一小步与一大步

掉进艺术设计这个大坑……

CHAPTER 1

 Rachel clutched her doll tighter to her chest and stared at the dark thing watching her from the bushes. At least she thought it was watching her. It was hard to tell because the eyes were as dark as the rest of it, except when the light caught them just right; then they gleamed a golden color.

 蕾切尔下意识地抱紧胸前的玩偶，盯着灌木丛中一直凝视她的暗影──至少她认为它在凝视着自己。它与林中阴影融为一体，让人难以分辨，只当微光掠过，它的眼睛闪烁金芒。

 She had seen animals in the woods before, rabbits and raccoons and squirrels and such, but this was bigger. It was as big as her, maybe bigger. Bears were dark. She wondered if it could be a bear.

她在森林中见过许多动物，兔子，浣熊和松鼠等等，可是这一只的体型比那些动物更大，几乎和她个头一样大，也许还要大些。熊大多是黑色的，她想也许它只是一头熊。

 But this wasn't exactly the woods, since it was indoors. She had never been in an indoor woods before. She wondered if indoor woods had animals like the outdoor woods did.

但是这里并不是严格意义上的森林，而是室内园林。她以前从未进入过室内园林，也不知室内园林是否存在和野外森林里一样的野兽。

 She might have been afraid if Chase wasn't there with her. She knew she was safe with him. Chase was the bravest man she ever saw. Still, she was a little afraid. Chase had told her she was the bravest little girl he knew. She didn't want him to think she was afraid of some big rabbit.

如果蔡司没有在她身边，她也许会感到害怕。蔡司是她所见过的最勇敢的人，她深信在他身边自己会很安全。尽管如此，她仍有些许忐忑。蔡司曾夸她是他见过最坚强的小女孩，她不想让他知道自己会被某种大兔子吓到。

 Maybe that's all it was, some big rabbit, sitting on a rock or something. But rabbits had long ears. Maybe it really was a bear. She put her doll's foot in her mouth.

也许它就是仅仅是某只大号兔子，蹲在石头或其他什么东西之上；但是兔子会有长耳朵，或许它其实是头熊。她咬住玩偶的脚。

 She turned and looked down the path, across the pretty flowers and short walls covered with vines, and across the grass to where Chase was talking to Zedd, the wizard. They were standing by a stone table, looking at the boxes, and talking about what to do with them. Rachel was glad that that mean Darken Rahl didn't get them and that he wasn't lever going to be able to hurt anyone again. Rachel turned back to make sure the dark thing wasn't coming any closer to her. It was gone. She looked around, but didn't see it anywhere.

她转身顺着小径望去，目光穿过漂亮的花丛和爬满藤蔓的矮墙，穿过延绵的草地；在那里，蔡司正与巫师Zedd交谈。他们站在石桌边，看着桌上的盒子，讨论着该如何处理它们。蕾切尔庆幸残忍的达肯劳尔没能得到它们，也不能再去伤害更多人。蕾切尔转回去确认那暗影没有继续接近她。它不见了。她环顾四周，杳无踪迹。

 'Sara, where do you think it could have gone?' she whispered.

“塞拉， 你觉得它会跑到哪里去呢？”她轻声问道。

 Her doll didn't have an answer. Rachel bit down on Sara's foot and started walking toward Chase. Her feet wanted to run, but she didn't want Chase to think she wasn't brave. He had said she was brave, and that made her feel good. She looked over her shoulder as she walked, checking, but she didn't see the dark thing anywhere. Maybe it lived in a hole, and it had gone there. Her feet still wanted to run, but she didn't let them.

玩偶默不作声，蕾切尔咬着玩偶的足尖，向蔡司走去。她想径直跑过去，却担心蔡司会觉得她胆小。蔡司夸赞过她的勇敢，那感觉美妙无比。她一边走一边回头张望，并未发现那个暗影的踪迹，也许那东西缩回了它的洞穴之中。她竭力压制下自己双腿奔跑的冲动。

 When Rachel got to Chase, she pushed up against him and hugged his leg. He and Zedd were talking, and she knew it was impolite to interrupt, so she sucked on Sara's foot while she waited.

当蕾切尔走到蔡司身边，她紧靠住他，抱住了他的腿。蔡司与zedd仍然在商议着什么，她知道打断他们是不礼貌的行为，于是她继续吮吸着塞拉的脚，默默等待。

 'So what could happen if you just shut the lid?' Chase was asking the wizard.

“如果你合上盖子会发生什么？”蔡司问道。

 'Anything!' Zedd stuck his skinny arms up in the air. His wavy white hair was smoothed down but it still stuck out in places. 'How should I know? Just because I know what the boxes of Orden are doesn't mean I know what to do with them now that Darken Rahl has opened one. The Magic of Orden killed him for opening it. It could have destroyed the world. It could kill me for closing it. Or worse.'

 Chase sighed. 'Well, we can't just leave them sitting around, can we? Don't we have to do something?'

“任何事情都可能发生。”zedd扬起他细瘦的胳膊道。他波浪状的白发柔顺地披下，但仍有几簇乱发偷偷冒头。“我怎么知道？我知道奥登魔盒是什么不意味着我就知道该怎么处理它们。现在达肯劳尔打开了一个奥登魔盒，奥登的魔法让他付出了生命的代价，它也可能毁掉这个世界。我合上盖子可能会因此送命，也许后果更糟。”

蔡司叹气道，“好吧，但我们不能扔下他们不管不问，对不？我们难道不该做点什么吗？”

 The wizard frowned and looked at the boxes while he was thinking. After more than a minute of quiet, Rachel tugged on Chase's sleeve. He looked down at her.

