【官方小说试翻译】绝地传承（Legacy of the Jedi）第一章

心无所羁

CHAPTER No. 1
第一章
The corridor was empty. The two thirteen-year-old boys paused outside the closed door. There were locks at the Jedi Temple, but they were rarely used. There was no need. There was nothing to hide. Nothing was forbidden. The Jedi's code of honor gave each individual the challenge and privilege of walking the Jedi path. It was assumed that the discipline needed for this would also prevail in one's private life.
走廊空荡荡的。两个十三岁的男孩在一扇关着的门前停住了脚步。绝地圣殿里是有门锁的，不过绝地们很少使用——也没有这个必要，因为他们没有什么可隐藏的，没有什么是被禁止的。神圣的绝地戒律给予了每个人在绝地之道上的考验与权益。绝地们认为为此设定的准则也应该在私人生活中盛行。

So to enter another Jedi's room without an invitation would not violate a rule. Not one that needed to be spoken or written, at least. Yet Dooku knew it was wrong. It wasn't terribly wrong. But it was wrong.
所以没受到邀请就进入另一个绝地的房间不会触犯戒律。至少，不需要和谁打招呼或留条子。但杜库知道这是错的，虽然不是严重的错误，但它依然是错的。

"Come on," Lorian said. "No one will find out."
“来吧，”Lorian说，“没人知道的。”

Dooku glanced at his friend. Lorian's face was eager. A dusting of freckles scattered across his blunt nose like a dense constellation of stars. His eyes were warm, lit with mischief, a dark piney green with amber lights, like a forest shot with sunlight. Lorian had been suggesting schemes since they were seven, and he'd talked Dooku into exploring the garbage tunnels. The experience had left Dooku with a reeking tunic and a healthy respect for sanitation practices.
杜库看了他的朋友一眼。Lorian的脸上写满了渴求。灰尘一般分散在他扁平鼻子上的雀斑就像一团稠密的星群。他的眼睛被恶作剧般的调皮点燃，深松绿的瞳仁闪烁着琥珀色的光彩，像被阳光照射的森林般温暖。Lorian在他们七岁时就曾提出计划，并成功说服杜库去“探索”垃圾道。这段经历让杜库得到了一件散发着恶臭的上衣，而且从此对卫生系统的定期清理充满赞赏。

"Besides, he's your Master," Lorian said. "He wouldn't mind."
“再说，他是你的老师，”Lorian说，“他不会介意的。”

It was true that Thame Cerulian was Dooku's Master. The renowned Jedi Knight had chosen him last week. Dooku had just turned thirteen, and he was relieved that he wouldn't have to wait any longer to become a Padawan Learner. Yet he had not had time to get to know Thame at all. Thame was in the Outer Rim completing one last mission before taking on a Padawan. Dooku was proud to have been chosen by such a legend.
的确，Thame Cerulian是杜库的师傅。这位有名的绝地武士上周选择了杜库做他的学徒。杜库刚刚年满十三岁，就已不必为成为学徒而等上很长时间了，这让他倍感欣慰。但他根本还没来得及熟悉Thame，Thame就在接纳学徒之前赶往外围星系去完成最近一次的任务了。被这么一位传奇人物选中，杜库深感自豪。

The question was, could he live up to that legend? Dooku had to. Getting a peek into Thame's personal quarters might give him a head start.
问题是，他能不辜负这位传奇人物的厚望吗？杜库必须做到。偷窥一下Thame的私人住处也许能让他抢得先机。

He nodded at Lorian and accessed the door. It slid open silently. He stepped inside. If he expected a clue to his new Master's inner character, he was disappointed. The sleep couch was narrow, pushed against one wall. A gray coverlet was folded neatly at the bottom. A data-screen sat on a bare table. No laserprints or holograms hung on the wall. No personal items were on the desk or the small table beside the sleep couch. There was a glass carafe with a small glass stopper. The transparent vessel and the gray blanket were the only signs that someone actually inhabited the room.
杜库对Lorian点点头，走向门口。门无声地滑开了。他走了进去。如果他曾期盼从中得到新老师内在性格的丝毫线索的话，他就要失望了——窄窄的睡沙发紧贴着墙壁，一张灰色的床单整齐地叠放在沙发一角，桌面上只放着一个资料显示屏，墙上既没有激光图画，也没有全息图挂在上面。倒是有一只带着小瓶塞的玻璃水瓶，这透明的容器和灰色的毛毯是唯一能证明确实有人曾经在此居住的标记。

