通译双语文库:波兰吹号手第七章　炼金术士的阁楼|VII. IN THE ALCHEMIST’S LOFT

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波兰吹号手|Polish trumpeter

第七章　炼金术士的阁楼|VII. IN THE ALCHEMIST’S LOFT

属类：双语小说【分类】双语小说 -[作者: 埃里克-凯利] 阅读：[18211] 登录会员即可添加到文库收藏夹，方便以后查看

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约瑟夫回到自己的小房间，昏昏欲睡，把阁楼里发出的闪光完全抛到了脑后，也无暇猜测斯塔斯神神道道的话语。第二天，约瑟夫就开始了在大学预科的学习，所有无关紧要的事情都暂时被他抛在了脑后。然而，大约一周之后的一天晚上，同样的情景再次出现了。那天，约瑟夫和往常一样，陪着父亲去了塔楼，回来的时候天色还早，他就在门口的露台上待了一会儿。夜色宜人，他欣然地望着被星光照亮的屋顶、红色的烟囱和黑色的墙。“狼”睡在约瑟夫的脚下，不安地扭动着身体，仿佛是在做噩梦。他身旁就是他居住的屋子，透过小窗户射出微弱的灯光，从照在窗户上的剪影可以看出他母亲正坐在那里，可能和埃尔兹别塔在一起，她白天说晚上要过来的。

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夜色甜美温柔，约瑟夫陷入了沉思，就像其他年轻人那样。他琢磨着父亲千里迢迢带到克拉科夫的那个宝物会是什么。或许那是一块价值相当于千千万万兹罗提[1]的宝石？或许只是一块样式别致的玻璃，只有研究玻璃的工匠才认可它的价值？但为什么扬·康迪对它也如此重视呢？为什么那个胆大狂妄的陌生人想要将其占为己有呢？为什么世界如此平静，而他们却要更名改姓，只能在夜色的掩护下生活呢？为什么？

[1]　在波兰语中为“黄金”之意。

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闪光！一道闪光突然打破了沉静的夜色！他和斯塔斯单独在院子里的那天晚上就出现了同样的光！只是，伴随着这道闪光，突然传来了一声害怕又痛苦的尖叫。

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他上方平台处的房门突然打开，一个白色的身影出现了，匆匆跑下楼来，等她靠近时约瑟夫认出是埃尔兹别塔，她穿着睡衣，身上披了一条白色的床单。

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他怕自己吓到埃尔兹别塔，立刻开口。

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“埃尔兹别塔！”他说，“是我，我是约瑟夫。发生什么事了？”

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“我叔叔，”她叫道，“约瑟夫，我不知道他们在干什么。”

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“我以为你和我母亲在一起呢。”约瑟夫急切地说。

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“本来是的，可后来我太困了，她就催我上楼睡觉了。我睡着了，睡了一会儿，然后听到了大声的谈话声和噪音。”她凑到约瑟夫身边，继续说道，“约瑟夫，我好害怕。楼上肯定发生了什么不好的事情。那个叫特林的学生现在总是和我叔叔在一起，他一到晚上就来了，然后就和我叔叔一直待在楼上。我叔叔以前从来不会在阁楼过夜——他会陪着我。约瑟夫，我害怕那个特林。”

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“我能理解你的感受。”约瑟夫说道。

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“我觉得他掌握着并非来自这个世界的支配他人的力量，”埃尔兹别塔继续说道，“你不知道自从他找上门以后我叔叔的变化有多大，而我总是孤零零的。”

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“你今天晚上听到了什么？”约瑟夫问道。

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“我被楼上巨大的跺脚声吵醒了，然后，听见我叔叔说，‘不行，那会出人命的。’还听到那个学生发出恐怖的笑声。之后很长一段时间都没有声音。在我就要再次睡着的时候，又传来了另一个声音——我从来没听过那个声音。我总觉得那是我叔叔在说话，但那个声音和语调让我毛骨悚然。最后出现了几束闪光。约瑟夫，你能不能帮帮我，从楼梯上去，从小窗口看看？别让他们看见你，也别待太长时间。你只要能确认我叔叔在里面安然无恙就立刻下来。”

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“我会去的。不过，你先去找我母亲吧。今晚，如果你愿意的话，可以睡在我们家，明天我再和我父亲商量该怎么办。”

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说完，他敲了敲门，但没等他母亲来开门，就跑上楼梯，踏上了通向阁楼的简陋木梯。这段楼梯要比底下的楼梯陡峭许多，所以他只能紧紧抓着旁边的栏杆，慢慢向上爬。这段楼梯在晚上爬起来令他有些晕眩，但他还是敏捷地登上了阁楼的露台，正好可以通过打开的窗户角落看到里面。幸亏窗户是开着的，如果像往常一样关着，他就什么也看不见了，因为玻璃是用凹凸不平的小圆块组成的，并没有抛光。他偷偷地从窗口望进去，一面紧抓着楼梯的栏杆支撑自己的身体，一只脚靠近最上面的台阶，以便在屋里人察觉到有第三个人存在的时候，能尽快脱身。

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屋内的景象让他大吃一惊，他看到四个铜盆从天花板上吊下来，里面正烧着油，整个阁楼就像着了火一样，发出耀眼的光芒。为了避免把房顶烧着，铜盆的上方放有几层相互间隔的金属板。这样，隔板中间的气流就能够使温度降下来，房顶就不会被火焰烤着了。还有一个铜盆，就挂在约瑟夫所在的窗口附近，里面没有东西，之前照亮整个院子的光亮就是从这里发出的——确切地说，那是炼金术士往盆里的木炭上扔的一把粉末快速燃烧发出的光亮。