 'Chase...'

巫师盯着桌上的魔盒，皱眉沉思。片刻静默之后，蕾切尔扯了扯蔡司的袖子，他目光移下，望向她。

“蔡司……”

 '"Chase"? I told you the rules.' He put his hands on his hips and twisted his face up, trying to make it look mean, until she giggled and hugged his leg tighter. 'You've only been my daughter for a few weeks, and already you're breaking the rules. I told you before, you are to call me "Father." None of my children are allowed to call me Chase. Understand?'

 Rachel grinned and nodded. 'Yes, Ch ... Father.'

“蔡司？我告诉过你规矩。”他双手叉腰板起脸，努力装出严厉的样子，却只让她窃笑且把他的腿抱得更紧。“你才当我女儿几个星期就违反了我的规定。我告诉过你，你应当叫我‘父亲’。我的孩子都不许直呼我蔡司，明白不？”

 He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then he mussed her hair. 'What is it?'

他翻了翻眼睛又摇了摇头，抚乱她的头发，“什么事？”

 There's some big animal in the trees. I think it might be a bear, or worse. I think you might need to take out your sword and go have a look.'

“林子里有只很大的动物，我猜是头熊或者别的什么。我想你该拔剑过去瞧瞧。”

 He laughed. A bear! In here?' He laughed again. 'This is an indoor garden, Rachel. There aren't any bears in an indoor garden. Maybe it was a shadow. The light does odd things in here.'

 他笑道，“这里有熊？”他又笑道，“这是室内园林，蕾切尔。室内园林是不会有熊的。也许是影子，这里的光线会弄出些奇怪的名堂。”

 She shook her head. 'I don't think so, Ch ... Father. It was watching me.'

 她摇摇头，“我不这么认为，蔡……父亲。它在看着我。”

 He smiled and mussed her hair again and put his big hand on the side of her face and hugged her head to his leg. 'Then you just stay by me and it won't bother you.'

他微笑着又抚了抚她的头发，大手扶住她的侧脸，把她的脑袋搂在自己腿上，“那你和我待在一起，它就不会困扰你了。”

 She sucked Sara's foot and nodded as he held her head to his leg. She didn't feel so afraid now that his hand was on her, and so looked over to the trees again.

她靠在蔡司的腿上，吮吸着塞拉的脚。他的手让她感到安心，于是她又回头望向树丛。

 The dark thing, mostly hidden by one of the vine-covered walls, darted closer. Rachel bit down harder on Sara's foot and let out a little whimper as she looked up at Chase. He was pointing at the boxes.

暗影隐藏于一段覆着藤蔓的矮墙之后，靠得更加近了。蕾切尔加劲咬住塞拉的脚，呜咽着看向蔡司。他正指着那些盒子。

 'And just what is that thing, that stone, or jewel or whatever it is? Did it come out of the box?'

“这又是什么，这颗石头，或者是珠宝，还是别的什么东西，它是盒子里蹦出来的？”

 Zedd nodded. 'It did. But I don't want to say what I think it is until I'm sure. At least not out loud.'

Zedd点点头，“的确是。但是除非我能确定，我可不想说出我认为它是什么，至少不敢大声说出来。”

 'Father,' Rachel whined, 'it's coming closer.'

“父亲，”蕾切尔哭喊道，“它靠近了。”

 He looked down. 'Good. You just keep your eye on it for me.' He looked back to the wizard. 'What do you mean you don't want to say? Do you think it has something to do with what you said about the veil to the underworld possibly being torn?'

他低头看了看她，“好的，你替我盯着他。”他视线转回巫师这边，“你不想说是什么意思？难道你认为它和可能被撕裂的亡灵界的结界有关吗？”

 Zedd frowned while he rubbed his smooth chin with his skinny fingers and looked down at the black jewel sitting in front of the open box. 'That's what I'm afraid of.'

Zedd细瘦的手指抹着他光滑的下巴，低头看着打开的奥登魔盒前的黑色珠宝，皱眉道，“这正是我所担心的。”

 Rachel looked over to the wall to watch where the dark thing was. She gave a start when she saw the hands reach over the edge of the wall. It was a lot closer.

 But they weren't hands. They were claws. Long curved claws.

蕾切尔的目光转向矮墙那边，搜寻暗影的下落。暗影的手掌搭上墙沿，她吓了一跳。它愈发接近，那也不是手掌，而是爪子──长长的弯曲的爪子。

 She looked up at Chase, at all his weapons, just to be sure he had enough. He had knives, a lot of knives, around his waist, a sword strapped over the back of his shoulder, a big axe hooked to his belt, a few other things that looked like clubs, with sharp spikes sticking out of them, hanging from his belt, too, and a crossbow on his back. She hoped it was enough.

她仰头看蔡司，暗自清点他身上的武器，以确定他有足够多的武器能应付这一切。他匕首满腰，长剑在肩，皮带上别着一柄巨大的斧头，还挂着几根覆满尖刺的钉头锤，背后备有一具弩机。她希望这些武器能派上用场。

 All the weapons scared other men, but they didn't seem to be scaring the dark thing that was coming closer. And the wizard didn't even have a knife. He just wore that plain, tan robe. And he was so skinny. Not big like Chase. But wizards had magic. Maybe his magic could scare the dark thing away.

