辛苦钱 A Well-Earned Tip

作者：Laura Michet

在德玛西亚和弗雷尔卓德之间的分界岭上，大多数工作都赚不到钱。有些赚的是皮毛，有些赚的是冻硬的大面包……但夷吉尔的小妹天生体弱多病。家里需要钱才能悉心照料她，才能给她买药治病。

Up in the mountains that separate Demacia from the Freljord, there aren’t a lot of jobs that pay coin. Some pay in furs, or in loaves of frost-hard bread... But Aegil’s baby sister was born sickly. The family needed coin to keep her well-fed, and to buy her medicine.

所以夷吉尔的父亲找夷吉尔的叔叔贾斯珀说了桩营生。夷吉尔会去到贾斯珀的酒馆打杂，向途经山口的商人们贩卖酒水。

So Aegil’s father cut a deal with Aegil’s uncle, Jasper. Aegil would become a servant in Jasper’s inn at the mountain pass, selling ale to passing traders.

“好好干，儿子，”夷吉尔的母亲对他说，“为了小妹。”

“Work hard, all right?” Aegil’s mother told him. “For your sister.”

夷吉尔已经为贾斯珀打杂了一季，一天夜里，就在酒馆要打烊的时候，来了一大群客人。没想到冬天入夜以后还能有客人上门。

One night, a season after Aegil started working for Jasper, a whole crowd of customers arrived just as the inn was closing. It was strange for travelers to arrive so late after nightfall in the winter.

贾斯珀往窗外瞄，“我不认识他们。”他说着，不安地捋了捋蓬乱的黑胡子。

Jasper peered out the window. “I don’t know them,” he said, tugging nervously on his wild black beard.

前门被用力推开，一群蓬头垢面的人跺着脚走进来，抖掉斗篷和脚上的雪。他们四散开，一个穿着鹅绒翻毛斗篷的老人来到吧台前。

The door slammed open and a crowd of shaggy-haired men thumped inside, shaking the snow from their boots and cloaks. They parted ranks, and an old fellow with a velvet-trimmed cloak approached the bar.

“晚上好，”他说话带着雄都的口音，“我们的生意伙伴过会到。你这都有什么酒？”

“Good evening,” he said with a Great City accent. “Our business associate is arriving in a few minutes. What’s on offer?”

贾斯珀叔叔随手指了指吧台后面挂着的酒单。店里共有十二种酒——在这德玛西亚的穷乡僻壤算得上是琳琅满目了。不过商人的护卫纷纷点了最便宜的酒：福赛因红啤。夷吉尔从未尝过其他啤酒，但即使是他也知道这不是什么好酒。所以才这么便宜。

Uncle Jasper pointed numbly at the drink list hanging behind the bar. There were twelve brews there—an impressive selection for this part of the Demacian hinterlands. But one by one, the guards all ordered the absolute cheapest: Forsyn’s Red. Aegil had never tasted any other beer, but even he knew it wasn’t good stuff. That’s why it was so cheap.

夷吉尔迅速钻进后堂，他们所有盛装麦芽酒的木桶都在这里存放。看着难闻的醪浆伴着泡沫盛进杯中，他在想这些客人会给多少赏钱。是领头的给一大份呢，还是十一小份，一人一份呢？他的心跳开始加速。

Aegil hurried into the back room where the kegs were kept to pour their ale. As the skunky beverage foamed into the cups, he wondered how much these guests would tip. Would he get one big tip from the leader, or eleven small tips, one from each? His heart raced.

夷吉尔听到门外的路上传来一阵沉重的脚步声。前门开了一个小缝……接下来的一步让整间酒馆的地板求饶。

Then Aegil heard a heavy step on the path outside. The door creaked open... and the next step made the tavern floorboards groan.

夷吉尔推着推车来到主厅。刚进来的这位客人绝对是他见过的体型最庞大的人。他头顶蹭到了房梁。他胳膊腿上全是腱子肉，粗得像大树干。他满脸胡须，都是通红的硬茬。他身宽体胖，肚皮上交错布满了难看的伤疤，看起来一定没少打架，就像贾斯珀店里的醉鬼常常吹嘘的那样。

Aegil wheeled the drink cart out into the main room. The newcomer was the absolute biggest man he’d ever seen. His head scraped the ceiling beams. His limbs were pure muscle, as thick as tree trunks, and his face was covered in a bristly red beard. The grisly scars criss-crossing his vast sides looked like he’d really lived through the gruesome battles Jasper’s drunken patrons liked to brag about.

翻毛斗篷向着那个陌生人举起一只手，大喊道，“你是古拉加斯吧？”

The velvet-clad man raised his hand toward the stranger. “Gragas, I presume?” he called.

