A TASTE OF XENOS—AR Yemruk

“畏懼外星生物.厭惡外星生物.殺死外星生物.吃掉外星生物.”

—主廚巴西利厄斯三世

我敢打賭，他們一定會(huì)將過錯(cuò)都怪到我的頭上，但我拒絕為這場(chǎng)可怕的事故負(fù)責(zé)。如果最壞的結(jié)果還是發(fā)生了，即我不能再活著為自己辯護(hù)了，那就讓這封信來解釋一切吧.

“它必須精致到極點(diǎn).富有異域風(fēng)情.甚至還帶點(diǎn)危險(xiǎn)刺激的感覺.它必須是令人愉悅和著迷的.它必須是完美無缺的”.這就是船長(zhǎng)對(duì)我提出的要求。帝皇保佑，我，區(qū)區(qū)一個(gè)仆人，只能聽令行事.

我和我的副廚師長(zhǎng)，利維亞，決定下到貨艙里去，希望能在厄琉西斯號(hào)拖網(wǎng)漁船打撈上來的無盡漁獲尋找到滄海遺珠.我們把抹布捂在臉上，用來抵御腥臭，在由令人窒息的魚類、甲殼類和頭足類動(dòng)物翻騰起的浪潮中涉水穿行.我們把上等的葉鰭、鰩魚和魷魚分開，其中任何一種單獨(dú)拎出來都可以做成一道美餐，但是沒有一道能符合船長(zhǎng)的要求.這是一項(xiàng)令人惡心的工作.利維亞提議找?guī)讉€(gè)一線廚師代替我去尋找合適的食材，但我可不會(huì)冒在值班期間犯任何錯(cuò)誤的風(fēng)險(xiǎn).不,當(dāng)船長(zhǎng)將我提拔到新的崗位上時(shí)，我就發(fā)誓不會(huì)重蹈我前任的覆轍，站在蛋白質(zhì)處理器的內(nèi)部擦拭沉淀物.我發(fā)誓絕不犯錯(cuò)，亦絕不做個(gè)平庸的廚師長(zhǎng).但隨著搜尋的繼續(xù)，我開始擔(dān)心，我們前方的道路只有平庸一途.

然后它出現(xiàn)了.是利維亞發(fā)現(xiàn)的它,身體半埋在水中，只露出個(gè)屁股.雖然花了不少功夫，但我們還是成功的把它從濕滑的污穢中拔了出來.我以前從未見過這種生物.形似蛆蟲，足有一個(gè)成人那么長(zhǎng)，紅潤(rùn)的甲殼上面還覆蓋著藍(lán)色的骨甲,6條帶爪的細(xì)腿，還有它的嘴，足足占據(jù)了身體的三分之一，里面長(zhǎng)滿了鋒利的牙齒.它血紅色的雙眼中，仿佛寄宿了某種東西.即使已經(jīng)死了，它的凝視依舊使我恐懼得渾身顫抖.憑借我所學(xué)到的知識(shí)和人生閱歷，我希望能聽從自己的直覺，把這個(gè)生物留在發(fā)現(xiàn)它的地方，但利維亞提醒了我，我們還有命令在身.在滿船的漁獲中除了此物，再?zèng)]有別的東西可以滿足船長(zhǎng)的愿望了.

利維亞是對(duì)的.

回到廚房，鈴聲響起，標(biāo)志著晚宴正式開始.一隊(duì)男仆將盛在銀盤中的開胃菜送到大廳，送給船長(zhǎng)，他的軍官們，以及來自內(nèi)務(wù)部的訪問代表團(tuán).當(dāng)他們?cè)跇巧媳患て鹗秤麜r(shí)，我正在斟酌該如何最好的料理這個(gè)外星生物，最終還是利維亞說服了我，就用處理傳統(tǒng)泰拉龍蝦的方式來烹飪并上桌它—最簡(jiǎn)單的方法.用鹽海水煮，佐以黃油即可.它的殼在煮的過程中從棕色變成了深紅色。煮熟后，兩個(gè)廚師將它從桶中取出，并放在臺(tái)面上.他們刮掉了甲殼并去皮，然后將背部撕開，露出里面嫩滑的白肉.我表揚(yáng)了我的手下們，并向他們保證，船長(zhǎng)會(huì)以他們出色的工作為榮，然后命令男仆將它送去樓上的大廳.但晚宴尚未結(jié)束，可沒有時(shí)間留給我們休息，我們還有道甜點(diǎn)需要準(zhǔn)備.

