本文摘選自《Warhammer Quest - Blackstone Fortress》，該譯文作為練習(xí)僅為個人與交流使用，不用作商業(yè)用途。?

新的發(fā)現(xiàn)·A NEW DISCOVERY

抵達(dá)黑石要塞需要經(jīng)歷一番痛苦的旅程，想要駛向遙遠(yuǎn)的帝國邊疆，就得先穿過由異端和混沌把持的星區(qū)。然而，旅程的最后一段恰恰最為兇險，因為黑石要塞所在的寂靜區(qū)是沒有亞空間航圖的，而射向這個死寂宙域的星炬之光也會被扭曲到無法辨識。所以，黑石要塞的確切位置罕為人知，因為能找到它的旅行者并不多，至于能全身而返的那就更少了。

To reach the Blackstone Fortress requires a harrowing journey, navigating to the distant edge of the Imperium through sectors in which heresy and Chaos have taken hold. Yet it is the last leg of the voyage that is most perilous, for there are no warp charts of the silent zone in which the Blackstone Fortress lies, and the light of the Astronomican becomes distorted beyond recognition as it beams further into this dead space. As such, the exact position of the Blackstone Fortress is only vaguely known, for few travellers have managed to locate it, and fewer still have returned.

循著黑石要塞發(fā)出的信號，那些人也許能從未曾標(biāo)識過的亞空間航路或者浩瀚的虛空中找出一條道來，因為它們就擋在要塞與最近的恒星之間。位于這段旅程最后的是一片雜亂無章的、向四面八方綿延數(shù)了百萬英里的殘骸——這是一團由遠(yuǎn)古戰(zhàn)艦的殘骸和武裝空間站的碎片組成的密云。這團星辰碎屑究竟來自何處、以及它是如何包圍黑石要塞的，一直都是一個謎。有些殘骸帶有數(shù)千年前帝國早期的徽記，而另一些則烙著混沌印記、艾達(dá)靈族的符文或者太空死靈的雕紋。然而絕大多數(shù)的圖案并沒有被帝國記錄歸檔，這暗示著有許多古老的異形種族，而他們在人類登上星空的許久之前就已經(jīng)消失了。雖然這些殘骸的數(shù)量多到無法計數(shù)，然而每一塊都有跡象表明它們是被某種強大的破壞性力量摧毀的，它們的艦體被燒出了碩大的洞孔，而機身仿佛就像是被強力的爪子捏碎了似的。

Those who follow the signals emanating from the Blackstone Fortress may be able to navigate the uncharted tracts of warp space or the vast void expanses that separate it from the nearest stars. At the end of this journey is a sprawling field of debris stretching for millions of miles in all directions - a dense cloud made of the remnants of ancient warships and fragmented battle stations. Where this astral detritus came from and how it came to surround the Blackstone Fortress is a mystery. Some bear insignia from the early millennia of the Imperium, whereas others are branded with Chaos marks, Aeldari runes or Necron glyphs. But the overwhelming majority are of designs not capturedby Imperial records, giving hint to numerous ancient xenos species that vanished long before Mankind took to the stars. The number of these wrecks is beyond counting, but each bears evidence of some great and destructive force that was levelled against them, with enormous holes burnt clean through their hulls, and fuselages crushed as though in the grip of mighty claws.

殘骸繞著黑石要塞緩慢地運轉(zhuǎn)著，它就隱藏在這片殘骸星云的中心。新近抵達(dá)的船只不敢過于靠近，除了有撞上胡亂漂浮的殘骸的危險之外，還存在這樣的風(fēng)險，那就是造成這種毀滅的末日武器，不管那是什么，都可能仍在運作之中。不過，對于那些已經(jīng)航行到骸云邊緣的人來說，能吸引他們的東西著實不少。在殘骸里有武器系統(tǒng)、星圖以及在銀河系其它地方都見不著的遠(yuǎn)古科技，于是乎，乘著小型穿梭機的拾荒小隊被派了出去，他們會把遇難船只的殘骸清理的一干二凈。然而（那些）真正富有冒險精神的家伙會進一步深入星云，他們會穿過漂浮的墓碑，然后駛向黑石要塞本身。

The wrecks orbit slowly around the Blackstone Fortress, which lies hidden at the centre of this nebula of debris. Newly arriving vessels dare not travel too close, for aside from the danger of colliding with haphazardly floating wreckage, there is the risk that whatever apocalyptic armaments caused such obliteration could still be operational. Yet there is much to entice those who have made the voyage to the edge of the debris cloud. Amongst the wrecks there are weapons systems, star charts and archeotech unseen elsewhere in the galaxy, and scavenger crews are sent out in small shuttles to pick clean the skeletal remains of the dead ships. But the truly adventurous delve even further into the nebula, wending their way through the floating graveyard towards the Blackstone Fortress itself.

