Giogi stood up straight and took a few deep breaths to compose himself.乔吉挺直身子，深吸了几口气，让自己镇定下来。1
He was over the worst of it.最难熬的那一关已经过去了。2
While the catacombs were no doubt more deadly, they did not hold the same terror for him as the crypt.地下墓穴无疑更加凶险，却不像墓室那样令他恐惧。3
“Come on, Birdie,” he said, heading down the next flight of steps.“走吧，小鸟儿。”他说着，朝下一段台阶走去。4
Olive let out her breath in relief and followed.奥利芙如释重负地呼出一口气，跟了上去。5
The passage descending into the catacombs was hewn out of the rock.通往地下墓穴的下行通道是在岩石中凿出来的。6
No marble or cut and fitted stone lined it, and the bare rock was rough and dirty.通道内既没有铺设大理石，也没有砌上切割拼合的石料，裸露的岩石粗糙而肮脏。7
Water dripped from the ceiling, seeped from the walls, and trickled down the stairs.水从洞顶滴落，从岩壁渗出，沿着台阶汩汩流下。8
The steps were crumbling in places and were slick with mud and slimy fungus.台阶有些地方已经破损崩裂，上面覆着泥浆和黏滑的菌苔，滑不留足。9
Someone heading down the stairs had left large, deep boot impressions in the muck.先前有人沿楼梯下去，在烂泥里留下了又大又深的靴印。10
“Steele’s footprints,” Giogi muttered unhappily as he plodded down the stairs alongside them.“斯蒂尔的脚印。”乔吉闷闷不乐地嘟囔着，沿着脚印旁边一步步走下楼梯。11
He didn’t really want to join his cousin.他其实一点也不想去和堂兄会合。12
Steele didn’t want his company, and if, as Uncle Drone had said, the thief wasn’t down here, Steele was very likely to lose his temper with Giogi.斯蒂尔不想让他同行，而且如果真像德罗恩叔叔所说的那样，窃贼并不在下面，斯蒂尔很可能会冲乔吉大发脾气。13
He had to join Steele, anyway, because Uncle Drone had insisted on it.可他无论如何都得去和斯蒂尔会合，因为德罗恩叔叔坚持要他这么做。14
Giogi was just now beginning to suspect why—considering the old wizard’s confession last night and Julia’s revelation this morning.直到此刻，想到老法师昨晚的坦白和朱莉娅今早透露的事情，乔吉才开始怀疑其中的缘由。15
It looks as if Uncle Drone has been up to skullduggery on my behalf, Giogi thought uneasily.看来德罗恩叔叔一直在暗中搞鬼，想帮我一把，乔吉不安地想。16
He wants me to pretend to look for the thief so no one blames me for the theft.他想让我装模作样地寻找窃贼，好让谁也不会把失窃的事怪到我头上。17
Giogi sighed, and the sound echoed up and down the stairway.乔吉叹了口气，叹息声在楼梯间上下回荡。18
“Have you ever noticed, Birdie,” he asked philosophically, “that as soon as one’s life has settled down, when there’s nothing but clear sailing ahead, one’s relatives steer one into the shoals, so to speak?”“你有没有注意过，小鸟儿，”他若有所思地问道，“一个人的生活才刚安定下来，眼看前途一帆风顺，亲戚们就会把他引向浅滩——打个比方说？”19
Olive, whose concentration was riveted on descending the broken, slippery stairs while carrying enough provisions for an adventuring party of twelve, naturally did not reply.奥利芙正全神贯注地走下残破湿滑的楼梯，同时还背着足够一支十二人冒险队享用的补给，自然没有回答。20
“Take Freffie, for instance,” Giogi said.“就拿弗雷菲来说吧，”乔吉说道。21
“Two years ago, he decided I needed a career, and he talked me into joining the army.“两年前，他认定我需要干一番事业，便说动我参了军。22
Me, a purple dragoon.我，成了个紫衣龙骑兵。23
Imagine!你想想！24
Fortunately, I was dismissed from service after accidentally releasing Aunt Dorath’s pet land urchin into the provisions wagon.”幸好，我不小心把多拉丝姑妈养的陆地海胆放进了补给车，结果被军队开除了。”25
Giogi broke off detailing his family’s interference in his life to concentrate on climbing down an especially crumbled section of stairs.乔吉不再细数家人如何干涉他的生活，转而专心爬下一段坍塌得格外厉害的楼梯。26
He took care that the burro had sure footing each step before pulling on her lead rope.每走一步，他都先确保小毛驴踩稳了，才拉动她的缰绳。27
After they’d overcome that obstacle, the nobleman continued his monologue.越过那处障碍后，这位贵族继续自说自话。28
“Then last year, Aunt Dorath decided Minda Lluth was just the girl for me.“然后去年，多拉丝姑妈又认定明达·卢斯正是最适合我的姑娘。29
Minda talked me into all sorts of foolish things, then abandoned me while I struggled to extricate myself from the trouble she’d gotten me into.明达说动我干了各种蠢事，接着又抛下我，让我独自挣扎着摆脱她惹来的麻烦。30
She convinced me to do my impersonation of Azoun at Freffie’s wedding, then, after I nearly got killed, she went and married someone else,” Giogi griped sullenly.她怂恿我在弗雷菲的婚礼上模仿阿祖恩，后来我差点丢了性命，她却跑去嫁给了别人，”乔吉闷闷不乐地抱怨道。31
He kicked a chunk of stairs down ahead of them.他把一块楼梯碎石踢到了前方下边。32
Unable to ignore Giogi’s last comment, Olive suddenly realized, That’s the wedding I sang at last year.奥利芙无法忽略乔吉最后那句话，忽然意识到：那就是我去年献唱的那场婚礼。33
Giogi’s Cousin Freffie must be Lord Frefford Wyvernspur.乔吉的表亲弗雷菲一定就是弗雷福德·飞龙刺勋爵。34
Olive had sat right in front of the wedding party table, but for the life of her, she could not remember the groom’s features.奥利芙当时就坐在婚宴主桌正前方，可她无论如何也想不起新郎的长相。35
The man had been eclipsed by his bride, three hundred wedding guests, and the excitement of watching Alias try to assassinate his Cousin Giogi.他的光彩全被新娘、三百名婚礼宾客，以及目睹阿莉亚丝企图刺杀他表亲乔吉时的激动掩盖了。36
I’ll have to get another look at Frefford, Olive decided, before I can rule him out as Jade’s murderer.奥利芙心想：我还得再看弗雷福德一眼，才能排除他杀害杰德的嫌疑。37
It took Giogi a few minutes to overcome his disappointment with Minda and focus on his current problem.乔吉花了几分钟才摆脱明达带给他的失落，把注意力转回眼前的问题上。38
“Now, Julia tells me that Uncle Drone has been trying to arrange for me to use the wyvern’s spur,” he said.“现在，朱莉娅告诉我，德罗恩叔叔一直在设法安排，让我使用飞龙刺，”他说。39
