门声打断了谈话，莫斯韦尔那张刻板的老脸探了进来：“大夫叫你去呢。”
“Tell him I’ll be right up.” Jim took a guilty step away from Ryan as if, subconsciously, he had already begun to see suspicion in every glance. Ryan remained by the fireplace, tantalus in one hand, glass in the other, a dark look on his face, and Jim took the stairs quickly.
“告诉他我马上就来。”吉姆内疚地从瑞安身边退开一步，仿佛潜意识里，他已开始从每个眼神中察觉怀疑。瑞安仍站在壁炉旁，一手握着酒瓶，一手端着酒杯，面色阴沉。吉姆快步上了楼梯。

The priest was praying, a soft, singsong litany, almost like a lullaby in Dublin-accented Latin. Jim knew nothing of the language or the prayer, but he knew it was the last rites. His father must be very close to death. He hesitated at the door and Godfrey Moran beckoned him in. They spoke in undertones and Jim’s eyes were drawn to the flushed, smudged face on the pillows.
神父正用带着都柏林口音的拉丁文轻声诵念祷词，韵律如摇篮曲般轻柔。吉姆虽不懂这语言或祷词内容，却明白这是临终圣事。他父亲定然已近弥留。他在门口踌躇时，戈弗雷·莫兰招手唤他进去。他们低声交谈，吉姆的目光不由自主落在枕头上那张潮红而污浊的面容上。
“He’s still hanging on, Jim, by a thread,” Moran said in his thick Scarborough accent. “I don’t know how.”
“他还在硬撑着，吉姆，就剩一口气了，”莫兰用浓重的斯卡伯勒口音说道，“真不知他怎么做到的。”
“Last rites,” Jim said with a gesture at the priest.
“临终圣事，”吉姆朝神父的方向比划着说。
“Oh, aye.” Moran shoved his hands into his pockets. “Better safe than sorry. There’s naught I can do for him now, and a priest’s as good as a quack from here on. Better, sometimes.”
"“哦，是啊。”莫兰将双手插进口袋，“宁可稳妥些。眼下我对他已无能为力，从今往后牧师和江湖郎中也没什么两样。有时候牧师还强些。”"
“His heart?” Jim unconsciously palmed his own left breast as he watched Jonathan’s thin ribcage rise and fall.
"“他的心脏？”吉姆望着乔纳森瘦削的胸廓起伏，不自觉地用手按住自己左胸。"
“His temper,” Moran corrected. “He’s burst something in his head. See his face?”
"“他的脾气，”莫兰纠正道，“他脑子里有血管爆了。没看见他脸色吗？”"

Jim had seen the livid shadows and puffiness about the temples
吉姆早已注意到他太阳穴处青紫的淤痕和浮肿
moments before. Jonathan’s whole face seemed swollen and reddish. “Then, is it some kind of brainstorm?”
片刻之前。乔纳森的整张脸都显得浮肿发红。"那么，是某种中风吗？"
“Aye, and brung on by one of his rages,” Moran affirmed. “I’ve told him till I’m sick of saying it, he’s got a vile temper on him, and it’ll be the end of him one day.” He looked sidelong at Jim. “You wouldn’t know what got him going today?”
"是啊，还是被他那暴脾气给激出来的，"莫兰肯定地说。"我都说烦了，他那个臭脾气早晚会要了他的命。"他斜眼瞥了瞥吉姆。"你今天可知道是什么惹着他了？"

For a split second Jim was about to lie, and in the next split second he realized it would be the worst mistake of his life. He nodded slowly. “As a matter of fact, I know exactly what goaded him. Maggie Kerr came here this morning, ‘bold as brass,’ according to my father, and she told him she’d seen me in a compromising situation.” He swallowed hard. “With a young man.”
吉姆有那么一瞬间想撒谎，但转念就意识到这将成为他这辈子最严重的错误。他缓缓点头："事实上，我清楚是什么刺激了他。玛吉·克尔今早来过，用我父亲的话说'厚颜无耻得很'，她告诉父亲看见我处于一个尴尬的境地。"他艰难地咽了咽口水。"和一个年轻男人。"

The doctor’s brows arched, corrugating his high forehead. “Well, well, well. The Kerrs have got a bone to pick with Eastcoast, and you in particular. You’ve pipped 'em at the post more than once, with a ship on the rocks. You snatched the old Mascot out from under their noses only last week.”
医生挑起眉毛，在高高的额头上挤出几道皱纹。"哎呀呀。克尔家跟东海岸有过节，特别是跟你。你可是好几次都抢在他们前头，比如那艘触礁的船。就在上周，你还从他们眼皮底下把老吉祥物号给夺走了。"
“And it’s a sweet, sure form of vengeance, to put your enemy in a hole in the ground with a sickness of his own making,” Jim finished. He shrugged and looked Moran in the eye. “There’s not one thing I can do about it, Doctor. If I squeal about being innocent I’ll only make it worse. And the last thing in the world I want to do is drag a good man like Captain Ryan through the muck with me.”
"‘用敌人自己酿的苦果把他埋进土里，这可真是种甜蜜又稳妥的报复方式，’吉姆说完耸耸肩，直视着莫兰的眼睛，‘我对此无能为力，医生。要是喊冤只会让事情更糟。我最不愿做的就是连累瑞安上尉这样的好人跟我一起身陷泥潭。’"

Moran pulled thoughtfully at his chin. “I presume he was the other …?” Jim nodded. “The captain’s been living here in the house hasn’t he?”
莫兰若有所思地摸着下巴：‘我猜他就是那位...？’吉姆点点头。‘上尉一直住在这栋房子里，不是吗？’
“All of Scarborough knows it. He lives here while his ship is in port, and she’s been tied up for ten days. Captain Hutton has also been living here,” Jim said acidly. “I might add, Danny MacKay is probably a handsome youth, and if I had a penchant for father figures, Mr. Mosswell likely has a few good years left in him!” So far not one syllable was a lie. Jim had not, in so many words, denied his relationship with Ryan, and nor would he. But he saw no slightest reason to elaborate.
"‘整个斯卡伯勒都知道这事。他的船靠港时就住这儿，这次已经停泊十天了。赫顿船长也一直住在这儿，’吉姆尖刻地说，‘不妨再说句，丹尼·麦凯大概是个俊俏小伙，要是我有恋父情结的话，莫斯韦尔先生估计还能撑几年！’到目前为止他没说半句假话。吉姆既没有明确否认与瑞安的关系，也不打算否认。但他觉得根本没有详细解释的必要。"
“Aye, as you say, lad.” Moran sighed heavily. “Zeke and Nathan Kerr have been out for your blood, Jim. It’s common knowledge. Don’t let all this about you and Captain Ryan bother you. People’ll talk, it helps to pass the time. But they’ll not believe a word Maggie says. There’s hardly a man or boy on the harbor she hasn’t given the wink to, myself included, and she did it when my good lady wife was within sight of it! Bless her, my darling Agnes laughed so hard, I had to dose her to settle her down.”
"‘唉，随你怎么说吧，孩子。’莫兰重重叹了口气，‘齐克和内森·克尔一直想取你性命，吉姆。这事人尽皆知。别为那些关于你和瑞安上尉的闲话烦心。人们总爱嚼舌根，就当打发时间。但没人会相信玛吉说的半个字。港口哪个男人男孩没被她抛过媚眼？连我都不例外，而且当时我贤惠的妻子就在眼前！愿上帝保佑她，我亲爱的艾格尼丝笑得直不起腰，最后不得不给她服了镇静剂。’"

The priest fell silent at last, and as Jim realized the ritual incantation was done he drew nearer the bed. Jonathan’s face was puffy, and the reddish coloration was growing more pronounced. His eyelashes
神父终于沉默下来，当吉姆意识到仪式咒语已经结束时，他走近了床榻。乔纳森的脸庞浮肿，那抹红晕正变得愈发明显。他的睫毛
fluttered but he was barely awake. Jim took his hand, found it cold and limp. “Father?”
微微颤动，但几乎没醒。吉姆握住他的手，发觉那手又冷又软。"神父？"

Old eyes, dull and dusky, looked up at him from beneath heavy lids. Jim sat on the side of the bed. “Doctor, can he hear me?”
沉重的眼睑下，一双浑浊暗淡的老眼向上望着他。吉姆坐在床边。"医生，他能听见我说话吗？"
“I honestly don’t know,” Moran admitted sadly. “But stay with him a little while, if you’ve a mind to. I’ll not leave him before morning, I promise you, and after that my nurse will we with him every moment. He won’t be alone.”
"老实说我不知道，"莫兰忧伤地承认道。"但如果你想的话，可以陪他一会儿。我天亮前都不会离开，我向你保证，之后我的护士会时刻守着他。他不会孤单的。"

Morning? A nurse? “Then, he’ll live?” Jim looked up at Moran in surprise.
早晨？护士？'那么，他能活下来？'吉姆惊讶地抬头望向莫兰。
“He could.” Moran gave the younger man’s shoulder a heavy pat. “I’ve seen men come closer to death than this, Jim, and live.”
"'有可能。'莫兰重重拍了拍年轻人的肩膀，'吉姆，我见过比这更接近死亡的人，最后都活下来了。'"

Jim swallowed hard. His father’s hand was papery, thin and chill, fingers clutching weakly. A welter of confused emotion drew a groan from Jim’s throat, and he slumped at the bedside. The posture seemed to impress the young priest.
吉姆艰难地咽了口唾沫。父亲的手像纸一样单薄冰凉，手指虚弱地蜷曲着。纷乱的思绪让他喉间发出一声呻吟，整个人瘫坐在病床边。这副模样似乎打动了那位年轻神父。
“Mr. Hale, your father’s quite at peace,” Father Pat said with more selfless kindness than Jim had heard in years. “He’s in no pain. There was nothing more you could have done for him.”
"'黑尔先生，您父亲很安详，'帕特神父说道，话语中带着吉姆多年未闻的无私善意，'他没有痛苦。你已经为他尽了全力。'"
“Thank you, father.” Jim peered into the old man’s face, trying so see something of Jonathan Hale there. It might have been a stranger in the bed, sliding in and out of unconsciousness, and Jim himself felt the onset of an odd, disoriented kind of exhaustion. For too long he had been working on energy reserves he had not known he possessed, and they were almost spent.
“谢谢您，父亲。”吉姆凝视着老人那张脸，试图从中找出乔纳森·黑尔的影子。床上躺着的仿佛是个陌生人，时而清醒时而昏迷，而吉姆自己也感到一种古怪的、令人眩晕的疲惫正侵袭而来。他靠着连自己都不知道的精力储备支撑了太久，如今这些储备几乎消耗殆尽。

Moran must have been waiting for this, and as Jonathan began to sleep again he took Jim’s arm. “Go on, lad, get a cup of tea with a drop of the hard in it. I’ll sit with him now.”
莫兰准是早就在等这一刻，当乔纳森又开始昏睡时，他抓住了吉姆的手臂。“去吧，孩子，去喝杯掺了烈酒的茶。现在我来陪着他。”

More grateful than he cared to tell, Jim got his feet under him, unsurprised to discover his legs shaking. They took him to the door, and he stumbled on the balcony. His left hand closed on the rail, fingers like a vice as the height of the stairs dizzied him. He forced a breath into his lungs and the world steadied.
吉姆心中感激之情难以言表，他勉强站起身，发现双腿颤抖也毫不意外。双腿将他带到门口，却在阳台上踉跄了一下。他左手抓住栏杆，指节发白如同铁钳——楼梯的高度让他头晕目眩。他强迫自己深呼吸，世界才重新稳定下来。

