tw.thestoneoffarewell-第106部分

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ore　than　a　musty　tang。　When　an　hour　had　passed　with　none　of　Rachel's　dire　predictions　ing　to　pass；　Simon　began　to　watch　the　ground　carefully　in　hope　of　a　few　more　such　slow…moving　morsels。
　　Different　than　his　great　hunger；　and　in　some　ways　worse；　was　the　continuing　cold：　when　he　could　find　and　devour　a　fistful　of　lutegrass；　his　hunger　was　for　a　moment　made　less；　and　when　he　had　hiked　the　first　morning　hour；　his　muscles　stopped　aching　for　a　short　time　。。。　but　after　that　initial　moment　when　he　first　crawled　into　his　forest…bed；　he　was　never　warm　again。　When　he　ceased　moving　even　for　a　few　short　moments　he　began　to　shiver　uncontrollably。　The　chill　was　so　relentless　that　it　began　to　seem　that　it　pursued　him　like　an　enemy。　He　cursed　at　it　weakly；　swinging　his　arms　through　the　air　as　though　the　malevolent　cold　was　something　he　could　strike；　as　he　had　struck　at　the　dragon　Igjarjuk；　but　cold　was　every…　where　and　nowhere；　it　had　no　black　blood　to　spill。
　　There　was　nothing　that　Simon　could　do　but　walk。　So；　during　all　the　painful　hours　of　daylight；　from　the　time　his　cramped　limbs　forced　him　from　his　makeshift　bed　each　morning　to　the　hour　when　the　sun　finally　withdrew　from　the　sodden　gray　sky；　he　walked　almost　ceaselessly　south…　ward。　The　rhythm　of　his　shuffling　feet　became　as　much　a　pan　of　the　cycle　of　life　as　the　rise　and　fall　of　the　wind；　the　passage　of　the　sun；　the　settling　of　snowflakes。　He　walked　because　it　kept　him　warm；　he　walked　south　because　he　dimly　remembered　Binabik　saying　that　the　Stone　of　Farewell　stood　in　the　grasslands　south　of　Aldheorte。　He　knew　he　could　never　survive　a　journey　through　the　entire　forest；　a　passage　across　a　vast　nation　of　trees　and　snow；　but　he　had　to　have　some　destination：　the　endless　tramping　was　easier　if　all　he　had　to　do　was　let　the　occluded　sun　pass　from　his　left　to　his　right。
　　He　also　walked　because　when　he　stood　still　the　cold　began　to　bring　strange；　frightening　visions。　Sometimes　he　saw　faces　in　the　contorted　trunks　of　trees　and　heard　voices　speaking　his　name　and　the　names　of　strangers。　Other　times　the　snowy　forest　seemed　a　thicket　of　towers；　the　sparse　greenery　was　transformed　into　leaping　flames　and　his　heart　tolled　in　his　ears　like　a　doomful　bell。　But　most　importantly；　Simon　walked　because　there　was　nothing　else　he　could　do。　If　he　did　not　keep　moving；　he　would　die…and　Simon　was　not　ready　to　die。
　　
　　〃Bug　now；　don't　run；　don't　flitter
　　Taste　bitter；　don't　care；　don't　care
　　Bug　stay；　happy　day；　tasty　bite
　　Don't　fight　。。。〃
　　　 It　was　late　morning；　the　seventh　day　since　his　awakening。　Simon　was　stalking。　A　spotted　brown　and　gray　beetle…larger　and　possibly　more　succulent　than　the　small　black　variety　which　he　had　made　a　staple　of　his　diet…was　picking　its　way　across　the　trunk　of　a　white　cedar。　Simon　had　snatched　at　it　once；　some　twenty　ells　back；　but　this　beetle　had　wings…and　surely　that　proved　its　tastiness；　since　it　had　to　work　so　hard　to　remain　uneaten！…and　had　gone　humming　away　most　ungracefully。　It　had　not　flown　far。　A　second　attempt　had　also　failed；　which　had　led　to　this　most　recent　landing　place。
　　He　was　singing　to　himself；　whether　he　sang　out　loud　or　not；　he　didn't　know。　The　beetle　didn't　seem　to　mind；　so　Simon　kept　it　up。
　　〃Beetle　sleep；　don't　creep；　trust　me
　　Stand　still；　stand　still；　tasty　crumb
　　Here　I　e；　through　the　snow；　don't　go　。　。　。〃
