作者：H. P. Lovecraft?

譯者：九四白靈?

?本文僅是個(gè)人翻譯，與同行交流和制作我自己的有聲書為主，如果有什么不對(duì)的歡迎指出。

“The thing on that throne didn’t move—and we knew then that It needed the nourishment of sacrifice. But we didn’t want to wake It then. Better to get It to London first. Orabona and I went to the surface for the big box, but when we had packed it we couldn’t get It up the three flights of steps. These steps weren’t made for human beings, and their size bothered us. Anyway, it was devilish heavy. We had to have the Americans down to get It out. They weren’t anxious to go into the place, but of course the worst thing was safely inside the box. We told them it was a batch of ivory carvings—archaeological stuff; and after seeing the carved throne they probably believed us. It’s a wonder they didn’t suspect hidden treasure and demand a share. They must have told queer tales around Nome later on; though I doubt if they ever went back to those ruins, even for the ivory throne.”

“王座上的東西一動(dòng)也不動(dòng)——那時(shí)我們才知道它需要獻(xiàn)祭作為滋養(yǎng)。但我們當(dāng)時(shí)不想吵醒它。最好先將它送到倫敦。奧拉貝納（Orabona）和我到地面上去拿那個(gè)大箱子，但當(dāng)我們將它裝好后，卻無法把它抬上三層塔梯。這些階梯不是為人類而建的，它們的尺寸讓我們感到困擾。但不管怎樣，它非常的沉重。我們得讓美國人下來才能把它弄出來。他們并不渴望進(jìn)入那兒，但最糟糕的東西當(dāng)然是安全地在盒子里。我們告訴他們那是一批象牙雕刻品——考古的東西；看到雕刻的王座后，他們可能相信了我們。真是奇跡，他們沒有懷疑（有）隱藏的寶藏并要求分一杯羹。后來他們一定在諾姆周圍講了一些奇怪的故事；不過，我對(duì)他們是否會(huì)回到那些廢墟中去表示懷疑，即使是為了（得到）那個(gè)象牙王座。”

Rogers paused, felt around in his desk, and produced an envelope of good-sized photographic prints. Extracting one and laying it face down before him, he handed the rest to Jones. The set was certainly an odd one: ice-clad hills, dog sledges, men in furs, and vast tumbled ruins against a background of snow—ruins whose bizarre outlines and enormous stone blocks could hardly be accounted for. One flashlight view shewed an incredible interior chamber with wild carvings and a curious throne whose proportion could not have been designed for a human occupant. The carvings on the gigantic masonry—high walls and peculiar vaulting overhead—were mainly symbolic, and involved both wholly unknown designs and certain hieroglyphs darkly cited in obscene legends. Over the throne loomed the same dreadful symbol which was now painted on the workroom wall above the padlocked plank door. Jones darted a nervous glance at the closed portal. Assuredly, Rogers had been to strange places and had seen strange things. Yet this mad interior picture might easily be a fraud—taken from a very clever stage setting. One must not be too credulous. But Rogers was continuing:

羅杰斯停頓了一下，在他的桌子里摸索了一下，拿出一個(gè)裝著裝著相當(dāng)大的相片的信封。他取出其中的一張，面朝下的放在了自己的面前，并把其他的交給了瓊斯。這些相片的確都很奇怪：冰雪覆蓋的山丘，狗拉著的雪橇，穿著毛皮衣裳的人，還有雪景為背景的巨大的廢墟，這些廢墟的奇異輪廓和巨大的石塊都難以描述。在一張閃光燈拍出的相片中可以看到一個(gè)令人難以置信的內(nèi)室，里面有狂野的雕刻和一個(gè)奇怪的王座，那比例不可能是為了人類而設(shè)計(jì)的。高大的磚石墻壁和奇特的拱頂上的雕刻主要是象征性的，完全未知的設(shè)計(jì)樣貌和一些神秘傳說中暗藏的象形文字。在王座上方的可怕符號(hào)也出現(xiàn)在那扇鎖著的木板門上方的工作間的墻壁上。瓊斯緊張地瞥了一眼緊閉的大門。毫無疑問，羅杰斯去過奇怪的地方，見過奇怪的東西。然而，這個(gè)瘋狂的內(nèi)部畫面很可能是一個(gè)騙局——從一個(gè)非常精妙的舞臺(tái)背景中拍攝的騙局。他不能太過輕信（這個(gè)）故事。但羅杰斯繼續(xù)說著:

“Well, we shipped the box from Nome and got to London without any trouble. That was the first time we’d ever brought back anything that had a chance of coming alive. I didn’t put It on display, because there were more important things to do for It. It needed the nourishment of sacrifice, for It was a god. Of course I couldn’t get It the sort of sacrifices which It used to have in Its day, for such things don’t exist now. But there were other things which might do. The blood is the life, you know. Even the lemurs and elementals that are older than the earth will come when the blood of men or beasts is offered under the right conditions.”

