魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第4部分

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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　hesitating；　Kag　said；　Lookout　wouldn　t　say　if　he　wasn　t　sure。　If　he　says　he　saw　Theramore　military；　then
says　something　else；　that　means　he　saw　something　different　the　first　time。　I　think　it　s　two　ships。　Besides；　the　wake　s
enough　for　two；　or　for　one　going　　round　in　circles。　This　fog；　one　s　as　like　as　the　other。　　

Bolik　nodded　his　agreement。　Their　lookout；　Vak；　could　look　at　two　specks　on　the　horizon　and　tell　you　which　was
the　fishing　boat　and　which　the　troop　carrier。　Probably　tell　you　whether　or　not　the　fishing　boat　was　built　by　gnomes
or　humans；　too；　and　whether　the　troop　carrier　was　made　before　or　after　the　Burning　Legion　s　invasion。　Three　ships
this　close　is　asking　for　trouble。　We　may　need　to　sound　the　horn。　Get

Ship　ho！　　

Casting　his　glance　up　the　mast；　Bolik　tried　to　see　Vak；　but　the　mast　above　his　head　was　swallowed　by　fog。　Vak　s
voice　carried　down　from　what　humans　called　the　crow　s　nest；　　for　reasons　Bolik　never　understood　he　knew　that
a　crow　was　a　type　of　bird；　but　he　wasn　t　sure　what　its　nest　had　to　do　with　a　lookout　post　but　the　captain　could　not　
see　him。　

Kag　called　up。　What　do　you　see？　　

Ship　approaching！　Humans！　Not　flying　no　colors　I　can　see！　　

What　about　the　military　ship？　　

Can　t　see　　em　now；　but　caught　em　a　second　ago！　Runnin　　parallel　now！　　

Bolik　didn　t　like　this。　A　human　ship　flying　no　colors　usually　meant　pirates。　It　might　not　have　flying　colors　was
almost　pointless　in　fog　like　this　and　they　might　simply　have　been　unable　to　see　the　orc　ship。　Bolik　wasn　t　about　to
risk　the　possibility　or　his　cargo。　If　the　crates　in　his　hold　weren　t　safely　delivered　to　Razor　Hill；　Bolik　didn　t　get
paid；　which　meant　the　crew　didn　t　get　paid。　Days　the　crew　lost　wages　were　never　good　days　to　be　a　shipmaster。　
　
Sound　the　horn。　And　put　guards　on　the　cargo　hold。　　

Kag　nodded。　Yes；　sir。　　

Harpoons！　　

At　Vak　s　cry；　Bolik　cursed。　Harpoons　meant　only　one　of　two　things。　One　was　that　the　other　ship　had　mistaken
ath　ar　for　a　large　seafaring　creature　such　as　a　whale　or　a　sea　serpent。　The　other　was　that　they　were　pirates　and
the　harpoons　were　attached　to　boarding　lines。　

Since　sea　serpents　and　whales　didn　t　migrate　this　far　north　as　a　general　rule；　Bolik　felt　safe　in　assuming　it　was　the
latter。　

The　harpoons　slammed　into　the　deck；　the　side　of　the　staircase　that　led　belowdecks；　and　other　places　Bolik　couldn　t
see　in　the　fog。　Then　the　lines　that　were　attached　to　them　went　taut。　

Prepare　for　boarders！　　Kag　cried。　

Bolik　heard　a　voice　say；　Cut　the　lines！　　

The　sound　of　a　fist　hitting　flesh　was　followed　by　Kag　saying；　Don　t　be　a　fool！　Swords　can　t　cut　through　those　
ropes；　and　you　ll　leave　yourself　open。　　

Any　other　conversation　was　cut　short　by　the　sudden　arrival　of　the　very　boarders　in　question；　appearing　as　if　by　
magic　in　the　fog。　They　were　human；　Bolik　saw；　and　not　in　any　kind　of　military　uniform。　Beyond　that；　Bolik　wasn　t
sure　what　they　were　wearing　humans　　fascination　with　outerwear　beyond　what　was　absolutely　necessary　was
something　that　had　always　baffled　Bolik。　He　knew　what　Lady　Proudmoore　s　military　wore；　but　that　was　it。　

