【官方小说试翻译】绝地传承（Legacy of the Jedi）第二十一章

心无所羁

CHAPTER No. 21
第二十一章

Null was a world of forests and mountains. It had no large cities, only small mountain villages, each so fiercely individualistic that attempts at alliances had always failed. There was a planet-wide government and a system of laws, but crimes tended to be solved among villagers according to an ancient tradition of fierce, swift retaliation that left no witnesses.
Null星球是一个高山丛林的世界，这里没有大都市，只有一些小山村，并且每个小山村相互独立，任何试图把它们连成一体的尝试总会以失败告终。这里存在着一个管辖整个星球的政府以及法律体系，但是所有的犯罪事件，即使缺少证人，也会根据古老而野蛮的复仇传统，由村民们作出迅速的裁决。

It was a perfect world for Dooku's hidden retreat. The villagers had a fierce sense of privacy and kept his comings and goings secret.
这个世界是杜库最佳的藏身之所——就连村民们也有着极端强烈的隐私意识，时常是来去无踪。

As Obi-Wan guided the small cruiser to the landing platform, he deliberately looped around the coordinates of Dooku's villa. Dooku had taken over the cliffside dwelling of a monarch who had reigned hundreds of standard years before. It had originally been built of stone, but Dooku had faced it in durasteel that was the exact gray of the mountain cliffs. The durasteel had been treated so that it did not gleam. It seemed to suck in light rather than reflect it. If Obi-Wan had not been looking for the villa, he would have missed it.
欧比万驾驶着他们乘坐的小型巡洋舰飞向降落台，他特意在空中绕了几圈，以寻找类似杜库别墅的建筑。杜库占领了整面悬崖，这里曾经住过一个在位上百个标准年的君主。最初，这里的建筑是由石头砌成的，杜库将建筑的表面包上了一层跟悬崖岩石一样颜色的灰色硬钢。硬钢经过特别处理，没有金属光泽，看起来就像是镶嵌在阳光中，而不反射阳光。如果不是欧比万刻意寻找别墅，很可能会错过它。

Obi-Wan guided the cruiser to the landing platform. They stood, feeling a bit odd in their clothes. They were dressed as hunters, with thick short cloaks made of animal skins. Hunting was the only tourist trade that Null supported. The mountains were full of wild beasts prized for their skins, especially the wily laroon. They disembarked, feeling the cold wind against their faces like a slap.
欧比万将飞船停在降落台。两人站起身，感觉这身打扮有点怪异：他们一身猎人装束，穿着短小厚重的兽皮斗篷。狩猎是Null星球唯一支持的旅游贸易，这里漫山遍野都是凶猛的野兽，它们的皮毛价值不菲，尤其是野生的laroon兽。他们走下飞船，冷风扑面而来，感觉就像有人猛抽了他们一耳光。

"We're scheduled to rendezvous with Nod in the Spade Forest," Obi-Wan told Anakin as he paid a fee to an attendant droid to keep the cruiser at the platform. "We should avoid being seen with him, even though we're in disguise. We have time to check into the inn at the village."
“我们计划和诺德（Lorian Nod）在Spade森林会合，”欧比万边付给一个接待机器人小费，让它看管飞船，一边叮嘱阿纳金，“我们应该避免被人看见和他在一起，尽管我们已经变装。还有我们得抓紧时间在村庄里找个旅店住下。”

Anakin nodded as he slung his pack over his shoulder. "Just don't make me shoot anything," he said.
阿纳金点点头，将行李抛过肩膀：“只要不让我打猎就行。”

Obi-Wan grinned. The small joke brought back the days when everything was easy between them.
欧比万笑了。这个小小的幽默，仿佛让他们又回到了那些单纯美好的日子。

They were below the tree line, so the path ran through a heavy forest. The mountains rose around them, stabbing the thin air with their snowy, jagged peaks. The landing platform had been built into the largest mountain, which rose into the clouds. It was under this mountain that the village crouched.
两人行走在成排的林木下，脚下的小路一直延伸到森林深处。四周群山坏绕，积雪覆盖下参差不齐的山峰刺破高空稀薄的空气。降落台就坐落在这里最大的山脉上，高耸入云，而山脚下，就有一个小村庄。