As he began to see properly he realized Ryan was on the stairs below him, coming up with a deliberate, even gait, as if he feared Jim might fall. Perhaps he was right.
当视线逐渐清晰时，他意识到瑞安正在下方的楼梯上，以刻意保持的均匀步伐向上走来，仿佛担心吉姆会跌倒。或许他是对的。
“Is he -?” Ryan whispered.
"他——？"瑞安低声问道。
“He’s had last rights but he’s hanging on.” Jim stood aside to allow Ryan to step by him, far enough apart for there to be no chance of them touching even by accident. It was pitiful. “Moran is with him. He might see morning.”
"临终仪式已经做过了，但他还撑着。"吉姆侧身让瑞安从他身边经过，两人保持着足够距离，连偶然触碰都不可能。这情形令人心碎。"莫兰守着他。或许能熬到天亮。"
“Christ, Jim, I’m so sorry.” Ryan’s hands clenched and unclenched. “I’ve come up to pack. I have to get out of this house. I feel like … like hell.”
"天啊，吉姆，我真的很抱歉。"瑞安的双手攥紧又松开。"我是来收拾行李的。我必须离开这栋房子。我感觉...简直糟透了。"
“Leaving me when I need you the most?” Jim mocked himself
"在我最需要你的时候离开？"吉姆自嘲道
without mercy and knuckled his eyes. “There’s not one thing either of us can do for him.”
毫不留情地揉搓着他的眼睛。"我们谁都帮不了他。"
“I wasn’t thinking about him!” Ryan took Jim by the arm and propelled him up onto the third floor, and their rooms. He thrust Jim into his own room and bolted the door. “Listen - the house is in an uproar, for the moment no one knows or cares where we are or what we’re doing. Relax! Let me hold you while I can, for heaven alone knows when I’ll have the chance to do it again. And you need it.”
"我根本没在想他！"瑞安抓住吉姆的手臂，推着他登上三楼回到他们的房间。他把吉姆推进自己的房间，插上门闩。"听着——现在整栋房子都乱成一团，暂时没人知道我们在哪，也没人在意我们做什么。放松点！让我抱抱你吧，天知道下次还有没有这样的机会。你也需要这个。"
“Bill.” Jim turned to him, pressed tight to him and felt like a child. “The story’s going be all over Scarborough tomorrow. Nathan Kerr will laugh till he break his ribs.”
"比尔。"吉姆转向他，紧紧贴着他，感觉自己像个孩子。"明天整个斯卡伯勒都会传遍这件事。内森·克尔会笑断肋骨的。"

Ryan stroked his back, big soothing circles which did more than the brandy to calm Jim. “And Geoffrey Pyke is in Scarborough. He’ll make the acquaintance of the Kerrs and Wallach, and we’ll see who has the last laugh.” He drew back and looked down into Jim’s flushed face. “Let the gossip mongers enjoy it while they can. There may be no smoke without a fire, as you said - old clichés come to be clichés by being right! But when the gossips can’t find so much as a single ember and they won’t - the smoke will blow over.”
瑞安抚摸着他的后背，画着大大的安抚圆圈，这比白兰地更能让吉姆平静下来。"而且杰弗里·派克就在斯卡伯勒。他会结识克尔家和沃拉赫，到时候看谁笑到最后。"他稍稍退后，低头看着吉姆涨红的脸。"让那些爱嚼舌根的人暂时得意去吧。无风不起浪，就像你说的——老生常谈之所以成为老生常谈，正是因为它们说得对！但当那些长舌妇连半点火星都找不到时——他们肯定找不到——流言自会烟消云散。"
“I hope you’re right.” Jim rested heavily against him. The night was going to be a long and unpleasant. His vision was blurred already and he focused on the clock with difficulty. It was seven, and Ryan must leave soon. In any case, he had to be on the Adelaide in the morning, since she must be checked from stem to stern, and the skipper would see the cargo come aboard and sign the lading documents. She shipped out on the evening ebbtide … Ireland, Scandinavia, perhaps Germany, Portugal.
“但愿你是对的。”吉姆重重地靠在他身上。这将是个漫长难熬的夜晚。他的视线已经模糊，费劲地盯着时钟。七点了，瑞安很快就要离开。无论如何，明早他必须登上阿德莱德号——那艘船需要从头到尾彻底检查，船长还要监督货物装船并签署货运单据。这艘纵帆船将在晚潮时分启航……前往爱尔兰、斯堪的纳维亚，或许还有德国、葡萄牙。

The words were just names on map. Jim had never been to Scandinavia or Portugal. In that moment he admitted to the irrational urge to slam the door on this house, this life and the Eastcoast Packet Company, make off with the schooner and never tie up in the port of Scarborough again.
这些地名不过是地图上的符号。吉姆从未踏足斯堪的纳维亚或葡萄牙。此刻他突然涌起一股冲动，想要摔门离开这栋房子，摆脱这种生活，逃离东海岸邮船公司，驾着纵帆船远走高飞，再也不回斯卡伯勒港。
“I have to pack,” Ryan said reluctantly, minutes later. “It’s getting late.”
“我得收拾行李了，”片刻后瑞安不情愿地说，“时候不早了。”

The sky was dark mauve, the sea gray-green and heaving; the rising moon made a pale island in the midst of the dense silver overcast. Jim stood at the window, back turned to the view, watching without comment as Ryan folded his clothes into one bag, his personal effects into another. Two carpet bags: not much to show for a lifetime’s endeavor.
暗紫色的天幕下，灰绿色的海面波涛起伏；渐升的月亮在浓密的银色云层中投下苍白的孤岛。吉姆站在窗前背对景色，沉默地看着瑞安将衣物叠进一个行李袋，私人物品装进另一个。两只毡制旅行袋：这就是毕生奋斗的全部家当。

Buckled and strapped, the bags were dumped down by the door and Ryan opened his arms. Jim went to him and lifted his mouth for a kiss. It was deep, demanding and yet oddly gentle. Ryan broke it at last and pressed his lips to his lover’s forehead.
行李捆扎妥当后堆在门边，瑞安张开双臂。吉姆走向他，仰头索吻。这个吻既热烈霸道又出奇温柔。最后瑞安松开唇，将吻印在爱人额头上。
“I’ll cable,” he promised.
"我会发电报，"他承诺道。
“And you’ll be back when you land,” Jim sighed. “I’m a seawife again. Take care of yourself, Bill Ryan.”
"那你靠岸就得回来，"吉姆叹息着，"我又成望海妻了。照顾好自己，比尔·瑞安。"
“I could say the same to you,” Ryan whispered as he touched Jim’s face in parting. “It’ll not be long. Let the storm blow over. And then … I told you, we’ll see who’s laughing on the night the Kerr brothers and Moses Wallach are taken away in chains.”
"这话该我对你说，"瑞安轻抚吉姆的脸庞低语告别，"不会太久。等风暴过去......我说过的，咱们且看克尔兄弟和摩西·沃拉赫被铁链押走那晚，谁才是笑到最后的人。"

The bolt drew back without a sound, and they stepped apart before the door opened. Ryan was out then, a bag in either hand, and Jim followed him as far as the garden. The sea wind smelt strongly of ozone, wrack and the harbor as Ryan stepped out into the semi-darkness of late twilight. He looked back once, nodded mutely and raised a hand, laden as it was with his bag. The purple gloom swallowed him up in moments, and he was gone, hurrying down toward the Adelaide’s berth. Silent, resolute, Jim closed the door.
门闩无声地滑开，两人在门开启前便分开了。瑞安随即闪身而出，两手各拎一个提包，吉姆跟着他走到花园。当瑞安踏入暮色苍茫的庭院时，海风裹挟着浓烈的臭氧味、海藻腥气和港口气息扑面而来。他回头望了一眼，沉默地点点头，提着行李的手微微抬起。紫灰色的暮霭转瞬便吞噬了他的身影，他匆匆向阿德莱德号的泊位赶去，消失在视野中。吉姆默然伫立，决然地关上了门。

It shut with a sound that seemed to him like a prison gate.
门扉合上的声响，在他听来犹如监狱铁栅的碰撞。

In the evening light, with the sun just down and the sky red and gold, the sea lay like a millpond. The harbor air barely moved, offering just enough breeze to find a single hoisted sail, and the Adelaide wove her way out between fishing boats and steamers. As she passed beyond the outermost pier she put her nose into the wind.
暮色四合，落日余晖将天空染成金红，海面平静如磨盘。港口空气凝滞，仅有的微风勉强鼓起一片孤帆。阿德莱德号在渔船与汽船间蜿蜒穿行，驶过最外围的码头时，船首迎风破浪而去。

The schooner’s sails ran up fast and filled with the sharp, gusting, unpredictable breeze. She heeled over at once, almost putting her starboard gunwale under in her haste to leave Scarborough behind. Jim watched her out of sight from the bleak clifftop, well south of the town, past Black Rocks. Cayton Bay curved the coast back on itself, and the only creatures to share the gathering dusk with him were a newlyshorn Wensleydale ewe and a flock of squabbling gulls.
纵帆船的船帆迅速升起，灌满了锋利而变幻莫测的阵风。船身立即倾斜，右舷几乎没入水中，急切地想要将斯卡伯勒抛在身后。吉姆站在城镇以南荒凉的黑岩悬崖上，目送船只消失在海平线。凯顿海湾使海岸线向内弯曲，陪伴他度过这渐浓暮色的，只有一只刚剪过毛的温斯利代尔母羊和一群聒噪争食的海鸥。

Jonathan Hale had rallied at dawn and now Moran was guardedly optimistic. The old man might live, so he said, to Jim’s numb surprise; but if he did, Jonathan’s mind could not possibly be the same. The fit or as the doctors called it, the ‘brainstorm’ - had struck him down like a blow from some divine sword. The just desserts of unforgiving bigotry? Had Jim been a churchgoing man, he might have perceived an almighty hand in his father’s plight.
乔纳森·黑尔在黎明时分恢复了意识，此刻莫兰谨慎地表示乐观。老人或许能活下来——当吉姆听到医生这么说时，他麻木的心头涌起一阵诧异；但即便活下来，乔纳森的头脑也不可能恢复如初。那次发作，或者按医生的说法叫"中风"，如同天罚之剑将他击倒。这是偏执者应得的报应吗？倘若吉姆是个常去教堂的人，或许会从中看出上帝对他父亲境遇的干预。

In fact, as the dusk swiftly thickened into a violent steel blue, he was too numbed to see past the moment. The Adelaide would not return for several weeks at least. The more profitable the voyage, the longer
事实上，当暮色迅速化作暴风雨前的铁青色时，他麻木得无法思考未来。阿德莱德号至少数周内不会返航。航程利润越丰厚，
she would be out, ‘tramping’ from port to port, one cargo after another, with Eastcoast Packet depending on her income.
它在外的时日就越久，从一个港口漂泊到另一个港口，接连不断地运载货物——东海岸邮船公司的收入全仰仗于此。

Give the man his due, Jim thought. Bill Ryan was as gifted in trade as he was in command of a vessel; under his captaincy the ship was prospering, and Jim savored the irony. Jonathan Hale would probably like to flog, and at the very least dismiss, the man responsible for Eastcoast’s survival.
平心而论，吉姆心想，比尔·瑞安在经商方面的天赋丝毫不亚于他指挥船只的才能；在他的统领下，这艘船生意兴隆，而吉姆品味着其中的讽刺意味。乔纳森·黑尔大概恨不得鞭笞——至少也要解雇——这位让东海岸公司起死回生的功臣。

