魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第3部分

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ings；
and　the　rats。　But　his　patron　assured　him　that　such　a　sudden　change　in　his　status　would　draw　attention；　and　for　now；
he　was　to　remain　unnoticed。　

Until　tonight；　when　he　was　instructed　to　go　to　the　Demonsbane　and　start　sowing　antiorc　sentiments。　In　the　old
days；　he　never　would　have　dared　to　set　foot　in　such　a　place。　The　types　of　people　who　liked　to　beat　him　up　usually　
congregated　in　large　groups　in　taverns；　and　he　preferred　to　avoid　them　for　that　reason。　

Or；　rather；　used　to　prefer　to　avoid　them。　

He　entered　his　room。　A　pallet　that　was　no　thinner　than　a　slice　of　bread；　a　burlap　sheet　that　itched　so　much　he　only　
used　it　when　the　winter　got　particularly　cold；　and　even　then　it　was　a　difficult　choice；　a　lantern；　and　precious　little
else。　A　rat　scurried　across　into　one　of　the　many　cracks　in　the　wall。　
　
Sighing；　he　knew　what　needed　to　be　done　next。　Besides　the　inability　to　move　to　better　quarters；　the　thing　Margoz　
hated　most　about　his　dealings　with　his　patron　was　the　odor　he　carried　with　him　afterwards。　It　was　some　kind　of　side
effect　of　the　magic　at　his　patron　s　mand；　but　whatever　the　reason；　it　annoyed　Margoz。　

Still；　it　was　worth　it　for　the　power。　And　the　ability　to　walk　the　streets　and　drink　in　the　Demonsbane　without　fear　of
physical　reprisal。　

Shoving　his　hand　past　his　collar　to　reach　under　his　shirt；　Margoz　pulled　out　the　necklace　with　the　silver　pendant
shaped　like　a　sword　afire。　Clutching　the　sword　so　tightly　that　he　felt　the　edges　dig　into　his　palm；　he　spoke　the　words
whose　meaning　he　d　never　learned；　but　which　filled　him　with　an　unspeakable　dread　every　time　he　said　them：
Galtak　Ered　nash。　Ered　nash　ban　galar。　Ered　nash　havik　yrthog。　Galtak　Ered　nash。　　

The　stink　of　sulfur　started　to　permeate　the　small　room。　This　was　the　part　Margoz　hated。　

Galtak　Ered　nash。　You　have　done　as　I　manded？　　

Yes；　sir。　　Margoz　was　embarrassed　to　realize　that　his　voice　was　getting　squeaky。　Clearing　his　throat；　he　tried　to
deepen　his　tone。　I　did　as　you　asked。　As　soon　as　I　mentioned　difficulties　with　the　orcs；　virtually　the　entire　tavern
joined　in。　　

Virtually？　　

Margoz　didn　t　like　the　threat　implied　in　that　onean　was　a　holdout；　but　the　others　were　
ganging　up　on　him　to　a　certain　degree。　Provided　a　focus　for　their　ire；　really。　　

Perhaps。　You　have　done　well。　　

That　came　as　a　huge　relief。　Thank　you；　sir；　thank　you。　I　am　glad　to　have　been　of　service。　　He　hesitated。　If　I　may；
sir；　might　now　be　a　good　time　to　once　again　broach　the　subject　of　improved　acmodations？　You　might　have　
noticed　the　rat　that

You　have　served　us。　You　will　be　rewarded。　　

So　you　ve　said；　sir；　but　well；　I　was　hoping　a　reward　would　e　soon。　　He　decided　to　take　advantage　of　his
lifelong　fears。　I　was　in　grave　danger　this　evening；　you　know。　Walking　alone　near　the　docks　can　be

You　will　e　to　no　harm　as　long　as　you　serve。　You　need　never　walk　with　fear　again；　Margoz。　　

Of　of　course。　I　simply

You　simply　wish　to　live　the　life　you　have　never　been　permitted　to　live。　That　is　an　understandable　concern。　Be　
patient；　Margoz。　Your　reward　will　e　in　due　time。　　