“嗯，我們沒有遇到任何麻煩的把箱子從諾姆運(yùn)到了倫敦。那是我們第一次把有可能復(fù)活的東西帶回來。我沒有將祂展示出來，因?yàn)榈k還有更重要的事情要做。祂需要獻(xiàn)祭來滋養(yǎng)祂，因?yàn)榈k是一尊神祇。當(dāng)然，我不能給祂提供祂的時(shí)代曾經(jīng)有的那種獻(xiàn)祭，因?yàn)楝F(xiàn)在那已經(jīng)不存在了。不過，還有別的辦法可以使用。你知道的，血液就是生命。在合適的條件下獻(xiàn)上人類或動(dòng)物的血，即使是比地球更古老的亡靈（【1】）和元素也會(huì)降臨。”

The expression on the narrator’s face was growing very alarming and repulsive, so that Jones fidgeted involuntarily in his chair. Rogers seemed to notice his guest’s nervousness, and continued with a distinctly evil smile.

講故事的人臉上的表情變得非常令人驚恐和厭惡，因此瓊斯在椅子上顯得坐立不安起來。羅杰斯似乎注意到了客人的緊張，并繼續(xù)露出明顯邪惡的微笑。

“It was last year that I got It, and ever since then I’ve been trying rites and sacrifices. Orabona hasn’t been much help, for he was always against the idea of waking It. He hates It—probably because he’s afraid of what It will come to mean. He carries a pistol all the time to protect himself—fool, as if there were human protection against It! If I ever see him draw that pistol, I’ll strangle him. He wanted me to kill It and make an effigy of It. But I’ve stuck by my plans, and I’m coming out on top in spite of all the cowards like Orabona and damned sniggering sceptics like you, Jones! I’ve chanted the rites and made certain sacrifices, and last week the transition came. The sacrifice was—received and enjoyed!”

“我是去年拿到祂的，從那以后我就一直在嘗試儀式和祭祀。奧拉貝納（Orabona）幫不上什么忙，他總是反對(duì)喚醒祂的行為。他討厭祂——可能是因?yàn)樗ε逻@將代表著什么。他一直帶著一把手槍來保護(hù)自己，愚蠢的人，好像人類的措施能夠從祂那保護(hù)他似的！如果讓我看到他拔出手槍，我就親手掐死他。他想讓我殺了祂，然后做個(gè)祂的蠟像。但我要堅(jiān)持我的計(jì)策，我要出人頭地，盡管有像奧拉貝納（Orabona）這樣的懦夫，還有像你這樣該死的竊笑的懷疑論者，瓊斯！我吟誦了儀式，做了一些獻(xiàn)祭，上周轉(zhuǎn)變到來了。祭品已經(jīng)被祂接受和享用了!”

Rogers actually licked his lips, while Jones held himself uneasily rigid. The showman paused and rose, crossing the room to the piece of burlap at which he had glanced so often. Bending down, he took hold of one corner as he spoke again.

羅杰斯舔了舔嘴唇，而瓊斯則不自在地保持著鎮(zhèn)定。講述者停頓了一下，站起身來穿過房間，走到他瞥了很多次的粗麻布跟前。他彎下腰，一邊抓住粗麻布的一個(gè)角，一邊說著。

“You’ve laughed enough at my work—now it’s time for you to get some facts. Orabona tells me you heard a dog screaming around here this afternoon. Do you know what that meant?”

“你已經(jīng)嘲笑了很多次我的工作了——現(xiàn)在你該了解一些實(shí)情了。奧拉貝納（Orabona）告訴我你今天下午聽到一只狗在這附近叫。你知道這意味著什么嗎?”

