魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第3部分

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were　a　noble　people；　ripped　from　their　homes　and　enslaved；　both　by　demons　and　by　humans。　Enslaved　orcs　had　
always　been　filthy　and　unkempt。　As　a　free　orc　living　in　Durotar　under　the　benign　rule　of　the　great　warrior　Thrall；
Bolik　felt　it　was　important　to　look　as　little　like　the　slaves　of　old　as　possible。　That　meant　grooming；　as　alien　a　
concept　as　that　might　have　been　to　most　orcs；　and　it　was　something　he　expected　in　his　crew　as　well。　

Certainly　it　was　true　of　Rabin；　who　had　taken　to　the　captain　s　instructions　far　better　than　most　of　ath　ar　s　crew。
Rabin　kept　his　eyebrows　trimmed；　his　tusks　and　teeth　cleaned；　his　nails　polished　and　sharp；　and　kept　decoration　to　a
tasteful　minimum　just　a　nose　ring　and　a　tattoo。　

In　answer　to　Bolik　s　question；　Rabin　said；　Well；　everything　in　the　world　serves　some　purpose；　don　t　it；　sir？　I　mean；
the　water；　it　s　there　to　be　givin　　us　fish　to　eat　and　a　way　of　travelin　　by　boat。　The　air　s　there　to　be　givin　　us
something　to　breathe。　The　ground　gives　us　food；　too；　not　to　mention　somethin　　to　build　our　homes　on。　We　re　
makin　　boats　with　what　the　trees　give　us。　Even　rain　and　snow　they　re　givin　　us　water　we　can　drink；　unlike　the　sea。
All　that　means　something。　　

Rabin　turned　his　attention　to　sharpening　Bolik　s　nails；　and　so　Bolik　leaned　back。　His　stool　was　situated　near　the　
cabin　bulkhead；　so　he　leaned　against　that。　But　fog　means　nothing？　　

All　it　does；　really；　is　get　in　the　way　without　givin　　us　nothin　。　　

Bolik　smiled；　his　freshly　cleaned　teeth　shining　in　the　cabin　s　dim　lanternprovided　illumination。　The　porthole
provided　none　such；　thanks　to　the　very　fog　that　Rabin　was　now　plaining　about。　The　captain　asked；　But　snow
and　rain　get　in　the　way；　too。　　

True　enough；　Captain；　true　enough。　　Rabin　finished　sharpening　the　thumb　and　moved　on　to　the　other　fingers。　But；
like　I　said；　snow　and　rain　got　themselves　a　greater　purpose。　Even　if　they　do　get　in　the　way；　leastaways　there　s　a　
benefit　to　be　makin　　up　for　it。　But　tell　me；　sir；　what　does　the　fog　do　to　make　up　for　it？　It　keeps　us　from　seein　　where　
we　goin　；　and　don　t　give　us　nothing　back。　　

Perhaps。　　Bolik　regarded　his　batman。　Or　perhaps　we　simply　haven　t　learned　its　benefit　yet。　After　all；　there　was　a　
time　when　we　did　not　know　that　snow　was　simply　frozen　rain。　The　orcs　then　saw　snow　only　as　the　same　kind　of　
problem　that　you　now　see　fog　as。　Eventually；　its　true　purpose　as　you　said；　to　provide　us　with　water　to　drink　during　
the　colder　seasons　was　learned。　So　it　is　not　the　fault　of　the　fog；　but　ours　for　not　yet　seeing　the　truth。　And　that　is　as
it　should　be。　The　world　tells　us　what　we　need　to　know　when　we　are　ready　to　know　it　and　not　before。　That　is　the　way　
of　things。　　

Rabin　considered　the　captain　s　words　as　he　finished　sharpening　and　started　buffing。　I　suppose　that　might　be　so。
But　that　don　t　do　us　much　good　today；　though；　does　it；　sir？　　

No；　it　does　not。　How　is　the　crew　dealing　with　it？　　

As　well　as　can　be；　I　suppose；　　Rabin　said　with　a　shrug。　Lookout　says　he　can　t　see　the　tusks　in　front　of　his　face　
from　up　there。　　

Bolik　frowned。　The　rocking　of　the　boat　had　been　fairly　constant；　but　now　it　seemed　to　bounce　a　bit　more。　That
usually　meant　they　were　being　affected　by　the　wake　of　another　vessel。　

Rising　from　the　stool　while　Rabin　was　in　midsharpen；　Bolik　said；　We　ll　finish　this　later；　Rabin。　　
　
Getting　up　off　his　knees；　Rabin　nodded　his　head。　Very　well；　Captain。　　

