eric brighteyes-第54部分

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it　staggered　Eric　in　his　night…gear；　and　lo！　the　left　side　of　it　was

red。　His　eyes　were　wide　with　horror；　his　mouth　was　open；　and　his　face

was　white　as　ice。



He　stopped；　looking　at　them；　made　as　though　to　speak；　and　could　not。

Then；　while　they　shrank　from　him　in　terror；　he　turned；　and；　walking

like　a　drunken　man；　staggered　from　the　hall　down　that　passage　which

led　to　the　store…chamber。　The　door　stood　wide；　the　shutter　was　wide；

and　on　the　floor；　soaked　in　the　dregs　of　ale；　Skallagrim　yet　lay

snoring；　his　axe　in　one　hand　and　a　cup　in　the　other。



Eric　looked　and　understood。



〃Awake；　drunkard！〃　he　cried；　in　so　terrible　a　voice　that　the　room

shook。　〃Awake；　and　look　upon　thy　work！〃



Skallagrim　sat　up；　yawning。



〃Forsooth；　my　head　swims；〃　he　said。　〃Give　me　ale；　I　am　thirsty。〃



〃Never　wilt　thou　look　on　ale　again；　Skallagrim；　when　thou　hast　seen

that　which　I　have　to　show！〃　said　Eric；　in　the　same　dread　voice。



Then　Skallagrim　rose　to　his　feet　and　gaped　upon　him。



〃What　means　this；　lord？　Is　it　time　to　ride？　and　say！　why　is　thy　shirt

red　with　blood？〃



〃Follow　me；　drunkard；　and　look　upon　thy　work！〃　Eric　said　again。



Then　Skallagrim　grew　altogether　sober；　and　grasping　his　axe；　followed

after　Brighteyes；　sore　afraid　of　what　he　might　see。



They　went　down　the　passage；　past　the　high　seat　of　the　hall；　till　they

came　to　the　curtain　of　the　shut　bed；　and　after　them　followed　the

women。　Eric　seized　the　curtain　in　his　hand；　rent　it　from　its

fastenings；　and　cast　it　on　the　ground。　Now　the　light　flowed　in　and

struck　upon　the　bed。　It　fell　upon　the　bed；　it　fell　upon　Whitefire's

hilt　and　ran　along　the　blade；　it　gleamed　on　a　woman's　snowy　breast　and

golden　hair；　and　shone　in　her　staring　eyesa　woman　who　lay　stiff　and

cold　upon　the　bed；　the　great　sword　fixed　within　her　heart！



〃Look　upon　thy　work；　drunkard！〃　Eric　cried　again；　while　the　women　who

peeped　behind　sent　their　long　wail　of　woe　echoing　down　the　panelled

hall。



〃Hearken！〃　said　Eric：　〃while　thou　didst　lie　wallowing　in　thy　swine's

sleep；　foes　crept　across　thy　carcase；　and　this　is　their　handiwork：

yonder　she　lies　who　was　my　bride！now　is　Gudruda　the　Fair　a　death…

wife　who　last　night　was　my　bride！　This　is　thy　work；　drunkard！　and　now

what　meed　for　thee？〃



Skallagrim　looked。　Then　he　spoke　in　a　hoarse　slow　voice：



〃What　meed；　lord？　But　onedeath！〃



Then　with　one　hand　he　covered　his　eyes　and　with　the　other　held　out　his

axe　to　Eric　Brighteyes。



Eric　took　the　axe；　and　while　the　women　ran　thence　screaming；　he

whirled　it　thrice　about　his　head。　Then　he　smote　down　towards　the　skull

of　Skallagrim；　but　as　he　smote　it　seemed　to　him　that　a　voice　whispered

in　his　ear：　〃/Thy　oath！/〃and　he　remembered　that　he　had　sworn　to　slay

no　more；　save　for　his　own　life's　sake。



The　mighty　blow　was　falling　and　he　might　only　do　thisloose　the　axe

before　it　clove　Skallagrim　in　twain。　He　loosed　and　away　the　great　axe

flew。　It　passed　over　the　head　of　Skallagrim；　and　sped　like　light

across　the　wide　hall；　till　it　crashed　through　the　panelling　on　the

further　side；　and　buried　itself　to　the　haft　in　the　wall　beyond。



〃It　is　not　for　me　to　kill　thee；　drunkard！　Go；　die　in　thy　drink！〃



〃Then　I　will　kill　myself！〃　cried　the　Baresark；　and；　rushing　across　the

