我嘞个分了八部分

要完结了吗

第十七章
GAIA STIRRED AGAIN from her slumber when the gods mentioned Kratos.
当众神提及奎托斯时，盖亚再次从沉睡中苏醒。
Her interest had been piqued when not only Zeus but also Hermes began speaking of him.
不仅是宙斯，连赫耳墨斯也开始谈论他，这引起了她的兴趣。
Now another goddess brought Zeus information that puzzled her enough to eavesdrop.
现在又有一位女神给宙斯带来了信息，这让她困惑到忍不住要偷听。
For anywhere there were trees and earth and rock, there was Gaia.
凡有树木、泥土与岩石之处，便有盖亚。
“Kratos has broken Prometheus’ bonds and freed him, Sky Father,” Hermes reported.
“奎托斯已打破普罗米修斯的束缚，释放了他，天父。”赫耳墨斯报告道。
His winged sandals whirred softly as he hovered a few inches above the floor in Zeus’ throne room.
他在宙斯的神殿大厅里，双脚离地几英寸悬浮着，带翼的凉鞋发出轻柔的嗡鸣。
Over him fluttered puffy white clouds, but they took on leaden underbellies as Zeus glowered at him.
他头顶飘着蓬松的白云，但随着宙斯怒视他，云朵底部变得如铅般灰暗。
“How is this possible? Am I to get no relief from that upstart?” Zeus reached out and formed a thunderbolt in his right hand, playing with it and making Hermes uneasy.
“这怎么可能？我就不能从那家伙那里得到片刻安宁吗？”宙斯伸手在右手中凝聚出一道雷霆，把玩着它，让赫耳墨斯感到不安。
From her vantage, Gaia held back a deep laugh, seeing the Messenger of the Gods become so nervous.
从她的有利位置，盖亚忍住了深沉的笑声，看着神的使者变得如此紧张。
Zeus might unleash his potent weapon at any instant and reduce Hermes to smoldering ash.
宙斯随时可能释放他那强大的武器，将赫耳墨斯化为闷燃的灰烬。
That would provoke more than consternation among the Olympians.
那将在奥林匹斯众神中引起的就不仅仅是恐慌了。
“I killed him. I killed him with the Blade of Olympus,” cried Zeus.
“我杀了他。我用奥林匹斯神剑杀了他。”宙斯喊道。
“How do you come by this knowledge? What god sent you with this message to provoke me?”
“你从何得知此事？是哪位神派你带着这消息来激怒我？”
“I … none, my father,” Hermes said.
“我……没有谁，我的父亲。”赫耳墨斯说。
“I happened upon this information by accident and thought you should be the first to know.
“我偶然得知这个消息，认为您应该是第一个知道的。
If you prefer I could tell it to someone else.”
如果您愿意，我可以告诉别人。”
“You were fluttering about as you do and you just happened to see Kratos release Prometheus? What a coincidence.”
“你像往常一样四处乱飞，就刚好看到奎托斯释放了普罗米修斯？真是巧合啊。”
“Please, Sky Father, it is true.
“求您了，天父，这是真的。
I have no idea why I had to be near Typhon’s cavern, but I was.”
我不知道为什么我非得在堤丰的洞穴附近，但我确实在。”
Hermes looked frazzled and confused.
赫耳墨斯看起来既疲惫又困惑。
Well that he should, Gaia thought.
他活该如此，盖亚心想。
The Sisters of Fate decreed that he be there when Kratos released Prometheus.
是命运三女神裁定他必须在奎托斯释放普罗米修斯时出现在那里。
She inhaled and mountain ranges rose.
她吸气，山脉便隆起。
When she sighed, river valleys formed and continents moved.
她叹息，河谷便形成，大陆便移动。
Gaia had hoped for his triumph, but now there was more than hope.
盖亚曾期盼他的胜利，但现在不仅仅是希望了。
Distinct possibilities existed.
清晰的可能性已经存在。
“He could not free Prometheus,” Zeus said.
“他不可能释放普罗米修斯。”宙斯说。
“I bound him specially.”
“我用了特殊的方式束缚他。”
He sat on his throne, arms crossed over his massive chest.
他坐在王座上，双臂交叉抱在宽阔的胸前。
He tossed his head to flip his beard outside his arms, and his long white hair billowed.
他甩了甩头，将胡须甩到手臂外侧，长长的白发随风飘动。
“He used Typhon’s Bane to sever—”
“他用了堤丰之灾切断——”
“He took the bow from Typhon’s eye?” interrupted Zeus.
“他从堤丰的眼睛里拿到了那把弓？”宙斯打断了他。
The Sky Father leaned forward, his hands now gripping the arms of his throne.
天父向前倾身，双手紧紧抓住王座的扶手。
The mighty throne creaked under his weight as he half levered himself to his feet.
当他半撑起身子时，巨大的王座在他的重量下发出吱嘎声。
“Impossible!”
“不可能！”
“Not that impossible apparently.
“显然并非完全不可能。
He used the bow to sever the chains holding Prometheus, and then—”
他用那把弓切断了束缚普罗米修斯的锁链，然后——”
“Chains are not all that bind him,” interrupted Zeus again,
“锁链并非束缚他的全部，”宙斯再次打断道，
“The eagle I magically attached to Prometheus will follow him no matter where he goes.”
“我用魔法附在普罗米修斯身上的鹰，无论他去哪里都会跟着他。”
The King of Olympus looked more content until Hermes spoke again.
这位奥林匹斯之王看起来更加满意了，直到赫耳墨斯再次开口。
“If you let me finish, dear father, you would know that Prometheus fell into the Flames of Perdition.”
“如果您让我说完，亲爱的父亲，您就会知道普罗米修斯掉进了毁灭之火中。”
“How dare he release the Firegiver from his torment!”
“他竟敢将盗火者从他的折磨中释放！”
“A better question is: How did he get a Pegasus to ride? There was none in Rhodes.”
“更好的问题是：他是从哪里得到天马当坐骑的？罗德岛根本没有天马。”
“Someone in Olympus aids him,” Zeus raged.
“奥林匹斯有内鬼在帮他。”宙斯怒吼道。
Gaia appreciated the paranoia that seized Zeus now.
盖亚很欣赏此刻攫住宙斯的偏执猜疑。
He would blame others dwelling on Mount Olympus and never know that she had been the one who gave Kratos his winged transport.
他会责怪居住在奥林匹斯山上的其他神，永远不会知道是她给了奎托斯那匹带翼的坐骑。
Zeus snapped out of his reverie.
宙斯从沉思中惊醒。
“Who, Hermes, who on Olympus gave him the Pegasus?”
“是谁，赫耳墨斯，奥林匹斯上谁给了他天马？”
“I cannot say.
“我说不准。
No one has mentioned such a scheme to me.”
没人跟我提过这样的计划。”
“You’re lying.
“你在撒谎。
You know!
你肯定知道！
Why do you refuse to tell me?”
你为什么拒绝告诉我他是谁？”
“I speak of only the things I witnessed with my own eyes,” protested Hermes nervously.
“我只讲述我亲眼所见的事情。”赫耳墨斯紧张地辩解道。
“I swear, Father, I would have told you!”
“我发誓，父亲，我要是知道早就告诉您了！”
“Quiet!” Zeus opened his hand and loosed the thunderbolt.
“安静！”宙斯张开手，释放了雷霆。
It crackled and then exploded, sending Hermes tumbling backward in the air, feet-over-head.
它噼啪作响然后爆炸，将赫耳墨斯炸得在空中倒栽葱般向后翻滚。

第十七章（2）
“I will not tolerate your lies.”
“我无法容忍你的谎言。”
“It is my sworn duty to tell only the truth when delivering an official message,” Hermes said, fighting to regain his composure.
“在传递正式消息时只说实话是我宣誓履行的职责。”赫耳墨斯一边说，一边努力恢复镇定。
“While no other god or goddess entrusted this message to me, I vouch for its truth.”
“虽然没有其他神委托我传递此消息，但我保证其真实性。”
“It cannot be,” Zeus said, settling down into a glum reflection.
“这不可能。”宙斯说着，陷入了阴郁的沉思。
“You are right, King Zeus. It is not so.”
“您说得对，宙斯王。事情并非如此。”
Zeus snapped upright to better see the newcomer.
宙斯猛地坐直，好看清来者。
“Iris, what are you saying?” Hermes cried.
“伊里斯，你在说什么？”赫耳墨斯喊道。
“I spoke only the truth to my father. I’d not dare to lie.”
“我对父亲说的全是实话。我不敢撒谎。”
“But you would, Hermes,” Iris said.
“但你会撒谎的，赫耳墨斯。”伊里斯说。
She stepped forward, every footstep a glowing rainbow on the marble floor.
她向前走来，每一步都在大理石地板上留下发光的彩虹。
“You think to ascend the throne and replace our lord Zeus!”
“你妄想登上王座，取代我们的尊主宙斯！”
“I … never!” Hermes bowed deeply in Zeus’ direction.
“我……从未想过！”赫耳墨斯朝着宙斯的方向深深鞠躬。
“I am completely loyal.”
