Chapter 6

chapter six Rover runs. He runs like he did the first time I climbed into his saddle—wild but focused, untamed but agile. And I ride like it's that first time, squeezing the saddle grip so hard I'm afraid it might snap. He's hurtling through Wakefield, navigating the pitch-black roads and alleys and cut-throughs with some sixth sense. After one particularly massive leap and perfect landing, I catch him glancing back at me, giving me a look like, Did you see what I did? Did you think it was cool? Am I the best boy? Yes, he is the best boy. And leaving Rover is gonna hurt like nothing ever hurt before. The only way to make sure it hurts less—is to make sure I'm back to see him again. And that he comes back the same way. "You be safe out there, OK, Rover?" I say as we reach our destination. He purrs, and I pat his side and promise him I'll do the same.

第六章罗孚奔跑。他跑起来就像我第一次爬上他的马鞍时一样——野性而专注，野性而敏捷。 我骑起来就像第一次骑一样，用力握紧鞍把，我怕它会折断。 他在韦克菲尔德飞驰，用第六感在漆黑的道路、小巷和抄近路中穿行。 在一次特别大的跳跃和完美落地后，我发现他回头看了我一眼，好像在说，你看到我做了什么了吗？ 你觉得很酷吗？ 我是最好的男孩吗？是的，他是最好的男孩。 离开罗孚会是前所未有的痛苦。 唯一能减轻痛苦的方法就是确保我能再见到他。 他会以同样的方式回来。 “你在外面很安全，好吗，罗孚？”当我们到达目的地的时候。 它咕噜咕噜地叫着，我拍拍它的腰，答应它我也会这样做。

Hey, it's me, Jack. I'm here again. —So, Warg entombed Bardle in this strange rock structure. She said it's not their custom, the monsters', it's just hers. A way of remembering. And I'm glad she did. This way I feel like I can still talk to him sometimes.

嘿，是我，杰克。我又来了。 -所以，王把巴德尔埋在这个奇怪的岩石结构里。 她说这不是他们的习俗，怪物的习俗，这只是她的习俗。 一种记忆的方式。我很高兴她这么做了。 这样我觉得有时候我还能和他说话。

Over the past few months, whenever I had a lousy day, I would come here and sit by the stone and just talk out loud. It helped. And, yeah, talking to a rock is super weird. But, I mean, there are weirder ways to grieve... I pick at the grass. Pulling out clumps, letting them slip through my fingers, watching the wind carry the green blades.

在过去的几个月里，每当我心情不好的时候，我就会来到这里，坐在石头旁边，大声说话。 它帮助。是的，和石头说话是超级奇怪的。 但是，我的意思是，有更奇怪的方式来悲伤… 我啄草。抽出一簇簇的叶子，让它们从指缝间溜走，看着风吹着绿叶。

"Bardle," I finally say. "I have to do a thing. The craziest Mission: Operation yet. But I don't want to. Which is weird, because epic missions are my thing. I should be ALL ABOUT THIS." Saying the words aloud makes me realize that my fear has zero to do with the dangers of the journey. Sure, the whole thing sounds impossible and there's a high likelihood it will lead to death, but that's not why I'm scared. I'm scared because the ONLY WAY to go and do all of THAT is to leave behind all of THIS. It's got me nervous. Anxious. My wrist is itchy. The Cosmic Hand. "Bardle," I say. "This thing you left me with, the Cosmic Hand? It's itchy. And, buddy, that is a supremely messed-up thing to do—give someone a big important gift, right as you die— and not tell them that it's gonna be really itchy." I shake my head and laugh a little. "I mean, that's like if your great-grandaunt gave you one of those itchy wool sweaters for your birthday,

“巴德尔，”我终于说。“我必须做一件事。 最疯狂的任务：行动。 但是我不想。这很奇怪，因为史诗任务是我的拿手好戏。 我应该全力以赴。” 大声说出这些话让我意识到我的恐惧与旅程的危险无关。 当然，整件事听起来不可能，而且极有可能导致死亡，但这不是我害怕的原因。 我很害怕，因为唯一能做到这一切的方法就是抛下这一切。 这让我很紧张。焦虑。 我的手腕发痒。宇宙之手。 “巴德尔，”我说。“你留给我的那个东西，宇宙之手？” 它是痒。而且，兄弟，这是一件非常糟糕的事情——在你死的时候给别人一份重要的礼物——而不告诉他们这会很痒。” 我摇了摇头，笑了笑。 “我的意思是，这就像你的曾祖母在你生日的时候送了你一件让人发痒的羊毛衫，

made you promise to wear it every day—and then just croaked..."

让你答应每天都戴着它，然后就嘶哑了……”

I've moved tons of times. Never cared. I liked moving. But now? Wakefield, the tree house— it's the first time I've ever had a real home. That's why this is so hard. Because I want to go on an epic adventure. But I also want to stay here and have nothing change ever. I can't have both, though. To do the epic quest, I have to leave. And leaving feels like tearing down everything we've built here. Ending it. I'm just not ready. Looking at the Bardle rock has me recalling the time he tried to do a BMX bike jump even though he'd probably never seen a bike before. And then I'm howling with laughter, delirious, as I remember him sprawled out on the ground in a goofy heap, grumbling, "No more bike jumps." "Are you laughing at my rock?" I turn around. It's Warg. "No. Not at all. I mean—I'm laughing near it." "What is so funny?" Warg asks.

我搬了很多次家。从不关心。 我喜欢移动。但是现在呢?维克菲尔德，树屋，这是我第一次有个真正的家。 这就是为什么这很难。 因为我想进行一次史诗般的冒险。 但我也想留在这里，什么都不改变。 但我不能两者兼得。 为了完成史诗般的任务，我必须离开。 离开就像毁掉我们在这里建立的一切。 结束它。我只是还没准备好。 看着巴德尔岩石，我想起了他尝试小轮车跳跃的时候，尽管他以前可能从未见过自行车。 然后我笑得嚎叫，神志不清，因为我记得他躺在地上，傻乎乎地堆成一堆，嘟囔着：“不要再跳自行车了。” “你在笑我的石头吗？”我转过身来。 Warg。“没有。一点也不。 我的意思是——我在它旁边笑。” “什么事这么好笑？”Warg问道。