tw.thestoneoffarewell-第10部分

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　　〃Simon；〃　she　said　again；　somehow　clearer　now。　Her　voice　was　filled　with　urgency。　But　something　else　was　reaching　out　for　him；　too…something　closer　to　hand。　Something　quite　near　。　。　。
　　He　awoke。　
　　
　　Someone　was　looking　for　him。　Simon　sat　up　on　his　pallet；　breathless；　alert　for　any　sound。　But　for　the　endless　sighing　of　the　mountain　winds　and　the　faint　snoring　of　Haestan；　wrapped　in　his　heavy　cloak　near　the　coats　of　the　evening's　fire；　the　cavern　was　still。
　　Jiriki　was　absent。　Could　the　Sitha　have　called　to　him　from　outside　the　cave？　Or　was　it　only　the　residue　of　dream？　Simon　shivered　and　considered　pulling　the　fur　coverlet　back　over　his　head　once　more。　His　breath　was　a　dim　cloud　in　the　ember…light。
　　No；　somebody　was　waiting　outside。　He　did　not　know　how　he　knew；　but　he　was　sure：　he　felt　tuned　like　a　harp　string；　trembling。　The　night　seemed　tight…stretched。
　　What　if　someone　did　wait　for　him？　Perhaps　it　was　someone…some　thing…from　which　it　would　be　better　to　hide？
　　Such　thoughts　made　little　difference。　He　had　gotten　it　into　his　head　that　he　must　go　out。　Now　the　need　tugged　at　him；　impossible　to　ignore。
　　My　cheek　aches　terribly；　anyway；　he　told　himself。　I　won't　be　able　to　fall　asleep　for　a　long　while。
　　He　snaked　his　breeches　out　from　under　the　sleeping…cloak　where　they　stayed　warm　in　the　bitter　Yiqanuc　night；　wrestling　them　on　as　silently　as　he　could；　then　pulled　his　boots　onto　his　cold　feet。　He　briefly　debated　putting　on　his　mail　shirt；　but　the　thought　of　its　chilly　rings；　rather　than　any　surety　of　safety；　decided　him　against　it。　He　furled　the　cloak　around　him；　suiting　quietly　past　sleeping　Haestan　and　out　under　the　door…skin　into　the　cold。
　　The　stars　over　high　Mintahoq　were　mercilessly　clear。　As　Simon　stared　up；　amazed；　he　felt　their　distance；　the　impossible　vastness　of　the　night　sky。　The　moon；　not　quite　full；　hovered　low　over　distant　peaks。　Bathed　in　its　diffident　light；　the　snow　on　the　heights　gleamed；　but　all　else　lay　sunken　in　shadow。
　　Even　as　he　turned　his　eyes　down　and　took　a　few　steps　to　the　right；　away　from　the　cave…mouth；　he　was　stopped　short　by　a　low　growl。　A　strange　silhouette　loomed　on　the　pathway　before　him；　moonbrushed　at　the　edges；　black　at　the　core。　The　deep　rumble　came　again。　Eyes　flared　green　as　they　caught　the　moonlight。
　　Simon's　breath　snagged　in　his　throat　for　a　moment；　until　he　remembered。
　　〃Qantaqa？〃　he　said　quietly。
　　The　growl　changed　into　a　curious　whine。　The　wolf　tipped　its　head。
　　〃Qantaqa？　Is　it　you？〃　He　tried　to　think　of　some　of　Binabik's　troll　speech；　but　could　summon　nothing。　〃Are　you　hurt？〃　He　silently　cursed　himself。　He　had　not　once　thought　of　the　wolf　since　he　had　been　brought　down　from　the　dragon's　mountain；　although　she　had　been　a　panion…　and；　in　a　way；　a　friend。
　　Selfish！　he　chided　himself。　
　　With　Binabik　imprisoned；　who　knew　what　Qantaqa　had　done？　Her　friend　and　master　had　been　taken　from　her；　just　as　Doctor　Morgenes　had　been　taken　from　Simon。　The　night　seemed　suddenly　colder　and　emptier；　full　of　the　world's　heedless　cruelty。
　　〃Qantaqa？　Are　you　hungry？〃　He　took　a　step　coward　her　and　the　wolf　shied　back。　She　growled　again；　but　it　sounded　more　like　excitement　than　anger。　She　took　a　few　prancing　steps；　the　shimmer　other　gray　coat　almost　invisible；　then　growled　again　before　bounding　away。　Simon　followed　her。
