炉谕 The Voice from the Hearth

作者： Matt Dunn

没人知道是谁点起了火，但我们老远就看到了大团的浓烟。

No one knew who lit the fire, but we saw the plume of smoke from far away.

凛冬之爪把我们的部落赶到了北边。北地荒凉，第一天晚上，就连战母奥尔加瓦娜都忍不住发抖。第二天夜里，我们的厄努克死光了——起码第三天的晚餐不用发愁了。

The Winter’s Claw had driven our tribe north, where the land was so harsh that even our warmother Olgavanna shivered through the first night. Our elnuk herd died on the second. At least we had food for the third.

等到我们开始攀登这座没顶的山时，那顿晚餐也已经是好久之前的事了。没腿的科里克说这山叫做”老奥恩的半座山”。我们这位萨满已经神志不清了，但是奥尔加瓦娜逼我们一直带着这个蠢货。因为战母相信他所说的，我们能不能活下去的关键就在那神秘的青烟下方。除了奥尔加瓦娜之外，其他人都觉得我们是走在送死的路上。

But even that feast was a memory as we climbed the mountain with no peak. Legless Kriek called it “the Half-Mountain of Old Ornn.” Our shaman had lost his mind, but Olgavanna bade us carry the fool. He had convinced her that our survival lay at the source of that mysterious smoke. The rest of us believed we were marching to our doom.

山坡上遍布着黑石，目之所及伤痕累累。我们发现了一处由焦黑的地基组成的迷宫——这是一座小城的遗迹，却不在任何一份地图上有过记录。科里克挂在伯阿林的肩膀上，信誓旦旦地说这地方以前叫炉乡。

The slopes of the half-mountain were a tortured landscape of black stone. We found the ruins of a forgotten city shown on no map—now just a maze of charred foundations. Kriek, perched atop Boarin’s shoulders, insisted it was once named Hearth-Home.

东边的乌云透出了闪电，风里裹挟着皮毛沾湿后的臭味，还有发酵的腥甜气息。派出去的斥候一个也没有回来。大家已经心知肚明，但没人想大声地嚷出那个词：熊人。

Dark clouds to the east flashed lightning and winds carried the stench of wet fur and sweet decay. Our scouts did not return. We all knew what this meant, but none of us wished to utter the word “Ursine” aloud.

我们一直向上攀爬，直到站在了一个巨大的环形坑边上。之后，科里克就看见了火。这很奇怪，因为科里克不仅没腿，也没有眼睛。

We climbed until we stood at the edge of a vast crater. Then, Kriek saw the fire. This was odd, because Legless Kriek was also blind.

环形坑盆地的中心，一道青烟直入天空。奥尔加瓦娜安慰大家说，至少盆地四周陡峭的山壁是个不错的避风点。于是我们开始往下爬。说不定是在往自己的坟墓里爬。热气蒸腾的地面很不好走，但稍微的停顿都意味着引颈就戮。

In the center of that basin was the source of the smoke venting into the sky. Olgavanna reasoned that at least the steep crater walls offered respite from the howling winds, and so we descended into what would likely be our grave. The smoldering terrain proved difficult to navigate, but any halt would mean to bow our heads and accept slaughter.

随后我们就看到了那座熔炉。熔炉外部圆形的穹顶是唯一一个看起来出自手工的东西。炉膛本身的造型是一尊巨大的公羊头，拼嵌的石板间生着一小撮一小撮的山羊草。公羊的嘴里含着一团烈火，明亮得就算我们闭着眼睛也能看见。

Then we saw the furnace. The domed structure was the only one that looked hand-made. It was crafted like the head of a great ram, with tufts of goat-grass in the spaces between the smooth flagstones. In the ram’s mouth was a flame so bright, we could find it with our eyes closed.

我们一边挤在火旁取暖，一边听着奥尔加瓦娜布置拼死反击的计划——站着去死也好过在寒风中抱成一团瑟瑟发抖。我们大部分人都是农夫、工匠或者修理工，不像其他部落那样善战。我们会照顾老人、小孩还有病患。眼下阿瓦罗萨人远在天边，爱莫能助，但战争却只渴望着饱餐一顿血肉和骨头。

We huddled around it for warmth while Olgavanna laid out the plans for our last stand. It was better to die on our feet, than shivering and huddled in the cold. Most of us were farmers, builders, menders, and few were skilled in combat like the other tribes. We cared for our elderly, our sick, and our children. Now we were far from the aid of the Avarosans—but war craves only blood and bones.