古拉加斯没有回答。两眼直勾勾地盯着吧台后边挂着的酒单。

Gragas didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the drinks list hanging behind the bar.

“你是不是酿酒大师古拉加斯？”那个商人不耐烦地问了第二遍。

“You are Gragas? The brewer?” the merchant repeated impatiently.

满面通红的古拉加斯扭转宽厚的肩膀，瞪了那个小老头一眼。接下来他吼了一嗓子，让夷吉尔想起某个雪盖下的古神的说话声，“给我来一杯。”

Gragas turned his huge shoulders and gave the little old man a red-faced glare. With a voice so loud it reminded Aegil of an old god speaking from below the snowpack, the newcomer growled, “I’m buyin’ a drink.”

屋子里的空气让人觉得头顶正有一场雷暴在聚集。夷吉尔开始给客人们上酒。他的双手在颤抖。

The air in the room felt like it does when a thunderstorm gathers overhead. Aegil began handing out the ales. His hands were shaking.

“那个‘卡斯滕花酿’是什么酒？”古拉加斯指着酒单对贾斯珀问道，“用的什么花？”

“What’s that ‘Karsten-Flower’ stuff?” Gragas asked Jasper, pointing at the list. “What flower’s that?”

“只是酿酒师的名字，”贾斯珀说，“酒里并没有花。抱歉。”

“That’s just the brewer’s name,” Jasper said. “It ain’t got flowers in it. Sorry.”

“嗯。”古拉加斯哼了一声。

“Hmmm,” Gragas rumbled.

夷吉尔把最后一杯酒呈给那个老商人，然后耐心地站在一旁，等待赏钱……但那个商人没有理睬。他锃亮的目光始终看着那个后来的大块头——就像准备捕食的狐狸。

Aegil handed out the final drink to the old merchant, then stood patiently, waiting for his tip... but the merchant ignored him. His glinting gaze was fixed on the huge newcomer—like a fox’s eyes before the pounce.

“给我来一杯……烈日金波特。”古拉加斯高声说道，“我听说，这酒很珍稀。”贾斯珀小步快跑到后堂去倒酒，古拉加斯上身扑到桌上，然后落座。“那，你们给我带什么来了？”他问那个商人。

“I’ll take... the Sungold Porter,” Gragas announced. “That’s a precious one, I’ve heard.” Jasper scurried into the back to pour it, and Gragas thumped over to the table to sit down. “Now, what d’ya have for me?” he asked.

老商人开始在大衣里怀兜翻找。“我听说你在收购恕瑞玛的货品，”他说，“河漫滩的稻谷。仙人掌的花。”

The old merchant started digging around in his huge coat. “I heard you’re in the market for Shuriman goods,” he said. “Floodplain grains. Cactus blooms.”

“我……想尝尝。”古拉加斯说。

“I’m... innerested,” Gragas said.

那个商人注意到夷吉尔还站在那，说道，“走开，小子。”

The merchant noticed Aegil standing there. “Shoo, boy,” he said.

夷吉尔愣住了。没赏钱？

Aegil froze. No tip?

“我让你走开。”那个商人厉声说道。护卫们哄堂大笑。

“I said shoo,” the merchant snapped. All the guards laughed.

眼泪开始在她眼眶里打转，夷吉尔快步跑到吧台后边的储藏间。贾斯珀正在屋里来回踱步，焦急地挠头。

Tears starting at the corners of his eyes, Aegil hurried into the keg room behind the bar. Jasper was pacing back there, tugging nervously at his beard.

“那家伙搞什么鬼，”贾斯珀龇牙咧嘴地说，“烈日金波特？我根本就没有啊！”

“Damn that man,” Jasper seethed. “The Sungold Porter? I don’t have any!”

“卖没了吗？”

“We ran out?”

“店里从来就没进过！那么珍贵的麦酒我压货压不起。列到酒单上只是为了让人高看一眼。几乎没人点这种酒——太贵了！真有点它的顾客，我就随便找几种酒勾兑一下！没人能尝出来！”

“We never had it! I can’t afford to stock any of those rare ales. They’re on offer to impress people. Almost nobody orders them—they’re too expensive! And when they do, I just mix some stuff together! Nobody can tell!”

在夷吉尔看来，这差不多就是偷。“你应该告诉那个大块头。”他说。

To Aegil, this seemed like stealing. “You should tell the big man,” he said.

贾斯珀笑道，“为什么？我的酒又不是毒药。我是做生意的，孩子！卖出一杯波特抵得上我们店一周的收入。”贾斯珀挺起胸，“他尝不出来的。”

Jasper laughed. “Why? It doesn’t hurt anyone. I have a business to run, boy! One glass of the porter is a week of earnings here at the inn.” Jasper squared his shoulders. “He won’t be able to tell.”