武器能吓阻旁人，却似乎吓不倒正在靠近的暗影。巫师甚至连匕首也没有。他身着普通棕色长袍，骨瘦如柴，远不如蔡司高大。但是巫师会使用魔法，或许他的魔法能吓走暗影。

 Magic! Rachel remembered the magic fire stick Wizard Giller had given her. She reached into her pocket and put her ringers around it. -Maybe Chase would need her help. She wouldn't let that thing hurt her new father. She would be brave.

魔法！蕾切尔记起巫师吉尔赠予她的魔法火柴。她探手入囊，握住魔法火柴。蔡司也许会需要她的帮助，她绝不允许那东西伤害到她的义父，她应当勇敢。

 'Is it dangerous?'

 Zedd looked up at Chase from under his eyebrows. 'If it's what I think it is, and it were to fall into the wrong hands, "dangerous" wouldn't even begin to describe it.'

“它很危险吗？”

Zedd瞥了蔡司一眼，“如果它是我想到的那东西的话，若落入别有用心之人手里，危险这个词完全不足以形容它的可怕。”

 'Then maybe we should drop it down a deep hole, or destroy it.'

“那么我们应当挖个深坑埋了它，或者毁掉它。”

 'Can't. We may need it.'

“不行，兴许我们还得用到它。”

 'What if we hide it?'

“咱们把它藏起来，如何？”

 That's what I'm thinking. The problem is where. There are things to take into consideration. I need to take Adie to Aydindril and study the prophecies with her before I know for sure what to do with the stone, and what to do about the boxes.'

“这正是我在思考的。问题在于藏在哪儿。还有许多需要斟酌的事务。我得先把Adie带到艾丁吉尔一起研究预言书，希望能弄明白解决这石头和奥登魔盒问题的可靠方法。”

 'And until then? Until you know for sure?'

“那要到什么时候？直到你弄明白之后么？”

 Rachel looked over to the dark thing. It was closer, as close as the wall came to them. With its claws over the top of the wall, it lifted its head up and looked right into her eyes.

蕾切尔紧盯暗影。它靠近了，只余矮墙到他们之间的短短间隔。它爪子勾住矮墙顶端，探出头来，与她目光交接。

 The thing grinned at her, showing long, sharp teeth. Her breath caught in her throat. Its shoulders shook. It was laughing. Rachel's eyes were as big as they would go. She could hear her heartbeats making a whooshing sound in her ears.

 'Father ...' she whined in a small voice.

 暗影向她咧嘴一笑，露出尖锐的长牙。她屏住了呼吸。它双肩抽动，大笑不止。蕾切尔惊恐地瞪大眼睛。她能听见自己急促的心跳声回响于耳际。

“父亲……”她小声哀诉道。

 He didn't look down. He just shushed her. The thing put its leg over the wall and dropped down in front, still looking at her, still laughing. Its shiny eyes looked at Chase and Zedd. It hissed and then laughed as it hunched down.

他没有看她，只是发出嘘声让她安静。暗影翻过矮墙，落在地上，依然盯着她，依然笑着。它闪亮的眼睛转向蔡司和Zedd，发出嘶嘶声，笑着俯下身躯。

 Rachel tugged Chase's pant leg and strained to make her voice work. 'Father ... it's coming.'

蕾切尔使劲拉扯蔡司的裤管，竭力想引起他的重视，“父亲，它朝我们来了。”

 'All right Rachel. Zedd, I still don't know ...'

“好啦，蕾切尔。Zedd，我还是不明白……”

 With a howl the dark thing sprang into the open. It ran like a streak, just a blur of black. Rachel screamed. Chase spun just as it hit him. Claws flashed through the air. Chase fell to the ground as the thing leapt on Zedd.

伴随一声嘶嚎，暗影现身。它奔驰如电，恰似一道朦胧的黑影。蕾切尔发出尖叫。蔡司急速转身却依然被击中，黑暗中利爪闪亮。蔡司倒地，它旋即扑向Zedd。

 The wizard's arms flailed about. Flashes of light shot from Zedd's fingers, bouncing off the dark thing and tearing up dirt or stone where they hit. The thing knocked Zedd to the ground.

 巫师的手臂在空中无序挥动，他的指尖射出闪光，却从暗影身上弹开，转而击中旁边的泥土或石块，将它们撕碎。那东西把Zedd撞倒在地。

 Laughing in a loud howl, it jumped back on Chase as he was pulling his axe from his belt. Rachel screamed again as the claws tore at Chase. The thing was faster than any animal she had ever seen. Its claws were just a blur.

嚎叫中掺合着笑声，它又跳回正在从腰带上抽出斧头的蔡司身上，爪子撕扯着，蕾切尔吓得再次尖叫。这东西比她见过的任何动物都要迅捷，它的爪子快得只能看见一片模糊的轨迹。

 Rachel was terrified Chase was being hurt. It flung the axe out of Chase's hand, laughing that awful laugh. It was hurting Chase. Rachel had the fire stick in her hand.

它发出可怕的笑声，击飞蔡司手中的战斧。它正在伤害着蔡司，蕾切尔恐惧不已，握住手中的魔法火柴。

 She jumped forward and put the fire stick on its back. She screamed the magic words to make the fire stick work. 'Light for me!'

她纵上前去将火柴搁在它的背上，尖声叫出魔咒激发火柴，“为我闪亮！”

 The dark thing burst into flames. It made a horrible scream as it spun to her. Its mouth opened wide, teeth snapping as flames burned all over it. It laughed again, but not like people laughed when they thought things were funny. Its laugh made her skin prickle. It hunched over and started walking toward her, still on fire, as Rachel backed up.