While Jonathan lingered on through the afternoon, closer to death than life, the courier delivered the usual fistful of bills and accounts, almost all overdue. One - the important one - was from Mr. Duncan Linwood, Esq., in Dumbarton, and boded worst of all.
当乔纳森在生死线上徘徊了整个下午时，信使照例送来一叠票据和账目，几乎全都过了付款期限。其中最重要的一份来自邓巴顿镇的邓肯·林伍德先生，预示着最糟糕的情况。

Payment was due, but as yet the insurance had not been paid on Mick Hutton’s ill-fated collier. She had grounded-out at Blackhall Rocks, tearing out her bottom in unexpected heavy weather. No wreckers were at work; the demise of the collier was just the violent caprice of the sea. Hutton was long ago absolved of responsibility, yet here was the bill from Linwood and Clough … and there was the letter from the bank in York, grimly stating the balance of accounts.
赔付款项早已到期，但米克·赫顿那艘厄运缠身的运煤船至今未获保险理赔。它在黑崖礁遭遇突如其来的狂风巨浪，船底被撕得粉碎。没有人为破坏的痕迹，这艘运煤船的毁灭纯粹是海洋的暴虐无常。赫顿早被免除了责任，可林伍德与克拉夫造船厂的账单还是如约而至……约克银行的来信更是雪上加霜，冷酷地列明了账户余额。

Duncan Linwood was a decent man and would no doubt carry on the work without payment for a time, if only in Jonathan’s memory. Jim had already cabled him: ‘Mr. Jonathan Hale gravely ill. Business delayed. Will cable soonest possible.’
邓肯·林伍德是个体面人，即便只为纪念乔纳森，想必也会暂时垫付工程款继续施工。吉姆已经给他发了电报："乔纳森·黑尔先生病危。业务暂缓。将尽快致电。"

What news would he be sending next? That Eastcoast was in receivership while Jon Hale was mortgaged to the hilt? That the Spindrift should be broken up, right now, for the salvage value of her scrap timbers, or sold to the highest bidder, unfinished as she was? Few companies would take her on. To Jim’s mind the schooner was the most beautiful thing on the water, but what was she against a coal-burning steam screw with the engines of a locomotive?
他接下来还会传来什么消息？说东海岸公司已经破产接管，而乔恩·黑尔把家当都抵押光了？说"浪花号"应该立刻拆解，就为那点废旧木料的打捞价值，或者直接卖给最高出价者——尽管这艘船还没完工？没几家公司愿意接手。在吉姆眼里，这艘纵帆船是海面上最美的东西，可比起那些装着火车头引擎的燃煤螺旋桨蒸汽船，她又算得上什么？

And what was her owner?
她的主人又算得上什么？
The veiled looks and snide remarks began before afternoon. Jim had seen Maggie Kerr in the morning, on her way from the grocer. She flushed crimson but lifted her chin, and might have spat at him as she flounced by with a basket of cabbage and carrots. Her elder brother, Nathan himself, stood at the door of the Black Bull, laughing fit to break his jaws and spill his beer. Jim passed by without a word. Old women gawped at him incredulously; old men pointed. Some men, most of them young, would not look at him at all - for fear of being tarred with the same brush that sullied Jim Hale today? Jim nursed a red-hot fury and walked on.
还没到下午，那些意味深长的眼神和刻薄话就开始了。早上吉姆遇见过玛吉·克尔，她正从杂货铺回来。姑娘涨红了脸却昂着下巴，挎着装满卷心菜和胡萝卜的篮子气冲冲经过时，简直要朝他吐口水。她大哥内森本人就站在"黑公牛酒馆"门口，笑得下巴都要脱臼，啤酒都洒了出来。吉姆一言不发地走过。老妇人们瞠目结舌地望着他，老头儿们指指点点。有些男人——多半是年轻些的——根本不敢看他，是怕沾上今天玷污了吉姆·黑尔的那把刷子上的焦油吗？吉姆心里烧着通红的怒火，继续往前走。

Phineas Cranmer had to do business with him since payment was due. He studied Jim shrewdly as he settled accounts for the new sails and lines, without which the Adelaide would still be docked. Jim was polite, quiet, aloof. In an hour it seemed almost everyone in the town, and certainly everyone around the harbor, had heard the scandal. And
菲尼亚斯·克兰默不得不和他打交道，因为账期到了。在结算新帆索具的款项时，这个精明的商人仔细打量着吉姆——没有这些装备，"阿德莱德号"至今还停在码头。吉姆表现得礼貌、沉默而疏离。不出一个钟头，镇上几乎所有人——尤其是港口周边的——都听说了这桩丑闻。而
they all, Jim knew, were well aware of the bitter rivalry between the houses of Kerr and Hale.
吉姆心知肚明，克尔与黑尔两家之间的宿怨众人皆知。

With Ryan out of port the gossips had nothing new to make mileage of. As much as Jim missed him, he knew Bill was right. They had not met since Ryan walked out of Marrick Hall with his bags last night. A lad brought a message in the afternoon: the ship was ready to sail. Jim sent back bland good wishes for a safe journey and good business.
瑞安的船驶离港口后，闲言碎语便没了新鲜谈资。尽管吉姆对他思念不已，却也明白比尔说得在理。自昨夜瑞安提着行李走出马里克庄园后，两人再未谋面。午后有个小伙计送来口信：船只已准备启航。吉姆只回了句客套话，祝愿他一路顺风生意兴隆。

He had to get out of the house, to breathe fresh air that did not carry the stink of sickness and decay, but the street was no place to be. The cliffs were wild and windy, cold and lonely, and the evening tide was ebbing fast as he meandered south, seeking isolation. Eyes on the path before his feet, listening to wind, waves and gulls, he recalled the old sailor’s superstition and wondered if it might hold a grain of truth. Legend swore an old sailor, stricken on shore, could not die until the tide went out. Would Jon Hale live just that long?
他必须离开这栋弥漫着病榻腐朽气味的宅子，去呼吸新鲜空气，可街道又非久留之地。悬崖边狂风肆虐，寒意刺骨，暮色中他向南徘徊，潮水正急速退去。他低头盯着脚下小径，耳畔尽是风声、浪声与海鸥鸣叫，忽然想起老水手的迷信说法——据说搁浅的老水手非要等到退潮时才会咽气。乔恩·黑尔的生命，莫非真会如潮水般流逝殆尽？

The wind was chill. As he had waited for the Adelaide to stand out Jim turned up the collar of his black greatcoat and lowered his rump onto the rocks overlooking the bay. The sun was twenty minutes down behind the dark line of the Hambleton Hills and twilight would linger. Cold or not, the evening should have been beautiful, but Jim saw only shadows, rank sea grasses and the ocean, stretching out forever toward an unreachable horizon.
寒风凛冽。等待阿德莱德号启航时，吉姆竖起黑色厚呢大衣的领子，在俯瞰海湾的礁石上坐下。夕阳已沉入汉布尔顿山脉的暗影二十分钟，暮色仍迟迟不散。这本该是个美丽的夜晚，纵然寒冷，但吉姆眼中只见阴影丛生、腥咸的海草，以及永远延伸向不可及地平线的茫茫大海。

The steel blue twilight hung on and on; he had no cause to return to the hall. He had no appetite, nothing to take him back save ledgers, account books, and he had already put them away in disgust. They would keep.
钢蓝色的暮色迟迟不散；他毫无返回大厅的理由。他毫无食欲，除了账本和账簿外再没有值得回去的东西，而他已经厌恶地将它们收了起来。那些东西可以等。

Full dark had almost gathered when he heard a shuffle of feet, pebbles skittering over the cliff edge. No lantern approached and he tensed. He was on his feet in a moment, wary, well back from the edge. It was well within the bounds of possibility that someone might be outraged enough to wreak the vengeance of heaven on him for his sins.
当听到脚步声窸窣作响，卵石从悬崖边缘滚落时，夜色已几乎完全笼罩。没有提灯的光亮靠近，他绷紧了身体。他立刻站起身，警惕地退到远离边缘的地方。完全有可能有人因他的罪孽而愤怒到要替天行道。

But he knew the Cornish voice which called out to him, and relaxed as the man appeared out of the gloom. “I saw thee walk up this way,” Geoffrey Pyke called. “I’s been watching for thee to come back down, but there’s been no sign of thee. The skipper’s gone.”
但他听出了那个用康沃尔口音呼唤他的人，当那人从昏暗中现身时，他放松下来。"我看见你往这边走了，"杰弗里·派克喊道。"我一直等着你下来，可没见你人影。船长已经走了。"
“I watched the Adelaide out of harbor.” Jim hugged his coat about himself. “You shouldn’t be seen talking to me.”
"我看着阿德莱德号驶离港口，"吉姆裹紧外套说道。"你不该被人看见和我说话。"
“Because Nathan Kerr will know we’re acquainted?” Pyke cocked his head in bantering curiosity. “Or because no decent man should be seen talking to the cursed sinner?”
"因为内森·克尔会知道我们相识？"派克歪着头，带着揶揄的好奇问道，"还是因为正经人都不该被人看见和受诅咒的罪人说话？"
“Both,” Jim said bitterly.
"两者都有，"吉姆苦涩地说。
“Tis dark,” Pyke said in a light tone, not quite cheerful. “They’ll not see. Zeke and Nathan Kerr and the sister have got three sheets in the wind already, to celebrate thy plight.”
"天黑了，"派克语气轻松地说，却并不显得愉快，"他们看不见的。齐克和内森·克尔还有他妹妹已经喝得烂醉，正为你的困境庆祝呢。"
“The Kerrs do have a lot to celebrate,” Jim muttered. “In a trice
"克尔家确实有很多值得庆祝的事，"吉姆低声嘟囔，"转眼间"
they’ve set half of Scarborough at my throat.”
“斯卡伯勒半城的人都要取我性命。”
“Not half, Mr. Hale,” Geoffrey Pyke corrected. “There’s more men than thee might know calling it nought but bloody-minded Kerr mischief. Let it be now. Thee’s got good friends in town. In the long run muck always settles, and -” he chuckled. “And shit floats.”
“没到半城呢，黑尔先生，”杰弗里·派克纠正道，“比你想象中更多的人，都认为这不过是克尔那家伙的歹毒把戏。别管它了。你在镇上还有好朋友。时间久了，污秽总会沉淀——”他轻笑一声，“而糟粕总会浮上来。”
“You mean, the scum always rises to the surface? Crude, but accurate,” Jim said with rueful humor.
“你是说，渣滓总会浮上水面？粗俗，但准确。”吉姆带着苦涩的幽默说道。
“Aye.” Pyke studied him in the blue darkness. “Thee and the skipper can be happy again soon enough.”
“是啊。”派克在幽蓝的暮色中打量着他，“你和船长很快就能重拾幸福。”

