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The old man had spoken about signs and omens, and, as the boy was crossing the strait, he had thought about omens.
老人跟他谈起过预兆。在穿越海峡的途中，圣地亚哥曾思考过预兆的事。
Yes, the old man had known what he was talking about:
是的，老人知道他说这话的意思。
during the time the boy had spent in the fields of Andalusia,
在安达卢西亚原野上的时候，
he had become used to learning which path he should take by observing the ground and the sky.
他就已经习惯了观察大地和天空，据此判断自己应该选择走哪条路。
He had discovered that the presence of a certain bird meant that a snake was nearby,
他知道什么鸟预示着附近有蛇，
and that a certain shrub was a sign that there was water in the area.
哪种灌木表明几公里之外有水源。
The sheep had taught him that.
这都是羊群教会他的。
If God leads the sheep so well, he will also lead a man, he thought, and that made him feel better. The tea seemed less bitter.
既然上帝把羊群引领得这么好，也一定会引领好人类。这样一想，男孩心里就坦然多了，茶也显得不那么苦了。
"Who are you?" he heard a voice ask him in Spanish.
“你是谁？”男孩忽然听到一个人用西班牙语问道。
The boy was relieved. He was thinking about omens, and someone had appeared.
男孩大大地松了一口气。正想着征兆的事，就有人出现在他面前。
"How come you speak Spanish?" he asked.
“你怎么会说西班牙语？”圣地亚哥问。
The new arrival was a young man in Western dress, but the color of his skin suggested he was from this city.
来的是个洋打扮的少年，但他皮肤的颜色表明，他应该是这个城市的人。
He was about the same age and height as the boy.
他的年龄和身高与圣地亚哥相差无几。
"Almost everyone here speaks Spanish. We're only two hours from Spain."
“这里几乎所有人都说西班牙语。从我们这儿到西班牙也就两个小时。”
"Sit down, and let me treat you to something," said the boy. "And ask for a glass of wine for me. I hate this tea."
“请坐，我请你喝一杯，你自己点吧，也给我点一杯红酒，我讨厌这茶。”男孩说。
"There is no wine in this country," the young man said. "The religion here forbids it."
“这个国家没有红酒。”少年说，“教会不允许喝酒。”
The boy told him then that he needed to get to the Pyramids.
圣地亚哥告诉少年，他必须前往金字塔。
He almost began to tell about his treasure, but decided not to do so.
他差点就说出财宝的事，但最终决定保守秘密。
If he did, it was possible that the Arab would want a part of it as payment for taking him there.
这阿拉伯人很可能会向他要一部分财宝，作为带他去金字塔的报酬。
He remembered what the old man had said about offering something you didn't even have yet.
他想起了老人对他说过的话，东西未到手，不应轻易许下诺言。
"I'd like you to take me there if you can. I can pay you to serve as my guide."
“如果可以，我很希望你带我去那里，我可以付给你报酬。
"Do you have any idea how to get there?" the newcomer asked.
你知道怎样才能到达那里吗？”
The boy noticed that the owner of the bar stood nearby, listening attentively to their conversation.
圣地亚哥发现酒吧的老板就在近旁，正注意倾听他们谈话。
He felt uneasy at the man's presence.
这让他觉得很别扭。
But he had found a guide, and didn't want to miss out on an opportunity.
不过，为了找到向导，不能错失良机。
"You have to cross the entire Sahara desert," said the young man.
“你必须穿过整个撒哈拉大沙漠。”少年说，
"And to do that, you need money. I need to know whether you have enough."
“穿越沙漠需要钱。我想知道你是否有足够的钱。”
The boy thought it a strange question.
男孩认为这个问题有点怪。
But he trusted in the old man, who had said that, when you really want something, the universe always conspires in your favor.
但是他相信那位老人，老人曾对他说，当你想要某种东西时，整个宇宙会合力助你实现愿望。