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阁楼要比约瑟夫想象的高许多，内部是一个宽敞的大房间，屋子的另一侧就是整个建筑物的外墙，上面还有几扇窗户。房间的中后方有一个橱柜，约瑟夫觉得那里一定装着克鲁兹先生最珍贵的物品，因为整个柜子用铁链套着，还安着一把巨大的锁。屋顶的横梁稍稍倾斜，但身材高大的人完全可以在里面自由活动，横梁的木头也不是普通阁楼所用的原木，而是在表面涂了一层厚厚的白漆。

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屋子的正中间立着一个三脚架，上面放着一口铁锅，里面正烧着什么东西，散发出一股特殊的刺鼻味道。

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炼金术士穿着他的黑袍，特林穿着皮衣，两人并肩坐在铁锅前面，紧紧盯着锅里燃烧的多彩火焰。

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“我已经精疲力竭，”约瑟夫听到炼金术士对特林说道，“你所建议的实验方法太费精力了。我确实对它感兴趣，也知道它的魅力所在，但它毕竟不是我所擅长的领域。我是个炼金术士，研究的是物质之间相互作用的真理。我把醋、糖和苏打混合起来就会立即产生气泡，发生变化；我将铅、银、铜熔化，就可以合成一种新的金属。”

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“这些变化不是也受到天空中星星的位置影响吗？”特林问道。

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“既是又非。我承认，海的潮汐似乎和月亮的位置有关，庄稼的收获依赖于四季的变化，而四季的变化又由天体的运动所决定。但其他的事情，我并不清楚。而且，我也不是占星师，我是炼金术士。天空的力量应该由那些研究天空的人来发现。”

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“难道人的行为和生命不是由星星决定的吗？”

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“那就只能交给魔法师和巫师去解答了，同样，那种炮制猫爪、猫头鹰眼睛和死人手指混合物的恐怖魔法也得由他们来解释。”

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“但是，”特林坚持问道，“你也在研究长生不老之术，不是吗？”

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“不，”炼金术士回答道，“虽然我对它充满好奇。如果万事万物都在变化之中，那么只要掌握了逆转生命进程的法则，人就能像由少变老一样返老还童。所以，我并不怀疑有人能够重返青春。不过，相比那些想要重新活一次的碌碌无为之人，我对此并不感兴趣。”

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“那点金石呢？你怎么看？”约瑟夫注意到这个学生在提到这个问题时语气有明显的变化，他的眼睛里闪烁着贪婪的光芒，手也不自觉地攥成了拳头。

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“嗯，”炼金术士回答说，“很多人都寻找过点金石。对于那些迷信无知的人来说，点金石仅仅是一种具备魔力的物质，可以将任何与之接触的东西变成金子，就像古代的米达斯国王[2]的魔法。但对于我们这些研究者来说，这背后的过程才是实现点石成金的原因，而不是那颗石头。”

[2]　希腊神话中佛律癸亚的国王，从酒神狄俄尼索斯那里获得了点金术。

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“那是怎么回事呢？要怎么做呢？”特林的身子前倾，迫切地想知道答案。

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“世上的任何物质，比如铜、纸张或者玻璃等，本身都具有特定的属性。我们的知识之父阿基米德不是早就证实，不同物质分别被扔到水里时，排出的水量都不同吗？黄金是一种物质，铜也是一种物质，二者在被置于火、水、气、土和其他元素中都易于改变。火能够熔化物质，水能够改变物质的颜色或者将其分解，空气能使物质发硬，而土能够使物质发黑。如果能够破解黄金和铜之间的不同之处，那么把铜变成金子或者把金子变成铜并不是不可能的事情。”

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“那你为什么不继续尝试，并且找出其背后的秘密呢？”

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炼金术士深吸了一口气，说：“因为我还有更感兴趣的事情。虽然我只是个炼金术士，但我更关注物质背后的精神问题。我想知道生命本身是否就是一种物质，人与人之间的差别和金属与金属之间的差别有什么不同；我想探寻大地的秘密以及天空传递的信息；我还想知道灵魂的秘密，如何能够帮助并拯救那些天生身体有缺陷的人的灵魂。如果可以，我还想知道世界的构造、季节交替的原因，如此种种——我想知道为什么星星会闪烁，为什么大海会出现风暴。上帝给予了我一个寻求光明的大脑，我感觉自己在探索真理的时候，就是在接受上帝的指引。”

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特林靠近克鲁兹，低声说着什么，不过约瑟夫依然能听清他的话。

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“你是个傻瓜，克鲁兹先生，”他说，“作为这个时代最具天赋的学者和炼金术士，你却把时间浪费在这些追求上，而无视眼前更为伟大的目标。”

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“你的意思是？”

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“你明白我的意思。我们已经开始尝试做那些人们知之甚少的实验了。”

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“我知道，但是我拿不定主意。你的建议中有些东西我不喜欢。但在那些方面你懂的比我多，你是老师，我是学生。不久之前，你让我陷入催眠状态时，我看到了平日里并不熟悉的事情，还听到了一些奇怪的声音，那时我就知道你并不一般。可是，这种实验虽然让人着迷，但可能存在危险。我相信，在纽伦堡，还有黑林山的偏远地区曾经有人尝试过这个实验，但在克拉科夫，我们一直都对此持保守态度。”

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炼金术士凝视着火焰。特林坐在他的旁边，在炼金术士说话的时候，他睥睨着炼金术士，眼神中透露着恶毒之光，让约瑟夫不寒而栗。约瑟夫的脑海中闪现出“魔鬼”一词——在黑暗中特林看起来活脱脱像个魔鬼，试图蛊惑炼金术士。

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不过那个眼神一闪而过。“克鲁兹先生，”特林又开始说道，“我在纽伦堡老镇的老师告诉过我，人实际上有两个大脑。其中一个大脑聪明、有力量，占主导位置，但只有在催眠状态下它才得以发挥作用，就像之前我把你催眠一样。另一个大脑掌管我们的日常生活，告诉我们何时吃饭，何时工作，何时休息。但这个大脑处于次要地位。”

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“是的，这些你已经向我证明过了。”炼金术士说道。

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“那就赶快利用你的高级大脑啊。”特林带着命令的口吻说道。