I know.我知道。40
I heard her, Olive thought.我听见她说了，奥利芙心想。41
I was there, remember?当时我就在场，记得吗？42
“Did I ask him to do this?”“是我让他这么做的吗？”43
Giogi asked the burro, annoyance creeping into his voice.乔吉问小毛驴，声音里渐渐透出恼意。44
He answered his own question with an indignant tone.他语带愤慨，自己回答了这个问题。45
“I most certainly did not.“我当然没有。46
Did he ask me if I’d mind him acting on my behalf?他有没有问过我，是否介意他替我行事？47
He most certainly did not!”他当然也没有！”48
More calmly, Giogi stated, “I love my family,” then he shouted, “but why can’t they all just leave me alone?”乔吉稍稍平静下来，说：“我爱我的家人。”接着他又喊道：“可他们为什么就不能统统别来烦我？”49
“Alone, alone, alone,” the stairway echoed up and down.“烦我，烦我，烦我……”回声在楼梯间上下激荡。50
Disturbed by the sound of his own voice reverberating through the dank corridors, Giogi continued his descent in silence.自己的声音回荡在阴湿的走廊里，令乔吉心神不宁，于是他一声不响地继续往下走。51
Finally given the quiet to think, Olive tried to analyze the possibility that Steele could be Jade’s murderer—based on all that Giogi and Julia had said about him.终于清静下来，可以好好思考了，奥利芙便根据乔吉和朱莉娅所说的关于斯蒂尔的一切，试着分析斯蒂尔是否可能是杀害杰德的凶手。52
Steele Wyvernspur possessed a streak of cruelty and ruthlessness.斯蒂尔·飞龙刺性情中带着几分残忍无情。53
That matched the murderer.这一点与凶手相符。54
Steel was supposed to be competent with a sword.据说斯蒂尔很擅长用剑。55
The murderer could cast powerful spells, and, while it was unlikely he would also wield a sword well, it wasn’t impossible.凶手能施展强大的法术；虽说这样的人多半不会同时精于剑术，但也并非不可能。56
Every now and then, one came across a wizard proficient with a weapon besides a dagger.偶尔也能碰到除了匕首之外，还精通其他武器的法师。57
Steele wouldn’t be too old, but he might be too young.斯蒂尔年纪不会太大，但也许又太年轻了。58
If his sister, Julia, is anything to go by, he’ll have the Wyvernspur face, Olive thought, but I won’t know anything for sure until I get a good look at him.如果能从他妹妹朱莉娅的长相判断，他应该也长着一张飞龙刺家族的脸，奥利芙想，可在仔细看清他之前，我什么也无法确定。59
It was at this point that Olive noticed a second set of footprints.就在这时，奥利芙注意到了另一组脚印。60
They were smaller and less deep, apparently made by a woman or a small man wearing soft-soled slippers.这些脚印更小也更浅，显然是一个女人，或一个穿软底便鞋的小个子男人留下的。61
The prints went up toward the crypt and back down to the catacombs.脚印一路向上通往墓室，又折返回地下墓窟。62
The thief’s?是那个贼留下的？63
Olive wondered excitedly.奥利芙兴奋地想。64
Curious now to see this thief and eager to get a look at Giogi’s cousin, Olive clomped down the stairs with more speed.此刻，奥利芙既好奇地想见见这个贼，又急于瞧瞧乔吉的堂亲，便加快速度，蹄声咚咚地走下楼梯。65
Before she reached the bottom, the burro was walking ahead of Giogi and the lead rope, like a bloodhound on the hunt.还没到底，小毛驴已经走到了乔吉和牵绳前面，活像一条正在追猎的寻血猎犬。66
Finally, man and burro reached the bottom of the stairs.终于，一人一驴抵达了楼梯底部。67
They stood in a small anteroom paved with rough stones.他们站在一间铺着粗糙石块的小前厅里。68
The light of the finder’s stone revealed corridors leading away in three directions.寻物石的光芒照出了分别通往三个方向的走廊。69
Two of the corridors were heavily webbed over, but strands of torn spider silk wafted in the subterranean breeze of the third tunnel.其中两条走廊被厚厚的蛛网封住，第三条通道里，扯断的蛛丝却在地下的微风中飘荡。70
Scattered at the tunnel’s entrance was the hacked-up remains of a large spider.通道入口处散落着一只大蜘蛛被砍得七零八落的残骸。71
A heavy boot heel had left its imprint in the smeared spider ichor.一只厚重的靴跟在涂抹开来的蜘蛛体液中留下了印痕。72
“Easy to see where Steele’s been,” Giogi said matter-of-factly.“斯蒂尔走的是哪条路，一眼就看得出来。”乔吉平淡地说。73
The noble unsheathed his foil for the first time.这位贵族第一次拔出了细剑。74
“At least he’s brushed all the cobwebs away for us.”“至少他替我们把蛛网全都扫干净了。”75
No, Olive thought.不对，奥利芙心想。76
The thief would have done that.清除蛛网的是那个贼。77
Steele’s just following the culprit’s trail.斯蒂尔只是在循着罪犯留下的踪迹走。78
Giogi led the way cautiously down the web-cleared corridor.乔吉小心翼翼地走在前面，沿着蛛网已被清除的走廊前行。79
There was nothing outstanding about the passage.这条通道并没有什么出奇之处。80
Water had created it, and Giogi’s ancestors had widened it.它原本是流水冲刷而成，后来又被乔吉的祖先拓宽了。81
No jewels or precious metals glittered in the walls, no delicately carved stone columns towered over them.墙壁上没有珠宝或贵金属闪闪发光，也没有雕琢精美的石柱高耸在他们头顶。82
The surfaces all about them consisted of well-packed dirt, pockets of sand, pebbles, and rocks, and magically hewn stone.他们周围的表面全是夯实的泥土、沙窝、卵石、岩块，以及用魔法开凿的石面。83
The corridor had been excavated for utility, not for show.开凿这条走廊是为了实用，而不是为了炫耀。84
The sound of dripping water and their own footsteps echoed around Giogi and Olive.滴水声和他们自己的脚步声在乔吉与奥利芙四周回荡。85
The air was moist and cold.空气阴冷潮湿。86
Large, ugly spiders, chittering like angry squirrels, scrambled away from the light of the finder’s stone.一只只丑陋的大蜘蛛像愤怒的松鼠一样吱吱乱叫，慌忙逃离寻物石的光芒。87
The corridor continued straight for almost a thousand feet.走廊笔直向前延伸了将近一千英尺。88
The spiders and torn cobwebs ended abruptly.蜘蛛和破损的蛛网突然全都消失了。89
A short distance farther, the corridor began to twist and branch.再往前不远，走廊便开始曲折蜿蜒，并分出岔道。90