"Wait," Lorian said. "I found something."
“等等”，Lorian说，“我发现了点东西。”
He slid his hands along a seam in the wall that was almost invisible. He pressed a recessed button and the wall slid back to reveal shelves over the desk. They were filled with holobooks.
他的手沿着墙上一条几乎看不见的细缝滑动。他按到一个凹型按钮，墙壁忽然向后滑动，在书桌上露出许多书架，这些书架上摆满了全息书。

Dooku bent to examine the titles. Thame, he knew, was a historian, an expert in Jedi history. He had never seen most of these titles before. Galactic history, biographies, the natural sciences of different atmospheres and planetary systems. It was an impressive library.
杜库弯下腰，仔细察看书的标题。他知道Thame是个历史学家，一个绝地历史的专家。大多数题目他从未见过——银河历史，传记，不同大气和行星系统的自然科学——这真是一个了不起的图书馆。

Lorian dismissed them with a glance. "You'd think he'd have had enough of studies after Temple training. I can't wait to get out into the galaxy and do things."
Lorian则只是轻描淡写地扫了一眼。“你一定以为他在结束绝地圣殿的训练后，已经做够了研究吧？我已经等不及要进入银河系，干一番大事业了。”

Dooku reached for a holobook with no title or author. He flipped it open and scanned a page.
杜库拿起一本没有题目、作者的全息书，翻开浏览了一页。

Meditation beforehand is necessary in order to ready the mind. Some suffer from nausea or dizziness at first viewing. But primarily one must prepare for the effect of the dark side upon the mind, especially the young or weak. Nightmares and dark visions can result, lasting years....
为了事前做好思想准备而进行预先冥想是必要的。一些人初次预见会感到恶心或头晕。但是首先一定要对黑暗面对心智的影响有所准备，尤其是年轻人或意志薄弱者。噩梦和黑暗面的幻觉很可能后果严重，持续多年……

"This is a manual about the Sith Holocron," Dooku said, his voice a whisper now. He handled the holobook carefully.
“这是一本关于西斯的全息记录的书，”杜库说，他的声音现在低得近乎耳语。他小心翼翼地握着这本全息书。
"The Sith Holocron? But no one can view it," Lorian said.
“西斯的全息记录？但没人可以看它啊，”Lorian说。

"That's not so. Jedi Masters are allowed. Not many are interested. Most Jedi Knights think the Sith are extinct and will never return. Except for my Master." Dooku gazed at the book. His stomach twisted, as though he'd gazed upon the Sith Holocron itself. "He believes there will come a time when the Jedi will have to fight the Sith again."
“不是的，绝地大师就可以看。只是很少有人感兴趣罢了。除了我的老师，大多数绝地武士都相信西斯已经灭绝，而且永远不会再回来了。”杜库凝视着这本书。他的胃抽搐了一下，就好像他正在看的就是西斯全息记录的内容一样。“我的老师相信总有一天绝地将不得不再次迎战西斯。”

"Does this manual tell you how to access the Holocron?" Lorian asked, interested now.
“那么书里写了怎么取得全息记录了吗？”Lorian问，他的兴趣显然也被调动起来了。
Dooku flipped through it, his heart beating. "Yes. It gives warnings and instructions."
杜库匆匆翻阅了一遍，心跳不由加快。“是的，里面给出了一些告诫和指导。”
"This is so galactic," Lorian murmured. "With the help of this handbook, we could access the Sith Holocron ourselves!" He looked at Dooku, his eyes shining. "We'd be the first Jedi Padawans to do it!"
“这太神奇了，”Lorian嘴里咕嘟着，“通过这本书，我们自己就能获得西斯的全息记录了！”他看着杜库，双眼闪烁有神：“我们将成为绝地学徒中第一个做到的人！”
"We can't!" Dooku said, shocked at the suggestion. "Why not?" Lorian asked.
“我们不能那么做！”杜库喊道，完全被这个提议震惊了。“为什么呢？”Lorian问。
"Because it's forbidden. Because it's dangerous. Because we don't know enough. Because of a million reasons, all of them good ones."
“因为这是被禁止的，因为这是危险的，因为我们才智有限……因为成千上万的理由，而且所有的理由都是正确合理的。”