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“用它做什么呢？”克鲁兹问道。

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“为了人们都想得到的——金子！”

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他一字一顿说话的样子，让约瑟夫打了一个寒战。

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“对我来说，金子并没有那么重要。”炼金术士回答道。

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“重要啊——它重要的——它当然重要了！”特林坚持道，“你还不知道它能给你带来什么。只要掌握了点金术，你我二人就能成为这世间的王者。我们可以住在世上最华美的宫殿里，我们将拥有各种奇珍异宝，你可以像当今有权势的皇室贵胄一样到欧洲各国游历，我们将能掌控军队，并让全人类都按我们的意志行事。”

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他一时间忘记了炼金术士的存在，沉浸于幻想和欲望织就的美梦里，但当他发现克鲁兹并没有受到触动时，就巧妙地转换了话锋，“想想吧，作为炼金术士你能做什么吧！这个阁楼就是你做实验的理想场所吗？用这些简陋的工具怎么可能研制出新物质，又怎么能证明物质之间转换的法则呢？有了点金术，你就能成为波兰——不，是全世界最伟大的炼金术士。你所工作的房间将能够容纳十几个这样的破阁楼，里面会有研究炼金术所需要的一切工具。什么东方传来的物质啊，无价的珍宝啊，珍贵的石头啊，你都有办法搞到。这难道还不够吸引你吗？”

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这次，炼金术士被打动了。“任何贫困的学者都会为之吸引，”克鲁兹回答道，他说话的声音都好像被想象到的画面突然点亮了，语气变得热切起来，“那你认为我，就是你所说的那个更强大的自我，掌握着把普通金属变成黄金的秘密吗？”

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“我肯定！”特林兴奋地说道，几乎要绕着椅子跳起来，“只要你别再犯傻，别再做个死板的学究，而是全心全意、夜以继日地潜心于研究这个宇宙问题。金子——金子——金子！那才是人人都想要的东西！成功总是意味着金钱，那些追求高尚无私的目标的人们，大多倾其一生却一事无成，只不过是为了赢得人们的尊重——甚至只是在欺骗自己。想想吧，只要有了金子——你能给你侄女带来什么，你可以为你的学生们带去什么，你可以让克拉科夫大学，甚至整个波兰成为世界上最伟大、最吸引人的地方。”

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克鲁兹陷入了沉思。虽然约瑟夫年轻，缺乏阅历，但他明显感到炼金术士的心智已经完全被特林蛊惑了。确实，现在克鲁兹已经开始用特林的逻辑来看待自己的生活了，他自己的生活只是一个无聊的学究的生活，他的生活不仅困顿而且愚蠢，只要他愿意，就可以摆脱这一切，过上好日子。现在，机会就摆在他的面前，只要去做，就能改变他所爱的人的生活。他的想法开始天马行空、不切实际了。他曾经是一个理想主义者，一门心思地研究他所认为的人类智慧的结晶——是啊，他以前就是那个样子，一个无聊的老学究！

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克鲁兹这么思考着，完全向特林臣服了。“你说得对，我完全相信，”他叹了一口气，说道，“或许像你说的，只要我们掌握了点金术的秘密，就能主宰世界。有了黄金，我们就能做很多事情，达成我们的心愿，接济穷人，治疗病患，让这个国家彻底远离贫困。是啊，这毕竟是项高尚的任务——我们今晚要不要再重新实验一次？再给我催眠一次？”

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“不，”特林的目的已经达到了，“时间已经太晚了，而且我不想让两次实验间隔这么短，免得效果不佳。等明天晚上，我们都恢复了元气，再尝试吧……我有点好奇，刚才在你进入深度催眠的时候，你大喊着说所有的占星家、炼金术士和魔法师几百年来所梦寐以求的东西正触手可及。我猜测，我们要有重要发现了。”

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“唉，不巧那时候我被吵醒了。”炼金术士说道。

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“是啊，真不走运！”特林苦恼地说，“要不是那声尖叫让你恢复了清醒，我们将会有重大发现。那是你侄女在楼下尖叫。”

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“埃尔兹别塔？”炼金术士担心地问道，“那她为什么要喊叫呢？”

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“你在催眠的状态下也不安生，喊着说有恶魔在你身边，要杀了你——而且害怕得几乎尖叫起来，然后又糊里糊涂地说了些什么话。”

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“那我回应那孩子了吗？”

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“没有，你又沉沉地陷入椅子里，睡着了，进入了自然睡眠，我再问你什么你也不说了。”

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炼金术士揉着眼睛，说：“我现在确实困了。”接着，又好奇地琢磨着，“那个重大发现会是什么呢？这附近好像也没什么值钱的东西啊。底楼住着老妇人和她的傻儿子，用火就能把他吓着。二楼住着三个可怜的逃难者，最近才搬进来。院子对面就是你和两个穷学生。这些人怎么也不像是有宝贝的人。好吧，听你的，今晚就这样吧……”听到这儿，约瑟夫就飞快地爬下了楼梯。

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Joseph found himself too sleepy when he was inside his tiny bedroom to give any further attention either to the flashes of light from the loft above or to the mysterious grumblings of Stas. And the beginning of his studies at the Collegium Minus on the following day, drove, for the time being, all matters of lesser importance from his mind. There was an evening a week or more later, however, when the incident recurred to him. He had accompanied his father, as was his custom, to the tower, and returning early, had paused for a moment on the landing outside his door before entering the house. The night was fine and he peered contentedly about over the starlit roofs, the red chimneys, and the black walls. Down below him Wolf started uneasily in his sleep, as if he were dreaming of evil things. From the little window of the room beside the door of his own dwelling there was thrown upon the darkness a faint glimmer from a lamp which signified that his mother was sitting up, perhaps with Elzbietka, who had said earlier in the day that she would come down that evening.

