福爾摩斯探案經典:《恐怖谷》第10章Part4

"Take a stride forward to prove it."
As the words were said he felt two hard points in front of his eyes, pressing upon them so that it appeared as if he could not move forward without a danger of losing them. None the less, he nerved himself to step resolutely out, and as he did so the pressure melted away. There was a low murmur of applause.
"He is of stout heart," said the voice. "Can you bear pain?"
"As well as another," he answered.
"Test him!"
It was all he could do to keep himself from screaming out, for an agonizing pain shot through his forearm. He nearly fainted at the sudden shock of it; but he bit his lip and clenched his hands to hide his agony.
"I can take more than that," said he.
This time there was loud applause. A finer first appearance had never been made in the lodge. Hands clapped him on the back, and the hood was plucked from his head. He stood blinking and smiling amid the congratulations of the brothers.
"One last word, Brother McMurdo," said McGinty. "You have already sworn the oath of secrecy and fidelity, and you are aware that the punishment for any breach of it is instant and inevitable death?"
"I am," said McMurdo.
"And you accept the rule of the Bodymaster for the time being under all circumstances?"
"I do."
"Then in the name of Lodge 341, Vermissa, I welcome you to its privileges and debates. You will put the liquor on the table, Brother Scanlan, and we will drink to our worthy brother."
McMurdo's coat had been brought to him; but before putting it on he examined his right arm, which still smarted heavily. There on the flesh of the forearm was a circle with a triangle within it, deep and red, as the branding iron had left it. One or two of his neighbours pulled up their sleeves and showed their own lodge marks.
"We've all had it," said one; "but not all as brave as you over it."
"Tut! It was nothing," said he; but it burned and ached all the same.
When the drinks which followed the ceremony of initiation had all been disposed of, the business of the lodge proceeded. McMurdo, accustomed only to the prosaic performances of Chicago, listened with open ears and more surprise than he ventured to show to what followed.
"The first business on the agenda paper," said McGinty, "is to read the following letter from Division Master Windle of Merton County Lodge 249. He says:
"Dear Sir:
"There is a job to be done on Andrew Rae of Rae & Sturmash, coal owners near this place. You will remember that your lodge owes us a return, having had the service of two brethren in the matter of the patrolman last fall. You will send two good men, they will be taken charge of by Treasurer Higgins of this lodge, whose address you know. He will show them when to act and where. Yours in freedom, "J.W. WINDLE D.M.A.O.F.

“請你向前邁一大步來證明它。”
這句話說完，麥克默多感到有兩個尖銳的東西直抵在雙目上，因此，這就形成一種局面，如果他向前邁步，那麼就有失去雙目的危險。但麥克默多依然鼓起勇氣堅定地向前大步走去，於是那壓在眼上的東西退縮開了，傳來了一陣低低的喝彩聲。
“他是一個堅定勇敢的人，"那個聲音說道，“你能忍受苦痛嗎？”
“象其他人一樣能夠，"麥克默多答道。
“試試他！”
麥克默多感覺前臂一陣難以忍受的刺痛，他竭力不使自己叫出聲來。這種突然的衝擊幾乎使他昏厥過去，但他咬緊嘴脣，握緊雙手，掩蓋他的極度痛苦。
“比這再厲害些我也能忍受，"麥克默多說道。
這次獲得了一起高聲的喝彩。一個初來的人獲得如此好評，在這個分會中還是從未有過的。大家過來拍拍他的後背，接着罩在頭上的帽子也摘掉了。他在弟兄們一片祝賀聲中，眨眨眼微笑着站在那裏。
“還有最後一句話，麥克默多兄弟，"麥金蒂說道，“你既已宣誓效忠本會並保守祕密，你當然知道，對誓言的任何違背，其懲罰都是格殺勿論啊。”
“我知道，"麥克默多說道。
“那麼你在任何情況下，都接受身主的管轄麼？”
“我接受。”
“那麼我代表維爾米薩三百四十一分會，歡迎你入會，享有本會特權，參與本會辯論。斯坎倫兄弟，你可以把酒擺在桌上，我們要爲這位名不虛傳的的兄弟痛飲一杯！”
人們已經把外衣拿給麥克默多，但麥克默多在穿上外衣以前，看了看自己的右臂，那時右臂仍然如針扎一樣疼痛。前臂上烙有一個圓圈，裏面套個三角形，烙印深而發紅，象是烙鐵留下的痕跡。他身旁的一兩個人捲起了袖子，讓他看他們自己的分會標記。
“我們大家都有這種標記，"一個人說道，“不過不是都象你這樣勇敢地對待它的。”
“唉，沒什麼，"麥克默多說道，可是臂上依然火燒火燎地疼痛。
當入會儀式結束，而酒也喝光了以後，開始討論會中事務。麥克默多習慣於芝加哥那種無聊的場合，便注意傾聽，愈聽愈感到驚奇。
“議事日程的第一件事是，"麥金蒂說道，“讀一封從默頓縣第二百四十九分會身主溫德爾那裏來的信。他說：
‘親愛的先生：
有必要消滅我們鄰區雷和斯特瑪施煤礦的礦主安德魯·雷。你們總記得去年秋季你們和警察發生糾葛，我們曾派兩個弟兄去幫忙的事。請你們派兩個得力的人前來，他們將由分會司庫希金斯負責接待，你知道他的地址，希金斯會告訴他們在什麼時間什麼地點行事。 你的朋友　J．W．溫德爾'