“我绝对忠诚。”
Gaia watched carefully.
盖亚仔细观察着。
The gods fought among themselves!
众神在内讧！
“Prometheus was not released by Kratos, and there is no danger to you, Zeus.”
“普罗米修斯并非被奎托斯释放，您没有危险，宙斯。”
“Why are you saying this, Iris? It’s wrong!” Hermes failed to control his winged sandals and floated upward until a thunderbolt from Zeus’ hand forced him back to a more subservient position at the base of the throne.
“你为什么这么说，伊里斯？这是错的！”赫耳墨斯没能控制住他的带翼凉鞋，向上飘去，直到宙斯手中射出的一道雷霆将他逼回王座底部一个更顺从的位置。
“Why are you filling Lord Zeus’ ears with such drivel? You think to deceive him, then replace me?”
“你为什么要用这种胡言乱语灌满宙斯大人的耳朵？你想欺骗他，然后取代我吗？”
“No!”
“不！”
“Quiet!” Zeus bellowed.
“安静！”宙斯吼道。
He turned to Iris.
他转向伊里斯。
“What happened?”
“怎么回事？”
Iris began spinning a tale at odds with the truth.
伊里斯开始编造一个与真相相悖的故事。
Gaia shivered with delight, then subsided when she realized that Iris had not thought to replace Hermes as the Messenger of the Gods on her own.
盖亚高兴得颤抖，但当她意识到伊里斯的目的不是想取代赫耳墨斯成为众神使者时，便平静下来。
But no alliance with other gods and goddesses was possible.
可（伊里斯）不可能与其他众神结盟。
Gaia thought deeply on this and realized that Kratos faced a more dangerous foe than ever.
盖亚深入思考了这一点，意识到奎托斯面对着一个比以往更危险的敌人。
The Sisters meddle again.
姐妹们又插手了。
What machinations have they set in motion?
她们策划了什么阴谋？
Why tinker with Iris’ fate to cause dissension on Olympus?
为什么要篡改伊里斯的命运来引起奥林匹斯的不和？
Is this their attempt to halt the Titans’ rise to power?
这是她们试图阻止泰坦崛起的企图吗？
“So you see, Sky Father,” Iris continued,
“所以您看，天父，”伊里斯继续说道，
“Kratos is made powerless by the Fates.
“奎托斯已被命运女神剥夺了力量。
This I have learned and report to you.”
这是我获悉并向您报告的。”
She looked at Hermes out of the corner of her eye, enjoying the god squirming at her lies.
她用眼角瞥着赫耳墨斯，享受着这位神因她的谎言而痛苦扭动的样子。
“My powers are unchallenged, then,” Zeus said when Iris had finished.
“那么，我的力量无人能挑战了。”伊里斯说完后，宙斯说道。
He glared at Hermes.
他怒视着赫耳墨斯。
He slowly lifted his right arm and pointed.
他慢慢抬起右臂，指向赫耳墨斯。
“I banish you to earth!
“我将你放逐到凡间！
Until I decree otherwise, you will not enter Olympus on pain of my wrath!”
在我另行下令之前，你不得踏入奥林匹斯，否则将承受我的怒火！”
Zeus unleashed another thunderbolt that exploded above and brought down a rain of marble fragments and plaster as it opened a view to the naked sky above.
宙斯又释放了一道雷霆，在上方爆炸，炸开了通向赤裸天空的视野，大理石碎片和石膏如雨般落下。
Hermes started to speak, but stopped himself, knowing there was no message he could deliver to change Zeus’ mind.
赫耳墨斯欲言又止，知道没有任何消息能改变宙斯的心意。
Instead he simply bowed his head as he backed from the throne room.
相反，他只是低着头，退出了神殿大厅。
In minutes he flew from Olympus and down to the grimy, petty world of the mortals.
几分钟后，他便飞离了奥林匹斯，降落到凡人那肮脏、渺小的世界。
Gaia watched the Messenger of the Gods—the former messenger—depart in disgrace, knowing that he would oppose both Iris and Zeus for this banishment.
盖亚看着神的使者——或者说前使者——蒙羞离去，知道他将会因为这次放逐而反对伊里斯和宙斯两人。
The more confusion that stalked the corridors of Olympus, the easier her task, but it worried her that she was not the only one seeking to sow chaos among the gods.
在奥林匹斯的走廊里弥漫的混乱越多，她的任务就越容易，但令她担忧的是，她并非唯一一个试图在众神中播撒混乱的人。

差点忘了，今天还没翻译呢

第十八章
SIX DAYS.
六天。
Kratos clung to the back of the Pegasus for six days as they flew toward the edge of the world and the Island of Creation.
奎托斯紧紧抓住天马的背，飞了整整六天，朝着世界的边缘和创世之岛前进。
The flying horse seemed indefatigable after its imprisonment by Typhon, but Kratos grew weak from lack of food and water.
这匹飞马在挣脱堤丰的囚禁之后似乎不知疲倦，但奎托斯却因缺乏食物和水而变得虚弱。
As God of War he had no need for constant sustenance, but Zeus had stolen that skill along with the rest of his godly powers.
作为战神，他本不需要持续补充给养，但宙斯连同他其他的神力一起剥夺了这项能力。
More than once the Pegasus had swooped low over an isolated island to allow him to sample water, but the horse was as driven as Kratos himself.
天马不止一次在孤岛上空低飞，让他能取点水喝，但这匹马和奎托斯本人一样，被一股劲头驱使着前进。
The long hours and endless sea flowing beneath gave Kratos time to consider how he would best Zeus.
漫长的时间和脚下无尽流淌的海洋，给了奎托斯思考如何击败宙斯的时间。
The King of the Gods sought adulation, worship, total obeisance—and what did he give in return?
这位众神之王追求赞美、崇拜、绝对的服从——而他回报了什么？
Treachery.
背叛。
Treachery that had to be answered.
必须得到回应的背叛。
During his brief time as God of War, Kratos had rewarded those who had worshipped him.
在他短暂担任战神期间，奎托斯奖赏了那些崇拜他的人。
Sparta had sent out armies at his command and was conquering the world, taking spoils and sending the bounty back to the populace to grow stronger yet.
斯巴达听从他的命令派出军队，征服世界，夺取战利品，将财富送回给民众，让他们变得更加强大。
He fought alongside the stalwart warriors and sought solace in battle.
他与坚定的战士们并肩作战，在战斗中寻求慰藉。
He would have found it had Zeus not drained his godly powers into the Blade of Olympus and used it to slaughter the entire Spartan army.
他本可以找到慰藉，若非宙斯将他的神力抽入奥林匹斯神剑，并用它屠杀了整个斯巴达军队。
Every time Kratos remembered the carnage Zeus had caused, he hated the King of the Gods that much more.
每次奎托斯回忆起宙斯造成的大屠杀，他对这位众神之王的恨意就加深一分。
A soldier’s destiny was to die bravely, in battle, for the good of the city-state, but not one of the Spartans at Rhodes had a chance against a god.
士兵的命运是为城邦的利益在战斗中英勇战死，但在罗德岛的斯巴达战士中，没有一人有机会对抗一位神明。
What made Kratos even angrier, Zeus had used Kratos’ own power for the slaughter.
让奎托斯更加愤怒的是，宙斯是利用了奎托斯自己的力量进行了这场屠杀。
Kratos had another thorn of guilt festering in his soul, knowing his energy and godly powers had been responsible for so many deaths in his own army.
另一根愧疚的刺也在奎托斯的灵魂中溃烂，他知道他自己的能量和神力应对自己军队中如此多的死亡负责。
For that and so much more Zeus had to be brought to justice—to receive Kratos’ vengeance.
为此，以及更多的原因，宙斯必须受到制裁——承受奎托斯的复仇。
The Pegasus let out a loud snort that focused his attention on the path ahead.
天马发出一声响鼻，将他的注意力拉回到前方的道路上。
The sky was clear, but Kratos saw a distant spot growing larger.
天空晴朗，但奎托斯看到一个远处的黑点正在变大。
Griffins swept toward him, screeching like eagles, with talons clawing at the air as if his belly were underneath.
几只格里芬（即狮鹫）向他扑来，发出鹰隼般的尖啸，利爪撕扯着空气，仿佛他的腹部就在下方。
He counted five, but there might have been more flocking up from the large island barely visible on the horizon.
他数了数有五只，但可能还有更多从地平线上刚刚可见的大岛上聚集飞来。
The Island of Creation.
创世之岛。
Just beyond the island was the edge of the world, with oceans falling off to either side, crashing into oblivion.
就在岛屿之外便是世界的边缘，海洋向两侧倾泻，坠入虚无。
He had arrived.
他到了。
Now it was time to fight his way through to the Sisters of Fate and wreak revenge on Zeus.
现在是时候杀出一条血路，找到命运三女神，并向宙斯复仇了。

第十八章（2）
As the flight of griffins closed on him, Kratos reached back so that Typhon’s Bane came to his hand.
当这群格里芬逼近时，奎托斯伸手向后，堤丰之灾出现在他手中。
The recurved bow bent almost double as he drew back the string and let fly one of the wind arrows.