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He fell to musing in the sweet calm of the night, as young people will do, and in his musing wondered mightily what might be the importance which his father had attached to the treasure which he had brought to Krakow. It might be a gem worth thousands and thousands of gold zloty—it might be merely a fashioned piece ofglass of value only to the tradesmen who worked in glass. But then, why had it made the impression that it had upon Jan Kanty, and why was the bold stranger so eager to gain possession of it? And why in such a peaceful world must names be changed and goings and comings veiled in a mantle of night? Why—

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Flash! Into the night suddenly leaped the same brilliance that had startled him on that earlier evening when he had been alone in the court with Stas. Only, immediately following it now, here came a cry of someone in fright or pain.

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The door at the landing above him was thrown open and a figure in white emerged. It began to descend the stairs hurriedly, and as it came near, Joseph saw that it was Elzbietka in her night clothes, over which she had thrown a white coverlid from her bed.

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He spoke quickly in order that his presence might not alarm her.

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Elzbietka, he said, "it is I, Joseph. What has happened?"

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My uncle, she cried, "Joseph, I know not what they are doing."

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I thought you were with my mother, he exclaimed.

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I was, but I became sleepy, and she told me to go up and sleep. I did sleep, for some time, too. But then this loud talking and noise began. Joseph, she came close up to him, "Joseph, I am frightened. Something is going on upstairs that is not good. The student Tring is with my uncle always now. He came early in the evening, and they have been there together ever since. Uncle never used to go up there at night before—he stayed with me. Joseph, I fear that student Tring."

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I know what you feel, he said.

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I believe that he has some power over people that is not of thisearth, she continued. "You do not know how much my uncle has changed since he first knew him. And I am all alone."

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What did you hear tonight? asked the boy.

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I was wakened by a loud tramping on the floor. Then my uncle said, ’No, that will kill.’ Then the student laughed a terrible laugh. After that there was a long, long silence. I was almost asleep again when I heard another voice—it was like to no one that I had ever heard before. There was something about it that made me think it was my uncle speaking, but it was in such a tone that it made my blood run cold. And now there are those flashes of light. Joseph, if you would serve me, climb the stairway and look through the casement. Do not let them see you, and do not stay long. Come down as soon as you can and tell me that my uncle is alive and well.

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I will. But first you go in and stay with mother. You can sleep here tonight if you wish, and tomorrow I will ask my father what can be done.

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He knocked at the door, but without waiting for his mother to come, ran up the second flight of stairs and reached out for the first board of the rude staircase. When he had found it he managed the ascent by clinging to the rail at the side, for the steps here were much steeper than those below; indeed, in the dark it seemed to him a dizzy bit of a climb, but he managed it nimbly and found when he reached the landing that he could just peep in through one corner of the opened window shutter. Had the shutter been closed, as it usually was, he could have seen nothing, for the glass, consisting of little round uneven blocks, was unglazed and set into a network of lead. Through the opening he peered, clinging to the railing of the stairsfor support, and keeping one foot close to the top step, in order to descend in haste at the first hint that the occupants of the room were aware of the presence of a third person.

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What he saw at first glance startled him, for the loft was literally blazing with light coming from oils burning in four copper braziers which hung from the ceiling. Above these braziers, to protect the roof from the heat, were layers of metal, one separated from the other, so that an air current played between them and cooled them. A fifth brazier, not now alight, hung close to the window where Joseph was peering, and it was from this brazier that the dame had sprung that had lighted up the whole court—as a matter of fact, the light had come from the rapid combustion of a handful of powder which the alchemist had thrown on the brazier’s charcoal.

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The loft itself was higher than the boy had realized—there was but one large room in it, for on the farther side could be seen the shutters of the building’s outer wall. In the middle of the room at the back was a closet—for Pan Kreutz’s most valuable substances, Joseph decided, since it was fastened with chains as well as with a huge lock and key. The beams of the roof, sloping but slightly, were well above the height of a tall man and were not of bare wood, as is common in lofts and attics, but were plastered over with some thick white substance.

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In the center of the room stood a tripod supporting an iron basin, and in it was burning some substance that gave a peculiar pungent odor.

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The alchemist in his black robe and the student Tring in his leather jacket sat elbow to elbow before this basin. They were watching something that was burning there in flames of many colors.

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It takes away my strength, Joseph heard the alchemist tell Tring, "to experiment in the fashion which you have suggested. It has interested me, and I know that it has its fascination, but it is not, after all, in my sphere. I am an alchemist, one who seeks the truth above all things in the actions and reactions of material substances. I mix vinegar and sugar and soda, and there is immediately a bubbling and a change. Something new is created. I melt lead and silver and copper, and they form together some metal that is new."

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But are not these changes influenced also by the position of the stars in heaven? asked Tring.

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Yes, and no. The sea, I admit, seems to follow the pull of the moon. Harvests depend upon seasons and seasons sometimes seem to be servants of the movements of the heavenly bodies. But as to other things I know not. Besides, I am not an astrologer. I am an alchemist. The powers of the sky may be found by those who search the skies.

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But is not the conduct and life of man governed by the stars?

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That I leave to magicians and necromancers, as likewise I leave to them that hideous magic which makes compounds of cats’ paws, and owls’ eyes, and dead men’s fingers.

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But, persisted the student, "you seek the elixir of life, do you not?"

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No, answered the alchemist, "although in regard to it I admit that I have much curiosity. If it is true that all things are subject to change, then one might change from old to young as well as from young to old if one could but find the laws to reverse the process of life. And as to this I do not doubt that a restorer of youth can be found. Yet I am not interested as are those who have lived vain livesand hope to do better if life may be relived."

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The Philosophers’ Stone, what think you of that? Joseph noticed a distinct change in the student’s voice as he said this; his eyes shone with a greedy light, and his fingers seemed to curl perceptibly.

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Well, answered the alchemist, "that is indeed much sought. To the superstitious and ignorant the Philosophers’ Stone means only some substance which by magical power can transform all things it touches into gold, like King Midas of ancient days. But to us who study and work, it is apparent that only a process and not a substance can bring this to pass."