Kill　the　pirates！　　Bolik　cried；　but　his　crew　needed　no　such　prompting。　The　battle　was　joined。　Bolik　lifted　his
father　s　mace　in　his　right　hand　and　swung　it　at　the　closest　human；　who　ducked　out　of　the　way；　then　lunged　with　his
sword。　

Bolik　parried　the　sword　with　his　left　arm；　but　by　the　time　he　was　able　to　whirl　the　mace　around　his　head　for　a　
second　strike；　the　human　had　gotten　his　sword　up　to　block　the　mace。　However；　when　he　leaned　in　to　do　so；　the　
human　moved　his　stomach　closer　to　Bolik；　making　it　easy　for　the　orc　captain　to　punch　his　foe　with　his　fist。
Doubling　over　in　pain　and　coughing；　the　human　collapsed　to　the　deck；　and　Bolik　brought　his　mace　down　on　the　
back　of　the　human　s　neck。　

Two　more　then　leapt　in　front　of　Bolik；　no　doubt　expecting　him　to　cower　at　twotoone　odds。　But　Bolik　was　made　of
sterner　stuff。　Though　born　a　slave　in　this　world；　he　had　been　freed　by　Thrall；　and　swore　he　would　never　cower
before　a　human　again。　He　had　fought　alongside　them；　true；　but　never　would　he　bow　to　one　as　an　inferior。　

Nor　to　two　who　came　at　him　with　swords。　

The　pirate　to　his　left　attacked　with　his　blade　a　curved　one　of　a　type　Bolik　had　seen　only　once　before　while　the　
one　on　his　right　swung　two　shorter　swords。　Bolik　blocked　the　curved　blade　with　his　left　arm；　though　this　time　the
edge　bit　into　his　forearm；　while　using　the　mace　to　deflect　one　of　the　two　short　swords。　The　other　short　sword　missed
Bolik　s　chest　by　a　hair。　

Although　the　movement　sent　searing　pain　through　his　left　arm；　Bolik　brought　the　limb　swiftly　downward；　the　blade　
still　stuck　in　it。　His　superior　strength　and　leverage　meant　that　the　foe　on　his　left　was　now　disarmed；　his　weapon
lodged　in　Bolik　s　own　flesh。　Kicking　at　the　pirate　to　his　right；　Bolik　grabbed　the　head　of　the　one　on　his　left　and
pushed　down；　forcing　the　pirate　to　his　knees。　
　
The　one　with　the　short　swords　flailed　as　he　stumbled　to　the　deck；　managing　to　avoid　a　legbreaking　kick；　but　unable
to　keep　his　balance　in　the　bargain。　

Bolik；　still　with　his　massive　left　hand　on　the　head　of　the　curvedswordholding　pirate；　cast　that　fool　aside。　The　
human　s　head　hit　the　mast　with　a　satisfying　thud。　

However；　that　move　gave　the　other　one　a　chance　to　regain　his　footing。　Even　as　he　lunged　with　his　two　tiny　swords；
Bolik　leaned　back　and　to　his　right；　straightened　his　right　arm　behind　him；　then　swung　the　mace　over　his　head；
bringing　it　smashing　down　on　the　human　s　skull；　killing　him　instantly。　

Vak！　　Bolik　yelled　up　the　mast　as　he　removed　the　curved　sword　from　his　arm　and　tossed　it　to　the　deck　next　to　its
insensate　owner。　Sound　the　horn！　　The　pirates　likely　didn　t　know　the　orcish　tongue；　and　so　wouldn　t　expect　it
when　the　foghorn　went　off。　

Seconds　later；　an　earsplitting　noise　filled　the　air。　Bolik　was　prepared　for　the　sound　that　felt　as　if　it　vibrated　his　very　
bones；　as　were　his　crew；　he　assumed　he　couldn　t　really　see　most　of　them。　

