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In their ramshackle hut on the edge of the woods, a husband and wife were in despair.
在树林边有一个摇摇欲坠的小屋，屋中的夫妻俩深陷绝望。
The woman had just given birth to their thirteenth child, and the growing family was quickly running out of food and money.
这位女子刚刚生下了他们的第十三个孩子，这个越来越大的家庭很快就会吃光食物，花光金钱。
The father walked into the woods to ponder their problem.
这位父亲走进森林，思考如何摆脱这个处境。
After hours spent wandering through the trees, he encountered two shadowy silhouettes.
在树林里游荡了数小时之后，他遇到了两个阴暗的侧影。
The first figure appeared to be the man's God, while the second resembled the Devil.
第一个似乎是他的神灵；然而第二个则像是魔鬼。
Both figures offered to lighten the man's burden, and act as Godfather to his most recent child.
他们都号称能帮助男人减轻肩上的负担，并成为他的新生子的教父。
But the man refused their offer -- he wouldn't entrust his son to those who passed judgment on human life.
但是，男人拒绝了他们的提议--他不会将自己的儿子托付给那些为人类命运下判决的存在。
He ventured deeper into the tangled thicket. Here in the darkest part of the woods, the father made out a third figure.
他向树枝纠缠的灌木林更深处走去。在这最阴暗的丛林深处，这位父亲见到了第三个身影。
Sunken eyes stared out of its gaunt face, which broke into a crooked smile.
它憔悴面容上深陷的眼窝向外凝视，突然露出一个悚然的笑容。
This was Death himself, come to offer his services as Godfather.
这就是死神本尊，来提出要当孩子的教父。
He promised to return when the child came of age, to bring him happiness and prosperity.
他允诺在孩子成年之时返回，来带给他幸福和成功。
The father -- knowing that all people are equal in the eyes of Death -- accepted his offer.
这位父亲明白，在死亡之前人人平等，于是他接受了死神的提议。
Years later, when the child had grown into an ambitious young man, his skeletal Godfather came for his promised visit.
多年后，当这个孩子已经长成一个胸怀大志的青年，他那枯骨般的教父信守承诺来造访。
In his gnarled hand he held a flask containing the cure for all human ailments.
他粗糙的手中握着一个细颈瓶，里面是能治愈一切人类疾病的解药。
Death had brought this flask for his Godson, promising to make him a successful doctor.
死神为他的教子带来这个小瓶，承诺让他成为一位名医。
But the powerful potion came with very strict rules.
但这个强大的药剂有严格的使用条件。
If his Godson encountered a sick person and Death was hovering at the top of their bed, the doctor could heal them with just a waft of the antidote's fumes.
如果这位教子碰到一位病人，而死神盘旋于他的床榻之上，医生只需让患者轻嗅解药的气味，疾病就能完全治愈。
But if Death lingered at the foot of the bed, he'd already claimed the patient as his own -- and the doctor could do nothing for them.
但是如果死神徘徊在他们的床脚，那么它已经夺走了这位病人的性命--医生将无能为力。
In time, the doctor's potent potion and uncanny instincts became known throughout the land.
不久，这位医生神效药水和令人惊异的直觉已经在全国闻名遐迩。
He grew rich and famous, casting off the hardships of his early life.
他变得富有而出名，走出了童年艰辛的阴影。
When the king fell ill, he summoned the famous physician to treat him.
国王生病时，他传唤了这位著名的医生来治愈他。
The doctor swept into the palace, ready to show off his skills.
医生迫不及待地赶去皇宫，准备大显身手。
But when he entered the king's chamber, he was dismayed to see Death settled at the foot of the bed.
但当他步入国王的寝宫时，他沮丧地看到死神已经静静地等在床尾。
The doctor desperately wanted the glory of saving the king -- even if it meant deceiving his Godfather.
医生不顾一切地想拥有拯救国王的无上荣光--尽管这意味着他要欺骗教父。
And so, he swiftly spun the bed around and reversed Death's position, leaving the doctor free to administer the antidote.
因此，他迅速地把床转向，改变了死神的位置，那么这样他就可以使用解药。
Death was livid. He warned his arrogant Godson that if he ever cheated Death again, he would pay for it with his life.
死神非常生气，他警告这位自大的教子，如果他胆敢再一次愚弄死神，代价会是他自己的性命。
Death and the doctor continued their travels.
死神和医生继续着他们的旅程。
After some time, the king's messengers came to collect the doctor yet again.
一段时间之后，国王的信使又来请医生前往。
The princess was gravely ill, and the king had promised incredible riches to anyone who could cure her.
公主身患重病，国王答应会让任何能治愈她的人变得非常富有。
The doctor approached the princesses' chamber with gold in his eyes.
医生两眼放金光地进入了公主的寝宫。
But upon seeing the sleeping princess, his greed fell away.
但在他看到睡梦中公主时，他对金钱的欲望消失了。
He was so struck by her grace, that he failed to notice Death lurking by her feet.
公主的美貌彻底击中了他，以至于他未能注意到死神正在她脚边徘徊。
He swiftly healed the princess, but before she could even utter her thanks, Death had dragged his lovesick Godson away.
他很快治愈了公主，但她还没来及传达自己的谢意，死神就带走了他那深陷相思的教子。
In an instant, the palace dissolved around them.
一瞬间，宫殿在他们的面前消失了。
The doctor found himself in an immense cave lined with countless quivering candles, each representing the duration of a life.
医生发现自己身处于一个巨大的洞穴中，排满了无数颤动着火焰的蜡烛，每个都代表着一个生命的长短。
As punishment for his Godson's foolish attempt to master mortality, Death whittled his candle down to its wick.
作为对教子愚蠢地想要控制生死的惩罚，死神削短了他的蜡烛，直至灯芯。
Seeing his own dwindling light, the doctor felt the fear he'd often glimpsed in his patients' eyes.
目视着自己逐渐微弱的烛光，医生感受到了他时常在自己的病人眼中瞥见的恐惧。
Desperately, he begged Death to transfer his dying light onto a new candle.
他拼命地恳求死神将他即将熄灭的微光转移至一个新的蜡烛。
His Godfather considered the request -- but the doctor's betrayal was too great.
他的教父考虑了他的请求--但是医生的背叛越过了底线。
He loosened his bony grip, and his Godson's candle fell to the floor.
他松开了自己骷髅般的双手，让他教子的烛火落在了地上。
Death stood motionless, his inscrutable face fixed on the sputtering flame -- until all that was left of the doctor was a wisp of smoke.
死神一动不动地站着，他难以捉摸的面庞紧盯着苟延残喘的火苗--直到医生化为一缕青烟。