In the absence of broken webs, Steele’s route was no longer obvious.没了破损的蛛网，斯蒂尔走的是哪条路便不再明显。91
At the branching, Giogi halted, sheathed his foil, and began rummaging through Olive’s packs.到了岔路口，乔吉停下来，把花剑插回鞘中，开始翻找奥利芙背上的行囊。92
He lightened her load by the weight of the portable stool, the picnic basket, the blanket, the sack of grain, and the map.他卸下便携凳、野餐篮、毯子、粮食袋和地图，给她减轻了负担。93
After sprinkling a little grain on the blanket, he set up the stool, sat down, and poured himself tea in a tin mug.他在毯子上撒了少许粮食，支起凳子坐下，往锡杯里给自己倒了杯茶。94
This boy can really rough it, Olive thought sarcastically.这小子可真能吃苦，奥利芙讥讽地想。95
No linen, no china, no butler.没有亚麻餐巾，没有瓷器，也没有管家。96
Steele will have headed for the outer door, to see if the thief is sitting by it, Giogi decided.斯蒂尔肯定往外门去了，想看看那个贼是不是守在那里，乔吉断定。97
As he munched some old tea cakes, he examined his map for the quickest route to the door.他一边嚼着几块放久了的茶点，一边查看地图，寻找通往外门的最快路线。98
When he looked up, his burro had its nose buried in his picnic basket.等他抬起头时，发现自己的小毛驴已经把鼻子埋进了野餐篮里。99
“Bad Birdie,” he said, pushing Olive’s muzzle away.“不乖，小鸟儿。”他说着，把奥利芙的嘴推开。100
“That’s your food over there.”“你的食物在那边。”101
He pointed to the grain on the blanket.他指了指毯子上的粮食。102
Olive pleaded with her eyes.奥利芙用眼神苦苦央求。103
“Oh, very well,” Giogi sighed.“哦，好吧。”乔吉叹了口气。104
He drew out a cheese sandwich and fed it to her in pieces, then spoiled her with another slice of apple.他拿出一个奶酪三明治，掰成小块喂给她，随后又宠溺地给了她一片苹果。105
I wonder if I can get him to pour me some tea, too, Olive thought with a mental chuckle.不知道能不能让他也给我倒点茶，奥利芙暗自偷笑着想。106
“No more, Birdie,” Giogi said, rising suddenly to his feet.“不能再吃了，小鸟儿。”乔吉说着，突然站起身来。107
He packed up everything in a flurry and loaded it back on Olive.他手忙脚乱地收好所有东西，又把它们装回奥利芙背上。108
Before they continued, the nobleman drew out from the packs a jar of paint and a paint brush.继续上路之前，这位贵族从行囊里取出一罐油漆和一把刷子。109
At every intersection, the nobleman consulted the map and painted a number on the wall.每到一个岔路口，这位贵族都会查看地图，再在墙上刷一个数字。110
Several times, he had to turn the map or turn himself to get his bearings.有好几次，他不得不转动地图，或是转过自己的身子，才能辨明方向。111
Twice they retraced their steps to check a previous number.他们有两次原路折返，去核对先前留下的数字。112
Their progress slowed to a crawl.他们的行进速度慢得像爬一样。113
With their tedious pace and the sound of dripping water percolating through the stonework, Olive felt as if she were being tortured.缓慢乏味的行进，再加上渗过石砌墙壁的滴水声，让奥利芙觉得自己仿佛正在受刑。114
She fought her irritability by reminding herself, You need the boy to get you out of this pit, Olive-girl.她提醒自己：奥利芙姑娘，你还得靠这小子带你逃出这个鬼地方呢。115
You can’t afford for him to get confused.你可不能让他把方向搞糊涂了。116
They were halted in an intersection when Olive detected something flutter softly past her long ears.他们在一个岔路口停下时，奥利芙察觉到有什么东西轻轻振翅，从她的长耳朵旁掠过。117
Giogi, intent on his map and paints, seemed not to notice it.乔吉正全神贯注于地图和颜料，似乎没有注意到。118
Olive felt a prick near her haunches.奥利芙的后臀附近忽然一阵刺痛。119
She swished her tail automatically.她本能地甩了一下尾巴。120
She was just thinking, Useful things, tails, when a bloated crow-sized shape swooped down behind Giogi’s head.她刚想着，尾巴这东西还真有用，就见一个乌鸦大小、身躯鼓胀的东西俯冲到乔吉脑后。121
For a moment, Olive thought it was just a bat, but as it hovered by Giogi’s neck, she saw it had feathery wings.一开始，奥利芙以为那不过是只蝙蝠，可它悬停在乔吉颈边时，她看出它长着覆有羽毛的翅膀。122
Then she caught sight of its mosquitolike proboscis.接着，她瞥见了它那蚊子般的长喙。123
Olive brayed in terror, suddenly realizing what the prick she’d felt earlier had been.奥利芙惊恐地嘶叫起来，猛然意识到方才那一下刺痛究竟是什么造成的。124
Giogi whirled around at the sound.乔吉听见叫声，猛地转过身来。125
The light from the finder’s stone flared, outlining a stirge nearly as large as a tomcat.寻路石的光芒骤然变亮，勾勒出一只几乎和公猫一样大的吸血妖鸟。126
Giogi leaped backward with a shriek, dropping the map, the paint can, and paint brush.乔吉尖叫一声，向后跳去，地图、颜料罐和画笔全都掉在了地上。127
Recovering his nerve quickly, though, he drew his foil and lunged at the creature.不过，他很快便镇定下来，拔出花剑，朝那怪物刺去。128
Too fat to gain altitude quickly, the startled creature swooped down and away, and Giogi’s foil stabbed at empty air.那受惊的怪物身躯太过肥硕，无法迅速升高，只得向下俯冲着躲开，乔吉的花剑刺了个空。129
The flying monster disappeared into the darkness.那只会飞的怪物消失在黑暗中。130
Meanwhile, Olive was smashing her haunches against the uneven rock walls, trying to squash the bloodsucker she knew must be attached to her.与此同时，奥利芙正用后臀猛撞凹凸不平的石壁，想要压死那只她知道一定正附在自己身上的吸血怪。131
She felt something solid catch between her body and the wall and rupture.她感觉有什么硬实的东西被夹在身体和墙壁之间，随即爆裂开来。132
Something wet seeped through the blanket between the packs and her back.有什么湿漉漉的东西渗进了行囊与她后背之间的毯子。133
Was that the stirge or a water bag? she wondered.那是吸血妖鸟，还是水袋？她心想。134
Not taking any chances, she kept on swinging her back half against the stone.她不敢冒险，继续甩动后半身撞向石壁。135
The tea basket tumbled to the ground and things in the packs clattered against one another.装茶的篮子滚落在地，行囊里的东西彼此碰撞，叮当作响。136