30分鐘后，當(dāng)?shù)案鈩倧目鞠渲心脕?，醬汁澆在千層酥上時(shí)，外面的走廊上突然傳出一聲巨響.廚房里頓時(shí)陷入一片寂靜。當(dāng)我進(jìn)入走廊時(shí)，一個(gè)托盤還在甲板上搖晃著。破碎的餐具撒的到處都是.一個(gè)男仆倚靠著艙壁，脖子上有個(gè)大洞，鮮血正從中噴涌而出。還未等我走到他的身邊，我就聽到了一聲可怕的尖叫，透過艙口，從上一層的甲板傳來.我被嚇呆了.我聽到了步槍射出激光的聲音.窗玻璃隨即應(yīng)聲而碎.警報(bào)聲開始響起，應(yīng)急的紅燈不停的閃爍，傳來了更多步槍發(fā)射激光的聲音.利維亞沖出了廚房，大聲喊叫著什么.她的目光越過了我，望向艙口方向，雙眸睜得滾圓.隨著她的目光我轉(zhuǎn)過身體。恐慌頓時(shí)席卷了我的全身，我的視野開始變得狹窄，我耳朵里的血流聲震耳欲聾，完全蓋過了其他一切的聲音。遠(yuǎn)處有一道人影站在走廊盡頭的艙口前，雖然只能看出一道剪影，但毫無疑問，它穿著一套軍官的制服.閃爍的應(yīng)急燈映照在它的臉上，但那已經(jīng)談不上是一張人臉了，更像是一團(tuán)融化的血肉，咬牙切齒，雙目赤紅。在那道人影身后，逐漸出現(xiàn)了更多的人影.他們開始朝著我們奔了過來.

我嚇得掉頭就跑.

冷凍庫就在正前方。我沖到冷庫前，猛地拉開門，旋即又轉(zhuǎn)身關(guān)上，在大門關(guān)閉前，我看見利維亞正踉踉蹌蹌朝著我奔來.但怪物們就緊跟在她的身后.我卻什么也做不了.在她絕望的注視下，我砰的一聲，用力關(guān)上了冷庫的門，幾乎是同一時(shí)刻，怪物的身軀便撞在了門上.門的另一邊，尖叫聲，敲擊聲，不絕于耳.怪物們?cè)噲D破門而入，幸好這扇門是由厚重的鋼鐵制成，我隨即又破壞了閂鎖控制裝置.最終它們放棄了，不再想方設(shè)法試圖闖進(jìn)冰庫，但我現(xiàn)在也被困在了里面.我聽到外面?zhèn)鱽砹烁嗟募す鈽屄?，我也嘗試過大聲呼救，但并沒有人來救我.

冷庫里實(shí)在太冷了，我?guī)缀醺杏X不到我的手指在寫字了，而且制冷系統(tǒng)也無法從內(nèi)部關(guān)閉.盡管恐懼和腎上腺素尚且不斷的在我體內(nèi)流淌，但我仍隨時(shí)都有失去意識(shí)的可能.在此之前，我必須重申我的清白。我之所以烹飪那個(gè)外星生物，完全是聽命于船長(zhǎng)的奇想和要求.但現(xiàn)在，當(dāng)我寫下這封信時(shí)，我對(duì)整件事情的脈絡(luò)又有了全新的，清晰的思路。畢竟，是利維亞發(fā)現(xiàn)的這只野獸，是她不顧我的疑慮和擔(dān)憂堅(jiān)持要使用它做食材，是她用掃描儀給它做的檢查，清洗并且建議我們應(yīng)該采取何種的方法去烹調(diào)它.難道這一切只是出于她的愚昧無知嗎？是一個(gè)普通的錯(cuò)誤？還是出于某種更邪惡的目的？我現(xiàn)在能做的也只有猜測(cè)罷了.

愿帝皇保佑，能引導(dǎo)人們發(fā)現(xiàn)這一封信，讓世人知曉這場(chǎng)慘案的真相.