hall　he　tore　the　great　axe　from　its　bed。



〃Hold！〃　said　Eric；　〃perhaps　there　is　yet　a　deed　for　thee　to　do。　Then

thou　mayest　die；　if　it　pleases　thee。〃



〃Ay；〃　said　Skallagrim　coming　back；　〃perchance　there　is　still　a　deed　to

do！〃



And；　flinging　down　the　axe；　Skallagrim　Lambstail　the　Baresark　fell

upon　the　floor　and　wept。



But　Eric　did　not　weep。　Only　he　drew　Whitefire　from　the　heart　of

Gudruda　and　looked　at　it。



〃Thou　art　a　strange　sword；　Whitefire；〃　he　said；　〃who　slayest　both

friend　and　foe！　Shame　on　thee；　Whitefire！　We　swore　our　oath　on　thee；

Whitefire；　and　thou　hast　cut　its　chain！　Now　I　am　minded　to　shatter

thee。〃　And　as　Eric　looked　on　the　great　blade；　lo！　it　hummed　strangely

in　answer。



〃'First　must　thou　be　the　death　of　some；'　thou　sayest？　Well；　maybe；

Whitefire！　But　never　yet　didst　thou　drink　so　sweet　a　life　as　hers　who

now　lies　dead；　nor　ever　shalt　again。〃



Then　he　sheathed　the　sword；　but　neither　then　nor　afterwards　did　he

wipe　the　blood　of　Gudruda　from　its　blade。



〃Last　night　a…marryingto…day　a…burying；〃　said　Eric；　and　he　called　to

the　women　to　bring　spades。　Then；　having　clothed　himself；　he　went　to

the　centre　of　the　hall；　and；　brushing　away　the　sand；　broke　the　hard

clay…flooring；　dealing　great　blows　on　it　with　an　axe。　Now　Skallagrim；

seeing　his　purpose；　came　to　him　and　took　one　of　the　spades；　and

together　they　laboured　in　silence　till　they　had　dug　a　grave　a　fathom

deep。



〃Here；〃　said　Eric；　〃here；　in　thine　own　hall　where　thou　wast　born　and

lived；　Gudruda　the　Fair；　thou　shalt　sleep　at　the　last。　And　of

Middalhof　I　say　this：　that　none　shall　live　there　henceforth。　It　shall

be　haunted　and　accursed　till　the　rafters　rot　and　the　walls　fall　in；

making　thy　barrow；　Gudruda。〃



Now　this　indeed　came　to　pass；　for　none　have　lived　in　Middalhof　since

the　days　of　Gudruda　the　Fair；　Asmund's　daughter。　It　has　been　ruined

these　many　years；　and　now　it　is　but　a　pile　of　stones。







When　the　grave　was　dug；　Eric　washed　himself　and　ate　some　food。　Then　he

went　in　to　where　Gudruda　lay　dead；　and　bade　the　women　make　her　ready

for　burial。　This　they　did。　When　she　was　washed　and　clad　in　a　clean

white　robe；　Eric　came　to　her；　and　with　his　own　hand　bound　the　Hell…

shoes　on　her　feet　and　closed　her　eyes。



It　was　just　then　that　a　man　came　who　said　that　the　people　of　Gizur　and

of　Swanhild　had　burned　Gudruda's　ship；　driving　the　crew　ashore。



〃It　is　well；〃　said　Eric。　〃We　need　the　ship　no　more；　now　hath　she　whom

it　should　bear　wings　with　which　to　fly。〃　Then　he　went　in　and　sat　down

on　the　bed　by　the　body　of　Gudruda；　while　Skallagrim　crouched　on　the

ground　without；　tearing　at　his　beard　and　muttering。　For　the　fierce

heart　of　Skallagrim　was　broken　because　of　that　evil　which　his

drunkenness　had　brought　about。



All　day　Eric　sat　thus；　looking　on　his　dead　love's　face；　till　the　hour

came　round　when　he　and　Gudruda　had　drunk　the　bride…cup。　Then　he　rose

and　kissed　dead　Gudruda　on　the　lips；　saying：



〃I　did　not　look　to　part　with　thee　thus；　sweet！　It　is　sad　that　thou

shouldst　have　gone　and　left　me　here。　Natheless；　I　shall　soon　follow　on

thy　path。〃



Then　he　called　aloud：



〃Art　sober；　drunkard？〃



Skallagrim　came　and　stood　before　him；　saying　nothing。



〃Take　thou　the　feet　of　her　whom　thou　didst　bring　to　death；　and　I　will