Jim Hale shivered, though the wind had fallen a little and in any case he was accustomed to its chill fingers. “You know Ryan well.”
吉姆·黑尔打了个寒颤，尽管风势已稍减，况且他早已习惯那刺骨的寒意。"你很了解瑞安。"
“Well enough,” Pyke affirmed. “Shipmates, Mr. Hale. Me and the skipper, aye, and Lieutenant Tremayne an’ all, we come a long way together, all three.” He stirred and worked his collar higher. “I just come up to tell thee while I can. I’s signed with the Kerrs. I talked to Zeke first, and Nathan told me an hour ago, I must go to their boatshed early in the morning.”
"相当了解，"派克肯定道。"同船伙伴啊，黑尔先生。我、船长，还有特里梅因中尉，我们三个一路同甘共苦过来的。"他挪了挪身子，把衣领拉得更高些。"我特地赶在还能说的时候来告诉你。我跟克尔家签了契约。先跟齐克谈过，一小时前内森也通知我了，明儿一早我就得去他们船坞报到。"
“I’m glad to hear it.” Jim rubbed his hands together. “I want them, Pyke. I want the whole company of them, Maggie too, with a long, long sentence ahead of the whole bunch.”
"这消息真叫人欣慰。"吉姆搓着双手。"我要他们伏法，派克。我要他们整伙人都落网，连玛吉也不例外，统统判个漫长的刑期。"
“We can do better,” Pyke said with a quiet, offhand vindictiveness. “They’ll like as not hang, Maggie an’ all, for keeping their secrets to herself. How many men have died in ships they wrecked? And that’s murder, that is, Mr. Hale. Prison won’t do, not for the likes of murderers.” He moved on along the clifftop path, a shadow in the darkness. “Good night to thee, sir.”
"我们能做得更绝，"派克带着漫不经心的狠劲低声说。"他们准得上绞架，玛吉也逃不掉，就为死守着那些秘密。他们弄沉的那些船上死了多少人？那可是谋杀啊，黑尔先生。坐牢太便宜他们了，谋杀犯不配这样的下场。"他沿着崖顶小径渐行渐远，身影没入黑暗。"祝您晚安，先生。"
“Good night,” Jim called softly. “Where are you lodging?”
"晚安，"吉姆轻声唤道，"你今晚住哪儿？"
Pyke’s voice was muted by distance, tossed away by the wind. “I’s at The Mermaid tonight, but I’s at the Kerr place tomorrow.”
派克的声音被距离冲淡，随风飘散。"今晚在美人鱼酒馆落脚，明儿个去克尔家。"

Then Jim was alone, and keenly aware of the darkness and chill after the moment’s fleeting companionship. Missing Ryan already much more than he could have imagined, he forced his feet onto the path and walked into the wind, toward home.
吉姆又成了孤身一人，转瞬即逝的陪伴过后，黑暗与寒意显得格外刺骨。他比预想中更思念瑞安，只得迈步踏上小径，顶着寒风朝家的方向走去。

Yellow lamplight shone from several windows but he saw no welcome there. He stood for a long time at the gate, just looking up at the house, listening to the wind in the garden’s trees, the distant sounds of the town, the shush of the surf. Across the bay, the lighthouse flashed constantly, its sequence recognizable in a moment to any seaman who worked along the east coast. Marrick Hall seemed part of the landscape, as if it had been here all along, and the wind and weather had worn it out of the cliffs like the jet, the ammonites and the skeletons of great, extinct sea serpents.
几扇窗户透出昏黄的灯光，却不见有人迎候。他在大门前伫立良久，只是仰望着宅邸，听任花园树丛间的风声、远处市镇的喧嚣与海浪的絮语涌入耳中。海湾对岸的灯塔明灭不息，这种闪烁节奏东海岸的水手们瞬息便能辨认。马里克庄园仿佛本就是这片风景的一部分，如同它始终矗立于此，而风雨从悬崖中蚀刻出了它——就像那些黑玉、菊石，以及早已灭绝的巨型海蛇骸骨。

Resigned, Jim strode up the path, but before he could set a hand on the door it opened. Mick Hutton was on the threshold, dressed in gray wool and black trousers - on his way out for a night’s watch on some
吉姆带着几分倦意踏上小径，刚要抬手推门，门却自己开了。米克·赫顿正站在门槛处，身着灰色羊毛衫和黑色长裤——准备出门去港口某艘船上值夜班。
vessel in the harbor. Jim should have known which, but for the first time in his life the details had begun to escape him. None of it seemed worth half the bother of remembering. He stepped in, the door slammed against the chill wind and he blinked in the sudden brightness as Hutton hovered over him.
吉姆本该知道是哪艘船，可生平头一遭，这些细节开始从他记忆里溜走。他觉得这一切连费神记住的价值都没有。他迈步进屋，门在寒风中砰地关上。当赫顿的身影笼罩过来时，突如其来的光亮让他眯起了眼睛。
“We’d started to worry,” Mick said quietly. “It might not be safe for you to go out alone, Jim, especially after dark.”
"我们都开始担心了，"米克轻声说，"你独自出门可能不安全，吉姆，特别是天黑以后。"

Jim gave him a sharp look. “Meaning?” He knew exactly what Mick meant, and it stank.
吉姆锐利地扫了他一眼："什么意思？"他完全明白米克的暗示，这让他感到恶心。
“Well …” Hutton faltered and nodded at the town. His words were awkward, his voice troubled. “There’s doubtlessly a few folks down there who might want to do you harm just now.”
"“这个嘛……”赫顿支吾着朝镇上点了点头，言辞笨拙，声音里透着不安，“眼下那儿肯定有些人想找你麻烦。”"
“Oh?” Jim smiled bitterly. “Then perhaps I’ll take to carrying a revolver, and shoot them where they stand! There’s still laws in this land, Mick. Slander and gossip are not a good enough reason to beat a fellow’s brains out and toss him off the cliff.”
"“哦？”吉姆苦笑道，“那我干脆随身带把左轮，见一个崩一个！这地方好歹还有王法，米克。光凭几句诽谤和闲话，可不该把人打得脑浆迸裂再扔下悬崖。”"

The other man fidgeted in embarrassment. “It’s bad, Jim. I heard what they’re saying. I mean, you and Bill Ryan. It’s shocking, that anyone would think it.”
对方局促不安地挪了挪身子。“事情糟透了，吉姆。我听说了那些传言。我是说，关于你和比尔·瑞安的事。真可怕，居然有人会这么想。”

For a long time Jim said nothing. He studied the skirting board, noting absently how the paint was chipped, the carpet beginning to fray. Had a mouse been nibbling there? Hutton’s words stung him like a thief’s cat. It was bad, was it, that anyone could think two men might be lovers?
吉姆久久没有作声。他盯着踢脚板出神，漫不经心地注意到油漆剥落，地毯开始起毛。是有老鼠在啃咬吗？赫顿的话像盗贼的猫爪般刺痛了他。很糟糕是吗——居然有人觉得两个男人可能是恋人？

He was silent a full ten seconds too long, and at last Hutton had to speak again, in a hushed voice. “For God’s sake, Jim, you’re not saying it’s true?”
他沉默了足足十多秒，最后赫顿不得不再次开口，声音压得极低。"看在上帝份上，吉姆，你该不会说这是真的吧？"
“And if it was?” Jim stirred tiredly. “What business would it be of yours, Mick, or of anyone else? It’s an affair between two men, and possibly a matter for God to look into come Judgment Day! It’s got precious little to do with anyone else.”
"就算是真的又怎样？"吉姆疲惫地动了动身子。"这关你什么事，米克？关其他任何人什么事？这是两个男人之间的事，或许等到审判日那天上帝才会过问！跟旁人半点关系都没有。"

Hutton blushed an ugly shade of crimson from the roots of his hair to the line of his collar and was tongue-tied as a village idiot. “You mean … you and Ryan are -?”
赫顿从发根到衣领都涨成了难看的紫红色，像个乡巴佬似的结巴起来。"你是说...你和瑞安是——？"
“I didn’t say anything,” Jim snapped, whipcrack-sharp. “I said merely, if we were, it would be no one’s concern but ours.”
"我可什么都没说，"吉姆厉声打断，语气像鞭子般尖锐。"我只是说，就算我们真是那种关系，也轮不到别人来操心。"
“I - yes. You’re right, of course.” Hutton gulped noisily. “I’m sorry, Jim. It’s just, I never thought …” He stopped and took a breath. “You’re quite right. It’s nothing to do with me. You just don’t look, well, not the type.”
“我——是的。你说得对，当然。”赫顿大声地咽了口唾沫。“对不起，吉姆。只是，我没想到……”他停下来深吸一口气。“你说得很对。这与我无关。只是你看起来，呃，不像是那种人。”

The remark inspired a chuckle, but Jim choked it back. It would have been irrational laughter, on the thin edge of hysteria. “I don’t? Tell me, then, Mick, what does the ‘type’ look like? Personally, I’ve never been able to pick them out of the crowd.”
这句话引得人想笑，但吉姆硬生生憋了回去。那会是种不理性的笑声，近乎歇斯底里的边缘。“我不像？那告诉我，米克，那种人该是什么模样？说实在的，我可从来没法在人群里把他们认出来。”

Mick Hutton squared his shoulders and thrust out his chin. “You
米克·赫顿挺直肩膀，下巴往前一伸。“你
know bloody-damned well what I mean. You’re not a nancy-boy, never have been, and neither’s Bill Ryan.”
他妈的很清楚我什么意思。你不是娘娘腔，从来都不是，比尔·瑞安也不是。”

Tired beyond his years, Jim drew both hands across his face, which was cold and prickly for want of a razor, and through the tangled mass of his hair. He realized he must look quite a sight. “You’ve been at sea long enough to know bilgewater when you hear it, Mick. If you have to hate me, then hate me honestly, up-front and in the open. But don’t pretend I’m the only man in the world who ever loved another man. And you know better than to buy into this nonsense about a man being a weakling because of such feelings.”
吉姆疲惫不堪，双手抚过自己那因久未刮胡子而冰冷刺痒的脸庞，又穿过蓬乱的头发。他意识到自己此刻必定狼狈不堪。"你在海上待得够久了，米克，一听就知道是胡扯。若非要恨我，就光明正大地恨。别假装我是世上唯一爱过同性的男人。你心里清楚，认为有这种感情就是懦夫的说法纯属无稽之谈。"

The words were softly spoken but fierce, and Hutton had the grace to duck his head sheepishly. “You’re right again. It’s just something I’d never imagined of you, Jim. I’ve seen it, of course I have, we all have. But not ashore. It’s so usual at sea, you come to expect it. But … well, you know what sailors are like!”
这话说得轻柔却锋利，赫顿赧然低下头。"你说得对。只是我从没想过你会这样，吉姆。这种事我见过，当然见过，大家都见过。但在岸上...海上太常见了，人们习以为常。可...唉，你知道水手们什么德性！"
“A girl in every port?” Jim’s eyes prickled. “Take another look, Mick, with your eyes wide open. A lot of those sailors have a boy in half the ports as well.” He stirred, shrugging out of his coat at last. “Are you on your way out?”
"每个港口都有相好？"吉姆眼眶发烫，"睁大眼睛看清楚吧米克，半数港口里那些水手还养着男孩呢。"他动了动身子，终于脱下外套，"你要出门？"
“Standing the night watch on the Yarmourth,” Hutton told him. “The Second Mate’s come down sick. I’m doing old Fred Lynch a favor. Between you and me, I think Jake Chegwidden is just plain drunk, but they’ll still need someone to stand the watch.”
"得去雅茅斯号值夜班，"赫顿告诉他，"二副病倒了。算是帮老弗雷德·林奇个忙。私下说句，我觉得杰克·切格威登纯粹是喝醉了，但他们总得有人值班。"
“And my father?” Jim frowned up the stairs toward the second floor balcony.
"那我父亲呢？"吉姆皱着眉头望向通往二楼阳台的楼梯。
“The same,” Hutton said guardedly. “He’s not spoken a word, but they’ve got him sitting up on pillows. His heart is no better but no worse. It’s all in his head.” He tapped his temple. “He doesn’t seem able to speak, and he can’t move, down his left side.”
"还是老样子，"赫顿谨慎地说，"他一句话也没说，不过他们让他靠着枕头坐起来了。心脏既没好转也没恶化。问题全在脑子里。"他敲了敲太阳穴，"他好像说不出话，左边身子也不能动。"
“The brainstorm,” Jim said soundlessly. “In heaven’s name, what’s a brainstorm? Does anyone know, or is that what we call it because we don’t? I’ll go up and see him.”
"中风，"吉姆无声地吐出这个词，"天啊，中风到底是什么？有人知道吗？还是因为我们不懂才这么叫？我上去看看他。"
“The nurse is with him,” Hutton said as he shrugged into a coat from the cloak rack by the door. “I saw him an hour ago, but I’m not sure he knew me. He might know you.”
"护士正陪着他，"赫顿边说边从门边的衣帽架上取下一件外套穿上，"一小时前我去看过他，但不确定他是否认出了我。或许他能认出你。"