Jones started. For all his curiosity he would have been glad to get out without further light on the point which had so puzzled him. But Rogers was inexorable, and began to lift the square of burlap. Beneath it lay a crushed, almost shapeless mass which Jones was slow to classify. Was it a once-living thing which some agency had flattened, sucked dry of blood, punctured in a thousand places, and wrung into a limp, broken-boned heap of grotesqueness? After a moment Jones realised what it must be. It was what was left of a dog—a dog, perhaps of considerable size and whitish colour. Its breed was past recognition, for distortion had come in nameless and hideous ways. Most of the hair was burned off as by some pungent acid, and the exposed, bloodless skin was riddled by innumerable circular wounds or incisions. The form of torture necessary to cause such results was past imagining.

瓊斯打著顫。盡管他很好奇，他還是巴不得趕快離開，不要對(duì)那些使他困惑不解的問題得到進(jìn)一步的解釋?？墒橇_杰斯不肯罷休，他開始掀開那塊粗麻布。下面是一堆壓碎了的、幾乎沒有形狀的東西，瓊斯只能慢慢地辨別出它的原形。那是一個(gè)曾經(jīng)有生命的東西，被某種力量壓扁了，吸干了血，刺穿了上千次，扭成了一堆無力而骨碎怪誕的怪物。過了一會(huì)兒，瓊斯意識(shí)到那是什么東西了。那是一只狗留下的殘骸——一只體型較大渾身發(fā)白的狗。無法辨別它的品種，因?yàn)樗且砸环N不可名狀而可怕的方式扭曲著。大部分的皮毛都像被某種刺鼻的酸燒光了一樣，暴露在外的、沒有血色的皮膚上布滿了無數(shù)的圓形傷口或切口。造成這種結(jié)果的瘋狂折磨酷刑是無法想象的。

Electrified with a pure loathing which conquered his mounting disgust, Jones sprang up with a cry.

瓊斯被一種純粹的厭惡沖昏了頭腦，他大叫一聲，跳了起來。

“You damned sadist—you madman—you do a thing like this and dare to speak to a decent man!”

“你這該死的虐待狂——你這瘋子——你做了這種事，還敢跟一個(gè)正人君子說話!”

Rogers dropped the burlap with a malignant sneer and faced his oncoming guest. His words held an unnatural calm.

羅杰斯帶著惡意的冷笑丟下粗麻布，面對(duì)著在逼近的客人。他的話里透露著一種反常的平靜。

“Why, you fool, do you think I did this? Let us admit that the results are unbeautiful from our limited human standpoint. What of it? It is not human and does not pretend to be. To sacrifice is merely to offer. I gave the dog to It. What happened is Its work, not mine. It needed the nourishment of the offering, and took it in Its own way. But let me shew you what It looks like.”

“怎么，你個(gè)蠢貨，你覺得這是我干的？讓我們承認(rèn)，這樣的結(jié)果從我們有限的人類角度來看不是很美好。但祂是什么？祂不是人類，也會(huì)不假裝是人類。獻(xiàn)祭就是奉獻(xiàn)。我獻(xiàn)祭了一條狗給了祂。這是祂的所作所為而不是我的。祂需要祭品的滋養(yǎng)，并以自己的方式接受。但讓我告訴你祂是什么樣子的。”

As Jones stood hesitating, the speaker returned to his desk and took up the photograph he had laid face down without shewing. Now he extended it with a curious look. Jones took it and glanced at it in an almost mechanical way. After a moment the visitor’s glance became sharper and more absorbed, for the utterly satanic force of the object depicted had an almost hypnotic effect. Certainly, Rogers had outdone himself in modelling the eldritch nightmare which the camera had caught. The thing was a work of sheer, infernal genius, and Jones wondered how the public would react when it was placed on exhibition. So hideous a thing had no right to exist—probably the mere contemplation of it, after it was done, had completed the unhinging of its maker’s mind and led him to worship it with brutal sacrifices. Only a stout sanity could resist the insidious suggestion that the blasphemy was—or had once been—some morbid and exotic form of actual life.

