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57 The Curious Custodian
好奇的看守人
It was midnight in the old Public Records Depository.
故事发生在午夜时分的公共档案储存处。
“Curiosity kills the cat,” muttered the custodian as he nervously descended the stairs.
“不要太好奇。”看守人一边紧张地沿着楼梯往下走，一边嘟囔着。
The curious custodian felt drawn to the dark basement.
好奇的看守人感到自己被什么东西吸引着来到黑暗的地下室。
Moisture from an underground river had dampened the walls.
地下河的湿气使周围墙壁也很潮湿。
“There's a secret down here, and it's got to be worth some currency,” he said to himself.
“这下边有秘密宝库，它肯定能值不少钱币。”他自言自语道，
“I'll just make a cursory search.”
“我先大致地搜查一下。”
“What is that?” he screamed as his flashlight lit the darkest and dampest corner of the basement.
“什么东西？”当他的手电筒照到地下室最黑暗、最潮湿的角落时，他尖叫起来。
It appeared to be an ancient dagger, angling in the air.
看上去是把古代短剑，它悬在空中。
The situation was rather daunting.
眼前的一切使他畏缩胆怯。
“What should I do?” he asked himself as he dabbed the sweat from his brow.
“怎么办？”他边问自己，边轻轻擦去额头上的冷汗。
He was not a daring man.
他并不勇敢。
He grabbed a small seat cushion from an old chair and threw it at the dagger.
他抓起一把旧椅子的小坐垫朝短剑投过去，
It triggered a howling sound and a concurrent gust of wind, both of which sent him scurrying up the stairs.
这一下引起一阵吼叫声和随之而来的一阵狂风，吓得他抱头鼠窜奔上楼梯。
The following night, he returned to the basement with the curator of a local museum.
第二天晚上，他和当地博物馆的馆长又来到地下室。
The curator was a dauntless man.
馆长很胆大。
“Don't dally, go get it,” said the custodian.
“别磨磨蹭蹭的，快去拿短剑。”看守人说。
“Don't be curt.” replied the curator.
“不能鲁莽。”馆长回答道，
“The study of ancient daggers was not part of my college curriculum.
“我读大学时全部课程中并不包括古代短剑的研究。
You've just lucky that the museum has a current need for artifacts.
你很幸运，因为我们博物馆正需要一些人工制品。
I know you're only interested in the reward money.”
我知道你对酬金感兴趣。”
“That's a cynical remark,” the custodian snapped back.
“别挖苦我了。”看守人反驳道。
The curator entered the darkest part of the basement to search for the dagger.
馆长开始走进地下室最黑暗的地方去寻找短剑。
The custodian could see him darting back and forth in the darkness.
看守人看见他在黑暗中奔来跑去。
He finally emerged.
最后他终于出来了。
“There's nothing here,” the curator said, staggering out of the darkness.
“这什么都没有。”馆长跌跌撞撞地从黑暗中跑来说，
“Perhaps you should curtail your alcohol consumption.”
“也许你该削减酒的消费量了。”
“Okay, I will,” the custodian replied, as his jaw began to drop, “but what's that stuck in your back?”
“好吧，”看守人回答道，同时他惊讶得张口结舌，“可你背上插的是什么？”
