《牧羊少年奇幻之旅》 68 少女希望男孩继续前行

"We don't know when the war will end, so we can't continue our journey," he said.

“不知道战争什么时候结束，所以仍然不能继续我们的行程。”他说，

"The battles may last for a long time, perhaps even years.

“双方都在为荣誉而战，战斗可能会持续很长时间，也许是很多年。

There are powerful forces on both sides, and the war is important to both armies.

他们都有勇敢而强悍的士兵。

It's not a battle of good against evil¹.

这不是一场正义与邪恶的较量，

It's a war between forces that are fighting for the balance of power, and, when that type of battle begins, it lasts longer than others—because Allah is on both sides."

而是双方力量的比拼。这类战争一旦爆发，比其他战争拖延的时间更长，因为安拉既站在这一边，也支持那一方。”

The people went back to where they were living, and the boy went to meet with Fatima that afternoon. He told her about the morning's meeting.

人们四散而去。那天下午，男孩又在井边见到了法蒂玛，并告诉她开会的事。

"The day after we met," Fatima said, "you told me that you loved me.

“咱们俩相识的第二天，你向我表白了你的爱，

Then, you taught me something of the universal language and the Soul of the World. Because of that, I have become a part of you."

后来你又告诉我一些美好的事，比如世界之魂和宇宙的语言。这一切使我渐渐依恋上你。”

The boy listened to the sound of her voice, and thought it to be more beautiful than the sound of the wind in the date palms.

在男孩听来，她的声音比清风吹拂椰枣树叶还要动听。

"I have been waiting for you here at this oasis² for a long time.

“我一直在这井边等待着你。

I have forgotten about my past, about my traditions, and the way in which men of the desert expect women to behave.

我已经记不得我的过去，记不得传统，记不得沙漠中男人期待女人怎样行事。

Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed that the desert would bring me a wonderful present.

我从小就梦想着沙漠给我带来生命中最好的礼物。

Now, my present has arrived, and it's you."

这个礼物终于来了，那就是你。”

The boy wanted to take her hand. But Fatima's hands held to the handles of her jug³.

男孩想去牵她的手，但是法蒂玛正抓着陶罐耳。

"You have told me about your dreams, about the old king and your treasure. And you've told me about omens⁴.

“你对我讲了你做的梦、撒冷王，还有你的宝藏。你对我讲了那些预兆。

So now, I fear nothing, because it was those omens that brought you to me.

于是我什么都不担心了，因为正是那些预兆把你带到了我面前。

And I am a part of your dream, a part of your personal legend, as you call it."

我是你梦的一部分，是你常提到的天命的一部分。”

"That's why I want you to continue toward⁵ your goal.

“所以我希望你继续前行，去追寻你的梦想。

If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait.

如果必须等到战争结束，那就等。

But if you have to go before then, go on in pursuit⁶ of your dream.

但是，如果你想提前启程，那就去追寻天命。

The dunes⁷ are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes.

沙丘会随风改变形状，但沙漠永远存在。

That's the way it will be with our love for each other."

我们的爱情也如此。”

"Maktub," she said. "If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day."

“马克图布。”她最后说，“如果我是你天命的一部分，总有一天你会回来。”

1 evil   

n.邪恶，不幸，罪恶；adj.邪恶的，不幸的，有害的，诽谤的

参考例句：

• We pray to God to deliver us from evil.我们祈求上帝把我们从罪恶中拯救出来。
• Love of money is the root of all evil.爱钱是邪恶的根源。

2 oasis   

n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方

参考例句：

• They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
• The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。

3 jug   

n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂

参考例句：

• He walked along with a jug poised on his head.他头上顶着一个水罐，保持着平衡往前走。
• She filled the jug with fresh water.她将水壶注满了清水。

4 omens   

n.前兆，预兆( omen的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The omens for the game are still not propitious. 这场比赛仍不被看好。 来自辞典例句
• Such omens betide no good. 这种征兆预示情况不妙。 来自辞典例句

5 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

6 pursuit   

n.追赶，追求，职业，工作

参考例句：

• They set off at once along the lane in pursuit.他们立即出发沿着小巷追赶。
• Life,liberty,and the pursuit of happiness have been called the inalienable rights of man.生命、自由和追求幸福被称为人类不可剥夺的权利。

7 dunes   

沙丘( dune的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The boy galloped over the dunes barefoot. 那男孩光着脚在沙丘间飞跑。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat. 将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。