暗影被火焰吞没。它转向她发出恐怖的嚎叫。它张大了嘴，牙齿乱咬，火焰遍布。它又一次大笑，却并非是像人类的欢娱之笑，它的笑使她毛骨悚然。它依然被火焰包围着，弓起身体向蕾切尔迫近，她一步步向后退却。

 Chase let out a grunt as he threw one of the clubs with the sharp spikes sticking out of it. The club hit the thing's back, and stuck in its shoulder. It looked around at Chase and laughed as it reached behind and pulled the club from its back. It started for Chase again.

蔡司闷哼一声，掷出钉头锤，打中那东西的背部，卡在它肩上。它回望蔡司，笑着从背上拔出钉头锤，再次向他奔去。

 Zedd was up. Fire flew from his fingers, covering the thing with even more flames. It laughed at Zedd. All the fire went out. Smoke rose from it. Its body looked the same now as before it got burned. In fact, it had looked like it was dark from being burned even before Rachel had set it on fire.

Zedd站了起来，指尖喷射出火焰，使暗影陷于更猛烈的火势之中。它朝zedd大笑，烈火熄灭，唯余几道黑烟从它身上飘起，全身上下完好无损，事实上，在蕾切尔烧着它之前，它的身躯就黝黑如同被火灼烧过。

 Chase was on his feet, and there was blood on him. Rachel got tears at seeing that. Chase snatched the crossbow off his back and in a blink he shot an arrow. It stuck in the thing's chest. With that terrible laugh it snapped the arrow off.

蔡司也站了起来，身上血迹斑斑，蕾切尔见状心疼地眼中噙泪。蔡司抓起背后的十字弓迅速射出一箭，正中那东西胸膛，伴随着恐怖的笑声，它拔掉了箭。

 Chase threw aside the crossbow and yanked out the sword from over his shoulder, then ran for the thing, jumping over it as he stabbed with the sword. The thing moved so fast Chase missed. Zedd did something that sent the thing tumbling across the grass. Chase put himself in front of Rachel, pushing her back with one hand while he held the sword out in the other.

蔡司把十字弓扔到一旁，猛地拽出肩上的长剑，然后冲向那东西，奋力跃起，擎剑刺下。那东西移动太快以致蔡司未能得手。Zedd用魔法将那东西放翻在草坪上，蔡司趁机挡在蕾切尔身前，一手持剑，另一只手把蕾切尔推向后方。

 The thing sprang to its feet again, looking at each of them.

那东西又翻身而起，打量着他们每个人。

 'Walk!' Zedd yelled at them. 'Don't run! Don't stand still!'

“走！”zedd朝他们喊道，“不要奔跑！不要站定不动！”

 Chase grabbed Rachel's wrist and started walking backward. Zedd started walking backward, too. The dark thing stopped laughing and looked at each of them, blinking. Chase was breathing hard. His chain-mail shirt and the tan leather tunic under it had big rips from the claws. Rachel got more tears at all the blood on him. Blood was running down his arm onto her hand. She didn't want him to be hurt. She loved him something fierce. She clutched Sara and the fire stick tighter.

蔡司紧握住蕾切尔的手腕，向后退行，zedd也开始向后走。暗影停止发笑，看着他们，不停地眨眼。蔡司气喘如牛，他的链甲和内衬的皮甲上有深深的爪痕。血顺着他的胳膊一直流到蕾切尔的手掌上，见他浑身浴血蕾切尔泪如雨下，她不想让他受伤害，她爱他如爱自己的生命。她紧握住塞拉和魔法火柴。

 Zedd stopped. 'Keep walking,' he told Chase.

Zedd驻足，“继续走，”他告诉蔡司。

 The dark thing looked at Zedd standing there, and a big grin with sharp teeth came to its face again. It laughed that awful laugh and tore at the ground as it started in a rush toward the wizard.

暗影见zedd停步，脸上又浮现出露出利齿大笑的神情。它发出可怕的笑声，挠着地面，径直迎着zedd奔去。

 Zedd threw his hands up. Dirt and grass flew up in the air around the thing. It was lifted into the air. Bolts of blue lightning struck it from all around before it hit the ground. It howled in laughter as it thudded to the ground, smoking.

Zedd扬起双手，那东西周围的尘土与草皮连同它自己一齐漂浮在空中，一波蓝色的闪电弹从四面八方射中了它，它咆哮着砰然坠地，浓烟滚滚。

 Something else happened, Rachel couldn't tell what, and the thing stopped with its arms stretched out, like it was trying to run, but its feet were stuck. It howled and twisted, but couldn't move. Zedd's arms swirled around in circles and he threw them out once more. The ground shook as if from thunder and there were flashes of light hitting the thing. It laughed and there was a breaking sound, like wood snapping, and the thing started toward Zedd.

发生了些令蕾切尔不解的事，那东西双臂张开停滞不前，像是试图奔跑但脚被卡住的样子。它怒吼，它挣扎，可是始终不能移动分毫。Zedd的手臂划了几个圆圈，再次挥出。大地震颤如临雷齑，数道闪光劈中那东西。它大笑着，传来木材断裂一般的喀嚓声，它开始向zedd进逼。

 Zedd began walking again. The thing stopped and frowned. Then the wizard stopped and threw his arms out again. A terrible ball of fire went through the air toward the thing as it ran for Zedd. The ball of fire made a loud scream and grew bigger as it flew toward the dark thing.