The　humans　that　Bolik　could　see　were　caught　off　guard；　however；　which　Bolik　had　counted　on。　The　orcs　that　Bolik
could　see　pressed　their　advantage。　Bolik　himself　started　twirling　his　mace　over　his　head　until　he　found　a　good
target。　His　father　s　weapon　slammed　into　the　shoulder　of　a　nearby　pirate；　who　fell　to　the　floor；　screaming　in　agony。　

Bolik　heard　a　human　voice　yell　a　word　in　the　human　tongue　that　he　was　fairly　sure　meant　retreat；　　a　guess　that　was
proven　accurate　as　the　pirates　started　to　climb　the　ropes　back　to　their　vessel。　Bolik　saw　Kag　slice　off　the　leg　of　one　
of　the　retreaters；　causing　the　victim　to　fall　into　the　Great　Sea。　

Kag　turned　to　Bolik。　Do　we　give　chase？　　

Shaking　his　head；　Bolik　said；　No。　Let　them　go。　　There　was　little　point　in　trying　to　chase　a　ship　in　this　bedamned
fog。　Check　the　cargo。　　

Nodding　acknowledgment；　Kag　ran　off　to　the　hold　entry；　his　footfalls　echoing　on　the　deck。　

Gazing　upward；　Bolik　said；　Lookout；　what　about　the　human　ship？　　

They　didn　t　move；　　Vak　said；　until　after　we　sounded　fog。　Then　they　moved　off。　Don　t　see　　em　now。　　

Bolik　s　fists　tightened；　his　right　hand　gripping　the　handle　of　his　father　s　mace　so　hard；　he　thought　it　might　break。
The　humans　were　their　allies。　If　some　of　Lady　Proudmoore　s　precious　soldiers　were　nearby；　why　did　they　not　assist
when　brigands　boarded　ath　ar？　

Sir；　　Kag　said；　returning　alongside　Forx；　the　warrior　in　charge　of　guarding　the　cargo；　one　of　the　crates　was
smashed。　Another　was　thrown　overboard　by　one　of　the　humans　to　cover　his　retreat。　　

Forx　added；　They　sent　most　o　　their　men　to　the　hold。　We　drove　　em　back　good；　we　did；　sir。　They　d　a　taken　it　all　
otherwise。　　

You　did　well；　Forx。　And　you　will　be　rewarded。　　Bolik　knew　his　words　would　have　meaning。　Two　crates　lost　
meant　twenty　percent　of　their　cargo　was　useless；　which　meant　a　twenty　percent　reduction　in　wages。　Bolik　put　a
hand　on　Forx　s　shoulder。　　You　shall　all　receive　the　same　cut　you　would　have　if　all　the　cargo　came　intact　the
difference　will　e　out　of　my　own　share。　　

Kag　s　eyes　grew　wide。　You　honor　us　all；　Captain。　　

Not　at　all　you　defended　my　ship。　You　won　t　be　penalized　for　that。　　
　
Forx　smiled。　I　ll　inform　your　warriors；　sir。　　

Bolik　turned　to　Kag　as　Forx　went　off。　Assess　damage；　dump　any　human　bodies　into　the　sea；　and　put　us　back　on
course。　　He　took　a　breath；　then　blew　it　out　through　his　tusks。　And　when　we　return；　I　want　a　messenger　found。
Thrall　must　be　informed　of　this　right　away。　　

Nodding；　Kag　said；　Yes；　Captain。　　

Staring　into　the　fog　that　had　allowed　the　pirates　to　get　so　close　for　their　attack；　Bolik　thought　back　on　Rabin　s
words；　and　decided　that　no　use　they　could　get　from　fog　would　be　worth　this…。　

Three　

L　ady　Jaina　Proudmoore　stood　atop　the　butte　on　Razor　Hill；　gazing　out　over　the　land　where　she　helped　form　the　
most　unlikely　alliance　in　the　history　of　the　world。　

Razor　Hill　was　orc　territory；　of　course；　but　Jaina　and　Thrall　had　agreed　that；　given　her　abilities；　it　was　best　for　their　
meetings　to　h