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And so it came to pass
就這樣，
that a heavily guarded caravan soon departed from Damascus
一輛蓋得嚴嚴實實的馬篷車從大馬士革出發了。
carrying certificates of ownership and gold
車上裝載著各種證明文件和黃金，
for those who managed each of Hafid's trade emporiums.
就要分送到海菲的每個帳房手中。
From Obed in Joppa to Reuel at Petra,
從喬泊的歐貝特到帕特拉的魯爾，
each of the ten managers received word of Hafid's retirement
每個帳房都收到了海菲的厚禮。
and gift in stunned silence.
他們得知主人退休的消息，個個目瞪口呆，不知說什么好。
Eventually,after making its last stop at the emporium in Antipatris,
篷車駛過最后一站，
the caravan's mission was complete.
它的使命就全部完成了。
The most powerful trade empire of its time was no more.
于是，曾經顯赫一時的商業王國從此不復存在。
His heart heavy with sadness,
伊拉瑪心情沉重，覺得很難過。
Erasmus sent word to his master that the warehouse was now empty
他差人稟告主人，說庫房已經空空如也，
and the emporiums no longer bore the proud banner of Hafid.
各地分行再也看不到那人人引以為榮的海菲王國的旗幟。
The messenger returned with a request
不久，傳話的人回來說
that Erasmus meet with his master
主人要馬上見他，
by the fountain in the peristyle, immediately.
要他在噴水池旁等著。
Hafid studied his friend's face and asked,
噴水池旁，海菲深深地端詳著伊拉瑪，然后問道：
"Is it done?"
“事情辦完了嗎？”
"It is done*
“都辦完了。”
"Grieve not, kind friend, and follow me."
“別難過，老伊，跟我來。”
Only the sound of their sandals echoed in the giant chamber as Hafid led Erasmus toward the marble stairway at the rear.
海菲領著伊拉瑪，向后面的大理石階梯走去。
His steps momentarily slowed
闊大的房子里，
as he neared a solitary murrhine vase
只有他們的涼鞋“嗒嗒”響著。
on a tall stand of citrus wood
當他們走近一個擱置的柑木架上的大花瓶時，
and he watched as the sunlight changed the glass from white to purple.
海菲的腳步突然慢了下來。花瓶在太陽光里由白色變成了紫色。
His old face smiled.
看著它，海菲那飽經滄桑的臉上綻開笑容。
Then the two old friends began to climb the inner steps that led to the room inside the palace dome.
接著，兩個人開始攀登內梯，階梯一直通向藏在大廈圓頂里面的房間。
Erasmus took notice that
伊拉瑪這才發現，
the armed guard, always present at the foot of the steps, no longer was there.
往日守在階梯口處的武裝警衛已經不在了。
Finally they reached a landing and paused
他們爬上一個樓梯平臺，停下來歇息，
since both were without breath from the exertion of the climb.
兩個人都累得上氣不接下氣。
Then they continued on to a second landing
當他們爬上第二個平臺時，
and Hafid removed a small key from his belt.
海菲從腰帶上取下一把小鑰匙，
He unlocked the heavy oak door
打開那沉重的橡木門。
and leaned against it until it creaked inwards.
他把身體靠在門上，門軋軋地向里面推開了。