我们对上凛冬之爪虽然胜算不大，起码还有一丝机会。可如果熊人先发难的话，我们的抵抗就是完全徒劳。那群丑陋的半熊怪物会把我们吃干抹净的。

We could only ever stand a chance against the Winter’s Claw. If the Ursine struck first, our defense would be terrifyingly short. That hideous legion of half-bear abominations would overwhelm us.

眨眼间，伴着隆隆的脚步声，它们的战吼越来越响。臭烘烘的味道变得更加浓烈。几百个熊人冲下了山谷，就像山坡的玄武岩上摊开了一片黑影。我们拆掉担架做成长矛，在火石上磨利雕刻用的小刀。老人与伤者会在羊灵的仪式中安息，而剩下的人就要和狼灵跳一支至死方休的舞。等到黎明降临，一切都会结束。

没人看到有谁挑了炉火，但火焰猛然大热，逼得我们不禁后退。随后，熔炉说话了，声音就像是噼啪开裂的木头。

And soon enough, we heard their battle-growls growing louder, along with the clamor of their footsteps. We smelled their stench. Hundreds descended the cliffs, like shadows twisting down the basalt slopes. We fashioned spears from our stretchers, and sharpened our carving knives on the flint. We would minister the Rite of the Lamb to our elderly and wounded, and the rest of us would dance with the Wolf. It would all be over by morning.

“沃利贝尔来了，快躲起来。” 它说。

No one saw who stoked the fire, but it grew so hot that we needed to back away. Then the furnace spoke, its voice like crackling logs.

“根本没地方可躲。”奥尔加瓦娜对着炉膛里的火焰说。我们根本不知道自己在面见何人。”敌人都到跟前了。熊人正在包围我们。”

“Volibear is near,” it said. “Seek shelter now.”

““熊人……可以拦住。其他问题你们自己解决。” 熔炉随着话音越来越热。山羊草着起了火，拼接的石板边缘发出红光，逐渐变成通体的红热。缝隙中嘶嘶地喷出蒸汽。

“There is no shelter to seek,” Olgavanna replied to the fire in the forge. We knew not in whose presence we stood. “Enemies are at our heels. The Ursine are flanking us.”

温度不停地上升。有些人脱掉了衣服想缓一缓，有些人干脆就昏了过去。又是一波酷热卷来，我们全都支撑不住跪了下来，艰难地喘着气。”真没想到能看到这一天啊！”科里克喜极而泣地大叫。

“The Ursine…” and the forge grew hotter at these words, “…will be stopped. The other problems are your own.” The goat-grass caught fire. The flagstones grew red hot around the edges, then toward their centers. Steam sizzled from the cracks.

石头像白蜡一样融化了，支撑结构缓缓地流到基座上。熔炉的穹顶向内塌陷进去，边缘围成了一口坩埚。

Some shed their clothes to seek reprieve as the temperature rose. Others fainted. The next wave of blistering heat dropped us all to our knees, gasping for air. “I never thought I’d see the day!” cried Kriek, weeping tears of joy.

一道橘黄色的光，刺得我们睁不开眼，却隐约衬托出一个人形的轮廓。一股火焰如喷泉般冲上高空，熔化的碎石纷纷雨落，在我们脚边的地面上冷却变硬。雄伟的熔炉已经化身成了一头笨重的巨兽，身体轮廓在热气蒸腾中影影绰绰，足有三棵松树那么高。没错了，这就是科里克时常提起的那个早已被遗忘的传奇——古老的奥恩。这位远古的匠师迅速地冷却下来，现出了皮毛和身体。熔岩从他的脸颊旁滴落成形，变成了扎好的胡须。他的眼睛是一对炯炯的火苗，一手拿着把锤子，另一手拎着一座铁砧。看起来了两手都很轻松。

Stone began to drip like candlewax. Masonry flowed down the base of the structure. The domed top of the forge melted inward, pulling the rest of the outer shell into a molten pool.