他拉紧弓弦，反曲弓几乎弯成了双倍，随后射出了一支风之箭。
It distorted the bright sunlight as it flew like a mirage, then vanished in the breast of the lead griffin.
箭矢如海市蜃楼般飞行，扭曲了明亮的阳光，随后没入了领头格里芬的胸膛。
The creature let out a squawk, flipped onto its back, and then fell headfirst to the sea far below.
那生物发出一声刺耳的叫声，翻转着仰面朝天，然后头朝下坠向远方的海面。
He had not expected the other attackers to be deterred by the death, even of their leader.
他并未指望其他攻击者会被这死亡吓退，即使是它们领袖的死亡。
Two griffins formed into a team on either side as they attacked.
两只格里芬组成一队，从两侧夹击而来。
Typhon’s Bane sang as he unleashed one arrow after another.
堤丰之灾鸣响着，他射出一支又一支箭矢。
One griffin, quicker than the others, twisted its head about and caught an icicle.
一只比其他更快的格里芬扭过头，一口咬住了一支冰箭。
Eagle beak crushed the arrow, but the griffin had underestimated the power of the bow.
鹰喙咬碎了箭矢，但这只格里芬低估了弓的力量。
The arrow shattered into a million shards, each of which turned into a smaller arrow.
箭矢爆裂成无数碎片，每一片都化作一支更小的箭。
The griffin gurgled, and then blood poured from its nostrils and out its beak as the tiny missiles continued their flight.
格里芬发出咯咯声，当那些微小箭矢继续飞行时，鲜血从它的鼻孔和喙中涌出。
It was punctured by thousands of tiny projectiles.
它被成千上万的微小射弹刺穿。
Kratos swayed easily to the other side and caught one attacker in the eye with an arrow.
奎托斯轻松地晃向另一侧，一箭射中了一只攻击者的眼睛。
Before he could swing Typhon’s Bane about for the remaining griffin, it surged forward and snapped viciously at the Pegasus’ wing.
在他调转堤丰之灾对付剩下的那只格里芬之前，它猛冲向前，恶狠狠地咬向天马的翅膀。
Bits of feather and fire scattered behind as the Pegasus continued toward the Island of Creation, but the griffin refused to yield.
天马继续飞向创世之岛，身后散落着羽毛和火星的碎片，但那只格里芬拒不退让。
Kratos got off shot after shot from the bow, but the flying monster was clever—and lucky.
奎托斯一箭接一箭地射去，但这只飞行怪物很聪明——而且幸运。
It swung beneath the wing it attacked so he didn’t have a direct shot.
它在他攻击的那只翅膀下方摆动，让他没有直接的射击角度。
Using his knees, he forced the Pegasus to turn so he could tumble off and dive through the air.
他用膝盖迫使天马转身，这样他就能翻滚下来，在空中俯冲。
As he passed the griffin, intent on snapping away more of the flying horse’s wing, Kratos reached out and grabbed a wing of his own.
当他经过那只正意图咬掉更多飞马翅膀的格里芬时，奎托斯伸手抓住了它的一只翅膀。
The griffin released the Pegasus and fell like a leaf, Kratos hanging on and being swung wide.
格里芬松开了天马，像树叶一样坠落，奎托斯紧抓不放，被甩得荡开。
Kratos grated his teeth and worked his way up the wing until he reached the griffin’s huge body.
奎托斯磨着牙，顺着翅膀向上爬，直到够到格里芬巨大的身体。
Quick, vicious stabs where the wing attached to the twenty-foot-long body rendered the appendage useless.
他在翅膀与二十英尺长的身体连接处快速而凶狠地猛刺，让这只附肢失去了作用。
This let him climb onto the griffin’s broad back, grab the wing, and yank as hard as he could.
这让他得以爬上格里芬宽阔的背部，抓住翅膀，用尽全力猛拉。
The wing tore free.
翅膀被硬生生撕了下来。
Unable to fly, the griffin began tumbling and Kratos was tossed into the air.
无法飞行，格里芬开始翻滚，奎托斯被抛向空中。
He fell only a few yards before the Pegasus swooped beneath him and once more they flew for the island, no longer on the horizon but directly under them now.
他只坠落了数码远，天马便俯冲到他下方接住了他，他们再次向岛屿飞去，岛屿已不再在地平线上，而是直接在他们下方了。
The aerial battle had not prevented him from approaching the Island of Creation after all but had allowed him to get close enough to hunt for a landing place.
空战毕竟并未阻止他接近创世之岛，反而让他得以足够靠近，以寻找降落地点。
Before he could locate a decent spot, the Pegasus gave two powerful flaps and rocketed upward.
在他找到合适的降落点之前，天马两次有力地拍动翅膀，向上疾飞。
“No, down!” Kratos protested.
“不，下去！”奎托斯抗议道。
Then he saw a new defender of the air.
接着他看到了一个新的空中防御者。
Purple-and-green flashed above in the sun, and then the griffin rider rode close enough to reveal details.
紫绿相间的色彩在阳光下于上空闪烁，随后那格里芬骑手飞得足够近，显露出了细节。
The rider wore a plumed war helm that hid his face, heavy body armor, and greaves that glinted as if they were fashioned from pure gold.
骑手戴着遮住面孔的羽饰战盔，穿着厚重的胸甲和护胫甲，甲胄闪闪发光，仿佛由纯金打造。
At his belt depended an axe on one side and a short spear on the other.
他的腰带上，一边挂着一把斧头，另一边是一支短矛。
Kratos flew closer.
奎托斯飞近了些。
As the rider bore down on Kratos, he lifted the axe.
当骑手向奎托斯猛冲过来时，他举起了斧头。
And then the griffin rider flashed past, giving Kratos a better look at his adversary.
接着格里芬骑手一闪而过，让奎托斯更清楚地看到了他的对手。
Determination rose in Kratos as he wheeled the Pegasus about.
奎托斯调转天马的方向，决心油然而生。
He had seen his opponent days earlier, before he had entered the Lair of the Titan.
几天前，在他进入泰坦巢穴之前，他就见过这个对手。
He had been a tiny speck in the distance and had avoided a fight.
当时只是远处的一个小点，并且回避了战斗。
How fearsome could a soldier be who ran from battle?
一个临阵脱逃的士兵能有多可怕？
“Be wary, Kratos,” came Gaia’s voice in his ear.
“小心，奎托斯。”盖亚的声音在他耳边响起。
“This warrior is the minion of the Sisters of Fate.
“这名战士是命运三女神的仆从。
He has been summoned from afar.
他是从远方被召唤来的。
They do not send him to do their bidding lightly, not when they control fate itself.”
她们不会轻易派他执行任务，尤其是在她们掌控命运本身的时候。”
“What is his weapon?” Although the axe blade gleamed sharp and deadly in the sunlight, Kratos instinctively knew the real weapon was the short spear thrust into the warrior’s belt.
“他的武器是什么？”尽管斧刃在阳光下闪烁着锋利致命的光芒，奎托斯本能地知道真正的武器是插在战士腰带上的那支短矛。
It had the aura of power, deadly power, about it.
它散发着力量，致命力量的气息。
“The Spear of Destiny,” Gaia said.
“宿命之矛。”盖亚说。
“Fear it, Kratos.
“畏惧它，奎托斯。
Do not let it touch you!”
绝不要让它碰到你！”
“He cannot stop me!”
“他阻止不了我！”
“He is a more dangerous foe than you realize, Kratos.
“他是一个比你想象中更危险的敌人，奎托斯。
The Warrior of Destiny would prevent you from reaching the island and the palaces of the Sisters of Fate.
宿命战士会阻止你抵达岛屿和命运三女神的宫殿。
You do not want to fall to him or your shade is forfeit for all eternity!”
你绝不能败给他，否则你的灵魂将永世沉沦！”

第十八章（3）
Kratos barely heard Gaia, because he was so intent on the Warrior of Destiny flying directly at him.
奎托斯几乎没听见盖亚的话，因为他全神贯注于正向他直冲而来的宿命战士。
He had been overconfident when first he had seen the Warrior, but now took to heart Gaia’s warning about the spear since he felt its power even at this distance.
他第一次见到这名战士时过于自信，但现在他将盖亚关于那矛的警告牢记于心，因为即使在这个距离，他也能感受到它的力量。
If his encounter with Zeus had taught him anything, it was to be wary of strange weapons.
如果说他与宙斯的遭遇教会了他什么，那就是要警惕奇怪的武器。
His blades flashed through the air, engaging the battle-axe and cutting away part of the Warrior’s helmet to expose flesh the color of corroded copper on the scalp.
他的双刃划破空气，格开战斧，并削掉了战士的部分头盔，露出头皮上如腐蚀的铜器般的肤色。
Then they soared past each other, but Kratos guided the Pegasus in a tighter circle and attacked the Warrior’s griffin from below.
随后他们交错飞过，但奎托斯引导天马绕了个更紧的圈，从下方攻击战士的格里芬。
He stared up at the purple, green, and tan belly where feathers smoothly flowed into the tawny hindquarters of the huge creature.
