纪录片《我们的地球》 第322期 极端沙漠(13)

It's July in the deserts of Nevada in the western United States.

美国西部内华达州沙漠的七月。

The hottest time of the year.

这是一年中最炎热的时候。

Bands of wild horses, mustang, are converging¹ on one of the last remaining water holes for miles.

一群群美洲野马聚集在方圆几公里内仅存的水塘边。

Now, water not only offers them the chance to drink, it can also bring power.

水不仅能用来喝，还能借此获得权力。

If a stallion can control access to water,

如果一头公马能够控制饮水权，

he will have secured mating rights to the entire herd².

便拥有与群中所有母马交配的权利。

So stallions try to dominate these pools, fighting off rivals who venture too close.

所以公马们会试图独占水塘，赶走所有想要靠近的竞争对手。

A stranger. He's travelled ten miles to be here

一位不速之客。他跋涉了十六公里，

because the pools where he's come from have already dried up.

因为他所在地方的水源已经完全干涸。

With him come his females.

他身后跟着一群母马。

If he can't provide them with water, they will leave him for the white stallion who already dominates this pool.

如果他无法提供水源，她们都会离开，跟这匹已经占有水池的白马在一起。

So, he will have to fight. There is everything to lose.

他必须选择战斗。这一战至关重要。

A broken leg or a shattered jaw³ would mean a slow and painful death.

若是断了腿，或是碎了下巴，就意味着死前将饱受折磨。

A missed kick, and it's all over.

没踢中，一切都结束了。

The new arrival has won... and his prize is more than just the chance to drink.

新来的马取得了胜利，他所获得的奖赏不只是可以喝水。

He has provided for his herd, and in the process, stolen his rival's females.

他为马群提供了水源，与此同时，抢走了竞争对手的后宫。

The white stallion's rule is over.

白马的统治已经结束。

1 converging   

adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Plants had gradually evolved along diverging and converging pathways. 植物是沿着趋异和趋同两种途径逐渐演化的。 来自辞典例句
• This very slowly converging series was known to Leibniz in 1674. 这个收敛很慢的级数是莱布尼茨在1674年得到的。 来自辞典例句

2 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

3 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。