贾斯珀从墙上的挂钩取下一只啤酒杯，对准福赛因的水嘴打酒……然后是艾根麦酒……然后是卡斯滕花酿。

Jasper snatched a massive stein off one of the hooks on the wall and started filling it at the Forsyn’s tap... then Eigen Ale... then Karsten-Flower.

阴沉的混酒冒着泡升上杯口，夷吉尔意识到接下来要由他给古拉加斯端上这杯勾调的酒。一阵冷意浇过他全身，就像寒夜的风吹过积雪。当贾斯珀伸出双手接过啤酒杯时，险些摔倒在地。

As that murky mixture foamed toward the brim, Aegil realized he’d have to deliver Gragas the concocted drink. Cold washed over him like a night wind over the snow. When Jasper thunked the stein into his outstretched hands, he almost fell over.

“表情自然点！”贾斯珀命令道。

“Keep a straight face!” Jasper ordered.

夷吉尔想到了他小妹。他想到手心里哗哗响的钱币。然后他踉跄着穿过酒馆前厅，努力把啤酒杯举高。

Aegil thought of his sister. He thought of money clinking in his palm. Then he tottered forward across the empty floor of the inn, struggling to hold the stein aloft.

古拉加斯轰鸣的声音响彻房间。“……我正在调的这个配方已经很辣口了。我需要一些中和的成分。”

Gragas’ booming voice filled the room. “...The recipe I’m working on has a very spicy taste already. I need somethin’ to balance it out.”

夷吉尔来到桌前，那个商人也向前探身。“那，接下来就要谈真正的买卖了。”

As Aegil approached the table, the merchant leaned forward. “So. We arrive at the real business.”

“没错，”古拉加斯咕哝着说，“真正的买卖。”

“Yeah,” Gragas grunted. “The real business.”

商人从大衣里怀里抽出一个巴掌大的匣子，上面镶着黄金和珠宝。

The merchant reached inside his coat and drew out a palm-sized lockbox covered in gold and glinting jewels.

这个华丽的盒子绝对是夷吉尔这辈子见过的最贵重的东西了——估计够他在贾斯珀的臭酒馆里干十辈子的。离它这么近感觉就像站在太阳旁边。

The shining box was absolutely the most valuable thing Aegil had ever seen in his life—it was probably worth ten lifetimes of Jasper’s smelly ale. Standing near it felt like standing beside the sun.

“阿兹尔之泪。”那个商人说，“古人传下来的香料。用古墓药草磨成的粉，只在太阳圆盘的废墟之内能采到。太阳皇帝的御用蜜酒就是拿它陈年的。”

“Azir’s Tears,” the merchant said. “Ancient heirloom spice. Ground from tomb-herbs found only in the ruins of the Sun Disc. The Sun Emperors used it to season their mead.”

“真的……”古拉加斯说。

“Really...” Gragas said.

“我听说了，你追求的是酿出有史以来最伟大的麦酒！当时我立刻就想到要找阿兹尔之泪。这笔买卖我必须做！这份香料价值连城，但我知道你肯定识货。”

“When I heard about your quest—the greatest ale ever brewed! Well, I immediately sought out the Tears. The trades I had to make! The spice is worth a fortune, but I knew you’d be good for it.”

古拉加斯缓缓点头，若有所思。夷吉尔突然意识到，如果有哪个人能够品出劣酒来的话，那肯定就是这个探求完美啤酒的酿酒大师了吧。他伸出手想拿回啤酒杯，拼命想编个借口。

Gragas nodded slowly, thinking. Aegil suddenly realized that if anyone was going to be able to notice a substitute drink it would be a master brewer on a quest to make the perfect beer. He reached for the stein, thinking frantically of an excuse—

但他太慢了。古拉加斯注意到了夷吉尔，也注意到了自己胳膊肘旁边放着的啤酒。“谢了，小子。”说完，就抓起了酒杯。

But he was too slow. Gragas noticed Aegil, and the beer sitting at his elbow. “Thanks, boy,” he said, and grabbed the stein himself.

他灌下去几大口，夷吉尔立刻就看到他浓密的眉毛蹙到一起。他的鼻孔抽动了一下。他被胡须盖住的嘴唇抿出一丝苦涩。他的凝视越过前厅……落在贾斯珀身上。

He drank deep—and immediately, Aegil saw his bushy eyebrows furrow. His nostril twitched. His bearded lip curled into a hint of a grimace. His gaze traveled across the room... and fixed on Jasper.