他抬头凝视那紫、绿、棕褐相间的腹部，那里的羽毛平滑地过渡到这巨大生物黄褐色的后躯。
The Warrior sought him but could not find where Kratos hid.
战士寻找着他，却找不到奎托斯藏身之处。
Then the Warrior of Destiny knew.
接着宿命战士明白了。
Kratos stood and stabbed upward with both swords to gut the griffin as it surged above him, blotting out the sky with its immense bulk.
奎托斯站起身，当格里芬在他上方猛冲，以其巨大的身躯遮蔽天空时，他双剑向上刺去，剖开了它的腹部。
A shower of blood splashed into his eyes, blinding him.
一阵血雨溅入他的眼睛，使他暂时失明。
The Pegasus broke off the attack, banking away.
天马中断了攻击，倾斜飞离。
Kratos used his forearm to wipe away the griffin blood, taking care not to injure himself with his chain-wound wristbands.
奎托斯用前臂擦去格里芬的血，小心不让自己被链式护腕伤到。
The wind whipped past and caused his eyes to water, which helped remove the blood.
风呼啸而过，刺激他流泪，这有助于清除血迹。
By the time Kratos saw clearly again, the Warrior of Destiny had come about and, despite his mount’s grievous wounds, flew close behind.
当奎托斯再次看清时，宿命战士已经调头，尽管坐骑伤势严重，仍紧追在后。
The Pegasus immediately started a tight downward spiral.
天马立即开始紧贴的向下螺旋飞行。
As they followed the descending spiral, Kratos saw his goal passing by below every few seconds.
当他们沿着下降的螺旋飞行时，奎托斯每隔几秒钟就看到他的目标在下方掠过。
The Island of Creation!
创世之岛！
But he could not reach it without dispatching the Warrior of Destiny.
但若不解决掉宿命战士，他就无法抵达那里。
He saw that the Pegasus’ tactic was sound.
他看出天马的战术是有效的。
To break out of the leftward spiral would allow the Warrior to attack directly rather than being forced to follow them along the airy curve.
脱离向左的螺旋会让战士能够直接攻击，但现在他只能被迫沿着气流的曲线追随他们。
The sea rushed up quickly, warning Kratos this tactic had to end quickly or they would find themselves in Poseidon’s realm.
海面急速逼近，警告奎托斯必须尽快结束这种战术，否则他们就会坠入波塞冬的界域。
He gripped the horse’s mane, leaned forward, then guided the Pegasus out of the spiral.
他紧抓马鬃，身体前倾，然后引导天马脱离了螺旋。
Sharp pain lanced into his left shoulder as the Warrior rushed past, his axe slashing out, but Kratos had successfully pulled out of the dive, and the Pegasus fought valiantly to climb once more.
当战士猛冲而过，斧头挥出时，一阵剧痛刺入他的左肩，但奎托斯成功拉起了天马，天马奋勇地再次向上爬升。
The Warrior followed more slowly.
战士的追击缓慢了些。
With every move, Kratos found new vulnerabilities in his opponent.
奎托斯在对手的每一次行动中都发现了新的弱点。
The wounds he had inflicted on the griffin must slow it and rob the beast of climbing strength.
他对格里芬造成的伤口必定会减慢它的速度，并剥夺这头野兽的爬升力量。
But the eye-dazzling Spear of Destiny thrust into the belt around the Warrior’s waist was an ominous warning of death to come should Kratos flag for even an instant.
但插在战士腰间腰带上的、令人眼花缭乱的宿命之矛，是一个不祥的警告：只要奎托斯稍有松懈，死亡便会降临。
Within its crystalline depths danced tiny motes every color of the rainbow, some combining into larger specks only to explode.
在它水晶般的深处，舞动着彩虹般各色的微小斑点，有些聚合成更大的斑点，随即又爆裂开来。
The Warrior had not used the spear for a reason, and Kratos knew it.
战士没有使用那矛是有原因的，奎托斯知道。
To fling the spear and miss meant the loss of a potent weapon.
投出矛而未能命中，就意味着失去一件强大的武器。
Better to engage with a battle-axe until a spear thrust was certain to find its target.
最好先用战斧周旋，直到有把握用矛刺中目标。
The fliers leveled off; Kratos saw his chance.
飞行物改平了；奎托斯看到了他的机会。

第十八章（4）
The Pegasus flew faster and showed greater maneuverability than the griffin, giving Kratos a split second to act.
天马飞得比格里芬更快，也展现出更强的机动性，这给了奎托斯一瞬间的行动时机。
He gathered his feet under him, then shoved hard and launched through empty air.
他双脚踏稳，然后用力一蹬，跃入空中。
He gripped the griffin’s leonine hindquarters and clawed his way to stand on the broad back.
他抓住格里芬狮子般的后臀，奋力爬了上去，站在它宽阔的背上。
Ten feet ahead of Kratos at the front shoulder, the Warrior of Destiny turned, saw his danger, and recklessly flung his axe over his shoulder.
在奎托斯前方十英尺处的肩部，宿命战士转过身，看到了危险，不顾一切地越过肩膀甩出了他的斧头。
Kratos easily avoided it as he walked forward on the griffin’s back, swords thrusting in front of him.
奎托斯轻易地躲开了，他在格里芬的背上向前行走，双剑刺向前方。
The Warrior got to his feet in time to take a blade deep into his chest.
战士及时站起身，却被一剑深深刺入胸膛。
He staggered back, clutching the wound spewing greenish blood.
他踉跄后退，捂住伤口，绿色的血液喷涌而出。
Kratos wasted no time pressing his attack on the wounded Warrior.
奎托斯毫不耽搁，继续向受伤的战士猛攻。
The armored figure fought to remain on his feet atop the bucking griffin.
那装甲身影在颠簸的格里芬背上挣扎着保持站立。
Kratos blocked a halfhearted advance with his swords and thrust again, hot metal finding a new berth in the Warrior’s upper left arm.
奎托斯用双剑格开一次无力的进攻，再次刺击，灼热的金属在战士的左臂上找到了新的落脚点。
Seeing weakness, Kratos surged ahead for the kill.
看到对方虚弱，奎托斯猛冲向前，意图结果对方。
The Warrior of Destiny was stronger than he appeared and grappled with Kratos.
宿命战士比他看起来要强壮，他与奎托斯扭打在一起。
The two struggled, strength against strength, until the Warrior swept one foot out and around a leg, tripping Kratos.
两人角力，力量对抗着力量，直到战士伸出一只脚勾住奎托斯的腿，将他绊倒。
They fell, the Warrior atop Kratos who lay on his back.
他们摔倒了，战士压在了仰面躺着的奎托斯身上。
Then Kratos saw the real danger.
接着奎托斯看到了真正的危险。
The Spear of Destiny had somehow flown from the belt to the Warrior’s hand.
不知何故，宿命之矛已从腰带到了战士手中。
He held the spear aloft so that the Ghost of Sparta saw its every detail.
他将矛高举，让斯巴达亡魂看清它的每一个细节。
It was a short thrusting spear, but the tip sizzled with electric energy.
这是一支短的刺矛，但矛尖滋滋作响，带着电能。
Something about staring at the point confused his senses and made him dizzy.
凝视矛尖让他感到感官混乱、头晕目眩。
He looked away, at the ebon shaft, the way the power flowed around the spear and down the Warrior’s arm.
他移开视线，看向乌木矛杆，看着能量如何环绕长矛流动，并顺战士的手臂而下。
“Time to die,” the Warrior of Destiny said, his voice hollow.
“是时候迎接死亡了。”宿命战士说道，声音空洞。
For all his fighting prowess, he held the Spear of Destiny gingerly, as if he feared using it—or was personally afraid of it.
尽管他战斗技艺高超，却小心翼翼地握着宿命之矛，仿佛害怕使用它——或者他本人就惧怕它。
Kratos lifted one foot and slammed the heel down hard on the griffin’s back.
奎托斯抬起一只脚，用脚跟猛力踩在格里芬的背上。
He was rewarded with a sudden aerial lurch.
他得到了回报：格里芬在空中猛然一颠。
He had been right that the beast was sorely wounded from his first attack and only flew on with great difficulty.
他的判断是对的，这头野兽因他最初的攻击而重伤，只是勉强在飞行。
The griffin’s shift unseated the Warrior, giving Kratos the chance to swarm atop him and try to pin him down.
格里芬的晃动使战士失去了平衡，给了奎托斯机会扑到他身上，试图制服他。
The unsteady flight of the brightly colored griffin that had allowed him to turn the tables an instant before now worked against Kratos.
这头色彩鲜艳的格里芬不稳定的飞行，刚才还让他得以扭转局势，现在却对奎托斯不利了。
The griffin faltered and went into a steep dive, forcing Kratos to concentrate only on grasping the Warrior’s wrist to prevent a quick thrust with the short spear.
格里芬摇晃着，开始急剧俯冲，迫使奎托斯只能专注于抓住战士的手腕，防止他用短矛快速刺击。
Despite the Warrior’s wound, he had enough strength to slowly lower the spear toward Kratos’ face.
