羊皮卷的故事（6）

Erasmus hesitated until his master beckoned¹ him inside

伊拉玛在外面踌躇着，知道主人唤他，

and then he stepped timidly into the room

才小心翼翼地走了进去，

to which no one had been allowed admission for over three decades.

走进这三十年来的禁地。

Grey and dusty light seeped² down from turrets³ above and

灰暗的阳光夹杂着尘埃从塔楼的缝隙中渗漏下来。

Erasmus gripped Hafid's arm until his eyes became accustomed to the semi-darkness.

伊拉玛抓住海菲的手，渐渐适应了幽暗的光线。

With a faint smile, Hafid watched

房子里几乎空无一物，

as Erasmus turned slowly in a room that was bare

一束阳光落在墙角，

except for a small cedar⁴ chest spotlighted⁵ in a shaft⁶ of sunlight in one corner.

只有那儿放着一个香柏木制成的小箱子。

"Are you not disappointed, Erasmus?"

“让你失望了吧，老伊？”

"I know not what to say, sire."

“我不知道说什么才好，老爷。”

"Are you not disappointed in the furnishings?

“你难道不会对这里的摆设失望吗？

Certainly the contents of this room have been a conversation piece among many.

这三十年来，我一直请人严加守卫，

Have you not wondered or concerned yourself with the mystery of what is contained here

难道你不好奇这间

which I have guarded so zealously⁷ for so long?"

我派人森严把守的这么久的房间吗?

Erasmus nodded, "It is true. There has been much talk

伊拉玛点点头，“不错，这些年来

and many rumors⁸ through the years as to what our master kept hidden here in the tower."

常听大家议论着塔楼上藏的东西，由许多谣言。”

"Yes, my friend, and most of them I have heard.

“其实这些谣言我都听过，

It has been said that barrels of diamonds were here,

有人说上面有成箱的钻石、黄金，

and gold ingots, or wild animals, or rare birds.

有人说这上面有珍禽异兽，

Once a Persian rug merchant hinted that perhaps I maintained a small harem here.

甚至有一个波斯商人说我在上面金屋藏娇，

Lisha laughed at the thought of me with a collection of concubines.

丽莎还笑这个商人心术不正。

But, as you can observe,

你看，

there is nothing here

其实这除了一只箱子以外，

except a small chest

什么也没有。

Now, come forward."

来，过来。”

The two men crouched⁹ beside the chest

两人走到箱子旁蹲下身去。

and Hafid carefully proceeded to unroll the leather strapping¹⁰ which encircled it

海菲小心地把包在箱子上的皮革掀开，

He inhaled¹¹ deeply of the cedar fragrance¹² from the wood

深深地吸了口柏木散发出来的气息，

and finally he pushed against the cover

最后，他按下箱盖上的开关，

and it quietly sprung open.

盖子一下子弹开了。

1 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 seeped   

v.（液体）渗( seep的过去式和过去分词 )；渗透；渗出；漏出

参考例句：

• The rain seeped through the roof. 雨水透过房顶渗透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Icy air seeped in through the paper and the room became cold. 寒气透过了糊窗纸。屋里骤然冷起来。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

3 turrets   

（六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车

参考例句：

• The Northampton's three turrets thundered out white smoke and pale fire. “诺思安普敦号”三座炮塔轰隆隆地冒出白烟和淡淡的火光。
• If I can get to the gun turrets, I'll have a chance. 如果我能走到炮塔那里，我就会赢得脱险的机会。

4 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

5 spotlighted   

v.聚光照明( spotlight的过去式和过去分词 )；使公众注意，使突出醒目

参考例句：

• The report has spotlighted real deprivation in the inner cities. 这篇报道披露了旧城区的贫困真相。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The paintings were spotlighted from below. 这些画用下面的聚光灯来照明。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 shaft   

n.(工具的)柄，杆状物

参考例句：

• He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。
• This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

7 zealously   

adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地

参考例句：

• Of course the more unpleasant a duty was, the more zealously Miss Glover performed it. 格洛弗小姐越是对她的职责不满意，她越是去积极执行它。 来自辞典例句
• A lawyer should represent a client zealously within the bounds of the law. 律师应在法律范围内热忱为当事人代理。 来自口语例句

8 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 crouched   

v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
• The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身，准备猛扑。

10 strapping   

adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• He's a strapping lad—already bigger than his father. 他是一个魁梧的小伙子——已经比他父亲高了。
• He was a tall strapping boy. 他是一个高大健壮的小伙子。

11 inhaled   

v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. 她合上双眼，深深吸了一口气。
• Janet inhaled sharply when she saw him. 珍妮特看到他时猛地吸了口气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 fragrance   

n.芬芳，香味，香气

参考例句：

• The apple blossoms filled the air with their fragrance.苹果花使空气充满香味。
• The fragrance of lavender filled the room.房间里充满了薰衣草的香味。