"But no one would know," Lorian said. "You could do it, Dooku. You have a better Force connection than any Padawan. Everyone knows that. And with the help of the holobook, you'd succeed."
“但是没人会知道，”Lorian说，“你能做到的，杜库。你拥有比其他学徒更强的原力感应，每个人都了解这一点。有了这本书的帮助，你会成功的。”
Dooku shook his head. He put the holobook back on the shelf.
杜库摇摇头，把全息书放回了书架上。
"It would be amazing," Lorian said. "You could find out Sith secrets. If you really knew the dark side, you'd be a better Jedi Knight. Yoda says that we can't fight evil without understanding it."
“这将多么令人惊叹，”Lorian说，“你能发现西斯的秘密。了解了黑暗面，你将成为一个更优秀的绝地武士。尤达大师就说过，了解邪恶，我们才能与之斗争。”
"Yoda never said that."
“尤达从来没那么说过。”

"Well, it sounds like something he'd say," Lorian protested. "And it's true. Isn't that what Temple training is all about? All we do is study so we can be prepared. How can we prepare to meet evil if we don't understand it?"
“好吧，总之他说过类似的话，”Lorian反驳道。“这是真的。难道这不就是我们绝地圣殿训练的全部目的吗？我们所学习的东西不正是让我们做好充分准备的吗？不去理解邪恶，我们怎么能做好应对邪恶的准备呢？”

That was the trouble with Lorian, Dooku thought. He had a way of putting things that made sense, even when he was asking you to break the rules.
这正是Lorian的毛病，杜库暗想，Lorian总是能把事情列举得合情合理，甚至当他让你违反规定时也是如此。

He looked over at the holobook again. It was tempting. And Lorian had put his finger on Dooku's secret wish - to be the best Padawan ever. He wanted to impress his new Master. Could the Sith Holocron be the key to his wish?
杜库再次看了眼那本全息书。它充满诱惑。而且Lorian已经触碰到了杜库心中最隐秘的愿望——做一个最有史以来优秀的绝地学徒。他想给他的新老师留下一个深刻印象。西斯全息记录可能是达成他愿望的关键吗？

"We'll only take a quick look," Lorian said. "Just think, Dooku. The Jedi are the most powerful group in the galaxy. We could be the best of the best."
“我们只看一眼，”Lorian说，“你仔细想想，杜库，绝地是银河系中最强大的团体，我们可以成为强者中的强者。”
"A true Jedi does not think in terms of power," Dooku said disapprovingly. "We are peacekeepers."
“一个真正的绝地不会去想强大的力量。”杜库表示不赞同，“我们是和平的守护者。”
"Peacekeepers need power, just like everybody else," Lorian pointed out. "If they don't have it, who will listen?"
“和平的守护者也需要力量，就像其他人一样，”Lorian一针见血地指出，“如果我们没有强大的力量，谁还会听我们的？”

Lorian was right, even though he wasn't expressing himself in what would be considered a true Jedi way. The Jedi did have power. Jedi did not use that word, but it fit. Lorian knew that, and he wasn't afraid to say it. Jedi were renowned throughout the galaxy. They weren't feared, but they were respected. They were asked by governments, by Senators, for their help. If that wasn't power, what was?
Lorian是对的，尽管他没有用应有的绝地的方式表达出来。绝地的确拥有强大的力量。绝地虽然不使用力量这个词，但是它很恰当。Lorian知道这点，也不怕说出来。绝地在整个银河系享有盛誉。他们不被人们惧怕，而是被人们尊敬。政府、议员都需要他们的帮助，如果这不是强大的力量，还会是什么呢？

The best of the best. Wasn't that what he wanted?
强者中的强者，不正是杜库想要的吗？
"Thame is a great Knight," Lorian continued. "I'd think you'd want to be worthy of him. If I had a Master, I'd prepare as much as I could before we left the Temple. I wouldn't want to disappoint him."
“Thame是一位伟大的绝地，”Lorian继续说，“我想你也想能配得上他。要是我有师傅，我一定会在离开圣殿前尽力做好一切准备。我可不想让我的老师失望。”