尽管战士受了伤，他仍有足够的力量将矛慢慢压向奎托斯的脸。
Kratos kicked again with his heel and caused the griffin to veer in the opposite direction.
奎托斯再次用脚跟猛踢，使格里芬转向相反的方向。
With a tremendous surge of power, Kratos forced back the weapon and twisted hard on the sinewy wrist holding it.
随着一股巨大的力量爆发，奎托斯将那武器向后压去，并用力扭转那只紧握着武器的强壮手腕。
The Warrior yelped in pain and released the Spear of Destiny.
战士痛得叫出声来，松开了宿命之矛。
Kratos grabbed the weapon and thrust with it.
奎托斯抓住武器，用它刺了过去。
The Warrior jerked back, tried to maintain his balance, and then fell away to splash into the sea far below.
战士猛地向后一仰，试图保持平衡，随后跌落下去，溅落在远方的海水中。
“Poseidon take you,” Kratos snarled.
“让波塞冬收了你吧。”奎托斯怒吼道。
He held the Spear of Destiny and felt it quiver.
他握着宿命之矛，感觉到它在颤动。
Then he reacted instinctively as the griffin twisted its head around to snap at him.
接着，当格里芬扭过头来咬他时，他本能地做出了反应。
He thrust the spear through the flying creature’s neck.
他将矛刺入了这飞行生物的脖颈。
The griffin gave a convulsive jerk that sent Kratos into the air.
格里芬一阵剧烈的抽搐，将奎托斯抛向了空中。
He watched as the griffin, spear impaling its feathered throat, smashed into a balcony at the very edge of the Island of Creation.
他眼看着那只喉咙被矛刺穿的格里芬，撞在了创世之岛边缘的一个阳台上。
Then he realized he was plunging to his death also since the Pegasus was nowhere to be seen to provide an aerial rescue.
随后他意识到自己也在坠向死亡，因为天马已不见踪影，无法进行空中救援。
He let out a loud, long battle cry, drew both swords, and turned headfirst to plummet toward the Island of Creation.
他发出一声悠长响亮的战吼，拔出双剑，头朝下朝着创世之岛坠落下去。

第十九章（1）
“THE PANTHEON CANNOT remain unfilled,” Zeus said, stroking his beard.
“万神殿的神位不能一直空缺。”宙斯说道，捋着他的胡须。
“You are wise, Sky Father,” Iris said.
“您很英明，天父。”伊里斯说道。
“The mortals will come to wonder why there is indecision in Olympus if you do not choose a new God of War soon.”
“如果您不尽快选出一位新的战神，凡人们会开始疑惑，为何奥林匹斯会犹豫不决。”
“There is no lack of war below,” Zeus said, chuckling.
“下界的战争可从不缺少。”宙斯轻笑着说。
The beginning of a laugh died quickly.
刚起的笑声很快消失了。
He looked up at Athena standing silently before his throne, then at Iris, at his right hand.
他抬头看了看静静站在他王座前的雅典娜，然后又看了看在他右手边的伊里斯。
Who could he trust?
他能信任谁？
Athena was the Warrior Goddess, but she had chosen Kratos to strike down Ares.
雅典娜是战争女神，但她选择了奎托斯去铲除阿瑞斯。
He had approved and had aided her, but she had manipulated him.
他当时批准并协助了她，但她却操纵了他。
It had to be that way or the outcome with Kratos would not have been so disastrous.
若非当时如此，与奎托斯的结果也不会如此灾难性。
“But the mortals need a god figure to worship—in addition to you, mighty Zeus.”
“但是凡人们需要一个神祇来崇拜——除了您之外的神，伟大的宙斯。”
“Yes, you are right, Iris.
“是的，你说得对，伊里斯。
A new God of War is needed, but which god would forsake his current position to sit on the throne that so recently held Ares and Kratos?”
需要一位新的战神，但哪位神会放弃自己现有的位置，去坐上那把不久前还属于阿瑞斯和奎托斯的王座呢？”
“I can spread the word for you,” Iris said.
“我可以为您传达消息。”伊里斯说。
“Allow me to race to the far corners of the world, to every point in Olympus, to the Underworld and the depths of Poseidon’s realm—everywhere!—and proclaim a contest to choose a new God of War.”
“请允许我奔赴世界的偏远角落，奔赴奥林匹斯的每个角落，奔赴冥界和波塞冬领域的深处——每个地方！——去宣告一场选拔新战神的竞赛。”
“A contest?” Zeus frowned.
“竞赛？”宙斯皱起眉头。
“What need is there of a contest if I am to decide the matter?”
“如果是由我来决定此事，又何需竞赛？”
“You want the appearance of it being open to all, but of course it would be you who decides.
“您希望表面上对所有人开放，但当然最终决定权在您。
After all, who is wiser atop Mount Olympus?”
毕竟，在奥林匹斯山上，还有谁比您更睿智呢？”
Iris moved closer and whispered, “You might use this as a way of seeing who is loyal to you and who is … less so.”
伊里斯凑近了些，低声道：“您或许可以借此看看谁对您忠诚，而谁……又没那么忠诚。”
“What’s that you say? Who is disloyal?” A thunderbolt formed in his hand.
“你说什么？谁不忠？”一道雷霆在他手中成形。
“Tell me the name, and I’ll strike them down!”
“告诉我名字，我就劈了他们！”
Iris coyly looked over her shoulder in Athena’s direction, then said, “Your edict still stands, Lord of All the Sky and Earth.
伊里斯故作羞涩地朝雅典娜的方向瞥了一眼，然后说道：“您的法令依然有效，天地之主。
（楼主：“天地之主”风格上听起来是不是有点偏东方了？或许应该译作“天空与大地的尊主”）
No god can kill another.
神不能杀死另一位神。
You should not exempt yourself from this.”
您也不应将自己排除在外。”
“Why not? I’m king. I can do as I please!”
“为何不可？我是众神之王。我可以为所欲为！”
“You are the mightiest of the mighty, but you cannot stand against all the gods.
“您是强者中的最强者，但您无法与所有神对抗。
Many plot and scheme against you even as we speak.”
就在我们说话的时候，仍许多神正在密谋对付您。”
“Tell me who they are! I command you, Iris.
“告诉我是谁！我命令你，伊里斯。
You are my Messenger of the Gods.
你现在是我的神使。
Mine!”
我一个人的！”
“I am not like Hermes,” she said, bowing deeply and sending small sparkles of rainbow bits to the base of Zeus’ throne.
“我和赫耳墨斯不一样。”她说着，深深鞠躬，些许彩虹碎片如火花般洒落在宙斯王座的基座旁。
“It is painful for me to relate this, since I do not care to speak ill of another god, but Hermes is secretly known to divulge the contents of his messages to others, sometimes out of friendship but other times from spite.
“向我透露这些让我感到痛苦，因为我不愿说其他神的坏话，但众所周知，赫耳墨斯会私下将消息内容泄露给他人，有时是出于友谊，有时则是出于怨恨。
Duty and honor bind me to my job as surely as love and respect bind me to you, Zeus.
职责与荣誉将我束缚于我的工作，就如同爱与尊敬将我束缚于您一样，宙斯。
Any missive entrusted to me will be delivered … only for your eyes and ears.”
任何托付给我的信函都会被送达……且只为您所见所闻。”

第十九章（2）
“Tell me,” he said, staring hard at Athena.
“告诉我。”他说道，死死盯着雅典娜。
Iris sidled closer and whispered so that only Zeus could hear.
伊里斯悄悄凑得更近，低语到只有宙斯能听见。
“You are wise, Sky Father.
“您是英明的，天父。
You know the answer.
您知道答案。
There is no reason for me to break my most sacred oath.”
我没有理由违背我最神圣的誓言。”
“No, you’re right, Iris.
“嗯，你说得对，伊里斯。
No reason.”
没有理由。”
He glowered at Athena.
他对雅典娜怒目而视。
“Especially when I can imagine who might be spreading lies about me and aspiring to my throne.”
“尤其当我能想象出是谁在散布关于我的谎言并觊觎我的王位时。”
“None will ever sit on this throne, in this chamber, but you, my king,” said Iris.
“除了您，我的君王，没有人能坐上这间大殿里的这张王座。”伊里斯说道。
Athena strode forward and stopped at the base of the dais.
雅典娜大步上前，停在王台基座前。
She put hands on her flaring hips and stared at him, anger in her eyes.
她双手叉腰，凝视着他，眼中带着怒火。
Zeus wondered if she led a cabal against him or foolishly thought she could depose him alone.
宙斯想知道是她领导着一个反对他的小团体，还是愚蠢地认为单凭自己就能废黜他。
When he did not speak, Athena called to him, “My father, allow me to approach your throne.”
在他还没有开口时，雅典娜对他喊道：“我的父亲，请允许我靠近您的王座。”
“You are close enough.”
“你已经够近了。”
“Very well.
“很好。
I petition you to spare Kratos.
我恳求您宽恕奎托斯。
Restore him to his place as God of War.
恢复他战神的地位。
While I abhor the turmoil he has caused while a god, the lack of one sitting on that throne is far worse.
