評論
打印
The old man had spoken about signs and omens, and, as the boy was crossing the strait, he had thought about omens.
老人跟他談起過預兆。在穿越海峽的途中，圣地亞哥曾思考過預兆的事。
Yes, the old man had known what he was talking about:
是的，老人知道他說這話的意思。
during the time the boy had spent in the fields of Andalusia,
在安達盧西亞原野上的時候，
he had become used to learning which path he should take by observing the ground and the sky.
他就已經(jīng)習慣了觀察大地和天空，據(jù)此判斷自己應該選擇走哪條路。
He had discovered that the presence of a certain bird meant that a snake was nearby,
他知道什么鳥預示著附近有蛇，
and that a certain shrub was a sign that there was water in the area.
哪種灌木表明幾公里之外有水源。
The sheep had taught him that.
這都是羊群教會他的。
If God leads the sheep so well, he will also lead a man, he thought, and that made him feel better. The tea seemed less bitter.
既然上帝把羊群引領得這么好，也一定會引領好人類。這樣一想，男孩心里就坦然多了，茶也顯得不那么苦了。
"Who are you?" he heard a voice ask him in Spanish.
“你是誰？”男孩忽然聽到一個人用西班牙語問道。
The boy was relieved. He was thinking about omens, and someone had appeared.
男孩大大地松了一口氣。正想著征兆的事，就有人出現(xiàn)在他面前。
"How come you speak Spanish?" he asked.
“你怎么會說西班牙語？”圣地亞哥問。
The new arrival was a young man in Western dress, but the color of his skin suggested he was from this city.
來的是個洋打扮的少年，但他皮膚的顏色表明，他應該是這個城市的人。
He was about the same age and height as the boy.
他的年齡和身高與圣地亞哥相差無幾。
"Almost everyone here speaks Spanish. We're only two hours from Spain."
“這里幾乎所有人都說西班牙語。從我們這兒到西班牙也就兩個小時。”
"Sit down, and let me treat you to something," said the boy. "And ask for a glass of wine for me. I hate this tea."
“請坐，我請你喝一杯，你自己點吧，也給我點一杯紅酒，我討厭這茶。”男孩說。
"There is no wine in this country," the young man said. "The religion here forbids it."
“這個國家沒有紅酒。”少年說，“教會不允許喝酒。”
The boy told him then that he needed to get to the Pyramids.
圣地亞哥告訴少年，他必須前往金字塔。
He almost began to tell about his treasure, but decided not to do so.
他差點就說出財寶的事，但最終決定保守秘密。
If he did, it was possible that the Arab would want a part of it as payment for taking him there.
這阿拉伯人很可能會向他要一部分財寶，作為帶他去金字塔的報酬。
He remembered what the old man had said about offering something you didn't even have yet.
他想起了老人對他說過的話，東西未到手，不應輕易許下諾言。
"I'd like you to take me there if you can. I can pay you to serve as my guide."
“如果可以，我很希望你帶我去那里，我可以付給你報酬。
"Do you have any idea how to get there?" the newcomer asked.
你知道怎樣才能到達那里嗎？”
The boy noticed that the owner of the bar stood nearby, listening attentively to their conversation.
圣地亞哥發(fā)現(xiàn)酒吧的老板就在近旁，正注意傾聽他們談話。
He felt uneasy at the man's presence.
這讓他覺得很別扭。
But he had found a guide, and didn't want to miss out on an opportunity.
不過，為了找到向?qū)В荒苠e失良機。
"You have to cross the entire Sahara desert," said the young man.
“你必須穿過整個撒哈拉大沙漠。”少年說，
"And to do that, you need money. I need to know whether you have enough."
“穿越沙漠需要錢。我想知道你是否有足夠的錢。”
The boy thought it a strange question.
男孩認為這個問題有點怪。
But he trusted in the old man, who had said that, when you really want something, the universe always conspires in your favor.
但是他相信那位老人，老人曾對他說，當你想要某種東西時，整個宇宙會合力助你實現(xiàn)愿望。
