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The Witcher es la historia introductoria en la colección de cuentos cortos El Último Deseo y la primera historia sobre el brujo Geralt de Rivia de Andrzej Sapkowski (primero publicado en 1986 en la revista Fantastyka). Continua con la famosa historia de la pelea de Geralt con la estrige.

Argumento

La historia comienza con Geralt entrando en Wyzima. Poco después, mata a tres hombres en una pelea en el bar. Es escoltado a Velerad, el anciano castellano de Wyzima. Cerca del principio del reinado del Rey Foltest, dejó a su hermana, Ada, embarazada. Ella y el bebé murieron dando a luz, ambas fueron enterradas en un féretro doble. Siete años después, la hija despertó y masacró a los habitantes del palacio. Se había convertido en una estrige.

Geralt meets with Foltest, who warns him not to harm the striga, for a wizard had told him that if someone prevented the striga from returning to her coffin by the third crowing of the rooster, then she would be cured, turning into an ordinary little girl. Geralt asks to see a miller (a survivor of one of the striga's earlier attacks). The soldier that brings him to Geralt is Foltest, disguised. He gives Geralt leave to kill his daughter if he found that she was a incurable case.

Geralt spends the night at the old palace (Foltest having moved to a new palace, unplagued by the striga's attacks). During the early night, Lord Ostrit, a magnate, tries to bribe Geralt into running away, as he wishes the striga to survive. This would eventually horrify the inabitants of Vizima, who would more easily support Vizimir of Novigrad's rule. Geralt refuses, knocks Lord Ostrit out and ties him up. At midnight, he cuts Ostrit loose, using him as bait. He is soon found and killed by the striga.

Geralt fights with the striga, reluctant to use his espada de plata. He ties the striga with a silver chain, which she breaks free off, despite silver being a antithesis to monsters of magic. She is eventually scared off when Geralt uses his sorcery to project the hate and malice in her own mind back at her. Geralt settles down in the double coffin to wait for morning. In the morning, he sees an ordinary little girl who is lying on the floor. Leaning over her, he sees too late that her eyes are open. Using the last remainents of her talons, the striga slashes Geralt's throat. As he subdues the girl/striga, Geralt hears the third crowing of the rooster. Finally, he binds his neck, knowing he will faint.

The witcher wakes up, his neck bandaged, with Velerad (who was part of the group that had planned to just have the striga killed) admitting he was in the wrong. He assures Geralt that his silver sword, his three thousand oren reward and his possessions are safe. Geralt, soothed, falls asleep.

Characters

Adaptations

Novela gráfica

Komiks Geralt okladka

The Geralt Novela gráfica

The short story has been adapted as a graphic novel entitled "Geralt", written by Andrzej Sapkowski and Maciej Parowski, with art by Bogusław Polch.

TV series

The short story has been adapted as part of episode 8 of The Hexer TV series, entitled Rozdroże (crossroads).

Juego de ordenador

The intro sequence in The Witcher game is based on Geralt's fight with the striga in Vizima. The game also hints that although cured, there are rumours of Foltest's daughter Adda still having a striga's bloodthirsty heart. Other characters introduced in this story, such as king Foltest and Velerad, also appear in the game.

Translations

"The Witcher", being the first, is the most translated of Sapkowski's stories. There have been two translations of the story into English - by Michael Kandel and Danusia Stok.

Michael Kandel

Michael Kandel first translated the story for the A Book of Polish Monsters anthology. He took much liberty with the proper names, changing:

  • Foltest to Hrobost
  • Wyzima to Klosthur
  • Temeria to Kra
  • Velerad to Ethmond
  • Medell to Demell
  • estrige to gomb
  • Mahakam to Apiph
  • Ostrit to Osrugh
  • Pontar to Fonzor
  • Vizimir to Cuthbond (in one case) and Glothur (in another)
  • Novigrad to Kloffok (in one case) and Globbur (in another)

Kandel's translation was used by CD Projekt for promotion of their The Witcher computer game.

Danusia Stok

Danusia Stok's translation in El Último Deseo is generally faithful to the original when it comes to proper names, with only slight changes to help English readers with pronunciation of some of them.

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