Bolik　grabbed　his　father　s　mace　and　exited　his　cabin　into　the　narrow　corridor　beyond。　ath　ar　which　Bolik　had
named　after　ath；　his　noble　father　and　the　original　owner　of　the　mace；　who　died　fighting　the　Burning　Legion
had　been　built　by　goblins；　since　he　wanted　only　the　best。　The　shipbuilder；　a　sharp　old　goblin　named　Leyds；　had
assured　Bolik　that　he　would　make　the　corridors　extra　wide　to　acmodate　orcs　　greater　girth。　Unfortunately；　the　
short　goblin　s　notions　of　extra　wide　　were　less　generous　than　Bolik　s；　so　the　captain　was　barely　able　to　squeeze　his
massive　frame　through　to　the　staircase　that　led　to　the　deck。　

As　he　walked　up　the　stairs；　he　saw　his　first　mate；　Kag；　stop　himself　from　ing　down。　I　was　just　ing　to　see　
you；　sir。　　Kag　smiled；　his　long　tusks　almost　poking　his　eyes。　Should　ve　known　you　d　feel　the　change。　　

Bolik　chuckled　as　he　came　up　to　the　deck。　As　soon　as　he　arrived；　he　regretted　not　calling　Kag　back　downstairs　to
meet　him。　The　fog　was　almost　thick　enough　to　cut　with　his　sword。　He　knew　ath　ar　well　enough　to　walk　to　the
edge　of　the　deck　without　being　able　to　see　where　he　was　going；　but　now　that　was　the　only　way　to　get　there。　Kag　
followed；　standing　practically　nose　to　nose　with　the　captain　so　they　could　see　each　other。　

Realizing　that　he　wasn　t　going　to　be　able　to　see　any　other　ships　indeed；　he　barely　had　any　empirical　evidence　that
they　were　actually　in　a　body　of　water；　since　he　could　hardly　see　that　he　turned　to　his　first　mate。　What　is　it？　　

Kag　shook　his　head。　Hard　to　say。　Lookout　can　t　see　much。　He　s　caught　glimpses　of　a　ship；　but　sometimes　he
thinks　it　s　one　of　the　Theramore　military　convoys　other　times；　he　says　he　looks　nothing　like　any　regular　human　or　
orc　boat。　　

What　do　you　think？　　

Without　hesitating；　Kag　said；　Lookout　wouldn　t　say　if　he　wasn　t　sure。　If　he　says　he　saw　Theramore　military；　then
says　something　else；　that　means　he　saw　something　different　the　first　time。　I　think　it　s　two　ships。　Besides；　the　wake　s
enough　for　two；　or　for　one　going　　round　in　circles。　This　fog；　one　s　as　like　as　the　other。　　

Bolik　nodded　his　agreement。　Their　lookout；　Vak；　could　look　at　two　specks　on　the　horizon　and　tell　you　which　was
the　fishing　boat　and　which　the　troop　carrier。　Probably　tell　you　whether　or　not　the　fishing　boat　was　built　by　gnomes
or　humans；　too；　and　whether　the　troop　carrier　was　made　before　or　after　the　Burning　Legion　s　invasion。　Three　ships
this　close　is　asking　for　trouble。　We　may　need　to　sound　the　horn。　Get

Ship　ho！　　

Casting　his　glance　up　the　mast；　Bolik　tried　to　see　Vak；　but　the　mast　above　his　head　was　swallowed　by　fog。　Vak　s
voice　carried　down　from　what　humans　called　the　crow　s　nest；　　for　reasons　Bolik　never　understood　he　knew　that
a　crow　was　a　type　of　bird；　but　he　wasn　t　sure　what　its　nest　had　to　do　with　a　lookout　post　but　the　captain　could　not　
see　him。　

Kag　called　up。　What　do　you　see？　　

Ship　approaching！　Humans！　Not　flying　no　colors　I　can　see！　　

What　about　the　military　ship？　　

Can　t　see　　em　now；　but　caught　em　a　second　ago！　Runnin　　parallel　now！　　

Bolik　didn　t　like　this。　A　human　ship　flying　no　colors　usually　meant　pirates。　It　might　not　have　flying　colors　was
almost　pointless　in　fog　like　this　and　they　might　simply　have　been　unable　to　see　the　orc　ship。　Bolik　wasn　t　about　to
risk　the　possibility　or　his　cargo。　If　the　crates　in　his　hold　weren　t　safely　delivered　to　Razor　Hill；　Bolik　didn　t　get
paid；　which　meant　the　crew　didn　t　get　paid。　Days　the　crew　lost　wages　were　never　good　days　to　be　a　shipmaster。　
　
Sound　the　horn。　And　put　guards　on　the　cargo　hold。　　

Kag　nodded。　Yes；　sir。　　

Harpoons！　　

At　Vak　s　cry；　Bolik　cursed。　Harpoons　meant　only　one　of　two　things。　One　was　that　the　other　ship　had　mistaken
ath　ar　for　a　large　seafaring　creature　such　as　a　whale　or　a　sea　serpent。　The　other　was　that　they　were　pirates　and
the　harpoons　were　attached　to　boarding　lines。　

Since　sea　serpents　and　whales　didn　t　migrate　this　far　north　as　a　general　rule；　Bolik　felt　safe　in　assuming　it　was　the
latter。　

