棋手

01-28

creepypasta翻譯練習，有意譯

原文鏈接：Chess Champion

棋手

這是一位一生並無敗績的象棋大師。

他曾經參加了一場備受關注的比賽，說是陪幾個自負的年輕人玩玩；卻在勝負將分之際，察覺到了腦子裡的異樣——

疼痛、眩暈、黑暗

最終，腦動脈瘤擊敗了這位棋盤上的全能之王。

因此，這位棋手現在和死神坐在了一起，他們倆面對面坐著，中間擺著一副棋盤；那曾是棋手生前無比熟悉的。

「象棋？」棋手問道，他有些懷疑，「萬般遊戲和競技，你卻選擇了和我下棋？看來你是知道我是誰了」

「當然」，死神說，「你不過是一介凡人罷了，在我眼裡，便如同一個無知的嬰孩。確實，你曾在這棋藝上窮極了你的一生；然而我，莫要忘記，卻在此道上投入過比你多得多的無盡的時間.』」

並沒有更多的言語，比賽開始了。棋手走動棋子，死神以極快地速度應和著他；方寸之間，戰局焦灼，變化萬千，便如同時漲時退的潮水，一會兒是棋手巧算，一會兒又是死神的妙手。而每當一枚棋子被吃掉，那棋子便從棋盤上跌落，摔下，化為齏粉。

比賽不知道持續了多久。

「現在，您還有什麼想說的嗎？」棋手刺激著對面的對手。此時，死神手中只剩下最後的棋子了，而棋手，還剩下兩枚棋子。

死神死死地瞪了對面的男人一眼，那眼神能把男人的心臟在一瞬間凍結……如果他還有心臟的話。

棋手看了看自己的棋子，一個國王和一個王后，然後微笑著，看著死神棋盤上的國王。

「傲慢的愚者，你還在等什麼呢？」死神咆哮道，「結束這愚蠢的遊戲吧！」

棋手把王后斜穿過棋盤，停在了死神那枚國王面前，正好可以被國王吃掉的位置。看來，他準備拋棄掉自己那雪白的王后了。

「什麼意思？」死神冷笑了一下，「你想讓我吃了你的王后？你明白我會這麼做的……我會做的，不是我想這樣做，而是我必須這樣做！」

「可不」，棋手開心地點著頭，「你必須這樣做！」

死神吃掉了棋手的王后，王后那小小的嘴唇發出尖銳的慘叫，那聲音不大，勉強能聽見。接著，白色王后便也化作了塵埃。

「莫名其妙！」死神喊著，把國王向前挪了一步。

「確實啊」，棋手回應了一句，也把國王向前挪了一步。

來來回回，黑色的國王和白色的國王在棋盤上起舞，卻誰也碰觸不到誰，誰也殺不死誰。

「啥……」死神搖了搖頭，用他那骸骨的手緊按著自己的太陽穴，「這種瘋狂的行為究竟有何意義？」

「很簡單啊」，棋手又把王向前挪了一步，「我現在閑著也沒什麼事兒干，不過我猜你已經堆了不少工作了吧？」

死神的手伸向國王，卻又在聽到棋手解釋時突然撤了回來……

「我到可是挺想看到你被迫辭職呢。」（笑）

註：

1.和死神的比賽，一旦取得勝利，是可以重新獲得生命的。

2.死神的遊戲有一定強制性質，一旦開始了，死神自己也不能在分出勝負之前結束。

3.死亡面前沒有半吊子的平局，死亡沒有模糊的界限。

4.死神水平還是很高的，所以之前都是很快就擊敗了對手，並未落得過這樣。

5.棋手放棄了復活，而是選擇和死神進行無盡的比賽，把死神拖入了永恆的囚禁。

6.國際象棋這東西啊，努力固然很重要，也要看個人的天賦。

原文：

The chess champion had been undefeated at the time of his death.
Hed been in a much-anticipated match with some young upstart, was cleaning the floor with him, when something didnt feel right in his head.
It was a brain aneurysm that felled the mighty king of the board.
And so, the champion found himself sitting with Death, the two of them opposite the very board hed become so accustomed to.
"Chess?" the champion asked incredulously. "Of all things, you wish to challenge me in a game of chess?! Surely you know who I am!"
"Of course," replied Death. "You are a mortal man, a mere babe in my eyes. You have played throughout your entire life, but remember I have been master of this game for much, much longer."
Without any further discussion, the game commenced. The champion made his move, followed quickly by Death. The tide turned one way, then another. Pieces fell, turned to dust, as each player claimed them from the other.
"Anything to say, now?" the champion goaded his opponent, who now had one piece in comparison to the champions two.
Death shot the man a stare that could have frozen his heart solid... if he still possessed one.

The champion looked at his pieces, the King and Queen. He studied Deaths King with a slight smile.
"What stays your hand, arrogant fool?" Death growled. "Finish the game!"
The champion moved his queen across the board, but stopped one space short of the opposing King. There, he abandoned the alabaster woman.
"What is this?" Death sneered. "You force me to claim your Queen? Surely you know that I will take the move... not only because I desire to, but because I must!"
"Of course," the champion nodded happily. "Of course you must!"
Death claimed the Queen, a slight shriek of horror barely audible as it escaped her diminutive lips. Then, it turned to dust.
"This is absurd!" Death shouted, moving his King one space.
"Indeed," the champion replied, doing the same.
To and fro, the Kings danced, never approaching one another, never able to reach or claim the other.
"What..." Death shook his head, one boney hand clasped to his temple, "What is the meaning of this madness?!"

"Simple," the champion moved his King again, "I have nowhere important to be, but Im guessing you have rather a lot of work piling up."
Deaths hand moved to his King, suddenly retracting once more as the champion continued to explain...
"I wanted to see you resign."