　　
　　Simon；　his　eyes　screwed　down　in　a　hunter's　squint；　was　moving　as　slowly　as　his　trembling；　ill…nourished　body　would　permit。　He　wanted　this　bettle。　He　needed　this　beetle。　Feeling　a　shiver　beginning　to　well　up　inside　of　him；　a　shiver　that　would　spoil　his　careful　approach；　he　lunged。　His　palms　slapped　eagerly　against　the　bark；　but　when　he　brought　his　cupped　hands　up　to　his　face　to　peer　within　he　saw　that　he　held　nothing。
　　〃What　do　you　want　it　for？〃　someone　asked。　Simon；　who　had　carried　on　more　than　a　few　conversations　with　strange　voices　during　these　last　days；　had　already　opened　his　mouth　to　reply　when　his　heart　suddenly　began　hammering　in　his　chest。　He　whirled；　but　no　one　was　there。
　　Now　it's　begun；　the　going…mad　has　begun　。　。　。　was　all　he　had　time　to　think　before　someone　tapped　him　on　his　shoulder。　He　spun　again　and　almost　fell　down。
　　〃Here。　I　caught　it。〃　The　beetle；　curiously　lifeless；　hovered　in　the　air　before　him。　A　moment　later　he　saw　that　it　hung　from　the　fingers　of　a　white…gloved　hand。　The　hand's　owner　stepped　out　from　behind　the　cedar　tree。　〃I　don't　know　what　you　will　do　with　it。　Do　your　people　eat　these　things？　I　had　never　heard　that。〃
　　For　a　brief　instant　he　thought　Jiriki　had　e…the　golden…eyed　face　was　framed　by　a　cloud　of　pale　lavender　hair；　Jiriki's　own　odd　shade；　and　feathered　braids　hung　beside　each　up…slanting　cheekbone…but　after　a　long；　staring　instant　he　realized　it　was　not　his　friend。
　　The　stranger's　face　was　very　slender；　but　still　slightly　rounder　than　Jiriki's。　As　with　the　prince；　the　alien　architecture　made　some　of　this　Sitha's　expressions　seem　cold　or　cruel　or　even　faintly　animalistic；　yet　still　strangely　beautiful。　The　newer　seemed　younger　and　more　unguarded　than　Jiriki：　her　face…he　had　just　realized　that　the　stranger　was　female…changed　swiftly　from　expression　to　expression　even　as　he　watched；　like　an　exchange　of　subtle　masks。　Despite　what　seemed　the　fluidity　and　energy　of　youth；　Simon　saw　that　deep　in　the　cat…calm；　golden　eyes；　this　stranger　shared　with　Jiriki　the　ancient　Sithi　light。
　　〃Seoman；〃　she　said；　then　laughed　whisperingly。　Her　white…clad　finger　touched　his　brow；　light　and　strong　as　a　bird's　wing。　〃Seoman　Snowlock。〃
　　Simon　was　quivering。　〃Wh　。　。　。　wh　。　。　。　who。　。　。　？〃
　　〃Aditu。〃　Her　eyes　were　faintly　mocking。　〃My　mother　named　me　Aditu　no…Sa'onserei。　I　have　been　sent　for　you。〃
　　〃S…sent？　B…b…by。　。　。　？〃
　　Aditu　tilted　her　head　to　one　side；　stretching　her　neck　sinuously；　and　regarded　Simon　as　someone　might　an　untidy　but　interesting　animal　that　crouched　on　the　doorstep。　〃By　my　brother；　manchild。　By　Jiriki；　of　course。〃　She　stared　as　Simon　began　to　sway　gently　from　side　to　side。　〃Why　do　you　look　so　strange？〃
　　〃Were　you　。。。　in　my　dreams？〃　he　asked　plaintively。
　　She　continued　to　watch　curiously　as　he　abruptly　sat　down　in　the　snow　beside　her　bare　feet。
　　
　　〃Certainly　I　have　boots；〃　Aditu　said　later。　Somehow　she　had　built　a　fire；　scraping　away　the　snow　and　stacking　the　wood　right　beside　the　spot　where　Simon　had　crumpled；　then　igniting　it　with　some　swift　movement　of　her　slender　fingers。　Simon　stared　intently　into　the　flames；　trying　to　make　his　mind　work　properly　once　more。　〃I　just　wanted　to　take　them　off　so　I　could　approach　more　quietly。〃　She　eyed　him　blandly。　〃I　did　not　know　what　it　was　that　could　make　such　a　blundering　noise；　but　it　was　you；　of　course。　Still；　there　is　something　fine　about　the　feel　of　snow　on　the　skin。〃