當(dāng)瓊斯猶豫地站著的時(shí)候，講述者回到了他的桌子前，拿起了他朝下沒有露出來的相片?，F(xiàn)在他帶著奇異的神色將它展開。瓊斯拿過來，幾乎是機(jī)械地瞥了一眼。只一會(huì)兒，來訪者的目光變得更銳利而專注了，因?yàn)樗枥L的事物具有一種完全邪惡的力量，幾乎有一種催眠的效果。毫無疑問，羅杰斯在為攝像機(jī)捕捉到的那個(gè)可怕的夢魘做出的造型方面做得非常出色。這是一件純粹的天才作品，瓊斯想知道當(dāng)它被展出時(shí)公眾會(huì)作何反響。這樣可怕的東西是不應(yīng)該存在的——也許在它被造出來后，僅僅是想到它，就足以動(dòng)搖它的創(chuàng)造者的思想，于是他就用殘酷的獻(xiàn)祭來崇拜這一事物。某種陰險(xiǎn)的思想暗示這是——或者曾經(jīng)是——現(xiàn)實(shí)中某種活物的病態(tài)和怪誕的形體，只有堅(jiān)定的理智才能抵抗這樣的心理暗示。

The thing in the picture squatted or was balanced on what appeared to be a clever reproduction of the monstrously carved throne in the other curious photograph. To describe it with any ordinary vocabulary would be impossible, for nothing even roughly corresponding to it has ever come within the imagination of sane mankind. It represented something meant perhaps to be roughly connected with the vertebrates of this planet—though one could not be too sure of that. Its bulk was Cyclopean, for even squatted it towered to almost twice the height of Orabona, who was shewn beside it. Looking sharply, one might trace its approximations toward the bodily features of the higher vertebrates.

相片上的東西蹲坐著，或者是平衡地放在另一張照片中出現(xiàn)的那張雕刻著怪物的可怖王座上。用任何尋常的詞匯來描述它都是不可能的，因?yàn)樵谟欣碇堑娜祟惖南胂笾胁⒉荒芟胂?，甚至連與之大致相符的東西也沒有。它所代表的某種東西也許大致上與這個(gè)星球上的脊椎動(dòng)物類似——不過對(duì)此事（這個(gè)東西和脊椎動(dòng)物類似一事）還不能過于肯定。它的身軀像獨(dú)眼巨人（Cyclopean）般巨大，因?yàn)榧词顾追?，它的高度也幾乎比站在它旁邊的奧拉貝納（Orabona）高出一倍。仔細(xì)觀察下可以發(fā)現(xiàn)它與高等脊椎動(dòng)物的身體特征很相似。

There was an almost globular torso, with six long, sinuous limbs terminating in crab-like claws. From the upper end a subsidiary globe bulged forward bubble-like; its triangle of three staring, fishy eyes, its foot-long and evidently flexible proboscis, and a distended lateral system analogous to gills, suggesting that it was a head. Most of the body was covered with what at first appeared to be fur, but which on closer examination proved to be a dense growth of dark, slender tentacles or sucking filaments, each tipped with a mouth suggesting the head of an asp. On the head and below the proboscis the tentacles tended to be longer and thicker, and marked with spiral stripes—suggesting the traditional serpent-locks of Medusa. To say that such a thing could have an expression seems paradoxical; yet Jones felt that that triangle of bulging fish-eyes and that obliquely poised proboscis all bespoke a blend of hate, greed, and sheer cruelty incomprehensible to mankind because mixed with other emotions not of the world or this solar system. Into this bestial abnormality, he reflected, Rogers must have poured at once all his malignant insanity and all his uncanny sculptural genius. The thing was incredible—and yet the photograph proved that it existed.

它有一個(gè)幾乎是球形的軀干，有六條長長的、彎曲的肢體，肢體末端是蟹鉗一樣的爪子。在軀干的上端是一個(gè)像氣泡一樣的副球體向前突起著，那上面有三個(gè)瞪大的三角形的像魚一樣的眼睛，它有一英尺長、顯得很靈活的喙，它還有象鰓一樣膨脹的系統(tǒng)，這說明這是它的頭部。它的身體大部分被一些看起來像是皮毛的東西覆蓋著，但經(jīng)過仔細(xì)地檢查之后便會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)那是密集生長的黑色細(xì)長的觸須或吸須，每一個(gè)觸須的尖端都像是蝰蛇的頭部一樣有著一張嘴。頭部和喙下面的觸須往往會(huì)更長更粗，并帶有螺旋狀的條紋——就像傳說中的蛇女美杜莎的頭發(fā)一樣。說這樣一個(gè)生物有什么表情似乎很矛盾，然而，瓊斯覺得，那隆起的三角形魚眼和傾斜的長喙，都是一種仇恨、貪婪和絕對(duì)殘忍的情緒的混合體，人類也無法理解這種情緒，因?yàn)樗旌狭四承┎粚儆谶@個(gè)世界或太陽系的情感。在這種殘忍的反常中，他反應(yīng)過來羅杰斯一定是把他所有的邪惡陰險(xiǎn)和他不可思議的雕塑天賦一起傾注了進(jìn)去。這個(gè)東西不可思議——然而照片證實(shí)了它的存在。