The　harpoons　slammed　into　the　deck；　the　side　of　the　staircase　that　led　belowdecks；　and　other　places　Bolik　couldn　t
see　in　the　fog。　Then　the　lines　that　were　attached　to　them　went　taut。　

Prepare　for　boarders！　　Kag　cried。　

Bolik　heard　a　voice　say；　Cut　the　lines！　　

The　sound　of　a　fist　hitting　flesh　was　followed　by　Kag　saying；　Don　t　be　a　fool！　Swords　can　t　cut　through　those　
ropes；　and　you　ll　leave　yourself　open。　　

Any　other　conversation　was　cut　short　by　the　sudden　arrival　of　the　very　boarders　in　question；　appearing　as　if　by　
magic　in　the　fog。　They　were　human；　Bolik　saw；　and　not　in　any　kind　of　military　uniform。　Beyond　that；　Bolik　wasn　t
sure　what　they　were　wearing　humans　　fascination　with　outerwear　beyond　what　was　absolutely　necessary　was
something　that　had　always　baffled　Bolik。　He　knew　what　Lady　Proudmoore　s　military　wore；　but　that　was　it。　

Kill　the　pirates！　　Bolik　cried；　but　his　crew　needed　no　such　prompting。　The　battle　was　joined。　Bolik　lifted　his
father　s　mace　in　his　right　hand　and　swung　it　at　the　closest　human；　who　ducked　out　of　the　way；　then　lunged　with　his
sword。　

Bolik　parried　the　sword　with　his　left　arm；　but　by　the　time　he　was　able　to　whirl　the　mace　around　his　head　for　a　
second　strike；　the　human　had　gotten　his　sword　up　to　block　the　mace。　However；　when　he　leaned　in　to　do　so；　the　
human　moved　his　stomach　closer　to　Bolik；　making　it　easy　for　the　orc　captain　to　punch　his　foe　with　his　fist。
Doubling　over　in　pain　and　coughing；　the　human　collapsed　to　the　deck；　and　Bolik　brought　his　mace　down　on　the　
back　of　the　human　s　neck。　

Two　more　then　leapt　in　front　of　Bolik；　no　doubt　expecting　him　to　cower　at　twotoone　odds。　But　Bolik　was　made　of
sterner　stuff。　Though　born　a　slave　in　this　world；　he　had　been　freed　by　Thrall；　and　swore　he　would　never　cower
before　a　human　again。　He　had　fought　alongside　them；　true；　but　never　would　he　bow　to　one　as　an　inferior。　

Nor　to　two　who　came　at　him　with　swords。　

The　pirate　to　his　left　attacked　with　his　blade　a　curved　one　of　a　type　Bolik　had　seen　only　once　before　while　the　
one　on　his　right　swung　two　shorter　swords。　Bolik　blocked　the　curved　blade　with　his　left　arm；　though　this　time　the
edge　bit　into　his　forearm；　while　using　the　mace　to　deflect　one　of　the　two　short　swords。　The　other　short　sword　missed
Bolik　s　chest　by　a　hair。　

Although　the　movement　sent　searing　pain　through　his　left　arm；　Bolik　brought　the　limb　swiftly　downward；　the　blade　
still　stuck　in　it。　His　superior　strength　and　leverage　meant　that　the　foe　on　his　left　was　now　disarmed；　his　weapon
lodged　in　Bolik　s　own　flesh。　Kicking　at　the　pirate　to　his　right；　Bolik　grabbed　the　head　of　the　one　on　his　left　and
pushed　down；　forcing　the　pirate　to　his　knees。　
　
The　one　with　the　short　swords　flailed　as　he　stumbled　to　the　deck；　managing　to　avoid　a　legbreaking　kick；　but　unable
to　keep　his　balance　in　the　bargain。　

Bolik；　still　with　his　massive　left　hand　on　the　head　of　the　curvedswordholding　pirate；　cast　that　fool　aside。　The　
human　s　head　hit　the　mast　with　a　satisfying　thud。　

However；　that　move　gave　the　other　one　a　chance　to　regain　his　footing。　Even　as　he　lunged　with　his　two　tiny　swords；
Bolik　leaned　back　and　to　his　right；　straightened　his　right　arm　behind　him；　then　swung　the　mace　over　his　head；
bringing　it　smashing　down　on　the　human　s　skull；　killing　him　instantly。　

Vak！　　Bolik　yelled　up　the　mast　as　he　removed　the　curved　sword　from　his　arm　and　tossed　it　to　the　deck　next　to　its
insensate　owner。　Sound　the　horn！　　The　pirates　likely　didn　t　know　the　orcish　tongue；　and　so　wouldn　t　expect　it
when　the　foghorn　went　off。　

Seconds　later；　an　earsplitting　noise　filled　the　air。　Bolik　was　prepared　for　the　sound　that　felt　as　if　it　vibrated　his　very　
bones；　as　were　his　crew；　he　assumed　he　couldn　t　really　see　most　of　them。　

The　humans　that　Bolik　could　see　were　caught