Jim nodded but made no comment. His heart was a stone in his chest. As Hutton stamped out of the house he hung up his own coat and resorted to a large brandy before he climbed the stairs and knocked on his father’s door.
吉姆点了点头，却一言不发。他心如铁石。当赫顿重重地踏出房门后，他挂好自己的外套，灌下一大杯白兰地，才转身上楼敲响了父亲的房门。

In attendance, night and day, was a stout, ugly, kindly and manstrong woman, a middle-aged nurse by the name of Bonnie Brice. She was a widow, the mother of eight and grandmother of a dozen already. She worked at the hospital for a few shillings a week, and was quite equal to the task of nursing a frail old gentleman through his last illness. And to Jim’s intense gratitude she was probably the only person
日夜照料老人的是位壮实粗犷却心地善良的妇人——中年护工邦妮·布赖斯。她是个寡妇，育有八个子女，膝下已有十二个孙辈。每周仅靠医院微薄的几先令薪水过活，却完全胜任照料这位虚弱老绅士度过临终病痛的工作。而最令吉姆感激的是，她大概是斯卡伯勒唯一
in Scarborough who didn’t care a fig who or what Jim Hale slept with. She greeted him with a smile so warm, one forgot to notice her squashed bun face and the mustache she was growing.
不在乎吉姆·黑尔与谁同床共枕的人。她迎接他的笑容如此温暖，让人全然忽略了她那张扁圆面包似的脸和唇边冒出的胡须。

Sitting up against the pillows, warm and clean, Jonathan seemed to be simply drifting. His hair was combed, his cheeks shaved. He wore a fresh nightshirt and a pale blue shawl about his shoulders; his head lolled to the left, where he was propped up on pillows. His left hand was drawn up against his side like a claw, and the left side of his face appeared like a mask, wooden or leathery.
乔纳森靠着枕头半坐起身，干净清爽，仿佛只是随波漂浮。头发梳得齐整，脸颊刮得干净。他穿着崭新的睡袍，肩上搭着淡蓝色披肩；脑袋向左歪着，靠在一摞枕头上。左手像爪子般蜷缩在身侧，左半边脸如同木制或皮革制成的面具般僵硬。
“Your da’s awake,” Mrs. Brice said quietly. “He just had his dish of soup. I’ll be changing him and settling him for t’night shortly.”
“你父亲醒了，”布赖斯太太轻声说道，“他刚喝完一碗汤。我马上给他换洗，安顿他过夜。”

Changing him like a baby, Jim thought with a convulsive swallow. He stood beside the bed with a nod of thanks for the woman’s kindness. Here was another of life’s great ironies: men, even those who had risen to greatness, often ended their lives just as they began, helpless, feeble and full of gratitude if a kind woman would offer them the same care one gave a child.
像照顾婴儿一样伺候他，吉姆想着，喉头一阵发紧。他站在床边，向这位好心的妇人点头致谢。这又是人生的一大讽刺：男人们，即便是那些曾叱咤风云的人物，临终时往往又回到了生命最初的模样——孱弱无助，若能得到妇人如同照料孩童般的关怀，便满怀感激。
“He’ll not recover, then?” Was that his own voice? Jim barely knew it.
“这么说，他好不了了？”这是自己的声音吗？吉姆几乎认不出来。
“Oh, I’d not be too sure about that, Mr. Hale,” she said shrewdly. “He spoke to me today like he knew me, and I seen him lift his head once. He’s mending a bit, he is.”
“噢，我倒不敢这么肯定，黑尔先生，”她精明地说，“今天他跟我说话时像是认得我，我还看见他抬了一次头。他确实在慢慢好转。”

Jim gave a start. “You’re sure?”
吉姆猛地一惊。"你确定？"
“Sure as sure can be.” She bustled about, collecting crockery and linen. “Your old da’s not dead yet. You give him a fighting chance, and he may surprise you.”
"千真万确。"她忙不迭地收拾着杯盘和亚麻布。"你家老爷子还没咽气呢。只要给他个机会，说不定能让你大吃一惊。"

Dry mouthed, Jim took the old man’s right hand and looked down into his eyes. They were dull but not vacant; quiescent, watchful? He cleared his throat. “Good evening, father,” he said slowly and clearly.
吉姆口干舌燥地握住老人右手，低头凝视他的眼睛。那双眼眸虽黯淡却不空洞；是平静，还是警觉？他清了清嗓子。"晚上好，父亲，"他缓慢而清晰地说道。

And the hand in his tightened - just a bare fraction, but the grip was there. Jim sat on the bedside and marveled at the human body’s ability to first injure, then heal itself. He looked up at the nurse. “He spoke?”
掌中的手指突然收紧——只是极轻微的力道，但确确实实握住了。吉姆在床沿坐下，惊叹于人类身体先自损后自愈的本能。他抬头看向护士："他说话了？"
“That he did,” she said unconcernedly.
“他确实这么做了。”她漫不经心地说。
“What did he say, Mrs. Brice?”
“他说了什么，布赖斯太太？”
She smiled. “Why, he spoke your name, sir.”
她微微一笑。“哎呀，他说了您的名字，先生。”
Jim took a shaken breath and looked back into his father’s eyes. “You know me, don’t you?” He spoke clearly, slowly. “They told me you’re going to get well.” Even as he said it, he could not believe it.
吉姆颤抖着吸了口气，重新望向父亲的眼睛。“您认得我，对不对？”他字句清晰地说得很慢。“他们告诉我您会好起来的。”可即便说着这话，他自己也难以相信。

Yet his father’s hand gripped his fingers weakly once more, and Mrs. Brice saw the movement. “There you are,” she said genially as if proof had been delivered. “I told you! You just give him half a chance.”
然而他父亲的手指又一次虚弱地握住了他的手，布赖斯太太注意到了这个动作。"你看，"她亲切地说道，仿佛得到了确证，"我早说过！只要给他半点机会就行。"
“I will.” Jim withdrew, forced a smile to his face and stepped from the room feeling as if he had been punched under the heart. Mosswell was calling him to dine but he shook his head. His appetite was banish-
"我会的。"吉姆退后几步，强挤出一丝笑容走出房间，胸口仿佛挨了一记闷拳。莫斯韦尔正唤他用餐，但他摇了摇头。困惑、纷乱的欲望与恐惧交织着，使他食欲全无——
ed by confusion, a welter of perplexed desires and fears. He went up to his room, closed the drapes, stoked the hearth and cradled a very large rum between his hands as he battled to get a grip on the disorder of his thoughts.
他上楼回到自己房间，拉上窗帘，拨旺炉火，双手捧着一大杯朗姆酒，竭力想要理清混乱的思绪。

Concentration defied him and the rum on an empty belly took him down fast into a half-sleep where he seemed to hear Ryan’s voice, though he could not make out the words. In a half-dream he felt the deck under his feet, felt the sea batter at timbers and heard the wind singing in the rigging. Not quite asleep, he kicked himself that he had not followed his instincts, gone out on the Adelaide and never shipped back to this port.
他无法集中精神，空腹饮下的烈酒很快让他陷入半梦半醒的状态。恍惚间他似乎听见瑞安的声音，却听不清字句。在半梦半醒中，他感觉脚下踩着甲板，海浪拍打着船身，听见风掠过索具的呼啸。尚未完全睡着的他懊悔不已，恨自己没有遵从直觉——当初若随阿德莱德号出海，如今便不必重返这个港口了。

Days later and a fair distance to the northeast, Bill Ryan was thinking the same thoughts. Skagerak was stormy with a vigorous wind off the Swedish mountains, and he took the last watch himself as the Adelaide made the long, difficult tack into Tonsberg. The port was Norwegian but one would meet as many Hollanders, Germans and Englishmen here as Norwegians. English seemed a universal language, albeit in broken and bastardized form. The coastal trade was little different here than in England. The backdrop and details might change a fraction but the overall picture never did, from Shanghai to Boston. How could it?
数日后，在东北方向相当远的地方，比尔·瑞安也正想着同样的事。斯卡格拉克海峡风急浪高，从瑞典山脉刮来的狂风肆虐着，当阿德莱德号艰难地长途跋涉驶向滕斯贝格时，他亲自值了最后一班岗。这虽是挪威港口，但在此遇到的荷兰人、德国人和英国人几乎与挪威人一样多。英语似乎是通用语言，尽管都是些支离破碎的混杂变体。这里的沿海贸易与英格兰并无二致。背景与细节或许略有不同，但从上海到波士顿，整体景象从未改变。又能如何呢？

Without incident, the Adelaide slid into her berth and tied up; the seacook was busy and the hands were making ready to load cargo while Ryan registered with the harbor master’s agent and went ashore into a bitingly cold, thickly foggy night.
阿德莱德号平安靠岸系泊；厨子正忙着张罗，水手们准备装货，瑞安则向港务代理登记后，踏入了一个寒风刺骨、浓雾弥漫的夜晚。

Along the waterfront music, laughter and steamy heat wafted from seamen’s taverns which were the same the world over, but he had business to attend to. His cargo was timber for Belfast, to be loaded by the Gausta Lumber Company, which logged the low slopes of Mount Gausta, cutting back the forest above Konigsberg, fifty miles from the port.
码头边传来酒馆里的音乐声、欢笑声和腾腾热气，这些水手酒馆在全世界都一个样，但他还有正事要办。他的货物是运往贝尔法斯特的木材，将由高斯塔木材公司装船，该公司在距港口五十英里的柯尼斯堡上方山林间，砍伐高斯塔山低坡的树木。

It was a safe cargo, so regular, Ryan lad lost count of the number of times he had made this run. There were voyages, though seldom, when the sea was calm and it was like a pleasure cruise, and other voyages when he brought the ship home intact only through divine intervention. Skagerak was like a woman - the beautiful, cruel, unpredictable virago Joel Tremayne had described.
这是趟稳妥的差事，如此规律，瑞安都记不清跑过多少趟了。偶有风平浪静如游船般的航程，但更多时候能平安返航全靠神明庇佑。斯卡格拉克海峡就像乔尔·特里梅因描述的那种女人——美丽、残忍、难以捉摸的悍妇。

