tw.thestoneoffarewell-第115部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　direction　from　which　Simon　and　Aditu　had　e；　stretching　away　from　tree　to　tree　until　it　could　no　longer　be　seen。
　　Aditu's　hand　touched　his　arm　and　Simon　shivered。　Walking　in　someone　else's　dream；　he　had　forgotten　himself。　He　followed　her　through　the　doorway　and　up　a　set　of　stairs　carefully　cut　into　the　hillside；　then　paved　with　colorful　smooth　stones。　Like　everything　else；　the　corridor　through　which　they　walked　was　made　of　rippling；　translucent　cloth：　the　walls　were　white　near　the　door；　gradually　darkening　to　pale　blue　and　turquoise。　In　her　white　clothes　Aditu　reflected　this　shifting　light；　so　that　as　she　walked　before　him；　she；　too；　seemed　to　change　color。
　　Simon　trailed　his　fingers　along　the　wall　and　found　that　it　was　as　exquisitely　soft　as　it　looked；　but　curiously　strong；　it　slid　beneath　his　hand　as　smoothly　as　gold　wire；　yet　was　warm　to　the　touch　as　the　down　of　a　baby　bird　and　quivered　with　the　wind's　every　breath。
　　The　featureless　corridor　soon　opened　up　into　a　large；　high…ceilinged　room　that；　but　for　the　instability　of　its　walls；　looked　much　like　a　room　in　any　fine　house。　The　turquoise　hue　of　the　cloth　near　the　entrance　shaded　imperceptibly　into　ultramarine。　A　low　table　of　dark　wood　stood　near　one　wall；　with　cushions　scattered　all　around　it。　On　the　table　sat　a　board　　painted　in　many　colors；　Simon　thought　it　a　map　until　he　recognized　it　as　a　place　to　play　the　game　called　shent；　which　he　had　seen　Jiriki　do　in　his　hunting　lodge。　He　remembered　Aditu's　challenge。　The　pieces；　he　guessed；　were　in　the　intricate　wooden　box　sitting　beside　it　on　the　table　top。　The　only　other　item　on　the　table　was　a　stone　vase　containing　a　single　branch　from　a　flowering　apple　tree。
　　〃Sit　down；　Snowlock；　please。〃　Aditu　waved　her　hand。　〃I　believe　Jiriki　has　a　visitor。〃
　　Before　Simon　could　follow　her　suggestion；　the　room's　far　wall　began　to　billow。　A　section　flew　up　as　if　it　had　torn　free。　Someone　dressed　in　bright　green；　whose　braided　hair　was　a　jarringly　contrasting　shade　of　red；　stepped　through。
　　Simon　was　surprised　at　how　quickly　he　recognized　Jiriki's　uncle；　Khendraja'aro。　The　Sitha　was　muttering　gruffly　in　what　seemed　to　be　fury…seemed；　because　Simon　could　see　no　discernible　emotion　on　his　face　at　all。　Then　Khendraja'aro　looked　up　and　spotted　Simon。　His　angular　face　blanched；　as　though　the　blood　had　run　out　of　him　like　water　from　an　upended　pail。
　　〃Sudhoda'ya！　hi…isi'ye…a　Sudhoda'ya！〃　he　gasped；　his　voice　full　of　an　anger　so　astonished　as　to　seem　like　something　else　altogether。　
　　Khendraja'aro　dragged　his　slender；　beringed　hand　slowly　across　his　eyes　and　face　as　if　trying　to　wipe　away　the　sight　of　gangly　Simon。　Unable　to　do　so；　Jiriki's　uncle　hissed　in　almost　feline　alarm；　then　turned　on　Aditu　and　began　to　speak　to　her　in　rapid；　quietly　liquid　Sithi　that　nonetheless　strengthened　the　suggestion　of　spitting　rage。　Aditu　absorbed　his　tirade　expressionlessly；　her　deep；　gold…shot　eyes　wide　but　unfrightened。　When　Khendraja'aro　had　finished；　she　answered　him　calmly。　Her　uncle　turned　and　regarded　Simon　once　more；　making　a　series　of　strangely　sinuous　gestures　with　his　splayed　fingers　as　he　listened　to　her　measured　response。
　　Khendraja'ro　took　a　deep　breath；　letting　a　preternatural　calm　overtake　him　until　he　stood　motionless　as　a　pillar　of　stone。　Only　his　bright　eyes　seemed　alive；　burning　in　his　face　like　lamps。　After　several　moments　of　this　overwhelming　stillness　he　walked　from　the　room　without　a　word　or　sideways　glance；　padding　silently　down　the　corridor　to　the　door　of　Jiriki's　house。