渣翻，不保證準(zhǔn)確率，各位看官隨意。

‘Fear the alien. Hate the alien. Kill the alien. Eat the alien.’

– Chef Basilious III

“畏懼外星生物.厭惡外星生物.殺死外星生物.吃掉外星生物.”

—主廚巴西利厄斯三世

They’ll hang this on me, I guarantee it, but I refuse to be held responsible.

我敢打包票，他們一定會(huì)將過錯(cuò)都扣到我的頭上，但我拒絕為這場(chǎng)災(zāi)難負(fù)責(zé)。

If the worst should come to pass and I’m no longer alive to plead my case, then let this letter speak for me.

如果最壞的結(jié)果還是發(fā)生了，我不能再活著為自己辯護(hù)了，那就讓這封信來解釋一切吧.

‘It must be exquisite beyond compare.Exotic.?Dangerous?even.It must delight and enthral. It must be perfect.’?

它必須精致的無與倫比.有異域風(fēng)情.甚至還帶點(diǎn)危險(xiǎn)的感覺.它必須是令人愉悅和著迷的.它必須是完美的.

Those were the captain’s orders, and Emperor save me, I, a mere servant, obeyed.

這是船長(zhǎng)的命令，帝皇保佑，而我，區(qū)區(qū)一個(gè)仆人，只能聽令行事.

My sous-chef, Livia, and I descended into the hold to scour the endless chaff deposited by the Eleusian trawlers.?

我和我的副廚師長(zhǎng)，利維亞，決定下到貨艙里去，在厄琉西斯拖網(wǎng)漁船打撈上來的無盡漁獲尋找滄海遺珠.

We held rags to our faces to fend off the stench and waded through the writhing tide of choking fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.?

我們把抹布捂在臉上，用來抵御腥臭，在由令人窒息的魚類、甲殼類和頭足類動(dòng)物翻騰的浪潮中涉水穿行.

We separated the choicest lobefins, rays, and squid, any of which would have made for a fine repast, but none of them fit the captain’s bill.?

我們把上等的葉鰭、鰩魚和魷魚分開，任何一種單獨(dú)拎出來都可以做成一道美餐，但是沒有一道能符合船長(zhǎng)的要求.

It was revolting work. Livia had offered to go in my stead with a few of the line cooks, but I would not risk any blunders on my watch.?

這是一項(xiàng)令人惡心的工作.利維亞提議找?guī)讉€(gè)一線廚師代替我去尋找合適的食材，但我不會(huì)冒在值班期間犯任何錯(cuò)誤的風(fēng)險(xiǎn).

No, when the captain raised me to my new station, I vowed not to wind up like my predecessor, scrubbing sludge from inside the protein processors.?

不,當(dāng)船長(zhǎng)將我提拔到新的崗位上時(shí)，我就發(fā)誓不會(huì)重蹈我前任的覆轍，站在蛋白質(zhì)處理器內(nèi)擦拭沉淀物.

I vowed to leave no margin for error, no margin for mediocrity.?

我發(fā)誓絕不犯錯(cuò)，絕不做平庸之輩.

But as the hunt continued, I began to worry that mediocrity may be our only path forward.

但隨著搜尋的繼續(xù)，我開始擔(dān)心，我們前方的道路只有平庸一途.

Then there it was. Livia found it, half buried, only its tail visible.?

然后它出現(xiàn)了.利維亞發(fā)現(xiàn)了它,半埋在水里，只露出個(gè)屁股.

It took some doing, but we managed to free it from the slippery dreck.?

雖然花了不少功夫，但我們還是成功的把它從濕滑的污穢中拔了出來.

I’d never seen anything like it before.?

我以前從未見過這種生物.

Maggot-like, but long as a man, clad in bony armour over a ruddy carapace, with half a dozen clawed legs, and its mouth, nearly a third the size of its body, crowded with razor-edged teeth.

形似蛆蟲，足有一個(gè)成人那么長(zhǎng)，紅潤(rùn)的甲殼上面還覆蓋著藍(lán)色的骨甲,6條帶爪的腿，還有它的嘴，足足占據(jù)了身體的三分之一，里面長(zhǎng)滿了鋒利的牙齒.

It was something in its blood-red eyes, though… Even dead, its gaze made me quake with fear.?