“Take it easy, Birdie,” Giogi said.“别乱撞了，小鸟儿，”乔吉说道。137
“You’ll hurt yourself.”“你会伤到自己的。”138
Take it easy, he says, while something’s sucking my lifeblood away.他说得倒轻巧，有东西正在吸干我的命血呢。139
In her mind Olive imagined a swarm of stirges hanging from her fuzzy belly like bats did from the ceilings of caves.奥利芙想象着一大群吸血妖鸟倒挂在自己毛茸茸的肚皮上，就像蝙蝠倒挂在洞穴顶上一样。140
With a look of grim concern, Giogi raised his foil and lunged at the burro.乔吉一脸严峻而关切地举起花剑，朝驴子猛刺过去。141
Olive closed her eyes and held her breath.奥利芙闭上眼睛，屏住呼吸。142
She never felt the prick of the foil, but in less than a few seconds, Giogi was patting her back, whispering soothing words.她并没有感觉到花剑刺来的疼痛；不到几秒钟，乔吉便轻拍着她的背，低声说着安抚的话。143
“It’s all over now, girl.“已经没事了，姑娘。144
I got the lot.”我把它们全解决了。”145
The lot!全解决了！146
Then there was more than one, Olive thought queasily.这么说还不止一只，奥利芙一阵恶心地想。147
She opened her eyes.她睁开眼睛。148
Skewered on the nobleman’s sword, like cornish hens on a spit, were half a dozen stirges, the largest no bigger than a squirrel.贵族青年的剑上串着六只蚊蝠，活像烤叉上的科尼什小母鸡，最大的一只也不过松鼠那么大。149
Mercifully the finder’s stone’s light had dimmed back to its normal soft glow, so she didn’t get a good look at them.幸好寻物石的光芒已经暗淡下来，恢复了平常柔和的亮度，所以她没能看清那些东西。150
Nonetheless, Olive had to fight back her nausea.尽管如此，奥利芙还是得竭力压下恶心的感觉。151
“Disgusting creatures, aren’t they?”“真是恶心的东西，对吧？”152
Giogi commented as he slid the bloodsuckers off his weapon and kicked the corpses against the wall.乔吉一边说，一边把这些吸血怪从剑上撸下来，又把尸体踢到墙边。153
From the pallor of Giogi’s face, Olive could tell he was not inured to battle.从乔吉苍白的脸色来看，奥利芙看得出他并非身经百战之人。154
The young noble wiped his foil clean with a silk handkerchief, grimaced at the gore and stains on the fabric, and dropped the cloth over his kills.年轻的贵族用一方丝绸手帕将花剑擦拭干净，看着布上的血污皱了皱脸，随后把手帕扔在了他的猎物上。155
He wasn’t boasting after all, Olive thought with relief.原来他并不是在吹牛，奥利芙如释重负地想。156
He is competent with that foil.他的花剑确实使得不错。157
He managed to skewer the enemy without harming a hair on my head—or the other end, for that matter.他把敌人串了起来，却没伤到我头上的一根毛——说起来，另一头的毛也没伤到。158
We may live through this little jaunt yet.看来我们说不定真能活着走完这趟小小的旅程。159
After sheathing his foil, Giogi bent over to retrieve the supplies he’d dropped.乔吉收剑入鞘后，弯腰捡起方才掉落的物资。160
He salvaged as much of the spilled paint as he could by mopping it up with the brush.他用刷子把洒出来的油漆尽量蘸了起来。161
Murmuring reassuring words to the burro, he reattached the picnic basket to Olive’s packs and checked the security of the other supplies.他一边低声说着安抚驴子的话，一边重新把野餐篮系在奥利芙的驮包上，又检查了其他物资是否绑牢。162
He took another few moments to consult the map, picked up Olive’s lead rope, and led her down the left-hand passageway.他又花了片刻查看地图，随后拿起奥利芙的缰绳，领着她走进左边的通道。163
They hadn’t gone five paces when Giogi seemed to stumble.他们还没走出五步，乔吉似乎就绊了一下。164
He toppled sideways, slumped against the wall, and slid to the floor.他向一旁倒去，瘫靠在墙上，滑坐到地面。165
The map, paint brush, and jar tumbled out of his hands again, but his fingers remained clasped about the finder’s stone.地图、画笔和颜料罐又一次从他手中掉落，但他的手指依然紧紧攥着寻物石。166
Olive was at his side at once.奥利芙立刻赶到他身旁。167
Frantically she searched over his body, nuzzling and pawing at his cloak, looking for a stirge that might have attached itself to the nobleman without his knowing it.她慌忙查看他的全身，用鼻子拱他的斗篷，又用蹄子扒拉，寻找是否有蚊蝠趁这位贵族毫无察觉时附在了他身上。168
Her search yielded neither bloodsucking monster nor wound.然而，她既没找到吸血怪物，也没发现伤口。169
Moreover, Giogi did not appear in any shock.而且，乔吉似乎也没有任何休克的迹象。170
He was breathing quite naturally and snoring softly.他的呼吸十分自然，还在轻轻打鼾。171
How can he fall asleep at a time like this!这种时候他怎么能睡着！172
Olive thought.奥利芙心想。173
A tongue clicked behind her to attract her attention.她身后响起一声咂舌声，想要引起她的注意。174
Olive whirled about.奥利芙猛地转过身。175
Her eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of the human woman who stepped from the shadows.看到那名从阴影中走出来的人类女子，她惊讶地睁大了眼睛。176
“Nice burro,” the woman whispered, taking a cautious step toward Olive with her hand out for the burro to sniff.“乖驴子，”那女人低声说道，小心翼翼地朝奥利芙迈近一步，同时伸出一只手，让她嗅闻。177
The woman’s bright hair hung freely about her shoulders like burnished copper wire.那女人鲜亮的头发披散在肩头，宛如擦得锃亮的铜丝。178
She was dressed in a shimmering, flowing robe smeared all about the hem with muck, and the cloth slippers on her feet were equally grimed.她身穿一袭闪闪发光的飘逸长袍，袍角四周沾满污泥，脚上的布拖鞋也同样肮脏。179
Ordinarily, Olive’s first thought would have been that the slippers must have made the smaller footprints going up to the crypt, but it was the woman’s face that held her attention and excited her.换作平时，奥利芙第一个念头准会是，通往墓室的那串较小脚印一定是这双拖鞋留下的；但此刻，牢牢吸引她注意、令她激动不已的却是那女人的脸。180
She has Alias’s face!她长着阿莉亚丝的脸！181
Olive thought while her heart raced.奥利芙心想，心脏怦怦直跳。182
She’s another copy of Alias!她是阿莉亚丝的另一个复制品！183
“Don’t fret, little one,” the woman said soothingly.“别担心，小家伙，”那女人柔声安抚道。184