Zedd又迈步走开。那东西停下，皱眉。然后巫师止步，又伸出了手。那东西奔向站定的zedd。一个硕大无朋的火球临空砸下；发出巨大的破空声，在接近它的同时体积不断膨胀。

 The fire hit so hard it made the ground shake. The blue and yellow light was so bright Rachel had to squint as she was walking backward. The ball of fire stayed in that one place as it burned and made a loud roar.

沉重的撞击震撼了大地。蓝色与黄色的强光使得蕾切尔不得不眯着眼睛向后退去。火球覆盖了那片区域，暗影燃烧着，嘶吼着。

 Smoking, the dark thing stepped out of the fire, its shoulders shaking as it laughed. The flames went out in little sparks that flew around in the air.

暗影从火中走出，身上冒着烟，它抽动肩膀大笑。火焰萎缩成小小的火花飘散在空中。

 'Bags,' the wizard said as he started walking backward.

“见鬼，（原文应当是bugs）”巫师愤懑道，挪动步子向后退。

 Rachel didn't know what 'bags' meant, but Chase had told Zedd not to say it in front of little ears. She didn't know what that meant either. The wizard's wavy, white hair was all messed up and sticking out in clumps.

蕾切尔不懂“鬼”是什么意思，但是蔡司曾经提醒zedd不要在小鬼头面前用这个词，她也不知道“小鬼头”指的是什么。巫师波浪状的白发乱糟糟的，头发一绺一绺地翘起来。

 Rachel and Chase were on the path through the trees, almost to the door. Zedd was walking backward toward them as the dark thing watched. Zedd stopped and the thing started coming again.

蕾切尔和蔡司行走在树丛中的小径上，几乎快到达出口的大门。Zedd在暗影的注视下后退着向他们走去。Zedd一停下，那东西就再次向他扑来。

 Walls of flame shot up in front of it. The air smelled like smoke and roared with noise. The thing stepped through the wall of fire. Zedd made another, and it stepped through that, too.

一排火墙升起横在它之前。空气中弥漫着烟尘，充斥着噪音。那东西信步穿越火墙。Zedd又召唤出一堵火墙，却依然无法阻挡它。

 When the wizard started walking again, it stopped by a short, vine-covered wall, watching. Fat vines ripped off the wall by themselves and grew suddenly longer. They whipped around the dark thing as it stood there, tangling all around it.

当巫师再次走动起来，它停在藤蔓丛生的矮墙边，四下打探。膨大的藤蔓自行从墙上挪下，瞬间伸长，在它立足之地的四周高高扬起，将它缠绕得严严实实。

Zedd was almost up with them.

 'Where are we going?' Chase asked him.

Zedd几乎快赶上他们了。

“我们去哪儿？”蔡司问道。

 Zedd turned. He looked tired. 'Let's see if we can shut it in here.'

Zedd看起来十分疲倦，转身答道，“我们看看是否能把它困在这里。”

 The thing tore at the vines as they pulled it to the ground, and was slicing through them with its sharp claws as the three of them went through the big doorway. Chase and Zedd each took one of the golden metal doors and pushed it shut.

他们三人穿过大门，而那东西被藤蔓拉倒在地，在其间挣扎，用锋利的爪子切割它们。蔡司和zedd各自扶住一扇金色的金属大门，把门关上。

 From the other side came a howl, and then a loud crash. A big dent popped out in the door, knocking Zedd to the ground. Chase put a hand on each door and put all his weight against them as the thing pounded from the other side.

门的另外一头传来嚎叫，接着就是一声巨大的撞击声。门上鼓起一个巨大的突起，把zedd撞倒在地。蔡司双手抵住两扇门，用全身的重量撑在门上，抵抗那东西在另一侧的反复冲击。

 Horrible screeches came through the metal as the thing clawed at the door. Chase was covered with sweat and blood. Zedd jumped to his feet and helped Chase hold the doors closed.

那东西在用爪子抓门，令人牙齿发酸的刺耳噪音透过金属大门传到这一边。蔡司身上满是汗与血污，zedd从地上翻身而起，协同蔡司堵住门。

 A claw stuck through the crack between the two doors and slid down; then another came out from underneath. Through the door, Rachel could hear the thing laughing. Chase grunted as he pushed. The doors creaked.

 一只爪子从门缝之间穿出，沿着缝隙向下滑落，接着另一只爪子从门下面出现。蕾切尔能听见门对面传来那东西的笑声。蔡司死死顶住门，气喘如牛，而门嘎吱作响。

 The wizard stood back and held out his arms, with his fingers up, like he was pushing against the air. The creaking stopped. The thing howled louder.

 Zedd grabbed Chase's sleeve. 'Get out of here.'

巫师退后站定，举起双手，手心朝天，好像他正在推动空气一样。吱呀声消失，那东西放声嚎叫。

Zedd抓住蔡司的衣袖，“离开这里。”

 Chase backed away from the doors. 'Is that going to hold it?'

 'I don't think so. If it comes for you, walk. Running or standing still attracts its attention. Tell anyone else you see.'

蔡司撤离大门，“这能够制住它吗？”

“我可不这么认为。如果它冲向你，步行，奔跑或者站住不动都会吸引它的注意力。把这点转告你遇到的所有人。”

 'Zedd, what is that thing?'

 There was another loud crash and another big dent popped out in the door. The tips of claws broke through the metal and made rips in the door. The noise it made hurt Rachel's ears.

