羊皮卷的故事（6）（在线收听）

Erasmus hesitated until his master beckoned 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 seeped down from turrets 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 cedar chest spotlighted in a shaft 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 zealously 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 rumors 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 crouched beside the chest

两人走到箱子旁蹲下身去。

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

海菲小心地把包在箱子上的皮革掀开，

He inhaled deeply of the cedar fragrance 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。