“What are you, Varys?” Tyrion found he truly wanted to know. “A spider, they say.” “Spies and informers are seldom loved, my lord. I am but a loyal servant of the realm.” “And a eunuch. Let us not forget that.” “I seldom do.” “People have called me a halfman too, yet I think the gods have been kinder to me. I am small, my legs are twisted, and women do not look upon me with any great
yearning1... yet I’m still a man. Shae is not the first to grace my bed, and one day I may take a wife and sire a son. If the gods are good, he’ll look like his uncle and think like his father. You have no such hope to sustain you.
Dwarfs2 are a jape of the gods... but men make eunuchs. Who cut you, Varys? When and why? Who are you, truly? “ The eunuch’s smile never
flickered3, but his eyes glittered with something that was not laughter. “You are kind to ask, my lord, but my tale is long and sad, and we have treasons to discuss.” He drew a parchment from the sleeve of his robe. “The master of the King’s
Galley4 White Hart plots to slip anchor three days hence to offer his sword and ship to Lord Stannis.” Tyrion sighed. “I suppose we must make some sort of
bloody5 lesson out of the man?” “Ser Jacelyn could arrange for him to vanish, but a trial before the king would help assure the continued
loyalty6 of the other captains.” And keep my royal nephew occupied as well. “As you say. Put him down for a dose of Joffrey’s justice.” Varys made a mark on the parchment. “Ser Horas and Ser Hobber Redwyne have
bribed7 a guard to let them out a postern gate, the night after next. Arrangements have been made for them to sail on the Pentoshi galley Moonrunner, disguised as oarsmen.” “Can we keep them on those
oars8 for a few years, see how they fancy it?” He smiled. “No, my sister would be distraught to lose such treasured guests. Inform Ser Jacelyn. Seize the man they bribed and explain what an honor it is to serve as a brother of the Night’s Watch. And have men posted around the Moonrunner, in case the Redwynes find a second guard short of coin.” “As you will.” Another mark on the parchment. “Your man Timett
slew9 a wineseller’s son this evening, at a
gambling10 den11 on the Street of Silver. He accused him of cheating at tiles.” “Was it true?” “Oh, beyond a doubt.” “Then the honest men of the city owe Timett a debt of
gratitude12. I shall see that he has the king’s thanks.” The eunuch gave a nervous
giggle13 and made another mark. “We also have a sudden plague of holy men. The comet has brought
forth14 all manner of queer priests, preachers, and prophets, it would seem. They beg in the winesinks and pot-shops and
foretell15 doom16 and destruction to anyone who stops to listen.” Tyrion
shrugged17. “We are close on the three hundredth year since Aegon’s Landing, I suppose it is only to be expected. Let them
rant18.” “They are spreading fear, my lord.” “I thought that was your job.” Varys covered his mouth with his hand. “You are very cruel to say so. One last matter. Lady Tanda gave a small supper last night. I have the menu and the guest list for your
inspection19. When the wine was poured, Lord Gyles rose to lift a cup to the king, and Ser Balon Swann was heard to remark, ‘We’ll need three cups for that.’ Many laughed...” Tyrion raised a hand. “Enough. Ser Balon made a jest. I am not interested in treasonous table talk, Lord Varys.” “You are as wise as you are gentle, my lord.” The parchment vanished up the eunuch’s sleeve. “We both have much to do. I shall leave you.” When the eunuch had departed, Tyrion sat for a long time watching the candle and wondering how his sister would take the news of Janos Slynt’s dismissal. Not happily, if he was any judge, but beyond sending an angry protest to Lord Tywin in Harrenhal, he did not see what Cersei could hope to do about it. Tyrion had the City Watch now, plus a hundred-and-a-half fierce clansmen and a growing force of sellswords recruited by Bronn. He would seem well protected. Doubtless Eddard
Stark20 thought the same. The Red Keep was dark and still when Tyrion left the Small Hall. Bronn was waiting in his solar. “Slynt?” he asked. “Lord Janos will be sailing for the Wall on the morning tide. Varys would have me believe that I have replaced one of Joffrey’s men with one of my own. More likely, I have replaced Littlefinger’s man with one belonging to Varys, but so be it.” “You’d best know, Timett killed a man-” “Varys told me.” The sellsword seemed unsurprised. “The fool figured a one-eyed man would be easier to cheat. Timett pinned his wrist to the table with a
dagger21 and ripped out his throat barehanded. He has this trick where he
stiffens22 his fingers-” “Spare me the grisly details, my supper is sitting badly in my belly,” Tyrion said. “How goes your recruiting?” “Well enough. Three new men tonight.” “How do you know which ones to hire?” “I look them over. I question them, to learn where they’ve fought and how well they lie.” Bronn smiled. “And then I give them a chance to kill me, while I do the same for them.” “Have you killed any?” “No one we could have used.” “And if one of them kills you?” “He’ll be one you’ll want to hire.” Tyrion was a little drunk, and very tired. “Tell me, Bronn. If I told you to kill a babe... an infant girl, say, still at her mother’s breast... would you do it? Without question?” “Without question? No.” The sellsword rubbed thumb and