夷吉尔觉得自己要化成水了。他知道自己被诓了！

Aegil felt like he was going to melt. He knows we’re tricking him!

但这位酿酒大师并没有大喊大叫宣泄不满。相反，古拉加斯伸手接过那个珠宝盒。

But the master brewer did not shout out his displeasure. Instead, Gragas held his hand out for the jeweled box.

“So lemme see,” he said. “Show me your perfect spices.”

“So lemme see,” he said. “Show me your perfect spices.”

“让我瞧瞧，”他说，“拿出你的完美香料吧。”

The merchant handed it over. Gragas lifted the lid of the lockbox and sniffed.

商人把盒子递过来。古拉加斯掀开盖子，嗅了一下。

And again, his nostril twitched. That sensitive sense of smell had found another flavor that troubled it.

就像刚才一样，他的鼻孔抽动了一下。他那敏锐的嗅觉探查到了另一个不对劲的味道。

Aegil felt his heart stop. They’re tricking him too. It’s a FAKE!

夷吉尔觉得自己的心跳停了。他们也在诓他。用的假货！

One forgery was forgivable. Two? Over the same pint? Not as much. Gragas glanced at Aegil—just for a moment.

被欺骗一次还能忍。两次？还不到一杯啤酒的功夫？不那么能忍了。古拉加斯瞥了夷吉尔一眼，就一眼。

It was warning enough. Aegil dove away from the table like a snow hare leaping for the safety of the treeline.

这已经是仁至义尽的警告了。夷吉尔像雪兔钻进树丛一样逃离了那张酒桌。

Then Gragas stood. He flipped the table as he rose, and simultaneously, each one of the guards produced jagged hatchets from beneath their cloaks.

然后古拉加斯站了起来。起身的同时掀翻了桌子，如同听到号令一般，所有护卫都从斗篷下面拿出了豁口的短柄斧。

Gragas just took out his fists.

古拉加斯只是握起了双拳。

Aegil saw only bits of the ensuing fight. He saw the merchant flee toward the bar... then Gragas followed with huge strides. There was a sound like an explosion. Jasper gave a high-pitched scream and skittered straight out the front door. Then the kegs all rolled across the floor toward the guards, a thundering avalanche spraying ale and foam in every direction. It flattened them—all but one, who hid behind a table, then popped up, ready to throw his axe—

接下来的斗殴，夷吉尔只看到了零星几个画面。他看到那个商人逃向吧台……然后古拉加斯大步追上去。一声如同爆炸般的响动。贾斯珀发出一声尖锐的惊叫，直接顺着前门跑了出去。下一刻好多小酒桶从地面滚向那些护卫，伴着雪崩般的轰隆声，麦酒和泡沫向四面八方喷溅。所有护卫都躺倒在地——除了一人，他躲到了桌子后面，然后跳出来，准备掷出短斧——

But Gragas grunted, a barrel flew across the room, and the guard simply vanished. So did half of the back wall. Aegil heard the guard’s tiny scream disappear down the mountainside.

但古拉加斯只是吭了一声，一只大木桶从屋子中间飞过，然后那个护卫就消失了。一起消失的还有半面后墙。夷吉尔听到那名护卫微弱的喊叫声渐渐消失在山下。

Aegil crawled out from under a table to see Gragas pouring the grey, dusty contents of the shiny lockbox onto the groaning merchant at his feet.

夷吉尔从一张酒桌下爬出来，看到古拉加斯从那个光鲜亮丽的匣子里倒出一种土灰色的粉末，浇到他脚下那个哀嚎的商人脸上。

“Mummy dust,” he growled. “Have some respect!”

“木乃伊的墓灰。”他吼道，“能不能有点敬畏之心！”

Then he caught sight of Aegil. His wild brows narrowed. “Boy,” he called. His booming voice made shards of broken glass tremble on the floor. “Come here!”

然后他的目光捕捉到了夷吉尔。他宽厚的眉毛聚紧了。“小子。”他喊道，洪亮的声音让地板上的碎玻璃跟着颤动。“过来！”

Cautiously, Aegil approached. He thought of his sister. He wondered whether he could run faster than a thrown barrel.

夷吉尔小心翼翼地靠近。他想起了小妹。他不知道自己能不能跑过一只飞到空中的大木桶。

“Tell the innkeep to go lighter on the Forsyn’s next time,” Gragas said.

“告诉你家老板，下次少兑点福赛因。”古拉加斯说。

Then Aegil saw the lockbox in the master brewer’s outstretched hand. A huge smile parted that bushy red beard.

然后夷吉尔看到这位酿酒大师把那个珠宝匣递了过来。大大的微笑撑开了浓密的红胡子。

“Yer tip.”

“你的赏钱。”