The Mercury would be shipping out any day now, and July would bring Tremayne back to England. For the first time Ryan let his teeth sink into the reality of Joel’s offer, let himself chew it over, swallow the lean and spit out the fat. The money was an undeniable siren-song; only the risk made him hesitate.
墨丘利号随时可能启航，而七月将把特里梅因带回英格兰。瑞安第一次真正开始考虑乔尔的提议，他细细咀嚼着这个提议，咽下精肉吐出肥油。金钱无疑是诱人的塞壬之歌；唯有风险让他踌躇不前。

If Jonathan Hale were to pass away soon -
如果乔纳森·黑尔不久于人世——

If Jim wanted to get out of Scarborough and away from the pointing fingers and clacking tongues -
如果吉姆想离开斯卡伯勒，远离那些指指点点和闲言碎语——

If this voyage of the Adelaide returned enough to pay off Duncan Linwood and get the Spindrift into the water -
如果阿德莱德号这次航行收获足够偿还邓肯·林伍德的债务，让浪花号重新下水——

The agent for Gausta Lumber kept a dank little office on the quay. Lamplight spilled from the open door and two voices were shouting from within as Ryan approached. A man and a woman seemed about to kill each other. Ryan knocked and no one noticed. He pounded with the flat of his hand and stuck his head inside. Dusty shelves lined the office. Leather ledgers with buckled-down covers formed a teetering pile on the corner of a desk, flanked by a hatstand, a cloak rack and a paraffin stove with a singing tea kettle.
高斯塔木材公司的代理人在码头有间阴暗的小办公室。瑞安走近时，敞开的门里泄出煤油灯光，两个声音正在里面争吵。一男一女似乎要打起来了。瑞安敲门没人理会，他用手掌重重拍门，探头进去。办公室里排着积灰的架子，皮面账本用搭扣固定着，在桌角堆成摇摇欲坠的一摞，旁边立着衣帽架、斗篷架和一台煤油炉，炉上的茶壶正嘶嘶作响。
“Ah, Ryan!” Kurt Jorgenson was half German, and so was his grasp of the English language. He thrust the woman aside deliberately and scrabbled for a paper and fountain pen. “Sign, bitte, und der cargo ist loaded vor morgen, ja?”
"啊，瑞安！"库尔特·约根森有德国血统，英语也带着德国腔。他故意把那女人推到一边，手忙脚乱地找纸和钢笔。"签字吧，求你了，明天之前货物就能装船，对吧？"
“It had better be, Kurt,” Ryan said with deceptive mildness. “That was the deal, and I’ll make you stand by it.” He need not add, he was paying harbor dues by the tide, not by the day. He left on the morning tide or he paid again, and the profits of the voyage would be severely bruised. Jorgenson knew all this. His stevedores would be in one of the bars along the dock, waiting for a call.
"最好是这样，库尔特，"瑞安话说得温和，却暗含威胁。"当初说好的，你得照办。"他不必补充说明——港口费是按潮汐算的，不是按天。要是赶不上早潮，他就得再付一笔钱，这趟航行的利润就会大打折扣。约根森心知肚明。他的装卸工准是在码头哪家酒馆里，等着召唤呢。

The bill of lading looked kosher but Ryan triple-checked it, as was his habit, while Jorgenson made tea and produced a bottle of schnapps. The documents were straightforward, and Ryan was finishing when the plump little man hurried into hat, coat, scarf and mittens, to round up his laborers.
提单看起来没问题，但瑞安照例反复核对了三遍。这时约根森沏好茶，又拿出一瓶杜松子酒。文件内容直截了当，瑞安刚核对完，那个矮胖的男人就急匆匆戴上帽子、围巾和手套，穿上外套去召集他的工人了。

Ryan glanced sidelong at the woman, who wore a face like a thundercloud. She was apparently too angry to trust herself to say another word. She was Jorgenson’s age, slender as a reed, apple cheeked, golden blond, the very embodiment of the Viking warrior maid of myth, save for her corsets and whalebone stays. Ryan touched his cap in a silent mix of greeting and farewell and stepped out with Jorgenson.
瑞安斜睨着那位面色阴沉的女子。她显然气得说不出话来，只得强忍怒火。她与约根森年纪相仿，身姿纤细如芦苇，双颊泛着苹果般的红晕，金发闪耀，活脱脱是神话中维京女战士的化身——若不是束着紧身胸衣和鲸骨撑裙的话。瑞安轻触帽檐无声致意，随即与约根森一同迈步离开。
“What’s the woman’s problem?”
“那女人怎么回事？”
“Was ist nicht her problem?” Kurt growled. “Her husband leaves vor dawn or they lose money. You can carry ein passenger, ja?”
“她哪件事不闹心？”库尔特粗声答道，“她丈夫天亮前不走就要赔钱。你能捎个乘客吧？”
“I might,” Ryan allowed. “If the price was right. Where the hell are you heading, Kurt?” Two alleys and three backstreets away from the waterfront, he had begun to lose himself in the warren.
“或许吧，”瑞安松口道，“价钱合适就行。你究竟要去哪儿，库尔特？”离开码头穿过两条窄巷三条偏道后，他已在错综复杂的街巷中迷失了方向。

Jorgenson was grumbling in several disjointed languages as he led the way from bar to bar, and at last settled on an establishment from which came the resonant sound of a Continental accordion. A pound to a penny, Ryan thought, the loading crew was in there and Jorgenson was praying they were sober.
约根森用几种支离破碎的语言嘟囔着，领路从一家酒吧逛到另一家，最后选了个传出大陆式手风琴声的店铺。瑞安暗自盘算，十有八九装卸工们就在里头，约根森正祈祷他们还没喝醉。
“What about this passenger?” Ryan turned up his collar as the
"那位乘客怎么办？"瑞安竖起衣领，这时
wind began to bite. Mist swirled about the harbor; the fog horn was bellowing and a steamer was outbound. Its own horn bawled in curious harmony with the fog horn. “Passenger for where?”
寒风开始刺骨。雾气在港口盘旋；雾角低沉地吼叫着，一艘蒸汽船正驶离码头。它的汽笛声与雾角奇异地共鸣着。"去哪儿的乘客？"
“Stavanger, by tomorrow, midnight latest,” Jorgenson panted.
"最迟明天午夜前到斯塔万格，"约根森气喘吁吁地说。
“What about this weather?” Ryan gestured at the fog.
"这天气是怎么回事？"瑞安对着浓雾比划道。
“Funf, maybe zehn mile aus to sea you lose der fog,” Jorgenson said dismissively as he stepped through the doorway of the disreputable bar.
"五海里，或许十海里开外，雾气就散了，"约根森漫不经心地说着，迈步走进那家声名狼藉的酒吧门廊。

All at once Ryan recognized it; he had been here before. Inside were scores of men, most of them in various stages of inebriation. He could not have picked out Jorgenson’s crew, and it appeared, neither could the agent. He put his fingers to his lips and gave a piercing whistle to attract their attention.
瑞安突然认出了这个地方——他曾经来过。室内挤满了人，多数都带着不同程度的醉意。他根本分辨不出约根森的船员，而那位探员似乎也同样束手无策。他将手指抵在唇间，吹出一声尖锐的口哨以引起众人注意。

A tirade in Norwegian, German and French followed, among which Ryan could discern only one word: the name of his ship. In moments a crew of fifteen brawny lads had gathered. Two were leaning heavily on their mates but most were more or less upright. Jorgenson tossed a ring of heavy keys to the foreman and issued his orders in thickly-accented Norwegian.
紧接着是一连串夹杂着挪威语、德语和法语的怒骂，瑞安只听懂其中一个词：他船的名字。转眼间十五个壮实的小伙子就聚拢过来，其中两个正重重地靠在同伴身上，但多数人还算站得稳当。约根森将一串沉甸甸的钥匙抛给工头，用带着浓重口音的挪威语下达了命令。

As they trooped out the agent returned his attention to Ryan, eyes piercing. “You wird take der passenger?”
当众人鱼贯而出时，那名探员将锐利的目光重新投向瑞安。"你会带上那个乘客？"
“We shove off on the morning tide,” Ryan said levelly. “Get your man to the wharf. We can’t wait.”
"我们趁着早潮启航，"瑞安平静地说，"让你的人到码头来。我们不会等人。"
“Ja, ja, no problem.” Jorgenson pulled off his mitten and offered his hand. “'Wiedersehen, Captain.”
"好，好，没问题。"约根森摘下手套伸出右手。"再见，船长。"
“Goodbye.” Ryan shook the man’s hand, and at once was alone in the swirl of wet, chill fog. He was hungry, cold, tired. Skagerak was a narrow channel filled with waves the size of mountains in which one small ship could pass without notice, or be lost without trace. The way in had been hard, with the wind against the Adelaide; the way out would be easier, with the northeast wind dead astern.
"再见。"瑞安握了握那人的手，转眼间便独自置身于湿冷浓雾的漩涡中。他又饿又冷，疲惫不堪。斯卡格拉克海峡是条狭窄水道，巨浪如山，一艘小船可以悄无声息地通过，也可能消失得无影无踪。来时逆风而行，阿德莱德号吃尽苦头；返程时东北风正推船尾，想必会轻松许多。

A northeast wind, Ryan thought as he turned back along the wharf. If this wind continued to rise they would be calling it wreckers’ weather between the Firth of Forth and the Wash. Jim and Mick Hutton would be on watch, and so would the Kerr brothers.
瑞安沿着码头折返时心想，这是东北风。若这风势继续增强，福斯湾至沃什湾一带就该称之为沉船天气了。吉姆和米克·赫顿会在瞭望，克尔兄弟也会在岗。

The hellish nights on which a ship did not run aground were rare, but the Kerrs liked the deck stacked in their favor. Not for the first time, Ryan wondered if Geoffrey Pyke had made contact, if he had signed with the Kerrs, and where he was. He was a safe in Scarborough so long as he was never seen to make contact with anyone from Marrick Hall. But if he was seen even giving Jim Hale the time of day, ‘all bets were off,’ as Joel would say.
船只不触礁的平安夜晚实属罕见，但克尔兄弟就喜欢胜券在握的局面。瑞安不止一次揣测杰弗里·派克是否已与他们接洽，是否签了契约，此刻身在何处。只要不被发现与马里克庄园的人接触，他在斯卡伯勒就是安全的。但若被人看见他哪怕只是和吉姆·黑尔寒暄——用乔尔的话说——"所有赌注就都作废了"。

The Adelaide loomed up out of the fog as Ryan drew closer, looking for a moment like a ghost ship, the skeleton of a vessel which had been half-swallowed by the ocean. The vision was arresting, and Ryan
当瑞安走近时，阿德莱德号从雾中赫然显现，乍看犹如幽灵船，仿佛被海洋吞噬过半的船骸。这景象摄人心魄，瑞安
stopped in his tracks while a fist seemed to grab his insides and squeeze. Then figures moved on the deck, a lantern swung to and fro and the phantom image was dispelled, leaving Ryan unpleasantly aware of his own chill and the tremors in his belly.
猛然驻足，仿佛有只拳头攥住他的内脏狠狠挤压。随后甲板上人影晃动，提灯来回摇摆，幻象随之消散，只留下瑞安不适地意识到自己的寒意与腹中的颤抖。