“zedd，那东西是什么？”

又一记撞击声，门上多了一个大突起。它的爪尖穿透了大门，在门面上留下长长的裂口。锐利的噪声刺痛蕾切尔的耳朵。

 'Go! Now!'

 Chase snatched her up with an arm around her waist and started running down the hall.

“趁现在，快走！”

蔡司一只手环在蕾切尔的腰间，拎起她向大厅跑去。

 ?

在上海6年，去过的地方屈指可数，懒人一个。但凡去过的地方都有一段故事，幸或不幸，那些故事我都记得很清楚；每每再次经过，故事便自动重放一次。有几分理解“此情可待成追忆，只是当时已惘然”的感觉了。

见至真至纯之性唯觉似伪

发文纪念我成为股民之后遇见的第一个涨停板。
本人炒股纯属休闲娱乐骗点黑暗料理钱：晚上看看行情，中午挂单，大概半个月收割一次，完全的靠天吃饭，反正赚啊亏啊都没几个钱。
跌停板已经经历过一次，不过当时的情况是看着要跌停冲进去抄底的，吃板了也不肉疼，后来发现出手还嫌太早，收益不高……
倒是研究上市公司信息长了不少见识，收益却是次要的了。

老张不老，博五快要结束，博六就要开始。
且慢，这博士咋读了五年还没读完？
这个问题已经被老张的爸爸妈妈爷爷奶奶叔叔阿姨包括刚学会说话的侄子侄女问了无数
遍，老张的耳朵都快起了老茧，回答也快把嘴皮磨破老茧了。
读个生物博士我容易么我。老张心想。
可是老张父母等不及啦，左邻右舍拼命地问：张爸，你儿子咋读书读到30岁还没个完呢
？还真读上瘾啦？怎么，到现在对象还没找上？那你们老两口可得趁着这个机会好好享享
清福哟……唉，不能和你多说了，我那孙子一准醒了……
老张父母心里那个不是滋味呀。想着当初从老张出生开始，他们为了老张跑在别的孩子
前头，费了多大力气。老张这孩子以县第一名考上名牌大学的时候，老张父母多荣耀。后
来老张又出国了，老张父母多扬眉吐气光宗耀祖。可是这跑着跑着，老张这孩子咋还是不
争气，落到别人后面了呢。眼见着隔壁那跟老张同年的学习不好的王二孩子都光屁股满地
跑了，学说广告词了，这老张咋还对象都没个影呢。
当然了，在老张父母心目中，老张那是老张他爸，而老张依然是张娃子。

老张很想把父母签过来玩玩，可是他离家五年，对父母的感情越来越捉摸不定起来。有
时候他觉得心里很想爸妈，简直想到骨头里去了。但有时候吧，他想到父母那两张喋喋不
休的嘴巴，他就恨不得离他们越远越好。
这周末给家里电话，张爸又唠叨了：隔壁王二他小子今天学会了一句英语了，见人都说
好肚油肚。老张不耐烦地说，那是哪辈子的英语了，人都说howareyou。张爸气愤地说：
你会说有啥了不起，人小孩说稀罕。你啥时候给整个小孩出来说好肚油肚你就烧高香吧。
张妈一看苗头不对立刻从张爸手里抢过电话，边数落张爸“你怎么还老跟孩子急”，然后
对老张说：“儿啊，最近有碰到啥中意的姑娘没？”老张说“中意的姑娘没碰到，小伙倒
是认识了好几个”。张妈柔中带刚地说“你别老和你妈打岔，你看我和你爸也老了，再老
都不能帮你们带孩子了……”老张打呵欠：“那个‘们’一撇还没有呢”。听着老张那吊
儿郎当的口气，张妈的好脾气也受不了了：“你这孩子，咋就不让我和你爸省点心呢？你
看隔壁王二跟你同年的，小孩都学会说英语了……”
每次电话都是这样的死循环，老张每次挂了电话都想，这人生真是三十年河东三十年河
西，想当初小时候父母老是说“再和王二那没出息的厮混，小心我（你爸）打断你的腿！
”或者就是说“跟好学好，跟叫花子学讨，你别老跟着王二学坏，是不是人家讨饭你也跟
着讨饭去？”结果这还没过三十年，就变成了“你看看人家王二，跟你一样大，不但媳妇
娶了，儿子生了，这生的儿子还都会说英语了。”

说真的，老张自己心里也着急。咋不着急？这眼看着大好春光都陪着小白鼠度过，为啥
那红袖添香夜读书的姑娘她就是迟迟不出现呢？难道我老张真的是命犯孤星？不能啊。
总结来总结去，原因只有一个：僧多粥少。
老张在学校五年了，除了第一年，年年接新生。可是接来接去接的都是男生。偶尔接到
个把女生吧，安置下来后就杳无音信。很多女生刚来的时候都有海誓山盟的男友，纯洁美
好的让老张不敢作任何妄想。等几个月一过这些女生同国内男友吹灯拔蜡之后，老张又发
现她们不管丑的美的统让别人捷足先登了。没办法，谁让他除了带TA写paper做实验之外
还得伺候小白鼠呢。
有时老张甚至幻想，有一天某只小白鼠含情脉脉地看着他，偷偷咬他一口。他正要生气
的时候，发现一貌美如花的白衣MM正咬着手指巧笑倩兮地看着他呢。