它血紅色的雙眼中，仿佛寄宿了某種東西.即使已經(jīng)死了，它的凝視依舊使我恐懼得顫抖.

With the knowledge I have now, I wish I’d listened to my gut, I should have left the creature where we found it, but Livia reminded me of our writ.?

以我現(xiàn)在所掌握的知識(shí)，我希望能聽從自己的直覺，把這個(gè)生物留在發(fā)現(xiàn)它的地方，但利維亞提醒了我，我們還有命令在身.

Nothing else in the haul would sate the captain’s desire.?

在滿船的漁獲中除了此物，再?zèng)]有別的東西可以滿足船長(zhǎng)的愿望了.

She was right.

利維亞是對(duì)的.

Back in the kitchens, a bell tolled, signalling dinner service had begun.

回到廚房，鈴聲響起，標(biāo)志著晚宴正式開始.

An army of footmen carried hors d’oeuvres on silver trays up to the great hall, to the captain, his officers, and the visiting delegation from the Adeptus Administratum.?

一隊(duì)男仆將盛在銀盤中的開胃菜送到大廳，送給船長(zhǎng)，他的軍官們，以及來自內(nèi)務(wù)部的訪問代表團(tuán).

While they whet their appetites above, I considered how best to prepare the creature, but it was Livia who convinced me to cook and serve it as one traditionally would a Terran lobster—simply. Poach it in sea brine and serve with butter.?

當(dāng)他們?cè)跇巧媳患て鹗秤麜r(shí)，我正在斟酌該如何最好的料理這個(gè)外星生物，最終利維亞說服我，就用處理傳統(tǒng)的泰拉龍蝦的方式烹飪并上桌—簡(jiǎn)單.用鹽海水煮，佐以黃油.

Its shell turned from brown to crimson as it boiled.?

它的殼在煮的過程中從棕色變成了深紅色。

When it was finished, a pair of cooks lifted it from the vat and laid it on the countertop.?

煮熟后，兩個(gè)廚師將它從桶中取出，并放在臺(tái)面上.

They peeled and scraped away the armour, then split the back open to reveal the tender, white meat inside.

他們?nèi)テげ⒐蔚袅思讱?，然后將背部撕開，露出里面嫩滑的白肉.

I commended my staff, assured them of the captain’s pride in their work, and ordered the footmen to deliver it to the hall above.

我表揚(yáng)了我的手下們，并向他們保證，船長(zhǎng)會(huì)以他們出色的工作為榮，然后命令男仆將它送去樓上的大廳.

But there was no reprieve during dinner service, and we still had dessert to prepare.?

但晚宴期間可沒有時(shí)間留給我們休息，我們還有道甜點(diǎn)需要準(zhǔn)備.

Thirty minutes later, as cakes were being removed from the oven and sauces drizzled over flaky pastries, there was a sudden crash from the corridor outside.?

30分鐘后，當(dāng)?shù)案鈩倧目鞠渲心脕?，醬汁澆在千層酥上時(shí)，外面的走廊上突然傳出一聲巨響.

Silence fell over the kitchen.?

廚房里一片寂靜。

A serving tray was still wobbling on the deck when I emerged into the corridor.

當(dāng)我進(jìn)入走廊時(shí)，一個(gè)托盤還在甲板上搖晃著。

Broken dishware strewn everywhere.?

破碎的餐具撒的到處都是.

One of the footmen lay against the bulkhead, a hole in his neck, gushing blood.

一個(gè)男仆倚靠著艙壁，脖子上有個(gè)洞，鮮血正噴涌而出。

Before I even reached his side, I heard it—a terrified scream from the hatchway, from the deck above.

還未等我走到他的身邊，我就聽到了一聲可怕的尖叫，透過艙口，從上一層甲板傳來.

I froze. A lasgun cracked. Glass shattered. Alarms sounded, emergency lights flashed, more lasguns joined the first.

我被嚇呆了.步槍射出一道激光.玻璃應(yīng)聲而碎.警報(bào)聲響起，應(yīng)急燈閃爍，更多的激光射來.

Livia burst out of the kitchen, yelling something.

利維亞沖出廚房，大聲喊叫著什么.

She looked past me, her eyes wide.