The thick trees cleared as they walked down the mountain and the roofs of the village appeared. The buildings were made of stone and wood and were only a few stories tall.
两人向山下走去，遮天蔽日的树木逐渐散去，村庄里住户的屋顶呈现在眼前。房子大多由石头和木材建造而成，只有几层楼的高度。

Narrow streets wound through the cluster of buildings. The villagers seemed to rely on a sturdy native animal, the bellock, for transportation. Obi-Wan saw only a few speeders parked in yards.
狭窄的街道穿过成群的建筑，当地居民似乎只是依靠一种当地叫“bellock”的强壮牲口作为交通工具，欧比万只看到少量飞船停靠在院落里。

Then they turned a corner and saw a cluster of gleaming speeders in front of a tall stone building, and they knew they had found the inn. Obi-Wan and Anakin entered, keeping their hoods on. The interior lobby was scattered with seating areas made of plush materials. A fireplace twenty meters tall held a huge blazing fire that chased away the damp chill. Various beings sat around the fire, some consulting datapads, others drinking tea. By the look of their clothes, Obi-Wan guessed they were outsiders, most likely aides to the rulers of the four planets. In a dark corner a hunter sat, covered in skins, an awesome array of weapons at his feet. His bored gaze seemed to regard the sleek, sophisticated beings with contempt.
他们转了个弯，忽然看到一大排闪亮的飞船停靠在一幢高大的石头建筑前，他们知道这儿一定就是旅店了。欧比万和阿纳金走进旅店，但并没有摘下兜帽。内部大厅分散着装饰豪华的休息区，一座二十米高的壁炉里火烧得正旺，驱赶走潮湿的冷气。形形色色的人围坐在火炉旁，一些人查阅着数据板，另一些人喝着茶。单从服装来看，欧比万猜想他们也是外来人，很可能是四个星球统治者的助手们。旁边一个阴暗的角落里坐着一个猎人，全身裹得很严实，脚下放着一排可怕的武器，他懒散的目光似乎轻蔑地扫视着这群衣冠楚楚、圆滑世故的人。

"He's got enough weapons to bring down a capital ship, let alone a laroon," Anakin remarked in a low voice.
“他所带的武器足够打落一架大飞船的了，更不用说一只laroon兽了。”阿纳金低声评论道。

Obi-Wan's gaze traveled up the fireplace. The wall was fashioned of jagged stones from the mountain, fitted together in intricate patterns. He could see no evidence of mortar or joinery, but each stone nestled against each other in what must have been perfect balance.
欧比万的目光顺着壁炉向上看去，墙壁是由山上凹凸不平的石块装饰的，这些石块被拼成错综复杂的图案，他看不出任何使用灰浆和木料的痕迹，可是每块石头都保持着完美的平衡紧靠在一起。

The innkeeper smiled as he greeted Obi-Wan and Anakin. He was obviously a native Null. They were tall humanoids, easily a meter taller than Obi-Wan and Anakin. The men wore heavy beards, which they braided, and both men and women dressed in animal skins and thigh-length boots. "I see you are admiring the stonework of the inn," he said. "It is a native art. One pull of the keystone and the whole wall comes tumbling down."
旅店老板微笑着迎接欧比万和阿纳金，很显然他是一个当地人——高大的人形生物，要比欧比万和阿纳金高出一米，这里的男人都留着浓重的胡须，并且编成辫子，无论男女都穿着兽皮和长及大腿的皮靴。“你们一定对这石头墙壁很感兴趣吧，”老板说，“这是当地的一种艺术，只要拿掉主石块，整个墙壁就会倒塌。”

"And which is the keystone?" Obi-Wan asked.
“哪个是主石块？”欧比万问。

"Ah, that is the maker's secret," the innkeeper said. He noted their traveling clothes and sacks. "Always glad to welcome our hunters to the inn," he said. "As you can see, we have important guests, very important guests. But we do not neglect our regular trade." He pushed the data register toward Obi-Wan.
“啊，这可是个秘密，只有建造者才知道，”老板边说边打量着他们的衣着和行李，“总是很高兴欢迎猎人们来此住宿，”他说，“你们也看到了，我们今天有一些非常重要的客人，不过我们不会忽视我们的正常生意。”老板将数据登记本推给欧比万。