我们聚到战母奥尔加瓦娜身后。她握着臻冰打造的落流斧，走近奥恩。”如果熊人是你的敌人，我们会和你一起作战。”她说完，便做出了一个动作，极其不符合她冰裔战母身份：她屈膝半跪，将武器放在了奥恩脚下。落流斧的臻冰化了，露出一把黄铜和精铁铸造的普通斧头。

A flash of orange light blinded us, briefly silhouetting a humanoid figure. Then, a geyser of flame spouted into the air, drops of molten rock hardened on the ground at our feet. Where the massive forge had stood, there was now a hulking beast, its form blurred by waves of heat. There it was, the forgotten legend Kriek always told us about—Old Ornn, as tall as three frost pines. The ancient forge-master cooled rapidly into fur and form, lava dribbling down his chin and hardening into a braided beard. His eyes were glaring embers. In one hand he carried a hammer, in the other he hefted an anvil with equal ease.

我从来没有见过臻冰会融化。没有谁见过。我们识趣地像奥尔加瓦娜一样，纷纷跪了下来。

We gathered behind our warmother. Olgavanna gripped Fellswaig, her true-ice axe, and approached Ornn. “If the Ursine are your foes, we will fight by your side,” she said. Then, in a gesture unbecoming of an iceborn warmother, she bent the knee and laid her weapon at Ornn’s feet. Fellswaig’s true-ice melted, revealing an ordinary bronze and iron axe beneath.

奥恩咕哝着说：“站起来。跪就死了。” 他看着头上正在云集盘旋的雷暴，说：“我会解决熊人。别跟着我。”

I had never seen true-ice melt. No one had ever seen true-ice melt. We felt it wise to join Olgavanna in her kneeling.

他拖着步子，朝着狂飙的熊人部落走去。我们几乎都能看到它们的大眼珠子里反射出他身上的火光。伯阿林把肩上的老萨满又举高了一点。“老奥恩挥起锤子，山峰被他砸成低谷。”没腿的老笨蛋像是吟唱一般说道。

Ornn grunted. “Stand up. Kneeling is death.” He looked to the gathering thunderstorm swirling overhead. “I will deal with the Ursine. Do not follow me.”

我们看着他一人面对着熊人族，震惊地沉默着。一声大吼，奥恩一锤砸向地面，击出一条沟壑冲向敌人，堪堪停在前锋队伍面前。硫磺和岩浆喷上高空，成块的烈火劈头盖脸地拍向熊人们。

He lumbered toward the advancing horde, who charged forward with vicious speed. We could see his fire reflected in their large eyes. Boarin hoisted the old shaman higher onto his shoulders. “Old Ornn swinging his hammer, he pounds valleys from mountains,” the legless fool half-sung.

不管奥恩到底是何方神圣，他真正的武器是大地的热血。

We watched in stunned silence as the creature stood alone against the Ursine. With a roar, he brought his hammer down onto the ground, and a fissure cracked toward the advancing army, stopping just short of their vanguard. Spouts of lava and sulfur jetted into the sky, hardened fire rained down on the half-bear warriors.

巨大的熔渣从熊人身后破土而出，阻断了它们的退路。奥恩冲进熊人群中，手里的锤子上下翻飞，四处乱砸。然而，它们像疯子一样继续攻来，凶残暴烈，每个都有十个狂战士加起来那么狠。

Whatever Old Ornn was, he fought with the hot blood of the earth.

不过，奥恩冲过整支部队，抵达了熊人的后方。因为我们都听到了一声震耳欲聋的爆炸，熔渣组成的墙壁轰然崩溃。熊人们被震飞了出去，带着烧焦的血肉和皮毛，划出歪歪扭扭的弧线。

Behind the Ursine, giant chunks of slag broke through the ground, cutting off their retreat. Ornn charged and smashed them with more swings of his hammer. Still, they attacked with the viciousness of ten berserkers each.

尘埃席天，烟柱直通雷云，电光在云雾中来回穿刺。然而，全世界突然诡异地陷入了静止一般——传说中”受过千万刀枪的”巨熊亲自登场了。我们看到的是一个名副其实的身影：长矛、钢剑还有獠牙，全都扎在它的背上。闪电落在它的脚印里。

But we knew when Ornn reached their rearguard, for there was a deafening explosion—the slag wall shattered, and Ursine flew through the air in contorted arcs of burning flesh and fur.

它在大笑。

The sky darkened with ash. Columns of smoke rose to clash with the menacing thunderclouds, and bolts of lightning lanced through the haze. The world grew eerily still as the Thousand-Pierced Bear itself took to the battlefield. We could see its telltale shape: spears, swords, tusks, all were stuck in its hide. Lightning followed in its wake.

