the path of the king-第3部分

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he　snow　lay　deep　on　the　shore　till　far　into　May。　And　when　the　winds　broke　they　were　cold　sunless　gales　which　nipped　the　young　life　in　the　earth。　The　ploughing　was　backward；　and　the　seed…time　was　a　month　too　late。　The　new…born　lambs　died　on　the　fells　and　there　fell　a　wasting　sickness　among　the　cattle。　Few　salmon　ran　up　the　streams；　and　the　sea…fish　seemed　to　have　gone　on　a　journey。　Even　in　summer；　the　pleasant　time；　food　was　scarce；　for　the　grass　in　the　pastures　was　poor　and　the　cows　gave　little　milk；　and　the　children　died。　It　foreboded　a　black　harvest…time　and　a　blacker　winter。

With　these　misfortunes　a　fever　rose　in　the　blood　of　the　men　of　Hightown。　Such　things　had　happened　before　for　the　Norland　was　never　more　than　one　stage　distant　from　famine；　and　in　the　old　days　there　had　been　but　a　single　remedy。　Food　and　wealth　must　be　won　from　a　foray　overseas。　It　was　years　since　Ironbeard　had　ridden　Egir's　road　to　the　rich　lowlands；　and　the　Bearsarks　were　growing　soft　from　idleness。　Ironbeard　himself　was　willing；　for　his　hall　was　hateful　to　him　since　the　Queen's　death。　Moreover；　there　was　no　other　way。　Food　must　be　found　for　the　winter　or　the　folk　would　perish。

So　a　hosting　was　decreed　at　harvest…tide；　for　few　men　would　be　needed　to　win　the　blasted　crops；　and　there　began　a　jointing　of　shields　and　a　burnishing　of　weapons；　and　the　getting　ready　of　the　big　ships。　Also　there　was　a　great　sortilege…making。　Whither　to　steer；　that　was　the　question。　There　were　the　rich　coasts　of　England；　but　they　were　well　guarded；　and　many　of　the　Norland　race　were　along　the　wardens。　The　isles　of　the　Gael　were　in　like　case；　and；　though　they　were　the　easier　prey；　there　was　less　to　be　had　from　them。　There　were　soon　two　parties　in　the　hall；　one　urging　Ironbeard　to　follow　the　old　track　of　his　kin　westward；　another　looking　south　to　the　Frankish　shore。　The　King　himself；　after　the　sacrifice　of　a　black　heifer；　cast　the　sacred　twigs；　and　they　seemed　to　point　to　Frankland。　Old　Arnwulf　was　deputed　on　a　certain　day　to　hallow　three　ravens　and　take　their　guidance；　but；　though　he　said　three　times　the　Ravens'　spell；　he　got　no　clear　counsel　from　the　wise　birds。　Last　of　all；　the　weird…wife　Katla　came　from　Sigg；　and　for　the　space　of　three　days　sat　in　the　hall　with　her　head　shrouded；　taking　no　meat　or　drink。　When　at　last　she　spoke　she　prophesied　ill。　She　saw　a　red　cloud　and　it　descended　on　the　heads　of　the　warriors；　yea　of　the　King　himself。　As　for　Hightown　she　saw　it　frozen　deep　in　snow　like　Jotunheim；　and　rime　lay　on　it　like　a　place　long　dead。　But　she　bade　Ironbeard　go　to　Frankland；　for　it　was　so　written。　〃A　great　kingdom　waits；〃　she　said〃not　for　you；　but　for　the　seed　of　your　loins。〃　And　Biorn　shuddered；　for　they　were　the　words　spoken　in　her　hut　on　that　unforgotten　midsummer　night。

The　boy　was　in　an　agony　lest　he　should　be　left　behind。　But　his　father　decreed　that　he　should　go。　〃These　are　times　when　manhood　must　come　fast；〃　he　said。　〃He　can　bide　within　the　Shield…ring　when　blows　are　going。　He　will　be　safe　enough　if　it　holds。　If　it　breaks；　he　will　sup　like　the　rest　of　us　with　Odin。〃