“I put him to sleep with magic.“我用魔法让他睡着了。185
We’ll just get his key before he wakes up, and we’ll be out of here in no time.”我们只要趁他醒来之前拿到他的钥匙，很快就能离开这里。”186
Ordinarily, Olive might have found the offer irresistible, but the woman set Olive’s nerves on edge and brought to the half-ling’s mind Cassana, the sadistic, vain sorceress in whose image Alias had been created.换作平时，奥利芙或许会觉得这个提议难以抗拒，可这个女人却令她神经紧绷，也让这个半身人想起了卡萨娜——那个残忍成性、爱慕虚荣的女术士，阿莉亚丝正是照着她的模样创造出来的。187
Cassana had often addressed the halfling as “little one” in the same condescending tone and had put her into a magical sleep.卡萨娜过去也常用同样居高临下的口吻称这个半身人为“小家伙”，还曾用魔法让她陷入沉睡。188
There’s nothing to guarantee, Olive realized, that just because she looks like Alias, she isn’t as evil as that witch, Cassana, had been.奥利芙意识到，她长得像阿莉亚丝，并不能保证她不像那个女巫卡萨娜一样邪恶。189
Then, of course, there was Giogi to consider.当然了，她还得顾及乔吉。190
She couldn’t leave the nobleman in the foul place, unprotected while he slept, prey to stirges and gods knew what else.她不能把这位贵族独自留在这个污秽的地方，任他毫无防备地沉睡，沦为吸血飞虫和天知道还有什么怪物的猎物。191
Even if he lived to awaken, he wouldn’t be able to escape unless he found his Cousin Steele.即便他能活着醒来，除非找到他的表亲斯蒂尔，否则也无法逃出去。192
She had to stay with him, and she had to protect his key.她必须留在他身边，也必须保护好他的钥匙。193
Olive positioned herself fully between the woman and Giogi, bracing her legs against possible assault.奥利芙挪动身子，彻底挡在那个女人与乔吉之间，双腿绷紧，准备抵挡可能的袭击。194
“My, but aren’t you fierce,” the woman said with a nervous laugh—not as cruel a laugh as Cassana’s had been, but taunting enough to get Olive’s blood boiling.“哎哟，你可真凶啊。”那女人紧张地笑道——这笑声不像卡萨娜的笑声那么残酷，却也足够嘲弄，惹得奥利芙怒火中烧。195
“I will have that key,” the sorceress growled, reaching down and picking up a fist-sized rock.“那把钥匙我非拿到不可。”女术士低吼着，弯腰捡起一块拳头大小的石头。196
The halfling burro charged.半身人小毛驴猛冲了过去。197
The load on her back pitched and threw off her balance.她背上的东西猛地倾斜，令她失去了平衡。198
The human woman sidestepped her with remarkable ease.那个人类女人轻轻巧巧地闪到了一旁。199
Burdened by the weight of all Giogi’s equipment, Olive hit a wall before she could skid to a halt.奥利芙被乔吉的全部装备压得行动不便，还没来得及打滑停下，便一头撞上了墙。200
As Olive turned around, she saw the woman kneeling over Giogi’s prone body, reaching for the key chain about his neck.奥利芙转过身时，看见那女人正跪在乔吉横卧的身体上方，伸手去够他颈间挂着的钥匙链。201
As it had earlier when the stirge attacked, the finder’s stone light flared again.正如先前吸血飞虫发动袭击时一样，寻物石的光芒再次骤然亮起。202
It filled the corridor with a radiant brilliance centered on Giogi.璀璨的光辉以乔吉为中心，照亮了整条走廊。203
The woman fell back with an anguished cry.那女人痛苦地叫了一声，向后跌去。204
Olive rushed to Giogi’s side and nipped at his arms and legs.奥利芙冲到乔吉身边，咬起了他的胳膊和腿。205
“Not now, Thomas,” the nobleman muttered, rolling over on his side.“现在别闹，托马斯。”那位贵族咕哝着，翻身侧卧。206
“I’m having the nicest dream.”“我正做着一个再美不过的梦呢。”207
No time for subtlety, the halfling realized.没工夫讲究手段了，半身人心想。208
She turned and gave him a sharp kick in his rear end.她转过身，朝他的屁股狠狠踢了一脚。209
“I’m awake, Aunt Dorath!“我醒着呢，多拉丝姨妈！210
Really!”真的！”211
Giogi exclaimed, sitting up suddenly.乔吉惊叫着，猛然坐起身来。212
He looked around in confusion at the burro hovering impatiently over him and the strange woman whimpering on her knees a few feet away.他困惑地环顾四周，只见那头小毛驴不耐烦地守在他身旁，几英尺外还有个陌生女人跪在地上呜咽。213
He rose shakily to his feet, still clutching the finder’s stone.他摇摇晃晃地站了起来，手里仍紧攥着寻物石。214
Giogi bent over the woman and touched her shoulder gently.乔吉俯身靠近那个女人，轻轻碰了碰她的肩膀。215
“Are you all right?” he asked.“你没事吧？”他问。216
“Of course I’m not all right,” she snapped, squinting up at him with watery eyes.“我当然有事，”她厉声说道，泪眼蒙眬地眯眼抬头看他。217
“Your damn light-rock nearly blinded me.”“你那该死的发光石头差点把我照瞎了。”218
“You!”“是你！”219
Giogi gasped, instantly recognizing the woman’s resemblance to Alias of Westgate.乔吉倒吸一口气，立刻看出这个女人长得很像西门城的阿莉亚丝。220
“No,” he said after a moment, “you’re not Alias.“不对，”过了一会儿他说，“你不是阿莉亚丝。221
Your hair’s all wrong.”你的头发完全不对。”222
“Would you turn that dratted light down?” the woman growled, shielding her eyes with an outstretched hand.“你能不能把那该死的光调暗一点？”女人低吼道，伸出一只手遮住眼睛。223
“Um, I’m not sure I know how,” Giogi said, examining the finder’s stone with confusion.“呃，我不太清楚该怎么弄，”乔吉一脸困惑地端详着寻物石，说道。224
“If you just give your eyes a minute to adjust, I’m sure they’ll get used to it.”“只要让你的眼睛适应一会儿，我相信很快就会习惯的。”225
“I’ve cast a spell so I could see in this dark pit,” the woman snapped.“我施了法术，好让我能在这个漆黑的深坑里看见东西，”女人厉声说道。226
“Any light is annoying.”“任何光都会让我难受。”227
“Oh.”“哦。”228
Giogi tucked the stone in his cloak and allowed just a little light to peek out.乔吉把石头塞进斗篷里，只让一丝微光透出来。229
“You can’t be Cassana of Westgate, either,” he mused.“你也不可能是西门城的卡萨娜，”他思忖道。230
“You’re too young.“你太年轻了。231
She’s dead, anyway.再说，她已经死了。232
Just who are you?”你到底是谁？”233
“I’m Cat of Ordulin,” she said, lowering her hand from her eyes.“我是奥杜林的凯特。”她说着，把手从眼前放了下来。234
