There is no reason to remain on Tatooine.I know what I must do.I must return to Coruscant and face Lord Sidious.I send a report that the Jedi have taken off with the Queen,and I am returning.I know my Master will want to hear the details in person.

沒有在塔圖因逗留的理由了。我知道我必須要做的事。我必須返回科洛桑面對西迪厄斯大人。我已經送出了一份絕地與女王逃離，以及我將啟程返回的簡報。我知道師父會希望親自聽我敘述細節(jié)。

I am prepared to do this,but I do not look forward to it.I have brought him bad news once before.My successes have been spectacular,but on one mission,I had to report failure.

我準備這樣做，但我并不期待它。我曾經給他帶去過一次壞消息。我的成功總是驚人的，但曾有過一次任務，我必須匯報我的失敗。

It was in the early days when Lord Sidious was secretly working to consolidate the strength of the Trade Federation.My mission was to go to the planet Chryya and ensure that their thriving spice business would be turned over to the Trade Federation to manage.I would accomplish this through threats and intimidation.I would not reveal my Sith powers unless I left my opponent dead.

那時候西迪厄斯大人剛剛開始鞏固他在貿易聯盟內部的力量。我的任務是前往科里亞確保他們繁榮的香料業(yè)務交由貿易聯盟管理。我將通過威脅和恐嚇做到這一點。除非我要殺了我的對手，否則我不會顯示我的西斯力量。

At first,I was successful.A few incidents convinced the frightened merchants to sign all the agreements.But then one merchant organized a protest.Before I could move against him,a groundswell grew among the people.Every citizen of Chryya destroyed their spice supplies rather than give in to the Trade Federation.They wrecked their economy for principle.

最初，我是成功的。我用幾個小小的意外說服心驚膽戰(zhàn)的商人們簽署了所有的協議。但其中一個商人組織了一場反抗。在我能夠去對付他前，當地人發(fā)生了暴動。科里亞上所有的市民都破壞了他們本應上交給貿易聯盟的香料供應。他們破壞了自己的經濟根源。

I had not forseen this.In my experience,creatures are guided by their own comforts.I could not kill the entire population,so I had to leave and report my failure to my Master.

我沒能預見到這一點。以我以往的經驗來看，人們都由他們的自私所引導。我不能把星球上所有人都殺光，只好離開并向師父匯報我的失敗。

He did not take it well.He raised a hand,and the dark side grabbed me by the throat and lifted me high.My breath was squeezed out of me slowly.Too slowly.I had time to feel every stretched-out moment of panic as I struggled to force even the tiniest trickle of air into my lungs.

他不肯接受。他一抬手，黑暗面就扼住我的喉嚨并把我舉高。我喉嚨中的空氣被慢慢地擠出。非常緩慢。當我掙扎著試圖讓一絲空氣流入我的肺時，我有充分的時間去感受每一個被撕裂般的恐慌的時刻。

When I was close to passing out,I was dropped to the floor in a heap.My Master walked away.He did not address me or call for me for some time.The removal of his favor was worse than the punishment.

當我將要昏厥時，我像一攤垃圾一樣被扔在了地上。師父走遠了。他沒有與我說話或再召見我。失去他的寵愛比任何懲罰都要可怕。

So on the journey back,I consider how much of my story to tell.I question whether it is necessary to tell him of my battle with the pirates,or my encounter with the Sand People.If I do,I will have to confess that I sustained a leg wound.I do not want to show weakness in front of my Master.

那么回到日記中，我盤算著我該告訴他多少事。我不知道有沒有必要向他講述與海盜的戰(zhàn)斗，或是與沙人的不期而遇。如果我說了，我就不得不承認腿上有個傷口。我不想在師父面前表現自己的軟弱。

And my leg is almost healed.There is no reason to tell him.

而且我的腿傷幾乎已經痊愈了。那就沒有告訴他的理由。

He will blame me for allowing myself to get caught in the pirate's snare.He won't listen if I try to tell him it was impossible to avoid them.He will cut me off.