嘹亮的一声号角，震得我们五内欲碎。黑色的山崖上淌出岩浆，披散成流火的河网从山坡上冲下来，向着山谷的盆地奔腾，你追我赶，浪潮翻涌。闪电打在崖壁上，烧蚀着被撕裂的山岩。一阵刺鼻的浓雾裹住了整个坑口。烟雾蒸腾，我们只能看到蓝白相间的电光和地狱般猩红的火光隐隐透出。地下的热量烤焦了我们的鞋底。

And it laughed.

然后，我们看到迸发的火焰聚成了一头健硕的公羊，须发怒张。奥恩朝着这头熔岩翻滚的巨兽冲去，肩上还扛着那头他称之为沃利贝尔的巨熊。

The answering blare of the horn shook our insides. Lava bled from the black cliffs, rivers of fire flowed down the slopes, rushing toward the valley basin, and formed a surging wave. Bolts of lightning stabbed back at the cliffs, to cauterize the wounds in the rock, and a thick, caustic fog blanketed the entire caldera. We saw only blue-white bolts and hellish crimson explosions filtered by the thick vapor. The heat from below the ground scorched the soles of our boots.

撞击的力度把我们所有人都掀翻了。没腿的萨满从伯阿林肩上被横甩出去，一边大笑着飞出了几百步远。

Then we saw that surging wave of flame form into a great stampeding ram. Ornn charged at the molten beast, catching the thing he had named as Volibear between his shoulder and the lava-ram.

我们在忐忑中等了一整夜，担忧着大灾变的降临。但完全没有。我们只听到千刀巨熊的怒吼，还有熔炉公羊粗暴的咆哮，彻夜回荡着。

The force of the explosion toppled us all. The legless shaman was thrown a hundred paces from Boarin’s shoulders, laughing the whole time.

We waited all night for the great cataclysm to overtake us, but it never came. We only heard the roars of the Thousand-Pierced Bear, and the gruff bellowing of the forge ram.

清晨过去，尘埃落定，我们看到周围的山坡上满地都是冒着烟的碎石，龟裂的玄武岩石柱犬牙交错地矗立着。

等到我们意识到面前的东西是什么的时候，所有人都又惊又怕地后退了几步。熊人们变成了石像，脸上冻结着极度痛苦的神情。

When the pall lifted in the late morning, we saw that the slopes around us were covered in chunks of hissing scree, and unnatural columns of crusted basalt rose at odd angles from the ground.

我们没看到奥恩的任何踪迹，沃利贝尔也是。但我们也没时间找了。凛冬之爪的狩猎号角已经近在耳畔。我们捡起武器，站稳脚跟。虽然身上的衣服只剩下烟熏火燎之后的破布条，但我们的身体已经不再觉得寒冷。

As we realized what stood before us, we recoiled in horror and awe. The Ursine were frozen in stone, their faces petrified masks of agony.

奥尔加瓦娜的头发被火焰燎光了，肌肉贲突的背脊挂着烧灼的伤痕。曾经被臻冰包裹的斧子现在和我们一样衣不蔽体，只剩下黄铜和精铁的本来面目。我从来没有见过她有这么强壮过。

We did not see any sign of Ornn, nor Volibear. We had no time to look, either. The hunting horns of the Winter’s Claw announced their approach. We picked up our weapons and dug in our heels. What remained of our clothes were scorched tatters of cloth, but our skin no longer prickled with cold.

我们血液沸腾，饥肠辘辘。我们赤身露体，浑身都是擦伤和水泡。我们用灰烬在胸口抹出铁锤的形状，在脸上画出公羊的犄角。

Olgavanna’s hair had been singed away, her muscular back branded with heat. Her once true-ice axe was bronze and iron, as naked as we were. She had never looked stronger.

我们唱起老科里克编的词，高呼着昨晚所见的神迹。

Our blood boiled. Our stomachs growled. We were raw and blistered, bare and exposed. We smeared our chests with ash in the shape of a hammer, and ram horns upon our faces.

我们终于知道是谁点起了火，而凛冬之爪也终会明白。

We sang and chanted in the memory of last night, with the words of mad old Kriek.

We knew who lit the fire. The Winter’s Claw would know, too.