　　Simon　was　shaken　by　the　unmistakable　force　of　Khendraja'aro's　anger。　
　　〃You　said　something　about　breaking　rules。。。？〃　he　asked。
　　Aditu　smiled　strangely。　〃Courage；　Snowlock。　You　are　Hikka　Staja。〃　She　brushed　her　fingers　through　her　hair；　a　curiously　human　gesture；　then　pointed　to　the　flap　where　her　uncle　had　entered。　〃Let　us　go　in　to　my　brother。〃
　　They　stepped　through　into　sunlight。　This　room；　too；　was　made　of　fluttering　cloth；　but　the　fabric　of　one　long　wall　had　been　rolled　and　drawn　up　to　the　ceiling；　beyond　this　opening　the　hill　dropped　away　for　some　dozen　paces。　Below　lay　a　shallow；　peaceful　backwater　of　the　same　river　that　passed　before　Jiriki's　front　door；　a　wide　pond　with　a　narrow　inlet　neck；　surrounded　by　reeds　and　quivering　aspens。　Little　red…and…brown　birds　hopped　about　on　the　rocks　at　the　center　of　the　pond；　like　conquerors　strutting　the　battlements　of　a　captured　stronghold。　At　pond's　edge　a　bale　of　turtles　basked　in　the　sun　streaming　down　through　the　trees。
　　〃In　the　evening　the　crickets　are　quite　splendid　here。〃　
　　Simon　turned　to　see　Jiriki；　who　had　apparently　been　standing　in　the　shadows　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　room。
　　〃Wele　to　Jao　e…Tinukai'i；　Seoman；〃　he　said。　〃We　are　well…met。〃　
　　〃Jiriki！〃　Simon　sprang　forward。　Without　thinking；　he　grasped　the　slender　Sitha　in　a　tight　embrace。　The　prince　tensed　for　a　moment；　then　relaxed。　His　firm　hand　patted　Simon's　back。　〃You　never　said　farewell；〃　Simon　said；　then　pulled　away；　embarrassed。
　　〃I　did　not；〃　Jiriki　agreed。　He　wore　a　long；　loose　robe　of　some　thin　blue　cloth；　belted　at　the　waist　with　a　wide　red　band；　his　feet　were　bare。　His　lavender　hair　descended　in　braids　before　either　ear；　and　was　gathered　atop　his　head　with　a　b　of　pale；　polished　wood。
　　〃I　would　have　died　in　the　woods　if　you　had　not　helped　me；〃　Simon　said　abruptly；　then　gave　an　awkward　laugh。　〃If　Aditu　had　not　e；　that　is。〃　He　turned　to　look　at　her；　Jiriki's　sister　was　watching　intently。　She　nodded　her　head　in　acknowledgment。　〃I　would　have　died。〃　He　realized　as　he　spoke　that　it　was　absolutely　true。　He　had　begun　the　process　of　dying　when　Aditu　had　found　him；　growing　more　distant　each　day　from　the　business　of　life。
　　〃So。〃　Jiriki　folded　his　arms　before　him。　〃I　am　honored　I　could　help。　It　still　does　not　discharge　my　obligation；　however。　I　owed　you　two　lives。　You　are　my　Hikka　Staja；　Seoman；　and　so　you　will　remain。〃　He　looked　over　to　his　sister。　〃The　butterflies　have　gathered。〃
　　Aditu　replied　in　their　lyric　tongue；　but　Jiriki　held　up　his　hand。　
　　〃Speak　in　a　way　that　Seoman　can　understand。　He　is　my　guest。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment。　〃We　met　Khendraja'aro。　He　is　not　happy。〃
　　〃Uncle　has　not　been　happy　since　Asu'a　fell。　No　plans　of　mine　are　likely　to　change　that。〃
　　〃It　is　more　than　that；　Willow…switch；　and　you　know　it。〃　Aditu　stared　hard　at　him；　but　her　face　remained　dispassionate。　She　turned　to　look　briefly　at　Simon；　for　a　moment；　embarrassment　seemed　to　darken　her　cheeks。　〃It　is　strange　to　speak　this　tongue。〃
　　〃These　are　strange　days；　Rabbit…and　you　know　that。〃　Jiriki　lifted　his　hands　toward　the　sunlight。　〃Ah；　what　an　afternoon。　We　must　go；　now；　all　of　us。　The　butterflies　have　gathered；　as　I　said。　I　speak　lightly　of　Khendraja'aro；　but　my　heart　is　uneasy。〃
