Posted by: 劳伦斯·塔利斯曼 2022-11-20, 15:02
第八章:规则之书 Chapter Eight: The Book of Rules
“多么可怕呀…被卷入一场游戏却对规则一无所知。”——卡罗琳·史蒂文默,《巫术与塞西利娅:魔法巧克力壶》» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
How dreadful… to be caught up in a game and have no idea of the rules.
— Caroline Stevermer, Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot
宝剑八 Eight of Swords
https://www.readings4u.net/wp-content/uploads/mage-dynamism-08-upright.png
释义:有序或失序;对能量的运用;感到受困;偏执;脆弱;被孤立…
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Associations: Order or the lack of it; use of energy; feeling fenced in; paranoia; vulnerability; isolation…
这没花多少时间。
耳旁寥寥数语,人群间推推搡搡,合适的香水还有一套足以吸引全场目光的礼服。视线似有似无地像是要表示什么。礼貌地否认。这一切层层叠叠。
而我在这方面很在行。棒极了。
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It didn’t take much.
A few words in the right ears, a little push here and there, the right perfume and a dress to kill for. Glances just significant enough to mean something and yet mean nothing. Plausible deniability. Layers of it.
I’m good at what I do. Very good.
在帕特尔(Patel)进入室内的那一刻起,流言就已经传遍了。你能从他僵住的微笑以及走近时人群深处的窃窃低语看出来。旁观者的目光和那些自以为没有被监视的家伙之间经由耳语传递着问题。审问般的沉重感。
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By the time Patel enters the room, the rumor’s made its rounds. You can see it in the frozen smiles and the little hush that dips into the crowd when he walks in. The sidelong looks and whispered questions that pass between folks who don’t think they’re being watched. The sense of weight that comes from scrutiny.
帕特尔(Patel)现在也感受着这一切。
他脸上的热情笑容失去了少许热忱。一般人不会注意到这些,但是我会。他在名为欢庆活动的伪装下,警惕地扫视着屋内,熟练到让人几乎无法察觉。不过如今现场已然混乱,并且他深知这一点。他眼中的一丝颤栗将会激发他的恐惧心。
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Patel can feel it too.
The welcoming smile on his face loses some of its sincerity. The average person wouldn’t note that, but I do. His cautious scan of the room, practiced enough to be almost undetectable, hides behind a veneer of cheerful celebration. It’s a tough crowd now, though, and he knows it. The flicker in his eyes just might be the start of panic.
真是场好派对,不过不久我就要走人了。在这里的工作已经结束了。
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It was a lovely party, but it’ll soon be time to go. My work here is through.