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How—how? demanded the student, leaning forward.

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Well, it is commonly known that each substance in the world, such as brass, or paper, or glass, has certain properties in itself. Did not Archimedes, father of all our learning, establish this truth by the proof that different substances thrown separately into water each displace a different amount of water? Gold is a substance, brass is a substance, both susceptible to change in the elementals, fire, water, air, and earth. Fire melts, water changes the color or disintegrates, air hardens, and earth darkens. To make brass of gold, or gold of brass is not impossible if one might know what would break down the dissimilarity between them.

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Then why do you not keep trying until you find the secret?

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The alchemist drew a long breath. "There are things that interest me more. Though I am an alchemist, I am much concerned with the spirit that is behind material things. I would learn if life itself is a matter of substance, if there is not the same difference between man and man that there is between metal and metal. I would learn thesecrets of the earth, the messages of the sky, and I would know as well the secret of the soul, and how one might seek to help and save the souls of men whose bodies are from birth misshapen. I would learn, if I might, the composition of the earth, the reasons for the spring and summer and such phenomena—I would learn what makes the stars to shine and the sea to be tempestuous. God has given me a mind that searches ever for the light, and I feel that I am doing His will when I seek the truths that lie about us on every hand."

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Tring came close and spoke very low, though his voice carried to Joseph at the casement.

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You are a fool, you, Pan Kreutz, he said. "Here are you, the most gifted scholar and alchemist of our time, fretting away your hours in such pursuits, with a much greater object to be gained at your very elbow."

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You mean—

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You know what I mean. You and I have begun to experiment in things that men know but little of.

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I know, and I am of two minds about it. There is something in what you persuade me into that I like not. But upon such matters you are indeed the teacher and I the student. This I do know, and that is that when I am in a trance such as you sent me into a short time ago I can see things and hear things and even know things that I am not familiar with in my everyday mind. But such experiments, though they enthrall the soul, are perhaps dangerous to men. They are tried in Nuremberg, I believe, and in other lonely places in the Black Forest. But here in Krakow we have ever been wary of them.

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The alchemist was looking into the fire. Tring, sitting beside him, cast at him at these words such a malicious look and leerthat Joseph shuddered. There flashed into Joseph’s mind the word "demon"—a veritable demon from the darkness Tring seemed, striving to exert some influence over his victim.

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The look passed. "Pan Kreutz," began Tring again, "I know from my teachers in the old town of Nuremberg that man has in reality two brains. One of these brains is wise and powerful and dominant, and yet one knows nothing of it except when one is asleep in such a trance as I put you in but a short while ago. The other is the brain of daily life; by it we know when to eat, work, and rest. It is the lesser brain."

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Something of this you have proven to me, said the alchemist.

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Then use your higher brain, commanded Tring.

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To what end? asked Kreutz.

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To the end that all men would reach. Gold!

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He said the word with an intensity that sent a cold thrill through Joseph.

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Gold matters not so much to me, answered the alchemist.

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It does—it does—it does, insisted Tring. "You do not know what you could do with it. With this secret, you and I could become the very kings of the earth. We could live in the finest palace in the world—we could have diamonds and rubies and emeralds—we could travel about the lands of Europe like the mightiest of merchant princes—armies would be at our disposal, and we could make every human being perform our will."

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For a moment he forgot the alchemist as he reveled in this dream made out of fancy and desire, but as a glance at Kreutz’s face found no response there, he went on more cunningly:

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Think what you could do as an alchemist! Is this attic a fittingplace for your experiments? Are these poor tools sufficient for the concoctions that you would devise and for the laws which you would prove? You could become the greatest alchemist in Poland— in the world! You could work in a room that would contain this poor attic a dozen times. In it would be every instrument that has ever been invented for the study of alchemy. No precious substance that comes out of the East, no priceless gem nor precious stone would be beyond the means that you would possess. Does this not tempt you?

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He had touched him this time. "It would tempt any poor scholar," Kreutz replied, in the voice of one who had seen a sudden vision. Then more keenly, "But do you think that I possess in myself, my greater self as you call it, this secret of changing base metals into gold?"

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I am sure of it—Tring was almost dancing about his chair in eager enthusiasm—"if you will cease being a plodding scholar and a fool and set yourself night and day to conquer this problem of the universe. Gold—gold—gold—that is what every man wants. Success always means gold, and those who work all their lives professing none but unselfish motives are but deceiving others in order to make themselves reverenced—some of them perhaps are deceiving themselves. Why, with gold—think what you could do for your niece, think what you could do for the students of the university— you could make this school and, aye, the whole kingdom of Poland the greatest and most desired place in all the world."

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Kreutz thought deeply for some minutes. It was quite evident even to Joseph, young and inexperienced as he was, that Tring had utterly poisoned the alchemist’s mind. Indeed, now Kreutz, lookingat life through the philosophy of Tring, saw that his own life was the life of a dusty plodder; it was the life not only of a poor man but of a foolish man who might be better off if he wished, who now had the opportunity to do a great deal for those whom he loved, if he would but set himself to it. His thoughts had been on a plane too high for practicality. He had idealized mankind and he had tried to learn things which had seemed to him to be the very jewels of knowledge in the crown of wisdom—yes, that was what he had been, a dusty old plodder.

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And with these thoughts he surrendered utterly to Tring. "You are right, I truly believe," he said with a sigh, "perhaps then we can possess this secret which will make us kings of the earth, as you say. With gold we can do these things, we can accomplish what we wish in the world, we can help the struggling, cure the sick, and do away with poverty entirely in this kingdom. Yes, it is, after all, a noble task—shall we repeat the experiment again tonight? Shall I enter into a trance again?"