虽然我憎恶他身为神时造成的动荡，但相比之下，那个王座上空无一人则要更加糟糕。
For the good of Olympus, for the peace among all the gods and goddesses, restore him.”
为了奥林匹斯的利益，为了众神之间的和平，恢复他的神位。”
Zeus reached down and grabbed the Blade of Olympus.
宙斯俯身抓起奥林匹斯神剑。
He thrust it high in the air, as if stabbing the sky itself.
他将剑高高举向空中，仿佛要刺穿天空本身。
“He allowed his godly powers to be drained into the blade.
“他任由自己的神力被抽入此剑。
He had his chance to serve me, to serve in Olympus, but he had only impudence, insults to offer when I extended my proposal.”
他曾有机会效忠于我，效忠于奥林匹斯，但当我提出建议时，他只有无礼和侮辱。”
“He is a proud man—”
“他是个骄傲的人——”
“Proud? Athena, you name him a proud man.
“骄傲？雅典娜，你称他为骄傲的人。
He was an arrogant god!
他是个傲慢的神！
I could no longer tolerate this.
我再也无法容忍这一点。
He refused to bend his knee to me as King of Olympus!”
他拒绝向我这位奥林匹斯之王屈膝！”
“So you killed him and set in motion designs of which we know nothing.
“所以您杀了他，并启动了我们都不知道的计划。
He escaped the Underworld.
他逃出了冥界。
How did he do that a second time?
他怎么可能又一次做到？
Kratos is a clever man and a warrior second to none, but he was aided in his escape from Hades.”
奎托斯是个聪明人，是无与伦比的战士，但他必然是得到了帮助才能逃离哈迪斯的界域。”
“What are you saying, Athena?” demanded Iris.
“你想说什么，雅典娜？”伊里斯质问道。
“That Kratos is braver and more skilled than Zeus? Never!”
“是说奎托斯比宙斯更勇敢、更厉害吗？绝不可能！”
Iris glanced at Zeus, who did not hear her praise.
伊里斯瞥了一眼宙斯，后者并未听见她的奉承。
He focused on Athena alone.
他只专注于雅典娜。
“You mock me, daughter.
“你在嘲弄我，女儿。
You deride me and belittle me.”
你在嘲笑我和贬低我。”
“I think only of Olympus, Father,” Athena said.
“我心中只想着奥林匹斯，父亲。”雅典娜说。
“Since Ares died, things have been unsettled.
“自从阿瑞斯死后，局势一直不稳。
It is up to you to put them right.”
拨乱反正的责任在您。”
“And returning Kratos to the throne of the God of War will do that?”
“而让奎托斯重回战神王座就能做到这一点？”
“It will,” Athena said.
“能的。”雅典娜说。
“I suppose you want Hermes’ banishment reversed, also,” said Iris.
“我猜你也想让赫耳墨斯的放逐令被撤销吧。”伊里斯说。
“Be quiet,” Zeus growled.
“闭嘴。”宙斯低吼道。
“I meant no harm, mighty Zeus,” Iris said, cowering away.
“我无意冒犯，强大的宙斯。”伊里斯畏缩地退后说道。
Although her tone was contrite, her eyes fixed on Athena, weighing every nuance of expression.
尽管她的语气充满懊悔，但她的眼睛却紧盯着雅典娜，揣摩着她表情的每一个细微变化。
“Where is Kratos? I would destroy him—again!” Zeus jumped to his feet and cast a thunderbolt upward, where it exploded above Athena’s head.
“奎托斯在哪里？我将毁灭他——再一次！”宙斯跳起来，向上掷出一道雷霆，在雅典娜头顶上方爆炸。
Iris stepped back to his side and said, “There is no need for you to rely on her for information, Lord Zeus.
伊里斯退回到他身边，说道：“您无需依靠她来获取信息，宙斯大人。
Your loyal messenger can tell you all.
您忠诚的信使可以告诉您一切。
Kratos sought refuge on the Island of Creation and foolishly perished.”
奎托斯逃到了创世之岛，并愚蠢地死在了那里。”
“What?” Athena took two steps up to the throne before checking herself.
“什么？”雅典娜向王座迈了两步，随即克制住了自己。
“Kratos cannot be dead!”
“奎托斯不能死！”
“What if it is my will, daughter? What if your king, the all-powerful thunderer, Zeus, King of Olympus, has decreed it?
“如果这是我的意志呢，女儿？如果是你的君王，全能的雷神，奥林匹斯之王宙斯，已经裁定此事呢？
Would you go against my wishes?”
你会违背我的意愿吗？”
“No, Father, of course not.
“不，父亲，当然不会。
All that matters is Olympus.”
重要的是奥林匹斯。”
Athena backed away, turned, and fled the audience chamber.
雅典娜向后退去，转身逃离了接见大厅。
Zeus turned to Iris.
宙斯转向伊里斯。
“If you have lied to me, Hermes’ fate will seem mild.”
“如果你对我撒谎，赫耳墨斯的命运都会显得温和。”
“Kratos is dead,” Iris said firmly.
“奎托斯死了。”伊里斯坚定地说。
Zeus sank back to his throne and smiled.
宙斯沉回他的王座，笑了。
“Good. Now Olympus is finally safe.”
“很好。现在奥林匹斯终于安全了。”

啊，被国庆前的自己拜托了好多事情，终于复活了

第二十章（1）
KRATOS FELL HEADFIRST from the great height, swords drawn and flaming as he accelerated downward to his death.
奎托斯头朝下，从极高的空中坠落。双剑出鞘，燃烧着火焰，他加速下坠，眼看就要摔死。
The thought of dying after all he had been through angered him.
想到自己经历了这么多却要死在这里，他怒火中烧。
He roared in defiance.
他发出反抗的咆哮。
If he died now, Zeus would win.
如果他现在死了，宙斯就赢了。
The gods of Olympus would continue to rule, and the deaths of so many brave Spartans in Rhodes would be for naught.
奥林匹斯众神统治的将继续，而那么多勇敢的斯巴达人在罗德岛的牺牲将毫无意义。
The wind ripped past his face and pulled his arms away from his body.
风撕裂了他的脸颊，将他的手臂从身体两侧拉开。
He forced the swords together in front of his face and felt a lift that twisted him around so his feet aimed at the rushing ground.
他强行将双剑在面前合拢，感到一股升力让他扭转了身体，变成了双脚朝向急速逼近的地面。
Kratos spun around and found he could maneuver just enough to carry him over the building constructed at the edge of the Island of Creation.
奎托斯旋转着，发现自己刚好可以操控方向，让他越过建在创世之岛边缘的建筑物。
Then he knew he was not going to die.
于是他知道自己不会死了。
Not here.
至少不会死在这里。
Not now.
不会死在现在。
He clenched his fists and made the silent vow, “You will die by my hand, Zeus. I promise!”
他握紧拳头，默默发誓：“你会死在我手上，宙斯。我发誓！”
The promise came easily, but denying Hades another resident in the Underworld proved more difficult.
发誓很容易，但拒绝给哈迪斯的冥界再添一个居民则被证明更加困难。
Kratos continued to slip toward the island and the palace balanced on the cliff’s edge.
奎托斯继续滑向岛屿和那座坐落在悬崖边缘的宫殿。
The terraces rushed up ever faster, and then Kratos swung out with his blades to leave deep cuts in the stone.
梯台以更快的速度冲来，接着奎托斯挥出双刃，在石头上留下深深的刻痕。
Sparks trailed behind and dust exploded from the deep grooves he gouged.
火花在他身后拖曳，尘土从他凿出的深沟中爆出。
As he slowed, he ran out of wall.
当他减速时，墙面到了尽头。
He fell freely again, but his reflexes were superb.
他再次自由落体，但他的反应极其出色。
Rather than continue his downward tumble, he stabbed upward and caught the overhang.
他没有继续向下翻滚，而是向上刺出，钩住了悬垂物。
His sword drove into stone and hooked into the bottom of the stone terrace.
他的剑刺入石头，钩住了石台的下缘。
The momentum of his fall checked, his arm aching from the sudden stop, he stabbed upward with his other blade.
下坠的势头被止住，手臂因这骤停而疼痛，他用另一把剑向上刺去。
For a few seconds he gathered his strength, then worked his way along the stone slab above him until he reached the side once more.
他花了几秒钟积蓄力量，然后沿着上方的石板移动，直到再次到达边缘。
From there it took only seconds to climb to the terrace.
从那里爬到梯台只用了片刻。
Kratos swung out, then froze.
奎托斯荡出去，然后僵住了。
From a great distance he heard a whisper that grew louder by the instant.
从很远的地方，他听到一阵低语，声音越来越大。
Then Gaia spoke.
接着盖亚说话了。
“Kratos, behold the Island of Creation, home to the Sisters of Fate.
“奎托斯，看哪，这就是创世之岛，命运三女神的家园。
Here, the path to your true destiny begins.”
在这里，通往你真正命运的道路开始了。”
Kratos heard the steady click-click of feet marching toward him.
奎托斯听到稳定而清脆的脚步声向他走来。
He shrugged and settled the hilts of his swords in his palms just as two sentries came around a corner on the walkway.