He was by no means a superstitious man, but like any seaman who had spent more than half his life with the ocean, he had seen so much he could not hope to explain. He would never be blindly complacent. An omen, was it? If the vision was a portent, it boded no good. Seeing what Ryan had just glimpsed, Geoffrey Pyke could not have been coaxed or bribed back onto the deck. He would have jumped ship and vanished into the grog shops of a foreign port sooner than he would set foot on a ship toiling under a curse.
他绝非迷信之人，但正如任何与海洋相伴半生的水手一样，他见过太多无法解释之事。他从不盲目自满。这是个预兆吗？若那幻象真是凶兆，绝无好事发生。目睹瑞安方才所见后，任谁也无法诱骗或收买杰弗里·派克重返甲板。他宁可跳船逃往异国港口的酒馆，也绝不愿踏上艘受诅咒的苦役船。

If the Adelaide was cursed, Bill Ryan fancied he knew who was responsible for it. Old Jonathan Hale had it in him to be a vengeful, unforgiving master. He might be physically incapable of preventing Ryan from taking out the Adelaide, but he could lie on his deathbed and wish her ill - her, and the sailing master he had come to despise.
若阿德莱德号真遭诅咒，比尔·瑞安暗自揣测祸首何人。老乔纳森·黑尔骨子里就是个睚眦必报的船主。他虽无力阻止瑞安带走阿德莱德号，却能在临终榻上诅咒这艘船——连同他日渐憎恶的航海长一起遭殃。

With a sense of grim determination, Ryan stepped over onto the Adelaide and gave the fog-shrouded sky a grim look. The sooner a northeast gale blew up, the sooner the Kerr brothers would betray themselves to the spy in their midst, and it would be over. They and the bold Moses Wallach would be in a cell, awaiting a judge’s pleasure. That day, Ryan would celebrate.
瑞安带着决绝之色跨上阿德莱德号，阴郁地望向雾霭沉沉的天空。东北风来得愈急，克尔兄弟便愈快在潜伏的密探面前露出马脚，这场闹剧就能尽早收场。他们与狂妄的摩西·沃拉赫都将锒铛入狱，听候法官发落。那日，瑞安定要举杯庆贺。

With them accounted for, Jim would have no real competition in the salvage business between the Esk and the Trent. Salvage could easily be the short-term salvation of Eastcoast Packet, and Jim had readily accepted the work. It was hard and dangerous, but very profitable, and without the extra danger presented by the Kerr brothers, it was honest work for honest pay.
料理完这伙人，吉姆在埃斯克河与特伦特河之间的打捞业便再无敌手。打捞业务或将成为东海岸邮船公司的短期救命稻草，吉姆早已欣然接手。这活计虽艰苦危险却利润丰厚，何况没了克尔兄弟从中作梗，总算能堂堂正正凭本事吃饭。

The whole ship felt damp. She rocked at her moorings, lanterns and mast lamps peering through the mist, and as Ryan stood by the portside dory he saw a gang of Jorgenson’s laborers appearing along the waterfront. The load of timber was fetched up by cart; a team of massive, feather-hoofed drays leaned into the traces until the driver called to them to stop and waved up at the skipper of the English schooner. Ryan returned the wave and clambered down into the comparative warmth below decks.
整艘船都泛着潮气。她静静停泊在码头，船灯与桅灯穿透薄雾，当瑞安站在左舷小艇旁时，看见约根森的一队工人正沿着码头走来。木材由马车运抵；几匹长着羽毛般鬃毛的壮硕挽马正奋力拉车，直到车夫喝令它们停下，朝那艘英国纵帆船的船长挥手致意。瑞安也挥手回应，随即爬下甲板，钻进相对温暖的底舱。

Conditions were cramped but it was dry and the skipper had his own tiny but private cabin. The Spindrift would be a little larger, with a bigger crew, bigger hold, more space to move below decks. Still, the Adelaide was a fine ship and he had grown affectionate of her in the months they had run between Ireland and the ports of Scandinavia. Her usual cargoes were wool, butter, linen, timber, occasionally passengers. Laborers for Danzig, perhaps a businessman for Kiel or Stavanger. The coastal trade was still viable here, but even as Ryan put to-
舱内虽显局促却干燥无漏，船长还拥有自己那方虽小却私密的舱室。浪花号会稍大些，配有更多船员、更宽敞的货舱、更充裕的底舱活动空间。不过阿德莱德号仍是艘好船，在往返爱尔兰与斯堪的纳维亚港口的数月航程中，他已对她生出眷恋。她通常载运羊毛、黄油、亚麻、木材，偶尔也捎带乘客——或许是去但泽的劳工，又或是前往基尔或斯塔万格的商人。沿海贸易在此地尚有余韵，可正当瑞安——
gether a quick meal of cold meat, bread and pickles, he heard the deep, rumbling voice of its death knell.
匆匆用着冷肉、面包和腌菜组成的简餐时，他听见了宣告其消亡的深沉轰鸣。

A steam horn bellowed over the port, not from a ship but from the shore. Very soon the railway would be a network bisecting countries and crossing borders. What had Duncan Linwood, the master shipbuilder, said? In a matter of months now, forty-five thousand merchant seamen would be put ashore in England. Rough times were coming, Ryan mused, and it would not be long before the whole country felt the blow.
汽笛声响彻港口，并非来自船只而是岸上。铁路很快将成为横贯各国、跨越边境的交通网络。造船大师邓肯·林伍德说过什么来着？不出数月，英格兰将有四万五千名商船水手被迫上岸。艰难时日将至，瑞安沉思着，要不了多久整个国家都会感受到这场冲击。

As he sank his teeth into his meal Ryan wondered again what was to become of men like himself, caught between one age and the next, at home, really, only in the past. Answers were as elusive as ever and he set the question aside as he heard the first heavy thud of a bale of timber hitting the bottom of the hold. Those impacts would go on for hours, till the Adelaide was riding low in the water under a full load. Cash cargo aboard, ballast offloaded.
瑞安咀嚼着食物时，又一次思索着像他这样的人将何去何从——夹在两个时代之间，真正属于的只有往昔。答案依旧渺茫，当第一捆木材重重砸进货舱底部的闷响传来时，他暂时搁置了这个疑问。这样的撞击声将持续数小时，直到阿德莱德号满载货物吃水渐深。现金货物装船，压舱物卸下。

He was tired. The food filled the abyss in his middle but did little to settle his thoughts. He rolled himself in a rug on his bunk, swallowed a small rum and closed his eyes. The paraffin stove took the chill off the air but he was unaccountably cold. He was always cold when he was fretting.
他疲惫不堪。食物填补了腹中的空虚，却丝毫未能平息纷乱的思绪。他将自己裹在铺位的毛毯里，咽下一小口朗姆酒，闭上了眼睛。煤油炉驱散了空气中的寒意，但他仍莫名感到寒冷。每当他焦虑时，总是会这样发冷。

Unsurprisingly, his thoughts had stayed behind with Jim. Was the old man still alive? What were the townspeople muttering as Jim passed them in the street? At this of all times Ryan should be with him, and where was he going? Stavanger first, with Jorgenson’s passenger; then Belfast, where he would tout for another cargo which might take him to Glasgow or the Orkneys or right back here to Tonsberg.
不出所料，他的思绪仍停留在吉姆身上。那位老人还活着吗？当吉姆穿过街道时，镇民们在窃窃私语什么？在这种时候，瑞安本该陪在他身边，可自己又要去往何方？先是斯塔万格，运送约根森的乘客；接着是贝尔法斯特，在那里招揽下一批货物——或许会去格拉斯哥或奥克尼群岛，也可能直接回到滕斯贝格。

He punched his pillow and pulled the blanket tighter about him. Jim would endure their taunts. He could afford to be patient, and of one thing Ryan was sure: Marrick Hall’s servants could not be called on to substantiate any rumor. The only witness was Maggie Kerr - a whore by anyone’s understanding of the word. Yet as Jim had said, smoke did not rise without a fire. Tongues would wag.
他捶了捶枕头，将毯子裹得更紧。吉姆会忍受那些嘲弄。他有资本保持耐心，而瑞安确信一点：马里克庄园的仆人们绝不会为任何谣言作证。唯一的目击者是玛吉·克尔——按任何人对这个词的理解，她都是个娼妓。但正如吉姆所说，无风不起浪。流言终将四起。

Then, let them wag, Ryan decided. With not a shred of real evidence with which to damn Jim, sooner or later people’s natural good sense must reassert. Remorse would replace sly suspicions, and then -
那就随他们说去吧，瑞安打定了主意。既然连半点真凭实据都拿不出来指控吉姆，人们天生的理智迟早会重新占据上风。懊悔终将取代那些鬼祟的猜疑，然后——

And then, what? At this point in the meanderings of his tired mind Ryan always ran aground. He could think no further, and any future he thought he glimpsed was bleak. He must remain well out of Jim’s private life now, stay away from him, or the whole cycle of accusation and denial would start again. Loving a man was accounted a sin as well as a crime, he reminded himself cynically, and while people were slow to forget, they rarely forgave at all.
然后呢？每当疲惫的思绪游走到这里，瑞安总会搁浅。他无法再往下想，而所能瞥见的未来又都黯淡无光。如今他必须彻底退出吉姆的私生活，远远避开他，否则指控与否认的循环又会重演。爱一个男人既是罪孽也是犯罪，他讥诮地提醒自己，世人或许健忘，却极少宽恕。

So Jim would inherit Eastcoast Packet and Ryan would be at sea. They would meet when the Spindrift berthed, share a fine wine, have
于是吉姆将继承东海岸邮船公司，而瑞安将漂泊海上。每当浪花号靠港时他们会相见，共饮美酒，
dinner over the ship’s log, with a company of witnesses to prove nothing untoward had taken place; then they would part. Pain flayed Ryan to the bone like a flensing knife. He turned over to face the wall, put his cold back to the stove and burrowed deeper into the bunk.
在航海日志旁共进晚餐，周围总少不了见证人，以证明绝无不轨之事；然后他们便各奔东西。痛苦像剥鲸刀般剐得瑞安体无完肤。他翻身面朝舱壁，把冰凉的脊背对着火炉，更深地蜷缩进铺位里。

The next bale of timber hit the bottom of the hold with a thick, muffled thud. He felt the impact right through the ship’s wooden ribs, and stirred restlessly. It was some time, now, since he had slept, and he suspected Jim would not be resting any easier.
又一捆木材沉闷地砸进货舱底部。他透过船体的木质肋骨感受到震动，不安地翻了个身。他已经许久未能入睡，想必吉姆也同样辗转难眠。

No man could sustain a life of anguish for long. The round of separation and denial Ryan imagined would be worse than a life spent completely apart, and he knew where it had to end. He would be best advised to get right out of Scarborough, seek another command elsewhere, anywhere. Unavoidably, his thoughts turned to Joel Tremayne. The coastal trade was about to fold and the Navy had washed its hands of him, but Joel had set his sights on America, and Ryan was intrigued.
没有人能长久忍受痛苦的生活。瑞安想象中这种若即若离的折磨比彻底分离更难熬，他明白这必须有个了结。最明智的选择是立刻离开斯卡伯勒，去别处——任何地方——另谋船长职位。思绪不可避免地转向乔尔·特里梅因。沿海贸易即将崩溃，海军也已将他除名，但乔尔把目光投向了美洲，这令瑞安产生了兴趣。