　　It　occurred　to　him　as　he　went；　stepping　carefully　on　the　wet　stone　pathways；　that　he　was　doing　a　foolish　thing。　The　twisting　roadways　of　high　Mintahoq　were　no　place　for　a　midnight　walk；　especially　without　a　torch。　Even　the　native　trolls　knew　better：　the　cave…mouths　were　lightless　and　silent；　the　paths　empty。　It　was　as　if　he　had　wakened　from　one　dream　to　enter　another；　this　shadowy　pilgrimage　beneath　the　distant　and　uncaring　moon。
　　Qantaqa　seemed　to　know　where　she　was　going。　When　Simon　lagged　too　far　behind　she　trotted　back；　stopping　just　out　of　reach　until　he　caught　up；　her　hot　breath　pluming　the　air。　As　soon　as　he　drew　within　an　arm's　length　she　was　off　again。　Thus；　like　a　spirit　of　the　aftcrworld；　she　led　him　away　from　the　fires　of　his　own　kind。
　　It　was　only　when　they　had　walked　for　some　time；　traveling　well　around　the　curve　of　the　mountain　from　the　sleeping…cave；　that　Qantaqa　bounded　all　the　way　back　to　Simon。　She　did　not　pull　up　short　this　time。　Her　great　frame　struck　him　so　suddenly　that　even　though　she　had　merely　bumped　against　him；　he　fell　back　onto　his　seat。　She　stood　over　him　for　a　moment；　her　face　buried　in　his　neck；　cold　nose　rooting　ticklingly　near　his　ear。
　　Simon　reached　up　to　scratch　her　ears　and　felt　her　tremble　even　through　her　thick　fur。　A　moment　later；　as　if　her　need　for　fort　had　been　satisfied；　she　leaped　away　again　and　stood　whining　quietly　until　he　rose；　rubbing　his　tailbone；　and　followed。
　　
　　It　seemed　that　Qantaqa　had　led　him　halfway　around　Mintahoq。　She　stood　now　at　the　edge　of　a　great　blackness；　yipping　in　excitement。　Simon　walked　forward　cautiously；　feeling　the　raw　stone　face　of　the　mountain　with　his　right　hand　as　he　went。　Qantaqa　paced　in　seeming　impatience。
　　The　wolf　was　standing　at　the　rim　of　a　great　pit；　which　burrowed　away　from　the　side　of　the　path　into　the　very　mountain。　The　moon；　sailing　low　in　the　sky　like　an　overloaded　carrack；　could　only　silver　the　stone　around　the　hole's　mouth。　Qantaqa　barked　again　with　barely　contained　enthusiasm。
　　To　Simon's　staggering　surprise；　a　voice　echoed　thinly　from　below。
　　〃Go　away；　wolf！　Even　sleep　is　taken　from　me；　Aedon　curse　it！〃
　　Simon　threw　himself　to　the　cold　gravel　and　crawled　forward　on　elbows　and　knees；　stopping　at　last　with　his　head　hanging　over　blind　nothingness。　
　　〃Who's　there？〃　he　cried。　His　words　reverberated　as　though　they　journeyed　a　great　distance。　〃Sludig？〃
　　There　was　a　pause。
　　〃Simon？　Is　that　you　who　calls？〃
　　〃Yes！　Yes；　it's　me'　Qantaqa　brought　me'　Is　Binabik　with　you？　Binabik！　It's　me。　Simon！〃
　　A　silent　moment　passed；　then　Sludig　spoke　again。　Now　Simon　could　hear　the　strain　in　the　Rimmersman's　voice。　〃The　troll　will　not　speak。　He　is　here；　but　he　will　not　speak　to　me；　to　Jiriki　when　he　came；　to　anyone。〃
　　〃Is　he　sick？　Binabik；　it's　Simon！　Why　don't　you　answer　me？〃
　　〃He　is　sick　in　his　heart；　I　think；〃　Sludig　said。　〃He　looks　as　he　always　did…thinner；　perhaps；　but　so　I　am；　too…but　he　acts　like　one　already　dead。〃　There　was　a　scraping　noise　as　Sludig；　or　someone；　moved　in　the　depths；　〃Jiriki　says　they　will　kill　us；〃　the　Rimmersman　said　a　moment　later；　his　voice　flat　with　resignation。　〃The　Sitha　spoke　for　us…not　with　heat　or　anger；　as　far　as　I　could　tell；　but　he　spoke　for　us　all　the　same。　He　said　the　troll　people　did　not　agree　with　his　arguments　and　were　determined　to　have　their　justice。〃　He　laughed　bitterly。　〃Some　justice；　to　kill　a　man　who　never　did　them　harm；　and　kill　one　of　their　own　as　well；　both　of　whom　have　suffered　much　for　the　good　of　all　folk…even　the　trolls。　Einskaldir　was　right。　But　for　this　silent　fellow　beside　me；　they　are　all　hell…wights。〃