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Nay, Tring had gained his end, "it is getting late and I would not repeat the experiment so shortly after the first trial, for fear perhaps that it would not be so successful as before. Tomorrow evening we shall try it, when we are both fresh again.... It was curious that tonight, when you were in the deepest part of the trance, you called out that that which every astrologer, alchemist, and magician has sought for centuries was within a few yards of the place where you sat. I had begun to think that we were upon the eve of a great discovery."

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Aye, it was then that something awoke me, said the alchemist.

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Yes, the worse for us all, said Tring sourly. "It was a cry thatbrought you to your senses, upon the eve of so great a revelation. It was the cry of your niece from the room below."

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Elzbietka, exclaimed the alchemist with concern. "And why did she cry?"

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You were not silent in your trance. You shouted that there were some demons near by ready to kill you—you almost screamed in your fear—and then you talked as if your tongue were a pendulum.

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And I did not answer the child?

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No. You sank back in your chair again, asleep, and this time it was a natural sleep, for when I questioned you again, you said nothing.

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The alchemist rubbed his eyes. "I am sleepy now, in faith." Then, wondering, "What could have been the revelation? I know of no prize that could be near by. On the ground floor is the old woman, and her half-wit son, whom I frighten with fire—then on the second floor, but the three poor refugees installed recently. Across the court, only you and two poor students. No, it can be nothing in the possession of any one of these. Well, as you say, this for tonight is enough—" And at these words Joseph scampered down the stairway.

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世界名著双语阅读：

傲慢与偏见小妇人鲁滨逊漂流记哈姆莱特名利场十日谈不平静的坟墓人性的枷锁飘诱拐杀死一只知更鸟黑骏马老人与海苏格兰玛丽女王朗读者故园风雨后董贝父子复活劝导斯泰尔斯庄园奇案无名的裘德童年血字的研究月亮和六便士永别了，武器英雄艾文荷败坏了哈德莱堡的人罪与罚纯真年代巴黎圣母院

古代小说：

大明正德皇游江南传大唐秦王词话粉妆楼红楼复梦济公全传九尾龟郡斋读书志兰花梦聊斋志异女仙外史品花宝鉴儒林外史水浒传无耻奴续济公传薛刚反唐雍正剑侠图于公案初刻拍案惊奇警世通言醒世恒言喻世明言封神演义西游记二十年目睹之怪现状今古奇观金瓶梅词话（万历本）

历史演义：

残唐五代史演义传东汉秘史后汉演义两晋演义民国演义上下卷明史演义清史演义三国演义说唐宋史演义元史演义赵太祖三下南唐民国演义

古代小说：

古汉语：

古文观止山海经

历史演义：

残唐五代史演义传东汉秘史后汉演义两晋演义民国演义上下卷明史演义清史演义三国演义说唐宋史演义元史演义赵太祖三下南唐民国演义

中国古诗词：

全唐诗

古汉语：

古文观止山海经

古代小说：

历史演义：

残唐五代史演义传东汉秘史后汉演义两晋演义民国演义上下卷明史演义清史演义三国演义说唐宋史演义元史演义赵太祖三下南唐民国演义

历史：

史记隋唐两朝志传唐书志传新元史资治通鉴高丽史清史稿汉书后汉书三国志晋书宋书南齐书梁书陈书魏书北齐书周书隋书南史北史全唐文旧唐书新唐书旧五代史新五代史宋史辽史金史元史

当代文学：

朝花夕拾而已集二心集彷徨1926年坟古小说钩沈故事新编　目录华盖集华盖集续编集外集集外集拾遗南腔北调集呐喊且介亭杂文且介亭杂文二集且介亭杂文末编三闲集伪自由书中国小说的历史的变迁中国小说史略准风月谈

其他文献：

三民主义

科技文献：

梦溪笔谈天工开物徐霞客游记

世界名著：

1984 八十天环游地球摆渡人邦斯舅舅北回归线变形记查泰莱夫人的情人大卫·科波菲尔第二十二条军规父与子钢铁是怎样炼成的哈姆莱特幻灭交际花盛衰记静静的顿河九三年理想国理智与情感麦田里的守望者曼斯菲尔德庄园牛虻匹克威克外传飘钦差大臣莎乐美失乐园汤姆叔叔的小屋瓦尔登湖我的大学羊皮卷