Rogers interrupted his reveries.

羅杰斯打斷了他的沉思。

“Well—what do you think of It? Now do you wonder what crushed the dog and sucked it dry with a million mouths? It needed nourishment—and It will need more. It is a god, and I am the first priest of Its latter-day hierarchy. I?! Shub-niggurath! The Goat with a Thousand Young!”

“那么——你覺得怎么樣？現(xiàn)在你知道是什么壓碎了這只狗，并用一百萬張嘴把它吸干了嗎？祂需要滋養(yǎng)——而且還需要更多（獻(xiàn)祭）。祂是一尊神祇，而我是它現(xiàn)階段的第一位牧師。Ia！Shub-niggurath！孕育萬千的山羊!”

Jones lowered the photograph in disgust and pity.

瓊斯帶著厭惡和憐憫放下了相片。

“See here, Rogers, this won’t do. There are limits, you know. It’s a great piece of work, and all that, but it isn’t good for you. Better not see it any more—let Orabona break it up, and try to forget about it. And let me tear this beastly picture up, too.”

“聽著，羅杰斯，這肯定是不行的。你知道凡事都是有限度的。這是一項(xiàng)偉大的工作，但它對(duì)你沒有好處。最好不要再看到它了，讓奧拉貝納（Orabona）去拆了它并試著忘掉它吧。讓我把這張討厭的照片也撕了吧?！?/p>

With a snarl, Rogers snatched the photograph and returned it to the desk.

羅杰斯咆哮了一聲，一把奪過照片之后把它放回了桌上。

“Idiot—you—and you still think It’s all a fraud! You still think I made It, and you still think my figures are nothing but lifeless wax! Why, damn you, you’re a worse clod than a wax image yourself! But I’ve got proof this time, and you’re going to know! Not just now, for It is resting after the sacrifice—but later. Oh, yes—you will not doubt the power of It then.”

“你個(gè)白癡——你仍然認(rèn)為這是一個(gè)騙局！你仍然認(rèn)為這是我做的，你仍然認(rèn)為我的雕像只是毫無生氣的蠟塊！該死的，你自己比蠟像還爛！但這次我能夠向你證實(shí)，你會(huì)知道的！不是現(xiàn)在，而是在不久以后，因?yàn)榈k在獻(xiàn)祭后正在休息。哦，是的——那樣你就不會(huì)懷疑祂的力量了?！?/p>

As Rogers glanced toward the padlocked inner door Jones retrieved his hat and stick from a nearby bench.

羅杰斯瞥了一眼里面的那扇鎖著的門，瓊斯從旁邊的長凳上拿起了他的帽子和手杖。

“Very well, Rogers, let it be later. I must be going now, but I’ll call around tomorrow afternoon. Think my advice over and see if it doesn’t sound sensible. Ask Orabona what he thinks, too.”

“好吧，羅杰斯，之后再說吧。我現(xiàn)在得走了，但我明天下午會(huì)再來拜訪你。仔細(xì)考慮一下我的建議是否明智。也問問奧拉貝納（Orabona）的想法?！?/p>

Rogers actually bared his teeth in wild-beast fashion.

羅杰斯像野獸一樣露出了他的牙齒。

“Must be going now, eh? Afraid, after all! Afraid, for all your bold talk! You say the effigies are only wax, and yet you run away when I begin to prove that they aren’t. You’re like the fellows who take my standing bet that they daren’t spend the night in the museum—they come boldly enough, but after an hour they shriek and hammer to get out! Want me to ask Orabona, eh? You two—always against me! You want to break down the coming earthly reign of It!”

