Fallen London Destinies 第五部分：远方光耀：1911（草稿）
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5、远方光耀：1911年9月21日
（访客）
“古大陆的女冒险家”
“我曾作为顾问加入过你们的海军，但我后来讨厌那里的氛围……太多错误的光。我准备回家，或者至少回到地海之上。但在我离开前，我打算给你一个礼物。”
“为什么是你？因为你从未忘记自己是谁，反正你的资助人这么跟我说。瞧，我早告诉过你，我打赌输了。你想要我的礼物吗？这是一个预知梦，但我不相信预言。只要你活得足够长，你可以实现几乎任何东西，但是换种角度说，只要你活得足够长，一切几乎都会变成现实。”
她交给你一块蓝宝石：“它来自玛瑙港，把它放在你的枕头下面。对，我知道，‘玛瑙’港。我能说什么？你的同胞的语言功力并没有自己认为的那么深。祝你好运。”
"A Presbyterate Adventuress"
"I was attached to your Admiralty as an advisor. But I dislike the atmosphere there lately... too much of the wrong kind of light. I'm going home, or at least back to zee. But before I do, I'm going to give you a gift."
"Why you? Because you've never forgotten who you are. Or so your benefactor tells me. Look, I told you, I lost a bet. Do you want my gift? It's a prophecy-dream. I don't believe in prophecies. You hang around long enough, pretty much anything comes true. But then, on the other hand, if you hang around long enough... pretty much everything comes true."
She hands you a sapphire. "This is from the Carnelian Coast. Put it under your pillow. Yes, I know, the 'Carnelian' Coast. What can I say? Your countrymen aren't the linguists they think they are. Good luck."
（引入故事）
1911年9月21日
当你回到营帐的时候，里面已挤满了你手下的队长：流亡者、雇佣兵、财力雄厚的魔鬼们。被占据的使者。（你仔细地观察了她。）手掌帝国前来的猴子皇后，眼里闪耀着对灵魂的贪欲。圣菲亚克的主教的脸因喜悦而扭曲僵硬。日历会的十二月戴着苍白的面具，你无法观察到他的神情。
你没有让他们等太久。
“你们跟从我到达此处，我保护你们远离伤害！我已完成之前的许诺！蜡风仍在休息，魂雨已经过去。我们已超越了长老会、那古老神明，与巴扎的雇工们。在三天之内……”
你吸引了他们全部的注意力，但你也会让他们好好享受这一刻。“在三天之后，我们会到达圣山。我们所获的战利品将是真正完全的永生！到那时，我将会……”
September 21st, 1911
By the time you return to your pavilion, it is already crowded with your captains: exiles, mercenaries, devils of independent means. The Possessed Emissary. (You watch her closely.) The monkey-queen from the Empire of Hands, her eyes ablaze with soul-greed. The Bishop of St Fiacre's, face frozen in a grimace of delight. And safe behind a pale mask, December of the Calendar Council.
You don't keep them waiting.
"You followed me here: and I have preserved you! Did I not promise you as much? The Wax-Wind still sleeps. The rain of souls has passed. We have shamed the Presbyter, the Old God, the hirelings of the Bazaar. And in three days' time..."
You have all their attention: but you let them savour the moment. "In three days' time, we will breach the Mountain. The spoils are nothing less than life eternal! And then, I shall..."
A、“将它献给世界。”
“死亡是我们最终的征途！一旦我们征服了圣山，我们将征服死亡。人类将摆脱衰老，意识将不再湮灭。”
"Death is the final country! Once we have conquered the Mountain, we will conquer Death. Mankind will be free of age and oblivion."
B、“将它留给应得的人。”
“我会将它作为礼物，赐予应得之人。”
"I will bestow it as a gift on those who merit it."
C、“结束它，像我当初发誓的那样。”
“我们向死而生，人之所以为人，正是因为生命短暂。看看地海的苦难与污秽吧，我们将终结太阳的实验。”
"We were meant to die. The brevity of our lives is what makes us human. Look at the torments and taints of the Neath. We will put an end to the Sun's experiment."
D、“明智地使用它。”
“我将饮下圣山的力量步入永恒。你们将得到奖励。你们早已将生死的力量交托于我，我会成为你们的将军，你们的神。”
"I will drink the power of the Mountain and become eternal. You will be rewarded. You've trusted me already with the power of life and death. I will be your general...and I will be your God."