forefinger23 together. “I’d ask how much.” And why would I ever need your Allar Deem, Lord Slynt? Tyrion thought. I have a hundred of my own. He wanted to laugh; he wanted to weep; most of all, he wanted Shae.
点击
收听单词发音
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1
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 |
参考例句： |
- a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
- He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。
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2
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） |
参考例句： |
- Shakespeare dwarfs other dramatists. 莎士比亚使其他剧作家相形见绌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The new building dwarfs all the other buildings in the town. 新大楼使城里所有其他建筑物都显得矮小了。 来自辞典例句
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3
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
- These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。
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4
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； |
参考例句： |
- The stewardess will get you some water from the galley.空姐会从厨房给你拿些水来。
- Visitors can also go through the large galley where crew members got their meals.游客还可以穿过船员们用餐的厨房。
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5
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 |
参考例句： |
- He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
- He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。
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6
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 |
参考例句： |
- She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
- His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。
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7
bribed
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| v.贿赂( bribe的过去式和过去分词 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 |
参考例句： |
- They bribed him with costly presents. 他们用贵重的礼物贿赂他。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- He bribed himself onto the committee. 他暗通关节，钻营投机挤进了委员会。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句： |
- He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
- The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 |
参考例句： |
- He slewed the car against the side of the building.他的车滑到了大楼的一侧，抵住了。
- They dealt with a slew of other issues.他们处理了大量的其他问题。
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 |
参考例句： |
- They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
- The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 |
参考例句： |
- There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
- The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。
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12
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 |
参考例句： |
- I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
- She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
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13
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 |
参考例句： |
- Both girls began to giggle.两个女孩都咯咯地笑了起来。
- All that giggle and whisper is too much for me.我受不了那些咯咯的笑声和交头接耳的样子。
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14
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 |
参考例句： |
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
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15
foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 |
参考例句： |
- Willow trees breaking out into buds foretell the coming of spring.柳枝绽青报春来。
- The outcome of the war is hard to foretell.战争胜负难以预卜。
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 |
参考例句： |
- The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
- The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） |
参考例句： |
- Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
- She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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18
rant
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| v.咆哮；怒吼；n.大话；粗野的话 |
参考例句： |
- You can rant and rave at the fine,but you'll still have to pay it.你闹也好，骂也好，罚金还是得交。
- If we rant on the net,the world is our audience.如果我们在网络上大声嚷嚷，全世界都是我们的听众。
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19
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 |
参考例句： |
- On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
- The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。
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20
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 |
参考例句： |
- The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
- He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。
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21
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 |
参考例句： |
- The bad news is a dagger to his heart.这条坏消息刺痛了他的心。
- The murderer thrust a dagger into her heart.凶手将匕首刺进她的心脏。
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22
stiffens
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| （使）变硬，（使）强硬( stiffen的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句： |
- Heating the foam stiffens it and forms it. 暖气泡沫stiffens它和形式。
- He stiffens in momentary panic. 他心里一阵惊慌，浑身不自在起来。
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23
forefinger
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| n.食指 |
参考例句： |
- He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
- He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
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