可是老张的白鼠姑娘依然没有出现，这春节一过，老张立刻被打上了30的标签。虽然老
张自己一再重申这30岁是野蛮的毫无道理的，因为他明明还未满29岁，可是老张爸妈不干
了：“儿子，人家都说30而立，你咋什么都没立呢？书书没念完，老婆老婆没找到，儿子
更是没个影。”
老张还想像往常一样打马虎眼过去，可是老两口认真了：“今年你安排个时间回来，我
们托人找些姑娘你相一相。”
“那哪成？那没有感情基础。”老张嗫嚅地说。
老张爸在电话那头把眼珠子一瞪：“要个屁的感情基础！你要是有那本事找个有感情基
础的，你也不至于到30了还光棍一条！”
老张想再次重申自己还未满30，可是想到电话那头老爸直飙而上的血压，忍了口气，陪
笑说“行，我跟老板商量商量，今年回趟家，找个老婆给我爸生孙子！”老张爸再一吼：
“这是正经事情，别跟你爸嬉皮笑脸的。”“是是”，老张无奈地说。

老张的飞机一落地，老张就不是实验室那个勤勤恳恳伺候小白鼠的老张了。老张是学业
有成年轻有为青年老张。这是老张爸给他的定位。老张对自己的定位稍土一些，头衔叫相
亲别动队。本来他觉得此行是一个搞笑的主题，但当他见到已经老态明显的父母时，忽然
好的让老张不敢作任何妄想。等几个月一过这些女生同国内男友吹灯拔蜡之后，老张又发
现她们不管丑的美的统让别人捷足先登了。没办法，谁让他除了带TA写paper做实验之外
还得伺候小白鼠呢。
有时老张甚至幻想，有一天某只小白鼠含情脉脉地看着他，偷偷咬他一口。他正要生气
的时候，发现一貌美如花的白衣MM正咬着手指巧笑倩兮地看着他呢。

可是老张的白鼠姑娘依然没有出现，这春节一过，老张立刻被打上了30的标签。虽然老
张自己一再重申这30岁是野蛮的毫无道理的，因为他明明还未满29岁，可是老张爸妈不干
了：“儿子，人家都说30而立，你咋什么都没立呢？书书没念完，老婆老婆没找到，儿子
更是没个影。”
老张还想像往常一样打马虎眼过去，可是老两口认真了：“今年你安排个时间回来，我
们托人找些姑娘你相一相。”
“那哪成？那没有感情基础。”老张嗫嚅地说。
老张爸在电话那头把眼珠子一瞪：“要个屁的感情基础！你要是有那本事找个有感情基
础的，你也不至于到30了还光棍一条！”
老张想再次重申自己还未满30，可是想到电话那头老爸直飙而上的血压，忍了口气，陪
笑说“行，我跟老板商量商量，今年回趟家，找个老婆给我爸生孙子！”老张爸再一吼：
“这是正经事情，别跟你爸嬉皮笑脸的。”“是是”，老张无奈地说。

老张的飞机一落地，老张就不是实验室那个勤勤恳恳伺候小白鼠的老张了。老张是学业
有成年轻有为青年老张。这是老张爸给他的定位。老张对自己的定位稍土一些，头衔叫相
亲别动队。本来他觉得此行是一个搞笑的主题，但当他见到已经老态明显的父母时，忽然
意识到他爸说的是正确的：“这是正经事情”。他决心把它当成一个project来搞。

第一个星期老张分别见了A,B,和C。说实在的她们挺好的，长的挺好的，谈吐挺好的，家
境挺好的，什么都挺好的。但是老张相亲的时候老容易走神，这让她们觉得老张这人挺不
靠谱的。A说的是，你这人挺好的，但是我不太想去美国发展，真不好意思。B说的是，你
挺好的，可是我觉得我不适合你。C什么也没有说，礼貌地说了再见，就再也没有见过。
第二个星期老张又见了D,E,F和G。这四个姑娘也都挺好的，老张也没有再走神发呆，他
开始进入状态。他觉得D虽然漂亮，但是学历有点低。E谈吐不错，但长的有点那个，还赶
不上学校女生的平均水平。F挺有趣，但她年龄太小，他怕和她有代沟，跟不上她的步伐
。G各方面平平朝上，但怎么说呢，略显精明，她甚至还说“听说你们生物在国外挺不好
混的”，害的老张一口热茶差点噎进气管里。
第三个星期老张见了H,I,J,K,L...他发现原来世界上单身的女孩还挺多的。但是他见得
越多，她们在他心里就越平面，变得像一张张扑克牌。他抽一张出来还挺好的，再抽一张
出来也挺好的。但一张和一张之间，他看不出有什么分别。
于是后来，老张只好做了一张Excel表格，给她们每人各项打分，再加权平均。外貌的权
重是20％，学历加专业权重20％，做饭手艺权重10％……渐渐的这些活色生香的女孩子在
他心里就变成了一个一个的数字8.5，9.3，7.6……9.3不错，可惜9.3没有看上他。也许
还是8.5好，会做一点饭，人也算温柔，妈说屁股有点大能生孩子……

一个半月的相亲生活，在飞机的轰鸣声中渐渐远去。
老张定了8.5和另一个8.8的作为可行性发展对象，回到学校后继续联系。老张发现原来
从未谈过恋爱的自己居然有不少恋爱天赋，可能是因为隔着屏幕看不到脸，老张的脸皮也
就厚起来。8.5和8.8都挺爱和他聊天的。再后来，老张就定了8.5，因为张妈听介绍人说
8.5的个性好一些，于是就逼着老张和8.8断了。据说8.8为此还哭了，老张说不清楚，感
觉也有点难受，但是既然妈说了8.5就8.5吧，本来就是为了爸妈找的老婆，还是听他们的
吧。