他一定會因為我落入海盜的圈套而大發(fā)雷霆。即使我向他解釋不可能避開海盜他也不會聽的。他非砍了我不可。

I don't want excuses.Only results.

我不聽借口。我只要結果。

Sometimes explanations are not excuses,yet they sound that way.And sometimes stories are better left untold.

有時候解釋并不是借口，盡管它們聽著像借口。有些故事最好還是不要說。

I do not like concealing something from my Master.I've never done it before.But I tell myself that any questioning of me would only distract him.We must focus on the next step.

我并不喜歡向師傅隱瞞什么。我從沒這么做過。但我告訴自己我自身的問題只會使他分心。我們必須著眼未來。

I arrive at Coruscant at night.When I come out of hyperspace,the light of the planet dazzles my eyes like an impossibly bright star.At night it glows from the millions of lights that bounce off the atmosphere.Some say it is the most beautiful sight in the galaxy.

夜晚時分我到達了科洛桑。當我跳出超空間時，行星上耀眼的光芒幾乎亮瞎了我的眼。夜色中幾百萬盞燈在大氣層中反射著光芒。有人說它是銀河系中最美麗的景象。

I do not know,or care,about beauty.Apprehension fizzes in my blood.There is nothing in the galaxy to compare to my Master when he is displeased.

我不了解，也不關心所謂的美。我就像熱鍋上的螞蟻。銀河系中沒有什么能比得上師父的不悅。

I dock my ship in the landing bay.The entrance panel slides closed.To outsiders it looks like a sheer wall.I complete my arrival checks.When I realize that I am delaying,I wrench my mind into the proper form for a Sith Lord.We do not delay.We do not feel dread.

我降落在機庫里。入口的嵌板緊閉著。對外來者來說，它看起來只是一堵墻。我完成了著陸檢查。當我意識到自己在拖延時間時，我便將思維扭曲成西斯尊主應有的樣子。我們不會拖延。我們無所畏懼。

I head straight for my Master.He sits in the middle of an empty room,the place where he plans and meditates.There is nothing in the room to distract him.Even the door slides closed and becomes invisible.

我徑直向師父走去。他坐在一間空屋的中央，那是他計劃與冥想的位置。屋子里沒有可以干擾他的東西。就連門的聲音都微不可辨。

I relate what happened.How I raced to find the Jedi,how I was close to defeating him,how he leaped onto the ramp of the ship.

我敘述了事情的經過。我怎樣追尋絕地，怎樣差點擊敗他，怎樣被他跳到船上。

My Master is wearing his hood,so I cannot see his eyes.I rely on his mouth and skin tone to tell me if he's angry,but I see no change.

師父戴著兜帽，我看不到他的眼睛。我觀察著他的嘴和他的膚色以判斷他是否在生氣，但他卻沒有任何反應。

"You feel you would have defeated this Jedi?"he asks.

“你覺得你能夠擊敗這個絕地？”他問。

"Yes,Master.I felt him tire.I can defeat him."

“是的，師父。我感到了他的疲倦。我能打敗他?！?/span>

"Was he bearded?"

“他有胡子嗎？”

I nod.

我點頭。

"Good.That is Qui-Gon Jinn.He is the stronger of the two."

“很好。那是奎剛·金。他是那兩個絕地之中更強的那個?！?/span>

My Master seems satisfied.This puzzles me.Surely he is furious at me for allowing the Jedi to escape.

師父看起來很高興。我一頭霧水。他肯定對于我使絕地逃走一事感到大為不滿。

I venture my guess that the Jedi and the Queen will come to Coruscant.What else can she do?She is young and looks to authority.She will be naive enough to think that the Senate can help her.I am pleased with my deduction,but it does not seem to interest my Master.

我猜絕地和女王將會來到科洛桑。她能干什么？她很年輕，并且正尋求著援助。她將會幼稚地認為議會能夠幫助他。我為自己的推論感到自豪，但這似乎沒有提起師父的興趣。

He waves his hand and tells me that she is already here.

他擺了擺手然后告訴我她早已在這了。

She is close by,staying in the Senatorial quarters.