take　her　head。〃



So　they　lifted　up　Gudruda　and　bore　her　to　the　grave。　Then　Eric　stood

near　the　grave；　and；　taking　dead　Gudruda　in　his　arms；　looked　upon　her

face　by　the　light　of　the　fire　and　of　the　candles　that　were　set　about。



He　looked　thrice；　then　sang　aloud：



　〃Long　ago；　when　swept　the　snow…blast；

　　Close　we　clung　and　plighted　troth。

　　Many　a　year；　through　storm　and　sword…song；

　　Sore　I　strove　to　win　thee；　sweet！

　　But　last　night　I　held　thee；　Fairest；

　　Lock'd；　a　wife；　in　lover's　arms。

　　Now；　Gudruda；　in　thy　death…rest；

　　Sleep　thou　soft　till　Eric　come！



　〃Hence　I　go　to　wreak　thy　murder。

　　Hissing　fire　of　flaming　stead；

　　Groan　of　spear…carles；　wail　of　women；

　　Soon　shall　startle　through　the　night。

　　Then　on　Mosfell；　Kirtle…Wearer；

　　Eric　waits　the　face　of　Death。

　　Freed　from　weary　life　and　sorrow；

　　Soon　we'll　kiss　in　Hela's　halls！〃



Then　he　laid　her　in　the　grave；　and；　having　shrouded　a　sheet　over　her；

they　filled　it　in　together；　hiding　Gudruda　the　Fair　from　the　sight　of

men　for　ever。



Afterwards　Eric　armed　himself；　and　this　Skallagrim　did　also。　Then　he

strode　from　the　hall；　and　Skallagrim　followed　him。　In　the　yard　those

horses　were　still　tied　that　should　have　carried　them　to　the　ship；　and

on　one　was　the　saddle　of　Gudruda。　She　had　ridden　on　this　horse　for

many　years；　and　loved　it　much；　for　it　would　follow　her　like　a　dog。

Eric　looked　at　him；　then　said　aloud：



〃Gudruda　may　need　thee　where　she　is；　Blackmane；〃　for　so　the　horse　was

named。　〃At　the　least；　none　shall　ride　thee　more！〃　And　he　snatched　the

axe　from　the　hand　of　Skallagrim　and　slew　the　horse　at　a　blow。



Then　they　rode　away；　heading　for　Coldback。　The　night　was　wild　and

windy；　and　the　sky　dark　with　scudding　clouds；　through　which　the　moon

peeped　out　at　times。　Eric　looked　up；　then　spoke　to　Skallagrim：



〃A　good　night　for　burning；　drunkard！〃



〃Ay；　lord；　the　flames　will　fly　briskly；〃　answered　Skallagrim。



〃How　many；　thinkest　thou；　walked　over　thee；　drunkard；　when　thou　didst

lie　yonder　in　the　ale？〃



〃I　know　not；〃　groaned　Skallagrim；　〃but　I　found　this　in　the　soft　earth

without：　the　print　of　a　man's　and　a　woman's　feet；　and　this　on　the　hill

side：　the　track　of　two　horses　ridden　hard。〃



〃Gizur　and　Swanhild；　drunkard；〃　said　Eric。　〃Swanhild　cast　us　into　deep

sleep　by　witchcraft；　and　Gizur　dealt　the　blow。　Better　for　him　that　he

had　never　been　born　than　that　he　has　lived　to　deal　that　coward's

blow！〃







Then　they　rode　on；　and　when　midnight　was　a　little　while　gone　they　came

to　the　stead　at　Coldback。　Now　this　house　was　roofed　with　turves；　and

the　windows　were　barred　so　that　none　could　pass　through　them。　Also　in

the　yard　were　faggots　of　birch　and　a　stack　of　hay。



Eric　and　Skallagrim　tied　their　horses　in　a　dell　that　is　to　the　north

of　the　stead　and　crept　up　to　the　house。　All　was　still；　but　a　fire

burnt　in　the　hall；　and；　looking　through　a　crack；　Eric　could　see　many

men　sleeping　about　it。　Then　he　made　signs　to　Skallagrim　and　together；

very　silently；　they　fetched　hay　and　faggots；　piling　them　against　the

north　door　of　the　house；　for　the　wind　blew　from　the　north。　Now　Eric

spoke　to　Skallagrim；　bidding　him　stand；　axe　in　hand；　by　the　south

door；　and　slay　those　who　came　out　when　the　reek　began　to　smart　them：

but　he　went　himself　to　fire　the　pile。



When　Bright