她的目光越過了我，睜得滾圓.

I turned. Panic washed over me, my vision tunnelled, and the deafening sound of my own blood pumping in my ears drowned out everything else completely.

我轉(zhuǎn)過身來。恐慌席卷了我的全身，我的視野變得狹窄，我耳朵里的血流聲震耳欲聾，完全蓋過了其他一切得聲音。

A figure stood in the hatchway at the end of the corridor, silhouetted, but there was no doubt that it wore an officer’s uniform.?

遠(yuǎn)處有一道人影站在走廊盡頭的艙口前，只能看出一道剪影，但毫無疑問，它穿著一套軍官的制服.

The strobing emergency lights flashed over its face, only it was hardly a face at all, but a mass of melted flesh, gnashing teeth, and eyes—blood-red.?

閃爍的應(yīng)急燈映照在它的臉上，但那根本算不上是一張臉，而是一團(tuán)融化的血肉，咬牙切齒，雙目赤紅。

More figures appeared behind the first. Then they charged towards us.?

那道人影之后，出現(xiàn)了更多的身影.然后他們朝我們沖了過來.

I ran.?

我轉(zhuǎn)身便跑.

The walk-in freezer was dead ahead.?

冷凍庫就在正前方。

I made for it, tore the door open, turned to shut it, saw Livia sprinting towards me.

我沖到冷庫前，猛地拉開門，旋即又轉(zhuǎn)身關(guān)上，在大門關(guān)閉前，我看見利維亞正朝我奔來.

The things were right behind her. There was nothing I could do.

怪物們就在她的身后.我卻什么也做不了.

The look in her eyes…?

她的眼神...

I slammed the door shut, and they crashed into it.?

我砰的關(guān)上門，隨后怪物們便撞在了門上.

The screams and hammering against the other side…?

門的另一邊，尖叫聲，敲擊聲，不絕于耳.

The things tried to break through, but the door was plated steel, and I destroyed the latch control.?

怪物們?cè)噲D破門而入，好在這扇門是由厚重的鋼材制成，我隨即破壞了閂鎖控制裝置.

Eventually they abandoned the effort to get in, but now I’m trapped.

最終他們不再努力試圖闖進(jìn)冰庫，但我現(xiàn)在也被困在了里面.

I heard more lasguns, and I cried for help, but none came.

我聽到外面?zhèn)鱽砀嗟募す鈽屄暎覈L試著大聲呼救，但沒有人來救我.

It’s so cold in here. I can hardly feel my fingers to write any more, and the refrigeration system can’t be disabled from inside.?

這里太冷了.我?guī)缀醺杏X不到我的手指在寫字了，而且制冷系統(tǒng)也無法從內(nèi)部關(guān)閉.

Despite the constant fear and adrenaline coursing through me, unconsciousness threatens to overtake me.?

盡管恐懼和腎上腺素不斷在我體內(nèi)流淌，但我仍隨時(shí)都可能失去意識(shí).

Before it does, I must restate my innocence.?

在此之前，我必須重申我的清白。

I was at the whim of the captain and his demands.?

我之所以烹飪外星生物，完全是聽命于船長(zhǎng)的奇想和要求.

But now, as I write this, I see the events with newfound clarity.

但現(xiàn)在，當(dāng)我寫這封信時(shí)，我對(duì)整件事件有了新的清晰思路。

After all, it was Livia who found the beast, Livia who pressed for it despite my apprehension and misgivings, Livia who ran it through the scanners, cleaned it, and suggested the method by which we ought to cook it.

畢竟，是利維亞發(fā)現(xiàn)的這只野獸，是她不顧我的疑慮和擔(dān)憂堅(jiān)持要用它做食材，是她用掃描儀給它做的檢查，清洗并且建議我們應(yīng)該采取何種的方法去烹調(diào)它.

Was this all ignorance on her part? A simple mistake? Or something more sinister?

難道這一切只是出于她的愚昧無知嗎？是一個(gè)普通的錯(cuò)誤？還是出于更邪惡的目的？

I can only speculate.?

我也只能猜測(cè).

Emperor protect me and guide any who read this, so that they might see the truth.

帝皇保佑，引導(dǎo)有人能看到這封信，讓世人知曉這場(chǎng)慘案的真相.