"I won't disappoint him if I do my best," Dooku said. "That is all I can do."
“我当然不会让他失望，我将全力以赴，”杜库说，“这也是我唯一能做的。”
Lorian threw himself back on Thame's sleep couch with a groan. "Now you sound like Yoda."
Lorian长叹一声，坐到Thame的睡沙发上，“你现在听起来像尤达大师了。”
"Don't sit there!" Dooku hissed, but Lorian ignored him.
“别坐在那儿！”杜库低声反对，但是Lorian无视他的警告。
Lorian stared at the ceiling. `No one has chosen me."
Lorian盯着天花板：“就是没有人选择我。”

Dooku held his breath. Here it was, the big thing between them. He had been chosen by a Jedi Knight, and Lorian had not. Dooku had been one of the first to be chosen. Every day afterward, the two boys had waited for a Jedi Knight to choose Lorian. They knew that many had watched him, and some had considered him seriously. Yet each time, the Knight had chosen someone else. Neither Dooku nor Lorian knew why. Dooku had always been ahead of Lorian in battle skills and Force connection, but Lorian was just as brilliant in his studies and commitment. It was unthinkable that Lorian would not be chosen eventually.
杜库屏住呼吸。这就是他们之间的天壤之别了。他已经被一名绝地武士选中，但Lorian没有。而且杜库还是那些被优先选择的一份子。日子一天天过去，两个男孩都在期待着有一名绝地武士来选中Lorian。他们知道许多绝地都在观察Lorian，其中一些人已经正式考虑收他为徒了。但是每次，绝地武士们总是选择了别人。

"It will happen," Dooku said. "Patience exists to be tested."
“肯定会有人选你的，”杜库安慰他，“持久的耐心也是考验之一。”
Lorian flipped over on his side and gave Dooku a flat stare. "Right."
Lorian翻身侧卧，瞪了杜库一眼，“是的。”
Dooku wished he could take back his words. They were so... correct. They were something a Jedi Master might say, not a best friend. But the truth was that he didn't know what to say. The period of waiting was hard, but everything would turn out all right. 杜库真希望他能收回他刚才说的话，它们太……“正确”了。这应该是一个绝地大师会说的话，而不是好朋友应该说的。但事实是，他不知道该说些什么好。等待的时间是漫长难熬的，但一切都会好起来的。

Lorian coiled his body into a ball and then shot off the bed. "Okay, make a decision. Do we access the Sith Holocron or not?"
Lorian把自己的身体盘卷成球状，然后突然松开，狠狠地砸在床上：“好了，做个决定吧。我们要不要西斯全息记录？”
Dooku reached over to straighten the wrinkles Lorian had made on his new Master's bed. Thame was everything he'd hoped to get as a Master. He couldn't jeopardize that. Not even for his best friend.
杜库伸手去抻直Lorian在他新老师的床上弄出的皱褶。Thame是他心目中最想要的老师，他不能冒这个险，即使是为他最好的朋友。

"Not," he said. "We'd get in serious trouble if we got caught."
“不，”他回答道，“如果被抓住，我们的麻烦就大了。”
"You never worried about getting caught before," Lorian said.
“你以前可从不担心被抓，”Lorian说。
That's because I never had so much to lose. But Dooku couldn't say that. If he did, it would only point out that Lorian didn't have a Master.
那是因为我以前一无所有。不过杜库不能说出来。如果他真那么做了，将直指Lorian没有老师的现实。
Dooku felt Lorian's eyes on his back as he bent to smooth the coverlet at the end of Thame's sleep couch.
杜库站在睡沙发的一边，弯下身去抚平床单，他能感觉到Lorian的眼睛盯视着他的后背。

"If you could do it without the risk of getting caught, you would do it," Lorian said. "So the fact that it's wrong isn't really the reason you won't. Maybe you're not the true Jedi you think you are."
“如果不是怕被抓，你早就这么做了，”Lorian说，“你不去做不是因为这么做不对。你以为自己是个真正的绝地武士，但也许你不是。”
He sauntered out the door. "Just wanted you to know that I noticed."
Lorian慢慢走出房门，“我只是想让你知道我注意到这一点罢了。”