她就在附近，呆在議員住處。

I stiffen."And the Jedi?"

我身體僵硬?！敖^地也是？”

They are on Coruscant as well.

他們也在科洛桑。

My hand goes to the hilt of my lightsaber.My enemy is near.A burning begins in my chest and spreads outward.

我的手摸上了劍柄。我的敵人就在附近。我義憤填膺，火冒三丈。

"Let me kill them,Master."
“讓我殺了他們，師父?！?/span>

"Not here,"he says.He seems preoccupied,as though I am not even in the room."I have another plan."

“不是在這里，”他說。他似乎很入神，好像甚至我不在他身邊一樣?！拔矣辛硪粋€計劃?！?/span>

While in my Master's presence,I was relieved at my lack of punishment.Obviously,his mind is on other things.

在師父的面前時，我由于沒有受到懲罰而松了口氣。顯然，他在想別的事情。

But as soon as I am alone,I wonder.Is my Master reviving an old method used when I was young,delaying punishment until my nerves are screaming?I never knew when my punishment would come,or what it would be.Then when it came,I would almost feel relief.

但隨后當我獨處時，我很疑惑。難道師父打算故技重施，在我的神經放松下來時再進行懲罰嗎？我永遠不會知道懲罰會何時降臨，或以何種方式降臨。當它到來時，我可能已經完全松懈下來。

But never for long.As soon as the punishment began,relief was but a memory.I am too old now to be frightened by a roomful of dinkos,but I never underestimate my Master's ingenuity.

但時間不會拖得太長。一旦懲罰開始，我就不得安寧了。我現在已經不會再怕一屋子丁克獸了，但我決不能低估師父的巧妙思維。

Did he know of my battle with the pirates,my foolish decision to follow those bantha tracks?Did he sense my leg wound?Both of these episodes put me in danger and slowed me down.Is he waiting until I am complacent to fling my mistakes in my face?

他是否知道我與海盜的戰(zhàn)斗，知道我愚蠢地試圖跟蹤那些班薩呢？他是否已經察覺了我的腿傷？所有這些小插曲都將我置于危險之中并拖累了我。他是否在等著我招供自己的錯誤呢？

Think of the now,Maul.Think of the future.Do not meditate on the past.

考慮當下，摩爾。放眼未來。別再為過去所糾纏了。

I must use my shame.I must turn it inward to make the darkness in me grow.My shame will feed my hatred.That will make me stronger,and when I meet my enemy again,I will be ready.

我必須利用這些羞辱。我必須將它們轉變?yōu)槟苁刮页砷L的黑暗。恥辱將養(yǎng)育我的仇恨。它們會使我變得強大，當我再次遇到他們時，我將做好萬全的準備。

And now my enemy has a name.Qui-Gon Jinn.
敵人之名已經揭曉?？鼊偂そ?。

In the past I never cared about the name of my enemy.My enemy was a target,nothing more.Knowing his name for any other purpose than tracking was valueless.

從前我對敵人的名字毫不關心。敵人只是個目標，除此以外別無他物。知道他的名字除了追蹤以外毫無用處。

But I am glad now to be able to name my enemy.Qui-Gon Jinn.I repeat the name to myself with hatred in every syllable,chant it like a curse.

但我現在很高興知道了敵人的名字。奎剛·金。我咬牙切齒地念著這個名字，不斷地詛咒著。

I will destroy you,Qui-Gon Jinn.I will see the shock in your eyes when I run you through,Qui-Gon Jinn.I will stand over your dead body in triumph,Qui-Gon Jinn.

我會毀滅你，奎剛·金。我要看著當我刺穿你時你眼中的震驚，奎剛·金。我會站在你的尸體上慶祝勝利，奎剛·金。

Because of you,I have failed my Master.

就因為你，我辜負了我的師父！

You will pay.

你會付出代價。

My Master calls me to him and tells me that Queen Amidala has attempted to bring the Senate to her cause,just as we expected.She has asked them to outlaw the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo.She has failed,just as we expected.