A、欢呼涌动！（所有人）——宿命：神启
你的队长们站了起来，开始鼓掌。主教勉强站了起来：他曾期望果树园只留给他的人民。但他一直都知道这会很困难。他不会造成麻烦。
另外的人呢？被占据的特使神情莫测，她的眼睛像是镜子。当然，十二月很满意，尽管你觉得如果你选择炸掉圣山他也会一样高兴。恶魔们正在激烈讨论，这将意会着什么。
你迈出帐篷，举起手遮挡住眼睛。在这么近的距离上，光明之山的投下的阴影尖锐如同正午。“将军？”你背后有人问道。那是你的部下，他的眼里满是泪水。“你刚才说的没错，将军，你一直都是正确的。为你立再多雕像也不嫌多。”
“如果我们成功了，”你指出。你再次遮挡眼睛，看着圣山辉煌的山体：“你知道，从未有人成功。”
"A roar of delight!"
Your captains are on their feet, applauding. The Bishop rises only grudgingly. Of course: he had hoped the Garden would be preserved for his people. But he had always known it would be harder than that. He'll be no trouble.
What of the others? The Possessed Emissary is inscrutable: her eyes are mirrors. December is pleased, of course, although you imagine that one might have been just as pleased had you chosen to dynamite the Mountain. The devils are arguing fiercely over what it might mean.
You step out of the tent and raise your hand to shade your eyes. This close, the Mountain of Light casts shadows of noon-time sharpness. "General?" a voice says behind you. It's your subaltern. There are tears in his eyes. "You were right, general. You were right all along. There can't be enough statues to you."
"If we succeed," you point out. You shade your eyes again to look at the bright slopes of the Mountain. "No one ever has, you know."
B、贪婪的掌声（应得的人）——宿命：监护
他们觉得你是在说他们。也许他们是对的，你当然会需要让其中一部分永生。也许是所有。那么然后呢？你会组建死亡选团来帮助你挑选应得的人？你们会把生命赐给你们的英雄、你们的爱人、与你们观念一致的人，还是能付钱的人？你们会有足够的时间慢慢决定，如果你们能赢。
在你所有的队长之中，只有十二月沉默着。你看不到面具下的表情，但你能看到他抱起的手臂，感到这沉默的不悦。你看着十二月转头离开，挤开欢呼的人群。你转向你的刺客大师。“跟上他。不要行动……暂时。”
一个恶魔挨着你。“将军，”她柔声说道，“真正永生不死的灵魂有特别的价值。我们准备为此付出丰厚的代价。我们想和你谈谈贸易许可的事……”
A surge of greedy applause
They think you mean them. Perhaps they're right. Certainly, you'll need to make some of them immortal. Perhaps all of them. And then what? Will you recruit the College of Mortality to help you elect the worthy? Will you give life to your heroes, your lovers, those who share your virtues? Those who can pay? You'll have plenty of time to decide. If you win.
Of all your captains, only December is silent. You cannot see the expression behind the mask, but you can see the folded arms, the scowling silence. And you watch as December turns to leave, elbowing his way through the cheering crowd. You turn to your Master of Assassins. "Have that one followed. Do nothing more... yet."
There is a devil at your elbow. "General," she says silkily. "Truly immortal souls are of particular value. We expect to pay a fair price. We'd like to talk to you about trading licenses..."
C、- ——宿命：幽暗
欢呼陷入沉默。你队长之中的恶魔们讽刺地鼓着掌。主教漠然微笑。雇佣军喃喃自语。你的刺客大师相当随便地向前一步，把手放在帐篷杆上，嘀咕声消失了。
你走出营帐，圣山在你上方，光芒璀璨。那光辉触碰到你的皮肤时，你感到了熟悉的富有生命力的刺痛。
你身后传出响动，十二月出现了。苍白的面具点了点：“我知道我可以相信你。这很艰难，但我们终将自由。也许我们将会是茫茫宇宙之中唯一自由的生命。”
“我们？”你问道，“你真的是我们中的一员吗？我已开始怀疑了。”
“有趣，”十二月轻声说，“我也开始对你有同样的怀疑了。”
-
The cheer is muted. The devils among your captains applaud ironically. The Bishop smiles thinly. Mercenaries mutter. Your Master of Assassins steps forward, rather casually, to rest a hand on the tent pole. The mutterings subside.
You step outside the pavilion. The Mountain rises above you, ablaze with light. Where its radiance touches your skin, you feel the familiar prickle of vitality.
A sound: December has emerged behind you. The pale mask nods. "I knew I could trust you. It's hard. But we'll be free. Perhaps we'll be the only free beings in the cosmos."
"We?" you ask. "Are you one of us? Really? I was beginning to wonder."
"Funny," December says softly. "I was beginning to wonder the same thing about you."
D、帐中死寂——宿命：幕后
节选：“你已预想到了这样的情况，顺从反对，两者皆有可能。但你环视帐篷，依次与每个人眼神交汇。他们回看你，带着畏惧或尊敬，或者像那些恶魔，带着愉悦。一个接一个，他们跪下了。”
（氪金不贴仅极小范围分享）