He had read enough in the Telegraph to know the Union Pacific railroad was as yet years away from completion; ships were still navigating Cape Horn to reach the rich markets in San Francisco and the American privateers were busy between the Azores and the Caribbean. A ship from Europe might be carrying a rich cargo of silk, spices, books, paintings, printing presses, crystalware, French brandy, rifles and sidearms - powder and shot and medical supplies. Medicines, cameras, optical glasses, coffee … and emigrants. Privateers seized the cargo and simply took the plundered goods in their own holds, with dummy manifests, for legal sale in California, far from the ports of the Carolinas, or Boston or New York, where their activities might be traced. Without even a telegraph service between Chicago and San Francisco, who was to know which cargo was stolen, which was legitimate? Sometimes the crew and passengers of the ravaged ship survived; more often they did not.
他从《电讯报》上了解到联合太平洋铁路距竣工还需数年；船只仍需绕行合恩角才能抵达旧金山的富饶市场，而美洲私掠船正频繁出没于亚速尔群岛与加勒比海之间。来自欧洲的船只可能满载丝绸、香料、书籍、油画、印刷机、水晶器皿、法国白兰地、步枪与手枪——还有火药、子弹和医疗物资。药品、照相机、光学镜片、咖啡……以及移民。私掠船截获货物后，只需伪造舱单就能将劫掠品堂而皇之运往加利福尼亚销赃，远离可能追查其行踪的卡罗来纳、波士顿或约克港。在芝加哥与旧金山之间连电报都未开通的年代，谁能分辨哪些货物来路不正？被洗劫船只的船员与乘客偶有幸存者，但多数难逃厄运。

The dangers were enormous, though Tremayne might not want to admit it. The profits were equally vast. Ryan glared at the planks a hand’s span from his nose as he considered his uncertain future. America was at war with herself, which presented a world of opportunities for a skilled seaman with experience in warships. Could he falsify his credentials, conceal the small fact of his court-martial and dishonorable discharge? The Union had the upper hand now, according to the newspapers, and could afford to be choosy about its recruits: questions would surely be asked. Would the Confederacy even bother to inquire closely about his past, since they were harassed, and must be eager for any skilled man?
尽管特里梅因可能不愿承认，这行当风险极大，利润也同样惊人。瑞安盯着离鼻尖仅一掌宽的船板，思索着未卜的前程。正值内战的美国为熟练水手提供了无数机遇——只要他能在战舰服役经历上作假，隐瞒被军事法庭审判和不光彩退役的事实。根据报纸所言，联邦军如今占据上风，自然对招募条件挑三拣四：他们定会盘问底细。而备受困扰的南方邦联，会不会饥不择食到懒得深究他的过往？

And what of the fact he would be in the employment of the side painted the villains in the conflict - rich households which had kept and even bred black men for generation upon generation of slaves? Ryan was deeply ambivalent. Perhaps it would be dirty money, he
更令人踌躇的是他将受雇于冲突中被描绘成反派的一方——那些世代蓄养甚至培育黑奴的富裕家族。瑞安内心充满矛盾。或许这是肮脏钱，他
thought sourly, but money was money, and in years to come he might hope to atone for the sin of skippering a vessel under the flag of a confederacy which upheld slavery.
酸涩地想，但钱终究是钱，或许有朝一日他能通过指挥这艘悬挂拥护奴隶制邦联旗帜的船只来赎清罪孽。

He wanted to be sure in his own mind of which way he should jump before he said a word to Joel. Tremayne was too persuasive, too confident of his own abilities, and probably a good deal too complacent of his luck. Ryan knew from past experience how Joel wooed skeptics and rivals. By morning they had usually turned into supporters and partners, not realizing Tremayne was a gambling man.
在向乔尔开口前，他需要先理清自己的立场。特里梅因太具说服力，对自己的能力过分自信，恐怕还对自己的运气过于乐观。瑞安从过往经验深知乔尔如何笼络怀疑者与竞争者——天亮前他们通常就会变成支持者与合伙人，却意识不到特里梅因是个赌徒。

The Adelaide could make the run to America, no question of it. The Atlantic could throw nothing at her and her crew that had not been weathered and beaten in Scandinavian waters. Better yet, Ryan knew the Atlantic the way most men knew their own back yards. Joel was a gambler playing the odds; his schemes were much more likely to succeed than not. And Bill Ryan felt himself being sucked into the net Tremayne had cast.
阿德莱德号绝对能完成美洲航程。大西洋掀不起任何这艘船及其船员在斯堪的纳维亚海域未曾战胜的风浪。更重要的是，瑞安对大西洋的熟悉程度犹如常人对自家后院的了解。乔尔是个精于算计的赌徒；他的计划成功概率远高于失败。比尔·瑞安感到自己正坠入特里梅因撒下的网中。

Only the momentary vision of the Adelaide as a dead hulk halfconsumed by the sea made him double back on his thoughts, revise old arguments again, and defer judgment. Try as he might, he could not cast off the vision.
唯有那幅阿德莱德号残骸半沉于海的短暂画面，迫使他折返思绪，重新审视旧日论点，暂缓作出判断。尽管百般努力，这幻象始终萦绕不去。

Tired but unable to sleep as the timber continued to thud into the hold, he sat up, knuckled his eyes and reached for the rum bottle. It was no fit companion for the night, but in lieu of Jim’s warmth along his body, his wit and the quick heat of lust, it would do. It would have to.
木材不断撞击货舱的闷响中，他疲惫却难以入眠，只得撑起身子，用指节揉了揉眼睛，伸手去抓朗姆酒瓶。这绝非良夜佳伴，但既然再无缘感受吉姆紧贴的体温、机敏谈吐与情欲炽热，将就着用它打发长夜也罢。横竖别无选择。

His speech was slurred and he was unable to walk, or move his paralyzed left side, but Jonathan Hale was out of the bed. Godfrey Moran drank his health in Irish whiskey, and Jim lingered in the background as Mosswell, young Danny MacKay and Mrs. Brice slowly maneuvered the old man.
乔纳森·黑尔虽口齿含糊、左半身瘫痪无法行走，却执意下了病榻。戈弗雷·莫兰用爱尔兰威士忌为他祝酒，吉姆则隐在暗处，看着莫斯韦尔、年轻的丹尼·麦凯和布赖斯夫人小心翼翼地搀扶这位老人。

They sat him in the chair at the window, where he could reach the long-barreled brass telescope with his good hand and watch the harbor. His eyes were still dull; the left lid was so heavy, it would almost not open at all, and when he tried to make words, only the right side of his face moved. The left side seemed carved out of wood. One strained to hear his voice and struggled to make out the indistinct words, but the mind was working despite the body’s failure.
他们让他坐在窗边的椅子上，这样他还能用那只完好的手够到那支长筒黄铜望远镜，眺望港口。他的眼神依然呆滞；左眼皮沉重得几乎睁不开，当他试图说话时，只有右半边脸在动。左半边脸仿佛是用木头雕刻出来的。人们得费力才能听清他的声音，努力辨认那些含糊不清的字句，但他的思维仍在运转，尽管身体已经不听使唤。
“Your good health, Jon Hale,” Moran toasted him, and swallowed
"祝你健康，乔恩·黑尔，"莫兰举杯向他致意，然后一口气喝干了威士忌。
the whiskey in one swig. “You’ve done the impossible! Father Pat will be annoyed with me for calling him out.”
你创造了奇迹！帕特神父会因为我把他叫出来而恼火的。

The paper-dry lips worked and Moran leaned closer to hear. Hale took a breath and slurred, “I’ll drink your health at Christmas, Godfrey. Mark my words.”
他那干得像纸一样的嘴唇蠕动着，莫兰凑近去听。黑尔深吸一口气，含糊不清地说："戈弗雷，圣诞节我会为你的健康干杯。记住我的话。"
“I believe you will.” Moran held out his hand to his old friend. “You know all Scarborough is wishing you well, Jonathan.” He took Hale’s parchment-skinned hand very gently, as if he feared for the bones, and shook it. But when he looked up over the tremulous, nodding head at Jim, who stood in the doorway, his expression was much more grave than his words. “There isn’t a man in port who won’t lift a glass to you tonight, when I tell them the news.”
“我相信你会的。”莫兰向他的老友伸出手，“你知道整个斯卡伯勒都在祝福你，乔纳森。”他小心翼翼地握住黑尔那张羊皮纸般皱褶的手，仿佛生怕伤到骨头，轻轻晃了晃。但当他越过老人颤抖点头的身影，望向站在门口的吉姆时，神情比言语凝重得多。“等我今晚把消息传出去，港口没有一个人不会为你举杯。”

Jim smiled faintly, but was silent. Three weeks had passed by like a blur. The sea was calm, the wind fair; no storms troubled the coast to arouse the wreckers to business, and at home the days were long, routine, uneventful. Boring. Mick Hutton was still kicking his heels, oddjobbing among the Eastcoast boats and other vessels to earn his keep, and Jim simply kept the paperwork straight, the bills paid and the accounts served.
吉姆淡淡一笑，却沉默不语。三周光阴如模糊的掠影。海面平静，风向顺遂；没有风暴侵扰海岸来给打捞者创造生意，家里的日子漫长、按部就班、平淡无奇。无聊透顶。米克·赫顿仍在东海岸船只和其他货轮间打零工谋生，吉姆则只是整理文件、支付账单、清算账目。

Three times Ryan had telegraphed. Once from Stavanger where he dropped off a surprise passenger, again from Birkenhead, where he had offloaded a cargo of Irish whiskey and linen picked up in Belfast, and lastly from Edinburgh, where he had just taken on passengers for Sweden.
瑞安发来过三次电报。第一次从斯塔万格发出，他在那里意外卸下一位乘客；第二次在伯肯黑德，他卸下了在贝尔法斯特装载的爱尔兰威士忌和亚麻布；最后一次从爱丁堡发来，他刚接载了前往瑞典的乘客。

He would be in Stockholm now, by Jim’s calculations, and busy touting for another cargo. He would find one. Ryan knew most of the agents by name and face, and he was good at his job. Bill would have succeeded in commerce, if his first darling had not been the sea. Jim was painfully aware of how fortunate this was, for he had just closed the books on another month’s business and yet again the Adelaide’s income was the only element keeping Eastcoast afloat.
按吉姆推算，此刻他应该已在斯德哥尔摩，正忙着招揽新货物。他总能找到生意——瑞安能叫出大多数代理商的名字，认得他们的面孔，而且非常擅长这份工作。若不是对大海情有独钟，比尔本可以在商界大获成功。吉姆痛楚地意识到这是多么幸运：他刚结算完又一个月的账目，而阿德莱德号的收入仍是支撑东海岸公司运转的唯一支柱。

As Mosswell and Danny left them and Mrs. Brice began to pour tea for the old man, Jim stepped out of the room. He was in his office before he became aware of Moran’s company, and gave the doctor a curious glance.
当莫斯韦尔和丹尼离开后，布赖斯太太开始为老人斟茶时，吉姆走出了房间。他回到办公室才意识到莫兰医生的存在，向这位医生投去探究的一瞥。
“Can I do something for you, Godfrey? If it’s your fees that concern you, don’t worry. We can still afford to pay you, and I’ll not see you forgotten.” He sighed over the desk, with its pile of ledgers and papers, and shook his head. “Though what’s to be done about all this, I don’t know.”
"我能为你做些什么吗，戈弗雷？若是诊金问题，不必担忧。我们仍有余力支付，断不会亏待你。"他对着堆满账簿文件的办公桌叹息，摇了摇头。"只是眼前这堆烂摊子，我真不知该如何收拾。"