“I’m sorry my age and my eyes and my hair don’t suit you,” she continued, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “but you might at least thank me for saving your life from a stirge.”“很抱歉，我的年龄、眼睛和头发都不合你的意，”她接着说道，语气里满是讥讽，“不过，我从吸血蚊嘴下救了你一命，你至少也该谢我一声吧。”235
She held out her hand imperiously, expecting assistance to stand.她盛气凌人地伸出手，等着他扶自己站起来。236
Giogi helped her to her feet.乔吉扶她站了起来。237
“I didn’t intend any insult,” he said.“我无意冒犯你。”他说。238
“It’s rather nice hair, and your eyes look fine now that you’ve stopped squinting, and, of course, it’s none of my business how old you are.“你的头发其实挺漂亮的，而且你不再眯着眼睛以后，眼睛看起来也很好看；当然了，你多大年纪根本不关我的事。239
Really, though, you do have the most remarkable resemblance to Alias of Westgate.不过说真的，你和西门城的阿莉亚丝长得实在太像了。240
Is she a relative of yours?她是你的亲戚吗？241
Or Cassana of Westgate?”或者西门城的卡萨娜是？”242
“I’ve never heard of either of them,” Cat declared.“这两个人我一个也没听说过。”凯特断然说道。243
“Oh.”“哦。”244
Giogi tilted his head in puzzlement.乔吉困惑地歪了歪头。245
Cat had the same green eyes, pert nose, shapely mouth, high cheekbones, and pointed chin as Alias.凯特有着和阿莉亚丝一样的绿眼睛、俏鼻子、秀美的嘴唇、高颧骨和尖下巴。246
It was strange enough that two apparently unrelated women should have the exact same beautiful face.两个显然毫无关系的女人竟然有着一模一样的美丽面容，这已经够奇怪了。247
It was just incredible that he should meet both of them.而他竟然会遇见她们两个，简直令人难以置信。248
Finally, remembering his manners, Giogi said, “Well, thank you for rescuing me.乔吉终于想起了应有的礼数，说道：“好吧，谢谢你救了我。249
Funny, though, I don’t remember any stirge.”不过真奇怪，我一点也不记得有什么吸血蚊。”250
“Stirge saliva numbs the flesh around the bite,” Cat explained.“吸血蚊的唾液会让咬伤周围的皮肉麻木。”凯特解释道。251
“If you don’t notice the prick when it attaches to you, it can drain all your blood without you feeling a thing.“它附到你身上时，如果你没察觉那一下刺痛，它就能吸干你的血，而你却什么也感觉不到。252
It had drained nearly all the life from you.你的生命力几乎已经被它吸尽了。253
I only brought you back to consciousness with a potion.我是用一剂药水才让你恢复意识的。254
It was an especially powerful potion, so you shouldn’t be feeling any weakness.”那剂药水效力特别强，所以你现在应该不会觉得虚弱。”255
“You’re right.“你说得对。256
I don’t feel weak,” Giogi said with surprise.我一点也不觉得虚弱。”乔吉惊讶地说道。257
“Thank you again.”“再次谢谢你。”258
“You’re welcome,” Cat said, her tone softening pleasantly.“不客气。”凯特说道，语气愉快地柔和下来。259
She smiled at Giogi.她冲乔吉微微一笑。260
Olive tried to sneer, but it wasn’t in the burro’s repertoire.奥利芙想露出讥笑，可驴子做不出这种表情。261
She didn’t know which annoyed her more, the female mage’s bald-faced lies about rescuing Giogi or Giogi’s gullibility.她不知道哪件事更让自己恼火：是那个女法师厚颜无耻地谎称自己救了乔吉，还是乔吉竟然如此轻信。262
“Really, though,” Giogi said, “I must ask what you’re doing here.”“不过，说真的，”乔吉说道，“我得问问你来这里做什么。”263
Good thinking, Giogi, Olive thought.问得好，乔吉，奥利芙心想。264
A little slow, but good thinking.虽然反应慢了点，但问得好。265
Cat’s manner became suddenly formal.凯特的态度突然变得郑重起来。266
“I don’t know that it’s any of your business,” she replied haughtily.“我不认为这关你的事。”她傲慢地答道。267
“Who are you, anyway?”“话说回来，你到底是什么人？”268
Giogi drew himself to his full height.乔吉挺直身子，摆出十足的气势。269
While his gaunt frame was not very imposing, he did tower a good six inches over the woman.尽管他瘦削的身板并没有多少威慑力，却足足比那女人高出六英寸。270
“I am Giogioni Wyvernspur,” he declared, bowing slightly as he spoke, “of the Wyvernspurs of Immersea.“我是乔吉奥尼·飞龙刺，”他一边宣告，一边微微鞠躬，“来自伊默海的飞龙刺家族。271
These catacombs lie beneath my family’s crypt.这些地下墓窟就在我家族的墓室下面。272
They’re our catacombs.”它们是我们家的地下墓窟。”273
“Do you have a deed for them?”“你有它们的产权契据吗？”274
Cat asked coolly.凯特冷冷地问道。275
“Well, no, but the only way into them is through our family crypt and—”“呃，没有，不过唯一的入口就在我们的家族墓室里，而且——”276
“And the secret, magical door, just outside the graveyard, that opens once every fifty years,” Cat concluded impatiently.“而且墓园外面还有一道每五十年开启一次的秘密魔法门。”凯特不耐烦地替他说完。277
“I used that secret door to get in here.“我就是从那道秘密门进来的。278
I was going to use it to get out, but some idiot blocked it while I was still inside the catacombs.我本来也打算从那里出去，可有个白痴趁我还在地下墓窟里时把门封住了。279
I’ve been stuck here for days.”我已经被困在这里好几天了。”280
“Uncle Drone just sealed that door yesterday morning, so you can’t have been in here for that long,” Giogi objected.“德罗恩叔叔昨天早上才封住那道门，所以你不可能在这里待了那么久。”乔吉反驳道。281
“All right.“好吧。282
I’ve been stuck here for hours,” Cat amended her story with annoyance.我已经困在这儿好几个小时了，”凯特恼火地改口道。283
“I’m starving just the same.“反正我都快饿死了。284
You wouldn’t happen to have brought food, would you?”你该不会正好带了吃的吧？”285
Giogi stared at Cat with considerable perplexity as he reached inside the picnic basket and produced a cheese sandwich.乔吉大惑不解地盯着凯特，同时伸手从野餐篮里拿出一份奶酪三明治。286
“Wonderful,” Cat said, snatching it out of Giogi’s hand.“太好了。”凯特说着，一把从乔吉手里抢过三明治。287
She unwrapped it halfway, sniffed at it once, shrugged, and took a large bite.她把包装拆开一半，凑近闻了一下，耸耸肩，然后大咬了一口。288
Olive stared at the nobleman in amazement.奥利芙惊讶地盯着那位贵族。289