絕壁星·PRECIPICE

想要進入星云帶，就得靠一條足夠靈活的小船去避開那不斷循環(huán)流轉(zhuǎn)的巨型漂骸和碎片漩渦。能夠讓飛行員或者導(dǎo)航者前往相對暢通航道的地圖根本就不存在，即使這種航圖真的存在，它們也會被持有者嚴(yán)密地保護起來。不過，能夠得以幸存的飛船最終會出現(xiàn)在一個空曠的球形宙域中，而黑石要塞就坐落在宙域的正中央。

Travelling into the nebula requires a vessel small and nimble enough to avoid the colossal debris drifts and eddies of scrap that constantly circulate. There are no maps to guide pilots and navigators towards relatively clear channels - or if such charts do exist, they are guarded closely by those who possess them. But a craft that is able to survive eventually emerges into a sphere of empty space, at the heart of which lies the Blackstone Fortress.

在構(gòu)造體龐大而又單一的陰影之下，有一座小小的星站。它由碎片拼湊而成，就錨定在這片次元扭曲宙域中的孤立節(jié)點上，住在上面的那幫烏合之眾管它叫絕壁星。為了防止被黑石要塞的巨型重力井吸走，每條船在抵達(dá)之后都會被拴在絕壁星的一根系泊桅桿上，而且在被允許進入星站之前，全體船員都會收到一份最后通牒——在登站前要把所有的新仇舊恨和瑣碎的派系之爭全都扔到一邊，否則就洗干凈脖子等著吧（1）。這種咄咄逼人的預(yù)防措施是不可或缺的，因為絕壁星上擠滿了來自不同交戰(zhàn)種族的星際旅者，他們必須受到規(guī)勸，否則這幫家伙就會自相殘殺，而絕壁星也會被撕成碎片。這份不穩(wěn)定的休戰(zhàn)協(xié)議由一支專門的基干團體負(fù)責(zé)執(zhí)行，這個團體由最強大、最具影響力的船長（2）組成，不過，破壞和暗殺行動依舊很是常見，尤其是當(dāng)它與這些船長們的目的相符的時候。

Under the shadow of the monolithic structure there is a small way station. Cobbled together from pieces of scrap and anchored to a solitary node of warp-entangled space, it is called Precipice by its ragtag inhabitants. Upon arrival, each vessel is lashed to one of Precipice's mooring spars, preventing it from being drawn in by the massive gravity well of the Blackstone Fortress, and before being allowed to enter the station anultimatum is delivered to the crew -set aside animosities, ancient hatreds and petty factionalism before coming on board, or face annihilation. Such aggressive precautions are a necessity, for Precipice is populated with star-farers from disparate warring races who must be dissuaded from tearing each other, and the station, apart. An ad hoc cadre of the most powerful and influential captains enforce this uneasy truce, though acts of sabotage and assassination are still commonplace, especially when it serves these captains' purposes.

不管絕壁星有多么危險，對于那些勇敢并且莽到會進入黑石要塞的人來說，它都是最后的落腳點。它是一個以物易物的處所，為了能夠從居前而候的恐怖事件中活下來，旅行者們可以在這里購買、出售或者竊取設(shè)備和知識，而且在這個地方，為了共同求生，各種類型的冒險家都會組成臨時聯(lián)盟。這里是進入瘋狂的領(lǐng)域前的最后理性之所。

Regardless of its dangers, Precipice is the final port of call for those brave and brash enough to enter the Blackstone Fortress itself. It serves as a bartering point where travellers can buy, sell or steal the equipment and knowledge needed to survive the horrors that lie ahead of them, and a locale where adventurers of every ilk can form temporary alliances for shared survival. It is the last point of reason before plunging into a realm of madness.

行商浪人賈努斯·德萊克

Rogue Trader Janus Draik?

行商許可令R38-79N1

Warrant of Trade R38-79N1

數(shù)據(jù)日志條目：11657

Datalog Entry：11703

除非我弄錯了——而我甚少犯錯（3）——關(guān)于已經(jīng)發(fā)現(xiàn)黑石要塞的報告是真實的。通過與各個拾荒者派系的談判【參見數(shù)據(jù)日志條目11,696c-11,701】，我得以知悉在殘骸星云的中央有一個穩(wěn)固的港口，目前我正在向這個叫絕壁星的空間站趕去。由于漂浮的殘骸實在太多，所以必需得把德萊克之星留在星云的邊緣，而我絕大部分的手下也得留下來看守它。乘坐穿梭艇出發(fā)的時候，我感到相當(dāng)?shù)膽雅f——畢竟，我早期的征服行動都是在先鋒號（4）上進行的，一邊擴大帝國的疆土，一邊享用陳年的阿瑪塞克酒（5）。

Unless I am mistaken -and I am rarely mistaken - the accounts of a Blackstone Fortresses having been uncovered are true. By means of parley with the various scavenger factions <see datalogentries 11,696c-11,701> I have learnt of a stable port at the centre of the wreckage nebula, and am currently en route to this station of Precipice. Due to the sheer mass of floating debris, it was necessary to leave the Draikstar at the nebula's edge, along with the vast majority of my personnel to guard it. I feel rather nostalgic going forth in my shuttle - after all, it was aboard Vanguard that I conducted my earliest conquests, expanding the Emperors domain while enjoying aged amasec.