The　sulfur　stench　started　to　abate。　Thank　you；　sir。　Galtak　Ered　nash！　　

Dimly；　the　patron　s　voice　said；　Galtak　Ered　nash。　Then　all　argoz　s　apartment　once　again。　

A　bang　came　on　the　wall；　followed　by　the　muffled　voice　of　his　neighbor。　　Stop　yelling　in　there！　We　re　tryin　　to
sleep！　　

Once；　such　importunings　would　have　had　Margoz　cowering　in　fear。　Today；　he　simply　ignored　them　and　lay　down
on　his　pallet；　hoping　the　smell　wouldn　t　keep　him　from　sleeping。　

Two　
　
W　hat　I　don　t　get　is；　what　s　the　point　of　fog？　　

Captain　Bolik；　master　of　the　orc　trading　vessel　ath　ar；　knew　he　would　regret　the　words　even　as　he　found　himself
almost　pelled　to　respond　to　his　batman　s　statement。　Does　it　have　to　have　a　point？　　

Rabin　shook　his　head　as　he　continued　his　cleaning　of　the　captain　s　tusks。　It　was　not　a　habit　every　orc　indulged　in；
but　Bolik　felt　that　it　was　his　duty　as　captain　of　the　ath　ar　to　present　himself　in　the　best　manner　possible。　Orcs
were　a　noble　people；　ripped　from　their　homes　and　enslaved；　both　by　demons　and　by　humans。　Enslaved　orcs　had　
always　been　filthy　and　unkempt。　As　a　free　orc　living　in　Durotar　under　the　benign　rule　of　the　great　warrior　Thrall；
Bolik　felt　it　was　important　to　look　as　little　like　the　slaves　of　old　as　possible。　That　meant　grooming；　as　alien　a　
concept　as　that　might　have　been　to　most　orcs；　and　it　was　something　he　expected　in　his　crew　as　well。　

Certainly　it　was　true　of　Rabin；　who　had　taken　to　the　captain　s　instructions　far　better　than　most　of　ath　ar　s　crew。
Rabin　kept　his　eyebrows　trimmed；　his　tusks　and　teeth　cleaned；　his　nails　polished　and　sharp；　and　kept　decoration　to　a
tasteful　minimum　just　a　nose　ring　and　a　tattoo。　

In　answer　to　Bolik　s　question；　Rabin　said；　Well；　everything　in　the　world　serves　some　purpose；　don　t　it；　sir？　I　mean；
the　water；　it　s　there　to　be　givin　　us　fish　to　eat　and　a　way　of　travelin　　by　boat。　The　air　s　there　to　be　givin　　us
something　to　breathe。　The　ground　gives　us　food；　too；　not　to　mention　somethin　　to　build　our　homes　on。　We　re　
makin　　boats　with　what　the　trees　give　us。　Even　rain　and　snow　they　re　givin　　us　water　we　can　drink；　unlike　the　sea。
All　that　means　something。　　

Rabin　turned　his　attention　to　sharpening　Bolik　s　nails；　and　so　Bolik　leaned　back。　His　stool　was　situated　near　the　
cabin　bulkhead；　so　he　leaned　against　that。　But　fog　means　nothing？　　

All　it　does；　really；　is　get　in　the　way　without　givin　　us　nothin　。　　

Bolik　smiled；　his　freshly　cleaned　teeth　shining　in　the　cabin　s　dim　lanternprovided　illumination。　The　porthole
provided　none　such；　thanks　to　the　very　fog　that　Rabin　was　now　plaining　about。　The　captain　asked；　But　snow
and　rain　get　in　the　way；　too。　　

True　enough；　Captain；　true　enough。　　Rabin　finished　sharpening　the　thumb　and　moved　on　to　the　other　fingers。　But；
like　I　said；　snow　and　rain　got　themselves　a　greater　purpose。　Even　if　they　do　get　in　the　way；　leastaways　there　s　a　
benefit　to　be　makin　　up　for　it。　But　tell　me；　sir；　what　does　the　fog　do　to　make　up　for　it？　It　keeps　us　from　seein　　where　
we　goin　；　and　don　t　give　us　nothing　back。　　