Don’t you realize she’s got to be the thief who stole the spur?你难道没看出来，她肯定就是偷走马刺的那个贼吗？290
Olive berated Giogi mentally.奥利芙在心里斥责乔吉。291
How can you stand there calmly feeding her cheese sandwiches?你怎么还能若无其事地站在那里，拿奶酪三明治给她吃？292
“I don’t understand,” Giogi said.“我不明白。”乔吉说。293
“Uncle Drone said I wouldn’t find the thief or the spur down here.”“德罗恩叔叔说，我在这下面既找不到小偷，也找不到马刺。”294
Olive huffed, wishing she could tell Giogi, Shake this woman down for the spur and turn her over to Lord Sudacar.奥利芙气恼地哼了一声，真希望自己能告诉乔吉：搜这个女人的身，找出马刺，再把她交给苏达卡大人。295
Uncle Drone’s made a mistake.德罗恩叔叔弄错了。296
Cat held up her finger, chewed faster, and swallowed.凯特竖起一根手指，加快速度嚼完嘴里的食物，咽了下去。297
Then she said with a grin, “Your uncle was right.然后她咧嘴一笑，说道：“你叔叔说得没错。298
You didn’t find the thief or the spur.”你既没找到小偷，也没找到马刺。”299
“What are you doing in the catacombs if you aren’t the thief?”“如果你不是小偷，那你在地下墓穴里干什么？”300
Giogi demanded.乔吉追问道。301
Cat took another large bite, chewed, and swallowed before answering.凯特又大咬了一口，嚼完咽下去后才回答。302
“Wishing I were the thief.“巴不得自己是那个小偷。303
You see, my master sent me here after the spur, but when I got up to your stupid family crypt, the thing was gone.你瞧，我的主人派我来这里找马刺，可等我爬到你们家那间蠢透了的墓室时，那东西已经不见了。304
Someone else took it.被别人拿走了。305
The door from the crypt to the upper mausoleum was locked, so I had to come back through the catacombs, and, like I said, some idiot—that’d be your uncle—blocked the stupid door to the outside.”墓室通往上层陵墓的门锁着，所以我只好从地下墓穴原路返回，而且就像我说的，有个白痴——也就是你叔叔——把那扇通往外面的破门堵死了。”306
“He’s not my uncle, really,” Giogi said.“严格说来，他不是我叔叔，”乔吉说。307
“He’s, well, he was my grandfather’s cousin, so that makes him my first cousin twice removed.“他是——嗯，是我祖父的表亲，所以算是和我隔了两代的表亲。308
We all call him uncle, though, because he’s so very old.”不过我们都叫他叔叔，因为他年纪实在太大了。”309
The young noble frowned suddenly.年轻的贵族突然皱起眉头。310
“You have a lot of nerve, you know, admitting you came to steal my family’s most precious heirloom, and then insulting my relatives to boot.”“你胆子可真不小，知道吗？不但承认自己是来偷我们家最珍贵的传家宝的，居然还顺带侮辱我的亲戚。”311
“Well, I didn’t steal your heirloom, now did I?”“可我并没有偷走你的传家宝，不是吗？”312
Cat pointed out defensively.凯特辩解道。313
“And if your uncle knew the thief with the spur wasn’t in the catacombs, it was pretty idiotic to seal me up in here, wasn’t it?” she asked before popping the remainder of the sandwich in her mouth.“再说了，如果你叔叔知道拿走马刺的贼不在地下墓窟里，却还把我封在这里，那不是蠢透了吗？”她问完，把剩下的三明治一口塞进了嘴里。314
“Uncle Drone is a sweet, gentle old man,” Giogi declared with indignation.“德罗恩叔叔是一位和蔼温柔的老人，”乔吉愤愤不平地声明。315
“If you say so,” Cat mumbled with her mouth still full.“你说是就是吧，”凯特嘴里还塞得满满的，含糊地说道。316
When she’d managed to swallow, she asked, “Do you have anything to wash this sandwich down?”好不容易咽下去后，她问：“你有没有什么东西能让我把这三明治送下去？”317
“There’s tea,” Giogi offered.“有茶，”乔吉提议道。318
He began reaching into the picnic basket for the tea jug but stopped short upon noting the disgusted look on Cat’s face.他伸手到野餐篮里去拿茶壶，可一看到凯特那副嫌恶的表情，便猛地停住了。319
“Would you prefer water?” the nobleman asked.“你更想喝水吗？”贵族问道。320
“Haven’t you got anything stronger?” the sorceress asked with a sly grin.“你就没有烈一点的吗？”女术士狡黠地笑着问。321
Feeling rather odd, Giogi drew a silver hip flask from his back pocket and held it out.乔吉觉得颇为别扭，从后裤兜里掏出一只银制扁酒壶，递了过去。322
He’d never offered hard liquor to a woman before.他以前从未请女人喝过烈酒。323
“It’s Rivengut,” he warned.“这是裂肠酒，”他提醒道。324
“Quite strong.“相当烈。325
Would you like me to water it down for you?”要我替你兑点水吗？”326
Cat took the flask, unscrewed the lid, and took a long swallow.凯特接过酒壶，旋开盖子，仰头喝了一大口。327
“No, thank you,” she said with a cheerful smile.“不用，谢谢，”她快活地笑着说。328
“It’s just right.”“这样正好。”329
Giogi blinked twice in astonishment, then he shook himself mentally.乔吉惊讶地眨了两下眼，随即在心里定了定神。330
“Why did your master send you after the spur?” he asked.“你的主人为什么派你来找那枚马刺？”他问。331
Cat shrugged.凯特耸了耸肩。332
“I have no idea.“我不知道。333
I just follow his orders.我只是奉命行事。334
One doesn’t ask men like Flattery to explain themselves.谁也不会要求弗拉特里这种人解释自己的用意。335
It’s a good way to get oneself killed.”那样很容易送命。”336
“But you could have been killed, anyway.“可你还是可能会送命。337
The catacombs are full of dangerous creatures, and the guardian is supposed to slay anyone in the crypt who isn’t a Wyvernspur.地下墓穴里到处都是危险的生物，而且据说守护者会杀死墓室里所有不是飞龙刺家族的人。338
Did you really go into the crypt?”你真的进过墓室？”339
“How else could I know the spur was missing?“不然我怎么会知道刺不见了？340
I never saw hide nor hair of any guardian.我连什么守护者的影子都没见着。341
Are you sure your guardian’s not a myth your family uses to frighten would-be thieves?”你确定你们家的守护者，不是你们为了吓唬那些想来偷东西的人而编出来的传说？”342
Giogi shook his head.乔吉摇了摇头。343
“She’s not,” he insisted.“她不是传说，”他坚持道。344
“If she didn’t kill you, that must mean you’re a Wyvernspur.“她没杀你，那就说明你是飞龙刺家族的人。345
We’ve always suspected there were missing members.我们一直怀疑家族中有些成员失散在外。346
What branch of the family are you from?”你出自家族的哪一支？”347