（1）這就是為什么德萊克不敢在舵手酒肆大動干戈的原因。

在絕壁星——尤其像是在舵手酒肆這樣顯眼的地方——開火射擊，會招致流放，甚至還會被就地正法，所以對我們來說，情況很是糟糕。?

Firing weapons on Precipice, especially somewhere as visible as the Helmsman, can lead to exile or even execution, so things could have gone badly for us.?

（2）全都是惡棍，無一例外。

在絕壁星上，那個由自封領(lǐng)袖（全都是惡棍，無一例外）組成的陰謀集團并不會去維護什么法律，他們會用鐵腕一般政策來執(zhí)行自己的意志。?

What little law there is on Precipice is upheld by a cabal of self-appointed leaders (scoundrels, to a man) who enforce their will with an iron hand.?

（3）呸！

（4）先鋒號是賈努斯·德萊克的私人穿梭艇，他就是乘著這艘小艇穿越殘骸帶抵達(dá)絕壁星的。

自從賈努斯·德萊克首次繼承了他的行商許可令后，這艘造型優(yōu)美、機動靈活的穿梭艇就一直歸他所有了。一小批最受德萊克信任的的助手陪他一同登上了先鋒號，在那里，他們會對行商浪人的無畏之舉中施加援手，并保護由他收集起來的大量異形科技造物。

This sleek and manoeuvrable shuttle has been in Janus Draik's possession since he first inherited his Warrant of Trade. A handful of Draik's most trusted attaches have accompanied him aboard Vanguard, where they aide him in his exploits and guard his considerable collection of xeno-tech artefacts.

（5）阿瑪塞克酒/amasec是一種帝國酒飲①，這種酒似乎是用谷物釀出來的②。

①阿瑪塞克是一種頗受歡迎的酒精飲料，由葡萄酒蒸餾而成。其范圍下至幾乎可以拿去當(dāng)燃燒彈用的粗制劣酒，上到僅供帝王頂級仆從享用的陳年佳釀。

Amasec is a popular alcoholic drink distilled from wine. It can range from lesser brews barely fit for firebombs, to well-aged brands suitable for only the finest of the Emperor's servants.

②“你提出的任何建議我都會感興趣的，” 霍伊如此說道，他沒有理會阿瑪塞克酒，而是伸手從盤子后面取了一瓶沒怎么見過的飲料，“來杯納吉拉如何？我擔(dān)心我們本地的阿瑪塞克酒釀得不怎么樣。首先，這里幾乎沒有種糧食的地方?！?/span>

'I'd be interested in any suggestions you might have,' Hoy said, ignoring the amasec, and reaching for an unfamiliar drink at the back of the tray. He smiled. 'Have a nagila? I'm afraid our local amasec isn't up to much. Hardly anywhere to grow the grain, for one thing.'

PS：關(guān)于絕壁星的補充資料

在這座位于黑石要塞一個已知孔隙附近的港口都市里擠滿了探索者的宇宙飛船，在那里可以交換珍貴的遠(yuǎn)古科技。這個荒涼而又孤立的前哨站被人們簡稱為絕壁星。

The explorers' spacecraft huddle close together at a sort of port city located nearby one of the Blackstone Fortresses' known apertures, where valuable archeotech can be bartered. This forlorn and isolated outpost is known simply as Precipice.

絕壁星僅僅只是一座字面意義上的都市，而且還是最粗劣的那種。它的核心由環(huán)繞黑石要塞的殘骸拼湊而成，新近抵達(dá)并且依舊能夠運轉(zhuǎn)的飛船就停泊在絕壁星那雜亂無章的系泊桅桿上。與其說一座真正的城市，它更像是一處設(shè)防的營地，為了對抗可能的來犯之?dāng)?，這里還有一支提供集體防衛(wèi)的船隊，它也會靠過來做點服貿(mào)交易。

Precipice is a city only in the crudest sense of the word. Its core has been cobbled together from the wreckage of ancient craft that orbit the Blackstone Fortress, and newly arrived and still-functioning craft moor onto its haphazard spars. It is more like a fortified camp than a true city, a formation of vessels that offer collective protection against possible intruders and close proximity for the exchange of goods and services.

在絕壁星上靠泊的每艘船只基本上都是自給自足的，但貿(mào)易之所以會進行，既有客觀切實的原因，也有滿足探險者諸多惡習(xí)的需要。這里既沒有法律，也沒有政府，居民們一直都在試圖避免——或者實施——背信棄義的行為?？偟膩碚f，這里是一個危險的處所，到處都是危險的家伙，而且他們都想去更加危險的地方。

Each craft docked with Precipice is still largely self-reliant, but trade is conducted both for practical reasons and to cater to the explorers' various vices. There is no law or government, and the inhabitants are constantly looking to avoid - or to commit - backstabbing acts of treachery. Basically, this is a dangerous place filled with dangerous people, looking to go to even more dangerous locations.