Perhaps。　　Bolik　regarded　his　batman。　Or　perhaps　we　simply　haven　t　learned　its　benefit　yet。　After　all；　there　was　a　
time　when　we　did　not　know　that　snow　was　simply　frozen　rain。　The　orcs　then　saw　snow　only　as　the　same　kind　of　
problem　that　you　now　see　fog　as。　Eventually；　its　true　purpose　as　you　said；　to　provide　us　with　water　to　drink　during　
the　colder　seasons　was　learned。　So　it　is　not　the　fault　of　the　fog；　but　ours　for　not　yet　seeing　the　truth。　And　that　is　as
it　should　be。　The　world　tells　us　what　we　need　to　know　when　we　are　ready　to　know　it　and　not　before。　That　is　the　way　
of　things。　　

Rabin　considered　the　captain　s　words　as　he　finished　sharpening　and　started　buffing。　I　suppose　that　might　be　so。
But　that　don　t　do　us　much　good　today；　though；　does　it；　sir？　　

No；　it　does　not。　How　is　the　crew　dealing　with　it？　　

As　well　as　can　be；　I　suppose；　　Rabin　said　with　a　shrug。　Lookout　says　he　can　t　see　the　tusks　in　front　of　his　face　
from　up　there。　　

Bolik　frowned。　The　rocking　of　the　boat　had　been　fairly　constant；　but　now　it　seemed　to　bounce　a　bit　more。　That
usually　meant　they　were　being　affected　by　the　wake　of　another　vessel。　

Rising　from　the　stool　while　Rabin　was　in　midsharpen；　Bolik　said；　We　ll　finish　this　later；　Rabin。　　
　
Getting　up　off　his　knees；　Rabin　nodded　his　head。　Very　well；　Captain。　　

Bolik　grabbed　his　father　s　mace　and　exited　his　cabin　into　the　narrow　corridor　beyond。　ath　ar　which　Bolik　had
named　after　ath；　his　noble　father　and　the　original　owner　of　the　mace；　who　died　fighting　the　Burning　Legion
had　been　built　by　goblins；　since　he　wanted　only　the　best。　The　shipbuilder；　a　sharp　old　goblin　named　Leyds；　had
assured　Bolik　that　he　would　make　the　corridors　extra　wide　to　acmodate　orcs　　greater　girth。　Unfortunately；　the　
short　goblin　s　notions　of　extra　wide　　were　less　generous　than　Bolik　s；　so　the　captain　was　barely　able　to　squeeze　his
massive　frame　through　to　the　staircase　that　led　to　the　deck。　

As　he　walked　up　the　stairs；　he　saw　his　first　mate；　Kag；　stop　himself　from　ing　down。　I　was　just　ing　to　see　
you；　sir。　　Kag　smiled；　his　long　tusks　almost　poking　his　eyes。　Should　ve　known　you　d　feel　the　change。　　

Bolik　chuckled　as　he　came　up　to　the　deck。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　he　regretted　not　calling　Kag　back　downstairs　to
meet　him。　The　fog　was　almost　thick　enough　to　cut　with　his　sword。　He　knew　ath　ar　well　enough　to　walk　to　the
edge　of　the　deck　without　being　able　to　see　where　he　was　going；　but　now　that　was　the　only　way　to　get　there。　Kag　
followed；　standing　practically　nose　to　nose　with　the　captain　so　they　could　see　each　other。　

Realizing　that　he　wasn　t　going　to　be　able　to　see　any　other　ships　indeed；　he　barely　had　any　empirical　evidence　that
they　were　actually　in　a　body　of　water；　since　he　could　hardly　see　that　he　turned　to　his　first　mate。　What　is　it？　　

Kag　shook　his　head。　Hard　to　say。　Lookout　can　t　see　much。　He　s　caught　glimpses　of　a　ship；　but　sometimes　he
thinks　it　s　one　of　the　Theramore　military　convoys　other　times；　he　says　he　looks　nothing　like　any　regular　human　or　
orc　boat。　　

What　do　you　think？　　

Without　he