“I’m a mage, not a family historian,” Cat said with a sniff.“我是法师，又不是家族史学家。”凯特轻蔑地哼了一声。348
You’re too proud to admit that you don’t know, aren’t you, girl?小姑娘，你是太骄傲，不肯承认自己不知道吧？349
Olive thought slyly.奥利芙暗自揣想。350
You think you’re an orphan, just like Alias and Jade.你以为自己是个孤儿，就像阿莉亚丝和杰德一样。351
Somehow, though, the guardian must have realized that you’re connected to the Nameless Bard, who is a Wyvernspur.可不知怎的，守护者一定看出了你跟那位被称作无名者的吟游诗人有关系，而他正是飞龙刺家族的人。352
“If your master, this Flattery person,” Giogi said, “told you that the guardian wouldn’t bother you, then he must have known you were a Wyvernspur.”“如果你的主人，也就是这个叫弗拉特里的人，”乔吉说，“告诉过你守护者不会找你的麻烦，那他一定知道你是飞龙刺家族的人。”353
Cat’s brow furrowed with some thought.凯特若有所思地皱起眉头。354
She looked down at her hands, as if to examine them for proof.她低头看着自己的双手，仿佛想从上面找出什么证据。355
“You could be right,” she admitted softly.“也许你说得对。”她轻声承认道。356
Giogi lifted the mage’s chin so that her eyes met his own.乔吉抬起女法师的下巴，让她与自己四目相对。357
“Why do you serve him if he sends you out to steal for him?”“既然他派你出去替他偷东西，你为什么还要为他效力？”358
“I was just beginning to wonder about that myself,” Cat said, smiling weakly.“我自己也刚开始琢磨这件事，”凯特勉强一笑，说道。359
Giogi dropped his hand from the mage’s chin to her shoulder.乔吉把手从女法师的下巴移到了她的肩上。360
“You should leave his service,” he advised.“你应该离开他，别再为他效力了。”他劝道。361
“I may have to,” Cat said, lowering her green eyes again.“我恐怕只能这么做了。”凯特说着，又垂下了碧绿的眼眸。362
So softly that Giogi could barely hear her, she whispered, “Flattery will be furious with me for failing my mission.”她轻声低语，声音轻得乔吉几乎听不见：“我没能完成任务，弗拉特里一定会对我大发雷霆的。”363
“Don’t go back to him,” the noble suggested, giving her shoulder a friendly squeeze.“别回他那里去。”这位贵族提议道，友善地捏了捏她的肩膀。364
“I wouldn’t,” Cat said, looking up at Giogi through her long red eyelashes, “except—” Cat looked down and hesitated.“我也不想回去，”凯特透过长长的红色睫毛抬眼望着乔吉说道，“只是——”她垂下眼，迟疑起来。365
Then, as if she could barely contain her misery, she looked back up at Giogi and burst out, “except I have nowhere else to go, and he’s sure to find me, and when he does he’ll be even angrier that I tried to leave.”随后，她仿佛再也压抑不住心中的痛苦，重新抬头望着乔吉，脱口而出：“只是我无处可去，而且他肯定会找到我，等他找到我的时候，发现我竟想离开，一定会更加生气。”366
Her voice quavered slightly with fear.她的声音因恐惧而微微发颤。367
Bravo!好极了！368
Olive thought cynically.奥利芙讥讽地想。369
Excellent performance.演得真精彩。370
“I see,” Giogi said solemnly.“我明白了。”乔吉神情严肃地说道。371
Don’t be a fool, Giogi, Olive thought.别犯傻了，乔吉，奥利芙心想。372
“I shall offer you my protection, then,” Giogi said.“那么，我愿意为你提供庇护。”乔吉说道。373
What a sap, Olive thought, shaking her burro head.真是个冤大头，奥利芙一边摇着自己的驴脑袋，一边想。374
“That’s very kind of you, Master Giogioni, but I can’t accept your offer.“您真是太好心了，乔吉奥尼少爷，可我不能接受您的好意。375
Flattery is a very powerful mage with a violent temper.弗拉特里是个法力非常强大的法师，而且脾气暴躁。376
I don’t dare risk your life as well.”我不敢连您的性命也一起拿来冒险。”377
Think about it, Giogi, Olive pleaded silently.好好想想吧，乔吉，奥利芙在心里恳求道。378
She’s just vying for your sympathy, old boy.她只是在博取你的同情，老兄。379
Make it backfire.让她这招适得其反。380
Accept her refusal.接受她的拒绝。381
You don’t really want to interfere with the business of powerful mages with violent tempers.你其实并不想插手那些脾气暴烈的强大法师之间的事。382
“I insist,” Giogi replied staunchly.“我坚持要这么做。”乔吉坚定地回答。383
I knew he’d say that, Olive thought.我就知道他会这么说，奥利芙心想。384
“After all, you saved my life.“毕竟，你救过我的命。385
You must come with me,” Giogi continued.你必须跟我走。”乔吉继续说道。386
“Uncle Drone is a powerful mage, too.“德罗恩叔叔也是一位强大的法师。387
He can help protect you.他可以帮忙保护你。388
He’ll probably want to know all about this Flattery, anyway.”反正，他大概也会想知道这个弗拉特里的一切。”389
Olive pricked up her ears.奥利芙立刻竖起了耳朵。390
Giogi might consider his Uncle Drone a sweet, gentle old man, but if he was a powerful mage, he was another suspect for the man who’d disintegrated Jade.乔吉或许把他的德罗恩叔叔看作一个和蔼温厚的老人，但如果他是位强大的法师，那么他同样有嫌疑是那个把杰德化为齑粉的人。391
Except, according to Giogi, he was very old.只不过，照乔吉的说法，他已经非常老了。392
Wizards could disguise their age, though, Olive knew.不过奥利芙知道，巫师可以掩饰自己的年龄。393
“I should accompany you out now, before Steele sees you,” Giogi said.“我应该趁斯蒂尔还没看见你，马上陪你出去。”乔吉说道。394
“He’s my second cousin.“他是我的远房表亲。395
He’ll think you’re the real thief, because Uncle Drone told him the thief was down here.”他会以为你才是真正的窃贼，因为德罗恩叔叔告诉过他，窃贼就在这下面。”396
“That really won’t be necessary—” Cat began, but she was interrupted by a crash.“真的没这个必要——”凯特刚开口，就被一声巨响打断了。397
“What was that?”“那是什么声音？”398
Giogi asked.乔吉问道。399
“They’re your catacombs.“这是你们家的地下墓穴。400
You tell me,” Cat challenged.你告诉我啊。”凯特挑衅道。401
From the same direction as the crash came a blood-curdling scream.撞击声传来的方向，又响起一声令人毛骨悚然的尖叫。402
A human scream.是人的尖叫声。403
“Steele!”“斯蒂尔！”404
Giogi exclaimed.乔吉惊叫道。405
“You wait here with Birdie,” he ordered Cat.“你和小鸟儿在这儿等着，”他命令凯特。406
He drew his foil and ran off in the direction of the scream.他抽出花剑，朝尖叫声传来的方向跑去。407