老张和8.5谈了半年的msn恋爱，婚期定了，国庆。
老张其实挺不喜欢国庆结婚的，但是老张的爸妈和8.5的爸妈都挺喜欢的，普天同庆嘛，
再者亲戚朋友也抽的出空来吃酒席。所以老张又跟老板请假。老板有点不高兴，可是人结
婚大事，总不能不让人去，但也很是给了老张几天脸色，并暗示像他这样休假下去六年毕
业都挺困难的。
但老张终于要结婚了啊，老张已经过了29岁生日，再过一年就要满30岁了。古人云30而
立，又云先成家后立业，所以这家是一定要成的了。老张想到终于要有红袖添香了，心底
挺高兴的。但转眼又想到自己真要独自承担起一个家了，心底又有点乱。临近回国，他又
开始想就这样和一个见过几面的人结婚是不是太草率仓促了。可是，一切都在如火如荼的
准备之中，他更像是一只流水线上等待宰割的鸭子。

直航飞机经过气流层，上下颠簸着老张醒来了。其时老张正在梦里快速回放相亲过的ABC
DEFG，以及后来的9.3，7.6，8.5。他恍惚地睁开朦胧的眼睛，看见飞机椅背上的飞机航
行状态图，原来真的是三万英尺。他想起大学毕业时候吼的歌，悄悄爱过的女孩，想起她
的长长黑发，透明眼睛，芊芊背影。她的笑声，她在操场上跑过的姿势，每一丝每一时都
那么立体。老张不由得想出了神。
他终于明白为什么自己在和ABC相亲的时候会走神：他在想她。
他终于明白为什么自己总是在追女生的时候后知后觉：他一直爱她。
原来他的潜意识里，是有一个女孩的，只是他一直强迫着自己遗忘。
这世上竟然没有真正的相忘于江湖。至少他老张没有做到。但，又怎么样呢，此刻他已
是一个待婚的男人。

下了飞机，老张在接机口看到了他的8.5。老张看过她很多照片，所以一眼认出她来。她
有点羞涩的笑着，挥手叫老张的名字。老张拖着行李箱大踏步地走过去，一直走到她面前
。老张的手在衣兜里摸到一枚戒指，这戒指是用来向她求婚的。但老张终究没有在众目睽
睽之下单膝跪地，他把戒指塞到她手里，她说“谢谢”。因为这事情早就计划好，这也就
算求婚成功了。

婚礼办的盛大而热闹，东方而西方。老张的姑姑说老张穿着西服也有点人模狗样起来了
，老张的阿姨说这就叫佛靠金装人靠衣装。酒店里宾客来来往往，热热闹闹，老张父母简
直比老张还激动，脸上笑起的皱纹好像绽放着一朵大菊花。
老张站在台上，听着欢快的音乐以及嘈杂人声，忽然想这究竟是不是一场梦。或者自己
是主持人，身边的主持人才是新郎。但他有点想不通自己到底是怎么卷入这一场闹剧里来
。可是忽然一切都安静下来，婚礼进行曲响起，红地毯的一端，是他的新娘披着白纱，挽
着她父亲的手臂款款走来。
不知为什么，老张忽然有些不忍看这一幕，抑或是不敢。他偏过头，看到主宾席上盛装
的父母婆娑泪眼中期待的目光。他忽然明白，他是在这期待的目光里越走越远：他在这期
待的目光里迈出人生的第一步，他在这期待的目光里独自踏上北上的列车，他在这期待的
目光里抛下曾经的她赴美追逐梦想，他又是在这期待的目光里一次又一次地流水相亲。而
此刻，他在这从未改变的期待的目光里，不能不再次勇敢地直面现实，甜蜜而微苦地傻笑
着伸手接过他8.5的妻。

祝老张幸福。

本周A股很强大，周边股市跌声一片，唯我A股独善其身。
想上期推荐万科A，中国铝业和五粮液，跟着大盘一波涨幅不大。其实当时也看中陆家嘴和燕京啤酒没说，陆家嘴由于迪斯尼利好暴涨，燕京啤酒涨了一阵子，开始调整，都算不错。
妖股有很多，有基本面良好的东方电气，复星医药和福田汽车，还有什么川大智胜，东方雨虹，天坛生物和恩华药业，算了这都不是咱们敢进去玩的……本周股指登上30日均线，估计会有一波年前行情，看了一圈下来，如果是追涨，医药板块可以看看；燕京啤酒技术面上看可以吃进一部分，但是也就做这年前一波短线。如果胆大就去玩太行水泥，外高桥一类的妖怪吧，A股看不懂啊看不懂……现在没啥经验，勉强充作技术流。
btw，二月行情不看好，但是可以逢低介入。三月预期上来了，应该有一波，不到3000点IPO怎么办。

DNA 楼梯

解构木楼梯

漂浮的玻璃楼梯

大石头里的超级楼梯(200米的巨型花岗岩，649级台阶)

作为艺术品一部分的楼梯

音乐楼梯

超紧凑楼梯(以前发过)

兼作书架的楼梯

波浪起伏的一体化楼梯(以前发过)

有储物柜的楼梯

倒挂的楼梯

危险的漂浮楼梯

滑板爱好者楼梯

带滑梯的螺旋形楼梯(下楼超快啊)

无穷尽的台阶(印度 Chand Baori，分13层有3500级踏步)

设计者Ronel Jordaan 来自南非。作者连接