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Who knows ... maybe it's better to be like the crystal merchant: never go to Mecca, and just go through life wanting to do so, he thought, again trying to convince himself.
說不定像水晶店老板那樣更好：永遠不去麥加，依靠對麥加的憧憬而活。
But as he held Urim and Thummim in his hand, they had transmitted to him the strength and will of the old king.
但是他手中攥著烏凌和圖明，這兩塊寶石給他撒冷王的意志和力量。
By coincidence—or maybe it was an omen, the boy thought—he came to the bar he had entered on his first day there.
由于機緣巧合，亦或是某種預兆，男孩這樣想著，來到了第一天到這個城市時光顧的那家酒吧。
The thief wasn't there, and the owner brought him a cup of tea.
那個騙子已經不在了，酒吧老板給他端來一杯茶。
I can always go back to being a shepherd, the boy thought.
我隨時都可以重新成為牧羊人，男孩心想。
I learned how to care for sheep, and I haven't forgotten how that's done.
我已經學會了照顧羊群，永遠不會忘記它們的脾性。
But maybe I'll never have another chance to get to the Pyramids in Egypt.
不過，那樣的話我也許沒有機會去埃及金字塔了。
The old man wore a breastplate of gold, and he knew about my past.
老人有一面純金胸牌，并且知道我的經歷。
He really was a king, a wise king.
他是一位真正的王，一位智慧的王。
The hills of Andalusia were only two hours away, but there was an entire desert between him and the Pyramids.
此處距離安達盧西亞平原僅僅兩個小時的船程，但是在他與金字塔之間卻橫亙著一大片沙漠。
Yet the boy felt that there was another way to regard his situation: he was actually two hours closer to his treasure ... the fact that the two hours had stretched into an entire year didn't matter.
但此種境況也讓男孩意識到：他距離自己的寶藏近了兩個小時的路程。盡管他幾乎用了整整一年，才走完這兩個小時的路程。
I know why I want to get back to my flock, he thought.
我知道為什么想回去牧羊。
I understand sheep; they're no longer a problem, and they can be good friends.
我已經熟悉了羊群，它們不會讓我費很大力氣，并且能討我喜歡。
On the other hand, I don't know if the desert can be a friend, and it's in the desert that I have to search for my treasure.
我不知道沙漠能不能讓我喜歡，但是沙漠里卻埋藏著我的財寶。
If I don't find it, I can always go home.
如果找不到那些財寶，我隨時可以返回家園。
I finally have enough money, and all the time I need. Why not?
但是生活突然給了我足夠的金錢，而且又有足夠的時間，為什么不去尋寶呢？
He suddenly felt tremendously happy. He could always go back to being a shepherd. He could always become a crystal salesman again.
那一刻，男孩感到無比快樂。他隨時可以重新去當牧羊人，隨時可以回水晶店。
Maybe the world had other hidden treasures, but he had a dream, and he had met with a king. That doesn't happen to just anyone!
也許世界上還有很多埋藏的寶藏，但是他曾經重復做過同一個夢，并遇見過一位王。這可不是什么人都能經歷的事。
He was planning as he left the bar.
男孩興沖沖地走出酒吧。
He had remembered that one of the crystal merchant's suppliers transported his crystal by means of caravans that crossed the desert.
他想起了水晶店老板的一位供應商，那人是通過商隊，穿越沙漠為他帶來水晶制品的。
He held Urim and Thummim in his hand; because of those two stones, he was once again on the way to his treasure.
男孩手中攥著烏凌和圖明，由于這兩塊寶石，他正重新踏上尋寶之路。
"I am always nearby, when someone wants to realize their personal legend," the old king had told him.
“我總是在那些為實現天命而奮斗的人的身邊。”撒冷王說過。
What could it cost to go over to the supplier's warehouse and find out if the Pyramids were really that far away?
他沒費什么力氣就找到了那家貨棧，他想知道金字塔是否真的非常遙遠。