　　Simon　shuddered；　thinking　of　ice　against　bare　toes。　〃How　did　you　find　me？〃
　　〃The　mirror。　Its　song　is　very　powerful。〃
　　〃So　。。。　so　if　I　had　lost　the　mirror；　you　w…wouldn't　have　found　me？〃
　　Aditu　looked　at　him　solemnly。　〃Oh；　I　would　have　found　you　eventually；　but　mortals　are　frail　creatures。　There　might　not　have　been　much　of　interest　left　to　find。〃　She　flashed　her　teeth　in　what　he　guessed　was　a　smile。　She　seemed　both　more　and　less　human　than　Jiriki…almost　childishly　flippant　at　times；　but　in　other　ways　far　more　exotic　and　alien　than　her　brother。　Many　of　the　traits　Simon　had　observed　in　Jiriki；　the　feline　grace　and　dispassion；　seemed　even　more　pronounced　in　his　sister。
　　As　Simon　rocked　back　and　forth；　still　not　absolutely　sure　he　was　awake　and　sane；　Aditu　reached　inside　her　white　coat…which；　with　her　white　breeches；　had　made　her　all　but　indistinguishable　against　the　snow…and　removed　a　package　wrapped　in　shiny　cloth。　She　handed　it　to　him。　He　poked　clumsily　at　the　wrappings　for　some　time　before　he　was　able　to　expose　what　was　inside：　a　loaf　of　golden…brown　bread　that　seemed　oven…　fresh；　and　a　handful　of　fat　pink　berries。
　　Simon　had　to　eat　his　meal　in　very　small　bites　to　avoid　making　himself　ill；　even　so；　each　less…than…a…mouthful　seemed　like　time　spent　in　paradise。
　　〃Where　did　you　find　these？〃　he　asked　through　a　faceful　of　berries。　
　　Aditu　looked　at　him　for　a　long　time；　as　if　debating　some　important　decision。　When　she　spoke；　it　was　with　what　seemed　an　air　of　carelessness。　〃You　will　soon　see。　I　will　take　you　there…but　such　a　thing　has　never　happened　before。〃
　　Simon　did　not　pursue　this　cryptic　last　remark。　Instead；　he　asked：　〃But　where　are　you　taking　me？〃
　　〃To　my　brother；　as　he　asked　me　to；〃　Aditu　said。　She　looked　solemn；　but　a　wild　light　gleamed　in　her　eyes。　〃To　the　home　of　our　people…Jao　e…Tinukai'i。〃
　　Simon　finished　chewing　and　swallowed。　〃I　will　go　anywhere　there　is　a　fire。〃
　　
　　21
　　Prince　of　Grass
　　
　　〃SAY　nothing；〃　Hotvig　murmured；　〃but　look　to　the　redcoat　there　by　the　fence。〃
　　Deornoth　followed　the　Thrithings…man's　subtle　gesture　until　his　gaze　lit　on　a　roan　stallion。　The　horse　regarded　Deornoth　warily；　stepping　from　side　to　side　as　though　he　might　bolt　at　any　moment。
　　〃Ah；　yes。〃　Deornoth　nodded　his　head。　〃He　is　a　proud　one。〃　He　turned。　〃Did　you　see　this　one；　my　prince？〃
　　Josua；　who　was　leaning　against　the　gate　at　the　far　side　of　the　paddock；　waved　his　hand。　The　prince's　head　was　wrapped　in　linen　bandages；　and　he　moved　as　slowly　as　if　all　of　his　bones　were　broken；　but　he　had　insisted　on　ing　out　to　assist　in　claiming　the　fruits　of　his　wager。　Fikolmij；　apoplectic　with　rage　at　the　idea　of　watching　Josua　picking　thirteen　Thrithings　horses　from　the　March…thane's　own　pens；　had　sent　his　randwarder　Hotvig　in　his　place。　Instead　of　mirroring　his　thane's　attitude；　Hotvig　seemed　rather　taken　with　the　visitors　and　with　Prince　Josua　in　particular。　On　the　grasslands　a　one…handed　man　did　not　often　kill　an　opponent　half　again　his　size。
　　〃What's　the　red's　name？〃　Josua　asked　Fikolmij's　horsekeeper；　a　wiry；　ancient　man　with　a　tiny　wisp　of　hair　on　the　top　of　his　head。
　　〃　Vinyafod；〃　this　one　said　shortly；　then　turned　his　back。
　　〃It　means　〃Wind…foot〃　。　。　。　Prince　Josua。〃　Hotvig　pronounced　the　title　awkwardly。　The　randwarder　went　and　slipped　a　rope　about　the　stallion's　neck；　then　led　the　balking　animal　to　the　prince。
　　Josua　smiled　as　he　looked　the　horse　up　a