- Translations by zimmer识秋客. Used with permission.
- This is the end of an article written by avec in September 2015, which included several speculations about the plot. After the publication of Chapter 8, he updated the article. Those updates are included below.
Like I said, I don’t have many facts. This is my theory about what's happening, but I wouldn't be surprised if it’s wrong.
如我所说,我并没有掌握多少事实。这都是我对于所发生的事的理论,但如果出了错,我也不会感到惊讶。
In 1887, Alexandre used the “improved” serum to explore the Veil. He found the Last Door and attracted the attention of the Simurg. Because of Alexandre’s actions, the Simurg started beckoning to people with greater intensity. Also, the Simurg has been using the people that it can “see” as a sort of conduit to influence our world.
在1887年Alexandre利用“改进”血清探索了帷幕。他发现了最后一扇门并引起了大鸟的注意。由于Alexandre的行动,大鸟开始以更大的强度召唤人们。同样,大鸟一直在利用它能像某种导管一样“看见”的人来影响我们的世界。
Because of the Playwright’s meddling, the Veil is more dangerous in the 1890s than it was in the 1870s. Travelers in the Veil are now at serious risk of being attacked by crows. However, the Simurg (or its agents?) can sometimes guide travelers to safety. I think that the crows are spirits (or demons) that used to serve the interests of the Simurg, but have since abandoned their “king.”
由于“剧作家”的干预,帷幕在19世纪70年代至90年代变得更加危险了。帷幕中的旅行者现在面临着被乌鸦攻击的严重风险。然而,大鸟(或是它的特工)有时能引导旅行者走向安全。我认为乌鸦是为大鸟的利益服务的幽灵(或恶魔),但却已经抛弃了它们的“国王”。
In 1887, Anthony had a change of heart. He started actively trying to keep the Last Door closed. When the Simurg beckoned to the witnesses, Ernest couldn’t answer and Anthony refused to. This earned them the Simurg’s “endless blame” and “censorious gazes” (Chapters 1 and 2). In early 1891, the stress drove them mad. In their madness, Anthony gave Ernest serum. Ernest used the serum on patients in a desperate attempt to return to the Simurg.
在1887年,Anthony改变了心意。他开始积极地使最后一扇门保持关闭,当大鸟召唤见证人 时,Ernest无法回应,而Anthony拒绝回应。这使他们得到了大鸟的“无尽谴责”和“挑剔凝视”(第1、2章)。在1891年前期,精神压力使他 们发了疯。在他们的疯狂之下,Anthony给了Ernest血清。Ernest将血清用在病人上,绝望地企图返回大鸟身边。
Devitt protected himself from the Simurg by inducing amnesia. In Anthony’s last moments of lucidity, he asked Devitt to return to St. Gall. He hoped that Ernest would kill Devitt. Anthony wanted to cause the death of everyone that the Simurg could “see,” in order to reduce the Simurg’s power in our world.
Devitt通过诱发记忆缺失从大鸟手中保护了自己。在Anthony清醒的最后时刻,他请求Devitt回到圣加尔。他希望Ernest会杀掉Devitt。Anthony想要造成大鸟能“看到”的每个人的死亡,以减少大鸟在我们的世界中的力量。
Alexandre had already answered the Simurg’s call back in 1887. Hence, he did not go mad. Alexandre may have evolved to the point where he can influence our world while he is in Veil. The Simurg guided Devitt to Alexandre so that they could open the Last Door together.
Alexandre在1887年已经回应了大鸟的召唤。因此他没有变疯。Alexandre可能发展了几个使他可以从帷幕之中影响我们的世界的点。大鸟指引Devitt找到Alexandre以便他们能够一起打开最后一扇门。
Ultimately, Devitt and Wakefield must decide if they will open the Last Door, or if they will keep it closed and risk incurring the wrath of the Simurg. If they decide to keep the door closed, I’m guessing that Alexandre will oppose them (assuming he’s still alive).
最终,Devitt和Wakefield必须决定他们是否会打开最后一扇门,或者他们是否会使它保持关闭并冒险招致大鸟的愤怒。如果他们决定使门保持关闭,我猜Alexandre会反对他们(假设他还活着)。
This theory is not without flaws. Even if Alexandre can operate in both worlds at once, how can he physically be in two places at once? If Anthony wanted to kill everyone who had contact with the Simurg, why would he give a bunch of serum to Ernest? Wouldn’t that increase the number of people who have seen the Simurg? Maybe the Simurg compelled Anthony to help Ernest. But in that case, the Simurg comes across as being a sort of “evil mastermind,” whereas I tend to see it as being more of a force of nature.
这理论并不是没有瑕疵。即使Alexandre能同时在两个世界行动,他如何在物理意义上 同时出现在两个地方呢?如果Anthony想杀死和大鸟接触的所有人,那他为什么又给了Ernest一堆血清呢?也许大鸟强迫Anthony帮助 Ernest。但那样的话,大鸟看上去就好像是一种“邪恶的幕后操纵者”,但我倾向于将它视作一种自然的力量。
对某些事情一半正确,对其他事情则完全看错了。
Devitt had amnesia, and it protected him, but it happened accidentally.
Devitt得了记忆缺失,这保护了他,但这事是偶然发生的。
There is no evidence that the Veil has gotten more dangerous. It is dangerous for people who do not know how to avoid the Custodian (or who look into their own truth).
没有证据表明帷幕变得越来越危险。它只对那些不知道如何避开“管理人”的人有危险(或者是那些看向自己的真相的人)。
Since the Simurg does not live on the other side of the Veil, it would not necessarily care if the door is open or not (as long as people don’t approach it).
鉴于大鸟不生活在帷幕的另一边,它就未必会在乎门是否打开了(只要人们不接近它)。
Alexandre opposed Devitt’s efforts to close the door, but he did not serve the Simurg.
Alexandre反对Devitt为关闭帷幕所做的努力,但他也不为大鸟效力。
Anthony had a change of heart, but he withdrew from the Playwright rather than opposing it. He deliberately put Devitt in danger, but he did not want Devitt dead.
Anthony一次改变了心意,但他宁可退出“剧作家”而不是反对它。他故意将Devitt置于危险之中,但他并不想让Devitt死。
There was no explanation in Chapter 8 for why the Simurg’s power was increasing, or why Anthony and Ernest both went mad in early 1891.
第8章中仍没有解释为什么大鸟的力量在增强,也没解释为什么Anthony和Ernest都在1891年前期发了疯。