"What's going on here?" Obi-Wan asked, bending forward to sign the register. "I didn't realize Null was now on the tourist track."
“这里到底发生什么事了？”欧比万问道，弯下身去填写登记，“难道Null星球现在也搞起了旅游业？”

The innkeeper leaned closer. "A very high-level meeting, I believe. Don't know what it's about. But I expect more of these meetings in the future. So book early or you'll be out of luck!"
老板将身子靠近他们：“我猜一定是一次高层会议，虽然不清楚到底是关于什么的，不过我希望将来这样的会议能多开些。所以快点登记吧，要不你们就没地方住啦。”

"We'll be sure to." Obi-Wan pushed the register back along with the credits to pay for a room.
“当然。”欧比万将登记本连同钱币递给老板，开了一间房。

A young woman sat in a small chair tucked against the wall. He had not noticed her before, and would not have noticed her if a flicker of recognition didn't jolt him. He could not place her, but he felt he knew her. She was slender, dressed in a dark green tunic the color of the leaves outside. A matching headwrap covered her hair. He had met thousands of beings all over the galaxy, and though his memory was excellent, it was hard to remember everyone. Or maybe she just reminded him of someone....
一个年轻的女人坐在靠在墙壁上的一张小椅子。欧比万之前没注意到她，如果不是脑海中一闪而过的熟悉感，他也不会注意到她。欧比万虽然不能准确地认出她，但他感觉是自己是认识她的。她身材修长，身着墨绿色束腰宽松外衣，那颜色与外面树叶的颜色如出一辙，头上还裹着配套的头巾。欧比万至今已经见过银河系无数的生命体，就算他的记忆力卓越超群，也很难记住所有他见过的人。或者，她仅仅是让欧比万联想到某个人了吧……

He turned. "Anakin, do you recognize that woman in green, sitting against the wall?"
他转过身：“阿纳金，你认识那个穿着绿色衣服，坐在墙角的那个女人吗？”

"What woman?" Anakin asked.
“哪个女人？”阿纳金问。

There was a flicker of green, and the door of the inn closed. Obi-Wan filed the woman away in his mind to investigate later. He didn't like it when something nagged at him.
绿光一闪，旅店的门忽地关上了。欧比万暗中记住了那个离开的女人，准备以后再调查她。他不喜欢这种困惑的感觉。

The hunter warmed his hands at the fire, picked up his weapons, and rumbled to the door. The native Null workers rolled their eyes after he had passed, clearly considering him an overly armed amateur.
那个猎人在火上暖和了双手后，拿起他的武器，隆隆作响地走出门。他走过时，旅店里的当地雇员们都好奇地抬起眼看他，很明显都认为他是个装备过头的业余猎手。

"Come on," Obi-Wan said. "Let's find our room. It's almost time to meet Lorian."
“走吧，”欧比万说，“先找到房间，快到见洛里安（Lorian）的时间了。”

First they stowed their gear in their room, a small one tucked under the eaves of the roof. Obviously they were not among those "important guests" the innkeeper had mentioned.
两人先将他们带的装备放在房间内，一个略小一点的就插在房顶的屋檐下。显然，他们不是那些老板提到的“重要客人”。

They walked out into the village street and toward the path that led into the forest. Obi-Wan called up the prearranged coordinates on his datapad. They would meet not far from the village in a forest clearing that Lorian had already determined was secluded but not difficult to reach.
他们走到外面的街道上，向那条通往森林的小路走去。欧比万激活数据板内事先设定好的坐标，他们将会在洛里安约定的一片离村庄不远的林中空地会合，那里与外界隔绝又很容易到达。

As they reached the edge of the village, they saw a villager running down the mountain path. The thud of his panicked footsteps came to them clearly.
当他们走到村庄边缘时，忽然看到一个村民沿着山路跑了下来，那人沉重而慌乱的脚步声离他们越来越近。

"Sound the alarm!" he shouted. "There's been a murder! Samish Kash has been assassinated!"
“拉响警报！”那人大喊，“有人谋杀！Samish Kash遇刺了！”