師父召喚我來并告訴我阿米達拉女王正試圖將議會拉下水，正如我們所預料的一樣。她試圖勸服他們宣布貿易聯盟封鎖納布的行徑違法。她失敗了，正如我們所預料的一樣。

He chortles with triumph,in the best mood I've ever seen him.It is a satisfying thing,he says,when every piece of your plan falls into place,thanks to your guile and the stupid,unknowing cooperation of your pawns.

他勝利地大笑著，這是我迄今為止所見過他最高興的時候。真是太美妙了，他說著，計劃的每一部分都完美地完成，多虧了自己的狡猾和他人的愚蠢，以及那些被當做炮灰卻毫不知情的人。

I feel relief.My Master doesn't know about my leg wound,about the Togorian pirates.He is vibrating with triumph,ready to take the next step.My mistakes don't matter.Unless he is distracted by good news and will turn on me later...

我松了口氣。師父還不知道我的腿傷和那些托戈里亞海盜的事。他因勝利而震悚著，準備著下一步行動。我的錯誤似乎被忽略了。除非他正忙于處理好消息并打算過后再處理我……

"She is going back to Naboo,"he says harshly."Foolish girl.The Jedi accompany her."He smiles."Come.Let us contact the Neimoidians and share the good news."

“她要回納布了，”他刺耳地說道?！吧笛绢^。絕地陪同著她?！彼⑿α??！斑^來。我們一起聯絡內莫伊迪亞人和他們分享一些好消息?！?/span>

He dons his robe and hood and activates the holocomm.Nute Gunray responds almost immediately.His eyes are fearful as he glimpses Darth Sidious.I stay out of sight.

他穿上長袍拉起兜帽，啟動了全息儀。紐特·岡雷幾乎在一瞬間就回應了。當他瞥到達斯·西迪厄斯時，他的眼中充滿恐懼。我在投射區(qū)外站著。

My Master tells Nute that the Queen is on her way back to Naboo.Nute is surprised,but he does not fear her arrival.

我的師父告訴紐特，女王正在回納布的路上。紐特很驚訝，但他并不害怕她的返回。

"When she gets there,destroy her,"my Master says.

“當她到那里時，殺了她，”師父說。

Nute nods.This is not hard for him to accomplish.He has troops and guards and assassin droids.He won't have to dirty his hands.

紐特點頭。這對他來說不難。他有士兵，警衛(wèi)和暗殺機器人。他用不著臟了自己的手。

Lord Sidious asks if the planet is secure.Nute rushes to assure him that it is.The Trade Federation has taken over the last pocket of primitives.They are in complete control.

西迪厄斯大人問他納布是否已經被攻占。紐特匆忙擔保。貿易聯盟已經接管了最后幾個定居點。他們掌握著一切。

I wait,hoping,knowing what my Master will say.It is my time.He needs me now.I must redeem myself.He must give me the chance to bring down Qui-Gon Jinn.

我等待著，渴望著知道師父接下來的話語。我該出場了。他現在需要我。我必須補償自己。他一定會給我擊倒奎剛·金的機會。

"I am sending Darth Maul to join you.He will deal with the Jedi."

“我將派達斯·摩爾去協助你。他將對付那些絕地?！?/span>

I see Nute swallow.He darts a quick look at Rune.They are not pleased at the thought of my company.

紐特咽了口唾沫。他快速地掃了盧恩一眼。他們對于我的陪伴并不感到舒服。

But they nod and pretend that they are.

但他們連連點頭并假裝樂意。

The screen goes black.My Master laughs.
屏幕暗下來。師父大笑。

"Soon the Neimoidians will no longer be useful to us,"he says."What a happy day that will be."

“這些內莫伊迪亞人對我們來說遲早會變得沒用，”他說。“那將是多么快樂的一天啊。”

He turns.His eyes command me."Make sure the Neimoidians take care of Queen Amidala.You yourself must destroy the Jedi.Do not fail me again."

他轉過身，用命令的眼神。“確保內莫伊迪亞人處理好阿米達拉女王。而你自己必須消滅絕地。別再讓我失望了。”