Then　came　days　of　bustle　and　preparation。　Biorn　was　agog　with　excitement　and　yet　solemnised；　for　there　was　strange　work　afoot　in　Hightown。　The　King　made　a　great　festival　in　the　Gods'　House；　the　dark　hall　near　the　Howe　of　the　Dead；　where　no　one　ventured　except　in　high　noon。　Cattle　were　slain　in　honour　of　Thor；　the　God　who　watched　over　forays；　and　likewise　a　great　boar　for　Frey。　The　blood　was　caught　up　in　the　sacred　bowls；　from　which　the　people　were　sprinkled；　and　smeared　on　the　altar　of　blackened　fir。　Then　came　the　oath…taking；　when　Ironbeard　and　his　Bearsarks　swore　brotherhood　in　battle　upon　the　ship's　bulwarks；　and　the　shield's　rim；　and　the　horse's　shoulder；　and　the　brand's　edge。　There　followed　the　mixing　of　blood　in　the　same　footprint；　a　rite　to　which　Biorn　was　admitted；　and　a　lesser　oath　for　all　the　people　on　the　great　gold　ring　which　lay　on　the　altar。　But　most　solemn　of　all　was　the　vow　the　King　made　to　his　folk；　warriors　and　franklins　alike；　when　he　swore　by　the　dew；　the　eagle's　path；　and　the　valour　of　Thor。

Then　it　was　Biorn's　turn。　He　was　presented　to　the　High　Gods　as　the　prince　and　heir。

Old　Arnwulf　hammered　on　his　left　arm　a　torque　of　rough　gold；　which　he　must　wear　always；　in　life　and　in　death。

〃I　bring　ye　the　boy；　Biorn　Thorwaldson　When　the　Gods　call　for　Thorwald　it　will　be　his　part　to　lead　the　launchings　and　the　seafarings　and　be　first　when　blows　are　going。　Do　ye　accept　him；　people　of　Hightown？〃

There　was　a　swelling　cry　of　assent　and　a　beating　of　hafts　on　shields。　Biorn's　heart　was　lifted　with　pride；　but　out　of　a　corner　of　his　eye　he　saw　his　father's　face。　It　was　very　grave；　and　his　gaze　was　on　vacancy。

Though　it　was　a　time　of　bustle；　there　was　no　joy　in　it；　as　there　had　been　at　other　hostings。　The　folk　were　too　hungry；　the　need　was　too　desperate；　and　there　was　something　else；　a　shadow　of　fate；　which　lay　over　Hightown。　In　the　dark　of　night　men　had　seen　the　bale…fires　burning　on　the　Howe　of　the　Dead。　A　grey　seal　had　been　heard　speaking　with　tongues　off　Siggness；　and　speaking　ill　words；　said　the　fishermen　who　saw　the　beast。　A　white　reindeer　had　appeared　on　Sunfell；　and　the　hunter　who　followed　it　had　not　been　seen　again。　By　day；　too；　there　was　a　brooding　of　hawks　on　the　tide's　edge；　which　was　strange　at　that　season。　Worst　portent　of　all；　the　floods　of　August　were　followed　by　high　north…east　winds　that　swept　the　clouds　before　them；　so　that　all　day　the　sky　was　a　scurrying　sea　of　vapour；　and　at　night　the　moon　showed　wild　grey　shapes　moving　ever　to　the　west。　The　dullest　could　not　mistake　their　meaning；　these　were　the　dark　horses；　and　their　riders；　the　Helmed　Maidens；　mustering　for　the　battle　to　which　Hightown　was　faring。

As　Biorn　stared　one　night　at　the　thronged　heavens；　he　found　Leif　by　his　elbow。　In　front　of　the　dark　company　of　the　sky　a　white　cloud　was　scudding；　tinged　with　the　pale　moon。　Leif　quoted　from　the　speech　of　the　Giant…wife　Rimegerd　to　Helgi　in　the　song：

〃Three　nines　of　maiden；　ride；　But　one　rides　before　them；　A　white　maid　helmed：　》From　their　manes　the　steeds　shake　Dew　into　the　deep　dales；　Hail　upon　the　high　woods。〃

〃It　bodes　well；〃　said　Biorn。　〃They　ride　to　choose　those　whom　we　slay。　There　will　be　high　doings　ere　Yule。〃

〃Not　so　well；〃　said　Leif。　〃They　come　from　the　Norland；　and　it　is　our　folk　they　go　to　choose。　I　fear　me　Hightown　will　soon　be　full　of　widow　women。〃

At　last　came　the　day　of　sailing。　The　six　galleys　of　war　were　brought　down　from　their　sheds；　and　on　the　rollers　for　the　launching　he…goats　were　bound　so　that　the　keels　slid　blood…stained　into　the　sea。　This　was　the　'roller…reddening；'　a　custom　bequeathed　from　their　forefathers；　though　the　old　men　of　the　place　muttered　darkly　that　the　ritual　had　been　departed　from；　and　that　in　the　great　days　it　was　the　blood　not　of　goats；　but　of　captive　foemen　that　had　reddened　the　galleys　and　the　tide。