“必須走了，嗯？害怕了？畢竟還是害怕了！盡管你說得很大膽！你說這雕像只是蠟制的，可當(dāng)我開始證明祂不是蠟像的時(shí)，你卻逃跑了。你就像那些我打賭說他們不敢在博物館里過夜的人一樣——他們膽子是夠大的，但一個(gè)小時(shí)后他們還是會(huì)尖叫著錘門想要出去！要我去問奧拉貝納（Orabona）的想法？你們倆總是在跟我作對(duì)！你們是想要破壞祂即將到來的統(tǒng)治！”

Jones preserved his calm.

瓊斯仍保持冷靜。

“No, Rogers—there’s nobody against you. And I’m not afraid of your figures, either, much as I admire your skill. But we’re both a bit nervous tonight, and I fancy some rest will do us good.”

“不，羅杰斯——沒有人在和你作對(duì)。雖然我很佩服你的技術(shù)，但我也不怕你的雕像。不過今晚我們倆都有點(diǎn)緊張了，我想休息一下對(duì)我們倆都會(huì)有好處的。”

Again Rogers checked his guest’s departure.

羅杰斯再次制止了他的客人離開。

“Not afraid, eh?—then why are you so anxious to go? Look here—do you or don’t you dare to stay alone here in the dark? What’s your hurry if you don’t believe in It?”

“不害怕是嗎？那你為什么這么急著要走呢？聽著——你敢不敢一個(gè)人呆在這黑漆漆的地方？如果你不相信祂，那為什么要急著走呢？”

Some new idea seemed to have struck Rogers, and Jones eyed him closely.

羅杰斯似乎有了什么新的想法，而瓊斯則仔細(xì)地打量著他。

“Why, I’ve no special hurry—but what would be gained by my staying here alone? What would it prove? My only objection is that it isn’t very comfortable for sleeping. What good would it do either of us?”

“啊，我并沒有急著走啊——不過我一個(gè)人呆在這兒有什么好處呢？它能證明什么呢？唯一令我反對(duì)的是（在這）睡覺不太舒服罷了。這對(duì)我們有什么好處呢？”

This time it was Jones who was struck with an idea. He continued in a tone of conciliation.

這一次想出主意的是瓊斯。他繼續(xù)用安撫的語氣說著。

“See here, Rogers—I’ve just asked you what it would prove if I stayed, when we both know. It would prove that your effigies are just effigies, and that you oughtn’t to let your imagination go the way it’s been going lately. Suppose I do stay. If I stick it out till morning, will you agree to take a new view of things—go on a vacation for three months or so and let Orabona destroy that new thing of yours? Come, now—isn’t that fair?”

“聽著，羅杰斯——我剛才問你，如果我待在這能夠證明什么，我們都知道。這只會(huì)證明你的雕像只是雕像，你不應(yīng)該讓你的想象像近期那樣發(fā)展。如果我真的留了下來。如果我堅(jiān)持到明天早上，你會(huì)愿意以一種新的角度來看待事物嗎?——去度三個(gè)月左右的假期，或讓奧拉貝納（Orabona）毀掉你的新事物？來吧，這難道不公平嗎?”

The expression on the showman’s face was hard to read. It was obvious that he was thinking quickly, and that of sundry conflicting emotions, malign triumph was getting the upper hand. His voice held a choking quality as he replied.

講述者臉上的表情讓人難以捉摸。很明顯，他在快速地思考著，各種矛盾的情緒中的他被邪惡的勝利感所折服。他回答的聲音有點(diǎn)令人窒息的意味。

“Fair enough! If you do stick it out, I’ll take your advice. But stick you must. We’ll go out for dinner and come back. I’ll lock you in the display room and go home. In the morning I’ll come down ahead of Orabona—he comes half an hour before the rest—and see how you are. But don’t try it unless you are very sure of your scepticism. Others have backed out—you have that chance. And I suppose a pounding on the outer door would always bring a constable. You may not like it so well after a while—you’ll be in the same building, though not in the same room with It.”