他耸耸肩，将剑柄在掌心握稳，就在这时，两名哨兵出现在走道的拐角。
Armed with two-edged battle-axes and clad in shining armor and crimson livery, they advanced on him with easy contempt.
他们手持双刃战斧，身穿闪亮的盔甲和深红色号衣，带着轻蔑的神情向他逼近。
Kratos doubted they were required to face true warriors.
奎托斯怀疑他们从未面对过真正的战士。
Their helms sported bristled crests; their greaves were spotless and the sigils on their armor unsullied by anything as taxing as combat.
他们的头盔饰有鬃毛冠缨；他们的护胫甲一尘不染，盔甲上的徽记也未曾被战斗这类费力的事情玷污。
Kratos rushed them, swords flashing in the sunlight.
奎托斯向他们冲去，双剑在阳光下闪烁。
He killed one soldier before the sentry realized he was under attack.
他在那名哨兵意识到遭受攻击之前就杀死了他。
The few seconds it took to dispatch him gave the other a chance to defend himself.
解决掉第一个哨兵所花的几秒钟给了另一个哨兵自卫的机会。
Kratos squared his stance, took the measure of his enemy, and skewered him with a single thrust.
奎托斯站稳马步，估量了一下对手，然后一记突刺将他刺穿。
With a snap of his wrist he flicked off the blood from the Blades of Athena.
他手腕一抖，甩掉了雅典娜双刃上的血迹。
“As you are discovering, the island is fraught with danger,” Gaia went on.
“正如你所发现的，这座岛屿危机四伏。”盖亚继续说道。
“It was created to prevent all from reaching the three Sisters of Fate.”
“它被创造出来的目的就是阻止所有人接近命运三女神。”
“What must I do when I find them? How will this aid me in defeating Zeus?” he demanded.
“找到她们后我必须做什么？这又如何能帮助我击败宙斯？”他质问道。
“The power of the Sisters will allow you to return to that moment when Zeus betrayed and killed you, Kratos, thus changing your fate … and the fate of others.”
“三女神的力量将使你能够回到宙斯背叛并杀死你的那一刻，奎托斯，从而改变你的命运……以及他人的命运。”
He started to ask, What others—but what difference did it make as long as his quest for vengeance against Zeus and the other gods of Olympus found completion?
他本想问，哪些其他人——但只要他对宙斯和奥林匹斯其他众神的复仇能够完成，这又有什么关系呢？
His path was clear.
他的道路很清晰。
He had landed at this palace and now must find the way to the Sisters of Fate.
他已抵达这座宫殿，现在必须找到通往命运三女神的道路。

第二十章（2）
With a sure stride and firm resolve, Kratos began exploring.
带着坚定的步伐和决心，奎托斯开始探索。
He went around the corner expecting more soldiers.
他转过拐角，预期会遇到更多士兵。
Nothing.
但什么都没有。
There seemed no way off this terrace other than to go up a ladder.
除了爬上一架梯子，似乎没有离开这个梯台的路。
Kratos wasted no time ascending.
于是奎托斯立刻开始攀登。
The higher he went, he knew, the closer he got to the tallest spire in the palace, where the Sisters of Fate likely made their lair.
他知道，爬得越高，就越接近宫殿中最高的尖塔，命运三女神的巢穴很可能就在那里。
At the top of the ladder, he climbed over to a stone terrace broader than the one below where he had left the sentries dead.
在梯子顶端，他爬到一个石台上，这个石台比他留下哨兵尸体的下面那个要宽阔。
At the side of the chamber was a heavy stone door that he could not force open using only brute strength.
在房间的一侧有一扇沉重的石门，仅凭蛮力无法打开。
Frowning, he explored and found a trip plate near a lever that slid along a long rail.
他皱着眉头探索，在一个沿长轨滑动的杠杆附近发现了一个踏板。
Stepping on the plate caused a grinding of stone against stone.
踩上踏板，发出石头摩擦的刺耳声。
Beyond the now open stone portal a steel grating blocked the way.
在现已打开的石门后方，一道钢栅栏挡住了去路。
He stepped off the plate and drew back the lever.
他踏下踏板，拉回杠杆。
The metal grate opened.
金属栅栏打开了。
He took a step toward the pair of opened doors, only to see that the stone door slammed before he could reach it.
他朝那对打开的门迈了一步，却看到石门在他到达之前就砰然关上了。
Kratos frowned as he studied what lay before him.
奎托斯皱着眉头研究眼前的机关。
Brute force would not suffice.
蛮力是不够的。
He tested a theory and saw that the plate rose when his weight was removed.
他验证了一个想法，发现当他的重量移开时，踏板会升起。
Looking around, he hunted for something to hold down the pressure plate while he drew back the lever.
他环顾四周，寻找在他拉回杠杆时能压住踏板的东西。
The way ahead required something more than could be found at hand.
前方的路需要一些手边找不到的东西。
Leaving the chamber, he went back down the ladder, caught up the corpse of a sentry, and climbed back to the chamber.
他离开房间，爬下梯子，抓起一具哨兵的尸体，又爬回了房间。
Grunting, he dropped the body onto the pressure plate.
他咕哝着，将尸体扔在踏板上。
With the deadweight holding the plate down, the heavy stone door opened.
重物压住了踏板，沉重的石门打开了。
He drew back on the lever, sliding it the entire length of the rail.
他拉回杠杆，使其滑过整个轨道。
The instant he released the lever, the steel grating began to slide shut.
就在他松开杠杆的瞬间，钢栅栏开始关闭。
Kratos reacted with battle-hardened reflexes, running to the door after pulling the lever back as far as he could.
奎托斯以久经沙场的反应做出应对，在将杠杆尽可能拉到底后，跑向门口。
The closing grating forced him to somersault through.
关闭的栅栏迫使他必须翻滚通过。
The steel bars slammed shut behind, but he had passed through to a narrow corridor that led to another door.
钢条在他身后砰然关闭，但他已经通过，进入了一条通往另一扇门的狭窄走廊。
Unable to go back even if he had wanted, Kratos pressed forward.
即使想回也回不去了，奎托斯继续前进。
He braced himself, gripped the lower edge of the door, and exerted his full strength.
他站稳马步，抓住门的下缘，用尽了全力。
Metal and stone creaked and broke, dropping the door down to reveal a bridge.
金属和石头发出吱嘎声并破裂，门掉落下来，露出了一座桥。
A bridge that ended only a bowshot away.
一座仅在一箭之遥外便断掉的桥。
Kratos strode out and stared down a thousand feet to the boiling sea.
奎托斯大步走出，向下凝视着千英尺之下沸腾的大海。
The water swirled around this island, the Island of Creation, to cascade over the edge of the world.
海水环绕着这座岛屿，这座创世之岛，然后倾泻过世界的边缘。
Beyond, where the bridge ought to have led, he saw what had to be the Island of Fate where the Sisters of Fate resided.
在桥本该延伸到的远方，他看到了那必定是命运三女神居住的命运岛。
The cliffs around that island were unscalable from the ocean, sheer, rugged, and dotted with waterfalls that would sweep any man to his death should he venture too close.
那座岛周围的悬崖从海上无法攀登，陡峭、崎岖，点缀着瀑布，任何人若冒险靠得太近，都会被冲下去摔死。
The only way to the island was across a bridge that did not exist.
通往岛屿的唯一途径是一座并不存在的桥。
Kratos paced back and forth as he examined possibilities for crossing the chasm.
奎托斯来回踱步，审视着跨越深渊的可能性。
Then he began judging his chances of crossing the straits between the islands or finding the Pegasus and flying across.
然后他开始判断自己横渡岛屿间海峡的可能性，或者找到天马飞过去的可能性。
Where it had gone after his aerial battle with the Warrior of Destiny he could not say, but it had been increasingly feeble during that battle.
他说不准与宿命战士空战后它去了哪里，但在那场战斗中它已经越来越虚弱。
He could not fly, then, and he could not cross in any other way.
那么，他不能飞，也无法以任何其他方式过去。
Retreat was impossible, as the way back was blocked.
后退是不可能的，退路已经被封锁了。
Frustration mounted because he knew reaching the Sisters of Fate was beyond his ability and he must ask for assistance.
挫败感油然而生，因为他知道凭自己的能力无法到达命运三女神那里，他必须寻求帮助。
It had not proven to his benefit when he had implored Ares to help him on the battlefield, but he had little choice now except to reach out to the one who had brought him to this impasse.
当年他在战场上恳求阿瑞斯帮助时，结果并未对他有利，但现在他别无选择，只能向那个把他带到这个绝境的存在求助。
He turned his face upward and cried, “Why did you aid me before, Gaia? Will you help me across to the Sisters?”
他仰面朝天，喊道：“你之前为何帮助我，盖亚？你会帮我过去找到三女神吗？”
“I aided you because Zeus must be stopped, Kratos.
“我帮助你是因为必须阻止宙斯，奎托斯。
This story of revenge has been told before.”
这种复仇的故事以前就上演过。”
Kratos stared across at the Island of Fate and felt a smoldering rage that would never be extinguished until the Sky Father truly died.
