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When the sun had set, and the first stars made their appearance, the boy started to walk to the south.
太阳完全坠落下去，点点星光开始闪烁。此时，圣地亚哥向南走去。
He eventually sighted a single tent, and a group of Arabs passing by told the boy that it was a place inhabited by genies.
绿洲南端仅有一顶帐篷，几个路过的阿拉伯人说，那里到处是鬼怪精灵，
But the boy sat down and waited.
但男孩还是坐下来，等了很长时间。
Not until the moon was high did the alchemist ride into view. He carried two dead hawks over his shoulder.
月上中天之时，炼金术士翩然而至，肩头搭着两只死去的鹰。
"I am here," the boy said.
“我在这儿。”男孩说。
"You shouldn't be here," the alchemist answered.
“你不该在这儿。”炼金术士回答，
"Or is it your personal legend that brings you here?"
“难道你的天命就是要到这里来吗？”
"With the wars between the tribes, it's impossible to cross the desert. So I have come here."
“部落之间发生了一场战争。已经不可能穿越沙漠了。”
The alchemist dismounted from his horse, and signaled that the boy should enter the tent with him.
炼金术士翻身下马，挥手让男孩随他进帐。
It was a tent like many at the oasis.
那帐篷与男孩在绿洲见过的其他帐篷别无二致。
The boy looked around for the ovens and other apparatus used in alchemy, but saw none.
男孩的视线搜寻着冶炼金属的用具和炉灶，但什么也没找到。
There were only some books in a pile, a small cooking stove, and the carpets, covered with mysterious designs.
只有几本书立在那里，还有一只做饭的炉子、布满神秘图案的地毯。
"Sit down. We'll have something to drink and eat these hawks," said the alchemist.
“请坐，我去沏茶。”炼金术士说，“咱们一起把这两只鹰吃掉。”
The boy suspected that they were the same hawks he had seen on the day before, but he said nothing.
男孩怀疑这鹰就是他前一天看到的那两只，但是他没说话。
The alchemist lighted the fire, and soon a delicious aroma filled the tent. It was better than the scent of the hookahs.
炼金术士点燃炉火，很快，帐篷里就飘满了肉香，比水烟袋的香味好闻多了。
"Why did you want to see me?" the boy asked.
“您为什么要见我？”男孩问。
"Because of the omens," the alchemist answered.
“因为有预兆。”炼金术士回答，
"The wind told me you would be coming, and that you would need help."
“风告诉我你要来，并需要帮助。”
"It's not I the wind spoke about. It's the other foreigner, the Englishman. He's the one that's looking for you."
“需要帮助的不是我，是另外一个异乡人，那个英国人，他正在找您。”
"He has other things to do first. But he's on the right track. He has begun to try to understand the desert."
“在找到我之前，他还必须先找到其他一些东西。不过他已经走在正确的道路上了。他开始观察沙漠了。”
"And what about me?"
“那我呢？”
"When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream," said the alchemist, echoing the words of the old king.
“当你想要某种东西时，整个宇宙会合力助你实现愿望。”炼金术士说道，他重复的是老撒冷王的话。
The boy understood. Another person was there to help him toward his personal legend.
男孩明白了，另一个人出现在他人生的路途上，来引导他达成自己的天命。