　　Simon　stared　at　him；　pletely　baffled。
　　〃First　allow　me　to　take　off　this　ridiculous　clothing；〃　Aditu　said。　She　slipped　away　through　another　hidden　door　so　quickly　that　she　seemed　to　melt　into　shadow。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　Jiriki　led　Simon　toward　the　front　of　his　house。　〃We　will　wait　for　her　below。　You　and　I　have　much　to　speak　about；　Seoman。　but　first　we　must　go　to　the　Yasira。〃
　　〃Why　did　she　call　you　。　。　。　Willow…switch？〃　Of　all　his　countless　questions；　this　was　the　only　one　he　could　put　into　words。
　　〃Why　do　I　call　you　Snowlock？〃　Jiriki　looked　closely　at　Simon's　face；　then　smiled　his　charming；　feral　smile。　〃It　is　good　to　see　you　well；　manchild。〃　
　　〃Let　us　be　off；〃　Aditu　said。　She　had　e　up　behind　Simon　so　soundlessly　that　he　gasped　in　surprise。　When　he　turned　a　moment　later；　he　gasped　again。　Aditu　had　shed　her　heavy　snow…clothing　for　a　dress　that　was　little　more　than　a　wisp　of　glimmering；　nearly　transparent　white　cloth　belted　with　a　ribbon　of　sunset　orange。　Her　slim　hips　and　small　breasts　were　clearly　silhouetted　beneath　the　loose　garment。　Simon　felt　his　face　grow　hot。　He　had　grown　up　with　the　chambermaids；　but　they　had　moved　him　out　many　years　before　sending　him　to　sleep　with　the　other　scullions。　Such　near…nakedness　was　more　than　disconcerting。　He　realized　he　was　staring　and　turned　hurriedly　away；　his　face　coloring。　One　hand　made　an　involuntary　Tree　before　his　chest。
　　Aditu's　laugh　was　like　rain。　〃1　am　happy　to　be　shed　of　all　that！　It　was　cold　where　the　manchild　was；　Jiriki！　Cold！〃
　　〃You　are　right；　Aditu；〃　Jiriki　said　grimly。　〃We　find　the　winter　outside　easy　to　forget　when　it　is　still　summer　in　our　home。　Now；　it　is　off　to　the　Yasira；　where　some　do　not　want　to　believe　that　winter　exists　at　all。〃
　　He　led　the　way　out　his　strange　entry　hall　to　the　sunsplashed　corridor　of　willows　beside　the　river。　Aditu　followed　him。　Simon　brought　up　the　rear；　still　blushing　furiously；　with　no　choice　but　to　watch　her　springy；　swaying　walk。
　　
　　With　the　added　distraction　of　Aditu　in　her　summer　finery；　Simon　did　not　think　about　much　of　anything　for　a　while；　but　even　Jiriki's　lissome　sister　and　Jao　e…Tinukai'i's　myriad　other　glories　could　not　distract　him　forever。　Several　things　had　been　said　lately　that　were　beginning　to　worry　him：　Khendraja'aro　was　angry　with　him；　apparently；　and　Simon　had　distinctly　heard　Aditu　say　something　about　breaking　rules。　What　exactly　was　happening？
　　〃Where　are　we　going；　Jiriki？〃　he　asked　at　last。　
　　〃The　Yasira。〃　The　Sitha　gestured　ahead。　〃There；　do　you　see？〃　Simon　stared；　shielding　his　eyes　from　the　strong　sunlight。　There　were　so　many　distractions　here；　and　the　sunlight　itself　was　one　of　the　strongest。　Only　a　few　days　before　he　had　been　wondering　if　he　would　ever　be　warm　again。　Why　was　he　yet　again　allowing　himself　to　be　dragged　somewhere　else；　when　all　he　wanted　to　do　was　flop　down　on　his　back　in　the　clover　and　sleep。。。？
　　At　first　the　Yasira　seemed　like　nothing　so　much　as　a　grand　and　oddly…shaped　tent；　a　tent　whose　center　pole　mounted　fifty　ells　into　the　air；　made　of　a　fabric　more　shifting　and　colorful　than　any　of　Jao　e…Tinukai'i's　other　beautiful　structures。　It　took　another　two　dozen　paces　before　Simon　realized　that　the　center　pole　was　a　gigantic　ash　tree　with　wide…spreading　branches；　whose　crown　rose　into　the　forest　sky　high　above　the　Yasira　itself。　He　drew　another　hundred　paces　closer　before　he　saw　why　the　fabric　of　the　vast　tent　shimmered　s