奎托斯凝视着对面的命运岛，感到一股闷燃的怒火，除非天父真正死去，否则这怒火永不会熄灭。
“There are many stories of revenge, Gaia,” he said.
“复仇的故事有很多，盖亚。”他说。
“I have my own.
“我有我自己的。
Help me!”
帮帮我！”
“You know of the mighty Titan Cronos,” Gaia went on, as if she had not heard.
“你知道强大的泰坦克洛诺斯。”盖亚继续说道，仿佛没有听见。
Kratos stiffened as his mind was hurled away from the sundered edge of the bridge to a time and place beyond his reckoning.
奎托斯僵住了，他的思绪被从断裂的桥边抛向了一个他无法估量的时空。

第二十章（3）
It was as if he had returned to Olympus and looked down on the mortals, but the woman holding the baby in swaddling was something more than a mortal.
这感觉仿佛他回到了奥林匹斯，俯视着凡人，但那个用襁褓抱着婴儿的女性并非凡人。
She stood on a plain dotted with ruined temples.
她站在一片散落着神庙废墟的平原上。
Three columns with a lintel remained intact to one side, near a stone altar, but all else lay in rubble.
一旁有三根带楣石的柱子保持完好，靠近一个石祭坛，但其他一切都成了废墟。
She bent and gently kissed the baby on the forehead, and beams of light drove through leaden clouds to illuminate it.
她弯下腰，温柔地亲吻了婴儿的额头，光束穿透铅灰色的云层，照亮了婴儿。
“So fearful was Cronos of the oracle’s prediction that his own children would rise against him, he decided to imprison them all in his belly.”
“克洛诺斯对预言中他的孩子们将起来反抗他感到如此恐惧，以至于他决定将他们全部囚禁在自己的肚子里。”
Kratos grated his teeth when he saw an eagle flapping toward the desolate plain, an eagle so similar to the one Zeus had sent in Rhodes that he reached for his swords.
当奎托斯看到一只鹰拍打着翅膀飞向荒凉的平原时，他咬紧了牙关，那只鹰与宙斯在罗德岛派来的那只如此相似，他伸手去摸剑。
But he could not move.
但他无法移动。
He was an observer in this drama, not a participant.
他是这场戏剧的观察者，而非参与者。
“Rhea stood by and watched as her children were devoured one by one.
“瑞亚站在一旁，眼睁睁看着她的孩子被一个一个吞食。
But when the time came for the last of her children to be eaten, she was unable to bear another such loss and devised a trick to save the baby Zeus.”
但当最后一个孩子即将被吃掉时，她无法再承受这样的损失，于是设计了一个计策来拯救婴儿宙斯。”
“Zeus.” The name came out of Kratos’ lips as a snake might hiss.
“宙斯。”这个名字从奎托斯唇间吐出，如同蛇的嘶嘶声。
The eagle swooped down and caught the baby in its claws.
那只鹰俯冲下来，用爪子抓住了婴儿。
Rhea stepped away, her arms falling limply at her sides.
瑞亚退开，双臂无力地垂在身体两侧。
She bit her lower lip to keep from crying out, for in the distance came Cronos.
她咬住下唇以免哭出声来，因为远处克洛诺斯来了。
The immense Titan lumbered toward her on that barren mountaintop, coming for the baby now hidden among a flock of golden eagles high above.
巨大的泰坦在荒芜的山顶上蹒跚地向她走来，来寻找现在隐藏在高空一群金雕中的婴儿。
Those powerful birds would take the baby to an island far beyond the spying eyes of Cronos.
那些强壮的鸟会把婴儿带到一个克洛诺斯窥探不到的遥远岛屿。
“It was I,” Gaia continued, “who cared for him.
“是我，”盖亚继续说道，“照顾了他。
It was I who kept him safe.”
是我保护了他的安全。”
Rhea dropped to her knees and grabbed a large stone about the size of her infant son and quickly wrapped it in swaddling.
瑞亚跪倒在地，抓起一块大约和她幼子一样大的石头，迅速用襁褓包起来。
A quick look warned her that Cronos was almost to the plains.
她飞快地看了一眼，克洛诺斯快到平原了。
The Titan blotted out half the sky as he rose hundreds of feet above, thick-fingered hands reaching toward her.
泰坦升起数百英尺高，遮蔽了半边天空，粗壮的手指伸向她。
Rhea hastily laid the swaddled stone on the bloodstained altar and backed away.
瑞亚急忙把裹着襁褓的石头放在血迹斑斑的祭坛上，向后退去。
Then she watched as Cronos knelt.
然后她看着克洛诺斯跪下。
His immense hand closed over the altar and took away the stone hidden by cloth.
他巨大的手合拢在祭坛上，拿走了被布隐藏的石头。
He held it up, as if contemplating a delicate morsel of the finest food, then opened his gigantic mouth and popped in the treat.
他把它举起来，仿佛在审视一份精致的美食，然后张开他巨大的嘴，把这份“美味”丢了进去。
Rhea fought to keep from laughing hysterically, from crying, from doing anything save staring at the immense Titan towering above her.
瑞亚强忍着不歇斯底里地笑出来，不哭出来，除了凝视着耸立在她上方的巨大泰坦外，什么也不做。
“Zeus should have died then!” Kratos called out, but neither Rhea nor Cronos heard.
“宙斯当时就该死！”奎托斯喊道，但瑞亚和克洛诺斯都听不见。
The vision of that lonely mountaintop faded, replaced by a beach and the warm sea beyond.
那孤寂山顶的景象渐渐消失，取而代之的是一片海滩和远方温暖的大海。
Gentle waves lapped on the sand, and childish laughter came from within the darkness of a cave opening onto the beach.
轻柔的波浪拍打着沙滩，孩童的笑声从面向海滩的黑暗洞穴中传来。
Zeus, young, fit, the source of the laughter, emerged from the cave.
宙斯，年轻，健壮，笑声的源头，从洞穴中走了出来。
“I nurtured his desire to free his brothers and sisters from Cronos, but my foolish act of compassion would haunt the Titans forever.”
“我给他灌输了从克洛诺斯手中解放兄弟姐妹的欲望，但我这愚蠢的同情行为给泰坦们带来了永恒的困扰。”
Kratos could only watch as Zeus rode on Gaia’s back.
奎托斯只能看着宙斯骑在盖亚的背上。
The cave was thrust upward away from the sea, a mountain formed beneath Gaia—a mountain formed from Gaia.
洞穴向上突起，远离大海，一座山在盖亚身下形成——一座由盖亚形成的山。
Zeus, long white hair blowing in the stiff breeze, stared down at the creation of a towering mountain, waterfalls tumbling down its sides, trees and grass growing amid the rock.
宙斯，长长的白发在强风中飘扬，俯视着一座高耸山脉的创造，瀑布从两侧倾泻而下，树木和草在岩石间生长。
Kratos wanted to kill him anew as a sneer curled Zeus’ lips.
当宙斯嘴角泛起冷笑时，奎托斯想再次杀死他。
“For in sparing Zeus, we allowed him to return to us with vengeance in his heart.
“因为饶恕了宙斯，我们让他怀着复仇之心回到了我们身边。
He betrayed all the Titans for the sins of just one—the sins of his father, Cronos.”
他因为仅仅一个泰坦的罪过——他父亲克洛诺斯的罪过——而背叛了所有泰坦。”
The scene faded and Kratos slumped, once more faced with the impossible task of crossing to the distant island.
景象消失了，奎托斯颓然倒下，再次面临跨越到远处岛屿这个不可能完成的任务。
How Gaia’s tale was supposed to provide a way across he did not know.
他不知道盖亚的故事应该如何提供一条通路。
He turned and went back to study the steel grate but found no way to open it to retreat the way he had come.
他转过身，回去研究那道钢栅栏，但找不到打开它、退回原路的方法。
Returning to the bridge, he saw a walkway circling the spire.
回到桥边，他看到一条环绕尖塔的走道。
He stepped onto the stone walkway and tested it.
他踏上石走道，试了试。
Bits crumbled beneath his weight.
石块在他的重量下碎裂。
Kratos stepped back, judged what had to be done, and ran forward as hard as he could.
奎托斯退后，判断着他必须做的，然后尽全力向前冲去。
The stone beneath his feet crumbled as he ran, coming closer to sending him tumbling to his death far below with every instant.
他奔跑时脚下的石头不断碎裂，每时每刻都更可能让他翻滚着坠入下方深处摔死。
When he felt the stone walkway vanish beneath his left heel, he gave a mighty jump and sailed through the air, barely catching the still-solid stone of the walkway ahead of him.
当他感觉到石走道在他左脚跟下消失时，他奋力一跳，掠过空中，勉强抓住了前方走道上仍然坚固的石块。
The sound of hundreds of pounds of stone and cement crashing to the ground far below warned him he could not linger.
数百磅石头和水泥砸在下方远处地面的声音警告他不能逗留。
Shoulders straining and back muscles protesting, he heaved himself upward and landed on more solid footing some feet away from the deadly brink.
肩膀紧绷，背部肌肉抗议着，他用力将自己向上拉，落在了离致命边缘几英尺外更稳固的立足点上。