The　thralls　sat　at　the　thwarts；　for　there　was　no　breeze　that　day　in　the　narrow　firth。　Then　came　the　chief　warriors　in　short　fur　jackets；　splendid　in　glittering　helms　and　byrnies；　and　each　with　his　thrall　bearing　his　battle…axe。　Followed　the　fighting　commonalty　with　axe　and　spear。　Last　came　Ironbeard；　stern　as　ever；　and　Biorn　with　his　heart　torn　between　eagerness　and　regret。　Only　the　children；　the　women；　and　the　old　men　were　left　in　Hightown；　and　they　stood　on　the　shingle　watching　till　the　last　galley　had　passed　out　of　sight　beyond　Siggness；　and　was　swallowed　up　in　the　brume　that　cloaked　the　west。　There　were　no　tears　in　that　grim　leave…taking。　Hightown　had　faced　the　like　before　with　a　heavy　heart；　but　with　dry　eyes　and　a　proud　head。　Leif；　though　a　cripple；　went　with　the　Wickings；　for　he　had　great　skill　of　the　sea。

There　was　not　a　breath　of　wind　for　three　days　and　three　nights；　as　they　coasted　southward；　with　the　peaks　of　the　Norland　on　their　port；　and　to　starboard　the　skerries　that　kept　guard　on　the　firths。　Through　the　haze　they　could　now　and　then　see　to　landward　trees　and　cliffs；　but　never　a　human　face。　Once　there　was　an　alarm　of　another　fleet；　and　the　shields　were　slung　outboard；　but　it　proved　to　be　only　a　wedding…party　passing　from　wick　to　wick；　and　they　gave　it　greeting　and　sailed　on。　These　were　eerie　cheerless　days。　The　thralls　sweated　in　shifts　at　the　oars；　and　the　betterborn　talked　low　among　themselves；　as　if　the　air　were　full　of　ears。　〃Ran　is　heating　her　ovens；〃　said　Leif；　as　he　watched　the　warm　fog　mingle　with　the　oarthresh。

On　the　fourth　morning　there　came　a　break　in　the　clouds；　and　the　sight　of　a　high　hill　gave　Leif　the　clue　for　his　reckoning。　The　prows　swung　seaward；　and　the　galleys　steered　for　the　broad　ocean。　That　afternoon　there　sprang　up　the　north…east　wind　for　which　they　had　been　waiting。　Sails　were　hoisted　on　the　short　masts；　oars　were　shipped　and　lashed　under　the　bulwarks；　and　the　thralls　clustered　in　the　prows　to　rest　their　weary　limbs　and　dice　with　knucklebones。　The　spirits　of　all　lightened；　and　there　was　loud　talk　in　the　sterns　among　the　Bearsarks。　In　the　night　the　wind　freshened；　and　the　long　shallow　boats　rolled　filthily　so　that　the　teeth　shook　in　a　man's　head；　and　over　the　swish　of　the　waves　and　the　creaking　of　the　sheets　there　was　a　perpetual　din　of　arms　clashing。　Biorn　was　miserably　ill　for　some　hours；　and　made　sport　for　the　seasoned　voyagers。

〃It　will　not　hold；〃　Leif　prophesied。　〃I　smell　rime　ahead　and　quiet　seas。〃

He　had　spoken　truly；　for　the　sixth　day　the　wind　fell　and　they　moved　once　more　over　still；　misty　waters。　The　thralls　returned　to　their　oars　and　the　voices　of　the　well…born　fell　low　again　These　were　ghoulish　days　for　Biorn；　who　had　been　accustomed　to　the　clear　lights　and　the　clear　darkness　of　his　own　land。　Only　once　in　four　days　they　saw　the　sun；　and　then　it　was　as　red　as　blood；　so　that　his　heart　trembled。

On　the　eleventh　day　Ironbeard　summoned　Leif　and　asked　his　skill　of　the　voyage。　〃I　know　not；〃　was　the　answer。　〃I　cannot　steer　a　course　except　under　clean　skies。　We　ran　well　with　the　wind　aback；　but　now　I　am　blind　and　the　Gods　are　pilots。　Some　day　soon　we　must　make　landfall；　but　I　know　not　whether　on　English　or　Frankish　shores。〃

After　that　Leif　would　sit　in　long　spells　of　brooding；　for　he　had　a　sense　in　him　of　direction　to　which　he　sought　to　give　free　playa　sense　bu