（外文电子版资料）Terry Pratchett - Discworld - Troll Bridge.doc

Terry Pratchett Troll Bridge (1992) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The air blew off the mountains, filling the air with fine ice crystals. It was too cold to snow. In weather like this wolves came down into villages, trees in the heart of the forest exploded when they froze. In weather like this right-thinking people were indoors, in front of the fire, telling stories about heroes. It was an old horse. It was an old rider. The horse looked like a shrink-wrapped toast rack; the man looked as though the only reason he wasnt falling off was because he couldnt muster the energy. Despite the bitterly cold wind, he was wearing nothing but a tiny leather kilt and a dirty bandage on one knee. He took the soggy remnant of a cigarette out of his mouth and stubbed it out on his hand. Right, he said, lets do it. Thats all very well for you to say, said the horse. But what if you have one of your dizzy spells? And your back is playing up. How shall I feel, being eaten because your backs played you up at the wrong moment? Itll never happen, said the man. He lowered himself on to the chilly stones, and blew on his fingers. Then, from the horses pack, he took a sword with an edge like a badly maintained saw and gave a few half-hearted thrusts at the air. Still got the old knackaroony, he said. He winced, and leaned against a tree. Ill swear this bloody sword gets heavier every day. You ought to pack it in, you know, said the horse. Call it a day. This sort of thing at your time of life. Its not right. The man rolled his eyes. Blast that damn distress auction. This is what comes of buying something that belonged to a wizard, he said, to the cold world in general. I looked at your teeth, I looked at your hooves, it never occurred to me to listen. Who did you think was bidding against you? said the horse. Cohen the Barbarian stayed leaning against the tree. He was not sure that he cou