　　Simon　sat　up；　holding　his　head　in　his　hands。　The　wind　blew　uncaringly　about　the　heights。　Helplessness　spread　through　him。
　　〃Binabik！〃　he　cried；　leaning　over　once　more。　〃Qantaqa　waits　for　you！　Sludig　suffers　at　your　side！　No　one　can　help　if　you　don't　help　yourself　Why　won't　you　speak　to　me？！〃
　　Only　Sludig　answered。　〃It's　no　good；　I　tell　you。　His　eyes　are　closed。　He　does　not　hear　you；　will　not　speak　at　all。〃
　　Simon　slapped　his　hand　against　the　rock　and　cursed。　He　felt　tears　start　in　his　eyes。
　　〃I　will　help　you；　Sludig；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃I　do　not　know　how；　but　I　will。〃　He　sat　up。　Qantaqa　nosed　him　and　whimpered。　〃Can　I　bring　you　something？　Food？　Water？〃
　　Sludig　laughed　dully。　〃No。　They　feed　us；　although　not　to　bursting。　I　would　ask　for　wine。　but　I　do　not　know　when　they　e　for　me。　I　will　not　go　with　my　head　foggy　from　drink。　Only　pray　for　me；　please。　And　for　the　troll；　too。〃
　　〃I　will　do　more　than　that；　Sludig；　I　swear。〃　He　stood　up。
　　〃You　were　very　brave　on　the　mountain；　Simon；〃　Sludig　called　quietly。　〃I　am　glad　that　I　knew　you。〃
　　The　stars　glittered　coldly　above　the　pit　as　Simon　walked　away；　fighting　to　stand　straight　and　cry　no　more。
　　
　　He　walked　a　while　beneath　the　moon；　lost　in　the　swirl　of　his　distracted　thoughts；　before　he　realized　that　he　was　again　following　Qantaqa。　The　wolf；　who　had　paced　anxiously　beside　the　edge　of　the　pit　while　Simon　talked　to　Sludig；　now　trotted　purposefully　along　the　path　before　him。　She　did　not　allow　him　a　chance　to　catch　up　as　she　had　on　their　outward　journey；　and　he　was　hard　pressed　to　keep　to　her　pace。
　　The　moonlight　was　just　bright　enough　for　Simon　to　see　where　he　was　going；　the　trail　just　wide　enough　to　allow　for　recovery　from　the　occasional　misstep。　Still；　he　was　feeling　decidedly　weak。　He　wondered　more　than　once　whether　he　should　just　sit　down　and　wait　until　dawn　came；　when　someone　would　find　him　and　return　him　safely　to　his　cave；　but　Qantaqa　trotted　on；　full　of　lupine　determination。　Feeling　that　he　owed　her　a　sort　of　loyalty；　Simon　did　his　best　to　follow。
　　He　soon　noted　with　more　than　a　little　alarm　that　they　seemed　to　be　climbing　above　the　main　trail；　angling　up　Mintahoq's　face　along　a　steeper；　narrower　pathway。　As　the　wolf　led　him　ever　upward；　and　as　they　cut　across　more　than　a　few　horizontal　paths；　the　air　began　to　seem　thinner。　Simon　knew　he　had　not　climbed　so　far；　that　the　sensation　was　due　instead　to　his　own　flagging　wind；　but　he　nevertheless　felt　himself　to　be　passing　out　of　the　realms　of　safety　into　the　upper　heights。　The　stars　seemed　very　close。
　　He　wondered　for　a　moment　if　those　cold　stars　might　somehow　be　the　airless　peaks　of　other；　incredibly　distant　mountains；　vast　bodies　lost　in　darkness；　snow…capped　heads　gleaming　with　reflected　moonlight。　But　no；　that　was　foolishness。　Where　could　they　be　standing；　that　they　would　not　be　visible　in　daylight　beneath　the　bright　sun？
　　In　truth；　the　air　might　have　been　no　scarcer；　but　the　cold　was　certainly　growing；　undeniable　and　intrusive　despite　his　heavy　cloak。　Shivering；　he　decided　he　should　turn　around　and　make　his　way　back　down　to　the　main　roadway；　no　matter　what　moonlight　pastime　Qantaqa　found　so　enticing。　A　moment　later；　he　was　surprised　to　find　himself　stepping　up　off　the　path　and　following　the