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	loft [lɒft]	n.阁楼
	lesser [’lesə(r)]	adj.较少的;较小的;次要的
	recur [rɪ’kɜː(r)]	vi.重现;再发生
	contented [kən’tentɪd]	adj.满足的;心安的,
	uneasily [ʌn’iːzɪli]	adv.不安地;局促地
	dwell [dwel]	vi.居住;存在;冥想;详细阐述
	signify [’sɪɡnɪfaɪ]	vt.表示;预示;意味着;象征
	earlier [’ɜːlɪə]	adj.早的;初期的
	Muse [mjuːz]	v.沉思;冥想
	tradesman [’treɪdzmən]	n.零售商;工匠
	veil [veɪl]	n.面纱;面罩;掩饰物
	mantle [’mæntl]	n.斗篷;覆盖物;墙的外皮;(汽灯的)纱罩;【地】地幔
	brilliance [’brɪliəns]	n.才华;(色彩)鲜明;光辉;辉煌
	startle [’stɑːtl]	v.(使)吃惊;(使)惊愕
	fright [fraɪt]	n.惊骇;惊恐;怪人
	coverlid [’kʌvəlɪd]	n.床罩
	sleepy [’sliːpi]	adj.欲睡的;困倦的
	waken [’weɪkən]	v.唤醒;醒来;觉醒;激发
	tramp [træmp]	n.徒步;流浪汉;淫妇;重脚步声
	rude [ruːd]	adj.粗鲁无礼的;原始的;未加工的;粗糙的;猛烈的
	staircase [’steəkeɪs]	n.楼梯
	steep [stiːp]	vt. & vi. 浸(渍)；浸湿；浸泡;
	occupant [’ɒkjəpənt]	n.占有者;占领者;居住者
	blaze [bleɪz]	n. 火；火焰;
	brazier [’breɪziə(r)]	n.火盆;铜匠.
	combustion [kəm’bʌstʃən]	n.燃烧
	charcoal [’tʃɑːkəʊl]	n.木炭;炭笔
	fasten [’fɑːsn]	vt.拴紧;使固定;系;强加于
	Attic [’ætɪk]	n.阁楼
	plaster [’plɑːstə(r)]	n.石膏;灰泥;膏药
	tripod [’traɪpɒd]	n.(摄影机的)三脚架;三脚用具;三足鼎
	basin [’beɪsn]	n.脸盆;水池
	robe [rəʊb]	n.长袍
	vinegar [’vɪnɪɡə(r)]	n.醋
	soda [’səʊdə]	n.汽水;苏打
	harvestable [’hɑːvɪstəbl]	n.收成;收获;收割;成果;后果
	heavenly [’hevnli]	adj.天上的;天国似的
	magician [mə’dʒɪʃn]	n.魔术师;术士
	hideous [’hɪdiəs]	adj.丑陋的;可怕的;可憎的;令人惊骇的
	paw [pɔː]	n.脚爪;爪子;手
	owl [aʊl]	n.猫头鹰
	elixir [ɪ’lɪksə(r)]	n.长生不老药;仙丹妙药
	relive [ˌriː’lɪv]	v.再生;再次经历
	curl [kɜːl]	n.卷曲;卷发;年轮;漩涡;【足】曲线球
	brass [brɑːs]	n.黄铜(制品);铜管(乐器)
	displace [dɪs’pleɪs]	v.取代;移置;替换
	susceptible [sə’septəbl]	adj.易受外界影响的;易受感染的;容许…的
	elemental [ˌelɪ’mentl]	adj.元素的;自然力的;基本的
	disintegrate [dɪs’ɪntɪɡreɪt]	vi.瓦解;崩溃
	darken [’dɑːkən]	v.变暗;使阴郁;使变暗
	misshape [mɪs’ʃeɪp]	vt.使造型不佳;弄成畸形
	phenomenon [fə’nɒmɪnən]	n.现象
	casement [’keɪsmənt]	n.窗扉
	fret [fret]	vi. 烦恼；着急;
	wary [’weəri]	adj.小心的;机警的
	casting [’kɑːstɪŋ]	n.铸造
	malicious [mə’lɪʃəs]	adj.怀恶意的;恶毒的
	shudder [’ʃʌdə(r)]	vi.战栗;发抖
	alchemist [’ælkəmɪst]	n.炼丹术士;炼金术士
	thrill [θrɪl]	n.激动;引起激动的事物;震颤(医学)
	ruby [’ruːbi]	adj.红宝石色的
	emerald [’emərəld]	n.翡翠;绿宝石;翡翠绿
	disposal [dɪ’spəʊzl]	n.处理
	fancy [’fænsi]	n. 【C】设想；幻想；空想;
	cunning [’kʌnɪŋ]	adj.狡猾的;有眼光的;精巧的;可爱的
	priceless [’praɪsləs]	adj.无价的
	keenly [kiːnli]	adv.敏锐地;强烈地;热心地
	plod [plɒd]	v.沉重地走;辛勤工作;孜孜从事
	profess [prə’fes]	v. 声称; 冒称; 以 ... 为业; 正式接受入教; 表明信仰
	reverence [’revərəns]	n. 【U】尊敬，崇敬;
	utterly [’ʌtəli:]	adv.完全;全然;绝对
	poison [’pɔɪzn]	n.毒药;毒害;败坏道德之事
	dusty [’dʌsti]	adj.满是灰尘的
	mankind [mæn’kaɪnd]	n.人类;男人
	jewel [’dʒuːəl]	n.宝石;受珍视的人或物
	crown [kraʊn]	n.王冠;王权;花冠
	niece [niːs]	n.侄女;外甥女;教士的私生女
	demon [’diːmən]	n.魔鬼;恶魔;精力充沛的人;高手
	grind [ɡraɪnd]	v.磨;压迫;碾碎;磨得吱吱响;逐渐停顿
	scamper [’skæmpə(r)]	n.蹦跳;奔跑
	alchemist [’ælkəmɪst]	n.炼丹术士;炼金术士
	sleepy [’sliːpi]	adj.欲睡的;困倦的
	half-wit [’hɑːfwɪt]	n.愚蠢低能的人;笨蛋;傻瓜
	stairway [’steəweɪ]	n.楼梯

图片译典（一词多图)

我的生词(单词助记)

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第七章 炼金术士的阁楼|VII. IN THE ALCHEMIST’S LOFT

闪光！一道闪光突然打破了沉静的夜色！他和斯塔斯单独在院子里的那天晚上就出现了同样的光！只是，伴随着这道闪光，突然传来了一声害怕又痛苦的尖叫。

他上方平台处的房门突然打开，一个白色的身影出现了，匆匆跑下楼来，等她靠近时约瑟夫认出是埃尔兹别塔，她穿着睡衣，身上披了一条白色的床单。

他怕自己吓到埃尔兹别塔，立刻开口。

“埃尔兹别塔！”他说，“是我，我是约瑟夫。发生什么事了？”

“我叔叔，”她叫道，“约瑟夫，我不知道他们在干什么。”

“我以为你和我母亲在一起呢。”约瑟夫急切地说。

“我能理解你的感受。”约瑟夫说道。

“我觉得他掌握着并非来自这个世界的支配他人的力量，”埃尔兹别塔继续说道，“你不知道自从他找上门以后我叔叔的变化有多大，而我总是孤零零的。”

“你今天晚上听到了什么？”约瑟夫问道。

“我会去的。不过，你先去找我母亲吧。今晚，如果你愿意的话，可以睡在我们家，明天我再和我父亲商量该怎么办。”

