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And so it came to pass
就这样，
that a heavily guarded caravan soon departed from Damascus
一辆盖得严严实实的马篷车从大马士革出发了。
carrying certificates of ownership and gold
车上装载着各种证明文件和黄金，
for those who managed each of Hafid's trade emporiums.
就要分送到海菲的每个帐房手中。
From Obed in Joppa to Reuel at Petra,
从乔泊的欧贝特到帕特拉的鲁尔，
each of the ten managers received word of Hafid's retirement
每个帐房都收到了海菲的厚礼。
and gift in stunned silence.
他们得知主人退休的消息，个个目瞪口呆，不知说什么好。
Eventually,after making its last stop at the emporium in Antipatris,
篷车驶过最后一站，
the caravan's mission was complete.
它的使命就全部完成了。
The most powerful trade empire of its time was no more.
于是，曾经显赫一时的商业王国从此不复存在。
His heart heavy with sadness,
伊拉玛心情沉重，觉得很难过。
Erasmus sent word to his master that the warehouse was now empty
他差人禀告主人，说库房已经空空如也，
and the emporiums no longer bore the proud banner of Hafid.
各地分行再也看不到那人人引以为荣的海菲王国的旗帜。
The messenger returned with a request
不久，传话的人回来说
that Erasmus meet with his master
主人要马上见他，
by the fountain in the peristyle, immediately.
要他在喷水池旁等着。
Hafid studied his friend's face and asked,
喷水池旁，海菲深深地端详着伊拉玛，然后问道：
"Is it done?"
“事情办完了吗？”
"It is done*
“都办完了。”
"Grieve not, kind friend, and follow me."
“别难过，老伊，跟我来。”
Only the sound of their sandals echoed in the giant chamber as Hafid led Erasmus toward the marble stairway at the rear.
海菲领着伊拉玛，向后面的大理石阶梯走去。
His steps momentarily slowed
阔大的房子里，
as he neared a solitary murrhine vase
只有他们的凉鞋“嗒嗒”响着。
on a tall stand of citrus wood
当他们走近一个搁置的柑木架上的大花瓶时，
and he watched as the sunlight changed the glass from white to purple.
海菲的脚步突然慢了下来。花瓶在太阳光里由白色变成了紫色。
His old face smiled.
看着它，海菲那饱经沧桑的脸上绽开笑容。
Then the two old friends began to climb the inner steps that led to the room inside the palace dome.
接着，两个人开始攀登内梯，阶梯一直通向藏在大厦圆顶里面的房间。
Erasmus took notice that
伊拉玛这才发现，
the armed guard, always present at the foot of the steps, no longer was there.
往日守在阶梯口处的武装警卫已经不在了。
Finally they reached a landing and paused
他们爬上一个楼梯平台，停下来歇息，
since both were without breath from the exertion of the climb.
两个人都累得上气不接下气。
Then they continued on to a second landing
当他们爬上第二个平台时，
and Hafid removed a small key from his belt.
海菲从腰带上取下一把小钥匙，
He unlocked the heavy oak door
打开那沉重的橡木门。
and leaned against it until it creaked inwards.
他把身体靠在门上，门轧轧地向里面推开了。