“很好！如果你真的能堅(jiān)持下去，我就會(huì)接受你的忠告。但你必須堅(jiān)持下來。等我們出去吃完晚飯回來之后我就會(huì)把你鎖在陳列室然后回家。明天早上我會(huì)趕在奧拉貝納（Orabona）之前過來——他比其他人都要早半小時(shí)到——我會(huì)來看看你怎么樣了。但盡量不要這么嘗試，除非你非常確定自己懷疑的是真實(shí)的。其他人都退縮了——你也有這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)。我想只要有人敲打外面的門，巡警總會(huì)來查看的。過了一會(huì)，你就可能不會(huì)那么喜歡它了——雖然不是在同一間屋子里，但你會(huì)和祂待在同一棟樓里?！?/p>

As they left the rear door into the dingy courtyard, Rogers took with him the piece of burlap—weighted with a gruesome burden. Near the centre of the court was a manhole, whose cover the showman lifted quietly, and with a shuddersome suggestion of familiarity. Burlap and all, the burden went down to the oblivion of a cloacal labyrinth. Jones shuddered, and almost shrank from the gaunt figure at his side as they emerged into the street.

當(dāng)他們離開后門進(jìn)入陰暗的庭院里時(shí)，羅杰斯把這塊帶著令人發(fā)指的秘密的粗麻布帶在了身邊。在庭院的接近中心的地方有一個(gè)井蓋，講述者不動(dòng)聲色地掀開了井蓋，帶著一種令人顫栗的熟悉感覺。將粗麻布和里面的其他東西被他遺棄在下水道的迷宮里。瓊斯打了個(gè)寒顫，當(dāng)他們走到街上時(shí)，他幾乎要從他身邊那個(gè)瘦骨嶙峋的身影面前退縮了。

By unspoken mutual consent, they did not dine together, but agreed to meet in front of the museum at eleven.

他們不約而同地沒有一起去吃飯，而是約定好了晚上11點(diǎn)在博物館門口碰面。

Jones hailed a cab, and breathed more freely when he had crossed Waterloo Bridge and was approaching the brilliantly lighted Strand. He dined at a quiet café, and subsequently went to his home in Portland Place to bathe and get a few things. Idly he wondered what Rogers was doing. He had heard that the man had a vast, dismal house in the Walworth Road, full of obscure and forbidden books, occult paraphernalia, and wax images which he did not choose to place on exhibition. Orabona, he understood, lived in separate quarters in the same house.

瓊斯招呼了一輛出租馬車，穿過了滑鐵盧大橋，并向著燈火通明的海濱行駛時(shí)，他的呼吸才舒暢了一些。他在一家安靜的咖啡館內(nèi)用餐，然后去在波特蘭的家中洗了個(gè)澡，并且拿了一些東西。無所事事時(shí)的他想知道羅杰斯在干什么。他聽說這個(gè)人在沃爾沃斯路（Walworth Road）那邊有一所巨大而陰森的房子，里面堆滿了晦澀難懂的隱秘書籍、神秘學(xué)的器具和蠟像，但他并不愿意將它們展出。他也知道奧拉貝納（Orabona）住在同一幢房子的不同的房間中。

At eleven Jones found Rogers waiting by the basement door in Southwark Street. Their words were few, but each seemed taut with a menacing tension. They agreed that the vaulted exhibition room alone should form the scene of the vigil, and Rogers did not insist that the watcher sit in the special adult alcove of supreme horrors. The showman, having extinguished all the lights with switches in the workroom, locked the door of that crypt with one of the keys on his crowded ring. Without shaking hands he passed out the street door, locked it after him, and stamped up the worn steps to the sidewalk outside. As his tread receded, Jones realised that the long, tedious vigil had commenced.

在十一點(diǎn)的時(shí)候，瓊斯發(fā)現(xiàn)羅杰斯在南華克街的工作室門口等著。他們的話不多，但他們似乎都帶著一種相互威脅著的緊張氣氛。他們一致同意將這個(gè)拱形的陳列室作為今晚守夜的舞臺(tái)，羅杰斯沒有堅(jiān)持讓守夜者坐在特別的僅供成人參觀的極度恐懼的密室里。講述者熄滅了工作室內(nèi)所有的燈和開關(guān)，用他那鑰匙環(huán)上一大堆的鑰匙中的一把鎖上了地窖的門。他沒有握手告別，而是直接走出了臨街的大門并隨手將門鎖上，踏著破舊的臺(tái)階走到了外面的街道上。當(dāng)他的腳步聲漸漸遠(yuǎn)去，瓊斯意識(shí)到漫長而乏味的守夜開始了。

注：【1】lemur的英文譯為狐猴，但是拉丁文譯為亡靈或亡者之魂