屋子的正中间立着一个三脚架，上面放着一口铁锅，里面正烧着什么东西，散发出一股特殊的刺鼻味道。

炼金术士穿着他的黑袍，特林穿着皮衣，两人并肩坐在铁锅前面，紧紧盯着锅里燃烧的多彩火焰。

“这些变化不是也受到天空中星星的位置影响吗？”特林问道。

“难道人的行为和生命不是由星星决定的吗？”

“那就只能交给魔法师和巫师去解答了，同样，那种炮制猫爪、猫头鹰眼睛和死人手指混合物的恐怖魔法也得由他们来解释。”

“但是，”特林坚持问道，“你也在研究长生不老之术，不是吗？”

“那点金石呢？你怎么看？”约瑟夫注意到这个学生在提到这个问题时语气有明显的变化，他的眼睛里闪烁着贪婪的光芒，手也不自觉地攥成了拳头。

“那是怎么回事呢？要怎么做呢？”特林的身子前倾，迫切地想知道答案。

“那你为什么不继续尝试，并且找出其背后的秘密呢？”

特林靠近克鲁兹，低声说着什么，不过约瑟夫依然能听清他的话。

“你是个傻瓜，克鲁兹先生，”他说，“作为这个时代最具天赋的学者和炼金术士，你却把时间浪费在这些追求上，而无视眼前更为伟大的目标。”

“你的意思是？”

“你明白我的意思。我们已经开始尝试做那些人们知之甚少的实验了。”

“是的，这些你已经向我证明过了。”炼金术士说道。

“那就赶快利用你的高级大脑啊。”特林带着命令的口吻说道。

“用它做什么呢？”克鲁兹问道。

“为了人们都想得到的——金子！”

他一字一顿说话的样子，让约瑟夫打了一个寒战。

“对我来说，金子并没有那么重要。”炼金术士回答道。

“唉，不巧那时候我被吵醒了。”炼金术士说道。

“是啊，真不走运！”特林苦恼地说，“要不是那声尖叫让你恢复了清醒，我们将会有重大发现。那是你侄女在楼下尖叫。”

“埃尔兹别塔？”炼金术士担心地问道，“那她为什么要喊叫呢？”

“你在催眠的状态下也不安生，喊着说有恶魔在你身边，要杀了你——而且害怕得几乎尖叫起来，然后又糊里糊涂地说了些什么话。”

“那我回应那孩子了吗？”

“没有，你又沉沉地陷入椅子里，睡着了，进入了自然睡眠，我再问你什么你也不说了。”

Flash! Into the night suddenly leaped the same brilliance that had startled him on that earlier evening when he had been alone in the court with Stas. Only, immediately following it now, here came a cry of someone in fright or pain.

The door at the landing above him was thrown open and a figure in white emerged. It began to descend the stairs hurriedly, and as it came near, Joseph saw that it was Elzbietka in her night clothes, over which she had thrown a white coverlid from her bed.

He spoke quickly in order that his presence might not alarm her.

Elzbietka, he said, "it is I, Joseph. What has happened?"

My uncle, she cried, "Joseph, I know not what they are doing."

I thought you were with my mother, he exclaimed.

I know what you feel, he said.

I believe that he has some power over people that is not of thisearth, she continued. "You do not know how much my uncle has changed since he first knew him. And I am all alone."

What did you hear tonight? asked the boy.

I will. But first you go in and stay with mother. You can sleep here tonight if you wish, and tomorrow I will ask my father what can be done.

In the center of the room stood a tripod supporting an iron basin, and in it was burning some substance that gave a peculiar pungent odor.

The alchemist in his black robe and the student Tring in his leather jacket sat elbow to elbow before this basin. They were watching something that was burning there in flames of many colors.

But are not these changes influenced also by the position of the stars in heaven? asked Tring.

But is not the conduct and life of man governed by the stars?

That I leave to magicians and necromancers, as likewise I leave to them that hideous magic which makes compounds of cats’ paws, and owls’ eyes, and dead men’s fingers.

But, persisted the student, "you seek the elixir of life, do you not?"

The Philosophers’ Stone, what think you of that? Joseph noticed a distinct change in the student’s voice as he said this; his eyes shone with a greedy light, and his fingers seemed to curl perceptibly.

How—how? demanded the student, leaning forward.

Then why do you not keep trying until you find the secret?

Tring came close and spoke very low, though his voice carried to Joseph at the casement.

You are a fool, you, Pan Kreutz, he said. "Here are you, the most gifted scholar and alchemist of our time, fretting away your hours in such pursuits, with a much greater object to be gained at your very elbow."

You mean—

You know what I mean. You and I have begun to experiment in things that men know but little of.

Something of this you have proven to me, said the alchemist.

Then use your higher brain, commanded Tring.

To what end? asked Kreutz.

To the end that all men would reach. Gold!

He said the word with an intensity that sent a cold thrill through Joseph.

Gold matters not so much to me, answered the alchemist.

For a moment he forgot the alchemist as he reveled in this dream made out of fancy and desire, but as a glance at Kreutz’s face found no response there, he went on more cunningly:

He had touched him this time. "It would tempt any poor scholar," Kreutz replied, in the voice of one who had seen a sudden vision. Then more keenly, "But do you think that I possess in myself, my greater self as you call it, this secret of changing base metals into gold?"

Aye, it was then that something awoke me, said the alchemist.

Yes, the worse for us all, said Tring sourly. "It was a cry thatbrought you to your senses, upon the eve of so great a revelation. It was the cry of your niece from the room below."

Elzbietka, exclaimed the alchemist with concern. "And why did she cry?"

You were not silent in your trance. You shouted that there were some demons near by ready to kill you—you almost screamed in your fear—and then you talked as if your tongue were a pendulum.

And I did not answer the child?

No. You sank back in your chair again, asleep, and this time it was a natural sleep, for when I questioned you again, you said nothing.

第七章　炼金术士的阁楼|VII. IN THE ALCHEMIST’S LOFT